Cure for Blurry Vision

Be Thou My Vision

(1) Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art-

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

(2)Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

(3)Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

(4)High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joy, O bright heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O ruler of all.

Civics Lesson

I remember when Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. I was in the fourth grade. My teacher walked with the entire class from the school to her house. We all squeezed into her living room and watched the inauguration on her t.v. I now know that my teacher voted for Jimmy Carter. I'm sure she was disappointed to see Reagan take office, but she still wanted her students to see history in the making.

Today, my little homeschool watched President Obama take office. Even though his stance on abortion prevented him from receiving my vote, the kids and I watched the inauguration and I couldn't help but remember that day back in 1981. I talked to the kids about the "peaceful transition of power" and how many countries in the world have violent changes in leadership. I reminded the kids that we live in the greatest country in the world and that we are here by God's grace. Our duty is first to God, then to country. As Christians, we are to submit to the governing authorities and pray for the people in power over us, that they would honor God and not men.

I'm grateful to God that I live in America, but my true citizenship is in Heaven and I continually "wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Bond Servant

I asked for an awl for Christmas. I didn't get one. So I wrote "awl" at the top of my birthday list. Matt wasn't sure if I wanted a scratching awl or a punching awl. Didn't matter, I just wanted an awl. Matt finally settled on a scratching awl. Why an awl? I wanted something tangible I could look upon during my hectic days when I'm overwhelmed and all seems in a muddle. Something to remind me of whose I am.

In Bible times, if a Hebrew servant served six years to his master, he was to be set free. However, there was a provision made by God for a servant who wanted to stay on with the family. He could become a bond servant by his own choosing. "But if your servant says to you, 'I do not want to leave you,' because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push in through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant." (Deut. 15:16,17)

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul refers to himself as a bond servant (often times only translated "servant") of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has a deeper connotation than merely a servant paying back a debt owed. The bond servant chooses to stay with his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus, the awl for a birthday present. I've needed a visible reminder of whose I am, because this life is hard, as Jesus said it would be. ("In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33b ) Would I have chosen on my own to home school? Absolutely not. It wasn't so long ago that I thought homeschoolers were crazy (really). Would I have chosen on my own to have six children? No. It wasn't so long ago that I thought people with more than three or four kids were crazy (really, really). Matt and I chose these things because the Lord made it clear that He wanted them for our family.

How did we discern what God's will for us was? By our own reading of the scripture. That's how the Lord (most often and most reliably) shows us His will. The more we read and studied the Bible, the more convicted we were in these areas. That said, does it hurt when someone questions if Matt and I are doing God's will? Yes, it does. Does it hurt when people think that we've patterned our lives after other homeschooling families just for the sake of being like them? Yes, it does. I can tell you, no one in their right mind would choose this life based on trying to be a photocopy of someone else's life. Matt and I would have abandoned ship a long time ago if this were the case. Instead, we "press on."

So I come to the crux of the matter--the crazy paradox of the Christian life. Joy is found in doing God's will even when that will is difficult. And when I look on my awl, I will remember my Master and say to myself what Katie Luther said, "I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat."
The awl as rests on the kitchen window sill where I'll see it often throughout the day.

Another Birthday

I turned 38 this past Thursday. When I was in college, I thought 38 sounded so old. It's not sounding so old anymore. The day started with a chorus of "Happy Birthdays" and our traditional dance to the Beatles "Birthday" song. Grace said, "You're almost 40, Mommy!" (Thanks, Grace.) Paul handed me five crinkled hard-earned dollar bills that he'd received from doing extra chores. Isn't he the sweetest boy? Grace gave me the Duggar's book Twenty and Counting and Elizabeth gave me Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book. The last few years, I've been in a cooking rut. I requested the cookbook for my birthday as my cooking repertoire has narrowed to what can be made in one hour or less and I know the book will fit the bill nicely.
I got a midday surprise when my aunt and uncle dropped by the house. They were down here for a farming conference and decided to come by and wish me "Happy Birthday." They gave me a big vase filled with tulip bulbs that will bloom in a few weeks--a little spring in the dead of winter. The day ended with a dinner out with Matt and a trip to Walmart for groceries. When we returned home, we all had cake and ice cream. Grace made her first Texas Sheet Cake for the occasion. She's the fourth generation in our family to make the cake. I snuggled up in bed that night surrounded by my Christmas and birthday books. I'm reading them all at once, something my mother used to do. I always thought that was so weird, but here I am doing the same thing. I guess it's true what they say that you turn into your parents as you age.

(Someone recently commented on the blog about the origin of the ditty "There was a bee who lived in a barn." All I know is that my German grandfather always said it to us kids.)

Soooo Tired

Children's Children

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. (Proverbs 17:5-7)

Sleeping Double Portion

(reference--double portion)