Busyness...

 “Busyness chokes deep thinking.”
― Todd Stocker

 

And that about sums up why I have not really blogged much of late. I have had so many blog ideas pop into my head, but have not had hardly anytime to sit and think them through. With usual housework, exercising, and quite a few church functions, life has been pretty non-stop here of late.

 

But it has been a good busy. One filled with fun, adventure, and yes even work...

 

Three weekends ago, our church went on a camping/ rafting trip. It was so nice to go up to the mountains, and view some different scenery...

 





 

Oh, and getting pretty cold and wet on the Nantahala River...

 

 

 

After we returned home, I was able to have some dear friends over for lunch. It was such a blessing talking with them. Friends are such a gift from GOD. :D

 

VBS was in our near future at that time. I was in charge of craft for all 5 days last week. So the week before was spent preparing and purchasing supplies.

 

Justin taught the 5th-6th grade class. I was commissioned to decorate his class. The theme was "Cross Canyon Trail". So western décor was essential...

The cacti are made from pool noodles and toothpicks.

I dressed like a cowgirl everyday...

 

 

And my hubby wore a matching hat...

 

It was a very good week. Attendance each night was good, and each child seemed to have fun, and I thank the LORD for that. But I am also thankful it is over. Every day was the same last week. Wake up, exercise, rush to clean the house, eat lunch, start preparing for the evening by 2, shower and be ready to leave by 4:30,  not get home until 8:30 or 9, then come home and cook supper for the hubby. Very exhausting for this homebody... 

 

Oh yeah! My handsome prince surprised me the last night. He took the top half way down on the jeep, and we rode to town, under an almost full moon, to enjoy some much needed quality time, and a Cookout milkshake. YUMMM!!! :D

 

 

My sister came for a visit today. I was quite surprised to hear a knock at my door and see her standing there. :D We spent 2hours talking and reminiscing about days gone by. Just like we used to every night before we went to sleep. :)

 

I hope to get some rest tonight. And maybe even read a chapter or two in the book I just ordered. It's "Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina May Gaskin. I've been wanting to read this one for awhile now, and finally found it used on Amazon for only 5 bucks. Oh yes...

 

The rest of the week looks to be fairly easy going. Normal life stuff. Even a birthday on Thursday. I shalt be twentay fo'. Whew, I'm getting old. :D

 

What have you been up to of late?

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel

Why Homeschooling?

Our church is holding VBS this week, and I am in charge of the crafts. Last night while I was preparing my classroom, some of the teens decided to come sit in and talk. They were talking about school and basically how much they like or dislike it. One of the teens began to talk about all the different schools they had attended, and which one they preferred. Like me, this teen has attended just about all types of school out there. Public, private, and home school.

They then turned to me and asked which school that I preferred. I told them at the time my mom took me out of public school (eighth grade) I wasn't too fond of the idea. But as I grew older, and thankfully matured, I became grateful for my parents decision to home school me. They rolled their eyes and said, I don't think I could ever enjoy being home schooled.

The conversation got me to thinking, as I do quite often, why am I so in favor of home education?

I did attend all three major forms of schooling. Kindergarten through third was public, fourth through 6th was private, seventh was public again, and eighth through graduation I was home schooled. So I have first hand experience of them all.

But which am I in favor of as an adult, and most importantly, which one of these would I prefer to place my children in, should I ever have any?

I personally prefer homeschooling. Why though you may ask.

I think homeschooling is the most effective way to raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. By having your children with you all day, you have the great advantage of showing them GOD's love, and teaching them HIS ways.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

True, not every child will follow in the steps of the LORD, no matter how much you guide them to. They are their own souls, and have to ultimately make the choice to follow the LORD's leading on their own. But homeschooling has the great advantage of showing them GOD's laws continuously.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

What about the actual education aspect. There are so many curriculum's and programs out there, that schooling even higher grade would be and are fairly easy for most.

Source: homeedonline.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Yes, we have all heard this theory, that homeschoolers never get to socialize. True they aren't around 200 kids their own age very single day. But with home school support groups popping up everywhere, homeschoolers will never lack for "social interaction". Along those lines, do you send your kids to school to make friends, or to gain an education? Hmmm...

How about all of these reasons as well...

Source: home-school.com via Rachael on Pinterest

But my primary conviction in wanting to home school my future children is to honor the LORD. By teaching them GOD's ways continuously, and showing them HIS laws. By raising them "in secret" you can help mold them to be the future Christian leaders of tomorrow, a whole lot easier than if you sent them off for someone else to teach 8 hours a day.

What are your thoughts on the matter? I would love to hear them!

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Is it just me, or does today feel like Monday? This whole business of a holiday coming in the middle of the week has this gal all mixed up. But that's okay. Washing eggs tomorrow should bring me back to reality. :D

What a busy, fun, blessing filled week it has been though. Today is the first day I have spent solely at home in over a week. And I must say, it has felt pretty nice focusing on work around here, and yes even being a tad bit on the lazy side... ;)

So, how did this last week keep me hopping? Let me show you...

Last Thursday our church took a trip to the mountains to enjoy some camping and rafting around Bryson City. We left last Thursday and came back Saturday.

On the way...



Our camp site all set up...



There was a creek running through the grounds. Just listening to it flow at night, with all the crickets, and campfire sounds, oh it was pure bliss...







Beautiful mountain view behind our tent site...



Kids wading in the creek Friday morning before we headed out rafting...



;)



We stopped for a picnic lunch along the river. And of course basked in the sights and sounds of the Nantahala River...



Saturday evening I also has the wonderful opportunity of joining Justin's family for an evening of bowling. I'm not very good at bowling, but spending time with Justin's family was awesome....



We had a pretty bad storm roll through Sunday afternoon. It knocked down quite a few branches, and caused several around here to loose power...



I thought I would be crying the next morning. I thought for sure my sunflowers were destroyed in the wind. But praise the LORD! Only 2 stems snapped, and the rest are blooming more beautifully than ever...





Independence Day dawned bright and early. Before sunrise to be exact. Me, Justin, and my brother Noah set out early to watch the sun come up over the Atlantic...









That afternoon our church held a softball game/cookout, followed by a trip to fireworks on a riverfront...













The rest of this week looks to be a busy one as well. I am in charge of arts and crafts for our church's VBS in less than two weeks. I spent most of today planning that out, and writing a list of supplies we will need. But a lot more work is needed there.

How has your week been? I pray it has been a wonderful one for you! :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day my friends! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

VBS! VBS! VBS!

Yay!!! The day has finally come! Everything is planned and set, and all I have to do is head out the door to the church and wait for the kids to arrive. What am I talking about folks? VBS of course!

Our church is holding our first VBS in quite awhile. It will be held every night, until Friday. I am so excited about it! Last time VBS was held, I was one of the children in it. But now I'm one of the teachers, which is pretty neat. The change of time is so amazing. :)

So, as I said before, I am in charge of arts and crafts. It has been quite the interesting thing coming up with a craft for each age, for every night. I have enjoyed it. Yet at the same time it's been a tad bit on the stressful side, having to figure something fairly simple to create, but fun at the same time. Alas, I do believe I have found a happy balance for each.

So, this is what I have planned out for each age group...

K-2nd-
M- Book marks
T- Days of Creation book (the kids draw and color what was created on
each day, on paper plates to make a book)
W- Paint wooden dinosaur cut outs
T- Paint Bible verse sun catchers
F- Decorate foam cross hanger/ornament

3rd-6th-
M- Book mark
T- Wordless bracelet
W- Days of Creation Book (same as K-2nd)
T- Paint Bible Verse sun catcher or dinosaur cut outs
F- Decorate foam cross hanger/ ornament

Teens-
M- Bookmarks
T- Wordless Bracelet
W- Paint photo frame
T- Paint T-shirts
F- Key chains ( they have the option of making them into the Christian
ichthys, or a straight one with a word such as love,
joy, peace, etc.)

But with the fun of VBS, comes the sobering reminder, that this week is also a time of learning and growing in the LORD. My greatest prayer for this upcoming week is that the LORD will send kids our way, who need to hear the gospel. And that those kids will come to know Christ as their saviour, and go home, and be a witness to their parents.

I also pray that each of us workers, will be a shining light to these kids, showing them the love of Christ. That they will see smiling and joyous hearts, eager to serve the LORD. For how we behave, reflects upon our LORD.

Will you pray for our VBS this week? That souls will be saved, and that others will grow in the knowledge of our LORD? That the kids will not be distracted, and have an open heart to the gospel? That all the games, crafts, skits, snack, and all else will run smoothly? Your prayers would be appreciated. :D

Well, I've got to get a few little things ready before I head out the door. So until next time...

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel