This Christmas I'm....

hoping {and praying!} for a baby. =-)

Teach us to number our days....

~We are beginning those blessed days of cuddling on the couch while reading books about the providence of God in the affairs of men, the amazing way that God created the world(s) and all that in them is, and learning and growing as we study together. I love home schooling for these and many more reasons. I am so thankful to God to have these days to share with my precious children.

The American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster 1828 gives the definition of educate as, "to lead, to bring up, as a child; to instruct; to inform and enlighten the understanding; to instill into the mind pricipals of arts, science, morals, religion and behavior. To educate children is one of the most imporant duties of parents and guardians."

The defintion of education is listed as, "The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties."

With these goals in mind, we are setting off this year {Jathan's 4th grade year and Jared's 2nd grade year} to learn more this year than ever before.~

{Pictures taken this year at the Civil War Re-inactment this spring}

~One of my favorites~

Don't get me wrong...my kids watch their share of movies. But I cannot let them waste away their childhood years in front of the television, instead of next to me. I ran across this quote in one of Roald Dahl's books that absolutely inspired me. I love this!



The most important thing we've learned, as far as children are concerned
is never, never, never let them near your television set!
Or better still, just don't install the idiotic thing at all!
In almost every house we've been,
we've watched them gaping at the screen
They loll and lounge and slop about
And stare until their eyes pop out
{Last week in someone's place we saw
a dozen eyeballs on the floor.}
They sit and stare and stare and sit
until they are hypnotized by it,
Until they are absolutely drunk
With all that shocking, ghastly junk
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink.
But did you ever stop to think,
to wonder just exactly what
this does to your beloved tot?
It rots the senses in the head
it kills the imagination dead
it clogs and clutters up the mind
it makes a child so dull and blind
He can no longer understand
a fantasy, a fairyland!
His brain becomes as soft as cheese
his powers of thinking rust and freeze.
He cannot think...he only sees!
"All right!" you'll cry, "All right!" you'll say.
"But if we take the set away,
what shall we do to entertain
our darling children? Please explain!"
We'll answer this by asking you
what used the darling ones to do?
How used they keep them selves contented
Before this monster was invented?
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow
They...used...to...read! They READ and READ
And read and read and then proceed
to read some more. Great scott! Gadzooks!
One half their life was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed
more books waiting to be read!
Such wonderous, fine, fanastic tales
of dragons, gypsies, queens and whales
and treasure isles, and distant shores
where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
and pirates wearing purple pants
and sailing ships and elephants
and cannibals crouching 'round the pot
and stirring away at something hot
{it smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious! Its Penelope!}
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Todd, the dirty rotter,
and Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggywiggle and
Just how the Camel Got His Hump,
And How the Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Todd, and bless my soul,
there's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole.
Oh books, what books they used to know
those children living long ago!
So please..oh please! We beg, we pray!
Go throw your T.V. set away!
And in it's place you can install
a lovely bookshelf on the wall
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks
And children hitting you with sticks
Feat not, because we promise you
that, in about a week or two
of having nothing else to do,
they'll now begin to feel the need
of having something to read
And once they start! Oh boy! Oh boy!
You'll watch the slowly growing joy
that fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
they'll wonder what they'd ever seen
in that ridiculous machine
That nauseating, foul unclean
repulsive television machine!
And later, each and every kid
will love you more for what you did.

Roald Dahl

Ten years....

I took this picture today wanting a picture that showcased my wedding rings. My husband and I will have been married for ten years in just a little over a week. This time of year {being around Valentine's Day as well as the time of year I married} always gets me to thinking about love. It just makes me happy to walk into places all decorated with hearts and cutsie love sayings....I love that we celebrate love once a year. It just seems fitting for our anniversary to be in this month as well.

I have been looking back, reflecting on who I was, and what my goals and dreams were ten years ago. I always wanted to be married....I truly believed in love at first sight, and happily ever after. I wanted to experience that for myself. I wanted that feeling of belonging to someone, to know that the rest of the world may be doing their own thing, but I had one person who truly cared and would take time to listen to my thoughts and dreams and fears. I believed in the forever kind of love....love that lasts through the thick and thin, and "endures forever". I wanted to bring children into the marriage, I wanted to show them what true love was, and to raise them in that environment. I wanted babies that looked like their daddy, babies with their daddy's beautiful happy smile and with their daddy's heart. I wanted to teach them about Jesus, to show them His forgiveness and to help them to find His plan for their lives. I wanted our marriage to be a reflection of Christ's love for his church.....

These were the things I believed in and wanted, without having experienced it for myself. Ten years ago I had the hope that these things would come to be. My life isn't perfect, and neither am I, but I have been truly blessed with two beautiful children that, as I had hoped, have their daddy's smile, and heart. :) I am so proud of them, so thankful that I have been blessed with the priviledge of raising them to be men of God. I am still in love with my husband, my heart still speeds up when he comes home at night, and is still entertwined with his. And yes, through the thick and the thin, our love has lasted. So thankful for that. So thankful to be his wife. So thankful for today, and the legacy of our yesterdays, and the hope for our tomorrows.

I love this :)

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." — C.S. Lewis

Christmas Photo Shoot

I just love Christmas...the sights, the sounds, the feelings it brings. :) I was excited to get these pictures back the other day. :) Loveee Christmas pictures. :)

Happy Birthday, Jared!!!

Happy Birthday, baby. :) I can't believe the once so tiny newborn has grown into this amazing little boy, and how fast it happened just blows my mind away. It seems like yesterday I was feeding you bananas and cheerios, and holding you while you suck on your blanket. :) I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life as your Mama, being there wherever you need me to. I know that as you get older, you won't need me like you have the last six, but I look forward to filling whatever role you need. :) You are an amazing person...and I love you one million. ;)