Girls Day Out

Mike and the older two boys had to work today.

I took the girls out shopping. We don’t do the “new Easter outfit” thing, or Easter baskets, dyed eggs, or candy for that matter. We used to – somewhere along the line we rebelled at the external emphasis…..and then we got very busy on Easter Mornings……

However, Nolan and Jared have grown a couple of inches since I bought them pants in December. We bought them both pants. Stacia found a new dress she wanted. She wears her dresses 7 days a week so it seemed o.k. to buy her a new dress – this one I will keep for SUNDAY. We laughed at how Stacia hung her favorites on the shopping cart. I also bought her training “panties”. She sweet talked the cashier into giving them back to her and carried them until we got home (2 more stops). ::snort::


Arielle needed new shoes. We couldn’t find any at Walmart. Payless Shoes is right across the parking lot. The gentlemen there informed us of something that Arielle had already discovered. Children’s size 3 ½ - 4 are the same size as Women’s size 5 – 6. We DO wear the same size shoe. She found a nice pair of white shoes. I found a funky pair of canvas slip-ons. I limited myself as I’d been looking at FPU yesterday. Stacia also got a pair of canvas slip-ons. Again – she’s been wearing her Sunday shoes 7 days a week – so I think this may actually prolong the life of the “good” shoes.

We still have DQ cards from Christmas. I treated the girls.

Stacia promptly stripped to try on her new panties when we got home. Evidently, one must take off all other clothes when wearing such stylish panties....and they may be worn in a variety of stylish fashions.

I also bought these.

Long time blog readers will know that I USED to often use the timer, but they all mysteriously disappeared. I replenished the stock and bought poker chips too. I’ll write about that more after Mike and I collaborate on the rules of engagement.

Easter Prep

We will be far too busy tomorrow a.m. to make Resurrection Rolls (click for recipe). We made them this afternoon. I wasn’t sure how they’d taste with Rapadura instead of sugar and such, but they are good. We saved enough for each to have one tomorrow a.m.




While they baked, we read *The Very First Easter* by Paul L. Maier. This is a wonderful book. The story line is accurate. The illustrations are well done. I had two small "beefs": 1. Jesus didn’t look very Middle Eastern and 2. The author holds a sacramental view of the Lord’s Supper, whereas we tend toward more of a memorial view. As I said, small beefs. I recommend finding a copy of this one for your “Lent Stash”. The book is published by Concordia Publishing House.

Death & Resurrection

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Word (rapid reading and studying). This has been a great season for me. I’ve not had time to share any of the things I’m learning. Today, I take the time.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?......If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. ……Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:1 – 15. Click here to read the entire passage..

Sin, I could talk about the definition of sin. Grace, I’ve been studying grace anew and could talk about all that grace is, all that grace accomplishes, and all that grace enables me to do. Suffering. Death. Resurrection. Christ suffered, died and rose from the grave.

What does that mean to me in daily life? There are many different answers to that question. One thing it should mean is that I have also suffered, died, and risen to new life. I am called to die to sin (and that seems to often require a bit of suffering) and to walk in resurrection power. (Eph 1:19,20) I have crucified the old man, and my life is no longer my own. (Gal 2:20)

The longer I walk with Christ, the more I realize that so many of my sins, my temper tantrums, my funks….come back to self. The sin I wrestle with most is self-centeredness. I need to daily die to self.. I desire things. I desire results (in school, in relationships, in finances). I desire to sit around all day and read.
During this season, and throughout the year, a loving Lord is calling me to follow Him into death. Why is it so easy for me (and possibly you) to claim the resurrection power, the enabling grace, the benefits of salvation…..and skip right over the dying to sin, death to self, and crucifixion of the old man part? Death must come before resurrection.

I must not “let” sin reign in my body. This implies that *I* have a choice. Hmmm…you mean the little red man with the pitchfork isn’t totally to blame for my selfish sin problem? I should be doing something? Yes, I will willingly and daily die to sin. I will CHOOSE to offer my body to RIGHTEOUSNESS rather than wickedness. I recognize that I have ALL that I need to walk a life of godliness. I must die to self and walk in LIFE, LIGHT, LOVE, the SPIRIT, WISDOM – I need to walk worthy (all from Ephesians). I must daily choose to walk under the influence of the Spirit rather than under the influence of sin and self. I must offer my entire being wholeheartedly to HIM; rather than offering my self to SELFISH SIN.

I often draw laughs in new groups of Bible Studies by answering the question that so many have (and eventually voice): “WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN”. My short answer: “God knew it would take children whom I love dearly to cause me to die to myself.” All usually nod, as they reflect on how they also will sacrifice self for the good of their children. I follow up by adding, “I appear to be more selfish than most, and therefore, I need more sharpening than most.” I did not have patience when I was 20. I was filled with anger. I was filled with self. (Once a young girl (5 – 6) ran up to me and said, “Miss De’Etta, Mom says you are selfish!” Evidently the daughter had asked, “Why does Miss D have so many kids and we don’t?” ::snort:)

Parenting and homeschooling are the tools that God has used in my life to call me to daily die to self. I love both. Both are incredible blessings. Both are incredibly costly (budget-wise, time-wise, ministry-outside-of-home-wise).  Parenting and homeschooling have required me to daily give up my needs, my wants, my desires, my plans and instead walk in his resurrection power. Beware of trying to resurrect on your own. I must surrender to the work of His Spirit in my life. I must always remember that it is in HIS strength, His power, His Spirit that I can begin to walk in a way that brings glory to Him.

I believe God put me on a “fast track” in the Word so that I would be FORCED to read for ME and not for writing and teaching. LOL But, this once, I think it was "ok" to share. I had to write an Easter Post anyway. LOL

Staciaisms (a post just for BIG sisters and Grandparents)

Stacia is talking nearly non-stop these days. We can even understand a good share of it now. She is now 2 1/2.
She cracked us up earlier in the week when we had a rapid fire family discussion going. She held up her hand, looked at us, and said, "PAUSE IT".


I love that Stacia ALWAYS has a big brother or Daddy to call on when she feels she is being overwhelmed. Here she was standing up to Jamin about something last night. She WOULD NOT back down. It was hilarious to see a little pint, pointing her finger and lecturing a brother who is fully 6 feet tall. She must have felt that she was losing ground because finally she said, "Well, I talk my daddy now". And left Jamin cold.


Stacia hears some comments over and over. We hadn't realized how much until I was cuddling her this week and telling her she was my LITTLE princess, Stacia. She reached up, patted my cheek, and said, "I VERY TALL!" (When we doubled her height at 18 months it predicted she would be 5'11" - 6 feet - she IS tall). She now tells me she is my "TALL PRINCESS STACIA". ::snort::

Stacia loves to dance. I love to watch the big boys dance with her. By the time I got the camera she was on to dancing with the younger set.....



I found her practicing her expressions and words in front of the mirror in our room this week. She said, "I told you no say, no, no, no, no, Stacia". Um......yep.....I had told her no and she put her hands on her hips and said, "I tell you no, no, no, no, Mommy." I told her "Stacia, you can't say no, no, no to Mommy". Evidently she liked the sound of my wise words enough to practice them a few more times.

Here she helps us clean up dinner.


She also insists on vacuuming but is terrified of the vacuum. Go figure. She pushes it away from her with a vengeance and squeals as it rushes towards her. I'll have to try to catch that one of these days.

Thus go the days of the baby of our crew.

Financial Peace...

Years ago I began listening to a man on the radio, Dave Ramsey. He's funny. He loves the Lord. His thoughts made SENSE to Mike and I. We've never attended one of his seminars. We have checked out "Total Money Makeover" from the library, and we've listened to the radio program. We've followed the baby steps.

Our children have grown up hearing the debt-free principles and watching us save before buying etc. The boys have a goal, which of course we wholeheartedly agree with and planted, that they be financially stable, have a good savings account, be debt-free, etc BEFORE they begin dating/courting. We would also love it if they are able to provide in a way that their wives could be blessed to stay home as I have.

Bre and Krista went through FPU at Master's Commission and loved it. They said that most of the day-to-day things they'd learned at home, but there was much to learn about investments etc. Since they went through the program, we've planned to purchase the DVD set and have our children work through it. At this point just, Jared, Jamin and Josiah and maybe Arielle could absorb some of it?

In checking, I've discovered that there is a FPU - Next Generation that is written FOR students. There are workbooks, DVD's etc. Now I'm wondering if I should order FPU or FPU Next Generation.

I'm sure the content is a bit different in the student's version, but it covers savings, investments, college, retirement, cash flow, insurance, buying power, careers etc. The price of the homeschool version that I've been quoted is about 1/3 of the price of FPU (which is why I didn't buy it LAST fall). I've checked out the samples of the workbook etc and I like what I see.

Has anyone seen or attended either program? Would you recommend one over the other? Whichever we buy, we'll be using it for many years with the rest of our children. If we get the homeschool version, I'm thinking that even Arielle and Nolan could understand some of it.

What do you think? Also - if you've used the homeschool version - would it work well in a group setting? Would it work for both Jr. High and Sr. High School? They also have little back packs for young kids, but um, I'm not wanting to SPEND money - I want to SAVE it. ::snort:: OK, Mike and I have talked and Mike says this sounds like a good investment. If I buy the homeschool package, it is for private classroom use or homeschool co-op use only, BUT this means I could buy the program, and others could do it with us for the price of the workbook. I can buy the workbook as a PDF file and never have to buy another workbook for the rest of our family. All for less than 1/3 of the course we planned on buying last year.

Living Last Supper

This is the 4th year that this chapel has put on "The Living Last Supper." I'd never seen this before moving to here, but it is meaningful.

This evening is based on Leonardo Da Vinci's painting. The narrator sets the scene. Jesus starts by saying "One of you will betray me," and then each disciple gives a monologue about how he came to know Jesus and pondering if he could be the one who will betray Jesus. I searched the internet for a link to the script and can't find one that is just like ours - this one is much longer and involved but the disciple's monologues are close.

Mike had asked me to make some "authentic" unleavened bread. Well....that would be passover bread. It would be flatbread - pita like or matzah. We talked and he wanted it fluffier. Huh? He wanted AUTHENTIC....I hotly argued (and it wasn't a proud moment for me) that flat bread WAS authentic. Then we realized I was thinking authentic to 1st century Jerusalem and HE was thinking authentic to the painting.

OK - flat hoagie rolls you can throw around. I can do this. He also wanted a "fluffy but flat" round loaf for communion.

The round loaf rose HIGH - and so Mike cut it in half.

There are no women parts in this production. One of our airmen got hung up and didn't make it before the performance started. As they scrambled to find a man to fill the role of the missing disciple, Debbie and I helpfully suggested that some believe Mary Magdalene was the disciple on the end. Mike gave us a look that said, "that's bunk/"

The show went on. I was satisfied to be the OFFICIAL photographer. Mike said that I can post these photos as all parents of minors have approved.

I went into the "locker room".

Checking the painting one last time for "stances"

The scene begins....

*Notes - next year remove the wall clock and posters, hang a shower rod with curtain over the door....and maybe consider wigs as all our disciples have military cuts. LOL Also, saw horses would make nice rough looking legs for the table...and a few dried fish would add to the atmosphere. Candlelight versus industrial light would be good too.

I can own two of the disciples...
Nathanael

Peter

Both did a great job. All did a wonderful job. I love this evening every year....though being a military chapel our cast continues to rotate.

Judas - disciple in the back seems skeptical of Judas' monologue (new camera and I wasn't use to the focus - focused on the money bag - but it seems appropriate).

Table shots

Mike ended the night by serving communion to the cast and then the crowd. The gentleman on the left is a retired Navy chaplain and the gentleman on the right is Rev. C whose vision guides our Gospel Service. We broke bread from the halves and dipped them in the chalice.

Random photo of a child's plate of food (and it WASN'T one of my mine) - cracked me up. Nothing says chapel like lots of SWEETS (though there is fruit too - actually 1/2 and 1/2).

Jared rushed to CAP after he was done. Mike went to pick him up, and they aren't back yet, but soon. On the way home (Mike brought us home and then went back as we forgot to take two vehicles) Mike mentioned maybe next year we should do a Seder with the audience all in era costumes. LOL Maybe we'll do our Seder this year in era costumes....I'm so glad we aren't pressured to do it tonight....it will be better for us to do it according to the Jewish calendar this year.

Did I Mention We Had *Weather*?

It began Monday night just as we were unloading the van. It rained. It poured. It thundered - rolling thunder. Lightning that was "out of this world." I always tell the young ones it's "God's light show or God's fireworks" when they are nervous. Once I made the mistake of telling an older child, when they were young, that the sputtering rain was "angels spitting" - I'll not do THAT again. ::snort:: But the snow has been known to be the "angels having a pillow fight." Just a bit of family trivia free of charge.
It stormed all night Monday. It stormed all day Tuesday. These are some photos that my friend Debbie took at her house north of town. She lives on 3 ACRES....that's important. I have another friend who is her neighbor and HER play structure blew over.....
The fence blew down - Deb's house is the brick one in the background.
The trampoline blew across the acres ....

And landed in a surprised neighbor's tree.

Debbie gave permission for these photos to be posted.