So, I'm in a homeschooling dilema again......
I LOVE homeschooling, don't get me wrong. But starting in October after the move, and having a few hickups along the way makes for a very long and tedious school year!! I'm at the point where I'm simply ready to be done and take a break. So, I'm researching next school year's curriculum.
I'm searching for something that my boys will enjoy and that will teach them to once again love learning. I've looked very much for that cause at unit studies. And gotten as much advice as I possibly could about them. I've gotten mostly encouraging advice from those who actually knew what a unit study was. Those who had never used them had interesting views of what they even were.
The one I am really looking into the most is The Weaver Curriculum from Alpha Omega. I love that everything is taken from the Bible. I love that it covers all except math and phonics in one unit study. I love that the price is pretty good. I love that I can use the library for free books. I love that there is more family and together time. I love that my husband wants to be involved in it. I am scared taking a step so far out of my "teacher background" box. I am nervous that I will mess it up and my boys will hate it.
SO, I printed out the two week curriculum that they had online for you to preview it, and it makes me even more excited. But I'm also taking the time to look through a lot of other options as well. I received a Sonlight magazine today, and that made me think about using something different... until I looked at the price. We simply cannot afford that. I have, however circled quite a few of the books in the magazine that look interesting. I was thinking of looking for them at the library when the Weaver Curriculum covers those topics.... I don't know how much else will be covered in the Weaver. I know I will be able to work other things of my own in. I guess weighing the two against each other, I still found I wanted Weaver (with a few of the Sonlight books thrown in).
Now, as I wait for the other magazines I ordered, and try to catch up on a never ending pile of laundry, and do lesson plans to finish this school year, I can't help but feel a little excited about what else I will learn, and hope we find something that truly fits our family's personality wonderfully.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
That's so ROMANTIC
Growing up, I had a great friend who thought everything was "So ROMANTIC!" And as girls, that's so often what we focus on. The romance.
And yet, we forget what MARRIAGE really is. It's hard work. Oh, there's always something nice in hard work. There's the feeling of accomplishment. There's the breeze that comes to cool you in the middle of the work. There's the breaks along the way. There's the company that makes the work easier.
All those things make the work worthwhile, and those are the things that make marriage worth it as well. The company of having your best friend with you always, the breaks in the "good times", the "cool breezes" of dates and time alone, the feelings of accomplishment when you figure out something new about your mate and can better help them.
Here's the part that so many times, we forget. It's still work. And like any job, there is training involved. There is always on the job training. The learning you get simply by doing the job. But there is also other training that we can do for ourselves. One of my good friends says, "There's nothing like learning from experience.... as long as it's someone else's."
And who better to learn from, than the one who created marriage?? If He spent two and a half books in the Old Testament, and five separate passages in the New Testament on teaching women how to be good wives, how in the world do we expect to walk into marriage and just "know what to do"? He wrote the book of Esther about two women who had the same man, yet got opposite responses. He wrote the book of Ruth to show us how to prepare for marriage and win our husband's heart. He wrote half of the book of Proverbs about the way Wisdom (who is astonishingly portrayed as a female) can win a man, and half of the book of Proverbs on the "Simple woman". So many times there are verses in Proverbs that nearly line up side by side as a comparison between the wise and foolish woman. Then in the New Testament, God deals with wives in Colossians, Ephesians, I Timothy, Titus, and I Peter.
So here's the recommendation I have for married women on how to improve their own marraiges. Study! Study like your life depends on it (which in a way, it does)! Study your Bible. Study your mate. Study good books. Study the women you admire. Study to be quiet.
Some of the best marital advice I was ever given was from my mother. She told me, "SHUT UP!!! Learn that the Holy Spirit can do His job far better than you can, and your big mouth is going to hinder Him much more than help Him." OK, she didn't use those exact words, but that's the gist. It has been the advice that has fixed problems in my marriage far more often than not. I have found over and again that if I try to fix the problem, I usually mess it up worse. If I allow the Holy Spirit to do His job, I see what I want done far sooner than I expected.
I have few ladies in my life whose marriages I truly admire. Few ladies that I wish my marriage were more like theirs. Those are the ones that I tend to listen to more than talking. Little things that they say, how they react, the advice they give.... those are the things I strive to do and be more like.
Books I love are Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl, For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge (it helped me understand my husband better than any book I've ever read), Captivating by Staci Eldredge (helped me understand me), and The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (which helped me understand how to love my husband). To name a few. *Disclaimer, I do not recommend or believe the entirety of any one of these books, let alone all of these books. As always, my beliefs are based on what I believe the Bible teaches and I learned from these books to the extent of what I could hang on Biblical principles previously established in my mind.*
Many times, I can tell what my Doug is going to do, because I study him. There are still times I fail, which is further proof that I need to study more. But for most of the time, I can predict what my husband is going to do, even down to what he will want for dinner based on the kind of day he has had. I love that. I can slide right in, meet one of his needs before he even realized he had it, then be out of the way so he thinks he thought of it himself. I love doing that!!
So many times we study one or the other of these things, and still fail to study our Bibles. But since God made us, and fashioned us just as we are... doesn't it make sense to look to Him for the answers?? He has laid out the blueprint, established the path, and all he wants to do is use His Word as a light for the way we need to go. God's Word has comforted me in times of distress, yes, even in my marriage. God's Word has told me what to do in times of immense confusion and discouragement, even in my marriage. God has many times led me to the exact verse I need at just the right moment. I have endevored to study the stories, the proverbs, and the instructions He has placed for me, even taking the time to memorize some. I encourage you to do the same.
And what is romance, anyway? Isn't it when our Prince Charming looks at us in the way that makes our insides gooey? These things add up to stoking the fire that makes the goo. :) Because, when I give 100% to my husband, he's sure to see and send the same back to me. How do I know? Because God promised. I Peter 3:1, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;" Hold onto HIS promises!!!!
And yet, we forget what MARRIAGE really is. It's hard work. Oh, there's always something nice in hard work. There's the feeling of accomplishment. There's the breeze that comes to cool you in the middle of the work. There's the breaks along the way. There's the company that makes the work easier.
All those things make the work worthwhile, and those are the things that make marriage worth it as well. The company of having your best friend with you always, the breaks in the "good times", the "cool breezes" of dates and time alone, the feelings of accomplishment when you figure out something new about your mate and can better help them.
Here's the part that so many times, we forget. It's still work. And like any job, there is training involved. There is always on the job training. The learning you get simply by doing the job. But there is also other training that we can do for ourselves. One of my good friends says, "There's nothing like learning from experience.... as long as it's someone else's."
And who better to learn from, than the one who created marriage?? If He spent two and a half books in the Old Testament, and five separate passages in the New Testament on teaching women how to be good wives, how in the world do we expect to walk into marriage and just "know what to do"? He wrote the book of Esther about two women who had the same man, yet got opposite responses. He wrote the book of Ruth to show us how to prepare for marriage and win our husband's heart. He wrote half of the book of Proverbs about the way Wisdom (who is astonishingly portrayed as a female) can win a man, and half of the book of Proverbs on the "Simple woman". So many times there are verses in Proverbs that nearly line up side by side as a comparison between the wise and foolish woman. Then in the New Testament, God deals with wives in Colossians, Ephesians, I Timothy, Titus, and I Peter.
So here's the recommendation I have for married women on how to improve their own marraiges. Study! Study like your life depends on it (which in a way, it does)! Study your Bible. Study your mate. Study good books. Study the women you admire. Study to be quiet.
Some of the best marital advice I was ever given was from my mother. She told me, "SHUT UP!!! Learn that the Holy Spirit can do His job far better than you can, and your big mouth is going to hinder Him much more than help Him." OK, she didn't use those exact words, but that's the gist. It has been the advice that has fixed problems in my marriage far more often than not. I have found over and again that if I try to fix the problem, I usually mess it up worse. If I allow the Holy Spirit to do His job, I see what I want done far sooner than I expected.
I have few ladies in my life whose marriages I truly admire. Few ladies that I wish my marriage were more like theirs. Those are the ones that I tend to listen to more than talking. Little things that they say, how they react, the advice they give.... those are the things I strive to do and be more like.
Books I love are Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl, For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge (it helped me understand my husband better than any book I've ever read), Captivating by Staci Eldredge (helped me understand me), and The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (which helped me understand how to love my husband). To name a few. *Disclaimer, I do not recommend or believe the entirety of any one of these books, let alone all of these books. As always, my beliefs are based on what I believe the Bible teaches and I learned from these books to the extent of what I could hang on Biblical principles previously established in my mind.*
Many times, I can tell what my Doug is going to do, because I study him. There are still times I fail, which is further proof that I need to study more. But for most of the time, I can predict what my husband is going to do, even down to what he will want for dinner based on the kind of day he has had. I love that. I can slide right in, meet one of his needs before he even realized he had it, then be out of the way so he thinks he thought of it himself. I love doing that!!
So many times we study one or the other of these things, and still fail to study our Bibles. But since God made us, and fashioned us just as we are... doesn't it make sense to look to Him for the answers?? He has laid out the blueprint, established the path, and all he wants to do is use His Word as a light for the way we need to go. God's Word has comforted me in times of distress, yes, even in my marriage. God's Word has told me what to do in times of immense confusion and discouragement, even in my marriage. God has many times led me to the exact verse I need at just the right moment. I have endevored to study the stories, the proverbs, and the instructions He has placed for me, even taking the time to memorize some. I encourage you to do the same.
11 Years and still in love
And what is romance, anyway? Isn't it when our Prince Charming looks at us in the way that makes our insides gooey? These things add up to stoking the fire that makes the goo. :) Because, when I give 100% to my husband, he's sure to see and send the same back to me. How do I know? Because God promised. I Peter 3:1, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;" Hold onto HIS promises!!!!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Why DO I homeschool??
Sometimes, when I'm tired of homeschooling, and I feel like I would love to quit and have the day to myself, it is good to be reminded of why I wanted to homeschool in the first place.
My oldest went to Kindergarten at a small Christian school, but only because his aunt was his teacher and the other two needed some Mommy time.
Now, I home educate because I want to be the largest influence on my children. I want to instil in them the belief that with God, they can do anything. If someone was going to influence my children from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, I wanted to be sure that her convictions were mine. That her reason for spending the time with my child was not to pay for her child's education, not to earn a little extra money for herself, and certainly not to indoctrinate them with some liberal agenda. I want to have my children taught WHY we do the things we do. WHY we go to church. WHY we memorize Bible verses. WHY we believe in creation. WHY we love serving others. WHY we pitch in and help out with others. WHY our standards are as high as they are, even though others think they are weird.
I want them to love learning. I remember distinctly the day when I no longer enjoyed going to school. The day when I was bored to hear about the same thing for the 50th time and I still had to sit and listen to a 45 minute lecture on the topic. I remember hating doing homework over a topic that I understood and was bored of. I remember not retaining things even though I had studied them because it was not a topic that held my interest. NOW, I do teach all the different ranges of topics to my boys, but at the same time I allow them to pursue those that interest them. When we go to the library, they are allowed to pick three books for that week on whatever topic seems interesting. So far they have studied dinosaurs, pirates, sharks, Christmas in foreign countries, and baby animals. I LOVE this!!! I love that they ENJOY learning.
I want them to realize that they will never know everything, but they can know where to look. I love taking them to the library and introducing them to new topics. I want them to realize that books, and GOOGLE :) have all the answers to all the questions they need. I love memorizing verses on topics for an entire school year. Last year, we memorized verses on God's commands to children (ie. Be quiet, Be still...). This year, we are studying verses from Proverbs on the slothful and the diligent. I love sharing with them Bible verses that apply to simple things like schoolwork.
I want them to have an entrepreneur's heart that seeks out challenges rather than being afraid of failure. So many times, boys at school tease other boys who do not have their sports ability. Those kids that do not have the ability to learn well are teased for their bad grades. I'm not saying that grading is bad. We are graded daily in every area of our lives, and only in knowing we have failed can we choose to improve. It's just that with a dyslexic son that sits next to a brother that has been reading since he was two, he has enough trouble without also being added to the "remedial" reading group in school. It also takes much encouragement from us, and a curve in reading grades. But hey, in my humble opinion, since reading is not a grade in high school, then it's not really important what their grade is now as long as they arrive in high school with a love of reading and absorbing knowledge. I can give my dyslexic reader a B for his high effort, even if it's not as good as my advanced reader would have done at that point in his life. If they learn from the examples in their own life that they can do anything if they keep trying, they will be willing to take charge of their own lives later down the road.
I want my sons to get to be boys, instead of disciplined into being robots and sitting still all day. Don't mistake me. They WILL sit still when they are asked, but they will be given enough opportunities to run so that sitting is not so difficult. I love letting them run all day, only to coral them after dinner for two to three hours of schooling. They get done quickly that way and are able to enjoy the day. They have time to do their chores, time to help with the work around the outside of the house, contribute to being helpers in the house, and still get to spend roughly half of their time awake at play. I love that!!!
I want my sons to have every opportunity to find out what they want to do with their LIFE rather than focusing on the subjects available at whatever college. If they hate this subject or that subject, they will be far less likely to head for the career of their dreams because they have so much prejudice against a certain class they may have to take. If, however, they are taught in a way they enjoy, on a timeline that fits them, they will learn useful information at a time that is best suited to their learning, not to a curriculum's calendar.
In short, I want to give my sons every opportunity to find what God wants and requires, and the strength of mind, body, and character to become that man. THAT is why I homeschool. THAT is why I love what I do.
My oldest went to Kindergarten at a small Christian school, but only because his aunt was his teacher and the other two needed some Mommy time.
Now, I home educate because I want to be the largest influence on my children. I want to instil in them the belief that with God, they can do anything. If someone was going to influence my children from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, I wanted to be sure that her convictions were mine. That her reason for spending the time with my child was not to pay for her child's education, not to earn a little extra money for herself, and certainly not to indoctrinate them with some liberal agenda. I want to have my children taught WHY we do the things we do. WHY we go to church. WHY we memorize Bible verses. WHY we believe in creation. WHY we love serving others. WHY we pitch in and help out with others. WHY our standards are as high as they are, even though others think they are weird.
I want them to love learning. I remember distinctly the day when I no longer enjoyed going to school. The day when I was bored to hear about the same thing for the 50th time and I still had to sit and listen to a 45 minute lecture on the topic. I remember hating doing homework over a topic that I understood and was bored of. I remember not retaining things even though I had studied them because it was not a topic that held my interest. NOW, I do teach all the different ranges of topics to my boys, but at the same time I allow them to pursue those that interest them. When we go to the library, they are allowed to pick three books for that week on whatever topic seems interesting. So far they have studied dinosaurs, pirates, sharks, Christmas in foreign countries, and baby animals. I LOVE this!!! I love that they ENJOY learning.
I want them to realize that they will never know everything, but they can know where to look. I love taking them to the library and introducing them to new topics. I want them to realize that books, and GOOGLE :) have all the answers to all the questions they need. I love memorizing verses on topics for an entire school year. Last year, we memorized verses on God's commands to children (ie. Be quiet, Be still...). This year, we are studying verses from Proverbs on the slothful and the diligent. I love sharing with them Bible verses that apply to simple things like schoolwork.
I want them to have an entrepreneur's heart that seeks out challenges rather than being afraid of failure. So many times, boys at school tease other boys who do not have their sports ability. Those kids that do not have the ability to learn well are teased for their bad grades. I'm not saying that grading is bad. We are graded daily in every area of our lives, and only in knowing we have failed can we choose to improve. It's just that with a dyslexic son that sits next to a brother that has been reading since he was two, he has enough trouble without also being added to the "remedial" reading group in school. It also takes much encouragement from us, and a curve in reading grades. But hey, in my humble opinion, since reading is not a grade in high school, then it's not really important what their grade is now as long as they arrive in high school with a love of reading and absorbing knowledge. I can give my dyslexic reader a B for his high effort, even if it's not as good as my advanced reader would have done at that point in his life. If they learn from the examples in their own life that they can do anything if they keep trying, they will be willing to take charge of their own lives later down the road.
I want my sons to get to be boys, instead of disciplined into being robots and sitting still all day. Don't mistake me. They WILL sit still when they are asked, but they will be given enough opportunities to run so that sitting is not so difficult. I love letting them run all day, only to coral them after dinner for two to three hours of schooling. They get done quickly that way and are able to enjoy the day. They have time to do their chores, time to help with the work around the outside of the house, contribute to being helpers in the house, and still get to spend roughly half of their time awake at play. I love that!!!
I want my sons to have every opportunity to find out what they want to do with their LIFE rather than focusing on the subjects available at whatever college. If they hate this subject or that subject, they will be far less likely to head for the career of their dreams because they have so much prejudice against a certain class they may have to take. If, however, they are taught in a way they enjoy, on a timeline that fits them, they will learn useful information at a time that is best suited to their learning, not to a curriculum's calendar.
In short, I want to give my sons every opportunity to find what God wants and requires, and the strength of mind, body, and character to become that man. THAT is why I homeschool. THAT is why I love what I do.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Settled In
But God is faithful......
So, in the last few months, here is what has happened... God has blessed us
With a wonderful new home
and a large back patio
a fireplace
and a washer for a Christmas present, and a dryer from a new Christian friend
and a new recliner God gave us for $15.
See, God is faithful. He has "turned for us our mourning into dancing." He has given "Beauty for ashes." I heard that explained recently. Just as you take the ashes from your fireplace and sprinkle it on your garden to bring new, better fruit; or larger, more beautiful flowers... so God takes the ashes from our past, the mistakes, the failures, the heartaches: and builds us a beautiful future that produces more fruit. We have watched God do great things for us. Through all my life, God's been good.
"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
From the Brand New Home....
So, here we are in a brand new city, with a brand new church, and brand new friends...
And you know? God is still faithful!!! Doug looked for a church in the weeks before the boys and I arrived, but was unable to do much as the churches he called never got back to him. Because of being in the city with no form of transportation other than the public bus lines, he was dependent on the church to get back with him for a ride to church. The only church that got back with him was Coastal Light, and it has been perfect in every way. What a wonderful church FAMILY the Lord has provided for us here. I could go on and on. We are taking our time to be sure about the church, but it feels like HOME already, and we're ready to get busy in it.
Doug's job is going well. We found out after he started that he had been picked out of 2,200 applicants for his job, and so far he is doing a great job. He took his first test today toward being fully independent in his work. He passed. With flying colors. I'm so proud of him!!!
The boys and I are starting school now that we are in place. We don't have everything we need yet, but we are starting with what we have, and we should have the rest next week or so. I am excited about training them to be Godly young men, one day at a time.
Which brings me to the last part. We were also blessed in that we are able to stay in the temporary housing for two months instead of only one. See, as a result of moving ourselves (with things stored in four separate loacations, I couldn't ask any moving company to do it for me) we had much more money left over from the monies they were willing to pay for our move. Because of that, we are able to stay in temorary housing for an extra month. WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!! With Doug being out of work, then getting paid so little to work, we made it here by the skin of our teeth. Now, with two months in the temporary home, we have enough time to save up a good amount for the deposits we will need to pay. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." God has led this entire way, and I cannot doubt that he will continue to lead our family in the future. I love that there is "an expected end". That means, God has already been where I'm going, he knows "...the way that I take, [and] when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold."
And you know? God is still faithful!!! Doug looked for a church in the weeks before the boys and I arrived, but was unable to do much as the churches he called never got back to him. Because of being in the city with no form of transportation other than the public bus lines, he was dependent on the church to get back with him for a ride to church. The only church that got back with him was Coastal Light, and it has been perfect in every way. What a wonderful church FAMILY the Lord has provided for us here. I could go on and on. We are taking our time to be sure about the church, but it feels like HOME already, and we're ready to get busy in it.
Doug's job is going well. We found out after he started that he had been picked out of 2,200 applicants for his job, and so far he is doing a great job. He took his first test today toward being fully independent in his work. He passed. With flying colors. I'm so proud of him!!!
The boys and I are starting school now that we are in place. We don't have everything we need yet, but we are starting with what we have, and we should have the rest next week or so. I am excited about training them to be Godly young men, one day at a time.
Which brings me to the last part. We were also blessed in that we are able to stay in the temporary housing for two months instead of only one. See, as a result of moving ourselves (with things stored in four separate loacations, I couldn't ask any moving company to do it for me) we had much more money left over from the monies they were willing to pay for our move. Because of that, we are able to stay in temorary housing for an extra month. WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!! With Doug being out of work, then getting paid so little to work, we made it here by the skin of our teeth. Now, with two months in the temporary home, we have enough time to save up a good amount for the deposits we will need to pay. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." God has led this entire way, and I cannot doubt that he will continue to lead our family in the future. I love that there is "an expected end". That means, God has already been where I'm going, he knows "...the way that I take, [and] when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold."
Monday, September 19, 2011
Clark Family Update
So, I figure it's been a long while since I posted, and those who do read may wonder if I dropped off the map. Here's what's been happening.
I told you about the apartment, and the move, and Doug's new job. Let's see. Right now I am staying with my parents, in the same room as three little boys, on a cot that in no way matches my Tempurpedic for comfort.... And I'm excited!!!!
You see, God took care of fitting in our inspection before the lights get turned off at our apartment, and he took care of lining up a carpet cleaner last minute after the one we had lined up had his machine broken. A friend of mine helped me clean out the apartment for the inspection until three in the morning this morning. It is so weird to walk in to an empty apartment after having seen it full of furniture and boxes on Sunday morning. My friend gave me some advice which ultimately helped us pass the inspection too.
Let's see, also, the boys and I are doing every possible busywork thing to keep our minds occupied. Tomorrow I will have to do a little cleaning and packing of the things I brought to my parent's house, but other than that, I am pretty well set and ready to go in two weeks.
God has not failed us. We are experiencing things that are reprocussions of our past financial decisions, but God has helped through it all and is caring for us to the end.
The only way to look right now is up, and it's upward that we're headed. I can hardly wait to get to Charleston and see what God has for us next.
A friend of mine posted Ephesians 3:20 on Facebook today, and I can think of no more appropriate verse for this post. "Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think..." I'm so glad He is the God of more than enough.
I told you about the apartment, and the move, and Doug's new job. Let's see. Right now I am staying with my parents, in the same room as three little boys, on a cot that in no way matches my Tempurpedic for comfort.... And I'm excited!!!!
You see, God took care of fitting in our inspection before the lights get turned off at our apartment, and he took care of lining up a carpet cleaner last minute after the one we had lined up had his machine broken. A friend of mine helped me clean out the apartment for the inspection until three in the morning this morning. It is so weird to walk in to an empty apartment after having seen it full of furniture and boxes on Sunday morning. My friend gave me some advice which ultimately helped us pass the inspection too.
Let's see, also, the boys and I are doing every possible busywork thing to keep our minds occupied. Tomorrow I will have to do a little cleaning and packing of the things I brought to my parent's house, but other than that, I am pretty well set and ready to go in two weeks.
God has not failed us. We are experiencing things that are reprocussions of our past financial decisions, but God has helped through it all and is caring for us to the end.
The only way to look right now is up, and it's upward that we're headed. I can hardly wait to get to Charleston and see what God has for us next.
A friend of mine posted Ephesians 3:20 on Facebook today, and I can think of no more appropriate verse for this post. "Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think..." I'm so glad He is the God of more than enough.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
When God Answers Prayer
So, I've found out that when God answers prayer, he answers them BIG TIME!!!!!!!
Let's back up so I can fill you in on the last SIX MONTHS!! I haven't posted much, other than to encourage myself, because we don't have internet where we are living and I have to be at my parents, his moms, or the library to use a computer that has internet.
We moved out of our other home because we were no longer able to afford payments, and when life seemed it's darkest, God provided a home for half as much money as the other was costing us. It was worth it, the neighbors were all grownups, but that was okay because it meant our apartment was pretty calm. Then, everyone cleared out and we got new neighbors. Some with less than desirable habits, and some who had friends that did not value the property of others. But that's only happened in the last month, so, for the most part it has been wonderful.
God gave us some super understanding people to work with for rent, and that has been good since I am without my interpreting job right now. Doug was working about 45 minutes away from home, and come to find out, only paying for gas with the money he made. SO, he found a job in bike riding distance of our home, that pays $.50 more PER HOUR than the one he had to drive 45 minutes to do. Then, he got a secondary night job. Between the two of them, God has continued to meet our needs. I've also been doing babysitting jobs so I can help earn a little more while staying with our sons.
SO, here we are now, five months in, and God has given Doug a new job. He starts on the 12th of next month, which will be 6 months, minus a week, since our lives were turned upside down. We are moving out of state, about 6 hours away from both of our families, but I will be totally at home with the boys. No more interpreting. No more babysitting. Just homeschooling. It's going to be such a break for me!!! We think we've found the place we are going to live, and I'm excited because it's seemed that we have a new church there as well.
God has been, is continuing to be, and will remain ever faithful!! I'm actually excited about what he is going to do next.
Let's back up so I can fill you in on the last SIX MONTHS!! I haven't posted much, other than to encourage myself, because we don't have internet where we are living and I have to be at my parents, his moms, or the library to use a computer that has internet.
We moved out of our other home because we were no longer able to afford payments, and when life seemed it's darkest, God provided a home for half as much money as the other was costing us. It was worth it, the neighbors were all grownups, but that was okay because it meant our apartment was pretty calm. Then, everyone cleared out and we got new neighbors. Some with less than desirable habits, and some who had friends that did not value the property of others. But that's only happened in the last month, so, for the most part it has been wonderful.
God gave us some super understanding people to work with for rent, and that has been good since I am without my interpreting job right now. Doug was working about 45 minutes away from home, and come to find out, only paying for gas with the money he made. SO, he found a job in bike riding distance of our home, that pays $.50 more PER HOUR than the one he had to drive 45 minutes to do. Then, he got a secondary night job. Between the two of them, God has continued to meet our needs. I've also been doing babysitting jobs so I can help earn a little more while staying with our sons.
SO, here we are now, five months in, and God has given Doug a new job. He starts on the 12th of next month, which will be 6 months, minus a week, since our lives were turned upside down. We are moving out of state, about 6 hours away from both of our families, but I will be totally at home with the boys. No more interpreting. No more babysitting. Just homeschooling. It's going to be such a break for me!!! We think we've found the place we are going to live, and I'm excited because it's seemed that we have a new church there as well.
God has been, is continuing to be, and will remain ever faithful!! I'm actually excited about what he is going to do next.
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