Many wonder what little people do around the house while the mother teaches the older children and folding laundry at the same time. No, I am not trying to be a show off because I multi task. I am stating what I usually do while teaching school. No need to hover over children, I can stand 20 feet away and supervise. Some little boys, Super Sweet namely, like to take advantage of this freedom. They do all sorts of things when the mother is standing near the ironing board or school table. They climb on workout machines (I really need a picture of that), they put pink underwear on their heads (I didn’t get the camera fast enough), they color on chalk boards (even if someone else is working there), they climb onto trampolines, squeal at doll babies, pull school books off of shelves and so forth. But what they do near mother’s feet is something to sweet to not get on camera.
He’s dumping out wash cloths in this picture.
He’s looking in the basket now.

I was able to get a couple more shots of this act of kindness of his before he was bored of the game. Needless to say, I got to put the wash cloths back in the basket, without his help. So now you know how a little boy stays busy or out of trouble while mom is other wise distracted.

We have had us some wild adventures here lately. Working on costumes for the Passover, getting a new guitar (need to learn how to play it too), getting projects ready for our homeschool learning fair, and so forth. Super Sweet started crawling on all fours this past Saturday, I was wondering if he would. Peanut never did, just slid on her belly and at 14 months decided to walk. At 15 months I think Super Sweet is on track, I am sure the hyper doctors would disagree. The Lord gave me the ability to care for him so I don’t worry. Big E got his new Bible lessons yesterday and was so excited. What a turn around for him. Last year when I started him on this particular study he fought me, this work requires a lot of thinking. Again, our great Father changed that little boy’s heart and attitude and he did two lessons this morning. He would have done more but I cut him off. Sadly though, Peanut has taken her brother’s former views about school to be her own. Yes, she has been complaining. She likes school, she just wants to do the fun stuff she likes and leave the harder stuff on the shelf. Isn’t it funny how we are all like that about things. No matter how old we get there is always something we put off until the last minute. Speaking of that, I wonder when the floors are going to get mopped.
I think I will go play with Super Sweet while the others have their quiet time. I used to get upset when the big 3 didn’t nap at the same time, Bean was always off. But I have learned to enjoy the solitude of one child while the others are sent off to their rooms. After all, one child is quieter then four. Not that I would get rid of any of them, but a girl does need a few minutes every day of quiet and the children need to learn to be quiet. Quiet time is good for us all.

I know it is past February 14th, but I just found this at
http://debylin.wordpress.com/ and wanted to share it. Debylin has some real good articles worth sharing and reading. Enjoy.

Okay this is what most people believe:

History of Valentine’s Day Ever Wonder Who St. Valentine Was? Or why so many people get all mushy around the second week of February? Here’s a brief synopsis: St. Valentine was actually two people (that weren’t romantically involved) who were martyred on the same day (c. 270). Feasts commemorating them were celebrated on February 14. One was a priest and physician who died in Rome during the persecution of Christians by Claudius II Grothicus. The other was the bishop at Terni, Italy who was also martyred in Rome. Both have been buried at different places along the Flaminian Way. So why do people send “valentines” or “love-tokens” to one another on that day? The origin of that tradition is not thought to have any connection with the saint’s day. Rather it comes from an early European belief that the second week of February was when birds began to mate. The idea suggests that lovers should probably exchange notes and gifts on February 14 in conjunction with what nature practiced. Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is observed as a special day for love and romance. This topic is one of the oldest, and probably most-discussed, issues in history! As Christians, we know that love originates from God and that God is love (1 John 4:16).

Now the more truth in greater detail… found this on a website.. good things and yet had to delete some as it’s doctrine was a bit out in left field so to speak!

The Truth Behind St. Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is the world’s “holiday of love.” Since the Bible states that God is love (I John 4:8, 16), does He approve of the celebration of this day? Does He want His people—true Christians—partaking of the candy and cards, or any customs associated with this day?

When God says He wants you to live life abundantly (John 10:10), does that include celebrating a festive, seemingly harmless holiday like Valentine’s Day? The God who gives us everything—life, food, drink, the ability to think for ourselves, etc.—surely approves of St. Valentine’s Day, the holiday for lovers to exchange gifts—right?

Valentine’s Past

Like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Year’s and other holidays of this world, St. Valentine’s Day is another attempt to “whitewash” perverted customs and observances of pagan gods and idols by “Christianizing” them.

As innocent and harmless as St. Valentine’s Day may appear, its traditions and customs originate from two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: Lupercalia and the feast day of Juno Februata.

Assisted by Vestal Virgins, the Luperci (male priests) conducted purification rites by sacrificing goats and a dog in the Lupercal cave on Palatine Hill, where the Romans believed the twins Romulus and Remus had been sheltered and nursed by a she-wolf before they eventually founded Rome. Clothed in loincloths made from sacrificed goats and smeared in their blood, the Luperci would run about Rome, striking women with februa, thongs made from skins of the sacrificed goats. The Luperci believed that the floggings purified women and guaranteed their fertility and ease of childbirth. February derives from februa or “means of purification.”

To the Romans, February was also sacred to Juno Februata, the goddess of febris (“fever”) of love, and of women and marriage. On February 14, billets (small pieces of paper, each of which had the name of a teen-aged girl written on it) were put into a container. Teen-aged boys would then choose one billet at random. The boy and the girl whose name was drawn would become a “couple,” joining in erotic games at feasts and parties celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would remain sexual partners for the rest of the year. This custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries.

Whitewashing Perversion

In A.D. 494, Pope Gelasius renamed the festival of Juno Februata as the “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.” The date of its observance was later changed from February 14 to February 2, then changed back to the 14. It is also known as Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

After Constantine had made the Roman church’s brand of Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (A.D. 325), church leaders wanted to do away with the pagan festivals of the people. Lupercalia was high on their list. But the Roman citizens thought otherwise.

It was not until A.D. 496 that the church at Rome was able to do anything about Lupercalia. Powerless to get rid of it, Pope Gelasius instead changed it from February 15 to the 14th and called it St. Valentine’s Day. It was named after one of that church’s saints, who, in A.D. 270, was executed by the emperor for his beliefs.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in early martyrologies under the date of 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at different distances from the city…Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing is further known.” Several biographies of different men named Valentine were merged into one “official” St. Valentine.

The church whitewashed Lupercalia even further. Instead of putting the names of girls into a box, the names of “saints” were drawn by both boys and girls. It was then each person’s duty to emulate the life of the saint whose name he or she had drawn. This was Rome’s vain attempt to “whitewash” a pagan observance by “Christianizing” it, which God has not given man the power or authority to do. Though the church at Rome had banned the sexual lottery, young men still practiced a much toned-down version, sending women whom they desired handwritten romantic messages containing St. Valentine’s name.

Over the centuries, St. Valentine’s Day cards became popular, especially by the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. These cards were painted with pictures of Cupid and hearts, and meticulously decorated with lace, silk or flowers.

First Man Called Valentine

But who was the original Valentine? What does the name Valentine mean?

Valentine comes from the Latin Valentinus, which derives from valens—“to be strong, powerful, mighty.” The Bible describes a man with a similar title: “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord” (Gen. 10:8-9). He was said to have hunted with bow and arrow.

As mentioned, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia to honor the hunter god Lupercus. To the Greeks, from whom the Romans had copied most of their mythology, Lupercus was known as Pan, the god of light. The Phoenicians worshipped the same deity as Baal, the sun god. Baal was one of many names or titles for Nimrod, a mighty hunter, especially of wolves. He was also the founder and first lord of Babel (Gen. 10:10-12). Defying God, Nimrod was the originator of the Babylonian Mystery Religion, whose mythologies have been copied by the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and a multitude of other ancient peoples. Under different names or titles—Pan, Lupercus, Saturn, Osiris—Nimrod is the strong man and hunter-warrior god of the ancients.

But what does the heart symbol have to do with a day honoring Nimrod/Valentine?

The title Baal means “lord” or “master,” and is mentioned throughout the Bible as the god of pagans. God warned His people not to worship or even tolerate the ways of Baal (Nimrod). In ancient Chaldean (the language of the Babylonians), bal, which is similar to Baal, meant, “heart.” This is where the Valentine heart symbol originated.

Now notice the name Cupid. It comes from the Latin verb cupere, meaning “to desire.” Cupid was the son of Venus, Roman goddess of beauty and love. Also known as Eros in ancient Greece, he was the son of Aphrodite. According to myth, he was responsible for impregnating numerous goddesses and mortals. Cupid was a child-like archer (remember, Nimrod was a skilled archer). Mythology describes Cupid as having both a cruel and happy personality. He would use his invisible arrows, tipped with gold, to strike unsuspecting men and women, causing them to fall madly in love. He did not do this for their benefit, but to drive them crazy with intense passion, to make their lives miserable, and to laugh at the results.

Many of the gods of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians and others were modeled after one man—Nimrod.

But what does this have to do with us today? Why should we be concerned with what happened in the past?

What God Thinks

Read what God commands His people concerning pagan customs and traditions: “Learn not the way of the heathen…For the customs of the people are vain” (Jer. 10:2-3). Also notice Christ’s words in Matthew 15:9: “…in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Why Paganism Is Wrong

Just why does God hate anything that resembles pagan customs? Is it possible to “whitewash” or “Christianize” pagan practices and make them clean? Is it okay to practice pagan customs as long as you “worship God”?

Notice what God says in Leviticus chapter 18. After rescuing Israel from slavery, God warned them not to practice the customs they had picked up in Egypt, or learn the ways, customs and traditions of the Gentile nations that they would encounter in the Promised Land (vs. 1-3). Instead, God commanded Israel to follow His ways (vs. 4-5).

God then describes the pagan ways of these ungodly nations in great detail. In verses 7-20, He condemns all kinds of heterosexual sex relations that fall outside the holy boundaries of marriage—incest, fornication, adultery, etc. In verses 22-23, God condemns homosexuality and bestiality. Together, these sins break down and destroy the family unit that God had so lovingly created and instituted.

Notice what God links to these perversions: “And you shall not let any of your seed [children] pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (vs. 21). God ties in the perverse sexual practices of ungodly, pagan nations with human sacrifices—parents offering the lives of their children to pagan gods!

But that was then. What about today? Surely, parents do not sacrifice their children to pagan gods today—or do they?

Do not be so certain. Perhaps their lives are not being sacrificed—but what about their innocence?

Parents today expect their little ones to “fall in love” and have boyfriends and girlfriends. They think it is “cute” when little boys and girls hold hands and act like a couple, sneaking a kiss or two when no one is watching. Some parents get worried when their kids do not show romantic interest in the opposite sex. They constantly ask them, “Do you have a boyfriend yet?” or “Who’s your girlfriend?”

Yet these same parents are surprised when their teen-aged “little girl” gets pregnant. Or catches a sexually transmitted disease. Or gets an abortion behind their back.

St. Valentine’s Day is just one of many tools the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4) uses to get parents to sacrifice the innocence of their children.

When little boys and girls draw each other’s names in a lottery and send Valentine cards and gifts to each other, declaring their “love,” they are learning the first stages of intimate relations that the Creator God designed specifically for emotionally mature adults. Instead of embracing the carefree innocence of youth, growing up without the headaches and heartaches of adulthood (finding a job, paying bills, marriage, raising a family, etc.), children today are taught to lust after each other. They are caught up in a daily drama of “If-you-loved-me-you’d-sleep-with-me; I’m-pregnant; It’s-not-mine, she-had-an-abortion.” By the time they reach adulthood, virtually every shred of innocence, sincerity and moral decency has been stripped from them. Emotionally drained, they have world-weary, “been there, done that” attitudes. And their lives are just beginning.

This is why we live in a world where a teen-aged virgin is a rare find. Where what used to be called “shacking up” and “living in sin” is now simply “living together.” Where sex is nothing more than meaningless physical recreation—no emotional attachments, no cares, no concerns. Where people change sex partners as conveniently as they change clothes. Where unmarried twenty- or thirty-somethings have had at least five sexual partners—and that is considered a low number, especially in the United States. Where men are not referred to as “my husband,” or “my fiancé,” but as “my second baby’s father.”

Satan has deceived the whole world (Rev. 12:9) in multiple ways—especially when it comes to intimate relationships. St. Valentine’s Day is just one of his tools for deception.

“Come Out of Her, My People”

Concerning the near future, when man’s Satan-influenced world is about to collapse, God declares, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils [demons], and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed [increased] rich through the abundance of her delicacies” (Rev. 18:2-3).

Concerning this pagan, satanic system, God commands true Christians,“Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues” (vs. 4).

St. Valentine’s Day originates from the ancient paganism of this Satan-influenced world. It is designed to deceive mankind by appealing to fleshly, carnal desires—or, as the Bible calls them, the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest [made obvious], which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry…drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Gal. 5:19-21). Do any of these sound like Lupercalia to you?

Ultimately, “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” A true Christian is focused on God’s soon-coming kingdom (Matt. 6:33) and the world to come—not on the fleshly cravings of this world. A true Christian must strive to “put off the old man” and actively imitate the perfect, righteous example of Jesus Christ. A Christian knows that he must actively come out of this world, out of its pagan-infested customs, practices and traditions.

Christians do not celebrate St. Valentine’s Day!

I got this article from Debylin at http://debylin.wordpress.com Hop over to her site, she has some wonderful topics on many things. Enjoy and God bless!

The Godly woman that God commands us to be:

MODEST APPAREL

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
  A. We are living in a loose and lascivious age.
   1. There is a swarm of immodesty on the streets, in the movies,
     and on television.
  B. Modest Apparel is one of those subjects that needs to be taught
   often by all teachers and preachers of God's word.
   1. A faithful older Christian once said, "There are some
     subjects that we need a lesson on every year." This is
     definitely one of them.
  C. This subject is not one that is to be laughed at, scoffed at,
   or made light of.
   1. Not only should the preacher preach on it often, but also
     the older sisters are responsible before God to teach the
     younger. Titus 2:3-6
   2. They should set a good example and teach the younger the
     divine principles that relate to this subject.

I. THE WEARING OF CLOTHES IN PUBLIC IS NECESSARY.
  A. After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to clothe themselves.
   Gen. 3:7-11
   1. Their aprons of fig leaves apparently were not enough. Gen.
     3:21
     a. God intends that our bodies be clothed.
     b. A Christian could not be a member of a "nudist" or
      "near-nudist" colony.
  B. Under the Old Testament they were to be fully clothed.
   1. They wore long flowing robes. Deut. 22:11-12; Num. 15:37-
     38
   2. Men and women were to be distinguished from each other.
     Deut. 22:5
     a. It is a shame when our young men cannot be
      distinguished from our young ladies or vice versa.
     b. "Effeminacy" is condemned in the N.T. 1 Cor. 6:9
      (1) "Effeminate" means "soft to touch...a male who
        submits his body to unnatural lewdness" (Thayer),
        "having marked womanlike traits of character"
        (Webster).
     c. Thus, men should avoid women's traits (clothing, hair
      styles, etc.) and women should avoid men's traits
      (clothing, hair styles, etc.)

II. THE NEW TESTAMENT REGULATES THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF CLOTHING.
  A. The Christian woman should examine her clothing under the
   following divine principles.
   1. Chaste. 1 Pet. 3:1-6
     a. A basic definition for the word "chaste" (vs. 2) is
      "pure, holy, modest, decent."
     b. The ladies are not to rely on outward appearance for
      their attractiveness, but on the unseen virtues of the
      heart. (Vs. 3-6)
   2. Modest. 1 Tim. 2:9
     a. The word "modest" means, "orderly, well-arranged,
      decent, respectable." It is an outward sign of an inward
      chastity or purity.
     b. Thus, in choosing what to wear, the first question the
      Christian woman must ask herself, "Is it modest"? If it
      is questionable, she cannot wear it. Rom. 14:22-23
   3. Shamefacedness. 1 Tim. 2:9 (Shamefastness, ASV)
     a. The word "shamefacedness" means, "a sense of shame,
      bashful, blushing, ashamed." Hence, she is conscious of
      that which could bring shame or disgrace, and avoids it.
     b. The godly woman would be ashamed if her clothing were
      not right.
     c. The Israelites in Jeremiah's time were at the point where
      they could not be ashamed or blush. Jer. 6:16; 8:12
     d. Clothing which exposes too much of one's body should
      cause shame and blushing.
     e. Our young girls need to be taught early in age what is
      shameful and what is not; otherwise, they will not be
      ashamed to wear immodest clothing.
   4. Sobriety. 1 Tim. 2:9
     a. The word "sobriety" means, "using good, sound
      judgment; good sense."
     b. There is nothing worse than a beautiful woman without
      discretion. Prov. 11:22; 12:4
      (1) A beautiful woman without good sense can cause
        much embarrassment to the righteous.
   5. Professing godliness. 1 Tim. 2:10
     a. The word "godliness" means, "...to be devout; denotes
      that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude,
      does that which is well-pleasing to God." (Vine).
     b. One young lady said that she sought out the most godly
      women she knew, and looked at what they wore, and
      followed their example. We could reverse this--avoid
      wearing that which the ungodly women wear.
   6. Free from lasciviousness.
     a. A basic definition of the word "lasciviousness" is,
      "wanton, lewd, tending to produce lewd emotions;
      having or producing unlawful sexual desires."
     b. Lasciviousness is a work of the flesh. Gal. 5:19
     c. If the clothing a woman wears draws attention to the
      intimate parts of her body, she is wearing lascivious
      clothing.
     d. Shorts, halters, bathing suits, bikinis, transparent
      blouses, very tight knit blouses, skin-tight slacks, the
      mini shirts, and such like are apparel which draw
      attention to the secret parts of a woman.
     e. When Mary Quant, the designer of the mini skirt, was
      interviewed, she said, "This apparel is typical of a
      woman trying to seduce a man." (See Mary Quant,
      mother of the mini skirt in McCalls, March, 1970).
  B. Christian women must recognize and obey the divine principles.
   1. If her clothing is not in accord with the divine principles,
     she sins whether she has evil intentions or not.
     a. She needs to realize that she lives in a world with men
      and needs to know something about men.
     b. It is true that when a man "looks" and "lusts," if he
      does not repent, he will be lost. Matt. 5:27-28
     c. However, if she encourages lust by her scanty attire,
      whether intentionally or unintentionally, she sins. 1
      Cor. 8:12; Matt. 18:7-9
     d. Christian women, are you willing to be responsible for
      the downfall of a man by exposing your body to him?
  C. Bear in mind that the principles which apply to women
   regarding modest apparel, also apply to men. Men's clothing
   must be in accord with the divine regulations.
   1. Men should be careful to dress in such a way as to not cause
     lust.
   2. Furthermore, the Christian man must stay away from night
     clubs, beaches, corrupt movies, reading and looking at
     certain magazines, and certain TV programs where
     lasciviousness is running rampant.
     a. Christian men, are you deliberately placing yourselves in
      jeopardy? 1 Thess. 5:22
  D. When men and women recognize the divine principles and put
   them into practice, their clothing will be modest and free from
   lasciviousness.

III. SOME OFT-HEARD REASONS FOR WEARING SCANTY ATTIRE.
  A. "What may be modest in one country may not be in another
   and vice versa."
   1. Men of any country aren't that much different from each
     another. Acts 17:26
     a. They all know what parts of the body are sexually
      appealing.
   2. God's principles are not limited to geographical boundaries.
     a. Some barbaric tribes may not dress properly, but as
      soon as they learn God's principles, they will change.
  B. "I can't help it if others have a filthy mind."
   1. Of course, a man could lust after a woman and the woman
     not be at fault.
   2. However, if she is not following the divine principles, she
     sins as well.
     a. In reality, by her immodest clothing she shows that she
      is the one with the filthy mind. She wants to make an
      impression on others, but it has an opposite effect on
      the righteous; she makes a degrading impression.
  C. "The weather calls for it--it's more comfortable."
   1. If it is lascivious in the summer, it is lascivious in the
     winter.
     a. If it would be all right at the swimming pool, it would
      be at the church services.
     b. The Bible knows no such limitations as place and time.
      God's principle applies anywhere, anytime.
   2. Women need to realize that if they are exposing their
     bodies, men will be watching.
     a. There is almost no privacy. For example, at Auburn
      University, some college girls were nude-sun-bathing on
      top of the girls' dorm and helicopters from a nearby army
      barracks began coming over in great numbers.
  D. "It is fashion; everyone else is wearing them."
   1. Very small children begin making this argument. It is the
     time for much teaching.
   2. Christians are not to be "fashioned" according to this
     world. Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:14-18
  E. "My husband likes it."
   1. Much of the blame for lascivious clothing can be placed on
     the heads of the households.
   2. The father is the head of the house (Eph. 5:22-23) and needs
     to demand that his wife and children wear modest clothing.
   3. A Christian husband can buy his wife "sexy" clothes if he
     wishes. This is a part of marriage that the Bible encourages
     husband and wife to enjoy. Eccl. 9:9 However, to insist that
     she wear them in the presence of other men is sinful.
     a. If a wife has a husband that requires this, she ought to
      say, "I will obey God rather than man." Acts 5:29

Concl.
  A. May our Christian women wear apparel that demonstrates a meek
   and quiet spirit in all godliness and purity.
   1. May they ever keep the divine principles before them and
     obey them.
   2. Proper clothing must be: chaste, modest, with
     shamefacedness, with sobriety, processing godliness, free
     from lasciviousness.
  B. May our older ladies continually teach our younger.
   1. Young ladies, if you have doubt concerning what you are
     about to wear, ask that godly mother, aunt, grandmother or
     whoever. They will not lead you astray.
   2. Young men, if that young lady who you are dating comes
     out in immodest clothing, say to her, "Please don't wear
     that."
     a. By doing this, you will be building a lasting, wonderful
      relationship.
Chart #1
What Shall I Wear? #1
Consider the law of God:
1. Is my clothing chaste? 1 Pet. 3:1-6
2. Is it modest? 1 Tim. 2:9
3. Does it bring shame or embarrassment? 1 Tim. 2:9
4. Is it in accord with good judgment? 1 Tim. 2:9
5. Does it profess godliness? 1 Tim. 2:10
6. Is it free from lasciviousness? Gal. 5:19

Chart #2
What Shall I Wear? #2
Consider these divine principles:
1. Will it violate my conscience? Rom. 14:23
2. Will it cause others to lust? Matt. 5:27-28; Gal. 5:19
3. Will this action cause the weak brother to stumble? I Cor. 8:12;
  Matt.18:6
4. Will it hinder my influence? 2 Cor. 3:2; Rom. 14:7
5. Will this action take me among evil companions? 1 Cor. 15:33
6. Does it interfere with my friendship with God? James 4:4
7. Would Jesus do it? Luke 9:23
8. How does this course of action seem after I've prayed about it?
  Col. 4:2; Rom. 12:12

Chart #3
What shall I Wear #3
Some Oft-heard Excuses For Wearing Scanty Attire:
1. What may be modest in one country may not be in another.
2. What may be modest in one place may not be in another.
3. The weather calls for it; it's more comfortable.
4. It's the fashion; everyone else is wearing them.
5. I can't help it if others have a filthy mind.
6. My husband\mother likes it.

This past Thursday I did an unusual thing, I cooked dinner with a Jewish theme. It was fun, easy and the children loved it. Wow! While doing some baking on Saturday, Peanut asked me to make the food again, she really did like it. I made challah for the first time for our Sabbath meal. I can honestly say that I need to work on that one. The bread didn’t rise properly, I didn’t put the egg on before cooking and so forth. Tastes good, just not quite ready to serve to guests. So back to the kneading board.
It was one of those odd weekends here as well. Nothing special or tragic, just odd. We headed to the zoo yesterday for an outing and don’t you know the closer we got the bigger the snowflakes got. They also came down fast and furious. Now, I would have stayed but I worried about the road condition heading up the mountain to my home and thought it better to turn around before it got too bad, DH seconded my motion. Well, near home it was raining. Yes, raining. We could have walked around the zoo and enjoyed the beautiful snowflakes that were the size of golfballs all in one, but no. So I just stopped in the neighboring village and let my children run wild in our farmer’s fields. The parents joined in for the walk and Super Sweet talked his head off about all the snow. When some fell on my shoulder he began to hit it, everyone else plays in it why shouldn’t he? I took his glove off of him last week so he could feel it. Like all little people he was fascinated with the white powdery stuff.
I also noticed yesterday morning that Super Sweet had a rash on him. My first thought was heat rash so I took off some clothes. By after noon his father was concerned and went for some benedryl. We gave him a little and waited. Then DH said we should take him to the dr. just to make sure. So off we all went to the ER for this little guy and his red splotches. Allergy, that’s what she told me after 2 hrs of waiting. Don’t know if it’s food or not, but he should be fine in the morning. I checked that baby’s body this morning and he’s good as new. My God is so great! Too bad we went to the hospital, but better safe then sorry. Maybe tonight he’ll sleep better.
School is off to a slow start today after having three days off, another reason why we’ll be doing some school while on our month vacation in May. It has more to do with boredom then anything else so I am trying to shake things up a bit and perhaps next week we can get back into a fast paced groove and get done with this work. Now I just need a leaf blower to clear off my floors and we’ll be in business.

This seems like a strange title for a post, but I couldn’t get on yesterday. With my slow dial up some days are harder then others and that’s ok too. About this time yesterday it began to snow and stick. It continued until 8pm. It is snowing again now, but I don’t think it will amount to much this time. The sun is shining as well, such a beautiful day. We all went out for bit this morning but Super Sweet and I came in after 30 mins, the others came in much later. About the same time their bellies were empty and their bodies cold. Judging by the amount of snow they brought in, they had a very good time. Super Sweet has been taking off on his horse lately and flying on Big E’s plane. He is a man on a mission and has lots of places to go, so move out of the way. He enjoys walking if you hold his hands and bath time is something to enjoy, not endure. Nothing like the first two children that went through this house. That boy will anything I give him as well. So that makes 2 for the dad’s team and 2 for mine. Those people that eat it all are easy to please and get the short end of the dinner stick sometimes. Oh well, at least I’m eating good, right?
School has been slow this week and I attribute it to the final weeks. We are due to be finished by mid-March, but I don’t feel like teaching this week and it shows. Big E has already finished a couple of subjects and is knocking off more one at a time and that is nice. It makes his days shorter and less tidious and that is good for everyone. Peanut is plugging along and can see the end but is very bored with her phonics these days. Poor girl, she has 2 years to go in that subject. Bean is very good at writing her name and proud of that, she worked very hard to accomplish that. She also is staying in the lines when coloring, another hard earned reward. She is starting to focus more on what she is doing and that is encouraging since I thought she would be a bit slower. I guess I just needed to wait until she was ready. How great our God is to remind me to wait. Wait on the child, wait on Him to get the child ready. Wait. It’s so hard for us sinners to wait. We want to be in control, we want everything fast and easy, we, we, we, me, me, me. I often I forget that this is His world and I am here at His pleasure, for His glory, and my good, not my wants. Praise my Lord He is patient with me!
I have been reading a lot lately regarding the end times and that seems to be the forefront of many thoughts. I try not to read too much about those times because we don’t know and I don’t want a lot of garbage in my head about what it will be like. I know we have been heading towards the end ever since Christ resurrected and returned to heaven, but to place a time on it I think is wrong. I don’t think it’s ok to say we have only 7 years left. Who are we to make that assumption? We are to pay attention to world events, prepare for the Saviour’s return and trust that He will take care of us. What more is there? How will knowing He’s coming in 4 months, 3 days and 30 minutes help me prepare? If I’m not ready now then I won’t be ready then. What is left to get in order? I daily teach my children about the Creator and all He does for us, about the Redeemer who died for us, I teach them to love and worship Him… what more am I to do? I know I am to spread the gospel and I am doing that with my children. I am making them disciples just as He commanded in Matthew. I think what I need to prepare them for now is the troubles that await all christians in the upcoming turbulate years. Christ himself promised hardships to all that follow Him, so I guess that is what we have to work on next. But wouldn’t it just be easier for me to pray for His speedy return? Wait! He told us to do that as well when He taught us to pray. No, I don’t have it all together, but He has me on the right track. I have had a dry week as far as spending time in the Word is concerned, but He’s pulling me back and I am once again happy.
Isn’t it great how He fills us with joy and a desire to serve Him when we spend time with Him?! Why doens’t everyone want to know YAHWEH? There is such peace in Him!

I have had many convitions over the past year. First, it was over a year ago, to grow my hair out long. Then last spring it was to wear dresses/skirts. It states in the Bible that women are to dress as women and not men. I know that it differs for each culture and in my culture men don’t wear dresses. So, another thing to submit to. Both of these were easy to do and with each passing day it got easier and more fun. I felt feminie and truer to myself and the the women that the Heavenly Father created me to be. Next, it was the head coverings. Now some days it’s easier to wear it then others and the only reason for that is that I sometimes forget to put it on. I want to wear the headcovering because I feel led to, but since I don’t dress as soon as I rise it is usually a couple of hours before it gets on my head. Another reason it is sometimes off is that I can’t get it to stay on. I do try some tricks and it has become a challege and fun. I realize these are excuses for not wearing the headcovering, but my Father has mercy, is full of compassion and very patient with me. Each day He is working out my sactification, each day He makes me stronger to follow Him, each day He renews me. “My hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” See, it’s ok if I mess up every day because I have a greater hope. I know that the quote is from a song, but it is true none the less. I can rest knowing that one day I will stand in front of Jesus who will be my Judge, my Mediator, my Saviour and it won’t be hard to submit to His requirements any longer. I am covered in His righteousness, always.