Finishing Strong

The year's end is approaching quickly.  I recently attended two seminars (which accounts for my lack of posting!) and in both, I have been inspired to both start new projects and to finish current ones.  My goals for this week are to continue my posts on the homeschool classroom, to begin my Finishing List for 2009 and to begin my preparations for the holidays.

Looking over the calendar, the next few weeks will be very busy, and now more than ever, it will be important to be organized and prepared for what is ahead.  Otherwise, I will not make any traction.

Rather than enter this hectic time of year in a state of panic, I am choosing the ways of peace.  I refuse to jump on the wheel with all the rats in their own race!  Instead, I will run the race, with patience, that He has set before me, for I am looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of my faith.  (See, finishing is of Him!)

I am committed to continue schooling on a daily basis, even when "life" wants to creep in and push school work to the side.  I know it must be done.  We are making good progress and will complete what our hands have found to do.

I will take the time to prepare nourishing, hot, homemade meals for my family and we will eat them at the family altar, the dinner table.  I will spend time doing that which I enjoy, and what is precious and important.  I will be inspired and I will inspire.  And I will complete what I have begun.

Memory Lane

It was in this season, just a few years ago, that I walked with my friend through one of the toughest spiritual battles one can ever face.

This is my friend, Sandra. I can't remember when we first met, but it was probably at church. Over the years, we have traveled together, studied the Scriptures together, and attended a prayer group together. She's one of those life~long sisters to me, a kindred spirit and always a blessing.

Sandra's daughter and her husband were expecting their first baby, but there were many complications. After 13+ trips to the hospital, and extended hospital stays, Allison was finally delivered to this young couple. Today, mother and (almost) 3 year old Allison are strong and healthy. I believe they are alive solely because of prayer and faith in the Word of God.

Sandra has recently started a blog, and I wanted to invite my readers to go over and check out her posts. She's full of wisdom and I know she will be a blessing to you as well.

I am alive!

Praise God. I'm alive.

And, recovering from food poisoning, along with my dear 17 year old daughter. ;-(

We "treated" ourselves to a movie and dinner out, and are now going on day 4 of recovering from the effects of bad chicken from a local restaurant. I'll be back to posting as soon as I am recovered, and caught up with my household chores.

Prayers are appreciated!

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Dale Carnegie

My Favorite Passover Tablescape

I love to decorate my home with meaningful objects, teaching objects, and pictures that are worth a thousand words. This basket is full of little, woolie lambs, and to see more, click here.

Of all the tablescapes I've seen for Passover and the Holy Days of Unleavened Bread, this is one of my favorites.

And, the blog is great, too!

The Gospel

God's Everlasting Love found in Romans 8

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isn't that reason enough to worship Him, who is the Creator of all things?

Momtrepreneur

I keep Fast Company, but it's not what you think. For about a year now, I've been subscribed to Fast Company Magazine, and there was an interesting letter from the editor, Robert Safian, in the March 2009 edition. Here's a snippet:

"You won't find Bernie Madoff in these pages. Or talk of another Great Depression. You won't find unemployment statistics or the word "bailout." We may discuss those topics in another issue, but this month, we pass.
It's not that we have our heads in the sand. We know how challenging the business environment is. In fact, that's exactly why we've tried to make this issue as upbeat and bursting with potential as we can. The one incontrovertible truth about this era: Only creativity and aggressive innovation -- in the face of hardship and layoffs and seriously tough choices -- will fuel a turnaround."

I've been a SAHM for many years, and until 2005, I operated my own profitable in~home business. Even though I have since disolved my S~corp, I keep my eye on the market, and try to stay current with innovations, politics and information. And, I run my household like a profitable business.

I also love to study and pray. I've been praying and pondering Luke 19:11-27 lately, which is about business, or the busy~ness of life. Whether we leave the house or not, we conduct "business" every day. Luke 19:13 says, "Occupy till I come...", and that's what we do when we keep home.

We are an occupying army of moms. But, what are we doing?

The Greek word here is #4231, pragmateuomai, from the root #4229 and literally means "to busy oneself with", to trade ~ occupy, to do business. This means, as a SAHM, I'm to busy myself with the business of homekeeping, managing my household budget, and to even make an income from cottage industry if I can.

The reason I decided to quote from the Editor's letter is that it struck a cord with me.

Am I employing my God given creativity and innovation to help my family prosper, regardless of the economic situation outside my four walls, or even within them?

After all, I'm not just a mother sitting at home eating bonbons and watching soap operas.

Some of the things I do to help my family prosper include gardening, couponing, budgeting, and practicing thrift where I can. I don't demand fancy clothes or expensive haircuts and mani~pedi's, although I do take care of my myself. I just choose to do it while making an effort to be responsible with my money and my time.

Blogging and reading blogs has helped me realize that there are other ways to be frugal as well. Repurposing, remaking, and being content regardless are just a few ways I'm helping insure my family doesn't have to participate in this so~called Recession, which, by the way, I'm not totally convinced is really happening since I can't get down 71st Street to the mall without fighting terrible traffic, and I still can't get a good parking place at Walmart or Target.

What ever became of the idea of checks and balances in the market, and corrections where spending is out of line, like Lehman's million dollar bonuses? Whatever happened to suffering consequences from poor decisions? Or, letting a business fall on it's face if it was not being run successfully?


Part of my Greed study has been to understand the true meanings of words we commonly use, but do not completely understand. One such example was the word business. which means to trade. Prosperity comes through trade. Luke 19:15 says so.

If I want prosperity, I have to handle trade or business correctly, with an excellent spirit and so forth. The business of everyday life must be much more important than we realize. Don't you think?

When to improve...

From Great Expectations BBC version, "Biddy, you're the kind that makes the best of every change ~ you improve under any circumstances..."

Lord, let that be me.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Well, many of you don't know, but today is an anniversary of sorts for my family. My husband has been on his full time job one year today! That may not seem like a big deal to some, but let me tell you, it is a big deal to us.

In 2005, my husband was laid-off from MCI, where he had been employed for 7 years.

In 2006, he was forced to leave a company that was withholding commissions from him. He had worked there 11 months.

In 2007, he was laid-off from a third job, after only 10 months.

While we understood that these were just seasons in our lives, it was still difficult. He decided to leave telecom and utilities, which were the two primary industries in which he had been employed. He chose a new industry.

On February 18, 2008, he took a position with, of all things, an oil and gas manufacturer. I'm sure I don't need to say too much about where the oil and gas industry is at the moment, and yet I'm sure he is exactly where is supposed to be employed during this season. I don't know what the future holds, but I'm asking God to show me as much of the future as I need to know.

In the meantime, I'm celebrating the anniversary of a year's full-time employment, and rejoicing in knowing that before any of this happened, God had prepared us by leading us through Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey. He also gave us the vision to get out of debt, which we have attempted to walk out, even during the months of unemployment.

Praise God for His faithfulness. We've never gone hungry. We've not had a forclosure or repossession. And, we continue to pound away at our debt with our little snowballs. We will get there, walking out His good plans.

Help for families from Heartlight

So many families are struggling with an out of control situation in the home. If you are, I highly recommend this resource for you and your children.

Heartlight Ministries has been a great source of information and encouragement for me and other families I know, and I encourage you to check into their books, tapes, and programs if you or your teen are struggling.

Here's a link to the warning signs of a troubled teen and another link to the ministry information.