Take the Pill

My adult daughter Sally is extremely bright and full of life, but she is dying.  She received a bad report in the mail that the doctor found something wrong in her last routine visit and wishes to see her right away.  Nervously, we go to the our family's physician, the same who has seen her since birth,  who prescribes a drug that will fully cure her.  He is so concerned that he immediately phones in the prescription to the pharmacy and even offers to pay it for her because it's extremely expensive and honestly, there is no way either of us could afford it.  Returning from the pharmacy for her, I rush into her home and give her the prescription.  She informs me that she isn't interested in taking it right now.  She states that for one she feels great, and secondly she read online that she can just take another pill that is cheaper and just as effective.  Heartbroken, I try my best to persuade her that this is only way she will live.  She refuses.  I call the physician and I ask him is there any legal way that I can make her take this prescription since we know this is the only way she will live.  He informs me that legally you can never make a patient take medicine.  They must choose to receive it on their own.  Over time, I watch Sally's life deteriorate.  She keep's turning to cheap alternatives to the one drug that would save her because she believes they are cheaper, more natural, and definitely a more hip alternative.  As heartbroken as I am as her mother, I'm surprised how hard her physician takes the news.

In reality, we are all dying.  Our bad report that is sent to us is that we are great sinners and all sinners, great and small, deserve death and hell.  The good news for us is the Great Physician has paid for our prescription in the form of His Son Jesus who became the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Any alternative to Jesus is a cheapened alternative that will lead you to death and destruction even if only in the end.  Like the doctor in the story, God will never force you to accept Him.  You must come to Him by your own choice when He calls.  If God is calling you to offer you eternal life, won't you take that call and receive the prescription found in Jesus which is more than a ticket to heaven when you die but an opportunity to live a fulfilled life with Him now?

{Small disclaimer:  Since I'm already getting e-mails thinking this is really one of my children, it's not.  Just a story I woke up to this morning and decided to write.  It's an analogy of the true Gospel of God's overwhelming, redeeming love!!}

Curriculum Choices

I began homeschooling 20+ years ago with 100 Easy Lessons and Learning at Home by Ann Ward.  I did that for two years.  I loved it.  At a seminar I was introduced to KONOS and had a great couple of years with friends using KONOS.  Since then, it seems I have tried or checked out just about everything!  The only thing that didn't work for me is a "packaged curriculum".  I always liked the classical approach to homeschooling the best.  Using lots of real books and life to learn from.  My goal with my kiddos in homeschooling is to raise them to love Jesus foremost and to have a love of learning.  If you love to learn and have the "tools" to know how, you are prepared for whatever life may through your way.  Honestly, I still try to do too much wanting to cover everything before they leave home and have to stand back sometimes to regroup.   If I'm not careful, we're schooling from sun up to sun down.  Of course, that includes throwing in a few chores, cooking with me, etc. but still it's easy for me to get into the "I've got to cover everything" rut and forget that I'm training them to learn.  They will have the tools to learn whatever I or they miss.  Phew, that's a load off of my mind.  Most of our home school years has been with Ambleside Online, Apologia Science and Saxon Math.  However, I discovered Classical Conversations a few years ago and have loved it.  Saxon Math and Apologia are still a part of our school.  We also read a lot of books.  I have an adult daughter in college going into nursing.  My second child graduates this year and plans to begin college in the fall.  It goes way too fast.  Young mama, I know you hear that all the time, but let me tell you it's so true.  They grow up way too fast.  Even through the hard days of trying to home school while hugging a potty (pregnant), changing 100 diapers when soo many were little at once, catching up on laundry mountain and so many other chores, trying to survive on one full-time income, I thank the Lord so much that He led me to be with my precious children.   Because for all those hard days, there were so many more good days filled with laughter, singing, games, and togetherness.  Most importantly, it's worth it all if the Lord would find it to His great pleasure to use my small efforts to call my children, that He so graciously blessed us with, to Himself.    To Him be all the honor and glory forever!! 

20 Years of Homeschooling!

Wow!  When I filled out paperwork to be a director in Classical Conversations I realized I've been homeschooling for over 20 years!  My eldest daughter is going to be 25 and she began reading at age 4.  She was and is still an avid learner.  I decided my next few posts should be on some things I have learned as a mom while homeschooling. I'll put some of our favorite books, our adventures in schooling, and how I still do it after so long and enjoy it. 

Why I love to home educate my children?  First and foremost, I really love being with my children.  My eldest had to be in daycare off and on during her first 5 years of life and I hated it.  Don't get me wrong, I loved work.  I loved my job (Science Applications International Corporation) and I loved the people I worked with but I really missed being at home with my daughter and being a full-time mom.   If there is a calling for motherhood and homeschooling that makes you miserable doing anything else, I had it.   And I was surprised.   I had plans of a big career until I held that precious cargo.  All those future goals went by the wayside and my thoughts began drifting towards home.

I also was intrigued with the idea of homeschooling.   There was so little on the subject at the time therefore I joined a local home school co-op when my daughter was only two so I could do my homework.   Meanwhile, my husband began a partnership in a plumbing business that was doing well.  We decided to take the plunge and give up my benefits and pay to come home right before her kindergarten year. 

Our families thought we were nuts and had probably joined a cult.  It didn't help that I did begin getting very involved in a Spirit-filled church when she was 2.  Being so hungry for Truth and especially spiritual truth, I devoured the Word.  I was involved in Bible Studies and in learning how to be a good mom, wife, and future home school mom.  It pretty much consumed those first years of her life.  Compared to the old me, I am absolutely sure it did appear that I had to have joined a cult to have changed so drastically.  I know when they found out I wanted more than two children it made no sense at all to them. When I breastfed, my feminist mentors in life where appalled (especially when I did it for two years).  When I wanted natural child birth, cloth diapers to save money, dress simply, give up career ambitions and more, they pretty much just shook their heads.  But after 6 children they gave up on me and now are some of my biggest cheerleaders in life. Maybe by the time I had #8 they were just numb :D. 

Before we were married, we had "the plan".  We will have 3 children 3 years apart.  I will finish my college education and we will move by a beach and we will live happily ever after.  Well, God had other plans.  We definitely didn't plan on homeschooling.  We didn't have to throw away our dreams to follow God's plan for us but He has definitely changed our dreams.  It has been a great adventure and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  My next post will discuss what curriculum we began with and how we got where we are now. 

Nerf Guns Everywhere and New Year's Resolutions

I'm writing this amidst rapid Nerf gun fire, and believe it or not, it's so normal my thoughts aren't even scattered!   I didn't make my normal goals this year.  I try to begin a lot of great things at once and do well for a while and then one week of sick kiddos and it's all over.  This year I'm making one health/physical, one spiritual, one mental and one family goal before I do anything else.  My first health/physical goal was to give up diet cokes!  It is my one true vice.  There weren't even withdrawals or headaches when I quit this year because I already quit buying them at home a long time ago.  I saved them for when I was out during happy hour at Sonic.  A tall, bubbly, itty bitty ice of carbonation for a BUCK!!!   YESSSS, it was good while it lasted.  Next week will be about 2 weeks so I'll start my new health/physical goal then...at least 30 minutes of purposeful exercise a day.  Don't get me wrong.  A household this big, I never quit moving. But, I need to get more disciplined in this area again so that's next.

My first spiritual goal is to daily read the Word alone and with the family.  I've done at least one or the other since the first but not consistent with both yet.  Once, I conquer that one I actually do have a yearly plan of studies this year.

My first mental goal is to learn more Latin before I need to teach it in Challenge next year.   Therefore, I'm beginning to do the books with the children that they are doing and then I will begin Rosetta Stone.  I usually just follow along with the teacher book and don't make myself think things as through as I need to do. 

Lastly, my family goal is to get out of holiday - run- run - rush -rush mode and back into settled life.  Meals back at the table together.  Prayers more consistent.  Bedtimes back on track.  Limited television, video games, etc. during the week so we can focus more on school and home life.

Well, time to get the "shooters" to put their weapons away for the night.  It's "jammy" time.  Half of them are already behind on that bedtime deal :D.  Good night blogging world.

Rosetta Stone Give Away

Now is the perfect time to give your child the gift of possibilities for the holidays with Rosetta Stone Homeschool — and you can WIN a Level 1 Homeschool program, language of your choice (valued at $249)!
Right now Rosetta Stone is having a special Holiday promotion on our Homeschool Edition program and we’d like you to help spread the word! Everyone can save up to $150 on Rosetta Stone Homeschool by visiting our website at http://www.RosettaStone.com/hsw1110.
By helping us spread the word you can win a Rosetta Stone Homeschool Edition Level 1 program, language of your choice, valued at $249.
This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever!
Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.
To win this program, copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR post about this contest on your facebook page. Then go to the original page at http://www.triviumpursuit.com/blog/2010/12/28/rosetta-stone-giveaway/
and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post, and good luck!
***

Wherever You Are, Be All There. ~Jim Elliot

I saw this quote today and it really spoke to my heart.  Again, it reminded me I should have named this blog "Attempting to Live a Life of No Regrets."  Although, it's still my lofty goal, it's definitely only attainable to attempt it.  This quote spoke to me because I desire to make a difference for the Lord in the lives that He puts into mine.  I cannot make a difference in the lives of even my own family if my mind is consistently elsewhere.  We need to stay focused on the family the Lord blessed us with and the guests the Lord may bring to our door.  He may even have opportunities for us at the grocery store, the gas station, the drive thru window, where ever we may be IF we are available to Him to "be all there, wherever we are". 

We've all done it.  Whether it's a conversation with a child, on the phone, or whomever when you have to ask the other person to repeat what they are trying to tell you because your mind is totally preoccupied with other matters.  Don't get me wrong; there is a time to take care of matters uninterrupted but other times we need to give attention to those around us. I'm so thankful we serve a God who is always there for us.  May we strive to be there for those He places in our lives and most importantly when we are spending time with Him.  May we be purposeful to focus on Him when we read His word.  May we focus our attention to Him when we pray (and not what is next on the to do list),  Lord help us to be all there, wherever we are! 

Lots of New Stuff

If I wrote each day as much as I'd like, my family would never eat!!  This is a quick update because I have to go throw dinner in the crock pot.  However, I started a new blog on my recipes because folks ask for them quite a bit.  Just go to Now Michelle's Cooking on my links and voila, you are there.  I'll add recipes as often as I can.  I have a few friends who have asked me to post what I cook every day so this is a way I can post it without driving my other facebook friends crazy :).

Also, if you don't mind and are going to order a book from Amazon anyway, please order through my blog site and it will earn me some school money for the kiddos.  Thanks so much!  Lastly, I'll be adding another blog hopefully titled Now Michelle's Saving Money.  I have a  lot of folks wonder how a family of 9 (my oldest is married so only 7 are at  home) that also watches 2 grandchildren during the week can eat on $600-$1000 a month (which includes toiletries, etc.) so I'll tell you the things I've learned on this great big family adventure.  The higher months are when I'm restocking my bulk supplies :). 

P.S.  The picture above is what my butter pecan cake ended up looking like.  My littlest fella got into the frosting while I let the cake cool.  He had a great time and I had little frosting left.  We improvised with leftover chocolate frosting from my children's cupcakes for Christmas and went light on the edges.  This little fella just makes me laugh which is much better than pulling my hair out.

Merry Christmas!!

2010 Tordoff Holiday Letter

Greetings to all in the strong and mighty name of Jesus Christ. I pray His perfect peace will surround you this hectic season. As I get older, it seems like these letters get written closer and closer together because time just seems to fly.

What a wonderful year this has been. We have been blessed with great health, a peaceful home and an abundance of joy in Christ.

John Russell, 17, is completing his senior year of home school requirements. He wants to take personal training & nutrition courses soon before he embarks into college life next fall. He enjoys getting together with friends, the PS3, and working out. We are proud of him and cannot wait to see what the Lord has for him in the coming year.

Nicholas, a sophomore, has grown a mile this year. He has also grown in the Lord. He's our quiet fella with a big heart to serve. He also enjoys the ps3, reading Tolkien, hanging out with his buddies, and running Abbie (our Siberian Husky). He is leaning towards the medical field when he finishes high school.

Timothy, 13, has had the most drama this year. He broke his arm skim boarding on our beach trip. He had his arms “set” in N.C. but it didn't set well so he became our “titanium man” after a plate and screws were inserted into his bones. He now enjoys tennis again and has a great sense of humor. He is just enjoying being a boy and hanging out with friends and family.

Praise, 11, is becoming quite a young woman. She loves to cook and be crafty. She has become such a social butterfly attending many girly events from church and landing a part in the Christmas play. She has made many new friends this year and loves tea parties.

Michael, 9, loves to ride his bike, swim, play Wii and eat. I've never seen a boy who loves food as much as this guy. Honestly, he's been like that since birth. Fortunately, he doesn't mind helping prepare food. He also takes tennis lessons with Timothy. We love his quirky sense of humor.

Emily, 5, is still our drama queen. However, she has definitely mellowed out this year. No longer does she tell complete strangers her opinion of their hair, piercings, or tattoos in disgusted tones. She seems to bring sunshine into every room with her. She is full of joy.

Christopher, 22 months, is no longer our wee butterball. He has run and climbed and played off most of his chubbiness. The children are still smitten with him and all his antics. He's quite a little actor and keeps us laughing. He loves food like Michael does and is always wanting “eat and juice”!

Brandon, Cindy, Rylie and Jackson are all doing well. Brandon, a great husband and daddy, traded counties in his job as a police officer this year. Cindy is a great wife and mom in college and working. They don't get bored often :).

The best gift the Lord has given my family, by far, is the gift of laughter. Chores may back up, illness enters the home, bills (need I say more), and any other stress may be thrown our way but it all becomes bearable and life is enjoyable with the laughter we share each day.

My hope for you all in this coming year is that you will be overwhelmed with the glory and awesomeness of Christ. If you don't know Him, I pray you will find Hm and become His child. If you do know Jesus, I pray you will live like a son/daughter of the great and glorious King. I pray you find peace, love and joy in Christ. Acts 16:24b says to ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Merry Christmas to All

from the Tordoff Troop and

Blessings for a Wonderful New Year

Thanksgiving Part 2

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We had a lot of family come together in Thomson, GA (my mom's home) for a great celebration of the Lord's goodness to us.    There were 28 of us in all!  That doesn't include all the dogs that came.  We left Friday morning to spend the rest of our holiday with family in NC and we had a blast.  I'm now officially good with hearing holiday music, watching Christmas movies and even learning Christmas carols for our hymn study in school.  I'll probably "holiday" my blog when I finish updating this post.  

I began a Bible study through my Counting It All Joy yahoo group today using Peter Lord's "Getting to Know God the Son Jesus Christ".  I'm looking forward to working through this study during the month of December and really focusing myself and my family on Jesus.    I spent November trying to thank the Lord for things each day.  I'm purposing to spend December focusing on Jesus, the Son of God.  I want to spend it rejoicing in Him not focused only on Him as a baby in a manger but as the Lord of All who rules and reigns now.


Ephesians 1:3-14:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving

This month I have purposed to find things to be thankful about each day.  I've tried to post these ponderings on my facebook page.  Because I love to write, I often think of a ton of things each day I'd like to put into words that I never quite get around to.  As I sat down tonight to purposely throw out some thoughts on the page, so to speak, I must admit I've decided to visit an old memory.

Thankfulness is not a thing I struggle with because I truly am overwhelmed with the blessings God has given me in this life and know how unworthy I am of it all.   Not that I don't have to purpose to choose to be thankful at times that are difficult or purposely make choices to rejoice when my flesh would like to choose differently.  I truly am still a work in progress.  (Thank you Lord; You haven't quit on me!!)  One of my favorite times that God taught me thankfulness was during a Bible Conference at Grace Fellowship.  I was soo sick, again.  Yep, pregnant and nauseous was I.  My pregnancies didn't consist of morning sickness.  They were all day and sometimes all night sickness.  The illness  lasted from 16 to 40 weeks.  Jack Taylor was teaching on being thankful even for the difficult things that come our way in life.  Well, as he was preaching, my body was telling my mind to run or be very embarrassed.  I ran out the door to the bathroom and was relieved to have listened and made it in time.    As I was hugging the toilet, I decided even in this I need to choose to be thankful.  So during and after what felt like the worst case of food poisoning you could imagine, I began praying and thanking Him.  I ended with "Thank you Lord that every pregnancy that I have been ill has resulted in a healthy pregnancy."    Would you believe, I was never sick again that entire pregnancy!!  It was a miracle.  (Of course, I tried that in following pregnancies and He didn't bless me in the same way but He still fixed me and my heart.)  I could truly thank Him during those sick times despite everything else in life that was getting so far behind due to the sickness.  I'll never forget that miracle He did for me that Bible conference.  He healed my body, encouraged my spirit and fixed my heart to choose thankfulness in all things.  Thank you Lord.

No Mom, I Don't See Buzzards!

I was pondering my crazy weekend and had to laugh to myself thinking I know what Mom will say when she hears about it.  We woke up early Sunday morning, fed everybody (which is a feat itself on Sunday mornings) and was heading out a bit early because we knew we needed to get gas in my son's car.  Well, we load up in 2 vehicles and my car doesn't start.  Battery dead!  ARGHHHH.  No biggie, I'll get out the jumper cables.  3 vehicles parked in my driveway, yet not a jumper cable to be found.  Nary a neighbor out this early in the morning either.  Okay, we still have time....I'll take hubby's car.  We move 1 car seat, 7 children, 5 Bibles, 3 purses and hit the highway.  We will now just be "on time.".  We can handle that because it still beats being late.  We unload at church and my eldest son, bless his heart, isn't used to being the driver and getting out a baby.  Being the great helper he is, he gets the baby out but forgets he left his keys inside the car when he removed the little fella.  He then proceeds to shut the door and, of course, it's locked.  No problem the spare is in the glove box.  My husband works nights and obviously cannot save us because the car I left at home won't start either (remember?).  BTW, did I mention I'm bringing home my niece this day so that my sister's family can go see the Braves game after church? 

We went on to Sunday School classes.  Did I mention I showed up to my class 10-15 minutes late?!  After church, a very patient family spent 30 minutes helping us break into my son's car.  My sister's family went on their way and we had a great afternoon despite the cRaZy start.  The best part is that we could all laugh about it and not let it ruin our entire day.  My truck ended up with larger problems than the battery and it will get fixed later this week.

When my mother lived in Atlanta, I would call and tell her the latest Tordoff news.  She would  laugh at the children's antics.  But invariably when things seemed to go wrong, another appliance broke, another vehicle to replace, she'd say "Michelle, my goodness, do you look out your windows sometimes and see buzzards flying around?".  She was implying I had buzzard luck.  Well, I could only laugh because the Lord always sees us through the craziness of this life... the broken appliances, broken bones and broken hearts, the financially lean times, the one-more-thing goes wrong kinds of days.  He has just always been faithful.  I knew when I called her that afternoon and told her the latest she would shake her head and would ask me again about the buzzards.  So I laughed as I told her the story in person Monday.  (She now she lives closer.)   I was then able to tell her "Don't worry, I don't see buzzards Mom." 

Fall is Coming

Although it's still warm outside, it's only been in the 90's and not the 100's and you get the sense that fall is on its way!  Perhaps it's the school supplies covering the shelves in the stores or the school buses on the streets or because I know Labor Day weekend is this weekend or even that "Arts in the Heart" will be here soon.  Whatever it is, our whole family is excited that fall is approaching.  We're looking forward to football, windows open, fresh bread with soup or chili, blue jeans, hoodies, camp fires, etc.  However, I want to relish each day and not rush through any of it.  The days go so fast already that I don't want to miss a thing.    

Since I last wrote, Timothy broke his arm skim boarding on our last beach trip of the year.  

He had it reset in NC but one of the 2 bones didn't stay in place.  Therefore, they did surgery here in Augusta and his arm ended up looking like this inside when they finished.

We were pretty nervous about the amount of pain he would be in.  He was determined not to miss night 3 of the "4 nights in August" that the youth were involved in.  God has been so good and has really been Timothy's healer.  He hasn't been in too much pain and has gotten by with just a little motrin each day.  He didn't miss any of the youth conference and has been such a trooper.  Now he is using it as an excuse to not have to write too much in school and I've been letting him for the most part.  I've become his secretary.

As the seasons change, may we each be reminded to be encouraged in the Lord during changes we pass through in this life.  Nothing takes Him by surprise and we can trust that He will be with us through it all.  He is faithful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.    Colossians 3:16  

More Summer

I cannot believe we will be back into full swing school very soon.  Public and private schools have already begun.  We've done some school throughout summer but it's felt like a great break from full-time.  As I was canning some sweet relish today, I realized it may be the last of the cucumbers to process this year.  The tomatoes are still coming but I'm going to treat today with a solution of epson salt for blossom rot.  My pear tomatoes have been mostly fine but my romas have suffered.  My heirlooms didn't produce like they should've either.  Big beautiful plants....late on making big beautiful green tomatoes and then just few of those.  They also got hit with the blossom rot. The watermelons are still feeding us dessert a few times of week but we only have a few of those left either.  We tilled up one area that was "done"and are getting ready to plant some fall veggies soon.  It's been a lot of work but I really enjoy the end result....fresh, healthy, no chemical food for the family.  Now I've got to finish the white pillowcase dresses for the girls before we head to the beach.

We've got one last beach trip to make and I'm soo looking forward to it.  A few more days to hold on to the joy of summer...building castles in the sand, older boys skim boarding, all of us jumping waves and floating, and most of all laughing a lot together.   Until then, finish dresses for beach pictures, wrap up garden, hopefully get some painting done that I thought I'd get to this summer.  I can't even imagine what boredom must feel like.

We got rid of cable this year and so a few times a week I've been listening to things on the computer at night while I'm busy folding clothes, catching up e-mails, playing family feud on facebook on the weekend, doing a sudoku/crossword, or just holding the baby.  You can find some great listening at sermonindex.net.  It's really been some great challenging stuff.  A few nights ago, it was "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" that we enjoyed listening to.

Well, better run finish making my sweet cucumber relish before the baby awakens.  It's a new recipe so I'm hoping it turns out as pretty as it looks.  Above is what it's supposed to look like.  Aren't they just gorgeous!  The only differences in mine is that I chopped the veggies with my Pampered Chef crinkled cutter into small cubes and diced onions really small so no "wee"ones would object to the relish in their tuna.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Jesus-filled summer.  Until,  Michelle

P.S.  Heres the recipe from "Joyous Home" (joyoushome.com):

Sweet Cucumber Relish Just like Bread & Butter pickles, except much tastier! ~Makes 4 quarts or 8 pints~ In a large saucepan combine the following: 4 1/2 cups sugar 1/3 cup + 3 Tbsp. pickling salt 3 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar 2 tsp. celery 2 tsp. dill weed 1 1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns Stir well until well combined and bring to a low boil.  Stir and simmer over medium heat for 2 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.  While the brine is cooling, prepare the vegetables. 4 qt. (about 12 large) peeled and sliced cucumbers, about 1/8" thick 3 large sweet bell peppers (red, yellow and orange), diced 2 large white onions, thinly sliced Evenly divide all of the vegetables between two large bowls, or all together if you happen to have an extra large bowl!  Mix together well.  Pack and fill the jars very tightly.  The relish really will shrink up in the brine, so fill the jars all the way to the top and pack down as tight as possible.   For Refrigerator Relish:  Fill the jars with the cooled brine almost to the top, screw on the lids tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.  To Process:  Once the brine has cooled to room temperature, fill the jars 1/2" away from the top.  Adjust two-piece lids and screw snugly.  Process 10 minutes in boiling water.  The processing time given is for sea level.  If you are a at a higher altitude, you will need to adjust the timing accordingly.

Summer....Summer....Summer

Thus far we have had a great summer!!  It's been busy with a beach trip to our great friend Suzanne (whom is more like a little sister to me and a fabulous aunt to my children).  We've planted a large garden this year and some things only provided a few meals like our green beans and squash but our cucumbers, tomatoes and watermelon have been abundant.  Peppers have been steady and half of the herbs I planted are "happy".  We've done some school, a little sewing, a little visiting (Kathy & Chuck in NC, Fran & Mike, Brian's family), lots of reading, some canning and some relaxing at the Y by the pool with great friends.  The kiddos have been able to spend a good bit of time with their local cousins (and Aunt Sandi & Uncle Wendell) whom they love and their Nana & Grandy Randy on a regular basis.   We've all been getting to know folks better at Kiokee and settling into a routine at the new church.  We've been making new friends along the way as well and doing our best to make time for our old friends whom we love.   My father has been recovering well from heart surgery and I hope to visit more this summer with he and Nit  and Aunt Edna & Uncle Chuck.   The older boys have gone to Youth camp and 2 more kiddos are going to camp next week.  It's gone fast but not so fast that we haven't been able to enjoy each day.  I always wish I could spend more times with friends and family than I have time to spare but am trying better to "schedule" time together on a regular basis.

We're listening to the Focus on the Family Narnia Radio Series as we travel and are up to the "The Silver Chair".  A great quote from the book that has grabbed me is the following:  

"Doubtless," said the Prince, "This signifies that Aslan will be our good lord, whether he means us to live or die. And all's one, for that.   Now, by my counsel, we shall all kneel and kiss his likeness, and then ... all shake hands one with another, as true friends that may shortly be parted. And then, let us descend into the City and take the adventure that is sent us."

That little quote spoke volumes to me.  From the beginning, that as Christians we may have differences but there is unity in whom we believe Christ is and that He's our Lord.  That we will follow Jesus whether it means life or death.  That we are to worship Him and become His likeness due to our intimacy and then we shall journey into the world on a great adventure of capturing it for Christ.  Ahhh, I just love it.   I'll probably chew on it for days.

We've celebrated summer birthdays (Praise, Grace Anne, Michael) and soon to celebrate my and Timothy's birthday in August.   We've just been trying to enjoy life together, capture each moment for Christ, refresh ourselves before the school year fully begins again and to live well.   One most be purposeful not to get distracted by the cares of the world and to live each day to the fullest.  It's a rare day I can complete every task I want to accomplish but I'm purposing to enjoy my husband, my children and grandchildren, my friends and to laugh a lot.  In a big family, there are so many opportunities at laughter and I'm blessed to be able to enjoy great laughs daily even many at my own expense (like the day I got a goose egg getting into the truck...that's a story for another post, lol).    "You have put more joy in my heart then they have when their grain and their wine abound" Psalm 4:7

 

Until,

Michelle

 

Do you Know Him?

Suppose you are extremely interested in a particular star.  (You picture whomever it is in your mind:  an actor, athlete, political figure, whatever you may find interesting).  You watch every talk how you hear about to learn more about this person (whom I'll call him for now on).  You see his face on magazines a the check out line and you purchase them to read.  After a few years, when his name comes up you probably feel like you really know him since you've watched and read everything you could about this person.

You find out there's a contest with him and you surprisingly win.  The big night comes.  You dress your best and jump into the limo sent for your big date.  You spend a few hours at dinner with this person you feel you knew a lot about and probably one of the 1st things that occurs to you is that you knew A LOT about this person but they knew absolutely NOTHING about you - not even your name until a few moments before dinner. Secondly during your ride home as you reminisce about your evening you should realize you although you thought you knew him it was very much like going on a blind date with a complete stranger except you knew who the person was and what they looked like.  You didn't really know him at all; especially not as an intimate friend.

So it is with Jesus.  Many of us know all about Him.  We call ourselves His followers.  We go to church.  We support good causes.  We've read the Bible.  We've read a lot of books about Jesus.  We've talked to Jesus but we didn't really take time to know Him personally.  We didn't stop to listen to His still small voice.  From all appearances, we look like a Christian but when we get to heaven, we may hear those frightening words in Matthew 7: 23 "I declare to you I never knew you...depart from me!".   YIKES!!!  

Do you know more than "about" Him but who He is?  Col 1:15-20 says  "He is the image ofthe invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Are you doing what Paul says in Colossians 3?  If you truly know Him, you know it will cost you your life but it is worth any cost.  Pauls says in Phil 3:8-11:  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Make it your purpose in life to know Jesus, the true and living God.  Desire earnestly to know Him and make Him known.  As Tommy Tenny says in God Chasers  "God is calling....Intimacy with God requires a certain level of brokenness because purity comes from brokenness.  The games are over friend.  He's calling you".   As for me, I'm going to answer that call.  How about you?

David Brainerd Quote

"My desires seem especially to be after
weanedness from the world, perfect deadness to it,and that I may be
crucified to all its allurements. My soul desires to feel itself more of
a pilgrim and a stranger here below, that nothing may divert me from
pressing through the lonely desert, till I arrive at my Father's house."
- David Brainerd

Good Friday

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

I Peter 3:18: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Matthew 27:27-28:8;  Mark 15:16-16:19,;  Luke 23:26-24:35, and John 19:16-20:30

Tell the Story

“The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, to the least deserving. That’s what God did. At the loss of His Son’s life to the totally undeserving, God gave the best gift – the display of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” [John Piper]

My daughter's just finished a ballet performance in Augusta called "The Roar of Love". It's a beautiful ballet portraying C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". I never tire of the story as the Lion in Lewis' story gives his life for one of the main characters, Edmund. Of course, I hope I never tire of the overwhelming awesomeness of Jesus' sacrificial death for us either. We usually do a 6 week study before Resurrection Day on the Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ. I was unable to pull it off this year but instead am doing a study this week with the children for our Bible class on the final days before Christ's death. We use one of two books each year. This year we are using "Family Celebrations at Easter". We are also reading "A Miracle in Jerusalem". I haven't read it in 5 years to the children so it's like new again to most of them. It's a great read as we focus on the Resurrection this week. Let's strive to be purposeful in the seeds we plant in our children's hearts. Tell the Story!! "Preach it to the world and to ourselves (Wade Trimmer)."

"Christ the Lord is risen to-day," Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply." (Charles Wesley)

Same Picture....Different Eyes

I woke up this morning with a very cool picture from the Lord. I tried to draw it while my daughters were in ballet today but it didn't translate from my mind to the paper as I would've liked. I hope to work on it until it's good enough to paint and frame. (It will take some time, lol).

There were two pictures depicting the exact same thing seen through different "eyes".

The 1st picture had a fence with 10 posts in a square formation. Each post representing the 10 commandments. The fence was covered with barbed wire. When you looked outside the fence, you saw drugs, alcohol abuse, pornography, wild living, and many other "dangerous" things to your soul. The person inside is glaring out from within WISHING he wasn't trapped inside.



The 2nd picture had a fence also with 10 posts in square formation. Each post representing one of the 10 commandments. However, this fence looked like something in a country meadow. Outside the fence you saw the same things as the first except circling the fence was a fierce lion prowling "seeking whom he might destroy". Inside this fence is a person relaxing and resting in a hammock in perfect peace.



It reminded me of a sermon Pastor Wade Trimmer taught us years ago. He gave us an example of someone coming into the church and him telling the person he/she could sit anywhere they wanted but not in this one particular seat. You can get really aggravated that you were unable to sit in that one seat. Why am I being denied the ability to sit in that one seat?! What you miss out on is that there are 100's of other seats you CAN sit in. We miss the wonderful freedoms we have when we focus on the things we don't need to do that ultimately are for our good and for our protection.



The End (for now)