Out The Gate Strong

Today was the my first day as a "homeschool mom". We have always tried to create an atmosphere in our home that inspired learning. We LOVE to read and learn new things. And while I am not the most creative individual in the world, I can appreciate and implement the ideas of others. But this morning we had school at home. Now if this is not something you would like to read about, please feel free to skip the next few paragraphs. It won't bother me.

The morning went smoothly and it just felt "right". But more importantly than any feelings I had was the peace I had. I can tell that being one on one in a learning environment is going to stretch me a bit. I am in my element in front of a group of kids or adults. I don't get nervous usually. But one on one and I start freaking a little. Thankfully, my sweetie pie was understanding and "redirected" me when I started to stray....haha He has had just enough school to have developed routines and schedules and to appreciate order and organization. For that I am thankful. We tend to have fallen into more of a routine around here so that is good. My youngest son was well behaved all morning and even came in a few times curious and wanting to participate. That was my plan....make him curious and want to include himself. It will go alot smoother if he thinks it is his idea. Plus he just turned 4 so I am not stressing about him yet. He has already learned so much from his brother.

The weather didn't exactly cooperate for our first day of school and recess. It has been raining all day. But my star student decided that it would be a good time to have recess indoors and play with play doh. So we did.

God is good and is working in ways we can see and even more ways that we can't. I look forward to what He has in store. My husband is looking for a job. The time has come for him to leave where he has been for the past few years. God is providing and taking care of us. He always does. We are seeking and trusting in the Lord and what He wants to do in us, through us and for us. We have feelers out all over the country and have had some interest expressed. Please pray that God will reveal His next steps for us and that we will be obedient and strong in faith as we step out.

We have started having devotions as a family every morning and I cannot even begin to tell you how God is speaking to us. The confirmations He is leading us to in His Word are awe-inspiring. We are at a point that all we can lean on is our Heavenly Father and it feels surprisingly liberating. It is amazing how our perspectives and attitudes can change when we realize that we don't control anything really. We just have illusions of control. We have fear, pride and arrogance when we try to do it all ourselves. How freeing to trust in Him, do what He asks, and leave the results up to God. God has promised to take care of us and to work things for our good and I am standing on those promises.

Thanking the Lord for another day with my family. Thanking Him for His provision, His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His joy, His strength, His Word and His Presence. Without them I would be void of hope. And today I have hope and faith that I have not even begun to see what He has planned for me and my family. 2011 is going to be a year of new.

Isaiah 43:18-19Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive it and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert

My Pathfinder took a Vacation

I seem to start my blogs as if I am in the middle of a thought or conversation. Hmmmm.....interesting.

Anyway, last night while coming home from music practice at church my SUV decided to have a nervous breakdown. Apparently it was feeling emotional or something because it couldn't decide if it wanted to drive or stop. Conflicting emotions that resulted in the car shaking and rattling and surging. Pretty scary stuff if you ask me. Well then it must have just hit the end of herself because then she decided to just shut down.....and I mean while we are driving down the road at 60 mph. We had lights but that is about it. The engine was gone and so were the brakes. However my manly man husband grabbed the emergency brake and was able to bring safely to a stop. Thankfully we ended up in the parking lot of the only gas station within 15 miles or so. Granted it was closed but at least we weren't in a ditch or in someone's yard.
(That would have freaked me out since I have been reading way too many Ted Dekker novels......if your not familiar with him, never mind)

My sweet hubby tried everything he could think of to get it started again but to no avail. We finally called my brother in law after taking almost an hour to decide that it was in fact not going to wake up from her coma. We made it home safely. Cold but safe.

Now I tell you all of that to just tell you that last night seemed like a yucky, not pleasant ordeal. But as I looked again I saw some sparkle in it. (good stuff)

Normally my husband does not go with me to praise practice. But last night he did.
I would not have known how to stop my car after it died. But he did.
I would not have felt very safe sitting alone at 9:00pm in the middle of nowhere by myself. But I wasn't by myself.
Occasionally I take my two sons to practice with me. Last night they stayed with granny.

I know that it may not seem like much to the ordinary person but God used last night to remind me that He loves me so much that He takes pleasure in taking care of me. He knows all about me and He orchestrated last night to show it. If we take the time to look around us and see how many things that God works out in our behalf we would be amazed. We don't see the accident we avoided because we just could not find our keys and were 5 minutes late. We don't see the angels working and moving about us, doing what our Father God has instructed. He takes such pleasure in taking care of us. We may not recognize it. So often we only focus on what doesn't go our way or what inconveniences occur when we least expect. We never think that maybe what we think is so bad is really just a Heavenly replacement for something that was far worse. I am not saying that God wants to bring bad things into our life. But we live in a fallen world full of sin and consequences. There is going to be heartache, tragedy, dissapointment and hurt. But maybe we should look at what happens to us as blessing instead of burdens. The Word says that He will uplhold us with His mighty right hand. He gives us what we can handle? I think so because we never see the things He saved us from that He knew would break us. And for that I am thankful.

So while my car is still not fixed and my dishwasher is fried and my washing machine is tempermental I will praise the Lord. I know He has plans for me and my family. And I feel like right now He is teaching me so much. It isn't about what see with our eyes, it is all about Gods character. The more we know about that the more we can trust and know that He is good and is working it all out for His glory.