A lot of things have changed in my life in the past year. I am a different person because of those changes. Oh, I still seek the Father, love him, love my family  and strive to walk in his Way… but, as I have tried to warn my children and encourage them in life: We are all always still the same person, just with more learning experiences: I am still the same person I was at 4, 10, 16, 25, etc… just different.

Here is the email. Chances are you have also received it.

‘The happiest of people don’t necessarily
Have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

I Believe…
That just because two people argue,
It doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
It doesn’t mean they do love each other.

I Believe…
That we don’t have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe….
That no matter how good a friend is,
They’re going to hurt you every once in a while
And you must forgive them for that.

I Believe…
That true friendship continues to grow,
Even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe…
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe….
That it’s taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe…
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe….
That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I Believe….
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe…
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe…
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe….
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe….
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
That sometimes when I’m angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe….
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many Birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I Believe….
That it isn’t always enough,
To be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe…
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
The world doesn’t stop for your grief..

I Believe….
That our background and circumstances
May have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe…
That you shouldn’t be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe…..
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe….
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don’t even know you.

I Believe….
That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you -
You will find the strength to help.

I Believe…
That credentials on the wall
Do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe…
That the people you care about most in life
Are taken from you too soon.

Needless to say, I still have a lot to learn…

Shalom to you and may you be blessed because of these words~

I can honestly say that this is truly a place where there is No Greater Joy. Teach your children the truth, Mommas. Hold up the standard in your home, and when you sin, repent and turn from your wicked way. Ask, seek and obey when you are shown the sin in your life, for it is a loving Father who corrects his children and won’t leave you in your sinful state.

Live what you believe. Stand up for what is in Scripture, and when others disagree and revile you, count it all joy. It will help you grow, strengthen your resolve to walk, draw you closer to Messiah, and after all the tears, you will come out a purer, more-refined Believer.

And your children will see you are real. And it will not return to you void.

May you have peace in your home~

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It made me think of how there are just some little things I love about each of my children that are special to them.  So, here is my list:

Amanda~ I love the way she cares for her brothers and sisters. She is always there to help and offer her lap or her shoulder.

Jocelyn~I love the way she notices me when I am happy or sad and asks how I am doing.

Rachel~I love the way she searches out new recipes and hones the ones she makes to share with all of us. It is a delight to her, and I love how it brightens her face to prepare meals and even clean up afterward.

Eric~I love the way he is so thoughtful of me as his Momma. He always tells me good-bye and kisses my cheek before he leaves the house, no matter what.

Hannah~I love the way she follows in her sisters footsteps. She is a little bit of each of her older sisters, and that warms my heart.

Isaac~I love the way he gets up in the morning before everyone else to share some time with me and Samuel. I love how he sits and talks and sings to Samuel to keep him smiling. I also love the way he, like Jocelyn, Rachel and Hannah, will pick up paper and pencil and draw just about anything, anytime.

Caleb~I love the way he smiles. I also love the way he calls me “Mother”.

LucyLillie~I love the way she runs to me and melts into my arms every morning when she wakes up

Samuel~I love the way he is. I love it that he is. He is such a ray of sunshine: quiet, smiling, loved by everyone.

Alright, so maybe this post is about how they love their Momma, or their family, but either way, these are just a few of the things I love about my children. They are each wonderful, and I sure do love them! Bless Yahveh for allowing me to mother them. I am truly thankful.

I would love to put an updated photo on here, but I don’t have one. I just told Amanda last night we need to set the timer on the camera and take one. I have also determined that I am no longer going to let the lack of photos or resizing them keep me from posting. So, here it is, with no photo. Maybe I can add one later! I did link each of their names to either their blog or a photo of them.

AND, I do appreciate my husband. I love the way he has always provided for us, even when it meant working two jobs or very long hours. Even when he told me how he did or didn’t like his job, he has never complained about having to have one(or two) to support his family.

Shalom, and be blessed today!

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May Yahweh bless you for your sweet kindness!

May the LORD bless his little body
To ably serve the heavn’ly King.
May He bless his little voice
So God’s praises he can sing!
May He bless his little hands,
So he can wield the righteous sword,
May He bless his little mind
To understand the Word of the LORD.
May He bless his little feet,
That he may run in the LORD’s work,
May He bless his little will,
That he never his Father’s will shirk.
May He bless his little heart,
That he truly love the LORD his God,
Oh, LORD bless this little boy,
And with Your strength and love, him shod!

Be sure to visit Rebekah at her blog, Do Not Grow Weary.

Photo compliments of Eric: On the Road to Manhood

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We plan – or not.
We want the best for our children.
We buy curriculum – or not.
We have hopes in mind, even if we don’t write them out as goals.
We live day-to-day, teaching our children facts and figures, letting them learn life, perhaps showing them in a textbook.

But, what are our goals? How do we plan to get there? Do we really want them to become what we hope they become?

Chris Davis is a home school father whose home school philosophy changed my view of home schooling our children. It very much aligns itself with Robin Sampson’s methods and philosophy also.

What does Yahweh-God have for our children?
Who has HE created them to be?
Have we prayed about it?

We have the opportunity to see each of our children as individuals, with different loves, hates and learning styles. We can see who they are created to be, if we look closely enough and rely on the Spirit of Yah-God to show us. Do we have blind spots? Of course we do. Do we have expectations that overshadow what HE has for them? I would say certainly. But, we can know HIS plans for them, if we ask.

This is a key to allowing our children – facilitating Yah’s plans – to become just who HE has created them to be. They each have a purpose in this world. It is our job as Mom to seek that purpose and show them HIS path, teaching them HIS ways, so they may fulfill the greatest plans there are for them.

We teach the Scriptures here as many of my home school mom friends do. They are of utmost importance. I look at the fruit in our children: in their hearts; in their words; in their actions. I ask questions of them. I seek HIM in their lives.

What path are they on?
What are their strengths?
Where is it leading them?
What is their interest?
What has the Father put into them?

When we embrace what Yahweh has for our children and let down our expectations as well as the world’s – and others, we experience a freedom and a wholeness in teaching them that which we cannot know otherwise.
HE is their Creator, and HE has their purpose in mind. If we seek HIM and that purpose and plan, we will teach them just what they need to know for what HE has for them.

Is that your ultimate goal? It is mine.

be blessed as you train your children up in HIS ways!

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This article was inspired by my friend and fellow home school mom, Christin. You will find her blog at Journey of Discovery, where she brings up thoughts and questions about her own journey in Motherhood & Homeschooling.