R E D , W H I T E & B L U E

 

Fourth of July weekend is something we always looked fore ward to.

Every year we would go to the ox roast and what (growing up) we call, the penny candy store.

Even though the penny candy store was 10 minutes away we never went there except in July. So this was the fun part of the year that was part of the exciting things we did in the summer growing up. We would walk around the ox roast see what people were selling and ended the trip by buying ice cream and some candy at the 'penny candy store'.

Watching the people and knowing who was a tourist and who wasn't. ;)

( In amish country you can always tell!)

 Probably the funniest thing about us is we've been coming every year for the past 10 years about and have never bought an ox roasts sandwich...which you know is kinda the main staple there.

 

A. The line is super long.

 

B. Half of us either have celiac disease or an allergy to gluten (in the bread).

 

C. Big families pack lunches or eat before hand. :)

 

So we never had the Ox Roasts, roast sandwiches.

 

 

                                     This guy is here every year and has some amazing icecream!!

This year they had an rc car race track. Of course the amish boys jumped at a chance to try it. :)

                                                                               the beloved penny candy. :)

                                                                  I couldn't resist doing this. :P

Chain saw art! Made 100% by one man and his chainsaw.

And End of the Commons is the name of the 'penny candy store'

Now usually we go see fireworks at the fiargrounds, but this year we went somewhere else the night before. So for the evening we got icecream, sparklers, fire crackers (thanks to the oxroasts vendor.)
and had a wonderful evening. :)

                                                                   These two dudes. Enough said. :)

                                                               Light'em and run. That's my motto.

                                                         Sister bonding at the ox roast.:)

(Those three are from moblies fyi)

 

 

 

 

         Hope you all had a fantastic Independence day and if your not American, a happy 4th of july! :)
 

5 main reasons I will homeschool my kids.

at the Memphis zoo feeding the parakeets.

                        I was always homeschooled never went to any other school unlike my two oldest siblings who went to private school up to 1st grade before my mom started homeschool them, but I have observed and meet private schooled kids, public schooled kids and homeschooled kids and noticed on what they stand for, how they react, behave, and believe.  I already new I would homeschool my kids, but observing other kids made me even more sure that there is no way I would send my kids to school.
Education is one of biggest privileges we get to enjoy here in America and I want to do it right. I want to make sure my kids will get taught not only what is right ,but also the best way for that child. based on there abilities and strengths.
Some kids need more hands on learning and others don't every child learns differently and each one can learn more if they learn the basics the way they can understand the best. Instead of all being taught the same way.
                            

                              Here are the 5 main reasons I am planning on homeschooling my future kids.



                                            1.) Facts and truth.  As a Christian I realize that schools teach a lot of untruth and a non biblical principles, evolution, its against the rules to pray at school to acknowledge Him as God etc... I want my child to have a firm foundation and unclouded understanding of what is true and a biblical base for their education.

                                            2.) Influence. There is a reason why the bible says to choose your friends wisely. As a kid (thinking kindergarten, 1st -4th grade) all your focused on is having friends and a good time. I want my kids in the early years to learn how to choose friends under my supervision just so I can observe and make sure that there isn't something we need to discuss about another child's behavior towards them or the way my child behaves toward others. I realize you cannot watch them 24/7,but keeping an eye on them and see how interact with kids and how other interact with them is important to me. On other note I also have noticed more and more disrespect to authority in private Christian schools and public schools. Its very unsettling how kids and teens have zero respect for those in authorities, each other and themselves even and that is something that very much starts in the home, but also is effected by your friends influence during your early years and even throughout young teen years.

learning/watching pumpkin carving skills.

3.) Family. I think family is very important. Getting along, working together, helping each other throughout the day is important. I personally loved being homeschooled and growing up 24/7 with my siblings. Yes, we would get on each others nerves, but it taught you tolerance and you learn to get along with all ages. I  that's one thing I noticed a lot of other kids who are not homeschooled, they don't always know how to interact with different ages or adults.
I will say though that I have noticed families that send their kids to school get along well, but more often then not they do not get along nor have a good family structure.

4.) Flexibility. Homeschooling gives you enormous amount of flexibility. I probably would of never gotten into photography and blogging if I wasn't homeschooled. It gives you flexibility to add in extra activities certain times of the day, gives you flexibility if your in highschool for work, do college and highschool at the same time or finish highschool early and pursue a degree before your 18.
You can learn so much more with this flexibility to go and do things.

Making our yearly stock of applesauce (we eat a lot of applesauce throughout the year. Everyone helps one way or another.)

 

5.) Discipline. If my child misbehaves I want to be there to properly discipline that child. If my child is accused of something they did not do I want to be able to resolve the situation and if I'm at home with them a lot I know the nature of my children and have an idea of they would or would not do. I would know that one is more likely to instigate or one child is usually pretty truthful and rarely if ever lies etc....


I could go on and on about reasons I would homeschool that are equally important (I should of made this a 10 instead of 5.) But those were the 5 main reasons on why I will homeschool my future kids.

If you were thinking of homeschooling or not homeschooling I hope this gives you some insight on the subject.




 

falling apart

                 As human we see stumbling in life and when things aren't perfect that we are weak, that we appear helpless and pathetic. Which is true we are weak and helpless in a sense and comparison to God.
                                    God is our strength and refuge, but our human nature and society fights that.
                            We Need to be Strong. We Need To Have It All Together. We Need To Be In Control.
                                                                         We Need To Be Perfect.
         While striving for perfection isn't bad, we need to not lose focus on the why. Is it to glorify God or is it for ourselves/for man to think good of us? (Colossians 3:23-24)     


Image by: Ashley Mackenzie




We have an obsession in our world on being perfect, looking perfect, having the perfect life, but that is impossible to achieve (Eccl. 7:20) and we are human, we have a sinful nature, we stumble, we fall and if you believe as I do, Jesus will be there to pick you up, to heal your wounds when you cry out to Him and because of Christ's perfect love we don't have to face the world alone, He is our strength and refuge. (Psalms 18:2)












             I want to share a part of the song with you and you can listen to it below if you like.:)

                                                                  But isn't it beautiful
                                                                The way we fall apart
                                          It's magical and tragic all the ways we break our hearts

                                                                     So unpredictable
                                                           We're comfortably miserable
                                                              We think we're invincible
                                                              Completely unbreakable
                                                                  And maybe we are
                                                                    Isn't it beautiful
                                                             The way we all fall apart













 

the sunset in a cup

 

 

 Bring me the sunset in a cup,
Reckon the morning's flagons up
And say how many Dew,
Tell me how far the morning leaps—
Tell me what time the weaver sleeps
Who spun the breadth of blue!

Write me how many notes there be
In the new Robin's ecstasy
Among astonished boughs—
How many trips the Tortoise makes—
How many cups the Bee partakes,
The Debauchee of Dews!

Also, who laid the Rainbow's piers,
Also, who leads the docile spheres
By withes of supple blue?
Whose fingers string the stalactite—
Who counts the wampum of the night

                                                                               To see that none is due?
                                  Who built this little Alban House
                                 And shut the windows down so close
                                    Who'll let me out some gala day
                                     With implements to fly away,
                                        Passing Pomposity?        

                                      My spirit cannot see?

                                         -Emily Dickinson

That christian girl problem

                    Lets face it there are problems that the 'single' homeschooled Christian girls end up staring at in the face after they graduate highschool. I like to call it "waiting time"
                                                                    

 


                     A LOT, of stay at home daughters kinda have the mind set and plan that goes like this;
  graduate highschool, meet boy, marry boy, be happy stay at home wife and homeschooling mommy!
                                                                        Am I right?!
Now I've meet more and more homeschool girls that have this more in mind. Graduate HS, go to bible school or become apart of a ministry, meet boy, marry boy, be a happy stay at home wife/mommy! That's almost the same as the first, but I definitely noticed more girls getting into ministries or bible schools to find the perfect christian dude!

Buuuuut, what we girls have seen and heard maybe even dreaded, but think its no big deal or will never happen to them/us is 'the waiting' time. You know when you graduate and there is no prince and your plans have come to a halt, you don't know what your doing and you are either being that stay at home daughter awaiting your prince or didn't realize how long it would take you to save up for bible school and you find that all that's on your brain is either;

 A.) Prince charming use the stupid gps and find me! Or
 B.) ...when will my life begin.... you know either waiting for something exciting to happen for God to give you some big mission!

I know for myself I've been saving up to go to an awesome program called Ellerslie this fall and at this point I'm at B.) I'm waiting for school because I have to have a great purpose that I will find at Ellerslie and I want to do something big, be apart of something bigger more then just working part time and dealing with everyday life.  I felt like if I just get through this summer when I go to Ellerslie my life will fall into place and I will know exactly what to do.

Piece of advice; If you are waiting or looking for something or someone to give you direction and purpose in your life, you will never feel fulfilled unless you seek God for it!

    I often get that dreaded question, "So what are you doing now that you've finished school?"
When people ask that inside I'm grabbing them by the shoulders and shaking them with a terrified look on my face yelling, "I Don't Know Anymore!!!! Tell me what to do."   I've been going back in forth with different college degrees I would be interested in...maybe...agh!!!  I've never wanted to be that girl who changes her major a kazillion times. I was going to be the girl with direction and a plan.
hahaha,yeahhhhh. ;)

I've also always wanted to do ministry work, but ever really knew where or if God was calling me to it. When people hear this they'll ask where/what.... I would think and sort of say (different wording usually), 'It could be something over seas or in the US, I didn't/don't care just give me something to work with here.'
I have a heart for young teens, but being an older 'teen' I sometimes feel inadequate, I enjoy being musical and music ministry was a thought, but again I'm not even close to being a professional violinist and still only really actually 'play' one instrument. Then of course there is my photography.
      I'm at the point where I'm waiting for God to tell me what to do. To have something occur to that will read, "this is Gods plan for you, do this." We are so focused on keeping an eye out for this that we often forget that we need to seek Him while we wait and big neon signs don't pop up with a list of instructions and the future events that will occur.

    
                                               If this is you, welcome to "waiting time!!"
I truly believe God give us this time to seek Him and to strengthen our relationship with Him.
           Knowing who you are in Christ and who you are as a person I think is one of the most important things as we mature,become adults and are thrown into the world that seems to have it out for us.
                       I strongly encourage you to seek God for wisdom, to lean on Him, grow in Christ and know your standards and your weaknesses. Okay, yeah that last one. I think is pretty important. If there is something that can cause you to stumble or anything that can disconnect you from your relationship with Christ write it down and when those warning lights flash, get out! We tend to watch for the sin rather then the things that lead and cause us to sin.

       I know you've probably heard this a million times, but when your single and more flexible you can make an impact and be a blessing to others. This could be a once a month thing, every other week. It doesn't have to be a constant activity, but would you rather look back and see yourself waiting around and not really having much of a life or doing something for others that could totally turn their, day, week ,month..etc.... The possibilities are also kinda endless.
 Music? Get friends, siblings or even just yourself and entertain people at the nursing home. (they love it so much even if your not a perfect musician.)
Kids and Babies? Find a young mom who may need extra help, but can't afford to pay.
Teens? Start a bible study or even just get togethers that you can be an encouragement to them in their relationship with Christ.
Baking? Maybe make some meals for older people who live by themselves and eat out a lot. I know my grandpa eats out a lot and home cooked meal could be a tremendous blessing.

You may have a rocky start with some of these. You may find one of them is not for you and you can switch to something more in your skill set, but God can totally use you to be a blessing to others in this 'waiting time' of your life as you start planning out your future and knowing who you are. Also another thing to keep in mind is you never know how much something you did or said couldn't be a blessing to someone. It may seem small and of very little impact, but just because all you may get it a thank you that doesn't mean it didn't bless or speak to that person.

I want to end this post with a few encouraging verses are so true and are some verses I really needed to hear.


Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”


Philippians 4:6-7 
 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jeremiah 29:11 
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”


2 Corinthians 4:16 
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”



2 Timothy 1:7 
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

This last verse below has been a very encouraging verse to me, and is so appropriate since as teenagers we have the reputation of being rebellious, irresponsible, lazy...etc...
You can do anything through Christ you are never to young and never to old! :)

1 Timothy 4:12  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.