Where have I been....

2015 seemed to be one of the hardest years thus far for me but it ended with an amazing gift from God. My sweet Alyssa Jade was born December 4th.

She is now almost 3months. So life got a little crazy for our family. Homeschooling has been a little crazy as well but we are getting to what we can. We actually took the month of December off so I could get adjusted. It took a little longer for me to recover this time around than with my other children.

 

The children are absolute in love with their baby sister. She was a gift for us all.

Motherhood is one of the greatest gifts from the Father and I am so thankful.

Desiring gentleness.....

"Rather, it should be that of your inner self,the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

As a mother, I long for a gentle and quiet spirit. To be quick to listen and slow to speak. So much of the time  I find myself reacting to my little ones instead of giving a gentle response. I want them to know how precious they are to the Lord and how special they are to me. 

Does my actions, words and attitude paint them a picture of how much God loves them?

When I allow my focus to be on the many cares of this life; I find myself a little more snappish and short. Rather, the Lord desires and is greatly moved by a woman with a gentle spirit. I think it is a direct reflection of HIM. A very loving God.

Let us begin to be very aware that God is with us and desires to pour on us a gentleness of spirit and character. And for this very trait to be passed on to our children, whom we desire to train up in the admonition of the Lord. Believe me, they are much more receptive this way.

"The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 2:24-25

A Sweet Treat...

My family has enjoyed this delightful treat :) It is super easy to make and taste delightful. Now, I love chocolate chip cookies so that could play a big role in why I like this treat so much.

I found the recipe here:
http://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/2011/03/blonde-brownies/


"Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely." Psalm 37:3

A time when there is no more....

As I sat in my rocker, I thought ....there is coming a time very soon when I will not be washing diapers twice a week.

 And I'm sad.....

Should I be sad? Why do I not want to move into a different season? 

A season when my littles aren't so little anymore. I want to move past some things and freeze time on the others. Having smooth, well-oiled days all of sudden doesn't sound so appealing to me. Taking the good with the bad, I guess. I want my two year old out of the terrible twos yet I want to keep him two! A stage that is so precious. That I'm actually enjoying for the  first time with my fourth child.

Crazy, I know :)

I never paid attention before. I tended to focus more on the negative then. Something that comes from God's freedom is a positive attitude. I'm not so angry anymore...I'm not rushing to happiness anymore.
I actually took time this year and enjoyed the season change from winter to spring.

Amazing!!

God holds all in His tender hands. The love and comfort that I long for and the eye openers that I need.

Praise the Lord, for His goodness endures forever. 

To the ends of the earth, it flows.

So richly among us all. Precious moments of endearment with a glimpse of His face. His constant drawing releasing His children that had been captive to the enemy's sling.

Freedom! 
We call out and He turns an ear. Setting in motion our deliverance. 

Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.

And flows to the ends of the earth. Rescuing His dear ones from the yokes we so easily become entangled in. 
Deliverance! 
We cry out and He turns a ready ear. Releasing the Savior to break the chains and draw His daughters near.

To my face I fall, knowing that now I'm counted as one so dear. 

The blood that broke the yokes also drips to bring me peace. Restoring and rebuilding this temple now saved by grace. 

Praise my God, for His love endures forever to the ends of the earth, it flows. 

Thank you, Lord that I'm counted as one so dear.

In His grace,

Along the way

"He sent forth His word and healed them..." Psalm 107:20

Sweet Peace....

I have been so caught up in the day to day and completing everything on "my list". Washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes; cooking, cleaning, doing hair, changing diapers,decluttering,grocery shopping, doctor appointments, homeschooling, and I could go on and on a bit more but I think you get the point. 

As women our "list" can get out of control. I realized that chaos had crept into my daily routine completely unannounced! 

Finally when I slowed down enough and looked around; I found that I had, indeed, accomplished nothing.

Now this is coming from a girl that lives to see the finished product. I don't like to even begin something without being able to see the finished product. 

Can't you just hear Jesus laughing......? 

I find myself being drawn to a verse that I had come to know very well....

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

I began to focus on my to do list and not on the most important thing. 

I had my day set up initially, focusing on Christ, from the beginning to the end of my day.

Some how it became the last thing on my list. Something I tried to rush through just so that it could get checked off.

I began losing the peace that governed my day, my life. A peace that I so desperately needed.

Have you ever found yourself there?

The dirty clothes kept coming , just as fast as I had washed them. The sink continued to fill up with dirty dishes day after day and lets face it in the phase I'm in with 4 little ones, decluttering is and will be never ending :)

But time spent in the very presence of God will always be precious. It will always be needed and something to be desired. 

It quenches an area that no amount of work can fill. It sweetly strengthens our very being to undoubtedly accomplish HIS every desire; all the things on HIS list. That is the list that we long for, right? A list that will never be overbearing but sweetly blesses our souls and spirit.

I'm going to change my course. No more trying to outwardly order my day but allowing the Father to inwardly order me and that order will spill into every aspect of my daily life. Not only for my sake but my family's as well.

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good."Titus 2:7

Am I ready...? Are you ready....?

Let's dive in!

"I will listen to what God will say; surely the LORD will declare peace to HIS people, HIS godly ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways." 

Psalm 85:8

And it begins.....

God is orchestrating such a sweet change this school year. He is turning my focus back to the heart of "why" He desires for me to homeschool and let me say, it has been amazing. There is a much more relaxed environment. Don't misunderstand, we are still completing our school work(schedule and all,LOL) but we are coming about it in a much more loving and patient way. More Encouragement than must do's.  My kids have been totally receptive and they love this "new way". Which is the way God planned from the beginning. 


We are all learning.....we are all becoming more christian( looking more like Christ) everyday we embrace him. Everyday we allow him to shape and mold us. Everyday we commit to walking with him. Everyday choosing to sit at HIS feet, gleaning from HIS fields and on occasion sitting in HIS lap.


God has such a way of using everything we encounter to shape us and draw us to himself. And I am so thankful for that.


I say all that to say, we had a great first week of school. Our kick off day was Wednesday August 10; and it ended with a special milkshake/slushy treat from Sonic. They really enjoyed that. Our schedule was easy to begin implementing since we did it a little the second half of last school year. Though we had some discipline issues to weed through they were still over joyed at beginning school. 


Here is our curriculum:

For my 5th grader-

Abeka 5 Language arts

Abeka 5 Arithmetic

Abeka 5 Spelling
Abeka 5 reading program
Simply music guitar DVD program
Bible:Proverbs People, Abeka 5 bible memorization
Homemade handwriting curriculum
Abeka 5 science, health and history


For my 1st Grader-

Abeka 1 Language arts/Phonics
Abeka 1 Arithmetic
Abeka 1 Spelling
Abeka 1 reading program
Simply music piano DVD program
Bible:Abeka 1 bible memorization
Abeka 1 handwriting with phonics
Abeka 1 community helpers


For my K4 child-

Abeka ABC-123 letter/number recognition
Abeka k4 writing with phonics


We have field trips and at home projects to keep us good and busy through this first half of the the year :)

...................And the journey begins.........................






"It should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 
which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

  

New adventures....

We are having so many exciting things going on in the Southerland family, lately :) I have been absolutely over joyed! I will be posting more on this subject in the coming weeks but here is a sneak peak at one of them. My 10 year old just got his brand new guitar in the mail. He is so excited to begin taking guitar lessons. The next step is to, of course, find an instructor that we can afford. Though he has been practices a lot from what he can remember of the Simply music guitar DVD. Maybe i will just find a dvd series for him.....hmmm

sounds like a good thought :))

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4~

Homemade butter....

So I decided to make my own butter; and boy did i enjoy it :) ! It is such a delight to actually set out to make something and that something is the result....if you know what I mean. 

Okay, before I ventured out to try this I looked it up and then watched a few youtube videos.

Recipe:

1 qt. heavy whipping cream

pinch of salt 

2 drops pure vanilla (optional) 

I added the vanilla because I wanted to use this specifically as a spread for some fresh homemade bread.

So phase one: place ingredients into a deep bowl.

I used a stationary mixer, so all i had to do was just spin the bowl. 

 And blend some more until you begin to see.......

 .....the tiny yellow chucks begin to seperate from the milky liquid.

 Then I poured it into a strainer and placed a bowl underneath to catch the liquid as you also make butter milk.

 Then i took the crumb-like butter and molded in my hands, pressing the liquid out of it.

Here is the finished product.

It was delicious!! And a great creamy spread for your homemade bread!

The butter milk, which is the by product, works well for homemade biscuits! 

Enjoy :) !




~"She draws on her strength and reveals that her arms are strong."~ Proverbs 31:17 

Update...

As you read in the previous post, I decided to choose peace rather continue to argue about what was in the best interest of our family concerning homeschooling. Prayer, prayer and more prayer :) ! In that moment of total surrender I began to feel the peace and rest I so desired from the LORD. So after a couple of days I approached my hubby and this topic again with a different attitude. We discussed our differences, though he did not change his  mind he still feels strongly about the structure of a school system; but, we did decided since i have already purchased all the materials for this upcoming school year we would carry on with homeschool for this next year and look at it again for the next year. 


I realized what had affected me so deeply with our first conversation.....I saw it as a direct threat to my abilities. He had, in my mind, affirmed what I had already toiled with and that is...." I'm failing them". Some way some how I was not measuring up. All the things i had tried was not changing my children's behavior. 


I will continue to pray and petition the Father for wisdom and a right spirit in and through all of this. HE WILL affirm me. 

"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. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." ~Jeremiah 29:11-12~

homeschool or public school?

I have so enjoyed homeschooling for the past 4 years. It has been such a blessing to see and know God as I have during this time.But the question has arouse yet again in discussion with my hubby; whether to continue homeschooling or send them to a nearby public school, as we cannot afford a private christian school. 

He strongly desires for them to go to school. His reasons are noble and understanding. My heart literally is breaking even as I am typing. I long to shape my children's world and guide their filtering processes through the word and personhood of God the Father. But I cannot ignore a very real desire of my husband's. So, as painfully as this is for me; I am going to wave my white flag.

So, Please be in prayer and intercession for me and my family as we step into a journey that deeply breaks my heart. Though this is but one element of motherhood and homemaking; it is a very rooted area for me.

~"Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."~ 2 Corinthians 13:11


~"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."~Ecclesiastes 3:1


~"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; And lean not on your own understanding...."~Proverbs 3:5


~"So there is HOPE for your future, declares the LORD. Your children will return to their own land."~ Jeremiah 31:17

Indya's Kindergarten Graduation

My precious Indy-girl just finished kindergarten. She accomplished so much. I am so proud of her.

Indya and Eden

Indya in her cute cap and gown.

                                                           

                   

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that wehn He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

1 John 3:2

Prom photography shoot

My sister celebrating her last year at Westview Middle School. They ended the year with a prom and here are the pictures.

Homemade bread

I decided to make homemade bread for my family. I would like to make all the bread and not buy loaf bread from the store. Though that is not as easy as it sounds. This one pound loaf last only a day. I love it though. It is something to "labor with your own hands".

~Galatians 6:3-5~

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Mother's Day

 These are the joys of motherhood.

 The little blessings they bring to my life each day.

 The love of the Father, God, for my life and theirs simply over take

me.

 Blessed beyond measure!

And a special thanks and Super Happy Mother's Day to my mother and my mother-n-law! I have been so blessed to know and be taught  by these wonderful ladies.

"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me." Psalm 42:8

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward”

 (Psalms 127:3)

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Our 7th Anniversary

Oh, what a day the LORD has made! How I am finding such a delight in what today means. The Lord has blessed my house with my husband and I celebrating 7 years of marriage today. How blessed we have been by our Lord. I awoke this morning with such a joy in my heart. We actually celebrated it yesterday. We went out to eat and looked around in a few stores. It was a nice day alone without little ones.

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God."   ~Ephesians 5:20-21~

Spring Fling Gymnastics show

 Indya standing outside the building.

Striking a pose

I am so proud of my Indy girl. She has learned a lot of interesting techniques through Balance Point Gymnastics. She was finally able to show her family some of it at the show. 

My darlings

I came across this picture and it took me back to the beautiful summer days. How they can play and have school outside and time just kinda drags along. I love it. They love it. It just seems so much less stressful. The long days and warm nights, kids playing in the neighborhood. The sounds of a basketball game down the road and kids riding the bikes laughing and playing. I am so awed at God's perfect timing. We all need those days. We all enjoy those days and lean an everlasting ear to it.