Tag Archives: Parenting

Simple Summer

homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

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Simple Summer

Summer is almost officially upon us, although today feels as though it has arrived. Our morning walk was just a tad bit hotter than usual. But this family has always loved summer.

Baseball games, whiffle ball, fireflies, swimming, beaches, long days, short nights, back porches…well you get the general idea. I am sure you can add your favorite summer activities to make you own list! In fact, that might be a good idea. Or let your children journal what they see and learn!

There is something about summer that gives us permission to slow down a bit. No set bedtimes, no set wake up times. When the kids were little, summer just happened at a different pace. Continue reading Simple Summer →

Simple Rain

Christianity, Grace, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, Truth, Uncategorized, Who we are in Christ, , , , , , , ,

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Simple Rain

And rain…and rain.

“They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.”  Job 29:23

We are in a pattern of rain around here most certainly.  I have been working full time the last week and wondered if all this rain was just my imagination, then my husband informed me otherwise.  It has rained…everyday, at some point or another.  And the pattern may continue for a few more.

But what a difference rain is on a summer day than on a fall day!  I could not be sitting on here on the back porch writing.  I could not enjoy the birds singing as they bathe…yet again.  I could not see the flowers perpetually growing in front of me.  I could not smell the fragrance of the honeysuckle as it tickles my nose.

I remember letting my little guys play in the warm rain.  Oh, how they loved it!  It was as though I had given them the moon!  They were allowed to get wet, soaked, drenched from head to toe.  Of course the first time I allowed this I sent them out with umbrellas.  Ha.  That lasted all of 5 seconds, as those umbrellas became better at splashing one another than actually covering themselves to avoid getting wet!

But what abandonment they experienced!  Not a care in the world.  Splashing through the street, looking for the biggest puddle they could find!  Looking for rainbows as the sun tried to peek through the cloud over head.  Opening their months to receive the best tasting water on the planet.

Yep, you guessed it.  Instead of watching them….I joined them.  No rules, no regulations, no worries.  Just simple rain.  Contentment.  Enjoying life in that moment.  Pure ‘ole fun. Rejoicing in the day, and experiencing His love.

“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”  Psalm 118:24

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

Simple Shirt

Christianity, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, Who we are in Christ, , , , ,

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Simple Shirt

“Mom, that shirt looks awful!” Sarah yelled as she ran through the room. “Can we put it in some dye and brighten the yellow?” Sarah’s shirt had faded, basically because she wouldn’t wear anything else! Multiple washings had taken it’s toll.

“I need the shirt for tomorrow” she told her mom. And as ALL good moms would say…”wear something else!” But Sarah already had a plan, and the yellow shirt was needed for the class play.

“I can do it, really I can. I have the yellow dye and the hot water is running. I promise I won’t bother you with it,” she said. And as ALL good moms would say…”ok”.

It didn’t work. The shirt turned out spotty and the yellow was basically a thing of the past. “Mom, what happened? What did I do wrong?” “Did you completely immerse the shirt in the dye solution? “No” came the reply with a sigh.

Sarah tried it again, this time she put it in and allowed the yellow dye water to completely swallow up the shirt. Ten minutes later Sarah was thrilled. “It worked Mom, it’s a brand new shirt, even the yellow is different!”

In scripture “baptize” means to “immerse or place into, to be put into, to be swallowed up.” Matthew tells us in the gospel that John baptized Jesus. We often believe that this was simple referring to water and nothing else.

But look: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11

Matthew then goes on in the next few verse about John baptizing Jesus.

We believe that Christ died for us, but do we believe that Christ lives in us? We were buried with him, we were immersed or swallowed up in Him. We get to live a brand new life! A never before lived life! A life that we can allow Christ to live through. Like that yellow shirt, we were completely and totally immersed. Completely covered! Made new!

How dingy is your yellow shirt? Go ahead, completely immerse it!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*