Virtual Sub- Culture?

It´s only a virtual sub culture. It´s not even a real place to visit, but it´s my place non the less.

My blog.

My blogger community friends in this virtual sub-culture have become a part of my life.

I was so reticent in the beginning. Thinking that if I started to blog I wouldn´t want to journal any more, but I am finding it´s helping my creativity, my perspective, and even my spiritual walk. My blogger friends are so encouraging and funny. Most of them are missionaries or in full time service in some capacity. It´s such a highlight of my day when I see that one of my new found friends has written a new post or when they have come by to "visit" .

I even miss them when they don´t come by. Hmmmm, does this mean I am becoming dependent? Well, to one extent it´s good. I have new friends, but to another extent I must remember not to grow too dependent. The only One I should be truly dependent on is Jesus. I am talking expectations here. If my expectations are in any one else other than Jesus, boy am I gonna get disappointed.

A verse that comes to my mind so often is Psalm 62:5-6

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my

expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation:

he is my defense; I shall not be move"

I say this to say, I look forward to seeing your comments. I read your comments. They have come to be a great encouragement for a missionary wife who sometimes feels out numbered. Out numbered in her own home, 4 boys to 1 girl and out numbered in the town, most everyone knows us as the sect down the street.

I say this to say, Thank you to those who encourage me and help me keep my focus.

I also say this to say, I miss you when you are away, but I will put my expectation in God and be patient.

God bless you my dear Blogger friends.

Love,

Soft Words and Weekend in Review.

A thought from my devotional ponderings.

"Soft words, turn into special moments"

"A soft answer turneth away wrath"

I always thought this refered to so many aspects of life but today I am reflecting on this verse more as a Mommy.

Is it possible that I am provoking anger in my children?

I need to remember that what I expect from them, I must also require of myself, otherwise they see a double standard.

"Soft answers" don´t only apply to them as children but also to us as parents. Even if they are being disobediant and sassy, I must remember to answer them with soft words, firm but kind words. I must remember to treat them as I would want to be treated. So much easier to write than do sometimes. Obviously that is our goal but are we really treating our children with the same respect we expect from them?

Matthew 7:24 says that who ever hears these words and does them is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock foundation. The Rock being Jesus! That if we build on this Rock we will stand firm no matter what comes our way.

Weekend in Review
Actually taken at Joseph´s first home game this season, two Saturday´s ago. He is our Sports Hero!

After Church this Sunday we had a video and supper afterwards. The boys are so happy in this photo because another boy came to church! His family lives in the next city over and go to another church so they probably won´t be coming much. He a good friend to my boys. Please pray for more families with children to come to church.

Monday and Tuesday we had vacation days here in Spain. It´s a holiday called Carnival similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans so we don´t participate much, but we had a good time roller blading and biking on the coast which is only a 10 minute walk away from our apartment. It´s finally getting nice enough out!

We were invited to watch the Canival parade from a friend´s balcony. It was our first time in 9 years to see a Carnival parade. The people of Gijón, really out did themselves this year. The parade lasted over an hour! Our favorite was the section on cartoon caracters. Everyone was dressed up as a famous cartoon caracter. There was Tweety, and Sylvester, Buzz and Woody, Shrek, Fiona and baby Ogers. (they looked so funny) Well, you get the idea. Here are pictures taken from the balcony. We had a perfect view!

Then Tuesday we had company! Mexicans and Asturians! We had Tacos and Frijoles! Now that is not Spanish food, mind you. That is purely Mexican. Spanish food is rich but not spicy. And Tacos in Spain are something you hang frames on the walls with.


Seens how I always have the camera, I don´t have to pose for the pictures. However my camera went off at the football game when I was putting it away. So here´s a picture of your´s truly.

P.E. FUN?!?!

Yes, we had a great time today doing P.E.!
Keep GYM in school and in our case Homeschool!

Pull ups and chin ups! We have some work to do on these. :) But thankfully due to Karate they are in great form. We were stretching and the boys can actually lay their heads on the ground while sitting with their legs stretched out. (practically the splits) OUCH!!!

Then you have the long jump! Fly Isaiah! Fly!

This next one cracked me up! Michael jumped so hard and far he landed on his keester.

We also ran the mile. OOOEEEEE! Even Mommy. of course we didn´t time ourselves. I am just getting back in shape so I wasn´t up to seeing how far I have drifted from my sporty high-school/ college days. I was encouraged though at the fact that I did not "jiggle all the way".

Pro-Life Spokesman ???

I am not going to put his picture because I can barely stand the sight of him. President Barak Obama has put his foot in his mouth again. Now I don´t like to get too political but I would like to shout what my missionary friend Rita has to say all over the World!

At the same time, I am praying that our President learns to refer to the One True God instead of a plurality of gods.

Check it out for yourself. Pro-Life Spokesman??? by Rita

"There is no God that condones taking the life of an innocent human being."

President Barak Obama

Rephrased for Mr. President in a more God honoring and Biblical fashion,

"God does not condone taking the

life of an innocent human being."

A new design and I figured out how to post it!

My husband who normally wants me to design the prayer letters, did this one with very little help from me. It´s a fresh new look, I think. :)

Now to post it on our web site!

Click on it to read.

Treasures!

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and

where thieves do not break through nor steal;

For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also."

Matthew 6:19-21

These verses make me think of our God given duty to reach the lost, help the needy and encourage the discouraged, but at the same time the Lord brought to my mind my "three little mission fields." Am I storing up treasures in Heaven when it comes to training my boys?


One thing we have implemented in our family for a few years now are job lists. I have gone back and forth with giving stickers, privileges and allowances. I wondered if giving an allowance was best.
Yesterday, the boys, all on their own, decided to save their allowances for camp this summer to help pay for camp and for their spending money. I was over whelmed at what a great idea this was. My oldest had talked about it the other day but yesterday he and the other two made banks (with Mommy´s help) that can´t be opened till camp time in July. They are so excited that today they did all kinds of jobs that I hadn´t even thought of. Like sorting the cups in the cupboard, and the silverware in the drawer!

Here is a picture of one of their finished Job charts for this week!

They get smiles for every job and if they get a certain amount of smiles a day they get a sticker. Their allowance depends on how many smiles they get a week. They tithe and save too! This is a way that we can all store up treasures in Heaven. It´s a little thing but it´s big to me because I have wondered if I was doing the right thing giving them allowance for good behavior and jobs. Now we have a great motivation! CAMP!!! Mount Calvary Baptist Camp here we come!!

Bummers and Blessings (more Blessing than Bummer)

1. Bummer - My hubby had to go away for 4 days. It was a long 4 days. Ok, so I am spoiled but in a good way. I just can´t live with out him. I held the fort and cracked the whip, cooked the meals, taught school and even played with the boys a bit, but something was definitely not right. The Lord gave us strength to even lead the songs on Sunday. My oldest two sons directed and this missionary wife bummble through the hymns on the piano. What a duo we made. I praise the Lord the people stayed and sang through it all.

Blessing - My hubby is home now and we are again working as a team. (we have to team up or the boys win) Did I mention I am sooo spoiled! He had a wonderful time in Germany brainstorming with other missionaries and pastors. He came back recharged and refreshed. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. I can´t wait to see what great things God has in store!

2. Bummer - Well, having three boys there isn´t a lot of quiet in this house. They are definitely healthy. I am told it´s a good sign. Some days I wonder if we made them that way. I mean, I am not exactly Mrs. Quiet, but I guess I envisioned my house to be a little more serene.

Blessings- They do sit down to read every so often apart from School! Yay! We were blessed to be able to buy new Spanish Encyclopedias. They are beautiful! God made it so they came right at the point in our lives where we are now able to pay for something like this. It is an investment for the boys school and for their future. This was the scene in my house the other night!



3. Bummer- when a computer goes to computer heaven. Our lap top of almost 5 years decided not to work one day and ever since it has never turned back on. I am sure there is a fix to it but as it is a Sony we just couldn´t spare to have it repaired.

Blessing- Along with those gorgeous new Encyclopedias, the company gave us a brand new lap top! It was not anything I expected when I said I was interested in the volume. As I voiced my interest the salesman said , "Well, I have something for you that you didn´t even expect or hope for." He pulled out a pamphlet with a lap top advertised. I thought "Yeah right!" But it was true! It arrived this week and it´s a decent computer! God provides before you even start asking sometimes.

"But let your communication be , Yea, yea; Nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:37

These were the words that jumped out to me today. They are sinking in. It´s a very well known verse but I didn´t remember the last part of it. That is so strong! The word´s of our Lord Jesus speaking straight to me.

The Lounge

View my page on The Homeschool Lounge

I am so excited about this new web community! The Homeschool Lounge! It has been wonderful to get to know other moms and see what they do. I don´t feel so bad now for not getting to everything every day, or being more flexible if we want to study something a little longer, or if we want to do a hands on project even if it´s not in the unit we are studying. I am feeling much more confident ( even though I always wanted to homeschool and believed it was God´s will for us) knowing that what we are doing is working and the boys are more than on target! I want to try to enjoy them more and not get so up tight. I would like to do more Art, music, science projects, field trips ect. but at least we are getting the learning in. They are very well rounded with piano lessons and karate, too.
If you are homeschooling and need a little refreshing, first thank God for your little students and then join in the Lounge!