Many Faces of Molly

This is Molly frustrated

This is serious Molly

This is throwing a fit MollyThis is silly, spitting out food MollyThis is her newest look....wrinkled brow....like she is about to cuss someone out!

This is my silly happy girlAnd this is Molly for the majority of the day...all smiles!

The Green eyed monster!

I am writing this as a type of confession but a challenge to myself as well....this is a little embarrassing but in a good sort of way because it shows how much God can work in your life if you allow him.

Everyone sins and one of my perpetual sins in the past has been the following...covetousness, jealousy, and envy.  I really have struggled with this over the years....being jealous of what my neighbor has, envious of someone having something that I don't, jealous of friends and their relationships, etc.  Most likely John is the only one that may know how it was a weed that kept growing and it would really bother/infect me sometimes...I specifically remember praying about it many times..."Why God does this give me a bad feeling, Why can't I be truly happy about such and such happening to a friend, etc" Well over the years, God has worked on me and I am sooo much better!  It will always be a struggle but he gave me 1 Corinthians 13:4, James 3:14, and Galatians 5....through the Grace of God, I can be happy for a friend, not worry when I am not included, not take things so personally, and I do not envy and covet what my neighbor has.  Amen!

Recently, I have been shown through my wonderful daughter that I need to love like a child...We have lost/unchurched neighbors on either side of us and, shame on me, but the only thing we have ever done is take them cookies....We did this big Summer of Service within our family last summer where we picked a service project every week and did it together as a family...and it was great and it helped us all to step out of our box and take the initiative to do some things that we wouldn't ordinarily do but it was still all very convenient...I have been shown by Emily that God doesn't want us to do things for others to get approval from anyone, to get a pat on the back from others, out of convenience or self righteousness....Our neighbor girl, Shayna, loves my kids and honestly sometimes I have a really hard time when she walks over because its one more kid to watch out for, one more kid asking questions, I have to be close by to make sure things are appropriate and protect my own kids and on and on.....She lives with an older brother and a single mom.  They are different (northerners..ha ha ha)...honestly I wouldn't want to be friends with them on a normal basis..but my Emily has been "playing" church with Shayna now for about a week or so...they are quoting scripture, singing songs, and Emily pretty much has asked Shayna (who is 10 years old) if she believes in God...

My 8 year old is witnessing and sharing and showing God's love and I'm just annoyed that I have to take care of one extra, not so lovable kid....I'm being very honest here!  You know, it's easy to do "service projects" when we are serving those that are like us or likable or when we can still hold the people at arms length...

A girl in our S.S. class, while reading our book Crazy Love, was sharing how her mom was one of those moms that always had the back door open...eveyone was welcome...she took everyone to church... fed everyone etc...And I realized that John and I sometimes talk a big talk but then when Shayna (who is not shy at all) asked if she could come to church with us on Wednesday night....honestly my first thoughts were..."well I will have to feed her, its always rushed on Wed nights, then I'll have to go work everything out with her mom, and she  is kind of annoying sometimes"....oh my goodness...then I realized that here my daughter loved her neighbor, told her about God and then the neighbor asked to actually come to church with us and I had to actually think twice about it and then even had ugly thoughts on top of that...ugh...I'm so ashamed of myself...I have certainly had to ask forgiveness.  So, my newest plea with God is this....show me where you want me to serve...even if its not convenient, and change my heart to be more like you!   And Shayna will be going to church with us on Sunday if I have anything to do with it!

The Egg

John read this last night:

The egg is the single most perfect food for protein aside from Breast Milk. 

Time with Grandparents

My parents took the kids to walk in the March of Dimes Walk/run in honor of a family my dad knows at work.  I love this picture.....looks like my kiddos are having the best time with their grandparents!

All giddy but can't explain it!

So I went to this Homeschool symposium on Saturday that was suppose to give me insight on curriculum, choices, options, etc. regarding our homeschool experience.  I was pure GIDDY when I left....I couldn't wait to talk to John (and boy did I talk his ear off on our 1 hour drive to Madison to visit some friends) and I couldn't wait to call my homeschooling friend Ann...

I can't really describe it...Maybe only John can understand because we are sooo on the same page right now (which by the way is a really great feeling in marriage...when you actually feel like your husband and yourself are walking the same road)....it just feels good to be headed toward something that you feel like God has told you to do, you've prayed about, and you feel like there will be freedom in your decision! 

Quite honestly, I was a little nervous...I really really wanted my friend Ann to be there as a security blanket but she couldn't go.  I thought I would be sitting amongst women that had no makeup on, wore very modest and uncool clothes, had multiple children dressed alike in homemade clothes, etc etc.....all the typical stereotypes of course BUT I was wrong of course.  There were about 50 or more women there...looked pretty normal, some wore make up, most were very chic  dressed, they looked normal!!!!!!  And I didn't even see any homemade matching clothing on any of the kids that, may I add, sat quietly in the back of the room :).....and I sat right next to Pete Boulware!  I am making fun of course ( I do not mean to offend by any means) but it just goes to show that there are so many stereotypes out there and all of us have stereotypes that are unwarranted...and I'm not just talking about homeschoolers.  It was an awesome experience.  I had to pay a babysitter $40 to watch my kids while I went as John slept in the back room after getting off at 7 am but if I had missed it, it would have been a great disservice to my family!!!!

These women were so intelligent.....talking about things that I can't even begin to speak of because my brain has become mush!  I was so taken by their level of spiritual and world view knowledge.  They spoke of legislation and laws and leadership and character and science and grammer and integrity and on and on and on!!!!  The CCS principal was there to share about the school's options for homeschoolers and I went up and spoke to her (she knows of our decision to homeschool and has been very supportive).  She said hi and then she said, "This is all SOOOOO interesting!"  Which I thought was funny coming from the principal of a school that is losing families to home education (there were 3 of us CCS parents there)...but when she did her speech, she said that CCS has worked very closely with homeschoolers and they support that decision and have homeschoolers in and out of CCS all the time over the years! 

One of the things that I loved was this...there were so many different ideas and passions in the room full of mothers that are excited about teaching their own children but they are all so supportive of one another....I have been astounded by all the different choices and options there are for home education and it is evident that most home educators are very passionate about their philosophy of education but again, they are so supportive of each other and willing to lend a hand or give some advice if needed. 

John and I have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it offers up the question of WHY NOT?  Meaning why not go out on a limb...if God is calling you to do something...why try to fit yourself in a box...do what everybody else is doing....LIFE IS A MERE VAPOR!  We are only here for such a short period of time.....Why not drop what you are doing a go help your 90 year old neighbor rake his yard!  So my prayer this week will be to help me be a person to step out of the box and do some of those things that make me feel uncomfortable....and I am Giddy with excitement over using our homeschool experience to answer the question WHY NOT....and take action...I'm excited that it will give us that freedom and flexibility...

John Daniel's Newest Art

I love this considering our latest interest!

Soccer Pro

John Daniel is now playing soccer for the 3rd semester in a row.  So far it is the only "extra" thing that we have let him do and it has been o.k.  John Daniel is so laid back, easy going, willing to try anything but likes the comfort of knowing what is to come.  I have asked him about Karate, T-ball, and Music lessons...but he never acts real interested...he always says he wants to do Soccer ( I believe its because he is used to it and knows what to expect)...John and him play a little in the yard and he acts fond of it.  He also likes the throw the football around.  He is mostly the hiking, play in the dirt, ride his bike, nature kind of boy like his Daddy.  In fact, lately, John can't go anywhere without him...he does EVERYTHING with John from mowing the grass to fixing the sink.  He loves to know how things work.  But I think being involved in sports is good for both boys and girls...they have to learn to listen to a coach, get along with peers, and be a team player.  Warner Soccer is nice because it is 6 weeks long and you can choose to go 1 day a week or 2 days a week.  There are no extra games at this age and it is a lot of fun skill building and not a lot of competitive game playing.  They do tons of fun drills to learn how to control the ball, kick the ball, etc.  They are always moving and it is a really positive atmosphere...everyone cheers for everyone.  The coaches are wonderful with kids...Coach Beverly Warner said she has been coaching soccer for 25 years!  At the end of the hour, they do play a "game" and get to experience that aspect of soccer.  This week J.D. made 4 goals!  He was on fire!!  Go #14!  He also asked to go to bed at 7:15 that night...he was exhausted!