Where does the time go?

I really haven't forgotten about blogging - truly! Many, many times I have come here to write, but... well, I look at the time of night, sigh and then turn off the computer and head to bed. You see, I'm usually a night owl, staying up late, getting up late. I've been convicted of my slovenly habits, and I'm really working on turning over a new leaf! So now, I go to bed when my husband goes to bed, and I get up early, and I don't sit down and waste time at the computer during the day. A lot more gets done around here, and we all like the results of a cleaner house, yummy meals, fewer weeds in the garden and flower beds, and more reading time!

I'm still working on when in the world I will have time to post regularly, but that's the hope. Usually I take so long between posts that I have either so much to say or something more like a book to relate, so the posts take forever to write and then it's so draining and time consuming that I then don't feel able to post again right away and the cycle continues.

The goal: shorter, more frequent posts.

A thought for the day (or maybe every day): Our job as parents is to be obedient to the Lord, disciplining and discipling our children. The really tough part about all that is the part where we leave the results up to God, and we stay on our knees for those precious ones of ours that the Lord has entrusted to us. It's not my job to change my child's heart - that's Christ's job. I have to be faithful to the call on my life, the convictions of my heart fueled by God's Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. It humbles me to know that all I do, even the really important stuff, cannot save my child from hell - only Jesus can do that! That leaves me with a hearty "amen" when I read what Paul has to say in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"! Though I find that the key to peace about all situations is found in the two verses surrounding this one.

"16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

VACATION!

So, Friday, just after noon we'll hit the road on our mini vacation and spend the weekend with dearest of friends! Now all I have to do is get some sleep, take care of my morning responsibilities, and get home in time to be off! Of course, it would be nice if both boys miraculously got well over night! Mikael is pretty much over his cold, but Nathanael is still fighting his. We're heading for the resort pool tomorrow, but we might just visit the local museum and play some games and let them spend Saturday in the pool. Anyway, we'll see you all at the end of the weekend. Too bad we won't be sunburned to boot!

About our vision for Church

Just wanted to share what we have come to see as the point of church, and since the elders and deacons of Household had already expressed it perfectly, I'll let them say it again for you all here:

"HOFCC was planted initially in August of 1998 in the home of Gregg Harris, an internationally recognized author and advocate of Christian home schooling and family restoration.

The new local church has been an attempt to institute several reforms of structure and doctrinal emphasis. From the very beginning, HOFCC has been age-integrated as a matter of principle. We choose to equip parents to train and include their own children in our church services rather than relieve them of their responsibilities by means of age-segregated youth programs. We do not offer a Sunday School, Youth Group or Children's Church service. Instead, we maintain a family inclusive and family uniting culture that draws everyone of all ages into worship, Bible study and partnership in advancing the Gospel together. If we hope to see families serving God together as a team, they must be equipped together as a team. That is what a Christian family household is— a team of believers living and serving God together.

The results of our efforts have been very encouraging. When families are willing to endure the transition back to a simpler and more Biblical way of gathering, they see a dramatic improvement in their children's love for God and His church. Men are drawn back into their Biblical roles as leaders of their own households and wives are restored to their Biblical roles as the helpers and companions of their own husbands. Sound doctrine is restored to its place as the treasure of the entire family and church planting missions become the natural result of healthy spiritual and numerical growth.

— the Elders & Deacons of HOFCC "

Hope this helps you see a bit of where we are in this journey of faith.

Homeschooling in all ways!

Just a couple pictures of the boys buried in their free-reading books. Both are munching apples as a snack and doing what they're usually doing:


Nathanael: soaking up every last ounce of heat he can get from the wood stove!

Mikael: Semi-contorted in some weird position that the rest of us aren't ever able to duplicate! Yes, he's sitting on his bottom (on a stuffed, squishy soccer ball) on the floor, holding his book open with his foot, eating his apple and reading happily away. He was so absorbed that he didn't even know I took the picture!

It's so much fun to school at home! Not typical classroom stuff, that's for sure!

Yes, I'm still alive!

Just wanted to say that we're all still alive and well. Rethinking this whole blog thing though, so I might actually be writing a bit more... who knows!

Big things happening in our life, though. Maybe I can share soon!