Art by Josiah

This was too good to keep to myself.

This shiny picture was drawn on the Kindle by Josiah, the 2 1/2 year old.

"Jorjie" by Josiah

At first he said it was Daddy. but then decided that it looked more like "Jorjie" (that's what he calls Jorja - isn't he just precious!) He draws all sorts of things that half-way look like something.
I think he is an art genius!

Evil

Halloween.
Do you "do" Halloween?

Up until recent years we did. Now, we don't. What changed?

Well, we put Christ first and He opened our eyes. Before then we lived a lot like unbelievers. The darkness (evil) of this world had blinded our eyes to the truth and love and goodness and joy and peace that God LONGS to give us.

Our heart and eyes had problem and God healed us. That simple.  ( see John 12:39-41 and 1 John 2:10-11)

And, frankly, we like to play dress-up, and we LOVE to eat candy. We even did "good" characters for our kid's costumes. It was FUN! But it still wasn't right.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck . . . but we put a dress on it, that doesn't make it NOT a duck.

If it looks just like a honey tree, and smells just like a honey tree, and taste just like a honey tree . . . but we cover it with toilet paper and call it Hooper Hanigan . . . well, it's still a honey tree. It just has toilet paper stuck to it and a dumb name.
If it's called evil, but it's dressed up sweet - its still evil.

If it's wrong to do, but we do it anyway, it doesn't just become right because we changed our minds.

God NEVER changes His mind. Galatians 5:19-21 give us a clue about things God doesn't like. It calls them "acts of the flesh." These things come naturally to us as we live in this dark/evil world.

 

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

~ Gal. 5:19-21 ~

 

The Bible also tells us, as His children and citizens of Heaven, not to worship as other nations do.

 

³⁰ take care that you be not ensnared to follow (other nations), after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ ³¹ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.

~ Deut. 12:30-31 - emphasis mine ~

 

We are called to act differently. To be peculiar (I know that's easier for some of us than others).

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,

an holy nation, a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises of him

who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

~ 1 Peter 2:9 ~

(this happens to be a verse I claimed for our "school" - I just love it!)

So, call a duck a duck. Call evil what it is. Even when on the surface it looks really cute or tasty.

 

 Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Wash your hands, you sinners,

and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

~ James 4:7-8 ~
(calling a duck NOT a duck would also be double-minded)

 

 And another benefit of submitting/coming "near to God,"  is that He sends the Holy Spirit to us. To convict, to lead to bring forth fruit. (I was just going to put one verse here - but the whole thing is so delicious - and profitable for training).

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

~ Gal. 5:13-26 ~

And, sweet people, you haven't lived on this planet for even a century - not even close. God's been planning your existence since the creation of the world. Read Psalm 139. Don't you think that the one who has perfectly balanced the world on nothing for our survival can make a perfect plan for your life?
But Satan has been around for thousands of years. He has had LOTS of practice being a liar and dressing up evil to look like good. In 2 Corinthians 11:14 "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." And "his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness." (1 Cor. 11:15) They may even be sitting next to us in church Sunday! (1 Cor. 11:13) "Such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ."
I don't wanna be one of them!!!!

Lord, put Your truth on my lips in my feeble attempts to love others in Your name! May I not lead them astray but point them to You in all I say or do. I submit to you. I can't do it on my own.

Now, if I've not convinced you listen to "The Problem with Christians and Halloween" from Mike Griffin or read "The Five Scariest Things You can Do This Halloween" or check out some of the articles at Answers in Genesis. Much smarter folks than me say all this stuff much better than I can.

So, do you "do" Halloween? Why or why not?

Author's note: No offense was meant towards nice ducks, honey trees, toilet paper or any man named Hooper Hanigan. Bless his heart.
Author's confession: Confession: I'll admit, I still hit the grocery store late that particular night or the next morning for 1/2 price candy. God made us to enjoy life. - you can pray about that one for me.

Random Things

Shouldn't "Random Things" be the title for most of my post. I have a friend from my brief stint in college who enjoyed reading notes from me and counting all the subjects I'd hit before signing my name. Just a bunch of randomness - not much segway - hardly any tact. Didn't do great on college writing assignments.
I continue to be a work in progress.

Thought 1: Some people are really weird. (and I'm not looking in the mirror this time - although I've really got some chuckles today from certain children as I did weird faces and voices - I'd like to be a cartoon character when I grow up. . . . I think I've already changed topics).

Took #2 & #6, the melancholy one and the dramatic one, better known as Autumn and Jorja, to the doctor today for their yearly check-up. (They acted a little weird too - Autumn "talked" - read "nodded" - with the doctor, and Jorja, who wakes up talking, didn't say much). We went to McDonald's afterward. Where we saw a little weirdness.

A) I haven't/don't always wear the most flattering attire, BUT certain people should NOT wear certain cuts of jeans. And I'd like to thank two certain interesting ladies females for inspiring me further to do a few sit-ups every so often, and mind my P's & Q's. (I'm still not sure what "P's and Q's" are - but I'm pretty sure these people had never even looked for theirs).

B) I hope that my kids grow up smarter than me. Have successful marriages. Are good citizens. Get along well with others. Instill a love for God and others in my grandchildren.
HOWEVER, I held my tactless tongue today while a certain mother at the next table (one of the same ones I thanked above) convinced me that her boys would NOT be suitable matrimonial material for my girls EVER!
I was only over hearing part of the conversation taking place with her children. A conversation where the littlest one told on himself and I was ready to find a belt - this crazy person gave him a high-five! (grunt of disgust).
Needless to say, the grandmother at the table in front of me was VERY relieved when this little party left the building. And so was her little grandson. And so was I. Had they not left when they did we may have eaten in the van.

Parents - DO BETTER!!!!

Thought 2: Kids should not say the "darnedest" things. They do say some weird stuff and I'm just not sure what you'd call it other than "darnedest." It just doesn't sound like a "pretty" word. But we have been known to use worse words before.
So here are a few recent examples of kids saying those type of things:

A) "I'm gonna have to wear this hat to hold in my awesome." ~ Jacob, with a sock hat

B) "Jorja's being a hypocrite!" ~ Elijah, in the van

C) "I want a shot. And a sucker and sticker." ~ Jorja, on the way to the doctor

D) "Who is that?" "Why?"  "Why?" "Why?" ~ Josiah, all the time

Thought 3: What is the blog-o-sphere?

The College Kid in his corner, window office.

I may get to blog more now that Gene is "in school." He has to watch a bunch a lectures and write a bunch of stuff and read a BIG book and a little book and fill in a work book. So, you may hear from me more.
It may be easier to convey information to the handsome man in the corner, window office if I send him an email. Or get him to "favorite" my blog.

Maybe we could Skype each other from opposite ends of the house.

Or I could just write random thoughts to you lovely people (all 2 of you).


The college kid with his wife interrupting his class.

I've also been watching BBC shows - I may be watching more of those. I'm currently watching Marple - which is really like the British version of Murder, She Wrote. So, I'm sure after she solves a few more crazy murder cases I'll be over that one.

 I could also read a book. I think I'll have time to do that.

I think I will NOT put forth more effort on the laundry. (BOO! HISSSS!) It will just have to wait till "working hours."

I think we do need a better schedule for evening time.

It sure is fun going to bed every night with a college fella.

I'm looking for some bookshelves for our room/his office.
And maybe some art . . .



Thought 4: We picked up these rocks at Lake MI. Where did those dirt filled shells come from?
But look I have the camera!  Cute kids coming soon!


MI rocks & dirt filled seashells on top of my desk. Delightful.
Ohhhh. Look! You can see one of my "organized piles" down there.
 

Thought 5: There are other random thoughts but I think I'll go watch TV now. And maybe eat chocolate. Or Twizzlers. (and maybe switch over some laundry - but don't tell).


Goodnight folks!

"Just say NO!" (but not all the time)

I just found my camera last night. It was were I put it. I wonder where it is now?
So, here's an update with no pictures. Just use your imagination. You have one of those, right?

Apparently, we do need another hole in our head. We now have two dogs.

The children and I visited with dear friends, the Petitts, last Saturday so that the Daddy could take some entrance test for school without our help. (Not helping is really hard!)
These dear friends had a little dog that showed up at their house. It came home with us.
I know I grew up in that generation that was taught to "Just say NO!" And where some things are concerned I've done a bang-up job of making who-ever came up with that slogan really proud. But not this time.
The Daddy, that sweet thing, reprimanded me not long after arriving back at our domicile with this fuzzy extra passenger. The conversation went something (exactly) like this:
"Well, thanks for talking with me about getting another dumb dog."
"I knew if I asked you first you'd say no. So I didn't." (He'd make that slogan writer proud too!)
"Well, your right."
Then we discussed getting shots for two dogs instead of just one. And getting two dogs spayed. (And yes, Papa, we are going to do that. Selling golden retrievers is not a job I desire. Not even a little bit).
By Tuesday evening the little mutt, Angel Cake, had her own pink collar. (I've really got to find the camera so ya'll can see this goofy looking little dog. She looks like a toy.) Angel Cake and Zoie are getting along great (Zoie didn't eat her - she tried to eat Zoie).

In other news . . .
I've been really burdened lately about some of this baggage I've acquired. Stuff I thought I'd already unpacked. Satan was really trying to steal my joy. As I've witnessed God's work in our lives and especially in Gene, and wondered with awe at where God is leading, I've also been plagued by our divorces.
I think MUCH of it has to do with the beliefs instilled as a young person - which is GOOD. Divorce is BAD. We do NOT condone it.
I kept reflecting on the verses about church leaders being "the husband of one wife."  I was under attack. About adultery. About the woman at the well. About how we could possibly have any impact.
I cried out to God to help. To forgive. To explain.
And then God spoke. In that quiet, patient way He uses when He is repeating a lesson to His child.
He reminded me (in several ways) that I'm already forgiven. Set free. That while we grieve that those marriages weren't healed, and the pain that many endured, we are released. From being unequally yoked. From the bad decisions that hurt us and our children.
He reminded me (again - for the umpteenth time) that the really ugly "gift" we received had a beautiful blessing(s) inside.
He lifted my chin to see the joy in my home. Joy of serving Him. Joy of serving one another (we're still working on this one). Joy of serving others.
Joy in our family worship time. A time that didn't exist in our home until recently. A time of gathering around the throne of our Father together. A time looked forward to by even the littlest members with happy anticipation.
Joy with a man in love with God. A man sharing that love with, first, his family, and then the world outside our door. An amazing man.
Joy, even as we wrestle with God's plan for us in all this. Joy, as our eyes continue to open to Truth.

Divorce, just like any other thing God hates, IS FORGIVABLE. It is not advisable, but if you've found yourself there, you can find forgiveness. Because as much as God hates sin, He loves you more than is humanly fathomable. He gave His Son for you. The Son took your place. All that hate of sin was placed on Him. He traded Himself because of the love of the Father for you.
And He loves me. Even when He keeps having to repeat Himself.
It's not called a childlike faith for nothing. Parents often repeat the same lesson over and over. And I find that as I re-teach life lessons to my children I am becoming a better teacher. Practice makes better.
God is the perfect teacher - look at how many children He has!

So as a repeat myself, am I becoming more Christ like? (And God laughed at that question too!)

And best of all, I was reminded that it is this gracious gift of divine forgivness to me that has freed me to forgive others. Are you set free?

So, dear ones, we covet your prayers.
Pray that hedge up around us to guard our thoughts and hearts. To protect our joy.
Gene started college classes this Monday. REAL COLLEGE. He is doing Liberty Online. He's really excited. But he is finding out this first week how much TIME is required. We knew it would require LOTS of time, now we just have to practice it.
Pray that we manage our time well. Spending time with his wife and kids is really important to Gene (praise the Lord!) so pray that God blesses him with the ability to "play" with us and get his school work done (and if you want to pray for a small miracle - that Gene would suddenly become really good at typing).
I discovered this week how I have to back off and let him do his thing. I thought I was. Then he had his first "real" assignment, an introduction of himself to his classes. I found something else to do, just let him do this himself. But I could hear his ssslllllooooowwwwwww progress. His hunting and pecking on the keyboard. It really bothered me. Pray, I find ways to keep busy (possibly in a different part of the house).

Praise the Lord, we are all well. Our needs are met. We are blessed with great family and friends.

Let us know how we may pray for you. Or serve you in some way. And come see us sometime. <3

P.S. - just thought I'd give you a fun word picture to work those imaginations.
Woke up to both dogs barking and growling this morning. (A big "woof, woof," and a little "yap, yap" - it would have been cute later in the day). I considered shooting them. Even stopped briefly in front of the gun cabinet to ponder. Threw on a ratty robe, shuffled down the hall, found the back door. Both dogs were very excited to see me and when I opened the screen door they came in the porch. There was a HUGE, brown boxer sitting at the edge of the yard. As pretty as he (or she) was, he needed to go. Since clapping, stomping, and yelling, "Go home!" only made him stare harder at me, I went back to the gun cabinet. Grabbed the kid's little, black 410 (and one bullet) and went back out. So the Mama stood in the driveway this morning, with her ratty robe and crazy hair, and fired at that dog. I'm sure I didn't hit it (much) as I witnessed his backside running away between the trees.
(But boy are my kids impressed - I may have to shoot at something else.)

Corny Girls

All four girls got to go with some friends on a field trip last Friday. I sent the camera with Ava. This is only a small portion of what she captured on film. (I'm pretty sure that while putting them on this blog they somehow got WAY out of order.)

 

 

Self-portrait

Ava was very impressed with these "purple" apples



Pumpkins

Sister 2 on the "hay-less" hay ride

Nice View

Big Feet

More pumpkins

Punkin'head

Corny

Apple Canon "We need to go back and do this!"

Corn

Children in corn

Children of the corn

Nice corn

hungry yet?

A clue!

more corn

Mama told them to look after one another and stay with Mrs. Michelle
this is proof that sometimes they listen

Welcome (see, this should really be first.)

Little girls on the hay-less hay ride

pumpkin and doodle

Ava's lunch

Jorja

Lora

Jorja

Lora

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed your brief trip to Jaemor Farms.

While the girls did this, the Mama took Elijah and Josiah for a check-up (they are fine), and the Daddy took Alex and Jacob to get a desk for his "corner office" and some $2 chairs for the school room. Fancy!

Thankful for Coffee

First day of Archery Lessons

That twig in the blue shirt is Ava



Alex

Elijah

This ones a little fuzzy - but that blue shirted gal in the center is Autumn
SMILING!
 

Friday was a very busy day. Friends came to play, Mama and Daddy went to the dentist, we got new pets . ..

 

This beautiful rooster WAS mean.
His boiled carcass is currently residing
in my fridge waiting to become supper.
Rest Deliciously Ol'Yeller

We are currently looking for a new, nicer, free rooster to crow for us.

Saturday was busy too! A different bug dude was filling in for our regular bug dude. That really messes with ya. (Okay, it messes with me). But between Friday night and Saturday morning my kitchen cabinets and my room got really clean. My room even got rearranged - WOO HOO! I'd go make the bed and take a picture if the battery in the camera wasn't "exhausted" (I know how it feels).

Hopefully by this weekend our room will also have new (used, really cheap) desk in the corner for Gene do his studies on. (He starts online classes with Liberty University on the 22nd - this first semester doesn't look to hard but pray anyway - this is just the beginning!)

Sunday, another busy day. Gene was asked to "exercise that muscle" at Lighthouse Worship Center. It was a wonderful service. And this handsome preacher REALLY impressed his wife. (Well, it impressed me that he had to so humble himself in order to let God use him in such a powerful way). And the audience was full of Amen-ers and others who talked-back - it was wonderful.

He also got to play the drums during the singing part.
The kids were most impressed.

Sunday afternoon was LifeChain -

LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life individuals standing and praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death.

For more info see LifeChain.net

 

 

 

Of course the majority of our group (of 18) were minors - so our chain wasn't entirely peaceful.

It was a good example of how the disciples had a hard time watching and praying for an hour. Our little disciples do too. They just didn't fall asleep - that would have been helpful.

 

Since it was in the lower 50's Monday morning I decided that it might be a good time to finally drag out the kids winter cloths. So that evening Gene and the big kids helped me get the many boxes out of the attic. Thankfully, last season I sorted them out a little better so we only got down the boxes of things that might actually fit someone now instead of ALL of them.

I started sorting it out after the littlers went to bed Monday night. Worked on it all day Tuesday (with a break for lunch and a few lessons). Intended to work on it after we got home from Bible Study yesterday but I had a horrible head cold and felt exhausted and took a nap. We still got Math and language arts done and even went to church last night. So, it's now Thursday morning. The last of the "new" (to that child; i.e. Hand-me-downs) are in the dryer and soon I'll get up and put all those boxes in the foyer so Gene can lug them back into the attic until spring.

 

Here's one more fun picture, as much as I am not liking that its in the laundry room, these littlers were having so much fun on the washer and dryer in their rocket ship.

 

We haven't learned much. We haven't had time. But we are thankful that the biggers are pretty helpful, especially when Mama is hard at work or not feeling well.  Which as been the entirety of the last 7 days.



Looking forward to boredome

The Daddy and the bigger 4 have gone to an archery something the other side of somewhere. I'm sure they will love it. I am home recovering from a headache and trying to keep the little-er 4 in the bed.
I can hear two little boys giggling.

What a busy week we are having. I'm remembering that I really like to be lazy because I think my headache may be due to over-doing it. I must have looked really bad after lunch today because two of these sweet angles looked at me and said, "You don't feel good do you? You just need to go to bed."
I finally took their advice.
They watched TV.

Well, Saturday was the wedding, Sunday we saw a baptism, I posted those. Still shouting "Hallelujah!"

Monday, BHA (the Brown Home Academy) went on a field trip to North Metro Baptist Church  in Lawrenceville, to see Ken Ham. Live and in person. I discovered that many people don't know who Ken Ham is. (Can you end a sentence with "is"?) At our house he's right up there with Voddie Baucham. Super Stars! (What? You don't know Voddie? I'll introduce you at the end of this ramble).


BHA students waiting on the first lecture to begin.



Ken Ham during the second lecture. (We ate apples in between lectures).

The first lecture was Dinosaurs for Kids (I loved it!) and the second was Defending the Christian Faith Biblically and Scientifically (its a good thing the teacher brought crayons and coloring books for the younger grades - but this was GREAT!) We are so thankful for superstars like these, who come alongside us and help us train up these children. (And wouldn't a blog post about dinosaurs be fun. Ken Ham knows what happened to the dinosaurs. . . drum roll . . . They died.) ;)
You can find more on Ken Ham at Answers In Genesis.

Tuesday, we hosted RECESS at our house. (I might have remembered pictures is I wasn't SO busy holding baby Gabe and talking).
Wednesday at Community Bible Study the bigger kids class did the opening.


A view from the sound booth. 10 kids from 3 families. I hold a majority.

And Mission Friends, RAs and GAs all "went" to Johannesburg, South Africa. My little mission friends are collecting for the World Hunger Fund. Jacob collected $1.25 before he left church.

Don't you want to give?

Today, Thursday, I was going to finally clean my room (the bug man cometh soon). But since I was sent to bed by Dr. Everybody that didn't happen.

The biggers are home. Little boys are dancing. Now to MAKE them all rest before another big day tomorrow. We are looking forward to Papa coming early in the morning, and visiting our saged friends, and having some younger friends spending the night, and visiting Lighthouse Worship Center Sunday morning to hear a very handsome preacher!
Oh yeah! And Mr. Cash! (he's the bug man) Can't forget him. The smallish persons like to follow him around. Maybe they are learning a trade.

And now . . . in case you've missed him in past post . . .and cause I said I would . . .  Hhhheeeeerrrrrrree'sss Voddie!

Your welcome.
See you next week.