This morning I awoke early, and just allowed today to soak over me. Today I leave my precious babies and my amazing husband behind and I head off to Africa for two weeks. I still can't believe this is happening. I can't believe that God has called me on this missions trip. I can't believe that I am fully funded. I can't believe that I have found it in my introverted self to do this. I know this was all his plan. That every step of this was crafted by God and I know that this entire trip will be in the hands of him.
I am packed, vaccinated, notes are written, videos are stored, photos have been taken. I am ready. I am excited but yet I am sad. I am leaving my family for two weeks. This is the longest I have ever been away, and the furthest. I am beyond blessed with this amazing man I get to call my husband. This guy is truly a blessing from God. His faith, strength, confidence, support, love, encouragement, and the list can go on is stead fast on God. He is an amazing dad who will make sure these kiddos will have a great time, that they will lose track of time and I will be home super fast. I would not be going on this trip if it weren't for him.
I also wouldn't be going on this trip if it weren't for my partners. Those amazing people who have donated and prayed over this trip. Your support is by far the best blessing. Thank you for all your love and encouragement during this time.
I will do my best to write daily. I am not sure of how the internet connection will be once we leave Nairobi. If I can't do daily upload I promise to write and then post when I have internet. Continue to cover my amazing team, the Kenyans, and all our families here at home.
Thank you! God Bless
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
In The Wake of The Election
This was originally going to be a Facebook post, however it got a bit long so I decided to bring it to my blog. So here it is.
I am happy and proud of my vote. I stood at
the polling booth with my children and had no hard feeling on the topic. I
voted with confidence and never did my decision make me sick... I voted along
with 4 million+ others for a change a real change. I knew he would not win but
that did not stop me.
With that being said I will support our next
president; I would have no matter who it was. The things Trump said in his town
hall meetings, debates and ads were uncalled for and unnecessary. But it happened,
just as Hilary had her many, many problems. Learn to forgive and move forward.
Pray he acts with more dignity and respect going forward. We all have skeletons
in our closets… However, I think Americans quickly forget what this path is all
about. His "promises" for change, his "ideas" about
immigration, his "desire" to overturn Rhode VS Wade and all his other
"promises" are all just campaign strategies. He as a single man cannot
make these changes all on this own. All those other people that were on your
ballot yesterday, all the people who still sit in the Senate, House and on all
the other committees at the White House THEY are the ones who get to push
things along. Have faith in what is to come.
The people who did vote for him are not all
racists, LGBT heaters, Bible Thumping, closed minded, ignorant people. By the
way you have these type of people on both sides of the isle... The majority of
the people who voted for Trump are good, loving, accepting people who were
afraid of Hilary, or vote party blindly, or believe in some of what he said, or
just didn't want to vote for a career politician. But saying awful things about
the people who voted the opposite of you, or just sitting in fear is not the
answer. The answer comes down to prayer, and acceptance. I am a Christian, I am
raising my children to be Christians, I go to church with my family every week,
we read the Bible, I homeschool my children so I can raise them MY way and not
the way the Government tells me too. But get this I also am tolerant,
accepting, and loving. I am not perfect, I have made many bad decisions, I am a
sinner. I have gay friends and family, I have nonbelievers as some of my best
friends, I have lost people to drugs, I have good Christian women in my life
who have had abortions, husbands and wives who had affairs and came back to
each other. Christian doesn't mean that we think we are better or that we hate;
it is actually the complete opposite. So please don't blame the Christians for
this election. It's one thing about this election that has bothered me the
most.
This country has gone through many horrible
presidents, we have gone through war on our own land, the Great Depression and
so much more. We as a current society have no idea how good we have it.
Even our great Abraham Lincoln (who is one of
my favorites) made really bad decisions while president. He spent money on
weapons without the approval of congress. He limited freedoms that were set
down in the Constitution. He incarcerated anyone who threatened the war efforts
without a trial or even being told what their crime was. He even seized land
from people if they opposed the war. But we stand here today and look at what
he did for the good and praise him for his actions.
I have seen so much hate, anger, fear, and
just pure nastiness today. It hurts my heart. In the words of my husband “Take a moment and set aside what you think you know about “your”
candidate regardless of how certain you are, put yourself in someone else’s
shoes, and empathize with them. A person’s perspective is often shaped by
life-long circumstances that your seemingly logical arguments, justification,
and rationale can’t overcome. The current “us vs them” tone following the
election will only create a greater divide amongst us.”
We need unity not division we
need prayer; we need love not hate. Look to your friends, family and loved ones
and think long and hard about what you will share, type or how you will react.
Take a stand for peace and change. If you don’t like the outcome of this
election in four years make a change. I have seen a lot of people ask “How did
you get here?” My response to that is look in the mirror. WE as a society have
brought our country to this point. We have allowed ourselves to get this far.
WE put both Hilary and Donald in the position to hold power and in my opinion
NEITHER should have been in that position in the first place. Here we stand for
next 4yrs. Yes you can be unhappy about that, but can I ask how will that help?
How will protesting, killing, fighting, name calling and the just down right
nastiness help? Instead come together as one, hold hands with people across the
party lines, stand firm with your brothers and sisters of this country. LOVE
one another and PRAY.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
School Days Are Upon Us.
As we get back into the busy time of school days, car pools and after school activities, we as mommas really need to give ourselves grace and love. This can be a time of stress, tears, anxiety and just plane craziness. We need to turn to God in this time. Pray for our children as they head out to school, their activities, play dates ext. Also we need to say a prayer for ourselves; we need to ask God to guide us on this path as it is not an easy one.
As mothers we have all been called on a different path. Some of us are stay at home moms, some work at home moms, some part time working moms, some full time working moms, some have to share time with others. Some of us are killer cooks, some not so, some love to clean others have someone come in and do it for them, some well organized, and some are scattered, some punctual, some well not so punctual. Some of us find ourselves sending our kids to private school, some to public, and some of us homeschool. The amazing thing is that we all love our kids. We live our life the way God has planned out for us, but we never stop loving these precious little babies.
No matter what the path one thing remains we are doing what we are called to do and we are doing the best we can. No parent is perfect, no one has it all together, or all figured out. No one is better then the other. We are all learning as we go and doing the best damn job we can. However we can only do this with God's guidance.
I love seeing all the back to school photos. These kids are loved so much. Mommas give yourself grace; pat yourself on the back as you have, and are doing a great job. Keep on loving those kids. If you are sending you kiddos off and get to stay home enjoy the quiet and pray for them today. Love on them and share in their excitement when they get home. Listen intently and learn with them. Allow them to be kids, play, get muddy and enjoy this time. Homework can be overwhelming and time consuming, try hard to not let it overtake the night. Fight back for your kids when things get to be to much for them.
Always remember you are amazing!
Friday, July 8, 2016
Sad State...
I have been trying to figure out the right words to say, and how to put it all down on paper. The past 3 days of news has been devastating; actually the past few years of news has been devastating. We have allowed so much hate to just poor from our veins. This "race war" is worse then it has been in years. Obama, his administration and the media have been feeding this hype. We live in a world where there is black and white, straight and gay. We have segregated ourselves to the point that if you have a different view you hate the opposite, you support the police then you must hate the blacks. It is truly disturbing.
I will continue to raise my children to love others, to honor God and to respect authority. With that being said I do not agree with police brutality. I will however not clump all officers together as we should not clump all whites, blacks gay, straight ect. together. We are all individuals and we all have different points of views. Yes I am a white, straight, christian women I am a wife and mother. That does not mean all people who fall into those same categories agree with me on everything or share the same point of view. So why should we pretend that that is how it is? Why should we say that just because I am not black I don't sympathize with their struggles? The color of you skin does not make you less or more important neither does your gender or sexual orientation. God loves each and everyone of us no matter what.
With all that being said I think it is important to really take a look at the facts. These numbers come from a website called the counted; they keep track of how many people have been killed by the police. They do a great job with breaking it down but sadly most people will just go to the site and see that 566 people so far this year have been killed by the hands of an officer. There is so much more to it, so here it is. Seeing how we are in a race war and are up in arms about how many black people have been killed, I will end each section with the comparison between whites and blacks.
Lets first start with unarmed deaths.
Unarmed White - 42 people
Unarmed African American - 24 People
Unarmed Hispanic/Latino - 14 People
Unarmed Native American - 2 people
82 Unarmed people killed by the hands of an officer. Most of them are domestic shootings that took place with an off duty officer and his family.
Of this 82 52 were gunshots 10 death by taser 9 struck by vehicle 11 death in custody
As you can see that is 18 MORE Whites then Blacks
Now lets look at the Armed suspects
Armed White - 212
Armed African American- 101
Armed Hispanic/Latino - 65
Armed Asian - 13
Armed Native American - 10
Armed Unknown - 28
429 armed assailants.
Of the 429 424 were killed by firearm, 2 taser, 1 struck by vehicle and 2 death in custody.
There are 55 people unaccounted for as they are either listed as other, undetermined or disputed on the weapon.
On the website it also has a chart that breaks it all up by ethnicity and here is what you will find there
Overall that is 566 people who have been died by the hand of an officer. 13 Hispanic/Latino 136 Black, 88 hispanic, 279 White, 10 Asian and 40 other/unknown. That is 143 MORE Whites killed then Blacks. If you do it per million (there are more whites in the country then blacks). So per million 3.4 Native Americans 3.23 Blacks, 1.59 hispanics, 1.41 whites, 0.56 asians.
So is this really a race issue? Or is just simply a media issue? Or is it more then that? Is it the need to make this into something? I am not saying that what is happening isn't wrong, but it is wrong all across the board not just in one demographic area. The american people are pointing fingers at the officers saying they are ALL racists, and they are out to kill the blacks. I am not going to sit here and say that there aren't racists cops or jumpy cops. But to group them all together is not fair. THEN to kill 5 officers in Dallas Texas, for what?!?
Now to see how many police officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. 58 officers have been killed in the line of duty. Yes this number is not as high but they are going into dangerous situations and when you have someone waving a gun at you you have to think about your life and the life of those around you first.
The number of people who have been killed by a fellow citizen are as follows 8,722 homicides and rising! Do you see the problem here?
I think we all need to take a step back, stop jumping to conclusions and really just pray. Stop blaming, stop taking what you see and pointing your perfect little finger at someone. Yes you can watch these horrific videos and do your best to figure out what happened; but remember these are just a glimpse of what is really going on. We don't know exactly what is being said, or what actions are taking place in the scuffle. We can be sympathetic, and be heart broken that someones life was taken and we witnessed it happen (I for one will never get used to that nor do I want to witness it again). I think the biggest thing is to stop, think, process, pray and react. We are aloud to react and have emotion, we are aloud to be mad and demand that these things stop. But we can not judge the actions of those in that 30 second clip as we don't know what happened before or after the camera stopped rolling.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Philander Castile, Alton Sterling and all the 564 others who have lost their lives this year as well as all the officers and their families involved with these killings, as they have to live with this for the rest of their lives. I also pray for Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Omar Cannon, Misty McBride and Jesus Retana and the o53 other officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. I pray for the 49 precious people who were killed by an islamic extremists in Orlando as well as all the others who have lost their life by the hands of another. A life lost is tragic no matter what.
I sit here with tears in my eyes thinking about this world I have brought my babies into. I pray that with them and through them and others like them we can fix this world with God in control leading the way. Please join me in prayer. Pray for people to see that the actions they are taking are not the right ones, that we need to really learn to respect each other no matter what.
Thats all I got.... God bless
I will continue to raise my children to love others, to honor God and to respect authority. With that being said I do not agree with police brutality. I will however not clump all officers together as we should not clump all whites, blacks gay, straight ect. together. We are all individuals and we all have different points of views. Yes I am a white, straight, christian women I am a wife and mother. That does not mean all people who fall into those same categories agree with me on everything or share the same point of view. So why should we pretend that that is how it is? Why should we say that just because I am not black I don't sympathize with their struggles? The color of you skin does not make you less or more important neither does your gender or sexual orientation. God loves each and everyone of us no matter what.
With all that being said I think it is important to really take a look at the facts. These numbers come from a website called the counted; they keep track of how many people have been killed by the police. They do a great job with breaking it down but sadly most people will just go to the site and see that 566 people so far this year have been killed by the hands of an officer. There is so much more to it, so here it is. Seeing how we are in a race war and are up in arms about how many black people have been killed, I will end each section with the comparison between whites and blacks.
Lets first start with unarmed deaths.
Unarmed White - 42 people
Unarmed African American - 24 People
Unarmed Hispanic/Latino - 14 People
Unarmed Native American - 2 people
82 Unarmed people killed by the hands of an officer. Most of them are domestic shootings that took place with an off duty officer and his family.
Of this 82 52 were gunshots 10 death by taser 9 struck by vehicle 11 death in custody
As you can see that is 18 MORE Whites then Blacks
Now lets look at the Armed suspects
Armed White - 212
Armed African American- 101
Armed Hispanic/Latino - 65
Armed Asian - 13
Armed Native American - 10
Armed Unknown - 28
429 armed assailants.
Of the 429 424 were killed by firearm, 2 taser, 1 struck by vehicle and 2 death in custody.
There are 55 people unaccounted for as they are either listed as other, undetermined or disputed on the weapon.
On the website it also has a chart that breaks it all up by ethnicity and here is what you will find there
Overall that is 566 people who have been died by the hand of an officer. 13 Hispanic/Latino 136 Black, 88 hispanic, 279 White, 10 Asian and 40 other/unknown. That is 143 MORE Whites killed then Blacks. If you do it per million (there are more whites in the country then blacks). So per million 3.4 Native Americans 3.23 Blacks, 1.59 hispanics, 1.41 whites, 0.56 asians.
So is this really a race issue? Or is just simply a media issue? Or is it more then that? Is it the need to make this into something? I am not saying that what is happening isn't wrong, but it is wrong all across the board not just in one demographic area. The american people are pointing fingers at the officers saying they are ALL racists, and they are out to kill the blacks. I am not going to sit here and say that there aren't racists cops or jumpy cops. But to group them all together is not fair. THEN to kill 5 officers in Dallas Texas, for what?!?
Now to see how many police officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. 58 officers have been killed in the line of duty. Yes this number is not as high but they are going into dangerous situations and when you have someone waving a gun at you you have to think about your life and the life of those around you first.
The number of people who have been killed by a fellow citizen are as follows 8,722 homicides and rising! Do you see the problem here?
I think we all need to take a step back, stop jumping to conclusions and really just pray. Stop blaming, stop taking what you see and pointing your perfect little finger at someone. Yes you can watch these horrific videos and do your best to figure out what happened; but remember these are just a glimpse of what is really going on. We don't know exactly what is being said, or what actions are taking place in the scuffle. We can be sympathetic, and be heart broken that someones life was taken and we witnessed it happen (I for one will never get used to that nor do I want to witness it again). I think the biggest thing is to stop, think, process, pray and react. We are aloud to react and have emotion, we are aloud to be mad and demand that these things stop. But we can not judge the actions of those in that 30 second clip as we don't know what happened before or after the camera stopped rolling.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Philander Castile, Alton Sterling and all the 564 others who have lost their lives this year as well as all the officers and their families involved with these killings, as they have to live with this for the rest of their lives. I also pray for Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Omar Cannon, Misty McBride and Jesus Retana and the o53 other officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. I pray for the 49 precious people who were killed by an islamic extremists in Orlando as well as all the others who have lost their life by the hands of another. A life lost is tragic no matter what.
I sit here with tears in my eyes thinking about this world I have brought my babies into. I pray that with them and through them and others like them we can fix this world with God in control leading the way. Please join me in prayer. Pray for people to see that the actions they are taking are not the right ones, that we need to really learn to respect each other no matter what.
Thats all I got.... God bless
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
The loss of a loved one
It is becoming a January trend that I hope has come to an end. Last year when I came home from ShmooCon I found out a dear friend was losing his battle with addiction and passed away the next day. This year I found out that my best friends mother had passed away and then a week later my grandmother passed away. I am pretty sure the January curse needs to STOP! So much heart ache and pain has been surrounding this month that I am not sure how we have managed to pull ourselves together. Please keep all of these amazing people and families in your thoughts and prayers
A little about my grandma... Her name was Ila Marie Likley and my grandfather called her Tutee growing up I called her Nonni. I will not lie about the fact that I was not very close to my grandma growing up, we didn't spend much time together and really just didn't click. It wasn't until my daughter was born almost 7years ago did all this change. My grandma became so much more to me then my dads mom, and my grandma. She became a great grandma, and best of all my friend. We shared stories, and tips. We laughed and cried together. We learned to forgive each other and truly love each other with every ounce of our beings. We really talked about everything, it was no holds bar. We talked about her husband often; he passed away when I was a very young girl. She told me of all the good times they had together. I learned so much about the home we often visited growing up but never really connected with. The blood sweat and tears that went into building their home. The first time they brought their daughter home from the hospital and how then she said her house become a home. The story of my twin uncles and how she had no idea their were two of them. The craziness that soon followed after they were born. The day she found out she was pregnant with my dad and how she new he would round out their little family. The dance parties they had in the basement of their home. The long weeks when my grandpa was out on the road and she was home with the kids. Stories about the kids and the stuff they did growing up. Stories about some of the furniture in her home and where it came from and what it meant to her. But I think my favorite moment was when we were talking about our favorite Christmas presents; she said maybe not my favorite but my most rememberable would have to be an orange. My kiddos were in the room when she said that and they laughed at how silly it was. I told them come an listen to her tell you why it meant so much. The listen intently at her amazing story about the depression and how an orange was so expensive at that time, how her father made sure they got this hard to find, expensive delicious orange in her stocking on christmas day. This story made a huge impact on my kids and this year we started the tradition of an orange in their stocking. It was so cute to see their faces on christmas morning and then tell their Great Grandma all about it, was truly a heart warming experience.
My grandma became my friend. Someone I could sit and hold hands with and talk with for hours. She was someone who truly made a huge impact on my life and was a driving force behind many of my decisions. I shared with her heart ache, pain, loss, fear, the hurt I felt growing up, and we shared moments of healing together. I am beyond blessed to call Ila Likley not only my grandma but my friend. I will always miss her and life will not be the same without her, but I promise to always care her in my heart and to continue to talk about her with my kids. She will always be a lasting memory in our household.
The Saturday before she passed we talked about our house hunting. I told her of a home I really loved and how we were hoping to see it soon and if all goes well we would put an offer on the house. She asked me if it was a ranch (If you new my grandma you would understand why she asked that) I told her no it wasn't. Her response was "Jennica you will have to move again". I laughed and smiled. She then said I really hope you get it. Wednesday she passed away and Thursday we had scheduled to go see the house. So we went, as I knew my grandma would want me to. We fell in love with this home and we both knew it was the home for us. Friday we put in an offer and Saturday we set off to Ohio to be at my grandmas viewing. Saturday night I was sitting around the table with my family when I got a phone call. WE GOT THE HOUSE! I can't help but think my grandma had a hand in all of this and was with us through out the process. We can not wait to move forward with our lives and move into the new home. She will defiantly be a huge part of our new home as we feel she had a hand in it all.
I miss my grandma so much and wish I could run to her side and tell her that we got the house! However I know she already knows and is celebrating with my other grandparents. I have and army of angels looking over me know. =)
Life doesn't always go as we plan and sometimes (well always) we have to give it up to God. We ask why? Why did so and so pass away? Why are we here? Why can't we just move on? Why now?! I have been reeling with these questions the past couple of weeks. The answer is no where to be found but in the trust of God. I will never know why my grandma passed away when she did. I will never understand why my other grandparents died so young. I will never understand why I have lost so many friends over the years. But I have learned to trust in God. It has worked for me so far.
RIP Janice Reffo 1/18/16
RIP Ila Likley 1/27/16
You are both loved and missed dearly
A little about my grandma... Her name was Ila Marie Likley and my grandfather called her Tutee growing up I called her Nonni. I will not lie about the fact that I was not very close to my grandma growing up, we didn't spend much time together and really just didn't click. It wasn't until my daughter was born almost 7years ago did all this change. My grandma became so much more to me then my dads mom, and my grandma. She became a great grandma, and best of all my friend. We shared stories, and tips. We laughed and cried together. We learned to forgive each other and truly love each other with every ounce of our beings. We really talked about everything, it was no holds bar. We talked about her husband often; he passed away when I was a very young girl. She told me of all the good times they had together. I learned so much about the home we often visited growing up but never really connected with. The blood sweat and tears that went into building their home. The first time they brought their daughter home from the hospital and how then she said her house become a home. The story of my twin uncles and how she had no idea their were two of them. The craziness that soon followed after they were born. The day she found out she was pregnant with my dad and how she new he would round out their little family. The dance parties they had in the basement of their home. The long weeks when my grandpa was out on the road and she was home with the kids. Stories about the kids and the stuff they did growing up. Stories about some of the furniture in her home and where it came from and what it meant to her. But I think my favorite moment was when we were talking about our favorite Christmas presents; she said maybe not my favorite but my most rememberable would have to be an orange. My kiddos were in the room when she said that and they laughed at how silly it was. I told them come an listen to her tell you why it meant so much. The listen intently at her amazing story about the depression and how an orange was so expensive at that time, how her father made sure they got this hard to find, expensive delicious orange in her stocking on christmas day. This story made a huge impact on my kids and this year we started the tradition of an orange in their stocking. It was so cute to see their faces on christmas morning and then tell their Great Grandma all about it, was truly a heart warming experience.
My grandma became my friend. Someone I could sit and hold hands with and talk with for hours. She was someone who truly made a huge impact on my life and was a driving force behind many of my decisions. I shared with her heart ache, pain, loss, fear, the hurt I felt growing up, and we shared moments of healing together. I am beyond blessed to call Ila Likley not only my grandma but my friend. I will always miss her and life will not be the same without her, but I promise to always care her in my heart and to continue to talk about her with my kids. She will always be a lasting memory in our household.
The Saturday before she passed we talked about our house hunting. I told her of a home I really loved and how we were hoping to see it soon and if all goes well we would put an offer on the house. She asked me if it was a ranch (If you new my grandma you would understand why she asked that) I told her no it wasn't. Her response was "Jennica you will have to move again". I laughed and smiled. She then said I really hope you get it. Wednesday she passed away and Thursday we had scheduled to go see the house. So we went, as I knew my grandma would want me to. We fell in love with this home and we both knew it was the home for us. Friday we put in an offer and Saturday we set off to Ohio to be at my grandmas viewing. Saturday night I was sitting around the table with my family when I got a phone call. WE GOT THE HOUSE! I can't help but think my grandma had a hand in all of this and was with us through out the process. We can not wait to move forward with our lives and move into the new home. She will defiantly be a huge part of our new home as we feel she had a hand in it all.
I miss my grandma so much and wish I could run to her side and tell her that we got the house! However I know she already knows and is celebrating with my other grandparents. I have and army of angels looking over me know. =)
Life doesn't always go as we plan and sometimes (well always) we have to give it up to God. We ask why? Why did so and so pass away? Why are we here? Why can't we just move on? Why now?! I have been reeling with these questions the past couple of weeks. The answer is no where to be found but in the trust of God. I will never know why my grandma passed away when she did. I will never understand why my other grandparents died so young. I will never understand why I have lost so many friends over the years. But I have learned to trust in God. It has worked for me so far.
RIP Janice Reffo 1/18/16
RIP Ila Likley 1/27/16
You are both loved and missed dearly
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
CHRISTmas is Upon Us
It is hard to believe that we are in December already! The tree is up, the lights are lit up, the stockings are hung. Shopping is almost done, lists are made, plans are set and life is crazy. WAIT STOP!! What is this all for?! JESUS! But why all the other stuff?!?
Okay lets take a look at the history behind Christmas. The first recorded date that Christmas was celebrated on December 25th was in 337 AD. In 336 AD Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (he was the first Christian Emperor).Then a year after, Pope Julius I declared the birth of Jesus to be held on December 25th.
We have no exact date of when Jesus was born, but some believe that Mary was told that she was the chosen one and that she would bear the child of God on March 25th nine months later is December 25th. Some also believe that we celebrate it on this date as Winter Solstice was held around this date, so they wanted to take this celebration and make it a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord.
What about Santa Claus? Why? Here is a little back story on St. Nicolas.. It all started with a man named Nicholas. Nicholas grew up in Asia Minor (now known as Turkey), He grew up as a devout christian, his parents taught him to love people and God. When he was a teen his parents died and left him with a large amount of money. Living his life by the Lord and obeying his words"sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Nicolas became a bishop of Myra and was well known around Myra for his generosity.
As a bishop he wore a red coat with white fur and a red hat. He was also an older man with a white beard.... See how that image comes to play.
When he got older he heard of this family with three girls who didn't have enough money for a dowery (to marry off the girls). If they didn't get married they would most likely end up in slavery. He went to their home on three different days and tossed a bag of coins into the window; some say the bag of money ended up in the girls stockings hanging by the fire drying out. People heard of this and anytime they recieved a secret gift, they assumed it was Nicolas. Do to his good deeds he was given the title of a Saint.
There is a day of celebration for St. Nicolas which is on December 6th. This is the day St. Nicolas actually died and so it is a celebration of his life. This is a great way to share this remarkable story of a man who lived his life fully to serve the Lord and to help others.
This is great information to explain Santa Claus to children, and why he does what he does. In our home we do have Santa come and visit we talk about St. Nicolas and how his name came to be known as Santa Claus. How he gives to little boys and girl a gifts, food and or money. But we also talk about how we should emulate St. Nicolas, and work for the Lord every day. So we really focus on giving back through out the year; especially during the holiday season, this allows us to share Gods love to those in need.
Christmas Tree? Well this dates back to Egyptian times. They worshipped evergreen trees, when winter solstice came they would take the palm leaves to symbolize that life trumps death. The tree was originally a pagen symbol but was adapted into the christian celebration of Jesus for Christmas. The reason behind the Evergreen Tree is because it stays a live and vibrant all year long, it doesn't die, or go into hibernation a lot like the love of Jesus Christ.
Lets get to it... There are a lot of things that have been added through out the years to Christmas. Most of which is commercialized, I agree that a good portion of it is ridiculous, but I also know my kids love some of this. I also know that my kids know the true meaning of Christmas and that we are to give more and not take. Be happy with what we have and to live a life for our Lord. Jesus is the reason for the season, whether adapted or not. Everyone deserves a birthday party and Jesus is no different. Jesus was Born of the virgin Mary, that is a big deal! We may not know the exact date or year of that birth but we know he was born. So celebrate him this year, celebrate the Savior who came walked among man, sacrificed his life for our sins, died on the cross and rose again from the dead. How amazing is that?!? Enjoy this large celebration of lights, trees, carols, stories, and gift giving. Its the biggest birthday party of the year!
God bless and Merry Christmas!
Okay lets take a look at the history behind Christmas. The first recorded date that Christmas was celebrated on December 25th was in 337 AD. In 336 AD Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (he was the first Christian Emperor).Then a year after, Pope Julius I declared the birth of Jesus to be held on December 25th.
We have no exact date of when Jesus was born, but some believe that Mary was told that she was the chosen one and that she would bear the child of God on March 25th nine months later is December 25th. Some also believe that we celebrate it on this date as Winter Solstice was held around this date, so they wanted to take this celebration and make it a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord.
What about Santa Claus? Why? Here is a little back story on St. Nicolas.. It all started with a man named Nicholas. Nicholas grew up in Asia Minor (now known as Turkey), He grew up as a devout christian, his parents taught him to love people and God. When he was a teen his parents died and left him with a large amount of money. Living his life by the Lord and obeying his words"sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Nicolas became a bishop of Myra and was well known around Myra for his generosity.
As a bishop he wore a red coat with white fur and a red hat. He was also an older man with a white beard.... See how that image comes to play.
When he got older he heard of this family with three girls who didn't have enough money for a dowery (to marry off the girls). If they didn't get married they would most likely end up in slavery. He went to their home on three different days and tossed a bag of coins into the window; some say the bag of money ended up in the girls stockings hanging by the fire drying out. People heard of this and anytime they recieved a secret gift, they assumed it was Nicolas. Do to his good deeds he was given the title of a Saint.
There is a day of celebration for St. Nicolas which is on December 6th. This is the day St. Nicolas actually died and so it is a celebration of his life. This is a great way to share this remarkable story of a man who lived his life fully to serve the Lord and to help others.
This is great information to explain Santa Claus to children, and why he does what he does. In our home we do have Santa come and visit we talk about St. Nicolas and how his name came to be known as Santa Claus. How he gives to little boys and girl a gifts, food and or money. But we also talk about how we should emulate St. Nicolas, and work for the Lord every day. So we really focus on giving back through out the year; especially during the holiday season, this allows us to share Gods love to those in need.
Christmas Tree? Well this dates back to Egyptian times. They worshipped evergreen trees, when winter solstice came they would take the palm leaves to symbolize that life trumps death. The tree was originally a pagen symbol but was adapted into the christian celebration of Jesus for Christmas. The reason behind the Evergreen Tree is because it stays a live and vibrant all year long, it doesn't die, or go into hibernation a lot like the love of Jesus Christ.
Lets get to it... There are a lot of things that have been added through out the years to Christmas. Most of which is commercialized, I agree that a good portion of it is ridiculous, but I also know my kids love some of this. I also know that my kids know the true meaning of Christmas and that we are to give more and not take. Be happy with what we have and to live a life for our Lord. Jesus is the reason for the season, whether adapted or not. Everyone deserves a birthday party and Jesus is no different. Jesus was Born of the virgin Mary, that is a big deal! We may not know the exact date or year of that birth but we know he was born. So celebrate him this year, celebrate the Savior who came walked among man, sacrificed his life for our sins, died on the cross and rose again from the dead. How amazing is that?!? Enjoy this large celebration of lights, trees, carols, stories, and gift giving. Its the biggest birthday party of the year!
God bless and Merry Christmas!
My Feet Firmly Planted... Gaze At The Stars.
I often want to take it all on. I want to be the best at everything, push myself to success and of course never say "No". This is just out right crazy! What am I thinking? I can not be the best at everything, I am not perfect last I checked there is only one who is perfect; and that is not me. God is my shepherd and I will continue to do my best to live my life in his image, but the fact is I will fail time and time again. Frankly that is ok!
Over the past few months this revelation has come very clear to me. I have failed over and over again with my kids, my marriage, my jobs ect. Today I came home from our Community Day and I looked around in (lets be frank) disgust. My house is a mess, I had nothing planned for dinner, laundry has taken over my bed (and tonight I will more then likely push it all to the side and climb in). But I have realized that yes keeping a clean house is kinda important, dinner is very important and putting laundry away is well overrated. Non the less they are all things that are on my long list of things to do in a day. My kids are great and keeping up with their chores and are eggar to help but this week we are saying forget about it.
I am taking steps back from work, I am shifting my focus and changing my tone. I am living life with my feet firmly planted on the ground. I don't need to live a life of YES all the time, or one where I do it all. If someone offers to help me out I will take them up on that offer 99% of the time, because I know I can not do it all alone. I get these grand ideas of all the things we (my family) will get done in a year. Then when week 12 comes (this week) I take a look at that and go OH NO!!! We didn't get half this stuff done! I have failed my kids, my husband, my community, my family! Then I listen to my kids talk about things they have learned, share with others the things they have been doing. That is when I realize my feet where not firmly planted on the ground when I was writing up those lesson plans, I was shooting for the stars. The stars are for gazing not for catching.
My life is crazy, loud, messy, and it does not follow my lesson plans; stupid life! Just kidding this life is perfect and written down in Gods life plan for us. I do not have to follow my lesson plans, or work to be perfect. I just have to work at living out the life that God has planned and do my best at walking in Gods Image.
So know that you do not have to say "Yes" all the time, saying "No" is healthy so practice saying it. Live a life that brings you piece and happiness. Walk the path that God has laid out for you. Keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, just gaze at those stars you do not have to catch them.
Over the past few months this revelation has come very clear to me. I have failed over and over again with my kids, my marriage, my jobs ect. Today I came home from our Community Day and I looked around in (lets be frank) disgust. My house is a mess, I had nothing planned for dinner, laundry has taken over my bed (and tonight I will more then likely push it all to the side and climb in). But I have realized that yes keeping a clean house is kinda important, dinner is very important and putting laundry away is well overrated. Non the less they are all things that are on my long list of things to do in a day. My kids are great and keeping up with their chores and are eggar to help but this week we are saying forget about it.
I am taking steps back from work, I am shifting my focus and changing my tone. I am living life with my feet firmly planted on the ground. I don't need to live a life of YES all the time, or one where I do it all. If someone offers to help me out I will take them up on that offer 99% of the time, because I know I can not do it all alone. I get these grand ideas of all the things we (my family) will get done in a year. Then when week 12 comes (this week) I take a look at that and go OH NO!!! We didn't get half this stuff done! I have failed my kids, my husband, my community, my family! Then I listen to my kids talk about things they have learned, share with others the things they have been doing. That is when I realize my feet where not firmly planted on the ground when I was writing up those lesson plans, I was shooting for the stars. The stars are for gazing not for catching.
My life is crazy, loud, messy, and it does not follow my lesson plans; stupid life! Just kidding this life is perfect and written down in Gods life plan for us. I do not have to follow my lesson plans, or work to be perfect. I just have to work at living out the life that God has planned and do my best at walking in Gods Image.
So know that you do not have to say "Yes" all the time, saying "No" is healthy so practice saying it. Live a life that brings you piece and happiness. Walk the path that God has laid out for you. Keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, just gaze at those stars you do not have to catch them.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Classical Conversations
I can not believe that I have not had single blog post this year, and about this amazing journey we have been on with Classical Conversations. We are already coming up on week 12 of our first year with CC, and what an amazing year it has been!
Homeschooling has not been the most easy adventure we have been on but it has been the most rewarding. Classical Conversations has been a true blessing and I am so happy that we decided to go this route. Last year Ace was in a private preschool and Jae was homeschooled half the year with cyber school and the second half was traditional homeschool. It was a year with many tears, and a lot of frustration as we tried to figure it out. This did not discourage us though, it pushed us to find the right path; and we did! We decided that this year we would pull Ace out of preschool as we felt this was not working for him as he really was not getting the attention he needed as he was in a LARGE class (18 kids aged 3yrs old). We kept Jae out of the school system and looked in to CC for both of them. We truly could not be happier with our decision.
CC has been a staple in our house hold for education, and getting to see how much my kids have grown and how much they have learned is jaw dropping amazing. For example yesterday we were reading the story of St. Nicolas and in the story they talked about Turkey and Constantinople both kids got really excited and wanted to show me on the map where these to places are. As we kept reading we came across the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, the persecution of Christians; as well as the Council of Nicaea, all of which they know about! Mind you they are 4 and 6.5 years old!! Then as we read the story of the birth of Jesus during our advent reading Caesar Augustus and both kids yelled "hey we know him!" How amazing is this? I know that this will just keep getting better and their light bulb moments will become more frequent as their education with CC continues.
This is beautiful classical learning style that has been a blessing to my family, I look forward to our on going adventure with CC.
Homeschooling has not been the most easy adventure we have been on but it has been the most rewarding. Classical Conversations has been a true blessing and I am so happy that we decided to go this route. Last year Ace was in a private preschool and Jae was homeschooled half the year with cyber school and the second half was traditional homeschool. It was a year with many tears, and a lot of frustration as we tried to figure it out. This did not discourage us though, it pushed us to find the right path; and we did! We decided that this year we would pull Ace out of preschool as we felt this was not working for him as he really was not getting the attention he needed as he was in a LARGE class (18 kids aged 3yrs old). We kept Jae out of the school system and looked in to CC for both of them. We truly could not be happier with our decision.
CC has been a staple in our house hold for education, and getting to see how much my kids have grown and how much they have learned is jaw dropping amazing. For example yesterday we were reading the story of St. Nicolas and in the story they talked about Turkey and Constantinople both kids got really excited and wanted to show me on the map where these to places are. As we kept reading we came across the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, the persecution of Christians; as well as the Council of Nicaea, all of which they know about! Mind you they are 4 and 6.5 years old!! Then as we read the story of the birth of Jesus during our advent reading Caesar Augustus and both kids yelled "hey we know him!" How amazing is this? I know that this will just keep getting better and their light bulb moments will become more frequent as their education with CC continues.
This is beautiful classical learning style that has been a blessing to my family, I look forward to our on going adventure with CC.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Its a Genocide
Our world has really gone through many hardships these past few days. We have been brought to our knees with tears rolling down our faces asking WHY?! Why has this happened? Why is it continuing to happen? What can we do to put an end to all this?
Just in the past week alone we have seen Beirut attacked by suicide bombers which killed 43 and wounded 239. Then there was Paris they lost at least 129 and wounded hounders more. ISIS takes claim of these attacks, they are proud of what they have done and they plan to do much more. My heart aches for those who lost their lives to such a horrific senseless act. My heart aches for the families of those who lost their lives.
This is much more then these two attacks. This is much greater; this is a genocide! Roughly 170,000 people have been killed by ISIS. Mostly Christians and Shiites, in Iraq alone! This is also in a little over a year time frame. Why are we not focused more on this? Why are we not trying to find a solution or an end to this?
There are Americans, Frenchmen, Germans, Dutchmen, Venezuelans, Trinidadians, and Russians all participating with ISIS. They are going over to Syria being trained on how to hate and kill and then being sent on their way. This is very scary to me as we know for a fact that their are ISIS extremist walking amongst us here on american soil. We know of camps all across America that house ISIS members. Yet here we are not doing a thing, here we are watching the news about what dumb thing Trump will say next, or what Obama WON'T do for the American people. We sit here and worry about racial discrimination, the war on gender equality (all of which are valid issues but we are making them issues). What is really going on here is smoke and mirrors. Whats really going on here is we are losing it people, we are losing control of OUR country and of GODS world!
What are we going to do about the issues at hand? Well first thing is PRAY, like really get on your news and pray. Because we can not do this alone, we need guidance, we need strength and we need God. Next is so rare those ISIS camps and get these people locked away, they are a threat to this country and lives of everyone living here. Then we need to close up our boarders, lock them up tight. After they are locked up we will have to deport those who are here illegally. Sorry folks there is a right way into the country feel free to come in through the front door and you are welcome to stay. Keep an eye on this population clock to see how many DOCUMENTED people there are in our country. Then we need to continue to protect America and our allies, we can't sit back and just say its not our fight to fight because it is!
Life is precious and innocent people are being killed because of their beliefs. Maybe its time we start acting like it.
#ISIS #GENOCIDE #CHRISTIAN #GOD #PRAYFORPARIS #PRAYFORBEIRUT
Just in the past week alone we have seen Beirut attacked by suicide bombers which killed 43 and wounded 239. Then there was Paris they lost at least 129 and wounded hounders more. ISIS takes claim of these attacks, they are proud of what they have done and they plan to do much more. My heart aches for those who lost their lives to such a horrific senseless act. My heart aches for the families of those who lost their lives.
This is much more then these two attacks. This is much greater; this is a genocide! Roughly 170,000 people have been killed by ISIS. Mostly Christians and Shiites, in Iraq alone! This is also in a little over a year time frame. Why are we not focused more on this? Why are we not trying to find a solution or an end to this?
There are Americans, Frenchmen, Germans, Dutchmen, Venezuelans, Trinidadians, and Russians all participating with ISIS. They are going over to Syria being trained on how to hate and kill and then being sent on their way. This is very scary to me as we know for a fact that their are ISIS extremist walking amongst us here on american soil. We know of camps all across America that house ISIS members. Yet here we are not doing a thing, here we are watching the news about what dumb thing Trump will say next, or what Obama WON'T do for the American people. We sit here and worry about racial discrimination, the war on gender equality (all of which are valid issues but we are making them issues). What is really going on here is smoke and mirrors. Whats really going on here is we are losing it people, we are losing control of OUR country and of GODS world!
What are we going to do about the issues at hand? Well first thing is PRAY, like really get on your news and pray. Because we can not do this alone, we need guidance, we need strength and we need God. Next is so rare those ISIS camps and get these people locked away, they are a threat to this country and lives of everyone living here. Then we need to close up our boarders, lock them up tight. After they are locked up we will have to deport those who are here illegally. Sorry folks there is a right way into the country feel free to come in through the front door and you are welcome to stay. Keep an eye on this population clock to see how many DOCUMENTED people there are in our country. Then we need to continue to protect America and our allies, we can't sit back and just say its not our fight to fight because it is!
Life is precious and innocent people are being killed because of their beliefs. Maybe its time we start acting like it.
#ISIS #GENOCIDE #CHRISTIAN #GOD #PRAYFORPARIS #PRAYFORBEIRUT
Friday, November 6, 2015
Being a Christian and Celebrating Halloween
Another halloween in the bag. It was fun filled with laughter and good times with friends. The holidays are upon us and with that comes many different opinions and shaming. We are a family of Christian and we love to celebrate holidays as we see fit. I for one do not feel like everyone should do holidays the same nor will I shame you for doing them how you see fit. I know in the world of Christian views this is not always the case. This post is going to focus on Halloween...
So the other day as I sat down for my coffee and catching up with my newsfeed I came across this post that had great points regarding halloween and I respect this persons stance on not participating in halloween. However it was also a post about how trick-or-treating was laced with all sorts of poisons and that it makes them sick to see Christ followers participate in this evil holiday. Ok, I took the bait and I dove in.
Lets do some history on this festive holiday...
Halloween originated about 2,000 years ago in modern day Ireland. It was called the Celtic festival of Samhain. It marked the end of summer, and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark, cold winters, a time of the year that was associated with many human deaths. Celts believed that the night before their new year (November 1st) the lines between the living and the dead became blurred. So on that night (October 31st) they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. They believed that they caused damage to crops and stirred up trouble. They also believed that their presences helped the Druids, or Celtic priests make predictions about the future; which brought comfort to those who depended on the volatile natural world during the long dark winters.
To commemorate this event they would wear costumes (typically consisting of animal heads and skins), and attempt to tell each other's fortunes all while having a sacred bonfires where people would gather and burn crops and sacrifice animals to the Celtic deities. When the celebration was over they would take the fire from the sacred bonfire and re-light their hearth fires to protect them during the coming winter.
Fast-Forward to 630 A.D when Pop Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of all Martyrs Day was established in the western church on May 13th. Later Pope Gregory III expanded the festival to include all saints as well as al martyrs and moved the observance from May 13th to November 1st. By 1000 A.D the church would make November 2nd All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It is believed that that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, dressing in costumes as saints, angles and devils. All Saints Day was also called All-Hallows (November 1st) and the night before was called All-Hallows Eve which eventually became Halloween.
Halloween comes to America: during the second half of the 19th century Englanders who fled to America brought this tradition along with them. As new immigrants came to America the tradition grew; Americans began dressing up and going door to door asking for food and money which has transformed into modern day trick-or treating. The tricks part came from young women believing that on halloween they could divine the name or the appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirror; also known as witch craft.
In the late 1800's Americans made a move to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborhood gathering then about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. At the turn of the century Halloween parties for families, children and adults became a way to celebrate the day. These celebrations were geared around games, seasonal foods, and festive, fun costumes. Community leaders urged citizens to remove the "frightening" or "grotesque" out of halloween celebrations. Do to these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religions overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
With that being said this holiday is one that has been linked to superstitions, mystery, and magic. But we tend to forget the origin of this holiday, the part were these rituals focused on the future and not the past and the living not the dead. Women looking for a husband and reassuring them they would not be alone. The part where the would ward off death and famine but using the fire from their ritual to light their hearths and the poor would go door to door asking for seasonal foods and the families would give them "soul cakes" in return the poor would pray for their families who have passed. This evolved into children going door to door asking for food and money for their families which is now trick-or-treating.
I for one can look at the history and see the glory in this holiday. I see the true history as not holding any satanic meaning. I see the true history of it and see that people where doing what they felt, and believed was the way to stay alive. I see the true history, and see that we as Americans have it all wrong! Is there satanic links to Halloween? YES! Are their awful witch-craft rituals that have been performed? YES! However that is not the true meaning of this holiday, that is not why this holiday exists. This holiday exists so lost souls can find their way home, so the poor can get food and money, so they can celebrate life, so they can gather together and ward off evil not ask for evil to join them. The witch-craft that was preformed originally was to find a husband for young women. This had evolved into what we know of today (modernized witch-craft).
So here is the point of this post... the point is that YES my kids dress up and go trick-or-treating, yes we carve pumpkins, yes we enjoy Halloween. No we do not talk about the "made up reason" for this holiday. But as my kids get older I will share with them the true meaning of this holiday and why we celebrate it today. I for one find it to have a great historical backing and has turned into a beautiful time for our family. We gather with friends, enjoy a meal together, pray together, talk about Christ, enjoy the company we are surrounded with, get dressed up and spend an hour (or less) trick-or- treating. I respect your decision to not go trick-or-treating so please respect mine. I am pretty sure God will not close the door in my face or my children's faces for doing so. As he would not in yours for not doing so.
Our home is filled with the Lord, we read the bible, listen to Christian music, talk to and about God on a regular basis, do Bible studies and live our lives as we see fit for our Lord. How were do it may be different from how you do it. But we can all agree God is the only one we have to answer to, right?
So the other day as I sat down for my coffee and catching up with my newsfeed I came across this post that had great points regarding halloween and I respect this persons stance on not participating in halloween. However it was also a post about how trick-or-treating was laced with all sorts of poisons and that it makes them sick to see Christ followers participate in this evil holiday. Ok, I took the bait and I dove in.
Lets do some history on this festive holiday...
Halloween originated about 2,000 years ago in modern day Ireland. It was called the Celtic festival of Samhain. It marked the end of summer, and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark, cold winters, a time of the year that was associated with many human deaths. Celts believed that the night before their new year (November 1st) the lines between the living and the dead became blurred. So on that night (October 31st) they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. They believed that they caused damage to crops and stirred up trouble. They also believed that their presences helped the Druids, or Celtic priests make predictions about the future; which brought comfort to those who depended on the volatile natural world during the long dark winters.
To commemorate this event they would wear costumes (typically consisting of animal heads and skins), and attempt to tell each other's fortunes all while having a sacred bonfires where people would gather and burn crops and sacrifice animals to the Celtic deities. When the celebration was over they would take the fire from the sacred bonfire and re-light their hearth fires to protect them during the coming winter.
Fast-Forward to 630 A.D when Pop Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of all Martyrs Day was established in the western church on May 13th. Later Pope Gregory III expanded the festival to include all saints as well as al martyrs and moved the observance from May 13th to November 1st. By 1000 A.D the church would make November 2nd All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It is believed that that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, dressing in costumes as saints, angles and devils. All Saints Day was also called All-Hallows (November 1st) and the night before was called All-Hallows Eve which eventually became Halloween.
Halloween comes to America: during the second half of the 19th century Englanders who fled to America brought this tradition along with them. As new immigrants came to America the tradition grew; Americans began dressing up and going door to door asking for food and money which has transformed into modern day trick-or treating. The tricks part came from young women believing that on halloween they could divine the name or the appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirror; also known as witch craft.
In the late 1800's Americans made a move to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborhood gathering then about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. At the turn of the century Halloween parties for families, children and adults became a way to celebrate the day. These celebrations were geared around games, seasonal foods, and festive, fun costumes. Community leaders urged citizens to remove the "frightening" or "grotesque" out of halloween celebrations. Do to these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religions overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
With that being said this holiday is one that has been linked to superstitions, mystery, and magic. But we tend to forget the origin of this holiday, the part were these rituals focused on the future and not the past and the living not the dead. Women looking for a husband and reassuring them they would not be alone. The part where the would ward off death and famine but using the fire from their ritual to light their hearths and the poor would go door to door asking for seasonal foods and the families would give them "soul cakes" in return the poor would pray for their families who have passed. This evolved into children going door to door asking for food and money for their families which is now trick-or-treating.
I for one can look at the history and see the glory in this holiday. I see the true history as not holding any satanic meaning. I see the true history of it and see that people where doing what they felt, and believed was the way to stay alive. I see the true history, and see that we as Americans have it all wrong! Is there satanic links to Halloween? YES! Are their awful witch-craft rituals that have been performed? YES! However that is not the true meaning of this holiday, that is not why this holiday exists. This holiday exists so lost souls can find their way home, so the poor can get food and money, so they can celebrate life, so they can gather together and ward off evil not ask for evil to join them. The witch-craft that was preformed originally was to find a husband for young women. This had evolved into what we know of today (modernized witch-craft).
So here is the point of this post... the point is that YES my kids dress up and go trick-or-treating, yes we carve pumpkins, yes we enjoy Halloween. No we do not talk about the "made up reason" for this holiday. But as my kids get older I will share with them the true meaning of this holiday and why we celebrate it today. I for one find it to have a great historical backing and has turned into a beautiful time for our family. We gather with friends, enjoy a meal together, pray together, talk about Christ, enjoy the company we are surrounded with, get dressed up and spend an hour (or less) trick-or- treating. I respect your decision to not go trick-or-treating so please respect mine. I am pretty sure God will not close the door in my face or my children's faces for doing so. As he would not in yours for not doing so.
Our home is filled with the Lord, we read the bible, listen to Christian music, talk to and about God on a regular basis, do Bible studies and live our lives as we see fit for our Lord. How were do it may be different from how you do it. But we can all agree God is the only one we have to answer to, right?
Thursday, January 29, 2015
All this newness!
Well this year has been a year of newness. The newness just doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. I am ok with that, but I am also ready to be on a steady road. There is something to be said about a steady pace, a schedule, a routine. I know it will happen we just have to get all the wrinkles ironed out.
Not only is this the first year that both of my kids are in school. My baby boy is in SCHOOL! I am not sure I can handle that. HA. He likes learning he just doesn't like being away form his momma and sissy. He is doing wonderful and I am so proud of him. Not going to lie it makes me sad when he goes to school but structure is so needed!
For Jae we began the year off with online "homeschooling". Right from the get go I knew it was all wrong. So many things had changed from the time I sat down and decided on this program, and not good changes. I had lost all control over my child's education and for me that was not what I wanted at all. We had an amazing teacher however. She worked with me and allowed J and I to work at the path that was right for her. This made it a lot easier for us to stay put. Well she made the decision one I couldn't disagree with her on to leave. This put us with a teacher that I really am not a fan of. One who has spoken to me as though I am a child and that I don't know anything. This has pushed me to the full decision to pull her out of cyber school. So on to the new newness in our life....
We have submitted our forms and letter of intent to homeschool. This I know is the perfect decision for our family. Jae is so excited to get started on her studies and really learn things and learn from mom and dad. This will open us up to so much more options and allow us to get connected with more homeschoolers.
Newness keeps you on your toes right? haha
Not only is this the first year that both of my kids are in school. My baby boy is in SCHOOL! I am not sure I can handle that. HA. He likes learning he just doesn't like being away form his momma and sissy. He is doing wonderful and I am so proud of him. Not going to lie it makes me sad when he goes to school but structure is so needed!
For Jae we began the year off with online "homeschooling". Right from the get go I knew it was all wrong. So many things had changed from the time I sat down and decided on this program, and not good changes. I had lost all control over my child's education and for me that was not what I wanted at all. We had an amazing teacher however. She worked with me and allowed J and I to work at the path that was right for her. This made it a lot easier for us to stay put. Well she made the decision one I couldn't disagree with her on to leave. This put us with a teacher that I really am not a fan of. One who has spoken to me as though I am a child and that I don't know anything. This has pushed me to the full decision to pull her out of cyber school. So on to the new newness in our life....
We have submitted our forms and letter of intent to homeschool. This I know is the perfect decision for our family. Jae is so excited to get started on her studies and really learn things and learn from mom and dad. This will open us up to so much more options and allow us to get connected with more homeschoolers.
Newness keeps you on your toes right? haha
Friday, January 23, 2015
Life and Death
Life is sweet, life is unpredictable, life is short.
We rush; rush to grow up, rush to fall in love, rush to have kids, rush from here to there. We rush through life, oh short sweet life. Why? Why don't we slow down and enjoy each second of our life. We never know when it will be our last moment with those we love. Slow down, stop rushing!
No life is more important then another, no life is more precious then someone else's. I know (through a mutual friend) a little amazing boy. He lived a very short but very powerful life. He came into this world and lived 10 short days. He may have never spoken a word but his little life spoke volumes. It taught many about life, Gods will, strength and love. Thank you to his family for sharing him with so many.
The summer between 6th and 7th grade a boy I loved died in a four wheel accident. He was a child of God, I couldn't understand why he was taken at such a young age. I can't answer that question but I can say he was an old soul. He loved with every ounce of his being, he loved to play bingo with his grandma, card games with his grandpa, he would climb in his sisters playpen and play with her. He was giving and full of life every second of his short time here.
My grandparents where my rock, I was my poppy's little princess and my mommers thorn in her side. They both where taken from me very early on in my life. I miss them every day, pray they are proud of the women I have become and angry that they weren't body present at the big milestones in my life.
Many students I went to school with died in horrific car accidents, overdoses and suicide.
None of these lives are more precious then the other, there death aren't anymore dignified, no death is more acceptable then the other. Each one is truly tragic and heart wrenching, each one brings many questions to the surface, each one leaves us with tears rolling down our face, each one leaves the family paralyzed with sadness, pain, and loss.
As I write this I have tears rolling down my face as I remember each of these amazing lives and tragic deaths. As I write this I am left with another death, one I don't understand, one I can't comprehend. One again happened and I wish it was just an awful nightmare and that I will wake up and see him standing there with his big goofy smile.
I will tell you this 26year old young man was a joy, he was full of life, possibility, talent and love. Yes he had his struggles and demons; He was an addict. This doesn't make him any less important, this doesn't make his death justified, this doesn't make the pain disappear. He had been 2 years off heroin, the devils drug. Something happened and the devil got his hands on him again. He allowed himself to slip. He lost his life to a drug that he hated, that had taken him to hell and back to many times. He left behind his mom and dad, his sister (who was his ultimate best friend) his girl friend and her daughter, not to mention many other family members who loved him and friends who will miss him.
This boy was a friend for 15+ years. Someone I knew from the time he was in 8th grade. A boy I sat and held the hand of while he cried because he didn't want to screw up again, a boy I took a phone away from because he was scared if he held onto it a second longer he would go to those who texted him and called him, those who wanted him to get together and "celebrate" his "release" from rehab with getting high again. Really?!? Those people aren't friends, those are people who are going down and don't want to do it alone. He made a mistake. (Note I blame no one for this. He made his own decision) Here are a few sections from one of his poems
Love/Hate Relationship
"...I’ve got to stop living this way
We rush; rush to grow up, rush to fall in love, rush to have kids, rush from here to there. We rush through life, oh short sweet life. Why? Why don't we slow down and enjoy each second of our life. We never know when it will be our last moment with those we love. Slow down, stop rushing!
No life is more important then another, no life is more precious then someone else's. I know (through a mutual friend) a little amazing boy. He lived a very short but very powerful life. He came into this world and lived 10 short days. He may have never spoken a word but his little life spoke volumes. It taught many about life, Gods will, strength and love. Thank you to his family for sharing him with so many.
The summer between 6th and 7th grade a boy I loved died in a four wheel accident. He was a child of God, I couldn't understand why he was taken at such a young age. I can't answer that question but I can say he was an old soul. He loved with every ounce of his being, he loved to play bingo with his grandma, card games with his grandpa, he would climb in his sisters playpen and play with her. He was giving and full of life every second of his short time here.
My grandparents where my rock, I was my poppy's little princess and my mommers thorn in her side. They both where taken from me very early on in my life. I miss them every day, pray they are proud of the women I have become and angry that they weren't body present at the big milestones in my life.
Many students I went to school with died in horrific car accidents, overdoses and suicide.
None of these lives are more precious then the other, there death aren't anymore dignified, no death is more acceptable then the other. Each one is truly tragic and heart wrenching, each one brings many questions to the surface, each one leaves us with tears rolling down our face, each one leaves the family paralyzed with sadness, pain, and loss.
As I write this I have tears rolling down my face as I remember each of these amazing lives and tragic deaths. As I write this I am left with another death, one I don't understand, one I can't comprehend. One again happened and I wish it was just an awful nightmare and that I will wake up and see him standing there with his big goofy smile.
I will tell you this 26year old young man was a joy, he was full of life, possibility, talent and love. Yes he had his struggles and demons; He was an addict. This doesn't make him any less important, this doesn't make his death justified, this doesn't make the pain disappear. He had been 2 years off heroin, the devils drug. Something happened and the devil got his hands on him again. He allowed himself to slip. He lost his life to a drug that he hated, that had taken him to hell and back to many times. He left behind his mom and dad, his sister (who was his ultimate best friend) his girl friend and her daughter, not to mention many other family members who loved him and friends who will miss him.
This boy was a friend for 15+ years. Someone I knew from the time he was in 8th grade. A boy I sat and held the hand of while he cried because he didn't want to screw up again, a boy I took a phone away from because he was scared if he held onto it a second longer he would go to those who texted him and called him, those who wanted him to get together and "celebrate" his "release" from rehab with getting high again. Really?!? Those people aren't friends, those are people who are going down and don't want to do it alone. He made a mistake. (Note I blame no one for this. He made his own decision) Here are a few sections from one of his poems
Love/Hate Relationship
"...I’ve got to stop living this way
If I want to make it past
30
I’ve got nothing at all
left to say
My life gone, one rig
that’s dirty
I love you too much to die
on you..."
"...Lying in a casket, up on a
shelf
In line to say goodbye and
pray
Jails, institutions and
death
Is on the road I'm headin"
"...
That I'm better than this
Its none of your concern
Because it wont be me
you’ll miss.."
The hard part is that this became his reality. He didn't make it to 30, he died on us. Now we have to stand in a line and say our goodbyes. He was so much better then this, he didn't deserve a life of addiction.... NO ONE DOES! Yes we will miss YOU.
I just wish he would have seen this. I wish he would have turned to God in the darkest of times and found the path he had in store for him. Instead of following the devil down this dark road.
I know that I will see you again, I know we had talked in great detail about a higher being, about God and about life after death. I know we will be reunited at some point. Until then I will never stop loving or thinking about you.
Each person in this post lived a very specific life, each different, each different in length, each died in a different way. Death from a very rare disease, heart disease, kidney failure, accidents and overdose. Each person made an impact, each person touched lives. Each death brings sadness, questions, pain and numbness. No life is better then another and No death is more tragic, or justified then another.
I don't know why these lives have come to an end so early. I don't know why these people died in the way they did. All I know is that God has a plan for us, we just have to choose to get on for the ride.
Addiction is a very serious thing. It is nothing to shrug your shoulders at, or turn your back on. We need to fight back. If you know someone who is battling an addiction please talk to them, get them help and support them. If you are battling addiction, it is not to late. Tell someone and seek help.
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