Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah

I just finished reading Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah.  As the title suggests, this book provides a detailed overview of our world's current state of affairs and how to effectively approach its challenges and trials.  Dr. Jeremiah was very thorough and thoughtful in his writing proposing Biblically sound responses to the challenges we face. 

I found this book both challenging and inspiring.  At times I found it hard to read because it is so thorough.  That being said, upon completing this book, I know it is one that I will want to re-read.  It is just the type of read that needs be be digested slowly and methodically.  Dr. Jeremiah peppers his work with personal accounts that help do help lighten and yet keep real this subject of world chaos that hits us all so close to home.  As I am in listening to him preach, I was deeply impressed by Dr. Jeremiah's passion and focus on doing God's will.  I will definitely be re-reading this book again in the future and would encourage others to read it also.

I received a completmentary copy of this book from Book Sneeze to review.

Merry Christmas!

 Wishing you

 and your family

a peaceful,

 

 

 joyful,

 worship-ful,

  Merry Christmas,

from our family!

our days

celebrating 3 years home

October and November have been busy months for our family.  Homeschooling continues well, the younger three are reading more and more strongly, and E is making strides in grammar.  We've been blessed to have twin foster babies during this time!  The kids and Ira have pitched in graciously and tending them has truly been a family affair :o)  Fall is my most favorite time of year.  I love the cooling temperatures, the glorious colors in the trees, increased reminders of all I have to be grateful for and many family celebrations.  These celebrations include my birthday and that of E, J and S.  We also just celebrated M's 3rd year home.  The girls are enjoying their Keeper's group as am I.  I continue to read voraciously, and am enjoying being a part of a book club.  I am trying to be more intentional about trying new hairstyles on the girls, in an effort to help celebrate their uniqueness as young ladies.  I am also trying to be more intentional about memorizing scripture.  Throughout my life it has brought me immense comfort reciting the Word of God, both in my mind and out loud.  My current focus is Psalm 139.  Our days, right now, are filled with babies, listening to children read, meal planning, coffee drinking, lighting of candles and dreaming.  We are blessed indeed.

Hoping this finds your family well and joyful ~

201.  freshly sharpened pencils

202.  drinking in the Words of God

203.  neatly written school work

204.  cool, blustery days

205.  a baby nestled in the crook of my arm

206.  library cards

207.  fellowship of friends

208.  brilliant blue skies

209.  breathtaking cloud formations

210.  respite

211.  my children reading aloud

212.  reading stories to my children

213.  my husband reading the Pooh stories

214.  grace from my husband

215.  my husband graciously changing diapers in the night

216.  my children enjoying crafts

217.  creating

218.  organizing

219.  our Keeper's group

220.  book club

221.  the community of bloggers

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happy, happy birthday

We celebrated the births of these two precious children this month!  Time is passing by so quickly - it seems like every time I turn around, it is someone's birthday or Christmas!  E, our oldest, turned 11 and J, our only son, turned 8.  We all enjoyed a trip to the fair as part of the birthday celebrations!

Daybook

For today....Saturday, October 23, 2010

Outside....it is perfectly breezy and such a pleasant temperature.  I've had the window open all day!

I am wearing.....a green knit shirt, capris and flip-flops.

I am hearing....my different windchimes, chiming.

I am thinking.....how deeply blessed that I am.

I am reading......Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah and Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury.

I am creating.....beautiful spaces in our home, scrapbook pages, our monthly meal plan

God has shown me recently.....that being a good parent is less about trying harder and more about being transformed by reflecting on the character of God, all the grace He has shown me and the fleeting-ness of childhood.

From the learning rooms......continued studies in grammar, math, reading....

A few plans for this week......Keeper's meeting, church, grocery shopping, prepping meats for this month, schooling, lots of reading (both personally and with the kids)

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182.  quiet moments

183.  boisterous moments

184.  the weight of a newborn baby (or two) in my arms

185.  kind words

186.  patient words

187.  a new printer cartridge

188.  a working printer

189.  the wind in the trees

190.  open windows

191.  rearranged spaces

192.  favorite movies

193.  new movies watched together

194.  a new day

195.  school work completed

196.  new concepts to be taught

197.  reading blogs

198.  our new homeschool group

199.  children wanting to be near

200.  aired up tires

on my heart...

....birthmothers who voluntarily relinquish their parental rights to their children in a timely fashion.  So many times when we are out and about with our foster babies, the question gets asked - "How could any mother give up her own child?". 

The mother of our current foster babies just signed away her parental rights.  And she is unequivacably devasted.  She is now bereft of the sight, touch and knowledge of the futures of the children of her own womb.   Why?  How could she?  I beg to propose she did it BECAUSE SHE WANTED MORE FOR THEM THAN SHE COULD GIVE AT THIS TIME.  I also propose that it was by the grace of God and from the great stores of her own mother love that she had the strength to go through with it. 

She has chosen rather to bear the horrid personal sacrifice of not having them in her life, in order to offer them life more abundant. 

I beg your compassion and support for all who have so chosen for their children.  I beg your prayers for like birthmothers and birthfathers everywhere, for personal healing and for life more abundant.

a place of prayer

There is a sweet woman who has a ministry surrounded around encouragement and prayer.  Her name is Holley and I have been blessed abundantly, many times, from the words God gives to her.  Each Sunday, her site is a place of prayer, where people gather to let their heart spill forth in need.  A place where it is agreed that each will commune in prayer for the other.  A good place.  Feel free to subscibe to her blog, thus recieving her short, timely devotions in your inbox.  http://holley.dayspring.com/

meal planning

Being intentional about meal planning is something I've been trying to do for the past couple of months.  I am still working out some kinks, but so far it has been a good thing for our family.  This months entrees include:

Pasta Salad (twice)
Grilled Cheese/Soup (twice)
French Dip Sandwiches
Orange Garlic Chicken
Asian Marinated Chicken
Southwest Marinated Chicken
Three Bean Chili
Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Pork Loin
Swiss Steak
Meatball Subs
Beans, Coleslaw & Cornbread
Nachos Supreme
Pizza (twice)
Rustic Chicken Fritatta
Cowboy Casserole
Shepard's Pie
Black Beans and Sausage

Other than having the items needed for these entrees on hand, I prep all the meats ahead of time and bag them accordingly.  This afternoon, I am putting together mixes for cornbread muffins, mix and match muffins and peppery cheese bread.  It has been lovely also having on hand many of our other food and side items.  This is definitely a work in progress for me!

our camping trip

fresh air, perfect weather, lush green trees, blue skies, tubing, splashing, roasting marshmallows, grilled hamburgers, impomptu concerts, laughter, good times

back to home school

Our Home School got underway earlier this month.  I can truly say that we have gotten off to a GREAT start!  Some things, we are doing differently and other things, the same.  I have really felt the benefit of S being one year older.  Her attention span has increased and she is able to entertain herself better this year. 

E is in fifth grade, M and J are in second grade and S is in kindergarten.  My educational goals for our school this year are to keep things focused, relevant, and fun.

recent happenings

J at the Derby Car Race

rockin' out together

My Father-in-law teaching how a guitar is built. 

This is my "purple" guitar being built.

I went with E to Centri-Kid Camp

the kids and I at our local library for the summer movies

Papa, M and J at 1st and 2nd grade church camp

M, J, S and I built a "junk" boat at the library

fireworks on the Fourth

lots of reading

lots of Lego building

roasting marshmallows at our firepit

S with her friend at Kindergarten church camp

petrified wood

S lost her first tooth