PLEASE PRAY

Please be in prayer for 2 week old Crosby, nephew of my homeschooling friend Marie.  He is to have heart surgery this morning - Wednesday, February 23.  Thank you! 

Regret Free Parenting

I just completed my third book to review from Book Sneeze.  Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem is by far and away one the absolute best non fiction books I have ever read.  I found I could NOT read it without a pencil in hand.  There were numerous points that I underlined and notes made in margins.  As opposed to leaving me overwhelmed with where to begin in my journey to grow as a parent, it left me feeling empowered and motivated.

Don't let the title mislead you.  The author is not proposing that anyone can parent a child and never make mistakes.  What she is saying, is that by knowing and keeping the vision for how you want to raise your child, you can have nothing to regret.  To be honest, I struggle with the title, as I tend to regret my mistakes!  But the content of the book - oh. my. goodness.

Hickem stresses the importance of knowing the emotional and spiritual characteristics that you want to cultivate in your children.  That is easy enough.  The kicker, however, is that, well, you as the parent have to possess those attributes.  You cannot just tell your children how they should be or act.  They have to see it in their parent's daily walk.

Among the other principles Hickem illustrates are really knowing your child, being present with them, establishing a strong foundation of trust with your child, believing in them, and always seeing the big picture.  Included in the book is a plan (that you personalize) for implementing these principles. There are also numerous resources listed in the back.  This is book is truly a keeper.  It is one that I plan to read each year. 

I received a free copy of this book to review from Book Sneeze.  The opinions expressed are my own.

memorizing scripture

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. ~ Matthew 4:4

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12

One of the most encouraging and soul-satisfying things I have ever done is memorizing scripture.  Among the passages I have learned are Psalm 23, Psalm 100, Isaiah 41:10, and Psalm 139:1-18.  In January, I finished up Psalm 139:1-18.  I have been working on this one off and on for many years and it felt so good to finally nail it!  This month of February, I am working on Isaiah 40:28-31. 

I cannot tell you the times that saying these passages over in my mind has brought such comfort!  I distinctly remember saying Psalm 23 over and over as I was getting my epidural prior to the birth of S.  While I was sitting in the hospital with baby Daniel, who had stopped breathing, my stomach clenched with fear, God breathed life and peace into my spirit through Isaiah 41:10.  Psalm 139 has long been a passage held dear because it establishes God's soveriegnty, His continual presence in my life today and throughout all my days.  Upcoming passages that I what to learn in the coming months are Psalm 27, Luke 2:8-14, and Romans 12.

My method of study has generally been to print out 2-3 copies of the passage and put them in different places, so I can refer to them throughout my day.  Bible Gateway is the online resource that I use to find the passages that I want to print.  I want to begin going through each of the ones already memorized once throughout each day as I continue working on the new one.

What scripture passages have been particularly precious to you?  Which ones have you learned or are learning?

january book of days

I am endeavoring to live more intentionally this year.  There are certain activities that I want to fill my days.  Do things that make my heart sing.  Do things that draw our little family together.  Do things that mark the days.  As a scrapbooker, I will be scrapbooking each month with pictures of activities that we did, books read, scripture memorized, etc.  As a blogger, this space is largely for an added source of accountability and also to offer encouragement to others, who like me, find ourselves at the end of the month not remembering where the month went.  Doing certian things intentionally each month, is my way of marking our days.  Dedicating moments of our time with good things.  Creating our own book of days.

I want to fill our days/weeks wisely by keeping to a simple homeschool schedule, lots of reading, scripture memory work, much crafting, family games and walks.  

 

library stuffed animal sleep-over

reviewing different types of lines

fingerprint caterpillars

our family of yellow belts

button snowflakes made at Keepers

scrapbooking

crocheting dishcloths