Gateways to Joy

Isn't it horrible that we are on day 22 of this month, and I am only on day 3 of our prayers.  Yikes! I almost gave up, but I'm not going to.  This is important to me and it is important for me to do for my husband. I want to share something that I read this morning with you. Truth Demands A Response: "One foggy night, the captain of a large ship saw what appeared to be another ship's lights approaching in the distance.  This other ship was on a course that would mean a head-on collision. Quickly, the captain signaled to the approaching ship: 'Please change you course 10 degrees west.' The reply came blinking back through the thick fog: 'You change your course 10 degrees east.' Indignantly, the captain pulled rank and shot a message back to the other ship: 'I am a sea captain with 35 years of experience.  Change your course 10 degrees west!' Without hesitation, the signal flashed back: 'I am a seaman, fourth class.  You cha...

We laugh.  We talk as we stroll about admiring things in the store. "Ooo.  Ahh." We say as we pick things up to touch, feel.  On and on we chatter interrupting each others sentences, finishing them too. I think to myself, "He's done it again.  God has answered my heart-felt prayer.  He loves me this I know." I cried out to Him, just yesterday, "Father help me.  Help me make my children first priority again.  First before my beloved blogging.  First before my beloved writing, and before Internet socializing.  First before the phone calls, the errands.  First before this and first before that.  Give us the opportunity to be just my children and me.  Give us opportunities with no expectations."  Today it's just us.  My first born, second born and me.  I'd thought that maybe they would not want to be with me—hanging out, spending time with me their mama.. I remember a time when all they wanted was me. ...

"S hould swiss  alps be capitalized?" I ask my eight year-old son. "Wait ... what is that again?  He asks seemingly frustrated. "Take a break." I say. "Thank you!" He exclaims. Today has been a tough one— long.  Not only have I had to homeschool, cook, do laundry and ..., I've also had to throw some unexpected lessons on: kindness, not being vengeful and The Golden Rule.  Today reminded me of Elisabeth Elliot and what she often said,  "We have to teach our children, line upon line, precept upon precept."  This is no easy task and isn't for the faint of heart! I often sit back and wonder  "Am I messing these kids up?"   They are so sinful and haven't been around half the stuff I grew up around, yet I was so different it seems.  There was only my brother and me, and I am five years older so that could account for why we didn't argue as much.  Both of us attended school outside of the hom...