Called To A Simpler Life

I recently attended the Midwest Parent Educator’s homeschool conference in Kansas City, MO. I had hoped to turn it into a vacation time for my family along with a refreshing of my momma soul. What actually transpired last weekend was instead an amazingly stress filled wonderful blessing. Yeah that strange! Only God could have imagined this one.

So many thoughts

running through my brain. I am having some trouble focusing on any one thing. It’s like the craziness of the holidays has engulfed me. I have schoolwork to correct, a house to put to order, a tugging pain in my heart for a unknown child in the Father’s arms, a rebellious son wreaking havoc, thoughts of inadequacy, and physical ailments to top it all off. In short I am exhausted, cranky, frustrated, angry, sad and my back is killing me (ice is my friend right now). I hopefully will be able to form a coherent thought in the next few days. Right now I just want to point out I have some reviews coming up, we had a lovely Christmas that turned into something  atrocious, and we were all sick with head colds. Happy New Year everybody! May this year be the last year I give Santa credit when it is God who is Glorified.  We are so very blessed by the Almighty even in (especially) our times of suffering.

Mandy

Do hard(er) things

Sometimes as parents we must do hard things. I think as Christian parents we called to do harder things. Things that others, who are while they may claim to be Christian are actually worldly, look down on us for. Unfortunately I am too familiar with the show of contempt and disrespect for my convictions as a Christian mother.
I have been told I am to strict, too hard, selfish, and more. I think the one that gets me the most is being called selfish. Am I selfish for expecting the best out of my children. For expecting them to follow God’s word am I too harsh? Well I should hope so. I expect obedience and there are consequences otherwise. I and my family live for Christ. The bible is God’s infallible word on how we should live.
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20)

Happy Birthday Tink!

I can't believe it has been an entire year since I had my beautiful baby girl! She has been such a wonderful joy to our whole family. The boys can never get enough of her drooly wet kisses and daddy and I are crazy in love with her beautiful star eyes.  God has so richly blessed our family when he gave us this amazing little girl. I hardly believe she's real, almost like a fairy. My own Tinkerbell, my own little Kewpie. Happy Birthday love and may all your dreams come true! (ignore the dates on the pics, I never reset it after changing the batteries)

I am torn

My oldest is 13 and I found out from his father (whom he spends every other weekend with) that over Christmas break he accessed inappriate websites on their computer. I am devestated. I diligently watch and protect my children from these things but I have no control of his fathers lack of supervision. I suggested he password the computer in the future and I got a grown man whining about how other people use it. I couldn't believe it. He seemed more upset about the charges to his credit card and other inconviences than the damage our son has recieved to his innocence. I keep imagining what he saw and it makes me sick. My son and I have not been able to talk about this since I was only told about it Friday and he is still at his father's until Monday night. I am at such a loss as to what I should do. I am angry that it even took 2 months to be told about this. I prayed about it and since I am working on "Biblical Submission" took this to my husband who suggest we speak to our lawyer about ds's father's negligence. I feel like I am so lost at sea on this.

My ds is such a sweet caring child, innocent and comfortable in speaking to both myself and my husband (he has been in ds's life since he was 3) about puberty and sexual topics. So much so that other family found it awkward for our family to be so open. I never thought he would be a child to seek out this, I have a difficult time even believing it. I did ask him before he left about it and let him know how dissapointed we (daddy & me, meaning my hubby) were and he would not meet my eyes. My heart is breaking for this and him because I know how confused he is. At the same time I also know he knows right from wrong, and good from bad. Am I wrong for wanting to protect my child from the degradation his father apparently thinks is OK?