Almost Advent

Advent begins next Sunday, 12/1, and I couldn't help but start to get excited as I read my Bible in some personal devotion time this morning. The forecast for snow next week (yikes), early Christmas shopping, thinking of decorating and such are a joy in themselves, but this morning I was reminded of the true joy that is the root of all other joy. I don't want to forget that and I wanted to encourage you with that too. 

Here is the passage I was reading. 

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Because of God's mercy, we have new life in Christ. A living hope. Our hope and inheritance are imperishable, undefiled,  unfading. All of this is what I can rejoice in. Not my day to day circumstances, but God and his mercy and love towards me shown in all that Jesus was born to do for me and continues to do for me. This joy in Christ is inexpressible and full of glory! 

So in the midst of the joys of this time of year, my hope and prayer is to be anchored in the imperishable, undefiled, unfading, inexpressible, full of glory joy ofChrist  - because He is the true Joy and the source of all other joys. And honestly the other joys may not be as joyful as I remember them or hope (snow might not come, kids might fight when we decorate the tree, gifts may not delight them as I hope. etc.) But Christ will never disappoint!

Joy to the world, The Lord has come!

Waldo, Knight B and the sweetest giraffe you'll ever meet!

Our time out trick or treating was a success! Great time walking around as a family and interacting with the neighbors God has placed us near. And more candy than any three kids should have in their possession :) The kids got to walk around a bit with two kids that live four houses down that they have been getting to know and play with! So thankful for developing friendships with neighbors - something I had prayed for as we moved to PA and as we moved into this neighborhood!

Happy Halloween AND Happy Reformation Day

As we sat down to school this morning (much to my boys dismay since today IS a holiday, a double holiday at that!) Owen remarked that this is the day kids have been waiting for all year. They are so excited about it - costumes, candy, 95 theses. 

Our hope is to seek to enjoy the fun parts of the Halloween traditions - costumes of Waldo, a knight and a giraffe (a very sweet little giraffe), enjoying an evening out and about in our neighborhood with our neighbors, treats and shared memories - while avoiding and teaching our kids of the many dangers involved in the holiday as well. Not simply "no you may not dress up as a..." but a more full and more Biblical description. 

We are also making some parchment paper (dipping crumpled paper in coffee) and writing the 5 Solas on them. These are five distinctions of the reformation - sola scriptura (by scripture alone), sola fide (by faith alone), sola gratia (by grace alone), soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone) and solo Christo (through Christ alone).  How thankful I am that Martin Luther and others stood up for what God has spoken to us about in His Word about the nature of our salvation - that it is not earned by us but given to us by Christ. What great things to celebrate today !

Pictures to follow later tonight...

Almost 3...

This is what it's like to live with someone who is going to be 3 in two months. It requires much mercy and love and patience and a smile. Oh my!

Daddy school

The other evening Daddy wanted to do some letter school. Here is what he came up with...

O for Owen. 

B for Baxter. 

And L for Lucy. 

Silly Daddy! We love you!

First day of school...here we go!!

Today we started school - 2nd grade, Kindergarten and preschool! To know God and make Him known is our school mission again, borrowed from the homeschool group we are a part of called Classical Conversations. We hope and pray that all we learn about and all we do would help us to know God and make Him known!

What an adventurous week!! Potatoes!!

We have had quite a few adventures this week. Today we got to dig out potatoes   with some friends from church who have an awesome garden! Afterwards we made French fries with the potatoes and grilled up some burgers! Thanks Apgars!!

Musings from Bagel Time

It's that time of the week again, Bagel Time! Today it's an everything bagel with butter and coffee. Yum! It's also mommy alone in a booth at Panera. Sigh. What a treat. 

But more than that it's meeting with The Lord and hearing from Him in His Word. 2 Chronicles. It has offered me an anchor in the midst of ups and downs this week with my kids. Nothing major. Just new levels of selfishness and anger and crankiness needing to be addressed in view of the Gospel but often addresses with no thought of the Gospel which led to a long and discouraging week. Enemies that wage war against our souls. They come in many forms. 

 Well. Here is the anchor for our souls in the midst of those enemies! And I think of friends and family battling enemies like cancer, depression, family strife, uncertainty, moving, etc. Hordes of enemies.  Where is our hope?

2 Chronicles 20: 12, 15, 17

 "For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you."

My hope in facing the enemies of selfishness and anger in my kids (and myself) is that it is The Lords battle! We do not need to be dismayed or afraid. He is our salvation. In sin, cancer, fear, depression, etc. 

Further on it continues "Give thanks to The Lord,for His steadfast love endures forever!"

Take courage! Be anchored! Have hope!

Bee adventure!

Today we went to lunch at the home of one of our elders and his wife. She is a beekeeper! After a brief lesson about bees, hives and safety, the boys got all suited up with bee gear and courage and explored the bees and the bee hive with Mrs. Davis. Owen liked it for a little while and then stood cautiously about 4 ft back while Baxter was as close as Mrs. Davis helping her with various jobs she needed to do. Lucy and I stayed on the screened in porch :). They were so brave and it was so neat! God made bees so particular and unique and smart! Amazing!

Thank you Mrs. Davis!!

A new fire house...to us

We always loved going to visit our friend Mr. Andy the fireman at Station 12 and running into the fireman who helped Baxter in the ambulance and at the hospital when he had real bad croup at Chick fil a  in Richmond.  That is one thing we have missed being in Carlisle. Well, some friends have a neighbor who is a fireman. We joined them on a visit to his fire station in downtown Carlisle today. He gave the kids a thorough overview of each part of the truck and let them try on air tanks and ring the bell. We also got to see two very old firetrucks in a museum they have. Then, he hooked each kid who wanted to up to a harness and let them climb the ladder truck pretending to put out a chimney fire on the building next door. It was so neat!! 

The pics tell it all! Thanks Coach Rusty and thanks Hopes for letting us tag along!

This is as far as O was up for, so eager though! And so proud! He was excited to make it up to the second story. 

At first B only wanted to go this far...

But once he started climbing he just kept going!!

Mystery play dough creations

Combining a few blog posts I found recently we went to work this morning on some fun play dough adventures. 

First Lucy and I mixed up some homemade play dough from a recipe we used this winter for peppermint play dough, minus the peppermint! 

Then I added a mystery color with food coloring to the middle of each ball of play dough and put them in ziplock baggies for the kids to knead IN the bag to discover the color they had.

Then they started creating. We had small craft sticks, golf tees and pipe cleaners. 

I haven't been feeling well this week and this has been a great activity involving minimal mommy energy! And lots of kiddo creativity and fun. 

Summer Fun!

Summer has finally come to central PA! We have been enjoying a break from school and routine. I generally keep us going with some school work over the summer, but not yet this year! The break has been very good for us. 

Last week I attended a seminar for the homeschool group we are part of and was so refreshed! It was helpful to have some perspective of being with others who are also homeschooling their kids and a reminder of the main goal. The mission of our group (Classical Conversations) has become the mission of our home school  - To know God and to make Him known. All that we do in and out of school is anchored in this truth. I needed to remember that because so much tries to take over as most important. Even when we learn math or English grammar or science we are doing that within that mission. As we learn about the planets or about skip counting or how to read and write well, we are seeing more of who God is and we are being prepared to make Him known to each other and all who we are around. Thankful to be reanchored. 

Aside from that we are having fun, some of the time, and learning more about how to love each other the rest of the time!!

Here are pics of the fun, trust me you don't want to see pics of the learning times!!