September 11th

September 11, 2001 was my dad's birthday and that day I was particularly sad because it was his first birthday since he passed away earlier that year.  I woke up thinking about my dad and filled with all the grief that comes with losing a parent to cancer.

The house was quiet, I was alone with my grief and I didn't know what I was going to do with myself.  I finally got up and went to the living room and turned on the television.  It was early so I crawled onto the sofa and began looking for the news, and when I found the news it was a picture of the first World Trade Tower with smoke billowing out of it.   At first I was confused.  I remember thinking, "this is a terrible show I want the news."  I quickly realized that it was not a movie and sadly it was very real. 

As I watched in horror the unfolding events I witnessed the second plane fly into the second tower live.  Alone in my living room I gasped and screamed "NO!" and the tears began to flow.  I could not believe that what I was seeing was really truly happening.  It couldn't be, this had to be some sick joke like Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast in 1938.  This had to be mass hysteria all over again.  But it wasn't, this was truly happening, it was sadly real.

So for the next several hours I watched as things unfolded and untold numbers of people died.  The tragedy was heart breaking and nothing was going to make it better.  Nothing would fix this.  Moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends and heroes would die and no one would bring them back.  September 11th was nothing but pain for me because of my memories of my dad who was lost to cancer and now the American people would share in my grief but for a different horrifying reason.

Today I still cry on this day for my lost time with my dad, but I also cry for all the lives lost and changed by the World Trade Center attacks.  My life was forever changed by the attacks.  My heart is especially saddened for all the children who will never get to see their parents again.  No child should have to lose their parents but especially not this way.  

Our country has been forever changed by this day and I pray that more people have been changed for the good than bad.  I end in a prayer that the Lord would bless all the survivors, the families and friends of those lost and all the people who worked tirelessly and selflessly during and after the attacks.  I would also pray that those still here today will look at what happened and know that there is one they could turn to for peace they could never have alone.  Our Lord Jesus.  I pray the Lord blesses you and keeps you all safe, Amen.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal 4

In my life this week....

It was a great week.  We started the week out by laying under the stars as a family in our back yard while we had a nice fire going.  It was amazing.  We looked at star constellations and Charis had fun picking them out and creating them herself. 

I then got to spend some time with the ladies from my Bible study group.  I missed them over the summer and it was a refreshing time.  I can't wait for it to start up again.

And most exciting for us is that our daughter started her ballet class and she LOVES it!  She doesn't just like it, she loves it.  I know she dreamed of ballet last night and she is still dressed as a ballerina right now and has been practicing all day!

In our homeschool this week...

We are getting a bunch of books from the library because Charis wants to learn about the stars and horses!  So that is what we will be focusing on.  Reading about them will be fun and it will be interesting to see how many subjects we can cover while learning about them!

My favorite thing this week was...

Laying under the stars with my hubby and daughter!  They are the best ever!

Things I am working on...

Being more pro-active!  Getting the hard stuff done first.  I am good at not getting things done, especially since summer started.  I am getting back my groove and trying to stay on top of things.  My plate is so full, I sometimes wonder why I do everything.... writing, photography, homeschool... then I remember.  I love them all!

I am cooking...

Orange chicken in the crock pot!  We will see how that turns out!  If I like it, I will share the recipe soon!

I am praying for...

All the family members of those lost on 9/11 and for all of those who have given so much of themselves after that horrible day to rescue people and to take care of a city, state, and country that was hurt.  My heart especially goes out to all the children who lost moms and dads.  Thank you all.  I pray blessings over each of you.  I also pray for our enemy, that the Lord would meet them on their path like they did Paul and open their eyes to the truth.

My photo of the week...

My Little Ballerina! 

Gratitude

Often times we live our lives trying to catch up with what others are doing, with what the world says we should have, trying to look as happy as someone else looks.  Or we think of everything we don't have, how pretty we are NOT, how fat or ugly we think we are, how little we have in comparison to the friend we have or our neighbor, or with everything everyone else has that we don't.  Because of this type of thinking we often do not see what we should be grateful for that is clearly right in front of our faces.

I tend to be one of those people.  Many times I will go to someones house for a birthday party, or play date and think, "I could NEVER have these people over to my house!  My house is too small, too simple, too basic!"  I would go as far as to say I would even feel ashamed of my home.  The sad thing is that there is NOTHING wrong with my home!  We live on almost 2 acres of property.  It is beautiful too!  We are out in the country with neighbors that aren't too close.  We have fresh air, quiet days and star filled nights.  Our home is small compared to most peoples these days.  We don't have extra storage space or extra rooms for people to stay the night in.  But it is cozy and we have made it ours.  It still needs some work that will be completed when the money allows but that is ok.  Our house is nice and it is a gift from God!

It is truly sad because far too often I spend so much time thinking about what I don't have and what others do that I do not see the incredible blessings that are right in front of my face!  I get to live in a beautiful place, with great neighbors and I get to enjoy nature all around me.  I get to live in a place that allows me to homeschool my daughter even when someone else may not understand it.  I have plenty of food to eat, friends that love me and that I love and the most incredible husband and daughter on the planet.  And I get to worship MY God however I choose.  That may not be popular by a lot of people but it is still legal in our country.

So I am on a gratitude journey.  After asking for forgiveness for not appreciating all that God has given me, and repenting of it I am going forward and searching out all the gifts God is giving me each and every single day.  I am going to be posting those things from time to time and I encourage you to do the same.  If you are abundant in your life, even if it doesn't look like what someone elses abundance looks like, give up the praise to God!  Because when we are faithful with the little He gives us then we will be blessed with abundance because He can trust what we will do with it.

God bless each and every one of you.  I am grateful for each person that came here today to read what I had to say...  What God has put on my heart... And what God has planned for each and every one of you!

Our Week in Review!

In my life this week...

The week started out quiet and ended very busy!  We got to go visit with friends we had not seen in a long time and that was a great blessing.  We also got to see some other friends who have been traveling and that was much fun as well.  Today I have been busy writing for an exam I am taking and it has been more fun than I expected!

In our homeschool this week... 

We did a lot of relaxed learning things.  We spent most of our time playing and visiting and just reading.  It was a great week.

My favorite thing this week....

Was blueberry picking!  We went earlier in the season with the grandparents and had a blast.  This week we went with some friends and it was fun as well.  However this time it had been a super foggy morning and we got very wet!!  Regardless of getting wet, we came home with 15 pounds of blueberries to freeze!  Yum!

What is working/not working for us...

A rigid homeschool schedule!!!  It isn't working for us!  So we are flying by the seat of our pants so we can do school anytime and have fun while doing it.

A photo, video, link or quote to share...

I would like to share a couple things, number one being my link to my site. I have been working hard on promoting my work so I can start to add some income to our family while still being home.  Take a look if you have a chance.  Just click here --> My Store

She is the reason for everything I do!