Being Content

Yesterday I was reading a story to the boys about a little boy who wanted a new coat. His mom was poor and so she couldn't buy him one, but she mended his old one. That wasn't good enough for the little boy, and he went to bed sulking. While he was sleeping he had a dream that a policeman came and took him out of his warm home, into a cold stormy night and showed him two little boys who had no home to sleep in and no warm coat. The moral of the story was to be content with what you have. So a little while after reading this story to the boys, the girls and I were in the kitchen, baking and making supper. Well it didn't take long before we ran out of counter space. And the first thing that came out of my mouth was "We need more counterspace". Realizing that my little boys were listening to my discontentment, I talked with them about what my response should have been. It should have been 'thank you God that we have so much food to eat that we do run out of counter space, and that we have a house to live in.' It was a great lesson for all of us!

"For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content." Phil. 4:11b

BABIES

Babies are such nice ways to start people!

It's Zachary!

Those of you who know Zachary, know how this happens. In his life so far he has cracked his elbow, had 5 stiches and knocked out 3 teeth. He has LOTS of energy and I could never keep up with him all day even if I tried. The good in all this? I am learning to trust AGAIN! When it happened the first thing we heard was 'I can't walk.' We have learned from experience that when Zachary says he is hurting, He is hurting! So we prayed for him first thing, waited about an hour, asked him to stand, and he still couldn't walk, so off we went to ER at Boundary Trails. He was a little trooper. Yesterday we went in to get xrays done to see if it is healing properly and it is. So he will have to have the cast for 3 more weeks. Another good thing out of this is Zachary is learning at a young age the consequences of his whims. As soon as he had his cast he asked if we had a really big boot so he could play outside. We told him he could sit outside but wouldn't be able to play. At that point you could see it all sinking in! And then the other day he told his almost 2 year old brother Nathan (who reminds us a lot like Zachary) not to jump off of things because he might end up with this~and pointed to his cast:) It was neat to see the compassion Zachary's brothers all had toward him when he had to sit still for the first couple of days. They would always bring what they were playing with and sit beside him. It's times like this when you see how close their bond is! So that's the update on Zachary!

The Last Guess Who Was...

Nathan!!!

Guess Who Has a Cast??

For Our Home Schooled Friends

TO BE EDUCATED

(by Carolyn Caines)

If I learn my ABC's, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language. I have not been educated.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God's wisdom, I have not been educated.

If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight, but have not read the greatest of all books-the Bible-and have no knowledge of it's personal importance, I have not been educated.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplicaion tables and chemical formulas, but have never bee disciplined to hide God's Word in my heart, I have not been educated.

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einsten's theory of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One Who orders our universe, I have not been educated.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation, I have not been educated.

If I can play the piano,, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him, I have not been educated.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball and do 100 push-ups without stoppping, but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God's will, I have not been educated.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+, but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me, I have not been educated.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me, I have been educated.

TO BE EDUCATED

GOD GIVE ME WISDOM

God, give me wisdom to see that today is my day with my children, That there is no unimportant moment in their lives. May I know no other career is as precious, No other work so rewarding, No other task so urgent. May I not defer it nor neglect it, But by Thy Spirit accept it gladly, joyously, and by Thy grace realize: That the time is short and my time is now– For children don’t wait. Written by Helen Young