Grateful for Grace

Training vs. Righteousness

January 22, 2012

Pin it“Teaching our children to be well-behaved, good citizens is proper as far as it goes. But we must never mistake this training for Christian nurture or discipline, nor should we mistake their acquiescence to our social mores as true Christian righteousness.” Elyse M. Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson in Give Them Grace, p 45 Bookmark [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Why a Four Day School Week?

January 20, 2012

Pin itI am a fan of a four day homeschooling week. Why? Well, several reasons. All of them good, naturally. I believe that working diligently four days in all your subjects covers plenty of material. I admit that I tweak our Tapestry of Grace planned weekly lessons to fit in four days and I did [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

A Place & A Home

January 19, 2012

Pin it{Learn how to win a $75 gift certificate to an online shoe store AND bless me by participating in If the Shoe Fits, Buy It!} A while back on a Sunday at church I became overwhelmed with emotion. It wasn’t the LORD. Sorry. It was of thoughts of home. It wasn’t heaven. Sorry again. [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

It’s (Almost) Time to Buy Shoes! {giveaway}

January 18, 2012

Pin itAn international holiday is coming up next week. Next Wednesday is If the Shoe Fits, Buy It Day. Yippee! You haven’t heard of it? Short Story: My mom had quite the thing for shoes (as seen in this post I wrote just one week before she died), so, in her honor, I encourage others [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Letter to Myself 15 Years Ago

January 16, 2012

Pin itDear Mama of Only Mere Hours, The day has arrived. Your firstborn child is in your arms. I know you are a bit loopy from the anesthesia and other drugs from your unplanned c-section, but the emotions flooding you are real and not narcotic induced. The love is unbridled and uncontainable right now. That [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Which One Are You?

January 15, 2012

Pin itIn reading a letter from a missionary couple our church supports (and I just love!) in Ethiopia, a particular sentence stood out to me about what their goal is: … making radical disciples, not just cultural Christians. That’s it! Those are the phrases I’ve been looking for lately. In learning about grace and what [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

The Picturesque Homeschooling Family

January 13, 2012

Pin itMy family just loves it when I say I’d like to get a family photo. They love it. Or really not very much at all. Taking family photos can be a ridiculous event (Amen?). What’s even more ridiculous is believing the family photo. You know, we believe that the photo represents how this family is all the [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Fact or Fantasy?

January 12, 2012

Pin itIt’s a new year. You may have noticed. You may or may not have written it correctly yet. You’re still in the grace period for that, though. After next month, you’ll look silly. Until then, enjoy the awkwardness. Anyhoo, in January, many of us feel compelled to set new goals. I am not excluded [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Best Astronomy Craft Ever

January 11, 2012

Pin itWe are studying astronomy this year. Actually, we were, then we weren’t and now we are again. I won’t bore you with the details. Instead, I will wow you with the sweetest astronomy craft/activity ever. Uh, huh. I was the coolest teacher/homeschooling mama at co-op the day I did this. Every student was [...]

Read the rest of the story >>

Les Miserables is Anything but Miserable

January 9, 2012

Pin itTransporting in time to France in 1815 through 1832. Watching a man receive unmerited kindness after giving up all hope. Joining in spirit as young men step up to try to gain rights for their countrymen. Despairing for a man who refuses to see grace. Experiencing the life journey of a man who [...]