I can see God.

 

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke . . . 

Isaiah 58:6, NIV

 

The kind of fast God leads us into has the power to loose any unjust chains that bind us.

It also unties the cords tethering us to any yoke.

 

 

It's been almost one month since I have written in this sweet place I call home.

 

It seems like forever to me, but for good reason, I chose to lay it down for a few weeks.

 

I was struggling with some things. Really struggling.

 

I'd come to a crossroads in my parenting and homeschooling.

Things seemed to be getting the best of me in both areas and I began to feel it emotionally,
 spiritually

 and physically.

Have you ever been there?
 

I knew that something needed to change.

I knew that the change began with me, where I was and how I was reacting to things around me.

 

I had begun to slowly pull the reigns of my parenting and homeschooling out of God's hands.

 

I handed them over to him when I answered the call of homeschooling that He placed on my life almost two years ago.

 

But slowly, little by little, I pulled those reigns back from Him.

 

I began to work on my own strength and not His.

 

Those reigns eventually began to wear out and break,

 from the pulling and tugging of trying to do things my way.

 

I found myself at the final breaking point after I spent thirty minutes crying,

 locked away in my bathroom,

hiding from my children
 and all of the responsibilities that lay on the other side of the bathroom door.

 

I can't say that it was one big thing that got me there, but more like many little things.

I felt weighed down by all of the pressure to be.

Have you ever felt that way?

 

Things were a mess and I couldn't see things clearly.

The kids were constantly fighting with words or actions.
 I wasn't receiving much embrace from the kids when it came to their schoolwork. Actually, there was none. zero.
I was struggling with being "mom" and "teacher" and when to turn off the latter of the two and when to enforce my mom skills. I began to feel like a drill sergeant more than their Mom.
(Yes, there is a difference.)

Things were just all jumbled in our house and there was little to no peace or organization.

At times, I couldn't even see where God was.

You know why?
 Because I had shoved Him out of the way with my
"Okay, I got this. I can do this without you attitude."

Did He leave me?
Of course not. That's not even in His nature. He is ever present.
 NEVER will He leave me or forsake me.

I had just turned my back to Him, and got caught up in the fog of my self created storm.

Have you ever been there?
 

I needed clarity. I needed answers. I needed direction.
I needed God to sort through the mess around me and bring something good from it.

 I needed to once again,

surrender myself to homeschooling and parenting the way God had called me to.

 

My mind needed to be readjusted and transformed.

The way that only God could.


Ephesians 4:22-23
Regarding your former way of life, you were taught to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.


I felt God tugging on my spirit, pulling the reigns, drawing me back to Him.

 

I had contemplated doing a fast for a few weeks.

 

Let me just say, that I have never been one to be able to fast. Never.

 

I have tried and failed miserably everytime. Lasting only a day or two. If that long.

 

With that said,
 I knew,

that a fast was exactly what I needed

to be able to really see things for the way they were and for the way they needed to be.

 

The clarity I desperately needed was there for the taking.

 

But, I had to make a sacrifice to get there.


"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,
with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord God,
and made my confession... "
  Daniel 9:34

 

I decided to do the Daniel Fast.

Three weeks of fasting and praying.


Daniel 10:2-3
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.   I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.


It's not just fasting and praying, it's a deep spiritual experience to grow closer to the Savior,
seeking intimacy, answers and direction.

 

 The fasting part consists of

21 days of no meat.
No animal products of any kind.
(Also, no processed foods, chips, snacks, etc.)

 

Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, grains and water.

 

That's it.

Last but not least...no CHOCOLATE. None. Zero.

 

This was going to be a hard one for me personally.

 I went over and over it in my head and could only see the reasons why I shouldn't do it.

I could see myself growing weak very easily and possibly passing out.

 

I kept telling God the words "I can't".

 

I said it again and again to try and convince Him and myself that I just couldn't do it.

 

I was standing at the sink washing dishes one day,

 going over and over it in my head,

repeating the words, "But I can't. But I can't. But I can't", 

when God spoke to me and said...

 

"But I can."

 

 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

 

 

I began the fast on March 11th. 21 days from Easter Sunday.

 

Along with giving up meat,

 I decided to give up all grains.

 

I also decided to give up blogging on my personal blog.

 

Hence my absence here.

 

This was probably harder than the food fast.

 

My blog is like my 4th child.

It's where I go to be me.

 It's where I go to share all the amazing struggles and triumphs I walk through.

It's where I share my heart and all of the grace that God has poured over me.
It's therapy for me. It's my outlet.

It's where I have found great healing over the past few years.

  It's where I talk with God.

It's where I find sweet friends like you.

 

It's home.

Even though this blog has been a good place for me and a true gift from God,
it has also taken His place at times.

Sometimes we worship the gift over the Giver.

I'm pretty sure that was not what God intended when He spoke into my heart to begin writing my journey down.

This too needed to change.
 

I knew that if I was going to finally do a fast, I needed to make it count and give up not only the foods that were my weakness, but also the things in my life that were a weakness as well.

This blog at times has been a weakness.

 

I knew...

that a sacrifice wasn't really a sacrifice if it didn't cost you anything.

 

Doing the Daniel Fast was a sacrifice for me.

Giving up my blog was a even a bigger sacrifice.

 

The first few days of the fast were probably the hardest on me,

 not because of the food temptations,

but because my body was trying to adjust to its new way of life.

 

Honestly...

the fast wasn't all that bad.

 

It just became a way of life for me.

After those first few days, I began to feel energetic and full of life!

Each time I got hungry, I prayed. I read my Bible. I talked with God.
I thought of my children.

I pictured Him, in the garden of Gethsemene,
 the night before He was arrested and later crucified for my sake,
being tempted by the enemy.

I thought of Him drawing strength from His Father to be able to fulfill the ultimate sacrifice, for me.

I thought of His pain through it all.
And yet He prayed for me in that garden that night.
He thought of me. He thought of you.

I thought of His unending, unfathomable, unchangeable love.

I thought of the love I have for my children. I thought of the fast as a sacrifice for them.

And this...got me through.
 

I began to pray and talk to God in a way I never had before.
Our intimacy grew.

 I craved prayer time.

I began to crave  His Word. It truly is nourishment for your heart and soul.

Friend,
if you are in a dry season spiritually,
stop what you are doing right now...even if it's reading this blog and run to your Bible.
 Pick it up. Open it. Soak in all that it has to give.
Let the very words that God spoke pour over you with love and life!
It will revive you! I promise you!

 

I began to get the clarity that I so desired to have within the area of parenting and homeschooling.

 

I began to have all sorts of creative ideas and began to see the areas that needed changing.

 

I began to see...to finally see,

 the way God intended for me to depend on Him in the area of homeschooling.

It was as though God was wiping the blur from my eyes with every prayer I prayed in surrender to Him.

 

I began to pray each and every morning for each of my children.

 

And not just the usual "Guard their hearts, protect them" prayer.

 

I began to take time to pray for each of them in

specific areas that fit where they were at that very moment.

Each day, I layed them at His feet saying,

"Here God, they are Yours. They've always been Yours. You know them better than I do. Show me what they need. Give me the wisdom and words to speak into each of them. Show me how to be the mother You have called me to be. Let my life as their Mom be pleasing in Your sight."

 

My prayers as their mom became deeper and bolder with each passing day.

 

I began to see changes, even of the smallest kind, in each of them.

 

I began to yell less. Yes, I just admitted that.

 I began to talk to them in a way that even surprised me.

Peace came back to our home.
 

I began to feel different in every way. I became a better and stronger me.

 

It's all because I depended on God's strength and not my own.

 

Phillippians 4:13

I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

 

The fast definitely changed my life.

 

Fasting changed my perception by changing my focus.

~~Lisa Bevere

 

Not only is my spiritual mind different and I found clarity in my parenting and homeschooling abilities, but I found a new way to live.

 

I love the way that the Daniel Fast has taught me to eat.

 

I can't see myself ever going back to eating the way that I once did.

  

My body, mind and spirit all crave this something new.

 

I can see so many things in a new way.

I can see clearly now...

I can see God.

 

 

Fasting is not for weight gain or loss. Nor is it limited to natural healing.
 It is not designed to change the way we look and feel, but to change the way we perceive and live.
 A diet may change the way you look, but a fast will change the way you live.
A diet may change your appearance, but a fast will change the way you see; it will alter your inner perspective.

~~Lisa Bevere




I wanted to give a shout out to my sweet friend Christy.

(She is one of my faithful followers, daughter of the King, a very talented blogger, amazing mom and wife.)

Christy writes over at Life is Good.
Do yourself a favor and check her out!

Christy...

I opened up my blog to type this last night and saw your comment waiting to be moderated.
I laughed so hard I snorted. It wasn't even a dry snort, but a wet one.

It totally made my month of absence worth coming back!!

You are a jewel my friend.

I can't wait to meet you in person one day.

We will laugh until the sun comes up!!

And we will snort...yes, there will be lots of snorting!!

I love you.

Thanks for being you!

 



Back into existence.

 

 

 

 

Today we start back at homeschool after being off for an entire month.

 

I must say that it has done us all much good to have that long of a break.

 

Routine had become a friend we were tired of seeing and we needed a change.

 

I forgot how much I missed my old friend "rest".

We got reconnected over the break.

It was good to see you again my friend.

 

I read something yesterday that is so simple,

yet easily forgotten...

 

Rest transforms into restoration.

 

Couldn't we all use a little dose of that?

 

Restoration means the process of rebuilding or renovating.

 

One definition described it as bring back into existence.

 

Even though I love homeschooling my kids and consider it an honor to do so...

I have to be perfectly honest,

 

sometimes I don't know who I am.

 

I lose myself somewhere between happy homemaker, wife,

momma, teacher, referee and principal.

 

But when I rest...

"I" come back into existence.

 

I see myself again and I say,

 

"Well hey there beautiful you.  I've missed you. Where have you been hiding?"

 

I can then refresh as me,

 so that I can continue on, at the appointed time,

wearing the many hats that I am called to wear.

 

It gives me the much needed extra boost and strength required to be a better me to those who need me.

 

Jesus, the perfect man that He was, even needed rest...

 

Mark 6:31

So he said to them, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while."

Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn't even have a chance to eat.

 

 

I giggled out loud when I read the last part of this scripture.

How many times have I been so busy being Mom or Teacher

that I haven't even had the chance to eat lunch?!

 

Too many to count.

 

So, with that said...

I feel well restored and ready to tackle the weeks ahead in our homeschool.

 

(Okay, well at least this week.)

 

 

I'm excited to start things off with a few changes in our routine that I pray and hope will bring a restored feeling to our classroom...and home.

 

 

Both of the kids actually read an entire book over the break.
An entire book!

I think that is a great start to our return.

 

Even though it was only "by the skin of their teeth" and they finished most of their book late yesterday...

it still counts and it's still a good start.

 

Little progress is better than no progress.

 

Speaking of reading...

I've made myself a reading plan for 2013.

 

I've made a list of a few books that I want to definitely read this year.

For starters,
I've started a reading plan to read the Bible in 90 days in chronological order.
This is something that means a great deal to me.

Pray for me, please.
Pray that I find a deeper understanding of my Father,
 that I get to know His heart on a deeper, more intimate level.
Pray for dilligence, that I don't get off track,
and that I complete this from beginning to end.

 

One of the things I love to do for myself,
to find rest and acquire restoration,

is to curl up in my favorite chair, wrap up in a cozy blanket and read a good book.

 

I read less than a handful of books this past year.

 For me, that's a low number.

I started others, but never finished them.

 

I have friends that have challenged themselves with lists that consist

 of 15 books they want to read this year.

 

Wowzer!

Go you! I hope you do it!

 

I, on the other hand,

have a much smaller list.

 

My reading list for 2013:

(crossing fingers)

Not a Fan
by
Kyle Idleman
(one I actually started but never finished)
 

The Hiding Place

by

Corrie Ten Boom

 

Kisses from Katie

by

Katie J. Davis

 

Mockingjay

(Third book of the Hunger Games series)

by

Suzanne Collins

 

The Girls Still Got It:

Take a walk with Ruth and the God who rocked her world.

by Liz Curtis Higgs

 

The Fitting Room

by

Kelly Minter

 

 

I will also be reading two books this year for our Joli Women's Ministry blog.

 

Our first book, which we will begin in February, is

 

Warrior Chicks

by

Holly Wagner

 

If you would be interested in reading along with us,

please do so by following us on our book study journey.

You can follow along on

either our
 Joli facebook
 page or by

becoming a follower on
Joli blog.

It's that easy.

We will discuss the book each Friday beginning in early February.

 

I am also doing something that I have always wanted to do,

which is read a book and write a review on it.

 

I follow a very talented writer on her blog and on facebook.
 She has recently written a book.

 

Her name is Elora Ramirez and her book is Come Alive.

 

She writes from her heart and soul with great conviction and I am so honored to be able to read her book and give a review on it.

I've been wanting to read her book and have been trying to win a free copy for the past week or so.
She has been generous enough to give several copies away.
Each and every time she gave one away, too much evail, I missed it by an inch.

 

An. inch.

 

I am super excited to tell you that she sent me a personal message on facebook giving me the information to be able to do a review of her book,

giving me a free downloaded version!!

 

A personal message. On. my. facebook page!

 

That almost makes me famous!

(But, it doesn't.)

 

I'm super excited!! I've already started reading it...yay me!

 

So yeah, do yourself a favor and check out her blog here.

 

I will make sure to give you a review of the book here on Finding the SONlight.

 

Ya know...

just because I want you to love it too.

 

(Did I mention how excited I am about reading her book and doing the review?)

Moving on...
 

I hope your year

 or work week

or homeschool week is going great!

 

I'm looking forward to the next year and all that it brings!

 

Have a great Monday and don't forget to

 rest and get some restoration!

 

 

 

 



He keeps me from running.

 

 

 

 

I almost ran last week.

 

Ran straight out the door and as far as from my homeschool responsibilities as I could.

 

This year has already proven to be a doozy.

 

Last year, with only a few minor bumps here and there,

proved to be a pretty good first year of homeschooling for all of us.

 

We all came out unscathed and willing and wanting to continue on in the homeschooling process.

 

I'd say that alone was a great success.

 

Especially due to the fact that my teenage daughter had vowed at the beginning of the year that she was "not going down without a fight" in regards to leaving public school and entering a classroom that included her younger, sometimes irritating little brother.

 

I'd say we all scored greatly in that department, being that her new vow is "I'm never going back to public school!" and her little brother, well he is still breathing and they have actually developed a slightly better relationship.

 

(slightly)

 

But this year...the doozy I was talking about,

hit me last week like a very fast oncoming train with all its bells and whistles.

 

It hit me hard. and without any notice.

 

We have decided to take a different route with curriculum for my daughter.

 

We are using several different kinds, all on a much different scale than last year's "pop in a cd rom" curriculum that seemed to start our homeschooling experience off pretty well.

 

Even though it was easy, it was too easy, and led to days of boredom for her.

 

Boredom is not my goal for our homeschool.

I want their experience to be interesting and fun so that it will stay with them.

Boredom leads to forgetfulness.

 

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this new system.

 

There are HUNDREDS of curriculums out there.

Hundreds!

 

Thus began my panic attack.

 

What do I use?

What if what I pick she doesn't like?

What if she gets bored and doesn't learn?

What if I don't understand it and can't even teach her?

What? What? What?

What am I even doing trying to homeschool?

The "whats" were endless and I began to doubt my ability to homeschool all together.

I was on the verge of tears several times and I felt like running was the only solution.

The "I can't"s whispered loudly into my ear.
The fear of failure loomed over me like a dark heavy cloud.

I began to feel very overwhelmed and very under qualified.

In a sense, doubting God and where He had brought me.

 

I was at my computer this past weekend working on editing another blog that I write for and edit for.

As I was updating our writer's profiles, I came upon my own.

 

I read it to see if anything had changed and I came across this part,

 

Tammy attended McNeese University for one year in her pursuit for a teaching degree. Early in her Sophomore year, her plans took a sudden turn, after becoming pregnant with her second child. She then decided that her skills, and her heart, belonged at home with her children.

 

 

And there it was.

 

I realized sitting there that God had me right where He wanted me, and it was the exact place that I had chosen to be over 15 years ago.

 

He was bringing to reality a dream of my heart from years past.

 

I dreamed of being a teacher and instilling into children the joy of learning.

But at the same time, a bigger dream pulled me in another direction.

The dream of being a mother and being able to be at home with my children watching them learn and bloom right before my eyes.

 

He had now brought both dreams together in a way that I never thought possible, much less that I was capable of.

 My obedience to the call on my heart all those years ago was being rewarded with Him giving me the best of both worlds today.

I remembered in that moment the words He spoke to me a little over a year ago,

"You are going to homeschool your children."

 

He didn't ask me.

He didn't question His own plan.

He said it very matter of factly.

 

You. are. going. to.

 

So I realized, if He knew I was going to, then He knew I was capable.

He knew I would have what I needed to accomplish it, because He was going to give it to me.

I just needed to trust Him.

On those days that I feel very underqualifed, He has called me qualified.

 

Even though I don't see it, He does.

 

And that is something I can hold onto.

 

That is what keeps me from running.

That is what keeps me still.

 

He keeps me from running...He keeps me still.

 

I find it ironic that He has brought that same dream alive in my heart,

with the same child that I had left it behind for.

He is the Dream Fulfiller.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that homeschooling was the best decision for my children, especially my daughter. She was in a place that only God knew about, and He scooped her up and placed her right where He wanted her.

It's one thing when God comes through for me,

It's an even greater thing when He comes through for one of my children.

 

Then again...they are His afterall.

 

So for today, and in this season of my life...

 

I don't run.

 

I'm hanging up my running shoes and staying put,

 taking on each new challenge the best way that I can,

one step at a time.

 

 

Psalm 56:3

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

 

 

 

 

 



Love in a cardboard box.

John 13:34-35

A new command I give you, Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

A couple of weeks ago, our homeschool group had the opportunity to lend a hand at the local Food Net Food Bank in our community.

The kids were very excited to be a part of something that would mean a great deal to so many people.

We helped sort food into boxes that were to be picked up, and brought to nearby distributing locations.

I was very impressed with the hard work that came out of these little ones.

Whatever they were asked to do, they did with a smile on their face and without complaint.

It may look like it wasn't that big of a deal, placing cans and boxes of food inside carboard boxes, but there is so much more that goes within those cardboard boxes that can't be seen with the naked eye.

When I was a teenager, my mother, sister and myself lived in the housing projects.

My mother was a single mom, who was very sickly, so we lived on government assistance.

Every Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday for four years, my uncle would show up at our door with a box of food for us.

It had come from our local community food drive.

My sister and I were always excited to see what was in the box.

We would recieve everything we needed for our holiday dinner and sometimes a little extra to help fill in the gaps within some hard times.

We never doubted that our box had God's hand placed on it, especially when we would find the chocolate cake mix and chocolate icing inside.

That definitely was a gift from God straight from Heaven!!

We knew that someone had taken time out of their busy schedule, to prepare that box just for us.

We also knew, that someone who may or may not have been in need themselves, had given a simple can of green beans, a box of instant potatoes, or a cake mix to their local charity organization, to help give a family like ours a hot meal to eat and to make memories around, for the holiday.

That cardboard box was filled with more than food to fill our bellies.

That cardboard box was filled with someone's love and time!!

If it weren't for those boxes delivered to us for each holiday, we may not have been able to have the traditional dinners that come with those special holidays.

Isaiah 58:10

If you give some of your own food to feed those who are hungry and to satisfy the needs of those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark and the darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.

When we were told that this field trip had been planned for our homeschool group, I immediately signed us up for it.

I was excited and honored, to be able to be on the other end of that box, and I felt it important to show my children how to be a blessing to others.

It felt wonderful to be the one putting the food in the box for that family in need.

You never know who that family could be.

It could be the family whose father recently lost his job and hadn't had the opportunity to find a new one.

It could be the elderly widowed woman who lives by herself.

It could be the family who simply can't afford an extravagent meal for the holidays, because all of their hard earned money has gone to putting a roof over their heads.

It could be that single mom who is struggling to put food on the table all by herself.

It could be that military wife who is at home alone with her three small children, whose husband is fighting for our country on a foreign soil.

It could be any of us.

At one time or another, we have all had our hard times and have been in some sort of need.

What a blessing it was to be a part of putting love in a cardboard box!

 It's wonderful to know that there are organizations like the Food Net Food Bank, where you can be a blessing and receive a blessing all in one place!!

Christmas is fastly approaching, and the need is great!

If you would like to help out in anyway, please contact your local food bank or click the link below for more information:

http://www.foodnetacadiana.org/

Donations are accepted year round!

On behalf of our homeschool group, I'd like to thank the people at Food Net for their hard work, and for allowing our group to partake in such a great blessing.  I'd also like to thank Carlie Faulk for arranging the fieldtrip and providing a great opportunity for our kids to get involved with helping our local community.

Have a blessed holiday season!

He goes before me.

 

Today is our last day of school, as we are taking a nice needed break during the Thanksgiving holiday.

As you know, I wasn't too sure how this whole homeschooling journey would be.

(I totally freaked!!)

Two months into our school year, I am happy to say that as usual, God had our best interest at heart, even though I couldn't see it at the time.

Today, I choose to see the Joy in what I do not see coming.

In all honesty, I didn't see this whole journey coming or working out, and have speculated it alot!

I tend to freak out in this flesh covered spirit of mine and worry-worry-worry.

I'm learning to trust Him.

I'm learning to allow my knowing to be bigger than my questions.

I know who my Father is,

 I just have to apply that to the worry,

 to the doubt,

 and right in the middle of the situation that may fill like a death trap.

He is here with me, and even better than that...

He goes before me.

Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won't abandon you or leave you. So don't be afraid or terrified.

Homeschooling is going really well. 

We've had an occassional bump here and there, but nothing that we haven't been able to muddle through.

My little family is at peace, we have a new found Joy and we are becoming closer to eachother because of it.

If that is what God had in mind with this whole process,

it has been worth every second!

So, even though I don't always know what tomorrow will bring...

Today

I

Will

Choose

Joy!

Remember,
 where ever you are...

He has already gone before you!

I don't know what you're doing today...

but,

we are celebrating!!!

We've made it to the end of our first six weeks of homeschooling!!

Both of the kids have an overall A average!!

That's A as in A-Ma-Za-Zing!!

Can I get an Amen and a Woop Woop?!!

I am so proud of them!!

We decided to play a little music, bake some brownies and spend the day celebrating!

(oh yeah, and our school work too.)

Phillippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!

Won't you turn up the music and celebrate with us!!

Fabulous Blog Friday!!

(This monkey has nothing to do with this post, it was just a cute attraction to get you here.)

I'm working on creating a tag for Fabulous Blog Fridays, so please bare with me while I tweek up the place a bit.

I'm glad you are here!

Welcome!

As promised, today is Fabulous Blog Friday!

It's where I showcase my most-favorite blog of the week.

Well, it's your lucky day, because I chose two for this week!

I normally like to stick to the routine,

but I am trying to live outside of the box a bit, and I just couldn't help myself!

Once you read on...you'll just KNOW that it was meant to be for me to have TWO blogs shared this week.

#1.

My first Fabulous Blog choice for this week is Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.

I began following Ann quite a few months back, and she has never been a disappointment.
It's one of the first blogs I read every morning and it fills my heart with delight.

She speaks soft and gentle wisdom from a Savior loving heart.

She is a farmer's wife, a mother, a teacher to her six homeschooled children, a writer, an editor and a speaker.

Her words have left me with tears running down my cheeks, a grin smiling to my ears, and a melody of grace on my heart.

My children even know the sound of the melody that plays when you arrive on her blog.
I thought I might keep her all to myself, and not share her blog, but again...He offers grace in every area.

(Plus she has 4,750 other followers who probably feel the same way as I do.)

This week's choice post is titled Slowing To See the Fullness of Life.

Won't you click the link below and meet Ann.

Take a moment to slow down a bit in your own life, to see it's Fullness unveiled.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/10/slowing-to-see-the-fullness-of-life/

One of my favorite past times is laughter.
God's Word speaks of laughter as "good for the heart", and a "good medicine".

His Word holds all truth...

because laughter is the best thing ever!


I believe we should do it often, and do it well.

#2.

My second Fabulous Blog choice is written by probably, one of the funniest people my giggle-box has ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I found him, well...I don't really remember how I found him, but I am SO GLAD that I did.

His name is Tyler Tarver.

He is a beautiful mixture of all things fabulous!

He exumes comedic greatness!!

If you appreciate crazy unstoppable idiotic comedy...then you will appreciate his gift of humor.

 

That's him right there in the Star Wars get up.

He's hilarious!
I love, love, love this dude!


(Not in a wierd, freakish-stalkish kind of way...I mean, come on, that's just nuts! right?)

He is a writer, a teacher, a comedian, a short- film producer, a husband, a father,  a photographer and a lover of Jesus.

I just so happened to check out his blog yesterday, as I was trying to make this week's choice for Fabulous Blog Friday, when I came across a little piece of heaven!

In that I mean...

the Heavens actually opened up, it's bright light shined down, angels began singing and this video clip fell into my lap.

AKA "a little piece of heaven".

If you read my blog from yesterday,

 you know that I am in the midst of the Great Algebra Depression of 2011, doing my best to teach my daughter Algebraic wisdom after 20 Algebra-free years.

(I'm slowly, but surely finding the Joy in that.)

Anywho...

This guy, this most wonderful guy,

IS AN ALGEBRA TEACHER!!

Hello!!!!

It's Christmas in October!!

He even has these great videos on his site, where he teaches Algebra.

That's right.
He. Teaches. Algebra.

Laughter and Algebra!!!
Together!
As one!

That's almost as good as the great food duo of Chocolate and Peanut Butter...but it's not, so let's move on.

Where was I?
Oh yeah...

It's like God Himself handed me a gift wrapped up in...http://www.tylertarver.com/ 

I posted one of his Algebra videos just in case, you too are a homeschooling mom, in the wrestling rink, in a choke hold, with math at the moment.

If not, keep his link for future use.
We plan on watching today!

During Algebra!

Hope you enjoy this week's selections!  Please share with a friend.
(See there, I'm learning to share more and more.)

Have a super blessed weekend!

Don't forget to Choose Joy!

I have called you by name.

"Just face it, I'm not the smart one Mom. 
I'm the dumb one.

 Don't worry about me. 

 Who cares what my grades are just as long as I pass."

Hearing those words were like pouring acid into the veins of my heart.

I melted inside as the words bellowed in my ears.

She had labeled herself with a lie.

The look on her face told the story of her defeat.

She had lost it.

Somewhere along the way...she had lost it.

Her confidence.
Her joyful spirit.

I began to pray, and pray hard.

I wanted to get her back to where she needed to be.

Knowing things about herself that were the truth, not the lies she spoke of.

I wanted her to know she was worth it.

Just her...

worth it all.

Worth the effort.
Worth the time.

Worth the hard work.
Worth whatever it took.

Worth it all.

I did my all to show her, for her to see the worth she carried,

but her mind was made up,

and she believed those words she spoke.

I continued to pray...

"God help her.  Help her to see her worth and how precious she is. Show her who she is in You."

Then,
He came with a gentle rain.

He swooped in,

like a mother eagle rescuing it's fallen babe.

"You're going to homeschool the kids."

In my own lack of confidence, I doubted.
I feared.

"Oh God, are you sure?"


He was sure.
He always is.

We broke the news of homeschooling and her anger shot up like an erupting volcano.

She felt even more defeated than before.

Helpless.

Broken.

I continued to pray, asking Him to touch her heart,

to speak to it in a way that I couldn't. 

With a blind faith,

we stepped into His plan for us.

"I'm a genius!!"

She screamed, from her desk, after figuring out four Physics problems during a test.

Her face lit up the room with it's essence of joy.

We are finishing up our third week of homeschool.

I keep replaying those words in my head like a sweet melody.
"I'm a genius!"

Oh, what a sweet melody it is!

I overheard her bragging to someone yesterday about her homeschooling grades.

Her face was a glow.
Her spirit was joyful and filled with life!

He came for her.

He knew what she needed.

He covered her with His love.

Hugging her with His grace.

He wanted to show her she was worth it.

Worth it all.

He wanted to give her a new name.

He did just that.

Not one person goes unnoticed.

Not one person is not worth a sacrifice...

not worth The Sacrifice.

His love for us knows no boundaries.
It is infinite and overflowing.
Always enough.
He came to give us all a new name,
each and every one of us.

We were worth whatever it took...
so He took His Lamb to the slaughter,
for us.


He has called you by name, and you are His.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Matthew 20:28

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

**There are some changes coming to Finding the SONlight next week. 
I hope you stick around to see what they are.

Be blessed!!

I'm not as young as they think I am.

My kids had this brilliant idea...

and well,

who doesn't love a brilliant idea, right?

Especially when it comes from the fruits of your womb.

Right?

(insert sarcasm here)

My sweet little darlings thought that since public school had P.E., that our homeschool MOST definitely needed to have P.E. as well.

Ehemmm...

I thought, in my apparently hallucinated state of mind...

"That's a splendid idea you guys!"

I was proud of them for wanting to get out and move their bodies and be healthy.

The little cuties!

Yeah!

Let's do it!!

I went to the store and purchased a nice new kickball.

It was both of their favorite thing to play at P.E., and I remembered that it was MY favorite thing to play at P.E. when I was younger too.

I loved the idea even more!

(emphasis on the words WAS and YOUNGER)

Yesterday, after we finished our day of school and supper was all cooked, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and play some kickball.

The kids were all excited,

"Yeah.  Let's go Mom!  Woohoo!  This is gonna be great!"

I smiled and nodded in agreement, in my own foolish naive excitement...

not realizing the horror that await me.

It was all fun and laughs, until my body decided to run after a ball that flew past me, because apparently, my son was trying out for professional soccer and needed to kick the ball into eternity!!

My mind told my body to run, so... my body ran.

But,
 I think my body forgot to send the memo to the muscles in my legs.

Because as soon as I began to run, my legs cramped up sending shooting pains throughout my entire lower half!

My entire lower half!!

What the?!!

That's right...not after I ran.

No, no...AS. I. RAN.

When I ran.

Heck...it might have even started before I ran!!

My memory is shady, I could have blacked out for all I know.

I stumbled across our acre of land, struggling to catch my breath, while looking like one half of my body had been shot up with numbing novacaine, and was dragging behind the other half.

What I wanna know is...
Who exchanged my young, vibrant, energetic body with a slow moving old lady carcass?!


No teams were picked, but I am pretty sure that it was Them against Me.

We continued to play for what seemed like hours!
Hours I tell ya!
Okay...

my kids said it was only like 20 minutes.

Ehhh...

5 hours, 20 minutes.

Tomato, toe-mah-toe.

Same difference.


Hey!!
Who's the teacher here?!

Even though my body is refusing to commence in another game of  "death by kickball",

I know my kids are really looking forward to playing again.

It was fun,

and I laughed hysterically at them, and at myself.

We made some good memories, and our neighbor and her little girls joined in on the fun as well.

I guess I might need to consider possibly doing a little more exercise,

cuz...

I'm not as young as they think I am.

And I don't want to miss a minute of fun with them!!

Job 32:7

Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Isaiah 46:3-4

I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God througout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.