Every week in our homeschooling lessons, we are doing a letter, learning what it looks like and what the phonics of the letter are. For each letter of the alphabet, Len and I are asking our friends and family to make a video for the babes that explains what some of the words are that start with that letter. 
A is for Aunt Ruthe!
Elijah is four. Moriah is two. We really need to start thinking about school. Len and I have decided that at least for PK, we want to homeschool. My oh my, what a job! I refuse to take my children’s education lightly!
Our biggest obstacle to cross first is the ABC’s. While both kids can sign the song, they are unable to write, or even recognize the letters, so phonetically we are about to begin with one letter a week!
After that will come in with all sorts of other lessons! I’m really looking forward to it all! We start MONDAY!!
I distinctively remember the first time God called me out of youth ministry at NCF. It was about a month before the missions trip and I was making a list of things to do in order to get ready for the big day! We had the money, the plane tickets, the support of our church family, parents and lots of others that had supported us financially and continued in prayer! The teens were all growing in their faith and Bible knowledge and I was growing right along with them! We even did homework!!
Seriously, God? You want me to quit now? NO WAY!! This is so much fun! Oh! And…I’ve been doing youth ministry for almost ten years!! Pastor Len and I have been serving together in Youth Ministry for eight years and we’ve been working with this group of teens for five!! I’m not ready to give it up! Not now! Not when things are good!
Well as time went on, growth continued in our group and we had fun in the process! God continued to work on my heart and finally in the later spring I spoke with Pastor Len about it. We prayed about things together and we agreed that I should tell Pastor Mike that we needed to really pray about someone else stepping up to lead our Sr. High Youth Ministry.
My own children are two and four. If I wasn’t leading youth ministry, I would have more time to work in their ministries. I would be able to help with things that go undone or when they need someone to fill in in Sunday School. We would feel more obliged to invite a new family over to our house for desert on Sunday Night. There are many ministries I have often not done because of my commitments to the youth, but wanted to.
After a great summer of praying for God’s direction on the youth ministry, of camping, canoeing, bonfires, games, movies and guest speakers, I am pleased to announce that at the beginning of the school year 2010, Pastor Mike and Laura, with the help of Jordan and Adrienne will be leading our Sr. High Youth Ministry.
I have full faith that Pastor Mike will do a wonderful job leading this group to not only grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ, but to teach them to put Christ at the center of their lives, decisions and relationships.
Tonight was the end of our service in youth ministry. Above is a copy of the letter I wrote to the parents. God is good and our ministry work is not yet done at NCF!
Len and I celebrated our 6th anniversary in June. This Fall will mark 8 years since we met and fell in love! We’ve been through a lot in the last 8 years together, and let me tell you (again): I LOVE THIS MAN I MARRIED!!!
Here’s SOME of the reasons why (not really in any order):
1. He LOVES Jesus, wants to serve him and is never satisfied with mediocrity of himself in this area.
2. He cherishes me, puts up with me and loves me despite myself.
3. He is an AWESOME Daddy. He decided that he wasn’t going to miss anything of his kid’s lives, since his Dad missed so much of his life by living several states away.
4. He knows when to be silly and when to be serious. He can make the babes and I laugh and he can cry along with us, whatever is appropriate!
5. He is a scholar, yet super humble about this. Someday Len wants a masters degree and a doctorate, but for the meantime because of our financial situation and time in life he waits and studies and reads on his own, deepening his knowledge on his own.
6. He often surprises me with flowers, notes of encouragement, back rubs and sweet hugs at just the right time!
7. He thinks I’m pretty, even when I think I’m just fat, haven’t shaved in two weeks, just woke up, have eye boogers and a half fallen pony tail, with morning breath.
8. He always makes sure I have a phone that will allow me to talk on the phone for as long as I want to with family who lives miles and miles away!
9. He wants me to be a stay at home mom and wife!
10. He supports and even helps out at times with my gardening endeavors!!
11. He is often in pain from rheumatism, but rarely complains for as much as he hurts.
12. He likes it when I cook a good meal.
13. He’s hot. He just is, I mean with his freshly shaven head and big bushy goatee…I can barely resist kissing him!!
14. He puts up with my crazy! Poor guy got a lot of that in the beginning when I told him to “go away” and “drop dead” and still every now and then he gets some of that crazy!
15. He rarely complains when his dresser is empty and has to search through laundry baskets to find clean clothes that are wrinkled.
16. He has moved our house around just because I wanted him to at least 15 times since we’ve been in this house (2 years).
17. He encourages my cake decorating hobby, even though I make a big mess in the kitchen and am usually too tired once the cake is done to finish it!
18. He gladly takes on the job of cleaning out the refrigerator most of the time, just because he knows I hate it.
19. He takes care of the mouse in the trap every time without complaint because I HATE MICE!!
20. He cleans the sink after he shaves so there isn’t crazy hair all over the place.
21. He wipes our babes butts just as much as I do.
22. He is always trying to better himself and encourages me to do the same without pointing fingers!
23. He forgives me when I’m quick to speak out of anger and raise my voice long before I should.
24. He supports our babes ambitions and takes every teachable moment to show them Christ.
25. His faith and zeal for learning is contagious even when I would rather be apathetic, I can’t because he is so into Jesus!
I feel as though I could go on and on, but you get the point! My Man is awesome! Love you, Baby!
The kids and I recently realized I have a web cam on my computer. They love performing for it!!!
You know, since college I haven’t really thought much about spring break…until this year.
Some good friends of ours live in Jacksonville, Florida and work at the Baptist Children’s Home.
Len and I will be taking four teenagers during spring break to help at the children’s home with maintenance and whatnot. I am working on getting the Itinerary settled this week. I can’t wait!!
My children, ages 3 and 2 will be going on their very first missions trip. :)
For Today…February 22, 2010
Outside my window… It’s cold and clear skies. The ground is quite white.
I am thinking…I really hope my kids get feeling better soon. I hate seeing them sick and their coughs are just horrible!!
From the learning rooms… We are working on colors with Moriah and on a reading rampage with Elijah. My goal is 100 books in one month!
I am thankful for… my nice warm house, good friends and a God who loves me no matter what I do.
From the kitchen… I am working on this week’s menu! I need to be more organized, which is, of course, a constant struggle for me.
I am wearing…Grey sweats and a purple shirt.
I am reading…a lot about gardening and planning out my the set up of our garden this year.
I am hoping…to get in a good Bible reading plan this week.
I am creating…a youth lesson for next week.
I am hearing…My old computer, which is now a DVD player/tv for downstairs when we want one down here. The kids are watching Veggietales.
Around the house…there is always something to be done!!
One of my favorite things…God’s provision.
A few plans for the rest of the week…Mon-Thurs babysitting, Friday going to our old Alma Mater for a visit.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…
I can’t wait to go camping!! Bring on the warmer weather!!!!!
Go HERE for more daybooks.
I remember my parents say that time flew as they got older…now I live that truth! I sneezed and missed over a month in bloggy land! Whoops!
Life is good. Really good. The kids are growing and learning to love Jesus. Elijah is in speech now and we are beginning to see some improvement in his articulation. Moriah is going to be two on Sunday.
Len and I are loosing weight. You can check out his progress at lessof.lenflack.com I am not as brave as he is. :-)
There are always ups and downs in life and we are blessed, simply blessed. I will attempt in my endeavors to blog more frequently. Life is changing as we know it.
Sometimes we just need to make the time…
Its totally worth it!
Today, December 7, 2009, we woke up to snow! In the words of my three year old son, “WOO HOO!!!” Since last year at this time we’d had snow for MONTHS, we have really been looking forward to the snow! The kids are at an AWESOME age right now. Elijah is three and a half and Moriah is almost two. They are old enough to remember and look forward to events. So this morning after I told them to look outside and they saw the beauty of the powdery white snow, they couldn’t wait to get outside!!! We waited until it got a bit warmer out though!! BRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
We cleaned off the car, shoveled the walk to our back door (we do not use our front door this time of year), and built a cute little snowman! His name is Frosty, naturally. ;-) The kids also took a little ride in their sled. It was all VERY fun, even for Mama!
