Romans 8:18 says "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Glory!
I was listening to Adventures in Odyssey this morning. It was the episode where Eugene finally accepts the call of Jesus in His life. One of the lines in that episode is "the best is yet to come" and it got me thinking...
For the believer, the best is yet to come! The best part of our existence is ahead of us! The most fulfilling part of our lives is ahead of us!
With all the crazy scary things going on in the world, it can be easy to be afraid and worried. Its easy to get caught up in the fear around us. We should not be afraid though! Jesus has overcome the world and all its fears!
1 Corinthians 15:55 says "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
John 16:33 says "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Of all the things that could go wrong, and all the things that have gone wrong, of all the things that have been wonderful and all the brilliant things this life has to offer....none of it is to be compared with the glory to come!
All of this doesn't mean that I won't wash my hands to prevent illness, or that I won't be careful of what my children learn but it does mean that I trust the Lord to be in control of my life and what happens in this world. I trust that EVERYTHING is in His hands and will work out for His glory!
The best, truly is, yet to come.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
10 blessed years
Archie and I will be celebrating our 10th Wedding anniversary on Friday! I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! He has blessed me so much and I thank God for him. He is a great daddy to our boys, a wonderful provider, and a good man.
Our marriage has been so sweet and beautiful. We have grown closer and more in love as time has passed. We still find ourselves staying up late talking and looking forward to spending time together. Sure we disagree sometimes and argue sometimes but we never "let the sun go down" without resolving things between us.
Archie, I love you more now than I did 10 years ago and I know my love for you will keep growing as long as we both continue to grow in the Lord. You are my soul mate, my lover, and my best friend. I will cherish you forever. Love forever, your devoted wife, Jessica
Our marriage has been so sweet and beautiful. We have grown closer and more in love as time has passed. We still find ourselves staying up late talking and looking forward to spending time together. Sure we disagree sometimes and argue sometimes but we never "let the sun go down" without resolving things between us.
Archie, I love you more now than I did 10 years ago and I know my love for you will keep growing as long as we both continue to grow in the Lord. You are my soul mate, my lover, and my best friend. I will cherish you forever. Love forever, your devoted wife, Jessica
Saturday, April 18, 2009
2 more weeks of school!
I've already started packing up school books. Just keeping out a few that I want to use for the last two weeks.
Every year I've felt the same way at the end of the school year, satisfied that they've learned what they should but I didn't teach them as much as I would have liked to. Of course this year had two big challenges in it. One, Silas was only 3 months old when we started school and we decided to move and started preparing to move half way through the school year.
I'd have to say that Gideon did just fine for Kindergarten. I learned a little about his learning style and where his strengths and weaknesses are.
I learned a lot more about Michael's learning style and his strengths and weaknesses. We're really going to have to focus on math next year. I'm happy with how he did in every subject, except math.
Jason will be ready for more pre-school work next year. He seems like the kind of kid that would benefit from play more than anything right now though.
I have my box of school books for next year all packed and ready to go. In fact almost all of the school books are packed! I may even have that job done today.
I'm looking forward to our last day of school. Then I can spend each day focused on the task of packing and preparing for our cross country move.
Every year I've felt the same way at the end of the school year, satisfied that they've learned what they should but I didn't teach them as much as I would have liked to. Of course this year had two big challenges in it. One, Silas was only 3 months old when we started school and we decided to move and started preparing to move half way through the school year.
I'd have to say that Gideon did just fine for Kindergarten. I learned a little about his learning style and where his strengths and weaknesses are.
I learned a lot more about Michael's learning style and his strengths and weaknesses. We're really going to have to focus on math next year. I'm happy with how he did in every subject, except math.
Jason will be ready for more pre-school work next year. He seems like the kind of kid that would benefit from play more than anything right now though.
I have my box of school books for next year all packed and ready to go. In fact almost all of the school books are packed! I may even have that job done today.
I'm looking forward to our last day of school. Then I can spend each day focused on the task of packing and preparing for our cross country move.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Resurrection buns
Jesus is alive!
We started doing this project on Easter morning about 2 or 3 years ago. Its very sticky and yummy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resurrection buns
1 or more cans of crescent rolls (or other dough, homemade or otherwise)
large marshmallows
Cinnamon and sugar mix
about 1/4 Cup of melted butter
1. Roll each marshmallow into a piece of dough so that it is completely covered, you can pinch the creases to make sure it is sealed. The marshmallows represent Jesus and the dough is the tomb.
2. Roll the bun in butter and then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Place buns on a greased baking sheet. (You will want to use one with a lip as there will be gooey sugar coming out of the buns).
4. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
5. Remove plastic and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove buns quickly from the baking sheet as they will stick hard if allowed to cool. When the buns are open the marshmallow is gone and the tomb is empty!
Jesus is alive!
We started doing this project on Easter morning about 2 or 3 years ago. Its very sticky and yummy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resurrection buns
1 or more cans of crescent rolls (or other dough, homemade or otherwise)
large marshmallows
Cinnamon and sugar mix
about 1/4 Cup of melted butter
1. Roll each marshmallow into a piece of dough so that it is completely covered, you can pinch the creases to make sure it is sealed. The marshmallows represent Jesus and the dough is the tomb.
2. Roll the bun in butter and then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Place buns on a greased baking sheet. (You will want to use one with a lip as there will be gooey sugar coming out of the buns).
4. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
5. Remove plastic and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove buns quickly from the baking sheet as they will stick hard if allowed to cool. When the buns are open the marshmallow is gone and the tomb is empty!
Jesus is alive!
Resurrection cookies
I should have posted this sooner as its meant to be done on "Good Saturday" night. You can do it any time of course! We have done this every year since Michael was a baby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resurrection cookies
1 Cup pecan halves
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch of salt
1 Cup of sugar
1 resealable plastic bag
a wooden spoon
scotch tape
A Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place pecans in the bag and let children beat them with the spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put one teaspoon into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross the soldiers gave him a sponge with vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27
And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.
6. The ingredients so far aren't too appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us, and wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
7. Beat mixture with a mixer until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that white represents the purity of those who have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
John 3:1-3
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
8. Fold in broken nuts and drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
9. Put the cookie sheets in the oven. Give each child a piece of tape to "seal" the oven shut.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
10. Turn off the oven and go to bed! Explain that it might be sad to leave the cookies in the oven all night. Jesus' disciples were sad when Jesus died. They didn't understand that He would rise again.
Read John 16:20, 22
Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
11. In the morning remove the tape, open the oven and take out the cookies! Give everyone a cookie. Notice how they are hollow in the middle. Jesus' followers were amazed to find that the tomb was empty! Jesus is alive!
Read Matthew 28:6-7
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Praise the Lord! He is Risen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resurrection cookies
1 Cup pecan halves
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch of salt
1 Cup of sugar
1 resealable plastic bag
a wooden spoon
scotch tape
A Bible
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place pecans in the bag and let children beat them with the spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put one teaspoon into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross the soldiers gave him a sponge with vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27
And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.
6. The ingredients so far aren't too appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us, and wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
7. Beat mixture with a mixer until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that white represents the purity of those who have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
John 3:1-3
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
8. Fold in broken nuts and drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
9. Put the cookie sheets in the oven. Give each child a piece of tape to "seal" the oven shut.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
10. Turn off the oven and go to bed! Explain that it might be sad to leave the cookies in the oven all night. Jesus' disciples were sad when Jesus died. They didn't understand that He would rise again.
Read John 16:20, 22
Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
11. In the morning remove the tape, open the oven and take out the cookies! Give everyone a cookie. Notice how they are hollow in the middle. Jesus' followers were amazed to find that the tomb was empty! Jesus is alive!
Read Matthew 28:6-7
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Praise the Lord! He is Risen!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Good Friday
Thank You my Lord Jesus. Precious Savior.
Thank You for taking my place.
Thank You for calling my name.
Thank You for saving me.
Thank You for freeing me.
Thank You for loving me.
Thank You for dying for me.
I will praise You and Thank You as long as I live...and thanks to You, that will be forever!
Thank You for taking my place.
Thank You for calling my name.
Thank You for saving me.
Thank You for freeing me.
Thank You for loving me.
Thank You for dying for me.
I will praise You and Thank You as long as I live...and thanks to You, that will be forever!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
School
Just 5 weeks left!
I think I pushed Gideon a little too hard the first half of Kindergarten but have relaxed for the second half. I have to remind myself that he doesn't have to be reading at a second grade level by the end of Kindergarten and that he doesn't have to keep up with everyone else. He can learn at his own pace and that's totally O.K. I'm not saying he's behind, he's just not ready for some things yet. I think Gideon is really good at math. He seems to like it better than other subjects. He often surprises me with things I didn't know he knew, using big words correctly, and asking very good questions.
Michael always amazes me. I quizzed him on some things I wasn't sure if he knew about or not, and sure enough, he did! He knew way more about plants than I thought, and the solar system. He picked up a book about the human circulatory system and then drew a picture and labeled the different parts. All without any instruction! I didn't even suggest he look at the book! He's been saying he hates writing all year but when we were at the grocery store today he wrote his own list. I can definitely see an improvement from last year. I think the trick with Michael is to get him to do school work without him knowing its school work, that seems to work best for him.
Jason is starting to come out of the terrible "2's", now that he's 3 1/2! He's very articulate and VERY energetic. He's starting to listen a little but still tends to run the opposite direction when I call him. I actually managed to get him to pick up nearly all the toys he pulled out of the closet, it may not seem like much but that's a major accomplishment! Hopefully I can get him to start picking up on a regular basis. (yeah right!).
We've been on a lot of field trips this year. We've got a couple left to go. I'm looking forward to going on new and exciting field trips in Georgia. There are several other states nearby as well so there should be lots of interesting field trip opportunities in the future.
Well, I'm up too late again. Tomorrow is library day. Goodnight.
I think I pushed Gideon a little too hard the first half of Kindergarten but have relaxed for the second half. I have to remind myself that he doesn't have to be reading at a second grade level by the end of Kindergarten and that he doesn't have to keep up with everyone else. He can learn at his own pace and that's totally O.K. I'm not saying he's behind, he's just not ready for some things yet. I think Gideon is really good at math. He seems to like it better than other subjects. He often surprises me with things I didn't know he knew, using big words correctly, and asking very good questions.
Michael always amazes me. I quizzed him on some things I wasn't sure if he knew about or not, and sure enough, he did! He knew way more about plants than I thought, and the solar system. He picked up a book about the human circulatory system and then drew a picture and labeled the different parts. All without any instruction! I didn't even suggest he look at the book! He's been saying he hates writing all year but when we were at the grocery store today he wrote his own list. I can definitely see an improvement from last year. I think the trick with Michael is to get him to do school work without him knowing its school work, that seems to work best for him.
Jason is starting to come out of the terrible "2's", now that he's 3 1/2! He's very articulate and VERY energetic. He's starting to listen a little but still tends to run the opposite direction when I call him. I actually managed to get him to pick up nearly all the toys he pulled out of the closet, it may not seem like much but that's a major accomplishment! Hopefully I can get him to start picking up on a regular basis. (yeah right!).
We've been on a lot of field trips this year. We've got a couple left to go. I'm looking forward to going on new and exciting field trips in Georgia. There are several other states nearby as well so there should be lots of interesting field trip opportunities in the future.
Well, I'm up too late again. Tomorrow is library day. Goodnight.
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