Well, it's that time of the year again. I am starting to investigate what it looks like to get my Masters degree.
I knew when I completed my Bachelors degree that I wasn't really finished with school and I am really excited about working towards a career.
I really want to be mindful of what my primary focus is right now and that is the education of my kids, but I also want to continue to look forward to the future.
Let's face it, at the most in 10 years my job gets outsourced. My kids will all be in college or working in their profession of choice, and my job as a home school mom will be...gone.
It is really exciting to think that in just a few years I could be doing a totally different job with all new adventures!
So, my hearts desire, right now, is to get a masters degree in counseling- marriage and family therapy. I don't know if that focus will change when I start the program, but I really feel like that is the direction God has been leading me in for quite some time.
There are a couple of problems with that degree.
First, the degree I get must be primarily on-line. I understand there will be a point where I will have to intern or do something like that to get practical experience, but for the most part I need the classes to be online.
Also, I need to make sure that the school isn't just accredited but it will also lead me into getting a license to practice in whatever state we may be in at that time. I have heard horror stories of people spending the time and money to get on-line degrees from some of these accredited on-line schools just to find out when they finish that they can not be licensed in the state they are in. For this reason, I am leaning towards a CA school that offers on-line degrees, but running into a road block when it comes to the degree I am looking into.
I am excited and a little fearful, but know that I can take this challenge on, and know that God will lead me to the right place and the right degree.
Kristen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
2010-2011 School Year
We are finishing our 17th week of our school year this week, and I thought I would give an update as to how our year is progressing.
Our curriculum started us out in the late 1800's, and we are now just finishing up with WWII.
Kylee finished reading "Lord of the Flies" yesterday, and only cried twice :) She is also working on finishing a WWII poster on some of the highlights of the war. She has been writing mini-reports each week on different aspects of the war.
Faith is reading "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok. In one week she will have her 9-week comprehensive final. This year I started giving Faith weekly tests as well as these 9-week comprehensive tests in history and literature. She has always taken math tests and science tests but these history and literature tests are her first experience with timed short answer/essay type tests. She has done really well on them, and is learning some valuable test taking skills. On the writing front, she is in the final stages of writing a 10 page research paper on Women's roles during WWII.
Seth is currently reading "Pipi Longstocking". He wasn't so sure about it when he first saw it, but he is great about not judging a book by it's cover and has enjoyed reading it. He has also been working on writing a 6 page biography of Stalin. And this week is working on campaign posters for Truman and Dewey.
Joshi is reading "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot" a book about the pilots who dropped supplies from the skies during the year after WWII, when Stalin set up blockades of all roads, railroads, and canal routes going in and out of West Berlin. This is a true story of a pilot who would drop candy for the children. He has been working on an "inventions of the 20th century" project for the last eight weeks, and is almost done. His writing assignments have been focusing on writing compare and contrast papers.
We have also just started going through a bible study about the mind of Christ. Ideally, we are going to learn to think more like Christ. The author of the study states that there are 6 attributes that characterize the mind of Christ, and help you to develop these traits. There are weekly memory verses, this week's is Roman 12:2, and a unit memory verse which is Philippians 2:5-11. The kids are great at memorizing these verses, I am the one who struggles with memorization. It is actually an adult bible study, but the kids are doing great! It is covering some great stuff, like purity and humbleness.
The boys are doing Apologia astronomy, Kylee is doing a general science course from Apologia and Faith is doing Apologia Biology.
Faith has also had U.S. Government and Philosophy as electives this year. It has been an interesting experience studying some of these philosophers from a christian perspective.
We have tried to introduce Spanish this year, but I haven't been very successful with that, may be time for a Spanish teacher :)
Overall it has been a great year so far!
Kristen
Our curriculum started us out in the late 1800's, and we are now just finishing up with WWII.
Kylee finished reading "Lord of the Flies" yesterday, and only cried twice :) She is also working on finishing a WWII poster on some of the highlights of the war. She has been writing mini-reports each week on different aspects of the war.
Faith is reading "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok. In one week she will have her 9-week comprehensive final. This year I started giving Faith weekly tests as well as these 9-week comprehensive tests in history and literature. She has always taken math tests and science tests but these history and literature tests are her first experience with timed short answer/essay type tests. She has done really well on them, and is learning some valuable test taking skills. On the writing front, she is in the final stages of writing a 10 page research paper on Women's roles during WWII.
Seth is currently reading "Pipi Longstocking". He wasn't so sure about it when he first saw it, but he is great about not judging a book by it's cover and has enjoyed reading it. He has also been working on writing a 6 page biography of Stalin. And this week is working on campaign posters for Truman and Dewey.
Joshi is reading "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot" a book about the pilots who dropped supplies from the skies during the year after WWII, when Stalin set up blockades of all roads, railroads, and canal routes going in and out of West Berlin. This is a true story of a pilot who would drop candy for the children. He has been working on an "inventions of the 20th century" project for the last eight weeks, and is almost done. His writing assignments have been focusing on writing compare and contrast papers.
We have also just started going through a bible study about the mind of Christ. Ideally, we are going to learn to think more like Christ. The author of the study states that there are 6 attributes that characterize the mind of Christ, and help you to develop these traits. There are weekly memory verses, this week's is Roman 12:2, and a unit memory verse which is Philippians 2:5-11. The kids are great at memorizing these verses, I am the one who struggles with memorization. It is actually an adult bible study, but the kids are doing great! It is covering some great stuff, like purity and humbleness.
The boys are doing Apologia astronomy, Kylee is doing a general science course from Apologia and Faith is doing Apologia Biology.
Faith has also had U.S. Government and Philosophy as electives this year. It has been an interesting experience studying some of these philosophers from a christian perspective.
We have tried to introduce Spanish this year, but I haven't been very successful with that, may be time for a Spanish teacher :)
Overall it has been a great year so far!
Kristen
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
So after stressing out for a week over this meeting with the principal, it got canceled!
Got a note last night from the principal and he said that he had a meeting and would not be at the tour today, so I rescheduled for next week.
Don't know if I am relieved that I don't have to do it this week, or upset because I am just continuing the stress for another week.
On a less stressful note, I made some delicious focaccia bread yesterday, and thought I would share it.
I made the bread just as the recipe states, but gave it about an hour to rise as dough and also an hour to rise once it was rolled out to its bread form. I know a tablespoon of salt sounds like a lot, but it is kosher salt, so it works perfect!
As for the top I didn't measure the salt, oil, rosemary, or cheese, I just sprinkled it on.
It was super easy, and so yummy!!
Got a note last night from the principal and he said that he had a meeting and would not be at the tour today, so I rescheduled for next week.
Don't know if I am relieved that I don't have to do it this week, or upset because I am just continuing the stress for another week.
On a less stressful note, I made some delicious focaccia bread yesterday, and thought I would share it.
I made the bread just as the recipe states, but gave it about an hour to rise as dough and also an hour to rise once it was rolled out to its bread form. I know a tablespoon of salt sounds like a lot, but it is kosher salt, so it works perfect!
As for the top I didn't measure the salt, oil, rosemary, or cheese, I just sprinkled it on.
It was super easy, and so yummy!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thinking Outside of the Box
What have I gotten myself into?
We have been feeling it has been time for a change on the school front, for Faith, for a couple of years, and before moving we had even looked into some of our options.
We had opened communication with the principal of our local school in Illinois about Faith attending some elective type classes and participating in after school activities for her freshman year of school.
Up to this point, Faith has not shown an interest in going to a traditional school, but when she expressed an interest to attend part time, I looked into it.
As we approached the start of her freshman year we were also approaching a pretty major move across the country. Well, the move seemed to be enough change for one year, and we decided to wait on any other big changes.
But now we are settled and are looking ahead to the fall semester. We are investigating what our options are for Faith's Sophomore year at high school.
Yikes, she is going to be a Sophomore!!
Anyways, I wrote to the principal of Simi Valley High School last week, and got back a great response. They are running tours of the school every Wednesday of February and he invited Faith and I to come and check it out.
When I expressed to him that I wasn't sure how this was all going to look, since we only want her to attend part time, he said we could "think outside of the box".
Those are beautiful words to me!! I love that God put us in a school district where the principal is willing to "think outside of the box" when it comes to the education of my child! I do not want to depend on this school for anything that I think we do well at home, i.e. math, writing, literature, history, bible, and science. But for things like art, foreign language, p.e., and drivers ed. it would be GREAT to have assistance in these subjects.
With all that said, we are moving forward and going to the tour and a meeting with the principal this Wednesday, and I am STRESSING OUT!!!
Pray for us! Pray that we will be able to think clearly and hear clearly. Pray that if this is the right move for our family, for our Faith, that Mike and I will know it after this meeting. And if this isn't the right choice He will open up the right door and we will recognize it!
This is a very hard decision for me. We have a great time at home, and I really don't want to rock the boat. But, I do want what is best for my kids, and I think this is worth looking into, so here we go!
Kristen
We have been feeling it has been time for a change on the school front, for Faith, for a couple of years, and before moving we had even looked into some of our options.
We had opened communication with the principal of our local school in Illinois about Faith attending some elective type classes and participating in after school activities for her freshman year of school.
Up to this point, Faith has not shown an interest in going to a traditional school, but when she expressed an interest to attend part time, I looked into it.
As we approached the start of her freshman year we were also approaching a pretty major move across the country. Well, the move seemed to be enough change for one year, and we decided to wait on any other big changes.
But now we are settled and are looking ahead to the fall semester. We are investigating what our options are for Faith's Sophomore year at high school.
Yikes, she is going to be a Sophomore!!
Anyways, I wrote to the principal of Simi Valley High School last week, and got back a great response. They are running tours of the school every Wednesday of February and he invited Faith and I to come and check it out.
When I expressed to him that I wasn't sure how this was all going to look, since we only want her to attend part time, he said we could "think outside of the box".
Those are beautiful words to me!! I love that God put us in a school district where the principal is willing to "think outside of the box" when it comes to the education of my child! I do not want to depend on this school for anything that I think we do well at home, i.e. math, writing, literature, history, bible, and science. But for things like art, foreign language, p.e., and drivers ed. it would be GREAT to have assistance in these subjects.
With all that said, we are moving forward and going to the tour and a meeting with the principal this Wednesday, and I am STRESSING OUT!!!
Pray for us! Pray that we will be able to think clearly and hear clearly. Pray that if this is the right move for our family, for our Faith, that Mike and I will know it after this meeting. And if this isn't the right choice He will open up the right door and we will recognize it!
This is a very hard decision for me. We have a great time at home, and I really don't want to rock the boat. But, I do want what is best for my kids, and I think this is worth looking into, so here we go!
Kristen
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Fifi the Five Foot Vampire Goose
We have a lovely walking route, and if we do the whole thing, it is about three miles in length. It goes up hill, down hill, and past a beautiful park/golf course.
We often wait until the evening and walk it as a family after dinner, but on Mondays I go to a small group in the evening, so the kids and I have been trying to walk it in the afternoon.
Yesterday, we started down the street, it was a beautiful day, 75 degrees and sunny. The boys had brought their bikes and Kylee was running up ahead with them, while Faith and I were walking at a quick pace right behind them.
About five minutes into our walk, as we were walking by the beautiful golf course, I looked up ahead and saw three giant geese sitting by the sidewalk. As the three kids up ahead got closer to the three geese, one of the geese got up and looked quite upset.
The next thing I know she (the kids have dubbed her Fifi) began squawking and with her head low down to the ground she charged the kids!
Kylee, Seth and Joshi turned themselves around and took off back towards Faith and me. This crazy Fifi chased them down the sidewalk and even bit Joshi's tire!
By the time the three kids reached us, Joshi was in tears and they all suggested we just turn around and go down the other side of the street.
Well, I was not about to let a goose tell me I couldn't walk down the street!!
So, I told the kids we were just going to walk straight down that sidewalk, right past Fifi and we would be just FINE!
Meanwhile, Fifi had not taken her eyes off of us. We very determinedly walked back towards the three geese, and when we got about halfway there, she began screaming and charging us again!!
Okay, I admit it, I ran.
This Fifi meant business.
I decided we were going to have to just go out into the bike lane of the very busy street, and walk very quickly by this very scary avian menace.
We waited for traffic to clear and I grabbed Joshi's bike. He and I ran as fast as we could down the bike lane and got past Fifi to the other side.
Victory!!
I turned around to cheer with the other three and realized they were not behind me, they had gotten scared and were cowering on the sidewalk, being yelled at by a very angry Fifi!
I told the kids to just do what I had done, wait for the traffic to clear and run!
The girls made it.
Now, Seth was trapped on the other side of gooseland and Fifi looked like she really meant business.
She was on to our game, and at this point there was no guarantee that she was not going to follow him right out into traffic this time!
I decided to try and distract her by coming towards her from the other side, the safe side, which seemed to work. She quit giving Seth the bird-eye and came after me, which in turn made all the kids on the safe side scream.
Seth got out into the bike lane and made it to safety, and Fifi turned her goose tail and walked off towards the golf course.
We ended up stopping at a friend's house instead of continuing on our walk. By the time we got to our destination, the boys had morphed Fifi the goose into a five-foot vampire beast with huge fangs and a troll like voice.
Do you think they are going to need therapy?
Kristen
We often wait until the evening and walk it as a family after dinner, but on Mondays I go to a small group in the evening, so the kids and I have been trying to walk it in the afternoon.
Yesterday, we started down the street, it was a beautiful day, 75 degrees and sunny. The boys had brought their bikes and Kylee was running up ahead with them, while Faith and I were walking at a quick pace right behind them.
About five minutes into our walk, as we were walking by the beautiful golf course, I looked up ahead and saw three giant geese sitting by the sidewalk. As the three kids up ahead got closer to the three geese, one of the geese got up and looked quite upset.
The next thing I know she (the kids have dubbed her Fifi) began squawking and with her head low down to the ground she charged the kids!
Kylee, Seth and Joshi turned themselves around and took off back towards Faith and me. This crazy Fifi chased them down the sidewalk and even bit Joshi's tire!
By the time the three kids reached us, Joshi was in tears and they all suggested we just turn around and go down the other side of the street.
Well, I was not about to let a goose tell me I couldn't walk down the street!!
So, I told the kids we were just going to walk straight down that sidewalk, right past Fifi and we would be just FINE!
Meanwhile, Fifi had not taken her eyes off of us. We very determinedly walked back towards the three geese, and when we got about halfway there, she began screaming and charging us again!!
Okay, I admit it, I ran.
This Fifi meant business.
I decided we were going to have to just go out into the bike lane of the very busy street, and walk very quickly by this very scary avian menace.
We waited for traffic to clear and I grabbed Joshi's bike. He and I ran as fast as we could down the bike lane and got past Fifi to the other side.
Victory!!
I turned around to cheer with the other three and realized they were not behind me, they had gotten scared and were cowering on the sidewalk, being yelled at by a very angry Fifi!
I told the kids to just do what I had done, wait for the traffic to clear and run!
The girls made it.
Now, Seth was trapped on the other side of gooseland and Fifi looked like she really meant business.
She was on to our game, and at this point there was no guarantee that she was not going to follow him right out into traffic this time!
I decided to try and distract her by coming towards her from the other side, the safe side, which seemed to work. She quit giving Seth the bird-eye and came after me, which in turn made all the kids on the safe side scream.
Seth got out into the bike lane and made it to safety, and Fifi turned her goose tail and walked off towards the golf course.
We ended up stopping at a friend's house instead of continuing on our walk. By the time we got to our destination, the boys had morphed Fifi the goose into a five-foot vampire beast with huge fangs and a troll like voice.
Do you think they are going to need therapy?
Kristen
Monday, February 7, 2011
Productivity
It's 9:24 Monday morning, and I have already been super productive.
It was a great weekend. We had dinner with some new friends on Friday night. It was a fabulous evening of connection, time both Mike and I needed!
Saturday night was the big surprise party for my friend JoAnna. Another great opportunity for Mike and I to connect with others. We even stayed to listen to Dick Dale, surf guitarist, for a bit before heading home.
We pulled into our house that night, tired and ready to fall into bed, when I opened the back door and heard this strange beeping noise.
Hmmm.
I walked down the hallway and soon realized it was the washer. I had never heard this odd insistent beeping noise it was emitting.
I opened the laundry closet door, or tried to open it, when I realized the door to our front loader was ajar, and being held partially closed by the closet door. I reached in and tried to shut it but there were clothes spilling out and I really had to push.
I finally got the washer door closed enough to open the closet door, and that is when I realized there was water EVERYWHERE!
Apparently, the locking mechanism on our washer door decided that in the middle of a wash cycle was a good time to stop, well, locking.
So instead of going to bed we were cleaning up water. The funny thing is that the washer is still acting like it is locking, and doesn't seem to think it has a problem, so I have no idea how long this has been going on.
That was my first order of business this morning. I called those Whirlpool guys and made an appointment for Thursday afternoon. This family of 6 will have to take our chances on the locking door, because a week without laundry isn't going to work here :)
Also, this morning I sent an email to the local Magnet Arts and Tech. high school, to see if they are willing to accept a part time student. Faith is very interested in attending part time in the fall, and I would love some help with some of these subjects that aren't in my skill subset.
While all of that was happening, I was making sure all the kids were started on their assignments for the day, figuring out dinner for tonight, and answering neglected email from the weekend!
If only I can be this productive the rest of the day :)
Kristen
It was a great weekend. We had dinner with some new friends on Friday night. It was a fabulous evening of connection, time both Mike and I needed!
Saturday night was the big surprise party for my friend JoAnna. Another great opportunity for Mike and I to connect with others. We even stayed to listen to Dick Dale, surf guitarist, for a bit before heading home.
We pulled into our house that night, tired and ready to fall into bed, when I opened the back door and heard this strange beeping noise.
Hmmm.
I walked down the hallway and soon realized it was the washer. I had never heard this odd insistent beeping noise it was emitting.
I opened the laundry closet door, or tried to open it, when I realized the door to our front loader was ajar, and being held partially closed by the closet door. I reached in and tried to shut it but there were clothes spilling out and I really had to push.
I finally got the washer door closed enough to open the closet door, and that is when I realized there was water EVERYWHERE!
Apparently, the locking mechanism on our washer door decided that in the middle of a wash cycle was a good time to stop, well, locking.
So instead of going to bed we were cleaning up water. The funny thing is that the washer is still acting like it is locking, and doesn't seem to think it has a problem, so I have no idea how long this has been going on.
That was my first order of business this morning. I called those Whirlpool guys and made an appointment for Thursday afternoon. This family of 6 will have to take our chances on the locking door, because a week without laundry isn't going to work here :)
Also, this morning I sent an email to the local Magnet Arts and Tech. high school, to see if they are willing to accept a part time student. Faith is very interested in attending part time in the fall, and I would love some help with some of these subjects that aren't in my skill subset.
While all of that was happening, I was making sure all the kids were started on their assignments for the day, figuring out dinner for tonight, and answering neglected email from the weekend!
If only I can be this productive the rest of the day :)
Kristen
Friday, February 4, 2011
A Story About a Grill
I am laughing right now.
There is a lady on our little 12 house cul-de-sac who has a garage sale business.
She has garage sales EVERY single Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!
It is a tad bit irritating. There isn't a lot of parking room, on our street, and with the extra people on the street, perusing the goods, it gets really crowded.
But, this week we decided to take advantage of our crazy garage sale-ing neighbor.
We had some things in the move that were damaged beyond usability. One of those things was our grill.
When we moved, we chose a mover that said they would cover 100% of the cost of anything damaged. That wasn't totally true (but that's a different story), but in the case of the grill, they did give us what we claimed.
So, here is our dilemma, now we have a broken grill that needs to go, before Mike's wife :) will let him purchase a new one.
What to do, what to do...
That is when I came up with the brilliant plan! We would use the advantage of all the garage sale traffic, and put our grill out in the driveway with a free sign on it! After all, we just really need to get rid of it, right?
So that is exactly what we did this morning.
Several people got out of their trucks and looked at the grill then, drove away.
I was quickly realizing, we couldn't even give it away.
Then, I heard the clatter of the grill being drug away! I excitedly looked out the window, to see the garage sale neighbor, dragging the grill across the street to her garage sale!!!
She promptly removed the sign, and placed it prominently out in front.
After about 15 minutes and several people looking at it, she sold it!!
Don't know for how much, but she sold my broken grill to some poor consumer.
The good news is, now Mike can get a new grill :)
Kristen
There is a lady on our little 12 house cul-de-sac who has a garage sale business.
She has garage sales EVERY single Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!
It is a tad bit irritating. There isn't a lot of parking room, on our street, and with the extra people on the street, perusing the goods, it gets really crowded.
But, this week we decided to take advantage of our crazy garage sale-ing neighbor.
We had some things in the move that were damaged beyond usability. One of those things was our grill.
When we moved, we chose a mover that said they would cover 100% of the cost of anything damaged. That wasn't totally true (but that's a different story), but in the case of the grill, they did give us what we claimed.
So, here is our dilemma, now we have a broken grill that needs to go, before Mike's wife :) will let him purchase a new one.
What to do, what to do...
That is when I came up with the brilliant plan! We would use the advantage of all the garage sale traffic, and put our grill out in the driveway with a free sign on it! After all, we just really need to get rid of it, right?
So that is exactly what we did this morning.
Several people got out of their trucks and looked at the grill then, drove away.
I was quickly realizing, we couldn't even give it away.
Then, I heard the clatter of the grill being drug away! I excitedly looked out the window, to see the garage sale neighbor, dragging the grill across the street to her garage sale!!!
She promptly removed the sign, and placed it prominently out in front.
After about 15 minutes and several people looking at it, she sold it!!
Don't know for how much, but she sold my broken grill to some poor consumer.
The good news is, now Mike can get a new grill :)
Kristen
Monday, January 31, 2011
Maple and Merfume
I, admittedly, have some strange quirks.
One of those being I can't stand the smell of maple. I can eat it with no problem, it isn't actually the smell of maple in itself, it's more the smell of maple on skin.
I think this comes from teaching pre-school. Have you ever smelled a child who hadn't bathed in several days?
Maple.
So, when I had children, I made two vows.
One, I would bath my children, often.
And two, if they did consume maple they would quickly get a bath.
This last week I was taking the boys to choir. They got in the van, and it became obvious that one of them had over done it on the cologne. (Santa brought cologne for Christmas, crazy Santa)
I said,"Whew! Smells like one of you might have over done it a bit with the merfume" (that's what they call cologne)
Josh quietly says from the backseat,"Yeah, that was me. I was walking up the stairs and smelled maple and thought it was me, so I went in my room and sprayed on some of my merfume, maybe a little too much..."
Maple.
Faith was burning a candle in her room, which is right by the stairs, and it just happened to be a hazelnut candle which surprisingly smells a lot like maple.
My poor children.
Kristen
One of those being I can't stand the smell of maple. I can eat it with no problem, it isn't actually the smell of maple in itself, it's more the smell of maple on skin.
I think this comes from teaching pre-school. Have you ever smelled a child who hadn't bathed in several days?
Maple.
So, when I had children, I made two vows.
One, I would bath my children, often.
And two, if they did consume maple they would quickly get a bath.
This last week I was taking the boys to choir. They got in the van, and it became obvious that one of them had over done it on the cologne. (Santa brought cologne for Christmas, crazy Santa)
I said,"Whew! Smells like one of you might have over done it a bit with the merfume" (that's what they call cologne)
Josh quietly says from the backseat,"Yeah, that was me. I was walking up the stairs and smelled maple and thought it was me, so I went in my room and sprayed on some of my merfume, maybe a little too much..."
Maple.
Faith was burning a candle in her room, which is right by the stairs, and it just happened to be a hazelnut candle which surprisingly smells a lot like maple.
My poor children.
Kristen
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Kylee's Fumble
Had an interesting interaction with my Kylee Hope yesterday.
She was outside playing with her brothers and some neighbor boys when all of a sudden she came in through the back door, and walked straight up to her room.
I was sitting on the couch reading a book, and asked her if everything was alright. There was something in her demeanor that told me she was really angry and was trying to hold it all together, but she wasn't stomping, or crying, just seemed a little upset.
She very calmly said,"I am really angry and just need to go to my room and calm down."
After a short bit she came down the stairs and I called her over and asked her if she wanted to talk about it.
She sat down on the couch and began crying. Here is pretty close to what she said:
"I was outside playing football with the boys, and Seth fumbled the ball, so I told him he had to go back to where he started from and he said, no, that he could start from where he fumbled it, and then, I got really mad at him and called him a jerk, and now I feel very remorseful that I called him that name and I did it in front of our friends, and I feel terrible about how I acted." (huge tears falling)
I was speechless. She had done a fabulous job of working out her anger, separating herself and coming full circle to accepting her fault in the situation (her out of control anger) and even felt remorse (her exact words) for her outburst.
I love that her focus was no longer on the action that had made her angry. I have to admit I am guilty of this. How easy is it to try and justify our rage with whatever it was that caused it. "If they hadn't done ____ I wouldn't have ___" Instead, she recognized her actions were not justified and felt compelled to make it right.
I encouraged her to go and tell her brothers and her friends that she was sorry for her outburst. I also encouraged her to tell her brother that when he tries to change the rules in the middle of a game (what 10 year old boy doesn't?) that it frustrates her.
She's a great kids, and it is awesome to see her growing and maturing!
Kristen
She was outside playing with her brothers and some neighbor boys when all of a sudden she came in through the back door, and walked straight up to her room.
I was sitting on the couch reading a book, and asked her if everything was alright. There was something in her demeanor that told me she was really angry and was trying to hold it all together, but she wasn't stomping, or crying, just seemed a little upset.
She very calmly said,"I am really angry and just need to go to my room and calm down."
After a short bit she came down the stairs and I called her over and asked her if she wanted to talk about it.
She sat down on the couch and began crying. Here is pretty close to what she said:
"I was outside playing football with the boys, and Seth fumbled the ball, so I told him he had to go back to where he started from and he said, no, that he could start from where he fumbled it, and then, I got really mad at him and called him a jerk, and now I feel very remorseful that I called him that name and I did it in front of our friends, and I feel terrible about how I acted." (huge tears falling)
I was speechless. She had done a fabulous job of working out her anger, separating herself and coming full circle to accepting her fault in the situation (her out of control anger) and even felt remorse (her exact words) for her outburst.
I love that her focus was no longer on the action that had made her angry. I have to admit I am guilty of this. How easy is it to try and justify our rage with whatever it was that caused it. "If they hadn't done ____ I wouldn't have ___" Instead, she recognized her actions were not justified and felt compelled to make it right.
I encouraged her to go and tell her brothers and her friends that she was sorry for her outburst. I also encouraged her to tell her brother that when he tries to change the rules in the middle of a game (what 10 year old boy doesn't?) that it frustrates her.
She's a great kids, and it is awesome to see her growing and maturing!
Kristen
Jeremiah 31
For the last few days I have had a scripture constantly pop up in my head.
It's not a common verse, that is repeated often, like 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."
And until a couple of days ago, not one that I had ever thought about very much.
But it keeps popping into my head. I woke up this morning repeating Jeremiah 31 over and over.
It is really great stuff. I read it as a love letter between God and His people. It speaks of love and hope and forgiveness. It speaks of joy after pain and a new covenant with His people.
Just not sure what it is that He wants me to get, so I am reading it over and over and praying on it, and hoping God shows me what it is that I need to take from it.
Then, I thought, maybe it isn't a message for me specifically, but someone I know, so I thought I would be obedient and post this verse, maybe someone I know needs to hear it today :)
Here it is:
“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. 2 This is what the Lord says:
It's not a common verse, that is repeated often, like 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."
And until a couple of days ago, not one that I had ever thought about very much.
But it keeps popping into my head. I woke up this morning repeating Jeremiah 31 over and over.
It is really great stuff. I read it as a love letter between God and His people. It speaks of love and hope and forgiveness. It speaks of joy after pain and a new covenant with His people.
Just not sure what it is that He wants me to get, so I am reading it over and over and praying on it, and hoping God shows me what it is that I need to take from it.
Then, I thought, maybe it isn't a message for me specifically, but someone I know, so I thought I would be obedient and post this verse, maybe someone I know needs to hear it today :)
Here it is:
“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. 2 This is what the Lord says:
“Those who survive the coming destruction
will find blessings even in the barren land,
for I will give rest to the people of Israel.”
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
4 I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
you will again be happy
and dance merrily with your tambourines.
5 Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria
and eat from your own gardens there.
6 The day will come when watchmen will shout
from the hill country of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Jerusalem
to worship the Lord our God.’”
7 Now this is what the Lord says:
“Sing with joy for Israel.
Shout for the greatest of nations!
Shout out with praise and joy:
‘Save your people, O Lord,
the remnant of Israel!’
8 For I will bring them from the north
and from the distant corners of the earth.
I will not forget the blind and lame,
the expectant mothers and women in labor.
A great company will return!
9 Tears of joy will stream down their faces,
and I will lead them home with great care.
They will walk beside quiet streams
and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.
For I am Israel’s father,
and Ephraim is my oldest child.
10 “Listen to this message from the Lord,
you nations of the world;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
The Lord, who scattered his people,
will gather them and watch over them
as a shepherd does his flock.
11 For the Lord has redeemed Israel
from those too strong for them.
12 They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts—
the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil,
and the healthy flocks and herds.
Their life will be like a watered garden,
and all their sorrows will be gone.
13 The young women will dance for joy,
and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
14 The priests will enjoy abundance,
and my people will feast on my good gifts.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” 15"
This is what the Lord says:
“A cry is heard in Ramah—
deep anguish and bitter weeping.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted—
for her children are gone.”
16 But now this is what the Lord says:
“Do not weep any longer,
for I will reward you,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come back to you
from the distant land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come again to their own land.
18 I have heard Israel saying,
‘You disciplined me severely,
like a calf that needs training for the yoke.
Turn me again to you and restore me,
for you alone are the Lord my God.
19 I turned away from God,
but then I was sorry.
I kicked myself for my stupidity!
I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’
20 “Is not Israel still my son,
my darling child?” says the Lord.
“I often have to punish him,
but I still love him.
That’s why I long for him
and surely will have mercy on him.
21 Set up road signs;
put up guideposts.
Mark well the path
by which you came.
Come back again, my virgin Israel;
return to your towns here.
22 How long will you wander,
my wayward daughter?
For the Lord will cause something new to happen—
Israel will embrace her God.”
23 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say, ‘The Lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’ 24 Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness. 25 For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”
26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet.
27 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah. 28 In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!
29 “The people will no longer quote this proverb:
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’
30 All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.
31 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.
33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
35 It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day
and the moon and stars to light the night,
and who stirs the sea into roaring waves.
His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
and this is what he says:
36 “I am as likely to reject my people Israel
as I am to abolish the laws of nature!”
37 This is what the Lord says:
“Just as the heavens cannot be measured
and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored,
so I will not consider casting them away
for the evil they have done.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
38 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when all Jerusalem will be rebuilt for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39 A measuring line will be stretched out over the hill of Gareb and across to Goah. 40 And the entire area—including the graveyard and ash dump in the valley, and all the fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the Horse Gate—will be holy to the Lord. The city will never again be captured or destroyed.”
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