Blissfully Domestic: Train them up!

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Okay so you got me. How on earth could I possibly put the words "blissful" and "domestic" together? This is still a process in our household but if we train our children to do things as unto the Lord then pretty much anything can be blissful through His eyes even the domestic stuff.  Yeah, easier said than done right?  It's going to take a lot of prayer and following through that is for sure.  I have learned that being consistent is key.

Since we are in a "home improvement" transition  along with getting rid of things causing clutter, this whole concept is a challenge in our blessed little home. We are learning to be diligent in what we do have because the Lord is getting ready to entrust us with more and we want to be humbly ready. If we can apply this now it will not be so hard when the time does come for us to move on.  Clutter is the ENEMY! Ugh lol

The Lord showed me a system to encourage domestic skills all the while striving to be joyful and yes, blissful.  Life is certainly not perfect and there will be days when the blissful concept will fail but it's all about attitude and how it is approached.  Sure, there are many days I just want to throw the whole concept out the window because I get so frustrated and discouraged but the Lord has gently whispered to me: "Do I give up on you?"  Yikes, that really got my attention!  Let's not give up on our kids even when we are weary, tired, and frustrated. 

"Lord help us to be diligent in raising up our children for your glory. Help us with our attitudes and help us strive to be diligent so all of our life learning experiences can be joyful and blissful. Life is too short and too blessed to be stressed. Thank you Lord amen!"

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

I dream of.......Character Training!

Oh, this momma is ready for her hubby to come home from his business trip.  We have never been apart this long with kids before.  Wow, I have a greater respect for single moms and moms that have husbands who travel a lot.  I know my brother and I grew up watching our father travel a lot and wondering how our mom did it!  I just don't know how some moms do it on their own all the time, (I know that I am learning to lean on God's Word more and more).   My sweet girls missed their daddy so much and of course I missed him too.  The week may have been busy but thankfully, thanks to a dear friend, I was able to get away this morning and spend some quality time with another dear friend.  We took a day off from our schooling so that this could be possible.  Having breakfast on a golf course and enjoying adult conversation on such a beautiful day is just what I needed.  The girls had a great time with the sitter too. =)

Because our week was slightly off, I chose to just do character training throughout the week.  This seemed to fit as we were having issues with behavior's etc.  I made the girls act out skits on how to behave and react to situations the wrong way and then the right way.  Oh they loved this and have been striving to be better little girls.  I also have a red sheet of construction paper that I leave on the book shelf for them to grab and hold up to let me know something is bothering them with one of their sister's.  This is coming along swimmingly and has cut down on screaming, whining, tattling, etc.  If you have girls or are a girl you know how drama filled girls can be, haha!

I am currently researching a variety of character training studies/curriculum's to implement into our curriculum the next homescschool year.  I would like to do character training along with our Bible readings before doing our academics.  I am hoping this will make even a bigger difference.

What do you think of character training?  Do you think it is often overlooked?  Please share your thoughts, feelings, concerns, etc., I would love to hear from you.


Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and a mom

Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Keep my mind on higher things

The past few weeks have been well, quite frankly, a battle!  A battle in my mind and just overall emotions.  Christian moms, we will face these things from time to time and have to learn how to renew our minds daily.  Easy for me to say, right?  Hec no.  Depression has been trying to take over me but because of what I have learned growing up, it can't consume me.  The Lord is my strength and my refuge.
Now why on earth would I be battling this.   Something going on in the home? No, it's just things moms tend to face. (If you don't ever face it, please, share with me your secret, I would love to know.) Sure, there have been issues that I have been faced with that contribute to these emotions and so forth but, ugh.  I am just tired of dealing with these emotions.  I know that there are many of you moms out there that can relate.  Some days will be great and then...BOOM, SMACK, blindsided!  Lord, help me to keep my mind on higher things. If this is you just know you aren't the only one feeling these things.

Homeschooling got me down?  Sometimes, but I know it's what I am called to do and with callings sometimes comes attacks.  I understand this.  I guess my heart just needs to focus completely on Jesus.  Sometimes it can be so hard to.  Sometimes I just feel like throwing up my hands and saying, I QUIT! But that's normal sometimes even when you have a happy marriage, life, and family.  I know God won't give up on me.  It's literally a learning process.   I spoke with a few of my homeschooling friends yesterday and it was such a blessing to connect with them and share what we are going through and how the attacks are great.  Tears and hugs were present.  Thank you Lord for the wonderful ladies you have led into my life.

Lord, help us moms today.  No matter what our situations,  we need your help and can't go this journey alone.  The joy of the Lord is our strength! Help us to keep our minds on higher things.  Things of God!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Called to Homeschool!

As a new homeschooling mom I can honestly say that it has been a harder experience than I originally anticipated. The Lord began speaking to me about homeschooling over two years ago. My oldest daughter (Sweet Pea, 8) was enrolled in a public school since Kindergarten. All was going well. I was very active in her school and was on the PTA but something was brewing in my spirit, homeschooling kept popping up. I was back and forth and really unsure and very apprehensive. I prayed: 'Lord, if you are really calling me to do this, you will send the resources and help me be research what I need to do this.' The Lord did an amazing thing and resources and people just came my way in droves. God is so amazing. It first began when I homeschooled my middle daughter (Cup Cake, 5), when she was in preschool. This was an easy transition as I am a degreed and certified Child Development professional and taught preschool for years. God started me with what I was familiar with first. It was then a year later the Lord had me pull Sweet Pea out of the public school the end of her second grade year. Our youngest (Sugar Bean, 2.5), well she is potty training and a busy bundle of energy. I most likely will be starting preschool with her pretty early on as she is eager to be doing what her big sisters are doing. It's all a new challenge for me but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I will not give up, Lord help me.

I have learned that if you are not called to do this, don't. If you are meant to, you will just know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are supposed to home educate your children. Prior to my journey I talked to so many moms that homeschooled their children and thought they were 'crazy' for lack of a better word. HA! But, God gave me the desires of my heart and here I am today. There have been dark days and discouragement but the Lord has been faithful to carry me through. Honestly, I wouldn't trade this for anything. I love my children and want to raise them up in the way they should go, according to the Bible. If I am disobedient in training my children, I will be held accountable for their lives and they may end up going down the wrong path in life. I do not want this to be. I want the Lord to bless me and my family and the only way this can be achieved is if we are being obedient and diligent! The "Jewels in my crown (my sweet little girls), will indeed one day earn me heavenly jewels in my crown.' This is why I named my blog "Jewels in my Crown.' Please feel free to share your heart with me and send on over words of encouragement. We are still in the adjustment phase but coming along swimmingly. We started our homeschool journey here at Brandon M. Homeschool Academy the end of August 2011. I will share what the name of our homeschool means in a later post. I am sure you will be touched and blessed by this.

I hope you enjoy my new blog as a homeschooling mom. I just ended my personal blog: Peaceful Island Mother and felt I needed to start over fresh with a new focus and that being connecting with other homeschooling moms and families out there.

God bless you and I look forward to sharing journey. For a play by play of my weeks including crafts, etc., you can view Lindsey's Journey on homeschoolingindetroit.com. (This is a local source in my state). Enjoy!

Also, if you are looking for excellent deals on children's books and even homeschooling workbooks, foreign language, biographies, etc., check out a site I have partnered with childrensbookstore.com. To learn more about this endeavor you can view my blog in process titled "lindseyskiddiebooks.blogspot.com.'

Lindsey
Blessed to be a mom!

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net