PEACE

Just STOP it! How come when we know we are doing something wrong or need to change the way we are doing something, it seems so hard to just do? Just stop or even just start doing the right thing? Today in church the message was so on que with what I have been thinking, God seems to do that to me quite often =o) I sit here and say time and time again that I need to eat better, work out more, run frequently, clean, craft...the list goes on and on. I like to think that someone out there has it all together, but really if we are all honest we never do because we are always going to want more, try to do better, keep on making these goals and we may reach them but then we can reach further and do more, be more. Changing this or that to be happier with ourselves. Whatever.No where in the Bible does it say to be happy. No he calls us to live in peace, full of joy at all times, in a state of thansgiving even through the difficult things in life. If we are in fellowship with the Lord we have courage to face these desires and so much more with the right heart. But instead of being in a sweet friendship fellowshipping with the Lord we add our own agenda or own twisting of the scripture legalizim or we become so silly to think that God loves us no matter what and we can live however we choose without facing His judgement. Nope not at all. We will be held accountable for our actions! I desire to be the real deal all the time not this great pretend person to impress this world, because I am not of this world. It is no one but God's place to judge anyone! We are so thirsty sometimes, searching for the next thing to fill in the spot or be focused on, it's sad that sometimes we don't realize what the true desire, true emptyness, the thirst really is...a longing for relationship with Him. JESUS. And if we are in relationship with Him putting him before all else; He may be asking us to dive deeper, get closer, love Him more. It's not a relation that is ok with midioker or stagnation! There is always more! Knowing Jesus better and better requires living in the truth! Seeing your sins for what they are- SIN! Seeing that you need Him and He wants you to draw into Him. Without Him in our lives, its's easy to get caught up in the more of it all, intead of the peace and joy that he offers us, through His sacrifice. I choose to focus on Him, instead of my own fleshly desires. I choose to focus on Him rather than filling a void He is meant to fill. I choose to please Him instead of this world. I choose His peace!

These Kinda Days

Wow! Between ladies' bunko night last night and the fun day today, it's been a blast in the past 24 hours. And once I go into detail I think wow, I managed to see all of the blessings even in the crazy that was today. Last night I left the kids and dh building the fort, it was so sweet. I made home-made red pepper hummus= yummy! Then went and had a blast playing bunko with 19 other women from the church! Then this morning I was woken up by our sweet Goofy, who thinks himself to be a rooster. We played and laughed a bit (I took some mind pictures, to hold close). After a bit decided to go wake Spazzy, well she didn't like it at all, it even made her cry. Oops! She was wanting to sleep in but we had busy day ahead so decided to make her laugh, she did and then I cried...she's growing up too fast (click, click, more mind pics). She held me, wiped away her momma's bitter sweet, thankful tears. We got ready and had a great trip over to have breakfast with Nanny & Poppy, talking & praying for our day and joking all the way. I love these easy laid back kinda days! Nanny invited Goofy to stay after breakfast and hang out with them...he said "no I don't want Poppy to break both of my legs!" LOL!! People should watch how they joke and play with little people-hilarious! Underneath it all, he really just likes being with his momma, but don't let him know that. After breakfast we went to a livestock auction, a cattle auction really...interesting! Spazzy and I were the one gals for most of the bit we were there, then one more came in. We decided to head out to the oldest town in TN (Jonesbourough) to get our trampoline. We had to help take it apart, working together as a team, Goofy even carried the big net poles and Spazzy sang and wasn't too bossy. Headed home after picking up our new mailbox and barrowed saw. Came home and put together our new trampoline (more mp= mind pics), found some new evidence of what spring has instore, kids saw first hand how determined (maybe a tad stubborn) momma is and enjoyed a great sunset. It was a smile on my heart all day kinda day. So thankful for these kinda days!

Tennessee! We have moved.

We are loving it here in Tennessee! We miss our dear friends, family and of corse the Loving Hut in Texas but other than that and according to Adrain horrible satellite internet...we are home and loving it!

We have signed the kids up for softball and t-ball, so ready for that! Spazzy goes to basketball once a week and we managed to find a co-op that welcomed us mid-school year. Spazzy made a great friend and Goofy makes a friend or two everywhere he goes.

The weather has been a bit humorous! Rain one day, a couple of 55-60 degree days, then snow and cold, then sunny and 60 again and some rain. CRAZY!

The kids love being outside more than ever! We decided to get a family membership to our favorite mountain and they get to go to their summer camp where they will learn hiking, animals and of corse Spazzy will get to do the zip line and ropes corse! Can't wait for the spring and gardening and all the fun to come.

Dear hubby loves his job and his time off spending more time with us!

We are so thankful for His blessing and love in bringing us here, back home.

My Crazy Child-full Busy Life

I love children! I have at times been guilty of denying the very blessing that God has put in my life; to minister to children. It is crazy and overwhelming at times but I know that this is my gift from Him. This natural, no choosing, happy, messy, fun, crazy, busy blessing of caring for children and homeschooling- ministering to the wonderful, wide-eyed, ready to learn sweet children that He brings to me. It's hard at times but well worth it! At times there are friends that criticize instead of encourage and ouch it stings, but then the joy resumes and all of the negative fades to nothing but unwarranted nonsense. I am so thankful for the blessing of children, not just my own but relative's, friend's and stranger's children. It's amusing to me that the children can even sense this love and care from me, because of Him, before I even share with them. Children can feel true acceptance and grace toward them, that is my thought. Looking back over my life and the caring for children and loving to lead children, I can truly say that I have never had a child that rubbed me or I rubbed the wrong way. Children are a blessing! Even if they have trials and struggles that boggle our minds.

 This summer we have had and are blessed by our crazy busy fun home. We really enjoy having extra friends to play with. At times I do count down the minutes until nap time and I enjoy every second of quite. But, I also find joy in the crazy loud fun throughout the day. The laughter and even the tears are so wonderful and loved.

   
Now more than ever I see a natural, patient, tender love resounding in my daughter and son for other children. We have been blessed with children to play, learn and just do life with. As we home school this is part of our school; to learn to share, have compassion, apologize, forgive and worship together. We as a family love and welcome children. No matter shape, size, age, issues...we are growing and learning together and we are so thankful for these sweet blessings.

Love

I love him! My dear husband! The Lord had a plan for us from the very beginning, when I first was introduced to him in 9th grade, 15 years old. Wow! We did not become us until I was 17 but I remember the day I met him. I remember thinking "he's cute but taken and he thinks he is way too cool", but don't we all in high school? Funny!

So, we've grown up together and grown together in so many ways, it's so awesome! He loves me so madly, so deeply; it comes from within his soul. Many people have told us that they can see it in our eyes and feel it when we are together. I love this love of our's, I'm so satisfied and secure in this seemingly unconditional love we share. It is priceless, irreplacable and fragile but if we care for it and continue to grow in it with one another and with God in the center we will enjoy and be blessed with this, each other forever.

Working Homeschool Momma



Spazzy wearing my uniform



I have had the blessing of being home for over 4 years with my kiddos completely focused on them and I have enjoyed every moment. Now I am working as a server and loving every moment of it. We, as a family made the decision that I should work part time to help our family financially. Our goal is to get out of debt, help loved ones and save more.

It's been about 2 weeks, so this is sort of my review. While in training I was talking to another mom about homeschool and she was so freaked that I am a mom, a teacher and server part time. It's not too much! It was prayed over, thought about and we had a family meeting before the choice was made. He does not give us more than we can handle!

As a family everyone has stepped up more with cleaning and upkeep of our home. DH is learning to cook. Every family looks different but this is it for us for right now. We are the Burns family aand we work together to help our family reach our goals and give God all the glory for all that He provides. This is yet another life lesson for my littles and a good, that sometimes mom must make sacrifices also to help provide for the family. It's definately what I dreamed but I do love it and I choose joy not worry. We are still capable of getting our chores and school work done and be involved in co-ops and other homeschool activities. It's a change but sometimes He requies change to bring growth. This is a new fun journey that we are embrassing!!!! 

Raising My Child in HIS Glory!

Very often I am viewed as a stern parent, that does not allow her children to be exposed to much. This is very amuzing to me because we do expose our children, but at the same time we do apply scripture and our values to the things that we allow. If our children question the choices and boundaries that we set forth, we will then talk further as to why they are drawn to it and what makes it good or bad according to godliness, not the word standards of what's ok, acceptable or popular.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

If we are to think and guide our children to think on such things that are excellent and praiseworthy, why would I allow my children to watch tv or movies that are not,  listen to music that is not to the glory of God, go places that are not or even hang out with people that are not.

This may sound a little crazy but children tend to think and act out things that they see on tv or movies, so therefor we do not allow them to view things that we may have issues with them reacting, saying or using  in play. If our Spazzy gal who is 9 stays the night at a friend's or even grandma's and something is on the tv that does not line up with what she has been taught, she will and has called us to ask permission or even asked to do something else while they watched or even asked them to turn it off. It has been a shock, joy and blessing because we never instructed her to do this, she just stands firm on our values. Such a JOY!

The music is the same way, so much music is violent, sexually driven or just about sinning and making a joke about it, saying it's ok or that's just who I am. YUCK!  I, myself as an adult, do not even care to listen to that, it's just all too usless and a waste of time. Our family as a whole really only listens to Christian music, any kind, we like classics, hymns, rock, alternative, pop and country. There is just as many choices all across Christian music just like secular music. When our children are at a friend's they usually tell the friend or the parent I am not allowed to listen to this. Love it! I desire for my children to understand and obey our boundaries no matter where they are or who they are with. If there is too much of an issue I may choose to only allow the friend over instead of allowing my child to constantly feel uncomfortable.

If our children are constantly mislead or hurt by a certain friend, there will be a boundary placed there with that friend. At this time my children are still learning and growing, so they can only be so strong and I am aware of that, therefor I am very involved in thier frindships and choices of whom to pal around with. We desire to be present  in all choices as long as they live in our home and are our children. We have an open door policy, meaning 'talk to us' about anything and everything, there will not be judgement or descipline, but theit will be encouragement. Through sharing now, we pray that they will continue to share and come to us as adults, after they leave home.

Those that we love and hang around do make an influence on our lives but likewise I am aware and I do allow my children to be the light to others as long a they are not be negatively influenced. Also, we stand firm on making our children be best friends because they will have each other longer than any friend, (knowledge from experience). So, if they are fighting and not able to play together that is automatic no friend until we see improvement.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

We know that our children are blessings from the Lord and we honor Him by rasing our children in the way that He instructs and revels to us through His Word-the BIBLE. We do not allow the world or other people to make choices for us, I will listen to others but the moment what they are saying does not aline with scripture, it all becomes useless. He is my Father and I must obey Him and not cater to my childrens whims, the world or others. We do mess up from time to time or get too lax but if they are aware or notice, we sit them down and talk to them about it, apologize, repent and pray together.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Ok, so now that I've gone through all of that, there is a main and popular verse that everyone knows but we base everything on this verse...

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

This is what we desire, for our children to never depart from what we have tought them, from God, from the Bible, but if they do we desire to give them godliness to turn back to.

What do we hope they will return to as rebeling teens or even experienced adults?

We desire for them to turn back to godly principles, morals and boundaries, return to GOD! We pray daily that they never turn away or rebel, but we know that it is a possiblity, therefor we know it is our responsiblity to give them a good foundation to stand firm on in GOD or return to once they've rebeled.

We are so blessed and thankful beyond measure for our children, the least we can do is raise them in the way that He says and instructs.

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