Downline

A while back I promised a post on Downline Ministries.  I can't wait to tell you about it.

One of the most important commands in scripture is making disciples for Christ.  It is also one of the areas that seems to be the weakest in "today's church".  Downline ministries seeks to equip today's Christian with tools to be able to disciple others, teaching them about Christ, so that they in turn can go teach someone else, etc.  So it goes "down the line."  Get it?

David and I are participating in their nine-month intesive training program.  We meet every Monday night (6:30-8:30) and Wednesday morning (5:45-7:45) for two hours each time.  Also, there is teaching one Friday a month, with occasional special opportunities through out the year.  The teaching goes through the entire Bible, and also different aspects of discipleship and what it means.   It rotates teaching topics, taught by various teachers, local and national.  There is also a program for young adults/college students which is more intensive.  Many of them come from other places, and live here during the course of the class.  There is also a new on-line program for those who want to participate in this program but do not live where there is a Downline class offerred.  To enhance your learning, to bring comfort to your teaching, Downline provides foreign opportunities to teach around the globe, to all nations.

That's the program in a nutshell.  If you want more info click here.

So, how did we come about doing this?  Our church has had a heavy participation and support of Downline so we had heard about it for a few years.  We had heard how great it was, but the time hadn't been right to bite off that sort of commitment.  Plus, if we could pull of doing it together, the better.  We had also heard what a blessing and benefit it was for couples to do it together.  But we know that is not feasible for most families.  But for this homeschooling, self-employed family, with children who can stay home alone and be trusted, we felt we could make it work.  And we felt God leading us in that direction.  So, we decided the time was right.

Yes, it is a big commitment, for us and for our kids.  But, oh, is it worth it.

Having grown-up in the church, and such a great, Bible teaching church, I have had so many opportunities to hear great teaching.  But, I've never heard it in such a way.  What a unique thing to be able to hear the entire Pentatuch in order, week after week.  Seeing how it ties in together, how it ties in to the New Testament, and learning how to teach it to others.  Oh, so good. 

It makes getting up at 4:30 am worth it.  Getting out of bed is tough, but when we are sitting there listening and learning it is so worth it.

Now, we are waiting to see what God is going to do in our lives with all the stuff we are learning.  We are listening, learning, waiting and praying.

Facts

Fact one:  Dogs poop

Fact two:  Most dogs poop in a pile

Fact three:  Some dogs inherit their momma's trait of pooping in a line. 

Fact four:  The above facts together equals poop in a line around our yard.

Fact five:  It is November.

Fact six:  It is no longer October.  Hallelujah!

Fact seven:  Braces hurt.

Fact eight:  When braces make your kids hurt, it makes you hurt.

Fact nine:  I like sleep.

Fact ten:  I would rather sleep than be responsible.

Fact eleven: I think I will call for a happy medium, do not sleep, but do not be responsible while I watch a football game.

Fact twelve:  I am not sure I can say "Roll T---."

That is all.

Thankfulness

I realize that alot of people will be doing Thanksgiving type posts for the month of November, and I hadn't really planned on it.  But, at this particular moment in time, I wanted to savor the feeling of thankfulness that I have.  It's not always there, you know. 

I have been learning alot lately about the Israelites.  Alot.  And it isn't always a pretty picture.  But, when God moved, they made stones of remembrance, to remember what God has done.  To teach the generations to come the faithfulness of what God has done. 

So, consider this what you will.  A typical November thanksgiving post.  A moment in this day when I am able to say thanks.   A stone of remembrance that God is good.  All the time.

1.  I am truly thankful that October is over.  It is always bad.  For multiple reasons.  David's work load increases about 300 fold.  The newness of school wears off and the daily grind sets in.  Whatever the reason, it is hard.  I have come to expect it.  But, yay!!  November is here!!

2.  I am so very thankful that stomach bugs do not have to be very contagious.  I had another stomach bug that came close to the epic stomach bug I had last summer.  It wasn't fun.  It wasn't pretty.  But, as I traisped back and forth to the bathroom in delirium in the middle of the night, looking at the tile floor thinking it would make a marvelous bed, I remembered that I made it through the last one.  I lived to tell about it.  I can survive this one.  And I did.  And no one else caught it.  Hallelujah!

3.  I am thankful for my children who managed the home without me during my days of near death.  And for my mom who helped out in so many ways as well.  If you will note, it was the last week of October that I contracted this vile thing.  October is not a fun month around here.  David had to leave me to work.  But the kids did great.  Bringing me things like tylenol while wearing a face mask.  Checking on me while trying not to touch the door.  It was pretty funny.

4.  I am thankful for a husband who loves me and supports me in many ways and is pretty insistent that I not martyr myself.  So after last week, I decided a motherhood of martyrdom was not for me.  I called in help.  At least for a while, I will have cleaning help.  I just. Can't. Do. It. All.  Some can.  But not me. 

5.  Because of the last statement, I can sit her in thankfulness, that all my papers are graded.  The house is germ free, and is now getting mold and dust free.  My phone has been updated on the computer.  And I am so thankful for the above, I am not even concerned that I lost all of my contacts.  Another week, that would have probably sent me over the top.  But not today.

And I want to remember it.  Savor it.  Create a stone of remembrance.

The leaves are beautiful.  The sky is clear.  There is church tonite.  My family is well.  School is done for the day.

Bliss.

A Day in the Life

For memory's sake and just for fun I though I would blog about a day in the life of our home. Not always terribly exciting, but I always find it fun to read about other mom's days, so here it goes.

Alarm goes off at 5:30 and I terribly struggle to get going. A 30 second check of email on my phone, then it is to Jesus Calling. After that I take to reviewing my Downline notes (the 5 categories of the Bible - Anticipation, Manifestation, Proclamation, Explanation, Consummation), then another breakdown of the Bible (creation, patriarchs, exodus, conquests, judges, kingdoms,exile, return, silence). Towards the end of my time, Katie came in to use the bathroom because the hall bath was stopped up. I make a mental note and sigh deeply inwardly.

Up to make bed and put in contacts, all the while sensing I am not in the right mood.

I check messages to see if it just so happened that someone had tickets to tonites football game, but realizing as tired as I am that probably wouldn't be a good idea. (Being a grown-up ain't always fun.)

Katie decides she is willing to wait on blueberry muffins for breakfast, so I put those in while she goes outside to visit Bear. I look several times at the new hole he has dug, wondering when I'll get to that. I step several times over the cardboard boxes needing to be put in recycle box. Katie is now asking to play with play doh, then on my phone, then on the computer. It isn't quite 7:00 yet. I tell her no to all of the above then she proceeds to throw a fit. She goes to her room. I make our list on the board of what to do today, wonder where Sara Beth is (her ipod battery died, so her alarm didn't go off), check on Jake who is doing his quiet time and required reading in bed before he gets up. Katie is out of her room, then proceeds to throw another fit about why she can't play and has to do chores, etc first. Back to her room she goes. It is now 7:00.

As I am starting a load of towels, David calls- in response to my text moments earlier asking for prayer today. We talk about things to do to make our days simpler. Our labor day weekend will be spent getting life in order (purging, clothes shopping, cleaning, meal planning, etc). As I get off the phone with him, and I am finishing starting the load of towels, Sara Beth comes down with a science question about seasons and times in different hemispheres. I tell her my brain isn't in school mode yet, we'll get to it in a big. It's only 7:20.
The kids eat breakfast, I look out the window again at the new hole and stuff strewn all over, and begin grading schoolwork from yesterday. They finish and I make my coffee, grab my book, and eat the leftovers from breakfast. My 10 minutes before my day really starts. As soon as I take my first sip, Jake comes to tell me the toilet is stopped up. Oh, yeah. I decide it can wait. I enjoy my 10 minutes immensely. Start dishwasher, keep kids on task, say no to bringing Bear inside, clarify time the Algebra tutor (ie Grandma) will be here, get new toothpaste for Jake which he is thrilled about because it has a cool top, unstop toilet, notice dirty toilet mentally thankful that tomorrow is bathroom day, sigh as I continue to notice dirt and clutter everywhere. Yes, I am tired. That usually happens when I am tired.

I decide that this day needs remembering, for whatever reason. 
I'm back for another update- Grandma, the Algebra tutor, arrives, I start the dryer, then I cuddle on the couch for reading and school with Katie-bug. We have fun giggling at Ramona being afraid of not being noticed as the "baddest witch ever", being pleased as Franklin includes his friends in his secret club, and empathize with Imogene and her antlers. Then we dive in to learning about the Jews and the Masada. (Yeah, I didn't know much about that either). She then read to me and she went off to finish her school work. I chatted with Tutor Grandma as we talked calendars. We finally let Bear in and gave him the plastic muffin cup container to entertain himself. Checked on towels, and the needed another round of drying.

It was then 10, time that I get together with the two big kids to go over, teach, explain, etc. Today was an "off" day, but double checked to make sure no one had any questions. Bear not cooperating in kitchen, so to the kennel he goes with treats. Katie asked to play a game, and for the first time since school started three weeks ago I saw a moment "free" so I said yes. We played Creationary, while Sara Beth layed on the floor by us doig her grammer, listening to Bear snore. Jake jumped into the game, I left to grade papers. Grabbed a snack and began grading. Done.
Although there are plenty of things to do (more than this momma can get done), things at the moment don't feel as pressing as they did at 7 this morning. I can tell that my loved ones are praying.

Now, since I have to be in the public this afternoon, to the shower I must go.

In my shower, I was keeping an eye on our shower head which has been sporadically spraying the ceiling.  It shoots out everywhere (it is obviously broken) and we have noticed it hitting the ceiling some.  As I look up to check on it, water gets in my eye and messes up my contact.  I can't do anything about it cause my hands are covered in conditioner.  It works itself back finally. 

I re-enter life in the rest of the house.  The kids are practicing the songs they will have to sing for drama class today.  The picked songs, or not picked songs, sure point out the personality of my kds.  Only Katie gave me a true rehearsal.  Time for lunch.  Bear goes and we fix gourmet corn dogs with veggies and fruit.  I go over the strict instructions for the afternoon before we go our separate ways for rest and reading. 

Ahh, the bliss.  I lay down on the couch where it is peaceful and I get a bit of reading in.  (By the way, this is a mandatory part of our day.....for me.)  At 1:30, it's hustle to get swim stuff together, finish a game, get a snack and get out the door.  I grab some various things to work on while the kids are in class and practice, and remember to print out a menu planner before heading out the door. 

Drop kids off at drama, then head to the bookstore.  This is now my weekly one hour of sanity.  Ooh, and I discovered a new drink- white chocolate mocha frapp.  Yumm.  Read some magazines for fun and review my lesson plan book.  Head to get kids.  Kids drama running late.  Rush home to let out Bear (this seems to be a running theme here, doesn't it) and have kids change.  Rush out to swim.  Hit every stinking red light but made it only a couple of minutes late.  Sweat to death in aquatic center, but menu plan, clean out emails, and read for about 10 min.  Battle rush hour traffic home.

David beat me home, so he had veggies started and oven on.  I pop fish in the oven, start noodles boiling and fix a quick lettuce-and-cheese-only salad for those who want it.  David works on sprinklers, one of which was stopped up with a caterpillars nest.  (That's not something you say everyday).  We sit down to eat with very loud children, who for some reason find dinner-prep time and just sitting down time the best time to launch into long stories of great importance.

Dinner is conquered, kitchen cleaned.  For our after dinner entertainment, I let Bear in the living room.  He is a wild maniac.  Until I bring out treats and begin training.  He then becomes the family dog we dream of.   Of course, I am occasionally checking the score of the football game (currently 24-0, of course the Dawgs are winning).   Because we are watering the yard, Bear has to go out on a leash (boy this is getting old).  I wrestle and overtake put the leash on and he manages to do his business in a very timely manner.

Get two kids tucked in, plop with laptop in lap, of course checking score.  I am getting ready to rub David's back, as it is sore from all of his tractor riding. 

Very soon, we are headed to bed.  David and I have be somewhere at 6 in the morning. Yes you read that correctly.  Be there at 6.  That is another post that I can't wait to tell you about. 

So, a little back rubbing to work out the kinks and maybe a little book reading and it is to bed I go. Just counting the hours till I get to do it all over again.

Happy Saturday Morning????

 

Yes, you are right.  Your are looking at the bottom rack of my dishwasher.  Sitting on my kitchen floor.  Full of dirty dishes.  Yay. 

Happy Saturday morning.

It all started with David and I laying in bed a little late catching up.  We finished our first week of school.  He was gone for a couple of days, having just returned the night before.  We were discussing  what life held, how the next several months were going to look. Etc.   Then we head to the kitchen to fix breakfast.

I noticed that the floor looked a little warped along some of the boards.  I explained to David that yesterday I noticed a little water on the floor, but it was right after Katie had been working on her tea party/restaurant project.   I asked her if she had spilled some water and she said yes, so I assumed that's what it was.  But I wasn't 100% convinced.  Then life went on.

It was right in front of the dishwasher, so as we cooked breakfast, David and I discussed that this was probably the problem.  (that sounds funny).   He even glanced under the sink to rule that out.  At that moment I was so thankful that I had forgotten to run the dishwasher last night.  We would have woken up to a soggy floor.  So proud of myself for thinking ahead, I filled up one side of the sink with soapy water to be prepared for washing dishes and grabbed some paper plates.  As we finished breakfast, David asked me to be thinking of what today needed to hold to be prepared for next week (more on that later).  We can live without a dishwasher, so it didn't seem pressing at the time.

After  breakfast, I noticed more puddles on the floor.  Hmmm, that's weird.  Upon further investigation, we discovered that it was the sink.  Pouring out whenever the water was turned on. (Are you remembering that full sink of soapy water I was so proud of?)  He finds the leak in the faucet.  At least it is something he can fix. 

So now,  it is 10:45.  My dishwasher has been pulled out to dry out from underneath it.  Towels have been used to sop up water.  Fans are everywhere to dry up the water.  (Did I mention that the water seeped under the floors half way across my kitchen?)  We are headed to Lowe's to get replacement faucet.  We think.  As I type, he is finding another leak.  Maybe.  One thing is leading to another so who knows how this will end up. 

But for now, here is how things stand:

We get to eat out for lunch.  See my kitchen counter.  (Just for the record, I am not desperate enough to wash dishes in the tub yet)

David has shut off the water main.  It didn't shut off completely. 

He sure is having fun using his pipe wrench.  That is about all the fun he is having at the moment.

Bear has to stay in his kennel.  Oh, but wait.  Couldn't I let him lick the dirty dishes?  That would be an idea.  Make him feel like a productive member of the family.  In addition to his rodent killing.

This is our Saturday.  It looks like we may get to start our week off without a functioning kitchen.  Our second week of school.  Our first week with everything on the schedule. 

God knows.  He planned that.  Making us more dependent on Him.

That does make for a Happy Saturday morning.  (Now, if I can only keep that perspective!)

It's Addicting

Dates with my hubby?  Without a doubt

Hugs from my kids?  Can change a day

Chocolate? Absolutely

Teenagers?  They make me laugh

Yes, I confess.  I am addicted to teenagers.   You will remember from previous posts that we help out with our junior high kids at church.  And came about it in an interesting way. (You can read about it right here.) 

Well, we are still hanging in there with them.  And this was also part of our crazy busy summer.  One week in particular.  My addiction to them is the only reason why I would wake up early, tote them all over our great ctiy, and work outside with them in the worst heat this city has seen in a long time. 

Instead of going away to serve other communities, our group stays here for our "missions trip".  The kids stay at our church all week, dividing up into various groups to serve several different ministries throughout our city.  It has been a great way to get these kids aware of the world around them, just down the road.

Since we have a child old enough to be on this trip, we shipped her off to the church for a week.  But, never fear, she got to see me and her siblings all week.  She felt blessed, I'm sure. :)  Really, it was only for a few minutes each morning, and maybe a hug in the afternoon if she was lucky.

For most of the week, Jake, Katie, and I woke up at the crack of dawn, packed some lunches and were at the church by 7:45 am.  From there, we heard a devotional before loading up our van as full as it could get and heading to a local ministry to put on a vacation Bible school.  Jake helped and Katie got to participate, and say Bible verses for candy.   After lunch, we loaded up and went to another ministry to do yard and maintenance work.   I sort of floated a bit, having done this trip before, so a couple of days I dropped those two off (with a car full of teenagers),  left them there (yes, there were adults too),
and went to help out somewhere else.

 . 

Oh, yes.  That was the week that the heat index was 121.  Nice.

But I loved every minute of it.

Why?  Cause they are really great kids, my three included.   They make me laugh, make me worry, make my think I am going to pull my hair out if they leave their garbage on the table one more time, make me wonder if they will ever make it out the other side.  They yell "Moose" randomly at each other, hit each other with pool noodles, love to be crazy, love to eat, taught me how to play buck-buck, force me to stay sleep deprived whenever I am with them for more than a few hours. 

But most of all - they need to know they are loved - by God and by those around them. 

 That's what it's all about. 

Making relationships to bring them closer to Christ. 

 That's what keeps me coming back.

I'm addicted.

Swimmers...Take Your Mark

Ever since the summer of '05, our kiddos have been part of a summer league swim team.  With the exception of the summer of '09, that is what makes up the bulk of our summer.  Practices a couple of times each week, meets on Thursday nights, with city-wide championship on a hot July Saturday.

In years past, it worked wonderfully.  We would be up and out the door by 7:30 for 8 swim practice.  When practice was over, we would stay and hang out at the pool, home by lunch.  Lovely. 

As they have gotten older, they are busier, and we are split into two practices.  Yes, the are conveniently back to back, but everyone still has to get up and there by 8.  There is also the option of evening practice as well.. Now that they are older and can stay up later, we did this option much more as a whole family this year.  David and I would get some time with the kids, and some excercise of our own. 

This year, each of our kiddos was the youngest in their age group.  But they didn't let that get them down.  They worked hard and swam so super well.  They each placed in at least one individual event at the city championship!  And all strokes were legal!!  Way to go Pritchards!!

And our team won the city championship in our division!!  Yay, Bluefins!!

The only thing different about this year's swim season- This mom didn't take any pictures.  Sigh.  Katie took this one of herself at practice one day.  The rest is a taste of what it was like from last year. :)