REDEMPTION!! For A New Year

    As I look back over this past year of my life, things like using my time wisely, getting closer to God, focusing on my family, fellowshipping, ministry and my work at home business, I am not satisfied at all with myself in doing my very best. After all, isn't what we do and what we make of life supposed to be all for Him? Yes it is! I ask myself... Why was I so selfish? Why did I think I had all the right answers, made the right decisions and exactly how has my life prospered?

THE MEANING BEHIND THE "12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" SONG

My Dear sweet friend over at The Homeschool Lounge posted "The Meaning Behind The 12 Days of Christmas Song" a few days ago and after receiving permission, I wanted to share it with all of you.

THE MEANING BEHIND "THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" SONG

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of

Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out
of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?


This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. 

Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

    







     Christmas is one of my favorite holidays - Easter is the other. It is the time of year when everyones hearts grow softer and kinder, they are more giving and their spirit is joyful. 


     Although this will be a very small gift giving Christmas, it will be more focused on the real reason we celebrate Christmas... The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have already begun unit studies on Joseph and Mary, then we'll move onto studying the town of Bethlehem, the Wise men, and finally the birth of Jesus.


     We will be touring the LIVE re-inactment of the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born here in Santa Clara. You can watch it below.









We will also be baking a lot of cookies, cakes, making jars of Christmas Blessings, a huge Gingerbread House, tree ornaments and making some family gifts as well. We'll be watching many movies, singing Christmas Carols and Hymns. Our oldest son, his wife and our grandson will be here from out of town this year and so will one of our daughters although I wish "M" could be here too.


We have enjoyed focusing more on Jesus this year and it really puts the Christmas Season in perspective. Not to mention our stress levels are way down. I for one can do without all of the commercialism of Christmas. We all need to get back to the true meaning of what Christmas is, so for our family... it begins this year. Well, that is what our Christmas will entail so I am so looking forward to Christmas this year.


So I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Technical Difficulties

I would like to apologize to everyone for not posting for a few weeks. I have had some problems with my blog site that were out of my control. I have been trying to get back up for several weeks now and finally I am back up and running, Halleluja! I will begin posting again on 12/14/09 and I look forward to writing again. Thank you for your patience.

Tammy

An Era Coming To A Close

     I am dedicating this post to my second to the youngest son Mr. Football. An era is coming to a close with you, our second to the youngest son.

     Yesterday he played his last game of football as a high schooler. His last senior game was yesterday and they went out with a loss. But that isn't what made it so sad and heartbreaking. What did make it sad and heartbreaking is the fact that seventeen years and ten months ago, a beautiful BIG, blonde haired baby boy was placed in my arms for the very first time. He came into this world wieghing in at nine pounds eleven ounzes and was twenty one and a half inches long. In June of 2010 he will graduate High School. And unless a miracle happens, that was the last football game he will ever play and the last football game I will ever get to watch him play.
                             

     

                                                                                                                 
      The above picture is of M and I after he gave me flowers before the game started yesterday. I was beginning to get tears in my eyes trying to keep my sobs at bey. M was shaking a bit and I could see tears well up in his eyes as he handed me the flowers because we both understood what that moment meant. After photo's were taken we gave each other a kiss and I wished him a great game. We turned our backs to one another, M going back onto the field and, my husband and I along with all the other Senior players parents, walked off the field and headed up to our seats in the bleachers. Tears continued to fill my eyes as we sat down in our seats and waited a few moments for the game to begin.

     M made some really good defensive plays throughout the game and played every play except for two. He made an interception on one play, caused a fumble for another (which was a good thing). Tackled a receiver on a kick off down at thier five yard line, leaving no chance for the other team to return that kick down the field. In this next picture the QB overthrew the pass to M but you can see he almost had the catch.

And this next one where he did make the catch and close to a first down.

                     

This next one is the tackle that caused the fumble.

                     

And finally, I just really like this picture.

                     

     M, you have had a good four years but I know you and I both will miss football season the most. God has Blessed and trusted your father and I to love, protect, encourage, teach, and train you up in the eyes of the Lord. But, it was the Lord, who already knew before you were even born, who you would be and what type of man you would become. And I am so thankful and grateful He chose us to be your earthly mother and father. And I can hardly wait to see the man God is molding you into.

We love you M and pray nothing but the best for you!

Love, Mom

                                      

                                             

                                      
      

Changing Seasons

God is such a wonderful craftsman in everything and I just want to touch on one of His great pieces of craftsmanship today and that is, the seasons. Seasons on earth and seasons of "man".

New Addition To The Family Part 2

In part one of "New Addition To The Family", I said that I would update you with pictures of our new little guy. So today I was able to take about five minutes to take a few snapshots of him, and oh by the way, my youngest son got to name him and he decided on "Duke".

                                    This is Duke

                               Isn't he a little cutie

He is a very playful and quiet little boy, unlike our six year old girl, Nina. Nina barks at every little noise and..... everyone that comes up the walk or in the door (sigh). No... Duke gets this look on his face when he hears and sees Nina as she begins to wail at the door like, "What are you barking at"? When he figures out why she is barking, he just turns around and walks off. It's really quite entertaining.

He's doing very well with potty training, and learning new commands. However, he is having a little difficulty with teething. A few things our new little pup like teething on is the dining chairs (made of maple), the coffee table (solid oak), and not my husbands or sons slippers but... MINE! Oh well, I guess mine just smell and taste better, lol.

Our little guy still has a few nightmares (yelping cries) when he sleeps, but those are starting to slowly subside. It makes me wonder how he was treated by his former owner before he/she just left him in that shopping cart all alone and... how long was he in it before my sons friend's sister found him. Thank God that is in the past for our new little guy.

I must say, he is adjusting extremely fast and bonding with all of us very well.

                               

For My Daughter "M"

I have a self adopted daughter who I will call "M", she has just lost her precious mother to cancer.

"M" Honey, this poem is for you and everyone who has known and loved your mom, and I hope this poem gives you some peace and comfort in trying to cope with, and handle this devastating time.

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me,

for now I'm free.

I'm following the path

God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seems all to brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Linda Jo Jackson

"M" I pray that the poem gives you some comfort. I love you and we are here for you when ever you need us. I will see you very soon but I am here until I do.

And remember... "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy"

                                               Psalm 145:8

A New Addition To Our Family

Well... we have a new addition to our family in the form of a nine week old baby boy puppy. My son's friends sister found a puppy in a shopping cart at a local grocery stores parking lot. He was curled up with his little tail between his legs whimpering. She took him home and has been taking care of him since, she began bonding with him and knowing all along that her apartment complex does not allow dogs, she asked her friends if they wanted a puppy. Needless to say no one did. There was no way she would take him to the humane society, so she asked her brother to help her find a home for him.

Now, my husband knows that I cannot turn any animal away and as soon as he saw this pup come through the door, it was not leaving. He gave me "the look" and I gave him my very best smile and batted my eyes at him and then... viola! the pup became our newest addition.

We haven't named him yet because I want to see more of his personality so that his name will be well suited for him. I will let you know what we name him in a few days and will also put his picture up.

Homeschooling Video... A New Generation in Education

Although homeschooling is not a new concept, it is however, a choice parents are turning to in the 21st century. What with the economical downturn, the poor decision making of the legislators, the closing of schools, the over crowding of classrooms due to funding cuts, the ever increasing peer pressure and bullying, and the ever so present cutting of sports and art programs in our public schools it's no wonder more and more parents are looking for more options in getting a better education for thier children. And if it means for them to teach thier own children or enroll them in a charter or independent study program (ISP), then that is a sacrifice they are willing to make.

I made that decision close to five years ago to the dismay of my husband. At that time my youngest son was being promoted from year to year struggling more and more each promoted year when in fact, he should have not been promoted from first grade. I begged the school to hold him back because I felt he was not ready for second grade, he struggled with math, writing, and reading and comprehesion. The teacher and the principal told me that "he will do just fine next year" if I just kept reviewing all the materials that were taught that year. I told them that the class schedules were to regimented and not enough time was being spent on any one subject, that he couldn't keep up and the change from one subject to the next was too fast. They said he would be fine. Well... it turns out that no matter how much I would help him with his homework as each year passed, and melt down after melt down (from his frustation), it didn't help through the years. About half way through sixth grade, I had had enough of the excuses from the school and school district, and my sons frustration, melt downs and ever so rapid decline in self esteem, I pulled him out of the public school system and began to homeschool him. We began our homeschooling journey very slow. The last half of his sixth grade year when I pulled him out, I let him just "deschool" and as he was deschooling I began researching curriculum, signed up for a homeschool support group, talked to other new and seasoned homeschool moms and thier children so that my son and I could get a better picture of what it would be like and what to expect in the fall when we would begin our journey. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My son has done extremely well with his homeschooling journey and is becoming an intelligent, smart, decent and enthusiastic young man. I am very proud of him.

I have added an enlightening homeschool video below that consists of parent and children interviews on why and what homeschooling has done and meant for them. It was made at a homeschool convention in California.

Let Them Go... Watch them Blossom

They enter the classroom like cattle being herded into a corral. They take out thier books, pencils and paper in unison. I'm talking about sending our children to public school... don't get me wrong, public school is fine for some children but can also be harmful to others.

Take for instance my youngest son, he was just not wired for public school. He is way to active to sit in a chair for any length of time, he does not retain information from a book and he fidgets during lectures. No, he is much better off in a more relaxed and open environment.

When he was in grade school the confinement and regimented schedule had him having melt downs on a daily basis. I would receive phone calls from the school telling me to come and get him because he had either crawled underneath his desk, ran off the school grounds, or simply began to cry and the staff could not get him to stop. Mind you, this began in kindergarten. By the time he was in third grade the school psychologist wanted to evaluate him. She thought he might have ADD or ADHD. I told her that I didn't believe that that was the problem, that I believed he was not getting the help he needed from the teacher and that the schedule was too regimented. She didn't believe that was the problem and told me that I should take him to be tested for Add or ADHD. Needless to say I did take him to the doctor and was explaining what was going on at school and without testing him, he wanted to perscribe Ritilyn to keep him "calm and managable at school". Then he would schedule an appointment with a psychologist with the hospital. I was flabbergasted and refused his suggestion. To prescribe a mood altering medicine without testing him first was ludicrous! I took my son's hand and left the doctors office in a hurry.

Each year came and went and with them the straight "F's" followed. The schools didn't hold him back each year, oh no, he was promoted each year falling more and more behind in his education. So by the time seventh grade came around, he had fallen through the cracks so much that I pulled him out and began to homeschool him. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I was bound and determined to make sure he was not going to keep falling through the cracks each year. For the rest of his seventh grade year I had him do "nothing", pretty much just "deschooled" him. I'm not saying he didn't do anything at all, I'm saying I let him do whatever he wanted and that's when he really started to dive into learning more about the mechanics of automobiles.

He is now a Junior in high school and can tell you pretty much anything you want to know and can repair just about any car on the road.
In conclusion, just by letting him go and exploring his interests, he has blossomed into a very bright and calmer young man. And I am so thankful that I listened to my gut feelings when I did.

LAST PLACE FIRST

"Anyone who wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else"
Mark 9:35

For the past few weeks I have been getting really irritated with my family, it seemed like every time one of them opened his mouth there was something they wanted me to do, to make or get something for them. I felt like I was "on the run" from the time I rose in the morning until I laid my head down at the end of the day. Someone wanted me to make this and another wanted me to go get that. All day, everyday and because I love them, I did what they demanded. I use the word demanded because they would not use the two little words I had drilled into their little minds as they were beginning to speak.... "please and thank you". You would think I forgot to teach them manners when they were toddlers. I felt like the only time they wanted to converse with me was if they needed something otherwise, I was invisible. Day after day, demand after demand it went on and I holding in my little snippets of sarcastic remarks and thoughts of disbelief in their attitudes and just as I was about to blow... there laying on the kitchen table was a piece of paper with the words "Serve your way to greatness". I stared at those words for a moment when I remembered the verse in the book of Mark. So I searched through the Book of Mark and found the verse " Anyone who wants to be first must take last place and be a servant of everyone else". I meditated on that for a little while and thought.... " Thank you Lord for putting things back into perspective". I witness everyday the "self" attitudes and actions in young people today and it saddens me to think that our society has become the "whats in it for me" generation.

We are to serve with a joyful heart and a humbled spirit for the Lord, to everyone and that includes my own family because true significance is found in service to others. It's funny how we forget things that we've been taught.

I MISS YOU MOM AND DAD

When it's raining outside and I have a few minutes to spare, I often begin thinking of childhood memories. This is one of those times although it's not quite raining, just a few sprinkles but a good shower is lurking just beyond the foothills so, a particular memory has come to mind.

I was remembering back when I was seven or eight and how I couldn't wait to get home after the dismissal bell rang. I knew my mother would be there waiting, at the door for all five of us, she would give each of us a tight hug and a kiss on the top of our heads then usher us all into the kitchen to have a glass of milk and an afternoon homemade snack, that had just come out of the oven. After our snack we would all sit down and do our homework for the day, which by the way only took about one hour at the most to complete. When we had finished snack and homework, we could do whatever we wanted to do weather it was coloring, playing with our paper dolls or dress up.

My second to the oldest sister, my youngest sister and I would usually opt for playing "horses" complete with tails and hooves. My dad had scraps of wood laying around from little projects he worked on. So we would fish through the scraps until we found small enough pieces of blocks that would fit in our hands to use as hooves and knee high socks tucked into the back of our pants for the tail. We loved hearing the clapping sound the blocks would make on the hardwood floors or the concrete. It sounded like horses galloping, we used to imagine we were out on the open plains in a heard. We would play that usually until dinner time. We had so much fun! My brother would play "Batman" or something like that with his friends. When they got tired of that they would come and bug us or try to get us to play some "boy" game with them.

I miss those carefree days, I miss being a child and not having a care in the world, I miss the unconditional warm love our mother and father had shown for us. I miss being able to talk to them on the phone or going to see them. I miss you Mom and Dad

Trying My Hand at Blogging

Over the past several years I have been stumbling across blogs written by people just like me who have for years, write in those spiral bound note books. I've always have wanted to journal so that my six children would have some idea of who I really am deep down inside and so they could see the many joys of my life and the struggles my husband and I have endured over the years. As you can imagine with having six children to raise I didn't have a lot of extra time on my hands.

Now that my youngest two are almost finished with high school, I thought I would try my hand at blogging so that when they move out on thier own to begin new lives as adults, they could log onto my blog and read whats going on with my husband and I, and read stories from our families past. I will also have a variety of posts that will be of a this n that nature, pictures, links to my favorite things and verses and quotes of encouragement and inspiration.

I am excited to begin my new journey of blogging with my family and friends. I hope you enjoy my "blog spot".