It's just been one of those weeks.
You know how it goes... running like a crazy person, cramming so much into the schedule you think the schedule will burst.
Rushing so much that you have to air dry your hair by rolling the windows of the van while going 70 (ish) on the highway.
In such a hurry you don't notice your skirt is inside out till you're half way to church.
Yeah- THAT kind of busy.
As I get (ah- hmm) wiser (older), I notice life goes in various phases. Sometimes I'm in the place where everything is still, calm. And other times life is spinning almost out of control on the brink of chaos.
Sometimes I love the calm. And sometimes I love the chaos.
But in it all I want to be one thing- content.
Content that in the calm or chaos God is in control.
And He has a plan bigger than me.
And He loves me and wants the best for His people.
....
So for now, I'm loving the craziness. And holding on for dear life.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Speechless Sundays: Jesus Loves Even Me
This week we have Vickie doing "Jesus Loves Even Me". She's so energetic- I love it!
This hymn was written by Major Whittle in 1870. I'm so glad that Jesus Loved each of His people enough to die on the cross for us!
Enjoy!
This hymn was written by Major Whittle in 1870. I'm so glad that Jesus Loved each of His people enough to die on the cross for us!
Enjoy!
Friday, August 23, 2013
New School Year! Homeschool off and running...
Hi all! Sorry it's been so long since I've sat down and written anything other than a Speechless Sunday posts.
We are officially in the new school year! I now have a 4th grader, 2nd grader, a Kindergartner, and a Pre-K (plus the 18 month old Curious George!).
And surprisingly the first week went well. The only thing is.... 1. The curriculum I bought for the second grader is the wrong box/grade level (can't find the right one on sale and don't have $400 for a new curriculum), 2. I started the year without cleaning my homeschool room (opps), and 3. There's still not enough time in the day to do everything I want to teach (because I get over zealous and want to teach everything there is to know all at once).
So this weekend will be a number of things- 1. Clean my school room. 2. Break out a calendar and actually organize when we will "tentatively" cover subjects I want to cover. 3. Keep hunting on ebay for the right curriculum and praying hard it goes on sale.
All this goes along with preparing to assist in teaching my first ASL class to homeschoolers, keeping up with my fitness goals (training for The Color Run- my 1st 5K in October!), Lego League for oldest son, dance for 2 girls, karate for middle daughter, American Heritage Girls for 1 daughter, AWANAs 4 out of 5 kids, church commitments, and a million other things.
Can we just skip to summer now?
I promise to back soon with some tips on organizing and how we actually teach our Deaf daughters- SOON!
Blessings to you-
We are officially in the new school year! I now have a 4th grader, 2nd grader, a Kindergartner, and a Pre-K (plus the 18 month old Curious George!).
And surprisingly the first week went well. The only thing is.... 1. The curriculum I bought for the second grader is the wrong box/grade level (can't find the right one on sale and don't have $400 for a new curriculum), 2. I started the year without cleaning my homeschool room (opps), and 3. There's still not enough time in the day to do everything I want to teach (because I get over zealous and want to teach everything there is to know all at once).
So this weekend will be a number of things- 1. Clean my school room. 2. Break out a calendar and actually organize when we will "tentatively" cover subjects I want to cover. 3. Keep hunting on ebay for the right curriculum and praying hard it goes on sale.
All this goes along with preparing to assist in teaching my first ASL class to homeschoolers, keeping up with my fitness goals (training for The Color Run- my 1st 5K in October!), Lego League for oldest son, dance for 2 girls, karate for middle daughter, American Heritage Girls for 1 daughter, AWANAs 4 out of 5 kids, church commitments, and a million other things.
Can we just skip to summer now?
I promise to back soon with some tips on organizing and how we actually teach our Deaf daughters- SOON!
Blessings to you-
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Speechless Sundays: Views of a Medical Home
Hey everyone! This week our family had the honor of being part of a video being made to promote Deaf Awareness in NC. Strangely this isn't the 1st video we've done for NC on Deaf Awareness :chuckle: and hopefully not the last.
I'm hoping that I don't get in major trouble for posting this clip since I don't own it BUT since we're in it and it's for information only purposes maybe it'll be ok (if I call from jail you know why)!
This is a throwback from 2008 if you can imagine. And before we had our last 2 babies and before we knew Ayrianna was indeed Deaf as well.
Enjoy!
For correct crediting this video was made and produced by: NCPH (North Caroline Public Health), DHHS (North Caroline Department of Health and Human Services) "Views of a Medical Home: Six Families Share Their Stories" distributed in June 2008. This is a clip of 1 of the 6 families featured.
I'm hoping that I don't get in major trouble for posting this clip since I don't own it BUT since we're in it and it's for information only purposes maybe it'll be ok (if I call from jail you know why)!
This is a throwback from 2008 if you can imagine. And before we had our last 2 babies and before we knew Ayrianna was indeed Deaf as well.
Enjoy!
For correct crediting this video was made and produced by: NCPH (North Caroline Public Health), DHHS (North Caroline Department of Health and Human Services) "Views of a Medical Home: Six Families Share Their Stories" distributed in June 2008. This is a clip of 1 of the 6 families featured.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Speechless Sundays: Children's songs- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jesus Loves Me
Hi all! It's been crazy as usual around here and that means less busy on the blog than normal. Since I've missed a few Speechless Sundays I thought I'd make up for it a little today by posting not one but TWO videos! They are children's songs we all know and love-
"Jesus Loves Me" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Now the Jesus Loves Me I actually did twice- once with voice and once without so you could see the major differences in visual and conceptual understanding. Without voice is MUCH better ASL in my opinion. And my voice is...well.... scary- so sorry! And another note- not all Deaf people can sing like me- I was late-Deafened (after age 10) so keep that in mind ok :)
Enjoy!!
Jesus Loves Me
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
"Jesus Loves Me" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Now the Jesus Loves Me I actually did twice- once with voice and once without so you could see the major differences in visual and conceptual understanding. Without voice is MUCH better ASL in my opinion. And my voice is...well.... scary- so sorry! And another note- not all Deaf people can sing like me- I was late-Deafened (after age 10) so keep that in mind ok :)
Enjoy!!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Speechless Sundays: "Magnificent God"
Today I'm signing a song that is one of my favorites- "Magnificent God" by Big Daddy Weave. I actually had the pleasure of seeing Big Daddy Weave just last year and got to meet the Big Daddy himself :)
So here is the song! Enjoy!
So here is the song! Enjoy!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Protecting the vine
Every Thursday I host a deaf ladies bible study in our home. I love this time since it incorporates my 3 favorite things: The Word of God, Fellowship, and Food.
Today's study was so interesting and so fascinating to me that I just had to share a part of it with you.
The book we're reading is called "A Woman's Walk With God" by Elizabeth George.
Song of Solomon has a verse that says "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (2:15)
To many times in our lives "little foxes" slip in trying to destroy our vines. These little foxes mess with our fruit-bearing process. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 These little foxes want to strip away and spoil each of these Godly qualities in us.
What are these "little foxes" anyway? They are thoughts, actions, or attitudes that are contrary to God's character. Surround by the world and the flesh, there are plenty of little foxes out there we need to defend our vineyards (lives) from.
Selfishness spoils love.
Discontent spoils joy.
Anxious thoughts spoil peace.
Impatience spoils patience.
Bitter words spoil kindness.
Indolence spoils goodness.
Doubt spoils faith.
Pride spoils gentleness.
Love of pleasure spoils self-control.
So how do we make sure the little foxes do not creep in? Well three things need to happen.
1. We need to recognize the little foxes.
What are the things that are stealing our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
2. We need to capture the little foxes.
At the times we notice the little foxes slipping in, we need to immediately capture those thoughts, actions, or attitudes.
3. We need to kill the little foxes.
It sounds brutal but the only way we are going to keep those sneaky foxes out of our vineyard is to kill or do away with them. When we recognize, capture the little foxes or attitudes, actions, and thoughts in our lives that are unGodly we need to quickly remove ourselves from the temptations. Come to God and confess our sin and make it right before God.
It's a hard life-long process but one that does get somewhat easier with practice. So ask God today for the wisdom and strength to remove the "little foxes" from your "vineyard".
Grace and Peace,
Erin
Today's study was so interesting and so fascinating to me that I just had to share a part of it with you.
The book we're reading is called "A Woman's Walk With God" by Elizabeth George.
Song of Solomon has a verse that says "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (2:15)
To many times in our lives "little foxes" slip in trying to destroy our vines. These little foxes mess with our fruit-bearing process. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 These little foxes want to strip away and spoil each of these Godly qualities in us.
What are these "little foxes" anyway? They are thoughts, actions, or attitudes that are contrary to God's character. Surround by the world and the flesh, there are plenty of little foxes out there we need to defend our vineyards (lives) from.
Selfishness spoils love.
Discontent spoils joy.
Anxious thoughts spoil peace.
Impatience spoils patience.
Bitter words spoil kindness.
Indolence spoils goodness.
Doubt spoils faith.
Pride spoils gentleness.
Love of pleasure spoils self-control.
So how do we make sure the little foxes do not creep in? Well three things need to happen.
1. We need to recognize the little foxes.
What are the things that are stealing our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
2. We need to capture the little foxes.
At the times we notice the little foxes slipping in, we need to immediately capture those thoughts, actions, or attitudes.
3. We need to kill the little foxes.
It sounds brutal but the only way we are going to keep those sneaky foxes out of our vineyard is to kill or do away with them. When we recognize, capture the little foxes or attitudes, actions, and thoughts in our lives that are unGodly we need to quickly remove ourselves from the temptations. Come to God and confess our sin and make it right before God.
It's a hard life-long process but one that does get somewhat easier with practice. So ask God today for the wisdom and strength to remove the "little foxes" from your "vineyard".
Grace and Peace,
Erin
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)