Cobb Salad

My Homestead 5.31.12

I'm enjoying this read right now.  Here is a quote to think on. "Wise women are governed by the principles of God's Word, not by their feelings, hormones, or enjoyments."  Mmmm....

My Homestead 5.26.12

At the beginning of this year I had hoped that I would read more books this year. Two weeks ago I realized we were half way through May and I had only read about 4 and a half books. I needed to kick it up! I was inspired by another blogger's book list. She maps out which books she wants to read each month. I love lists. They help me actually get stuff done. So I have made my list for 2012. I've included the books that I have already read this year so I can feel like I am making progress :-) Even if I only read half of these books I will be happy! But I am going to aim high. Here is a link to see My Books To Read In 2012 with their bookstore links.

My Homestead 4.27.12

I love this little book! I have read through it several times. And I want to read it again and again. Gospel Meditations For Women would make a great gift to all the special women in your life. It is packed full of so much goodness. Here are just a few of the topics in this book: Let the Gospel save your soul. Let the Gospel alleviate your guilt for past sins. Let the Gospel affect your outlook on life. Let the Gospel affect your concept of beauty. Let the Gospel affect your battles against temptation. Let the Gospel affect your marriage and parenting.  Let the Gospel affect your mindset toward trials. Let the Gospel affect your speech. Let the Gospel give you hope!

2012 Here We Come!

2012 is almost here!! I want to tell you about two things you won't regret doing next year. It may be hard at times but it will be so worth it!

1. Read through the Bible in a year. Here is a link to the Bible reading plan that we are following. I like this particular one because it includes old and new testament readings for each day and there are five make-up days at the end of each month. It is so worth doing every year! Join us at the Emmaus Project for an online discussion. You will receive emails from others about what they are reading and can ask questions about what you just read. The purpose of the Emmaus Project is to "...find and fellowship with Christ in all of Scripture."

2. My second recommendation is Project 365. Take a picture every day for a year! I am just finishing this (2 more days to go!!!) and am so glad I did it!! If you have a good camera phone (iPhone) it makes the project 10 times easier because it can be a pain toting your camera everywhere. I have barely touched my nice Nikon since getting the iPhone! I love the camera on the phone and it has fun filter apps and it is always on me. For the Project 365 I have been storing my pictures on Flickr (just a click of a button on my phone and they are stored there) and then later I upload them to Blurb to make my book ( you can use Shutterfly or one of the other photo companies too). I did 2011 in 2 volumes. I used a regular Blub book for January- June and then the second volume is going to be Blurb's Instagram book because that is where I do all my photos now. I wanted to quit several times but it is so worth it in the end. Mason and Miles LOVE looking at the Project 365 photo book! There are so many great memories!!

Here is a picture of my first book:

Happy New Year!

His Wonderful Grace

Two quotes from Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

Parenting in grace is not parenting on the basis of your own consistent gospel-centeredness. It is just the opposite. Parenting in grace is parenting on the basis of Christ's consistent perfections alone.

The weakness, failures, and sins of our families are the places that we learn we need grace too. The good news: His grace is sufficient even in our weakness, failures and sins.

Elyse is speaking at the end of the month in Escondido!

Give Them Grace

I am so thrilled about my newest book! Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse Fitzpatrick and her daughter Jessica Thompson. I'm just getting started but it is fabulous. In the beginning Elyse contrasts moralistic parenting (which a lot of us Christians get caught up in) vs. gospel parenting. Elyse gives a quote from my favorite kid's story Bible.

"Moralistic parenting occurs because most of us have a wrong view of the Bible. The story of the Bible isn't a story about making good little boys and girls better. As Sally Lloyd-Jones writes in The Jesus Storybook Bible:

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done. Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but... most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose), they get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean. No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life.

..."At the deepest level of what we do as parents, we should hear the heartbeat of a loving, grace-giving Father who freely adopts rebels and transforms them into loving sons and daughters. If this is not the message that your children hear from you, if the message that you send them on a daily basis is about being good so that you won't be disappointed, then the gospel needs to transform your parenting, too." ~ Elyse Fitzpatrick

I got this wonderful book a little early :-)  It will be released at the end of May. Go order it! You will be glad you did!!

Project 365. Day 24

Started a new book with some moms today. It is all so good. Elyse is coming to our women's conference in March. Fabulous!!

The Most Important Work You Will Ever Do

I am so thankful for my husband in how he leads our family to continually grow in knowledge and love for God more and more.  And I am very thankful for being able to be home with my children.  I get the joy of hearing their many questions about what they experience in life and their questions about God and turn them to the Bible.  What a challenge and a joy!  I'm humbled and honored to be used by God.

I read this great blog post about pastoring your family.  Here is a small bit of it but go read the rest.  It is encouraging!

"Husbands/dads, this is the most important work you'll ever do, and it will have more impact than anything you could imagine. Wives/moms, encourage your man to lead; create conditions in which he can succeed. Couples, be patient and forgiving. Don't be short-sighted. Love well. And savor your time together. May God help us pastor our families well." 

Please read the rest of this encouraging brief article written by Justin Hyde on  how he pastors his family by clicking here.  As our boys have gotten older (now 6 and 8) Erick takes each boy to Starbucks for one on one weekly discipleship time too.   As you can imagine with  6 and 8 year old boys, not every time is a picturesque tranquil scene, but every time has been an opportunity to point their heart to God and has been so valuable.  There are many great books to help you direct your time and discussions.  I have a few of our favorites posted on my blog (under the Kids list).

Set Your Minds On Things Above...

Our Theology Lab (mid week bible study) has been studying the book of Colossians.  It has been so good.  I found this quote that relates to what we are studying.

"When someone mistreats or opposes us, our instinctive reaction is to justify ourselves and do everything we can to get our way.  This selfish attitude usually leads to impulsive decisions that only make matters worse.

The gospel of Jesus Christ provides the way out of this downward spiral.  When we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, our blinding self-absorption can be replaced with a liberating desire to draw attention to the goodness and power of God.  As Colossians 3:1-2 teaches, 'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.'"

Ken Sande, The Peacemaker

Some of My Favorites

Biblical Womanhood/Marriage

• Love That Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci
• When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey
• Doing Things Right In Matters Of The Heart by John Ensor
• Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
• Building Her House by Nancy Wilson
• Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus
• Disciplines Of A Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

Parenting/Family

• Don't Make Me Count To Three by Ginger Plowman
• Wise Words For Moms by Ginger Plowman
• Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
• Future Men by Doug Wilson
• Girl Talk by Carolyn Mahaney
• Disciplines Of A Godly Family by Kent and Barbara Hughes

Counseling

• You Can Change by Tim Chester (go buy it now!)
• Women Helping Women edited by Elyse Fitzpatrick
• Running Scared by Edward Welch
• When People Are Big And God Is Small by Edward Welch
• Eating Disorders:  The Quest For Thinness by Ed Welch
• Love To Eat Hate To Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick
• Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick
• CCEF (Christian Counseling and Education Foundation) resource page

Gospel Life

• Growing Your Faith by Jerry Bridges
• Crazy Love by Francis Chan
• Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
• Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney
• Humility by CJ Mahaney
• Seeing And Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
• Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die by John Piper
• Gospel Meditations For Women by Chris Anderson and Joe Tyrpak
• Gospel For Real Life by Jerry Bridges

Kids

• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (our favorite children's Bible)
• My 1st Book of Questions and Answers by Carine Mackenzie (our boys love being quizzed!)
• Big Book of Questions and Answers About Jesus by Sinclair Ferguson (Erick often uses this at the boys discipleship time)
• My 1st Book of Christian Values by Carine Mackenzie
• Fool Moon Rising by Fluharty
• Dangerous Journey by Hunkin (Pilgrim's Progress)
• Big Truths For Little Kids by Susan Hunt
• Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers by Joey Allen