Well, Christmas is in 4 days. I have not started wrapping yet. That is the part I dread. I plan on going to my friend Tiffany's tonight if I can to help her with her gifts. What fun. We went out to eat again, just our two families. I feel like we have not gone out as a group in a while. We had fun.
The kids are getting ready for their Christmas play, learning lines, now practicing the hand bells. Little Brad has the red bell the last note of the one song. All of my boys except one (I think) have had that part, so this will be exciting. I love watching them.
I am bad at posting pictures, but we took some new ones of the kids so Ican make one of my Christmas presents for our moms. they are not formal christmas pics, but good enough for now. I am bad at doing pictures all together.
My family is coming up from Philly for Christmas, if they can shovel out.
Mom and I are going shopping tonight. she wants to get me a coat for Christmas. This should be fun.
Well, I better go... if I really want to be able to leave the hosue this afternoon, I have work to finish first.
Talk to you later.

New Clothes

Tiffany and I went clothes shopping on Monday. The two of us once again with nine kids. We will soon be pros at this. We all line up, Usually Tiffany in the front then a long line of kids then me in the back monitoring. I should take a pic of how that looks one of these times. Well, now that the kids are more used to all of us, Tiffany and I actually ventured to walk closer to each other with the kids in a line or holding a buddies hand. It worked out, nobody got lost, we all survived. These days end up being long for us and the kids. I know I am tired by the time we get home so I am sure the kids are exhausted.
We got Tiffany's Christmas shopping done (I think), and I got to go clothes shopping. A very exciting trip. I hate spending money on myself, especially with six growing kids, but it was definately needed. I have not bought myself new clothes in about 2 years, so I would say it was time. Tiffany helped me pick out 4 new outfits and I got a fifth shirt. This is good especially because most of the skirts and shirts will all match each other, so it does not have to be the same outfit each time I wear it. So it is like getting a lot of new outfits. And I saved between the 2 stores and their sales about $130!
I will have to post pictures sometime soon.
Well, gotta go,
Talk to you later

Preaching

Just listened to Dr. Bill Behrens preach on anger. What a message. I liked it. He will be preaching in our church in January and I can't wait. A friend of mine was telling me about this message, and he was right, a good message. Something I needed to hear.
I am now listening to Chuck Cofty (I think this how it is spelled). He is funny.
I am also working, while listening, and I can't wait till this night is over. I am tired... but want to try and live what I heard preached.
I like listening to other preachers. I often listen to preachers while I am typing. It is very uplifting.
Well, I better get back to work.
Talk to you later

Bible Lesson

Well, was I ever enlightened. My daughter, Kayla, ten, was just sharing with me what she learned in her devotions and Bible reading today. I was kind of clueless, (shame on me-- I am blushing). She was reading in Psalm 72 and was figuring that it was neat that David was talking about his son Solomon before he was even king, and about the Queen of Sheba coming to Solomon. Okay, I say, sooooo.... but she took me back to 1 Kings (with no hesitation) to show me that King David died right after he appionted Solomon to be king, so how did he know that was all going to happen, did David prophesy??? Um, well, um, we'll have to ask Daddy... (my lame answer).
What a blessing for me to see my children putting passages of scripture together and coming up with a conclusion. Now whether she is right or not, I have to look into more, (or ask Brad), but her brain is at least working.
Unlike mine, so on a funny note... Her Bible says Give the king... and the next line it says O God, right next to the big G for the beginning of the chapter, and I could not read it I was reading it... Give the king.... Go God... (very confused), She laughed, I laughed, now you can laugh. Sometimes my brain only sees what is infront of me. But to defend myself, in my Bible, there is a space between the big G and the O God on the next line. I would not have read mine that way. ;)

Well, gotta go, talk to you later.

Funeral

Well, yesterday was my father in laws funeral. It was nice to see that side of the family again. They are a very nice family. Very easy going, friendly family. My mother in law came to the funeral (even though they are divorced). That was nice. The family enjoyed seeing her again. It was a nice reunion for them. She was with Jim since 10th grade and then married for six years. Jim was the oldest of nine kids. I was amazed at the response from them that she was there. It was very nice. they were reminiscing.
There were pictures of Jim set up and my mother in law (Jim's wife Laurie) let me take some home. Which was very nice and I appreciated it. It finally hit my son Josh, and when we got home he was already in bed, but was crying because he won't be able to see Grandpa again. So sad...
Talk to you later

My niece

I have a niece, who got saved a few years ago. She is going to Fairhaven. I just spoke to her tonight and boy has she changed. For the better! I love hearing her talk. You can just tell the spiritual growth by what she says. We were talking about doing devotions tonight. And finding favorite verses or what has spoken to our hearts lately. I think the experience of her going to Fairhaven was such a plus for her. She is learning so much, growing in the Lord, she is around godly people, not the world. The classes are making her think about the Lord and what he has done for her. She is in a lot of ministries, and loving it.

I am so proud of her.

Please pray for her that the Lord keeps blessing her. Her job is not the greatest as far as hours are concerned, so add that to your prayer too, please. She needs more hours for more money, but they have none to give right now.

Well, have a good night.

Talk to you later.

Father-in-Law

Well, as an update, my father in law passed away. He went to a nursing home for two days and then went back to the hospital and passed away. (Well, they took him off life support). It is what he wanted. The last time hubby went to visit him was the day before the move to the nursing home. Jim was asleep, so he never got a chance to talk to him.

I am glad that the last time I got to see him he was chipper, laughing and talking. I am glad he got to hear Kayla play her piano (via phone recording). So they will be good memories. Brad's dad was a very nice man. And I wish we had more time to be able to spend with him. I also wish we did not waste so much time, in not visiting. But, with busy lives, six kids, we don't really visit anyone.

I guess you don't realize that at any time you may not see a loved one again. We take that for granted I think.

As for where Jim stood with the Lord before he left this earth?? Well, Brad got a little witnessing in. Hopefully Jim was able to understand enough to put things together.

The funeral is Monday evening.

Talk to you later

My Father-in-law

Well, my father in law is not doing so well. He has lung problems and is on oxygen. His lungs are so bad that they can't help him, just up his oxygen level. But by doing this he is getting poisoned by it (carbon monoxide i think). so just recently he died, but they were able to revive him. He is on life support right now. They are checking for brain damage since he was dead for so long before they revived him. We went to the hospital to visit him. He was able to turn and look at us and I believe he knew who we were.
I hated seeing him there so helpless. Brad was able to give him a small amount of the gospel. And he squeezed brads hands and looked at him while he was talking to him. It took everything he had each time he turned his head or moved his eyes down to actually look at you.
they say it is hopeful especially because of the response he is giving.
Please pray for him, that he makes it through and has another chance at salvation.
I could not muster up the strength to say goodbye. It may be the last time I see him alive again because with six kids it is hard to find a sitter.
Makes me think that it is so easy to say goodbye to people when they seem okay. We visited him a few weeks ago and never would have thought that it is possible today we would be going to his funeral had they not revived him. (he was without oxygen for 30 minutes).
I hope to not take for granted when I see our family to always show our love somehow, you never know when that was going to be your last goodbye.

I have been reading a lot in Joshua lately, and Luke (I jump back and forth).
Please also keep Brad in your prayers. He is trying to deal with the fact of knowing his dad is not saved, and is sitting at deaths door. Wanting so bad for him to recover and get one more chance at sharing the gospel with him. And possibly regretting the fact that it was not pushed harder while he was alive and well. But with some people, it is hard to witness to them (especially your family). They see how we live, and they don't like it... they don't want to hear about it. So you just throw it in in bits and pieces, try and keep the peace, but yet let your life be a testimony.
It is very hard when you have unsaved family, especially when it is close relatives (parents, siblings).

TAlk to you later

Family

I was reminded this week how good God is to me. I remember years ago when I first got saved and dedicated my life to try to serve the Lord how my family hated me for it. After years of praying for my family, and trying to live right, and being a testimony just in my life, the past two years have been wonderful with seeing my family get saved.
1) my children (three of the six) have gotten saved and baptized (child number 1 more than 2 yrs. ago)
2) My younger sister and her husband are now saved
3) My oldest niece and now her sister
4) I just found out that my cousin is saved and is working on her husband. So pray for them... She is trying to raise a family with an unsaved husband, that has got to be tough.

Anyway, if you would have asked me 8 years ago if I thought my family would ever be saved, I probably would have said probably not, but I am praying. And here eight years later and there are some saved.

These are all answered prayers, and I am trying to praise and thank the Lord. Sometimes I think we can overlook the fact that we did get an answer to prayer. So "Thank You Lord, for my answered prayers"...

Have you had any recently answered prayers? Take a minute to stop and Thank the One answering.
Talk to you later.

Church Anniversary

We had our churches 13th anniversary yesterday. Preacher Dan Souza came to preach. I love hearing him. He always makes me laugh and lifts my spirits. His messages were great. We played our Violins (Sweet Hour of Prayer). Things went well... then we played Jesus loves me... with an unexpected solo, then duo then finally our trio. ;) But it went well, and the kids said it sounded planned. So we pulled it off. Yippee!! Good job girls (and guy).
Anyway, we had some visitors there too, to hear some good messages. Our dinner was well prepared, very good.
A very fun day...
Talk to you later

Kids Challenge

Josh and Laura were baptized. So as a gift we gave them a new Bible. It is a very nice Bible, but they don't make them anymore. So luckily I bought three a few years ago just incase... In these Bibles are a lot of study helps for young believers, and Bible reading plans etc. So as of yesterday, they picked a Bible reading plan and at the end of October if they have read their Bible every day this month, they will get a prize.

When I did this with my oldest daughter (now 10) she got a candy bar of her very own, a bag of candy, then when she did a three month plan from the book, she got a dramatized DVD of the Bible being read. That is such a nice program. It is just the Bible being read but dramatized, and it shows a picture of a bible page with the verses (usually about 3 per page) so you can follow along with the reading.

Anyway, that is the new challenge for the kids. Hopefully it will help them form the habit of reading the Bible, and give them the taste for wanting to read it.

Well, talk to you later

Meekness Study

Just to fill you in, so you don't think I have given up on being a more meek person. I have been studying it. Not to the extent of what I want, but I have gotten a few days in. We have a real neat computer program (for Bible study) and I was trying that the last time I did it. It takes me longer, Brad thinks it is a very "user friendly" program, but it does not always like me.

Anyway, I have found some helpful definitions and some examples, but don't have time to post them.

I am also trying to keep up with my Bible Reading Schedule (Proverb a day and Psalm a day, and some of Luke) so a few days I did that instead.

But I plan to post all of what I learned soon, and I am TRYING to put it into practice, what I have learned so far.

Well, goodnight

My Songs

I was able to change my songs list. So if this one is not right, feel free (PLEASE) to let me know.

Bible Study Topic

I want to start another study on Meekness. I will try and do as much as I can and meditate on it tonight and try and apply it tomorrow. I grew up in Philadelphia, PA. It is very loud, chaos, and big. Many people to see and things to do. My parents loved us a lot and wanted what was right for us, but we are not typically quiet people. But oh, I long for it. I have a good friend that I can watch and observe, and the Bible probably has many examples (which I plan to find out tonight). I will share more with you on what I learned maybe tomorrow. I just need to keep trying, reading and praying.

Sorry

Well, I thought as I was doing my work today I would just open up my blog and listen to the music play. Well, I was horrified, my favorite song (classical music) I can't remember what it is called, but it is a really long song is not good on my music. When I was picking them out to add to my radio thing i listened to the beginnings to know what I was picking, i never listened to the whole song. Well this one turns ugly (in my opinion). So if you have listened to my blog music for any length of time at one sitting, I apologize for you having to listen to "it" and as soon as I get a chance, I will take it off, (if I can figure it out).
Talk to you later

My son, reading his Bible

I have been trying to teach my son, Micah how to read. It is a process for any child to learn to read, but sometimes he does not seem interested. Well, last night in church I let Micah hold my Bible while the preaching was going on. He was looking at the Bible and all of a sudden he was picking out words and sounding them out!! He knew a lot of them (and, of, set,). Basically he knows short vowel sound words. I was so happy. It finally clicked to him that he can use those words and read them in other places other than in his school book. I was so proud of him, and he went right after church and told our Preacher that he is learning how to read and that he can even read some words in the Bible. I thank the Lord for the blessing of being able to homeschool, but also for being able to be part of when the lightbulb clicks on, especially when it has to do with Bible reading.
Talk to you later

Women

"A gracious womean retaineth honor; and strong men retain riches." Proverbs 11:15
Gracious means agreeable, godly, pleasing, kind
honour means, a good name, merits respect.

Are we gracious? Do we want respect from our kids when we are not the gracious woman we should be?

Okay, to be honest it is a rainy day and i have a lot of work to do, so I am cranky, the kids are playing but it sounds too loud today (probably nothing different than any other day). So I decided to take a break and read my Bible. And really this is what I read, it was in my chapter for the day. Isn't God amazing? So my break helped me, I will try real hard to meditate on that the rest of the day.

Psalm 10, Proverbs 10

Well, one thing I learned for sure in my Bible reading today is that there is a definate connection between a fool and their mouth. The mouth shows the fool, the fool destroys a lot with their mouth. I know in the book of James that he warns of our mouth, the use of our tongues etc. I have read Proverbs 10 many times, but today I put a connection between verses, most of the verses are talking about a fool and his mouth.

As Christians we should definately watch what we say, but my biggest thing is also to watch how I say things. That often gets me into a lot of trouble.

I am not done yet for today with my Bible reading, but the kids started getting up so I figured I would stop. I can't get much out of it with the kids hanging over me asking for cereal.

We will be going out today running errands and possibly stopping at Hoss' for the birthday meal.

talk to you later

Psalm, Proverbs 8-9 and Luke 6

So early this morning the Bible was read for today and yesterday. My reading was in Psalms 8 and 9, also Proverbs 8 and 9, and Luke chapter six. I just love how when Jesus was going to do something and the Pharisees were standing there waiting for Him to "mess up", how He just asks them a question or says something just enough that when He does what they say would be wrong, they can't do anything about it for fear of the people would be against them.

The Beatitudes are in that chapter. and 6:45 is true "...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

Also, a Science lesson is found in Proverbs 8:27 "...when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:" shows that the earth was round.

Well, I hear little feet, so I better get breakfast ready.

Talk to you later.

Do you have any thoughts? Leave a comment. Where did you read today?

Okay, this has nothing to do with the Bible, but this is fun trying to figure the blog thing out. Too bad i don't have the time I think I have to figure it out. So I will go for now.

Talk to you later

My Bible Reading

Well, I am starting this Blog for myself, and anyone else who just would like to know my thoughts and comments on what I have read in my Bible lately, or what I have learned or am learning as I grow in the Lord.

I am trying to serve Him daily,with being a helpmeet to my husband (trying to be a good one), also raising my six children.

We have 2 dogs (boxers) Sheba and Roy.

We (with the kids) are doing a Bible Study on respectfulness. I bought the book through Keepers of the Faith. I like their character study books.

I did not read my Bible yet today. I like to try and do it in the morning to start my day, but I slept in today. The other day I read Psalm 6 verse 1 and it made me think of disciplining the children. We expect God to be merciful and not "discipline" us while he is not happy with us, we should do the same thing. I am still working on that. With 4 boys, you can imagine that would be hard to do. But "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Philippians 4:13.

My Bible reading plan right now is to do a Proverb a day, and also a Psalm a day. I am also reading in Luke (I already read Matthew and Mark recently).

I plan to at least post daily exactly what I read, it should hold me accountable enough. But hopefully I want to post any thoughts I had on the subject. Or if nothing else, any thoughts the kids may have had during their devotional time.

So talk to you either tonight or tomorrow.

Jackie