Quick to Pray

Yesterday, I was cutting G's fingernails, and I told her:

"G, I sure wish it would rain."

 G immediately responds: "Dear Jesus, (then indecipherable words . . .) rain. Jesus' name, Amen"

Wow, how convicting . . . I make a statement of "wishing" while my 2.5 year old immediately responds with prayer.

 *** Out of the mouths of babes. ***

March Memories

A few memories from March that I don't want to forget!

G fell asleep under the dining room chair while Mommy was teaching . . .


Curls in abundance . . .


The boys . . .


On a walk . . .


Veggie Tales on the iPhone!

Schooling Outside!

E: Can we go outside?

M: It would be a crime not to go outside today!

So . . . we did! And boy, was it a beautiful day!

We went outside and did our lessons. Not all of them, but some. The kids were continually distracted by bugs, birds, sounds and the fresh air in general. But, it was fun and we did get a little bit done.

Aaah, the joys of homeschooling!


(March 26, 2012)

Dearest Anthony

(Just 2 days after you arrived when we visited Lael's grave, you were so skinny :-( poor thing)

My sweet nephew, you came to live with us Dec. 9, 2011, and boy were we excited with the thoughts and visions we had for you. Visions of working in the Medical Center with Uncle Martin and getting your GED and driver's license. Visions of you getting a great job and loving your work. Visions of you eventually getting your own place and marrying Marissa.

Well, your path was different that what we hoped for, but I don't want to forget the great times.

The kids loved your fun and silliness. They loved how you would say the oddest, most misplaced things and how you made them laugh all the time.

G became your JellyBean because of her big belly.

C became your Little Buddy.

E became your side-kick.

M became your listener and question-asker on all things Marissa.

We had a great time going to the Y together and walking the track. Uncle Martin and I enjoyed long, interesting conversations.

Anthony, you are a true question-asker, and we love that you are not afraid to ask difficult questions. We love your inquisitive nature and your interest to know things, especially things of the Lord.

Your turned 18 on Feb. 21st and a week later, moved out with Rochelle. Our hearts were broken, but we hope that you are able to stay focused and accomplish your goals. Most of all, our prayer for you is to follow the Lord. Follow His leading and trust Him for guidance.

Today, April 11th, you fulfilled one of your goals! You passed your driver's test!!! Congratulations!!!

We love you, Anthony.

At Lael's grave


Chik-Fil-A Tunnel


At our neighborhood park



E's 7th Bday


G's 2nd Bday


Painting with cousins and friends


At Aunt Candi's wedding


At a gathering tackled by the kids . . . they loooved you!




With Marissa


At a bday party


Texting away . . . no comment!


Thumbs-up!

Ballad of King Richard and Saladin, Historical Dates

For social studies, we had to come up with a ballad of King Richard I and Saladin. E contributed the most. Here it is:


Ballad Of King Richard and Saladine
by The Fords

Oh, people, oh people
Come with me
Come and fight
The battle with me

Fight the war
Don’t be afraid
Lets come together
Be valiant and brave.

King Richard the Lion Heart
Fights for the land
Where Jesus was crucified
So, he’ll take a stand.

Saladin is brave
His people are Muslim
He wants the Holy Lands
Palestine and Jerusalem

They fight and fight
For a whole year long
A fierce, dark battle
And both were strong

So Lion Heart and Saladin
Came together one day
They made a promise
A truce was made

Muslims kept the inland
Christians got the coast
And as for Jerusalem
To be shared by both

Peace for a little while
But it did not last
The battles resumed
The casualties amassed

The crusades were thought
To be Holy Wars
200 hundred years
Of battles and swords.

***

Dates to remember:

In 476, Rome fell like a pile of sticks.
In 1215, the Magna Carta was signed by the king.
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

The first two we made up together!;-)

Mouth Virus

G has been sick since last Sunday night. Today marks a full week.

We decided to take her to the doctor on Saturday and it was confirmed that she has some kind of virus in her mouth.

Symptoms:
All of her gums are dark red
A few sores on inside of cheek by corner of her mouth and about 3 on the tongue
It is painful for her to eat rough, crunchy foods or anything with acid, i.e. oranges, pizza sauce, fruity things
She woke up with puddles of saliva and blood on the bed on the 4th and 5th night of her infection. She has had blood in her nose as well. When she cries, her gums start bleeding.
Her lips are kind of cracked as well.
The skin that connects her top lip and gums bleeds a lot.
She has bad breath, probably from the blood.
She had lower grade fevers the first 4-5 days.

Treatment:
Ibuprofen as needed. We started giving it to her proactively on the 5th day because it was so painful for her.
Soft foods: cream of wheat, yogurt, softened cereal
Cold drinks and popsicles

*** I kept searching online for some kind of answer to her condition. I saw various references to dental problems, but her was definitely not an absess or anything like that. It started off with a fever on Sunday night (the 11th), on Monday she had a fever with a little bit of swelling on the lower gums, then on Tuesday she woke up with incredibly red gums and pain and fever.

This is some kind of virus in the mouth, but it is not strep. Probably HSV-1, the cold sore virus. All of our children have reacted as toddlers to cold sores. M's was the most severe at around 7months. He could barely eat anything and was so very sick. He couldn't sleep and was unconsolable at times. E had a pretty severe reactions as well. C's was more mild. So, we are thinking this is what G has.

Anyway, if someone is looking up these symptoms, I hope this helps.

Ministry: Motherhood

Through the years I have struggled with "only being a mother" and not pursuing other ventures: church ministries, my business, more education, foreign missions, etc.

I have felt un-inspired and down right lazy with my mind.

But, because of the goodness of God, I have the Constant Encourager who loves me and lifts me up. And the Lord has surrounded me with my ever faithful encouragers: My soulmate-hubby, my uncle, and my mom and dad. They are always telling me what an important role I have in this family of mine and how motherhood IS MY MINISTRY!

Well, I just visited a blog that I just could not stop reading. Her name is Katie Davis and she writes a blog that is enrapturing. I read a short synopsis of her story at Christina Book Distributors and it gripped me. Her sold out love for Jesus inspires me and renews my resolve to live for Jesus!

I sat and thought what a noble thing it is that this young lady, who didn't marry (as I believe she chose) and instead chose a life of complete service to the Lord. She has adopted I think about 14 girls and constantly pours herself out.

My heart longed to please the Lord like her as I read her blog. My heart has been squeezed and I feel so inadequate and wasteful of myself.

And, as I thought these thoughts, the Holy Spirit encouraged me, once again of my role. If I didn't rise up and love, teach, and care for my children, who would? The Lord has blessed me with these most valuable treasures and I am here to raise them. And I have been blessed with so many resources to do so.

The work of a mother is sacred. If she doesn't do it, who will? Those precious lives are left to someone who doesn't love them as much, or worse, to fend for themselves and fall prey to the evil wolves waiting to devour, hurt, expose, exploit, and spit out these poor souls.

My resolve to love my children and love my role is ever more established once again. I am convinced that a mother's role is to MOTHER! Not to pursue the things of this world. That is not to say that a mother can't be called to other things. But, primarily, if your are a mother, your role is to raise your precious little ones.

Oh, how politically incorrect this statement is! But, what about my career? What about all of my education? It will all be wasted!

My friend! How can it be wasted when you are spending your time and energy on the most valuable commodity in the world . . .

Your children!!!

With love,
A mother who is ever-learning and who has ever-so-much-more to learn!