Julia is Graduating from High School!

Our beautiful daughter, Julia is graduating from high school! We are so proud of her! She has matured and grown into a lovely young women who loves the Lord. She will continue to learn and grow as she studies alongside of me and her dad. Her desire is to be a wife and mother some day so she is going to continue to learn how to fulfill that calling. Read her beautiful graduation tribute here.

Julia is an entrepreneuer that has two businesses right now. She sells jewelry here. She also sells Etsy banners here. She has lots of gifts and talents. But beyond that she is a sweet and loving person.

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. We love you, Julia!

Your loving mama,

Our 20th Anniversary!

Today is our 20th wedding anniversary! We have had 20 wonderful years together. At times, life in general was hard but through everything our marriage has been a constant foundation of love, joy and peace.

I just want to give a tribute to my awesome husband. Bob is a godly man who loves the Lord with all of his heart. He is so loving, kind and gentle. Never unkind or harsh. He meets my needs and cares for me in every way. He is selfless and thoughtful. He is a strong leader and wonderful father. I am so blessed to be married to him! We talk about the Proverbs 31 woman. Well, Bob is the I Corinthians 13 man. He is my best friend. I would rather spend time with him than anyone else.

Thank you, Bob, for 20 wonderful years together.

All my love,

God and Blackberries

My lovely daughter, Julia, wrote a beautiful post about her views of God and blackberries. I encourage you to go over to her blog and read it. It will bless your heart.
Have a blessed day,

The Little Things

Should we take our "little things" to God?

Is it silly to pray for that new pair of khakis that we need or want? Foolish to ask to find sales before you go shopping? Pray about whether or not to take a trip to see family? Does it really matter to God?

I believe God cares. I believe He wants us to ask Him for everything. Not just the big things but also the small things.

Mat 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God wants us to come to Him with our needs and talk to Him about the concerns of our hearts. We don't need to try to make things work in our own strength.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

A word of caution. While God is very concerned about us and our needs, He is not a magic charm that we can manipulate to get whatever we want. James 4 warns us about having the wrong motive in asking God for things. We may pray but not receive what we are requesting because we ask amiss to consume it upon our lusts. (James 4:3) It's not a gimme, gimme relationship.

We have prayed for friends for our children and God has provided. We prayed for a church body where we could fellowship and God provided. Not right away or necessarily the moment we asked but He is faithful to answer in the right time. God has answered many prayers for us as a family.

Bring your requests to Him. He is waiting to hear from you. He loves you and wants you to trust Him with every part of your life.

Seeking Him,

Practical Steps to Have Peace

My sweet husband gave an awesome teaching on peace this past Sunday in our home church. I wanted to share the notes with you. Ever since Sunday, I have been more aware of my level of peace. I can't say that it is always where it should be. I admit that after a peaceful day I crashed last night. But I believe that the whole point is not being perfect in keeping my peace but in regaining it as sooon as possible! And, yes, I have my peace.

One interesting point is the word "keep". The children and I are studying the medieval age. The castle was designed with a very strong section in the middle called the keep. If the enemy attacked the outer walls, the lord and his people would take refuge in the keep. There they could withstand a siege for a very long time until help came. The notes show how the Strong's concordance defines the word "keep" in Philippians 4:7.

Practical Steps to Have Peace

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.


1) Confess your sin before God.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.


2) Cast all your cares upon Him.

Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

3) Be thankful.

1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

4) Guard your thoughts.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

5) Receive God’s promise and blessing of His peace.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.



Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


Keep=G5432
φρουρέω
phroureō
froo-reh'-o
From a compound of G4253 and G3708; to be a watcher in advance, that is, to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively to hem in, protect: - keep (with a garrison). Compare G5083.

6) Be vigilant.

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:



May you have a peace-filled day!

Health Update

I went to the doctor last Friday and got the antibiotic prescription. She did such a thorough examination of my joints. She told me that my left shoulder had bursitis in it. I remembered that I had bursitis there while I was in college. She also mentioned that I might have Psoriatic Arthritis because of the ridges in my fingernails. Very interesting. My mom and sister have the same ridges in their nails as well as raised first joints on their fingers. But I am the only one in our family to ever have RA. Maybe it is PA and then it would be more hereditary.
Anyway, I started on the medicine. It made me dizzy so we are backing it down to half the dosage for a while. I felt like I had the flu for two days. Today, I feel amazingly well. No crutches in the morning and no body aches. Praise God!
So that is it for now. I'll post more later.

Have a great day!

The Road Back

Twelve years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, (RA). It is an "incurable" disease. I have lived in pain every day for 12 years. Most people don't really know what it is or how serious it is.

In the beginning, I went the medical route. Taking drugs to help the disease while the drugs are causing new problems just didn't make sense to me. I just knew there had to be a better way. So for 2 years I tried almost everything alternative while still taking small doses of Prednisone. Then, through divine intervention, I was able to wean off the steroid and live on aspirin for the last 10 years. Yes, I have damage in my joints and lack of mobility. But I would rather deal with that then start up more problems by taking the destructive drugs. The good news was that I could at least function to care for my family and teach my children. Not at 100% but at least enough to manage.

In this last year, my health has steadily gone down hill. I'm at the point where I have to do something. My husband and I have been desperately praying that God would show us what to do. I really didn't want to take the heavy medicine but couldn't see another option. I stumbled across a recommendation for the book, The New Arthritis Breakthrough, by Henry Scammell. Needless to say, I was cautious and a bit skeptical. I have seen lots of remedies for RA and most were worthless. So I borrowed the book from the library to see for myself.

I am no longer a skeptic. Bob and I read the book and believe that this is the journey we should take. The evidence is compelling. The medical testing is authentic. It is a medical therapy that goes for the cause not the symptoms as all the other drugs do.

The basic premise is that RA, Lupus, Scleroderma, Fibromyalgia, Spondyloarthropathy and other forms of arthritis are caused by mycoplasma activity. Mycoplasma are infections. The immune sytem is not going haywire. It is reponding to an infectious agent. The treatment is antibiotics of the tetracycline family because these have been proven the most effective. The side effects are practically non-existent. About 85% of the patients experience complete remission. This is not a new theory. Dr. Thomas Brown researched and treated 1,ooo's of people for 40 years.

I don't have the space here to give you all the facts on why this treatment is so amazing. Please do the research for yourself. Read the book. It is a must! You may decide not to choose this treatment but make an educated choice by reading the book and information on the websites.

Here is a link to a video of Dr. Brown discussing the research behind this treatment and interviewing patients who were treated. Much of the medical research behind the therapy is shown here. (Dr. Brown has passed away and this was taken 10 years ago.)

The Road Back Foundation was formed to support the people using this therapy and to continue to educate, inform and get the word out. Extensive information here. Bulletin board for discussion and questions.

The Rhematic.org site is also extremely informative and has a Yahoo group that provides support and answers questions for anyone wanting to know more. Lots of tesimonials of people who are well today.

I don't give my recommendations lightly. This is something worth serious consideration.

So now I am on the journey to take my life back. One step at a time, I am on the road back.

With hope,

Julia's New Etsy Shop!

My daughter, Julia, has started a new Etsy shop. I am really excited for her. She has been working very hard to get it all together and it is coming out nicely. Please go over and take a look. She is selling banners that are used at the top of the Etsy shops. These are original designs.

The address is http://thebannerboutique.etsy.com/ .

So if you have an Etsy shop and would like a fresh look, go see what she has to offer. She is daily creating new banners so check back often.

Blessings,
Gloria

Have You Heard? Part 2

Let me begin by saying that I did not intend my last post to be an extensive review of the CDs by Victoria Botkin. Just a few comments of my opinion of them.

What I neglected to say was, if you are a new homeschooler, you MUST listen to these CDs. If you have been homeschooling for a little while and still have younger children, you MUST listen to these. If you are burned out on homeschooling or just frustrated or your kids hate homeschooling, you MUST listen to these.

They are that good.

'Nuf said.

Blessings,

Have You Heard?

Recently, a friend loaned me the CDs of Victoria Botkin's Curriculum Advice. I had wanted to hear them, so I was excited. After listening to them, I was not disappointed! My daughter is a graduating senior this year. I have two more children coming up. You are never too old to learn something new!

There was valuable information on both CDs that will improve my home educating as I continue on this journey. Some of what they said(most of the family speaks on the CD) will help me to better articulate what was already in my heart. I was encouraged, fortified, challenged and instructed.

I believe you will be, too.

Pressing on,

Wonderful Series: "To Find Rest for my Soul"

My friend over at She Looketh Well is posting a wonderful series. It is a week long and is so timely for me. Her words have touched me and reminded me that I must give up my worries, cares and concerns minute by minute if necessary and release them to God. He is faithful and will do all for me if I just let Him!

So often, I try to work things out for myself. No wonder I am overwhelmed and feel exhausted. I'm trying to do God's job!

Casting my burdens on Him

Trust

Ceasing Anxiety

Take His yoke and lean on Him

Thankfulness

All things we need to be reminded of frequently. It's time to find rest for my soul.

How about you? Need some rest?

Go over to Michelle's blog and get the scriptures and full insights.

Seeking Him,