Like Father, Like Son - Wordless

Wordless Wednesday

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Being Real

My friend and midwife posted this site on her facebook page and I couldn't help but share it with you. It is truly a Mom being REAL. She says things we only think of saying. http://www.mama-is.com/ Hope you Moms enjoy.

Our Weekend Events

Can you find the diver?

Joshua and me

Jim and Josiah at the horseshoe crab tank

The kids

The kids under an aquarium

This weekend we went to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg as an extended birthday weekend event. We had never been before and we weren't disappointed. We had a blast touching sting rays, horseshoe crabs and going through the shark lagoon. We all enjoyed the variety of sea creatures they had were amazed at the number and size of tanks in the aquarium.

You may wonder how we can afford to take our family there. Well, if you homeschool you can get the homeschool discount. Just bring in your homeschool ID and that's it. We would have not been able to go except for this discount. All the more reason why it's good to homeschool. It was a fun weekend event as well as a field trip :)

Hope you had a fun filled weekend. The weather was great and it was great to get out and enjoy the day.

Happy Birthday, Josiah!

Today is Josiah's birthday. He is my firstborn son and such a sweetheart. He loves to go to work with his Dad and help out and he is already learning a trade that will stay with him. His little brothers look up to him and love having sword fights and wrestling with him. He is a great protector of his sister's and can make up some of the funniest characters in plays that they make up together. He's smart and handsome and I thank the Lord that I have the privilege of having him for a son. I pray that the Lord will give me the wisdom and the discernment to raise him to be the man God desires him to be. I would like to wish him the best birthday ever. I love you Sweetheart!

Frugal Help

If you are looking for a great website that can offer frugal recipes, then I encourage you to try out www.5dollardinners.com. I go to her site often and get great ideas when I'm menu planning. Not only does she offer recipes (they're healthy too), she also shares deals at stores and other frugal advice. Check it out and let me know what you think. Are there any blogs or sites that you go to that help you stay frugal?

Sticking to Our Standards

Do you ever feel like you are under pressure by other parents to raise your children by their standards? We have more strict standards than some, and sometimes we feel that if we don't allow our children to do all the things everyone else is allowed to do that we are just too strict. So we come to the place where we have to consider the influences from others on our children and if they are taking precedent over our influence on them. It is very important to my husband and I that we keep our children's hearts. Sometimes that means reevaluating things. For instance, family time is very important to our family. We do not like our children going and doing things with others more often than they are doing things with our family. Sometimes we feel that others think we aren't being fair, but that's okay. I have to remember that every family has a different way of bringing their children up and each family has to answer to God for the way they choose to raise their children. God's plan for my family isn't going to be exactly the same as other's plan, so it's okay.

I want to encourage you to stick to your standards for your children and not give in to others standards. We have to answer to God for how we raise our children, not how other parents raise their children. So don't feel pressured to give in because someone else thinks you should. Remember, we are pressing in toward the high calling for our families and that means making ourselves aware of, and recognizing peer pressure so that we don't give in to it.

Phillippians 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Free Cone Day

Today is Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's. So find yourself a local scoop shop (go to www.benjerry.com and use their store locator) and between the hours of 12-8 pm have yourself a free scoop. Enjoy!