I am reading a book called "Ten P's in a Pod", which is published by http://www.visionforum.com. It is about the Pent family, a family with 8 children, who traveled around the country back in the 1930's as evangelists, trusting the Lord to meet all their needs. Recently, I read a section that convicted and encouraged me and I wanted to share it. The father of the family, Mr. Pent, placed Bible reading and family devotions as the highest priority in his children's lives. He believed that "anyone alive should feed his soul more than he does his body because the soul lives forever and the body decays and dies," (pg. 65). He therefore required his children to have their own private devotions before breakfast, reading the Word for one hour, and subsequently the family had devotions together for 30 minutes after each meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner! That is 2 1/2 hours of Bible reading a day!
As a result of this abundance of time spent in God's Word, all of the Pent children were able to recite ENTIRE BOOKS of the Bible FROM MEMORY!. At age 6, the author's brother, Paul, memorized the book of Jonah simply by reading and re-reading it every morning. The oldest son, David, at the age of 20, could recite the entire New Testament! That just blew me away! The author of the book, Arnold Pent III said, " . . . when you analyze how this is accomplished there is really nothing spectacular in regard to methods of memorizing or systems of retaining this large amount of Scripture." His brother, Paul, said, "the only reason we can do this is because we spend time with it. Thirty minutes of Bible reading after every meal from the time you are born until you're twenty-one is a lot of time. We would all have to be mighty dumb not to know a little something from this book,". The father also believed that a baby needed the Word of God more than he or she needed sleep. Thus, napping infants were awoken if it happened to be family devotion time, in order to listen to the Word! It doesn't come as a surprise that the first words spoken by each of the Pent children was Scripture! The author also communicates that, "When your child is an infant and you fail to communicate the spiritual language to him by not reading the Bible and not praying in his presence, his understanding and perception of spiritual values will be nothing. He can only begin to understand the Bible when you begin reading it to him . . ." (pg. 83).
Arnold related that "Paul's mastery of Jonah, David's of the New Testament, and the rest of us being able to quote many books of the Bible is simply a result of Father's and Mother's determination to keep family devotions going no matter what else came up to interfere. When any of us would complain because we had to spend so much time, he (the father) would quote us so many verses proving that it had to be done that one by one we were convinced that he was right, " (pg. 86). He calculated that he had spent 22,060 hours in the Word by the age of 21!
Reading about this family's dedication to God's Word has been so encouraging to me. Any amount of time spent in the Word is never a waste of time, unlike many of our leisure pursuits. It may be true that we are to do things in moderation, but this never applies to reading the Bible or prayer! Instead, we should be doing this in excess. In addition, I believe that the Bible should be our primary teaching tool for our children, not a Bible story book or a devotion book. Although they both have their place at times, they should never be the "meat". As I have said before, we really don't need to "dumb" things down for our children. The Bible is sufficient to meet all of our needs--no matter what our age or circumstances. God's Word is living and active and can do its work even in the youngest child's heart!
Currently, our family has devotions after breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as private devotions for each child before breakfast. Even the children who don't read are required to look at a picture in a Bible story book and pray in order to prepare them for this discipline when they are able to read. After breakfast, I have been reading from "Big Truths for Little Children" and we are memorizing the catechism. At lunch, I read the same passage of Scripture over and over for a month in order to have my children memorize it. We are working on Psalm 1 and everyone down to Elyse (age 4) has it memorized. We don't really "work" on it, but simply read it everyday. We do this at Christmas with Luke 2, which will be our passage next month. I also read a chapter at lunch from either Missionary Stories with the Millers, Prudence and the Millers, School Days with the Millers, Proverbs and the Millers, or Story time and the Millers. These books are FULL of God's truth applied in the form of short stories. My children LOVE them. I highly recommend them. After dinner, Cameron reads and dissects a passage of Scripture to the children. We are reading through John now.
After reading "Ten P's in a Pod", I have been encouraged to incorporate even more time in the Word in our day. I am going to begin reading our memorization passage at breakfast. This will allow us to have time at lunch to begin to read through the entire Bible, however long it takes us, by reading in 30 minutes increments daily. So, not much change, but just more of the Word of God. In this way, our children will be getting both the breadth (with me) and depth (with Cameron) of the Bible.
I guess what really struck me the most about the Pent family was the father's belief that we should be feeding our souls more than we are feeding our bodies because our bodies are temporal, but our souls are eternal. Isn't there so much truth in this? Think about it. How much time do we spend eating in a day? Don't we spend much more time eating than feeding on God's Word? Yet we are all going to die one day and the body we spent nourishing everyday is going to be gone. However, our souls are eternal. Do we spend an equal amount of time nourishing that which will not perish?
I have been pondering whether we can somehow take with us, into eternity, the hours we spent in God's Word. Surely it will not be for naught. Surely each hour spent in the Word is an investment in eternity, treasure in heaven. Surely somehow, when we invest time in God's Word, we can "take it with us", so to speak. It does not make sense that it would just be for "this" life because God's Word is eternal. If all this is true, why don't we spend MORE time in God's Word? Is there anything MORE worthwhile in this life? Is there anything better you could teach your children?
We need to nourish our children's souls as often as we feed their tummies. We wouldn't starve our children by giving them just one meal a day. No, we feed our children three meals a day in order to nourish and satisfy their physical appetites. Similarly, I want to feed my children the Word of God, which is their spiritual daily bread. If I feed that which will one day perish how much more should we feed that which will last forever--their eternal souls?
In Christ, Laura
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
5 months old--Already!
Semaiah is 5 months old today. Where has the time gone? I can't believe it has been that long since I had her! I really need to post a recent picture--they change so quickly at this age. She is such a little delight, always smiling, always being fought over--who gets to hold her. And . . . she is army crawling across the floor!!! She has been doing this for about a week! She is also turning her body in a 360 degree circle to get at what she wants. Is it just me, or is this early?? All of my babies have crawled at 6 months, and Jonas even started to pull up at 6 months, but I have never had a mobile baby at 4 months! I guess it is time to start busting out the gates again! *sigh* :)
OH! Did I mention that she is also my biggest baby? Yes! I finally have a baby ABOVE the 50% for weight. Yes, I know, Haven is a big girl--but she didn't get big until AFTER I stopped nursing her at a year (then she jumped from the 25% to the 50% in just 3 months! No telling where she is at now.). And then there is Katria, petite little Katria, who is STILL following her own growth curve at the 3rd% and the doctor says if she continues, she will be 5 feet tall as an adult! With Semaiah, I am finally getting to enjoy a baby with chubby legs. Man, are they SO adorable! Who knew chunky thighs could be so cute!
In Christ, Laura
OH! Did I mention that she is also my biggest baby? Yes! I finally have a baby ABOVE the 50% for weight. Yes, I know, Haven is a big girl--but she didn't get big until AFTER I stopped nursing her at a year (then she jumped from the 25% to the 50% in just 3 months! No telling where she is at now.). And then there is Katria, petite little Katria, who is STILL following her own growth curve at the 3rd% and the doctor says if she continues, she will be 5 feet tall as an adult! With Semaiah, I am finally getting to enjoy a baby with chubby legs. Man, are they SO adorable! Who knew chunky thighs could be so cute!
In Christ, Laura
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A New Homeschooling Subject: Play!
I have been thinking about my homeschooling philosophy recently and what my goals are in all of this. I mean, I definitely want my kids to be well-educated, deep-thinkers, avid-readers, self-learners, and high-achievers. Of course, I want them to know the Lord, and to walk deeply and strongly with Him. I guess that should go without saying. However, as I reflected on this more, I realized that there are other goals I have in mind that would most certainly exceed academic achievement. For example, I want my children to be able to respond to conflict in a godly manner. I want them to learn to turn the other cheek, that a soft answer turns away wrath, that love covers a multitude of sins. I want them to learn to be slow to become angry, slow to speak and quick to listen. I want them to be well-spoken, not necessarily eloquent, but that they have a timely word for a friend who is hurting or a diplomatic word in a time of personal conflict.
However, what I realized is that one of my top goals in this adventure that we call homeschooling is that my children are best friends with one another (putting all of the above into practice with each other!). That is why I believe that the hours my children spend playing together are priceless because they are cementing the bond of a lifetime. Just as we build precept upon precept in our learning of English grammar or mathematical concepts, we build our relationships little by little with shared experiences, investing in a bank of memories that will last for a lifetime. This bank will never go bankrupt.
My brother and I, growing up, were friends, but we also had our own lives. We attended public school and were separated by our grade for the majority of every day of our childhoods. We had our own friends. I didn't necessarily know who his friends were or what he was learning. Eventually, this transferred to our home with both of us preferring our "own" friends to the company of one another. This is "normal" you may say. But, is it? Or have we just accepted the cultural belief that brothers and sisters should bicker and grate on one another's nerves? Is this how God wants it to be? Doesn't he sovereignly and lovingly craft each family? These relationships were meant to last a lifetime, not for a season. We are not to grow up in the same house living parallel and separate lives! The majority of our experiences and memories SHOULD be shared!
My children spend almost all of their time together. They long to play with one another all through the morning hours of school. I have to confess, I have often become frustrated with their desire to play and their lack of enthusiasm for the subject placed before them at times. However, I have to check myself now. I have to ask myself, "Isn't this JUST as important as math, reading, and spelling? Aren't the hours they spend playing so valuable because they are investing in relationships that will last for eternity? I have to nurture these friendships NOW if I want them to continue as adults. I believe that these friendships don't just happen because children are raised in the same family. No, I believe we have to be proactive as parents in fostering these relationships, teaching our children the value of their siblings. We have to teach our children to love, to submit, to share, to think of others more highly than themselves. This does not come naturally to the sinful nature. It doesn't come natural to me! How much less to children? What I am trying to say is that just because my children are together all day everyday does NOT mean they will be best friends. We must INTENTIONALLY teach them to be best friends. Yes, I think it does begin with spending a great deal of time together, but it is fostered in so many ways. For example, in order to teach our children the importance of their siblings, we do things as a family. Thus, the whole family goes to Jonas' baseball games to cheer their brother on. We often have play-dates with other families as a family. If the family cannot do it together, we often don't do it! In addition, I can often be heard saying, "Our play needs to be in such a way that everyone is included." As a result, my children have learned to come up with elaborate pretend-play scenarios in order that Jonas can be the soldier and Anna can ride a horse, Katria is a princess and Haven is someone's baby and they make it work: FOR HOURS!
So, I have had to rethink again my definition of school and what is truly important. My children are learning all the time. Our lives are a classroom, every fight a learning opportunity, a chance to train them to walk in righteousness, to respond in godly ways. Conflict is like a science experiment--hands-on learning, putting Biblical principles into action! Our home is a laboratory!
So, I guess "play" will be another subject added to our school day--just don't tell the kids that I consider it school! SSHHHH! ;)
In Christ, Laura
However, what I realized is that one of my top goals in this adventure that we call homeschooling is that my children are best friends with one another (putting all of the above into practice with each other!). That is why I believe that the hours my children spend playing together are priceless because they are cementing the bond of a lifetime. Just as we build precept upon precept in our learning of English grammar or mathematical concepts, we build our relationships little by little with shared experiences, investing in a bank of memories that will last for a lifetime. This bank will never go bankrupt.
My brother and I, growing up, were friends, but we also had our own lives. We attended public school and were separated by our grade for the majority of every day of our childhoods. We had our own friends. I didn't necessarily know who his friends were or what he was learning. Eventually, this transferred to our home with both of us preferring our "own" friends to the company of one another. This is "normal" you may say. But, is it? Or have we just accepted the cultural belief that brothers and sisters should bicker and grate on one another's nerves? Is this how God wants it to be? Doesn't he sovereignly and lovingly craft each family? These relationships were meant to last a lifetime, not for a season. We are not to grow up in the same house living parallel and separate lives! The majority of our experiences and memories SHOULD be shared!
My children spend almost all of their time together. They long to play with one another all through the morning hours of school. I have to confess, I have often become frustrated with their desire to play and their lack of enthusiasm for the subject placed before them at times. However, I have to check myself now. I have to ask myself, "Isn't this JUST as important as math, reading, and spelling? Aren't the hours they spend playing so valuable because they are investing in relationships that will last for eternity? I have to nurture these friendships NOW if I want them to continue as adults. I believe that these friendships don't just happen because children are raised in the same family. No, I believe we have to be proactive as parents in fostering these relationships, teaching our children the value of their siblings. We have to teach our children to love, to submit, to share, to think of others more highly than themselves. This does not come naturally to the sinful nature. It doesn't come natural to me! How much less to children? What I am trying to say is that just because my children are together all day everyday does NOT mean they will be best friends. We must INTENTIONALLY teach them to be best friends. Yes, I think it does begin with spending a great deal of time together, but it is fostered in so many ways. For example, in order to teach our children the importance of their siblings, we do things as a family. Thus, the whole family goes to Jonas' baseball games to cheer their brother on. We often have play-dates with other families as a family. If the family cannot do it together, we often don't do it! In addition, I can often be heard saying, "Our play needs to be in such a way that everyone is included." As a result, my children have learned to come up with elaborate pretend-play scenarios in order that Jonas can be the soldier and Anna can ride a horse, Katria is a princess and Haven is someone's baby and they make it work: FOR HOURS!
So, I have had to rethink again my definition of school and what is truly important. My children are learning all the time. Our lives are a classroom, every fight a learning opportunity, a chance to train them to walk in righteousness, to respond in godly ways. Conflict is like a science experiment--hands-on learning, putting Biblical principles into action! Our home is a laboratory!
So, I guess "play" will be another subject added to our school day--just don't tell the kids that I consider it school! SSHHHH! ;)
In Christ, Laura
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Footie Pajamas
Who didn't love footie pajamas as a kid? They are so comfy and warm. I remember zipping myself into a pair as a kid, and waking up with sweaty feet! lol
So . . . we only have 1 pair of size 5 footie pajamas in our home. The problem? We have 2 little girls who wear size 5 and who both LOVE footie pajamas! I found a pair at a thrift store in Michigan, back in September, and this one pair immediately became the coveted pair of PJ's. Every night, Katria and Elyse race to see who can get the footie pajamas first. After several brawls, we had to alternate footie pajama nights! Who knew such tears could come from not being able to wear the footie pajamas to bed?! Oh, and forget about the nights that the footie pajamas were in the wash! That was just too much! Then we had 2 little girls in tears!
It is not often that these 2 little girls, so close in age, fight over wanting the same thing. They really are completely different. However, when they both want something--watch out! The battle over that item makes it even MORE desirable!
For Christmas, I am buying each girl a pair of her very own footie pajamas! That should solve the problem!
In Christ, Laura
So . . . we only have 1 pair of size 5 footie pajamas in our home. The problem? We have 2 little girls who wear size 5 and who both LOVE footie pajamas! I found a pair at a thrift store in Michigan, back in September, and this one pair immediately became the coveted pair of PJ's. Every night, Katria and Elyse race to see who can get the footie pajamas first. After several brawls, we had to alternate footie pajama nights! Who knew such tears could come from not being able to wear the footie pajamas to bed?! Oh, and forget about the nights that the footie pajamas were in the wash! That was just too much! Then we had 2 little girls in tears!
It is not often that these 2 little girls, so close in age, fight over wanting the same thing. They really are completely different. However, when they both want something--watch out! The battle over that item makes it even MORE desirable!
For Christmas, I am buying each girl a pair of her very own footie pajamas! That should solve the problem!
In Christ, Laura
And The Winner Is . . .
Drawn randomly by my daughter Anna . . .
TimandAdri!
You have won 2 Firm workout tapes!
Email me at mommamouro@yahoo.com and send me your address and I will send you your totally awesome, cheesy workout tapes!
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! ;)
In Christ, Laura
TimandAdri!
You have won 2 Firm workout tapes!
Email me at mommamouro@yahoo.com and send me your address and I will send you your totally awesome, cheesy workout tapes!
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! ;)
In Christ, Laura
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Two New Recipes
I thought I would share 2 recipes that I have made this week. They were both delicious. I have had both recipes for years, and tweaked them over time to make them my own.
Chicken Cacciatore
1 whole chicken, deboned
2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1/2 c. white wine
2 t. oregano
1 t. basil
1/2 c. brown sugar (trust me, it is supposed to be slightly sweet)
1 zucchini, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 (4 oz.) can of mushrooms or use fresh
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
I cooked a whole chicken in my crockpot all day, took it out, deboned it (threw the bones back in the broth to cook all night in order to make some rich broth). Saute onion, green pepper, and zucchini in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook a few more minutes. Pour in white wine. Next, add crushed tomaotes and stewed tomatoes. Stir in sugar. Season with bay leaves, oregano, basil. Lastly, add chicken in bite-sized pieces. Taste and re-taste and keep adding salt and pepper as needed. ;) Cook on low for an hour or so to allow flavors to marry or pour into your crockpot to simmer all day. Serve over rice. YUM! Everyone loved this one! It was even better today as lunch!
Here is the second recipe:
Quick and Easy Salsa
2 (14.5) cans diced tomatoes
1/4 onion
2 garlic cloves
3 slices jalapeno pepper
1/2 t. cumin
1/4 t. sugar
salt to taste
Throw 1/4 of an onion, 2 garlic cloves and 3 slices of jalapeno pepper (I used the convenient kind from a jar) into a food processor and pulse until chopped. Dump in cans of tomatoes and season with cumin, sugar and about 1 T. salt. Pulse quickly, but do not over-puree.
That's it! I used this salsa to cook chicken breasts in all day in my crockpot with 2cans of rinsed and drained black beans. The chicken fell apart and I will use this shredded mixture tomorrow to make burrito pockets with cheddar cheese. After brushing the filled tortillas with butter, I will bake them.
However, it is great just for snacking on with chips! Ask Abbie--she couldn't get enough! LOL
In Christ, Laura
Chicken Cacciatore
1 whole chicken, deboned
2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1/2 c. white wine
2 t. oregano
1 t. basil
1/2 c. brown sugar (trust me, it is supposed to be slightly sweet)
1 zucchini, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 (4 oz.) can of mushrooms or use fresh
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
I cooked a whole chicken in my crockpot all day, took it out, deboned it (threw the bones back in the broth to cook all night in order to make some rich broth). Saute onion, green pepper, and zucchini in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook a few more minutes. Pour in white wine. Next, add crushed tomaotes and stewed tomatoes. Stir in sugar. Season with bay leaves, oregano, basil. Lastly, add chicken in bite-sized pieces. Taste and re-taste and keep adding salt and pepper as needed. ;) Cook on low for an hour or so to allow flavors to marry or pour into your crockpot to simmer all day. Serve over rice. YUM! Everyone loved this one! It was even better today as lunch!
Here is the second recipe:
Quick and Easy Salsa
2 (14.5) cans diced tomatoes
1/4 onion
2 garlic cloves
3 slices jalapeno pepper
1/2 t. cumin
1/4 t. sugar
salt to taste
Throw 1/4 of an onion, 2 garlic cloves and 3 slices of jalapeno pepper (I used the convenient kind from a jar) into a food processor and pulse until chopped. Dump in cans of tomatoes and season with cumin, sugar and about 1 T. salt. Pulse quickly, but do not over-puree.
That's it! I used this salsa to cook chicken breasts in all day in my crockpot with 2cans of rinsed and drained black beans. The chicken fell apart and I will use this shredded mixture tomorrow to make burrito pockets with cheddar cheese. After brushing the filled tortillas with butter, I will bake them.
However, it is great just for snacking on with chips! Ask Abbie--she couldn't get enough! LOL
In Christ, Laura
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Give-Away!
Okay, this is a first for me. I have never had a "give-away" before and I don't know that I have ever participated in one on a blog, but they seem fun. I never really had anything to give away . . . until now.
Recently, I won a 'lot' of Firm tapes on ebay--6 of them--at a really great price, such a great price that it was worth it to me that I already owned 2 of them. So, I now have 2 extra Firm VHS tapes for which I have no need. I was just going to donate them to the thrift store, but I thought a "give-away" would be much more fun! They are:
The Firm: Aerobic Workout with Weights
and
The Firm: Low Impact Aerobics Total Body Workout
Like I mentioned previously, these tapes are really old, totally cheesy, but fun and they will give you results, at least I think so. :) To do these 2 tapes in particular, you need a set of weights (3 lb., 5 lb. and 8 lb.--though I usually don't go higher than 5 lb. except on Lateral Rows) and a tall stool (I got mine at Target for less than $10). (And remember, the women on these tapes are NOT dressed modestly, so be careful who is around when you do them!)
So . . . if you would like to be entered in a drawing for these 2 tapes, leave me a comment and I will announce the winner (by a random drawing) next Monday, the 16th of November, one week from today.
In Christ,
Laura
Recently, I won a 'lot' of Firm tapes on ebay--6 of them--at a really great price, such a great price that it was worth it to me that I already owned 2 of them. So, I now have 2 extra Firm VHS tapes for which I have no need. I was just going to donate them to the thrift store, but I thought a "give-away" would be much more fun! They are:
The Firm: Aerobic Workout with Weights
and
The Firm: Low Impact Aerobics Total Body Workout
Like I mentioned previously, these tapes are really old, totally cheesy, but fun and they will give you results, at least I think so. :) To do these 2 tapes in particular, you need a set of weights (3 lb., 5 lb. and 8 lb.--though I usually don't go higher than 5 lb. except on Lateral Rows) and a tall stool (I got mine at Target for less than $10). (And remember, the women on these tapes are NOT dressed modestly, so be careful who is around when you do them!)
So . . . if you would like to be entered in a drawing for these 2 tapes, leave me a comment and I will announce the winner (by a random drawing) next Monday, the 16th of November, one week from today.
In Christ,
Laura
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
