My Personal Pledge

  As I reflected on the election results, I was saddened by the media coverage, Facebook posts and general outrage. It made me really think about how I wanted to live out my days on this earth. I came up with my own "personal pledge", but it is a work in progress. I'm sure I could add a lot more pledges to it as God directs.

So here goes...

•  I pledge to look to God's Word daily for wisdom and discernment.
• I pledge to pray for our nation, leaders and citizens daily.
• I pledge to ask God to daily help me practice the freedom of speech by using self-control, by "keeping my tongue from evil and speaking lies" (Psalm 34:13), by listening before speaking.
• I pledge to limit social media in my life, to be real with people, to communicate face-to-face and over the phone more than through texting and Facebook.
• I pledge to listen to our leaders speak, then turn off the commentary so I can form my own opinion.
• I pledge to do my best to get the news from an unbiased source and focus more on the good God is doing in the world. I will pray for those facing trouble, but not fear.
• I pledge to point people to Christ as our King, God's goodness and mercy, his faithfulness and salvation rather than looking to our leaders as heroes or saviors.
• I pledge to turn off the TV and devices and cut out distractions, so I can read good books to my children, be a better listener, snuggle with my family more, play more, admire God's world around me and eat better meals. 

Well, this is a good start. :)

Why I Love Homeschooling

It's nearly 9 o'clock and all my girls are together in the kitchen and dining room. Nora and Karina together made their own homemade pancakes and even cracked the eggs. :) Leona is enjoying pancakes, peas and corn in her high chair and cutely swaying to Scripture songs by Seeds Family Worship. Adela is helping Karina learn how to flip pancakes on the griddle. Karina's job is to put the chocolate chips on each pancake. Nora is happily doing some artwork. The Bible is open on the table as we are reading John 6 for our Bible study. It is true it is sometimes easy to lose perspective. When I was Adela's age, I would have already been at school over an hour and been sitting at a desk in a classroom. I'm learning that this is "school" too. Life school. And we get to do it all together. We learn how to get along, take turns, practice patience a lot, and work out a thousand other character traits. God is good and faithful and I am blessed to have four girls to raise to love and follow him. Oh, and yes, we will do some "schoolwork" after breakfast. :)
(I would post a picture, but I am technologically challenged as all the pictures are on Leo's smart phone and I can't get to them!)