A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

encouragement

God-moments

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The title to this chapter in The Faith Shaped Life, is What Faith Sees.   As I read through this chapter on the providence of God I thought, you know what Mr. Hamilton is talking about?  God moments.   Those moments when we see God in action.

God moments

You see, God is ALWAYS in action, but sometimes, just sometimes we see it more clearly, and then when we pause to think about it, when we see those moments, we see ALL those moments that led up to it.

Take for instance Esther.. becoming queen in a land that was not her own.  And through her a whole people was saved.  A total God moment.  But do we pause to think about how God orchestrated her parents meeting, her officials being impressed by her beauty, how she knew who to listen to, how to take advice and follow protocols. God made her the person that she was for such a time as was needed.

Do we pause to think about how God orchestrated Esther's parents meeting, her officials being impressed by her beauty, how she knew how to take advice and follow protocols. God made her the person that she was for such a time as was… Click To Tweet

God-moments surround us.

I look at these past couple of weeks of selling the items in the church.  It’s been hard busy work but OH… the stories.

A church needing pews, another needing hymnbooks, two boys with a love for stories finding books to read, a missionary blessed with needed supplies, bibles filling church pews, a community kitchen with dishes to spare, a mom with a daughter needing a vacuum, and so many more stories.  God moments each and every one.

Sanctuary Pews

As irritating as people can be who want things for free, or who get angry when they don’t get what they want, the treasures of people you meet, people who fill you with hope… these people make it worth making an effort.  God at work, bringing people out of the woodwork that I never knew existed. There is difficulty in closing down a church and seeing it dismantled.  It’s a tough thing, but oh… after hearing stories… it’s a GOOD thing you know?   Seeing those connections of God-moments. WOW!  Churches grow, churches fail, Facebook is invented, buy and sell groups come to life, people connections happen with friends and relatives, laughter and tears, community kitchens serving the meals, seeing needs not always readily apparent.   Items coming ready just as they are needed.  Timing… it’s all in the Lord’s hands.  He’s orchestrated it all and has given us…..God moments.  

And so I am blessed.

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!  Ps 99:1

 

What am I thankful for?

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Today is Thankful Thursday, what are YOU thankful for?

Well.. right off the top of my head?  I’m glad this is the last one of the five day blog hop posts I need to write!   GAH, I got so far behind!   Anyways, you all will forgive me right?  Even if I wrote them out of order who cares eh?

But seriously what I am thankful for?

what are you thankful for

Friends

This week I desperately wanted to be able to tackle two-three weeks of the lads chosen course of study for this coming year.  The World Wars.   I’ve felt like I’ve had ZERO time over this summer to work on this so was starting to feel pretty desperate. Was talking to a friend and she said “the lad can come here for a couple days”. I did a double take and ask “are you sure?”  Answering in the affirmative I felt my heart grow lighter.   I sent him along to her house Monday night and he came home Wednesday and we had a lovely meal together.  

I am thankful for moms who take a chance to help another mom out in the quest to make new friendships. I am thankful for boys who are willing to expand their circle of friendship.  I am thankful for the internet that broadens my world.   I am thankful for volunteer jobs that help me to see deeper into the lives of others. 

Family:

Then my mom-in-law said “I’ll take the lad, he can come here til Sunday.” My heart grew lighter still.  MORE TIME!  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Isn’t it marvellous?

But then here I sit, Friday night and you know what?   I miss my boy, his chatter and presence, his “can we play _____ together?” questions.  His help with chores and life.   I”m such a silly goob eh?  Good reminder I have to feed the birds!  Be right back.

And this week I was talking with my sis-in-law about concerns I had about mom and she gave me a different perspective to take and a small sorrow in my heart was lifted.   Changes in perspective are such as amazing thing.  Taking the time to explain, to show a different side, it’s a matter I deeply appreciate.  

Faith

It’s an integral part of my life you know?  Even though I often forget to pray and I often forget to bring God into conversations, when it comes right down to it, I wouldn’t give God up for nothing.  He gives me heart hugs, and reminders, and pushes me to be more than I am.   He melts my heart at unexpected times and helps me see a bigger world beyond my walls. Daily I find myself aware of my foibles and wishing I didn’t have them.  That I could remember daily to think of him first, instead of myself.

But take this week for instance.  I HAD PLANS I was going to work diligently at the lad’s schooling.  Getting six weeks organized and I’d be on top of the world.  I’d have all my reviews done and life would be at ease.

Then… Monday was a horrible no-good rotten sort of day.  I got a review done that I’ve been dreading doing (funny how when you are in a rotten mood it makes hard jobs easier).   

Tuesday.. I went to the library and I made progress!  Worked hard for five hours!

Wednesday… didn’t run the way I expected it to.  Didn’t get to the library   Wednesday… the lad was coming home again, and I really can’t remember the day very well other than I made supper for friends and muddled about.  Didn’t get much done (the toilet was my friend I remember that much).   

Thursday came and I thought YES!  I can get things done.. more work on schooling this afternoon.  Well… after taking the lad to Gramma’s and putting groceries away and kissing hubby off to work my body went into “NO you can’t sit still. NO, move move move.”  So nothing good came of that day except at night I had a long overdue chat with a friend.   I shouldn’t say NOTHING good came of the day: I got two loads laundry done, lawn mowed front and back, two old trees removed, downstairs bathroom cleaned and something else. OH.. most of my HOPE class organized (but not completely).

Friday..that’s today eh!   London happened.  Needed to get some stuff for hubby, sold a bunny on the way there, picked up some supplies, and came home hoping to get some posts written and I DID!!!!   YEAH!!!!!  Sold another bunny at supper time.  

So you see, even though the week didn’t go as I wanted it to, God was good eh?   He helped me get a grip on the schooling stuff (three weeks ahead is probably better than six weeks ahead as it gives flexibility), I have some posts written, albeit late, I sold some bunnies who were starting to squabble with each other, and I had good conversations with two different friends this week.  It’s good.  I’ve been able to support hubby in his career shift, and give my boy time with people that he dearly loves.  God is SO AWESOME!

What are you thankful for?  I’d be delighted to hear.

 

back to school blog hop

Follow the links for the series total!

Dear Frantic One.
Exploring Canadian History through Field Trips.
Easy and Hard how-to’s of homeschooling.

Here are those of us taking part.

Jennifer @ Dear Homeschooler
Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Karen @ Tots and Me…Growing Up Together
Kelly @ Hope in the Chaos
Kellyann @ Walking Home …
Kimberley @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest to Teach
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Laura @ Four Little Penguins
Linda @ Apron Strings & other things
Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
Angie @ Run Ran Family Adventures & Learning
Annette @ A Net in Time
Ashley @ Gift of Chaos
Betty @ Let’s Get Real
Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
Carol @ Home Sweet Life
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Christine @ Christine Howard
Christy @ The Simple Homemaker
Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag
Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
Diana @ Homeschool Review
Felicia @ Homeschool 4 Life
Jacquelin @ A Stable Beginning
Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine
Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
Nicole @ Bless Their Hearts Mom
Patti @ Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge For Whining
Rodna @ Training Children up for Christ
Stacy @ A Homemakers Heart
Tess @ Circling Through This Life
Wendy @ Life at Rossmont
Yvie @ Gypsy Road
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures
Lori @ At Home: where life happens
Margaret @ Creative Madness Mama
Marla @ Jump Into Genius
Meredith @ Powerline Productions: Being World Changers/Raising World Changers
Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays
Missica @ Through The Open Window
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling



Dear Frantic One

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Welcome to the Homeschool Review Crew’s Summer Blog hop.  In this blog hop you will find five days of encouragement as we head back to school.  You’ll see our overall topics posted in the image.  I’m going to be working this day by day so it will be a surprise eh!  🙂   Some of the topics I have no clear leading on and others I have an idea in the works but sometimes, those ideas go in directions different than what I plan.   Let’s walk through this week together, do some good reading, and be encouraged.  Day One is about encouragement for the school year.

back to school blog hop

I write today’s post quite honestly with me in mind.  My thinking is that if I am feeling a certain way, others will be as well as God’s word tells us that there is nothing new under the sun.

Right now I am feeling a bit frantic.  My son has a goal in mind for what he wants to learn about with this schooling this year.  He wants to learn about the great wars and he wants to make it as all inclusive as he can.  So he will learn geography, science, art, music etc all around the idea of the the wars and their time periods. Not only that, he’d very much like to study how Canada was involved in the wars.  So that’s where I am at, and here’s what I want someone who’s been there done that to say to me.

woman looking over lake, text dear frantic one

Dear Frantic One

Calm yourself.  This is your child you are schooling.  Do you think he’s going to freak out if you don’t have everything organized or if you have to delay for a day or two as you catch your breath before you dig in?  Did you raise your child to fret or to think schooling is more important than people?

Calm yourself, talk to your child.  Do they envision a certain way for their schooling to happen?  For instance, do they want research projects or papers to write?   Does he envision art projects or science experiments?  Would videos and making a report on them fill their desire to know more?   Can you work around the desire to not have to write things down by focusing on narration or hands-on efforts?

Calm yourself, think about what you have. Do you have create a whole program?  Are there things you have at hand that will do the job?   Can you tweak what others have done to make something that will suit your child better?

Calm yourself, do you have to have all the answers for September  4th (or whatever day you start)?   Are you going to go all in right from the start or will you ease your way slowly in?  Is a delay going to ruin your entire year or can you work a bit more five days throughout the year if you aren’t quite ready yet?

Calm yourself, if you are a person of faith, have you taken the time to talk to God?  Have you committed your day and year to him?  Have you discussed your plans with him?

Calm yourself, have you talked with your partner   Have you talked about your  worries?   Have you listened to advice?  Sought his/her help?

Calm yourself and remind yourself, this is something YOU can do.  Just take your time, grab your moments, and figure it out.  You can do it!   One small step at a time and before you know the whole year will be over.  A child to teach, experiences to share, and life to live well.  🙂 

Some of the participants:

Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
Angie @ Run Ran Family Adventures & Learning
Annette @ A Net in Time
Ashley @ Gift of Chaos
Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
Carol @ Home Sweet Life
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Christine @ Christine Howard

Nicole @ Bless Their Hearts Mom
Patti @ Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge For Whining
Rodna @ Training Children up for Christ
Stacy @ A Homemakers Heart
Wendy @ Life at Rossmont
Yvie @ Gypsy Road



Observe, Collect, Draw

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Observe, Collect, Draw is a journal to help you learn more about yourself (by collecting data) in order that you may become more connected to who you are.  Doing this will enable you to be the creative, talented person that you are.    So if you are an artist, or writer, or sculptor, you can bring forth your talents more easily.  🙂  This is my review. 

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journal

From the back cover:

A guided journal with a fresh approach to the trend of journal-as-tool-for-self-examination. The journal is delightfully illustrated in the authors’ trademark style-accessible, whimsical, detailed. Blending inspiring examples with engaging instruction, this journal asks: What do we learn about ourselves when we measure our gratitude, confidence, and distraction levels? What do our collections say about who we are: our books, music, the clothes we wear? Observe, Collect, Draw! functions as a mini-course in information design, as accessible to beginners as it is engaging to seasoned info designers.

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journal

The Nitty Gritty

Three main Sections to this journal

Part one: learning to see.  This is where you overcome your fear of the blank page while learning more about using the data you have as material. 

Part two: Observing, Collecting, Drawing.   Immersing yourself in the world of data by following guided exercises to observe, acknowledge, count and draw.

Part three: Crafting your visual language.  You’ll find open ended ideas for drawing with the data you have collected, following your own rules and using your own style.   Your work, done your way, using your own style and rules. 

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journalThroughout the pages you will find whimsical drawings starting with learning what Data is.  Data is simply getting the math about the things that are in your life: plants, people, food, events, interactions, it’s all just data.  It tells us who we are and what we do.  What’s important to us is shown to us in the data we collect about our lives. 

You can then take that data and turn it into a useful form.

Like when a person enjoys a beautiful sunset and takes those colours and turns into a painting, necklace or rug. 

The goal of this journal is to help you figure out what the data is in your life, so that you can in turn take that data and be the artist you are meant to be. To that end, guided exercises are given to help you collect data. 

For instance, grab up your camera/phone.  Take a look at the pictures that are on it.  Now map out what’s on it, animals could be blue, people red, houses orange… Whatever.  Just map it out.  Colour code and use dots and shadings to show connections.   This gives you data. 

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journalYou not only look at the good things of your life, but you also get into the harder things in life, like figuring out what makes you complain.  What you complain about?  Who do you complain to?   It’s all data. 

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journalThe more you document your life, the more data you can mine, which gives you more information you can turn into artistic endeavors.  Once you have worked your way through all 35 exercises, you are invited to then draw.  First you analyze the data you have collected, find the stories of your life, then experiment with how those stories look using colour, lines, images, and before you know it you have a data image.  Once you have that, you work your way through 12 additional exercises, or if you will, drawing prompts.

These drawing prompts include things like the animals you see, your holiday souvenir, your family, small talk, social media and more. 

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t too sure about this book when I first got it.  It’s like HUH?   I’m supposed to examine my life so that it makes my art better?  Who in the world has time for that?!?!?!?  But as I went through it, it started to make sense.  The more you know about yourself and the way you put things together, the more you can bring yourself out in the art that you produce.  It’s not a bad thing that, is it?  

Is it worth getting?  I think so. It’s good to stop and think about the things you do sometimes, helps a body to become more aware of personal foibles, strengths, interests they perhaps weren’t aware of, and gives ideas to talk about.. for instance today I was thinking about how much I like mint tea… making MY OWN mint tea, and then wondered if I could inspire others to like mint tea. This I thought about because of a page in this book.   Good yes?  Indeed. 

Observe, Collect, Draw - a visual journal

 

Observe, Collect, Draw! A Visual Journal.
Giorgia Lupi
Stefanie Posavec
Princeton Architectural Press
Softcover, 160 pages
Journal, Art, Self-discovery
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Other Giorgia Lupi books you might be interested in
Dear Data.
Dear Data Postcard kit.

disclosure

We Inspire Me

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You know how creative people like to have others around them? Well actually how most people like to have some type of support system? We Inspire Me: Cultivate your Creative Crew to Work, Play and Make by Andrea Pippins is all about reaching out to the people in your life now, or those that you cultivate, in order to help you work, play and make.

Although this book focuses on building your CREATIVE community, the lessons contained within the pages are for anyone who just wants to expand the number of people in their lives. we inspire me
About the Author:

Andrea Pippins is a designer, illustrator, educator, and author currently residing in Stockholm, Sweden.

What Do You Get?

we inspire me

Andrea Poppins brings together stories, essays, illustrations, advice and tips related to the importance of building and nurturing one’s creative community.   It is important to surround yourself with people that want to see you excel and thrive.  This is not a how to book, this is a tips and suggestions books with stories to inspire you to make connections with those around you. 

As you turn the pages you will notice the bright and colourful designs.  You’ll find a mingling of pinks, browns, yellows, and blues. The title pages are clearly delineated with a write up telling you what’s important in this section.we inspire me

Each individual who tells a story is enabled to do so with interesting fonts and important lessons.   

we inspire meLessons span topics such as sharing stories about dealing with mental illness, to how to find people with common interests, different formats to bring people together, how to celebrate each other’s creativity and more. 

we inspire meI was talking with Lisa the other day and she was telling me about different groups that she is part of.   Her accountability groups and mentoring groups and such like.   Some she paid to be part of, and others she chose to start.  And I have to admit, as an introvert, trying to figure out how to start a group and be able to chat with different people about ideas is difficult, even if it is on-line.  It’s so easy to get lost in the conversation whether it’s in person or on-line.  I don’t quite get how one does it.   Books like these help. 

I don’t think a tribe of one or two is what this book is calling for though eh?   A tribe implies more than just one or two. I can see the advantage of having a variety of people with differing skills as part of your group, and how it is vital to inspiring one’s own creativity.  We can inspire each other. 

This book talks about that though, how an introvert who prefers stick to the quiet things, can push past that to attend events that lead to friendships.  It’s good to do that eh?  To take that risk and try it something new out. 

Some of the ideas I ran into:

Wine Tasting, Team sports, paint night, go out for brunch with at least four people, throw an event that YOU would be interested in, bring a business card to a meeting (maybe 5-7) and make a goal of passing them out before the night is through and you can start a neighbourhood project… perhaps you need a new park or art centre?  Who knows the people you will meet along the way.  Might be your new best friend or just the person you need to inspire you to greater heights in your life.  You just never know if you don’t take the chance. 
we inspire me

 

We Inspire Me: Cultivate your Creative Crew to Work, Play and Make
Andrea Pippins
Chronicle Books
152 pages, hardcover
Creative, Teamwork
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

disclosure

Everything is Theological

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May and June are going to be rather crazy busy around here, so I asked my friends in the Five Minute Friday community if they might lend a hand and write me a post or two, just to take the load off.   Ruth took up my plea and gave me this LOVELY post you’ll read below.   I love the thinking behind this post.  🙂  She blogs here.

Everything is Thelogical

I first heard the phrase, “everything is theological” in 1998. To say I did not like it or the professor who tacked the quote to his office door would be an understatement.

I’d believed up to that point that there is indeed sacred and secular. The one must be separate from the other for good Christians to live in this world – in it not of it. I believed this wholeheartedly. Checkboxes, black and white thinking (never any gray), and a shallow understanding of grace made for an easy way to live. 

For months that professor kept at us, as a good teacher does, with many different examples of how “everything is theological”. As students often do, we ignored him, all of us future teachers. Until someone had an ‘aha’ moment in class. “You mean everything we believe about God matters in the rubber-meeting-road of life??” The rest of us sat back and our prof was blinded by all the proverbial lightbulbs going off.

My philosophy of teaching began to change that day. I no longer thought of teaching as a “me standing above you telling you things” idea but rather “how can I open your eyes to see who God is, even in the dull parts of math”. (One
plus one will always equal two because God never changes.)

I’m now the mom of 3 kids who love to read! The 13 year old girl and her 11 and 9 year old brothers all have extremely different tastes in books. I could see this morphing into an unnecessary battleground. So when they were young, I did my best to whet their appetites for great stories and deep characters whether good or evil, and help them learn how to observe and discuss as they read. I bought up every Great Illustrated Classic book I found at thrift stores and garage sales. They offer the great stories of redemption and justice like: The Count of Monte Cristo, Frankenstein, and Jane Eyre at a level my children can embrace.

As we read, it became a habit to ask these questions:

Who are the characters and do they remind you of anyone?

Why did Harry Potter choose not to ask for help from an adult?
What does the author believe about people?
Are they basically good or evil?
Are adults treated as imbeciles and the kids save the day?
Is the story dark and scary? How? Why?
Are you surprised by what you feel about the story?
Is there an unlikely character who becomes the hero?
Is there a character you really don’t like? Why?
Does the story remind you of any other stories?

Even Dr. Seuss can contribute to amazing discussions about the most surprising things. It’s not simply books, either.
Movies are books we see through someone else’s eyes, and we need to help our children develop habits of thinking as they watch.

My middle child told me he checked out Les Miserables (the full version) from school. While I was very impressed with him for wanting to take on this amazing story, and not being swayed by his school librarian’s doubt of his abilities, I also didn’t let him read it. My 11 year old is not ready to discuss the idea of prostitution. In his disappointment, I began to tell him the story. The familiar story of a thief receiving grace and what it cost the giver blew him away. It was one of those very satisfying mom moments.

You won’t have these moments each and every time you read aloud.

Some days it’s slogging through a chapter while certain individuals repeatedly cannot keep their hands to themselves. Some days they beg for more chapters.  It’s the journey.

Remember you’re giving them tools to sift through what the world tosses at them. They need to know that everything is truly theological.


Ruth Verkaik is a teacher turned writer. She’s also wife to an engineer who
loves to ask “why??” to most things in life as do their 3 children. Her favorite
place is her bright windowed space where she loves to create and write. Often,
she can be found with a cup of tea and a good book while ignoring the laundry.
Sometimes her 50lb puppy joins her. Sometimes her book-loving kids. Her digital
space can be found at
www.ruthlverkaik.wordpress.com
.

Three Ways to Combat Worry

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Please welcome with me Diana Rockwell to my blog today.  With my son’s ear surgery this month and life being a bit hairy lately, she was ever so gracious to help me out with my blog.  

Thank you Diana so very, very much.  🙂

My heart was racing, chest pain developing, an EKG changing. Off to the hospital in an ambulance I went, filled with fear and worry while waiting for answers from doctors, answers which did not come quickly enough.

Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or is a threat. What are the things that cause us to fear? I put this question out in a Facebook post and the answers were revealing. Profound fears were expressed, such as loved ones not knowing Jesus, not knowing of God’s faithfulness or receiving the desires of one’s heart such as marriage and children. The fear of poor health, death, not having enough money, and loss of a job were also expressed. All of these fears lead to worry.

Worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. As I asked what my Facebook friends were worrying about, more truth was told. Many are worrying about financial concerns, about their health, something happening to them, leaving their husband alone due to their death, children that are rejecting Christ, hurting families, and the state of the world. All of this worry makes me think of a promise in Matthew 6.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” – Matthew 6:25

So what do you do when the storms of life hit you? There are three ways to combat worry.

  1. Prayer
  2. Check your thoughts
  3. Let Go and Let God.

It is hard not to worry, but Matthew 6:26 reminds us that God takes care of the birds, so He will take care of us. Matthew 6:33 tells us that when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be added unto you. By going to God in prayer we invite Him into our storm.

[Tweet “By going to God in prayer, we invite Him into our storm.”]

We need to take our thoughts captive. (2 Corinthians 10:5) Psalm 139: 23 says, “Search me O God and see if there is any anxious way in me,” imploring us to give our worries to God. Once we do, we need to let go and let God have our problems, Matthew 6:34 says, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself, each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I am still in God’s waiting room, but God holds my tomorrows. He knows my heart better than my cardiologist. I am combating worry daily by prayer. I check my thoughts by reading God’s word and I let go by trusting God for complete healing.

[Tweet “I am still in God’s waiting room, but God holds my tomorrows.”]

Father God, I ask that fear and worry not rule our lives. You did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind according to 2 Timothy 1:7. I ask that you bless us and answer our prayers and remove all fear and worry, helping us walk through the storms of life knowing you are in complete control.In Jesus I pray, Amen.

What worry or fear do you need to give to Jesus?

Diana Rockwell lives in Ramona, California. She is a daughter of the King of Kings, a wife, mother, grandmother, and a retired nurse. She serves on a Freedom in Christ ministry team as a trained encourager and prays for people who are struggling with lies that are keeping them in bondage. She has taught women’s bible studies and shared her testimony in Nazareth on a mission trip to Israel where several people came to know Christ as a result. Her personal weight loss journey is published in Tracie Miles book “Your Life Still Counts” released in October, 2014. Diana loves to share the message of freedom and redemption in Christ on her blog. You can find Diana at her blog, Facebook and on Twitter.