Yawn!! It's almost time for a quick nap before heading back to church tonight...I'm on the schedule to work in the nursery so I have to be there a bit early.
We actually went out to eat today after church...there were only 4 of us and we ate fairly cheaply at a local pizza place. We hardly ever all go out so it was a nice change of pace!
We talked to the two younger ones about cooperating with each other more and being joyfully obedient. I think that is a foreign concept to most 12 and 13 year olds but I hope to make it more important in their lives! We're also trying to get back to "game night" with the kids. We figured out that it will have to be Monday nights so tomorrow will be a good time to start!

We then went to Walmart!! I haven't been to Walmart since (I think) before Christmas! In fact, the only place I really ever shop at anymore is the Goodwill Store! It was kind of fun and I was able to get a birthday present for Rebecca and some new inexpensive food storage bowls. However, I couldn't find paraffin and I wanted to try out a candy recipe that I copied from the Duggar's book, "Twenty and Counting". I guess I will have to go to a different store! The people at Walmart had me going in THREE different places! Finally, one guy directed me to the FURNITURE department...where I found CANDLES! Not exactly what I was looking for....

We went to Michael's craft store and bought two more birthday presents...I had two 50% off coupons and bought things for Rebecca for $5! I can't wait to give them to her!

THEN, we went to the bookstore where Marci works and picked out a few presents for her to buy with her discounts! All in all, so far, it has been a money saving day! (Of course, if we had just come straight home after morning church, we would have saved MORE!)

By the way, we are almost in "BIRTHDAY MONTH" in our home! Four of my five children have birthdays in March! Three are in the same week and if Becca hadn't been TERRIBLY, life threateningly late, they would have all been in the same week! So it's almost like Christmas here in March...and expensive! I have a few projects to work on...I hope to post them after the birthdays because Little Miss Nosy reads my blog! (Not you, dear Erin...your little sister in law! A.K.A. Becca!!)
We are planning to have a big family birthday party on March 7th right after church with a brunch! (And Roger's famous cake!!) Marci's birthday is the 7th, Jennie's is the 12th, Danny's is the 14th and Rebecca's is the 27th!!
Have a lovely day!
Beth ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The Virtuous Woman

I went to a ladies Bible study last night at our church. I've only been able to go to 2 of the 6 weeks we've been studying Ruth. It is hard, I think, to get out at night when you have a family to tend to. However, my husband made a special effort to get home in time for me to leave so I thought I should at least make my own effort to be there!

There was a point that my pastor's wife mentioned that made me stop and think. (And go off on my own little bunny trail in my mind....)
Ruth was the only lady in the Bible mentioned BY NAME to be a "virtuous woman." There were many many virtuous women in the Bible, Mary the mother of Jesus, is the very first one I think of. But Ruth was called a virtuous woman by Boaz...her kinsman redeemer.

If you aren't familiar with the story of Ruth, she was married to Naomi's son who had died. Naomi now had no men left in her own family since she was a widow and both her sons had died. Her other daughter in law went back to her own people but Ruth loved Naomi and insisted that she stay with her. They travelled back to Bethlehem to Naomi's people.

It is in Bethlehem that people recognized that Ruth was an outstanding young woman. They knew that she was a "foreigner" to them and that she left all that she knew to stay by her mother in law's side. THAT'S THE KIND OF MOTHER IN LAW/ DAUGHTER IN LAW RELATIONSHIP THAT ANY CHRISTIAN WOMAN WOULD DESIRE! (I am blessed to have precious daughters in law!!)

Ruth started having a reputation! A WONDERFUL reputation! Boaz asked his men who the young woman was picking up leftover grain in his field. They told her that this young woman was the one who had returned with Naomi to be with her and to take care of her! Boaz was impressed! He made sure that Ruth was given privileges and no one was to bother her. When Ruth asked him "WHY?" he told her that he had been told what she had done in leaving her home and forsaking all to stay with her mother in law. HE KNEW WHAT KIND OF HEART RUTH HAD! Hers was the kind of heart that a man could fall in love with. She could also be trusted with HIS heart!

He later told Ruth that everyone knew that she was a VIRTUOUS woman!
Can you imagine that? That is the kind of heart I want my daughters to grow! I want a young Godly man to fall in love with her heart!

Eventually Ruth and Boaz marry and she gives birth to Obed. (She also honors Naomi even further by allowing Naomi to have a major role in little Obed's life! That's the kind of daughters in law that I am so blessed to have!)
Obed grows up and has a son named Jesse. Jesse in turn has a son named David...the future KING of Israel! David's son was King Solomon!
So, now I'm taking you to Proverbs 31...written by Solomon. He is retelling the words spoken to King Lemuel who some scholars think was also Solomon. He said, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her..."
No doubt Solomon grew up learning about this virtuous great great grandma of his!
He also grew up knowing that Boaz's own mother (Solomon's great great great grandmother)was a harlot but by God's incredible grace was used to save the Israelite spies when the men of Jericho were trying to get them. Rahab was given a place of honor with the Israelites regardless of her past! She is even mentioned in the "Faith" chapter, Hebrews 11:31! Our amazing God used Rahab regardless of her past! She was willing to be used of Him!

Studying these events give me HOPE as it should to all women! (and men...) I went through a time in my life that I thought my usefulness to God was over! I thought my life had been ruined by my divorce and that God was going to "put me on a shelf" as the pastor I grew up with used to say. Nowhere does God say he can't use someone! He used so many "unworthy" men and women in the Bible! It is by His Grace that we are SAVED not by our so called righteous lives.

Taking the Biblical genealogy of Rahab the harlot and Ruth, the "virtuous woman" a little further, from being David and Solomon's grandmothers and looking down the line into the New Testament, we find that there is ONE perfect person related to them! Our Savior, Jesus, is in their lineage as Matthew and Luke tell us in their gospels. Jesus was the step son of Joseph who was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus! Mary was in some way related to Joseph though possibly distantly. Some scholars believe that the two genealogies in the Gospels were different because one was Joseph's and one was Mary's. Regardless, Gabriel's prophesy to Mary was that Jesus would be of the house of David which meant that even Mary was descended from these two ladies!

The thing that struck me the most about these ladies is that it was their HEARTS that God used! Ruth loved Naomi and took care of her! Boaz appreciated that in her! Rahab knew that the true God was the God of Israel and she also felt compassion for the Israelite spies she protected! God knows our hearts and can use, above all things, a heart that is compassionate and willing to serve Him!

Homeschool week in review...

We decided to have some fun with our homeschooling week last week. I had purchased a missionary book about children in other countries that had accepted Christ. At the end of each story, there is a recipe from that country. My mission passion is Ethiopia (where I would LOVE to adopt from!!!) so I started reading a story out loud from there. We also made Injera...a type of Ethiopian bread. I made an egg and sausage dish with mixed vegetables on the side. You don't use utensils with this meal and it is eaten by wrapping the egg and veggies in the bready/pancake thing. I'm not sure how Ethiopian the rest of the meal was but the bread was very similar to what we had eaten in an Ethiopian restaurant. I substituted sausage for beef in our egg dish because that's what I had on hand. It was sooo good and fun to have this meal! The girls enjoyed helping me make it!

Jennie helped with the cooking of the "bread" since we all liked it so well that we ran out during the meal! She graciously volunteered to make some more for everyone!

Earlier in the week, we celebrated the Chinese New Year by going out to a yummy Chinese restaurant. The owner also suggested that we go to the Asian Market on the north side of Indianapolis. Becca bought some of these items there for a research project for homeschooling and for 4H this summer. She is also going to enter her part Siamese cat in the "Cat Project" in 4H. She is going to compete in the "cat cage" contest so she is planning to decorate it with Chinese things.

Becca is being silly at the restaurant. Both Jennie and Becca think it's hilarious that I can't get the hang of chopsticks and encourage me to keep trying. (Amidst their chuckles...) I try it a few times and then get out my fork...

The plan tonight is to continue with some more of the missionary book as we read about China and make fried rice. I will probably make it with mixed veggies and chicken! YUMMY! We love Chinese food! Maybe I can talk Roger into stopping and getting the filling for lettuce wraps at Trader Joes Market on the way home from work to add to the meal!!

By the way, we accepted the Counter-Offer on OUR little piece of property!! Notice I said "OUR"?? I guess it isn't OURS until we close on it but it's one step closer to living our modest dream and to financial freedom! The LORD is TRULY GOOD! I am constantly amazed at His provision for us! I should clarify that, I guess. I know that HE is able to do anything He wants...I just feel so blessed and humbled that He cares for us so much. He is an amazing Father!!

MORE ABOUT THE PROPERTY

It has been a LONG time since Tuesday night when we made an offer on that little bit of ground out in the country. Every evening and every morning I thought, "We'll find out if the offer has been accepted TODAY!" But no phone call ever game.
The offer ran out today (Friday) at noon.
I was already convinced that they owners weren't going to respond and by noon, they hadn't.
I prayed all the way to work this morning...at 5 a.m....that they WOULD respond but more importantly, that I wouldn't act like a spoiled brat and be grouchy that I didn't get the land.

At around 2:45 this afternoon, Roger called and acted all down in the dumps. THEN, the little stinker, he said that we have a counter offer! I asked him what it was and then said, "Please, please, please take it!!" I have NO idea why it came in so late but I don't care! Maybe God was testing me! Maybe God was trying to prove to ME that I can be nice when I'm grumpy....Hmmm...what a concept....

Tomorrow we sign the counter offer and fax it off to the selling realtor!! WooHoo!!

It's pretty late and I have to get up in 6 hours to go back to work so I need to go to bed.
I just couldn't wait to share our news!
Blessings,
Beth

STILL waiting and Info on School Teaching Sub.

Well, we're still waiting on word about the little piece of ground we put an offer on. I am NOW beginning to worry although I know that worrying is something that I have been commanded by God not to do. I also asked my husband prior to our offer to pray that IF this isn't something that GOD wants us to have, then let it not happen. BUT OH DO I WANT IT TO HAPPEN!!

Today as I was walking out to get our mail, my retired policeman neighbor called over to me. He is the one that I left the information with regarding the substitute teacher that had been in trouble with the police because of his involvement with teenage girls and cheerleader pictures.
He has now been fired from our school.
Part of me feels bad for him but MOST of me doesn't. I keep thinking, "What if he has changed?"
However, if someone knows he or she has a problem with a certain temptation, you should stay away from it. I know that he has not been honest with the school system regarding his past.
I don't want other girls to have to be the victim of his .....well, whatever.

Becca has trumpet lessons in a little bit and we are going to have an Ethiopian meal for supper tonight. Roger and I took Jennie out to eat last year for her birthday to an Ethiopian restaurant on the west side of Indianapolis and we are going to try to duplicate part of that meal. I recently purchased a youth book about missions and this recipe is in it. This book features kids in other countries that have accepted Jesus as their Savior. It then has recipes from each country featured.
We are going to use it from time to time for our family devotions. We need to "spice" up our devotion time because I think we have been going at it too "hard core." We have been dissecting each verse and I think we are losing the kids' interest. I'm not sure what the answer it but we don't want to have our devotion time to be something that they dread.
I think that having Jennie and Becca make the recipe from that country and then learn about the young people in that country will be something that they will enjoy doing as part of their homeschool as well.

Speaking of homeschooling, I think that my older daughter Jennie will go back to public school next year...with me kicking and screaming. I don't like the idea at ALL but we have a "plan."
She can get a Certified Nurses Aid credential through the school. Half the day she will go to a different "career" school and then back for her required courses at the local school. After graduation, she can work for the same hospital that I work for ...part time...and THEY will pay for her nursing degree! Eventually, she wants to be a missionary nurse and hopefully she will be able to go to the mission field (Africa is the target area for now...) debt free.
Anyway, that's our plan... I still want her to stay at home but there is NO way that I could offer her this opportunity.
Have a lovely day!!
Beth

It's getting exciting around here!!

Well, we did it! We stepped out on faith and made an offer on the little piece of heaven north of where we live now. Kinda scary but I think it is the right thing to do. We will have to accept it if it doesn't work out. We both have prayed that if this is NOT God's will, then don't let it happen.

It kind of scares me sometimes when we try to figure out what is God's will for our lives. I don't want to "feel good" about something just because "Beth wants it..." I want it if GOD wants it.
I think that we have good motives in purchasing this little bit of ground. I don't feel like there is a reason that God is showing us NOT to buy it. (except that it is going to be pretty tight financially for a while....but, Been there, Done that!!) There is NOTHING vain about our desires. In fact, MOST people would think "WHY in the world would you want to move from THIS house to that little piece of land out there?" What we have in mind will be fairly modest but sufficient to house our family.

I want to be ABLE to give to missions if the Lord prompts us to do so. I want to be ABLE to meet a need that a family member might have or be able to fill someone's car up with gas if they are in need. We just don't feel like we can do that now.

Trying to pay for this small piece of land while we still have our kind of large house payment is going to be trying for us. We went out for Valentine's day last night (with a coupon AND we drank WATER...) and I imagine that will be our last nice restaurant we eat in for quite a while! That's ok with me...it's not the restaurant we go to, it's WHO I get to spend the time with that matters! (Ummm....my dear hubby....)

We offered a little less than I am comfortable in offering for the property. I am NOT a good real estate investor...at all... so I have to trust Roger's discretion. Oh dear, that trust thing again...
I am praying that they accept this offer or counter offer it within Roger's comfort level.

We have a meeting the first week of March to find out if the little cottage that we found that is slated to be torn down is something that we can get and move. It is sooo adorable! Roger, who is a big fan of old homes, has it figured out that it is a "Sears 1929" kit home!!! It is identical to the picture we found on the Internet and we have a sneak peak of what the inside would have looked like 80 years ago! He is excited about the idea of refurbishing that little home and I am too! I'm very excited about making it "OUR" home...not HIS home or MY home. Blended families can be tough...........
WOW, am I putting the cart before the horse or WHAT?????? Good Grief!
But one of these days, IF IT WORKS OUT, I want to be able to write about God's supernatural provision for our family. WHAT am I saying????? HE always supernaturally provides for His children, doesn't He?? It's just that sometimes it isn't as obvious as this is IF IT IS HIS WILL...

Oh my goodness, I'm getting nervous.

I think I have to go watch my favorite show, 19 Kids and Counting!! (A friend at church let me borrow her book about the Duggars and I have already almost finished it...I got it on Sunday!! REALLY A GOOD BOOK!!! I'm a FAN! Can you tell???)

Blessings to you all, dear friends!
Beth

UPDATES and prayer requests....

We MIGHT be putting in an offer on this little piece of property today or tomorrow. We're fairly certain that this is what we need to do to eventually be out of debt. Yeah, and one of those trees could be REALLY good firewood, huh? It is 1.28 acres and is offered at a very good price. It is a narrow piece of ground but goes to the tree line in the back. The trees are just in the front near the road, so we would have some planting to do! We have also come across a little cottage type house (adorable) that is slated to be torn down. It is currently being used as an office for the construction company that is building on it's original land. I haven't seen the inside of it yet but I think it has to be in decent shape! I am praying for God's guidance in this. It might be possible that we can move it to this location, putting it on a basement to accommodate our family. LOTS of things to pray about, right?

This is my gorgeous daughter in law and her little boy, Dylan, at his 6 year old birthday party! She and my son Aaron now have two little boys, Brody was born in January. She looks fantastic after given birth about 4 weeks ago!

HeeHee...we left for some activity last week and I found that this was on my oldest daughter's car. Her very sweet and precious boyfriend, Ben, put it on there as he left the evening before! I understand it to mean, "I love you eternally!" (and he says that the O is representative of a hug...how cute! He's a keeper...and a new Christian. Last night, they had their devotions together! )

Me and my grandybaby Brody! (Superbowl Sunday...those of us who are Colts fans don't want to talk about it....) Becca is in the background...maybe that's Gideon beside me? The birthday party for Dylan was full of Colts jerseys....

As a surprise, I decorated Roger's desk in his office with all this stuff. I filled the red tin with low fat treats. Other than the snacks, I bought all of these items at Goodwill! I think I spent less than $10. The red bull "talks" and says that he is filled with the "heat" of 1000 hot jalapenos! "Spicy!"

Pretty cute...and a big surprise for Roger when he returned from lunch that day!

As far as another prayer request is concerned, I have found that my older step son is harboring some major anger against me. I came across a list of lies that he has written about me online. It is very very hurtful. Wow...I could have been a "supporting actress" in Cinderella according to him. This is a very difficult time for us as he is in the military very far away. We thought that this would be a time that he would mature but it seems that this is more like a time of "festering" for him. I have come to him many times crying and asking for forgiveness for anything that I have ever done that could hurt him, even unintentionally. I think that things are ok and then I find this. Teenage years are difficult even in the best situations but having a step mom and her girls move into your home has had to be rough for both of Roger's boys. I do believe in discipline, especially when someone is sneaking out at night, attacking his father, (consequently having the police called to our home...) being fired from jobs and expelled from school (some of this happened prior to our marriage.) But none of what he has said about me is true and it is very hurtful and destructive to relationships.

It is hard for my husband, as well, and frankly, I didn't handle this new situation as a loving Christian wife should. I really blew up. I am ashamed that I became so angry. Humanly speaking, my anger is understandable...but I did NOT show Christlike behavior. "WHAT WOULD JESUS DO" when attacked unfairly??? He just stretched out his arms...and died.