Contentedness

I am re-reading The Art of Divine Contentment for the second time. I'll probably re-read it a third time. Contentment seems to be the one thing I can never get enough of. Just when I feel calm and content, I'm faced with a challenge that proves my lack of satisfaction with where God has me.

This week has been full of car problems, and there's nothing that gets me more agitated then that! I immediately go into, "We need a new car!" Today's reading has helped me focus once again on that affliction that causes sadness and grief.

"But when there is a leak of discontent open and trouble gets into the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks. Do, therefore as the mariners: pump the water out and stop this spiritual leak in your soul, and no troubles can hurt you."

I'm pumping away today, praying that I don't allow the water to drown me. After all, it's only ankle deep.

Super People? What about Character People?

The following article describes parents' role in helping their children get into fine colleges. It takes money, standouts and pure genius now-a-days for a kid to get into a top college. Long gone are the days when you had to simply be the president of a club or committee at school...

“It used to be that if you were editor of the paper or president of your class you could get in almost anywhere,” Mr. Singer says. “Now it’s ‘What did you do as president? How did you make the paper special?’ Kids file stories from Bosnia or El Salvador on their summer vacations.” Such students are known in college admissions circles as “pointy” — being well-rounded doesn’t cut it anymore. You need to have a spike in your achievement chart."

As Luke attends a hard charging prep school I am often reminded of the pressure he is under as I talk to many parents, parents who are putting the pressure on. Don't get me wrong, I want Luke to do well, maybe better the well, but not at the expense of stressing him out and charging him toward burn out. I still want him well rounded. Better yet, lopsided on one end, the end that says "not I, but Christ". Backwards thinking I know, but eternally sweet and eternally rewarding.

To read the whole column: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/opinion/sunday/meet-the-new-super-people.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

How I Feel...Really

This is how I was feeling before we actually started our homeschool year.

I had so much hope, so many dreams that this year would be different...

But after 5 weeks of school this how I really feel...Can you hear me?! *sigh* I'm sure today will be a better day :).

God Is God Apart From Us

The girls and I are reading through Big Truths for Young Hearts. Today's reading was such a wonderful illustration of who God is. God is so great that he "has measured the water in the hollow of his hand". Audra remarked, "You mean God can hold all the ocean in the palm of his hand!" Yes, that is how big and great God is. If he is that great and mighty, shouldn't we honor him as God and depend on him for all we need? "Our hearts should long to praise this God and to live in dependence upon Him. Yes, indeed, God deserves nothing less."

*Sigh* Must Work on Good Habits!

Lately I've been frustrated with not just one, but all of three of my children. I seem to repeat myself far too many times. I find myself irritated and tired from just having to go over the same things everyday. How can my daughter (to remain nameless) forget to brush her hair?? Don't we do that every day?

Obviously I've done something wrong! Perhaps it's MY bad habits that are forming bad ones in my children. So my focus this week, trying to regain good habits. We'll see how it goes. So far I've not done what I should first thing this morning. :( I suppose training my children has a lot more to do with how much I'm willing to be trained as well. This parenting stuff can really be time consuming!

Never Forget

This is Russ' work and it's worth listening to:

http://townhall.com/talkradio/weekendjournal/615407

This Can't Be Happening

Some things come far too quickly...