Today I am finding myself more encouraged than I have been in several months. There has been a lot of change in my life recently and though these have been positive and necessary changes allowed by a loving heavenly Father, they have been very difficult to accept and adjust to. I have felt weak, vulnerable and very insecure in my relationship with God and with others. There have been moments of despair and feeling completely overwhelmed. There were many times of tears and fearfulness Even knowing that God is faithful and loving did not comfort me or give me hope.
I didn't feel the hope or the love but knowing that His Word is true and that He is faithful, I knew that He would help me to hold on until my beliefs were made manifest in my heart and my life. Through prayer, reading the Word and gentle and consistent encouragement from my husband, children, friends and the Lord Himself, I am experiencing the hope that I knew existed. My circumstances have not changed but He has been faithful to bring me through that dark time to a place where I can see His light and feel His loving goodness and warmth once again. I am so grateful for a loving God who has made a way for me in the wilderness, has given me strength and never leaves me.
I will pray for my readers to know that same assurance and to be able to rest in that place.
Blessings~
Tamara
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Thoughts on Time With our Children
In working at preparing our children for life, we are constantly looking for resources to help us in this journey. I have found a very good book called Life Skills: Equipping Your Child for the Real World. It is written by Christine M. Field. The book teaches about subjects such as time management, decision making, money matters, healthy habits, house skills, organizational skills, handling difficult relationship issues and much more. So far the book has been very helpful.
In reading this book, I came across the chapter Responsibility in the Small Things. Within this chapter there is the subject of time and how we handle that time. Here is a paragraph taken from a book called 401 ways to Get Your Kids to Work,
By the time your children reach eighteen years of age, they will have spent 32,234 hours under your guidance and training. Consider that it takes only 2,100 hours of classroom and outside study time to complete a bachelor's degree in college and half that time to learn some skilled trades. Your home has sixteen times more teaching hours than does the university. What do you want to do with this time?
In reading, I was reminded that my husband and I only have so much time to apply to the hearts and minds of our children. It was a good reminder that we need to be proactive in our choices concerning our commitments and not just let life take us by the hand and lead us on into directions that God has not led.
I am grateful for the work of others who encourage and help to keep us on track in our thinking and living.
God Bless,
Tamara
In reading this book, I came across the chapter Responsibility in the Small Things. Within this chapter there is the subject of time and how we handle that time. Here is a paragraph taken from a book called 401 ways to Get Your Kids to Work,
By the time your children reach eighteen years of age, they will have spent 32,234 hours under your guidance and training. Consider that it takes only 2,100 hours of classroom and outside study time to complete a bachelor's degree in college and half that time to learn some skilled trades. Your home has sixteen times more teaching hours than does the university. What do you want to do with this time?
In reading, I was reminded that my husband and I only have so much time to apply to the hearts and minds of our children. It was a good reminder that we need to be proactive in our choices concerning our commitments and not just let life take us by the hand and lead us on into directions that God has not led.
I am grateful for the work of others who encourage and help to keep us on track in our thinking and living.
God Bless,
Tamara
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Some Thoughts on Christmas
As the holiday season has come to a close, I have been thinking a good deal about how wonderfully warm and memorable it was. Though we had wonderful gifts to share with each other, the gifts were not the priority. (And I must say our daughters were so thoughtful in their gift selections.) We were able to spend time crafting with friends and took a special friend to see the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Making some new friends while we participated in a few craft fairs was a highlight of our celebration as we shared some of our favorite Christmas stories from the Joe Wheeler's Christmas in My Heart books and some of our huge paper snowflakes.
I am grateful for the peace and for family & friends this year as many folks in our area experienced tragic losses of loved ones through accidents and illness. As we prayed for them, I was again reminded of how blessed I am..
These are ust a few of the thoughts that I have had this past week as the new year has begun. The season was so full of richness that I am sad to see it pass and challenged to keep the spirit of celebrating our Lord and others all though the year..
God Bless and A very Happy New Year..
I am grateful for the peace and for family & friends this year as many folks in our area experienced tragic losses of loved ones through accidents and illness. As we prayed for them, I was again reminded of how blessed I am..
These are ust a few of the thoughts that I have had this past week as the new year has begun. The season was so full of richness that I am sad to see it pass and challenged to keep the spirit of celebrating our Lord and others all though the year..
God Bless and A very Happy New Year..
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