A great week!

Just had to pop on quickly and thank the many who prayed for our VBS (and for me) this week. I was blessed with an incredible bunch of 'littles' and some super support staff in my room. From what I saw of other spots it was a good week all around. Our older three girls all had a wonderful time and made some new friends. Littlest is a bit tired out though. I think the peak attendance this week was just shy of 800. God is good!

Off to Outrigger Island...

It's VBS time again! It's always a busy and fun week. As usual I'm a bit frantic, making sure I have all my details taken care of. I'll be leading a group of worker's children who are older two's/younger three's. These little children are always so full of joy and it's contagious! Whenever the Lord allows me to interact with and lead a group of children I always learn as much, if not more than, they do.



Please join me in praying for our VBS and for the many others that will take place this week and throughout the summer. Dear friends in New Hampshire, please know that I am already praying for your week as well.



Father,

We seek to glorify you in all that we say and do. We can never thank you enough for the love and grace you've given to us freely in your Son. Please enable us to reflect your love in our words and actions to all the children and adults we'll encounter during Vacation Bible School. Help us to be instruments in expanding your kingdom. We ask for your protection over the children you'll place in our care and ask that you'll continue to uphold and uplift us physically and emotionally as we seek to do your work. I pray that your Spirit will work mightily in our midst and that many hearts will be sealed for you, Lord, during these days. We'll continue to give you all of the glory!



In Jesus' name, Amen.

One day in your courts...

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and flesh cry out

for the living God.

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeep in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

~Psalm 84:1, 2, 10NIV

Back to the beach!

We were blessed with an opportunity to head back to the beach this past Memorial Day weekend, this time with Dad and Grandad in tow. We had a wonderful time. The kids enjoyed boogie boarding in the pretty rough surf, played lots in the sand, and swam in the pool. We were visited by a beautiful Great Blue Heron each morning. He anxiously eyed the fisherman who'd fish in the surf each day and hoped they'd drop one. 'Twas a wonderful way to usher in the summer.

It's official!

We've finished our first year of homeschooling! It continues to amaze me how well the transition has gone. I know that the credit for that belongs to the Lord. He's worked mightily in our midst this spring.

We really had some great, productive days. Writing year end progress reports and compiling portfolios was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our time and bask in the glow of accomplishment. I know the kids learned a lot and I think this mommy may have learned even more. Truly this has been one of the hardest, but most rewarding tasks I've ever taken on. Aside from all of the academic knowledge gained, we're experiencing a greater sense of family unity and are relishing our freedom from the external schedules and pressures that used to control so much of our time. I feel so much more connected to each of the girls, so immersed in their lives. Perhaps the greatest joy has been training their hearts, not only teaching their minds.

We won't be formally schooling this summer, but all three girls will be reading and journaling. We'll also do a few bits of math here and there in preparation for next year. We've chosen courses of study for each child for next year and plans are underway to begin in the second week of August when dh heads back to school.

Today I thank the Lord for his unfailing love and perfect guidance. I thank Him for leading us to be more completely present in our children's lives and education. I thank Him for equipping us as parents for the job He's entrusted us with.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk upon the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
~Deut. 6:6-9 NIV

Beach birthday

We enjoyed a wonderful few days at Hilton Head this week. The weather was amazing and it was a great way to celebrate the little one's birthday.

Find Your Wings - Mark Harris

Here's some birthday browsing music to complement today's post.