A Late Start, But A Good Start

As a homeschool Momma, I like to get a good start on school.  My goal is to try and start a week or two before public school, that way we won't have to feel like we're always a little bit behind.  Well, this year it didn't quite go as planned.  When I ordered our books from Abeka, they let us know upfront that our shipping would be quite delayed compared to previous years.  They said that there is such a high demand for homeschool materials this year and that they are even having to print more of 3rd grade since they weren't anticipating such a high demand.  So, September 28th is very late for us.  But, we are ready and excited and looking forward to a GREAT school year!!

This year my Micah is in 3rd grade.  

Silas is officially a middle schooler and in 6th grade.  Wow!  He looks so grown up in these pictures!

 Callie is in 5th grade this year.

So it's a late start, but a great start!  So thankful for the opportunity to school my children from home!

To Annoy Your Sister

 It's sort of funny to post this picture the day after I posted on praying for your children!  I have a certain daughter that has a fear of chickens.  I have a certain daughter that loves her chickens dearly.  She names them, talks to them and cares for them like a mother hen.

So, when I heard screaming from one girl, and giggling from another with a chicken in her hand, I wasn't too surprised.  Don't worry, the giggling girl didn't make it in to the screaming girl's room.  Poor thing!

To Pray for our Children (and Grandchildren)

So far in this month of focusing on prayer, we've prayed for our government leaders and spiritual leaders.  I think now we should focus on praying for our children and grandchildren.  What precious treasures we have from the Lord!  I think it's safe to say that the burden we have for our children and grandchildren is from the Lord.  I spoke with a lady last night that couldn't stop weeping for her granddaughter.  She is so concerned about the home she is in and the desires she has.  Her burden was heavy and very real.  I told her I truly believe those tears are from the Lord as a reminder to pray.  God gives us the responsibility of bringing the needs of our precious treasures to Him.

Let's not get in the rut of praying, "Lord bless _____ ."  Specific prayer brings specific results!  So how should we pray for our children?

1. Pray for them spiritually.  Of course the very most important decision they will ever make is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Pray that after they have accepted Him that they will live a life serving Him.  Pray that they will have a ministry to serve in and that they will love it and give it their all.  Pray that they will have a personal relationship with the Lord.  I don't want my kids to just serve MY God, I want Him to be THEIR God, too.  Pray that they will seek Him daily through His Word and that they will have a powerful prayer life.  Pray for their faith to grow.

2. Pray for their relationships.  As your children go through life they will meet many people.  They will have friendships and broken hearts.  Pray for them to have compassion and wisdom in their relationships.  Pray for their relationships with their family members.  Children are children.  They will argue and want to be selfish.  Pray that they will have a love for their siblings that far surpasses the pride of an argument.  Pray for them to have the right relationship with you as a Momma.  And especially with their Father.  Everyday I grow more and more convinced of my role as a Momma to point my children to their Dad.  They need to respect him and love him and my influence is so powerful in this area!  Pray for them to want to go to their Dad with concerns, ideas and just to talk.  It's such a wonderful training ground for how to seek their heavenly Father in the future.  

Pray for their friendships.  Friends are powerful influencers.  

As I did nursery Sunday night, I watched Liberty follow around another little girl and do everything she did.  She wanted to be just like her.  As kids grow older that often never changes, so make sure their friendships are with others that will encourage and help them to grow closer to the Lord.  Oftentimes while my older three were growing up they didn't have tons of friends.  At times this was hard for them.  But, it was these times that the Lord was protecting them.  He was keeping them from developing friendships with those that would tear them down.  It's amazing how during those times our family grew closer with one another.

Pray for their future relationships.  As soon as we found out we were expecting our little ones, we began praying for their future spouse.  As Patrick prayed during the ceremony of Joshua and Tabitha, he had tears as he realized that this was the young lady he'd been praying for for the last 21 years.  It's a blessing.  Pray that their future spouse will accept the Lord and have a personal relationship with Christ.  Pray that the Lord will teach them character and a good work ethic.  Pray that they will love the Lord passionately and seek His will fervently.  Pray that their path will cross the path of your child at the right time.  As a parent, watching their story unfold is a blessing and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

3. Pray for their safety and health.  I think this one is a given, and as a Momma it's one I tend to pray about quite often.  Especially with my little boys that are quite daring!

4. Pray for their desires.  My children are each so very different, it's amazing!  Pray that they will desire to do and pursue things that are right and holy.  My Beth is loving baking lately and as she makes muffins or a loaf of bread she will deliver it to someone in our church and visit with them.  It's a blessing to them and to her as well.

5.  Pray for them to have Joy.  Life can be tough.  Pray that your children will have a joy that comes from the Lord.  Pray that they will see the good in situations and in others.  Pray that they will give people the benefit of the doubt and not always assume the worst.  Pray for them to be positive and have a joy that is contagious.

I think I could post another 100 points, but I will stop at these 5.  Praying for our children is a duty that should never be forsaken.  They are to precious to let a day go by that we don't bring their name before the Lord!

 

Another Toy for the "Cool" House!

Well, not only is our farm growing, but our collection of toys is growing, too!  A mechanic in our church called the other day and wanted to know if we'd like a scooter.  It has no title, so it can't be run on the road, just around our property.  Sure!

The kids have had fun learning how to ride it.  Don't worry, helmets are a must. So, we are being safe.  And we're learning about the muffler and how hot it can get.  Unfortunately that lesson was taught to Callie the hard way.  I'll spare you the pictures.  But, praise the Lord she's on the mend and the doctor has her burn healing very nicely.  

As someone put it the other day, we now have the "cool" house.  Scooters, bikes, dirtbikes, trampoline, pool, volleyball court and lots of woods to explore....we're having tons of fun over here! :o) 

 

Want another cow?

We received a call the other day from a rancher in our church.  They asked, "Want a cow?  We took a bunch to market and this one is blind in one eye, so they won't take her."   Our answer?  Sure!

It has been fun watching our little farm grow.  I never thought we would own a cow.  But, now we have 2!  Ferdinand is growing steadily.  He's so cute and I love his brown, black and white colors!  Our new cow we named Charlay (the ch has an sh sound)  She is part Charolais and part Angus.  Our plan is to have fresh beef sometime soon.  But, until then we are learning about owning a big cow and it's been fun!

Welcome to Storybook Farms Charlay!

 

To Pray for our Spiritual Leaders

 It was late.  Everyone else was in bed.  But I could hear voices coming from the living room.  As I peeked around the corner I saw a sight that wasn't unfamiliar.  I saw the heart of my Pastor.  And I saw the heart of his assistant.  They were on their knees before God begging Him to work in the life of the people God had called them to.  They were asking God to move in the hearts of people and help them to see Him and their need for salvation more clearly.  They were asking the Holy Spirit to work.  They were asking for those gone astray to come back to the Lord.  They were asking for wisdom as the next morning they would stand before a beautiful crowd of souls and would be proclaiming the truth of  God's Word.  And then a thought occurred to me....have I prayed for them?  Have I prayed for the spiritual leadership that God has put in my life?

Godly men all around America are probably on their knees begging God to intercede for you.  And let me just say, if that's not the case, it is imperative that you find a good church.  Find a church that will be a loving family.  But, as they are praying for us, have we prayed for them?  In this month of focusing on the hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer"  we have focused on praying for the leadership in our government.  Now I would like to focus on praying for our spiritual leadership.

How do you pray for them?

Their daily walk with God.  They are just human.  They, just like us, desperately need time with God each day and throughout the day.  Sometimes satan will talk men of God into thinking that all they are doing for God is enough and they don't actually need to be with God.  That is never the case.  And this is true for all of us.  Service to Him should never replace Time with Him.  

Wisdom in their schedule.  Quite often they are pulled in many different directions.  Being a pastor encompasses many things, not only preaching.  They are often called upon for counsel.  They are often called upon to help fix something in a home or a car.  They are often called upon to visit the sick, comfort a family after a death of a loved one, or be there for the birth of a baby.  They get texts and calls at anytime.  And, honestly, they love that their people want their advice and that they are needed.  They wouldn't have it any other way.  But, pray that they will have wisdom from the Lord on what they need to accomplish and on what they need to delegate.

Family Life.  You've heard the saying, "When Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Sort of funny, but it is actually true.  When things aren't good at home, it's difficult for the man of God to be what he needs to be.  Pray for his wife and children.  Pray for his home to be a refuge for him and a place of relaxation and rejuvenation.  Pray for his kids.  Quite often satan and the world has a bulls-eye on their back.  Just look at the testimony of many preacher's kids.  The statistics are startling.  Pray that they will have a personal relationship with the Lord that will strengthen their faith.   Pray that the pastor will have wisdom what to share with them, and what to keep private.  Preacher's kids see and hear so much, sometimes it's no wonder that they grow bitter.  Pray for them.

Health.  Pray for the spiritual leaders in your life to have good health, strength and energy to be everything that God would have them to be.

Wisdom and Direction.  Pray for them to clearly hear the voice of God and the Holy Spirit's leading.  They want to do right and want to lead right.  Pray that God's voice will be the loudest that they hear.

I'm enjoying the different aspects of praying.  And I'm convinced more than ever that I don't pray enough.  I want that to change.  How about you?

Waiting for School

It's definitely time to start school!  The problem?  Abeka is experiencing a surge in popularity.  Some of the books we need are still being printed.  They don't expect our books to arrive for 3 more weeks.  Ouch!  That means starting school at the end of September, which is later than we've ever started.

  

As Momma, I'm trying not to stress about this.  Trying.  I can always tell when my kiddos need to start school, they get antsy, and start getting in trouble.  So, we are needing to be creative about filling our time for  September.

My Silas decided to build flags for countries out of legos.

I'm so proud of his creativity and desire to learn!

So we have 3 more weeks of summer.  Not planned, but we need to plan for it to be memorable, productive and fun!

 

My girls

So a funny thing happened.  A few days ago I posted "To Marry a Preacher"  where I talked about my husband and what it's like to be married to a preacher.  For some reason that post had a bunch more views than any others lately.  A bunch!   Then, I realized that maybe my blogging friends are like my other friends and wanting to know what's going on with my adult girls.  :o)  Am I right?  Did I unintentionally fool you all into thinking my girls are marrying preachers?  

So I thought a little update on my girls is in order.  But, it will be a small update as I'm not sharing everything....that can be for another post at a later date ;o)

My Beth is 22 and my Brenna 21.  I have to say that they are amazing.  I am loving this phase of life with them.  Absolutely loving it!  Having adult daughters in the home is like living with your very best friends.  They bring so much joy and laughter to the Gimenez Home.  We love to be together and you can often find us working in the kitchen together, playing games, singing plenty, or just sitting in the living room talking about today, or yesterday or tomorrow.  It's a time that I am treasuring immensely.

 Ever since they were little girls I have taught Beth and Brenna to be patient for their "Prince Charming" and to be prepared for the day he would come riding on his white horse to whisk them away....well not exactly all the horse stuff, (although Beth would love that!) but I have taught them that they were created for someone.  God made them for the purpose of completing their prince charming and there is no greater joy than to fulfill His Will for their lives.  I'll be honest.  Some days they wonder when this will happen.  Since I was married at 18, they always pictured they would be married young too, but we've taught them that their story is different than anyone else's and it will be the very best love story!  

My Beth is diligent as our church secretary and is anxiously awaiting the day when our church building will be done and she can have her office.  For now she does her work in our back office/bedroom with Patrick and Josh.  She's also started learning sign language again and is loving it!  She is the nursery Sunday School teacher and also has a vital part in the music ministry of our church.  If you know my Beth you know she can be quite quiet, but just give her a microphone and let her sing and you'd never know she has a shy side!  My Beth also aspires to be an author.  She has many books in the works and  when her work is done  you can often find her at her desk with a candle lit doing research on her next scene.  I am so proud of her!

My Brenna is in her Junior/Senior year of college.  She had a small hiccup in her classes and somehow the guidance counselor overlooked her student teaching.  The path they had her on to graduate at the end of this schoolyear had to be changed, so she now plans to graduate Winter 2021.  That news was pretty upsetting to her, but she jumped back on her feet and is working hard at her elementary education degree.  She is also our 7-12 year old Sunday School teacher and does a fabulous job with those kiddos.  They love Miss Brenna! My Brenna is also the piano player at our church and her piano skills are amazing!  She had 2 weeks to learn the Bridal Chorus and all the accompanying wedding music for a wedding we recently had at church.  She did wonderful!  I am so proud of her!

So the other post wasn't about my girls.  Sorry if I fooled anyone....Although, I have to say, things may be on the horizon....but that is definitely for a different post. :o)

To pray for our country

 I am loving listening to "Sweet Hour of Prayer."  It is so challenging and convicting!  It encourages me to want to pray more!

This week I want to have an extra emphasis on praying for my country.  America sure does need it!

I want to pray for the leaders of my country, state, county and city.  Do you know who they are?  Can you pray for them by name?  I'll be honest.  I'm going to have to look up exactly who are the elected officials in my county and even state.  As a christian, I really ought to be praying for them.  I will pray for their salvation.  I will pray for their families.  I will pray that God will use them to make godly decisions for our land.

I want to also pray for the upcoming election.  I am going to pray that christians will be encouraged to vote and let their voice be heard!  I am going to pray that there will be honesty and dignity in our election process and that the forces of evil will not tamper with the system we have in place.

I will also be praying for the safety of our country and that God would keep us safe from others that would love nothing more than to harm our people, our economy, and our future.  

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people (that would be the christian!) which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;  then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

America needs healing.  As evil seems to triumph in this world, I don't want to fail in my part to pray.  America is worth praying for!  And that is my focused effort for this week, to pray for my country.

To learn a new language

My sweet Beth has had a desire to learn sign language for a long time.  Several years ago she began watching some online videos of sign language and learned so much!  But, if you don't use a new language, you easily forget it.

Well, her and my Mom have the bug to learn it again.  They have been video chatting once a week and reviewing what they've learned.  I love watching Beth "talk" to her as the two of them laugh and practice.  Now, others in my family are wanting to learn as well.  She's even taught Patrick the Eagles fight song in sign language!

 My prayer is (and hers, too) is that God would open doors for her to be able to share the gospel with someone in sign language.  Hopefully one day VSIBC will be able to have a deaf ministry.  I'm so thankful for my sweet girl (I guess I should say lady!) that has a heart for the Lord and a heart for others!

To Marry A Preacher

When I was in elementary school, I remember sitting on the second row during a special Wednesday night meeting at our church.  All the kids sat together to hear the preaching for this night.  I don't know who preached, or what prompted it, but I said a special prayer that night.  I prayed, "Lord, let me marry a preacher."  Little did I know what that prayer meant.

As I went into junior high and high school, that desire for marrying a preacher waned some. It wasn't on my list of requirements anymore.  And, honestly, when my handsome Prince Charming came walking into Burger King the day we met, a preacher was the farthest thing from my mind!

After being married about 2 years the Lord began to call that Prince Charming of mine to preach.  My mind flooded back to that second row prayer.  God had heard me.  He had planned ahead.  He was giving me a preacher hubby.

I definitely didn't know all that that would entail.  But, each day I'm learning what that means.

To marry a preacher means:

~You marry a man with a dream and vision that is unbelievable!  Like in the above photo.  We were out to dinner with a sweet couple that had been visiting our church.  They asked about the plans for the property.  My preacher/hubby whipped out a napkin and did a diagram of that building to come.  I also know the next phase and the next and the desires God has given him for the future of our church.  It's amazing!

~You marry a man that is still a man.  Even though he is and should be held to a higher standard, he's still human and still makes mistakes.  Guess what?  The woman he married does, too.

~Your home is (Or should be) open at any time for a haven of rest.  It has been our joy to have our door knocked on late into the night with someone needing counsel from my husband.  It has been a joy to have people into our home where we feed them, talk with them, befriend them, all the while my preacher hubby has a heart to help.

~ You are often his sounding board for ideas.  I don't know how many times I've gone into his office and he says, "Listen to this!"  And then he goes and excitedly preaches almost his entire sermon that the Lord is giving him to preach the next day.  I confess, sometimes I sit there thinking,  "I'm going to be listening to this whole thing again tomorrow!"  But, seeing his excitement as he shares what the Lord has given him is a treasure that only I get to partake of. (or Josh if he happens to walk in!) It's special.

~Your life is an open book and each thing you say or do can be used in a funny story or illustration on Sunday.  That' just life in a preacher's family!

~You have to share him.  At many different times.  This has taken some getting used to.  He needs to be available for the needs of his flock.  On the other hand, I am so thankful for a husband that listens when I communicate my needs to him.  Sometimes I gently let him know that I need him with no interruptions.  There are time he has stepped away and let Josh handle any matters that arise.  We have found that balance is key here.  But, for the most part, I know that our schedule, meal time, and day could have a slight shift at any moment.  And that's okay.  It's good that the people of VSIBC need him.

~You marry a man that has a heart for others and gives it willingly.  Sometimes that means that his heart will break.  He will get hurt along the way.  Sometimes accidentally, sometimes intentionally.   As he sees the decisions others make and warn them of the path they are on, he cries and aches for them.  He warns them and sometimes they don't heed his warnings.  It truly breaks his heart.  But, then!  Then, there are those that listen, and grow closer to the Lord a step at a time.  It's those times of victories that keep him going!  Marrying a preacher means that there will be ups and downs.  One moment he's soaring with thoughts of those getting saved, the next moments he's disappointed of news of those that are walking away from God.  It can be a roller coaster.  But, that is the life of a preacher that truly loves.  It makes my job of loving him and creating a home that is a haven full of joy all the more important.

Many wonderful things are happening at our church.  God is working!  And I'm so thankful that God gave me this preacher-hubby to love on and care for.  Being his helpmeet is my greatest calling and I'm so thankful for him!

 

Hymn for September ~ Sweet Hour of Prayer

 At this time in our lives I truly believe prayer is essential. 

 In our world and country there is much to pray about; our country opening in full swing after a pandemic and the fear that still lies in the hearts of some, our country that has seen much violence, rioting and protesting, our country on the verge of making major political decisions in the upcoming election. 

 In our local church, VSIBC, there is much to pray about; salvation of lost souls that come through our doors as well as those that sit week after week under conviction but keep quieting the Holy Spirit's voice, the upcoming building plans and for us to find a General Contractor and build debt free, for wisdom as we return to the ministries such as Sunday School and Bus Ministry.  

In my home there is much to pray about; Tabitha's pregnancy and precious baby growing inside of her, for the new baby and Liberty and Freedom to one day accept Christ as their Savior, for my girls as they make decisions in their adulthood that will effect their futures, for Joshua and Tabitha as they look to buy their first home, for my husband as he faithfully leads our church and home, for me as I continue treatment for Myasthenia Gravis.

I know you could make a list as well of things to pray for.  That's why I have chosen for the  month of September to choose the hymn, "Sweet Hour Of Prayer."  Just to listen to this hymn brings such a conviction in my heart to pray more and to pray more earnestly.  It also brings such a comfort to know that the creator of the world would bend his ear to just listen to me.  He's so good to me.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

I have created a youtube playlist with the stirring words and beautiful music of this hymn that you can find here.  

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

I also plan to post each Monday this month on prayer and a challenge of things to pray for.  I would love it if you could join me!