Parenting – Page 2 – Women on God's Mission

The Quiet House: Ministering with the Father’s Heart to Childless Men and Women

What happens on Mother’s Day at your church? It is typical and fitting to honor the mothers who are present. In some cases moms are asked to stand, given a public blessing and a hearty applause, followed by a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication. Usually a flower or some other small gift is given to each mom. How Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are observed reveal much about the heart of a church.

The Aching Heart

One of the most painful experiences is that of women or men who desire to have children but cannot. They may be married or single, be barren, or have experienced the loss of a child (or multiple children) through miscarriage or death. It’s true that some people don’t desire to have children, but that is the exception. Most believers look forward to having little ones around, and when that can’t happen, it hurts.

The Parent Heart

Some busy parents may look at those without children and think they have it easy. Well-meaning men and women can misunderstand and even sin against those who are childless. They can be guilty of looking at them with jealousy or judgment: With jealousy a parent might think, “They have time and money to do the things they want. They have more time to dedicate themselves to serving God.” With judgment someone might think, “Why isn’t he married? There must be something wrong with her. Why don’t they have a baby? How strange, how selfish! Exhausted? … They don’t even know the meaning of the word!” If believers are not jealous or judgmental, they can be neglectful. Sad to say, it’s easy to get so busy that we don’t take time to think about the needs of other people.

The Single Heart

One bright Mother’s Day morning, all of the moms were invited to stand in the front of the church. The pastor spoke glowingly of how wonderful they all were and how greatly the future rests upon their shoulders. My single friend Laura felt uncomfortable, since she was about the only woman left back in the pews. After they were dismissed to their seats, Laura breathed a sigh of relief that the ceremony was over for another year. However, the pastor had forgotten to give the women flowers, so he had some men pass them out right away. My friend was left empty-handed as she looked around at all the smiling mothers.

Laura cried all the way home from church, again asking God to help her be content in her singleness. Unfortunately the pastor had also forgotten to hand out special books, so in the evening service the deliverers were sent out again. A deacon started to hand a book to Laura, and just as she reached out to accept the gift, he quickly pulled his hand back and said, “Oops!” At that moment Laura felt as though she wanted to shrivel up and die.

On holidays honoring parents, some people without children feel uncomfortable, lonely, and even as if they are unimportant or sinful because they haven’t produced children. While they rejoice with their friends who are moms and dads, they can be grievously reminded of their sorrow. Does the church remember these dear sisters and brothers in Christ on these occasions and throughout the year? It is possible to bless everyone present in our churches on days of honor. To do this, believers need to cultivate the heart of the Father.

The Father’s Heart

In seeking to minister to others, believers can become overwhelmed with the variety of people and their needs. Knowing that someone needs encouragement is one thing – knowing how to do it is entirely another. Believers can increase in wisdom by asking God (James 1:5), and by learning to offer comfort to the fainthearted.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14

Christians may not understand where other people are coming from. Yet with God’s help we can try to put ourselves in their shoes. Believers have no excuse not to do their best to encourage others.

Besides first and foremost praying for them, here are some practical ideas on how church leadership and individuals can minister to people without children:

1. Be friendly. Don’t talk too much about your kids. If someone in the group is going on and on about their children, smile and start talking about something that they are interested in.

2. Give them opportunities to minister to children. A precious couple who lost four babies during pregnancy and have no living children are the world’s most loving and dedicated Sunday School teachers. And what a blessing those children are to them!

3. Include them in family activities. Invite them into your home. Have your children deliver a “just because” card or cookies. Invite them to sit with you in church. Holidays can be the hardest times; if they are not able to be with loved ones, joyfully welcome them to your celebration. You may feel uncomfortable sharing news of your pregnancy with them, but they want to hear it from you. Pray, and God will direct you to the right words and timing.

4. Remember them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Send a note, e-mail, or card reminding them how special they are and to let them know you are praying for them. In church honor the moms and dads present, but also focus on the valuable roles of being godly men and women. If the church is going to give a gift, buy enough to give to every man or woman present. Being a parent doesn’t make folks more precious or better people. Some of the best “moms” and “dads” in our churches don’t have biological children. But, oh, the spiritual children in which they’ve invested their lives!

5. Respect their privacy. In most cases it is rude to ask them when they are going to get married/have kids/adopt. And never ask them why they can’t have children. If they choose to confide in you, make sure you are a trustworthy confidant.

6. Be considerate regarding specific events. Use common sense. For instance, you probably wouldn’t want to ask a childless woman to be in charge of a baby shower. It may even be too painful for childless women to attend the shower. This doesn’t mean that they are not happy for the new mother. It may be that they know they can’t handle it emotionally and don’t want to cause a scene.

7. Respect and appreciate them. That they don’t have kids or are unmarried doesn’t mean that you can’t learn from them. Single people and married people without children have so much to offer. Ask them to be your prayer partners or accountability partners. On the other hand, church leadership should not assume that childless people have a lot of extra time and should not take advantage of them, always expecting them to serve.

8. Relax and listen. Don’t worry that you won’t know what to say to them. Be a sympathetic listener and pray for God’s wisdom to know what He would have you to say.

9. Seek them out. Look for opportunities to serve and fellowship with childless friends. This especially means a lot if it’s a difficult day, like the day their miscarried baby was due or the anniversary of their child’s death.

How can we minister to people in circumstances so different from our own? A remarkable reality is that God can use the lessons we learn from going through a trial to help someone going through an entirely different situation! In 2 Corinthians 1:3 and 4 we read , “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (emphasis added). As we learn about God’s comfort, He gives us the ability to comfort others.

After my husband and I lost a child through miscarriage, some of the greatest encouragement came from our single friends and from those who had never lost a child. One friend, who spoke with such wisdom and love, told me that she had asked God to show her what I needed to hear. Another friend prayed and wept with me. What examples these are of godly compassion. Through His Word and Spirit, God can teach us how to minister to anyone.

In this era of support groups believers need to be careful that we do not exclusively mingle with those of their “type.” God marvelously designed us as Christ’s Body, and He makes it possible and necessary for the “hand” to look after the “foot,” and the “elbow” to care for the “eye” (I Corinthians 12). There is a wealth of wisdom and friendship out there among God’s children. And the value of believers’ ministering to believers in stages of life different from their own is God’s will for His children (Titus 2). God helps believers to think of others on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, every day. And may they prayerfully minister, as a church body and as individuals, with the Father’s heart.

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May 11, 2012October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Church, Holidays, Loss, Marriage, Miscarriage, Parenting, Single Women 2 Comments

Public? Home? Charter? Christian?

This past week I asked my Facebook friends what type of schooling they have chosen for their children and why. You may be raising your eyebrows and squirming a bit in your chair, thinking I’m a little gutsy to bring up such a controversial subject. Curiosity and genuine interest won out over my fears, and the response was incredible.

With a background in both public and private schools, as a former Christian school teacher, and currently as a homeschooling mom, I appreciate the tough decisions these women have prayed over with their husbands. Their humility and respect for others, with views different than their own, warmed my heart.

Such an excellent discussion needs to be shared. Some of what you read may surprise you. I listed the responses in the order in which I received them, and you will notice some discussion going on. If you don’t have time to read them all, please read the last testimonial. It comes from a friend overseas who faces challenges most of us can’t even imagine. Also, if you are interested, I’ve listed some statistics below.

God knows what is best for our families, and He wants to direct and supply. What is best for my family may not be what works for your family, and it is no surprise, considering the endless variables: location, special needs, options available, legalities, resources, finances, learning style, and convictions. And to make our journey of faith even more exciting (and less self-reliant), the type of schooling we are using right now may not be what God has for us next year.

Thank you to all my terrific friends who took precious time to share. Each one of us wants you, the reader, to know that while we try to do what is God’s best for our families, we know we are not perfect – but the God Whom we serve is, and He can be trusted. Readers, please feel welcome to add your comments. We hope our experiences will encourage you in your parenting for God’s glory!

Joyfully His,

Sara

Summer, Iowa: “Since moving to another town, we are considering the Christian school here instead of the public one they are currently in … my husband and I both grew up in public schools, but we like the thought of the kids praying in school, learning Biblical truths there where they are not learning where they are at now… I was always a stay at home mom but we didn’t feel home schooling was for us.”

Rachel, Iowa: “Christian school – organization not my strong suit and my oldest has mild learning disabilities he’s in good hands at Faith Christian Learning Center.”

Elizabeth, Michigan: “So far it is Christian school for the 2 oldest and I will home school my youngest boy for preschool. We want them in a Christian environment, being taught Truth. We LOVE their school, it has small class sizes and amazing teachers. I don’t feel led to home school the oldest at this point, so for now this is the path… for us. I sent the older 2 to Christian preschools, but for Will (and probably Kate, too) I feel like I can teach him at home and enjoy the years that are so wonderful yet go by so quickly.”

Christie, Indiana: “Home school. The Bible commands parents to teach their children. Home schooling also avoids indoctrination by public schools and bad influences from unsaved pupils in Christian schools. We feel our kids don’t need to spend all day with ungodly influences (public school) on the chance that those kids might get saved. There are other ways to reach those kids without risking the morals of my children. Also, my husband taught in two Christian schools for 6 years. He saw a lot of unsaved kids who were there because they were kicked out of the public schools. That is not an influence we want around our kids. I am firmly against public schools. I know (for some people) there are exceptions. One verse I go to often is Psalm 1:1. I don’t think it is right to send our kids to do something we are told to not do. A lot of public schools have gone really left-wing in the past ten years. Our local one teaches sex ed in 6th grade (it may be 5th, I am not certain). And a lot of public schools have a “day of silence” for the LGBT agenda. I suspect a lot of Christian parents are unaware of what their kids are being taught, which is not right. I know my strong feelings are not shared by all, and I have to try really hard to keep from sounding judgmental. It doesn’t always work. 🙂 I can’t say that everyone should home school, but I do feel public school is not the place for impressionable children from a Christian home.”

Sara: “Christie, thank you for sharing your convictions with us. My husband attended public school until Bible college, and then went on to state university because God didn’t call him into full-time Christian service. His family didn’t have a lot of money, but he had a godly mother and dad, as well as a strong church. Tim is one of the most godly men I’ve ever known. Some of the strongest, most solid Christians I know attended at least some public school. Many of my christian school peers ended up in trouble. Most of my friends who have kids in public and private schools are extremely involved and know what’s going on. God can help us all in this adventure of parenting! I believe it’s all about faith and parental involvement.”

Tanya, Iowa: “In Utah they have a charter school that is based around Christian beliefs. They focus on different things … I think there are a few different ones in Salt Lake. Some focus on science and math some technology the one I was talking about used to be a private school and then became a charter school. I think it still had an optional class like a seminary class. It focused on leadership and being a better person in the community. I think. We would send them there if we were still in Utah. But hopefully there is a good public school because private schools are expensive. I had a good experience in public school and did things that I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to do being home schooled. I don’t think I could teach my kids everything they need to know. But to those parents who can you are amazing!”

Sara: “I know kids from all different forms of education who have excelled and grown up to love and serve God – on the other hand, I’ve seen just as many carefully monitored home schooled, public and private school children who have gone off the deep end when they leave home. There is no guarantee with whatever your education choice. We parents can do everything we can, but our kids (eventually) still have to make the final decision what they are going to do with their lives. I believe we must prayerfully make our decision for our own families and not judge others if they choose differently.”

Jennifer, Minnesota: “Public school. Both my husband and I grew up in private (Christian) schools. I always assumed I would do the same, but God had other plans for our family. Trust me I enrolled them in the public school with great fear and trepidation… I… felt like I might be throwing my kids to the wolves and that was scary! I have seen God work in their lives and quite honestly my oldest two (6th and 4th) are way more grounded in their faith than I ever was at their age. Their courage and boldness for Christ (sometimes in the midst of ridicule) amazes me and makes me very proud of them and is also a little bit of a rebuke to me in my own life.”

Sara: “Have you been ridiculed for having your kids in public school, Jennifer? Not that that matters.”

Jennifer, Minnesota: “No we haven’t been ridiculed for our choice of public education. Honestly though I think all my friends locally have their kids in the public school. My public school mom friends and I recently started a bible study and prayer group. I also have a group here on Facebook to support likeminded public school parents in their children’s educational journey… it’s called Salt and Light. For those of you who have your kids in the public school you are more than welcome to join… let me know. :-)”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/saltandlightparents/

Sarah, Iowa: “We have actually done all 3, at one time or another. Along the way we have discovered that all methods have their pluses and minuses. I would have to say my preferred method is homeschooling. We are on year 9 of that. I love having the …freedom to choose my kids’ education and to be convinced that their hearts are being educated above their minds. I never planned on homeschooling, but am so glad I did! Now, our sp. needs son attends public school. And that has also been a fantastic choice – for him. We got to a point with him that homeschooling just wasn’t working anymore. Fortunately, we live in a small school district and the student body has embraced Ben. This is our 2nd year at that school and we have had very, very few negative experiences. I have really come to believe that educational choices must be made for each individual child and must be re-evaluated every single year to see if that is still the best choice for that child.”

Sara: “Thanks for sharing, Sarah. So many people have told me to take it one year at a time and prayerfully consider what God wants for each child. No matter what we choose, we must keep in mind, as Christie pointed out, that we are ultimately responsible to teach our children and be sure they are brought up in the knowledge of God.”

Mindy, New York: “I have changed my views on this subject over the years. My conclusion is to seek the Lord’s will! 🙂 Each family, child, school, and situation is different. We as parents are given the responsibility of educating our children. We have …to decide if it is best for us to do that or to delegate that responsibility to others. If we delegate it, we are still responsible to make sure that it happens and to watch for the influences in our children’s lives. We have done the Christian school for a couple years. We have homeschooled for three years. My husband is a public school teacher. We have considered enrolling them in the public school where he teaches. It is a hard decision and one we pray about a lot. I think keeping an open mind, praying, and not judging others for their choices is key in this area of our lives!”

Debra, Kansas: “I can honestly say that education decisions have been the hardest, most agonizing decisions Jay and I have made as parents. I attended both Christian and public schools growing up, and we have done all three at one time or another. Moving them to public school was a tough decision, but we were in earnest prayer over it, and seeking wise council. My brother in law, who is a godly man, as well as an educator gave us his thoughts, after we sought his advice. (He put HIMSELF through Christian school in high school…) He said, ‘A lot of Christian parents like to complain about the public school environment, but then they pull their kids from the school, as well as their own involvement as parents. The more we do that, the further away the school gets from godly influence. It is a matter of discernment and of prayer.’ That really struck a chord with Jay and I, so when we put our kids in public school, we also put ourselves there. We are heavily involved as volunteers. I have always been room mom for all my kids’ classes, as well as helping out in the classroom several days a week. I currently go in to my youngest’s class on Thurs & Fri to help with reading groups. Then I follow him to lunch, where I can sit and listen to what is going on around him. This type of interaction puts my kids’ teachers as ease with me, and opens up a level of communication that is hard to achieve otherwise. I do not think poorly of parents who chose to homeschool, or put their children in private school. This decision should be made with much thought and prayer. It should also be made with each child’s individuality in mind. (This was a reminder given by a missionary cousin, who reminded me that my two cousins were in different schools at the same time. One child in Christian, one in public.) It is very easy to condemn other parents who made a different choice than your family, without understanding the effort that has gone into the decision. As the Body, we should work hard to encourage fellow believers to be in the Word, and discern the working of the Spirit, instead of making decisions for one another. Sorry for the book. Just my thoughts….”

Sara: “Thank you, Debra! We have one in kindergarten and one in preschool. This year we partnered with a local Home School Assistance Program and have loved it. Our oldest attends some classes at the “home school” and we have a library and field trips that have been wonderful. I went to public school through grade 5, then I moved to a Christian school. My senior year I wanted to go to public school, to strengthen my faith, but my parents convinced me to stay. It’s impossible to know what would’ve happened, had I transferred to public high school, but this I know … in Bible college I greatly struggled with assurance of my salvation (typical of those from my background). I finally had assurance of my salvation, and God called me to teach in a Christian school for 3 years. I loved it, and I still love my students, keeping in touch with many of them. Both of my sisters home schooled (they are 10 and 15 years older than I) with mixed results. One of them did a fabulous job and I admire her greatly – but I don’t know if this is what God will have for our family all the way through. I have confidence that God will lead us in the right direction. And I can trust Him for the future of my children. If it were left up to me, we’d all be in trouble. But, with God, I know all things are possible.”

Carol, Colorado: “We have done all three of the choices Sara mentioned except our public school is a charter school. We have a unique charter school that is mostly Christian teachers. Our kids have great Christian friends and some friends who aren’t Christians who get to see what it means to be Christian. Our kids get an opportunity to show Christ to these kids and invite them to church and witness to them. We want our kids to be able to know how to be authentic Christians. I agree about evaluating our kids and allowing God to direct where our kids should be schooled. It gets even more interesting when they choose college, but that is maybe another topic.”

Jackie, Colorado: “My 4th grader daughter and 2nd grade son are in our public school right now. We love our school and really love our teachers. Sure, there have been issues with other students, but my kids are learning how to deal with it and it brings out… many great discussions. They are there because my husband and I think that is where they will receive the best overall education at this point in their lives. I think that my daughter has grown and has learned some very important lessons in life, that she might not have experienced otherwise. My daughter’s teacher is excellent and I could never accomplish what she has done with Skyler. Some of her best friends are at school, and are also Christians. My kids aren’t in the system to convert anyone. They are there because that’s what we have chosen for our family. We love the opportunities that are provided/thrown at us. I also enjoy helping at school and meeting children/parents who live in our area. We also teach our children plenty at home, through our church (that they love!), in AWANA groups and whatever else we can think of. I attended public schools, liberal Christian schools, a very strict Christian school and then Bible college. There are all kinds in all of them. I have also known a wide variety of homeschoolers, including my own sister. Quite the array of pupils and quite the array of results. We have no money for a Christian school, I have never had any desire or prompting to homeschool, there are the pros and cons of charter schools in our area, and we love our public school. At this moment in time, this is what works best for us.”

Kay, Alabama: “We have used both Christian and Public Schools to assist us in our responsibility to educated our children. God had different paths for us at different times in our lives. Also, different paths for different children. One year we had 2 in …Christian and 1 in Public. To echo much of what has been said above, it is OUR responsibility to educate our children and external schools are just tools to help us. It is important to know the needs of our children and what best suits them. My eldest was a bold witness in the public school. The other 2 had a harder time with peer pressure (not that they were bad kids, it was just a harder path). If you are blessed to have the reinforcement of a good Christian school, please don’t take that for granted. If you use the Public School system, I believe it is very important to stay actively involved. The educational need of our children is something that constantly needs to be evaulated. MUCH prayer. And then, when you’re done, you’ll still probably see where you could have done something differently.”

Dawn, Illinois: “Public: – I want my children to ‘learn to swim with the sharks while I am still teaching them to swim.’ I want them to learn to stand up for God, to have a Biblical worldview in an ever darkening world, to learn that they WILL be different …and have different standards, and to be salt and light. I cannot tell you how many incredible conversations we have had about “the world’s view” on a variety of subjects vs. God’s view. We go to God’s Word and see why we stand for the values we uphold. Do I like all the junk they are confronted with? No. But then again, I don’t like the junk I have to face on a daily basis. I am glad they are still under my influence so I can expose Satan’s lies and guide them into truth. I would not mind sending them to Christian school simply because I like the traditional academics and because it might be easier to find Christian friends. But – there is no way we can afford the private schools in our area (It would require me working fulltime and then some.) I have never felt the Lord calling me to home-school. And I stand in complete awe of mom’s who homeschool. It takes incredible self-discipline and I don’t know how they balance it all.”

Sara: “Thank you for all the fabulous input! Keep the comments coming!”

Kristen, Iowa: “Homeschool-for many reasons. We never set out from the beginning to homeschool, but I just couldn’t let my kids go. Now we wouldn’t trade it for anything. My husband is self-employed which makes homeschooling so much easier. When he has… a day off, we take the day off and do field trips. I love having my kids with me all day every day. Next year, my oldest will be a senior. He will be taking 3 classes at public school and 3 online college classes from the community college plus some stuff at home. My #3 child runs track and plays basketball for the middle school. My only regret is not having more children (only 4) so I could keep homeschooling. I only have 6 years left of this amazing time in my life.”

Margy, Iowa: “I attended public schools and my husband attended Christian schools. Before we had children I taught at both Christian school and public schools. We currently have one son in public high school and 2 that are being homeschooled. I have found the education of our children to be one or the biggest blessings and most agonizing decisions we as parents face. We began homeschooling 12 years ago. I have loved it most days and we have had some very memorable and amazing times together; I think our family is very close in part because of it. However, there are those days when nothing seems to go according to plan and you realize that you aren’t perfect or you worry that you aren’t teaching them everything that they need. I think that is normal and thus we always go year by year and reevaluate. We ask, how is it working for each of us and what if anything can we change, drop, add or improve.? 3 years ago, we realized the answer for our oldest son was—this isn’t working. I was crushed because I thought I had “failed” as a homeschool mom and I had planned to go all the way through high school, but I am so glad we changed our plan because it has been a good thing for him and us. Now we are at another crossroads, our middle child, having heard his older brother talk about jr. high, is curious about it. We don’t think, knowing him and his personality, that going to Jr. High full time is a great idea, so we are going to allow him to take 3 or 4 classes next year. Will they all end up in public school for high school? Maybe, maybe not. I will continue to prayfully consider what works for each of my boys, trust my instinct as a parent and educator and listen to the hearts of my children. I am so thankful for the options we all have. It is a great responsibility and privilege that we have the freedom to choose how our children are educated. I am deeply respectful that the choices I make may not be the choices that work for others, I hope others will be as well. God bless each of you in your journey!”

Sara: “If we decide to homeschool all the way through, we plan also to dual-enroll at some point. We believe it is extremely important and biblical to teach our children how to live in this world, while still in our home, so they are able to receive our help and guidance as they prepare for “real” life.”

Renee, Iowa: “I went to Christian school for kindergarten & public school for the rest of my schooling. I didn’t notice a lot of negative influences when I was in school but I was a very shy child with few friends & I’m sure schools have changed a lot in the last decade. That said my siblings & I also had the godly influences of AWANA & Sunday school. My parents did a good job of teaching us that not everything they teach you at school is the truth (i.e.-evolution). If I am ever blessed to have children of my own, I hope to be able to put them in Christian school.”

Sara: “Thank you for sharing, Renee! It’s great to hear your viewpoint as a single woman. Truth be told, we begin home schooling the day our child is born!”

Lynda, Michigan: “We have our two oldest in a charter school. The reason started when we had to make a decision on where to put our oldest. We heard that the public school in our district was a great one. We did consider it, but the biggest thing was my job. I homeschooled her for Kindergarten, but was able to get her into the Charter school for first grade. The charter school we have them in is 10 minutes from my work, so if I am working I can take them to school and pick them up without it interferring with my job. We did not consider private, too much, due to the cost and we wanted our girls to “face the world”. We felt that the charter school is a middle, with the worldly influnces but a rich moral influnces that can help our children be better women. I am in the schools each week to see who my girls are interacting with, see the teacher at maybe not such a great moment and how she handles it and to interact with the school staff. We do not feel that it is the schools responsiblity to totally teach our girls. They are getting the achedemics from the teachers at Achieve, something we feel we can not do at this time. We are still teaching them how to interact with their classmates, solve problems with their peers, be an example of Christ and to respect those that Christ puts in authority over them. Like others have mentioned it is not a decision we take lightly with our girls. We take each year and see if it still the best for them . I do want to mention that I am involved in Moms in Touch, a group that mets and prays for their children and the school.”

Anonymous, Foreign Mission Field: ” I just wanted to tell you that I love homeschooling and so do my kids. My older two take two classes and one class from a mk (missionary kid) school right by our house and love this also. I love our decision to do what we have done. We are a very close family and we all have loved doing school like this….but I have also always had the kids in other activities – church and sports and music. Their lives are crazy busy. I love that my three teenagers still love hugging me and they are cool kids…____ is 6foot 1inch and very strong and very cool amongst all his friends, but yet loves kissing my cheek goodbye each day at the door of his school. The states also offers so much where kids can be home schooled but then also take classes thru other sources….the best of both worlds. All just a thought. I hated going to a public school and was very popular but the kids looked for a way to make me fall into sin because they knew that i was saved. we have friends from ______ that took their kids out of (a Christian school) and we were so sad our last term to see how the oldest girl was wearing extremely short short and different things like that ….like my daughter said…she was just so very different and had changed so very much. any way… I don’t normally write long but i just wanted to share my opinion. Every family is different and different things are best for different families and at different times. We have always taken our homeschooling decision at a year by year basis….always open to if it wasn’t working than we would change. We love it. I know for (my friend – a Christian school teacher) that the best was putting the kids back in christian school after knowing that homeschooling was not turning out the right way. I just want you to know the side of someone that was in public school all my life….I craved christian friends and never had one thru my whole life until I became an adult….it was hard!!! Any way ….I wrote this very fast because of time….I will pray that God will lead you and he has a perfect plan for your family also. Each mom and each kid is different….if christian school is for you than God will provide also….and if it is public school than he will give christian friends and christian teachers.”

Anonymous, Foreign Mission Field, cont’d: “One of my friends is a school teacher but homeschooling wasn’t the best fit for her. This taught me a lot. It fits us…I love to stay at home…others hate that….so being tied to my kids and home aren’t a bad thing for me. I love the time I get with each one … I love to see them interact and I love to see them helping each other. The other day I caught _____ reading her book to _____ …. I just can’t tell you the benefits that I see….we have a mk school here right by us and I wouldn’t send my kids there full time because I believe that the kids are not being taught by their parents well enough in the area of thinking of others and reaching out to the lonely. As a family we talk thru every situation ….my kids are far from perfect but homeschooling allows me time to talk thru the character issues that come up each day.. but again I go back to each family needs to do what works best. For them…you just need to search out what is best for you….God will show you.”

Anonymous, Nebraska: “My kids go to christian school. We just felt it was the right thing for them. Public school isn’t an option for us at all. Sending our kids to Christian school as opposed to homeschooling them was what they needed. I had a bad experience when my mom tried to homeschool me. That was one factor. Also my oldest daughter needs to be challenged in more ways than I can offer her. My son really needs the structure of a school setting as well. They really need the social aspect of it too. We are basically the only family at our church and this helps them to have a chance to develop their social skills. I admire those who can homeschool their children. We don’t really have the space to do that either at this time. I do have my concerns about sending our soon to be kindergartner to their school this next year, because of some issues with the teacher, but I don’t know what else to do. That is one of my dilemas that I am praying about.”

Anonymous, Iowa: “I enjoyed reading the responses to your homeschool/private/public school question! Interesting! I have enjoyed homeschooling this past year and we are planning to do it again this fall but I plan to take one year at a time. I have people ask me, ‘so are you going to homeschool through high school?’ I have no idea. I’m just working through kindergarten and 1st grade! I realize each child is different but It always surprises me when moms say they couldn’t teach their kids or couldn’t teach them what they need to know. Teaching – especially reading and spelling – has been FUN! I’m not really a “teacher” but enjoy “teaching like a mom.” Thankfully my daughter has others in her life who are able to demonstrate those “real” trained teacher qualities!”

Anonymous, Foreign Mission Field, con’d.: “Another thing I thought about today was the benefit of spending so much time each morning with my kids memorizing scripture. It is apart of their schooling, and I doubt if they were in traditional schools if i would have ever been able to train them in this way. I love the time that we spend reciting chapters of the bible and when the three oldest were little it was really a ton of fun. also family devos when they were little were just wonderful. our morning time was so much Bible stories and Bible memorization. It was a lot of fun. I still spend about 30 minutes with each kid memorizing God’s word each morning. two of the kids do it together since they are a year apart. _____ has to do it at a separate time as he practices soccer all morning long. then I do _____ and _____ separately due to learning styles but soon I will be able to do them together. Also the time homeschooling allows them to excel in other activities is super great. _____ practices her piano 50 minutes a day and does really well. _____ is up to 45 minutes and _____ plays on a soccer club training him to be a pro…he practices all morning long and then starts school at 1pm. Not all is rosy as I have one that is always bored and always wanting more – it is ______ my fourth and she is super energetic. She swims four days a week on a swim team but she is super go go go. This is a little difficult. I was thinking today how every kid is different not just every family. ______ is my one that begs to go to traditional school and maybe one day we will decide that but for now I still feel that she is good at home.”

Anonymous, Foreign Mission Field, cont’d.: “I was also thinking today as I wrote you …of a missionary friend of mine. Her husband is always wanting her to homeschool their five kids. It would not work for her…and she knows that …she is a type of person that really needs her away time and her own time. She is an amazing mom and always finding fun things for her kids to do but to be with them all day would drive her insane. But she is an awesome mom and so much more creative for her kids than I ever have been for mine. I also have a friend that is a missionary here in ____ and she home schools…but it is not a good situation because she has no patience at all with her kids and really is not a good example. We have plenty of faults…. I have two that struggle to get a long but it is a teaching situation and they get better and then fall again and then get better and then fall….but I know that God will have the victory.”

Anonymous, Overseas: “I had wanted to comment on your thread about schooling, but put it off because I was worried about eyes around the world seeing. I have too many unsaved friends who read and keep an eye on everything we do…. And I don’t want them to think we are a cult because we don’t like their educational system. Anyway, a thing to consider is that some parents, not many, but some have no choice on their child’s education. I homeschooled my children for the first year of their education and would have gladly continued until I was unqualified for the higher grades. Then I would have considered a good Christian school if money allowed or some charter school or internet variant. But God decided where He wanted our family and placed us in a country where the government controls everything. Homeschooling is not an option and there are no good schools as you would compare with better choices in the states and so we bathe our children and their days in prayer as we send them into the battle of the world daily. But I am persuaded that following God to this mission field and fighting with and for my kids on this level is not a mistake or worst case scenario. God who makes no mistakes asked it of us so it must be the perfect best at this time for my children. You are welcome to use or post any of these thoughts on your thread, etc. But you would have to not use names or countries in order to protect our ministry here. Thanks.

Side note. I love reading your articles and your encouragment, but I will have to admit that sometimes I must just take a break from reading about American Christianity because to those of us around the world it seems like a perfect fairytale. I haven’t had a single Christian friend in 6 1/2 years, my children do not know other christian children who stand for the right, our church is our family outside of our Bible studies, we have forgotten what it is to sing corporately and so in order to stay content with where God has placed me and asked of me it is sometimes better not to remember what I am missing. So that is why I sometimes do not comment or write often. Not because I do not care.”

Statistics

School Preferences (if they mentioned two or three, I included all):

· Charter – 2

· Christian – 9

· Home – 10

· Public – 11

Where I met these amazing women:

· 7 – Faith Baptist Bible College – Ankeny, IA

· 7 – Northland Baptist Bible College – Dunbar, WI

· 4 – Through my church

· 4 – Various other contacts

Location and Status:

· 10 states

· 2 foreign countries

· 1 single woman

· Mostly married women with young children and teenagers

· All the way up to a super special empty nester

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”James 1:5

April 22, 2012October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Education, Home Education, Mentoring, Parenting, Prayer Leave a comment

God Can Be Trusted

Taking a fun train ride with Daddy at the zoo. This picture reminds me that my family can go forward confidently with God . . . no matter what the future may bring, we can trust our Conductor.

It is pleasant to have the sun warming me through my winter window this morning. My heart feels cold after another miscarriage, and I grieve the loss of my child. Little did I guess last week, when I posted memories of our Jewel, that the life of the newest member of our family would be so short. Psalm 127:3 clashed head on with Job 1:20-22:

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward.” Psalm 127:3

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Job 1:20-22

This morning as I tried to get breakfast around, moving my tired aching body, my tears welled up not from chopping the onions, but from my sorrow – my child has died.

While I know this is true … there will be no need to pull out the maternity clothes, no exciting birth announcements, and no need to put “Baby Coming!” on my calendar for October … I also remind myself that his/her death is only part of the story. Our little Jade wasn’t allowed to sit in the baby swing, coo, receive hugs and kissies, say “Mama” or “Daddy,” eat a blueberry pancake, or have his or her toes tickled. These were my hope, but God had something better in mind for Jade. And he/she is very much alive!

Centuries ago, when King David grieved the death of his child, God revealed to him that he would get to see his child again in the future:

“I will go to him but he will not return to me.”

2 Samuel 12:23

My child was and is a real person, designed by God, known by God, with a divine purpose for his/her life:

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your words, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I as made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.” Psalm 139:13-18

Someone innocently asked me, “How old was Jade?” With complete appreciation for their good intentions, it simply doesn’t matter how far along I was, nor how old Jade was when he/she died. Jade was alive, inside me. Then Jade died, inside me. Death of a loved one is always painful … there is never enough time.

In my mind I had already planned where the baby bed would be, pictured my boys’ excitement in meeting a little sibling, and was seriously thinking through names. I wondered what Jade would look like and could envision a future of getting to know this person as they grew up, praying and trusting that he/she would grow up to love and serve God. I’m trying to thankfully reflect on the brief time we had together. Just a little while to treasure my special secret … to dream … to prayerfully dedicate this child inside me to God.

Even though God saw fit to take Jade home, it doesn’t mean I can’t trust Him. God knows all and can see everything. In comparison I’m like a blind ant scurrying around, unable to see the rock 10″ ahead of me. This God Who knows how small I am, lovingly calls me His own. He knows my grief. He promises never to leave me – He is holding me. When I am at the point of not being able to pray, utterly weighed down by sadness, He is working behind the scenes to bring the answer to my needs. He reaches out to me with . . .

His Word

Himself
My husband Tim
Caleb & Joshua (my children on earth)
Friends
Family …
and beauty in unexpected places

God has provided! One friend, not knowing why I wasn’t feeling well, suspected, and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. They have been a balm to my spirit. A close friend brought a meal and took the boys for a couple hours. A precious neighbor helped in various amazing ways, providing the support we needed at just the right moment. Our pastor and his wife got on their knees to pray for us, asking how they can help. My sister took our boys for a couple of days so we can rest and have time to grieve. Friends and family have prayed and offered suppport. They have rejoiced with us and grieved with us about Jade.

I’m not sharing my heart with you so you can feel sorry for me. Please don’t! I want you to know that we have a beautiful child in Heaven named Jade. And far more importantly, I want you to know GOD CAN BE TRUSTED. We can have joy in our hearts, and we can smile through our tears, because God is real! Whether God gives you a husband or not. Whether He gives you children or not. No matter what the diagnosis, no matter how many lost dreams you experience, nothing changes Who God is. And Jeremiah 29:11 is still in the Bible.

It’s okay to grieve. He can help me through. He has a plan. He will not waste this. There is hope! And someday, I will look into the eyes of Jesus, and He will introduce me to my beautiful treasures – Jewel, Gem and Jade … who by God’s grace never experienced the pain of this earth – only the beauty of God in His home. I was never able to tell them about Jesus, but the first One they ever met was Jesus. I am a very blessed mother of five. May all my children bring Him glory, there and here.

Suggested resource for those suffering a loss of a child before or after birth: Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg

February 12, 2012October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Loss, Marriage, Miscarriage, Parenting, Single Women 11 Comments

Little Jewel

Five years ago today we experienced a new kind of loss. We were just a week away from telling the world that our home was being blessed with another baby. Then came the cramping, the blood, the tears. Even though Little Jewel is safe and happy with God, we still miss him or her today. We look forward to our reunion with Jewel and his or her little sister (who early in my pregnancy went to be with Jesus almost 2 years ago now). We don’t understand God’s plan, but we know we can trust Him. One big reason He must’ve taken Jewel home is because He wanted there to be a jolly little Joshua! I’m going to reach back into the archives and share what was on my heart five years ago …

Our Little Jewel

February 7, 2007

We have many treasures in Heaven where God is. But we recently added another, or rather God thought our little Jewel is so precious that He wanted him or her there with Him.

At the end of December we found out that we were expecting our second child. We were so very excited and praised God!! Of course there is the sigh that says, “Here we go again! Are we up to it? Things are gonna change!” We happily began making plans for 2007 and in the goals for August it simply said, “Get ready for Baby” because Baby Skinner #2 was supposed to arrive around September 4th. We chuckled that it was near Labor Day and felt contentment in our hearts as we again made ready for change.

January had a difficult start because we had picked up a Type A flu bug somewhere. The month consisted of recovering from Christmas and sickness while preparing for the 29th – Caleb’s 1st birthday! At the beginning of the month I was a little fearful . . . would I have morning sickness? Would I be able to do everything I wanted to do before family came to celebrate? Every day I got up and God gave me the strength to do what I needed to do. Sometimes I had to rest, but I had hardly a quesy feeling and daily thanked God for that good feeling!! The day approached and we were ready. The guest room was decorated, I thoroughly cleaned and Tim shampooed the carpets. The house was really looking good!

We talked about how we should tell our parents about Baby and decided to give Caleb an outfit for his birthday that said, “Big Brother” on it. It was so cute – bright blue with black wording that matched the stripes on the pant legs. It was lovingly wrapped and awaited the big day. We left that gift for last so that the focus could be on Caleb for his special day.

Grandpas and Grandmas came and we had a wondreful time together! After lunch was gift opening. He received so many lovely cards and gifts. When we helped him open the Big Brother outfit Tim videotaped our parents expressions. My mom was the first to “Pop”! and the others looked kindof shocked. What rejoicing we shared!! : ) Everyone was happy about Baby!! Caleb’s birthday was so special and has such wonderful memories for us. We have many pictures to share with him someday!

Our families were all gone back home by Tuesday, the day after Caleb’s birthday. I felt tired, especiallly on Wednesday. I felt like I couldn’t move and spent much of the day lying down. On Thursday I had some spotting and felt some initial alarm, but when I read up on it I found that spotting is common. So that made me feel better. However, it got worse on Friday. Tim and I had planned on a date that night with the Kirchners watching Caleb. I didn’t really feel like going out, but Tim thought it would be good for me. So we went to Hy-Vee for Chinese and then for a drive. The moon was full and beautiful. I had made some chocolate chip cookies to surprise Tim and put them in a gift bag with a note that said, “I love you, Tim! (heart)” It was a special night, but I was not feeling well and was anxious to get home.

On Saturday we decided I should be extra careful. Tim fed me a delicious breakfast in bed, complete with his famous pancakes! I figured out that it was our 45th month anniversary! : ) The spotting continued, and I was not feeling much better. It was getting boring staying in bed all day! On Sunday I couldn’t go to church and felt icky. Tim went in the morning, so I had to lift Caleb. I overdid making a nice dinner. I thought I was feeling stronger, but something still didn’t feel right. The bleeding continued, and I was really concerned.

Sunday night the bleeding turned into clotting and we were scared! We didn’t know what to do, so I suggested we call a friend – she had had a miscarriage and would know how to help us. It was so hard to call her at 10:30 at night and tell her, “I think I’m having a miscarriage.” She didn’t even know about our little Baby, yet. Poor friend. She was wonderful, as usual, and encouraged us to call the emergency room. They suggested we try the clinic number again and that we would be able to talk to a doctor.

We were able to talk with the dr., and she was encouraging. She said not to worry, just to call in the morning to make an appointment. She said that the baby could still be okay. We felt a little better, but I didn’t sleep much that night. I definitely felt God’s comfort over us. I was glad when morning came, and so grateful that we hadn’t had to go to the emergency room during the frigidly cold (-10) night!

We went in for an ultrasound at 1:30. They took some blood first to see what my hormones were doing. The ultrasound was kindof scary because I was hoping to see a baby with a heartbeat. The lady wasn’t allowed to interpret the pictures for us, but I asked her if she could show us where the Baby was. She said she could do that. But she didn’t. We were kindof scared. Next we waited to see our dr. She came in and asked what had been happening. She told us that she looked at the ultrasound pictures and there was no baby in there that she could see! She thought we had either already miscarried or that it was a tubal pregnancy, which would mean surgery. We were so disappointed, and I felt troubled about facing possible surgery. She was so kind to us! She said that we would need to come back on Wednesday to see if my hormones had dropped (since they were still so high). But she warned us that if we felt any sharp pains to call the clinic, and if it were after 5 to go to the emergency room without delay. Tim looked sad and disappointed across the room. We left the office sad and shocked. I cried a little in the elevator. Tim hugged me close.

We went home in shock. We called our parents to tell them. Then I took a long bath with comforting hymn music in the background. That night I looked at Tim and said, “I can’t believe our Baby is gone!” and I cried. Tim isn’t much for crying, but I could see he was sad. He held me and we grieved together. We decided to believe that Baby was already gone and not to worry about sharp pains or surgeries. Thankfully this is Wednesday and neither occured.

I went back to the clinic today to have blood work done. The hormones had dropped from 4,000 to 2,000 (approx.) . . . I need to go back again in a week to make sure they are back to zero. Our dr. was very kind and said that we probably miscarried on Sunday. She said we can try again in a couple months and we should have another baby real soon. I thanked her for being so kind, and I told her that, “We are disappointed, but we trust God’s plan.” I hope that she can see Christ in us. God helped me when I was scared to go to the clinic – thank you God, for giving me comfort and joy when humanly speaking there was little hope. We have a lot of hope in You!!!

We decided to call our Baby Little Jewel because he or she was very small (about 1 inch) and very precious to us. I still feel weak, but I can tell people are praying for us. Tim told me tonight that he misses our Baby and is disappointed. We had made so many happy plans!! Now 2007 takes on a different tone. Thankfully God is using this to draw us closer to Him and to each other. We can see so many ways that He helped us and is helping us!!! God, if you can use this, please do.

As we think of our Little Jewel we thank God that he or she is with Him, safe and loved. We also look forward to meeting Little Jewel someday! : ) I will never forget our Baby, and he or she will always be special to me. And I pray that we will be able to have more children someday soon. God knows. God gives and God takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!!

Image courtesy of http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/|

February 4, 2012October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Loss, Miscarriage, Parenting 2 Comments

We Still Believe In Jesus

Looking at our under-the-tree nativity set and remembering why we celebrate Christmas

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” II Corinthians 9:15

Here we are in the middle of December, and all around us are reminders of what we are supposed to be doing … “Only eleven shopping days until Christmas!” I haven’t seen one sign that proclaims, “Only eleven days until we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior! What are you giving Him this year?”

Besides the wonderful account of the historical Saint Nicholas, we’ve heard bits and pieces of the lackluster history of Christmas. In many ways it remains a pagan holiday. At times I strain to hear above the roar around me …

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’ … And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'”

Luke 2:10-14

I have some dear friends who choose not to acknowledge the holiday of Christmas one iota. Others go way overboard the other direction, spending tons of money and going into debt. How do we keep a balance, honoring God in how we live out Christmas?

Last week, when my boys and I were in the check-out line at a store, a man dressed as Santa came over and started “Ho-ho-ho-ing” and asking my boys, “Have you been good this year? Do you know what’s coming in two weeks?” Normally I would’ve just smiled and kept busy, but the jolly man bedecked in red and white kept going on and on … “What do you want for Christmas?” My boys looked confused, so I explained to “Santa” and the checker that, “My boys don’t know about Santa.” I tried to say it as sweetly as possible. “Santa” went on to other customers, while our checker looked at me like I was evil incarnate.

That was the first time we had been approached by a friendly man dressed as Santa Claus. I should have expected it, but it took me by surprise. Our boys are ages five and three, and this subject has not come up before this year. Making a mental note that it was time to have a talk about Santa, I smiled at the man and told him that we choose instead to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Praying that I was not bringing harm to Jesus’ name, I was friendly and thanked him when we left. It was not exactly the way I had expected to live out the verse about being ready always to give an answer to every man who asks about the hope within me (I Peter 3:15). Next time I will be better prepared.

Today Santa is rarely portrayed as the original St. Nicholas, a kind man who loved God and people, giving unconditionally. Thankfully, we live in a free country where we can celebrate as we choose. At our house we rejoice at the coming of God’s perfect gift, Jesus. And part of the way we celebrate is by giving gifts to family and friends.

In talking with my friends, I’ve found that I’m not the only one who has been made to feel small and evil directly due to a conversation including the words “Santa” and “Christmas.” One friend sweetly suggested that in my situation I had won a sort of a battle. She is thankful that I said something, because many people think that the account of Jesus is just a fairy tale that no one believes anymore. Many of us still believe in Jesus! He is alive and strong, and His message of hope is as true today as it was two thousand years ago.

My friend Dawn has given me some practical advice. Here is what works for her family, and I think it is wonderful:

1. Always tell your children the truth. Stay true to God’s Word and the meaning of Christmas. Emphasize Jesus everyday.

2. However, you cannot ignore “Santa” … unless you keep your kids under a rock, they are going to see a guy dressed in a red suit, hear other kids talking about Santa, or get asked by a friendly adult “what did Santa bring you for Christmas?” Tell them the legend of St. Nick and how the idea of Santa got started. Talk about what a costume is. Talk about “cartoon characters” and playing pretend.

3. Teach your kids how to respond to others regarding Santa. (I learned this lesson the hard way.) I nearly got tarred and feathered by other pre-school parents because my son had taken it upon himself to tell his classmates the truth (I was told that I had ruined their child’s Christmas and stolen their innocence. Ouch!)

So, we talked about how other families are “playing the Santa game.” I told my kids that other families play a game and talk about Santa like he is real. And that my kids should not ruin the game. Instead, when asked about Santa, they need to say “Santa is fun, but I like to celebrate Jesus’ birthday the most!” This response has worked beautifully. It’s a chance to speak up for Christ, but not damage our chance to testify for Him again later.

If you find yourself in a circumstance, planned or unplanned, where you can tell about why you celebrate Christmas, consider it a bonus. And remember, the One who truly knows whether you’ve been naughty or nice loves you no matter what, and He would consider your love His best birthday gift.

December 14, 2011October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Holidays, Parenting Leave a comment

Lemon Wedges and Sugar Packets

Dad and me celebrating his 80th birthday, April 2011

“‘… And try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'” Malachi 3:10b

My Dad has the unique habit of making lemonade at restaurants. He does not order a lemonade, he makes it with the resources available at his table. Typically, a lemon wedge garnish arrives in each water glass, and before the waiter can say, “May I take your order?” he has already grabbed a mini bag of sugar and is intently concocting his chalice of personal refreshment before our very eyes.

A memory I treasure involves a visit with my parents. We met at a restaurant, and our waitress graciously seated us before delivering water glasses complete with lemony adornments. After sharing an unusual memory from her childhood, our waitress asked if we would like anything else to drink. I tried to look busy with my menu while my Dad smiled at the lady, “I need some sugar, please … to make lemonade.”

Honestly, I can’t say that I have ever gotten used to this ritual, even though it has become a family tradition. I half expected the seven-months-pregnant waitress to toss a meager bag of sweetener my dad’s direction with a snear of disgust. But, no. My eyes grew wide with wonder as our angelic hostess brought my dad not just one sugar packet, but a bowl full of sugar packets, and in another bowl a veritable mountain of lemon wedges (at least eight)! Dad was ecstatic while Mom handled her shock in a most gracious manner.

This reminds me of God’s lavish lovingkindness toward us. We eventually get around to asking God for help (sometimes as a last resort). And what does God do? Does He toss us a lame little sugar packet with a scowl on His face? No way! God delights in meeting every need, heaping upon us His powerful resources and sweet comfort to strengthen us along the way. All we need to do is ask. And, of course, the tab is on Him.

P.S. After the meal, my Dad generously ordered a giant hot fudge sundae for us to share, just to say, “I love you!” Thanks, Dad – I love you, too!

^“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive,

that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

November 29, 2011October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: God Appointments, Parenting 1 Comment