Hello 2021!

An Update

Welcome back! It has been quite a while since I have written here. As I'm sure is true for you, last year looked nothing like I had expected. 

For us, 2020 included a crazy work year for Geoffrey, which led to longer days parenting by myself. I also added homeschooling my high school sister full-time this past year, which was a lot of fun and work.

Life has been busy and a bit upside down between Covid-19 and politics affecting our lives. Lord willing, a few changes this upcoming year will allow me to write more here.

Looking Forward

This year, my plan is to focus on 1) homeschooling with the Charlotte Mason method and 2) parenting. No promises that I will stick only to those two topics though. I already have a couple of pending posts that don't fit either of those categories. 

Being a research nerd and Charlotte Mason enthusiast, I plan to share an overview of her method. We have found her method to be a perfect fit for our family. I also will be sharing several resources I've created that friends have found helpful. 

Meanwhile, with four kids (ages 1, 3, 5, and 7), parenting is the primary focus of most of my days. As such, I have streamlined how I care for our kids over the last several years. My prayer is that the ideas and tools I share will better equip parents in raising their kids. 

Thankful for 2020 

This past year looked nothing like I envisioned. As a result, putting on thankfulness was hard.

So, before I jump into posting for this new year, I want to share the top three things I'm thankful for from 2020. If you haven't done so, I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on things to thank God for from this past year.

Our family has found that we need to slow down to consider God's goodness. When we do, there are always plenty of things to praise him for!

Without further ado, here they are:

1) The sweetness of a strong marriage. 

Last year had several unexpected difficulties and challenges. In February, our pastor encouraged us to start having a weekly date night at home. So we did.

None of us knew that Covid-19 was about to change our lives only a month later. But God did.

Our weekly dates have ensured intentional face-to-face times of communication. The Lord has used them and the trials to grow our unity, communication, and fellowship.

To make this work I feed the kids a simple dinner and get them to bed early. Depending on the day, the older kids sometimes read in bed for an extra half hour.

Geoffrey comes home an hour after our usual mealtime with take out. Then we (usually) get to enjoy an uninterrupted evening together. 


2) Sweet times singing "Jesus, Strong and Kind" with our kiddos. 

I'm a certified homebody. The social changes of 2020 with being home way more have driven even myself a bit batty at times.

The extra time in close quarters has provided lots of opportunities for making memories together and for conflict... I mean sanctification.

Mid-year, I started playing "Jesus, Strong, and Kind" during breakfast prep each morning. This song has been such a gift to us. It reminds us of our good God and sets the tone for the day.

We now have a routine of me singing the first verse, the kids singing the second, and then all of us singing the third. If you haven't heard any of CityAlight's songs, I highly recommend checking them out.

3) Growth in friendships.
Finally, I'm thankful for how God used this crazy past year to reveal how precious friends are in a new way.

I'm thankful for friends who asked questions and didn't assume they knew my heart motives.

I'm thankful for friends being willing to discuss politically charged topics. I'm thankful for those same friends being willing to drop politically charged topics. Sometimes talking about the mundane is best.

I'm thankful for friends who were eager to share burdens and pray together. I'm thankful friends who were quick to remind me of God's goodness and might.

What if 2021 doesn't get better? 

Last month our pastor preached about God being greater than our circumstances. He asked, "What happens if 2021 doesn't get better?"

That question was convicting. It revealed to me that I have been putting my hope in my circumstances changing instead of in God.

In closing, I want to remind my readers of two reminders that I daily need:

1) There are no 'ifs' with God.
Every hard circumstance a person experiences is fully within God's control. Look at his claim of power and might:

2) Because of Christ I can have peace, no matter what my circumstances are. 

My greatest need has already been taking care of by Christ. It is easy for me to forget this glorious truth.

Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in the New Testament. These are the promises we find there:

• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
• The Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God.
• ALL things work together for good for those who are called according to God's purpose.
• The almighty God is for his children.
• NOTHING will separate us from the love of Christ. This includes tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword.

My prayer is that the circumstances of 2021 will cause us to rely on God who raises the dead, instead of on ourselves (2 Corinthians 1:9). Happy New Year!

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* Photo by Javon Swaby and Pixabay on Pexels.