Micah Begins Bible College

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Timothy 3:14 

On August 22, our family packed up our home in Texas and drove 1,061 miles to bring Micah to Masters Baptist College in Fargo, ND to begin his Freshman year. We were pulling a trailer which Jason converted into our new deputation home, so we did not arrive in Fargo until Saturday, August 27. 

On arriving in Fargo, we were able to help Micah move in and met one of his room mates. 

Sunday service was hard for this mama. We were to leave the following day to start heading to Indiana. I did not want to have to say goodbye to my firstborn! But the Lord granted me a special blessing! A church member started to talk to Jason and found out he knew hw to do construction. He asked us to stay in Fargo longer to help with siding his house. I was granted an extra 10 days in Fargo close to my son! 

These above photo was taken in April 2015.
We recreated the photo in front of the same water fountain.

Family photo following Sunday morning service! 

Working on siding with a lift!

Getting to spend time in Fargo with Micah!

We met Micah's second room mate after Wednesday service. The church had a gathering where church members could introduce themselves to the students.

God is so good to us! I can hardly explain how excited I was to spend the extra time with Micah before heading to Indiana as well as be a blessing to a family needing help with siding their house! We did not finish the siding- the house was bigger than our time allowed - but we were happy to help with what time there was. 

Praise for the Lord's Protection

Lamentations 3:22-23

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

On April 2, 2022, my two older children were in a car accident. Jason and I were on our way to a missions conference and were not able to immediately be there for our sweet babies, but the Lord placed just the right people at the right time where they needed to be in order to help them. 

A lady was with our children when they called us from the scene of the accident. She stayed with them until the ambulance came to take them to the hospital. She later said this when describing the incident to me: "You should be very proud of them. They were terrified and confused, but they listened to all the direction I gave them so we could get things handled quickly and safely. Your son was incredibly brave and never stopped worrying about his sister first. You have great kids. I am so thankful that I was placed with them in that time yesterday. I will continue to pray for their healing and strength!"

Two local pastors and their wives were able to tend to the children at the hospital. One stayed with them in our home after they were released from the hospital until Jason and I arrived home four hours later. 

The following day, we saw the wrecked van for ourselves. The passenger side was squashed in like a tin can right where my son had been sitting. He walked away with no injuries. The police told us that accidents at that intersection are often fatal. 

We praise the Lord for His protection for our children. Things could have turned out so differently. We know He is not through with them yet and has great plans for their lives.

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

Psalms 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

The kids had a Christmas breakfast at Berkshire Hills Baptist Church today themed "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made". Check out the pictures!

 

Rejoice With Them That Do Rejoice

Romans 12:15

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

     For Laura's 9th birthday, she had horseback riding lessons at a nearby town. She got the full horse care experience from grooming to feeding as well as riding. 

     Micah and Heidi were there as well. They got to brush, feed, and pet the horses.... 

But they did not get to ride them. 

     All too often we try to make everything "even Steven" for our children, giving them an unrealistic idea they will receive equal parts in everything they take part in always.

     Come on, we've all done it as kids! "Mom, Sister got a bigger piece of cake than me! That's not fair!"

     Sometimes I purposely unevenly cut a treat and then hand them out at random to my children, just to see what they will say. So far, no one has ever noticed, or chosen to care if their piece was smaller."

     What cruel mother wouldn't divide things evenly between her children?!

     I don't think Christ gave everyone equal shares all the time. Even the spiritual gifts mentioned are different:

Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

     Nope! There's nothing even in that list.

     In fact, only one disciple was even given the label, "the disciple whom Jesus loved," and this was John.

     It is so important, to learn to rejoice in the victories of others; to be excited when something great happens to someone who is, well, not ourself!

     If we don't help our kids see this when they are young and give them these opportunities, it will follow them all throughout their life, this feeling of "it's not fair."

Child: "His piece is bigger than mine!"

Teenager: "Why can't I have that part in the school play? I'm better at acting than she is!"

Adult: "How come he has people getting saved and baptized week after week at his church and I can barely get a decent sized crowd in the doors of my church?"

Elderly: "I've worked hard all my life and I've never been able to buy half the stuff he has."

     These attitudes do nothing but rob us of our joy.

     Avoiding these attitudes are why my husband and I give the kids opportunities have joy in the victories of others.

     

     Let us help our children to have "rejoice with those that rejoice" attitudes while they are young. 

 

Homeschooling

Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Homeschooling is taking some getting used to this year. We started the first week of August and are already behind in lessons. Eight subjects times three children equals a lot of reading to make sure they are a learning and absorbing all the information!

I decided I can drive myself crazy over making sure they are "getting it", or I can do what I can do and make the best of every moment as a teachable one. My children do learn best when I walk them through their lessons, but it's also my job to help them learn to be independent in their studies. It's a difficult balance to achieve. Deuteronomy 6:7 shows that children should be taught diligently, which means with care, but it basically says that this should be done always: when you sit, walk, lie down, and rise up. We are always in one of these positions. So in other words, teach them carefully always.

Heidi gathering leaves for her art class

The girls enjoying a snack made by Laura

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Terrific Ten!

    Micah, turned ten yesterday, September 9. The day before, we arrived in Fort Worth, TX for a Missions Conference and decided to take the family to the Science and History Museum. It's so neat to watch the kids explore, learn and grow. They learn much with hands-on experiences such as those displayed at a museum. What's even more neat is to see the kids grow spiritually. Sunday we were in a church in Chattanooga, TN. The pastor there was quite thrilled to hear Micah ask him if he needed anything and if he could help. Micah's servants heart is growing so incredibly large! 

Happy 10th birthday, Micah! 

Train Up A Child

Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

     Whenever we visit a church, Micah asks if he may preach. I love his desire to share God's Word with others. He wants God to use him in a place where he would be needed most. Before Jason and I left for our trip to Hungary in June, Micah told me he wished he were going with us.

     "Micah," I had said. "Don't you want to stay with Grandpa and Grandma?" I had assumed he was more than thrilled to stay with Jason's parents.

     "Of course I do, Mom," Micah had responded. "But Grandpa and Grandma KNOW they will be in Heaven when they die. The people in Hungary don't."

     As I wiped away a tear, I thought of 3 John 1:4. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

     Thank you, Father, for the children you've entrusted me with and may they always walk in truth. Amen.

     

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