Dangerous

On Thursday mornings I have the opportunity to walk with a group of women who pray silently as they move their feet. I have only attended this walking prayer group once before this Thursday. This Thursday I was convicted that I needed to go. It sounded windy and cold outside and I didn't want to and so I said "Are you sure? It sounds yucky out there." But the conviction stayed so I got up, early. God wanted to meet me there. I had expectation therefore of some great word, but received only two...move and look. What those mean exactly I don't know yet, but I acted upon them to the best of my ability. One as a confirmation of something I have been hearing for a few years and one as a prod to action. We'll see if I'm hearing correctly or not by the outcome.

During this walk I also felt led to pray what my church has been calling "the dangerous prayer;" "Lord, do with me what you want, when you want, where you want." Immediately after praying it God led me to understand that it isn't dangerous. First, because we are just acknowledging what God can do anyway. He created us, we are His to do with as He pleases. He does not need our permission to do anything with us. We have been bought with a price. We are no longer our own. We are slaves to the Most High. By praying that we are really just agreeing to particpate with Him in His plans for us. Second, because He loves us and will be with us through whatever comes into this life. It is not a guarantee that we will be free from pain, but pain is not always a bad thing. I have heard that the yoke of Christ is grace, which I don't doubt is a part of it. But I think the big, heavy, on the neck of the oxen part is obedience. Obedience isn't always easy, but it is always good. Good because the One we are to be obedient to is good and He has good things planned for us; even if we don't get them in this part of eternity we will get them in heaven.

Starting School

Labor Day was our first day of school. I love that I can set when we start according what works best in our schedule. I have chosen to start on Labor Day mainly so I don't forget when to start, which would be more and more typical.

This year Laina is doing pre-school, so there are still a few bugs to work out with divided attention. Kaleb doesn't much like to work on his own yet and Laina can't. With practice it will improve I'm sure, mostly on my end. Laina is learning to write and working on other basic skills, most of which she already has mastered. Good just to make sure. It has been interesting with her that she has learned to recognize letters by writing them. She already can write her name, and usually does often on any drawing she's working on, and can write Kaleb's name too. It is interesting when their skill level exceeds their cognitive ability. I must watch that I don't push her too hard.

I was a bit concerned that I might have chosen too hard a reading program for Kaleb. He has to sound out many of the words so far and it is a second grade level and he is in first grade. God reminded me though that last year when he was learning to read we would go over some of the new words before we encountered them in the story. I have tried that this week and it is going much better. He doesn't dread it so much and it doesn't take so long.

Both the kids have enjoyed working lately. They help bring the cows into the barn, feed calves and Kaleb enjoys scraping the manure out of the barn. I also love that about homeschooling. They have plenty of time to do what they love outside of school.