Walnut Grove

Last Friday, Nana and I traveled with Claire to Walnut Grove Plantation in Roebuck, SC. Prior to our visit, I had no idea Walnut Grove even existed! We had a wonderful day exploring the house, making candles, and thinking about what life was like during the late 1700's in South Carolina.

Charles & Mary Moore established Walnut Grove on a 550-acre land grant about 1765.  These Scots-Irish immigrants raised ten children in the house they built and lived in for 40 years.  Mr. Moore relied on a dozen enslaved African Americans and his own large family to work his sizable farm.  During the American Revolution, the Moore family, including eldest daughter Kate Moore Barry, actively supported the Patriot cause and the militia even mustered at Walnut Grove.  Loyalist William "Bloody Bill" Cunningham killed three Patriot soldiers sheltered at the plantation in 1781. 

Camdyn's Chapel Program

We enjoyed Camdyn's chapel program with her 1st grade class two weeks ago.....been slow on my blog updates! Camdyn's class sang songs, recited Scripture, and led the rest of the Early Education classes in their chapel time! Cam is a natural on stage, loved every minute of it, and did a wonderful job! We love you sweet girl!!!

The Christian Life is Not Safe

Great article by Tim Challies:

The Christian Life Is Not Safe

A couple of months ago I worked with a graphic designer to put together an infographic that would display the attributes of God. Putting it together was far more worship than work as I looked to the Bible to see what God tells us about himself, about who he is and what he’s like. Each one of those attributes is worthy of a study because each one is part of an answer to questions like this: Who is this God who has forgiven me for my sin? What is this God like?

He is free, he is holy, he is wise, he is true, he is immutable. All that and so much more. Conspicuously absent from that list of attributes is safe. The Bible says nothing about our God being a safe God. But that is okay, because he is good.

I suppose I’m not allowed to pick favorites, but one of the attributes I find most comforting is God’s goodness. God is good, which means that he is the source of all good, he is the standard of all good, and he is only and ever and always good. That’s an awesome thing to know and believe, even if it can be hard at times to apply it.

This week I’ve been asked to speak on “safe,” or “the Christian life is not safe.” So why do I go straight to goodness? Because the Christian life truly isn’t safe, but that’s okay because our God is good and he would never ask us or command us to do anything that is in any way bad for us. I don’t just mean sinful—of course God will never lead us to sin. But he also won’t lead us to do anything that is less than what is best for us.

I think C.S. Lewis got it right with this little bit of dialog from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Mr. Beaver is trying to describe the attributes of Aslan, the book’s Christ-like character. Concerned that Aslan is a Lion, Susan jumps in and asks “Is he—quite safe?” “Safe?” Mr. Beaver says. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Our God isn’t safe, but he is good. Why then do so many of us live such safe lives? God’s attributes describe who he is, but in many cases they also describe what we are to be. Most theologians suggest that God’s attributes come in two forms: communicable and incommunicable. The attributes that are incommunicable are God’s alone—he cannot and will not communicate them to any other being. You and I will never be eternal, we will never be omnipresent. But most of God’s attributes are communicable—he gives them to us and we are right to pursue them. God is loving, so we are to be loving. God is merciful, so we are to extend mercy. And God is good so we, too, are to be good. 

But God is not safe, so why is it that we value our safety so highly? We tend to value it above just about everything else. This isn’t just physical safety—the kind of thing that keeps us inventing and wearing seatbelts and the kind of thing that keeps us locking our doors at night. This is safety that keeps us from going outside our comfort zones, from refusing to do the difficult things that take us beyond what we are comfortable with.

So we give to the Lord a safe amount of money instead of an amount that is extravagant. Our giving to the Lord is just another budget item. We share the gospel carefully or passively, but without bringing it to the people who scare us or intimidate us. We praise the people who throw safety aside and who plunge into war-torn countries or who move to the difficult parts of the city. But it doesn’t do a whole lot to change our lives.

Reading the gospels can be intimidating, especially in those places that Jesus is speaking to unbelievers and telling them what it will cost them to follow him. We have to count our lives as nothing; we have to be willing to love him so much that the way we love family and friends looks like hate by contrast; we have to be willing to sell everything we have, offering ourselves up completely. That’s not safe and to most people it doesn’t sound good.

We who know the Lord have accepted all of this. We have agreed that our lives are dedicated to him. We have agreed that our health and safety is less important than his glory. We know this in our heads, but we have trouble translating it to our lives.

I am convinced that this failure to live comes from a failure to believe, from a conflict between our desire for safety and what God says about his own goodness. The fact is that everything that happens in your life, no matter how incomprehensible it may seem, it all happens for a reason, a good reason. All of it has been designed, lovingly crafted, to bring good to you and glory to God. This includes the difficult things as much as the good things, the things we don’t like as much as the things we love.

The antidote to a safe life is a firm and growing trust in God’s goodness. The Bible is full of promises to those who follow Christ, promises like this one: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God asks for an all-encompassing kind of commitment. He asks for everything, but he promises even more. He isn’t safe, but he is good.

Purity Pledge

So thankful to the disciples at SEEDS Family Worship for creating music that puts Scripture into our hearts and minds. Love their new album, Purity.

Here is their Purity Pledge for parents! I took the pledge!

I commit to:

• •Only use language in public or private that I would want my children to also use. Refraining from unwholesome conversation (in person and online)—including derogatory talk about others. (Ephesians 5:4) *

  I agree
• •Only watch and read media that is edifying. By filling my heart and mind with purity, I am better able to honestly talk with my children about temptations and how to keep their hearts with all vigilance. (Proverbs 4:23) (Psalm 101:1-3) *

  I agree
• •Show a reverence for the relationship of a man and woman in marriage. (Genesis 2:24) (Ephesians 5:22-28) *

  I agree
• •Teach my children a Biblical worldview—helping them use Scripture rather than culture to direct their paths. (Psalm 119:105) *

  I agree
• •Remind my children of their identity in Christ—instilling an appreciation of how wonderfully they are made by God. (Psalm 139:14) *

  I agree
• •Teach my children to seek and cherish company that encourages right behavior. (I Corinthians 15:33-34) *

  I agree
• •Pray daily for my children to grow in purity and wisdom. And I will pray the same for the spouses my children will marry. (I Timothy 4:11-13) (Colossians 1:9) (Philippians 1: 9-11) *

  I agree
• •Help your children become patient in all things—especially in not seeking romantic relationships too early in life. (Song of Solomon 8:4) *

  I agree
• I affirm my commitment to this pledge. *
  To learn more or download their new album,click here.

Grandparent's Day

Claire's 3rd grade class hosted a Grandparent's Day on Valentine's day! They shared a skit, song and a recitation of 1 Corinthians 13 with the grandparents. Then they went to the cafeteria for a special snack and to share their homemade valentines with their special guests! We are so thankful that Nana, Pop Pop, and Nan could come and we know that Mimi, Pops, and Greg were there in Spirit! Grandparents are so special and we are so thankful for all of you!!

Mom's Ransom Rubbage

Problem: little messes that pop up all over the house....

Exhibit #1 - Barbie swimming pool in bathroom sink
                    Hairbrush and hair bands left out

Exhibit #2 - toothbrushes left out

  Exhibit #3 - Jacket left laying on the floor by

  messy stuffed animal pile

Solution:  

I found this idea several weeks ago on Pinterest. I loved the idea and plan on implementing today after our family meeting. Here is the way it works:

1. Toys, clothes, shoes,  book bags, school work, toothbrushes etc. are left out of place. 

2. Mom gives a warning about not putting those items in their proper place.

3. Item is left out again.

4. Item is confiscated by Mom and put into the Ransom Rubbage box.

5. Child says, "Mom have you seen my (insert toy, clothing item, shoes, book bag, school work, toothbrush, etc. here)?"

6. Mom says, "I believe that item is in the Ransom Rubbage Box."

7. Child must pull a ticket from the box and complete the said task on the ticket in order to retrieve their item from the box.

8. Child will learn to put away their belongings in a proper place! :) (hopefully!)

Here is a modified list of tasks we are using taken from the Pinterest link that originally gave me this idea:

Clean out van trash

Vacuum out mom’s van

Organize shoe closet

Pull weeds in back yard for 10 minutes

Pull weeds in front yard for 10 minutes

Rub dad’s feet for 10 minutes and sing, ‘this little piggy’ to him.

Sweep off the front porch

Wipe down guest bathroom toilet

Windex the front door while singing any song.

Wipe down outside of fridge and have a fruit or yogurt treat afterwards.

You are free but this is a WARNING!

Sweep off garage door rug

Scrub upstairs bathtub

Give mom or dad a hug and say, “I will never leave my stuff out again.”

Empty all garbage cans into kitchen garbage

Write a letter to someone who has done something nice for you and tell them thank you.

Match up 10 pairs of socks

  Rub dad’s head for 10 minutes while telling him how thankful you are for him working so hard.

Sweep front sidewalk and ride your bike down the street and back.

Go play with Sadie for 10 minutes

Clean out one drawer of your choice

Dust living room

You are free but this is a WARNING!

You are free but this is a WARNING!

Tell your sister 3 things you love about her.

 Write 10 times “I will not leave my things out.”

Do 25 jumping jacks while singing, “I am a cleaning machine.”

Run around the house for 3 minutes and see how many things you can pick up and put away.

Clean out your book bag.

Draw a picture of you picking up things and your mom and dad smiling BIG!

Make up a song about a clean house and perform it in front of your family.

Make your bed and clean under it.

Wipe down your bathroom sinks.

While hopping on one foot, wipe the kitchen counters off.

Choose 2 items of yours to donate to Goodwill.

Vacuum the den.

Pick up trash in back yard and beg your mother for forgiveness.

Sweep off back porch

Design a machine on paper that cleans the whole house and gets you ready for the day.

Water the cherry tree in the front yard.

Organize mom and dad’s shoes

Get all dirty clothes from upstairs and bring them down stairs. Sort into light and dark piles.

Take Sarge for a walk down the street and back.

Draw a picture to send to Maw Maw.

Look up this Bible verse and write it down on a piece of paper: Ephesians 6:1

I am asking the girls to keep me accountable for picking up my things too! So they are allowed to put my things in said Ransom Rubbage box as well! Yes, I'll be sure to post if in fact I end up doing jumping jacks one afternoon shouting, "I'm a cleaning machine!"

Overall, I hope it is fun AND effective at helping us stay on top of putting things away!

Cowgirl Camdyn

Cam dressed up for Cowboy/Cowgirl day at school!! :) Yee haw!!