Mama Kay

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window… It is grey and snow is falling

I am thinking… what should I make for dinner

I am thankful for… my husband

I am wearing… a denim skirt and green/blue shirt

I am remembering…Spring in Arizona

I am currently reading… A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn

I am hoping… that we can find THE place to put down roots

Pondering these words…

I am starved for the Bread of Heaven and I beg for that which is true sustenance and nothing on the earth or in the self can satisfy and I crave desperate for the Body and the Blood and Him, my only hope of righteousness.

- Ann at A Holy Experience

From the kitchen…  Blueberry Coffee Cake

Around the house… trying to figure out how to make a “Family Closet” work

One of my favorite things~ Cheesy Fries

I hope you are having a wonderful day celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Here are the words to a song that I love that expresses the gospel so wonderfully:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Verse 2:
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift if love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on the cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ in I live

Verse 3:
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then, bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He us mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Verse 4:
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand

————————-

Thank you Lord for your grace!

Here are some pictures of our girls in their Easter dresses

“Children should be influenced by books that vividly portray life in
all its trials and victories. Divine providence should echo
throughout its pages. Characters who suffer wrongfully in a righteous
manner, and display humble dispositions, will lay a secure foundation
for the time when childhood may be stolen away; perhaps through the
death of a loved one, sickness, calamity. children need informed
instruction, and models of heroes and heroines of righteousness to fill
their reserves for such a time. In literature as well as in history,
God who doeth all things well, must be seen through the filter of His
divine love and tender care for His children and as an avenger of all
who harden their neck.”“

Francois Fenelon 1687
from
Education of A Child, The Wisdom Of Fenelon

This week we have been having several discussions about what a good book (or movie) is. My oldest daughter is noticing that what we approve of is not the same as what her friends’ parents choices are even though her friends go to the same church we do. She began by saying that I don’t like anything she wants to see or read. Of course, there are so many things that are inappropriate material for our children but I tried to change the conversation to what are the things that we do approve of and why.

I decided to write out some guidelines for what we consider appropriate material for our children and I thought I would share it here.

Our family has 2 defined purposes that we try to filter everything through:

1. Glorify God

2. Bring Joy to Others

1. Does reading this book or watching this movie help us to fulfill our defined purposes?

2. Does the material inspire us?

3. Is it a living book?

I love this quote from Ruth Saywer which I think gives us a good picture of a living book:

Stories that make for wonder.

Stories that make for laughter.

Stories that stir one within with an understanding of the true

nature of courage, of love, of beauty.

Stories that make one tingle with high adventure,

with daring, with grim determination,

with the capacity of seeing danger through to the end.

Stories that bring our minds to kneel in reverence;

Stories that show the tenderness of true mercy,

the strength of loyalty,

the unmawkish respect for what is good.

Not everything we watch or read falls in line with this but it is our goal to keep to these guidelines as much as possible.

Do you have any guidelines for what you allow your children to watch or read? I’d love to hear them.

The due date for the baby we lost to miscarriage earlier this year was yesterday and I find myself grieving once more. I lost more than the baby. I lost myself. God has been peeling back the layers and revealing who I really am and what my purpose in this life is. I know that he is doing a good work in me refining me for his good purpose but the pruning hurts so terribly much. As I wallowed in my pain today I opened my Bible and he gave me this passage:

Psalm 143—A Psalm of David.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah.

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge!

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!

In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

I pray that though I may suffer that I will glorify him through it all! He upholds me in his hand and never allows more than I can bear. My life is for Him not my own pleasures or desires although he is gracious in allowing many of those. I am to glorify him. And so I say that although he has allowed this pain in my life he has brought me to such a greater understanding of who he is and who I am. He loves me so much that he was unwilling to allow me to continue down the path I was on but pulled me back to himself. What a merciful Father I have that while I am steeped in sin He loves me enough to rescue me and pay the price himself for my salvation. Blessed be his name in all the earth!