SOL/Connie: An Anxious Heart

Snow covered ground, the reminder of death that lingers at the door.
Puddles and ducks reveal the coming of spring and new life.
It won't be long now and the rains will come and wash the snow away completely, just as the drops of my dear Saviors blood has washed my sin covered life.
Soon the world will be changed and all of creation will be singing and dancing-full of life, and the snow covered ground will only be a memory.
O' anxious heart, be still and wait, for it won't be long now.
Connie

SOL/Tori: Pen Pal

SOL/Connie: Reflections on Retreat

In a quiet time recently God spoke Isaiah 61 to me: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...."
Last weekend, God used this once bound, broken-hearted, and poor in spirit woman to pray with others to be free. How humbling it is to live out the word of God.
Connie

SOL/Connie: 6 AM

For sometime now, I have felt the nudge to get my day started a little bit earlier then normal. The nudge sometimes comes from the Holy Spirit, Troy, or in this case the 2 sweet little children were caring for this weekend. Sleeping is always a concern with little ones, especially when they aren't in there own beds. Laying them down last night went exceptionally well. The baby fell right to sleep in my arms at around 7 pm. What precious days. Then the little one, I laid down at 8 pm. She went down without a peep. We went to bed and I had a taste of victory and high hopes of sleeping peacefully all night. Though it wasn't long and around 11pm, Troy, rolls over and says, "The baby is crying." My response was, "What?" And so he repeated himself, and again, I was a little confused. Then I realized, oh the baby......so I sprang up to see what was the matter, as I tried to recall the list of things to do that was sent with them from their mother. I don't remember her saying anything about 11pm? Then, I began to pray, Oh Lord, please let it only be that I have to cover him up and stick his nuk in! As I stumbled my way in the dark, I opened our creaky door as quietly as I could, only to find a bundle of blankets! Where was the baby? My heart started to quicken as I pulled back the beautiful quilt once used by my kids, and there he was fussing in his sleep. I breath a sigh of relief and straighten out his bedding and he is restful once again. Back to bed I go, hoping to find peaceful rest once again. Next thing I know, I hear a little crying voice, calling for her mommy. Up I spring once again, and peek at the clock only to see the numbers 5:54 AM. In my mind I think that this may be a long day. I make my way to the next room and pick up that sweet child who is wondering where in the world she is and I remind her of her stay at the Hoehne house. She settles quickly in my arms, and rests her head on my shoulder. Should I try to lay her back down or is it really time to get started. I decide to try laying her back down, just for a little bit longer, Lord! Not, today! Today I will start my day at 6AM! When is naptime, anyways?\
Connie

Sol/Tori: Taco Dip

SOL/Connie: No more Kleenex

Empty Kleenex boxes,
Crumpled tissues,
cough drop wrappers,
sticky medicine cups,
nasal spray,
Dimeatapp, Advil, Robitussen pick your pleasure,
bloody noses,
continued coughing,
extra laundry,
no sleep,
healing please?

Slice of Life/Connie: Beauty of the Truth

I look out over the snowy lake and watch as the 2 men look in the holes to see if they have caught any fish. My eyes burn from the lack of sleep and my legs drag as I move to a different window to get a better view of the horizon. As I take in the beauty that surrounds me, I reflect about the hearts of my friends, who shared just the day before in the very room I stand. My heart aches for them as I recall their stories full of pain. I wonder what this new day will bring for both them and myself. The time comes to share with others of the new things that God is doing and the truth that had been hidden is now revealed to a room of 380 women. Quiet stillness, faces full of pain appear, and tears slowly fall. My friend stands tall as she chokes on her words as she shares the truth of a long kept lie, and then it happens~she smiles. I'm sure her journey to healing has just begun, but I do know that a sense of freedom came across her face on this cold morning and it warmed the whole room.
"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Bible Conference with Dr. Daniel Block

This last weekend was the annual Bible conference at our church. I love it every year, and this year was no different. It was called, "Fire on the Mountain". Dr. Block is a O.T. scholar and he also helped in translating the New Living Bible. He knows his stuff. I was challenged, convicted, and encouraged all the same. Here are just a few things that really stuck.

Main premise of the conference: True worship involves reverential acts of submission and homage before the Divine Sovereign, in response to His gracious revelation of Himself, and in accordance with His will.

#1. No where in the bible do the people say, "I love you Lord.". Interesting we say this all the time and don't think twice about it. Love (ahavie) in the Hebrew, which I am sure I spelled wrong, means a covenant commitment demonstration in action of the next person. They never say they love the Lord, because it would be putting themselves on the same plain as God himself. He also said early on in the weekend, that we say, "I love you Lord, but I hate your precepts!" Ouch, that one hurt a little. I know I don't say the words, that I hate His precepts, but my rebellious actions are a reflection of that truth in my life. He said our prayer should be more like this, "Lord change my pathetic lack of love that I have for you."

#2. He talked on Isaiah 6:9-10 where God asks, "Whom shall I send?" and Isaiah responds, "Here I am, send me!". Dr. Block's comment really struck me and I hope to remember it: "The calling is to do what God has called us to and the fruit is up to God. The fruit is not a reflection of my faithfulness." So many times I measure myself against the fruit and this can be very discouraging.

#3. Throughout scripture when the people worshiped, they fell down before the Lord. (knees or face) If I do not ever find myself in this position before the Lord then, I'm afraid to say, I can't claim to be a true worshiper of the Lord. When people worship authentically then the fruit will be a transformed life and they will "go out"! (There would be no need for anymore volunteer drives, now would there be:)

#4. Our culture is the only culture that doesn't realize they have a problem. (sin being the issue) We walk around saying, "I'm ok, you're ok!" We have sanitized our souls. (falsely) This is so sad to me! I'm praying that my children would not end up buying into this lie of our culture.

He also preached Sunday morning on Prayer. Here are the things I took away from that:
Daniel 9:1-24
#1. We pray as if we are the center of the universe! (ouch, I'm guilty!!!)
#2. Prayer starts with God trying to get through to us.
#3. We are the ones who have turned from God, the problem is with us. God always keeps His word.
#4. God is at the center. God's name is stamped on His people. People are drawing conclusions about God because of me wearing His name. God's reputation is at stake and the welfare of His people. God doesn't need us but he stakes his reputation on us. (Oh, how humbling, is that.) He calls us to cast our cares on Him for Jesus sake~not our own.


When was all said and done, a part of me felt like such a shmuck!!! I fall so, so very short, and I do know this, but so many times I try to cherry coat my sin and gloss over it, by comparing myself to others. Oh I am so much like the Pharisees. I am thankful for the gentle rebuke through this conference and humbled at the great love my Saviour has for me. What a good God.
Thankful He doesn't leave me to myself,
Connie

Addicted?

61%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

My Bucket List

I have wanted to write up my own bucket list, so that is what my goal is for 2009! Here it goes, and I will likely add to it as time goes on.

Bucket List
~Do some rock climbing, not to high though!
~Spend the weekend alone with Troy at a B&B, in a cute town, that is quiet.
~Meet Beth Moore in person and wouldn't it be fun to have lunch with her!!!
~Have a girls shopping weekend with my mom, Tori, Lisa and the girls, my sweet aunts, and my sweet girl cousins!
~Attend a conference with my mom, Lisa, my sweet aunts, and my sweet girl cousins.
~Have a spa day
~Spend a weekend with my best girlfriends from HS, PJ's, Nail polish, lots of laughter, old stories, and great food.
~Re-do wedding day
~Write a book
~See Glacier Park
~Visit Washington D.C.
~Travel to Israel (safely)
~Mission trip to anywhere to minister to kids and women
~Meet our compassion child
~See the people I love most come to the saving truth of Jesus Christ!!!
~Learn to kick box really good.
~Ballroom dance
~Beat my boys in a video game.
~Go on the show Amazing Race or Survivor just to see if I could do it.

Thats it for now!!!! This is a good start.
Until next time,
Connie

Hopes and Dreams

"I hope to be a pro-moto-crosser and my dream.....hmmm, I know it was something important. What was it.......Oh! My dream is to be an inventor! That's important isn't it?" Carter

"I Float like a Butterfly, and sting like a Bee!"
One of my favorite gifts!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

St. Nick

Carter: Oh, I really thought I would get some ties, but I was squeezing my stocking and it didn't feel like any ties.

Troy: Why do you want some ties?

Carter: Well, I go to a lot of funerals!!! And weddings.

Troy/Connie: "Laughing"


What a funny boy!!!!

The Things we Talk About

Mom, is it dark in hell? Is the question that comes from the backseat. Both children await quietly to hear what kind of response they will get.
Yes, I suppose it will be very dark in hell. I think it will be much darker than it is right now, because Jesus won't be there.
Why do people think hell is going to be fun, Mom?
I'm not exactly sure, but I have heard people say, "They don't care if they end up in hell, because all their friends will be there!" and they laugh, making light of it. So I guess they are under the impression that hell will be like a giant party where they can do whatever they please. But that's not the way it will be at all. Hell is a place of separation. You see, hell is hell because it is when people will be completely separated from God for ETERNITY.
But Mom, God isn't here either. (they mean in the physical sense)
Well, though that is true the Bible tells us that Gods attributes are revealed in all of Creation, so man is without excuse. So as long as we are here there is hope for those who haven't chosen Christ, but one day we will all, everyone have to stand before God and give account and everyones eyes will be open that Jesus is the Lord God, and those who trust him for salvation will spend eternity with him and those who don't will spend eternity without him, hell! So they won't care if their friends are there or not, because there won't be relationships as we know them here. So now think of your most loneliest time and multiply it by a gazillion, and imagine it goes on forever with no end it sight.
Now our car is silent. My heart aches for the lost.
The voice from the back comes with gentleness and says, Mom that is so sad.
Yes it is, so we have to just keep praying.

Revelation 22:5 "And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
Romans 1:19-25 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!"
Romans 14:11 "for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
Philippians 2:9-10 "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Freedom & Joy

Here is a question that wears on my heart from time to time. I wonder, why, as a Christian, is it so difficult to walk in the freedom and joy that were suppose to have. One observation I've made in the past 9 years is that, a lot of my Bible believing friends struggle with bouts of depression, more so, it seems than my other friends. It just seems that, that should not be the case. The Bible talks about this great joy and freedom and even I seem to struggle in walking in this daily. Sometimes I think, it is no wonder no one is all that interested in giving their life to Christ, because if it sucks all the joy out of life than why bother?. With that being said, I have been reading in Galatians and having an incredible time. I feel like this morning God has shown me a glimpse into the questions I struggle with and given me a picture to help me understand a little better.

Here is the scripture: Galatians 2:16 "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."
Galatians 3:28-29 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ;s, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
Galatians 4:6 "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."


So hence, my questions and struggles. And then God shows me the picture of the other part of His promise to Israel, the land. For years and years people have battled to take their land from them and the battle still goes on today. (I am not up to speed necessarily in the geography of who reigns over the exact land that God promised Abraham, all I know is that the Muslims say it is theres and for centuries Israel has been the center of tug-a-war for many different people groups.) With that being said, no matter what it belongs to Israel because God said it was theres. Same with us, who have given ourselves to Christ. We are His, but there is a battle that goes on daily or better yet moment to moment to put us in bondage or suck the joy out of our walk with the Lord. So, with out a doubt, we will bounce from time to time in and out of joy and freedom as Israel has, but no matter what I am His and the truth is I have freedom and joy, even when it doesn't feel like it. PTL

Today I have a new understanding of Ephesians 6:11-20:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm. Stand therefor, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as the shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the work of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To the end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

And so I will go and walk upright and boldly, with freedom and joy, knowing who I am. Heir and Ambassador for Christ!!!!
Thank you Jesus for this sweet freedom, there is nothing else like it.
Blessings and Happy Halloween,
Your Royal Hines, Connie

Sol/On the other side

I look out at the faces of women and wonder....
What there morning was like just before they got here?
How is their marriage, is she sure of his commitment to her?
Is she just tired of trying to make everything work?
Does she worry about her weight, what she should wear, and how her hair looks?
Does she drink to numb the hurts that have been dished out to her?
Has anyone told her "thank you" lately?
Does she wonder that if she wasn't there, would anyone notice or care?
Is she ready to throw in the towel?
Is she sick of having the same fight with her husband over and over?
Do they struggle like I do?
They all look so together.
Do I have anything to really offer them?
And then it happens. The chatter in the room of real women, who are not very different from me at all, and I am strengthen and encouraged to be able to offer them hope.
By:Connie

Thanks for those of you who prayed for me. It was a blessing to be on the panel and it went well and I am looking forward to how God will use the things that were said.
Praise God for His great care.
Blessings,
Connie

Please Pray for Me!!

Next week I will be part of a panel of 4 women answering questions on "Having a Balanced Life". My part of life that I will be addressing is "Marriage". I have to chuckle a little to think, that I'm going to be giving advice. Hopefully, our weekend will be a good one, so that I will come across as hopeful and not that it is always a chore!!!! LOL
Anyways~if you would lift me up before God and ask that he would guide my words and that I would have ideas that would be very practical for them to use within their marriages.
Thanks Ahead of Time,
Connie

"No plans of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Here is my 1st "Memory Memoirs". I have been getting nudges lately from the Holy Spirit and through God's word that he wants me to "go there", so this is where we went this week.

The other day I got all up in my teenage child's "grill", so to speak. I found myself wildly upset when it was brought to my attention, from another well meaning child of mine that he cut down the tree swing of his brothers, that we just put up this past weekend. Aside from the fact he was up on the top step of the ladder with a giant hedge clippers, there really was not to much of a reason for me to be upset. His motive was to move it so it would be farther out on the branch, to help prevent anyone from further injury. I knew all of this, but I was still so frustrated with the whole situation. I will spare you the details of our "nose to nose" confrontation that erupted. He made a comment to me and it sent me way back and all of a sudden it was as if time stood still and I could hear myself saying the same thing to my parents. His words were, " I hate my life. You don't know what its like. I have so much pressure and I don't need this from you."
My reply, needless to say will not earn me "Mom of the Year", but it was, "Don't tell me I don't understand what it's like. Don't forget, I didn't have a home where both my parents were, and so I was forced to grow up quickly, plus I still had the pressures that teenagers face. I do know what it is like and I remember the pressure that your talking about."

Which brings me to 3rd grade or there about. I was escorted out of my class, I think it was art. I can't remember who took me, but they were friendly as we walked down the hall. Maybe she told me where we were going but, I do remember that when they took me into this small, stuffy, warm, bright room, I must have been the last to arrive and I felt surprised and a little nervous not knowing what to expect, in spite of the woman's friendliness.
About 5 other kids, whom were all younger than I was, were all sitting in a circle and our guidance counselor "2 tall Jones" was also sitting on the floor with his long legs all tangled up in "Indian Style" fashion.
I think we went around the circle and said our name and age or something like that, and I began to feel more comfortable, and then it wasn't long they started to talk about "Divorce". I'm not sure that I realized at this point in my life that my parents were split for good. You see, my Dad worked some shift work and so did my Mom and so they kind of flip flopped and my Mom would come when my Dad was gone, although I did know my Mom had an apartment that I got to visit. So sitting in this small group seemed to make it official.
We were the only kids in the whole school who had, "Divorced" parents, and so we were "special". They told us that it wasn't our fault and that our parents still loved us. That was nice, but why did you have to pull me out of art class, I already knew that.
And so it goes. I think I have wore the tag, "Divorced Parents, poor me!" around since that time in 3rd grade. Never really realized it, until I went nose to nose with my child. It's about time I take it off and surrender the self-pity and the hurt that comes with parents splitting. I wonder though, what life would have been like if those well meaning people would have left me in art class and just let my parents, parent me.

Oh Lord, heal the hurt that still lingers in my heart from when my parents divorced and thank you for their deep love for me in the midst of it. Thank you for filling the longing I have had for a complete family, in giving me my own. Forgive me for all the times I play that "poor me" card, intentional or not. I know now that I wasn't alone during that time and that your plan was not for harm, but for good. Lord, help me to not exasperate these children that you have trusted me with. Thank you for a heart that is sensitive to others who face the reality of divorce.
In His Care,
Connie

Do you need a ride somewhere?

So many times I find myself wondering what my purpose in this life is and then something happens to remind me.
Last week, the weather was gorgeous and my kids were outside tossing the football around in the road. Then Tori came in to tell me that there was a lady outside who would like to use our phone. I went outside and introduced myself and she explained she was waiting for her friend, who lived across the street from us to get home and he was already 1/2 hour late and she needed to get home to shower, and get to work by 6. She used our phone and I said, if she couldn't get a ride I would be willing to get her where she needed to be. Of course, no one was picking up the phone and time was ticking away. So, she took me up on my offer. It wasn't long into our drive that just in small talk I learned that she was a hurting women. Sounded like most of her relationships were not very healthy, and so I thought I would invite her to the conference that our church is holding called, "Intimate Issues." She asked about our church and I explained that it's a Bible believing church and our teaching come directly from the scriptures. Turns out she is a born-again Christian. She knows the truth and realizes that she needs to turn to Christ for the help she needs. As we got closer to her place, the more the tears ran down her face. My heart just broke over her pain. She kept apologizing and as we pulled into her driveway, she shared that she was battling an addiction. At this point, my response is, "Oh!" Now, I am a little concerned, because no one really knows where I am at all, because I was only planning on dropping her off and so I just left. I realize, I may not be in the safest place and quite frankly, I felt pretty unequipped to help. I called my hubby and gave him the info. as to where I was and asked for him to find some numbers that I could call to try to get this woman some help. There are a ton of other details to this story, but here's what I have come to realize because of it.
My purpose~Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, 2nd Love my neighbor as myself.
This was an interruption to my day, but this is really what this life is all about. Caring for others. My job is to just show up faithful daily and embrace these divine interruptions. Oh, how ill equip I am, this is for sure, but God is able.
I would love to say this story has a storybook ending, but as of now, not so much. I ended up realizing that it is hard to get "on the spot help" with addictions and for those who battle them, the only jobs they can find are ones in positions where the temptations are enormous. I took her to work, (against my better judgement) and left her with a bible, phone number to a place that could help, and my phone number, letting her know we would help her in whatever way we could. We hugged and she was on her way. I haven't heard from her and I pray that she is ok.
I find myself asking the Lord, what that was all about anyways? I may never know this side of glory, but I am thankful to have met this beautiful women, and am humbled that I could show her the love of Christ.
On my knees, praying for the freedom of those who are bound,
Connie

15 years Baby!!!!!

It's hard to believe that 15 years have gone by since I married my man. What's harder to believe is that we are not only still married, (I say that with all seriousness!!) but I am more in love with him than ever before. There is a story here, our story, and I think deserves to be told, so here it goes.

When I got engaged I was of course excited mainly that someone really wanted to call me "wife" and I had a beautiful diamond to wear. When I said "yes" I said it fully expecting that it would never last, because that's just how I thought things were suppose to go. Nice, I know. My reasoning for even participating in this union?, well, I thought you really should be married to have kids. So that's what we did. We got married, bought a house, racked up a ton of debt, then started having babies. Marital bliss, I know. In time things got tough and so to counter the pain of life, which I couldn't seem to bear, I would live it up on the weekends. Since we didn't have a ton of money, I would skip meals or eat very little so that it wouldn't take much to get drunk and that's what I did. Eventually, this gets old and I still wasn't happy, and I could not figure out why, so it must be time for a "Divorce". This was only after 6 years. I made some phone calls and thankfully I had people who knew better then I did and encouraged me to go to a Christian counselor and if that didn't help they would help me. Needless to say, I was not excited about this, because I had already been in and out of counselor's offices and it's always the same old song and dance. Next thing I knew I was pregnant again!!!! Troy and I always wanted at least 3 kids, but with the way things were headed, this wasn't in my plan. I am a child of divorce and I didn't want to do that to my 2 kids, let alone 3. So I found myself, crying out to a God that I didn't really know at all and asking Him, what in the world are you doing? I'm doing a terrible job with what I have and now, I'm having another baby?!?! Turns out, He knew what He was doing. The plans for divorce were set aside to see how things would go with this pregnancy. Fast Forward-I had this beautiful baby and we called him Carter. After I had him, I thought I would go and try out this "Moms group" at the church where this counselor was and see what it was all about. I figured, I didn't know anyone and if they were all crazy and cultish, I would be out of there and that would be that. Turns out, they were pretty normal, (I say that loosely) and were all very nice. Almost to nice. I went back for some weeks waiting and watching to see if I could figure them out. The group I did was called "Mastering Motherhood". This is when I read the Bible for the first time and realized what it really means to be a Christian. It was then I decided I had made such a mess of my life and if Jesus wanted me then I was going to jump on to His train. I remember taking a deep breath and saying, "Here I am, and I really hope this is for real, because it is my last hope." It truly was my last hope to save both myself from self destruction and our marriage. Needless, to say, it was for real. It wasn't long and I began to change. I learned about what a godly marriage should look like and it made much more sense then any of my own or Hollywood's ideas. I always thought that if Troy was my "soul mate" then things should just naturally flow, so when they didn't I assumed that he wasn't. Fast Forward a few more years-We went to a marriage retreat and worked through some issues and we committed that there would never, no matter what, and I mean no matter what, we would never breath the "D" word again. We would be stuck with each other for the rest of our lives. And here we are. Things are far from perfect and we are still working through old issues that pop there heads up every now and then and working through new issues that seem to arise. 15 years and I can confidently say, "I have found my soul-mate!" He's mine and I'm his. I love him so much and there really is no one else I would rather do this life with. This man of mine has had every reason to up and leave and he didn't. I pushed him and pushed him, but he remained. To say the least, I am forever grateful. I would love to say that there' s not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for him, but there is, because that's the way it works, but today, and for all the September 18th's that will come, I will remember, and be grateful for such a wonderful guy. Thank you Lord for the blessing of Troy. Thank you for the way you work things out. I am amazed at your great love and care for us. We pray our marriage would always be a reflection of your great mercy, grace and a wonder of the work that you do.
Praising God for my Beloved,
Connie
"My lover is mine and I am his;" Song of Solomon 2:16

Warning: If you click on this picture you may be grossed out.

Cutting fabric to get a head start on Christmas gifts, my finger was cut by those wonderful sharp cutting tool. It's the tool you love to hate. My finger is healing nicely and I can finally type again.

In the presence of His Majesty......

No bus for us!!!!

I am still thanking the Lord that we are able to keep our kiddos home and train them ourselves. Our past 2 days of school have been just delightful. Now, I do realize there will be a day coming when it will be less than that, but as Beth Moore would say, "When we have something to rejoice about, I'm going to really rejoice!!!" So today I am rejoicing.

I got up again today before the kids and soon after heard the bus go by. No offense Mom, but I am glad that there is no bus for us!!!!! No worries about bullies, conversations that are rated higher than PG, and no boys/girls trying to hitch up with our kids. Yes, that's what really happens on the bus.(Well except for my moms) So Mr. Bus you can just drive on by because there is no bus for us!!!!! I pray that the sound of the bus each morning will be a reminder of what a blessing it is to have them home on the days that will come when it is less than delightful!!!

Lakeshore Academy School Blog

Here they are on the 2nd day of school. Today for our last project, I had the kids set up a blog to post school stuff. My hopes is it will act both as a school "newspaper" and encourage writing and keyboarding/computer skills in a fun way. We'll at least it will be fun for me. So stop by if you please. http://hoehneslakeshoreacademy.blogspot.com/
Blessings,
Connie