Character Development Day....

We feel so very blessed that we have the opportunity to have Sweet G in an University Model School. This style of schooling well, plainly put, ROCKS! It's a mix of traditional schooling and homeschooling. Our local UMS is focused on the mission side of schooling. I know that sounds weird but they do. The school isn't a business for them, its an outlet to encourage and support those that want to homeschool but may not want the responsibility that homeschooling entails. One of the blessings about the school is their "character development" day. CDD happens once a month and they bring in real life examples. This month a gentlemen from Africa came to visit. Of course, we were slightly thrilled to have sweet G hear from a native. Although she said she couldn't understand him, our conversation this week would prove she did. The conversation also reminded me that God's word knows no boundaries. What really spoke to her heart was his inability to go to school for very long and the lack of toys this man grew up with. He explained to these sweet children how when a ball wasn't available they would make other things (like rocks) a ball so that they could play. And, when his family could no longer afford the 75 cents a day it cost for him to attend school, he had to quit. Plain and simple. So, as we sat down together to begin our homeschool day, Sweet G brought all of this up. I listened as she talked about what she heard and how she felt. I explained to her why this can occur still today. Naturally this led to again explaining why her father and I feel so called to go and love on these children. That led to her thinking of ways she could help and what she could give up. We ended our sweet, God created time with some tears. I love that Africa comes to our hearts and minds often. I love that God places opportunities to bring Africa to our children. It's amazing what can occur when you hand over control to God and begin to radically think and act on such simple words as James 1:27. 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Why have we waited so long to do this? Our heads can't comprehend the damage that is going to be done to our family in December of this year. We eagerly await the upheaval :-)

Modern Medicine and conviction

Nearly two weeks ago, we had all three (that's right), three children ill. Sweet G with pneumonia, Crazy Adventurous C with Strep Throat and Little L with a yucky, high fever virus. It's been some time since I have felt so overwhelmed and needed by so many littles all at once. As hubs and I loaded up the children to head to the Pediatrician (I wasn't about to take on that visit on my own), my mind went straight to Africa. Hubs and I have never known what it is like to not be able to call on a medical professional when our children are sick. I felt blessed in that moment and also sad. My heart ached for mothers thousands of miles away that can only hold their children and watch them fall ill with little to no help or hope. My heart ached for the children that are in pain and for those whose pain will end in death before I even get to the doctor. My mind cannot comprehend that feeling; thank God. Later that evening, hubby and I were discussing the "hard" day and all the diagnosis. I shared my earlier thoughts. His response sent a pain in my heart and a conviction I hadn't expected. He questioned why both of us hadn't immediately stopped to pray as we realized all three children needed medical care. Why was it we first leaned on our own doing and modern medicine? Ouch! Well, the simple answer is we don't have to. Right? The Lord has blessed us with modern medicine at almost our doorstep and because of this we have been conditioned to immediately pick up the phone when necessary and pray later...you know...once we need to ask for the strength to carry on as the care taker :-) Although I don't necessarily want to thank God for all three of our children being ill at the same time, I do thank Him for the reminder that in ALL we do we should come to Him first.

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." Psalm 105:4