This devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah really spoke to me about what I've been recently very frustrated with. Are we going to follow the "herd" of society even though we know the things they do & stand for are wrong? Or we going to "heed" the call of our Lord & take a "stand" on His Word? Swimming upstream may not be easy but it's better than floating downstream & then drowning in a current.
"The Herd"
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."
Luke 21:34
Recommended Reading
Luke 21:31-38
In his column "Why Economists Missed the Crisis," Barry Ritholz observed that most of the world's financial and political leaders overlooked the warning signs of the current recession. Some saw it coming, and a few on Wall Street sounded the alarm. But, wrote Ritholz, "the vast majority of professional economists, strategists and analysts--the 'Herd'--totally missed it."
It's interesting that Ritholz described them as the Herd. It's easy to be stampeded by our society. Group think takes over; certain opinions form in the popular culture; morality is prescribed by Hollywood ; and our spending habits are influenced by the number of commercials we see.
We can't go with the Herd. The majority of people in this world are missing the warning signs. But as Christians, we march to the beat of a different drummer. We handle our money, our morals, and our ministries as those who know that crises are ahead and that judgment is coming. Jesus told us to stay alert, lest the Day of the Lord come on us unawares. Watch for the signs and take heed.
"There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you." John Wooden
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Grab bag!
Well, it's been almost 2 months since my last blog entry...not because I haven't had anything to say...but rather that we have been going "at the speed of life"...at full speed for the past couple of months. That's not the speed that my family enjoys but we really didn't have much choice. Things are starting to settle down a bit...and we are very thankful for that!
So this is going to be a "catch up" post. Overall we had a pretty good summer. Much more enjoyable & calmer than last summer, which was right after the 3 came home. Of course the summer was harder for Shakira & me because Shakira really thrives at school & without school she's not really sure what to do with herself which of course leads to some undesirable behavior which leads to a grumpy Mama :o)
We made several short trips over the summer & one longer one for our vacation. All of us are doing better with traveling which I am very thankful for!
Our school year started off much better than last year. Phoebe had a very rough start last year & mostly a "bumpy" road all school year. Shakira really struggled at the beginning & then got into a routine that she liked but then was not motivated to do anymore than was required. Samara's progress in preschool last year seemed very slow to her teacher & Caleb was a real challenge for me most of the year.
The start of this school year as been the exact opposite...Thank you God! Phoebe really likes her teacher & has several friends in her class that are a good "fit" for her. She is more focused on learning & doing her best instead of being funny & a socialite. She continues to be a wonderful "older" sister. Phoebe is active in Sunday School, Brownies, TKD, & Upwards Cheerleading.
Shakira was moved from the severe & profound special needs class to the moderate special needs class & the change has been amazing!
She is talking more, & more clearly. She is also being challenged to do things both in the classroom & on field trips that she wasn't in the other class...and she has homework! Yes, I think that's a good thing!
During the end of the summer we got Shakira's "official" diagnoses which are: moderate mental retardation, mixed expressive & receptive language disorder, & ADHD. It's a relief to finally know what her special needs are & to get help with them! She's also wearing her glasses now. Last year we had to take them away from her because she kept breaking them. We got her lens prescription adjusted & now she leaves them alone. Thank you God!
Although Samara's preschool was not convinced that Samara was ready to start kindergarten this year...I was & so she started. She has totally blossomed since starting! She is more confident & very eager to learn. She even uses pencils with erasers on them now...which is something she couldn't do last year because she would constantly erase everything she wrote. She goes half day & is home before lunch. She is a great "big" helper! Samara started Daisies this year as well as Upwards Cheerleading. She is also active in Sunday School & TKD.
Caleb started preschool this fall. He goes three days a week & "loves" it! We get a long much better now that we have some "breaks" from each other :o) He is growing taller every day & of course still has that amazing smile! He's very proud that he knows his ABC's & 1,2,3's. Caleb definitely is all "boy" & enjoys playing with his cousin Isaiah, affectionately known as "Double Trouble" when they are together :o)
Randy is doing well & is very busy at work...which is a good thing :o) I continue to stay busy at home & "not at home" :o) Two weekends ago I completed a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) course which I thoroughly enjoyed. Randy & I continue to pray as we seek the Lord as to what He has planned for us next.
A few of our summer trips were to P-ville to spend time with my Grandma who went into a nursing home at the beginning of July. Her health kept declining & she went home to be with the Lord (and Grandpa & Suzie) on Sunday September 19th...on my mother's 63rd birthday & a week away from her 88th birthday. This past weekend was the kids fall break & we(me & the kids) went back to P-ville to spend time with my Mom. Yesterday was the one month anniversary of my Grandma's death. I got to love on my mom & we had quite a few laughs at good memories of Grandma & Grandpa. We briefly saw Randy's nephew Luke on his birthday...can't believe he's 11! We also got to spend some time with Randy's parents.
We are looking forward to Thanksgiving & Christmas & all that God has in store for us between now & then!
So this is going to be a "catch up" post. Overall we had a pretty good summer. Much more enjoyable & calmer than last summer, which was right after the 3 came home. Of course the summer was harder for Shakira & me because Shakira really thrives at school & without school she's not really sure what to do with herself which of course leads to some undesirable behavior which leads to a grumpy Mama :o)
We made several short trips over the summer & one longer one for our vacation. All of us are doing better with traveling which I am very thankful for!
Our school year started off much better than last year. Phoebe had a very rough start last year & mostly a "bumpy" road all school year. Shakira really struggled at the beginning & then got into a routine that she liked but then was not motivated to do anymore than was required. Samara's progress in preschool last year seemed very slow to her teacher & Caleb was a real challenge for me most of the year.
The start of this school year as been the exact opposite...Thank you God! Phoebe really likes her teacher & has several friends in her class that are a good "fit" for her. She is more focused on learning & doing her best instead of being funny & a socialite. She continues to be a wonderful "older" sister. Phoebe is active in Sunday School, Brownies, TKD, & Upwards Cheerleading.
Shakira was moved from the severe & profound special needs class to the moderate special needs class & the change has been amazing!
She is talking more, & more clearly. She is also being challenged to do things both in the classroom & on field trips that she wasn't in the other class...and she has homework! Yes, I think that's a good thing!
During the end of the summer we got Shakira's "official" diagnoses which are: moderate mental retardation, mixed expressive & receptive language disorder, & ADHD. It's a relief to finally know what her special needs are & to get help with them! She's also wearing her glasses now. Last year we had to take them away from her because she kept breaking them. We got her lens prescription adjusted & now she leaves them alone. Thank you God!
Although Samara's preschool was not convinced that Samara was ready to start kindergarten this year...I was & so she started. She has totally blossomed since starting! She is more confident & very eager to learn. She even uses pencils with erasers on them now...which is something she couldn't do last year because she would constantly erase everything she wrote. She goes half day & is home before lunch. She is a great "big" helper! Samara started Daisies this year as well as Upwards Cheerleading. She is also active in Sunday School & TKD.
Caleb started preschool this fall. He goes three days a week & "loves" it! We get a long much better now that we have some "breaks" from each other :o) He is growing taller every day & of course still has that amazing smile! He's very proud that he knows his ABC's & 1,2,3's. Caleb definitely is all "boy" & enjoys playing with his cousin Isaiah, affectionately known as "Double Trouble" when they are together :o)
Randy is doing well & is very busy at work...which is a good thing :o) I continue to stay busy at home & "not at home" :o) Two weekends ago I completed a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) course which I thoroughly enjoyed. Randy & I continue to pray as we seek the Lord as to what He has planned for us next.
A few of our summer trips were to P-ville to spend time with my Grandma who went into a nursing home at the beginning of July. Her health kept declining & she went home to be with the Lord (and Grandpa & Suzie) on Sunday September 19th...on my mother's 63rd birthday & a week away from her 88th birthday. This past weekend was the kids fall break & we(me & the kids) went back to P-ville to spend time with my Mom. Yesterday was the one month anniversary of my Grandma's death. I got to love on my mom & we had quite a few laughs at good memories of Grandma & Grandpa. We briefly saw Randy's nephew Luke on his birthday...can't believe he's 11! We also got to spend some time with Randy's parents.
We are looking forward to Thanksgiving & Christmas & all that God has in store for us between now & then!
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