Gratitude

I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately.  Must be my meds!  :)  Anyway, I read something in a book recently that I would like to share.

Fleas, God’s Secret Weapon

(Speaking of the author Corrie ten Boom who wrote The Hiding Place.)

“During World War II, Corrie and her sister Betsie had been arrested in Holland or trying to help Jews escape the Holocaust.  They ended up in Ravensbruk, one of the most infamous Nazi concentration camps. 

Living conditions were insufferable.  The women were housed like stacked cordwood on dirty, flea-infested straw that was strewn on wooden platforms.  The fleas feasted night and day until everyone was covered in itchy, raised welts. 

If it hadn’t been for their Bible and the comfort the sisters were able to take from Betsie’s readings, Corrie didn’t know how they could have survived from day to day.  If the guards ventured into the room the would have discovered the forbidden Bible.  Not only would it have been confiscated, but the consequences would have been brutal.  Over and over, the two sisters wondered over the mystery of why the guards never inspected their barracks.”

Betsie read a verse in 1 Thessalonians that said to give thanks in all circumstances.  She insisted that they do and Corrie tells the story of her sisiter praying and thanking God for many things.  From the amazing circumstance that enabled the sisters to stay together, to the bible she held in her hands, to the other women in the camp.  Betsie also thanked God for the suffocating room and the fleas.  Corrie got upset but Betsie insisted reminding Corrie that God said In all circumstances.

Come to find out, the reason the guards refused to set foot into those barracks is because of the out-of-control flea infestation.  God will provide.  He does know our needs and we just have to have faith in Him and trust in his bigger picture.

(Exerpts taken from Debbie Macomber’s book One Simple Act – Discovering the Power of Generosity.)

Nate being Nate....

At least we know he can spell his name right!

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yeilded at my will.

I came again when days were past,
The form I gave it still did last
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more at will.

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded it with my power and art,
A young child's soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.

-God's Little Devotion Book for Moms

Homeschool update and a plea for information

Since we have been in the groove for 3 weeks now, I thought I would give a quick homeschooling update.  We are all still alive!  :)  It's been difficult getting a routine down, but the kids are really starting to like it.  We do Language Arts, Math, typing and Japanese everyday.  We do History on Monday and Wednesday, Science on Tuesday and Friday and Geography on Thursdays.  On Friday, we do a Christian/military Co-op that will have classes, field trips and group parties.  It's been fun getting to know these ladies and the positive effects that homeshool can have.  My patience has been tried and we are far from perfect, however, the best part of this is I am establishing a great relationship with my kids.  Instead of the constant hurray and yelling, we go at a much slower pace, actually talk about things and communicate and clean together.  It's been awesome!

The kids are flying through their lessons.  This week, I ordered the 2nd grade Language Arts for Justin because the 1st grade stuff is WAY to easy for him.  So glad I am able to see what they are doing and enjoy time with them!  My goal this week is to get to the gym to work out at least 2 days.  Do you think I can do it?

Now, for my plea - Nate has managed to somehow fry the motherboard to our computer (okay, I don't know if it's entirely his fault, but I am sure it is!)  So, I have lost ALL of our addresses.  So, could you please e-mail me or facebook message me or somehow get me your address.  I am talking everyone.  I literally have NO ONE'S addresses.  Please please please!!!  If you want a Christmas card, you need to get me your address!

Funny past moment

I was cleaning out my scrapbook closet (sigh) and found a little notebook from when I was in Utah.  A journal entry dated 12/4/05 - Kennie was playing in the basement with some friends (Brooklyn, Jasmine and Hunter).  The doorbell rang.  So, I went to see who it was and there stood a police officer.  Turns out, Kennie had found a phone and dialed 9-1-1.  Haha.  Sometimes journals are funny!

We have a winner

Pardon the construction over the next little bit.  With my awesome friend (shelby)'s help, I am giving the blog a facelift.  You might notice some changes over the next bit.  Things should resolve and be fresh again in the next few weeks!

On to the reason you are looking - we have a winner for the freezer meal book and the $25 Visa gift card.

Random.org picked comment #14 as the winner.  That would be Rachel Jenkins.  I'll get you your prize this week!  Congrats and happy freezer meal making!  It has really transformed my life!

A side note: those of you who want to do the manicotti.  This was really good.  My husband thought it was too cheesy so I am going to try to add some cooked chopped chicken and some extra spaghetti sauce on top.  Just a few extra suggestions!  Feel free to share your freezer meal recipes and experiances.  I would love to have feedback and will randomly choose comments on the blog to recieve some random prizes!

Rumor has it....

There is a few days left in the giveaway for the freezer meal book.  Go here to check out the details of how to enter.

Since it is starting to spread, I figured I would put all rumors to rest.  We have waited until we were sure it was going to happen, but it is now as official as things will be in the military until he is gone.

Aaron is deploying.  He leaves the first part of December and will spend 6 months in Afghanistan.  I know I am strong and I know I will make it through.  PLEASE don't post that.  I don't need people to pull me up right now.  I want to be mad.  I want to be in denial and just live in my little bubble!

He will need do to at least 3 weeks of training in the lower 48 and maybe 6 weeks.  If your counting, that doesn't leave much time!  :)  I am placing all my trust in my Heavenly Father and really putting my faith in his bigger picture, even though I can't see it all right now.  Christmas in this Lewis household will most likely be during Thanksgiving.  Knowing me, the kids and I will probably do school on Christmas day.  Just to keep us going.  Anyway, any prayers you might want to send our way would definitely help!  For now, I am trying to trust in His plan.  Sometimes I am successful, sometimes I am not.  Oh well!

Family Proclamation - Family Month

You can still enter the giveaway that ends on the 7th. Just go here.

I don't know if it's officially a "month" but the Proclamation to the Family is 15 years old this month. A couple of the blogs I occasionally hop to are doing a big production - go and check it out. There is never too much time spent on the family. We will be doing some of these activities in the next few months. I need to pull my family closer together! Hope you enjoy. Go here to check it out!

30,000+, Freezer meals and a giveaway

We just hit over 30,000 visitors on our blog.  We feel the love!!  So, I am going to do a give away.  Keep reading!

I have discovered the world of freezer meals.  WONDERFUL!!  I spent 3 - 4 hour sessions and have 34 freezer meals in my freezer.  (I didn't have a whole day that I could spend doing it.  It can easily be done in 1 day if you had the whole day to devote to it.  It would be better in my opinion to do it this way.) It was easier in my mind with us entering the homeschool world and talk of Aaron deploying in December.  Since I had a TON of people interested in what I did, I created a blog for freezer meals.  Check it out here.  If you have any recipes you would like to share - you can e-mail them to freezermealcrazy @ gmail dot com.  I will give credit to you! 

I used a book to figure out what I was doing.  I took a lot of my direction from this book:

Dinner is ready.  It was great.  Had some awesome points in it.  If you head over to the blog, make sure you click on the link at the top for the freezer meal basics.  So, head over and check it out!  Then, come back and leave a comment.  Tell me one thing that surprised you or one of the recipes that you would like to try.  I will pick one person who will recieve the book Dinner is Ready and a $25 visa gift card to get you started.  I will pick the winner (through random.org) on September 7th - My mom's birthday!  Good luck.  I hope this helps you as much as it helped me!