But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14We love you Luke!
If our longing for more is the thing that makes us go, if it's the thing that makes us go to Him, again and again and again, then it's a good thing. It's a best thing to have it go unfulfilled. One day our longings will be fulfilled. One day we will understand. One day we who are His will go home. We will see the One for whom our souls yearn.
These all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For these who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
Hebrews 11:13-14
Philippians 1:6
Happy Birthday Cody! We love you.
So, in the process of going over my priorities within the last few weeks, with Ash's help I have come up with half of my present schedule:
4:30am- wake up(send Ash off, clean up/dressed, load of laundry, put hot water on for tea)
5am - start devotions/prayer (time with the Lord)
6:30 -boys wake up (tidy the room, dressed, cleaned up) Mom- prepare breakfast
7am- Breakfast/kitchen clean up
7:30- Cody and Luke Personal Devotions; Mom- dress Olivia and Tori and feed them breakfast
8am- Mom, Olivia, Seth Bible story and coloring
9am- Family Worship (music/prayer)
9:15- Mom/Seth math, Cody and Luke individual math, Olivia quiet box (I'm working on different activities for her)
Studies and productive learning until our lunch hour
12pm- Lunch/kitchen clean up
12:30- Quiet Time/Rest 1:30- boys chores, Olivia and Tori nap
2:30- girls wake up from nap, boys free time
3-4pm- free play, mom prepare dinner
4:30- tidy up, showers for kiddos
5pm- dinner
5:30- kitchen clean-up
6pm- daddy comes home, kiddos get ready for bed and the next day, time with dad
7pm- wind down, read books, family worship
7:30- lights out for kids, mom/dad time together and personal interests
8:30- prayers,goodnight!
Monday's- mom/strength training,aerobic exercise 6pm
Wednesday's- mom/strength training,aerobic exercise 1:30pm Boys/Olivia, Judo @3-4
Saturday Mornings- mom/strength training,aerobic exercise
I'm still refining my schedule and I will share more later...when I have time to do that:o)
A web site that inspired me and has helped me over the years can be found here at Titus 2 Ministries
* memory program
*speed reading program (complete with tapes, book and all for $2 ea.)
* A.W Tozer's A pursuit of God (2 of them- one for me and for Ash)
* a well illustrated book on gardening for Cody
* a book called: You Can Be the Wife of a Happy Husband by Darien B. Cooper (foreword by Tim LaHaye)-it looks like it was written a while ago, it has some really good insight that we need to hear from time to time...
* The Master by John Pollock (foreword by Charles W. Colson) looks wonderful to read aloud to the children, it's a biography on Jesus' life
It's soo cool to come out of the 'hand me down store' with treasures that were someone else's junk.
Next stop...Burger King- to eat of course
My goal is always to bring lunch from home (e.g. bread, peanut butter and jelly, fruit, water etc.) It does not always happen in our home as you can see. It's a good goal though.
Next stop.... Hopaco (stationary store that sells party supplies)
Ash wanted me to get lunch plates -the kind with the hinge and cover. We were having a nice warm stew for dinner on Monday night when out of the blue he asked me to get plates, make a nice big stew, like the one we were enjoying, to go feed some of the people that we see on the side of the road (homeless) in Hilo on Friday. Yes indeed! I am delighted to take part in this activity!
Next stop.... Yup, Walmart
On the List:
* diapers
* new booster seat for Olivia
* toilet paper
* foil
* dish soap
What did we come out with? The list, plus more...
* house slippers that were half off for all the kiddos
* yummy coconut balls
Next stop....The Library-finally...
After lots of browsing and loss of time we all came out with a few good books. It's kind of scary entering the library with the children and I. We all have different interests, things that we all would like to learn about, can you imagine 6 of us and the time it takes? We never know when we will leave. Actually, the only reason why we left when we did was because we had to get home and make dinner for my hard working, hungry husband. The pizza dough was in the fridge waiting to be made into pizza. For the books that I came out of the library with:
* 100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy
* The Relaxed Homeschool- Mary Hood
* Totally Cool Soapmaking for Kids
* Budget Scrapbooking
* Mom's Little Book of Displaying Children's Art
* Home Schooling on a Shoestring- Melissa L. Morgan & Judith Waite Lee
* Tropical Organic Gardening, I want to start another garden, soon...
* The Home School Reader
* Taro in Hawaii, we're going on a field trip next week to learn about taro at the community college..
* Growing Vegetables in Hawaii- Kathy Oshiro
* Teddy Bear's Picnic Cook book
* Scrapbooking Life's Celebrations- Paige Hill, I've never scrapbooked, but would love to with all the photos we have
Are you tired yet? Next stop... KTA (Local Grocers)To buy ingredients for the stew and other misc. items
One last stop...Cost U Less ( a mini Costco) The kids are tired, and soo ready to go home, so am I
On the list:
* honey in bulk - for homemade wholewheat bread
* tomato sauce in bulk
* granulated garlic
* granola bars- once again, in bulk. What can I say, I have an army to feed!
Now home! Yeah! Only to work some more..."quick! Daddy will be home, put everything away, who wants to help me make the pizza?!" Great, I have three helpers. One to cut the mushrooms, one to make the sauce and one to sprinkle the cheese.
On the menu:
Pizza #1 turkey sausage, mushrooms, olives and Parmesan cheese
Pizza #2 left over chicken breast, spinach, mushrooms and Parmesan cheese
Ginger Ale
Alas! After kitchen cleanup, showers, several books later and prayers, we are done for the day!
Psalm 119: 35 [Direct me in] your commands, for there I find delight.
* A delight is a stable intrest in some particular thing, the study of which brings great satisfaction and pleasure to one's mind.
* Because God is good, the satisfaction of our basic need to study and understand His great works is also a source of great pleasure.
Where does a delight come from?
* God has designed our minds to enjoy learning just as our palettes enjoy eating. " Boredom" is "mental hunger" -the opposite of delight.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Genesis 2 :18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good form man to be alone;...
* Because this is true , boredom draws us to study while loneliness draws us to study those topics that our family and friends approve of.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
The power of companionship is involved when we "catch" a new delight from others and when our own delights become contagious to others.
The means by which we catch and impart a delight is called "enthusiasm."
1. Harness the power of both Boredom and Lonliness!-
This is taken from Greg Harris's outline of a Delight-Directed Study. Ash and I went to a home school seminar this weekend and needless to say that it was a wonderful weekend of encouragement and refreshment. We both came away with a clear reminder of the vision God has given us for our family.
Many points were very convicting, but I think the one that hit the heart was the reality of what really influences a delight directed study in the home. First, it starts with us as the parents, second the influnces that we allow to enter our home like movies, video game machines, the use of the internet/computer etc. We have been very slack in these areas in our childrens lives. I believe that the hunger for our companionship, when not met, is subtituted by these things which we define as "mental junkfood." Therefore the Lord has done a wonderful job at speaking to us through Greg Harris. Amen!
If you would like to find out more about Greg Harris and his family, you may visit his website at www.nobleinstitute.org
Yesterday JANUARY 6 was 'Tori's' first birthday! We've had a wonderful first year with her. It's just such a joy to have Victoria as an addition to our family. When we first found out that we were expecting our 5th child we were very surprised and I personally wondered if I could do it. Oh the Lord has been faithful and I couldn't imagine life without our Tori girl. She is such an easy going baby, always smiling and just soo relaxed. Not to mention that I get lots of help from her brothers. And, yes, it's true that the more you have the easier it gets. Children are truly a blessing!
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5 Hapy Birthday Victoria Kaiulani!We love you!
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. "
John 14:27
Amongst the many gifts that God gives us, peace to me is one of the greatest. I can experience peace when it is quiet, I can experience peace when I look outside at the trees and the sky. I can experience peace when I hear the birds singing, but best of all I can experience peace when it's not really 'peaceful' like when my children are playing loudly in the house, or when something is not going my way, like when the keys are lost, when the house is a mess, when my children are arguing. I can experience peace because God has promised me peace. He makes me to lie down beside green pastures and leads me beside still waters. (psalm 23:2) Lately, I've been challenged to let go of things that I think I need, the things that I want....
At times, like now, I think that I would be filled with peace if I give in to things that I want like a new sweater, or more time to myself, a clean house; things that I think I rather deserve. The Lord reminds me that it is the peace that He gives to me that will not trouble my heart unlike the 'peace' that the world gives. The peace that God gives to me is the peace of letting go. Letting go of the house when my children want to play, the peace of finding contentment in wearing the sweater that He has already provided, the peace of accepting my job as a mother and patiently and lovingly approach the argument that my children might be having, the peace of using my time for time to put into others . It is when I submit to His will for my life then I will experience true peace, the peace that He , my loving saviour gives to me because He knows me and he loves me and only He knows whats best for me.
Thank You, my loving sweet Jesus, for the peace that you give to me.
*kids wake up before 6 am and go to the store in our neighborhood with my dad for hot cocoa -leaving all there bedding unfolded
*eventually the gang returns at about 6:45-7 am with malasadas-a local type of doughnut (only to ruin our diet) normally hot cocoa and malasadas are not allowed in the morning -ughh!
*remind the boys that the blankets need to be folded
*with teeth and hair brushed after a terrible breakfast, we all sit down to do our morning devotions
*after our closing prayer the boys get to their chores- including: the yard, bathrooms, dishes, sweeping etc.
* after chores, it's play, play and play- not to mention a little reading here and there after I get on their case for having too much idle time and not enough reading.
I've been trying to go over the details in my head and think about the upcoming year and what kind of goals we as a family would like to accomplish. It's just been a little difficult with company around. Always when family are over whom have a different lifestyle than ours, it's hard to maintain normality. I guess this is where character is built in us. The Lord has truly taught our family several lessons this season and I thank Him for this.
This weekend we are going to a home school conference that our local support group is hosting and Greg Harris, a well known author and speaker in the home school community, will be our speaker. I have been looking forward to this. In a way I have been counting on this weekend to refresh my spirits and put things into perspective after a busy season. I'm looking forward to getting motivated and inspired. After saying this, I do realize that my ultimate inspiration comes through my relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ and He is the one who will map out all my goals and plans for this year.This year our family has many changes that will be taking place. My husband will be making a change in his career. He has recently been accepted into our local fire department here in the Hawaii County, a prayer that has been answered, after being with Fed Ex for nearly ten years. In June he will be leaving Fed Ex behind to start training in the fire department for sevearl months before being stationed.
We have recently purchased land and are praying for the Lords lead in starting to build our home on it.
The Lord has also opened up many doors for us to go further in our home business in Hawaiian Jewelry.
There are many desicions to be made and disciplines to make in our very near future. We do not intend to take these desicions in our own hands but to solely put our trust in the Lord, that His will may be done. May all of you please keep us in your prayers.
At the end of this post, I have just been moved to thank all of our friends and family who have been a big part of our family. We love you all and thank you all for your love, support and prayers and believing in us! We love You- The Kanahele's
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
2 tbs. cream of tartar
2 tbs. cooking oil
1 cup hot water
food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla or any other essence for smell (optional)
What to do:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the dough forms into a ball. Remove from heat and take out of the pan. Allow to cool then knead until smooth. Store in an airtight container and Enjoy!
Colored Pasta(to use for art)
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1 tbs. food coloring
2 cups pasta
1 quart plastic baggie
newspaper or paper bags
Pour alcohol and food coloring in a freezer bag. Zip it and shake around to mix. Next, open the bag and put the pasta into the bag. Make sure the bag is zipped and toss the pasta around in the bag until color is evenly distributed. Pour out onto newspaper and let dry.
*Note: Just to let you know, the pasta will not smell like rubbing alcohol. The smell evaporates as it is dried.
I like to wait until the pasta goes on sale before I do this. It's fun to use all the different shapes like spirals, shells, pinwheels. My children have lots of fun making creations out of the pasta on colored contruction paper or any paper that we have available. These are also great for gifts. For christmas, I put one container of these noodles, a few smaller ones of homemade playdough, glue, pipe cleaners and pom poms in a craft bag as gifts for our friends children. As you can see, I've made my own labels on the computer and have bought the plastic containers at a packaging store for about .20 each including the lid.
Have Fun!
It's another year! Can you believe it?
Here in Hawaii many people welcome the new year with fireworks. Ever since my boys were little they have been popping fireworks and til this day they still love it. Guess who started them on it? Yes, their daddy. I'm not very fond of the thought of spending money on fireworks only to burn them. It's like burning your money. Nevertheless, it's the fact that they enjoy it , they have fun together and just for this reason it is well worth it.
Thank You Lord for another wonderful year! You are truly awesome.
