I can't wait to share what I have been doing...

oh, just regular stuff;

and some really cool embroidery stuff too!

'Tis the season....

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Praise the LORD!

Field Trips

What a fun field trip we had this week... Firefighters were training at a house by the airport, and we got to watch. Igniting while three firefighters were still in the building, waiting for safety exits, and watch the flames and faces in the fire! WoW!!!

I love my Firefighter

Hauger Home Vacation Day 2

Indianapolis Museum of Art was the trip of the day... This is, by far, my favorite piece of artwork! Such a feeling of Patriotism in this work! Thank God for artful talents!

Katya

Well, Katya, our new friend from Ukraine...she loves Mushrooms home cooked meals and now she has experienced...Starbucks! Vanila Latte YUMM!!! Up up and away in the Aerial71 Ladder.!! How exciting!

Isaiah 45:15a,18

Truly, God, " You created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. You made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos." Yet, it seems so many days are filled with chaos. So many THINGS are filled with the chaos of being here.

Jesus has overcome!!!

Kingdom Minded

I often hear the saying, "Put first things first". Did I place a higher emphasis on teaching my children multiplication facts over training a rebellious heart? Or did I work more on shaping my childrens hearts towards Christ rather than writing? Perhaps both. But realistically, I know in my heart that I placed a heavier emphasis on one over the other. I know that when my priorities change, I find myself rushing through devotions and Bible reading so I can get to the so-called "more important" subjects. Although that is not my heart, it is how I have been conditioned by the world. Yes, I want my children equipped so they can build the kingdom of God and I want them to thrive in life, but there is always a cost to consider."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way . . ." (Isaiah 53:6) It is a constant battle of my mind to continue to pursue Christ and His ways before all other things. I need to always remember what the Bible says: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) In this verse,"all these things" refers to our basic necessities of life--food and clothing. Earlier in this passage Jesus said,"For after all these things do the Gentiles seek" (vs. 32) and he rebukes his disciples as he tells them that "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." (vs. 32) Will this passage still apply to my children when they are grown? Of course it will! However, it is very easy today in this society to get caught up in the ways of the Gentiles, but that is not how I should think or even speak to others as I purpose to educate my children. In my mind I am educating them so they can further the kingdom of God and also so they can provide for their families. My intentions are good and honorable, but God does not require my children to have minds filled with a bunch of knowledge; He is seeking men and women who have a heart after Him, like David. ". . . I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." (Acts 13:22) The Bible does not state that David was an educated man like Paul, so it is safe to assume that he was not. What the Bible does say about David is that he was a shepherd who tended and protected his flock of sheep from lions and bears; he had boldness as he approached the king, along with courage and faith as a young boy when he fought the giant, Goliath; and he was a servant as he played his harp to king Saul. This was David's resume before he became the king of Israel! When I read Paul's resume, most assuredly according to the world's standards I would be impressed by it. Paul himself said in Philippians 3:4 that he was a man who had confidence in his flesh. He goes on to say,"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." (Philippians 3:7) When I get to the end of Paul's list of achievements, this is what he had to say about it, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8) Paul knew what mattered most in his life. He spoke with authority about worthless pursuits. I won't lose heart or become discouraged. I will keep in mind the race that I am running. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)As hard as this journey may be at times, I am encouraged to know that I am running to obtain an imperishable crown--one with an eternal purpose. My children will reflect the things that I put into them, so I'll make sure that the things we pursue will last forever. God does not require my children to have a college degree in order to use them, but what He does require is their hearts!

She came to the house of God with her heart smashed into bits. Her dreams had been crushed. Words of bitter cruelty had been hurled at her. And in those deep crevices of one's heart, where no human understanding penetrates, the pain finally rolled out. At the throne of God, with tears pouring down her cheeks, Hannah, we are told: "spoke from her heart." While Hannah had tried to share her hidden secrets, as author Mary Dixon Thayer so correctly notes, "Always there remain portions of our heart into which no one is able to enter, invite them as we may." Hannah had tried to explain how she felt. She tried to tell her husband who rebuffed her with, "What's the matter with me? Am I not good enough for you?" She even tried, on an annual basis, to express the loneliness and the sorrow that scraped the tender lining of her heart before her God at the sacred setting of Shiloh - but to no avail. Accused as a drunk she found herself in the uncomfortable place of defending herself from false accusations. So I ask you, had you been Hannah, what would you do? With the shreds of a broken heart in your hands, it might have been the easiest thing to recoil from anything and everyone who had the slightest potential for further damaging what was so wounded. Many times, in all our lives, there are people, who through the cruelty of their actions and words so deeply wound our sensibilities, we no longer have the strength or the will to plod ahead. The author, Henry David Thoreau said that most of us live lives of "quiet desperation." And it is in this quietness where many choose to reside, never speaking, never sharing, and never living. For Hannah, life within the walls of a broken heart wasn't any life at all and so, in spite of the hurt and pain, she went to her Father, again and again. And the Bible says she, "spoke from her heart." How I love those words. Hannah didn't pull out some book of transcribed prayers or prepared text, instead she went into those gashed chasms where no one dared enter and she laid open every pain, no matter how desperate it was or apparently inconsequential it might seem to another human being. And she asked for help from the "One" she knew she could count on. Like Hannah, the Psalmist David spoke from his own shattered heart when he cried out, "O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You. My inner self thirsts for You...so I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and glory." (Psalm 63: 1, 2). Just as Hannah came to Shiloh, so David came to his Father's dwelling place hunting and longing for that "Balm in Gilead." As he spoke from his heart to his loving Father, he was given a glimpse of the glory and power that as he so eloquently penned, "Satisfies us with marrow and fatness" (Psalm 63: 5). I do not know what pain is wrecking havoc in your world today. I have no idea what sorrow is tearing your heart apart. However, I do know that when we speak from our heart to our Father, we will find healing for our hurting and hope in place of all our dashed dreams. In the comforting words of the prophet Isaiah, "He has sent Me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61: 1). "The poor broken-hearted, going into (her) bedroom, bends (her) knee, but can only utter (her) mournful cry in the language of sighs and tears. Look! That groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God, and put into a vase made especially for tears, to be perpetually preserved." C. H. Spurgeon "Thou tellest my wanderings; put Thou my tears into Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?" Psalm 56: 8 King James Version

Training your children for their lives here and for heaven hereafter is the most important task you will ever take on, other than preserving your own soul before God. How you handle this task will affect your children for the rest of their lives, long after you are gone. What is more, you have one chance to do this job well. You can't reset the video to start over when you are older and wiser.

You are surrounded by skeptics and critics who are ready to ask questions and to pounce upon every perceived weakness of the homeschooling approach. Some of these skeptics are in your family; some are in your church. The failures of public schools somehow get a pass from the public--unless they generate a plea for increased funding. But let a homeschooling family miss a state requirement or do something bizarre, and the editorial writers, pundits, and politicians wag their heads and talk about the need for greater oversight of homeschooling.

You lie awake at night asking yourself questions such as, "What will people think?" "What if my child has special needs?" "Can I cover everything?" "Which approach should I take?" "Will my children be ready for college?" "Do I know what I am doing?" and the grand prize winner, "AM I GOING TO RUIN MY CHILDREN?"

God has always been, and always will be the same.  God is One and yet Three Persons, existing in the divine mystery called the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit.

God spoke creation into existence by his Word, and has chosen to reveal himself through Scripture -- the written Word -- and Jesus -- the Word-made-flesh.  The Scriptures that tell us about God are fully inspired, authoritative and reliable.

God gave humanity the gift of his image.  This gives us great dignity.  It also reminds us that we are dependent on him for all things.  God's gracious gift of his image was marred by our first parents.  The first sin and our continuing sin separated them and us from the full experience of God's presence, brought death into the world, and affects every aspect of humanity.

God is infinitely loving and has worked ever since the Fall to restore us to his relational presence.  Just as Adam brought sin and death into the world, God sent his Son into the world to bring righteousness and life.  Jesus was fully human, born of the virgin Mary, and yet fully divine, without sin.

Jesus taught of God's kingdom -- heaven coming to earth even now as God brings all things under his authority -- and demonstrated God's power in his earthly ministry. Because he was without sin, Jesus could and did offer himself as a perfect sacrifice on behalf of humanity's sins.  Jesus bore all the sins of history on the Cross, covering all people's transgressions with his blood.  God's forgiveness is now available to anyone who will turn from their own way and cling to the good way of Jesus.

Jesus died on the Cross and was physically raised again on the third day.  After appearing to his followers, Jesus was taken back into the presence of the Father, where he sits and mediates for us until he returns.

Jesus did not leave his followers alone.  The Holy Spirit was sent to empower all those who follow after Jesus and give God control of their lives.  God's Spirit empowers us as our advocate, helper, and counselor.  The Spirit binds us to each other, making us into the embodiment of Christ on earth.  The Spirit makes followers of Jesus increasingly holy as he lives in us, though we will never attain perfect holiness in this lifetime.

God carries the message of his salvation to the world through the Church.  The Church is to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of Jesus and God's kingdom.  The Spirit gathers the Church together from every tribe, tongue and nation.  God is glorified by the Church as we love him, each other, and those who are far from him....

I Believe

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born. A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived! I Believe... That just because two people argue, that doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, that doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is,

they're going to hurt you every once in a while

and you must forgive them for that. I Believe..... That true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe.... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe..... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done,

when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe.... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That my best friend and I can do anything,

or nothing, and have the best time. I Believe.... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken

the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I Believe..... The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything. Thank you God for the journey of life!

Father's Day 2009

we took Dan to see Chicago/EarthWind&Fire

in Indy for Father's Day this year. It was amazing,

and God was proclaimed as the giver of blessngs

in the 40 years that these groups have been

together...performing, original members still strong.

Like a marriage that puts Him first, 40 years is

full of times of trouble, sadness and shakey ground,

but the lowest valleys WITH Jesus are higher than

the highest mountains witout Him!

God is good!

God is good...

to make the decision to have a cheerful heart!
I don't always choose it, and my strength is ALWAYS. Sapped!

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

I am so thankful to God for the opportunity every day

Being confident of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

HIM

If everything comes down to love  Then just what am I afraid of  When I call out Your name  Something inside awakes in my soul  How quickly I forget I'm Yours   I'm not my own  I've been carried by You  All my life  Everything rides on hope now  Everything rides faith somehow  When the world has broken me down  Your love sets me free  When my life is like a storm  Rising waters all I want is the shore  You say I'll be ok and  Make it through the rain  You are my shelter from the storm   I'm not my own  I've been carried by You  All my life   Everything rides on hope now  Everything rides faith somehow  When the world has broken me down  Your love sets me free  You've become my hearts desire  I will sing Your praises higher  Cause Your love sets me free  Your love sets me free  Your love sets me free

Addison Road

Open up your eyesAwake, ariseLove like a hand reaches downAnd pulls us up from the dirty groundNow is the timeTo step from the dark into the lightCause you can’t change what you’ve doneBut you can choose who you’ll become(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over againIf you feel ashamedOf the choices that you’ve madeYou can be whole againAnd return to your innocence(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over againYesterday is goneToday is all you’ve gotYou don’t have to be who you’ve beenYou can change withinIt’s never too lateTo start over again(CHORUS)Every moment is a second chanceAt starting over, at starting overMove from the past to the present tenseYou can start over, start over again

Matthew 4:23-24

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every 

disease and sickness among the people.

News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought

to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering

severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and

the paralyzed, and He healed them.

Dear Jesus,

I want to live a passionate life.

A life of loving people,

just like You did.

Providing what they need;

a shoulder to cry on,

a ride to work,

a word of encouragement.

I want to be an instrument

of Your healing in this world.

Amen.

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