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No Comments» Continue ReadingEvery year I have an opportunity to address the parents of our school with a talk about parenting and co-teaching in our University-model school. Burdened to dispel any misconceptions that might hinder a parent from being the most effective co-teaching parent in the home, I formed my talk around 3 possible misconceptions and 3 qualities that will help a parent thrive in the homeschooling environment. This was not a how-to session as much as an indicative-informing-the-imperative overview. I share parts of it here, as I trust that you will be encouraged as a parent or a homeschooler…and as the primary influence in your child’s life. If you missed the 3 possible misconceptions, please read Is There An Ideal Homeschooling Parent? Part 1. What the “Ideal” Homeschooling parent IS… 1. The “ideal” homeschooling parent is purposed with conviction and mission. There is no doubt about it, you will experience discouragement, weariness, and sometimes an outright second-guessing of your […]
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» Continue ReadingEvery year I have an opportunity to address the parents of our school with a talk about parenting and co-teaching in our University-model school. Burdened to dispel any misconceptions that might hinder a parent from being the most effective co-teaching parent in the home, I formed my talk around 3 possible misconceptions and 3 qualities that will help a parent thrive in the homeschooling environment. This was not a how-to session as much as an indicative-informing-the-imperative overview. I share parts of it here, as I trust that you will be encouraged as a parent or a homeschooler…and as the primary influence in your child’s life. What The Ideal Parent IS NOT…. 1. The ideal homeschooling parent is not necessarily gifted at homeschooling or a natural at teaching. One of the big misconceptions in education may be that those who choose to educate their kids at home are either naturally good […]
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» Continue ReadingThere’s a tiny baby girl several states away that bears my first name, and whose middle name I was asked to give. I haven’t met her and I’ve never met her daddy. But, her mom Sarah was a special part of my life 10 years ago while Troy was serving as a pastor to college students. What an honor! Oh, may this little one know Christ and His redeeming grace! I’ve asked Sara to share this special story with you today. Sometimes we have no idea what influence or impact we have in another’s life until years later. I’m so grateful for this testimony of how the Lord works…in and through each of us! **************************************** When I found out I was pregnant I knew what our boy’s name would be. My husband asked me “What if it’s a girl?” I thought a few days, I wanted it to be from the […]
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» Continue Reading“I can’t get anything done!” I lament, as the kids make their happy noises and leave sweet tokens of their presence all throughout the house. “I will never catch up!” This is a familiar scene at my house–is it at yours as well? Mom is exhausted and frustrated at the two steps she takes forward, just to take one step back…in housecleaning, in laundry, in potty-training, in correction and discipline, in kitchen clean up…it just feels never-ending. In the midst of one of my complain-sessions recently, I recognized the error in my assessment of getting things done: What am I so in a rush to get done for? What is the important stuff that I think I’m really supposed to be accomplishing that being a wife and mother is seemingly keeping me from? By my actions and attitude, it would appear that I have been charged with greater uses of […]
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» Continue ReadingBlessings don’t always appear to be such until the veil of self-pity is lifted from one’s eyes. I cried big girl tears on 4th of July this year because I had my heart wrapped around a week long trip to meet my newest baby nephew that was canceled due to devastating fires in Colorado. Then, I was angry at myself for being so unhappy over my own discomfort when others were suffering so. I finally met my newest baby nephew this past weekend. The trip was three days instead of 7. Four adults and 9 children stayed in my brother’s two bedroom home in order to maximize time together and save on cost. While I would’ve thought this arrangement nuts a few weeks ago, I found that squeezing together in tight quarters was nothing short of bliss when you haven’t seen your loved ones in 10 months. It was a […]
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» Continue ReadingYou know how it is when you are trying to get out the door with the kids. “Where’s your other flip flop?” “I need someone to put away the dogs!” “What’s this mess on the table? Get this cleaned up, quick!” “Can someone PLEASE pick up the toys on the stairs before we leave?!” “Why can’t I count on you guys to get your jobs done!?!” These and other orders are often barked out to the boys as I frantically run around the house to collect stuff, more stuff…and oh, the kids, as we head out the door. The littles horse around and end up in an argument over who hit who. I get stinkin’ mad frustrated, and raise my voice even louder in hopes of getting full compliance. We finally all make it to the car (1, 2, 3, 4…and 5. Good, got ‘em all!) and I’m deflated and […]
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» Continue ReadingDo you tend to think that little ones (who don’t read and may not even talk yet) are too young to understand God’s Word? Nothing could be further from the truth! I’m kicking off a series on how to read the Bible with children through the ages over at The Better Mom today. My post today shares tips and resources for reaching your 0-3 yr. olds: “If you’ve been around a child between newborn to 3 yrs. old, you know the words that characterize this age group: curious, short attention spans, unable to sit still, energetic, noisy, playful, inquisitive. If you tend to think of the Bible as dry, boring, academic, serious, and complicated, then reading the Bible with your infant or toddler may seem like a practice in futility. However, if you know God’s word to be a vibrant, adventurous, humorous, inspired story of God’s redemptive love…well, then you […]
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» Continue ReadingThere’s something about turning six. Six seems to mark the beginning of boyhood. There’s no more “T” behind clothing sizes! Two of mine have already arrived, and after today’s birthday–I now have three. Sigh…I think he even smells different to me. Number 3 is the middle child, and for all you middle children out there…you know how it can be. Sometimes middle children are the loudest because it’s the most difficult to be heard. Sometimes middle children are the most reserved about their feelings because they are trying to determine what is expected of them. Sometime middle children take the longest to figure out who they really are with all the commotion going on before and behind him. My Number 3 has been all of these, and yet, he is truly his own unique self. There is no one quite like him This boy… gives the most sincere hugs, expresses gratitude […]
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» Continue ReadingWhat clashing stripes and discordant blues? He and I are a perfect match, wouldn’t you say?
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» Continue Reading“A Christian understanding of the world sees a child’s character not as genetically determined but as shaped to a significant degree by parental discipleship and discipline.” — Russell Moore, Adopted For Life Many dear friends in my life have adopted, are adopting, or are in the process of bringing their child home. So many of you, dear readers, share in a passionate heart for adoption…and today, I want to give you an opportunity to support and be a part of the adoption stories-in-the-making of a few families I’m connected to. Be blessed by their stories: ***************************************** THE METZGARS We are a family of 5 soon to be 6 with the addition of our new daughter, Joy. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel toward our heavenly Father for adopting us into His family. It is out of our love for Him that we are answering the call to adopt Joy. Our […]
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» Continue ReadingDo you ever feel like you say the same things to your children over and over again? Don’t you sometimes wish that the training and disciplining of our kids could be a completable task, preferably with a little box to check next to it? I’m over at The Better Mom today, talking about the repetition that is the task of parenting: “Sometimes we act as though our kids can be trained with one deft stroke if we could manage to be accurate enough, stern enough, loud enough, or wise enough as parents. We are dismayed and sometimes shocked when our kids don’t change their attitudes for good, stop the habit in a day, or cease to be repeat offenders. Swift and precise parenting would save us time and energy, not to mention how good we’d feel about ourselves as mothers! But that is not how parenting is. In fact, it […]
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» Continue ReadingI’ve been feeling quiet lately. Nothing amazing to share, no extraordinary story to tell. The thoughts that accompany the joys and pains of daily life are often left un-excavated and unsifted, left on the nightstand for later. But later has been filled with many other things. Things like bandages, conflict resolution over Lincoln Logs, sowing seeds with little fingers, listening to World War II facts, demonstrating the fine art of cleaning a toilet to future husbands, telling childhood stories to young ears, feeding the souls of child-like faith, heralding all that is truly praise-worthy, and spending more time thinking on how to be progressing and not digressing in this season of my life. This is the stuff of motherhood. To be ever-present in the mundane and trite, to be deliberate in the noteworthy and catalyst moments, and to be pressing fervently into greater Christ-likeness in the midst of unrelenting weariness. […]
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Hello, friend...I'm Ruth. Welcome to GraceLaced, where you will find my imperfect, but grace-filled musings on the Gospel, motherhood, crafting, art, domesticity, cooking, and the often-times overlooked joys of finding grace in the everyday of life. Read my full profile here.
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