…lived up to our sad expectations during our 16 year-old’s first week on campus (thankfully very part-time).  While sitting in the school parking lot waiting for our son to exit his class, my husband became incensed as he pondered our tax dollars at work in subsidizing the scene before his eyes.   As the herd of apparently lost and/or indiscreet, mostly young people meandered about,  he grieved at how far our nation has fallen below an acceptable standard of morality, purity, self-respect and self-restraint. 

Levi sized up one of his ‘professors-with-a-liberal-agenda’ with such keen insight and attributed his sharp awareness of the classroom in part to a book he’s fallen in love with, Letters To A Young Conservative, by Dinesh D’Souza (see cover above).  He said he needs to read a chapter daily to strengthen his resolve against the sly spirit of his extremely liberal professor.   I’m thankful for such a tool for our family arsenal as we wage war in our current circumstances.  Trying to decide if we’ll drop the class and learn online or weather this quarter’s classroom storm…

went quite well with Levi at the wheel, and I made every effort to bite my tongue at those intense moments when, in the words of my son, “momma’s pushing the imaginary brake!”

We hit (not literally of course, praise God) the post office, the farmer’s market (to grab some organically-farmed and luscious homegrown tomatoes, green and yellow squash, Walla Walla onions and corn-on-the-cob mmm) and then I dashed into the Starbucks in the same parking lot for a grande iced vanilla latte - mmm - and, dashing back to my waiting almost-college-student :)  in the car, I looked down at the ground to see a big fat black wallet and some change next to a beautiful white Lexus parked in the handicap zone.  (I love details!)  OK if I leave it sitting there, someone is gonna steal it.  An anonymous wallet suddenly became my responsibility at the most inconvenient moment.  I have things to do.  Limited time to do them.  No matter.  Time to be flexible.  OK, I gingerly picked up the wallet as if it had a disease, just in case the owner happened out at that very moment, eyeing me eyeing the wallet and assuming I was a thief.  I had to look inside to find information (why did I feel guilty when I was only trying to help????) - driver’s license (photo revealed an aged hispanic woman named Gloria), $20.00 bill, change and lots of cards and papers.  Phone number scrawled next to the woman’s name.  I dialed the number (thank God for cell phones) and left a detailed message with my phone number.  Then I made a mad dash into the businesses where Gloria my new best friend might be.  She doesn’t look like the Starbuck’s type (is that profiling?) but she does look like the ‘beauty shop’ type - lots of grannies get their hair done on Fridays…no luck…next beauty shop…no luck…diner next door…no luck.   OK I have to GO!

I ripped out a cardboard gum pack wrapper and wrote a note, placing it under the windshield wiper.  “I found a wallet next to your car - if it’s yours please call me and I’ll return it 767-4241″.  I took the wallet into Starbucks, gave it to the Assistant Manager to be sure it was safe and told her the owner would be coming for it. 

Off to TJ Maxx.  While waiting in line to return my items, I hear chattering, chattering, chattering.  Three strangers had met while waiting and were enjoying their exchange of sudden friendship. 

Just then Gloria phoned - I reminded her how much Jesus Loves Her! (I always think it may be why we connected, right?) and of course she was thrilled to know where to find her wallet. 

OK back to the chatty-kathies.  They were parting ways and saying their good-byes.  Gracious Lady #1 “I have to run, but I wish all good things to come to you all day today!” (is that sort of like ‘I’m crossing my fingers for you!’?) Goofy Lady #2 to Clueless Lady #3 “Best of luck with your son!” Levi said it sounded sort of like, “and may the trees help you today!”  The hopeless fables and fairytales  so many in our nation cling to.

Tomorrow is another day.  More adventures to come.

for me as my 16 year-old drives me on errands (just got his learner’s permit-ha!) and then we’re off to his very first college class ever (we school our boys until they can begin to earn a degree at the local community college so they get a head start).  Off we go!…

much to the chagrin of my two teen-aged children who beg me to stop with loud cries and tears!  This is one of those worship cds that just keeps coming back to me like a sweet memory and I have to hear it.  It’s more of a worship experience than simply some tunes to groove to and I find myself deeply ministered to, as I’m drawn to the Lord as I listen.  If I could sing like Christy Nockels (the lead singer with the perfectly magical voice on this cd-pictured here with hubby, Nathan) perhaps the family would indulge me, but for now I’ll just be ‘air-singing’ when they walk in.  Air-singing is like playing the air-guitar…movements are allowed, but sound has to come from somewhere else! 

If you check this cd out on Amazon, there are several reviews with insights into the Nockels’ hearts and lives which lead me to believe that the reason this album is so anointed is because these folks are worshippers, not just performers.  Enjoy!

to soak up the last of summer’s fanciful, free days as we shift gears into the new school year on Monday.  It’s always nice to exhale, enjoy barbecues, friends and family as we ‘file away’ the to-do list and everything clamoring for our attention.  Locking in with the Lord and feasting on His Word is the icing on the cake of even our vacation days…makes them all the sweeter! Hope you find yourself drinking in some of your own beautiful sunsets, sights and smells of this quickly-passing season.  More to come on the weekend…

We had a bit of a crazy week of remodel detail wrap-up (and some minor complications) to deal with on the homefront…almost to the finish line!  I also busied myself all week with preparations for an educators’ in-service day event I spoke at for Sierra Christian Academy here in the Sacramento area.  We had a lovely morning on Friday with our Noah’s bagels, cream cheese and the staff at SCA.  They are a group of folks who are committed to Christian education and the furthering of God’s kingdom through their ministry to children.  I appreciate their dedication, sacrifice and passion for what they do. 

It seems like the school year starts earlier and earlier (or am I just getting older and older?!) and so here we are…many of you have begun the Fall quarter.  We begin ours next Monday.  I’m taking the day off to enjoy some sunshine and my friend’s birthday dinner this evening.  Been listening to the book of Hebrews on my Ipod and really, really enjoying it.  LOVE God’s Word - it’s LIFE! 

are a part of my everyday life.  Sometimes they threaten to drive me batty.  My to-do lists are extensive, ever-evolving, computerized (except for the 3 dangling fluorescent sticky notes trying to dominate…) and can haunt me every waking moment if I allow them to!  I want stuff DONE.  I want to tie the loose ends and make a big fat knot and MOVE ON! 

Unfortunately…there are always 6 (or 60!) more ends dangling over my head, begging to be tied.  OR…someone else hands me their loose ends so that I can tie knots for them until I could be at my wits end!  “Quiet down loose ends!”  is what I want I silently scream, although they usually aren’t making audible noises.  On a daily basis I have to make peace with imperfection.  We’ve talked about this before, but perhaps it’s a good reminder.  I will never, ever be DONE while I’m walking on this planet and that’s a good thing because there’s always something more to achieve.  Something more to look forward to conquering, right?  It’s only logical that I’m not done.  Why would I want to be DONE?!  arghghghghgh

I feel better now.  Night night.

My son Benjamin shared this with me while he was visiting recently.  I can’t remember who penned it, but he was obviously in a very good place with his God.  It’s a difficult, but necessary prayer, and I long to live it from the heart even though my flesh cries, “NO!” :)  I stuck it on the fridge so I would bump into often - don’t we moms live in the kitchen?!

“I am no longer my own, but Yours.  Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will.  Put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You.  Let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.  And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You are mine and I am Yours.  May it be so!  And may the Covenant which I have made here on earth be confirmed in heaven.  Amen.”

Oh, that we as God’s people could become this flexible and consecrated.  I know this is the goal.  And honestly I think it’s the key to happiness in this life.  (Even though it’s gonna take a whole lot of ____ whatever it takes for you, just fill in the blank).  I really truly want to be willing.

Hope your Sunday is filled with God-life!

Hi Friends, This just popped in from the Home School Legal Defense Association’s E-lert Service so I wanted to share it with you…

HSLDA Home Page

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

In a unanimous decision, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District today ruled that “California statutes permit home schooling as a species of private school education.”

Today’s decision stands in stark contrast to the opinion this same three-judge panel issued in February, which would have made California the only state in the union to outlaw home education had it remained in effect.

“It is unusual for an appellate court to grant a petition for rehearing as this court did in March,” said HSLDA Chairman Mike Farris, “but it is truly remarkable for a court to completely reverse its own earlier opinion. We thank you for your prayers and give God the glory for this great victory.”

When the court vacated its earlier decision on March 25, 2008, it invited interested organizations to file friend-of-the-court briefs. “I have never seen such an impressive array of people and organizations coming to the defense of homeschooling,” said Farris, who was one of the attorneys who argued the case on rehearing along with Alliance Defense Fund attorney Jeff Shafer, who represented the father. The father was also represented by Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation.

California’s three largest homeschool organizations, California Homeschool Network, Homeschool Association of California and Christian Home Education Association joined together in one brief to defend the right of all parents to homeschool. HSLDA, Family Protection Ministries and Focus on the Family also joined in a separate brief. Numerous other private organizations came to the defense of home education as did California’s governor, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction.

We are extremely grateful to all of the organizations who worked tirelessly to protect and preserve homeschooling freedom in California. We are also thankful for you, our members, for your prayers and support during this trying season.

The freedom to homeschool is a precious gift from God. But keeping it free requires vigilance and perseverance. We must continue to work together diligently to preserve this precious freedom in California and elsewhere.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

P.S.  You can see all the details if you go to the HSLDA web site by clicking on the link at the top of this post.  Wow!  Great news as we go into the weekend.  TGIF everyone!  For the King, Denise

on what’s happening around here.  Should have a working sink in my kitchen tomorrow - no more washing big stuff in the rocks (previous Post) and scurrying to the bathroom for running water…whoo hoo!  (I’ve never found much grace ‘camping’.)  Played tennis yesterday after 3 weeks of homemade ice bag/heat pad and stretching therapy.  Won my match (always fun to win!) and I’m signing up for a fall league to connect with some more gals who play (while always pursuing new evangelistic opportunities - Go God!).  However, I’ve got a bad case of tennis elbow - don’t laugh - more icing and heating - and my new monovision contacts (previous Post) kept floating in my eyes - so I could hardly focus on things during play. Soooo…got a new brand of monovision contacts and it seems like these will stick.  Pardon the pun!  Gearing up for some upcoming ministry times - see my itinerary - and trying to connect with more of my neighbors around here. I’m always busy with our neighborhood association duties - being on the board allows me to help change things and maintain the quality of our area, but it’s W.O.R.K.  (and it’s filled with lots more evangelistic opportunities!)  I have a running list of folks under my watchful eye and kept in prayer - I wanna see CHANGE!  Well, off and running so have a great day…..