Celebrating "Christ-Is-More"!

Our Tree-Topper!

The phrase we coined a while back is finally catching on with our boys...

"Christ-Is-More"!

You see, when I hear the word "Christmas", two things stick out to me...

• Christ: the reason for the season, for life and for all things good!
• Mas: the Spanish word for "more"

So around here, we call it...

"Christ-Is-More"!

And we do everything we can during this season to emphasize that...

"Christ-Is-More"!

That He is more important, more worthy, more beautiful, more desirable...

For example, we choose not to put anything in our house having to do with Santa Claus or the North Pole.  Some people call that legalistic, but we call it...

"Christ-Is-More"!

So instead of sheltering our kids from "Santa and his elves", we have pretty good conversations about...

  "Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy?...

All things are permissible, 

but not everything is beneficial."

(1 Corinthians 10:22-23) 

 

So whether it's buying presents, singing festive songs, decorating the house, or planning on how we'll spend our "holiday" free-time, what is more beneficial than practicing that...

"Christ-Is-More"!

(More to come on how our family celebrates "Christ-Is-More"!)

My Life Is A Pilgrimage--A Thanksgiving Moment

Sometimes life is a challenge.  

Whether it's homeschooling, managing a house full of little ones, or pushing through morning sickness, there are just seasons that are more trying than others.

Today has been one of those trying days.  It's a Monday.  It's the day after a long break.  And it's a day I want to crawl back into bed and magically wake up with happy, routine-following, eager-to-learn kiddos.

But I know it's never that easy.  First comes some self-denial and discipline on my own part...and a cry out to God for help in the form of fresh perspective.

Well, the Lord faithfully brought me some perspective this morning!...and I wanted to share it with you all!

Recently I read an article in a homeschooling magazine about the legacy of Thanksgiving Day and as I reflected on it this afternoon (stirring a pot of mac & cheese with much grumbling) the Lord broke through to me...

Remember the Pilgrims.  

The Pilgrims arrived in a new land totally unfamiliar to them.  In fact, there was nothing comfortable, easy or familiar about their experiences in this new world.  They faced many struggles and trials to say the least--many of them died in the process of settling in America...not to mention how they struggled with hunger, grief, fear and even probably doubt.

But aren't we thankful they persevered?!

They had no idea how their sacrifices would bless an entire nation.  

The Pilgrims couldn't see the future, but they trusted that all the hard work and heartache wasn't in vain.

And just look at where their steadfastness has brought us!  

Sometimes the season of sowing is long and exhausting.  Sometimes I feel like giving up when I don't see signs of the harvest.  Sometimes I need to remember the Pilgrims--their voyage, their endurance and even their God.

Because their God is my God too.

I may not see the fruit of all my labor right now, but I know that scripture is true and that my God is Faithful.

So in the trying seasons of this life, I'll hold onto hope, that as I obey, He is working.

And I'll continue in my pilgrimage of homeschooling knowing that the Lord has plans for all these little Pilgrims that He has entrusted me with...

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11

The Wheels On Our Big, New Bus Go Round and Round...

I have got some BIG and EXCITING news!!!

This past weekend, Ryan and I got a NEW VAN!!!

I can't even begin to tell you what a blessing this is to us!!!

As a family of 6 (soon to be 7) and with all our kids in car seats or boosters, we just don't fit in a minivan anymore!

Our Old Van

With little hands already unable to reach the buckles that are hidden by the carseat next to them and with NO cargo room... it's already been a hassle with just 4 little ones!!

So my parents blessed us tremendously and helped us to buy our new amazing van...(Remember the legacy of generosity I told you all about? They are an indescribable blessing to our family!)

It's a 15 passenger 2002 Chevy Express and she's a BEAUTY!!!

At the gas station just after we made the purchase!

The kids LOVE all the room they have!!!

And we all love all the room we have to GROW!!!

(When the baby comes, Trusten and Brahm will be in the 3rd row)

I still cry just about every time I see it!  We are so thankful!!!

I have always said that I'd love to have a huge van where I could look back over my shoulder and see row after row of precious faces that the Lord has blessed us with!  Oh, how I love my kiddos!!!

Thank you Jesus~Jehovah Jireh, our provider!!!

The Creation Museum (Vacation Part 6) and a Giveaway!!!

(Be sure to see end of this post for giveaway info!!!)

Anyone who attended the "Defending the Faith" conference, also recieved a free 2-day pass to the Creation Museum in Kentucky!

We were all so excited!  After leaving Tennessee, we headed 5 hours north to get there.

My sister and I's families

(They bought this whole vacation for us!  What a blessing!!!)

As soon as we walked in, a man was in the lobby with a real-live snake to pet and hold...

My boys were so enthralled!...Well until it got a little TOO close!

Then they got to touch a real dinosaur fossil found in Montana!

We were there 30 minutes and Trusten said it was the best place he's ever visited! :)

Learning how they dig up fossils...very carefully!

The kiddos

First he really wanted this picture...but then when I stepped back to take it, he changed his mind!

Learning about the creation of the universe (and Man's wisdom compared to God's wisdom)

Daddy teaching them about the 7 C's of History

(Creation, Corruption (the fall), Catastrophe (the flood), Confusion (tower of Babel), 

Christ, Cross, Consummation)

"Meeting" and hearing from men in the Bible

I love this picture!  Praise the Lord for Truth...and my Blessings!

Now to the Garden of Eden!

(Samuel was little unsure of what that bear wanted...)

Adam is naming the animals behind us!

Inside the ark!!

Smaller replica

The people perishing

(Trusten was amazed at how tiny the people were...I was too!)

Noah's family, after the ark landed on ground, they worshiped and made an alter to the Lord

Then it was on to the DINOSAURS!!!

We had such a great time!  It was so neat to see these stories we've repeated to the boys so many times, displayed in such a real way!  

How encouraging to be able to take your family to a place where everything you've been teaching them and trying to pass onto them is reiterated and reinforced through sight, sound, touch and feel!

As adults, there were several times we were ALL moved to tears at the power of the Word, the strength and perseverance of our past fathers and the wonder of God's creation and his infinite wisdom in it all!

We look forward to returning again when the boys are older and can get some of the deeper concepts taught throughout the Creation Museum!  (I wonder how many kiddos we'll have then?!?!)  :)

This post will be linked to Wednesdays Walk Down Memory Lane at my friend, Jenilee's blog!  Not too long ago her family visited this museum too!

Today Jenilee is hosting a giveaway on her blog for a super-cool candle warmer!  You can see the warmers here (main site) or here (blog site) and join in the giveaway here!

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First vacation blog post: The Beginning of Our Vacation...Part 1

Second vacation blog post: Life at the Cabin: 14 people Living Together For a Week (Part 2)

Third vacation blog post: The Conference (Part 3)

Fourth vacation blog post:Out and About in the City ~Happy Birthday Hudson! (Part 4)

Fifth vacation blog post: A Smokey Mountain Hike (Part 5)
Next: The Saddest Day--Heading Home (and another hotel adventure!)

The Conference (Vacation Part 3)

If you haven't heard of Answers In Genesis, it's an amazing ministry devoted to proving creation and "reclaiming the foundations of our faith which are found in the Bible, from the very first verse".

Two years ago we (my sister Sarah's family and our family) went to our first "AIG" conference in Branson Missouri...Vision Forum was there along with Voddie Baucham.  It was a powerful week!

This year, many of the same families were back and it was so good to see so many familiar faces and catch up with a few friends that Sarah and I had made 2 years ago...

I even got to meet a "MOMYS" from my "QuiverFull" on-line group!  I've now met 5 MOMYS in real life, and it's always a special treat!

Including catching up with old friends, seeing how our families have grown, hearing the Word procliamed so boldy and sitting under some amazing teaching...it was a great conference!  We were encouraged, spurred on, reminded, blessed and challanged.

I love how you can go to a conference like this one, on "Defending the Faith" and get so much more out of it than just your "normal every-day preaching".  We left there even more grounded in our beliefs of homeschooling, freshly encouraged to trust God for our family size and burdened to pray even more for our nation and reach out to our lost neighbors!

Overall, with our family usually being the "odd men out" on homeschooling and desiring a big family, it was just SO good to see and hear that we're NOT alone and to be taught from the Bible on those issues!

We took our kids to the conference (everyone did--it was a family conference after all) and although the first day was a little rough (after such a looong car-ride they were restless!), they got used to it and by the second day, they were doing great and were excellent the rest of the week!

Brahm and Liberty proud of their new name tags!

We packed backpacks for each of them filled with books, a Bible, coloring books, pens, paper, matchbox cars and fruit snacks!  That kept them busy :)

Unloading the vans at the conference and getting ready to go in...

(See in the second pic how the sliding door to our van is open?  Yep...it stayed that way the whole night-we didn't know until we came back out to our vans!  Yikes! But praise the Lord nothing was stolen!)

During the sessions, it helped my children to observe the behavior of other kids their age.  There were several Amish families there and those kids are so sweet!  They sat so properly just listening the whole time with an occasional song or giggle escaping from pure joy.  Their parents would sweetly pat their leg with a smile and I heard one Amish mother say, "There is a time for everything...we'll run outside after a bit".

The Langhofer crew

(We sat in the VERY back every time...we weren't brave enough to sit in the front with all the kiddos!)

Our crew waiting to hear Voddie speak...

The first night we heard both a "State Of The Church" and "State of the Nation" sermon by Ken Ham. 

Other than that, we didn't try to make it to every session, every day...instead, we just went to hear Voddie!!!

He did his usual thing...talked about Biblical womanhood, manhood, the responsibilities of fathers in the home, the call to wives, legacy...  And he also talked about why Christians should be having more babies, about adoption, about homeschooling, etc.

Then there was Tuesday!  Tuesday was a day filled with sessions just for women.  Biblical womanhood, godly parenting, building a "one flesh" marriage...so my sister and I spent most of the day together!  We had such wonderful, uplifting coversations and just enjoyed our quiet time together!  I love my sisters--they are my best friends and role models FOR SURE! (along with my momma of course!)

Sarah and I getting ready to leave for our first "women only" session

(She's 4 years older than me, but I'm about 4 inches taller!)

My niece (and my name-sake) Isabelle Grace came with Sarah and I for the night session.

Favorite quotes from the conference:
"Once you question Genesis-and the earth being created in 6 literal days-you open up doors for ALL the Holy Scriptures to be questioned.  Genesis is our beginning...and it is literal."

"In Genesis 3:15 we read that as a result of  'the fall' there is now an enmity between woman and serpent, her offspring and his...he wants women to dread their body changing with pregnancy, he wants to scare them with the dreaded pain of childbirth...he doesn't want you to have any more babies.
Satan hates women...especially Christian women.  He hates them because of the enmity and because they bring about children that will one day praise and serve the Lord Almighty."

(Talking of careers and laziness among American boys) "Instead of teaching young men to 'find something they love and do it', teach them to 'find something to do and love it'...it's not about us!"

"The ONLY hope for victory for our nation is NOT in legislation, clever bumper stickers, letters to congressmen, it is in our Promised Redeemer-Christ our Savior."

"Abortion isn't just about life, it's about feminism."
"Today men are defined by 1-the ball field, 2-the bill fold, 3-the bedroom, and that's what our little girls are taught to desire in a partner."

"Reading self-help books is like football players taking instruction from cheerleaders.  You may feel pepped up, but for real, solid instruction, they need to listen the coach.  For us as Christians, our coach has left us a playbook...the Holy Bible.  It's all we need."

"Genesis 3:15-the two things that should bring us the most pleasure, were made to be the heaviest burdens of womanhood.  But loathe these things, instead seek the pleasure in childbirth and having our husband as our head and you will be BLESSED."

"Parents say their kids walk away from the Lord in college, but 87% of children have their first doubts about God when they are in Middle School, so we see they lost them long before college--they just didn't know it because they were already away at school."

"Your children are watching you, how you dress, what you say, even mannerisms...so live up the holiness God called us to--they are His kids after all.  Ask what He wants modeled for them?"

"When Adam and Eve sinned, they covered their private parts, but when God found them, he gave them a more sufficient covering made from animal skin.  Sisters, covering your private parts isn't enough for the Lord...he wants you clothed in righteousness, holiness and therefore, in modesty."

First blog post: The Beginning of Our Vacation...Part 1
Second blog post: Life at the Cabin: 14 people Living Together For a Week (Part 2)
Next blog post: Out and About in the City ~A CRAZY, Busy, Fun day!
Then: A Breath-taking Smokey Mountain Hike
Then: The Creation Museum
And finally: The Saddest Day--Heading Home (and another hotel adventure!)

A Legacy Of Generosity

Often, my husband and I are blown away by the generosity of others.  Sometimes it's an anonymous gift in the mail, sometimes a bill or two given in a friendly, covert handshake at church...but most often it comes from family.

It's no secret that my husband doesn't make very much money...most people in ministry don't.  Technically, we're below poverty level, but have NEVER gone without...because the Lord is good to us...and so is our family.

Just the other night we were talking about how it just doesn't make sense that on our salary, our family is able to do all the "extra" things we do...eating out, going on dates, going to the movies, buying little extras at Wal-Mart, etc.  We don't always know where our extra money comes from...but sometimes we do...

My sisters are always so generous with Ryan and I--giving us money for dates, paying for us when we eat out, buying us little luxuriates like "continuous spray-on sunscreen", and big things, like a van (yes, one of my sisters gave us a van!) and the list goes on.

They have inherited a legacy of generosity...

You see my father is a living legacy.  He is one of the most generous men I know.  He will often go without, just to bless his family.  He and my mom live humbly when they could live lavishly and selfishly...why?  Because they consider others better than themselves.

I never knew why, but I have always struggled with an awful, judgmental attitude towards "poor livers"...not poor people, but I mean, people who live poorly, as in selfishly.  

Whenever I hear a family of 2 or 3 that makes twice (or more!) our salary complaining or acting like they have no money, they can't give to this, they can't help out with that, it just irks me.  Especially when I see them continuously adding to their wardrobe, adorning their house and sprucing up their cars.  It's judgmental and ugly, I know...I'm just trying to be honest here :)

Anyways, recently I was repenting of that attitude and wondering why I get so flustered by these "poor livers" when it hit me...that is just SO contrary to the legacy my father lives and breathes.

He is a giver.  

Here's a funny story just to let you know how serious this is:  I can still recall the first time my dad confronted my husband.  We had borrowed my dad's truck and before returning it, filled it with gas.  My dad was so mad!  He took my husband aside later and told Ryan to never fill his gas tank again...Ryan light-heartedly chuckled as he said "Okay".  Which drove my dad take a step closer to Ryan, look him in the eyes and firmly repeat, "I'm serious, don't ever do that again." 

Boy did my dad get his point across to Ryan that day!  Ever since then he has never even thought about trying to pay my dad back for anything...and that's just the way my dad wants it!

Only once in Ryan and I's dating/married life have Ryan and I paid for ourselves when eating out with my parents.  One time dad even let us pay for their meal...well, he didn't know until after the fact, but still, we got away with it!  :)

He (and my mom) have bought us a van, helped us out of numerous financial woes, paid my college loans off relieving a huge burden...

And yet every time we visit my parents we're given a stack of money..."a stack" you ask?  Yes.  "Every time" you ask?  Yes...Along with clothes for the kids, gadgets for Ryan, purses for me, etc.

In fact, after visiting them, my sons will often ask on a special trip to Target or at a "fancy" restaurant (meaning here is no drive thru!), "Did MooMaw and Papa bless us again?"

My kids know first-hand the generosity of their grandparents.  

And so do all the grandkids...it truly has become a legacy...and everyone is catching on!  From the little ones (Luke, Elliott, Hudson and more!) to my sisters and their husbands, we have a family that loves to give.  So many times my sisters CHILDREN have blessed Ryan and I with something we didn't deserve and they didn't need to give...now THAT is humbling! 

I believe it's because of my dad, that us girls married "givers".  Generosity is a tried and true trait among the "son-in-laws".  They are all givers.  Even my sweet husband, whether we can "afford" to or not always wants to find a ministry or person to give to...and we do and are blessed each time!  

But we weren't born this way, it's what we see modeled in our parents year after year...we are a part of a family that loves to give their things to others! 

All in all, among our family, you won't see very many treasures stored up on this earth.  Because we've seen it modeled in our father and in our husbands that "it is better to give than receive".

And just look at the potential this legacy has!...

I can't wait to see where the legacy of generosity takes this next generation!!!  I believe many believers will be blessed!

(Happy LATE Fathers Day dad!  Your family loves you!)