I *heart* Big Families-- and a Question For YOU!

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Well, not too long ago a fellow blogger left a comment asking a question, and I thought it would be fun to answer her question by doing a blog post.

This was her question,

"My husband and I are thinking about our future family...and I was wondering...what do you think of the big family??? And homeschooling for that matter?"

I absolutely LOVE getting this type of question!

I guess it's because I'm opinionated about this one. :)

Well, I love big families, and God does too. :)

Psalm 127:3

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

I think being in a big family is the reason I don't like being by myself. I get lonely so fast, and I start missing them almost as soon as I leave the house. Each of us are so close, and being in a big family is like having lots of built in best friends. :)

I think that most people who aren't used to big families think that the more children you have, the less attention each child gets, but I have to say, that is definitely not true.

Jessie, my youngest sister who is 19 months, is so loved, and a bit spoiled. ;)

She is constantly being held, or played with by one of her 7 big sibilings.

Another thing that I absolutely love about all my siblings is that they're helping  train me to be a momma one day.

I can probably change a diaper in 6.5 seconds. Although I bet Kimmi, my 12-year-old sister, could do it in 2 seconds flat!! hehee Really though, she's amazing and being a great blessing to our mom.

It has also given me such a love for children.
I don't really know if that's from having lots of brothers and sisters, or just built in though. :)

I heart big families!!

As for homeschooling, It's great, and I love it!

I think one of the best things about homeschooling is just how protected I've been.

I'm still very protected, and I am truly thankful to my parents for that!

One huge protection that is given from homeschooling is that  your family is your best friend.

When you're with a peer for at least 8 hours of the day, that person becomes more like family, and then when you start creating a friend based family, that seems to pull your heart away from your real family that God has given.

Another good thing about homeschooling is that it seems to be a real character builder.

No one knows you better than your family, and no one will be as honest with you as your family, so that can be hard and easy to deal with all day long.
Being with my family so much, I know what types of things I need to work on most because let me tell ya, Kimmi isn't afraid of pointing out my flaws. (but look, I think I just pointed out one of hers.) hehee

I could keep the list going, but this blog post is already so long. hehee :)

But I would definitely tell you that I love being homeschooled in a big family.

I'm so thankful God gave me the family I have, and I feel so blessed!!

I had fun answering your question!!

Ok, so, what about you guys? Do any of my blogger buddies have any opinions about big families or homeschooling?

He Delights in Me!!

Oh, how I miss the blogging world! ;D

I've been so busy, but I'm going to start blogging more often!

I just have more to say on a Saturday because I have less on my mind.

Last night I totally lost track of time, and it was about 2:45am. before I stopped studying for Psychology.

Anyway, after I got in bed I was just laying there, and I was tired, but I just needed some bible reading! :)

I opened up to this,

Psalm 18:19 He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Reading that just really made me feel special to think that God delights in me!

That's amazing!

Thinking about that  makes me want to glorify Him more!

 It makes me want to spread His greatness to the people I'm around who don't have Him in their lives because God is the ultimate joy!

I've had to hear from  so many rebellious hearts in both my PSY class, and especially my English class.

I have let it be known that I'm a Christian. Both classes know I'm a P.K. (preachers kid) and just today  my teacher asked me what my school day looks like because she knows I'm home schooled. I told her that the first thing I do every day is scripture reading.

 I don't regret telling her that, but I think it annoyed her  because she stopped making eye contact, and totally stopped listening to me... I mean, she asked... hehee

I know for a fact that neither of my teachers are Christian. For example, today my teacher asked the class what they thought was  a good way to relax, and this guy said "prayer" and she said "naaah, how about meditation."

She also believes that palmists are "on to something" 

Well, in my English class this girl started slamming Christians.

We were talking about things that annoy us, the girl, who I have never heard speak out in class, and so this surprized me, said

 "You know what REALLY bugs me?!? CHRISTIANS!! I mean, they are SO hypocritical!

They think they are soooo spiritual, but they're just as bad as us! They gossip, curse, dress the way they say is bad to dress, and they think they are all perfect, and that's just rude!"

I was stunned! Almost funny... ok, it was funny! But still, I was shocked!

Then the teacher went on with her talking bad about Christians.

 I didn't know what to say!

 I had just been thinking that morning about how I wanted to glorify God, and I was stumped!

I mean, in a small way they're right.

We christians aren't perfect.

We sin, but we know we need Jesus to cover our sins.

Not only would I be a sinner without God. I'd be a joy-less hopeless sinner.

That's really sad, and only gives me compassion for her!

I still wanted to say something, but... what about my grades! haha Just kidding!

The truth is, I didn't know what to say.

It wasn't that I was afraid, I just didn't think it was good timing.

 What do you think I should say in situations like that?

Should I maybe just be quiet and pray for them?

I'm really looking forward to this semester! I can't wait to see how God uses me. He might just be using this time to draw me closer to Him. Either way, its just exciting!

cRaFt Time

  While Jessie took a nap, poor Kimmi was in bed with a tummy bug, and sweet little Kamryn stayed in Kimmi's room to keep her company and watched a movie with her. That left two Brown girls.

Nona, and I, took on the challenge of a craft.

Nona got a purse kit in her Christmas stocking, and I "helped" her do it.

She actually did do some of it with me.

I think she'll end up being a crafty girl after all!

We had a lot of fun spending craft time together!

Nona is so sweet hearted, and I'm so glad I'm privileged enough to be her big sis!

God gave me a very special job of being an influence on my baby sister.

I love my job!!

I don't have a picture of her with the finished project yet. It was so funny because I was looking over pictures and noticed that she had started makeing a crosseyed look in the last few pictures. She's so funny, but now I'm with out pictures! haha

Hope everyone had a good day!!

Proverbs 31:13

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

• Ten Things I Love Tuesdays •

 

Here they are!

All ten toes of the baby who I love very, very much.

Psalm 139:14
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

•Fixat'n My Eyes On God•

Most every night, or at least my dad tries to do it most every night, we have family worship. Last night's bible passage was especially helpful in my everyday life. I love it when I hear those verses that apply so well. I guess all scripture is kinda like that, but there are always those verses that come at the perfect time. My dad was reading Psalm 28, and it was a prayer from David. My dad was explaining it to all of us and he was saying if we fixate our hearts on daily life and not on God, then we will always be going from happy to sad, happy to sad. If we focus on God, and all that we have because of God, then why should we really ever have a reason to be unhappy? Focusing on God makes us stable. When my dad was reading it to us, I was thinking, "Gosh, life would be so much easier if I were unwavering!" I'm not a particularly unhappy person ,but as we all do... I think, we get in those moods or have moments. If I'm ever in one of those moods it's usually because somethings not going my way, and I'm not focusing on God. I'm focusing on something going on around me instead. There's probably something that I want to happen or something I wish didn't happy, and it's not happening my way.

This morning in my quiet time one of my prayers was that I would fixate my eyes on God and not what's going on around me. I was put to the test today. I know most of you have met my precious little 7 year-old sister Kamryn, who at the moment has a bunch of bubble wrap and is popping it right here beside me and it  seems particularly loud. Little miss Kamryn isn't always very easy to deal with and this morning, at about 8:00am., I decided to go for a longer-ish run, and Kamryn, "REALLY REALLY wanted to come!" so I let her. I wanted her to come too... so I thought! ;D  I could tell, from the beginning, that the 3 miles that were ahead of me were going to  seem a little longer than just 3 miles. HAHA! The entire time Kamryn was yelling at me to run faster so we could get to the park, and she was laughing at me because my face was red from being hot. She was also trying to throw her sweater on me, and remember I was HOT, while I was running. She has a sweater because she has a basket on her bike and she brought it "just in case" it got cold, but between you and me... I think she brought it because she wanted to fill her empty basket. haha! Well, anyway it was a very long 3 miles. I was thinking the entire time about that bible verse and how I just need to stay happy, but wishing God could have made this... a litlllllllle easier. hehehe. If I had indulged in focusing on "daily life" I probably would have shoved her into her little basket, along with her un-needed sweater and on into the woods. Instead I used it as a somewhat easy opportunity to be a blessing to her and to practice fixating on God and correcting her sweetly. Anyway, I got through the run just fine... but for future reference, I'll only bring Kamryn if it's a little shorter run, and if I run 3 miles again I'll eat more that just a yogurt for breafeast.

Well, Hope everyone is having a blessed day so far!

Karis

Proverbs 3: 5-8

  Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

   and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways  acknowledge him,

   and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

   fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh

   and refreshment to your bones.