Time and Attention

I am back on the theme of the garden today. I was teaching the boys today about how important writing was. To prove my point I took them to this blog page and showed them how my written words are being read all over the world. Then I got motivated to get back to it. If I can be a help to anyone I want to, but the thing is the help comes from the Lord as I can't put anything on this blog that He hasn't already worked in my life about.

Obviously I have been very busy as I haven't posted in some time, and anyone that has ever had a vegetable garden can understand why I have been so busy. We are in summer time and the garden has been one of the top things on our list. It keeps us plenty busy and if we don't stay on top of it then things can get out of control pretty fast. This reminds me of how things can get out of control in our children's lives pretty fast if we don't stay on top of our duties with them. The bible says

 Proverbs 29:15  "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

The garden is time consuming. You have the planting, then the weeding, watering, replanting what the birds and bugs have eaten, weeding again, watering again. It never stops. That is unless you leave it to its self. Some people have a tendancy to do that, and boy what a mess. They sure don't get much fruit in the end, and what they do get will be mared by the bugs. The fruit will be stunted  from the weeds. It would have just been a waste of money on seeds and plants. A lot of people don't realize how much work goes into a garden. They just have the reward of having the fruit in mind. Before they spend the money on starting a garden they should work out if they really are going to sacrifice their time for the benifits that could lie ahead of them.

May I say that the same is true for children. People have the idea in their mind of having a baby. Yes, a sweet little baby. But, they don't consider all the work that goes into making that baby into a man or woman that is pleasing to God. They have these children and then get busy in the other things in life that interest themselves. leaving their children to fend for themselves. In the end they turn out a mess. Yes, an ugly mess that brings their mother to shame. Even christian women get caught up in this. Maybe they have ministries that keeps them busy and not available to work in the garden of the heart of their child. Maybe it is self desires. What ever it may be, before you consider having a child why don't you consider all the work that comes with that child and if you are not willing to give up your self desires and work in the garden of their heart, please for the child's sake don't have any.

When you have a garden it doesn't end when the fruit starts coming in. What are you going to do with all this food. Cucmbers, tomatoes, corn, and green beans. You could just eat it, but what are you going to do with what is left? Would you let it go to waste? It was a lot of work to get that garden to the point of giving you fruit. Now you need to preserve it. maybe you will put it up in the freezer, or can it. What ever the case there is still more work to be done.

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Our children are the same. Sometimes we get weary in well doing. We have taken the time to get the plant to mutrity. We have put in a lot of work and things are looking good, but we are not finished yet. Don't stop now. Preserve their heart. The way to preserve the heart of a child is to lead them to Jesus Christ. Tell them of His love. Show them how they can have a home in heaven by putting their trust in Him alone.

Psalms 16:1   "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."

Wouldn't it be such a waste to put so much work into the heart of a child to not lead them to the Saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. To try to make a child good for goodness sakes is a waste. As being simply good cannot give them a home in heaven. They must have been preserved by the blood of Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7  ... the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Back to the work!

We are back from our visit to see our family, friends and churches. We had a great trip. It was so good to see everyone.

While it was great to be there it is also good to be back and to get back into a routine. I will and already do miss everyone, but the Lord is so good to keep us so busy that we don't have time to mull over it. As well as, the fact that if I did mull over it, it would be wrong. As it would be selfish. I know that I am here to bring glory to God and while I know that I could do a better job than I am, I can't help to think at how the Lord works it out that I do bring Him glory. Such as keeping me busy here. It has been so good to see the boys back at work. School is back in and will be going through the summer for us. Nathan is enjoying learning to read. Brandon is working on his next woodworking project. We have had three kids born and Brandon did a great job of assisting in that as I was at the store when they decided to come. One was breech. While Dad ran to see what to do, Brandon was doing what needed to be done. By the time Phillip came back the kid was born. Dustin has been trying to decide what to do with the billy kid that was born to him, as we don't keep them here. All of us have been busy with the garden.

Which brings me to say I have many ideas coming back on with the garden theme of our children. I plan to get back to posting some more about them as time permits. Right now I want to share something with you that I read this morning.


You know many people say that they homeschool the Charlot Mason method. I have been reading her books and am learning that those that say they do may not really. Most focus on the living books and living art, but I have come to learn that her method focuses more on character and discipline. Here is an excerpt out of her Volume 4 chapter 4. If we take heed to this then we all would be better off, as sin starts in the imagination. To keep ones imagination in check is very wise.

Imagination must not make Pictures of Self.––Imagination, minister as it should be to the joy and breadth of life, has, alas! its two besetting Dæmons––Self and Sin. There is no one who does not imagine. You are a Princess with golden hair and blue eyes and a long, long train to your silken robe, and the Prince comes, and after great feats of valour which make the world wonder, he kneels before you and asks you to be his bride:––
           "Little Ellie in her smile
           Chooses––'I will have a lover,
           Riding on a steed of steeds:
           He shall love me without guile,
           And to him I will discover
           The swan's nest among the reeds.'
Or you are Prince Valorous himself, and you subdue the Paynim and conquer many lands, and the King places you at his right hand in war and at the feast. These are pretty dreams, and there is not much harm in them, except that, while one dreams, one forgets to do, and life is made up altogether of doing and not at all of dreaming. It is very nice to dream,


when people have been finding fault with us, that we shall do wonderful and beautiful things––nurse the sick and build palaces for the poor and make gardens of delight for the mother or father who finds fault with us––and to think how everybody will admire us for all our beauty and goodness and cleverness especially those people who have laughed at us; to think, too, how kind we shall be to them and what presents we shall make them, and how sorry they will be that they have not always been polite and kind!
I do not think it is lawful to set Imagination to build us pleasure-houses in this way. In the first place, as I said before, while we are dreaming we are letting all our chances of doing slip by us. In the next place, when we have dreamed ourselves into being some high and mighty personage, ever so good and great, we are very easily affronted; and Imagination leaves off his building tasks to throw stones at our friends. Imagination tells us that 'Mother' does not understand us, does not know half what great persons we are; that 'Father' is not kind, that Lucy or Edward is more noticed than we are, that lessons are hateful, that going for a walk is a bother, that seeing people is a nuisance, that any book but a storybook is dull; and, by degrees, other people find us just what we, in our imagination, have pictured them.
Our best friends have to own that we are dull and disagreeable, peevish and resentful; they say there is no pleasing us, they complain that there is no getting us to join in games or to take any interest in plans. They say we do not try to be pleasant with, or helpful to, anybody. The little ones say we are cross, and do not woo us to play with them, and the big ones think us grumpy

and let us alone. It is very provoking, because we know that all the time we have beautiful thoughts about what we shall do for every one of them, and the least they can do is to be kind meantime!
How to Exorcise the Dæmon.––But the others are right, and we are wrong. Just ask yourself, who is the chief person in all the pretty pictures you make, in all the plans you form? If you have to confess that you, yourself, are, why, Imagination has just been making pleasure-houses for Self instead of collecting pictures of the great rich world. See about it, in the future, and set this glorious servant to work in his rightful calling. Then you will be a delight to your friends, because you will have much to tell, and will be interested about many things. You will not trouble them or yourself with that peevish, exacting, grudging Self, a tyrant in any home. In fact, you will find so much that is delightful to think about that you will hardly have a moment in which to think about yourself. Turn Self out the moment he intrudes upon any picture of the Imagination. A good plan is to take your Self by the shoulders, look him full in the face and laugh at him for a ridiculous fellow. This is what is called having 'the saving grace of humour,' and people who have it do not make themselves absurd by putting on airs and graces. It is nearly, though not quite, as good when your home people laugh at you and tease you. Learn from their laughing and bear their teasing with good humour.

The goodness of goats milk

Brandon and Dustin entered this presentation into a competition Called the Cream of the Crop Competition. They made it to the finalist which took them to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. To our Surprise they won first place. Their prize was $500 gift certificate each.  This was a great opportunity for the boys. They had to stand with their presentation and answer questions about it to others that came for a look. They were drilled on several occasions. They learned so much through this and we are thankful that the Lord provides such opportunities.

The goodness of goats milk dustin and brandon gaddes

View more presentations from LandLearn NSW.

I haven't forgotten about our gardens that we are working on, so please stay tuned. It has been a bit cold and so I haven't been in the garden as much, but the other day I got out into the herb garden to do some work and some things have come to mind. I am working on that and should have it on here soon.

Shiloh's Puppies

Shiloh had five healthy puppies last night. 3 males and 2 females. It looks as if three of them are already spoken for.

Shiloh Day before having Puppies

Some couldn't stay wake for it all.

Sam can't wait to play with his new play mates

Cultivating

A garden needs to be cultivated to look nice and it will also help it to give more fruit. I was sent this list of manners by an elder friend of mine. I think it is very fitting for use in our gardens. An idea is to read over them now and try to work on them by gently reminding the children as times come up. I also like the thought of picking one out to work especially hard on each week and then adding new ones in a little at a time along the way.


Manners are something we really are lacking in this age of time. They seem to be something of the past. Why don't we try to bring them back. It makes a huge difference on if you can talk to someone about the Lord. When my children use good manners while we are out it opens the door for me to tell others about Jesus. The boys have learned this and it gives them a since of being responsible for others souls by the way they act. The bible does say...

Proverbs 20:11  "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

Manners

1.  Courteous Words
     •  Please
     •  Thank you
     •  You’re Welcome
     •  Excuse Me
     •  Nice to Meet You
     •  May I?
     •  I’m Sorry.  Please Forgive Me.

        Yes Mr. / Mrs./Ms. (their name) instead of Yes and No to an adult

2.  Table Manners

 •  Come to the table promptly when called, with clean hands and face.

 •  Put your napkin on your lap.

 •  Wait to start eating until after the prayer is said and the hostess (Mom) begins eating.

 •  Stay seated, and sit up straight without leaning on the table.

 •  Chew with your mouth closed, and don’t talk with food in your mouth.

 •  Don’t make negative comments about the food, but do thank whoever prepared the meal.

 •  Say, “Please pass the ____,” instead of reaching.

 •  Visit with everyone at the table.

 •  Don’t make rude noises, like burping or slurping; say, “Excuse me,” if the noise was accidental.

 •  Ask to be excused before leaving the table, and then offer to help clear the dishes.

3.  Kindness and Respect for Others

 •  Remember “Politeness is to do and say the kindest thing in the kindest way.”

 •  Be kind to all – family first – and especially look out for those younger or weaker than yourself.

 •  Take turns; don’t take the best and biggest of anything for yourself.

 •  If you bump into someone or walk in front of them, say, “Excuse me, please.”

4.  Conversations

 •  Don’t interrupt a conversation, or someone who is speaking to you.

 •  Look at the person who is speaking to you, or to whom you are speaking.

 •  Listen carefully and show interest by asking questions and making comments.

 •  When you speak, do so clearly and loudly enough (don’t mumble).

5.  Meeting and Greeting

 •  When you meet people, look directly at them, smile, and say, “Hello.”

 •  Learn how to shake hands and greet a person by name.

6.  Thank-you Notes

 •  For gifts, meals, and parties, send a written thank-you note.

7.  Telephone Manners

Consideration for safety as well as manners will affect your rules for the use of the telephone.

 •  Don’t allow a child to answer your telephone until he has learned and practiced (in role-playing) all your telephone rules.

 •  Home School Legal Defense Association recommends that you do not allow your children to answer the telephone during school hours.

 •  Teach your child not to give out any personal information to callers.

 •  Teach your child how to call 911 and give your address only in a real emergency.

 •  Turn down background noise before answering the phone.

 •  Speak clearly and identify yourself if the caller is someone you know.

 •  Ask, “Who’s calling, please?” if the caller does not identify himself.

 •  Say only, “She is not available at the moment” (not specifically where she is and what she is doing).

 •  When taking a message, include who it is for, who it is from, and a phone number (keep pens and paper by the phone).

 •  Say, “One moment, please,” and go get the person wanted (don't yell).

 These are not all the manners there is to learn, but it is a good start. If you are interested in teaching more manners to your children I recommend the book  George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation . I try to read it to the children once a year. It is very small and only has 30 pages.

 

Sunshine

Psalms 113:9  "He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."

Plants definitely need sunshine to grow properly. We have talked about things we need to plant, weeds that need to be pulled and how a garden needs to be watered. We need to remember that pulling weeds is good but with out sunshine a garden will not bare fruit. Sometimes we are in such a worry to train perfect children that we don’t have a perfect balance. Always having “thou shalt not” and never having smiles of acceptance is detrimental to anyone. You should be your child’s sunshine. I have a little boy that I call “my sunshine.” Every time I see his face, even from the time he was a baby, it has shone. It is almost always beaming with a smile. He has such a sweet countenance.

Some people are worried that disciplining a child will break the spirit of the child. This is not true. If you are disciplining a child properly then you will be breaking the self will of a child. If you are a grouch and yelling at your children then you are breaking the spirit of the child, which is something you don’t want to do.

Proverbs 15:13 "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

Training a child properly will make a happy child. Have you ever seen a child throwing a tantrum? I have and thought "I wish that mother would discipline that child so that he can be happy." It is a relief to a child. They then understand what is expected of them. My same child that I was telling you about being a sunbeam can put a smile on his face in some of the hardest times. It automatically changes his spirit. Next thing you know he will be laughing and the rest of us with him. Be cause….

Smiles are contagious 

After a time of discipline is a good time to encourage your child that they can do better with a gentle smile of I love you. It is good to help a child get over being upset after being disciplined.

Sometimes it is not easy to be so joyful, but if you find that you are not smiling often, then you may have become unthankful and discontent and these are sins that you will need to get out of your life. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes you maybe sick. Don't forget about those around you even in these times. I know that if you help them with a smile, they will help you to smile during those hard times. Remember “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Proverbs 17:22  "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

You need to plant a smile on your face and let it be there most of the time, so that you can then plant one on their face. Enjoy your children that God has blessed you with. Be a mother that is fun. Play with your children. Dance with your children. Sing to your children. Praise the Lord with your children. Giggle together. Be joyful together. It  is not only good for the soul but also good for your health.

Watering

 Gardens need plants to be a garden; we also have to keep those weeds out, but let us not forget that plants will never grow without water.

Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

 The Word of God is likened to water in this passage. Reading Bible stories to your children right out of the Bible is great. They love it. Why not read to them about Noah straight out of the Bible. Let them picture what they think Noah looks like. How about Jonah and the big fish? Let them hear how Jesus spit in the dirt and rubbed it in the eyes of a blind man and it healed him, or of how he stuck his fingers in the ears of a deaf man and spit on the ground and the deaf was made to hear. Don’t you think they would enjoy it? Give them a love for the word of God by showing them how exciting the stories are in the Bible. Read it to them daily.

 One of the best rewards we give our children is a Bible. They are not allowed to carry a Bible when they are young. I want them to know that the Bible is not just another book, but an important special book. When they start learning how to read out of a lesson book I then let them carry a small New Testament. As an incentive to finish the book they are rewarded with a Bible of their own. Oh what a happy day when they get to go and pick out their own Bible. We then start in Genesis and let them read the word of God themselves. We take our time at it. They may only read one verse at a time. We slowly work up to reading more as they can handle it. I never want it to be a burden. It is such a blessing to see the day they have read the Bible completely through. It is an accomplishment that most adults can’t say they have done. They are getting something more out of it than anything I can do. They are learning how to read out of the Bible. They are getting washed by the words of God. They are getting a since of accomplishment as they read the word of God.

 Having children memorize the word of God is a good thing as well. It is not only watering the garden but also planting seeds as it waters. There are some easy verses for children to learn. You could half some of the bigger ones. If your child is older, then they could say the whole verse, or you could take two weeks to learn it instead of one. Learning a verse is quite easy. At first I read the verse to the child. Then I have them repeat it after me a little at a time. We then practice the verse once every day. This could be at the same time that you read a Bible story to them or they read to you. By the end of the week the verse is memorized. You can start the practice of learning verses at young ages such as 2 years of age. I have had a child learn the books of the Bible at that age thinking all the while he was playing.

Here are a couple you could start out with.

• Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
• Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
• Matthew 5:16a Let your light so shine before men, …
• Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

 There are so many good ones. You can pick them according to something that your child may be learning at the time or needs to learn such as "Children obey your parents in the Lord".

 Memorizing verses and reading the Bible is not only watering the soul of your child but is also good for them. It is an excellent speech therapy time as you help them to pronounce the words. It is good exercise for their brain.