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Large Family Life

Just How Patient is Our Love?

By Monday May 20, 2013

Many of us are familiar with the popular verses written about love in 1 Corinthians 13. We read that,

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends…

These verses are loaded with meaning, so much so that  I’m stuck on the first three words, “Love is patient.” In the past, I thought about being patient for a period of time – a day, a week, or maybe a month? But the Lord showed me something last winter that I have been thinking about ever since.

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Sunday Gratitude

By Sunday May 19, 2013

2009

I love the quiet of my house this Sunday morning. Soon we’ll be rushing about getting everyone out the door to church, but for the next few minutes, it’s me, coffee, my Bible, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – or his biography, at least. I’m determined to finish reading last month’s book group pick before I move on to the next one. With over 500 pages, every fifteen minutes counts.

We had a hard week, yet there were so many dramatic moments of grace, that as I look back I can see how the Lord carried us every single day.

giving thanks #1111 – 1120

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THINK

By Friday May 17, 2013

I was reminded of this great acronym earlier this week when I saw it hanging on a friend’s refrigerator.

THINK

T: Is it truthful?
H: Is it helpful?
I: Is it inspiring?
N: Is it necessary?
K: Is it kind?

Have you used this with your children?  I need to work on this with my kids this summer.

Any other brilliant acronyms you can share with us?

Happy Friday,

Lisa

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Mother’s Day for the Brokenhearted

By Saturday May 11, 2013

I’ve given birth eight times.  Call me crazy, but I birthed my babies naturally, and half of them at home. Each labor brought me to a moment of not knowing if I could make it through. It was unbelievably hard and sometimes I was scared. But every single time I went into labor, I set my mind on the purpose of the contractions – my baby. I focused on the joy that would come when that little one was in my arms.

These years are like that. I’m laboring for my children who came to me from hard places. There are days when I don’t think I’ll make it through, when the pain is too great and I’m scared. I cry out for an emotional epidural.

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Home: Moving Forward

By Friday May 10, 2013

Progress on our remodel is slow-going, but we’re moving steadily forward with building a bedroom for Dimples. The plan is to empty our garage in order to remodel it into two small bedrooms and a tiny bit of indoor storage. Dimples has to have her own room with a small bathroom when she comes home, just like she has at her school. The second bedroom will likely be for Bee, who desperately wants her own room.

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Sunday Visit: My Substitute Teacher

By Sunday April 14, 2013

A few weeks ago our friend, Emily, came to stay with the kids while we went on our trip to visit Dimples. The trip was canceled due the unfortunate discovery of a DVT in my leg, but thankfully Emily stayed and cheered us up with her presence. We had a marathon appointment with the hematologist that week and Emily ran the household, including homeschooling the youngest three.

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Home: Barn Storage

By Thursday March 14, 2013

It’s been a bit of a rough morning at our house – lots of big feelings and not much willing communication. Fortunately I have time on my side and I’m pretty good at waiting. I am the mom. I am wise. I am strong. I am kind. And I am going to love my child no matter what. By the grace of God, love is winning in my heart and home today.

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Tuesday Topic: How Do You Keep From Drowning in the Needs?

By Tuesday March 12, 2013

Heather wrote to me with a great question that I hope many of you will answer.

I am a pastor’s wife and the homeschooling mother of two boys. The youngest was adopted from Ethiopia and has turned out to have a variety of special needs. His needs were all a very big surprise once we got him home, but God has used our sweet boy to open our eyes in so many ways. Now we are pursuing the adoption of a little guy with Down’s Syndrome from South Korea.

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Home: A Realistic Look at Finances

By Monday March 4, 2013

Russ had a great meeting with the contractor Saturday morning. They looked at our barn and the storage space Russ is planning to create. They decided more structural support is necessary, which means more planning is needed before we can jump in.

Saturday night we had a long dinner with our friends Rick and Beth.

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Home: Debt, Faith, Blessing

By Saturday March 2, 2013

I love the discussion that happened here yesterday –  Square Footage and Debt.  Thank you for all of the wonderful comments. This is so present in my mind, that I want to toss a few more thoughts out to you.

I want to be clear that while living without debt is a fine goal, it is not just an idealistic plan for us. The key point, that some of you mentioned, is that we need to be very clear that we can handle the payments for any debt we take on.  We  don’t want to be foolish and risk losing our home all together, and I don’t want the weight of that stress to suck the joy out of our lives.

It’s such a tricky balance, isn’t it?

Here are some of the factors we are weighing out:

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