Thursday, February 26, 2009

Our Handmade Valentine's Boxes

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Well better late than never. I wasn't able to upload these the last few weeks because my card reader somehow became disconnected on my computer. I can't even imagine how that could happen with 4 children all vying for a turn on the computer :) Even so, we had a grand time the Sunday before Valentine's. Jim even got in on the action and Carter and he went to town designing the greatest Chief's stadium Valentine box I have ever seen. Eli stuck with something that is close to his heart...The Cars movie and thus his box...Race Cars with love. Hope used her glitter, paint, hearts, and princesses to decorate her special box. Last but not least Emma went to town designing her own Valentine house for dogs. It was a fun day and a great way to play together creatively for our family. I love messes and glitter, sparkle, scissors, and paint are right up my alley. The kids even did fairly well helping to clean up.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Everything is so amazing, and nobody is happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

I tired to embed this video but there was no code. Please click on the title and it will take you to watch this video. It is really good take on humanity with a dose of humor for 2009.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Dr. Seuss Meets the CPSIA

This post was sent to me today. My friend Nicole and I have been befuddled by a little known law that went into effect February 10th. It had originally been designed to protect all children under the age of 12 from poisonous plastics and lead. Though the intent was great, somewhere down the line of goverment things went haywire which I am sure is a HUGE shock to many. :) Anyways, on with the fun...this post is great. Please check out their websites for more information on CPSIA and other great homeschooling material.

"Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote children's stories that were also often social commentary. Here is a great activity for creative students who love the style of Dr. Seuss. Pick a current event or controversy in the news today (ie: illegal aliens, health care, etc.) and write an imaginary story in classic Seuss style!


I have chosen to write a story myself that demonstrates my strong feelings about a law I do not agree with -- the CPSIA." You can read more about that law at the following links:

Children's Books to Be Banned
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
Guidance from the CPSC

The following story was written by me, Heather Idoni, of
The Homeschooler's Notebook and BelovedBooks.com, with help from my wonderful friend, Jodi Whisler, of HomeGrownHearts.com. It was really fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it! (P.S. If you have feedback or a suggestion for a title, please write to me at feedback@easyfunschool.com.

[slightly revised 2/21/2009] Working title: "The Trouble with String"]

In the town of Beddubble, far out on the Moor,
there lived a small tot, who was not more than four.

Little Annabelle Ruth (her close friends would recall)
had swallowed the string from a dilly-dunk ball.

And then in the Spring of two thousand ought one,
she died of the thing that the string must have done.

They were sure of this fact, though the details were thin --

"Something HAS to be done, we have GOT to begin!"

Those dilly-dunk balls that tots spin on a string
are quite dangerous toys -- What a horrible thing!

We'll form a committee to draft legislation --
The Dilly-Dunk String Tot Protection Foundation.

There is no time to waste, get the paper and ink --
This string must be stopped, there is no time to THINK!

Every dilly-dunk ball in the town of Beddubble
(no matter the cost and no matter the trouble) --

must be taken by dumpers to tops of high hills
and dumped there -- forever to rot in the 'fills.

The law with the rules that they hurriedly drafted,
so brilliantly worded and carefully crafted,

Would certainly solve this great problem they had --
Who would complain? How could it be bad?

"Out with the bathwater, baby and all"
was the rallying cry from the town's city hall

"Every dilly-dunk ball shall be gathered and trashed --
and before that is done, they'll be burned up and mashed."

No matter the cost and no matter the trouble,
they must be got rid of -- right now on the double!

The Mayor and the Dilly-Dunk String Tot Protectors
made ready to send out their troops of inspectors

to check all the stores in the Bedubble Mall
to make sure not one ball was for sale in them all.

What they saw on the shelves brought great cause for alarm --
more toys with more strings that could bring greater harm!

They called for the head Dilly-Dunk Tot Protector,
who brought out his big STRING INSPECTION DETECTOR --

and he looked in their books and the shelves full of clothes --
Why this string was in EVERYTHING under his nose!

We must ban these toys, all the clothes, every book --
We can't keep all this dangerous gobbledygook!

For in memory of little tot Annabelle Ruth,
we must keep our promise, we must tell the truth.

So because of a tot (who supposedly died)
from a string on a thing that got tangled inside,

the girls and the boys of a town called Beddubble
were in big piles of mess and a big heap of trouble.

For how would they learn now? And what would they wear?
Without books to read and with no clothes to spare?

They had no intentions of swallowing strings --
and tangling them up -- and dying of things!

Books were to read; clothes to wear, toys to play.
This law must be STOPPED -- it's plain silly, okay?

But the law was the law -- and what more could be done?

Well --

They put in a call to the mayor's only son.

Little Jimmy was all alone in his room playing --
when a boy rang him up and -- now, WHAT was he saying?

"What a strange silly law!" Jimmy thought to himself,
and he took down his favorite book off the shelf --

And he read and he thunk and he thunk and he read
'til his thinker was sore and his brain hurt his head.

What could HE do -- he was just the mayor's son --
Just one voice, just one person -- what more could be done?

Then he got an idea... a strange, happy idea --
That boy got a crazy, amazing idea!

He packed up a sack with some snacks and a peach
and headed out south toward this shack on the beach

Where he'd heard a girl lived by herself all alone,
since she'd left years ago from her childhood home

After causing a stir with some string from a ball --
Why that girl wasn't dead as they said -- not at all!

He wrote down her story and headed back north
and gathered the Council in town and so forth --

With his notes in his hand and a smile on his face,
he told the town council, "I'll now state my case."

(And his dad, the Lord Mayor sat patiently listening
til the sweat on his face was all silvery and glistening)

"Now you know, since these men did not research their facts
before they enacted their laws and their acts,

a strange, silly ruling has come into play
and our fine and fair citizens now rue the day

that they ever elected this great legislature
who think up strange laws that have gone against nature.

For Miss Annabelle Ruth (she never did marry)
Had a time with that string (oh, yes, it was scary)

But swallow it she never did, not at all --
that string from the 'dangerous' dilly-dunk ball.

In fact, that small youth, little Annabelle Ruth
had only just tangled it up 'round her tooth!

And that testimony, my friends, is the proof
That the law that you made is not based on the truth."

The men all just stared, their lips trembling with shame --
they glanced 'round the room seeking someone to blame

But the shame came in waves on the men in their places,
whose hats from their heads were now hiding red faces.

Then the mayor spoke up proudly, "My son you've done well...
You've made our stupidity clear as a bell.

This law must be changed, be un-done, un-enacted --
It's clear that the lawmakers overreacted!

I hereby decree throughout all of Beddubble
this string ban is ceased -- there will be no more trouble.

Call all of your friends to a huge celebration --
we'll build a great fire for this bad legislation!

So each girl and each boy brought a dilly-dunk ball
and they had a great feast at the city's town hall.

And Miss Annabelle Ruth carved a roast Beezle duck --
and she kissed all their cheeks and she wished them good luck.

-----

Copyright 2009 Heather Idoni and Jodi Whisler - All Rights Reserved - EasyFunSchool.com
Link to this page: The CPSIA Meets Dr. Seuss

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Life in a Fallen World

Jim and I faced another bitter disappointment yesterday. The wounds from the world can sting and smart. Why is it that I so expect the very best from people? I expect people to be inherently good, moral, honest and to do the right thing. I should know from my own heart that I am not inherently any of those qualities. I am a selfish sinner saved only by grace through the blood of Christ. The following is an encouraging quote that touched my heart this morning while I was reading.

We often expect too much but "Life is not like that. Christ calls us to be willing servants. He commands us to accept our humanness and the thorns which this world presses into our flesh... We are called to accept the imperfections life casts upon us and look to Him for strength and wisdom. We must accept that we cannot arrange the world as we would like, and that at times logic will not supply the proper course, nor will our deepest desires be entirely met. This is life in a fallen world, where wars come and go, where nations rage and people cry in torment. We must be strong, not in ourselves, but in Him. And trust that His love and His wisdom and His light will see us through."

from The Beloved Land by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

Friday, February 20, 2009

The Mom Song

Many of you have seen this. It really sums up my week :) I think I have said most of this a million times this week! Enjoy!

The Mom Song (Video and Lyrics)In this video, Anita Renfro, Christian comedian, musician, author, and speaker, sings her own lyrics to the tune of the William Tell Overture.

Here are the lyrics:

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon

So you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don’t play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don’t forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed
Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn?
Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don’t sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up

Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me
Makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ’til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now
I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an egg A, Get the door
Don’t get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get in here I’ll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of reality
I don’t care who started it
You’re grounded until your 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straight when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget
I love you
**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because
Because
Because
Because
I said so
I said so
I said so
I said so
I’m the Mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
Ta-da

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Blessings

"Part of learning to count my blessings is accepting that many of them I would not have chosen if it had been left to me. I must first give up any attempt to compare what was with what might have been. By accepting God as my Shepherd, I must also accept the path He sets me upon--and the blessings from whatever circumstances of life."

A quote from "The Sacred Shore" by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Giving the State a Grasp on Your Kids

Senator Barbara Boxer is getting ready to introduce the "Rights of the Child" a bill that has been ratified by the United Nations. If this becomes the law of the land, this bill has dangerous and far reaching consequences for our children. Please visit www.parentalrights.org to see what you can do to help support an amendment for parental rights. The only solution to the attack on the child-parent relationship is the Parental Rights Amendment -- securing the rights of parents to raise their children. This is an excerpt from the parental rights website today.


Giving the State a Grasp on Your Kids

Part II of an in-depth look at Article 18 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

When Kevin and Peggy Lewis volunteered their child for special education services, they never dreamed they would need a lawyer if they wanted to change their minds.

After their son developed several learning issues, including an inability to focus in class and difficulty processing and understanding oral and written communication, the Lewis's turned to the Cohasset Middle School in Massachusetts for help.1 But after a year in the school's special education program, their son was not improving academically, and felt harassed by school officials who were closely monitoring and reporting on his behavior - everything from chewing gum in class to forgetting his pencil.2

Initially, the Lewis's requested that the school pay for private tutoring, but as their relationship with the administration continued to decline, the exasperated parents finally decided to withdraw their son from the school's program and to pay for private tutoring out of their own pockets.3

Apparently, that option wasn't good enough for the school.
In December 2007, Cohasset hauled Kevin and Peggy into court, claiming that the parents were interfering with their son's "constitutional right to a free and appropriate education."4

After a day-and-a-half of argument, the judge sided with the school in an unwritten opinion.5

"This is truly devastating to all parents who have children on an IEP," Peggy said, referring to the individual education plans for special education students. "What it means in fact when you sign an IEP for your child, you sign away your parental rights. . . . Now Cohasset has their grasp on my kid."6

"Help" for Parents

At first glance, it seems odd that a school would take parents to court to compel them to accept state services. After all, as observers of the case commented, schools usually objects when parents demand more aid for their children, not when the parents try to withdraw their child from the program.7

But according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ,once parents have asked the state for assistance in raising their children, the state has both the responsibility and the authority to see the job through - even if the parents no longer support the state's solution.

In addition to imposing legally-enforceable "responsibilities" on parents, Article 18 of the Convention also requires states to "render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities," and to establish "institutions, facilities and services for the care of children."8

At first glance, the offer of "assistance" to parents may appear harmless, and even generous, but appearances are often deceiving. While the government may claim to offer services to parents on a purely "voluntary" basis, parents soon discover that government "assistance" isn't always free.

When "voluntary" doesn't mean "voluntary"

For examples of this dangerous trend, one need look no further than the nation of Sweden, the first western nation to ratify the Convention.

In addition to mandatory sex-education, free child care for working parents, and a national ban on corporal punishment, Sweden's local municipalities are also required by law to offer parents a broad array of "voluntary" services that promote "the favourable development of children and young persons."9 Unfortunately, according to Swedish attorney and activist Ruby Harrold-Claesson, voluntary care "in no way is voluntary since the social workers threaten the parents to either give up their child voluntarily or the child will be taken into compulsory care."10

If the state determines at a later date that the "voluntary" services are not helping, the municipality has both the responsibility and the authority to physically "take a child into care and place him in a foster home, a children's home or another suitable institution."11 According to Harrold-Claesson, since the emergence of such programs, "children are being taken from their parents on a more routine basis."12

Unfortunately, these disturbing trends are not confined to Sweden. Even here in the United States, "voluntary" services for parents are often the first step toward state control of families.

Holding Children Hostage

As a young mother of three, "Katianne H." faced tremendous difficulties in making ends meet.13 Although she was never unemployed, Katianne had difficulty putting her job ahead of the needs of her young family. So when her three-month-old son Xavier developed severe allergies to milk and soy protein, her pediatrician recommended that she relieve some of the pressure placed upon her by requesting that her son be placed in "temporary out-of-home care."14 Thinking such a placement was truly "voluntary," Katianne agreed.

Within a few months, Xavier was weaned from the feeding tube to a bottle, but when Katianne sought to bring him home, the state refused.

It would take more than two-and-a-half years - and a decision from the Nebraska Supreme Court - before Katianne would win her baby boy back.15

In a unanimous ruling, the court said the child should have been returned to his mother as soon as his medical condition was resolved. Instead, state authorities drew up a detailed plan requiring the mother to maintain steady employment, attend therapy and parenting classes, pay her bills on time, keep her house clean, improve her time management, and be cooperative with social workers. When she failed to fully comply with all these obligations within fifteen months, her parental rights were terminated.16

The Court condemned the state for keeping Xavier "out of the home once the reasons for his removal had been resolved," and warned that a child should never be "held hostage to compel a parent's compliance with a case plan" when the child could safely be returned home.17

A familiar pattern


According to studies, scholars, lawyers, and advocates, voluntary placement in the United States - like "voluntary" placement in Sweden - is often the first step toward the state getting a grasp on children. Here are just a few examples from within our own borders:
A 1994 study in New Jersey found that "parents often report signing placement agreements under the threat that court action against them will be taken if they do not sign," particularly parents who have "language or other barriers making it difficult or impossible for them to read and understand the agreement they were signing."18 There are also no "clear legal standards to protect a family once it has entered the system," even if it enters voluntarily: "existing legislation grants judges and caseworkers virtually unrestricted dispositional authority."19
In 1998, Melville D. Miller, President and General Counsel of Legal Services of New Jersey, warned that when parents sign voluntary placement agreements, parents give the state "custody of their children without any decision by the court that they have abused or neglected them."20 In addition, voluntary placement often waives a family's opportunity for free legal representation in court, leaving families - particularly poor families - with "no assistance in advocating for what they need" when disputes with the state arise.21
In 1999, Dr. Frank J. Dyer, author and member of the American Board of Professional Psychology, warned that parents can be "intimidated into "voluntarily" signing placement agreements out of a fear that they will lose their children," and that in his professional counseling experience, birth parents frequently complain that "if they had known from the outset that the document that they were signing for temporary placement of their children into foster care gave the state such enormous power over them, they would have refused to sign and would have sought to resist the placement legally."22
The Child Welfare League of America, in its 2004 Family's Guide to the Child Welfare System, reassures parents that the state "do[es] not have to pursue termination of parental rights," as long as the state feels that "there is a compelling reason why terminating parental rights would not be in the best interest of the child."23 If parents and social workers disagree about the fate of a child in "voluntary placement," the CWLA simply states that "if you decide to bring your child home, and the agency believes that this would interfere with your child's safety, it has the right to ask the court to intervene. You also have the right to explain to the court why your child's safety would not be in jeopardy if he came home."24
The National Crittenton Foundation, in a web booklet published for young, expectant mothers who are currently in the foster care system, warns in large, bold print that by signing a voluntary placement agreement, "you will most likely lose all custody of your baby, even if you want to regain custody of your baby after you turn 18."25

Never Too Late

If one can learn anything from the stories of the Lewises, Katianne, and the plight of Swedish parents, it is that the government wields incredible power over parents who have "voluntarily" accepted its aid when caring for their children. These parents are often poor, struggling, and searching for the means to keep their families together, but instead of helping them, the open hand of the state can easily become a clenched fist, either bullying parents into submission or forcibly taking their children from them.

Thankfully, it is not too late to protect children and their families by protecting the fundamental right of parents to raise their children, and to reject government programs that are unneeded or unwanted. The state should only interfere with the family for the most compelling reasons - not because loving parents were misled about the true nature of "voluntary" care.

Please consider sending this message to your friends and urging them to sign the Petition to Protect Parental Rights.

This article was written for ParentalRights.org by Peter Kamakawiwoole, Jan. 29, 2009.

Funnies from Our House

This sketch makes me laugh. Laughter is medicine for the soul. Enjoy!

The latest funny quotes from the Robertson house. I am hopping around the kitchen this morning laughing that I need to exercise to take off 10 extra pounds. Emma tells me in a joking voice that I am a dork. I respond that God made me special. She said "Alright, your a special dork."!

Secondly, I am getting after the boys for not washing Hope's hair last night when I was gone with Emma. Hope says to me, "Carter did wash my hair!" I simply asked then why is it still in the same pony tail? Carter yells from the next room, "I don't know much about girls, their different.!!" I think I split a gut laughing.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sneezing



Oh the things that make me laugh...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

God's Will or My Will?

Today, I am going to take a more spiritual approach than yesterday. I often have a wrestling match throughout the day as I struggle between choosing "my will" versus "God's will." My heart of course wants to do God's will and live it out in my life. My flesh of course prefers things to be much more comfortable. In fact, as I write this I am dreaming of a way to escape to Mexico with my family and play on the beach with not a care in the world. But that isn't real life... life is messy and full of opportunities to struggle and grow. The realness of life has broken me in many areas the past few years. My heart has been shattered and my naive preconceived ideas of life have taken on new eyes. The one thing I know to be true is that my God is good all the time and All the time God is good. NO MATTER WHAT. :)

I have begun to read The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and am amazed how true his words ring today of the battle of flesh and spirit. I am also reading From Sea to Shining Sea by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. During the time of the 1600's, a great battle was taking place within men in Europe. Many were forced to choose between the conscience of the Holy Spirit and the forced worship of the church of England. Those who choose to be Separatists and Pilgrim's often paid dearly with their lives, livelihood, and families. Here is a long quote from Sea to Shining Sea. I thought it was encouraging and inspiring of the journey of life for those who are seeking Him.

"It is not natural to go God's way; we naturally prefer our own. Yet even with His infinite grace and mercy available to us, to choose God over self, the selfless way over the selfish way, is an extraordinary difficult thing to do. Which was why those who choose to go that way usually do so in the company of others so inclined and why God often calls groups of people to go His way together, that they might support one another along the path and show the way to others.

It is in this community of fellow believers in Christ that His followers have daily opportunity to put into practice this new covenant life based on the two great commandments: "Though shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self" It was a dual covenant, with a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with other people."

Can I just have an amen for my amazing group of friends!!! I love you girls!

Secondly "Whenever anyone sets his will to follow in Christ's footsteps, that person becomes a powerful instrument of the Light__and thus active threat to the Prince of Darkness. For his example may well lead others into the same commitment. So that person-or group of people or church --comes under the harassment of the evil one, who will do all in his power to thwart and divert, tempt and seduce, discourage and destroy this new found determination to walk in the Light.

And God allows it: He permits the devil to try the determination of the pilgrim, for without this testing, the Christian's faith cannot be refined and matured. As much as he knows in his head that Jesus if Victor, as much as he reads it in the Bible and hears of it in the testimony of others, until he walks through the fire himself, he will not own it in his heart. As John Bunyan dramatically narrated, there will be wide and joyous places in the path of the pilgrim, to balance the hard and narrow ones, and God's grace will always be commensurate to the task or challenge. But there are no shortcuts to the Celestial City, no painless, easy ways. Those determined to live in the Light must be prepared to walk through valleys of darkness. Indeed, to some extent, the rest of their lives will be a struggle between the Light and the darkness."

So what are your thoughts friends? I would love to read your comments and hear your hearts.
Speaking of hearts, I am wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 13, 2009

I'll have a ...


It's Friday. Yeah the week is over. To celebrate, I think I will borrow a quote from my facebook button and say "I'll have a Cafe Mocha Vodka, Valium, Latte to go please." Seriously, it has been one of those weeks :) Or I may escape to my own little world where only I the crazy person lives! Or better yet, I will borrow from Gladys the 88 year old lady on Ellen the other day who helped me split a gut laughing when she said "I love Jesus, but I drink a little." :)

Let me quickly summarize the journey of the past few days.

Friday the 6th, we visit the Headache Care Center in Springfield for Jim's follow-up appointment from surgery. The electrodes from the occipital nerve have slipped down into his left shoulder. Hmmm that is why he twitches when we turn on the machine :) Solution, another surgery soon to fix that.

Saturday: Upwards basketball, soccer games, family birthday party in Skiatook. Busy day but great fun. Little big man now scored 4 baskets and then his 1st indoor soccer goal! He rocked the day.

Sunday: The weather changed and it got warm! My son could not keep his blood sugar above 70 no matter what he seemed to eat or drink that day. Seriously close to having a seizure at one point. Jim held him while I poured honey in his mouth. Crazy huh! Googled weather and blood sugar later and found out that it DOES have an effect on blood sugar.

Monday: I am cranky and achy but not thinking much about it. Carter isn't feeling well and I am more concerned about his blood sugar and overall health. Jim checks Carter for a fever Monday night and then tests the thermometer on me. Sure enough, I am the one running the fever. What mom has time for that do I dare ask?

Tuesday: Hope, Elijah, and I are all running fevers...yuck! Jim calls and says his surgery is scheduled for the next day in Springfield. Hmmmm, what to do as I am still cruddy. Thankfully, Martin Smith offers to drive with my husband to Springfield and bring him back home. I send out prayer requests emails asking for the neurosurgeon to literally use gorilla glue to keep the electrodes in place. Also ask for prayer for our job situation.

Wednesday: Still feel yucky and a little stir-crazy. My house is a MESS from allowing the kids to be in charge while I was under the weather. In all fairness, my spunky 9 year old really did try. Boy she can give orders like me :) I might need to sound a little nicer next time I need things done. I decided it is really hard to wait to hear the news about your husband over the telephone while he is in surgery. Finally, I get the call that all went well and he is one his way home. The surgeon used larger anchors to fasten the electrodes in place. Jim said there were also two more patients in the pre-op room that were going in again for the same thing. The great news about all of this, is that the occiptal nerve stimulator will once again be working and eliminating Jim's migraine's within 10 minutes of using it. That part also rocks!

Thursday: Day one of Jim's recovery and he is sore. I am finally starting to feel human again except for a raging headache. I think God is reminding me to have some more compassion for my husband. I don't take suffering and physical pain very well. I am a whiny sick person :) He on the other hand has an amazing pain threshold. That man is TOUGH! God bless him!

Friday: We have made it back to Friday....wow has it only been a week? I need to pick up and clean my entire house. Does anyone have any energy I can borrow?

My friend sent me a funny picture for Jim. I love it! As you laugh at it, please say a prayer that these electrodes stay put...FOREVER :)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Jehovah Jireh

I have been studying these past few weeks on the names of God. My families personal needs right now are focused on several aspects of God as we are dependent solely on His grace and mercy. God is my Jehovah Rapha and Jehovah Jireh. We are facing uncertain times economically at the Robertson household again, as are many people. Uncertainty of the future requires that I remember all of the times every day that my amazing Lord provides for my needs abundantly. I wish I could reflect and praise Him of His abundant provision of everything I "NEED" everyday instead of being distracted and focused on myself. But, I digress. I want to share with you an exert from the website bible.org on a study on Jehovah

The Revelation of the Name Jehovah-Jireh, Genesis 22:12-14. The meaning of this name is The Lord Who Provides. The name is literally, The Lord Who Sees, or The Lord Who Will See To It. This is what we long for when we have a need that is personal and special; One who will see to our needs and provide for us. This is what Jehovah-Jireh means; the Lord Who will see to it that my every need is met. One Who knows my need because He sees. One Who is able to meet my need in just the right time as He did for Abraham, and One Who can meet it fully. For Abraham, it was the ram caught in the thicket that was offered in Isaac's place. For us it is whatever we need.

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.


Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.

The name Jehovah-Jireh is a name that is crucial for us today as we seek to know the Father. It is a name that assures us that our Heavenly Father is able to provide any need we have. Trust Him for that!

I am fervently trusting in His provision for our family. I am praying that we will hear His voice above all others. In a way, it is another Great Adventure and exciting to see how the Lord will work all of these things out for His glory. There used to be a time when I would try and control as much of it as I possibly could refusing to release everything to Him. It is much more freeing to finally be able to say, not my will but YOURS be done. No matter what the future holds for our family, God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. Please pray that I can walk forward in faith, trusting and praising Him, no matter what lies ahead. May He receive all Glory and Honor and Praise.