Saturday morning story time!

When I was growing up in the old Civil War era farmhouse in Northwest Ohio,

Saturday mornings were always my favorites.

I seem to remember pancakes and syrup more often on those slow,

leisurely mornings.

But what I remember the most was that my dad was always

sure to have our local, Christian radio station on.

My favorite program was the "Children's Bible Hour"

hosted by "Uncle Charlie" VanderMeer.

I loved his warm, friendly voice,

the joyful, evangelistic songs of the children's choir and trios,

but most of all I love the dramatized stories.

Uncle Charlie almost always played the part of the fatherly character,

and other children in the choir read the rest of the character parts.

I'm so glad I was in a place growing up where I could hear these wonderful

stories laced with the truth of the gospel, full of Bible values

to hear and learn from every weekend.

Sadly, that radio program isn't broadcast in the same format anymore,

but imagine my delight when my dad (of course!!) pointed me to 

a streaming radio station that actually plays an abridged version

of the same program EVERY DAY!!!

This station plays many favorite dramatized programs from my childhood:

Unshackled, Sailor Sam, The Sugar Creek Gang, 

Joy Spartan and the Parsonage Series,
Keys for Kids, Ranger Bill, and dramatized stories of other

well-known missionaries and great-Christians!!

The beautiful sacred music and gospel preaching encourage me

as I'm preparing meals in my kitchen or about the house

cleaning or folding laundry.

Christian radio was a big part of my life growing up in Northwest Ohio.

When I moved to New England, it was culture shock to me that

there were literally no conservative "Christian" radio stations.

Now that I live in Texas, the "Christian" radio stations don't

play those old programs anymore.

But that doesn't mean they are irrelevant or have no value.

Today, one of my passions is directing and coordinating

Christian dramas at my church.

Where do you suppose that passion grew from?

Where do you suppose I learned the power of drama to change hearts,

 and to bring stories to life of God's power to change lives?

I'm so thankful for my dad's influence

and for this memory of his love for Christian radio!

Tune in to VCY America
to hear these great old programs!!

Teaching Them Diligently: Resurrection Sunday!!

What a wonderful day our family had together sharing

the celebration that all believers have in serving

A Risen Savior!!!

We spent the morning with our church family as well

sharing a wonderful Easter breakfast with our adult Sunday School class.

We came home to share a lovely sit-down meal of:

Spiral-Sliced Ham

 (in the crock-pot)

Baked Au Gratin Potatoes 

(using the amazing delay cook feature on my new oven!!!)

Broiled Fresh Asparagus

Fresh Vegetable Tray

Watergate Salad

Cupcakes

The Lord has been so good to our family.

We try to remind our children of this often.

That because Christ conquered death, arose from the grave,

 we too have victory over bondage,

Robes of righteousness in exchange for our filthy rags.

Th oil of joy for mourning.

The garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness!!

Happy Resurrection Day!!

Teaching Them Diligently: Resurrection Bags/Baskets

This was just so much fun to put together for my kids this year.

Even my oldest ones.

Because who doesn't love chocolate??

Disclaimer:  With all we had going on the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday,

there was just no way I had the time

to create all of these things the day or so before.

I found these free printables months in advance, and purchased each

item several weeks before as I did my regular grocery shopping.

As I had time, I would wrap one element per evening until each item was completed.

That made it a snap to toss them into each bag, assembly line style,

the night before Easter morning.

Rollo candy!!!

Bandaids!!

Solid chocolate bar!

You can find the link for downloading all of these wonderful free printables

here!!
Click on the choice for "Holiday" printables!!

Teaching Them Diligently: Visuals from the Kitchen for Holy Week

One of our favorite things to do around special holy days is to create

delicious baked treats in our kitchen!

It's the perfect way to involve children and to teach them

principles from God's Word about that particular holy day in the process.

Teachable moments.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:2

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me."

Matthew 16:24

"Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus;

Who being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God......

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death, 

even the death of the cross."

Philippians 2:5,6,8

Something new we tried this year were traditional Hot Cross Buns.

My Mom always talked about these and I remember them from my childhood.

They are associated with European tradition and seen commonly

on Easter breakfast tables in homes of that heritage.

I haven't seen them ever in Texas. 

They are a fragrant sweet yeast roll dotted with either 

dried fruits or raisins or both.

A powdered sugar glaze completes the cross design over the top.

Find a delicious recipe here.

To be fully transparent, we made this late at night, after a very long day,

and we ended up rushing them or something.

I did not love how this particular batch turned out,

though my children really enjoyed them on Easter morning!

Teaching Them Diligently: Be conformed to the image of His Son

"And be not conformed to this world....."   Romans 12:2

To adapt to new or different conditions.

Like the blocks of chocolate that we heated.

They became soft and pliable.

Pourable.

Conforming to the shape into which it was molded.

"For those whom he foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the

image of His Son......"

Romans 8:29

The image of Christ.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

~Jesus

Glimpses of Spring

The calendar may say that Spring is still two weeks away,

but we have noticed it peeking out
since before we turned our calendars to March!

I love the spring season for so many lovely reasons.

The freshness and newness of it all.

The fresh sets of lighter clothes and the packing away of more 

burdensome garb.

The tiny buds swelling up on the ends of branches waiting to

burst open with new life.

The pops of color as flowers begin blooming.

We didn't have a hard winter this year.

Except for two cold, snowy days in January,

we experienced the warmest winter on record here at our house.

We didn't suffer through round after round of snow storms.

We never lost power because of ice.

We didn't even get one bona fide "inclement weather" day off of school.

Still, what refreshment it brings to put away the "old,"

and to watch so many things "become new."

What delight to watch for God's creation to visually illustrate

the "newness of life" that is found in Him!
To be reminded of His great love that provides victory over sin,

beauty for ashes, and that "death is swallowed up in victory!" 

We are thinking about Resurrection Sunday here at our house!
We are thick in rehearsals for a captivating Easter drama at our church

in which my husband and Garrett have speaking parts, and

which I am directing.
This will be performed on Good Friday which will make

Passion Week very busy for us.
It is the same week we have two birthdays and our anniversary as well.
Spring holds exhilarating days for us, and I am thrilled we got a jump start on it this year!!

Our first homeschool graduate {Part 1}: Planning a homeschool graduation ceremony

The Graduation Day of Our Daughter
Alexis Noelle Brough

 How do you put into words a day that was 14 years in the making?

A day that at certain points in time I had my doubts we would ever see.
How do you put into words the Grace of God that allowed such a moment?

The accomplishments.

We worked for weeks to craft an event that would express what our hearts could not speak.

 Our very handsome door-greeter and program hander-outer.

The Dad who was intent on keeping everything running on time.

We were so very honored to have my Mom fly in from Ohio to attend this momentous family

occasion and to play the prelude and processional for Lexi's graduation.

 

Very dear friends from near and far came to share in our joy!!

 Just before "Pomp and Circumstance".....

Lexi asked that the administrator of our homeschool program begin with a general greeting and a time for all our guests to shake hands and introduce themselves.

Then came the reflections from Dad......

.....followed by reflections from Mom.

Lexi's Dad spent many hours working on a power point presentation that we called

"A Pictorial Transcript" of her life and adventures as a school girl.

 Reflections from the Graduate

 Our Pastor came and challenged us all with a powerful charge from the life of Jesus

taken from John 2.
"Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

The Presentation of Diploma

Prayers of Dedication by Dad....

 .......and our precious Pastor.

 

Recessional

 Alexis Noelle Brough

2016 High School Graduation

Summa Cum Laude