Chapters 5 and 6 Book Study

Well I have been so encouraged by doing this book study on Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit, the Lord really knew that I needed to reread this book again! This week I read chapter five, anger and chapter six, Hard Work and Dying to Self. I so loved all of the scriptures that the study book had for chapter five, my favorite one is Proverbs 16:32 "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." This scripture always makes me think of my husband. I truly admire him and his patient self-control, he is the one person on this earth that I can look at all the time and wish I was more like... probably why I married him! I, on the other hand, definately need to remember what the author says at the end of chapter five "Let us NEVER, NEVER excuse our anger". Instead of doing the application projects at the end of chapter five, I just read all the scriptures and prayed those over my family and children and self. Okay, on to chapter six. Here are some really good quotes that stood out to me in the chapter:
"The responsibilities of being a mother and of homeschooling do not allow us to have great quantities of time to ourselves. Little children require our constant supervision."
"We spend several hours of each day homeschooling. Is it too great a sacrifice for us to continue to work through hours might otherwise be considered "free" time? Are we willing to give of ourselves, in selfless investment, in the eternal futures of our children?"
It is so true! Thank you for speaking truth Teri, my flesh needs to hear it!

Application project #1. Make a list of the times you would like to have to yourself. Are the items on this list realistic? Are they reasonable? Are they part of "dying to self?"
My answer would be that I would like to have time in the morning to have coffee and pray and read my Bible. I would like to have about an hour and a half to two hours each day to lift weights and run/workout. This isn't always realistic with four boys ages 8, 7, 4 and 2:-) I can most days workout for about an hour before Zach leaves for work, somedays, weather permitting, I can run outside with my boys, which I love to do. It may not seem reasonable to most people, but it is very important to me for my family. They are definately part dying to self and part self motivated, the real key is finding that balance that doesn't rob time from my family. I am NOT a proponent of the "ME time" philosophy, I would prefer to workout with my boys because the Lord has really put it on my heart to teach the value of endurance and hard work that real sweat can give them. I belong to a gym but prefer to go in the morning before my family arises or at like 9pm after the boys lay down, but sometimes go at other times if my husband feels fine with it. I am still daily learning a good balance.
Application Project #2. Make a list of how you think your husband should help you. Commit this list to the Lord through prayer, and commit yourself to learning to be a help meet to your husband.
Well, I have been doing this since I last read this book, and really enjoy her examples in the book. We are created to be our husbands help meets, not the other way around. I guess my biggest struggle is helping with putting the boys to bed and all that good stuff. Zach is incomparable as far as "helping" with the boys, our family is his life, so I am just plain grateful everyday for him.
Application project #3. Spend time considering whether you are trying to pattern your free time after your mothers. Evaluate how your life is different from hers, and what impact that has on what you can accomplish.
You would really need to read the chapter to understand what the author is getting at here. She is talking about the mom of our generation that stayed at home, but kids went to school and they were left with several hours to clean/organize etc. Or the working moms, who could do everything. She is really speaking in regards to the fact that us moms who stay at home and HOMESCHOOL our children, which requires several hours out of our day, are we still trying to pattern our life after our mothers... I would say that I definately don't pattern my free time after my mom. I really enjoy lifting weights and running in my free time, which is something she doesn't enjoy (but she does enjoy that I enjoy it!! hehehe) However, we are alike that in our free time with like to spend time with family too. I appreciate that about my mom. She is a clean freak:-) but never gave me expectations to live up to that were not attainable. I feel like my mom has always been able to accomplish much, and has passed that on to me. She showed me to be honest and live life the way you think God wants you to live it.

So anywho, that is my chapter study!

Random Things Meme...

Okay, Karen, this goes out to you!

Rules of Engagement:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

SIX RANDOM THINGS ABOUT KIM:

1. I graduated from college in three years with a degree in political science/business with an emphesis on international relations fully intending to go to law school and then work towards becoming a judge for probate law/family estate law, and possibly campaign managing.

2. I worked at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. the summer of 1999 for Congresswoman Linda Smith and then subsequently was her campaign manager for Adams and Whitman counties when she ran for Senate.

3. I never want to go back and be that person who did those above two things. I am totally dependent on the Lord for who I am, and I lay down all my crowns at His feet. God did not call me to be a lawyer, he called me to be a mother. Yes, some may be both, and may be both well, but not me.

4. In my flesh, I am an extremely liberal person. However, I believe that we must "Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and few are those that find it." Matthew 7:13-14. I am in Christ, a much more conservative person (speaking in regards to myself!!)

5. My deepest passion is homeschooling my children. I am desperately pro-homeschooling. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 I recommend the book "When You Rise Up; A covenantal approach to homeschooling" by R.C. Sproul Jr. Just read it already!!

6. I LOVE to run. I would rather be running with Keri and praying together than just about anywhere else. We are passionate about the exact same things. God, our husbands and families, our church body, GHCC, and running with our children.

Okay, here we go:

People I am tagging:
1. Andrea
2. Holly
3. Julia
4. Shanda
5. Lisa
6. Laura

Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit...

Hey, this week I am starting an online book study on the book "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit" by Teri Maxwell if anyone wants to read along. A fellow homeschooling blogger that I enjoy is doing the study on her blog www.homeschoolblogger.com/journeymomma/ the name of her blog is My Cup Runneth Over. I know that I am in need of encouragement in the homeschooling realm as we are about to embark on our fourth year (fifth including preschool) of homeschooling in the Cunningham Clan's household. Even if you don't homeschool, it is a really encouraging book for all you ladies out there... so think about it! Jesus bless you all.

Kids Bunco

Kenna and Andrea, picture perfect!

Beautiful Naomi and her new precious girl, Liberty, or "Libby" so sweet
Me and my friend Brooke that I brought with me, she is a few years younger than us, but she knows some of the ladies too. This gal is a gem, an absolute gem.

Vicki with her sweet kiddos and Tiff with her new 5month old sweet girl!
This is Shana's daughter Penelope... I am in love! Are you kidding me? She is beyond precious. Here are the kiddos in action... Andrea is laying out the ground rules for the kids. Justice and Cami are sitting at the table with her boys Mason and Ryder, my boys absolutely love them!
Andrea, Shana (and Penelope) and Danielle. They are such sweethearts.

Today I took Justice and Cami to "Kids Bunco" at the Cherokee Bay Clubhouse with a bunch of my friends from high school and their kids. The boys had an absolute blast! Andrea S. set it up, she is so creative! The kids all got goodie bags and prizes for winning just like in real bunco. I really enjoy when I get to spend time with all these precious ladies and their sweet kiddos too! I am blessed to be friends with them, they are so thoughtful to always include me and I love just seeing them. Thanks ladies for putting up with me, I am the weird homeschooling mama and they are mostly all teachers, but they tolerate me nonetheless;-) Thanks for a fun day ladies, Justice and Cami had so much fun... the only thing missing was OLIVIA!!

By the River

Today we spent the day at Kanaskat-Palmer state park playing in the Green River, it was a blast! The boys had so much fun playing in the river with Titus, Dad and Breanna. The river is pretty shallow where we went and we brought a picnic lunch with us too. Titus was going crazy in the water, splashing and shaking water over all of us. The weather was warm and sunny and it was just a great day. Now the cousins are on their way over to stay the night.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1

GL Graduation bbq

Me and my girls! Gabbie and Breanna

Me and Nancy (and Aowyn too!) Yay, she's back,
my heart is full!!!

Keri and Kim, I spend like 6 out of 7 days a week with
this lady, I don't what I would do without her, truly!

Yay! These woman have been my inspiration in many
ways over the last 10 years! Keri and Nancy

Breanna with her niece Olivia, so cute!

Noah, Kyle, Sammy, Cami and Justice

Jafe covered in ice cream!

One of Keri's daughters, Jaimee I LOVE this girl, she is
so sweet and beautiful!

Breanna's brother Kyle, we are praying maybe this will
be our GL next year...?? Right, God??? He is a sweetie!

Look at all those kiddos having fun, they had a blast
together!

Zach and Jeff, Keri's hubby


The Bryants, so glad you guys came!! You are our
family, and we are so glad you are home for good now!

This is Breanna's parents, they are amazing!!

The Salley girls, Nicole, mama Joan and Breanna!

Brettany, Keri, Nicole and Aowyn, all beautiful girls!


"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice Hospitality." Romans 12:9-13

Did you ever have to make a really hard decision at a point in your life and then look back years and years later and have a tremendous amount of gratefulness for making that right decision? About 9 years ago, Zach and I made the decision that no matter what the cost, no matter how many hurts or disappointments I (Kim) might have had, we were going to covenant with our body and support the vision of our churches house, including the then Master's Commission vision. Now it is called Generational Leadership. That has held our family firm over the last several years.
So yesterday was a day of celebration in our house! We have been houseparents in many different forms and capacities over the years (students, second year students and interns) have all lived with us. Well our baby girl (that is what we call Breanna!) graduated from GL!! Yay, you rock girl, and she is going to be an intern on staff this year and she is REALLY excited. We are so proud of you Breanna, you are an amazing woman of God and we love you deeply. I have been so richly blessed by Breanna, and being part of the GL vision, I can't even express it. Gabbie was our first GL and she lived with us when I was 24, now she is 24!! She is one of my dearest friends on the face of this earth and my life would be drastically different if I didn't know her. I have been so blessed to have the GL's in my life, they came and helped me at my house when I had Andrea's shower just because they love me, and yesterday we had a big bbq at our house and they stayed until all hours of the night to help clean up, my house was spotless after having like 25 people over for hours! Brettany is Keri's daughter and Breanna's good friend (very fitting, the four of us like to do an occasional night run all together!!) she has been such a blessing to the GL program and our life, we love you Brett, you truly have a servant's heart. We had such a fun bbq yesterday and it was just fun to celebrate Breanna's success! We love you baby girl!

Happy Birthday Andrea!!

Happy Birthday Andrea, my dear friend!

Well, we went out to eat tonight at the Black Diamond Bakery, it was so much fun! The food was great and the company was even better! All the fam was there in full effect, from Diane with the boys to Linda and John, and Andrea's brother Devin put in an appearance too, (and was hilarious by the way!) the only thing missing was a toast by Diane (I personally was disappointed!!) I LOVE that woman, are you kidding me?!! Love you Andrea and your family too, ofcourse I will be your proxy for you!(you know what I'm saying!) Man, it is like we are cut from the same cloth... LOVE you guys!