not much...

It is definitely a bit cooler today- it only got up to the mid 80s... I'll take it. 

105 degrees is too hot for me. 

I try not to complain, though, knowing a good bit of American soldiers are marching, and protecting us in 120 degree heat- complete with boots, helmets, Kevlar vests, and weaponry...  I'm forever grateful for them and their sacrifices, and I pray for them often.

It has been one of those weeks that I've been unintentionally busy.  I may be developing that late onset ADD thing, because I'll walk into Katie's room to put away some clothes and suddenly I'm rearranging the whole closet.  I don't know why, either, she doesn't appreciate it and it never stays neat.  I actually grounded her from her closet last week.  Also, I am becoming really good at procrastination... like, too good... like it is suddenly 8 pm, so the day is over and I dodged that task!  Self diagnosis is a dangerous business, but when the shoe fits...

Anyway.  I'm writing without a lot to say.  I've been gearing up for starting home-school, registering kids for camps, facilitating sleep-overs, and researching service activities for the new co-op this year.  I'm trying out some new incentive charts and discipline/consequences, too.  I've decided that these able bodied children need to be more accountable, especially since two will be home with me next year for school.  It's going well.  I had to re-consult some parenting books, and all, but I'll keep everyone posted on how it's going.

Prayers for one of my best friends and her husband's family as their dear grandpa is very ill, gravely so, is probably going to Heaven tonight.  Godspeed and God bless.  And be with the family left on Earth because they will be so sad.

This is just a short check in because I'm trying to write more... and procrastination and late onset ADD need to be nipped in their respective buds... but there just isn't a lot of exciting things to tell.  Sometimes, though, that is very, very good.  

summertime!

http://peggyapl.blogspot.com/2012/02/crown-of-life.html

Welcome to JULY!!!  And it is so HOT!!!

Northern Virginia had a land hurricane this weekend (I have never in my life heard of such a thing, but now that I know what it is, I think this is the second one we've been through).

I am so awed at how many people were without power graciously!  Several of my friends were on Facebook immediately helping, offering to help, or passing along information to help people out.  Lots of kudos to Dominion Power and all the cable/internet/phone people working hard to get power restored.  Also, good job to the authorities for offering schools as emergency cooling centers.

God is GOOD!!

We were actually at Kingsfest at Kings Dominion. We got hit, too, but not as badly as NoVa.  The power never went out for us, and no one was hurt due to the violent storms Friday and Saturday nights.  The festival was awesome despite 120 (I'm not thinking that I'm even exaggerating) degree heat.  I have never been that hot in my life. Ever.

 So... we got to see Casting Crowns, Royal Tailor, Owl City, Kutless, Skillet, and Tobymac.

These artists (and their crews) were AWESOME!!!!! Every show was full of energy and wonderful music.  Tommy is now enjoying a crush on Jen (the awesome drummer) from Skillet.  Danielle said she was SO inspired and uplifted.  Katie had a minor panic attack due to Skillet's pyrotechnics, but otherwise enjoyed herself.  Mark and I had so much fun! Concerts are always great- but experiencing music with a message is just so cool.

Since school has been out we've had recital, which went well.  It was different for me to just be a parent at the show, and to not have to do crazy backstage dressing changes or hair changes or me changes.  It wasn't bad, or good, just different.  The girls danced beautifully.  I am thankful for our new dance home and the director and teachers there are awesome and all about the students. I am thankful for Kristi and Donna (my she-warriors! my best, loyal friends that God brought together for HIS purpose), who also moved to the new studio. Change is hard, sometimes, but again, God has His plan and His timing, and it is perfect.

Also, once again, I had to be the one saying good bye to best friends leaving Virginia.  I hate goodbyes, but I will never hate them more than how much I love the people God puts in my life.  It's hard to be the person not relocating.  It weighs heavily upon me sometimes.  I can't not love these people, though.  Everything has a season and a purpose.  And now I have friends that will be living 5 minutes from the ocean in NC.  How cool is that?

Prayer people: one of my best friend's father-in-law is seriously ill.  Please pray for him.  Also, for all of us moms with summertime kids full time, some of these have children who have special needs, pray for them (me included), that all will go rather smoothly.  It is so hard for some of these children to be out of their school routine. It is especially exhausting for their parents. Prayers and hugs for them.  I'm also moved to mention marriages (again)... they take a lot of work.  There are many, many friends struggling.  God wants us to stay married.  It is a blessing when both sides of a marriage realize that and commit to working on staying together, but it doesn't become easy. Ever.  Prayers for all of us fighting the good fight, for those with broken hearts, for the ones who don't want to try anymore, and for the ones trying without reciprocating effort... prayers of peace and wisdom and comfort. 

beauty

(from information hub of besties)

I read this the other night, and wanted to share it:

"Nothing in Heaven compares to the beauty of God, and nothing on Earth approaches the beauty of women.  For this reason, women have a unique role in revealing God to the world... 'God has a beauty to unveil, a beauty that is captivating and powerfully redemptive.' Like His, your beauty is powerful" (Jason Evert, Theology of Her Body)

I have not read his book.  I have to say, though, that I'm thinking I want to very much.  God is awesome, in that, one of my best friends is reading Captivating and has shared some of the passages from that book with me, and they, of course, mirror what I'm seeing elsewhere in my reading-study-quiet time.  You see, God does stuff like that when He wants you to pay attention.  Another friend messaged me saying that during her quiet time she is seeing some of the things I had been sharing.  So, it all comes full circle to show that nothing is an accident.  One day, maybe, I'll stop being surprised when this happens to me (like, daily, it seems).

Friends, we are beautiful, and captivating, and worth His love and affection.  When we feel down and out, we should be repeating over and over, until we believe it, that we are His daughters, children of God, and we are beautiful and worthy.

almost done...

I love coming to an end of the school year.  I guess it is that sense of accomplishing something, of finishing well, of achievement.  While we didn't home-school this year, I'd like to believe that we were pretty involved in the kids academics and stuff.  So, imagine my surprise to find out my Katie got a young author award!!!  What? Really? She likes to write stories?  Who knew?  It's very cool.  Her teacher has been a huge blessing to us this year.  Katie (that child) started the year with a lot of struggles- but now she is reading, and writing (apparently) very well.  She doesn't think she is good at math, but she actually excels at it and she even passed her social studies and science test well within the pass range (cheers!)

Tommy is done, officially, today.  He is SO excited that he doesn't have to wake up so early (me, too!).  His report card will get mailed to us, but I'm sure he passed everything.  He is officially a sophomore!

Danielle can't wait for the year to be over!  It's half days for the rest of the week for her, so she is happy.  Tomorrow is a party and Friday is field day.  Woo-hooo!!! Summer is here! 


So... the 2011-2012 school year is coming to a close.  I am happy:)

hello!!!!

I always seem to start with, "...it's been awhile..."

Smiling... sighing... sorry

So, moving right along-

This weekend was the Virginia Home-school convention.  I hadn't been in 2 years, so it was very renewing and affirming to have the privilege to go this year.  I took Danielle with me.  Mark was in California training to do cool stuff like rescuing people during international disasters (I'm not proud or anything like that:)), and my mom and dad (very thankfully) watched my tornadoes (ahem, I mean other two children) , Tom and Katie... my own version of Tom-Kat (ha!).

We've had a host of craziness at casa-de-schroeder:   migraines, asthma, etc.  Amidst all the things that seem to bring me down, though, some great things lift me up.  I realize that we live in a free country, we have good health care and insurance, my family and friends are so good to me, I have a car, a house, a job, a family.

Of course, also, we have had chorus field trips, book clubs, karate, gymnastics and dance.  And that's just the scheduled every day stuff!

There have been birds nesting on our front porch, too, and some fantastic afternoon thunderstorms!

Every day brings new excitements and blessings...

I had a date at chick-fil-a for Mother-Son Knight... a very cool event that I wish I heard of ages ago because we had so much fun.

I'm slightly anxious and very excited to home-school the girls again next school year.  I'm praying for patience for all of us as we prepare for a new routine.  I pray that Tommy knows he is loved and that high-school at school is best for him right now.  His teachers and those that provide him with his special education and autism services are rock-stars!

I also pray for God to help me and guide me and give me wisdom (a lot of requests, there) so that I know I am serving my family in the right way, and for Him to lead me to whatever ministry He has in store for me (and that it is obvious- I tend to need a very clear sign).

It's on my heart to type this one last thing tonight... I know some of my friends are struggling...

I'm praying for each of you in my own special way for the special stuff that you need.  Every life has purpose!  Even yours!:)

Happy Memorial Day

My heart goes out to all the soldiers and their families this Memorial Day.  Words are so insignificant, really.  All I can say from my family and I, is Thank you.  Thank you for your bravery, for your patriotism, for finishing well, for your service.

Matthew 25:23:...Well done, my good and faithful servant...

Praying for God's peace and courage for the families, friends, and soldiers, past and present and future.  May you all experience comfort and strength that only God can provide...

a warning?

I feel moved to write about this, and I know it will cause some to say I'm over- reacting, or I'm too sensitive.  The truth is this, though:  I'm not over-reacting, and I'm not too sensitive about this.  And no one else wants to talk about it...

I'm sure many people have read The Hunger Games trilogy.  I have, and I thought it was both horrible and fantastic at the same time.  I couldn't put the books down.  I was fascinated with the characters, but even more so with their situations.  And for all the horror of that story, many just would say it's just a book... for kids... it is pretend and not real.

But, I think it is.

Of course, we are not offering up our children as tributes in a fight to the death for entertainment.  Praise God.  But we are very slowly and very surely moving toward the "anything goes" motto for entertainment.  Reality TV and the sensationalism of death, murder, sex, cheating, gambling, drug use, etc... is affecting our culture, and most decidedly our children and spouses.  Video games are so real and life-like that the violence portrayed in them isn't met with any kind of horror or remorse- it's just fun and exciting.  The news is full of stories about cheating celebrities, death by drugs, gang warfare, and mothers killing their children, and then themselves...

Do you see the connection?  The Hunger Games is like a warning... or maybe a wake up call... because these things are happening now.  And they aren't just happening in obscure third world countries (which is actually more heartbreaking, because in those places children really are dying for entertainment), it's happening here, in our country... the greatest country ever!

What really made me think of this is actually a more personal issue... and the issue is much, much larger than I ever expected, actually.  It's the issue of sexual purity.  It isn't just something we should be teaching our children about.  Sexual purity is a very large, very challenging issue for grown-ups, too. 

Think about this: can you go through a check- out line without seeing beautiful girls in bikinis, or go to the mall without passing a jumbo sized poster of a Victoria's Secret model wearing almost nothing?  How about driving down the interstate and seeing advertisements for adult movie stores, or "gentlemen clubs"?  Further more, do you think our children don't notice?  How about your husband? or your father? or your uncle? or your brother?

There is nothing good that comes from viewing pornography, or any kind of images that may interfere with your promises (be it marriage, a commitment to any other person, or a commitment to raise your children in the faith).  It leads to addiction.  It breaks marriages and relationships and families.  It poisons minds.  It absolutely is NOT what God intended for us.  It leads broken hearts astray...

http://vimeo.com/7474108

I'm praying for our families, people.  I'm praying for our men, and women, and children.  Guard your heart and your eyes and your minds... and be ever vigilant!

Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.