On the road again...

We have been traveling this week and are home long enough to wash clothes and start again. Friends of ours invited us on vacation with them. Totally cool way to vacation - everyone pitching in on the food and cooking and eating and talking. And talking and laughing until we were crying. Did I mention the cooking and talking and eating and talking? ;) Oh and we knit a bit too. My friend who just learned to knit in January is doing a sweater for her daughter now. Started it on vacation.

We've done this for years with our dear friends in WV. We plan a menu, each family picks a couple of things for each meal and then we put it all together when we're cooking. Totally works and we eat WAY better camping/vacationing than we do at home. Plus it's just more fun to cook and clean up together.

The girls did not want to leave their friends and cried a bit coming home. We're hoping to see them again soon. It is amazing the number of blessing we've had simply because we home school.

The fact that we can go off season for much cheaper rates, see friends we don't often get to see other times of the year, meet people we would never get to meet otherwise. The fact that my beloved can take time off from work when most people don't even have vacation on their radar is a huge blessing. There are many things we have been blessed with since we started home schooling. God is so good all the time.

Hope everyone is having a good time. And looking for those blessing each and every day. We sure are. Out the door we go again.

In the midst of God's blessings,

Peg

Looks like spring fever has arrived at La Geron...

My girls have been having some serious cabin fever this week. We've got tons going on and I know they are excited but man if I have to have another day of them bouncing off the walls I'll go crazy. And yes I know it's not a far trip for me thankyouverymuch!

We may have to do some laps!

ICL,
Peg

Something we can all do...

I got this email this morning from a dear friend of mine who is on the board of a Crisis Pregnancy Center. I feel led to share it here with you all. Please prayerfully consider doing this. I am deeply saddened by the low regard our current President seems to have for human life. This is something we can all do.

Dear Friends and Intercessors:

This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.

As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.

Here is what I would like you to do:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C.

On the back, print the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception. You were given the right to life - allow all the unborn to enjoy that precious gift from God.

Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.


Please prayerfully consider investing in some red envelopes and speaking for those who can't yet speak for themselves.

Covered in Christ's Redeeming RED blood,

Peg

My new favorite food is...

bell peppers - from Trader Joe's. They have a trio of bell peppers in a large package. One orange, one yellow and one red - for under $4.00! And they are delicious! I ate an entire orange one with my lunch today. Delish!

In awe of Christ's creativity,

Peg

Sickness abounds...

We have thus far managed to avoid being ill this year. Until the past ten days! Charlotte has been fighting a cold for nearly two weeks. Then the older girls all got some form of it. Michael and I have, so far, avoided it. I'm praying everyone starts to feel better.

I had to tell Charlotte to stop talking yesterday because she woke up sounding like Darth Vader's daughter. All raspy and funky sounding - totally was not my babby talking.

Then today she woke up, came bouncing downstairs feeling all better and told me it was time for me to get up because SHE was up. Then she proceeded to try and roust her sisters out of bed too. She told McGinley "I'm up and that means everyone else should be too." It was like hearing Daddy in my house this morning. My daddy was like that. If he was up then he wanted someone to talk to him so he thought everyone else should be up. And he'd wake you just to talk before he went out the door to work or down to the corner store for coffee. Totally cracked me up this morning when his words came out of my five year olds mouth. Yep he's still here with us.

So everyone is slowly on the mend and Michael is working less hours so he's here more. That's nice for all of us. And hopefully we'll all avoid the rest of the sickness passing around amongst our friends.

In Christ's Love,
Peg

Joy of the Lord...

I got to see the joy of the Lord this weekend. Now what did I do you ask? I went 5 hours away from home with fourteen yes 14 teens to a winter retreat. We were there with 565 teens from all over the state. All there to have fun, fellowship with other believers and just possibly get a glimpse of God's face. We did that and so much more.

I just have to tell you - in case you don't already know ;) - I'm not the fun mom. Never have been, likely never will be. I'm ok with that. I was there for crowd control. Or that's what I kept telling myself when I signed up to go. Amazing how the Lord works even with those of us who are reluctant (that'd be kicking and screaming "I don't wanna - I don't think I can") participants.

Now let me tell you what really happened. I got to be with 14 of the coolest, fun, amazing, intelligent, beautiful people on the planet this weekend. And yes they are all teenagers! I had the best conversations with these young people - some at 2 in the morning, others sitting on a stairway in the middle of a building, and still others driving down the road. The genuine love these kids have for each other and for the Lord just blows me away. The light in their eyes and the joy on their faces as they sang and danced while praising the Lord was a beautiful thing to behold. And yes, to be a part of!

I saw them step outside their comfort zone, open up to the Lord, let go of some baggage that was not theirs to carry and accept the Lord where he met them. I saw others gather round and love on each other and yes pray for one another. I saw them help one another through and the giving spirits they all have.

I prayed with kids, cried with kids, hugged kids and punched boys in the shoulder (gently of course) - 'cause you know boys don't like hugs. ;) And the entire time I thought "Lord please be with me, help me to know what to say and what NOT to say to these beloved children of yours. Lord, I am woefully and grossly unprepared for this." I pray that I was a blessing to these wonderful kids - they surely were a blessing to me.

So today try to figure out a way to spend some time with the teens in your life. I promise you won't regret it. I surely don't. I'm ready to go back next year!

In Christ's Amazing Love,
Peg

How are you living?

I heard a song today about living in the moment and enjoying your life. I wondered how most of us live our lives? Are we living for the next thing to happen? Are we living in the past - focused on what might have been? Are we trying to live someone elses life instead of our own? I know it sure seems attractive when your friend's lives seem much more fun, easy, loving etc. But that's not OUR lives.

Are we living the way the Lord would have us live? Are we telling those we love that we love them? Are we hugging our kids and taking the minutes to look into their eyes and see who they really are - Who God created them to be? Are we allowing ourselves to grieve when we need to? Are we joyful in the small and the big things? Are we willing to sacrifice the ideas of what the world would have us do for what the Lord wants us to do?

I know that I want to be the light the Lord would have me be and I want to be of use to him here and now. How that is to play out I surely don't know but I'm done waiting on for that next thing to happen. I'm here and willing and I'm ready now to do whatever He calls me to do. My God has plans for me to live abundantly and to prosper me. I want to live MY life! I don't want to miss out on one single thing He has for me!

So how about you? How are you living your life? Is this where you want to be? Is this where the Lord would have you be?

In the Midst of Christ's Plan,
Peg