Teaching the children the Catechisms

I have struggled with teaching the kids the catechisms. We use the Westminster Shorter Catechisms. I want them to learn them. I go over them with the kids some days. Katie and Jonathan are even picking them up. I didn't think they could because they are longer then the children's catechism. But as I was working with Jordyn, they started repeating them, too. I was visiting with a friend several days ago, and she had a book I would like to get and use. It is called Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechisms. I really believe it is important for the family to know and understand the catechisms. I, however, am not consistent with teaching them. So my prayer for today is that I be more faithful in teaching my children the Shorter Catechisms. :)

Depression

Ok, so my last post was short. I was really struggling. I was battling a depression episode. It was not fun. I am better now. I was struggling with things in my marriage. My husband and I seem to have a difference in communication. He is a private person and does not like to talk about things much. I, on the other hand, like to be informed of things. I also believe that I define my self worth in him. When he is upset with me, my thoughts automatically start going dark. I start thinking I  am not good enough or he would be better of if I wasn't here. I, of course, know that isn't true, but that is where my thought go. I then began to have a battle in my mind of what I know and what I what I am thinking. It is very tiring and draining. During this time, I was blessed to be able to call a dear friend who pointed me back in the right direction. So through prayer and talking with my friend and my husband, things are much better.

Depression is hard! Not everyone understand it. Not everyone goes through the same type of depression. Some only have it for a season, and some struggle with it everyday of their life. All I can say is to please pray for those you know struggling with it because they need it. 

I began reading a devotional by Charles H. Spurgeon titled Morning and Evening. I have enjoyed it. It has helped me keep my focus on Christ. I have also been working on keeping things more organized. That way I do not feel so overwhelmed all the time. I am still not there, but I am working on it. I also had to make the decision to not spend so much time on the computer checking email and going to facebook. I allowed those things to take more time and attention then they should. Keeping my focus on Christ is the best thing I can do for my depression. I pray others do the same.

Blessings!

Stuggling Again!

Don't really feel like I should talk about things here anymore! I will just keep a private journal from now on.

It's been a while!

I know it has been a while since my last post, but my computer stopped working. I now have it fixed! ya


Things are going well these days. The kids are all growing so quickly. Katie turned 6 in January, Christopher will be 1 on the 24th of this month, and Jonathan will be 4 next month. In a blink of an eye Jordyn will be 12! My headaches are so much better. A friend suggested going to see a chiropractor. So I finally did. He has helped me. I had to start being faithful to my food allergy diet. That has helped tremendously. It is hard though. Just last night I decided to eat things I knew I shouldn't have. I had a headache before I was done eating. I went to bed as soon as I was able. I will continue to work on eating correctly, and I pray the headaches continue to improve.

My biggest struggle right now is the kids schooling. I was having such a hard time with my headaches and depression, that I put the girls in public school. Now I want to take them out. Looking back I know I believed it was what was best at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I am positive they need to come back home. Some people may not agree with me and that is their opinion. I have to remember that. I need to keep in mind this one question: What do I want my kids to learn and from who? The answer to that is: I want them to learn about the Lord and what he teaches us above all else, and I want Ricardo and I to teach them with the help of like believers and most importantly the Bible. I do not know what they are being taught in school academically much less socially. So I do not know how to address those things. I am praying about the situation.

It is the kids spring break this week. So we are doing various things each day of the week. We went to the zoo yesterday with my father in law, brother in law and sister in law with there son. We all had a great time. Today we will be working outside. :0

Well, I had better get off this and get started!

Blessings

I am ordering this, Spell to Write and Read, to use with my kid's. I am told that it is a wonderful tool to teach children to read and spell all the way till they go to college. Can't wait to get it!

Well, I have decided to potty train my 3 year old. I do believe it will take a lot of patience and prayer, but Lord willing we will get there. Does anyone have suggestions to help?

I am still working on altering the way we eat. It is a challenge. I keep eating something at least once a day that I know I shouldn't. I am also still having headaches. I am not sure if it is all from the food that I eat or not, but I know it sure doesn't help it either. I can feel a lot of stress in my neck and shoulders, which I believe is contributing to the headache.

I know this is random thoughts, but it is what I am struggling with. For me typing or writing it down seems to help me stay, or get back, on track. It also helps that I know I have friends that will say a prayer and encourage me. Thank you all for that!

May the Lord bless you!

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. My day was a little busy. Christopher, my 4 month old, is recovering from pink eye. I took him to the doctor for his check up. His eyes looked a lot better, but she said he had an ear infection. I went to the Herb Mart and picked some things up to try. She prescribed an antibiotic, but I didn't want to go that route with him being so young. I also took the kids to the Library. They had a model train set up.  They enjoyed that. Then we went to the whole food store. I wanted to see what all they had to offer and what the prices were. I did buy some organic formula for Christopher. I know it is going to be expensive, but I believe it will be better for him. I will just have to cut somewhere in my budget to make it work. I pray it works out. After that we went by Sam's Club for diapers and salad mix. I got home late. The house was a mess, and my mother in law was going to be home soon. I started cleaning as soon as we got home. The house looks better, but not completely clean. Oh well, that is live with four children and other things to get done.

Ricardo, my husband, hasn't been feeling well either. Thankfully he seems to be doing better today. I am still struggling physically and mentally today. I have not felt well. I have had a headache and stomach ache. I am trying to alter our eating habits to see if that helps. I pray it also helps Jordyn, my oldest. She also gets headaches and stomach aches. The other kids do not show any physical symptoms from food, thankfully. I really want to change the way we eat because I believe it will make a difference. It is going to be hard for me though because I am a junk food lover. (especially sugar!) I will just need to remember to lean on the Lord in my efforts and remember why I am doing it.

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

Today has been a lazy day. Not much house work was done and I was not much help in schooling the kids today. I am not feeling well. This is a frequent thing for me, unfortunately. I suffer from depression and migraines. Today I have had a headache and a bit of nausea. I stayed in bed late hoping the extra rest would help, but I still did not feel well. My oldest daughter helped me with the kids. She is such a huge help. I am blessed to have her. She accomplished most of her school work and did her chores as well as took care of her three younger siblings. I used to feel guilty about her helping me so much, but then I realized that there was no need to feel guilty. Each person in the family has a "job." Unfortunately the oldest seems to have the most jobs. (especially when there is a large gap in the ages of the kids) It is easy to take on everything as a mother, but we need to realize that our children are capable of helping and not feel guilty for it. We are not supper moms. We need help, especially when we don't fell well. We get frustrated and overwhelmed easier. We make mistakes easier. However, it is what you do in those situations that matters. When you find that you are overwhelmed and frustrated remember to stop and pray. Prayer is the best medicine! God hears our prayers and gives us peace. I know when I am not feeling well, I get overwhelmed and frustrated easily. I try to stop and pray and ask the Lord to help me. The Bible teaches us to cast all our burdens upon and He will sustain us. (Psalms 55:22)  It is not easy when you fell ill a lot, as I do, but it is important to trust in the Lord and seek his healing and strength.