sneak peek

I enjoyed spending some time today with three cute little girls. It was a challenge to get them to stay in the same place for longer than three seconds. I was thankful their mommies had some good ideas to distract them!

something much better

happy birthday

Our sweet little Kaci turned four today. Oh, how we love her!

how good is your memory this Christmas?

Tonya

kaci encounters santa

ok, it didn't go so well ... but it was too cute!

Christmas wish

all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

christmas program

This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen!

We had our program for the kids tonight at church. It was very good but wasn't nearly as exciting as the one above. Ha ha

Tonya

christmas humor

Wow. My blog is getting neglected. You wouldn't think that adding a newborn to your schedule would change things that much but it sure does! Wyatt is doing wonderful and we love him SO much. It's funny how he's only been with us for five weeks and we can't imagine life without him. He is just the sweetest little baby. Smiled for the first time (on purpose) a few days ago and melted my heart.

Here's a little home school humor set to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas. We loved it! Home schooling is not the most popular option around here and this song was perfect because we get asked these questions on a regular basis. I especially love the answer to Day Five!

I don't mind being a "little bit strange" for the sake of giving my children a biblical worldview through their education! lol

Hope you enjoy it!
Tonya

our little sweetie

The Goodness of God

I have always wished I had a way of allowing others to hear how God worked in the life of one of my dear friends I met during our time at Boyce College in Louisville, Ky. Thanks to the Boyce Podcast you can now hear my friend, Heath Lambert, share the amazing goodness of God in the lives of him and his mother. Heath was severely abused by his mother as a child and talks of the hatred he had for her for years. As the story unfolds you will hear how God saved Heath, taught him to forgive his mother, allowed him the privilege of leading his mother to Christ, took her into his home to care for her as she was dying of cancer, and eventually counseling her in the hospital during the last hours of her life.
I have always considered my friendship with Heath and his lovely wife Lauren a tremendous blessing from God. Please take the time to listen to his testimony and thank God for His goodness in all of our lives!

Because of His Mercy,
Taj

cutie

he is here

Wyatt Michael

November 3, 2010
8 pounds 4 ounces
21 inches long

waiting

only a few more days …

adorable

He is just too cute!

the high calling of motherhood

Mother: You have a mission field

Our first and primary mission field is our children. God values our children. Jesus became indignant when the disciples didn't embrace the worth of children in God's expanding kingdom (Mark 10:13-16). God tells us that children are his blessing to us (Ps. 127:3). And he places great importance on our teaching our children to love and serve him (Deut. 6:7-9). Don't feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years. Your availability, sensitivity, affection, and unhurried attention are irreplaceable. There are no neutral moments in a young child's life. Someone is going to be influencing your children, inculcating values and imprinting standards on their impressionable young minds. Let it be you! Accept your calling from God to serve your family. As a mother, you are helping to shape the souls of your children for Christ and ultimately influence the world. Your children are your gift to the future.

Stay on mission

Does this mean you will never invest in others outside your family? Goodness, no. But if you are a young mother, stay on mission. Use your primary ministry of mothering to serve Christ now. Don't let anything diminish your unique role as a wife and mother. It is not godly guilt that would call you away from a wholehearted investment in your little ones for his sake.

 

"Don't feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years."

 

This season in your life is just that—a season. And each season is a divine calling from our creator and king. Organizing a new event at church is important. Teaching your little boy to be kind to his sister is also important. But which one can best be done by you during this season? Serve God well by ministering to your children first. Very soon they will be grown and gone, and you will be unable to recapture the teachable moments you have now.

Mothers, listen to Psalm 78:4-7: "We will . . . tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done . . . that the next generation might know . . . so that they should set their hope in God."

 

Excerpt taken from Jani Ortlund .. to read the entire post, visit here.

 
 

the "W" conference

Overview of the conference from SBTS:

God has called women to discipleship, evangelism and service to the church.

“But I feel pulled in a hundred directions? …Where do I find wisdom on which way to go?”

Being a woman is complicated, especially being a young woman in this mixed-up world. If the questions above enter your mind then the W conference was created just for you. W wants to help you apply the Bible’s teachings on womanhood to the situations that women often find themselves in. Being all that God has designed you to be isn’t always easy and without tribulation. W is intended to help and encourage you to live out your calling to make an eternal difference in His Kingdom.

W will encourage you to grow deeper in your faith and conference speakers will also address the biblical teachings on purity, relationships, dating, marriage, balance, wise spending, spiritual walk, making a difference, and more.

W is designed for young women, high school and college students and young adults. This Friday night and Saturday conference will be held on the campus of Southern Seminary on Nov. 19-20, 2010.

For more information, please go here.

my sweet family

Had a great time this evening snapping some photos of my in-laws. The kids were so cooperative!

baby news

We have a beautiful baby boy!

Wyatt Michael Eaton

two weeks

the official countdown is on.

two weeks

baby clothes washed

pampers stocked

excitement is rising

names ready

carseat cleaned

sleeping while we still can.

found Baby Magic lotion.

boy

girl

we cannot wait to find out

sneak peek

Had a session this afternoon with an adorable baby girl! She was so happy and we had beautiful weather.

Tonya

little helpers

I went out to the field behind our house to try to take some fall pictures of the trees. Had my two little helpers along! They were more interested in being silly and wanting me to take their photo.

Tonya

Kaci rides a horse

Who would have ever thought that Kaci would fall in love with riding horses? I wish I could have been on the trail to watch her. Taj said it was unreal how much she enjoyed it! She wanted the reins, told the horse to "go" and even learned how to guide the horse right and left. I will post about our overall experience at Rawhide Ranch but just had to put Kaci on here first!


ready to go


love the safety hats the kids had to wear


one happy little girl after her ride

The video won't load so I will have to try again in the morning.

Tonya

rawhide ranch

We just got home a few hours ago from our short family vacation at Rawhide Ranch in Brown County. We had a great time and the kids didn't want to leave! More details and photos coming soon. Just wait until you see Kaci riding her horse!

Tonya

little birdie

how we love her!

Jesus Thank You

my life

There would be no words to explain how much I love these four. And in just a few weeks, there will be five. I am so thankful to be a wife and mom!
Tonya

counting

Mia is learning how to count by 5's and Kaci loves to try!
Tonya

Mia turns six

photos from her party are coming soon!
Tonya

cursive first

Here are the reasons behind teaching Mia cursive first. She is doing great with writing her letters and I am so glad we decided to go this route. Cursive is flowing so naturally for her!


"Cursive helps curb reversals letter reversals. It provides a clearer distinction between b and d or p and q. All cursive letters start at the same point (at the base line.) Manuscript letters start at six different starting points. Cursive eliminates confusion and directionality. All letters go up from the base line. Manuscript move in three different directions: straight to the left (e), curving left and up (o), or straight down (h). Cursive requires fewer stops and starts to write a word. To write "broken" in manuscript requires 7 pencil lifts. To write "unbroken" in cursive requires no pencil lift. Writing ball and stick letters is more stressful for someone with newly developing small motor skills.

We were programmed to think that cursive is harder because we were taught manuscript when we were young and introduced to cursive in second grade. We assume there was so reason for this sequence.
That is not the case. For centuries students started with cursive. The shift to manuscript first was not linked to any evidence that this was a better way to teach initial penmanship. The shift came with the progressive school movement. The word "progressive" sounds like some form of advancement, and was used to hide a goal to weaken the education of the masses. This movement gave us look say as a replacement for phonics. With the changes came an assortment of new issues such as dyslexia and remedial reading classes."

by Wanda Sanseri, author of Spell to Write and Read

Tonya

why sing so many cross-centered songs?

Excellent response by C.J. Mahaney. May we never cease to make much of Christ!

cursive first

Mia is learning how to write her letters! We chose to do cursive first for several different reasons. I will try to find time to write more about it soon. Seems like the hours just fly by now that I have two to teach.

Tonya

before the throne of God above

thirty weeks

Some are thinking another girl ...



Some are sure it's a boy ..



...but the question still remains.

We can't wait to find out! Only nine more weeks.
Tonya

growing in grace

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it." Charles Spurgeon

sixth grade

It's hard to imagine that this is Grazzin's last year of elementary school. Junior high sounds old! He has some fun activities planned this year to help make school time enjoyable. One of them will be creating an ocean box to go along with his science study. (More info about the ocean box to come) Another thing he is really looking forward to is the swimming at the YMCA each month for part of PE.

Tonya

k is for kindergarten

God Saves Bad People

our first week of school

Wow, I am tired! We finished our first week today. For me it is usually the toughest one since it's hard to leave the summer routine behind and get into the books. I love teaching my kids but it requires discipline.

Grazzin is in 6th grade this year. He doesn't really care for school in general. Loves history and science, so I am thankful for that. I am going to try and post what curriculum we are using here in a couple of days for any of you that might be interested. I know that home school is an unusual concept to many in this area and are curious to know what it looks like. I'll be happy to give you a peek into our home! Home school is great

Mia started Kindergarten. She was thrilled! She's already been doing some school since last year ("just like Grazzin") so it hasn't been too much of a transition to get used to two children doing school. Now things might get interesting when we have the baby in November! lol

Kaci likes to get involved whenever she can. Otherwise she is content to play with her baby dolls and cook food in her little pretend kitchen.

Kaci likes to play with Mia's math linking cubes

Mia, working on her tangram shapes



eating lunch outside on our first day of school





taking a little movie break

Grazzin, at work in his room


more photos to come soon!
Tonya

update

I know the blog has been neglected for the past couple of weeks. We are getting back into the routine of school and for me that requires a lot of planning and organizing. I have photos to hopefully post tonight!

Mia is loving kindergarten and can't get enough. Yesterday she did 3 math lessons and wanted to do a few more! I hope she keeps the eagerness to learn.

Grazzin is in 6th grade this year. Wow, last year of elementary school. He is looking forward to our PE days on Fridays.

The baby is doing great. I had my glucose test yesterday and the Dr. said he's looking at the beginning of November for delivery. The time has gone so fast. The kids absolutely cannot wait to see if this baby is a boy or girl (the suspense is too much!) If anyone has any cute name suggestions, feel free to share. I have such a hard time picking out names that both Taj and I like.

Well, it's almost time for school to start...praying that God will give me a gentle spirit today with my children.
Tonya

just in case you were wondering

Why do the book face A and G look so different from manuscript? Early forms of printing worked like a sophisticated form of rubber stamping. What happens if we don't push all sides down evenly with a rubber stamp? Part of the image is not clear. When the bottom corner of the A and G did not print evenly, the A could be mistaken for an O and the G could be confused with the letter Q. Swirls were added to A and G to solve this problem.

So now you know!
Tonya

a muddled idea

Here's an excellent quote from the Girl Talk blog today:

"[Feminism] is mixed up with a muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands." --G.K. Chesterton, The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, vol. 4, p. 440

Girl Talk is featuring a variety of quotes while they are away on vacation. Check them out here.

Here's an excellent video, "You've Come a Long Way, Baby", from Mary Kassin. She discusses feminism and it's role within the past 50 years. It's well worth your time to watch it.


Tonya

goofy

for the young mother: ministry, guilt, and seasons of life

Here's a wonderful article by Jani Ortlund. Paragraph headings include:

Don't Waste Your Guilt
A Young Mother's Primary Mission Field
Mothering: Plain Hard Work
What Young Mothers Need: A Heart for the Home
This Season is Just a Season

Here's an excerpt:

"Why does the apostle have to tell us older women to teach these things to the younger women? Because it can be hard to love your husband and children. In fact, it can be easier to minister outside the home. Why is it more rewarding for us to plan a ladies’ retreat for two hundred women than it is to plan an indoor picnic with our preschoolers on a rainy afternoon? I think it’s because the rewards are more immediate and the demands are not so steady.

Being a young mother is plain hard work. At times it feels like slave labor! Young moms can identify with the cartoon of a toddler looking at a wedding album with his daddy and saying, “So that’s the day Mommy came to work for us!”

But God has called you to this ministry. He knows there are no neutral moments in a young child’s life, whose experience is one of continuous need and development. Your children will bear the imprint of your mothering throughout their lives because much of human behavior springs from imitation.

You are the only mother your children have. Your ministry to them is the deepest expression of your love for them. Raising your children has to be done right the first time around. It is one of the few places in life where you can not say, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

You have received this commission from God. As a mother your privilege is to teach them how to respect their daddy and be kind to their siblings, how to choose good nutrition and wholesome entertainment, why they should value courtesy and orderliness, and which causes are worthy of their efforts, their reputations, and even their very blood.

Are you discouraged as you spend day after day immersed in the mundane tasks of mothering? Then think of the honor of guiding the spiritual and intellectual and social development of young minds and hearts. Think of the thrill of teaching them eternal truths from God’s Word. Think of the importance of teaching your young children how to live under authority, and of preparing them for future relationships by teaching them about love and trust. Think of the delight of sending one more godly, vibrant, strong, secure, loving young person into this needy world with the courage to live well for Christ’s sake. What a worthy investment!"

To read the entire article, click here.

Be encouraged, young mothers!
Tonya

my baby girls

I was just wondering tonight if we will have another baby girl in November or if God will mix things up a bit and give Grazzin a brother.

self-righteousness defined

"Self-righteousness is being more aware of and irritated by the sins of others than you are conscious of and grieved by your own." - @PaulTripp

Very convicting.

Tonya

summer

Walking with the Wise

How exciting! I just found out yesterday that Sovereign Grace Music has released another children's album.

From their site:
The book of Proverbs tells us what it means to be wise. Being wise is more than just knowing a lot of being smart. It involves things like fearing the Lord, listening to others, loving God’s Word, having a joyful heart, being generous, not hiding our sins, working hard, and telling the truth.

One of the ways we become wise is by spending time with people who are wiser than us. That’s what it means to “walk with the wise”.

Most of all, wisdom is believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we could be forgiven and follow Him. That kind of wisdom is more important than anything in the world.

“For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” (Proverbs 8:11)



You can hear samples from each of the songs here. They are also giving a free download of one of the songs.

This would be a great CD to listen to while driving to the pool this summer or traveling on your family vacation!

Tonya

Happy Father's Day to my husband

"Family Man" from Trevor Little on Vimeo.

Taj,
I love you so much. You are a wonderful daddy to our children. Can't believe I snagged such a great man. God was very gracious to me! Thank for teaching our children how to love God and for being an example worth following.

Dad,
Thanks for being my dad. I love you.
Grazzin

Daddy,
I love when you play with me.
Mia

Daddy,
umm, alfjojrwnghgopwrpjgn. (She can't talk but she tried to tell me something!)
Mom: "Kaci, do you love Daddy?" Kaci, "Yeah!"

Daddy,
kick, kick
new baby

God and My Clothes

Just an encouragement now that summer is here. Please take the time to read a series of articles by C.J. Mahaney on modesty. This is taken from his blog. Please go here to read more articles on this topic.


The second of seven excerpts from C.J.’s chapter on modesty in the forthcoming book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World (Crossway, Sept. 2008).

-------

Any biblical discussion of modesty begins by addressing the heart, not the hemline. We must start with the attitude of the modest woman.

This emphasis on the heart is front and center in 1 Timothy 2:9. Note the phrase “with modesty and self-control.” All respectable apparel is the result of a godly heart, where modesty and self-control originate. Your wardrobe is a public statement of your personal and private motivation. And if you profess godliness, you should be concerned with cultivating these twin virtues, modesty and self-control.

Modesty means propriety. It means avoiding clothes and adornment that are extravagant or sexually enticing. Modesty is humility expressed in dress. It’s a desire to serve others, particularly men, by not promoting or provoking sensuality.

Immodesty, then, is much more than wearing a short skirt or low-cut top; it’s the act of drawing undue attention to yourself. It’s pride, on display by what you wear.

Self-control is, in a word, restraint. Restraint for the purpose of purity; restraint for the purpose of exalting God and not ourselves. Together, these attitudes of modesty and self-control should be the hallmark of the godly woman’s dress.

In Paul and Timothy’s day, modesty and self-control were foreign to many women walking through the local marketplace, just as they were to Jenni and are to the majority of women at the local shopping mall today. And these concepts are certainly foreign to modern fashion designers, whose goal in clothing design is sensual provocation.

But for godly women, modesty and self-control are to be distinctly present in the heart. The question is, are they distinctly present in yours?

Such an attitude will make all the difference in a woman’s dress, as pastor John MacArthur has observed:

How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood?.... Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshiping God? Or is it to call attention to herself, and flaunt her…beauty? Or worse, to attempt to allure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.*

Any conversation about modesty “starts in the intent of the heart.” So consider for a moment, what is the intent of your heart in purchasing clothes to wear? Does a humble heart and a servant’s heart dictate your wardrobe and appearance? Is your shopping informed and governed by modesty and restraint? Or is your dress motivated by a desire for attention and approval from others? Does your style reflect a lack of self-control?

There’s an inseparable link between your heart and your clothes. Your clothes say something about your attitude. If they don’t express a heart that is humble, that desires to please God, that longs to serve others, that’s modest, that exercises self-control, then change must begin in the heart.

For modesty is humility expressed in dress.

-----------
Taken from C.J. Mahaney’s chapter “God, My Heart, and Clothes,” in the book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World, © 2008. The book will be available from Crossway in September. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.
-----------
* John MacArthur, 1 Timothy, The MacArthur New Testament Commentaries (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 80–81.

ever had one of those nights?

what is the gospel?

What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

Tonya

summer book idea for adults

What Did You Expect? by Paul Tripp

Taj and I just purchased it. I am only on the 3rd chapter and it has been excellent. I would highly recommend it to any married couple or those wishing to be married.

Here's a short trailer:



You can purchase the book here.

Your marriage (or future marriage) will benefit in ways you never dreamed!
Tonya

summer book ideas for kids

The Prince's Poison Cup



You can purchase it here.

The Jesus Storybook Bible



You can purchase it here.

Fool Moon Rising



Through this illustrated tale about the moon stealing the sun’s glory, children learn about the importance of humility and the dangers of pride.

This rhyming, rollicking tale tells of a crime of cosmic proportions: the moon, blinded by pride, fails to see the true source of his abilities—the light provided by the sun. He boasts of his ability to shine, to change shape throughout each month, and to swell the tides. One day, overwhelmed by a piercing ray of sunshine, the moon repents of his pride and changes his ways, and from that point on he is happy to reflect the sun’s light.

This beautifully illustrated book introduces the concept of humility to children. Readers will be reminded that everything we have, including our gifts and talents, is from God. Just as the moon learns to boast only of the sun, children—and their parents—learn that to boast of anything other than the Son is utter foolishness.

You can purchase it here.


The Little Lights Set



A beautiful, bright, colorful gift set for that child 4-8 years of age! This offer includes all 6 illustrated books for little readers, or those who love being read to. Includes each of the following:

Who is the Bravest? The True Story of David Livingstone and his Astonishing Journeys
Are All of the Watches Safe? The True Story of Corrie ten Boom and the Little Dutch Watch Shop
Can Brown Eyes be Made Blue? The True Story of Amy Carmichael and her Looking Glass
Does Money Grow on Trees? The True Story of George Muller and the Hidden Coins
What's in the Parcel? The True Story of Helen Roseveare and the Hot Water Bottle
Could Somebody Pass the Salt? The True Story of Hudson Taylor and a Bowl of Soup

You can purchase them here.

Happy Reading!
Tonya