Parenting Resources - A Very Helpful Book

Having three teens in the house at once is not a new situation for me.  My oldest three children were teens; it couldn't have been too long ago, but the time has slipped by.  Anyway, you would think I would know everything about young people there is to know by now.  But I don't.

I find myself quite inadequate for the job.  Thankfully, there are some resources that have been a help to me.  In fact, if I had only had them when my oldest children were still in the home.

Hook, Line, and Sinker, by Cary Scmidt is an excellent book for parents and teens alike.  Unlike many people who write on the subject, Cary Schmidt has a lot of experience dealing with young people and parents alike.  His wise combination of experience and biblical knowledge works together to produce a volume which pinpoints many areas of weakness in the homes of today.

The most amazing thing is not that Satan uses the same tactics over and over with generation after generation of young people, but that, after all these years, the same tactics still succeed.  It seems to me that we should be paying closer attention to the Devil's deception and trying to thwart his plans.

Cary Schmidt outlines and exposes Satan's lies and deceptions, gives us ideas as to how to conquer his insidious attacks.  We've been going through his book as a family, and it has been a real eye-opener as well as an encouragment.

If you have any young people in your home and want to raise them for God, you would do well to have this book.

This article is purely my opinion, and there is no payment of any sort for my support of this book.

Ministry Update - March 2012 (2)

Much has happened in the past few weeks in our ministry to the military. As many of you know, there has been a lot of opposition to anyone going onto an installation to conduct Bible Studies, us included. There was, however, a meeting of the parachapel organizations for the Marine Corps base a few weeks ago in which the chaplain continued his support for individuals to minister on the base. He recognises the need for help inthe huge job he has of trying to reach, encourage, and help the troops and their families.


Please pray:


1. For continued open doors in Camp Pendleton


2. For the establishment of a second team on Camp Pendleton


3. For permission from the chaplain here at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station


4. For guidance concerning our upcoming project at Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Corps base. For this operation, we are planning on doing some preliminary work, laying the ground work for future ministry.


5. For guidance, safety, and that our vehicles will hold up as we begin our drive from the west to the middle of the country.


6. For my husband, who is experiencing chronic ear problems. We're praying that the Lord will guide us to an ENT doctor, and that we will be able to afford whatever proceedure he needs.


Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers!


Yours for the Journey for Jesus,

When I'm Tempted to Complain...

"Wherefore endure hardness as a good soldier . . ." 2 Timothy 2:3

We've had the wonderful privilege to minister to many Marines here on Camp Pendleton.  One young man, we'll call him Brandon, came over this morning to help us with our bus in return for a nice big breakfast!  He is a diesel mechanic in the Marine Corps, and of course is a very busy fella.

After breakfast, he told us what things were like over in Afghanistan during his deployment.  Bringing his dry humor into every situation, Brandon had us all roaring with laughter at some of the crazy things he did while he was there.  But some things carried with them a sharp stab at my comfort zone.  The things he went through are virtually unbelievable, and have made an indelible impression on my heart.

Being a diesel mechanic, he was extremely busy.  "I had no idea what busy was until I got over to Afghanistan," he told us.  "We were so busy working with our own equipment and also the Brits', there was a time when we were on duty twenty-three hours a day for four weeks!  The only time anybody could find us not busy was when we were asleep, so they'd wake us up and tell us that we needed to go back out and fix a machine.  It got to where I was so tired, I didn't care about anything any more.". 'Just kill me,' I would think to myself,". he laughed as he waved his hand.

Busy?  Yeah, I know busy.  But I don't think I know busy quite like Brandon does.  Going without sleep?  Oh, sure; when you have three kids three and under, you know what it's like to go without sleep.  But I don't think I've ever been as tired as Brandon has.

As the conversation continued to flow, my husband asked, "What's the closest you've been to an IED?"  (Improvised Explosive Device)

"I had one go off right under me once, when I was riding in a vehicle," he replied.  "I heard a tremendous boom, and felt my legs get real hot, almost like they were being scoured with hot sand, and then I remembered that sand, when it gets very heated, turns to glass.  So here I was, out in the middle of nowhere, with my legs encased in glass!"  He chuckled a little, then said, "My head was messed up for awhile, and I couldn't hear for a few days, but after awhile I was ok."  He told us of his hearing loss, but he made light of his injuries, saying, "Hey, at least that was all that happened!"  My mind went back to the many Marines I've seen wearing Prosthetic Legs.

Hardship?  Pain?  Oh, yes, I know pain.  Childbirth, for one.  And surgery recovery.  But...somehow I don't think I know pain quite like Brandon has.

His description of life there in Afghanistan sounded nothing like "normal."  "One of the very best things my buddy got from his family was a package of Depends," he quipped. 

I stared, the kids' jaws opened, then shut, and Jason asked, "What's Depends, Mom?"  After he was duly informed, he stared at the Marine as though he had come from Saturn.

"Yeah," Brandon continued.  "We'd be in a convoy, and we'd be on the road all day.  But they don't have convenience stores out in the desert every sixty miles or so.  And I learned that when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!"

OK.  Now that's nothing like I've ever experienced since I was in diapers.  Somehow my small motorhome with only one bathroom for all six of us sounds very spacious . . . very spacious indeed!

When Brandon left, I had to wonder, what's my comfort zone?  These folks have given up every comfort - and I mean EVERY comfort - for the sake of duty, but what about me?  Surely there is more I can do for my Lord. 

What's my comfort zone?  

Getting a hug by his best friend and the man who saved his life!

Do I complain, grumble, or belly-ache because there aren't enough fries in my Happy Meal?  Perhaps my home is small, and my feet get stepped on sometimes.  That sure beats having my feet blown off.

Sure, we have to wait in line for the bathroom, but that beats wearing Depends.

And sleep?  Why, I get more than I deserve!

Spending time with Brandon has brought all new meaning to the phrase, "endure hardness as a good soldier."  May I be willing to reach out of my comfort zone as I seek to live for God.

Finding contentment in our Journey,

Now THIS is Hilarious!!

I was reading this article today, and gleaned a LOT of wisdom.  No, I'm not a secretary, but I can learn a lot about serving from those who serve.  Bonnie's words of guidance are quite an encouragement to anyone who wants to grow and be a blessing to others.

Not only did I gain some wisdom, I also got a few belly laughs.  These are simply HILARIOUS.

Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.

We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.

For Rent: 6-room hated apartment.

Auto Repair Service: Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again.

Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first!

And my personal favorite:

Our experienced Mom will care for your child. Fenced yard, meals, and smacks included.

The moral of the story??  Always have someone proofread your work!!

Put a skip in your step as you go on your journey!

When We Are Broken

In our house, small as it is and as many people as there are, it’s inevitable that something gets broken.  Hopes are dashed, forceful words are flung, and hearts are broken.

“It is impossible but that offences will come  . . .”

My daughter’s precious possession is splattered across the floor.  Her pride and joy lay in a heap, and her heart was grieved.

Sometimes things get broken, splattered, dashed. 

Pieces lie scattered.  Can the loved article be fixed?

Maybe.  Maybe not.

We take it to Him who can make all things new . . .

I take the beautiful plant out of the heap, and gently place it in its new home.

 The cleanup is not difficult, but the pain in my hand attests to the fact that there is a price to be paid. 

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.  (Zechariah 13:6)

My daughter’s eyes glow when she sees her loved plant.  “Thank you so much, Mommy!  It’s so beautiful now!”  It was broken . . . so that it could be made new.

I may not like it much, but I know that it’s OK to be broken.  Jesus can make us new.

Make The Most Out of Your Thrift Store Stop

My daughter, Kathryn, is what I call a "Thrift Store Queen!"  We've always shopped at thrift store, but even when she was little, she was worlds better than me!  In fact, I would go through a rack of clothes, and she would come right along behind me and find oodles of good items at wonderful prices that I had just overlooked.  Now she takes her three children shopping, and they are learning from the best thrift store shopper I know!

While she is great at finding good, stylish clothes for her family, she specializes in decorating her house in real style, right from the Salvation Army!  One look around her house will tell you that she has excellent taste, and it's hard to believe that her things come from such places as Goodwill, the Salvation Army Trift Store, and her favorite (what she refers to as an upscale thrift shop!,) "Vinnie's, or St. Vincent De Paul's.

The other day, I asked Kathy if she would share with me her secret to getting the most out of a stop at a thrift store.  These are the things she said:

1.  Identify what the sale items are.  Are they red tag?  Blue tag?  The kids already love going thrift store shopping, and enjoy finding tags with the right color of the week.
 

2.  Scan the store to see if anything really catches my eye.
 

3.  Go through the store more methodically, if I have time and money.
 

4. Shop often.  Of course, if go regularly, I can watch for new items, or keep my eye out for things which are having their prices lowered.
 

By following this method, I've been able to get some tremendous buys!  Here are some of the big deals I got recently:
 

One time recently, I found a Keurig on sale for 9.99.  It was a display model, so the plug had been cut off of it, and it was missing the cup holder with the sharp point.  I knew my hubby could easily put a plug on it, so I picked it up, went home & ordered a cup insert online that I found on sale, and I had a brand new Keurig for only $ 25!!!
 

Another time I saw Vtek electronic jewelry box learning center in the display case for $8.  That was more than I wanted to pay, so I looked through the toy section to see if I could find anything.  Wouldn't you know, I found the same Vtek jewelry box for only $2, since this one didn't have the box!
 

But I guess the crowning glory of all buys was the changing table I got for only $0.99!!  It was a yellow tag item that I had been eyeing it for a few weeks.  At our particular Goodwill, at the end of the week, they put the color of the week on sale for $0.99, so I simply waited until Saturday, and lo and behold, it had been marked down, down, down all the way to $0.99!  I was so thankful, and we bought it for the church nursery!

In my own research, I also found an interesting web site with some other good ideas.  The Budget Fashionista has some good points to consider, as well.

So there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen, from The Thrift Store Queen herself!  I have found that by employing these points, even I - Thrift Store Bumbler - can get some good buys.

Have any of you gotten any good buys from thrift stores?  Maybe you have another point which you would like to share.  We would love to hear how you get deals!

Save the Date! ... and a very helpful book

It's official. folks!  July 21 there will be another Raub added to the (quickly) expanding Raub Crew!  

Congratulations, Stephen & Jessica!  I am so proud of both of you!

Anyone with at least one child can relate with the difficulty of finding time in the busy schedule to pray.  Spending time with God each day is the most important thing we can do, but often the most neglected. 



The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer is a prayer journal that I found online and have been using for the past few days.  It's been great for me, helping me to pray through some of the neglected areas.  Quite a little gem! 

Check it out!

Enjoy your weekend journey!