Hello there after a long time,
Life has been really busy here. We've been doing a lot of sewing of mittens and hats and doing school and running into town for skating and over to the Wildlife preserve for homeschool meet and the list goes on.
The boys are doing very well at their school and being pretty consistent at getting it done everyday. They've been enjoying their new online program and it has kept their interest so far. We have three desk top computers which they have been using but it has become a problem when they have paper work to do as well, and there is no space on our small desks for monitor, key board and notebooks.
Well, our local Staples store put their small notebook computers on sale for about $100 dollars off and we decided it was time to jump. That meant that each child needed to find $200 dollars to buy himself a computer. 200 x 3? that kind of money doesn't usually just happen around here but I told the kids they had 10 days to find it.
Well, God was on our side and he sent a long day of snow flurries while the boys and I sewed mittens and hats from recycled wool sweaters. When we went to town on Wednesday, people were cold enough to realize winter had indeed arrived. Within an hour the boys had sold everything and we went to Staples and bought computer number one. At home we sewed some more and by Friday we went to town and within another hour were able to purchase computer number two. Back home again to sew some more and by Monday the boys had computer number three! Hurray! God is so good and they are so happy!
Now the next project is to get a few more dollars and buy some much needed curriculum for writing composition and Jacob wants another math program.
I guess by now you are wondering why I titled this post the way I did.
Yesterday the boys ran into a great learning opportunity that took them all by surprise but made them really sit back and think. Every Wednesday all the homeschool kids in the community get together to skate and play hockey and other games. The boys have a lot of fun and are really fast and great skaters. They love chasing the puck and do pretty good at it. However, there is one boy amongst the homeschooled kids that is always there for everything whether it be swimming, skating, art lessons or whatever. He is big and he makes a point of being a bully to almost anyone but especially to Caleb. The kid can't stand to lose and while Caleb can't either, he is usually a pretty good sport about it and won't complain if he does. This kid however, sees Caleb as a small in stature, big threat.
While they were playing hockey yesterday, apparently this kid was getting one goal after another so the other team decided to kick it up a notch and really get down to business and make some points for their side. Caleb stopped a slap shot in mid air and stole the puck, slamming it into the net of the opposing team. Big kid was angry and took slice at Caleb with is hockey stick but luckily missed. Caleb got the puck again. Big kid was beside himself and some of the mothers around told him to chill but he didn't. Mothers pulled their kids from the game until the only one left playing was Big kid who skated around in circles with the puck. One mother called him over and had a talk with him about his behaviour and then called Caleb to figure out what happened. Caleb said he was tired of being bullied and didn't want to take it anymore. Caleb was a little hot under the collar by this time. He's been hit, and pinched and kicked and called all kinds of things from this kid and he's tired of it. Well, after being talked at for a while, Big kid took off and wouldn't hear any more but when opportunity presented itself, he approached Caleb and decided to attack where he thought it might hurt the worst. So very sneeringly he said, "You, Sabbath Keeping Christian!!!" LOL
Caleb later said to me. "Mom, that wasn't very nice, the way he said that!"
Jacob burst out laughing and said, "You should have been like, ""Hey, Thanks for noticing!"". laugh, laugh, laugh.
That evening our Bible study group at church studied God's forgiveness to us and how we should experience it and then in turn be like Jesus and be willing to take our enemies to Jesus and beg him to not hold their sins against them on our account but to rather be willing to take their place in hell, if need be, so that they can be saved. Of course God would see that kind of love and recognize it as Jesus living through you and Heaven would never be taken from you but the very attitude of that kind of love produces complete forgiveness for even our worst enemies.
Caleb thought about it. He realized Christ's name was at stake here if he blew it. It was the first time the kids realized that people were actually watching them as more then just another kid, but as Christian kids. He repented that evening for getting hot under the collar and being angry. Jacob and Isaac also realized suddenly their roles as Christian kids in the community was to share Jesus simply by acting like Jesus would no matter what the situation. It was a great lesson. Perfect learning opportunity.
And so, just for information sake and continued seeking of your prayers. We had an awesome Bible Study/Prayer group last night. The prayer time was Spirit filled and for real! I was truly blessed. 10 people came. Keep praying for us.
