Spring Is Certainly Here...A Time To Plant

It's Spring and I am excited! As a homeschool mom, when Spring begins, I see it as a season of opportunity; a time to start a fresh and a new, a time to reevaluate myself and my children and a time to enjoy "my man".  I look forward to spontaneous games with the children, Friends Day (Tuesday evenings), S'mores and impromptu dates.

This year it shall be no different; I refuse to allow our current situation of still being in the temporary house while "our home" is reconstructed to put a damper on this season.  Though the reality of the lack of comfort and normalcy did plague me for a moment, the Lord did enlighten and encourage me.  My family needs me to be faithful, to plant the seeds of the season that we might reap a harvest in the days to come. And that I will, I am simply going to carry on as normal even the planting of a container garden. For God holds our future in his hands and it is merely my job to be a willing vessel in his plan for the Bowies.

With that thought in mind I realize there is much preparation to take place to plant seeds for our harvest.  I must prepare the land, the hearts of our children as we enter in to this season.  I must also seek and find the merchandise or furniture for our home I will invest in, renewing each piece specifically for our use. And I must daily submit my heart to Christ that I am able to work the Bowie garden so that we will at seasons end yield much good fruit.  I know the task at hand is not an easy one.


As I pondered these things I still found it difficult to know where and how to begin when things appear to be so different this year.  The Lord reminded me I am not starting life over, I am just doing life in a different place. Oh yea! I am glad the Lord laid it upon my heart, years ago, to have a family fun camp at the park. In my planning, I started there.  It has always been a foundational part of our Spring and Summer to have Virtue Family Fun Camp. We invite friends to bring a sack lunch, listen to read aloud stories, have a book review, make a craft and enjoy some playtime while the moms have a book review and prayer time.  I am looking forward to this more this year than I have in the past.  I so want our children to make good memories during this transitional time in our lives.  For myself, I look forward to growing in Christ with my sisters in Christ and having prayer time in the park, which will be an extended time this year, because I need it.  As they have for the past couple of years the boys will also participate in sports camp and we will commit to a few volunteer opportunities as a family.


I am also looking forward to helping my children build good character, encouraging them and pulling the weeds of the flesh i.e. selfishness, pride, lying etc. In this season, there always appears to be more time to converse with them and pray with them.  I spend most of my time with them, in their presence, engaged with them in a more enjoyable, relaxed setting.  Our home becomes more a place of rest and relaxation, restoration and renewal.  We will have extended morning devotions together outside or on the couch, academic time to practice basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills using games, flashcards etc. and we'll go on field trips for hands on learning and fun.  I don't know if it's the warmth of the sun or the grace of the season that warms my heart so and draws me closer to my family, my friends and closer to God, but I am excited to embark upon it.


What about you; are you looking forward to season?

     

April Showers Bring May Flowers

At the beginning of April we were showered with disappointment with regards to the reconstruction/remodel of our home.  The builder we hired was not working efficiently, to put it kindly.  We were about four months into the perspective date of our reconstruction/remodel and only about ten percent of the work had been complete.  This presented us with a major decision to dismiss this builder from our project. With this decision came much frustration and anxiety as we were not sure what to do since we only had the recommendation of one other building company from our insurance company who gave us the recommendation of first builder. 

After much conversation and prayer, Walter and I decided to go with our second recommendation and trust the Lord to prevail.  As this builder looked into what was virtually no work done, they went to confirm that the proper permits had been filed so they could get to work.  This resulted in more disappointment as there were no building permits applied for...none!  They inquired about applying for a partial permit to at least begin working and found this was no longer allowed.  Again, more disappointment.  The only option was to apply for work permits needed for the complete job of reconstruction and remodel with the expectancy of a 4-6 week wait for the permits to be approved.

Well, I am glad to say, it did not take 6 weeks, as they have begun the initial work needed to get started on the project.  There is much digging going on right now as we are expanding the rear of our home as part of the remodel. I am faithful that May flowers are on their way.

Please keep us in your prayers as these "showers" mean we will not be back in our "home" this Summer.  I am now attempting to make the adjustment to be in our temporary home for a bit longer.  This comes with many mental and physical adjustments as we are use to enjoying our decks and swimming in our pool at our leisure, oh and enjoying "Friend's Day" each Tuesday throughout the Summer.  As God would have it, that will not be so this summer and we have accepted that to be not His will.

So, my current venture  is to make this place our "summer home", a place of restoration of heart and mind, relaxation, fellowship and fun...fun...fun!  Will you help?  I am seeking a few items:  an outside rug (so we can use the very old deck), a volleyball net and volleyballs (doesn't replace the pool but makes for good spontaneous fun), a basketball hoop and basketball, bikes and helmets, and a fire pit.  If you are getting rid of any of these things in your garage sale or you plan to donate them this season, please consider us and again, keep us in your prayers.  I am anticipating the great things He has planned for us!

Longaberger Baskets=Blessings Upon Blessings

A couple of months ago, I posted a blog with an offer, no actually an opportunity to be blessed with great, high quality merchandise and be a "blessing" to our family when purchasing a Longaberger basket, pottery or flameware.  The commission I earn from  these purchase is being used solely to purchase household furnishings for our home as we lost 2/3 of our belongs in the fire we experienced in November.

If you considered making a purchase and did not, there is still time to "Buy a Basket...help the Bowies"  If you know ones who might be interested in these items please forward this link to them, thank you!  http://ic.longaberger.com/esuite/home/michelebowie?showID=15842528&hostName=Michele+Bowie&closeDate=04%2F30%2F2013 
every purchase counts.  Thank you in advance for your support of the rebuilding of our "home".