Our Children: Three Generations

It is said that a generation is the span of 10 years and our children range in age from 23-3 years old which means we have three generations of children; our quiver is certainly full!  With three generations, it can be very easy to over look ones and at times, though not on purpose, I am sure that I have.  Parenting is a choice and I am committed not to get weary, but to do well unto each child I have birthed and boy is it difficult at times.  When I say well I mean to personally care for their needs as their mother and to offer each one attention, affection, instruction and discipline, daily accepting my responsibility to train each one, of each generation.


God does not give me a pass because I have had ten children, no, but He does give me wisdom, strength and much grace and mercy.  I find myself seeking him often, sometimes several times a day for discernment and joy, for I know I can NOT do this by myself.  This week we allowed two more of our second generation of children to participate in a (FCA) sports camp leaving me with just a few at home to nurture and train.

What a joy and a pleasure it has been to look in these little guys faces each day this week, conversing with them and kissing on them.  I "want" to know them.  I am grateful for the opportunity to do ABC's and 123's with them.  Our week has been full as is my heart unto the Lord for his goodness and his grace.

I have also had the joy of watching our first generation of children do life independently this week as they have been busy at work, volunteering and participating in football camps.  It was once said to us that we should spend at least 15 minutes talking to each child, each day.  This practice has been a great investment.  Now, they regularly come to me with the days events, I just love these talks!  My greatest hope is that when my task of training them comes to an end, each one will choose to have a lifelong relationship with me, with us.  "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed..." Proverbs 31:

What about you...what is your greatest hope as a mother?

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

I must say, I am looking forward to this summer! 

We are blessed to be back in our home where we will return to a few Bowie summer traditions as well as indulge in a few new actvities.  I have been busy the last couple of weeks putting together our family summer schedule and in the process I see that camps and activities are very expensive especially for our family of 8 children (of 10 that are still at home).  So, one thing I know for sure that we will do is continue with our weekly family fun camp, Virtue.

I was led to start Virtue Family Fun Camp about ten years ago.  I have it at our community park.  It consist of a picinic lunch, a book review, a creative writing time, a craft, an outside group activity, bible study and prayer; something for everyone, moms and children!

Virtue has been a good alternative to a weekly camp that I might enroll our children in.  It gives them exercise and fellowship. It is also a great way to keep my children reading and it gives them an opportunity to indulge in arts and crafts and  creative writing with others.

For me, it is an opportunity for sweet fellowship, and a time to be sharpened by my sisters in Christ.  I enjoy discusing God's word and praying with other women.  Over the years I have been encouraged and inspired through this camp as have our children.

Please consider joinimg us!  There is no commitment or cost, it is FREE for all and it is fun, fun, fun!  We meet weekly at Lazelle Woods Park, Lazelle Rd., Westerville, Ohio, 1:30-4:30 every Monday, June 9th - August 4th.

Leave a comment for more information.

The Gift of Grandparenting

To be chosen to be a mom and birth 10 children was a gift in and of itself and now the Lord has been so gracious to bless us with grandchildren and I am in awe with Jesus.  Since we have just one daughter it has been my prayer to be close to my grandchildren and their mothers and God has answered my prayer.
 
One of the greatest blessings about being a grandmother is having the opportunity to share the goodness of the Lord, intimately with yet another generation of Bowies.  It is such a joy to do life with MJ (MiKyle Jr.), which is our oldest grandson and soon with JJ (Jacob Justice) our newborn grandson.  When MJ is here during the weekday he is with us in the schoolroom, present for all the teachings and family devotions.  When he is with us on the weekends he is present for Sunday dinner and sweet fellowship.  But the times I enjoy most are when he is in the kitchen chatting with me as I cook and when he comes in my bedroom to spend one-on-one time with me.  During those times I tell him how special he is and that he is loved by God.  I remember doing the same thing with his dad and it laid a foundation of open communication and ministry opportinities and I look forward to blessing our grandchildren in the same way.

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.  Psalms 145:4-5

All Things Are Possible With God

My plan, as a young adult was to have 2 children and then I accepted Jesus as my personal saviour and Lord.  Twenty-two years and ten children later, I am amazed that I am the mother of so many "wonderfully made" people.  Though they are all Bowies, they are obviously individuals, created in His image, what a task for Walter and I to train each one unto the Lord.  We are so inadequate in and of ourselves.  How do we do it Lord?  How do we show each one love...sharpen each ones character...pray for each one...daily?


All things are possible with God!  I seek Him continuously regarding each and everyone of our gifts, MiKyle, Elijah, Kelaiah, Nehemiah, Micah, Isaiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Zephaniah and Malachi.  I take my responsibility and my privilege of training our children very seriously.  As a mother I have the task of nurturing each one from infancy.  To nurture one is to know one and to know one is to spend time with one, individually as well as collectively and provide them with sustenance, spiritual, mental and physical sustenance.  What a great task with three generations of children.  I often have to remind myself...all things are possible with God.


Over the years I have learned how to group ones and how to invite ones individually into my "throne of grace", that place where they receive attention and love and my 'throne of instruction and discipline", that place where they receive wise counsel and rebuke.  Again, all things are possible with God, O how I trust Him.  Often times I am unsure if these encounters are effective, but I find peace in knowing I am in constant communion with God on their behalf.

This week I had the privilege of seeing a few of our young adults takes steps of responsibility and a couple of my younger children taking steps of responsibility; each one excepting their season of life and learning that with privileges comes responsibility.  I am in awe; in the midst of each of those situations was God...wooing with the Holy Spirit, convicting, affirming...ministering to our children and I had the privilege of experiencing it with them.  What a privilege and an honor!  It is times like these that I am inspired to press on.

As a mother, each day brings about its challenges, situations that stretch me and lead me to God for wisdom, joy and peace for this is not an easy task.  But, I must say it is a rewarding task.  I am a better person, a better servant of God all because I was chosen to be the mother of each of these Bowie children for they sharpen me and I am committed to not be weary in well doing, but instead to take up my cross daily and follow Him and be the best Mommy, Mom, Momma, I can be!

Like Money in the Bank

On Monday when checking out a few savings blog sites, I saw that CVS was having a 75% clearance on Christmas items, so I decided to check out the sales. Though the After Christmas Sale can be great, I find that I save the most money a week or more after the After Christmas Sale, so I was excited. I decided to stop at a few stores along the way. At Kroger Marketplace, I scored big! They too were having up to 75% off of Christmas items including toys. I have been in need of a table for my two-year-old to do his schoolwork on and not only did I find one, but I am now the coolest mom in the world it was a Spiderman table and I saved $52.50! Here I also grabbed a couple of Hot Wheels sets for just $3 and a Hot Wheel remote car for just $5!

I also did great at Bath and Body Works. I purchased $72.38 worth of merchandise for just $20.42 of which I paid with a gift card. All of the items that I purchased were 75% off and I used a $10 off a $30 purchase coupon that I found on my phone while in the store. As you can see there are many great deals still out there, though I was told this sale ends Sunday.

At CVS I saved a big! I purchased a set of wooden shelves, a fountain, a DVD home theater, a Bluetooth digital watch, a 15 piece make upset, and an eye pallet all for just $45, a savings of $128.71! The great thing here was their sale included all Christmas items including electronics Christmas gift items. The purchases you make now can be for items to be given as gifts for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, those unexpected occasions throughout the year or for Christmas next year.  It’s like money in the bank!

Still Planning

What a day!  I have really enjoyed listening to my praise music while working on my computer in my bedroom with my lilac candle and my cup of coffee. But, of course a mother's job is never done; I have also...washed clothes, cleaned the kitchen and cooked dinner while watching a little football with my man.  Later, I spent time listening and talking to my daughter who has been away on a retreat, ate dinner with the family and still have coupons to clip...okay you get the picture.  This is why I am still planning :).


With much more to get done, I am sure I will be up well into the night, but right now my heart is rejoicing in the Lord.  Knowing the tasks I had before me today when I woke up this morning I prayed and asked the Lord for wisdom and specifically asked that it come from Walter.  It blessed my heart so when Walter gave me encouragement and wise counsel and then support throughout the day.  Thank you God for you know my hearts desires and your promises are true; for this has been a very peaceful, productive day!

A Time of Prayer, Praise, and Planning

My family has gone off to church and my husband has told me to stay home to listen to praise music and plan, for we will resume school on Monday. He knows I need quiet time with Jesus not only to write a plan for the next quarter of schooling our children, but to prepare my heart and mind of how God would have me to use my time and our new space to bless our children; we still have a lot to be done with regards to our losses due to our house fire.

I began by asking each child what they felt they needed as we begin school tomorrow so I could lift them up in prayer.  If you would, join me in prayer today, that I would be anxious for nothing, that I would hear His voice and that I would know what he would have me to do in the coming days.

Fun In The Sun At Cedar Point

Our church had it's annual Cedar Point trip for the middle school and high school students. I have attended every year for seven years as a chaperone. This gives me the opportunity to get to know the middle school girls that each year I have had the pleasure of leading in the TURN program at Heritage Christian Church. It also gives me an opportunity to hang out with my own children who are able to participate.

Kelaiah invited Megan, her life long friend to go with us. The girls turned it in to a few days of girl time. In preparation for the big day, Kelaiah and I had gone shopping for fun girls stuff. She got matching t-shirts, flip flops and backpacks, lip gloss, nail polish etc.. On the back of the t-shirts she wrote "Best" on one and "Friend" on the other. Megan came over on Tuesday evening and they did their nails and laid out their clothes as they planned the next day's events.

Later on that night, I took the girls and Nehemiah shopping for snacks and beverage for the bus ride to and from. They were all so excited. This was Nehemiah's first time going to Cedar Point. He really was not interested in the big roller coasters, but his sister convinced him to go. She worked to purchase his ticket and bought him a water bottle and a hat just for the trip. He was excited about the fun to be had with her and his friends.

This was the first time I took a baby with me. Yes, baby Malachi went to Cedar Point. I was not willing to leave my little guy for a whole day, so I packed him up and took him with us. It was a joy to look down at him in the front carrier throughout the day. When the children were all on the rides it was me and my baby gazing into each others eyes as he smiled and cooed at his mama.

Having a big family I have learned to make adjustments as not to miss a single event. Each of the children have looked forward to my participation in this annual event; I did not want to disappoint them. I think it is very important to show them they are more important than my circumstances and well worth the sacrifice. I am grateful to God for his provisions of good health, a willing heart and a wonderful husband. It truly was a fun day in the sun!

Sowing and Reaping

Parenting is a process of sowing and reaping. It must be done consistently, with patience and zeal from the Father. I look to God as my mentor when it comes to parenting. He has the green thumb necessary for the growth of our children. He exemplifies much character when dealing with me as his child and I desire to parent like Him. Daily it is necessary to cultivate the heart and mind of our children, the soil, so they can receive those seeds that will be planted. This cultivating is done not only by what we say as parents but, I believe more so, by what we do before them. We must show them how to follow Christ.

Communication is the fertilizer; it is essential for the spiritual growth of the child and the growth of a strong relationship between the parents and the child. As my children have gotten older I found that it has been natural for us to talk about life as they experience puberty and young adulthood because I have always taken the time to share with them with the hopes of imparting wisdom and understanding. Along with talking to them, I learned along time ago it is very important to give them an opportunity to speak. I ask my children if they understand what has been said and for their input, validating them as an individual, a child of God. For I am not always right and I am willing to learn and grow with them.

Discipline and instruction are all a part of the weeding process. Children are born foolish and we are chosen by God to lead our children in the way they should go. While the children are young more discipline is necessary to draw them unto our authority and the authority of Christ. Instruction begins to replace discipline as the children grow older and wiser for they will have experienced a few consequences and are in need of more guidance and affirmation to keep them on the straight and narrow path.

The reaping is seen greatly in the rhetoric stage of life, young adulthood and throughout the balance of our children's lives. My prayer is that they will continue to blossom as they apply all that was and is imparted unto them that they might have life abundantly.

Do you see parenting as sowing and reaping? Explain.

Home School...Planning For The Days To Come

July is the month in which I plan for the current school year. We usually take a vacation over the Fourth of July, and I take that time to reflect and refer to God for insight, wisdom and direction for our home school plans. I consider the success and failures of the previous year as well as the needs and desires for the current year. God has always given me much grace each summer blessing me with renewed faith and a fresh perspective that motivates me and gives me confidence to move forward. This year our vacation is delayed until the end of the month, but I will start today with prayer, casting my cares upon the Lord.

I am seeking God with anticipation. We have come through a big transition in our family, starting a full time business, being pregnant and having our tenth child in the past year. God's grace and mercy has carried us and I have gleaned much wisdom from the Lord. I have a glimpse of what God is doing with our family in this season and it excites me to know we are in His will. Though I don't have the full plan, I have peace and confidence in Him, so I will continue to seek him daily for His plan to prevail.

Technically, our school year began with a Summer quarter of Learning Enrichment. We indulge twice weekly in arithmetic and grammar lessons. I am teaching seven of our children ranging from eleventh grade to kindergarten. I use the Trivium and we are on the third year which is the year for Chemistry and Modern History. I hope to engage in few more field trips this summer relating to our areas of study.

Looking ahead to Fall quarter, as I gather material for each child's level of learning I must be prayerful as to how to teach them. Each child is different and they learn differently as well. I want to encourage them to grow in character even more than I do in academics. I need the Lord to reveal to me how to lead each one unto Him. I am also seeking God regarding our daily schedule as it will relate to education and work. We anticipate having at least one more of our sons join my husband in our family business this year, so the schedule is an important factor to be considered.

Home schooling is a part of our lifestyle. We recognize our call to home school as not just the act of educating our children in academics, but as an opportunity to walk in the responsibility of training our children and preparing them for life. What a privilege! This is sure to be a busy month of prayer and preparation and I am delighted to engage with God in this endeavor.

When and how do you prepare for the next school year?