Author: Grace-Filled Writer

Week in Review: August 5-9

Grace-Filled Writer


In retrospect, this was not the ideal week to begin school. I had these wonderful visions of what our first day back at it would look like with eager faces shining up at me begging to be enlightened…yeah…and I’m not even a newbie anymore either! My girls were coming off a 2-week vacation with their grandparents, I was only 2 1/2 weeks out from having thyroid surgery, and I started one of my two part-time jobs teaching piano for 2 1/2 hours every afternoon. I obviously didn’t think this through! Yet, when my mind is made up to begin something, I have a very difficult deviating from that thought.

Our first week was not what I had planned, yet it was still pretty good. I learned some things, tweaked some things, and regrouped more than once! We ended the week with a fun field trip giving us some much needed family-time as well.

We’re using three guides from Heart of Dakota once again…

Grace – K4
Beth – 1st Grade
Rose – 3rd Grade

Little Hands to Heaven: Unit 20


Grace did a little over half the guide of Little Hands to Heaven last year for K-3. I had originally intended to do this guide twice in a row, but plans changed, life happened, and here we are. This unit was a review so it was a perfect starting point for Grace. All of the letters have special motions and a rhyme to help out with remembering their sounds. I was so pleased that even though she didn’t remember all of them she did recall them quickly when I reminded her of the motions. 

We are moving fairly quickly now through the About 3 series. Rod and Staff is an excellent company and very solid, although not flashy. Much of their curriculum focuses on rural life and has given us some great discussions we may not have had otherwise. My grandfather was a farmer so it has been fun to explore things like farming tools as well as less modern conveniences such as oil lamps. 

We are also reading through Master Book’s N is for Noah. I am loving being a Mom of Master Books! (Click on the picture for my full review!)

Grace is also starting to learn to read! We’re using Reading Kingdom (A TOS Review product) and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons…but more will come next week!




Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory: Unit 1

Beth has grown up so much in the last couple of months. She has decided to grow her bangs out and is typically the first one starting her lessons, most often without my even saying anything to her. She loves to learn and never, ever balks at her schoolwork. I have no idea if this will last, but believe me, I’m going to enjoy it while I can!

She is finishing up the last few pages of the Inside Outside Rod and Staff workbook, which she is sad to see end. J, the next book in the series has just been published and I may just have to get it for her! 

She was a bit hesitant about history last year, but by the end of Little Hands to Heaven she really enjoyed our readings. She couldn’t wait to get started with history this year. Living history is one of the beautiful aspects of the Heart of Dakota curriculum modeled after Charlotte Mason’s style of learning. 
Beth did her first timeline entry today! Timelines are a big part of Heart of Dakota. Beth was very certain she could never do a timeline entry…then was so proud of herself when she did! Everything is her own writing and drawing. I did give her an example of what she could draw to get her started though. 
We are also continuing with All About Spelling (close to finishing level 1!) as well as cursive instruction. She has started the year off quite well! 
Preparing Hearts for His Glory: Unit 1
Rose was not quite as eager to get started this summer as I expected and I think it may have been my fault. I over ambitiously assumed since she completed Bigger Hearts for His Glory on such a high note we could dive right into Preparing Hearts for His Glory at full speed…and after two days I saw this had been a big error! I believe from now on I’m going to need to start every guide at half speed and then see how it will go. Since Rose is at the younger end of the age-range for the guide I had to be reminded by other Heart of Dakota moms that I need to give her a bit of time to grow into the higher expectations of this guide.
Rose’s least favorite subject is math. I’ve been having her continue with Math Rider which is really helping with this. Rod and Staff is our math curriculum which has a lot of practice. Since I feel it is more at this level than she needs I have been having her do just the even or odd numbers on the page. If she has any trouble we go back and do the opposite the following day. So far this has been a great plan and has eased her anxiety over this subject. 
Draw and Write Through History: Creation to Jonah is definitely her favorite part so far! These creation based history lessons excite my little artist! 
Dictation is alternated with All About Spelling, level 3. She does well with both, so I combine the two with an alternating schedule. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for dictation while Tuesdays and Thursdays are All About Spelling. I have been so pleased with her progress in this area. She still has some letter switching issues, but this seems to be most prevalent when she is less focused or tired. I just try to make sure she is fresh when we cover these subjects from now on. 
Over all the week was good. I did have to change up my plans and back off a bit on Rose’s work, but otherwise it was a good week.

Reading Kingdom: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
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This year I’m getting ready to teach reading for the third time. The first time I began reading instruction with my oldest I felt completely inadequate and unprepared. My background is middle school education and so even though I took a reading class in college, I never thought I’d be teaching it. Then both of my oldest daughters, always eager to learn, started asking, begging to learn at age three. While I didn’t start their reading instruction that young, they were reading on a 1st grade level before they turned five.

And now there is almost four-year-old Grace. The sweet little thing is so incredibly distraught she doesn’t know how to read yet, but repeatedly tells me she doesn’t want me to teach her. I’m not a fan of teaching reading to very young children, but when children show an interest in any kind of learning I do not want to hold them back. She is incredibly advanced and her hesitancy has surprised me. I had decided to hold-off on her reading instruction for a while until I had this chance to review Reading Kingdom. This is a computer based reading program to be used with pre-readers through a 3rd grade reading level. I hesitate to list an age because kids learn at such different paces, but the website says it is intended for ages 4-10. It allows children to move at their own pace, requires mastery of a skill before moving forward, and as excited my little reader. The price is $19.99 per month or $199.99 for an entire year with discounts for multiple children. A 30-day risk-free trial is also available to try out first.

Grace has enjoyed using this almost every day…so much in fact she asks, “Can I play my owl game?” even after school has finished for the day. She started by taking an assessment which placed her where she needed to be. Parents are firmly instructed not to help at all with the exception of helping with hand control. This assures the child is accurately placed and will be able to work on their own. I followed this guideline and since Grace is used to using the computer I didn’t need to help her with the mouse at all. 

The program then begins at the appropriate level. I wish there was a bit more indication of what the levels were, but this is not preventing her from moving forward. I do really like the reports which you can access at any point. She has moved on much more rapidly than I expected. I’m not certain how her progress is measured, but I can see she has completed 10% of the entire program and 17% of the current level which is working with letters. I would really like a better understanding of where she is, but I am pleased there is a report to see.

Grace works on her own needing no assistance beyond accessing the website. She loves the owl. I’m not sure what has captured her about the character exactly, but she is particularly fond of it. She will sometimes complete more lesson in one day, but since I know the program will not allow her to progress without mastery this is fine. This is an example of what she is doing now. She is asked to identify the letters listed on the top row in the same order on the bottom row using the keyboard. There is an option to use the actual keyboard or an on-screen mouse activated keyboard. I have chosen the latter at Grace’s request. I think this is better for her age anyway because she can keep her focus on the screen. 
I would recommend this program to those looking for computer-based reading instruction, but from this point on I will only be using it to supplement the phonics curriculum I have already used for a couple of reasons. The first is I really do not care for computer-based only instruction for our family. Kids spend so much time in front of screens I prefer to do most of their learning through books and experience. The second is I disagree with some of the philosophy behind this reading program. While it is working well and Grace enjoys it I find some flaws in their assertions about reading instruction and why traditional approaches are failing the majority of students. 
To read more reviews of this program from my Crewmates click below!

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N is for Noah: Review

Grace-Filled Writer

Have you ever considered teaching theology to your preschooler? I hadn’t. We have taught her for a long time about how Jesus died on the cross to pay for her sins and how we are all sinners, but this is about as deep as it went. I suppose I just fell into the trap of thinking there is no way a preschooler could comprehend much deeper. I’m so grateful for Master Books (A division of New Leaf Publishing Group) and how they are giving me opportunity to rethink this type of thinking. The most recent book I’ve had the privilege to review as a Mom of Master Books has challenged me to

Reviewing N is for Noah has been unbelievable fun. When I found out it was coming to review I was mildly interested as I thought it was simply going to be the story of Noah’s Ark told in the framework of an alphabet book. Cute, yes, but nothing really different. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Prior to this publication are two other books along the same idea called A is for Adam and D is for Dinosaur. I would love to have the first two in this series after having experienced this one!

Grace loves this book. We have been doing one page a day much to her dismay. The spiral bound book follows the story of Noah, but teaches so much more than this. Through a simple rhyme preschoolers learn why there is sin, why we need a Savior, who that Savior was, that we can trust the Bible to be true…the list just goes on and on!

On the reverse side of the picture and poem is a teacher page which tells you what to say. Am I the only one who loves scripted lessons? There are times when I’m at a loss as how to explain something. I typically know the answer, but translating that information into elementary-ese…let alone preschool-ese…presents quite the challenge! Ken and Mally Ham took this challenge and created a resource to empower parents and teachers with accurate, age-appropriate answers. In addition there are activity ideas, additional biblical connections, and discussion questions…so many options for you to further your study. I think this would be a great resource for anyone planning an alphabet study as well.

Are you ready for another awesome thing about this book? There are free coloring pages to use with your children! My girls adore coloring anyway and I love how many of Master Books publications have free resources offered on their website.

This is one of the most doctrinally sounds preschool resources I have ever had the opportunity to use. Click below for more reviews if this fabulous book from my fellow Moms of Masterbooks!

Disclaimer: I received N is for Noah as part of the Moms of Master Books Team. I was not required to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

Draw to Learn from Notgrass: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
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Bible is one of the subjects I never have to struggle teaching is Bible. My husband and I are both passionate about the Word of God and even more passionate about instilling a love for His Word in our girls. While I was resting after their birth I have vivid memories of my husband singing Jesus Loves Me and telling them the plan of salvation, just how much God loved them. We felt as if their baby dedications were more for us, a parent dedication if you will, as we committed before our congregation to train up our children in the ways of the Lord. It is with this mindset we entered into homeschooling, knowing our curriculum would always start with solid teachings in the foundations of Scripture.
photo untitled2_zps9392029d.jpgThe opening paragraph on the the Notgrass Company website talks about creating materials with a Christian worldview to teach the hearts, souls, and minds of our children. That one sentence sold me on wanting to review material from this family-run company. We were blessed to review their Draw to Learn Bible study material. This product is designed for use with children of all ages and encourages them to illustrate what they have learned from the Scripture they have studied. Available in both print ($14.95) and digital ($9.95) there are multiple options for your needs.
We used the spiral bound book on Proverbs. It seems quite simple at first glance with Scripture references at the top, empty space for drawing, and directions at the bottom. Although as simple as it may seem, it has profoundly deepened my oldest daughter’s thought process when it comes to Scripture. We have been using this in addition to our regular Bible material, and she doesn’t mind the extra study one bit! She is the one of my girls who loves all things artistic so this has been an excellent for her. 
One aspect I really liked about this Bible study is it is very personal to her. She reads the passage and then illustrates what she has gleaned after reading the short instructions at the bottom of the page. It has been amazingly insightful for me to see what impacts her. I suppose up until this curriculum I felt the need to lead her to understanding. This may have been true to a certain extent up to this point, but at eight years old she is ready for me to let go of her hand and allow her to discover God’s Word on her own. This has been a beautiful way to start her on that journey.
There are no right and wrong answers for this. There are suggestions at the bottom of each page, but they are suggestions only. My daughter has taken on this curriculum with great joy. She’s used to me giving her new things to try out and she enjoys the change in routine from time-to-time, but she rarely asks to continue with a curriculum in particular. She generally loves school and like her sisters is incredibly easy to teach. This time, she asked specifically, “I get to keep doing this, don’t I? I really like it!” So be assured, this will continue to be a part of our weekly learning. 
Click below to read more reviews of Notgrass products from my Crewmates!
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Bible Study for All Ages: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
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Learning Together…This is something I’m learning more about and seeking to do with my girls. I still want them to have their own age-appropriate studies for history, science, math, and language arts, but in other areas I am starting to appreciate more and more the benefits of corporate learning. Corporate learning in a classroom environment is completely different than in our home environment…thank goodness! I was a full-time classroom teacher for a couple of years and there were so many things which made me dislike corporate learning. What is beautiful in our homeschool is we are already learning corporately. I now have the opportunity to do it intentionally rather than haphazardly. 
Bible is one area where corporate learning just seems natural, especially with my youngest turning four in just a couple of months. Bible Study Guide for All Ages is a wonderfully simple and easy way to start doing this if you are looking for something more in depth than just family devotions. We have been starting our homeschool day with this a few times a week. It took some time for me to adjust to using both the Beginner and Intermediate levels at the same time, but I quickly worked out the logistics of the process and found this to be a very enjoyable part of our day!
Considering the range of uses and ability to reuse of many of the products (with the exception of the student pages) the prices are very reasonable.

$5.95 per set of 26 lessons
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Studying the Bible more in depth than family devotions is something the girls have been doing individually, but not together. This was a really fun way to start doing this all together. It took about 20 minutes to complete a lesson if we did it all at once, but it could easily be broken into sections. Each of the pages is divided into smaller boxes with Scripture references and activities which are age appropriate. 

I love that the core was actually reading Scripture instead of just a Bible story. I think Bible story books are wonderful and incredibly helpful for beginning to teach children about the truth of God’s Word. However, they frequently fall short of getting into the deeper understanding and theology learned when studying God’s Word directly.

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One fun aspect with the Beginner Student Pages is the inclusion of the age-appropriate Beginner Timeline. This timeline starts with a picture of the Bible and explanation of the two parts of Scripture. Foundational teachings such as these are often neglected at the youngest ages, but why? Children at a very young age can understand and comprehend things on a much higher level than we often give them credit for. 
Grace really liked learning what her sisters did and having her own page to work on rather than just looking at her sisters’ papers. I loved the inclusion of other skills such as color recognition and counting. These pages are very well-written in way even the youngest children can understand, but also challenges them to think critically. She also was very good about waiting patiently while her sisters finished their more challenging pages.

photo bible-book-summary-cards_zps28dfa8ff.jpgInstead of a timeline the older children have Bible Book Summary Cards. Wow! I can’t say enough about how much I love these. Each card summarizes a book of the Bible so fully, do in depth, even adults will find themselves learning from them. I feel like the word summary really doesn’t do them justice. Something more along the lines of In Depth Understanding of Theological Highlights and Biblical Truths would be more accurate…but I suppose it would be a bit much!

I chose to go up a grade for the Student pages for my older girls even though Beth is technically only in 1st grade. Her reading level is well beyond her grade-level as is her biblical knowledge and understanding. The latter is because we have been teaching the about the Bible from the time they were just infants. Some would say it is because my husband is a pastor, but no matter what his vocation we would still have trained our children in God’s Word from an early age. Beth was saved a year ago and has continued to grow in her faith. I love how these pages disciple and train more than most material for this age.

Rose is the one of my girls who shows a great love for the Word of God. She would do Bible studies all day long if I would let her! She has such a sweet spirit and sensitivity to Scripture. She is always up for trying new things. She is right in the target grade range of 3rd-4th grade as she has just entered her 3rd grade year. She said her favorite part was, “Everything!” You can’t beat that endorsement!

photo childrens-songs-cd_zps6d5f5503.jpgThe last item we reviewed was the Children’s Song CD Set which is intended for use with all of the levels. I am a huge advocate for teaching through song as much of my knowledge, biblical and otherwise, comes from tunes I learned as a child. These are simply written songs, some familiar and some new, which will aid with memory of many biblical lists such as Jacob’s sons and the apostles. Also included are some of the classic Sunday school songs I grew up with like Climb Up Sunshine Mountain. These are songs I have taught my girls, but it is getting harder and harder to find them recorded.
For the future I plan to do one page a week and just do one-two boxes on that page a day. Our days are already full and I don’t want to rush through this great teaching tool. Going at a slower pace will allow for more discussion and for the truth of God’s Word to penetrate more deeply into their hearts.
Click below to see reviews of these and other levels from my Crewmates!

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Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura from Legacy Documentaries: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
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Did you grow up watching Little House on the Prarie? The series ended when I was only 3, but I remember well watching reruns. My absolute favorite episode was when Almanzo started driving Laura to her first teaching job. Although Laura had pined for Almazon since she first laid eyes on him, this was the first time when he showed interest in her. Watching the television series instilled in me a desire to read the novels. Although I never completed the entire series, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of a simpler time and the closeness of family. 
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One of the books I have yet to read is Farmer Boy. The documentary Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura from Legacy Documentaries takes the viewer through the journey of Almanzo’s life. This beautiful documentary, narrated by Dean Butler who played Almanzo on the well-known series, is $21.95 and well worth the cost. While this will very much appeal to those who read the Little House series (typically 8-13 year-olds) the entire family can enjoy this documentary. 

There were many aspects which I liked about this DVD. One was being able to take a first-hand look at the Wilder Homestead where Almanzo grew up. Since this is located in New York we cannot take a day trip there, so this is the next best thing! We thoroughly enjoy exploring historical sites on our vacations and this is one I hope we get to visit one day. I didn’t even know it existed until I watched the documentary. 
Something else I liked was the inclusion of passages from Farmer Boy as well as illustrations from the novel. The connections between the literature as well as the actual homestead showed the real-life setting in a lovely way. Historical actors portrayed various individuals within the Wilder family as a narrator read from poignant moments in the novel bringing new life to the beloved story. 
There are two chapters on the DVD and the second was just as enjoyable as the first. It explores in more detail the Wilder Homestead which you can visit. Various rooms are showcased as well as various events available throughout the year at the Homestead. This has made me not only want to take a trip to Malone, NY, but also the other Laura Ingalls Wilder historical sites around the country.
photo legacyoflauraingallswilder_zpsafffba0c.jpgI’m a documentary nerd. I absolutely love a good documentary showing me history as well as telling me about it. The one thing I miss about not having cable in our home is the History Channel. This was a lot of fun to review because it has been a while since I’ve seen a well-done, interesting-to-me documentary. I highly recommend this for the entire family as well as Little House on the Prairie: Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder also produced by Legacy Documentaries, especially if you are planning a unit using the series. 

Check out more reviews of these two documentaries from my Crewmates!
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No Longer MIA!

Grace-Filled Writer

I’ve been rather quiet this summer. I’ve posted a bit, but not nearly what I expected. That’s what happens when life throws you curve balls. I had a partial thyroidectomy (the surgeon removed a large part of my thyroid) in July which was not expected. In May I discovered there was a very large nodule on my thyroid. It was so large in fact every doctor I spoke with was shocked that I wasn’t having any symptoms and all of my labs were normal.

The surgery went well and we are praising God that there is no cancer present. The biggest blessing was when the anesthesiologist came to check on me the next day. He asked me to sing a note, which seemed odd, but as soon as I did he smiled huge and said, “I was praying the entire time for you. I’m so happy God answered!” There is a single nerve which needs to be avoided during surgery. If it is nicked it can cause permanent hoarseness and loss of the ability to sing. I found out later that what should have been 1 nerve was actually a branch of 4 inside of me. I’m so grateful for God providing the skilled surgeon and for all the medical advances which have been made.

Recovery has been quick and I’ve been posting on my blog, but have neglected facebook a bit. I’m looking forward to getting back at it again! School starts for us Monday even though we’ve been “schooling” through the summer more or less. If you missed my earlier posts this summer here they are!

Constant Reminders

Grace-Filled Writer

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commanded Israel to teach their children the Word of God diligently. Some of the specifics of this verse might sound a little strange to you…okay, so they might sound a lot strange, but the principal behind them is excellent and easy to reproduce in our own lives today. The main idea of this passage is to make Scripture a part of your everyday life through memorization and daily reminders. So maybe strapping scripture to your wrist and forehead isn’t really your thing, but you can still apply this principal in your home.

One way we keep Scripture as a constant reminder in our home is using it as a decoration. When Scripture is hung on the walls of your home you see it all the time and others who enter your home will notice it which may provide an opportunity to share your faith. We have several spots in our home where Scripture is hung on the walls including the kitchen, the living room, the hallway, and our bedroom.

This is my favorite spot. 
This hangs in a prominent place in our living room. We see it every time we enter the room and is very symbolic for us. My husband is a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a denomination which was  initially founded for the sole purpose of praying for, equipping, and financially supporting missionaries. We were given the towel with the new theme, “Living the call together by serving one another,” at a national pastors conference a few years ago to help us remember to take Jesus’ example and “wash the feet” of those we serve in ministry. The service where these were presented was beautiful and our president humbly, and literally, washed the feet of several missionaries.
We were so impacted by this we decided we wanted to display this towel for our benefit. My husband bought the shelf and added rod for the towel to hang on. I knew I wanted something special for the shelf and wanted it to represent what we had seen during that special service. I also love the look of antiques so I was going to be very picky about what would reside on that shelf! 
As I was unpacking a box which had been hidden away for a while I found an old fashioned looking pitcher. I remembered it came from my grandmother-in-law which made this absolutely perfect for the shelf. My husband and I have a spiritual heritage from our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents we love to tell our children about. Including this simple pitcher in my little display only made sense, especially since I had been scouring the internet for the perfect thing and just couldn’t find it! For us, the pitcher is a two-fold reminder of the living water which Christ spoke about in John 4:7-25 and His servant-leader example in John 13:5-11. 
I wanted the last piece on the shelf to represent what is known as the Great Commission passage found in Matthew 28:19-20 and what is also embroidered on the towel. 
I knew I wanted something which would represent our desire to see everyone, from the neighbors on our street to those we’ve never met on the other side of the world, to hear and accept the truth of the Gospel. I looked everywhere, not quite certain what I was looking for. For our anniversary my husband and I went out to eat and went into a unique store in the downtown area of our city. There were nick-knacks from all over the world, but I kept looking for just the right item. Then I found it! There in front of me was a vintage-looking globe. It was absolutely perfect. 
Now every time we walk into our living room we are visually reminded to share the love of Christ with everyone around us and to serve them in the same way Christ served others. 

Fascinating World of Insects from BrainFood: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
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My girls crave learning in every format, but like all kids really enjoy DVD’s. Since the majority of our schooling is screen free I enjoy providing them with quality instructional DVD’s which not only entertain, but teach. I particularly like informational videos that show more than they tell. Brain Food Learning‘s DVD Fascinating World of Insects ($14.99) for preschool and elementary students is a wonderful showing DVD my girls thoroughly enjoyed. 
photo insects_front_500__981921320383955300400_zps866e5588.jpgI felt this DVD was very calm. A lot of learning shows I have watched with my girls are so flashy and fast-paced their little brains become over stimulated. I have found these shows tend to make my children restless after watching them. All three girls, ages 3, 5, and 7, enjoyed this thoroughly. After watching it they asked to go outside and find some of the insects they saw on the movie. It taught, engaged, and ignited further learning! Anything which incorporates all three is exciting to me as their mother and teacher. 
 You can see how concentrated my oldest is. Rose especially loves science and learning anything related to science. We strongly emphasize creation science so it matters to me whether there is an evolutionary bent to the lessons. I appreciate that everything taught in the Fascinating World of Insects was observational science and no mention of how our world began, including year references, was made. Observational science is sound science and I feel very good about showing it to my girls.
In some ways I was reminded of the popular videos for babies. While I don’t advocate plunking down your baby in front of a TV, we found one series very helpful at 3:00 am when my oldest daughter was teething. The calm and happy music coupled with slow-paced nature videos were the only thing which consoled my little darling during those sleepless nights. Fascinating World of Insects has the same type of light and happy music while the girls observed insects in their natural environments while the narrator provides facts specific to the insect. This DVD is just beautifully crafted.

The live video of such a wide range of insects really excited the girls. They each had their favorite. I believe this picture was taken during the lady bug information. Beth and Grace really loved this part! Grace especially was so excited to find out the lady bugs could be blue…her favorite color! Beth immediately went outside after watching this for the first time and found red and yellow lady bugs.

I am thankful this helped show insects as beautiful creatures. I have been working especially with Beth who has been profoundly afraid of anything creeping, crawling, or flying. Through gently introducing her to insects outside and learning facts about the insects as presented in this DVD she seems to be mostly past this. Where she used to come running in from the backyard the second a bee flew near her, she now carefully will sit and watch the bee, observing how it is drinking nectar and going from flower to flower. What a difference! 
You can watch a preview of this DVD here…

Read more reviews of this and other DVD’s from BrainFood Learning from my Crewmates!
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You Don’t Love Me!

Grace-Filled Writer

Has your child ever said this to you? We’re going through this phase for the second time of our parenthood…different child, same age range. It shocked me the first time. I’ll be honest…it hurts. It hurts to think my daughter doesn’t think I love her no matter what the reason.

So what prompted this break-my-heart statement? I punished her.

My girls are not perfect…I know this comes as a huge surprise to everyone, right? Before I had kids I thought discipline would be a simple matter. I imagined it going something like this:

1. Child disobeys direct instruction.
2. Child is corrected and punished.
3. Child never disobeys again.
4. Happily ever after.
…and now every mother is laughing, right? Every parent of a child over the age of two knows reality is usually much, much different. 
1. Child disobeys direct instruction.
2. Child is corrected and punished.
3. Child disobeys same direct instruction.
4. Child is corrected and punished. 
and on…
and on…
it goes
This is why my daughter cried and said, “You don’t love me!” It wounded my heart this second time around just like the first, but at least I had been through it before and therefore know there is another side. As much as she probably really felt that way at the moment she said it, she knows deep down we do love her deeply, unconditionally. We tell her all the time, especially when we have to enforce a rule.
Feelings and truth are constantly at war in my own heart. I know God is good. I believe He is sovereign. I understand His will is not my own. I trust He loves me. 

BUT…

I so often don’t feel those truths. Life hurts. Tears fall. My heart wavers. Although I may never voice the feeling, it often lurks beneath the surface.
These moments are the very reason I spend time with God regularly, why I faithfully study His Word alone and with others on Sunday morning. When I’m at my lowest I cannot rely on my emotions. I can only rest on His promises.
He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
He has a plan and purpose for every trail I face. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28-30)
He is on my side. (Romans 8:31)
He loves me. (John 3:16)
The first song all three of my girls learned to sing was Jesus Loves Me. My sweet husband sang it to each of them within an hour of their births as he held them for the very first time. Read these words once again. Absorb them into your heart. Capture them in your memory. When your feelings don’t match up with truth, allow God to remind you of the truth so He can change your feelings. 
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak but He is strong.

Jesus loves me! Loves me still,

‘Tho I’m very weak and ill,

That I might from sin be free,

Bled and died upon the tree.


Jesus loves me! He who died

Heaven’s gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.


Jesus loves me! He will stay

Close beside me all the way.
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.