The Substitute

 Early Monday morning, I received a call from my husband who should have been at work. He was just laid off. 

Our family relies on one income. I have been blessed to be able to stay home with my children and homeschool them. But what happens when the sole provider loses his job? How does that work? 

Before schooling and work . . . before money and bills . . . comes family. We are a team and if there is one thing we want our children to learn, it is that we will do what we have to do to take care of each other. 

As Mike searched for work, I was able to accept various substitute teaching jobs. We were concerned about our children and their school schedule but Mike quickly embraced the opportunity to teach them. 

 Being out of the home gave me the rare opportunity to spend time in the public classroom. It allowed Mike valuable time with his children. Hidden blessings in the midst of turmoil are always such a sweet surprise! 

This week, I accepted a job working in a daycare setting. I was surprised to find that this was a place where teen moms could bring their babies so that they could finish their high school education. Spending time with these young women blessed me beyond words. I was asked to come back after the first day and then told that they wished I could be there all the time. 

During this financial struggle, I earned their trust. Our small inconvenient hiccup means so little, while discussing how they were going to be able to buy the next canister of formula. These are the lessons we only truly recognize when the Lord gives and takes away. 

"There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life, but you have to be willing to open your heart to see them."

"There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life, but you have to be willing to open your heart to see them." - See more at: http://www.truthfollower.com/2013/09/blessing-life-quotes.html#sthash.wMASlS0S.dpuf

"There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life, but you have to be willing to open your heart to see them." - See more at: http://www.truthfollower.com/2013/09/blessing-life-quotes.html#sthash.wMASlS0S.dpuf

The Least of These

"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
-Matthew 25:45

Last weekend we joined our church family under a bridge in Downtown Boise, to reach out to the local homeless community. The plan was to hand out snack food and water, while introducing ourselves. We chose to include our children on this endeavor, hoping to educate them about homelessness.

There is a hidden disease in America. It is dark and disturbing and many simply distort and dismiss. Some assume the homeless are men. They are older with a beard and no shoes and always drunk or in search of their next drink. Our children are often shielded from these people as they are dirty and sick. It was important to Mike and I that we teach our children that the homeless community is only one thing for sure: homeless. They could be a single dad and a baby, a woman living in her car or a man who served his country for 8 years in Vietnam. 

The Saturday morning alarm was set for 6:00am. We bundled up for the chilly morning and headed to the church. We arrived in Boise around 8:45am. The plan for this morning was to meet the people who live on the streets in the area, introduce ourselves, and hand out some food and water. We wanted to ensure them that this is not a one-time visit; to know who we are so that we can build relationships and take care of at least some of their many needs. We loaded the children up with plastic bags full of snacks and the men with cases of water. We prayed for safety and that our visit would be well received. 

We met so many beautiful people with so many smiles and none who could not accept food from our little ones. I watched my children step out of their comfort zone and talk to a stranger in a strange situation. Flattened cardboard was the only cushion from the cold hard concrete for most on these streets. One lady was trying to sleep with merely a see-through blanket. The shadow of the bridges and stale air added to the grime of this environment. Even through the filth, the love of Christ shined through the little faces of children. 

We made many connections on our first of many visits. We hope to return in two weeks to distribute blankets and coats for our brothers and sisters living in the elements. Our children learned a valuable lesson on Saturday. We would like them to not only be a part of but also contribute to this mission. We cannot ignore these needs. As Christians we are called to care for the "least of these." In doing for others, they were blessed far more than they could have ever imagined.

Ebola-The Enemy's Warfare

Ebola Scare Hits Washington, Latest of About 100 Alerts to CDC

 

I'm sure you have all read the headlines: Ebola is a deadly epidemic and it's here. It travels quickly and cannot be contained. The incubation period is long and the symptoms start as many mild viruses. But then it roars into vomiting attacks, confusion and excessive bleeding internally and externally in some cases. 

 I have read all the headlines and followed the panic. My human instincts tell me to run from this disease. These people should all be kept in airtight chambers and we should shut down all international travel. But then I look at myself and I am disgusted.  Those who have been infected with this horrible illness are people, some are children. What we are asking our government to do about this epidemic is exactly what many of our patriots have been fighting. Are we asking them to contain these people? Are we asking that they make the decision on whether someone is sick and then lock them up? Are we asking that they have more screening in the airports when we complain about routine bag checks? 

This epidemic is scary because it cannot be controlled. It cannot be controlled because we cannot have it both ways. If we do try to control it, we lose our liberties and treat people like animals. If we don't, it will devour this country. 

 I woke up this morning and read a few more scary articles about this virus. I noticed how I just wanted to avoid the news, isolate myself and play Candy Crush. But then I realized that it is our nature to do that. We are allowing this fear to affect our soul. It is written to not be alarmed when we see these "birthing pains" for they must happen. 

"There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven."-Luke 21:11

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."-Mark 13:7

In the meantime are we not called to be more Christlike? Should we turn away from the sick and cast them away? I feel convicted at my moments of fear. These people are not the enemy. 

 

Garbage

It was a typical early morning. I woke up to Ty restlessly talking in his sleep. As I entered the bathroom, I felt the wetness through my socks. It took a moment for my foggy mind to make the connection to Ty and his reckless pottying. I changed my socks and remembered Maddie lost another tooth last night! Shoot! I rummaged through my husband's dresser and my purse pockets and found 4 quarters. The girls were sound asleep as I entered their room. Slowly, I slipped my hand under the pillow, searching for an envelope. Wetness. More pee . . . ? I left the envelope with the quarters in the wet bed. 

An hour later, another puddle appeared in my bathroom. When I approached all the kids about the abundance of wetness that morning, they lied. That was it. I called my children in and had an adult fit. You know, that fleshy garbage of "poor me" and "do you have any idea how much I do around here?"

I sat in my son's room and cried. I cried over the piled up toys and the smell of pee in his bed. I cried for my lack of freedom since we felt called to homeschooling. 

Then I felt a little hand on my shoulder. "Mom, why are you crying?" 
Me: "Because I'm tired."
Maddie: "Why Mom?"
Me: "I just don't know why I can't be like other Mom's and just send you guys to school."
Maddie: "No Mom, we don't want to do that. (Crying) We are sorry. We will help you."

Then, in a perfect moment, all three children hugged me. 

At first I felt guilty for allowing them to witness this weakness. But then I realized that is the humanity that our children don't always see when we get alone time. My children are with me all the time so they see the good, the bad and the ugly. That morning, they saw me as a person with feelings and they responded with compassion and love. Perfection.

Heirloom Garden Woes and Homeschool Week 1 Progress

 Our new property has a very VERY large garden space. In April, I decided it ALL needed to be planted and ordered 15 packets of Heirloom Seeds online. While waiting for my shipment, I had visions of baskets of vegetables covering my kitchen counter. I daydreamed about what I could do to preserve the abundance of produce we would have. Well, sadly, our baskets are not full. Apparently there is a reason that GMO free/Organic seeds and food is more expensive. Most of the seedlings survived but were too suseptable to bugs and disease. Maybe I did it wrong? 

This harvest is from an ordinary seed packet from a local grocery store. There is clearly a difference / :

 On a more positive note, homeschool week one was fantastic. I got this! We stayed on schedule and completed all assignments. Our curriculum this year covers Creation to the Greeks and is so interesting! We wrapped up the week with a traditional Friday evening Sabbath dinner. Each of us had prayers to say, Mike said a blessing for each child individually and then a blessing over the bread and wine. Maddie led us in prayer before hand-washing and Sierra sang us a hymn.

 This year we will be learning about all the traditional feasts.

Homeschool Year #2

Throughout most of the year, I considered our decision to homeschool constantly. Was I teaching them well? Was I missing something? Would my patience hold out until summer. However, the main question I asked is what would we do this next school year. I dragged my feet through the final weeks of homeschooling year one. How in the world would I do it again?

Mike and I decided to add the girls to a charter school waiting list in order to have another possible option. Throughout the summer, I secretly hoped I would get an email that they had been accepted into the school of our choice and I wouldn't have to make any decisions, nor would I have to face the tedious attempt at finding appropriate homeschool curriculum. As the days passed, I accepted that it looks like another year of homeschooling. I prayed about it . . . nothing. I checked my email again . . . nothing. Nothing told me to move.

This week I had the opportunity to meet with a friend who has been teaching her children from home their whole lives. She graciously offered advice, let us borrow curriculum she used last year, and handed me a few books to read on the subject. Home Grown Kids by Raymond and Dorothy Moore gave me an entirely new perspective on the subject of homeschooling.

"Education isn't books and charts and tests nearly so much as it is meaningful living, and no one can provide this better than good parents . . . a warm, responsive, and reasonably consistent parent with little formal education can, in an hour and a half or two hours a day, easily outdistance the teacher who has twenty or thirty kiddies in her coop."

This brought to mind the small window of time we have with our children and quite possibly the misconception that schools are the best place for our children to learn. I realize it is unconventional these days and the thought of this task is monumental to even the most confident of parents. But someday I will look back on these years and laugh at myself, smile and know I did the best I could.

We talked about sending Ty to preschool this year . . . even bought him a bold new Spiderman backpack. I think it will get a lot of use in our living room ( :

Obedience

 It has been a while since my last blog. Life happens some say . . . but it was more than that. Our journey took a few twists. Mine tested me as a mother and a wife. When Mike lost his job a few weeks before Christmas, we were shaken. We asked God what was next? I struggled with the idea of going back to work and putting the kids back in school and daycare. After all, wasn't that why I went to college? 

Unable to contain myself, I applied for a substitute teaching job. I suppose it made me feel better to have something to fall back on. The real question for me was am I relying on God and continuing to abide by what I feel called to do as a mother and leaving the details up to Him? Or am I relying on myself and playing it safe? 

Obedience is difficult. We are so unruly. 

Mike was able to pick up a short term crane job, which helped us financially through the month of December. I never had to leave the kids for a day to substitute teach. Our Lord is so faithful. As much as that job was not ideal, I am thankful for it and His perfect timing.

 We continued on, taking one day at a time. Mike was able to go back to a company he worked for in the past and it is a good place for him. We have started to settle back into a routine here at the Ambler household.

 Sierra took this picture of a sunset after a storm with my phone. She brought it to me and told me that it looks like heaven. I agree with her. There is always a light over us. We just have to choose to see it.

 One book that has greatly influenced my life and my role as a parent is "Too Small to Ignore." It is a peek into the lives of a missionary family and the community where they live and serve. I think sometimes we get so desensitized and focused on what we want in life and "things" that we forget what is most important. I know I am guilty of this.

It really isn't about us and what we want. It is about what we are called to to do. I did not want to stay home and homeschool my children. In fact, I fought it. And you know what? I am really not very good at it / : But I am learning.



"God's rules are for our benefit, not to make us miserable. When we live by them, life works. When we don't, life falls apart. When we obey, we have clarity. When we don't, we have confusion. And there is a definite connection between obedience and the love of God." -Stormie Omartian in The Power of a Praying Woman

Because what are we on this earth but a brisk breeze? We come, fulfill our purpose and we leave. It's what we do during the time we have and how we handle the change in seasons that matters. I have noticed the days seem longer since I have a detailed schedule with my kids at home. Before, I may have considered this undesirable as we are always looking forward to what is on the horizon. But I am not missing anything. I haven't missed a loose tooth or a new discovery. I notice I am still more often, taking in the morning cuddles while I still have them. My husband laughs at me because I even enjoy my son's morning breath as he crawls into my lap, knowing this won't last long.

This is not the life I envisioned for myself or my family but it is very clear that the Lord still has some lessons for me and I am where I need to be. 

Piggy Update: SO, we are not the pig farmers we hoped to be. Raising pigs is not as easy as we thought and winter is not the time to do it with the extreme temperatures. Pigs are destructive, can be mean and are honestly just scary. BUT, all that said, we are thankful for them opportunity and for the meat. The children said goodbye as we loaded them up in the trailer for their final mile (loading took us over an hour / :). It was important to us that our children learn to respect every life, even those of butcher pigs. 

"With my whole heart I have sought you; oh, let me not wander from your commandments!" -Psalm 119:10

Critical Thinking=Common Sense

 One of my favorite daily activities is "WakerUppers." Before we start any of our curriculum, Sierra prints two copies of this creative collection. It requires them to open their minds and "think outside the box."

The girls do these together as they are a little difficult for Maddie to understand sometimes. I love listening to them try to figure out some of the puzzles and laugh at their pictures. Because these have no real label on them as far as what they are asking, the girls really have to READ THE DIRECTIONS.

 New wall post for Maddie after our difficult school day this week. I am thankful for a husband who fully supports this decision to homeschool our children. He printed this, posted it and told Maddie whenever she starts to get an attitude about schoolwork, to read it.

 Every week Sierra and Maddie pick a meal to plan and prepare for dinner. Sierra's favorite is "breakfast for dinner." Last week she even took it a step further and created a menu for all of her guests. Look at all the BACON! The idea is to learn to plan, practice buying groceries and experience cooking. It is so rewarding to see the excitement in their eyes at what they just accomplished.

Sierra even hired a waitress to take orders. Not only is she a good little chef but she knows how to delegate ( ;

Flu Season

Flu Season is here. We see it in our grocery stores, schools and churches. The commercials for the vaccine began in the fall and continue into winter. You know, those commercials about how you need to protect yourself and your family from this nasty illness that reportedly has countless Americans hospitalized every year. Countless because they really are countless. Many mistake the flu symptoms as a common virus.

My concern here is the hype. We are willing to inject our children with a vaccine, filled with unknown added ingredients just for the chance that they might get the flu. And even if they do get the vaccine, it's not guaranteed to combat the flu.

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/October-2012/Influenza-Deaths--The-Hype-vs--The-Evidence.aspx

Did you ever stop to wonder who is pushing this vaccine? Drug companies. And why not? They make billions. Do you trust the drug companies?

I understand the risk of complications with influenza. I also understand that compromised immune symptoms have to weigh out the risks/benefits with making this decision. My concern is in the marketing. It is beginning to lean toward not having a choice but to get these vaccines. We are slowly accepting these "recommendations" as mandates. 

It is so ingrained into mainstream media, that we don't even question the side effects. Here are just a few:

• Reported moderate reactions to influenza vaccine include fever, local reactions (pain, redness, swelling at the site of the injection), headache, fatigue, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, joint and muscle pain, and nausea. Reported serious complications include brain inflammation, convulsions, Bell’s palsy, limb paralysis, neuropathy, shock,  wheezing/asthma and other breathing problems. Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a disabling neurological disorder that involves temporary or permanent paralysis that can lead to death and has been causally related to influenza vaccinations.
• As of November 2013, there have been more than 93,000 reports of reactions, hospitalizations, injuries and deaths following influenza vaccinations made to the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), including 1,080 related deaths, 8,888 hospitalizations, 1,801 related disabilities and over 1,700 cases of GBS. In 2013 the Federal Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) voted to add GBS to the Vaccine Injury Table within the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). -http://www.nvic.org.
   
   

Homeschooling for Dummies

Update on homeschooling at the Ambler household:

Maddie has decided that she hates doing schoolwork and added that reading is not the way to learn and has absolutely nothing to do with horses. Sigh.

The benefits far outweigh the challenges but sometimes I wonder if the fight is worth it. What does a homeschooling parent do when her 7 year old blatantly refuses to add two small numbers together and concludes she would rather stare at the floor? Hmm . . . I will not lose this fight.

An hour later, Maddie continued to stare at the store but now she was considering deal offers.

Deal attempt#1: She said she will not go outside and be with the horses today if she doesn't have to do her math. Negative.

Deal attempt#2: She will sit there all day and starve. <Hard to keep a straight face with deal #2 Negative.

I maintained the illusion that I was busy on the computer while she struggled with a new deal. Finally, after a long dramatic sigh, she began writing. Score 1-0!

Bacon and Sausage

 Appointment Set for Bacon and Sausage. Our first experience raising pigs has been mostly successful. We are still learning and will make some changes next year. 

Pigs are VERY destructive. We have not been able to construct a temporary shelter that they have not torn down. They also eat WAY more than we expected so the cost of feed is an issue. I did some research on pig feed and found that much of it is medicated. We have been careful to use a feed that is not but we will likely be more careful next year in what we choose to feed. 





A friend who has experience raising pigs estimates them above the 200 LB level, meaning at the end of the month, they should be perfect size for butchering. 

Pigs refuse to leave anything alone. Next year, we will need to construct a watering system that they can not tip over.

 Because we live in an old farmhouse, we have to purchase oil in order to heat this house. We have stocked up on wood to try to save on heating costs. Last time we filled the oil tank it was over $700.

Times of unemployment, although stressful, allow for more cuddles, reflection and home projects ( ; Mike is back to work now running the truck crane. 

One of our long term goals is to purchase a truck so that we can be owner/operators. This would allow us more freedom as a family.

 Family game night is now scheduled for every Sunday night (when football playoffs are over). Our first game choice was Monopoly. This is a learning game on so many levels. Sierra is working on money in her studies so she was nominated "banker." I hired Maddie as realtor and property manager. She had to sound out the names of the properties in order to hand out the correct card. Ty was in charge of rolling the dice for me and counting the dots.

I'm not sure Mike is a big fan of the "no cable TV experience" when it comes to Bronco Football games. But if it were on a big screen TV, it wouldn't be an experience right?

Overall 2014 began with many changes for us but we are rolling with these and trying to think of them as new opportunities ( :

Everybody's Fine

"Everybody's Fine" is a movie starring Robert De Niro. De Niro, "Frank," is a widower and father of four. In the beginning of the film, Frank (De Niro), is busy preparing his home for a visit from his adult children who live all over the country. He mows the lawn, cleans the house and buys expensive wine in anticipation of this gathering. One by one, his children call and cancel their trip because of business, timing, etc.

Sierra and I were watching this together and I told her how this broke my heart. Maybe it is because I am so close to my father. Maybe it is because De Niro is an awesome actor. Maybe both. But what I do know is that this isn't the children's fault. This is our culture. This is what we teach them.

What is a successful life? Seems like a fairly simple question. We raise our children to be independent, so much so as they often feel this need for freedom. Many go away to college, get married and start a career far from home. We get together on holidays . . . if we have the time off of work and enough money for a plane ticket. If not, it's okay. We can pick up a phone. This is success.

Enter in a loss in the family . . . instant reevaluation, guilt and regret. This is hindsight but it is for a reason. It is our second chance to get it right.

But what if we taught our children that they need their family, not just in their youth, but through life. Because when does it get easier and when do you not need the support of your family? In many cultures, three generations live under one roof. Much of this is economical but it just makes sense in so many areas of life. The problem is our society looks down on this. We are supposed to grow up, move out, go to college, get married, start a career and then have 1.5 children.

I told Sierra that this movie makes me sad. She told me that she would never get a job where she couldn't tell her boss she was going home to visit her family. This was after she told me that when she grows up, she and her husband were going to live in our basement ( ; Okay so maybe I made my bed.