Susanna Wesley, what a homeschool mom of many....

I just read this article what an inspirational story. I am going to look for more books and online articles to read more of this mom of many. She sounds like someone I would have enjoyed spending some time talking with.

Surefire ways to raise home wreckers.........

Are you raising home wreckers? I sure hope not! I just read this List
and yes I was reminded of a few things I might want to rethink!

a Meek and Quiet Spirit....

Do you struggle with a meek and quiet spirit? I just read this post on A wise woman builds her home, and it's all so true. She is a wise woman! Her post deals more with modesty, vanity, and the lusts of the world. Which I agree with in so many points she made I can not even try to expound on her wonderful post. Instead I want to deal more with the idea of a meek and quiet spirit. 

...let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

1 Peter 2:4

And honestly who doesn't struggle with a meek and quiet spirit? We must admit we all have our days, our moments, or things we would like to push the rewind button and fix. 
The 1828 Noah Websters Dictionary defines gentle and quiet as.....

gentle-Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice. 

meek- Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.

quiet-Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented. 

Let if be the hidden man of he heart, in that which is not corruptible. 

Joseph Smith Jr. spoke of the secret springs of action, and I just love that idea. What is the secret "spring" that sets you into action, or as in the scripture, the hidden heart. If our hearts are not meek and quiet, can we hear the spirit, can we be guided and lead by the Lord? No so we must begin in our heart, and then it will make that meek and quiet spirit, so much easier to achieve. Which is in the sight of God 

of great price. 

The Lord see's a meek and gentle spirit, pleasing, of great price. What would you pay to have it? We should give our all, because in reality it will only bring us closer to the Lord's true spirit. 

So ladies, we should all examine our spirit, and how meek and quiet we are. If we have a meek and quiet spirit, it will only bring that same spirit to our homes, our families, our homeschool, our friends and us!

Beauty or Duty, you decide.......

I slept and dreamed that life was Beauty;

I woke and found that life was Duty!

Author unknown~

DUTY! At times I wonder about  the duties of being a mother of many. It seems if Mom's not here to keep things running smoothly, then it's not running correctly! You know that nagging feeling of being a mom of many... did you brush your teeth, did you make your bed, take the trash out, clean your room, finish your schoolwork?? and on and on and on it goes! Beautiful would be children who just did it, life is children who need assistance. Duty is working together to accomplish the tasks. Reality is life and dreaming is nice, but it's not life! 

In our home we work hard at having our children work hard, to learn the duty of hard work. We do not believe in rewarding our children for their chores. We want them to learn that hard work is duty, and life. It is part of being in a large family, and if they get rewarded it is a reward for our family. We can have a fun outing, a fun family night, a new movie to enjoy, or maybe even just some time off. 

Even the smallest of children can help with age appropriate chores, or simply asking them to help. It amazes me  how much my little ones want to help and find ways to help, because of the influence of their older siblings. They want to help because that's what everyone else is doing. They want to do their school during school time, because everyone else is.

It seems to be natural, this last week we have been potty training our little 2 year old "Curious". As part of our beginning training, we simply asked him if he wanted to go pee-pee in the potty like  Noble, Valiant, Brave and yes Even Papa Bear! This excited him, because he wants to be just like all the big boys in our house. And no potty training is never beautiful, but what would happen if we never took the time to do the duty!

I think that a complaining, covetous spirit, typically comes from those trying to live a dream, and then having reality, duty hit them right smack in the face. Then they can not be content, because their blessings feel like cursing, and their blessings never seems to be beautiful. I heard once and love this thought, we are not thankful for our blessings, we always want more. That seems too true, and seems to be more and more the sign of the times.

Now I would never  say to not make life beautiful, to never dream. Just remember that reality is life and life is duty and duty is not always beautiful.