The Weekend Update

I haven't posted in a week, but at least now I will have lots to tell you!

We have had a good week for many reasons. Number 1 is that we have spent lots of time together as a family. We originally thought Ryan would be in orientation all this past week, but he only had to go on Friday. It was a week of much needed time to just be us.......with no obligations or distractions.

Also, this week, I ordered and received Jacob's preschool curriculum for this next year. Because I will not be working outside of the home, Ryan and I have decided that I will teach Jacob preschool. He will also be attending a preschool 2 mornings a week. We are considering homeschooling Jacob when he becomes school age, and so the next couple of years will be a sort of test to see how it goes. This first year will be mainly reading aloud to him and teaching him his letters and numbers..............he has already shown since he was able to talk an excitement for learning new things, so really, most of his awake time he is learning. I love teaching him things informally which is what we all do as parents whether we know it or not. It just seams so natural and at times more effective because things can be taught in context. An example: I let Jacob watch very little TV, but he is allowed to watch Barney on PBS while I prepare lunch. One day this week, Barney was teaching shapes. Now, Jacob already knows his basic shapes from daycare, but it was cool because while we were riding in the car that afternoon, he started pointing out shapes. So, I made a sort of I Spy game out of it and asked him if he could spot different shapes, which he did. I also taught him that the stop sign was an octagon. Well, today after lunch as we were out for a walk in the wagon, Jacob spotted a decorative vent on a house and said, "Mom, there's an octagon!", and he was RIGHT! So, this week we will begin some more structured time in small segments throughout the day where we will do "lesson time." We started on Friday, and we both enjoyed the time together.

On Thursday, Gary Adams and John brought the rest of our stuff...........most importantly, MY RECLINER!! Jacob discovered some outside toys today packed in his wagon that Gary brought, and commented, "I am so impressed!" LOL! Thanks Gary, Jean, and John. Tonight, Sarah is going to attend Cloverdale with us, and then have dinner with us!

On Friday evening, we attended a dinner for the CAMT families. After we ate, childcare was provided, so Jacob got to know several of the other CAMT children. The grown ups spent time listening to each 1st year CAMT student, including Ryan, tell of how they got to the program and what their passion/goal of ministry is. The stories were all so special and unique, and I am looking forward to getting to know and creating bonds with these other families who are preparing for ministry.

Worship this morning was so good. The college students are back and the singing was so beautiful and encouraging. Jacob is learning and loves his Bible class, and our Bible class was so good, too........kind of weird being in class with Ryan!

We are studying Joseph, and today we talked about when he revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt. The application made today is how God uses hardship and trials in our lives to achieve his purpose. For Joseph, the purpose was as follows:

Genesis 45:4-8
" 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."

The teacher asked us if we could look back and see times in our life where God used a hard time to achieve his purpose. The first thing that popped into my mind was the years we spent trying to start a family. Nothing turned out how we planned, and we suffered lots of grief and trials. I still have regrets about how I handled that trial in my life and wish I would have been stronger in my faith during that time. But God, had a different plan for the Parsons family. I did not know then that God had Ryan and I in mind to be Mommy and Daddy to a child that we would name Jacob. Praise God that he has a BETTER plan for us! I thought today, I want to be ready for other trials that God allows me to face. I want to trust him more. I also pray that he will allow me to use my past to help others face similar trials.

So, that is all for this edition of "Mommy's Corner." Now, I must clip some coupons!