Parenting in the Spirit

Spirit. Spunk? Life? Joy? Holy Spirit. Life! Love! Fullness! Walking in the Spirit... Living life to the fullest, finding great satisfaction in obeying, honoring, adoring my Savior and living each day as though it could be my last. It is loving my children are unloveable, having hope when life feels hopeless and choosing to listen to His still small voice.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. I Kings 19:11,12

A dear sister in Christ, Shonni, was inspired by another sister in Christ who shares her passion to adopt, to continue this work the Holy Spirit has given us...to not strive to complete the work in the flesh. I was also greatly inspired at my church's recent womens' retreat to think about how different my parenting is when I am walking in the flesh compared to when I am walking in the Spirit. Yes, living by the Spirit's leading most definitely affects our choices in adding to our family, continuing in the process of adoption, and many other enormous life choices, but how great is the reward when we see our everyday lives through His eyes!

This was so evident to me the other day as I was listening to one of my favorite songs..."when fears are stilled, when strivings cease" He can become everything to us when we realize it is not in our power to be everything to everyone. As a mama we have the greatest influence in our home and on the choices made for our family. What we feel we can handle and what we think we are able to be good at completely changes what our husbands think they can provide for and what they can handle. Whether or not we like it, we set the tone in our homes. I laugh everytime I hear the old saying, "If Mama aint' happy, ain't nobody happy." Isn't it true?

It comes back full circle to what we allow the Holy Spirit to keep charge of in our lives. Everything. I want Him to control everything I do, say, think. My thoughts will determine my words, my words will determine my actions. Everything I believe I can handle. Every challenging behavior in each one of my children. Each pet sin that rears it's ugly head, once again. He is the author and perfector of my faith! He is responsible for finishing this work he has begun in me! Praise God it isn't in my strength or nothing would be finished. Not this post. Not the breakfast dishes. Not homeschooling or bills or menu planning. Everyday. Every task. It is all by His strength I succeed and will eventually hear Him say..."Well done my good servant. You have been found faithful."

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear of death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

My oh my, how time does fly!

Life is truly full right now. Full of laughs, tears, hard work and play...the day flies by before I know it I fall into bed exhausted and wondering if I accomplished everything on my to-do list. Time for blogging has had to come second, or third or fourth...or rather not at all! Our computer died and so we've been sharing Chad's laptop(s) which makes editing pictures and posting them tough. But all is well and here are a few pictures to prove it. :o) Well I've tried three times and no such luck! I'm not meant to blog/post pictures I suppose!

the last few months...
~falling in love with a 4.5 month old puppy...Chelsea :o)
~training said puppy, loving on said puppy, training, loving, training...
~homeschooling at the park on nice days...so looking forward to REAL Spring
~chase toddlers around, giggling, snuggling, loving their voices and all they say
~stepped down from "Children's Ministry Leaders" still teaching though
~decided to homeschool all the kids next year...joined a great co-op for one day a week...Annah and Viktoriya will take Guitar & Marine Biology, Aidan will take Body by God's Design, Ethan and Ry will take Character First and all three boys' second class will be a writting/spelling class, Hope & Halle are taking Preschool Music and a Preschool Nature class...we're looking forward to it! AND we'll have a year book too...all 7 kids in the same yearbook will be fun!
~we decided to end our foster care liscense...our home is full :o)
~ Chad went to town on the new garden early this year...we just had our first salad from the garden...our mini farm is providing us with eggs (duck, chicken and goose) , rabbit meat and soon fresh goat milk!
~planning stairs for the deck...and some landscaping
~Taking Annah to see Beth Moore's "So long insecurity" simulcast this Saturday...lots of our family are meeting us there! Then next month I get to take Viktoriya on our churchs' women's retreat.
~We got a piano...what a blessing! Thank-you Grandma Sharon! It's so exciting! My friend Jada will begin private lessons with the 3 boys in May!
~A&V have been growing in the Lord and closer to me as well. I began praying/talking with them every night and it's been beautiful.
~

gaurding his flock

Freedom

All I could think today as my five younger kids ran, danced and played with Tennyson, was freedom. How beautiful it is to be so free! To twirl and yell, to laugh and play hide and seek. Sigh. Gorgeous.

an extension of one's self

As a twin, Halle thinks of Hope as merely an extension of herself, one to played with, loved on and hugged whenever she wants to. Hope, however, thinks of herself as a separate being, one to given space and asked to be hugged. This makes for some interesting mornings as of late.



Halle wants to listen to Hope's heart. Hope wants to fold laundry with Mama.
Halle wants a hug from Hope. Hope wants to lay on Tennyson.
Halle wants to sleep with Hope in Hope's bed. Hope wants Halle to sleep in Halle's bed.
Halle wants to hold Hope's hand. Hope wants to help Mama rinse the fruit.
Halle wants to sit in Hope's highchair. Hope wants Halle to sit in Halle's highchair.
Halle wants Hope to sing with her. Hope wants Halle to be quiet.
Halle wants to drive Hope crazy. Hope wants to be left alone.
It's a rough life.




Until she can't find her twin. "Haaaaaaaaaallleeeeee. Halle where are you?!?!?"
"Hopie!!!!" "I LOVE you!" "I love you too."

I'm amazed

everytime I do something so simple with my toddlers, like making scones, just how much fun they have. :o)

I Surrender All

I Surrender All
Words by Jud­son W. Van De­Vent­er
Music by Will Win­field S. Weed­en
1896

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Mini-Farm {Mini-Homestead?} Life

Somedays it's a chore {think rain}. Most days it's joyful {sunshine helps}. Almost always...I love it. :o)

















I'm really looking forward to Spring when we have baby goats (I couldn't just write 'kids' because someone may think we're adopting again!;o)), goslings and ducklings (hopefully!). We think Ashtyn miscarried when she ate something she shouldn't have; so we'll try again soon with her. Emily is most likely newly pregnant...we'll know Feb 11th. They have a 5 month gestation. We'll see how much I like homesteading once I'm in charge of milking twice a day! ;o)

These two mini-farmers make it more fun...

Guess who is 7 today!?

Ryland Christian. Picture taken yesterday.

A day I will never forget...

Yesterday we celebrated the faithful life of one of God's servants...Chad's grandpa. He fought the good fight and he finished the race. We began with a morning graveside service.

Watching the deer run in the green of the cemetery and feeling the warmth of the sunshine was not a small gift from God on this January day. Our 7 children were quiet and behaved, reverent and respectful. Not an easy task and one I do not ask of them often (the quiet part, anyway). I was in awe of all our family, gathering to pay tribute to their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband of 69 years.

As a song was sung and the guitar made beautiful music Chad's aunt and Grandmother raised their hands in praise. He was there, in heaven with his Savior and King, rejoicing! We all laid a rose on his casket and smiled remembering his sweet nature and his mischievous sense of humor. All the way until his dying day he was playing jokes on his loved ones. Even more admirable was the way he led people to the Lord even when he was sick and in pain.

At only 19 years of age, a shy Warner was called to ministry, and without fancy degrees or titles, he served. He drilled wells, helped with farming and walked many miles in the snow of Minnesota to visit his parishioners. As we listened to his children describe his faithful life, Aidan's heart was touched. The large church we met in, had begun as a prayer meeting in Warner and Pearl's home. Aidan smiled, "Just like our church began as a Bible study in our home!"

When we watched a slide show of photo's Chad made, Aidan remembered how at only 3 he would tuck his little orange Gideon Bible under his arm and jump up onto a toy box and preach his heart out. He would line up his stuffed animals and teach about God's ways. From age 90 to age 10, the Lord uses Godly examples to inspire and encourage. Aidan looked up at me and whispered, "Mama I want to be a preacher too. I hope He calls me too."

Later as Grandma lifted her tired, 93 year old arms up for yet another hug, I told her that Chad and I want to commit to praying daily for all the family members as she and Warner did for all those years. How valuable were those prayers! I know this without a shadow of a doubt. She smiled and said she would love that. Then I told her what Aidan said about wanting God to call him to be a preacher and her blue eyes widened and she smiled ear to ear, stretching our her sweet wrinkles..."Oh, oh, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Look at all this offspring gathered in joyful remembrance and thankfulness of a godly heritage...


We were missing two families...Steve and Katarina and their two daughters and Chad's sister Micki and her two children, as well as Heidi's husband and their two boys.

Something I realized when we were there was that of all the family members, our three sons are the only ones to carry on the Keller name. There are still two guys, one married and one not, that may have a boy someday!


All of the great-grands!


Aunt Barb, Grandpa Rick, Chad and I


Grandpa Rick, Great-grandma Pearl, Chad and I


Aidan and Hope as the service began.

Deeeeelicious!

Hi my name is Halle and I love to eat healthy food. Smoothies are the best! I ask for them everyday. This is my favorite smoothie Mom makes. I have a name for it but Mom doesn't understand me when I say it. Sigh. The yogurt is plain and unsweetened. The honey and fruit are all the sugar I need. I don't even know there is anything green in it (but you can see a broccoli bit in the last picture)... it's still deeeeeeeelicious!



1 cup plain yogurt
4 peeled clementine oranges
1 large apple, cored & sliced
3 tablespoons raw honey
1 cup crushed ice
3 broccoli florets
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1/2 cup blueberries
3 large strawberries

When Mom makes it for herself she adds:
1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
1 packet truvia (from stevia plant)