Accepting Our Less Than Perfect Christmas

  Through the years I have had to lower my expectations for the perfect Christmas my mind's eye envisions.  This year was no exception.  I think I was less prepared this year and never reached the point of the house being fully decorated, things in their rightful places, candles burning, house cleaned, atmosphere set, etc.  Actually the last several Christmases have gone more in this direction as our lives have become busier than ever.

  One set back for this year was that my purse was stolen at Aldi's grocery store, and so I ended up having to spend some of my precious holiday time to shop for replacements for my purse and everything in it.  I also ended up going to the eye doctor to replace glasses and to the DPS to get a new driver's license.  My time is precious little during this busy season, and so this whole hassle set me back even more.

 

  On top of that I've had the busiest year of my life.  Many wonderful things have happened this year, but we have been going from one major event to another all year long.  This December I found myself in the middle of many unfinished projects and a messy house that never fully got cleaned up.  The unfinished projects will be rolling over into the new year with hopes and prayers that we can make improvements as we rearrange, sort and organize things.  So my house was not all sparkly and clean this Christmas, and I never fully decorated our house either.
 

(A dear Amish friend hand crafted this card for us with nine snow people to represent our family!  It is the little things that mean so much.) 

  One thing that bothered me all December is that I was unable to put up my special "Mama" tree that is different from our "Family" tree.  Most Christmases I have managed to put up two trees with one being decorated with very special, breakable, glass, sentimental ornaments.  Some of my favorite ornaments go on that tree, and I have fought hard to make it happen each year.  This year I just gave up as I knew I did not have time for the more elegant tree. Somehow this bothered me all the Christmas season, and I continued to toy with the idea of even getting a small tree to quickly put up on my dresser with a few of the special ornaments.  Even that was too much to tackle as it would mean first cleaning off my dresser, and I just have not had the time.   

  In addition to all of this our family started falling sick half a week before Christmas and we are still trying to mend and fully recover.  I actually felt very bad on Christmas Eve and not too great on Christmas Day either.  I just tried to press through the cooking and gift wrapping telling myself that it is alright that things are not as perfect as I would dream them to be for this year's Christmas.    

  I've really been thinking a lot this Christmas season about how we have an expectation of a perfect Christmas, but things are not always happy circumstantially at Christmas.  This leaves us feeling disappointed and often discouraged.  I have been thinking about how that Christmas really is about worshiping and rejoicing in our Savior's birth.  That is something that no sickness, dirty house, stolen purse, and undecorated tree can steal from us.  Even when we have set backs and our plans don't come to completion we can be still and rest in knowing our Emmanuel has come.  Jesus is here with us and that is something to be joyful about!

  It is wonderful that we can have a time of year to create special memories with family, to treasure family traditions, to draw close to our families, etc. but our hope is not in all of this going on without a glitch.  Our hope is in Jesus Who brings life and fullness to our good times and to our struggles.  

  On Christmas Eve, as I was doing all I could to get food on the table and seeing all the imperfections in my preparations,  I took a look at some of the simple things we had like pretty Christmas PAPER plates, a simple wooden nativity in the center of our table, gifts hidden for the children to find (a Christmas Eve tradition) a drawing my daughter did on our marker board, one daughter fixing another daughter's hair, etc. and saw the blessing even in the simplicity.  Things do not always have to be Pinterest perfect to truly have beauty and significance.  We can rejoice in our Savior dwelling within us and in the simple blessings of warmth, food, family, and all His many blessings to us.  I hope this encourages you.

Some Christmases may seem almost magical circumstantially with sparkles and wonder, but other Christmases  we will struggle to make it through just like the rest of the year.  Even when things are not white, sparkly, and otherwise wonderful we can embrace the simple, the ordinary, and be glad in Jesus our Savior.  Simplicity after all has its own kind of beauty.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

What others are saying about "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama"

Hello Everyone!  I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving and are entering into the Christmas season with joy.  Today I want to share with you some of the quotes from my book "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama" and some responses I have received from readers.  I have been very humbled by the feedback I have received from other Mamas who have read the book, and  I am encouraged that the Lord is using the book to encourage others.  I know I am often in need of encouragement in this journey, and so the thought that the Lord would use me to share life giving words with other Mamas is a real answer to prayer!  I hope you enjoy these quotes and also reading what others have thought of the book.  To God be the glory!  

"I am so impressed with the book not only for home schoolers, but any mother who wants to raise Godly children.  I will be ordering more books to gift to my friends." - Susan

"I think this is a great read for all Christian homeschool parents. It is affirming to our goals. It is a challenging reminder of our job. It is also a reminder that only God can give us the results that we’re looking for. As we homeschool, we need to keep remembering prayer and praying for God to change and control our children’s lives." - Rebecca

"I just finished reading your book and I loved it! It is indeed full of encouragement and exhortation to choose what is best. Thank you so much for your thoughts and your honesty in this wonderful book." - Lara

"I have to tell you that your book struck me to the core.  There was such a sweetness and vision and deep wisdom and purpose that stirred me." - Sarah

"Every once in awhile a book comes along that encourages and challenges you. That is exactly what the book Legacy has done for me.

Ruth Adams does an amazing job encapsulating what is most important in our role as a homeschooling mothers. With so many outside pressures and influences, we have to be diligent to keep the main thing the MAIN thing...

"The Lord graciously gives us our children for 18 or more years. He gives us years to speak truth into their hearts and lives and to teach them what they need to know to walk successfully through their adult years. Of all the things we need to teach them, absolutely nothing is as important as that of the glorious good news of the gospel. It is the best news of all!"

The way Ruth wrote this book is so down to earth...like having a conversation with a good friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad when it was over! It has given me a lot to think about. That's a sign of a good book!!

If you're a Mama, you need this book! It'll breathe life into your weary soul and make you evaluate your priorities on a whole new level. I can't recommend it enough!" - Jenny

"A homeschooled, homeschooling mom of seven children, Ruth shares in her book her decades of experience with homeschooling when the movement was taking off in its early days, a brief history of homeschooling, how homeschooling has changed and is changing, and the benefits of homeschooling. She also touches on the life of homeschooling pioneers, marriage and homeschooling, on methods homeschooling with practical tips and ideas for all seasons of life. Her main focus is on the Christian’s purpose for homeschooling – biblical discipleship in the home. " - Kim

"Just finished your book!  So glorifying to the Lord and incredibly inspiring to His people.  Thank you for being used of Him to deliver encouragement, exhortation and practical wisdom in the areas of training and teaching the next generation." 

That is a sampling of some of the encouraging feedback we have received on the book.  Have you read the book?  I am always encouraged to hear how the Lord is using the book.  Our prayer was that He would be the Author and I would be the pen.  It humbles me to know people are reading, and I am continuing to pray that Mamas will be encouraged to press into the ministry of motherhood.  

Two comments we have received multiple times are that the book was very honest and that the reader felt like they were having a conversation with me.  That makes me so happy!  I really wanted the book to come across like a conversation with a friend.  If you have not yet read my book I invite you to grab a cup of tea and sit down for a conversation with me through the pages of my book.  "Legacy" is available on Amazon and other major book sellers and also through me.  Blessings to you all!  

Lilla Rose for Every Hair Type!

Today I want to share with you the GREAT SALE going on over at my Lilla Rose website.  My girls and I LOVE Lilla Rose hair accessories which are basically jewelry for the hair.  The nice thing is that not only are they beautiful, but they are also very functional.   I get tired of hair twisties that break and plastic claws that dig into the scalp.  Lilla Rose is so much more comfortable and durable!

Lilla Rose currently has all accessories at up to fifty percent off PLUS FREE shipping for orders over seventy-five dollars!  There are some beautiful gift sets included in this sale.  

       
               Snowman Hair Sticks!  

             These Jewel Tone accessories are so gorgeous for Christmas!  

The Braided Leather is fun to mix and match with different hair sticks.  

Flexi Clips come in seven sizes from mini to mega!  The website offers short videos to help with sizing.  

Lilla Rose makes any holiday outfit all the prettier! 

Coordinating pieces can be worn together for a stunning look.  

Each month Lilla Rose puts out a limited time Flexi of the month.  It is always fun to see what the new clip will be!  December's clip was released early.  It is Adora!  Isn't this the prettiest especially for Christmas?

Over time I have been adding to my personal Lilla Rose collection, and I wear Lilla Rose on a daily basis now.  I love having clips that last for years rather than continuing to buy plastic accessories that continue breaking.

Now, during the biggest sale of the year,  is a great time to begin trading old hair accessories for something more beautiful, comfortable, and durable.  Just click the Lilla Rose button on my sidebar to be linked to my website.  

The November special of the month offers you the opportunity to get this beautiful zipper bag, bobbie pins, and brooch for free when you spend $125 or more!

I sell Lilla Rose because it is a product I LOVE and have seen really work for myself and for my girls.  I have a ton of very fine, slippery hair and very few hair accessories have ever worked in my hair.  Lilla Rose has made a huge difference, because it is a product that does actually hold my hair up.  Lilla Rose offers seven sizes in order to offer a solution for those with very little hair to those with very long thick hair.  I have never seen another hair product that actually works for so many varying hair types.  If I can assist you in finding solutions for your own hair please let me know.  I really enjoy helping people find accessories that work for their unique head of hair.  Merry Christmas!  

www.lillarose.biz/RuthLAdams

Finding Strength Through Abiding in Him

In my last post I told about how I recently published a book telling the story of my legacy being homeschooled in the pioneer days of the homeschooling movement and my vision now in homeschooling my own seven children.

  I have prayed and continue to pray that the Lord will use this book to offer life-giving hope to Mamas who want to disciple their children in the ways of the Lord.  There is so much in the culture that can cause us to fear and grow discouraged.  In Christ we have eternal hope, and when we go back to His Word we are reminded that: 

"He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." - I John 4:4

  I have also been thinking a lot about abiding in the vine as we read about in John chapter fifteen.  

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."  John 15:1-11 

  I am painfully aware of the fact that I can do nothing of lasting, eternal worth apart from abiding in the vine.  Jesus is the vine, and so I must draw my strength from Him.  As a mother I do not want to be a withering branch that is thrown away and useless!  How many times have I felt so parched and dry....sadly too many to recount.   As busy Mamas we must continue to abide in Him so that we will bear spiritual fruit.  Verse eleven tells us that the end result is joy!  

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:11 

  In all honesty, joy is not always easy to come by.  It is so easy to be exhausted and stressed and totally miss the joy of the Lord.  This reminds me of Nehemiah 8:10 that says: 

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."

  So it is my desire to abide more in the vine and to experience more of His joy which will be my  strength.  I have been so encouraged by some of the sweet feedback I have received from Mamas who have read the book.  I hope to share some of that soon.  For now be encouraged, Mamas.  We will receive His JOY when we abide in Him, and in turn His JOY will be our strength.  In closing, this is such a powerful verse for us to always keep before us as we minister to our families in our homes:

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

My book "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama can be found on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions and also at other major book sellers.  

https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Reflections-Homeschooled-Homeschooling-Mama/dp/1973737825/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511297186&sr=8-1&keywords=legacy+reflections+of+a+homeschooled+homeschooling+mama

Legacy Reflections of A Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama

Happy Monday, Friends. We had a full weekend and are enjoying slowing the pace a bit and being home today.  One reason I have not written at the blog much in the past years is because I was busy writing a book.  My husband encouraged me to write this book, and without his encouragement it would have never come to completion.  It took me over three years, but this past summer we saw the book finally put into print.  

  In the book I share my gratitude for the christian legacy my parents gave to me, and I also share my heart to pass that same heritage on to my own seven children.  Additionally I talk about observations I have made as I have watched the homeschooling movement explode from its pioneer beginnings to the huge group of people home educating today.

 
I had the opportunity to take the book to the FORGE (Families Obediently Restoring Godly Education) conference in Kerville, TX, and I loved talking to all the sweet families who came to my booth.

  My first proof book arrived while the children and I were in Ohio this last summer.  It was fun to take it out to our little garden area and take pictures together.

If you are looking for encouragement in home education and home discipleship and would like to hear the perspectives of someone who has observed homeschool culture for almost four decades, I invite you to read my book "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama" as I will share with you from my own past and the many things the Lord is teaching me along the journey.  Several readers have commented that they felt like they were sitting and having a chat with me.  That thrills my heart as I very much wanted the book to come across as sharing from one Mama's heart to another Mama's heart.  

You can find the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million, and I also have copies if you are local.  Please pray with me that the Lord will use this book for His kingdom purposes.  I want Him to be glorified and for the hearts of tired Mamas to be encouraged.  Raising children to the glory of God is such an important ministry.  The ministry of motherhood is so needed in today's culture.  Blessings, my friends!  

"Legacy.  I think it is a beautiful word when referring to something of eternal value passed down from one generation to another."  - Ruth Adams

Dusting Off the Old Blog

I have been thinking that it is time to blow the dust off this old blog.  Honestly I truly had ambitions of beginning a totally new blog, but my husband encouraged me to just revisit this archaic one for now.  Life has been in high speed ever since the last post and I have a lot of catching up to do.  I'm really excited to be back!

One big thing that is new in our family is that we bought a vacation house in Ohio's Amish country. 

We rented this house over two years ago, and this spring we found out that it was up for sale.  My husband thought it would be a good business venture to purchase it and use it for vacation rentals allowing us to enjoy it at the same time. 

 Over the years we have taken several vacations to Ohio's Amish country, and we knew we would enjoy going back over and over.  My seven children and I spent about five weeks there getting it set up over the summer.  We went not knowing who we would find to do fixer upper projects, to keep the yard, and to clean after guests.  We were praying for direction, and once we got there the Lord brought us in contact with just the right people.  He is so good and so faithful!
  During our five weeks there we had an Amish man rip up all the carpet and restore very old wood floors.  My oldest daughter did a lot of painting, and we worked hard at setting up house.  There are still many more projects we would like to do over time, but it was exciting to see all the progress in just five weeks.
  Recently my husband and I were able to take a short weekend trip back, and he was able to see all the progress we made during the summer.  We had fun visiting with friends in Ohio and shopping for little things here and there to spruce up the house a bit more.

I LOVE fall, and seeing the colorful leaves in Ohio thrills my heart!  At the start of 2017 we had no thoughts of buying a house in Ohio whatsoever.  It came about so unexpectedly and yet I see the Lord working His purposes in it already.  Not only are we enjoying times to get away to a quieter and slower pace, we are also building friendships and having the opportunity to minister to the people staying in our home.  We are trying to be intentional in letting the presence of the Lord be felt when a guest enters our home.  We purposely left christian literature and other things around the house to be a blessing to our guests.  

  It was so shocking to us that the first guests the Lord brought to our home was a family with seven children who homeschools just like us!!!  What are the chances???  It felt like a sweet confirmation that we are in the right place and doing the right thing with this new Ohio adventure.  

  Truly I cannot wait until the next trip.  There is something very serene and peaceful there, and I love all the sweet community happenings, the incredible thrift stores, the bakeries, quilt shops, beautiful sprawling farmlands, tall silos, the friends we have made there and so much more!   I truly LOVE my home away from home.  :)  Before we bought a home there, I would visit and feel so sad about leaving.  I never knew when I would have another opportunity to return.  Now that we have the house I still feel sad when we leave, but I know that I will return and it helps that I have that to look forward to.  The Lord is good and gracious, and we desire to use this home to bless those He brings our way.  

  This has been the fastest year of my life.  So much has transpired that the year has flown by.  How can Thanksgiving be two weeks away???  I have so much I look forward to posting here.  I hope you enjoyed reading a snippet of our Ohio adventure.  Blessings to you all!  

Praise the Lord!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,

or declare all his praise? - Psalm 106:1-2

More from the Weekend Parenting Conference

Last night I shared some of the ideas communicated by Dr. John Street at the parenting conference our church hosted this weekend.  I cut it short as I was bleary-eyed and needed some shut eye, but I have more things I want to share here on the blog.  What I share will be a hodgepodge of various nuggets of wisdom from my conference notes.  In this post I am primarily sharing notes on the topic of wisdom versus foolishness.  Please forgive any typos as I'm pretty much cutting and pasting a bunch of stuff from what I typed during the conference.  Hopefully something I share here will be encouraging to my readers.  I know many of these truths were refreshing for me to hear and pray about this weekend.

Proverbs 4:3 says, “When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words keep my commandments and live.  Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.”  

Your children do not naturally go after wise things!  This is not naturally in keeping with their nature.  They have to be instructed and you’re the one to do that.  This culture is ruled by self definition.  Everything is self defined today.  Children need to say, “I don’t define myself.  God defines me.”   We do not want to raise foolish children.  

Our psychologized culture says a foolish child: 

*Is a slave to close-minded principles, the child must be free to self-expression! 

*Is not educated in all world-view systems and does not accept each as equally valid! 

*Is limited by authoritative structures! 

Proverbs 1:22 has a description of three stages a child will go through in becoming thoroughly foolish!  

*Open minded/without discernment/Naive

*Scoffer: Thinks high of his own opinions/A know it all (Psalm 2:4)

*Fool: Believes restrictions are bad/ “I am a law unto myself.”  

This is oftentimes our children.  How do you deal with children like this?  Wisdom and knowledge begin with the fear of the Lord.  

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

Proverbs 1:29 “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.” 

The child has to choose the fear of the Lord before they can become wise.  They have to daily choose to obey God over their natural inclinations.  A child who is respectful of the Word of God and humble and teachable will live a secure, confidant life.  This is a truly wise child, and it begins with the choice they make to fear the Lord.  Teach your children that fearing the Lord is a choice they make daily when they choose obedience to God over their natural desires.  It is a dangerous sin before God to belittle godly counsel.  

One type of fool is thickheaded and stubborn.  This comes from a heart given over to laziness.  Another type of fool lacks spiritual perception……the Hebrew word Nabal.  A third type is arrogant, having dangerously high self-esteem.  (self-love, self-esteem, self-focused) This fool will belittle godly wisdom, counsel and discipline.  Like walking off the top of building your child will eventually suffer the consequences of this.  Warn your child about the appeal of the wicked life.  Wicked living will always carry a sheen of alluring excitement.  (1:11-14) A person who is genuinely wise thinks about long term consequences and what this behavior is going to do.  But God has designed it so that the wicked will never ultimately be able to enjoy their spoils. (1:15-19) Evil and sinfulness has a boomerang effect.  Crime doesn’t pay in a God created world.  Children need to understand that is the way God has designed life.  Spurned wisdom will haunt the child that rejects it. (1:24-32)  God will mock those who mock His truth.  A parent cannot force child to walk in righteousness, but the parent can sure warn the child of the consequences of sin.  

 “Disaster pursues sinners.” - Proverbs 13:21

 If our children will devote themselves to godly counsel there will be an attractiveness to their lives.  God’s grace will be evident in their lives.   

“But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” - Proverbs 1:33

A godly heart and godly disciplines begin in childhood.