Spiritual focus for 5575

Good Book via Laura Fatta

Wow. I don't know about you but the fall chagim seemed to go by in a whirl-wind! There was lots of planning and preparing going on, but it was all worth it. I feel like I really drew closer to Hashem and learned more about what He has called me to. Sometimes on this walk it's not that easy to navigate, but Baruch Hashem, I'm glad to have Yeshua to illuminate the path. 

I recently shared a brief overview of my goals for this year, and I was inspired by my friend and fellow blogger, Crysta from Shalom in the Home, to share a little more detail about my plans. 

So first thing I want to mention is my family's commitment to reading through the Torah portion each week. For those who don't know the Torah reading cycle was set up long ago during the time of the biblical Ezra and Nehemiah. The cycle was set up to ensure that people would study Torah, or at the very least encourage them to try. This cycle was used during the time of Yeshua and still used now! What an awesome was to stay connected to am Yisrael {the nation/people of Israel} and to our roots. 

The plan is for our family to read through at least a chapter of each portion during our weekly family Bible time. The cycle is just beginning anew so this week we have been reading Bereshith {Genesis} 1-6:8. My children are enjoying going through the creation story. It's amazing to me how they are picking out new things from the account each time. 

I also intend to try to read each portion in the chumash {Torah with commentary}. It would be much easier to do if I had a hard copy but for now I will be using this website which has the bible with Rashi's commentary. 

That plus sticking with my routine of daily bible reading, will definitely keep me spiritually fed. But even still there is more! I have signed up with to spend the next 13 weeks studying different middot {character traits}with a chevruta {study partner}via Riverton Mussar. I am really excited about this one and am looking forward to sharing what I'm learning. 

As for my Hebrew study I am going to go through the book Jot & Tittle, from FFOZ. A very dear friend of mine gave it to me years ago and I've gone through it very inconsistently. But I'm planning to complete the whole book this cycle. This will help to reinforce my knowledge of the alephbet and help build my vocabulary. I would like to do more but I think committing to this is huge step for me. I tend to pick things up and put them down very, VERY, frequently. 

I'm hoping that by planning it all out and sharing "the plan" will help keep me accountable. All I can do though is try :o)

What about you? Do you have any plans for 5775?

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men...

-Colossians 3:23

My how time flies...

Wow time as really zoomed by! Chag haMatzot (feast of unleavened bread) is over, and we're already on day 5 of counting the omer. These last few weeks have been pretty exciting. Our family has been enjoying fellowship with some new friends that have become very dear to us, and just getting to experience all that YHVH has in store for us. The next feast is Shavuot/Pentecost which will be at the end of the Omer count. But until then it's back to business as usual.

This last year has been a bit odd since my hubby has been home with us. But he has started back working again! HalleluYah!!! We are very excited and I'm getting readjusted to being home alone with the girls. The first day was a bit crazy but we're getting used to it slowly but surely.

Lately I have been in serious prayer about being a mom. This job is SO important and I really don't want to mess it up. So I've been spending lot's of time on my knees. With that YHVH has been showing me some things that have been a HUGE help.

One of the things that I'm working on is secular TV. We don't have cable but we use services like Netflix, and Hulu, so the girls have been able to watch different children's shows. But I've seen weeds that are sprouting up in them from these things so we are totally removing it with the exception of Shalom Sesame which we have on DVD so we get to avoid commercials. This isn't the first time we've done something like this but I think this is the most drastic change we've undergone.

Initially I tried to just keep the tv off but I noticed that it was a real struggle for us all. So now the plan is to just replace the "bad" with "good". We watch documentaries about families, or nature, as well as shows like 19 Kids and Counting. That's pretty much it, unless hubby decides to get a movie or something. It's been working for right now, and the ultimate goal is to cut down to practically no tv at all.

The other area that I'm working on is homeschooling. I am so guilty of expecting too much and then getting discouraged when it doesn't happen. If you remember at the start of the "school year" I had a great plan of action, but then when reading wasn't working out I got frustrated and then started trying other curricula. I didn't stick to my convictions and the plans that I had laid out.

That's not a cycle I'd like to continue, so I've been asking Elohim to show me the best way to teach the girls, so that my expectations don't hinder them. He has been leading me towards the Charlotte Masson approach, which is summed up in this quote: “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

With using this approach there is A LOT of reading. Instead of texts books and worksheets, we read and learn through "living books" which are books that are usually a first hand account of some thing. Also we will be working on character traits (called habits by CM). I posted once before about our training Bible, and that will be our main text for all character lessons, copy work, and reading lessons. In addition we will be reading other books that reinforce what we are attempting to learn. Math skills will be taught using manipulatives.

I'm really excited about trying this new approach and I'm seeing that it really is very compatible with Deuteronomy 6:7 which is our personal education approach.

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. -Deut 6:7

Torah Momma Journal 12-27-12

What did I…

Offer thanks for? Having 4 wheel drive! We went out not realizing there was a snowstorm and  having 4 wheel drive was a HUGE blessing. 

Accomplish? Sadly not much. This week has been slow and not very productive. I did however find a site with some homeschool resources I am very excited about using next week :o)

Struggle with? Energy! For some reason this was a tough week and I am sooooo looking forward to Shabbat. 

Teach my children? We've been working on learning the days of the week. 

Study and learn? I've been working on some songs to play on the piano. 

Laugh about? My girls are always providing lots of things to laugh about. One thing that sticks out was when the girls were supposed to be sleeping but were up talking about what they were going to wear to church! Well one was asleep and one was awake, but they were talking to each other lol. 

Pray about? Oh lots of things. My hubby is still looking for work, so that's been the most pressing thing. 

What is this week’s Torah portion and what did I learn from it? 
Vayechi Genesis 47:28-50:26

This portion is about the blessing on Joseph's sons, as well as the 12 sons of Israel (Jacob). But what stood out the most to me was Gen 50:20 "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." This stood out to me because, Joseph fully forgave his brothers for what they did. He was able to look past their bad choices and see the hand of God. That is a prayer of mine. That no matter what happens to me, good or bad, I would be able to see my Elohim and His protection/provision. 

Picture

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls... Jeremiah 6:16

This post is part of a Torah Momma link up over at TorahFamilyLiving.com, you can head over there to see more posts like this one, from other mommas seeking the narrow way.

Shabbat Reflections

Our Sabbath Table on 8/19/11

These last few weeks we kind of got lazy and our Shabbat hasn't been what it should be. Not meaning that we didn't have Challah :o) but that we weren't truly focused on YHVH. We just kind of went through the motions and were trying to catch our breaths. Its hard to dive into things head first, and with out the proper foundation its easy to loose steam. We know why we keep the Sabbath, and follow YHVH's commands, but with out people around you to sharpen you it's like you feel alone and confused. It's like running a marathon with out pacing yourself, you end up with out enough energy to finish. But I want to finish the race! So we regrouped and now we're back at it!  This Shabbat I was able to discuss scripture with some friends, listen to some teachings, read, and spend time with my children. But more importantly I was able to connect with my Abba!

It was a MUCH MUCH MUCH needed break from a pretty dramaful week. My hubby was in car accident (he's fine Praise God!) but our car is wrecked. Our insurance is totally dragging their feet so we are car-less. But I won't get into it too much. If you think of us just please pray that we'll get this all sorted out soon and find a new vehicle that we can afford so hubs can get to work.

Although this Shabbat is over I pray that we can carry its Shalom with us into the week.

Picture I found on google :o)

Shavua Tov!

Hello Mornings!

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? 

when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep  

-Proverbs 6:9

I am finally saying Hello to Mornings! I am so far from being a morning person. My idea of getting up early is 9:30/10 am. I recently started trying to get up at 9 but that still hasn't been enough time to get anything done before the girls get up.

So I've decided to take the plunge and get up really early. I'm talking 6am early! I plan to do so with the help of Kat from Inspired to Action. I've filled out her Maximizing Your Mornings workbook and I'm ready to start! With this new plan in action I hoping to spend more time in the word, and get in shape. Any suggestions for how to get out of bed in the morning when all you really want to do is hit snooze?? What time do you all get up?

A Beautiful life.

I've been really preoccupied lately with my family. It's amazing how fast little ones grow. My youngest makes it unmistakably easy to track how much time has gone by in a year. She was born on the first on the year, 01-01-2011, what a birthday! As I watch her grow I'm reminded of just how much time has gone by during the course of this year. I'm also reminded of just how much time is ahead of me before I begin a new year. It's like having a newborn in the house gives you an entirely new perspective on time. Being that she is the second I know just how fast this stage passes and I am trying to hold on to every moment of this period in her life.

Currently my littlest princess is rolling over and trying to grab things. She is 4 1/2 months and weighs 16lbs. Yes I know she's a chunkster, especially being that she was only 6lbs at birth! We're talking rolls on top of rolls! But nothing beats knowing she's healthy. 

My oldest princess is so proud to be a big sister. She loves helping. Its so amazing how much she's grown up. She's definitely the most mature two year old I know. She loves helping out and I just pray I'm laying the proper foundation for her to grow into the young lady YHVH wants her to be. I'm so proud of her already.

I'm planning to kick her homeschooling into high gear come September since she will be three in November. So we're really going to be focused at the end of the summer. (Any homeschooling tips are more than welcomed) I'm hoping to go on lots of fun trips this summer. We have a zoo pretty close by so hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of that and there are some really interesting children's museums. 

All in all this phase of my life is a learning period where I'm learning how to be the person YHVH wants me to be and how to properly train my girls to do the same. I'm so excited for the future and for the first time I am in a place where I feel like I'm able to really just be. I don't feel pressure to get there fast, like I usually do. For the first time in a long time. I am waiting patiently on Abba as He teaches me in His timing. 

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. -Micah 7:7

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Checking in

The challenge is almost over. How is it going? I don't know if anyone is doing it with me, but I know that I've grown closer to my husband during the course of this challenge. There's something about praying for you're husband that just seems to draw you closer together.

I guess the same could be true about praying for your future husband too. I'm sure that it would work in the same way and how blessed would some young man be by the prayers of his future wife helping him stay pure along the way.

If you haven't already started the challenge with me it's not too late! I would love to hear from anyone who has been doing the challenge. Just leave a comment and I'll be sure to reply.

Blessings,