Good evening y'all!  As I'm sitting here typing, I'm listening to the noises of my household.  I hear Patrick (my DH) getting onto the cat in the bathroom.  One of the boys is playing a game, actually all three of them probably are as they are waiting on Patrick and I to get back into the living room to start up the movie again.  I'd rather them watch movies than play games on their phones.  And when I say their phones, they are not set up as phones.  They are used for games, music, and the camera.  I would like to get rid of my phone at times.  I don't think teens need a phone.  Tommy goes to work.  When he needs to call me, he uses the phone at work.  Since we have strict rules about where they go and who they are with, there is no need for a phone. 

As far as the boys go, we are not only homeschooling them, but also have been teaching them about courtship.  They don't date.  I probably wrote about this before.  We have stopped going to a church not only because things had happened that we felt we couldn't support, but also I felt the need to be in a church or with other believers who supported and believed in homeschooling and courtship.  I got neither at Blue Buck Church.  Don't get me wrong, they are a wonderful church and a great church family.  However, I had been feeling for sometime that it wasn't the best place for our boys.

I've learned a lot of lessons this past year. The biggest I think is I've learned a bit more about grace, God's grace.  I believe he is my Lord and Savior.  It has taken me several years to realize that nothing I do is going to make me a better Christian.  I can't pray enough, read the Bible enough, dress modestly enough, keep my house clean enough, submit to Patrick enough to make it to heaven.  Jesus already has done that for me.  The rest of it isn't a salvation breaker.  However, those things will make my life on earth more pleasant.  If I try to say that I have to be better.  If I have to do more.  I put Christ back on the cross again and again.  He's not there.  He sits at the right hand of the father.  He is also in my heart. 

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth