wordless wednesday on the river

August bookshelf

This isn't the kind of book you pick up and finish in a month but we are starting this in August so it made the list. This book is a question of the day 3 year  journal. We plan to use it with all the kids at dinner each night to spark conversation. It's a great way to get to know our kids better and a great piece of history on our kids. 

I am really excited to read this book. James and Thomas, both fathers of boys and therapists, cover the five stages of a boy's development. They also give practical advise and tips on how to talk with our boys about the tough topics like sex, drugs and pornography. The authors also discuss the different roles moms and dads have in guiding our sons to become men. 

The title says it all. Give Them Grace is about parenting our kids with the gospel. It's not about raising good kids, it's about raising kids who are in love with Jesus and changed by the gospel. I need to read this book as much for me as I do for my children. 

This book I've been told reads more like a long blog post than a parenting book. I'm excited to laugh and cry with Melanie as she shares the ups and downs of motherhood! 

Love

Tracy

flip the script

     

  

“This is illuminating. If you add anything to Christ as a requirement for acceptance with God—if you start to say: To be saved I need the grace of Christ plus something else—you completely reverse the “order” of the gospel and make it null and void. Any revision of the gospel reverses it. That is why in verse 6 Paul says that the false teachers are producing “a different gospel”, which he quickly qualifies in verse 7 as “really no gospel at all." 

                                                                    - Tim Keller, Galatians For You 

high five on Friday

The sun has finally come out here in NC. We have had a rainy summer. Sun=pool and good times! They were waiting on adult swim to be over!

We were blessed to be able see old friends this week. These two were buddies in Uganda. I'm  so thankful they can continue their friendship here in NC.

I love smoothies. Here is a great new recipe I tried this week. More can be found at simplegreensmoothies.

This prayer! Jason and I want our kids to have great lives but more importantly than our kids being comfortable is that they know and experience more of God.  

 In our country right now there is a lot of talk about racism. This article Meet The Racists is the best one I've read so far on the topic.  It is  is full of wisdom, common sense and grace. Please take the time to read this article and think about what Grace has written. 

Happy Friday!
Love
Tracy

good reads and summer fun

This Bible study on Galatians by Tim Keller is just what I needed. 

"It's very common in Christian circles to assume that "the gospel" is  something mainly for non-Christians.  We see it as a set of basic "ABC" doctrines that are the way in which someone enters the kingdom of God.  We often assume that once we're converted, we don't need to hear or study or understand the gospel-we need more advanced material.

But in this short letter, Paul outlines the bombshell truth that the gospel is the A to Z of Christian life.  It is not only the way to enter the kingdom; it is the way to live as part of the kingdom. It is the way Christ transforms people, churches and communities."

-Tim Keller

This post.  Challenges me and makes me think!  Zack Hunt reminds me to line up my thinking with Jesus not with a political party.

Solving Poverty is Rocket Science.  Thought provoking article from Rich Stearns on poverty and the American church's response.   Rich Stearns is the president of World Vision.  The church in America wants to help those in poverty, but alot of times our helping  actually ends up hurting the very people we are trying to help.  Rich Stearns offers a new model for serving those in developing nations. He challenges us to change!  Great insights and wisdom. 

Summer photo scavenger hunt.  What a great idea to keep the kids busy this summer.  You can go to Debi's blog to learn more.

It's done

Jonathan's life book is done! It came in the mail today. Yes!

If you are an adoptive parent  and want to make one for your child I highly recommend using the book, Before You Were Mine by Susan Te Bos  and Carissa Woodwyk.  

   

It was hard enough for me to make Jake and Elyse's baby books and I was present for their early years. The idea of completing Jonathan's Life book was intimidiating. Before You Were Mine gave not only great ideas on how to begin the book,  but also a way to help organize everything I wanted to include. The authors helped me with what to say when I didn't know parts of J's story. I wanted to honor Js first three years and those who were apart of his story, Before You Were Mine helped me to do that. I'm super excited with how it turned out. 

He is so proud of it.

We have already read it twice. 

In the interest of keeping it real...he was just as excited about the orange Shutterfly box as his book! As you can see he has put the box to good use! I know though, in the future this book and the story of his life in Uganda will be so important to him! 

happy hump day! 

Love

Tracy