The Educational Diversion for the Davis girls...

looks like this...

A bit of goofy excitement I'd say

 One detail that you might notice is that they are wearing the same colors.  This is called "uniformity", in which they must abide by 180...or is it 170?...days of this year, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. 

Have you guessed, yet, where I'm going with this?

It's called "The Over-Glorified System" of indoctrination public school (my opinion of course), and they are now enlisted and have begun a new year.  As you well have caught on, I have very mixed emotions about this subject.  My husband and I do not see eye to eye one hundred percent, but at the same time we have given it and the girls to the Lord and all of this is 100% in His Hands...that we can see eye to eye on.


Steve and I had the thrilling opportunity of visiting...

oh, can you guess where?

And this is what we came home with...

Is it Christmas yet?  Because we spent like it is!

 Yesterday (1st day of school) the girls came home with lists of items they are required to bring to school...and the only object you don't see is the skinny 3 hole punch that fits inside a binder.  Target (gasp..I let it out!) didn't have them...nor did WalMart.  I can only hope the girls don't receive a deduction of points for not having it!

Ok, I'm being a bit..ok lot cynical in this post...and I have a lot to work on, concerning my heart, in this area of interest ( pray for me).  I understand that my girls need a mom that is positive when they come home from this military-type environment, and so despite the circumstances, knowing full-well that my God has captured the cries of my heart, I will make a proclamation of obedience (to God), joyfulness of heart, and a gentle understanding to the loved ones that I reside with.  


To my husband's credit, I believe that I would have continued to home-school my girls if we were residing in an area that only one income could sustain.  On the contrary, yesterday I had my first interview in the work-force, which is interpreted as:  mom is going to be working full-time...as the Lord leads.


And that is one of the reasons for "the system".


The second reason is really dulled by the first, so there really is no reason to mention it.  Yeah, I know, bummer...but whatev!  I've already said too much, probably.


Ok...so two more pics and then I'm done...

Personality-free, logo-adorned polo's purchased from school...it's all about the mighty dollar!

Oh! and I forgot to mention that I've saved a buck by sewing Khaki and/or Navy Blue shorts and skirts for the girls...until I can come up with an income.  

Willingly they (the girls) are wearing them. 
Considerately they (the girls again) say they like them...whew!  Mom is...still cool.  Unheard of with teenagers these days.
 
And lastly...

My adorable, smart, Godly little big girls!

By the way, all three of them are going to the same school...it's a specialized charter school that is unique to Math and Science.  Currently they include grades 6th thru 10th (Taylyr will be in the 1st graduating class, and always the upper-classman...woohoo for her ;o)

EnJOYing My Kup...
                       Cindy

In A Quandary of Sorts...But God Is Bigger!

My heart is a bit heavy right now as I think about finding a job.  It's burdened not only because I haven't had to "go out" and find one for quite a few years and the uncertainty of how I'm going to go about doing so weighs on my mind, but also, the fact that a job will most likely interfere with our schooling efforts...of any kind (ie..Steve is currently researching the options of Christian schools in the area...and I wasn't going to look for a job because of the tuition of these options...I was looking to help with everything else!  Is there an option of raising my family for pay?!).  If I home-school (and this is my preference) then I'd need to find evening work or in-home childcare of one child...which I am inclined in doing because this is familiar to me (the latter that is).  If the girls attend an institution other than home then there is the transportation to and from and being home when they are.  There is no WAY I'm leaving them home alone in an area that I'm unfamiliar with ... teenage girls + a whole lot of teenage+ boys in the neighborhood = too much unfriendly and unwanted opportunity.  Know what I mean?  I'm not saying that I'm fearful...in fact, I refuse to live in fear.  Our present home has bars on all the windows that will be taken down eventually because I don't desire to live in fear.  I serve a big God that is able to protect my family and has protected us all these years.  I trust in Him alone.  What I am saying is this limits the hours that I can work because I need to be doing what I am called to be at this season of my life..and that is...a wife and a mother....which is work, right?

Either way we (he) decides, an extra income needs to be rolling in ...and quickly.  (Don't get me wrong, I am extremely proud of my husband and the hard work he puts into his job, but the fact of the matter is where we live geographically super exceeds our single income.)

This morning I applied to an online ad company that posts family oriented ads on blogs...and the idea of it is that it pays the blogger per page view.  Meaning, every time you, the reader, clicks on a post on my blog it counts towards an income for me.  So, if they deem my blog worthy to post their ads and you see ads on my blog then you will know that I am not only blogging for fun, but for a little extra income.  Please don't be offended by this, it would be something that I can thoroughly enjoy...writing!  But your help is essential in my making a few extra bucks...reading!  I know this is very premature as the possible acceptance may take up to 45 days.   I'm just warning you of my motives upfront.
 
Anyhow,  

"'I know the plans I have for you', says DECLARES the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"  Jeremiah 29:11

God just reminded me of this verse and so I had to share it.  Therefore, I will rest in Him and not worry.  My hope is in Him.  I know that as I seek Him first the above topic that my heaviness is entertaining will be taken care of...on all accounts.

Enjoying My Kup...
                       Cindy 

Line It UP...

Well, it's been more than a few days since I have shared a small bit of my thoughts.  That must mean that I have much to say...well I must admit, at times I talk too much and God is trying to get me to listen more.  That means to stop, not slow down, and to listen.  Listening is not always easy.  I am great at listening when the news is good, it's when the news doesn't suit my needs or timing that I tend not to hear.

Have you ever met someone who "hears" God?  I mean really "hears" God.  Have you ever heard them say "I haven't been hearing anything lately"?  Do you ever wonder why that is?  I do.  You see, I'm alot like Peter...I ask lots of questions and to many of them God is probably saying "this AGAIN Steve?".  Okay, so I'm a slow learner, I get it!  Can anyone relate?

I believe that God speaks to us contantly, He never stops talking to us.  However, we STOP listening to Him.  We are not constantly "lined UP" with Him.  So it's not that God is silent, in fact in Deuteronomy 31:6 (oh yeah you should read this part of scripture) it says that "the Lord God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you."  The word "goes" shows continual action and the word "never" translated from the Hebrew means NEVER!

Well then, that means that He is always with us and I believe, always talking to us.  It is we that turn away.  If we aren't hearing, we aren't facing him...we are not "lined UP"!

This may seem like an unusual transition but...

Anyone else having financial issues right now?  We certainly are.  We are supposed to move back to California in June and it will be an awesome display of God's favor and grace for us to be able to afford to do it.  This is where I'm like Peter.  God has had favor on us in many instances in our lives, He has ALWAYS come through.  So the question is...why do I still worry?  I've stopped listening and I'm not "lined UP".

In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Is this "Let's Make A Deal"?  I'm afraid not.  This is all based on being "lined UP".  You see if we are listening and are "lined UP", then the things we ask, seek and knock for will be in total alignment with what God wants for us.  But you also notice that scripture before and after this passage deals with our relationships with others.  Jesus does this for a very specific reason (it's up to you to figure this one out for yourself).

Did you know that God has blessed some of His sheep financially, specifically to bless others and that is their gifting.  If we are "lined UP", then when we ask, seek and knock God puts those people in our paths.  These may be people we may or may not know.  We may be that person that is supposed to bless another from time to time.  Do you know that when you ask others to pray specifically that you would have favor in the area of finances, the heavenly realms are filled with that prayer.  Some are afraid to pray that prayer, others pray it too much and it consumes them.

But if we are listening and "lined UP" then our prayers and the prayers we ask others to lift up on our behalf will be heard and others in the family of God will have a chance to be obedient by giving and they will have used their gift of abundance.

Take this week and see where God wants you to be.  If He wants you to write a check to bless another, then do it!  If you have a specific need, then make sure you are "lined UP" and follow the way of Matthew 7:7-8.  If you are "lined UP", then your prayer will not be shallow, it will be from the mind of Christ and it will be answered.

Line UP...and LISTEN!!

Enjoying MY Kup...

Steve

Prefacing the Previous Post...

Allow me to preface by saying that my two youngest daughters actually started an argument after dinner about who's doing.....or should I say wanting to do the dishes!   

Ok...so there are still battles, even if it's fighting over who's getting to do the "job", and yes, I have a bit of work to do still; but hey, ya got to love the fact that their attitudes toward doing chores....I mean JOBS...are up there on that list of "Things A Parent Can Be Proud Of".  Just saying!

There are a couple of points that I left out on my previous post regarding "Commission"; probably because the post was lengthy as it was.  So I'd like to share them with you.  As my daughters and I were walking around our neighborhood yesterday I brought up the idea of Allowance verses Commission and asked for their input, in which I received a "thumbs up" reply from all three.  They in turn started blurting out all the chores-turned-jobs that could be possibilities.  I explained how their daddy works and earns an income and then waits every two weeks to receive that check.  I, also, explained to them that the money earned is and everything we have on this earth is from the Lord and when we receive an income we are to give a portion of that back to Him.  The girls responded with a positive reply and knew exactly what I was talking about.

  "Yes, we understand that it's a tenth of our earnings that we give." 

Whew!  I guess they learn quickly...and I am grateful for their cheerful hearts in this.  So they will continue to be taught how to Tithe, how to Save, and how to Spend!


...and prayerfully in the process we (mom and dad) will continue to learn with them :)


   Enjoying My Kup...
         Cindy

What Took Me So Long?!

Allowances are a thing of the past in the Davis home.
You may be thinking Uh Oh! What happened?  Naughty kids? 

Quite the contrary! 

I have great kids and I have clean floors too!!  

Are we saving money?  Well, probably not.  But we are saving ourselves from headaches and unnecessary battles within the home. 

It's called "Commission"...and it works! 

As Steve is off on a work week this week I am here at home racking my brain on different issues that have come up.  One of which falls in the allowance and chore category.  What we have been doing is not working! 

 This idea of a commission is taken from well-known financial advisor, Dave Ramsey.  Instead of giving our girls an allowance "for no good reason", explains my 13 year old, we give them a slot of time every day for a Job Opportunity of their choice...if they choose.  They are constantly asking when they can get a job because they enjoy spending their own money.  Now they are constantly asking when they can do a "Job" in our home.  Why have I NOT thought of this before!!!

Now, mind you, the earnings for each job are, for the most part, in twenty five cent increments; and, by the way, the girls named the price!  So it is definitely affordable.  And it is definitely the girls who make the choice of how much they earn.  I made "Commission Log" sheets for logging in every time they do a job and how much is owed to them, and by the end of the week they turn in the logs calculated (good math practice), mom and dad check them and make sure they have been added up correctly, and then pay them on Saturdays. 

Note:  Once the job has been completed Steve or I will check their work to make sure it has been completed by our standards and if it has not then a "training time"will occur.  In essence, they get to do it over until they get it right...with a dose of grace, of course.

The girls want a real job, and we will teach them a bit about what it's like to have one! :)

You might be wondering Where does good ól free responsibility as a family member come in?  And I have just the answer for you because I asked the same question myself. 

Everyone in the house has a personal space (ie. bedroom and bathroom if they have their own).  We have labeled this their Personal Space Responsibility in which takes priority over Job Opportunities.  If their Personal Space has not been dealt with then the T.V. and computer privileges are off.  In turn, there is a shared space which typically includes a family/living room, kitchen, dining, yard, and vehicle.  These create a variety of opportunities to earn some pocket change.  I also have bonus jobs...if they so desire to earn a little more. 

In closing, I may not have saved a few dollars by not giving my daughters allowance (or maybe I have...we'll see), but I am in the process of teaching my beautiful pre/teenagers responsible habits and good financial choices for later in life (like a few years!).  The benefits:

    Less whining!
    Less fighting!
    More cheerfulness!
    Better attitudes!
  and a....
    A MUCH CLEANER HOME!!!

      Enjoying My Kup...
                                Cindy

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