School days.

School is going very well, it is hard to believe that we are almost half done with first grade. The boys are reading so well. I am starting to study the history of the Baptist church so if anybody has any good book they would like to suggest, I would be grateful. I have just started "The Trail of Blood". Luke is getting ready to move jobs again, I think he is looking forward to the new crew and location. I do miss my cat, but Amanda is taking good care of him. The book the boys are holding was the first book that we finished, now we are 2 days away from being done with the second one! I love my new school room! Our friends the Brownings are headed home today with there adopted kids from Eastern Europe. What a blessing it has been to see God use them in this and to open my eyes to these children. If you have no idea what I am talking about, this is their blog. www.anextraleaf.blogspot.com Hope everybody has a great weekend.

What is missing?

Ok, so this is a very bad picture! My camera was dying so I had to get it and move on. What is missing on my calender? Right between the 24 and 26? It is Christmas! I looked through my extra icons and had everything from halloween to St. Patties day....but no Christmas. I looked seven times then I pulled out the original packaging and no Christmas! It was shocking to me, I can't believe how much society tries to remove God. Most calenders will still have Christmas, they will just remove Christ and put a santa or snowman. The boys and I will be making our own Icon and It will have a wonderful picture of Christ my Savior, on it!

Update...

So we are all moved, and love being so much closer to work for Luke. We are all doing well, the boys have been hard at work with school and Luke has just been working hard. Clayton and Maxx are reading very well now. We have had a few visitors and very much have enjoyed the fellowship. God has been growing us so much at the church we have been visiting. Here are a few pictures from the summer and I promise I will do better at this blog thing.

The Mcarthur's

Rightly dividing the Word.

In the past few weeks we finished up k-5 and have taken quite well to reading. Last night when we were having family devotionals the boys asked if they could read a few passages. They have read before but it was just picking out one or two words that they could read. Well last night Luke finished up where we were and then turned to psalm one. To hear my children read the psalm switching off verses brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful gift children are and what a beautiful thing to hear them read Gods word. The verse they both loved. psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.. Here are a few older pictures of our family, it is amazing to look back and to see how good God is.

Life always changing....

As Luba and I move on in our scripture memorization we come to 1 peter chap4. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Wow these verses hit me hard. As I continue to grow in Christ I often make things so complicated of my purpose as a child of God. When I go through times when I feel a lack of the Lords presence in my life I try to get back to a closeness with God and in doing this I always overshoot the reasons why I am having these feelings. I think that in the deepening of my relationship is this complicated thing that I can't figure out how to get there. Christ came for us, when he was in the flesh he showed us how to grow closer to him, to try and become MORE like him every day and to witness.... that is it. In him coming in the flesh he suffered everything we could suffer or will suffer in this life, And still sinned not. When I want to dive into a conversation or a feeling that is ungodly the choice is simple...you don't do it, you don't give place to the flesh by dwelling in those places. It is the will of God for us to be conformed to Jesus image. Romans 8:29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his SON, that he might be the first born among many bretheren. Before He created the world it was his plan for all of us to be saved and to be conformed (or made alike) Christ. So I have to stop myself and see is what i am doing Christlike? Can people see Jesus more or myself more through my actions? anywhoo I guess the long short of it is just trying to remind myself that it is not complicated, it is hard though. I have to turn to God for strength, but if I am not in the humble place, right where God wants me...he can't use me. If I am stuck in the place where he can't use me. Hanging on to emotion, or ignoring his voice, or being unwilling ...whatever you will it is all SIN...no matter how big or small in my eyes, it is the same in His. Good thing He loves me and always has open arms. So if anybody is feeling distant from God keep it simple, Are you being like Christ? Weed out what is not like Him and pray for more that is like Him( fruit of the spirit).

On a lighter note, here are some pictures of life as of late. Luke is working back in the union as of right now. The boys and I will be headed to Idaho from the 5th to the 18th for my sisters first baby.

Luke's last house...and Ducks!!

This is he house Luke finished in Camano Island, It is a beautiful almost 6k sqtft house, It had 3 separate entry ways, 8 arches and 12 beams, it was a dream house. We did start our own business, also a dream of Luke's. Mcarthur Custom Design, is what we are called and praise the Lord we have been busy with work. We also got ducks. I will post more pics of them later and 3 goats...not to crazy about the goats, but the ducks are fun. there names are: Lola, Tom, Daisy, Ming Ming, and Gizmo... Hopefully we can replace theses animals with babies soon.... The Lord has been so good to us, as always. Luke and I will have 7 years or marriage next week, and are closer friends more now than ever.

Hansome men

The grandmas have been asking for some new pictures. The boys are great, they are doing so well in school. Clayton lost both of his front teeth last week.

Chickens!

We are back in touch with the world! We got chickens this last weekend and a few people have asked me to post some pics so here they are. The black one(blue orpington) is Maxx's and name is Mylar, Clayton's(Barred Rock) is the black and white and is named Emily aka Barbie. Luke has the rooster(R I R and Buff mix) and has not named him yet and mine is the red one (Rhode IS red)and her name in Nancy. I have 6 eggs so far and I love having them.