JOY

Recently a friend asked for encouragement on facebook.  I thought, "Lord, what can I say to her that would bless her?" About a half hour later I re-visited her page and this is what I sensed the Lord was placing on my heart to share with her.  I thought I would share it with you today as well.

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." We sang that song on the church bus as I was growing up.  A couple of years ago I heard a lady say that and I thought, "What does that even mean?" Well, I experienced it after my mom passed. I was able to have joy even when it seemed odd...even to me. It was as if the Lord whispered to me..."you asked me a while ago what it meant to have My joy be your strength. This is what it feels like." I have had several days since where I have had to go back and revisit that principle...especially when I have loads and loads of laundry to tackle and 7 kids are calling my name! Ask the Lord to show you how to allow His joy to be your strength. That's my 2 cents!

You may or may not  have noticed that I said 7 children.  My nieces (ages 9 and 6) and nephew (age 6 - the youngest 2 are twins) are currently staying with us.  Let me tell you...I need strength and endurance from the Lord to meet the challenges of the day!
A long while ago (around Decemberish)I felt that the Lord was challenging me to wake up earlier in the morning. I fought and struggled and argued for months.  I sincerely and passionately (wink) reminded Him that I was a homeschooling mother who was still nursing a little one throughout the night.  He still insisted that I get up!  Finally, about 3 months ago, I gave in.  I set the alarm on my phone for 8:00 (It had been a long time since I had set an alarm and I am now ashamed to share how late I would sometimes roll out of bed).  A funny thing happened...I woke up at 7:59.  I got up and began to spend time with the Lord...to fill my cup, if you will; and one little person (my son Raymond DeSean) came into the living room with me and snuggled in next to me on the couch until I was finished.  As the week progressed the children, 1 by 1 started to join me in the living room!  This was a problem!!! Do I have to get up earlier that 8 in order for some quiet time? Yes.  I moved the time forward by increments of 30 minutes until no one joined me. Some days I meet with HIM at 5:30 and some days I sleep in until 6; but I now am delighted to get up and have my morning time alone with HIM.

I share this with you not because I feel that everyone who isn't up before the sun is living in sin (The Lord knows I LOVE sleep) ;but because I now know that the Lord, in HIS goodness, was preparing me to be able to pour into not only my children; but my sister's as well.  They joined our home about 6 weeks ago and they are all early risers!!!They latest they sleep in, even on Saturday, is 7:00.
I am so thankful for the time I am able to spend with them and for the friendships they are able to build with my children.  I know my mother is pleased with the relationships they are building. Everytime I feel overwhelmed, The Lord reminds me that He has promised me HIS joy as my Strength!

Until next time,

Summer's Over

Fall

Red and Yellow

Orange and Brown

All the leaves are Falling down

Days are chilly

Nights are Clear

 Summer's Over

Autumn's here.

-author unknown

 

Summer is officially over and ours ended with a real Bang!
We were able to take a trip to North Carolina and visit some friends we hadn't seen in about 7 years. My husband, Raymond, was invited to preach the anniversary service for Bethel Baptist Church.  Our hearts were really blessed by all we saw and experienced.  \
We were also excited to meet our former pastor's future son-in-law for the first time.  If you know us, then you know we love weddings!  It always amazes us to hear how God brings two people together over unique circumstances.  They meet, they grow to love each other, and they unite to become a family. Truly Amazing!

We are currently waiting for the results of the Three County Fair. We entered several crafts and some of our 4H chickens.  We will find out tomorrow how we did. If we win, I'm sure you will hear about it, if we don't....

In the meantime here are some photos capturing our Summer.

Me, discussing some important thing.

Cassidy, Coloring her hot rock for the Fair

Raymond practicing his sign

Aaliyah's photo of her chickens playing in the yard

First day of school

First eggs from our hens

 

Petting zoo pic

We decided to visit the Ark Encounter in KY on the way home. I highly recommend it!

Raymond passed out in one of the classrooms after the anniversary service in Wilson, NC

Rayanna in her saucer with a big grin

Cassidy's baptism

The Cousins' last Sunday with us.

The cousins first Sunday with us.

 

Raymond's favorite shirt.  Aaliyah practicing with the camera again.

Until Next Time,



Grace Under Fire!

Hello Friends!

You may be wondering why I have entitled this post "Grace under Fire!". It is because I believe we truly have been under attack from the enemy; but no worries! God has truly given grace!!!
During this Summer when the temperatures have been averaging about 105 degrees, our ac has been out.  When I say the AC has been out...that is exactly what I mean!  The churches AC was out (all three units!), our home's AC was out, and our vehicles AC was out all at the same time.  The grace of God has been evident because on the day that the AC went out in our home a big storm rolled in and stayed for 3 days.  The afternoon of day three, the repair man was able to come and fix it. As he was leaving (I kid you not) the sun broke through the clouds! What a blessing!

Many of our church members are going through storms in their lives.  As the Lord brings it to mind, please say a prayer for the people of Lighthouse Baptist church. I am not at liberty to go into detail, but it always amazes me when several families seem to go through the same exact trial at the same time.

Last of all, we have an injured chick.   She just happens to be one of the five we have named out of 18.  One day she just started walking strangely.  She has digressed to a state of lameness.  She eats and drinks and such fine; but she cannot even stand. She has been ill for 3 weeks and now has begun to scoot around. I have researched a lot online and I believe she has a disorder called perosis that comes from a lack of magnesium in the mothers diet. Perosis causes chicks to have a vitamin B deficiency and manifests usually between 2 to 8 weeks.  I could be completely wrong; but in the meantime we are giving her vitamins and I will continue to nurse her as long as possible. Truth be told, I can't see myself or my husband slaughtering/culling her for food.  I'm sure its a mental thing that I will have to get over; but I do not look forward to that part of raising hens. We are looking forward to all the eggs we expect come September, but have no intention of eating any of the chickens.

Injured "Blonde"

Cassidy and one of her favorite past times

Rayanna and her friend at church

Aaliyah holding "Pooh"

Raymond DeSean helping with the corn

 Until next time,

So What's been going on in my life since February?....Plenty!
Most recently I have been trying to finish up school with the older three.  I teach Aaliyah 5 days a week, Cassidy 4 days a week, and DeSean 3 days a week... when he lets me get away with it ( He LOVES school!).So much has happened during this school year that we became quite a bit behind schedule.  We should finish up just in time for the girlie's birthdays in June if I add one day on to each of their routines.
Also, it's planting time for the garden.  I spend an hour or two in the garden almost everyday.  I really enjoy gardening and this year I have tired to incorporate it into the kids lessons.  We also have decided to raise chickens through the 4-H program in our town.  When we first got them them they were SO cute...but now 2 weeks later...they are not so cute.  Their feathers and color is beginning to come in and I guess they are starting to establish a pecking order so they "fight" almost constantly.
Of course I am enjoying having little Rayanna around.  She is a delightful, chatty little thing who loves the attention of her siblings.  When she finds herself alone, she lets us know that someone needs to come and entertain her.  Aaliyah reads her stories, Cassidy sings for her, and Raymond DeSean jumps, hops, or whatever else he can think of for her.

In the church, as a Pastor's wife, the Lord is teaching me to love our people as they are...not as I wish them to be.  Sometimes we think that someone should know better than to ____________, but they evidently don't...and it is ok because as 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us- Love is patient, kind, and forgiving.

The Beckles 2016

A common sight each Sunday night.

I bet he thinks its OK to break the rule because he can't read.

I start seeds in egg cartons then plant them in the garden when they have 3 leaves.

Rayanna

Aaliyah and Cassidy

The chicks arrive

Grandma Beckles pays a visit

The kids watching Mama and Cassidy work in the garden

Fun day at the Arboretum

Me: why did you take your clothes off?
Him; I have to go poop!
The joys of potty training!!!

I hope this little update finds you all well and busy in your castles.
Until next time,

Our Newest Addition!

Introducing Rayanna Lynell Beckles!!!
Born February 11, 2016 at 4:10 a.m.
Mama and baby are both doing well.

Until Next Time,

Autumn Life at the Beckles

It has been quite a while since I have chatted with you all here.  We have been busy establishing our routine and  preparing for number four to arrive.  Our morning routine usually goes as follows:  breakfast, cleanup, school, snack, pbs-cartoon time, then nap time. I really enjoy school with the children (most of the time); but I find myself looking forward to nap time daily as well. During nap time I get to catch up on a few chores (occasionionally), sleep (sometimes), or craft (most of the time).  One of my personal challenges is finding and staying balanced in regards to using my time. I have many hobbies and sometimes it is easy to loose track of time when you're busy with piano, reading, sewing, knitting, or scrapbooking, etc! Even as I type this I am thinking of all the projects I would like to work on.

This time of year I am usually busy knitting hats and scarves, but lately I have been knitting in preparation for Rayanna's arrival.  I'll have to post some pics of the finished projects when I finally finish them. Until then, here are some snapshots of things happening in Newport for us.

September 2

Cheerio fun!

Daddy and his helpers checking the oil.

Preparing for a day at school.  Notice he has no apple...he kept trying to eat it so I had to take it away in order to get a picture....typical for DeSean.  I never knew a 2 year old could eat so much!

Stuck foot.

Sunday afternoon

Oscar the Grouch.

Until next time,