I should have been.....

I should have been crying.....but I think I was excited.

I should have felt sad that something good was ending...but I'm pretty sure I felt happy for a new beginning.

I should have felt remorse for the things I will miss....but I imagined the wonders ahead.

I should have been fearful of the future.....but I was trusting that I'm not in control.

I should have felt shame for my failures.....but I instead felt proud of their accomplishments.

I should have held onto what I was comfortable with....but I lunged forward and embraced the change.

Today...three of my six children started school.

Not in our home.

After 6 years of homeschooling-my foster son, and two oldest are now attending a local 

Christian school-full time. Without me. 

I have no say in their teachers...their lessons..their homework...their projects..their grades...their exposure.

I have zero control over who they sit next to...who they befriend...how they speak to the adults...whether or not they roll their eyes..their posture...how much of their lunch they eat...and numerous other things that have gone through my mind the past few months. Some really important. Some really silly.

I struggled and struggled to decide what was best for them. After a really tough year, and feeling like I had failed them as a teacher, I approached my husband for permission to enroll them in school. He assured me that this year would be better, that I could do it...but after realizing the toll 2010/2011 took on me, he agreed to give it a try. As the fun, laid back weeks of summer passed, I wondered what today would feel like. 

I imagined me backing out. At the last minute realizing I had made a horrible mistake and making them stay home. I imagined me bursting into tears and saying how sorry I am that I couldn't do better. I thought I would miss them all day. I was sure that I would be overcome with guilt and doubts and fears. 

The day came quickly. We packed lunches and backpacks. We set out uniforms. I prayed. 

And.....nothing. Nothing I expected. Nothing bad. No guilt-no doubt-no fear-no tears.

I kissed them all goodbye-bid them a happy day-and all that stayed behind was a feeling of peace.

It was time. 

It was all for good.

I need not feel ashamed-or condemned-or worry.

He has them in the palm of His mighty hand. He has prepared their steps. 

He is in control of who their teachers are...their lessons...their friends...and even if they eat their lunch.

It's been a great 6 years. I'm looking forward to more great years homeschooling my little ones.

But I am also thankful. So very, very thankful that what I imagined to be such a hard-horrible day-turned out to be wonderful.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

CONGRATULATIONS!

AND THE WINNER IS.........................

Using Random.org's random number generator....our winner is....

# 21

Rebecca

"I already like you on Facebook." 

Aug. 21, 2011 7:31am

Congratulations Rebecca-I have emailed you and once I receive your mailing address I will ship our

your Finding Joy Blessing Bracelet!

Thanks to all our Face Book Friends and others who participated in our giveaway!

Keep Sharing It's A Blessing...when we get to 300 who knows what we might give away!!!

Get Ready-Get Set-Go!!!

200 Hours Starts Now!!!

You have until Monday, August 29th at 6am to enter our giveaway to win this lovely and 

meaningful Finding Joy Blessing Bracelet!

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit our etsy shop and come back here to comment on which item you like best.

2. Follow this blog-or comment that you already do.

                                  3. Friend It's A Blessing on Face Book-or comment that you already                                have!http://www.facebook.com/itsablessing

4. Share this giveaway on your face book page or your own blog.

5. Purchase any item from our etsy shop for 5 extra entries!

When the contest ends-I will choose the winner using random number generator. 

I hope you win!

AKA Mother Goose

Mother Goose can sit in the same chair for six hours.

Mother Goose can smile that whole time-even though she has a canker sore that is killing her!

Mother Goose can facepaint countless spider men-over and over and over and still thinks it's fun!

Mother Goose speaks kind and gentle words to every child she talks to.

Mother Goose is even gracious and kind to the mothers who are not being kind and gentle with their words to her and their children.

Mother Goose keeps on going..even when her hands cramp.

Mother Goose doesn't turn away the last few children, even though the event is over and time is up. She wouldn't want to make even that one child feel left out!

Mother Goose looks beautiful!! She makes a lot of effort to be pretty and sparkly and wear her best dress and bonnet!

Mother Goose feels sorry for the child who says, "I'd like Hello Kitty painted on my face please" and the Mommy cuts in with " Don't get that! The flowers are much prettier!
and the child who says:

"I'd like my butterfly to be pink and blue please." and the Mommy says, "Don't get those colors! You should get purple and light blue!"

Mother Goose could cry with compassion for the boy who stood in line with his mom and little sister. When his sister was done having her face painted the Mom said, "Sit down, it's your turn." He replied, "No thanks, I don't want a painting." The Mom raised her voice and said, "We stood in this line, now sit down!" He nicely countered with, "We stood in the line for my sister, I don't want one." The Mother then grabbed his arm, forced him around the chair, at which point he elbowed his little sister in the face-on her face painting, and she began to cry. " The Mom pushed him in the chair and angrily accused, "You could be more careful next time!" Sweet child calmly looked up at Mother Goose and said, "I guess a snake would be fine, please."

Mother Goose tried to convey with a loving look how pleased she was that he was being so polite, even under the current pressure. She wanted to give him a hug and say she was sorry to be painting on him even though he didn't want it. The best she could do was paint a quick easy snake, smile lovingly, and get him out of there!

Mother Goose worked a long...hot....tiring day. With children that were sometimes grumpy-parents that were demanding and sometimes mean....without even a break to pee-or a bite to eat. And yet...Mother Goose did not complain one time or let her circumstances change her bright cheery mood!!!

Then..Mother Goose went home.

Mother Goose (surprise, surprise) does not live in Nursery Rhyme Land. She is the Mother of 6...my 6! She comes home to a messy house...a cranky baby...5 needy and whiny kids...a busy husband and..SHE REALLY NEEDS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM-EAT-AND HAVE A SHOWER!!

But..all the way home Mother Goose was thinking about all of the above and how just because she was being paid to play that part, she was able to remain as described under not always easy circumstances.

No..when the costume comes off, and Mother Goose is Mommy again, she doesn't get paid. But the job is SO much more important and the investment made brings so much greater a reward!!

And so...Mother Goose- AKA Mommy- stops at McDonald's to surprise them all with a treat. Holds off on the shower until she pays attention to what they want to say, sits down to play with the littles and tries her best to be patient with those being a little demanding. 

Maybe Mommy should write a book: "All I Need To Know, I Learned From Mother Goose!"

Linked up at:
Our Simple Farm
One of the suggested link ups was - entrepreneurial ideas(any type of income). I started a business entertaining at birthday parties and other events as Mother Goose over 10 years ago. Though I focus more on our home business and ministry It's A Blessing and selling Lilla Rose my years as Mother Goose were amazing and I still look forward to any opportunity to dance, sing, do little magic tricks, make the eyes of young children light up and remind myself of the joy of lighting up the eyes of my own precious blessings!

Titus 2 Mentoring Series and Giveaway!!

Welcome to all the lovely Rubies visiting from 

Far Above Rubies

We welcome you to It's A Blessing and hope you will feel right at home!

Be sure to visit our etsy shop at

It's A Blessing

And...if you are a regular at It's A Blessing....be sure to stop by and visit Jasmine! She is 

teaming up with some other wonderful women and presenting a mentoring series on Titus 2! 

You can enter our giveaway to win this lovely Titus 2 Blessing Bracelet that co-ordinates perfectly with the scripture they are studying!

Thanks for visiting us! Have a Blessed Day!

Finding Joy Blessing Bracelet is Here!!!

Does it sometimes seem hard to Find Joy in your day? This blessing bracelet was created to help the wearer remember that true Joy is found at the altar of God-our Savior! 

You can purchase this bracelet for yourself or someone you would like to bless with a reminder of where to Find Joy by visiting our etsy shop here:

It's A Blessing 

 

Finding Joy

The Fish/ a symbol for Jesus: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands

and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and that your joy may be complete." John 15:9-11 To find joy-we must obey Jesus!!!
Dangling "sing" heart: "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:1-2 Singing to the Lord-a wonderful way to find joy!
Heart: "Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." Psalm 119:111
House: "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place."

1 Chronicles 16:27 When our dwelling place seems daunting...we can find joy in His!
Hope: "Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 43:4-5 We often look to other people and things to try to find joy.

True joy is found at the altar of God!
Cow: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen

 and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior."

Habakkuk 3:17-18 When all seems for loss...we must still find joy and rejoice in God as our savior!
Circle (in square): "Be joyful always; pray continually." I Thessalonians 5:16-17

The circle is a reminder of something that has no beginning and no end.

                            We should always be in prayer and thankful to God...when we do that-

We Will Find Joy!

Limited-August Flexi Clip

Palm trees-blue skies-relaxing on a beach all summer long!!! 

Wow-that must be a dream!!!

Or.......it might just be Lilla Rose's Flexi Clip of the Month!!

Visit my Lilla Rose site here:

Lilla Rose

While you are visiting..take a look at how easy it would be to become a Lilla Rose consultant yourself! Each month you could be earning free clips and money to help boost your family income for very little time invested. These clips are so wonderful-they practically sell themselves!

Happy Summer,