More Snowstorm Pictures--and "Making Your Household a Church for God"

What an amazing thought!

A friend texted us this beautiful quote this morning.

For a mother to make her household a "church for God" is quite the metaphor. 

Yet I understand, because all day long we are part of a plan to glorify God in all we do.

Early  morning prayers and Bible reading, whether personal or family, greeting one another with cheerfulness, (we can't underestimate the power of a cheerful "Good morning," and a special hug especially for the little ones who watch Mom and Dad get hugs, so why not them, too?)

Then prayer or song before the first meal of the day, and a devotional reading at breakfast after looking outdoors at what the wind and snow

had done!

All day long, teaching our children to do their work responsibly without complaining, grumping and fighting,

to do their studies diligently, 

while also taking time to have fun,  to sled or ice skate,
and to have adventures like watching the grader finally coming down our road after the storm is over!

Just love this photo!

 Teaching them by example to give thanks and look for the beautiful even when vehicles are half buried in snow.

To look for adventure instead of complaining and bellyaching. 

To be excited about the amazing creation of God.

That, too, is making a "church for God" in the middle of our daily lives.

To find joy in shoveling snow and in the beautiful light that wants to streak through our clouds.

There are anywhere from one to three feet of snow in many areas around our house, and some drifts were up to five or six feet over by the barn.

Outdoors, several of the family helped shovel snow after the wind died down.

 Inside, in the afternoon, I was checking lessons while Jonathan worked on business paperwork.

Carrie diligently reading her American Literature while Timmy also reads.

And then suddenly there was this great excitement over a mouse that had been caught in a trap,

and which was still alive! 

Danny let it out of the trap to feed the cat. 

Such is what happens when little boys are in the house on a snowy afternoon.

I sat there checking history tests and quizzes while the cat crunched mouse parts. 

Thank you very  much, Danny! Yuck!

And the snow plow created huge waves of snow.

And yes, discipline is part of the daily routine. 

When children accidentally on purpose "forget" the job Mom gave them to do, 

they must do a few more jobs--like vacuum the stairs.

 Amazingly, they did all the extra jobs cheerfully!

It was like an obedience game.

They like obedience games, where Mom gives them several things to do to practice obeying.

And does God sometimes give us "obedience games"--

just to practice?

I wonder, does He ever expect something from us just to train us,

just to prepare us for something ahead?

But always, it's with our best interests in mind, just like a mother or father who loves their child

will never just expect something on a cruel whim,

but will purposely train their children in  obedience for their own good later on. 

To think that is as important as leading an army for the Lord!

But then soldiers are made of mothers' boys--and the best soldiers are the ones obedient to the General.

And so, it was a big boost of encouragement to receive that sweet note from a friend this morning.

Thank you, Naomi French!