Crafting the Art of Home Life, Part 1

In the beginning, God created

As women, one of the defining qualities intrinsic in being made in God's image, is the divine ability to create, to cultivate, to subdue, and to take all of the raw materials of our lives and to craft them into something beautiful.

When God laid the foundations of the universe, the splendor and magnificence of vibrant color, eye captivating beauty, resilient, melodious sounds,  the  spontaneous response of the shimmering, sparkling morning stars was to celebrate with heavenly choruses, singing His praises and worth, while the sons of God shouted and celebrated wildly with joy. (Job 38:6-8) What on overwhelming display of vibrant, heart filling celebration of His glory it must have been.

So, when we want to display just a small bit of the divine through the beauty of our home, it must encompass all of the moments of life, because we have ruled over our domains in such a way to have order, rhythms, traditions, anchors in our schedule that provide for this divine reflection through the ways we have ruled over and subdued in our own domain.

I love fall the best, I think. Chill air begins to fill the nights so that we must close our windows and snuggle under covers. Warm, simmering, pungent soups bubble on the stove while scents of herb crusted bread waft from the oven. Fireplaces and candles dance with flames, music notes float into our subconscious to please and soothe the rough places of our souls.

The Spirit of home,  stands at the doorways to compel those outside to enter into a place of life, comfort, rest, beauty.

But, you say, "My life is already so busy, I don't have time to add one more ideal."

The dilemma, then, is how to weave beauty, color, celebration into an already busy life.

Oh, my Sarah girl, where have you gone? (also a giveaway)

My legs felt heavy as I wearily climbed the steps to my bedroom. From three trips in three weeks, with one memorial service of my sweet mom, sending Joel back to California, getting Sarah ready to leave for 3 months to be a counselor at Summit Semester, and Joy starting college, I had hardly had time to breathe.

The schrapnel of life battle was littered around my messy home: piles of correspondence unread, clothes strewn all about my bedroom with two worn pieces of luggage spilling over, I knew life would soon have to be tamed in order for me to move forward with grace in the months ahead.

But there was this gnawing hole, almost a hunger that I had yet not had time to think about or identify--and then I realized, "Oh, a part of my heart has been cut out. Sarah isn't here anymore.And where has my Joel gone?"

Sarah, my first born, my always sweet, responsive, encouraging, loving, inspiring best friend---gone. Not here to bubble over with new thoughts and ideas, or to grace my day with a surprise card or cup of tea. Gone would be my welcome when coming in from a chore-filled busy day with the house sparkling as a surprise to keep me cheered. No more Saturday morning walks in the chill air of downtown amongst the Victorian homes, followed by steaming mugs of espresso and a croissant.

Gone. Away. Gifted to the others who would now benefit from the light of her presence.

And Joel, my gentle, helpful, knight in shining armor, bearing my burdens as I sifted through the relics of my mother's life, would not leave me alone for the sentimental journey, as Clay prayed from home, an injured back limiting his presence with me. Joel who with always a smile, prayed for me, shared the ideals of his heart as we bounced about for 15 hours in a rental truck on the deserted dry plains of Texas moving through the hours of the sifting of memories on my way home. Now, feeling the longing for your long arms around me to assure me of God's presence, now you also are away to your new world. But you and our Nathan, now together in California to help, protect and pray for one another as you foray into your own life of valiance in Hollywood.

After all the years of loving, serving, teaching, praying for, training, inspiring and correcting, I only hoped that the fruit would taste so sweet in my home-grown leaders who were being prepared to go into a world that would need them. And so it is with discipleship--the sweet, satisfying fruit, gifted  back to the mother who embraced her call. My heart is the one blessed because of the eternal spilling out of these who are my own precious children, but oh how I miss them, and what a hole they have left. But God showed me many years ago, they are not mine, they are his, simply shared with me for a time to invest. The world needs their light. And so I comfort myself, that though far away, they still live in my heart and we will always be forever friends. But, if I had known what a hole they would leave, I might have celebrated and enjoyed the moments of their growing a little more when they were yet young. But oh how I celebrate the memories of my four precious ones now.

The gift of discipleship from home is the deepest, best companionship I have ever known. Hearts alive to beauty, comfort at sharing the depths of our souls, commitment and hungering for kingdom living and closeness to God, laughter and delight in each other from countless days shared over life. And now the hole in my heart, a consequence of having loved and lived fully together.

I think I will probably kiss Joy too often this fall, hold on to her a little too much, because I now know the way of life so well, too soon she will be following His call for her, out into the world of her own story, and the hole in my heart will deepen, but I will be the more blessed for having shared in her journey fully, deeply and with all of my heart.

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I'd rather be a risk taker.......

I'd rather be a risk taker and live by faith and believe that He is here and listening, Than to let fear of what might happen,

or fear of failure,

or fear of what people might think,

squeeze the life and childlikeness of my believing and hoping out of me, and cause me to do nothing at all.

I do not want to be the one who hid what I had in the ground and find a frown on His face because I was afraid to do anything.

I can always ask for forgiveness if I am wrong

or admit that I am falible,

but how few years I have on this earth to say,

"I believe in you even though I cannot see. I trust you even though I don't understand. I am your girl. I will bring your light into dark places. I know you are here with me and I know that even though I am weak, you are always with me and you will always redeem."

I would rather be a risk taker........

I came up with a new title for myself.......

I think I am going to call myself "Marathon Mama"--

Seems the race just keeps going on and on and on and on..........

packing one child up to go for 3 1/2 months of Summit Semester

Hosting out of town company

Washing clothes

Cooking one more "goodbye--let's have a family feast meal"

going out shopping for clothes with one

Helping another with taxes

Talking with Clay about his surgery

And the race keeps going on and on and on

And you can only win if you keep running

Off to run a little further............

How Can 3% Change the world? Why does a movie matter?

Dear Wonderful Friends, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE MESSAGE BELOW! THIS INFORMATION IS STRATEGIC TO OUR INFLUENCE AS CHRISTIANS IN THE PUBLIC ARENAS OF HOLLYWOOD!

We are so very grateful for the overwhelming response we have had to this movie in the post below, Dolphin Tale. It is just a movie, but it represents more than that for all of us who have been fighting to bring the Kingdom of God to bear its light in all areas of influence in our world. Clay and I have trained our children and discipled them for their whole lives with the understanding that God had a work for them to do in the world.

We would say, "I wonder what plans God has for your life? I wonder how you will bring His truth, beauty and goodness to bear in your world to bring light to dark places?"

And so we prepared our children at home to have rich spiritual souls, so that they would have faith, goodness, morality and vision of spreading these messages to their world.

We always told our children that we needed to go back into culture to fight the battles, to bring light, and to not passively accept what was going on. God has called us to be world changers and all of us have a call to bring His light!

Consequently, when we, as a group of people who care greatly that our children and the children of our nation have great and inspiring messages going into their hearts, it is not just about a movie, but about us showing those who market that they need to pay attention to us and that we will support, with our dollars, messages that inspire, that bring innocence, character to the role models children will watch.

Who should watch this movie?

This movie would be wonderful for any age and for all people who love a good, redeeming story. However, when I was first learning about the movie, I told Nathan and his staff, "You need to promote this movie to all families, churches, moms, and children, as they long for good movies like this. You need to go way beyond the homeschooling arena. I have thousands of mom friends who care deeply about family movies and about great stories like this."

And they agree that they want many people from all sorts of faith backgrounds to attend, all sorts of educational backgrounds, as this story will inspire all people who long to know that their lives can make a difference in their worlds. Many churches have been invited to screenings, as well as mom's group leaders, and other strategic conservative groups. A story of redemption will touch the hearts of all who attend.

Why are they marketing to Homeschoolers? Why are they marketing for HOMESCHOOL MOVIE DAY?

VERY, VERY INTERESTING!

When those who planned to produce this movie were evaluating how a market could be reached to spread the word about a great family movie, they considered all sorts of ways to reach the general population. Something very interesting arose in their research.  Only About 3 percent of the population in the United States are homosexuals. Yet, this movement was so great at banding together, at focussing their market, at gathering their forces around targeting execs in Hollywood (a focussed market it easy to reach), that they were able to demand that there be roles that represented their small group, that had tv shows reflecting their values and moral choices. They became a formidable force because they were organized as a market group!

Consequently,  those who are working on making family friendly movies asked the question, "Is there another market of people that is in the conservative family arena, that is easy to reach as a focus group and who is about 3 % that we can test as our market?"

IT JUST TAKES 3 %!

Guess what?! The home schoolers in America are the same size--3%! And the homeschooling market is an easily reachable market because of blogs, support groups, and networks, at least this is the grand experiment within the marketing of this movie! So, this is a sort of test to see if, as a group of people, home schoolers can rally, come together as a force to see if, even though we are just 3 %, we can influence what roles are valued in Hollywood and what future movies will be produced.

Homeschoolers were also targeted because it is the daytime release numbers that companies consider strategic for whether or not they will produce the next movie and spend money on that market. This marketing group also realized that home schoolers are home during the time when the movie numbers will be considered, and so they are free to go to the movie to make a 3 % showing and therefore to reach the numbers of people it will take to convince the powers that be, that there is a formidable market out there!

That is why I am asking for your help. All moms, all families, all children are important to this marketing strategy. But the home schoolers are the market that is a target goal of getting to the 3 % that can be the foundation for making the difference.

So, you can be a part of all of us who care about these messages in attending this opening. It is all determined by the opening hours of the movie the first day!

Wow! That was so interesting to me.

So, we can be a part of a group that turns around some of what is presented to our children through movies and media if we will band together!

I am excited to think that it would just take 3% of us in this conservative, Christian, family arena to begin to make a difference in the messages that are presented to our culture.

That is why I so appreciate your help! Please send your friends to the blog below so that they can know about the movie, those working hard to reach families, and to rally the forces behind a movie that could be history making as we send a message of our power as a group--that there are thousands and thousands of families who want to have a voice in the future messages presented to our culture.

And, the exec team in charge of the movie is looking to the numbers on the Dolphin Tale's Homeschool Movie Day (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=212656562124437) to see if we are really reaching numbers through this campaign! So, besides sending the link to Itakejoy.com to your friends, please be sure you rsvp to Dolphin Tale's Homeschool Movie Day above as an expression to them that we are a group to be reckoned with!

Read this important article---Can Christians really have an impact in Hollywood? by my friend Syd Forest

Thanks for being a part of this! You are all so very wonderful to me and I appreciate the help. Just keep leaving your comments on the blog below and give your support to Dolphin Tale's Homeschool Movie Day to show a count of force--all families--not just homeschool families, as that is the place the numbers are being watched!

PS BE SURE TO KEEP PROMOTING THE BLOG POST BELOW AS THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE ENTRIES INTO THE GIVEAWAY, BUT IF YOU PROMOTE THIS BLOG ARTICLE, TOO, YOU CAN ADD AN ENTRY TO YOUR FORM ON THE POST BELOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! AND THE LORD BLESS EACH OF YOU!

Giveaway! Calling All Moms, Families, and Homeschooling Leaders to Help with Dolphin Tale!

[The Giveaway for this post is no longer active.]

My Nathan, 22,  and me in blue!

Many of you have followed stories of my son, Nathan, through all of the conferences and books and blog articles for many years. When you hold a young child in your arms and pray for him, you seek to find God's miracle of direction and blessing and leading for that child, hoping that perhaps, by God's grace, this child will be used to advance His kingdom.  As I was raising Nathan, he was such an out of the box, bigger than life, sparkling child and I did not always know how best to train or shape his life, but I prayed in faith for miracles.

From the beginning, Nathan dreamed of being "Superman" to his world--coming to the world to somehow help save, redeem, bring back light. And so through the years, we would pray together that somehow God would someday use Nathan to help bring light, hope and goodness to the world. He has even recently written a Bible study ebook to encourage others to hold fast in their faith.

One day Nathan said, "Mom, movies are one of the ways that kids of my generation are most influenced in their moral choices, their role models, and through these messages and stories. Someone needs to have an influence on Hollywood for all the values and ideals that we as families hold. I want to enter that arena to see if God would use me to have an impact."

So, fast forward many years, Nathan dreamed of making an impact in the entertainment and movie industry as a Christian who held high moral standards, faith and an idea of bringing light to a dark place. He received a scholarship to the New York Film Academy, then moved to Hollywood, and for 2 years has worked hard, held fast to his faith and to His ideals, and I have prayed hours and hours for God to open doors.

Imagine how amazed and  excited I was to see how God opened doors for Nathan to be a consultant for the Movie Dolphin Tale. His goal and dream is  to try to arouse and inspire 150,000 or more people to attend the opening day, to show Hollywood and the powers that be, that we, as a conservative group of families, moms, parents, homeschoolers, represent a formidable and strong market of people who want to bring light, goodness and ideals back into the influential messages portrayed in movies.

And so today, I am asking for you to help me support my son's dreams. Would you please consider helping me get this message and promotion out to every mom, family, parent that you know who cares about supporting Biblical ideals, goodness, innocence and light in and through the media culture of Hollywood, so that we can help to see that inspiring stories are actually an option of movies that Hollywood produces?

Our ultimate goal is to get at least 150,000 individuals out to the movie on opening day at the midday showing, as that number indicates the interest level of people to the executives at Warner Brothers for their projects. This week, our goal is to spread the buzz about this venture and to get thousands and thousands of people to rsvp at the Facebook page that is named: Homeschool movie day, as they are seeking the support of support groups, mom's groups and families.

Click on the poster to connect to the Facebook RSVP page where lots of prizes will be given away!

You may want to use the text below on your own blog or Facebool page!

Calling all Families! Calling all Moms! Calling all Homeschoolers!

Join thousands of families nationwide to see the movie Dolphin Tale on September 23 together. It makes a statement to Hollywood to rally behind movies that "get it right" and tell great stories without all the junk, twaddle, and moral compromise! This movie has all the good stuff we want more of and is truly entertaining and inspiring from ages 5-95!!!

It's time the conservative Christian Family and Homeschool community shows Hollywood we have a voice. But how? We need a story we can support and get behind, a story that affirms who we are and what we stand for.

Dear Friends, Dolphin Tale is such a story!

This is a family movie that will inspire, instruct, and bring you to tears because of the great story line. This movie even has two homeschool kids who play the main roles! (The casting agents went to a local support group in California and found them!)

The bottom line is that the Homeschool Movie Club wants to show Hollywood that the those of us with Christian and strong family values are a big enough market to support other great movies with traditional, conservative family values. I am hoping you will be a part of this great opportunity with me!

Watch the Movie trailer as seen on my side bar.

Watch a short clip from movie about Cozi being homeschooled.

Visit the Homeschool Movie Club website.

Visit the Homeschool Movie Club blog.

GIVEAWAY!

Clay and I will give away four (4) Dolphin Tale Fun Packs that will  include items such as t-shirts, posters, stickers, beach balls, and other fun items. Help us spread the word to be entered in this giveaway:

1. Place the banner or poster for Dolphin Tale movie day on your Facebook or blog or in an email letter to your support group

2. Write a blog post or connect our blog post to your Facebook, Twitter, blog or website and leave a comment here on my blog.

3. Write an email to your homeschool support group and friends telling them about this movie and opportunity.

You may enter to win these fun packs for your children by filling out the form below and letting us know how you have helped us spread the word!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for helping me spread the word! I so appreciate your help!

Sally

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.

Going home never looked so good

My sweet wonderful friends, The past few days haVe been quite a whirlwind and quite taxing. We have now closed the final chapter on my precious mom's life. I am learning so much and it has helped me make some new commitments on how I want to live and finish my own life, by God's grace. More on that soon, if life would ever settle down for just a day!

I flew to Oklahoma with Joel for my mom' s memorial and was so very happy to reconnect with some precious relatives whose lives were immensely encouraging to me--godly, wonderful hearts for God, and we never had the opportunity to really connect on that level until the funeral. Hopefully we can know each other better apart from this in the future.

Sarah and Joy drove 11 hours to be there and then drove back the 11 hours because they both had to be home for commitments. They were such a comfort to me.

Then 3 days in Texas clearing out my mom's home--oh, my-- so very interesting. Sweet angel friends brought food and treats and helped us make it through. So thankful for them. Off to finish. Thanks for all your prayers. Running to finish it all. So very thankful for all of you who have written sweet notes and helped. You are God's love to me!

A Pity Party just for me

Some days are just this way--all askew--not quite normal. No matter what foot you start out on, it is the wrong foot. After meeting with one of my children and taking them out to breakfast, I felt like I was "too much." I have often felt too much for people throughout my life--my passion, exuberance, ideals, opinions--they just bubble up and I don't even have to try.

Sometimes no matter what I say, it isn't right. I try hard to be mature, but sometimes I am not.

Then I commented on something to another child, and the child huffed at me and made me feel that I was being critical and small.

So I went to my room and fell on top of the bed and rested there thinking all about myself. Seems no matter what I do, I just can't get it right. And the pity party grew in dimension. "I think I am just too much for everybody. No one understands me. I try so hard and it just doesn't seem to matter. I put so much effort into this family and I don't really know if they appreciate me."

And so I had a few Eeyore moments.

Then, I went over to my friends house for a little visit.

She said, "You know, sometimes no matter how hard I try, it just doesn't seem to matter. My daughter was so upset last night and she took it out on me and made me feel like I do everything wrong........."

I smiled. Somehow, I already felt better............:) something about sympathy and feeling understood or something.............

Has it happened to you?

Anchored in the midst of Life's storms

Abraham Willaerts

"for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,  being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1: 6b-9

Storms of culture and of life seem to play havoc with us as we are tossed about and blown asunder from without and within. As we look at the wild waves threatening to overcome us, panic is a natural response. Fear paralyzes.

It is so unpleasant and causes such anguish to be tossed about. The terror grips our heart and steals away all hope.

Two of my sweet friends were diagnosed with cancer this week. Another two friends have mysterious tumors-one in her lungs and the other in her liver. Two husbands lost their jobs. All have small children. Another friend far away is leaving her husband to pursue her own dreams.

I wish for and hope for my sweet friends to be comforted as the storms are raging, and I pray for them to know His presence in the midst of their storms. And so here are my prayers for these precious ones.

Jesus tried to help us understand and know that this place on earth, was a place where sadness would abound.

But He is with us and so compassionately cares. He cries with us, He sympathizes with us, It is why He came.

Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation." He never promised that this world is the place of fulfillment and bliss.

Yet, we can so easily imagine it--what would fulfill and make us happy. Why? Because we were originally designed for pleasure, love, goodness, joy. Satan would love us to think that our precious Lord has forgotten us.

But He came so that we would not feel alone.

One of the reasons he came as one who was humble, afflicted, persecuted, killed--was that He wanted us to know that in all of our afflictions, He was our brother. He understands. He has mercy.

In the midst of the raging storm that the disciples faced, even with Jesus in their midst, their hearts were overcome with panic and terror.

Jesus was there, waiting to bring calm. "Peace, be still." He called out over the waves and they obeyed him.

He is in our midst. Psalm 139 tells us, "Where can I go from thy spirit? Where can I leave from thy presence? Even the darkness is not dark to thee and the night is as bright as the day."

Three things I am learning to do in the midst of my own storms.

1.  Remember and list in your journal all of the ways, in your lifetime, you have seen God's faithfulness and answers to prayer. This is why our family celebrates family day. Even in the most difficult years, we could look back and see His handprints in our lives--He was always there, He was always providing. He looks upon us with compassion.

Once, as a little girl, I had double pneumonia, was gasping for breath in an oxygen tent, and feeling scared. But then, I heard a familiar sound. My father, a business man, wore wing-tip shoes, and above the noise and spew of the oxygen, I heard the stout sound of His shoes, chipping down the hall way toward my room, and my heart was immediately at ease. I thought, "Now Daddy is here. He will be sure they take good care of me. I will be ok."

And so, we need to listen for the wing-tip shoes of our heavenly Father who is coming to our rescue. He will take care of us and we will be ok.

2. Find a promise, hold fast to His word.

Have you ever been in the car with your children and all of them start speaking to you at once and continue speaking as though you can hear their voice above the roar? Too many voices keep us from hearing. And so the voices of the world, of fear, of what ifs, all speaking at once drown out His voice, the only one who is truth and who will bring wisdom. So, we must still our lives and sit quietly that He may speak to us.

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"If God is with us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son, but delivered him over for us all, how will He not freely give us all things?" Romans 8: 31-32

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." Isaiah 43:2

Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you and fill your heart with the peace and calm of His strength and presence. If we look to outer circumstances for our happiness and peace, we will always be defined by the limitations and battles raging in a fallen, sinful world.

But if we look within, still our hearts, wait to hear His voice, we will perceive that the Lord of Hosts is with us, that His Holy Spirit is there waiting to  speak peace, healing, strength, love and life into our hearts and into our circumstances, while we wait on Him and behold His salvation and comfort.We are not alone. He is faithful.

3. Determine to hold fast and to be a courageous warrior in your battles.

Memories of my family and friends have been flooding my mind this week as I move toward my mom's memorial service.

The life of a distant relative has been on my mind. He was a man who lived a life of great faith, for many years, bringing light into darkness, redeeming, loving. But he became weary of the battle and instead of staying strong, he gave up. Consequently, his legacy, by which he will be remembered, is of quitting.

All of the soldiers who saw Goliath and ran away from him, will never be remembered. We do not know their names. But we do know the name of a valiant young warrior named David. He saw the same giant, but faced him.

"You come to me with speer and sword." (the weapons and strength of the world--even a giant is the power of the world's way)

"But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts."

David did not picture his own strength, but instead pictured the Lord and thousands and thousands of angels behind him. And so he has a legacy of faith and saw God work.

Do not give up your legacy of a story of faith. Your children are looking to your story to give them courage in the story they yet will yet live. Hold fast, find a friend to pray with, stand strong. Today is the day you have to proclaim His faithfulness in your own life for all generations to see. What a shame if we all gave up--there would be no stories of His strength, grace and truth.

So, find a way to stay strong. Pray every day with a friend. Fill your mind with beauty, songs, stories of those who have gone before us. Rest deep inside your heart and see His love for you.

Right in the middle of the boat, deep in the midst of the storm, Jesus was resting, sleeping, in the arms of His Father, knowing He was not alone, and understanding that His Father's strength would calm the storms.

Today, I am giving attention to my soul, and to Him, who is so patient

By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity.Robert A. Heinlein

Today, I am stealing away to cultivate beauty in my soul, so that I might have future seeds to scatter. Pulling weeds, tilling the ground of my soul. Watering the eternal and that which is good.

Investing in my future by filling today.

For me, that means drawing away from all media and drawing in to all that is real and those who I love.

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Thanks to Apologia Live and Hiphomeschoolers for interviewing me today and giving away one of my books.

You may find me at: http://www.hiphomeschoolmoms.com/2011/08/meet-greet-sally-clarkson/ and enter a giveaway for one of my books!

Grace and peace to your day.