Freedom From Religious Thinking

The Kalashnikov Clan

 Joel and his boots, he is stuck like glue to those!

I am reading this book called, Sheparding Your Child's Heart, and something that struck me like a slap in the face, was this thing called determinism.  Basically it's the understanding that "if I raise my children in the right atmosphere, and protect them from enough bad stuff, and keep them isolated from "bad things" then they will turn out just right (paraphrased)." But what that is truly teaching is the child has no choice in his life, and no consequences to learn from and also doesn't believe he/she can make a good decision about life.  So in fact in almost can cripple the child from growing and maturing.  The truth is we are to train up a child in truth and be real and explain things to them about "real life" and walk through life WITH them, not just preaching to them about God but living out what we are believing, and teaching them how God walks with them daily in everything that they do: playing xbox, computer, watching T.V., playing outside, being at school etc...The gospel is real and powerful enough to lead them to truth, it is not our job to CONVINCE them that God is the way.  The Holy Spirit woos, we plant the seeds and show them how real He is in our lives.

So our job to protect them is to be there WHEN bad things happen or hard things, and to have a healthy form of  talking through, praying, working together through a hard situation, a child never has to later work themselves out of traumatic situations as an adult that were never dealt with in child hood. For me that was SO FREEING because I thought I needed to protect them from EVER getting hurt period. How exhausting and fear filling! Sheesh!

A little change to my blogging

So I decided to try and be a little more steady and consistent with my blogging.  I know we all have those moments of great motivation and it lasts about 2-3 weeks and then something happens...called life...and we lose track of our focus...or maybe that's just me?

What I really want this blog to be about is exactly as I titled it, Raw life.  I know I don't have all the answers and in fact I am always looking for more.  I realize though, that through our 11 years of marriage and raising 3 boys (getting started right away-honeymoon baby) and pregnant with our 4th, we have learned a thing or two about marriage, raising kids, letting God be the center of a hectic life, and whatever else comes with all that. :)  I just thought it would be awesome to share whatever we might have learned with some of you who are maybe going through a similar thing.  It would be wonderful to by-pass "learning the hard way."

As we have recently moved to Eugene Oregon, we specifically heard one thing from the Lord and that was: "I want you to learn community."  Funny thing is, having been raised with 9 siblings, I thought I knew that quite well. I was wrong. :) It's been a good process so far and of course we are only just beginning.

My nugget for today:

  SIMPLIFY

  

Mercy Ruth the Great! (portrait session)

Mercy Ruth is a beautiful young lady.  Full of spunk and tons of personality.  She is super sensitive and thoughtful yet so full of life.  What a lovely young woman.  I am excited to see all that God has in store for this bright eyed wonder!

I love you my darling niece!

Aunty Jessica

Portraits anyone? Eugene Oregon photography, Weddings, Children, Family photography