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something in your life? I was just thinking about this as we were reading "Understood Betsy" last week. The little girl is raised first with an overprotective aunt, who has good intentions, but focuses so much on potential problems before they even arise that all the little girl sees around her are problems. Life is one big scary thing to get through for her. Then, she goes to live at the Putney farm. On her way there, her uncle has her drive a team of horses. She cooks on a hot stove for the first time. Churns butter. Walks through the deep woods alone. Befriends a huge black dog. Anyway, this is all a big change for Betsy - but the change is for the good.

I was reading about their nights together on the Putney farm. They popped popcorn. They asked Betsy to read a poem about a stag because the uncle loved to be read to. They played checkers. They talked about their day around the fireplace. I wanted to be there! I wanted our family to have nights like that. I realized that with my dh traveling so often, we've gotten in a rut. When he's home, he takes the dc outside, and they're with him, and I'm usually trying to recuperate. When he's not home, I'm exhausted and have the dc play on their own or sometimes watch a movie on their own. I've been so tired lately - my thyroid is back to not working right, hair falling out, etc. - but still, I don't want this to be the way they remember our nights together. Today, we made sauteed apples together. The kids peeled the apples and had a blast (normally I'd be like Betsy's overprotective aunt and think they'd cut themselves so I'd just do the apples ). They had a blast (and there was only 1 tiny cut) ! We had on Christian radio. We were singing. Eating homemade apples. It seemed like a little bit of the Putney farm experience had snuck into our kitchen. Sometimes it seems like I have nothing left to give by evenings, but this was sure enjoyable. I'm going to try very hard to be a little bit more of a Putney.

Have you ever had an HOD book that changed your outlook on things? Just thought I'd ask... just to see if I'm off in left field here.

In Christ,
Julie

Wow, Julie! Sounds like I need to read that book! Our nights sound oh so familiar to yours... Around here, Dad doesn't make it home before "bedtime" very often, with all the work on the farm. (And I don't put the kids in bed early either! We usually end up being up late in case he makes it home before bedtime. ) We could use a little dose of "Putney", too!! Now that we're heading into cooler weather, I'm inspired. (In the summer we soak up every last bit of daylight before showers & a quick supper before bed.)

I'll have to think for some specific examples, but I know HOD books have changed my thinking & convicted me numerous times! I know that while reading about the Wright Brothers in Bigger, I was challenged to be more encouraging to Grant's creative ideas and let him mess up the house occasionally to do it. (Sometimes when I'm tired, I can turn into a bit of a snippy dream-squasher. ) Mother Wright let the boys have a lab in her kitchen for quite a while (if I'm remembering correctly).

John Audubon was pretty inspiring, too. I know I placed an even higher value on outside exploration after reading about his life than before! (And I've always been an outside lover.) But, I found myself listening much more excitedly to Grant's discoveries & adventures afterwards.

Julie, I'm praying for you right now - and adding you to my prayer list. I'm so sorry to hear that your struggling!

Love in Christ,
Kathleen

Hi Julie!
As for me, God has changed so much about our family through so many of the missionary stories. We were reading in PHFHG Hero Tales (I am thinking that was it??) and my husband's job was cut to part time, we lost our baby with many physical complications for me, no health insurance, lots of medical bills. I was overwhelmed by the financial burden ...but God spoke to me through the testimony of the saints who so incredibly depended on the Lord and did not fear lack of money (or anything else for that matter). No, they gave their concerns over to God and waited expectantly for Him to provide - and you know what? He did provide for them and He does provide for us - and He continues to show Himself faithful!! And my husband, I and my 11yo (then 10 yo) desperately want to go on a missions trip now, too!!

And, I am praying for the Lord to grant you the health and energy you need to accomplish His purposes for each day. May He give you the time to rest during the day, and may He multiply that rest to enable you to be the mama you want to be for His glory and to accomplish His eternal purposes in the life of your children. Oh, Heavenly Healer, I bring to You Julie, today. Please. Lord, give her wisdom as to how to number her days, how to invest the energy You give her each day. You know, Lord, the physical struggles she has. You created her inmost being and knit her together in her mother's womb. Every intimate detail of her health is known to You. I pray You will give her the medical insight and healing she needs to be the woman You created her to be. Help her thyroid to work correctly. Encourage her heart as she spends time with You. With thanks and praise, In Jesus's Name, Amen.

Hi Julie...you're not in left field at all! (Well, maybe you are and I'm there, too ) We are reading Understood Betsy right now, and I would love more "Putney" in our home! (We read the popcorn part just today.) It seems their lives are so simple yet full and joyous! My dh works evenings and long hours, too, so he is gone from early afternoon until we are all in bed...evenings are difficult to say the least...I'm working on that.

Another book that affected me was Little House in the Big Woods, which we read last year for storytime. Then I read all the other books in the series! They inspired me to want to simplify things (um, still working on that, too! ) Maybe the Holy Spirit "pinches" us when we read about things that are good, and right, and noble, and such, and we aspire to those things.

I pray your thyroid issue is resolved quickly!

Julie, I so needed to hear your struggles today. Does that sound weird? I have taken our first 'mental health' day off today because my husband's work trips are starting to affect me. Every trip he makes triggers my feelings from when he was deployed to Iraq and to Afghanistan. I am so blessed to have a hard-working (employed!) husband and wonderfully behaved children who seem to 'know' when Mommy is not feeling too well mentally. I think each of the books we've read through HOD have affected us and have encouraged us to live more simple lives with more meaning. One thing for sure I have learned to do is to read my Bible more often. It's funny how making sure my kids each get their Bible reading each day with school has encouraged me to do the same!

Praying for you Julie!

JoAnna

Hi Julie,

First of all I will keep you in my prayers for your thyroid, your tiredness and improved sleep on nights your hubby is gone! I have a tiredness, yet I have not found out what causes these waves of tiredness to come over me. My hubby travels every now and than for work as well. Sometimes more frequently after each other. For me it causes sleepless nights . Of course the kids miss him terribly as well, so that makes me even more sad .

I can't wait till I get to this wonderful book "Understood Betsy" that you are reading. That is an awesome lesson. Our kiddo's are only little for a short time and we as busy homeschool Mom's need to appreciate the precious times we have with them.. Not just during the day, but also in the evening. Thanks for sharing!!

Anyway, the one book that has touched me is John Audobon. I really took the lesson from Mamam, when she wanted to present her lovely son all dressed up to all her friends to see. He instead forgot about his fancy clothes and went after some birds!!!! He came in late and all muddy , but Mamam with joy in her eyes and her heart did not scold him, but still spoke as highly of him as thou he was in his best outfit and best behavior. I tend to be the type that wants the kids not to get dirty and be presentable at all times, doing everything just the way they were thought.. Well, the Lord gave me 2 boys:-)..One of them actually attracts dirt and does not care if he has food on his face hands and clothes all at the same time even mixed with the dirt. ow he has responded very well to good hand washing methods before eating!! PTL It only took about 6 years:-)
Just love them, love them, love them... and enjoy them, enjoy them, enjoy them cause time flies

Julie: I know exactly what you mean, and that is why I love HOD so much! Many of the HOD books we have read caused me to make some type of personal changes in my life. I can honestly say I can look back and see so many areas that God used HOD's books to make a difference in my life. Although I have taught Children's Church for 9 years as a Children's Minister, I currently teach differently. I have a passion for God's Word like never before, and I get so excited to share the Bible Story with the children each week. The books that have made God's Word come alive to me are Boy of the Pyramids, The Golden Bull, Grandpa's Box, Tirzah, and Traveling the Way.

Julie, you have wet my appetite to go and check out Understood Betsy. My dd and I talk often about the simple life as one of our favorite things to do together is to watch Little House on the Prarie DVD's.

I was asked to homeschool a friend's child this year, and I consented to the request. Being able to enjoy the books in PHFHG, was one of the deciding factors in accepting this challenge. So even though I just discovered HOD last year through CTC and currently use RTR, we get to read the books for PHFHG, too. Also, I use LHTH for Children's Church. Therefore, I get to enjoy three HOD guides with only one school-aged child!

Julie, I have prayed for you and will continue to keep you in my prayers. You have encouraged me so many times with your posts!

Patti

I would say for us it is not a particular book that has changed the way we look at things. It is the application of scripture to the books and the way that has helped us all apply scripture to our every day lives. Lots of great books out there and the books HOD use are great but the application of the books to Bible and biblical principles are what makes HOD far superior to anything else out there.

I like threads like this.

Now that you mention Understood Betsy, I will say that book imparticular made a lovely impression on my daughter. Not life changing or anything, but it's like it opened doors of discovery for her. It's funny but I specifically remember this. During the reading of that book, she told me she has "secret thoughts" that nobody knows about but her. She knows she can't hide anything from God, but she is starting to know her mind and her ability to keep things private if she chooses. It might not sound like much, but at the time it was a real tender moment.

Julie, I'm sorry to read you're dealing with thyroid issues. I have been on this board for a couple of years now, and you have always been a source of encouragement to me and others. I will pray for you. Read those Psalms during times like this and sing hymns in praise to our Lord and Savior! That will lift your spirits.

Joy

Thank you so much, ladies! This has been such an encouragement to me. I am enjoying having my dh home right now for a few days, and I have a doctor's appointment coming soon too.

Kathleen - I've been thinking of you knowing this is a busy time for your dh, and especially for you now with a precious newborn. I hope you are hanging in there! Oh and I can be a dream squasher too. I remember the Wright Brothers mom and the lab in the kitchen too. I have a long way to go to get there, but that book DID make me want to be more and more like that!

4HisPraise, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your baby and the difficult times that followed. That is truly amazing you found strength through the Hero Tales books, and I agree - when I read those I was in awe of those missionaries too. We can learn much from them! Your prayer is much appreciated. Thank you so very much!

Tmisek - how fun we are both reading Understood Betsy! We loved the Little House series here too. I agree that this simpler form of life is so appealing, yet so hard to choose to do in the midst of all the busy around us. I hope we both can continue to simplify and enjoy!

georgiamomof3 - I think you were wise to take a day and regroup! I can imagine that would be a fear anyone in your position would have. I pray you can overcome it - though I know this is hard. I agree that reading the BIble is something HOD has truly instilled in my dc, and in me too! I look forward to that time so much now, but I've needed to grow spiritually just as my dc do.

moedertje - I have trouble sleeping when my dh travels too. I miss him, but more than that, I think it's having the full weight of responsibility for the children, the house, the dogs, our safety, etc. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it. I've gotten into the habit of doing my Bible devotions right before bed when I'm really worried. It seems to help me, and then I pray for peaceful sleep. John Audubon was good for me the first time around, and we're reading it now with my second ds, and it's good for me to hear the second time too! I too struggle with the same thing you described. I think it feels like we have more to prove sometimes because we are doing something different by homeschooling our dc. And yes, I can learn from Maman too - I should be talking them up not down. They are, after all, just being boys! Good reminder!!!

patekake - That is so neat that you have become a teacher with passion for the Word of God! I would teach Sunday School differently now too. Your list of books - Boy of the Pyramids,The Golden Bull, Grandpa's Box, Tirzah, and Traveling the Way are some of our very favorites too. They just make the Bible times and that way of life come to life, so I can really feel what it must have been like to live then! They also really help me understand the people in the Bible, what they were going through, and how amazing they were. I am so glad you are enjoying homeschooling your friend's child! I know you weighed that decision carefully, and I think the Lord led you to the right choice there.

water2wine - I agree that the Scripture emphasis and application woven in HOD is the best! I think HOD's way of incorporating this into its daily plans is what makes it possible for us to incorporate it into our daily lives so naturally. It just is easy to talk about God because of it. Thanks for sharing this!

FiveLittlePeaches - Having your dd share her realization of being able to have thoughts of her own IS a tender moment! With 3 boys in our house, tender moments are rare, but I hold on to them tightly when they do come around. This is a precious memory of your dd. This age of innocence is one I hope we can hold on to for a very long time.

Thank you ladies for your prayers. I am feeling some better already, and I have wonderful family that helps out in tough times. I am so very blessed to have you all in my life too!

In Christ,
Julie

The devotionals Morning Bells and Little Pillows by Francis Havergal have touched me deeply. Of all the many devotional books I've ready over the years, the Lord has used these two more profoundly than any other save My Utmost for His Highest. I keep them on my nightstand and read a devotional from one of them at least once a week. I wonder if it's strange little books for children make such a big impression on me.

Heather

We are a military family and currently live in base housing. It isn't bad, but it's not the best either. We had been looking for a bigger place with a nice yard for the kids to play in. We found a house to rent in a much nicer area and I was so excited about moving. But then one of our devotionals was talking about being content with what you have and grateful for what you have. Then we read it about it another day also. The Holy Spirit really started speaking to me about this house that we had already put a $500 deposit down on. I knew if we backed out we would loose $500. My kids out right ask me why we were moving to the new house after I read them the devotional about being content with what we have. I talked to my husband about it and the Holy Spirit had been working on him too about this move. So we prayed about it for another week together and decided not to move.

I too love Morning Bells. I mainly just love all the Scripture interwoven and I've been convicted as well as able to use it at other times during the days with my dc. I love how HOD keeps the Scripture at the forefront.

I think all of the books have an affect on me in some way or other. I can relate to so much that has already been said about trying to be more relaxed as a mother and enjoy the moments with my children. It is so easy to get caught up in everything that needs to be done that I don't take the time to just enjoy my children and make special memories with them. I'll look forward to reading that book, Understood Betsy. I'm sure it will speak volumes to me. Right now we are reading Cabin on Trouble Creek and it has impressed me at how self-sufficient our ancestors and even their children were. It has made me more curious to learn the old ways and help my children understand how to do simple tasks that aren't taught anymore. It's also helped me to see my children as more capable. In the story, which is based on a true story, two boys, ages 11 and 9 survive in the wilderness on their own for over 8 months. It's amazing the skills they already had and what they were able to do at that age. I think in this day and age, we quite often are more reluctant to let our dc do tasks that seem difficult to us, but back in those days, children early on knew how to take care of a home, garden, build a home, etc. It's made me look at the skills I'm teaching my children more closely. It's been tough letting them take on more responsibility, but I'm trying.

Julie, I'm so sorry to hear that you have been struggling with your illness. When you weren't posting much a few weeks back, I was concerned. God brought you to my mind often, so I prayed. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling some better. You are such an asset to this board, always here with loving and wise insight. It's not the same when you aren't around. I'll continue to keep you in my prayers.

Thanks so much, Patty! I appreciate your kind words. I believe I am beginning to feel better. I so agree with you about slowing down and enjoying our dc. The time passes more quickly than we realize in the busyness of day to day life. Have a wonderful day!

In Christ,
Julie