It’s a Legacy!! by Cindy Rushton

Yesterday, we welcomed our precious Joshua Edwin Rushton into the world!

As I looked at him for the first time I finally GOT that verse in Proverbs 17:6:

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” (Proverbs 17:6)

We can have everything in the world–all of the stuff, all of the accomplishments, all of the possessions–everything. Yet, when the music fades and all is stripped away, only a few things really matter.

I have lived a life that has been sooo blessed. God has blessed me with so many amazing blessings. I cannot think that the cost for those blessings has been a big sacrifice for me when God has even made that EASY! All He has required is that I obey Him and offer my life as a daily sacrifice, doing what HE asks. How hard is that? Especially, when I look at the abundant and lavish blessings that just chase me down.

Yes. I have been blessed in so many areas of my life:

1. Yes, I have had a wonderful marriage. This year we celebrate 25 years of marriage. Talk about an awesome blessing! Read more

Spring Clean Your Commitments by Cindy Rushton

Hello Sweet Friend!

What does your calendar look like? Is it just too busy? Want to change things, but have no idea what COULD go? Is it time to prune?

There is something about spring that requires that we cut out the extras and gear up the things that really matter. If we don’t, there are ramifications. We get…

Tired
Weary
Stressed out
Pushed to our limits
Pulled in too many directions
Edgy
Snippy
Irritable
OK…angry and downright bitter.

Relate?

It is time to spring clean our commitments. It is time to look at all that we have on our calendar and really evaluate Read more

How Do I Know When I’ve Failed at Homeschooling?

Recently, I got the toughest question that I have ever gotten. I have chewed on it since mid-January. Wonder what it is? Here it is:

How do I know when I’ve failed at homeschooling?
Heather

Tough one, huh? I think that this is a great question. Actually, this is a question that makes me want to jump in an airplane and head your way to give you a great big hug! It is the perfect theme for this issue of HSEW.

I love this question because I think that somewhere deep down, we ALL have this one! We will all find ourselves grappling with this one. We all will feel this way from time to time.

I have hit situations that were so tough that I wondered about my own success or failure as a mom. We all want to be a success and somewhere along the line, we will hit a tough time that really makes us look  back and wonder if we have done all that we can or if we have been a success or failure. Sweet friend, you are NOT alone!

So, back to your question…

How would you know when you are failure? Read more

Me-Time Ain’t a Myth! by Cindy Rushton

Me-Time. Is it an extra or essential? Is it a myth that is only there to disillusion and frustrate the godly woman? Is it a distraction from the call of womanhood?

Sweet friends, “Me-Time” ain’t a myth! It must be a discipline. It can make or break you.

I was just peeking in at Facebook–I know, I know! I am SUPPOSED to be writing! Well, NOW I am! ha!

I ran across a link to an article that is STILL circulating on the web about the “Me-Time Myth” for moms.

Nice rhetoric. But, interestingly written by a YOUNG mom. I have written many, many things as a young mother. I have NO problem with youth. Just a problem with short-sighted youth. I just wonder what she will think about her ideas as she grows older? Read more

The Dream Comes to Pass…

Join Cindy Rushton for a few minutes mom-to-mom as she shares her heart. Want to know how to reach for that impossible dream? Want to reach toward those resolutions that are on your list year-after-year-after-year? Don’t miss this quick word heart-to-heart!

Invest in Relationships!

It is not easy cultivating relationships today. It takes an investment. It takes an intentional investment to cultivate relationships.

Think of a garden. In order for the plants and flowers to grow well they need love and attention. Turning over the soil, adding mineral nutrients and watering are all a part of the relationship that you want to nurture.

There are several ways to keep the relationships in your life “well tended.” Let’s look at a few.

1.    Communicate. It is easier these days to lose touch. But, there is also a variety of ways to let someone know they are special in your life: cell phone, telephone, letter, texting and email besides face to face meetings. Let the special people in your life know you haven’t forgotten about them even though the years and miles keep you apart. Read more

Know Your Enemy–Who is NOT Your Enemy!

The battle is raging. You feel the enemy closing in. You can feel his breath on your neck. But, you don’t SEE the enemy. You look all about. You feel his presence, but you cannot see him anywhere.

How do you fight?
How do you take on an enemy that you cannot even see?
How do you take guard against an unseen enemy?

Elizabeth Awes from Becoming a Prayer Warrior writes, “The key to victory in both natural and spiritual warfare is clearly identifying the enemy and to understand his character and methods (tactics).”

You must know your enemy! But, how? That is what our next few lessons are going to be about. I think this will help you as you step up as a good soldier to fight the good fight. Today, we will look at who your enemy IS NOT.

Is not…

Right. I cannot tell you how many letters come into our office, how many emails come into my inbox, and how many times I have personally heard people share about their battles in life yet name their enemy by names like GOD, their spouse, their child, their mother-in-law, their father-in-law, their preacher, their best friend, on and on. Got someone popping into your head? Read more

The Importance of Routine by Cindy Rushton

Good morning dearies! I just got an email from Mary Beth asking me to share this article. She remembered reading it before, but couldn’t remember where to find it. She asked if I could post it here. YES! Hope all of you enjoy! This is an oldie. Fun to read now that my crew are grown and graduated. I could not recommend better tips today. This one is timeless. Enjoy….

Homeschools come packaged in all sorts and types. Homes all have their own atmosphere…their own discipline…and their own life. What will make for happy homeschool days? My vote goes to routine!

As we look at different homes, we find that many people use many instruments to establish discipline. In our home, we have used primarily two tools–instruction and routine! You can probably see the need and benefits for instruction but why routine? Routine is the means by which we lay down the tracks of discipline. In our family routines, we take away much of the pain of who does what, when they are to do whatever, and how much they are to do. It has become part of our character to do all that we do with excellence…diligence…and of course, speed! So, what are some ideas for bringing routine into the home? The following thoughts are a hodgepodge of my thoughts on routine and form that I have jotted down as I studied this month… Read more

Let’s Make A Memory…Over a Great Book!

Hummm…was it the giggles the whole way through adventures with Pooh? My constant sobbing through every page of The Little Preacher? Our total addiction to every single page of Pilgrim’s Progress? The giggles and strategy as the children would run off to “play” every single bit of Daniel Boone’s life—with stiff warnings from Mom that NO ONE really got the hair-cut! Peeking outside to see the hard, hard work as forts were raised and mud pies “baked” for our beloved “soldier.” Oh, the precious, precious memories! Precious memories that are OURS forever!
Want the best homeschool year yet?

Why not make it a priority to curl up as a family over the pages of a great book each day? Get the water going…pull out some nice snacks…settle down for tea (or hot cocoa!!)…and dig into great books!

Game, but have no idea where to begin?? Come home with our family and get a picture of how easy AND awesome building a memory—over a great book—can be! Read more

Build Your Marriage!

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Building your marriage? Is it on the back-burner? Busy with the children and the house and homeschooling and working in your business? Just dropping at the end of the day with nothing left over?

I am not trying to give you another thing to do with your busy day. Rather, we need to get back to God’s design for the godly home. Take a peek at this passage from 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

“The woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

Our number one priority after our relationship with God is our marriage. We are created to be a helpmeet. Not a small thing! Not an extra thing. It is absolutely essential. Read more

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