Colonial Fogle

Jeff taking the oath.

The whole Fogle clan.

Old fashion pics....

Josh's team had a tournament this past weekend....

It can get a little bit crazy between games (Mom took these pics)

Britt and I with our tall brother

Weirdness

Ben and Dylan.

They won second place....

None of them were very happy because they had just lost the championship game in the bottom of the last inning by one. The final score: 5-4

Leia hanging out in my room.

She sees someone coming to the window!!!

Doggies! Jarrett could care less about her....

Mocha pays more attention to her but....

It is Mattie who is very patient and gentle with Aletheia...

Mattie lets her do whatever to her.

And Mattie still loves her.

 A few quotes I read in a book......

“It may be said that there are two great beginnings in the life of every man who has left his mark upon history. There is the day when he is born into the world; and there is the day when he discovers why he was born into the world.” ~William Barclay

“God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.” ~John Henry Newman

^^I love this book! It used to be one of my favorites when I was little (and still is). Now it is perfect to read to Aletheia (or as I have been calling her lately, Leia)

My mom took this picture of Ben and his buddies Jared and Jeremiah.

Rope swing injury... beware we need to trim back the trees.

Getting ready to go let the sheep out with me.

On the 4th

Leia loved watching the fireworks as long as Dad and Aub were covering her ears.

Some random pictures I took last week.

This past winter I was given an opportunity to teach a class to some children (ages 5 – 9) at our church, during Wednesday night Bible Study. I wanted it to be different and exciting. Something that would make a deep impression on these children and would change their lives! After searching through lots of different Bible curriculum that our family has collected over the years I still wasn’t sure what I should do. As soon as I thought I had found something that the 5 year olds would love, I realized the 9 year olds would not enjoy it. Finally my mom gave me a book that I knew would work for all age groups. It was called Sword Fighting. I became very excited about this book and started planning my lessons. Each week they would have a verse to memorize (they would get a piece of candy for every verse they memorized) and we would talk about how the Word of God was like a sword and how they would need to use it when they were tempted to sin. My plan was perfect!

As you well know, things that you plan perfectly don’t always turn out that way. It was just so with my class. I was not in much control of the children and I began to realize that they did not have a passion to learn what I was teaching. So instead of coming each Wednesday night being excited to teach I put myself in survival mode and just prayed that I would make it through the night.  

Here is an example of how one night went…. After all of the children said their verses to me (many of them had their verses down pat even though they were sometimes long and had difficult words I am very proud of them) and had sat down to do a craft. I was a bit scatter-brained trying to get all the supplies to all the children at once. “Miss Tess, may we get our candy now?” Said one little girl with a sweet little smile on her face. I replied in a very nice tone, “No, not right now, but at the very end you will get your candy because you memorized your verse!” “I can’t reach the scissors!!” yelled a little boy. “I can’t sharpen this pencil! Can you help me?” “I’m thirsty.” Kayla said and a chorus of “Me too’s” rang in my ears. “OK everyone! I am going to run down the hall to get a pitcher of water. Emma and Taylor are in charge. If you need anything, Miss Brittany in right next door.” “Wait! Miss Tess, may we get our candy now?” “No, not right now, but at the very end.” I ran to get the water. When I re-entered the room it was total chaos. “Miss Tess, may we get our candy now?” the same little girl asked. I tried to answer in a nice tone once more, “No, not right now.”  Once I got everyone back in order I then became aware that Adam accidentally dumped almost the entire glue bottle on his shield and was staring at it horrified. I assured him that it was alright and he wasn’t in trouble and that it would dry eventually. While I was handing out water cups I heard the same sweet voice ask “Miss Tess, may we get our candy now?” No longer could I disguise my voice from displaying agitated nerves, “No.” I said shortly, though I tried to create a smile to atone for my shortness. The end finally did arrive and I passed out the candy. It turned out most of the children did not like what I had bought and wanted another piece. Every week did not go this bad. Some weeks were great. I blame myself almost entirely for it being rather chaotic. I did not have very great teacher/leader skills then. I learned a lot through this experience and I feel if I were to re-teach that class I would do so many things differently. I love every child in that class and I am so thankful for that opportunity that God gave me to serve and grow in that way.

All of this to say, I would get so frustrated when I had just taught a lesson on selflessness or something else and they would memorize a verse about it but then as soon as the lesson was over they would turn back to selfish children. I prayed to God to give me patience and asked him why could they not just learn the lesson? But then it hit me that I wasn’t any better. I might be older and a little more mature but in reality that is exactly what I do. God teaches me a lesson, I understand it, I believe it is right, I memorize scripture, my spirit wants to obey, but my flesh is lazy and reluctant. It is much easier (or so my flesh thinks) to ignore the truth and live how my flesh wants. I guess I always thought that when I got older my flesh would automatically want to live for God. I’m getting older and I have come to understand that its choice I must make daily. I must use my Sword of the Spirit. I must fight against those temptations of the flesh. I must choose to dwell on things of above and not on worldly things. In this broken world today it is easy to get side tracked and give into the flesh, but I know King Jesus is coming again and I need to live for Him every moment of my life. My prayer is that I would fight the good fight to the end even though the battle is long. Here is a song written by a friend…..

When Our Jesus Come Again

        When our Jesus comes again,

This whole broken world to mend,

He will call His children home to rest.

He will bear His iron rod,

He will judge this guilty sod,

But His chosen ones will all be blessed.

Chorus

Every knee shall bow,

Every tongue confess

When the Lord of all, comes in holiness

Make us pure, make us strong

Though the battle is long

So we’re ready when our Jesus comes again.

Though we bear a heavy load

On this earthly pilgrim road

He is all that we will ever need.

He will give to us His peace

And He grants to us release

And by faith in Him we are free indeed.

Let us live unto that day,

Let us have the strength to say,

“This whole world is nothing more to me.”

May the putrid lure of sin

Have no power now within

As we treasure Christ eternally.

As I said earlier most of them had their verses down pat, even though they were sometimes long and had difficult words, and I am very proud of them. But every now and then there were a few that were a bit at a loss with their verse. This Barney Fife clip reminded me of some of those times….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM

“Spiritual growth is a question of obedience… turn away for one second from obedience and instantly darkness and death are at work.” ~Oswald Chambers