Sunday reflections

Christian exultation in God begins with the shamefaced recognition that we have no claim on him at all, continues with wondering worship that while we were still sinners and enemies Christ died for us, and ends with the humble confidence that he will complete the work, he has begun. So to exult in God is to rejoice not in our privileges but in his mercies, not in our possession of him but in his of us.

--John Stott, The Message of Romans
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Sunday Reflections - Happy Memorial Day

The good news of the gospel is not that God will provide a way to make life easier. The good news of the gospel, for this life, is that He will make our lives better. We will be empowered to draw close to God and to love others well and to do both for one central purpose, to glorify God, to make Him look good to any who watch us live.

--Larry Crabb, Shattered Dreams I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:9-11

We are done

Another school year went by.

!!!We are officially done!!!
We read a total of 87 books and learned a ton.
Here are the kids showing their favorite books from this school year.

We are all looking forward to summer break.

Day at the beach

This was a last minute thing. After we finished most of our school this morning we packed the car and headed to the beach. It was a very nice day and I am glad we did. We even ran into our old friends who never met Jordan. The kids were busy playing even though I still think the water here in New England is way too cold.

I think it is funny how you can tell Jo has been playing in the sand.

She did not want to leave the beach. I have no pictures of the boys. They are always busy playing on the rocks and I was catching up with my old friend so I took some time off from taking pictures.

You are probably wondering what kind of beach we went to. Can you see the beautiful parrot?

After we left the beach and headed to the playground a guy on a motorcycle passed by and the boys started screaming:"mom look he has a a parrot on his shoulder!"

He was just cruising around but he did stop and let me take some pictures. He even let the kids hold the parrot.

I love this picture of Nate. As soon as I saw him through the lens I knew this picture will make it on the wall (Nate is my most challenging child when it comes to pictures).

Anyway we had a blast and even made it on time to Sam's soccer practice.

What a great day at the beach.

Sunday Reflections

The church has spent so much time inculcation in us the fear of making mistakes that she has made us like ill-taught piano students; we play our songs but we never really hear them because our main concern is not to make music, but to avoid some flub that will get us in dutch...I have now heard the strains of grace, and I grieve for my friends who have not.

Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace? For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7

School plan for next year

My plan for next year looks a little crazy in theory but we are all looking forward to the challenge. I sticking with Sonlight but trying a new curriculum at the same time. Tapestry of Grace looks very similar to Sonlight but looks simpler with more children in the house. I will be joining a very nice coop next year and everybody uses TOG. The boys are looking forward to spending Wednesday mornings with other homeschooling families doing history, writing and science. Even the girls will have a program so all of my kids will be busy.

For the writing program we will be using the Excellence in writing program

and for science we will be doing Apologia (with some Sonlight) and Math U See for math.
I have a ton of boxes in my bedroom full of books. I still haven't had time to go through all of them and the boys are waiting for our annual treasure hunt.

We still have few weeks of school left for this school year.

The standardized test results came in and the boys passed with flying colors.

We are coming !!!!!

!!!We are coming!!!

!!!Watch out for the Steiger Clan!!!

!!Can not wait to see you all there!!

Sunday Reflections

Sometimes with great effort (most church members) can be maneuvered into some active role in the church's program, like a trained seal in a circus act, but their hearts are not fully in it. They may repeat the catchwords of the theology of grace, but many have little deep awareness that they and other Christians are 'accepted in the beloved.' Since their understanding of justification is marginal or unreal - anchored not to Christ, but to some conversion experience in the past or to an imagined state of goodness in their lives - they know little of the dynamic of justification. Their understanding of sin focuses upon behavioral externals which they can eliminate from their lives by a little will power and ignores the great submerged continents of pride, covetousness and hostility beneath the surface. Thus their phariseeism defends them both against full involvement in the church's mission and against full subjection of their inner lives to the authority of Christ."

--Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.
(Romans 8:1-3)

Soccer Games

Our spring soccer league started this week.

This is our off year and the boys are on two different teams.


That mean two practices and two games.

Sam's games are early on Saturday and only four players showed up this morning (luckily it was the same for the opposite team) so they played four on four the whole time.

I was surprised Sam did not collapse after all that running for an hour.

Emma came to the game prepared as well. She has her own cleats and shin guards and a soccer ball.

You go girl.

Jo wasn't so sure about the whole morning at a soccer field thing.

But after awhile she warmed up and kicked her ball around as well.

Nate's game was a little later.

And he had a good game as well.

Brothers discussing the game.

What a big brother (Sam tieing Jo's shoe).

We had a very busy morning and that is just the begining :)

the Steiger Band and Awana

The kids had a band going on in our backyard this week.

And if you happened to be in our neighborhood it was for free (this time).

We all made it to the last Awana for this school year.

Emma finished her first year in Cubbies.

Nate finished his second year in Sparkys.

And Sam finished his last year is Sparkys.

We are very proud of him. Sam got his Sparks award. For those outside of Awana circles, Sam had to memorize over 166 Bible memory verses.