The Freedom of Being Available

As homeschool moms one of our biggest challenges is not to commit to everything we want to. There are so many great things to choose from, and then when you have more than one child with their own special interest and talents, it sure does make it hard not to fill up the calendar with practice meetings, games, recitals, plays, co-ops, etc…

Read the rest of this over on my Teaching Good Things blog.

The Ronald McDonald House

Olivia has been chairman of the 4-H Community Service Committee. The group did a donation dive for the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. Yesterday we delivered the donations which included a nice visa card! :o)

When we pulled up in front of the house there were a couple of young men sitting outside, it was very obvious they were worried fathers (or some relation). We have never had any encounter with the Ronald McDonald House before this drive, but when I saw the faces of those young men reality hit me. What a blessing to be able to have a room close to the hospital where your sick and sometimes dying baby is, at a very reasonable price. I think it is $10 a night.

Maybe in a season not too distant from now I can see myself pouring some time in there.

County Fair Week!

The Brodock home is affectionately called "Fair Central" for a few weeks in September. We absolutely LOVE our county fair. Our favorite part is participating in the exhibits. We enter items in several of the handiwork, gardening, food preservation, and baked goods categories. The girls each also do a 4-H Booth exhibit. This year Olivia's booth is about the dangers of smoking and Emma's is about exercise.

We try to keep fair project ideas in mind all year long when we make things. This is a GREAT
way for the children to use their skills that they are working on. The county fair allows them to be
judged and hopefully be rewarded with ribbons and cash, and if not, they learn good sportsmanship!
It is also great inspiration for ideas of how to improve on what they know, and consider learning
new skills. But mostly, the county fair inspires all of us to be productive.

Baked Goods Registration
front: Emma and Olivia
back: Me and our friend/neighbor, Carolyn,
who is over all individual exhibits

We use this time to do community work and volunteer as a family at the fair. This year
 the girls and I are in charge of the Baked Goods registration, and all of us will be helping
work the gates one night. We are also helping at a couple of booths during the week,
including the Sav-a-Life booth. I am not saying this too toot our own horn, but to point out
that there are times when families can be a witness for Christ to the community just because
we are willing to serve. When people see that you are willing to serve they wonder what is
different about you, THAT is when you point to Christ. There are alot of people that are
willing to volunteer as individuals, but not many are willing to serve as a family. Not many
teens are willing to give freely of their time unless they are doing a 'Community Service Project'
for a club or a grade. I hope that we are teaching our kids that this is a way of life. I also hope
we are dispelling myths about homeschoolers. THIS is TRUE socialization, being able to
communicate will all ages and types of people, not just 30 other kids their age all day
long.

Emma taking water to the fair workers.

It is a great time to see people that you have not seen in years and to meet new people.

Labor of Love

It is 12:30 am, my two favorite men are out fighting another fire. We are in a severe drought here and we've had record breaking temperatures which includes temps over 100 for the last 10 (?I've lost count) days.

My husband and son work in the heat and it takes a toll on them. Today after working all day they were called out to a field fire with structures in danger. This was caused by road crews mowing the sides of the roads, they hit some stones, which caused sparks and fire. Within 15 minutes 45 acres were burnt.

I don't know how in the world these guys do what they do. Combine their protective fire gear (which is so heavy) with the heat from a fire and air temperatures being over 100 degrees it has got to be incredibly hard to do their volunteer job.

This fire came VERY close to a home. After Jeff and Josh got home and sat down with exhaustion, Josh said, "At least we didn't loose any homes." After fighting that fire for 5-6 hours they took their baths and went to bed. At midnight the tones go off again, the fire has rekindled and out of control. As my guys were rushing to get their selves together another tone went off stating that the fire had taken on a 2 story residence. This area is farm land and homes. I sit here praying for those that could loose home and this year's income. I pray for the safety of MY guys and the rest of the department. Jeff took two allergy tablets a few hours ago, which knock him out, it HAS to be a labor of love to push a person to such physical limits. A love for people.

Please pray that the Lord will see fit to bring this horrible drought to an end and that He would also give us a break with the temperatures. May we all remember Who is in control! It is times likes these that we begin to realize just how much we take for granted.

Encouraging Servants

My goal after trying to be a good wife is to train our daughters to be good, well rounded, skilled wives one day. If God does not bring them a husband, they will be well equipped to serve in however God calls them.

Because I want my girls to be LADIES, and not WOMEN, I sometimes worry about them working such hard work with their dad. They can just about outwork most boys we know their age. Having them work construction is not 'my' ideal work for young ladies. Then I have to be reminded that THIS is where we are right now in life. We cannot afford to hire out, and if we could, would we? This is our FAMILY business and we work together and we share the benefits together. $$$ :o)

These girls have the PRIVILEGE of being with their dad most of the day EVERY day. They know each other so well that they can hand him something before he even ask for it. What a blessing to him and FOR THEM!

Not only can these girls do construction, but they can cook, quilt, sew, play piano, can fruits and vegetables, care for babies, etc... They will make great wives one day, hopefully at their husband's side as he operates his own business, and training their children how to work and play together for the common cause of the Kingdom! If God calls them to farm life, missionary life, or political life we want them to be ready, ready to serve. So God is causing *me* to get over what I think a lady looks like, and be thankful that they have servant hearts.

Emma and Dad

Olivia switching the cords around.

Emma holding a bracket for Dad...he couldn't do this without her.

Olivia...gonna haul some dirt.
It's a dirty job, but someone needs to do it. :o)

Emma helping dad dig out the holes for the post.
Do you know what happens to the ground when you are in a stage 3 drought?
Just ask Emma.

ICE POP BREAK!

Nine Heros

When I heard about the nine firefighters killed in a warehouse
my heart just sunk. What a tragic accident. But what a credit to those men that they were able to rescue two people. Every time Jeff and Josh respond to a fire call I pray that they return safely. I admire and respect their heart of service. I know God is sovereign.

"This is a profession that we must never take for granted,
there's a fire raging and they go toward it."
~~~Mayor of Charleston

When you pray each day remember your public servants, especially the firemen and policemen. Tonight nine families are walking through the valley of grief.

What is a firefighter?
He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.
He lives it.

Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

Love Your Neighbor

As Christians we have a duty to love/serve our neighbors. One way our family serves is by Jeff and Josh volunteering with the local fire department. Everyone should support their local departments, whether they are volunteer or paid. Even paid firefighters do not get paid very much.

Some may be surprised what situations fire departments are called out to. They not only respond to house and field fires, but they are called out to all 911 calls. Often there are calls to elderly people that have fallen, or that are having trouble breathing. They are called out for children that have a high fever, or have locked themselves in a car (you'd be surprised how often this happens).

They respond to reports of trees down in the roadways, which usually happens during storms and at night. They are first responders when a tornado comes through. They are called out for missing persons, who are usually children. Last year a middle aged woman with emotional issues disappeared. Our firefighters (and other departments) spent several days looking for her, some even took time from their regular jobs. Sadly she was found dead on the fifth day. This was emotionally and physically draining for all of us.

They are called to domestic violence situations, although, THANKFULLY they do have to wait until law enforcement is on the scene. These calls concern me the most when my husband and son respond. Almost always there is alcohol or drugs involved. They also get called to suicidal situations. There are alot of hurting people out there.

Probably what they respond mostly to are car accidents. These can be especially difficult. Some are simple fender benders, some are bloody and deadly. We live in a small community where everyone knows everyone. About 3-4 years ago Jeff responded to a call of a wreck , it was 2 teen girls (senior year of high school). One girl was ejected from the car, Jeff saw her...it was the daughter of one of his fellow firefighters. This shook all of us to the core, and still effects us today. The wonderful thing is she was a Christian. The car that hit the girls, the driver was drinking, and he was not injured.

Last week Jeff responded to a call at 5:15 am. The speeder (clocked at 95 mph by a trooper) was ejected from his car, then ran over twice by passing trucks. It was a very difficult scene, yes, he was dead. The other (innocent) man in the truck he hit, the firefighters had to cut him out of his truck, he died later in the day.

Every time my guys are on a call, I pray. I pray for their safety, and pray for the ones they are responding to. Not only do they respond to all these types of calls, but they have meetings twice a month and they have trainings to go to all year long. All of this is volunteer, it's a part of loving our neighbor!

Saturday was our annual fund raiser,
a Spaghetti Supper and Auction.

Here Josh is cleaning the kitchen.

This is put on at the high school and the fire fighters and their families do all the work. This year we had a BIG turn out. We worked hard all evening. This is one way you can support your local fire department, take part in their fund raisers.

Olivia is adding the glaze to the cinnamon rolls.

Paying your fire dues each year is another way to support your department. Where we live, dues are voluntary.

Emma cutting tomatoes for the salad.

Keep the batteries in your smoke alarms fresh, every minute counts when there is a fire, and it may be my husband coming in to find you if you cannot get out in time.

Jeff and Olivia working the serving line.

We sleep with the fire radio next to our bed. Jeff and Josh are ready to go at a moment's notice. I am so proud of them. As I type this they are both gone to the scene of a car accident. Please pray for and support your local department, they are a special breed of people.

Be it blaze or blood they will be there!

Jeff's brother is also a volunteer fireman in upstate New York. He was voted Fireman of the Year a few years ago. Yep...we're proud!