Life in General!

I believe that I started blogging over 12 years ago. A lot has happened in that time. I have graduated 3 children, had one to marry and have a baby!!!, and the other two to get jobs and attend some college. One of ours will leave in fall, Lord willing, to attend college in West Virginia. The other two are still in school. Seth has 4 years left after this year and Sully 5.  I am currently 52 and about to celebrate 28 years of wedded bliss to my sweetheart, Mr. Benson. I am definitely in the middle of my life, or more likely, past the middle. If I get to live as long as my Grandma, I will have approximately 34 more years. What will I do with these remaining years, so as the good Lord tarries? Teach, for sure! I go back in forth in my mind of how I want to do that. I want to help homeschoolers - I had that in my toolkit and was, and still am, blessed by that. We have a granddaughter now, so we are anticipating life as grandparents. Our family had so much fun as the children grew up, s...

  I sometimes watch Mr. Beast videos with my students. They are such fun, crazy things to watch but give us something new to talk about. They are also clean! I watched one today that made me think about my life. In my life, if I were to look back 10 years ago, I would have so much happening! I would have a husband of almost 17 1/2 years and children ages 12, 10, 8, 5, and 4. We would be in the midst of homeschooling 3 of them. It would have been Sully's first year of kindergarten. So much would be going on. Now, fast-forward 10 years, obviously the ages and marriage date are 10 years older. But, my life is much different. I have three young adult children and two teens. The three young adults are all working and one is married with a baby on the way! I was just talking with one of my students, and we were thinking about our lives and YouTube. I told her that if we keep it in check, it is okay to watch. Then she mentioned how she had heard about depression at a young age, and she th...

    Hello!  I am so excited to be writing to you, again!  It is almost mid-July and getting closer to the beginning of another year.  These are some things that I do to get myself ready for another year.  This year, 2023, is the beginning of my 23rd year of teaching (7 in a school and 16 homeschooling).  Here are some things to keep in mind and do before the first day. 1)  Declutter!! I know that this is easier said than done.  Believe me!!  I love ALL my things.  That being said, the stuff that accumulates can rob us of so much.  It robs you of your peace, joy, and time.  So, begin in a small area and work on a section at a time.  Marie Kondo, a popular organizer and inspiration to me, has been an encourager to me with a statement that I heard.  "Does this spark joy?"  Read more on this site -- https://konmari.com/marie-kondo-rules-of-tidying-sparks-joy/.  I know that you may be thinking that I am...

Well, the answer to that is not easy.  It depends.  I think that when you have toddlers and older kiddos, you need to have a time that is a quiet time and use that for your harder subjects that your older kids need you to help them with.  That isn't an easy fix, is it? But I see you, dear mom or dad, with your toddler that is running the school hahaha!  They are probably right now standing in a chair with disheveled hair, maybe has some clothes on, one sock, and is definitely clutching something in their chubby, little hand. How do we do this?  How do we teach our older kids when we have these monsters, I mean, precious angels?  The answer is we just do it!  You and I both know that they toddler years, while difficult, are fleeting.  These babies are only little for a short time.  Here are some things that I did and some of my friends did that helped me when I was needing to teach my older kiddos. 1.  Pray and devotion time -- Before you...

    Ever since I can remember, I have always loved this time of year.  Fall.  Just hearing the word, or typing it in this case, makes me so happy!  The thought of seeing pumpkin spice everything gives me such joy.  The ever-changing landscape of our forest as the leaves shed their green skin for colors of orange, gold, burgundy, fluorescent shades of red and a coral color that I only see at this time of year paints an incredible picture.   Fall!  It also takes me back to when I was a child and would go to church on Wednesday nights.  It would be warm to start off with, but as the sun set, the night air became chilly.  I would don a sweater or a jacket and walk home with my mom and brother -- dad would stay behind to lock up the church.  We would walk the path that led us home and would crunch the leaves that had fallen as we made our way.   Sometimes in the fall, we would have a fire outside at someone's house and roast hot dog...

  I just got done reading a sweet post on Facebook, and the lady was sharing about how she was struggling.  She mentioned how this blessed her.  Proverbs 16:9, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."  In my mind looking at this, it makes me think that we are not always the best planners for what we should do.  According to this verse, we should look to the Lord for our direction.  How can we know what God wants us to do?  Scripture!  If the plan you have doesn't line up with the Word, then chances are, it is not what God wants us to do.   In our lives we have plans, right?  We have plans to graduate high school and either work or go to university.  Most of us have plans to marry and have children.  Most of us have plans that those children will marry and have babies and give us grandchildren.  Most of plan to live out our days, hopefully retire, and have happy lives.  What do we do, though,...

  Good grief!  I can't believe that it has been since January that I have written!  I wonder why?  Oh, yes, hahaha!  I have two wrestlers, a special-needs son, a daughter in a Christian school, therapy every Monday that is 108 miles round-trip, a daughter that has moved out and is working, a self-employed husband, my own tutoring business, and then managing the tutoring schedule, not to mention housework.  LOL -- It is just life, I suppose.     I have been hearing lately some recurring themes that all seem to revolve around one topic -- time.  A long time ago, we lost some babies, a set of twin boys and a single boy.  Within 3 years we lost 3 babies and had 2.  That is another topic for another time.  But as I listen to people, a lot of of times they talk about their time or lack, thereof.  I remember a therapist and counselor that I saw after we lost the 3rd baby boy told me that I needed to change my mindset.  ...

 One Sunday  we were in our church service, and our Pastor ministered to my spirit.  He talked about how we could make it through difficult times.  I want to share with you some thoughts that I wrote down from Pastor Greg Marcus's sermon.  He read from John 14:1-4.  He mentioned how chapter 13 had just had the Disciples go through some pretty challenging things.  Things didn't look good for them, and sometimes, things don't look good for us.  The title of his message was "Help For a Troubled Heart."  He shared with us that we should learn to escape our fears.  I know that this is harder for some than others. Some of us have more challenges in this as we deal with anxiety or depression.  It can seem impossible.  Pastor Greg shared that when fear creeps that we need to seek help in the scripture.  Think about it! The very power that Jesus has can be ours, too.  We just have to seek Him and trust.  Isn't that s...

  Before I post this, I have to preface it by saying that I have been honored to be teaching with a fantastic company, Cambly.com since September of 2021.  I found out about them by another VIPKid teacher.  I went ahead and applied and started teaching with them.  It has changed my life.  I have met some amazing people and have made some new friends!  Precious friends!  With that said, last August I was dealing with the knowledge that my then current job was going to end and that I was going to have to tell my students goodbye.  I would like you to now read my thoughts that I wrote at that time and how God helped me through a time of sadness.  I hope something I wrote might help you.   I have had the high honor of teaching with a company that teaches Chinese children English.  A mandate has caused a change in this where over 100,000 teachers are not being allowed to teach them unless they live in mainland China.  Since that is...

   God's Word is such a blessing to us!  I have often told my own children or kiddos in school/Sunday School that we are so blessed!  I just stand in awe to think that the God of the Universe loves us so much that He shares His heart with us in His Word!  Isn't that so cool?   A Bible verse that I read today that gives me encouragement is in Proverbs 31:25, "Strength and honor are her clothing;  and she shall rejoice in time to come."  As a Mom, Wife, Teacher, Daughter (in-law), Sister, Aunt, and friend, there are a lot of things going on in my life!  I guess it is normal to be busy and going about life stuff.  I guess what I like in this set of verses is being clothed in "Strength and honor."  And I also like that I will "rejoice in time to come."    Being clothed in strength and honor, to me, is something all Christians need to be doing.  Oftentimes, we may not feel like being clothed in strength.  It is in tho...

 Hello!  I am sitting here at my desk listening to "The Blessing" which you can hear at this link   https://youtu.be/uZ55mDL7dA0 .  And I encourage you if you haven't sat down and listened to it.  It takes time, I know, but it will minister to your soul.  Time.  Our time here on this Earth is precious.  It is an allotted time that only God knows the end.  So what are we doing with our time? In Ecclesiastes it is the famous part of the Bible that talks about time.  In verse one of Ecclesiastes 3 it states that "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  There is a reason in the grand scheme of life by God's design that things happen.  Like Covid-19, for example, is a part of God's design whether He is in it or not, He allowed it to happen.  That is one big reason that we should not fear.  In the Bible it states in Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall ...

  Father's Day is coming up this Sunday!  I love these holidays, Mother's Day and Father's Day!  I know some people say they were made by the greeting card companies, flower shops, and the candy industry.  I do believe they benefit for sure.  According to Wikipedia, this holiday was suggested as a holiday to complement Mother's Day but was ignored and failed to be implemented.  However, " the day was made a permanent national holiday when President  Richard Nixon  signed it into law in 1972," (  Father's Day (United States) - Wikipedia ).  I am so glad that it was!  I think it is as special as Mother's Day.   I am fortunate enough to still have my father alive.  My dad, Monte Siler, Sr.,  is one of the best men that I know!  He worked very hard to make a living for our family.  My mom, who he loves so much, also worked to help provide.  Along with maintaining a huge Christian school, my dad, mom, brothe...

We homeschool.  I figured if you know me, then you know we do.  We also have a daughter in Christian school and a son in public school.  I have been to homeschooling conventions and have heard people say you teach to the bent of your child.  I really agree with that!  I now have a graduate from high school 😅 and a rising junior, freshman, 5th grader, and fourth grader.  I have taught them all to read, write, do some math- with the help of a professor friend!!! - and various other things.  They, Lord-willing, will be good members of society. But where has the time gone?  This August, my oldest turns her last teen year!  19!  Wasn't it just the other day she was riding in the car in her infant carrier?  I know we don't really want to go back, but I do know it seems like time flew by.  Did I teach her all she needs to know?  I doubt it.  I just hope that she keeps her walk with the Lord really close.  I guess that ...

I just got done with teaching four classes this morning and was on my way home.  The song "So Will I " - here is the link - https://g.co/kgs/eivakK - came on the radio.  I just began to cry and praise the Lord as I drove on my way home.  In the song it speaks of obeying God and praising Him.  I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When I got home,  I read the lyrics of the song.  This section touched me in particular.  Read this section of the song -- God of salvation You chased down my heart Through all of my failure and pride On a hill You created The light of the world Abandoned in darkness to die And as You speak A hundred billion failures disappear Where You lost Your life so I could find it here If You left the grave behind You so will I I can see Your heart in everything You've done Every part designed in a work of art called love If You gladly chose surrender so will I I can see Your heart Eight billion different ways Every p...

  What a friend we have in Jesus!  You ever think about that aspect of your relationship?  Do you ever think about what that means to be His friend or for Him to be your friend?  He loves us with a love that we just can't comprehend.  He thinks so highly of us.  He wants the best for us.  He wants to spend time with us.  We can do that by prayer and reading His Word.     So why does He allow hard things to happen?  Well, our Pastor has preached on this many times.  He shared that God gave us the ability to choose.  We aren't robots.  God created us in His image to walk with Him and to be His friend.  When sin crept into His plan, that changed things.  It brought in all the things that He had never intended.   But you say, what about suicide or babies dying?  What about murder or horrible things that happen to innocent people?  Again, I have to go back and say that ultimately sin crept in ...

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you.  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest! And on Earth peace and good will toward men'." I don't know about you, but sometimes I read this set of verses, and it helps ground me.  Are any of you like me where you get a "down in the dumps" attitude during the "Most wonderful time of the year?" And my reason is kind of silly.  It is the presents!  Y'all, I get so caught up in gift-getting and hoping that I get the right things that I can work myself into a silly mopey attitude!  Why, why in the world do I get like this?  I think it has to be that maybe I don't start early enough with buying and get stressed out because I don't know if I have enough.  I als...

Because if you believe in Jesus, you have nothing to fear!  And I do not say this with any agenda.  We are all in this time, this unprecedented time, of uncertainty together.  We are in the midst of an election that is not resolved.  We are still dealing with old Corona!  We are dealing with videos of people sharing their thoughts and even sometimes there own fears or their own conspiracy theories.  I don't know what tomorrow holds -- but I know WHO holds tomorrow!  Do you know Him?  He is Jesus <3.  He is the Perfect One that came down from his heavenly home to save a wretch like me!  He spoke to saints and sinners  - He still is today.  If you read His Word, you will be able to know Him and know His heart!  I do believe that He wants us to love each other!  Yes, we are to love!  But, He also calls us out of our muck and mire into a world of Light!  How can we stay in our sin when He calls us to come out...

This was on the way down the mountain one morning -- I stopped and safely took the picture :0). Hello!  I hope this find you doing well!  I am - and the rest of the family are still in our quarantine.  We only go out for food, parking lot church service, and work.  God has been so good and kept His hand on us!  I have told others that if you had to quarantine, it is so much better to do it here in America!  We have comfortable homes and food.  Even though we may have had times we have had to look for toilet paper, we are still much better off than some countries!   So, up on the mountain at our house, it is gardening season!  Most of the time, I have left this to Benson.  But, this year, I have gone up with him more and helped him with weeding.  I am learning how to weed with a hoe -- I am NOT good at it yet.  I am so afraid that I am going to destroy the baby vegetables!  Anyway, we have planted a little but plan...