Rowe Family Blog - Latest Comments

Re: San Diego

Papa — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:42:23 -0000

We loved these pictures and commentary!

Re: Our Woodland Homestead

Papa — Fri, 13 May 2016 16:44:34 -0000

I love woodlands and rocks. It's what makes a place beautiful

Re: Celebrating Earth Day

Angie — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:19:30 -0000

Love it! Love me some kids out in nature!!

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

jgentino — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 14:50:45 -0000

I love this, Grace! And your thoughts too, Paul. As a pastor, David says that more and more in counseling situations where people are struggling with depression/marital or relational issues, etc., his first questions are, "How much sleep are you getting at night?," "Are you exercising regularly?," and "Are you eating a healthy diet?"

This is not at all to trivialize their feelings, but is, in his mind, the "first line of defense, as God created us whole people." If the answer to all of those questions is in the affirmative, they begin examining deeper issues (and sometimes while working on improving the physical), and obviously he makes referrals to medical professionals when needed.

As someone who has a diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder, I've found I'm at my healthiest when treating my illness as a whole person, with medication/regular time with the Lord/exercise/diet, etc (counseling has also been a helpful part of my journey). It's been empowering in the best of ways. I would love to use a list like this with my kids!

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

Papa — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 17:33:15 -0000

So practical and therapeutic...

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

Grace — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 09:28:14 -0000

I think if you click on the image it will open it in a new tab and you can print it. :)

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

Shelly Wood — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 08:38:04 -0000

Do you have this available to print, with your revisions?

Re: on homeschooling.

Beth — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 11:00:50 -0000

Curious to see how you are doing now. This is our 13th year to home school and we love it. Not all days are perfect, far from that, but all days are God given opportunities. There is nothing I would take for these memories.

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

Grace — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:43:40 -0000

I agree with all that. To clarify, the list isn't meant by any stretch of the imagine to take the place of psychiatric and psychological help. It's meant to be a tool in the hands of very young people that can give them a little power back in to their situation. (At least 50% of one of my children's outbursts, for insance, coincide with low blood sugar. I'd love for that child to begin to identify that trigger for herself and self manage.) It's meant to be a tool, not create a spiritual precedent. And the truth is that children are often influenced in the moment by things like hunger and being up past their bedtimes just as much as feeling sad about a fight or a punishment or the like. I'm not taking a position on the causes of people's maladies, just pointing out a tool I find helpful in identifying the things they are capable of controlling.

Re: “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay.”

paul waggoner — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 19:37:30 -0000

hey Gra, I like the list. it has really helpful suggestions. i know you know this, but i just want to add my thoughts for anyone who uses something like this to consider. it's so common, especially in Christian families to subtly create a culture where feeling unhappy and dark emotions is a bad thing, and should quickly be turned around into a happy disposition. God created us with a full range of emotions that should be explored and accepted equally.

If there are circumstantial things that have caused anger, fear, shame, guilt, or sadness -- our brains are created by God to need time and verbal processing in a safe environment before the issue can be integrated into our memories and personhood in a balanced way. the final stage of said processing is grief and feeling deep sadness / empathy for ourselves or others. most of us can't do that alone and need another human to guide us to a loving conclusion like that.

for that reason, i really wish item number 10 was number 1. Yes, even before (or more appropriately concurrent with) prayer and Scripture recitation -- though simply praying and reciting Scripture are very different activities to 10 (wish it was 1). bottom line for me is that accepting our own negative feelings, allowing ourselves the space and time to get to a point of healing grief and empathy, and not covering it over or expediting the process because of shame or a standard set that says it should be fast, is all necessary.

in conversations with fellow Christians on this topic, i often hear hearty agreements on what i've just said, but in practice, actually learning to be ok (in other words, you're not offending the cross of Jesus if you're sad, angry, depressed, feeling shame or feeling guilt for more than a few hours) is far more difficult to allow for ourselves and/or others around us. we start down a Scriptural track, reasoning our emotions away... phil 4:6-12 (be anxious about nothing... pray... petition... peace of God... content in suffering and in wealth) is a great example. those of us who grew up with this verse get it in our heads that these should be taken as commands. but as commands, 1. it doesn't leave room for the fullness of God-created human experience, and 2. makes Jesus himself a sinner in light of his unfathomable anxiety (sweating blood) in the months/weeks/days/hours leading to the cross.

finally, many of the scenarios in this list depict behaviors linked to clinical depression which can be caused by many psychophysical factors. suppressing the symptoms with self-care practices is often useful and necessary, but does not address the root issue many people are dealing with who display the listed behaviors.

thanks Graaaa - you and i have talked about this sort of thing a lot, always in agreement -- so i just wanted to add to the conversation for others who might be reading. miss you guys.

Re: homeschool update!

jgentino — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:22:39 -0000

I love this post! Thank you for writing it, I'm keeping to bookmark for our hard days. :)

Re: Ava’s Baptism

Nanna — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:59:04 -0000

I am so proud of Ava. So glad we were there to celebrate.

Re: inside the whirlwind.

granny smith — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 17:23:49 -0000

And YES and NO!

Re: Tea Time.

Papa — Sun, 10 May 2015 15:19:55 -0000

What a great tradition...!

Re: the garden.

jgentino — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 14:21:27 -0000

Love this post! So inspiring! David is our expert gardener, but I'm growing to love it more and more.

Re: the garden.

Dad — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 09:17:48 -0000

Love it!

Re: visiting Beckley.

Rachel — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 14:45:25 -0000

Thanks for coming up and for the amazing pictures! We sure did enjoy your visit!

Re: she walks in beauty.

Papa — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:56:38 -0000

Just like her mom!

Re: on homeschooling.

jgentino — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:37:02 -0000

I'm just like you: never thought I'd homeschool, did it because of a gut feeling. And I'm so glad I went with my gut! Glad you guys are off to a good start.

Re: on homeschooling.

papa — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:04:52 -0000

Very proud of Elijah and his mom!

Re: on homeschooling.

Tonya Gardner — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 22:05:53 -0000

Yay!!! So glad today was a success!

Re: on homeschooling.

Lizie — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:25:06 -0000

I love to hear that!! I can totally see how homeschooling is going to be a great fit for your family. We love Sonlight and HWT. Now the fun part is how much you'll be learning too! :-)

Re: on homeschooling.

Christy T — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:29:55 -0000

Sad to not see you in 3rd grade- but, I understand the guy feel- struggling with that myself these days. Interested to follow your journey:)

Re: What I Read in 2014:

jgentino — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:23:33 -0000

Love this idea, and I'm going to steal it for 2015. Favorite non-fiction, Boundaries, and favorite fiction, All the Light We Cannot See.

Re: What I Read in 2014:

Rachel V — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:59:17 -0000

I am trying to finish Allegiant right now! It's dragging!! I can also always reread Green Gables and Little Woman or even Pride and Prejudice. Jessica just told me about the Good reads ap today. It keeps track of what you've read and what you want to read. Cool ap!