A Happy Home

Conflicts Clarify

2012-02-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

I'm in countdown mode to meet the newest member of our family, only ten weeks to go (more or less....probably more..). I'm feeling pretty good still, even managed to clean out the barn and tromp through the brambly woods today to measure for upcoming fencing projects. Emotionally I feel truly amazed and blessed; this baby will come after my 42nd birthday. When I am an old woman, I believe I will have zero regrets how I spent my young (and middle) womanhood.

The hardest part has not been the varicose veins, the heartburn, the putting up of my running shoes or of my size six jeans. It's been learning how to graciously deal with views that contrast with mine. I realize if I were a 42 year old having my first child after a good twenty years putting in a career, this baby would be celebrated more. Instead I get comments about my age or sanity, or worse, chided for making the choice to have another baby. These are the same folks who if I were to gain, say, a million dollars, would be whooping it up and throwing me a party (or at least sending me a card). So I remind myself that my values are not the same as theirs.

And of course there are other issues that have been expressed: of Ruby (should have had the genetic testing done and avoided that "problem") and of my miscarriage (should have learned my lesson there and quit). And gee, how will I ever send all of my children to Harvard or buy their first automobiles? And oh, I'm *stealing* their childhood because they have more fun catching hens and climbing trees than (fill in your own blank regarding what a "real childhood" looks like).

Then there's the seemingly "we care" tact some folks take: face it, these babies are making my body trashed, my retirement years in the tropics an impossibility, and my college degree a waste (never mind I've earned two more since having all of those children, but I digress). And if that doesn't fly, how about how I'm ruining my husband's economic prosperity, because we know having these children are all about MY choosing to do so (what man would want so many children, right?).

There is the catty crowd, too, the cowards who will never say anything to my face but will fly to others and make assertions that are not only untrue, but unkind. As if I never hear about it. And God forbid I would ever admit to the hardships, the trials, the broken dishes or even the snotty days because all I would ever get is something that sounds like I deserved it because I was too stupid to either only have (choose your proper number) children or that I dared to live differently.

But you know what? I am beginning to be thankful for it all.

According to BJ Palmer, "Conflicts clarify." I am learning to be thankful for the opportunities to ponder and clarify my own faith and values, to question and evaluate my own choices, to revisit why I am not only a mother, but a mother of many. I am thankful for the insults, the insinuations, the finger counting in public, the whispered remarks and the scornful looks. It has all been a testing ground to whether or not I will stand on my beliefs, or bend to the pressure of wanting to be liked/accepted/agreed with. I am thankful for those who hate what I stand for, because they give me opportunity to have pity for and to love them anyway....while I still stand, ever strengthened by the trials. I am thankful for hurtful words and actions because they remind me that my being offended, my pride, is my greatest enemy, and that meekness is my road to resting in the Lord. After all, He is the one who allows the darts. Do I trust Him to deal with them in His own time? Or will I keep a froward heart, a sad regret for the words and deeds of others? Sometimes, trials separate pragmatists and hypocrites from the faithful.

I used to lament that separation. But now I think that separation is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it may be needful and good. And, this is not *my* war regarding the blessing of motherhood and family, for I know the blessing of each and every child in our family. I see them for the future they are, and I wonder how anyone can claim to love if even the most innocent among us are despised and unwanted or seen as a hindrance (truly, to what?). I know I am living an amazing life, and I rejoice. If my rejoicing causes others to deepen their disgust, then I will praise God even more. It is His battle, not mine.

I am thankful for the support and love we do have, and we have plenty. And I still have hope....that maybe my mommy-joy and our children's happy lives will someday bring about repentance, or an apology, or true love. Then I will rejoice all the more for the work of God!

In the meantime, hear me clearly now. Yes, I am, by God's grace, carrying my seventh child. And, if the Lord wills, I will keep welcoming these precious ones until menopause comes or my ovaries fall out (that statement ought to give some fodder!). When I am an old woman looking back on my life, any of the darts thrown by other people will look like rotted chicken bones and dust compared to the incalculable worth of the everlasting gems shown in the eyes and lives of my children, and their children, and their children....and I will rest in peace.

Pressing On,

Fear Not, Part 2: An Interview With Heather Bryant

2012-02-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

My friend Heather Bryant made the time to come share her story with you all. Here is a woman who lives out FEAR NOT in real, relevant, everyday ways. May you be encouraged!

2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

Right click to download this episode.

If you missed Fear Not (part one), you can listen to it here.

Blessings,

A Day in My Life, Part 3

2012-02-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

If you missed it, you can catch part one here, and part two here.

Late Afternoon to Evening

I manage to put my feet up and knit two rows for my baby's blanket, while the children are cleaning up after lunch and finishing their music lessons and artwork. This is how this blanket is progressing: two rows at a time. I am not an accomplished knitter. I don't even consider myself a "good" knitter. I have to completely pay attention to every stitch, and after two rows my mind starts to wander and I'm too inexperienced to zone out and just let my hands work. But, even with two rows at a time...progress is made. It is a good reminder to me, how forward motion or any change is accomplished: by degrees, by steps, by plodding. Sometimes it just takes two rows at a time.

I give a writing lesson to my friend's daughter, listening to her read her excellent writing, and then do a dictation. I help her with her new composition's outline, and instruct her in some areas. We use Classical Writing and love the program. It combines very, very well with Spell to Write and Read and to the foundation we have from Institute for Excellence in Writing. I count my blessings to have such rich curriculum helps, and I am slowly ("two rows at a time") finding and repairing the gaps I have in my own education.

Our friends leave, and we go through the comical routine of what did they leave behind this time? (books, jackets, and even her toddler's peepee pants!). We set them all by the mudroom door. And yes, I plan to launder the pants!

I sit for a bit, catching up on some email and Twitter. I peruse the book loaned by a friend, Goat Song, and besides sighing over such lovely writing, begin taking notes for what I'll need when my own goats kid in May and mark items in the Hoegger's catalog. Plus the book has given me new words to look up. Words like flehman response, and kulning. I catch up on paperwork for the Kinder Goats Breeders Association, and make sure my files are in order, too.

I'm tired at this point, but hunger wins over and I begin to prepare for supper. I cut up the last of my winter squash, an interesting variety of pumpkin, and put it to bake for mash. I find leftover steaks we cooked up and turn them into steak bites, coating them with flour and seasoning to fry up for our supper. I ponder making gravy. Salad is prepared, and I glance at the clock. It is close to 6:00 already, and I invite the music teacher to stay for supper, not knowing how the meal will stretch but trusting God to multiply it all. I leave everything ready to quickly assemble while music lessons finish up, lie down to read a book to my 7 year old, and finally give in to a twenty minute cat nap.

My day ends with supper, and I begin to reset my mind for the 'morrow. I eye the starter on the counter and plan to make pizza dough for tomorrow. I plan my bath (epson salts with lavender) and think about

projects waiting for me. Maybe tonight I will get some more cutting for my quilt done. Or maybe I will read through the Shabby Chic library book to help me prepare for my big flea market trip in June. Or maybe I'll just look through my new Mollie Makes magazine, or begin putting words to my day for a blogpost. I'll check in and tweet with my friends a bit, and finally, Lord willing (and kids don't start throwing up or an earthquake doesn't occur or....) I'll begin my fresh new day with a good night's sleep.

It's a blessed life I have, and I'm thankful.

A Day in My Life, Part 2

2012-02-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

If you missed it, you can read Part 1 here.

Midday

I join my 5 and 7 year olds to help them with folding the small mountain of kitchen linens threatening to overtake our sofa. We use mostly cloth napkins and dish towels rather than paper products, in reds, yellows, greens, and oranges. Bright colors for all of the wee people here I suppose.

Once the drawers are full of linens, I begin doing some teaching with my 7 year old, and we are still working on proper pencil holding. I regret not starting her with cursive first, and am thankful she wasn't further along in ball-n-stick than she was. Her handwriting is becoming more and more fluid, and the death grip on her pencil is beginning to, finally, relax. I think those loopy-loo's that always come so easily to my toddlers should have been an obvious hint to which style of handwriting they are better able to utilize, but I was too smitten with "how the schools do it" rather than really watching and listening to my own children.

I send the boys outside to go pump their legs with cross-country bike riding (it's all gravel and meadow and plenty of dirt), and to bring in any more eggs they can find in their coat pockets. I also ask for the starter trays from the greenhouse because I'm moving much slower and figured I could plant seeds a bit at a time on my back porch instead. But, really, I just needed them to go burn off some energy.

After unloading a few blue and brown eggs, my 5 year old boy clambers red-faced to the kitchen table. And while he and my daughter are working and chittering with each other, I sit catching up on some reading, picking at curriculum, a magazine, a recipe. The older kids are either picking at schoolwork or preparing for art lessons, and Ruby is banging away at the play kitchen. When my little students finish up their math and spelling, I read to them from the Jesus Storybook Bible and the Christian Nature Reader and send them on their way to play. Ruby runs after them in glee.

Our "maybe we can come" friends show up, and my 14 year old starts an art lesson with the youngest of the children, a collage of a butterfly's life from egg to flutter. We've been using Atelier for years, and the results are always pleasant. My smiling friend helps herself to a mug and picks a bag out of the tea drawer, mi case es her casa. We chat, and unapologetically eat seriously delicious cinnamon rolls with our hot drinks. And yes, we share those with the children, all twelve of them. But the bowl of leftover frosting we keep for our own spoons.

The other children in time do art lessons as well, and it is interspersed with either outside play in the sunshine, or music lessons from the teacher that arrives during this time. The whole house and yard is full of happy eating, painting, music making, outdoor mud splashing, and toddlers vrooming their cars and dolly strollers all over the wide planked wood floors. Of course there are cries of hurts, bumps to kiss and peepee accidents to deal with, too. Here is my 9 year old's painting, one of her most "happy days": when she and I flew to California together for a quick family visit.

The sunshine is still beckoning me outside, so my friend and I go for a walk down the long woodsy dirt road. A half hour later, we return to visit my dairy goats, and I peer into my garden. The shallots are starting to come up already. I've never grown shallots before.

My goat girls are so sweet, they love to snuggle. Here are Smores and Dancer. I had to keep them at arm's length to get this photo during our snow. While my friend and I are in the musty barn, we talk about livestock of all kinds, fencing, dreams. It is comfortable and warm in the stall, and the boys next door bleat for lovings too. I glove up to pat my buck and also stroke my wether's growing beard, telling them both yes, they are *so* handsome.

Inside, the large stockpot of chicken soup is hot and as my friend and I correct the seasonings and cut bread slices, the children clean up art supplies and make room for eating. The clanking of spoons and white porcelain bowls upon the table add to the scuffling of chairs, and all at once, silence. We all give thanks, and eat. The broth is completely satisfying, bits of chicken and rice deliciously warm and good for the soul, too. It is 2:00 in the afternoon.

Blessings,

A Day in My Life, Part 1

2012-02-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Evening to Morning

T’wasn’t so long ago I was looking at someone’s blogsite and sighing over the fact that it looked like this writer was miles ahead further than me, headed where I wanted to go. But then I came across what her day was like and decided that not only was she living far differently than I, but that our visions differed in how to get to where we, seemingly, were similarly headed. It was a wonderful blessing to see her day! Not only did it give me some inspiration, it gave me added contentment in my own life and manners. My life is my own, my days are unique. So are yours, in their own beautiful way. Here’s a peek into one of mine.

As a note, I consider the start of my day the evening before. That is, my “day” begins at sundown and ends at sundown the next calendar date. It does a lot of good for me to consider it this way, so we start our journey at suppertime.

6pm. My husband takes me out for a burger downtown in the renovated building that used to serve as a gasoline station. The locals here easily pay thrice as much as the nationwide dollar-a-burger across the street, but in return have choices such as garlic fries and gluten-free buns. And taste. The motto is "good grub is messy", and it is, the greasy napkins piling up on the formica. So instead of supper with the family, my kids enjoy a pineapple pizza while my husband and I go on a date to eat, pick up our food from a coop order and choose a video for ourselves as well. Which, 48 hours later, we still have not watched. But I digress.

Back home, while the children are already jammied up and engrossed in a video playing on the projector screen, I decide to sneak away to finish up the sweet little blackbird pincushion I had been working on, while half-listening to the audio of Family Writing. That other half of me is not listening to anything at all; just quietly stitching deftly through layers of black wool. I feel the baby inside roll and rumble, keeping me company.

I help my husband get the kids into their beds with kisses, read three-quarters of a chapter about Photoshop, and head slowly back down the stairs.

There is almost always a kitchen chore or two (or three) to do before bed, and this evening I feed my Italian sourdough starter for upcoming pizza making (for two days later), and knead up the dough for cinnamon rolls with my French sourdough starter (for the next day). I smell the sourdoughs up close and am satisfied with their scent of far away places, of century-old bakeries working in tandem with nature to create food. I get two pounds of hulled walnuts to soaking, and eat the last of a brownie.

I run a hot bath with Frankincense essential oil, mainly because it sounds exotic. I soak, and read a bit of Living into Focus. I love the subtitle, "Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions." I would have bought that book just to have the title cover reminding me of what I really want to be about: intentionality. And what I want to forgo: distractability.

I go to bed alone, fight with where pillows are going to support my growing baby-middle, and read a bit of Among English Hedgerows. It's a little book published in 1899 I found in a musty used book store last summer in Eugene, Oregon. As I'm reading, I'm remembering my childhood and thatched roofs, pulled market baskets, pubs. I pull the lamp cord and turn the light out at 11pm.

That night, I wake at 3:30am. My hips feel out of place, and what am I going to do, wake up my chiropractor husband for an adjustment? I lay there, waiting to go back to sleep, but I feel like an owl. Finally I just talk with the Lord, and pray until I am all prayed out, and then I feel a bit guilty for that. I mean, who ever runs out of things to pray on or pray for? I just give thanks that He knows all things, and I figured that whatever reason He had me up to pray, His Holy Spirit accomplished, and besides, isn't just talking with Him prayer too? I read a chapter from my kindle, and my last look at the clock is 5:30 on that morning.

I awake again at 7:45, almost two hours later than usual. At this point, I'm thinking that blogging my day is going to be a big flop because none of it has been "typical". I missed my quiet Bible reading. I hear little feet stomping around upstairs so I dress, make the bed, get my adjustment, check emails and tweet as the rooster is crowing and the goats are hollering for fresh hay. The mudroom door slams as the kids run outside and I shut the laptop cover.

I get the tea pot going and feed my Italian starter again. While eggs are getting collected and watering pails filled, I shuffle in the kitchen making everyone Russian black rye sourdough toast with a fresh egg over easy that morning. It is satisfying, listening to the children chatter like chickadees at breakfast, yolk dripping from chins.

Afterwards, I check the slow of sourdough. On the right is the promise of baking to come. On the left I have rolled out sourdough cinnamon rolls ready to rise and bake, hopefully in time to share with a friend who may, or may not, depending, be coming over. I think, "If she comes, she'll need a roll today with her tea." I drain the soaked walnuts, put them into the dehydrator, and steep my pomegranate green tea while overseeing the rest of the morning chores for the children.

In the midst of this, my seven year old gingerly admits to opening up my Japanese crayons--the ones I had brought out to share with her to begin with--and to drawing directly on my art book with them. I find myself peeved. I quietly send her to her room to have five minutes to drink my tea and ask the Lord what He would have me do. Is this really something to be peeved about? Is being peeved a sin? Isn't being offended impossible for those that love His law? Doesn't "peeved" lead to "peevishness"? Doesn't that sound like an entrance to becoming--or confirming--an odious woman? I'm peeved with myself now, for being peeved.

While I'm pondering and peeving, I look my nine year old standing above me in the eye and say squarely, "Do not even ask me one.more.time. when our friends are coming. I said I would tell you when I knew. If I'm told."

I have just enough time to note the sunshine streaming through the firs outside onto the kitchen garden. I leave half my tea untouched while I go to speak with my seven year old. It is 10am.

Cornwall in My Winter

2012-01-31T15:19:00.000-08:00

the photo I took when I was 10 years old

Rocky ravines enveloped with greens

swaying clutched in the midst of

wee wildflowers tawny and light

and slippery with the damp left over

from the morning's wash

blown from the raw Atlantic

I giggle stumbling in delight

my hands outstretched

ready for any tumble

to press me one with the earth

traversing the trails of the

noble men of Arthur

this time capsule of nature

the brisk air sweeping my hair

and whispering I am not the first

nor the last

to find footing in the valleys

button eyes following my journey

hidden in brush, nodding that

there goes another, again

powder sky beckoning me to climb

even as chalky wisps sweep overhead

grip my way up to the precipice

where puffins and horizons await

I remember dirt under my nails

and lamenting my lost umbrella

how sad I thought my mother would be

I wasn't able to climb clean

but panting I gained the crown

and stood in wonder at the scene

opened up as a scroll

a table before me

the flat foundations running right

over the cliffs into the water yet

I stood above the crashing fray

and I swallowed the salt air

and let it soak into my cells and

closed my eyes for the liars they were

and imprinted in my ten year old mind

the artistry of God's hands

and then knew I was one of His

handiwork too, winsome and

as fair a flower's bloom

encased in the seed of a moment

and embraced the wait of

His timely renewal in spring.

Potholes

2012-01-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

Woodsy dirt road wet rocks jutting

'neath my wobly feet slick with slush

heart murmers to keep my chin up

look up

look ahead

trust my journey my bearings my road

but potholes crack from underneath

uncertain footsteps

threatening to sink foundations

swallowing up horizons promised when

the road was laid

seems pointless really to fill them

when I know the ice will come again

been done before

and no one will know I

traveled this path

shove my hands into my thin pockets

fingering dog treats, a lost button

a woodpecker raps and the hollowed tree

feels like me

wind caresses fir branches swooped low

muddied greens sweep a brisk breeze

past my cheeks

what's the point I wonder

of potholes of sunrises of nothing new

under the sun--when it shows--

the crisp ribbon of air bites my nose

for what's a dream but a whisper of

cedar the scent a tease and gone

I stand still, motion seems daunting

do I press forward 'round pits in my path

or do I splash triumphantly in them

or do I turn back, forsaking the road

altogether

or am I dispairingly missing something

chipping chickadees greet me with cheer

I distrust

their acrobatics amusing

yet reminders of what I cannot

My eyes grant gavity's pull

to the hole in my path my soul

the ice crystals cracking the edges

and I notice mirrored clouds moving

forward, graceful, trusting.

Forward. Graceful. Trusting.

Raising my chin I hear buds

in the greens around me,

birthing from the dead,

pressing onward, pink and swelling

the promise of spring.

My fingers loosen and forsake

warmth and

hiding and

I raise my arms

as the firs instruct

close my eyes and bathe in

whatever sliver of sunshine

granted me through the

tangle of salal and alder.

And I give thanks for the potholes

lying in my path

those ugly stumbling things

reminding me that the walk

is always mine to take

and that a slow journey

over and around them

is better than none

and I know the embrace

of rushing waters filling

my spirit

for the road ahead.

If You Have a Moment...

2012-01-25T13:56:00.001-08:00

...would you mind participating in my poll for the week? I'm trying to decide if I want to hang onto all of the links I've saved, and don't want to rid them if they are useful to my readers. Please? Just one vote?

Thanks much,

Hot Cereal For Breakfast

2012-01-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

Seeing as boxed cereals from the market (even the "natural" ones) are about the worst thing we can eat ever eat, much less serve our children, I thought I'd share an easy hot cereal recipe. I generally use whatever I have on hand, and some of the ingredients are probably not the "best", much less soaked, but it's still a vast improvement over whatever they're calling "food" in those grocery aisles. You could make the same cereal with just *one* grain, too. For example, we really like millet alone at times, topped with peach jam and chopped walnuts.

Hot Cereal Recipe

1 cup hulled barley

2 cups millet

1 1/3 cups amaranth

1 cup sweet brown rice

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeks

1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

Combine all ingredients, rinse and strain. Yes, I know it looks like bird seed. What do you think those boxed cereals look like before they're heat processed, turned into slurry, mixed with food coloring and chemicals and then extruded into fake little balls and stars? Somewhere, they start out as real food (in a time long, long ago...)

Put the mix onto baking sheets and toast in a 350 degree or warmer oven, stirring on occasion. It will be dry and smell nutty.

At this point, you can just jar up the whole mix and take out as much as you want to cook up at a time.

How to cook it up:

Grind up however much you desire to make. I use my food processor, but you might try your blender. Grinding it up will make it more creamy, and cook up faster too.

Combine 1 cup of your ground cereal mix with 3 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and cinnamon or other flavoring of your choice (we also like cardamom, or nutmeg, or vanilla...) Bring up to a boil, lower heat and simmer covered for about 15-25 minutes, until the water is absorbed. It is very similar to making rice; all the grains will soak up the water. Be sure to stir on occasion while it is cooking or it will get very clumpy.

That's it! To serve, put some of the hot cooked cereal in a bowl, top with milk and whatever sweetener your family enjoys. You could even mix in some dried or fresh fruit, chopped nuts, or yogurt, or applesauce...

This is a very satisfying meal to have on a cold winter morning, it is inexpensive to make, and it is delicious!

Enjoy,

Red and Yellow, Black and White...

2012-01-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

Not ignorance, but the ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge.
Alfred Whitehead

I just finished reading The Help, which I am sure by the sheer amount of reviews and whatnot many if not most of you have already read or seen on screen. Amazon, so far, lists more than 5100 reviews for this first time novelist, most of them positive. I was curious who would plug in a rating of "one" and what they would say, but was afraid my worst fears would manifest itself with a plethora of "Hilly"s taking to the reviews while they were setting their hair and waiting for the good ol' days to return.

Mostly, I just sort of sat sober when I was finished. One, that this history was incredibly recent. Two, that I was so clueless about it. And three, that I was so naive to be really stinkin' annoyed by people who assumed that because I was white, I was racist. Well, I'm not. Racist, that is. But fool enough to be that clueless, I suppose so.

I spent half my growing up years in England growing up not only among Brits, but among other "Yanks" from all over the states (and thus cultural areas). I guess that afforded me the blinders. Even when I putzed in the states every so many years, I lived in places like California, where my first "very best friend in the world" was Jocelyn, who was black, and that didn't turn a single head.

I remember only two events that nicked my blindspots while growing up. One, was an argument with a relative about how yes I would certainly marry a black man if that's how it worked out. I don't even remember why that conversation came up but I do remember being so angry! The second event was meeting one of my husband's relatives, and how she narrowed her eyes asking all about the Greek in me (my mom is Greek) and how her neighbors were Greek and what *those Greek folks* were like. All I can say is that I still loved those women during those conversations. But sheesh.

The other book I recently read was this one:

...and I tweeted how that book was about the best book I have ever read. I feel like the Lord just grew me up as not only a Christian woman, but as a white woman who needed to know about the kind of history I am hoping to be living at the tail end of. And yet, I am not naive about even that anymore.

Where I live, people are white (and I'm not just saying that because the sun doesn't shine here enough to tan). The fact is, once you cross over the mountains to the east and head into valleys where all of our major farmlands are, most of the farmhands you see are...Hispanic. They pick the fruit, they clean the houses, the raise the children...of white people. I see it more now.

I guess I just pray. Because only God can change hearts and I think it somehow begins with hearts that already love the Lord. I pray for courage, for the devil's grip on our nation to loosen, to see somehow in my lifetime on earth a taste of that grand banquet to come, where God is glorified not only by our marvelous differences but for our love and fellowship for one another and for the similarity of being in Christ. I guess if that makes me a foolish white woman, then that's where I am right now.

May God grant me the courage to keep my eyes and heart open.

Blessings,

One Way to Do a Bible Word Study

2012-01-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

I'm not unaware that my "free time" is going to be very limited later this spring once baby arrives and I will then have, by God's grace, seven (SEVEN!) children to love and train up. Right now I am like a ravenous Bible woman, reading as much as I can and trying to store up the manna for the leaner non-sleep fog I'm heading for.

I thought I'd share one way to dig deeper into the Word if you have a good 20 or 30 minutes in the evening to chip away at it.

For many reasons, the word coming to me in the last years has been "Fear not." I decided to podcast on that topic, and you can hear it here if you haven't already. To help me prepare, I did a word study on that phrase, "Fear not". The first thing I did was plug in those words and then print out every single passage that it was commanded. I used (and use) the very simple KJV Bible search; it's nothing fancy. That's why I like it (no bunny trails, no man's interpretation of "Greek", and no opinions!).

Then I cut apart all of the strips of verses. I know I could have inquired on other phrases, such as, say, "do not fear", but I decided to simply focus on the phrase I had been meditating on. I always use the King James Bible; I have confidence none of the verses will be missing.

Then, I read and pondered them all. This usually takes a while, especially if I'm really paying attention (which I ought to be!). It has never failed me: common threads became clear and I started to really see God's consistent Holy character. Different themes offered themselves, and I began to put together verses that said basically the same things but in different ways. I noticed that the command "Fear not" was usually followed by a reason....and I was able to pile those reasons together in similtude.

Of course, just depending on verses taken out of context is no good. So, once they were in their various groups, I read them in the Word, taking into account the purpose, the people, the time and events. Doing that made those groupings even more clear.

I started writing down what each grouping of verses was basically teaching me. It was pretty hard not to feel like a little kid whose Father was delighting in! He was revealing His Word to me in ways that made me SO excited; it was like putting puzzle pieces together, or having ponderings answered, or talking with Him back and forth and Him hearing me laughing say, "You are AWESOME, God!" or finding me contrite and asking for forgiveness at times. Always, He was (and is) teaching me. But doing this was one way for me to actually pay Him some greater attention, and for Him to tune my ears.

Once I started writing the main points out, it was easy to confirm it all with the Scripture I'd been reading. I thought about posting all of the verses along with my podcast blog post, but, seriously, it was about three pages long! I figured that if anyone listening did not like the sound of what I said, they would seek out the Truth as they ought on their own, anyway.

I am but a frail woman still longing to see God and to know Him face to face (someday!). But when opportunity affords, I delight in taking the time to dig in His Word. I pray that through the trials, I will somehow remember what He taught me, that His Word won't return void, that I will have good cause in all things to "Fear Not".

Because of Jesus,

Our Little Snowstorm

2012-01-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

Psalms 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Well, I call it "little" because compared to other parts of the country, our two days of snowfall are about as serious as a drizzle in Arizona. Not that we don't love the interruption in normalcy; but folks here shut down businesses if we get a few inches of snow because either no one is taking to the roads, or if they are, they aren't...well...how shall we say....experienced snow drivers. So, schoolwork took a dive and Daddy got to stay home. It's not so bad. Here are some pics to enjoy.

If you were coming to visit yesterday, this is what our long dirt road looked like. Today it was completely covered in white, with the only tracks from bunnies and deer marring the surface until folks like me took to walking it.

The first is a picture of our little Ruby in the backyard. It gives you a good idea how tall the trees are around our home, and the photo is only about halfway the tallest of them. I love how gorgeous they are with every branch hand painted by God Himself. See how small our swing set is in the next photo, compared?

Meanwhile, I'm taking the opportunity to sneak into my craft room to do little projects, answer letters, and to catch up on reading and drawing too. They are short little visits as I'm needing to put my legs up more often as the pregnancy progresses. I started to plan out my garden and then decided I would just plant what I had seeds for, other than buying maybe half a dozen flower seeds. We can't (usually) eat flowers, but they do feed the soul. Right now I am thankful everything is covered in white and winter cold.

I hope you're finding time to enjoy whatever's going on in your outside world, too.

Blessings,

Quest: Letting God Lead

2012-01-14T15:01:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago I set words to my ponderings and since then it seems I've done nothing else other than add more. The problem with contemplating so many possibilities for so much is that it builds on a foundation that presupposes a right answer or direction is possible--if only there was enough time to think, read, research, argue, plan and purpose. And I'm not sure that this is the way to go about deciding which horizon is the one I ought to set foot towards. Oy. Pondering about my ponderings....Pooh bear would be so proud.

And, naturally, how my life is lived affects others for better or worse (or, perhaps more pathetically, with no effect at all). Choosing a direction, whether it is a lifestyle or haircut or even an opinion, leaves me open to either praise (causing me to battle my pride) or flat out character assassination from either frenemy fire or the devil himself (causing me to battle my co-dependent tendencies).

So I suppose I could just do, say, create, be nothing (is that even possible?). Or I could pursue everything, being all things to all people or swimming in so many projects that none of them bare a righteous harvest. What is the balance? How to choose the good, and to know peace through them regardless of the success...or fallout?

I am learning. And I believe the question I (we all?) need to ask more is this:

Acts 9:6 ...Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

I really feel for Ananias. There he was, just minding his own business, walking with the Lord the best he knew how, and God impressed upon him to do something that made him tremble. And the man didn't sit and ponder in his thoughtful place for days (decades?). He simply obeyed. That, methinks, took a lot of faith and courage. AND an ear that was tuned to begin with.

Will the Lord not lead our homes, our families, our projects, our dreams (and ourselves)? Is His arm too short to direct, His Words too few to hear, His Holy Spirit unable to give us direction? No. But we either run ahead making our plans and setting our opinions and crafting new projects and buying new books, OR sit in a puddle of self-defeat not trying anything at all, and then either lament our failures or find security in our successes before we ever think of inquiring, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Just because something *prospers* doesn't mean it's blessed of God (read those proverbs). And just because something *fails* doesn't mean it wasn't something the Lord foresaw and planned to use for something better.

Maybe, like Ananias, His answer would make us tremble. Maybe He would take away something we love to do or are comfortable with. Maybe He would ask us to detach from someone or something or somedream we dearly loved. Maybe....maybe He would ask us to be His hands and feet, to go and make disciples...and to do that in a way we would never choose for ourselves or in a way we do not see the point of (or the results of). Maybe whatever it is would tick folks off and you'd have to get cozy with their eyeball rolling or false flattery or secret/open disdain. I dunno. But if God Himself is leading....does it really matter? Who do you want to serve, really?

To let God lead, we must allow Him to shape our appetites and what we want to pursue (see Hebrews 2:8), and not pass it through the lens of our flesh or our emotions that, hello, are so deceitful ("hmm....I think that sounds right...feels good...seems like a good idea.....is validated by those so-n-so's....would grant me favor....give me peace from my enemies...aligns with what I already believe...")

Are you pondering the tasks you're about? The projects you're pursuing? The books/websites/blogs you're writing/reading/visiting/planning? The housework/marriagework/parentwork? The time you spend on what you're spending it on? The people you love/hate/lovetohate/hatetolove and how to respond and relate to them?

Whatever you are pondering, let me encourage you to STOP and be quiet a moment (or three). And truly, ask the Lord (if He is your shepherd), "what wilt thou have me to do?" Make reading, studying, and meditating upon His Word a priority so that you can do what you were created to do: hear His voice, and follow.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me...

You can check out the other High Five Mom blogs in the next few days with their ideas on letting the Lord lead, too. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Blessings,

Natural Face and Skin Cream, Part Two

2012-01-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I was so excited about the fabulous cream I made last night that I wanted to share it with you pronto! And then....something was nagging at me....like....didn't I blog about that before?

YEP. You can read how I did it here. So I guess that makes this post "Part Two".

But...seeing as how I took pictures (again), and the recipe is different, here is another way to save a load of money. Honestly, have you seen how much those (chemical and preservative and who knows what else) creams cost at the department store?! Making your own facial/skin cream at home gives you control over the ingredients, and you can play with different recipes to make something that suits your own personal skin.

The first thing I did was pick herbs from my garden last summer. I chose calendula, lavender, and chamomile, all very good flowers for skin care. I let them wilt a bit to lessen the water content. Aren't they beautiful?

Then I infused them in a jar of oil for (umm....) a month or so. I used what I had on hand at the time: almond oil (that I typically use in the morning on my face straight), grapeseed oil, and azulene. Azulene is the oil made from chamomile flowers; it's a real pretty blue. It comes in my waxing supplies (ouch!) and I always have extra oil left so I save it for making beauty products with.

When I was ready, I strained the flowers out and had a lovely blue-green oil that I kept in a dark cupboard until I was ready to use it. It smelled very nice.

To start, keep in mind some simple formulas:

To make a salve: 1 cup oil (volume) to 1oz beeswax (weight).
To make a cream: same but blend with 6TB liquid.
To make a lotion: same but blend with even more liquid.

So, logically, I *could* have made a salve first, then blended a bit of liquid into the rest. Make sense?

I wanted an easy formula, so I added more oils until I got to 3 cups. You can see here I added shea butter and coconut straight to the measuring cup. I had these already on hand, which was a *yay* moment for me because shea is so expensive I about never have that on hand. There are all kinds of oils you could use, like olive oil, too.

I melted all of the oils, and 3oz beeswax (remember, 1 cup oil to 1oz beeswax) into a pan on the lowest possible setting. I didn't want to cook my oils! Just gently warmed until everything melted.

At this point, I had a salve mix, but I was going for the cream. So while that pot was melting away, I prepped my liquid. I used 1 cup plus a couple of tablespoons worth. In here I put some orange water, aloe vera gel, and distilled water. I popped open 1500IU worth of vitamin E and 30,000IU of vitamin A (I'm sure I could have put more!). I also added 48 drops of rose essential oil. I usually figure
16 drops of essential oil per cup of oil. More or less. Are you getting that this is not a "perfect" formulaic recipe?

Once the oils/beeswax was melted, I put it all into my blender. I decided to throw in a half tablespoon of lanolin; that is the *glob* you see there. I waited until the mix came to room temperature(ish), and of course by then my lanolin was melted too.

Now was the time to get busy, otherwise I was going to end up with a blender full of cooled and hardened SALVE and how would I dig that out? So, while the blender was going at full speed, I slowly added in my liquid mixture. It whipped up just like making mayonnaise.

But the work wasn't done until the cream was poured! If you don't work quickly, it will solidify in your blender (but at least you'll have a really great story to tell). You can see in the photo that the jar on the left was one of the last ones poured; see how it's cooling quickly?

Let me tell you what. This stuff is amazing. It initially felt a little greasy going on but within the half hour it had soaked into my skin. As I type this my hands are baby-soft. I plan to use this on my face at night, but I might just have to use it on my hands and feet too! I loved that I had so many odds and ends from other projects and could just recycle them into one product, too.

If you make this, be sure to clean out your blender quickly. I added hot-hot water, a drop of dishwashing liquid, and a splash of vinegar and blended. It came clean.

Blessings (and beauty!),

One Thing to Do With Quilt Scraps

2012-01-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas break I managed to quickly put together a little quilt for my craft room wall (I'll share soon!). As I was about to throw out the little pile of triangles, I thought perhaps I could do something shabby-cute with them.

So I did. I made a few thank you notes and used some of the pieces to make a patchwork kite on the cards. I have plenty of leftover pieces, so maybe I'll make some mini-quilts for more notecards. I just glue the scraps down with a paintbrush and Golden Gel Medium as the adhesive. Totally easy and a relaxing way to spend part of an evening.

I hope you're finding nooks of time for creative little patches here and there, too. Have you and your children sent out thank you notes yet?

Blessings,

Fear Not: Set, Stand, and See

2012-01-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

Right click to download this episode.

Why you ought to "FEAR NOT":

1. Because of God's character
2. God keeps His promises
3. God has a purpose in all things.

What to do:

1. Set...your heart, soul, affection...on HIM
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

2. Stand...steadfast in the faith. And quiet your heart and mind, and listen.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

3. See...open your eyes to see God working.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Psalms 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Be blessed,

Bible Reading Plans: Are You Sure You Want One?

2012-01-01T23:14:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days I've been seeing a lot of Bible reading plans touted, mostly to get a reader through the whole Book in a year. Although I appreciate the importance of reading the Word in an orderly fashion, I do pause at the idea of galloping through His Word in any way just to check off the reading as "done". At this time in my life, with a busy household of a husband and six homeschooling children and one baby on the way, to read the Word in one year would be rushed. But maybe you have way more oodles of time than I do. I do wonder, though, what happens if you get 8 days, or even 8 months, into a perfect reading mode and then you're slammed for a week with the flu? Do you try to catch up? Feel like you've failed? Or worse, failed God? Is He grading us on our Bible reading habits?

Make sure if you're going to follow a plan of some sort, that you check yourself on your motives. If you're certain you want to follow a reading plan (because you need the structure or accountability or whatnot), here are some thoughts adopted from the late N.A. Woychuk's pamphlet, "Hints for Reading the Bible", which unfortunately I cannot find anywhere online to share with you. It is profitable.

Will you be approaching your Bible with an earnest desire to understand it, or will it be merely a formality, something to check off your "to do" list?
Will you be reading it with reverence, or will you be distracted by the things awaiting you when you're finished?
Will you be reading it with an earnest prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, or will you be skimming the passages and paying more attention to the study notes on the side? "Humble prayer will throw more light on your Bible reading than all the commentaries written," said Mr. Woychuk.
Will you read your Bible with a child-like faith and humility, knowing that ALL Scripture is profitable (yes, even the book of Numbers), or will you pass by the genealogies and lists just to get ahead (or catch up) on your schedule?
Will you read the Bible in a spirit of self-application, or do you simply want to be able to say you've read the whole Bible?

There is nothing inherently wrong with a Bible reading plan; in fact, in can be very helpful in getting into parts of the Book that are regularly skipped and missed. The main thing, however, ought to be the main thing: reading it honestly.

I've gone through many seasons in Bible reading. I've had times where I've had hours to read and to do in-depth word studies using the Bible alone (with a concordance), finding much fruit in applications. Then I've had seasons of postpartum slow-mo-fog where all I ever seemed to snatch was a verse or two a day at best, taping it onto my counter by the sink to ponder. I believe the Lord honors our hearts in our hunger for Him through His Word, and will bless us however much we can do when we can do it.

Currently, I have a husband that goes into work late, and children that all sleep in. I am able to wake early in the morning and have a nice quiet time of reading. In case you are curious, my current Bible reading plan is:

Reading through the entire Bible, 1-3 chapters at a time, from the OT straight through to the NT. I don't put a deadline on getting to the end of the Book; whenever I get there, I just start at the beginning again. And yes, I'm in the book of Numbers.
I read the psalm of the day. If it is the 2nd of the month, I will read Psalm 2. Then I add 30 until I get to the end. So I would read Psalms 2, 32, 62, 92, and 122 that day. In this way I get through the Psalms every month. I don't stress if I miss a day! I just pick up on whatever day is next.
I read the proverb of the day, too. If it is the 2nd of the month, I read Proverbs 2.

To do all of that reading, plus writing in my journal, takes me anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour in the morning. But I know that once baby comes, I may have to go back to grabbing a verse or a chapter when I can. It's not a failure if I can't keep up on a schedule of some sort, even if it is *my* schedule. Again, reading it honestly is important. The Bible is not a check-off task!

When I want to go through a Bible study or other devotional (topical or a sermon series, etc.), I do that either in the morning if I still have time after reading, and/or in the evening before bed. Audio Bibles are wonderful, too, to listen to while crafting or driving or even while falling asleep. Reading aloud to the children out of the Bible "counts" as reading, too, of course!

Whatever your plans are for this year in your Bible reading, try to do it daily. Keep it simple, allow yourself some grace, and come hungry to hear Him. I am certain He will fill you, and bring you joy as you seek Him in whatever schedule or manner of reading you are led.

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Blessings,

Two Ponderings For the New Year

2011-12-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

Our home in the woods in last winter's snow

I was struck by the title of a chapter I was reading in Parenting by the Spirit (an excellent little book, by the way). It was "Does your schedule match your priorities?" This probably gained my attention because I ponder this sort of thing quite a bit, and what I dislike probably more than anything else is the act or the idea of living life in the shallows. Does my life match my priorities? I don't know. I think so, most of the time, for the areas that are truly in my control. But my confidence wanes enough to cause me to question it, all the same.

Here are my latest ponderings. Feel free to leave me a comment and help me unwrap them more. Or please share your own new year ponderings!

1. To keep blogging, or not to keep blogging...

I kept a far more active blog years ago that I quit, and now it's been a couple more years on this one. And I feel like I'm floundering these days on it, like either I have nothing else to say, or hunger more for real relationships with people that I can actually call by name. Even now, I wonder, who am I writing to? Are they even reading this? Or are they (dread) just *skimming* though, ready to click-click-click onto other blog posts, other websites, other places? How does this fit with my own "priority" of real, deep and honest relationships?

And then I think, well, I blog because I love to write (which I do), and I want to encourage other moms in building their own happy homes. But, really? If I write a post on, say, "does your schedule match your priorities?".... is it really making a difference in anyone's life? Does my reader actually think "hmm?" and ponder and come to peace with those ponderings? Or is the noise of simultaneous media texts and status updates distracting? I so want to be a blessing, and not one more voice that is potentially fodder for distraction and the neglect of the better things. Is that even possible?

What I really long to do is reach over, close up the laptops (yours and mine), and talk over coffee cake and a cup of tea. What's the Lord been teaching you lately? How are your children doing? Is your life joy-filled? Do you need to forgive anyone? How can I pray for you? What are you making for supper tonight? How is your marriage? What are you reading? What do you dream about? Tell me your testimony of God's grace, because I love to hear the story again and again from my brethren...

I'm not sure how to cultivate *that* kind of relationship over a computer, no matter how many followers, friends, or fans the site or statistics says I have. Then again, maybe the point of it all is not to cultivate relationships at all, but just a place to showcase *me*. Which seems sort of like a limp wet rag in my mind; I am more than my avatar.

2. To go to school, or not...

It took me 13 years to get my BS and MS in Holistic Nutrition. I just picked at it while baring and raising six children, and eventually received two more degrees than the one I earned in college. Now what? I think I want to learn more about becoming a community herbalist, and do more schooling towards that end. I love learning! And of course, because I'm pregnant (again), doesn't that mean more schooling (again)? I guess I am just wondering how and when (and if) all of that schooling is going to combine into something I can use to either bless other people with or to help provide more income for my family (or both). Or is it just enough to use all of that information for my own small circle of family and friends?

So what I'm really pondering is: how I'm going to get to really know and help women slow down their crazy lives enough to smell the roses while cultivating my writing habits while offering my love of good food and herbs for vibrant health while sharing my love of drawing and stitching while always pointing those women to the Prince of Peace where they can find what the whole purpose of our short, vapor lives is really about to begin with.

Ok, there are the threads. Let's see how they weave.

Blessings for a spirit-led, fruit-filled, new year to you all,

Elderberry Syrup

2011-12-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

Elderberry syrup is really easy to make, and a great support to the immune system.

Start out with as much fresh or dried berries as you would like. I used two cups dried.

Cover with water, and simmer for about 40 minutes or so, until the berries are soft and the water looks dark with juice.

Strain, mushing the berries to get as much juice out as you can. You can save the berries for other uses, or just make the chickens outside very, very happy.

Add enough raw honey (which has its own medicinal properties, too) to taste, and that's it! Elderberry syrup is really tart, so be prepared to use quite a bit of honey if you want to give it to your kids straight. Keep in the fridge. A spoonful a day helps keep the bugs away :)

Gifts for Friends

2011-12-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

I couldn't add these to my post on handmade gifts for obvious reasons :) But I thought now that these have been happily given, I could share what I made.

For some of my friends, I made little journal covers for their notebooks, to write lists in, or draw, or...well...journal. I love the little bird I stitched onto the linen; isn't he cute?

Other friends got either tea mixes (chai) or mocha mixes, depending on what they like in their mugs, in a homemade embroidered gift bag.

Almond-lemon biscotti was included for all, and there you have it! I had so much fun thinking of my friends while stitching, smiling at how good the Lord is for gifting me these friendships. I wish I could remember where I got these patterns from; they were given for free on other blogs. If you are a blogger that shares these sorts of tutorials, MwAH!

Our Enjoyable Christmas

2011-12-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

We had (and are still having!) a very relaxing and enjoyable Christmas. We spent much time decorating our home, including a crazy big 10 foot tree that wasn't big enough for my husband so he added more blocks underneath to get it higher. And yes, that's me with my ever growing middle trying to balance while I lit the tree up with about 1400 lights. The sleigh bells are the real deal, passed down to us from my husband's grandmother.

We did plenty of crafts and card making, which was just a lovely quiet time to spend together.

Of course, there was so shortage of goodies to bake, prepare and eat! And potlucks, and meals with friends, too.

The gift-giving is always such fun, even more than gift-receiving, I think. On that end, my favorite thing was receiving this collection of tea cups and saucers from a dear man whose wife passed away; she had wanted the girls of our home to have them.

I spent some down time working in my craft room and feeling very spoiled to have the opportunity to do so. I tried to collect some memories of our season together, and put it into a single drawing.

I hope you also had a blessed time celebrating the Savior!

Merry Christmas (there are 12 days of that, right?),

Time for Beauty

2011-12-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

My children made the rounds this late afternoon into 14 different businesses in our community to wish the surprised owners and their clients a very Merry Christmas with their violins. It was delightfully fun, running around and greeting them all with a lovely ending to their day.

Many folks were smiling and enjoying it very much, but there were people who passed on by, not pausing a couple of minutes to even acknowledge either the children seeking to bless them nor the beautiful music that was circling the atmosphere. It frankly reminded me of Joshua Bell, who played on his $3.5 million dollar, 300 year old violin, for 43 minutes in a metro stop to see what would happen. Out of 1097 people who walked by, only 7 stopped to listen. He made $32.17.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed ourselves tonight, but I was sad for the people who couldn't stop for a song or two. Our lives are so rushed, we miss so much beauty. I would encourage you, my readers, to take a moment, to stop, to really breathe and lift your chin and tune your ears. There is so much beauty in your life that is precious. Don't miss it.

Blessings,

Crafting Out Time: Every Day Matters

2011-12-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here, and I find myself relaxed these days, enjoying the Advent season. Are you harried and frenzied? If so, please check out my friend's new ebook (it's free!): Ready in Seven (as in hours!). You also might want to listen to our podcast (while you're running around town), on Keeping Peace in the Home During the Holiday Frenzy.

I've been spending my extra free time (light on the schoolwork these weeks) not only crafting and baking with the kids, but carving out more time for me to do the things I enjoy most: Bible study, reading, crafting, sewing, writing. I realize these things are mostly solitary things; I am introverted in that way.

I've reclaimed my early mornings for journaling and Bible reading with the help of earlier bedtimes, alarms, and taking my baths the night before. It's so lovely to have a goodly amount of real quiet time, before anyone else is up. I find hot tea a comfortable way to greet the day.

After the children are in bed for the night, if my husband is busy with other things, I gift myself an hour in my craft room. I've enjoyed this time. It's quiet except for any music or teaching or podcast I'm listening to, and the sound of scissors snipping or the iron breathing. The bare window frames swaying fir trees, adding to the peace.

Whenever I'm tempted to go back to Facebook or the like, I ask myself which of these activities I want to give up in order to be online more. Or, do I really want to send my children off to school? They are home all day, homeschooling and wanting three meals and making messes, so I do not really have time in the day to pursue other interests right now. I find it's a matter of reality (only 24 hours in the day), and of actually trying to live out what I say my priorities are. And I know our home will have a scheduling shake-up when our new baby arrives next spring, so I am especially enjoying my quiet times.

Recently I added lighting to my little craft room nest. I think I will leave the Christmas lights up all year; I love them.

Last night I created a cover for my art journal. I've been wanting an art journal for a long time; I love the idea of choosing something at the end of the day to draw or collage or paint that brings about some sort of memory of the day.

My cover was made with a paper backing, stickers, collage, rickrack, stamping, pastels, paint, and tied ribbons. I titled it "Every day matters." Because it does. There is a book about art journaling with that very title, too, but I've never looked at it (it's on my wish list along with dozens of others!). I got the inspiration and directions for my cover from The Artistic Mother, which is a lovely book if you want to dive into a little more creativity in your life (and you need directions).

This is a quote I ripped from a magazine: To be perpetually thrilled with life need not detract from the solidarity of your goals or the soberness of your purpose. (anonymous)

I've enjoyed playing with different media for my "drawing of the day": pens, paints, pencils. I doubt I'll be able to do this every day, but hopefully with a habit every evening of 15 minutes or so, it will become very satisfying to think on and give thanks for something of my day. My children love to see what the picture of the day was!

The way I see it, why wait for the new year to create a new habit or to encourage a new craft? I find winter is the perfect time to consider my ways and to think on how my time is spent.

Are you spending yours the way you'd like?

Blessings,

Ideas for Handmade Gifts

2011-12-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

When we were children, we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmastime. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?
GK Chesterton

Tis the season for gift buying and wrapping and sending, which despite the crazy madness of overblown consumerism and materialism, still has a sweetness to it, because wanting to give a gift to someone is something lovely I think. God was the original gift-giver thinker-up! Full of mercy and grace and generosity and love with His good and perfect gifts, aren't you glad He never changes?

Handmade gifts are my favorites, because I know the giver has put not only their money, but their time and effort into them as well. I treasure the heart they put into them, knowing that while they were planning and working and packaging, they were thinking of me and of all of the other loved ones they were seeking to bless.

Here is a list of handmade gifts that I have made in the past, and have found as possibilities to do one year or another. Many, many things can be made with the scraps you have already (extra fabric, extra craft supplies, scrap wood, etc.) I often find (more often than not) that it's not a matter of *time and/or money*; it's a matter of *desire*. Tutorials abound all over the web; google and find a treasure trove of tutorials! Yes, you CAN follow directions. It's ok; we (the recipients) will love it!

And no, you can't find out what I'm making this year (hee hee); it's not even on the list (big smile).

wreaths made of fruit, greens, berries, flowers, whatever's in your yard
flatware holders
mini-pies, creme brulee, tarts, muffins, bagels
bottle wraps (with a bottle of wine of course!)
embroidered monogrammed napkins or washclothes
spice blends, mustards, vinegars, anything for the kitchen cook
fresh doughnuts, pretzels, granola, cookies...
simple table runner, napkins
a scarf from a length of wool, trimmed in ribbon or blanket-stitched
bouquets with jars filled with seeds (for dry bouquets) or cranberries (for wet bouquets)
vanilla gift-wrapped in vintage bottles
roasted chestnuts
napkin rings, placecard holders
decorative candle blocks or other holders
the candles themselves!
soap, lotions, salves, creams, facial scrubs, salt scrub, etc.
mason jar sewing kits
pillowcases, herbal sachets
party drink tags (for wine stems)
roll-ups for colored pencils or art supplies
coffee, cocoa or tea blends
homemade marshmallows to go with that hot cocoa mix!
chocolate dipped and sprinkled oreos, pretzels, etc.
notebooks with pretty linen covers, quilted Bible covers
seeds saved from the garden, handpressed flowers onto bookmarks
tinctures, tonics, syrups
ornaments, holiday decor
aprons, oven mitts, dish towels
fresh bread and butter, jam
beaded bookmarks or jam spoons
pin cushions, needle cases
fridge magnets (I hot glued magnets onto buttons. Cute!)
a supply of handstamped notecards or homemade stationery
crocheted shawl or wrist warmers
things for the pantry: pears, applesauce, soup mixes, etc.
mini quilts for hanging or a table topper or a child's doll blankie
ragdolls, handkerchief dolls
knitted washclothes, mittens, scarves, stuffed animals, hats
harvest baskets or a garden tool belt
handwoven baskets, even mini ones for holding small candies
pottery with glazing for growing kitchen window herbs
an small window herb garden transplanted into vintage pots (drill holes!)
candy: truffles, fudge, popcorn balls, baklava (my mom's specialty!)
homemade cleaning supplies: laundry soap, cleansing powder, fabric softener, etc.
cutting boards, toy blocks, dolly beds
bean bags, library carry-all bags, hand-drawn coloring books
salad dressing with croutons (all homemade of course!)
rice socks to heat up, fleece blankets to cuddle under
hair ribbons, barrettes
baby mobiles, crib bumpers, receiving blankets
earrings, bracelets, coat pins
and of course, certificates! For a meal delivery, babysitting, fresh cookies, housecleaning, etc!

I want to be sure to share one of my most favorite hand-making idea links too! From SewMamaSew; be sure to check out the previous year tutorial links for ideas, too.

Don't forget that the packaging and delivery is just as much an opportunity to show your love! Homemade wrapping, or extra ribbon, or even brown paper bags spruced up (now there's something to google!) all add a delightful touch.

And a note for those for whom "homemade" gifts aren't your thing: just graciously say "thank you" anyway. Because nothing made in China can ever be given to you with the same amount of heart and soul. And people's hearts and souls...well, they're the real gifts in any season.

You can check out the other High Five Mom blogs with their homemade gift ideas, too. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Blessings,

Gifts of the Heart

2011-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

A handwritten note,
A sliver of pause,
An encouraging word,
A hearty applause.

Gentle rebukes
With much fear and trembling,
Faithful attendance
With the assembly.

Prayers for the enemy,
Forebearance, forgiven,
Assuming the best,
A friend to envision.

Nourishing attention,
The web put on mute,
Fully engaged,
Cultivating fruit.

Wiper of tears,
Present in sorrow,
Comforter in grief,
Faith in tomorrow.

Unabridged stories
At bedtime to read,
Kissed boo-boo’s and bandaids,
Nourishing needs.

Dream helper, goal shaper,
Cheers for small steps,
Loyalty to another

In life’s tidal ebbs.

A cup of clean water,
A meal taken in,
A loving touch of the hand,
A lift of the chin.

Doing the work
Of saying you’re sorry,
Rebuilding trust,

The other before "me".

Small token gifts,
A generous hand,
Prayers of thanksgiving,
Witness to God’s promised land.

These are some gifts
Of the heart that cost none,
But your time and your love
First received from the Son.

As you do them for others
From Him do you see,
A high holy presence
No gift boughten can be.

May your Christmas be heart-felt,
Your motives be true,
And the gifts that you share
Come back to bless you.

note: see the Christian Writer's Blog Chain for more thoughts on the theme of "Gifts of the Heart"

Blessings to you and yours,

My Crafting Room

2011-11-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Would you like to see the craft room I hung around in today instead of shopping? One of the reasons it looks so neat is that my sewing area just got finished today (no mess to clean up yet!). So, come on in!

I don't take lightly the blessing of having my own room to create and leave a mess in, knowing that I can leave stuff out for as long as I need to. I remember making due when all I had was our kitchen table; and if that's all you've got, you can still create! In fact, just having a small shared table forces the "get organized" goal to come into fruition, so it's not altogether a bad thing.

Having my own room is not a bad thing, either. When we moved bedrooms around, the "guest room" (that we only partially used every year) went away, and suddenly I got to have my own room (that I use every day!). Here is a short tour of my little room:

My husband found this old table in our attic. I have no idea where it came from, but it ends up being the perfect size for sewing. This will be the first time I can lay out fabric and cut it off of the floor! My chair was hand-caned by my husband's grandmother.

Around my craft room, I have objects that I love and inspire me. All of these jars hold wooden spools of thread (from the same grandmother). Wooden spools are so sweet; I like them so much better than our current obsession with everything plastic.

Speaking of vintage (were we?), here's my latest addition: a featherweight Singer that a friend of mine sold to me, in near perfect condition. I find even the sound of it so satisfying, and it sews like a dream. As another friend once said, "there's nothing like metal parts." I agree!

On a second wall, I have a farm house table I recently found in an antique store, along with a cool metal red cart. This is where I like to draw, paint, stamp, or otherwise work with paper crafts. Currently I am working on repairing and updating our Advent calendar. On my corkboard are mostly clips I've cut from magazines that I love to look at: quotes, artwork, flowers, etc. And a picture of Tasha Tudor, too, just one of many artists that inspire me.

I like to keep my colored pencils out, again just because they're pretty. I like to keep the eye candy nearby.

On the third wall is my girlhood desk. I wrote many, many letters and poems and did tons of homework on it growing up. I have another corkboard with photos of loved ones and also business cards and websites of artists, writers, and online shops I appreciate. In my bookcase are craft books and patterns and such, and on the top are (once again) things I love to look at: paintings and artwork I love, and even a Paddington Bear I made when I was nine. He reminds me to be nice to the little girl I still have inside of me (despite the wrinkles). The bit of rug you see was hand-done by that very same grandmother. I really appreciate the love and time women put into things like this (and still do!); it is like they are giving of themselves, which is a precious gift no one could ever buy.

I like to work on the computer here, and our copier is here too, on a little bench I picked up from somewhere. This desk is my "Pooh corner", my "thinking spot". And if you're a snail mail pen pal of mine, that bottom lefthand drawer is full of notecards and stationery I use for you!

In keeping with things I love, here is a basket (love baskets) of seashells (love the ocean....rivers and lakes too!) against my window showing our woods (love love love the cedar/pine smells too!).

So where is all my other stuff? In the closet! Here you'll find all of my stamping supplies, papers, calligraphy inks, fabric, wool felts, ribbons, acrylics, etc, etc, and etc. I can take out what I want to use, and when it's all finished, put it back and close the door. I just work better having a more open space, but I love and appreciate craft rooms that have beautiful wire shelves of supplies out in the open, too.

Things I still want to do in my room: put up some felt on the wall so my quilt squares can get off the floor while I'm working, add a light table (and more lighting for that matter), and I'm definitely going to buy a strand or two of mini-Christmas lights to drape around and keep up all year, because it's just one of those things I love. Lastly, I have artwork my children have done, and plan to pin them up on a clothesline along a wall in a rotating manner. In all honesty, they inspire me, too.

I was going to put in a chair for handsewing or knitting in, but I find that when I am doing that I'd much rather be in the living room with everyone else, or watching a movie with my husband at the same time. One of my friends has a TV in her room to watch movies while she works! I think the point of creating a space is to really make it *yours*, whether you get a whole room or just a small corner.

That's it! On your way out, you can move over the old iron doorstop and let the door close. I'm going to play either some music or hear a sermon and get to work on my homemade gifts. Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,

Keeping Peace in the Home During the Holiday Frenzy: An Interview with the High Five Moms

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to interview the other four mothers from our little High Five Moms group and it was SO fun to hear their voices. I asked them about how they maintained peace in their homes during the holiday frenzy, and I took lots of notes! It sure was nice to hear the same threads I usually adhere to also, such as staying home, focusing on relationships/togetherness, simplicity, less is more, etc.

I hope you will be blessed with our attempt to put five women (myself included!) on the same line. Grab something hot to drink and be challenged and encouraged.

Right click to download this episode.

You can check out the other High Five Mom blogs, too. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

An Appeal

2011-11-18T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! My husband is fighting hard on a contest to give the best presentation of what chiropractic really is. And no, it's not about back and neck pain, but about allowing the body to be in the best possible state to self-regulate and self-heal, as God intended it to. I personally credit our family's good health not only on food choices and herbs, but on regular chiropractic care. If he wins, it will greatly help with the expenses of owning and running our studio. Plus, it is a tremendous opportunity to educate people about true chiropractic in its purest sense.

You can help! All you need to do to garner points for us is to view the video, and/or vote for it, and/or leave a comment on his video site, and/or share it. As long as we remain in the top 5, we have a really good chance of winning, and every viewing, voting, comment there, and share adds up. Furthermore, you can do this daily if you're so inclined! And, you get to *meet* my husband, too, as a bonus (smile).

Here is a short mini-podcast to give you more information (and to hear us goofing around, too). And thank you for all of your support (and allowing me to pop this in on you!)

Right click to download this episode.

Fostering Good Sibling Relationships

2011-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

High Five Moms are talking about fostering good sibling relationships today. Here are two blog posts I wrote about that very topic, with some sweet photos too! Enjoy!

Where I disagree that children "need friends their own age"

and

How taking sides in disputes can be shallow and short-lived

You can read more thoughts on sibling relationships this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

I'm so thankful that my children have so many siblings!

Nine Reasons for Unthankfulness

2011-11-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

Part of my pontificating on gratitude examined how healing often needs to occur before honest gratitude shows its worth. But apparent and obvious healing does not necessarily bring up a groundswell of thanksgiving. Why?

Here are NINE reasons why you (and me!) may be lacking in thankfulness after a healing:

You feel you didn't deserve the trial or wound in the first place. You were meant to live on this earth happy, healthy, wealthy and wise, not to mention well fed and loved. You deserve these things because you live and breathe.
You suffer from blindness--you can't even see that you've been healed. You may have spent a decade living hand-to-mouth but somehow you don't even see that your bank account has been flush for a number of years now. You didn't even realize that you genuinely laughed out loud last night after months of oppressive grieving.
You treat your healing as a checklist item that is marked "done" and immediately push to the next problem to solve.
You never really wanted healing in the first place. Your self-worth was built around either your self-pity or the pity and attention you garnered from others. Now that you're healed, the spotlight might go away.
You don't want to acknowledge the Healer. He bugs you. You don't even want to admit He exists, much less has anything to do with your own personal life. If you did, He might want something from you. Like gratitude.
You're cynical about the timeframe of the healing. Sure it's great you're healed, but why couldn't it have happened a decade ago or even last week? You've missed opportunities or have lost much in the trial that you might never get back. Healing at this point seems pointless.
You were never taught to express gratitude, and maybe no one ever bothered to express any to you. You look like a grown-up, but your heart never grew past toddlerhood.
You're too self-absorbed and have too much pride to admit that Someone outside of yourself had anything to do with your healing. You take pride on doing things "your way" and this healing just messes with that system.
You remain disobedient to God's command to be thankful (Col 3:15) because that is the most comfortable place to remain: in disobedience. Unthankfulness is just one more way to snub Him.

I don't think Jesus was confused at all about what happened to the other nine that did not express gratitude when He asked the question. Instead, it was an indictment against humanity who too often rails against the One to whom they would show everlasting love and devotion "if only He would..."

The truth is that in Christ you have been healed, you are being healed, and in eternity you will be forever healed. May we confidently expose our wounds to Him, and trust Him for the work He is doing through them and because of them. And in all things (God help us), give thanks.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

note: see the Christian Writer's Blog Chain for more thoughts on the theme of "Nine"

Gratefully His,

Pursuing Your Talents in the Season of Motherhood: An Interview With Elizabeth Younts

2011-11-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering how an author gets a book not only written, but published and marketed while raising small children at home? Join me to hear Elizabeth Byler Younts as she shares her heart and tips on how to make room for your own talents and interests while in the midst of motherhood.

Elizabeth wanted to reassure her listeners that she hasn't arrived (I say, "who has?"), so here is a note she wanted to attach to her interview.

"Please know that I am humbled by this opportunity to share these tips with you. I am no expert in making it all work. I often make mistakes and have to figure something new out. I have not arrived in the least...but I do hope that you are blessed by the interview and can find something that will helpful to you. God Bless."

My husband left an *extra* at the end of the podcast, so be sure to stay tuned for the treat after "the credits"!

Right click to download this episode.

You can hear about Elizabeth's wonderful book on a previous podcast, and also find her blog here. If this topic of finding time and space resonates with you, be sure to also listen to Room For You.

Blessings,

On Gratefulness

2011-11-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

One thing I've heard often is that Christians ought to be very grateful people. Of course, we should, but the problem is that sometimes our fake smile "gratefulness" is just a cover for being too scared or too holy to admit wretched pain. In fact, if anything in our lives go awry, there are usually two responses put forth as helps, usually from people who have not suffered the same bruises, but sometimes to ourselves as well:

1. Give thanks for it all (from 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

and

2. God will use it all for good (from Romans 8:28).

And there is it: case closed. But really? These things are not untrue, but sometimes those responses feel more like a pat on the head or fuel for the fire instead of a healing balm.

Did you have a child die? Well, give thanks for the time you had. Did you discover your husband visiting a strip club? Well, be thankful it wasn't with a real woman. Did you go bankrupt and lose your home? Don't worry; God will turn it around for good. Did you lose a leg? Chin up, you still have one more!

The message I'm afraid is much more than earnest Biblical support. It is akin to "buck up, smile, and get over it". Why? Because any other response: compassion, listening, weeping....those seem unspiritual and therefore cowardly, not to mention time consuming and inconvenient. And if we have a healthy fear of the Lord, there is a part of us that preaches the same to ourselves as well.

But is it never proper to feel fear? Anger? Sadness? Do times of seeming "ungrateful" indeed make you unfaithful, fallen, a failure? If so, then lay my tombstone next to David, because I am as much a wretch, but not nearly as poetic. His emotions were never stuffed or patronized; he had enough FAITH to trust God to know his heart and hear his pain, even as he couldn't gratefully say at the time "thank you" for all of the running around, death threats and betrayals. Can you image one of his friends slapping him on the back in the midst of his fearful trial and saying (if they had this then), "Buddy...dude...Romans 8:28...(slap slap)".

Spending time talking it out, moving through fear, dealing with anger, and weeping in grief, does NOT mean you are "ungrateful". It means there are wounds to be tended to, and just because they aren't worse or may not be as deep as someone else's in more dire circumstances doesn't mean that the pain isn't still there and just as real.

Are you in trial? Walk through it as tenderly as you can, knowing that the Lord does not forsake you even when you are throwing an inner tantrum or can't stop from crying. Do you know someone in trial? Give them empathy, compassion, give them an ear, give them your time, prayers and attention.

The man outside the gate Beautiful had to be healed before he was able to get up in gratitude and walk and leap and praise God. And sometimes, that is true of us, too. Fear not, little sparrow, but rest in the Savior and trust Him to make you whole in His time.

You can read more thoughts on gratefulness this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Grateful for His mercy,

Drawing Class Progress

2011-11-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

I'm really enjoying my drawing class. It's part of the "what did I like to do when I was a girl" kick that I've been on.

This first drawing is an artichoke (I hope you can tell!). It's just a line drawing. What I discovered later is that I need smoother paper to draw on!

This was another line drawing, a bouquet of autumn leaves. I really tried to show the curling and curves.

This was a cosmos flower I plucked from the back garden, and my first attempt at trying to do some shading.

And this is my silly yellow onion that finally taught me that I need better paper!

All that to say, it's been fun. Nice to concentrate on drawing something for an hour (or two!), focusing all of my attention onto something God created and noticing all of the beauty it in all. Drawing is training my eyes to see.

Blessings on your endeavors,

The Un-Virtue of Multi-Tasking

2011-11-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

I'm just curious. Since when is multi-tasking a virtue?

Somewhere down the line, we homemakers got help with laundry machines, electric mixers, and even telephones. And I'm not sure that all that time freed up really freed us up to do much of anything except *more*. I've looked at the photo of my husband's great-grandmother, surrounded by her then eleven children, and truly the woman looks tired. But I figure with how hard it was just to keep diapers, grow and preserve food (because there weren't fourteen grocery stores within a half mile), and just keep the dirt out of the house, the woman deserves the lament of lack of sleep.

So what's the excuse now for falling into bed at the end of the day? Having to walk three miles to get anywhere? No, I believe it's because most women these days have a "more is better" view of their day, and the only real lament there can be now is "the day is gone and I did NOTHING!"

Come now. Nothing? Truly? Unless you were sick in bed all day I am sure something was accomplished, and we might even argue the point that resting all day was accomplishing something: healing.

Multi-tasking is praised these days in all sorts of places. If you can text while sending off an email while updating your status or sending a tweet while the dishwasher hums and the children work on their schoolwork with the fragrance of supper escaping from the crockpot, well....we pat ourselves and each other on the back and celebrate with a few "free" hours to catch up on whatever haunts us as undone on those "lists" we make.

But what if presence, or intentionality, was more of a virtue? Actually being in one place, in the moment, with full and complete attention to the human being in front of you....instead of your mind wandering to the things left on your checklist or your eye to the clock or your ear perked to the dinging of your smartphone. What if you spent an entire hour outside on the porch watching the sunrise and heard nothing but autumn leaves slipping from the gnarled limbs? What if you had a day of unplugging everything (are you having heart palpitations)? What if the alarm clock didn't go off in the morning and you closed your eyes at the crest of dark? What if a friend actually called you, on a tied-to-the-wall telephone, and took up a precious half hour?

I'm just curious. Multi-tasking is considered a virtue. But I wonder about the life we've lost in "accomplishing" so much, and I don't even know if I have the time or the will to ponder that anymore.

Keeping It Clean

2011-11-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

One of the best quotes I ever read regarding housework was on a magnet at some highway trinket and gas station on some vacation from some yesteryear. It said, "My house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy." I should've bought it and put it in my kitchen, but in any case, I've always remembered it.

I find I go through phases of keeping everything really clean, working in zones, decluttering daily, and so forth. And then....and then there are times that weeks go by before I find the countertops or clean out the fridge. Both situations drive me crazy; one because it seems there is no free time at all and if I'm not just barking chores, I'm just shooing everyone away to get it done myself...and the other because that much clutter makes my brain hurt and my kids get lazy about just picking up their pajamas off the floor. But most of the time, there is balance, and we're able to welcome friends who just step over stuff during the day; and we can still have supper guests later who find not only clean spaces to put down their purses, but a clean sink and hand towel to use in the bathroom.

Here is my own balancing act:

I make my bed every day, because every time I walk into my bedroom it just feels nice to see it made, even if ("if" LOL) there is a disaster load of books and notebooks on my nightstand.
I keep up on the laundry. Mondays for clothing, Thursdays for bedding and towels, and diapers and kitchen linens are done as needed. I confess to being spoiled with TWO sets of washer/dryers, and I've trained my children how to use them to do their own clothes, bedding and towels (on their own schedules). In my opinion, life's too short for mountains of laundry to do, but I realize for someone else, their life might be "too short to make the bed".
I try to vacuum the floor every.single.night. Food crumbs, hay from boots, hair, and all that other *stuff* just multiplies during the wee hours of the night. Plus it feels gross to step on.
I try to clean up the dishes after every meal, and just about never leave a dirty sink until morning. I just find it depressing to welcome a beautiful brand new day and then have to face stucco from meals the day before.
Once a week, we run around with dusters, vacuum the carpets and clean the bathrooms. I might hand a small child a window cleaning cloth or send an older kid out to wash the garbage cans, depending on what's needed.

That's about it. When I have more of my act together, we do stuff like deeper cleaning, planning menus, mopping floors, and brushing the dogs. But my minimums listed are the ones that keep me *happy*, and sometimes a little dirt is the price I'm willing to pay for it.

You can read more thoughts on keeping it clean this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Health, and Happiness,

The Hassle of Reading

2011-10-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

I find a vast difference between the distraction-laden computer screen/magazine/newspaper scanning we've become accustomed to versus the slow, contemplative reading that gives a person a chance to really hear what an author is attempting to present and engage the reader with. And it saddens me that literacy rates are in a sorry state, and just a quick (yes, skim) of the internet reveals the average adult in the U.S. is reading somewhere between the 5th and 9th grade reading levels. Maybe it isn't so sad at all. Maybe it's become one big shrug, and then it's back to the short, choppy texts, updates and tweets we return to between doorbell announcements of another email in the inbox.

Maybe reading an entire book (or hey, even an entire blog post!), is just too much of a hassle. Maybe we've just trained our brains to take in so many pieces of minutia that even the idea of a comprehensive complete pontificating of a whole idea is not worth the effort anymore. Thinking has become passe'; we don't even need to learn how to read maps anymore because GPS systems do the *thinking* for us.

I don't know. It seems more and more obvious that we're missing out on building real live relationships when we're each tethered to our personal digital products to (ironically) "connect" with others, but what, if anything, goes missing if we stop reading? Does it really matter if we read from paper or from a screen? Does it really matter if newspapers have "dumbed down" over the centuries (have you seen or tried to read one of those from the 1800's)?

Do the children in our homes see us tapping our fingers on keyboards and smartphones more than turning the pages of books? I'm just wondering. Does it really matter? Do we really care if our children learn to read and think deeply, or is it just cool that they grow up to be savvy enough send thousands of texts a month, preferring that to talking? After all, talking takes work. Like reading.

If you've read this far (not likely, given the odds!), chances are that these things do matter to you. If so, do whatever it takes to ponder these things (lock yourself in your bathroom for 15 minutes if you have to...without your cell phone....). And if distractions are the rule in your life, consider what it may be costing.

And maybe...maybe then pack up the family and go to the library for thick books to read. And turn off the gadgets for a couple of hours. And pop some popcorn. And read and then bond together by talking (not texting) about it all. And maybe...maybe even forgo the temptation to blog, update or tweet about the experience. Maybe....maybe reading will not be quite the hassle anymore, but the blessing we've been missing out on.

If you need or want a strong hand to help you in this, you could (shudder) try Freedom. It's an application that locks you away from the internet on Mac or Windows computers for up to eight hours at a time. If you think that's scary.....try another generational slide into deeper illiteracy.

You can read more thoughts on reading this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Pondering with you,

Small Things

2011-10-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Small crops, small handwork projects, little things I find beautiful...

We did not get a lot of squash and pumpkins from the garden this year but what we did get looks beautifully autumnal.

In my first drawing class, the instructor said I'd be surprised at how well I'd be drawing in seven weeks. I wryly responded while trying to draw a twisty twig with a pirate-squint-eye, "Well then, I can't wait to be surprised!" Today I played with colored pencils.

I did like my little fountain pen drawing of my childhood Paddington Bear. I keep him on my artist/crafting old farmhouse table. He reminds me to be nice to the 9 year old self that's still in the 41 year old body.

I have no idea what to do with this little thing I handstitched. It just hangs on my corkboard waiting for inspiration to do or be something other than corkboard decoration. Sometimes my creations have no "point" other than to be something I'm creating.

Here's a little sneak peek at what I'm making for a couple of baby showers coming up. It's so stinkin' adorable I think I'm going to have to make one for our baby coming in April.

May you find beauty in the little things in your life, too.

What Do You Value?

2011-10-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

In the last year I've been asking some hard questions regarding many aspects of my life, and it's been a good (and continuing) journey through many different books. I've read some books on unfolding my creative bents (some of which were so latent I had forgotten they were there), on the simplicity of walking with Christ (reminding me again that it's not that complicated), and on the history and methods of education (making me regret once again the wimpy one I got in schools). The last book I just finished was From the Garden to the City, which was a riveting book on the theology of technology, and how technology (everything from light bulbs to Facebook) not only comes with its own inherent value system, but how these tools transform our own hearts and minds and actually shape us and our own value systems and culture. All of these books have been fascinating reads which have led me to question:

what do I really value?
what informs the values that I have? (in other words, why do I have those certain values)
what in my life outflows from them?
are any of those things in conflict with the kingdom of God?

Through this time, I've been keeping a little ongoing list of what I really value. It is interesting for me to note that folks that rub me wrong probably do so because our values conflict, in action and/or in truth. So far what I have listed is:

a deep spiritual life
contemplation
reading to learn
simplicity
personal, real-time, face-to-face relationships (handwritten notes/letters are second, calls third...)
order
slowness/intentionality
quietness and peace

So now my questions from above can be applied to these, and of course, this takes #2 (contemplation), #3 (reading to learn), and #8 (a little peace and quiet).
So what are your values? Creating a list of values seems like a good marker to judge how a life is lived, what activities are done, which tools we use (and how), and so forth. Your values might be different (you might love a fast-paced action-packed day!), but at least thinking through these things means not being the victim of whichever way the wind blows, and marking what areas in your life might be in conflict with what you say you value.

I suppose the real question these days is, "Is there so much distraction in our lives that we cannot even take the time to ponder these things?" That, in my value system, would be a great sadness, indeed.

Peace,

Bringing the Green Inside

2011-10-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've taken advantage of the last few gorgeous sunny days here in the Pacific Northwest to put the garden to bed, pulling out the old and mulching heavily. Garlic and shallots are planted and that's about all I'm going to do for overwintering crops this year.

I used to have many, many plants inside of my house, but truthfully there is enough work already for me to do inside and I'd rather be outside with God's creation. Still, it is nice to have a bit of green here and there, and I'll show you the extent of what I have. There isn't a whole lot (by design!):

In my laundry/mud room I have a bonsai tree, and the same violets that I brought up from California with me 15 years ago. I don't take very good care of either, letting them get bone dry regularly and then just sinking them both in pails of water to allow dry spots to bubble up for five minutes or so. Some folks may think I'm doing it all wrong, but hey...I still have purple flowers after 15 years.

Another plant I brought up with me all those years ago was a ficus tree a friend gave me when she moved to another state. We thought we had killed it in the hot transport but it came back. I thought I had killed it when I kept it outside for the winter but it came back. I've hacked it back, ignored watering it, had a cat pee in it, kept it in sunshine and in shade...and still it lives. It's not my green thumb; it's God's little resurrection reminder.

In my kitchen I like to have fresh flowers all year long. It's just one of those things that makes me happy. If nothing's in my garden, I buy a few stems from the market. Next to my pretty flowers is the wall I tape up things I like, like poems, Bible verses, reminders, etc. I don't stress about tape on my walls.

I mostly dislike dried plants in my house. They get dusty and fade and I don't care to care for them. Lavender I like, however, and I can keep them for about two years. I cut them from my garden, and have little bundles in the bathroom and by my bedside.

And who says greenery needs to be green? I made this little candle holder from outside twigs, hotgluing them together and using some homemade (store-boughten) paper for the shade. It looks really pretty at night, a soft glow.

There are lots of ways to bring the outside in, but make sure you aren't adding more work than you are willing to spend on the inside greeneries.

You can read more thoughts on bringing the green inside this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Harvest Through Sacrifice

2011-10-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Ever since our podcast on the movie Courageous I've been pondering the idea that harvest does not come without going through sacrifice. Certainly in the farming community harvest does not occur without the process of planning and labor, a sacrifice of time and money and sweat. But what about when those sacrifices, followed by fire or drought or war, don't end up with silos full of grain?

What about when missionaries spend decades evangelizing and the fruit looks rotten? What about Jesus' own disciples, having sacrificed all, ending up not with health and wealth but with painful deaths and imprisonment? And John Piper recently tweeted, "Between 1920 and 1990 some 20 million died in the Russian Gulag (prison camps). Some 200,000 Christian leaders were martyred." What was the fruit of those martyrs? I don't personally (and perhaps shamefully so) know the name of even one.

I suppose it is how "harvest" is defined. Throughout the scriptures there are many laws regarding agricultural harvests and the endtimes are defined by a similar theme of harvesting the righteous out from the tares. But the harvest is always God's fruit and God's working; it is He who withholds, and it is He who sends, rain in its proper season. And the "proper season" is always His timing, His methods, His perfect plan. I'm afraid that when Christians put in the *work* of Bible study, prayer, earnest employment, good health habits, faithful child raising and so forth, we expect, nay demand the harvest that we have sowed for in hope. Sometimes the harvest is rich. But sometimes the end is grief, loss, destruction, death, even if the labor was faithful.

So whose harvest is it all, really? Does the work of martyrs have no fruit? Do faithful mothers who end up burying children have nothing to rejoice in? Perhaps there is a difference in expecting a rich end to our labors, to just being faithful in the time and day of bearing precious seed and planting, and then humbly trusting God for the results.

The harvest is always in the Lord's hands. Let us stay faithful to our God and our calling, even if our labors end in weeping, even if it looks to us as going backwards, as pointless in our own finite minds and calloused hands, knowing that He has promised joy in the morning to come (Ps 30:5). He is worthy of our trust.

note: see the Christian Writer's Blog Chain for more thoughts on the theme of Harvest

Courageous the Movie

2011-10-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

If you haven't taken the time to go see the movie Courageous, I hope you will rectify that soon. This movie is one that meets *real life*, and has the potential to call out and equip men to be the fathers that God has called them to be, regardless of past failures or fatherlessness. My husband took me to see this movie twice, and afterwards we had a chat about what we thought. This particular podcast was unscripted, so forgive us any rambling and we hope it will be useful to you.

Right click to download this episode.

You can find more information about it (and buy tickets!) here: Courageous the Movie.

Hands-On Learning for Boys

2011-10-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

I took a look at this topic for High Five Moms and ~~lamented~~ pondered how I was going to share much of anything. My first son has always been a mellow little guy, easy with paper-and-pencil. My second son is more of a cowboy, but he is only five. And he also can handle a pencil just fine. What I'm trying to say is that I'm no expert here! So today I'm offering to you a guest post from my friend Amy of Buffaloes and Butterfly Wings. Her blog is always filled with the fun and interesting things she does with her boys (and currently....cutie pie pics of her new baby girl!). I know you will get great encouragement from her here, and I encourage you to check out her blog, too.

*****************************

I began my homeschool career roughly five years ago when the oldest of my three boys reached preschool age. Almost immediately I found myself on a rollercoaster as I not only learned to homeschool, but to homeschool a B.O.Y.; I found out very quickly that hands-on activities were not only helpful, but essential for him. My lessons continue daily as I discover the challenges and joys involved in teaching boys.

The best lesson I have learned as far as hands-on learning and my boys has been teaching myself to be ok with less. Less sit down time. Less writing. Less pencil and paper work all together. When it comes to many boys and academics, less is truly more. When you spend less time frustrating your boy and yourself with traditional bookwork, you open up your time and his interests to a number of other learning possibilities.

This holds true for even the youngest of learners. As tempting as it can be to start 'real school' with a preschooler or kindergartner, it is often unnecessary or even counter-productive to do too much too soon with boys. Read books. Play with play dough. Do those fun art and craft activities you see on blogs. Play games. Little boys will sail into school work willingly and easier when you wait for them to be ready. (A few of the things we have done for preschool.)

For an older boy, it has helped me tremendously to greatly limit the amount of pencil and paper work we do each day. Choosing carefully and wisely only the minimum that is necessary allows me to require his very best without wearing him out on busy work that only serves to frustrate us both. His efforts are generally more productive and the finished product more consistently shows his best when I require less volume. Quality is truly better than quantity when it comes to boys and handwritten school work.

However, just because we are doing fewer worksheets and workbooks, doesn't mean we are doing less learning. The possibilities for hands-on learning are endless, and I am a firm believer it doesn't matter so much what you do, but that you do. That said, here are some of the things that we do:

Handwriting can be frustrating for many boys. We have found notebooking to be useful to help increase interest and give purpose to handwriting. Boys often are not interested in things they don't see having a purpose. With notebooking, each page is part of a larger whole. My oldest has long enjoyed looking back over the pictures he has drawn and reading his narration (that he dictates to me and then copies onto his page) that goes with it. Many days, this narration / copy-work / notebooking combo is the only handwriting my young 3rd grader does in a day. Less is more. (How we do notebooking.)

I am blessed in that my very active and workbook, pencil and paper resistant oldest son is a voracious reader. I have learned to resist the urge to 'supplement' his reading with book reports and worksheets and the like. I let the reading stand alone. He enjoys it, he is learning from it, and that is good enough.Again, less is more.

For times when more writing is needed, it is good to consider a pen-pal, teaching your boy typing, and using a chalkboard or marker board.

Sometimes leaving formal academics behind and diving into real life is beneficial. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, helping with siblings, and helping Dad are all engaging activities that teach. Count these things as learning, because truly, your boy is learning when he practices these things!

Finally, don't wait for hands on projects to be elaborate or craft-blog perfect. Just do it. The Internet is teeming with ideas for hands on activities for all subjects and disciplines. Adapt them to work for your family, and don't worry about them turning out just right. The experience and variety alone will captivate your boy. Some of our favorites that may not earn a place in a homeschool magazine, but have made a lasting impression are:
Solar System Model
Native American Dwellings
Homemade balance scale
Wind-vane
Ocean Unit
Shopping Game (Money)
Preschool Alphabet Book

And, just for good measure, some hands on math ideas.

Again, what you do doesn't have to be spectacular and elaborate. It is the doing itself that makes memories and expands your boy's love of learning!

Amy, from Buffaloes and Butterfly Wings

*****************************

You can read more thoughts on hands-on learning for boys this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Treat Yourself Nicely

2011-10-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of friends and I went clothes shopping yesterday and we had twelve full hours of having a good time with one another (do our husbands rock, or what?!). I have very rarely gone clothes shopping because I always had something (or someone) else on which to spend what little money I had, and truthfully I figured that between the barn animals and the baby spit-up, whatever I wore was going to get ruined anyway. And I hated shopping because I never really knew what looked good on me; it was a drag.

And then, one of my friends became a fashionista. And after watching her journey, I decided that, "Hey! I want to look that great too!" Maybe it's because I turned 40 last year. Maybe it's because we threw our house on the market, and then took it off. Maybe it's because we had a miscarriage. Maybe it's because I started running, completed a 5K, lost a bunch of inches and gained muscle. I dunno. But when I painted my closet I decided that nothing was going back that didn't fit or look good on me. Having only half a dozen things left hanging in the closet was pretty sobering...was I just not thinking of ME at all?!

So I got my hair cut short and kissed the grey see-ya-later. And I bought a few shirts. Real shirts. With buttons, not t-shirts. And my mom bought me the most amazing jeans I've ever had. It was a lean-closet spring and summer but I sure enjoyed having a few new things.

Now that I'm popping out (that happens about immediately after having a few babies, y'know?), I'm needing maternity things. I almost have confidence that this baby will come around: my husband is rubbing my belly and the children are betting on blue versus pink and picking out names. I decided that no, I wasn't going to use my old bin of maternity-ware, and I would just slowly pick up a few pieces as I could.

So, yesterday, my friends and I did just that and we had a blast! I bought some denim and shirts and a dress to wear for business functions with my husband. I couldn't believe the big bag I took home was stuff for ME! I'm learning how to take better care of myself, and I'm thankful for friends who love me and encourage me to do just that. And can I just say....I'm thankful that I went back before the store closed and bought those cherry red Mary Jane pumps, too! (My mom would be so proud of me! She's been wanting me to do this for years).

Is it difficult for you to treat yourself nicely, too? It's amazing how just one new thing feels so nice. Your smile is what makes you beautiful, but a new pair of socks or a new sweater or a pair of earrings....that can feel just lovely too. If I could, I would buy you a mocha and make you try on stuff for hours on end, too.

Be blessed,

A Season of Quiet

2011-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

photo credit

The cusp of autumn finds me in the same manner: on the cusp of autumn. Gone the spring of girlhood, I feel the waning of summer, too. I am finding myself more in the quiet places, and choosing to stay there more, allowing the river of worldly madness and energies to flow right on by. I stay home more, satisfied and contented with snuggling into my nest, forsaking even the radio blather that never seems to edify or encourage, but threatens and frightens. I blog less than I used to, noting other mothers are sharing similar stories and helps that I would offer anyway. And although the dozens of books by my bedside say otherwise, I’ve kept my nose in only a few books at a time, my Bible some days being the only one I savor. A daily journal entry, a few letters to write, a pie or two to bake, some evening artwork or stitching. Quiet.

I’ve found a quiet place in my relationships, too. I used to worry myself over what I did or said wrong, or how come I was treated “thusly”, or why I was misunderstood, or who I may have offended, or how to tiptoe around situations in which I felt very wronged (are you seeing the "I...I....I.."? Ugh. So self-focused.) It’s not that I didn't/don’t care anymore; a loving relationship with everyone would be delightful. But only God can change hearts, and as long as mine was humble toward God and at peace, theirs were His business. Learning to guard my heart more brought, and brings, me quiet, too, as my desires for better relationships stopped becoming something my heart needed.

Cleaning out and redecorating my home has helped me to prioritize how I want to spend my time and money, also. For example, here I am on a five acre farm-ette...and yet sometimes I think of living with no animals to take care of or a bunch of land to manage. Homesteading can lend itself to quiet, but it is not always the wistful wonderful live-on-the-land life, either. Sometimes the water lines in the greenhouse break, the goats get out, the dogs eat the crops and the hens start killing off each other... usually when the man isn't home and the baby is crying and supper is boiling over. Sometimes the farm runs you.

What about you? Does your life ever feel like you’re on the other end of a leash with a crazy dog the size of a bus yanking you along? It doesn’t have to be that way. For starters, turn off the technology and seek God during that time instead. I think His small, still voice is louder when our hearts and lives are quiet. I’m sorry it took me to autumn to begin to learn these things, but I am thankful for the beauty He gives to me through this season in my life. I am blessed. I hope you know that you are, too.

You can read more thoughts on "seasons" this week at other High Five Mom posts. Leave them a comment and tell them I sent you.

Blessings,

Studying God's Word

2011-09-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read...

WHO:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

WHAT:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHERE:
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

WHY:
Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD isThe statutes of the LORD sure, making wise the simple. are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they Moreover by them is thy servant warned: than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. and in keeping of them there is great reward.

WHEN:
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

You can read more thoughts on studying God's Word this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Shalom,

Crazy

2011-09-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

CRAZY, a.

1. Broken; decrepit; weak; feeble; applied to the body, or constitution, or any structure; as a crazy body; a crazy constitution; a crazy ship.

2. Broken, weakened, or disordered in intellect; deranged, weakened, or shattered in mind. We say, the man is crazy.

from Webster's 1828 Dictionary

"Crazy" is the word I hear most often, sometimes in earnest and sometimes in jest, both from believers and not, regarding the choices we've made for our family. Move out of state with no job in sight? Crazy. Give up my education and career to stay home with children? Crazy. Let my teaching license lapse and forgo a secondary income potential? Crazy. Butcher my own meat poultry? Honor my husband's decisions I disagree with? Have a multitude of children? Keep the one with special needs? (Did you know most babies with Down Syndrome are aborted?) Is it crazy even to consider having another after an awful miscarriage?

Well, I guess "crazy" is in the eyes of the beholder, according to the basic foundational understanding of who God is (if He even exists in those eyes), and how the world runs. It took me a long time to stop lamenting that I was misunderstood (or even hated), regardless of my sincerity or explanations or faith. After all, I have been just as guilty of making assumptions about other people's motives, so that alone should have been my first humbling clue.

"If you're going to embrace something different from society's idea of normal, you should plan on others misunderstanding you, even if they are doing so with the very best of intentions."
Jim Hohnberger

I have come to a quiet place of strength where "crazy" is all right. Jesus made everything "normal" upside down and sure annoyed a lot of people in the process (to say the least), so who am I to be above my Master? In my Savior's eyes I am forgiven and beautiful, and it gives me great peace to walk with Him through this vapor-short life, trusting Him.

If you've read this long, you can be on the *secret* that we are expecting a child again. I am hopeful....(1 Corinthians 1:25) because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Crazy or not, here we go again.

Running the race,

On Waking

2011-09-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished a linen bed cover topped with handstitched woolen flowers and vines. I love the look of it and the weight of it too. It's backed with smooth cotton. I decided not to quilt it because I liked the motion already there on the piece and didn't want to detract from it. It feels good to finish this project; I've been needing the encouragement of the "here-a-little, there-a-little" adding up to, yes, a completed vision. It makes me feel like other things will also come to pass. I like also that it's not so obvious in color; you have to really look to see its beauty. Some folks never look for the beauty beyond what seems plain to them.

I really enjoyed handstitching this. I love growing and using herbs and flowers, so this project fit in perfectly with the other parts of me. I signed up for an art drawing class coming up, on botanical subjects of course. I dream of drawing my own pictures and translating them into stitchery, or mixed media art of somesort. I also joined a county writer's group. I want to cultivate the things I like to do more.

The year on this is important. I've been doing a lot of soul searching and reintroducing myself to me while shaking up everything in my house and redoing and decluttering it all. As it turns out, I've discovered I can suffer loss and survive, feel betrayal and still hope, and continue to love mercy and walk with my God through it all. My life is ridiculously short. To have peace with God is to have life, and to have life....well...then I can offer that to others around me, too! I'm coming full circle: it's all about the Lord, and He is worthy of it all.

If you like this pattern and/or similar projects, I got this one from here:

Outside this year, much of the garden lay undone and unseeded. What was seeded went ignored and unweeded and then, as it does, seeded itself before I could pull it out. The poultry got into everything, including my front "fenced" garden, and the blackberries and scotchbroom took advantage of the whole thing and crept over rock walls and raised beds. I sighed a lot looking out at it all. But I did get some grace here and there, too. Like blackberry pie. And hollyhocks. God's little kisses when the weeds threatened my eyesight.

Inside, I let my Russian sourdough starter lapse and die. I almost lost my kombucha starter. My household ran out of soap, and I had to buy some from the store. I realize these aren't tragic things, but they were out of the norm for me. Slowly, however, a few friends coaxed me back into the land of the living. They let me just weird out on them for a while. A couple of days ago, I made an oat-coconut-pecan pie. It was like a warm welcome from the oven, its scent reminding me that sweet things still matter.

God is faithful, and He is still good, all the time. He walks us through the times that seem (or are) dry and provides plenty of His little angels to minister along the way. I am thankful for it all. Joy is real.

Blessings on your road, wherever you are,

Harvest

2011-09-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Where there is no sowing, there is no harvest worth the labor. Without sowing, void spaces welcome weed seeds and trouble, and opportunity for evil abounds. In a happy home, what ought to be sown are fruits of the spirit, in the spirit. Sometimes it is difficult to do, to find even one more ounce of patience, or one more tender word, or to give one more act of forbearance. This is when faith is most real, when hope is truly all the motivation in the world. Whatever the trial today, do try to plant something good so that in the later years, your harvest will be precious.

Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

You can read more thoughts on the harvest this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Ponder The Path

Happy Andersons

The Marathon Mom

A Delightful Home

Blessings,

...And Ye Would Not

2011-09-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Whatever you are facing today, whatever fears, discouragements, trials and pains, the answer to them all is the gospel. Jesus saves sinners, and it is not simply an exercise of intellectual assent over the matter of theology, it is an ongoing, daily, walking through it all reality of His present to cheer and to guide. The biggest enemy we have in living out these truths in application is not the world nor even the devil who has been laid low and already defeated. It is ourselves. We won't return. We won't rest.

Somehow there is comfort in staying in our little mud puddle, picking at the floating bits of crud and decrying how we shall ever become clean again. If the Lord says something even close to "get up and shower", we either doubt it was His impression upon us to do so (what, is He setting us up for failure again?), or we just feel compelled to excuse our lot in life (so-n-so pushed me down into it, or I'm just sulking thankyouverymuch).

Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

But do we really? Hear?

How about when we're about to yell at our child?
Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
or
Psalms 6:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

How about when we're weary of yet another bathroom to clean (again)?
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

How about when we feel that God is afar off, oblivious to our trials?
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

Hearing and listening and then walking in obedience. This is the victory in Christian living, and it begins with reading His Word as a priority so that we know Him more. Let us not be the people who "would not". Will you hear Him today?

Peace,

Coming Home

2011-09-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength...

Saving faith upon my knees
Chipped childhood desk a setting for peace
Rising I am born anew
Grace covered, blood boughten, freedom too.

Granted trust in the Holy Book
I see, I see, wherever I look!
Scales off, the sinner set free
Awestruck, childlike, the Physician's marquee.

Questioning, seeking a mentor for me
Head patted, left to seek generally
Denomination, predestination, pondering
Theology, end times, wandering.

Finding no fit I find myself scarce
So dig into the Word to find the Truth bare
A follower of no personality I find
But Jesus alone in walk and in mind.

Humble He finds me when I look to Him
Alone without 'cumbrance of pride or whim
Just my Savior, my Bible, my self to His throne
As in the beginning, heart wooed back to home.

note: see the Christian Writer's Blog Chain for more thoughts on coming home

Speaking of Films

2011-09-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Here is another one that will most likely be worth paying attention to and watching. And, it will be free.

Courageous

2011-09-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Do you know about this new movie coming out?

You can find more information about it (and buy tickets!) here: Courageous the Movie.

Healthy, Quick, Easy Schoolday Lunches

2011-09-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Update: Today (Wednesday), we had leftover cabbage slaw (made w/cilantro and homemade mayo), tossed with leftover chicken (our own!) and mozzarella cheese, topped with crunched saltine crackers and onion bits. It was delish!

It is really difficult for me to craft a new lunch every day because, face it, lunch is in the middle of homeschooling, chores, telephone calls and toddler hijinks. But, we do need to eat! Here are some ideas of what we like to have for our midweek lunches:

"Snacky lunch"...finger foods such as rolled sandwich meat and cheese sticks, vegetable and fruit slices, glasses of milk. Basically, what's in the fridge that we can just pull out and serve?
Leftovers...from the last night! I freshen it up a bit with fresh fruit.
Soups...this is an easy thing to start in the morning and let it simmer all that time until it's ready for lunch. And on a cool day, it sure smells up the house nicely!
Chicken or tuna or egg salads with a single slice of bread or with crackers. This is something easy to double so that it's ready for at least a couple of days. We like it topped with cheese and put under the broiler for a few minutes.
Quesadillas with tortillas, cheese, and chopped vegetables (such as celery, carrots, onions, and something green on hand--like kale or broccoli pieces).

What you won't find too often here is full sandwiches with two slices of bread. Sometimes we'll have almond butter and honey sandwiches but it's considered a "treat". Mostly I try to sneak in as many vegetables as I can into everything I make, and serve up plenty of protein and good brain-growing fats. Lunch is usually when I serve up the cod liver oil, too. For drink, we usually have either water, raw goat or cow milk, or kombucha. Juice is hardly ever served around here because it is so concentrated in sugar.

You can read more ideas on healthy, quick and easy schoolday lunches this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Blessings,

The Art of Saying "Yes"

2011-09-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

When I was a young mother I learned to say "yes" as often as possible to my children, because too often my immediate response to any inquiry that had the potential to throw me from either my task or my time was "no". No, we couldn't take the paints out "right now". No, I didn't think it was a good idea to buy a goldfish. No, we couldn't go to the park for the second day in a row. No, that sounds like an idea that just wouldn't work. No, you can't have or start a bark collection. Just because.

And why? Just because...it sounds messy, I'm tired, I've tried that before, it sounds unreasonable (or dumb), I just don't want to, and besides, there's always tomorrow or later hidden even in the "hmm...let's ponder that a while...."

One of the beauties of homeschooling is in allowing the born-within natural bents to blossom and grow. But too many times I still find myself saying "no" because, well, it is just easier. But what if my son grows up to be an accountant when what he really liked to do as a kid was play with aquatics? What if my daughter becomes a very good librarian when all she really liked to do was play and craft with things from the outdoors? Or conversely, what if I always made her go outdoors when all she really wanted to do was to become a writer? In other words, do I celebrate and encourage their interests or do I let my *adult sensibilities* knock them into "reality" and tell them to just get back to their chores, their schoolwork, to the societal expectations of what is success, and to their proper play with "real" toys?

So this week I am practicing saying "yes" even more. Yes, you can buy a fish tank and rig up a light and do the whole deal. Yes, you can sleep outside in the tent. Yes, you can learn to make pies. Yes, you can have a garden plot all to yourself. Yes, you can. And furthermore, I'll help you and I won't laugh or say I told you so if and when it fails.

Sometimes, the art of saying "yes" begins with ourselves, speaking it into the little girl or boy within. Sometimes it's all right to shush up the adult and let the kid play. I'm learning.

Joy to you,

Six Ways to NOT be Overwhelmed

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

End of summer. End of mountains of sandy/dirty laundry, long road trips, relatives a'visiting. Time to relax, right? Righhhhhht....

Does this look anything like your autumn list?

Begin in earnest a new homeschooling year with new books, new curriculum, new pencils and new hopes for a fresh and fulfilling knock-it-out year of academic wowzaminess.
Preserve and can a garden full of harvest or at least those few 20 pound boxes of various fruit that was too good to pass up via the local organic food drop
Plan and prepare homemade Christmas gifts and supplies for a list of people that hasn't even been created yet and oh yea don't forget to plan the holiday photo in time for all of the card addressing and sending off
Speaking of gardens (were we?), weed and put the gardens to bed for the winter and make sure any livestock is set for feed and breeding needs
And oh yeah, livestock. It's butchering time and time to fill the freezer.
Begin preparations for fall cleaning for the upcoming holiday season and, once again, the relatives to come a'visiting.

Allow me to offer you (and the above-list owner)

Six Ways to NOT be Overwhelmed:

1. Study to be quiet
Protect (or carve out) that solitude time in the morning or whenever it is best for you. Study the Word, take a 20 minute walk, take a daily tea...and let the world pass on by with its (inter)net. Make time to just sit on the porch and make pictures out of stars. In other words, chill out, woman. The world won't end if you don't have your 54 pints of applesauce in the pantry by Thanksgiving.

2. Work with your hands
Just do the next thing. If the next "thing" is completely unclear, break down the larger goals into parts. For example, if you're going to make homemade gifts, break it down into step like you're talking to your five-year-old self. #1 Pick an idea. #2 Make a list of recipients. #3 Make a list of supplies....etc. Then schedule out when each step can be done onto a calendar. Focus on the next step, not on the whole finished product. Pat yourself on the back for accomplishing the step! You'd do the same for your own child, wouldn't you?

3. Build houses
Seek ye first the kingdom of God. If the foundation is rotting, the house will fall. Keep first things first: God, Bible reading and study, character building. Don't ignore discipline issues for lack of time or the warning signals that maybe that group of "friends"or that outside activity for your child isn't really wise. Don't presume upon tomorrow. Better to let the weeds outside grow than to allow sin to take root on the inside. Remember to keep the main thing, the main thing.

4. Dwell in them
Be present. If your to-do lists are too large to include your children's "helps" or a quiet evening with your husband doing nothing but watching a movie, then your lists are too large. Remember that you are also a member of the family. Use your sofa and knit. Swing on the kiddy swing. Dring tea out of one of those hanging tea cups. Use your tub for a good soak. Don't be the blur rushing always by the child waiting for laptime with a book hanging from his hands.

5. Plant gardens
There is a time and season for all that truly needs to be done, but sometimes what is needful is dwarfed by what is desired. Use a schedule, plan your time wisely. Don't over commit--and learn to say "no" without guilt! Making a schedule or even a loose routine will be a good check for a realistic 24 hour day. No, you can't be in three places at once. And yes, you do need to sleep!

6. Eat the fruit of them
Eat what you have today; don't worry about the 'morrow. Find gratefulness and blessing in each day, even more than the lacks or failures that seem burdensome. His mercies are new every morning; exhale thanks before your feet hit the floor and remember that although Jesus really had a short time to do the work of the Father, He was never in a hurry. Trust God to give you the time to do what He has called you to do, today.

You can read more thoughts on not being overwhelmed this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Blessings for a peaceful autumn in your home,

A Book Review for You

2011-09-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

I'm having a bit of trouble with the widget but wanted to announce that Sara won the book! Congrats, Sara!

I was pleased to agree to review the book Seasons, by Elizabeth Byler Younts, mainly because this was a young (and married) mother who somehow managed to run her household (moving 5 times in 7 years), birth another baby, and write an entire book! All of those reasons for reading fizzled though because the true story of her Amish grandmother's childhood through the Great Depression was enough to keep me totally engrossed. I am really pleased to offer you this interview with Elizabeth about her lovely book.

Right click to download this episode.

You can win a signed copy of this book!

IMPORTANT: Please leave your entries above using the Rafflecopter form.

Here is where you can buy the book and read the customer reviews:

Please know that I did not receive any financial compensation for doing this review other than a free copy of the book.

With blessings, and much gratitude for all in my life,

On Walking on Sidewalks With Friends

2011-08-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

I walked along the sidewalk with my best friend Kelli, her short wavy strawberry hair and short plump stature contrasting with my straight dark brown hair and skinny tall nine year old self.

“Stoppit....stoppit....”
“What?” I answered.
“When you walk, you walk crooked and you’re pushing me off the sidewalk!”

And that’s how it’s always been for me: finding one or two close friends at a time amongst the pleasantries of dozens of acquaintances, and walking close enough to them to lean into them when I’m talking and walking through life.

Interesting, this:
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

I wonder about the sharp countenance, and do I really need a friend to salt the look of the lines on my face? Besides, if iron strikes iron, doesn't that make things hot and fiery? Maybe those fiery ones aren't friends at all; they cause sparks, they leave bitter fruit, dry as gravel. They’re the ones that doubt your intentions, phshaw your efforts, and smile with their lips but not with their eyes. You never feel quite encouraged in their presence. Maybe you even feel defensive.

A good friend, though, is one that sharpens your resolve, your dreams, your faith. They use their sparks to push you to a greater more lively you. They whisper like the grass angels, cheering you on, “grow, grow” *, and they know when to apply the fertilizer of truth and rebuke with compassion and care. They hear your dreams and will find at least one good thing to say and leave you with. Much like the motorcyclists that greet one another while zipping by in opposite directions, they’re the ones that will still give you a high five as you travel your own highways, even if your bumper stickers differ. Even if you sometimes knock them off the sidewalk. It's the kind of friend I long to be.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to four other ladies who desire to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ and want to encourage you, too. Consider them new friends of this blog. As you visit them you’ll notice we have similarities and differences....but we all endeavor to cheer our sisters on in the race worth running. I am humbled to be part of this group. Every week we’re going to share our take on a topic, and we hope it will be a welcome cheer for the race you’re running.

I for one am already blessed, for my walk on the sidewalks of life continue to alternate between focused determination and daydreamy side-stepping off the curbs. My friends know it. And they still walk with me by my side knowing the risks. I am blessed.

* “Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow." The Talmud

You can read more thoughts on Proverbs 27:17 this week at other High Five Mom posts. Tell them I sent you!

Blessings,

The Do's of "Biblical Womanhood"

2011-08-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

A lot of you know I've been in a floundering state lately. Not only have I shaken my house up like a snowglobe to see how I can simplify more or redecorate with what I have, but I've been zeroing in on a lot of my thought processes like a pinpoint too, asking myself, "hmm...why is that? Why do I think that?" One thing I'm figuring out is that I'm definitely a workaholic. I can't even sit down to watch a video with the kids without having to do something "productive" like mending or organizing or clipping little nails. In fact, whenever I get into the daydreaming la-la mode, I am quick to nip it in the bud, set the timer for 15 minutes and off I fly! I also care a whole lot about what people think, and I burden myself too much with trying to at least be acceptable to folks who have already made up their minds that I shall never be such.

In addition, there is sometimes a disconnect between my slow-life-spirit and my fast-life-flesh. "Hmm...why is that?"

It seems to me a lot of Christian women have their own "gotta do's" or "must be's" in order to live the abundant life. Do any of these sound familiar? A Christian woman:

reads her Bible every day, without fail, during her "quiet time"
prays constantly
serves cheerfully, gratefully, sacrificially, constantly
respects her husband completely
is always ready to train up her children at the moment they need training
builds upon her family's economics by preserving the harvest, baking from scratch, buying used
receives every baby faithfully, unwavering
forgives, loves, and does good all the days of her life

None of these things sound bad, do they? In fact, they might be qualified in some circles as "fruit", obvious manifestations to the testimony this woman claims to have. But I do wonder about this verse:

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

That, dear readers, is the real "work" of the Christian woman: to believe on Jesus Christ, trusting Him for your repentance towards God. May I add "period"?

I wonder how many of us are running ragged, struggling with finding joy, swimming in doubt because we are just plain tired of all the to-do's and must-be's? May I remind you that it's been DONE? Every work you needed (and need) to do to please the Father, He did (and does, through you!). All you and I did before getting saved was heap wrath upon ourselves, even in our moralistic good works. And all we do now by trying so hard to be that "Biblical Woman" is make ever growing checklists of what exactly defines that. How disappointed are you when you don't measure up? Most importantly, does Jesus think you aren't measuring up? Whose standards or expectations have you adopted? And how is that different from what Jesus said the work of God is?

Maybe we need to stop trying so hard to work for that sense of accomplishment and acceptance.

If you've repented and put your trust in Jesus, you can rest in peace, truly. And all of those really nice sounding "to do's" that we've added to ourselves will stop being things to DO but things that will just outflow from our lives, naturally, as the Lord leads. He is moving us towards sanctification, and He isn't whipping us to get there, but asking us to follow. And we're not responsible for the sins of others, either, especially if our consciences are clear.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...

I hope you'll remember His finished work on your behalf, that you are loved by the Creator of the entire universe and entirely accepted and loved through Jesus Christ. May grace abound to you more every day as you seek a happy home. I for one am going to allow myself a little more daydreaming.

Blessings,

A Walk Around a Pacific Northwest Garden

2011-08-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

Want to take a walk with me around our gardens? We've got the goat milked and the hens let out and all of the animals are happily watered and fed. Let's grab the point-n-shoot and head out....

Yes, what you see here is a real miracle: tomatoes growing in the Pacific Northwest:

And a squash of some sort. I'm glad I took records because I can't recall what this is off the top of my head. Looks like a pumpkin. Maybe.

Another miracle: corn growing. They're all very short though, so we'll see.

A sweet young lady made this sign. We bought it from her at the farmer's market.

Hummingbirds love these flowers. And we love hummingbirds.

I love poppies. I pretty much let them bloom wherever they want to.

These are my favorite roses I think of all time. They are called "The Generous Gardener".

Did I mention I love poppies? Even their seed heads are gorgeous. Sprinkle seeds away!

Figs are a'growin'.

This is an interesting pink butterfly style hydrangea bush.

And this is the welcoming committee if you come to my back door. Don't worry; he's friendly.

Yes, I even let poppies come up through my lavender plants.

I love this sweet little birdhouse even though no bird has ever used it.

My hens free range. Which means they freely eat my growing vegetables. Ah well. They pay me back in eggs.

Not many sweet peas this year. Seems like every year I get some flowers that do fantastic, and some that are just ho-hum. Sweet peas I love.

The apples are coming! I know I should "thin them out" but I like the smaller sizes. These are the ones that the dogs cannot reach. We just might get to eat these!

Nasturtiums are so lovely! They go nuts in my garden sprawling everywhere. In the background are onions growing and then black bean plants climbing up.

Successfully grew celery this year! Fresh cut celery tastes amazing!

I love growing lavender. I don't even know how many plants of it I have anymore. I didn't cut much of it this year though; it's been a floundering sort of season for me. But I still enjoy them.

Calendula always comes back here. It's one of my favorite healing herbs. I keep meaning to harvest them, but I haven't. It's ok, I guess.

Love love love big blue hydrangeas!

Someone's feeling ignored while I take pictures.

Here is this year's garlic harvest. The bulbs are sort of small, but I wanted an intense flavor and this is the size I got with the variety I wanted. I plan to powder these. We love garlic in just about *everything*!

Sometimes the harvest is comical. Like our potatoes? Those are KID gloves for size comparison! You win some, you lose some in gardening.

I didn't do a whole lot this year, and frankly, I'm thankful for all of my perennials that gave me grace and color this year without my working at it. How does your garden grow?

Blessings,

Writer's Block (Well...Sorta...)

2011-08-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here on a shady deck on a halfway sunny day drinking a hot mocha with whip out of a paper cup. I've already removed and licked the cream off the lid and am only just slightly bemused by the fact that I still prefer my drinks hot even in the summer.

The coffee shop in town roasts their own beans on the premises and the rumbling of it mingles with the scent of sea salt off the Puget Sound while bits of coffee chaff pepper my paper. You'd think this would be the quintessential opportunity for a blog post or an article or two to come scratching forth from my mechanical pencil but instead I sit here thinking, "Hmmm...." and "Well...." and "Ok then...."

I think of the woman who on Twitter thanks the Lord for dozens of books published and hundreds of ideas she has no time to write. I think of unfollowing her, and I'm thankful for the interruption of a blushing preteen boy trying to turn off his mother's car alarm with fumbling fingers.

It's been a float/flounder/follow sort of season this year. It's sort of like having a very full mind but nothing to say, a little cagey. Is this what happens when babies stop arriving? I wonder about that. My children are growing--it is delightful. I try to suck in and soak up and absorb as a sponge the days of chubby cheeks and cheeky behaviors but it is much like holding water in my hands.

Maybe it's time to nurture myself more, let me grow, remember the kid in me that likes Cadbury's Flake bars and the smell of real wooden number two pencils. The grown-up part of me can say no to the discontents, the discouragers, the negativity, the crazy expectations, the rolling eyes and those mean girls that used to call me names in middle school but somehow have just turned up wearing other people's faces. I can say "ta-ta!" to all of that and still laugh at the days to come.

I watch a man from the restaurant next door take out the garbage in a big black bag to be taken to parts unknown, never to touch his hands again. I trust Jesus to take out my garbage, too, to bury them at sea, that awful sign of judgment that came once before. I never want to see Him as irrelevant, unknowable, mythical. Faith like a child suits me, I'm finding.

I watch the tree swallows swoop around zipping dragonflies as I finish off my mocha and prepare for the bike ride home. I sure wish I could have thought of something to write...

The 2011-12 Plan

2011-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here are our curriculum choices for the upcoming year. We have children 13, 11, 9, 7, 5 and 3 (see a pattern? ha). Ruby is the 3yo, our daughter with Down Syndrome, who is still toddler-ish. So I am teaching from that stage on through 8th grade (“ish” you understand, as homeschooling is not graded like public schools).

I haven’t shared our schooling for a while but because I feel like I’m just coming out of a slumber, I’m going to share it to help me cement what we’re doing for the upcoming year.

Some of the “mommy-teacher” preparation I’ve been doing:

reading The Philosophy of Christian Curriculum
a visit to a Classical Conversations meeting to check it out
two days in a Spell to Write and Read seminar (and three more to come next month!)
just living life and observing my children

Bible:
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Knowledge isn’t knowledge if wisdom cannot be applied (no matter how many letters are after your name), and without the Lord there is no wisdom that can be applied rightly. So the Bible is the foundation of our homeschool. I believe it was the foundation of our educational methods for at least a hundred years or more, and as we fell away (or ran, as it were) from it, our standards and our academics suffered. It is also why you will see mostly Christian resources that we use. And grace is why it doesn't suffer me to see another parent use non-Christian resources. Homeschooling is a blessing for all children!

We are reading through the psalms and discussing them, and Daddy is reading through proverbs. Knowing those two books well will certainly give a firm foundation for everything else.

We use Scripture Memory Fellowship for memorization tools, and Studying God’s Word for individual study time. This year I am assigning passages to read.

Literature:
We are going to use FACE’s literature recommendations to work through for character study and notebooking. As an example, my 14yo will be reading/studying Ben Hur, the Odyssey, the Story of King Arthur, Idylls of the King and Hamlet. My 5yo will hear Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Aesops Fables, Bambi, Little House in the Big Woods, and poems by Stevenson. All of the big kids will read their McGuffey’s, too. This means I am going to have to in my daily scheduling allow for chunks of plain old READING time. I am really looking forward to a couple of hours of quiet with popcorn and hot cocoa mugs at the ready.

Language Arts:
For grammar, spelling, and etymology we are going to work through creating our own English language textbooks via Spell to Write and Read and English From the Roots Up. I have always loved learning about the history of the English language and this combines with real, brain research about how connections are made in language learning. It is stretching me and I love it! My young ones will be learning cursive first!

Composition:
We’ve been doing IEW for a few years now and it has been very good. This year we are trying out some new assignments using the same methodology through Classical Writing. I’m not sure how it will go but it sure looks interesting. Plus there will be plenty of notebook work and science and geography reports. They have pen pals to write to, also.

Math:
We are satisfied with using Teaching Textbooks and are going to continue with that. My younger ones are using workbooks and I am committing to lots of flash cards for math facts this year.

Science/Geography:

My kids are working through textbooks from Abeka, reading Nature Readers, and going through a Nutrition course. Plus a friend of mine is going to come do experiments with them in exchange for my teaching her children art methods.

I’m going to use Around the World in 180 Days as a weekly scavenger hunt/encyclopedia work.

History:

We are using Mighty Works of God for the youngers and are studying the reformation this year with the olders via Christendom lectures. We’ll be working through a church history textbook too. I think all of this will dovetail beautifully with learning more about the English language.

The Fine Arts:
We like to use Atlier for methods and practice and Cornerstone Curriculum for study of famous paintings and worldviews expressed through art. My oldest is taking a video pencil drawing course. All of my children take violin lessons and some are taking piano (we alternate weeks to help with costs). My son is teaching himself guitar. We have a *wonderful* Suzuki music teacher who sees her work as a ministry; we could not afford to pay regular going rates for music lessons!

Other:
We’re going to attempt doing the memory work ala Classical Conversations (not joining a group, just on our own with another family). I’m not entirely sold on teaching via a “classical” method; I have to remind myself that our homeschool is primarily (1) God and Bible and (2) discipleship/relationship. Everything else is bonus.

I consider lifeskill projects (Keepers of the Faith is helpful here...as are CHORES), board games, audio books, oral presentations, field trips, and family bicycling trips just as important as everything else.

So there is the “list” of our work to do. I wish I could say it is all planned and scheduled and that we'll get it all done in a year but truly we work best at picking and plodding through because other stuff happens, too: cooking meals, milking goats, illness, running off to the beach at a whim... I have learned not to stress about what does and doesn’t get “done” because my ideas about what is “accomplished” doesn’t always mesh up with what Jesus would say I really did do for His Kingdom.

I am thankful for grace, and for homeschooling too!

If you would love to spend some time taking a peek at other people's curriculum choices, there is plenty and then some here:

Blessings to you,

What to Do When Floundering

2011-08-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

"Floundering" seems to describe my movements these days. I get some direction and purpose and then it fizzes out as the days go by (or even the hours!). My schedule has been hit-n-miss, my menu planning has been more miss than hit, and sometimes I find myself just unable to do the next thing. Especially when my mind is blank about what that "next thing" is supposed to be! Do you ever feel that way?

This morning I was lamenting how even my blog seems like it's floundering. I generally don't write unless I have something to say, and...well...I haven't had much to say lately. But it dawned on me that I had three things that are getting me through this time, and I thought I'd share it with you in case you ever need it.

1. FLOAT Some days, some years, it is all right to let things lie fallow. No one starved at my house without a menu planned and somehow my children all made great gains in academic achievement even without finishing our schoolwork for the year. There were a lot of things I didn't do this year, like "spring cleaning". I just let them go. We survived.

2. FOLLOW Follow Jesus, that is. I read the Bible more. I took reading fasts, meaning I didn't read anything else at all. I found that my reading other stuff (blogs, magazines, books, etc) a lot of the time took the place of my doing stuff. I'd say "follow your heart" but I know it is deceitful and not exactly a true measure of things. That being said, I do think it's useful to step back, look at what's going on, and ask yourself the big questions, like what your dreams are, who your friends are, why you're insisting others behave a certain way, etc etc. And when you're unsure of answers, go back to principle #2: Follow Jesus.

3. FISH This is sort of like just "doing the next thing." It works if you're focused enough but sometimes I just needed to set my timer for 15 or 30 minutes to do a task and make me focus. Sometimes what's needed is B.I.C. time (Bottom In Chair) to do that read aloud, and sometimes it's just "cut up the onion for supper....that's all for now..." When I say "fish" what I mean is just cast your line, do one thing towards an overwhelming goal. Some days you'll feel good about your full accomplishments, some days you'll feel like it was a loss. Either way, at least cast your line. Sometimes Jesus will fill the net to overflowing even when you doubt the cast.

At times it's not only hard to run the race, it's hard to want to run the race. Some days (some years) are just like that. It's just part of life, and when you crest to the other side, it's good to remind others of that as well.

Blessings,

Thirteen Years Later...

2011-08-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

...I remembered I liked riding my bike. But I sold it to a young lady when I was home with my first born trying to recover from surgery and figure out how to nurse, and I was pacing the floors either waiting for the wee thing to wake up from her naps so we could go do something together or trying to get her to sleep so I could be rested and human again. And taking a bicycle out was not in my life frame.

This last Saturday, my husband and I went to the large chain store and came home with a bicycle just for me, a lovely beach cruiser. With a wicker basket.

My children were delighted! The next day we came home from worship, took a few hours to rest, and then all took off to the nearby bicycle trails that had us going up hills and down hills and round corners and through the summery woods dotted with sunshine. We ended up at the local country store and filled my basket with ice cream sandwiches and chocolate bars, and then parked our bodies on the old, old used-ta-be ferry pier to partake. I'm on the far right in the picture; my husband pulled along little Ruby in a trailer. She loved it, all 7 1/2 miles of it!

The first bicycle I remember owning was a pink one with a banana seat. I remember cruising all over the neighborhoods, up and down the curbs, racing my friends to the park every afternoon after school. I find the current empty afternoon neighborhoods creepy. Where are all the kids?

I was nervous riding a bicycle again, but like the cliche, it came back to me. Funny how those little things from girlhood can do that; and if I allow them to, they bring along some pretty happy moments.

Blessings,

Room For You

2011-08-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Do you have room for YOU in your family? If you are serving and nurturing everybody in your family except yourself, this one's for you.

Right click to download this episode.

With love,

On Remembering, Not Re-Inventing

2011-07-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

I feel almost sheepish about posting a blog due to the time between visits, but I've been trying to focus on some things. For one, I've been writing again in my journal on a daily basis and that has been good for me. Part of that was in establishing a habit, and like all habits, it was gritty and mean for a while. I've been re-discovering my love of writing, stoked when I was but a child. And then I did something risky and dumb: joined my county's writing group. Ack! I haven't been part of a writer's group for (um....uh...) 19 years. Furthermore, although I love blogging for my readers (you are all so fabulous!), it isn't the same as writing, rewriting, editing, rewriting some more, ripping my hair out when I'm stuck on a plot and then finally after 28 pages discovering what the whole story is really about (and then of course starting over again). This isn't re-inventing myself. It's remembering myself.

And oh yeah, when I was a kid, I liked to paint. And use scissors. And as an adult I have been flush with tools but not with time (supposedly). Besides, nothing I could ever create would come even close to what was in my brain of how I wanted it (whatever "it" was) to look like anyway. So my children got the colored pencils, the art lessons, the art quality paper. Me? I got all of the books to read about doing art, to supposedly inspire me but it mostly ended up as eye candy that got my heart sick with the fat of envy. My current goal is to create something every week, start to finish, no matter how small. And I bought my very own paints and now I make my very own mess. And I am learning to be kind to myself, to combat negative self-talk with the encouragement I would give to anybody else except for me.

One of the things I did was attack my closet. O-u-t went everything that didn't fit me nicely or had baby spit up on it from who knows how many babies ago. It was a bit of a downer when it was all said and done; my closet was bare! But slowly I am building up a wardrobe again, a shirt here, new socks there. I can fit my whole wardrobe into a large suitcase, there really isn't much, but at least it all looks nice on me. I cut my hair, too, short. My natural hair is wavy and I was wearing it long all the time. I love it now, with it's spunky look (and no hair bands!). My husband likes it too. He's growing out a beard, which I like.

I ran my first 5K, bought a bicycle, put up my loom for sale and ripped apart my kitchen cabinets to paint them. A rainy-day garage sale netted me almost $400 with nothing priced ("just whatever you think is fair..."), my Dad surprised me with a Kindle, I let magazine subscriptions lapse and sold my entire beekeeping operation. Things are in a disarray and yet I truly believe order is coming.

The Lord is still good and He is still faithful. And I will have more to share soon.

Blessings,

Expressing the Creative Side

2011-07-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Rearranging the house, painting furniture, zealous decluttering happening around these parts. And a massive garage sale coming on Saturday morning. It is slow, room by room, drawer by drawer, but the house is getting a huge fresh breath of air. For too long I haven't wanted to really invest in my home this way because (1) I didn't *deserve* a big beautiful house and (2) we had (have) no money to do anything major. Ahhh but grace abounds and re-decorating with what I have is free. Besides, selling stuff makes money, and as it turns out my kids love to paint (praise the Lord because I don't!).

My closet got a makeover as well. First I removed absolutely everything out of it. And then I painted the wall and my husband's childhood dresser, and then I refused to put anything back in that didn't fit or made me feel frumpy or was just plain old. Yes, that emptied my closet!! I am slowly filling it with a purchase here and there, and it is amazing how much better it feels to have a small wardrobe and to know everything there will be something nice that fits well. I have the perfect little new dress to wear for my 19th wedding anniversary coming up on Monday.

I love my letter friends and pen pals! It is so nice to get a letter (thank you!) and to carefully pry it loose it during a quiet moment (OR to rip it open in the car outside the post office!). I love just listening to the handwriting and contemplating the words of these other faithful women just making their way like I am. I think every woman needs a letter-writing friend. It fosters slowness. Observation. Exhaling.

I've also been journaling, re-creating my habit of writing every day. It's been like meeting myself, all over again!

Slowly stitching my way across my linen and wool bed cover. I'm working on the border now. A couple of days ago I was threading through the pieces thinking how I need to make more time for this, not just for me but for my children as well. There's far too much time in academics and chores and I think we need more balance in the visual arts, at least to allow them to express their creative sides more. I tend to worry more about finishing grammar work than if they got anything even remotely related to art begun or finished. I bet we could listen to audio books and whatnot while we worked on projects. I'll be praying on this while we make out our new autumn schedule.

I did finish my basket! I made it the perfect size for carrying a casserole dish in, and deep enough also for two dishes. My husband said he would make me a little tabletop to separate the two layers. A friend of mine sewed up the liner for me in exchange for herbal tinctures, and we are both very happy with that trade!

The garden is blooming, and it is wonderful to look out the kitchen windows to see the crazy purples and oranges and blues and of course green everywhere. The nice thing is that most of it is just perennials coming back, and I let the surprises just be where they wanted for the most part: poppies in the path, borage throughout, calendula seeding elsewheres. I haven't even minded the hens coming in. If I have salad greens (and I do!) it is a plus; if I don't, I figure it's an excuse to go to the farmer's market. I have corn, squash, beans, and tomatoes out front this year, too, but I'm not too stressed about keeping the weeds down. Maybe I should be. But I'm not.

Between my road trip with my friend, and the vacation at the beach with my family we just had, I've got a little stash of artist playthings going. Wool felt, ribbon, fat quarter fabric, scrapbooking paper, stickers, a rubber stamp, paint. I don't know what I'm going to do with it all. But right now I am enjoying them all on my desktop, just looking pretty. Maybe inspiration will come.

I'm learning that I don't need to necessarily have my act together (according to me, my biggest critic) before embarking on creative pursuits. I just need to start them, and to cultivate habit and routine to see them through. The arts can become just another aspect of homelife, weaving in through homeschooling, homemaking, playing and dishes.

What did you like to do when you were young? What arts do you most enjoy? Try a little nibble if you're feeling a little dry, and maybe that seedbed will stir into something beautiful.

Blessings,

Road Trip!

2011-06-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

My husband blessed me with a short road trip vacation with a friend of mine. We hopped into my little car with our bags and her spinning wheel, and I promised to drive the six hours one way and back as long as she pointed the way with the help of her spiffy iPhone maps application.

Our destination was the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon, where the fairgrounds hosted buildings-full of roving, yarns, dyes, spindles and everything else you could think of to do with animal fiber. It took a very long time just to walk through the amount of vendors and to just see everything. While there, we both took some classes, and also watched some of the fleece judging. This man, from New Zealand I think, was so impressively educated on everything fleece. He was able to just look and feel and then start expounding on the type of animal, the breed (he could even guess the cross!), the manner of shearing and the overall quality. He was also very funny! It was a jolly good show.

One of the things I did ahead of time was research the "best" places to eat while there as I prefer to avoid chain restaurants as much as possible. Oh boy, did we eat well...such as Thai food, burgers, pizza, wraps, and of course some lamb sausage at the Gathering itself. This was probably the funniest food we came across, though, all knitted:

Speaking of food, we meandered around the Saturday farmer's market and I think there were three full blocks of vendors (no joke!). Wow, do I ever wish we had a market like that in our own neighborhood! Naturally, most of the offerings were organic. I picked up a basket of cherries that I enjoyed later that afternoon.

What I should have picked up in addition to cherries was some of this woman's amazing rose petal jams and treats. The sample was yummy!

I mean, just check out how gorgeous her chocolate rose petal truffles look.

We were really amused by a small group of people that were walking around shaking canastas and singing "Saturday....marrrrrr-ket!...." This little girl added to the ambiance with her smirk and ears and fox tail and violin playing. And yes, there was quite a bit of tie-dye everywhere.

I was aware of the presence of at least three vendors who were either evangelizing or trying to raise money for Christian work. This particular one was selling jewelry and donating to the pregnancy care center where women could get support for choosing not to abort their babies. Ironic, how the current fight is for the abortion industry to maintain federal funding while the real support and care comes from women scrapping to sell hand goods to truly care about "women's health".

The funny thing is, while we were driving around trying to not go down a one-way street, in the middle of a conversation I lamented aloud, "Where are all of the street preachers, calling people to repentance and giving them the hope of the gospel like Paul?" And whaddayaknow, at that very moment my friend pointed to my left and there he was! I called out to him, "thank you!" and he nodded. Who knows if he was feeling discouraged just when I thanked him? *sigh* Jesus is amazing. And I was so encouraged that He was still active and at work in the world, not willing that anyone should perish. I really did miss going to worship that Sunday morning.

We did find a used bookstore during our stay; it was two stories and filled top to bottom. I was thinking, "great farmer's market....great used bookstore...I could move..."

Oh yeah, and this bakery cinched it for me (the willingness to move thing). Seriously, this has got to be the best bakery I've ever been to. For some better photos, check out their website. Prepare to drool.

In between classes and touring and just messing around at the sheep gathering (and yes, there were hundreds of actual sheep there too), I spent a goodly amount of time just lying in the grass under the bright warm sunshine reading and writing. I almost forgot how great it feels to just lie in the grass with bare feet and a good book! It was an amazing gift my family gave me, this time just to rest and to do nothing (other than drive, eat, and shop).

One of the last places my friend and I visited was a huge rose garden. It was beautiful, but because the grounds had been fumigated just days earlier, it was rather much for our senses. But gorgeous blooms besides, and an enjoyable end to our trip.

I'm sorry to say I didn't get even one picture of my friend and I together! It was really a very lovely time, and I'm looking forward to going again some year with my daughters and perhaps taking a friend or two again and their daughters. I am thankful for the time, and appreciate my family for letting me take it.

Ruby at Three

2011-06-18T23:35:00.000-07:00

Ruby, my daughter with Down Syndrome, just turned three. I wanted to share her with you but the girl is just too fast and won't let me take a decent photograph! So you'll just have to catch her in motion.

My husband and I spent some time talking about her birth and how that played out in different ways for both of us. I even closed up and deleted my last blog through it all (so I wouldn't be tempted to blog more; I needed space and my husband needed me). The journey through it all was fruitful for both of us, and we have no regrets for traveling on that road (even though, of course, we never would have planned it! Who plans for detours?!).

Sometimes I forget that she has Down Syndrome. But then I'm reminded when she does something like just walking out the door and heading down the road and I know she might still do that when she's 14. Or 42. She will always need someone to look out for her.

She has health risks and challenges that I need to stay on top of, and I'm still trying to read everything and teach myself how to best help her. I think every mother with a special needs child totally understands how mommy is the first line of defense, or offense, as needed in the care of their child.

Her five siblings love her very much. Even though Ruby sees a neurodevelopmentalist several times a year, her siblings are her "therapists". They play with her, talk with her, read to her, and encourage her in things like kicking or riding a tricycle or forming words.

At three, she is the size of where my other children were at two. She is just different. I am so thankful she is well and growing. I've read enough blogs of other mommies with Down Syndrome children who have tragic problems and even early deaths to know that every day is truly a gift. I rejoice every day I have her with us. And I rejoice when I meet other moms who choose to give their pre-born babies with Down Syndrome (or "fill in the blank with whatever scary diagnosis you can think of") life outside the womb. Life is such a gift, a miracle, even in different packages.

Ruby has Down Syndrome but she also has our hearts. Happy birthday, Ruby Mae!

Pastured Poultry From Your Backyard

2011-06-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

In this podcast my husband and I share about how we raised and butchered our own meat hens. We didn't grow up farming, we're not experts, but with help from the internet and a "just do it" attitude, we did it and are so happy with the results. Believe me, if we can do this, you can too.

Right click to download this episode.

This was the best help we found on the internet: How to Butcher a Chicken. We also watched numerous youtube videos.

Here are the next batch of chicks ready to grow! We left two Cornish Cross to grow up some more.

And this, my friends, is real, wholesome, nutrient rich food. Awesome.

You also might like to hear Milk From (Your!) Front Yard.

Blessings,

Lessons From Zephaniah

2011-06-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

...or, Help in a Stressed Marriage...

As mentioned in a previous post, there are times that sin and/or disagreement puts stress on a marriage. As daughters of Eve, we women are tempted to "fix" things in ways that sound and look reasonable, but as Christians (adopted as daughters of God, through Jesus Christ), our call is to trust God, overcoming those temptations to nag or fight or even leave with the power of the Word. Some might call that being a doormat. I call it living in victory and fighting the devil for the sake of our marriage. I am, after all, planning our 50th wedding anniversary party that's coming in 31 years.

The best place to be when things get hard is in the Word of God. Because All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16)...well, you could be anywhere in the Bible and if you're saved, God will use it to teach you. Anywhere, like even in the tiny book of Zephaniah.

Zephaniah 1:7   Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD...
The Lord's given you peace. Hold onto it. Watch that tongue, that wagging thing with the power of life or death within it. Don't trade that peace like a river for volcanic lava on a low simmer.

Zephaniah 2:3   Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility. If your husband is in sin, the Lord will deal with it. If you try to "fix" him, you may make a hash of everything. Remember Rebecca? How she tried to obtain the blessing for Jacob while Isaac was going to sin in blessing Esau? Was she blessed? Remember Sarah? How she tried to "help" God by obtaining a son for Abraham outside of her own womb? Listen, God knows what's going on, God will deal with it, and He doesn't need your "help".

Zephaniah 3:2   She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Is the sin your husband in any greater than the sin of going your own way, of demanding that God explain Himself in these matters, that He fix things *right now*?

Zephaniah 3:8   Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD...
If all things are in God's hands, if He can turn even the hearts of kings and control the wind and the waves, if all things are light and momentary and this life is but a vapor...then waiting upon the Lord in trust is the very least of what we owe our King of Kings.

Zephaniah 3:14   Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Gratitude is the heart's praise, it is said. Instead of stewing, find things to think on that are edifying. Sing a hymn, read a psalm, start a blessings list. We are not owed anything at all, but we are to be thankful in all things.
Philippians 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Zephaniah 3:15   The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy...
Think on the cross. You were once an enemy of God, rejecting His commandments and rebelling against Him. You can forgive your husband because God forgave you. Because of this, divorce amongst Christians ought to be very, very (very) rare.
Romans 5:8   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Zephaniah 3:16 ....Let not thine hands be slack.
Stay busy about the business God has given you. Love your children, keep your home, fix the meals. If the TV causes you to brood, turn it off. If time on the internet causes you to neglect your family, cut it out. Just do the next thing, and try to find some joy in the fact that you are able to even participate in God's world and work.

Zephaniah 3:17   The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
In the midst of trials, there is nothing better than to be present in them with the Lord. If we know all things work together for the good of them that love Him, if we know He cares about every hair on our head, then we can rest in that boat even on the days it looks like He is asleep in the back of it.

Going through trials? Stay in His Word, and trust Him.

Blessings,