I have taken two days offline. I spent the morning in church with my family, ate lunch at MIL's and then we came home to just lay around. Dan and I finally watched the last four episodes of 24 season 3 last night. Yes, we watched ALL FOUR AT ONE TIME!!! LOL We could not help ourselves.... they were intense episodes! So, being up late we slept in this morning... well, at least I did with the three that stayed home. Dan had to go to work. ;) I had started A Christmas Carol yesterday, too, so I finished reading that this morning around 10:30... yes, I laid about reading all morning as did the kids. It was a nice feeling.
After laying about so late I got up and showered and made lunch. Then around 3:00pm I laid down again and napped sporadically while the kids napped and read for about an hour and a half. Talk about lay abouts!!! We certainly were that today. Then I put a frozen dish in the oven... one that one of my Bible study friends sent and warmed up some lima beans and pulled out a fruit salad that was in the fridge. It was delicious... a chicken, rice and cheese dish. I am going to have to get the recipe. Then we piled into the van and went out to see lights. What a great relaxing day. I am now typing as I listen to a concert we recorded several years ago of Chip Davis and Manheim Steamroller's Christmas Special. It is amazing!!! I am planning another day of laying about tomorrow to celebrate my 41st birthday! LOL I am reading Light from Heaven now and have a few Christmas books to read in between as I feel like it.
You all would be so proud of me... learning to lay about and all. It is becoming easier to just relax the more I do it. Oh, the laundry needs to be done and the kitchen is a bit of a mess but it will all be there when I can get to it. The frozen meals have helped a great deal and Dan has some casseroles in the works for later in the week that he can put together easily. What a great man!!! Dan and J(14) are doing a great bit of it when they get home in the evenings to just keep up a bit.
Well, my cocoa is getting cold - cinnamon cocoa - the Chip Davis Manheim Steamroller brand from Albertson's grocery store. It is delicious!!!
I have been up to my eyeballs in stuff this week... no play on the fact that it is the day for eyeballs and gore and such, btw... I really have been crazy busy! LOL Got a take-home test yesterday that is due next Tuesday and a major nutrition test on Friday so I have been sending the computer with Dan so I won't be tempted to be online. I have also been baking my little fingers to the bone lately, too. I will share all of that later but for now I am just laughing my socks off at this... oh, and HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!!!!!!!
We live on a limited income and have for many years. There was a time when I thought I had to have things to make me happy. I have overcome that in recent years. I have even moved to the other end of the spectrum. I am getting rid of things more all the time. There are some things I have come to realize about a cluttered home. I know if I would listen to Flylady I could have learned this all sooner but to be honest with you I can't stand all that e-mail I feel I have to keep up with. It adds to my stress more than helping my stress.
One of the most profound things I have found to be true is, what I will call, the thinking factor. When I am at school my brain works so much better than when I am home. My brain is so much clearer when I am taking a walk or taking a shower, too. It seems to function great when I am out and about or away from the mess but once I enter the front door it goes on "fog setting". It seems that this house and all of it's clutter just suck the life right out of my brain and my body! Basically, remove the clutter and clear my brain... *hmmmmm* Makes total sense to me!
So, this life that we live with all of it's comforts and abundance has become a complete hindrance to me instead of a help. I suspect some of you can relate. I find myself sinking into a pit from it all most days. I have been working on it but there is still such a long way to go. This "affliction of affluence" is something I think most of Americans struggle with. We think because we have money or credit to buy things that we should buy things. We think because we can volunteer or get involved in things we should fill our schedules to overflowing. We think that every moment of every day should be filled and that we should multi-task our lives into overdrive.
I have done it... I have fallen for all of those lies many times. I am cutting my schedule back some again and putting some things on hold to get this house in order and my life back on track. I have gone back to Bible study and taken a break from things like garden club and church ministry on many levels. I had to evaluate what was beneficial. The garden club was more of a social club and I was not really learning much at the monthly meetings. They were not providing educational lectures like I thought they would but instead they were having tea and going on field trips and such. If I am not learning and growing from something my question then becomes, "Do I need that activity?" Will I finish the Flower Show Schools? If they will let me and time permits I will. That will all have to be determined when I get to that place.
There are other things that are draining on my life and I have to just let them go. I need to be filled before I can be poured out. I have made some people mad over it but my sanity is intact and my life is slowing down some again. I still have school because that has been good for me. I am still homeschooling three of my four children because it is still something God has called me to do. I am making time to watch my oldest play football and play in band this year. I am taking time to sit on the couch and read with my children. I am taking time to garden and enjoy my family and my home. I am taking that time to go to a solid Bible study. I am making that time to continue to minister while I am in this church in the kitchen. But... nothing else...
Why is it that people think because I am home I do not do anything? They think that I can just drag my kids around to attend all their meetings and that I should find a babysitter and just be with them. Why do people feel that my time is their time? Why does the way of the world dictate that to stay-at-home means to fill my day full of things for other people? Can't I just STAY HOME??? Afterall, homeschooling and stay-at-home mothering is, in essence, an attempt to be AT HOME for the good of my family!
For me, it is not about giving things up. It is about gaining time for what I love. Right now the stuff is standing in the way of a life that I really love. The demands of others has consumed my days. No more! I need to clear the clutter to be able to clear my head. I need to free my time up that I have been spending on cleaning and trying to keep my head above water and, instead, use that time for things I enjoy or want to do. I would have much more time for things like crocheting, sewing, reading and cooking if I did not have to deal with all the "stuff" in my life. Our affluence and the idea that we must have things is really becoming the biggest hindrance in most of our lives. I feel the call to a simpler life. I have for a long time now. As I step back and refocus things are beginning to look clearer all the time. I want to move all the stuff out of the picture. I want to wake up to a clean and simple life every day. I want to set aside the stuff that so easily besets me. I long for the things of this world to be left behind so that I might focus on the most important things... God, Dan and the children and the call upon my life that God has uniquely designed for me. That is enough... don't ya think?
We are working on becoming more simple in the way we live. It started years ago but we are more and more serious about in recent days. We have been purging and I just bought file boxes and am organizing my desk area in the midst of working on school. I am tired of not finding things when I need them.
One of the ways we are thinking about cutting back is getting rid of cable. We have the most basic local cable but we find that we don't even watch it most of the time. Just about anything we could want to watch can be rented from Netflix now anyway and we can watch movies at the drop of a pin on our internet account.
We have an abundance of other sources for news and information that, I feel, are more accurate than the daily television drivel. My perspective is so different when I don't watch the nightly news and such. There are images that we are finding it harder and harder to shield our children from quickly enough on television and the shows we used to enjoy are pushing the limits way too much.
We want to be outside more, read more books and playing games more and this is one way to take away the distractions of the lure of that boob tube.
The computer has been controlled for me more and I would still like to take more time away from it but for now the television is the first thing to go. I know August is the month that Nancy DeMoss declares TV free month. We did this last year and it was wonderful. So we will be doing it permanently at the end of this pay cycle.
I am thinking it won't be a hard transition away from cable and television in general. We cannot get channels without cable so that would mean NO television at all. Not even sports... we can do this and we could use the money savings everywhere we can find it.
We are still working on this for the rest of the year.
Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do Do without - for our television this month
and we have added... organize it, give it away or throw it away, too
Life has been so very busy lately and won't really slow down much for another week. I keep saying we are getting close and then someone throws something else on my plate! I need to say no more loudly I guess because they are not hearing me!!! LOL Over the next few days I have more VBS preparation (which I was NOT going to be helping with because of school). I got caught into helping one lady who is new to all of this (she is from Germany and has never done VBS before but is great with kiddos. So we spent last evening from 3:30pm until 8:00pm going over materials and assigning tasks. I am teaching the first day so she will know what to do.
I did relinquish my role of director this year because of school but the lady in charge... well... I am not sure it is all getting done. *deep breath* I will not be in charge, I do not have to be in charge, I don't want to be in charge, I am NOT in charge... *cleansing breath*
So, I will be there Monday and maybe Wednesday and then I am out.
I also have a big test coming up on Tuesday and the kids are swimming all the doooooo daaaaa weekend for city finals and then swimming is OVER!!! *yes you hear a singsongy voice as I say OVER*
I am skipping town with a sisterfriend for some sanity time next weekend, too. I so need it... but in the midst of all of this Dan and I have a DATE!!!! TONIGHT.... No kids, no time restraint, just two people having dinner and talking about stuff we want to talk about without interruption and we are SO not answering phones (unless it is the sitter) YIIIIIPPEEEEEEEEESKIIIIPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, the title of this post is Taking Tea and other lovely things so my challenge to you is to find a time - any time you like to just stop and slow down and take tea or do something lovely for yourself. It is a fast paced crazy world we live in and we need some slow time. Take it! I will be taking it tonight.... and as often as I can over the next two weeks especially next weekend!!!!!
Enjoy this little tidbit I picked up over at Ann Kroeker's today while you think about it...
I have said before that I don't write much about politics and I don't talk about religion much either but here is a collection of articles written that might be of interest to some of you. I know I enjoyed reading them.
I am here. I am here because I know I should post something... I don't know what. I have been living inside my head for over a week now. I tend to do that. I don't talk much and I seem far off. Music has been my friend so much lately. That is just how I handle such serious situations as having a precious sister with so much on her right now. Life moves forward for the rest of us but it just seems so routine. What if's plague me so much... Life is so short and so precious. I am convicted for not living mine to the fullest. I love Proverbs so much for this very thing. What is life? What is important? What will last? What will fade away and be forgotten within months, days and even minutes? When our lives come to a point of crisis what will we hold onto? So much to contemplate...
Yes, I will admit that I am a Granola Girl!!! I found this great article at Christianity Today on the Christian version of green that does not worship the earth but the Father and Creator who made it in a good stewardship way. We are to be good stewards of all we have been put in charge of and that includes our little part of the planet. So, if you are interested here is the link...
Oh, and Christine if you check in here today you will be proud to know that I am MAKING BAGELS tonight!!! I will share my results... I am using the link you shared!!!
UPDATE: Here is what I did tonight. They were AMAZINGLY easy!!! I could NOT resist changing the recipe and I added cinnamon and raisins. They will be breakfast in the morning... :)
People are all over labels these days. They are all looking for a box to fit into or a group to belong to. If you are interested in sorta knowing me a bit more then you can put me in the following box - just don't limit me to that small realm. I am a CrunchyConFlexitarian!!!!! LOL I sat and had a conversation with a lady the other day while the kiddos were playing games at Cub Scouts. She is a former aerobic instructor who still teaches yoga, eats a vegetarian diet, is pc when it comes to environmental issues and does NOT believe God or going to church are important. We had a lot in common, though. We were able to talk about many things and stay positive with it all. She knows I am a Christian and I know she is not and that was ok for the time we had together. I am not your typical conservative in many regards. Oh, I am VERY conservative and VERY politically charged that direction (I listen to conservative radio and read conservative books)but there are a few things I am serious about because of the benefits to me and my family. They are merely personal choices that I would NEVER force on someone because they are NOT written in stone in the Bible.
* I tried vegetarianism and LOVE the food but my blood sugar is too up and down with that so I NEED the meat protein from time to time. So, I am a "MOST of the time" vegetarian (lacto-ovo) with some days when I know my body needs a bit of chicken or fish. I listen to what my body is telling me and go by that.
* I taught aerobics and was a personal trainer for awhile - it just gave me a bit more knowledge on health and fitness than I had before but I was humbled quickly in my "know-it-all" ways when I hit perimenopause... Now, it is all a MOOT POINT!!! The body, she ain't what she used to be...
* I eat and live the way I do for HEALTH reasons and not political reasons - God made cows and other animals for food - He knows WAY MORE THAN I DO. I won't question that!!!
* I DO believe it is my responsibility as a CHRISTIAN to be responsible with the resources and property given loaned to me. That means we practice leave no trace and no littering. We practice composting and water conservation (because we live in the desert it it more imperative). We turn the air off at night and the heat off at night. We recycle and reuse as much as possible for us (we don't really have a great deal of recyclable stuff because we use so little packaging most of the time)
* I love to garden and do it organically because we eat a great deal of what we grow.
* We conserve energy consciously and deliberately.
* We are back to nature types and LOVE hiking, fishing and camping (but I will NOT EVER like catch and release programs - I like to eat my fish)
* I make almost ALL of our food from whole foods - no preservatives, no chemicals, no sugar added products, etc... allergies and sensitivities plays a large role in why we started this.
* I mill my own grains and bake my own bread products. ...another health choice for my family due to health issues. I make my own yogurts and have started making my own cheeses when I can. I make my own mayonnaise and dressings and sauces and vinaigrettes, etc... (all because of allergies and health issues again)
* I would wear Birkenstocks if I could afford them... LOL But I do have my hippy sandals and two pair of gardening clogs I wear daily. I wear lots of freebies from friends and gently used clothing stores and sew for my family when I can.
* I was a breastfeeding mommy who wore my babies in slings and fed them real foods from our table all mashed for their little mouths. We tried cloth diapers (but not for long) and did a few other crunchy things along the way - some hilarious lessons of why we don't do things that way anymore! LOL
* I actually make granola and enjoy it often as does my family.
There are things I won't do. I won't see Al Gore's movie and I won't admit to global warming. God is so much bigger than our irresponsible stewardship - He is still in total control, btw... I won't say that abortion is a woman's choice. I won't be supporting using viable fetal tissue for stem cell research. I won't be supporting any candidate that signs off on any of this as well as tax increases and fiscal irresponsibility. I don't practice yoga and eastern religious ideas. I won't be touting the New Age movement ideology, having my fortune told, reading my horoscope or having my palm read. I won't be delving into other religions and their practices out of any curiosity or desire to FIND my own way. ...because they are contrary to scripture and the Bible does guide all my decisions on these matters.
None, and I mean NONE, of the above will get me to heaven. They are merely choices. Jesus is the One who has saved me from my own sin and misled adventures along the way. He humbles me daily in all things. I am very much a disciple of Christ. I study every day and pray every day - not out of obligation but gratitude and a desire to KNOW HIM (the One who saved me and showed extreme mercy toward me while I was swallowed up in my sin). I am evangelical in the way I live and did share my faith a bit with that lady the other day and I share regularly with those I come in contact with. I believe in living simply and plainly and that the things of the world are fleeting. I don't take much interest in wearing the latest styles or having the latest haircut. My home is simple and contains things that mean something to my family. We don't spend a great deal of money on things and the externals are just not the priority. I do have a thing for cookbooks that I am working on controlling, though... LOL I don't fit in a neat little box of Christians that have perfect hair and make-up nor do I fit with the homeschoolers who wear dresses and no make-up. I am me and I do things the way I feel led to do them. That is me, plain and simple and with a mind of my own and a style of my own (hopefully allowing God to shape it all along the way). So, I am partially a CrunchyCon Flexitarian... among other things and I do not fit neatly into any box for the most part. I am Leann, I have come to terms with much of what that means and I like it that way! Do I need to change and grow - OF COURSE I DO. Coming to terms, for me, means that I know that I am still growing and changing and even though it is not always comfortable I have chosen to be obedient to what God brings. Contentment lies in trusting God. So, my goal is not to resemble the world but to live in Truth. There have been some hard lessons in this along the way and there will be more to come but...
I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight; Things that are higher, things that are nobler, These have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free; Jesus, Greatest, Highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior, leaving my sin and strife; He is the true one, He is the just one, He hath the words of life.
I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful and true each day, Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.
I am resolved to enter the kingdom, leaving the paths of sin; Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me; Still will I enter in.
I am resolved, and who will go with me? come, friends, without delay, Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, We'll walk the heav'nly way.
This is the last day of school before spring break for us. We will be home all next week but it will be a week full of trashing the excess stuff. We have been putting it off due to crazy schedules. The children will have less toys by the end of the week and there will be nothing left in the closets and drawers that does not fit someone in this house. LOL The floor of our sunroom will be visible again at some point during the week, too. I have nothing profound to share and nothing life shattering to report. I am just grateful for the week off so that I can get things together at home again. It is like being a working out side of the home mom some days. I get the best of both worlds though. I spend the day with the kids, eat dinner with the family every single night and then go and enjoy school at night and lastly I get time with everyone on the weekends and some couple time sporadically and strategically in between it all. I love my life...
Oh, J13 made 1st chair all-region jazz on Tuesday!!! We are so excited for him!!!!!!!
I wanted to share the beauty among all my weeds... LOL I am working in the garden this coming week, too. I have some things to plant and many, many, MANY weeds to pull.
That would be the answer to "How do you eat an elephant?" That seems to be my life lately...
I am taking life one day and one bite at a time. Some of you know I have been very ill for the past week or so. The kids were sick last week and I got sneezed on one too many times and "vvvwalla" I got it by Friday of last week. I managed to cough myself into a muscle spasmed tizzy and by Monday I could not move my neck to look side to side. I made it to the doctor as he wanted to make sure I did not have meningitis (the whole stiff neck thing with fever and headache). After an exam and x-rays to rule out neck injury of a more severe nature he prescribed muscle relaxers and told me to take it easy and use a heating pad on my back and neck. I hurried home to go back to bed and did not emerge until sometime around 6:45am this morning with a new lease on life. I am still a bit stiff but had a wonderful rest and the house is not in too much of a shambles over it all. I am still not going to school tonight because they do not let sick people touch food and washing dishes is not good for my neck and back at this juncture.
Other than the whole epidemic in our home of some crazy coughing virus we also had a birthday last Saturday. Our only daughter turned 9. That precious child agreed to let me bake her cake with her once I was well again so we will be doing a cake this weekend instead. In the meantime Dan "made" her a takeout pizza and a chocolate pie from Furr's Cafeteria. LOL She loves the decorating part of cake baking more than the eating part anyway. She has never been much of a sweets eater.
Our oldest has been selected the best student in math in 7th grade for this 6 weeks and is being rewarded for that by his teacher. He is doing so awesome in public school! He has all-region jazz tryouts coming up in a few weeks, too. He loves being with his dad, too. We are delighted and comforted in the fact that he talks to us about all the things he is doing. He is also a new patrol leader in Boy Scouts and has shown some very promising leadership skills in all of this. We are so pleased with the way he lets God shape his character. We pray for this boy CONSTANTLY!!! God is so faithful to answer our prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The "little" boys are not so little anymore. Our 6 year old is reading like crazy and taking more responsibility around the home with chores and such. He LOVES Tiger Cubs and schooling at home. The baby will be 3 - hear that? THREE YEARS OLD in June!!!!! Where is the time going??? He is so independent and wants to be a "big boy" all the time. He is dressing himself and we will be potty training him as the weather gets warmer. (we potty train in the summers for ease of getting pants and such off) I realized a very long time ago that they are just not really ready until THEY are ready. All of our children have been ready somewhere between 3 and 3 1/2 years old. So, we wait on them... ;)
We also have some events coming up this next two weekends. I am going to Flower Show School tomorrow and Friday. That is basically teaching me what good flower arranging and basic horticulture looks like. I will be taking the test on Saturday to become eligible to judge flower shows locally. What fun!!! I am a member of our local chapter for Texas Garden Club. I also have a function for the Cub Scouts in which I am making a Hawaiian Tropical Fruit tray and fondu. It is a chance to practice all that I am learning from school in the Garde Manger class. I also have a Boy Scout Baden-Powell banquet to make a cake for next weekend. One of the chefs and an assistant from school have agreed to help me through this process. It will be the first sheet cake I have ever made. How exciting!!!
I must say that I am not busier than I was before but more focused. I can see how God is shaping all that I am learning with some things that He is leading me into. I am so excited to watch as He is growing and changing me in all of this. I love what is happening even though it is very hard some days - it is so exciting!!!
In my study time I have completed Romans and had my toes thoroughly trampled in the process. I am in 1 Corinthians now and have almost finished Acts. I am getting some really good historical perspective as I go, too. Paul has so much to say to living a Christ-centered life. I am also continuing in the Spiritual Disciplines books...
Lent, by the way, is not just a Catholic idea. My aunt and uncle are Lutheran and celebrate it too as do some other denominations. Over the past few years I have been studying up on this idea and have kind of shaped it into something that I can use in my own life. There is always something good about focusing on Jesus and scripture. I have been taking it as a season of study and growth in preparation for the time of Passover and Resurrection Sunday. Since I have already backed way off of the computer I am taking this opportunity to examine the writings of Paul in the New Testament and will continue in the study of disciplines to understand Jesus perspective in all that I am reading. I am a big girl and know that other than the Bible everything is interpretive and, as the Bereans, I must seek out what God says on any and all of the things I am reading.
What am I giving up? I have never really been into this concept because I do this throughout the year as God leads. I have already set aside the trappings of the computer and the internet quite a bit. I have put aside television for the majority of my week. I am way down on eating sugar and bad for me foods because of my weight loss (which is now 13 pounds, btw). See what I mean? I think the only thing to give up is more time for study and prayer. I will be getting up a bit earlier after this illness is passed and I am off pain meds this week to start study time a little earlier to go a little longer. I am also in need of a private prayer place. Now that the weather is turning warmer I may have to build a place in the yard for early morning prayer after exercise.
Again, none of this gets me to heaven. I never want you guys to misunderstand that. My salvation lies totally in the fact that Jesus gave up His life for me (and you). There is nothing I (or you) can do to earn salvation. I do all of this out of gratitude for the love and ultimate sacrifice He showed on that cross. The response on my behalf is all personal and things that God has convicted me of. We are all at a different place in the journey. The key is to be obedient to what God is calling you to do. Obedience is what He wants more than anything else! All He wants is for us to really KNOW HIM.... That is the MOST important thing in all of life!!!
I have been offline for about three days. It has been good. It has been so good that I want to do this much more often. With my schedule this semester it is kinda imperative that I be off more anyway. That being said, I am NOT going away completely. I am merely going to slow my posting back to a crawl. I am unsubbing to lots of stuff and cutting back my time with groups and such. I need to be present in my life offline. While online life can be very real I need to be plugged in here. My family needs me. My studies need me. My church needs me.
Simplicity is the call here. I need to totally simplify and my online life has been getting in the way. So, for now, I will post only when I feel the real desire. I am not pushing myself to post daily or even every other day for now. I will check in when I can and when I really have something to say. Many of you have my e-mail address if you need me and my mom calls when she feels like chatting so, for now, I am taking some time away. I will be checking e-mail every few days and plan to stop by and see many of you at least once a week to catch up with you. I love you guys and don't want to drop all of this life because I am interested in what God is doing with you guys very much. So, on Fridays, I will check in and read a bit (that is my day off from school). I will also post on books I am reading and other important lessons as I see fit. I will also put my menu plan and recipes and culinary stuff up as I have time, too. (Crunchy Culinary Capers)
Thanks for understanding... I do love you guys - the agape kind if you are wondering... ;) Dan taught on that in Sunday School today, btw... So, I am checking out again until at least the middle of the week.
Well, Dan and J13 spent last week working on this. While I have become quite the expert in putting tile in as Dan's assistant and doing the whole washroom myself I was not needed on this venture. I sat this one out for the sake of education. J13 learned how to do the work and did a beautiful job. I just held the camera this time around. Here is what THEY did...
This is the before once the toilet was pulled out. The toilet was a "lovely" 1970's yellow. You can see more pics at my Flickr - link is in the sidebar...
The man-child hard at work on the new floor
Finished floor
Starting the first wall... The tile to the left is going away, too... WOOHOO!!!
Ain't it grand??? Now, if the children will just keep it CLEAN!!!
I was the first to try out the new throne -
seeing as how the queen has had to share her's
for the past 6 months with her man and
four little mess makers - it was fitting!!! ROFLOL
I know that to some my life is just utterly boring. That is ok with me because it is plenty exciting for me... God has had me on this path. I have no idea where it is leading but I don't have to know. He knows and I trust Him. I wish I had a little more of a picture because some days I just see what is right in front of me and, frankly, it is not very pretty. But, I know He is preparing me and leading me if I am only willing to follow...
Things seem to be changing around here and yet stay the same in so many ways. My oldest turned 13 last week. He has grown about 6 inches in the past 6 months and now he is taller than me. He is only ten pound lighter than me now. I am working on him being the same weight as me by Christmas. He is changing physically and mentally but we are still struggling with completion of work in math and grammar. I know he hates doing them. He would rather be doing music or science or reading. I am grateful he likes doing those things but he HAS TO DO math and language arts, too. He is growing up and struggling to find his place and be independent. We go through days when he is a smart mouth and a know-it-all. Honestly, I was just like that. While my Mom was here she noted that we are VERY ALIKE. Maybe that is why we butt heads so often. I am so grateful that Dan is part of his life in a big way. That is so good for the boys to have their daddies be active in raising them. I could NEVER do this alone.
I mentioned weight above. I have lost about 15 pounds since last January. I am feeling stronger and more energetic. I am back to walking/running during my weeks, now. I am eating better - still struggling with the sugar monster - but eating much better none-the-less. You reach a point when you are done having babies that you just say to yourself, "I need to get back in shape for good". I have reached that point. I will be turning 40 in December this year and I don't want to go into this new part of my life out of shape and tired. I have four children to raise and I need to be strong and healthy to do it. Dan has been losing, too. He has lost 15 or so pounds since June and his blood pressure is down quite a bit. We are facing some tough parenting years and need to be physically able to handle it all. We are changing our lifestyle and that has made a world of difference for us. The mental part is still a struggle...
I see the coming years of my life as a very important time. Things are changing and new. I feel like I am starting over in a way. No more having babies, raising young adults, going back to school, being called to different ministry opportunities...
I mentioned staying the same... We are still struggling in our little church. There are so many things I cannot share here. They would not be beneficial to anyone anyway. I just know that God is working through so much with Dan and me. I have no idea where we will be in 3 years. Heck, I have no idea what we are doing next week sometimes... I have been reading a book called Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. I am about 5 chapters in and so convicted... He has covered the difference between driven people and called people. I see myself in the driven somewhat and that bothers me. I will defend myself to say that 20 years ago I was much MORE driven than I am now and that is encouraging. I want to live in the private world and not worry about the outside. I am not talking about withdrawing from society. I am merely talking about living from the spiritual - where God is speaking and working - and not from the external worldly ideas that are pushed upon us daily. There is so much more to life than the external and I want to explore that in the coming year so much more.
As the holidays approach I am thinking and reflecting a great deal more. November always has me reflecting upon blessings. It is a natural time to do such things for most of us. I am also looking back at the year behind and wondering what should change for next year. I am anticipating the Advent season and all that brings for our family. I am hoping to reflect on Advent more here this year.
Life is never really dull... not when you wait upon the Lord. I am not perfect but knowing God makes that ok. I don't have to be... He is made strong in my weaknesses and I have plenty for Him to be strong in.
Things... they are changing before my eyes. I don't want to miss the good stuff. I want my life to count. I want to make a difference and not just go through the motions. I don't have to rock the world. I just have to be obedient to God. I just have to love God and man. The God part is easy... the man part - not so much some days. It is all so simple... or is it?
...women across America are stepping on scales and taking out those tape measures to see where they stand. I am a member of two groups online that are losing weight - OWOA and The Biggest Loser W@H Edition. We are challenging each other to get out there and move our bodies. We are challenging each other to step up their water intake. We are counting those pounds and inches and we are winning the battle. I highly recommend that if you are trying to lose those pounds find a support group and get crackin'. The support makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
So, that is what is going on here.
We are also doing some school, cleaning a house and baking bread today. I pray your day is a great one. Enjoy your family and let some of the other stuff go. Spend time with your Heavenly Father - get to know Him. He is waiting for you...
My goals for the week:
* Spend time with God daily
* Make the time with the kids really count each day for God's kingdom
* Spend time with Dan
* Spend time with my Mom
* Work a little
* Clean a little
* Study and take a test
* Get out and walk
* Drink plenty of water
* Eat well and live well
That's it...
Oh, one more thing to add this morning... I found this link over at Randi's and it falls in line with some thoughts I shared not too long ago on the Amish that you might be interested in. It is an article called Learning from the Amish. Enjoy...
Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment.
Do you struggle with contentment? I know I sure do... So with that in mind I am going to stop spending money for the month of September. The only day I will spend money that is not for bills and necessities will be tomorrow at a local festival that will benefit flood victims. Other than that I will not be eating out, buying books or other unnecessary items and spending time in prayer and study over contentment with Christ alone and not stuff. I will also be purging more stuff from my life and giving it away to those who could benefit from it more than me at this time. With that in mind I am doing the 30 Days of Nothing Challenge...
I came across this a little while ago and decided that I would give it a go. If you are interested please check out the link below...
This has been a long time coming. I planned to move that television out of my bedroom months ago but life got in the way and we just did not get to it until this week. Here is the process...
A total mess of stacks of stuff and one intrusive television...
And there really is a dresser top under all that stuff... dusted and ready for new stuff...
Now, this is more like it. All my precious family photos that were stacked on top of the barrister bookcase can be dusted and displayed. Ain't it loverly?!?!
My final thoughts on the Amish documentary are this...
The Amish man is NEVER alone in his struggles. He is bailed out by people he knows rather than by a commercial insurance policy. Help is personal and close by.
I am not telling you to go out and cancel all of your insurance. Just sayin... ;)
I am saying that this is a beautiful picture of the way that a Christian community should respond to it's members. I don't know about your church but mine sure falls down on this one. A church should be like family. A church should help with meals, child care, financial needs, sitting with the elderly and so forth when there is a crisis or a dire need in a family within their congregation. The early church lived and worked together. When they would travel, as did Paul and his fellow workers, they would seek out fellow believers when they would enter a town. They worked with them and fellowshipped with them until it was time to move on and then in the next town they would do the same. They had Christ in common and it was enough to bind them together. It made an immediate connection for them and then they would "assimilate" or teach new believers in the ways and teachings of Christ. They would bring them immediately into their family. (sorry for the Borg reference - it is a good word) New believers were never allowed to just flounder and figure it out for themselves. The Lord provided a way to disciple them from the moment they belonged to Him. We have lost much of this in our churches today. The Amish have maintained this mentality in a way that is a beautiful picture of the church if done correctly. Granted, the Mennonites are better at evangelism and we should never be exclusionary to the point of not telling unbelievers about Christ.
The example they showed in the video was one of a barn burning and the whole community coming with supplies, food and man power to build a new one in a matter of days for a family in need. I personally believe that welfare and social services would be unnecessary if the church were doing their job in caring for their community. I believe it would be a spectacular witness if we just cared for those in our area.
I know of a local Korean church that shares in this kind of living. They pray together every morning before the sun is up. They eat meals together and provide assistance when their members are in need. Upon talking with a friend who is Korean she said that churches in Korea are the same way. What a great example!!! I cannot even get members to take food to a new mommy or a grieving family. *sigh* There are wonderful examples in many of the things the Amish do.
The final quote of the documentary was this...
They are a people who, in their respect for the law of God, cherish the earth and keep it, who will not sacrifice community for convenience, who have not been caught up in progress, who believe that order brings unity and contentment. A people who have not yet been able to accept fully the first stages of the industrial revolution though they live in it's latter phase. A people who don't discard the past, who fear pride and who don't argue with nature, who know how to accept limits, who live what they believe. People who are in the world but not of it. People of preservation. A people of God.
Maybe we do not always agree with everything that happens within their community but they do have some great things going for them. We don't have to sell everything and live the way they do to benefit from some of the things to which they adhere. I hope you have enjoyed this series and maybe you have taken something away from it that is useful. I know I have been convicted and blessed in writing these posts. Thanks so much for reading!!!
I am going to step out here and just say that we, as a nation - and I am guilty of this too, are letting our children run our homes. I take my responsibility as a parent very seriously. I believe I have said here before that my job is to train these children to become responsible adults that love the Lord. If I am letting them run my home, smart back to me and sit around doing nothing all day I have failed them. I love the following list. It is all about making responsible adults that can do for themselves and lead their own families someday. This is a short post because I believe these points speak for themselves.
Here are some of the things that the Amish believe about their children:
* Work alongside their parents * Work as soon as they are physically capable * They are taught to have responsibility * They gain more responsibility as they grow older * They are taught that work comes before play and that play is earned * They are taught respect for family and church
Another site that has great information is Titus 2 with the Maxwells. It has some great resources for building schedules and chore charts for children and parents alike in the home. I am currently working on the chore book and the Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit.
The beauty of these resources is that you don't have to agree with everything to use some of it to make your home run more smoothly. I have gleaned a great deal from these resources.
Coming up...
* Last post on Amish * Carnival of Beauty post * Tackle-it-Tuesday
Maintaining simple ways of farming lessens the distance between the generations.
This point was something that I had never really contemplated before but it is a very valid point. If you think about it the technological advances have put a rift in the generations in a way that we never really dreamed. The idea of computers totally freaks some people out. It is the "teaching old dog new tricks" idea. There are many people that have not gotten into computers, cell phones and other technological advances and that has taken some of the connections away between them and the younger generations that have embraced them. When you grow up only knowing about CDs, DVDs, computers, cell phones and blackberries then they are not such a big deal. When you grew up without those things your chances of jumping on the bandwagon are slim. With the Amish there is no such rift. I am not saying that we should chuck these advances nor am I admitting that I think they are evil and divisive totally. I am merely recognizing the point that is made in the statement above. I make it a point to know what my children are doing and watching. I have learned about computers and other advances because I know they are not going away. My own mother has learned how to use a computer and my in-laws are constantly learning about such advances too. It gives us a connection. I am not about keeping up with the Joneses but I am about staying connected to my children and they will experience some major electronic and communication advances. I have to work to keep up with those things to stay connected to them. It is easier for the Amish because they do not even allow those advances to come between them. It is a good point... I won't stop learning and advancing over it but it is a good point... ;)
Shared within the family, hard work becomes a seasonal ritual. You've done it before with your parents and you will do it again with your children.
Oh, I do love this one. Do you have things that your family does together on a seasonal basis? We may not be tilling the land and gathering the crops together but families do share things that are known as rituals. As Christians we have the seasons of Christmas and Easter. As a family we share birthdays and personal celebrations. I think that ritual is important. I am not talking about legalistic rules or any wierd rituals. I am talking about things that bring families together. We work together. We school together. We plan our days and schedules together. Things that draw us into a closeness and teach us spiritual truths are a part of what we do together. We feel that it is important in our family to make meals a family affair. We spend time over food sharing our days and sharing scripture and discussions. We talk about Biblical truths over food very regularly and take time to pray at meals for, not just food, but for those we love. We spend time at night in an evening bedtime routine and ritual of sort. We have a regular routine for getting ready for bed that includes a nightly family prayer time. These are important. These are the things that we look forward to and expect in our family. They make us stronger and closer. They give us a bond that the outside world doesn't get to invade. We love those times very much!!! I believe that our society is missing these times. They are missing a blessing and it is part of why the family of today is falling apart. I know most of you that read here already know this. I challenge you to add a special time for family each day if you do not already have this. I would love to hear what you do...
The Amish find their happiness and meaning in labor rather than in escape from it. I am all about making life a bit easier. I am not about getting out of work, though. I believe that the work that I do throughout the day is part of what keeps me sane. I have been challenged by this statement, though. Do I really find happiness and meaning in labor? I don't mean that my identity is wrapped up in what I do. My identity is in Christ. I merely seek to let God fill me with His peace and happiness even in the most mundane task of my day. I need to find joy in ministering to my family. I need to find joy in working and making a better life for my family. This is a challenge that is ongoing for me. How about you? Work is a good thing. It is something God has placed before us. Are we seeing His hand as we move through our days? Are we looking at our life as a burden we want to escape or a blessing that we pour ourselves into?
Here are some quotes from the documentary that I would like to share with you. They are such wonderful work ethic philosophy. I have begun applying these to my daily work schedule and it has changed my perspective on my daily work around my home. Now, if I could just convince my children of these things... LOL * The women of the society are always modestly dressed and most wear an apron. The apron is an outward sign that the wearer is ready at all times for work. I do wear aprons. I buy aprons. I sew aprons. I love wearing an apron. It keeps me in work mode. I take it off when I sit down to get a drink and take a break. I take it off to signify that I am done in the kitchen. It is more a mindset than anything else. When I am in my "uniform" I am working. When I am out of "uniform" I am at rest. I love the idea that an apron signifies that you are "ready to work". There has never been a time that I did not answer the door in my apron that the person on the other side did not know immediately that I had been working and was still working. Do you have an apron? Do you wear it every day? Mine are not fancy. They are simply kitchen aprons that I mess up and throw in the wash. I do have some patterns for some nicer aprons that I will eventually make. I even have a canning apron I picked up from a Friends Pattern Company. I really enjoy the idea of having a uniform as a SAHM. It makes things feel more business-like and professional. Personally, I need that. :)
Modest dress is something that is important to me. I want to teach my daughter these things, too. I shared about that some time back here so I won't ellaborate again.
* Work, under the right circumstances is as enjoyable as play.
and
* Shared work is, in many cases, the Amish man's recreation. What would make your daily work as enjoyable as play? According to this documentary it is a matter of working alongside those you love. The family is involved in every aspect of work around an Amish home. From the time a child is old enough to work he is expected to do so. Very small children can gather eggs and pick up around the home. With parent supervision they are able to be a part of the family through work. The community feel of working together, therefore, makes it enjoyable for the members of the family.
Personally, there are some things I need to do alone but for the most part we are trying to include the children more and more in the daily running of our home. They help through chores and yardwork. They are learning to plant and grow gardens alongside me as I work. We pick weeds together and do laundry together. I usually sort and they fold their own things. We visit and talk about the day. It is more enjoyable when we work together and it is good for the children to learn responsibility in such things.
Saturday mornings are a great example in our home. Dan makes pancakes every Saturday. The children are involved by helping to set the table, Emmy cooks the eggs, JoNathan gets plates and such that no one else can reach, Davy gets forks and syrup, Josh carries the big butter tub to the table and I do clean up as we go and dishwasher emptying from the night before so we are ready to start reloading after breakfast. The laughter and chatter in the kitchen is so full of energy and excitement that it is hard to hear a single conversation. We love Saturday morning breakfast together because it is so natural and full of family.
I also love the idea of combining work and recreation. This has been a very new concept for our family. We are starting to make a game out of some of our work together. The children even like certain jobs because of the playful aspect of the job. The only thing that frustrates me is when they want to race to see who finishes something first. They were doing that with brushing their teeth the other day and I had to send them back with the added instruction that the one who brushes the LONGEST wins that race. LOL Children are so entertaining... ;)
For who knows what reason, I have been fascinated by the
Amish way of life for a very long time.
When we were serving in a church up in Wichita, Kansas
we were fairly close to an Amish community called Yoder.We visited there several times and took in the
lovely atmosphere.We also attended the
Kansas State Fair and noted many handmade things provided by the Amish from
that neighboring community.It was a
wonderfully warm community with a richness about it that I cannot
describe.In my curiosity I recently
rented a DVD from Netflix entitled: The Amish: A People of
Preservation. In watching that documentary I was moved into
making a few observations that I am delighted to share with you here.
Before we go any further I must say that I am in no way saying that we should
just chuck our 21st century lives and move to an electric free community and
live off the land. That is not practical for most of our society
today. There are wonderful advantages, I might add, to having an electric
Bosch machine that allows me to cook bread in two short hours rather than
working on it all day. I rather appreciate the fact that laundry does not
take all day and that I do not have to haul wood to make meals for my
family. In this blistering desert heat, I can enjoy the cool shelter of
my home with the aid of air conditioning and ceiling fans and refrain from
sleeping in coats and layer upon layer of blankets and quilts throughout the
winter months. I also enjoy the fact that I can sew on an electric sewing
machine and serger and that I do have access to some enjoyable things (such as
watching my Netflix DVDs) on my electronic equipment and then sharing those
observations with you through the use of my trusty laptop (which has eliminated
quite a bit of paper from my life). I just merely feel that there are
some things about the way that they live and think that can
"enlighten" us a bit. So, without further adieu, prepare to be
enlightened... ;)
I loved this quote made about the Amish by Chief Justice
Warren Berger.Here is the quote
Chief Justice Warren
Berger said, "There can be no assumption that today's majority is right
and the Amish and others like them are wrong. A way of life that is odd
or even erratic but interferes with no rights or interest of others is not to
be condemned because it is different."
I think we would all do well to stop condemning others who
chose to live out their Christianity in a slightly different way.In realizing that God has called each of us
to different ministries and different walks this quote made a great deal of
sense to me.You are made for your
ministry and no one is quite like you.We would do well to recognize that the Holy Spirit convicts us all in a
way that is best for our particular ministry.I do believe that there is a valid ministry among the Amish that still exists
in our society today.I, for one, have
been touched by this ministry and have been made richer for the brief encounter
that I have had with them.Their
particular bent toward the importance of community and family and a beautiful
picture of the Church.I will expound
upon more of these things as I go.
That is not to say that one can stray from the fundamentals
of Christianity.There are absolutes
that make you either saved or lost depending upon what you have put your faith
in.After examining the beliefs of the
Amish I believe they follow the fundamentals of faith in Christ.Let me, at this point, just define what I
mean by fundamentals.There are five
basic fundamentals of Christianity that will apply to all valid Christian
denominations.They are
The
virgin birth and the deity of Jesus.
Inerrancy
of the Scriptures
The doctrine
of substitutionary atonement through Gods grace and human faith
The bodily
resurrection of Jesus
The
authenticity of Christs miracles (or alternatively, His pre-millennial
second coming
There are, however, those things which are not exactly clear
in scripture and we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us in understanding
and discernment.That requires a
personal relationship with God.That is only
attainable with each individual within their study and prayer time and through
a daily walk with Christ.
How each person lives out their walk with Christ is a very
personal thing.If the fundamentals are
in place and the Holy Spirit is directing that persons life then where do we
have the right (we ultimately have no rights, btw - ;) ) to criticize their
walk or judge their faith?That is only
something God can do.Berger says it
beautifully in his assessment of the Amish and how they live.I, for one, hold a deep respect for the life
that many Amish choose to live.I will continue
to be respectful of their choices and maybe, in some small way, I can emulate some
of their most treasured principles to make my own family richer.There is much they can teach us and I will be
sharing some of those things over the next few days.
Ok, so I am not one to be constrained by time and space. If the truth be known I just don't pay attention enough to actually do these things on the day they are scheduled. It's the perimenopause, folks... LOL Dana did a great Thursday Thirteen and so I am jumping on the bandwagon for this week and sharing fourteen things I have learned/changed in the past year, since it is, afterall, a Friday and I cannot help myself when it comes to alliteration. My list may look a great deal like Dana's... LOL So without further delay...
Leann's Friday Fourteen!
1.God changed my mind- After ruling out having a home based business, God totally laughed out loud at me and showed me He had other plans. I now have a small bread business and am going back to school to learn to be a caterer and chef! God has such a WONDERFUL sense of humor!!!
2. Learning to Quilt- I have taken it upon myself to sit with a friend once a week and start a quilt. I have made a quilt top before but this will be my very first quilt from start to finish.
3. Learning to Crochet - My Meemaw was an avid crocheter. I watched her work as I grew up but never got the bug until this year. I started in January and am plugging away on a project all the time. I really love it and it is a great relaxing hobby. Next, KNITTING... LOL
4. Changed my viewing habits - We are no longer watching television during the daytime. The television is off all day until we watch a movie or prerecorded program. We are recording only the shows we want to watch and watching them when we have time instead of living by the television schedule. It has been very freeing. We have reduced out cable to the local channels only (we cannot get anything where we are with an antenna) and we only pay $7.00 a month. We watch movies but we are controling what comes into our home and minds and that is the best part. :)
5. Changed my physical habits - this is still ongoing but I am getting out to garden and work in the yard more. I take walks sporadically and am working on making it more regular. I still want to run some 5Ks in the fall but because of some health issues I am taking it very slowly. I feel better. I feel stronger and that is the most important.
6. Learning more about gardening - I have gardened before and have had a very large vegetable garden but not here in our current climate. I am learning how to garden in a very harsh terrain - the desert. I am reading books and trying veggies and plants all the time. I am even experimenting with year round gardening, too. I have itty bitty tomatoes coming and the plants are strong and sturdy!!! We have also planted yellow squash, bell pepper, zucchini, strawberries, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, corn, brussel sprouts, spinach, spearmint and jalepeno. It is all doing very well in my raised bed gardening style. It works here... YIPPEEEEE!!!
7. Changing my wardrobe - I have been convicted - YES CONVICTED - that I need to dress a little more feminine. I am not wearing dresses all the time but I am sewing some new things that are feminine and modest all at the same time. I am not sure why this comes at this time in my life but I am feeling prettier and more professional in my approach to life. I think it is part of getting it all together for me. That has been important for me as I approach 40. It is definitely a good change.
8. Changing my outlook - God has really been changing the way I look at my family. Some of you have contributed to that as well and I thank you. My family is my first ministry and they come before anything else in our church and life (with the exception of God and Dan). I am also being convicted daily that I need to have more of a servant's heart when it comes to my children. I don't mean that I should wait on them hand and foot but that I should take joy in the little things that I do for them. I should stop feeling like the maid and complaining and just minister to them. Granted, they should be more appreciative but Dan is handling that part beautifully while he is home. He praises me in front of the ALL DAY LONG - what a great man I have!!!!!
9. Changing my reading habits - I used to read a book a week when I had no kids or with just one child. As the family has grown the reading has taken a backseat. I have determined, this summer especially, to read a book a week. We are reading more classics and I am reading lots of non-fiction right now, too. We are all getting into this habit. The whole family is taking two hours every afternoon just for reading. We read to David and Josh. JoNathan and Emmy are reading on their own so they are enjoying chapter books. It has been a wonderful decision for the whole family.
10. Learning to cook without salt - this needs no explanation. My hubby has severe hypertension. I love him and want him with me for many years to come. I am cooking to keep him alive! Nuff said... ;)
11. Learning to make pasta - In my Italian cooking class we are delving into the world of pastas, sauces and bread. I just got a pasta maker and have made my first batch of pasta Wednesday. I plan to experiment with different flours and such and make fresh pasta for my family regularly. It is a great deal of fun!!!
12. The old body it is a'changin' - In the catagory of TMI, I am officially in fullblown Perimenopause mode. Hormone levels are fluctuating, symptoms are showing up regularly and I am having to change how I treat myself in the process. I am now taking vitamin supplements, eating differently and using progesterone cream daily. I am feeling better each day. I am coming out of the depression, tiredness and funk I was consumed with for the past year. Life is returning slowly to normal for me and I am loving that. I am going into 40 feeling fit and fabulous IF IT KILLS ME!!! ROFLOL ;)
13. Changing the way we live and the amount of stuff therein...- This house has been cluttered far too long. We took all of the things on the floor in the children's rooms out and they are putting them back one at a time when they have a place for it. We are officially giving them the choice to keep 10 things (see the article I shared yesterday by John Rosemond). We have also been remodeling rooms slowly. We are currently building storage for my bedroom and sewing stuff. The kitchen is getting a new storage area this summer, too. I have sewn curtains and cleaned out old things I am not using anylonger or that I have duplicates of. It will get done and with every bag of stuff I take out I feel a bit lighter. :)
and the biggest change of all...
14. Changing my eating- I am going mostly vegetarian!!! Emily is interested in doing this with me to some degree. The rest of the family will be staying on Dan's hypertension diet which is FABULOUSLY HEALTHY (DASH Diet for Hypertension) but for me it needs to be more vegetarian than anything. We already eat only whole grain and no white flour so that is under my belt already. I won't be a vegan. Nothing against Vegans I just like eggs and yogurt and the occasional chicken and fish. I am merely in dire need of cutting out things that have added hormone in them. I have a health condition that is exacerbated by the hormone from those sources. I won't be drinking milk but will be eating yogurt when I can make it myself. I have already switched totally to rice milk. I will be eating some fish and chicken but I will try to find wild and free range versions. We are still considering chickens so my eggs won't have hormones once we start getting eggs.
Although I tend to be a Granola Mommy with the herbal supplements and no prescriptions unless absolutely necessary, gardening without pesticides, breastfeeding all my babies and making my own baby food, etc... it is merely for health reasons and not for any kind of political statement or religious belief. I am too pragmatic for that - if it saves me money I usually head that direction. I make changes when I learn a better way and, for me, this is a better way. I do things because they make sense for me and our family more than anything. I don't follow the crowd. I follow personal conviction from the Holy Spirit and pray over decisions like this but I am not ever going to say it is the ONLY way to live because it IS very personal. If eating better and living more healthy keeps us out of the doctor's office and off the surgical table then I will do it. When I eat at other people's homes I will not offend by swearing off of things. I will always be a polite guest and eat what is served. This is a change I am not forcing on my family and those around me. They can still eat meat and I am still cooking for them. This is just for me... :)
So, there you have it... proof that you can teach an old mom new things!!!
Not sure about posting pics today but I will try to snap some of the garden and such later...
Welcome to my home on the web! I am a 40 year old SAHM (14 years), homeschooling mom (8 years) and pastor's wife (18 years) who is embarking on becoming a chef/pastry chef, and starting a small business while my husband is teaching school, pastoring and working on his doctorate in ministry. We are busy, busy, busy... but I still make time to share all of that and more here. Thanks for stopping by and please come again... :)
The body, she ain't what she used to be... 
He is changing physically and mentally but we are still struggling with completion of work in math and grammar. I know he hates doing them. He would rather be doing music or science or reading. I am grateful he likes doing those things but he HAS TO DO math and language arts, too. He is growing up and struggling to find his place and be independent. We go through days when he is a smart mouth and a know-it-all. Honestly, I was just like that. While my Mom was here she noted that we are VERY ALIKE. Maybe that is why we butt heads so often. I am so grateful that Dan is part of his life in a big way. That is so good for the boys to have their daddies be active in raising them. I could NEVER do this alone. 
