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Today is a beautiful calm gray rainy day. I love rainy days. Everyone seems to settle down when the roads are quiet. Even the birds are still. It makes me want to curl up with a good book and a cup o joe or hot chocolate. Of course, I am 'curled' up , or rather surrounded by hundreds of books here at my job. Yes, I am still working in the library. It's officially been 2 years as of last week. I did however make a move in March to a smaller library when the manager position came open. I love the new job, and the new position :) But, that's not the biggest change that has happened this year. All summer my heart was heavy about our 'homeschooling'. After graduating two children and seeing them off to the wild blue yonder, I had felt confident that having only the two youngest, and girls to boot, left at home, that school would be a cinch and like little house on the prairie... only in our case... little log cabin/mobile home on the lake. But something was missing. The girls were 'bored'. I was tired of it all and quite frankly tired. ugh. My health isn't the best and it was beginning to show in our school day. I found myself more and more wanting to get others to teach them , anything. From music, to sewing, to art, you name it. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed our time together and were happy as ever... but , not much learning going on. Praying and searching, exploring options, talking with my husband and my girls.... all summer long. End of summer came and I sat down with my son, now home from his second year in college. Finding him confused and anxious was no surprise. I had seen this before when my oldest daughter came home from her sophomore year in college. Questions, so many questions, doubts, and confusion led to mere frustration. I began to realize that the 'real' world, while still is the home, church, community - not a public school or institution, was bigger than my little cabin on the lake. I had missed something in their schooling. Yes, we are a tight family. Yes, our faith is strong. Yes, our love is deep. But, somehow the children were not prepared for some of the challenges that would come their way. to be continued....... |
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Well, it's been 9 months since my granddaughter arrived. She is trying to walk now. She stands and walks along the furniture. It truly is a joy to watch her grow, and to watch MY children with her. They are precious. What a blessing to have children AND grandchildren growing up at the same time. They interact with one another each in their own unique ways. It is such a joy to see their different personalities come out. The girls are doing fabulous. Buddy is in transition. He is at a point in his life where he is examining his options in life. What direction will the Lord take him. I pray often for wisdom and discernment for him. I see gifts and talents in him that he denies. Others confirm these gifts. In time, God will make all things good. It is a difficult time of life. I remember it well. I came home from the first semester of my sophomore year in college... wondering... what is this all about. Why am I doing this? What do I want out of life? Is there really something out there for me? Is God really there, and is He directing my steps? I spent the month of December of that year, 1982, praying, sitting, and thinking mostly. I crocheted while I thought. I ended up with an afghan big enough for the entire row at the football game to cuddle under. We named it "Big Blue". Anyway.... the thinking was good for me. It gave me time to clear my mind of so many clouds that had rolled in during the years. My vision was blurred. I couldn't see the path God had laid out for me. I am trying to give Buddy the thinking time he needs. Time to clear his head... It is hard for him to sit for too long so ... the sitting and thinking becomes easy to avoid by staying busy. Michael is finding his work rewarding. We are so thankful for this opportunity at the Chaplain school for many reasons. He is such a good teacher and is finally in a position to teach, and others are required to listen. He isn't their pastor... so it falls into another dimension than preaching. Many opportunities come his way. It is such an incredible outlet for missions. He trains the chaplains, and then they go out and minister. HIs influence will be much broader in the sense that he is preparing disciples to go out into the far corners of the earth with the gospel. Michael seems to be much happier when he has this type of work. The traveling is hard. One hour there and back and then sometimes a meeting or get together in Augusta at church. It has however, given the church a financial break and enables them to catch up on some repairs. All in all, it is all good. We are rejoicing that we can work towards our debt free goal and hopefully achieve it by the end of his two year term at the Chaplain School. My life has been a challenge. I seemed to have inherited from both parents all their ills. Whether it be thyroid, gall bladder, vitamin deficiency, reflux,... you name it... I got it. It wears me down and I feel tired all the time. It is rare that I feel energy. I just sorta force myself to keep up. I don't enjoy some of the same activities because quite frankly.... I don't have the energy for it. Taking lots of meds in the hopes that it will all level out some day and that second wind of life will blow my way. At 47, you'd think I'd be living it up... but, I am quietly enduring and at the same time, enjoying the season of life... the children, the grandchildren and the friendship with my best friend and husband, Michael. May God continue to guide and bless us with the simplest things. May we see Him in the simplest things. May we bring Him joy and blessing in our response to His simple gifts. |
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Well, in seven weeks my granddaughter will be born! I have ultrasound photos, if I can ever figure out how to post them on this site, you will get to peek at the little princess. So, I already feel like a grammy :-). I've even knitted my first blanket, pink of course. I have been a crochet girl all my life... so knitting was a new experience for me. So, I made a teeny little pink blanket for my teeny little granddaughter. My DH and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. I had to work til 9pm and he was working in a different city, so needless to say it was not exactly what you dream it would be. However, we had a cup of coffee and shared a few gifts late that night. He gave me this cool necklace with matching earrings. He also gave me a pair of boots that I really like. The kids gave us a huge crockpot with a locking lid. That will come in handy when transporting food to church dinners! I made him a scrapbook of his childhood pics. It was really so much fun for ME. I loved putting it together for him! Now, I hope to put my childhood pics in an album and then put our "dating/courship" pics in and the wedding photos at the end. Woudn't that be fun! The whole story in two books. "Once upon a time... and they lived happily ever after" is the theme of the books. I hope to finish them before Thanksgiving so I can share them with my extended family. Other news.... My youngest DD's are busy homeschooling, playing music and solving mysteries around town. They are a delight and I love watching them grow up. The youngest DD3 has recently gotten glasses and picked out purple frames. They look really good on her. DD2 has been invited to go out for allstate in violin. This is exciting for her. She already made it in clarinet so she is quite the music mama! She is trying to play the organ in church and it is coming along slowly. DS is in his second year of college in a pre-seminary bible major. For now...we'll be busy trying to post some baby pics.
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Lamentations 3:21-24 His mercies are new every morning! Great is Thy faithfulness! I rejoice that His mercies are new every morning I awake. I need His strength to get through the day. He renews my soul. He is so faithful and unchanging. I rest in His steadfastness. Can any one ever doubt? He makes the sun to rise and set on every face. I bask in the warmth of His love and care. At the end of the day, He stills my heart and washes my cares away as I leave the day in sweet communion with Him. I repent that I awake with a troubled mind. His Spirit comforts me. Today, I begin a new chapter in my life. A blogging chapter. My oldest daughter gets married in two weeks. Am I really that old? My son graduated from Basic Training and finished AIT at Fort Jackson in August. He will continue his college education in January. My other two girls continue homeschooling with me. I love it! I have taken a job as a librarian at the county library in order to help out our family financially. I like the job and work with a wonderful Christian lady named Janet (one of my favorite names - I always seem to get along so well with folks named Janet). I met lots of nice folks at the library today. We are decorating for Christmas. The little town is all decorated and carols play as you stroll the sidewalks. The parade will be this weekend, with chidren's choirs and a tree lighting at the end! I love small towns. As my husband looks towards retirement from the Army in a year or two... he reflects often of where he has been and where he is going. I think it must be a 'man' thing. It seems very important to him to be successful and make an impact. He doesn't realize that he does that without even leaving our home. His impression on our children is a blessing. The love we share is a strong bond between us. I wish he could know that what he does in the hearts and minds of our little ones is enough to change the world! |