Posted in Miscellaneous Matters

This blog has really accumulated some dust over the past few weeks.  I guess I have been pouring all of my creative energies into our farming endeavors this summer and haven't had anything left to offer here.  Growing one's own food takes a lot of time and effort!

So, let me blow off the dust and sweep away some of the cobwebs.  Take a seat, make yourself comfy, and we'll do a little catching up.

Aside from all the harvesting, preserving, canning, freezing, weeding, milking, mowing, fence-erecting, barn-remodeling, cleaning, organizing, laundry, cooking, sewing, and schooling I've been doing over the summer, I haven't had much time for reading or writing.  Actually, I've felt an amazing feedom in purposely avoiding using the computer except for absolute necessities.  I have not allowed myself to feel obligated to check my email every day or update my blog twice a week or read my favortie blogs regularly--and it has been good.  Real living is so much better than living through a computer screen.

Our family has been very blessed over the past few months to have opportunities to fellowship with several likeminded families.  It is so wonderful to spend time with people who "get it", people who have the same goals and desires for their families as we do for ours, who have similar views and a vision for the future much like our own.  God has been good to direct us to these people who have become dear friends.  These God-given friendships are an answer to some very specific and fervent prayer.

We have officially begun our school year, though we are taking it very slowly, easing our way back into a more structured schedule.  We've already had the "attitude is everything" lecture, and we have all (especially mom) exhibited some signs of *ahem* stress, so I am hoping some of the kinks iron themselves out soon.  Maybe the beautiful weather, which is the first of its kind for most of the summer, is making it harder for everyone (including mom) to focus.  I plan to do a lot of nature study (outside of course) from now until the weather changes.

I have been falling behind in my usual quota of personal reading (one book per week), but what I have been reading has been very good and some of it has been challenging, so I have been stretching my brain despite how busy I have been.

It is hard to fathom how quickly this summer has passed.  I can hardly believe that it will soon be time for picking apples and watching the leaves change.  My family is continuing to try to enjoy the remainder of these warm, sunny days.  I have recently become much more aware of how life truly is a vapor.  Redeeming the time has become more than just a phrase I have memorized.  Time passes by quickly, and what we don't use for God's glory is just a waste.

There, the dust is brushed aside and you now know what's been happening in my life.  How about what's been happening in yours?