I wonder many times how folk going through difficult times can manage to keep blogging.  I seem to find that when I am smack dab in the middle of life, my blogging drops off.  Either I don't have the energy or the inspiration, or the time.  Maybe I just don't make it a priority.

I won't hesitate to say that life has been more difficult lately.  I can also say with assurance that God's grace has been abundant in the past few weeks, and I can look back on each day, knowing without a doubt that He has been there with me--even through the mundane stuff of getting the meals on and doing the laundry, and doing lessons.  Even though the academic lessons may be patchy some days, the life lessons are plentiful, and I am SO thankful to be able to have my children at home, walking with us during these times.

My dear Mom, the author of the book called The Hardest Place, a full-time missionary for over 40 years of her life, a writer of another as yet unpublished book and many other stories, a wonderful mother to her four children and wife to her husband, my Dad, has been struggling with a form of dementia for some time now.  At present, the condition has worsened, and we are struggling to find ways to keep her at home, with my Dad and with people who love her.  It is the "hardest place" I can imagine either of my parents ever being in.

On top of all that, I have been dealing with my own health concerns.  While so far at least there has been nothing serious, it has been a couple of issues that keep cropping up, along with the ongoing foot pain that I have been dealing with.  At the moment I am waiting for test results and a possible referral to a foot specialist.

So with all that, plus homeschooling the children, keeping meals on the table and groceries in the cupboard, clean clothes on my spouse and a semblance of routine, I haven't been able to blog.  But I am blogging now, and I hope to be able to get back on more of a routine soon.