I found this at The Old Schoolhouse site in their devotional section.  It made me stop and consider the "aroma" of my day.  It is easy to let frustrations mount or see the very children I desire to raise for Him as a distraction.  My heart is to be a sweet and pleasing aroma to My Heavenly Father in all that I do. 

Enjoy My Fellow Home School Mommies!

Blessings,

Julie

The Homeschooling Mom's Perfume

"And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him." Ephesians 5:2

Snuggled in on the couch, children all tucked around me, I set into our read-aloud. Soon we were lost in the Kansas prairie. But as we headed out across a plain, I looked up to see our 6 year old Josh holding his nose in disgust. "Whatever that smell is, it ain't pretty!" he nasally declared.

Like Dorothy of Oz, I soon wasn't in Kansas anymore, but back to reality. After nearly a decade of tracking down that scent, I knew what I was in for. Laying the read-aloud aside, I whisked crawling baby Kai off the floor and to the changing table.

"I can get a clean diaper for you, Mom. Can I get the change of clothes out for Kai?" Josh was already busy gathering up the needed supplies.

I smiled. In spite of the foul odor, I smelled something sweet--—the giving actions of Joshua.

Before leaving the changing table, I grabbed the air freshener and spritzed Josh's shirt. Josh giggled. His sweet-loving aroma wafted wherever he went----reminding us both of his giving heart.

I wonder what my aroma is today? In the midst of diapers and books and couches full of kids, I yearn to be a beautiful perfume onto my Lord. Giving a little more--reading one more chapter to anxious ears. Sacrificing a bit more--helping trace out one more line of "p's". Encouraging a tad more---"Way to go, Caleb! A perfect math sheet! God so can use a boy like you!"

The perfume of a homeschooling mom's heart of sacrifice.

Prayer: "Lord, cause me not to be a stench unto you today with an angry attitude, harsh words and self-righteous actions....but may the aroma of selfless, serving words and deeds waft sweetly wherever I go."

Ann Voskamp's answering machine sums it up: "We're out raising corn, kids and lots of pigs!" She and her husband, their 5 blessed children, and several hundred sows make their home on a Canadian farm.