Something to Be Thankful For
May. 25, 2009
May. 25, 2009
Posted in Just Ramblin
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Well, my apologies first, my last post was less than inspiring. I was just on FaceBook reading through all the how greatfuls folks are for our armed services - and I whole heartedly agree with them. I went to post my status, and thought about how "poor me" it sounded. I HAD to post something a little more uplifting. Upon re-reading it I realized I should share it here. Yesterday we went to our family camp and I had the privilege of watching my son learn to cast a fishing line with my father. That was one of the reasons we moved, well maybe not specifically, but so that we could do things with my family. I have been in such a rut today that I forgot all about that -- or the fact that MattMann can now identify the pheobe by it's call, again thanks to my dad. What I really need to do is go make a list of all the things I have to be thankful for. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Home
May. 25, 2009
May. 25, 2009
Posted in Just Ramblin
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We've been on the coast for seven months now. My son is very unhappy being cooped up in an apartment after having lived his whole life with a big back yard to run around in. I found myself sitting here today thinking, "If we were at home, today...." Okay, so some of his problem is my thinking, I'm sure. The fact is this, if we were back in our old house today, we'd have done the following things - I know because this is what we've done every year for the last half dozen. We'd have walked down to the end of our street to see the small but very patriotic Memorial Day parade. We'd have cooked-out. We'd have had Grammie or my mum come for the day/weekend. Our favorite friends who always park in our yard would have, so that they could pick up their car at the end of the parade, rather than having to walk back the entire parade route. But we're not "home" today. Here we are in our apartment, praying that the house we're calling about tomorrow is THE house so that we can again have a yard, cook-out, and invite folks over. Where MattMann can go out and dig in the dirt and be a boy. I know that we're in mourning and that this too shall pass, but good golly how long is it going to take us? We have seen my dad several times in the last few months, which is as many times as we use to see him in the average year, when we lived away. This was a big part of the reason we relocated, so that the kiddos would know their extended family. Guess it's just a case of the holiday blues. Hoping your Memorial Day was a happy one. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
To Blog or Not To Blog
May. 4, 2009
May. 4, 2009
Posted in Just Ramblin
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It is a typical spring afternoon here in New England. I know it is spring now -- the mud has dried up, in most places and the flowers are blooming, but that is not the truest sign. It is the swarm of black flies that nearly carried me off when I was kicking the soccer ball around with MattMann. Blackflies -- now I have to wonder, God has a purpose in all things, but . . . I mean we've just come through cold and snow only to be faced with slogging through rivers of muddy terrain and just when it seems like getting outside would be a joy and a blessing there are those, those, those, nasty little black bugs swarming your head biting your face or any other skin you've dared to leave uncovered. I just want to scream -- ENOUGH! ALREADY! -- maybe we should just move to somewhere that is more moderately temperate and that doesn't have all this things -- of course we lived in the south for a few years when LizBeth was young and there we had other "nasties" like cock roaches (even nice clean people get them there) and Palmetto Bugs (cock roaches with wings -- eeewwwwwwwww!) and then there were the snakes.... A praise, where we are the biggest snakes I've encountered aren't much bigger around than one of my fingers, this is a good thing. I wasn't sure if I should blog today or not. I've been pretty glum lately -- It's been an Eeyore season, but I'm hoping with the increasing sun and outside time, this too shall pass. So how is spring where you are??? Blessings, MaggieRaye |
gratitude or grumpy
Mar. 25, 2009
Mar. 25, 2009
Posted in Just Ramblin
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The Lord wants us to have a grateful heart, and I'm trying but I'm really very grumpy. I have a case of the "poor me's" and it isn't pretty. Actually it's pretty stupid when I think of all the things we have to be grateful for, like even though I'm just getting over a nasty, viral thing, we've all be so healthy this winter compared to the last umpteen of them. Friends who've known us for many years have commented on the difference. I'm exhausted! It started before I got sick and is probably how I ended up sick. Nothing is going the way I thought it would six months ago, and yet the Lord's hand is so very clearly at work in our lives. My 17 year old knows what she wants to do with her life - and has had the same consistent plan for most of the time we've been here and that is a record. I knew what I wanted at 17 too, but no one listened. I followed the path I was directed down and I won't do that to her. I believe she has a discerning spirit, even if it is still immature, to know what the Lord has for her for this season in her life. I'm also considering (again) the whole idea of giving up the blog thing. This is not to get you all to say, oh, please don't, we really like what you're doing or please stop torturing us. It's a prayerful consideration. Do I have time to do this and do it well? Not really. Not with working 30+ hours, homeschooling, and just trying to be a keeper at home, never mind email and facebook - ugh! So be in prayer, not that I will continue or not, but that I will have the wisdom to follow the Lord's leading in this area -- and many other ones that seem to be pressing in around us currently. How is your attitude this morning? Are you grateful or grumpy? Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Site Meter & Blogging
Mar. 4, 2009
Mar. 4, 2009
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I just checked my site meter and the visits to my blog have more than doubled. They are nothing compared to what they use to be. I use to be online 30 hours a week and a great deal of that time was blogging here. 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours around noon and 2 hours in the evening, reading email, blogging, reading comments, checking site meter feeling really good about how many people were reading what I was writing. The thing is my life was a mess. My house was a wreck, my children were not behaving, and other important stuff was falling by the wayside. Now I'm lucky if I blog once a week. Well, this week is an exception. I want those who come by to find something new to read. But normally it's about once a week. Sitemeter is a good thing - you can see who (not specifically) is visiting you and where they are finding about you and if you are seriously into it, you can even target things to build your following. The thing is I've reached a point where I don't want folks following me. That's the blind leading the blind. I want to point people to Christ, and know I do a bad job of it most days. So those are just my thoughts for this morning. I do still check my sitemeter and it's fun to see that old friends are still checking in and to see that people from all over the world are reading what I'm sharing, but it can't be at the expense of my first and most important job. What about you? Are you focusing somewhere other than where the Lord has given you your first priority. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Dark Cloudy Days
Sep. 12, 2008
Sep. 12, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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Moving is not fun! Just incase you've never moved or if it's been a really long time, let me assure you it is not fun. I don't care how much of an adventure you try to turn it into for the kids. At the end of the day, when your normally tidy house is in disarray amidst half packed boxes and there is barely a path from the bedroom to the bathroom, it is not fun! I've had several dark days, inspite of the sunshine. Those clouds that just hang over you, no matter what you do to lift them. There are a lot of reasons, and thanks to praying friends, the dark clouds are lifing. This is a great move for my family. There is no doubt in my mind - when I can think out from under the clouds - that the Lord's hand is guiding this move, each step of the way. We'll be closer to family. This is a bonus as it has been years (13) since I've lived close to my extended family. We get a chance to start fresh after three very difficult years. No one knows are past, and so there is no one to be unforgiving and hold it against us. It will be a fresh start for all. We have several church choices - and interestingly, my children are leaning toward the more conservative option, as their preference. The kids always amaze me. MattMann is settling in, after many days of tears of leaving the only home he's ever really known. I'm grateful for praying friends, as I believe this has made all the difference. We're even taking part of his dirt pile with us. The dirt pile, is more of a pit, that he's dug in the back yard, but he spends hours out in it digging, playing with his trucks, just being a boy. LizBeth is thrilled to be around "babies" ranging in age from 4 years down to 2 weeks in age. Today, was one of the hardest good-byes. A young mom, that I've known for six years, since before she was a mom, when she was a college student. She signed my quilts ( I made myself a signature/going away quilt for all our homeschooling friends to sign). She told me I'd been the spice in her life during our friendship. That sometimes I was the salt. It was sometimes bitter and hard to take, and other times I was the sugar, that sweetened things, but that regardless, she'd grown, and she was thankful. Don't know about you, but I was ready to cry. How do you answer that? What do you say? I thanked God, because it means, even when I can't see it and don't feel it, He is using me for the Titus 2 role that I feel so called to. I will miss her and I pray that we will be able to maintain our friendship, even through the distance. Even though we've had some really rough and rocky roads, and there are times, I'm not sure we'd have considered the other one to have been a friend, the fact of the matter is, that really, it's more than a friendship, she is truly a sister in Christ, and I believe that is why things are the way they are for us now, in spite of everything. And so, the official count down has begun. We have 17 days remaining in our big house in the mountains, before we move to our apartment on the coast. 17 days, to pack, and cry and say good-byes, and cry, and return library books, and cry (I thought the librarian was going to cry yesterday, when we went in for our last real visit) , and get in doctor's appointments, and incase I haven't mentioned it, I think we'll probably cry a little. We've lived in this house the longest I've live anywhere in my adult life or for that matter, anywhere since I was 11 years old, when my mother sold the house i grew up in and we moved from a small town to the city. I know it's a good move for us, I know the Lord has something special waiting, but it's so hard to let go of the familiar and say good-bye. Fortunately, I don't have to say good-bye to any of you, you can just keep on reading, from where you are and there will possibly only be a little hiccup of a change - a few days where I won't be able to write - in things for us. Praying His blessings on your day, MaggieRaye |
Not for the Serious Minded Reader
Sep. 5, 2008
Sep. 5, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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Okay, you were warned in the Title, this is not for the serious reader. And yet, there is an element of seriousness about it. If you've seen the movie, The Wedding Planner, you'll understand that the new favorite line around our house is, "You saved. . . . my shoe." If you haven't seen it, you just won't appreciate the rest of the post in it's entirety. My daughter is developing an addiction to shoes. Now, I really wouldn't mind, if they were practical shoes she was actually going to have many occasions to wear. But these shoes.... Today she bought 4 pair of evening/prom type shoes -- remember please here, we live in rural (read the woods or hicksville) New England. We need things like LL Bean Boots 3/4 of the year, just to be practical. The dressiest place we go is church, and Bean Boots are standard issue for this about 6 months out of the year, as well. No real need for one pair of cute little black strappies, (which she already owned) never mind four more pair of these types of shoes. Oh, her behalf, at least she did buy them to match the three formal dresses she has in her closet, which she really has no occasion to wear either, but that is fodder for another post. These are shoes that city girls wear to proms, evening out for dinner in a nice restaurant, office parties. Serious, fancy shoes. Now, the serious side of this is that LizBeth's aunt is feeding this habit, by working for Dyeables. The shoe warehouse is seriously less than a block away from our house. There are no retail stores near us that carry these shoes, but we have access to them. This is not good for someone with my daughters "condition". But on the upside Scripture does teach that we should, "Train up a child. . " and to be good stewards, so I will tell you that retail, todays purchases would have cost . . . are you sitting down, cause this is really kinda. . . well, mind blowing really. $392.85 not including sales tax or the hand bag that her aunt bought for her that retails for $33.99 - who actually spends that much on something that small???? Okay, the catch is that it was a warehouse sale so LizBeth spend a grand total of $2. Yes, that is right. I've trained her up well. If she must buy those ridiculously impractical shoe wanna-be's, at least she got her money's worth (after all she saved $390.85, which she didn't have to begin with, but hey, it's a nice thought, right) -- well, maybe... I'm still not sure that they were actually worth $2, but I know that they were definitely not worth $392.85. Champaign taste and a beer pocketbook, yup it's genetic. I have grand taste -- though not in shoes, but I think this even tops my wildest of wild moments. And most of all, it's just fun to tease her about in front of the whole world -- or at least the small corner of it that stops by here. Oh, and now, there are four more boxes to pack and move, way to go, LizBeth, we're suppose to be paring down not adding stuff to our personal belonging.! Hope you enjoyed this little side trail from our normal seriousness. Blessings amidst the silliness, MaggieRaye |
Who Visits You?
Aug. 28, 2008
Aug. 28, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I just came from my Sitemeter. I am always interested in where people are visiting me from. In the last 100 days I've had visits from countries: Vancouver, British Columbia Santa Atarina Brazil Louth Ireland -- I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment, since I've noticed you are a regular visitor. Kilkenny Ireland Cataluna Spain Palmerston New Zealand T'ai Wan Berlin Germany Hamilton New Zealand I'm always curious what brings people from so far away to my little corner of the blogsphere. Hoping that someday my quilt shop draws customers from these corners of the world as well. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Update on Moving
Aug. 28, 2008
Aug. 28, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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It's official! We are moving! It was kind of scarry submitting our 30 day notice the other morning, we've been in this house for 5 1/2 years. Do you have any idea how much stuff you can accumulate in 5 1/2 years with two children? Yicks! Where to begin.... Oh, where are we moving? I'm glad you asked. We're moving to the coast of Maine. I can't wait. We'll still be here at HSB and my quilts will still be available through Blessed Baby Boutique online. We're still working on getting those up online, but you can catch a sneak preview of some of them over at Photobucket. If I'm absent a little bit over the next month, bear with me. I'll be packing, moving, unpacking and sewing. Plus we still have to figure out how to do homeschooling work on our Haiti related ministries amidst the boxes of stuff. Now I'm off to the dentist, the a dr's appointment, trying to cram in all those final appointments before we move. Looking forward to being settled and quilting, homeschooling and being near family. That will be the biggest blessing in the whole move. Until next time, with blessings, as always, MaggieRaye |
Letting God Lead (and Choose Our Friends)
Jul. 29, 2008
Jul. 29, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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A month ago, Mrs. W was just another name in our local homeschool group directory. I wouldn't have known her if I'd run smack into her at the local Dunkin Donuts (where she would have been getting her COFFEE NOW!) I was very leary about letting Lizbeth go off with this woman and her teenage son -- who I also had never met -- to Driver's Ed class a 1/2 hour away from my house. It's not that we don't like strangers, or making new friends, it is just that I've learned to be, well, cautious, I guess. Now, I'm in the process of making a quilt for this lady (and I can't wait to post pictures when it is finished), because she hadn't been able to find anyone else who would take on the challenge of what she wanted done. We're going shopping later this week. She may be doing the "parent ride" for Drivers Ed with Lizbeth, because they don't necessarily want me to (as I'm not a licensed driver) and it turns out that her very quiet and seemingly shy teenaged son, actually has a quirky sense of humor that we can truly appreciate. Once upon a time, I felt as if I had very few true friends. Once upon a time, I wasn't sure having friends was worth it. Once upon a time, I was the one trying to make myself into something others would like and approve of. Recently, I've begun to embrace the person the Lord saw fit to make me into, and I like that me, and I like the friends that He is putting in my path. I believe that this lady, though she may never be my best friend, that space is now reserved for the Lord alone, will be a very dear friend to my family. And if nothing else, we'll always share Driver's Ed. memories. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
God's Perfect Provision
Jun. 23, 2008
Jun. 23, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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This morning was one of those humbling times when the Lord clearly showed me, that He is indeed in control of our lives, and that He is so very good to us. Sometime I'll tell you about the predicament of having a 28 gallon pop-up-aquarium fountain in my living room, but for now, let it suffice to say, that in the midst of this "situation" I decided that I'd made a mistake and to remedy it I was going to look for a 10 gal fish tank at yard sales or go to WalMart and buy one the first of the month. I forgot to take this seemingly trivial situation to the Lord. This weekend, He literally plunked into my lap a 29 gallon fish tank with all the fixens. And the cost? Dinner with friends, tough to take, huh?? Yup! Someday, I"ll learn to ask instead of trying to take care of it all myself. On another note, I've been really struggling over why I believe what I do and where I fit in things. What I know is that I've been feeling very unsettled about many things for awhile. I knew what I was looking for in a church and I knew no such church existed near me. I just "knew" it. The Lord has, once again, however, shown me that I don't know nearly as much as I think I do. I met a young homeschooling mom last year at a one day conference in our area. She followed up the meeting, by asking about LizBeth being able to help her occasionally with her children (5,3, & 6mo). We were thrilled at this opportunity. Over the year we've spent time together, talked, helped each other in crazy ways. She knew my struggle and my leanings with church and she told me about her church, but it is too far from my house, and I couldn't travel with her, because of her vehicle and the numbers of our children. . . and then the Lord blessed her family with a much needed larger vehicle, which, by the way, just happens to have enough room for my children and I to now attend church with her. LizBeth always says, "Mom, if you want to see God laugh, just tell him your plans" There is no disrespect meant in it - and she is generally right. "Lord, I really would like to be able to attend this church, but it is too far away (45 minutes) and there is no way for us to get there and, and, and. . . " Well, this past Sunday we visited the church - it is tiny - the pastor is elderly - the congregation is small - but we LOVED it! I'm counting down the days til Sunday so I can go back. The coolest thing for me, and perhaps because of his age, the pastor only preached from The Word. There were no illustrations, no secular references, nothing but the Word of God alone. And so much of what he preached, about keeping our eyes on the Lord (remember what happened to Peter when he took his eyes of the Lord?) and how the Lord lets us sink, so we'll get our focus off the world around us and back onto Him -- it was all so pertinent to where I'm at today. If you are out of church, between churches, seeking a church, let me encourage you to hang in there. Many prayers of friends and family have led us from our church at home, into a small fellowship of like-minded believers and I'm so excited about this! Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Persecution
Jun. 19, 2008
Jun. 19, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I've had several months now of having withdrawn from normal social interaction, it was working so well for my children, that I decided a lack of socialization might do me some good. In that time, I've found that I had extra time to study God's word. Do you want to know something I learned? If not, stop reading now. If you're still reading, here is what I discovered. I always believed that Christians who were godly, righteous, humble, etc. were the ones who were persecuted. Only those who were really walking with the Lord. However as I've just finished reading through 2Kings (from Genesis) I'm discovering that this is not the case. God's children historically, and consistently came under the persecution of enemy rulers, when they drifted away from the Lord's teachings, commands, directions, etc. He used the persecution to bring His own back into fellowship with Himself. You have no idea what a revelation this has been to me. I really believed that I needed to fear persecution if I walked closely with the Lord. What I discovered is that indeed if I am being persecuted I need to stop and ask the Lord to show me where and how I have strayed from Him, to repent and to let him cleanse and restore me to fellowship with him. It was not the kings who walked with the Lord that were persecuted or taken captive, but those who fell away, those who were more worried about what others would think, say and do, than about what the Lord had already said and commanded to be done. Ouch! So, my challenge to you is this, do you feel you're being persecuted for your faith? If so take a close look around you, inside you, ask the Lord to reveal to you what you need to do to walk more closely with Him, and when He reveals it, do it. You won't be alone! Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Cynicism
Jun. 16, 2008
Jun. 16, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I started to post about all the things I'm trying not to be cynical about, but it was such a long, depressing, rambling post that I just hit the backspace key and wiped it out. I wish sometimes my mouth had a backspace key. (I saw that on a sign recently, and it so fits!) Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Home Church, Keeping My Mouth Shut and Other Stuff
Apr. 16, 2008
Apr. 16, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I just had to let you know what a struggle it has been to keep my mouth shut and my fingers still lately. There have been so many situations and subjects I'hve wanted to blog on - have my say about - just the Lord has clearly shown me I need to keep my mouth shut. Oh, what a training and growing time this has been. We have been doing church at home for several months, and much like home schooling, I didn't start out with the intent, but it evolved out of the situation we found ourselves in. There is no well established reformed church in our area. Also, I've been desiring to do less "church" and more worship -- which is easier to do at home. I have a friend who unknowingly (or maybe not) keeps me accountable by calling at some point during the week and asking what my family did for worship on Sunday. I don't know if the Lord will have us continue this or if it is just for a season, but I know that I don't miss the busyness of church that I've experienced in the past. Finally, I think it might finally be spring here. We've had several warm afternoons and much of the snow is melting -- though we still have too much in the back yard. The academic year is winding down and we are praying about moving closer to family, in the near future. What is the Lord doing in your life right now? Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Lukewarmness in the church
Mar. 22, 2008
Mar. 22, 2008
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I've talked to several different Christian ladies recently, from different geographic areas and different walks of life and one thing I'm hearing consistently is about how sad they are to see their church so far from what they believe scripture calls us to be. I see them struggling with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness for how to advocate change. They've seen Return of the Daughters, they've read Passionate Housewives and Created to be His Helpmate. They know what they need to do. One lady even said she didn't know who she could share these resources with that might not be offended by them. Wow! That is a very sad statement on our Christian community. I've shared them with people and didn't care if they were offended, mostly because I believe scripture and it says that those who love His law will not be offended. The Lord gave me a clear call when I started homeschooling to encourage other single mothers to do likewise for the sake of their children, for the furtherance of His kingdom. I wonder if He's giving me a new call for a new season in my life. I do not want to be offensive, but I do want us, as mothers to return to the truth of the Lord's word. I've become complacent in my own home over the last couple of years. My own sinful flesh has hindered me from things of the Lord. So mom's, whether you are single or not, think about these things. What are we really teaching our daughters? Is algebra really going to be all that important in eternity? I don't think that the Lord is going to be looking at SAT scores or the like, do you? I think we need to fuel in our daughters a passionate fire for the Lord and His ways. In my recent devotional reading, I was reminded that Mary Magdalene was the first one that the Lord revealed himself to after his resurrection - a woman - a believer - a faithful follower. He gave her a command to go and tell the others. She obeyed. But they - the disciples - the men - didn't believe her. Did it change anything? No, she did what she was called to do and the Lord dealt with the disciples accordingly afterwards. I believe this is what we need to do. We need to take a stand, obediently, as a faithful servant, knowing that other believers will not listen or hear. We are only accountable for the job the Lord has given us - we need to be faithful in that and let Him deal with those who don't believe. Ouch! This post was more for me than any of you, but I hope it helps some of you, too. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
