Memory Verse: Isaiah 40: 1- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Assignment: Tell us all about how your have “your” relaxing time, more especially how during the cooler months you take time to curl up with your favorite movie, book, Bible study, and what your favorite warm drink would be.

This has been something I am still learning how to do. :) Sounds funny but even when our family designates a day or time to relax I tend to just keep going and Shane has to tell me to just stop and only do something if it is relaxing but otherwise NOT to do anything. :) Over the past few months I have become increasingly aware that I need to rest and find ways every day and for sure every week to relax in some way. Like I say, I am still learning and I do have to still feed my family, homeschool, help my potty training two year old and the older boys with various things all day long, but I am learning how to "get away" even when I can't actually get away.

When Heidi takes a nap in the afternoon and the boys are working on chores I will either sit or lay down and read a book, listen to some quiet music or an audio book and write in my journal or work on some knitting or crocheting or a sewing project. On my bedside table right now besides my bible and journal are "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit" by Teri Maxwell (EXCELLENT BOOK!! I highly recommend it!) and "Fourth Dawn" from the A.D. Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene. In my MP3 player I have been listening to "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte....downloaded from Librivox.org (Great place to download free audio books to listen to!)

Sometimes I'll make a cup of tea or decaf coffee to drink. My favorite cup:

Sometimes I only get in 20 minutes and sometimes I have up to an 1 to spend resting in this way.There are days when Shane will take some or all of the kids out of the house for a little while so I can enjoy the quiet. (like now, they all went to the airport to take a friend who is leaving) And sometimes Dane or Shane will just keep the little kids ocupied so I can be alone for a little bit somewhere, but there are many times too when they find me and want to be with me. I have been trying to help them be respectful of me wanting some quiet and have them sit or play nearby and keep things on the quiet side. Of course they are little so that doesn't always work but they are learning. Sometimes we all kind of sit in the same around and the kids will all color or draw pictures while I am reading or something.

We try to take a day off every week usually Sat. or Sun. to just rest and not do anything. Sometimes we go out to eat, or we try to have lots of finger foods or easy to heat up leftovers around to give me a break from cooking. Many times I will find a time during that day to watch a home improvement show or two for ideas or watch a favorite movie.

Since we are just starting Spring/Summer weather around here it's hard to imagine cold, snow, frost, leaves changing colors and falling and all that we think of with Fall and Winter but I like to watch movies like "Little Women" and others that put me in the Fall and Winter mood. Thankfully the weather is not so hot that I enjoy curling up on a cool cloudy day with some hot cocoa or snuggling in warm blankets with the kids and a movie or book to read. I find myself hoping for a few of those cool days sometimes to feel connected to the weather or holidays my family and friends are experiencing back home.

Ps 46:10 -

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."