Thoughts: scrambled, fried, served hot and ready ... A tangled web of Thinks, but all for the glory of God. Self-discovery such as this one known fact: NO LONGER ME LORD, BUT THEE* http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:42:00 -0600 Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:42:00 -0600   TRUE CONTENT-"Be content with your surroundings but not with yourself till you have made the most of them." This morning has been a humorous one! At least it has been to me. I see things a little differently than some. Tabby Cat was mewing at the window again this morning. Insisting to go out, and then come in, what a cat she is! My eldest child went to retrieve her and so came back to report the dining room was "all wet"! The Man I live with was quick to run and check it out. I lie there in bed questioning all the possibilities, but calm enough to lie there still. Again, my daughter came to report the live action in dramatic headlines: THE FISH TANK IS LEAKING! EVERYTHING’S WET! IT’S UNDER THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR! I saw my husband pass through the hallway and gather some towels from the linen closet and bathroom. This must be seriously wet, I’m thinking. Finally my thoughts somehow gathered around to complete the following: I must help my husband. I hopped out of bed, grabbed my shoes and tied them. I walked in to see the action of flowing rivers and floating towels with my husband and daughter upon them. No such sight. Instead, however, I found about 1/3 of the dining room covered in water and as was said by my daughter, under the living room flooring! Oh my. My husband says to me, "Dearest love of my life, I cannot possibly dry anymore. We are out of towels and must needs do something!" Okay he didn’t quite say it like that, BUT THAT’S HOW I CHOSE TO HEAR IT. Silly me, I’d just thrown my mop away and keep forgetting to fetch a new one! (This is okay because I used to towel mop and dry my floors for the first five years of our marriage. What can I say, I’m a survivor!) I retrieved last night’s laundry basket and fished out a few clean towels. I said, "Husband: fetch me the mop bucket rather quickly. We simply must wring out these towels so we can reuse them." My husband went to the garage and retrieved the mopping bucket. (Oh, it’s a fine one! It has two compartments, one for clean water and one for dirty water! :D) I began to dry up the floor with my few clean towels and he began wringing out the ones he had just thrown onto the floor. They were sopping wet! I lifted a few items to make sure it was dry beneath (this section of my dining room is also my office and work area. I keep file boxes, printer and computer there). After all dramatic work was complete; I stood back and marveled at the goodness of God. Nothing of importance was wet or damaged. Only one leg of my sewing table was dampened; nothing else. Even the walls were untouched! The tank was not broken. My husband fiddled with a few things in the tank after I’d gone to bed last night. Somehow a hose disconnected itself and began ciphering the water out of the tank onto the floor. I’d heard a horrible story once of a woman who had one of those hoses spray water in her face and electrocute her so I’m delighted no one was hurt in this instance. All of the drama had me laughing and skipping back to bed in the wee twilight hours for ‘just a few more minutes of rest’. (I already told you: I tend to see things a bit differently …) Today’s to-do: I have been going through my old data CDs this morning. They are perhaps six or seven years old. But that is what I will continue to do a bit this afternoon as well. In between jobs and visits to the hospital, that is. I am guessing this will take all day and maybe tomorrow considering I will be interrupted quite a bit for jobs and cooking. (And, of course, smoothies will have to be made. Who could possibly forget the smoothies?) But what a job it is! Why didn’t I mark these? What was my problem? What would have been so difficult about marking and labeling CDs?  Those are questions left unanswered this morning. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/750203/ Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/750203/ Try explaining to a chip-devouring, Dr Pepper-consuming, book-engulfing 14-year old girl (Sounds a lot like someone you used to know, huh?) that NOW is the training period for domestic skills needed in marriage. That was my job this morning as I discipled my young student in the ways of HOUSEHOLD DUTIES. There were a few gasps and attempts of explanation as to WHY starting at home (of all places!) was a bad idea. But I held out and am almost certain to have scored a few points in the domestic department. I gave her a take-home quiz to test her (late?) blooming domestic abilities. She had no good reasons that I haven't heard or lived through myself to NOT do (more than?) her share of keeping house. But it made me smile to hear them coming from someone else, nonetheless. While I am thankful to God that He has given me a position of discipling the younger women, I cannot help but smile at the irony of it. It wasn't many years ago, that I was the younger woman, desperately needing the counsel and guidance of wise and godly mothers. Being that I am still very young, and also youthful (which is very different from being young *wink, wink*), I am in a wonderful position of gaining the trust of girls who are neglected in teaching at home. My own daughter is also learning the beauty in domestic support here at home! I've watched her mature-- from that unorganized child that we all started out as-- and develop into a most beautiful young lady who faithfully "keeps" her spot in the home clean and free of clutter. She is now learning to bake and takes joy in serving others. And what a joy she is to me! My own "maiden" years, comical as they may have been, began with a rough & awkward start; quite painful in many ways! At age 13, my (much) younger cousin had to show me how to boil water and make Ramen noodles. This is about the time I had to learn how to "cook" tasteless eggs in a plastic bowl in the microwave (because I was afraid of the stove-fire, no less). I was doing a bit better by the time I was 14, except I didn't know there was a difference between ground pork and ground beef. This was quite traumatizing when I and my little brother dived into a huge plate of eggs n' sausage to find out, it wasn't quite. "It just doesn't taste like when Mom makes it." Go figure. I still remember a phone conversation with a friend and coworker of my mom's: "Is my mom there?" "No, she's out right now. What do you need?" "Um. How do you know when the egg is boiled all the way?" Silence. "I'm not sure-- Isn't it supposed to float or something? Did you try tapping it to see if it cracks?" When Mom took on school AND work to learn a career and have some money at the same time, I took on the "mother" role--trying to help in all ways possible (for a thirteen/fourteenish girl, that is). Every morning (more often than not), after a shower and a quick clean-up of my own room, I headed to the master bedroom to make her bed, open her curtains and clear her dresser. (That always gets messed up when you're dressing in a hurry.) I'd get in her closet where she kept baskets of clean clothes from last night's laundry and began the long process of ironing each individual piece and hanging them up. I aquired many burns! [All this came back to memory last summer as I was teaching a few 13-year olds how to iron. At first I was surprised they had never ironed before, but enjoyed the process of showing them all the right ways to NOT burn your fingers, hands, arms, ect.] I can still remember the first few successes of cooking! Brilliant! One was a spaghetti I made for Mom. --Both parents tried it and stated that it was "pretty good", but I think that was out of politeness. The other was a few years later, at age 16, when I cooked my first meal for my boyfriend. Nothing like greasy homemade tacos! I maintain to this day that this is why he married me. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/694590/ Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/694590/ Him bought me some wonderful flowers for my herb garden today! This year I am growing my favorite herbs in containers! Him made me a raised flower bed that curves along the outside of our vegetable garden. This is a "shelf" for my flower pots containing the herbs! I wanted something pretty to grow in the bed all around my containers. We found the perfect trailing perennials for that and we purchased them today! Him bought me (pardon the english) 8 flowering plants in all: 3 Blue Emerald Creeping Phlox (the light purplish ones on the right and center) 2 Drummond's Pink Phlox (the larger pinkish ones bottom left) 2 Fort Hill Creeping Phlox (the smaller pinkish ones top left) 1 Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox (the bright pink at the top center). Mr Him also purchased three Herb Rosemary plants for my containers! I am so happy! This has been a lot of fun for us-- working on this project. My husband is my best friend. I am so thankful that God has put us together. Like my phlox-delights-- we're just trailin' along beautifully! "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22 This project would be nothing without the LORD. He leads us and guides us every step of the way. He is what brings these beautiful and good things to pass. He is so good to us! "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." Proverbs 16:3 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/679310/ Mon, 6 Apr 2009 21:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/679310/ Feeling Guilty Hearing Just the hummmm of the 'puter Edit Entry Delete Entry The Struggle to Keep Smiling G'morning! Here I am typing this entry by the light of the fish aquarium.  I don't want to turn on all the lights as I don't like to wake people up.  Did you know that children were people to?!  They deserve as much courtesy as a stranger in the store.  That's the only way they'll learn it!  When you give to your children patience, they will give patience to each other.  When you are snappy with them, they become snappy with each other.  Etc., etc. I am a bit ashamed of my most recent behavior, but at least I am more rested today. God has been blessing us immensely.  He's been giving and giving until our cup has not only been over flowing ~ but is now reaching the spill-over-onto-others stage. In all this glorying, I fall short and really~ flat on my face. It's so embarrassing. Friends, I have everything to smile about, and yet exhaustion seeks to smother my happiness.  I'm still praying.  I'm still following God's Word.  I still believe that all things work together for good.  My faith in God is strong.  I'm just struggling to smile lately. I'm not angry.  I'm not mad.  But my face has resumed a downward position and it is NOT flattering. I'm *sigh*-ing more often and while I am still standing on God's promises ... Well, I'm just having a difficult time here! No one has been majorly wounded by my disposition, rather, I may be just the only one who has noticed the difference.  But it's bothering me. When you pray to the One True God, please remember me.  I need the joy of the LORD to burst forth from within so the Holy Spirit can shine onto the lives of others through me.  God bless you, as always, and more also this day.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/545487/ Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:24:01 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/545487/ Good morning!  I meant to bring you updates yesterday.  I should not have said I'd be making an entry ... though I did make an entrance once or twice.  The writing nerves left my fingers each time. Ah, good day.  I pray you are having a wonderful one!  I pray you're not fighting with your husbands today.  You may fight for your husband, as God expects you to through prayer, but fighting with him is altogether another matter.  Changing your husband is not your battle - that belongs to God. God says that when you are kind and gentle; respectful and soft-spoken to your husband that he will be won over to God because of your elegant character. A wife of noble character who can find? ... Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12 "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."  1 Peter 3:1-6 "... wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything."  1 Timothy 3:11 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We have been painting all morning!  I enjoy painting.  I can see the progress and at least know where I'm at.  Did you know it can be that way with all things?  I just read that this morning in Proverbs.  Chapter 16, verse 3 states "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts will be established."  And surely we all remember Chapter 3 which simply says "Acknowledge Him (God) in all your ways and He will direct your paths!" Any job can be a pleasure if done unto the LORD!  Though ... it is difficult to do some things even unto the LORD when I really despise them!  Like ... the tedious job of scraping paint.  It is then my prayers come out more like a lamenting Psalm than a shout of praise.  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As some of you know, we have a vegetable garden.  It is quite large, as the LORD has blessed us.  About a month ago, while looking out the back door, I envisioned a beautiful, white picket fence enclosing it.  I mentioned it to the LORD.  A few weeks ago after dropping off some furniture at our grandfather's, we drove around the corner and there was D and her husband just finished with pulling up their white picket fence and now mowing and trimming trees.  (That was a wonderfully inspiring run-on, don't you think?)  We, of course, had our trailer with us so we stopped.  D confirmed that yes, they were throwing them out and that her friend said she wanted them but wouldn't show up to get them so PLEASE TAKE THEM!!! Now my husband has been very busy digging post holes and screwing the fence strips onto the posts.  It's been so exciting!  The progress is a bit slow as we have been doing this after hours (usually when it's dark) or before hours (which is only a small amount of time before we leave for work).  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Because much of our business keeps us outdoors, we have a schedule we try to follow closely.  We work morning hours and evening hours outdoors, but those hours inbetween when the heat is most intense are indoor hours. I don't like to complain about the heat we have been enduring.  I know that some of my friends have their spouses away in a land that is much more intense than what it is here.  A few days ago:  We were out working on the last job for the day when the heat became extremely intense as I was out in a piece of land that was directly in the sun.  I started feeling that weird tingle-all-over feeling and knew my body was warning me.  But - I was almost done with what I was doing!  So I continued to work, more viciously, on the project at hand. I've suffered a severe stroke before, which threw off my right-side functions for years, so I am aware of all the symptoms.  As my vision began to fade and weeriness began to replace my ability to move, I realized how unwise I was to continue on.  I started out walking toward the shade and for some water when I began staggering horribly.  As the ground seemed to rush up before my face I began to mumble:  "I rebuke you, Satan, in the name of Jesus.  My body belongs to the LORD.  I am healthy.  I am strong.  And I am healed."  I made it to the water and shade.  I said "What shall I do, LORD?"  The distinct image of me walking to the water spout and soaking my hair sprang into mind.  I wasn't so sure about that - so I mentioned to my husband - "Honey, what shall I do?"  He said, "Go over to that water spout and soak your hair."  (Don't you just love confirmation?)  I poured water all over my head and immediately relief came.  I have been learning a valuable lesson.  Just because God heals you and delivers you from illness and oppression does not mean that you can abuse your body.  My body is a gift from God.  One day, we'll all answer to God for the way we've treated all those things (body included) He has entrusted into our care. Smith Wigglesworth didn't sympothize with people who suffered a cold because they didn't wear a coat like they should have.  He said it was bad stewardship.  I tend to agree. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/543157/ Wed, 4 Jun 2008 15:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/543157/     Good morning! My friends, We live in a time of self-glory.  Vanity has hit its ultimate high as women and men alike fight for the #1 spot on the Sexy list, the Best list, the Well-to-do list, the Spiritually-enlightened list, the Smartest list.  Our generation wakes up in the morning with goals to accomplish - goals that will somehow gain attention to our Selves.  Some of us, who claim to be more "Christian"; more "Spiritual", will wake up and say a five-minute prayer followed by reading a passage of Scripture.  We will feel "holy"; "righteous" that we have done our Spiiiiiiritual Duty for the day. But I'm waking you up this morning with another message. It doesn't matter how cute you are.  It doesn't matter how smart your parents think you are.  It doesn't matter if your grandma waits around for your every move to snap a picture.  It won't take you anywhere in the end. God, the Creator; my Father, has a plan for your life.  When you wake up and say your little prayer - the conversation doesn't end there.  Take Him with you to the coffee machine.  Ask Him if He thinks you're drinking too much (;D).  Tell Him to surprise you with a thought today. Nearly every Sunday I ask my Girls "What conversation did you have with God this morning?"  I then tell them His and mine.  You see, a conversation isn't a one-way talking session.  It's a two-way exchange.  Stop talking AT God and start talking TO Him.  He's your God.  He loves you.  He desires a friendship; a relationship with YOU; yes, YOU. I know a lot of you are going through some things right now.  Feelings are confusing; emotions run high.  Listen to Jesus.  LISTEN.  He's talking to you right now.  Read your Bible not once today, but all throughout the day.  I challenge you to pick up your Bible at least ONCE EVERY HOUR and read more than one verse.  Read a chapter if you can.  Listen to what God is saying to you.  If you don't own a Bible, visit   Bibleresources Home and pick a Bible to read or click here to read the New International Version> Bibleresources NIV. Remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  And faith, my friends, is what pleases God!  It is by faith that we please Him and that we glorify Him! My Father, precious Lord of my life; Ruler of my everything, how wonderful; amazing; glorious You are!  I thank You for my friends today.  I thank You for those that You have brought into my life and for those who read this yet I don't know about.  You know them, Lord, and that is what matters most.  I pray, Lord, for these precious souls reading this humble little journal.  I ask, Father, in Jesus' name that You will minister to their hearts today.  Your Word says that we should prosper in health as our soul prospers.  I am asking that You will send encouragement to them today; that Your Holy Spirit would be with them in all things today and for those who know you - that Your Holy Spirit will be in them and upon them as they go about the day.  Show my friends how to bring You glory and honor by living for You all day long; not just those five minutes in the morning.  I pray especially for my friends whose spouses are away from home; that You would bring that special Comfort into their hearts.  Let me not forget to pray for them, Father, as I go about our day.  Cause me to remember always to pray for my special friends.  Father, I know that You have heard my prayer and I know that You have said YES to my requests.  I thank You for that!  And I thank You that it is Your love in my heart that causes me to yearn for them as You do.  Thank You, Lord, may You receive all the glory, honor, and praise this morning.  In Jesus' most precious, holy name I pray; Amen. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/539802/ Thu, 29 May 2008 07:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/539802/ It was a dismal job. Nobody wanted to do it. But the mountain had to be moved.   We sorted.  We washed.  We dried.  We folded.    As I brought in basket after basket of long-collected clothing, my children began picking and choosing their "Favorites".    Here was the plan:  Each one of us were assigned a rack with a shelf.  Whatever fit on that rack, we could keep.  Whatever did not fit - had to go.   It was tedious.  It was long.  More than once we dared to rest, but never gave up.  It was only by God's grace.  We were in too deep.  Waist deep.   We called to each other over the mountain, and over the sounds of the washer and the dryer; each plodding along in painful noisome affairs.  The task HAD to be completed!   We encouraged each other.  We yelled at each other.  We prayed together.   For those of you who know us well, you will believe me when I say - IT TOOK DAYSSSS.   But.  The mountain HAD to be moved.   At first the children delighted in all the hum and buzz.  At first, it was exciting.  But then the clothes stopped fitting on the racks.  The careless, effortless task was becoming thought-provoking.   There were choices to make.  Decisions to be made.  The tediousness of it wearied us.  But we dared not give in.  The mountain - Had to be moved.   Bags and boxes filled our porch hourly.  Bags and boxes left our porch daily as they were taken to the church for the upcoming sale.  We plowed along merrily; steadily; thinkingly and mostly - prayingly.   Evidence of the progress occurred and reoccurred in small heaps here ... and there ... as we journeyed along - hanging items; then discarding them to make room for the better items.   WE. DID. NOT. GIVE. UP.   My friends, I am here to tell you:  Mark 11:23 is no lie.  The mountain WILL BE moved!  God is faithful, and despite the weariness of it all, we are almost there to complesion!  I am the last one to get it all out.  But I am not giving up.  The mountain WILL BE MOVED!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/524565/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/524565/ I was just thinking about how awesome God is.    A lot of people pray that they can one day do great big things for God.  My prayer is a little different.  I pray that God will do great big things through me!  You see, no matter how little and insignificant I really am, my God is big.  He is big enough to do any thing.  Even with the littlest; the tiniest; the least of us.  I'm so in love with my God.  He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!  (Ephesians 3:20)   Here is my question to you today:  What is God doing through YOU?  Are you giving Him full access to your life?  Are you giving Him full control?  Are you giving Him ALL that you are; all that you have?  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/518589/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/518589/ "Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust]."  I Corinthians 4:2 Shalom!  New year is here, though God's first of the year won't happen until April ....      You may have noticed a few changes.  Deleted entries.  "Why for come?"  Did you see Philippians 3 in my About Me?  "... but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before ..."      It is not that I am ungrateful for the progress of last year, but being a new year with new lessons, I just want to focus on that.       Did you read the Scripture at the top of this entry?  You may be wondering what it has to do with anything.  Yet it has every thing to do with every thing!  My friends, it is REQUIRED of stewards to be found FAITHFUL in all things!       You may often feel that you are the sole owner of your home, but you are not.  All things in this world belong to the LORD.  And so - you are only a steward.  You are required to be found faithful keeping home.       I am wishing you a happy first quarter of the year 2008; a prosperous one with many lessons learned regarding stewardship and faithfulness.  LORD bless you. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/496637/ Thu, 6 Mar 2008 13:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/496637/ By... RhondaMama  Guess what?  I just found out ... That I have been tagged (nearly four months ago)!  Bored - I typed in my blog name to see what would come up, and there was her entry "I've Been Tagged"!   I wasn't online at the time - I'm guessing.  (Does that count for weird, btw?) Rules: Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 1. I'm wearing Christmas antlers on my head as I type.  Not j/k.  2. I walk barefoot into the sanctuary at church, but only in summer.  I'm not a hillbilly! 3. Is it weird that I can't think of anything weird (except that I rock myself to sleep the same way as Rhonda but I'm so not telling you that)? 4. I keep clutter so that I'll never run out of things to "organize". 5. I own three (actually 2+) pianos that I cannot play.  Because I don't know how. 6. I oft cover my head when I pray.  With the nearest "covering" - even a Looney Toons towel. 7. When I become stressed, I climb onto my husband's shoulders for height.  The arial view calms me. I'm tagging: Really - No one.  I'm sure that by now all of you have already been tagged by this tag and are now on to better tags!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/496377/ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hmschlmommy1/496377/