An Attitude of Blessings

I have a choice on how I decide to view whatever happens. I can chose to look at it as a blessing or as not. This weekend I spent 2 evenings in the ER. That was not how I would have chosen to have spent them but I am choosing to be thankful that medical care is nearby and available should be needed. I am thankful at how kind the dr's and nursed were there. And that I could go home and spend tonight in my own bed. I would, should be sleeping but one of the meds causes insomnia so I guess I have time to write this blog. Our circumstances may vary but each one of us can choose how to view them. Is your glass half empty or full. I have a member of my family that this is hard for and I am accused of walking with rose colored glasses. But I like the color rose so I think I'll stick with it.

Filling My Own Tank

Because You are My Help. I Will Sing in the Shadow of Your Wings.
Psalms 63:7

I love early mornings. I am a "morning" person, I do naturally wake up early and get a lot more done then than any other part of the day. But that is not the main reason I like them. This is the time I fill my own tank.

I rise early, get dressed and a cup of hot tea and have time with the Lord. I read my Bible, prayer for my family and even sing, although quietly. Many times people have heard I have 10 children and ask "How do you do it?" This is how, I make time for me, before anyone else is up and fill up, so I have something to give to my family. Sometimes I have time for other things, exercise (although not right now), email, writing, phone calls; but I make time for me first, before any one else is awake. I have been learning if I don't take care of me I can't do a good job of taking care of anyone else. So I put this first.

My Refuge and Strength

God is my refuge and my strength;
an ever-present help in a time of trouble.
Psalm 46:1

I spent 4 days last week in the hospital. Severe asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, iv steroids. I have had enough steroids to make the Incredible Hulk seem benign. And this is the 2nd time in the hospital in just over 3 months. The hospital was a safe place to be and recuperate, a refuge. But my refuge, Who I run to over and over is not a place but a Person. My God. I have not been strong through this but He is. I struggled simply to breathe. God can do all. When I struggle to breathe the thoughts are fairly consuming with all God can do. That even though hospitals are a great help, He is my Healer. Jehovah Rophi- God Who Heals.

Ever-present- I need to make God present in every thought , not just when sick or in times of trouble, although that is an easy time to think of Him. Didn't we as children run to Mom or Dad when we had a problem? Why is it so easy to just go on with our days without a thought when things are going well? Why do I want to be so self sufficient? What about God sufficient?

I plan on using this time to be more ever present of God, His Strength; my refuge.

Schedules and order- mine or His

I love lists and schedules. You can ask my family; I have numerous notebooks. My documents has files just for past schedules. I have a palm pilot, a datebook and a calender. I have post-it notes and clipping inside my cupboard doors and taped to doors. I love the order of it. Of having plans made and followed? But they don't always work. Kids get sick, or in our house Mom is the one to get sick more often. Interruption's happen; the phone rings, someone stops by or a child just has to show you this right now! But these are my plans, my lists. I have been pondering a quote from a book for a few days now and trying to piece this into my life for what God wants. But maybe that is what is wrong. I can't piece in what I want from God, He wants the whole pie!





"The Lord is beckoning to me to rest in Him--to cease striving and allow Him to order my day. I had unknowingly placed more trust in my ability to manage than in God's plan for my life. I had allowed schedules and expectations to replace the assurance that God's Grace was sufficient - always and no matter what."



Lorraine Curry-Easy homeschooling Companion

So as a busy wife, mom, homeschool teacher, daughter, and homemaker as I juggle all these roles I must also remember I have a role as a follower of Christ. And even though it is the quietest, it is also the most important. And while He doesn't clamor for attention, He still wants it but just quietly waits until I come to Him. And rest.

What is your perspective?

I am in charge of my own perspective. Not my circumstances, my house, children, their actions or anything else. When I come into the dining room and see the "tent" my children have created and the "store " underneath with all the boxes, dishes and whatever else they found; I can think how creative they are and be thankful they have good imaginations or I can see a mess and tell them to quickly clean it up. I have been guilty of the later more than the former more often than I like to remember. It is very easy to see the mess that was just cleaned rather than the memories that were just created.

In the south theirs a saying" If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." And isn't that the truth. We set the tone for our home. We are in charge of our attitudes and the atmosphere in our home. When we have a day when things don't go quite right we can choose to keep our attitude right in the midst of it. You can put on a happy face, a little lipstick won't hurt either. We are an example for our children in this. Do they see you rising above the circumstances of life or blaming them for all the things that aren't quite right. Our children are watching more than listening. Do you set a happy tone?

When I go through our day I need to look at the things and see the blessings that are in my daily life. The many meals I cook are because we have food to eat and dishes to wash. We sweep the floor often because we have a lot of feet rushing through the house. I am thankful I picked out flooring in the backporch to match the dirt color in the yard because although I love spring, in our yard it is also mud season. But it is also the season for my fronr yard to be filled with lovely crocuses.

By changing your own persective, who knows how many others you will influence?

Cherishing our Children

It is very easy to get caught up in feeding our children, clothing, educating, training , teaching, and on and on. This this is endless. But to cherish them is a different time and effort. Webster's defines cherish as to hold dear, to show affection for, to keep or cultivate with care. It is more being than doing. It is taking the time from the lists of things to do and simply share in your child's sense of wonder. My "littles" are now 4 and 6. Where did the time go? I take great delight in watching them enjoy life. My husband bought some new swings for the swingset yesterday. My 4 year old was off running. I heard him yell"thanks, Dad" as he ran as fast as he could to keep up with the rest to play on the new swings. Of course, they weren't up yet. But the look on his face was wonderful to see. My 6 year old loves to sit on my lap and I type one handed at the keyboard still and loves to sing. I see my now 10 year old daughter looking so grown up but still loves Mom to brush her hair.
In the movie Yours, Mine and Ours (one of my favorite, the one with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball) the most poignant line is when she is writing to her husband away at sea. "The days seem long but the weeks stream by." I remember when I had 5 children 6 and under, it seemed like the days would never end and I would collapse into bed at the end of the day. And older mothers would say, you'll miss this one day. I do. I don't have the energy I did with my older children, but I wouldn't give it up for the wisdom I have gained. Although, it certainly would be nice if my children would share a little of theirs. I stop more and look and listen. I love to watch them. That used to feel like a waste of time, to just sit and watch. But as time keeps speeding up I don a lot more of that. Some from less energy and I hope some from just being wiser.
Today I have a list of things to do. But one thing on that list is a hot dog and marshmallow roast with my children, whether the rest of the list is done or not.

Donna Reed-Aussie style

These women no longer think the Dark Ages were so dark but something to long for and try to attain. Even Gloria Steinem finally stated "you can't have it all", at least not all at once.

You can see this interview http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=824791 with the Housewife Superstars. Women who glady gave up working outside the home to take care of the home, children, and husband. Free to use their creativity at home. There is something emensely satisfing about eating bread and jam you made with your own hands. Or wearing an apron, setting a nice table and serving a healthful, beautifully prepared meal to your family. Reading your child a story and playing together and not being to tired to do so. After having been on both sides of the street so to speak I can say this is the life I am glad to have.

What God has taught me through the fire.

After writing yesterday about evaluating material and my life I went back to a few years ago when I once again had no voice and contemplated God's mercy and kindness in dealing with me. We had a fire in March of 2005 and I was inside, I ended up breathing in a lot of smoke and lost my voice for about a month. We had many blessing during this time and I had written about waht God had taught me for myself and then ended up sharing it with my Sunday School class through the teacher. Anyway, I thought it might encourage or bless someone so I am posting it here. I must be a slow learner.


What God has taught me through the fire. Count it all joy.

Peace. ..God has given me peace in all of the circumstances he gives us. He alone is
responsible for a peace that passeth all understanding. He has blessed our family through
very good friends who were there with us while we were waiting. They helped get things
our family and children needed. He gave me good neighbors to help and comfort us
while I was waiting on the firemen. He gave us good friends to wait with us and go and
get what was needed with out asking and it was wonderful. We knew many people cared,
we knew God cared. And I knew we were in the midst of His care.

Faithfulness... I have seen God's faithfulness through this so many times. Through the
insurance company. They have been prompt, kind and helpful. Through our church
family, our home school group, neighbors, dear friends, cards, letters, phone calls
(although that has been more one sided since I haven't had my voice.) A home beyond,
which we couldn't have imagined. We were given wonderful landlords who blest us by
lending us their home with all their furnishings so we wouldn't have as much to do right
away. It has a huge backyard for the children with a swing set, playhouse, and a deck
with picnic tables and a firepit for family campfires.

Blessings. ..I was talking with my daughter the other night and she wants her home back.
Her "real home." Not the one we're in. The home we are in now is temporary while our
home is being fixed. But that home too is temporary. Our real home is not here but
heaven. How often I can get earthly minded and comfortable with this home and not
thinking about my eternal home.
I am looking through decorating books, kitchen books, windows, etc. I am planning and
dreaming about what it will look like. There are a lot of decisions that will affect how we
will live for a long time. Big decisions and little ones, daily decisions. But what about all
the decisions we make now on a daily basis. Don't these affect our whole lives? Our
eternal lives. And our families. Do plan, dream and realize the affect of these decisions is
I deliberate or am I on autopilot, not realizing or being deliberate in the far-reaching
consequences. This is my opportunity to choose the best. Not just good or even better, but
God, what is the best that you have for me?

Thankfulness. ... I am so thankful to be alive. I take it for granted my mortality, that we
raise our children and go about our daily business. But God so easily could have called
me home that day. And while it would have been glorious seeing Jesus, I am so thankful
to again have the opportunity to serve Him. To serve my husband and children through
Him. To grow old with them and see their lives and do my part in it.

Silence Or close to it. I have had laryngitis for weeks now. It doesn't seem like this is
a blessing or something to be thankful for, yet I have learned many things. I had all these
things to do, organize. Now I couldn't talk on the phone, (horrors) I did talk rarely but
most people had a hard time understanding me and I couldn't speak long. We didn't
have Internet access so I couldn't even talk through email. But I had that time to be with
my family. My children had to learn to listen for me whispered voice. (Hopeful
preparation for a still small one.) I had a white board another daughter had gotten me so
they read a lot. I learned not to speak unless it was important. (Not idle chatter) I had to
save my voice for the really important things. Telling them I loved them, how much they
what little voice I had on them answering the same question over and over, so they
learned to listen closer. Many times they had to look at me to be sure of what I was
saying. So I mad the time to look at them too. So many things I knew and also knew I
was busy. I didn't have time to just sit still. God has taught me there is a time to just sit
still. It is still hard but I am learning. I have a friend and older daughters who have been
challenging me on that. We have been in this house for 1 week and I see do many things
to do yet. "Are you resting," they ask? "Yes" I reply. " How long, 10minutes?" They
know me well. I have now learned to type one handed, lying on the bed so I can indeed
say I am resting. That is rest, right?
I have also learned my being silent has been a blessing in my husband and
my relationship. Don't get me wrong, I love to talk to my dear husband but it has also
made me aware of a number of things. I can't give him directions when he drives. (I drive
many more hours than he does so I do know my way around better, but does it really
matter?) I haven't offered my opinion on little things. I was saving what little voice I had
on things that matter. (Gee, if they don't matter now, why did they) I haven't offered
needless corrections. (Who cares if it happened Tuesday or Wednesday?) God has been
teaching me to have a meek and quiet spirit through silence.

God sees the Big Picture My husband has been looking for a different ob this year. I
couldn't understand why he hadn't gotten one. He has years of experience and perfect
attendance. The two things most places are always looking for. But God knew what else
He had in store for us this year. He knew Jim still needed to be where he was. His
company gave him 3 days off with pay for disaster pay and since he has been there so
long he was able to be off with all of us for 2 Y:2weeks. Long enough to get somewhat
settled in a different home, to reassure our children and to meet with contractors and
insurance adjusters. He would not have been able to do that anywhere else. Now I am
able to keep that in mind being sick still. You could say I am sick and tired of being sick
and tired. I have been sick over a month now. A lot of it barely able to talk, at least not a
lot. I have not been able to read to my children, and really talk with my husband about all
of this going on. It has been a lot of monosyllables and writing short sentences on a
whiteboard. I have been trying to listen a lot more. It still doesn't make sense to me, but I
do know that God has purposes that I can not see. And I am learning that is okay too.

Time I have been treasuring it. It is one thing that cannot be replaced, bought or saved.
You use it every day. You don't get a second chance to redo yesterday. I need to make
the most of each day, hour, minute. We look ahead and see how much we have to do.
How slowly the time passes with little ones, how quickly it passes as we age and see our
children grown up. I have one in diapers and one married, (with many in between) there
is a large gap in their ages, yet I know my youngest will too be married and on her own
one day. How will I spend today? What is most important? How did I invest my time?
Did I use it to further relationships? Or my to do list? Did I spend time with God? Teach
my children about Him? Spend time with my husband, children? These are eternal. My
home will not be there. It has already proven it could go up in flames so why do I view it
as so important. It is a tool, a vessel to shelter my family, offer refuge to my husband, be
a place of togetherness. But all that must be in my heart first. That is the place that must
be filled first, over flowed onto others. They are the ones I need to invest in and treasure.

Evaluating material for our children

“Do I consider the material I am examining essential for my children’s pursuit of God and godliness, or is it merely peripheral? Is this idea or that thought indispensable for their walk in the Spirit, or is it only incidental? And most important, will it stir within them a thirst for God, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to represent Him well as salt in the earth.”

Changed into His Image by Jim Berg

I have been laid up for almost a month now with pneumonia. The pneumonia is now gone from my lungs but it really messed up my asthma and I am on different meds to try and get it back under control. Through all this I haven't had a voice above a whisper so I have to choose very carefully the things I need to say since I can't say it all. I also have paper and pen but I still don't write as fast as I could talk. It is very limiting. But also, I am limited to the necessary. My children have been wonderful about pitching in together and meals, housework. They have brought me tea, water, books and movies. But I have looked at the superfluous that I have been doing. When it is hard to breathe, many,, many things are unnecessary. So I am looking for what changes I need to be making. Where do I need to cut and what?
When you go into a store they have listings for items; good, better and best. We have those same choices. But so many times we fall into a pattern or a rut and just do what we have always done. So God has given me this time to evaluate the good, better or best in my life and I am planning some changes. I want things in my life, my husbands, life and my children's lives that will stir up a thirst for God, that will cause them to pursue Him and represent Him all of our lives and I am willing to do whatever I can to change that. Examine your life, don't wait for God to take you in hand so you are dependant on Him for your next breath. (We are anyway but you don't have to sound like Darth Vader doing so.) Ask Him where you need to change.