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.

When I'm an Old Lady

I heard this poem on a Nancy Cambell cd and was able to find it. I love it, It reminds me of all the busy and wonderful things they did and I have told mine repeatedly someday when I am old I am staying with each of them 5 weeks a year. ( 10 children times 5 weeks just about covers that) Please enjoy this. Maybe, I shouldn't show this to them just yet.

When I'm an Old Lady

by

Joanne Baily Baxter

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid.

And bring so much happiness just as they did.

I want to bring back all the joy they've provided.

Returning each deed! Oh, they;ll be so excited!

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

I'll write on the walls with reds, whites and blues.

And bounce on the furniture....wearing my shoes.

I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.

I'll stuff all the toilets and Oh, how they'll shout.

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

When they're on the phone and just out of reach

I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.

Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their heads.

And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,

I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat.

I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table.

And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm able.

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click.

I'll cross both my eyes, just to see if they stick.

I'll take off my socks, and throw one away.

And play in the mud "till the end of the day.

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh.

I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.

My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping.

And say with a groan, "She so sweet when she's sleeping."

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

We The People

The roof - think and improvise

Well, we now have boys that know how to put on a roof. Although it is a very small one compared to a house, the skills are the same. My husband taught them to tear off the old roof. Then they had fun using a chalk line to mark the rows for shingles. The only part they found hard was the peak as it was quite steep. Both for getting the roof off and getting the new one on.
We went out to this sight. We only caught a small part on video but when asked what he was doing- he said my husband's favorite saying; think and improvise!
He has a tie down strap that he fastened to the telephone pole to keep himself from falling off the roof! btw, it was his very thoughtful big sister who was giving him such horrid advice. And all from a distance.

Our "Free" Playhouse

We got this wonderful playhouse for our children on craigslist. It just needed a little TLC. Translation-$$$$

They are having so much fun fixing it up.

Here are the before pictures. We gutted the inside and the windows since it had lead paint. The boys pulled up all the carpeting and next step the roof.

Health and rest

I got out of the hospital a week ago today and I can't believe how tired I still am. I went into the hospital for iv steroids to build my lungs back up. I had acute bronchitis, acute ash ma and acute sinusitis. I have been sick off and on, (mostly on) since March with these same things and finally saw an allergist for them. By my 3rd visit in a week to her I was in the hospital. I do feel better than I have in months. I can take a deep breath without coughing. I am not wheezing when I walk, move, etc. I found out by the time you are wheezing your airways are already 80-90% abstructed. So it was no wonder I was tired, I had so little oxygen. I have had 7 rounds of antibiotics and 7 rounds of steroids before this and it got a little better and then worse again. So into the hospital I went on iv steroids and I feel so much better. But there are a lot of lifestyle, environment changes that need to be done too. We have to keep our house at 71 or less. We needed to get 2 dehumidifiers to keep the humidity level at 40% or less. We needed a HEPA air filter for the bedroom. Thankfully, we already had all hard floors downstairs so we didn't have to pull up carpeting. We had to enclose our mattress in an allergy mattress cover. We had to move all books and papers and shoes out of our bedroom. That was a huge job as we had an 8 ft long floor to ceiling bookcase in our room. And dust more, sweep more, etc. And I could not help with any of it. I still can't. I am not to do housework for a month. Now my daughter told me she would be doing a happy dance if she was told not to do housework. I just feel guiltily about everyone doing my work. Right now my job I was told is to rest. My dr told me if medicine would cure everyone drs would never be sick and live to a 100. Rest is the best medicine. This morning I straightened my room, made the bed, cleared off the top of the microwave and put a turkey on to cook and I was so tired I laid down to take a nap after that. That's not much. And I couldn't believe that was all it took to tire me out. So I will rest and try to return to health.

The house the children built

Last year during spring break, my children wanted to build a treehouse to play in. I didn't want them climbing the apple tree to build in so they built a play house/fort instead. The name depended on whether you asked the boys or the girls. I thought it would fall down in a day or so. But it was good experience and kept them busy and productive. I also limited them on hand tools only. The boys weren't quite happy with that but they managed. Sam was in charge cutting the boards to the same length. Remember they are using scrap lumber so it was all very uneven. What I thought would be a week long project only took them 2 days, They were out there morning until night as long as I would let them. I kept them supplies with drinks and snacks.

And they kept busy. And no fighting either. Since they all had so much to do they got a long quite well. I think that is one of the secrets to harmonious living, a common goal and lots to do.

They used a blanket for a door and my husband thought 10 pounds of nails. ( He went out one night after they went to sleep and either pounded or cut off the ends with a dremel tool. It took him 2 hours. It also lasted over 2 months. They had quite a good time until a huge storm came, I also think it had a little help falling down.

They learned a lot from this playtime. They used both math and construction skills. I knew they were listening when helping their father because they had no help with this at all. From the plans? to finding a door they did it all on their own. They learned teamwork. My oldest son said the best part was building it and now wants to do it again. He learned leadership and that it doesn't mean the same as bossiness or he would have trouble getting anyone to work with him. All in all it was a good experience that I hope to repeat.