A Servant's Heart

After reading this beautiful post this morning it is clear in my heart that there is nothing more valuable I can write today than to send you to read it. It made me cry.

Preparing

It seems like I am always preparing for something:

• the next meal
• the pantry for winter
• presents for Christmas
• baking for a baby shower
• baking for Christmas
• Oh, yes, Thanksgiving
• Advent - our family celebrates it!
• Did I mention Christmas and all the crafting we planned this year - fun but lots of work.

In the midst of this preparing, it is easy to miss some important preparing:

• One's heart with Thankfulness for the Lord's Provision
• One's heart to celebrate the Lord's Birthday

There is only one way I really do well at this, and that is to have the bulk of the outside the house stuff done before Advent so that Advent really is a time of preparing our hearts and looking forward to the joy of our Saviour's Birth!

Much is done, much more needs to be done.

Tomorrow morning we are heading to a book store to find some new Christmas reading. Each year we add a book for each girl and so does my husband's mom who is so dear to us - she also supplies the Advent Calendars each year!

So what books would you recommend we add to our library this year?

I will share my list next week....

A Time to Celebrate

The last 2 years have been interesting, brutal, and probably the most spiritually significant of my life so far. The health issues of the girls have had us all over the map, and the fact that they are so healthy now is nothing short of miraculous.

On Sunday we got a chance to celebrate with our new church family at one of the summer evening picnics. And it was wonderful!

The children played and had a great time. It was fun to see how many friends Miss Pear has!

We all sat around and ate our suppers.

Then we were called up to share our story of the past 2 years. My husband did a wonderful job of opening our time by making it clear this is all about what God has done and sharing the timeline of all the goings on, and then I shared the big lessons we had learned through this, and got to really say how wonderful God is!

Our pastor then led us in singing Praise to the Lord and prayer. While we were praying a present for the girls appeared, and they were thrilled to find it was the doll house they had loved so much. It was a very special, very meaningful, very appreciated gift.

We then shared cake, ice cream, blueberries, cookies and whatever other yumminess was put out and visited some more.

It was a very special evening, and even now I get a bit teary thinking about it.

It was wonderful to have a chance to stop the fast pace of life and thank God for His love, mercy, and blessings in our lives.

Happy Birthday!

Okay, so it is my birthday, and maybe yours today. But instead of the usual woo hoo I am a year older, I wanted to stop and tell you the three big lessons I have learned from God this past year in the hopes that it might encourage you.

1. God loves our children.
In the midst of all the girls health stuff this past year and three quarters I have learned that I will only ever have the tiniest glimpse of how much God loves our children. It is incredible.

2. God provides.
No matter how the numbers look from a logical earthly perspective, no matter how impossible situations seem, God provides. You may have to look back after the fact to see it, but He provides.

3. God is still in the miracle business.
Sometimes we throw this word around casually, and sometimes we discount what we see. But I want to tell you that God is sovereign, He is the Almighty, the God Most High, and He is still in the miracle business.

What are the big lessons that God is teaching you?

House of Prayer

Last night our family had a very special gathering. After supper we gathered at our front door to begin praying through our house. I don't often hear of other families doing this so I thought I would share what we do, and why we do it.

Let's start with why we pray through our house. I confess we have not done this on as regular a basis as we would like, but it is something we like to do. We want our home to be the Lord's home, filled with His presence, and His to use as He sees fit. We want our guests to be loved, nurtured and blessed by visiting our home. We truly want our home to be a sanctuary for our family. And honestly, once we have done it we just feel better in our home.

Now for some of the practicalities. After struggling to find a time to do this without people under 4 feet tall helping, and failing, we just decided to do it with them. While Baby gets a little distracted and more or less follows us around playing and dancing as she goes, Miss Pear joins us, exuberantly, asking to be the first one to pray in each area of our home, and I'm pretty sure that her prayers are a delight to God and probably have Him laughing out loud!

It is common to use oil to anoint door frames etc as they go along, but as we rent our home we decided to skip this step. To answer the inevitable question I always had about oil and until I finally got it, the oil itself is not powerful, any oil will do, even the cheapest of cooking oils, it is the act and intent that are important.

Some people begin outside and walk their property line as well, but with little helpers we just started inside our front door.

There is no wrong way to do this, except maybe to never do it, but it does help if you have a methodical plan to go through the house and an idea of what you are going to pray for in each room. Our practice is to scatter thanksgiving and praise in as we go along. Also, this does not take us a long time, 3 people prayed a relatively short prayer in each room and we moved on.

While this is not a thorough guide, and will certainly not work for all families, here is a rough idea of how I remember us praying, and odds are this is not how we will exactly pray the next time. I will put MP to mark the ways I remember Miss Pear praying because I was having a hard time keeping a straight face! In each room just focus on praying for what happens there and for it all to be pleasing to God and under His guidance.

Front door / entry way
That our home would be filled with God's presence, that it would be His home to use as He sees fit, and that all who enter here would be blessed and cared for. That all who enter would know that He lives here with us, He is not just an occasional guest.

Living Room
We prayed for fellowship, for growing in the Word.

Dining Room (Schooling Space)
MP - for fun stuff to do in school, and yummy meals
We prayed for our school time, that the girls would grow in their knowledge and love of God, for the guests who would join us at this table for meals, for God to bring those He wants around our table, for out family meals to be a blessing and time of close fellowship and sharing, that we would be encouraged as a family.

Kitchen
MP - Help mommy make yummy meals and desserts
We did pray for help in making nutritious and delicious meals, for provision, and for spiritual food as well.

Family Room
MP - fun toys to play with
We prayed for our time as a family as this is the room we most often end up in, for our family relationships to be loving and close, for help in caring for each other.

Laundry room - MP insisted - God to help mommy clean our clothes and make them smell good.

Stairs - safety

Office
We prayed for the managing of our household and finances, for the planning of school time, for the correspondence that goes out via various media, and for Bible study as this is where all our books are!

Guestroom/Sewing room
For the guests that God brings to be blessed, nurtured and loved in our home, and for creativity and time to sew.

Our Bedroom
We prayed for our marriage, for good sleep (often difficult for me), for our unity as a family.
This is also where we have family worship, we all pile onto our bed, so we prayed for that too.

Baby's Room
Her continued health and healing, her hip dysplasia check up in November, her spiritual growth and relationship with God.

Miss Pear's Room
Her continued health and healing, her cardiology appt in 2 weeks, her spiritual growth and relationship with God, and the girls' relationship as sisters.

Between the 2 rooms we also prayed for the girls to be good listeners and for God to help them behave (Miss Pear's request).

Now we did skip the hallways, bathrooms, closets, garage and would have skipped the laundry room had Miss Pear not insisted. Also, we almost skipped the stairs, but at the last minute we stopped and prayed for safety as the girls have had a number of near misses.

Do you pray through your house? What do you pray for?

Not All Days Go Smoothly

Last night we had supper with new friends. It was wonderful. So wonderful that all of a sudden I looked at my watch and commented how sorry I was that it had suddenly become so late! Our wonderful hostess commented that I was not to worry, we just had to watch for 7. It was 8. We had a great time.

But this morning, I had Grumpus 1 and Grumpus 2 on my hands rather than my sweet girls.

That's what we get for going out and having too much fun.

But in the craziness God spoke to me.

This afternoon life was suddenly getting to me in a big way. Miss Pear who DESPERATELY needed a nap did not nap. The afternoon was difficult.

But I was proud of myself, I got supper on the go! And it was perfectly on time!

But life was still nuts, so I was not too proud. And all of a sudden I could feel the day slipping in a direction that was not good for any of us.

So I stopped. Found my Kitchen Bible where Miss Pear had returned it after borrowing it, and flipped open to my spot in Psalms. And in Psalm 37: 3-4 I read:

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

And I stopped. I knew that this was a passage that was for me in this moment.

I let it roll around in my brain and heart as I opened some windows for fresh air and the girls watched out the front window for Daddy.

When the timer beeped I pulled out supper from the oven. I put the casserole down, and while I was still standing in front if it, it shattered. It literally split in 2 with such force I could hardly breath for a moment. I was shocked and afraid all at the same time. Supper was ruined. My casserole was destroyed. But there was no damage to anything else...namely me.

I was in that after state when your heart rate is still up and you still feel anxious even though it is over when my husband came home a couple minutes later. He had one question: was I okay? Of course I was, just feeling silly for still having the bejeebers scared out of me.

Then we pulled out the money we had been given to go out for supper on a night we needed it, we loaded the girls up into the car, and headed for our new favorite burger place. After our gift money we paid a whole $0.45 for supper. We had a great time, and stopped at the park on the way home.

When we got home the broken casserole was still on the counter as it had been too hot to do anything with.

I looked at it and was not the least bit anxious because in the scheme of things it did not matter. It could have pushed my day completely over the edge, but I had the "double edged sword" to do battle with, I had the Word in my heart and in my brain directing me.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;... feed on His faithfulness.
Ps 37:3

Wise Words

I have a friend who likes to speak God's love and truth into the lives of those around her. Life is not always easy, and that truth helps clarify our perspective.

I hear her say things to me like:

God loves you!
God is with you in this.
God is proud of you, you are His daughter!
I know you are confused, but God has one opinion on this, and He will tell you - go ask Him! (Okay, maybe this one is more of a push in the right direction).
You are precious to God.
Your family is precious/important to God.

You get the picture?

Here is what I hear. We are good enough friends that she wants to be certain I am listening to the truth and not the lies that go through my head some times. And she wants to encourage me.

Lord, help me to be an encourager to those around me with Your truth!

Can I tell you something?

God loves you very much. You are important to Him.

Lord's Provision

Sometimes things happen in weird ways. While we chose to move the Pacific Northwest believing that it is clearly God's will for us, it meant saying no to companies in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Had we accepted the position in Tennessee we would have been in Nashville in the midst of the terrible flooding.

This time it is clear almost immediately that one option was better than another for our family, but that is not always the case. In our time in Southern California I learned that I may not always understand what God is doing, or what His plan is, and while I like to have the whole map in front of me, God rarely works that way. While I may not know the path, I know the One who is leading, and His ways are always the best ways.

Our God is AMAZING!

No, this is not a Good Friday / Easter post.

This is just because God is amazing. The way He cares for the details of our lives is incredible. Actually, incredible is not a strong enough word, but I cannot thing of one that is.

This morning as we were finishing morning reading time the phone rang. A friend of ours calling to see if we would like her to play with the girls while I worked on a project that needed to be done. Turns out my husband has today off, and we needed to paint some trim on the house. So he painted, I held the ladder (our yard is sloped), and the girls played happily! Totally a God thing the way that worked out.

The moving company called and did not freak out when I gave them my "ideal" dates for everything. They will be here Monday for a walk through/survey...right before the real estate agents arrive to do what is necessary to list our house.

Mr. Pear's trip up North to find us a place to live is all scheduled with the ideal dates and times.

Our neighbors who sold their house moved out today and the new people are moving in Mondayish so there will not be a vacant house next to us. They said the first day they listed their house they had 15 showings. I nearly fainted.

We will be playing at our other neighbors on Tuesday morning - she promised me cake. I am bribe-able that way.

There is a church in our denomination up there whose pastor gets a high seal of approval from my friend, and the pastors parents go to our church!

God is confirming in many ways that we are following the path He has for us. In our lives He has always used "coincidences" to encourage us and confirm things. Such a blessing to have that confidence!

Now I must go clean something....

Using Your Gifts

Often we look around us and see great teachers, great encourages, prayer warriors, phenomenal organizers, and then we look at our selves and think we have nothing to offer, or in this season of life cannot offer anything.

Want to know how I know this? That is how I felt.

The women at my church are amazing, and each has found her niche. Me? not so much.

But this past month and a half I have.

I found a sweet spot in the women's prayer gathering that is a one Saturday morning a month for an hour time commitment. And I love it!

And I found another sweet spot that was made just for me.

Each year before Easter our Church hosts a Saturday morning VBS and a volunteer is needed to bring snacks for the other volunteers. Of course I signed up for that! I made my plan of what I would make and consulted the chief organizer (a dear friend of mine). She looked at the plan and did not say much, so I asked if she thought that would be okay. She said that in the past the person who did the snacks usually bought bagels. As word is spreading that the snacks will be homemade this year volunteers are getting excited! And that makes me feel great!

With all that has happened and Mr. Pear being on a business trip Thursday and Friday this year I cannot commit to be there and do all the training. But I could do this, and use the talent God has given me to bless and encourage others.

Baking like this does not seem like a big deal to me, in fact, in light of the response I am getting I am pretty sure I will feel a bit sheepish Saturday morning as I don't see it as a big deal, but the volunteers do, and more importantly this is my offering to God this Easter season.

Litany of the everyday part 2

I was talking to a friend and used the phrase litany of the everyday and she immediately was surprised because she took the word to me a boring repetition.

I had not thought about that, but it raised an interesting point. According to my Pocket Oxford English dictionary, the second definition of this word is "a boring recital", it is the first definition that I was referring to: "a series of prayers to God used in church services."

The confusion was humorous.

But then I started thinking about it, and thinking about the meaningless prayers we hear about in the Bible and are warned against, prayers that are prayed for show and not for soul. It got me thinking about how easily our daily life can go from being a litany honoring to God to a litany of mindless repetition!

Lord, please help me to worship you in the everyday, and serve You in even the smallest tasks.

Litany of the Everyday

Lately I have been more aware of Jesus in the everyday, in the little things that need to happen to care for my family. In the grand scheme of things not one of those things is earth changingly significant, but each of those little things that no one else sees are done with love because I love my family, and that makes a huge impact on the lives around me.

As I pour milk for my daughters I am reminded that it is the Word of God that nourishes, that when we are babes in faith we are fed milk, but then we grow to need the spiritual meat.

As I give our baby Tylenol for teething I am reminded of the pains that the Lord has comforted me through.

As I rub vitamin E lotion into our daughter's scar from open heart surgery I am reminded so vividly of the heart surgery the Great Physician has done in my life and is doing.

As I serve cheese bread with supper I am reminded of the Bread of Life.

More and more I see God in the everyday, I see how is teaching and reminding me, and I see how my service to my family is worship to Him.

And it makes me smile. It refreshes me and is like a cool glass of water for my very soul.

Cover to Cover, 90 Days

I know, I said I was taking a bloggy break, I had started my Christmas Break to focus on what is important, but during the start of the girls' naps when I was checking email and reading a few blogs something caught my eye, and I felt The Nudge, you know, the one that is God basically saying, "I hope you are paying attention, this is important." And because I bend to God's schedule, not the other way around, we interrupt this bloggy break for something important.

Mom's Toolbox is hosting a Bible in 90 Days Read Along, starting January 1. Today she is asking if we are in, and is asking us to explain why.

Well, the key reason I am in is because God said to.

Okay, done.

Okay, maybe there is more.

There were many a year that I read the Bible cover to cover in the course of a year. And that was great, but it sucked to wait until September to hit the Gospels. Then I had kids and stuff got a bit crazy, I threw out the calendar to read wherever I felt led, and then just started reading a Psalm and and a Proverb a day and another chapter (alternating between OT, OT Wisdom, Gospel, Epistle), before finally just reading wherever I felt led. And that kind of worked but I have found I am not reading as much as I would like to. So this sounded like an excellent way to kick start my reading routine again.

But let's be honest, the second biggest reason for taking on this challenge is the fact that our 4 year old is having open heart surgery January 11. (Before you panic, she is very healthy and her aortic valve is currently healthy, but that will not remain the case without surgery). At first glance this could be a reason NOT to do this, after all, when will we have time? But that is why I need to do this. Without the accountability, the encouragement, my Bible will sit, or it will be picked up for only a chapter at a time. But this is the time when I need to all but drown in the truth and comfort of God's word. When I know I will need God's word more than ever. When my time will be crunched more than ever. When I will be at the end of my mommy rope more than ever.

And so I am signing up for the challenge.

Read the Bible

Cover to cover

90 days

about 4 times my previous rate

Will you join us?

How often do you read your Bible? Is there a schedule you like to follow? Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? (Current Favorites: OT - Haggai, Micah; Gospel - John; NT - Ephesians) Do you have a Bible Reading goal for 2010?

We will now resume our previously scheduled bloggy break (but will read any comments joyfully).

Christmas is Coming

...in my heart it might as well be Christ is coming!

I love the anticipation of Advent, the preparations, the present wrapping, the baking, the excitement, the fun. But most of all I love how our hearts begin to anticipate, we not only anticipate Jesus' birthday, but also I think the longing in our hearts activates and we begin to anticipate Jesus' second coming.

The presents are all wrapped, just 2 needing ribbon and one to be gifted the day after Christmas needing my attention. Cookie baking will be done today leaving only a slice or two and the logs to be done. Of course I will be making 2 double batches of cinnamon buns, but there is time for that still.

It is busy, it is fun, it is chaotic, and I LOVE it, and pray that each part will be about celebrating the wonderful gift of Jesus.

Advent Wreath Resource

On Sunday night we were invited to friends' church for their family Advent event, which focused on getting families prepared to lead the advent wreath lighting with a small devotional, 3 excellent crafts for the kids and a pizza supper. It was wonderful!

The key reason we are using an advent wreath is to focus our hearts and minds on the true meaning of Christmas. So often it is easy to get caught up in the craziness of this season that we lose track of the important stuff. The WHO, the WHY!

At breakfast time we are sticking with our usual Bible reading of one chapter of the Gospels.

At lunch time, once the table is cleared, we are lighting the appropriate candle(s) and using this guide. (lest you think we are spending boat loads of time, yesterday the candle wax barely started to melt before we were done and blowing it out as we headed for naps!)

And at supper we are lighting the advent wreath and reading from our devotional Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah (William Barclay Library).

It took us until Wednesday to figure this out, but at least we did figure it out and we are moving forward this year. I feel quite victorious after a few years of good intentions not paying off and my efforts being thwarted.

Check out this post for a bit more on how they do their advent wreath. (This is where I found the link to the guide we are using.)

Already I am finding that this is easy to do because the planning is done, we just read for that day, it is not taking a lot of extra time, it is allowing us to bring scripture to the lunch table (a goal we had been working to), and it is truly helping to keep us focused on Jesus and not the baking/wrapping/mailing lists!

If you do not have an advent wreath this year, let me encourage you to put one together with what you have, it is such fun and so encouraging! Just be sure to keep your candle wicks trimmed for safety! :-)

So, who else has an Advent Wreath this year? What do you do?

***********

After I finished this post up I read Ann's post called What Advent is Really all About, good reading.

And then I found this post called What is Advent?

Finally, An Advent Wreath

I have always loved the idea of an Advent wreath, but each year my plans are thwarted. Either the form is sold out, I think of it too late, or the ones I love are too expensive or large for our small table. Plus there is always the safety issue, and most are not safe with little ones and a small table where they can reach a lot.

Last year I mapped out a rough plan for an advent wreath that would fit on our table and be to our liking. Once again my plans went awry, and it was clear that if we wanted an Advent wreath this year I was going to have to make one with what I had on hand and be creative.

Step 1: I checked my gift wrap stash and found purple tissue, pink tissue and silver wired ribbon that had last served as hair bows.

Step 2: Checked my candle supply and found white tappers and white tea lights...excellent, we are on a roll!

Step 3: Grabbed a candle holder from our wedding to hold the Christ candle.

Step 4: Went to grab the 4 tea light holders only to strike out. What? Where else could they be? We scour the likely places and strike out again! This will never do.

Step 5: Stop and think hard. In the mean time grab the glass plate I knew would be perfect and fit on our small table.

Step 6: Grab 4 quarter pint canning jars....uh oh, there are only 3 empty...ask Miss Pear if she would like a fruit cup for snack. She reminds me that we are making the advent calendar, and I tell her that unless we have another empty canning jar we are not. She grins and eats up.

Step 7: Wash 4th quarter pint canning jar that you made your daughter eat for a snack (keeping in mind that it is her favorite snack).

Step 8: Cut tissue paper and wrap it around the jars, secure with ribbon, insert tea lights. Wrap ribbon the Christ candle and place everything on the plate.

The results will be as follows:




Finished just in time for the night before Advent, and sitting on the table when we got home from Church on Sunday to light the first candle.

Can I tell you how thrilled I am for a make do with what you have project? In my Christmas serving ware I have some small glass Christmas trees which I will be placing amongst the jars in place of the evergreen boughs to remind us of Christ's undying love for us.

Each night at supper we are lighting the appropriate candles and reading that day's reading of Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah (William Barclay Library), our favorite Advent devotional.

What does your family do in this time leading up to Christmas? Do you celebrate Advent? I would love to hear the details!

Thinking and growing

Unfortunately the Bible does not contain any promises of life being easy, in fact, it actually promises that in this life we will have difficulties, that we should not be surprised or discouraged when they come.

Obviously life has been a little crazy around here and difficulties have been frequent guests (maybe not invited, but guests nonetheless!) Through it all, I know one thing: God is faithful.

I am still camping out in Ephesians with occasional forays out to other books to follow themes through the Bible or look up cross references. But right now it is this passage in Ephesians that is catching my attention:

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

If life was easy would I be growing in the knowledge of God? Probably, but slowly, and not as soul deep. Would I do almost anything to spare my girls what they would face? Yes! But I am not given that option, so instead I give thanks for the excellent medical care they have, and turn to God again and again with a heavy mommy heart, now knowing that He truly can be trusted with all parts of my life.

I won't have a chance to check in again before Baby's procedure Monday morning, but will try to leave a quick note Monday when she is napping to let you know how it went. Thank you for praying for us.

Getting Ready

It seems like so much time and energy is spent getting ready right now. Getting ready for Baby's procedure on Monday, for Thanksgiving, for Advent, for Christmas, for Boxing Day, and for Miss Pear's surgery. So much to do, so much I want to do.

This week has been busy. Yesterday while I took Miss Pear to get her N1H1 vaccine Mr Pear got Baby registered at the surgery center. In the afternoon we found out that, as parents of Miss Pear, we were cleared to get our vaccine now too, so that was this morning. It is strange to think that we need the vaccines now to ensure that they are fully functioning and we are fully healthy for the arrival of January.

I have a list of cooking and baking for the holidays and I am scouring the lists to see what I can do early and freeze. Which makes me think about January and what I can prepare in advance, how I can stock the freezer and pantry to make life easier.

We are almost done Christmas shopping, just and Amazon order left to do in December. It is mostly things we need this year under the tree with a toy for each of the girls from us, and one from each other. There are a couple things to be wrapped and shipped. And a Christmas garland with Isaiah 9:6 to be made.

Somehow it feels like my mind and body are in full preparation mode.

And in the midst of this I must be careful not to neglect my heart.

I must not forget to focus my heart on the Lord during Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas, but also during this stress of our girls health issues. The crazier the time the more we need Him. The more pressed we are the more time we need to carve out. It seems contradictory, but a heart focused on God can carry a heavier load because it does not carry it alone.

Living Word

So often as I read the Bible it seems like a specific passage pulls me in, speaks to me, prompts me in some way. Lately I have been camped out in Ephesians. A friend called and wanted to talk about something in Colossians, we did, but I immediately returned to Ephesians. And I cannot say why, except that it seems to be where the Lord wants me right now. There is a prayer at the end of chapter 1 that speaks to my heart right now, a prayer for spiritual wisdom.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1: 15-23 NKJV

I am just me

In this past week I have talked to a friend who is taking all three of her children to an amusement park, by herself.

I have read about the incredible, crafty introduction to home school that one mom launched including MAKING A VASE OUT OF PENCILS!

I have read about another mom of many children who makes the majority of their clothing.

I have talked to another mom about the large garden she is processing to feed their family through the winter.

I have read a nutritional cookbook that puts my cooking and baking to absolute shame.

I have read various homeschooling sites about what to do and what to use.

All this pretty much made me feel useless and like I was doing a horrible job.

I like to be crafty and creative, but this takes me a long time because I have to work hard on it.

I love to cook and bake for my family, but right now I am keeping things simple because every time I am in the kitchen Baby follows me and alternately rubs her head on my leg to get me to look at her and smile, or sits on my feet. It is fun, but it means keeping life simple.

I love homeschooling, Miss Pear is 4, but since the age of 1 her doctors have been telling us that she is advanced for her age, and to be prepared for that, so there is a lot of stuff that she is doing early. Therefore, we are doing a mix of preschool and kindergarten, so many excellent kindergarten or preschool programs just don't work for us, no matter how great they are. We go our own path and move at our own speed. And I am good with that.

Some days I am lucky if I can get the wash done, never mind get to the sewing machine. But my family has clean clothes to wear and all the mending is caught up with only 2 shirts waiting to be ironed.

I love having garden fresh food! However the Lord has given us a small yard, so I plant what I can and enjoy it. Tomatoes are starting to finally ripen this week.

There are a lot of women that excel in lots of areas, or shine so brightly in a few that they leave the rest of us in the dust. But we don't see the other areas of their lives, the areas where they are weak, or that they might neglect.

I cannot be all those other women, I cannot excel in all those areas without my family suffering greatly.

All I can do is be the woman God made me to be, and care for the family He gave me. Each family has different needs and is nurtured in different ways.

I am just me, and I am good with that.