Cleaning Up Spills

We started our day all wrong today: behind schedule, tired mom, grumpy kids, messy house, angry words - and that was just trying to get through our devotions!

God used this to break my heart and to remind me of my calling as a mom - not only what I'm supposed to do, but who I am supposed to be.

I'll never look at a dish towel the same way again!

A Life Half Done

As I look back over the past 35 years of my life, I realize that I've spent most of it wanting to learn how to do things: how to be a good student, how to be a good wife and mother. How do I: manage a home, raise, train, disciple, love kids, cook meals, homeschool my kids, study the Bible, learn doctrine, grow as a Christian, organize my time, remodel an old home, landscape my yard, quilt, sew, crochet, - etc. Most of my reading has been instructional in all these areas - and I have learned a great deal. I'm grateful for the many authors who have mentored me through growing as a Christian, discipled me through the many stages of motherhood and taught me about being a wife.

Recently, though, I've been expanding my reading and have come across some authors who are a little less "instructional" and more thoughtful and sensitive; they see life through a slightly different lens - a contemplative, meditative and poetical one. They're after the same things - to learn how to glorify God with their lives in the place that He has planted them- but they've been gifted to express it in a beautifully reflective manner. Instead of telling me what or how I should be doing something - they just live quiet and worshipful lives and they inspire me to do the same.

During my long weekend away at Morro Bay, we took time to "rest in the God of Nature" by enjoying all the small gifts along the way: beautiful sunsets, a rainbow during a rainstorm, brilliant colored flowers, miles and miles of green vineyards, and breathtaking scenery along the coast.

Now that we're home, I don't want to lose the wonder or the gratefulness for the everyday, ordinary gifts that God grants to us each day. I don't want to be so busy organizing my life and tending to my schedules, running to meetings or reading about how I can improve my management skills- that I fail to notice and be thankful for the beauty God gives me daily - here at home, in my house, with my family.

So, with my life half done, I want to live the next half still pursuing growth and new skills - but with the added dimension of slowing down and taking the time to notice beauty, express gratitude and see life through a new lens- one that's thoughtful, deliberate and meditative. I just need to find a book to show me how.

Taking Time for Poetry

During our weekend away, we discovered a poet, George Herbert that we enjoyed.

The Pulley

WHen God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by; Let us (said he) pour on him all we can: Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span. So strength first made a way; Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honor, pleasure: When almost all was out, God made a stay, Perceiving that alone of all his treasure Rest in the bottom lay. For if I should (said he) Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts in stead of me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: So both should losers be. Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness: Let him be rich and weary, that at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast.

Household Notebook

I've spent the last 4-6 weeks updating my Household Notebook - it's my "Command Central" for running our house and family. It's where I keep our calendar, weekly planning charts, daily to do lists, schedules, menu and meal planning, chore lists, financial, medical, and school information, diet and exercising tracking, holiday planning, remodeling and project ideas, birthday calendars and gift ideas, contact lists, prayer lists, discipleship plans for each of the kids, creative ideas for encouraging Ron and the kids, family night activities, vacation planning, etc. And at the back, I have sections for other responsibilities with church, SGA, Pastors' Wives, Leaders' Wives, youth group, etc.

As our family has grown and our responsibilities increased over the years, I can't keep all this information in my head - it has been a great help in reducing stress by knowing that it's all in one place and it's there to keep me on track with my priorities.

I've tried to use Day Runners and DayTimers and other types of home management notebooks, but finally decided to custom make my own to fit my specific life and activities. I've gotten great ideas from other homeschoolers and bloggers who've demonstrated theirs with photos and provided detailed instructions on line.

This year, I've tried to make it visually interesting by adding some creative paper and scrapbooking embellishments to it - so it's enjoyable to look at each day as I use it. Making this notebook has helped spark new vision for what I'm doing in managing our home and family. And it's leaving me more time to think about other things - friends, family, reaching out to neighbors, having people over for hospitality, reading, being freed up to enjoy some hobbies...

Organization: It's a GOOD Thing!

A Time for Rest

Ron and I took a few days off to drive to one of our favorite spots: Morro Bay. We had two and a half days of breathing deeply, enjoying beautiful landscapes, taking long walks along the water, sipping coffee at quaint cafes, strolling through Cambria, reading poetry, watching waves, and taking time to be quiet - and notice all the good gifts God has given us to enjoy.