Looking back... it's been six weeks since I last added to my list of One Thousand Gifts hosted by Ann at A Holy Experience.
Honestly, there have been more times than I can count in these last days when I would think "oh, I'm going to add this to my list of One Thousand Gifts" only to lose the thought about 30 seconds after it went through my mind.
Life has been crazy. I'm learning that it is up to me to slow it down... to stop... to cease... to be still and know that He is God and that it is He that has made me and not me making myself and I am a sheep of His pasture. Wisdom comes with age and I am also learning that life will not slow down naturally.... instead, it seems to pick up speed with each passing year.
...starting where I left off six weeks ago, I am grateful for these gifts bestowed upon me by my Creator, my Sustainer, my Deliverer, my God... numbers 21- 36 on my growing list of gratitude...
... a restful picnic day yesterday with my church family
... watching my children play uninhibited amongst friends who love them for who they are
... the occasional times when the not-so-little-one still climbs into my lap
... the comfort of air conditioning on a hot summer night
... new friendships that feel as comfortable as my flip flops
... the seventeenth summer with my man
... the responsibility I'm seeing in my children
... the love my daughter has for Jesus
... the joy of friendships that have stood the test of time
... the freedom we still have in this country to outwardly praise Him
... watching the joy of fireworks on the faces of my children
... enjoying fresh summer produce
... early morning snuggles and late night kisses
... children who have grown up enough to enjoy sleeping in
... a man who willingly works overtime to provide cash for our upcoming camping trip
I love learning new things... and in this bloggy world, I have learned much.
My lesson today... did you know that you can SCHEDULE your post to publish at a different time than when you finish writing it?!?
Ok... so maybe the world knew this and I'm just learning but I just discovered this little nugget of blogging truth.
So, I'm testing it... hopefully, if it all works out well, this post will be published in a few hours rather than now... and, if this works, I can use this little tool as I post reviews for TOS!! Woo hoo (especially considering my first review is due when we will be camping...)!!
I feel like my husband each Sunday as he sets up and tears down sound equipment for our church.... testing... 1... 2... 3...
My sister has shared with me that she is envious of our laid-back schedule during the school year. One of the joys of homeschooling, for me, is the fact that our school days can be relaxed and laid-back. The longer I homeschool (just finished year 8), the less I rely on the clock and calendar and the more relaxed I become. Summer, though, is another story...
Actually, I don't feel like we've even experienced summer yet... you know those long lazy days of summer with nothing to do.... We finished school in mid-May and immediately began 4H projects. This is when the tables are turned.... While my sister blogs about camping trips and days at their local beach... we are swimming in 4H... meetings here and there, practices, chores, and projects galore!
Our 4H projects are due on Monday and our local Fair begins the following Saturday. I will be posting much about 4H in the next few weeks... including how well my kids did on their projects. Until then, though, here's a tribute to my fellow 4H moms...
You might be a 4H mom...
...if you have spent more time in your vehicle in the past 3 weeks than in your own home... you might be a 4H mom.
... if your dog automatically walks out the door to your truck for the many, many dog training meetings she is used to going to... you might be a 4H mom.
... if you have a box of finished projects safely tucked away... you might be a 4H mom.
... if this is what your cart at Hobby Lobby looks like... you might be a 4H mom.
... if your table looks like this...
... or your ottoman looks like this...
... or if your kitchen looks like this... you might be a 4H mom!
...I've heard it said that 4H builds character in your children. I'd like to politely disagree with that statement. I think 4H has built more character in me than in my children... patience, patience and more patience!
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Here's the postscript to my last post on my sister's birthday...
Me (driving around doing 4H errands): "Today is Aunt Gabe's birthday. She's 39."
Emily: "That's creepy"
Me: "What?! Why is that creepy?"
Emily: "Because 39 is old!"
Me: "If 39 is old, what does that make me?"
Emily: "WAY old!!"
For a few days now, I've had the thoughts of this post running through my mind. There is so much I wish to say and words fail me.
Thirty-nine years ago today, God blessed me with an incredible sister. I wish I could say that I recognized the blessing right away. According to the stories that I have heard from both my mom and my grandmother, I was less than thrilled at the prospect of being a big sister... to the point of not talking to my mom for a couple of days when she showed me my new baby sister.
I'm just stubborn enough that I didn't really realize the blessing of my sister until I was in my 20s. Pathetic, eh?
However, twenty years later, I can say that not only do I recognize the blessing of my sister, I love her deeply. She is an amazing woman....
~my sister mothers five children all at the same time! That blows my mind!! I can hardly mother three kids.
~my sister has taught me much about speaking less and listening more. I doubt my sister's mouth has very many accidents... mine mouth has accidents all the time!
~my sister's taste in decorating and clothing is incredible. Some day, I am going to hire her to do a redo on my entire house. Her home is so inviting and so relaxing... just the ambience I desire for my home.
~my sister doesn't talk the talk until she is walking the walk. She loves Jesus deeply. She works out her salvation with fear and trembling in her own heart and then shares what she has learned.
~my sister stands by her man. She willingly talks about some of the storms their marriage has weathered and how those storms have strengthened them.
~my sister has a quiet confidence about her... though she may be rattled to the core inside, she rarely shows it.
~my sister is absolutely beautiful inside and out. When we were younger I was often envious of her outward beauty. The older I get, the more I am envious of both her outward and her inner beauty.
On this day, June 29th, I wish Gabe an amazing 39th birthday! I love you!!
... feel free to stop by her neck of the blogging world to wish her a happy birthday as well...
It's Friday again... time for Friday's Fave Five with Susanne at Living To Tell The Story.
Here are my five favorite things from this week...
1) my man... seriously, he's my favorite every day. I feel like I don't give him enough credit and enough thanks. Yesterday I allowed my mind to get stuck on the "little things"... those things that he does that have a high probability of getting under my skin. If I don't take those thoughts captive and surrender them at the Throne of Grace, they multiply and take over my mind and my heart. My man is amazing and I am so blessed to journey this path with him!
2) my mom... on Wednesday, my mom took my youngest to see her Ohio cousin for a few days. Seriously, Ellen could not sleep because of the anticipation! Sometimes it stinks being the youngest and watching your older brother and sister go do all of the fun things that they do... I'm so thankful mom came up with a fun and special thing for Ellen to do without her siblings.
3) my kids... we are in the throws of 4H right now. Every June is like this and every year I forget just how crazy it can get. However, each year gets easier because the kids get older and take on more and more of the responsibility of their projects. I love watching them use their creative talents to follow a project from start to finish... especially when they just do it and not complain!
4) Benadryl and Pepcid... I have a bee sting allergy. It's not life threatening at this point but I do have a prescription for an epi-pen. When my doctor gave me the script 5 years ago, he said that each time I got stung I would most likely have a stronger reaction. So, I've lived in fear of getting stung again.... until I found out about combining Benadryl and Pepcid....
Last night I was out fixing my grape vines that were blown around by the storm and a yellow jacket brushed up against my hand and decided to let me know he was mad I was there... he stung me twice! Thankfully Benadryl and Pepcid took care of the reaction... cheaper and easier than an epi-pen!
5) my LORD... yes, my LORD and Savior is always on my list of favorites. And, yes, He is number one.... Today, though, I couldn't figure out how to put into words all that is stirring in my heart, so I saved this one for last....
My friend, Cindy, and I have a saying "How do you say thank you to the One who created it all? There are no words!" Seriously.. I have no words today to thank the One who knows me best and loves me unconditionally. I have no words to thank Him for His grace, His mercy, His provisions in my life. So, I offer Him my bruised and tattered heart... my pitiful life... my pathetic existence to be used by Him and for Him as He sees fit to glorify Himself... and I offer it again and again and again because it is all He wants...
The Trendy Treehouse and The Girl Creative are teaming up to host New Friend Fridays... so I thought I'd jump in and introduce myself to a few new blogging friends.
... and, yes, I do know that this is the fourth post today....
This is what happens to me when I get some time at home, some "me time" and a nap... I start reclaiming areas of my world that have been neglected... today I worked on reclaiming my bedroom, the camper, the kitchen and my blog.
Feels good!
I'm off to visit a few new friends...
Last night we had a doozy of a storm here in Northern Indiana... tornado sirens... torrential downpour... thunder... and, no electricity for 3 hours.
One of the joys of having big kids (as opposed to little people) is that sometimes they actually think on their own... and sometimes it is nothing short of amazing!
As we were gathering items to take to the basement in response to the tornado sirens (including two not-very-willing dogs), our electricity began to blink off.... While gathering our things, we grabbed a few flashlights as well.
Once settled in our dungeon, 11 year old, Emily, says "here Mom, I grabbed my glow sticks!" Ingenious! Seriously, we all turned off our flashlights and grabbed and snapped a few glow sticks. For less than $1, we all each had a couple of glow sticks in our hand... much cheaper than C or D batteries for the flashlights and just as easy to see by....
So... my plan is to go to our local dollar store and stock up on glow sticks... not only do they provide light in the darkness... they make storms more fun... who knew?
Sometimes I seriously wonder why things happen the way they do. You may remember (if not, read it here) that I applied to be a reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
I have been so looking forward to this opportunity. I see it as a chance to combine two things I love... writing and homeschooling.
Unfortunately, for me, someone hacked my old yahoo email address right before the TOS Crew tried to contact me to let me know that I was a new crew member. Even though I promptly changed my email address, it seems like so many emails have been lost in cyberspace... including, of course, the emails from TOS.
I'm afraid that the TOS Crew has had second thoughts about choosing me to be on the Crew. It is said that first impressions are most important. It really stinks that this is the Crew's first impression of me.
It seems like this has been all uphill... even to the point that the first post I wrote tonight got erased. Seriously! I'm wondering why....
...in the meantime, I can't wait to start reviewing and writing and hopefully changing any negative first impressions....
Today is one of those days... a day between... according to the forecasters, a day between two heat waves.... a front of raging storms last night ushered in cool and dry air for today..... this day between feels so good!
So often, life feels like heat waves... hot and muggy... grumpy and tired... pain and sadness.... hurrying up to wait... racing, racing, racing to get no where... storms fast approaching and raging winds blowing....
... and then a blessed day between...
...but I almost missed it. I don't often stop to notice the between days... the days of cool and calm... peace and rest.
Again, I am my own worst enemy because I take a between day and make it a heat wave.... trying, trying, trying to cram as much in as I can and racing, racing, racing to get no where.
...if not for the sweet, soft whisper of my Creator to my heart... "peace, be still" I would still be running the rat race. The One who knows me best, knows my heart.... He knows I need down time... quiet time... time to myself. He created me to be this way and He provides my every need.
Today He has provided me a day between and a gently reminder to enjoy the gift from Him.
.... so I will close my computer, take a cool shower and open my new book and reveal in the peace and joy a day between heat waves brings....
These little jewels are my absolute favorite thing about summer...
Over the years, our little patch has spread and spread... to the place where it only took me 15 minutes to pick all of these...
...to make my favorite summer snack...
...mmmm....
I've never been very athletic. Because of my height and large bone structure I used to pretend I was athletic and most people would believe me... at least until they watched me play some sort of game.
I can't tell you the number of times I've struck out, tripped over my own two feet or missed the shot. More times than I care to remember, I guess. Due to extreme embarrassment, I've blocked out most of those memories....
So, needless to say, I don't often volunteer to play organized games. For many years, I had the easy excuse of either being pregnant or having a little one to watch. I loved having a pliable excuse....
Now that my baby is almost seven, my excuses have all grown up and tonight was Emme's last softball game... the annual team vs. parents game. I knew this ahead of time but was not at all worried because I knew that Chad would willingly be the parent from our family who played softball... he even took his glove.
As happens a lot in life, things didn't go exactly as planned. As I was contentedly eating nachos for my supper, Emme's coach said "Heidi, are you playing?"
"Ah ... NO!"
Then... as I realized he was standing at home plate with Chad and one of the other coaches trying to find more than three players to make a team, I hear these words...
"Pllleeeaaasssee, Mom!" and there is my 11 year old with big, brown eyes begging me to play against her.
Seriously, the things I do for my kids! So, this 41 year old mom kicked off her flip flops and played softball barefoot all for those big brown eyes and the excited girl behind them.
Thankfully, I don't think there are any incriminating photos of me running barefoot around the bases.
I'm equally thankful that I didn't strike out.
Last week, Emily had a very belated surprise birthday tea at the Peony Tea House...
This past year, Emily discovered she has a twin... so who better to celebrate your birthday with than your long lost twin sister...
Meet Miss B. Miss B is 24 hours and 10 minutes older than Emme. They are practically the same size and height and have many shared interests.
Miss B's mom and grandma and I planned a surprise twin tea party for the girls 11th birthday... complete with matching dresses made by Miss B's grandma and matching earrings from Grandma as well.
Do to a series of unfortunate events, we had to cancel our original birthday surprise and reschedule... the new date, though, provided a surprise blessing for Emme... her grandma could join us as well.
We enjoyed our Edwardian Lunch complete with choice of tea, soup/salad, sandwich, and pastries... delicious and quaint! Though her celebration was delayed, I think Miss E enjoyed her day with her twin Miss B!
It was 14 years ago... Father's Day, 1996...
the first time anyone ever called my man "Dad"...
discovering that in seven months we would be parents...
and again...
and again....
When I first called him "Dad" in June of 1996, I thought I knew that he would be an incredible father...
I had NO idea how amazing he would be...
and how amazing he is...
Once again, I'm linking up to Living To Tell The Story for Friday's Fave Five. I'm finding my life is too full to link up to many memes but this is one that I look forward to each and every week.
In honor of Father's Day and my dad, here are my five favorite things about my dad...
1) Dad has many euphemisms ... dad-isms. I didn't realize, until I went away to college, that many of our family's catch phrases were foreign to the rest of the world. I assumed that everyone knew what "she goes up and down like a toilet seat" meant (for those of you who don't know... it simply means that she changes her mind a lot).
2) Dad's favorite phrase isn't a euphemism. My Dad says "Praise the Lord!" often... really, really often. I love it! It doesn't matter to whom my father is speaking, if there is something worth praising God about in the conversation, he will.
3) My Dad still occasionally calls me "lamb y". I'm so glad I haven't outgrown this! It's not often and it may even be a slip up but I know that though I am 41, he still treasures me. Honestly, I'm not sure how many of my friends can say that about their own father.
4) My Dad loves my man. I think there was a time he had some serious reservations about the man I fell in love with but you would never know. My parents decided that they would have no in-laws. Instead, their family just grew larger and still hasn't stopped growing... the 22nd member of our family is due to arrive in December!!
5) My Dad loves being a grandfather. He could hardly contain himself when within 4 days in 1997 he had two grandsons! After 11 grandchildren, he's still excited about the new one on the way (btw... in case there is some confusion... it's my sister who is blessing our family with a new little one).
6) My Dad loves people. I've never met anyone who can put people at ease quite like my father. Over the years, he has invested much of himself in the lives of people around him. It won't be until he reaches Heaven that he will know the impact he has had on so many lives (yes.. I know I said "Friday's Fave FIVE" but I couldn't resist a bonus one!)
Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!!
That's it. It's time. I've had enough.
It's time to reclaim my home, my time, my life!
I don't know a mom out there who hasn't at one time, or another, been in the position I'm in. And, if we were honest, most of us find ourselves in this position all too often....
It doesn't seem to matter how many times I say "NO!", I still seem to be running hither and yon (5 days in a row of taxi driving does not a happy mom make...).
It doesn't seem to matter how many times I step down from committees, I still seem to find myself busier than ever (how quickly I forget how busy June becomes when 4H projects are due the beginning of July) .
It doesn't seem to matter how many times I give up activities that sound-like-fun-but-we-just-don't-have-time, I still seem to have WAY too many things to do (as if being a wife and mom were not already 2 full time jobs).
Lest you think I need to go to a 12-step program or seek out personal counseling, rest assured I do know what causes this rat race... the proverbial hamster wheel that is spinning, spinning, spinning faster and faster and faster and yet not going anywhere...
I am very familiar with the cause... and, I am very familiar with the effect! I'm also learning to become very familiar with the answer... my answer...
RECLAIM...
I'm at the point, again, where I have to STOP and RECLAIM my home, my time and my life.... because, very slowly and with very good intentions things creep into my life to clutter my home, rob my time and choke my life. Usually these are good things but rarely are they the best things for me and for my family.
Unfortunately, I've got to finish the ride called 4H. I can't get off in the middle and so it will be after State Fair in August before this ride comes to a complete stop!
However, that doesn't mean that I can not start on other areas that need my immediate attention...
~ my home for instance. My Magic Cleaning Fairy came today and I wonder how she managed to clean around the clutter. Seriously, it is that bad! One area at a time, 10-15 minutes at a time... and in no time I can conquer what has accumulated like weeds in a flower bed (and yes, I have to deal with those too!).
~ my time. Thankfully tomorrow is my last day of spending most of the day behind the wheel. I've committed to setting aside an hour on Saturday before our Sabbath Celebration to map out my appointments, the kids' music lessons, kids' volunteer times and any more 4H errands next week ahead of time.
~my life. When my life becomes busy and the tyranny of the urgent sets in, it soon seems to be spinning out of control. However, when I start my day in the Word and at His feet and ask Him to orchestrate my moments, He simplifies everything. When I commit to doing what He has enabled me to do... nothing more, nothing less, nothing else... His peace and joy fill my days and stress becomes a thing of the past....
It is time to reclaim my home, my time, my life!... again...
Honestly, it's been hard lately...
... much to be thankful for and much to pray for...
even in the hard, God is there...
His plan doesn't change
His purpose doesn't waiver
His procedure isn't altered
...even when it's hard
I've had the privilege of seeing grace...
~grace lived out as a friend of mine awaits a lumpectomy and is now awaiting the pathology report.... living life trusting in One greater than she who has a plan bigger than hers... gracefully honoring Him and allowing others to minister to her.
~grace personified as I watch a friend allow people to do a fund-raising car wash to offset the medical bills of her cancer treatment... graciously ministering at the car wash to the very people working the car wash for her... two days post chemo with a smile on her face and joy in her heart.
~grace defined by a friend who often says "when I fail you, please forgive me because I will fail you... just so you know." I've decided I want this t-shirt. I want to give grace that way and receive grace that way... because we all fail each other every single day....
~grace in action this morning as I go to my man during our worship time at church and have to say (for the ten zillionth time) "I'm sorry" and I hear "I forgive you and I love you" (for the ten zillionth time as well)...
~grace... it's what makes living this wretched life with other sinners worthwhile
LORD,
My prayer tonight is that I would give grace in more measure than I expect to receive it from others. Though even asking this prayer is hard, I pray that You would fill me with the grace I need to keep my mouth shut, my heart open and my knees bent.
Thank you Jesus!
Do the hard things...
This is something I've been telling my kids. I want them to know how to do hard things in life. I want them to know the whys... the hows... the whens... the whats... the wheres of doing hard things.
Know what I realized anew?! Intentional parenting is hard work. It is doing hard things. I'm sure, at this point in this post, my parents are shaking their heads at me wondering why I'm just now getting this after 13 years....
I'm not just getting it now. I'm just realizing it anew watching other another set of intentional parents doing a hard thing....
I've been following Abby Sunderland's blog for several months. Abby is the California teen who set out to do something hard... she set out to sail solo around the globe. At sixteen she has shown more maturity and moxie than many adults I know. She stuck with her goal of doing something hard even after having to pull into South Africa for equipment failure. She stuck with her goal even after she learned that someone else would get the world's record.... She stuck with her goal and did the hard thing and started out again from Port Au Prince. She stuck with her goal until the end... after 30 ft waves (that thinking about make me sea sick sitting here in my house) broke her boat, she did the wise thing and activated her emergency beacons. She did the hard thing by holding on until help arrived. I've seen her in action before the media and I'm guessing she will do the hard thing by meeting the media, yet again, with a smile on her face and a tone of politeness and grace in her voice as they ask many, many hard questions.
I've also been reading Abby's parents' comments. I don't know these people. I won't stand in judgment of their decisions in rearing Abby and her brother Zac (who circumvented the globe a few years ago on a solo sailing mission). Instead, I see parents who are doing hard things. I see parents who have chosen to parent intentionally. I see parents who have reared their children to do hard things. I also see parents who are being ridiculed and judged for their decision to allow Abby to do hard things. I see parents who are now answering the hard, hard questions by the media.
It doesn't matter if I agree with the Sunderland's decision to allow Abby to solo sail the world at 16. It doesn't matter because I am not responsible for Abby or for the Sunderland's decision.
I am only responsible for my decisions concerning my children.
I want to parent intentionally. I want to raise my children to do hard things.
Why?.... because life is full of hard things and adventure comes to those who do hard things.
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