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We were gone and now we are back...the first 3 weeks of January were spent in South Africa, the land of my birth!!! What a privelage and pleasure to have been able to travel there and enjoy hospitality, sunshine and fellowship!!!! This is the first time that the 4 of us have been over- we went when DD8 was 4 months old and then again when she was 4 and second daughter was 2. That time I went solo- not nearly as much fun! The entire experience was a blessing from God- being able to afford it (thanks in part to frequent flyer miles), having DH able to take 3 weeks off work, homeschooling, the travel there and back (which had me on my knees for weeks before)- and then to enjoy the time with family and friends and to see the sights that took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes!!!! What a joy! I feel that in many ways, this trip for me was a defining moment in my life- one where I was able to reflect and know that God's plan for my life is perfect. Knowing that He is sufficient to meet all my needs. Seeing how He has taken my life and molded me- releasing me from the holds that my past and ingrained responses have had on me- pointing me to the future that He has planned. Reminding me that He is good and that He wants good things for me, even in the painful realities of life. My heart is torn in many ways- wanting to be present in 2 hemispheres- to interact with those I love on both sides of the equator. I love that the internet gives me that capability and when the pain of separation stabs at my heart, I know that He can use that to make me mindful of Heaven and of those who may not have the privelage of loving and being loved. |
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Dh has a birthday on Monday and his favourite dessert as of late is creme brulee- French for "death by creaming". I had made said dessert a year ago for a dinner party and he raved about it- orders it now if he has a chance to at a business dinner- we rarely afford dining at such establishments....it is good- extremely rich but good. I should research beefing up my gall bladder in preparation for the onslaught of fat molecules...or I could leave DH to eat all the dessert....I don't think he would mind. |
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I have not blogged in so long- and my honest confession is this- I blog not because no-one comments. And because life has rather had me by the tail of late. Hubby travelled overseas on business, DD6 has had diagnosed mental instability- all in all just stressful! The old dog chasing his tail kind of feeling- this rollercoaster of life that seems to want to whiplash me rather than provide turns of excitement and joy. the reality that God is able to take all my experience and apply it to His plan as He gently sustains, leads and guides me. I am really rambling but hey, what do you expect from someone who blogs but once a month if you are lucky... I am so much a people pleaser and I need to be a God pleaser. I need my attitude to be the same as that of Christ. But often I fall short- into His arms of grace and mercy. I want to know that I am doing enough/ the right thing/ a good job. Notice the abundance of self here...I think I should do this more often, if for no other reason than it heps me clarify and adjust my thinking. Abd realize just how bad my typing can be |
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I have attempted to blog since the last post listed here but for some reason the post was blown to the wind...we have been a little preoccupied- or should I just say occupied- literally, with head lice. DD's both came down with a case in mid July...and yes, should you check your calender, it is indeed September. Now I am all for geneology and history but I draw the line at 4 generations of head lice- which is what we hatched on DD5's head. Now that I have whomever is reading this itching all over- I apologise. I have learnt much about my pride in this time, much about God's sustaining grace and much about my own frailty. The girls have been troupers- for 2 who hated having their hair combed or brushed they have endured countless hours of combing, 2 haircuts a piece (a la Mois- who is dangerous with hair scissors, I will have you know) We are drawing a line in the sand- this weekend all hair will be washed with prescription strength shampoo and the house will be vacuumed from top to bottom. Stuffed animals will continue their time out, head combing will continue....and we pray that we will be done! From one fragile, eye-strained homemaker, I bid all a good night. |
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DD5 has a friend over- they ate goldfish crackers and when they were done, the floor looked like crackers- please explain this phenomena- my children consume a meal and are somehow capable of getting crumbs, chunks and whole bits of food on the eating surface, the chair upon which their form rests and the floor- do they have a secret flap in their lips where the food is able to make its escape??? We had a fruit snack later this afternoon and I asked our little friend to grab a bowl for herself- she found one and proudly handed it to me," I'll have the Jonah's ark one!" |
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Our computer desk faces the front of our house and as I checked e-mail and blogger friends this morning, the seal-coaters came to seal-coat our driveway. There were 2 gentlemen involved- the one fascinated me because he moved with a frenetic pace and seemingly unspecified pattern of movement. His co-worker reminded me of myself- much more laid back. Here to do the job but not as driven as the former....they performed the task with obvious finesse. The spreading of the wet tar- or whatever the black smelly stuff is-forgive my ignorance- was almost dance-like in its quality...water ballet on espresso? speaking of which, I should get coffee....duty calls! |
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We took a road trip- and tell me again why that is a good idea???? We are in Michigan at my DH's brother's house as we will be having a surprize 70th birthday party for my MIL this afternoon! It took about 7 hours to drive- we will be doing it again tomorrow. On Mother's Day. With DD5 who has issues with, well, many things in life....and has tantrums that make me wonder about my parenting and the meaning of life....Happy Mother's Day to all of you! |
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and so have the allergies that come with them...yuck! How can it be that just as the erath awakens fro the dark and gloom of winter that my body feels the need to revolt so? THe blossoms are beautiful, the leaves lush, filling in the trees....and my sinuses are crabby. The secret here is to be content. It helps to have medication too... The kids are having a ball being able to go outside with no shoes or coats and come day's end, the bathtub is a welcome tool for scrubbing the grime off said children!!! Off to crank open some windows and enjoy the feel of a cool breeze! |
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"Resurrection life, only found in You, You are able, You are strong, You are God alone." I was privelaged to sing in a choir at Church this morning- and I could think of nothing greater that would allow me to express my love for the Lord on this, resurrection Sunday! And to think that every day is a day where I can know the life-giving, life changing love of God! What a pleasure and privelage to know Him. My soul is filled to overflowing with joy and thankfulness for all that He is and all that He means to me. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on a cross and rising again to rejoin your Father in Heaven. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for living inside me every day and giving me the power to face my sin and my trials. Thank You too that the joy that I feel is so much sweeter for knowing You. All glory and honour and power and praise be unto You, Father, Son and Spirit! Amen. |
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OK, so yesterday I ventured inside the vehicle that we drive in all the time- let me put it this way- to call what I found in the bend of the seats disgusting, would be like saying the Grand Canyon at sunset is " nice". I kid you not: I found a perfectly sundried strawberry in there- that wouldn't even make the gross category- more like the miraculous! I need a better action plan- it is so much easier to feed the kids in the car. Wih some planning, I may not have to- first snack, then leave???? WHat a concept. Or bite my tongue and not rant and rave about how disgusting the "lived-in" look gets....
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It's official- the treadmill test at the gym pegs me at below average- and if that isn't embarressing enough, it keeps flashing across the screen- in case one could forget after huffing and puffing up a grade 5 incline.... So, I guess my fitness goals are to be average- for now anyway! |
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The planner I ordered for next school year arrived today and it is taking all the self-control I have in me to not shelve every other activity I had planned for this afternoon and transfer birthdays and appointments...I need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Yesterday was a loud day. Literally. Maybe this is how we celebrate the first day of spring? The first ear numbing experience came from DD5 who had a trying time and then punished her sister and I as we drove home with an ear-splitting, brain-numbing screaming tantrum- probably not something one should admit to have happening withing the scope of parenting but there it is! She struggles in this from time to time and usually the origin can be found in something physiological- not enough sleep, not enough food...add that to a sin nature. Then there was last night. I went to drop DD7 off to Awana and spur of the moment got recruited to help out for the evening. Wow! Loud! Cool program- and the part where they memorize verses- way cool! For the first, I prayed- hard. For the second, I had Motrin. And fun! |
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I marvel at what a fickle individual I am- depending on my mood, how much sleep I have had, how my children are acting, you get the point! Yesterday I felt deflated and defeated, struggling with the responsibility to teach my children, listening to the critical voice in my head that wanted to tear down every decision we have made in our lives to this point. Today I am thankful that the Lord's mercy is new every morning and that He does give us the tools we need for life and godliness. I may be fickle but He is eternal! He is faithful. The solid Rock. Unchanging. FOr that I am EXTEMELY grateful! P.S. To those young people out there who blog- thank you for the encouragement that your lives bring to mine- to hear from the horses mouth, so to speak- and see the work that the Lord has done. To dialogue with you and be encouraged that homeschooling is a successful venture and that the long haul is worth it! Sometimes I need a shot in the arm- or a swift kick in a key area- thanks for being that reminder to a Mom who at times grows weary. |
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I know what you're probably thinking- so do I! Especially in the winter with the cold and not wanting to stand around cleaing the many different things that accumulate in our mode of transportation. But no, I refer to the housing of the left rear light manifold- a year or two ago I managed to crack the housing through flawed perception in reverse gear (a.k.a. I rammed into our mailbox reversing into the driveway). Now when precipitation falls from the sky, a good couple of inches remain in this cracked plastic and slosh around every time I get anything out of the trunk. I almost thought I saw a tadpole in there yesterday...hope he likes the cold... |
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I don't remember wanting to live in Siberia and yet it feels like at the moment we do...our temperatures in the Chicagoland area have been in and around zero with windchills in the negative 30's. Bring on Texas! And to add insult to injury- the inlet pipes to the laundry room are frozen and I have no way to do any laundry- in winter- when our clothes are nice and bulky and on most days I could do a load or two...thank heaven for the laundromat- tongith i will get to drag my carcass out in sub-zero conditions to do the laundry. I only hope the snow stops falling and the roads are not too slippery. Thankfully we homeschool so our uniform can be our pajamas... |
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This is a post in thanks to our Lord for His providence. On Thursday of this past week, we were married for 10 years. In some ways it feels like just yesterday but in other ways, the journey has just begun. I am so thankful for the man that Troy is and for the husband and father God has blessed us with in him. The fact that he had been away on business helped remind me of that reality in a tangible way. I am thankful for the way that we have both changed and grown over the years- how the Lord has used us in each other's lives to sand off the rough edges...I am so thankful that he is my partner and friend. Thank You, Lord for the provision of marriage and for all that it teaches us. |
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Did you get that? DH arrived home from 2 weeks away yesterday- and we are soooo thankful! We missed him, don't you know! Poor guy almost fell asleep in his dinner tonight- that darned ole jet lag. He had been in Ireland for a little less than a week and in the Far East before that- can't imagine how much fun adjusting would be. Has been a while since I've changed time zones by more than one or two. Not one of my favourite things to do- especially when one's stomach doesn't know which meal should be next- trust me to go straight to the food... |
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I guess I can't blame her for thinking it. There are times when moms appear to have x-ray vision and omniscient qualities (omniscience is the quality that God possesses as the all knowing One)...It doesn't fail. We are headed out somewhere. The request is made- "Girls, please put on your shoes and coats" (it is sub zero out today). DD5 will sit down with the footwear of choice and the question will come- regardless of whether I am standing right next to her or whether I am in another room, or better yet, on another level of the house...."Is this right foot?" Then there's the issue of her grammar... |
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I ran into the grocery store- literally- for a few items. For once, I had less than 20 so went to the "fast" checkout...NOT! The gentleman ahead of me had a cart loaded with cases of drinks- bottles of water and iced tea etc. Obviously he was counting each CASE as an item...but I digress. The cases wouldn't scan, so they (the checker and the gentleman in question) were removing one bottle, scanning it and then calculating the number of bottles in total...and if that were not bad enough, he then paid the checker for the $90 purchase IN SINGLES!!!!! And if I heard correctly, he works at the middle school in our district....and I homeschool why again??? |