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October 17, 2011

What's Happening Around Here...

It seems like we have a lot going on in our house right now, but then again, who doesn't? I thought I'd share a little of what's been going on with us. So, taking a deep breath....BEGIN!




We just finished up helping our church's school with a huge fundraiser! It was a great success, and the school was able to raise thousands of dollars. Although, we have chosen to homeschool our kiddos, we've always been able to have a fairly active part in this ministry of our church, and we always enjoy it!




Because of the time we took helping out with the fundraiser over the last couple of weeks, our schooling became...well...to put it mildly....slightly unorganized! However, one of the reasons we have chosen to homeschool is so that we can have the flexibility to do other things that other families may not have the opportunity to do. This last week has been busy catching up and getting back into a school routine (using the word routine very casually at this point!).




We were also hit with the stomach flu! Can't leave that one out! We haven't had it visit us in over three years, and so we really couldn't complain! It made for a long week with some extra laundry, but overall, we weathered the storm well and are glad to be done with it!




In the middle of all this, we were also able to finish up some gardening. We were able to can over 50 quarts of green beans - our family's favorite vegetable! We also canned some tomatoes although the chickens raided our garden one day and ended up with more than we did! We've also been able to get about 35 pints of salsa! We've put up quite a bit of squash and earlier this fall, we were able to freeze our corn. All that's left now are the carrots and onions. We will probably start working on the onions this week. We were waiting for the first frost before we picked our carrots, and that still hasn't come yet - believe it or not! We are expecting to have quite a few carrots to can once the frost comes!




We have also been trying to get extra cleaning done. For those of you who have children at home, you know that extra cleaning never ends. We are getting ready for our little one to arrive, and even though we did a lot of spring cleaning this summer, we have several rooms that need redos already! We have also been told to expect our little one to come earlier than we had planned. So, I am feeling the pressure of getting everything ready before Thanksgiving. It will be nice though to just sit back and enjoy the baby and all the holidays with my little family!




Wow! It's making me tired writing about this, and it's reminding me of all that I have left to do in this day! So, I better close for now. I hope you are able to enjoy the tasks God has given to you today. Some days are better and easier than others. I'm thankful today is one of those easy days for me! ;) Hoping the same is true for you!

October 15, 2011

...For in Due Season, We Shall Reap

Ever heard the phrase "tomorrow never comes?" Well, it obviously took a while to get here! I really am wanting to blog more regularly, but the last two weeks have been consumed with "well doing"....and doctor's appointments....and the stomach flu! Thankfully, everyone seems to be feeling better now, and we are trying to get caught up a little at a time.


The last time I posted, I was in the middle of meditating on Galatians 6:9: "And let us not be weary in well doing..." Shortly after I posted that, all four of my kiddos came down with the stomach flu - three of them all at the same time! It was rough, but God continued to bring this verse to my mind. I'm so thankful He gave us the end of the verse too. "...for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not."


There are many times in my life (and I'm sure in everyone else's too) that I become tired of the well doing. I see so many people taking short cuts, and they seem to be doing OK. I'm tempted to do the same. Their lives look so much easier...and in some ways, they probably are. But I have God's promise that if I will live my life His way, He will reward me in unimaginable ways! I just need to keep going! I need to give a little more. I need to strengthen my character. I need to spend more time with God. I need to be more unselfish in my attitudes and actions. I need to continue to train my children. I need to be my husband's help meet in every situation. I need to not faint but keep going. Because I know, God has something out there way better than all the shortcuts in the world, and in due season, I will reap the reward of not being weary in well doing.


Praying that you all have a wonderful day finding ways to accomplish the well doing that is placed in your lives!

October 3, 2011

Be Not Weary in Well Doing

Do you ever become overwhelmed with life? It seems like we are pulled in so many different directions all the time, and we always say, "Next week won't be so bad." Then, the next week comes and goes, and it seemed busier than the last. There are many times that I just feel like quitting EVERYTHING! I walk through the house in my silent (or sometimes not so silent) rant, and I list all the things I am never doing again. "I will not cook another meal. I will not wash another load of laundry. I will not homeschool another second. I will not go to church another Sunday (yes, I've actually thought that...). I WILL sit on the couch and eat bon-bons and watch movies like everyone thinks a stay at home mom really does anyway!"

Thankfully, I have a wonderful gift called the Holy Spirit who quietly works in my heart and Who in a slightly annoying way will not let me sit on the couch with my Reese's Cups (because I don't really know what a bon-bon is, but I'm sure Reese's Cups are far better anyway). When I reach those points of being overwhelmed, I am always reminded of Galatians 6:9. "And let us not be weary in well doing:" I am reminded of my sweet Savior Jesus and how He walked and ministered to people every day all day. He was constantly surrounded by people who had needs but did not appreciate Him for Who He really was. Yet, He continued to give. He was tired and had no place to call His own. Yet, He continued to give. He knew the terrible things that lay ahead of Him. Yet, He continued to give. And even today, He continues to give...unconditionally and without becoming weary of us.

Then, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that if I call myself a Christian, I am to be Christ-like. I cannot quit. Yes, there are times when I need to reevaluate my priorities and accomplish the most important things first. There are times when I need to say no so that I can minister more effectively. Many times, though, in my honest evaluations, I find that I have wasted a lot of time on things that are not of true importance.

So...guess what I am off to do right now? Get out of my chair, put away the Rolos (because I had no Reese's Cups), make a list of what needs to be done, prioritize it and get busy. Oh yeah....and I can do all this because I know the rest of Galatians 6:9 which I'll tell more about tomorrow!