I'm listening, Lord

We are preparing for our trip to TN.  My son-in-law is getting ready to go to Iraq, my newest granddaughter is 3 months old, my youngest grandson is starting kindergarten, my other son-in-law has his orders for his next station, and we are ready to be there!

We have three vehicles..a Ford Pick-up, a Mercury Marquis and a Ford Van. We also have two teenage boys that will not fit in the back seat of the truck or the Marquis. The Truck needs new tires before a road-trip and the car's air conditioning went out (not to mention some electrical issues that have popped up). So, the van it is!

We put four new tires on the van, cleaned it out & gassed it up. I bought snacks and drinks for the trip and the boys have their dvd's and video games all ready.

Carpenter came to get the van to fix a little something (not sure what it was) while I was at work. He came in as I was getting off and said it broke down. What?? There was nothing wrong with it a lunch! An hour and a half later, it's apparently the fuel pump. The garage (fantastic people who I REALLY appreciate!) will get on it first thing in the morning - should be done by noon, they say.

Well, here's the thing. Carpenter & I took the rest of the week off for this trip. We were planning to leave very early tomorrow (2am-ish) and wanted to be back Saturday evening. It's an eight hour trip so instead of getting there at 10 in the morning it will be 8 at night. But that's if we get to leave at noon. If they can fix the van. And if there is nothing else wrong with it.

Why am I typing all of this? Because I am realizing that my God loves me and is looking out for my best interest. He knows how much I want to see my daughters and grandchildren. He knows how much they want to see us. But He also knows what the future holds. He knows whether or not the Sow and her brand-new litter will need us here. He knows whether or not my mother-in-law (a dear 84 yr old lady that lives on our property) will need us here. He knows if the van will make the 1100 mile round trip. He knows.

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."
                                                                  Proverbs 1:33

I'm listening, Lord

A Mother's Prayer

I pray for my children daily. I pray for them specifically and emphatically.

There is a conversation in the movie Evan Almighty where "God" is talking to the mom about answered prayer.

"Do you think that when you pray for patience, God zaps you with patience or does He provide opportunities for you to learn to be patient?" "When you pray for your family to be closer together, does He zap you with warm fuzzies, or does He provide opportunities for you to grow as a family?"



For many years now, I have been praying that God would bring my children, their spouses, and my grandkids closer to each other and closer to Him.

Not long after I began praying this way, my middle daughter and her husband went through a very trying time. A lot of pain, a lot of anger and a lot of doubt that their marriage would survive. They have not only survived, but are closer to each other - and God - than ever before! They're now expecting their 3rd child. I'm a happy Nana!

About 2 years ago, my oldest daughter and her husband lost their jobs. Thankfully, they had a good savings built up that helped them through for a while. Then things got tough. They have had no choice but to rely fully on God. Son-in-law is now back in school with a great job lined up. They have come through a very difficult time, humbled and closer than ever, knowing that their God is in control and loves them!

Last May, my youngest daughter left home under very harsh circumstances. Stood flat footed in the middle of the living room, told her dad, brothers & I that she didn't want to follow the rules any longer and was leaving. She took her backpack and headed down the road. Rocked my world! It has been an extremely strained 9 months. She called her dad this week. First time since she left. She didn't actually repent (which requires change) but she did say she hadn't been living right and she realizes she hurt a lot of people. The door has been opened!

As much as I love as my children, it's amazing to realize that my God loves them more! His gifts are lasting and permanent. As hard as it's been to watch my girls go through tough times, it's comforting to know that His plan is not to harm but to prosper..to give them a hope and a future!

God answers prayer!!

Now - I've been praying for quite a while that the boys would "grow in wisdom and in stature and find favor with God and man....

HOLD ON!!!!

Whose fault is it anyway?

"It's her fault we couldn't get on the computers."

"Why is it her fault?"

"We didn't have our cards, and she wouldn't let us log on."

"YOU didn't have your cards, so it's her fault?"

"We always got on before without our cards!"

Ok, let me get this straight....You somehow were able to get around the rules for a while, and then had to follow the rules, and now it's someone else's fault you didn't get what you wanted??

This seems to be a recurring theme around our home lately. I didn’t get my reading done because Dad said I had to rake leaves ...it’s his fault. I don’t have any socks because Mom didn’t do laundry...it’s her fault. I lost my temper because my brother wouldn’t give me the remote ...it’s his fault.

So, whose fault is it when things don’t go our way? Parents? Siblings? Spouse? God’s?? Things didn’t go my way and YOU’RE the reason! Hmmmph!

Well, let’s break this down and see if we can come up with a solution.

What is it you want? Is it reasonable? Is it possible? Is it right? You have to be specific with your desire. What is the end result you‘re looking for? If you want to get on the computers at the library, that’s perfectly acceptable. If you want to get on them without your card, that won’t do. The rule says you must have your card...not just know your number. So, you can have what you want, you just have to go about it the right way. No blame, no excuses, everyone’s happy.

What if what you want is up to someone else? I want the remote, but he has it. I want to play instead of read, but mom won’t let me. I need a job, but they won’t hire me.

Again, what is it that you want? Is it reasonable? Is it possible? Is it right? Do you want the remote or do you want to watch the show you’ve been waiting for? Is it reasonable to want that? Is his show over? Is there another way - possible compromise? How about the reading deal? Why not read first and then play. Everybody’s happy! And, as far as the job, if they won’t hire you - why not? Do you need more education? More experience? Do you need to start farther down the ladder? Don’t give up on what you want, just find a way to make it happen without blaming the world for not getting it!

These boys are quickly becoming young men. We don’t want them to bust into the world thinking it owes them a living! It’s easy to blame others for our shortcomings. It’s much harder to have patience, skill and reasoning ability. The result, however, is oh so worth it!

A day in the life....

When was the last time you walked down your hall and saw your son's bedroom door laying on the floor? Mine was 2 minutes ago!

I hear this pounding and thudding coming from the other end of the house. With two teen-age boys, I MUST investigate. There they are, hammers in hand, sprawled out on the floor with the door underneath them! "It came off the hinges, mom." Hmmm... wonder how that happened.

I'm thinking this can be a learning opportunity. Carpentry? Home repair? Team work? Industriousness? Nope. Patience! Not their learning opportunity, MINE!

They saw a challenge (door just came right off the hinges!), found a solution (hammers & nails) and set out to conquer. Isn't that what I want for my sons? To be able to see the challenges in this world and find a way to meet them? To work together in a time of crisis? To fix the flippen door when it "comes off the hinges"???

I now hear power tools....what can I learn from THAT????

Hi-Ya!!!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Those precious grandboys (3 & 5) in their new Keikogi's. I'm so proud of them that my nana heart is bursting!!

Their daddy is deployed, so they are stepping up to help mama and filling their role as men of the house.

These two precious boys are daily growing in wisdom and in stature and finding favor with God and man. The Lord bless and keep you both!

The Calf

Those of you who know us, know that we have a very small farm. Well, more like a farm-wannabe. Those who know us also know that we don't eat anything with a name. So, "the calf" was destined for the freezer. That's why we bought him, that's why we feed him, we have no problem with that.

Well one evening, Carpenter comes back to the house after feeding and heads to the laundry room. "Do we have any rubber gloves?" "Uh, yea." As I'm digging out the extra pair of Playtex Dish Helpers, he's in the medicine cabinet searching for the petroleum jelly. Uh oh! He tells me the calf is down as he's putting his boots back on. Half out of the desire to help him and half from a morbid curiosity, I pulled on my muck boots too.

I run down there with him and the poor thing is lying on his side stiff and bloated. He's dying. My job is to hold the flashlight and stay out of the way. No problem. I really don't want to go into detail about what he did with his supplies, suffice it to say it didn't work. Off and on over the next 15 minutes, the calf would get up and kick at his stomach and lie down in obvious pain. We had a call in to our vet, but he was on an emergency farm call and we were waiting for him to call back. Obviously the good doctor deemed a horse in labor with breach twin foals a tad bit more important than a calf with gas.

I asked Carpenter if he wanted me to call Grandma and ask her what to do. My children lovingly refer to their grandma as "Witch Doctor" because she knows everything about home remedies and old wives tales. Well, Carpenter said, "No, she'll just tell me to poke a hole in him." We've heard the stories of Grandpa running cows in the alfalfa who would bloat up. The hands would have to ride alongside and poke them in the sides to relieve the pressure. Oookaaay....now what?

Carpenter would press on his tummy, the calf would grunt and his eyes would roll. He was dying.
I said, "Ok, I'm gunna go Google it." Nothing else was working! I have to admit that usually, that's my first course of action. With a world of knowledge literally at my fingertips, why would I waste time and energy wondering what to do?? So, I'm just pulling up sites that will impart wisdom upon me about calf bloat and the phone rings. It's Carpenter from the barn. "Just come back with the peroxide." Oookaay...

I get back down there and the poor little feller is just lying there, much thinner, eyes in the right position, but really weak. Carpenter poked a hole in him. He said he felt around for the right spot, turned his head, said "Sorry fella" and pushed his knife in. (Yet another use for his Leatherman!!) Anyway, he said it sounded like a huge balloon deflating and stuuunnk! I asked him how he knew what to do. He said he felt around under his ribcage and found the stomach - hard as a rock and poked there. I asked if he was afraid. He said "The calf was dying. I either had to shoot him in the head or poke him in the belly. I chose the easy one."

So, today the little guy is freely roaming the barnyard, his name is Lazarus and we can't eat him.

Calling In Sick

I have a cold. It started coming on right after Thanksgiving. My body is achy, my sinuses are stuffed and/or running, my mind is fuzzy and my throat is sore. I'm sick.

I have always joked that I don't have time to be sick, I'll have to reschedule. There always seems to be so much to do - especially this time of year. I really don't have time to lay around and whine.

We do not condone the commercialism of Christmas. We do not run from party to party or become overly involved with church or community programs. We do not buy people presents just for the sake of them having something to open Christmas morning. We do not go overboard on our decorations or meals. We do however, open our home to friends and family as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We want our home to be clean and comfortable and decorated with signs that show us that this day is different than, say, August 23rd. We desire to give our friends and family members gifts (store bought or home made) as we take part in remembering that all important Birth Day.

And so, there are rooms to clean and prepare for company; furniture to rearrange to make room for the decorations; meals to plan & prepare and make ahead where possible; cookies and baked goods to make & decorate with the kids; and gifts to buy and wrap. In the middle of all the seasonal joy, there is still laundry, dusting, vacuuming and every day cooking & cleaning.

Have you ever noticed that the size of your workload is directly proportionate with the size of your cold? Doctors are saying that they have found the hormone that stops your immune system from functioning properly. It is released into your system during times of stress. Well, aint that a kicker? No wonder the Lord God told us not to worry!

Well, having just read all of that, I decided to take a day off. We are all just chillin at my house today. Listening to Christmas Praise music, playing games, sitting outside in the cool but sunny yard. I even took a long bath! Right in the middle of the day! Supper tonight will be light and simple. We have no demands on our time this evening.

I'm hoping a day off will give my body a little boost in fighting off this nasty bug. I also hope that a day off will remind me that tomorrow - when activity is back in full swing - I can keep working without letting that little hormone take hold. I don't have to stress about these things, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can do them joyfully, as unto the Lord.

I wonder if Mary had a cold on her way to Bethlehem??

I'm So Thankful!

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

Makin' a list & checkin' it twice

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to be thinking about Christmas. The time of year that we celebrate Jesus' birth by giving gifts in honor of Him.

In our home, we make as many hand-made gifts as possible. I have the kids make a list of all they want to make for. Then they list ideas of things they can make.

Princess is making jewelry this year out of polymer clay. I'll post pics when she gets some pieces finished.

The boys are working in wood. The youngest was out in the shop busily (and secretly) working on my gift. He spent most of Saturday and some of Sunday measuring, cutting, gluing & nailing.

Unfortunately, he cannot wait to give any more than the rest of us! Sunday evening he had me close my eyes while he put my gift on the living room floor.

It's beautiful!

He used the cedar scraps leftover from our deck to build me this gorgeous planter.

He got the instructions from a woodworking book on our bookshelf. Followed the directions and viola!
He was so proud of his work. Couldn't hold a candle to mama's pride though!

Don't tell the rest of the family, but I think they're getting one too!

Their Very First Pomegranates

When I was a young teen, there was a pomegranate tree in the church yard close to our school. We would sneak over there at lunch and swipe one! (shhhhhh)


It has recently come to my attention that my three youngest kids have never had a pomegranate! I decided to remedy that this weekend. Even though they were quite pricey ($1.50ea) I bought 3 of them from the grocery store.


Seeing those juicy jewels and smelling that tangy sweetness made my mouth water! Brought me back to those Jr High days in the churchyard.

The kids loved them! It was quite an experience.

Princess was prim and proper, taking care not to mess up anything but her two fingers.

The boy was hesitant at first, but didn't have a problem getting messy.

The youngest dove right in!!

Such a simple pleasure. I'm going to keep my eyes open for new things to try. Pomegranates should be on the top of everyone's list!

Remember the relief maps of Jr. High? Salt dough or plaster of paris? Well we made a map of Israel out of cake. Yummy!

We made a yellow cake and baked it in a cookie sheet. The boys mixed up the frosting and made the seas and mountains and left the desert bare. They flagged key cities.

We ate Israel for dessert!

Fall Projects....

We have been enjoying this wonderful Fall weather and taking advantage of beautiful days.

I decided to "remodel" our old pink garden shed and came up with this:

Princess painted flowers on the side and Carpenter built a potting bench that I will mosaic.

Carpenter and the boys had two old trampoline frames and made me a greenhouse frame. Plastic and benches are next.

My first try at mosaic was with a concrete paver and a broken baking dish! Here's the result:

The welcome and birds used to be a door hanging that didn't survive the fall. :{

Virtually all of the above materials were recycled, repurposed or already sitting around. The paint was left over from previous projects, the greenhouse frame and mosaic materials were repurposed (I did have to buy a small bag of grout) and the lumber, buckets, etc were picked up from around the place. We will, of course, need to buy plastic for the greenhouse, but all in all they were cheap projects!

Maid Service

As I plunked the clean clothes basket down in the hall between the boys' rooms, I hollered, "Maid Service!". Among the bleeps and buzzes of the playstation, a voice exclaims, "Cool!"

Cool? What about "Thanks Mom" or "I'll get it"?

Cool??

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Yes, that includes laundry. And dishes. And toilets. And vacuuming. Making my home clean and healthy - with all my might.

Equipped with the tools of my trade, I tackle the world I live in with a vengeance! Killing germs and fighting grime like a Superhero! Making sure my family has clean clothes, clean dishes, and a clean environment that they will dirty, mess and destroy so I can do it again!

A person can go to Salary.com and calculate how much money you would make at your job as a mom/homemaker, but I don't want to know. It's too depressing.

My benefit package far outweighs any salary I could make! Not the least of which is this:

Twenty minutes after I dropped off the laundry in the hall, the boy comes to me in the kitchen and hugs me tight. "Thanks for doing my laundry, mom".

Cool!

Doo, Doo, Doo

I woke up at 3:00 this morning singing CCR's "Looking Out My Back Door" It was odd because I haven't heard that song in years. I don't listen to 'oldies', there isn't a commercial with the tune, no one had been singing it lately. No reason for that song to be in my head.



I got up at 6:00 still singing that silly song! I looked up the lyrics (I don't remember it being that bazaar of a song!) and one line in particular jumped out at me. Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrow. Hmmm....sounds a lot like "therefore, do not worry" in Matthew 6:25-31.



Coffee in hand, I sat down to check my email. I love reading Homeschooling Today and there was an article in my inbox. It was a fantastic piece on our "to do" list verses God's "to be" list. It reminded me to look for the important things in my day. The joy that play-doh brings far outweighs the mess! Taking time to enjoy my children is tantamount to worrying about the condition of the floors. I remembered that poem from long ago about how the dust will still be there years from now, but your children won't. Don't worry.



After email, I often stop by Sheryl's Place. On Friday's she hosts Faith-Lift Friday's and I always enjoy reading them. This morning was no different. She had a devotional from Crosswalk.com by Eva Marie Everson. A touching story reminding us that our Heavenly Father is concerned over every detail of our lives. If you have a minute, pop over and read the story. The point is, if it's important to us, it's important to Him. He's looking out for us, don't worry.



I'm sure by now, you are seeing a theme. Well, I didn't. Not at first. After my computer time, I grabbed another cup of coffee and headed "out my back door" to the deck. It's a new deck that we just built in May. A beautiful deck that we all worked on with love, sweat and yes a few tears! I was sitting in "my spot" looking out over the back yard.






It's a beautiful view I have. Actually, there are two views. One shows that the shop front isn't finished, the firepit isn't complete, the trailer full of scrap metal needs to be taken to the recyclers, the kids' jungle gym should be moved, the garden needs weeding, on and on.



The other view is my favorite. My husband is a very hard working man. He built the shop from the ground up and now has a place to do all the other hard working things he does! He has cleaned up the back property and a load of scrap is waiting to be taken in to pay him for his hard work! Our family loves to cook at the firepit! Family dinners last well into the evening with sweet fellowship and tons of fun. The fireflies complete perfect times! The basketball hoop, jungle gym, trampoline and bikes have all seen better days, but oh, the days they've had! Kids and grandkids playing, learning, growing, and doing it all together! The garden is lush and fruitful and beautiful and the weeds add to its fullness! What a blessing that piece of ground has been to our entire family -- friends and community too!



So, as summer marches forward, bringing bored cranky kids, extra yard and house work, garden stuff to deal with and a hot, tired mommy, I will have to remember this day. Don't worry - just look out my back door!

A Family of God

Two people meet and fall in love
and decide to make a life together.
They live and laugh and grow so close
and know it will be forever.

Their life is good as they live each day
with all that they are praying for.
But soon they know, deep in their hearts,
that there should be one more.

Their love and hopes and dreams endure
as they pray for a little one to share.
But month after month after month goes by
and the disappointment is too much to bear.

"Why Lord?", they ask.
"How can you be so unkind?"
"My children," gently answers the Lord.
"I have another plan in mind."

"From the minute you were formed I had plans for you,
your spouse, your kids, your being.”
"I have the perfect idea for you
for I am all-knowing, all-seeing."

In another town, not far away,
some children are not treated fair.
Their little lives have been torn apart
but our Heavenly Father is there.

With tender love and gentle care
He made two halves a whole.
The kids needed parents, the parents needed kids,
and each one fits the role.

This story is about our time together
as you may have already guessed.
Tho' things didn't go just as we planned,
our life is full and blessed.

Merry Christmas!

Well, all of our chicks are back in the nest for the holidays! 11 of us in our modest mobil home. We're missing son-in-law and granddaughter. Son-in-law will be spending Christmas in Afghanistan and granddaughter is with her mom in Virginia.

I love this time of year. I can do without the commercialism and the stress but I sure do love the rest of it!

We've taken a lot of the commercialism and stress away by paring way down on the gifts. Each child made a list of people that they wanted to give to. They had to make as many gifts as possible and use their own money for the rest.

We are taking all gifts to Grandma's on Christmas Eve. We'll spend the day together eating, playing, giving and loving.

Christmas day the kids will have their stockings to open and all day to play with their things and be with family. The older kids & I will make a full-blown Christmas Dinner and grandparents will come share with us.

We made cookies & sweet-bread for friends, neighbors and the people at Carpenter's work.

Next year we will have even less store-bought gifts and will have activities for the 12 days of Christmas.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, wo is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12

They earned their badge!

Well, after learning the basics, pouring over recipes, making a menu and shopping for ingredients, they came up with this:



Breakfast -
Blackberry Fritters
Hot cocoa mix (Excellent! Will use this recipe again!)


Lunch -
Taco Nachos with the works (took some to the Carpenter at work!)


Supper -
Salisbury Steak w/Gravy
Seasoned Potato Sticks
Seasoned Greenbeans
Cheese Biscuits


Dessert -
Blender Milkshakes (with NO ice-cream! Yummm)


It was all very nice. Not only did they prepare and serve each meal, but they cleaned up after each session as well.




Job well done, boys!
You've earned that badge!

Setting the Table

My good friend Sheryl gave us a book called "The Young Man's HandyBook: Preparing Your Son on the Homefront"

We are working on our Cooking Badge.

Today those boys - those tree climbing, goat roaping, squirl shooting, chainsawing boys - set a beautiful table!

They've been taking turns with their sister doing dishes - with no grumbling, I might add. And they've been a huge help in the kitchen! We'll be cooking the rest of the week and they'll earn their badge on Friday.

Home

Well, we are back on the farm now and everyone is so glad to be home! Everyone has their room back - their stuff back -- their little piece of the world back.

Carpenter and the boys have been spending blissful evenings in the new shop with sawing, hammering, drilling and country music noises drifting into the air. I'm pretty sure hearts will be swelling as handmade Christmas presents are passed out this year!

Teenage daughter is back in her green and pink sanctuary down the hall. She's appreciating it more these days after being in the "room off the living room" at grandma's for six months. Muffled sounds of Casting Crowns and Barlow Girls are vibrating behind her door.

I am in heaven. I feel blessed beyond measure. I felt wonderful being able to help out mother-in-law when she needed us, but being back home soothes my spirit. We have all learned to appreciate what we have. Circumstances change - sometimes with less than a moment's notice - and we are all learning to love what we have at the moment, but hold it loosely. Be content in all situations and be ready for what the Lord has for you next.

Our First Place

Thanx Annie for hosting Time Travel Tuesday!

Our first home. This will be a telling post!

I was 16 when I was married and three months pregnant. I was so excited to be married with my own home. I moved from my childhood house to a small, one-bedroom home in town.

Dh was working as a bagger at a local grocery store and making decent money for 1981. He was also part of the Union, so our medical needs were met (praise God!!) I was going to school most mornings and piddling around my home the rest of the time.

Our home was furnished “Early Salvation Army” and our families were generous with their ‘extras’.
Our living room had a gold couch, a brown velvet-looking easy chair, shelves made from scrap wood and cinderblocks and tie-dyed curtains! The bathroom had brown rugs and a grey shower curtain. LOL

I was a terrible cook. Poor hubby suffered silently for many years eating pasty gravy and over-cooked meat. We ate out a lot.

We only lived in that little house for 5 months. We moved to a ‘bigger’ place before the baby was born. We have wished many times that we would have stayed there. The landlord wanted to sell it to us, but we were too young and ignorant to make that investment. He sold it for 38K and the man that bought it put a little into it and sold it for 98K 6 months later.

At any rate, our first home together was a wonderful springboard to our adventure together. The walls were block - drafty and dirty. The floors were bare, drafty and dirty. There was no air and the heater was a free standing propane ‘box’ that wasn’t all that safe. We loved that little place!

A place where dreams were born and planned. A place where we learned that life doesn’t hand you anything - you have to work for it and it’s worth it! A place where we started our life together and decided that we stay together and honor our vows NO MATTER WHAT!

And today, 26 ½ years later, we still think about that place.