Unpredictability

  Our lifestyle is beyond the description of unpredictable...
How am I handling it??? 

I'M NOT!!!

I don't even know how to adjust to it. 

I have, since having my kids, become so rigid with planning and scheduling...
so I will admit that I definitely had rom in

my life for being more unpredictable, but REALLY???? 
I decided today that I am going to, at some point, write a book to help other
RRing wives, but....
what do you write??
how do you write 'help' for RRers??
where do you start??

So here is where I am starting:

1.  Accept my husband at face value.
2.  Realize that what 'God puts together - let no man put asunder' is
God's plan for your marriage.
3.  Trust.
4.  Respect: given - not earned.
5. Respect has been distorted by media, society, and our ignorances.
6.  Be grateful for his full effort of providing.
7.  Be frugal.
8.  Quality relationships are INTENTIONAL.
9.  Romance is HIGHLY overrated.
10.  Intimacy comes in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.
11.  Real agape love is not self-seeking, selfish...
12.  (I left the most important aspect of surviving the RRing life)
God as your central anchor.

I will not pretend that I didn't buy into the brainwashing idea of what 'adult life'
would be like.  Or should I say married life?? 
I was told all my life that Cinderella meets her prince charming and lives happily ever after.  I know...who believes that - right??  Well...many of us women do.  Deliberately or not...we expect a part of
that 'fairy tale' lifestyle to some extent or another. 
Living the life of a RRer's wife is not going to meet the 'fairy tale' idea,
but here is what will meet:

1.  Stability.
2.  A job that has excellent retirement and benefits.

It is all about perspective. 

If you are a RRing wife needing someone to help you thru why you can't even plan tomorrow with your husband...what about the wife who is nursing her husband thru cancer wondering if tonight will be the last night she will snuggle her husband.
If you are a RRing wife needing someone to 'fill in the gap of meeting your needs'...what about the wife who stares at the picture of her deceased serviceman who gave his life for 'her' country knowing that he is never coming home and can't stomach the thought of turning to anyone else to do so.
If you are a RRing wife that has to tell your little Jane or little Bobby no to that pair of tennis shoes that he or she wants...what about the father that has to face his children that are hungry, dirty and homeless after he lost his job, dignity, self-esteem and sense of worth or value. 
If you are a RRing wife (or mom) that does not know how to explain to little Jane or Little Bobby why daddy couldn't be at their game tonight....what about the mom who explains to her little Jane or Bobby why  their daddy is overseas fighting for our freedom and that is why he is not able to be at his or her game.

We, as RRing wives, may not have our husbands home every night to 'meet our needs' or to play with our children, but we do have one thing our husbands working close to home with a confidence that he will be home safe and sound, God willing, following that next train ride.

It is all about perspective. 

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect.

"Sprucing up"

After much attempt our June get-together

with the Shelbyville

homeschooling group was just not panning out.

So....after putting a few heads together

we decided that one our families needed some

much needed assistance.



Before lunch a few wanted to take a dip.



LUNCH!!! 

PBJs always work!!

And then out to the porch they went to enjoy your lunches... 

I think the girls out number the boys....

.....baby 'holders' were not in short supply... :)

 This is what happens when eight mommas (and their children) get busy sprucing things up. There were lots of laughs, discussing curriculum and various topics, and 'catching up' going on....Did I forget to mention that there was some cleaning involved??

One mom's comment about today was: "Can I just say how awesome it is to be one in the body of Christ...

So first century church."

We had a great time and I hope we met the goal of blessing such a wonderful family!! 

Thanks to everyone who was able to help... xoxo to all.

I am so lucky to belong to such a

wonderful group of people united with the one, true God.

birthday blessings!!!

Psalm 139:13-14 "You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt."

As I sit here one week past my 36th birthday...this was the bible

verse of the day of my birthday this year.  How fitting???

I have, for years, struggled with some of my personality qualities

(i.e. very black and white, straight-forward, opinionated--there are more,

but I only have limited space--hehe), but yesterday I was talking to a lady

that is very dear to me and she encouraged me to 'stop trying to not be

like so-so person, but to be who God wants me to be'.  I was given the

family that God wanted me to have whether I like it or not.  So my

 birthday blessing this year is rejoicing in the fact that my mom chose

to keep me--or did not choose to abort me.  We should all be so

grateful regardless of our relationship with our mothers or our

family.  Of course, in my case it is probably a good thing that she

 (my mom) could not see into the a future crystal ball...she may have changed her mind. LOL.  Haha...Just kidding!!! 

My hope and prayer is that my children have grasped that although I carried them for nine months...God knit them together for his purpose.  I am (We are) just the lucky one(s) to see his purpose evolve and grow in grace. 

Mary or Martha...again??

So why am I so hung up on Mary and Martha lately??? 

The more I learn about them--the more convicted I am about

which one I am called to be.

Mary: So easy, so adjustable, so willing, and seizes oppurtunities to serve

her God.

(Then there is...)

Martha: So rigid, controlling, demanding.

The more I learn the contrasts between these two ladies....I become

more and more aware of how much I don't appreciate Martha. 

But...I also see at the same time how much I am like Martha. 

Is this why I am not fond of her??? 

Is this why I am so hard on myself b/c I am so rigid, controlling, and demanding as well??? 

Needless to say, my newest prayer (on a selfish level) is to become more

of a Mary than a Martha....again!!!  

Luke 10: 38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named

Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s

feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the

preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked,

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried

and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or

indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Summer Reading Program

So today I am taking a few minutes to brag about my children

and where they focus a lot of their attention.

After moving here to Bethany, we visited our library,

which if I may add is a PHENOMAL place with

PHENOMAL ladies, and started diving into the

resources that they have to offer.  I am constantly ordering

books for school (mainly for Caylor for supplemental reading),

but on occasion for Colten too.  The ladies

 at the library made sure that we were all

settled in, and I don't mean at home. :)

I am referring to our 'place' or 'home' at the library. 

They made sure that we knew how to use

the computers, printers, magazines,

how the library layout was

organized...you name it!!!  They also

mentioned that they have a summer

reading program, which we really haven't taken

a part of in a lot of years for many reasons,

but mainly it was a time issue. 

Well this year...time is on our side. 

We have chosen a much slower lifestyle

and, as you have read, we are really enjoying it.

So back to the reading program....we signed up. 

 Not only have we met some new friends at the 

 'begin the summer reading program bash', but my

children are heading a mission. 

Ok...here comes

 the good part!!!  They found out a few days ago that

one of the prizes was a girl's HSM bike and

decided they were going to read as much as

they could so that they could enter their

name in that specific drawing.  So you are

probably asking why is this such a big deal--

right???  Well the bike will not be for

Colten or Caylor--they are determined to

win this bike for a friend of ours who is trying

to teach their daughter to ride a bike and her

reward of learning to ride is a new bike.  The bike she

is learning on is has been handed one time too

many, but is perfect for learning. :)  Colten and

Caylor also know that finances are a burden for

this particular family...so a new bike for their

daughter just seemed fitting!!!  I have added

some pics of them reading together and to

each other to accomplish their goal.  If you see

Colten or Caylor please encourage them to keep

reading and to stay focused on the goal they have set for themselves.... 

They had just finished swimming and were reading while they dried off.
I had to sneak up on them....Colten doesn't always cooperate with cameras.

my timing...or God's plan all along???

This weekend our family is embarking on an anniversary

"kind of"...  One year ago this weekend something

began that we could have never imagined.

Let me give you a little history first....

July 3, 2000

(ok...I promise it will be a short history)

Chon was currently working at a factory in

 Mattoon, IL--third shift.

I was living my dream of being home with my kids.

The kids and I had left for the day

(you know groceries, swimming, etc)

so that he could rest...we had

become quite acquainted with the outdoors

 by this time due to his

need of sleep and Colten and Caylor being too little to

understand how to be 'really quiet' so that Dad could sleep.*

We got home at approximately 200p and Chon was sitting on the

front step - AWAKE!!  He normally slept until 530ish or so...

So my first thought was

"oh no...I left the phone on and someone woke him up".

So, I non-chalantly asked him, not wanting to be in trouble, why he

was awake.  His response was, "I am not going in today".  He had

been threatening-jokingly-that one day he was just not going to

go to work, because he didn't care for the factory life.

(here is a side note for you: Chon would never 'not' go

to work--it would go against his grain)

I said, "Honey, I know you don't like it, but we have two kids now."

He kept playing me and then finally

said, "Well, I would much rather

start sprinkler fitting instead."  He had gone for

job interview with a sprinklerfitting union approximately 1-2 weeks prior,

and had just heard that he had gotten the job.

We were so excited. 

Finally, weekends off, good benefits, good pay...you know

all the things we thought we needed.*

Ok...so now fast forward to Sept. 11, 2001. 

Now we all know what date this is...

This date affected, in my opinion, indirectly or directly...

our household was an indirectly. 

From that date on, work, for sprinkler fitting, was

few and far between.  He pretty much

got 'laid off' every year. In the meantime, I

(was living my dream of a stay-at-home mom)

met a young lady who introduced me to a family that was

AMAZING.  They lived

so simple that I did not want to leave, and was

exposed to HOMESCHOOLING.

I was officially hooked.  I was attending church

regularly-Chon was not, but God had a plan.

I came home and asked Chon if I could

homeschool and he told me HSed kids are 'weird' - NO. *

Ok...now fast forward again to September 2008. 

Chon was laid off, from sprinklerfitting, September 15, 2008.  He did not return

to work as a sprinkler fitter. 

 After being laid off for one year and eight months, Chon

was hired to work for Norfolk Southern.

His first day was June 6, 2010.

So...this weekend marks this as one year ago. 

What happened in this year's time is what has gotten me so

'smitten' if I may.

OK...so here comes some more history:

November 2009

Chon was to the point of almost being crazy....being

off for as long as he had been off.

He spent a lot of time pacing, reading his bible, and praying. 

We weren't really stressed out, but, rather, frustrated.

I was working part-time at the time to help financially.

We continued to trust that God had a plan for our family.

We prayed for a job, but not really.  Our prayer just

kept consistently remaining that we would

stay focused on his will for our lives. 

I came home from work one day and Chon was on the couch.

Normally, he would meet me at the door to help me

carry any items that needed brought up.

(we lived in a bi-level at the time...so every thing had to be 'brought up')

I asked him if he was alright and his response to me was:

"We need to sale our house and home school."

I looked around for my husband.

This, surely, was not the man I left on

this property this morning. 

Remember the statement "homeschooled kids are weird-NO"??

I basically at this point thought he was toying with my emotions and

he finally said, "I am not kidding."

I told him that I was not telling his parents, because I wanted them to know

that this was his idea (this time) - not mine. 

I knew they would be supportive, but I didn't want

them to think that I had bullied him into this decision.

He was okay with telling them. 

My in-laws did a great job raising him, and his sister, especially when

it came to respecting their decisions for their families.

(even if they don't agree)

After Chon approached me
about selling our house and homeschooling we began
driving around other communities that we were more
likely to be able to afford living vs. MTZ. We found a very
interesting property for sale with
a realtor.  The house that we found the owner
was outside.  We pulled in and asked them how much they
were asking and how long
it had been on the market.
He told us that they had just put the sign in the yard
that morning.  There were no other signs
directing toward the house....A God thing???
I think so.
  He told us how much and it was more
than we had decided we were ever spending 
on again on a house, but he mentioned that he would
be willing to split the acreage.  So
we scheduled an appt to see the inside.  Chon
fell in love....i was much slower to convince, but it
was definitely a lovely home and could potentially be
a great place to finish raising the kids.

January 2009

Colten, who had was on his 10th year wrestling, had a tournament

in Shanahon, IL.  It was an overnight tournament, and we had

decided that he was not going if we were not able to go.

A friend of ours, 

which we will keep anonymous,

 offered to let us 'stay' in their room for the night.

We agreed.  Colten wanted us there, too. 

The couple that we stayed with we knew thru our daughter...it

was a friend of her's parents.  So we were

acquaintences, but not really 'good friends'. 

As we sat around the room...the husband, which we did not

know worked for NS, mentioned to Chon that he

might consider applying with NS.  Chon had

not thought about RRing to this point.  He and the husband

continued talking.  I was visiting with the wife. 

I heard bits and pieces, but was not too

interested in their conversation.*

We returned home from the wrestling tournament

and I asked him what was said in their conversation.

Chon said that 'he' suggested that I apply

with NS that they might be doing some

hiring in May.  My initial response

was "May???  We can't wait for May.

Our unemployment runs out at the end of May."*

Remember me telling you that we were not good friends

just acquaintences with the couple we 'bunked' with??

Well, we did not know going into this weekend

that the husband was a 'higher up' with NS.* 

Chon jumps on the computer and applies at NS.

Still with the mindset that God has a plan. 

Two weeks later...he gets an email from NS inviting 

him to an interview at such and such date and at such and such time,

which was a Wednesday. 

(A little side note: Chon only knew how to search the internet at this point...

I didn't know he knew how to run email--apparently he did). 

He emailed me the invitation at work, and I kind of 

read it not knowing what it was.
So I call him and asked him...what is this??

He set me straight real quick....

WE WERE SHOCKED!!!! 

"Our friend" had told us May... it was barely February!!!! 

 The invitation was for later in February or early part of March.

So he attends the interview. 

I don't think I will ever forget that day.

Chon left the house looking confident...something I had not seen in him

for a long time.  Being laid off, especially for a man, can really take

 a toll on your 'knowing you can provide for your family'.

The kids and I made him a card to wish him luck, and lunch to take with him.

He was not sure what to expect at the 'interview'. 

He had heard different versions, but was not sure what was accurate.

The kids had school and I had to go to work, which

is probably a good thing since

we were all on pins-and-needles,

it kept us busy. :)

I got to work, but I don't think I worked. 

I sat at my desk and just stared.

About 1030 my phone rang...IT WAS CHON!!

I tried to be real cool and answer with hello, but

I really wanted to say was "WELL???".

I pulled it together and answered with hello.

The voice on the other end of the phone was Chon-duh right?

I say that b/c it was a 'less defeated' Chon. He proceeded

to tell me that he had PASSED the first round of the interview!!!!!

And...that out of the 25 that they started with only 20 came back after

the break they were given. Next, they were to take an actual written

test. I really got nervous here, b/c he was so nervous for this part.

  He proceeded to tell me that he had PASSED that portion too.

And again...out of the 20 that went in to this portion only 17-18

made it.  The way you knew you were proceeding to the next phase

they called your name, which meant you passed the written exam.

Then after that was the face-to-face portion of the interview. 

He answered every question HONESTLY and confidently.
(according to Chon which is not a surprise to those of us who know him)

On his way out, he shook hands with everyone

in the room until he got to the 'real' big guy.  The

'real' big guy in the room did not

shake hands with anyone b/c he had
been sick.  So when Chon

got to this gentleman and he did not respond with his

hand out to shake...Chon just went on without being offended.

I love that about him....he is not easily offended.

But when he got to the door, he turned around and saluted him.

The 'real' big guy, according to our friend, really appreciated that

b/c he retired from the Army.  Did I forget to mention that

'our friend' was part of the interview process?  This was something

we did not know until Chon went into the face-to-face portion.

"Our friend" was so professional about the process...

"Our friend" did call Chon that evening and tell him that

he did a great job, but did not know any results at this point.

It was not up to him...he just gets to sit in on the interviews

for a 'small' opinion from the panel. :)

We had decided either way...we were continuing to trust God

with where he wanted us. 

Saturday morning at 9:30, Chon's phone rang. 

He did not recognize the number...it the hire/fire guy

from NS.  He called to offer Chon a job if he was still

interested..assuming he passed his physical, drug test, and background check.

Chon gladly accepted!!!
He gave him specific instructions on what to do next. 

1. Report to Conduit Street for information to do background check and driving record.
2.  Report to St. Mary's for his physical and drug testing.
3.  Wait for background check, physical, and drug test results.

Obviously the drug testing and background check were our biggest concern---NOT!!!
Driving record -- not a concern (i.e. no DUIs, very speedy speeding tickets)
Physical??  Well, who knows what is going on that body until you start looking--right??

We got word a few weeks later that they
found blood in his urine, and that he needed to report
to his family doctor.  Dr. Rohde seen him very quickly and decided
that he might have just been a little dehydrated, but that everything was
okay.  He was cleared to start work!!!
Once the results were given to NS...we should be good to go.
We knew that there was a group leaving for 'training'
the beginning of May. 
Here it is May 6...we missed the
May training session.
For just a moment, we forgot that God is in control.

We recieved a letter that Chon was to report to Georgia for training
Monday, June 6, 2010.
Our unemployment ran out May 25, 2010--our last check was June 1, 2010.
We finally get to June 4.
We had decided to sale our house, rent for a while,
and begin homeschooling the following school year.
We put a 'for sale' sign in our yard Saturday evening before he was to leave.
He left Sunday morning for Georgia.  It had been so long since we had been
without him that I wasn't sure how this was going to work again.
He called us every day/night keeping us updated on how things
were going.  He was in classes for 8 hours everyday, and with each lesson he had
tests, which he had to get an 80% or better.  He was only allowed a 'less' than 80%
on three tests total for entirety of the training. 
He only had one test that was less 80%....God was very gracious to him.
He slept little and studied A LOT!!
By the time he got home, our a/c unit died and
we had recieved an offer on our house.
 In a time where houses that are for sale were sitting for long periods
 of time an offer after only three weeks on the market was almost
unbelievable.  But....we were 'scheduled' to close in August 2010.
The evening we finalized the negotiations on the house, we recieved a
phone call from a landlord friend of mine.  He was calling to see if
we were still in need of a house to rent.  Talk about good timing?
I said...boy you can't imagine how good your timing is.
I explained that we had just completed
negotiations on our house and would be needing a house
to rent.  He agreed to let us move in and we could put
our belongings in early. 

August 2010.
It was very hot!! 
But we were moving.
The plan: to rent for one to two years and save some money to buy.
School begins!!
The neighborhood was a little rough, but it could have been worse.
We met a great younger couple who we really enjoyed getting to know.
Our direct next door neighbor was the least tolerable.

October 2010.
Completely blind-sided we recieved a phone call. 
Remember the house in November 2009 that we looked at??
The owners called to let us know that they did not sale in the
Spring and was re-listing their house if we would
be interested.  I told him well..I would need to talk to
Chon, but we would let them know.  We
immediately contacted our landlord about
letting us out of our lease and he agreed.  Talk about God's intervention.
We contacted the home owners and asked if we could see the house again
to make our decision. We set up a time to see the house.
Chon fell in love again.
And again....I was not easily convinced.
There was something about the house
that was not working for me.
It took me a few weeks and it finally hit me...
IT WAS THE KITCHEN!!!!!!
It was in the wrong place.
We asked to see the house again.
So back to the house we go.
After looking again...Chon and I agreed to make an offer. 
We made our offer and they accepted. 
THEY ACCEPTED OUR FIRST OFFER!!!!
We couldn't believe it.
HERE WE GO AGAIN....WE ARE MOVING!!!
After many bumps and bruises to getting the final paperwork
complete...God kept reminding us that we were not
in control of 'the timing'.
Scheduled to close early December...we began packing--lightly.
We finally were able to move a week before Christmas, but
we had a wonderul Christmas.

April 2011:
So now we are enjoying our first Spring in house that
has been such a blessing in regards to having
everything that we have looked for for years, but with many
lessons on how to be content. 

May 2011:
We have our garden tilled, school is beginning to wind down, and
Colten and Caylor are growing too fast both physically and mentally.
The best part of the past few months is watching
the grow closer as a family and
grow closer to God. 
The gifts that God has allowed to surface has
been almost overwhelming at times. 
Chon and I are stronger and so much more peaceful when
things are quiet around than I could have ever imagined. 

Sorry if this is too long, but God's plan all along is
much more satisfying than my 'scheduled' chaos.

I don't know if you noticed the 'stars (*)'...to me these are times that God reminded us of
Ecclesiates 3:11
He does everything in his own perfect timing.

AMAZING.... Ps 37:4

Everyday (at least I try to make it everyday) I find

time to spend in God's word and with God.

And it still amazes me that he is 'interested' in the

small details that we have.  I believe that

I was raised to be a selfish person....heck, we are

all born with a sin nature that

is a natural bend toward ourself.

So the cry of my heart has been

please remove the 'view' off of me and onto

you Lord. 

So why does it amaze me that he (God) is so interested

in my small requests??  I think about those who are praying that empty their

hearts out over their dying husband,  their sick wife in the hospital bed,

or a child who is going to have surgery, or a parent who

has just lost a little one to SIDS....I mean

the list goes on and on of what I would consider

as 'heartache'....so why is God so interested in - not

my prayer request per say - but rather the desires of my heart??

Well....the answer is simple....

Ps 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I sincerely beleive that when you spend time praying

for the prayer requests, either for others

or for your own

personal needs,

that are endless (unfortunately) God delights in your

willingness to stay focused on others and wants to 

'reward' you, if I may, for your delighting in Him.  

Just remember ~~ we delight in Him b/c his glory is our

motivation....not our 'reward'.

I would love to be praying for you today!!!! 

help meet...

The phrase 'help meet' has been a phrase that has really had me frustrated, confused, excited that I can be a housewife and still have a 'title'.  For so many years I have thought about what it means and what it looks like.  And I think I might have finally gotten it--
THERE IS NO 'COOKIE CUTTER' HELP MEET!!!!
Can you believe it???  There is no cookie cutter help meet.  All of these years I have read, looked, asked, and searched for the cookie cutter equation on how to be a help meet....and all along it has been right here in front of me. 
Let's look at what I mean:
Help meet:
by definition:
Help: (first it is a verb-an action verb at that) to give assistance
or support to,  to make more pleasant or bearable
Meet:  precisely adapted to a particular situation, need, or circumstance
When you combine those two words and their
meanings..it takes on a whole new meaning and how-to use. 

But...I keep going back to the very same question that I started with 11 years ago--
What does a help meet look like?
And I don't mean - what is she wearing, but rather what does an example, of a help meet, look like.
What does a help meet act like?
How does she respond to her husband?
How doesn't she respond to her husband?
How does she respond to her children?
How doesn't she respond to her children?
How does she dress? (now we are talking appearance)
How doesn't she dress? 
(ok...so my English is not great in some of these questions)

And all of these questions can be answered with one easy 'question' you can ask yourself:
What can I do to 'help meet' the needs of my husband?

I have prayed for years to understand what being a help meet really means, meant,
looks like, etc and all along it has been right
here in front of me...what can I do to help meet the needs of my husband??

 Now, please notice that I did not say how can I
help meet the needs of my children.  So maybe you're asking
(and maybe you're not) why??  My children's needs include living in a
home that is filled with love, joy, peace and honesty and obviously food and shelter
....and when they live
in a home where momma fulfills her job of "meeting daddy's needs"
 and daddy fulfills his job of "providing, protecting, and 'managing his home'"
then there is no room for confusion, rebellion, or hatred. 
And the physical needs of food shelter are also taken care of at that point too...
daddy's out working - to provide food and shelter
and supply protection - a home. 
Hence, why their needs are met when momma and daddy fulfill their roles. 

As simple as it seems and yet so unimportant anymore. 
I am always reminded of the vows my husband and I took when
we got married (16 years ago) :
I, Carrie, take thee, Chon,
to be my lawfully wedded husband
 for better, for worse,
in sickness and in health, in joys and in sorrows, until death do
we part. I give you all that I have myself and my love.
(All these things I pledge to thee) In the Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
With this ring I seal my vow of love to you, Chon. 

I stood there almost 16 years ago pledging to be his
help meet and I finally get it!!! 
Everyday my goal is give my schedule, my plans, my energy to God so
that with his help I can meet everyone of Chon's needs to make
him more successful in God's eyes.

Gen 2:18
And the Lord God said,
It is not good for man to be alone,
I wil make him a help meet for him (him being Adam).

Interesting the words used.... 

School and sun...or is it Son and school?

As it gets warmer, we are are finding it harder and harder to stay focused on school.  So today we decided to combine the warmth of the sun and math. After this long, cold, wet winter and, thus far, a wet, cooler Spring, the sun felt sooo good. Colten removed his socks and 'sunned' his feet...haha. That is funny for us b/c Colten was 'sunning' his feet b/c Casey, his cousin, is getting married this upcoming weekend, and he did not want 'white' feet for his new flip flops for the wedding. So we sat outside to enjoy the warmth of the sun and for Colten it was 'sunning' his feet.

But...as we sat outside soaking up the warmth of the sun it reminded me how lucky I was to have my children home, learning in the sun and in the Son (Jesus Christ). We have taken our home, this year, and reclaimed that which we allowed to be taken from us. God has been very gracious to us this year. When I look back at this year--I wonder if I knew a year ago we would be where we are today?? I don't necessarily mean just physical location--I am referring to the 'WHOLE PICTURE'....would I have guessed that we would have really sold our house in Mt. Zion?? Rented a house in Decatur?? Start homeschooling the kids who were either in Jr. High School or verging on it?? Seeing God work in the kids' life and our own?? Purchase a house that allowed us to 'spread our wings' on a property that is exactly what we have been looking for for many years?? Seeing Chon and I grow together in ways that we thought were 'mastered'?? Seeing us step us into roles God designated for us long before we realized it (please don't hear that we are pefect in these 'roles')??

Martha or Mary???? or Hillbilly Weiny Roast????

  

The past few weeks I have been thinking about Martha and Mary in scripture....  So here is why:

Martha was so worried when Jesus came to visit that she continued being busy: keeping the house cleaned up, the dishes done, 'cleaning'....and then there is Mary who when Jesus came to visit sat at his feet to just merely 'enjoy his company'.  Most of us women are either a "Martha" personality or a "Mary" personality.  Why do we have to choose??  Why can't we blend both woman into our lives??? 

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and HEARD HIS WORD. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and said, LORD, doest thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

So here is my 'sad excuse' of atempting to weave both woman into my life....


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

We have been outside all day cleaning up the yard and just really enjoying what a beautiful day God has given us.  Plus, the fresh air and hard work will not kill any of us...haha :)  Caylor has been 'banned' to her room until it gets cleaned to the inspector's "okay" (Lucky I am the inspector-huh?).  She finally gets her room 'okayed' and joins us outside.  And after being out there a while, she comes up to me and asks if we can have a 'weiny roast'...now remember I told you that we had been cleaning up the yard - right??  WE had a fire going to burn the yard waste---so what else would we do with it--right??  I told her she needed to ask her dad.  Her dad works a lot and we weren't 'ready'....so I really expected him to say no.  In my mind we were having something for supper....just wasn't sure what yet (this is my Martha moment).  To my surprise her dad says 'YES'.  (here comes a Martha moment)....my first thought is "I don't even have hot dogs!!! Or buns!!!"  I quickly confirm with her dad if if indeed we are having a weiny roast and sure enough--WE ARE!!!  So I say, very quickly, "I will be right back--I have to go to the grocery store." (here comes another Martha moment) All the way to the grocery store I am thinking, "but I have already spent all of my grocery budget.  Do I go ahead and spend out of our checking acct that will blow our budget??  I am going to have to..." 

 You see....Martha does not know how to 'be adjustable' or 'just go with the flow and enjoy the moment'. 

So I get to the store and guess what???  The hot dogs there are REALLY expensive and they are full of YUCKY stuff, but what hot dog isn't right!?!?!?!  So I buy the hot dogs and return home.  So now the preparation begins!!!  Chon, Caylor, and I started looking all over the property for sticks (we do not have any weiny roast sticks here).  Chon and Colten's job is to cut and whittle the sticks.  They are really having a good time!!!  Colten played with fire and a knife...his idea of a GREAT DAY!!!  Colten added wood to the fire to keep a good hot fire going and the weiny roast BEGINS!!! (so here comes a Mary moment-notice I didn't say my Mary moment) 

Caylor decides that she also wants to make Chon some snickerdoodles, which are his favorite cookie and just the day before she had made some up in a jar to have for 'easy access'.  She begins the cookies in the kitchen.  She is turning out to be quite the Martha and Mary!!!  She had also pulled out of the fridge everything we would need for the weiny roast such as ketchup, mustard, cole slaw, cantaloupe, plates, cups (both plastic to be 'more real').  The cookies were a hit!!!  She made them a little crispy - just how her dad likes them!!!

Chon did ask that we eat inside b/c it was terribly windy...You can see a picture of a 'real hick' kind of picnic/weiny roast.

So here is what I have learned from this weiny roast adventure--I don't have to choose b/n Martha or Mary.  If I had chosen to be Marth over Mary---I would have missed the memories of our Hillybilly Weiny Roast.  I have added add'l photos below of our weiny roast...hope you enjoy!!

 

PROGRESS!!!!!

Some of you may or may not know that this is our first year

home schooling.  Our children are 14 (8th grade)

and 12 (6th grade).  So why have we waited

until now to home school??  Mostly...in all fairness

we weren't all ready. 

BUT....

Today we made progress. 

Caylor left public schools struggling with a tag

that they gave her of 'reading learning disability'.  I laugh

in the face of the person who just did not want to deal

with her.  I laugh in the face of the person who did not

understand her way of learning.

BECAUSE....

Today we made progress!!!!

Caylor told me 3 weeks ago that she would have never

been doing English on her own at school--at home she is

almost completely independent in all subjects,

 except math.

AND YET SHE HAS PROVEN THAT THEORY WRONG AGAIN TODAY!!!

One of the things that I (okay-we) love about home schooling is that they do not

have to be sitting at a desk all day being zombified...

Today we used the patio door as a dry erase board.
She has learned Phil 4:13 "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me"
very well when it comes to math.  We keep saying I can do all thing thru Christ who strengthens
me - even math!!! :)

THINKING, THINKING....

 

She spent the rest of the afternoon working her division problems

on this door....  She used the inside of the door and the

outside of the door (Thank you God for

wonderful weather to allow her to work on both sides of the door). 

Today she was smiling and wonderful

at the completion of math instead of defeated and destroyed.

The best (if I am allowed a selfish moment) is that I was here!!!

I was here to encourage her to keep trying.

I was here to show her how to do it.

I was here when she SUCCEEDED. 

I do love this feeling!!! :)

SUCCESS!!!!  I GOT IT!!! 

WHAT A FEELING--BEIN'S BELIEVIN'

I can't have it all, now I'm MATHING for my life

Take your passion, and make it happen

Lyrics

Irene Cara - Flashdance...What a Feeling lyrics

(Sorry for the Flashdance break out-haha)

I guess my title may have indicated house progress...sorry if you were disappointed. 

This type of day will forever take presidence in my book...

Our house can fall down around us as long

as our children are learning, confident, and stay focused on what

God wants from them.

soda, pizza, and great company...and don't forget the chocolate cake

This afternoon I enjoyed an afternoon with soda, pizza

and GREAT company!!!  Why do those things seem too

simple to be writing about???  Well for a mom like me, who is forever

grateful for my husband's job, that gets VERY LITTLE

alone time: this afternoon - I was on my own!!!  I will

admit that the only thing that would have made it better was the having 30 minutes

 on my way to soda, pizza and great company would have been be able

to sing as loud and as awful as I wanted to.  :)

BUT....in place of all of that fun, I got to ride along with a

new found friend!!!  Her name will remain anonymous,

but I am excited to have a new friend.  So you may

be wondering was the soda and pizza good???  YES!!!!  I enjoyed

both very much, but felt very guilty for enjoying it

without my children as I knew they were at home enjoying grilled cheeses and chips.

:( YUCK in comparison to pizza and soda.  haha

OK so now we are in for confession time:

I HAD TWO PIECES OF CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!

Ok there I said it...

I guess my earlier guilt was short-lived...haha

The chocolate cake will probably not be short-lived as it

is slowly finding it's way to my hips or backside.  :(

But oh so worth it. 

"Fresh" milk....

We have been enjoying raw milk, or as we call it at our

house "fresh milk", for about

2 years now; and every week we get to enjoy it I become

more and more grateful for it.  I have recently started

making our own butter....

A few months ago my grandma said that making our own butter

was not worth it...I will have to beg to differ.  If you have never

made homemade butter--you are missing out. 

You scoop out the cream from the fresh

milk, pour into a

tight-lidded jar and ((((((SHAKE)))))). 

 I now understand why my grandparents

were so fit.  Homemade butter, bread, gardening, no

TV days.....there is nothing else to do

except work!!  This is good work though because we get to enjoy our 'work', and boy is it GOOD!!

And from the butter---guess what you get???

Yep, you guessed it - BUTTERMILK.  Buttermilk biscuits

are truly the best

result of fresh milk!!

'Snow' daze...

We bought a home this month.  Yeah, for those of you who know us this is not a new thing, but I do believe that this purchase will be permanent.  We bought a house with almost two acres.  An old farmhouse that needs a little help..and today I started on the 'work'.  We are starting out with remodeling a bathroom.  It will, in the end, be the only full bathroom in the house.  This particular bathroom (with a utility room on the opposite side of the wall) still has plaster and lathing behing the plaster.  I have begun tearing down the plaster and lathing so that the bathroom and utility room can become one!!!  Once that is complete, we will begin our 'great room'.  I hope to add some pics soon... We have never taken on a house that needed work, but believe it or not, I am excited about doing the work.  The demolition that has already begun has been therapeutic already. Stay tuned for pics and progress!!! 

Our vision for our home is lots and lots of fresh vegetables to start a vegetable stand to share with the community, raise chickens, maybe a pig or cow for our own consumption, and enjoying the fruit of our labor... :)  Come visit us this spring and summer...

VICTOR b/c we are no longer a victim

Today I am reflecting on yesterday.... My children and I visited our previous church (I don't want to call it our old church b/c they are still our church family) and I had the opportunity to visit with our previous pastor.  For the first time in years I made the comment "My bones are not broken anymore".  Do you know that it has taken me a LONG time to say that I no longer have broken bones???  Sometimes brokenness is not the product of 'reaping what you sow' or punishment, but, rather, the reminder of God's Sovereignty.  God's bigger plan for your life, inlcuding past, present and future, is so much bigger than we realize or that our minds can fathom.  My 'broken' bones has not come without some preparation....When I am allowed to see our past along with the preparation for what was to come it gives me a greater understanding and gratefulness for what God was doing before we knew we needed it.