Visiting Nana

My Nana has led a full life for 92 years. She survived the Depression. She has weathered life's ups and downs as a wife, mother, sister, and friend. As a young lady, Nana shared her musical talents in churches and revivals along with her husband and sister. Over the years, she has shared her home with many family and friends always with a cup of coffee.

Today I had a bittersweet visit with Nana. She is getting ready to meet Jesus, her Savior. She sleeps in the living room now. I held her hand and talked to her even though she could not respond. I brushed her smooth skin and pushed her thin hair back. I read her a precious card that one of my princesses made for her. She will not get well on this earth. Jesus is getting ready to take her home and make her whole again with no more pain.

Pop-pop has to watch and wait. Nana and Pop-pop have been together over 60 years. I can't really imagine what it would be like to lose your honey, not matter how temporarily it may be. Honey – that's what he calls her. He flirts with her all the time. They love each other while they drive each other crazy. I am blessed to have a heritage of love and commitment in marriage – something almost unheard of today.

I helped my mom take care of Nana today. Will I have to take care of my mom one day? I hope I remember the gentleness and care that my mom showed her mom. It is hard to see someone you love be so helpless.

My heart hurts a little tonight. I don't know if I will see Nana again this side of heaven. Sweet dreams, Nana. I love you.

Traditions

We enjoy breakfast at the same restaurant in Philadelphia each Thanksgiving morning. We even have the same waitress. Traditions can be a great thing. Sameness gives comfort. Routine provides a level of security. I don't like to step out of that precious comfort zone.

I did, however, try to be creative in my menu this year, but faced a revolt if the traditional veggies were not served.

My little one in my family brings enough variation to my day to mix things up. I love her imagination, her smile, her questions, and her unpredictability.

Philadelphia puts on a decent parade which we enjoyed as a family – another one of those traditions. My little one thoroughly enjoyed herself and kept us abreast of what was coming next. Her smiles were contagious.

I enjoy traditions. My traditional dinner smells inviting. The guys are watching the traditional football on TV. The traditional naps are coming, I am sure.

God is breaking tradition in our home, though. He has brought another teen aged girl into our home for the school year, and she and her mom are joining us for dinner. They are from Korea and conversation can be a challenge. I am thankful for being able to step out of our routine and am looking forward to what this break will teach my family and me.

So, I am a tradition lover. I like routine. Give me a schedule any day. I love my Palm Pilot. However, I am thankful for a sovereign, faithful God who can safely take me out of my comfort zone and do amazing things to surprise me with the out of the ordinary.

A Few Thanksgiving Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!
I am sure that many of you are taking this time to be with family and friends over a wonderfully prepared turkey dinner. I will be joining in your plans, not literally, of course, but corporately. Today was the prep day as I became the dictator of cleaning, cooking, and laundry. My kids were at my beckon call, and they really did a great job. I look forward to being able to relax with company tomorrow if I can get well prepared today.

One thing struck me as we were working. My kids commented that they were enjoying the work, because they were excited about why we were doing it. Being able to share with family and friends and be reminded of God's many blessings was what was making it all worth it.

Blessings come in many shapes and sizes. They surprise us quite often in people, events, and material "stuff". However, blessings appear not always in "good" clothes. Sometimes it is the hard times that show blessing in my life and make me a better woman.

We challenge ourselves in our home every year to list the many ways that God has blessed us. I can list the daily blessings that we have: food, shelter, family, freedom of worship, and being able to teach my children. I have also had to write down loss of jobs, financial stress, loss of children in miscarriages, and loneliness. Why? God is good no matter what. His presence and deliverance through those very tough times are what I depend on. They are huge blessings to me. Don't get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoy the good things in life and am not blatantly asking God for difficulty. When God chooses to bring that, however, I need an attitude of thankfulness and praise for the sovereign God who is my Savior.

I look forward to a great day. I trust you will be joining me in your thankfulness.

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and I did not spend my Saturday in three different grocery and produce stores attempting to get everything I needed for the week. That would be crazy!

In selecting my free turkey (because I had spent a crazy amount of money already in the store), I picked through every bird to find the biggest one to feed a mere 10 guests. At the same visit I convinced a woman, whom I didn't even know, to also choose a huge bird. I did not really say "you go girl" in the middle of the freezer section.

In cleaning my little one's room because unexpected company was arriving within the hour, I did not just push the toys under the bed. Really? That is just not right.

My son had a choir/drama practice for which I was 20 minutes late because I didn't remember the e-mail "reminder". For one who checks her e-mails multiple times a day, that is unacceptable. I wouldn't do such a thing, not I.

I did not join in celebration with many other moms at the prospect of only two days of school this week. That would be childlike. That would definitely not be me!

From the lips of a 4-year old

"From the bottom of my feet to the top of my head, my life if just one big Hallelujah!"

A Little Mixed Up - Maybe

We planned our evening. My sweetie and I had our "assignments". Dinner was served and it hit me. Our so called plans involved my taking our oldest out to find the parts for her to make a small generator for her science fair project. My husband, on the other hand, was taking the two younger kids to the grocery store to find the ingredients to make 2 dozen cupcakes for a soccer party. He was also going to do all the baking - with the kids! Somehow this all seemed very backwards - me at Home Depot and him at Shop-Rite? We had a good laugh and proceeded with the evening. How precious to mix it up every once-in-a-while. We made our plans not to make it difficult, but rather because each spouse was trying to not "dump" a job on the other. In doing so we stepped out of our comfort zone and found joy in showing love to each other in a very unique way. Extra blessings ensued as I got to spend some time sharing a few laughs with my oldest daughter over a cup of hot cocoa. We weren't able to find what we needed but know now who to ask for help. My sweetie shared precious time and a few laughs making cupcakes with the little ones. My life is tiring and many times draining, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Growing Too Fast

When did my junior high princess get big enough to go away with her student ministries d-team for a weekend retreat three hours from home? I think it was easier to leave her for a week of overnight camp. Does that make any sense? She looks so young and tiny, yet she has grown so much this year. God is working in her heart and I am excited to hear what He teaches her through this weekend away. This might be a live and learn time with her girlfriends and group leader. God bless Kim Deichert who gave up her weekend to invest in these girls' lives. I love being a mom, and I am very thankful for resources such as this to help our family to grow.

A Little Flaky

New Jersey doesn't see much snow it seems.
Friends of mine are enjoying the first snow day of the year in WV. No such luck here. Not that we get off much for snow as we school at home.
In any case, the first flakes of the year provide a little excitement and break from monotony.
The flakes are falling few and far between,
but they are coming non the less.
Don't blink or it will be all done.

I did not return home from a fabulous weekend with my sweetie and not my kids and thoroughly enjoyed some mom down time.

I did not spend the above mentioned weekend devoid of any particular schedule. Seriously, I didn't. Not me.

I did not watch multiple Mad About You DVD's and laugh at seriously silly, corny jokes. Isn't that show so 80's? I am not that old - not me!

I did not count the many mouse traps laid for the unwelcome visitors to the lake side cabin where I was staying for the weekend. I also did not frequently check those traps for victims. That would be too cruel.

I did not loose sleep because of mice in my dreams. Not me.

I did not scream like a girl when I found an unwelcome visitor trapped inside the laundry room. After analysis I did not really declare him dead when in fact he was just sleeping.

I did not demand that my hero husband do something as we could not possibly leave a dead animal in the house for my aunt to find when she returned.

I did not appear distraught when my hero husband suggested I get a broom to push the little visitor on to the dust pan to be further dealt with. Was he kidding?

Laughing and screaming, I did not find the closest chair to climb as my hero husband pulled out the "dead" now fully awake mouse whose hind end was firmly attached to the trap.

I did not continue to laugh uncontrollably as my husband heaved the mouse and trap out the back door.

Hours later, I did not find myself giggling again at the absurdity of the situation and thoroughly enjoyed telling my children of the silliness of their mom. From a very serious minded mom that would definitely not be me!

Power

 

 

I had quiet time to think and observe from my comfortable seat on the couch. God's power in nature took my attention. Take, for instance, the power of wind. Weightless clouds float gently at times, yet moments later are whipped as if they are not needed. The wind churns a once placid lake to a tumultuous mix. Winds bend the strongest of trees whose roots need to dig deep to remain intact.

Fire presents itself as another force to be dealt with. The wood stove produces enough heat to warm the comfy lake house where I am escaping this weekend. How with only a few pieces of wood can so much power be produced? What a difference when the fire's power is not fed.

The power of fire to light a candle beautifies my space tonight. Is my world different without this light? Is it really that powerful? Maybe not much, but I am thankful for the small difference it makes in my life tonight.

Are these forces – wind and fire – accidental elements in nature? I choose to believe in a creator God whose immeasurable power is seen in what He has created. God even presents wind as submissive to His word. I look at the power of the wind over the lake and remember that the clouds are moving at the will of my Father.

Fire purifies, but sometimes that means getting rid of the old. Ultimately God will use the power of fire to destroy who and what doesn't choose Him. There will be a new earth someday because God will choose fire to remove the present one. If one does not choose God as Savior, fire is the result. If you are reading this and God's plan makes no sense to you, please comment so that I can contact you and share my faith in a saving God.

The sun has gone down. I can't see the clouds or the lake. I can't see the results of God's power in the wind. I can trust that what power is in nature is totally obedient to my creator God.

I am created by God for greater purposes than wind and fire. Not that I really know what all those purposes are. God continues to challenge me to allow Him to work His power through me. What changes will I make? Will I stir things up a bit? Will I warm up the people around me? Will I produce a pleasant light to others? Such simple thoughts. What am I going to do with it?

Time to Get Away

I was thinking of some reasons why it is a good thing to get away.

• quiet time to think
• uninterrupted adult conversation with my husband
• meals that don't include manners lessons or cutting up food
• beautiful mountains and scenery at a lake house
  
• warm, cozy fires
• time to plan for the year
• opportunity to appreciate what God has given me in my children and husband
• weekend date with my sweetheart
• my kids get quality time with their Nana
• time to be refreshed as a mom and teacher
• time to plan how better to invest in my kids' lives
• chance to beat my hubby in Scrabble (maybe)
• opportunity to sleep in without an alarm
• time for my husband to step away from the stress of work
• something to look forward to every year

"This is the Best Day Ever"

My sweet hubby suprised my little one by taking her to the grocery store, buying baking supplies, and spending time with just her making cupcakes. Her choice - PINK icing. Her sprinkles - candy hearts. You should have seen her smiles as she hurried to get her shoes on for the trip. Time to spend with just Dad!
The rest of the family was working upstairs getting some much needed organization accomplished. We tried to guess what was going on in the kitchen, but to no avail.
Little one though she was so special because she got to do something with Daddy that no other member of the family could help with. Of course, anything to do with food makes her happy, but to have treats along with special attention was over the top.
It made my heart smile watching the relationship between a daddy and his girl develop.
The monster chocolate cupcakes with pink icing and sprinkles were a hit with everyone.
Near the end of the project, my little one stated,"This is the best day ever!" You can't argue with that.

Thankful Thursday

The laundry is piled up, but it is clean.
The dishes are done.
Praise music is playing on the IPod.
All my kids are in the family room and there is peace.
My girls came to an quick resolution in a disagreement.
I took the time to read to my little one on my lap.
My son is working on a puzzle along with his daddy.
It is almost bedtime.
Life is good.

Homeschooling with Traditional Curriculum

We choose to use a traditional curriculum for our children in our home - maybe because I feel most comfortable with that method as a former classroom teacher - maybe because I feel it is superior to other more relaxed programs. Sometimes, though, on days like I had today, I wish that there was an easier way to get a thorough curriculum without running out of time in the day to get to each child. I guess if my family was smaller I would not have this dilemma. In a perfect world, I would have writing seminars with each child throughout the week. I would have one on one time to review material with each child. Please don't take my concerns for discontent. I wouldn't trade what I have for the world. I love my four kids. I count it a blessing to stay home and teach them. I am confident that they are learning and thriving in our home. Maybe many other moms feel the same way and look at what more they could accomplish - in a perfect world. Maybe I need to relax a little more. My children accomplish much in the day. I am not supermom, but I wish I could do more.

Spinning

My head is spinning.
I feel alone in New Jersey.
The returns are coming in and it concerns me.
My head is throbbing.
I need to trust in God's sovereign power in my country.
The results of today will affect my tomorrows.