Trading My Sorrow

We've had a migrainy couple days.  The change in routine didn't set well with the ADHD dwellers here.  Praise You Tubes always turn our day around.   Gather the kids and dance it up a bit!

We each take a turn to say what ailment or difficulty we're trading for the joy of the Lord.  They get this.

Your Grace Is Enough

Here is one to remind me that the migraines and the ADHD are covered in grace.

Planning a garden with your kids?

Planting a garden this year with your kids?  Go here for a great lesson on planting potatoes.  Very impressive presentation.  Easy to understand for K level and above.

We learned, among other things, that you don't want to use store-bought potatoes (they harbor plant diseases, even if they look healthy).  Buy seed potatoes at a nursery instead.

We are expecting a frost this week.  Hopefully we can get started next week.  The kids can hardly wait and they check the weather every day.

Happy Mother's Day! Praise Him for messes!

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to take time to praise God for the incredible journey that is motherhood!

Each time we do something for our children, we are privileged to do so.  That's so easy to forget.   The messes are part of the journey.

I praise you, God, for the multitude of books my toddler de-shelves regularly.  

There are two laundry baskets full of them, plus these on the floor and more in the shelves.  We have no where else to put them.  So.....we deal.  She does look at them when she pulls them down, albeit briefly.

I praise you, God, for the game pieces I find in every room in the house.  I praise you that we have to look for dice at least once a day.  I praise you that my 6 and 8 year olds need daily reminders about taking care of their games.

I praise you, God, that each time I walk into the playroom, I am greeted with thrown-aside toys--even after purging seventy percent of them!  I praise you that I receive groans at each mention of clean up.

I praise you that my teaching chart holds clean, hanging clothes, because my too-active toddler won't allow me to escape to the bedrooms long enough to put clean laundry away.

I praise you that this never ends.  There's no catching up!

I praise you that although I clean the entry way a few times a day, it's never clean when someone comes unexpectedly.

I praise you that she keeps marking up her hands with the markers.

I praise you for her adventure outside, which resulted in this.  I praise you for her excuse, uttered in her British-like accent.  "But Mommy, Peter made me get all mutty."

I praise you that every meal ends with a major clean up session.

I especially praise you for the way she puts her hands up with Momma, for an impromptu "PRAISE THE LORD!"

I praise you that with each passing motherhood year, I get nicer.  Yes, hard labor does that to you.  Motherhood does that to you.

I praise you for the flood of grace, portioned out daily.

Your grace means that.......

....even though there's usually no vehicle available lately, I'm still content.

....even though we don't fit in well in our neighborhood or in our church (low-income, homeschoolers), I'm still content.

....even though we have little help from extended family, I'm still content.

....even though I have nothing stylish or new to put on, I'm still content.

....even though there is no money for flower-bed flowers, I'm still content.

....even though we can't get away for a date, I'm still content.

....even though I haven't slept through the night in several years, I'm still content. 

....even though the economy isn't recovering, I'm still content.

....even though I could be a wreck, my children see joy (except on early mornings--still working on that).

Without your grace, I am nothing!  Covered in your grace, I smile and give thanks. 


And thank you, Father, that my children are not in this situation.  How can I help?

honeymoon is over

The time has come.  

Other than being redirected, baby sister hasn't experienced any discipline.  Today she turned seventeen months.  Now, she looks me in the eye, smiles, and defies.  Again.  And again--smiling ever so coyly.  

She definitely understands directions.  She's just testing the disciplinary waters.

Hand taps have begun.  The siblings are sad for their baby sister, but their own common sense tells them that Momma is right.

Their sweet little hearts are merciful, however.  After staying close (tomato staking--from Raising Godly Tomatoes) and tapping Beth's hand three separate times for standing on the window ledge (it's equal to her height), I had to leave the room briefly to shuffle laundry.  I called to Mary, asking her if Beth was at it again.

First she said yes.  Then Mary changed her mind.  "No, she's being good Momma!"

I peeked around the corner to the playroom to make sure.  Beth was back up there.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth, Mary?"

"I'm sorrrrrrry.  I didn't want Beth to get a slap."  

I should have known better.  Of course she wasn't going to tattle on baby sister.  

Who would do such a thing?

I'll have to bring the baby into the bathroom with me now for my potty breaks.  No one around here can be trusted to keep her safe.  

I might be in trouble with little Miss Beth!  What a handful!

There are bees out there, Momma.

Oh, these sugar and spice girls!  What a blessing to have them in my midst!

I like this April 23rd entry in My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers.

"We are God's fellow workers..."

1Corinthian 3:9

Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him.  A great number of Christian workers worship their work.  The only concern of Christian workers should be their concentration on God.  This will mean that all the other boundaries of life, whether they are mental, moral, or spiritual limits, are completely free with the freedom God gives His child; that is, a worshiping child, not a wayward one.  A worker who lacks this serious controlling emphasis of concentration on God is apt to become overly burdened by his work.  He is a slave to his own limits, having no freedom of his body, mind, or spirit.  Consequently, he becomes burned out and defeated.  There is no freedom and no delight in life at all.  His nerves, mind, and heart are so overwhelmed that God's blessing cannot rest on him.

But the opposite case is equally true--once our concentration is on God, all the limits of our life are free and under the control and mastery of God alone.  There is no longer any responsibility on you for the work.  The only responsibility you have is to stay in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him.  The freedom that comes after sanctification is the freedom of a child, and the things that used to hold your life down are gone.  But be careful to remember that you have been freed for only one thing--to be absolutely devoted to your co-Worker.