Keeping up with a Blessed Life

     Sometimes I have a hard time saying no.  Anyone else fall into that category?  Certain times of the year are busier for me than others.  This is one of those times.  School has started back, meetings, horse visits in the evenings, church events, etc.  I have to keep a close reign on my schedule or I will absent-mindedly forget to do something.  I completely forgot to go to a meeting Monday night because I wasn’t being careful.  I have to make sure my priorities are straight and that I am organized.  How do I decide what events to do and when I can participate?
     I read a book long ago when my daughter was a baby about time management.  It was called “The Family Manager” by Kathy Peel.  It was a Christian wife/mother self-help book and it was a great tool for taking my job seriously as a stay-at-home mom.  It taught me that my job wasn’t to just be at home, but to make that home a comfort zone for my family.  In order to do that, I was going to have to break a sweat and use my brain.  Something I had not considered when I quit my job, I thought I was going to be bored.  Twelve and a half years later I can see that was a huge misperception.

     That book also had a helpful chart to show me how to prioritize my life.  I have tried to remember it ever since and live my at-home life accordingly.  Basically it was this:  God, husband, children, family, work, friends, me, community.  If I remember the order of these priorities in my life it helps me to say no when needed.  It’s not always easy to tell someone no, but I know that if I adhere to my plan, I am practicing self-control and I am pleasing the Lord.  I was reading Nehemiah this morning and came across some scripture.  Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem according to God’s plan, when his enemies sent him an invitation. 

“Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono.”
     I knew they were scheming to hurt me so I sent messengers back with this:  “I’m doing a great work; I can’t come down.  Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you:”

       Now I know that most of us aren’t going to get phone calls from our enemies, inviting us out to dinner.  I guess if we do, we should set up time in our priority list and pencil “dinner with enemies” into our calendar.  We are supposed to love them, right?  However, more than likely invites will be from people we know and like.  Nehemiah knew where his priorities were though, and wasn’t willing to stop and do something that would get in the way of that.  He probably was curious to see what they were up to and might have wanted to go and find out, but he told them his priority was to the work he was doing for God and they would have to wait.

     I know that God never wants me to neglect the people in my life.  I pray that I will be able to please Him in the way I schedule my days.  I pray that He will bless me when I keep my integrity and guidelines I have set for myself in order to know when to say yes and when I should say no, or let’s reschedule for a later time.  I believe I am home most days ministering to my children and being a helpmate to my husband because they are near the top of my list right after God.  Peace abounds when I am doing what I believe is right.

Winds of Change and True Direction

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~ Arthur Golden

     What a gift this life is!  When we are young we dread getting old.  As we age, we find there is a certain satisfaction in the wisdom that time gives.  When the pain and difficulties of life peel away our outer shell, we emerge.  Like a butterfly escapes the bondage of its cocoon, so we find the newness of life.  A life of freedom in Christ to be who we are and who he meant for us to be and then we really live.



Remembering the Dads of 9/11

     A tear rolled down my cheek as I read the article.  A quote from a sad-eyed 9-year-old boy, “I wish my dad could be here,” broke my heart.  There were many children that never knew the loving touch of their fathers after the tragedy on September 11, 2001.  They were born shortly following that horrible day to a grieving mother as the rest of us watched with tears and compassion like none I had ever seen in America.  Prayers and donations were poured out by millions of people, for the futures of these children left abandoned by evil.  I especially think of the little boys…

Time between a boy and his father is precious.  Bits and pieces of memories being filed away; a boy is training to walk in the footsteps of his mentor, his dad.

This year on September 11, 2011, I will think about all of the little boys who never knew the love of their earthly father.  May they seek and find the hand of the Heavenly Father to mold them and make them the men they were meant to be.  I pray that I will always be grateful that my son does have his dad to teach and guide him.  And although my husband isn’t always the perfect parent, neither of us hold that title, I will be thankful.  Every day they have together is a blessing.









A Love of Learning

     I know, I know, it’s Labor Day.  How dare a mom do such a thing to her children!  Alas, here we sat this morning…learning of all things.  It was our first day back today.  I made it light, just an introduction of each course and tried to tell them that they would not wither away from lack of sunshine for the two to three hours spent in the school room.  I was right, they didn’t.  They are both doing well.  The older child likes her free time and it is difficult sometimes to get her motivated.  The younger has a mindset much like his mother.  Sit down and get it done, then I can do what I want to do.  He is also a year ahead in math and reading.

     Abbey watched a documentary with me this week called “Waiting on Superman”.  It was about the public school system and the level at which the U.S. has now dropped in ratings in school performance compared with other countries.  Recently our country was ranked 14th in reading, 17^th in Science, and 25^th in mathematics out of 34 countries.  It is pitiful and she told me all about how she didn’t want to end up with the same fate as some of the students that leave school and begin their adult lives already failing.  She wanted to start trying harder and learn all she can while she has this chance.  I had to remind her of those aspirations this morning.  She forgot.
     I suppose it’s a goal she needs.  She needs to see that a simple math assignment she does today, helps her reach that goal.  Even though she can’t see how knowing the radius of a circle will help her with a career with horses, it’s my job to keep reminding her that it will do just that.  She needs to know the steps that she has to take to get that career.  I need to tell her that she may never need to figure out the square root of 14 in her adult life, but she may have to take a test or a required course in college that will ask her those questions. 

     They need to know what God has to say about hard work and perseverance.  Proverbs 14:23 says “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”  Real life lessons will speak to them, nagging won’t.  I have to be patient, continue to teach with discipline, and trust God to show them the truths of His word about a fruitful life.  I do pray that they both end up with a job that they love and never feel like they are working.  But they need to know that if they want that life, they must work to get it.





I Once Was Lost

     When I was younger I battled a recurring dream.  It would be the beginning of the school year when everything was new and unfamiliar.  I would be going along and suddenly get this feeling after some time had passed that something was wrong.  Suddenly I found myself very confused about my schedule of classes and was baffled as to what class came next.  Then I would realize with horrifying dread that I had not been to a math class in weeks.  I had just completely forgotten to go.  I would agonize over whether or not to show up after all of this time.  If I did decide to go back, where was it anyway?  If I didn’t go back would anyone notice?  Would I fail the class?  I would wake up completely stressed out and confused.

      I never had any of that happen in real life, but I always wondered why that dream would plague me.  I began to notice a pattern.  I was a control freak.  When I felt like my life was out of control or disorganized, guess what dream I would have?  This morning I was talking to some friends about the need to finish my planning for this school year.  I told them that I’d better get my act together so I didn’t have one of my school nightmares.  It dawned on me after saying that, that it has been a really long time since I have had one. 
     I won’t say that there aren’t times where I forget who is really in control.  But I do think that I have grown some in this area and that trust more and more that things will be alright.  I just do my job to the best of my ability.  I pray about it and ask God to help me in all areas of my children’s schooling, then I have to let go.  I suppose when it comes to my life and how organized I am, a good gauge of my trust in God is to pay attention and see if my old school dream comes back.  It is probably a good message for me when I don’t have my life as together as it could be.  I was in fear of being lost in that dream.  I know that I don’t have to fear that anymore.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you. 
Ps. 139:9-12

My peace and comfort lies in these words today.

Unconditional Love

Loneliness can overtake thoughts even when you are connected.  Even sharing the same air and sunshine, time and space, you can still feel isolated and lost.  Love can reach beyond the hopelessness and nurture and share.  When two are one, joy can beat from one heart to the other.  When one has much to give, they should sacrifice when the other is lacking.







Isn't that what love is all about?





A Kind Word = Beautiful Home

     The vibes around our home are all wrong.  One snapping, then the other, it seems no one can do a thing right.  I shake my head in wonder.  Why are they acting this way?  I can’t understand it, they were so happy yesterday when my day was going well and I woke up happy.  Then it hit me.  I didn’t wake up so happy today.  I woke up snapping and impatient.  My first words were criticism and discontent at what I found when I walked into the kitchen and a mess looked me in the eye and seemingly said, “Good morning, so glad you joined me.”
     I thought about all of the parenting books I’ve read and what my common sense tells me.  Of course, their mood will feed off of mine.  Aren’t we the same way as adults?  Our moods also feed off of others; seems we are on an endless chain of emotional roller coasters.  Does it have to be that way?  Of course not!  So how do I break this cycle?  Time to dive into God’s word again and find out what advice my Father has for me today.

     I read the most wonderful Proverb today in my Message version. 

Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!  The right word at the right time – beautiful! 

     I read many other verses about attitude and getting along with people and they all helped me very much.  But this one, really spoke to me.  It said to me, “The right word at the right time can make life beautiful.”  It can change everything from being ugly to being a sight to behold.  I have the power with a single word to change the entire atmosphere in this home.  I have to stop, sometimes count to ten, pray for sure, and say the right words.  I’m pretty good with words when I want to be so I can do this.



     If I ever think I can’t I must remember Moses. 

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

     My attitude has to be one of willingness.  I need to be the peacemaker.  If I want peace in my home I can’t wait for everyone else to act like I want them to before I will be at peace.  No, I have to do my part even if no one else is doing theirs.  I could have paid better attention to the timing of my words, like the verse says.  The mess could have been addressed in a kind manner after a “good morning”, in other words.