Today is a junk mail day. I hate junk mail days--those days in which nothing interesting comes in the mail. Ordinarily, mail might not be "an event". But for a homeschooling Mom of (almost) 4, well, life gets s-l-o-w around here, and there are days that even internet buzz is slow. On such days, it is a delight to find something of interest in the mailbox. Y'know...a glossy new magazine; perhaps Martha Stewart...or...well, that's my only current subscription, and although I love the magazine, she sure needs to step into REAL LIFE someday. LOL. Even the jail stint didn't do it! Maybe I need to add something else! Anyway, maybe a personal letter or card might come, an unexpected check (yeah, that's a rarity, but we praise God when it happens!)...maybe a much-anticipated Netflix movie (even if it's for the kids, then, hey! Mom might get a break!). Something, anything...grocery ads with which to menu plan.... I digress.

But today, there was NOTHING. A pathetic flyer of non-ads and a single envelope hiding some ridiculous offer. Straight into the trash it went. Oh, what a lovely thing it would have been, if a new magazine had come! But it did not.

And to add to the day's misery, I have a nasty headache--which I've medicated, but to no avail. It is all sinus-related. Thanks to the lingering cold I have. And my toddler has caught it as well. The good thing about that is simply that I give myself permission to medicate her at night time--which means--she'll fall asleep early. Hopefully. But I'd still rather she were healthy. My head is throbbing. That kind of throbbing in which it makes my stomach nauseated. Yuck.

Another Thursday to be Thankful

This week it is quite easy to come up with a thankful list: it’s been a good week, all the way around! These are the weeks to really praise God for His grace in our current situations, for the life He’s given me, for my family that surrounds me, and the home we live in. And those definitely top my list!!

I am thankful for the time I had with my oldest daughter last night. We visited some fabric stores, searching for the perfect quilt backing material for the baby quilt I’m working on. While unsuccessful, I did choose the store I will return to and check again. We also enjoyed Starbucks together—one of her favorite things to do with Mom. What precious time together! Being the oldest is a tough job, and it is truly a blessing to have time out that we both enjoy.

I am thankful for some good, solid talks and eventual resolutions that my husband and I were able to work through this week. Nothing earth-shattering; just the kind of stuff that life brings once in awhile.

I am thankful for the fresh garden vegetables we’ve received this year; mostly from my Dad, but also from our neighbor. The girls and I love vegetables so we really enjoy it! My son and husband, well, not so much…but that’s okay.

I am thankful that the kids have had a wonderful week of Bible School! They leave, so excited every day…and come home tired, but full of words! What a blessing to have a nearby, small church they can attend at; a place where I feel comfortable letting them go, and where my neighbor herself goes along with them. It is a delightful week every single year. Even my toddler hasn’t noticed her siblings missing (partly due to PBS!) which has been an additional blessing, as she is typically very aware and very unhappy to be left out of anything!!

I am thankful for some rearranging we did in our home, to make our space suited to the way we are currently living and the stages our children are at. So far, these little changes are working so well for us!

I’m thankful that this summer cold I caught is almost over! I was just dead tired Tuesday—unusual as that is typically a good day in the week—and it turns out, I was working on a cold. YUCK. But it seems that perhaps I will be able to throw it off without too much trouble. Praise God! I hate being sick—and pregnant—and a Mommy, all at the same time!

I’m thankful that August is nearly here—I’m tired of summer—and this marks our last month. School starts around here, mid-month, so the city’s attractions, parks, libraries, will once again be quiet in the daytime. And I can enjoy the back-to-school sales, as our budget allows.

I’m thankful for the many homeschooling resources, websites, books, etc that enable uncreative folks like myself to homeschool with ease. Well, with relative ease. There is so much information out there, so many terrific blogs full of inspiration and ideas…so many books that are uplifting and encouraging…I am truly thankful for them all. AND, for the freedom to homeschool as I desire. There are many countries which still hold homeschooling illegal, and many places in which it is not so easily done. Here in America, it is legal, relatively simple in most districts, and we are blessed with much support from one another. How incredibly fortunate we are that others have worked hard, and sacrificed much to pave this road. And that legal teams (HSLDA specifically) continue the work, ensuring continued freedom for all of us.

On a lighter note, I am thankful for my “black currant” tea today—it is hot right now, but a 2nd cup is brewing, which will then be iced. Ahhhhhh!

Time to go switch laundry and get to some kitchen work awaiting me. Hope you all have a great week-ending, as you look into your own lives, and consider the blessings, both big and small. Even in the midst of trials, there is always something to thank Our God for—even if it is simply life itself.

A list to be thankful for

Ahhhh, another Thursday has arrived. And last week, I missed it. Life was busy—just—well—being lived! Oh, how I miss blogging, but, with 3.5 kids about…it seems that my time to “blog” is much limited. I know that many of you relate to this, and I see dear xanga pals leave, or be absent for weeks at a time. I miss them—but—I understand. Blogging cannot come before actually living the life we blog about!! And a blog must be for “our” convenience, even when we wish to minister or encourage others with our sites. We cannot become slaves to the blog. But for those of us who feel drawn to “writing”, the struggle for balance continues. J Despite the changes to my personal time, I am so thankful for my children. They are amazing (most days!). And I’m thankful for my husband too—their Daddy.

Today, I have already begun laundry—which—is behind, as usual. I have decided that I may never actually “catch up” with it. It will be rotating piles instead. Just when I catch up the clothing, there are endless sheets and towels. But the hardest part is “starting” each day…and since I’ve started it, I will soon have the reward of switching the load to the dryer—and—washing load #2 for the day. I hope to get a 3rd done as well. We shall see. But I’m thankful for energy to get started, at least.

School has been less “serious” this week, as we’ve spent some time with games (which typically have some educational value), with books (which we love!), and with imaginative play (which builds brother/sister relationship bonds). I am thankful for the delightful sounds of playing and laughter, and reading aloud, and squealing over games. We also had some time at the nearby park, with Daddy; our city park dept added a new piece of equipment, so of course, we HAD to go! Our neighborhood park is a great one, and worthy of being “thankful for”!

I am also thankful to have chicken marinating for dinner tonight. It isn’t every day that I’m on top of dinner, even before lunch time!! But this is one of those great days. J

Yesterday, I was FINALLY able to restock my black teas, at my favorite local store. Green teas are just not tasting right to me, during this pregnancy. Weird, and annoying, since I had already stocked up my favorite greens. BUT, I do love black tea as well—and—there are some wonderful flavors to be had. Today, I simply enjoyed a cup of “English Breakfast”; a nice, mild and plain-flavored tea. And good with milk, I might add! I particularly love the blends that my favorite shop puts together (I generally buy my spices here as well). Anyway, I also purchased Apricot Brandy, Earl Gray, and Black Currant to keep me caffeinated. I will be icing the Apricot Brandy, as well as enjoying it hot. I’ve been out of these teas for awhile, so I am incredibly thankful to have them in my tea cupboard again.

I’m thankful to have stocked the fridge—although it won’t last! I have a Sam's membership, thanks to my Dad, and the bonus is that it’s a “business membership”. This doesn’t mean much—but—it allows me to get in early (7am to 10am) and shop when the warehouse is less crowded than normal, as the general memberships are not allowed in until 10am. I’ve never taken advantage of this benefit—until yesterday! Wow! What a difference in time. I didn’t have a large list, but I sure glided right through the store, and strolled right up to an open register to check out. Yippeee! (Yes, it is easy to “make my day!”)

My husband brought me a Starbucks card! Many of you know that this is well worth a place on my thankful list. It is the season for iced mochas, after all! And without a prepaid card, Starbucks is a rare treat. The card, is an even rarer treat, I might add!

I’m thankful for shopping options; Dillons (Kroger) which puts on some good sales, Walmart (supposedly the lowest everyday prices), Sam’s, etc…as gasoline prices rise, and our local natural gas and water prices go up (ugh!), it seems that our pockets are squeezed tighter, and we have no increase in pay to help this. These companies can all pass on THEIR expenses, but, we are stuck paying them, with no way out. In addition, as I’ve mentioned, our groceries go up regularly. Are you all noticing this too? Frustrating! My Sam’s expenses were about $5 above what they were two weeks ago on dairy items alone! Anyway…I will have to work harder at cutting coupons again, and at price-shopping, even if it means hitting more than one store. My drive time isn’t much at all, as we live within 5 miles (or so) of all 3 grocery chains. I’m thankful to be close enough to shop around—and—to have the options here in our metro area.

I’m thankful, above all, to be able to take my concerns to God. To trust Him for our provisions. Sure, I must do my part, and try to be a wise steward—thus the additional grocery endeavors! But I can trust in His word, that He will provide for our needs. And He often blesses us with small luxuries too, which I cannot take for granted. As tightly as we live, we are rich by comparison. And richly blessed with children, too. Our society today is much more concerned with the “cost” of raising kids, than with the blessing that these little ones are. I am thankful to view them as gifts from God—however difficult some weeks may be—they are, indeed, gifts to cherish. I do not know how I would have any peace at all, if it weren’t for resting in His promises, and the knowledge that someday, this world shall pass away, with all its trials and struggles.

Congratulations to all of you who actually finished READING this thankful list!! I always appreciate hearing from you, and reading many of your blogs regularly. May you each have a wonderful day, as you consider the blessings in your life—both big and small.

Been awhile...

Well! I haven't visited my beloved "private" blog in far too long. And for good reason; shortly after my last post, I became incredibly ill for a couple of months. Ill with a new baby, that is! Yup, come December, we will (with God's grace) welcome baby #4 into our household. My first trimester of pregnancy is ALWAYS a total wipeout in which I seek mainly to survive. I did--thanks to my patient kids, my helpful (in crisis!!) husband, and Our Gracious God.

Now...I'm entering trimester 2, and feeling some of my energy return. Of course, that cuppa joe--or tea--helps. And honestly, I'm up to about 2 cups each morning. LOL.

While no one actually READS this blog--or at least, no one that I'm aware of--my intent is, to keep up with this blog periodically; for my self, as well as for anyone who happens by! As well, to be able to share some thoughts I may not share on my other blog which is read by many folks I "know" (family included!). I desire to be the same person to all, but, reality is that it is often easier to open up to strangers--and sometimes innermost thoughts are too private for folks you actually KNOW to read. How's that for irony? Then there's always the pressure to be "who I am"--even though I may be changing, morphing, etc. Anyway, here's a link to my other blog, where I am more frequently found: http://www.xanga.com/SimpliciTea

The River Within...

"A writer desires to be known, as we all do. And so, a writer pours out his or her soul onto paper, expecting to one day be read. Whether before death or after, in inconsequential…there is simply the hope that one day, the words will live for someone else, the way that they lived in the soul of he or she who wrote them. There is often a river of emotion flowing deep within, and eventually, the river will flood the soul, if it is not given a way to escape. Perhaps they have wisdom to pass onto others, lessons learned; or perhaps they have fictional stories coming alive in their minds. Maybe it is song lyrics playing in their heads yearning to be matched to melody, or words of poetry springing to life as the world is viewed and experienced. Or it could simply be the passion of living, a longing to be set free with words, all that is in the heart. But whatever the reason, the waterfall of words cannot be stopped; the river within the soul of a writer will not be calmed; as long as words exist, the river will not run dry. These words deep within a writer will be like waves crashing against a river’s banks, until they are released by paper and pen, and offered to the world as tangible evidence of the writer’s existence. The words must find a way out so that the writer’s soul will not drown and be forever lost. Not everyone understands this, for not everyone is a writer; but it is true. No, it cannot be denied; for writing becomes a need to the soul, as water is a need to the body. And so if you long to write, then write, dear friend! Set free your words, release your soul, and be known. Find refreshment and joy in the waterfall of written words. Do not wait to wade deeply into the river of your soul!"

All about the love?

Sometimes I wonder what “the world” must think of us. You know who I’m talking about…all of us “Christians” running around flapping our gums about God and His laws and His love and Christian unity…singing about “victory in Jesus” (ironic, given our constant struggles with the same old stuff)…about His “amazing grace” (which we claim to have, yet cannot seem to share). We stand piously on our Bibles, on its verses, on the Ten Commandments; we sit Sunday after Sunday in our comfortable chairs (or cushioned pews) and we greet our friends, sing our songs, shout a few amens, and go home to live that victorious Christian life we’re all busy proclaiming we have (yelling at the kids all the way home…or fighting with our spouse over where we might eat lunch…or sharing the latest tidbits of ‘church gossip’ we just received that day).

But let’s step back for a moment. Do we really live that life? Do we really believe those words written in our Bibles? Let’s just take the familiar passage of 1 Corinthians 13. Yeah, you know the one; it’s the love chapter. We quote it all the time, use its words at all our weddings, and we hear sermons on it regularly. We probably even spout it to our kids when teaching them how to treat one another, and we sure like to pull those verses out to “share” with our spouses when we aren’t getting our way. Okay, maybe I’m the only one raising my hand.

Do you suppose we ever sound like a resounding gong (verse 1) with our empty words of “love”? Do you think God really meant for Paul to say that we could have the gift of prophecy and faith to move mountains, but without love, we are nothing (verse 2)? How about the next verse? Paul goes on to say, we could give all we possess to the poor, but if we have not love, we gain NOTHING. So, the act of “giving to the poor” in and of itself, apparently is not necessarily a sound demonstration of love. Hmmmm. Interesting.

And now for the really familiar words: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (Know any Christians who boast? Who are prideful? Yes, this is a trick question, because inevitably someone else’s name will pop into your head, as it does mine—and then POW, we are dangerously close to that whole pride/boasting thing after all! Ever been envious of anyone else? No? Good! Then you are actually happy for your friends/neighbors/family when they get new furniture while your shabby and dated couch pops another spring. And you’d rather your pal have that new shirt you saw at the store last week, right? Let’s think bigger—how do we react when our friends/neighbors/family move into their dream home while our own house is bursting at the seams and it’s time to do yet another repair “project”).

Let’s go on. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking OK, OK, stop already! I’m pretty sure I can be really rude when I don’t get my way. And if I had less pride, I could pull a couple of very recent examples right off the top of my head. And what about that whole self-seeking bit? Do we often put the interests of others above our own? NOT! Let’s just scratch the surface of what that means…how often do we use our spending money to bless someone else? Sacrificially, I mean. Blessing someone else when it pinches our wallets a bit? When we “needed” that $20 ourselves? Because it’s pretty easy to “give” when it doesn’t hurt ourselves. Now what about letting someone else “win” the argument when we know we are right! By the way, I have perfectionist tendencies, control-issues, and since I know right from wrong so well, I pretty much expect that everyone else should too. So, yeah, I know what I’m talking about here. J

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Wondering, just now, what possessed me to blog about this in the first place. I’m not the most quick-tempered person I know, but my husband might disagree. My kids might disagree also. And I may not hold grudges, but hey, I don’t have to, because I have a REALLY good memory!!

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. In other words, maybe we can’t be so quick to smile when (insert name) falls off their carefully built throne. Maybe we should grieve when (insert name again) has all their poor decisions catch up to them, rather than being the first to say “they deserved it!” Or maybe, instead of judging that nose-ring-wearing kid with the spiked hair, we be the first to welcome them to church—because after all, we actually want them to find the truth! To be set free by it! To experience the revolutionary love of Jesus (which, by the way, was consistently given to society’s rejects, by Jesus Himself).

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Seriously? Do you suppose Paul meant to write those words? We are to continually hope for the best? We keep giving love to (insert name) even though they never return it and it doesn’t seem to make a difference? We should protect those around us, rather than seeking to slander them? (I know we Christians never actually slander—we “vent” or we share “prayer requests”…our we politely gossip over lunch…but we certainly don’t “slander”. That’s malicious after all!)

And Paul goes on, wrapping up his thoughts, here, and reminded us to GROW UP (verse 11) because we are to put our childish ways behind us. So, back to this whole “love” thing…maybe we can step up and love our families. Y’know, be a little more patient with our kids, give into our spouses’ desires over our own for a day or two. But let’s stretch out a bit. How about to our extended family? Our parents, our siblings and their families, our IN-LAWS (caps used for my own benefit). Does this “love is unselfish” bit include holidays too? Yeah, it probably does. Christmas especially, since, after all, that’s when we’re celebrating Jesus and remembering God’s love for us in sending His Son to earth. Let’s go to the next ripple in our ever-widening circle. What about our friends at church, or those we don’t really like very well? What about the homeless guy who only comes for the free coffee and central heating? And that family that sits in the back—the ones who wear t-shirts and whose kids have stained clothes and are poorly behaved?

Let’s ripple out to the “non-Christians” next door—the biker guy and his live-in girlfriend? The unmarried couple on the other side; yeah, the ones with the kids or step-kids or whatever-they-are. What about that gay guy?

Let’s ripple farther to those of another political party? Maybe the left-wingers? Or the right-wingers? Maybe those of another race or ethnicity? Even another religion?

What about those in the Body of Christ who worship at another church? No, no, not your sister church—I mean the one who doesn’t quite believe the same way YOUR church believes. Or those folks who attend the mega church with its luxurious décor, its coffee bar and state-of-the-art sound system? Yeah, that church. Where all the rich people go who just want to feel good for going to church every Sunday. (Oops. That sounded dangerously close to pride again. And I might have just forgotten about the ‘rejoice in truth’ bit. WHO AM I to judge the hearts of a crowd just because their church is so large? And because they have a famous Pastor?) What about that tiny church down the street—the one that’s so dead, all it’s members are literally dying of old age? Or that one across town that our neighbor goes to, but we wouldn’t go there because they’re pretty dry—just not quite as far along as “our” church. Spiritually, I mean. Are all these groups of people in the SAME BODY OF CHRIST? Are we acting like it?

If we find these divisions among ourselves so easily, and if we can identify with them, why do we think we’re fooling “the world?” And what on earth is going to bring any of the “lost” into our doors? Because once they’re in, we’ll turn the key and lock it. We’ll explain why our church is the “only” one—or maybe we’ll say the “best” one. We’ll explain (politely) all they need to do to change and fit into our congregation. We’ll sign them up for the programs that need help, and explain how it’s “Christian duty”. And we’ll tell them all about the love of Christ. And we’ll get them baptized and sanctified and all that. We’ll hand them our favorite version of the Bible, it will, of course, be the “right” version, but if they happen to have another one at home, we’ll allow them to keep it too. We might even invite them to lunch! And hopefully, they’ll ignore our backbiting and gossiping and judging and selfishness and pride and arrogance and all that stuff, and they’ll stay. Because we need numbers, and we like to see people saved. (and if they hang around long enough, they might even start to tithe!) And of course, because they’ll see the victory we have in Jesus, and they’ll want some of it too. (As soon as they quit drinking, stop smoking, shed their extra earrings, cover up their tattoos, get married to their live-in, turn from the wicked ways, and follow Jesus, that is).

Maybe I’d better read back through the “love” chapter…and maybe I’d better read more about how Jesus “loved” others. I’m not sure I’ve got this down yet.

Overcast Friday...

This morning, glancing out the window just as daylight was arriving, I saw that it was going to be the perfect “soup day”. But what kind, what kind? I found beef in broth, frozen, from a roast made some time back. Perfect to use for dinner, along with “just enough” frozen veggies remaining in a bag. Add a jar of my home-canned, stewed tomatoes…I had all I needed on hand. Boy, I wish my dinner plans were always “that” easy! (For 2 years, I’ve resolved to do menu planning, and tried various systems…bottom line? Nothing has stuck yet. But I’m still tryin’) I also found a new recipe for “perfect” brownies to try…I cut ‘em really small, but I’ve already had 2. They’re really, really good. I’ll probably post the recipe today or tomorrow. It’s worth sharing!

And so, it is early evening…we have gray skies; the air is cold and crisp with a stiff breeze. We haven’t seen the sun today, and this morning, we had drizzly winter rain falling for a time. I love days like this—perfect for a loaf of bread, freshly baked; a pot of soup simmering on the stove; and a pan of home-made brownies, still warm from the oven. A cozy candle burns in the kitchen, adding another light layer of scent. Mmmmm, cranberry!

No, my days do not always flow smoothly…but today, despite a very fussy baby, things have rolled along without much difficulty. Until I sat down to blog, that is. LOL. I paint a peaceful picture…and for a few moments, the scene is as I paint it to be. But those blessed moments do not last. And dinner is, sometimes, PB & J sandwiches. Or (gasp!) a bowl of cold cereal. And then I resolve to do better, the next day.

My husband called; he’s late again, getting off work. Every day this week, he’s been at least an hour late coming home—the next shift people don’t come on time…his boss adds to an already full “to-do” list…various reasons. All amounting to, a tired Daddy and a tired Mama. And split-up mealtimes. But my husband will be happy to come home to some brownies, at least—I hope! And likely, a bowl of warm and hearty soup along with a thick slice of bread will hit the spot as well. Praise God that today, I was able to put together a meal worth coming home to!!!