Time keeps on slipping ....

It's winter again.  The temp dropped 35 degrees in 24 hours here in the flatlands.  Our coat closet has gotten lots of use as we constantly go to it to grab a thick coat and button/zip it up... or hang it back up for days at a time.  Strange, this weather is.  As a result, we've been busier than normal for Dec/Jan here, and I typically get a little breather about this time as the husband works a lighter 40 hours a week vs a blue million.  Let's just say, at a time when farming typically slows to a near halt, the temps have been high enough to keep the agribusiness industry moving right along.  Thankfully, my mom was here for 12 days through part of this unseasonally busy time.  I realize work is necessary, and I am so thankful for an earnest man.  However, as his long work days continue day after day, year after year, our babies are growing, growing, and I want to hold on to everything just a little longer.  As if slowing my husband's work will slow down time....  It won't.  No matter.  It keeps slipping by.  Right through my fingers.  My little one let me hold him tonight for about 15 minutes and I rubbed his warm back.  He still has that soft baby-skin and baby fat.  He kissed my forehead, neck, arm.  He is so affectionate and kind, yet the glint in his eyes reminds me that he is full of mischief.  Big sis read a "Hello Kitty" book in the floor while I snuggled with him.  It was very sweet, and I am always thankful for such moments and regret the ones I miss because of my own silly distractions (How many times have I said, "I want to play but I can't because I have to fold laundry"?).  Recently, I've been missing my days of being home full-time.  Yet, for now, I still believe I am where I am supposed to be (working pt).  Being in the will of God is wonderful, and our home is more peaceful than my full-time-mom days, strangely enough, as we plug along at pt work/ the kiddos in school / a busy diversified ag operation. 

This peace includes school as the kids are rocking at it!  I am fighting the urge to brag.  Our oldest is,  "a model student", "very bright"," kind", and a "joy"...and our youngest is a natural teacher's pet and as outgoing as me.  Yeah, I'm proud of that.  They tell me, "We miss him when he's not here.  He is so happy, bounces up and down the halls with a smile on his face.  He's always smiling!  He does everything we ask without complaint."  The director said she wished she could video him for me (she's told me twice) but when she tries, he stops.  Sorry for the stereotype here but...he's all boy.  Get the iPhone out and he goes the opposite direction.  My brother - to this day - does that!  Anyway, I knew my little was going to be just fine in school this year when he was the line leader on the first day.  I'm really thankful for the two great schools our kids attend.  I do notice (and I'm awful about this as a teacher and teacher-mom myself!) that teachers definitely teach more to girls (because most teachers ARE girls!)  so since I know that, I'm going to try to counterbalance it some.  Too bad my boy can't learn by playing all the time because he is a hands-on learner.  My daughter is an auditory learner (LUCKY for her because in life, she'll get many lectures from teachers, no matter how much the system tries!)  In some ways, he is at a place just right for him, bc the school employs Montessori methods (although it isn't a formal Montessori school, no matter how much I've begged them to take the plunge!)  OOPS!  I said I was fighting the urge to brag; I didn't succeed!  Ha!

Speaking of the educational system, I have been very impressed with the outreach going on in our local school system, from a program that sends eligible kids home with groceries for the weekend to providing backpacks for kids, to providing shoes for kids (I helped fit a few kids for cool, very nice new tennies), to free breakfast and lunches for everyone, to taking up money and toys for a family in dire need just this week.  There are still caring people in the world, and I've been moved to see so many people reach out, love on, and give to others lately.  God is always working!  Through hands and feet and $ from people just like you and me...things are happening for the good.  We just have to be able to help in some small way. 

This morning, our associate pastor said something about finding where God is working, then praying about how to help.  God works in our church in one major way each December, and this year, I had two visions for it:  1)  to offer a translator for the migrant workers who come to the ministry.  It came to me when my husband and I were taking the men who work for us (who are fluent in Spanish) to the ministry.  I was struggling through talking and explaining the ministry to them...my spanglish was mostly embarrassing but at least I tried!  Then, when we were getting ready to leave, we sat down to eat cookies, sweet bread, and drink some kool-aid (Timeout:  I didn't sit down and do any such thing. I was too busy loving on, getting blessed by, and, ahem, talking, to other people in the room...fellowship gives me GREAT inner joy!)  Anyway, one of the migrant workers with us is diabetic and asked if there were any sugar free options.  I had already dropped the ball and not helped him get free glasses (his eyes are in bad shape) so this made me feel about  this .  big!  He couldn't have anything but water!  Then my second vision came:  2) offer sugar free items next year.  Then the nudge:  COOK and deliver sugar free items to the church next year.  I have not presented this to the powers that be, except to The Power that IS, but I'm so excited.  There is a need:  fill it!  What is the need where you are?  Is it in your home?  Your work?  Your community?  Your child's school?  Your church?  Your friend circle?  Your extended family?  And by all means, if you have a need, if someone offers to help, accept!  I've been reluctant (pride?) too, but have learned lots since having my 2nd baby...help offered is often help SENT. 

As time slips by
Don't forget
The things that matter most
Are not the things you tend to
But what's always on your heart
So take time to make time
Because...
As you spend your days, so goes your life

Love and hugs from here to there.  I really would.  I would hug you if I could.

Spring and Baby B's

Spring has not sprung, but if you tried, you could convince me it will next week!  It's supposed to be 61 tomorrow!  This picture was taken nearly 3 years ago, on the kids' granddad's farm here, but since we are supposed to have spring temps tomorrow, I thought I'd share it.  Before we know it, flowers will be in bloom and it will be too hot to remember winter.  Furthermore, if you tried to convince me that this picture was taken yesterday, you could easily do that, too.  These "baby" B's are growing up to be such beautiful people inside and outside.


"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
Luke 12:27

Isn't God's creation splendid?  If God takes care of the flowers, he WILL take care of us.  That is so reassuring to me, and I hope it is to you, too. 


 

To Do So I Don't Have To Do

My 1/1/13 is starting off great!  I walked 2 miles this morning, cooked a big breakfast for everyone in my little family, plus we had a relative here to eat yummy Kentucky breakfast foods with us:  smoked sausage, eggs from our own chickens, and whole wheat toast.  Yum!  I threw the sausage grease away, and thought, "what a waste!"  I'm such a Kentucky-cooker!  I would have liked some good gravy, you see.  I just didn't want the extra fat and calories on 1/1/13.  Maybe tomorrow.  But not on the first day of the New Year, see.  HA!  After breakfast, I pre-cooked some ground turkey and 3 chicken breasts for meals this week, and am getting ready to fill out my January menu planner!  Why all this?  So that I don't have as much TO DO in January.  If you are a busy woman, like every other woman I know, consider a menu planner.  It saves me probably an hour (no, 2, in reality) a day that I get to spend w/ the kids (homework, baths, books, sitting w/ them folding laundry while they watch a tv show, and not as often as I should:  playing with them).  The only thing I have not done today that I will do before I leave for work in 45 minutes:  READ THE BIBLE.  I'm in Leviticus (reading through, slowly, I'll confess).  I have found that to be The Only Book I can read that doesn't cause me vexation.  This coming from someone whose favorite passtime is reading, too.  It's been hard to sit books down since last June, but it has also been very liberating.  Let me explain:  I tended to read self-help, parenting, marriage, healthy living, child psychology type of books...all things that make me want to try this or that, wonder why I didn't already think to do that, think about others who do x,y,z so naturally and effectively. 

Speaking of....HAPPY NEW YEAR and here's to being myself, and you being yourself, and being thankful for our differences!  Afterall we have the same Creator!  I was sleeping soundly at 10 p.m. last night.  My little boy has been sick with a cold that developed into croup and laryngitis since last Thursday, so we were sleeping and snuggled close as the ball dropped!  (And I admittedly love sleeping with the kids when they're sick, though I wished he was well). 

I have a great feeling about this year!

Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed

The culmination of lots of mileage on my wheels since November has ended in a sloppy mess in my house and head.  And it's hard to remember peace.  And it's harder to remember that really, I do have peace...that all the "stuff" shows that we have way more than we need (or want). 

I call these things my 2nd world problems:  the mess I refer to, how to stage the cutest Christmas card photo, how to organize the kids' toys, what to part with to make way for new toys, and when to take down the pre-lit, frosted tree.  2nd world problems embarrass me most when I let them ruin my peace.  Anybody else out there have the same problem?  I know the answer.  We're all more alike than we are different.  Some of us are just a little more OCD than others.

On another note, we received word that our migrant workers made it safe and sound to Nayarit!  After days of driving, I KNOW they were glad to get out of a 2-seater and stretch 3 sets of legs.  Bless them.  Shawn is finishing the tobacco on his own now, and should be done any day.  He's also working on the farm business', farm store's, and our personal taxes.  Plus, he's still working occasionally at the accounting firm, much to his chagrin, as he feels the farm always calls him away (not to his chagrin).  The farm store is closing up for the cold winter months, and we are going to have family staying with us at the end of the week (for 7-10 days).  I'll be found working my pt job, and working off 10 lbs on our old trusty treadmill.  For the second time, I'll be attempting to do so without using Weight Watchers (attempt one didn't go well).  I prefer a structured plan but with freedom to eat real stuff (I cook a lot, remember I married a farm-raised farm-boy), so I hope I can do this sans Weight Watchers (Phil 4:13).  I plan to report every 2 weeks!  I've been a big ME fan for over a decade.  The picture pretty much sums up the feeling I long for after all the mileage since November!  I need a breath of fresh air.....to realize I'm much too blessed to be stressed.  Forgive me, Lord, I always forget.


  





   

Crazy Acceptance Noted at Christmas Party

Most who know me would say as compared to others in a rural Southern town, I'm eccentric.  I don't think I would be considered remotely eccentric if I were living in a big city, but to many people around me, I am (yes, they've told me).  As I have mentioned before, choosing public school was a big, huge, major decision for me.  It was a no-brainer for my hubby, and had I listened to him from the start, I would have saved myself some (ok, lots) of worrying!  (And needless discussion, headaches, tears, and a lot of people's ears wouldn't have fallen off!)  I can only hope I'm getting better at praying than talking.  I digress...So I prayed and not only did did my girl make an instant friend, she was assigned a great teacher (who prays for her students), and she also has an aide (who prays for the students as well).  No one told me what an added bonus-blessing the aide could be!  HUGE, I tell you.  I want to express my appreciation, but, how do you thank someone for caring so much for your child that she notices subtle cues and after praying, reacts in ways higher than her own ways?  My best effort will have to be written because I express best that way.  In addition to taking care of G, God answered prayer unaware for me, too. I'm so excited about this!  These newfound friends we've made at school this year not only love my child, they accept me.  Cuh-raz-iness.  Yay!  And by that I mean, I have really been myself (my freakishly compulsive self, especially since the events just last Friday) , and these people like me!  Did I say yay!?

 
Today in the middle of twenty 5-6 year olds and about 8 adults, I had a settling, comfortable feeling come over me.  I stepped back, looked around at the blessed chaos of wrapping paper, cupcake wrappers, and the like, and realized what it was!  And I was / am grateful.  So for this year, again I say, yay!  I made reindeer water bottles for the class party.  I'm showing them off, because this is about the extent of my artistic/creative side.  If you're artistic, be thankful.  God's gift to you, and to people like me who aren't but who can admire your creations!

PeAcE OuT

 

On Sunday, my youngest asked his grandmother what she wanted for Christmas.  She welled up, started to cry, and said "world peace...and for all the little boys and girls to have a happy Christmas."  He watched her with a solemn face for a nano-second, then asked her if she wanted jewelry.  I kind of loved it.  His innocence I mean.  

 

(Sorry I can't remove the top of the picture!)

 

 

I started thinking about peace (lack of it) as I reflected on what she said/how little one responded, and what a very wise friend said:  "It's not about more guns or no guns.  It's about the heart and soul."

 

In order to have world peace, we must have inner peace.

 

 

In order to have inner peace, we must have hope in Jesus.

 

John 3:16

For God so LOVED (insert your name) that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Peace in and PeAcE OuT

 

 

J

 

J= Jesus

J=Joy

Good reminder:  Like many things in life, it's all in how you look at it!

 

 

 

Sweet blessings!

 

 

After handing out candy canes today in the cold weather, I was reminded again that when I go with the intent to "be" a blessing, I end up "receiving" a sweet blessing (or several)! 

 

 

 

Sweet moment w/ my sweet girl.