Could This Be Writer's Block

As the days go by since my last post with no new blog worthy thoughts occurring, my blogger's anxiety creeps up a little higher.  So, I decide to spend my blogging time reading some excellent posts, which sends my nerve to hit the "new post" button into a nosedive.  The pictures I wanted to post from the weekend are not so lovely as I hoped.  The work around the house has taken my full attention since the long five day weekend.  Still no new post magically comes to me.  So I look at my pictures one more time.  I fiddle with one, hoping I can add sepia and it will be the brilliant photo I was expecting.  No luck.  And the silence of this blog starts to get to me.  The cursor blinks over and over, waiting for my words to flow.  I am tempted to delete this rambling!  Domestic life is rolling right along however, and I will be content with that.

Making a Family Home

Browsing through the new books at the library, my eye was caught by the title, Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom.  At first glance I thought it was a decorating book.  Digging deeper, I found it to be just the opposite.  Mrs. Honeybloom offers good insights into making a home work for you and your family while maintaining order, peace, and safety with simplicity, modesty, and joy. She visits each area of a home and offers her thoughts on making the area pleasant and functional.  Now, as is usual, there are some things I needed to overlook, like some references to world views I do not hold.  All in all, it is a good book, a quick read, and if your library has it, I'd be sure to take a look.  You just might be inspired too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book: 

"I found that paying attention to my home was (and is) a way to ground myself in the center of all the information and noise of my life. Home is the place that forms the basis for a child's future. Home is the place where children are introduced to the world. Home can help children thrive and unfold and gather courage to meet their future."  (pg. 10)

"Having grown up during the depression, my grandmother, had the habit of not buying many things and fixing her things when they broke.  Her home was spotless and uncluttered.  Each item was carefully cleaned, place, considered."  (pg. 12)

I pray all my US friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your dear ones.  We will be hosting this year as the baton has been passed to my generation.  I will be honored to provide this to my family.  It's going to be a hard year without my grandparents here, a first. 
~Jenn

Are They Not Splendid?

Good Morning!

I was looking through some old papers, you know, trying to toss and organize, when I came across this quote I must have scribbled down to try and remember.  

"You have to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction!" 
- source unknown

This is just the shot in the arm that I needed today.  We have so much to do:  lessons, bringing a meal to a dear friend, dance, gym, laundry, and more.  In fact, this is going to be another busy week.  Thankfully tomorrow is quiet, but Wednesday we have a friend's 3 year old coming all day.  Thursday we have groceries, karate and our date night.  Friday is our flock group meeting.  Each day we will be working on our lessons and trying to keep the house in order.   

It is a blessing to have such a full life.  It's a gift, indeed.  My prayer is that I make the most of this week I have been given.  And may you be blessed as well.
~Jenn

What is going on?

Last Sunday, my pastor said something that has stuck with me this week.  Roughly paraphrased, if the world says something is right, then we should first consider if doing the opposite would be more Christlike.  How many times have I done the opposite?  Homeschooling, selling our home to get debt free, leaving a nursing career, comes to my mind.  

This leads me to wonder.  Is there something going on in your life, that viewed through the eyes of the “world”, doesn’t seem  right or good–yet seen through the “Goodness of God” point-of-view, you can see Him working in or through it?

Please comment and share!   And hugs to you on this journey called Faith!!!  

~Jenn

Diligence

The character quality we are studying this week is diligence.  Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defines diligence as the steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken.  The Bible verse we are memorizing this week is from Ecclesiastes 9 verse 10.

 "Whatever you do, do well.

For when you go to the grave,

 there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."

Diligence as a homemaker has always been a goal of mine, not that I succeed even half the time.  I usually make a good start each day, getting up near 6 o'clock.  Then I hit the afternoon "wall" around 3 PM.  Lessons are done.  I've been diligent with the laundry and dishes.  I know what I am making for dinner.  I am over being diligent.  I want a break.  There is nothing wrong with wanting a break, until the break eats away at time we could be putting effort into the house or even just going outside to enjoy the sunny day.  We are warned that life is short.  Wasting one moment seems reckless. It is up to the individual to determine what that means.  Wasting time to one, might be resting to another.  We are clearly told that there is a time for work and a time to rest as well.    My purpose of this post is not to make anyone feel guilty, including myself.  It is a matter to consider though.  And my conscience says that my afternoon rests are and have been a little indulgent.  I am going to make an effort to change this.  You have my permission to ask how it is going.  :-) 

Jenn



Simple Housing

We jumped off the "have a big mortgage" lifestyle a few years ago, when we decided to get debt free.  Since then, renting has been the only option.  Not that that is going to change anytime soon, but I keep finding hope while reading about others who have found creative solutions to their housing needs.

I am very interested in projects like the one above.  (click here to read the full story.)    I am also interested in people who live in modern Yurts or reclaimed grain bins.  Perhaps part of me knows that deep down I don't ever want another mortgage.  I'd rather live in a whole in the ground!

Note of Praise

I have been contemplating finances this morning.  I don't think we've had a raise in more than 5 years, yet the big corporations have kept up their cost of living increases all this time!  I see increases in every thing I buy.  I am forced to do more with less and less.  I am not upset.  This gives me the opportunity to give all the glory to God in this area.  It has to be a God thing, for sure.  Makes me feel like the widow and her endless jug of olive oil sometimes.  I just don't know how else we are still able to spend less than we earn.
~Jenn :-)

Warshing Clothes Recipe

This was sent to me in an email yesterday.  Thanks, Arlene! 

Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook -with spelling errors and all.  

WARSHING CLOTHES  

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. 

Sort things, make 3 piles 

1 pile white, 

1 pile colored, 

1 pile work britches and rags. 

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. 

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch. 

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.   

Hang old rags on fence. 

Spread tea towels on grass. 

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 

Turn tubs upside down. 

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. 

================================================ 

Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks.. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer. 

For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;) 

 AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH

Things I Love... Fall Edition

Fall is here,the shortest of seasons.
Here is one of the things I love most about fall.