(not quite) Alone

Always
Leaning
Only
Nearer
Every day
               -God
            

Miss Me?

I began this post 11-28-10, and am finally publishing 12-8-10.  It seems my freshly cleaned, newly virus-free personal computer is lacking the magic potion that allows me to compose blogs at this moment.  Hence, I am at the library... we spend a lot of time at the library.

Through October I didn't know what to post, what to say.  Through November I was without access to say much of anything.  So now it's December, and there's a lot to say!

We've had some rough times, and we've had some great times.  For this, I'd like to present two ideas:
1.  What is something you would not like your children to know/experience? and
2.  What is something you would desire for your children to know/experience?

My #1:  I would not like for them to know the pain of this (my) life-the single, lonely, vulnerable walk that is mine.  I wish this on no one.

My #2:  I would like for them to know what it's like to give-to give of themselves, to give until they are give out, and know the deep satisifaction that can come, (after, of course, a nap :)

Interesting, how the two seem to be the inside-out of each other.

Until next time, Happy Holidays and God Bless!
From a Peaceful Ozark Hilltop

Sunday Quotes

This week's quote comes from a meteorologist:

"If it's time to paint the house, stain the deck, wax the car, air out the living room... what have you... you have another easy-win with this mild and dry week of weather. If you're at a loss for what to do, talk a walk in the woods or by the creek and enjoy a quiet moment in the Ozarks.  Enjoy!"


Dave Snider
KY3 Stormteam
Meteorologist

Oh, and just for fun:

"We're all mad here."  Alice in Wonderland

Living While You're Here

Maybe it's not about living "happily ever after," but about living while you're here.  I wrote a few weeks ago of change, thinking the changes would be pleasantly closer to the desires of my heart.  I did not foresee exes having babies and ex-in-laws moving back.  Or ex-in-laws going to jail.  Yuck!  Why do I still have to hear of these things?  And help my children through yet another messy season?

Because I'm "Mom."

And I've seen such growth (maturing) in the older two.  Yeah, life's messy.  But God is good.  And he has a most spectacular way of taking the good and the bad and giving us something better.  We just have to watch for it.  Because it's not always showy or flashy, but no less extravagant for the time it takes.  Little Sister has discovered the movie "Love Comes Softly."  Sometimes our healings do, too.  To one day look inside and realize, "Oh, that doesn't hurt anymore."  Maybe it's a greater victory because of the time it took.  Hmmm.

Where I awoke this morning!

After a week of miracles, this is where I found myself this morning.  Yep, me and three kids stayed up to observe Perseid Meteor Shower.  I took the middle (notice John Deere pillow), Little Sis & Er-bear on either side.  Son stuck with us til eleven, then went in pursuit of real bed.  Little Sis gave it up, after a cup of milk, falling asleep in her sleeping bag shortly after, followed by Er-bear who was asleep just before midnight.

They were all blessed to see the "shooting stars", which helped sweet four-year-old to know what the heck we were doing out there anyway.  And the girls and I spent a lovely night under the stars.  Grandma came over 2 a.m. checking on us; I went to sleep at 3 a.m.  The darling kittens were sure to have us all up in time for breakfast!

It's been a great week of making some memorable memories :)

G'Night.

Some of What We've Been Doing

Whew!  The time has gone by!  I like to think I've made the most of it.  Hope I have.  I've really been struck this summer with the realization, "I only get one chance at this life thing."  The kids are growing and healthy, the bills are paid, and God loves me.  Er-bear turned 10 this summer, and I am 32.  Life is messy, but God is good.

We made it two weeks into July without air conditioning.  We'd never done that before, so now we have the experience and know we can do it if we have to.  But July 18 I saw the forecast high temps and high humidity and thought, "I don't know if I can do this."  So that eve I turned things on.  It took off the edge so we could sleep, but by noon the next day, wasn't working again.  Put in a call, and by bedtime we were good to go.  Praise God!  Yeah, I still have to shopvac the vents because the gremlins have jimmied the drain, but at least we're cool.  Even the tomatoes suffered, because I was too hot to mess with gardening.  But now that I know I can get cool, the tomatoes are looking a lot better :)

We've spent a lot of time at the library.  I've enjoyed selecting a stack of books, settling into a quiet corner with Little Sister and reading together.  The kiddos took an interest in the summer reading program, and that has given us something to break up the monotony of schooling through the summer without co-op.  The older two have read 2,000 plus pages and have their names entered in the drawing.  Little Sister has had 75 plus books read to her.  If she gets to 100, she'll be entered in a drawing also.  The library will be having a pizza party on the 7th, when the summer reading program ends.  It's been nice to have this to look forward to.  Another favourite has been Hank the Cowdog.  A friend introduced us to this series of books, and he's turned out to be great fun!

Co-Op started up for us this week.  The classes are Cooking, Choir, PE, and Art.  God has put together a great bunch of people.  I am so blessed to be a part.  By September, we will begin our new homeschool year:  6th, 3rd, Preschool.  Lots of good things to look forward to :)

Also I've been selling on ebay for a friend.  So, that's my update of what we've been doing.  If I fall behind again, know that I haven't forgotten, and I'll see you soon! 

Another Day

Well, it's Saturday.  The rain we'd been waiting for arrived today!  Maybe not as much as we needed, but it brought along a nice breeze and cooler temperatures, and we have rain chances the next few days.  For those of us "roughing it" without a/c, that's a very good thing.

I'm good a couple weeks with the kids, by week three and four I start feeling it, anything past that is just...  Survival mode.  I can do what must be done and I live in a perpetual state of tired.  That's where I am right now.  Five weeks tomorrow.  Maybe they can go to their dad's soon.  I don't know what else I can share right now.  There's not a lot left in me.  I look forward to co-op starting again.  I miss the people.

Off to enjoy a snack, yogurt/trailmix & orange juice, with a movie, Bed of Roses.

From a sleepy Ozark hilltop, Good Night!