I have received many requests for me to share what life is like in our home when things seem overwhelming or when they don't go the way I have planned them.
I would like to start this post off by apologizing to anyone if I have ever made anyone feel as though I have it all together. From the bottom of my heart, I have always tried to be real with how flawed I am. :)
With that being said, I would like to offer one point. Overwhelming situations come to us all! But I fully believe it is the attitude we have that shapes how we will react to life's trials and tribulations! Following the Lord isn't always easy, or even enjoyable! But it is all a blessing! A gift that God has placed in our lap. It may not look, smell, or feel like a gift. But in my short 32 years of life, 13 of which I have been a Christian...I have found that the harder it is to find the joy in what you are walking through. The sweeter and more concentrated is the grace and peace of the Lord. You just have to look for it.
Being a wife and mother is the greatest joy in my life next to being a Christian! I marvel at what I get to do everyday! It is a true gift to do what we do! To carry life! Birth it into this world! Enjoy the fruits of children! Train them! Teach them! To be a wife! Married to a man God gave me! To help him! It is all such a blessing! So when things come along that I don't love...I learn to love them because I LOVE BEING A WIFE AND MOMMA!
The year has been a really tough year for our family. With all of the new responsibilities here on our new land, it has been quite an adventure trying to see how we can manage our land, animals, a larger home, make memories, homeschool, etc. In August I had a miscarriage.
Then in November one my children got croups cough really bad!!!! The next day, we had another one sick. Then another one. Then another one. They all ended up getting it! That week we were supposed to have my dear friend Bridget's family over for Thanksgiving!!!
I had to call her and cancel!!! :(
beds, I cut my thumb severely with rotary cutters. My husband was out of town on business, so I had to drive myself while holding pressure on my thumb to stop the bleeding! I got 6 stitches and a tetanus shot. And was practically incapacitated for a few weeks because of the pain and not being able to use my left hand.
For the next three days, we added 4 new sick ones. :( Strep throat for them. Including me!!! Without a thought, we started antibiotics. Thinking we would complete our course of antibiotics and resume to normal. On the last day of antibiotics we sanitized the WHOLE house! And if you've ever been to our home, you would know what a HUGE task that is!!! Over the next few days my children began complaining of a sore throat again! My little guy even got a rash again! All four tested positive again after only being off antibiotics for a few days.
Again we started our second round of meds. This time, I was more prepared with my essential oils. Meds completed and we sanitized the house again. By now we are in early February! Having been home bound since November...We are beginning to see the light of the end of the tunnel. Our whole family, looking forward to the upcoming San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival!!! The week before the Festival, days after she completed her second round of meds, my daughter tells me her throat hurts!!!!!
Once again, we make the 1 hour journey to our dr's office!!! We once again, take a strep test. And it once again, comes back positive!!! The next day, three more test positive!!! Needless to say, we did not go as a family to the Film Festival! Only my husband and second oldest son went. :( It was a huge learning experience for my eldest in being content with what the Lord has placed before you! Today as it stands, we have been home bound since November. All of our children have gotten strep. 3 got it 3 times. 3 got it once. And 1 got it twice. I have just sanitized our home for the THIRD time!
We have been shuffling the "sick room" around depending on ratio of sick to well. ;) Lots of pajama days! And lots of essential oils & unwanted antibiotics.
We have not been about to offer our home for hospitality! (THIS WAS HARD FOR ME, AS WE USUALLY HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR HOME 2-3 TIMES A WEEK!!!) We have not been able to go to church, save a few weeks scattered here and there before the strep throat wave. And we have had to live day to day. Not making any plans. (Also another tough one for me) ;) And patiently praying that the Lord would see fit to give us another little one.
But in the midst of all of these trials, beautiful things have come....
1. Lovely words of encouragement when I had my miscarriage. And being given a Bible verse from a friend that has carried me through MANY hard days!!! It's on the birth announcement in the above picture. (Thank you Rossie and Brandi)
2. Being invited to a lovely women's Bible Study, from which I met some lovely ladies! (Thank you Raylene)
3. Growing so much closer to my husband!
4. Cutting away the excess from our lives.
5. Being totally dependant upon the Lord for everything!!!
6. Having a friend teach me about oils. (Thank you Shannon)
7. Having a friend and her daughters come live with us during my injury, while my husband was out of town on business. Who cooked for me...cleaned...drove me to do my Christmas shopping! To have my ring cut off...they even planned a spa night with the children and gave me a pedicure and manicure!!! (Thank you Shuranda, Denielle & Krystin)
8. Being undividedly focused on my children, my home, my roles as wife and mother.
9. Going shopping with a friend for another friend who is having a baby. (Thank You Ashley)
10. having another friend call me and invite me to lunch because she missed me. (Thank you Raylene)
11. Getting more encouraging cards and emails from a friend encouraging me while my kids are sick! (Thank you Lisa)
12. Many wonderful text or email conversations in the still of the night with a few dear friends Checking on us. (Thank you Ladies...you know who you are ;) )
13. Finishing my FIRST EVER crocheted baby blanket!!!
14. Crocheting my FIRST EVER BABY HAT for my sweet daughters baby doll! :)
How do you recreate these blessings without the hardship? You don't. For even if you tried and succeeded, they would not be as fragrant. They would not be as burned into your memory! They would not show you your utter and total dependence on the Lord.
For truly he gives us beauty for ashes!
Joy DOES come in the morning!!!
So what do you do when the task at hand seems insurmountable? What do you do when what you see in the natural seems to obnubilate the blessings around you? (we have been learning one new word a night from the Websters 1828 dictionary during our family learning time at dinner. And obnubilate was our word tonight. It means to darken or cover. ) :)
In years past, I continued to try to get it all done. But even in a state of health and normal routine, we can never get it all done...ALL the time. My new approach is to take small bites of large things. But when we are down, that is completely different.
10 Things you can do to help your through difficult times:
1. HOPE THOU IN GOD! Purpose to be in the Word! Read it! Listen to it! Speak it!!!
2. De clutter your priorities. Focus only on this hour. Then the next, etc. Depending on your situation, you may need to set a goal for each hour. Micro focusing like this will help you feel productive even when things seems overwhelming.
3. Watch your attitude! It is really easy to become bitter or ill tempered when troubles come our ways. But we are setting the tone for our home. More often than not, when momma meets struggles head on with a joyful heart, so will the children. And if they don't You will still be joyful to help them get to where they need to be mentally and spiritually.
4. Cut back to the bare necessities.
-Laundry
-Meals
-Dishes
-Basic quick cleans
-Light school if possible (Reading, Math)
5. Keep curtains drawn to create a more quiet atmosphere for those who are not well. This always makes me feel so cozy!
6. Burn Candles and soft music. Nothing is more homey than a burning candle! ;)
7. Continue correspondence with friends. Its always nice to have a friendly word of encouragement. And also to encourage others. We musn't get too wrapped up in our own problems that we don't reach out to others in whatever way is appropriate for the season we are in.
8. Discern the season you are in. Do not try to rush out of it! Learn what you can from it!
9. Remember that your children will only be young once! ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!!
10. Let others help if you need it! This was a big one for me! But to be on the receiving end of a blessing is a blessing for those who help you. And it is a humbling place to be that vulnerable with others!
When trials and difficulty come your way, remember, it is normal to feel despair. But do not get stuck in that! Allow the Lord to minister to your heart and bring you to the place you need to be! Allow others to speak truth into your life! And trust that God is LORD OF ALL!!!
I would like to start this post off by apologizing to anyone if I have ever made anyone feel as though I have it all together. From the bottom of my heart, I have always tried to be real with how flawed I am. :)
With that being said, I would like to offer one point. Overwhelming situations come to us all! But I fully believe it is the attitude we have that shapes how we will react to life's trials and tribulations! Following the Lord isn't always easy, or even enjoyable! But it is all a blessing! A gift that God has placed in our lap. It may not look, smell, or feel like a gift. But in my short 32 years of life, 13 of which I have been a Christian...I have found that the harder it is to find the joy in what you are walking through. The sweeter and more concentrated is the grace and peace of the Lord. You just have to look for it.
Being a wife and mother is the greatest joy in my life next to being a Christian! I marvel at what I get to do everyday! It is a true gift to do what we do! To carry life! Birth it into this world! Enjoy the fruits of children! Train them! Teach them! To be a wife! Married to a man God gave me! To help him! It is all such a blessing! So when things come along that I don't love...I learn to love them because I LOVE BEING A WIFE AND MOMMA!
The year has been a really tough year for our family. With all of the new responsibilities here on our new land, it has been quite an adventure trying to see how we can manage our land, animals, a larger home, make memories, homeschool, etc. In August I had a miscarriage.
(This is a little "birth announcement" I made for each of our three babies that are not with us)
Then in November one my children got croups cough really bad!!!! The next day, we had another one sick. Then another one. Then another one. They all ended up getting it! That week we were supposed to have my dear friend Bridget's family over for Thanksgiving!!!
I had to call her and cancel!!! :(
(Photos of their visit with us in 2009)
The croup lasted about 3 weeks.
Then we had a week of health.
Then One day while I was making a quilt for one of my girls...
This very quilt...
beds, I cut my thumb severely with rotary cutters. My husband was out of town on business, so I had to drive myself while holding pressure on my thumb to stop the bleeding! I got 6 stitches and a tetanus shot. And was practically incapacitated for a few weeks because of the pain and not being able to use my left hand.
I even had to have my wedding ring cut off because my hand got so swollen!!! Like "chubby baby hands" And one of my sweet friends said. :)
During that time, my children got sick again. One day, one of my little ones woke up with a rash and a sore throat! It turned out to be scarlet fever!!!
Again we started our second round of meds. This time, I was more prepared with my essential oils. Meds completed and we sanitized the house again. By now we are in early February! Having been home bound since November...We are beginning to see the light of the end of the tunnel. Our whole family, looking forward to the upcoming San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival!!! The week before the Festival, days after she completed her second round of meds, my daughter tells me her throat hurts!!!!!
Once again, we make the 1 hour journey to our dr's office!!! We once again, take a strep test. And it once again, comes back positive!!! The next day, three more test positive!!! Needless to say, we did not go as a family to the Film Festival! Only my husband and second oldest son went. :( It was a huge learning experience for my eldest in being content with what the Lord has placed before you! Today as it stands, we have been home bound since November. All of our children have gotten strep. 3 got it 3 times. 3 got it once. And 1 got it twice. I have just sanitized our home for the THIRD time!
We have been shuffling the "sick room" around depending on ratio of sick to well. ;) Lots of pajama days! And lots of essential oils & unwanted antibiotics.
We have not been about to offer our home for hospitality! (THIS WAS HARD FOR ME, AS WE USUALLY HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR HOME 2-3 TIMES A WEEK!!!) We have not been able to go to church, save a few weeks scattered here and there before the strep throat wave. And we have had to live day to day. Not making any plans. (Also another tough one for me) ;) And patiently praying that the Lord would see fit to give us another little one.
But in the midst of all of these trials, beautiful things have come....
1. Lovely words of encouragement when I had my miscarriage. And being given a Bible verse from a friend that has carried me through MANY hard days!!! It's on the birth announcement in the above picture. (Thank you Rossie and Brandi)
2. Being invited to a lovely women's Bible Study, from which I met some lovely ladies! (Thank you Raylene)
3. Growing so much closer to my husband!
4. Cutting away the excess from our lives.
5. Being totally dependant upon the Lord for everything!!!
6. Having a friend teach me about oils. (Thank you Shannon)
8. Being undividedly focused on my children, my home, my roles as wife and mother.
9. Going shopping with a friend for another friend who is having a baby. (Thank You Ashley)
10. having another friend call me and invite me to lunch because she missed me. (Thank you Raylene)
11. Getting more encouraging cards and emails from a friend encouraging me while my kids are sick! (Thank you Lisa)
12. Many wonderful text or email conversations in the still of the night with a few dear friends Checking on us. (Thank you Ladies...you know who you are ;) )
13. Finishing my FIRST EVER crocheted baby blanket!!!
14. Crocheting my FIRST EVER BABY HAT for my sweet daughters baby doll! :)
15. A friend who sent me a "Baby Hope" Chest in faith for preparation for another little one. (Thank you Genny)
16. A church that stands with us in prayer and checks in on us! (Thank you all from LWF)
And so much more!!! But most importantly, I have learned a new level of humility before the Lord. Being a planner by nature, I have learned that I am really just along for the ride. His will is what I want! And I am whole heartedly leaning on him to walk every step of it to glorify him!
How do you recreate these blessings without the hardship? You don't. For even if you tried and succeeded, they would not be as fragrant. They would not be as burned into your memory! They would not show you your utter and total dependence on the Lord.
For truly he gives us beauty for ashes!
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Joy DOES come in the morning!!!
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In years past, I continued to try to get it all done. But even in a state of health and normal routine, we can never get it all done...ALL the time. My new approach is to take small bites of large things. But when we are down, that is completely different.
10 Things you can do to help your through difficult times:
1. HOPE THOU IN GOD! Purpose to be in the Word! Read it! Listen to it! Speak it!!!
2. De clutter your priorities. Focus only on this hour. Then the next, etc. Depending on your situation, you may need to set a goal for each hour. Micro focusing like this will help you feel productive even when things seems overwhelming.
3. Watch your attitude! It is really easy to become bitter or ill tempered when troubles come our ways. But we are setting the tone for our home. More often than not, when momma meets struggles head on with a joyful heart, so will the children. And if they don't You will still be joyful to help them get to where they need to be mentally and spiritually.
4. Cut back to the bare necessities.
-Laundry
-Meals
-Dishes
-Basic quick cleans
-Light school if possible (Reading, Math)
5. Keep curtains drawn to create a more quiet atmosphere for those who are not well. This always makes me feel so cozy!
6. Burn Candles and soft music. Nothing is more homey than a burning candle! ;)
7. Continue correspondence with friends. Its always nice to have a friendly word of encouragement. And also to encourage others. We musn't get too wrapped up in our own problems that we don't reach out to others in whatever way is appropriate for the season we are in.
8. Discern the season you are in. Do not try to rush out of it! Learn what you can from it!
9. Remember that your children will only be young once! ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!!
10. Let others help if you need it! This was a big one for me! But to be on the receiving end of a blessing is a blessing for those who help you. And it is a humbling place to be that vulnerable with others!
When trials and difficulty come your way, remember, it is normal to feel despair. But do not get stuck in that! Allow the Lord to minister to your heart and bring you to the place you need to be! Allow others to speak truth into your life! And trust that God is LORD OF ALL!!!
2 comments:
Hi!
I just wanted to comment on the recurring strep bugs...be sure to thoroughly sanitize OR replace ALL toothbrushes at the end of each round of antibiotics. There have been studies done that show "toothbrush transmission" can be a real problem sometimes.
You might also consider replacing everyone's toothpaste, since that gets touched to the toothbrush. Maybe ask your dentist if they have extra of the tiny sample tubes, so you don't have to get rid of a big tube of toothpaste.
I've been reading your blog since your youngest child was born, and have really enjoyed it. :)
Blessings to you, and I hope everyone gets well soon (and stays well)!
I love you my dear friend and pray for you daily! ((((((HUGS))))))
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