When the Road is Difficult

Life isn't always the way we want it to be or the way it seems it should be. Going through one of those times now and I have to keep reminding myself that God works all things for our good. Our tough times are what build our character and integrity. We can choose to trust God for our outcomes or try to just fix things on our own. While we are "waiting" we must listen closely to God, spend time hearing Him through His Word and listening to the voice of our spirit, saying "this is the way, walk in it". I have been taking more time looking at the people who have gone before me in this world who have traveled difficult roads, yet kept their eyes on God and were delivered into a better place, and or God made wonderful things happen through their willingness to follow and be obedient. God wants us to come up a step; move up a rung on the ladder; get a little closer; rise higher. Do we always understand it? No. Is it always easy? No. Does it happen the way we think it should? No. Can we trust Him? YES.

Changing of the Seasons

Seasons are inevitable in this life. Living in the northern part of Illinois our weather holds drastic changes. From the summers bright, searing, intense heat burning into our skin and making us feel as though we will melt, to the bitter, damp cold of winter biting our face and fingers until it seems as though our fingers may just well fall off. When those hot, summer, sticky days have been upon us day after day, many begin to wish and dream for the cool relief that fall and winter are holding for us. reflect those same variances.

School begins.....

What a beautiful morning! Sitting out on the porch waiting for the girlies to leave for school. A little cool still...the sun is shining....the sound of crickets, springlers, and sweet voices of the kids and their friends waiting for the bus. And now...the "chug chug squeal" as the bus rolls to a stop then pulls away for a new day of adventure.

Moved in....

Well, we have been moved into our new home for several weeks now and are loving it. Moving is such a huge undertaking, and I hope not to experience it again for a long long time! Enjoying spending this Christmas season here already and I feel so blessed!

Wrote the following statement the evening after a recent school snow day had ended....wanted to remember it on here too!

Driveway shovelled, fort building and sledding, lunch with The Miser Brothers, family tree decorated and lit, family meal around the table, Christmas carols as lullibies. And all along, I thought we were doing "nothing".... snow day, memorable snow day.

Sometimes I forget to look beyond the noise and clutter and disorganization of this interesting life with my children involved and see the little moments of memories that are being made. I must remember an old quote that I once heard about our todays being tomorrows memories. I will look back on these days and miss them.

Life continues....

I'd love to get on here every couple of days to keep this blog going......just need to form the habit! We have had our house on the market and found a house that we love. The process "seemed" long but God's timing is amazing. We had an offer presented to us last night and sign the papers tomorrow. Actually, our house was only on the market for about 8 weeks before we received an offer and agreed on a selling price. We already have our new house lined up and will be closing on the 29th of this month. We are all so excited to be moving into a bigger, nicer home with more land.....almost an acre. Maybe sometime I'll share the story behind how God is working all this out! He is an amazing planner!

First day of summer break....bit of a rough start. I decided it was time to go through the girls mountains of clothing and minimize their selection for the summer, stick away pieces that they will still be able to wear this fall and get rid of the rest. So....we emptied their drawers onto the floor and brought up the summer bin from the basement. What a mess! Trying to get all three girls to put outfits together that they will actually wear is very interesting and chaotic. But, I was determined to get it all done at once this morning so we let chaos reign for a bit and I tried, unsuccessfully, to stay calm at all times. Have I ever told you that clutter stresses me out? Where did all those clothes come from? Well, we are obviously blessed with clothing.

This afternoon I worked at the church and the girls played, then home to make supper, out with everyone for Culver's Custard.....then a trip to a local garden spot to pick up flowers to pot for the girls' teachers, helpers and principals. Full day....it turned out quite sweetly, despite it's bitter start.

When life slows down

Over the past weeks I experienced something that many times I have asked for. When life seems crazy and overloaded, or just repetitive and constant, I have made the comment that I'd just like to get off the"merry-go-round" of life for a little while. Ever been there? Tired of the tedious, worn from the work, frazzled from the frenzy? Because of some personal health issues that needed to be taken care of, I was given the opportunity to take a break and rest. I got off the merry-go-round and had some time to heal, rest, reflect, reconsider, and reconnect. The first couple weeks I had not choice but to sleep and rest, but then it began to prove more difficult. I began wanting to be able to do those things which has once proved so tedious. Some because I wanted them done my way, but in another sense, I think I just had a difficult time being still with my thoughts. There were so many things I could have done to enjoy my time and release from responsibilities, but I instead fought being impatient and wanted to get up and get back "into life". Looking back now that life is in full swing again and back to "normal", I once again long for the days when it is calm again and I can do less and have some time to enjoy for myself. We are strange and curious creatures. Always seeming to want something other than what life has for us at the time. I think it's time to enjoy every part of life that we are given and see each season as a gift from God. And if it is a gift, surely there is some good that we will find if we open it up and look inside. What gift is God trying to give you today?