Marriage Refreshment

This is a big weekend for my hubby and I.   We will be getting away for a few days and nights, just the two of us - seriously, just the two of us!  This rarely happens, but when it does, we treasure the time together so much.  We do attend a home school conference annually, but we often have a nursing baby with us and aren't completely alone.  But, this weekend, it will be just my hubby and I.   A time to focus on the gift of our marriage.  A time to hold hands and talk - I mean really talk - without any interruptions.  A time to eat a meal without having to get up several times to clean up a spill, refill milk, or change a diaper, not to mention having someone make the meal for me!  A time to rest and soak each other in.  A time to be husband and wife and to focus on the gift of marriage.  I believe one of the best gifts you can give your children is a solid marriage example, and that is what my hubby and I try to do.  We want our children to see and value the gift that marriage is. 

His grace is sufficient

Lately (as in the last several years!), I am having a hard time keeping up with my work.  Almost every night I go to bed with the supper dishes undone, which seems to bother no one but me.  The laundry room is, well, is there a room in there?  All I see is clothes thrown all over the place (no, mom, you're not bringing my dirty laundry home - she keeps telling me she's going to sneak into my house and steal my dirty laundry to get me caught up!).  The house, although picked up at times, is usually dusty and dirty.  And the kids' rooms!  I have finally accepted the fact that 6 kiddos in 2 rooms, with their beds, clothes and "too many toys" is impossible to keep neat.  Really, I am trying to keep up.  But, my marriage, raising, training and teaching the kids, and making meals all come before the housework, dishes and laundry.


I usually start the day thinking "okay, today I'm going to get caught up on this or that."  But, the day ends and I'm even more behind.  My husband is gone 12 hours a day, except on Wednesdays, when he's gone 14.  So, from seven a.m. to seven p.m., Monday through Friday (seven a.m. to nine p.m. on Wednesdays) I am trying to run this house on my own: taking care of the kids (including 2 that are in diapers and one that still needs help on the potty!), teaching, cooking, cleaning, washing, and most importantly loving on everyone.  I keep asking myself what I can do differently to keep up better (besides hiring a maid, first we couldn't afford it, but even if we could, I'm the type that would have to clean the house before my maid got here -- seriously, that's normal, right?!?).


I know what I need to do.  I need to rely on God, turn to God, and He will supply every one of my needs.  I don't always take the time to turn to Him for the strength I need.  I know that He has called me to this life.  He has called me to be the wife of an amazing husband (what a gift!). He has called me to be the mom of many (so thankful!).  He has called me to home school my children (what a blessing!).  And if He has called me to it, He will give me all I need to do my job, the way He wants me to, not the way I might want to.  So, there are dirty dishes on the cupboard tonight, I only got two loads of laundry done today, and I'm in the middle of a project in my kitchen that will be left unfinished tonight.  I have to be okay with that.  God has taught me a lot with my "perfectionism" over the years ... and I am still learning to let go of my expectations.  Loving my husband and children, spending time with them, and teaching my kiddos, these are all much more important than a "clean" house.  Just remember that if you come visit!


2 Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Mommy, I'm reading!

I have had the wonderful privilege of teaching another one of my children to read.  It has been such a gift to watch the smile on my child's face, and the sparkle in her eyes, as she reads me stories during our phonics time.  Tonight it was cute to watch as she "taught" her 4 year old sister how to read a story.  I am just so thankful that I have the freedom to teach my beautiful children at home.

Hearing LIFE!

My husband and I have been blessed with a gift of another baby growing inside me.  Monday evening, we heard the beautiful sound of baby's heart for the first time (I am 12 weeks pregnant).  What a wonderful sound to hear, life beating inside me.  What a gift to look  at the big contented smile on my husband's face, and seeing the wonder in the eyes of a couple of my girls that were with, as we listened to the beautiful sound of life!   Hearing life in me --- such a gift -- a beautiful gift from God!


Psalm 139:13-14 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."