Ponderings In The Field of Grace

Today’s the day. It’s the Princess’s last day to be 6. Tomorrow begins her “birthday weekend”.  We’re going to the amusement park. (We have season passes.) Then she is having 5 girls over for a sleep over. On Saturday she is having her birthday party with all of her friends, and then another party that night for family. Of course, Sunday is Easter so we’ll celebrate then too. Oh, it’s also my Mom’s birthday. I hoping to do something kind of nice for her. I’m still trying to figure out the details on that!

So overall, it’s going to be another busy weekend, but I think (hope) it is going to be a lot of fun!

Today feels so much better! I already knew I was going to be running errands most of the day. I just didn’t know the professor was going with me. We left a little after 10 this morning, and took our time getting things done.

I needed to stop by the bread store, and I really got some deals! Three loaves of honey wheat bread (3/$2.39), 2 loaves Bunny giant sandwich slice ($0.89 each) 2 packs of 12ct. hot dog buns ($1.99 for 2) and 2 loaves 12 ct. hamburger buns ($1.99 for 2). Not too bad considering one loaf of Honey wheat bread at Wal-Mart is almost $2.00 a loaf.

We headed to the Curriculum Exchange to get some more school books. I was able to get some more reading workbooks (BJU), spelling books (BJU), a dictionary, a History encyclopedia, and 2 Learning Company CDs for the kids. I was really happy with everything I got, and I think I got a few good deals too.

After that we went by Bi-Lo to pick up a few things on sale, then we got to stop by Subway. We haven’t gotten to eat there in a long time, so it was a special treat for both of us! It was great to enjoy a nice meal with him. We don’t get to really spend much time together.

When we finished with lunch we swung over to Books a Million where he bought a book (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) and a Webkinz for himself. I was able to pick up a couple of presents for the Princess as well.

We raced back to the car and decided to check out the Dollar Store to see what kinds of things they may have for the Princess’s birthday. (She’s having a luau theme.) We found some really cute stuff, so we snatched up the stuff we needed and then went to Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club to finish up with everything.

While we were at Sam’s Club I found a beautiful 10″ potted pink hydrangea to give my Mother for her birthday Sunday, so I was really tickled about that. Once we finally got home I don’t know who collapsed first me or the professor. It was an exhausting day, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I had the best time just hanging out with my son!

Everybody else has had a meltdown today, when is it my turn?

Sorry, this is just one of those-have to get it off my chest- posts. So there is your warning right there!

Let’s see, so far today:

The dog we wish would disappear has decided to return. So now we get to take it to the pound. While also getting to listen to the latest meltdown from the professor over what horrible parents we are for not wanting to take in another animal. (Did I mention we have NO way of fencing this dog in the immediate future, and oh yeah she had a party with about 3 male dogs for 4 days? Get the picture? And remember this is a dog which just one day showed up about 3 months ago.)

Oh yeah, my trip I have been counting on to get some school stuff has been canceled because the one person I could get to go with me, now can’t go. (And yes she has very good reasons.) Now I don’t know what I am going to do. (A round trip 5 hour drive by myself or with the kids in not an option!)

I had to cancel the professor’s speech therapy today due to some major meltdowns.

I now have to figure out a way to still get groceries some time today, while not taking the professor and not having a babysitter. Suggestions anyone?

I think I am just going to go crawl in a hole…if I can just find one…

Well, I guess I can at least give you an update on how things are going around here. We have done school everyday so far this week. That is until today. I just needed a break. I have been fighting a migraine for the last week, and today it won. (I hate it when that happens!) Plus the professor is feeling a little under the weather again.

Did I mention I have to get the stuff ready so we can get our taxes done? Oh, and we have a BBQ at our church I am helping with tonight, and basketball practice tomorrow, and shopping for birthday supplies, and a basketball championship game, and a short trip to the beach, all before Sunday afternoon. I’m so glad I’m a SAHM who doesn’t really do anything, and has loads of time on my hands because I don’t work! (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

I’m also on the media team for a church “campaign” (don’t you just love that term?).  Can I just say upfront, I think it is important to serve in your church, and to tithe. However, I absolutely despise the fact that “the church” (in general) sees the need to be like the world, and have campaigns. Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand the need for people to be made aware of needs in a church, and I believe everyone should be taught stewardship. I think my biggest problem is that stewardship lessons have tended to focus on money, but, to me anyway, money is only one part of being a good steward. We are also told to give of our time and talents.  Can you tell this has been a very frustrating and educational season of my life? Believe me, if I had not sincerely prayed about my involvement, I would not be working on this at all!

Oh well, I guess I need to get back to cleaning. To say the house has been suffering in the last few weeks would be an understatement. Maybe if I clean up it’ll make me feel a little better…maybe

Let me start out by confessing. I know I am being bad, but I can’t help it.

Now let me explain…

This is supposed to be our break week from school, but I haven’t told the kids! We’re doing school anyway. We have been so up and down with trying to get things organized I just kept chugging right along. So if you read this, don’t tell the kids!

What a day!

I knew things were going to be a little crazy today, but good golly I wasn’t prepared for it to be this crazy! Between different appointments, meetings, and other things, I ended up with 4, count them 4, trips to town. Keep in mind each trip to town is about 10-15 miles one way, and that really adds up. I think I ended up being gone for close to 12 hours today. I am so ready for a break. I think I hear a nice, hot cup of french vanilla calling my name, as I slink into my pajamas, and head to my room to read, crochet, and watch a bit of a new movie I got.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening.  ‘Night

Things have been so crazy around here. It seems like my mind is constantly racing with things that need to be done. How I wish I could have one normal week of anything. Normal what exactly is that anyway?

I was just telling my Mom today that I love the flexibility of homeschooling, but I would really like it if I didn’t have to be flexible all the time. These last few weeks have been so hectic. I am trying to look at my calendar now, and see if I can block off some time just to do school. Hopefully, at some point, we will get to slow down. Hopefully…

I was reading in the book of Jeremiah today and something caught my interest. In chapter 35, God tells Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites in to the temple and offer them wine.

The Rechabites were a group of people who had been ordered by their ancestor, Jonadab, to abstain from wine among other things. Even though the prophet of God offered them wine, the Rechabites still refused to do it simply because Jonadab had told them not to. In contrast, Jerusalem was under siege and about to be overtaken due to its continual rebelling against God.

What grabbed my attention the most was the Rechabites were still being obedient to a man long after he was gone. Yet the Israelites could not be obedient to God when He had promised never to leave them.

Why is it we are so willing to trust in something just because we have seen it? Why do we continually fall into the trap of walking by sight not by faith? Why do we keep walking in the wilderness when the only thing that keeps us from the promised land is obedience? Why do we so many times lean on our own understanding and in most of our ways not acknowledge God?

Why?

Today has been an extremely emotional day.

The boys are all still sick with pretty bad coughs. I still haven’t went to sleep before 11pm, and I still have the same headache I have had for the last two weeks.

But that is nothing in comparison with some of the other things I have been dealing with today.

I walked into church this morning to find out a very special lady at our church had died last night. Now understand, I was not very close to this lady, though I spoke to her every time I saw her. She was a little slower and loved to participate with the children. She had a hard time talking where people could understand her, and had difficulty walking as well.

When I say she was a little slower I only mean in some of the things we think are necessary. When it came to the important things about God, I don’t think there are many who understood as well as Ms. Linda. She loved Jesus with a blind faith, and would tell anyone who would listen about Jesus and how He loved them like He loved her.

Ms. Linda was assaulted two weeks ago, and due to not discovering things in time, she went into a coma. It was a direct result of this severe beating by an unknown man in her home that caused her to die.

I have to admit, I have really struggled during the last few weeks about this. I have asked God why. I have struggled with how to explain this senseless death to my children who have asked daily about “Ms. Linda”. The anger in me rises up when I think about what she, and those who loved her have had to suffer because of this one angry young man’s choice to commit such violence.

Pray for our church family as we deal with the loss of Ms. Linda. I think people will be looking back for a long time, and thanking God they got to see such a precious woman live out such a beautiful faith.

I love Saturday mornings when there is no where we have to be.

The kids are playing Playstation, and I am sitting here introspectively by my computer.  I have so many things I would like to/need to get done. But at the same time, I really don’t care. I am going to do my best today to not stress over things. (Now how successful I will be is a whole ‘nother story!)

I need to get some things done around the house, and get some paperwork done. I want to read some more of Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus today, and I would like to crochet a little more too.  (I am trying to make a blanket for one of my kids.)  And the more I think about it, I would also like to go back to the mountains for the weekend, but I don’t think that is going to happen!

Hopefully I’ll have a good mix of got to do and want to do today. Only one way to know, I better get started.