Restoration Place

Linger ~ Believe ~ Change

For the first time in several years, I want to linger in this Christmas season. 

It's been full of His light and presence, even in the midst of a long personal season I just can't wrap my understanding around.

 

He's told me, lovingly, to not try to understand, to stop trying to make sense of it, and to quit trying to figure it all out. 

But just be in Him. Total surrender. I like what Graham Cooke says, "My security is in Him, not in what He is doing." When you're waiting, and waiting, and waiting for Him to do something, something only He can do, it's essential to give yourself to that. To give yourself again to Him.

I'm in this place and He is here. I'm in His presence. And in His presence is fullness and joy. 

And lightheartedness. 

I can stand in this place. I can linger here. I like who I'm becoming. It's so worth the process.

While I'm here, I'm alert. I'm watching and listening. 

Change is coming. I'll soon be stepping into something new. He's prepared me for it. But for now, I'm here, in this place. It's the right place for me.

   

 

Waving Hello: What We're Up to Lately

I've been meaning to drop by here and let you know I'm o.k. All truly is well. I've imagined explaining my absence with a great photo or scripture, but I don't even have that. Not that it really matters ~ smile.

Here it is, simply: parenting, homeschooling, and home-keeping, and being intentional about it all doesn't leave much space at the edges. And then I soak the edges with life to savor: time with Karl (my best friend!), connecting with friends, and sometimes just sitting alone in my parked vehicle in the grocery store parking lot, sipping coffee and enjoying the silence.

The backdrop to all of that regular life is a potential job change for Karl and relocation for our family. That has really occupied my prayers and thoughts, as you might imagine. We should have news about that change sometime in January. In the meantime, there's Christmas to anticipate and celebrate, and house projects to complete so our house is ready to be put on the market as soon as possible. Feels odd to put both those things in the same sentence, but that's the way it is around here.

Makes me realize (and live as though I truly believe it!) that my home is in Him: whether we stay here, or He calls us to somewhere new, whether I'm immersed in this daily life, or sitting at the edge, savoring the goodness.

Planner ~ The Well-Planned Day

Every year I search for a planner that will meet my needs as a home educator and stay-at-home mom, and never seem to find just the right one, so I buy a basic, not-so-attractive academic weekly planner and try to make it work.

In August I reservedly bought a planner created for homeschooling families: The Well-Planned Day. I didn't really intend to use it for making home education plans, but I like the format, design, and colors. It's perky, cheerful and I enjoy that it's made with someone like me in mind.

 

 

So far, my favorite thing is the tear-out shopping lists. Silly, I know. But this is the first planner I've bought in a several years that actually works for me. I'm sure I'll re-order for next year.

If you're still shopping for a planner, preview the full-screen view and see what you think. It's available in both printed and pdf formats.

::Blink:: And There Go the Last Four Weeks

It's been a roller coaster ride here lately. Four weeks with three birthdays, one anniversary, two weeks of sickness (and counting), and one major disappointment. (I'll elaborate on the disappointment when there's sufficient clearance). I would really like to get off this ride and enjoy the beautiful fall that's happening. Looking out my windows, it's really something!

We've been limping along with our read alouds, routine lessons, and all else that's considered home education in between sick days (of course -- learning is occurring all the time -- and I am recording it in my journal, however sketchily). We're getting a good dose of Bill Peet, Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea (and all the other light-hearted Mr. Putter books), and The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2009(well, I am on that last one), as well as a boat load of videos. No TV in this house, so videos provide welcome relief from all the yuckiness.

Survival mode here. And hoping to turn the corner soon.

Sweet Birthday

Yesterday, my birthday, was a day full of my favorite things. Breakfast in bed prepared by my oldest child, nature, birds, good friends, family, special gifts, and treasures. I'm continually astounded by how full my life is with God's blessings and surprises.

I could barely contain myself when I saw my children's faces looking at me across the birthday cake. The day really belonged to them: they were so thrilled for me that I was celebrating another birthday, and I soaked in the joy they experienced when I played the part of the birthday Mama with relish.

Sorry for the poor qualities of the photos. I'm dreaming of a new camera.

Cake & Creek Picnic

It wasn't what you would consider an ideal September day for a cake and creek picnic last week (cool, breezy, overcast and threatening to rain) but it had been far too long since we had packed up a thermos of hot Mighty Leaf vanilla tea, a chocolate cake (bought so that we could leave the house immediately), and nature journaling supplies, and so we went.

It was one of those times when I say to myself: This is what we need to be doing more often, this is what brings freedom and joy, this is the sort of experience that will be imprinted on the children's hearts.

I must ignore the demands of the house, the (in retrospect, minor) frustration over pulling together all the supplies and the cleaning up afterward, and whatever else I allow to get in the way of spending time together like this, and make these special hours happen more often.

Over and over again, I realize so much depends upon me and my attitude, self-discipline, choices, and on and on. Ugh. In my moments of exasperation and tiredness I want to go run and hide, but there are so many life-giving moments, with God's help, in which I can participate and that gives me so much joy.

Creating moments of joy are what it's all about for me lately.

 

Fresh Light

Seen in the woods this morning.

I've missed blogging. I really enjoyed and needed a vacation from it, and though I miss it and I'm full of photos and ideas about posts, I'm not quite sure how to get back into the rhythm of it.

Blogging takes time and focus. I don't like to do it for the sake of filling space, but rather with a heart for sharing about our family and hoping it might in some way inspire another home educating mama, as I have been so inspired and encouraged by others.

I think we've settled into a good flow of home education and household care, and though it's going well, I'm realizing anew how very much it takes to remain engaged--moment after moment, day after day--with this life. Kind of feels silly to even say that, because everyone has a full plate in one way or another, but this life has become much more stretching that I thought it could be.

Though I'm stretched, there's fresh light and life in this season, and I'm standing in it. I might even occupy this space again. ~smile~

Slow & Savory

Pepper...also known as Pep-ahhhh. Enough said.

It's a slow and savory summer here. I've intentionally been avoiding my blog so I can grab hold of the moments--in real time--and keep them in my heart. Last summer I blogged about everything we experienced, out of a desire to not let one delicious moment escape us. And that was good, for then.

What's good now is to choose to really be with my children, and not always feel the need to freeze the goodness (with the camera) for later. Though I am still taking photos, I'm giving myself permission to not preserve it all here, in this space.

Oh, I'll be here soon enough, with photo montage of our doings, or posting about all the new nature discoveries of the season. But for now, I'm as laid back as Pepper. And that feels good.

Strep Throat Surprise in June

We're emerging from a strep throat and fever fog here. The last few days (and nights) have revolved around alleviating the misery of just one child, Katie, while I wait and watch for the symptoms to appear in the other children (and pray that they don't).

Poor Katie. First her fractured wrist, and now strep throat in the month of June. I'm realizing anew how the needs of only one very sick child can swallow up everything else. We're all trying to keep her comfortable, if not happy, and now that she's begun her course of antibiotics we know she'll turn the corner to good health again quickly.

I've gotten behind in everything, including replying to blog comments and emails. I hope to catch up in the next few days. So if you feel I've been out of touch, please accept my apologies. I hope to catch up to a normal amount of sleep and get back to my fully functioning self soon. ~smile~

Rainbow Promises

God is speaking through my children yet again, and I hear Him loud and clear:

They shared these drawings with me, made over the course of a couple of days, not knowing that I had just had a deeply moving dream which included a huge, beautiful bed covered with a colorful rainbow quilt. He said to me: Rest in my promises.

Yes.