Why I do what I do...

I had such a special, wonderful Mother's Day yesterday! My family...I am so very blessed! At one time, I thought I may never have children of my own...it was heartbreaking, as all I had ever wanted to be was a wife and mother...I never had a 'calling' to be anything else.
My oldest daughter, Meghan, made me a vintage 1940's apron! She "highjacked" my pattern that I had been meaning to sew up (but never got around to it) and found this cool fabric in my favorite color (it has roosters on it), matched it up with the black and white gingham and made this for me in secret. I am so proud of the job that she did! I love it!

My Sara made me a "comfort bag" with a washable 'pillowcase'....I love keeping this in the freezer...it really helps when the pain in my neck gets bad. What a great job she did!

My son...what a priviledge it is to raise each of these children for God! Having a son, and raising him as a Godly young man is a priviledge and a challange...and I cherish him everyday!

My littlest girl....what a gift these last 2 children are! (They all are, of course, but we thought we were done after Meghan and Sara)...My little Anna....she is so precious and brings such joy and laughter to us all!
My mom....my mentor....my best friend! We've always been close and she is the woman that I want to share everything with, do things with , spend time with...along with my husband and children....we just enjoy each other's company so much! I am blessed to be her daughter!

My blessings...at the end of a long, busy Mother's Day....can't imagine what my life would be without being their mother!

~I am reading a book right now called "Worldliness" authored by a number of people and edited by C.J. Mahaney.....I cannot tell you how convicted I am by this book!

I have been taken in by the world so insidiously that I didn't even realize in how many ways! Some questions that just about JUMPED OFF the PAGE this morning were " What worldview is being presented? Am I seeking to escape something by watching/doing this activity? Am I doing it because I am bored or lazy? Is so, what does that reveal about my heart? Am I watching/doing simply because others are? Am I trying to "fit in"? How has my online activity affected my soul? What motivates me to blog, read blogs, Facebook or surf the web?

All of these questions have been leading up to questions that I've been asking myself lately....so (I'm not sure how many readers I have or not), but these questions, I feel are a way of God showing me time wasters in my life...almost "virtual reality" instead of living the life He gave me, for His glory.

Ephesians 4:1 tells us to 'walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling He's given us"....I know that my calling as a wife, mother and homeschooling mom, is the most important calling He has given me...I also admit that time spend on the computer is, for me....basically a huge time waster and (I'll admit) sometimes an 'escape'. Well....I feel as if I've been given a reprieve...a wakeup call....another chance. I am called to be a loving, supportive help-meet to my husband....to build him up, encourage, love and support him. I'm called to love my children...to spend time with them, and I am called to teach them...first about Him and His world & word....then academics...from a biblical worldview. I know that I don't possibly have time to do all of those things if I am blogging, reading blogs, surfing the internet or on facebook.....so...I am not going to say this blog is closed....I'm not going to say I'm shutting the computer down or that I will never be on facebook again....but I feel no "calling" to post on this blog or on facebook right now. Maybe the Lord will prompt me to write something someday...and when He does, I'll obey...for now....I have a new excitement...a renewed spirit to be the woman...wife/mother that God wants me to be...fully present with my family...enjoying the special life He has blessed me with! God bless you all! ~Sue~

Things...

... I love about my mom. Hello, Sara here. I have hijacked my mom's blog to tell you what I love about my mom! Here we go!

• She is...pretty (the most beautiful woman in the entire world)
• She is... amazingly creative! Crocheting, Quilting, knitting, cooking... a master of anything she does! (You should see her track record for making up better recipes for Chopped!)
• She is... faithful, even in the toughest storm
• She is... the best teacher in the entire universe! And who else can get up and hug their teacher whenever they want? Not anyone I can think of!
• She is... THE BEST MOM IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!

Happy Mothers Day Mom! Sorry for stealing your blog! I love you soooooooooooo much!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

May you all have a wonderful, blessed Mother's Day!!!!

~Sue~

Love is....

Love is....a multitude of things...but one of the things love is, is.....serving....selfless giving of our time, our resources....giving of ourselves. That is what my husband has been doing for me lately. Some of these things will sound so silly to most people, but to me they are precious. He (along with my 8 year old son) built me this clothesline in the yard. I have been wanting one for years, and have missed having one for over 4 years since we moved...and now....over 80 feet of line space! I've so loved hanging my wash out for the past couple of days! The warmth, the breeze, the quiet, the smell...and remembering my doing this with my beloved Gram...all fill me with peace and a quiet happiness.

My husband has just shaken his head and murmurs that he can't believe the things that make me happy....my wonderful clothesline....a new tilt wheel column in our 1987 plymouth (makes it much more comfortable for me to drive and get in/out of)....hearing how much fun he and the kids had going shopping for mother's day....having free firewood...a new knitting book or cookbook...the feel of yarn....

With my health not being well for a while, my husband has offered to help out in any way he can...from carrying heavy laundry baskets up and down 2 flights of stairs, to making a grocery run, driving the kids to activities...and being willing to order out a pizza once in a while.

My husband is not a demonstrative man....he is not an emotional man, he won't talk about 'deep feelings'...is uncomfortable in serious discussions....likes his world ordered, calm and the same...he is not adventurous or risky at all....but he is steady....he is a very hard worker....and for almost 24 years....he has loved me. Thanks, Honey for my clothesline...and for all that you do! I love you! ~Sue~

One small change for May...

~I've always loved hanging laundry outside on a clothesline...maybe it has something to do with the memories I have of helping my mom and grandmother...maybe it's the combination of the sun on my face, the breeze and the wonderful, fresh smell....and maybe I like to think I'm living a little bit of a simple life...teaching my children a little bit of the old ways...so those skills are not only not lost, but are appreciated....slowing life down a bit.

~At our old home, I had 3 long clotheslines outside and taught my oldest daughters how to help me hang out the wash. They loved it as much as I did...just sharing the work and talking while we did it. But, when we moved to the suburbs 4 years ago, I had no clothesline....and as it seemed almost no one hung laundry outside anymore, my husband was hesitant to put a clothesline in. Now....(just in time for Mother's day), he (along with help from my 8 year old son) built me a beautiful clothesline with 4 long line....over 80 feet of drying space! I am so excited!

~ Even though it seems that I am getting well, so very slowly...I'll take it slow tomorrow and enjoy working and resting in the fresh air and sunshine with my family. So tonight, I'll get some laundry sorted and ready to enjoy my clothesline tomorrow and teach my little ones the joys of fresh, linedried laundry....and enjoying the work in the old ways. This will be my "one small change" for May.

So tomorrow...I'll post pictures of one of my most precious mother's day gifts...and the joys of teaching my little ones the old-fashioned way of doing some jobs and spending time with my family.

What is one small change you can do this month? ~Sue~

Rest and recovery....

Rest and recover...try and get back to some normalcy around here. Now, my Meghan is sick...thank goodness that I am slowly getting better and that Sara isn't sick...with all 3 of us sick at the same time, life almost stops around here. LOL

So as I've been resting, I've been reading alot...lots of knitting books. Debbie Macomber fiction that starts with 'The Shop on Blossom Street" about a little yarn store called A Good Yarn, the owner, Lydia and her family and friends. Wonderful books! Light reading...perfect for when your head feels so heavy, full and tired.

Feels like I could only knit for a few moments, then my hands and arms were too tired...getting a little more strength today...hopefully a visit to my wonderful friend, my chiropractor will help these sore muscles and hands a lot. But....I did get an early mother's day gift!

This incredibly wonderful book, "Knitting America"! Tons of history about knitting in America, the 'old country' (as my gram used to call it)...lots of wonderful photos, magazine covers, old knitting patterns. Everything from knitting during the civil war...thru both world wars, the Great Depression....all the way until now. It has always fascinated me what life was like for women (specifically homemakers, since this is what I do) in the 'old days'...especially during hard times. I collect old cookbooks, and old homemaking books for that reason. Well, must go...can't sit at the computer for very long right now. Have a blessed day! ~Sue~

When Mom gets sick...a spring cold...clear liquids....fever

I haven't been this sick for long time...spring cold, fever, pain...then a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow morning on top of that...

My family has been amazing, though! Since I couldn't watch my nephew today, Sara went over there to watch Ty at my sisters house...Meghan & Ron held down the fort while I've been in bed...and my sister is sending dinner home. I am so blessed!

Thought I would post this while I was upright...don't know when I'll be able to update. Would appreciate any prayers....I just praise God for working out all the details for my family! Until later......~Sue~

Worship....dance for Jesus!

Two of our three daughters go to dance classes at Grace Christian Dance. It is wonderful worship dance...every movement worshipful, every song...costumes modest (but cute!) and their annual recital was yesterday. What a special day it was for us!!! So beautiful, and the gospel message went forth with every song.
Our two dancers! Sara is 14 1/2 and in the teen class and Anna is in the kindergarten class. They danced so beautifully and had such a great time!

Our tiny dancer!

Sara danced in 5 dances...2 of them were messianic group dances...they were so much fun for the girls and really cool to watch!

Our little Anna was in 2 dances...one was called "Lift your Hands" and the other one (my favorite) was called "Have you heard about Jesus? Do you know who He is?"...Oh, how I love those lyrics and movements! She was so precious, and did a wonderful job...especially for her first year.

We were very blessed to have many family members come out for the girls' recital. Our niece, Tina, came....along with almost all of my children's grandparents (my step-mom is very ill and couldn't be there) and one of my sisters...the girls biggest fans...our family.

We're so proud of the many hours of hard work Sara and Anna put in this year...and especially these past couple of weeks.

Now for a few months break from weekly dance lessons....although both girls will still dance around the house, and Sara will participate in a dance camp this summer...it will be so nice to have our Mondays and Tuesdays free again! After getting the house back into order and finishing up some home educating goals, we'll have some free time to just relax...visit with family and friends, garden and enjoy the summer. But first, tomorrow...the History Fair! I'm off to bed...leaving early tomorrow for a full day! ~Sue~