Good Like a Medicine

(Disclaimer: bad grammar, conversational, hard-to-follow!) I feel like my blog is becoming like my family scrapbook and getting quite the shaft these days, but I just can’t seem to catch up and write very often. Lately the hour or two I have after the children are down consists of recovering my housework, school planning, emails, or doing some creative unwinding. I really like to knit, read, or draw when it is quiet at night. I tend to knit and draw more in the Winter for some reason. Hibernating I guess. Eric and I have been spending more time at night catching up and talking, too, since the busyness of the holiday season is mostly gone. I am also not taking on any more web projects for the time being because I find it hard to carve out the time and meet deadlines. I don’t want to permanently back away from web design, though, so I will continue to do some light work for a few clients and see what God has in store this year.

Christian home education is calling my name. Granted it kind of sounds like “MAMAMAMOMMY!” right now! But still every day I realize how much more time is needed on my end to make our goals a reality. It is busy, busy, and it’s great to see the wheels turning, to talk about history, to memorize, to get out books, go outside and play, and learn in the context of real life. I love it so much!

I am managing life at home with four small children the best that I can and clinging to the grace of God in every moment. My standard used to be “neat and clean all the time.” Then, after a few children, it was “neat and clean at least in a few rooms and maybe the vehicles.” After this baby I have lowered my standard even more, and I am learning to be a more patient person in general. I used to hear mothers with growing families speak of “those days before I let go,” and cringe, hoping that I would never talk like that. Well, it’s my turn. I’m not saying we live in a dump, but the perfect Pottery Barn lifestyle is not on our radar anymore. I am happiest on the days when I let go of my personal agenda and look into their eyes. I am busy and never feel like the work is done. Sometimes I call it a day and wish that I could rewind, and others give me energy for the ones ahead. I could not be more blessed, though. When I see them eating up their dinner with smiles, when they run around the house and squeal in delight, when they play with baby Shepherd and I hear them verbalizing their hopes and beliefs, my heart swells. I love the moments when my children play with my hair and tell me that they love me. I love when they ask for just one more book, or when they come running into my bedroom in the morning wanting to tell me what was in their dreams. I praise God for the work He is doing in my heart through mothering these children!

Sunday on the way to church Lydia asked if she could go with me first and then go to her Sunday School class. I told her that sure, she could, but since we were going to the later service, there would be no “class” for her in the third hour, just playtime and a movie with they few other children during that service. “That’s okay. I really want to go with you. I don’t want to miss worshiping God,” she said. I beamed for hours. “This is the good life,” I thought.

There’s really no conclusion to this post. I just wanted to share a little bit about what is going on with me. I hope to make my blog look, bless, read better in 2009, but I am not sure when or how it will happen. In the meantime you guys will have to put up with a scattered, not very user-friendly space, but I sure do appreciate your visits and comments! Have a wonderful January!

A recap of my favorites from the past year:

Best videos I watched online in 2008:

• Japanese Jokes are Best
• John Piper’s Heart in the Election
• Sandman Simms vs. Bill Cosby
• Bella Likes Food
• Jesus is my Friend
• Nigel North

Favorites from my blog:

• Schedule Me In
• Meredith’s Dictionary
• Cinderella?
• The Lesson

Best Memories:

• Shepherd’s Birth
• starting homeschool co-op
• Fun lunches (not stressful ones!) at home with the kids
• Watching Lydia open her Nutcracker
• Going to Cinebarre with Eric
• Fun days at the beach
• Finishing several crafts projects and starting a craft-selling business

How about you? I bet you have some wonderful memories or maybe a hilarious video you’d like to pass along - I always love those!

Just like that, 2008 is gone. Amazing. Last time I checked, I was very pregnant in scorching hot SC weather. Where did the rest of the year go?

I want 2009 to be better than 2008 for many reasons. I can count so many blessings, and believe me, I do, but on the other hand I can count many reasons for sorrow and shame. I would not want this to be the year that someone would use to judge my life! Thank God, though, that His grace covers the stains. I lay them down where they belong, and I get up and follow the only One who is worthy.

I have a whole pageful of resolutions for my journal, and I pray that by God’s grace He will help me to be a godly woman who undergirds them daily with prayer. More than anything I want to be a woman echoing Matthew 22:37. I want to love my God with all my heart, soul, and mind and love my neighbor as myself.

Good-bye, 2008. Another year to live, love, worship, dance, kiss, laugh, dream, teach, hope, serve… Another step closer to eternity…

… that keep on giving. Now that my children are getting older with each Christmas, I am really comprehending the depth of that statement. I just wanted to sit and unwrap the scene of my children opening their gifts all day on Thursday!

You know I’ve mentioned before that we have had some struggles with Lydia as we have walked with her this year, and we have trusted that God is strong and doing what is best in her life. We have been so blessed to watch incredibly encouraging fruit grow in her during the last few months. We praise God for this and take very seriously the connection between prayer and growth.

On Christmas Day I witnessed her genuine joy and gratitude, and it made me cry. She was really thankful for every gift she received. I know how much she appreciated a special surprise gift from Grandmama, and in many ways I feel that she truly deserved this reward. She has worked so hard to help me since Shepherd was born, and she has been growing in obedience, working hard in school and her other commitments. Sometimes I stand back and watch her and become overwhelmed at the grace of God in her life. Then there are the times that I wish so badly I could lavish blessings on her but feel so strapped for time, energy, or in some cases strapped for cash. This “divided factor” (as I think of it) is the worst part of being a mom to many small children. In many ways I regret feeling that she has been shoved to the side, and she just keeps smiling and singing. With every new challenge I see so much love, kindness, and maturity, promises and encouragement.

Anyway, I am so blessed to be her mother. I have probably watched this video clip 100 times since Thursday because it brings so much joy to my heart. She had been lamenting a few broken pieces on her small (cheap) Nutcracker for weeks, and she had absolutely no idea she was getting this. We were thrilled to see her excitement and emotion. I hope you enjoy it!

PS - I think this may be the blog debut for my brother-in-law Harold. Say hello to Harold, everyone, and make him feel welcome! Oh! And Maggie, you, too! Wooof! Haha!

To you and yours this Christmas we wish joy, peace, faith, and love by the grace of God through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

I was really excited the other day when Eric threw a package on to the kitchen table for me to see. Wow! I just ordered this, and the shipping was super quick! It was my first fabric order from spoonflower! I was really, really happy to open the package and see the little fat quarter that was inside waiting!

I am very impressed with Spoonflower so far. I agree with Natalie that, yes, it costs a pretty penny, but I am hoping that the fees may decrease slightly perhaps when it comes out of Beta. Even if they don’t, I think it is worth the price for me to be able to design my own fabric and get it shipped right to my house. I am a nobody when it comes to design, so this is really exciting!

I hope to print more fabric in the next few weeks with some designs I have swirling around in my head. I want to make some crafts and also sew up some stuff to sell in the shop. For now I have a fat quarter of fat dots - my first design. This is really fun being in the 21st century! We have so much at our fingertips! Anyway, if you haven’t checked out Spoonflower yet, go take a look and have fun!

(Yes, that is exactly what she is holding. If you think that’s tacky, then may I remind you that my “blog logo” contains a toilet paper roll?) The only thing that makes me sad about my children is that I don’t seem to have enough time to enjoy their constant entertainment. Meredith is HILARIOUS. If you have more than one child, you probably know what I mean when I say she is our goofy one! Oh my. She is so funny. If you have only seen her in photos, you would be shocked to hear her voice, which would cause you to find yourself speaking with Barney Fife. You wouldn’t expect that in a blonde, petite, two-year old little girl I guess. She kind of acts like Barney Fife, come to think of it. Anyway, she is so funny.

Of course she reminds me of herself, but for the longest time I would think that she had a peculiar resemblance to someone I had seen in a movie. I was browsing the other day (trying to find a diversion from the overloaded chaos of urgent tasks before me), and since I couldn’t put my finger on one of them, I just pasted all of them into a collage. Ellen, Madonna, Cindy Lou Who… What do you think?

Oh. And she definitely has the “cute little waddle” just like Meg Ryan. Hilarious!

It has been three years ago today that our family said good-bye to Papa, Nanny, and Brenda. Today I remember their lives and the tremendous impact they made on everyone around them. I am thankful for every good and perfect gift that resonates in the memory of their lives and that their godly heritage and allegiance to Jesus Christ has not been forgotten.

I am thankful for their instruction, inspiration, and love that made my husband to be the kind and thoughtful man that he is today. They were dependable, loving, and gracious people. I am sad, and today I wish I could put my arms around them and tell them how much I love them. May my words be a loving reminder for you to take extra moments today to embrace the ones you love and hold dear in your hearts!

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
– Psalm 84

Hooray for my friend Natalie! She just finished her first book, which she wrote and designed. The book is entitled “Whose Dollar?” and is simply delightful! I encourage you to check it out and read more about how this children’s book was created on Natalie’s blog. You can order a printed copy from Blurb or download the pdf version as well on her blog.

I love Natalie because she is a thinking Christian. She has such a heart for God and desires to know Him fully with her heart and mind. She also takes very seriously her calling to be a mother to three girls (two are twins), and for that reason I am really proud of her accomplishment. I am sure there will be books to come in the future, and this one is wonderful. It is educational grammatically and spiritually!

Read about “Whose Dollar?”
Visit the Blurb book page
Paperback on Lulu

(image © Natalie Jost)

They go from strength to strength (Psalm 84:7). There are various renderings of these words, but all of them contain the idea of progress.

Our own good translation of the authorized version is enough for us this morning. “They go from strength to strength.” That is, they grow stronger and stronger. Usually, if we are walking, we go from strength to weakness; we start fresh and in good order for our journey, but by-and-by the road is rough, and the sun is hot, we sit down by the wayside, and then again painfully pursue our weary way. But the Christian pilgrim having obtained fresh supplies of grace, is as vigorous after years of toilsome travel and struggle as when he first set out. He may not be quite so elate and buoyant, nor perhaps quite so hot and hasty in his zeal as he once was, but he is much stronger in all that constitutes real power, and travels, if more slowly, far more surely. Some gray-haired veterans have been as firm in their grasp of truth, and as zealous in diffusing it, as they were in their younger days; but, alas, it must be confessed it is often otherwise, for the love of many waxes cold and iniquity abounds, but this is their own sin and not the fault of the promise which still holds good: “The youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” Fretful spirits sit down and trouble themselves about the future. “Alas!” say they, “we go from affliction to affliction.” Very true, O thou of little faith, but then thou goest from strength to strength also. Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace. God will give the strength of ripe manhood with the burden allotted to full-grown shoulders. — Spurgeon, Morning and Evening