I have not posted a while for many reasons, but life is good, although there are challenges and struggles every day. Some are bigger than others, of course, but the Lord honestly helps us with every one of them.
My father is doing great since a major heart attack in August. We are thankful for that and hope for his continued health. Thanks to every one of you who have prayed for him.
Our homeschooling year is off to a good start. I am excited about our plans for this year. Before our new year started, I didn’t know how teaching my girls homemaking would fit in with all the other schoolwork I felt like they needed to do. The Lord brought some things to mind so that I could work it out. The girls have been loving the new schedule. I am excited that I can give them a good education, while giving them a good background in homemaking. They may or may not attend college- that is their choice to make-, but I’d like them to be prepared for that if they choose to do so. I have taught my daughters that a woman’s primary occupation should be in her home (Titus 2:3-5) and want them to be able to do it well, but I also want them to pursue some sort of business that will allow them to work from home, if needed, if they get married.
My Beloved bought me the Homeschool Tracker software, which is a blessing to me and makes record-keeping much easier. I’m still learning to operate the software though! If you know of any single mothers that homeschool their children and are wondering how you can bless her, giving this software would be very welcome, I’m sure.
The weather is cooler, which is wonderful. I’m so grateful that the Lord made the four seasons, because each one brings change and new things. The leaves in the woods are turning colors, although they are not vibrant and beautiful like in other parts of the country, unless it gets usually cold here. The woods are filled with goldenrod, brown-eyed Susans, and other tiny yellow flowers that I don’t know the name for. I have always wanted to live in a place where I could pick the Susans, so now I have all I want. They look so lovely in simple Mason jars.
We have gotten our first long-desired DVD set of The Waltons. We have dearly enjoyed sitting and watching episode after episode. I feel that good wholesome movies and TV shows are just as worthy of collecting as are good books. Just watching Olivia Walton and Caroline Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie as they cares for their homes and families greatly encourages me.
I have finally gotten into a good habit of walking at least 30 minutes, 5-6 days a week. I have set paths through the woods and around the pond behind our house. I bring my digital camera every time in case I find something that needs its picture taken. Bringing my camera keeps me from getting discouraged with my walking and helps me be sure to make time for it every day. We have seen lots of deer tracks lately. We often pass holes on the ground, in hills and in tree bottoms, and wonder who lives there. I have not lost any weight, but I am seeing other benefits of my walking, so I want to keep on.
Our pastor preached today on Matthew 7 and judging others. We are never to judge others’ motives, even when they are doing something that we question, because we honestly cannot know their hearts. (Sometimes we don’t even know our own motives.) We are never to judge people by their appearance. We are to judge by the Bible, calling sin “sin” in the church. But even that is to be done with all meekness and gentleness (Gal. 6). We are to be critical thinkers of the Word, but not critical people.
I was privileged to be able to participate in a teleconference called “How Do You Do It All?”, about balancing family with a home business. It was presented by Mary Jo Tate, a single homeschooling mother of four boys. I have been blessed, encouraged, and challenged like never before. I don’t feel as overwhelmed and am so excited about how the techniques I’ve learned will better my family and make my business much more profitable. The teleconference will be made available for purchase later on if you are interested. Mary Jo has lived it and knows what works. Her conference is worth every penny.
May you have a blessed week in the Lord.
Some images above are from my personal collection. Please do not use without permission.
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