So Where Do We Start?

I received many private emails in response to last week’s post, I challenge you….

A few emails had the same questions like the one I received from “Mandy”, she has given me permission to share her email with all of you.

” Homeschooling my 3 kids and keeping home and managing the finances keeps my days full. I just… found out that the place my husband works is closing. We are just trying to keep our heads above water. I do try to be an encouragement to other moms in our homeschool group, but we neither have the space (very tiny house), the time, or the money to have people in our home.

Food for the Sick - Suggestions and Tips

One of the great privileges we have in life is to serve others when there is sickness or times of great stress.

One of the first and most important needs when a crisis hits is food. If you want to serve others in this way you need a plan. You need a few foods that can fixed quickly and delivered on fairly short notice.

Think of 2-3 meals that you are good at making, meals that don’t take a lot of effort because you know the recipes so well. Write these down so when a crisis hits you don’t have to think.
Think of meals that can be frozen or kept for a few days in the refrigerator.
Try to keep the ingredients for your ‘standby meals’ in stock, perhaps put on a shelf designated just for outreach.
If you don’t have time to cook consider taking a basket of fruit, lunch meats with rolls, or a bucket of chicken.
If you live far off you can order pizza or even something nicer from a restaurant to be delivered.

Other things to consider:

Inquire about food allergies.
Paper goods are always a good thing to include.
Always check to see when is a convenient time to bring the food.
Too much food at one time is more of a burden than a blessing. Sometimes food/help are needed several days later.
Always label your food and include any cooking instructions.

In times of great need these sites are good to help coordinate food for a family. This helps communication greatly and you can see when you are really needed. It is usually good for a close family member or friend to manage this for a family.

Daughters - Polished Pillars or a Pile of Ruins?

“When our daughters are graceful and beautiful both in body and mind are then polished after the likeness of a beautiful palace. When we see our daughters well-established and stayed with wisdom and discretion, as cornerstones are fastened in the building - when we see them by faith united to Christ, as the chief cornerstone, adorned with the graces of God’s Spirit, which are the polishing of that which is naturally rough, and become women professing godliness when we see them purified and consecrated to God as living temples, we think ourselves happy in them.” Matthew Henry

Passing the vision on until our last breath…

I feel like I’m in this in-between-stage of life. The bulk of my parenting/child training is over, my youngest is almost 17, while my other children are 20 and over. I mostly listen now and give advice when it is asked for…or if I can’t bite my tongue any longer. ;o)

God’s providence for us right now is that we have no young children in our home and no extended family that live close by with children, but, God has been gracious to give us friends with lots of little ones!

Our Greatest Resource - TIME! Anyone else struggle with time management?

Our greatest resource, and possibly the most abused, is TIME!

One of the lessons that were taught to me early on in my homeschooling days (almost 18 years ago!) was because of our freedom, and not being limited to someone else’s agenda, that it was easy to get over committed and overwhelmed with curriculum and activities. There are tons of good things to choose from, but we have to choose only those that are BEST!

Do What is Most Important!

This week has been a trying one for our family and those we love. There are many needs around us and we try to discern what is most needful. Here we are at week 3 of the new school year and we are already having to take the week off.

We have family from out of state visiting this week, that alone blows a schedule, but it is well worth it. Jeff’s uncle is in bad health, on oxygen, etc… and it is sobering to think that this may be the last time we see him.

Sunday…REST!

This past week was good, but I sure am glad it is over!

The quilt guild that I am president of had our annual quilt show Friday and Saturday. It was a TON of work, but the show went off smoothly..well, except for the wind and rain on Friday, which is even worse when you are on top of a mountain! Saturday the weather was perfect! We had almost 200 quilts entered, filling two buildings at Palisades Park. If you have never been to a quilt show you really need to make it a point to go to one, it truly is fiber art!

Preparing for ???

In our quest to raise our children to meet their full potential, I think we tend to get confused about what we are supposed to be accomplishing. While listening to a sermon recently the pastor made this comment: