Briana's Snapzshotz!

The frosty weather lured Bri outside to practice on her camera...I caught a sneak shot of her out there! Following are just a couple of her great shots!

I think she had fun! But then again, so did Chips!

Blogging

I often post several times in one day....so sometimes you have to scroll down quite a bit to catch them all. Sorry!
I think it usually happens because I wait too long to download my pictures off the camera, then I try to do a bunch at one time!
I'll try to spread them out more! (But no promises!)

The “Me Time” Myth

The “Me Time” Myth
Amy Roberts
The Old Schoolhouse

I once heard a talk show host give a very compelling argument for why moms need time away. He said mothers give and give to the point of empty. They must refuel themselves so they can continue to give.
It sounded quite reasonable to me. Then why did my search for this hallowed “me time” always leave me feeling as though I needed more? While taking time for myself, I definitely felt refreshed, but the moment I got home and realized the sink was still full of dirty dishes and I would still have to give baths to all the children before the night would be over, I wanted to head right back out the door.
This left me feeling sorry for myself. Why couldn’t I have one night where I wouldn’t have to do the same things I do every night? Why couldn’t I come home to a spotless and trouble-free place where dishes were washed and children were in bed? Why did I have to go back to my duties so soon? To punish those who were making my life difficult, I would loudly sling dishes and be curt and hurried with everyone until I could get children into bed and escape to the sewing room or the computer for the remainder of the evening.
The next morning, feeling dissatisfied with the amount of me time from the evening prior, I would take my coffee, sit at the computer, and completely ignore my daily duties. I would get irritated with the children because their antics were cutting into my time. I was stressed and edgy and desperate for more. My children would call out for me and I would answer, “She’s not here right now.”
Then, I began staying up much too late in order to squeeze in more alone time. I dreaded going to bed because it meant waking up to children’s needs and a disaster of a house.
I became increasingly upset by my husband’s time off from work, along with the business lunches and the business trips. To compensate for the perceived unfairness of the situation, I chose to do nothing on weekends: no laundry, no dishes, no parenting. Soon, my weekends were spilling over both ends and into the weekdays. All of this only served to overwhelm me even more and feed into my desire to escape.
In a moment of clarity, as only the Lord can offer, I saw my behavior for what it truly was: selfishness. Along with this epiphany came the conviction to quit seeking Me Time.
Me Time is a myth. It is an unattainable, always interruptible, never satisfying piece of junk psychology. Me Time, by its very name, suggests that who we are during the daily grind is not who we truly are. It begs us to search for fulfillment outside of the titles of “wife” and “mother.” It accuses precious little ones and God-given spouses for suppressing us. It reduces motherhood to a disease in which little dirty faces and endless monotonous tasks slowly suck the life out of us. It says we can never be refreshed by spending time in the presence of those we care for day in and day out. It points out a perceived hole in our world that needs to be filled, a tank that must be refueled, a monster that will swallow us if we neglect to feed it Me Time.
The more we indulge the thought that we are somehow owed this time away, the more we will seek after it. The more we seek after it, the more every little opportunity afforded us to take a break will seemingly end too quickly. The everyday life of being a mother will become drudgery. We will dread every aspect of this role. We will snap at our children any time they try to draw us out of our precious time alone. Not getting this time will ruin our day, and if we do manage some time away, we will despise the re-entry.
However, with any lie, there is a certain amount of truth hidden within. There is an emptiness within us that needs to be filled, but only God can fill what you are aching for.
“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” Lamentations 3:24–25
Our time away should be spent seeking Him. Anything else we try to fill that emptiness with will fall miserably short. Likewise, the company we seek during our time away should be spent with people who are about the business of edifying and strengthening us in our role as wife and mother, not tearing at the very foundation of our home. We will never gain anything but resentment from the counsel of those who encourage us to seek self.
We must cease to see the role of wife and mother as a job we put aside at the end of the day. We must do our daily tasks cheerfully, as unto the Lord. We must learn to enjoy being home with our families. We must find contentment in serving others. We should spend more time drinking in the beauty of our children, searching their eyes, holding their hands, being Mom. When we do feel neglected or overworked, we must immediately seek the Lord to refresh us and keep us from sin.
There will be days when we are afforded opportunities to do things alone or with other women, but if we are content in our God-given role, we will no longer cling so tightly to these moments as the only way to save our sanity. Our need for Me Time will fade as we begin to see motherhood as a blessing not to be escaped, but embraced.
Published on January 26, 2009

Brad

This is a video of my son preaching when he was in 9th grade.

Blinkx Video: Layman Sunday: Bradley

All Iced Up!

Well, we finally did get our long awaited snow...BUT, it was chased by a good dose of ice, and then yucky rain.

I will say the ice did lend some interest to our landscape though!

It made ordinary, everday things sparkle!

You can see here the coating of ice on these branches.

Below is our front railing and bush coated with ice.

Chippy did go out and romp around a bit today, but we don't want him to get too cold. So, he spent a lot of time looking out the window at Brad shoveling snow/ice.

You can see him outside having a ball below!

If you ask me, it was a great day to stay inside by the fire--and that's just what I did! :)

Feathered Friend

This little guy has been frequenting our feeder--isn't he cute?

Frosty Frolic

Who could resist those eyes?

Shameful! He will go to any lengths to guilt you into a walk!

We finally cracked and gave in....mostly because we finally got a little snow here, and wanted to get out in it while it was still coming down!

We met up with my pal Lisa, and her erstwhile companion and best buddy of Chips--MacGyver. If you can see what he is doing in the pic above--he's got his leash and is walking himself!

Lisa is Chip's hero! She comes and gets him quite often and takes him to the doggy park! All we have to do is open the front door, and she opens her car door, he runs and hops right in! LOL

I think the brisk air made the dogs friskier than usual! (I didn't know that was possible!)

In this picture, MacGyver stopped walking himself, got Chip's leash, and started walking him! (Brad is fighting for control here-I think he's losing)

MacGyver is just catching his breath here...

A neighbor kitty watches in feline disgust.

The kids enjoyed it, Chips enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it...however, we must walk back home now and hit the homeschooling!

Staying Fireproof!

My dear sweet husband brought me these lovely flowers for NO SPECIAL REASON!
I'd say he's trying to Fireproof our marriage!
Don't know what I"m talking about?? Click on the link and check it out! :)
(Or, click on the Vision Forum box to the right and just type in Fireproof)Aaaahhhh! It's like springtime in January! :) Thanks honey!

Pincushion Project for you and/or your daughter

JoAnn Fabrics sent me this great pincushion project for free, so I thought I'd pass it along--sounds pretty easy!

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
• Fabric needed for one pincushion:
Two 12" Calico squares
Two 12" Fusible fleece squares
• Basic sewing supplies
• Sewing machine
• Floss to match fabric
• Embellishments: buttons, beads, ribbons
• 1 bag Fiberfill

DIRECTIONS:

ROUND PINCUSHION:
1. Fuse fleece to back of calico fabric.
2. Trace an 8" circle on back of one piece.
3. Pin two fused squares right sides together, stitch on traced line, leaving an opening for turning.
4. Cut 1/4" from stitching, turn, stuff firmly with fiberfill and hand stitch closed.
5. Wrap cushion first with floss to form six sections, then cover floss with ribbon.
6. Embellish with buttons or beads.

SQUARE PINCUSHION:

1. Fuse fleece to back of calico fabric.
2. Trace a 9" square on back of one piece.
3. Pin two fused pieces right sides together, stitch on traced line, leaving an opening for turning. Cut 1/4"
from stitching.
4. Before turning, put each corner seam together, measure down 1" and sew across corner forming a box.
5. Turn, stuff firmly with fiberfill and hand stitch closed.
6. Wrap square cushion into four sections with floss, then cover floss with ribbon.
7. Embellish with buttons or beads.

Let me know if you try it! Send me a picture and I'll be delighted to post it!

Slip Slidin' Away!

It looks as though Chippy is walking in the snow doesn't it? But he's NOT! He's on the pond! Yes, it is sooo cold here, that the neighborhood pond is frozen solid.

Our kids have discovered it, and have gone down there several times to slip and slide. But today was my first trip. It was fun!

The Three Amigos

My hubby is standing on the snow-covered part of the pond, and just behind him is the area that they cleared off yesterday. That is very slippery ice! Here's a closer pic of it.

The kids are having a blast!

My hubby wrote GOD IS GREAT on the ice as it is in the flight path of helicopters.

It was still cold today, so we had to bundle up. It was only about 30.

Wheee!

Some signs of other pond activity...some recent...some left over from warmer days.

Before we knew it...it was time to go home...

Dreamin'

I haven't posted on this for awhile...but it was on my mind this morning...

Our family has had a long-time dream of moving to the country to live on a farm. It has been many years, but the Lord hasn't opened a door for us to move as of yet.

We are still hopeful though.

In the meantime, I have to say that although this seems contradictory...He has also given me a great feeling of contentment about where I am.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

At the beginning, when we first had the dream of a farm, I was extremely discontent about living in the suburbs. I couldn't see anything but the negatives!

Now, I am happy to live here. I am glad that God has been working on me, because when I was discontent, I was without peace. I was troubled and angry and miserable.
Now, I am content, peaceful and full of joy.

However, I must say, I'm still open to that farm too! :)