that slow down the pace of regular life, that give a different focus to your days, and that afford a concentration of family time.
We’re trying to take advantage of these holiday break days by doing more of the irregular–sleeping in even though it’s not Thursday. Watching family movies and special history shows that I have been saving up for these lazier days. Baking and cooking special treats and desserts that did not come out of the box but have the phrase “made from scratch” attached to them.
This different focus reminds me to slow down and enjoy what these days currently are that will not always be. One day I’ll be waiting for a boy to get home from college instead of just waiting for him to come down the stairs.
The concentration of family time involves our extended family. Though they live closer now to us than they ever have, the hours spend with them now involve the energy of the holidays. Whispered plans about gifts and surprises are a part of our conversation. Ideas and schemes about family pranks run not just through the children but also through the adults, big children themselves.
Holiday breaks are a gift. Shame on us for when we treat them as stresses or burdens. Participating in the Month of Thankfulness that Rebecca Writes has so graciously hosted has greatly changed my mind in how I want to treat this time of Thanksgiving. Majoring on the simple and simplifying the complicated has given me a more particular heart of thankfulness for how God above all has blessed our family.
I am thankful for this holiday break.
the Lord has made. Not only in which to rejoice, but also for rest in balance to productivity. The Lord who holds reign over all time gives to each of us 24 hours. Hours we can fritter or use to His glory.
I am thankful for this day where throughout there are reminders of His mercies, His requirements and His enduring love.
Rebecca Writes has done an amazing job of compiling all these posts. I hope you are looking through them and thinking of those things for which you are also thankful.
who serve because He has called. Who shepherd because He is shepherding them. Who have a passion for Jesus and show Him to be the love of their lives.
Weekly I have the privilege of gathering with women who demonstrate living faith through the fruitful works of their hands. We laugh and cry with one another and prayers are poured out for each other to the Living God who always shows His faithfulness and Presence in our midst.
With these women, I see a picture of Christ’s body working in the unity of one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one truth and one Savior. I learn from them as they share their lives and witness as to how God is working in them. I am humbled at the joy found in serving alongside of them.
When I finally knew enough to know anything, I yearned for a spiritual mentor. In these women, I am surrounded by faithful mentoring through their examples and honesty about failures, their hopes and humility for victories and their enduring belief that they know the One in whom they have believed. And they know that He is faithful to keep that which they have committed to Him.
I am thankful for faithful women of God choosing to serve in His kingdom.
It’s been a Month of Thankfulness at Rebecca Writes. Join us. There is still time.
in the fireplace built by my sons to keep me warm on a cold, rainy Sunday.
Thankful for Husband going to the store for medicine for my unfortunate back spasm.
Thankful for the precious man and men-to-be in my household that care for me with tender concern when I am not feeling up to task.
Thankful for the Lord’s sovereign care over all circumstances whether cold, rainy or unfortunate.
with homeschooling groups. I’m only writing this post to assure all of those who worry about the proper socialization skills of homeschooled kids.
Trust me. We get socialized.
Picture 11 cars caravanning with anywhere from two to five kids plus parents for about 45 minutes to a farm where they join eight buses of kids from private and public schools. As I said, we get socialized.
This particular field trip we took yesterday with our homeschool group is one of our favorites because it combines educational aspects with pure-tee fun. That and the moms do not have to do one iota of planning. We just stand around and console each other with curriculum stories in a mass therapy session.
It was a gorgeous day for a field trip. The kids were well-behaved. Mostly. And even with all the crowd of so many kids, everyone pretty much got to do all they wanted to do.
Very early on I found out with homeschooling that you can be as busy and busier than you are with traditional school. It is still about making choices regarding how many activities you are going to participate in, solo or with a group. Some weeks, we do too much. Some weeks, not enough. But the activities are there for the taking. A mom has to choose balance.
I am thankful for field trips.
This post is part of Rebecca Writes Month of Thankfulness.
