The Dreams of a Little Girl

When I was a little girl, I couldn't make up my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I would decide on one career, then change my mind, and choose a different one.

I wanted to be a nurse; to take care of people and help them feel well again.

I wanted to be a teacher; to help children learn.

I wanted to be a chef; to whip up gourmet meals for hungry customers.

I wanted to be a seamstress; to create beautiful clothing for people to wear.

I wanted to be an interior decorator; to brighten a home with colors and textures.

I wanted to be a vet; to care for animals.

But more than all these things, I wanted to be a wife and mother. And as a mother, I am all these things...

I am a nurse; I care for my husband and children when they are sick.

I am a teacher; I home school my children, and not just during "school time", but all through the day.

I am a chef; I prepare healthy meals for my family every day, including holidays - just like a "real" chef.  ;)

I am a seamstress; I sew dresses and skirts for me and my girls, make curtains, and crochet.

I am an interior decorator; I decorate our home to suit our tastes and needs.

I am  a vet; I help care for our animals, and have even been known to perform "surgery" on our chickens (with the assistance of my 13 year-old).

So the Lord has graciously fulfilled all my little girl dreams in one role: as the keeper of my home.

Hoping that you are encouraged today, friends, in the high and noble calling of being the keeper of your home,








"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose." - Psalm 20:4

The Modest Mom 
Raising Arrows 
Far Above Rubies 
Thankful Homemaker 
Our Simple Country Life 
Deep Roots At Home 
Raising Homemakers 
A Wise Woman 
Consider the Lilies 

Thankful Thursday

It's been a rough 6 days for many people in our area.

First of all, last Friday, the heat soared to 106 degrees. Then, that night, severe (as in 80 mph winds) storms came through, causing major power outages.

Many people lost all their food in their refrigerators and freezers. Many people had to go to cooling shelters to get relief from the oppressive heat. Many people had trees fall on their houses because of the strong winds. Some people lost their loved ones, who were outside when the storms hit. (Most people got no warning that these storms were on the way.)

However, in all of this, there is much to be thankful for...

...for the many people who gave so much to those  lost so much.

...for the slight reprieve from the hot weather at the beginning of the week.

...for the reminder that God is still God, and that no matter how surprised we were by the storms, He was not. I've heard many stories of God's protective Hand during the storms.


We didn't lose power at our house, although during the worst of the storms, the lights flickered a couple of times.

We still have all our food in the fridge and deep freeze.

We have plenty of cool, clean water to drink.

Our A/C is working hard to give us relief from the once-again oppressive heat.

But we continue to pray for those who are still without power and for those who lost more than just food.

Hope you're having a thankful Thursday, friends.  :)









"giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

A Skirt From A Dress

A few weeks ago, I bought this dress at the thrift store...

 

And for some strange reason, once I got home, I didn't like as much. The skirt is beautiful, but I didn't like the bodice. So I decided to make this dress into a skirt.

First, I pinned the hem so that I would make a straight cut when I cut off the bodice..

The next step was to cut off the bodice..

Then I folded down a 1 1/2-inch elastic casing for the waistband...

I sewed up the casing, leaving a 2-inch opening to thread the elastic through. (Oops...forgot to take a pic of that one.)


Next, I measured my waist with 3/4-inch elastic, and added 1 1/2 inches for overlap.  I always put a safety pin at the end of the elastic to make it easier to thread through the casing...

After the elastic has been threaded through the casing, I double zig-zag stitch the ends of the elastic to make sure the ends don't come apart...

Then I stitch the casing closed...

It's finished - quick and simple - it only took 30 minutes from start to finish. And I love the way it turned out...

Sorry I don't have a pic of the me wearing the skirt, but my resident photographer (Aaron) was outside sword-fighting with his brothers.  :)

Have a blessed Monday, friends!

"She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and gold." - Proverbs 31:22


linking up this week with Feminine Friday
                                     Our Simple Country Life
                                    
                       

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Can you see the disappointment on Asher's face that he has watch Aaron mow the grass instead of mowing it himself?

Fact is, Asher is a bit younger than Aaron (16 months to be exact), and not quite ready to handle the mower.  Maybe next year, son.   :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

"This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm118:24

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Last November, I posted about why we had chosen to switch to the Charlotte Mason methods of home education. I also posted about the how of implementing her principles. Lastly, I posted an interview with my children where they got to voice what they love most about the CM methods.

Looking back over the school year, I wondered...do the children still love it as much as they did last fall? So I asked them for their favorite things about the school year, and here's what they said...

Mimi loved doing her nature journal.

Natty's favorites were narration, copywork, and shorter lessons.

Asher liked artist study, family lessons (doing some subjects as a family), and his nature journal the best.

Aaron liked poetry, family lessons, and copywork the most.

Ian's favorites were artist study, family lessons, and shorter lessons.

All in all, we had a great year. The children actually loved doing their lessons! Complaints from the children about school lessons were few and far between, and I was one happy mama.  :)

Looking ahead to the fall, we are beginning the Ambleside Online Curriculum.  I must confess that I was completely overwhelmed by this curriculum at first glance..and second glance..and third..well, you get the idea.  ;) The booklists are very intimidating, and I wasn't sure if we could handle it. 

However, after much personal cheerleading and question-answering from experienced Ambleside moms (not to mention lots of prayer on my part), I am taking the plunge!

And we so excited about the upcoming new year. We're looking forward to a new curriculum with tried  and true methods.  Is it August yet?  ;)

How about you, homeschooling friends? Are you trying a new method or curriculum next next year? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy homeschooling!








linking up with The Modest Mom
                      Deep Roots at Home

Queen of the Home {10}

"We are daughters of the King! We are building a kingdom that will have no end. We are shaping cultures - for good or ill - as we go about our daily tasks.. Let us purpose to follow Christ wholeheartedly, embracing the servanthood. He demonstrated to us. Let us purpose to put to death the grasping desire for fame that our godless culture has raised up as its idol. Let us be women of purpose and vision, serving Christ from hearts that overflow with love for His people and for the lost."


 

In Memory

 
I don't particularly care for the month of June. Even with Father's Day, anniversaries, and birthdays,  it 's a difficult month for me.

You see, June 16 was the due date for our second baby, who is now in Heaven.

It was the fall of 1985 when my hubby and I found out that we were expecting blessing #2. Our firstborn was 2 years old, and  we were beyond thrilled at the thought of another baby on the way. We immediately began praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby. The early days of the pregnancy were typical for me: lots of morning sickness and tiredness. The morning sickness was difficult, but I knew that it was a sign of a healthy pregnancy.

Then, at about 10 weeks....cramping and spotting.  We were terrified. We prayed, hoping that it wasn't what we were afraid it was.  I called my OB, but I couldn't be "worked in" til the following day. The waiting was agonizing. We kept praying, but neither of us slept that night. I held on to the fact that I was still having morning sickness.

Next morning, I headed to the OB's office and they did a pregnancy test first thing. (They didn't check for a heartbeat. I still question that.)  I was still pregnant!! I felt a such relief! After my appointment,  the OB walked me to the front desk and told me what to expect should the symptoms worsen. Then he told me (in front of the nurses and receptionists - and as loud as he said it, I'm pretty sure people in the waiting room could hear him), "Don't get your hopes up. The pregnancy will probably not survive." With that, he tossed my chart on the desk and went on to his next patient.

Now, first of all,  with those words he crushed what hopes I had of carrying this little one to term.

Second of all, I wanted to shout at him, "This is not a pregnancy!! This is a baby!!" But I was too shocked and saddened by his cruel words to respond. (And no - I never went back to him again.)
As I drove home, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach .

 A  few days went by and the spotting turned in bleeding and the cramps turned into contractions. The morning sickness had  lessened. We knew what that meant. Still, we prayed, asking him to spare our baby. The Lord answered our prayers. He said, "No."

The next part I choose to block out of my memory..and I'll spare you the details.

And  I'm not 100% sure of the gender, but deep in my heart, I believe that our baby was a little girl. That would mean that we have 4 boys and 4 girls. 

I haven't talked much about losing the baby, especially during the years right after the miscarriage.  People just didn't talk about things like that back then. They just kind of swept it under the rug.  But ignoring it doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Even though we never got to hold her, she was still a baby..our baby.

But I have talked about it more over the past several years, especially with our five younger children. And the love to talk about her...and  they ask me questions about what she might be doing in Heaven. 

I answer every question as best as I can, and it's actually therapeutic for me. It's a form of grief therapy, I suppose. 

 I know that even though we don't have her here on earth with us, she is still our child. And I don't want to ever forget that. So last June I decided to make myself a bracelet in her memory. Not that I want to be reminded of the horror of losing a baby, but to remind me of the hope of seeing her again. It is an unbelievable comfort to us to know that our little one is, as hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote, "Safe in the arms of Jesus".

Here is a photo of what I call my Memory Bracelet...

I chose pink and blue beads since they are the traditional baby colors, and  pearls for the traditional birthstone for the month of June. I wear it often, and when my children see it on my wrist, they say, "Mom! You're wearing the baby's bracelet!"  :')

After all these years, I still grieve for her.  But the Lord has been so good to me, blessing me with more than I could ever ask for. 

And I can truly say, "...The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord."  (Job 1:21)

Psalm 27:13   "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living." 

 Thanks for reading, friends.









sharing with Tesha's Treasures
                       Deep Roots at Home
                   Raising Arrows