One of those days... too many times!

Have you ever had a difficult day... and then another... and another... until your bad day becomes a stressful week which turns into a tearful month? I have! I'm going to be honest... I'm in the midst of one of those times of life right now. Things aren't always perfect. Aren't usually perfect, actually. Reality is... life is hard sometimes. Now, I know my life right now isn't really hard compared to some people, and that perspective really helps.

Lumberjack is working long, hard hours. He leaves before anyone else is up in the morning. He gets home in time for a late supper, immediately after which we put the kids to bed. He checks his business email, walks Princess to sleep, and his eyes shut the instant his head hits the pillow. His work doesn't need to be redone every 5 minutes, but is still standing just as beautiful years later. Some days it's hard not to be upset that he can be breathing God's fresh air all day, go to sleep almost instantly at night, and has something to show for his hard work by the end of the day. I wish he has more time to spend talking, so I could at least converse with another adult for a few minutes without constantly being needed by a little person. But, I could be raising our children all alone. I could be crying myself to sleep because he isn't coming home. He could be spending his hard-earned money on rigging up a fancy sports car or hunting gear or worse, and making me budget tightly just to put food on the table. He could spend all his non-work hours in front of a TV playing video games. But instead he works hard at home and away to ensure a comfortable home with

My children fight and bicker and squabble their way through the day. Manly just won't play with Big Stuff, or they turn Little Miss away. Princess decides to spend the afternoon inconsolable instead of napping nicely. Bid Stuff decides school isn't what he wants to do and he fights it all day long instead of getting through quickly so he can go play. Life somehow isn't quite the way I imagined it! But again, I have so much to be grateful for. Big Stuff is our miracle child, who could easily have died at birth or shortly thereafter. He shouldn't even be here, but for the grace of God Who spared his life. Or I look at my memorial photo of Treasure, and wish with aching heart to be listening to those pattering little feet tracking mud across the floor. Perspective. I have too many blessings to count!

Somedays, survival itself seems like enough work for one person. And that's okay. If all you did today was survive, you accomplished something! But as you cry yourself to sleep tonight (as I did after the day outlined above) remember tomorrow is another new day. My experiences today do not have to project to tomorrow. Tomorrow, by the strength of the Lord who spoke the beautiful flowers into being, can be better. How many times have I fallen asleep begging God to help me and give me strength because my responsibilities in just getting 4 children clothed, fed, and kind of cleaned up after seemed like too much? And that's besides teaching school and make my home a joyful, restful, sanctuary for my husband when he comes home. It is way too big for me to handle on my own! And in this season, some things that were on the "must do" list don't get done. The bone broth grows moldy in the crockpot, the fridge smells to high heaven and I don't have the time or energy to scout it out, and the floor in the school room is gritty with sand from the hems of little boys' jeans. Sigh. But, I keep having to remind myself it's okay. It really is. Food may get wasted, laundry may get bleached, but we made it through the day and have tomorrow to look forward to. In a million years, we will not remember the little trials, but we will know whether we have done our most important work--leading others along heaven's path. Go ahead and cry awhile, precious Mama, but then wipe those tears and count some blessings. They will come back to reward you.

Introduction To The Family...

Hello! I'm glad to see you here! Let me introduce myself and share a little about my life, family, and blog. For starters, let me introduce my family, starting with the newest addition:

Princess is all of two months old. She's everybody's pet, and is growing like a weed. (Her daddy's nickname for her is "Monster"--weighing in at 16 pounds already, it's almost appropriate!) Needless to say, at this point all she does is eat, sleep, fill diapers, and fuss, with her days generously sprinkled with smiles and coos as well in happy moments of being the center of attention.

Treasure is our angel baby, would be 15 months old, and is remembered always in our hearts.

Little Miss is 3, delighted to be a big sister! She loves to help with the baby, in the kitchen, with the laundry, and any time I need to "spway" something to clean it. In general, she's my right hand helper and loves to be initiated into the wonders of homemaking. She is doing kindergarten this year in school, and is breezing through it even though she's so young. She wants to learn to read!

 

Manly is 5, and says he wants to be an EMT and a mechanic when he grows up. He loves to tinker with things, off by himself somewhere, and is always happiest at home with all of us nearby. He's a neat and tidy little fellow naturally, which I sure don't mind! He'll often set things right about the house... even when I haven't asked him to do something. He's also doing kindergarten in school this year, and loves it.

Big Stuff is our big 8 year old. He's super friendly, super energetic, super affectionate, and has a super imagination. There are no half-ways with this young man... as long as his excitement stays up! His ambition is to do whatever it is that makes money, including big ideas to sell his well-used toy for $100. Sorry, Son! But watch out world when he gets big enough to wield that entrepreneurial spirit! He's doing some third grade and some fourth grade stuff in school, and is recovering from a fall on his head with resultant brain surgery over the summer which does affect his academics some.

Lumberjack is my husband. Handsome. Need I say more? He does some logging, some work at our sawmill, and lots of work repairing, chinking, staining, and building log and wood sided structures. He works hard for us, and his muscles show it! (www.KickapooCountryMilling.com) He's a gentle, but strong, manly man who I love with all my heart.

And me, Mom. Wife. Homemaker. Teacher. Cook. Laundress. Entrepreneur. Homesteader wanna-be. Queen of my small realm called Home. Daughter of the King. Ambassador of an unseen Kingdom. That's all the nice stuff... but walk in on me on any given day and you might just find a weepy mess living in a pig pen whose only accomplishment of the day was that no one died. Well, this is real life, with a real battle to be fought. Thanks for joining me!