On the homefront

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh Patience.

But let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

The weeks of adjustment every infant goes through are upon us. She is so beautiful I would not mind staying up all night just playing with her, but her tummy aches so horribly--poor baby! These are the times when a mother's heart becomes so soft as she must walk the floor helplessly while her little one writhes her feet in pain. But it builds the love-connection even more. All of these passages are necessary--they soften the hard places and solidify the good foundations of a life-long love between parents and child (my dear husband must be awakened, too).

Amazingly, however, I am not "sleep deprived". We go to bed around 9, and the baby awakens after 12, then I am able to get some good sleep of a few hours during the day. This is a wonderful thing!

I am still trying to make sure the rest of the children can enjoy their summer. We all get up by 6, read the Word, have our morning routine, which I inspect and expect a high level of performance. Then we have some fun. God has given me some good ideas--"washing" the van in the driveway, board games, home improvement, etc. Today the Lord had me send the children on a hike in the nature area by our house for a "scavenger hunt". They all had a good time, and I was able to take a nap.

I have dinner in the crockpot--some nice roast beef with veggies--and my little ones are all resting from their excursion this morning. The laundry is pretty caught up, and the rooms are all tidy--except for the basement, which is full of all sorts of creative things they have thought up today. We will clean it after naps, make some mashed potatoes to go with dinner, and be ready for our wonderful daddy to return.

Last night we had such a good time with him, sang hymns for quite a while together before Bible time. We don't sing hymns together often enough! Our older girls came over and we all encouraged each other in the Lord, laying hands on each other and praying. One daughter underwent a sleep test last night for the seizures she has been experiencing--we are all believing for God's healing in her life. He has been doing a good work in her through this time of helplessness.

Just a reminder to us all--it doesn't matter what is going on in the world, we are to walk under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty, in the secret dwelling place of the Most High. Live in the moment, and take every thought captive for Christ. He'll call us up when it's time--we need not worry or be distressed. These are precious times--take advantage of them to live for Him before our opportunity is lost.

Sherry