Homemade dresses and much more...

Here are two pictures of our first try at a simple Regency dress. More dresses and pictures to come.

And here are some pictures of a recent trip to the nature park and pond by our home.

Early morning beauty...

Exploring the garden...

Patiently waiting...

Finally we are on our way...

Look both ways...

God's wonderful nature!

So much to see...

Home again! Little Patience had so much to discover and take in...

Thank you, Jesus!

A word or two about contentment

We're having a lovely morning. Thursdays are our "wild days", and, while we try and take a walk around the neighborhood daily, on these mornings we go out a little further.

We are so blessed here, in this suburban area. Within less than a mile, there are two small nature preserves, both with marshes, one with a pond. How perfect for a homeschooling family like ours!

I used to wish we lived more in "the country". I had romanticized and idealized having at least five acres, with a few goats and chickens and lots of open space for kids to mess around in.

A sweet, honest friend of mine tried this for a few years. She has recently moved away with her husband and family and is having a wonderful time enjoying the next "chapter" in their journey. The things she had hoped for in the rural lifestyle came at a great price for her, and she even told me that her family had treasured more God's natural beauty before they had their own land to look after. She was not the first to have expressed this sentiment.

Things always look a little better when viewed from afar, don't they? Impressionists have taken advantage of our tendency toward myopia. Up close, the shortcomings are much more apparent.

There are many challenges to living on a single income with lots of children to care for (remembering that we live by faith is not one of them). We don't have a lot of extra money for clothing, etc., so we often find ourselves "making do". I almost laughed until I cried once when I read how another homeschooling mother, one who was a prolific writer, prepared her children to attend a Christmas party. Her first step was to go through their clothes and find the ones that had the least amount of stains and tears!--Oh, how many of us could relate to this! Another honest soul wrote how she decorated a table with a basket lined with a stained napkin, making sure it was folded so the stain wouldn't show.

In our satellite TV years I liked watching a show claiming to "design on a dime"--how did they guess my decorating budget?

And yet, I have learned to be content in every situation to which I find myself.

For one thing, God is more concerned with our growth than our immediate comfort. When I was home with my first three small children, no car, I saw the world passing me by. I mentioned to a friend who owned a second car how very fortunate she was, and she surprised me by saying she wished she didn't have one; the temptation to "go,go,go..." was sometimes too great, and she missed the sweet days she had enjoyed at home. I took this as an admonition and settled myself in to purposely take pleasure in being a "homebody".

Joseph must have struggled in this same way. Sold into slavery and far away from his family, residing in a foreign land and culture, he must have spent many nights crying himself to sleep with longings for what he could not have, no matter how he wished and prayed for it. God helped him, not only to be content, but to become productive in the midst of his sufferings. The Lord even showed him that his captivity was for a blessing, for the saving of a whole nation!

Being at home, many times without transportation, and without lots of the things we have falsely understood to bring us happiness, we have many choices each day. How do we view our world? Is it full of lack, or provision? Will we find disappointment, or opportunity? Will we become defeated, or challenged? Will we rest in God today?

One way to start is to begin to look at what we do have and be thankful!

If we have two changes of good clothing, we are richer than most people in the world. If we have three meals a day, and if we have more than three types of food each meal, we are feeding ourselves like kings and queens compared to the impoverished of the world. If we can choose to stay home with our children, and if we can have as many as the Lord will give us, and if we take comfort in the freedom to homeschool them, we are living in opulence beyond the wildest imaginations of even those in many affluent European countries!

The truth is, we are probably not using what we have on hand to its fullest potential. Joseph would admonish us to be better stewards of what we already possess, don't you think?

For instance, I have been concerned that my little girls are running out of pretty, feminine clothing to wear. This is important to me, since I believe that God made them male and female, and that I want to be a picture of His intent to a watching world, and so I try and dress my boys like boys, and my girls like girls. Besides, my girls and I just like being pretty around the house!

I have taken inventory on what we already have on hand, and realized we had much more than I had previously thought, but little hands did not always put clothing away well, and sometimes even stuffed items to keep from putting them away at all (and they tend to wear the same things over and over)! So the first step for me has been taking care of the things I already have, ironing, re-hanging and categorizing skirts, shirts and dresses (we hang everything up in our house except for undies and jammies).

The next step has been to look at ways I can add to our existing wardrobe by re-engineering and creating new things from old. One of the ways I have accomplished this in the past was to take the jeans someone was so gacious to give to us and turn them into skirts. This time my oldest daughter (at home) has developed an easy way to make Regency-style dresses using elasticized waists and necklines. Since she has been stock-piling new and near-new bed sheets she finds in thrift stores, it is now the time to use these things up! So yesterday our sweet 12yo daughter began wearing the first of what we hope to be a new wardrobe for all the girls of our home--a sweet, empire-wasted dress made from a bedsheet with an off-white background and delicate delft-blue flowers--she doesn't ever want to take it off!--and it only cost us a little time and about $2.00!

Out of our necessity God is blessing us beyond just having "stuff". He is also giving us the pleasure of creating and fellowshipping with each other in the process. No one in the Paris fashion industry will be impressed, but we will be happy each time we walk past a mirror with a deep satisfaction that we could never have felt if we had bought some awful modern dress from off of a rack in a retail store.

Another example would be our "daily bread". In older times, when in order to have a chicken dinner you had to chase down the chicken (or chickens), cut off its head, gut it, pluck its feathers, and finally cook it, folks learned to be content with simple foods.

We are blessed to have a fabulous Mexican restaurant nearby. The dishes there are satisfying and full of flavor, but are not fancy, nor are they made up of exotic ingredients. Beans, rice, onions, chilis, meat, cheese and of course tortillas, are mixed and fixed in all sorts of different combinations that make one's mouth water. The Mexican families I know very seldom sample different sorts of food as their regular family fare. A Caucasian gentleman I know married a woman from Mexico City, and he told us he never tired of her homemade tortillas and refried beans for dinner!

I have had a tendency to over-complicate my meal planning. My husband is happier when I only have a few dishes to offer, but while I try to accommodate him, I have thought it my job to give my children some variety. I have discovered that I never needed to work so hard. At least three days a week now we are having a pot of beans--with onions, chili seasoning, diced tomatoes, onions and peppers, cooked in a crock pot to be ready for lunch, and putting add-ons such as tortillas, corn chips, cheese, salsa and sour cream on the table for each child to choose. My 16yo son claims it is still his favorite type of meal! On the alternate days we are having PBJ's, popcorn, and carrots and celery--how simple, but how delicious!

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:6-12)

We serve a wonderful, creative Father in Heaven!

A sure cure for fretting

The prison of fear!

"To fret is to worry, to have the heartburn, to fume, to become vexed."
--  Charles H. Spurgeon

I can’t help but admire Australian sheep dogs. Every time I witness a demonstration of their intelligence and their drive to perform well, I am amazed.

A friend of mine bought some land in the country, added a few horses, and then acquired one of these great canines, as she was also impressed with these wonderful animals. It was comical to see the dog “herding” the horses, and even the children.

But at a certain point the dog’s own intelligence began to work against it. Without any real work to keep her busy, the dog began getting into all sorts of mischief; worrying the horses, tearing things up, even pulling all of the wash off of the line every time it was hung to dry. Within a short time the dog was placed in a different home, one with lots of real sheep to keep her busy!

I’m afraid we as women are often like this unfortunate sheep dog. We are so intelligent, so “creative” as someone has put it. We have a drive to want to see things done “correctly”, and to be pleasing to someone else.

But we don’t always use our gifts for good, “A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her own hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)

If we are not careful, the spaghetti mess that is in our minds, with each thought being connected to the others, can lead us into great error. We can tend to dwell on the darkness in our lives and in the lives of those around us, even rehearsing hurts, offenses, and fears until our cyclical thoughts turn into a sucking black-hole, dragging everyone down with us.

And, no matter how we might try to cover it up, it all eventually comes out.

I have heard some women say they have to work because they just don’t “do well” when they stay home—while at home, they fret, fume and marinate in the negative until they are no good to anyone whatsoever.

I knew of a lady who moved out of her home state and away from her relatives and friends due to her husband’s job change. She had been used to working outside of the home, and so was at a loss as to how to keep her mind fully occupied as she and her family stayed in a hotel while awaiting more permanent accommodations. The children went to school, the husband went to work, but she sat in two empty rooms and allowed her mind to begin to drive her into despondency.

Eventually, she turned to alcohol for solace, and was heard ranting, cursing and accusing her family of abusing her—what a waste of a good woman!

Needless to say, her family members all gave a great sigh of relief when she finally return to work.

I have stayed at home for the last 26 years, and I know well the malady we ladies are all prone to. My mind is just as much a steel trap as anyone, and if I had the time and space, I could fill volumes with the self-imposed vacuums I have created.

But God has shown me a “cure” for such a sickness, and it is found within the pages of His Holy Word.

Once God had me meditate on Psalm 37 for a number of years. I had been raised to believe that fretting and fuming were not only “natural”, but necessary and useful tools, especially in the raising of husbands and children.

But Psalm 37 basically tells us that we should not be concentrating on the darkness of others, or even how their darkness affects us. In fact, God warns us that, if we continue to fret about the wickedness in others, we ourselves will become “evildoers” and incur His wrath!

Charles Spurgeon's commentary explains, He gives us a remedy in verse 3--“Trust in the Lord and do good.”

Faith cures fretting. Sight is cross-eyed, and views things only as they seem, hence her envy: faith has clearer optics to behold things as they really are, hence her peace. And do good. True faith is actively obedient. Doing good is a fine remedy for fretting. There is a joy in holy activity which drives away the rust of discontent.

First, trust in the Lord. It is not up to us to protect ourselves or make sure everyone is doing what is right, it is our place to fully trust the Lord to take care of us. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Secondly, we are to “do good”. Instead of focusing on darkness and the evil, we are to seek ways to become encouraging, Godly lights—we are to harness those thoughts that want to spiral downward to a positive, upward, life-giving direction.

So shalt thou dwell in the land. In "the land" which floweth with milk and honey; the Canaan of the covenant. Thou shalt not wander in the wilderness of murmuring, but abide in the promised land of content and rest. "We which have believed do enter into rest." Very much of our outward depends upon the inward: where there is heaven in the heart there will be heaven in the house.

And verily thou shalt be fed, or shepherded. To integrity and faith necessaries are guaranteed. The good shepherd will exercise his pastoral care over all believers. In truth they shall be fed, and fed on truth. The promise of God shall be their perpetual banquet; they shall neither lack in spirituals nor in temporals. Some read this as an exhortation, "Feed on truth; " certainly this is good cheer, and banishes for ever the hungry heart burnings of envy.

Listen to how we are to "delight in the Lord" (v. 4):

Make Jehovah the joy and rejoicing of thy spirit. Bad men delight in carnal objects; do not envy them if they are allowed to take their fill in such vain idols; look thou to thy better delight, and fill thyself to the full with thy more sublime portion. In a certain sense imitate the wicked; they delight in their portion—take care to delight in yours, and so far from envying you will pity them. There is no room for fretting if we remember that God is ours, but there is every incentive to sacred enjoyment of the most elevated and ecstatic kind. Every name, attribute, word, or deed of Jehovah, should be delightful to us, and in meditating thereon our soul should be as glad as is the epicure who feeds delicately with a profound relish for his dainties.

If just enjoying Him weren't enough, He promises to give us the desires of our hearts--would we like to have a wonderful Christian home, a good marriage relationship, to see the fruits of our labors?--delighting in God opens doors of opportunity for Him to bless us with all these things.

Philippians 4:18 gives us even greater insight:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So, the next time we find ourselves overstating the negative, we must substitute that inclination and focus on the positive instead. Being thankful, even for those things we see as problems, is a marvelous way to begin. Then we should be thinking of ways to bless others, ways of encouraging others, etc.

In a practical way, we should keep ourselves about our work, not just barely cleaning the house, but organizing it and turning it into a beautiful piece of art where our family can feel blessed and refreshed (not being merely fussy about it—but peaceful with a heart full of service).

The saying “Anything worth doing is worth doing well”, goes for housework as well as any other worthwhile undertaking. If we feel like we are just treading water and not going forward, it is time to clean the fingerprints off of the front door, get rid of all of the piled up junk mail, and begin seeing housekeeping for the ministry it is. We are admonished to do “everything heartily, as unto the Lord”, so we shouldn’t be shocked when the very people we minister to don’t seem to notice or appreciate us for the effort we put in; we are working unto God, (to please Him) not men.

Enjoying each task for the sole satisfaction of a job well-done should be more than enough for us. I, for one, am so grateful for useful and fulfilling work! I often wonder what it would be like if I didn’t have two legs to scurry me about my house, or hands to wash surfaces and fold laundry! What if I didn't have a house to clean, or family to clean for? How grateful we should be!

Home Sweet Home!

If we have a firm grip on our responsibilities to our husbands and children, we can use the balance of our time and energy to the benefit of others, even if we are only able to send an encouraging card or email to someone who is hurting. How many young mothers or elderly people are thirsting for that simple “drink of water” we could be giving them? Stepping out in faith to bless someone else is a sure cure for the many emotional ills we so complain about. Although I don't agree with Patch Adams on everything, the premise of the movie speaks a lot to our emotional and mental state--staying positive and thinking of ways to bless others keeps us from destructive naval-gazing.

One way I have dealt with my own tendency to look at the imperfections in others or the disappointments in life is to use the beginnings of negative thinking as my prompt to pray for someone undergoing persecution around the world—this has been a sure cure for me, and it might even discourage the devil from tempting me in this way, since it always leads me to fervent prayer against his darkness!

These principles will work anywhere, at any time. During our recent stretch of unemployment, I had instances when I gave in slightly to my own tendencies, but God used these times to teach me that He could help me even when things were difficult. Instead of worrying over what I didn’t have and the impending doom that snarled at the door, I looked at the opportunities I had before me, and I learned to appreciate every moment I had to spend with my dear husband without any distractions, which I miss now that he is away for so many hours each day!

As Corrie ten Boom was touring some makeshift shacks put up hastily in the wake of the destruction from the war in Korea, she heard the strains of a beautiful song coming from one of the shanties,

Since Christ my soul from sin set free,

This world has been a Heav’n to me;

And ’mid earth’s sorrows and its woe,

’Tis Heav’n my Jesus here to know.

O hallelujah, yes, ’tis Heav’n,

’Tis Heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n,

On land or sea, what matters where?

Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

Once Heaven seemed a far off place,

Till Jesus showed His smiling face;

Now it’s begun within my soul,

’Twill last while endless ages roll.

O hallelujah, yes, ’tis Heav’n

’Tis Heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n,

On land or sea, what matters where?

Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

What matters where on earth we dwell?

On mountain top, or in the dell,

In cottage, or a mansion fair,

Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

For your consideration

I don’t know what you plan on doing for education for your children next year, but I plan on homeschooling mine.

I know that it takes work, I know that it changes the structure and lifestyle of one’s family, but I have come to realize that these are benefits to be sought after.

Homeschooling does not automatically turn out geniuses, no matter what curriculum one uses (or doesn’t use). It doesn’t matter that famous homeschoolers can end up with Ivy League degrees; if we are striving for such things, we are missing the whole point.

Homeschooling doesn’t automatically create godly adults, either. Parents, no matter how much they try, are just as incapable of turning out mature Christians as they are of creating stars and planets; only God can make a tree…(Homeschooling does tend more towards both improved faculties and Christian character because it includes the parent factor, more than anything else, in case anyone is looking for that missing ingredient). But what homeschooling is about, more than anything else, is God, pure and simple.

It is about God because it takes us back to some of His original intentions; that children should be brought up to understand the context of their whole lives, and of everything on earth as being in and through Him, and that nothing, not even the slightest thought, is apart from Him.

Public schooling, as it has been applied in our Western world, will never, never be able to do this, because secular schooling, by definition, presents the world to our children with all reference to God purposely left out.

That is why we are raising half-humans, because “humanism” is only the distorted, mangled remains of what is left after all the Good is taken away. In order to understand ourselves, we must understand our Creator, and we must look at our world through His lense, not our own, subjective, cock-eyed understanding. A teacher or professor who cannot even reference the name of God is no more capable of passing on usable wisdom to his students than a fish in a fishbowl is able to explain to his fellows how to breathe air.

No, the culture will not support this, even our own minds and the years of our own indoctrination will cause us injury when we even consider teaching our children with this type of exclusivity (actually, this is the true inclusivity), but we have a Higher Authority here to answer to, or have we all forgotten?

Is God really our “frame of reference?” Is He the Faithful and True One revealed to us in His dear Son? Is He the Holy One we sing about and lift our arms to in Church? Then why doesn’t He get first priority when we make our everyday decisions? Doesn’t He count when we look for a job, or a spouse, or where we should live? Shouldn’t He?

And what about how many children we should have or how they should be brought up—should Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama be the ones to direct us, should some principle or philosopher or “director of education” factor more greatly in our decision making than the Almighty?

Do we even search these things out, or have the years and years of indoctrination had their effect and resulted in our following blindly just because “everyone” says we should do things just a certain way?
I have heard too many of my peers back off when accused of being “against” public schooling. I don’t blush when I openly admit that I am against the whole system of education we have come to accept as “normal”.

Even so-called religious schools are in error when they adopt the practices of the world and slap in some Bible verses—the errors are still inherent in the presentation itself.

So we trudge ahead, and remember the old pathways, and proceed to take new territory even in today's godless humanistic culture.

To those just embarking on this journey, the mountains to be climbed all seem to be Everest-like. Don’t let them unnerve you—when you get closer to them you will see that you only have to put one foot in front of the other. And who will help you? God Himself, because this is His work, His plan, and you will have His resources.

So just be brave, even if you are afraid. Take some time and research things a little bit. If you have to, buy a curriculum, but just be open to anything and everything God may have for you; don't assume that education is just as you were taught all of your life—it's better and more life-giving than anything you have ever known.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"