When Life Gets Tough

I've got 15 minutes until my baby-sitter leaves and I just have to get this typed out because I just do.

Today after talking with a friend, I realized sometimes life is just hard.  It doesn't matter to what capacity…you could be single looking for love and weirdos keep coming your way, you could be a homeschooling mom of four starting your own business and spinning in circles, you could be a new mom realizing parenting is exhausting and hard.  Whatever situation you are in right now, just know that we know and understand hard times.

Since June, Mike has been home 24 hours a day, the girls are being home schooled and are here 24 hours a day, and Joel…oh that Joel needs me 24 hours a day.  I'm an introvert so I desperately need time alone and sometime a lot of it.  I haven't had it in months.

Today, when I was about ready to be done, God gave me a babysitter, my husband needed to be with he is Dad, and God opened up for me to get out and mow.  I needed that. Time alone. 2.5 hours.  I feel better already.

Last though before I surrender back to my kiddos….homeschool is not for the weak, like I once thought.  It is one of the hardest things I've ever done…okay maybe not the hardest, but it is HARD!  I'll hopefully post an updated homeschool post soon, but don't expect it…I'm an inconsistent blogger.

And a shout out to my friends for dealing with me as I never call them back, only call them when I need something, and pray for me A LOT.  I've turned into the Needy Friend that I swore I would never become.  Love you girls…you know who you are.

When Your Soul Needs Refreshed...

Most dictionaries define solitude as "the state of being alone." As believers, solitude is the state of being alone with God. It is a condition of the heart as well as of the body. We separate ourselves from our busy, everyday lives and draw close to God. 

When we take a look at Jesus, the "busiest" man who ever walked the earth, we find that he deliberately escaped into solitude throughout his ministry. He used solitude for replenishment. After a busy period of ministering, Jesus went off by himself to pray. 

It may seem next to impossible to accomplish, but we all need a few regular minutes of solitude. Forget what we had planned to do during our child's nap time and instead, curl up in front of the fireplace to pray. Or stretch out on a lounge chair in the sun and reflect on God's goodness.

Whether a twentieth-century mom or a New Testament Savior or an Old Testament psalmist--we all need solitude for replenishing. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul" (Psalm 23:2-3).

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Found this little devotional back in 2013 and it has meant so much to me.  God, make me lie down in green pastures (because you know I won't do this on my own)….Lead me beside those quiet, quiet waters and restore my soul.  

My prayer for those reading this is that you will allow God to restore your soul. Take the time…the other side is a place of peace and comfort.

New things are happening…aren't they always!

For those of you who have loved me from the time I was born, understand that God has designed me in a  way that things change all the time with me.

Just up and move to VA and go to college at age 24.
Make a last minute decision to live in Maryland for a summer to be a counselor.
Meet my husband on eharmony.com.
Work 5 part-time jobs with 3 kids under the age of 5.
Start my own business…two different times.
Move to the country because I've always wanted to be a farmer.
Have a baby at age 40.
Now…begin homeschooling with a newborn….lol….this has to be the funniest thing God has called me to do.  I can't wait to begin the year.

That's just a small list.  The point being that I love change, I love seeing how God puts me in different places, I'm always up for the challenge…okay..most of the time.

Thank you to my family and friends who hang on tight every time they get a phone call from me.  And..most of my friends hate change so I'm a good firecracker to get them all stirred up. ;)

Anyway, I'll be remodeling this website so just hang on and I'll let you know once it's finished.