On the inside….

Its been 9 years since we’ve celebrated Halloween.

In those 9 years…I haven’t really THOUGHT about it too much.

We basically have just SHUT OURSELVES out of it.

We turn off the lights and seclude ourselves inside..

leaving all that is “Halloween” on the outside.

It is a choice we have made after learning the TRUE meaning of halloween and the roots that are behind it.

It is a “controversial” choice…I know.

Believe me….If I had 1 piece of candy for every time someone said “Aww…you don't let your kids dress up???” or “Awwww….that is sad..No candy???”….I would have TONS of candy.

Please…don’t feel sorry for them-they are in no way DEPRIVED of candy…

AND- they have a TON of dress up clothes.

It’s not sad…at all.

BUT…

this year….things are different.

I work…in a bar.

And

I have to work ALL weekend on Halloween weekend.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday(AND I have to DRESS UP!!!!  Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!)

Which means…..

I am “OUT THERE” on Halloween.

For the first time in YEARS…I am out there.

And let me tell you……….It is CRAZY.

I mean seriously…I see ALOT of things at Tradewinds.

ALOT of CRAZY THINGS.

But

Halloween…make take the cake.

CRAZY.

But…

As I have thought about this more and more …

I think that God has put this in my life as a lesson.

as usual….

If you haven’t figured it out yet I am BROKEN and yucky on the inside sometimes….I need work.

Lots.

This forces me to FACE my battle HEAD ON.

It forces me to take a HARD look at myself and realize that sometimes the lesson is to LOOSEN UP.

To recognize these things for what they are….

To just let it go  and

DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

Sometimes it is just that simple…..

 

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Psalm 107
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron. Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent. Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

A “maze”ing!!!!

This morning we got up and went to the Sykes and Cooper Farms.

They have an a”maze”ing corn maze.

It was a wonderful field trip for the co-op to take together…..

Corn maze

pumpkin patch

hay ride

corn popper

and FRIENDS.

Awesome.

And a BONUS was the fact that THIS event was NOT halloween  based.

Sweet.

   

“Filthy Rich”

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or living in want. I can do everything thru HIM that gives me strength. Phillipians  4:11-13

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With the economy the way it is ….times are tough.

And believe me…TOUGH is TOUGH.

And it was TOUGH when the economy wasn’t in trouble.

But…We have always tried to have a REALWORLD view of these kinds of situations…..

In comparison…..We are “RICH”.

We sit in an air conditioned home, with a car, running water, a washer and dryer, the kids have clothes, food,access to medicine, and are involved in lots of EXTRAS.

I mean we practically live on a farm…and FEED all the animals here too.

Others- don’t have THOSE opportunities……

THEY-

live in  grass huts, with only thier feet to walk them to a well for water to drink, bathe, and wash clothes.  Thier kids have NO FOOD, NO CLOTHES,NO ACCESS TO MEDS and are not involved in extra-cirricular activities like football and ballet.

“RICH”.

Seriously….we are “FILTHY RICH”.

When I remember those things it makes THIS life—FULL..

It makes the FEAR of not having “money in the bank” fade.

It makes “not getting everything I WANT” dissapate.

It makes telling my kids “no” much easier.

It makes having to PICK AND CHOOSE the “needs” for the week…worth it.

It makes EVERYTHING a lesson.

A “refining fire” that can only make you STRONGER….

And THAT in turn, makes you TRULY RICH!!!

Proverbs 24:3-4
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

My “simple woman’s daybook”(1)

This has been going around the blogosphere recently and I LOVE the idea.

Simple.

Reflection.

Somedays.

Lovely.

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Outside my window……it is 96 degrees-on OCTOBER 27th!!!!!  I am ready for some seriously cool weather.  Bring it!!!

 

I am thinking…..that I have been feeling SOOOO overwhelmed lately.  Sooo much to do, so little time.  I feel like there is a RIVER of ideas in my head. It flows so fast that it is hard to keep up.

 

I am thankful for …….the SWEET SPOT in my life right now.  Sometimes I look around at the kids and the schooling and the Ufootball and the ballet and think.  This is IT!!!!  The SWEET SPOT.

 

From the learning rooms…..we are LOVING our new cirriculum this year.  MY FATHERS WORLD Rocks!!!  I love the fact that we are spending the whole first year in Geography instead of history.  Truthfully : this week has been scarce in the school department.  Strep is moving its way thru the house….YUCK!!!

From the kitchen……we are making some changes in our eating lately.  We had gotten somewhat “easy” on some of our eating habits…mainly because we have to: Organics are EXPENSIVE.  I am making a true effort to change some things…

I am wearing…..one of the ONLY things I have left without HOLES. Our dryer is working/broken.  Which means …it works but bcs it is broken, it tears tiny holes in our clothes…SO AGRAVATING!!!

I am creating….a MASTER PLAN. Like I said…a river. Rushing.

I am going……Nowhere.  Kids are sick…Homebound.

 I am reading……K,1st,2nd, and 4th grade books.  So is the life of a homeschool Mom.

I am hoping…..that the weather man is right when he says that it will be 76 degrees on friday.  we have a co-op field trip to the CORN MAZE!!!!  C’mon Tim Degan!

I am hearing….shasha’s movie comming from my room and the “boys” (Jay and the boys) movie comming from the living room.  Like I said …SICKY.

Around the house……we finally got a new doorknob.  Awesome.

One of my favorite things …….is the LOVE I recieve from my children.  Sweet sweet gifts from GOD.

A few plans fro the rest of the week……CORN MAZE and a LONG weekend ahead.  I am working Fri, Sat, and Sunday from 8pm-330am.  Not so awesome.

To see other Moms daybooks …..Go HERE.

The Perfect Party…. <3

1o years.

Its a BIG one.

It deserves a party.

Especially when the 10 year old is as SPECIAL as Ezekiel.

He’s amazing.

sweet

caring

loving

giving

golden

So when Sunday finally arrived…he was STOKED.

He could hardly wait till 5pm.

We cleaned, hung the lights, cooked the food, and set up the backyard….

all in preparation for the big “10th Birthday Movie Mash up!”

The party was amazing.

31 kids from the ages of 15 years to 5 months.

 

  

It was a LOVE fest of friends and family.

We all ate Jays famous HOMEMADE CLAM CHOWDER and Taco soup.

And Josiah's Mom made Zeek 2 cakes.

She made him a guitar cake AND a chocolate cheesecake.

AWESOME!!!!

Jay set up his sound system so we had FULL MUSIC all night long.

AND our dear friend  Matty brought his famous bean bag toss.

SOOOOOOOO FUN!!!

The blessing of LIFE were so evident that day.

Everywhere you looked there was a little pocket of LOVE.

Fireside

or

on the Trampoline

or

in the kitchen.

Love EVERWHERE.

 

Then…when the night fell…

we turned on the movie projector and watched “How to Train a Dragon” under the stars …Fireside!!

Could it have been more cool????

At about 10pm everyone was leaving and the Night was getting settled in…

The tents were set up.

1 girls tent with 4 girls.

1 boys tent with 6 boys.

1 FULL MOON.

and 1 very LOVING Daddy who was willing to sleep outside with them.

It is an amazing thing to watch Jay CONSTANTLY give the kids the gift of MEMORIES.

Gifts money CAN’T buy.

Memories that can only be bought with  the currency of  TIME.

This party was AMAZING.

Memories were made.

Friends and fellowship.

All under a HUGE full moon.

Sweet.