I hope you all are doing well. I have a quiet morning and wanted to write a little bit on what is going on in my home, heart and this crazy world we live in! I am doing my first batch of laundry with my homemade laundry detergent. It smells good! Clint and I have enjoyed simplyfying things in our little home and going back to the old fashion ways. Since December, we have started canning on the weekends. There is something so sweet and peaceful about a hot kitchen full of boiling water and whistling pots. The kids play and check in at the kitchen counter from time to time to see what is going on. Our sweet Clementine helps mama peel the blanched tomatoes while Daddy dices and places them in jars. We have enjoyed going as a family to our local farmers market and stocking up on fresh local farm to table food and storing up delicious goods for the winter. I am finding myself wanting to simplify more and more. When you get a taste of peace in this unpeaceful world, you don't want to stop. You keep digging for more and more ways to simplify and find peace. Things around my home keep breaking for the best! Our living room TV just stopped working out of the blue one day and we got use to no noise in our living/kitchen area....so what did we do? Yanked that sucker right our of our home and replaced it with a piano! It was also very liberating to call up verizon and disconnect the cable! Love it! Now we go to our local library and rent simple sweet cartoons or movies or watch PBS with no commercials. The kids curl up in our bedroom and watch a little TV from time to time but it doesn't rule our home. AND...my email stopped working on my iphone out of the blue and I have to admit, I am in no hurry to get it fixed. Call us radical or just call us hungry and thirsty for peace.
Life with four little ones is hard but wonderful. I am trying my best to be "present" to them at all times and not be distracted from needless or useless worries, phone conversations, or any other distractions that don't have value. I believe our society is living in a state of distraction. From all the technology that we are addicted to, there leaves no room for stillness in our hearts to hear God's voice. Since I have quietened my life, I have heard the Good Shepherd whisper in my heart from time to time. One in which, I was lying on the sofa one afternoon resting my head while the kids played around me. (I stay exhausted...as all mothers do.) and a little voice said to me..."you see my precious daughter, just as you love watching your children rest, so do I, your Father, love to see you rest." This was so comforting to hear as we all feel that silly guilt when we rest or do something for ourselves. What the Lord said to me made such sense. I find such peace in seeing my children rest or take a nap because they seldom do. But when you see your child passed out from playing so hard, it makes a mother happy when you find them in a peaceful sleep. Thank you Jesus for telling me what all mothers yearn to hear.....we need to rest!
I am finding I have more balance in my life by giving my entire self to my home and family than when I was scatter-brained trying to volunteer at church, on the computer answering emails or trying to have a phone conversation with a friend while your child is needing you or kids are fighting. My marriage has never been better (which all marriages go through seasons, mine included! :) and my kids have never been happier. I also find balance by rising early in the morning for prayer time, working-out while listening to wonderful podcasts such as Word-On-Fire or Radio Wave and fun dates with my husband as much as possible. Also gathering with faith filled friends from time to time. I find such joy and peace being a homemaker and raising these children. We really don't need much in this life, just love and prayer.
So that is what is going in my life. God continues to show me mercy, grace, love and peace. He continues to remind me that this time is fleeting and to look for Him in all of the sweet sounds of children playing & laughing, laundry piles, the smell of rosemary, and the precious grins and giggles from a five month old angel. The best part of my day is in the mornings when I pick up Callahan out of his crib. That precious baby has brought nothing but God's love to my heart and heaven's abundant joy to this home!
I don't have time to write about what is going on in the world but I will say this....we need to be on our knees in prayer for our world, especially for our families to be guarded and guided in Truth. The messages of Medjugorje are profound. How blessed we are to be in this time where the Mother of God is bringing us closer to her Son and giving us guidance from Our Heavenly Father. You can read the latest messages at www.mej.com . Blessings to you all and the holy work you do!
