Change.........



Change is good right?

That's what I keep telling myself and honestly... I think I'm liking this new season in our lives. Granted there are some things one just never seems fully ready for, like teens coming into driving age and taking a deep breath as you look down the road to high school graduation and what it will take on our part to prepare them.

It was hard enough to make those decisions for myself many years ago and I thank God He chose motherhood for me and being a traditional keeper of the home. But raising boys is different and they need to plan for careers that will allow their wives to be homemakers should they choose to do so (and I pray they will). I have one son currently interested in Ministry and another son interested in Engineering. Both choices scare me! Or I should say their course load in HS scares me! But it has also motivated me. We are hiring a weekly math tutor to keep up with the boys math lessons, as they are way beyond anything I can do, or that my hubby wants to burn brain cells doing. I think that will bring huge relief for us both. We're also fortunate to have someone with a science degree in our homeschool co-op to head up the higher sciences we'll be needing for the engineering career such as biology, chemistry and physics (yikes!). That will hopefully help me to concentrate on other things they will need in humanities and the language arts.  I've come to the conclusion that rather then stress out trying to do it all ourselves, I will increase and utilize all my resources to survive it.

It's just so interesting for me heading into this season of my life. For soooooo many years I had "the little kids," I headed playdates, and mommy get togethers etc. I needed (craved) that fellowship from other women in the same season as myself and sought it continually. I don't know if it's because I'm in the "mom of teens" season or if it's just getting older but now my life is so full of family activities and taxi cab mom responsibilities that I feel almost like I could become a hermit when I have down time. I know growing deeper in my faith, my walk with the Lord, and in my marriage has greatly reduced that "people pleasing" need in me and I am feeling quite grounded and centered in my 40's. I can see where the saying "fabulous forties" comes from! Hopefully by this time one becomes wiser through life experiences and has learned where true happiness comes from. Not from pleasing others or raising  "genius's" but from truly knowing it all lays in his hands and that only He can provide our hearts desires.

Every time I start to "panic" about the children's future's I'm reminded through His word that He is in control. That through a relationship with Him, He can guide us to what we are meant to be and do. I didn't have that leadership or direction growing up but my children have and that makes all the difference.

Despite getting "hermit like" in my old age I do have a few dear friends that I thoroughly enjoy fellow shipping with. Some have a few younger children then mine, some have a few the same age and some have a few older but we have all come to that place in our lives where we are standing on "the Rock" of our faith and it is truly a sweet place to be. We all come from pasts that were sadly lacking in godly instruction and mourn the mentors we never had. But those experiences coupled with our faith, have firmly given us a heart for changing the legacies we are leaving for our children.  We don't see having the heart of a servant as being "soft" or something undesirable. We don't see the sacrifice of our own wants as wasteful or old fashioned. We know it's right, true, and even lovely... and we know we do it with joy beyond what this world has to offer.

So I will spend the golden hours of this season being silly with my children, enjoying their time home with us before it gives way to their future lives and families. Loving the man God so graciously blessed me with, fellow shipping with the wonderful friends He's provided for us and trusting Him for one day after the next as I walk with Him in this journey of my life.

Blessed to be changing,
Sherri <><



Autumn breezes bring change

The winds of change are blowing...
Teenagers are approaching driving age and driving lessons are underway... Thank you God for my brave husband!!! We've settled into our homeschooling schedule with 2 full time teens and 1 part timer. My days are full of answering questions, grading papers, music lessons, martial arts and homemaking.

The cooler weather brings the right time to accomplish the outside chores that have set patiently waiting. My hubby's "honey please do" list calls to him from our fridge and with man sized boys able to help, many hands make light work.

They've checked off several items so far... fixing broken wheels on 3 different chairs, stopping a leaky kitchen faucet, tearing down the tree house for lumber to use in our next project, enlarging the chicken coop, cutting up the fallen trees from past storms, taking down the pool and storing it for winter, cleaning out the shed and making a work space in it etc... There's still plenty to do! Putting the new chicken pen up, enlarging the existing coop, putting a new roof on the house, painting, more leaks to contend with... on and on...

I've been busy learning the art of food preserving. NOT easily learned from a book! There are so many subtleties, tips and tricks that can only be learned from watching a seasoned homemaker. I've hot water bathed & pressure cooked over a hundred quarts of apples, pears, tomatoes, garlic, green beans and pickled stuff. My kitchen's been overtaken for days and I'm so ready for order to reign once again. I'm trying to pull together a class taught by the local extension office for the homeschool moms wanting to learn this. I was surprised by how many responses I got to an email I sent out to the homescchool community! Seems I'm not the only one wanting to learn this and needing help.

Stored totes are calling me... jackets, sweat shirts and eventually coats all need pulling out. They've tried on all the jeans from last year and it's a good thing we did! They're growing so fast that a trip to the thrift store was needed while the getting was good. All new jeans for the season at $4 a pop, can't beat that! I know I need to go through the coats and jackets next in case they need those too. With the economy the way it is more people are discovering the treasures at the local thrift stores!

 My pretty jars

My huge bowl green beans waiting to be canned

Soooooooo as you can imagine we're really looking forward to a break the 4th weekend in October at our weekend getaway, Schiedmantle Lodge!!!! We've been going down with another family for the past few years and this will be the first year we have OUR OWN weekend! We've invited some of our dear homeschooling friends to join us and we're looking forward to a wonderful time of fellowship and relaxation! Can't wait to have our coffee on the porch swing over looking the beautiful lake all wrapped and snuggling with my hubby!

Well it grows late and believe it or not, teens still need to be reminded to brush teeth and get to bed!

Thank you Lord for the blessing of this day and for my family and friends. God Bless!

Sherri <><