Diligence

1. School resumed yesterday (Monday).
2. I will not be posting very often – once a week at most (unless I find myself with more time than I expect to have).
3. So far I have been unable to finish all of our planned school work. There is just so much I’d like to do and get through…
4. It feels good and right to get back into the swing of things.
5. I’m not stressed about not finishing the work. I’ve learned that I’m not in control of anything.
6. Crock pots are wonderful. They save so much time.
7. In a previous post I joked about the Flylady, but implementing some of the habits she suggests has made my life easier and my husband a happier man. It is my prayer that I will be able to keep "Flying" as the year progresses.
8. My “words” for this year are self-discipline and relaxed. (I know those two concepts seem to be at odds with one another, but somehow they work together for me.

I’ll try to explain.

Self-discipline is about me. It is about me getting up and doing what needs to be done to start school on time, and to stay off the computer until I have the right –as in everything is done- to be on it, cutting back on expenses, planning meals, caring for my husband, children and house, etc. i.e. being consistent to do all that needs doing first. Btw, I do feel that I am free to be on the computer now. I did do all the “needful things” (not all that needs doing, but all that I feel God has called me to do so far today).

Relaxed has to do with my attitude and can be thought of as the opposite of stressed. Relaxed is how I feel when all my work is done and when I’m doing all that I’m called to do. It is knowing that I’m in the place where God wants me to be. When the sink is overflowing and I have children asking me for their work which I haven’t planned out and I have a baby crying to be fed relaxed is not how I feel. Relaxed is what comes when things are done right and in order…it is a feeling of peace. It is also “resting in God” or “resting on God” and not worrying about all that I did not accomplish…it is trusting that if I’ve done all my hands find to do – that I feel God has called me to do in a day (and yes, you know what that is…if you’ve been busy about your work and it is still unfinished, then you are there; if you’ve been busy about pursuing your own interests and ignoring the work that needs to be done, then you are not).

9. I am almost finished reading “Tending Your Garden” by Denise Sproul. Can I say, “I loved it!” I did. I did. So far Chapter Five is my favorite and the section within Chapter Five entitled Growing Peace had me saying, “Amen!”

10. Here is a wonderful download to listen to…

-Noel Piper on Sarah Edwards

Oh, and a little bonus…here is a link to Bellissima! a very cute homegrown shop for women and girls who desire to dress modestly. I discovered these sweet girls at the Texas Home School Convention. The beautiful girl pictured on the website checked me out.

And last but not least, my verse for this year…

So shall my Word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. –Isaiah 55:11