Many voices have spoken over the ten years since God did open heart surgery upon me.  A common theme has centered around home and family.  Another, interlocking with home and family is living this one life well.

About 8 years ago Edith Schaeffer’s voice spoke through her books “What is a Family” and “L’Abri”, but hearing of the deep philosophy thinking of her husband, Francis, I shied away from his writing.  Awhile back an article, The Unwasted Life, came across my view.

In this article, which I printed to read and ponder upon, Mr. Schaeffer’s words are few and within the grasp of a mind that is too often full of flittering thoughts.  Here are the ingredients, according to The Unwasted Life, for a life well lived.

• Correct theological position, true Biblical orthodoxy and the purity of the visible church
• Good intellectual training and comprehension of our own generation.
• A humble heart, the love of God, a devotional attitude toward God, a daily practice of the reality of God.

The simplicity of these words make them easy to ponder, allowing them to work upon a heart. 

In my life this week…A lot of thinking and research has been done.  This afternoon I meet with a friend who has been using for years the materials I am considering for next year. 

My children have worked on their “meaningful work” projects pretty well.  The vegetable garden is planted, but still needs quite a bit weeding.  Pretty flowers were planted in hanging baskets for the front porch and I have been enjoying their sweet scent.

  Strawberry plants are on the way and we will need to finish prepping that garden bed this weekend.

In our homeschool this week…We are enjoying the excitement of finishing this year’s schooling, one subject at a time.  One child has work until June 7th, the other two until June 14.  Physical Science was completed on Wednesday, with 1 high school credit granted from this 8th grade year! 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…If your 10 year old wants to revisit and discover some picture books, savor that sweet time on the sofa!  This week we read Warm as Wool and Duchess Bakes a Cake and had a great time.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…June 1 is the Walk for Life in our area.  We will be meeting up with many people from our congregation as well as other friends.  Our 12 year old daughter is running in the 5K while the rest of us do the 2 mile walk.  If you are interested in supporting LIFE, you can help us reach our goal here.  Earlier in the month I shared why Life Network is supported by our family.

My favorite thing this week was…Reading with Chica, how I miss those “rowing” days.  She and I talked about how in just 3 years JoyNess will be “3” and Chica will be 13.  Maybe Chica will “row” with JoyNess then!

Things I’m working on…My grand niece’s cousin quilt will, hopefully, be tied tonight during a movie.  JoyNess’s crib quilt just needs the binding tacked.  And Chica needs some sleep shorts so I dug out a couple of patterns and pulled out a couple stashed fabrics.

I’m cooking…actually I’m not!  As part of our meaningful work summer, tonight is Petal Rose’s turn to cook.  She has taco potatoes on the menu.  The recipe is from this book.

I’m grateful for…how Builder continues to seek to be connected to us each day, despite the many miles between us.  He sent us these pictures during the week. 

This is a Great Horned Owl nest in this tree.

I’m praying for…wisdom and trust today.  Yesterday there was another attempted abduction of a girl in our ciy.  It prompted another talk with my daughters today about the reality of evil even in our neighborhood and how each time I say “yes” or “no” it is after prayerful consideration of safety parameters.  The balance of granting freedom to my growing children and allowing them the opportunity to practice safety and discernment has me on my knees.

I enjoyed a fun time with my kids this week by…watching a new movie with a big bowl of popcorn.

Something I am ogling or have my eye on…Beyond the Book Report

A  quote to share (silly, serious or both!)… 

Read more here.

Listed below are the titles of books and stories that made richer the spring days of May.  A wonderful realization has come to me that an idea that was presented to me a couple of years ago is true.  Good books are mentors.  This has been a tremendous discovery!

The Books;

Jessica’s First Prayer by Hesba Stretton  ~ My 12 year old daughter told me that this is one of her favorite books, that she has read it more times than she can remember.  Then she invited me to read it, so I did.  Truly a wonderful story.

The Cat that God Sent by Jim Kraus

Cleaning House, A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma, my response here

The BARE NAKED TRUTH, Dating, Waiting, and God’s Purity Plan by Bekah Hamrick Martin, review coming in June

Audio ~ Books, Sermons, Letters, etc

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.

For the Children’s Sake ~ I am part way through this one.  This is a book that may end up in my basket of gifts to give to new mothers.

What are you reading?  Who are your literary mentors?

 

Looking forward to “seeing” the hope in Nicaragua next month!

Just about when I recently finished a lengthy reading “assignment” (a couple of books I agreed to read and found that I had to really push to finish) a book that was requested from our library arrived.

Cleaning House: A Mom’s Twelve Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Will Wyma arrived from the library at exactly the right time!  We’ve had a out of the ordinary spring this year, with snow and freezing temperatures pretty late, so our garden is several weeks “behind.”  Builder is away and I don’t enough hours in my days to get it all done, inside the house and out.

First off I need to tell you something.  Throughout the book the author discussed several areas where youth entitlement had unintentionally taken residency in her home.  As I read these, I was very blessed to think about my own children and realize, those particular areas are not ones where we struggle. It brings a great deal of joy to me when I think about how ready to give and serve our daughters are.

 (before it sounds as if I don’t think we have any struggles, it wasn’t long before different areas of “entitlement” came into view)

In any case, there were some great ideas that came from Cleaning House.  The first was the idea of meaningful work.

 Over the last year each of our youngest three daughters have sponsored a child through Compassion International.

These sponsorships came about through different circumstances and while our daughters are not old enough to “work” they found ways to try and cover the sponsorship.  We have been happy to make up the difference.

Janeth, Tanzania

This arrangement is fine, but we realized that they are very capable of working and caring for our yard this summer as a way of earning funds for the sponsorships.  And a meaningful work plan took shape.



Sreeshma, India

So, a master plan has been approved by all parties and the jobs have begun.  The girls are responsible for all of the gardens, mowing, sweeping, animal care and clean up.  They scheduled the days they work and have plenty of time for finishing school and other “summer” stuff.  We will pay them an hourly amount once per month that they will be able to use to purchase a cashier’s check to send for their Compassion sponsorships.

It is my hope that actually working for the funds to support these precious kids will reap a bountiful harvest for each of our daughters.

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life “its” name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

 What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?