Mother of Seven + 2

Walking this afternoon Thinking about our country Wondering about the future Praying for our land Heading out of town Fields lie barren after harvest Signs of autumn surround me The beauty of spring long since faded Here and there a few fall flowers bloom A blossom of yellow A patch of gold Brighten the browns and oranges Photo from www.freedigitalphotos.net   Those flowers remind me of our children Seeds growing in a dying world Bringing beauty and life As they blossom in the midst of the weeds Oh, Lord, what a difficult life they face This country turning from its Christian foundation Giving away the religious freedom it once cherished Taking away the heritage the founders planned for them Pain grips my heart I close my eyes Then I hear it The sound of wind blowing through the native grasses Reminded me of the Holy Spirit Alive and well Changing lives Accomplishing God's work The Spirit is moving Blo...

This year I struggled a bit with wanting to start the school year.  Last year the whining and complaining, huffing and puffing, rolling the eyes and slamming into the chair stuff really was wearing me thin by the end of the year.  I was not anxious to start again.  I wanted to enjoy my children, but this attitude junk definitely did not spell out enjoyment.  It stressed me and made me anxious to just let them loose so I could get away from them. I worked and worked at not letting these attitudes occur.  There was discipline.  There were gentle reminders and sometimes not so gentle reminders.  There was practice of a proper response after an inappropriate response.  There were Scriptures memorized.   Despite my efforts it felt like I was banging my head against the wall.  Children can unwillingly conform on the outside, but the attitude still dwells on the inside.  It continues to seep out, but many times it just spills out al...

It was a lazy Saturday morning.  No one rolled out of bed much before 8:00 a.m.  It was nearly 9:00 by the time I called the troops to breakfast.  They came thumping down the stairs with everyone talking at once.  As we were taking our seats around the breakfast table, Troy looked up at his dad and noticed a problem. "Um, dad, you have something white on your face." "No, I don't.  I just looked in the mirror and there was nothing there." Troy reaches towards his dad's face to show him.  Dad pulls his head back.  "Back off.  There's nothing on my face.  You're just pulling my leg."   By this time the chatter has died down and everyone is looking at Dad.  Kayt chimes in, "Seriously, dad, there is something on your forehead." The agitated response fired back, "Now guys, I just took a shower.  I get clean in the shower unlike some of you.  I looked in the mirror.  And I know there is nothing on my face." A...