I’m busy today. . . . I just got done playing “memory” with David for the first time.  It was really funny.  Needless to say, we didn’t finish the game.  He gave up.  I gave up.

I’ve been trying to keep my house clean.  Should I say, VERY clean?  So far it’s been going well and it helps me feel less stressed.  I’ve been keeping up w/the laundry, too.  I figured out (again!) that I just have to keep going w/it until it’s done.  It’s a nice feeling to actually have clean clothes in the dressers and closets and not have to go to the basement to paw through baskets of clean clothes! 

Caleb is growing and changing.  He is always on his feet now.  He hasn’t cut any teeth yet.  He is wearing size 12mo.  He’s such a joy to me.  Even though he did wake up last night at 12, soaked through all his clothes and screaming loudly.

David is completely potty trained, we went out yesterday and he picked out his new underwear.  A package of Thomas and a package of NASCAR.

Jacob is busy w/school, he has a book report due tomorrow.  My mom commented to me last weekend that he was “half-grown” and I did NOT like that thought.  I hope I’m doing a good job with him.  I so much want my children to grow up to glorify God and live godly lives.

Ethan has new walkie-talkies.  He and Jake have been trying them out and it’s very interesting to listen to them try to figure out what to say.  Mostly it’s, “What are you doing right now?” . . . .

Grace is sprouting out of her dresses and so I have to sadly go through her clothes again.  Having one girl is sort of sad because there isn’t any sister to pass the clothes down to.  I keep all the little things that I buy special, but everything else (hand me downs, tag sales, cheap clearance) goes bye-bye.  I did shop online today for her and that cheered me up quite a bit (sorry honey!).  Land’s End has nice, fuss-free dresses for school that are comfortable and never need ironing.  This is the first time I’ve bought from them so we’ll see how it goes. . . . . .

Well, Caleb is starting to wonder where lunch is and David is waiting for me to fix his bagel.  Back to work!  I love it!

Love, Shanda

“Keepers at Home”

My Dad holding newborn baby David
September, 2003

My Dad holding newborn baby David
September, 2003

The word Simplicity is so inspiring to me, and has been for several years now.  I bought a white t-shirt that has the word Simplicity on it, I’ve done a little personal Bible study on it, and I’ve bought a few books on the subject.  Imagine the jolt I got when I picked up a book and my eyes fell on this quote:

“Simplicity is the dream of all
who have too much to do.”

NO!  I don’t believe it!  I love Simplicity for what it is, not because I have too much to do!   Besides, I have a lot to do, but not too much!
Anyway, after I read that, it made me think of another book, Freedom of Simplicity, by Richard J. Foster.  I got it from my bookcase, opened it, and came across this big section that I circled in it — it deals with simplicity and legalism and it really struck a chord in me when I read it months ago. 

“If Simplicity were merely a matter of externals,
things would be quite easy.  We would then need only to formulate the system (no small trick to be sure) that defines the boundaries-Christian faithfulness would allow us to live in this income bracket but not that one, to purchase this house but not that one.  We would have a clearly definable arrangement, even if it would need periodic adjustment to keep abreast of inflation.  It would be clear who is in and who is out, who is faithful and who is not.  Presto, a new pharisaism.  Very fine, thank you.

“Sometimes I genuinely wish it were that way.  And I have no desire to speak disparagingly of the many groups who have developed such systems.  In fact, I envy them at times, because the clarity of that approach has immense power to motivate and change behavior.  But as we all know, its end result is bondage and death.  THE LETTER ALWAYS KILLS;  THE SPIRIT ALONE GIVES LIFE.  Gospel simplicity gives freedom and liberation.

“The outer expression of simplicity must flow from the inner resources.  It is learning to walk in the Spirit that builds the life of purity, unity, and grace.  There is an inwardness that is central to our task;  without it all is lost.  We delude ourselves, however, if we think we can possess the inner reality of simplicity without its having a profound effect upon the way we live;  the tension must be maintained.

“Perhaps you have noted that I have been dealing with the age-old continuum of legalism to license.  We reject legalism because it leads to spiritual suicide, and we reject license because of the same reason.  THERE IS ANOTHER WAY, THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT.  The Apostle Paul gives the classic formulation of this reality in his Epistle to the Galations.  There he came down about as hard as he possibly could against casuistic legalism and for the glorious freedom that we know in Christ, perceptively adding that we must not allow our freedom to be an apportunity of the flesh.  He concludes, ‘If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:25).  If we possess the inward reality, it must manifest itself in an outward lifestyle.”

So my meditations on Simplicity led to the freedom of realizing clearly the solution to my bondage of living by a set of rules and regulations put on me by men vs. “I can do anything I want”.  Why have I thought all along that there were only 2 choices: LEGALISM or LICENSE?  The only choice in the matter is living by the Spirit of God.  How can I know?  Only by a deep, meaningful relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Keep your eyes on Him and off others.

You all probably had this figured out, but all of our journeys are different, and the Lord led ME to the answer to MY questions.  I share so you know what’s going on in my mind today and as a testiment to the goodness of God.  We all have hearts that yearn to please and glorify Him and I am thankful to all my family and friends who are, each and every one, a blessing and encouragement to me!

Rich even said that it was good for ALL of us that I went away (huh?)!!

I left on Friday, had to stop one time for an hour so I could feed the baby.  I got at my parent’s house at about 6:30.  Mom, Isaac and Brittany (Isaac’s girlfriend) were there to welcome me.  Spent the rest of Friday visiting with them.

My Dad works second shift so I got to see him Saturday morning when he woke up.  We all hung around the house having a nice lazy morning and then got ready and went out to Bainbridge to a couple antique stores.  I FOUND FIESTAWARE, actually. . . my mom helped me find my #1 prize:  a vintage cobalt fiesta ASHTRAY, yep!  An ashtray that I bought for 15 dollars and it’s worth 57!  I also bought 2 rose dinner plates, 3 rose teacups, one rose saucer, a vintage cobalt dinner plate, a homer laughlin plate w/a pretty scene on it, a glass pig for my pig collection, and a few old Little Golden books for THAT collection.  We also went to a maple syrup place and I bought some syrup and maple jelly.  We went home after that and spent more time together as a family.  Nathan and Melissa came (they’re expecting a baby this winter, they just found out last week!) and David came.

On Sunday we woke up to a snowy day, snow on the ground and still falling.  We went to church and it was nice to see my home church family.  Everyone was so friendly and it was nice to see old friends and especially Aunt Colleen and Cousin Elisha!

I had to leave Sunday afternoon.  I drove Isaac back to college in Oneonta, NY.   We had a nice talk and lunch at Brooks BBQ Chicken before saying goodbye.  He’s such a good young man and it’s a pleasure to be his big sister!

The ride home was nice.  I drove my way to sunshine, listening to good music, stopped for Dunkin Donuts. Caleb slept all the way until the Lee Outlets where I shopped at the Eddie Baur outlet and bought a really cute outfit “for Texas” (next month!).

Got home about 8, called Mom and Dad right away (they were beginning to worry), spent time w/Rich, who wasn’t too happy about me coming home to mess up his CLEAN HOUSE, (I got to come home to a clean house!!!!). 

All in all a great weekend.  I highly recommend you ladies getting away from it all now and then, it made me realize that my little world really isn’t this little.  I have a life outside of church and home!  And that’s a good thing, it keeps me a balance woman!

Lea Ann, thanks for calling me, I miss you so much.  Don’t worry, the sun will shine for you very soon!  Take care of yourself and your family, you’ve been doing the work of many for so long, you need to relax a little while you’re waiting to get into your new house next week!

Rich even said that it was good for ALL of us that I went away (huh?)!!

I left on Friday, had to stop one time for an hour so I could feed the baby.  I got at my parent’s house at about 6:30.  Mom, Isaac and Brittany (Isaac’s girlfriend) were there to welcome me.  Spent the rest of Friday visiting with them.

My Dad works second shift so I got to see him Saturday morning when he woke up.  We all hung around the house having a nice lazy morning and then got ready and went out to Bainbridge to a couple antique stores.  I FOUND FIESTAWARE, actually. . . my mom helped me find my #1 prize:  a vintage cobalt fiesta ASHTRAY, yep!  An ashtray that I bought for 15 dollars and it’s worth 57!  I also bought 2 rose dinner plates, 3 rose teacups, one rose saucer, a vintage cobalt dinner plate, a homer laughlin plate w/a pretty scene on it, a glass pig for my pig collection, and a few old Little Golden books for THAT collection.  We also went to a maple syrup place and I bought some syrup and maple jelly.  We went home after that and spent more time together as a family.  Nathan and Melissa came (they’re expecting a baby this winter, they just found out last week!) and David came.

On Sunday we woke up to a snowy day, snow on the ground and still falling.  We went to church and it was nice to see my home church family.  Everyone was so friendly and it was nice to see old friends and especially Aunt Colleen and Cousin Elisha!

I had to leave Sunday afternoon.  I drove Isaac back to college in Oneonta, NY.   We had a nice talk and lunch at Brooks BBQ Chicken before saying goodbye.  He’s such a good young man and it’s a pleasure to be his big sister!

The ride home was nice.  I drove my way to sunshine, listening to good music, stopped for Dunkin Donuts. Caleb slept all the way until the Lee Outlets where I shopped at the Eddie Baur outlet and bought a really cute outfit “for Texas” (next month!).

Got home about 8, called Mom and Dad right away (they were beginning to worry), spent time w/Rich, who wasn’t too happy about me coming home to mess up his CLEAN HOUSE, (I got to come home to a clean house!!!!). 

All in all a great weekend.  I highly recommend you ladies getting away from it all now and then, it made me realize that my little world really isn’t this little.  I have a life outside of church and home!  And that’s a good thing, it keeps me a balance woman!

Lea Ann, thanks for calling me, I miss you so much.  Don’t worry, the sun will shine for you very soon!  Take care of yourself and your family, you’ve been doing the work of many for so long, you need to relax a little while you’re waiting to get into your new house next week!

Happy Things

Feed the birds
eat good food
take long walks
breathe fresh air
wear something pretty
read good books
grow flowers
redecorate
take long naps
soak in bathtubs
write in a diary
show love
paint toenails
see chick flicks

Someone Little Who Makes
Me Happy!

Ebabe’s blog for today had a quote in it from Martin Luther which reminded me of something I read in The Five Silent Years of Corrie Ten Boom, by Pamela Rosewell Moore. 

My life is like a weaving
Between my God and me
I did not choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Sometimes He weaveth sorrow
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’till the loom is silent
And the shuttle cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the skillful Weaver’s hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

“When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold”

I read all your blogs and suddenly I am feeling so blah.  I have nothing to say of interest.  Blame it on being sick, tired and weak since tuesday night but really, is this blog thing really for me?

Apparently I have no creative juices flowing at the moment.  So, instead of being silent I decided to blog honestly about not wanting to blog!