Motherhood

Motherhood


Instead of silken china scarf,
Petal-soft touch of tiny arms.
Instead of gold and silver bands,
The precious clasp of baby hands.

Instead of roses’ musky scent,
The milky breath of sweet infant.
Instead of diamonds on my breast,
Sparkling tears adorn my chest.

Instead of empty marble halls,
The sound of laughter and little footfalls.
Instead of a priceless masterpiece,
Small hands create a bright motif.

Instead of rustling satin gown,
Daisy chains and a clover crown.
Instead of soothing symphonies,
The lisp of childish sympathies.

And would I trade my clover crown,
For diamonds and a satin gown?
No—for all the world, I never would
Renounce the joys of motherhood.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
The crisp orange leaves glimmering in the warm sun.

I am thinking...
I am so grateful and filled with peace when I spend time with the Lord.

I am thankful for...
Knowing that every day is a new beginning to live in God's grand world.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)
Jake is learning how to crawl and YIKES how to stand up in his crib.

From the kitchen...
Are clean dishes drying.

I am wearing...
Comfy black pants, a cozy shirt under a soft black sweater.

I am creating...
Ideas for homemade Christmas presents.

I am going...
To have a beautiful day.

I am reading...
My new Mary Jane Farm magazine.

I am hoping...
My friend, Gene's, health is improving.

I am hearing...
My Joyce Meyer podcast. So uplifting.

Around the house...
Are toys, clothes to be put up and a feeling that a true family lives here.

One of my favorite things...
The feeling of peace and serenity God gives me.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Getting together with friends on Thanksgiving and my family on Sunday, baking a delicious sweet for the gatherings I have been invited to, and getting more chicken fed.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.”

Psalm 139:23-24

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
I see the colorful, golden leaves as they slowly drift to the leaf covered ground.

I am thinking...
How grateful I am for the life God had given me, flaws and all.

I am thankful for...
My family to take care of.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)
Jake and I are learning to play and dance.

From the kitchen...
Thinking about the wonderfully, warm, filling chili we will eat for dinner.

I am wearing...
Black pants with a black long sleeve T-shirt with a denim wrap shirt on top. Nice and warm.

I am creating...
A home of refuge.

I am going...
To putter around the house today.

I am reading...
Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

I am hoping...
For a peacefilled day.

I am hearing...
My precious son awaking from his nap.

Around the house...
Are our busy chickens and turkeys scratching the ground.

One of my favorite things...
The change of seasons.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Fellowship with friends, trip to the library and errand to the general store.



Please join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook.
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home

"Home Sweet Home"

All of us carry in our minds the image of our ideal home realized or not. It is a place where we feel we belong, a rightness, at-homeness, a knitting together of self and world. Home is a place to become yourself, to rest and surrender all pretense. As dear Mother used to say, "Home is the place to restore mind, body, and soul." It is a source of emotional nourishment. It's where you can close a door and open your heart.

If there is any meaning to existence, we are surely closest to it there. We often take our homes for granted. But when we steep ourselves in our home, a deep sense of place begins to emerge. Life becomes more meaningful. We begin to have a greater spiritual awareness of what our home is and should be.

Perhaps our most inspiring thought is that if our homes, if we are to live well in them, require and deserve a lifetime of the most careful attention. A home absorbs caretakeing like a sponge. All the hours we spend tending to it are never in vain, for everything we give to our home, is in turn, given back to us. Our homes will only be as generous and nurturing as the effort we invest in them.

--Miriam Lukken, Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping

Second post of the day. WOW

While browsing blogs today I stumbled across this amazing blog which is providing me with alot of encouragement in my walk as a Stay At Home Mom.

Currently she has a Fall Challenge I am going to participate in. This is my first blog challenge and I am excited.

Here are the details. Would love you to join me. Hope I am doing this right.


http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/

Being a grateful Stay at Home Mom

I have not updated everyone on the condition of my mom lately so am going to take the time to do that. My mom is leveling off on her health decline. She recently had her meds readjusted and my faithful father has been visiting with her 12 hours a day. We actually suspect that her medication was not being given properly which caused her to exhibit stroke like symptoms and more falling. The combination of med adjustment and my father's presence has remedied all that. God is so good.

I am really loving my choice to stay at home with Jake. I am loving being a mom and Dayne's help mate. One thing helping me is reading other women's blogs and seeing how they get so much JOY out of taking care of their family. I have always dreamt of being a homemaker but that has not been possible until now.

Jake and I are getting into a more predictable rhythm and this is helping me alot. I also have done some inner work and realize what a precious and important job I have to make my home a haven for my family. I realize that having a place for my family to receive rest and peace is every increasingly important.

Now the confession part of this post. I have no idea what I am doing. My mom was a SAHM and did the most fabulous job of anyone I know. Dayne's mom was a SAHM and from his description she shined at her calling as well. I must admit I never took the time to allow my mom to mentor me. I saw the fruits of her labor but did not stop long enough to learn HOW to do what she did. So I am trying to learn as much as I can about my calling to be a SAHM. I have alot of skills to learn but instead of being intimidated I am getting excited and grateful for all the women who have gone before me and are willing to show me the way.

I love the process of nurturing my family and providing a place of joy, peace, order. I love that Dayne is patient and loving and is encouraging me along the way. I love that he values what I do at home and tells me daily. That can make all the difference in the world.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to bear my soul again.