Graciousness....

This precious little one is our first of the 2011 calf crop...he just decided to come a wee bit early...5ish weeks! Our former show heifer--Jolene--birthed the sweet one along with his sister(who didn't make it) on Tuesday morning. We labored with her all day Monday, all through the night Monday and in the wee hours of Tuesday morning catching glimpses of the total lunar eclipse along the way! Fearing the the calf wasn't alive we were prepared to take her to have a c-section--yes, they do that on cows too-- NOT at all what we wanted to see happen. I prayed that Tony would be spared the decision of what to do to help/save her and that in God's mercy even with our herd, He would make things very clear. When Tony got back to the barn around seven am Tuesday, the babies had been born with no help. This little guy weighed a whopping 27 pounds! For my noncattle friends that would be like having a 3-4 pound infant. LITTLE guy he is, but he is standing already and able to nurse with some help! We really didn't think he would make it. As He usually does in His ever so merciful way, God reminded me through the birth of this baby calf that He alone is the giver and sustainer of life. We have so little power. He is gracious to whom He will be gracious to and merciful to whom He will be merciful to! (ref Exodus 33:19) Praise Him for the gentle reminder that it is He who decides the numbers of all our days. I am so blessed to live where the miracle of birth, as well as the complete circle of life, is so visibly evident. I am truly a country girl at ♥.

Learning can be fun!

I haven't always thought that learning was fun, but I am determined that my children can experience learning that is FUN! I am learning so much and it's exciting. I'm hopeful that my excitement is contagious!

Today is our last day of school at Academy T.O.L.A.R. until after the Christmas break. We celebrated by having a tea party to remember the Boston Tea Party which is acknowledged by many as the beginning of our quest for freedom. In our celebration and discussion of tea and high tea etiquette, I realized that the actions of the Bostonians were actually born of motivation for change, freedom from oppression and realization that freedom provided a lifestyle of hardship ahead, but a lifestyle worth sacrificing for. It cost the early Americans very much to gain our independence.

Isn't that the way our Christian lives should be? Realization that the change, no matter the cost is worth the freedom in Christ we have once we surrender? I felt earlier today that we should be more "Christmas" focused today--our last school day--and then I realized that in studying the quest for freedom we actually are. Without the birth of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ, we too, would and for some, may still be living in bondage and oppression. True change costs us. Praise His name for coming, at a very high cost. We now can live in freedom under His grace and the price on our behalf has been paid. Sacrifice is when true change arrives. Bless that sacrifice that brings us to be able to "boldly approach the throne of grace , that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need." Heb 4:16

My learning academically takes and costs me time. So does my spiritual learning. That time and effort is a sacrifice that will lead to my change and hopefully be a contagious difference in my family. Learning can be FUN!

Roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble...

I love reading with my children. I don't prefer to read books over and over...once I've read a particular book, I'm good. I guess I have read a few more than once if I really enjoyed them. Funny how little ones choose ONE book, and it's THE book for all time. Ours is "The Poky Little Puppy." If I've read that book once I am sure I've read it a bazillion times...and so has my mama. It was and still is my favorite EVER! I'm pretty sure I can quote the majority of it..."And down they went to see, roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble, till they came to the green grass and there they stopped short."..."And home they went, as fast as they could go, over the bridge, up the road, through the meadow, and under the fence." I LOVE THIS BOOK and it thrills me to read it the bazillion and 1st time tomorrow. Love my little T!

Slowing down...lesson in progress

Slow is not my style! I'm always in a hurried flurry. If I say 'hurry up, guys, let's go' once a day I say it fifty, yet I never get more accomplished or get anywhere early--as MANY of you can attest to this truth! I set my clocks ahead only to remind myself that now I have extra time. I cram too many things into much too short time slots. I am beginning to realize, maybe it's because my frenzy is actually an internal problem that manifests itself externally.

Earlier today we took Christmas card photos. Trying to get everyone ready and out the door for the best evening light, we were harried and grumpy--sounds like fun, huh? When we returned and started dinner I realized what my heart has known for some time...It ain't workin'!

SO, tonight I slowed down...I french-braided my baby girl's hair, just because. I sat and watched The Polar Express til the end. I listened, really listened, to my wee one's imagination run wild at bedtime...without wishing he'd hurry up. It felt really good. It's a feeling I want to experience more often than that hustle-bustle I described earlier. I read recently that multitasking doesn't necessarily get more things done faster... in some cases it actually slows you down, as you never complete a thought process or a task efficiently. Just like most of the people I know, I have many things to do each day, and multitasking makes me feel effective, however, I am realizing that while my jobs may be complete, I don't remember many details. I certainly don't remember savoring any feelings other than "Oh, how I wish I was finished!" I want to begin living as though I really realize that at the end of the journey you find that the reward was the journey itself. I want to love this ride, not wish it would hurry up and be over...it'll be over soon enough, and I'll be wishing for another round.

As this Christmas season is upon us...I am praying and planning to slow down mentally and work more intentionally on whatever my task at hand may be. I want to feel and experience this life in a way that I remember and absorb as much as possible. SO if you see me in my frenzy, remind your dear sister to 'slow down and breathe!' I am meditating on Psalms 127(NCV) "If the Lord doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing...It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those He loves." He's really the only One who can make my heart be still. It's my job to seek that time with Him so He can...Luke 10:38-42 {vv41-42 But the Lord answered her,"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."}

Meditating, pondering, savoring, resting...those are the roots that lead to wings we can soar on.

Forever etched....

Today we celebrate Owen...11 years old. I never, ever dreamed I'd have such a wonderful son. I should have known he'd be a special one when he decided to come into this world 5 weeks early. He was so tiny...5 lbs and 7 oz--itty bitty baby. He's still a small guy for his age, but that heart, oh that heart. What he may lack in size, our Creator God has made up for in his sweet, compassionate, serving heart. He has more room in there than most people twice or three times his age. We were watching "Facing the Giants" a couple of weeks ago...in the scene where the boy, David, is being told by his dad that he has prayed for God to do something great through him and David asks his dad, 'then why did God made me so small?' His dad replies, 'so He might show His greatness through you.' Owen looked up at me with big tears in His eyes....Oh the things that God may do through those who recognize Him and long to be used...WOW!

As if any birthday could be forgettable, God certainly smiled down on my boy today and made sure this one would be etched in our minds forever...he killed his first buck! Manhood is on the way. I'm so proud of him! This is sure to be a day...uh--BIRTHday he'll likely not forget!

Happy Birthday my sweet manchild! Your mama loves you lotta much!

Fall=roots.

The morning is GORGEOUS! Slept late with my baby girl...a wish she often voices, "Mama, will you sleep with me tonight?" SO thankful I took the time to say yes and bless my baby! Taking time...not something I do often, maybe I am growing up? After lazily sipping coffee and enjoying ALL of us here together, we moved out to the patio and started a fire in the chiminea on the patio. COOL, windy...great...then we moved into cleanup mode: yard, house, etc because the remnants of summer no longer fit the season.

In that cleanup, I pondered why I love Fall so much. It's really the end in many ways...the end of growing for so many plants I love, the end of green grass, the end of the pool, so what is it? It's also a beginning of sorts. It's the beginning of cool weather Football! It's the beginning of rest for my family...shorter days equal more time at home for Tony--yay us! It's the beginning of a holiday season of thankfulness for SO many things. It reminds me of my family at home...my GranNoni was an avid lover of Fall...her birthday, her beloved's birthday, goldenrod, leaves! I miss her. Boiled peanuts...my daddy and his family introduced me to that finery early in life...THANK YOU, DADDY! It's hog-killin' time...even though we don't anymore, the cool snap makes Tony and me think of it every year...maybe we'll just kill a hog again someday--for roots for our kids! It's syurp-makin' (sugar cane) time...my great grandparents did, Tony's family still does, and will miss it this year--definitely roots for my babes!! They will NEVER forget the cane mill...thank you Papa Ronnie!!

So there you go, my roots...that's why I love Fall. It's when I can ponder, get all nostalgic, and share our roots with the babes. It's also a time to deepen roots for them...our fire pit by the old barn, marshmallows, etc! So I'm off to boil some peanuts y'all! And in honor of my dear mama--English teacher forever-- 'Fall has Arriven!!' ;)

Am I really doing this?

I can't quite believe I am creating a blog...as if I'll have time to blog. Maybe it will inspire me to ponder and share more of my journey through life...family, homeschooling and ministry. Today is actually a day of mixed blessings...we are home with our weekly schoolwork complete, but Truett is sick :(. It has, however, afforded me a day of doing NOTHING guiltlessly! IF you choose to follow along this eccentric, crazy journey of mine I welcome you. Most of what you will see somehow relates to my roots--the things that made me who I am and that often I must hold firm to in order to keep going; my wings--the dreams, hopes and aspirations I have for myself and those I love; and things--the 'lagniappe--extra, unexpected gifts or benefits' of life. C'mon, honey, let's get going...share with me if you dare....