A Life of Service

My sweet sister asked if this was an off weekend for us, since they are rare. I happily told her,  Yes!, and listed what was on the agenda. 

It was work that was on the schedule. Which could seem counterintuitive to some, but a life of service to the Lord means down time involves the work we want to do and have to do, usually at home. I think of it as resetting for the week ahead. It is so relaxing to get all the things done so the "work week" runs more effectively. Tasks that have been on the list, things that make my home run most effectively for everyone...a few hours at night to do leisure activities is plenty. 

Of course, some weekends it is fun to get out and get away from the house. But that brings stress when things aren't in order at home or when there's been an awfully large amount of work during the week. It's something to think about and consider, whether it's a time to just say, "Forget the work, I need some fun!!" or to find that the work will bring more long lasting benefits. 

Let us work heartily as unto the Lord and not men while we're able. He brings the needed rest and increase!

Productive Days

Some people make lists and work off them for weeks and weeks, sometimes even months. I've certainly made lists when there are specific tasks I'm knocking out and need to prioritize, but often there are long tasks in my mind that only I can do, and which only really matter to me. They are the hard things that aren't going to happen incidentally or bit by bit. Multiple rooms in the house will be impacted simultaneously while I clean out, organize and restructure spaces. 

Today was such a day of productivity. 

Epic things have happened in this house since May with kitchen cleaning out and reorganization, armoires being reorganized and items consolidated or tossed, and we're using one desk in the living room that finally has all my stuff in or near it, organized. I've done a major culling of my clothing and have seriously tackled my husband's clothes, piling up categories for him to go through when he gets the mind to do it. 

The impetus was packing up my daughter's items from college and then packing all of her items for moving out. Suddenly the volume of what one person can have hit me hard, and I needed to take a solid look at my own clothes hoarding. No longer do my drawers have clothes crammed in them, and I've taken lots out that I simply never wore. It is so freeing. Shoes that didn't work are gone. Why hold on to them? 

This is just the start, and I hope to free up more space in this house before 2026, but at least we're off to a good start. 

The garage needs work yet again, but that can't happen until the desk we removed from the house sells and my daughter's stuff is in her apartment. Meanwhile, I've got more than a few old computers to deal with. That is a project I can't wait to be done with! ♥

Fall Updates at the Homestead ;)

 

It was always worth the wait. 

33 succulent starts in cups, though 11 are multiples! Look for a pop up plant sale!

First attempt at growing cactus' from seed! Stay tuned!

Harvested rose hips today and made rose hip tea. The seeds are soaking and awaiting the long 3 months in the fridge so they can be planted next spring. 

Cutting garden installed and planned by the eldest daughter! Can't wait to see what arrives in spring! New fence to come!

This looks like a mess but it is quite improved and will be mulched soon enough. 

Fall plantings are emerging: peas and spinach.

Fall beets!

Pitfalls of Wrong Focus

Doing the same thing, in the same way, and expecting a different result equals insanity. We must make different decisions if we want different results.

Homemaking is about cleaning, decorating, cooking, and generally creating a safe, comfortable place for your most cherished loved ones. To make it about something else misses the point and will lead to not actually fulfilling the intent of homemaking.

Working for an employer is about performing the duties you've been hired to fulfill, diligently, on-time, in the manner the employer desires. To do something else would mean you are not working within the parameters of being a good employee. You might be busy, but you aren't fulfilling the design as it has been laid out, and thus, ultimate success will not be recognized.

Education....gaining knowledge and understanding about a particular subject, demonstrating mastery according to the syllabus as determined by the instructor.

College-- It is for gaining understanding and knowledge about a particular area of study, with the successful completion resulting in a diploma which further leads to gainful employment. To do less than this is not success. To make it about something else is to not fulfill the purpose for which college has been designed. You might be busy, but if the end goal is not met, success will not be achieved. 

When we make something about something other than what it IS designed for, we set ourselves up for failure. Unwittingly we have expectations that must be met outside the parameters of the confines of the task. If homemaking is primarily about having friends over, we've made it about hospitality....which means our focus is not actually on our family. We might have a vibrant ministry to ladies coming into our home, all the while neglecting the creation of a peaceful respite for our weary husband.

We might make our place of employment about pushing our political agenda or evangelism, but if we are not dutifully fulfilling what we've been hired to do, we are not good employees and are not being careful stewards of our employer's resources or our time as a worker. Is evangelism good? Yes, but if we are not hired as an evangelist, we better not be slothful about our WORK.

If we attend college with secondary or tertiary priorities as our main driver, there is going to be trouble when those side issues fall by the wayside. What we can completely control in college is the effort we put into the academics. Friends coming and going will not change that, injury will not ruin that, nor will not being good enough to stay on a team. Character development and growth in Christ are terrific byproducts of attending university for the right reasons when we get involved in attending and serving at a local church.

Ask yourself, are you embarking on an aspect of life with the same approach you've had before, expecting different results? Let's not plan to fail. Let's plan to succeed and keep the main thing the main thing.

What Does Respect Look Like?

The Misunderstood Ingredient

The sermon above is one of the best, if not the best, I've heard given on biblical submission. Pastor Darrin is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Wheeling, WV. I've been listening to most of his messages for about 4 years now, essentially for one year prior to my oldest child attending his church and the subsequent 3 years when she was a member. Now that she's no longer there, I continue to listen because he is a pastor full of love for his congregation. He sacrifices, along with his beautiful wife, to serve the people God has entrusted him with. The time and attention he puts into studying cannot be missed and are matched by the other pastor I strive to listen to weekly, John MacArthur.

If you listen to the sermon linked to above, you will surely know what respect for a husband looks like. As a wife, I usually know, but sometimes I'm not paying attention and might act in a way that isn't respectful. We all learn what our husbands want, or at least, we should...and as seasons change, we should take stock and see if we need to up our game. 

God gives us husbands to be our priest, provider and protector. How do we honor that? Our tone of voice, stopping to look at them and greet them when they enter a room, looking at them when they speak to us, following their lead---these are things that mean a lot. Our husbands should be who we ask first about biblical questions and who we go to for advice. They are the spiritual head of the home and they appreciate when we show regard for their opinions.

Regarding husbands being our providers--whether a wife works outside the home or not, it is her duty and calling to keep the home and make it a haven for her husband. We are told to be keepers at home. If we do not have to work for financial reasons, I don't think we should if we use it as an excuse to not cultivate the skills of maintaining a lovely place for the family to live. We show respect to our husbands when we make the home a priority. They have provided it, and our nurture of it shows our gratitude in ways words alone fail to do. Not liking housework or cooking is an excuse that is, quite honestly, lame. I do not think God is pleased when wives rebel and refuse to keep the home in a way that is pleasing to their husbands or who will not learn to cook because it isn't fun. NO amount of outside work makes up for failing to obey God's word. There is safety for a wife to not be influenced regularly from outside the home, and being home and tending it causes a dependence on the husband that is good. Home made meals are healthier, budget friendlier, and a wife can stay in shape keeping the house up which is a way to respect her husband. Look good for your man as best you can!

Honoring our husbands as our protector--God has set up the family unit so that men are the head and that is because BY DESIGN men are strong--mentally and physically. They create a hedge around the family, and we need to look to them as that by placing ourselves under their watchful care. The more we are out of the house, the harder this is. Women who do not have husbands should be under the care of their father, meaning they should defer to their Dad's advice first and foremost, letting suitors know how close she is to her father. It is a protection for her. Wives who are clearly under their husbands will naturally have less negative influences coming at them from the outside. Everyone just knows that a wife backed by a strong man is not easily swayed. 

Ladies, learn your husband's wants and needs and do things the way he wants. That is how to respect him. Don't make him tell you to cook for him and clean the house and do his laundry--of course he wants that, but he doesn't want to have to force you. Submission is to willingly and lovingly cultivate what is needed to serve your husband. It is an attitude from the wife, who can hire some things out if needed, but she should first make sure she is putting aside those things that are easy "go-to's" outside the home and do the hard work of being a competent home maker. That shows a husband respect for what he has done and shows you care about him enough to take physical care of him. In the process, you will surely benefit. ♥

What's Growing 6/16/21

As often happens these days, I wasn't going to grow much. Maybe some lettuce, kale and chard. Note the lack of lettuce 😳

 Flag Day 2021

Peas ♥

A potted arrangement, my first to make!

The Calla Lilly has never bloomed multiples!!

Provence lavender

True Grosso lavender

Thyme

Oregano

Melissa lavender

Royal Velvet lavender

Figs! Wish they were evergreens!

The Concord Grapes

Corn "field" ;)

Yellow squash

Tomatoes

Raspberry Recovery Program is slowly coming along

Zucchini and watermelon (hopefully)

Pumpkins, possibly pie pumpkins from WV seeds!

Sweet Peppers

Carrots

Swiss Chard

Beets

Kale, which should last through winter

Peach tree and mint are here

Strawberries, peas, onions, iris

Everything edible (besides strawberries, onions, and peas) is here,

.....where the pines, chickens and bunnies used to be 🐔🌲

Birthday Cake and What's Growing? 6/5/21

My oldest made me the most delicious carrot cake for my birthday!! I didn't get a picture of it whole and haven't checked the camera to see if there is a picture there of it uncut, but here it is!

I'm no photographer, obviously, and my phone is the cheapest out there...so here is simply what I have to show for this tasty treat!

The thyme has fully bloomed! It was planted last year....

This is the first time the Calla Lilly has had two blooms!

Lavender....I'm trying to propagate all of my plants with cuttings. We'll see in a month if they have rooted. If so, I cannot WAIT to put it everywhere and share it!