Friends with like minds

Last night we had friends over.  We enjoyed the evening over dinner and conversation.  We enjoyed talking about kids, faith, and life in general.  It is wonderful to have friends that are like-minded that you can enjoy an evening just being you!!

How did they ever do it?

I was up all night with baby and am extremely exhausted today.  I have so much to do that I have to push on.  That got me thinking.  How did the women from the days of old do it??  Seriously.  They would have had multiple little ones to care for and had much more physical labor than we.  I can't image being up all night and then rising at probably 5:00am to get the breakfast on the table for the family.  Clean that up...oh remember that is by fire.  Then there is laundry, mending, teaching, chores.  Then lunch time.  Did she remember to kill & pluck the chicken?  How long would that take anyway.  Well lunch is now done.  She is cleaning up again and probably clean the rest of the house.  Then there is dinner to deal with, so sometime she had to get the meat and everything ready for that.  I haven't even mentioned keeping the fire going, nursing babies, fixing scraped knees, and stepping in to fix an argument between siblings.

As far as I can see, the only advantage they had over us was, no phone ringing and not as many toys to pick up.

So, as I finish loading my dishwasher, switching a load of laundry, and taking the meat from the freezer to get a casserole ready for lunch in my gas oven while exhausted from lack of sleep....I shall not complain!!! 

A New Start

It has snowed again today making a bright white coat on the lawn. It reminds me of what it is like to have a fresh start. All the brown yucky snow is covered again. The tracks from the kids and the dog are covered looking as if the yard is untouched. Ready for a brand new trip down the hill or a hike to the bunny hutch.

I guess that is how I am feeling this month. I feel like I get a fresh start. Spiritually I feel renewed and ready to learn. Physically, I am excited about starting a lifestyle of taking care of my body, the temple of the Most Holy One. The kids are working on cleaning out their rooms to get unused toys sent to the thrift store and broken ones in the trash.

A new start, time to begin again. My goal is to work harder to keep things the way they are. I know that there is beauty in a fresh start, I just pray that when I get another chance, that this time, there won't be so much icky to cover up.

Lord, thank you for your blessing of fresh starts. They have such a renewing and refreshing feeling of hope. I pray that as I go from here that I will keep my focus on what you have for me. I ask for your guidance everyday as I take care of my responsibilities. May I do what you would have me to do. I pray that the next time you send a time of renewal, that I will not feel so overwhelmed with where I am, I want to be in your will everyday...even in the mundane. Thank you for being patient with me as I learn more about you and give up more of my selfish ambitions.