I have been "old time" living for the past two weeks...my washing machine broke down, as I am sure you probably know and I have been invading Kasie's and Susan's houses for basically there washing machines and the loving company that comes along with it!! They are both so great at letting me use there resources until my new washing machine comes THIS friday!! Yay! I never thought I would be ecstatic about a washing machine..go figure!
Right now, I'm at Kasie's invading her house with all 5 of my children using her washing machine for the 2nd time in two weeks...she's so gracious! I mean....allowing me and my 5 wonderful....crazy kids to invade her entire house just to do laundry...how many friends would do that??? I just love her! We did get to catch up since we hadn't seen each other in like a month! Good times as she would say! We also had some "worm drama"...but that is a post for another day!
On some more notes:
Ok, so I'm a totally domesticated wife and Home school Mother....It's Official!! And I am not completely siked about it or maybe I am...I'm undecided. Let's just face it. I'm learning the ropes and a lot of new things about myself that I am not so sure I will probably like by the end of this, so much change is needed. Change to my schedule (ya know, no more trying to attempt to sleep in), change in the kiddos schedule....a lot of change including the big one to come!!
Oh well......on to reading my home school manual...I have a lot to learn! So pray for me!
Last Monday began with a washing machine that practically caught fire...it was smoking galore. I called the repair man, but he couldn't come until today.
So, I endured going to the laundry mat with 4 children and 3 loads of laundry to do.(I left one with hubby b/c of his most "sincere" attitude, in need of adjustment). It's not a bad one, as a matter of fact, is a nice one. It has a 7-eleven for the kids-score! Slurpeesare on the menu that day for sure! Downside- $20.00 for the bill!! Ugh!
I did some laundry at my Mother in Laws on Friday (which actually she was so nice-she washed it, dried it and folded it to help me :) ). That was 3 more loads.
The repair man came today, look at my Amana machine (that has endured 5 years of tons of laundry...you're talkin' 7 of us, with daily fill ups of 2-3 loads, so it has given it's time).......and he says "Well, it needs a new belt that would be $120, then the bearings need to be replaced and they would be about $100 a piece. You might as well push this thing right out the door and get yourself a new one! I can't see you paying all that money to have to possibly replace the same parts again."
Ugh!!
Not what I wanted to hear, that is for sure! So, I am currently looking for washing machines-on a strict budget. Not so fun. I really wanted to be doing laundry right now-yes, the girl who wrote this post!! I need clean undies to tell the truth.
I may be at the laundry mat again this week until we can buy one....that means another, what, $40 bucks I will probably spending........oh well, at least a slurpee will be in the deal (ok...Erica...I'll try and find a sugar free one:) )!
Any suggestions, just let me know....remember I do have 7 of us and lots of clothes to clean every day, so it has to be heavy duty!!
On a happy note, I have been going to aerobics classes on Monday and Thursday nights. I'm feeling really good about it. I made my friends, Susan and Erica join me to sweat! They happilyobliged. I'll be there tonight sweating it out and feeling better about this body that needs to get skinny!!
Anywoo....here are a couple pics just to enjoy! We were at my In laws pool-what a great day!
Buckle your seatbelts, this is an in depth post. You will question yourself, your walk, your "vine". (**Just a warning...because I did) Friday, I was in the yard, which needed desperate need of a good trimming. Put it this way, It hadn't been touched in about a month. As you can imagine, my bushes looked like a HUGE afro was on my front lawn, just painted green, the lawn was almost to my knees, in some spots (and yes, I am short, but that is just out of control!) Anywoo...on to the bushes. I knew they needed help. So I borrowed a trimmer thingey (no, I don't remember the right name-I'm a girl) and began trimming and I was praying. Because I have really been struggling with the change that is coming. Oh, how I wish I could share ALL of my heart, but I cannot. But I will share what He shared with me while I was trimming....
"All of the fears you have seem valid, it's your flesh. And while it may be scary, did I say I would ever leave you? Would I ever tell you to do something without Me going before you and preparing the way? No, I am there. I am always with you, I will never leave you! I will never forsake you. There are times, where like these bushes, I need to trim off what is dead to allow the new to grow. It's immediately painful, so it may seem, but it grows back fuller. More abundant!! I don't do this to hurt you, but to help you grow. To help you help others grow. You are worth more than you know. Oh, how precious you are. Don't I take care of the sparrow? Don't I take care of the lillies of the field? HOW MUCH MORE DO I TAKE CARE OF YOU, PRECIOUS ONE? Each time I trim the vine, I am teaching you something you never knew about yourself. You are stronger, love longer, trust me more, look less at the circumstances and more at me. It will be a journey, but one you will walk away with and be completely trimmed and CHANGED. Forever Changed for My glory. Sometimes, it's not all about you, but who you will touch. Are you ready?"
Oh, I just wanted to stand in that yard and ball. Right there, where He met me. So much I've just worried about, but He is trimming the vine. And while it seems so painful with what will happen, I almost can't wait for Him to trim me completely. I will leave some things behind, but am I living for others, or am I pleasing Jesus, My Savior?
Ugh...every time I sit down to blog, I find myself hesitating and just plain lazy. I know..I know..I've kept a lot of details to myself for the last month (really, it's been a month?? hard to believe)
Tea day finished up this past Saturday and I have only heard a.maz.ing things about it! Which I feel so great about. God is so good and faithful. Although I lost it a couple of times (ya know, crying in front of everyone because it looked like it all was falling apart), but in the end, it was a beautiful event! I am planning on getting the cd and trying to load it on youtube or something so you all can listen. Each woman that presented gave such an awesome message about their book. We had seven women all together and the book list made me wish I had more time and enjoyed reading a whole lot more than I do! For a person that runs a bookstore, that is a shame isn't it?
Hopefully I will have pictures soon too. We enlisted a professional photographer to take pictures and I am sure they will look great too!
Anywoo...off to hopefully a non eventful day for a while. I need some peace! Thanks to Erica and Carmen for all of their help with tea day...they are two amazing women of God!
I am a 30 somthing woman, married for 13 years to my husband, Chris! We have 5...yes I said 5 beautiful children!! (see, this is where the grace comes in!)
I love the Lord with all my heart!! Jesus is my lifesaver-literally!
God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God
becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength
becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of
God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you
may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there
is a God.”
~Ernest Boyer, Jr.
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