There is a Patch the Pirate song that ends like this –

I was thinking yesterday about all the fun we had in the parsonage when our girls were growing up.  We did a lot of things wrong.  We were not perfect parents by any stretch, but one thing is for sure – we had fun trying!  If you would’ve peeked into our windows you would’ve seen us…

• Chasing one another around the house!  Our houses all had circular patterns when the girls were small.  It was perfect for a good chase!
• Making crafts with supplies like glue, glitter, paper, scissors, glitter, stickers, pipe cleaners, glitter and toilet paper rolls – and more glitter!

• Playing Hands Down!  Scrabble, Monopoly, Sorry!, Hi Ho Cherry O, Candy Land, and Dutch Blitz
• Tobogganing on the snowy hills
• Making cookies (real and pretend)
• Having tea parties with sugar water
• Playing Hide and Seek
• Reading books under the dining room table
• Having picnics in the living room
• Reading books on car trips
• Playing Shoe store, library, grocery store, and church
• Sitting in the tree house in the backyard eating lunch
• Having our yearly sunrise service on Easter morning in the tree house (wearing our winter coats – this was in Indiana)
• Making “Pajama Runs” for ice cream at Dairy Queen
• Riding bikes through town, on vacation, and on long trails
• Riding all the toys in the park – swings, slides, and merry-go-rounds!
• Making a train in the hallway with the kitchen chairs
• Singing around the piano
• Munching on popcorn while watching a movie or our home videos 
• Watching Andy Griffith at lunchtime on Friday’s
• Spending one-on-one time with the girls while the other was in bed “sleeping”
• Reading each night before they went to sleep
• Swimming and splashing in the pool on vacation

Oh yes, those were some fun days!  The fun continues, too.  Aren’t you thankful the Lord gives richly all things to enjoy? 

What are you doing to provide some fun for your family?  Put a little thought into it and create something you and your family will tuck away in their hearts as a wonderful memory!

What is the most fun thing you did/are doing as a family?

From the parsonage windows,

Can you think back to one thing that has happened to you that has changed your life? Perhaps it was only a temporary change, but it probably felt like it was lasting forever at the time.  It could be a very simple decision that was the turning point.  It could be a natural disaster, a choice someone close to you has made that effected you – the death of a loved one, or perhaps it is an illness that turned your world upside down.

Yesterday my Bible reading took me to the familiar story in I Samuel 17 – David and Goliath.  But as I read it yesterday morning, the Lord opened my eyes to something I’ve never thought of before.  David’s one decision to obey his father and take the simple meal to his brothers, changed his life forever!  He never went back to the hillside to be a shepherd boy again.  From the moment that he got to the battlefield and heard Goliath defying his God, everything changed for him. 

After killing Goliath, he was famous among the people!  They were singing his praises, making Saul grow in hatred towards David. He had to run from him the rest of time Saul was alive.  David’s own brother’s attitudes towards David were changed too.  They questioned his motives, and they were no longer Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah – they were probably referred to now as “David’s brothers” – just what older brothers would want to hear!

I wondered as I sat with my Bible opened in my lap, “Did David ever wish he could go back to the way things were before he took on the giant?”  How about you?  Do you ever wish that life would go back to “the way it used to be?”  Truthfully, I must admit that this giant of caring for a cancer patient has indeed turned my world upside down.  I (selfishly) miss the simpler days.  I miss the freedom of my schedule and time.  I miss time with my husband, and not feeling rushed to get back home to relieve our caregiver.  But then, I stop and consider what the Lord did for David, and how He does the very same thing for me today as I deal with my Goliath.

• He provided the five stones David needed to accomplish the task.  He gave him the necessary tools, if you will.  The “stones” the Lord gave me yesterday were:
1. His Word that encouraged me when I needed it
2. Two daughters that texted me to encourage my heart
3. A friend who signed up to come and relieve us so we could have a date
4. Time and health to exercise
5. Sunshine!
• He also gave David the right attitude in the midst.  The Lord gave him courage to face the giant.   He can (and wants) to change my attitude when I get discouraged and selfish.  He will if I see Him as my God – the Lord of hosts.
• He also helped David to throw off the comments from his brothers. He knew he was doing the right thing.  Others may criticize they way we’re handling the situation the Lord has given.  They may question our methods or our motives, but we must simply remind ourselves to be obedient to what the Lord reveals to us, as David did.

Stop in front of the giant you’re facing today. 

• Recognize 5 things the Lord has provided today to be your “stones” to help you face the giant before you.

• Write them down and rehearse them in your mind and heart all day today.  I wrote them on my adorable little chalkboard.  Put it somewhere you can see it!

• Ask God to give you the right attitude and response toward the hardship – and others’ criticism.

Life may never be like it was, but the change can be a blessing, if we stop to pick up the stones.

What 5 stones has the Lord given you today?  I’d love to hear!

With love,

What’s cookin’?  Encouragement.

A bridge is necessary to allow people to get from one passage to another.  I’m learning what a blessing a “Caring Bridge” can be!  The on-line Caringbridge has set out to be a “conduit between patients, their families, friends, neighbors and colleagues.”  We have a website set up for my MIL so folks can go on and keep up to date with her status.  A friend at church has also set up a planner on the Caringbridge for our church family to sign up to help with a couple meals a week, visit with my Mother-in-law, or come and stay with her while we go out for a bit.  I can’t tell you the blessing that has been!  Just knowing that someone is coming in to allow us a little break gives me encouragement, then once their actual visit takes place, I’ve been energized and ready to keep on with the task at hand.  It truly has been a bridge of helping me to move on to the next place!  I thank each of you who have signed up to come.  You are a source of God’s love to us, and it means so much!

One sweet friend brought over a yummy supper for us this past weekend.  I must share the recipe with you.  The meat was so tender, and the tomato sauce in it made it perfect to drop in the cornbread she made!  Thanks, Angie!

Barbecue Pork Oven Chili – From Pampered Chef

in the “site”.

From my parsonage bridge kitchen,

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had your bathroom and your hubby had his bathroom? Here’s a dream tub…

                                                    
  Maybe you do have your own, but most, I’d say share the bathroom with their spouse.  Some bathrooms have two sinks – another great advantage.

 But no matter your set up, every woman needs her space in the bathroom. 

For the bathroom off of our bedroom, I chose to divide the space down the middle.  He has his side and I have mine.  If you came in my our bathroom, you would know in a minute which side is which.  From time to time, I go in and “girly” my half up a bit.  This week I added a pretty Susan Branch calendar to the wall that I got for Christmas.  This way while I’m getting ready, I can look over the calendar and see what’s coming up.  This calendar is also very inspiring with lots of great ideas on it for each month.  

I like my things to be accessible, but not too cluttered.  I want it to be easy to get ready in the morning.  So I try to find pretty containers or ways to display my creams and makeup brushes.

“His” side of the sink has a place for this deodorant, contacts and cologne.  It’s in a masculine container, but it is contained, so as not to be all over the counter top. 

Here are some pictures of great bathrooms that might inspire you:

Better Homes and Gardens I love this light fixture, choice of color and shower curtain!

Better Homes and Gardens

Do you  have room for a chair or stool to sit on?  Check this bathroom out.  Notice the tray on the counter for all her things…

Better Homes and Gardens

Go take a look at your bathroom.  Do you need to buy some baskets or metal containers?  Find an antique cup for your brushes, tweezers and scissors.  Add some pretty things while making your daily tools accessible.  Since we have to spend time looking at all this while we get ready, why not freshen it up and make it a place you love to look at?!

Be refreshed,

The first of the year brings all the organization boxes into the department stores.  Everyone needs a place for all their stuff – Christmas decorations, trees, wreaths, gift boxes and bows. Boxes are purchased and everything is put away neatly – if the boxes are used. 

Then there are all the time organizers in the office stores, because everyone realizes that we have a whole year in front of us with so much to do.  How will we cram it all into each day?  The answer is simple – buy a time organizer.  Everything will get done then, right?  Only if the organizer is used.

The Lord wants us to wisely use all He’s given us – our belongings and our time.

In one section I made a list of projects to do:

• Balance bank statement
• Journal in the Christmas book
• Embroider the Christmas tablecloth
• Make granola
• Bake sourdough bread
• Write thank you notes
• and so on

Another section is a daily calendar.  For each day I wrote down tasks I need to do that day:

• Laundry
• Change sheets
• Clean filter on Oxygen Concentrator

Then I look at the Project list and choose one or two to add to my day:

• Make granola
• Write 2 thank you notes

With my lists, I know where I’m headed.  Then I can go back over to the list of projects and cross out what has been accomplished!

• Jones’
• Smith’s
• Piper’s
• Pope’s

What a great feeling it is to cross off completed tasks! I find that I can even do more than what I’ve got written down.  The next morning when I get up, I know exactly where my day needs to go!

You may also want to prioritize the tasks by numbering them in order of importance.  If you struggle with having a regular time for Bible reading, make that Number one on your list!  Don’t move on to #2 until you’re finished with #1. 

If you struggle with getting to the end of the day and realizing you haven’t accomplished much, get a notebook and start a list for tomorrow.  Stop in the morning and ask the Lord to help you to plan your day and use your time wisely.  You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish!
 
Is time management something you struggle with?  If not, how do you master your tasks?

With love,