A few of my favorite things

So, I was reading this book- Plain and Simple- written by a lady who went to live with the Amish a couple of times and then wrote about what she learned.
One thing she learned is to get rid of any possessions that aren't (a) useful or (b) your favorite.
I decided to apply that principle to my dining room and I am oh-so-happy with the results.
She went on to say that when all of the things in your home are things you use or things that are your favorite, you feel more comfortable in your surroundings because your home becomes a very clear representation of you. That's cool in itself.
Then, she makes the claim that when all you own are things that you need or things that are your favorite, you will LIKE cleaning them. Huh. Well, I tried that out today, and I will say this. I didn't HATE cleaning my dining room. I felt kind of satisfied. It was a fulfilling experience instead of job to get done.
And that brings me to second thing I (re)learned from what she learned. Be here now. Don't look at tasks as something to be quickly completed so that you can get on to something more important or interesting. All tasks in your life are part of what makes your life your own. Embrace them all and don't count some as more important than others. This even applies to brushing my retainers which, up until I read that, was something of a hateful task keeping me from my warm bed and good book. Now, as I carefully brush the little buggers, I think to myself, "Isn't it nice to have straight teeth?" or at least, "Isn't it nice to have teeth?"

So anyway, here's a few pics to enjoy.

Cade sleeps

Sleeping babes

Waiting for spring

Watching the chickens peck

Dining room

Dining room

XOXO

Joce

PS One thing I forgot to tell you about is that yesterday when my kids were wrapped up in blankets out on the deck watching the chickens, they decided to make a little trip down to see them up close. Which would be great, except that as you can see from the pic 'Waiting for spring' Cade was wearing his jammies (mammies, as he would say) and not so much wearing the shoes. Yeah. :)

What is it that I do all day?

LOL. And more. Much more.
I am the Big Wig, the Head Honcho. I run it all baby. If it comes in, out, or just floats around in my house, it's my responsibility. I'm the boss of it. This is evidenced by Brilyn's nomenclature in reference to me. When she needs to get my attention, she stops calling me mom and starts calling me, "Beautiful Queen" "Big Boss" or, "Your Majesty". I am not making that up.
I take pride in running my home well. I am the full time queen of my realm and know that I have found my true calling for this portion of my life. But. Let me tell you that it is harder than my work as a full time teacher. It is harder than working as a part time teacher and part time mom. It is harder than working as a full-time teacher and part-time mom. I know, because I have worked all of those combos. And this, in all it's fulfilling glory, is the hardest job I have ever had. Full time motherhood is NOT for the faint of heart. It is for those of us who are all grown up with our big girl panties on to suck up the financial constraints imposed by embracing one income, the total lack of time off, paid or otherwise, and the in-the-trenches mentality required for dealing with all the poop, pee, blood, boogers, spit, vomit, dirt, mud, slime, (and for me, the poop of other species, such as chickens and cows) mixed with the requirement to win when dealing with temper tantrums, refusal to eat during meals, hair pulling, leg biting, pinning slippery kids to the wall in the tub in order to rinse shampoo from their hair, and strapping into car seats. Yeah. So. If you ask me what I do all day, be prepared for me to laugh loudly and all manic like really really close to your face, because I no longer have any sense of personal space. So.
XOXO
Joce
NOTE: This is so not even close to being a conclusive list. It's just what I had time to write in between feeding one kid and wiping the other one's, uh, face. LOL.

There's a song (or three) in my heart. Or, thank you.

I am overwhelmed by the warmth of your comments. Thank you.
And the good news is, the joy of the Lord is my strength. And I've got the joy joy joy joy joy down in my heart. So, there will be peace in the valley for me, someday. So.
XOXO
Joce

There it is

So, some of you might be wondering where all the posts have gone.
When I said I am feeling stretched kind of thin, I mean dried all up. I don't have much to say. My heart is full of sad things and so that's what you are going to hear about here. If you don't want to know, stop reading.
1. My mom still has cancer, and it just keeps getting worse.
2. My friend's almost-two-year-old has a bad kind of cancer.
3. My sister-in-law lost a baby last week.
4. My good friend from college told me her dad just died of cancer.
5. My neighbor's mom is in the hospital in a coma from a burst appendix.
6. My friend's mom lost her job and is worried about losing her house.
7. Something I can't talk about here, but has to do with the breakup of a family.
8. Another thing I can't talk about here, but has to do with depression and chemical dependence.
My heart is so heavy for the suffering of those around me.
That's why I haven't been writing much. I'm just too sad.
So, when I start feeling a little more peppy and creative, I will be writing again. So don't give up on me. I'll be back.
XOXO
Joce

Cajun fishin'

So, Kara requested that I actually post sometime this week. So, to kind of honor this request I am sharing a video my husband received via email, and which I found to be really quite amazing, and which I located on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. I think this kind of fishing would be rather invigorating, what with the fish slapping folks up side the head and all.
So. Hope you liked it. I will try to actually write something about my actual life at some point. It's just that I am stretched a bit thin at the moment.
XOXO
Joce

Number 77

Sam is the winner of my OWOH giveaway. She will be receiving a pint of fresh (as in last week) pure New York maple syrup.

Congrats, Sam.

XOXO
Joce

Quote of the Day

"If there is no evidence of social mercy in your life, if there isn't a single poor person, prisoner, man or woman with a disability, or refugee who can stand up and testify that you have lived out and continue to live out your faith with compassionate care, then know this: Scripture, the Christian classics, and contemporary faith all stand in one accord to challenge the sub-Christian religion that you have adopted."
Gary Thomas, "Authentic Faith"

Thursday Night

Sometimes I am vividly reminded that I, too, went through developmental stages.

LOL.

XOXO

Joce

(In case you are unsure, that's me on the left with the fake tat.)