The One About Joy

It seems the more I attempt to rid myself of negativity the more I notice it in my life. It's something I've been working on for about a month now and TBH, I FEEL more negative than I did before lately. I'm discouraged about the house, I'm discouraged about the market prospects in VT, I'm discouraged that none of this happened before school started or before hubby started working over in VT. I'm discouraged that no matter how hard I try I cannot accomplish all I want to accomplish. I'm discouraged because there are things in my life I want to do for *ME* but I'm finding them difficult or almost impossible to set into reality. I'm discouraged with my weight and over all appearance as this is an ongoing battle for me since having babies. I'm discouraged. I'm tired. I'm beat down. I'm worn out. I'm ready for a change.

How's that for negativity? I know the Lord is telling me to work on it. The girls in my Biblical Virtues class & I were discussing joy and how we are to have joy in good times and in bad, when we're happy and when we're discouraged... at all times. I feel hypocritical to teach those things and struggle so much with it myself.

So here's to Joy! What you focus on is what you get more of, correct? So the focus for this week will be joy! The joy of the Lord which surpasses understanding... it's my strength. (yes, I know it's supposed to be the peace of the Lord surpasses all understanding, but I figure joy does too... especially during stressful times.)

The One About Patience

The children's devotional today was about patience. It was funny timing because I keep saying to the children what my RA in college used to always say "Patience is a virtue, virtue is grace & both put together make a very happy face." I need to incoorperate it into my life as well. I'm feeling a bit impatient about the house. It's been on the market since the end of May and I want it to be sold NOW. It's a mix of feelings because most of the time I feel calm & know that it won't sell a minute before it's supposed to. The timing will all work out just fine in the end & it'll be ok no matter when it does sell. But then we'll find a home that is beautiful and "us" or I start thinking about the commute in the winter and I start to feel impatient and frustrated that it hasn't sold yet.

Patience is a virtue, virtue is grace & both put together make a very happy face.

The One About Being Busy

I was able to counteract the mastitis I felt coming on with a mixture of echinacea, vit C, water & rest. Woohooo!! I'm so glad I skipped having that again.

The kids have a busy/full fall coming up. They are doing 3rd, 2nd & 1st grade this year. They are in a local homeschool group and have lots of fun classes and field trips on Friday. They are in piano lessons on Tuesdays and Royal Rangers/Mpact Girls on Tuesday evenings. It sounds like a very full fall schedule!! I'd like to add a sport in there, but I'm pretty sure there is no extra time with all that, chores, & being a kid. :) All very important... especially w/ us in the process of selling & hopefully moving soon. Erich is even doing the homeschool group and Royal Rangers. He's not doing piano lessons or much schooling... he is only 3!

I also have a full schedule... not only am I overseeing all that the kids are doing, I teach in the homeschool group. I also started midwifery school & am really the person behind making sure the house is in tip top shape 99% of the time. Yah... busy life, but I'm realizing that I enjoy this kind of business much more than boredom. I'm sure once the winter hits things will settle down a bit....

The One About Negativity

Ridding oneself of negativity. This thought has been running through my head over the past few weeks. I have felt a strong urge to try to eliminate some of the negative influences in my life. It is not surprising that my life is very stressful at the moment. Attempting to keep the house "show ready" while homeschooling 3 children with a preschooler and a needy/demanding baby is a lot for me to handle. Some may handle it well... and I think, for the most part, I do. Especially when I keep my heart and mind focused on the Lord and the 'here & now' and not allow worries to creep in.

I find that when I have a lot of negativity it is harder to keep a positive focus. I've foudn that watching/listening to the news fills my head w/ a lot of negative thoughts, being on my beloved message board has filled my head w/ a lot of negative thoughts, even watching some of my old fav. TV shows have been less than positive for me. So I've "rid myself" of these 3 things in an attempt to focus more on the children and positive things in my life. Slowly I am beginning to feel less stressed, more grounded & more focused on the important things. As long as I can continue this pattern & keep negativity from crowding in....

The One With A Lot of Randomness

So I haven't been blogging here because I thought I'd try out a new blog... but I'm having a difficult time getting that one to be exactly what I want... I'm SO not computer savvy and that blog is pretty much for computer savvy people. ;)

ANYWAY... we've been having a great time this week!! Matt has been off work so we've been hanging out and enjoying ourselves. We went to Maine for a day, Matt took the older 2 boys camping, We did nature walks, went to the fair & the kiddos got to take a break from schooling so we could just relax and spend time together.

I had mastitis about a month ago and unfortunately I feel it coming back. *sigh* I wonder why this is happening now at 10 mos! Pretty crazy. And no fun.

I was really bothered in church today. There were a group of 8/9/10 year old girls who were running around during the service & being loud. That happens a lot at our church... but what bothered me is one of their moms yelled at her DD to put her shoes on... right in the middle of the worship time! :O I was shocked. Who yells at their kid in the middle of worship? And loud enough for us ( sitting a good 9 + rows back) to hear?! Craziness.

We're having a Labor Day picnic here tomorrow. I hope I feel well enough. I hate this achey yucky feeling. Hopefully it won't get as bad as last time.

I'm trying to decide when to start my studies.... I have too many options, yet not enough options. I can't wait tho!

How's that for randomness??