Jolisa went to town with her Aunt Ida. She informed me she has $14 to spend. I asked her what she was going to buy with her $14, to which she started giggling and stated, “Chocolate!” She’s right on being a lady. Who wants to live without chocolate? I am all for healthy eating, rarely eating anything with flour and sugar, but chocolate? Well, let’s just say I have a hard time saying no to that. Actually, it’s even worse than that.
Big candy bars don’t bother me unless the package reads Dove or Milky Way. I don’t eat more than two or three candy bars a year, but put a bag of Dove chocolates in front of me and you’d better hurry if you want one!
Karah has accomplished a longtime dream of hers. She has sewn two dresses! She does well for a 13-year-old. I bought more fabric, and now I want to cut those, so she can continue in her venture. I am anxious to have her home from school so we can keep two sewing machines humming. Emily and Jolisa can do many jobs to keep the household humming smoothly. Sounds pretty fantastic, doesn’t it?
Don’t forget the Equal Rights Movement my daughters are very involved in. It takes a strong mom to keep everyone happy and well adjusted. Sometimes I simply do not have what it takes. I would have no power were it not for my Lord and Master, who provides if I ask. I continue to praise him.
This past winter I often dealt with frustrations I couldn’t seem to get on top of. I called it stress. “Lord, help me handle this stress.” “Take it, Lord! I can’t handle it anymore.” One day I had a very inspiring conversation with a friend who told me she chooses not to carry any stress. Choices. That’s really what this life consists of. We choose how we deal with things. We have to choose how we deal with situations and then live with the consequences. Not that this was news to me. I simply had to be reminded. I can choose if I will let circumstances get me down or if I will take all circumstances and learn from them. Make the best of them. That is not always easy, and I struggle, but every day I think of the choices I have to make. Do I let stress bog me down or do I give it to the Lord?
So I just keep on smiling, never complaining that my 18-year-old refrigerator is running at 60 degrees. Yes, I’ve got life down pat. Not a word of frustration is muttered out of my mouth. I lied. I am so human, and every day I need a fresh dose of God’s grace because I fail miserably. I also need patience to wait until we are able to get a new refrigerator.
Today I am feeling so privileged to be living on our humble little farm here in Northern Indiana. It’s muddy and a bunch of things are so patiently waiting for us to repair them, but I just feel so blessed. My life is busy and full yet gentle and quiet, living in the country in a Christian community. Yes, we are so blessed!