The Funny Farm

There have been several comments made about healing - after divorce or breakups.  I also deal with personal healing and friends trying to heal from their past.  These are thoughts from my personal experience.  Healing is NOT easy.  This is a broken world, filled with broken people raising children, etc.

So a few thoughts on healing - I am far from an expert.  First of all I want to lift all who read this blog who are dealing with past hurts, current issues and possible future problems.  God asks us to forgive one another.  This in itself is hard to do.  I have had many things happen in my past and it has taken a long time to 'forgive'. 

The next thing He asks us to do is to pray for those who have hurt us, continue to hurt us and enemies.  What???  You want us to do what?  But, I truly tell you from personal experience this is the next step in the healing process.  It is hard and I have often struggled with God over this one.  A lot of times my prayer has been, "Lord, I know you want me to pray for this person but it is hard and I am submitting to your will but please forgive me for not having a pure heart in this situation".

The third is letting it go.  The past pains and hurts are like strings on a marrionette (spelling?)  that are invisible but pull at us at different times.  Something will affect us that has nothing to do with the people or situations currently around us.  So what do we do??  Recognize that it is a string, ask for forgiveness when it happens.  Please don't justify your behavior because that won't help you heal.  The only thing it will do is hurt those around you and teach them to do the same.

Many broken people are raising broken youth because they are broken.  The cycle of abuse continues.  Some kids are beaten and thinking that they are "different" than their parents, may not abuse by their hands but rather with words.  Some children are neglected but when they have children they may financially provide but abuse with words and indifference.  For each person it is different.  But if you don't stop the cycle, it will continue for generations!  I am not saying it is easy, I am saying with God's help it is possible. 

Blessings,

Flossie

PS Check out this post by OklahomaSweetPea :: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/OklahomaSweetPea06/89361/?#c137568

I am not sure how to say this but I have read a few disturbing blogs and I want to put a message out there.   This note is just food for thought. 

I am so thankful to be here on this blog and to be in the company of such beautiful CREATIONS of God. 

Each lady here is different and unique. 

• Some of us are young and some are getting older in years...
• some of us are skinny (not me:) and some are not so...
• some live inland and some live on the coast
• Some live in the States and some are in other parts of the world
• Some are long standing homesteaders and some of us are interested in learning
• Some make bread and others of us can't get a loaf to rise for our lives
• Some have large families and some have small
• Some have given birth and some adopted and some both!
• Some married young and some old
• Some have been married and some have been divorcerd, remarried, etc.
• Some live in town and some don't see town for weeks
• Some wear jeans and some wear skirts
• some wear head coverings and some not
• some are rich and some not
• some attend big churches (me) and some not
• some are saved and some are not
• some worship raising their hands and some on their knees
• some will read this and some will not
• some will get my point and some will not

What I want to say is that we all need to lift each other up, encourage each other in our endeavors.  We are all sinners and we all make mistakes.  We all fall short of the glory of God.  We may live our lives in one area that please Him but are still sinning in another.  Please love each other and care for each other.  God never gave us the right to judge - He said leave room for His wrath.  I so appreciate learning about each other and growing. 

 Please love each other because that is the one ingredient missing in this world!

I have been trying to post free things because I love a deal and a daily devotional from proverbs31.  I hope this helps or inspires some of you.  Right now, I would just like to share from my heart to yours.

 I look around and I am so thankful to God for all that He has given me.  I have made many mistakes but He has never given up on me.  I have the most loving and wonderful husband.  He is perfectly matched with me and together we want to make sure we are always following the Lord.  We learned early in our marriage that there are 3 in your marriage.  Yes three partners and you need to communicate amongst one another - Your husband, yourself and most of all God.  It helped us so much to know that HE was a partner is all this.

Next my oldest son - he is so smart and funny.  He has been loving me having a blog and is tickled to help me out.  Last night he was helping me download graphics so I can change around my webpage.  What a blessing he is.

Next my daughhter.  She is just a delight and breath of freshair.  I sure love her little bubbly spirit.  She wakes each day excited and ready to take on the world.  I love her so much. 

My youngest, he leads with his head and heart!  He has been learning to read.  He is also learning to memorize scripture.  LAst night he was sitting and wanting to learn where to look up verses and underline them!  Oh what a blessing and a joy!!!

Look around all that you have He is so good!

Blessings,

Flossie

I just wanted to share some thoughts.  I have read on a few blogs about the homeschool pressures from other families.  We live in a world where even with our best intentions, we still tend to try and compare.  This pressure is all around us.  As Christians we know that we are still sinners.  If you are a homeschool parent who is comparing or feeling compared, remember that comparison is the key to failure.  God has given you these beautiful children to train up as only He intends them to be.  We need to seek His guidance and His approval in all we do.  It is our job to pull out of them the beauty that is inside.

I went to hear a friend speak last night on "Why WE Homeschool".  If any of you get This Old Schoolhouse Magazine, you will know her as the Senior Editor. (If you don't get the magazine, do!!!  It is the only magazine that I read COVER TO COVER!!!) She is an amazingly wonderful person.  She is not amazing because of her accomplishments or how beautiful her children are on the outside.  She is amazing because she truly places her life in HIS hands, one day at a time and openly admits to making mistakes.  She has a beautiful heart that looks at each child around her - both hers and others and can see the beauty in them.  She lifts my children up with her words and actions.  She is among several women that I have been blessed to get to know in a Homeschool group I am involved in.

In her talk last night she mentioned "The Angel in the Marble" - a book about Michael Angelo and how when he would get a piece of marble he would stare at it and wonder.  People thought he was deciding how he wanted to carve it.  He responded that he was looking for the beauty/life inside it that wanted to come out.  She compared that to what we as parents need to do and that is to look at the person, the beauty in our children and figure out how to bring it out of them.  If we compare or put them on a rat race of achievements or awards (nothing wrong with those if that is not your main goal) then we will fail in finding the beautiful creation in the marble of our children.

Look for outlets for your children's interests.  Take them on field trips to see what they like and what they don't.  Last year we did a trip to a local University for Engineering day.  By the end of the day, I saw a spark in my one son.  The other 2 - not so much.  Today we were blessed that a friend works for a crime lab and he allowed us to have a field trip there.  I saw many children who are normally reserved, light up with enthuisiasm and interest.  Remember don't compare.  Don't let others pressure you or your kids.  Seek HIS WILL in EVERYTHING!!!  God has a plan for each of us and it is not for comparison sake!

Just my thoughts!

Have a Blessed Day!

Flossie

Some days I am so overwhelmed with how much I learn and how much I want to share.  I want to compose all my thoughts neatly and concisely and then I babble!  Yes BABBLE! I have been in trouble most of my life for talking too much.  Every marking period my report card would come home saying how well academically I did (good student :)) but always that I talked too much.  Now my daughter does the same - although her teacher is me - I often think a parent-teacher conference won't work :)   What I realize is that we have so much going on and we just want to share! 

The more I live my life for Christ the more I understand how simple it is and how hard.  It is simple because He does not ask us to have the answers, there is no secret formulas, rituals or ceremonies, rather he simply asks us to show up each day and let HIm lead.  It can be difficult because the world sees our growing humbleness as lack of self confidence and they can judge us.  They begin to see we are different and it can draw them closer or drive a wedge between us.  Also, we need to be ready to stand and defend our beliefs.  As a Christian we can only straddle the fence so long before we have to decide which side we are on.  Opportunities arise daily to show us how we are to live our lives.  Remember that He has a plan for EACH of us and it is different and unique.  It is easy to believe we are too busy doing those things that may not be His will.  Open your hearts and begin to prepare them for His will - you will be surprised where it takes you.

As I babble this all leads to an experience I had on Saturday.  Friday night a friend I know through the Mime group and homeschooling had sent a Forward inviting everyone to join their family on Saturday.  The event was a prolife peace rally near our house.  In fact Thursday, my daughter was working on her challenges for her youth group (I can describe them at another time) and one of them was to write to Planned PArenthood and using scripture, urge them to stop what they do.  She was very surprised there was one in our town miles from our house.  The rally we were invited to was on the sidewalk outside the very one she wrote and mailed the letter to.

So... knowing this was a God thing I took her Saturday and we went.  There was a million things I "needed" to do but knew He had a plan.  There were a handful of people.  We held signs in one hand that simply said we were praying for the end to abortion in our town and in the other we held a large white cross.  We stood on that sidewalk as cars drove by for an hour.  Many people visibly did not pay attention to us, some honked and gave us the thumbs up and there were others.  People screamed obscenities and how it was a woman's choice... It was a teachable moment for me to talk to our friend's daughter and mine about praying for those who passed by.  We began to pray for God's seeds of love to be planted in their hearts.  Because I believe that with love, anything is possible and people will learn to change when their hearts are filled with love.

After the rally we simply handed over the signs and a gentleman took my info down so I could be kept informed.  He then handed me a little card that had a silver pin attached.  The pin were simply two little feet.  The card read that the feet were the exact size of a 10 week old's in the mother's womb.  Wow!  So small and perfectly formed!

We then loaded up in cars - I took several of my friends kids whom I adore and we headed downtown to meet outside the City Hall.  There were speeches and prayers.  The two things that stood out most was the testimony of a girl who is probably now 19.  She talked about her abortion and how she was counseled and it broke my heart.  We make lousy decisions when we believe we are all alone and there is no one to turn too.  She then talked about how shortly after she found herself in the same situation - 17 years old and same boyfriend.  The abortion tore her up and she knew she could not do it again.  She was alone, no family or support when God placed a nurse in her life who talked about a pregnancy crisis center.  Thw story goes on and God worked his love into her life.  She now has a 1 1/12 year old beautiful daughter.

The next was a time where a man by the name of Jordan Sax who wrote and recorded a song "Angels to the Rescue".  This song was amazing and heart breaking.  There are several verses - we sang them as a group and it sent chills through me. Let me share a few lines

"Angels to the rescue

Angels by our side

Together we can stop this fetal genocide"

It made me stop and think.  They shared that since Roe V. Wade over 50 billion babies have been aborted in our country -I am speechless.  Then recently I read an article in a Christian publication about the woman "Roe" in that case and how lies and deception were used.  Her story is very interesting.

My point?  Love one another.  Love!  Understand!  Help and support those in need. 

Kerimae wrote a beautiful message on this very topic.  Check out her blog:  http://www.homesteadblogger.com/kerimae/

scroll to Monday, January 21, 2008  Abortion the Un-Choice

All this information in one week.  See how simple God is?  He will put things right in your path!  So, I don't know where he will lead us from here but He does.  Isn't that good news ?

Blessings and thanks for stopping by!

Flossie

As I awake to a new day, the light streams into my bedroom.  How I love to feel the sunlight beam on my face.  To me, it is like a kiss from God.  I feel His warm embrace and smiling face on me.  Oh, this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!  Even on the days that are gloomy and the sun does not shine, I try to remember to sing His praises - "this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!!"

When I heard ladies talk like this in my past, I  thought that they had no clue what the real world was like.  I am a former career gal.  I went off to college, did really well, have had important positions and managed a lot of people.  When I had my first child, I knew that I would have him in daycare right at the office, breastfeed on break and live the best of both worlds!  Then... they placed this beautiful boy in my arms and on my maternity leave I grew in love with him.  He loved to be with me so much and cuddle at nap time.  It got closer to me looking for daycare and I would interview and look.  But, oh I could not leave him!!!  I did not want some one else to take care of him.  We then decided I would come home.  My story does not end there though.

My marriage began to suffer problems - we were not equally yolked.  Many heartaches later, I conceived my second child and gave birth to a beautiful daughter.  Weeks later my husband walked out and filed for divorce.  I was living far from home, scared and lonely.  How was I going to take care of these children?  I went into my "never let them see you sweat" phase... I dusted myself off, got a job back in the field I had before and off we went to daycare,etc.  I lived the next years waking up rushed and mad.  Dropping off kids and dealing with tears - theirs and mine.  How many days I drove to work crying and longing to be home with them.  Most days we were grabbing fast food on the way home and rushing everyone off to bed after baths and books.  This was not my idea of a happy life.  Yes, I was "important", yes my children went to private school, yes my children wore the best clothes, yes I was going where the world was telling me and I was miserable.  I had such a hole in my heart.  IT was a hole that only God could fill.

Years later I am remarried and have another child.  I have weathered many more bumps and storms but I am so blessed to now be a stay at home mom and homeschool.  I am watching my children grow in the Lord.  Why it is not always easy, I can tell you from personal experience, it is more rewarding than designer clothes, power walks at lunch, accolades from you company and money.  While I am rounder and trying to figure when I can get exercise in, now I hear my children laugh daily, explore the world around them and look forward to trying new things.  I have a lot of things to overcome from the years of not being there but I can see it is so worth it.  I can hear my father in heaven say - well done. 

So, if you are feeling tugged that working outside of the home would be better or if you are considering coming home - KNOW THIS _ GOD HAS A PLAN JUST FOR YOU!!!.  Weather the storms and don't listen to the world - listen to Him and he will guide you.

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be Glad in it!!!!!

I have so many thoughts running through my head this morning.  I am very happy to be among this group of ladies.  I read blogs and am inspired to make more changes in my life.  I will ponder them as I usaully do - unfortunately I am not always Quick to change:)

I am sitting here drinking my morning cup of coffee and just looking out our sliding glass doors.  I often look at my property as a metaphor for life.  Let me explain... we live on 3 acres in the middle suburbia that is ever growing.  When we bought this property there use to be 500 acres of open land behind us.  We would see all kind of creatures.  Our property is shaped like a triangle.  Where the openess use to be, there is now a privately gated community of Million dollar homes.  There is a golf course, Clubhouse, riding trails, etc.  What there is for us is large homes that look down on our property.  The music from them is loud and there seems to always be alot of traffic and commotion - what happened to my country life? 

But as I cry this, God reminds me that it is my perspective on things.  I can look to this side of my property or turn my back and look the other direction.  In the other direction is other ranch homes on property.  We have a neighbors with horses, goats, etc.Many of them have lived here most of their lives if not more.  They are friendly and we feel blessed to know them.

So my thought this week is do we look at the world's way of living or God's  How we choose to live is based on how we look at our lives.  So for me - we will choose the simpler life and look at the country area I live in :)