Graceful Summer: First Friday of Summer

Good morning all! This has been a full week of fun for our official first week of summer break. The kids were all done with school last Wednesday. But of course, we can't sit still - we have been at our church's VBS all this week, and I have been helping out by leading Faith Skills, where we help the kids to put the memory verse into action. This year it is 1 Timothy 4:12 - Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and how you live. (It's a shortened easier version of the verse for the kids to learn). I think it is a great verse for kids to learn, especially school kids, as they face so many struggles in school.

This week was also a reminder of how blessed we are in our country life. Moving here almost two years ago was a lifelong answer to my heart's desire - to raise my children in the country just like I was raised. God really blessed us with our property (10 acres) and this week I have been especially reminded of why I wanted to live like this. We have seen lots of beautiful animals, the kids have been able to explore freely, and I have been able to really tend to my garden. Life is so good right now! My poor husband has been working like a dog, though - his schedule at work changed, and not only has his regular schedule changed from 4 10's to 3 12's and a 6, but he has also been on mandatory overtime, so this week has been all 12's. He has a 45 minute commute to work, and has to be on the job at 5 am, so you can imagine how tired he is by the end of the day. And this will go on for at least the next 2 weeks, including having to work on the 4th of July. It's hard, but we know it is an answer to prayer - he has been worried about some unexpected financial things, and this was God's way of providing our need. I'm trying super hard to make his time at home relaxing, but sometimes with the craziness of kids, that can be a struggle too. But we're getting through, and today is the end of his first week of new schedule. The weekend doesn't have a lot going on, so hopefully he can catch up on his sleep.

And last night was a special night for my oldest, Austin (7). He prayed the salvation prayer, so now there is one more name in the Book of Life! I made sure he truly understood what was happening, and what it meant, and he was able to really tell me what it all meant. He loves his new bible, The Bibleman, that he got on his 7th birthday, and it has a study page in it that explained it all really well. I am so excited for him!

This week, my body has been waking me at 5:45 am. This makes for some good time alone in the morning to have a cup of coffee, prepare for my day, and watch the Joyce Meyer episode I tape at 3 am each day.

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