A Jaunt Through My Mind

Lately it seems I've been bombarded with messages regarding contentment, possessions, wealth and generosity

... A passage from Isaiah stressed how God is all I need, not anything else.

... A Banner article pointed out the need to surrender everything to God, even what I hold most dear.

... A singer spoke about being content with little and giving up earthly things while storing up eternal riches.

... A textbook touched me with stories of refugees who leave their homes with nothing but their lives, if they're lucky.

... Another blog writer reflected on simplicity and finding contentment in doing with less. (Hi Amy)

... A realization during devotions opened my eyes to how much I desire comfort and convenience, two things Jesus completely did without.

I know possessions, even luxurious ones, aren't bad. God blessed Abraham and Job with great riches. But I know they would have been willing to give it all up in a heartbeat for the sake of their Lord, and God knew that too, thus it was "safe" for Him to bless them so. But me? Give up everything? But what about hot water on tap? What about electricity? What about high-speed internet access?

So here's the real question: do I accept all the stuff around me -- this embarrassment of wealth -- as a blessing from the Lord? Or should I view it warily as a potential stumbling block, an idol waiting to be worshipped, a hinderance to living a Christ-like life?

Such are the thoughts that go running through my mind, stumble, and end up resting there awhile.

What month is it?

Today I harvested three things from our garden:

(That's pizza sauce in those jars. I didn't think to take a picture of all the tomatoes before I canned.)

So what month is it around here? June, August or October? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm loving the on-and-on-and-on-going bounty!

Insideout?

I can understand getting caked-on mud on the outside of one's shoes, but on the inside? Seriously? Sheesh.

Doing School

I really enjoy taking pictures of my kids doing their school work.

Somehow they manage to act natural while I'm clicking away in their faces.

It almost seems like they study best when they know they're being photographed... which is not how they usually react to the camera coming out.

Yes, this is part of school too. Although there isn't much that's heathy about sausage, this counts for health and life skills.

I think I'm enjoying this book as much as the kids.

Don't tell them, but I read ahead.

This one makes me swoon. The elder three were explaining their history lesson to Elijah. Full-color picture-heavy textbooks work wonders for getting and keeping their attention.

This is spelling practice.

And this is playtime following spelling practice.

More spelling practice (it's good to have lots of word games in the house. Those letters come in so handy. Boggle and Bananagrams are also indispensable).

Spelling practice and observation skills, a good combination.

I tell you, and unfinished basement is also very handy. Since Levi and Luke had pretty much filled the front sidewalk with their spelling words the previous day, the basement floor served as a fabulous tablet for Isaac.

So that's what school looks like around here. It's kinda fun. Of course, I wouldn't take pictures of the grouchy grumpy parts (not that we ever have any of those, ahem).