Just a Daisy in the Meadow

“O, Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.  Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint . . . ” - Psalm 6:1-2a

Today I read these verses and claim them as my own . . . I am gaining too much weight. I have seven more weeks to go and have already gained about forty pounds.

I usually gain like this, so it’s normal for me, but this time I have a different midwife and she does not like the scales going that high . . . But I am in survival mode with the busyness of life . . .  and so I too lift up my voice to the God of heaven and  petition my Lord. 

Note:  God has graciously taken the pounds off in a few months after baby so that each time I’ve gotten back down below 130 and even most of the times down to my wedding weight . . . but does that make it ok to gain so much each time?  What about self- discipline? Oh . . . . yeah . . . I defiantly could use more of that in my life . . . but it seems (to me) that peoples bodies react so differently to many things about pregnancy . . . Ok . . .  maybe you just need to pray for me . . . I just can’t seem to do it any other way . . .

You know . . .  God is good . . .  All the time . . .  whether we classify our days as good or bad.  In reality, because we can’t see the whole picture everything works “together for good to them that love God and are called according to His good pleasure.”

But today I don’t have to cling to that promise as desperatly as some times.  Today I just want to praise the Lord for His marvelous acts toward me.

 Remember the common favorite psalm . . .  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  Well today, in a very special way God is “making me lie down in green pastures” and is” leading me beside the still waters”.  He is restoring my soul. 

 The children are at a friends house so it is quiet her. (the still waters) I get to lie down in bed and savor some beloved sleep. (the green pastures!)  TIme with the Lord restores ones soul always! ( . . . at least He does His part, He is always faithful!) 

 Anyway, though I feel the goodness of the Lord right now . . . I still say the same during “bad” days.  God is good, though the clouds may be dark and hide the “sun”.  It’s there . . . His goodness is always there!  . . .  But “Thank-You, Almighty God for this special day!”

I am back from Ladies Retreat. Exhausted. . . . but purring like a kitten or I guess a mama cat. Happy and thankful and content with all the fellowship and inspiration and encouragement I could soak up in a day and a half!

But I have to tell you a bit about my week. God has answered your prayers for me and I have scarcely had time to “moan” again about being pregnant.

We had our first frost this week, though I haven’t had time to pull things out of the garden. Instead I was helping hubby get ready to move his store, again.  Thursday Japheth turned 31 and I had a few expectations of the day, but as the day wore on soon all of them were gone. They were these. First that I could get his “moving” mailing out in the mail before I left. Second that I could get everybody’s things packed up and ready for the next day. (Japheth would be taking them to a babysitter almost two hours from here, go back after work, spend the night with them, go back to work for a few hours, then pick them up and come home and then when I get home from the retreat, he felt he needed to head back into town to do a few more things yet before the big moving day, Monday.) Third, that I could get my lima beans picked (my first and last picking) also before any more frost would destroy them. And fourthly I wanted to make a special birthday supper for his birthday. Oh and last of all I REALLY thought that it would be nice to leave the house somewhat presentable. Isn’t that reasonable?

Well, to start out with we messed up on the mailing and had to redo most of them! We ended up eating out for his birthday and I packed the children’s things after they were in bed and loaded them in the van. The garden things I said “fooy” too and the house well, I guess it is just used to these kind of things by now and will it really matter in the long run?

As I said, I am home now, the children are in bed, the house is quiet. A hurricane has gone through ( We all went into town and “helped” papa do a few things just to be together) but we are home! And tomorrow is another day . . . . that I am not supposed to worry about . . . . hmmmmm . . . how am I going to catch up on lost sleep, do hurricane clean-up and support my husband in this move? . . . hmmmmm . . . yeah, one day at a time . . .

1,2,3,4,5! Celebration time . . . Papa made the party special with bringing home his helium balloon stuff . . . Hmmm, I wonder why they all say Janome

Date night . . . we drove down to Walker ( a little tourist town) to set up my card display in one of the stores there.

And this week I gathered enough bravo to visit a few stores and see if they would be willing to carry the photo cards that I’ve collected. Actually it was the Lord . . . without His help I would’ve been too scared to do this by myself! (Of course, I left all the children at home with a babysitter :)  though) And the Lord worked so that my cards are now displayed in a Tea and Gift Shoppe and in a Music Outlet (that recently bought out the cards from the Christian bookstore). Now both of these owners are friends of Japheth . . . so that helped too I’m sure!

Thank -you for all the prayers on my behalf . . .  I know for sure the Lord has heard them!  I have felt carried on His Wings the last week or two . . . the Lord has provided a variety of activities that keep me busily occupied and wonderfully happy  (now I know happiness or joy is a choice but sometimes it comes easier than others).  The children and I helped a friend do a garage sale (and this was at her home so I could take the children along and they had many toys and kittens and places to explore and keep them occupied), I have been making pickles and more pickles. and trying to keep up with the green beans (just for fresh eating, but we can eat a lot!)

We also had another answer to prayer .  . . a bigger place his business.  Part of my excitement about this is that there is a classroom that the children and I can come “camp out” in and be with him at times in his shop.  THIS is very exciting!  The winter may go by a lot faster with this option to get out of the house.

Jaden at play . . . fun fall days these . . . enjoying every minute the children can be OUTSIDE without getting all bundled up!!!