A Time To Rest
With hectic schedules, meetings to attend and carting children to different activities, some times we just need to carve out a time to rest. Otherwise, we will simply wear ourselves out.
This used to be my life. I used to run myself ragged going here and there, doing for every one, and participating in every thing. It began to take its toll, and finally I decided that it was okay to bow out of some things. I also learned not to over commit myself, and I learned the value of saying, “No!”
I let myself off the hook. I took the pressure off. And I allowed myself to just … be.
Taking on less is really a blessing. It frees you up for the important things, like spending quality time with your family.
I realized several years ago that while we were busy going, doing, and being involved in almost everything, we were missing out on valuable time together as a family. Yes, we were involved in a lot of good and wonderful things with our church, but we attended different meetings and activities … separately. We would go into the church building as a family but soon split up to go our separate ways for the morning, afternoon, or evening activities. Now that I have freed up our schedule, we are able to do things together as a family.
Take today for an example. Off we went on a little adventure to a plantation to explore all the Halloween goodness they had in store. On the drive there, my family and I were able to listen to music together and sing along to our favorite songs. Once we arrived, we sought out fun things to do like the big inflatable slide that my daughter loved or the hayride through the haunted forest that we also enjoyed together.
Our weekends used to be just as busy as our weeks were, but now we are able to make resting and relaxing a priority. Although we were on the go today traveling to the plantation, we were spending quality time together enjoying each other’s company in the great outdoors.
Do you make having a time to rest a priority?
Ready For An Adventure
“Mom!” she yells from the living room as she continues, “Let’s goooooo!”
My 11 year old is ready for an adventure this afternoon, but it isn’t just any ole adventure. She is ready for some Halloween fun!
I imagine we’ll begin with the corn maze adventure. This is where we will surely get lost and have to call for assistance from those looking down from their hideaway spots at all of us below scurrying around like ants after someone has stepped in their bed. Here and there we’ll go, unsure of the way out, and finally we’ll laugh, look up, and say, “Help!” Then they will give hints on which way we should go to finally see the exit! We will run as fast as we can, with great relief, and vow to never do that again … until next year!
My husband isn’t a big fan of corn mazes, by the way.
Next up, I’m sure, will be the duck races. My daughter likes the old fashioned pumps. You have to use both of your hands to pump, pump, pump water into a PVC pipe that has been cut in half. You’ll see the little yellow duck as it gets pushed further down the pipe with every pump you provide.
I can just see her running to the long, high-in-the-sky slide, too! She loves going through the black tunnel exclaiming, “Weeeeee ….” the entire way down! She’ll land at the end with this huge smile spread across her face and say, “I want to do it again!” And … she will.
Then we’ll end up in the pumpkin patch to find THE perfect pumpkin to take home with us. Pumpkin carving is a must this time of year. And so we will pick the perfect pumpkin, carve it, and display for all of our visitors to see … right there on the steps of the front porch. Yes … we … will!
They also have the neatest, largest inflatable “horses” that you can climb up on. In order to get your horse to walk, though, you have to use your legs to push yourself up and then bounce around the track. That was THE most fun when we went before! We had the best time laughing about how silly we looked, especially when one of us bounced too hard and ended up falling off of our “horse.”
OH and let’s not forget the horse swings offered, too!
What could be better than all of this Halloween fun? A hay ride and then topping it off with hot, freshly boiled peanuts … yum!! That is a must in the South!
Ah yes, she is ready for an adventure that begins in ….
3 …
2 …
1 …
Trust and Obey
I awoke to more news about the devastating effects of the flood in South Carolina. As the rain water that caused the rivers to overflow and the dams to breach in the upper part of the state now travel down to the low country, people are really concerned and are bracing for the worst!
In the mist of all of this, I hear the beautiful hymn “Trust and Obey” in my mind.
Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis, 1887
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Words from a friend filled with anxiety and worry as she talks about the flood waters coming our way …
An email from another friend expressing her concern over her fellow South Carolinians and the devastating effects of the flood …
A desire to help our neighbors in towns surrounding us that were hit a lot harder than we were …
And so … we trust that God will not give us more than we can bear, although it feels like it to some at this point, I’m sure. They have such damage to their homes yet the insurance companies are denying claims since we’re not in a flood zone so coverage wasn’t added to the policies. I hope that the federal funds coming will help since Obama declared South Carolina in a state of emergency.
Trusting in God … and obeying … for we feel the need to donate monies to help with the relief efforts.
Our equestrian ministries decided this morning to donate funds to the South Carolina Awareness and Rescue For Equines, Inc. A lot of horses had to be rescued in this, too. (Please click here to read about one of the rescues that has taken place with the horses.) Often times when one thinks of rescues, it is of human beings, but animals were left behind in cases where it could not be helped while others tried with all of their might to get their horses out in time. It’s a very sad situation. Thankfully here, our horses were spared from all of the devastating effects of the flood. While they were standing in mud up to their knees at one point before we could move them, I just thank God that it wasn’t any worse and that we had the means to move them to drier land!
Please continue to pray for South Carolina as we try to make it through the last part of the threat of flooding this weekend. Then, keep the prayers coming as people try to rebuild their lives.
IF you would like to donate, please consider Harvest Hope Food Bank . WISTV, a local news station out of our capital city, Columbia, South Carolina, also has suggestions on their page. Click here to see more from WISTV.
