Advice from the Aged

When we were in Dallas in July for the funeral of my mother-in-law, we had a few days of being surrounded by "elders"...older men and women in their late sixties, seventies and eighties. We don't have that opportunity very often...we seem to live in a younger community and most of our church congregation is middle-aged. As I watched the aged couples talk and laugh and reminisce, I thought, "Mike and I will be them before we know it." It really brought to reality how fast and fleeting this life goes by, and that these older families probably felt like they just were raising their own children.

As I looked down at my rounded belly, carrying the life of a sixth child, I felt so amazingly blessed. Blessed to be alive and well and able to still carry life in my womb and give birth to babies. I get another opportunity to nurse and cuddle a newborn. I am able to be healthy enough to raise an exuberant household of children...cooking, nurturing, training, creating, inspiring, teaching, leading, reading, motivating...this is the stuff that my days are made of.

This is the busy season of life and how rich and privileged I am!

Since that trip, I have felt so deeply that I am not to wish away these mothering days...looking for the next season of life. My call is to embrace the Here and Now...today is the Gift I have been given. May I be content and live this stage to the widest and fullest and brightest!

One of the older men ...a wise man of God who taught seminary for many years and now takes care of his wife in a retirement home while also pastoring the others who live there...visited with Mike and I at the reception after the funeral. Mike thought that this Doctor would admonish him to "go to the world", to "focus on ministry", to "be busy for the Lord". But instead, he looked tenderly yet firmly at Mike and told him, "Just bloom where you are planted" and then to me, he said, "Aimee, motherhood suits you. Keep doing what you are doing!"

Those were life-words to us. An affirmation to us as a couple to be all-here and to be faithful in this place where God has us spiritually, geographically, and seasonally. We felt inspired to be just like this man and his wife...to go to the end of our lives remaining faithful to minister wherever our feet are.

Wise advice. I think we'll take it.

On My Kitchen Counter

Two purchases just for me this week. Soulemama's newest book...and a vintage Champion juicer from the thrift store for $15.

The book has a recipe for Berry Muffins...and they just made their grand entrance out of my oven. Dense and delicious. And filled with big, beautiful local blueberries.

And with the juicer, I am about to test it out by using some organic frozen berries to make myself a refreshing afternoon sorbet.

What lovely ingredients are sitting on your counter today?

This and That

I have been quiet in this space. Summer living has been full and I have been very active in doing and haven't been as contemplative as I am in other seasons. It's as if I spend the Winter and Spring pondering and figuring out what my life is to look like and Summer and Fall is spent making those dreams and ideals happen!

Most of my time is spent nesting and homeschooling. We started our learning rhythm again at the end of July (after a not-planned, last-minute trip for a week to Texas...my mother-in-law passed away from cancer). Getting home from that trip and getting into a routine quickly helped us so much. I am amazed how the Lord uses the dailiness and the acts of simple routines to ground us, heal us, steady us, and move us forward in Him.

We are in the midst of a Unit Study on Native Americans. I really love learning alongside my children and my heart is amazed by the beauty, brilliance, and ingenuity of the diverse amount of Native American tribes. We start our morning with breakfast and chores...then jump into our read-aloud time. A few minutes of narration by each child followed by a bit of copywork. We read on the couches, narrate there, and the copywork helps us transition to the kitchen table. Then we read some excerpts from a non-fiction book....either about history, science, or a biographical piece. Sometimes I will turn on a background CD of Native American music and we always end our learning time with a hands-on project. We eat lunch, have "book basket" time (a basket filled with fiction and non-fiction library books on our unit study topic) and then older children have an assigned book for read-alone time.

On the nesting side of my day, I am tackling areas that have been overlooked and under-cleaned. Lots of re-organization, deep cleaning, and simple projects. I put together a gallery wall in our living room which I had been wanting to do for a long time. Old wooden frames gathered from the attic took on a fresh life with some spray paint and new photos. Every day I try to do some sort of project that will enhance our home and bring me the joy that daily creativity offers...whether that is baking some muffins, cleaning out a drawer, organizing a space, or making something.

Just nine weeks until this sweet little newborn son is born. I truly couldn't be happier about that. Oh the smell and sweetness of a new little one...that time is so special and moves by so fast that I want to enjoy every minute of it! Until then, I will busy myself as the mama bird does...adding bits of beauty to my nest, feathering it for comfort, and when the time comes, sit and wait for the wee one to come.

How blessed I am to be in this stage of life. I need not wish it away. It is full and alive and I want to be thankful for and seize every moment!