I Stand Amazed

I’m not sure if that is a title to a song or not, but it should be.  I am standing in amazement, once more, at how God brings people into my life EXACTLY when I need to hear what they have to say.  I hope I am that person to others.  People that I’ve known for years…. but right NOW I needed to hear their life experience that I had not heard until I needed it.

One such person is about ten years ahead of me in her mom-life-situation.  She gave me some hind-sight advice that is so valuable.  She started by saying, “If I could turn back time… THIS is what I would have done.”  It was all very applicable to me and my life RIGHT NOW.  It was wise council.  It was pointed and direct.  It was true.  I needed to hear it.  And God knew I wasn’t ready to hear it until now.

Another such person has been through several rough patches in life, which have given me insight that I did not/could not gain on my own journey.  THAT is why God gives us friends who have walked different paths, tried different things, made mistakes, and offer excellent “travel worthy” words of wisdom from a been-there-done-that standpoint.

I’m thankful that my mind and heart were open when they needed to be.  Not when it was too late.  NOW, when I needed wise council.  Thank you, God.  I stand amazed at your timing and mercy.

What do Homeschooling Mothers Do ALL Day?

They shred old dust-ruffles so their children can mummify Barbie.  What do you think we do all day???  I have a few words of advice for future dust-ruffle shredding moms:  #1.  Don’t wear black.  It looked like I dusted a haunted house with my front side when I was done.  #2.  Wear a face mask.  Seriously.  I just finished reading a novel about girls who were getting sick working in the cotton mills…. NOW I understand.  I’ve blown my nose 27 times since the shredding.  #3.  You only need the frill of a single size dust ruffle to mummify at least 8 Barbies.  I did a queen size ruffle and we did 6 Barbies…. I have enough left over to do 12 more.  See?  This is such helpful information for future moms of mummifiers.

Why all the mummies when Halloween is over?  You ask.  We are studying Ancient Egypt.  The younger kids are doing the same topic as the high schoolers right now and we will be culminating the unit with Egyptian Night.  You know, phun, phood and pharaohs.  There will be an embalming demonstration with live volunteers from the audience, costumes, reports and of course, ancient Egyptian food.  (Not surprisingly, Katie “found” an Egyptian chocolate cake…… hhmmmmmm.)

Here is a photo of Keeve practicing the mummification process.  He figured out that Barbie wouldn’t fit in her sarcophagus without a haircut first.  That was yesterday.  Today six homeschooled children were given permission to cut off Barbie’s hair.  You should’ve seen the smiles!  Then they dipped the strips of cloth in papier mache so everything would dry in place.  What a mess, but it was fun.

The boys were with me in Goodwill when I purchased the dolls.  They asked what I was up to.  I said real loudly, “These Barbies are for YOU!  Which one do you want?  I’m not joking!  Come over here and pick your Barbie.”  They looked from me to each other and back to me and then ran toward electronics.  :o)