It’s the end of March. And my blog has been quiet for a few weeks. Sometimes when life gets full and my days are overloaded and my emotions aren’t quite stable, the words dry up. I’m learning to let myself be okay with that. It’s just a season. So here I am, popping in, with a smattering of thoughts.
What’s new: We have a foster babe. He arrived on February 27, a tiny little thing in need of snuggles. Our older children sure enjoy him. He eats every three hours around the clock and each feeding takes about 45 minutes. I forgot what the newborn sleepless fog feels like, but we’re managing. Good thing he is the most precious thing ever. We feel so privileged to care for him.
What’s the same: Home school is just trucking along. Making some adjustments to hopefully help the rest of the school year be a little less stressful. The kids are really doing well. It’s such fun to see their understanding and minds come alive.
What’s up with the farm: Bryce and the kids sure enjoy their time out on the farm. We have seven pigs now (2 adults, 3 teenagers, and 2 piglets)! Gearing up for garden planting. Clearing paths for more paddocks. Ordering meat chickens and turkeys. Lots of playing/exploring/hiking/kite flying/trampoline jumping for the kids.
What am I reading: I am trying to keep up with my book club reading. Right now we’re finishing Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (and it’s blowing my mind in the best way). I’m also slowly working through the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In the to-be-read pile are Try Softer, The Lazy Genius Way, 8 Great Smarts, Reading While Black, and Another Gospel?. No shortage of good reads!
What am I listening to: These two songs are on repeat, especially as Easter approaches: Springtime by Chris Renzema and This is Our Story by VOUS Worship. The lyric line jumping out to me right now is “Messiah of the mess.” Oh we cannot forget that Jesus steps INTO our mess and meets us HERE . . . daily, hourly, for eternity.
What about those daily walks: Let’s just say having a newborn threw a small wrench into my lofty goals. But I’m trying to be okay with pivoting, reminding myself that “something is better than nothing.” Right now my goal is to move my body everyday, whether that be a 15 minute run, a mile walk, or a strength & conditioning workout with weights inside. I loved this full body workout last week.
What else: My hair is growing out. Thank you, Covid, for interrupting my normal hair cutting schedule and making me grow it out.
I’ll leave you with this unfamiliar but beautiful stanza from the hymn “It is Well.” May we look constantly toward the sky!
But, Lord, it is for You, for Your coming we wait,
Horatio G. Spafford (updated language by me)
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
You Jana are amazing woman of God! Thank you for sharing your heart!
Thank you for reading, Marie, and for the encouragement. It’s all Jesus and just one day at a time!