Pages

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Some Sunday Randomness


It's a cold, rainy Sunday. Since we've had a collection of kids coughing for the last week and a half, we opted out of toting them through the cold rain to church this morning and have stayed home instead. I returned last night from a speaking engagement in PA, so I welcomed the time to just hunker down and do not much of anything.

There's a forecast of a big snowstorm heading our way. The kids are anxious to see if we will actually get any snow. I feel the urge to catalog their outerwear. Does everyone have hats, gloves, scarves, coats? Seeing as how it's officially March, I didn't think that would be necessary anymore. I spent the whole weekend bragging on my beloved southern climate in cold PA, only to be made a liar when I got home. That's what I get for opening my big old southern-accented mouth.

Today I hope to plan our school for this week. Curt was gone much of last week and, I will admit, I slack off when he's gone. Add some sick kids to that equation and it amounted to not much academia happening at the Whalen house. The kids did a bare minimum of school and I spent lots of time working on the release of our book with the publicists and also working on that pesky novel that I can't seem to leave alone. So, I know we need to get some serious schooling in this week. That's one of the things I love about homeschooling-- the ebb and flow of it, the way it adjusts to our lifestyle.

I have been struggling lately as writing pressures have mounted and I have been feeling that urge to have them in school so I can have some writing time built into every day. This, I have accepted, will always be part of my personal battle. My desire for things to be easier and simpler will motivate me at times to come up with "solutions." And yet, God seems to be moving me continually into that place of following His complex call on my life. Homeschool my kids and write and speak. Relying on Him to see me through it and not me to see myself through it, as I am prone to do.

I tend to offer up solutions to Him, as if He can't think of these Himself and might need my insight. I tell Him how much easier it would be if I didn't have to find sitters for the kids when I go speak. I tell Him how much I struggle with wanting to write when I need to be schooling. I tell Him that, if I had my druthers, I would spend every day in a cafe writing while my kids were tucked safely away in school. And He says back, "Well, sorry. That's not what I've called you to." And then He points out that I always do find a sitter for the events I need to be at. He reminds me that I don't always need to be writing-- sometimes I need to be sitting on a couch with my kids sharing my love of words with them. And always, always He helps me see that those long days to write will come later-- but my kids? They will never be kids again. If you miss that, He says, You can always do it later. But if you miss this, you'll never get it again.

These are the random things that are on my mind and heart these days. God continues to be patient with me as He and I hammer out the same old issues over and over and over again. He patiently puts His hands on my shoulders and points me back to where I need to be going. "You've wandered off again," He says. And I nod my head dutifully, making my feet plod in the way I need to go, obeying because He is faithful, and because I know that my Father does indeed know best.

(Want to read more about treasuring the time we've been given? This short post by Elizabeth is wonderful and thought provoking.)
Pin It!

7 comments:

Sandra in Phx said...

This couldn't have come at a better time!! I often wonder if it would be easier to have the kids in school~then I could keep a sparkly house, get meals together without craziness, etc. But that isn't what the Lord has for me right now. Right now, I am a stay at home mom, who homeschools her five children.

Flamingo said...

thanks for your honesty. i don't homeschool yet, but i do consider it for the future. it is an encouragement to me to know the honest thoughts that have already chosen to do so.

Anonymous said...

Hi marybeth,
Marybeth here. Just thought I'd pop in take a look around. I love the family picture. I was at the old site browsing too. Praying you have a wonderful week to come. Hugs

Anonymous said...

i think i get off track all the time, and God always reminds me of where i should be going! Doing what He has created us to do (writing) often conflicts with one of our most important roles: mother. i struggle with wanting to do my own thing alot. Thanks for the post, to remind me that i'm not the only one!

Stacy said...

Marybeth,

I am not a homeschool mom and currently work 40 hours a week outside the home, but it is interesting that you and I both wish for some of the same things...the babysitters when needed, the housework done, the time to be by ourselves and to do our own thing...but this post is a very good one because you are correct that god calls us to do certain jobs even when we get off track....i'm off track all the time, so don't worry!!!! LOL

sweettea said...

Thanks for the reminder. I think the LORD is reminding me through your's and Renee's posts not to give up homeschooling just because it's not easy. I have been wondering if I've been doing the wrong thing...

JD

momspang said...

"If you miss that, He (God)says, You can always do it later. But if you miss this, you'll never get it again". No truer words could you have said! I, also, am a writer, and I, also, homeschool (29 years with 5 more to go). Having two children now married and four grandchildren, I can now conclude that homeschooling is the wiser choice. Those you write for will eventually forget you, but your children never will. Write for THEM, and as a legacy for future generations.