Category Archives: Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: In Between

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Writing words today with the Five Minute Friday writers.

In Between

Start

You would think, I certainly would think, that I would have this summer thing down by now. I’ve only been doing it a few years.
This year seems different, we are in between trips, which I do not take lightly or for granted. The trip out west was huge and interesting and bonding. The next trip to Virginia, for work, will be a great blessing in a different way.
We are also still in between sorting relationship-marriage-type issues, which is good and hard at the same time. The past four years have been enlightening in an unpleasant, showing how selfish I am kind of way.
And, we are in between school years, trying to figure out who needs what, when and how. With a senior and a kindergartener in the fall, life will be interesting.
I want to enjoy all of the in betweens God gives me!

Stop

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Me and Him, leaving the North Rim. (Yes, I am standing on a rock because I am a foot shorter!)

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The whole family, enjoying life’s in betweens!

James 1:2-8 (NIV)

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Five Minute Friday: Rhythm

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Linking up the Five Minute Friday writers, after missing last week without wifi in Colorado.

Rhythym

Start:

Rhythm, oh rhythm, where are you? I have been looking for you all week! After 16 days on the road, saying my energy waned a bit this week is an understatement.

Trying to figure out a routine for the summer, keeping up with necessary work and adding in summer fun, without being a big grump.

The unpacking is finally complete, unless you count the odds and ends from the children in the van, plus the Utah red dirt. It is really a mess. Rachel has volunteered for van duty in the morning. Thank you!

The boys told me there was a spider in the downstairs bathroom this morning, so I caught it. She cooperated rather nicely, then we searched the conservation site to identify our find. We let her go after an hour or so, satisfied with our summer science learning.

A church friend called to invite the children to the new monster movie that opened today. That threw me for a loop, as I really, really dislike those goofy animated movies, especially paying full-price. So, after hyper-ventilating and getting overwhelmed, (Why, oh, why do I do that??), it was decided that the older three would go and pay their own way.

I let Adam drive us into town, then was a softy and gave them $10 for snacks, bought the younger three and Kyle a large frozen custard to share and need to leave in about five minutes to go to the WM neighborhood market and the movie theatre again.

Not the rhythm I expected for the day, but all is well!

Stop

(I added two minutes to my timer to get finished!)

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The “friend” I caught in our downstairs bathroom this morning!

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Researching…Only a wolf spider.

Psalm 40:5 (ESV)
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Five Minute Friday: Fall

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Joining in to write another Five Minute Friday post.

The rules:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Fall

I worked so hard to make everything safe when they were little. Rubber edges and corners for the fireplace (still have them), the “Slow downs!,” “Be careful!,” “Watch where you’re going!”‘ and on and on.

Then those older three decided to become teens, and the next one almost 10, the next just turned eight and the baby, well, at almost five, he’s not a baby anymore.

I learned that I had to prepare for their fall. They were going to come. Only one broken arm, and that was the girl on our brick kitchen floor, trying to catch her baby brother seven years ago as he started to fall. One set of stitches to the head and one to an arm, one trip for glue to the head.

They fall, I learn to relax, we are getting through this wonderful life together.

They climb trees, I sometimes can’t watch. Skateboarding, bike riding, all good, all scary for mom.

I want to not fear the falls, I want to help them try to avoid what they can and recover from what they can’t. I love my six.

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The older three on an outcropping at the South Rim of The Grand Canyon.

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The younger three with Daddy, waiting for their big sibs. Some things you have to say no to. That would have been too far too fall!

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Five Minute Friday: View

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Five Minute FridayFive Minute Friday.

View
GO

The view gets a bit fuzzy some days in the tired.
Thinking yesterday afternoon when the blog engineer wanted to cuddle me and our youngest came in and talked and talked and asked so many questions in a 30-second period. These days aren’t going to last long.

Listening to a podcast yesterday evening, while adding up the last two month’s grocery receipts, I heard the encouragement from two mamas with children in their 20s to slow down, don’t wish these days away, have more fun with your children.

Thinking-how in the world do we eat so much? Well, there are eight of us. Two teen boys, a teen-ish girl, tween boy and two younger (can’t call them “little”) boys. It won’t last forever.

I am so going to miss these days. I don’t want to miss them now.
The view is clearer here in the early morning with a quiet house.
I’m going in a few hours to take my oldest to get his driving permit!
STOP.

I didn’t do well with five minutes this morning. I added three minutes to the timer, in one minute increments (Not recommended for optimum concentration!)

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This gift was on my photo stream. I found it early, while looking for inspiration before starting the timer. These two boys, the type-a twins separated by 11 years and 360 days and their triplet sister who snuck in, while on a walk in the neighborhood with Daddy last night.

Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Five Minute Friday: Song

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Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: Song

My life has a soundtrack. Younger boys playing, deep voices of older boys, daughter organizing, siblings laughing. It’s all a song.
There is one in particular, John, who seems to live for vocal music.
He has a very sweet voice and uses it liberally. Most of the day, he provides a song via whistling, humming or singing. Hymns, Lord of the Rings songs, or nonsensical notes over and over and over. The latter, I have to ask for a pause. Sometimes the whistling too. I try to be patient. I enjoy it much of the time and I do miss the song when they are all out or I am out and I am alone in the quiet. It is our family song. I like the song of my life.
End

Psalm 96: 1-6 (ESV)
Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

“1Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

Go here for the entire chapter.

Five Minute Friday: Comfort

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When sleep escaped me at 2 a.m, I read the prompt for FMF, thinking I could write when I woke up for real. I drew a blank. When my phone quacked at 5 a.m., still blank. While listening to my children read the Bible tonight, waiting for my turn, it came to me.

Comfort

Today, I had the privilege to spend the day with a friend from church. My friend is several decades older than I, and is experiencing much confusion and short-term memory issues.
We, my daughter and I, were there to try to provide some stability and comfort for her, but she instead was the one to give me comfort.
She shared many wise words, despite repeatedly asking my name, what we were doing for the day, when her family would back, etc.
Over and over she exclaimed how sweet Jesus was and how good God is. She asked if I was grateful for my family and if I told them. She asked if I got on my knees and thanked God for them. She prayed for our breakfast and lunch, she told stories of her church friends from the past and she told us she was grateful that we were there.
She reminded me in such an impactful way how important faith is. Just trusting in Jesus. That is comfort.
End

Proverbs 16:31 (ESV)
“Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.”

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: Brave

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Linking up for another Five Minute Friday post.

Five Minute Friday: Brave

Brave isn’t an adjective that I would immediately choose to describe myself. In many situations, instead of doing the brave thing, saying brave words, I have chosen to escape, to flee the situation.

Homeschooling is so difficult at times, stretching me out of my selfish desires for quiet, peace, “me” time, yet is is one of the most brave things I have done.

Thinking this morning about brave, it came to me that probably the main reason we homeschool is to instill in our children all the reasons they can be brave:
Love God.
Follow Jesus.
Never be afraid to do what is right.
Love Others.
Serve God and others.

This is just a few from the top of my head, but the list could go on. and on. My six are learning to believe what is right and true. The world does not and will not agree and they need to be prepared for that.

Stop.

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My brave loves last month at Maramec Springs.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: Friend

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Joining in with my Five Minute Friday post at Lisa-Jo’s.

Start.

I had a discussion with a friend at church on Sunday about friends. First, our children’s, then ours. She and I both felt that we had lots of really nice acquaintances, but not a best friend. She said she had always wanted one, but The Lord had not provided one. I agreed. Our conversation was not filled with bitterness, just twinges of sadness mixed with regret. People have moved in and out of our lives through different churches and experiences and while the friendships were nice at the time, none have stuck for a lifetime.
I said that I didn’t feel particularly tied to our city for that reason. I have lived with some minor fear of moving. I really never have, except for the two hours from my home town to this city for college. Kyle moved here from the east coast after he graduated and we’ve been here for 21 plus years. What does God have planned for us?
I feel that the lack of women friends has certainly made me lean on my husband more and he on me. Trying not to do the co-dependent thing, just enjoying life together.
Stop.

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Me and my BFF.

Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: Here

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Here

We are here. Grandpa and Grandma’s. My mom and dad’s. What was planned to be a day trip for tomorrow to do yard work for Grandpa after his carpal tunnel surgery, became an overnight trip when the pressure valve thingys on our well pump gave up and quiet cooperating.
We are always welcome. My daughter teased that we should just show up on their doorstep in case Grandpa said no. He got a laugh out of that. When does Grandpa ever say no? Well, unless it is critical 🙂
Here. Where we are always welcome, where it feels like home even though this was never my home. They left my childhood home after 27 years, when I was 30, with two little boys. Those little boys don’t remember my home and yet this is home.
My parents are aging, aren’t we all? Sometimes that is hard, but I am so, so grateful for home.

End

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My dad reading to my youngest boys at Christmastime.

Philippians 4:4 (KJV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday:After

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After:
What will the after look like? I need to not spend too much time pondering that, as I can waste countless minutes, hours thinking “I will do this, when that happens,” as if the after of getting my act together, being more patient, more loving has anything to do with my circumstances or what I may receive.
The current, the present is what I need to concentrate on. How may I best serve God, my family, my neighbors?
The after will come soon enough. It will be what it will be. Dwelling on it will not get me from here to “Happily ever after.”
These people that I have been entrusted with, they are my after. When I’m in the after, I want to be able to look back and enjoy the memories of the past.
As I told my husband this evening, after the bedtime tussles with our youngest, I seem to always end the day with a laundry list of regrets.
Looking forward to the after gives me the courage to do what I need to do to get rid of that list.

Stop

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Five Minute Friday