There is only one practical remedy for this deadly sin of needless worry—and that is to take short views. Faith is content to live "from hand to mouth," enjoying each blessing from God as it comes. This perverse spirit of worry runs off and gathers some anticipated troubles and throws them into the cup of mercies—and turns them to vinegar! by Theodore Cuyler

Clutter, Clutter Everywhere...
(The above quote has nothing to do with today's topic. I just like it.:))

I'm re-reading Cheryl Mendelson's book, "Home Comforts". I was struck by this thought: In this country a century ago, people both rich and poor lacked the plethora of movable objects that presently clog our homes: toys, games, magazines, papers, and gadgets of all sorts. The design of ordinary homes and furnishings has only recently begun to provide anything like proper storage for all these goods, enabling people to attempt to abide by the venerable household maxim, "A place for everything and everything in its place."

Again, she says, "But beyond creating a place for everything and learning not to purchase or retain useless things, achieving basic orderliness depends on learning a new set of habits, habits geared toward living with material plenty, for the likelihood is that your present ideas about how to say neat were invented in a world that knew only material scarcity. True success involves changing your mind as well as your closets."

She speaks of the "broken window" syndrome. Police psychologists have discovered that if a neighborhood contains a building in which a building is broken and never repaired, those who incline towards criminal activities like vandalism and theft take that as a sign that its OK to indulge in their crimes. It's an unconscious signal to them that no one cares about this area, so why not trash it. Thus, a broken window leads to more damage, which sends an even stronger signal that its OK to trash this neighborhood even further.

How does this apply to the home? Well, it gives us one very good reason to keep our homes and our property in order; doesn't it? Aside from that, however, Cheryl Mendleson notes a corollary on the inside of our houses. If one person is sitting in a chair, with a glass of iced tea and a book, and they leave these things behind to attend to an interruption, the next person who comes into the room is more inclined to also leave something out -- car keys, a winter hat, another book, etc. If everyone in the family feels free to leave something behind, a room can become very cluttered, indeed.

Now, in the old days, a pleasantly lived in room was likely to stay pleasantly lived in until someone neatened it up. That's because the average person in the home had fewer movable objects to leave lying around. Each person might leave behind only one thing or two, and the family could be quickly marshalled to put those few items back into their proper places.

Now, a pleasantly lived in room can rapidly deteriorate into a total mess. The inhabitants might not leave only one object about, but several. We could leave about our daily water bottle, our car keys, our cell phone, our laptop, our junk and other mail, our magazines, the current book we're reading, that winter scarf we wore today, the stuff we carried with us to the exercise class, the shoes we long to slip off, that tax form we picked up at the post office, and the leavings of a snack. And, that's just the adults! What about children with school books, the hottest gadgets, and umpteen toys!

To top it off, all of us, adult or children, come with so many more papers that must be signed, filed, returned to some department of this, that, or the other than in former days. I, along with some of my peers, am caring for an aging parent. We are finding out that this not only involves caring for the beloved parent, but spending hours simply filling out forms and mailing forms and handling paperwork. Likewise, when my childeren were in the home, I needed to do the same for them. I'm sure that peopel who were born over a century ago did not come with so much paperwork attached! I asked DH just yesterday: If everything's so computerized now, why do I have more papers to take care of than ever?

I know that my dear engineer hubby does some of his work from home and some of his work from an office. This requires the transport of numerous circuit boards, wires, and various devices of which I do not even know the purpose. Fortunately, his office is not very far from the front door, so there's not much room for him to scatter these things about on his way in.

I can speak of dear hubby's stuff only because I outdo him in leaving things lying around. I am the queen of books, papers, and half-filled glasses. I am messier when one of my chronic health challenges is kicking up.

I do notice that when I stay on top of the clutter and the house is neat, I am much more inclined to follow the basic housekeeping rule of "If you get it out, put it away."

Mrs. Mendleson notes that the topic of clutter has become a big business in our country. Books and magazine articles are written about it; whole companies are devoted to building closets which house clutter more efficiently; people make a living going into other people's homes and re-arranging their stuff; TV shows are devoted to organization of things.

She offers some suggestions for our modern dilemma of clutter chaos:

1) She suggests that our inner standards must be adjusted to permit a certain number of things to be out of place without triggering the feeling that a rule has been broken or that the perfection of the room is thereby flawed. At the same time, the inhabitants of a home should keep that standard as the maximum amount of stuff left out so that they do not feel entitled to escalate the clutter.
2) She suggests defining what things may be left out and what things may not: For example, a craft or school activity or a game may be left out until it is completed. Similarly, tax papers or a newspaper or mail might be left somewhere until you are finished dealing with them. However, each person should not, in her opinion, leave out more than one activity at a time and it must be cleaned away when finished.
3) It should be a firm rule that no one leaves food or dirty dishes or glasses or remnants of snacks or meals out, as this is unsanitary. Similarly, wet towels should be hung up, beds should be made, and dirty clothes should be tossed in a hamper.
4) She suggests setting up temporary holding stations for miscellaneous designated goods. These are places where it is permissible to leave things before they are put away. She cites a small chest that they have in their hall, where children may dump papers pertaining to school, adults may leave mail, etc. She says that neat, well-organized homes tend to have variety of these temporary holding stations. For example, you might establish a cubbyhole for each of your children to store various papers relating to their homeschooling or outside schooling. You might have a shelf where you store newspapers for recycling.
5) She cautions that every temporary holding station must be assigned a day of reckoning, a time when you actually do go through the items and do what you need to do with them. The trouble with many systems -- throwing papers into baskets and such -- is that people do not go back through them. Thus, many things do not get done, and the clutter multiplies.

Cheryl Mendleson's final suggestion is that you develop a habit of neatening. She ways whenever you go upstairs, carry with you something that belongs up there. I do notice that the best housekeepers do continually neaten. Similarly, Cheryl Mendleson advises that you keep to your household routines, which also aids in keeping clutter under control. She suggests that you teach your children to pick up after themselves and to also work towards an orderly home for all. She suggests that if you live with someone who is messy, place any items you find belonging to him or her in a space where they can put it away at some point. For example, she and her husband both have home offices (as do my hubby and I), so whenever one of them is neatening their office and they find something belonging to the other, they simply put it in that person's office -- leaving it up to that person to put things away.

Cheryl Mendlson says that if you put these things into practice, your home will be orderly and neat even though your home is filled with too many things and your schedules are unpredictable. She also says that when these habits are adopted, the house looks pleasantly lived in -- as though real human beings spend their time there doing serious, pleasant, and interesting things.

"They do not live for the home but in it. It is not there for display but for comfort, rest, and the various activities of private life."

Well, now we know why today's home managers -- at least in first world countries -- have more trouble than our grandmothers did with keeping clutter under control: We simply have more stuff. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think in some ways, our lives are enriched because we do have more books in our homes, as well as access to information via the Internet. We also have more tools with which to perform the tasks of our lives. Certainly, it's also pleasant to have so many diversions and toys at our fingertips.

However, in other ways, I think we are burdened by all this excess of stuff. I don't want the major portion of my life to be spent battling clutter, rather than loving people.

Certainly, we do have more stuff than Grandma did. But, Grandma had to work harder to do the tasks that she did do. A century or two ago, laundry and ironing was a daunting task. Many households made their own soap and candles. More people lived on farms, and farm life involves a lot of work. With so many labor-saving devices that we have now, our lives should be freer. Do we want to spend that freedom in the service of stuff? Hmm...

At any rate, I think even a century ago, clutter varied according to what the individuals in a home valued. When I was little, there was an elderly gentleman who lived in the area where my mother's family came from. He was quite an amateur historian, and I remember how interesting it was to listen to him talk about the area -- especially since most of the stories of that area involved people to whom I was related in some way. He was quite old, and he had been born in the 1800's. He kept a wonderful cache of historical documents and notes. When he died, his children failed to recognize the value of his collection and threw it all away. When personnel at the local library heard of this, they expressed sorrow that these papers had not been donated to them so that future generations would have access to his collection.

And, let us also not forget that the Victorians loved their knick-knacks and also little sentimental keepsakes. The point is well taken, however, that modern life does involve more gadgetry and paperwork than our great-grandparents could have imagined.

What do you think about clutter and today's world? Do you think Cheryl Mendleson's insights are spot on or not and also how you keep your home organized and free of clutter. Do you ever have times when the clutter gets away from you? What makes for a pleasantly lived in home versus one that is too cluttered?

I'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, I'm off to clear away some clutter...

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Outside My Window...It's gotten dark, and Christmas lights are twinkling next door. Earlier, it was a bit gray, but mild enough to sit outside on my swing for a bit.

I am thinking...about things I need to do; also about how time flies.

I am thankful for...enjoying a nice quiet meal with my hubby: chicken tenderloins cooked with honey mustard sauce, rice, and sweet peas. I'm also thankful that we celebrated our 28th anniversary this weekend. It was actually the weekend before, but we waited until after our children left to celebrate so that we could enjoy family time with them then and enjoy a date with each other this past weekend.

From the learning rooms...Have much to learn!

From the kitchen...See above.

I am wearing...burgundy short sleeved sweater, print skirt, tights, and a long-sleeved jersey swing jacket

I am creating...a cleaner house. Trying to get back into swing after having been down with a bug.
Would like to decorate my office/sewing room around this lamp:

Have in mind a white room with touches of pink -- Any thoughts on how to do this and do it on a budget?
I am going...nowhere tonight.

I am reading...a book by Larry Burkett and am musing how he knew a crash was coming, though he thought it would be in 2,000 or shortly thereafter. He wasn't the only one who predicted that we'd run into trouble with a credit-driven society.

I am hearing...Christmas music from a station I put together on Pandora.

Around the house...lots already done/lots still to be done.

One of my favorite things...popcorn!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Christmas concert next Saturday evening.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Wasn't dear hubby sweet to send me a bouquet of two dozen roses of mixed colors?

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Not everything about the shaky economy is negative...

CNN provides this interesting article about the rise of home cooking during the recent economic downturn. I'm a little late in seeing it; it was written in September. If the information in the article is still holding true, cookbook sales are up. Not only that, but people are rushing to buy basic cooking equipment, which, apparently, many homes did not even have. People who used to spend a lot eating out for dinner and lunch now pack lunches and cook dinner.

On the downside, casual restaurants, which are the food source of those who need a meal in a hurry, are not doing as well. But, companies related to the cooking industry are seeing an increase in sales.

While I wish that this trend didn't result from hard times, I must say that I see some good things in this trend:

1) People who used to cook regularly but have quit are cooking again; people who have never cooked are learning how.
2) I'm sure the home cooked meals are not only cost-saving when compared to eating out, but are more nutritious, too.
3) Perhaps, people will connect the dots and realize that tending to the home is an important career choice for those who wish to make it. Cooking nutritious meals takes time, planning, and skill -- not to mention that it becomes an art form for those who really love to cook. Cooking is a wonderful way of showing love to others.
4) Perhaps more children are experiencing the joys of the family dinner table. Perhaps, they are learning how to help in the kitchen, as well.
5) If people thought they were too busy to cook but are now cooking, the time to prepare those meals has to come from somewhere. Perhaps, some families are substituting cooking for time spent in watching TV or other activities that are ok, but not necessarily as bonding or as wholesome.

Anyhow, I hope that the trend toward cooking is producing some good things.

Speaking of coping during hard times, DH and I watched, "While You Were Away," with Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, and Shirley Temple. Has anyone else seen it?

Before I mention what I liked about it, let me state a few negatives. When it comes to portraying a housewife coping with the hardships of World War II, I prefer Mrs. Miniver. It's not quite as melodramtic as "While You Were Away", which David Selznick, the producer, hoped would be an extravaganza on the scale of his earlier film, "Gone With the Wind." Also, I wasn't quite comfortable with the fact that one of the main male characters in the film, a single man, makes joking flirtatious comments to the main female character, a married woman whose husband is away fighting the war.

Despite those things, I loved the way the film presented a mother and her two daughters coping creatively with the absence of the husband and father, with their reduced budget, with rationing, and with the inevitable sadness and death that war brings. I also loved the set for the house, as well as the costumes of the women. I'm glad that I saw it.

If you've watched this movie, what did you think?

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Hadias has a good post about what things you should do to have order in the home before you decide to bring in outside income. Of course, this list is not set in stone. But, she does offer some great things to think about. Keeping order in the home is a foundational aspect of home economy and home thrift, and I'm glad she's given us some ways to examine whether we are keeping a right balance in our desire to bring increase to our families.


Hadias

enjoy!
elizabeth

Getting the Jump on Feminine Friday.

I found this over at Songs I Sing. Slap some pearls on, and this is how I'd love to dress once in a while -- if I had the courage. Seriously.

Actually, my father has quite a few photos of my late mother, who dressed a lot like this before I was born and even somewhat after. She and her friends really did look like June Cleaver when I was a tot.

However, it's never wise to imitate the past, but to do what we can in our era to look neat, pretty, modest, and feminine. I'd love some comments on my blog about how you think we can apply timeless principles of style to today's fashions.



Enjoy!
elizabeth

Isn't that a lovely quote? Now, God can overcome any baggage that we carry from childhood. Nothing is impossible for him. He is the only perfect Father and Jesus our only and perfect Father and brother. Christ is preparing an unimaginably blissful home for us. So, if our upbringing was less than perfect, we do not need to let that hinder us in life.

Yet, there are those children who are raised in such an atmosphere of love that they do feel that home is the happiest place to be -- next to being in God's kingdom. Children who have the confidence, joy, and innocence that comes from such a home life are beautiful to behold. So, too, are adults who carry memories of a happy home life with them forever.

What are your dreams for giving your husband and children memories of a happy home? Of course, not every moment will be pleasant. Each family has its share of sorrows. In God's hands, sorrows can ultimately become blessings and his joy can temper our sorrows, but they are sorrows, nonetheless. Likewise, neither you nor your family members will be perfect.

Yet, isn't it fun to dream and to plan for creating a happy home. If we commit to making even a little investment in the happiness of our family every day, it can add up over time.

I have a friend who had three sisters. In adulthood, they were chatting and realized that each one of them thought they were their mother's favorite daughter. It had been her mother's goal to love each one of her daughters in the way that she needed to be loved, and she succeeded in her goal. I admire that.

Here are four tips for creating a happy home life.

1) Ask your husband and any of your children who are old enough to understand what makes them feel comfortable? Happy? Tune into their conversation and look for clues that indicate what does help them to be happy.
2) Do not fret if your children do not seem to appreciate everything you do or every family event. Sometimes, children will complain during a family vacation, for example, and you may have to teach them to be grateful. Later on, when you hear them talking as adults, you will be surprised to overhear them talk about what a fun time that same vacation was. They won't even remember that they complained or whined. Time has a way of teaching children to appreciate the good, provided that the parents are consistently guiding them toward a positive view.
3) You knew this was coming, didn't you? Be joyful and enthusiastic about life yourself.
4) If your children go to school, try to be available to them when they come home. Fix a snack for them. You'll be surprised about how much they will open up to you. You can guide them in dealing with the challenges of their day and help them appreciate the benefits of their day. (I think people undervalue how important it is for a child to come home to a mother in the home all the way through the end of high school.)
5) If you give your children plenty of other times to talk about any challenges they are facing and any negative emotions they are dealing with, you can gently guide the dinner conversation toward wholesome and happy things. This will help create happy memories. Children do not know how to handle the negative emotions of life and even adolescents are still developing that part of their brains that deal with these things. So, they need opportunities to open up and tell you how they feel in a real way. They also need times, however, to let down their burdens and focus on things which will build them up. If you set the example, meal times can be a time of peace and comfort for them.

enjoy!
elizabeth

Now that's what I call music:


Listen and smile!

Trustworthiness:

Today, I happened to notice something that everyone else probably noticed long ago:

In the example of the Proverbs 31 woman, the second key that permeates every verse is her trustworthiness. (The first key would be her fear of the Lord.)

Of course, I've long thought that this is a beautiful statement:

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. vs.11 NIV
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. vs. 11 KJV

I've also connected this to verse 23 tells us that her husband is known in the city gates, where he sits with the elders of the land. In other words, he is a leader in their city. He can perform his role, because he can trust his wife to perform hers. He can do his work without worrying about what she might or not be doing in the home.

The husband of this woman can depend on her to take that part of the family finances for which she is responsible and produce increase. He can trust her to prepare her family for whatever type of weather is coming. He can trust her to teach their children and others with wisdom and kindness. He can trust her to look well to the ways of their household and never to bring about harm to their family through neglect, indifference, slothfulness, or ignorance of the state of their household.

He can trust her never to damage his reputation, which is an important quality in the wife of a leader. Not only does he trust her, but others must see her faithful conduct, as well or he would not be so respected in the city gates.

Where is the source of the worthy wife's faithfulness? She fears and trusts a faithful God. Out of respect for him, she is faithful in everything she does. She is also faithful not only to serve her immediate family, but to reach out to the poor and needy, as well. She knows that this is something the Lord would want her to do.

Yet, even though I have recognized this, I still didn't understand just how intricately this quality of trustworthiness is tied to every verse describing the worthy woman. I have sometimes looked at the long list of her accomplishments and have been overwhelmed when comparing my work to hers. Yet, I see that so much of her effectiveness springs from this quality of faithfulness. She is faithful in the big picture -- managing her time well and determining where to place her efforts. She is faithful in the small picture -- attending to little details.

How does the worthy woman accomplish so much? She works diligently, because she is faithful and trustworthy. She has important work to do in the home, and she is eager to do it well. She wants to be faithful to the trust given to her.

How does she do all that she does so excellently? Again, she is eager to perform all of her tasks in a faithful manner. Therefore, when she puts her hand toward something, she works at it with all of her heart. Thus, her work is never sloppy or unfinished. She carries each task to completion, attending to it with care.

I remember reading about a woman whose husband told her that the thing he appreciated most about her was her faithfulness. At first, she did not take this well, for she thought that sounded dull. Then, she realized what an important quality this is to men. Indeed, it's a quality that we all value, though we don't often realize how much we do. We are quick to be hurt if someone breaks our trust or lets us down in some area. Yet, do we notice how much we benefit when the people around us are faithful and trustworthy, day in and day out, in big things and in small? Likewise, how much do we meditate on the perfect faithfulness of the Lord toward us? When was the last time we thanked a husband or a child for their daily diligence?

Many times we are trustworthy in some aspects of our lives. For example, we may be honest and without deceit, sincere in what we do. Perhaps, we keep confidences well. Perhaps, we keep a pure heart, avoiding any kind of impurity that might damage our relationship to God or our marriage. Yet, we might be indifferent in some other area. For example, we may find it hard to stick to a budget. The truly trustworthy person will be trustworthy in all things, from the big to the little.

Webster's 1828 dictionary describes trustiness in this way:

TRUST'INESS, n. [from trusty.] That quality of a person by which he deserves the confidence of others; fidelity; faithfulness; honesty; as the trustiness of a servant.

It defines faithfulness as

1. Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion.

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. 2.

2. Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.

3. constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.

4. Observant of compact, treaties, contracts, vows or other engagements; true to one's word. A government should be faithful to its treaties; individuals, to their word.

5. True; exact; in conformity to the letter and spirit; as a faithful execution of a will.

6. True to the marriage covenant; as a faithful wife or husband.

7. Conformable to truth; as a faithful narrative or representation.

8. Constant; not fickle; as a faithful lover or friend.

9. True; worthy of belief. 2Tim. 2.

I am more and more convinced that this aspect of being trustworthy, which spawns diligence and attentiveness in our labors, is essential to the degree of satisfaction that we have in life. If we think that the Lord has entrusted us with worthy tasks to perform, we will be eager to do them, and we will do them to the best of our ability. Even if we make some mistakes along the way, we can be at peace that these truly were mistakes, and not the results of sloth or neglect.

If, on the other hand, we have a lesser motivation, we may find that our zeal flags and we may do our work haphazardly. We will know in our hearts that we did not do our best. In such cases, we will be less than pleased with the results.

The smallest task becomes a noble one if we see it as part of fulfilling a noble trust.

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Organizing Junkie has a lovely and short home keeping mission statement. I wish I'd seen this one before I wrote my rather lengthy , wordy, verbose, long-winded fully complete document that I call a Home keeping mission statement. However, I need reminders of even the little things, so mine works for me. Have you written yours yet?

Enjoy!
elizabeth

I'm very late in accepting this lovely award from Julieann. Don't you just love the artwork? I'm crazy about butterflies -- even more so since I always saw so many of them around my father's assisted living center this summer. He lives in a beautiful place, but it is a place where many -- including him -- are feeling the frailties of age. So, I was always thankful to God for those welcoming bits of bright life and beauty as I was walking toward the front door. It was a reminder to me of his blessings.

Well, I've gotten off track. Those of you who read my blog know that I think Julieann has a cool blog. So, I am honored that she passed this along to me. Now comes the hard part: narrowing down to ten blogs from among the many, many wonderful blogs on the web.

Here's my attempt:

Very Calm does not list blog awards, but her blog is certainly beautiful and inspiring. It is just as its name implies: very soothing and calm.

Now, on to the other nine. Note: If any of you don't list blog awards, either -- that's okay. Just know that your blog is enjoyed:

TopazTook

Collecting Happiness

Life, Love, Laundry

Like Merchant Ships

Money-Saving Mom: Teaching You How to Be a Better Home Economist

Zombie Mommy Saves

Little Jenny Wren

Hadias

Vintage Knitting

The rules are -- if you would like to participate -- that you link back to the person who gave this to you and then pass the award along to 10 really cool blogs!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

FOR TODAY

Outside My Window...A few flakes of snow are turning to drizzling rain as they hit the ground. My cat begged and begged to go out, and I finally let her -- though I do hope she comes back soon as I can't go out and look for her. In the summer, she was terrified of two large cats in our area, and rightfully so as they did give her a lot of trouble. So, she did not want to go out. Now, in the fall, we cannot keep her inside. For some reason, the cat chow that she begs from a neighbor has become more alluring than the very same stuff in the bowl in our nice kitchen. Plus, she's young and full of energy and loves to wander now that her feline friends have let up a bit on their bullying.

I am thinking...it's nice and peaceful to be in today. I am also thinking of all that I could and should be doing if I weren't ill with some kind of respiratory infection. But, it hasn't been too hard to take dear husband's admonition to rest today. So, I prefer to meditate on the fact that I have a nice, quiet, warm house in which to recover. At our dear daughter's suggestion, we all helped at a shelter for families over the Thanksgiving holiday, so I suppose that I am extra-sensitive right now to the fact that having a house and having private space is a blessing.
I am thankful for...a warm bed and a soft pillow when I need to lie down.

From the learning rooms...I was excited over the weekend to see how daughter and daughter-in-law, both of them so dear and both still newlywed to their young husbands, are learning new things -- knitting, cooking, etc. It's funny how when you get married, these things suddenly become even more fascinating.

From the kitchen...Let's just say that since I am under the weather, it's a good thing we have holiday leftovers. I have a ham bone saved from the holidays, and I can't wait to cook beans or a nice soup with it.

I am wearing...warm p.j.s and a sweater. It's not a pretty sight, but I hope to have the energy to spruce up a little later on.

I am creating...not much at the moment, but hoping to feel well enough to sew a bit in the afternoon or evening.

I am going...nowhere. I'm just going to rest, rest, rest.

I am reading...a sappy Christmas book and loving every minute of it.

I am hoping...to be able to breathe better tomorrow.

I am hearing...peace and quiet.

Around the house...lots needs doing after the weekend. I can't wait to dive in.

One of my favorite things...Thanksgiving!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Get well.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



This was the sunny view outside our hotel window when I accompanied DH on a business trip in September. Sending sunny thoughts your way! :)

enjoy!
elizabeth

Thanksgiving Happiness -- and a few flubs along the way.


Thanksgiving is very special to our family. It was doubly so this year, as we will not be all together for Christmas. So, I had set my heart on accomplishing several things to help make it a happy time for all of us.

Well, wouldn't you know that I struggled along at half-mast with a cold the week before Thanksgiving. That failed to dampen my enthusiasm. However, I got sicker just on the day our married children were arriving in town, and, for some reason, along with getting worse physically, I became overly sensitive emotionally. I continued to get worse and worse physically through the weekend. My husband was in recovery from the same illness, and our married daughter also struggled with the same cold?/flu? bug.

I learned some things in the process:

1) I was trying too intensely for everything to be perfect, I became upset with little things, such as not having saran wrap on hand to carry the several dishes of food my daughters and I had prepared for an extended family weekend. Yes, I should have made sure that I had some on hand instead of taking my store of wrappings for granted. However, this little thing was a minor annoyance and not the dramatic failure as a wife and mother that my cold-ravaged brain took it to be. I kid you not -- I had a day and a half when my emotions would go there for a few seconds whenever anything happened that wasn't according to how I had pictured things would be.
2) I have a great husband who helped me see that I was striving too hard in my own power to try to make the holiday fun for everyone instead of just trusting the Lord and being who I am in the Lord. After all, my children traveled many hours to see us and family and friends, and they needed my happy company more than we all needed Saran wrap.
3) I also have great kids, who did notice little changes I have made in the household in order to bring them comfort. Also, they were great to be around and really did come to enjoy my company rather than to seek the perfect holiday. They jumped in and helped out when I was sick.
4) I have a great God, who is not only perfect, but full of grace and mercy.

So, I relaxed, and we had a wonderful holiday together, despite the fact that a good portion of the household was sneezing, coughing, and trying to communicate with hoarse voices. It was just plain old wonderful to be around each other, no matter what the circumstances.

Hope you had a wonderful time, as well.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Monday on Tuesday -- Simple Woman's Daybook.

Outside my window...It's gotten dark. I'm happy to be inside where it's warm and light.
I am thankful for...my home and family.
From the learning rooms...I am teaching myself home economics.
From the kitchen...I brought in a bounty today to get ready for the Thanksgiving holidays. I really need to reorganize my pantry and clean out my fridge.
I am wearing...matching T-shirt, flannel pants, and knit slipper/socks. I am not feeling well, and I'm resting in an effort to not be sick over the holiday.
I am creating...living room curtains
I am going...to bed early
I am reading...Luke -- very slowly.
I am hoping...to be well when my kids come home for the holiday.
I am hearing...a plane overhead.
One of my favorite things...the movie "A Christmas Carol".
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Our cat thinks the only way out of the front door is over the top of this entryway dresser and over the candlesticks and flowers. She's a sweetie, though.

Happy Monday! A Wedding, the Flu, a blustery and wet fall day, a wonderful quote, and a report on bathroom re-do!

I hope everyone's having a happy Monday. I hope to jump over to the Simple Woman's Daybook and do the exercise and read everyone else's exercises soon. I may end up doing the Monday exercise on Tuesday, though.

We had a wonderful time at a family wedding this weekend. The older I get, the sappier I am about weddings, and I can really relax and enjoy them now that all my children are married and all I have to do at extended family weddings is just show up!

On the way home, however, DH came down with the flu. I am having some respiratory issues, but I don't think it's the same thing that DH has, and I'm getting around better than he is. So, I've had the opportunity to take care of him as best as I can. He's managing to work from home -- albeit at a slow, slow pace.

I'm so thankful we can both be warm inside on this blustery, wet, fall day. Don't you just enjoy your home on a chilly day when you get to stay inside and be snug? I do.

I've been thinking a lot about sharing our blessings with others who do not have homes. Serving this way is really on dear daughter's and her husband's hearts, and they are bubbling over with excitement as they tell what they are learning with us. Both they and my son and his wife are volunteering at shelters. I am finding that their age group at our church are very interested in actively serving, and I am happy to see young people so occupied. (Now, that just made me sound really, really old -- the way older people used to talk about my group when we were young!! I'm actually young youngish in my prime.)

Our cat was cooped up inside while we were gone, and she has tried twice to go outside today. Once, she made it as far as underneath my husband's car, which was parked in our driveway. I have had cats who are very in tune with the weather outside and who know when to stay in and when to go out. I do not think this particular poor kitty realizes that if it was wet just thirty minutes ago, it is probably still wet and cold. So, she mournfully checks the front door from time to time, hoping that at any moment to discover sunshine and warmth.

So, what does all this have to do with our bathroom redo? Our dear daughter flew down from her home and spent the night with us before riding with us to the wedding. She was my test case for the "Spa feel" bathroom! She noticed it right away and especially appreciated the shelves with all of the little necessary do-dads that one might forget to pack.

So far, I've put in the said shelves, covered the shelves with old embroidered hand towels of my late mother's, placed the items on the shelves, covered the blue shower curtain with white eyelet, replaced the old blue bathmat (which I did not realize was falling apart on the other side) with white ones with a blue and pink flower, and have taken down my old light house wallies and a few pictures.

Still left to do: paint walls a light blue, move my prints from France that advertise old French soaps into the bathroom -- more appropriate place than the bedroom where they are now, and come up with one more piece of art from around the house or something that I make myself.

Those of you who have been kindly indulging me by pretending to be interested in my little project will remember that I was committed to doing this on a budget, and, so far, I've spent very little. Someone pointed out that the white bathmats might not wear well and, thus, might end up in having to invest more later on. I agreed and actually intended to change them out with some fluffy and bright blue mats I had seen in Wal-Mart. However, I left the white mats in place so long that I just ended up keeping them. I have found that that type of mat, which has no plastic backing, is very washable, but I've also found that white objects attracts dirt and can look dingy. So, we'll see how they do.

And, as promised, here's a wonderful sight that came from Caryn's site.

One of the secrets of a happy life is to dwell much upon your likes and to ignore your dislikes. If your mind tends to criticism, fault-finding, and disapproval, it will readily find occasion every hour of the day. There are unfortunate temperaments which dwell habitually upon the disagreeable aspects of life. The result is a mental condition of perpetual fretfulness and unrest. It is possible for you to form the habit of directing your thoughts to pleasant, agreeable, helpful subjects, so that our mind will be in a uniform condition of peace, poise, and healthy optimism. As you dwell upon the best aspects of life, you will find your own life becoming happier, better, and more productive. Dwell upon your mercies, not upon your miseries.

This fits in so well with Julieann's wonderful post on my companion blog. She's a great example of someone who dwells upon her mercies and not upon her miseries. I always enjoy reading her blog, because her enthusiasm always shines through.

Did you notice this sentence in the quote from Caryn's lovely site:If your mind tends to criticism, fault-finding, and disapproval, it will readily find occasion ever hour of the day. Ouch! (I might add that this is all to easy for those of us who tend to worry if we are not disicplined in our thoughts, keeping them focused on the Lord who promises perfect peace if our thoughts are stayed on him.)

And, this one: There are unfortunate temperaments which dwell habitually upon the disagreeable aspects of life. Double ouch!!

Yet, I like the conclusion. As you dwell upon the best aspects of life, you will find your own life becoming happier, better, and more producdtive. Dwell upon your mercies and not upon your miseries.

Good thought for the day!

enjoy!
Elizabeth

Kelli's got a very thoughtful and important post on her blog about the decision for young ladies to go to college or not. I, on the other hand, am going to be silly and blog about a skirt -- a RED skirt. Stacy and Clinton are probably somewhere moaning over my choice of cheap and red, but here goes:

I usually don't wear bright red, but this skirt called my name from the racks of Wal-Mart clothing. Since it obviously didn't cost much and since it is made in the shape that is most flattering for my figure and since it called my name rather loudly, I succumbed to a bit of holiday madness and said what could be more feminine and festive than a RED skirt.

Usually, red wears me rather than me wearing it. However, since this RED is in the skirt I can pair it with a color that is more flattering to my skin.

I have a lovely friend who wears red as her signature color. I think she's actually considered not wearing so much red, but people so identify her with the color that they gift her with purses, scarves, lipsticks, etc., in her special red.

Pink is more my style, with green becoming a fast favorite, as well. But, once in a while, a woman just needs a RED skirt.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands, the foolish woman tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1

If a man pays back evil for good, trouble will never leave his house. Proverbs 17:13

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD Proverbs 19:14

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1

The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact. Proverbs 15:25

The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble. Proverbs 15:6

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. Proverbs 14:11

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. Proverbs 12:4

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22.

Proverbs 9: Wisdom and foolishness illustrated as two women, each in her house.

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26.

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him. Proverbs 20:7

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. Proverbs 29:15

These are just a few things that the book of Proverbs has to say about the house and the family. It makes an interesting study, don't you think?

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Calling all knitters or crocheters:

On my companion blog: Project Economics -- A one year course, I am planning to do a tutorial for a fabric apron in December. This project would be suitable for women of all sewing skills -- from beginner to advanced.

However, I also came across these two free patterns for knitted and crocheted aprons:

Party apron
Daisy apron

I thought one of our more advanced knitters and crocheters might like to do a tutorial for an apron like this and walk us through the steps. You could do it on your own blog, and I'll link to you on the days you post about your progress with the apron. If you can take pictures of the steps and post them, that would be great.

How about it? Any volunteers?

If no one's up fo it, I may tackle it in the New Year. But, if you think this would be fun, and you'd like to show us how, please leave a comment and let us know.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Came across this interesting photo:


Laura Ingalls Wilder --Age 70

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window: It's a blustery fall day, the kind of day when you enjoy being cozy inside. The sky was crisp and clear this morning, though.
I am thinking...that it will be dark so soon. I am looking forward to January, when the days will begin to lengthen. Of course, I don't want to rush there, for life is not to be wished away and there are many wonderful things that, if the Lord wills, will happen between now and the longer days.
I am thankful for...being near enough to my father to be with him in his old age. He was such a wonderful father to me. My mother has already passed away, and I am an only child, so this is extra important to me. I'm also glad he has gotten to see my children grow up and become happily married.
From the learning rooms...I know this means a home school room, but God seems to be teaching me lessons in all of my rooms!
From the kitchen...It will just be moi, as dear hubby is off to a meeting tonight. So, haven't decided what I will do. P.B. and honey is sounding good to me. Or, maybe banana and cottage cheese.
I am wearing...black short sleeved sweater, red top, black jeans, and did have on pointy-toe flats but now have on sneakers.
I am creating...a home economics blog
I am going...to either work on my home and home business tonight or go over to a friend's for coffee.
I am reading...Amish Grace, The Prayer of Jesus, the book of Luke
I am hoping...to finish sewing living room curtains
I am hearing...weaves blowing in the breeze.
Around the house...We're cutting out TV, except for a very few select things. Even if we do manage to find something decent to watch, we're uneasy with many of the commercials.
One of my favorite things...is cuddling on the sofa and watching good movies with dear hubby. Any suggestions for wholesome ones?

Can't wait to see our newest newlyweds this weekend.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The Inland North
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I feel cheated. As someone who has lived her whole life below the Mason Dixon line, I think I should speak with a beautiful Southern drawl -- like many of my relatives do. But, while I do use southern and southern country expressions, I really do have a neutral accent. This is partly due to teachers who drummed into me the importance of pronouncing "pen" differently from "pin" and not pronouncing either one as "pe-un". It's also due to going to a high school where a good many of the students came from families that had transferred to the South from all over the country. And, I think it's also from majoring in journalism and English lit. Alas, no beautiful drawl for me.

What about you? What's your accent?

Enjoy!
elizabeth

It's Feminine Friday again!

Kelly blogged about purse love, since she found a lovely and reasonably priced purse that will double as a diaper bag. Having just the right purse is a delight! However, I don't have any pictures on short notice of my favorite bags.

So, instead, here's a favorite quote of mine:

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
Maya Angelou

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Just dreaming!! I love the layout of this little home office, which is located in the kitchen of the sample house.

We don't have space in our kitchen to have a desk, but I can't complain as we do have other spaces for our desks. For more examples of home offices, check out this article: This old House.


Enjoy!

Elizabeth

He that is blessed with a good wife is as happy as if he were upon the throne, for she is no less than a crown to him. A virtuous woman, that is pious and prudent, ingenious and industrious, that is active for the good of her family and looks well to the ways of her household, that makes conscience of her duty in every relation, a woman of spirit, that can bear crosses without disturbance, such a one owns her husband for her head, and therefore she is a crown to him, not only a credit and honour to him, as a crown is an ornament, but supports and keeps up his authority in his family, as a crown is an ensign of power. She is submissive and faithful to him and by her example teaches his children and servants to be so too.

Matthew Henry

Doing my homework...

On my companion blog, "Project Home Economics: A One Year Course," I suggested an exercise: Think about a home -- other than your own -- where you feel (felt) welcomed and comfortable. What was it about that home that felt so beckoning? Do you or did you have a woman in your life (other than your own mother) who loved her family and kept her home in such a way that it inspired you? If so, what do you see in her that made her a special keeper of her home?

So often, I've admired a home without realizing the effort of the homemaker to make it inviting. Or, if I did recognize the effort, I wanted the same effect without all of the labor she put into it.
Yet, when I really think about what makes a home welcoming and commit myself to working towards that goal, it inspires me. Having a positive example in your mind, as well as a positive role model, focuses your mental and physical energy toward reaching your own goals.

One of my favorite homes was an old farm house belonging to two late relatives of mine. It stood at the top of a long, sloping rise. There was a large pond at the bottom of the rise, where cattle used to water. I used to love to sit in the porch swing and rock and look down at the pond. The house, which I think was antebellum, was furnished with antiques. Yet, I don't remember there being anything special about the way the home was decorated. It was just a simple, old rural American house. These particular relatives were not ones to keep up with styles or trends. They were just happy to live a simple farming life. I think the things that made their house special to me were a feeling of quiet and peace, as well as my relatives' warm, kind, happy way of making me feel special.

Another house I loved was a labor of love on the part of the husband and the wife. The wife was an excellent seamstress, and she made her own curtains, bedspreads, and cushions. She also added to her home through cross-stitch. I loved one bedroom in that house, because it was decorated in warm peaches and blues -- which is right up my alley. The qualities I saw in this homemaker were her industry, her organization, her creativity and thriftiness, and her love for her home. She also had a knack for setting every object in her home just so, so that you really felt that everything in her home had a place and that everything in her home was in its proper place. She was constantly working about her home. I also loved the sun room, which was done in warm pinks and greens and had -- you guessed it -- a wicker porch-type swing in it.

Another home keeper I remember used to "read cookbooks like other people read novels", she always said. She cooked wonderful meals that always had some nice touches. She was so organized ahead of time that you never realized how much work went into those meals. She was also warm and welcoming. She visited the sick or other people who were shut in and took them little gifts.

Finally, another home keeper I admire really involved herself in helping her husband's career. She loved and did kind things for the people who worked for him. She made a wonderful, restful feeling home. I am quite sure that she worked hard at it, yet, again, you never felt that she was frantically bustling about. She was welcoming, kind, and calm.

Now, three of these home keepers that I'm talking about had already raised their children or, in one case, had not been able to have children when I knew them. Yet, from hearing their stories, I know that they had made a wonderful home for their children, as well.

That reminds me of homes in which the sound of happy children playing is delightful. In such homes, you see a few toys here and there, but, unless it gets out of hand, it adds to the cheerful feeling of home.

So, what did I learn from a study of my favorite homes?

a) This is just my personal taste: Though I don't like clutter that is out of control, my style is not minimalist or modern. I like houses that have a "homey" feeling to them.
b) Having a place for everything and putting everything in its place really does pay off in creating a peaceful, restful home atmosphere. Plus, you can find things when you need them.
c) I want to work hard behind the scenes, but to be welcoming and relaxed around family and friends. People first, things second. This requires a lot of work, much of which may go unnoticed, but it's worth it.

How about you? Tell us about a home you enjoy or an inspiring home keeper in your life.

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR November 10, 2008.

Outside My Window...There is frost on the green grass. The leaves are brilliant and breathtaking.

I am thinking...How much I enjoy reading everyone's Daybook.

I am thankful for...quilts to snuggle under.

From the kitchen...I'm soaking some white beans to have with cornbread, a favorite dish of Dear Hubby's

I am creating...new routines for my home.

I am going...to the store.

I am reading...Amish Grace. It's a study of how the Amish view forgiveness, especially in relation to the school shooting tragedy. It's Very heart wrenching and convicting, as well.

I am hoping...to feel better today; not up to snuff.

I am hearing...the hum of the heating.

Around the house...I have important work to do, and I'm looking forward to it.

One of my favorite things...making macaroni and cheese using half whole-wheat macaroni and half regular macaroni.

Picture thought for the Day:



Dear hubby lost our camera on a business trip. Since I am usually the loser of things, I cannot complain. At any rate, I thought I'd share this little bit of Victorian clip art.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Tomorrow (Monday) I'm starting Project Home Economics: A One Year Course. If you like, follow along with me as I give myself a refresher course in how to manage a home well. Whether you're a future keeper at home or whether you've been keeping a home for fifty years, we'll all learn something together.

I'm going to leave the blog up for a while even after the year is finished -- if the Lord wills -- so you can jump in any time.

I'm going to make suggestions for things we can do to improve our home keeping. I'll try to include some basic exercises for beginners and some more challenging things for those of us who have been keeping a home for a while. Do as much or as little as you like -- or simply read along.

Remember, I'm not an expert, but a fellow student of the art and science of home keeping along with you. We're taking this journey together. So, feel free to leave your comments so that all of us can have the benefit of your home keeping experiences. I will also ask some to be "guest" bloggers.

I'll try to include lots of free reference material from the Internet, as all as suggest some books you might find in the library.

In preparation, you might consider starting two notebooks:

1) A simple notebook to jot down your progress and also to save any information you want to keep. This could be a three ring binder or a plain spiral notebook.

2) A notebook we shall call, "My Book of Days". This can also be a plain spiral notebook. Or, it could be a pretty journal or even a scrapbook. In this notebook, we're going to jot down encouraging thoughts and also record the happy memories that we are building in our home. This is the type of notebook you'll want to pull out on those days when you wonder if you're making a difference or if you're lagging in motivation. So, feel free to make it as lovely and delightful as you'd like it to be.

We'll also keep things rolling along at the Merry Rose!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

I'm starting a companion blog to this one: Home Economics Project: A One Year Course. Basically, I'm giving myself a refresher course in being a Home Manager with lessons and exercises in various subjects related to the home. I will be sewing, cooking, organizing, managing money and time, etc.

I'm inviting anyone who's interested in improving or reviewing their home management skills to follow along with me, whether you're a seasoned home keeper or a young girl wanting to study home economics. I will offer items for the young girl learning at home as well as for those seasoned home keepers who would like to participate in some "graduate study".

Please understand that I am not a teacher by trade, and this course will not be a "credit" course. We will, though, have a printable certificate at the end of a years, which you may use to remind you of what we've all accomplished. I do hope that mothers who are either home schooling their daughters or are otherwise teaching them the skills needed to run a home will find this to be a useful program to do with their daughters. Please also, understand that I am not an expert despite almost three decades of home keeping, but will consider myself to be a student along with you.

I plan to make as much use as I can of materials available on the Internet and in most libraries, as well as draw up some lessons from materials that I have on hand. I will probably ask some guest bloggers to do a few lessons in their particular area of expertise, as well.

The format will be somewhat similar to the Online Finishing School, which I will keep updating, as well.

Anyone interested? Let me know.

I will let you know when the blog is up and ready to go.

Last night we had the easiest dinner ever....


Flour tortillas spread with just a smidgen of pizza sauce --(You could use more sauce if you like.)
Olives, mushrooms. (or whatever toppings you like)
Mozarella cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes -- Keep your eye on it as it bakes. I have an oven with several rack positions, so I had mine about the third rack down -- higher than in the middle but not so high as you would if you were broiling something.

That's it. I borrowed the idea from my mother-in-law.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Check out this post from Choosing Voluntary Simplicity about Sensible Frugality. She talks about choosing a frugal lifestyle, yet not going to such an extreme that you burn out and give up.

Also, Hadias is doing a series on Meal Planning.

Contentment on Election Day...

I suppose all presidential elections stir strong convictions in us. As we all know, this year's decision process has been particularly intense.

I managed to make it almost through the entire campaign without getting drawn into a political disagreement. The other day, however, I was at a luncheon, and I went over to hug two friends. As I drew near, I realized that they were having an emotional exchange about the candidates.

Wouldn't you know it? I jumped in with my two cents. I spoke impulsively, without taking the time to pray or think about what I was going to say.

As soon as I opened my mouth, I regretted it. All three of us had already voted early, so it wasn't as if we were engaged in helping each other make a good decision. The conversation was going nowhere, and it wasn't bearing good fruit. My contribution only made one of the women feel ganged up on. We all love each other, and we resolved things quickly and peacefully. Still, I realized that of the "times to speak" and the "times to be silent" mentioned in Ecclesiastes, this would have been a great time for me to "be silent" -- or, even better, to have been a peacemaker.

Well, the campaign comes to an end today, and the time of debating is over. I'm glad. Aren't you? Isn't it great to know that no matter what happens today, it will be in alignment with God's direct or allowed will?

As the Bible tells us: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by the Lord." Romans 13:1 "...for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:28. "..."He...sets up kings and deposes them." Daniel 2:21. "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him." Acts 17:26-27.

When Jesus was on this earth, a crowd came to forcibly make him a political king. John 6:14-15. Jesus withdrew from them, because he knew they had misunderstood his mission. He had not come to take charge of the earthly government right then. He had come to die for us, to be raised to life again, and to offer us admittance into the eternal heavenly kingdom.

Later on, he told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36. During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke often of this kingdom. "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Matthew 9:35. There are roughly 116 references to this kingdom in the four gospels alone.

If we are disciples of Jesus, our true citizenship is in this heavenly kingdom. Phil. 3:20. As wonderful as our country is, our first and total allegiance is to the rule of God. Matthew 5:1-10, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:10.

So, what does our Heavenly King ask of us in terms of participation in our earthly government?

1) To submit to the governing authorities, unless they ask us to disobey the Lord. Romans 13:1-5, Acts 5:29.
2) To pay taxes. Romans 12:6-7
3) To give honor to whom honor is due. Romans 12:6-7
4) To pray for those in authority so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1-3.

As far as I can tell, that's about it. This, of course, is in the context of loving our neighbors as ourselves, helping the poor and suffering among us among us, and spreading the good news of the eternal kingdom and of God's grace. God asks that we do these things personally and through the church. We impact hearts and lives one by one as we make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything. Matthew 28:18-28. We do this by depending wholly on the Lord and not on human wisdom or power.

The early church lived this way, and they revolutionized their world. Descriptions from early writings tell us that, among other things, the Christians of the first three centuries were known for adopting abandoned babies, for caring for the elderly, for being the only ones to take care of plague victims during a third-century epidemic, for founding the first hospitals, for forsaking ungodly entertainments, for sharing their possessions so that no one amongst them would go needy, and for loving those who persecuted them. They amazed others with their willingness to be martyred for their faith. They made an impact on their society even though the government and large segments of their society were antagonistic toward them. They changed the world not through politics, but through their devotion to the Lord.

Today, many people live in countries, such as the U.S., where we do have some say about how our government is run. This has not generally been the case in history, nor is it true for all people even now. So, it's a privilege to be able to cast our vote if it is our conviction to do so.

It's an even greater comfort to know that we can trust the Lord with the outcome. Christians rejoice, knowing that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his promise. We are grateful, because we know that no matter what happens in earthly politics, we are "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." Hebrews 12:28. We do not let civilian affairs distract us from our desire to please our Lord. 2 Timothy 2:3-6

Because of this confidence, we can give our new president -- whomever he might be -- the honor that is due him. We can pray for him. We can do this even if he is not our personal choice. We can shine by keeping a contented spirit and by not complaining. Phil. 2:14-16.

Earthly regimes come and go; Christ is our Lord forever. That's good news!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth