Project S.O.S.

Dear Reader-

S.O.S.!
Save Our Ship, Lord!

Oh, how I suffer lately from System Overload Sickness!
Not to mention a serious case of Seriously Overwhelmed Syndrome!

You know what I'm talking about:
Too many things to do and not enough time to do them all :0

Well, my life here has been Sneaking Out of Serenity and getting Stuck On Strung-out!
I can't seem to catch up on housework, just barely completing the basics of dishes and laundry duties. I have not sorted papers for weeks, toys have found themselves under every piece of furniture in the house, and cat hair (Yuck!) is collecting in little balls in unswept corners of the house.

It's time to get back on track!!!
The Lord has prescribed for me to undergo a major Surgery of Selfishness, and to become a Student of Sensibility.

You see, I am a very focused individual. I get going on one goal and/or project and have a hard time giving attention to anything else. Lately, my projects have been centered around helping Hubby complete school applications and resumes as well as organize for a new year on the golf course! :)

And thus, I have fallen, once again, into creating a home that Seldom Obtains Structure.
It is time to refocus...this time on Project S.O.S.

This will be my Summer of Simplifying; a time when I weed out, throw away, reassess, ditch, toss, give away, get rid of non-essentials. Back to basics! This will be a much Sought-after Orderly Season! One in which I am Seizing Optimistic Solutions!

So get ready: you will see great changes around here! Not only in my physical surroundings, but in my spirit as well. I am endeavoring to clean out my life inside and out! No more piles of junk collecting here and there and everywhere. It's time to be diligent! It's time for Sarah's Ongoing Stability!

Instead of sitting back hoping to Someday Organize Surroundings, I'm going to change priorities in order to make my dreams a reality! Today marks the beginning of a procedure centered around Sorting Out Stuff.

I have begun the dissecting my home room by room, cabinet by cabinet, shelf by shelf, drawer by drawer, closet by closet, inch by inch. These questions remain in my mind: Do I really need this? Is this useful? Do I love it? Can I live without this?
I have already thrown out things gathering dust for years and my give-away/sell box is quickly filling.

It feels great! I'm having fun! My junk drawer in the kitchen is quite the Splendidly Organized Sight!

So, as the days grow warmer and Project S.O.S. gains momentum, you will most certainly see those YARDSALE signs on our front lawn that read. Come on by; I'm Selling Old Salvageables. But if you decide to stay away from the Summer Outdoor Sale, I completely understand. Perhaps you, too, will strive to Secure "Oasis" Status in your home! :)

The feeling of freedom is something hard to beat! When the clutter is gone and things are put into place, I am Sporting Ongoing Smiles! :) And what's more...instead of Stumbling Over Stacks of junk everywhere, I'll gain time to do much more important things like Seeking Our Savior, Sweetly Offering Songs, Sounding Occasional Shouts, and Standing Obsequiously Silent!!!

Simple Gifts by Joseph Brackett, Jr.

'Tis the gift to be simple,

'Tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

It will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,

to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed

To turn, turn, will be our delight,

'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.

Celebrating my Search Of Simplicity,

Sarah D.

Darkness to Light

Dear Reader-

Darkness to Light

"Boo-hoo!" she cries,

"I'm scared of the shadows!

It's too dark in here.

I can't see!"

"But sweetheart those shadows,

are angels from Heaven,

sent to watch over you,

and keep you safe from harm."

"Mommy, I'm scared!

Please don't leave.

Sing me a song,

tell me a story."

"Okay, my love,

let's sing Jesus loves me,

and all will be well

because Jesus lives here."

"There are only scary things,

in the dark,

monsters and ghosts,

trying to get me."

"No, dear, that's not true.

The only ghost here,

is the Holy Ghost.

He's our comfort and peace."

"But I cannot see Him,

and I am still scared.

Please, Mommy, please,

let me leave the light on!"

"Well, my sweet,

I will bring you a light,

a soft glowing light,

that calms your little heart."

After shining the light,

the darkness lifts just a bit,

the girl's terror is changed,

to smiles and peace.

Knowing now she can see,

the dark darkness is gone.

All her fears are relieved,

by His Presence, His Light.

"God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" 1 John 2:4

"For you light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness" Psalm 18:28

Celebrating the Light and peace that He brings,

Sarah D.

In Due Season

Dear Reader-


While grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago, I decided to buy a watermelon.
I know...watermelon in March???

My Sunshine Daughter has been regularly asking for watermelon all through the cold Winter months; fruit is her absolute favorite!!! :)

So, with her in mind, I decided to purchase a small, decent-priced watermelon (seedless, of course) as a special treat for her. I knew she'd be thrilled!!!

And thrilled she was!

As soon as I walked in the house, she surveyed the grocery items exclaiming, "Mmmm! Watermelon! Mommy, Can you cut up the watermelon?"
This girl wastes no time when it comes to eating fruit.
I replied, "No, it's dinner time. Let's make some "real" food for dinner."

Watermelon is great, but it won't last long in those little tummies.
Dinner time is time for substance!!!

Well, days went by while Sunshine Daughter persistently asked about eating the melon. When I finally told her it was time to cut the melon, she was ecstatic! Ooohs and Aaahs galore!!!

I could hear her lips smacking as I attempted to shove my large, dull knife into the hard rind. (Sharpening knives is something I've been meaning to do for a while now...a LONG while!)

Anyway, as I began to cut I noticed this melon was slightly less than perfect. I have high expectations for my fruit, wanting only succulent, juicy, not-under ripe, not-too ripe bites.

Fortunately, my children have virtually no expectations for food. They willingly eat anything that tastes sweet. As Sunshine Daughter hovered over my shoulder kneeling on a bar stool, she beamed with excitement. I, on the other hand, was pretty disappointed. I could see that this watermelon was not quite perfect. Unlike the gushingly fuchsia melons we eat in July, this early Spring melon was kinda pink with too many patches of white. I wasn't totally disheartened, for I knew sure enough that my children would gobble the melon up.

I dished Sunshine Daughter a bowl and she heartily thanked me. Within minutes she was asking for more. I agreed, and refilled her juicy bowl. I'm glad I did not have to eat this melon!

After all, it didn't look right, smell right, or taste just right. I like food when it's in season; at it's peak! Food always is better when eaten at just the right time. For my Sunshine Daughter, she has not yet learned to distinguish between "in season" and "out of season". To her, watermelon is watermelon and is the same no matter what. She does not yet know that, with a little patience (in this case a lot of patience- it's only March!), her favorite fruit would taste sooo much better and be an all-round more savory and satisfying culinary experience.

I, on the other hand, know how to wait; to wait until those summer melons slice like butter, spilling their sweet fuchsia-colored juice all over my cutting board.

This time, as I sliced (on only a slightly-saturated board) I thought about how many times we want to rush seasons. We like to zoom right through the season we are experiencing in life, in preference for what lies ahead. Every so often, I like to wish that I was currently experiencing a different season; perhaps one filled with hours of sleep, Bible study, prayer, time to do things I enjoy, long conversations with Super Hubby, etc. But for now, my life is full of endless diaper changes, seas of laundry spilling into several rooms, crumb-covered floors, constant sippy-filling, frequent storytimes, lots of hugs and kisses, and numerous daily opportunities to train and discipline. This is the season I am in.

I would like to whole-heartedly embrace it 100% of the time. But, in my thoughts and dreams, I sometimes wish a different day were here. I have been reminded many times, "Don't blink! It goes so fast!" I realize this, and I do aim to enjoy all these precious moments. I LOVE having young children. Not just a little bit... a LOT! I LOVE little children! I will be sad to see them grow older and eventually leave this home.

So, for now, I refresh myself with:

Ecclesiastes 3:1: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven"

And, like not-quite ripe fruit sitting just a bit longer, I will wait; wait for when the time is right and I find myself in another season. For now, I'll continue to ripen, so that when the time is right I will burst forth with sweet juices!!! Who knows? I may even leak a bit of juice in the meantime!

Celebrating the season I'm in,

Sarah Diederich

Falling...DOWN, Down, down

Dear Reader-

Do you ever have seasons in your life when the Lord works on your pride?
Well, I am in one of those seasons....and it hurts!!!
Not just a little ouch that a band aid will fix, but a full blown-out operation ouch!

I don't know why I am surprised and disappointed whenever the Lord reveals my pride. After all, I have knowledge of verses concerning pride:

Proverbs 16:18-19- "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Proverbs 26: 12- "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Even more sobering is the prophecy against Edom mentioned in Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 49:14-16- "I have heard a message from the Lord, and an envoy is sent among the nations, saying, 'Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle! For behold, I have made you small among the nations, despised among men. As for the terror of you, the arrogance of your heart has deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock, who occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as an eagle's, I will bring you down from there,' declares the Lord." (emphasis added)

Yet, every time my pride is challenged by the Lord, I shudder and say, "Me? Pride?" (just asking that is certainly evidence of my pride!) I should know by now that my Good Father is just faithfully removing all those yucky parts of me that do not bring Him honor and glory. I should gladly welcome these refining moments, but I simply don't!

Truthfully, I loathe them. It is so uncomfortable to be ironed out...starched, steamed, pressed, and hung; ready again for display and wear. He is so good at reaching way down to the depths of our very being, grabbing one of the many things inside of us that we wish were not there. We try to hide these gross offenses to the Lord WAY down, hoping He will not notice them under the pile of things that are much easier to let Him straighten out.

But recently, the Lord reached His faithful hand once again to the bottom of the pile to reveal and bring to light my pride...my disgusting, offensive, dirty, selfish pride. As I realized what the Lord was attempting to accomplish in me, I once again ran; hoping to avoid these issues altogether.

"I mean, really Lord...haven't I given enough lately. I just had a baby, I am faithfully serving my family, I am diligently praying, I am sooooo sleep-deprived. And all for you, remember?"

Oh, how I hate the I word: I, I , I , I , I !!! Enough already, Sarah! It's not about all that I am doing! But it's about what my heart, my way down deep heart, is and continues to be. This is what my Lord is concerned about: Is the meditation of my heart pure and pleasing to Him? Are the places inside of me that no one EVER even sees and are not likely to ever know about bringing Him glory?

Once again, in response to the Lord's questions, I found myself saying, "No, Lord. My heart inside is rotten. I am filled with pride. My pride is such an abhorrence before you. I repent...I am sorry for this display of false independence. As if I have it sooo together that I do not need you! I so desperately need you, Jesus! I am absolutely NOTHING without you! Once again, please change my heart!"

After all of this, I began to feel more comfortable. The work God was doing in me began to have a better fit. I no longer rejected His hand upon me, but welcomed it gladly, like a child eagerly accepting a gift. I now have been cleansed by my Righteous King. I feel wiped out, scrubbed, disinfected, rinsed, buffed and polished. I feel great...I am free!!!

Until the next time my pride forms a filthy, scummy layer of grungy gunk inside the hallways of my heart. And that time will come for sure. Hopefully next time, though, I will welcome sooner the generous, gentle, and quiet work of My Lord inside of me.

I will aim to keep close to mind the following verses:

Proverbs 3:11-12- "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof. For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

John 3:30-31- "He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all (especially me!), he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth (definitely me!), He who comes from heaven is above all (Amen!)." (emphasis added)

Celebrating the purification of my heart,

Sarah D.

Pure Elation...for only $0.97!!!

Dear Reader-

Last week while out making the regular trip to Walmart for diapers, wipes, and other household needs, I came upon an Easter egg dying kit...for only $0.97.

Seeing as how I grew up dying eggs the night before Easter (and then eating one for breakfast the next morning), I decided to try it with my children. Oh boy! What a hit!

I do try to instill in my children the true meaning of Resurrection Day, but this tradition of dying eggs is one that will last, I'm sure!

For days now, Sunshine Daughter has been relentlessly inquiring about when the egg coloring fest will begin. When I joyously announced that tonight was the night for dying eggs, she rushed over to me with arms out wide, thrusting herslef upon my lap with a huge hug and kiss crying, "Oh! Thank you Mama!" It was if I had given her the world...for the low price of $0.97!

Her pure elation over this family time activity put us all in good spirits tonight. After supper, I quickly filled the cups with warm water and vinegar. As I dropped the color tablets into the cups, the anticipation in our kitchen hightened. We eagerly marked up our eggs with the wax crayon (included in the $0.97 kit, of course!) and dunked them in the bright cups. After seveal minutes, the eggs were lifted to reveal secrect messages marked on the eggs by Dada. When the first green egg reached the surface, we all "oooed" and aaahed" over Dada's now decoded declaration of "I love my family!" Wow! Did this ever elicit reactions!

The children all laughed, smiled, and absorbed Dada's love, now tattooed on that little green egg. This simple and fun activity tonight reminded me just how special these traditions are to the children, and how they help to bind us (and keep us) together. For me, the evening was summed up by Princess Daughter who, after I removed her egg from the dipping cup, remarked, "It's a family egg."

Although our brightly colored eggs will be eaten within days, our memories of this Easter family tradition will certainly linger. And so will that vinegar smell!!!

Celebrating the little things in life that bear so much meaning,

Sarah D.

It's All About Perspective

Dear Reader-

Recently, we had what we like to call "tubby time". All the children gather in the tub with a nice helping of bubbles, Baby Magic soap, washcloths, and a few toys. Next, Super Hubby and I gently scrub, wash, and rinse the freshly-cleaned gang. After drying little bodies, getting on jammies, rubbing lotion on dry hands and cheeks, and combing through hair, we put the laundry away, ring out the washcloths, and hang the towels. Only this time, there were not enough towel bars for the abundance of wet. This is where my issue begins.

Before going any further, I must relate my particular dislike of the insides of a shower and tub. I do not enjoy seeing the cold, wet, sterile interior of our washing stall and prefer for the shower curtain to always be drawn shut. Shower curtains serve great purposes, as they hide shampoo and conditioner, mask the occasional soap scum, and add a flare of decorative style to washrooms.

When our family finished the recent tri-weekly tubby experience, I soon realized that we lacked enough towel bars in our bathroom to hold the piles of wet towels. So, I reluctantly drew back the shower curtain (Ugh!) and draped a long, saturated, bright green towel (our bathroom is currently decorated for St. Patrick's Day) over the wide bar. (Gross!) As much as I didn't like doing it, I had to hang the wet towel somewhere! My choice was either over the shower bar or over the treadmill. I chose to keep the towels in the bathroom.

Relieved that this "arrangement" would only be for one night, I proceeded to wipe down the bathroom sink when my Princess Daughter came singing into the small quarters. With a delighted smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, Princess Daughter gazed up at the green monster hanging over the shower bar and complimented, "Wow, Mama! Dat wooks great! It's so bootiful!!!" I stopped in my work and instead of explaining to her that it's actually an eyesore, I encouraged her aesthetic opinion and just said, "Thank you, Princess Daughter!"

She left the bathroom just as quickly as she appeared. Her visit was brief, but her impact was substantial. In that moment of time, Princess Daughter challenged all of my thoughts concerning the towel situation. Whereas I saw the foreboding green towel as a menacing intruder on my order, my lovely little 2-year-old Princess Daughter saw a marvelous new change in home decor!

Meditating on this event, I am reminded to let the small things go, and not be overly concerned about my likes and/or dislikes. When things in my view look hideous and gross and just gnaw away under my skin, others view these same things as A-okay, just fine, even gorgeous!

I'm so silly sometimes to get worked up inside over wet towels! After all, what does it really matter? My Princess Daughter loved my source of disturbance! I am freshly inspired to just relax and take life as it comes, rather than trying to make each part of it fit into my particular way of doing things. Thanks, Princess Daughter for your positive perspective! Maybe next time I see the shower curtain wide open, I'll just leave it there to reveal something "bootiful"!

Celebrating the ways in which my children change me,

Sarah D.

I LOVE All This Snow!!!

Dear Reader-

Okay- Before you all say, "She's crazy!" Let me explain why I LOVE the snow...today anyway.

With my Super Hubby in school for the past five years, we rarely (and I mean rarely) have what most Americans would consider a normal weekend. I think (correct me if I'm wrong) weekends are suppose to be for sleeping in, lingering breakfasts with two cups of coffee, enjoying family, watching TV, house projects, yard work, recreation, church, time with friends, etc.

I do not exaggerate when I say that I cannot remember the last time our young family has had one of the all-American weekends. If I had to guess, I would probably say over a year...at least. You see (and I do not wish to evoke sympathy or a sense of woe), our days are filled; filled to overflowing with all kinds of demands. With four young children to tend to and school papers and projects piled one on top of another, not to mention a 188 year-old home to renovate, we just can't seem to manage a normal weekend.

Like most days, our weekends are usually flights of flurry (as I like to call them), where we zoom from one thing to another to another to another...just to keep things afloat. Super Hubby and I have become Professional Plate Spinners. With too many plates to count, we just keep rotating from one thing right on to the next. We have to keep moving at a pretty swift pace in order to keep all those plates spinnin'! But spin we must (at least for this season anyway). Sure we drop a few plates here and there...purely unintentional. When plates do drop, it is usually the result of another plate taking just a bit more effort to keep it moving. Eventually, we pick up the broken plates, mend them and get them spinnin' again. On to the next plate!

Getting back to my original topic, I LOVE the mountains of snow we're getting this weekend. Inch after inch of heavy, ice-laden snow piling high in every North Country driveway, plows constantly on the move...and nowhere to go! Yeah! Normalcy...for once!!!

This weekend has been deliciously normal; breakfasts together, lunches together, a little cleaning, a bit of laundry, stories, shoveling snow, even a friend over for a visit. It's all been so normal; no thrills, no bells, no whistles. Just us, shut up inside the house enjoying our cozy, snow-surrounded lair-for-a-day (except when Super Hubby had to go out to one of the rental houses to fix a water leak for a couple of hours). I wish every weekend were this leisurely...can't wait till next year!

Celebrating the wonderful effects of too much snow,

Sarah D.