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