Issue 2 - August 19, 1997
by Diana Waring
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You never know what to expect around my house. Just when I think my schedule is under control - KA-BLOOEY! - something happens. It's not always bad, mind you, just unexpected. The first weekend of August we sat down with our three children to have a camp "debriefing". They had all attended the same music, art and drama camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and had many tales to tell. We had picked them up on that Saturday morning and were now comfortably ensconced in our family/guest/sewing/laundry room. As the kids continued to share their experiences with us, we became increasingly aware of the noise level outside. I suddenly remembered that this was "Sturgis Motorcycle Rally" eve! We were about to be surrounded by 200,000 motorcyclists who had come to the Black Hills for a "good time"... "OK, kids, listen up. As of right now, no one goes outside of the house without an adult escort. No bikes, no walks, no hikes, no trips to the store... nothing until the week of the Rally is over." Stunned silence prevailed in our family/guest/sewing/laundry room at that moment. "Uh, Mom? Why don't we go somewhere else for a week?" Stunned silence was the parental response. Hmmm... Out of the mouth of babes... Bill & I looked at each other and grinned. Why not? My mother had been asking us to come visit her for months, but we had had no opportunity to travel to the Seattle area before this. Our tentative plans had been to take a very quick trip out to Washington at the end of August so that we could see her, but it kept seeming very awkward to leave our home and business at that busy time. Leave during this week? Hmmmm... Time to pray. The upshot of all this, dear friends? We left. About five hours after that casual remark, we were packed up and gone on a 1200 mile trip. It looked pretty crazy but it felt absolutely right to us all. And it was a remarkable time. We saw friends we hadn't seen in years, took our children to fascinating places, helped my mom with cleaning and decluttering (it's always easier to declutter someone else's stuff!), and even accomplished some needed business. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." Think of that for a moment in relation to your everyday life: a time to change diapers, a time to vacation, a time to read books, a time to do math, a time for science experiments, a time for you and your spouse, a time to sleep (!), a time to prepare meals, a time to play with the children, a time for crocheting, a time for taking walks, a time for praying, a time for singing, a time for laughing together... Perhaps you feel like I have often felt - pressured, harried, hurried, squeezed by the demands of the moment. Homeschool moms especially are prone to this affliction, due to the intense responsibilities of their calling. Perhaps it's worse than that! Are you feeling panicked at this moment considering the impending homeschooling year? Are you thinking, "How on earth will I EVER be able to get all of this done????" If so, here is something to consider: Seasons We all recognize that there are different seasons of life. Our life as a single person is quite different from our life when we get married . Our life when we have newborns is entirely different than our life when the youngest child is a teen. Our life is very different when our children cannot read than our life when they can. Our life during the first year of homeschooling is vastly different than our life as a "veteran." On and on it goes. Just as each of the four seasons of the year has its own concerns and demands - such as warm coats in winter, sweaters in autumn, rain hats in spring, and sandals for summer - so also, the seasons of life have different concerns. The trouble is that, though we recognize the different seasons in life, we sometimes forget to apply that knowledge to our own circumstances. "Oh, Lord, I just can't seem to find enough time to really study Your word! But I do keep my Bible in the bathroom so that when I get one minute to myself, I can at least read it." (My honest thoughts when Isaac was about twelve months old, and ALWAYS at my side.) "Bill, I never get any sewing done anymore! Just about the time I drag everything out and set it up, the kids wake up from their naps and I have to put it all away again." (A comment I made to my dearly beloved husband when all three were very young.) "Attention, Family!! I can't cook any meals for the next couple of weeks because the deadline for this book is nearly here... and I just don't have any time!" (My words last winter while writing, Ancient Civilizations & the Bible.) What season of life are you in at this moment? If you are right in the midst of canning fruits and veggies, PTL! It will not last much longer and your family will be blessed throughout the year. If you just had a baby, PTL! They are only this dependent for such a short time - enjoy this moment of your life. If you are in the midst of moving, PTL! Remember in the midst of unpacking that there are new adventures God has in store for you just around the corner. If your kids are beginning high school homeschool, PTL! The best is yet to come. (I personally think homeschool high school is the most gratifying time of all!) If you just had to make an unexpected trip, which blew your schedule to smithereens, PTL! Discover what special blessings await you that would never have come your way if you hadn't "absconded." What ever season you are in at this moment, thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to you. Then, go for it! Enjoy all of the particular blessings that come with this season, and persevere through the difficulties. And, most importantly, take the load of guilt off of yourself for not doing everything that everyone else seems to be doing! They are, undoubtedly, in a different season... This month's recipe: Morning Glory Pancakes 2 1/2 cups flour (white, whole wheat, or combination) 1/2 cups cornmeal 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. sugar 3 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. nutmeg (if you can find the whole nutmegs, grate it fresh!) 1 - 2 cups fresh fruit - cut up into small chunks (I LOVE blueberries, and often use frozen ones.) 1/2 cup chopped nuts - walnuts, pecans, almonds are wonderful Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the fruit and nuts, stir lightly. 3 cups milk (buttermilk is best - but if you use buttermilk, change the baking powder to 2 tsp. and add 1/2 tsp. baking soda) 3 eggs 2 tbsp. oil Stir wet ingredients together vigorously until blended. Add gently to dry ingredients. Cook first side on griddle until dry around the edges and bubbles in the center. Flip and cook other side until lightly browned. Serve with butter and syrup. These pancakes have "eaten" their way into the hearts of avowed pancake haters, converting them into pancake lovers... so try them! Blessings to you all, Diana Return to the List of Newsletter Issues

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