|| October Goals ||

:: OCTOBER GOALS ::

/\ enjoy time with Mom

/\ strawberry jam

/\ strawberry pieS

/\ homemade bread

/\ baby room finished, set up, and organized

/\ house re-arranged and re-organized after new rooms are finished

/\ chicken coop painted

/\ farm books finished for fiscal year

So, the entire family is going on holiday at some point between now and October 31st.  One left yesterday, three leave today.....and the farm is quiet.  That means: no school for me and lots of free time.  My Mom comes in two weeks so I have a few weeks to get ready for her arrival and then enjoy lots of time with her.  

The baby room and office are nearing completion (slow + steady wins the race).  Right now, we are sleeping in the spare room (right around the corner from our house) and living in our lounge (meaning, our kitchen and lounge are functional, our bedroom is not).   But WHEN those two additional rooms are finished, HALLELLUJAH AND AMEN, we will have room to spread out.  One ENTIRE room for Liesl and her baby things. One ENTIRE room for Leon and his books and desk.  (angels are queuing up to begin singing now)  That also means that our lounge will become more of a sitting room/kitchen area.  I will be able to unpack more of my kitchen things that have remained in barrels since I was married.  I'm getting excited just typing this out.  

I want to set goals for this coming month.  If I don't take advantage of this extra free time, the month will slip by and things will remain unfinished.  When my nieces get back from holiday, we have to finish a few more weeks of school.  So now is the time for me to get busy.

|| Just As I Am ||

Yesterday in between Sunday school and the morning service, I was feeding Liesl in the baby feeding room.  Over the speakers of the church was "Just As I Am" playing.  Spontaneously, I began singing along to the words.  Then I realized what I was singing.

JUST AS I AM, tho' tossed about

With many a CONFLICT, many a DOUBT, 

Fightings and fears WITHIN, without,

O Lamb of God, I COME! I COME!

My pregnancy was fairly easy.  The labor and delivery of Liesl was easy; yes, it really was.  These past 7 weeks?!?!  My goodness.  They have left me absolutely whirling.  I think almost every time I talk to my Mom, I tell her how much I'm struggling.  And often, there are tears accompanying these words.

How many people do we actually accept "just as they are"?  I know I don't really accept many (any??) "just as they are".  It is our human nature to compare, to criticize, to analyze and wonder.  But Jesus Christ, the Same, yesterday, and today, and forever, accepts us just as we are.  

JUST AS I AM, THOU WILT RECEIVE,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Honestly, I don't even accept myself as I am.  I am far too harsh on myself.  Thanks to the eye-opener the book The Spirit Filled Temperament was, it is one of my character flaws.  Today and this week, I will be thanking The Lord for His redeeming love and His new mercies that are new each and every day.

|| day late and a few dollars short ||

....but here's a few photos of Liesl's one month birthday.

In the barrels that arrived [TWO DAYS before her birth, hallellujah], were lots of cute presents from my family for Liesl.  My aunts sent this adorable monthly tag set.  I probably wouldn't have been super motivated to take monthly pictures on the exact day.  But with this motivation, who can resist?

Milk bubbles are my favorite.  And, boy, does this girl ever have a busy mouth.....lots of personality right there.

Oh and the cute stuffed elephant is from LIesl's Omie.  :)  Another keeper I know we'll treasure.

These past few days have been a little rough.  Liesl received a few of her immunizations.  I thought all the yuckies would be finished after one day.  Well, I don't think so.  After a [calm but inner-pacnicked] phone call to my Mom and lots of reassurances from her, Liesl gave me one of her smiles and fought like the dickens as I wrapped her up for the night.  Just what I needed to remind me that my little girl is O--KAY.