A Full Heart

I have missed posting regularly. It's not that I don't have a lot to say (hee hee) it's perhaps that I have too much on my heart, and some of it I either don't know how to fully express or I can't express it because it would be gossip possibly. So I err on the side of caution.

But here are somethings occupying my heart and mind these days!

Miss Paula and Alicia are both taking blogging breaks. They are busy and they are enjoying Facebook right now. I know how hard it is to run a home and try to keep up and I completely understand where they are coming from. I just will miss keeping up with them in this way. I can and will visit them on FB but it isn't the same as blogging.

I love my blogging friends and I think, like so many women who blog or read blogs, it fills a need for fellowship with likeminded women! There is a lot of unkindness in the blogging world, I know, but I stay away from those places. Just this week I have been encouraged online by wonderful Christian women; Deby, jAne, Brenda, Tracy.

I have been following Tracy's daughter Autumn's courtship and marriage for the last year. Today I read with tears the beautiful vows this sweet young couple made to each other. It was such a blessing to me as we have a desire for our daughters and sons be able to find spouses that want to honor God the way this young couple does. Autumn and Jon's heart is very similar to our niece and now nephew's heart - that their lives be a testimony of God's grace and goodness. It makes me cringe to know that there are those even in the Christian community who would scoff at the honorable way they have conducted their lives.

There is no one right way to court etc...some believe that you must have a betrothal - I have seen them and I think they are a beautiful way to show the commitment a young couple is making. Josh and Anna Duggar had a very public courtship, and risked the world making fun of them. jAne's daughter Lizzie and Mr.Darcy have had a very honorable relationship - I say "Bravo!" to them all! I am so encouraged by these examples. We are interested in watching them because with 4 daughters and 2 sons, we know we don't want them to date. So we watch to see those who have gone before us in this way - we see what we think works - I ask lots of questions too! (thanks Tracy for your patience in answering my questions last year!)

Another thing on my mind these days is our homeschool co-op. It looks as if we will have 62 families this year. I always am filled with trepidation whenever we go over 60. I am not sure why but the dynamic gets wierd. But I am hopeful that all will be just fine this year. I love encouraging these women who give themselves so fully to their families, they don't always get the support they should from their husbands or other family members.

In addition to that our group is using a webhost for a website for our group! It is really neat but it requires me to learn more than I really wanted to know about websites!

I also am planning my parents 50th wedding anniversary party for the 25th of this month. I am almost done with the invitations. It is going to be an Open House event and then we will go to dinner with our family and 2 couples that they are good friends with! It should be a blast!

Sarah turns 7 on Saturday and wants a party...If it would be hot enough we could invite a few friends to the Grandparents pool and have a simple, easy party....

Well, I guess that is enough for now - you certainly don't need to hear my concerns about our country, nor the burden we have for our oldest son. Just pray. God is so big and so good. He has been teaching me so much over the years, and I am so thankful. Sometimes it has meant that we have traveled a path that others may think it a bit "much." But we know our hearts are right before Him - so we don't need to worry about others. We just try to keep our eyes on Him!

Thank you to all my blog friends - you are appreciated more than you know - but I will try to tell you so more often!