Fishing under the I-75 bridge in Atlanta

The water was very murky because of recent rains. It was lots clearer this past Sunday, but I have no pictures of that. It is a whole different world in the river, below the interstate compared with the high-rises that line the highway when you're driving. We fish upstream of the poo plant, but I am still glad that I have a layer of neoprene between me and the water!

The birds that fly by are awesome to watch and listen to. Huge and beautiful water birds (some have pelican like beaks), geese, ducks,and even some little tweetys swoop, swim and fly right near by as if I weren't there. It's fun to try and identify the trillium and herbs on the trail. Heck, I love going! And to top it all off, I am with the love of my life. It really doesn't get much better.

I did catch a litte sunfish, but I never got a trout in hand. I had two that self-released before I could get my hands on them. Better luck next time.

Keeping the kids room clean

Andy's fishing, and I am cleaning brass and the girls' room. Whew! It is a mess. Wish it were an easier task. It has been out of hand since before Christmas, with a few mock cleanings mingled in. Our new plan is to remove all but a small container of stuffed animals. Everything else is getting put out of sight. After 2 weeks of having a clean room the girls will be able to choose one toy or small container of related toys to return to their room. Then they again must show that they are willing to keep their room clean for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of a clean room, they may again choose a toy to bring out. I hope to find that they forget about the toys that aren't important to them and they can be removed from the house. De-cluttering at its finest. Now I can't get this job done typing in my blog. Tune in later for an update on our cleaning adventure.

Lila quote

Just a quick quote from Lila:
Out of the blue, I hear:
"It's sweet being little!"
"Oh, yeah?"I ask.
"Yeah, you can fit in tiny spaces where big people can't fit."
How true that is. I can't even fit into my old jeans!

Mary and Martha Teach me Freedom!

This morning's In Touch with Charles Stanley devotional email reminds me that all I do in Christ (which should be everything from cleaning my floors to teaching Sunday School) can be done with the fuel of the Holy Spirit. How freeing! And it fits with part of the Preacher's sermon Sunday about experiencing the Joy of my salvation. (Psalm 51:12)



This lesson is gleaned from Luke 10 :38-42. Martha is the doer, and Mary is the worshiper. We all must be doers and we all need to be worshipers. The issue in this passage is the timing. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is "a time to every purpose under heaven." There is a time to worship and a time to get things done. Martha's doing was important, but her timing was a little off. Mary on the other hand had her timing right. What Dr. Stanley pointed out to me this morning was that the time of worship can be used to seek the fuel that is the Holy Spirit. Thus eliminating the need for us to accomplish everything within our own power. Happy day, I am not alone! I have the strength of God within me, if only I will seek it and allow Him to work through me.



I struggle with getting it all done sometimes. If I spend some time in the morning getting my focus on my Creator, then I should feel empowered all day long. This also makes me wonder. If something I am doing is draining me, maybe its because it is not part of God's plan for my life. Instead it is something that I think I should be doing. Or maybe I am trying to do it within my own power instead of letting Him do it through me as an empty vessel. Here I must submit, and let go of the things that are outside of His will for my life, or let Him be in charge of all parts of my life. This is just what I needed today!

Character training

Well, if anyone in our house needs to practice and implement good habits, its me. I am looking at using Notebooking Pages' Sowing Seeds of Character system. It is no doubt a great idea. The problem is with my current state of permissive parenting. Sure the girls must clean up in the kitchen their own dishes, and they can each cook a signature dish (if you count fried eggs and macaroni and cheese). But their room reminds me of a landfill! (And I believe that's where most of the stuff in it belongs.) I am allowing them to keep a messy room by not removing privileges for it, thus preventing them from wanting to clean up.

Something else that I would like to change is my relaxed attitude about computer and TV time. In my heart I want to limit them both, but I am so tired, and they are so easy... I let my better judgement fall by the wayside for the sake of convenience.

This Character teaching system is a plan to help me regulate the girls' rewards in life, and encourage good habits and character at the same time. I seems like a perfect fit. The truth is that I am not sure I have the self-discipline to make it happen. As a loving mom, I know I must sometimes withhold things from my children to teach them , and yet it is so hard to stop my precious babies from having the thing they want sometimes.

The biggest issue is my stick-to-it-iveness. I know myself, and I need help from God to keep up good habits. Spurgeon says in his devotinal that "You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer." Here is my answer. I can't, but my Lord can and He will through me. I must step aside and let Him teach my darling daughters. Time for prayer.

Mushroom Photos from The Year of the Mushroom