As we reflect on the anniversary of Sept. 11, here is a quote that I think is an appropriate response.

"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity."
--Francis Maitland Balfour

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

--Albert Pike

It has been a while since I have had a chance to write. All that end of the summer stuff has kept me busy. Getting the kids ready to start school (and myself, as well!) can be challenging. We also took a vacation, which requires a lot of time and preparation. Our vacation was enjoyable--perhaps I will write about it at a future time. But now it is back to the regular routine of school and chores. I still have much to do. Planning lessons for the week and preparing for each day take up part of each evening. Girl Scouts start next week and I would like to get the kids back in swimming lessons. Not to mention all of our church activities. Oh well, I can't complain that I am bored!

I received this little story in an email the other day. I have no idea who the author is, but I think this is worth passing on.
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Subject: Something to think about

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things
were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and
wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as
one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In
the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last
she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a
word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed
them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted
that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After
pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked
her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, "What's the point, mother?

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity-boiling water-but each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin
outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were
unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the
water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with
pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I
the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did
I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship,
or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look
the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a
hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes
the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water
gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean,
when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation
around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do
you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

--Author Unknown

Another thing that amazes me about children is their complete trust in God. They never even question His love and power. They approach Him with confidence and never doubt that their prayers will be answered. They are also much quicker about recognizing those answered prayers. Just the other day my daughter, who had been feeling ill most of the day, told me that she was feeling better because her little sister had prayed for her. Both of my children know to go to God whenever they have a need. Not because He is like a big Santa Claus in the sky, but because they know that He loves them and always wants the best for them. I hope they keep this knowledge deep within them for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes we don't give children credit for what they are able to understand. During communion at our church on Sunday, my 5 year old daughter said that she was sad that Jesus died on the cross, but glad too. How amazing that at her young age she can be sad that our Savior had to sacrifice His life, but also glad that He was willing to do so. She seems to have an understanding and appreciation that many of us adults lack.

The sweetest expression of her faith came just a moment later when she opened her arms up toward the ceiling in order to give a hug to God and then blew Him a kiss. Oh to be more childlike at times.

This has been a busy week. Seems like we had something going on every day. Next week I am determined to start school. I am mostly ready, but I have a few more preparations to make. But the kids are ready to get started, so it is definitely time.

I took the kids to a farm on Thursday. They had so much fun gathering eggs, picking vegetables and especially petting the tiny baby kittens. I hope they got a better appreciation of where their food comes from.

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"Th ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

---Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Today was the primary election in our city. This is the election where each party chooses who will run in the general election in November. Our state is electing a new governor and it should be an interesting contest.

Not very many people vote in these primary elections; in fact only 24% of registered voters voted today. What a terrible shame! I think it is very important for every person to vote in every election. Many people believe that "just one vote" doesn't matter that much. But, in fact, if the other 76% of the voters had shown up at the polls today, the election may well have turned out very differently. Also, there are many people who are not even registered. Those people are missing an opportunity to make their voices heard. Make no mistake; the winner of the election notices how many people voted for their opponent and that tells him or her just as much as the number of votes that they themselves received. So, please vote each and every time you have the opportunity. It is both a privelege and a responsibility. And then, if you are unhappy with the performance of your elected officials, be sure and let them know. This way we can truly have a say in how our government works.

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."
--Albert Schweitzer

I have a busy day ahead of me. I am trying to clean my kids' rooms. This is the "Mom clean" as opposed to the "kid clean" that the rooms usually get. You know, clean out under the bed, vacuum the dust bunnies, straighten the drawers and closets... We are also trying to de-junk a bit, so I hope that I can get them to part with some of their less-often-used toys. Sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday.

This morning I went to a garage sale at a private school that is closing. I was hoping to get some materials and curriculum to use in home schooling. I was able to get a few things but I didn't really find what I was looking for. Oh well. They had some really nice desks, but I just didn't want to pay $25. Anna has a nice little table to use and Emily uses our full-sized desk. What I really wanted was a new globe but there were none left by the time I got there. The one we are using is so out-dated; I think it must be at least 15 years old!

The kids had fun today. We set up the sprinklers in the front yard and they just had a blast. They had all kind of imaginative games going on. Who needs to spend a fortune on entertainment? They want to go to the park tomorrow, but it is so very hot. They may have to wait a few weeks until it cools down. In the meantime, there's always the sprinkler!


PS-- Happy birthday, Denise!

My friend Denise said that someone should come up with a new term for "stay-at-home-mom." I suggested "half-crazed woman desparate for adult conversation". Actually that is only half true. I seldom feel crazed. A bit overwhelmed at times, but not crazed. As for the part about needing adult conversation--well, that is true. I think every one needs a hobby or interest of some sort, but especially those of us who are with our children all day, every day. My hobby is scrapbooking--taking pictures and putting them into albums in an artsy-craftsy way. I just started about a year and a half ago but it is something I truly enjoy. About once a month I load up my supplies and head to our local scrapbook supply store for an evening of "cropping". It provides a much needed getaway and allows me time with other adults, especially my friend and fellow scrapbooker, Holly. I wish I could do it more often. I hope to soon set up an area in my home where I can work on it from time to time.

A quote from our minister's sermon today:

"God wants to change me into the image of Christ by changing the way I think which comes by reprogramming my mind with the Word of God."

I really need to spend more time in God's Word. Seems like it is always the last thing on my list of many things to do each day and I never get around to it. It would be better, instead, to start my day spending some time in study and prayer. This would much better prepare me for the day ahead and all the exasperations that await. Perhaps I would be calmer and more able to handle these things.

Another quote from my minister: "The more you look at Jesus, the more you become like Him."

I want to become more like Jesus.

OK. So, tonight my youngest daughter had her bath and her dad was combing out her hair afterward. I'm downstairs trying to work on the computer and she is screaming at the top of her lungs. When I finally go upstairs to find out what in the world is going on, she is all in tears. Then she tells me, "Daddy is mean." When I ask her why he is mean she said she didn't want him to comb her hair because "he doesn't do it right." (Sigh) Just another one of those things.

I'm already exasperated trying to get used to this!

Welcome to Exasperated! Here you will find the musings, thoughts, rantings, etc. of a full-time stay-at-home mom. Oh, and I also home school. No telling what little tidbits you will read here. So check back from time to time and see what degree of insanity I am in!