Corn.

I realized a few weeks ago that even though I was raised on a farm and did lots of canning in the summer, my girls aren't being raised that way and a part of who "we" are is going to be lost in their generation. We were at mamas and the pea sheller was out when Abby asked..."What's that thing do?" Seriously? That "thing" is a pea sheller and one of the greatest inventions EVER! So, once over the shock of their lack of exposure, I made the decision to tackle corn this year (even though I hated canning corn growing up). The girls, Devant & I spent the entire day Saturday moving through the process with the help of mama and daddy. We broke the corn, shucked the corn, silked the corn, blanched the corn, cut the corn off the cob AND bagged the corn. Between 65 and 70 bags to be exact. Each person helped along the way...yes, even Laney. It was awesome. The girls learned so much.

Secretly, I was excited to get to put up corn and not have to silk. Growing up when the "corn" day came around the only job I was "old enough" to do originally was to silk. Then, somehow...I never graduated from silking. I HATE silking. I'd decided that with 3 capable girls certainly I could finally now graduate from silking. Wrong. When all you've done is silk your entire life...you get really good at it...and fast!! So I'm the master silker and master cutter off the cob! :) Might as well take pride in my life-time accomplishment.

The corn is done and now hopefully, not only have the girls been exposed to the actual process but also share in the satisfaction from the work they put into it. All winter long they can feel a sense of pride each time we eat the corn knowing they had a hand in it. Guess that's true of any job I let them do. Sometimes when my OCD is acting up I would rather just DO the job myself. That way I know its done the way I wanted it done and I won't have to take the time to have them do it over...or me re-do it. My ever so wise husband said that not only was I robbing them of the experience and learning but I was also robbing them of the pride and accomplishment that comes from doing a job yourself. True enough Devant. This summer they started mowing the grass, washing some clothes and now they've canned corn.

Bravo girls!

New Beginning

I love new beginnings. I really do. I'm venturing into one now. I'm working (volunteer style) from home. I desperately needed to be back home. Too many reasons to list why. The point is, I'm here now. Thank you God. I've learned a few lessons and I'm sure I'll only learn more. From where I sit now I can make a few observations. I am not exactly like anyone else. I am me. However, there are basic truths about me as a person, as a woman, that I share with all of you. I started this blogging wanting to open wide the door that stays closed and locked preventing all of us from seeing the real person in each other. Breaking down the wall, taking off the masks, moving toward me being able to be me and you being able to be you. I hoped to do that by not being afraid to put out there what was real in my life and how I made my way with God carrying, dragging, and teaching me. (And I have done that. I have been honest. I have shared struggles...just keep reading...)

Until now, I've waited to post things as I had "A-ha Moments". As I would have an experience and end the experience with a clear lesson or Word that I felt God had shown me in direct response to that particular experience, I wanted to post it here. I wanted you to see that I struggle with the same things you do...but look what God showed me in the midst of this struggle. Needless to say...that's not really how my life is. No doubt I have the experiences...but they don't always end one with a clear "life lesson" before I find myself right smack dab in the midst of another experience. Therefore, I have been struggling with things to post. I wanted my posts to be helpful. To share with you what I'd learned by summing it all up like a story from beginning to end. I realize now that just sharing the experience with you will be help in and of itself.

Without going back and reading my old posts...I think I mentioned that I wanted to communicate with you just as if we were chatting or if I were writing you a letter. I journal ALL THE TIME and much of my journaling is as if I were writing a note to Jesus himself. As I was reading over what I wrote just this morning, I realized that what I had hoped to do with this blogging, I really wasn't doing at all. I'm making posts, but they are too "prepared". They aren't just spitting the stuff out there like my journaling is. I'm not just sharing & talking, letting you see inside a scared, fragile, grouchy, chaotic woman that maybe on some level you can identify with. Of course, I want to protect the privacy of me and my family, so some discretion is necessary. I know now that not every post will have a solution or a signed, sealed, and delivered lesson in a package. I maintain that I will be honest. Freeing myself up not to have to have a "lesson" attached hopefully I will have a lot more to say. After all, I experience a lot more than I learn. :)

I'm not going to make any promises about how often I'll get something posted because as I have seen already, I've not done a very good job. I'll just hope to surprise you.

So...Becca...here's the post I said I'd post...no lesson, just honest, just me. (By the way, I was surprised that anyone would even notice I hadn't posted in a while because I didn't even realize anyone was reading. Thanks for reading.)