Recently, Court asked me, "How do you honestly do it all?!" As happens in blog-world from time to time, we read the chronicles of someone's life (the tiny snippet placed in their blog!) and get it into our heads that they are perfect in everything they do, which leads (usually) to either jealousy and dislike, or unbalanced amazement and awe.

Crystal at Biblical Womanhood shared this post about "getting things done" (or, not!) and guess what! I've been there too! ;) My face still gets a little red when I get an unexpected guest and have to invite them in to a house littered with toys, laundry, and dirty dishes.

One guest spotted the pan of (cold) pizza left on the kitchen table and said, "Oh! Did I interrupt your meal?"

"Ummm, no. Actually, we ate lunch a few hours ago. I just never got the leftovers put away. Yet..." (Read more...)

I'm posting such a variety of blog entries this past week! I've really been having a blast blogging about whatever's on my mind and taking a week's break from my normal postings of menus, Works-for-me Wednesday tips, and Frugal Fridays at biblical Womanhood.

I love blogging about cooking and kitchen-related topics, but sometimes those things crowd out the everyday stuff that's really on my mind! Because no, I don't just think about cooking, recipes, and food all day!

And what I'm thinking about right now, is television. You can blame it on this post, where Barbara Curtis writes about her thoughts on television.

I've never owned a television, so the closest I've come to living with one has been when I've stayed at other people's houses. I don't think television "is evil". We choose not to have one for many reasons. Here are just a few, and in no particular order! (Read some of my reasons...)

"'And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.'

"So ends the work of creation; and with nightfall, a new world is about to begin. A world of holiness and tranquility. A world within a day, the seventh day. For on the seventh day, God rested, and God blessed the seventh day, and God sanctified it."

-Yarda Hashabbat (the Sabbath descends)

"My teacher used to say that all that's beautiful in this world was beautiful because it had limits, not in spite them. We see the beauty of the rainbow because we sense its disappearance. We see the beauty of the rose because tomorrow it will wilt and lose its petals. All beauty has an end in our eyes.

"Now, in the eyes of God, beauty is eternal. It has no end and no beginning; but for us this would not be possible. So God, with great compassion, sets light facing darkness, the ocean facing dry land, the earth facing the moon; and all is made beautiful by this setting, because all is made meaningful by it.

"The darkness lets go of endless secrets because the light shines through it, and the ocean finally reaches its shore because the earth is waiting there for it. All this exists within God's world, and comes and goes in God.

"But we can see the beauty of it only because there is a differentiation. Havdallah. And now the Sabbath is departed, and we are sad. And the Sabbath is made even holier because we are sad. And may the sadness we feel today illuminate our joy in the week to come."

-Havdallah (the "separation" between
the Sabbath and the rest of the week)

We've been enjoying Songs for the Sabbath as we rest and reflect on our heavenly Father's goodness to us. I just wanted to share the beginning and ending quotes from the CD.

We were recently asked why we don't celebrate Christmas. We get this question in "real life" once in a while as well, so we put together our top 5 reasons we have chosen not to celebrate Christmas. Read more...

The past week or two has seemed impossibly long... and there have been so many days of just work, work, work... and no stopping for play or reflection. YHWH has been sending blessings though, and I am just amazed by His goodness, yet again! Here is some of what I'm praising Him for today!

• Music! Yesterday, my younger brother Reuben came over and told us that he had gotten us a stereo! Our old one had become so temperamental that it would only play one certain CD and occasionally a tape (with coaxing). I am so thrilled because now we can listen to music downstairs! After over a year of not getting to listen to any of my music, I have plenty to choose from! :)
• Clearance sales at Aldi's!
• Visitors coming for a weekend... next weekend!
• Tea! My supply of tea was getting surprisingly low, but today it was replenished in a huge way! My friend Lin sent me several large packages and included tea... TONS of tea! Included were two boxes of tea from a really wonderful brand, Revolution Tea. I can hardly bear the fact that I can't try every single tea at once! Be on the lookout for lots of tea reviews soon (when I find time to take pictures and all that)! And to think that today at the grocery store I could hardly pull myself away from the tea aisle, but I eventually did, empty-handed (or would that be empty-cart-ed?), all the while not knowing that there was tea and more tea in the mail for me today!
• Free fruit! A friend gave us a grocery sack each of pears and apples! I can't wait to write about what we made with them! :)
• My babies... who are so kissable and sweet...
• Bedtime and a little nursling 

A couple months ago, I posted a sort of daily schedule for our household. About the time I was posting that schedule, our schedule was in the process of changing, as Joshua was pursuing additional employment. (He had previously been working from home full-time; now he works full-time at a factory and does web design on the side.)

I hadn't realised just how accustomed I was to having Joshua home with us all day, every day! Even though he spent a good deal of time working (and didn't just play with us all day ;D), it sure was nice to have him here for all the meals and such. :)

It took us a couple weeks to get used to a more rigid schedule. Even though I had tried to be somewhat consistent with mealtimes and bedtimes, there was a lot more room for flexibility when Joshua was home all day. My day also got re-arranged slightly, but not substantially. :)

So, here is my "revised" schedule, starting in September 2006 and currently in use. :) Read all about it!

How much more our Heavenly Father must joy in our delight when he sends blessings our way!

YHWH has blessed us so much. This is what my clothesline looks like right now! This morning, bright and early, my two sisters and I headed out to a rummage sale. My mom watched Yehoshua and Eliyahu while we spent over 2 hours rummaging and exclaiming with delight over our finds! At $1.00 per heaping grocery bag, things seemed practically free. I spent $3.00 today, and came home with clothing for myself, Yehoshua, and Eliyahu, childrens' books, two back packs, a few toys, and an ice cream scoop for Joshua. ;)

All day yesterday, Yehoshua ran around wearing pants with no underwear, because his underwear was all in the wash. Today I found about 20 pairs of like-new boys' underwear, sizes 2-6.

I'm just thrilled, because so many things I had desired to have, we found! I got several new shirts for myself, just as my older ones seem to be wearing out. Yehoshua got a jump rope. Eliyahu got a chew toy. ;) I even found a few really nice things to give to other people! :D

Tonight at sunset, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins. This is the one day of the year when I never have to cook! However, by the end of our day of fasting, I am usually ready to get back to cooking, with renewed resolution to never, ever complain about having to make dinner again!

So, we'll be spending time praying, reading Scripture together, and thanking our Heavenly Father for the atoning work of Yeshua's blood. It's a sobering, searching day as we stop everything else to be reminded of Yeshua's suffering and sacrifice. 1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Traditionally, after sunset tomorrow, we'll be eating a "break-fast" of eggs and toast. I have some thoughts written about the past year, which I plan to post here on my blog after Yom Kippur. :)