We are only taking about three weeks off for summer break before hitting the books again. The weather is extremely hot and has been for some time. We’ve also had little rain lately, but after the massive thunderstorms and tornadoes that we endured during March, April and part of May, I can’t complain. However, I’m sure the farmers are needing some rain. Because the weather is so hot and miserable, and we’re forced to stay inside, we decided to make use of that time. We took a few weeks off to rest up from the previous school year, get organized for the next year, and so my children could each enjoy their turns staying with my Mom for a week. We plan on taking a break mid-autumn, Lord willing, when the weather is cooler.

Here are a few things I’ve accomplished during the break. I’m a list-maker, so I thought I’d see how many jobs I completed! 🙂

• Moved small bookshelf and books out of girls’ room and into the school room where I can keep track of the books better. They have a very small room, so this also opened up more space for them to play with the Littlest Pet Shop toys that a friend in our church gave us for free! What a blessing!!
• Cleaned girls’ room thoroughly, including the closet.
• Cleaned out file cabinet, organized books, got rid of some books, and, yes, I even got a few new ones at our library’s book sale. Good thing I made some room for them! 😉
• Cleaned fridge.
• Washed curtains and dusted windows and ceilings.
• Finished up report cards, organized school books for the coming year.
• Made copies of the Sunday School material we’ll be using for our daughter’s 7th grade Bible class. (Yes, we had permission.) 🙂
• Got off Zoloft – that’s right! I’m medicine free, finally, and feeling great!! I didn’t realize how tired that medication made me. I have so much more energy now! Yes, I do feel the effects of stress a bit more now, but it’s nothing like it was when I was suffering with PPD. I can cope again and that feels so, so good. I am grateful to have had the medication available when I needed it. 
• Read Sarah, Plain and Tall, James and the Giant Peach and Jed Smith: Trailblazer of the West aloud to one or more of the children. Read myriad other children’s books aloud to the little girls. 

Here are a few books we’re planning on reading aloud next:
The Shakespeare Stealer
Holes
My Brother Sam is Dead
Humbug Mountain
Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted House
Door in the Wall
Across Five Aprils
The Cabin Faced West
The Whipping Boy

We’ll read them all, but I’m not sure when or in what order.

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve officially lived here longer than anywhere else! Well, the official date would have been June 7, but I figure I’m close enough. 🙂 Yes, I’m a list maker and a date keeper! Haha! The longest we had lived in one place before was in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We lived there for three years and three weeks. We came very close to breaking our record in Texas, but God moved us here about six months before our record. Wow…it feels good to have this time “under our belts”, so to speak. The ministry is definitely work! Anyone who thinks that a Pastor doesn’t work for a living, simply hasn’t tried it. Satan is fighting. I’m sure there are folks who wish we had moved on quite some time ago. I know my husband would have quit long ago if God had not called him to do this.

The other day, my husband and I were looking at Matthew in his highchair and commenting how cute and adorable he is. “Matthew, everybody just adores you! How does that feel?” I asked him playfully, as he broke into a heart-melting grin. Terry then made a comment that really stuck with me. He said, “Put a Bible in his hand and he won’t be so adored.”

You know, that’s the truth. Jesus wasn’t very popular, nor was Paul. Daniel was hated, David was despised, as were Peter and James. John the Baptist was killed for the cause of Christ and the blood of countless saints was shed because they chose to believe and obey the Bible. Why should we expect an easy road for ourselves? We serve the same God of Paul, Daniel, David, Peter, James, John and of the Lord Jesus Himself. God hasn’t changed. His truths still pierce the soul and convict of sin. And that will never be popular.

May we all stay faithful till He comes to get us.