Which End is Up?

Difficult Task- Making a proposed schedule a reality!

{ 03:46, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 } { 3 comments } { Link }

I feel like I am a prisoner of my own mind right now. I have all these grand ideas about the prefect homeschool, homestead, family life...and I'm really questioning how much I really want it. What keeps me from accomplishing my goals. Are my expectations too great? Am I too selfish...I know that having the life I want here will require me to truly lay my life down. Do I really want what I say I want. If I want it, I would expect that I would be behaving my way to success. Right now I feel as though I am sitting here watching my days pass me by. I shudder to imagine the consequences my children are experiencing- knowing that I am not giving them my best each day. YUK.

Of course many details of where I am at are missing from this scattered expression. I think the silver lining is going to be that for the first time in a long while I am driven to my knees knowing that I can not do...well, much of anything when God's hands aren't in my plans. We can carry on quite successfully on our own...relying on our own ability and "power"(...ha...ha, what power) FOR A SHORT TIME...but inevitably things will fall apart. You would think I would learn after a few rounds of this behavior...but no, I keep falling on my face...which is where I need to be right now. I have no interest in folding one basket of laundry, baking one loaf of bread, teaching one day of seat work...without God's stamp of approval on it. SO- it is time to stop being busy, stop all of the noise of life that is preventing me from hearing what the Father of the universe has planned for my day.

My schedules will fail every time so Lord, please light my path and show me what is important and what is not! Amen.

Square Foot Gardening

{ 09:15, Thursday, January 18, 2007 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Good Morning! I am wondering if there is anyone out there who has tried square foot gardening. We're urban homesteaders and I have read about the high yield in a small space that you can reap from this method. We have a decent sized yard for being in town, but if I had my way the entire thing would be a garden not leaving much space for my 3 little ones to play. I'd love to hear from anyone who has insight on this method...or other suggestions for me. This will be my first garden EVER as this home we are moving to IN TWO WEEKS!!!! will be our first home.

Thanks! Have a great day!

Peas....and Thank You!

{ 11:53, Friday, January 12, 2007 } { 2 comments } { Link }

We are having a difficult time with our daughter at supper time. She is 3 1/2 and if she doesn't like something she will not budge. She has spent three nights this week alone in her room from supper time until the next morning because she will not eat what is served. Will she finally give in after we continue sending her to her room? Tonight is pizza night, so I know she'll chow...it is her favorite...but I am sure we'll be back to square one the next night. Does anyone have any insight about what has worked for you. I believe this "spend the rest of the night in your room" thing will eventually take effect...but the problem is that it punishes me too while I enforce it. Also, 2 other siblings share this room so it is inconvenient for us. I'm open to any suggestions so that we may help her get on the right track. Thanks!

It's Never Enough....or...It's ALWAYS Enough?

{ 10:38, Wednesday, January 10, 2007 } { 4 comments } { Link }

In the seven years we have been married there have been countless times that our checkbook balance is far less than what is needed to pay our bills and meet our needs for the month. It causes stress (especially for my husband) and frustration and a feeling of hopelessness that my husband works and works, and in his words, "It's Never Enough, is it?" I've never responded well to him when he says that. Usually I leave the room in silence and move on to the next thing. Well, last night when we realized once again we were in a month that just doesn't add up, I responded to his, "It's Never Enough!" with, "Honey, it's ALWAYS enough!" For, we've never been hungry, cold, unclothed or unloved. We have all of our needs met and so many wants as well. We have an awesome God who always takes care of us. We have been blessed by keeping me at home....sounds pretty rich to me!

Our husbands have been wired by God to provide for us. To be the big strong man who can take care of the family's every need. I often catch myself saying something or acting in a way that may not fully lift him up in his role if I want something we can't afford, or want to travel back to see our family when I know we can't afford it. Shame on me!

It is my job to do everything I can to support him in his role, to reduce, reuse, recycle our old stuff into new and to plan well keeping our costs to an absolute minimum. This is something I have done well when I want to...but it has been on my terms, not the Lord's or my husbands. I need to do it always because it is my job and privilege and not just for the weeks and months I choose to!

If you've been a schmuck like me, give your husband a big hug and tell him how amazing he is and that you are proud of him! I'll do the same!

And if you haven't been a schmuck like me....give him the feeling of respect that is so vital to a man and tell him, too!

Can't seem to wait to begin packing!

{ 02:56, Monday, January 8, 2007 } { 0 comments } { Link }

OK, so my previous plan was to spend 20 days focused on life in our apartment and then allow for 9 days of packing frenzy...but that just isn't going to cut it...so the revised plan is now is to spend the next 5 days completing my packing frenzy and then the remaining 20 days will be spent enjoying the simplicity of having most of our stuff packed and only the necessities out...which I expect will be very pleasant since less stuff equals less work. I am fairly certain that I have convinced my husband to hire movers for 2-3 hours to get the furniture from our 3rd floor apartment over to the house. I just don't know a better way for it to get done without him ending up in the hospital. New friends at church have offered to help us move and I will feel much more comfortable with them helping with boxes rather than furniture. If someone got hurt it would be horrible. Boxes should be safer...right?

Every time we get packed up I think about how wonderful life would be with just the things we truly need...but inevitably when we unpack I have a hard time letting things go. My goal when we get over there is to keep 50% of what is in each box when we are unpacking with the exception of the boxes that contain the true necessities. Then those half boxes will go right out to the garage for what should be a very successful garage sale (which will double as a great way to meet and minister to neighbors!) in May.

I'm really working to get everything done during the weekday's when my husband isn't around so he doesn't have to do any of the packing/preparing. It is enough for him to focus on the inspection, paperwork, closing, etc. PLUS the stress that I know he goes through when we have a moving day. My packing plus the movers plus my sister coming to help with the children over the moving weekend should hopefully eliminate most of my husband's stress.

So excited about all of it! I am so looking forward to painting walls...because they'll be ours! And getting our things situated there...in our own home- a blessing from our Awesome God!

Buzzz...Buzzz....Buzzzz!

The Countdown is On!

{ 04:32, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 } { 1 comments } { Link }

We have 29 days before we close on our home. I am so excited and find myself having a hard time staying focused on daily tasks as my heart and mind is already at the next place. I have about 20 boxes packed and will go on the grocery store hunt for more boxes tonight. It is my goal to get things refocused on our life here for the next 20 days....I'll allow myself the next nine to be completely giddy and focused on moving the household...if I can't get it done in 9 days...we've got too much stuff to manage! God is so good, and I am so thankful for all we have to look forward to in 2007....I'm off to comfort a teething baby!

Sledding!

{ 01:42, Tuesday, January 2, 2007 } { 0 comments } { Link }

Happy New Year!

{ 12:46, Tuesday, January 2, 2007 } { 0 comments } { Link }

Hello Friends! We spent New Years Day sledding with some new friends and afterward we went to their home for Chili. The kids played so nicely and we really enjoyed visiting with the other couple. We were so blessed by a new friendship! Praying for you all to have the best year yet!

We're Buying a House! Hooray!

{ 10:24, Tuesday, December 19, 2006 } { 3 comments } { Link }

My husband signed papers on a home for our family today! We will close on February 1st and I am so excited! We won't be out of town- yet. But this is a great home that will give us just what we need and also provide an opportunity for us to save for a home in the wilderness in the future. There are big windows that make everything bright. I am so looking forward to getting there and making it our home! God is so good, and having a husband that takes care of business is such a blessing! HOORAY!

Doing My Best to Enjoy a Simple Christmas!

{ 04:22, Saturday, December 16, 2006 } { 6 comments } { Link }

Hi Everyone. Today brings about a battle between wanting to simplify...and missing the Christmas Hustle and Bustle and all of the shopping. My husband bought the few small gifts we got for the kids, and we are not doing any more than that in the gift world. I know that this free's up time and energy to be focused on our Lord and the birth of the Savior...but my flesh is missing SHOPPING, WRAPPING, BAKING, ETC. Lord, help me to rest in you and experience your love. AND help me to initiate meaningful traditions for my family that are not tied up in commercialism. TALL ORDER! Amen!

Our Little Nativity Scene!

Our Little Lovies

A Family Mission Statement...and Goals Through Retirement!

{ 11:40, Wednesday, December 6, 2006 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Hi There!

I am so excited about what God is doing with us! About a year ago I got some great advice from our dear Pastor John in Minnesota about making a family mission statement and having a clear set of goals for how we will find (and define) our success as a family. Well, it has always been in my mind, but with new baby, new town, etc. it has been easy to put it off. Also, I didn't imagine that my husband would get real excited about sitting down with me and having to listen to a women's ramblings on the topic of the future. But then my lightbulb went off and I discovered that the best way for me to initiate this would be as a business transaction. Concrete, on paper, similar to an assignment that may be received at the office. So I layed out some paper work with some fill in the blanks and an area for personal and family goals, etc.

My husband was gone for business Monday and is on his way home now. Before he left I said, "I have an assignment for you." He seemed cool with it, and on the phone last night he said that he had worked on it and I can't wait to see what he has come up with. I printed out the same "assignment" for each of us and then we will come together to merge and purge as we see fit. I am so excited!

It has sparked great conversations so far...and I look forward to what more will come of it. If any of you are trying to establish a more focused productive journey through life together I highly recommend it. We are also going to do a family goals sheet so the kids can give us some imput. HOORAY! I know I'll have more to say soon!

Have a great day!

Also, I just have to post a quick picture of our sweet little one at 5 months!

CHRISTMAS!

{ 11:35, Monday, December 4, 2006 } { 0 comments } { Link }

We're getting ready for Christmas! The kids are having a great time measuring, pouring, stiring, dipping, setting timers, etc. so that we can make some Christmas goodies. Lake likes to talk to the Christmas lights on the tree. We are having great fun! Here is our "to-do" list:
1. Banana Bread
2. Caramels
3. Fudge
4. More Dipped Pretzels
5.English Toffee
6. Krumkakke
7. Share 1-6 so we don't eat it all ourselves! :)

HOORAY....a blog from Angela!

{ 07:45, Sunday, December 3, 2006 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Has anyone besides me looked at Angela's Within the lines blog daily to see if she has written anything? I keep clicking on my "friends" link to see if she has been here....and tonight, she is!

Home, Sweet Home!

{ 01:02, Tuesday, November 28, 2006 } { 0 comments } { Link }

We got back from our trip at about 2AM Sunday Morning. We discovered how wise it is to travel at bedtime. It is a little tiring for the parents, but so wonderful to have the children sleep the entire time we travel.. I highly recommend it!

Our trip was good. Visiting others always finds me returning home very thankful that we have the lifestyle and the marriage/family life that we do. Our simplicity is a true treasure! I suspect it will take about one or two more days before we recover and get "back to normal."

I was given many ministry opportunities and am always so blessed and honored when God gives the privilege of sharing His love with others. So amazing that He lets me in on some of His divine appointments. Humbling to know that He allows little old sinner, me to be in on the joy of His Kingdom! Thank you Father!

Hope your long weekend was filled with many things to be thankful for!

So much to be THANKFUL for!

{ 01:15, Friday, November 17, 2006 } { 2 comments } { Link }

I am so very blessed to have such a great husband and three healthy children. Isn't it wonderful to have everything we need? And SO MUCH MORE! We are getting ready to make a 10 day trip back to Minnesota to visit relatives and friends. They are all people that I love dearly, but the best part of such a trip is that God always shows me just how wonderful my life is! It is easy to look around and see all of the stuff we don't have...but when we are amongst other families and people who relate to each other differently than we do...and who are discontent, not knowing the joy of the Lord...I realize that our Pringle life is amazing...and that I always make run-on sentences! :) Thank you, Lord for my awesome husband and family and for always giving us what we need. Help us to further enter into obedience to you and to worship you as we should! I love you!

And Here is our Sweet Little Lake (4 months old)

{ 08:07, Monday, November 6, 2006 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Train City Before the Screaming Began! :)

{ 08:03, Monday, November 6, 2006 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Our Words Don't Sound as Good Coming from Our Children's Mouths!

{ 07:56, Monday, November 6, 2006 } { 0 comments } { Link }

Wow! It is time for me to get on track regarding the tone I use with the children and my choice of words. My 3 & almost 5 year old are playing with the Thomas train city we set up last night. 3yo knocked over some of the track and my son said, "Lillian Shaul Pringle you stop that right now....uggghhhh, I am very dissapointed in you, Lilly!" Well, I wanted to crawl out of my skin hearing that come out of my sweet little boy. So many times we get to hear great things come out of their mouths as a result of our training and obedience to God, but when you hear all your mistakes amplified by about 1000times when they cocme out of your child, it is so hard!
Lord, please forgive me for my careless failures with the children. This week please give me an extra measure of your love, wisdom and patience so I can bless my children and do my job to your glory! Amen

Staying Home for Christmas!

{ 03:09, Thursday, November 2, 2006 } { 1 comments } { Link }

For as long as I can remember (since I was 3) we have always made Christmas into a travel marathon spreading time evenly between sides of the family. Back then it was my grandparents...and now we have assumed the habit for our own family of getting to my parent's and my husband's two sides as his parents are divorced. It is always great to see everyone but in the chaos we loose the purpose of the holiday because we are just trying to get from point a to b to c with enough diapers, clothes, snacks, gas money, the right gifts etc. How is this time for the rest of you? Well this year has us living a little further away then ever before. We are going to take a week back home during Thanksgiving and then stay home for Christmas and I am SO EXCITED! We will start our own traditions...go to church, focus on Jesus' birthday...and rest in Him rather than go thru 4 days of complete exhaustion. Of course I will miss my family and breakiing a 32 year tradition of always being there...but I believe it is what is right for your family and I am confident that God will bless it! I also hope it will instill in our children the tradition of being home with the immediate family and that they will do the same when they find their spouses and have children. HOORAY!

To Buy or Not to Buy...That is the Question!

{ 12:34, Wednesday, November 1, 2006 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Today has me pondering home buying. Do we get into something we can afford now...or do we rent for 5 years to save up a larger down payment for a bigger better home? It really is a spiritual question...this world is not our home...so how much do we invest and how financially strapped do we allow ourselves to get for this time we are here? On one hand I think we should find something that is "just enough" meeting our needs without any extra bells or whistles....on the other hand we think about the investment factor and stewardship of our time and money and wanting a good return...which brings me back to...a good return for what purpose. My husband and I are having a hard time coming to a decision because we both go back and forth on the matter. I would be thrilled to receive any imput any of you have based on your experiences. THANKS!

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