Recent Hiking

Recently I had the opportunity to take a hike with a friend.  It was just the two of us, without any of the seven children that we have between our families.  

We've hiked together before, conquering a mountain and searching out ruins of an old building, all with seven plus children trotting behind us (mostly) willingly or riding on our backs.

Those excursions were fun, but this hike was a very special treat!

I admire this gal's adventurous spirit and her willingness to think outside the box.  I also admire how she perseveres every day in her life and walk with God.  It was nice to spend some uninterrupted time with her, as we adventured together.  

We drove to the trail head, through beautiful, idyllic countryside, rolling hills and picturesque farms.  

Before long we were chugging along at our own speed, chatting the trail away.  It was only about an hour of hiking until we reached the Falls.  

The Falls were splendid and beautiful!  We sat amidst their noise, munching our wraps and snacks, whilst the mist fell over us in refreshing waves.  

I bathed my face in the waters, feeling refreshed in more ways than one!

The trail ended and began with a kind of a boardwalk over a long marshy area, which I found charming!  Water crossings come in all shapes and sizes!  These are the unique things that seal each hike in my memory.

I'm truly thankful for time with a good friend, adventuring together.  

#mamalifehack

Friends,

Are you busy with family and friends this weekend?  We've been soaking up sunshine and savoring rain drops on the porch roof together.  These last few days have been full of large quantities of quality time with each other.  From mulching the flower beds to riding amusement park rides, connecting with each other is a joy!

On a recent outing the other day, I asked the Rugged Mountain Man what he thought of having the Blossoms wear their water backpacks for our all day adventure.  Normally this is something they'd wear when we're out hiking, but what about gallivanting across an amusement park?  Why have I never thought of this?

As it turns out, combined with our usual all orange shirts regimen, the water backpacks were fantastic!  Everybody stayed hydrated!  Sure, the Rugged Mountain Man and I had to hold them while they rode some rides, but having them all carry their own water was SOOOOO SMART and much easier on the wallet!

Maybe this #mamalifehack will help you in your Memorial Day plans tomorrow or consider using it in your upcoming summer plans.

Enjoy celebrating the Red, White and Blue tomorrow!  We'll be throwing candy in our favorite small town parade!  Look for us there.

Dominique

What is Doubt?

"Doubt means to be divided in two.  

True faith is single-mindedly focused on Jesus."

Tyndale Commentary on Matthew 14:28-31

I'm reminding myself to be single-mindedly focused on Jesus today.

Dominique

Practicing This

I was talking to one of the Blossoms about the things that worry us in our days.  Kids have things that weigh on their minds.  Those worries seem small in the scheme of what adults deal with, but they are big to them.  

As we grow up, we need to practice trusting God with the little things AND the things that seem big to us.  It's really just practice, because as we grow, there are always things that concern us.  There are always unknowns.  

There are always situations that we don't know how they will play out.  Let's remember to help our children trust God with their little stuff and their big stuff.  

Trusting God in each and every situation is truly a life skill.

A Note For You

Dear Friends,

Thanks for reading.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to listen to the words I share.

Thanks for letting me speak my thoughts.

Thanks for musing over the sentences you find here.

I am grateful that you choose to spend a few of your precious spare minutes here.

I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you.

With all my love,

Dominique

The Value of Small Talk

I'm not sure what Blossom2 is going to take pictures of when winter comes again, but I'm really enjoying her new hobby.  I'm wondering if she's trying to create a portfolio for when Fine Arts competition rolls around again.  That's fine by me.

A friend is home from Liberia and seems to be enjoying having small talk with all of us again.  How much she missed this "small" thing really got me thinking.

I've often thought very little of the value of small talk, thinking that it's just talking about shallow things.  These are the mundane details of our days.  In speaking with her and observing others, I began to realize how much community is based on connecting during those times of small talk.  It seems to me that without the small talk, the willingness to care about the "mundane" of each other's lives, we cannot move on to deeper levels of trusting and personal conversation.

Small talk is one of the most basic building blocks of relationships, and community within the Body of Christ.  Chatting about someone's day or their upcoming week builds relationship.  The deeper conversations come... in the church foyer, on a bench at the park, in the gym, with a paint brush in your hand, on the phone during a Bible Quiz match...

We are building trust within relationships. We are learning who is trustworthy and who cares.

I want to clearly communicate how much I care.

Dominique 

A Tiny Snapshot

Sometimes I forget that I can't see the entire picture of the future of our lives.  I get this idea in my head that I know best.  

I lose sight of my very humble role and think that I have everyone's best in mind, that somehow I know the best path for those I love.  

God and His plan are so much bigger than the minuscule snapshot I can see.  He sees it all.  His plan is amazing and His power is strong and redemptive.

I feel reminded how important it is to trust God EVERY DAY for each and every day.  

Dominique

For Every Mom

For every mom that said, “YES, we are doing school today,” through gritted teeth.

For every mom that slogged through reading difficulties.

For every mom that chose to deal with a character problem, instead of a math problem.

For every mom that has endured a mess in theirkitchen, for the sake of science.

For every mom that made a kid do something they didn’t want to do.

For every mom that had to answer nosy questions atWalmart.

For every mom that cried this year.

For every mom who played a game in the name of quality time… and math.

For every mom who thought their kid turned into a monster.

For every mom that defended her kids’ socialization.

For every mom who tried new ways to teach what one kid just wasn’t getting.

For every mom who changed curriculum.

For every mom who buried her head in her hands.

For every mom that attacked the math giant and helped a kid slay it just a little.

For every mom that thought kid-whining would be whatkilled her.

For every mom that read aloud.

For every mom that apologized to her kids this year.

For every mom who managed to make their kid write something.

For every mom that bore the criticism of relatives.

For every mom that hasn’t a finished a thought in fifteen years.

For every mom that celebrated when she saw the 180^th day on the calendar.

For every mom that listened to music talents being practiced to the detriment of her own sanity.

For every mom that chauffeured when she felt like sleeping.

For every mom that researched in the wee hours of the night to find answers on a kid health or learning problem.

For every mom that cared about this kid, their spirit, their unique gifts, passions, and future.

For every mom who wondered if she was doing enough.

For every mom who questioned if this really matters.

I just wanted to say, "Thanks." 

"You’ve done well."

Happy Mother's Day!

Dominique

This post was written by Dominique and appeared first on DominiqueSpeaks.

Have You Heard

Have you heard about the new movie, "Breakthrough?"

Blossom1, Blossom2 and I got to see it last Sunday night with a fun group of friends and family.  I can hardly recommend this movie enough. 

It's based on a true story and the journey of faith portrayed in this movie is genuine.  I think sometimes people think that if you have faith, you must have things all figured out.  However, faith seems to have more to do with believing God when things go wrong and you're muddling through. 

Faith is what you have and affects what you do 
while you're learning to follow Jesus through anything, every day. 

This movie portrayed something like real people just trying to really love and serve Jesus. 

Yes, I cried.  Everybody in the theater did, though interspersed in the tough scenes were moments of good humor.  I might've guffawed in the theater, but when the moment of victory came, I did manage to retain my dignity by not standing up and shouting WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, as I felt inclined to do.

Friend, take a minute to build yourself up a little; grab a loved one and go see Breakthrough.

Dominique

Sometimes

Sometimes you just gotta take a walk with your family.  

Perhaps your eyes will be brightened by the fresh air and exercise.  

Sorry, I just couldn't resist that little Pride and Prejudice-like quote.  

Today I'm Appreciating

Today I'm appreciating the ebb and flow of seasons.  With the school year winding down, as well as many of our commitments, I'm finding more breathing room in our days.

Yes, the breathing room is taken up by the garden, the wood and preparations for school's end and summer break's beginning.

Our days will soon be filled with sewing projects, 4-H animal project books and posters and all the outdoor things. Creek exploration and ladder ball in the back yard and campfires. Porch swingin' and meals at the picnic table.  And oodles upon oodles of fresh air.

I'm smiling at the days ahead, appreciating the facets of each season.

Dominique

Bustling

While I could say that things seem like they're always busy around here, it's more accurate to say that this place is continuously bustling with life.

The school year is winding down.  I've posted the list on the board ~ the one that says, "You're finished with the school year when:" They love this thing that I do a few weeks before our evaluations each year.  It puts matters in their own hands.  How badly do you want to be done?  Yes, I thought so.  It's motivating to feel like you have a say in when the school year ends!  The little girls have finished their (easier and shorter) list.  The older girls are projecting only a handful of days to accomplish the few remaining projects on the board.

Last week, we closed out our co-op session with an Open House.  It's a time for our local homeschooled students to showcase their talents and share all of their educational projects from this school year.  From piano, to drama, to poetry, what a delightful evening!  Family and friends alike enjoyed getting to see what our Blossoms and their pals have been working on. 

We also filled last week with a harp lesson and our etiquette dinner, right on the heels of Easter, its festivities and a human video performance in the Easter service.

Lately, the garden is beginning to garner my attention.  The early cold-loving crops are in and we've been enjoying fresh lettuce.  YAY for homegrown veggies!!  The girls' outside work, aside from feeding and watering animals, consists of mucking out rabbit pens and splitting wood.  Blossom1 commented on how much better you feel after you work outside.  I agree with her!

Looking forward to the bustling days ahead,

Dominique