Productivity and Child Care

I don't understand why some days are so productive and some are not.  Of course, there are obvious reasons at times, but frequently there are not obvious reasons.  There are days when I work hard and accomplish so much, and then there are days when I work hard and seemingly accomplish very little.  I know that I can't spend too much time trying to figure it out, I can only try to be productive and work joyfully.  I suppose my goal is not to just work hard, but to work joyfully.  

I have been reading a book to the children at breakfast.  I read everytime we are at the table eating.  Everyone is sitting together and have something to do with their hands and mouths.  It is something I have been doing for years.  Anyway, this book is called Created For Work and written by Bob Schultz.  It is written for young men, but I am getting a lot out of it myself.  There are short chapters followed by questions which apply.  It has been inspiring to me and is one of those books we will read in this way every year or two.  There is another that he wrote that comes after it and I will read it next and then How to Live Nobly and Well.   They changed the name of the last book to something like 'The Catholic Book of Character and Sucess.'  I like the first title better, but the book is the same, inspiring and life changing, attitude fixing and motivational.

I guess I haven't been doing much deep thinking lately.  Perhaps it is because we are not struggling right now; we are relatively healthy, financially still boosted by our tax refund, the excitement and pleasure in our new home is continuing. There are many things that I want both materially and spiritually, but God is blessing us with rest and peace and I am soaking it in.  

We are considering and beginning to seek out a change that may cause a struggle.  We have decided to again open our home to do child care for a family.  We are hoping for an infant (a girl would be nice, but not required) and only one.  I brought it up at breakfast yesterday (or the day before) to see how the children felt about it and they were surprisingly excited.  We would all love to have a baby in the home again.  Caring for a child in this way first began just after Louis was born and a couple in our church approached us with the request that I care for their expected baby when they both had to work.  I said no at first, but after thinking about it and talking about it with Greg we felt this was an opportunity to bless and minister.  The extra income has always been a help, but the blessing I have felt in sharing our home with a family needing our help has always been rewarding. Since then we have watched several children, always only one family until they don't need us or we must make a change.  We were not able to even think about it in the apartment and our days were so busy, but now we are in a nice home again and our schedules are slowing down.  The time seems right so we are waiting on God and letting those around us know of our desire.

I will work again toward a productive day.  Will you join me?

Time to Work

This is the opposite of my last post.  I have been slowly making progress on our schedule and the house.  The children are doing better and better at getting their required school work done each day.  I am getting better and better at doing my required work.  It is time to raise the bar.  

We received our refundable deposit from the apartment we moved out of and with some of it made a trip to Powell's Books.  Anytime we receive extra money it means a book buying spree.  I have been reading my first book by David McCullough, 'John Adams' and I can't begin to tell you how much I am enjoying it.  Aside from the fact that when I read the book I feel like I am being transported back in time and am an invisible witness in the goings on of that time, it is a treasure in our homeschooling education.  And I'm mistaken in saying 'aside from the fact' for it is because of that fact that it is such a treasure.  I can assure you that it will not be long before we own all of David McCullough's books, and in hardback.  In addition to McCullough's incredible books that I am desiring to read as soon as possible, there are many, many more on my 'to read' list.  This is a large reason for my needing to raise the bar on my daily accomplishments, I have got to find more time to read.  I have got to finish arranging the house so I can spend that time getting the necessary cleaning done which is not being done frequently enough.  Also, I have many sewing projects for things around the house and mending.  AND, I want to spend time consistantly doing this, updating my blogs.

Time to get to work.