Thinking About 2018

 It rattles my brain to realize that we are closing out 2017 and welcoming in 2018. Honestly I believe 2017 has been the fastest whirlwind of a year that I can remember!!! It has been a year of so much adventure and dreams fulfilled and yet it was very intense with one activity following another. 

  Highlights for me would be the publication of my book “Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama” and the purchase of our home in Ohio.  Our family also enjoyed several great conferences this year including a marriage get-away conference last February. 

  Realizing how fast the last year flew by I am thinking about the verse that says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12  The days, weeks, and months are flying by at lightning speed, and I want to be purposeful about how I use my time and redeem the moments to invest into the hearts and lives of my family. 

  Looking into 2018 there are several things that are important to me.  Of course there are many more than I could list here, but here are some things on my heart at this point.  Personally I want to have deeper communion and surrender to my Lord and surrender to His continuing sanctification process in my life.  I look at the legacy of ladies like Elisabeth Elliot and realize that she spent a lifetime getting to the point that she was at as an older, godly Titus 2 lady.  So many have been blessed by her talks and writings as a result of her making daily choices to surrender her life to the Lord and cooperating with His sanctification process in her life.  Older women of the faith don’t suddenly “arrive” wise at an older age.  They grow into those special ladies over a lifetime of surrender, obedience and trusting in the Lord to guide them.  I want to grow older gracefully and to become wiser in the process. 

  On the family level I desire to continue on with vision in raising our children according to Deuteronomy 6:7 as we “Sit in our house, and when we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise up."   I have noticed that vision was sometimes easier to come by when I was a younger Mama.  It seems I could get abundant inspiration, in the early years of mothering, by reading a good mommy blog or a new book, etc.  At this juncture in mothering, however,  I have to pray for vision and faith to keep pressing onward.  There are many reasons for that.  One is that I have seen spiritual devastation in so many Christian families and it can cause paralyzing fear.  I have to fight for faith and perseverance trusting in the Lord and not in myself.  Also, I am older with more aches and pains and just plain tired a lot of the time.  Additionally I am now raising children in many different seasons with different needs and it is a juggling act to be sure.  Also, at this point in life I have seen significant challenges to some of my ideals and dreams and realize just how much I am not in control of our family or my world.  It is truly a walk of faith!!!  What I am trying to express is that I see a lot of Mamas in my stage of the journey growing very weary, and I feel that same tendency myself.  I remember that Scripture says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in the due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9  In the coming year I very much want to continue on in home discipleship, walk in faith, and resist the tendency to lose vision or burn out.  I know that I must remain closely connected to the Vine (John 15) and regularly pray for vision and faith. 

  On a ministry level I am praying that the Lord will continue to use my book “Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama” in the coming year.  When we published the book most of the homeschool conferences/conventions were over for the year.  I am excited to be able to take it to some venues this spring and am looking forward to talking with busy Mamas and seeking to encourage them to press forward in being intentional in home discipleship with their children.  I am also getting ready to,  Lord willing, put out some podcasts for Mamas seeking to encourage them through some of the things the Lord has taught me through the years.  Stay tuned for more about the Legacy Homeschool Reflections Podcast! 

  On a home business level I look forward to continuing to work here and there to grow my Lilla Rose hair accessories business.  This priority is very low on the list, but I do love and believe in the functionality of these beautiful accessories and enjoy helping other ladies discover something beautiful, functional and durable for their hair.  The Lord has allowed me to meet some new friends through some of my festival booths and to minister to some hurting people as well.  While Lilla Rose is way down on the priority list, it is something I do enjoy to the extent that I can do it in balance with more important priorities.  Wow, it seems like balance is the key to so many areas of life!!!  I keep praying for the Lord’s wisdom in prioritizing the many different responsibilities in my life.  

www.lillarose.biz/RuthLAdams

  Then there is Ohio!!!  I haven't mentioned OHIO yet!!!  Oh, I am missing that special home away from home already, and it has not even been a month since I was there!!!  The Lord provided us with a one hundred and twenty year old home there last summer, and we are renting it to others when we are not there.  It has been fun to read our guest book and to see how people are enjoying the house for many different purposes.  We had a large family rent it for vacation, a ladies' church group for a weekend away, a family for Thanksgiving, and this past weekend a family for a place for out of town family to stay due to a funeral.  The house has already been a blessing to many groups for different events.  Since I cannot be there all the time it is a joy to see that others are making memories and being ministered to there in our home.  HOWEVER, I cannot wait to go back!  This year I will cherish whatever time the Lord allows me to be there enjoying what I call my doll house and spending time with friends there.  The Lord has already given us quite a few people who are becoming very special to us.  I told Matt last night that I am really missing it there; I'm not quite sure when we will go back but I am looking forward to it!  We are seeking to be purposeful with the house there leaving Christian literature and seeking to make it a place to minister to those who visit our home.  When we are there we also want to bless those we are building relationships with.  

  

Well, I cannot live in a dreamworld (Ohio) all the time, so as for goals for the farm in Texas I want to continue learning more recipes in my Instant Pot!  :)  I am so excited over my six quart and eight quart pots and am really getting serious about learning to cook in these gadgets more and more.  

These pots make life easier for me, and I have pretty much traded out crock pot cooking (which I used to love) for the Instant Pot which does both slow cooking and pressure cooking.  I also desire to get my house better organized this year, but I realize that my expectations have to be reasonable considering that nine people are here around the clock and so much life happens within these walls.  Now is not the time for me to have a Pinterest perfect home.  I do want order and functionality and am working on that, but this certainly is not the season for me to obtain a perfect house.  It just is not possible with the ages of my children and the number of people constantly here.  I am trying to learn the balance of accepting what I cannot change and yet improving where I can.  This too is an area of sanctification for me to accept my season and do the best I can during this busy time with so many people under one roof.  I do believe that I will be revamping chore schedules soon and hopefully teaching some of my middle aged children to take on more responsibility.  After all, many hands make light work.  ;)  

  As I look to 2018 I remember that Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing." - John 15:5  I want to commit all I do to my faithful Lord and allow Him to use me to accomplish His good plans for me and for our family this year.  What are you looking forward to in 2018?  Let's ask the Lord to give us His fresh vision for our families in the year to come.  

Accepting Our Less Than Perfect Christmas

  Through the years I have had to lower my expectations for the perfect Christmas my mind's eye envisions.  This year was no exception.  I think I was less prepared this year and never reached the point of the house being fully decorated, things in their rightful places, candles burning, house cleaned, atmosphere set, etc.  Actually the last several Christmases have gone more in this direction as our lives have become busier than ever.

  One set back for this year was that my purse was stolen at Aldi's grocery store, and so I ended up having to spend some of my precious holiday time to shop for replacements for my purse and everything in it.  I also ended up going to the eye doctor to replace glasses and to the DPS to get a new driver's license.  My time is precious little during this busy season, and so this whole hassle set me back even more.

 

  On top of that I've had the busiest year of my life.  Many wonderful things have happened this year, but we have been going from one major event to another all year long.  This December I found myself in the middle of many unfinished projects and a messy house that never fully got cleaned up.  The unfinished projects will be rolling over into the new year with hopes and prayers that we can make improvements as we rearrange, sort and organize things.  So my house was not all sparkly and clean this Christmas, and I never fully decorated our house either.
 

(A dear Amish friend hand crafted this card for us with nine snow people to represent our family!  It is the little things that mean so much.) 

  One thing that bothered me all December is that I was unable to put up my special "Mama" tree that is different from our "Family" tree.  Most Christmases I have managed to put up two trees with one being decorated with very special, breakable, glass, sentimental ornaments.  Some of my favorite ornaments go on that tree, and I have fought hard to make it happen each year.  This year I just gave up as I knew I did not have time for the more elegant tree. Somehow this bothered me all the Christmas season, and I continued to toy with the idea of even getting a small tree to quickly put up on my dresser with a few of the special ornaments.  Even that was too much to tackle as it would mean first cleaning off my dresser, and I just have not had the time.   

  In addition to all of this our family started falling sick half a week before Christmas and we are still trying to mend and fully recover.  I actually felt very bad on Christmas Eve and not too great on Christmas Day either.  I just tried to press through the cooking and gift wrapping telling myself that it is alright that things are not as perfect as I would dream them to be for this year's Christmas.    

  I've really been thinking a lot this Christmas season about how we have an expectation of a perfect Christmas, but things are not always happy circumstantially at Christmas.  This leaves us feeling disappointed and often discouraged.  I have been thinking about how that Christmas really is about worshiping and rejoicing in our Savior's birth.  That is something that no sickness, dirty house, stolen purse, and undecorated tree can steal from us.  Even when we have set backs and our plans don't come to completion we can be still and rest in knowing our Emmanuel has come.  Jesus is here with us and that is something to be joyful about!

  It is wonderful that we can have a time of year to create special memories with family, to treasure family traditions, to draw close to our families, etc. but our hope is not in all of this going on without a glitch.  Our hope is in Jesus Who brings life and fullness to our good times and to our struggles.  

  On Christmas Eve, as I was doing all I could to get food on the table and seeing all the imperfections in my preparations,  I took a look at some of the simple things we had like pretty Christmas PAPER plates, a simple wooden nativity in the center of our table, gifts hidden for the children to find (a Christmas Eve tradition) a drawing my daughter did on our marker board, one daughter fixing another daughter's hair, etc. and saw the blessing even in the simplicity.  Things do not always have to be Pinterest perfect to truly have beauty and significance.  We can rejoice in our Savior dwelling within us and in the simple blessings of warmth, food, family, and all His many blessings to us.  I hope this encourages you.

Some Christmases may seem almost magical circumstantially with sparkles and wonder, but other Christmases  we will struggle to make it through just like the rest of the year.  Even when things are not white, sparkly, and otherwise wonderful we can embrace the simple, the ordinary, and be glad in Jesus our Savior.  Simplicity after all has its own kind of beauty.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

What others are saying about "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama"

Hello Everyone!  I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving and are entering into the Christmas season with joy.  Today I want to share with you some of the quotes from my book "Legacy Reflections of a Homeschooled, Homeschooling Mama" and some responses I have received from readers.  I have been very humbled by the feedback I have received from other Mamas who have read the book, and  I am encouraged that the Lord is using the book to encourage others.  I know I am often in need of encouragement in this journey, and so the thought that the Lord would use me to share life giving words with other Mamas is a real answer to prayer!  I hope you enjoy these quotes and also reading what others have thought of the book.  To God be the glory!  

"I am so impressed with the book not only for home schoolers, but any mother who wants to raise Godly children.  I will be ordering more books to gift to my friends." - Susan

"I think this is a great read for all Christian homeschool parents. It is affirming to our goals. It is a challenging reminder of our job. It is also a reminder that only God can give us the results that we’re looking for. As we homeschool, we need to keep remembering prayer and praying for God to change and control our children’s lives." - Rebecca

"I just finished reading your book and I loved it! It is indeed full of encouragement and exhortation to choose what is best. Thank you so much for your thoughts and your honesty in this wonderful book." - Lara

"I have to tell you that your book struck me to the core.  There was such a sweetness and vision and deep wisdom and purpose that stirred me." - Sarah

"Every once in awhile a book comes along that encourages and challenges you. That is exactly what the book Legacy has done for me.

Ruth Adams does an amazing job encapsulating what is most important in our role as a homeschooling mothers. With so many outside pressures and influences, we have to be diligent to keep the main thing the MAIN thing...

"The Lord graciously gives us our children for 18 or more years. He gives us years to speak truth into their hearts and lives and to teach them what they need to know to walk successfully through their adult years. Of all the things we need to teach them, absolutely nothing is as important as that of the glorious good news of the gospel. It is the best news of all!"

The way Ruth wrote this book is so down to earth...like having a conversation with a good friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad when it was over! It has given me a lot to think about. That's a sign of a good book!!

If you're a Mama, you need this book! It'll breathe life into your weary soul and make you evaluate your priorities on a whole new level. I can't recommend it enough!" - Jenny

"A homeschooled, homeschooling mom of seven children, Ruth shares in her book her decades of experience with homeschooling when the movement was taking off in its early days, a brief history of homeschooling, how homeschooling has changed and is changing, and the benefits of homeschooling. She also touches on the life of homeschooling pioneers, marriage and homeschooling, on methods homeschooling with practical tips and ideas for all seasons of life. Her main focus is on the Christian’s purpose for homeschooling – biblical discipleship in the home. " - Kim

"Just finished your book!  So glorifying to the Lord and incredibly inspiring to His people.  Thank you for being used of Him to deliver encouragement, exhortation and practical wisdom in the areas of training and teaching the next generation." 

That is a sampling of some of the encouraging feedback we have received on the book.  Have you read the book?  I am always encouraged to hear how the Lord is using the book.  Our prayer was that He would be the Author and I would be the pen.  It humbles me to know people are reading, and I am continuing to pray that Mamas will be encouraged to press into the ministry of motherhood.  

Two comments we have received multiple times are that the book was very honest and that the reader felt like they were having a conversation with me.  That makes me so happy!  I really wanted the book to come across like a conversation with a friend.  If you have not yet read my book I invite you to grab a cup of tea and sit down for a conversation with me through the pages of my book.  "Legacy" is available on Amazon and other major book sellers and also through me.  Blessings to you all!