I wish I had a really great reason for not posting very often in the past few months -- something along the lines of being out on the mission field, or saving the world -- but honestly there just isn't that much interesting going on in our lives at the moment.

Well, that isn't exactly true. We've traveled quite a bit. Our daughter has entered into a courtship relationship. We've had some sicknesses here and there. We've finished another year of homeschooling; and are about to pick our studies back up for a new year.

But,  in general, I just don't feel like blogging... journaling... writing... or anything else similar to those tasks for that matter.

I feel more like thinking.

I have so many thoughts going on in my head. Good thoughts, too, if I do say so myself, but they seem to be only thoughts for me for now. I haven't quite got the enthusiasm -- maybe courage -- to share them.

All in all, I know they are thoughts and experiences God is using to teach me. And, I'm good with that. You probably don't need the same lessons right now that I do anyway, so why share a bunch of words just for the sake of "blogging"?!

One thing I do want to share, and if you are a friend on facebook then you already know this from the quotes I've been sharing, is a book I'm reading. It is Home Making by JR Miller. It's an old book, published in the 1880's, but I am gleaning such good encouragement as a home-maker from it.  The prior link is for a free online edition of the book. However, Vision Forum has republished it under the title The Family which can be purchased from their website if you prefer an actual book to an online version.

So, anyways, my blog isn't dead... and neither am I. I'm simply taking a hiatus while I listen to God and think about the things He is showing me. Sometimes it is good to just be silent and listen :-)

**The link for The Family is an affiliate link with Vision Forum. All affiliate link purchases earn my family an 8% commission. If you decide to purchase the book rather than reading the free online edition, then I would like to say THANK YOU for helping to support my family with your purchase. It is truly appreciated!!**

Sallie

Mike and I came up to the base exchange this morning just to kill some time. Everytime I come up here, I have to go check out the computers and play with the MAC's :-)

This morning I had to ask if they have an iPad yet. They don't. BUT, I figured I'd play around for a bit with the IMAC all-in-one's. My father-in-law bought my mother-in-law one for Christmas. It's awesome! I want need one. LOL. Truly. I think my life would be greatly enhanced by it. Now, if I could just come up with the 1189.99 they are asking for it, I'd be good!!

Ya'll have a good day!! 

Sallie

You may remember back in February that my husband gave me a special gift  for our anniversary. He hasn't remembered to write in it everyday but I didn't really expect that he would. That makes each new love note extra special and straight from the heart rather than because of a ritualistic routine or out of a guilty feeling of necessity.

This post that my husband wrote a few days ago was actually written on a particularly bad day, just one of many very full and intense days this month (at both home and work). Days (or months) that start off bad don't have to end bad, though. The trick for lasting love is to just keep going and trying. It makes all the difference in the world!!

May 20, 2010

Sallie -

Honey here is my post - or note - for May. My intention was to fill this thing with daily messages but that hasn't happened. So many things go on during the course of the day to distract us. To include the petty arguments. But that is reality.

Sunny and bright or gloomy and stormy - Your kisses and gentle spirit smooth out everything.

I wouldn't trade one May day in the last nineteen years for anything else. Come to think of it, I wouldn't trade ANY of our days.

Have I told you today that I love you?

XO

Mike

I have nearly 30 entries in my love gift since Valentine's Day with some bits of poetry added in for good measure. I wouldn't trade those sweet notes from my husband for anything. They are my heart. And soul! 

Sallie

I was very sad to learn tonight though catching up on my blog reading that Michael Spencer, aka iMonk, had passed away April 5th from his battle with cancer. It seems like only yesterday he shared with his readers and friends that he had cancer. I guess it was in a way.... 4 months ago he wrote the simple words "I have cancer".

Michael was always kind to me in our emails and comment interaction and I appreciate that. He was one of those Christian men that didn't have to prove how right he was by putting your own beliefs down and making you feel unworthy or stupid. I will miss reading his thoughts but look forward to picking up his book Mere Churchianity when it comes out later this year.

If you would like to help out Mike's wife and family, or make a contribution to Oneida Baptist Institute, please visit this post at the Internet Monk website: In Memoriam

Sallie

One thing that I really love about blogging is the growth I see in my children (and family, in general) as I read back over old posts. I realized earlier this week that this newer version of my blog just went over its two year anniversary. My husbands blog did, too. Personally, I can't believe that I have been blogging off and on since 2004. That just seems crazy :-)

"These glorious things---words---are man's right alone...Without words we should know no more of each other's hearts and thoughts than the dog knows of his fellow dog....for, if you will consider, you always think to yourself in words, though you do not speak them aloud; and without them all our thoughts would be mere blind longings, feelings which we could not understand ourselves." ~ Charles Kingsley

These are our words. Our thoughts. Our beliefs. Our life. I could make it easy for you and give you a whole list of favorite posts from both blogs (which you will sort of find on my blog sidebar already anyway) but I think there is a lot of good stuff between the two blogs (just my humble opinion...lol) and worth digging through at your leisure. If you are new friends, or old, I hope you enjoy what you read at our pages. Like our life in general, everything is raw and true to feeling. We don't really sugarcoat our lives in general, and we don't sugarcoat them here. What you read is what you get. Or, at least, that is the intended process of our blogging.

Thanks for sticking with us on this road called blogging. We look forward to many posts to come :-)

Sallie