Friday, October 2, 2009

Parables and preparation

The weather has become cold and rainy.. this week we began to prepare for winter by having our radiators prepped, the boiler lit, and the attic vent insulated. Next week I have someone coming over to clean out the wood burning stove in out kitchen and show me how to build a proper fire. Large old houses require lots of winter preparation.. unless of course you want your utility bills to go through the roof. I have also continued stocking up on warm clothing and blankets and still need to buy a couple of space heaters. We have been inside more this week and the boys have been spending lots of time reading and writing. We have checked out many books from the library and have been studying the Parables of Jesus and comparing how those stories relate to our own lives. There has also been lots of bed jumping, lego building, piano playing, and Star Wars collage making..

Already I can feel the cold beginning to creep beneath my skin.. and have been daydreaming of traveling to warmer places. It has been chilly at night and I have found myself wrestling once again with insomnia. It is only in the late hours of the night that I can finally find some peace and quiet, some time to myself.. and yet, once my mind starts going I have difficulty getting it to stop. There is so much I have been wanting to write.. more of myself I want to share, but I can't seem to find enough time. I have been continuing "soul searching".. praying, writing, listening to music. I started re-reading a book that I bought almost 10 years ago while living in Nashville that I have never finished, "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis. It has brought back many memories from that time in my life.. and I find it interesting (but not surprising) that parts of the book I didn't understand back then, make perfect sense to me now. I have grown and changed so much since those days.. although many things I knew then have been lost over time and I find myself trying to get back to the beginning again. To remember where I came from.. where I've been.. so that I can take that knowledge and experience with me as I continue on this journey. Emotionally and physically it has been a draining week for me.. anxiety has been trying to take hold. My future suddenly seems uncertain, as I prepare to make some changes in the coming months ahead.

I apologize for being so vague, but running on only a few hours of sleep last night my mind feels slow and numb. Spiritually though I feel more awake than I have ever felt inside.. and I must keep reminding myself that over time this Season too shall pass. (Mathew 6: 25-34)









Eventually we all move on and become scattered about..



May your weekend be filled with new doors just waiting to be opened and explored..

XOXO, Erin

6 comments:

  1. As my son, Stefan, had his vacc. today we were told to take an eye or two at him, because it is likely that he will have fever. That is why I sit along side his bed throughout the night with a wet piece of textile in my hand to keep the temperature low - ten hours of lessons tomorrow, rather in a few hours.
    Life can be pretty 'demanding' from time to time, but for sure, it's worth to hold on, bonding oneself to its truth and joy.
    A wonderful weekend for you.

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  2. This is my first time visiting; I wanted to stop in and say that your blog is really lovely. We heat our home with wood fires and it does take some getting used to. When our boys were little, we put them in double pajamas because it got so chilly! But I must say I really do love the connection between splitting and stacking wood, hauling it into the house, and the resulting heat. One of our family's favorite sayings: Old Abe Lincoln used to say, you cut your own wood, it warms you twice. Blessings to you in your home :)

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  3. There is relief after every trial. Without the trials we would not know how to be grateful and appreciate life.

    I hope you will get your good sleep. I can totally relate to that.

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  4. Hey woman, I love following your blog! You should add mine as well!

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  5. Fall in Maine was a sad time for me. I completely relate to the winter preps. We had a woodstove as well, it was our primary mode of heating. Endless trips to he woodpile, bringing in logs, and slush and wood chips and cold air...but I do love a woodfire. Our stove had a glass front. I liked the evening glow of the flames. But not the sound of sleet ticking on the windows.

    I hope you sleep well tonight.

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  6. Hey Erin (yes, I'm woefully behind in my blog reading) but I wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and sending you light and healing thoughts. Also, just sticking my nose in here, and you've probably already researched this, but given the things you've mentioned about your overall health, have you looked into vitamin D deficiency? It might be worthwhile--
    http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx

    xo Amy

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