Life is Not a Photograph

Looking at a blog site today, I began to think - this woman's life looks like those pictures that comes with your frame. How does she get those bows to stay so neat and prim in girls' hair? Where is the mess? Where is the disobedient child? Where is the toilet left unflushed or worse?

It is easy to look only at pictures and see a perfect life that we do not have ourselves. Life in not a photograph. Do not believe Satan's lie that your life is so much worse when compared to others. No man is perfect except Jesus. Everyone is dealt a different hand. I very much doubt a women would post such pictures only to make others jealous and covet, that would not match the Godly statements that are so helpful and encouraging. While thinking the best in others, be ware of your own sinful thoughts. When negative thoughts pot up, squash them and chose positive thoughts and God's truth.

There is a difference between getting ideas for your own household and putting yourself down. We can view successes of others without being too hard on ourselves because only the picture is perfect. The photo was taken with the purpose to show the good side. No one has it ALL together.

Use Godly successes of other people to make chances in your own life, but remember patience, God's provision for you at this time, seek God's wisdom and apply it to your life. Again, remember not everyone is dealt the same hand. I must say, the woman from the blog mentioned above only has GIRLS, boys are so different. She has a large modern home, which is much easier to keep clean. Perhaps she lives in another state where taxes do not take up 1/3 of their mortgage payment. Or maybe they were determined to live without debt, and are able to afford so much more without owing others. On the other hand, they could be up to their eyeballs in debt too, though I hope not. Maybe she has a maid. You get the idea. I must admit, I really want to go back to the blog to look for an I don't have it all together post!

Once I heard a homeschool speaker talk about a photo taken of his family. It was a beautiful picture with smiling, well-behaved children. Then he told us that it was taken shortly after a huge family argument. There is always a story behind every photograph, and it is not always a perfect one.

The Myth of the Perfect Family Follow this link to an article on perfection that I stumbled upon while looking for a photo for this post.

Photo at top taken from here.

Blogs Full of Ideas

Here are some other blogs by home schoolers:

Homeschool Creations - I love her school room and workbox system ideas. At a later day I will have to post about the workbox system.

Confessions of a Homeschooler - She is a busy bee. Lots of ideas and print outs. Another user of the workbox system.

Both are very creative and have far more ideas I could every read or have time to do. Thought some might find them helpful.

UPDATE ADDITION - Here is a blog about living debt free:
Cent to Get Debt-Free
Love the menu post. I find making a healthy, thrifty, tasteful meal my kids will eat is a challenge. Can use all the help I can get. I find you have to be careful of mixing thriftiness and food planning because the quality (health wise) of food often suffers. For example, Capri Suns are about $1 cheaper than other juice boxes, but they are no better than sugar water and are bad for your teeth.

Preschool Resource

My dear friend told me about a website called Preschoolers and Peace. I am excited to use some of her resources. Thought it may be helpful to others too. What to do with those darling preschoolers is always an issue when you home school. It must be out of necessity, but women who are blessed with many children seem to have really good ideas of how to manage life.