The beauty of the unplanned day...

Today I didn't plan my day. Instead, I went from one moment to the next allowing the Spirit to guide my day. It was nice since there was no endless to-do list causing stress, just smooth transitions through the day as I sought God's guidance on what needed to happen next. Not all days are like this. There are many days where I feel the prompting to plan the entire day from the beginning, because there is more that needs to happen than I initially realize. Today was a nice change, a day to feel at peace and seek a closeness to my Heavenly Father, to know His will for me this day.

So what did today look like?

I woke naturally at 3:53 a.m., but burrowed deeper into my covers, hiding from the chill in the room and promptly ignored my 4:00 a.m. alarm. I sat up with my 4:30 a.m. backup alarm and read the scriptures I felt guided to read. Then came prayers, followed by getting dressed - the usual morning routine.

After a dream I had the other night, I decided that I needed to finally unpack some of the boxes of emergency supplies. This was a task I needed to not neglect any more. We moved to our current house last October, and these items were still packed in boxes in our storage closet. So, on my way upstairs for our family morning devotionals, I pulled out a few boxes to go through participating. Drank my morning kefir then during song and scriptures unpacked my doctor's bag. A flood of memories washed over me as I wiped down and replenished the items that were in need of restocking.

Morning devotionals done, my husband and I spent time together planting seeds in little cups to later transplant into the garden. This has been our morning ritual for the past month as we seek to do all we can to grow our own food in order to provide for our family and lighten the food bill. This morning we planted four varieties of beets, spinach, and arugula.

beets, spinach, roquette oh my!

My oldest came and joined us after reading her scriptures and helping make breakfast. She loves planting and I welcome her help.

At 7:00 a.m., my husband goes to his online teaching job, and the children and I have breakfast while watching gardening videos. This morning we were doing a refresher course on companion planting. And I realize once again we did not start enough flowers.

Breakfast done, its time for breakfast cleanup and chores. I take this opportunity to unpack the box of candles while my children are suiting up for chores. They squealed with delight as they saw the candles that we had made seven years ago when we were vendors at a farmers market in Provo. There was a moment of good memories and each child had fun choosing a favorite candle to now use in their rooms.

Chores well underway, its my turn to do the milking. Currently we are milking four French Alpine does. Every morning we bring in a gallon of milk, what their babies graciously leave for us. Most of the does are still new mothers and convinced their milk should be saved for their babies.

Morning milk!

As I pour up the milk, I once again remind myself that I want to find a suitable cloth to make reusable milk filters. I would much rather a reusable option than a throw away one.

Chores done and hands washed, I take a moment to feel whats next...

A trip to the basement to evaluate feelings and impressions to turn the unfinished room into a root cellar. Yes, it feels right! But now that means that we need to move all of our ceramic molds and pouring area from the basement to elsewhere.

A trip to the garage yields a workable solution and an opportunity to surprise the dog, who thought she would sneak in and help herself to eggs from the chickens' favorite laying spot. Dog foiled... time to head back inside.

I take a moment now to sit and ponder on what all needs to be done to be able to move the ceramic area from the basement to the garage and begin setting up a root cellar area. Our chicks under the heat lamp in the garage are almost fully feathered and will need to be moved out to the outside hoop house before we can begin the hauling process.

Next, I feel prompted to work on my glaze load: a nativity set with a stable, and some cherub ornaments. In the process of setting up for glazing, I discover I am missing a piece to the nativity. So a greenware load instead - small kiln load today. It takes five hours of effort to load the large kiln and I do not feel it best to have that occupy so much of my day.

small kiln and waiting greenware

Kiln loaded and started, I feel the impression to go and work on the face masks I was asked to make for the care center.

face mask shell and lining waiting to be put together

But before I do, I pull the kids together to do a sewing lesson. Today, we start the adventure of making a pillowcase. I doubt any of them will feel the same thrill I did when learning how to make a French seam.

pillow cases in progress

My husband is off work now and he goes to run a few neighborhood errands, returning with a tub filled to overflowing with yarn. A blessing from a neighbor for us to use with our puppet making. I am so grateful.

While my husband pulls together supper, I come to a stopping point on the face masks and feel the need to make a sourdough batch. This is the first batch I have kneaded in months. The children have taken over the bread making task.

abandoned ball of dough while I snap a photo or 2 for blogging later tonight

I love this opportunity to make the bread tonight. Even though I am feeling the muscles in my arms say, "We haven't done this in a while," I feel a sense of joy and happiness being able to do this for my family. As I knead, the Spirit whispers to me thoughts of blogging. I know what to type about.

Then it's chore time again... supper... and evening prayers with my family.

A session of blogging, and then a moment to review my day with God, followed by deep feelings of gratitude and love.