Your Best is Good Enough

By on

The title says everything I want to tell you today. So if you are busy you can stop reading and just repeat that to yourself throughout the day. I have to say it often and it melts away stress and keeps me going. I say it to the children too. It reminds them that I expect their best, but if their best still isn’t perfect–that’s okay.


I remember last week packing the ingredients to take dinner over to my cousin’s house… (Ooh, I’ve never told you about that? I do it every week and it’s fantastic….but for another post.) And I was late. She needed to leave at a certain time and I got the privilege of playing with our 9 children for the evening. I was feeling very inadequate. The food seemed plain; I was not well put together; and I was afraid to forget something. “Your best is good enough. Now smile.”

Then there was that time that I was invited to speak on the Grocery Shrink at a what I thought was a small conference. When I arrived I found a huge auditorium with a full stage lined with colorful flags from many large countries. They had a huge projector screen and high tech audio visual equipment to go with it, and the room was filled with women. Then it hit me that the women were expecting me to be good. Aaak! “Your best is good enough. Smile.”

And the time when my very good friend asked me to deisgn and create 5 unique bridesmaid dresses out of VERY expensive orange silk. Oh the moments of self doubt that beset me. But I would take a deep breath and remind myself, “Your best is good enough.”

And the nights I sit by wee little beds and look at the beautiful children thinking how much of their future I hold in my hands. I tremble at the thought! In the darkness I hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “Your best is enough and I will make up the difference.”

You see, your best is all you can give. And it’s never perfect or enough, but somehow when we give our all, God makes up the difference. When it comes to our budget, keeping home, raising children, being a wife, being a friend–All we can offer is our best. And today’s best will be only a shadow of what tomorrow’s best can be as we grow and learn and stretch our skills.

Your Best is Good Enough.

Homeschool Ballet: Rigoletto

By on

Don’t forget to scroll down to the previous post and enter our giveaway.

The homeschool ballet program at HADC is top notch!  This was our first year to try ballet and both girls were in the same class.  The teacher’s prayed with the girls before every class and every performance. 

The company does a huge production every other year, and this year they adapted the story of Rigoletto for ballet.  The directors always consider the message of the story for the glory of God.  Some mothers drive nearly an hour to bring their children for class–it’s that good. 

I have a short video clip from our dress rehearsal of my daughter’s dance.  It is beginning ballet and most of the girls are 6 years old.  My oldest, Heidi (10), was also in the class since this is her first year dancing, and the younger girls really looked up to her.  She will be skipping a level this fall  to join girls closer to her age and will take 3 classes a week.  It’s amazing to see how she has gained confidence and poise, but also how it has helped rewire her brain.  Heidi’s learning disability is slowly becoming less and less and  it is my hope that if we continue with Ballet and Violin that it will be nothing but a faint memory.

It’s so fun to go to a place where we share values, and a love of teaching our children.  When I first arrived, I entered a room full of godly friendships and good influences for my girls.  It’s a safe place to grow.

Having fun in the wings before the show

I love the tiny feet waiting for bows

Bravo Girls! I'm so proud of you.

It’s all what you make of it….

By on

Meet Fritz.  He’s our happy little Angora bunny who has a lot to be miserable about.  But he doesn’t see it that way. 

We just shaved off all his gorgeous fur, his pride and beauty. Even though the process wasn’t fun, he didn’t sit around and mope.  As soon as given the opportunity he ran and jumped and kicked his heels.  He didn’t see it as a loss of beauty but a gain of comfort in the heat.

He lives in a cage for his own safety.  Though we can’t explain that to him, when we let him out for a romp, he doesn’t hold a grudge for the previous captivity.  He snuggles his face into our neck when we hold him and is content to be held or to run. 

In the picture above, he is eating a bug chewed piece of kale from our garden.  He is thrilled!  I had to be quick with the camera he was snarfing it down so fast.  He didn’t see bugs, he saw fresh, gourmet food. 

Fritz is definitely a glass half full bunny. 

If he were human, I think he would be the frugal type.  Contented people spend less and enjoy life more. Oh to be more like Fritz. 🙂