I made these Bitty Booties for Moya Mommy's baby shower. I found them fun to make, and really like how they turned out. Take a look at the flicker photos of all of the possibilities.
Honey Garlic Chicken and Asparagus
13 hours ago
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Comment on the Bulgogi recipe...
This recipe is SPICY! Lisa tells me that beef bulgogi is not supposed to be spicy. We had this just the other day and all decided that we would have enjoyed it with a little less kick. So, the next time I make it, I'm going to use only 1/2 tsp. of red pepper flakes.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Anna at Pleasant View Schoolhouse wrote an encouraging post entitled "Lessons from Vintage Fiction". Here's a little taste:
"Vintage fiction has been my treasure trove for figuring out how to put together a homemaking life. Old housekeeping manuals will give you out-dated specifics about how to iron or polish the silver the way it was done in the thirties or forties, but it's the mentioned-in-passing daily routine that fascinates me so deeply. Here's what I have learned about a domestic life, courtesy of Grace Livingston Hill, L.M. Montgomery, and their ilk:Homemakers have work to do. They get up early and make breakfast, since someone in the family needs sustenance before catching the trolley for a long day at the office. Homemakers have a plan for each day's special tasks. There's really no time to sit around; running a home is a demanding undertaking."
Go and read the rest.
"Vintage fiction has been my treasure trove for figuring out how to put together a homemaking life. Old housekeeping manuals will give you out-dated specifics about how to iron or polish the silver the way it was done in the thirties or forties, but it's the mentioned-in-passing daily routine that fascinates me so deeply. Here's what I have learned about a domestic life, courtesy of Grace Livingston Hill, L.M. Montgomery, and their ilk:Homemakers have work to do. They get up early and make breakfast, since someone in the family needs sustenance before catching the trolley for a long day at the office. Homemakers have a plan for each day's special tasks. There's really no time to sit around; running a home is a demanding undertaking."
Go and read the rest.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
A Favorite Recipe
A dear friend, Lisa brought this wonderful dish to our house, cooked it, showed us how to eat it and shared it with us on the evening I came home from surgery. What a special blessing it was! She sells it at her store, so I couldn't get her recipe, but this is one that I've adapted. If you come to my house, you are likely to be served Bulgogi...Yum!
Bulgogi (Korean Beef BBQ)
2 lbs. beef- sliced thin, across the grain and into strips
4 Tbs soy sauce
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. dark sesame oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger - or 1 tsp dried, ground
2 Tbs saki or dry sherry
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
toasted sesame seeds (~ 2 tsp.)
1. Combine all ingredients except beef in a large bowl. Whisk together. Add meat and marinate atleast 30 minutes.
2. Cook the meat over med. high heat on a stove top grill. Heat grill first, making it very hot. Brush w/peanut oil. Cook meat 1-2 minutes on each side browning nicely. ---I've also fried it or just thrown it into the crocpot. We actually prefer it in the crocpot on low ~5hours.
Serve with sticky rice and leaf lettuce.
Here is how you eat it. Put a small pile of the meat and a small pile of the rice onto your plate. Take several lettuce leaves and put a small forkful of both the rice and meat on the lettuce leaf. Roll up into a little package and then stuff the whole thing into your mouth! Once the novelty has worn off, just cut up the lettuce on your plate with the rice and meat and just eat it.
Bulgogi (Korean Beef BBQ)
2 lbs. beef- sliced thin, across the grain and into strips
4 Tbs soy sauce
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. dark sesame oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger - or 1 tsp dried, ground
2 Tbs saki or dry sherry
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
toasted sesame seeds (~ 2 tsp.)
1. Combine all ingredients except beef in a large bowl. Whisk together. Add meat and marinate atleast 30 minutes.
2. Cook the meat over med. high heat on a stove top grill. Heat grill first, making it very hot. Brush w/peanut oil. Cook meat 1-2 minutes on each side browning nicely. ---I've also fried it or just thrown it into the crocpot. We actually prefer it in the crocpot on low ~5hours.
Serve with sticky rice and leaf lettuce.
Here is how you eat it. Put a small pile of the meat and a small pile of the rice onto your plate. Take several lettuce leaves and put a small forkful of both the rice and meat on the lettuce leaf. Roll up into a little package and then stuff the whole thing into your mouth! Once the novelty has worn off, just cut up the lettuce on your plate with the rice and meat and just eat it.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Favorite Everyday Things
Tooth & Gums Tonic...I'm addicted to the stuff!
It has wonderful ingredients such as Echinacea,
Gotu Kola, Peppermint Oil, Red Thyme, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus,
& Lavender.
Arbonne NutriMin C cleanser, toner & moisturizer
Bath & Body Works Orange Ginger Body Lotion
Bare Minerals makeup
Amy Knapp's Family Organizer
Post-It Notes - I use the pad on the bottom, it's lined.
I use it to keep my To Do list for the day in my organizer
and to jot down notes for school.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Why Family Revival and Discipleship Is A Critical Tool in God-Blessed Evangelism
Unrighteousness is always the result of ungodliness, and the only hope of getting back any measure of righteousness into life is to have a revival of godliness. That is precisely what the apostle is saying to the Ephesians and to ourselves. The best and the most moral periods in the history of this country, and every other country, have always been those periods which have followed mighty religious awakenings. This problem of lawlessness and lack of discipline, the problem of children and of youth, was just not present 50 years ago as it is today. Why? Because the great tradition of the Evangelical Awakening of the 18th century was still operating. But as that has gone, these terrible moral and social problems are coming back, as the apostle teaches us, and as they have always come back throughout the running centuries.
Present conditions therefore demand that we should look at the apostle’s statement. I believe that Christian parents and children, Christian families, have a unique opportunity of witnessing to the world at this present time by just being different. We can be true evangelists by showing this discipline, this law and order, this true relationship between parents and children. We may be the means under God’s hand of bringing many to a knowledge of the Truth. Let us therefore think of it in that way.
-David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Prayer #1: That the Lord would save the souls of all of our children early in life, and that none would be lost.
Prayer #2: That our children would be faithful covenant-keepers with the God of their fathers.
Prayer #3: That God would send blessed, well-suited, Christ-loving spouses to our progeny, and that there would be no divorce for 200 years.
Prayer #4: That our children would continue to home educate their own children, following the Biblical/Hebrew model for discipleship.
Prayer #5: That God would bless the wombs of our daughters and daughters-in-law, with a multitude of covenant-keeping children, who will be mighty in the land.
Prayer #6: That God would bless and make fruitful the dominion labors of the family in all of its generations.
Prayer #7: That our children will honor their fathers and mothers, and be faithful to the godly and applicable visions their fathers give to them.
From Strategic Insights into A Multi-Generational Vision of Victory, Presented by Doug Phillips at the 200 Year Plan: A Practicum on Multi-Generational Faithfulness
Taken from Doug's Blog
A friend and I were just talking about this on Monday. We were discussing "goals" that we have for our families. I specifically mentioned that I pray that my children would have a "generational vision of faithfulness" and that they would continue to homeschool and be open to having as many children as the Lord would bless them with. I realized I sounded like good ol' Doug Philips and well, there you go!
(I've started my Estrogen Replacement Therapy and though I'm excited to be working to get rid of all of the symptoms I've been experiencing, my headaches are back in full force. My Dr. said that since I'm apparently very sensitive to the hormone levels in my body it may take some time before we have the right balance to be headache free and lesson my other symptoms. Thank you for your prayers.)
Unrighteousness is always the result of ungodliness, and the only hope of getting back any measure of righteousness into life is to have a revival of godliness. That is precisely what the apostle is saying to the Ephesians and to ourselves. The best and the most moral periods in the history of this country, and every other country, have always been those periods which have followed mighty religious awakenings. This problem of lawlessness and lack of discipline, the problem of children and of youth, was just not present 50 years ago as it is today. Why? Because the great tradition of the Evangelical Awakening of the 18th century was still operating. But as that has gone, these terrible moral and social problems are coming back, as the apostle teaches us, and as they have always come back throughout the running centuries.
Present conditions therefore demand that we should look at the apostle’s statement. I believe that Christian parents and children, Christian families, have a unique opportunity of witnessing to the world at this present time by just being different. We can be true evangelists by showing this discipline, this law and order, this true relationship between parents and children. We may be the means under God’s hand of bringing many to a knowledge of the Truth. Let us therefore think of it in that way.
-David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Prayer #1: That the Lord would save the souls of all of our children early in life, and that none would be lost.
Prayer #2: That our children would be faithful covenant-keepers with the God of their fathers.
Prayer #3: That God would send blessed, well-suited, Christ-loving spouses to our progeny, and that there would be no divorce for 200 years.
Prayer #4: That our children would continue to home educate their own children, following the Biblical/Hebrew model for discipleship.
Prayer #5: That God would bless the wombs of our daughters and daughters-in-law, with a multitude of covenant-keeping children, who will be mighty in the land.
Prayer #6: That God would bless and make fruitful the dominion labors of the family in all of its generations.
Prayer #7: That our children will honor their fathers and mothers, and be faithful to the godly and applicable visions their fathers give to them.
From Strategic Insights into A Multi-Generational Vision of Victory, Presented by Doug Phillips at the 200 Year Plan: A Practicum on Multi-Generational Faithfulness
Taken from Doug's Blog
A friend and I were just talking about this on Monday. We were discussing "goals" that we have for our families. I specifically mentioned that I pray that my children would have a "generational vision of faithfulness" and that they would continue to homeschool and be open to having as many children as the Lord would bless them with. I realized I sounded like good ol' Doug Philips and well, there you go!
(I've started my Estrogen Replacement Therapy and though I'm excited to be working to get rid of all of the symptoms I've been experiencing, my headaches are back in full force. My Dr. said that since I'm apparently very sensitive to the hormone levels in my body it may take some time before we have the right balance to be headache free and lesson my other symptoms. Thank you for your prayers.)
Friday, March 28, 2008
More Christina Rossetti
WHY? \
Lord, if I love Thee and Thou lovest me,
Why need I any more these toilsome days;
Why should I not run singing up Thy ways
Straight into heaven, to rest myself with Thee?
What need remains of death-pang yet to be,
If all my soul is quickened in Thy praise;
If all my heart loves Thee, what need the amaze,
Struggle and dimness of an agony?--
Bride whom I love, if thou too lovest Me,
Thou needs must choose My Likeness for thy dower:
So wilt thou toil in patience, and abide
Hungering and thirsting for that blessed hour
When I My Likeness shall behold in thee,
And thou therein shalt waken satisfied.
I had planned to post something for Good News Thursday, but couldn't think of any that is of broader interest than our own home front. There is one thing. A little girl at our church fell last Sunday and scraped her elbow. It got infected and her mother took her to the E.R. on Tuesday. The Dr. said that if they had waited another day or two they are not sure that they would have been able to save her. She was in the hospital for two days as they tried to get the right combination of antibiotics to work. Please thank God with me that she is home, now. Also, both her parents have pneumonia, now! We've got young people over there helping out with the household and meals are taken care of. Please pray that the "G" family gets some rest! Thanks!
Lord, if I love Thee and Thou lovest me,
Why need I any more these toilsome days;
Why should I not run singing up Thy ways
Straight into heaven, to rest myself with Thee?
What need remains of death-pang yet to be,
If all my soul is quickened in Thy praise;
If all my heart loves Thee, what need the amaze,
Struggle and dimness of an agony?--
Bride whom I love, if thou too lovest Me,
Thou needs must choose My Likeness for thy dower:
So wilt thou toil in patience, and abide
Hungering and thirsting for that blessed hour
When I My Likeness shall behold in thee,
And thou therein shalt waken satisfied.
I had planned to post something for Good News Thursday, but couldn't think of any that is of broader interest than our own home front. There is one thing. A little girl at our church fell last Sunday and scraped her elbow. It got infected and her mother took her to the E.R. on Tuesday. The Dr. said that if they had waited another day or two they are not sure that they would have been able to save her. She was in the hospital for two days as they tried to get the right combination of antibiotics to work. Please thank God with me that she is home, now. Also, both her parents have pneumonia, now! We've got young people over there helping out with the household and meals are taken care of. Please pray that the "G" family gets some rest! Thanks!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Gearing up for the big move...
Not away from my home, but IN my home. We have decided to flip the library and living room.
The library is currently housed in the larger room. The living room is in what was supposed to be the dining room in my 60s era ranch style home. We are committed to having Bible studies here starting in April and sitting around our dining room table as we have for parenting classes just isn't going to work.
I love moving furniture around, it allows for a good, thorough cleaning. My boys, well, not so much! Steven very carefully measured the rooms for me and drew a diagram so that I would be sure where everything would go. I have actually made little paper patterns for my furniture (12 bookcases in those two rooms) and am sure... I think! :)
So, next I need to plan what we move in what order, since it will take a few days. I will be purging bookshelves, a painful (and usually unproductive) task and cleaning books. What is it that Don Aslett says about maintaining stuff? Well, I'm sure that he didn't mean books!
I'm looking for a desk for Conrad to put in the library. He really needs a place to study other than on our bed. He has piles of books all around the walls in there that he is either currently studying or planning to study. I am hoping to incorporate an office for him in the future library. My Dad always had a study.
Well, I survived yesterday,as I always do. I didn't manage to do any laundry. Gael and I were talking last night and realized that Tuesday and Thursdays have become big laundry days around here. Monday and Friday are just too busy for anything more than a little ironing (not even that on Mondays). I took my little room patterns with me to piano and did that there while I was waiting for Shayna to finish her lesson. We got all of our schoolwork done (number one priority) and the house cleaned up (number two) but I only made one of my phone calls and didn't get to the church library catalog.
Today will be much better. I have bread rising and laundry in the washer. We will get schoolwork and chores done and basically just keep working on all the things that need doing. Tonight is a session meeting which all of my menfolk attend. Shayna and I are going to friends' house to teach them to do ribbon embroidery. I'm sure that we will have tea.
I'm having a terrible time staying on my diet...I am finding that I'm just too busy with the urgent. I sent Conrad to work with regular ol' spaghetti and meatballs. Oh well! I'll just keep trying. Conrad says not to get discouraged, but I am. Sigh!
Well we are off to study the Phoenicians! Have a good day!
Today's focus: Laundry! Deskwork
What's for dinner?: Hotdog Casserole for the kids. Chicken breast for Conrad and me. Salad, fruit, fresh potato sourdough bread.
Today, I'm thankful for: New beginnings...I know, I know, I could count how many times I've said that on this blog! For the robins in my yard. For my hardworking menfolk. For my daughter, my companion in domesticity. For the curriculum we are using this year, it has a been a blessing to have someone else do the research.
Today I'm praying for: The peace of Christ to reign in our hearts, with thankfulness. Collosians 3:15. For the guys, that they would find favor in the eyes of their employers, and that they would accomplish the work set out for them. For the girls, that we would have the "law of kindness on our tongues".
The library is currently housed in the larger room. The living room is in what was supposed to be the dining room in my 60s era ranch style home. We are committed to having Bible studies here starting in April and sitting around our dining room table as we have for parenting classes just isn't going to work.
I love moving furniture around, it allows for a good, thorough cleaning. My boys, well, not so much! Steven very carefully measured the rooms for me and drew a diagram so that I would be sure where everything would go. I have actually made little paper patterns for my furniture (12 bookcases in those two rooms) and am sure... I think! :)
So, next I need to plan what we move in what order, since it will take a few days. I will be purging bookshelves, a painful (and usually unproductive) task and cleaning books. What is it that Don Aslett says about maintaining stuff? Well, I'm sure that he didn't mean books!
I'm looking for a desk for Conrad to put in the library. He really needs a place to study other than on our bed. He has piles of books all around the walls in there that he is either currently studying or planning to study. I am hoping to incorporate an office for him in the future library. My Dad always had a study.
Well, I survived yesterday,as I always do. I didn't manage to do any laundry. Gael and I were talking last night and realized that Tuesday and Thursdays have become big laundry days around here. Monday and Friday are just too busy for anything more than a little ironing (not even that on Mondays). I took my little room patterns with me to piano and did that there while I was waiting for Shayna to finish her lesson. We got all of our schoolwork done (number one priority) and the house cleaned up (number two) but I only made one of my phone calls and didn't get to the church library catalog.
Today will be much better. I have bread rising and laundry in the washer. We will get schoolwork and chores done and basically just keep working on all the things that need doing. Tonight is a session meeting which all of my menfolk attend. Shayna and I are going to friends' house to teach them to do ribbon embroidery. I'm sure that we will have tea.
I'm having a terrible time staying on my diet...I am finding that I'm just too busy with the urgent. I sent Conrad to work with regular ol' spaghetti and meatballs. Oh well! I'll just keep trying. Conrad says not to get discouraged, but I am. Sigh!
Well we are off to study the Phoenicians! Have a good day!
Today's focus: Laundry! Deskwork
What's for dinner?: Hotdog Casserole for the kids. Chicken breast for Conrad and me. Salad, fruit, fresh potato sourdough bread.
Today, I'm thankful for: New beginnings...I know, I know, I could count how many times I've said that on this blog! For the robins in my yard. For my hardworking menfolk. For my daughter, my companion in domesticity. For the curriculum we are using this year, it has a been a blessing to have someone else do the research.
Today I'm praying for: The peace of Christ to reign in our hearts, with thankfulness. Collosians 3:15. For the guys, that they would find favor in the eyes of their employers, and that they would accomplish the work set out for them. For the girls, that we would have the "law of kindness on our tongues".
Monday, March 24, 2008
To Do list:
Clean up the downstairs...it's a terrible mess - 1.5 hours
Clean up the downstairs...it's a terrible mess - 1.5 hours
Laundry - haven't done any since Thursday - total actual hands on 2 hours, that includes some ironing
Lessons - my share about 2 hours, that's teaching, grading and recordkeeping
Paperwork - menu planning for the week, going over the church library 1 hour total
Cooking - easy stuff today, 1 hour total, only because Conrad and I are dieting, that takes extra work
Phone calls - I have to make 5, at 10 minutes each (and knowing I'll go over) I'll give that an hour
Piano lessons - out of the house for 1.5 hours, I do get some studying done, for about 20 minutes of that
Library - an hour if I'm business like and don't linger
And all of this needs to be done before the evening when we try really hard to maintain a routine of family devotions, quiet study time and read aloud time with whoever is at home at the time.
I hate starting the day out knowing I'm not going to get everything done no matter how hard I try. I realized today too, that I have dropped the habit of looking over the coming day's work the night before. I could have started a few things ahead and would have been more energetic about getting out of bed if I'd thought about it ahead! Sigh!
So, this is the total of my computer time today. Have a good week! It definitely gets better! :)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
"BEHOLD THE MAN!"
by Christina Rossetti
Shall Christ hang on the Cross, and we not look?
Heaven, earth, and hell stood gazing at the first,
While Christ for long-cursed man was counted cursed;
Christ, God and Man, Whom God the Father strook
And shamed and sifted and one while forsook:--
Cry shame upon our bodies we have nursed
In sweets, our souls in pride, our spirits immersed
In wilfulness, our steps run all acrook.
Cry shame upon us! for He bore our shame
In agony, and we look on at ease
With neither hearts on flame nor cheeks on flame:
What hast thou, what have I, to do with peace?
Not to send peace but send a sword He came,
And fire and fasts and tearful night-watches.
by Christina Rossetti
Shall Christ hang on the Cross, and we not look?
Heaven, earth, and hell stood gazing at the first,
While Christ for long-cursed man was counted cursed;
Christ, God and Man, Whom God the Father strook
And shamed and sifted and one while forsook:--
Cry shame upon our bodies we have nursed
In sweets, our souls in pride, our spirits immersed
In wilfulness, our steps run all acrook.
Cry shame upon us! for He bore our shame
In agony, and we look on at ease
With neither hearts on flame nor cheeks on flame:
What hast thou, what have I, to do with peace?
Not to send peace but send a sword He came,
And fire and fasts and tearful night-watches.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Long time no write...and a few questions.
I know, I know, it's been a while.
I've been trying to get back on track with dieting and rising on time. And of course, there's the rest of life, busy, busy! So, blogging (both reading and writing) has definitely been low on my priorities.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep track of my reading this year. How do each of you do it? I am planning to keep a random (not dated or organized) list of the books I've read this year on the sidebar, here.
The weather has been delightful, but we really haven't been out much in it. I hope to start walking today and stick to it. Does anyone have opinions on the best mp3 player for books and sermons?
I noticed that food prices are really going up and am determined to stick to the same amount in my grocery budget. I have certainly been on a bare-bones budget before, but it is amazing how easy it is to get used to spending money! What are your favorite ways to cut grocery costs?
We are not getting new outfits for Resurrection Sunday (Easter) this year, we haven't always, but it sure is fun to do that. We decided that we all have enough clothes, but it sure is hard not to want a new Easter outfit when friends start showing off theirs! Do you (or your kids) always get a new dress or shoes for Easter?
I'm back to baking bread (and trying not to eat any of it). I like to use a sour dough starter, but my family is not crazy about sourdough, so I add a little yeast and don't rise it quite as long. I'm using some of my favorite amish potato sourdough starter to make cinnamon buns for Easter morning. We are going to have to grab breakfast on the run because we have to be out of here early for a early morning baptism service up in Williamsburg before our regular service. What a wonderful day it's going to be! I love the worship on Resurrection Sunday, it is always so joyful, it usually brings me to tears - not that that is an unusual thing for me during worship. I'm so often moved by so much gratitude, what an amazing, loving heavenly Father we have, to give us so many good gifts!
I finally have an appointment to see the Dr. to start Estrogen replacement therapy. I feel read up enough on it that I can discuss it with her intelligently. I have lots of notes! It will be good to get rid of these several annoying symptoms.
Well, I just got on here for a few minutes while my youngers are scrubbing out bathtubs. It is definitely time to get back to the books, after a walk.
Today's emphasis: Do the next thing!
What's for dinner? Baked fish, pasta and stewed tomatoes (don't ask, it's a family thing!), broccoli, pineapple and potato bread rolls.
Praying for: Dilligence and for The Fruit of the Spirit, especially Kindness to reign in my home.
I've been trying to get back on track with dieting and rising on time. And of course, there's the rest of life, busy, busy! So, blogging (both reading and writing) has definitely been low on my priorities.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep track of my reading this year. How do each of you do it? I am planning to keep a random (not dated or organized) list of the books I've read this year on the sidebar, here.
The weather has been delightful, but we really haven't been out much in it. I hope to start walking today and stick to it. Does anyone have opinions on the best mp3 player for books and sermons?
I noticed that food prices are really going up and am determined to stick to the same amount in my grocery budget. I have certainly been on a bare-bones budget before, but it is amazing how easy it is to get used to spending money! What are your favorite ways to cut grocery costs?
We are not getting new outfits for Resurrection Sunday (Easter) this year, we haven't always, but it sure is fun to do that. We decided that we all have enough clothes, but it sure is hard not to want a new Easter outfit when friends start showing off theirs! Do you (or your kids) always get a new dress or shoes for Easter?
I'm back to baking bread (and trying not to eat any of it). I like to use a sour dough starter, but my family is not crazy about sourdough, so I add a little yeast and don't rise it quite as long. I'm using some of my favorite amish potato sourdough starter to make cinnamon buns for Easter morning. We are going to have to grab breakfast on the run because we have to be out of here early for a early morning baptism service up in Williamsburg before our regular service. What a wonderful day it's going to be! I love the worship on Resurrection Sunday, it is always so joyful, it usually brings me to tears - not that that is an unusual thing for me during worship. I'm so often moved by so much gratitude, what an amazing, loving heavenly Father we have, to give us so many good gifts!
I finally have an appointment to see the Dr. to start Estrogen replacement therapy. I feel read up enough on it that I can discuss it with her intelligently. I have lots of notes! It will be good to get rid of these several annoying symptoms.
Well, I just got on here for a few minutes while my youngers are scrubbing out bathtubs. It is definitely time to get back to the books, after a walk.
Today's emphasis: Do the next thing!
What's for dinner? Baked fish, pasta and stewed tomatoes (don't ask, it's a family thing!), broccoli, pineapple and potato bread rolls.
Praying for: Dilligence and for The Fruit of the Spirit, especially Kindness to reign in my home.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A poem, predestined to be in my inbox when I needed it to be.
"I WILL ARISE."
Christina Rossetti
Weary and weak,--accept my weariness;
Weary and weak and downcast in my soul,
With hope growing less and less,
And with the goal
Distant and dim,--accept my sore distress.
I thought to reach the goal so long ago,
At outset of the race I dreamed of rest,
Not knowing what now I know
Of breathless haste,
Of long-drawn straining effort across the waste.
One only thing I knew, Thy love of me;
One only thing I know, Thy sacred same
Love of me full and free,
A craving flame
Of selfless love of me which burns in Thee.
How can I think of thee, and yet grow chill;
Of Thee, and yet grow cold and nigh to death?
Re-energize my will,
Rebuild my faith;
I will arise and run, Thou giving me breath.
I will arise, repenting and in pain;
I will arise, and smite upon my breast
And turn to Thee again;
Thou choosest best,
Lead me along the road Thou makest plain.
Lead me a little way, and carry me
A little way, and listen to my sighs,
And store my tears with Thee,
And deign replies
To feeble prayers;--O Lord, I will arise.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival
I tend to love the traditional quilts, but this one was my absolute favorite! I wish you could see all of the embroidery stitches on it. This is definitely a happy quilt!
More Later!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Another "I knew that!" article
Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills
by Alix Spiegel
"Clearly the way that children spend their time has changed. Here's the issue: A growing number of psychologists believe that these changes in what children do has also changed kids' cognitive and emotional development."
Read the article here. Thank you to Julia for the heads up on this article.
We've tried really hard to raise children who weren't all about "things". But of course, we struggle with materialism ourselves. It is very hard to live a middle-class life in America and not accumulate tons of unecessary stuff. It has been easier to not accumulate lots of toys one of the reasons being that we have understood that the best kind of play is the play a child makes himself.
So, I was thinking, in the reality of modern life in America, which toys have we had around for all of our children and just wouldn't like to do without? Books, though not toys, comes to mind, first. We like building materials of some sort...the ones which have stayed and continue to be played with are the Duplos - the large sized legos that even a grown-up will get down on the floor and build with. Dolls, especially dollhouse sized ones are also great. Though we do have a collection of lightsabers which keep little boys immensly entertained outside, that is about it for the toys that we have always had and wouldn't like to do without. So, what are the necessary toys in your home?
by Alix Spiegel
"Clearly the way that children spend their time has changed. Here's the issue: A growing number of psychologists believe that these changes in what children do has also changed kids' cognitive and emotional development."
Read the article here. Thank you to Julia for the heads up on this article.
We've tried really hard to raise children who weren't all about "things". But of course, we struggle with materialism ourselves. It is very hard to live a middle-class life in America and not accumulate tons of unecessary stuff. It has been easier to not accumulate lots of toys one of the reasons being that we have understood that the best kind of play is the play a child makes himself.
So, I was thinking, in the reality of modern life in America, which toys have we had around for all of our children and just wouldn't like to do without? Books, though not toys, comes to mind, first. We like building materials of some sort...the ones which have stayed and continue to be played with are the Duplos - the large sized legos that even a grown-up will get down on the floor and build with. Dolls, especially dollhouse sized ones are also great. Though we do have a collection of lightsabers which keep little boys immensly entertained outside, that is about it for the toys that we have always had and wouldn't like to do without. So, what are the necessary toys in your home?
Friday, February 15, 2008
Valentine's Day Dinner
I didn't take pictures this year. I just didn't get to do much decorating, though the children hung up hearts all over the house.
Our menu was good and the main dish is definitely a keeper! Here are a couple of recipes.
Palermo Pork Loin en Croute
2 1/4 pounds bonelss pork loin roast
4 thick slices of day old bread, crusts removed
2 Tbs. minced fresh herbs, rosemary, sage, etc.
2 Tbs. grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon
1 garlic clove, minced
salt & pepper to taste
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
Sauce:
1/4 cup Cabernet Sauvignon
2 Tbs. salted butter
1/2 onion, chopped
2 Tbs. thinly sliced garlic
1 14oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. chopped fresh oregano
1 bay leaf
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Trim away any visible fat from the meat.
2. Place bread, herbs, cheese, bacon, garlic and salt and pepper in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add egg, and 1 Tbs. of olive oil; mix well. Encase meat with the mixture, pressing firmly.
3. Put meat in a baking dish with remaining oil, chicken broth and vinegar. Roast for 90 minutes, or until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Remove to a cutting board.
4. To prepare sauce, deglaze the roasting pan with wine over medium-high heat. Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook butter, onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add meat dripping/wine and remaining sauce ingredients. Cook over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes, or until reduced by a third.
5. Slice meat, pour sauce on a platter, arrange meat on top. Makes 6-8 servings.
This was an easy recipe and very delicious. I substituted dried herbs (about half as much) for the fresh because my market's fresh were nasty looking!
Shayna and I served this with red potatoes cooked with garlic and tossed with butter and parsley, roasted red onion slices, homemade applesauce and a salad of hearts of romaine with oranges and bleu cheese.
For dessert we had caramel custards with chocolate cookies. The recipe I used for the custard came from Arnaud's a restaraunt in New Orleans. I've been wanting to have custard ever since I tried a version of Creme Brulee which was curdled and dry...I thought, "This isn't the custard I remember." I learned to make just a regular custard and then sprinkle the brown sugar on top and put it under the broiler...watch it closely and THAT my friends is Creme Brulee the way you would find it in New Orleans.
For last night I chose to make caramel custard, you unmold the custard and the caramel syrup pools around it on the plate. Yum!
Caramel Custard
1/2 cup granulated sugar, for the caramel
1 Tbs. water
3 large eggs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups whole milk, scalded
1/2 tsp. best quality pure vanilla
Preaheat oven to 275 degrees.
In a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, put the 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbs. water, cover and heat for 30 seconds. Uncover, stir and swirl the pan until the sugar is melted and turns a light caramel color.
Divide the caramel among six-4oz. custard cups and let stand until cooled.
Beat the eggs with the 1/4 cup sugar and add scalded milk, slowly, while stirring. Add the vanilla and strain carefully into the prepared cups, to avoid disturbing the caramel.
Place cups in a pan of hot water. The water should come almost to the top of the cups. Cover with foil. Bake slowly for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the water and cool to room temperature. Chill until serving time.
To serve, run a knife around the edge of the custard and invert the cup onto a small plate.
So, to make Creme Brulee, omit the caramel on the bottom and sprinkle the cooked, cooled custard with brown sugar. Put under the broiler until the sugar is melted, but not scorched. Serve in the custard cups.
It was a delicious dinner and I had a pork loin twice the size I needed, so I just baked the other half up with some herbs on top. I'm going to be making fried rice with it and sharing it with friends tonight.
Our menu was good and the main dish is definitely a keeper! Here are a couple of recipes.
Palermo Pork Loin en Croute
2 1/4 pounds bonelss pork loin roast
4 thick slices of day old bread, crusts removed
2 Tbs. minced fresh herbs, rosemary, sage, etc.
2 Tbs. grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon
1 garlic clove, minced
salt & pepper to taste
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
Sauce:
1/4 cup Cabernet Sauvignon
2 Tbs. salted butter
1/2 onion, chopped
2 Tbs. thinly sliced garlic
1 14oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. chopped fresh oregano
1 bay leaf
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Trim away any visible fat from the meat.
2. Place bread, herbs, cheese, bacon, garlic and salt and pepper in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add egg, and 1 Tbs. of olive oil; mix well. Encase meat with the mixture, pressing firmly.
3. Put meat in a baking dish with remaining oil, chicken broth and vinegar. Roast for 90 minutes, or until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Remove to a cutting board.
4. To prepare sauce, deglaze the roasting pan with wine over medium-high heat. Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook butter, onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add meat dripping/wine and remaining sauce ingredients. Cook over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes, or until reduced by a third.
5. Slice meat, pour sauce on a platter, arrange meat on top. Makes 6-8 servings.
This was an easy recipe and very delicious. I substituted dried herbs (about half as much) for the fresh because my market's fresh were nasty looking!
Shayna and I served this with red potatoes cooked with garlic and tossed with butter and parsley, roasted red onion slices, homemade applesauce and a salad of hearts of romaine with oranges and bleu cheese.
For dessert we had caramel custards with chocolate cookies. The recipe I used for the custard came from Arnaud's a restaraunt in New Orleans. I've been wanting to have custard ever since I tried a version of Creme Brulee which was curdled and dry...I thought, "This isn't the custard I remember." I learned to make just a regular custard and then sprinkle the brown sugar on top and put it under the broiler...watch it closely and THAT my friends is Creme Brulee the way you would find it in New Orleans.
For last night I chose to make caramel custard, you unmold the custard and the caramel syrup pools around it on the plate. Yum!
Caramel Custard
1/2 cup granulated sugar, for the caramel
1 Tbs. water
3 large eggs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups whole milk, scalded
1/2 tsp. best quality pure vanilla
Preaheat oven to 275 degrees.
In a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, put the 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbs. water, cover and heat for 30 seconds. Uncover, stir and swirl the pan until the sugar is melted and turns a light caramel color.
Divide the caramel among six-4oz. custard cups and let stand until cooled.
Beat the eggs with the 1/4 cup sugar and add scalded milk, slowly, while stirring. Add the vanilla and strain carefully into the prepared cups, to avoid disturbing the caramel.
Place cups in a pan of hot water. The water should come almost to the top of the cups. Cover with foil. Bake slowly for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the water and cool to room temperature. Chill until serving time.
To serve, run a knife around the edge of the custard and invert the cup onto a small plate.
So, to make Creme Brulee, omit the caramel on the bottom and sprinkle the cooked, cooled custard with brown sugar. Put under the broiler until the sugar is melted, but not scorched. Serve in the custard cups.
It was a delicious dinner and I had a pork loin twice the size I needed, so I just baked the other half up with some herbs on top. I'm going to be making fried rice with it and sharing it with friends tonight.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
A delicious new recipe
Two weeks ago we studied about Ancient China. We had a chinese feast.
This was the best of the recipes we tried:
Five-Spice Shrimp with Walnuts
1 pound of medium or large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined.
1/2 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. dry sherry
1 tbs. cornstarch
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large red bell pepper, cut into short, thin strips
1/2 cup walnut halves or quarters
Hot cooked rice
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1. Toss shrimp with the five-spice powder and garlic in small bowl.
2. Blend broth, soy sauce and sherry into cornstarch in a cup until smooth.
3. Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, heat until hot. Add shrimp mixture, bell pepper and walnuts; stir-fry 3 to 5 minutes until shrimp are opaque and bell pepper is crisp-tender.
4. Stir broth mixture and add to wok. Stir fry 1 minute until sauce boils and thickens. Serve over rice and garnish with onions.
Note: Watch those bell peppers, don't let them over cook! The next time I make this, I will add a handful of snow peas.
This was the best of the recipes we tried:
Five-Spice Shrimp with Walnuts
1 pound of medium or large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined.
1/2 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. dry sherry
1 tbs. cornstarch
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large red bell pepper, cut into short, thin strips
1/2 cup walnut halves or quarters
Hot cooked rice
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1. Toss shrimp with the five-spice powder and garlic in small bowl.
2. Blend broth, soy sauce and sherry into cornstarch in a cup until smooth.
3. Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, heat until hot. Add shrimp mixture, bell pepper and walnuts; stir-fry 3 to 5 minutes until shrimp are opaque and bell pepper is crisp-tender.
4. Stir broth mixture and add to wok. Stir fry 1 minute until sauce boils and thickens. Serve over rice and garnish with onions.
Note: Watch those bell peppers, don't let them over cook! The next time I make this, I will add a handful of snow peas.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Blind Squirrels
The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle, a book review
My husband often says that “Even a blind squirrel can find a few nuts”. He means that even when a person has all of the wrong philosophies or theologies, because of God’s good grace, they can unwittingly land on good ideas or practices.
This, I have found true in Laura Doyle’s book, The Surrendered Wife. Laura Doyle claims to be a feminist and is definitely writing from a non-complementarian point of view. She also only believes in a “higher power” who fits in to her imagined parameter. In spite of these obvious errors, Mrs. Doyle found some golden nuts.
First, her test: “How Intimate is Your Marriage?” Answer “rarely”, “sometimes” and “frequently”.
Do you:
1. Feel superior to your husband?
2. Nag your husband?
3. Commiserate with other wives about your husband?
4. Hear yourself say, “I told my husband…”?
5. Think that everything would be fine if your husband would do what you tell him to do?
6. Eavesdrop on your husband’s conversations?
7. Feel like the only adult in the family?
8. Feel overburdened in parenting your children?
9. Do things for your husband that he is capable of doing for himself?
10. Have recurring anxiety and depression?
11. Feel exhausted?
12. Find either of you are disinterested in “the marriage bed”?
13. Feel resentful or jealous about your husband’s victories in life?
14. Reject or criticize his gifts?
15. Fantasize about divorce of life with a man who would better match you?
16. Discount the reasons you chose your husband in the first place?
17. Feel hopeless about your marriage because your needs have gone unmet for so long?
18. Have a hard time trusting you husband even in small matters?
19. Find yourself trying to control your husband?
20. Get angry with your husband when he makes a poor decision?
I realized that just in these first pages that I have some work to do. I scored middle of the range in this test and the reason is that I have learned to not verbalize my disrespect, but it is still there, playing over in my mind. And I’m fooling myself if I think that my family doesn’t notice my attitude. Ouch!
The author does a very good job explaining how we women try so much to control what is going on…that old garden curse! She tells us that we only end up destroying trust in our marriages.
I’m a conservative, complementarian Christian, who believes that God’s Word in the Bible is infallible. So saying, I did find some of the things that she says offensive. I also found some of the things she says surprising knowing that she would consider me a “fanatic fundamentalist”.
I definitely think that this author over all, has found some good principles that God in His grace helped her to find. And I think I have some homework to do!
My husband often says that “Even a blind squirrel can find a few nuts”. He means that even when a person has all of the wrong philosophies or theologies, because of God’s good grace, they can unwittingly land on good ideas or practices.
This, I have found true in Laura Doyle’s book, The Surrendered Wife. Laura Doyle claims to be a feminist and is definitely writing from a non-complementarian point of view. She also only believes in a “higher power” who fits in to her imagined parameter. In spite of these obvious errors, Mrs. Doyle found some golden nuts.
First, her test: “How Intimate is Your Marriage?” Answer “rarely”, “sometimes” and “frequently”.
Do you:
1. Feel superior to your husband?
2. Nag your husband?
3. Commiserate with other wives about your husband?
4. Hear yourself say, “I told my husband…”?
5. Think that everything would be fine if your husband would do what you tell him to do?
6. Eavesdrop on your husband’s conversations?
7. Feel like the only adult in the family?
8. Feel overburdened in parenting your children?
9. Do things for your husband that he is capable of doing for himself?
10. Have recurring anxiety and depression?
11. Feel exhausted?
12. Find either of you are disinterested in “the marriage bed”?
13. Feel resentful or jealous about your husband’s victories in life?
14. Reject or criticize his gifts?
15. Fantasize about divorce of life with a man who would better match you?
16. Discount the reasons you chose your husband in the first place?
17. Feel hopeless about your marriage because your needs have gone unmet for so long?
18. Have a hard time trusting you husband even in small matters?
19. Find yourself trying to control your husband?
20. Get angry with your husband when he makes a poor decision?
I realized that just in these first pages that I have some work to do. I scored middle of the range in this test and the reason is that I have learned to not verbalize my disrespect, but it is still there, playing over in my mind. And I’m fooling myself if I think that my family doesn’t notice my attitude. Ouch!
The author does a very good job explaining how we women try so much to control what is going on…that old garden curse! She tells us that we only end up destroying trust in our marriages.
I’m a conservative, complementarian Christian, who believes that God’s Word in the Bible is infallible. So saying, I did find some of the things that she says offensive. I also found some of the things she says surprising knowing that she would consider me a “fanatic fundamentalist”.
I definitely think that this author over all, has found some good principles that God in His grace helped her to find. And I think I have some homework to do!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
One of my favorite bloggers has decided to stop blogging. I will really miss her posts and I’m glad that she is going to be keeping her archives up. Cindy’s posts are often full of content, challenging my thinking and encouraging me to know why I believe what I do.
She has been a modern day “Titus 2” woman to me, blogging to encourage us to love our husbands and children and to be busy at home. The thing that has made her unique is that she doesn’t stop there, she challenges us to not fall back on assumptions when we do these things. Cindy has helped me to think about what it means to love my husband, love my children and be busy at home.
I really appreciate the women who blog who help me wrestle with what those commands look like here, today, in my life. Cindy (and others) help me to wrestle with my theology and my orthopraxy (living out that theology).
I don’t blog like that. I blog in little snatches of time, not devoting much thought or planning to what I’m going to say. First, I’m not very good at focusing, period, and secondly, it takes all of my energy to be focused on what I’m doing here, loving my husband, and children and being busy at home.
I blog, because I know that there are people who know me, who would like to stay in touch with me, our family and our everyday lives. I really don’t expect to have anyone else really interested in this blog. I’m okay with that, infact, I don’t think that I could take the pressure of a broad readership, imagined or real.
Cindy, I think has handled the pressure beautifully and has been a brave woman to hang on teaching us as long as she has. I’m going to miss the glimpses into her family life – her oldest boys have traveled farther down the paths that my own oldest are on, graduation from homeschool, careers, courtship, marriage. I’m going to miss her encouragement to enrich the culture in my home, something I have to work hard at. I’m going to miss her encouragement to enrich the culture of my mind, something that I need a lot of encouragement in – doing this in a purposeful and disciplined manner. I’m just going to miss Cindy.
I’m thankful for the other bloggers out there who do many of these things for me as well. I hope that when I point you in their direction, that you go look and ponder. They often say the things I want to say, but in a way that I never can.
Margaret
She has been a modern day “Titus 2” woman to me, blogging to encourage us to love our husbands and children and to be busy at home. The thing that has made her unique is that she doesn’t stop there, she challenges us to not fall back on assumptions when we do these things. Cindy has helped me to think about what it means to love my husband, love my children and be busy at home.
I really appreciate the women who blog who help me wrestle with what those commands look like here, today, in my life. Cindy (and others) help me to wrestle with my theology and my orthopraxy (living out that theology).
I don’t blog like that. I blog in little snatches of time, not devoting much thought or planning to what I’m going to say. First, I’m not very good at focusing, period, and secondly, it takes all of my energy to be focused on what I’m doing here, loving my husband, and children and being busy at home.
I blog, because I know that there are people who know me, who would like to stay in touch with me, our family and our everyday lives. I really don’t expect to have anyone else really interested in this blog. I’m okay with that, infact, I don’t think that I could take the pressure of a broad readership, imagined or real.
Cindy, I think has handled the pressure beautifully and has been a brave woman to hang on teaching us as long as she has. I’m going to miss the glimpses into her family life – her oldest boys have traveled farther down the paths that my own oldest are on, graduation from homeschool, careers, courtship, marriage. I’m going to miss her encouragement to enrich the culture in my home, something I have to work hard at. I’m going to miss her encouragement to enrich the culture of my mind, something that I need a lot of encouragement in – doing this in a purposeful and disciplined manner. I’m just going to miss Cindy.
I’m thankful for the other bloggers out there who do many of these things for me as well. I hope that when I point you in their direction, that you go look and ponder. They often say the things I want to say, but in a way that I never can.
Margaret
Monday, January 21, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
This & That
A picture that delights my heart. The older young men in our church. (My oldest in front in the burgundy, and next oldest in the back in the light green.)
"The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him." Proverbs 23:24
Another Rossetti poem:
GOOD FRIDAY.
Am I a stone and not a sheep
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy Cross,
To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss,
And yet not weep?
Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;
Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon,--
I, only I.
Yet give not o'er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock.
Last night was a wonderful time. During family devotions we reflected on the description of creation before the fall and what the new heaven & the new earth will be like. We talked about the things God has done for us this past year and the things we are looking forward to in faith for the coming year. Then we spent a sweet time in prayer.
Tonight...the Virginia Tech game. We are hoping to have some friends over to watch the game and visit with us. I have a big pot of spaghetti planned to feed the gang. It has turned really cold here and we are expecting a little snow. There is a little wood pecker on the tree right outside the window, I will have to remember to put out some seed and suet this week.
Steven has his follow-up appointment for his sleep study today. He is hoping to get some definite results, and a plan for what to do next. Just keeping the sleep journal has been revealing, his being in his bed does not mean he's sleeping!
The downstairs looks fine still, from having company, so today the focus is on Shayna's room, and the ever-present but quite piled up laundry. Ironing anybody? No, I didn't think so. :^)
Today, I'm thankful for: The heat that turns on and warms our home. The woodpeckers outside with their cheery red heads. Our family Dr. who promises to keep trying to figure out what's preventing Steven from getting a good night's sleep. For God's care and guidance for the young men in our church.
Today's Bible Reading: Genesis 5-8, Psalm 119:3,4
"The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him." Proverbs 23:24
Another Rossetti poem:
GOOD FRIDAY.
Am I a stone and not a sheep
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy Cross,
To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss,
And yet not weep?
Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;
Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon,--
I, only I.
Yet give not o'er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock.
Last night was a wonderful time. During family devotions we reflected on the description of creation before the fall and what the new heaven & the new earth will be like. We talked about the things God has done for us this past year and the things we are looking forward to in faith for the coming year. Then we spent a sweet time in prayer.
Tonight...the Virginia Tech game. We are hoping to have some friends over to watch the game and visit with us. I have a big pot of spaghetti planned to feed the gang. It has turned really cold here and we are expecting a little snow. There is a little wood pecker on the tree right outside the window, I will have to remember to put out some seed and suet this week.
Steven has his follow-up appointment for his sleep study today. He is hoping to get some definite results, and a plan for what to do next. Just keeping the sleep journal has been revealing, his being in his bed does not mean he's sleeping!
The downstairs looks fine still, from having company, so today the focus is on Shayna's room, and the ever-present but quite piled up laundry. Ironing anybody? No, I didn't think so. :^)
Today, I'm thankful for: The heat that turns on and warms our home. The woodpeckers outside with their cheery red heads. Our family Dr. who promises to keep trying to figure out what's preventing Steven from getting a good night's sleep. For God's care and guidance for the young men in our church.
Today's Bible Reading: Genesis 5-8, Psalm 119:3,4
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Happy New Year!
It has been a different, busy and enjoyable holiday season. I'm glad to get back into routines and clear away the dust and debris.
We have company for dinner and devotions this evening. We love to have company and all are pitching in to get the downstairs ready to make our guests comfortable. We plan to not do much schoolwork this week at all so that I can work on routines and lesson planning.
In the past, I have taken Most of January off of school to totally dejunk and get the house ship-shape. It is wonderful to make a fresh start and January is usually a month that we easily get the blahs. This year, though, we have a more rigorous school schedule, so we are just going to try to stretch out the extra house work over a longer period of time.
I have been enjoying the poems of Christina Rossetti these past few months. Here is another that struck me.
THE LOWEST PLACE.
Give me the lowest place: not that I dare
Ask for that lowest place, but Thou hast died
That I might live and share
Thy glory by Thy side.
Give me the lowest place: or if for me
That lowest place too high, make one more low
Where I may sit and see
My God and love Thee so.
Focus for today: Laundry (especially catching up on ironing), Get the downstairs spiffy, Do our weekly chore cards.
What's for dinner: Red beans & Rice, Salad, Homemade applesauce and carrot cake
Today I'm thankful for: New beginnings. My husband who so diligently got up this morning and started back to work. My grown sons who bless me with their wisdom and servant hearts. My younger two who show me Christ (one way or the other) every day and who pray alongside me. My family and church family see the above reason.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 1-4, Psalm 119:1,2
We have company for dinner and devotions this evening. We love to have company and all are pitching in to get the downstairs ready to make our guests comfortable. We plan to not do much schoolwork this week at all so that I can work on routines and lesson planning.
In the past, I have taken Most of January off of school to totally dejunk and get the house ship-shape. It is wonderful to make a fresh start and January is usually a month that we easily get the blahs. This year, though, we have a more rigorous school schedule, so we are just going to try to stretch out the extra house work over a longer period of time.
I have been enjoying the poems of Christina Rossetti these past few months. Here is another that struck me.
THE LOWEST PLACE.
Give me the lowest place: not that I dare
Ask for that lowest place, but Thou hast died
That I might live and share
Thy glory by Thy side.
Give me the lowest place: or if for me
That lowest place too high, make one more low
Where I may sit and see
My God and love Thee so.
Focus for today: Laundry (especially catching up on ironing), Get the downstairs spiffy, Do our weekly chore cards.
What's for dinner: Red beans & Rice, Salad, Homemade applesauce and carrot cake
Today I'm thankful for: New beginnings. My husband who so diligently got up this morning and started back to work. My grown sons who bless me with their wisdom and servant hearts. My younger two who show me Christ (one way or the other) every day and who pray alongside me. My family and church family see the above reason.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 1-4, Psalm 119:1,2
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Nutcracker Ballet today!
A young lady at church is in the ballet company and is going to be one of the rats! So, we are going to a performance this morning with about 50 other folks from church, it should be great!
On Tuesday I made 120 ginger snaps and about 60 sugar cookies. The kids had a great time icing them. I wish I had taken pictures! Gaelan sat at the table with the children (Steven was at work) and iced police cars and very fancy elephants. Hoppy (my niece Hannah) used three colors almost exclusively, pink, purple and light brown! Elena was into quantity and iced the most cookies. It was a great time. I do feel like I cleaned up more than I baked, but them's the breaks! I did get all of my cards and packages out, which is a big relief!
Yesterday, I cleaned my oven, so now it's all ready for my marathon baking starting this afternoon. I also finished several sewing projects and wrapped some things. Gaelan took the younger two out shopping in the afternoon and I think they had a good time. Isaac is still feeling under the weather a bit. Last night, Conrad and I went out with another couple for a nice dinner and to answer some questions in light of their joining the church. It was a very nice time and we got to know one of our newer couples.
When I get home today, I'm going to start baking cakes for gifting.
Tomorrow, after sitting for Mel, I will dive into the cookie baking and packing (the cookies, not us).
I'm thankful today for: The new families who are in our church, even though it is very crowded. A chance to go out with my daughter and friends today. My husband's wisdom and shepherd's heart. Family and friends coming in for the Christmas holiday.
Today I'm praying: For the peace of Christ to reign in our home. For us to be future focused, learning how to serve Christ better each day. For my children, that they will be caught when they sin. Psalm 119:71.
On Tuesday I made 120 ginger snaps and about 60 sugar cookies. The kids had a great time icing them. I wish I had taken pictures! Gaelan sat at the table with the children (Steven was at work) and iced police cars and very fancy elephants. Hoppy (my niece Hannah) used three colors almost exclusively, pink, purple and light brown! Elena was into quantity and iced the most cookies. It was a great time. I do feel like I cleaned up more than I baked, but them's the breaks! I did get all of my cards and packages out, which is a big relief!
Yesterday, I cleaned my oven, so now it's all ready for my marathon baking starting this afternoon. I also finished several sewing projects and wrapped some things. Gaelan took the younger two out shopping in the afternoon and I think they had a good time. Isaac is still feeling under the weather a bit. Last night, Conrad and I went out with another couple for a nice dinner and to answer some questions in light of their joining the church. It was a very nice time and we got to know one of our newer couples.
When I get home today, I'm going to start baking cakes for gifting.
Tomorrow, after sitting for Mel, I will dive into the cookie baking and packing (the cookies, not us).
I'm thankful today for: The new families who are in our church, even though it is very crowded. A chance to go out with my daughter and friends today. My husband's wisdom and shepherd's heart. Family and friends coming in for the Christmas holiday.
Today I'm praying: For the peace of Christ to reign in our home. For us to be future focused, learning how to serve Christ better each day. For my children, that they will be caught when they sin. Psalm 119:71.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Today is Cookie Baking Day!
Well...one of them. Today we work on our sugar cookie cut-outs. One year when I asked the kids which Christmas Holiday tradition they most enjoyed they said this one. I thought, "Oh great, the one which is most work for me!" It is great fun though! We have a terrific recipe and lots of cookie cutters, some left from when I was a child.
THEN we ice them with the kind of icing that gets hard (royal icing) in about a dozen different colors. The boys have great fun using the cookie cutters in unusual ways - like turning the bell upside down and making an alien. It's a big mess and of course, we have to eat them all because who wants to give the neigbors a Merry Christmas alien?
Kathryn, Mom and the girls are going to come over and help before ballet class. And Steven hopes to join us when he gets home from work in the afternoon.
The rest of the week, I'm going to be working on baking the variety of cookies that we give to neighbors and friends.
I'll try to post this evening and let you know how much I got done and perhaps recipes, if anyone wants them.
I've also got to get out Christmas cards and packages this afternoon! And company's comin' soon!
The focus of the day: Well obviously, it's cookies and packages...but we are not going to skip our holiday school time.
What's for supper: I promised the kiddos party food...so we are having a croc pot full of meatballs with rice pilaf and cooked carrots and salad. I definitely think cookies are for dessert!
What I'm thankful for: Our health, even with the occasional cold it really is excellent! That we have company coming soon and I can't wait to hug niece and nephews and sisters and brothers. That our friends in Holland are coming soon for a visit, I miss them! That God is blessing our sons in their chosen professions and in their pursuit of the responsibilities of adult life. I'm thankful for my husband, he is one of the hardest working people I know.
What I'm praying for: Consistory meeting tonight. For Micah's precious family. That my husband would get done what he needs to at work before Christmas shut-down. For the Crisis Pregnancy Center. For my children: That they will hate sin. Psalm 97:10
THEN we ice them with the kind of icing that gets hard (royal icing) in about a dozen different colors. The boys have great fun using the cookie cutters in unusual ways - like turning the bell upside down and making an alien. It's a big mess and of course, we have to eat them all because who wants to give the neigbors a Merry Christmas alien?
Kathryn, Mom and the girls are going to come over and help before ballet class. And Steven hopes to join us when he gets home from work in the afternoon.
The rest of the week, I'm going to be working on baking the variety of cookies that we give to neighbors and friends.
I'll try to post this evening and let you know how much I got done and perhaps recipes, if anyone wants them.
I've also got to get out Christmas cards and packages this afternoon! And company's comin' soon!
The focus of the day: Well obviously, it's cookies and packages...but we are not going to skip our holiday school time.
What's for supper: I promised the kiddos party food...so we are having a croc pot full of meatballs with rice pilaf and cooked carrots and salad. I definitely think cookies are for dessert!
What I'm thankful for: Our health, even with the occasional cold it really is excellent! That we have company coming soon and I can't wait to hug niece and nephews and sisters and brothers. That our friends in Holland are coming soon for a visit, I miss them! That God is blessing our sons in their chosen professions and in their pursuit of the responsibilities of adult life. I'm thankful for my husband, he is one of the hardest working people I know.
What I'm praying for: Consistory meeting tonight. For Micah's precious family. That my husband would get done what he needs to at work before Christmas shut-down. For the Crisis Pregnancy Center. For my children: That they will hate sin. Psalm 97:10
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thanks for praying for our week, it went much smoother after cancelling the party. I think everyone here is on the mend. Steven as always has been sick longest and is still coughing quite a bit. He starts his new job today, so I'm sending him off armed with cold meds and a hot lunch.
The funeral was just beautiful! We sang some of Micah's favorite songs and his father spoke about what a privelege it has been to care for Micah, and about the fact that exactly what God planned happened, and Micah ran his race accomplishing the will of the Father. Then the brothers and sisters had written what they most loved and will most miss about Micah and it was read by one of the young men at church. Then two of the men at church whose families are especially close to Micah's family shared some thoughts. The Pastor gave a message and Conrad spoke on the sanctity of life. Conrad made it through the whole thing with only getting a little choked up! That is amazing because he is famous for getting choked up during nearly every sermon he has preached and at Baptisms too! At the end, we were invited to come up and share about Micah or to say a blessing to the family. I got up and shared what I had been praying for each of the children during the time I was praying for Micah and his parents. It was a wonderful time of rejoicing in God's goodness and remembering Micah's special smile. There was plenty of food afterward, too.
This is a hymn that our pastor chose for us to sing at the funeral. I thought it was very sweet.:
Children of the Heavenly Father
Children of the heavnly Father
safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven
such a refuge e'er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
in his holy courts they flourish;
from all evil things he spares them,
in his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth,
and their sorrows all he knoweth.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers,
your Protector never slumbers;
at the will of your Defender
ev'ry foeman must surrender.
Though he giveth or he taketh.
God his children ne'er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.
More secure is no one ever
than the loved ones of the Savior;
not yon star on high abiding
nor the bird in home-nest hiding.
The funeral was just beautiful! We sang some of Micah's favorite songs and his father spoke about what a privelege it has been to care for Micah, and about the fact that exactly what God planned happened, and Micah ran his race accomplishing the will of the Father. Then the brothers and sisters had written what they most loved and will most miss about Micah and it was read by one of the young men at church. Then two of the men at church whose families are especially close to Micah's family shared some thoughts. The Pastor gave a message and Conrad spoke on the sanctity of life. Conrad made it through the whole thing with only getting a little choked up! That is amazing because he is famous for getting choked up during nearly every sermon he has preached and at Baptisms too! At the end, we were invited to come up and share about Micah or to say a blessing to the family. I got up and shared what I had been praying for each of the children during the time I was praying for Micah and his parents. It was a wonderful time of rejoicing in God's goodness and remembering Micah's special smile. There was plenty of food afterward, too.
This is a hymn that our pastor chose for us to sing at the funeral. I thought it was very sweet.:
Children of the Heavenly Father
Children of the heavnly Father
safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven
such a refuge e'er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
in his holy courts they flourish;
from all evil things he spares them,
in his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth,
and their sorrows all he knoweth.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers,
your Protector never slumbers;
at the will of your Defender
ev'ry foeman must surrender.
Though he giveth or he taketh.
God his children ne'er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.
More secure is no one ever
than the loved ones of the Savior;
not yon star on high abiding
nor the bird in home-nest hiding.
Monday, December 10, 2007
When it rains...
Can you believe it? It's 73 degrees here! What's with that?
Our precious pastor's wife's grandmother passed away last night, so she is flying out to be with her family this week. Many of us are stepping up with childcare and meals for her family while she's gone.
So...I've decided to postpone our little party here on Friday. Many of the people invited to it drive a long way to come to church - 1-1 1/2 hours, and since they will come to the funeral and perhaps the visitation as well, that is too often to have to drive that far in one week. Also, this will free me up to help with the above need.
I had no idea, when I sent out invitations a month ago that I would still be battling these headaches as well.
So, my hubby has decided that this is a good plan. I'm much relieved, having more time to prepare food for that which it is most needed. AND, my family can relax and get over the various minor illnesses they are dealing with without Mom being to busy to bring orange juice, and more importantly, a sweet smile!
Phew! Now if the temperature would only drop about 15 degrees...;)
Our precious pastor's wife's grandmother passed away last night, so she is flying out to be with her family this week. Many of us are stepping up with childcare and meals for her family while she's gone.
So...I've decided to postpone our little party here on Friday. Many of the people invited to it drive a long way to come to church - 1-1 1/2 hours, and since they will come to the funeral and perhaps the visitation as well, that is too often to have to drive that far in one week. Also, this will free me up to help with the above need.
I had no idea, when I sent out invitations a month ago that I would still be battling these headaches as well.
So, my hubby has decided that this is a good plan. I'm much relieved, having more time to prepare food for that which it is most needed. AND, my family can relax and get over the various minor illnesses they are dealing with without Mom being to busy to bring orange juice, and more importantly, a sweet smile!
Phew! Now if the temperature would only drop about 15 degrees...;)
Please pray for our week.
This week is stacking up to be exhausting. Please, if you think of it, pray for us.
Today, we have the visitation for Micah. We will be getting to meet a lot of the family's family and friends who are here for the funeral. Several families in the church are hosting people who are traveling here. Conrad has to prepare to speak at the funeral.
Tuesday is the funeral. We are making food to feed lunch to about 300 people. (So today is shopping and baking day!)
Wednesday is the internment in the countryside at a private cemetary.
Thursday is a baby shower for someone else at church (the first of our next "rash" of babies, hurray!)
Friday, our family is hosting a homeschool presentation day and Christmas party, just for our shepherding families, but that is a lot of people! So, somewhere in the busyness, I have to make the food for that event and keep the house clean. And I know Isaac doesn't have his piece completely memorized (he's hoping I'll forget, I think!);)
We need to find time to meet with a few people, too, this week. And Conrad and I need to go shopping for the volunteers at the Crisis Pregnancy Center.
You know what, though? I tend to really shine when things get crazy. I'm one of those people who works better with a deadline. Headaches? Who has time for those, when you're this busy? It is my down time that I am really tempted to complain about such things.
Oh... I just realized that it is really high time I get presents in the mail, and though I am not very good at getting Christmas cards out every year, I had planned to this year.
Mostly, pray for the funeral and the things surrounding that event. Pray that God would be glorified in the service and people attending would be convicted of the truth of the Gospel, that there is a sure hope in Christ, and that there is a literal heaven and hell. That God's people love Him and submit themselves to His perfect plan for them.
Micah's family wants to make sure that everyone knows that God had a perfect plan for Micah, and accomplished that plan. There was no cruelty or mistake. And that they rejoice in God's will for them, though they miss Micah's presence very much.
Today, we have the visitation for Micah. We will be getting to meet a lot of the family's family and friends who are here for the funeral. Several families in the church are hosting people who are traveling here. Conrad has to prepare to speak at the funeral.
Tuesday is the funeral. We are making food to feed lunch to about 300 people. (So today is shopping and baking day!)
Wednesday is the internment in the countryside at a private cemetary.
Thursday is a baby shower for someone else at church (the first of our next "rash" of babies, hurray!)
Friday, our family is hosting a homeschool presentation day and Christmas party, just for our shepherding families, but that is a lot of people! So, somewhere in the busyness, I have to make the food for that event and keep the house clean. And I know Isaac doesn't have his piece completely memorized (he's hoping I'll forget, I think!);)
We need to find time to meet with a few people, too, this week. And Conrad and I need to go shopping for the volunteers at the Crisis Pregnancy Center.
You know what, though? I tend to really shine when things get crazy. I'm one of those people who works better with a deadline. Headaches? Who has time for those, when you're this busy? It is my down time that I am really tempted to complain about such things.
Oh... I just realized that it is really high time I get presents in the mail, and though I am not very good at getting Christmas cards out every year, I had planned to this year.
Mostly, pray for the funeral and the things surrounding that event. Pray that God would be glorified in the service and people attending would be convicted of the truth of the Gospel, that there is a sure hope in Christ, and that there is a literal heaven and hell. That God's people love Him and submit themselves to His perfect plan for them.
Micah's family wants to make sure that everyone knows that God had a perfect plan for Micah, and accomplished that plan. There was no cruelty or mistake. And that they rejoice in God's will for them, though they miss Micah's presence very much.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Precious in the sight of the Lord...
Little Micah went to be with the Lord last night. Thank you for your prayers for him. Please continue to pray for his precious parents Pete & Suzanne, and his sisters and brothers, Samantha, Ben, Rebekah, Philip, James and Grace.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Isaac's Memorywork
Praise for the Incarnation
by John Newton
Sweeter sounds than music knows
Charm me in Immanuel's name;
All her hopes my spirit owes
To his birth, and cross, and shame.
When he came, the angels sung,
"Glory be to God on high;"
Lord, unloose my stamm'ring tongue,
Who should louder sing than I?
Did the Lord a man become,
That he might the law fulfil,
Bleed and suffer in my room,
And canst thou, my tongue, be still?
No, I must my praises bring,
Though they worthless are and weak;
For should I refuse to sing,
Sure the very stones would speak.
O my Saviour, Shield, and Sun,
Shepherd, Brother, Husband, Friend,
Ev'ry precious name in one,
I will love thee without end.
by John Newton
Sweeter sounds than music knows
Charm me in Immanuel's name;
All her hopes my spirit owes
To his birth, and cross, and shame.
When he came, the angels sung,
"Glory be to God on high;"
Lord, unloose my stamm'ring tongue,
Who should louder sing than I?
Did the Lord a man become,
That he might the law fulfil,
Bleed and suffer in my room,
And canst thou, my tongue, be still?
No, I must my praises bring,
Though they worthless are and weak;
For should I refuse to sing,
Sure the very stones would speak.
O my Saviour, Shield, and Sun,
Shepherd, Brother, Husband, Friend,
Ev'ry precious name in one,
I will love thee without end.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
We're home from a lovely Lord's Day celebration. We have a little of time to rest and then we have a parenting class here tonight- always lots of fun.
Warning: the remainder of this post is about health issues and not really very interesting, you have my permission to mose on over to someone else's blog!:
Just for clarification. The headaches I am experiencing are not new to me, though having them for such a long time is. I have had hormone related headaches since I was 14 and used to have them about every two weeks. Since my operation, I have been experiencing them more and more, culminating in one that I have had (sometimes less, sometimes more) for several weeks. I have had a couple of shots following my surgery to completely flush my system of any estrogen because of the endomitriosis. When this is over (late January) we will begin to find out how to get my hormones in balance (through hormone therapy) in order to get me headache free. What a change THAT will be!
Since I have had these headaches for almost 30 years now, I have had several MRIs as well as examinations to check for other causes such as TMJ. I will be calling my Dr. tomorrow to see if I can try yet another headache medicine since what I have been taking isn't making a dent (in fact, I am trying not to take anything, right now, since I don't like the nausea that the prescription meds cause, and the over the counter migraine medicine doesn't do much and I'm concerned about taking too much too often.)
I hope that that helps those who wondered understand a little better (thanks Dawn for calling!).
I do just fine, I am not stuck in bed, just made less effective in my day-to-day work. My family is gracious and understanding and help me when I seem to be having a harder time than usual, but they have had lots of practice over the years.
I'll keep ya'll posted if there's any change. Thanks!
P.S. Please don't forget to continue to pray for the Parkers and little Micah!
Warning: the remainder of this post is about health issues and not really very interesting, you have my permission to mose on over to someone else's blog!:
Just for clarification. The headaches I am experiencing are not new to me, though having them for such a long time is. I have had hormone related headaches since I was 14 and used to have them about every two weeks. Since my operation, I have been experiencing them more and more, culminating in one that I have had (sometimes less, sometimes more) for several weeks. I have had a couple of shots following my surgery to completely flush my system of any estrogen because of the endomitriosis. When this is over (late January) we will begin to find out how to get my hormones in balance (through hormone therapy) in order to get me headache free. What a change THAT will be!
Since I have had these headaches for almost 30 years now, I have had several MRIs as well as examinations to check for other causes such as TMJ. I will be calling my Dr. tomorrow to see if I can try yet another headache medicine since what I have been taking isn't making a dent (in fact, I am trying not to take anything, right now, since I don't like the nausea that the prescription meds cause, and the over the counter migraine medicine doesn't do much and I'm concerned about taking too much too often.)
I hope that that helps those who wondered understand a little better (thanks Dawn for calling!).
I do just fine, I am not stuck in bed, just made less effective in my day-to-day work. My family is gracious and understanding and help me when I seem to be having a harder time than usual, but they have had lots of practice over the years.
I'll keep ya'll posted if there's any change. Thanks!
P.S. Please don't forget to continue to pray for the Parkers and little Micah!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Getting back into the swing of this blog thing...
Today is Friday. On Fridays Shayna is a "mother's helper". I drop her off at my friend Mel's house and she does whatever is needed. Actually, I think Mel is too easy on her. When I go to pick her up, I usually find her holding one of the precious twin babies and giving them a bottle. I want her to be scrubbing the tub, or wearing the 3 year old out, something that will really be a help to Mom. She really enjoys her time there, though she is usually a little tired. I am so glad that she has this opportunity to work, since she is the youngest in our family and hasn't had the privilege of putting up with annoying younger siblings and figuring out what to do to help Mom when babies are screaming and pots are boiling over!
Today, Steven has an interview for a job that he would like to have very much, would you pray for him? It's at 2:00.
I have had a nasty headache for going on 4 weeks, now. It is starting to take its toll on me in the sense that I haven't had much sense! Ha! I find it hard to concentrate, though I can get small things done. Well, I'm starting to find appointments forgotten and little organizational things undone. I feel as though I've gone back in time about 15 years, to when I didn't have a clue how to run things! It is very distressing. Oh well, I'm just going to have to rely heavily on my organizer and pray that God will help me remember what I need to. Meanwhile, I have to call the Dentist and apologize for totally forgetting an appointment yesterday, and will miss out on a wonderful party tomorrow night because not only did I not RSVP, and forget that the thing even existed, but can't even remember what I did with the invitation!
I'm glad that the kids have so many of their subjects as routine in their schoolwork (the goal has always been to get them to the place where they are "self-educating"). We can do the real learning as it comes up in the day, the colloquium type learning that is just our habit as a family. What is really neat is that though I'm not up for much of that kind of thinking now-a-days, our older children just naturally engage in that kind of discussion with the youngers. What a blessing it is to have the older guys at home (though not as much as before, but they're around.)
We are praising God for His daily protection of Gaelan while on the job, but especially for protecting him last Saturday night. He ended up totalling a squad car while avoiding hitting people who just walked into the path of his unmarked car. As he swerved to avoid them, they continued into that path and he had to run up onto the curb, hitting a tree! We are not only thankful that he was not going that fast, and everyone in his car was not hurt too badly, but that there was another officer in the car with him to collaborate his story. There were also outside witnesses. I think he has recovered from the shake-up that that caused. I know that he felt better just getting to church and asking others to pray for him. Pray that as the report makes its way up the chain of command that all involved in decision making will still see it as an unavoidable accident.
Today's Focus: Focus!?! Are you crazy? I'm going to try to just hold things together and make sure we all have clean socks.
For Dinner tonight: I'm hoping to make turkey soup with homemade noodles. We might end up having burgers cooked by the kids...they've been doing lots of cooking lately.
I'm thankful for: An understanding and sympathetic husband (and children). For the Parkers and the opportunity to pray for them and Micah. For friends who call and check on me, even though I don't make a lot of sense on the phone! That God's strength is made perfect in my weakness.
Today, Steven has an interview for a job that he would like to have very much, would you pray for him? It's at 2:00.
I have had a nasty headache for going on 4 weeks, now. It is starting to take its toll on me in the sense that I haven't had much sense! Ha! I find it hard to concentrate, though I can get small things done. Well, I'm starting to find appointments forgotten and little organizational things undone. I feel as though I've gone back in time about 15 years, to when I didn't have a clue how to run things! It is very distressing. Oh well, I'm just going to have to rely heavily on my organizer and pray that God will help me remember what I need to. Meanwhile, I have to call the Dentist and apologize for totally forgetting an appointment yesterday, and will miss out on a wonderful party tomorrow night because not only did I not RSVP, and forget that the thing even existed, but can't even remember what I did with the invitation!
I'm glad that the kids have so many of their subjects as routine in their schoolwork (the goal has always been to get them to the place where they are "self-educating"). We can do the real learning as it comes up in the day, the colloquium type learning that is just our habit as a family. What is really neat is that though I'm not up for much of that kind of thinking now-a-days, our older children just naturally engage in that kind of discussion with the youngers. What a blessing it is to have the older guys at home (though not as much as before, but they're around.)
We are praising God for His daily protection of Gaelan while on the job, but especially for protecting him last Saturday night. He ended up totalling a squad car while avoiding hitting people who just walked into the path of his unmarked car. As he swerved to avoid them, they continued into that path and he had to run up onto the curb, hitting a tree! We are not only thankful that he was not going that fast, and everyone in his car was not hurt too badly, but that there was another officer in the car with him to collaborate his story. There were also outside witnesses. I think he has recovered from the shake-up that that caused. I know that he felt better just getting to church and asking others to pray for him. Pray that as the report makes its way up the chain of command that all involved in decision making will still see it as an unavoidable accident.
Today's Focus: Focus!?! Are you crazy? I'm going to try to just hold things together and make sure we all have clean socks.
For Dinner tonight: I'm hoping to make turkey soup with homemade noodles. We might end up having burgers cooked by the kids...they've been doing lots of cooking lately.
I'm thankful for: An understanding and sympathetic husband (and children). For the Parkers and the opportunity to pray for them and Micah. For friends who call and check on me, even though I don't make a lot of sense on the phone! That God's strength is made perfect in my weakness.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Shayna's Memorywork
Christ the Believer's Adorning Garment
By Ralph Erskine
"Thy Maker is thy Husband."—Isa 54.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yea, thou excell'st in rich attire
The lamp that lights the globe
Thy sparkling garment heav'ns admire,
Thy husband is thy robe.
This raiment never waxes old,
'Tis always new and clean:
From summer-heat and winter-cold,
Thy husband can thee screen.
All who the name of worthies bore,
Since Adam was undrest,
No worth acquir'd, but as they wore
Thy husband's purple vest.
This linen fine can beautify
The soul with sin begirt.
0 bless his name, that e'er on thee
Thy husband spread his skirt.
Are dunghills decked with flow'ry glore,
Which Solomon's outvie: :
Sure thine is infinitely more,
Thy husband decks the sky.
Thy hands could never work the dress,
By grace alone thou'rt gay.
Grace vents and reigns through righteousness,
Thy husband's bright array.
To spin thy robe no more dost need
Than lilies toil for theirs;
Out of his bowels ev'ry thread
Thy husband thine prepares.
By Ralph Erskine
"Thy Maker is thy Husband."—Isa 54.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yea, thou excell'st in rich attire
The lamp that lights the globe
Thy sparkling garment heav'ns admire,
Thy husband is thy robe.
This raiment never waxes old,
'Tis always new and clean:
From summer-heat and winter-cold,
Thy husband can thee screen.
All who the name of worthies bore,
Since Adam was undrest,
No worth acquir'd, but as they wore
Thy husband's purple vest.
This linen fine can beautify
The soul with sin begirt.
0 bless his name, that e'er on thee
Thy husband spread his skirt.
Are dunghills decked with flow'ry glore,
Which Solomon's outvie: :
Sure thine is infinitely more,
Thy husband decks the sky.
Thy hands could never work the dress,
By grace alone thou'rt gay.
Grace vents and reigns through righteousness,
Thy husband's bright array.
To spin thy robe no more dost need
Than lilies toil for theirs;
Out of his bowels ev'ry thread
Thy husband thine prepares.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Taking a Break
I know that posting has been sketchy around here already since before my surgery, sorry!
Things are really busy around here and I'm just plain stressed and tired, so I'm cutting out the unecessary things in life. This is definitely one of them, though lots of fun.
Our family is also discussing a media fast for the month of November, so I guess I will jump on the ball a little early!
Beginning with Reformation Day and going through the celebration of a New Year, the main thing that all of those holidays do for us is give us a time to celebrate God's total faithfulness to us, his people, in the past and the sure promise of His continued faithfulness to us in the future.
God Bless!
Things are really busy around here and I'm just plain stressed and tired, so I'm cutting out the unecessary things in life. This is definitely one of them, though lots of fun.
Our family is also discussing a media fast for the month of November, so I guess I will jump on the ball a little early!
Beginning with Reformation Day and going through the celebration of a New Year, the main thing that all of those holidays do for us is give us a time to celebrate God's total faithfulness to us, his people, in the past and the sure promise of His continued faithfulness to us in the future.
God Bless!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
It's been an unusual Tuesday. Pastor Smith is still in town and gave the young people a talk on the Great Commission. It was very good and they all did a wonderful job sitting still and paying attention for the hour and a half talk. There were a few good questions and I think that Pastor Smith was pleased, I know we Moms were.
Tuesday is my paperwork day, but not much of that got done with a trip out in the middle of the day. We did finish school, including the things we skipped yesterday to get ready for company.
To get ready for Sunday: I plan my menu and dessert and check for ingredients. I also make sure that clothes are chosen and get cared for (washed, pressed, buttons sewed on, whatever).
Tonight's dinner is leftover sauerkraut...I'm feeling a little overdone and am glad that we have plenty leftovers in the fridge.
Tuesday is my paperwork day, but not much of that got done with a trip out in the middle of the day. We did finish school, including the things we skipped yesterday to get ready for company.
To get ready for Sunday: I plan my menu and dessert and check for ingredients. I also make sure that clothes are chosen and get cared for (washed, pressed, buttons sewed on, whatever).
Tonight's dinner is leftover sauerkraut...I'm feeling a little overdone and am glad that we have plenty leftovers in the fridge.
Anothere Encouraging Article
Oct 04, 2007 06:00 ET
The Fraser Institute: Home Schooling Improves Academic Performance and Reduces Impact of Socio-Economic Factors
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 4, 2007) - Home schooling appears to improve the academic performance of children from families with low levels of education, according to a report on home schooling released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.
"The evidence is particularly interesting for students who traditionally fall through the cracks in the public system," said Claudia Hepburn, co-author of Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd edition and Director of Education Policy with The Fraser Institute.
"Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools do. One study we reviewed found that students taught at home by mothers who never finished high school scored a full 55 percentage points higher than public school students from families with comparable education levels."
The peer-reviewed report, co-written with Patrick Basham and John Merrifield, builds on a 2001 study with new research and data. It examines the educational phenomenon of home schooling in Canada and the United States, its regulation, history, growth, and the characteristics of practitioners, before reviewing the findings on the academic and social effects of home schooling. The full report is available at www.fraserinstitute.org.
Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child's ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.
"The research shows that the level of education of a child's parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child's academic achievement than it does in public schools."
The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home.
Research shows that almost 25 per cent of home schooled students in the United States perform one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools. Grades 1 to 4 home school students perform one grade level higher than their public- and private-school peers. By Grade 8, the average home schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.
Hepburn said a growing body of new research also calls into question the belief that home schooled children are not adequately socialized.
"The average Canadian home schooled student is regularly involved in eight social activities outside the home. Canadian home schooled children watch less television than other children, and they show significantly fewer problems than public school children when observed in free play," she said.
The report concludes that home schooling is not only a viable educational choice for parents, but can also be provided at a much lower cost than public schooling. The report notes that in the U.S., home schooling families spend less than $4,000 per year on home schooling while public schooling in the U.S. costs about $9,600 per child.
"Canadian and American policymakers should recognize the ability of parents to meet the educational needs of their children at home, without government involvement," Hepburn said.
"While home schooling may be impractical for many families, it has proven to be a successful and relatively inexpensive educational alternative. It merits the respect of policy makers, the attention of researchers, and the consideration of parents."
The complete report, Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream 2nd edition is available in PDF format at www.fraserinstitute.org.
The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization based in Canada. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org.
The Fraser Institute: Home Schooling Improves Academic Performance and Reduces Impact of Socio-Economic Factors
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 4, 2007) - Home schooling appears to improve the academic performance of children from families with low levels of education, according to a report on home schooling released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.
"The evidence is particularly interesting for students who traditionally fall through the cracks in the public system," said Claudia Hepburn, co-author of Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd edition and Director of Education Policy with The Fraser Institute.
"Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools do. One study we reviewed found that students taught at home by mothers who never finished high school scored a full 55 percentage points higher than public school students from families with comparable education levels."
The peer-reviewed report, co-written with Patrick Basham and John Merrifield, builds on a 2001 study with new research and data. It examines the educational phenomenon of home schooling in Canada and the United States, its regulation, history, growth, and the characteristics of practitioners, before reviewing the findings on the academic and social effects of home schooling. The full report is available at www.fraserinstitute.org.
Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child's ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.
"The research shows that the level of education of a child's parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child's academic achievement than it does in public schools."
The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home.
Research shows that almost 25 per cent of home schooled students in the United States perform one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools. Grades 1 to 4 home school students perform one grade level higher than their public- and private-school peers. By Grade 8, the average home schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.
Hepburn said a growing body of new research also calls into question the belief that home schooled children are not adequately socialized.
"The average Canadian home schooled student is regularly involved in eight social activities outside the home. Canadian home schooled children watch less television than other children, and they show significantly fewer problems than public school children when observed in free play," she said.
The report concludes that home schooling is not only a viable educational choice for parents, but can also be provided at a much lower cost than public schooling. The report notes that in the U.S., home schooling families spend less than $4,000 per year on home schooling while public schooling in the U.S. costs about $9,600 per child.
"Canadian and American policymakers should recognize the ability of parents to meet the educational needs of their children at home, without government involvement," Hepburn said.
"While home schooling may be impractical for many families, it has proven to be a successful and relatively inexpensive educational alternative. It merits the respect of policy makers, the attention of researchers, and the consideration of parents."
The complete report, Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream 2nd edition is available in PDF format at www.fraserinstitute.org.
The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization based in Canada. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Saturday Dinners
It’s been a wonderful, though busy weekend!
I usually try to get all of my cooking for the weekend done on Saturday, but this week we decided to reinstate the tradition of a Lord’s Day Eve dinner.
This was a tradition that we really enjoyed while the kids were younger, but as we got busier with a church that eats together, well, I just wasn’t organized enough to do it all. Now that my sister and mother are living so close by, we really wanted to have that tradition together with them. There is also a really big benefit for us, besides the family memories and together time. This benefit is the main reason we wanted to try again:
Having a special Lord’s Day eve dinner makes us STOP! It forces me to look forward all week and prepare for the Lord’s Day, rather than doing everything on Saturday. Normally, at least lately, I work, work, work all day Saturday and go to bed exhausted, often waking up on Sunday to a house in which the normal housework has been neglected in order to accomplish all of the big tasks I tackled. By Sunday evening, the house is a huge wreck and not a haven at all!
When we are having our special Saturday dinner, there is a cut off time for me. There is a time that I want to have things looking nice by and dinner on the table by… There is a time that I SIT and ENJOY and REFLECT. Lately the reflecting has been as I hit the bed and it is usually full of regret and self-chastisement. I wake up feeling stressed and then when I’m sitting in the pew I have the same prayer of confession, “forgive me for being so hurried this morning, forgive me for not even thinking of my Lord, but of all of the tasks to be done.”
So here is how my Saturday went:
I already had the dinner I was bringing to church made and in the freezer (well not completely, but I’ll get to that!). We had Sauerkraut for dinner on Friday and I froze a portion for our congregational dinner on Sunday. I made a huge push to be caught up on laundry on Thursday and made sure that everyone knew what they were wearing to church.
On Saturday I arose about 7:00 and went to the commissary (I usually do this) in order to beat the crowds. I was home about 9:00 and we hurried to put the groceries away. We worked hard before lunch to get the house clean because Isaac had soccer practice at 12:30 and Steven was driving him to it.
We had lunch about 11:30 and Shayna and I worked on making our dinner, finishing up a couple of loads of laundry, and making the dining room especially nice while setting a nice table.
Dinner was at about 5:00. (I was ready by about 4:00) We had stuffed shells, salad, homemade applesauce, garlic bread and for dessert, brownies and ice cream.
We all worked on the dishes together and went to bed with just a few rinsed and stacked dishes that didn’t fit in the dishwasher to do in the morning.
If you have read, “Making Sunday Special” by Karen Mains you know that she has a whole Shabbat Erev liturgy. We did use to do something similar, and hope to again, but this past Saturday we kept it simple. The only “ceremonial” thing that we did is that while I lit the candles, Conrad prayed this prayer: “O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship on the morrow give you glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then we all closed our eyes and gave thanks for the meal.
After dinner, we prepared for worship by singing the songs from the bulletin and reading the passages. It was hard to guess what the guest preacher was going to preach on, we couldn’t imagine from the sermon title.
Here’s what I did wrong:
I was supposed to have the shells already made and in the freezer, so instead of my lesson planning, I made dinner.
I hadn’t really thought through what we were brining on Sunday, my main dish was done, but I ended up making my side dish on Sunday morning (leaving the pots and pans in the sink). I also had an extra meal to bring (leftovers from the campout that we froze) and hadn’t thawed them in time.
The other thing that I really hoped to do is have time for my own Bible study and reflection on Saturday afternoon. I had left too much of the meal to prepare right before, so robbed myself of that time.
On top of that, we have special company coming tonight for dinner. I don’t think that I’m able to think ahead to Monday very well, when my head is full of Saturday and Sunday. I think that next time we will wait to have weekday guests on Tuesday or Wednesday.
I’m hoping that our Saturday dinner will also help my sister get organized for the Lord’s Day better, too. I promised her that I would put reminders to do different things on here throughout the week to get ready. Perhaps it will help you too.
Today, for us, Monday, is just a recovery day. We are going to clean up the house from the weekend and plan our week. We usually plan our week on Sunday evening but we had a church officers’ families meeting with our special guest last night. It was great fun, but meant that we were home a whole 1 ½ hours yesterday.
We are going to be visiting a friend in the morning and finishing up our housework and schoolwork in the afternoon.
Dinner is going to be in the croc pot: Beef in Port with Mushrooms. We will make carrots and poppy seed noodles to go with as well as a salad.
Pastor Smith will be arriving about 5:30ish and we hope to eat around 6:00 followed by some family worship and good conversation and beer, I think.
I’m thankful for: Pastor Smith’s teaching on the Trinity and Prayer this past Lord’s Day, and the fellowship with the saints here that we enjoy.
I’m thankful for my home and that we are so rich that we can afford to take the time to enjoy our company and feed him well this evening, think about it!
I’m thankful for my late brother-in-law, my sister remembered him especially yesterday, on their 12th anniversary.
I’m praying: That I get everything done today! Lesson plans are done and I’m off to make a breakfast to bring for our visit with Mel this morning. And I’m trying to pray with the wonderful things in mind we were taught yesterday. That prayer is more of a blessing than we could ever imagine – that it brings us into communion with God.
God bless, y’all!
I usually try to get all of my cooking for the weekend done on Saturday, but this week we decided to reinstate the tradition of a Lord’s Day Eve dinner.
This was a tradition that we really enjoyed while the kids were younger, but as we got busier with a church that eats together, well, I just wasn’t organized enough to do it all. Now that my sister and mother are living so close by, we really wanted to have that tradition together with them. There is also a really big benefit for us, besides the family memories and together time. This benefit is the main reason we wanted to try again:
Having a special Lord’s Day eve dinner makes us STOP! It forces me to look forward all week and prepare for the Lord’s Day, rather than doing everything on Saturday. Normally, at least lately, I work, work, work all day Saturday and go to bed exhausted, often waking up on Sunday to a house in which the normal housework has been neglected in order to accomplish all of the big tasks I tackled. By Sunday evening, the house is a huge wreck and not a haven at all!
When we are having our special Saturday dinner, there is a cut off time for me. There is a time that I want to have things looking nice by and dinner on the table by… There is a time that I SIT and ENJOY and REFLECT. Lately the reflecting has been as I hit the bed and it is usually full of regret and self-chastisement. I wake up feeling stressed and then when I’m sitting in the pew I have the same prayer of confession, “forgive me for being so hurried this morning, forgive me for not even thinking of my Lord, but of all of the tasks to be done.”
So here is how my Saturday went:
I already had the dinner I was bringing to church made and in the freezer (well not completely, but I’ll get to that!). We had Sauerkraut for dinner on Friday and I froze a portion for our congregational dinner on Sunday. I made a huge push to be caught up on laundry on Thursday and made sure that everyone knew what they were wearing to church.
On Saturday I arose about 7:00 and went to the commissary (I usually do this) in order to beat the crowds. I was home about 9:00 and we hurried to put the groceries away. We worked hard before lunch to get the house clean because Isaac had soccer practice at 12:30 and Steven was driving him to it.
We had lunch about 11:30 and Shayna and I worked on making our dinner, finishing up a couple of loads of laundry, and making the dining room especially nice while setting a nice table.
Dinner was at about 5:00. (I was ready by about 4:00) We had stuffed shells, salad, homemade applesauce, garlic bread and for dessert, brownies and ice cream.
We all worked on the dishes together and went to bed with just a few rinsed and stacked dishes that didn’t fit in the dishwasher to do in the morning.
If you have read, “Making Sunday Special” by Karen Mains you know that she has a whole Shabbat Erev liturgy. We did use to do something similar, and hope to again, but this past Saturday we kept it simple. The only “ceremonial” thing that we did is that while I lit the candles, Conrad prayed this prayer: “O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship on the morrow give you glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then we all closed our eyes and gave thanks for the meal.
After dinner, we prepared for worship by singing the songs from the bulletin and reading the passages. It was hard to guess what the guest preacher was going to preach on, we couldn’t imagine from the sermon title.
Here’s what I did wrong:
I was supposed to have the shells already made and in the freezer, so instead of my lesson planning, I made dinner.
I hadn’t really thought through what we were brining on Sunday, my main dish was done, but I ended up making my side dish on Sunday morning (leaving the pots and pans in the sink). I also had an extra meal to bring (leftovers from the campout that we froze) and hadn’t thawed them in time.
The other thing that I really hoped to do is have time for my own Bible study and reflection on Saturday afternoon. I had left too much of the meal to prepare right before, so robbed myself of that time.
On top of that, we have special company coming tonight for dinner. I don’t think that I’m able to think ahead to Monday very well, when my head is full of Saturday and Sunday. I think that next time we will wait to have weekday guests on Tuesday or Wednesday.
I’m hoping that our Saturday dinner will also help my sister get organized for the Lord’s Day better, too. I promised her that I would put reminders to do different things on here throughout the week to get ready. Perhaps it will help you too.
Today, for us, Monday, is just a recovery day. We are going to clean up the house from the weekend and plan our week. We usually plan our week on Sunday evening but we had a church officers’ families meeting with our special guest last night. It was great fun, but meant that we were home a whole 1 ½ hours yesterday.
We are going to be visiting a friend in the morning and finishing up our housework and schoolwork in the afternoon.
Dinner is going to be in the croc pot: Beef in Port with Mushrooms. We will make carrots and poppy seed noodles to go with as well as a salad.
Pastor Smith will be arriving about 5:30ish and we hope to eat around 6:00 followed by some family worship and good conversation and beer, I think.
I’m thankful for: Pastor Smith’s teaching on the Trinity and Prayer this past Lord’s Day, and the fellowship with the saints here that we enjoy.
I’m thankful for my home and that we are so rich that we can afford to take the time to enjoy our company and feed him well this evening, think about it!
I’m thankful for my late brother-in-law, my sister remembered him especially yesterday, on their 12th anniversary.
I’m praying: That I get everything done today! Lesson plans are done and I’m off to make a breakfast to bring for our visit with Mel this morning. And I’m trying to pray with the wonderful things in mind we were taught yesterday. That prayer is more of a blessing than we could ever imagine – that it brings us into communion with God.
God bless, y’all!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Our Second Annual Church Campout
We had a wonderful time at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center this past weekend. The weather was just beautiful and almost everything went off as planned, except that we had a late start and well...THE ACCIDENT!
We arrived on Friday afternoon to set up our tent. I looove camping because I like to play house. I love setting up my kitchen area, hanging my little laundry line and getting my stove set up. I like sweeping out my tent and making the beds. I like setting up the table and getting coffee right on incase anyone stops by...I love camping!
The first thing on the agenda was a campfire, with devotions, hotdogs and s'mores and ending with hayrides. The campfire didn't get started early enough, and neither did the hotdogs - note to self: when you put the cold hotdogs in the hot water, the water gets cold and has to heat up all over again! So we sang some songs while we waited for the hotdogs.
After hotdogs, we went down to the fire area and had s'mores. The hayrides were scheduled for a set time so they had already begun, so the devotion leader decided to put them off until the next night. Conrad brought glow-bracelets for all of the children which was very smart. We were able to see if any kids wandered off in the dark. We walked back to the campsites about 11:00.
On Saturday we awoke and had breakfast. We planned to share breakfast with the family at the neighboring campsite, so she brought sausage patties and I made begniets - yum!
At 10:00 there were events for the kids, the older ones had signed up to try a zip line in the woods as well as a tree climb...up 80 feet and ring the bell! The kids who were too little for those events had relay races organized by Steven and the wonderful K family. It was great fun watching the little ones and I think it went very well. Lunch was back at each campsite, we had sloppy joes, carrot sticks and chips.
The afternoon was reserved for free time, though there was a big flag football tournament planned. That's when IT happened.
One of the men playing crashed into another player and got a concussion. When he came to, he didn't remember any of us (only his wife and children) or where he was. AND scariest of all to us, he couldn't remember anything we told him. We spent a nerve-wracking several hours hearing him ask, "what happened?" every minute or so. He wasn't exhibiting any other signs, his eyes were doing what they are supposed to and he wasn't experiencing any pain so on the advice on the medical person present we watched and supported his wife. She was amazingly calm, though his teenage daughter was really shaken by listening to her dad ask the same questions over and over. The guys gathered around him a couple of times to lay hands and pray for him and each time he said, "What are they praying for me for?" Finally after a couple of hours he was taken to emergency room where they confirmed what our medical guy said. Nothing more than a concussion, it will mostly all come back to him in 24-48 hours.
Dinner was BBQ catered by Red, Hot & Blue. It was very good, but next time I will not order as much pulled chicken and will order more sausage. Volunteers brought delicious desserts.
After dinner and clean up we had our Psalm sing, and requests as well. For the hymns/psalms we were going to sing on the Lord's Day, we broke up into parts and learned to sing them "excellently".
Then the dance, and though I sat out ( I felt amazingly well all weekend, but I wasn't going to push it), it was so fun to watch. There was the Virginia Reel of course, and several mixer dances that were so much fun to watch. I especially liked the Scottish Polka. The young men practiced asking the young ladies' fathers if they could dance with their daughters, which was fun. We got the call that Mr. S was coming back from the hospital and that he would be fine. It was cool to see our young people gather in a circle and pray with his daughters. We also heard at the same time that Ryan was home with his family, there was much thankful praying going on and some tears I saw (and shed) too!
Sunday dawned early...You know, when I heard the rooster crow early Saturday morning, I thought, "A rooster, how quaint!" On Sunday, when I was awakened two hours earlier than I planned it was more like, "KILL THE CHICKEN!" Breakfast was hashbrowns with onions and peppers fried with sausage and covered with scrambled eggs...kind of a macho omelet. We also made little apple pies in the pie iron, well, because we could.
We walked down to the pavilion for church and it was very nice to have church outside. The breeze was very nice, though the sun shone hot on one side of the pavilion. After worship we had lunch together. Half of the church had made chili, frozen it, and heated it in their crocpots at the campsites, the other half brought bread and dessert. We also had leftovers from the night before and salad. It was neat to see the variety of chilis there, I brought white chili, it was good, I think.
After cleanup we stayed as late as we could and headed home about 4:30.
About Mr. S...boy do we have stories to tell on him! Apparently on the way to the hospital he was very loopy as well as the rest of that first night. Once when he asked for the millionth time what happened his wife said, "You jumped out of an airplane and the chute didn't open." He said, "Really!?" and she said, "No, not really." Of course, a minute later, he said, "What happened?" She had a lot of patience with him, especially when on the way to the hospital he kept repeating, "I don't recognize anything around here, you're lost, pull over so I can drive." She would just say, "You've had a head injury, you don't remember anything, be quiet." And then he would say it all again. Wouldn't that drive you crazy?
We are glad that by Sunday he recognized us and though he didn't remember the actual accident, remembered that he had indeed had one and what had happened. Today his wife reports that he is beginning to remember everything, including what he was told in answer to his many questions. We sure love the S family and are glad for their contribution to the entertainment at the annual campout.
Last year when it was so cold, we were going to name it the Annual Insanity Campout. I think that the name still fits, don't you?
I hope to get some pictures up, perhaps dear Jon K will shoot some our way...I never remember to take pictures. Doh!
*Edit* There are pictures over at my Xanga...I'm too lazy to load them on here, too.
We arrived on Friday afternoon to set up our tent. I looove camping because I like to play house. I love setting up my kitchen area, hanging my little laundry line and getting my stove set up. I like sweeping out my tent and making the beds. I like setting up the table and getting coffee right on incase anyone stops by...I love camping!
The first thing on the agenda was a campfire, with devotions, hotdogs and s'mores and ending with hayrides. The campfire didn't get started early enough, and neither did the hotdogs - note to self: when you put the cold hotdogs in the hot water, the water gets cold and has to heat up all over again! So we sang some songs while we waited for the hotdogs.
After hotdogs, we went down to the fire area and had s'mores. The hayrides were scheduled for a set time so they had already begun, so the devotion leader decided to put them off until the next night. Conrad brought glow-bracelets for all of the children which was very smart. We were able to see if any kids wandered off in the dark. We walked back to the campsites about 11:00.
On Saturday we awoke and had breakfast. We planned to share breakfast with the family at the neighboring campsite, so she brought sausage patties and I made begniets - yum!
At 10:00 there were events for the kids, the older ones had signed up to try a zip line in the woods as well as a tree climb...up 80 feet and ring the bell! The kids who were too little for those events had relay races organized by Steven and the wonderful K family. It was great fun watching the little ones and I think it went very well. Lunch was back at each campsite, we had sloppy joes, carrot sticks and chips.
The afternoon was reserved for free time, though there was a big flag football tournament planned. That's when IT happened.
One of the men playing crashed into another player and got a concussion. When he came to, he didn't remember any of us (only his wife and children) or where he was. AND scariest of all to us, he couldn't remember anything we told him. We spent a nerve-wracking several hours hearing him ask, "what happened?" every minute or so. He wasn't exhibiting any other signs, his eyes were doing what they are supposed to and he wasn't experiencing any pain so on the advice on the medical person present we watched and supported his wife. She was amazingly calm, though his teenage daughter was really shaken by listening to her dad ask the same questions over and over. The guys gathered around him a couple of times to lay hands and pray for him and each time he said, "What are they praying for me for?" Finally after a couple of hours he was taken to emergency room where they confirmed what our medical guy said. Nothing more than a concussion, it will mostly all come back to him in 24-48 hours.
Dinner was BBQ catered by Red, Hot & Blue. It was very good, but next time I will not order as much pulled chicken and will order more sausage. Volunteers brought delicious desserts.
After dinner and clean up we had our Psalm sing, and requests as well. For the hymns/psalms we were going to sing on the Lord's Day, we broke up into parts and learned to sing them "excellently".
Then the dance, and though I sat out ( I felt amazingly well all weekend, but I wasn't going to push it), it was so fun to watch. There was the Virginia Reel of course, and several mixer dances that were so much fun to watch. I especially liked the Scottish Polka. The young men practiced asking the young ladies' fathers if they could dance with their daughters, which was fun. We got the call that Mr. S was coming back from the hospital and that he would be fine. It was cool to see our young people gather in a circle and pray with his daughters. We also heard at the same time that Ryan was home with his family, there was much thankful praying going on and some tears I saw (and shed) too!
Sunday dawned early...You know, when I heard the rooster crow early Saturday morning, I thought, "A rooster, how quaint!" On Sunday, when I was awakened two hours earlier than I planned it was more like, "KILL THE CHICKEN!" Breakfast was hashbrowns with onions and peppers fried with sausage and covered with scrambled eggs...kind of a macho omelet. We also made little apple pies in the pie iron, well, because we could.
We walked down to the pavilion for church and it was very nice to have church outside. The breeze was very nice, though the sun shone hot on one side of the pavilion. After worship we had lunch together. Half of the church had made chili, frozen it, and heated it in their crocpots at the campsites, the other half brought bread and dessert. We also had leftovers from the night before and salad. It was neat to see the variety of chilis there, I brought white chili, it was good, I think.
After cleanup we stayed as late as we could and headed home about 4:30.
About Mr. S...boy do we have stories to tell on him! Apparently on the way to the hospital he was very loopy as well as the rest of that first night. Once when he asked for the millionth time what happened his wife said, "You jumped out of an airplane and the chute didn't open." He said, "Really!?" and she said, "No, not really." Of course, a minute later, he said, "What happened?" She had a lot of patience with him, especially when on the way to the hospital he kept repeating, "I don't recognize anything around here, you're lost, pull over so I can drive." She would just say, "You've had a head injury, you don't remember anything, be quiet." And then he would say it all again. Wouldn't that drive you crazy?
We are glad that by Sunday he recognized us and though he didn't remember the actual accident, remembered that he had indeed had one and what had happened. Today his wife reports that he is beginning to remember everything, including what he was told in answer to his many questions. We sure love the S family and are glad for their contribution to the entertainment at the annual campout.
Last year when it was so cold, we were going to name it the Annual Insanity Campout. I think that the name still fits, don't you?
I hope to get some pictures up, perhaps dear Jon K will shoot some our way...I never remember to take pictures. Doh!
*Edit* There are pictures over at my Xanga...I'm too lazy to load them on here, too.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Ryan has returned home, Praise God!
Please continue to lift his family up in prayer.
We are just now returned from our church's annual campout. God has been kind and merciful to us, his people, this weekend. I can't wait to tell ya'll about our adventures, one of them I hope never to experience again!
We are just now returned from our church's annual campout. God has been kind and merciful to us, his people, this weekend. I can't wait to tell ya'll about our adventures, one of them I hope never to experience again!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Update on Ryan
Ryan has contacted his family to let them know that he is alive and that he is receiving counsel from a godly minister. Please continue to pray for repentance and a return home. Thanks
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I just wanted to call attention to Carmon's Top Ten List of Ways to Be Productive at Home, it's exellent as well as the new addition to the Prairie Muffin Manifesto. Read, and be encouraged (or convicted).
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Urgent Prayer Request
Please pray for this:
Please pray for an elder in a sister church of ours. He has been missing for a couple of days. He went to work sick and never came home. He is married and has two little daughters. Please pray for Ryan and for his wife, Judith and family. Thanks
Please pray for an elder in a sister church of ours. He has been missing for a couple of days. He went to work sick and never came home. He is married and has two little daughters. Please pray for Ryan and for his wife, Judith and family. Thanks
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
All of the Windows are Open!
I love, love this time of year! It gives me so much energy!
I have had two good days in a row, and today looks pretty good as well. I try and try to not let my circumstances rule my attitude, but when I get an encouragement like this, I realize how much I failed when discouraged.
Heavenly Father, please help me to be more faithful to you when discouraged and to show that I trust in you. Give me a sweetness of disposition in trial that your own son demonstrated at the cross. Help me to continue to strive to be more like Jesus. Amen!
Yesterday the kids got right down to chores and schoolwork because I had promised to take Shayna out to shop for dress shoes and for Isaac to be able to hang out with Steven in the afternoon if they were done. On Mondays, they have tons of reading assignments and they did really well with not daydreaming and getting side tracked.
Shayna and I found some cute Mary Janes at Kohl's...I'm so glad that they are in style right now for women- her feet are growing so much! Then we spent about an hour and a half in the thrift store and as is often the case, God went before me there. As I often do, I waited to go until we were desperate for clothes for Shayna, I hate breaking up the routine at home to go out! So, we finally went to the thrift store, praying for atleast a black skirt and a couple more pairs of shoes as all of hers are too small. We found 5 skirts, 7 tops and two pairs of name brand, new, shoes. For holiday presents, I found 5 sets of Little Bear Wheeler's Historical Devotional tapes and a G.A.Henty book on tape! I kept thinking about the homeschooler who must have dejunked and gotten rid of things her boys have outgrown... (well, that's my scenario!). So, the trip was a success and we left just as I was feeling I really had to go home.
Conrad took us all out to dinner at Chili's to celebrate his and Gaelan's birthday, as well as Isaac's placement day. They all fall within nine days of each other. It was nice, it has been a very long time since we went to a restaurant, since my birthday in February. We all said that we were glad that it occurs so seldom because it was such a treat!
Today is another school and chores day, as well as LAUNDRY!! Yes, we attack Mt. Never-Rest today! Tomorrow I go to see the Dr. for my final exam. Please pray that I get the all clear to get back to normal life and that my iron levels are back to normal.
What's for dinner?: chilly day soup, buttermilk (keifer) cheesebread and salad. (Conrad won't be home for supper as he is working late and then going right on to the Crisis Pregnancy Center board meeting.) Isaac also has soccer practice soon after dinner.
Things I'm thankful for: All of the new families at church. We have outgrown the building we are renting, but it is such a joy to meet so many new families! For this wonderful weather. For God's faithful provision in meeting our every need.
Things we are looking forward to: The church campout! Woohoo! Our Reformation Celebration. My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.
Praying for my family: Getting back to the routine of this...Just going to pray Psalm 15 for everyone!
Concentrating in prayer today for: Micah and his family as well as the Murnion family.
We are using Tapestry of Grace this year and we are in week two. We are studying Exodus.
Have a blessed day, everyone!
I have had two good days in a row, and today looks pretty good as well. I try and try to not let my circumstances rule my attitude, but when I get an encouragement like this, I realize how much I failed when discouraged.
Heavenly Father, please help me to be more faithful to you when discouraged and to show that I trust in you. Give me a sweetness of disposition in trial that your own son demonstrated at the cross. Help me to continue to strive to be more like Jesus. Amen!
Yesterday the kids got right down to chores and schoolwork because I had promised to take Shayna out to shop for dress shoes and for Isaac to be able to hang out with Steven in the afternoon if they were done. On Mondays, they have tons of reading assignments and they did really well with not daydreaming and getting side tracked.
Shayna and I found some cute Mary Janes at Kohl's...I'm so glad that they are in style right now for women- her feet are growing so much! Then we spent about an hour and a half in the thrift store and as is often the case, God went before me there. As I often do, I waited to go until we were desperate for clothes for Shayna, I hate breaking up the routine at home to go out! So, we finally went to the thrift store, praying for atleast a black skirt and a couple more pairs of shoes as all of hers are too small. We found 5 skirts, 7 tops and two pairs of name brand, new, shoes. For holiday presents, I found 5 sets of Little Bear Wheeler's Historical Devotional tapes and a G.A.Henty book on tape! I kept thinking about the homeschooler who must have dejunked and gotten rid of things her boys have outgrown... (well, that's my scenario!). So, the trip was a success and we left just as I was feeling I really had to go home.
Conrad took us all out to dinner at Chili's to celebrate his and Gaelan's birthday, as well as Isaac's placement day. They all fall within nine days of each other. It was nice, it has been a very long time since we went to a restaurant, since my birthday in February. We all said that we were glad that it occurs so seldom because it was such a treat!
Today is another school and chores day, as well as LAUNDRY!! Yes, we attack Mt. Never-Rest today! Tomorrow I go to see the Dr. for my final exam. Please pray that I get the all clear to get back to normal life and that my iron levels are back to normal.
What's for dinner?: chilly day soup, buttermilk (keifer) cheesebread and salad. (Conrad won't be home for supper as he is working late and then going right on to the Crisis Pregnancy Center board meeting.) Isaac also has soccer practice soon after dinner.
Things I'm thankful for: All of the new families at church. We have outgrown the building we are renting, but it is such a joy to meet so many new families! For this wonderful weather. For God's faithful provision in meeting our every need.
Things we are looking forward to: The church campout! Woohoo! Our Reformation Celebration. My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.
Praying for my family: Getting back to the routine of this...Just going to pray Psalm 15 for everyone!
Concentrating in prayer today for: Micah and his family as well as the Murnion family.
We are using Tapestry of Grace this year and we are in week two. We are studying Exodus.
Have a blessed day, everyone!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
My Alternate Name Meme
From Mrs. Wilt My favorite is 4.
If you wish, consider yourself tagged.
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),Cortez Mercury
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),Chocolate Shortbread
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),M-Dos
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Red Heron (Now THAT'S funny!)
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Jean Annapolis
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Dos-ma
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Green Coffee
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),John James
9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),Elizabeth Eugene
10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),Koester Kalamazoo
11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).Autumn Rose
12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)Strawberry Jumpery
13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),Cereal Magnolia
14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),The Embroidery Sunshine Tour
If you wish, consider yourself tagged.
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),Cortez Mercury
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),Chocolate Shortbread
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),M-Dos
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Red Heron (Now THAT'S funny!)
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Jean Annapolis
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Dos-ma
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Green Coffee
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),John James
9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),Elizabeth Eugene
10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),Koester Kalamazoo
11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).Autumn Rose
12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)Strawberry Jumpery
13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),Cereal Magnolia
14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),The Embroidery Sunshine Tour
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Marvelous Muffins!
I love to bake muffins to give away...my family likes to eat them too!
Here are a few of our favorites:
Hawaiian Muffins
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 egg, lighlty beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease twleve muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir in coconut and pineapple to coat. In another bowl, stir together milk, butter, egg and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine.
Spoon better into prepared muffin cups; bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.
Remove muffin tin or tins to wire rack. Cool 5 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cooling on rack. Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
These muffins freeze well. Makes 12 muffins.
Bacon Cheddar Muffins
1 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cups yellow cornmeal
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
dash cayenne
8 slices of bacon, cooked, drained, cooled and chopped (about 1/2 cup).
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbs. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. dijon-style mustard
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper; stir in bacon and cheese to coat. In another bowl, stir together milk, egg, butter and mustard until blended. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine. Spoon batter unto prepared muffin cups; bake 20-25 minutes until done. Cool 5 minutes in pan and finish cooling on rack. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Let muffins reach room tenperature or wamr slightly before serving. 12 Muffins
Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
2 cups flour
2/3cups + 1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 (8 oz) container of lemon yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted & cooled
1 egg, lightly beaten
1-2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, the 2/3 cups sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. In another bowl, stir together yogurt, butter, egg, lemon peel and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add yogurt mixture and stir just to combine. Stir in blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 20-25 minutes until done. Cool 5 minutes in pans then finish cooling on racks. These muffins freeze well. Makes 1 dozen muffins.
Some Muffin Making tips:
1. Don't over beat your muffins, as if you are making a cake...that is what makes the high pointy muffins.
2. Don't skimp on the fat, that is what makes your muffins moist.
3. Don't overbake, that will dry out your muffins, too.
4. When doubling don't double the baking soda (just add a pinch more per teaspoon) but double the baking powder. The same goes for salt.
5. Most muffins freeze well, so keep some on hand for guests!
Here are a few of our favorites:
Hawaiian Muffins
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 egg, lighlty beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease twleve muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir in coconut and pineapple to coat. In another bowl, stir together milk, butter, egg and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine.
Spoon better into prepared muffin cups; bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.
Remove muffin tin or tins to wire rack. Cool 5 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cooling on rack. Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
These muffins freeze well. Makes 12 muffins.
Bacon Cheddar Muffins
1 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cups yellow cornmeal
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
dash cayenne
8 slices of bacon, cooked, drained, cooled and chopped (about 1/2 cup).
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbs. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. dijon-style mustard
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper; stir in bacon and cheese to coat. In another bowl, stir together milk, egg, butter and mustard until blended. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine. Spoon batter unto prepared muffin cups; bake 20-25 minutes until done. Cool 5 minutes in pan and finish cooling on rack. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Let muffins reach room tenperature or wamr slightly before serving. 12 Muffins
Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
2 cups flour
2/3cups + 1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 (8 oz) container of lemon yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted & cooled
1 egg, lightly beaten
1-2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, the 2/3 cups sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. In another bowl, stir together yogurt, butter, egg, lemon peel and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add yogurt mixture and stir just to combine. Stir in blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 20-25 minutes until done. Cool 5 minutes in pans then finish cooling on racks. These muffins freeze well. Makes 1 dozen muffins.
Some Muffin Making tips:
1. Don't over beat your muffins, as if you are making a cake...that is what makes the high pointy muffins.
2. Don't skimp on the fat, that is what makes your muffins moist.
3. Don't overbake, that will dry out your muffins, too.
4. When doubling don't double the baking soda (just add a pinch more per teaspoon) but double the baking powder. The same goes for salt.
5. Most muffins freeze well, so keep some on hand for guests!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Please Pray for Little Micah!
I have asked for prayer for little Micah before. He was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. His family has enjoyed his presence in their family so much and have rejoiced to care for this sweet little guy.
Micah is not doing so well right now. He hasn't been able to eat much at all for some weeks now, and has begun to vomit a lot. He is also dealing with a really terrible case of eczema that is driving him crazy!
Please pray for him & his family, pray that God would have mercy on them and allow them to get some rest. Pray that Micah would be made more comfortable. And pray that God would remove the tumor from his little body.
I'm praying every hour on the half hour for him, won't you try to join me when you think of it?
Thank you!
Micah is not doing so well right now. He hasn't been able to eat much at all for some weeks now, and has begun to vomit a lot. He is also dealing with a really terrible case of eczema that is driving him crazy!
Please pray for him & his family, pray that God would have mercy on them and allow them to get some rest. Pray that Micah would be made more comfortable. And pray that God would remove the tumor from his little body.
I'm praying every hour on the half hour for him, won't you try to join me when you think of it?
Thank you!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
What I wish I had known then...
This past Tuesday, I went to the first homeschool meeting that I have been to in several years.
The topic for discussion was "things I wish I knew when I started homeschooling". Here are some of the things mentioned:
That we should play with the kids occasionally.
Homeschool shouldn't look like institutional school.
Parent each child, individually...don't leave it up to the older siblings to parent the younger, and don't parent all of your children exactly alike.
(One of the Dads present) Dad needs to be involved, and as boys (especially) grow , they need to answer to Dad.
Make Dad the authority, and Dad needs to back Mom up completely.
Pray for them more!
Work on early maturity...it's not the same as worldiness.
Understand how hard life IS.
You are going to spend most of your time on character issues.
Give them the right things to read.
If you have a need - God will provide - be content with what He has provided.
Respect each other.
It's character, not academics that will stick with them.
Give them purpose, so that it will be easier for them to push ahead when things get tough.
Mine was that I wish I had known that even though we as a family chose to not have high academic goals (we weren't interested in making them fit for the Ivey League) that I had been more dilligent to do actual seat work more often. The other thing that goes along with that one, really is that I wish I had worked hard to develop my own study habits.
We had good discussion on each of these. Do you have any to add?
We plan to talk about life-changing books next time.
Update on me:
I have a surgery date for August 7th. Please pray that we will be able to stick to the plan we have for doing a laproscopic out-patient surgery to remove ovarian cysts and that nothing further will be needed.
For those of you who have been praying for me this week because of my regular headaches, this one was especially terrible, and long-lived, but is definitely gone now, Praise God! Thanks for your prayers.
The topic for discussion was "things I wish I knew when I started homeschooling". Here are some of the things mentioned:
That we should play with the kids occasionally.
Homeschool shouldn't look like institutional school.
Parent each child, individually...don't leave it up to the older siblings to parent the younger, and don't parent all of your children exactly alike.
(One of the Dads present) Dad needs to be involved, and as boys (especially) grow , they need to answer to Dad.
Make Dad the authority, and Dad needs to back Mom up completely.
Pray for them more!
Work on early maturity...it's not the same as worldiness.
Understand how hard life IS.
You are going to spend most of your time on character issues.
Give them the right things to read.
If you have a need - God will provide - be content with what He has provided.
Respect each other.
It's character, not academics that will stick with them.
Give them purpose, so that it will be easier for them to push ahead when things get tough.
Mine was that I wish I had known that even though we as a family chose to not have high academic goals (we weren't interested in making them fit for the Ivey League) that I had been more dilligent to do actual seat work more often. The other thing that goes along with that one, really is that I wish I had worked hard to develop my own study habits.
We had good discussion on each of these. Do you have any to add?
We plan to talk about life-changing books next time.
Update on me:
I have a surgery date for August 7th. Please pray that we will be able to stick to the plan we have for doing a laproscopic out-patient surgery to remove ovarian cysts and that nothing further will be needed.
For those of you who have been praying for me this week because of my regular headaches, this one was especially terrible, and long-lived, but is definitely gone now, Praise God! Thanks for your prayers.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Bible Bookmark for our kids.
While at the Home Educators of Virginia Conference, Conrad and I learned about a great idea for a devotional aid for our kids. We learned how to make this Bible bookmark at the workshop entitled “Raising Daughters for God” by Joy Moore of Daughters4God.
All you need is a 3x5 card for each child and a Bible and concordance (or For Instruction in Righteousness, if you have it).
On the blank side, holding the card vertically write a list of people that you would like your children to pray for on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. Start with Daddy, and Mommy, then go to church leaders, teachers and perhaps other relatives, listing them one at a time. Follow these with the President and other leaders who need our prayers regularly. Lastly, add any long term prayer requests, we have added Micah.
Next, turn the card over and holding horizontally, list a character trait that you think that this child needs to work on, and perhaps a short definition. Then on the lines of the card, write out a verse or passage of Scripture that go with the character trait that you would like them to read (and memorize) each day. For help with this, here’s a link to a list of Christian character traits.
Then, if you have non-readers and they are having their quiet times each morning, you should take at least a couple of mornings a week and “do quiet time” with them. This way they are being trained in how to have personal time with the Lord, and you can help them read and pray from their book marks.
All you need is a 3x5 card for each child and a Bible and concordance (or For Instruction in Righteousness, if you have it).
On the blank side, holding the card vertically write a list of people that you would like your children to pray for on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. Start with Daddy, and Mommy, then go to church leaders, teachers and perhaps other relatives, listing them one at a time. Follow these with the President and other leaders who need our prayers regularly. Lastly, add any long term prayer requests, we have added Micah.
Next, turn the card over and holding horizontally, list a character trait that you think that this child needs to work on, and perhaps a short definition. Then on the lines of the card, write out a verse or passage of Scripture that go with the character trait that you would like them to read (and memorize) each day. For help with this, here’s a link to a list of Christian character traits.
Then, if you have non-readers and they are having their quiet times each morning, you should take at least a couple of mornings a week and “do quiet time” with them. This way they are being trained in how to have personal time with the Lord, and you can help them read and pray from their book marks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
