my green pastures

2012-02-12T16:50:00.001-06:00

O Lamb of God we thank Thee,
We bless Thy holy name;
Thy love once made Thee willing
To bear our sin and shame.
And now Thy love is waiting
Thy saints like Thee to raise;
Firstborn of many brethren,
To Thee be all the praise.

2012-02-09T10:43:00.001-06:00

Photo Credit

the birthday girl

2012-02-07T21:56:00.001-06:00

special breakfast with her sisters in their room, a present or two, hair trimmed and styled, sweet treats with sweet friends followed by crocheting and hand knitting at a local yarn store, with pizza and Wii playing for supper. A very fun-filled birthday for this 12 year old…

here, the day after, who opened up a bag of purple and green cotton candy saved from Monster Jam, this afternoon during school. The pros of homeschooling, no school on your birthday and cotton candy during school, I guess. Think she’s the only one of the family who really likes this stuff, and she really does. She made herself a mustache with it a little after this to go along with the purple teeth she had. Yuck! Alyssa told her not to eat it all at one time, it cost dad 15 bucks and you might not get anymore!’ She said she’ll buy herself some next year… 12 year olds…

V.Day

2012-02-02T21:14:00.001-06:00

Couldn’t pass up 3 strofoam hearts at our favorite local thrift store…a buck each. What to do, what to do…

Started wrapping with yarn. Took about a week of 3 of us wrapping on and off…. kinda putzy.

Really wanted to finish by Valentine’s Day.

And we did!!

Tacked it on my very old trusty mirror on the entry wall that my man gave me as a birthday gift years ago, and called it a night!

The Details:

*Plain red yarn and the brown is Jute, kinda like twine.
*Just wrap and wrap, using some hot glue on the back every once in awhile. Yarn connected to the skine so a pain to bring the skine in and out of the heart form while wrapping

*Flowers- punched with a 2 in. Scalloped Circle punch. Used brown paper lunch bags for them, layered about 5-8 on top of ea other, hole punch center and attach a brad. Crinkle paper to make a flower! (newspaper works well too)

*Embellished them hot gluing buttons, pretty brads, and some Dollar store glue glitter.

*The green letter ‘M’ I’ve had, purchased it at Michaels, just attached with yarn to the heart

family

2012-01-31T08:52:00.001-06:00

Looking through pics and found this one… a fun road trip down here from my family this month.
Thanks to ALL our parents sacrificing to watch the 14 kids between us all, we were able to go out for a nice dinner and then take in a local Jr. Hockey game.

Going to try and make it a yearly outing, right family? ….

L-R: Deanna & Darby Block, Katie & Jalon Martinson, Jar & I, Sarah & Keith Block, Jill & Derek (my oldest brother) Olson

the weekend

2012-01-28T19:58:00.001-06:00

We surprised cousin Briann after school Friday by picking her up and taking her to Tutti Frutti’s (a yummy soft serve frozen yogurt buffett) for her golden 10th birthday on the 10th of this month. These three sat inside by themselves while the rest of us sat in the car outside and gave them some girlie time. Alyssa and Briann’s bowls weighed 22 ounces each I think! She said her mom would never let get that much. That’s what aunties are for I guess.

Jar and I slept in this am and received our coffee in bed, always a treat. Then we took the kids out to the Whistle Stop for a late, late breakfast/lunch.

Carly wanted to cruise Hawley, especially the alleys for some reason, so we did that for awhile with some cruisin music, of course.

Realized the local rink finally has ice and we needed to go skating! Haven’t gotten the skates out since we’ve been out here I don’t think. Need to make a trip to Play it Again for more supplies, but we made it work. Lindsey even wore Jared’s skates. It was Eddy first time. He literally improved by the minute and loved every minute of it too. He spotted an abandoned stick and found a puck somewhere…sure fun to watch my boy on skates.

Carly did circles around me, not sure where she learned to skate. I biffed it big time, might be time to hang up the skates or else invest in some new wide sized ones. Taught the kids Pom, Pom Pull-away and Crack the Whip.

Lots of sore feet here we finished the evening with hot cocoa, my go to meal, Bulleye’s, for supper and Saturday night baths.

A very fun weekend and a very tired momma….

Finally!

2012-01-26T13:33:00.001-06:00

Like my SIL, Lisa, out in Boston…we finally have snow too! Finally enough to get the sleds out this week and we’ve been out on them everyday after school. Which has made for some very fun gym/recess time to look forward to each day!

I just told them today after someone flipped someone out of the sled and then wouldn’t let me back in their sled,

“What Happens In the Field

Stays In the Field!”

I’ve tried to get out there a couple days and get some exercise. Chased Carly and Eddy all over the field hopping in their sled and being pulled around on the sled by them.

Jared and Nolan making their ‘track’ for them. I tell ya, this little Kitty Cat has brought countless hours of fun!

I just hope it doesn’t all melt again. What fun is there without snow in the winter??? It’s the end of January and there hasn’t been one snowman or fort built!

We hope to get in some ice skating, sledding the big dike in Fargo, and down hill skiing in before the rest of winter in through…

Cuties

2012-01-25T11:42:00.001-06:00

These cuties ate 5 POUNDS of Cuties in about 3.5 days. Love this fruit and so nice to have in the winter months. Sam’s Club’s are really good right now…

What’s a Cutie?

California Cuties are two varieties of mandarins: Clementine Mandarins and Murcott Mandarins. Contrary to popular belief, Cuties are not “little oranges.”

one little,

2012-01-21T21:56:00.001-06:00

two little,

three little Indian boys

in our tribe for the weekend.

The boys and their cousin Weston have been looking forward to this long 4 day weekend for awhile now..

Jason and Alisa went the the cities for hockey day in Minnesota to take in a few games and Weston is staying with us. He said him and his dad couldn’t get his .22 sited in time to bring it but he brought his hockey stick and camo boots instead.

We’ve had a good weekend and need to document it.

The boys: had Lindsey’s fruit snowmen, took in a magic show with popcorn before leaving for Friday night’s One Way Kids Club where we played in the blow up bouncies and took in a puppet show and message on Samson.
Had lots of splashes in the tub followed by a pizza party in their matching Lightening McQueen jammies they were very excited over tonight.

Weston loved watching the deer and turkeys come out at dusk.

And of course a few super funny and supervised wrestling matches (here they are shaking hands afterwards) and LOTS of trucks, trains and planes zooming around all weekend!!

We love you so much Wessy! Please come again!

Eddy’s day

2012-01-16T12:46:00.001-06:00

Eddy had long awaited his special day. Since the NDSU Bison football team were headed down to Texas for the D1 Championship game we decided to have the herd over to watch game and party little for Eddy as well!

He has talked and talked about a crocodile cake and a coyote cake. Finally he had to make a choice between the 2. His ideas about 2 cakes were shot down.

The day started off with the girls and I going to our Kids Club for a fun game of Bowling and then everyone rushing out to watched the game at noon..

We ended up with PW’s Chocolate Sheet Cake with a little Jell-O pond on top, made a hill of green frosting, plopped some animals on it and called it good. Him and Carly thought it was the best.cake.ever.

Now how bout those Bison?!

It was a great game( I think). It involved a good defensive move..something about a fake punk. We led throughout and…

We WON!! NDSU’s first Division 1 Title.

All partied out we ended the day with alittle Mario Time..and Eddy reeled in some bass with his cheap new pole that didn’t even last a day. Oh well.

Pretzel bites

2012-01-10T19:40:00.001-06:00

Finally had a chance to try out this recipe I had pinned on Pinterest. Worth sharing and a perfect appetizer for any football party’s coming up… Our big game was last Saturday… pics to come soon.

Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites
Source: Pennies on a Platter adapted from Pink Parsley
Yield: 42-48 bites

Ingredients:
1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar, divided
1/4 cup warm water (110-115˚F)
1 cup warm milk (110-115˚F)
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
1/2 cup finely chopped ham (about 3 ounces)
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice
6 cups water
4 teaspoons baking soda
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1-2 Tablespoons coarse salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the yeast, 1 tsp. brown sugar & warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 5-8 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together 2 tbsp. brown sugar and warm milk until brown sugar is dissolved.

Once yeast is foamy, add 2 1/2 cups flour & the milk mixture to the yeast. Stir with wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Add remaining flour if dough is too sticky. Turn the dough out to a floured surface and knead a few times, forming a smooth ball. Alternatively, you can knead in a stand mixer with a dough hook briefly until dough is smooth.

Lightly oil a large bowl with olive oil and place dough in bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise in a warm draft free area for 2 hours, until dough doubles in size and bubbles appear on the surface.

Meanwhile, cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Once dough has risen, lightly flour a surface for rolling the dough. Turn the dough out and divide into four equal pieces. Roll one section of the dough into a 12×4 inch rectangle. With the long side facing you, press 1/4 of the ham & cheese into the bottom third of the dough. Roll the dough up tightly as possibly, starting with the filling end. Cut the dough roll into 1 inch pieces and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 3 sections of dough.

Once all pieces are cut, let them rest uncovered at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium sized pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in baking soda and reduce heat to a simmer. Add pretzels in batches and boil for 20 seconds each, turning once. Pretzels should be slightly puffed. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pretzels back to baking sheet.

Once all pretzels are boiled, place baking sheet in oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 15 minutes. Brush the warm pretzel bites with melted butter & sprinkle with salt.

If preparing these ahead of time, you can place the pretzel bites in a 200 degree oven and warm them up for about 10-15 minutes prior to serving. You can keep them in the warm oven until your guests arrive.

Serve with honey mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

* It’s pretty simple, kind of like making cinnamon rolls. You can freeze the rolled up rolls before cutting for later time. I made Pepperoni and cheese too, the options are endless. Think I’d use a little more filling next time.

** Make sure you check out the good reviews for more tips and ideas.

*** And if you’re wondering about the science behind boiling your pretzel bites before baking, check out this article and more yummy recipes.

Photos and Recipe from Marconi and Cheesecake.

2012-01-05T12:30:00.004-06:00

This is very good! Convicted of my need to memorize more scripture this new year. Need to be intentional about it.

So, I'm telling you this because I'm looking for a memory buddy. I'm thinking to memorize Colossians in a Year- which comes out to 2 verses a week. Seems easy enough, but might take me 2 years!
If you memorize quickly check out this challenge of Phillipians by Easter (about 5 verses a week).

Let me know if you want to keep your sword sharp and ready for action in the battle we face each day...I'm gonna need a partner.

(For more helps, I've stumbled upon these aids and these neat notebooks. And a neat journal keepsake book to teach our children scripture and hymns with it- Truth and Grace Memory Books)

a look back

2012-01-04T21:34:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year family and friends!

We had a lovely winter break with no sickness! The boys played with new trains and track sets, girls and Jar manned the new Wii, I caught up on 2 years worth of picture organization, Carly decorated cakes with her cousin, the older 2 girls and I did some shopping and lunch with Auntie Shan and we enjoyed a day in the woods cutting wood.. for the ~~record~~ blurb book.

Some fav’s from 2011, I don’t wanna forget…

“I don’t really want more time;

I just want enough time.

Time to breathe deep & time to see real & time to laugh long, time to give You glory & rest deep & sing joy…

I just want time to do my one life well.”

-Ann Voskamp

my lil’ sheriff

2012-01-03T23:56:00.001-06:00

turned four today.

These words sprang from my heart as I drove by the place on the highway we rolled our SUV four years ago today as well..

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
praise him, all creatures here below; 
praise him above, ye heavenly host; 
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

the year ahead

2011-12-31T10:37:00.001-06:00

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7,8

The end! Sober moderation, prayerfulness and fervent love should typify our behaviour in these times. Yet more and more we are pursuing the passions of the world—pleasure and possessions. Less and less do we have time for prayer—personal or corporate. Still less do we have time for one another. Fervent love and Christian community have been replaced by casual acquaintance and self interest. Is it any wonder that our lives are characterized by pride and powerlessness; loneliness and emptiness? May God help us to repent and make the year ahead different. —S. McEachern, Choice Gleanings

snow!

2011-12-30T11:32:00.001-06:00

We inherited a new animal AND we woke up to a winter wonder land! So pretty to finally have a fluffly white layer after going this long with nothing. It snowed a few inches over night and maybe more coming…

Can you tell what it is?!?

I thought it was an owl up there…

It’s our new mouser, Roger. Isn’t he pretty?

We’ve only had black cats before. Feel alittle bit sorry for him as he’s been a house cat but we think he’s adjusting well to the great outdoors, still alittle scared of Diesel. Who treed him in the above photo…. But who wouldn’t be?

last week..

2011-12-29T17:00:00.001-06:00

this boy and his favorite Diesel dog got into a little trouble.

His jobs around here so far consists of putting napkins at everyone’s spot before meals, helping Car empty garbage cans around the house and helping take care of his dog.

It was taking a little longer than usually for him to come in from kenneling Diesel in the garage. I went out to check on them and found Diesel nose deep in a container of Christmas goodies while Eddy held if for him.

Eddy had pulled a goodie container down from a high shelf. Opened it not for himself but his dog who needed a Christmas treat, he said. An almost full container of goodies, mostly those good peanut Blossom Kiss Cookies…Merry Christmas Diesel!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:22:00.000-06:00

From our Green Pastures to yours…

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

cookies and more

2011-12-21T09:44:00.000-06:00

the light tree!

2011-12-20T09:14:00.001-06:00

a few weeks ago, during our quarantine, big daddy came home with our very first real tree and made 2 sick little boys very, very excited…

Our Civilian Song

2011-12-06T15:36:00.000-06:00

This come's from my SIL, Lisa's blog. She's going back to college for Elem-Ed teaching and this song was written and song by a girl in her program. She's from Alexiandria, MN, right down the road, and got together 200 people from the Community to finish the video for our soldiers and Christmas Care packages to them. Very cool.

making some lists,

2011-12-04T15:51:00.001-06:00

and checking them ~~twice~~ lots!

We are still house bound with a few cases of the pox still to go! Alyssa’s feeling pretty miserable and itchy at present, poor girl, and I’m feeling pretty helpless. We spent alot of time last night in the bath, me just sitting with her while she soaked listening to whatever audio story would take her mind of it.

Today, after our 4th Sunday service here at home, I started some baking.

I will probably come to family baking Thursday alone, which will be hard, but here’s some things swirling around my brain I’m thinking about:

* Cut-out Sugar and Butterscotch Ginger Cookies

* Eat your Heart out, Cinnabon:Cinnamon Rolls (for Christmas at home celebrations)

* Mint Chocolate Puddles

* Starbuck’s Cranberry Bliss Bars

* Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats (the girls were gonna make and we still will at home instead)

* Rolo Cookies (also girls)

And if you need more recipes links and ideas click on the 2 links above in the paragraphs. There’s some good tried and true oldies from Family Baking days gone by…I think I gained 10 pounds just looking at all theses! Yikes.

Oh, and I’ve got Cinnabon’s covered for breakfast Thursday.

SO….. what are YOU baking?? Love to see your lists…

#77

2011-12-03T15:14:00.001-06:00

TO: my favorite #77
LOVE: your one and only, #24 ;-)

Advent

2011-11-29T17:12:00.001-06:00

Two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, the world received a very important
gift. That’s when Jesus first came to earth to walk among us and save us from our
sins. And that’s what we celebrate every Christmas. For centuries, Christians have
anticipated Christmas Day with a month-long observance called Advent.

Advent comes from the Latin adventus and means “coming.”

Ok, saw my second printable Christmas chain count down and knew I had to share. We love making paper chains to count down things around here. They make such pretty scrapbook paper these days, a couple years ago we put these ones on the tree below.

Carly already has her count down one up for Christmas.

But might have to make new ones with these Advent customizable ones. And then I saw these from Money saving mom, the Names of Jesus on them.

Also going to make a Jesse Advent Tree and read the scripture with it for supper. Have always wanted to do this. Hurry, starts tomorrow if you want to start. Advent really started on this past Sunday, the fourth Sunday before December 25th. I’m doing Ann Voskamp’s but here’s another one and some info on them:

The tree gets its name from Jesse, the father of David. The first day’s scripture is Isaiah 11:1-2 – “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” This branch came in the form of a babe, and through the scriptures for each ornament, you can see God weaving the stories into place to ready the world for the coming Messiah.

Here’s one more downloadable Advent devotional from Women of Faith. Get your ink printer fired up and start printing….with your Christmas music cranked, of course.

to my grandma’s

2011-11-29T15:49:00.001-06:00

Wanted to show you my cupcakes. Love you so much,

Lindsey XOX

Oh come, let us!

2011-11-24T09:33:00.002-06:00

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
   let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let uscome into his presence with thanksgiving;
   let usmake a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the LORD is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
   the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let uskneel before the LORD, ourMaker!

For he is our God, and we are the people of hispasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Psalms 95:1-7

We’ve got

2011-11-21T17:23:00.002-06:00

turkeys, Yes we do. We’ve got chicken pox ~~turkeys~~, how bout you??

Me and my turkeys made these cuties today. We’re gearing up and gettin’ ready for our own little Thanksgiving dinner all.by.ourselves. We have too, Like I said we’ve got the chicken pox.

I’m kinda sad about it, but getting our craft on and menu planning today with my girls helped.
The turkey was ordered from the grocery today. I love online grocery shopping. It’s my first turkey and stuffing. Should be interesting… The girls are making their own dessert as I guess they don’t like pumpkin pie. And I WILL have pumpkin pie.

These were super fun and easy. We found a empty paper towel tube laying around and covered with burlap for napkin rings. Directions here.
One for each of my 6 turkeys!

I’ve got lots of these flying around, should have just opened the door and shot one. Maybe next year.

2011-11-20T14:03:00.002-06:00

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. Exodus 12:5
Without blemish! From this first mention, the expression “without blemish” occurs almost forty times in connection with the offerings in the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Ezekiel. How important was this ancient foreshadowing of Him who was to come. Our Lord Jesus was impeccably sinless, morally pure, and essentially holy. Only such a One could be the Saviour that we needed and He was indeed without blemish. —Jim Flanigan, Choice Gleanings

O spotless Lamb of God, in Thee,
The Father’s holiness we see;
And with delight Thy children trace,
In Thee, His wondrous love and grace. —Mary J. Walker

beautiful view from my window…

2011-11-18T15:43:00.002-06:00

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.
You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different,
and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?”
~J.B. Priestley

the count down…

2011-11-15T10:37:00.002-06:00

is ON!! Only a week or two left of landscaping this season. Bring on the snow!!

Only 2 weeks left till these freezing Amigos return to warmer weather.

We’ve had lots of pizza party's and

lunch breaks with our my man on job site, especially on the weekends….

It was a season of lots of dikes and permanent levees, from residential

to city, and north to south,

very back breaking hard work.

After each one was completed, Jared would say, please don’t let me do another one of these ever again!

Goodbye pretty perennials,

see you in the spring!

Now..bring on the snow!!

Compassion

2011-11-14T08:50:00.001-06:00

I’ve been reading alittle here and there from some bloggers who are in the jungles of Ecuador with Compassion International….
I feel very strongly about this organization. When I was alittle girl I studied their faces, read their letters and listened to my Grandma’s stories of the children she did and still does sponsor through Compassion. Girls now grown, one who survived Haiti’s earthquake, still write to her….

We chose India. And a sweet little girl named Padva, who is Alyssa’s age to sponsor, after learning in school about the conditions of this country. We look forward to reading her letters and the pictures she colors for us. Knowing we are helping her family survive. That with our small Christmas gift last year they were able to buy a steel pot or this past June when she turned 9 she got a new dress she needed very much…”I love to wear it because it is so fancy and colorful.”

Compassion it’s birthed out of the Latin ‘pati’ and ‘cum’ and it means “to suffer with” and it’s there, spilling down all of us standing there with Jonathan, rivers carving something out of us, and we are heart naked and we are not ashamed: Compassion chooses to suffer with the sick, to be kicked in the gut, to weep with the weak, to pray with the powerless, to cry with the castoffs. Compassion is the condition of being fully human and fully Christ-like and being fully with.

- Read more about Jonathan’s story through the beautiful words of Ann Voskamp. and be prepared to shed a few tears… (I warned you).

You could also read about Kelly’s visit with a family of nine.

But mostly, read more about Compassion and the work it does. Someday, with my girls, I have dreams of going on a short term missions trip with them, maybe through Compassion.

My heart hurts reading their stories and looking into their beautiful big brown eyes….

For the children…

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" ~Proverbs 31:8-9

thank you

2011-11-11T19:43:00.002-06:00

To my 3 Grandfathers, my 2 brothers (1 currently serving and possibly up for deployment) 2 cousins and ALL Veterans.

{source}

The Christian Heritage of our Nation is a Proud Legacy!

John Adams, our first vice president and second president, wrote:
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the
government of any other." – 1798

Thomas Jefferson, our third president and one of the principal framers of the Constitution – a man who, revisionists tell us, wanted a "wall of separation" to protect the government from people of faith – wrote the words that now appear on his memorial in Washington, D.C.:
"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a
conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?" – 1781

Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, said this:
"No book in the world deserves to be so unceasingly studied, and so profoundly meditated upon as
the Bible." – circa 1812

[taken from here}

WFW

2011-11-09T15:43:00.002-06:00

free printable 8x10 here.

Think I’m gonna print both these 2 off on photo paper for a bedroom…

I might be little bitty..

2011-11-05T14:35:00.002-05:00

but I sure can HUNT!

(pics from last season)

It will be his first trip to the deer stand with dad today…

Happy Opener to the rest of my fam!!

Be safe.

WFW

2011-11-02T14:26:00.002-05:00

Photo from here with a 8x10 free printable

Linking up with Word-filled Wednesdays….

tuna noodle VS. mac-n-cheese

2011-11-01T13:09:00.002-05:00

Feeding 6 of us each day for lunch I usually try and make extra for supper meals to eat as left-over's for lunch.
I recently discovered this little trick….

* One box (for around a buck) of Tuna Helper (we like this Creamy Broccoli)
* ADD: extra water, milk, handful of whatever whole-wheat pasta you have on hand.
* ADD- optional: little more butter, another Can of Tuna, more broccoli or other veggie
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPARED TO A BOX of MAC-N-CHEESE:

The box is twice as big
Adding the extras, it goes twice as far
HALF the Calories and Fat per serving
FOUR times less the Sugar per serving
It actually HAS Vitamins in it…..

It doesn’t taste like cardboard. It’s thick and creamy and we love!

you are my chocolate cake

2011-10-29T18:04:00.002-05:00

A month ago we celebrated Nolan’s 2nd Birthday. Here are the memories we made for my Fam far away to see.

I came across this sweet poem. I liked.

photo credit

my new fav

2011-10-27T15:18:00.002-05:00

This is such a good book which tells the Good News in such precious child like way ( plus it’s about sheep and shepherding them:) …. I’m lovin’ it and feel like a fourth grader all over again. I think I’ve only cried 2 days reading it to the kids. Today we reached the climax and had a hard time putting it down… I won’t give it away. But defiantly a great read aloud book!
Patricia St. John was a missionary and wrote many books, including Treasures in the Snow, I can’t wait to read. ( these two also are on DVD..yea!)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, andthey will never perish, andno one will

snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28

* On another note, if you’re harvesting (probably already have but we just finished today) carrots I tried PW’s Carrot-Thyme Soup with Cream she posted today. Perfect timing! Very simple. I couldn’t get my hands on any fresh thyme so I used some coriander and a tish of cumin instead! I think ginger would be good, maybe basil?! Also I bet better flavor if carrots were roasted. ?
I liked. Kids, not so much. There might even have been gagging and nose holding. I’m a pretty mean mom and we ‘try’ to enforce a parent run home NOT a child run home, so they did eat all or most of it. And the ones who finished were rewarded with a treat!

another one bites the dust

2011-10-24T20:36:00.002-05:00

This one’s for you, Grandma Jan!
Her favorite, Simba, too. Her daddy had told her from the beginning she could keep him as a pet but when the rubber met the road it was just one more for her to feed and water all. winter. long.
No eggs = chicken in the freezer. One for us and one for the Amigos.

Carly’s 7

2011-10-22T18:35:00.002-05:00

today.

We had our Berry Crunch cereal this morning, watched your new Secret of the Tanglewoods’ movie, played lots outside in the sunshine and carved a pumpkin in the shape of a kitten together. Tonight it’s baths and Scrambled Egg Sandwiches.
We celebrated with an action packed day yesterday. The cousins had Grandma Camp ( learning about the life and character of Daniel this time) with a sleep over Thursday night.

Friday we had a scavenger hunt and lunch for Car’s birthday. All she has been asking for forever is a ‘Simba’- Chicken on her Cake and a Coop. We drove all the way home in the afternoon for quick power naps then back in for our monthly One Way Kids Club. Sigh.
Yes, action packed. Yes, it felt good to stay home all day today.

Happy Birthday Carly!!

My son, do not lose sight of these—
   keep sound wisdom and discretion,
and they will be life for your soul
   and adornment for your neck.
Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
   when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Proverbs 3:22-24

Love you So much.

XOXOX

WFW

2011-10-19T11:57:00.002-05:00

photo credit

lovely Mondays…

2011-10-17T11:35:00.002-05:00

girlie girls

2011-10-13T10:10:00.002-05:00

We topped off our trip Up north a few weekends ago with a lil’ nail and pizza party ( it was Nollie’s birthday after all) when we got home Sunday night with our traveling bud, Alyssa.

First we fed and watered the chickens and picked pumpkins.

Then Alyssa painted, and painted some more.

She’s into painting nails.

Like really into it and really good at it. See??

I bet at Girls Camp this summer she painted ALL 114 girls’ nails. It was a big hit for Activity Time.

There were lots of pretty flowers painted on at camp. Kinda like this (but I did myself don’t look too close)

She’s a sweet heart and she even volunteered to venture into the coop with our feisty rooster (who is on his way outa here let me tell you!)

When we waved goodbye to her that night Alyssa says,

‘Mom we should have her over again. Teenage girls are SO fun!’

Yes they are.

Abigail Louise

2011-10-04T17:14:00.002-05:00

We covet your prayers this week for my niece. They just arrived in Rochester, walked in the hospital to the sound of beautiful hymns on the baby grand in the lobby. Guess who was playing? Sweet lil’ Amy J.(N. now) What a blessing! Just to see her smiling face and for little Abby who loves the piano to be greeted by Amy. What were the chances ? The Lord is good and constantly reassures us of His love to us in the little things in life.
Here’s some more detailed info taken from Jill’s blog:
She will first have an appointment on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 4. She will then under go a sleep study the night of Wednesday, October 5. The sleep study will be used to test some neurological things, that may not present themselves through symptoms. She will then have her surgery on Friday, October 7.
We were able to meet with Abby's "team" of doctors a couple appointments ago, and they helped us to put us as ease with everything that is taking place. Abby will have a portion of her lower skull, in the back of her head, removed. Replacing that patch will be membrane from a cow's heart, which has been solidified. The surgeon will also be shaving down some of her top vertebrae. The doctor's assured us that they will not be cutting muscle, but Abby will most likely be very sore for the first 48 hours. Once the surgery has been completed, Abby will have a 3-5 day recovery, in the hospital.
We truly appreciate everyone's prayers and support. Everyone has been so great, and so very helpful. Once everything has been completed, and we are back at home, I will update the blog to let everyone know how Abby has been doing.
Until then, please remember our little Abber's, and her doctors, in your prayers.

Photos used with permission from here.

the new roosta in the house

2011-10-01T14:52:00.002-05:00

…and the rest of the lucky hens left in the hen house!

A few tidbits on eggs I came across, for what it’s worth…
LATEST RESULTS: New test results show that pastured egg producers are kicking the commercial industry's derriere when it comes to vitamin D! Eggs from hens raised on pasture show 4 to 6 times as much vitamin D as typical supermarket eggs. Learn more: Eggciting News!!!
RESULTS FROM OUR PREVIOUS STUDY: Eggs from hens allowed to peck on pasture are of a lot better than those from chickens raised in cages! Most of the eggs currently sold in supermarkets are nutritionally inferior to eggs produced by hens raised on pasture. That’s the conclusion we have reached following completion of the 2007 Mother Earth News egg testing project. Our testing has found that, compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:
• 1⁄3 less cholesterol• 1⁄4 less saturated fat• 2⁄3 more vitamin A• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids• 3 times more vitamin E• 7 times more beta carotene

WFW

2011-09-28T08:09:00.002-05:00

Photo Credit

2 years ago...

2011-09-25T13:00:00.003-05:00

Can it be?? 2 years ago already? What a whirl wind and some of the best memories...

You are starting to become such a character Nollie Johnie.
Happy Birthday my boy.

we’re off…

2011-09-22T15:37:00.002-05:00

to cheer on Da Bears!
Five years ago …

and today.
I think it’s almost been five years since I’ve cheered on Aunt Jill’s volleyball team. They’re on the road playing against The Northern Freeze, and the word on the street is it should be the best game of the year. Go Bears! We’re especially cheering hard for Auntie Lisa’s lil’ sis Laura.
After that it’s up north for the weekend to spend time with these guys….

Happy ~~Friday~~ Thursday!

this is from me

2011-09-20T12:25:00.002-05:00

Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. 1 Kings 12:24a
This was a time of great difficulty for the nation. People did not know which way to turn. They were disappointed and fearful, and probably tearful as well. The message from the Lord, however, was, “This thing is from Me.” Dear child of God, today may be one of your darkest days, but do remember that God is in overall control and though He may be allowing something hurtful or debilitating in your life, He may be all the while whispering to you in a still small voice, “Do not fear—this thing is from Me.” If that be so, in the end all will be well. Trust Him. —Roy Hill, Choice Gleanings

But just because You love me the way that You do,
I'm going to walk through this valley, if You want me to. —Ginny Owens

made for me….

2011-09-17T10:30:00.001-05:00

…and I for them.

Thee end. d

I spy…

2011-09-15T09:14:00.002-05:00

with my little eye something that is….
Black.

and dead
and in my fire pit
and has now turned into a boy toy….
Along with snails, chicken feet, fuzzy caterpillars', frogs and turtles to mention a few this summer.
Oh how I’ve enjoyed the last 3 years raising ~~playing with~~ these two.

Do you see it??

Pleease boyz, don’t fight over the charred lizard thing!!!

I've said it before, you have NO idea what a sinner you are until you have children.
I thought I was a pretty good mom when it was just me and my girls.

Then came a boy. And then another one.

There's nothing quite so humbling as attempting to turn these pint sized pistols into
fine, upstanding, little men of God.

If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
   when you lie down,your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
   or of the ruinof the wicked, when it comes,
for the LORD will be your confidence
   and will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3: 21-26

for a treat?? please!

2011-09-12T17:22:00.002-05:00

Me hollering upstairs to Lindz…
I’ll give you a treat if you dress Nollie!!
L: Mom! I just read today not to accept bribes.
bummer….

I’ll take this treat! Made from 2 Bundt cakes….
but making this healthy treat instead for supper.
and might have to make this soup for supper tomorrow night.
Soup?! Yes!! It’s soup time…d

2011-09-10T11:18:00.002-05:00

photo credit

blessed

2011-09-06T21:21:00.002-05:00

It wasn’t the bestest first day of school I’ve had as a ‘teacher.’ There was a few little boys to ‘train’ a few times each, an accident in the bathroom, one shed tear, and alittle attitude (aka- self) displayed at lunch time. BUT…

I am so thankful for ……
the freedom to home school our children another year
healthy children, body and mind
a little one, babbling around and throwing things in the toilet
for little boys who love and get so excited with anything boy related
beautiful fall days to come

And this is truly what it means to minister to the saints, in the most very practical form,
from one momma to another.

You blessed us all greatly today, sister.

I don’t know how many years you’ve done it now, or how many of those years you’ve caught me laying down for a quick quiet time BUT it’s always such a blessing to this home school momma on the first day of school.

Thank you. You made our day driving all the way out here to minister to us! wow…
We topped it off with a pizza party in the living room to go along with our chocolate milk and the best cookie cake ever…. d

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receivethe gift and the
fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
II Corinthians 8:3-5

And He gave some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13

2011-09-04T22:27:00.002-05:00

EAT,

DRINK,

and BE MERRY
for tomorrow ~~we die~~ is the last day of summer. d

2 keepers

2011-09-01T08:16:00.002-05:00

Usually get stuck in the same rut with annuals. You know? Certain ones to go in the beds by my house, certain ones to go in these pots, etc…
This year I let Lindsey pick out the colors and most varieties at a different green house we usually don’t buy from.
We ended up trying out 2 new ones that will probably become new keepers each year.

Thought I’d share them with you!
Martha Washington Geraniums

I’m not a huge geranium fan but when I saw the $11.00 price tag on these round pots, it threw me. Upon asking about them, she told me they got very big and were worth the price. I was sold, plus they are very different looking them a normal geranium with large bi-colored flowers that resemble an Azalea. I’m going to bring cuttings in and try and start a few over the winter.
Lantana

Now, if we lived down south, say Arizona, this plant would be a problem because it grows so quickly and overtakes other plants. Bummer, huh? But here, we just dream about keeping all these beautiful annuals over till next spring.
Not much to say about this one. Love those flower clusters.
Another reason why it pays to get out the box and shop around at different green houses.

What are (or were) your favorites?!

laundry room sign

2011-08-31T09:14:00.001-05:00

photo credit

thumbs up!

2011-08-26T19:14:00.001-05:00

Kinda an inside story…but it’s taken 6 years (since we built) to get a mirror up in this bathroom.

Double thumbs up for my Thrift Store!

Curious how old this ol ’Sharp Pasteurized Process American Cheese wooden box is?? Anyone know??

tired.

2011-08-25T12:00:00.002-05:00

day by day …
Cast your burden on the LORD,
            and he will sustain you;
                        he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
                                            ~ Psalms 55:22
                                                                  … So glad He tells us to do this.

organizing…

2011-08-20T12:23:00.002-05:00

Headbands:
Wrapped around an oatmeal container… Much better!
Here’s some other ideas that are pretty cool….

                                                                                                                           photo credit
Bracelets:   hung on old bottles, vases, or paper towel holder.
and my favorite idea…
                                                                                                           photo credit
Magnetic Makeup Organizer! picture frame-from salvation army, magnetic-dollar store, and brush holders are spray painted pill bottles.
and one more that’s so cool but will never happen in my world. Maybe yours?

Flip-flop Organizer: with wire clothes hangers and some pretty ribbon.
photo credit

some of my favorites

2011-08-19T12:41:00.002-05:00

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Habakkuk, a man who experienced God, shows his absolute triumphant trust in God’s purposes and sovereignty. No matter what our circumstances, God is faithful. Talk about lifting your spirits! No matter what your situation today, reflect on these verses and be encouraged.

~James Comte, Choice Gleanings

Though the fig tree shall not ripen and no fruit be on the vine,
Though the shades of night be gathering and the sun has ceased to shine,
Still in Christ my soul is resting and my cup o’er flows it’s brim;
He my everything supplieth—I am satisfied in Him. —A. Christiansen

Immanuel

2011-08-17T17:38:00.003-05:00

…and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from the sins. Matthew 1:21

…and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means, Godwith us. Matt. 1:23

Christmas cookies in August??!

For Bible School, of course.

Day 2 of Bible School: Starry Christmas cookies.

What fun and what an excuse to make Christmas cookies in August!

So thankful for my old friend, my Immanuel.

Now, back to Bible school…

finally here

2011-08-15T16:56:00.002-05:00

In the midst of a already packed weekend with door to door outreach for VBS, doing some baking (more on that later), watching an air show, etc…. our Amigos managed to get their 70 B&B trees, dug, planted, staked and watered on a 1/2 mile stretch of city streets in 5 hours.
So we decided to butcher some chickens! Yes the long awaited day was finally here. The girls were thrilled their chicken chores would be minus 20 or so of them. I just didn’t want the pretty was killed…
We hurried home from chapel Sunday, loaded up on groceries for our annual Mexican Fiesta and went to work getting ready!
These guys are amazing….Reyes here, did this for a living back home in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mx. His 11 y/o son does it now, 12-16 hr days and makes $8-12 US dollars a day!

We all pitched in. First they were strung up on my lovely Honey Locust tree and the necks were broke. Not snapped, but kinda pulled down real quick. Very easy.

I’ll just show you this one. Is this ok?

And this one two. See? Nothing too it. Eddy loves Marcelino and he loves Eddy. He has alittle girl back home in similar age. He’s the baby of our guys and the hardest worker in the whole US, I think.
Do you know what comes next?!

Yep, time to take a dip in the turkey cooker in the background.
Eddy says, Payback, baby. Payback. (If you didn’t know, he and I were feeding them one morning early this summer, he got alittle too close and got pecked right in the eye! So I suppose the chicken dinner he’s holding up cost us about a hundred bucks! - his doctor bill.
Look good size huh?

Yea. Not so much. Alittle disappointed. They were quite a bit on the small side. We left 10 or so for layers and maybe to butcher later, if they grow. Live in learn.

Eddy and Eduardo. Eduardo’s new role is overseeing all watering of projects. He’s the oldest, the leader along with Mario on the far right. Mario is getting real good in the bobcat. He also takes over cooking in the kitchen when they come. His mom does it for a living.
Januario (Nio) talking with Jared, he’s a good mechanic we’re very thankful for.

Yep, those are chicken feet my boys are fighting over.
Which, along with the hearts, gizzards and necks they kept. They will make a soup out of them, kinda like salsa, I guess. And maybe fry the feet with garlic and spices. Which we might have to try eating soon… along with a ride in the boat. That’s what our amigos want to do next.
The next question around these green pastures is…When we gonna git some farm fresh eggs?!

Adios Amigos!

A long road for our lil’ Abbers

2011-08-06T11:02:00.002-05:00

** reposted from my SIL’s blog. Derek is my oldest brother. Abigail is their 2nd child and is 4 years old.**

The news has come in, after x-rays and MRI's, we have found out what has been causing Abby's scoliosis. We visited a doctor in Duluth, who told us that from Abby's MRI, it appears that her brain is pushing down through a small opening at the base of her skull. Now either her brain pushing down has created a large cyst on her spinal cord, or the cyst has caused her brain to begin pushing down.
With this, we have been told that surgery will be required to fix the problem. As of now the surgery she will undergo will require the the inside, of the base of her skull, to be shaved down. This will allow her brain more room to pull up. The doctors will then take another look at her, with an MRI, about 6 months after the surgery to see if this in turn causes the cyst to get smaller. The cyst, which is wrapped around her spinal cord, stretches from the base of her head, to below her shoulder blades. If the cyst does not get any smaller, they may have to place 2 stints in the cyst, to allow it to drain. Surgery to remove the cyst itself is NOT an option.
The doctor is hoping that once the brain, and the cyst, are taken care of her spine may straighten out. If not, other measures will be taken. So for now, we will take this process one step at a time.
We thank everyone for their continued support and prayers. We are hoping to get a referral down to a pediatrician/neurosurgeon at the Mayo clinic. We will find out August 2, if this will be possible.

Please pray for strength for Abby and wisdom and guidance for Derek, Jill, and the doctors. Thanks!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"
~ Proverbs 3:5

home sweet home

2011-08-05T16:27:00.002-05:00

We were greatly encouraged and blessed by our time at Story Book Lodge Christian Camp last week. Katie and I had fun counseling in Kings Court and also leading ‘Jerks’ (aka morning flag raising and exercises) together. It was all about bringing back the old school…and I hope Kathy doesn’t find her pictures of us.

This was the One and Only pic I found I Lindsey’s camera…

Her, Alyssa, cousin Briann, and friend Tricia we in the North Mow with counsel Leanna. This was one of many crazy themed dress up nights for supper. I might be a little biased but they were the craziest, coolest, dressed up cabin each night.

We hit the ground running this week, but stayed home working on ‘projects.’
I”ve been wanting to show you our special visitor who also hits the ground running too!

I spotted her on the lawn when I woke up. She ended up here with coaxing and food from Alyssa.

We don’t call her the chicken whisperer around her for nothing!

I managed to get her to come in and eat breakfast while her friend looked on.

When the kids headed outside for the day. She started following them everywhere they went. It was so cute!

‘Daffy’, as they named her, ate lunch with them, and of course
Alyssa had to get out the good ol’ kiddie pool for her to cool off….

That evening we tried to leave to take a quick swim at the lake but Daffy didn’t like that! She cried and cried and chased and then flew after our car! The kids said ‘she was crying like a honker’ they were so worried and scared we’d hit her and we didn’t want her to follow us and then get hit. We tried everything, kenneling her in our kitty kennel, even trying to get her in the car to go to the lake with us! Finally she followed the girls right into the chicken coop and we quickly left!

When we got home she was waiting and we all enjoyed a few more hours with her. The girls and I would line up, count to 3 and take off running and she’d take off too and fly right along side us!

It was only for one day, she was gone the next. Sniff, sniff.

But that my friend, is one of many simple joys of country life!

Happy Friday!

friends for life

2011-08-04T17:52:00.002-05:00

bless the Lord today

2011-08-04T10:24:00.002-05:00

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholdingyour power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalms 63:2-4

How can we sinful humans bless God? From this verse it seems that when we pray to God, lifting our hands, lifting our needs, lifting our families in prayer to Him, this is blessing Him.

If the “greatest service we can do to God is to trust Him” then leaning hard on Him today, trusting Him hourly, counting on Him alone to satisfy our needs—this is blessing the Lord. How joyfully then can we lift our voices with the Psalmist to sing. —M. MacMullen, Choice Gleanings

Lord, upon our blindness, Thy pure radiance pour;
For Thy lovingkindness we would love Thee more;
And when clouds are drifting dark across the sky,
Then, the veil uplifting, Father, be Thou nigh.—William W. How

Off we go…

2011-08-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun!)*
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one thunderous roar!**
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!***
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

this week

2011-07-21T09:31:00.002-05:00

it’s all about Camp packing for next week! Lots of written out lists for each days duties. Gonna take me all week to get ready I think. I’m counseling for the first time since before I was married (and very excited to be able to go!) and the older 2 girls are very excited to be campers as well!

Oh and a tent set up and covering most of the living room. Lindsey’s long awaited raspberry harvest has started along with cooked beets for lunch! 2 out of 7 of us liked.. can you guess which 2?!

On a serious note, please keep my friend of a friend, Becca and her family from Iowa in yours prayers. She’s on hospice now. I am going to join them in prayer around Becca’s bed, not physically with them but spiritually lifting her up to our heavenly Father at 7pm each evening. Will you too?

“Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord,

who is with you”

II Chronicles 20:17

last week

2011-07-20T14:24:00.002-05:00

it was all about cupcakes, cookies and cake pops! Cousin Kelli and Luis are visiting from Texas for the first time with their new baby Isabella Joy!
We had a Sip and See Open House for her Sunday afternoon. It was a fun excuse to continue practicing making cut-outs! Usually the girls are involved …this time no one was allowed in the kitchen! And boy did I enjoy it! I did let them back in to frost the extras, I’m not that mean.
The rosettes came about last minute and ended up being my favorite (and the easiest).

My inspiration comes from Bridget at Bake at 350, she’s very sweet and even gives all her secret tips and recipes out.

nature does NOT hurry

2011-07-15T11:51:00.002-05:00

One afternoon while home for a few minutes to grab a bite to eat between activities,
the kids and I spotted this large orange thing on the driveway.

The dog chased it away and I followed…in my flip flops through the jungle of weeds and deadly thistles.. I’m glad I did! I have yet to figure out what kind of creature it is. A moth of some sort I believe. It was large. Like 5-6 inches across. With a big caterpillar type body.
So beautiful. I could have followed it around all day.
Am reading through Job and Ch. 36 fit it so well.

Also read this quote the same day in my birdie magazine my momma gets me. Fit very well. I have such a hard time s.l.o.w.i.n.g down. Always one more thing to do before I leave, can just go from one thing to the next on the list in my head, even hard for me to see my children idle sometimes. Something I consciously have to do,
s.l.o.w down enough to spend t.i.m.e with them. Am I weird?!

So this is my new motto:

“Nature does not hurry,
yet everything is accomplished.”

and one more, just because it’s so beautiful…

Happy Friday! Now go make some memories…

2011-07-12T17:32:00.002-05:00

Because my baby (the 11 y/o) slaved over these cookies most of the day yesterday, because she’s changing into a young lady before my very eyes, because she insisted on making special cut-outs, not just balls but bats too, because I’m hard on her sometimes being the oldest, making her clean up every little speck of powdered sugar and flour from counter and floor, because I just couldn’t deal with one more mess to clean up yesterday, because she pressed on by herself amidst the chaos insisting on frosting every last one till 10pm last night before her big tournament…mostly because I’m so proud of her, these cookies and the lady she’s turning into… I want to preserve this memory.

the big weekend review

2011-07-08T14:30:00.002-05:00

I was hoping July would slow down a bit, it usually seems to be the case for our fam. But so far we’ve been on the go, go, go! Swimming lessons started, T-ball, Fastpitch leagues for the older 2….
Which is fine, SO much to pack into 3 hot summer months! After a very rainy cool June we’ve been enjoying LOTS of heat and spent quite a bit of nice family time at Great-Grandpa’s Lake cottage.
We ended up leaving last Thursday for the big wedding of Darby and Deanna’s. It was a beautiful day and a very beautiful wedding that had their touch and style all over it right down to the barb-wired arch they stood in front of!
I wouldn’t liked to have taken much more pics but our little ring-bearer who SOOO looked forward to this day….was sick! Sick for 4-5 days, sick! He had us both alittle worried but is fully recovered and right back to his jolly self. (He stole a big hunk of his sister’s fresh banana bread today and when I asked him if he knew anything about the missing chunk..he thought for a moment and said “Godzilla. Godzilla did it. He’s in the garage.”
Despite spending a good portion of my weekend with him on the Porcelain Throne holding his hands (terrible runs) we greatly enjoyed our time Up with my family. We did head back early Sunday and then spent the 4th ON the lake for a good 8 hours straight with Jared’s family.

Happy Friday… I’m off with my Love for a weekend away!

thank you M&K soooooo much!

Happy 235th Birthday, America!

2011-07-04T08:43:00.002-05:00

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth…

that God governs in the affairs of men.

And if a sparrow can not fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?

We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.'

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed..."

- Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and our First President

Have a great day everyone! Supposed to be 90 here! Off to the grocery, then I’d love to play in my garden in compete silence for awhile then it’s off to the lake with Jared’s extended family for the traditional turkey dinner and celebrations!

TODAY'S THE DAY

2011-07-02T07:00:00.006-05:00

splash splash

2011-06-30T11:50:00.001-05:00

Look how big our babies are getting! And they’re only about 6 weeks old.

We took them out in the yard for their first swim….they were like little kids!

We ate our lunch while watching them splish splash around in the sun. Diving under, up and down over and over again.

They’re getting lots of new feathers but I wonder if they’re all females because we don’t see any green heads yet?! Maybe it’s too early…

And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying,"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

~ Genesis 1:20-23

hillbillies or homeless?!

2011-06-29T11:49:00.001-05:00

Kid Kwotes

2011-06-23T10:13:00.002-05:00

L: Soo, Mom!

Me and Sam thought it would be cool to go search for the Ark of the Covenant…

Do you think we’d like die if we touched it or doesn’t it matter since we don’t like

live in the Old Testament anymore ???

20 months

2011-06-21T18:13:00.002-05:00

My babe is 20 months. Don’t have the time or energy to tell you what he’s been up except….

the weekend

2011-06-20T11:24:00.002-05:00

We celebrated Father’s Day and Jared’s 33rd Birthday this past week… a new DQ Reese’s Peanut butter Cup Blizzard copycat recipe was tried and approved! A quarter of the cost of the real thing, I figure.

We took the boat out Saturday evening for some tubing and alittle swim.
A beautiful weekend!
BUT the main highlight was last evening as we were winding down, playing some catch and doing chicken chores…

A helicopter landed in our field! Took us all by surprise after making a few circles pretty low around our place, we had no idea who it was in that dark green birdie…Jared walked out to him after the propellers finally slowed down and stopped.
It was Dean! A crop sprayer pilot friend who goes to the chapel with us. He’s been hard at it, like the farmers and landscapers. Had come in from spraying all day, ate a steak and decided the night was way to nice to sit inside, so he took a ‘cruise’ in his new helicopter.
What a neat thing for him to do!
We enjoyed our visit… and he took off before it got dark. A 10 min. ‘cruise’ and a 40 minute drive back to his place.

rearranged..

2011-06-17T23:33:00.002-05:00

THIS

and

THIS

today.

Can you tell what my fav color is??

*My garden used to have this lime green $5 Crib in it. It fell apart and my gardeners finished it off using it for garden stakes this spring. I found this full size bed frame for free on a street boulevard and Alyssa had a blast sanding and spraying it. It looks better in person.

*I finally made it to the boutique, Real Deals today after a great 2 hour breakfast with old girlfriends. And finally found some big vases for my dining room buffet. The price was right!

These 3 were just along for the ride.

Yes, Eddy is ‘riding’ the gas can.

Heaven help me…

our secret getaway

2011-06-16T23:11:00.003-05:00

On the way home from our action packed day of T-ball and fastpitch games I spotted this little getaway of DAISIES hidden among the trees and bushes off the beaten gravel road.

Instantly my mind was racing. After we got home, I dropped everything else that needed to be done and me and Car hit the trail again!

I couldn’t talk either of my other 2 girls into coming. One wanted to take a nap and the other do some sewing. Carly was thrilled and quickly whipped on her new dress-up dress. I love six year olds!

Girlfriends, I don’t know how long they’ll last, but come on out, I’d love to take pics for you!

I’ve always wanted to find a field of daisies! A field of sunflowers is on my list too…but how to take pics in 7 foot tall flowers??!

Carly danced, twirled and threw flowers in the air with a big grin on her face the whole time. Precious memories of my sweet, innocent six year old (only 3 more months till she’s seven) sigh…

enjoy your walk with Him

2011-06-08T08:39:00.003-05:00

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Broken-hearted travelers on a seven mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus were joined by an unknown, but sympathetic, Friend. He mysteriously knew so much about the Saviour they mourned. As they walked, He likely told them of His virgin birth (Is. 7:14) and His vicarious death (Is. 53:7). Then He may have presented thoughts of His triumphant resurrection (Ps. 16:10).
I wonder if He assured them their Redeemer would live forever (Job 19:25)?

The nail-pierced Man, who lightened their burdened hearts, longs to lighten yours today.

Enjoy your walk with Him.

~ Arnot McIntee

randomness

2011-06-06T21:41:00.002-05:00

I drank my coffee outside this morning while checking to see how my chickens survived their first night in their new coop. I’m so glad we have such a wide variety of colors and different kinds. I only know about 2 of them but I like variety. Jared is already planning their big ‘going home celebration.’ It involves a new grill with a rotisserie build in.

Today the big girls started their fast pitch ‘season’. Lindsey, who usually doesn’t voice any nervousness and really wants to be a pitcher was worried she didn’t have any cleats on, and what would they think about her glasses, would the bully be there and what about the girl who made fun of her sun glasses? sigh…

I discovered a lilac laying around here with the leftover perennials I take care of that re-blooms for months instead of just weeks. Who knew?! Syringa Bloomerang if you wanted to know, 5-6’ tall.
Diesel treed some kind of rodent we couldn’t identify right up in the Aspen trees by the house. I couldn’t find the right bullets and didn’t want to shot holes in my house so I was sad to have to wait till the mister came home. Guess it was a wood chuck. I cremented him tonight in the burn barrel. I was so proud of my ‘coon’ dog he wouldn’t leave the tree just like they’re supposed to. Diesel Dan is his new nickname. (from Where the Red Fern Grows, one of my favorites.)

Did I tell you I shot a skunk last week?? Was a blast.
Saw some new bird I need to look up. Yellow breast, tuft on head, size of an oriole….anyone??
It hit 92 today so after I planted an empty row (?) in my garden with red potatoes, also some morning glory plants along my chicken fence (hope the chickens don’t eat them) we headed to the little lake down the road. We had it all to ourselves and ate nachos and pizza there for supper.
I think we’ll be there alot this summer. It’s easy.
Oh, and the chickens got sun burned today too. Got a good laugh outa it when Jared told me. Please don’t tell PETA and don’t worry, Jared fixed the problem. They could've gone in their new coop but I think they’re really liking the great outdoors. We are too.

the tramp

2011-06-03T12:14:00.002-05:00

Is there anything more sweet then pics of kids jumping on the tramp?! I love it. I could sit all day and watch them and snap pics. I could also sit all day and snap pics of this darling red-headed niece of mine. So free, so innocent, so much life. Pure joy.

Yesterday we had cousins out for a day of fun. Car and Sid threw some dresses and shades on, grabbed their babies and headed outdoors, despite the 50 mph wind. What is with this weather?! Everyone says poor farmers, but the landscapers live by the sun too! I’m not worried, I claimed these verses years ago. And I have seen the Lord provide for our family in amazing ways, time and time again. GREAT is His faithfulness to me.

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
   nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
   and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
   and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer’s;
   he makes metread on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Happy Friday,

the runt

2011-05-26T10:18:00.002-05:00

Meet Simba.

He’s the cutest, fuzziest chic around these green pastures!

He’s Carly’s favorite. She’s been busy naming most of them.

Here he is meeting his duck friends.

Her Daddy told her she could probably keep him for a pet.

Her Daddy also said he’s probably not a runt just a bantam accidently thrown into the mix.

They’ve been very busy working on SImba’s new home together…

According to her research, Carly’s Momma thinks he could possibly turn into one of these…

a black male Ameraucana.

a drive

2011-05-23T23:34:00.003-05:00

Me, my camera and the boys ran to the grocery late this afternoon.
We needed sour cream and cilantro.
Any guesses what we had?

Chipotle pork steak tacos with Lime-Cilantro rice. We liked the tacos alot but not the rice so much. We like rice, just maybe not with the pineapple next time.
If you’re looking for a new summer meat marinade better check it out. It was good.

alittle prayer

2011-05-21T13:52:00.002-05:00

Ps 119.173: Let Your hand help me.

This little prayer has often been mine. These short Bible prayers are just what we want in days when we are tired or hard-pressed, so I pass this one on for those who need it.

You will find it enough.

It is like the touch on the electric light switch–just a touch, and the power comes flowing from the power-house–the power that turns to light.

{Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways, p. 149}

the highs and lows

2011-05-20T11:45:00.002-05:00

We like to talk about the best part of our day and the least favorite part of our day at supper with the kids. Always leads to interesting conversation and helps understand them more and realization where they’re coming from. I like to talk about my highs on here, not the lows. Who wants to hear that?! I talk to my BFF (aka, My Lord Jesus) about my struggles and trials.

So, it’s been a real busy week. Started with year end Piano Recital for L&A. They had 4 Grandma’s there!
Lots of work for the business in the mornings, hanging out with my boys as the girls have officially moved outa the house for the summer. They have begged to go to the camper so we finally let them Monday and haven’t seen them since! J/k, but they are mostly making their own meals out there and if I need a sitter I knock on their door and dropped a boy off.
Been planting every afternoon noon, tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash and pumpkins completed the garden. Red poppy’s and red scarlet runner beans from seeds the girls picked at mom’s and a transplanted clematis.

Girls have spent alot of time getting real muddy in the pond discovering tad poles, pregnant garter snakes (who knew they have water births?!) some giant beetles and supposedly owl pellets. They discovered my spray paint cupboard and now have glittered and crackled, distressed painted sling shots. Very stylish. They also found some no hunting signs Jared made and converted them to their own signs, maybe I’ll show you sometime.
Eddy and Nollie having been playing with new toys (cheap garage sale toy + free swag buck Thomas toys= Happy boys!) as I try to get caught up with the laundry. And we’ve been in town for something or another almost every night this week!

BUT this was the great highlight Jared surprised the kids with last night…

DUCKS!

6 cute baby Mallards. Their mother abandoned them and they were following the owners of a business in town around! They are less then a week old, I figure. We all worked getting them set up last night, while Jared put a few more pieces of tin on the new coop. With their pin feathers and poop balls stuck in their claws the chickens have really moved to the backseat. Yeah, not so cute anymore. I know, I know.. I was warned. So here’s to some new cute baby ducks to love on.

Off to collect some rhubarb to make bars.
Happy Friday,

Friday the 13th

2011-05-13T21:19:00.002-05:00

Today:
ate glazed donuts with Carly and Eddy while garage sailing
wrapped chicken wire around my blue kiddie pool full of chickens to keep them from escaping
Sandy (aka Alyssa) and I did alot of sanding and painting of turquoise items
sat on the floor and played show and tell with the jack pot of clothes to put away for Eddy
weeded my front flower bed
lindsey complained she was so hungry for sushi
spilled a cup of coffee across my living room carpet
fed my kids all.day.long it seemed
got almost home and then turned around and went back to that garage sale and bought that free- standing tall old chippy gold birdcage that was made one hundred years ago for my living room (or at least that’s what I told my family)
was the first one to a garage sale where the twin over full bunk bed was already sold ?!
the kitchen received a good coating of flour while girls made some homemade play dough or clay balls, I don’t know or care
got lost a few times while using my GPS
had a fresh vision for a wall in my living room
ate an awesome left over chicken and mushroom crepe
watched my man go through some terrible stress with work
accidently ended up in the middle of no where, at a scary movie farmhouse with an elderly woman (and in case you were wondering I don’t easily get spooked) but then preceded to spend quite a bit of time with her going to different out buildings checking out her sheep and greenhouses
answered a million questions of Eddy’s about when he was a baby in my tummy, he insisted on seeing pics of him in my big belly and as a baby
chased Pecker, Carly’s cute little curious black chicken around my kiddie pool for quite some time
was encouraged by words of John 16:33, I have said these things to you, thatin me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. Buttake heart ; I have overcome the world.
watched the Walton's with the girls
Cary and her daddy went out on a date to celebrate the end of Kindergarten and loosing her other front tooth, aren’t they cute?!
really, really froze while garage sailing all.day.long at our city wide sales – I should not be seeing infants in snowsuits the middle of May
Over all today was a quiet and crazy, lazy and busy, day…You know the ones?!

another prayer

2011-05-11T11:12:00.002-05:00

Sometimes we are very much disappointed with ourselves because we cannot pray proper prayers, only little ones that hardly seem to be prayers at all. I have been finding much comfort in the little prayers of the Gospels.   They could not be more little.

There was Peter’s, “Lord save me” [Mt 14.30], and the poor mother’s [Mt 15.25], “Lord, help me”; and sometimes even less, no prayer at all but only the briefest telling of the trouble, “My servant lies at home sick” [Mt 8.6]; and less than that, a thought, and a touch. “She said within herself if I may but touch . . . ” [Mt 9.21].

Again we hear of just feeling. “They were troubled” [Mt 14.26], and a cry, “They cried out in fear”–that was all, but it was enough.

Often in the throng of the day’s work and warfare,
there will not be time for more than a very little prayer–a thought,
a touch, a feeling, a cry–but it is enough; so tender, so near,
is the love of our Lord.

                                                                        { Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways }

2011-05-07T21:45:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother’s Day

to all my mommy friends

and most importantly my Mommy and my

wonderful Mommy-in-Law!!

Manywomen have done excellently, but YOU surpass them all.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:29

Love you Mom,

the earth is full of His glory

2011-05-06T21:45:00.003-05:00

Another school year in the books. Thankful for it.
For healthy children, body and mind. For my health, for the freedom to teach my children at home, what I want, when I want.
For spring like weather and the little extra quietness that brings in the afternoon. New life all around. For daffodils finally blooming just in time for the weekend. My 11 year old that loves to make meals every once in awhile. For being held in the palm of His hand. A freshly tilled garden and lots of seeds to plant. For a new paver patio out the door to enjoy. For lots of work lined up for the business. For my ever-patient husband and how hard he works for me. And of course lots of new birdies to watch.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:3

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8

Earth is endowed with glories, put here by the Creator. Much of the human race seeks to use those glories for self; using the gifts from God for human and even evil pleasures. Thus the creation is marred. Let mankind beware; God will not yield His glories to any other. He created earth for His glory; and ultimately He will reclaim its full lustre for Himself. Meanwhile, those who honour Him will respect the glorious wonders found in this creation. ~Doug Kazen, Choice Gleanings

still burning

2011-05-04T07:32:00.003-05:00

“She hath neither rusted out, nor burned out. She is burning still.”
I read that in an Australian magazine and I prayed that it might be true of each one of us. We want most earnestly not to rust out, we would gladly be burned out, but till that day comes, the Lord keep us “burning still.”
Perhaps some of us are sorely tempted to think that just now there is not much that is “burning” about our lives. Some are ill, some have duties of a very simple sort–where does the burning come in?
Where did it come in when John the Baptist was shut up in prison? He could not do anything but just endure, and not be offended, and not doubt his Lord’s love. But when our Lord Jesus spoke of him, He said he was burning and shining–”a burning and a shining light”. [John 5.35]

It is not the place where we are, or the work that we can or cannot do, that matters, it is something else.
It is the fire within that burns and shines, whatever our circumstances.

(Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways, pp. 182-3)

special delivery

2011-04-29T14:27:00.002-05:00

We got the call at 5:30 this morning. Our babies were here. After watching the new Princess kiss her groom live on TV it was off to the garage to prepare. Was alittle stressful for the first few hours. I wasn’t quite prepared to be a momma again. I have no heat lamp, vitamins or chic food yet. Opps. Jared’s bringing that later.

They were shipped out Tuesday, so that means 3 long days of traveling in Mail trucks for our babies. Poor things. After getting some quick directions from Dad (from work) we quickly got busy moving each one to his temporary home/cardboard box and watering them. Took the older girls quite awhile before they helped me pick up and move each one. But it’s been a few hours now and Alyssa is the lone one left in the garage moving our little space heater back and forth over their boxes. I’ve had to tell her now several times to keep her hands off them! They don’t need the stimulation.
They’ve settled down alot and don’t seem quite so noisy. But 40 new babies does raise the noise level just a tish around here. Let’s see, I think we have some… Cornish-for meat, Leghorns- layers, Plymouth Rock-meat/egg and Rhode Islands- meat/egg. BTW, I have never done this before and have no idea what I’m doing! Live and learn I guess. All I know is I wanted the Americauna ones that lay pastel eggs! Guess they don’t lay much though.

Carly and I gathered dry leaves to keep the bottom of the box cozy and dry. Lindsey pulsed some oatmeal flakes in the blender for some temporary ‘grit'. I think we’ll make it till Dad arrives with more supplies….Awww this momma is tried!
Over and Out,

Resurrection Day!

2011-04-24T22:32:00.002-05:00

He left His Father's throne above - so free, so infinite His grace - emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O, my God, it found out me!
{Charles Wesley 1707-1788}

Kid Kwotes

2011-04-21T08:21:00.002-05:00

A: Mom, when the 4 of us, I mean 5 of us, are grown up
we are gonna build mansions in the field by you…
ok?