Merry Christmas!

A friend sent this. . .unfortunately the sweet reminder came to me a bit late and I had already succumbed to the sin of frustration. . .  Praise God for grace upon grace!  Repentance and forgiveness, truly the Christmas story.  Enjoy, repent and live free in Christ.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 13 [CHRISTMAS VERSION]







If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,


strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,


but do not show love to my family,


I'm just another decorator.


If I slave away in the kitchen,


baking dozens of Christmas cookies,


preparing gourmet meals


and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:


but do not show love to my family,


I'm just another cook.


If I work at a soup kitchen


carol in the nursing home,


and give all that I have to charity;


but do not show love to my family,


it profits me nothing.


If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels


and crocheted snowflakes,


attend a myriad of holiday parties


and sing in the choir's cantata


but do not focus on Christ,


I have missed the point.


Love stops the cooking to hug the child.


Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.


Love is kind, though harried and tired.


Love does not envy another's home


that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.


Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,


but is thankful they are there to be in the way.


Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.


Love bears all things,


believes all things,


hopes all things, and


endures all things.


Love never fails.


Video games will break,


pearl necklaces will be lost,


golf clubs will rust;


but giving the gift of love will endure.Author: Sharon Jaynes


Taken from Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas

Seeking Him....

I Asked the Lord, That I Might Grow
                          by John Newton


I asked the Lord, that I might grow

In faith, and love, and every grace;

Might more of His salvation know;

And seek more earnestly His face.

Twas He who taught me thus to pray,

And He, I trust has answered prayer;

But it has been in such a way,

As almost drove me to despair!

I hoped that in some favored hour,

At once He'd answer my request;

And by His love's constraining power,

Subdue my sins--and give me rest!

Instead of this, He made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart;

And let the angry powers of hell

Assault my soul in every part!

Yes more, with His own hand He seemed

Intent to aggravate my woe!

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my gourds--and laid me low!

"Lord, why is this!" I trembling cried,

"Will you pursue your worm to death?"

"This is the way," the Lord replied,

"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,

From self and pride to set you free;

And break your schemes of earthly joy,

That you may seek your all in Me!"

Thankful...

It doesn't have to be November to list our blessings!  I am so thankful for God's intervention in my life.  As full and busy as life is today, it is a different kind of busy.  It seems hard to believe that only five years ago my days looked kind of like this:  7:30am - Sarah to school, 8:10am - Josh to school, 11:35am - Jon to school, 3:15pm - pick boys up, 4:30pm- pick Sarah up from school . . .then, depending on the day it was off to piano, tae-kwan-do, AWANA or what not.  All the homework and busyness while juggling preschoolers Bekah and Hannah and baby Naomi. . . So I am very thankful that God directed us to bring our kids home, instructing them as we rise up, walk the way, sit down, etc.  We are blessed.

Jael collecting eggs. . .

Hannah and her flower bracelet

Naomi checks the chicken nest

First Fruits walk. . .

First Fruits with Dad.

"Come here, Tina, you fat lard. . ." , says Bekah.  Know the movie?  Yes, we have started calling JJ, Tina.

Learning about God through His creation

Homemade Chicken Potpie

 I just thought this was fun. . . how many three month olds do you know who slumber while their sister sings Les Miserables to them?!

Hani and Bekah are busy getting the veggies ready for the pot pie!

Amy's Chicken Pot Pie

Filling:
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 peeled/chopped carrots
4 chopped celery
4 peeled/chopped potatoes
12 oz. frozen corn
12 oz. frozen peas
4 cups shredded chicken

Crust:
2 of Amy's pie crusts rolled out and place on top.  **See next recipe!

Heat broth in large saucepan.  Combine water, flour, salt and pepper.  Add to broth, stirring constantly until thickened.  Place sauce and veggies into casserole dish.  Cover with crust.  Cut holes in the crust to allow steam to escape.  Bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden and filling is bubbly.  Approximately 35 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes.

Amy's Pie Crusts

1 5lb flour
1 3lb can Crisco
2 Tablespoons salt
3 1/2 cups cold water

Mix all together.  Divide into 20 crusts.  Freeze until ready to use.  Thaw and roll out. . .


Enjoy the season of comfort food!

Choosing Books...

We are a home filled with readers.  We actually have to tell our children NOT to read so much.  Crazy.  However wonderful reading is, not all books are beneficial to read.  Here is a wonderful tool that we made into a book mark to assist in choosing our books. . .

"Would I read this book aloud to mother?

Would I feel honored to know the people of this book in real life?

Would the truth of God's Word approve of the conduct of the story characters?

If I 'spend time' reading this book, will I be challenged to live a pure and holy life, a life pleasing to God?

Will the choices and ideals found in this book profit my life?

If I read this book will it help me to better serve my Lord?"

Adapted from Beautiful Girlhood Revised by Karen Andreola

By the way, that is a book worth reading!

New to the Farm...

Jonathan welcomes JJ the alpalca to the farm.  Josh feeds the four sheep in the background.

Not quite the pony that Hannah desires, but it's a start!

We added seven more ladies to the hen house!

Bekah gets JJ used to the farm.  The sheep don't have names, but might be dubbed Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo ...

Farmer Paul home from work and a walk around the lake with kids and animals.

JJ and JJ!

All kinds of waterfowl are making themselves at home out on the lake.  It's a treat to watch.

A local farm is moving and needed to relocate a few of their animals.   We were excited to add an alpalca, 4 sheep and seven hens to our little farm.  If the novelty wears off we are also fortunate to have a niece who would love all of them!  I think the alpalca is a bit old to be good steak....

Family Reunion 2010

Elizabeth hold new cousin, Joseph.



Bekah, Abigail and Emily having fun!



Cousin Rebekah loves the little cousins.  Jael and Hannah love her, too!

The three amigas and a friend.

Playgrounds aren't just for little kids!  Joshua, Sarah and Rebekah Claire try it out.

Papa and Joey have a special talk.

Abigail holding baby Joe.

Bekah, Naomi, Jael, Hannah and Abby

All the grands!

Updated picture of the gang

Uncle Tim, Aunt Hannah and Girlies

Uncle Jon and kiddos (we missed you Auntie Linny)

The Grandparents with their  15 blessings - not bad!

Ethan and Jonathan goofing off!

Jael enjoys the hay ride with Gray-Gray

Jael also enjoyed bugging big cousin Elijah and attention from Uncle Jon

Whose kid is this?  One of the favorite memories of the hay ride. . .

We were blessed to enjoy some time with family in the majestic Rocky Mountains at the YMCA camp.  What a great time and full of memories.  Here are just a few of those special moments. . .

Projects

We made some home made bird feeders.  This is just an empty water bottle with skewers and bird seed!

Peanut butter and bird seed on pine cones is always a favorite!



Paul and the kids get the new coop "squirrel proofed and dog proofed."



Getting comfortable in the new coop.

Some friends were moving and offered us their chicken coop.  Paul and the kids got it situated and rennovated.

Cups!

What's a mom to do?  It is sometimes the "little things" in life that put me over the edge.  Like cups.  There are just too many cups used at this house.  People take a cup and then leave it.  They forget which cup was theirs and pick a new cup.  It drives me nuts to be constantly dealing with cups.  Years ago I was encouraged by Kendra, preschoolersandpeace, to color-coordinate items in the home.  I think I did a few things, like towels and bedding.  Well, it's time for CUPS!  These lovely cups were found at Target for a mere $1.38 - a price worthy of my sanity.  Each child has their own color cup and plate.  Now I will finally know whose milk is left and who forgot to clear their spot at the table!  Victory, I hope.  Even if it might be short-lived and they all melt in the dishwasher.  A day of sanity will be worth it!

Beside the cups is my wonderful, expensive (but worth it) Vita-Mix.  This is one of our favorite meals -Strawberry Banana Smoothie.

Amy's Basic Smoothie Recipe

2-3 frozen bananas
1 apple or pear
10-12 strawberries, frozen
Strawberry yogurt (2-3)
Strawberry Jumex Juice (Mexican section)

Fill blender about 1/3 with Strawberry juice.  Add yogurt and fruits. Blend on high until smooth.  Pour into color-coded cups!

Comfort Food...

Finally, a cloudy almost cool day with a smattering of rain!  It actually feels a bit like fall today.  Sundays are Slow Cooker days around here.  Leaving the house for church at 7:30am and not arriving home until close to 1pm, there are too many little hungry tummies that need to eat RIGHT AWAY.  We have a saying that "Sundays start Saturday evening."  So, that means all the clothes, shoes, Bibles, diaper bag, etc., are set out the night before.  Breakfast is usually quick and easy to clean up and the Crock Pot is going.  If my kids can learn to throw dinner or lunch into the Crock Pot, they will be way ahead of most in cooking!

Today was a easy lunch, no real recipe.  We call it Ground Beef Soup:

1-2 lbs ground beef
Water
Beef boullion or stock
carrots, cut
celery, cut
green beans, chopped
frozen corn
potatoes
chopped onion
garlic salt
celery salt
bay leaves
black pepper
onion powder

Just cook until done and add seasonings until it tastes good to you!  We add rice, but the kids really like it with barley or noodles.

Happy Fall!

Make-Overs...

 I realize that it's difficult to see a room make-over without seeing what it looked like before.  . .but I can't find those photos!  Surprised?  Probably not.  But enjoy, at least, what's taken place!  Women's ministry needed a room to transform and having not really settled in yet. . .I was happy to oblige!

 Transformed into a lovely place to relax!

 The amazing thing is that all this stuff is mine and was still in boxes and around the home in various places. . .

Room for one more chair to make a cozy chat corner for my hubby and me...yippee!

Field Trips....

 Last week was super busy with three field trips!  I didn't really plan it initially that way, but was fooled into thinking that the fall weather was approaching.  It might be, but it hasn't made it yet.  While the zoo was a nice day, it did heat up.  We always seem to have some kind of story happen at the zoo (Grandma getting hit with flying poop, etc.).  This was no exception.  We were with our dear friends the Anthonys when their Hannah and our Jael got sprayed by the tiger.  It was pretty gross, but very unique!

 Naomi is reminded of our goats. . .who are still vacationing somewhere. . .  Later in the week we were scheduled to attend the Fair.  Always fun and educational.  But, super hot this year.  Here we are panning for gold.

 Just the place for my kids, digging and hunting for treasures!  Was nice to have Daddy with us on this trip.

 On Saturday, I had a student to test in the mountains so we headed up the hill and Paul took the kids to the children's museum.  We love that place.  It's a wonderful place of learning and dress-up combined!

 We thought Bekah was a bit "spacy" - ha.

 Josh enjoys man "dress up."

 Can you envision Hani as an ambulance driver!!  Hope it's not too much of an emergency, I just can't see her cutting people off and running lights!

Jael is REALLY into dress-up right now so this was the perfect spot for her to try on and try on and try on. . .you get the idea!