Oh, Christmas Tree

 Guess which tree the little girlies liked?!

 Waiting for Santa. . .

I grew up going out to the Christmas tree farm and cutting a tree with my family.  Paul and I started that way with the kids, but eventually the practical, common sense artificial tree took over.  When we moved last year, the old fake tree didn't make the cut.  So, we're back to picking out a real tree.  While we haven't found a new tree farm, it has been fun going to select one as a family and enjoying the little "draws" the establishments provide. 

Hanging the ornaments was fairly uneventful this year- no broken ones!  The tree ends up getting divided up by height, as each child hangs their ornaments at their level!  Durable ones toward the bottom Joey is on the loose this year!

The Storm

Last week the Santa Ana winds ripped through the valley, up to 60 mph.  We were fortunate not to incur much damage.  The boys may say otherwise, as they spent two days cleaning out pools with leaves over two feet deep! 

Unfortunately the little playgroup was partially wiped out, too.  Here's Joey enjoying his little playground a few days prior.  He had mastered climbing up and sliding down!

After the winds. . .

"Hey! Where did my slide go?"!  Joey looking for his playground :(.  The swings made it, but the fort/slide area was squashed.  Just glad it was at night and no children were playing :).

Preparations

 Setting up the nativity is always something anticipated.

The girlies enjoy getting the nativity all set up and ready.  They love to place all the figurines around and fortunately the set accommodates little hands! While some like anticipation of waiting for baby Jesus to arrive, we like to enjoy Him the entire month.  It's a great reminder of our Lord's condescension.  What an amazing thought to dwell upon - the Perfect One leaving glory and taking on human flesh to be God With Us.  What grace!

Don't you know how that happens?

Ever heard that question?  I really hope you have never said it!  It is one of the dumbest questions ever and the one most frequently asked when you inform people you are pregnant with a number higher than two!  Over the years I've tried different responses.  The silent smile, the impertinent "no, please tell me!", the spiritual response "yes, although I am unworthy, God is choosing to bless me again", the literal/medical "yes, my understanding is that you have a male and a female. . .", the play-it-dumb look "no, how?", and finally I have arrived at my latest response to a question which is so rude it really deserves none.  While I assume that those who ask it are not trying to be rude or stupid, no statements other than congratulations is really necessary. 

Don't you know how that happens?  Now I respond with "Yes, I do!  And I'm really surprised we only have nine!"  Marital sex and the fruit it produces is to be celebrated, not mocked.  :) 

December Traditions

I'd like to say that most of our December traditions are Christmas traditions, as well.  However, finding advent type calendars with Christian themes is becoming increasing difficult, especially as my range of stores narrows!  The preschoolers, kindergarteners, and bigger kids alike enjoy opening and following all the days counting down until Christmas Eve. 

Naomi looks forward to a chocolate square!

Fall on the Farm

The past few weeks have brought beautiful weather with lots of fall projects.  Most include hauling leaves/branches and pruning, but the kids find ways to make it fun! 

 Cayla (Caleb) had a new batch of kitties.  All of them were tigers and we easily found home for these cuties. 

 Jael and Naomi have fun in the "burn pile."

 After hauling all the branches, the stick throwing competition begins!

 The boys and Paul spent a Saturday cutting and hauling firewood, too.  Hannah, Naomi, and Jael enjoy new play places.  Joey is eyeing the big stick!

 Oh, so cute!

 Bekah helps paddle the boat and crew around the lake, even with her broken foot!

I don't think we've introduced Poppet.  Paul found her out on the corner and felt badly for her.  We love calling "here, Poppet!" in a pirate accent.

Annoucements

Less than a week after we announced that God was rewarding us with another blessing, the Duggars announced the expectation of their 20th child.  When hearing about our pregnancy with #9, some folks will ask, " what are you trying to do, keep up with the Duggars?"  This is one family I don't mind being compared to, however.  John and Kate were a different matter.  The Duggars appear to be godly people raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  So, I was thankful when the Duggars made their announcement.  It actually put a lot in perspective.  Here's a woman slightly older than me, going through the physical/emotional trials of pregnancy (11 more than me!), and the opposition I receive (real or perceived) is 100-fold to my 10-fold.  So what that I get some negative reactions from family and strangers?  This woman probably receives hate mail!  I am amazed at the reactions and stupidity that flows from the mouths of people and media regarding the decisions this family has made.

I was raised Methodist.  Let me tell you, the Methodists are PROUD of their Susannah Wesley and her 19 children.  She is hailed as a great mother.  Over half of her children died in infancy, leaving her only 8 to raise to adulthood.  I don't know how the Methodists are reacting to Michelle Duggar, but I doubt with the same praise.  Katie Luther had six children.  Sarah Edwards raised eleven children.  My great-grandmother had nine children... 

We would do well to remember that it is only in this century that we have seen the results of a birth controlled world and the decline of children to a point where many countries are under replacement rates.  We are an anti-child society.  This could not be further from the heart of God. 

Christ followers should be proclaiming the blessing of life and children, not buying into worldly thinking that we or the Duggars are somehow "irresponsible" in our choices.  Voddie  Bauchum makes an observation that Christians want God's blessings and rewards when it comes to good health, happiness, success, prosperity, peace. . .but not His blessing of children.  This blessing they say "no thanks, God." 

May He have mercy.

Progress...

I posted the quote from Jonathan Edward's regarding time in the Chew On This column because I always think I'll have "time" to blog. . . it's probably safer that I don't!  While we all have just 24 hours in a day, it seems mine get filled with more and more of the "immediate."  Diapers that must be changed, children who desire meals, formal education, clean home and clothes (I admit, I desire this one more than my kids!), people to disciple, family to enjoy, hospitality to be displayed, LIFE!

And in all these daily, often mundane, life activities - God is there.  Not passively watching as an amused spectator.  No, divinely at work, orchestrating all things for my good and future glorification.  Gloriously at work in the lives of my husband, children, and self.  Painfully at work, too. 

There is not enough room or time to write all the details of our kitchen remodel.  A major project that started with an explosive boom that slowly fizzled out.  I began to doubt whether it would ever be completed.  Finally, we have some progress.  After eight months of waiting for right orders, non-damaged items, delays, errors, etc., we saw a glimpse of hope this week as the kitchen began it's final stages of completion.  We are now waiting for Kraftmaid to come out and redo all the glazing in the kitchen.  After that step, the backsplash and flooring can go in and we can be done!

Decorative pillars help hide spacing issues.

Panels added throughout the kitchen help mask the glazing problems.  A baseboard will be added after the flooring is completed.

Regular filler strips hide ugly spacers, without drawing attention to defects

more end panels

  Despite all the delays and problems, I love my new kitchen.  I am so happy to not be working in a teeny little cramped space.  The kitchen has become that daily place of gathering and talking that I hoped it would be.  Having a full view of both the front and back yards is wonderful.  The sunsets I enjoy!  By waiting, God graciously provided us with upgrades we wouldn't have afforded, reimbursements for cabinets, money to be put toward flooring, and lots of extra cabinets/materials with which to make our laundry room and enhance the built-ins and fireplace mantel.  However, I'm still happy and hopeful it's almost done!

Remembering 9/11

I don't consider myself overly patriotic.  I am an American and I do pledge my allegience to our flag, honor those who serve for my freedoms, pay my taxes, and consider myself a law-abiding citizen.  However, I do not deck out my home and yard with flags on Flag Day or dress the family in red, white and blue every July 4th.  I do not think God is American, either.  I don't believe we are a Christian nation founded on Christian priniciples.  While many of our founders were Christian and that is evident, we are a country founded on religious freedom.

However, we do remember 9/11/01.  Only three of our eight children were alive then and they were too little to remember the events of that day.  We remember the horror and terror, the utter disbelief as we watched the events unfold.  As our children watched clips last night they were struck by the "realness" of the event.  Real children missing real parents.  So many lives changed forever.  So many crying out to God on that day. . .are they still? 

It doesn't take long to forget, just a generation or two.  My mother was only a few months old when Pearl Harbor was attacked.  The tragedy of that day is remembered vividly by only a few now.  Exodus begins by telling us "Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph..."  How the lives of the Israelites changed because one generation failed to tell the next of this great man. 

How much more should we be declaring God's works and Who He Is to the next generation?  When we remember Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the earthquakes in Japan. . .we remember it is our Sovereign King at work!  All things are ordained by His hand and He can be completely trusted.  He did not spare His own son, but sent Him from the glories of Heaven to take on flesh.  He became imminent.  He is with us.  Christ bore the wrath of God for the sins of His bride. 

Let us remember all events and tragedies in light of the cross.  Let us speak of them to the next generation, so they may tell their children's children of the glories of our King.

Happy Labor Day!

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  You are serving the Lord Christ."  Colossians 3:23-24

From Joe Thorns' Note to Self:

WORK

"Dear Self,
You need to see all of life as spiritual, and your calling or emplyment as work for God regardless of pay, position, or its connection to the church.  In other words, stop treating what you spend the bulk of your day engaged in as something divorced from God and His work in and through you.

Your work is one of the primary ways in which you will glorify God. For as you do it in faith, thankfulness, and godliness, you are serving God and reflecting His beauty to everyone around you.

Perhaps you struggle with wondering how your oh-so-ordinary and mundane work could glorify God, and maybe you even believe that translating the Bible into a language that has never read Scripture before is something that brings more glory to God than what you are doing.  You think that way because you have not yet grasped that God is glorified by His people when His people are faithful to Him. 

Your calling is to be faithful to God where you are, and in doing this all work is sacred, spiritual, and worthy of your full attention and energy.  When you get to work, you are not entering a secular environment as much as you are bringing the sacred into the world by following Christ wherever you are."


Here's my note to myself:
Dear Self:
Work today as unto the Lord.  For Christ you labor and not for men.  Praise Him for all the mundane tasks that fill your waking hours and often, hours that should be spent in sleep.  Thank Him for the opportunity to show grace and joy one more hour to those He brings into my home and life today. 

I need not the applause or accolades of the world.  The noble titles and prestige and honors many earn.  Let me hear only from my Father  "well done, Faithful One. You have cared well for the souls entrusted to you."  Let me serve only Christ, my King.

updates...

 Hannah learned to write a bike earlier this summer and has been whizzing around ever since. . .

 Joey is pretty happy with himself, too, since he learned to walk. . .he's getting everywhere now!

A family who had out-grown this passed in on!  Fun for all.

Sorry

Wow, I really am a slacker!  Well, maybe that's not the best description of me. . .but so much for keeping up on the blog thing.  My hope of persevering family memories is fading, my thoughts of communicating with extended family is failing, my attempts to even muse become folly!  I'm not big on making this an "on-line" journal kinda deal where I emote and overshare my life.  I think there are enough people making fools of themselves these days via the web, we don't need one more fool publically displaying her foolishness!  :)

The kids continue to grow, definitely in stature and I'm praying for wisdom with God and men!  We have embraced summer (not ready for the triple digits) but are still completing some various assignments. 

The kitchen is still in process.  Yes, disappointing.  We knew there would be glitches, but I guess we have been blessed to experience them in all areas:  Lowes, Kraftmaid, the installer.  It is functional and i am thankful for that.  God's timing is perfect and I keep telling myself it will all be "ok.":)

We are blessed to be hiding Psalm 103 in our hearts this summer.  Join us!  It's been a blessing already to be mindful to "bless the Lord, o my soul" in every situation and circumstance.  It was the great Dr. Martyn Loyd-Jones who exhorted believers to stop listening to themselves and start talking to themselves (talking truth, that is!).

Who knows. . .maybe I'll make a come back this summer!! 

Perhaps I'll make a come back here on the blog. . .

Oops

Well, we came home a week ago today looking for out cat, Caleb.  After searching for a bit we discovered him in the planter with four baby kitties!  Oops.  Guess he isn't the Daddy cat after all.  We are changing his name to Cayla:).  The kittens are darling: one blond, one orange, one gray striped, and one calico.  Pictures to follow...

 We're having beautiful weather this year.  I am hopeful that Easter Sunday will be just as gorgeous since we're hosting this year!  Yes, a bit daunting giving our remodeling situation but people just enjoy being together more than what condition our homes are in, right?  Tomorrow is supposed to be a day of more completion on the kitchen, so perhaps I'll have an oven and things will look a bit more "finished."

But, today we enjoyed a favorite tradition of dyeing the Easter eggs.  We have to start blowing them several weeks prior so each child has several eggs to dye.

Joey's first Easter and experience with eggs.  I've learned to dye the eggs several days prior to Easter so we don't all go to church with green/purple/blue hands and fingers!

Joey Boy

Never too young to love nerf guns!

Look, Mom, no hands!

Caught!

Joey's liking being on this side of the exersaucer now!

Hmm, what can I get to next?

Out little boy is on the move these days.  He sports his camo in honor of his Uncle Jon, who was also an "army crawler."  Joey is the fastest army crawling baby I've ever seen!  I keep saying that he's not really crawling yet, but have been advised that army crawling is real crawling!  He has now moved on to pulling himself up and trying to climb onto things.  Joey is on the move which makes it all the more necessary to finish up these home projects. . .  Our little guy is recovering from pneumonia, but he seems to be on the mend.

More life...

Paul opened the door early Saturday morning and found a litter of kittens on the door step!  They were still wet and getting cleaned up from Mama Cat, Maachah.  So sweet and little. . .anyone need a kitty?!

Spring!

Spring has come to the farm!  It is lovely here.  With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of babies!  We love babies!  Our (now 9) chicks were joined by two darling ducklings bought by Joshua. . .

 The kids also pooled their money together to purchase three baby bunnies from a neighbor.  Nilla, Mocha and Chip are fun and playful additions to the family.  I like them because they like to eat my pesky clover weeds:) and lawn trimmings.

 Happiness is holding a baby!  Naomi cuddles with Nilla, while Jonathan introduces Chip to clover.

 Sarah and Bekah sharing Mocha.

 Learning to be careful. . .

 Joshua protecting Chip from JJ!

New chicks to the farm

So much fun!

It's a cute contest!

Joey and Jael are loving the little chicks.  . .but have to be watched closely.

Our new brood.

Yum, I like chicken!