Monday, August 31, 2009
Birthday Sedative
Jude tried to enjoy his birthday cake leftovers tonight, but the chocolate got the better of him. To be clear, though, Jude only bears a slight family resemblance to his Great Uncle Keith.
Scaredy Cat
We have one Rhode Island White chicken. She's a good chicken, the lone survivor (of her breed) of the chicken carnage we suffered in January of this year. This particular chicken is so friendly, that I've often joked she thinks she's a special pet, one that deserves to come inside and be with "her people." Well, the other day, she did just that. Paul left the door open when he went inside to fetch something and our friendly little hen followed him right into the house . We had to shoo her out and tell her she wasn't allowed that honor.
As our little hen is so friendly, she loves to be in very close proximity to whoever ventures outside. She's quick to find you when you step onto the back porch and then she follows you around as you walk about the yard. Joel, however, is not at all pleased when the chicken follows him--in fact he's down right petrified. He runs into the house yelling, "Mama, icken (chicken) ase (chase) me!" If the chicken is within spitting distance, Joel insists on begin held or otherwise protected from the chicken by one of the bigger people in the family. Jude, on the other hand, is not at all afraid of our friendly hen. He just doesn't want to share his food with her.
Jude and the hen. Jude is snacking on a tortilla (part of our al fresco dinner) and the chicken is eating our corn leftovers.
As our little hen is so friendly, she loves to be in very close proximity to whoever ventures outside. She's quick to find you when you step onto the back porch and then she follows you around as you walk about the yard. Joel, however, is not at all pleased when the chicken follows him--in fact he's down right petrified. He runs into the house yelling, "Mama, icken (chicken) ase (chase) me!" If the chicken is within spitting distance, Joel insists on begin held or otherwise protected from the chicken by one of the bigger people in the family. Jude, on the other hand, is not at all afraid of our friendly hen. He just doesn't want to share his food with her.
Jude and the hen. Jude is snacking on a tortilla (part of our al fresco dinner) and the chicken is eating our corn leftovers.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The County Fair
A week ago Saturday, Matt and I spent the day helping the kids finish their entries for the county fair. We all went to the fair on Tuesday to see the ribbons that each entry received (and to eat elephant ears, of course). Paul and Joel also rode the little roller coaster.
Grace got blue ribbons for her jam, cookies and brownies.
Elizabeth got a blue ribbon for her clay models and a red for her butterscotch brownie.
Paul got a blue ribbon for his finch bird feeder. Paul designed the feeder all by himself. Daddy cut the pieces of wood on the table saw, but Paul nailed, glued and stained the feeder on his own.
On a lark, Melissa entered a gift basket and won the "Best in Show" for that category.--Matt
Friday night, Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jane took us to the fair again so that they could see the kids' entries. Joel and Lydia rode on the little ponies. Joel is crazy about horses (he even sleeps with his horsies--both stuffed and hard plastic), so he was thrilled to be able to ride on one. He had a huge smile plastered on his face for the entire ride.
Grace got blue ribbons for her jam, cookies and brownies.
Elizabeth got a blue ribbon for her clay models and a red for her butterscotch brownie.
Paul got a blue ribbon for his finch bird feeder. Paul designed the feeder all by himself. Daddy cut the pieces of wood on the table saw, but Paul nailed, glued and stained the feeder on his own.
On a lark, Melissa entered a gift basket and won the "Best in Show" for that category.--Matt
Friday night, Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jane took us to the fair again so that they could see the kids' entries. Joel and Lydia rode on the little ponies. Joel is crazy about horses (he even sleeps with his horsies--both stuffed and hard plastic), so he was thrilled to be able to ride on one. He had a huge smile plastered on his face for the entire ride.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Mighty Explorer
Paul was here.Rimrock Lake and Mount Adams are in the Background.
Smoke is rising from the controlled burns that the forest service was doing.--Matt
(Matt and Paul went on a father/son retreat this past weekend. They grew closer to each other and to the Lord Jesus. Matt, the Eagle Scout, realized he no longer sleeps very well when he's not in his own bed and Paul loved the canoeing and the food.)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Happy First Birthday
Our little Jude, who the doctors said wouldn't make it, is one year old today. We are blessed to have a beautiful bouncing baby boy--a gift from God to our family.
Blessings and Cursings
The blessings of having six kids can't be numbered. Around here, we're never without a good laugh, a good helper or a good playmate. However, six kids also means more work. More laundry, more cooking, more cleaning. It also means when one gets sick, the others will soon follow. And it never happens like a game of "Perfection" where the timer goes off and every thing explodes and you deal with the mess all at once. It happens more like dominoes, with one piece falling at a time.
Since last Saturday, Matt and I have been observing the dreaded "domino effect" in our family. Matt and I decided on Saturday that since Jude is almost one, he should learn how to sleep through the night. I know, I'm a softy when it comes to this subject, and it probably should have been done a lot sooner. So Matt lost a lot of sleep Saturday night so that Jude could learn he doesn't need mama in the middle of the night. I lost my fair share of sleep, too, because this mama hates to hear her babies cry.
Then Sunday night came. Repeat Saturday night's procedure and add Lydia spiking a fever at 2 a.m. for no apparent reason. Monday night, repeat Sunday night procedure, except add Jude spiking a fever at midnight. Tuesday night, repeat Monday night procedure, except drop Lydia and add Joel spiking a fever at 2 a.m. and then Jude at 3 a.m.
Needless to say, I think our bed has seen less of our feet than the floor the last few nights and we're bushed. But then the morning comes and all the littles wake up with bright shiny faces and Matt and I smile at each other and sigh and say, "This is the life."
Tomorrow afternoon, Matt and Paul leave to go on a father/son retreat in the mountains. This morning I said, "Daddy's going to have to go camping to get some sleep."
Since last Saturday, Matt and I have been observing the dreaded "domino effect" in our family. Matt and I decided on Saturday that since Jude is almost one, he should learn how to sleep through the night. I know, I'm a softy when it comes to this subject, and it probably should have been done a lot sooner. So Matt lost a lot of sleep Saturday night so that Jude could learn he doesn't need mama in the middle of the night. I lost my fair share of sleep, too, because this mama hates to hear her babies cry.
Then Sunday night came. Repeat Saturday night's procedure and add Lydia spiking a fever at 2 a.m. for no apparent reason. Monday night, repeat Sunday night procedure, except add Jude spiking a fever at midnight. Tuesday night, repeat Monday night procedure, except drop Lydia and add Joel spiking a fever at 2 a.m. and then Jude at 3 a.m.
Needless to say, I think our bed has seen less of our feet than the floor the last few nights and we're bushed. But then the morning comes and all the littles wake up with bright shiny faces and Matt and I smile at each other and sigh and say, "This is the life."
Tomorrow afternoon, Matt and Paul leave to go on a father/son retreat in the mountains. This morning I said, "Daddy's going to have to go camping to get some sleep."
Monday, August 24, 2009
My New Addiction
I'm addicted to my newly discovered summer drink--peach iced tea. I got the recipe from a friend. Just brew a half gallon of sun tea (I use 4 tea bags) and then add one little container of peach (or whatever flavor you like) Crystal Light (I use the Wal-Mart brand). YUMMOLICIOUS and so pretty, too.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Extreme Coupon Success
I've been trying my hand at "extreme couponing" lately. I'll tell you, even though I've used coupons for fifteen years, this has been like learning a new language. For the last couple of months, I have just watched and read the blogs on how to get great deals on groceries and drug store items so that I could build up enough confidence to "go for it."
I finally hit pay dirt last Sunday when I got six cans of matzah cake meal, two cans of macaroons, two boxes of matzah, four boxes of matzah meal (for matzah ball soup) and four jars of gourmet spaghetti sauce for $1.45. Granted, all of this stuff was on clearance, but even so, the total was $16.45 before the checker applied my "extreme discount" of fifteen dollars off my purchase.
I was most excited about the matzah cake meal, which I plan to store in the freezer for our next Passover Seder meal. Every year, I check every grocery store in town for matzah cake meal--always to no avail. I looked into ordering it over the internet, but at $6.00 a can and a minimum $50 order, I gave up and have stuck with the one Passover dessert recipe I found that didn't call for the stuff. No more. Brownies, cakes, cookies--you name it--if it's kosher for Passover I'll be all over it.
In the spirit of couponing success, I'm posting this picture of my purchases, a la "extreme couponing blog."
I finally hit pay dirt last Sunday when I got six cans of matzah cake meal, two cans of macaroons, two boxes of matzah, four boxes of matzah meal (for matzah ball soup) and four jars of gourmet spaghetti sauce for $1.45. Granted, all of this stuff was on clearance, but even so, the total was $16.45 before the checker applied my "extreme discount" of fifteen dollars off my purchase.
I was most excited about the matzah cake meal, which I plan to store in the freezer for our next Passover Seder meal. Every year, I check every grocery store in town for matzah cake meal--always to no avail. I looked into ordering it over the internet, but at $6.00 a can and a minimum $50 order, I gave up and have stuck with the one Passover dessert recipe I found that didn't call for the stuff. No more. Brownies, cakes, cookies--you name it--if it's kosher for Passover I'll be all over it.
In the spirit of couponing success, I'm posting this picture of my purchases, a la "extreme couponing blog."
1989-2009
Last night Matt and I attended my twenty year high school class reunion. From "Most Likely to Succeed" to "Most Children." I even won a t-shirt.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Rocks First
Matt and I had our annual homeschool planning day this past Saturday. When we do this, we pray about and discuss the plans we have for each of our children for the upcoming school year.
This year we discussed rocks, Matt's term for the "important stuff." He keeps reminding me that the rocks won't fit into the jar if I've filled the jar with sand (the "unimportant stuff") first. I have a tendency this time of year to think about all the wonderful activities out there for the kids. I think, "Wouldn't she enjoy that?" "Wouldn't it be great if he could do that?" or worse, "If my kids don't do these things, I'll be a failure as a homeschool mom."
As Matt and I talked about all the possibilities for the children, we kept coming back to a conversation we had with our dear friends a couple of weeks ago. Our friends (who also homeschool) are facing a grave medical issue right now. The wife told me of the plans they had for their oldest son this academic school year. She said they've scrapped those plans. Instead, they intend to spend quality days together as a family "because life is too short."
Six years ago, we were just beginning our first year of homeschooling. We were also facing a very difficult trial of our faith. This trial consumed much of our time and energy. Matt and I spent many hours reading the Bible and in prayer. I questioned the Lord's wisdom in allowing us to go through something so horrendous during our first year of homeschooling. Now I clearly see the Lord's wisdom. He was teaching us that there is nothing more important on this earth than cultivating a relationship with His Son, Jesus the Christ. There is no curriculum or activity for my kids that supersedes the importance of time spent in God's word, the Bible.
Six years later, I find that I still struggle with getting our priorities straight. I still try to add things to the family's schedule. They're not bad things, they're good things. But the good is the enemy of the best. If the things I try to add push out the best (reading and study of His Word), then what good are those things?
Having said that, Matt and I try to evaluate all of our kids activities by looking at them from both a long term and eternal perspective. How would a certain activity benefit this child when he becomes an adult? Does this activity have any eternal value? For instance, in the case of piano lessons for Grace, Matt and I looked beyond her present pleasure with playing the piano and thought of how her ability to play piano could benefit her later in life. We realized she will eventually be able to play during worship at church (she has done this once already). She will also be able to play for own family some day (if the Lord should grant her one) and teach them the hymns and songs of praise that she is learning now.
Matt and I also take into account the talents the Lord has given each child, but we still try to come back to the long term or eternal benefit of the activity we're considering for that child. Our family theme verse for the last few years has been, "Redeeming the time, for the days are evil." (Ephes. 5:15) When one of the kids asks me about joining some current faddish activity (think Webkinz), I ask that child, "Do think that is 'redeeming the time?' " Usually the answer is, "no." Then we try to think of something else to learn or do that would be more valuable, like knitting or wood working.
I'm certainly not implying that Matt and I have it "all together" and we're doing things perfectly. We're still learning (and relearning) important lessons the Lord is teaching (or reteaching) us about being good parents. But the bottom line is this, both Matt and I want to be able to look at our adult children and say, "I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth." (3 John 4)
This year we discussed rocks, Matt's term for the "important stuff." He keeps reminding me that the rocks won't fit into the jar if I've filled the jar with sand (the "unimportant stuff") first. I have a tendency this time of year to think about all the wonderful activities out there for the kids. I think, "Wouldn't she enjoy that?" "Wouldn't it be great if he could do that?" or worse, "If my kids don't do these things, I'll be a failure as a homeschool mom."
As Matt and I talked about all the possibilities for the children, we kept coming back to a conversation we had with our dear friends a couple of weeks ago. Our friends (who also homeschool) are facing a grave medical issue right now. The wife told me of the plans they had for their oldest son this academic school year. She said they've scrapped those plans. Instead, they intend to spend quality days together as a family "because life is too short."
Six years ago, we were just beginning our first year of homeschooling. We were also facing a very difficult trial of our faith. This trial consumed much of our time and energy. Matt and I spent many hours reading the Bible and in prayer. I questioned the Lord's wisdom in allowing us to go through something so horrendous during our first year of homeschooling. Now I clearly see the Lord's wisdom. He was teaching us that there is nothing more important on this earth than cultivating a relationship with His Son, Jesus the Christ. There is no curriculum or activity for my kids that supersedes the importance of time spent in God's word, the Bible.
Six years later, I find that I still struggle with getting our priorities straight. I still try to add things to the family's schedule. They're not bad things, they're good things. But the good is the enemy of the best. If the things I try to add push out the best (reading and study of His Word), then what good are those things?
Having said that, Matt and I try to evaluate all of our kids activities by looking at them from both a long term and eternal perspective. How would a certain activity benefit this child when he becomes an adult? Does this activity have any eternal value? For instance, in the case of piano lessons for Grace, Matt and I looked beyond her present pleasure with playing the piano and thought of how her ability to play piano could benefit her later in life. We realized she will eventually be able to play during worship at church (she has done this once already). She will also be able to play for own family some day (if the Lord should grant her one) and teach them the hymns and songs of praise that she is learning now.
Matt and I also take into account the talents the Lord has given each child, but we still try to come back to the long term or eternal benefit of the activity we're considering for that child. Our family theme verse for the last few years has been, "Redeeming the time, for the days are evil." (Ephes. 5:15) When one of the kids asks me about joining some current faddish activity (think Webkinz), I ask that child, "Do think that is 'redeeming the time?' " Usually the answer is, "no." Then we try to think of something else to learn or do that would be more valuable, like knitting or wood working.
I'm certainly not implying that Matt and I have it "all together" and we're doing things perfectly. We're still learning (and relearning) important lessons the Lord is teaching (or reteaching) us about being good parents. But the bottom line is this, both Matt and I want to be able to look at our adult children and say, "I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth." (3 John 4)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Julie and Julia
My sister called me three weeks ago to set up a date to go see the movie Julie and Julia. Today was the date we marked on the calendar and we met at the theater this afternoon to see the last matinee of the day. The movie exceeded my expectations (the trailer didn't look all that promising). Ems and I laughed through the whole thing, including parts that the other people in the audience weren't laughing at. What can I say? That's why we can't sit together in church any more.
I especially liked the way the marriages of both the "Julies" were presented in a very positive light, something that's not often done in Hollywood these days. The movie made me want to pick up my copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (which I got for a steal at a yard sale and sits as decoration on my kitchen counter) and give a recipe a go--maybe the boeuf bourguignon for starters. Bon appetit!
I especially liked the way the marriages of both the "Julies" were presented in a very positive light, something that's not often done in Hollywood these days. The movie made me want to pick up my copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (which I got for a steal at a yard sale and sits as decoration on my kitchen counter) and give a recipe a go--maybe the boeuf bourguignon for starters. Bon appetit!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Marked for Christ
Matt and I want to make certain that everyone who enters our home knows that our family and all that we own belongs to the Lord, all of it has come from His gracious hand. Matt had a huge poster made of a passage from Deuteronomy that he hung on the wall in the living room. We had the poster in that place for about a year, but then we decided to purchase something that looked more permanent.
We bought this verse in vinyl letters from a company called Fruitful Vine Creations. We thought this verse from the Psalms embodied what we want visitors to our home to understand about our family. A picture of the verse on our wall is featured on the blog of the Fruitful Vine Creations website.
It took us over two hours to apply the lettering to the wall, but we are pleased with the result. The verse is the first thing you see as you walk into the house. I'm very aware that when I open my door, the person standing there can clearly see the verse on the wall behind me. My response to that person (no matter how annoyed I may be at the sales pitch for cleaner or another religion) should mirror Christ's love. When I invite a neighbor into my home for a short chat, my behavior and my words should show that I am a Christian, just as the verse on the wall of my living room declares.
Matt and I know that anything good about our lives comes only from the Lord. The Bible verse on our wall is a daily reminder of this truth.
We bought this verse in vinyl letters from a company called Fruitful Vine Creations. We thought this verse from the Psalms embodied what we want visitors to our home to understand about our family. A picture of the verse on our wall is featured on the blog of the Fruitful Vine Creations website.
It took us over two hours to apply the lettering to the wall, but we are pleased with the result. The verse is the first thing you see as you walk into the house. I'm very aware that when I open my door, the person standing there can clearly see the verse on the wall behind me. My response to that person (no matter how annoyed I may be at the sales pitch for cleaner or another religion) should mirror Christ's love. When I invite a neighbor into my home for a short chat, my behavior and my words should show that I am a Christian, just as the verse on the wall of my living room declares.Matt and I know that anything good about our lives comes only from the Lord. The Bible verse on our wall is a daily reminder of this truth.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer Vacation '09
We took a short trip this past weekend. We saw some dear friends, visited my Grandma and two of my cousins and their families, rode camels at the zoo and went on a tram ride through a small wild life preserve. The kids swam in a wading pool, a big pool and a lake. We enjoyed two picnic lunches and even watched a little Food Network at the hotel. We've spent the last couple of days just trying to catch up on laundry and get back into our routine, but it's been worth it--we had a great time.
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