Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Cold winter, Warm winter



Although we have had our share of cold winter days
and frosty pink mornings, like the one above,
we are enjoying some very warm winter days
this week!  The robins have returned already
and the geese are busy flying overhead from one
pond to another.  We are ready for spring,
even though it's still 2 months till garden planting time.





Life is full these days.  I am now homeschooling
three of our kids, two 2nd graders and a 5th grader.
They do well in school so it makes for a nice morning
usually!  Miss E likes to sit in her high chair and color
or write while the boys do their work.  I do enjoy
the homeschooling lifestyle, it takes so much less time
than regular school, so the kids have much more
time to play and be creative and have adventures.
But homeschooling also takes a lot of my time,
so it's a trade off.  It's working well for now,
but we haven't decided yet about next year.




We would appreciate your prayers for Miss E.
She has had chronic nasal congestion her whole
life.  We found out before Christmas that she was
allergic to milk, eggs, and soy, and so we took her
off those foods and she improved quite a bit.
But now it's worse again, and her breathing sounds
awful, especially when she's sleeping.  The doctor
thinks she probably needs her tonsils removed,
and so we have an appointment with an ENT
doctor, but it's not till March.  I called to see
if we could get in sooner but we can't.  So we
would appreciate your prayers, that Miss E would
get better so that she doesn't need the surgery,
and that the doctors will have wisdom to be
able to figure out what is causing her runny nose
in the first place, thanks!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Friday, January 23, 2015

Entertainment center to sewing cabinet



I wanted to share with you all what my husband made me for
Christmas this year- a sewing cabinet!  But he didn't start from
scratch.  This sewing cabinet used to be an entertainment center!



Andy added in a shelf for my sewing baskets,
and a slide out shelf for the sewing machine.



He even made a shelf that raises and lowers custom made
for my sewing machine.  Pretty cool, huh? 



Now I'm off to do a little sewing...

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Half a Dozen

~Here are some pics of four of our six children~

For some reason, going from five to six children has been
a harder switch than going from three to four or four to five.
Maybe it's because I'm older, ahem, and the brain doesn't
work as quickly?  I'm not sure, but my brain is definitely
full all the time!  Having toddlers to teenagers with
everything in between keeps me hopping these days.
I am thankful that God is gracious and understanding,
he has given us precious verses to encourage us busy moms.

He tends his flock like a shepherd.
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11

One of our kids mentioned the other day that our family
has the most kids living at home of anyone in our church.
I was kind of shocked to realize that, I never really
set out to break any records or anything!  But I guess if
you think about the fact that God enabled us to adopt
five times, that really is amazing.  He has blessed us!
But with all these blessings my weaknesses are really
starting to show up, it seems.  So I like this verse too-
I just have to remember to let God's strength fill me
instead of trying to survive on my own.

"My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

Monday, January 12, 2015

Tea with Grandma

"Serenity is a solitary cup of tea;
pleasure is sharing it with another."
 
 
Last week my mother in law, Jacki, came for a visit.
We had a great time with her, and one fun thing we did
was have a tea party with just the girls. 

 
We used these pretty white rose tea cups,
which came from Jacki's grandma, so that
would be Miss E's great-great-grandma!
Her name was Martha, here is a photo of
her from 80 years ago, in western Colorado.
 


 
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth
I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe...
You have given me the heritage
of those who fear your name.
Psalm 61:1-3,5
 
I am joining Tea Time Tuesday.

Monday, January 5, 2015

The Woodstove

 
We really enjoy our woodstove, and it is our primary source
of heat in the winter.  The kids love sitting by the stove in the
cool mornings- but it does take a bit of work!
 
 
Thankfully we have a lot of hedge trees here at our place,
because they burn really well.  So the kids all help out with
splitting wood in the fall and loading it in the wood shed.

 


 
Many hands make light work, right?


Saturday, January 3, 2015

January is gray, but tea is good.

I decided on my New Year's resolution~
have more tea parties!! I don't think Miss E
will argue, she loves the pretty dishes and the tea.
 
 
Since January is kind of a blue and gray month, we are using
our blue transferware today.  This little china dog and cat
were given to me by my Grandma after her trips to Holland
back when I was a little girl.  Miss E loved them.

 
Our teacups are "Liberty Blue" and feature Paul Revere.

 
My antique doll, which is wearing my mother in law's
crocheted dress and baby bonnet, joined us.

 
Since January is so gray, it is nice to make
things happier with a cup of good tea.
 
 
I'm a blessed mama!

 
Good to the last drop...

 
I'll be joining Sandy's Tea Time Tuesday next week.

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