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

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...

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

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.

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?



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.