My brain is full

My brain is full-

Thanksgiving is this week, how is it Thanksgiving already?

I think I got all our food bought yesterday, our menu on Thursday

for our family Thanksgiving will be:

Turkey

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Cornbread Stuffing

Cranberry Jello

Corn

Cranberry Bread

Apple and Pumpkin Pie

 

We always have a Thanksgiving with just our kids,

we use the good dishes and eat a fancy meal, and it's always fun.

Aren't cardinals in the snow so pretty?  I love their cheery redness.

We got Miss E's allergy test results back.  She doesn't have any

seasonal or indoor/outdoor allergies, but she is allergic to eggs

and is a little bit allergic to milk and soy.  So we are taking out the

eggs for a few weeks to see if it helps.  So far her poor little nose

is still running, but maybe not quite as much.  I'm thankful we at

least have some answers.

Doesn't this old church look so peaceful?  It's the church that the

family who built our stone house attended 100 years ago.

Unfortunately, life isn't usually this peaceful.  We hurt each

other, we ache for those who are hurt, and we live with the

effects of sin daily.  Makes me long for heaven.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God

and that no bitter root grows up

to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15

Embracing Winter

With this early cold snap we are all thinking, ugh, it's

going to be a loooong winter.  I took these pictures Saturday

and now we are covered in snow!  Maybe it's because

we spent too much time living in Arizona and Mexico, but

this cold weather just isn't my favorite.  So, I decided maybe

I needed to come up with a list of fun things that can only be

done in the winter time, to help me "embrace winter"!

~enjoy a hot cup of tea~

~warm up under an old quilt~

~play table games during the long winter evenings~

~stay warm while finishing that crocheted afghan I started last winter~

~do lots of baking without getting hot~

~wear cozy sweaters~

~dream of Christmas~

~decorate for Christmas~

~shop for Christmas~

~listen to Christmas music~

~celebrate six birthdays in our family~

~enjoy the crackling of the fire in the woodstove~

~watch football on tv~

~wear my warm fuzzy slippers~

Do you have any more to add?

Give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Christmas past

So, are you thinking about Christmas yet?

The Christmas music has been playing around here

for a few weeks now, and at night I think about how

I'm going to decorate the tree this year!  So for fun,

I thought we would take a look at Christmas past today!

It's interesting to see how the Christmas tree styles

have changed over the years.  So here's three generations

of my family, standing in front of the Christmas tree.

~Christmas 1965~

I love this old German feather tree, and the little village

underneath it!  My mom, (in the photo above with her brothers)

 still puts up this same tree every year in her spare bedroom

with many of the same ornaments!

~Christmas 1988~

Remember the artificial trees with the big fat branches? 

And the gold tinsel and colored, blinking, lights?  The lights

on Christmas trees don't blink anymore.  The photo above is

me with my three brothers.

~Christmas 2010~

Our Christmas tree is loaded with ornaments now.

Each of our kids has their own bagful, and Andy and I

each have some from when we were young.  Each ornament

is a special memory, and it's so fun decorating our tree

each year!  Only a couple more weeks!

Allergies???

After writing this, I realized this post is kind of

scattered, like my brain lately...

 

 

Wow, the weather sure changed fast yesterday around here!

We were in town and so we watched the temperature drop while

 we were driving around, it fell 35 degrees in 3 hours!  Made me

wish I had brought my jacket.  So, now we have a fire in the wood

stove, and the kids are rummaging around trying to find their

coveralls, gloves, and hats, while I try to stay indoors!

 

Ever since Miss E came out of the hospital at birth she has had chronic

nasal congestion.  Her nose runs a lot and at night she has trouble

breathing.  So this afternoon we are going to an allergist to get

her tested for allergies.  I'm kind of nervous about it though

because she is so afraid of doctors, she cries and cries every

time we go, and this test requires them to poke a bunch of needles

in her back, with different allergens in them, to see how she reacts.

It takes 2 hours.  Thankfully my Mom is coming along to help

me out and hopefully we can all stay calm throughout.

I am guessing it's a food allergy, but we'll see.

We'd appreciate your prayers, that the doctors would be able

to figure out what the problem is.  Thanks.

 

 

Even though this test won't be any fun I'm thankful that

we have such good medical care.  If we lived 500 years ago

many members of our family would not be here today,

because they would have died from things like ruptured

appendixes or other things that are so easily fixed today.

So there is always something to be thankful for, right?

 

Through all the storms of life, I am so glad that God is

right there beside me.  Lately I read the book, "Let's Roll",

by Lisa Beamer.  Her husband died on September 11, 2001,

on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.  She said this,

and I totally agree.

 

"But I have found safety and security in a loving heavenly

Father, who cannot be shaken, who will never leave me

or forsake me, and in whom I can trust completely. For

those looking for hope, I recommend grabbing the hand

of your heavenly Father as tightly as possible, like a little

child does with his parent.  God is a hero who will always

be there when you need him."

 

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly

calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus,

the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Hebrews 3:1

Time for tea

 

The wind is howling outside, so today Miss E

and I had our tea time indoors, at the little kitchen

cupboard she has in her room.  This is the kitchen

cupboard that originally belonged to my Grandma,

and has been passed around to all the girls in the family

ever since.  We were able to go out in the wind this

morning and find a few roses and mums that

escaped the frost last week.  Next week it's supposed

to be even colder so we will enjoy these while

we have them! 

 

This sweet little teapot is made by Sadler, and the two teacups

we chose coordinate nicely with the pink and purple of the flowers,

don't you think?  The smaller one that Miss E used is one of my

favorites, the pattern is Castleton Manor.  The larger teacup is by

Sandy Clough, called "Hope".  For so long we hoped and waited

for Miss E, and now she is here and bringing us so much joy!

 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

 

We actually drank real tea this time, it wasn't too hot and

Miss E really loved it- she had three cupful's!  Well, I guess

you would call this real tea- the recipe is below!

 

Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

 

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder

2 cups French vanilla flavored powdered creamer

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea

1 teaspoon ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon nutmeg

 

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Store in an airtight container.

Mix 2 heaping tablespoons of mix

into one mug of hot water.

 

Would you care for some tea, too?

 

~ I will be joining Sandi for her tea time next week~

Seasons of Life

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The season has changed here in our part of the world.

Just a few weeks ago everything was still green and growing,

but now it has all changed.  Half of the leaves are now on the ground,

the hedge apples are falling with a thud in the woods,

and we are enjoying the cooler temperatures and warm drinks.

Seasons can change in our lives just as quickly.

Just last spring and summer our children were all growing up

and becoming more independent, they didn't need me much

anymore, and I was bored, wondering what to do with my life!

Um, yeah, those days are past!!

Now I spend my time reading "boops" to a little sweet girl,

taking her outside to feed the animals or play in the sandbox,

homeschooling AJ and SJ, and trying to keep 8 people's

schedules straight.  Oh yeah, and somewhere in there I need

to wash clothes, buy an overflowing cart full of food each week,

go to doctor appointments, have social worker visits, and

keep my house clean... My mind is full and overflowing,

just like that shopping cart.

Where I used to have all the time in the world to have my

devotions and do Bible studies, now I have a little girl

sitting next to me begging me to read her another "boop"

instead of reading my Bible, and then while I'm reading she's

climbing all over me, trying to snuggle in, needing her diaper

changed, or wanting some breakfast.  Trust me, I'm not complaining!

It's just a different season.  So right now I'm trying to figure

out my new season of life, how to keep everything in balance,

and trying to remember how I did this seven years ago!

The difference between now and then is, this time I know that

things will only be like this with Miss E for a short time, and

then she will be growing up and becoming more independent,

just like the boys are.  So I will enjoy all the interruptions, and

sitting and watching her play in the sandbox, and not having a

clean house, and not getting any projects done.  Because it will

all change soon, and I will be back in the season of being bored

and wondering what to do with myself!  I know God understands

that I just can't do an in-depth Bible study right now, but I can

read a chapter of the Bible, an encouraging article, or listen to

a sermon on the radio.  And I can always pray throughout the

day or at night when I can't sleep.  He understands.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize

with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted

in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.  Let us then

approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may

receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16

One of those good days

Today was one of those homeschooling days that just went well.  It's nice to have those every once in a while.  We have a science experiment book that we are using this year and one of the lessons was on yeast and how it works. So after learning all about how yeast is alive and likes to eat sugar, which gives it a lot of gas, (carbon dioxide), and how the gluten in the flour makes the air bubbles that hold the gas, we decided to make our own bread.

The boys decided they wanted to make butterhorn rolls.  These are a family favorite. They each had their own bowl of dough, and they did a great job, as you can see!  Everyone enjoyed the results for supper. I've included the recipe below if you'd like to make some.

Butterhorn Rolls

2 tsp. yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1 T. sugar
1 c. water
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. sugar
4 c. flour
melted butter

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 c. warm water with 1 T. sugar.  In separate large bowl combine 1 c. water with 1/2 c. butter, eggs, salt and 1/3 c. sugar. Add yeast mixture. Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough that's not sticky. Knead and form into a ball.  Let rise till double.  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into a 12 inch circle. Brush with melted butter. Cut dough into 12 wedges. Roll each one up, starting at wide edge. Place on cookie sheet and let rise till double. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.