Picnic in the Playroom

Normal winter days, here in the Northwest,

are cold and rainy. . . 

although we have had a good number of sunny ones lately. 

I'm quite a wimp to the cold though, 

and I don't think the kids have completely gotten use to it either. 

Whit came to me last week and said,

"Can we have a picnic in the playroom?"

(No mention of even trying it outside :)

I think she expected me to say "no" because

when I answered "yes" she was ecstatic! 

I've been trying hard to say "yes" to the children's 

requests, even if it would be easier for me to say "no." 

Especially requests that involve creative play,

helping in the kitchen, and my time :) 

So Ellie and I made up a picnic lunch for them,

put it in our basket,

got out the picnic quilt,

and off they went! 

It was so worth the "yes"
for me to see the simple joy it brought them.
Of course, since the picnic was right by the bookshelf,
they naturally started reading afterwards! 

O how I want to live fully in the moment, not feeling so busy that I can't meet

reasonable requests of my children. Requests that will bring me and them joy. 

I mentioned earlier that I've started reading Ann Voskamp's book

One Thousand Gifts.

It has done my heart good. I'm reading it slowly, even wanting to go back and reread.

It reads like poetry, so for me to grasp it fully, that's how its got to be done. 

One particular chapter entitled "sanctuary of time" really encouraged and challenged me.

"Time is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. 

And this, this is the only way to slow time: 

When I fully enter time's swift current, 

enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, 

I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. 

I can slow the torrent by being all here. 

I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. 

And when I'm always looking for the next glimpse of glory, I slow and enter. 

And time slows. 

Weigh down this moment in time with attention full, 

and the whole of time's river slows, slows, slows. (pg. 68)

O Father, may I be all here. Forgive my distraction. 

Forgive my busyness, especially at the expense of my children. 

Thank you for sweet moments of togetherness. 

Help me to always be looking for the "next glimpse of glory"

~the blessings upon blessings upon blessings

that you bestow upon me. 

How great Thou art!

Amen

Spiritual Nourishment

Sundays are the best day of the week for me! 

:: Spiritual nourishment ::

:: Sweet fellowship ::

:: Rest, Rest, Rest ::

~It is all so good~

The pastor preached from Ephesians 2:1-10.

Thought I would share a few of my notes from time to time. 

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:

1 - REMEMBER who we were!

~we were dead

~ we were enslaved to the world, the devil, the flesh

~we were by nature children of wrath (Rom 3:10, Psalm 14)

2 - EMBRACE what we have been given. . . what we are!

~ He made us ALIVE with spiritual life!

~ He raised us and seated us with HIM~ IN CHRIST

~ He desires to display HIS workmanship through the coming age

If you are His, you are:

a work of art

His masterpiece

a trophy of glory

It WAS bad, BUT GOD made us alive with Christ 

and wants us to bask in the GOSPEL! 

He wants us to display HIS GRACE through the masterpiece of our life!! 

This week, dear friends, may we bask in the gospel and display His 

grace, through our lives, to a watching world. 

Rockin' in the Play Room

So, my kids have been quite creative this week.

Instead of playing the usual "cafe",

they decided to have a rock concert.

They got all dressed up, 

and then called me out of my room for the surprise event. 

Love it when spontaneous play happens. 

Also, we watched the movie Legend of the Guardians

this week as a family.

As a result, the kids have daily been running around the house

dressed as owls in their home-made masks ~

hooting, laughing, and making the house shake! 

Its CRAZY but I can't bring myself to make them stop. 

I am loving these days at home with them.

I'm amazed at how content they are to be with each other,

and how content I am to be with them.

I am counting my blessings and

intentionally cherishing the moments,

for I know these days are fleeting! 

Figuring Life Out - One Thousand Gifts

The book I ordered a number of months ago,

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

finally arrived today.

I've been hearing so much about it,

so am very excited to start reading. . . .

This is a beautiful video the author put together about the book.

I love her photography. Her simplicity. That she lives on a farm.

Her love for the Lord. That she home-schools 6 children.

Her writing. Her honesty.

Her book is number 10 on the Amazon best selling list. . .

and it is only 10 dollars.

I can only imagine how the Holy Spirit is going to use the words

of this gal to encourage and convict the world.

Check out her blog if you haven't already. . .
(http://www.aholyexperience.com/)

We used her free, down-loadable, advent book this past December.

Printed it all out, made the ornaments for the Jesse tree, and all.

It was such a blessing.
She's made an impact on my life in a number of different ways. 

I wish she was my real-life friend :)

Happy Birthday John!

We are sending hugs and kisses your way. . . 

I thought a little walk down memory lane was in order. 

 

 The Lord was so good to give me so many years with you. 

I still remember how ecstatic I was when you decided to follow us West. 

Who would have ever thought you'd settle there, meet and marry your wife there,

 and become a hip surfer daddy there!!

I am so very proud of the godly husband and father
you have become.
You have SUCH a servant's heart
and are being used mightily to build Christ's church.
Thank you for your example! 

I pray that your day was filled with sweet reminders of God's

goodness, grace, love, and mercy.

How thankful I am that God blessed me with a brother such as you.

Love you lots!

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of the love you have for all God's people."
Colossians 1: 1,2

To Grandmother's House We Go

This morning, we all loaded in the car and headed north~

to Num Num and Papa's house! 

It was pouring rain, but spirits were high~

We stopped at one of the many coffee huts for hot chocolates and mochas.

(It sure ain't cheap stoppin' for hot drinks when you've got a family of seven. . .

but once in a while it sure is a treat!)

We swapped cars in Bellingham. . . 

Num Num and Papa got the grandkids for the afternoon,

and Mom and Dad got precious "time off." 

It was wonderful. The hubby and I had lunch,

and then I got to browse around the quaint town of Fairhaven

while he had a meeting. What a treat!!!

I spent most of my time browsing the new and used bookstores,

and came home with quite a few treasures. 

An early American craft book for the girls, 

a coin collecting book for the boys,

and another organizing book for me! 

I also found a beautiful little book, written for children,

about the lives of a handful of famous musicians. 

It was published in 1911~ ya'll that's 100 years ago!!!

I'm imagining reading it aloud for some "music appreciation."

We came back to Num Num and Papa's for a wonderful dinner,

and then all headed back home~minus Ellie.

She is staying at Grandmother's for the weekend,

much to her delight. . .and also to the delight of her Grandparents. 

Another first for us all! 

A Day on the Farm

We had the great blessing of being able to visit a local farm last week.

You all know what a "romantic" view of life in the country I have. . . 

This was a little bit more of a practical taste of the reality 

of farm life in the Northwest. 

Cold, rainy, wet, and muddy.

Regardless, we sure had fun, and once again

I had a hard time narrowing down my pictures!! 

The kids got to see and hold baby lambs. 

The one pictured below was actually born that morning!! 

Loved all the different colored chickens and roosters.
Whites, blacks, golds, and browns.
So lovely. . .

Of course there were eggs to gather. . .

LOTS of dogs to play with~

there must have at least been six or seven of them running around! 

bunnies, pigs, turkeys, and goats.

This little farm had them all! 

Sadly, the little lamb that had been born that morning,

had lost its twin in the birth. 

Abby was so emotional hearing about its death. 

I loved her bright red hat. 

It was so her! 

I wonder what they were talking about. . . 

We headed down the hill and over to the horse pasture. 

Ellie was in heaven.

She said it was the best day of her life :)

She got to ride around the arena by herself

and then a bit later she got to actually ride bareback. . .

Drew spotted a bald eagle in that field across from the road~

sitting in the middle of it.

At the end of the day, one was spotted at the top of a tree. 

We are still so in awe of them, and can't believe it when we see them!! 

The lady on the left is the one who owns the farm. . . 

The horse on the  right is owned by a lady in our church

and she boards her at the farm. Both of these horses were so gentle! 

Lord willing, we will have more opportunities like this in the future.
If we can't live on a farm, the next best things is living close to one
and being able to visit as often as we like!
Ellie hopes to get back soon to practice riding some more. . .
we shall see! 

Gratitude List (#194-225)

blank books to write in

new goals

a husband who loves me with my failures

web chatting with Cousin Chase

new decorations

inspiration from other bloggers

forgiveness

birdies at our feeder

our spacious home

my Reformation Study Bible

friends willing to "swap babysit" with us and

10 children who love playing together

a new year

the rain (still love it and am not tired of it!)

a husband who gives me time off

our schoolroom

the anticipation of memorizing scripture. . . and actually doing it!

my prayer book Face to Face by Kenneth Boa that my brother gave to me over 10 years ago!

many unexpected sunny days

our fourth snow here

a mother-in-law who loves to shop with me

prayer

an older woman's wish to come visit my home

little girls playing dress-up

a father-in-law willing to preach for his son 

the anticipation of "movie night" with my hubby

field trips

nature journals

a mom who spurs my children on to memorize the catechism 

a new computer

warm baths

the Holy Spirit, helping me to win the battle that is daily being fought inside of me

"There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free
in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."
Romans 8:10


Praise and thanks be to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!