Forever and a Day

It seems like forever since I have had time to post anything.  As you can imagine the amount of activity that goes on in this house in a day is dizzying.  We have been very busy staying on "schedule" the past two weeks and with some success I might add!  Glory to God!  We have been blessed to see Drew's folks two weekends in a row.  I have been praising God for little evidences of His Spirit at work in the children.  Baruch desiring to share with Abram (not every minute of every day mind you).  Abram hugging Chloe.  Heidi encouraged me at a ladies meeting to make up a card for each kid to read aloud at the supper table with a personal praise written on it.  I passed out cards during evening family time and the kids really lit up when they read them, or Daddy read them (for the little ones).  It helped me so much during the day to be looking for the good, expecting the good, anticipating God's best as Dawnie would say.  Even though I only did it twice last week it was very powerful and I am planning to do it again tomorrow. 

 Find a variety of photos below:

Mary and Jacob (not pictured) played at a piano festival Nov. 7th.  They each played a piece form memory before a judge.  Then the judge came and gave them praise and suggestions.  A very positive environment, they both did very well receiving a judging of AAA (the ratings were AAA -top, AA next, A bottom).

Abi and Chloe horsing around Sat. Nov. 7.

A bike ride to the river Sun. Nov. 1

Movie making time with awesome director Dad - Drew!  Mary and Jacob were Mom and Dad in this one with a major decision to make when a suitor (Abram) pursues their  daughter Abigail.  Sorry I couldn't upload the actual movie, you will just have to come to visit if you want to see it.

Instrument Holders

Drew crafted the beautiful violin holders pictured above.  They not only decorate the wall nicely, but serve the living room practically, reducing the cases all over the places mess :-).  I only hope the winter heat won't dry them out too badly.

Drew modified this holder from his sister to include the banjo.

All of the instruments have been played more since hanging them up!

Chloe - 17 Months Today!

Chloe delights her Papa, myself and all her siblings.  Jacob recently said "I just love having a baby around.  They add so much joy!  Even when Chloe knocks down my tower it is fun 'cause she's so cute."  I cannot believe all she understands.  I cannot believe she is now just one month shy of a year and a half!!

Friends Visit

Drew enjoyed his class reunion so much we were both thrilled to have Greg, Maribeth and their children here last friday for a visit!  Their twins held a special place in my heart as I thought of Chloe's twin.  As I watched Rex and Clementine I couldn't help thinking of the what if's.  I retreated to the kitchen to cry when who should come up for a hug, Mary Elisabeth, crying and saying "Mommy, doesn't it make you miss Seth to see the twins?"  We had a good hug and cry time.  Their visit zoomed by entirely too quickly.  I sure hope they visit again!

Battle of the Bulge Continues

I gained 5 pounds on our trip to Kentucky and am suffering.  UGH!

I have been motivated by a few different things to get back on the fronts of the battle line!  

I was inspired by an article in the paper which quoted a local food store owner saying people don't connect what they eat with how they feel.  If you eat the wrong thing, you feel like garbage.  (not a direct quote).  Then I was inspired by my sister Terry who is cutting out white sugar in her diet.  Then Saturday Drew's sister was like the icing on the cake (no pun intended :-)) to start fighting again.  She had read "Mindless Eating".  She reminded me of my own words to her some time ago. . . There is such a peace in being in control of what you are eating.  There is freedom in knowing you can have a piece of cake because you have been making wise and careful choices during the day.

Here are a few of the pieces of wisdom from the book she read. . .  

Use small plates, antique dealers will tell you dinner plates used 100+ years ago were the size of our salad plates.  You obviously take less food if you have a smaller plate.  

I forget the % but your plate should have LOTS of vegetables on it.

If you eat 100-200 extra calories per day over the course of a year you will gain about 10 pounds, conversely, if you eat 100-200 calories less per day you will loose that weight over a years time without feeling deprived.

For me the overeating continues to be a spiritual battle.  I eat to escape.  I overindulge - gluttony.  I know the Lord will give me victory as I call out to Him for help!  Here I go again!!!!!  I am SO thankful God is patient, longsuffering, gentle, merciful.  What a SAVIOR.

Like salvation, this  isn't a one time I trusted and now I am home free. It is a continual trusting, calling out, falling and getting up to call out for more grace, more mercy, memorizing scripture, meditating on scripture, engaging my mind and emotions on things that please the Lord.

Mat Time or Nap Time?

Abram has been getting up at the crack of dawn.  Yesterday Drew pointed out the dark circles under his eyes.  I am not sure the cause of these early morning rousings but today the poor boy gave out during "Mat Time", well as you can see he had strayed from his mat.  He asked me if he could get off his mat to get his blanket and the next thing I knew he was snoozing.  I should have just left him but of course I envisioned the pee pee accident on the floor and woke him up moving him to his bed.  Actually it was the putting on of the diaper that aroused the sleeper.  So now I think I will skip the nap and do an early to bed.

Mary Turns 12!

Uncle Ron and Aunt Kari hosted a Birthday Celebration for Mary Elisabeth on Saturday.

Anna made Mary a lovely Birthday sign.

Cousins are such awesome friends!

Baruch gets a little Grandma love.

Abram and Aunt Kari ham it up

Abram and Chloe takin' a ride.

The little boys were whooped after a fun filled day!

Thanks for the lovely time Uncle Ron and Aunt Kari!!

Reminiscing. . . Just 12 years ago on a Sunday Drew and I were sitting in church when I felt this slight trickle.  Hmmmm?  Could it be my water broke?  No certainly not, then we stood to sing and the baby's (who we were just sure would be a boy) head corked the passage and the trickle sensation was gone.  Yes my water was trickling.  I am so thankful I didn't experience a gush:-o!  My real labor pains didn't start for 17 hours but that is another story :-)  Now I am amazed at how fast 12 years has gone.  Mary Elisabeth is growing into a young lady.  She exhibits self control, wisdom and many godly fruits.  What a blessing she has been these past 12 years!  I thank God for her and pray that she would love the Lord with EVERYTHING she has as she continues to grow.

Chloe Update

Chloe grows and changes faster than I can blink!  Over the past month her speech blasted off.  Here are all of the words (and even two sentences!) from her ever expanding vocabulary (In the order she has said them):

Dada

Mama

Jay Jah (Jacob) - Jacob worked long and hard to get her to say this one.

Ouch - Mary was trying to get her to say a word (which escapes me at the moment.  Mary repeated the word to her over and over and over and over again.  Then Mary hurt her own finger and said "ouch".  Chloe repeated "ouch" with no hesitation :-)

Tickleeee, tickleeee, tickleeee (tickle)

Daddy Home!

un shoe (on shoe) - She says this all day long as she puts on and takes off any and every shoe she finds around the house, dragging shoes to who knows where.  I have lost two pairs of Baruch's shoes and it is convenient to blame the shoe hound :-)  It is really very adorable to watch her point and say "un shoe", then work on putting on whatever shoe she has found.  

Kittleeeee, kittleeee, kittleee (kitty) not to be mistaken for tickleee, although VERY similar sounding the cat being present we are all sure she said kitty :-)

Wanna ride (when Baruch was giving Abram a horsey ride and everytime any of us gets down to give horsey rides, or laundry basket rides)

Paper Airplane Show

Paper Airplane fever began with Mary and soon everyone was building a vast variety of planes. After two days of creating and building someone had the idea of a balcony show. It lasted a good ten minutes with Abi down below retrieving the planes, Mary pulling them up and Jacob sending them off for another flight! The small planes actually flew the furthest but I couldn't capture them in flight. 

Peter's Visit

Time is flying, I meant to get this posted right after Peter's visit!

We had a great time catching up with Peter while he was here. He only stayed one night so we made the most of our time with him. Mary E. especially enjoyed listening to Papa and Mr. C. banter a bit and tease each other. Funny how they each had slightly different takes on college memories. Like the time they sang a duet. Drew reminisced how they got off key. "One of us got off key" Peter countered. "Oh yes, I mean you got off key" Drew responded. And so the stories went.

Grandma Time!

Drew's Dad and Mom visited Saturday Oct. 3rd.

Abram ATE up his Grandma time!

A Family Violin Lesson

Friday the 2nd of October found us at our first group violin lesson.  The lesson went way better than I could have hoped for.  Chloe sat on my lap and all the kids sat around in a circle.  Mr. Y sat in a glider rocker.  First he got out a fiddle and explained the parts of the instrument and that the fiddle and violin are the same instrument.  He engaged the children with questions and waited patiently for answers.  I waited anxiously (as we home schooling mothers tend to do).  Abigail got out her violin and he had all the children hold out their left arms so he could measure them up to her violin.  He determined Mary and Jacob were ready for full sized and Abi and Baruch could use the 1/2 size.  He then introduced the children to all the stringed instruments, showing them the differences/similarities.  Then he passed out some "junk bows" he had acquired.  I thought he might pass up little Abram sitting there bolt upright with his bright keen eyes but he handed him a bow as well.  Then he instructed me on how to instruct them for this weeks practice time.  They have practiced so often a string broke on the violin

The Kentucky Family Reunion

Our vacation to Kentucky was wonderful (once we got there :-)).  I REALLY enjoyed the sister/sister-in-law time!  I stayed up too late talking to different sisters each night.  The accommodations were the nicest we've stayed in over the years.  Although I missed being on a lake the Passmore Place did have a nice pool and great deck area out back.  We arrived Monday.  We ended up spending a night at a hotel on the way as Abigail threw up and we actually debated as to whether we should go at all at the risk of infecting everyone else.  We finally decided to go and I am SO glad we did.  Tuesday we toured Mammoth Passage and Mammoth Cave National Park.  Wednesday Drew, Jacob, Terry, Eldon, Chip, Matt and Melvin toured the Corvette Manufacturing Plant and a museum.  Thursday I don't remember what we did.  Probably because it was our night to cook (each sibling took a night as usual -we fixed mushroom swiss burgers, tossed greens, potato salad, grapes and honeydew melon.)  Some time in the early afternoon one of the kids came running in the house yelling that there was a real cowboy outside.  Sure enough a neighbor was out in the back yard with one of the horses we had admired all week.  He offered to take anyone for a rid and each child accommodated him. He and his wife joined us later for super and we learned a bit of the history of Passmore Place.   Friday we took another tour at Mammoth Cave NP.  We toured the Niagra cave.  The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins.  Somewhere in there we had some organized chaos in the way of relay races and such.  My favorite part of the organized chaos was the water balloon fight.  I joined in with the kids and so did Rita.  Rita kept pelting me and the balloons just rolled off.  Little did she know I was ripping mine open and squirting her!  Saturday the kids put on a talent show.  Before I knew it home fever set in and we were rolling into town. . . to our newly painted floor and the task of unpacking.  

What a HUGE blessing - being with family - what a nice break in the routine!

Success is . . .

"Success is the sum of small efforts --

repeated day in and day out."

-Robert Collier

Vacation Preparation

Amidst vacation packing . . .

. . .we all prepared for Abigail's Birthday.  I made her the red cross nurse outfit and did get the cross on the sleeve and hat in time.  We also got her a doctor kit and a book - "Nurse Nancy".  The kids got her gifts along that line.  It was really special.  Baruch and Jacob each got her a pack of band aids.  Mary got her an ace bandage wrap and a box of tic tacs to be used as meds.  She loved all her gifts.

. . . and I painted the kitchen floor.

Apple Trees - Please

Drew's careful February pruning = payoff!

Crock Pot Applesauce for supper!

Progress Report

I was very frustrated yesterday morning.  I sent Abi and Baruch on their morning chores (trash and recycle out) and they returned with 2 dozen pieces of art work.  Ugh!  I just cleaned all the stacks!  I think the real source of my frustration may be lack of sleep.  I stayed up too late working Abi's b-day gift - the red cross outfit.  When will I learn to go to sleep on time??????  

lacking the red cross on the sleeve and hat

Precious asleep

Taken a couple weeks ago.

note the drool on the cushion.  That boy was out!

Labor Day Weekend

We enjoyed an eventful Labor Day weekend!  Saturday we met Pa, Grandma, Uncle Ron, Aunt Kari, Anna, Andria and Daniel at Central Park.  Pa's canoe made a huge splash with each child.  Even Abram wanted to call Pa on Sunday to thank him for the canoe rides.  What a bummer I forgot my camera.  Maybe Aunt Kari will post some pictures on her blog,  she did remember her camera.  Sunday was spent picking fruit from our fruit trees, making movies and sewing (I am working on a surprise for Abi's birthday - a Nurse Nancy dress.  Ever since we read Summer of the Monkeys Abigail has played "red cross nurse" because the little girl in the story nurses Jay-berry when he is sick).  Monday we cleaned out the van, froze pears and Drew and Cob mowed the yard.  Then some neighbors came down and played for a bit.  I mentioned to their Mom that I am looking for someone to do the paper route when we go on vacation.  I am so excited - she said she would do the route for me Mon - Fri.!  This is a huge answer to prayer.  Then Mon. afternoon Pa and Grandma stopped by on their way home from Galena.  They had some friends along and we all went to Eagle Point Park for a walk before they headed home!

Family Mission Statement

I firmly believe the prayer of every wife should be for the Lord to knit her heart with her husbands.  Lord, help us as wives to subject ourselves to our husbands (Eph 5:1,2).  We are called to be their helpmates, their encouragers.  We are told to respect them, ". . . and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband"  Eph. 5:33.    Lord help us to back our men up and love them by setting aside our will for theirs.  

As many of you know I attended NICHE this past spring.  Drew sent me to several seminars to better equip me for home schooling and I wanted to choose the best sessions for our family, so I sought the Lord before and during the conference regarding session decisions.  One of the sessions I was excited about attending was entitled something like Family Mission Statements.  I highlighted it on the schedule right away when I was deciding which sessions to attend.  What could be better than attending the "Family Mission Statement" session.  I reminisced fondly about the mission statement Drew and I wrote together twelve years ago, just before Mary was born.  We took a weekend away and planned and prayed.  I honestly don't remember our mission statement, but I do remember working 

together and supporting Drew in it.  (I am afraid I didn't support him in it for long, but that is another story for another day - God has changed and I trust will continue to change my heart.)  As soon as I walked into the session it hit me like a ton of bricks, this should be Drew's passion, not mine.  Giving my desire to the Lord I prayed "Lord if it is important to have a family mission statement please impress it on Drew's heart."  Honestly I didn't think about it again after the conference

until. . .

Almost two months later Drew and I attended his 21st class reunion.  Drew had an awesome time.  But on the way home from the dinner he seemed very sober.  We attended the family picnic the next day and again on the way home seemed distant and solemn.  He remained in this melancholy, heavy-hearted state for a long week.  I could do nothing for him but listen and pray, both of which I gladly did. That time spurred him to contemplation.  It spurred in him among other things, a desire to have a family mission statement!

Over the past two weeks we have taken two "date" nights to work on our family mission statement!  I am so excited to be on board this ride of life with a man like Drew.  He heads this family and I am so thankful to be married to a man of integrity who leads us toward great goals.

Our Mission is to know as fully as humanly

possible the power, riches and glory of Jesus Christ

and to honor Him by:

1) Raising to maturity men and women who love Jesus Christ,

2)loving those in and out of the church by warning, encouraging and serving,

3)using my (Drew's) abilities to full capacity to provide for the family and honor Christ and

4)by personally being set free from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of a child of God.

Romans 8:21

We worked out several short term and long term goals for each category.  I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in the days ahead.

School's in Session

School started this week (for this family anyway).  The new schedule is posted on the wall.  I implemented a new motivational system (a take off on Sue Patrick's Workbox System) in full force.  Today began our first reward Friday!  Everyone enjoyed the first two aspects of our three fold reward.  1)We met a friend at Storybook Hill in the AM.  2)Attended a Patients First Health Care Rally after that and 3)have a Telegraph Herald Carriers' Picnic to go to tonight.  I am afraid the new schedule does not allow me much computer time so I may not be updating for a while, then again maybe I'll be so organized I will update more than ever in the 1 hour a week alloted computer time I do have.  Time will tell.

Oh yeah, after the rally Cob said "A country is kind of like a car - if you get too many things wrong with it, it goes Kaputska."

Cob's Acrostic

B ooming
A lert
S uper
K ept
E nergetic
T ricky
B anging
A ctive
L aughing
L ong

House Maintenance

I was very humbled several weeks back when a friend was here. She mentioned how relaxed my house is for her to visit because it isn't overly clean. Little did she know I had spent ALL morning getting it to that lived in looking state :-). As I maintain the house I think how much more our spirits need moment by moment maintenance.   I cannot read a verse in the morning and expect to be walking in the spirit in the afternoon. I need to be thinking about that verse, memorizing it, personalizing it, meditating on it throughout the day. Then I can rejoice in the afternoon when I am tired and someone drops the jug of milk. Just as my house doesn't clean itself, my heart must be cleansed by ongoing maintenance.  Psalm 1:1-3 "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers BUT his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he MEDITATES day and night.  And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yeilds it's fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither and in whatever he does he prospers.

These pictures were taken merely hours after the house was "company" clean!  Unbelievable? Not really :-)  

Tennis Tournament

In the spring Drew and I were thinking and praying about what if anything to sign the kids up for this summer.  Cob did t-ball last year but Drew suggested tennis for this year.  So Mary, Cob and Abi took tennis lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  At the end of the session there was an optional tournament they could participate in.  Mary had her games on Monday, Cob and Abi's were on Tuesday.  Unfortunately I forgot the camera Monday.  All three did such a great job.  They each lost their first game.  They each opted to play a second.  Mary and Cob each won their second game.  Abi had so much fun she wanted to and did play a third.  We have gone several times since then to play tennis.  What a nice sport. Besides getting an excellent work out you only need two people to play and even us older folks can participate :-)

Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip/Oatmeal Cookies

Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip/Oatmeal Cookies (from Heidi)

Heidi brought the most wonderful cookies over when she and the kids
came for fellowship and play time. Here is the recipe, slightly
altered to meet our families needs. Enjoy!

1 C butter (2 sticks)
1/2 C whole wheat flour (this was not in Heidi's original recipe but
I found the cookies were too crumbly without it.)
3/4 C sugar
1 3/4 C rapadura (or sucanat - unrefined sugar)
8 eggs (yard fresh are wonderful)
2 16 oz jars of natural peanut butter (I used crunchy and skipped the
optional nuts)
1 T baking soda (I forgot to add that today and they turned out
great. hmmmmm)
1 t salt
6 C quick oats
6 C old fashioned oats
1 12 oz bag + 1 C chocolate chips

Mix first 8 ingredients. Stir in last two. Bake at 325 for 8 or 9
minutes.