I Got Tagged, so thanks to Joy Home Living I will have to delay scrubbing of the kitchen floor!

7 things I'm looking forward to..
1) Return of Christ
2) Planting the veggie patch
3) Enjoying dessert with Hubby & a bro. tonight after they return from class
4) Sandle season
5) Having more large families over more often now that it is warmer
6) Making a model of the Tabernacle with SS kids on Sunday
7) Being skinny again.....

7 things I did Yesterday (or today but yall wont read it till tomorrow so it will be yesterday)
1) Ate an apple fritter for breakfast (might contribute to the above #7!)
2) Knit 2 dishclothes for a gift
3) Visited an amazing book shop
4) Enjoyed a day at Niagara Falls (haven't been for 7 years)
5) Had our first BBQ (chicken!)
6) Listened to Hubby & bro Mark have great chats in the car
7) Ate apple crumble

7 things I wish I could do
1) Memorize scripture at the drop of a hat
2) Not worry about how someone is going to take what I'm about to say (I ALWAYS put my foot in my mouth!)
3) Have more patience
4) Keep a clean house
5) Sing
6) Play the Cello
7) Stay organized

7 shows I watch.
1) We don't have a t.v.

7 Books I read:
1) The Bible
2) And The Policeman Smiled (Kindertransport book)
3) Little House in the Big Woods
4) Farmer Boy
5) Gate of Zion (Zion Chronicle book series)
6) The Schoolmaster (Bro John Martin)
7) Tongue of the Prophets

(I would recommend every single one of those!)

7 People I tag;
How about all my followers. The kitchen is calling my name!

Outside my window...
The sun is shining and the snow is glittering

I am thinking...
Today has been a taste of Summer

I am thankful for...
My Husband and the amazing studies of the life of Elisha we are listening to this week

From the kitchen...
Chocolate Oat Squares

I am wearing...
Dark brown skirt, green t-shirt

I am creating...
A gift...shhhhh

I am going...
To put on the kettle for a wee cuppa

I am reading...
My First Little House books to Princess

I am hoping...
That Christ returns today

I am hearing...
Wind flinging the curtains every which way

Around the house...
Dusky sunshine streams in

One of my favorite things...
Reading the Psalms

"And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee?

tell me, what hast thou in the house?

And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any

thing in the house, save a pot of oil." 2 Kings 4:2

We have been enjoying our ecclesial "Family Study Week" around the Word of God.....so many amazing lessons for us to impliment!

On that note I will be "away" until Friday! Oh and for those who are wondering the spots dried up and we were all able to go on Saturday! and no sign of any on the girls!

Spots....of the Chicken variety!

The worst possible time for the Goons to come down with chicken pox would be the week that the speaker from New Zealand is staying at our home. The weekend of the family study day, a time when we are to be uplifted.

Yep Speaker arrives tomorrow night....and Magoo will then be on day 4 of Spots.

Since they have been going around the area for the past 4 mths and after a quick call to the doc, we decided that the other kids and one of us could go. Seeing as how Magoo didn't come down with it until the 20th day of a 21 day incubation....

We'll see what we do. Magoo should be dried up and fine by then. I really don't know what to do.

Right now I'm just plain DEPRESSED!!!!!!!

Our Mission Statement:

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Psalm 34:11

Isn't that a humbling verse! By listening to us, our children should be learning about Yhwh, His principles and His ways! I don't know about you but it sometimes scares me to look at this verses, and others like it and then compare what our children are learning from us...wow.

We had a good weekend. Hubby took the children outside to help him prepare the veggie garden for planting. They willingly gathered all the dead, dried out vegetation from around the gardens and piled it together for Daddy to lite on fire! We have chosen not to give our children "chores" but rather teach them responsibility. They are not "made to do their chores" but have been taught that it is expected that they will help their parents with certain jobs and responsibilities around the house and in the ecclesia. This way they work along side us, learning from us as they go. I willingly admit that Hubby is better at this then I, he has a great deal of patience!

I think this is especially important in the case of daughters. A new generation is coming up that do not embrace the role set out for them by God. They in fact find it "demeaning" and "lacking" and "less then that of the men"...this brings me to tears. We have a responsibility to show to others that we love and embrace the wonderful place God has set out for us in the ecclesia and at home. Including our daughters in our daily tasks, encouraging them along the way, will go far to teaching them this lesson. Cheerfully going about the tasks together is always much more enjoyable. Yes, the bed is not made "quite" like Mummy would, the dishes need to be double checked after washing, the flour not gleaming perfectly....but how are they to learn if we do not let them try and join with us? Learning to run a home, and love to do so is not taught sitting at a desk with a textbook!

Both our son and daughter follow us around, helping us in our tasks.....well "helping" more like! But already we are starting to see the results, the fruit of our labours. No, they do not want to set the table or clear up every day....but gentle reproof and reminders help them stay the course. Magoo knows that he is expected to help when Mummy asks....like vacuuming yesterday before we left for Sunday School as we company coming after Memorial.

By not calling them chores they do not expect a reward for their labours either. However we do like to take the opportunity to treat them when something arises. An example is last Friday, we had a bunch of errands to run. The Goons were very well behaved (something we have had to work on again) and did not act like Achan! When we arrived home, 25 min from town, I realized that I had my wallet but the contents had fallen out. They didn't even grumble once that we had to turn around and drive back into town. So we stopped at DQ on the way back home (again) for kiddie cones. The point being that the treat is not expected for being good, but rather we take the opportunity when it arises to give them a special treat.

Sprout has fallen asleep here, so I will go and pop her into her wee bed and sit down with the Goons for our morning reading of a Psalm. I hope that this day is a blessing to you!

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Col 3:23

The children are all fed, scrubbed clean and tucked into their wee beds, so here I sit contentedly sipping a cup of tea reflecting on the joy that today has been.

Indeed we were blessed by God today, that is the only way to describe it truly! The day started off wonderfully. The birds were singing and even though it was 7am (yes I know a lot of you get up before then) and I knew that I could probably sleep for another 15 min I just couldn't fall back to sleep. Hubby and I normally wake around 7 - 7:30 and depending on the day the children have not yet risen. I think herein is the reason for the day starting so well. Usually what happens is that I fall back to sleep and then am woken soon after by little voices, and I am not impressed that I only got an extra 5 or 10 0r even 25 minutes of precious sleep...

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to sleep" Proverbs 6:10

By allowing myself to wake up before the children put me in the right mindset for the day.

"She riseth also while it is yet night,

and giveth meat to her household, and

a portion to her maidens." Proverbs 31:15

Those few minutes did wonders for the rest of our day. Hubby had the morning off so that he could collect free mulch from the County for our garden beds. We haven't properly mulched them in three years so this really is a must this summer! So the children and I got right into our day after waving Daddy off to his task. Strawberries made the simple breakfast of cold cereal seem a treat! We got dressed and showered, ready for a special friend of Princess' to arrive after 9. After a Cappuchino shared with a dear sister in the Truth, she went off to teach at the school and the children and I dove head first into our day.

Play mobile, a Psalm, Dirt, Baking, Painting, Cookies, Story time rounded out day and before we knew it we were getting the house prepared for sister's class. The children were so well behaved! They played ever so well and it really was a joy. Sister's class went well, though I was a ball of nerves as usual when giving the class (on Lev 24:1-9). Then afterwards the Goons and I walked into town to run some errands for Hubby and visit the library.

As you can see today was filled with regular, everyday jobs. Seemingly mundane to most. I am so thankful that God has renewed my heart to love my role, my husband, my children (well they really are His children are they not!) and my ecclesia.

So I'm off to knit some more dishcloths and listen to a class while Hubby is at a meeting. May God bless you in your daily lives as we await the return of His son and the establishment of the Kingdom in Israel.

I Can't Believe I'm Posting This, But Anyways:

Hello everyone

We have entered a picture of Princess in Israel for a baby contest to raise some money for a couple things that are on our "to do" list. Each vote equals about $1-10 and it adds up fast. You can vote 3 times per day. Here is the link: http://www.iparents.com/viewPage.php?ID=Photo%20ContestsYou can see our name under the photo. I know you are thinking: Lindsay is crazy! but this is a legitimate contest and would really help us out with some $$ for the "To Do List"

Thanks so much!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good;

for his mercy endureth for ever." 1Chr 16:34

When you have spent hours in the night holding your child counting their heartbeats, you learn to trust in Yhwh. Prayer is what got us through the night, prayer and Advil.

Even though it was hard, I needed to go through that. They may be pests at times (actually they think it is a term of endearment in our house, it is really) and there are times I just want to cry when they simply don't get the lessons. But We love them to bits and wouldn't want our lives without them.

(Kid)

Once upon a time God made a special little child

did you know that special kid was me

so let the sun shine on my face

let me have my special place

you will find a person you will see

Then I start to grow and grow

and very soon I stub my toe

I can't help it when I start to cry

Soon I've got 2 bandaged toes,

soiled pants and a runny nose

Think it's time for a lullaby

Let the children be children

Its okay to be a kid for a while

Let the children be children

It all goes by in just a flash of a smile

Let the children be children

Whats to gain by making them grow up fast

Let the children be children

Please let it last

(Mom)

Dirty hand prints on the wall

Blocks and bottles, toys and balls

Seem to be the living room decor

Constant chatter in the air

At times its all that you can bare

But then you see that face you adore

This stage you say you think their in

It never ever really ends

Til they grow up

And walk out

The door

Some say there's and answer here

So much better in a year

When this child grows up a little more

Let the children be children
Its okay to be a kid for a while
Let the children be children
It all goes by in just a flash of a smile
Let the children be children
Whats to gain by making them grow up fast
Let the children be children
Please let it last

Please let it last

That is a special song my Mother used to sing to me, and now I sing to our children. Perhaps I need to remember it more often!

Spots!

So we thought that we escaped the dreaded chicken pox. Now in the next month we have a family coming for a week that we only see once a year. The speaker for the Family Study Day staying here, which we a thrilled about and a wedding!

Yep, and we are awaiting spots. Yuck. Talk about terrible, the worst possible timing! I think our angel is laughing at me. I don't mean that in any disrespect at all! I was sitting in the living room Friday sorting it all out in my brain how I was going to get already for them coming, how I was going to cook all these wonderful foods to tempt guests to linger over coffee, how I was going to open our home to so many and help the ecclesia over then next month.

I think the spots were sent to humble me and get rid of the "I"ities that was plaguing me.

We have a habit of "taking tea" every day, do you?

Just to share here is Magoo helping to feed Sprout her rice the other day. We are so blessed with our children, they love helping especially when it involves caring for Sprout!

Dinner tonight:

Yep, it is snowing and is not forecast to stop until Wednesday. Our veggie patch and apple trees look so desolate out there!

Surviving the Rainy Days

Spring has finally arrived to our small corner of the earth where we are sojourning, awaking the call to the Kingdom. I am choosing to ignore the weather forecast that states "periods of snow" for Wednesday.....Rather I would like to focus for a moment on the drips of rain flowing down the window pane.

I welcome and get a little thrill at these first days of rain in the Spring. They hold such promise, a sweet reminder that as sure as the rebirth of Spring follows the death of Winter, sure also is His promise that the resurrection will indeed follow death.

But I know my flesh, "we go way back", I know after a couple days of wetness I will be itching for sun shine. Ignoring the fact that all this rain is bringing up the bulbs and perennials. Hence the title of this post....survival! One always needs a plan. here are some things that help us on rainy days.

After breakfast we also roll up our sleeves and bake something, anything. Today it is bread....I've been procrastinating and we've gone 3 days without bread, but that is another topic! The aroma of baking yummies always brightened our mood! The latest fav is blueberry scones, we made up this recipe on Tuesday for Moms N Tots:

Blueberry Scones

1) Wisk together 3 C all purpose flour, 3 heaped tsp baking powder, 2 Tbs white sugar & 1 Tbs brown sugar, pinch of salt

2) Rub in 1/2C butter or marg

3) Make a well and put 2 eggs & 1/4C milk in the well, whisk (do not stir into dry mix yet) pour a heaped 1/2C frozen blueberries into the well. Stir all together.

4) Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes.

5) DEVOUR!

Nope, sorry no pics, we ate them all! Then while the oven is on sit down and read a Psalm, any Psalm. Also on rainy day s we don't make tea in the cups as usual but get out a fun tea pot and tea cups, seems much cozier to drink tea out of a pot on a drip drop day!

Now if you have kids, I would recommend ignoring the house and having a good ole fashioned game of hide N seek and get out the messy crafts, the ones where they will end up needing a bath! To help with the clean up I would suggest covering the dining room table with a picnic table cloth....trust me it helps a lot!

Oh and don't forget music, lots of music. Right now we have "Mr. Henry's Wild and Wacky but Totally True Bible Stories" on Faith playing as I type and the Goons set up the farm in the playroom. We will probably listen to Vivaldi & Continue in the Faith CD as well today.

Another great way to get through the dreary days is to curl up all together in a fort made of blankets and read stories! Such fun!

Well I've got to get the bread out and make that pot of tea. Hmmmm I think we will use our sheep cups today! Enjoy the rain!

"Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby

thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary." Psalm 68:9