Fhoto Friday:

Glimpses of the Wedding

Yummy Breakfast, natural sustainment. Spiritual discussions, spiritual susstainment.

Magoo Ready to go! We need to leave at this point.

Opps, forgotten cuff links....riped out the stiches 5 minutes latter when remembered we could borrow a pair from a brother.

"Do you think they'll notice the missing top button"
"um, you're on stage right"
"yep"
"give me the jacket"
(ended up in a diz and had to sew it on 3 times!)

The Groom pulls out!

Simple yet elegant decorations

Fellowship

Final words of wisdom from beloved grandparents

Did I mention the Groom sang the Bride down the aisle,
singing a song about God bringing a virtuous woman to him.
(yep, I cried)

Our first ever family photo since being blessed with Sprout!

Working Wednesdays

Making the Day of Rest a Reality!

Well the week is half over and that means only a few more days until our Day of Rest begins. I don't know about you but when I was a young wife and mother I actually dreaded Sundays.

Yep you read that right, I dreaded it!

Sundays meant racing around like a headless chicken trying to get everyone dressed, packed and out the door in time to get to Sunday school.

Oiy!

Since we found out that we were preggy with Sprout we knew that changes had to be made. Especially in the organization department. Let's get real here, before Sprout we didn't really organize at all!

One of the most significant changes we've made (and continue to work on) is getting ready for Sundays before they arrive!

This means that by the time the Goons are in bed Saturday night:

Outfits are laying on each persons bed (inc. Mummy's)

ALL Bible bags are packed and in the car

Diaper bag is packed and in the car

Lunch is in the oven or crock pot (in the summer we stick to BBQ)

Now about those Bible bags, each kids has their own. We try to keep them to only Bible or Biblical history books, a colouring book with pencil crayons, a sticker books, some mini toy dolls for Princess. Each Saturday we go through the bags together and the Goons tell me what they do and do not want in their bags and then they can choose 4 new books to put in for the week. This means that the bags are ready to go for Lecture and Bible Class during the week as well.

Sprout also has a see through plastic container from the $ store that we fill with toys for Sunday school. These get changed every week as well.

Now a big part of making that Day of Rest ACTUALLY RESTFUL is letting go of some pride issues. Make an easy lunch. Sometimes we have a roast (where everything goes in the oven), or sausage bake, or crock pot stew. In the summer we usually have a BBQ meat and veggies.

This also should be done the day before. Make the salad/veggie tray/cut up everything that can be and do ALL the prep work on Saturday. After all you and the whole family are staving by the time you return from Memorial at 1:30 or 2pm. In the summer we usually make a potatoe salad or a pasta salad to go with the BBQ meat.

D & I also tidy up the house. He sweeps and the kids do all the toys and I do the rest. This way we feel able to invite over others and not worry about the state of the house. No it is NOT perfect, just tidy and clean.

Well I hope that this helps a bit, and that you and your family can start to experience a restful Sunday instead of chaos!

Hugs to All

Meaningful Mondays

Cleaning House

It is 9:14 pm on Monday, so I think that means we've made the deadline for this week's spiritual thought. Today has been a day full of washing. The running total after the weekend was:

3 Queen Bed sheet sets
7 Twin Bed sheet sets
15 Pillows
2 Baby Crib sheet sets
14 Bath Towels
8 Hand Towels
3 Bath Mats

3 Dishwasher Loads
4 Sink Fulls

2 Loads of clothing

Yes, our new clothes line was full all day and the dryer was running at the same time! By this time tomorrow we are hoping to have the house "back to normal". All this cleaning turned my mind to a passage of Scripture that I find really helpful.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Psalm 119:9

Forget the self-help books, throw them out. Open instead the gift that God has given us to direct our every step.

That's the ONLY way to get your self on track and stick to it!

(apologies this was a short one.....more to follow on the amazing perfect wedding latter!)

Working Wednesday's

Bride-Groom Menu

What a busy and wonderful week we are having here in the place of our sojourn! A dear sister and friend is getting married on Saturday (God willing) and the Groom & some of his party are staying at our home, 4 km away from the Bride's home. We feel very honoured to have a small part to play in this most special of weddings.

It is wonderful and uplifting to see two people that are dedicated to the Truth coming together as husband and wife! Indeed it is an enacted parable!

So instead of the usual weekly menu plan, and banter, I thought we'd post some tips on easy entertaining.

About a week before we have company I check and re-stock:

1) Toilet paper

2) Tissues

3) Frozen juice (lemonade for this hot weekend!)

4) Disinfecting cleaning wipes

5) Clean out the fridge...so then you feel okay about everyone helping themselves and seeing the inside of the fridge!

3 days before (or in this case the day before!) we clean the:

1) Kitchen & bathroom floors

2) Stock the bathroom cabinets with clean and "good" towels, face clothes, etc.

3) Freshen and weed the garden beds

4) Cut the lawn (don't want to have to do that while company is here)

5) Wash the bed linens....also good to see if you are short and find a friend to borrow some from!

6) Check your snack cupboard and re-stock if necessary (always plan on more then you need)

7) Grocery shop!

The Day of arrival (or night before if they are arriving the next morning):

1) Clean the bathrooms (a real good proper scrub so that you can then keep up while they are here with the cleaning wipes)

2) Air out the linens on the clothes line/dryer

3) Make the beds

4) Vacuum the rooms

5) Sweep the floors

6) Place mini toiletries in a basket in the bathroom.....giving the children a do not touch info session!

7) Place some flowers around the house

8) De-clutter the kitchen cabinets.....after all everyone ends up in there don't they!

And for those interested, deciding to sewing match dresses the week before company arrives is

NOT recommended.....my Mum (D's mother) found cute dresses at a shop in town for $16 (a steal) and they are perfect....I owe her some yummy scones for that!

Here is our menu for the wedding weekend, which begins Friday morning.

Friday Breakfast:

Morning Glory Muffins

Scones

Homemade Plum & Homemade Berry Jam

Butter

Fruit salad (peaches, raspberries, apples, banana)

Friday Lunch:

Garden Salad

Baked Sandwiches

Friday Dinner:

Rehearsal....no worries!

Burgers & salad for those staying at home

Saturday Brunch:

Waffles

Real maple syrup

Strawberries

Sausages

Cheese/meat & cracker tray served around 11 pm (1&1/2hr before wedding)

Fruit tray (strawberries, apples, oranges)

Sunday Breakfast:

Egg Strata

Homemade Cinnamon buns

Sunday Lunch:

BBQ Chicken

Garden Salad

Potato Salad

Deviled eggs

BBQ zucchini/red pepper/onion mix

Strawberry shortcake or Homemade ice cream cake for dessert

Lemon Potato flour cake for gluten free peoples

We are very excited about this weekend, so off I run to keep getting ready!

Meaningful Mondays:

A Second Look at Manoah's Wife

Manoah’s wife seemed at first glance to be an obscure woman. Barely mentioned, and really not worth that much effort. However taking some time to look into the couple brief glimpses scripture records for us, we are painted the picture of a faithful follower of God, a loyal wife and a dedicated mother. We really could read this whole chapter but you are no doubt familiar with it’s account.

The mother of Samson, the last judge of Israel. What an amazing lessons are found in her life. The first I’d like to spend a couple minutes on is the plain fact that she never questions the angel, but has the faith and trust in Yhwh that what is said will come to pass. Manoah questions it, even asking God to send the messenger again and then questioning the angel for the requirements which were already given to him via his wife! Now remember that she was barren, unable to have any children. She doesn’t mention this to the angel but instead hurries off to tell her husband. This is pure unadulterated faith. Psalm 113:9 “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.” She faithfully follows the God given directions for her pregnancy, never questioning them.

Indeed only 2 men in scripture are found to be Nazarites from the womb, Samson and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15 “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb”). Actually there are mainly similarities between these 2 faithful women. They both never question the power of God to give them a child. They are both barren. They both obey the command of God concerning their pregnancy’s, both husbands doubt, both give birth to a child who was to change the coarse in the nation of Israel and I am sure that there are many others if only probed deeper.

Therefore both Manoah's wife and Elisabeth had these charges on them. To drink no wine or fruit of the vine seems to be an easy task, in fact most pregnant women do this. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk” Number 6:2-4

Now in Biblical times the common drink was watered down wine. Indeed they did not have the fruit juice available that we find on the grocery shelves today! There was mulled cider but this too had an alchoholic property and was reserved mainly for the wealthy. This basically meant that these two sisters had to drink water.

What a spiritual lesson for us. We must also forsake the wine of the false doctrines of the false churches (Rev 14:8) and seek to take in the water of life (John 4:14) "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life". Then we can pass this on to our children (John 7:38) “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Both promised children also paved the way for a Redeemer to come to Zion. Samson was the last judge which signaled an end of that time in Israel’s history when “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” to be followed by Samuel the prophet and King maker. John the Baptist prepared the way for the work of Christ, also indicating a change in the nation of Israel, preparing the way for the true King of Israel. In these, the last days of Gentile time, we must also be looking and longing for the day when:

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." Isaiah 59:19-21

We, and hence, our children have been called out to be a separate people, holy and dedicated to God. Therefore we must also take on this charge so that our children may be as it were Nazarites. Choosing to dedicate their lives in service to our heavenly Father. To be set apart from the world around, preparing them and us to pave the way as it were for the return of the King of Israel which will signal not only a change in the nation of Israel (as it will be at the first) but then through the millennial reign of Christ will branch out to encompass the entire globe. This will also end the times that we live in when just like the times of the judges every man does that which is right in his own eyes.

The second lesson that we can learn from her is that she does not refute her husband but is in subjection to her. Even though it was to her that the angel spoke! The second time when the angel appears she runs to get her husband, knowing full well that he had asked of God that the messenger be sent a second time to confirm the promise. :22-23 “And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.” Instead she shows a gentle and meek spirit in answering her husbands fears of death upon recognition that it was an angel that they saw. Col 3:18 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” In our day and age a submissive wife is mocked. Indeed forget what the world thinks, our very flesh rises up and wants to jump up and down when perhaps we are in the right. We need to be like our sister and with a gentle and meek spirit speak. Prov 31:26 “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

Re-haul!

Yep, I've been neglecting this blog, reading books instead of writing if truth be told! We have a schedule for the chores, a schedule for Bible studies, a schedule for the Daily Readings, a schedule for Magoo's school work....

Mummy needs a blogging schedule.

You know what is weird about all this....I claim to detest schedule, but actually thrive under them, must be a lesson in that somewhere!

So here goes:

Meaningful Mondays : My goal is to start off the week with a spiritual thought, exhortation, something to start our weeks off with our heads in heavenly places as it were

Working Wednesdays: My goal is to re-focus on our tastes around the house midweek. To try to inspire myself to keep on task and keep going. This will include a menu plan for the next week and a focus area for the house.

Fhoto Friday: Yep you guessed it the post centered around a picture taken during that week.

On the other days, I will just keep up with the usual banter from my humble brain, that is if and when Mummy gets on here!

I hope that this will help us keep on track and maybe even get some traffic flow back on our site!

BTW: sewing elaborate folds onto the bodice of a dress, just to then see that now the bodice is 2 inches shy of meeting the pattern is EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

Yep, Lindsay's trying to sew matching dresses for the girls....for the wedding this Saturday

Conclusion: I am INSANE!

Mother's Day

Today is the day all over North America which is set apart for families to thank their Mother's. But today is a day I've chosen to set apart to thank God for my children. They are such amazing little blessings from God, holding me in wonder and amazement each day!

Some of you know our situation, some do not, this verse describes it perfectly I think:

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Yhwh." Psalm 113:9

About seven years ago now we first felt the stirrings of a little life inside. Growing and developing into a Babe to be born. Magoo burst on the scene 6 years ago, blessing us with his cheerfulness, attentiveness and kindness. Princess followed nearly 4 years ago, full of energy, smiling and cuddling. Sprout is now a year old and changes each day, her laughter and joy at new discoveries puts a smile on every one's faces.


"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:" 1Samuel 1:27

So today is not about me, the mother. It is about God, our heavenly Father. Our latest study has been on Manoah's wife which we have been preparing for Moms N Tots. The mother of Samson. What an amazing lesson is found in her life. She never questions the angel, but has the faith and trust in Yhwh that what is said will come to pass. She faithfully follows the God given directions for her pregnancy, never questioning them.

Indeed only 2 men in scripture are found to be Nazarites from the womb, Samson and John the Baptist. Therefore both Manoah's wife and Elisabeth had these charges on them. To drink no wine or fruit of the vine seems to be an easy task, in fact most pregnant women do this. However in Biblical times the common drink was watered down wine. Indeed they did not have the fruit juice available that we find on the grocery shelves today! This basically meant that they had to drink mainly water.

What a spiritual lesson for us. We must also forsake the false doctrines of the false churches (Rev 14:8) and seek to take in the water of life "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). Then we can pass this on to our children"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).

Both men also paved the way for a Redeemer to come to Zion. Samuel follows Samson and Christ follows John. In these, the last days of Gentile time, we must also be looking and longing for the day when:

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." Isaiah 59:19-21

We, and hence, our children have been called out to be a separate people, holy and dedicated to God. Therefore we must also take on this charge so that our children may be as it were Nazarites. Choosing to dedicate their lives in service to our heavenly Father.

I know that you are probably waiting for a great post about our very spiritually uplifting week last week...

However the Pox have returned to our home! Both girls have came down with it yesterday. In the grand scheme of things this is actually great timing. After the study week, before the wedding, before more company arrives....

I would dearly love to post about our week, but to do it justice have decided to wait until the Pox is gone so that I can sit down and concentrate on it.

Having said that I will try to get that done sooner then latter! How I sincerely wish to share with you some of the amazing things pointed out to us in the Word....thrilling stuff!

It is supposed to start raining tomorrow for the duration of the week. So when getting a break from the Pox we will be reorganizing the house and getting rid of junk! Physical and spiritual junk!

Hope your week goes well!