I am debating writing on the current war in Israel... it is terrible how anti-Israel the main stream media is. It makes me sick!

Wake up people, over 10,000 rockets fired into a country the size of NJ during the time of the so called "truce" .Cities under besige and people living in bomb shelters and schools closed, if this happened to NJ the USA wouldn't have waited as long as Israel did to get control of the situation! The double standards are simply wrong!

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:1-3

check this out!!! http://bakadiary.blogspot.com/

Wow, our week with Hubby home is nearly over ;-( Some highlights:

1) Very, very well done (black) latkes for the first night of Channukah
2) Hiding Hubby's gift and getting the Goons to keep it a secret
3) Drinking hot tea watching the snow fall
4) 4 snow storms in the space of 4 days! = 3 ft of snow and "snow dunes" in the back yard where the Goons could sled
5) Good visits with loved ones
6) Watching Hubby explain our readings in Zechariah to Magoo
7) Sprout sleeping again....(only up 3 times per night)
8) Sewing matching dresses for the girls
9) Having Magoo home for 3 weeks (one more to go)
10) Baked Apple Pie straight from the oven

and right now we are taking a quick break from organizing the whole house! yehaw! Pics to follow soon!

Finally we are back on here, we were infected with a nasty computer virus and so the computer sat powered down until my dear hubby could get it fixed, he is such a good man!



I been sitting waiting to blog about something that happened over the weekend.



I've read in the Bible and sat through many many classes on the fact that we must be separate and live our lives in a way that would please God. I got a lesson on Saturday!



The Goons and I were heading out to get some gifts for family. As an aside, before we left I told them who we were buying for and that we must not act like Achan (Joshua 7) and be greedy. Letting them help choose the gifts is a great was to get rid of the "gimme's"



We piled into the car (while Hubby was working on an article for The Bible Magazine) and after strapping in all 3 we pulled out onto the street and started driving along.



"Mommy, are we going to the place with the bad stores?" Magoo asked as we pulled onto the highway. Well in the back of my mind I was wondering what to do about going to the BIG mall in the large city about 45 minutes from us. See the last time we all went (about a year ago) there was larger then life disgusting ads.....basically naked people! all over the mall. "oh dear" I thought, what to do. Magoo has been blessed with a great memory, obviously from that coment, and notices EVERYTHING. So instead we went to the small local mall and managed to find the gifts (pjs, coffee maker, sugar free chocoate).



I used to make sure I was dressed nice and all for going out, I guess I wanted to fit in and look the part, now with 3 Goons to get out in one piece I'm just happy to be clean and tasteful. So it never crossed my mind that I looked different. All through the mall there was the usual short mini skirts with leggings (never understood that one), tight tight jeans, belly tops (why in winter????) and such. Nearly everyone was in black too....never noticed that before. Anyways we were getting a few looks, kind looks from the grandma type, weird "that lady is got to be kidding" from the hip crowd. I never thought of it until I got home and mentioned it to hubby.



"Ofcourse" was his reply "you are wearing a long denim skirt, modest top, have a baby in a pouch on you, the girls are in dresses, 2 kids holding hands and singing (mostly Bible songs) instead of fighting as you are walking through the mall...you are going to get looks!"



Never thought of that. I've always respected the Mennonites (we live near many of them) and Jews as they show by their dress that they are different and separate from the world around. I've wondered how come we don't. Now I realize that in simply dressing modestly and having children that are well behaved and happy shows that you are different.

"but according as He who did call you is holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour," 1Peter 1:15 YLT

A Blessed Birthday

This morning we jumped out of bed and headed to Mum & Dad B's for a yummy breakfast....complete with wonderful sisters, the babies and fresh waffles! Then off to a dear friend's for lunch (yummy yummy fajita soup!) and a great visit!

Tonight we are heading back to Mum & Dad B's for dinner...chicken! and the Goons have been well behaved...

Only thing missing.....my HUSBAND :-(

I've been tagged by Vix

Thanks!!

The rules are I have to list 10 things I'm thankful for and then tag 5 other people. :)
I am Thankful For:
1) The Husband God has given me!
2) Our three olive plants aka: the Goons
3) CHC for Magoo (Christadelphian Herritage Colledge)
4) My amazing In-Laws (especially this week as it is another Deleware week!)
5) Fresh asparagus
6) "Wild and Wacky but Totally True Bible Stories" tapes
7) Starbucks kids Hot Chocolate (at $1.00 each you can take them for a treat!)
8) Being part of an amazing Ecclesia that really supports us young families
9) Living in a part of the globe where we can experience all 4 drastically different seasons (yes, i do love snow!)
10) The Kitchen Aid stand mixer that Hubby got me last year, we use it each and everyday and no longer buy bread!

OKAY...I tag the 4 followers of this blog and Anna: http://ccostello.blogspot.com/

opps!

Another First:

Magoo's first report card was handed to me during his last swimming lesson! Wow I was so pleased, 1 item we need to work on but did great on everything!

So to celebrate he gets to pick dinner for tonight: KD & hotdogs oh my!

Some Quick Tips

So here I sit, half an hour before Hubby is expected home and I am not running around like an insane headless chicken. For the first 7 years of our marriage the hour before dinner was, well how do I put this nicely....um crazy, insane, STRESSED, usually involved me getting frustrated and yelling at the Goons. Starting a few months ago we tried something different around this little Bet-el. At 4:30 I decide what to cook for dinner and start it! even if it is pasta (such as tonight) I cut up the veggies (we eat a LOT of veggies) and get all the prep done so that hopefully dinner is ready and cooked about 15-20 minutes before Hubby gets home. WHY? you ask, well that gives me enough time to wash the pots and pans, wipe down the kitchen and dining room table and get the Goons (aged 3 & 5) to help Mama set the table. Otherwise I wouldn't have the patience to let them help me and I believe in the wise words of Solomon "Train Up A Child In the Way He Should Go".

Yeah, you are right that is speaking spiritually but I think it also applies to the dull, humdrum stuff too!

This afternoon was sisters class. Wonderful study on the Unclean and Clean Animals as found in Leviticus 11. So many good thoughts to chew on (pun fully intended!). Since Sprout fell asleep at Mums I got the whole class and then an hour visiting over a cup of tea and scones! Bliss!

So now the Goons are happily playing upstairs in the playroom and the downstairs is tidy (well, as tidy as a home with 3 Goons ever is!) and dinner is ready for Hubby to walk in and eat!

On to another subject: the Family Meal. As you may know Hubby has been working late when at home. I struggled with the debate over whether to feed the Goons before he gets home but have decided on another course of action. We all have a substantial snack mid-afternoon. Fruit & cheese, crackers, the odd piece of chocolate...toast & pb. Then the Goons and Mummy are content and happy to wait until 6 or 6:30pm to eat together.

We have found that eating (and praying together of course) really helps bind us together. We all (even the Goons) chat about our day, the ups and downs, laugh at the Goons jokes and such. After we clear the table we head straight into the living room for the daily Bible Readings. Which is a wonderful way to begin and end the day, but I'll save that for another post. It is time to turn on the outside lights (as the sun set an hour ago) and get myself looking nice to Welcome Hubby home too.

Blessings

Since I'm in a Grumpy Tired Sick Mood, I thought I'd better follow my Grandma's advice and count out 5 things I'm thankful for:

1) Having already done and put away the groceries
2) God has blessed D with a good job so I can buy heathy above groceries for the family
3) Magoo can go to CHC (Christadelphian Heritage College) since homeschool just wouldn't work right now
4) My sister Leah calling just to chat this morning
5) Our warm, comfy house
6) Its snowing outside!
7) PC Canadian Coffee
8) Being able to breastfeed Sprout
9) Hubby being home this week, last week and next week!
10) Little House in the Big Woods story time with the Goons each night

opps thats 10 things! Off to pick up Magoo now!

Saw this at Michelle's and decided it looked fun for a blah day that we have here today!
Bold the things you’ve done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does highschool count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (tried Hebrew...still working on that one!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indorr count?)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (with Magoo when he was 3)
47. Had your portrait painted (in higschool, actually its in the yearbook)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (only once!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Wrinkles dog)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (Gross)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (preggy with Sprout#1)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (once every year....want a copy of the daily planner?)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating--Ewww! I hope I NEVER have to do this!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (David Wilder, spokesperson from Heborn count?)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Made a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (but I have swam in the Dead Sea)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

What a busy week so far! Finally one of those many, numerous jobs is done. Here is the finished pocket bag. I'm very pleased with it. Now we only have 2 more to sew to use as gifts for the holidays! I had no idea until it was done that it is fully reversible with pockets on the outside and in, such a practical bag!

This weekend Sprout decided to take her first determined efforts to crawl, and she did it! I'm excited yet dreading all the baby-proofing that now needs to be done. So as I procrastinate and type away the living room is chaos as we are having to reorganize it around the plugs and

such.

Oh and I looked over on Sunday after meeting and asked hubby "did you sit her up" "no didnt you?" so we have no clue how she is doing it but she can get herself up into the sitting position all by herself. OIY this at only 6 mths...

Hubby was wonderful and has been digging up our carrot crop, one basket down....many more to go!

Reality Check!

Tuesday I get this call "Mrs. __________, we have in our records that your furnace needs to be inspected. We will be in the area tomorrow and have some spaces still avalible...blah blah blah"

Now normally any kind of call like this I put off for the Husband to deal with, but he has had so much on his mind with work going insane and the regular issues that a serving brother in the ecclesia must care for and family chaos, that I decided to handle this myself. I'm a big girl afterall and all it is is a furnace inspection, and they said they were a division of the company that services out hot water tank.

So yesterday at 9:45 (15 min early) the doorbell rings and this guy is standing there, and before I can even look at his name tag the Baby starts her "I'm breaking 3 more teeth scream" and so I invite him in and explain where the furnace is. He is down for maybe 10 minutes and then needs me to show him a cold air return (first signal) so I show him the one in the dining room and then he needs to see one upstairs....the only one upstairs is in the master bedroom. I take him upstairs and he just sorta peeks in...hmmmm.....any ways so we are talking the the kitchen and he writes up a "report" for me. Finally I get a minute to look at his name tag and all it is, is his name and the name of the company typed on a piece of white paper laminated, no logo, regular font, looks completely fake. The "report" is a photocopied sheet of paper that has the address and company name and # on the top..... looks very UNprofessional....and they had told me they were a division of the gas company.....

so yeah, I had to get him OUT OF THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW! so Baby screamed again and i told him he had to go. I would "think about it". He said that if I take the opening for today for 8:30 am then it would be half price, blah blah blah.

So I'm freaking out. In our area there have been a lot of theft, produce from the farms, tobacco from the drying sheds, a tractor, and we've been warned that they think they are working in gangs and are armed....

Yeah I freaked.

So I went to my dear MIL for dinner and they had the speaker for Bible class over as well and he took the time to research the company on the web. We did a reverse phone number look up....not a buisness number. There is a buisness at the address but it is a Christmas Decorating store! and the cell number the guy gave is from Toronto.

So today I need to get the kids watched and get myself down to the local police station and report this fraud.

Needless to say I didn't sleep at all all night as I was worried that our house had been cased for a robbery....if it was he was disappointed as we have nothing of real $ value. Even our computer is about 5 yrs old.

Lesson learn't! Always take the time before letting some guy into your house to check everything out, even if the baby is screaming her preety little lungs out.

Another Deleware Week

Yep, another week without Hubby has begone. He left at 6 am this morning to go to the airport. The Goons are getting so well at Daddy being gone, that that in itself is depressing. We've been blessed that this week we have a dear friend...Jenna, staying with us to keep us all upbeat and cheery. The end is in sight though, which is great. I had a bit of a breakdown on Sunday after memorial as the idea of another week without him home was just simply too much to bear. God willing after this week he will be able to be home for three weeks in a row and then only a couple more trips before this stage of the project is done.

Oh, and this morning there was white fluffy stuff in the sky! So the Goons and I did our Happy Snow dance!

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Pumpkin Soup (h), Fresh rolls, Tossed Salad, Apple Crisp(h) (we are having visitors)
Tuesday: Spagetti, Tomatoe Sauce using our frozen tomatoes (h), zuchinni (h)& shredded carrots (h)
Wednesday: Fahitas (l) (h)
Thursday: Don't have to cook! - invited out! yehaw!
Friday: Roast Beef with all the fixings (h)
Saturday: Ham, Scalloped potatoes (l), peas, pumpkin pie (we are having visitors)
Sunday: Tuna, mushroom soup, mixed veggie caserole

(l=local farm produce from within 20 km, h=our own harvest from our small veggie garden)

Wow, time is flying by again.

We are so excited to have a special visitor coming to stay....um she's arriving tonight!

oh my!

Kitchen floor - scrubbed and dried
Dining Room furniture - wiped down
Playroom - transformed into guest bedroom
Bread - baked and oh so yummy! (Goons taste tested)
Menu - planned
Groceries - bought and sorted
Laundry - washed.....needs to be put away

All that is left is vacuming and ........................the 2 + 1/2 bathrooms oh my!

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Roast Chicken, Mashed potatoes (l), roasted pumpkin (h), peas
Tuesday: Veggies Stew (h) & Fresh Bread
Wednesday: Spagetti, Tomatoe Sauce using our frozen tomatoes (h), zuchinni (h)& shredded carrots (h)
Thursday: Roast Beef, raosted potatoes (l), carrots (h), beans (h) (switch to Friday if Jenna arrives Friday)
Friday: Fahitas
Saturday: Veggie Stew (h) & Pull-apart Herb rolls
Sunday: Ham, Scalloped potatoes (l), peas, apple pie

(l=local farm produce from within 20 km, h=our ouw harvest from our small veggie garden)

The painting is done in the playroom...now if only I could find the camera I could show it to you all!

Sorry! I know I've been missing for a week now, my the days fly by now! Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that it is getting dark here around 6 instead of 9:30pm. Most dread this time of year when the sun is darkened for a longer period of time, and the air is down right freezing (I was going to say chilly, but that wouldn't have been the whole truth now would it!).

We are in the middle of yet another "Deleware Week" for those that don't know this means that Hubby is away Monday (5:30am) to Friday (7pm) on buisness. Since the beginning of September this has happened every 2 weeks but we are hoping that after the next trip he will be able to stay home for 2 weeks inbetween trips.

Since it is so cold out, and since I have to keep myself busy so that I don't burst out in tears from missing Hubby I've desided to get down to buisness and work on a lot of unfinished projects. For my sister's birthday (tomorrow) I've made a series of mini barley bags so that she can take them with her in her travels as she just recieved a new job of stewardess on an airline. A funky hat and scarf complete the gift!

After I sign off I will start cutting out the fabric for one of the cloth bags that I mentioned in the last post. I'm thinking of using the Toile and a grey/blue fabric...hopefully the go well toether!

Oh and the mural in the playroom is finally penciled out and ready for some paint (after 2 years).

Jiffy rolls are in the oven and my dear SIL and a friend from the Ecclesia are coming over for tea in about an hour so I must fly but here is a wonderful recipe for get togethers:

Jiffy Cinnamon Rolls:

All-purpose flour 2 cups
Granulated sugar 2 tbsp
Baking powder 4 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Cold butter or margarine 1/4 cup
Cold milk 1 cup

Butter or margarine, softened 1/3 cup
Brown sugar, packed 1cup
Cinnamon 1 tbsp
currants or cut up raisins 1/3 cup

In a large bowl put flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in first amount of butter until crumbly. Make a well in the center.Pour milk into well. Stir to form soft dough adding a bit more milk if needed. Turn out on lightly floured surface. Knead 8 to 10 times. Roll into rectangle about 1/3 inch(1cm) thick and 12 inches(30 cm) long.

Cream second amount of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together well. Drop 1 measuring teaspoon (5 ml) into each of 12 greased muffin tins. Sprinkle currants over top. Roll up as for jelly roll. Mark first then cut into 12 slices. Place cut side down in muffin pan.

Bake in 400*F (200* C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn out on tray. Makes 12.Glaze: To 1/2 cup(125ml) icing sugar, add enough milk or water to make a thin glaze. drizzle over cinnamon rolls.

We have an amazing little local library. Any book that you are looking for they will hunt down and borrow from another library, sometimes hours away! "Linda the Library Lady" as the Goons call her is so wonderful in putting books on hold for us that she knows we will ike and find useful. This was one of them. What a simply delightful book! It is beautiful to look through and its layout is simply perfect!

So our stockpile (did I say 'our' I meant 'my') has been brought up from the basement and oh my, what a mess! I've decided on making a bucket bag (on the right on the picture) for Sprout, a pocket bag for myself, an everyday skirt for Missy and so the list goes on.

The skirt will be saved for the holidays and perhaps I'm sew a tie of the same fabric for Magoo. There is a darling pattern for a gardening apron that is screaming to be made for my Mother as well!

These should keep me very busy while D is on another buisness trip. Those are getting easier each time. The Goons and I are getting into the routine of having D home for a week and then away for the weekdays of the next. It helps that it is Autumn and we are all craving veggie stews and simple meals, made even more simple when it is only the Goons and I at home.

Here is a picture of my overflowing fabric pile....

Ofcourse Monday while running Mum B around town for her errands I stopped by Fabricland as they had a huge sale on and couldn't resist some more. The Magen David will be used to make a skirt for Missy and a tie for Magoo for the holidays.

Monday's Meal Plan

Monday: Veggie Stew & Fresh Whole Wheat Bread


Tuesday: Ratatouille, Holishkes, Rice & Challah Bread (Last Great day of the Feast of Tabernacles)


Wednesday: Hot Sandwich Loaf (Cheese & Tomatoe filling)


Thursday: Garden Salad & Fresh Pitas


Friday: Baked Bean Pie


Saturday: Roast Beef, Pepper Squash, Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts


Sunday: Quchie, Garden Salad, Boiled Potatoes & Fresh Rolls

Unbelieveable!

Have you ever heard of killer frost coming so early? Monday night it was due to go down to 3 degrees (C) so the Goons and Hubby and I all bundled up and headed out to get the rest of the beans and tomatoes in.

Here Magoo is inspecting a bush for stray beans!

First ofcourse it was time to gather in the golden delicious apples. We got 61 off of our little wee 5 year old tree! Today Magoo is taking a few to share with his class for "show and tell".

I love how Hubby took a couple hours away from important work to help us all...oh how blessed I am to have been given the gift of him as my husband from God.

How are your harvests coming? The apples are in the fridge, the beans drying and waiting to be shacked..fruit sauce is bubbling away on the stove top.

Oh what a great blessing the time for Fall is! oh and yep, killer frost desended on our garden Monday night was forcasted.

Tomorrow we are planning on visiting the local farm stand to get our 50 lb bag of local potaotes and some more apples for the winter!

Hugs to the few who stop by!