Dec. 18, 2009
I was in a baking mood today because we had run out of flour but today went and got 50 lbs. of white flour, 50 lbs. of whole wheat, and 50 lbs. of rolled oats! Yay!
I decided to make a sponge cake. I had thawed some of the strawberries we had picked this summer and needed something to turn them into dessert! SO... the sponge cake helped make them a delicious Strawberry Shortcake! OOOOH it was SOOO good!
And can you tell that we drink Tropicana OJ? I never did work, but he tried SO hard! hehe
I also made molasses cookies but was too lazy to photograph them. I can't wait to make more cookies for Christmas and then get started on Christmas candy!
I'm giving the kids some time off for school for the holidays, so I am going to focus on lots of devotions and fun things to prepare for our celebration of the Lord's birth!
To be continued...
I decided to make a sponge cake. I had thawed some of the strawberries we had picked this summer and needed something to turn them into dessert! SO... the sponge cake helped make them a delicious Strawberry Shortcake! OOOOH it was SOOO good!
And can you tell that we drink Tropicana OJ? I never did work, but he tried SO hard! hehe
I also made molasses cookies but was too lazy to photograph them. I can't wait to make more cookies for Christmas and then get started on Christmas candy!
I'm giving the kids some time off for school for the holidays, so I am going to focus on lots of devotions and fun things to prepare for our celebration of the Lord's birth!
To be continued...
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Friends of ours recently lost all of their material possessions in a house fire that consumed everything, except them and their pets. It was devastating. I was blown away by the complete destructive power of fire. My heart has been so heavy for my dear friend. Nothing I could do but pray, offer clothes, and gift cards. Prayer, of course, has been most important. But my heart still breaks for them and their loss.
It's been so hard to watch them grieve but so wonderful to watch people reach out and help them. Some haven't even known them. Some have been good friends. But all have been "Jesus with feet" to my dear friend and her family.
Yesterday they got to pick up their children from their grandmother's house. I am so humbled by God working to bring this family back together for Christmas. It seems like all of life is okay just because they are now together.
I know there will be times when certain material possessions are missed, making them sad. But I also know Jesus is there to rebuild what no man can.....a family.
Join me in prayer and praise for this beautiful family God is rebuilding.
What a Christmas!
I praise you Lord Jesus!
IN HIM....
Dec. 18, 2009
Blessings...
Friends of ours recently lost all of their material possessions in a house fire that consumed everything, except them and their pets. It was devastating. I was blown away by the complete destructive power of fire. My heart has been so heavy for my dear friend. Nothing I could do but pray, offer clothes, and gift cards. Prayer, of course, has been most important. But my heart still breaks for them and their loss.
It's been so hard to watch them grieve but so wonderful to watch people reach out and help them. Some haven't even known them. Some have been good friends. But all have been "Jesus with feet" to my dear friend and her family.
Yesterday they got to pick up their children from their grandmother's house. I am so humbled by God working to bring this family back together for Christmas. It seems like all of life is okay just because they are now together.
I know there will be times when certain material possessions are missed, making them sad. But I also know Jesus is there to rebuild what no man can.....a family.
Join me in prayer and praise for this beautiful family God is rebuilding.
What a Christmas!
I praise you Lord Jesus!
IN HIM....
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Dec. 16, 2009
I am in a blogging mood. Lately I really have to be in the right mood to do something or I shy away from it! That's pregnancy for ya!
I am now 24 weeks and 3 days pregnant! This is a photo of me taken by my 12 year old son a couple weeks ago . . .
I love being pregnant. This is my 6th child and it just doesn't get old! I am getting old, but being pregnant is just as great every time! When you are 40 and carrying a child, there are differences, but I like to focus on the "I'm more patient" or "I'm more mature" type of differences instead of the ones that are excused by my being "advanced maternal age". Yes, I have a harder time getting up off the floor than I used to, I have a lot of gray hair, I want to go to bed at 7, etc. BUT this old lady isn't doing too bad overall!
I've also had a first! I witnessed my first home birth! My Niece, Haley, gave birth yesterday to her 3rd child . . . a beautiful son.
It's an experience I will never forgot and am so thankful I was able to be there! I even got to cut the cord! It took 2 hands...( man oh man umbilical cords are tough! ) but I did it and it made me happy that Haley asked me to!
Lately I have been spending a lot of time knitting, but mostly Christmas stockings that I'm crafting in secret until Christmas and baby things also secretively knit due to the fact that I am the only one that knows what I'm having! My Husband wants to be surprised, so I'm not allowed to tell a soul! Not sure if I've given it away yet, but I think I'm doing pretty good not saying what this little sweet one is!
I am knitting up a cozy pair of leg warmers for myself though. (I'm almost done the 2nd one!) The maternity skirt that I wear a lot is long but doesn't cover my whole calf and it is really cold outside this time of year! I needed something woolly to keep me toasty! This photo doesn't show how long my skirt is but I lifted it up so you could see the leg warmer . . .
We went to get our Christmas tree on the 8th! Here I am with the kids . . .
and Daddy w/ the kids . . .
Our little decorated tree . . .
I hope you all have a blessed Christmas! What a beautiful time of year this is! The Lord has been so good to us this year and I am also looking forward to the new year and can't wait to see what He has in store for us in 2010! We will be meeting our new baby in March and in May I will officially be the Mother of a teenager! Pray for me ;-)
Thanks, as usual, for letting me share a bit of our lives! ~ Bridget
I am now 24 weeks and 3 days pregnant! This is a photo of me taken by my 12 year old son a couple weeks ago . . .
I love being pregnant. This is my 6th child and it just doesn't get old! I am getting old, but being pregnant is just as great every time! When you are 40 and carrying a child, there are differences, but I like to focus on the "I'm more patient" or "I'm more mature" type of differences instead of the ones that are excused by my being "advanced maternal age". Yes, I have a harder time getting up off the floor than I used to, I have a lot of gray hair, I want to go to bed at 7, etc. BUT this old lady isn't doing too bad overall!
I've also had a first! I witnessed my first home birth! My Niece, Haley, gave birth yesterday to her 3rd child . . . a beautiful son.
It's an experience I will never forgot and am so thankful I was able to be there! I even got to cut the cord! It took 2 hands...( man oh man umbilical cords are tough! ) but I did it and it made me happy that Haley asked me to!
Lately I have been spending a lot of time knitting, but mostly Christmas stockings that I'm crafting in secret until Christmas and baby things also secretively knit due to the fact that I am the only one that knows what I'm having! My Husband wants to be surprised, so I'm not allowed to tell a soul! Not sure if I've given it away yet, but I think I'm doing pretty good not saying what this little sweet one is!
I am knitting up a cozy pair of leg warmers for myself though. (I'm almost done the 2nd one!) The maternity skirt that I wear a lot is long but doesn't cover my whole calf and it is really cold outside this time of year! I needed something woolly to keep me toasty! This photo doesn't show how long my skirt is but I lifted it up so you could see the leg warmer . . .
We went to get our Christmas tree on the 8th! Here I am with the kids . . .
and Daddy w/ the kids . . .
Our little decorated tree . . .
I hope you all have a blessed Christmas! What a beautiful time of year this is! The Lord has been so good to us this year and I am also looking forward to the new year and can't wait to see what He has in store for us in 2010! We will be meeting our new baby in March and in May I will officially be the Mother of a teenager! Pray for me ;-)
Thanks, as usual, for letting me share a bit of our lives! ~ Bridget
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Daybook Monday on Tuesday
December 15, 2009...
Outside my window...
It is looking like a beautiful day today!. The sun is just coming up and there is the thick later of frost with maybe a dusting of snow from yesterday. The kids are hoping for snow later today, but it sounds like it may just turn to rain.
I am thinking...
how quickly this year has gone by! In just over two weeks we will be starting 2010.
I am thankful for...
a quiet Christmas with my family. It is pretty simple without a lot of outside activity, just our simple holiday traditions at home.
From the learning rooms...
both David and Rachel are working on Math and Piano this morning. They have really been working on their piano in the last few months. (They stated taking lesson in September.) They have come so far. I'm really proud of them.
From the kitchen...
Burritos
I am wearing...
my PJ's. The kids are dressed and I need to get dressed, but I hate to wake Chris up, but I need to get in the habit of taking my clothes out when I get up because he will be on night shift starting tomorrow evening.
I am going...
down town this afternoon to take the kids to piano lessons. I need to buy groceries but I think I will wait to do that later in the week so I can spend some more time on my grocery list.
I am creating...
we have all been having fun making cookies and brownies and such lately. I think the only things I have created have been of the eatable variety.
I am reading...
Israel My Beloved and Little Town on the Prairie to the kids.
I am hoping...
for snow!
I am hearing...
One of my favorite things...
Christmas music
A few plans for the rest of the week:
David and Rachel have play date with friends, grocery shopping, taking some of Aaron's old clothes to consign and school.
A few late afternoon frost photos to share:
Would you like to start your own daybook? Check out this website. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Outside my window...
It is looking like a beautiful day today!. The sun is just coming up and there is the thick later of frost with maybe a dusting of snow from yesterday. The kids are hoping for snow later today, but it sounds like it may just turn to rain.
I am thinking...
how quickly this year has gone by! In just over two weeks we will be starting 2010.
I am thankful for...
a quiet Christmas with my family. It is pretty simple without a lot of outside activity, just our simple holiday traditions at home.
From the learning rooms...
both David and Rachel are working on Math and Piano this morning. They have really been working on their piano in the last few months. (They stated taking lesson in September.) They have come so far. I'm really proud of them.
From the kitchen...
Burritos
I am wearing...
my PJ's. The kids are dressed and I need to get dressed, but I hate to wake Chris up, but I need to get in the habit of taking my clothes out when I get up because he will be on night shift starting tomorrow evening.
I am going...
down town this afternoon to take the kids to piano lessons. I need to buy groceries but I think I will wait to do that later in the week so I can spend some more time on my grocery list.
I am creating...
we have all been having fun making cookies and brownies and such lately. I think the only things I have created have been of the eatable variety.
I am reading...
Israel My Beloved and Little Town on the Prairie to the kids.
I am hoping...
for snow!
I am hearing...
the pellet stove and fan. The sounds of David on the laptop and David and Aaron discussing the weather forecast.
One of my favorite things...
Christmas music
A few plans for the rest of the week:
David and Rachel have play date with friends, grocery shopping, taking some of Aaron's old clothes to consign and school.
A few late afternoon frost photos to share:
Would you like to start your own daybook? Check out this website. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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Dec. 14, 2009
BOYS!
Boys will be boys!
And these three are something else.
Two are mine and one is a good friend.
And these three are something else.
Two are mine and one is a good friend.
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I'm ready for snow! We have a think layer of frost that could pass for dusting of snow, but you cannot play it that.
I think our whole week was just for fun this week. I'll try to get our the camera and have a picture next week. I keep hoping if I wait we will get some snow.
Carol started this meme. Check out here blog if you would like to join us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ThreeLittleLadies
Saturday, December 12, 2009
weekly Wrap-up
From the Heart:
We enjoyed going to the Nutcracker again this year. It was so fun watching the kids just spell bound! We have enjoyed a few quiet days with Chris this week while he had a few days off. It has been fun. It has been a good week. Nothing special really, just fun with the kids and family stuff. We had a friend over and the kids made sugar cookies. We slept in and stayed in our PJ's and just enjoyed some quiet mornings together and watched a movie from our church library together. We made pizza together. Simple joys that we take for granted or "get too busy" to enjoy. When you add all this up (plus 15 minutes in a tanning bed to get some light) it is amazing how it takes so little to chase away some of the winter blues.
On the HomeFront:I'm ready for snow! We have a think layer of frost that could pass for dusting of snow, but you cannot play it that.
In the Schoolroom:
Not much going on in the school room. I've never taken this much time off during the holidays, but we have enjoyed the break. In the Literary Scene:
We finished up The Long Winter today. I had other plans, but they are all begging for Little Town on the Prairie, so it looks like that will be started this afternoon. On the Last Frontier:
In just over a week we start gaining daylight!!! We are hoping for some snow soon, so we can dig our out snowshoes and sleds. We have enjoyed some clear days so that is a blessing!
Just for Fun:
I think our whole week was just for fun this week. I'll try to get our the camera and have a picture next week. I keep hoping if I wait we will get some snow.
Carol started this meme. Check out here blog if you would like to join us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ThreeLittleLadies
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Dec. 10, 2009
Christmas of a Different Sort
I don't know how many of you watched the Hallmark Special A Dog Named Christmas ...it was on a few weeks ago. We taped it and watched it as a family. The jest of the story is that a family adopts a dog for Christmas and then the boy asks the entire community to adopt a dog for the Holidays.
We had just recently found a stray kitty and gave her to a dear friend.
We missed her terribly. All of the sudden there was a hole in our family. See?
There's Fred, the now 20 lb cat. And Cruiser, another stray who found his way into our home about a year ago.
After contacting PetFinder unsuccessfully we decided to visit our local shelter to see what they had available.
We found a very sweet loving 7 month old cat. We really had hoped for a younger kitten but, hey, everyone needs a home. So we adopted her with the help of a dear friend from Bible Study. She paid for the adoption fee. Thanks so much!!!
Here she is being held captive by my youngest in the school room.
Oh that's better, now she's relaxed!
Needless to say she gets lots of love!
So can anyone guess her name?
Yep.
"Christmas"
So now the unfilled sofa cushion can have a nice warm kitty on it too....
...once we let her outside.
We had just recently found a stray kitty and gave her to a dear friend.
We missed her terribly. All of the sudden there was a hole in our family. See?
There's Fred, the now 20 lb cat. And Cruiser, another stray who found his way into our home about a year ago.
After contacting PetFinder unsuccessfully we decided to visit our local shelter to see what they had available.
We found a very sweet loving 7 month old cat. We really had hoped for a younger kitten but, hey, everyone needs a home. So we adopted her with the help of a dear friend from Bible Study. She paid for the adoption fee. Thanks so much!!!
Here she is being held captive by my youngest in the school room.
Oh that's better, now she's relaxed!
Needless to say she gets lots of love!
So can anyone guess her name?
Yep.
"Christmas"
So now the unfilled sofa cushion can have a nice warm kitty on it too....
...once we let her outside.
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Dec. 9, 2009
Christmas and Relationship
This year I think Christmas is going to be different for a lot of people. Just like us.
It took a good friend to show me that the other day.
I know the economy is tough everywhere. And I'm guessing a lot of folks are bypassing buying presents for fellowship.
And I'm thinking that sounds kinda nice.
Fellowship.
Here's Webster's version:
It took a good friend to show me that the other day.
I know the economy is tough everywhere. And I'm guessing a lot of folks are bypassing buying presents for fellowship.
And I'm thinking that sounds kinda nice.
Fellowship.
Here's Webster's version:
1 : companionship, company
2 a : community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience b : the state of being a fellow or associate
3 : a company of equals or friends : association
4 : the quality or state of being comradely
5 obsolete : membership, partnership
I think we could all use some more fellowship (company, community, association, partnership) don't you?
Christmas really isn't about the presents.
And I tell myself that every year but this year I think God is helping us all to understand it's about relationship, not gifts. And I find myself relieved, in a way, that we can't buy, buy, buy for Christmas. Because it makes me stop and think. What really is important to me at Christmas?
Is it that I want to have enough gifts under the tree for my kids?
Or is it teaching them about love, and fellowship, and togetherness?
What do I really want my kids to learn?
I'm sure, in my heart, that it's about relationship.
Now, if I can only get my brain to follow my heart I'll be in good shape.
IN HIM ALWAYS...
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Monday, December 7, 2009
Daybook Monday
November 7, 2009...
Outside my window...
It is a beautiful sunny day. That is three is a row and such a blessing.
I am thinking...
not very clearly at the moment. I told Chris that I think someone switched the coffee to decaf without my knowledge.
I am thankful for...
a warm cozy house. The insulation we put in the attic and crawlspace is helping this year! Chris will have four days off of work after today! We are all looking forward to that.
From the learning rooms...
Piano is a high priority this week. We will be finishing The Long Winter. To change things up a little I'm thinking about focusing on Alaska State History and Science after they do a page in Math each day.
From the kitchen...
?
I am wearing...
blue jeans and a red sweatshift with a snowy sleigh and horse picture on the front.
I am going...
to stay home today expect for taking David to Boy Scouts. Tomorrow David and Rachel have piano lessons and we will be starting the DVD for their Grandmothers Christmas Recital.
I am creating...
?
I am reading...
The Long Winter to the kids.
I am hoping...
this coffee wakes me up! It is so hard to get going this time of year. I really need to go and spend a ten to 15 minutes in the tanning bed sometime this week.
I am hearing...
One of my favorite things...
The view out my living room window on a sunny day.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
We are looking forward to the Nutcracker on Friday.
Would you like to start your own daybook? Check out this website. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Outside my window...
It is a beautiful sunny day. That is three is a row and such a blessing.
I am thinking...
not very clearly at the moment. I told Chris that I think someone switched the coffee to decaf without my knowledge.
I am thankful for...
a warm cozy house. The insulation we put in the attic and crawlspace is helping this year! Chris will have four days off of work after today! We are all looking forward to that.
From the learning rooms...
Piano is a high priority this week. We will be finishing The Long Winter. To change things up a little I'm thinking about focusing on Alaska State History and Science after they do a page in Math each day.
From the kitchen...
?
I am wearing...
blue jeans and a red sweatshift with a snowy sleigh and horse picture on the front.
I am going...
to stay home today expect for taking David to Boy Scouts. Tomorrow David and Rachel have piano lessons and we will be starting the DVD for their Grandmothers Christmas Recital.
I am creating...
?
I am reading...
The Long Winter to the kids.
I am hoping...
this coffee wakes me up! It is so hard to get going this time of year. I really need to go and spend a ten to 15 minutes in the tanning bed sometime this week.
I am hearing...
One of the kids practicing Christmas songs on the piano and the fan on our pellet stove.
One of my favorite things...
The view out my living room window on a sunny day.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
We are looking forward to the Nutcracker on Friday.
Would you like to start your own daybook? Check out this website. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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Just for Fun:
We went to the "Galley Walk" downtown. Still trying to figure out what is so fun about that, but we came home and make donuts (from canned biscuits) and hot cocoa. That was fun and we need to do it again sometime soon!
Carol started this meme. Check out here blog if you would like to join us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ThreeLittleLadies
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Weekly Wrap-up
From the Heart:
We decorated the tree this week and worked on general stuff for the house. The kids have been so excited to start the Advent calendar again. It is fun watching them! Seeing their faces as we bring out all the old familiar Christmas things. I'm so grateful for children at Christmas!!Christmas is always my favorite time of year! I have to admit thought, that it has been hard to get in the spirit of the season this year. Dark dreary days can easily breed discontent. It isn't just the short days, but when the snow cover leaves and is replaced by freezing rain or a mixture of one sort or another, it is just darker outside. I find the winters affect my mood far more here in Juneau than the farther North Fairbanks ever did. But it isn't fair to say it is just the lack of light. It is the general discontentment of my heart that is just being magnified. Is God just using this weather to show me what is in my heart. If so I need a total hear change on the matter. Something I intend to think on and ponder.
On the HomeFront:In the Schoolroom:
We took a few more days off and then got back to school on Wednesday. David and Rachel are working on Christmas music in piano. Karen, their piano teacher and dear friend, will be making a DVD of them for their Grandmothers this week. We are all excited about that. We worked on their workbooks and just some wrap up stuff from the week before and read The Long Winter for read-aloud. We spent Saturday working on Alaska state history this week. In the Literary Scene:
I'm still reading The Long Winter to the kids. I had forgotten how much I love this story! I've just finished (in only about 5 days) Riven. I have not read a book that I just could not put down in awhile! Just a good read and I have to agree with what Jerry Jenkins (author) said. "If a novelist has a life's work, this is mine. I hope in the end you agree and that Riven stays with you long after the final page."On the Last Frontier:
Our days are getting shorter. How does it take me be surprise like I don't know it is coming! We are only just over two week until we start gaining daylight! The snow has melted and we had a rainy/ snow cannot make up its mind kind of week. We got a dusting of snow on Friday and the sun came out yesterday. Oh it is such a beautiful day outside! I love the pink glow on the mountain as the sun is coming up!
Just for Fun:
Carol started this meme. Check out here blog if you would like to join us. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ThreeLittleLadies