Oh please not this time---

My son has talked about almost NOTHING else other than taking some $$ out of his bank account and buying a PIG!!

Why?  Because that is what Almonzo did when he asked his dad for .05, his dad gave hime .50 and he bought a pig  (so he could sell the babies-- whatever baby pigs are called-- I'll know the answer to this tomorrow).  

All weekend-- everyone he came in contact with he told "I am going to take MY $$ and buy a baby pig". 

The draw back to this?   Almonzo's father owned a VERY large farm (and was pretty wealthy) and the book never mentioned how Almonzo FED this animal!!  (Zachary is planning LOTS of scraps-- tried to start saving some today).....   The bigger drawback to all of this?    Jason has ALWAYS wanted to raise a pig---

 

Oh how I DISLIKE PIGS!!  VERY MUCH.   When we go the farm show or fair-- I try to walk quickly thru-- and to be honest they SCARE ME VERY MUCH!!   Have you ever seen a PIG get loose at a Farm Show?  I have and it takes a FEW MEN to get them back in!!!!  Oh dear... they REALLY REALLY do scare me!!!

So guess what filled Zachary's library bag today?   Books on pigs-- you guessed!!  (lol)   I have a friend who has her daughters write a paper or notebook about things like this-- do some REAL resarch before they are able to "jump in" to things like this-- and that is JUST what I have planned for Zachary.

PS:  I did throw in a few books on rabbits-- incase the pig idea doesn't 'fly".   

If only he "took" to our Missionary book on the Fiji Island   like he did Almonzo's pig!!  LOL

Oh yeah-- read alouds are great!!!   LOL

It is really hard to put into words all the things we learned and experienced in Antioch. I think that we will be processing much of it for a long time to come. Guy expressed many things very succinctly on his blog here and here. There were a few things though, that really made an impression on me personally and those are the things I will share here.

The first thing that seemed to emerge was a confirmation of what many of us have been feeling for some time now. That would be the sense of urgency in our task to bring the gospel to ALL the nations. I personally believe that we have already entered into the last phase of humanity. I really believe that within the lifespan of my children Jesus will return. I really do think it will be that soon. There just isn't time to waste. This has colored how I see life almost more than anything else. It has propelled me to "clean house" in a way that has been and is very freeing and refreshing.

Another thing that "hit me between the eyes" and brought me under conviction is the truth I learned about prophetic words from God. I'm not talking about an Elijah-type prophet standing in front of a bunch of christians pointing his finger and thundering out condeming words, but rather that Word of God that comes to us leading us to do things His way rather than ours. What was new to me was the idea that when God speaks through a prophetic person, the Word spoken is for the church, not for the prophet.  "The prophet belongs to God, his prophecy belongs to the people"  was how it was shared. What brought me to conviction was realizing that all the knowledge that God has given me I have hoarded and not shared because I didn't think I was a worthy vessel. That is selfishness in it's purest form. It's not about me, but about God and His Kingdom.

That brings me to another Word that God revealed during the week that made an impression on me. "The only good apostle is a dead apostle."  We must put aside all that we are in order to be a vessel that God can use for his kingdom. There are many things in my life that need to be put aside so that God can work through me. And this has not been an easy thing to do (still working on it!).

Recently I read or heard somewhere that American Christians carry the Bible in one hand and the flag in the other. This image has been with me for several months now and had been bothering me more and more. During our time there I realized that I didn't just have the flag in my hand, but I was immersed in it- I wore it, I decorate my house with it, I saw the world through it. It was as important to me as the Bible I carry in my other hand. For goodness sake, I got my letter to The O'Reilly Factor read by Bill O'Reilly himself! I'm a true patriot! If I learned anything at all this week, it was that I am first, and foremost, a citizen of God's Kingdom. I needed to put down my flag and take up the Banner of the Kingdom. I could no longer allow the flag to compete with the kingdom. This I did. It doesn't mean that I'm no longer patriotic (I am). It just means that God's Kingdom is more important than my American citizenship.  The people at this meeting were from all over the world, from all different walks of life, from widely differing pay scales. What brought us together was that we are all citizens of God's Kingdom, working with God to further His Kingdom.

That is what we will be doing this weekend.... 

Tonight we are having a fellowship meal at our church for our pastor and his wife to celebrate their anniversary.    Just last week we had a celebration/meal for another couple who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary....    I just love how serious this church takes and MAKES families.  The couple that celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary also had a wedding quilt / throw hand made for them by ladies of the church (not me, I am not good with a needle...and it was also made during Nathans birth and there-after).    My older 2 were at first surprised that we were having a dinner to celebrate an anniversary-- but now that this is CELEBRATION #2-- I think they get the idea--   Marriage is SUPER special and we all need to encourage and celebrate it with each other!!  

 

Then tomorrow we are heading home (to my home) to help my mom who really needs some wood cut and split and stacked for her.   We just found out about this yesterday-- but I am so thankful I have a husband and children who realize that this is what families do for each other-- we HELP and SERVE whenever and wherever needed.   Jason works all night tonight but will still be the only "MAN" there-- and I know he is going to be so tired-- but he still stood right up and said "Yes, if your mom needs help-- WE WILL BE THERE."   (That made a wonderful impression on the boys too-- ).

 

I have a friend who is considering homeschooling next year- and she asked me a few questions (I LOVE TALKING ABOUT Homeschooling-- even if we are becoming Unschoolers)....and the one she asked was "How long do you homeschool your boys each day?"   Ummmm how do you answer that to someone who sends their children to school all day with out getting THIS look...    LOL    So I gave her the ol' standby (and TRUTH) "Oh we are homeschooling all day--everyday-- my children are always LEARNING.... it is just a matter of WHAT they are learning."     (and I must BLUSH and add that since Nathan has been home and we have been watching FOOD NETWORK and the DO IT YOURSELF channel VERY frequently-- they have had a WHOLE lot of Home Ec. and Industrial Arts... LOL-- really though-- they can tell you many things they did not know before-- and are very ANXIOUS to help in the kitchen!!  LOL)   Oh and don't for get life science-- raising 25 meat chickens from 2 day old babies to the freezer to the kitchen TABLE (last nights dinner)  But I did tell her the truth-  "sitting and desk time is about 3 hours"--  (because I KNOW that is what she is considering school-- but hoping she will see school is SOOOO much more)   I did re-state that that was  not counting read aloud time and hands on learning-- and learning to "serve and help" as members of a society (the home and more).

 

Boy this was a rambling post, huh?? 

I'm blessed beyond measure!!

Oh the looks we get when we all go out in public right now-- you can see people counting heads--- at first it was funny-- sometimes it is annoying... how do REALLY big families do it?  

The hardest part for me right now-- is STUFF--  I feel like I am somehow DROWNING in STUFF again-- and I am not at all a pack-rat-- or anything even close to that-- I just feel a new baby brings some BIG things with them--  (swing, pack-n-play, chairs, car seats, and on and on)--  plus the other 2 littles have STUFF-- (thankfully the older 2 have mostly small toys (legos, matchbox cars, etc)... but oh I really feel like STUFF has over taken me-- and the ONLY reason I haven't taken CHARGE-- is I'm afraid-- I am SOOO frusturated I'm afraid how BARE BONES I may make things---- (I can get crazy sometimes you know.. LOL).   Seriously--- it could be bad.....

Wanna know HOW CRAZY I CAN BE?   SHould I tell you??  hmmmm   some of you will really get a laugh-- but today on Craigslist under HOMES I found a listing for a "hunting cabin" (knotty pine-- BEAUTIFUL) on 20 acres with a self composting toilet!!!!!  (in our price range) -- It is ONE big room as far as I can see with a BEAUTIFUL WOOD interior---  but oh my--  dh laughed-- and said "Yes, we would definitly be disowned then!! "  LOL    Then he said "maybe we should drive by and look at it!!"   (He is not a dreamer, or visionary-- so don't worry)

Today we went to Bass Pro Shop for hubby to get a few things-- and this lady who works there said " Hi, there, are you finding everything okay... is there anything I can help you find?  Maybe a BABYSITTER?...holys smokes you have a lot of kids!"    I don't know why by that really rubbed me the wrong way....     Later at the customer service desk a gentleman said he was one of 5 children and he imagined we were what his family looked like and 2 women behind the counter working there -- said--" Not me I could never imagine so many kids-- No way".    What a shame--   Children really are not considered a blessing in this world are they????

Well I do feel blessed-- and as Doug Phillips said  (can't find the link) but the jist is this:   In the Bible children are called a blessing and debt a curse, so why do so many of us try to LIMIT our blessings yet APPLY for our cureses?????   

Love that---

....Check out the LitFuse button newly installed in my sidebar.  They are always looking for new reviewers/bloggers!

Always good stuff from TOS, and this one is free.  Click HERE or see the pretty button in my sidebar to download the new free holiday ebook. 

I have spent almost an hour on this stupid comptuer-- trying to download some pics-- UGHHHHHH

Nathan:

"watching mamma wash dishes"

This is a cute poem my talented dad wrote after watching Biruk obsess about being a pirate.  Enjoy it and share it, but please be sure to attribute it to my dad!

The dishwasher run...and Zachary reading aloud to himself while finishing school work.

 
***

To Fit and Happy...

How did CANDY get into this house?   Oh yes--  Grandma!!  Ugghhh- not too much-- and soon it will be gone.

Still thinking about the exercise for all...  ANY SUGGESTIONS?   Where we live is not really "safe" for walking-- unless we walk the perimiter of our land-- and that is B-O-R-I-N-G.    Plus it is getting colder--

***

I am thankful for...

Our MANY read aloud times right now-- they are SO fun-- and each time we are reading a different book.   First feeding (Nathan) is Farmer Boy, second is a Missionary Book about Fiji, third is Christopher Columbus, fourth is "Created For Work".   Not counting our morning Proverb and our evening Bible time led by daddy.

***

From the Kitchen

Wheww kitchen day last week was MESSY~!  No kitchen day this week--  Next week we will as I will need to make some bread.   Oh and it looks like apple picking (drops for free) will be soon-- so that will be a kitchen day!! 

 

***

I am wearing ...

I bought some kuddleduds-- finally-  I have heard many praises of them-- as they keep a woman warm in the winter in her dresses.   So yesterday I ran to Bonton (the only local store that carried them) and bought a pair with a few knee sox to go with -- and ahhh they are SOOOOO comfy and warm!!  

Oh but I am wearing a SUPER comfy (not so pretty) beige cotton skirt with black turtleneck and new sox. 

***

In My CD Player

Vision Forum CD-  "Why the Church Needs the Family and the Family Needs the Church" ---Livingroom

Michael W Smith-  in the Suburban

***

Towards a real education ...

READ alouds and the 3 R's are getting in!!  yeaaaaa   And we are really enjoying ourselves-- that is the BEST part!!!

 

***

 

I am thinking... 

How much fun I had Saturday night at the Reformation Day Celebration our church had.  It was such a sweet time--  They had a musician (celtic  music) and it was dark with camp fires all around-- I was able to sit and listen and just enjoy watching the families around us--   I love watching families that LOVE each other-- I saw fathers and daughters dancing (it was barn dancing w/o the barn) husbands and wives dancing-- and children running and playing -- and mommys and daddys all around sharing in fellowship and laughter-- it was a SWEET SWEET TIME!!!

***

Around the Hobby Farm

Winterizing the laying chickens-  putting up their winter windows and cleaning out the nests.

Still to do -  clean out flower beds and till garden for next year.

***

  

I am reading  ...

The Bible

"Farmer Boy" 

Missionary Book on Fiji

Christopher Columbus

"Created to Work"

Plus 3 books on hold at library to be picked up today.....

***

I am  praying ...

For our family-- as we make decisions-- that we would have ears to hear and eyes to see what the Lord wants for us....

***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Nothing!!

I cancelled Baby Nathan's wellbaby appt today-- nothing like taking a 1 month old out to the Dr.'s office during FLU season!! 

Maybe some apple picking and processing with 2 family friends-- we'll see how the weather is--and each ones schedule...

Previous entry regarding the TV in our home.....

".....So off went the switch-- and I'll be curious to see who switches it back on!!"

  It was me!!!    Must be honest.....  However it is on VERY VERY little now!!