It's that time again....

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I would like to share what I have been reading to the boys in these recent cold evenings.  The booK is "The Wheel On The School" by Meindert DeJong.

I love this book.  I read it to my older two boys in their early years of homeschooling and now I am reading it to my two youngest.  This book has passed the test.  My boys each time I read this book aloud to them they keep asking me to read more and more.  Plus they can't wait till the evening comes and it is time for our read aloud time.

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It is a book that is in the setting in Shora, Holland in a small fishing villiage.( a long time ago...now it is a big tourist city ((sniff,sniff))  )  There is a small class of children who are trying to figure out how to encourage the storks to come and nest in Shora.  It shows how the children while they are hunting for a old wagon wheel to put on and  encourage the storks to nest on top of the schoolhouse.  In the story they discover wonderful friendships with the older people of their villiage.  A VERY heart warming and adventurous story that is sure to win your heart as it has mine.  I suggest for you this winter to snuggle up on the couch and read this book aloud ...together. 

Please Click on Canadagirl and join us for S&T Friday.

     What does an nana and grandaughter do on a sleepover? We bake a cake, that's what! Gracie loves strawberry cake and for this sleepover she wanted to make a strawberry bundt cake with white frosting, and she knew exactly how she wanted to decorate it too. For a little nine year old girl, she sure is decisive.  

    We did cheat a little bit by adding eggs, oil, and water to a Duncan Hines cake mix. I love my Kitchen Aid mixer...it sure makes baking easier.

     Gracie poses with the strawberry cake batter ready for the oven. Notice the flour on her dress sleeve and the comb? We baked the cake early Sunday morning before church services, so she was busy getting ready while baking.  She is learning how to multi-task at a young age!

      Her cake was ready to be frosted and decorated when we got home from church. She did a terrific job of icing a difficult bundt cake with all of its angles. She had a cup full of hot water to dip her spatula in, which helped spread the frosting around the cake (a decorator's tip for smooth icing).

     Gracie worked out her own design, which included pink rose buds, green leaf stems, and purple dots. She asked that I show her how to make  rosebuds and then practiced before putting them on the cake. Very creative and pretty!

         This is a photo of how it looked after we sliced it for our dessert. It tasted very good. Gracie has decided that she doesn't want a bundt cake for her birthday, but does want strawberry flavored cake. We had so much fun baking, icing, and decorating. It was a great way to spend some time together. We both were pretty worn out by the time she went home. I needed a nap. 

Description #2 I wearily stumbled into my room at the end of the hall, it had been a long, strenuous day, and I was exhausted.  As I reached the threshold the familiar scent of wood smoke drifting through the air vents pervaded the room mixing with the fragrance of my perfume and the faint, homey smell of my cedar chest. I sighed. It was so nice to be back into the warm safety of my room.   I decided that I could spare an appreciative glance around the simple room: There was  the nightstand with some of  my favorite books piled underneath, it stood next to The bed, leaving a tiny space between to walk. I smiled to myself; there would be no possibility of me getting lost in the dark.   The west  wall was covered  with cards, old magazine covers,  and pieces of paper  That had no meaning except to me. Next to that collage was my bulletin board with its photos and drawings, filled to its limit, yet still constantly growing. Right next to the door in which I stood was the closest filled with cloths that  were on they’re way back to Chelsea, since I had  out-gown them.  I shook my head, remembering that I had to sort and bag those later.   Underneath the double windows on the north side that were 80 some years old,  was the familiar old desk that would  barely fit a text-book on it’s small surface, and a dressing table that was a wedding gift to my Mama from Papa (there isn’t enough space their room). On the east side, underneath a shelf covered with varying objects from Derby cars to a porcelain doll, is chest of drawers with A beading project, a pile of county, oldies, and Christian CDs and old school books stacked on top. Next to that is my Cedar Chest which  holds all of my Special things- my baby blanket, pictures of me in a Wedding dress, my special stuffed animal, T-shirts with Signatures of people I probably won’t see again, and many other special things. On top of that is the space where my purse and bible reside.   Beside the beautiful red-cinnamon brown chest is my well made bed, with wild Quarter horses running across the comforter. I couldn’t help but giggle thinking that whoever designed it must not have know much about horses, however the comforter was still charming, which is why I had chosen  it. At the head of my welcoming bed was my huge stuffed dog, Marshmallow (don’t ask about the name and don’t laugh!) who had been a present from my uncle when I was little, with my current reading sitting in his lap. I made a mental note to add to my reading list as it was getting low.   The warmth of the room was relaxing and I gladly curled up against my oversized dog to read and finally fall into a blissful sleep before being cruelly awoken by my heartless alarm clock only too soon.

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
       I will tell of all your wonders.

  I will be glad and rejoice in you; 
       I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

Psalm 9:1-2 NIV

• I praise you, O LORD, for my family's good health. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for giving me just enough. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for true friends.
• I praise you, O LORD, for forgiveness. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for grace. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for teaching me how to be content.
• I praise you, O LORD, for another day at home with my children.
• I praise you, O LORD, for the freedom to home educate my children. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for creating the seasons. 
• I praise you, O LORD, for a husband to love and care for. 

That's me in the middle and my 2 brothers. Christmas 1973.

Don't you just love those paper ornaments?

This is what is going on.

There is a fire fighter from our church and he is getting me set up with the Princeton Fire Dept. There is a lot of training involved so I am getting started on that now. Am I technically a fire fighter? I don't know. Do I fight fires? No I don't. And I wont till I am 18. I consider myself a fire fighter because I will be helping with the cleaning of the trucks and taking college courses on fire fighting. 

So that's that.

Andy

Ok so it is Wednesday, but what a week I have had!

Tirzah's baby sister is realy missing her, so pray for Talia. Yesterday she hugged her mama and said she is never going to Africa!

The Team Email says they are now on their way to Gisenyi. Remember this is on the Congo Border, so PLEASE pray about their protection and safety. They were only going to go there if it was safe, so it must be!

They are also going to Byumba so they will be out of email range this week. This is were a refugee camp is located so please pray for all Tirzah's young eyes are about to see.

And hopefully she will see a hippo since she will be at the lake (o:

Psalm 121: 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

NOW on a separate note, On Friday the 12th, I am going to be having knee replacement surgery again for my right knee. PLEASE pray for me. Your prayers are what got me through this the last time. Your prayers are what keep Tirzah safe. Our God answering the prayers of His people is what binds us all together under the precious blood of the lamb. It is an honor to pray for you and to know that you are praying for me.

If you are praying for my doctor and his team, His Name is Dr Ching. Here is the link to what I wrote the last time http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/527994/ Everything is the same except for the date. Tirzah comes home that Monday, so I hope to be home before she is!

I am thankful for having you all in my life, your love and friendship is more real than most face to face relationships I have ( I know you understand that!)

I love you!

     On Thanksgiving Day, we each wrote down five things that we are thankful for and then took turns going around the table reading them to each other. Pictured here is SIL, who is reading his blessings, my Dad, and DH. We are keeping our blessings in a binder and each year, if our Lord is willing, we will repeat our new family tradition.    

Here I am with darling Grace as she reads her five things to be thankful for.

Here is Trevor and you can almost see Ryan in the corner of the photo.

     Jenn reads her five blessings as we listen. Mom is beside her. She lost her teeth and forgot her glasses, but she is a blessing to us none the less.