piano concert

This was fun!! Peter had a fan club. When he marched in with the other students, he gave us his wink. Why does my 7-yr-old wink like that? Because he is so handsome. Because I tell him he's so handsome? I was proud. He wasn't even nervous!?! I was nervous for him. This was his first performance.

The fan club was a little comical - way too many cameras per capita. But, it's well-documented, at least.

Paula warned us that the favorite part for the students was the cake and punch at the end. No kidding? Good grief - they were rewarded for their cultured-quiet-audience-behavior by huge pieces of cake.

Peter was awesome. We were proud.

Happy Turkey

See my pretty table? The kids insisted on our napkin holders - 4 tomato ones and 4 pineapple. Perfect. Isn't it amazing how big my new free table gets - what a wonderful gift it is.

I did a happy turkey. Kevin loved it - so did the crowd of my best people who came. I haven't made a feast like this before (well, they brought most of the fare). The cornbread stuffing was deeeelicious (thanks Paula) and the turkey was fun to make - hilarious stuffing it into a big bag to swim in brine for a day before I cooked it. You should ask me for the recipe. Don't I look like a fine hunter's wife - bravely taking that bird apart! Even got to be in pictures on this day - woo-hoo - the mommy really exists!!

Like my Grandma Ruby apron? I love it.

My Ruby helped clean the floor - she hunts for the spots and rubs them out. Such a good helper. Like her bows - she picked that whole get-up out herself.


Ike was a maniac - couldn't keep that boy contained - flipping over the couch and hurtling across the house.

Yes, that is the turkey-baster. I didn't need it, so he decided he needed it.

What a clever boy - he's going to be very useful to the world.

Wish I'd video'd because he did quite a song with that baster.

He finally went up to Mom's to ride his bike -for about 2 measly minutes. Why are you so crazy today, Isaac?

"I'm just so excited about our party. When are they coming?!?!"

We're so blessed - all these Grandmas and Grandpas in our house!!

Yep - so very blessed.

why, oh, why

My mentor, Jodi, invited all of our business partners to send her their "why" - why do you do Arbonne - when there is so much to be done, why add an Arbonne business? It's time to be thankful, and I'm so very thankful for the tranformations God has wrought in me - three years since I started this Arbonne journey.

I had no idea the dreams that would filter in to my busy day-by-day, no idea the tears I would shed. This dreaming business is heart-wrenching. I will never be the same - because I'm a difference-maker now. In my close world (Daddy and my kiddos) but I'm convinced that my influence is greater than the up close - my sweet family, we are going to see amazing things happen. My prayers have gotten bigger as my heart has grown. Jesus - what's tomorrow hold? Make us ready. This was my reply to her:

My Why?
I am diligently developing my Arbonne business so that this amazing income can be used to
· Home school my kids with excellence: with any materials and opportunities we need
· Offer my husband employment options – so he can love his job like I love mine – even if it’s a volunteer “job” and doesn’t pay bills
· Give extravagantly – so I can be an activist with my time, my prayers, AND my money!
· Adopt and/or have more children without financial constraint
I believe I was created for incredible purposes. Arbonne is one way I get to be useful in this world: as an influence for good in the lives of my customers and my team.

camera-happy

I've been slightly addicted to this lovely place in the last few weeks. I was tearfully introduced on the day her sweet miracle was born (have you gone to check the link yet? what's that? she's too interesting and you forgot to come back to my blog?) and now I'm all eagerness to read her latest - with no more tears - just giggles. Because she is like me, only more. More simple, more focused, more photos, more kids. I'm a bit every-which-way. It causes my family to ask strange things, like whether they will be fed.

Tonight I was inspired to make something yummy that Kevin raved about at a potluck. Well, it didn't really turn out (typical) - but the pretzel rolls were still fun even if nobody raved about them but sweet loves-it-all-Isaac. It's always fun to fish a blob of dough out of boiling water. No really, it's always fun to knead with the kids. They are so engaged. What thrill. Ruby asked for help with a drink later, I flashed my gooed hands and said "just a minute". She says "just lick em clean, Mom!" What?!?! Yep. She still likes to taste the flour. It's important to taste everything while cooking with Mom. I'm sure there is a spiritual application there, but I just can't muster it up tonight.

And yes, they were wearing their jammies in this photo. Big brother was still out in the woods and we were having a Pajama party. Waiting for our Thanksgiving travelers to arrive.

Blaze Orange Boy

Youth Hunt: boy with hunter-daddy gets to bear arms, shiver in ground blind and come home just as excited as when he left 4 hrs earlier. "We didn't even see anything but turkeys!" Growing up.

Operation Christmas Child

This was fun. Isaac had innovative ideas, as always.
Like, since maybe this is going to Africa, we should be culturally appropriate "how do you spell pencil in African, Mom?" He's so wise.
The trip to collect our stuff was very satisfying - never do they ever get to pick out so much stuff that I actually put into our cart!!
Isaac wanted to pack his for a far-away girl, but Pete convinced him with wise-pastor-gary words - they need more for boys, they usually have less for the boys. So, 2 boy-boxes, 1 girl-box.
Ruby was coveting those girl-barettes, but consoles herself by wearing 4 of her own hair bows.

Renaming my kids

If I'm going to invite the world to see my greatest treasures, then I feel compelled to re-name them. Like my blog-friends do. But I'm baffled. What to name them? A little help?

Big: Seeker. Believer. Faithful. Winks-at-Momma. Not-too-big-to-cuddle. Rather-read. How about Persistent? no. Purposeful.

Maybe I should ask them. They wanted to name their sister, Clock. See, they have great ideas.

Mid: Passionate? yep. Rough. yep. Heart-on-his-sleeve. Rugged. Clever. Inventor. Bulldozer. ooo - how about Industry? That's cool.







Little: Roo? she's too adorable for an animal name. Princess? too generic, but true. How about Delightful. Isn't she? Couldn't crop my raggedy-self out there - but she's delightful.

I need to think about this. Hmmm, and I can even name my sweet husband. He rescued me from my wretched grumps tonight. Wish I had a photo for that one. Hero.

Tell Two Friends

Certainly feeling inspired by this post on a blog I frequent called Radical Womanhood. I am a bit of a radical, you know. You should be, too.

So, go to that link, read her blog, but more importantly: click on the link to the True Woman Manifesto and read this radical, wonderful document so you can click here to sign it. Doesn't that feel good. I know that's a lot of clicking, but did you print it? I printed it. I need stuff like this (and my list of prayer requests for Pres-elect Obama) tucked right into that prayer journal. How else will this weak flesh remind my willing spirit to get busy?

I had a bad day today. Too much scurrying around, couldn't find my focus, distracting even my kids from their imagining (Isaac and Ruby played in the snow before breakfast, then back outside to gather supplies to creat swamps in an empty clear juice bottle, Peter wowed them with an erupting Olympus Mons - that's Mars - in the kitchen). Bad. It all started with sleeping through my alarm again and having a "quiet time" with my precious children. Not ideal. It's hard to have your mind renewed with so many small children chattering. Enough complaining, the point is, when you are a wimp and don't do the good you know you ought to do, there are consequences. Hope you enjoyed the manifesto as much as I.

Eat the crust first

About a year ago, on another drive to town, I explained to Peter about "eat the crust first". It's a concept I probably learned a long time ago, but my Arbonne business has driven the point home. If I want something different than what I've had, I have to DO something different. To get extra-ordinary results, be extra-ordinary. If you want to enjoy the pie, eat the crust first.

So today I say, "the only thing left for you to do is practice piano and do handwriting. How about you practice piano while I take a shower - then we'll all go outside. You can do handwriting later."

He groans. He says, "that's like eating the cheese first!"

What?!?! Cheese? NOOO - it's a pie, not a cheese sandwich! Wrong metaphor!! Oh, guess it still works - that would be 7-yr-old-boy vs. sweets-loving-Momma.

So, he's doing his handwriting. What a wonder of a boy. Hmm, wonder what I should do first.

frustration and irritation; specks and logs

It is very irritating to me that, when I am feeling most frustrated and overwhelmed in my day - it is nearly always a direct result of my own, personal sin. Argh.

Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. Luke 6:42

The pictured beautiful eye, obviously, is not one of the ones I'm talking about, although she surely has SEEN her mother's sin with this perfectly formed eye and just patiently forgives it.

Holiday hustle

I'm about to begin a packed-tight 2 weeks of calendar before Thanksgiving! School is so together - I'm so thankful for my eager learners.

Isaac made huge strides today - diving into his "kindergarten" math book and conquering like 6 lessons in his phonics book. God bless the writers of that book - it works!! He's all confident and writing and sounding out - hallelujah!!

And I'm ready to accomplish all my Arbonne goals (including big bonus - woo-hoo!) with NOTHING to do over the whole Thanksgiving week. What a cool job. I am on a hunt for friendly people who could do what I do and have a reason (who doesn't?) to add extra income to their family budget. I love my job. All my jobs.

Randy Alcorn book give-away

Go here to see The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.

Super-Isaac!

He leaps sisters with a single bound. He scales furniture with ease. It's Super-Isaac!!

And for his latest accomplishment, click here - he reads!! I know, his blue eyes are distracting, but try to notice how he sounds things out and notices when he guesses wrong.

pray like our forefathers

My sister-in-law sent me some great encouragement today. Enjoy (italics mine):

This past week I have heard many people give their thoughts on the how the election turned out. And I feel a strong urge that we need to pray for our Nation, no matter how we voted. I am committed to praying for our Nation no matter who sits in the White House. My mentor mom, whose husband is active in national politics, really was urged to pray for our nation and it's leaders. She really encouraged me to get involved with politics as much as my life as a mother allowed. Such as praying for our nation, calling congressmen and senators when I wanted to let them know how our family felt about certain bills being considered etc...
Also with my experience being an Air Force wife I just really have a heart for military families and what they go through. As you can see I am very passionate about this great nation we live in. I believe that our Forefathers built this as a Christian nation, and I just don¹t want our country to forget that.
There are some great books out there on this topic. Two that I have are:
* If My People... A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
* Battlefields and Blessings This book shows how God "shed his grace" on the birth of our nation
* Another one that I haven't read yet but would like to is The Faith of America's First Ladies

Below are a few quotes from some of our past great presidents.
George Washington: A Prayer for Guidance
O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul....
Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life bless my family, friends, and kindred.
--An undated prayer from Washington's prayer journal, Mount Vernon

Thomas Jefferson: A Prayer for the Nation
Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
--Washington D.C., March 4, 1801

Abraham Lincoln: A Prayer for Peace
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continues... until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid another drawn with the sword...so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
--Second Inaugural address, March 4, 1865

Ronald Reagan: A Prayer for Healing
To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that "If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.
The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America... Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.
If I had a prayer for you today, among those that have all been uttered, it is that one we're so familiar with: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...." And God bless you all.
--From a speech to the American people, February 6, 1986

God Bless you all and please join me in praying for our nation.
Suzanna

Mary

As she reads about David and Goliath to her own little baby:

Ruby: Mommy, that made Mary sad when her son died on a cross. That was supposed to make us glad to worship him, right?

Me: Yes, but it was very, very sad.

Ruby: That makes water comes out of my eyes because it's so sad.

comments, shmomments

I have no comments. None. Can't make 'em work.

my consistent prayer for this week

Consistently.
Consistently read. Consistently pray. Consistently keep the routine. Consistently live an everyday liturgy.Children thrive in routine. So do households. Have hardstops: times that you fully stop to pray, to read, to write. Regardless of what isn't done, what isn't finished. Make a full stop, do the needful thing, then return to meals, laundry, household management.
Consistently be consistent.

Thanks again, Ann

pumpkins

We baked a whole pumpkin today. We baked the little one and carved the big one and roasted all those slimy seeds (the helpers were not enthusiastic about that part). Peter was very specific. This is a happy pumpkin.

We learned that the VitaMixer is awesome again! It makes pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake - just toss in those chunks of baked pumpkin (with your burned fingers after impatiently peeling it hot from the oven) and all the other ingredients and swooosh it's ready to bake! Saved a few chunks out so that Isaac, the eat-everything son, can munch them plain - yep, he likes the plain baked pumpkin!

Ruby had to cry because she had a hard day with many hurts. Isaac jumped on her leg playing the "jump over sister" game, she tells me. She tried to bite through her tongue again (what's with her and mouth injuries?). And several other things. Rough day - cry when it hurts, cry later when you remember about it again.

And, best of all, we surprised Daddy by doing our best effort at a basement clean-up while he was out in his tree-stand. And Isaac made the signs - his "cleabnasmnt" was the best, almost all the letters for clean basement got in there. And still, we did not film him reading, but we will. Maybe tomorrow.

Ruby in His glory

This is Ruby.

See me? See me! Aren't I lovely?

Yep, she knows she's a princess. One of her Daddies is the King!

Her boa isn't hot pink feathers - nope - the Master made these feathery things.

Don't they look beautiful on her! She was designed to be delighted in!

3 big goofy kids

We had a photo shoot yesterday - while the sun warmed up November ("How long is this Indian Summer going to last" Pete asks - that's right, son, best way to learn new vocab is to use it!) and I had some new tricks to try on my camera.

I giggled and laughed out loud as I went through these - gleefully deleting (I found the continuous shoot setting!) even knowing that I'm blowing my bed-by-ten rule again. Why must the quiet night be so enticing?

See: no hands on the swing. Isaac needed a cuddle - briefly wounded.

They performed for me! They leapt through the air. They climbed all over me and each other. It was delicious! These are the goofy ones - not the portrait-perfect ones - those might just be saved for framing and unwrapping here in a few weeks. Since we're buying a new transmission for Christmas, the rest of the gifts will likely be handmade acorn and lumpy paste crafts. Yes, be eager.

Today we pray, and tomorrow

I have been profoundly affected by this election. Maybe I wasn't really a grown-up yet when I'd voted before - maybe I just forgot my fervor. But it is my prayer that my compassion for the unborn, my passion for just lawmaking, my frustration with bigger government and my trepidation about government interference in my finances, my health and my school - that all these "-tions" would shape the choices I make and the steps I take in the coming months.
Read what Randy Alcorn has to say about our new president.

1 Timothy 2:1-4: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

And join me as I get plugged in to the daily discipline that will make His passions, my passions and your passions, too.

Candy Police vs. Peter

"Mom, I just have one question for you. How are we ever going to finish all this candy if you never let us eat it? "

Hear the accompanying piano tune here.

last thoughts

Do you think the German's wish they could have glimpsed the holocaust before they cheered Hitler into power. They probably didn't cheer because he sounded like a murderer, probably because of jobs, the economy, etc. Before you vote, be certain you know what you're voting for. Be certain that you know the reality of abortion before you vote to completely unleash it on our country.

My brother is a firefighter. If he came to a burning-down house, with 3 little children trapped in one room, and Mom trapped in another, he has no good "choice" to make. It's not a choice for him - it's all horror. "I think I'll choose the Mom - she can rebuild her life and she'll get over this loss. Those kids, they'd just be a burden to society without their Mom." Or "I'll choose the kids, that Mom had her chance." NO WAY! There is no good choice. All the lives are valuable - you'd be horrified to be in a position to choose! Voting for Obama to avoid threatening Roe v Wade - b/c you don't want to "punish" a woman with a back-alley illegal abortion? That is ludicrous. If you present me with a scenario in which one person must die to save another, the only one who merits the power of choice in that scenario is the mother - will she be a hero and lay down her life (her reputation, her safety, her future) for another? The baby doesn't get a choice. And if we, as a society, rally our resources behind funding and promoting baby-death - that's unconscionable.

When 50% of African-American pregnancies are ending in abortion, how can Barack Obama say that he will work to strip state's rights to outlaw partial-birth abortion, strip their parental consent laws (so that a 15 yr-old pregant by her uncle can be taken for an abortion without her mother every knowing? Wretched.), aaaaagh!!! He sat under Rev. Wright for 20 years! Doesn't he remember how valuable black lives are? He should be crusading to destroy the evil white institutions that are working to decimate his "brothers and sisters".

My mom said, "well what about me?" Any time now I'm going to be a burden to society - what will they do to me? And what of the people who vote Tuesday for Obama because the idea of more welfare (that's what it is when you don't pay taxes, it's not a tax-cut if you don't pay taxes) sounds very good to them - when will the tables turn and our pro-abortion society decides that the poor and those who can't work should not be kept around?

My Ukrainian friend shudders at the possibility of socialized health care. She fled (yes, fled, as in flee for your life) her country. The land of no opportunity. If you have cancer, you must find bribes to get your tests and treatments fast enough to heal you. Welcome to the land of bureacracy and bribes and big government. Goodbye American Dream?

This all seems so absurd. Who is your King? Is it self, convenience and feel's-good? Or is it the Maker of heaven and earth?

John 10:10 NASB
The thief (that's Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Harvest

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let her show it by her good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:13-18