Rebekah's Insights

As part of our Worship time this morning, the children went through magazines to find photos of things for which they are thankful. With scissors, they cut out the items, then placed them in a cornucopia. What began as a ten-minute activity, grew into over an hour of Liam and Aine scouring every old magazine they could find and cutting "Thankful Pictures." :)

Aside from how amusing the items sometimes were to their Daddy and I, (i.e., Nutella and Pop Tarts--LOL) it was so interesting and touching to see how many little things for which our little loves are grateful. Equally interesting, was the fact that once they began to think about being thankful, they couldn't seem to stop thinking of things for which they are grateful.

Some time ago, I had intended to record my "Thankful Pictures" (in words) here on the blog, as a record to remember. As the "To Do" list became unwieldy and the hours of sleep became few, that intention slipped from my mind. It was good to be reminded of it again, as I often find that in my life, it can be so encouraging to recount the Lord's blessings--even in times of sadness or discouragement. So, I'll give it another try. :)

I am reminded also of an old hymn from my childhood...

Count Your Blessings by Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

* Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high."

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1. Grandparents and the richness they bring to our lives, when they give of themselves and share in our lives. Particularly, thirty-five wonderful years of knowing my Gram and having the privilege of spending so much time with her.
2. The hope found in knowing I will see her again one day in heaven, through Jesus' sacrifice--though we are sinners, Christ died for us.
3. God's Word, from which all meaning and purpose and comfort come.
4. Family members and friends whose love is demonstrated in action, not merely in word.
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Five years ago today, I had the joy of wrapping my arms around the tiny boy my heart had already been loving for nine months...or longer!

Today, I watch while he spells words and comforts his sister.

Tomorrow, I will try to slow the moments, and drink more deeply of the remaining time I have to train him, love him, and enjoy him as my little boy.

The yesterdays are gone forever.

I know that every moment is so precious...so fleeting...so important that I should never tire of filling each with all the love, and purpose, and Truth that I can.

And I know I have been given a great, undeserved gift.

Thank you, Father, for entrusting this amazing child to us these past five years.

Thank You for my Liam, on his fifth birthday...and for the grace to raise him in Your nurture and admonition.

My cup overflows.

Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

I don't like to often use canned soups, due to the use of MSG and high-fructose corn syrup, but for a quick lunch, this is one of our favorites. This is one of those meals the children and I all enjoy eating equally well.

1 can Campbell's Reduced Salt Tomato soup
basil--fresh or dried

Prepare with water as directed, but add fresh or dried basil to taste, prior to heating through.

1-2 baguettes
shredded cheddar cheese
dijon mustard
garlic clove or garlic powder

Slice baguette lengthwise. If using a fresh clove of garlic, cut clove and rub on cut sides of bread. Spread on desired amount of dijon mustard. (If using garlic powder, sprinkle on top of mustard.) Top bread halves with cheddar cheese and toast in 350 degree oven until cheese is melted.

We like to inhale dill pickles along with this meal and add in veggie sticks/applesauce/apples slices, whatever we have around for the day.

Mmmmm...enjoy!

Me: "Aine, why are you unbuttoning your dress?" (One half hour after getting dressed for the day.)

Aine: "So you can fix it, Momma!

And herein lies the reason I am NEVER bored and NEVER suffer from a lack of tasks to attend to!

Fine motor skills--check!

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength,
and He will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.

From The Word of God
The Book of Habakkuk
Third Chapter
Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Verses

1 cup dried tart cherries (I use Welch's. They are sweetened.)
2/3 cup soy flour
2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp demerara sugar
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
5 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp almond extract
(OPT.) 1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 Tbsp demerara sugar

Combine cherries, flours, baking powder, and soda in bowl. Combine sugar, egg, buttermilk, butter, and extracts in separate bowl. Combine wet and dry ingredients until blended and spoon into greased muffin tins. Before baking, sprinkle final Tbsp of sugar evenly over twelve muffins. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for twenty minutes or until brown.

Yields one dozen muffins.

Serving Suggestion: Serve for breakfast with yogurt.

A FEW NOTES ON THIS RECIPE:

I originally tried this recipe with lemon flavoring and decided that I really don't care for lemon flavored baked goods much anymore, so I went with almond--an excellent pairing with cherries. :) If you like lemon, substitute lemon extract for the almond variety and add a bit of lemon zest. It is great if you like lemon.

These are intended to be HEALTHY muffins and to provide between 4 and 5 grams of protein per muffin. If you're looking for the type of muffins made entirely with refined white flour to be eaten as a dessert/treat, you may well find the texture a tad on the grainy side (due to part whole-wheat flour) and may find them not sweet enough if you're expecting them to be more like a cup cake.

(I find them sweet enough, but I generally cut the sugar down in recipes, finding many of them too sweet--like a cake. I happen to really LIKE the texture created by refined white flour, but like to do a mix with whole wheat to create a breakfast treat that I can feel good about feeding to my children. I am told that if you can find whole wheat PASTRY flour, it allows the texture to remain much more like refined flour. I, at the present time, I have no access to such a delightful-sounding flour.)

One-third of the flour in this recipe is soy flour--making the muffins MUCH higher in protein than if you used entirely standard wheat flour. The soy flour will also enhance the browning of the bread, however, the already short baking time required for muffins should prevent them from browning before the muffins are fully cooked. If you attempt to bake this batter in bread pans instead, you may need to lower the baking temperature some or shorten the baking time. Mine were perfectly brown when perfectly done, but everyone's ovens vary!

Let me know if anyone tries these!

Sweet are the branches--growing the fruit that comes from the vine.
But these are just branches--blown by the wind holding on to life.
I want to be like them--holding to the One whose Life is mine.
And I know as I follow Him--His Life will surely show in me.

He said you will show yourselves to be
The ones who follow Me
By the evidence you leave along the way.
They'll know that you are Mine
Like the branches on the vine
If you show yourselves to be--following Me.

Faith joins our hearts to Him--it's not a result of anything we do.
But if we are part of Him--there will be reasons to believe it's true.
The fruit cannot help but grow--if the branch is joined into the tree
And love cannot help but show--in the one who goes where Jesus leads.

He said you will show yourselves to be
The ones who follow Me
By the evidence you leave along the way.
They'll know that you are Mine
Like the branches on the vine
If you show yourselves to be--following Me.

Planted in the fertile soil of quiet times.
Watered by the rains of trouble, growing toward the sun that shines.

They'll know that you are Mine
Like the branches on the vine
If you show yourselves to be--following Me.

by Steven Curtis Chapman

Just a note to report that our main computer has been down for a while. Finally tracked down a component to get it up and running again! :) So updated photos and info are forthcoming!

Hope everyone is well!

We have been home now for almost three days and while still a bit tired, we are back to our normal schedule. The long flight home was delayed until a very late hour, which made for some VERY tired and VERY hungry travelers, as all food court locations had already closed. :( It was NOT one of my favorite days, but this too has passed by into memory and we are happily home again.

I am enjoying the cool breezes and gentle rain as I muddle through tackling the mountain of laundry with a broken dryer. LOL! I have the first week of school planned out in the planner. School will begin September 7th, in order to give me time to get the house and our life back to normal. Unpacking is a slow and steady process and will continue until all of our boxes arrive in the mail.

To everyone we had the pleasure of visiting with--it was great to see you and hope to stay in touch! To those with whom visits did not work out for whatever unfortunate reasons--we hope to stay in touch and to be able to see you again before too long!

Happy Monday!

"With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row."
(from Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, an old English nursery rhyme.)

Not quite. :) Last summer, amid a chorus of naysayers we planted a few tomatoes in containers. It was a cold and rainy year--unseasonably, so we are told. Nevertheless, we did harvest tomatoes! In September. And although there were not as many as we are used to, the flavor was well worth the effort. (And enduring the laughter from the naysayers in the Spring.)

This year we have "a bit of earth" in which to plant, in addition to our containers. We have planted beans, courgettes, swiss chard, lettuces, and some herbs. Liam has been having the best time planting seeds, watering them (it has been unseasonably dry this year,) and inspecting them each day for progress. Despite a few casualties of the strong winds around our place, we have a cheerful patch of plants to watch grow. We have already had more warm days to date than we had last year by the end of Summer, so I am hopeful that we will not only have more tomatoes than last year, but also that we may be able to eat them before September.

And this year...not a naysayer in sight. :)

JUNE

The sun is rich,
And gladly pays
In golden hours,
Silver days,

And long green weeks
That never end.
School's out. The time
Is ours to spend.

The playground calls,
The ice-cream man,
And, after supper,
Kick-the-Can.

The live-long light
Is like a dream,
And freckles come
Like flies to cream.

from A CHILD'S CALENDAR by John Updike

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Well, school is not quite out yet--but we are enjoying the sunshine, playground, and the "live-long light." (Sun rising before 5:00 AM and not setting until after 9:00 PM.)

Liam has a firm grasp of upper and lower case letters, can tell you the sound each letter makes, and in most cases, distinguishes the initial sound when listening to a given word. He is currently all about spelling words and printing the entire alphabet from memory. Formation looks excellent--easily recognizable. He enjoys writing cat, dog, the, cow, and several other 3 letter words with some assistance in breaking up the phonemes. We are very proud of him, but most pleased that he enjoys learning and tries to read words wherever he goes. He continues to be an avid "reader," also enjoys drilling his little sister on the alphabet.

Liam enjoys exploring shapes, measurement, counting, and a variety of other math-related topics. Lately, he has become quite fond of printing numbers neatly on drawing paper, when not filling the sheet with figures from his favorite books, movies, or imagination. He is anxious to begin his Kindergarten year in the Fall.

Aine is also an avid "reader"--spending hours at a time with a pile of books. Since we brought home some Italian children's picture books from our recent trip to Italy, her interest in learning Italian along with Liam and Momma has increased greatly--learning the color words is her current favorite! Aine is identifying a good many upper and lower--case letters, as well as several of the sounds to go with them. Yesterday, as she put on her tights and was saying the word over and over again while she worked, she proudly announced to me that "T starts with tights!" (Smile!) That's right, my girl. Tights begins with the letter T! She's getting it, but enjoys a much more relaxed pace than her studious brother. (He sets such lofty goals for himself!) Aine will continue the Preschool curriculum begun this Spring. She can be observed counting her toys and looking for shapes everywhere! Though a delightfully different individual than Liam, she is ever as much a joy to teach as her brother continues to be.

Time to prepare for Liam's Swim lesson, so more another time.

Happy First of June!

The children's first trip on a ferry to visit Ireland went very well, but they are SOOOOO tired out today after arriving home last evening. :( Hopefully by tomorrow they will be back to their usually cheerful selves. It did perk them up quite a bit to enjoy the rare privilege of a day warm enough for shorts and (gasp!) NO JACKET today!

We enjoyed a few days seeing the sights of Dublin and one day trip to Enniskerry in County Wicklow. The little loves enjoyed the rides on the double-decker tour bus, particularly when we sat on the top. Top sights for the little ones included chasing pigeons on St. Stephens Green, seeing the interesting artifacts in the National Museum, and climbing the Tower at Powerscourt Estate.

It was interesting to observe their reaction to being in a city again, since the flat in which we stayed the few nights was in downtown Dublin. During the daytime, they were fascinated by watching cars going along the street below, but at bedtime, did not appreciate the traffic sounds one bit. Go figure! As we walked the crowded streets, they were very aware of all the sounds we do not usually hear. At intervals, talented (and occasionally not-so-talented) street musicians shared their gifts with the strolling crowds, but when I asked Aine if she liked the pretty music, her only remark was that, "That music is too loud!" Perhaps she will not be a fan of concerts? Too early to make that call, I guess.

Liam took the opportunity to practice his new photo-taking skills. These past few weeks he has taken to asking for the old digital camera to carefully carry around the house and take photos of scenes interesting to his eye. It was much fun to look over the photos he took each day while out and about. Wonder where he comes by this interest in photography?

So now that all of our traveling excitement is done for a while, maybe I will actually learn how to upload photos here to accompany my blogging. Readers would especially enjoy the view of Liam's photo-documentary of his first proper holiday. I'll see what I can do.

But no promises. :)

"Hey...there's no SEEDS in chocolate!"

So says my always-entertaining daughter after carefully inspecting her chocolate kiss for...you guessed it! SEEDS!

She inspects all her food for those dreaded SEEDS these days and is happy to report that chocolate is safe.

Just another reason to enjoy chocolate.

Just another reason I'm always laughing.

:)

Recently, Liam spotted a photo of me from about a decade ago. It is usually displayed on his father's computer table, but Liam has never before commented on it. As he looked at it, thoughtfully, he asked, "Mommy, is that my Auntie Erinn?"

I replied, "No, that's me when I was a little younger."

At this he looked confused for a moment and again studied the photo, while thinking. Finally, he smiled and said, "Oh, yes. This is you when you were my age."

Ten years have made a bigger difference than I knew, I guess.

:)

There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"Love through me, love of God.
Make me like Thy clear air,
through which unhindered, colors pass
as though it were not there."

Amy Carmichael

One of the benefits we enjoy as a homeschooling family is that on those rare and special occasions when family or friends come to visit, we are able to schedule our "breaks" to coincide. This flexibility served us well this past month of March when Auntie Erinn came to visit for three weeks! :)

This means that during that time we did not follow the "plans," yet the beauty is that since educational opportunities abound while traveling, creating artwork, listening to music, and playing--we really never took a break from "school" itself. However, since we did not follow our "plans," I will not be reporting on our little students' March progress and activities.

April is off to a great beginning here--inside and out. Today we savored the unusual delight of a day with the temperature at sixty degrees Fahrenheit! We rarely saw that temperature all of last SUMMER season, so it was a WELCOME TREAT! The daffodils are in their glory right now--gazillions of them everywhere, chasing the crocuses, and ushering in the beautiful blooming season. The sun arose in our sky at 6:30 AM and set at 7:30 PM. This alone is enough to put a dreamy smile on one's face--no really, after the "dark" months with the sun up at 8:00 AM and setting by 3:50 PM this REALLY puts a smile on one's face. I'm sure we will not have any more nice, warm days for a while, but I am thankful for THIS one.

1000 Gifts List 2009

13.) dew glistening on green, Spring grass
14.) symphonic birdsong
15.) sunlight
16.) spontaneous hugs and kisses from busy little loves
17.) Spring air
18.) the ability to capture moments of joy in memory--a picture saved in one's heart

Some time ago I referred to oatmeal bars which I make with oatmeal leftover from the Baked Oatmeal recipe I shared previously. As promised, I am finally getting around to sharing the bar recipe. It is a great healthful breakfast treat (tastes more like a dessert) and convenient/economical in that you make the oatmeal one day and use the leftovers to whip up these bars to eat for the next day or two. Hey, maybe it's just me, but I love to save time, money, and eat something tasty, that is still good for me. :)

Oatmeal Bars

2 C. leftover oatmeal
1/2 C. honey
1 egg
2/3 C. natural creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2-3/4 C. mini chocolate chips

Combine oatmeal, honey, egg, peanut butter, and vanilla. (I also like to save dishes, so I use the baking dish in which I baked the oatmeal as a mixing bowl for this recipe. Go ahead, YOU can call me lazy, but I choose to think of it as "wise time and resource management"--cook twice, wash once!) Combine flour and baking soda; mix into wet ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy warm or cold. (Or cold but slightly re-warmed in the microwave oven!)

Closer to me
I'm tired and I'm weak
And every breath within me is longing just to be
Closer to You
So I face the road ahead
Cause I know there's no comparing
To what's waiting at the end

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I'm smiling
After all I've been through
It's cause I'm just a day closer to You

Closer to me
I hear You whisper on the wind
You say although my life is fading
A new one will begin
Closer to You
And I know I'm not alone
Cause I can hear You in the distance
Saying, you are nearly home

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I'm dancing
Though my days may be few
It's cause I'm just a day closer to You

Closer to me
You're in the laughter and the tears
Of the ones I leave behind me
Who have prayed me through the years
Closer to You
When they know it won't be long
Till You're running down the pathway
Just to take me in Your arms

So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run through this valley
Just to climb to that hill
And if they ask why I'm singing
Though my life's almost through
It's cause I'm just a day closer
I'm just a day closer
I'm just a day closer to You

Closer to You by Mark Schultz

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced,
Teaching us to breathe.

What was frozen through is newly purposed,
Turning all things green.

So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change.

And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring.

Lyrics by Nicole Nordeman

"Yet even now," says the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

Joel 2:12 & 13

Those who...

* are poor in spirit...theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
* mourn...they shall be comforted.
* are meek...they shall inherit the earth.
* hunger and thirst for righteousness...they shall be filled.
* are merciful...they shall obtain mercy.
* are pure in heart...they shall see God.
* are peacemakers...they shall be called the Children of God.
* are persecuted for righteousness' sake...theirs is the Kingdom of God.

Reflecting and meditating on this passage from the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew, wherein Jesus teaches His disciples.

He taught them then--He teaches now

...if we have ears to hear.

Yes, even before we checked to see whether or not Phil saw his shadow, we knew Winter was here to visit for a while longer. We awakened to yet another snowfall this morning! The snowy sight was met with cheers of jubilation from the Little Loves and we prepared to go make all manner of snow "crafts" outside--despite my sleep-deprived condition due to the Super Bowl not ending until 3:30 AM our time. ;) As we readied ourselves, Liam looked out the front door and remarked, "Mommy, the snow looks like a white blanket covering everything!" Astute observation, my young friend!

The fun continued as we made a snow family, I wrote the children's names in the undisturbed snow, then Aine headed over to the swing, while Liam roved around in the field of snow. It was at this point that Liam called from behind me, crouched in the snow where he'd been digging. "What's this?" And it was...

a dead animal whose snowy grave had been uncovered by my young explorer! Ugh! This was a first for both of us--and hopefully the last! I asked him to please (no, PLEASE) stay away from it. Of course, we then discussed what kind of animal it was (I couldn't tell), why it died, and why it died there. You see, I AM a teacher at heart and I relish any teachable moments which come along. It's great to talk about the wildlife surrounding our home, but I was satisfied with the foray into the topic we had already had when we watched a pheasant scoot along the field and then were able to examine the interesting footprints accompanied by the trail of it's extensive tail feathers. THAT was the teachable animal moment I preferred, NOT a carcass! Oh well! I guarantee we'll never forget it. :) Nor will I!

I just hope that as we talk about groundhogs today, Liam doesn't associate the furry little creature with the furry little creature that found its demise out near our playground! Happy Groundhog Day!

January

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor.
Milk bottles burst
Outside the door.

The river is
A frozen place
Held still beneath
The trees of lace.

The sky is low.
The wind is gray.
The radiator
Purrs all day.

by John Updike, A Child's Calendar

Although it would not appear so from my lack of entries regarding school over the past couple of months, our little school/house has been busy through this Autumn and Winter. For anyone interested, here is a brief account of what has been engaging our time of learning.

LIAM:

Readiness/Phonological Awareness/Phonics
hand-to-eye coordination, same/different, alike/different, scissor skills, visual discrimination, following two and three-stage directions, identifies rhyming and non-rhyming words, generates rhyming words when given a word, word awareness skills, identifying/printing/recognizing the corresponding sounds for first half of alphabet, fine-tuning the printing of his name.

Math
Concluded unit on shapes, which included a variety of hands-on activities for making and identifying shapes, and are now in a new unit focused on sizes, including big/small, smaller/larger, largest, fit, sorting by size, size comparison.

Bible, etc.
Halfway through memorizing a verse to correspond with each letter of the alphabet, continuing to work on catechism, completed learning of the Fruit of the Spirit, now studying the Ten Commandments.

Social Studies
Completed unit on Community Helpers of various sorts, Christmas traditions around the world, memorization and study of meaning of The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Science
Completed unit on kitchen science focusing on sound reflection/absorption, absorption of liquids, taste buds, etc.

Italian
Concluded unit on rooms of the home, hello, and continuing onto common household items.

Sign Language
Handsigns some of alphabet, water, pretty, boat, great, snake, grandma, grandpa, daddy, mommy, baby, kiss, cereal, and some animal words.

Art/Music/Physical Education
Continues to explore various art media, tempo, fast/slow, plays "Hot Cross Buns" on mini-piano, playing rhythm instruments, beat. Liam has begun swimming lessons and really HAS taken to them like a "fish to water!" ;) He continues to ask to do school everyday, as we continue with Pre-School 2, so I am in the process of determining the curriculum for Kindergarten for next year.

AINE:

Aine has just in the past few weeks demonstrated a new interest in letters, wanting to spell her name, etc. I was waiting to see how much interest she showed on her own before deciding whether to begin my Pre-School 1 curriculum with her next year. Liam began early because he was so interested in it, but if Aine wasn't really inclined yet, I had planned on waiting another year. However, it seems that she will also be looking for that challenge and would seem to be ready for the level at which it begins, so she will start Pre-School 1 in the Fall! :)

Our little girl is quite the social butterfly--as long as she has already sized you up and determined that you are safe and trustworthy--then she will jabber away to you about any and every thing she is thinking about, which is a good bit, I assure you! It is so delightful--the little conversations we have!

If guests are over she ceases playing in order to visit with the guest. As we walk around town she waves, smiles, and says "hello" to EVERYONE we pass on the way! And if the telephone rings--well she will hound me about answering it unless I pick up during the first ring! By hounding, I mean she will repeatedly remind me that the phone is ringing--despite my explanations that I may be cooking something or wiping off my hands in order to answer! The reason she wants it answered is, of course, because she wants to talk to whomever is on the other line! And, let me tell you, she is NOT fond of giving the phone back after her turn--she likes a verrrry looooong turn talking on the phone.

But yesterday she really came through for me! I was in the laundry room when I heard the phone ring. It soon stopped ringing, so I assumed that Will had picked up upstairs. From behind me I heard Aine run from the kitchen through the house to the laundry room announcing "Your Phone, Mama!" With my back still to her I said not to worry, that Daddy had answered the phone. When she continued to repeat her chant with added passion, I finally turned to see her holding the kitchen phone out to me. How did she get tall enough to reach the top of the counter!!! It must have been while I blinked!

It was very polite of her to answer the phone, deliver it to me, and then wait for her turn to talk to her Nona. So, we have a new little secretary!! Now we must work on a polite reply for her to use WHEN she picks up the receiver! LOL!

If you want to talk to Aine--call our house--if she's awake she'll be sure to answer and tell you all that is on a two-year-old girl's mind!

I Will Listen

Hard as it seems
Standing in dreams
Where is the dreamer now

Wonder if I
Wanted to try
Would I remember how

I don't know the way to go from here
But I know that I have made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice

This is the faith
Patience to wait
When there is nothing clear

Nothing to see
Still we believe
Jesus is very near

I can not imagine what will come
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice

Could it be that He is only waiting there to see
If I will learn to love the dreams that He has dreamed for me

Can't imagine what the future holds
But I've already made my choice
And this is where I stand
Until He moves me on
And I will listen to His voice

Lyrics by Twila Paris

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"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
The Thirty-Seventh Psalm, Fourth Verse

HIS dreams, not necessarily mine.

I reflected on the fact that although I am trying to form some new habits, I tried to focus my resolutions on enjoying the everyday wonders already all around me. This reminded me of something I noticed on several blogs last year, which was mention of a Gratitude Community--a group of people who were periodically taking the time to make a list, little by little of 1000 gifts for which they are thankful. Not being all up on the blogging how-tos, I do not yet know how to link to the originating site, etc., but I thought this blog would be a great place for me to keep track of such a list--rather than using several sheets of paper which I will undoubtedly lose. 1000 gifts! Wow! 1000 seems like a lot, but I have a feeling if I start to list them, it will be staggering to observe just how many gifts I have been given and it seems a great way to focus on what the LORD has given, rather than what He has not. :) So here goes...

1000 Gifts List 2009:

1.) little voices to greet me each morning
2.) sun glowing pink on the countryside as dawn breaks over a new day
3.) new mercies for each new day
4.) a husband who is my very best friend and who understands me in ways I never thought someone could
5.) children who are a delight to teach and who teach so much in the process
6.) the sense of hearing
7.) the sense of sight
8.) the sense of touch
9.) the sense of smell
10.) the sense of taste
11.) LOVE--real love, that gave Himself for me
12.) the sense of wonder that is delightfully contagious around a young child

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22 & 23

Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy making lists--so much so that I have been known to make lists of my lists! (Don't laugh!) :) The problem is that I like to put too much on my lists and am never able to reach the unrealistic number of goals. Consequently, I usually become discouraged. Therein lies the problem with New Year's Resolutions for me. So...NOT this year! Yes, I will certainly accomplish new things this year, but I have decided to take a different route for my resolutions for 2009. Here is my list:

1.) Smile and laugh more frequently and readily.
2.) Worry less, trust more.
3.) Go on more picnics--even if they're on the living room floor!

That's it!

I think that's meeting an unspoken Resolution in itself! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

...And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice You
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter...

Lyrics from Every Season by Nichole Nordeman

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I hope everyone reading enjoyed a blessed Christmas! We created precious memories with our young ones, despite the fact that I came down with a fever the Tuesday prior to and through 'til a few days after Christmas. Not exactly how I'd hoped to spend my Darling's holiday leave, but it WAS nice that he let me sleep in and rest so I could recover. I am still a bit congested but fully on the mend now and eager to spend my days in a slightly more active fashion! :) In keeping with our affinity for movie marathons over the New Year's holiday, we will begin our three-evening journey through the Lord of the Rings trilogy tonight after the little ones are safely snugged into their beds. We will dine upon cheeses, crackers, olives, and prawns--I cannot tell you how glad I am to have my sense of taste back again! And just in time! :) Anyone have any exciting plans???

Not My Home

The curtains may be mine just now,
And pictures on the wall.
But I’ll not be the only one
Who’ll whisper in this hall.

The rooms are lit by visages:
Both wide-eyed looks and smiles.
But we will take them with us,
When we travel other miles.

So I’ll display my memories
From all the lands I roam.
In case I should forget one day…
This house is not my home.

This hair is brown. Or is it gray?
These eyes—a speckled green.
The features show the young and old
Which I am caught between.

A quiet transformation taking
Place throughout the years.
The fresh replaced with something worn
Through laughter, pain, and tears.

Recount the change of which You speak
Within Your Sacred Tome.
In case I should forget one day…
This frame is not my home.

Oh, the things I dearly love
So many can be found
On skies, and seas, and held in hands,
And faces scattered ‘round.

I thank You for the gifts You give
And bless You when you take.
Though I may writhe within Your Hands
I know there’s no mistake.

Grant glimpses of Your Haven midst
My time here on this loam.
In case I should forget one day…
This world is not my home.

RJS, 12/30/2008

O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Has come to thee, O Israel!

by John M. Neal & Henry Sloane Coffin

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While our winter wonderland melted away outside, inside we read an illustrated version of the "Winter Wonderland" song lyrics and created our own wonderland scenes using blue construction paper and white crayons. We also decided to replace the melted snow with our own snowflakes to adorn the house. Liam was quite impressed with what a few carefully placed cuts with scissors could create! Aine was impressed that she was ALLOWED to use scissors SUPERVISED! (Scissors are her favorite at this stage, though she is rarely allowed to use them.)

Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart.

from Come Thou Long Expected Jesus music by Rowland H. Pritchard and lyrics by Charles Wesley

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We awakened to fallen snow again this Tuesday morning! Perfect for reading a book about making snowmen--and then after dinner, creating a snowman with vanilla ice cream. Liam and I used chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, an orange m&m for a nose, and red fruit by the foot for a scarf. His favorite was the hat made by topping a vanilla wafer with a mini Reece's cup. It was a lot of fun. :)

We are focusing on Christmas Around the World in Social Studies this month, and began the week with a look at German traditions. We even learned that "Away in a Manger" and "O Christmas Tree" are two songs associated with Christmas which originated in Germany.

Preparations are under way for Liam's fourth birthday party on Saturday afternoon. Originlly, we were just going to celebrate this birthday as a family, as we did with Aine's last birthday. However, last year the day after his party he began asking about a Spiderman party and we promised him that if he became fULLY potty-trained, we would throw him a super Spidey party for his fourth birthday. Wow! That clinched that one quickly! :)

On Sunday, after setting the tone for the reason for the season, we took the opportunity to deck our halls with holiday decor! Since prior to moving here, we always traveled for the Christmas season, we were too busy and exhausted to put up the tree or decorate much, so as a family, we have greatly enjoyed choosing and creating our own holiday traditions. This was the second year we watched the excitement dance upon the faces of our little ones as they unwrapped beloved ornaments and placed them on the tree. Liam loves to spread them all around, but Aine chooses one branch which she feels is particularly nice, and tries to hang ALL of her chosen ornaments THERE. :) This year they hung candy canes on the tree to share with others when they come to visit, and learned about the Legend of the Candy Cane. The children enjoyed helping me light some tin lanterns I bought for them this year, and created the perfect chance to review what they learned earlier in the day about the Light of the World.

Monday, being the first of December, was a lovely day to awaken to snow again! We read our new December poem and the children opened the first window in their Chocolate Advent Calendars. These advent calendars seem to be a staple here in England for celebrating Christmas, though I had never before heard of them. They are made by a variety of candy companies, i.e., Cadbury, Nestle, etc., but are all basically a box with numbered windows which hide a chocolate behind. Never being ones to turn down chocolate, the children LOVED it! (It was a thoughtful Thanksgiving gift from a dear English guest, who celebrated her first Thanksgiving ever with us on Thursday.) We also continued the Advent Scripture Reading Calendar, which we began reading yesterday. This particular calendar, which I made myself, offers the added benefit of teaching how to count backwards, which as one would expect, Aine finds highly abstract and Liam, highly exciting! We completed our decorating, so we can begin on cookies tomorrow.

Did any one else do anything special? Do you have a traditional way of counting down the days and/or celebrating advent? I have decided to type up a mini-curriculum plan as I go, so I have something to reference in subsequent years. Undoubtedly, each year will be unique as the LORD leads us in teaching these young ones about Himself, but I do like the idea of a common thread, and there is no use in reinventing the wheel each year, is there?

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Celebrate the Child
Who is the Light
Now the darkness is over
No more wandering
In the night
Celebrate the Child
Who is the Light

from Celebrate the Child, music & lyrics by Michael Card

This Sunday marked the first Sunday of Advent. Coming. His coming!

We are making a concerted effort amidst gift wrapping, package mailing, cookie baking, decorating, and all the other sources of bonding and busyness typically associated with this season, to dedicate time to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. We endeavor to purposefully pause to consider, marvel, explore, and appreciate anew, the wonder of His glorious first coming as a baby in Bethlehem and the promise of his glorious second coming, to which we look forward, though we know not the day nor the hour of His return.

On this first Sunday, we lit the HOPE candle.

As the room was dark until the lit candle lent a bright glow, we explained to our little ones that HOPE is as a candle lit in darkness, and that Jesus alone IS that Light, He IS the only HOPE for a world lost in the darkness of sin.

These can seem to be complicated concepts, and as adults, we know that we have grown in our understanding over many years. We have not yet come to understand everything, for that growth will occupy the hours, days, months, and years ahead. However, in simple terms, physical examples, songs, and diligent teaching of amazing words (which may four years from now make much more sense to small ears and hearts than they do now)--we pray that seeds are planted, watered and warmed--despite our inconsistencies, failings, and sins--and that one day, in His Sovereignty we will know the joy of faithful fellowship with these believers--sister and brother in Christ, while also, our daughter and son.

This is the cry of our hearts: O LORD, may You draw us to Yourself and cause us to know You, trust You, believe You, obey You.
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"…and further Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Romans 15:12 & 13

A Psalm for the thank offering. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Well, the cool weather is NOT keeping the sheep from being up to their usual antics. This week they formed a squad of five or six and stormed our terrace once again, in search of something green to eat. Much to my dismay, the marauders knocked over the SECOND of my two favorite planters, which, though made of plastic, were formed to look like decorative pedestal urns on either side of our main entrance!!! It is now smashed to bits from the impact on the stone terrace and I am very disappointed. :(

THIS little episode has temporarily clinched Liam and Aine's opinion of sheep, namely that they are ill-behaved and well, MEAN! "Mean Sheep!" is how they now address the flocks as we drive by, with little scowls on their faces. Undoubtedly by next week, all will be forgiven, as little hearts don't hold grudges.

In other news, we awoke this fine Lord's Day to our first snowfall of the season. (We've had hail, of course.) The children were understandably excited, but I did have need to explain that it was but a thin layer and regrettably not enough for sledding, snowballs, snow angels, and the other plans which were quickly being hatched upon sight of the white accumulation. By 1400 it was all melted off, but it was nice to have our first peak at winter. Winter's snowy whisper can be heard, foretelling of its arrival in the near future.

We are busy with plans for Thanksgiving this week and the beginning of Advent next weekend. Hope you are all well and delighting in the Reason for the seasons. :)

Yes, I did just use the words adventure and oatmeal in the same sentence. I was even referring to the oatmeal as a part of my adventure. Let me explain...

I fully realize that for some, the thought of oatmeal conjures up unsavory images of bland, lumpy breakfast fare from a by-gone era. If you are one of those, I am sorry for you and you can just skip over this post. But IF, you enjoy perfectly cooked and flavored oatmeal, you may find this of interest.

It took some tinkering with various oatmeal recipes to arrive at this which is now my favorite. (I mean it is my favorite today--ask me tomorrow and my favorite will be something else, of course. Then oatmeal will again be my favorite again next week--for one day. I am a foodie, remember?) As you can see, it really is as easy as 1-2-3. (Or 1-2-3-3?)

1 cup dry milk powder
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3 cups old-fashioned oats
3 cups hot water

Combine all ingredients and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Voila!

Of course, after dishing out each portion into a bowl I create taste variations, but our favorite is a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. It is like eating a bowl of banana bread, which if you enjoy banana bread as we do, is a great thing! :) The reason why I don't add the flavorings to the whole batch is that I usually make enough for us to eat that day and then reserve enough to make our new favorite breakfast bars for the following morning. (See, each day there's a new favorite.) I'll share that recipe too, but not today. This is enough adventure for now. :)

As it is now November and the heart of the Autumn season, I find our tastes in food have shifted with the weather. Evenings are dark by 1700, and growing darker by the day, and with the sun goes every vestige of warmth lent by the bright sun. Rain falls often, and the winds begin to gather speed, a precursor to the gale-force variety of the coming winter months. All of these cues lead up to a desire for more hearty soups, crusty bread, roasted meats, and the like. Below is my tentative menu plan for this week.

Sunday: B: Whole grain peanut butter chocolate chip bars, yogurt, fruit juice, milk
L: Leftovers
D: Crispy chicken, oven-roasted potatoes, dill peas, ice cream

Monday: B: Whole grain peanut butter chocolate chip bars, yogurt, fruit juice, milk
L: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, veggie sticks, pretzels
D: Roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, zucchini

Tuesday: B: Baked oatmeal with banana, maple syrup, and cinnamon, fruit juice
L: chicken noodle soup, fruit, crackers
D: Bacon, stuffed french toast, homemade applesauce topping

Wednesday: B: Whole grain peanut butter chocolate chip bars, yogurt, fruit juice, milk
L: chicken noodle soup, fruit, crackers
D: Beef pot pie w/ roasted veggies

Thursday: B: Whole grain peanut butter chocolate chip bars, yogurt, fruit juice, milk
L: --------
D: BBQ chicken skewers, baked sweet potato fries, broccoli

Friday: B: Oatbran cereal w/butter and brown sugar, fruit juice
L: Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, fruit, veggie sticks, pretzels
D: Pizza night->cheese & sundried tomato w/ham, salad/veggie sticks, ice cream

Anyone with any other good and hearty ideas for meals are welcome to leave a comment! No matter how many recipes or ideas I have a mind to try, inspiration from others telling what they intend to make always piques my interest!

...and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."

Lamentations 3:21-24

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Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hands hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

written by Thomas Obadiah Chisholm

***I couldn't express it any better than this!***

I have been developing this recipe since summer time--yes, we still eat hot soup in the summer here, since it really feels much the same as Spring. :) Anyway, it quickly became Aine's favorite, not only at the dinner table, but also as the recipe of choice in her own play kitchen. (Scarcely a day goes by that I will not hear her announce to Liam that she is serving up "Punkin Soup." And as a good brother does, he comes running with his best "make-believe" appetite! ;) When she again requested it this past weekend, I decided to jot down the recipe in its more final stage and share it here with those of you who enjoy something autumnal and very easy:

Pumpkin Bisque

15 ounces pumpkin puree
3 Cups chicken broth (or water and 3-1/2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon)
1/2 teaspoon salt (delete if using bouillon)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground celery seed
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 tablespoon butter
1 Cup whole milk

Stir together pumpkin puree, broth, salt, white pepper, celery seed, minced onion in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil then simmer for five to ten minutes, depending upon how thick you prefer your bisque. Turn off heat; add butter and milk and stir to heat through. Serve with sandwiches, cheesy garlic bread, crusty bread, or crackers. I also like to sprinkle a little parsley and parmesan cheese on top before serving.

As a side note, you could definitely use fresh chunks of pumpkin or other squash, fresh celery and fresh onion in this recipe, but it would necessitate using a blender to puree the bits and this recipe was designed to be a quick version. :) (The only bits are the tiny minced onion, which we don't mind.)

Enjoy your Autumn!

On a day set aside to commemorate Christopher Columbus and his exploration of lands foreign to his own, we enjoyed a day of exploration ourselves yesterday. Since Will had the day off from work, we were able to spend the day as a family, which is always a real treat for the children. They begin by eating breakfast with Daddy! (Even if I am present too, it is always referred to as "Breakfast with Daddy" due to the fact that they have breakfast with me everyday!) :) In this instance, however I was NOT present, because I had a bit of a "lie-in," as they call it around these parts!

After a little at-home time spent together, we headed out to the bowling alley at which Aine played her first game of bowling! Liam, Aine, and I bowled while Will took photos. At this particular alley, when children are playing they put up a guard running the length of the lane and also provide a ball ramp upon which you place the ball and the small child can just push it down the ramp and down the lane. On her first game ever, Aine took the high score with 117 points!! She kept getting spares every few turns and once even rolled a strike!!! Way to go, Aine! Liam came in at an admirable 105 and also bowled a few spares. Pulling up the rear was my score of 92! Ugh, it IS sad when a two-year-old and three-year-old can out-bowl you! (Perhaps next time I should use the ramp too???)

Next we headed out to the scenic town of Knaresborough. There we enjoyed the Autumn views at Knaresborough Castle, while the children played on the grounds in a sea of bright yellow leaves. The children enjoyed seeing the passing of trains atop the viaduct over the River Nidd, and we quite enjoyed the view of the viaduct over the water, as well.

On our return walk to the van, we found a quaint little Brymor Ice Cream shop! Here they sold the most adorable tiny ice cream cones with one tiny scoop on top and a bear-shaped wafer stuck in for a treat! Aine ate her very first chocolate ice cream cone of her own--held it on her own and ate the whole thing. Afterwards, her little chocolate-dipped face looked so happy! At that point she spied MY cup of Ginger ice cream and wanted that too. Actually, although both she and Liam ate their own cone, they happily gobbled up quite a few bites of my ice cream and were raving about the ginger flavor just as much as I was. (They tried Will's raspberry cheesecake ice cream, but didn't care for it, although he sure did!) :) It may sound funny to be so excited about it, but this is the first time since moving here that we have found such a wide variety of flavors to choose from and we greatly enjoyed it.

Next we went grocery shopping and made the journey back home to the countryside for dinner and the close of the day. While shopping out at a UK store Will suggested the most delicious dinner of breaded prawn and mushrooms, mixed olives, and a fabulous cheese assortment with crackers. We have intended to try some of the wide variety of cheese available here for some time, but never got around to it until now. We sampled Welsh goat cheese with chives, Bavarian smoked cheese with ham, Applewood smoked cheddar, and Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese with cranberries. We have found some new favorites which we hope to enjoy a few more times in the future.

As soon as we upload the photos, I will update this post with some accompanying pictures.
Enjoy your day!

This morning Liam asked if we could make Orange Cranberry Buns for breakfast--one of his favorites and also a quick and easy morning recipe. We enjoyed them so much that I thought I would share. :)

Orange Cranberry Buns

2 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
3/4 C. dried cranberries (the only brands available to me here are sweetened, so if you use unsweetened you may want to increase the sugar to the recipe a bit; it is your call)
3 Tbsp. melted butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. orange extract
1/2 C. whole milk

In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder; drizzle melted butter over dry ingredients and stir through. Combine eggs, orange extract, and milk; add to dry mixture and stir until just moistened. Add dried cranberries and drop by tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined (or greased) baking sheet. Bake in pre-heated oven at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes*** or until golden brown. Serve fresh from the oven or warmed, if made ahead.

Recipe makes 2 dozen buns.

***I have developed this recipe here using a fan-assisted oven, so I bake them for ten minutes, but anyone using a regular conventional oven (as I would assume anyone reading my blog would be) you may need to bake for 15-25 minutes until the buns are golden brown in color. (I have had to learn how much time to cut from baking recipes while here using this oven, because they will all burn otherwise.) Also, I always use parchment paper when I bake these--I like how low in fat they are, yet the parchment keeps them from sticking.

Serving Suggestion: We like to serve these buns warm from the oven along with fromage frais or yogurt and orange juice for breakfast, although they are equally delicious with a cup of tea or coffee. I really like to add milled flax seed and/or wheat germ to my baked goods, however we are so attached to the light, airy texture of these goodies that I have just left them alone for the pleasure of eating them. If I had access to whole wheat pastry flour, I would think you could get some whole grain into these without sacrificing the delightful texture. If anyone gives it a try, please leave feedback or if you do any other variation. We particularly enjoy the orange-cranberry combination this Autumn-time of year, but I'm certain there could be some other wonderful variations. My original ispiration for these buns was a recipe that featured cinnamon and raisins with vanilla extract. (I adapted and experimented with ingredients, amounts, and method to arrive at this final recipe.)

This is such a simple recipe and Liam really likes to get up to the counter and help measure, pour, and stir. He truly seems to enjoy the finished product all the more when he has had a hand (or two) in preparing them. So grab a little pair of hands, get to the kitchen, and try these Orange Cranberry Buns.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.

Galations 5:22 & 23

What is Love?...

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)

He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Love is a word I so often use in such a common way. May I think before I use it to describe how I feel about my favorite food, book, movie, game, or in any other respect ill-deserving of its meaning...a meaning defined and demonstrated so thoroughly and extravagantly by God Himself.

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(Today during Sabbath Family Worship)

Catechism Question #16: Who were our first parents?

Liam Answers: "Adam and Alleve!"

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

September

The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel--

Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive
Well-honeyed, hums,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.

by John Updike, from A Child's Calendar

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I open, here, with the poem that I have read each day of this fine month of September, to which we bid adieu this evening. :) Now, on to our first installment of This Month in School!

This month Liam has worked diligently at the following skills:

* fine-motor, through tracing, cutting, and pasting

* fine motor, through printing his first name

* visual perception

* eye-hand coordination

* safety rules

* shapes through multi-sensory exploration

* phonological awareness (fancy term meaning, awareness of sounds
in spoken words), i.e., rhyming

* same/different

* patterns

* left to right progression in reading and writing

* top/bottom

* categorization by physical attribute and function

* sorting by attribute

* short a sound

* memorizing (and dramatizing) Nursery Rhymes, i.e., Little Bo Peep, Humpty Dumpty, and Little Jack Horner

Liam also learned a new Memory Verse, "A soft answer turns away wrath." (Proverbs 15:1) He has also been learning several of the Fruit of the Spirit, namely, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience.

Both children have really enjoyed reading some new books, such as:

Chicken Soup with Rice
Louella Mae, She's Run Away
Down By the Bay
Mouse's First Fall
Apples

This month, Aine has mastered the following:

* color recognition, i.e., red, yellow, blue, green, purple, orange, pink, black, white, and brown

* shape recognition, i.e., circle, crescent, oval, rectangle, star, heart

* participating in Story Time at the library

* counting independently from 1 to 11

* letter identification

* animal identification

We hope everyone is enjoying their week and we will try to keep you posted next month on what's new at school for our little ones!

...And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice YOU when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come
YOU are autumn...

--lyrics from Every Season by Nichole Nordeman

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Yes, according to the calendar we welcomed Autumn on Monday, September 22nd! As for us here in Yorkshire, it has seemed like the season of Fall for much of the past few weeks. :) Leaves have been furiously flit-fluttering to the ground in all their reddish, orangish, yellowish finery and the air carries a cool crispness commonly associated with this, my most favorite season of the entire year. So what, you might ask, was unique about OUR first day of Autumn? What hint was bestowed to remind us that it had indeed, officially arrived? I will tell you.

I am sick.

Again.

Yes, it just doesn't FEEL like Fall anymore unless I have a sinus infection/cold, an earache, and am feeling generally run-down and exhausted. So add to the typical accessories of Fall, i.e., rakes, jackets; some new must-haves--vitamin C, tissues, hot tea.

However, I, as in all seasons, will welcome the good with the bad, the desirable with the undesirable, the sweet with the bitter. And speaking of...

In my desperation to try to rid myself of this sickness in all ways natural, I have decided to try a tea made of garlic, lemon, and honey (yes, I agree it sounds dreadful but I'm willing to try it once if it works) which is supposed to boost the immune system. You guessed it! I AM desperate after spending last year in what seemed like a perpetual state of illness and I intend to do ALL I can to fight it off. Once I recover from the taste of this elixir, I will give you my honest opinion on whether or not I thought it was worth the affront to my taste-buds! :)

We send our love! Enjoy your day!

As we relish Summer's last few weeks, already one can sense the gentle transition into Autumn has begun.

Daylight rapidly dissipating, whispering to us of the darkness to come.

Tomato plants groan beneath the weight of cascading cherry-sized fruit...ripening as the days...awaiting the harvest.

A holiday to the Emerald Isle, once long-awaited, now a lovely memory etched in my mind and in that of my beloved.

My heart feels the rustle of this page turning to lay peacefully with the other spent pages of time...yet I linger to enjoy.

A blank new page awaits, beckoning me to carefully consider that which I would scribe upon it for all eternity...

A new beginning...a new school year for the children to delightedly embark upon...a season of celebrations...of milestones ordained for one brief and beautiful point in time.

Come Autumn, but tarry a while--we have many moments yet to savor.

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Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

In light of the fact that we are having, what we are told is an uncommonly cold Spring and Summer, I must admit that I have trouble believing it is indeed Summer! Our temperatures refuse to go above the 50's and today, the winds are so intense that it feels like February all over again!

We are enjoying the daylight from 3:30 AM until 11:00 PM--well, we are now that room-darkening curtains are installed on the windows! ;) However, our attempts at cook-outs/picnics have been a bit too chilly to be highly enjoyable. (However, the sheep have not returned for any impromptu picnics at the expense of our flowers, so a lack of picnics is not necessarily bad!) The thick stone walls of our barn dwelling keep enough heat in for us to dispense with heating the house the past many weeks, but there are others here who are too cold without the heat running inside. Just another interesting chapter in a life in a new-to-us land.

Happy Summer, anyway!

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

---from Every Season by Nichole Nordeman

How mysterious are Your ways O LORD...

You use sorrow to wring me out,
To squeeze from me each drop of myself...
Creating room to fill me with Yourself,
As a sponge wrung dry is thirsty for water.
You are Living Water.

Blessed be the name of the LORD!

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Thy Word! Psalm 119:28

"He who made the Plei'ades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name"

Amos 5:8

Last evening a friend and I attended Evensong at nearby Ripon Cathedral, wherein worship services have been held for over 1,350 years! For those who aren't familiar, Evensong is the Evening Prayer liturgy used in the late afternoon or evening in churches of Anglican tradition, i.e., Anglican, Episcopal. Usually, and certainly in the case of last evening, Evensong features the components of worship following the Book of Common Prayer offered chorally, that is, nearly entirely sung by the choir and clergy.

The choir was incredibly beautiful and I have never herd a sound system come even near to rivaling the volume or sound quality of the cathedral's acoustics! Upon my word--the glorious music which soared high to the gorgeous vaulted ceiling--it was an astounding experience! Better yet was hearing God's Holy Word sung, read, and eloquently expounded upon in the lyrics of the hymns! It was awesome! While I definitely do not believe worship must be done exclusively in a cathedral-type setting nor with traditional formality, it was simply breathtaking to see and feel the awesome greatness of architecture and magnificence of music being employed to give reverence to the Almighty God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. It is, indeed, still so insignificant compared to His Greatness, His Magnificence, His Holiness--but it was quite an experience. I am humbled to reflect on how I am able to come to Him only through the Savior's Blood shed for me.

Laudamus te (We praise Thee)

Benedicimus te (We Bless Thee)

Adoramus te (We adore Thee)

Glorificamus te (We glorify Thee)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be all glory!)

While we do endeavor to maintain an attitude of hospitality around our home and we are always happy to welcome a friend or neighbor in for refreshments, I got a little more than I bargained for today!

Six or seven "neighbors" from a nearby pasture ambled by this afternoon for an impromptu picnic on our terrace! The menu? Why my aquilegia, geraniuims, and pansies, of course. Thankfully, I noticed them while only two sheep had begun to partake of the lovely foliage and blooms. The others were hurriedly making their way to the "buffet," lambs in tow. I thought our little garden terrace looked beautiful, but never guessed it would prove to be such a tempting treat to a band of ever-hungry sheep and lambs.

I promptly shooed them away from my plants and set them back on their straight and narrow, to a cacophony of displeased "Baaaaaaaaaaaaas!" This unique photo opportunity, while hard to pass up, was sacrificed for the welfare of my humble little garden--it was a hard call to make, but in the end, the gardener in me won out over the fledgling photographer. Never fear, though. I'm sure they'll be back.

Naturally, all the hullabaloo that the shooing away of the sheep created was not lost on my two little ones. Liam wanted to know, "What was going on?" After I explained what the sheep had been up to, he knitted his brows thoughtfully. "Don't worry, Mommy," he announced, "I will put them in jail."

Bleak darkness
Shivery cold
Violent wind
Surrounding signs of death in nature...
became oppressive in Winter.
Only occasionally adorned with icy frost-gilded branches
or lovely white blankets of snow...
Despaired it would never draw to a close.

Then the slow, subtle transformation unfolds
Buds burst, leaves unfurl...
Cascades of colors replace the gray
while the moments of sunlight lengthen with each passing day.
True, we appreciate it after Winter,
the comparison rendering it all the more lovely.
But beyond that...
Unless the old leaves die and fall away in their autumn-hued finery...
there could be no new growth.
Spring can only be all that it is because of Winter.

I must be reminded of this truth in Winter...
and embrace it, as I welcome Spring.
Spring is pleasant and attractive...
and an annual reminder of the hidden beauty of Winter,
the season whose bleak, harsh repose ushers in Spring on its heels.

RJS, 2008

For some time I have been reflecting on the Fourth Commandment...

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-11, RSV)

As Liam began to learn the Ten Commandments this year in school, I began to wonder how he would understand what I was teaching. Aside from the morning being largely devoted to Worship, there is little difference in our activities on Sunday compared to our activities the rest of the week. I kept telling myself how impossible it would be to do no (or at least very little) work on Sundays, i.e., the washer size here makes going a day without doing any laundry a problem for subsequent days, we have to cook if we're going to eat, etc.

Yesterday, however, it just so happened that I had very easy, basically heat and serve meals. As planned, after Worship and lunch we spent the afternoon out and about the farm on which we reside. Consequently, I did not get to any laundry (much to my chagrin today as I attempt to catch-up on yesterday's loads as well as today's) nor any other household tasks. After dinner, baths, and tucking the children into their beds, Will and I enjoyed an evening playing one of our favorite games, The Castle.

It truly WAS a day of rest! I awoke this morning with so much more energy--mental AND physical, that I think I may be hooked--on the possibility and value of a true DAY of Rest. I should not be surprised that the Lord knew what He was doing when He set aside the Sabbath, eh?

And he [Jesus] said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." (Mark 2:27 & 28)

I think I will endeavor to facilitate this Day of Rest for this coming weekend. I can plan my menu with make-ahead or "heat-and-serve" meals, do an extra load of laundry a few days this week to eliminate the need to do it on Sunday, and try to accomplish any cleaning, etc. on the days prior to Sunday. I look forward to spending a day in worship of the Almighty God who made such a day for me and in enjoying the other wonderful treasures He has bestowed on my life.

And, perhaps Liam will be better able to understand the Fourth Commandment now as we attempt to walk through it, rather than only talk through it. I realize that not everyone has the same schedule we have with Will working Monday through Friday, so a Day of Rest may not be possible for everyone on a Sunday. I am also aware that others observe such a day on Saturday, believing it to be more true to observing on the seventh day of the week. But whenever it is observed, I am seeing the importance and blessing of truly setting the day aside--for remembering the sabbath and keeping it holy.

I happened upon this quote, which gave me pause for thought...

"We must determine to be limited and focus our affinities."

by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

O how abundant is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for those who fear Thee, and wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, in the sight of the sons of men!
Psalm 31:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sometimes we yearn to say something, but find...

...that someone else has already said it with words so much better...

Gratitude

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case...

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace...

But Jesus, would You please...

by Nichole Nordeman

1 John 4:9 & 10

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation [atonement] for our sins.

What Held You On The Cross?

I know You
I've seen You all my life
A figure on a crucifix
A death without a fight
You're hanging there
Upon a cross
Just by Your hands and feet
The picture's clear
But the story's incomplete

So what was it
That led You to that tree?
What made you lay Your body down
To save someone like me?
'Cause though it's true
I know that You
Were God inside a man
So I guess sometimes
It's hard to understand

What held You on the cross
When You could have walked away?
I see what You have done and I just have to say
What held You on the cross
Was more than just the nails
With all the pain and suffering
And all that You had lost
Your love for me could only be
What held You on the cross

You saw me
I guess You must have known
My life would be in darkness
So You and You alone
Would bear the stripes
The crown of thorns
And all humility
Lord, I see myself
But it's hard for me to see

What held You on the cross
When You could have walked away?
I see what You have done and I just have to say
What held You on the cross
Was more than just the nails
With all the pain and suffering
And all that You had lost
Your love for me could only be
What held You on the cross

I don't deserve Your mercy
Still You loved me just the same
You died for me and yet it's hard to know...

What held You on the cross
When You could have walked away?
I see what You have done and I just have to say
What held You on the cross
Was more than just the nails
With all the pain and suffering
And all that You had lost
Your love for me could only be
What held You on the cross

written by Micheal O'Brien & Regie Hamm

John 17:1-3

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Passover Lamb

It is truly right and good, always and everywhere,
with our whole heart and mind and voice,
to praise You, the invisible, almighty, and eternal God,
and Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
for He is the true Paschal Lamb,
who at the feast of the Passover
paid for us the debt of Adam's sin,
and by His blood delivered Your faithful people.

This is the night, when You brought our fathers,
the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt,
and led them through the Red Sea on dry land...

How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God,
is Your mercy and loving-kindness to us,
that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son.

How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight,
and sin is washed away.
It restores innocence to the fallen,
and joy to those who mourn.
It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.

How blessed is this night,
when earth and heaven are joined
and man is reconciled to God.

(excerpted from the Book of Common Prayer)

As a child I grew up attending a Baptist church and though I heard the term "Maundy Thursday" each Easter season, my church held no service for that day. Consequently, I was entirely unaware of what that word meant. As a matter of fact, I always thought adults were saying "MaunDAY Thursday" and since THAT made no sense to me, I thought they must be intending to say "MONDAY Thursday." Don't ask what I thought was meant by THAT either, but these are the humorous thoughts of a ten-year-old girl who mildly wondered about the talk of adults, but obviously didn't wonder enough to ask anyone. :)

Nearly twenty years later I would desire to attend any and all services offered during the week preceding the celebration of the Resurrection. This meant actually attending one of those Maundy Thursday services! But still, I wondered, "What does Maundy mean?" While there was no indication given at that particular service, a few year later would find the Lord leading my family to a church home which annually observed Maundy Thursday. At last--an answer to the question, "What does Maundy mean?" :)

Just on the off-chance that you, dear reader, may be wondering as I did, I refer you to the explanation provided by Wikipedia. Wikipedia explains that the Thursday before Easter Sunday has been referred to either as "Holy Thursday" or "Maundy Thursday." I quote:

The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé,
from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do
vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give
unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement
by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the
Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. (Wikipedia)

So, whether you call it Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday, or just 'the Thursday before Easter,' I encourage you to take a moment to remember...read the Scripture for yourself and reflect. This is what our family will be doing this evening. :)
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Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." John 13:1-8

When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:12-17

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34 & 35

As we prepare our hearts for and devote our time to remembering Jesus' sacrificial death and glorious resurrection:

But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:21-23)

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

*********************************************************************************************
Broken and poured out for the love of His creation
God paid a debt that He didn't owe
Bearing my pain for not one was His equal
And wearing my shame so that I could know Him

He gave us all He had to give
So that we could truly live
So let's give all we have to Him
So that we can be completely free

As they placed the thorns on His brow
As they drove the nails into His hands and feet
He looked past the moment to where we are now
And gave us the victory from what seemed His defeat

He said here's My body
It's broken in two
Here is My blood let it cover you
All that I have is now yours to receive
Payment in full so that you could be free

Oh without a doubt completely
So that we can be completely free

Completely Free by Mike Weaver, 2003
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I recently came upon another poignant quote by the late C.S. Lewis, which caught my attention. Here it is:

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." (C.S. Lewis)

I know from Isaiah 55:8 & 9 that God says...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

It has been my experience thus far, that the roads which "seem" the most welcoming, pleasant, enjoyable, and happy to ME, are NOT, in fact, the BEST for me. (Sigh!) Undoubtedly, had they been the best, they would have been the roads upon which the Lord would have placed me. Now, at times I have been given that incredible opportunity later to observe how the harder road produced something of even greater value to me. But on other occasions, I am left only to accept that *this* is best, because I know that God is Sovereign over all things. Honestly, it is at these times, that my human emotions do not immediately (or ever) line up with my beliefs.

I suppose it comes down to this: when I truly enjoy the things He is doing in my life, believing in His goodness is really not a matter of faith, it is an emotional response to my circumstances. However, when I am in pain and struggle with what He is doing in my life, THAT is when believing in His goodness IS COMPLETELY a matter of FAITH, despite my emotions. My faith is established on the knowledge that while I was yet a sinner, Jesus died for me (Romans 5:8.) It is strengthened through past experiences when I have observed His goodness. It is to those facts which I must cling when the days are dark and the nights are bathed in tears. I believe it is the truth, but it still HURTS! And it is easy to lose perspective while I walk through the valley.

Such are the thoughts running through my head on a daily basis. Such are the thoughts running through my head especially when someone I love is experiencing a new and painful valley. You know who you are. You know you are not alone, though it may often "seem" that you are. My thoughts are with you often, as are my prayers to the Lord lifted on your behalf. Trust Him. Though it is soooooooooo much easier said than done.
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A Heart That Knows You

Thought I knew so much
But I've got so much to learn
Got so far to go
So much left to burn
Thought I knew You well
But I struggle in Your hands
Here again You bring the truth before me
Freedom only comes when I let go
This I know

...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can wait
Die to the dearest desire
...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can still celebrate
Following on through the fire

You would never lead
Where You had not been
Every road I face
You go down again
Time has come and gone
Since You walked into the flame
Still there is the pain before the glory
And it is Your will I must embrace
Oh for grace...

...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can wait
Die to the dearest desire
...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can still celebrate
Following on through the fire

It may be for my sake
Just to help me grow
Maybe for Your kingdom, Lord
I don't need to know

...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can wait
Die to the dearest desire
...And a heart that knows You
Is a heart that can still celebrate
Following on through the fire

(music & lyrics by Twila Paris)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5 & 6

Even if I exercise the right (and I DO) to adjust the schedule when our routine makes it necessary...OR...I just don't feel like eating on Saturday what I had planned for Saturday, I still find it quite helpful to plan out my menus for the week.

When I was first married, I never did this. Cooking has always been a stress-reliever for me so I enjoyed keeping a variety of ingredients around and when I'd arrive home after work, I would enjoy whipping up something fun and delicious. :) However, these days if I didn't make a plan, I would approach dinner time with frantic thoughts of, "Oh, no! What will I make for dinner!!!!" Weekly menu planning helps me in several ways: (1) I am sure to make all the necessary purchases when shopping; (2) I am sure to thaw needed ingredients; (3) I do not have to try to put something together in late afternoon, when the children seem to need my attention the most.

So for those (like me) who enjoy seeing others' menu plans for future meal-time inspiration and just plain curiosity, here is our flexible plan for the coming week:

T: B= granola & yogurt
L= leftovers
D= shrimp scampi over pasta & lemon/dill green beans

W: B= granola & yogurt
L= leftovers
D= creamy tomato sauce over pasta & herb broccoli

H: B= hot oat bran cereal
L= ---------
D= homemade pizza & herb broccoli

F: B= oatmeal
L= pb & j sandwiches
D= ricotta/dill pasta & cuke/tomato/onion salad

S: B= sausage & waffles
L= leftovers
D= beef-stuffed shells w/mushroom bechamel & cuke/tomato/onion salad

U: B= eggs, toast, hash
L= leftovers
D= hungarian goulash & veggie TBD

M: B= hot oat bran cereal
L= leftovers
D= (roast chicken) cheesy chicken roll-ups & steamed broccoli

T: B= oatmeal
L= tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches w/dijon mustard & raw veggies
D= sundried tomato/ripe olive alfredo over pasta & veggie TBD

W: B= hot oat bran cereal
L= leftovers
D= pesto salmon cakes, garlic bread, & buttered asparagus spears

AM/PM Snacks: fruit, multi-grain cakes, pretzels, raisins, olives, crackers, yogurt, cheese

Mmmmm...now I'm hungry. Gotta go get a snack! :)

Yes, we are are still here, despite the deluge outside. The water level has not receded much since the flooding 1+ weeks ago, so it will not take as many days of constant downpour to flood again. This experience is providing me with a fresh, new perspective on rain. We were promised a rainy season in the winter, and we are not disappointed. ;)

Here is a synopsis of what the rainy season is like...

Drenching
Outgushing
Wind-riding
Never-ending
Pounding
Overflowing
Unrelenting
Raging

But inside, all is calm and dry. :) I think I will go brew a cup of tea and enjoy a biscuit or two. Cheers!

Happy New Year! Wow! I am still getting used to writing 2008! It always takes me most of January to adjust! LOL!

Anyway, with the happy occasion of family visiting us through the first week or so of the new year, I am delayed in getting a jump on the New Year plans. What a lovely reason to delay! :) We are now hopefully past the getting sick nearly EVERY week stage of our big move! I look forward to being able to get back into the rhythm of our routine. This new energy has inspired me to reevaluate our homeschool organization and vision among other things.

As a homeschooled high-school student and already interested in teaching as a profession, I attended a local homeschool curriculum fair. There were a few Mennonite consultants at the "Rod and Staff" table who had made available copies of their own personal philosophy of education. While far from comprehensive in its scope and sequence, there was a Biblical focus and simplicity which appealed to me then and inspires me to this day, some fifteen years later. I truly wish I knew to whom to attribute the germ of these ideas, but with no published documentation, I cannot. But here is the main thought it conveyed and subsequent inspiration to me:

After relating the account of Jesus’ birth and early childhood, the final verse of the second chapter of the book of Luke reads this way,

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 RSV

The writer of this philosophy asserted that if our goal as Believers is to raise our children in Christ’s likeness, then this account of His growth seems to provide some instruction. Interestingly, the areas of growth mentioned correspond to four of the commonly accepted dimensions of personal growth from worldly wisdom and which one hears a lot about when studying in the field of education:

Wisdom = intellectual/mental
Stature = physical
Favor with God = spiritual
Favor with man = relational/emotional

Now, let me just say that without doing a study on Greek word usage, I would personally not assert that the intention of this verse was to provide instruction on the areas of growth. It is because of this that I would not call that verse the driving force of my call as a mother and homeschooling parent. However, it motivated me at a young age to take an even greater interest in education and its critical role in raising children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. As I studied educational theory through college and graduate school I learned a great many ideas—some of which I discarded as contrary to the teaching of the Bible, but others made much sense to me in light of Scripture. I believe that the above mentioned areas of personal growth are all capacities which we were given by God—a mind/brain, a body, a spirit, and feelings/emotions/relationships with others.

While I firmly believe that from the eternal vantage point, all areas except spiritual are fleeting and are ultimately of lesser importance (i.e., Genesis 3:19, “…you are dust and to dust you shall return”) I also believe that as stewards of ALL God has entrusted to us, we are to be good stewards of our minds, bodies, and emotions. Indeed, I feel vast passages of Scripture address these other facets of development, but it is made clear that spiritual growth is of the greatest importance.

Anyone may plainly see that we spend a great deal of time with our three and one-year-olds in addressing spiritual needs and instruction in Scripture. We feel that our primary calling in raising our children is to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) This is to be the all-consuming activity of our parenting as is expressed in Deuteronomy 6:7, “…and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” In order to do this we must endeavor to have this focus permeate all we do at all times—as we work, and cook, and play, and EVERYTHING! (Incidentally, this is also why I feel called to homeschool my children, since it allows them to be present with me during all of those times of the day.) We will certainly never be perfect at it, yet it SHOULD be the goal for which we ever strive! LIKEWISE, the ways in which we nurture the physical, emotional/relational, and intellectual growth of our children may also be the practical steps of living out this instruction. One example is that if I hope to instruct my children in God’s Word and encourage them to return to it often as they grow, then the priority I place on teaching them to read fluently so they may READ God’s Word is of GREAT importance. Additional practical applications abound. :)

So it is with renewed vision and vigor that we begin the second half of Liam’s Preschool year! Aine is gleaning much from many books and participating with Liam. :) I count it all great joy to watch them grow and change and learn and it is my fervent prayer that He who formed them is working within them each moment to bring them to a redeeming faith in Jesus Christ.

I must go now! With my third load of laundry washing and lunch at the ready, a bookshelf of books for “M” week is calling to me! Look for a recurring post on Saturdays for school updates. Enjoy your week!

Last week Liam explored the letter K. :) Here is a brief overview of his Pre-School activities:

* began learning Catechism Q. #9: What is God? A.: God is a Spirit and does not have a body like men.

* began learning Psalm 56:3 & 4 "When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust."

* reviewed la casa & la cucina in Italian.

* reviewed the first 3 Ten Commandments learned previously.

* learned a new Christmas song: Christmas is Coming

* helped Mummy make an advent paper chain (I forgot to take a picture) and so we have replaced our usual reading our way through the book of Genesis to read the daily advent passaged instead. :)

* generated a K word list throughout the week and practiced writing the letter K.

* acquired many new favorite books, including the Blue Kangaroo series by Emma Chichester Clark and the Kipper books by Mick Inkpen.

Since Liam's third birthday was this past Sunday, we had seven little friends over for a Dinosaur party on Saturday afternoon. We wanted to be sure he had a party with friends since this is the first year he REALLY was aware of having a birthday and was excited to celebrate it, coupled with the fact that we have moved so far from family with whom he was used to celebrating. He really had a wonderful time playing "Dinosaur Walk" and "Pin the Horn on the Dinosaur!" With making all the arrangments for the party last week, we did not get around to cooking or baking anything together for K week, but with Christmas baking just around the corner, I'm sure we'll quickly make up for it! :)

We are exploring L this week, so I should have the low down sometime the end of this week!

Since I devote a recurring post to Liam's learning and accomplishments, I thought I would take a moment to talk about our little daughter. Although she is a tiny little girl (undeniably taking after Momma with respect to body size and weight gain) Aine seems to be growing up so quickly!

She loves to run around all over now and keeps her brother on his toes! And her parents! :) Aine's vocabulary just expands by leaps and bounds each week and I can hardly keep up with all the recognizable words she can say. She LOVES babies and is on the lookout for them wherever we go and on food packaging and books! :) While we trimmed our tree last week, she found a small bear a relative had given to Liam last Christmas and Aine has adopted it as her own. She carries it around hugging it and cradling it in her tiny arms. If you walk past her she proudly holds the bear out and says, "Ohhh, baby bear! Baby bear!" Aine also enjoys tearing up scraps of paper, putting them into her mini-serving bowl and stirring it. She then serves "salad" or whatever it is to anyone who'll take it.

Lately, if we wonder what she wants she is typically able to tell us what it is. She loves to sing the Veggie Tales theme song and knows many of the words! She also loves to join in singing Liam's Scripture memory songs and is doing a great job.

Here is a short list of her words: Jesus, God, Daddy, Mommy (she doesn't call me Momma anymore, but Mommy instead!) cracker, cookie, doggie, kitty, sheep, baaaa, cow, moo, baby, bear, Bob, Veggie Tales, up, down, get down, lay down, Liam (ee-um), noodles, slippers, juice (joo), car, purple, blue, pink, (and she knows these are colors)...you get the picture. :)

She loves the little slippers my mom made for her last year--even insists on wearing them over the feet of her blanket sleepers--so today my mom asked her if she wanted any more slippers and she nodded yes. When asked what color she wanted and she said, "Purple!" :) It is so wonderful being able to have little conversations with her already and hearing her and Liam have discussions during the day is hysterical!

Well, I could go on and on as every mother could and would if you give her half the chance, but my laundry is finally done so I am going to BED! :)

G'night all!

Given all the interesting little differences I am encountering in keeping our home here in this land that is new to me, I am considering beginning a separate category for posts entitled "Adventures in Home-Keeping." We'll see...maybe after the holidays. Anyway, my chosen topic THIS time is...

LAUNDRY!

In retrospect I SHOULD have been tipped off in my second week here when, while in temporary housing I needed to go to the laundromat to wash our clothing. You meet all kinds of interesting people at a laundromat and your life becomes interestingly entwined with them as you negotiate the use of multiple washers and dryers and wait and fold and visit with them. On this particular occasion I met a woman who has lived here for four or so years and she told me she brings all her laundry in to use the multiple washers (some with a larger capacity) and dryers every month or so in order to get caught up with laundry. I thought that odd at the time, but remember, I had only lived here for less than two weeks.

I have mentioned in a previous post about the capacity of our washer (a very typical British washer) being roughly the size of an extra-small to small load in a typical American washer. I have also mentioned that the dryer takes a very long time to dry. The first several months we lived here I JUST managed to keep up with the laundry by doing multiple loads every day. The problem is that that really means EVERY day and since it is hard to get those couple loads done on shopping day when I am gone most of the day or on a weekend when we go off to visit a sight or have friends over for a party--the laundry starts to get just a little bit behind. (You can typically attribute my ability to update you on the blog to the fact that I am waiting on going to bed most evenings in order to attend to that last load of laundry that must be done.)

Well, this brings us to two weeks ago when I was sick for six days and...that's right! No laundry got done! Let me just say that it made for an overwhelming back-up in the laundry department. I have been steadily working since then to catch-up on the laundry--while we steadily generate new laundry that then is backed-up! I have felt for the last week and a half like I am drowning in laundry! Now that the weather is sooo cold and our clothes are necessarily bulkier, I can only dry certain types of laundry in the dryer. This is because one of those tiny loads of clothing will now take six or more hours to dry in the dryer! No! I am NOT exaggerating at ALL! Needless to say, I am NOT going to dry ANYTHING FOR THAT LONG--imagine the electricity bills if I did! So I have gone the old-fashioned route and am hanging clothes everywhere and anywhere I can! I dry on two drying racks, guest room wardrobe, outsides of bedroom wardrobes, and radiators. This is very typical for around here from what everyone tells me.

In talking with other wives regarding this subject of laundry I have learned some interesting tips. I have also learned that it is the least favorite chore of most everyone I meet. We all lament how much extra ironing is required for these drip-dried clothes, but it is simply the way it is. I have even been told by a woman that has lived here for four years now that when they go on a vacation or trip home, they must budget for having the clothes washed at the laundromat when they arrive home because the time it would take to catch up on the laundry from a full week of being away, would never be made up since so much new laundry is generated while you get all that laundry done. My heart actually sank at this because it gave new rise to the fear that has been nagging at me for the past week or so...What if I have passed that point of no return where I CANNOT catch up on the laundry unless we go do it at a laundromat all day? Suddenly I remembered the woman at the laundromat my second week here! She was a working mother, so she could not keep up with laundry only being able to do it in the evenings and weekend.

So, my darling husband has suggested that we take the laundry to the laundromat next weekend to try to get ahead and if I cannot get to the bottom of it during this next week, that is exactly what I will do. Oh well, it all adds to the charm of living this new experience. :) I have been working REALLY hard at it and if I have done my math correctly, I THINK I can catch-up finally by early next week. But the price I have to pay is in lost sleep--that is why I am writing this post for you at midnight here! And hopefully no one else is the house gets sick and generates more laundry in the week than my calculations account for. :)

So now if I post next week, either that we are going to a laundromat or that I am doing the "happy Dance" because I got my laundry done--you will understand! I hope everyone else is having fun doing laundry this week! When we return to the States there is a great deal I will miss about living here, but I will be thankful everyday for a larger washer and I will NEVER again take for granted being able to catch up on laundry in one day! :)

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

This proved to be one of Liam's favorite weeks yet, although it was the most unusual! The study of J was split between two weeks, because of my six days of sickness over Thanksgiving week. Also, it was his first experience in having Daddy step in as primary teacher while Mommy was in bed all those days. It was good that I keep a list of the things we do each day, because Liam WANTED to do school whether or not I felt up to it and it was great that Will has able to take a more active role than usual. :) Anyway, without further adieu, here is J week at a glance. Liam did the following...

* learned to sing most of the first verse of the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and the Psalm 117 as they were our focus in family worship for the month of November. It is really amazing how much he is picking up on and we are really proud of him! :)

* reviewed the first 8 Catechism questions and answers, as well as the 4 Scripture memory verses and two Commandments he has learned so far.

* practiced making the letter J and generated a J word list.

* reviewed the letters he has learned so far and read his alphabet to Aine and Mommy.

* enjoyed a variety of J foods such as jam, jelly, jelly beans, and Jell-o.

* practiced jumping and counting how many times he could jump. :)

* reviewed "la casa" and learned that "la cucina" means kitchen. He also is continuing his exploration of house geography in connection with the Italian word.

* sang "Jesus Loves Me," "Jack and Jill," "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," and "Jimmy Cracked Corn."

This week Liam did the following:

* learned the next of God's Rules: "Show you love God more than anything or anyone."

* began to learn the 8th Catechism question: "Name these three Persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

* began to learn his next Scripture memory verse. It is Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

* practiced making the letter I and generated an I word list.

* enjoyed books such as, "Inch by Inch," "Invitation to the Butterfly Ball," and "Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop."

* began learning some simple Italian words using a new language program. He learned that "la casa" means house in Italian and really likes to say the word "la casa" repeatedly! :)

* began elementary geography study focusing on the rooms of our house.

* enjoyed ice cream sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. We now know that he would rather eat whipped cram than just about anything dessert beneath it. Aine, on the other hand, will typically NOT eat a food if it has whipped cream on it. (The one exception here is when the whipped cream is on vanilla wafers---then she likes it! Go figure!)

* counted independently to fifteen counting a variety of objects.

* Liam began learning the first of God's Ten Best Rules, "Serve only the one true God."

* Liam reviewed the first 7 Catechism questions.

* Liam reviewed the first 3 scripture memory verses.

* Liam learned some new songs/rhymes: "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Peter Hammers."

* Liam tasted honey on animal crackers and decided that he agrees with Winnie the Pooh! :)

* Liam practiced making the letter H and generating a list of H words throughout the week.

* Liam enjoyed a variety of books from home and the library. Some new favorites include "Old Hat, New Hat," "The Hair Book," "Harry the Dirty Dog," and "A Book of Hugs."

* Liam demonstrated understanding of the opposite concepts of old and new, and described the differences.

* Liam was introduced to God's Ten Rules (Commandments) this week. This will begin our use of a coloring book explaining how God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses for all of God's people to follow. We will continue this study for a while.

* Liam began learning Catechism Question #7: In how many persons does this one God exist? In three Persons.

* Liam began learning a new Scripture memory verse. It is I John 3:16, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us."

* Liam learned several new songs/rhymes including "Grandma's Glasses" and "Gobble, Gobble," which was just in time for beginning to learn about Thanksgiving.

* As usual, Liam practice making the letter G and generated a list of G words as we did activities and read stories throughout the week.

* Liam enjoyed a variety of books including "A Garden Alphabet, "God Bless Me," and "My Grandma's Chair."

* We are planning to make Gingerbread Men as part of our Christmas holiday baking. At the local grocery store we also found a baking mix for "Googleberry Muffins," which we will try sometime, when we do not have so many baked goods around the house.

Yes, that is what I am! As much as I tried to ignore it much of Tuesday morning, I was coming down with what seems to be a nasty flu bug. (I guess I was only resistant to American flu bugs and these British ones just slipped through my defenses!) By Tuesday, evening it was apparent that I was too ill to care for the children on Wednesday, so my loving husband stayed home to tend to me and the little ones. Feeling worse even on Wednesday we sadly had to cancel out on the couple of families whom we had invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with us for Thursday. :( So we had no visitors, no turkey dinner, and nothing but penetrating rain on Thursday. BUT I WAS thankful to be feeling somewhat better, finally. Unfortunately, since Friday did not bring as great an improvement as we might have hoped, we had to cancel our plans to go to Scotland for the first time today! :( I am still not back to normal and am extremely exhausted, but I can tell I am on the mend and we are trying to spend the day having fun anyway. We thought we might put up the Christmas tree, but I don't feel quite that ambitious yet, after all.

So I thought I might update the blog a bit and say that I hope everyone else enjoyed their time off with family for the holiday! Happy Thanksgiving...late!

In Pre-School Liam...

---learned the #6 Q/A from the Catechism: Is there more than one true God? No. There is only one true God.
---learned new songs and rhymes such as, Five Little Fishies and Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
---Liam counted from 1 to 10 independently while counting out "fishie" crackers for snack. He is now working on counting from 11 to 15.
---recognized/identified 24 out of 26 capital letters when presented in random order and 20 out of 26 lower-case letters, also presented in random order. (The randomness ensures actual identification, rather than reliance upon memorization of the order of the letters from the song.)
---demonstrated understanding of the concepts of big and small.
---practiced making the letter F with Mommy's help.
---generated a list of F words based on books read and discussions throughout the week.
---enjoyed many new books, including, the Frances series by Russell Hoban, "Fire Engines," and "Curious George and the Firefighters."
---helped Mommy make Fudge brownies. He also helped to eat them! :)

(As a side note, the three words I choose to represent the letter for each week on the blog are actually taken from the list we make during the week. I will try to get Will to help me post a picture of the word list and calendar with this week's school blog.)

Whew! I believe I left off reporting on school back at Dd week! This week I will attempt to take a few moments and catch you up on what the children have been doing. I am still figuring out this whole blog thing, and am not yet adept at embedding photos, etc. I am taking baby steps! :)

---We began learning the hymn "This is My Father's World" and the Psalm 128. We work on one hymn and one Psalm set to music each month during Family Worship.
---We began reading through the book of Genesis.
---Liam reviewed the first five questions and answers from the Catechism.
---Liam learned the Bible verse and accompanying song for Matthew 7:12, "So in everything you do, so to others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
---Liam practiced making the letter E and generated a list of words beginning with E.
---We read a variety of books, including, "The Strange Egg," "Eating Out, and "Eating the Alphabet."
---Liam helped Mommy make Elephant Ear Cookies.

Many thanks to all of you who remembered my birthday last week and sent well wishes via e-mail, postal service, or telephone! While some days I DO feel "old," for the most part it still doesn't seem possible that I am in my thirties. (Okay, so I don't look at the gray hair in the mirror very often! LOL!) All humor aside, I AM thankful to the LORD for all He has brought me through these past thirty-two years and for His many gracious blessings to me.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the blessing of my husband and to share how he celebrated my birthday this year. It was rather like a birthday weekend for me, beginning with an opportunity to go out on Friday night with the ladies from our "neighborhood." It was only at the last minute that I learned I would be available to go celebrate the birthday of one of the other ladies. William offered to take care of the children and put them to bed, so I could go to dinner. ("Going to dinner" is also a bit more involved here than I am accustomed to and so I was gone longer than I had anticipated, but enjoyed myself very much.)

I was able to sleep in on Saturday and then spent a lovely day with Will and the little ones as we visited some of the British stores we do not frequent often. Usually, I shop with the two children and although we always have fun on the "adventure" it is a NICE change to have Daddy to help while I compare prices, especially with the price conversion. Then, I was able to sleep in AGAIN on Sunday! I was informed that I needed to be dressed to go out by 1100 and so by 1055 I was ready and was about to get the children ready when friends unexpectedly arrived at the door to babysit the children while Will took me to our favorite pub down the road! I was SOOOOO surprised! We enjoyed a LOVELY three-course meal in the dining room, then adjourned to the "pub" to enjoy coffee and chocolates by the roaring fire. (I intend to blog later in the week about the fabulous food, so stay tuned!) All in all I felt like it had been a WONDERFUL birthday, but was looking forward to getting home to the kids.

Well, was I in for a surprise! As I stepped through the front door, Liam yelled, "Surprise!" I noticed that my house was decorated with balloons, streamers, banners, and there were friends and neighbors there with food and a cake! I NEVER guessed a THING! William REALLY outdid himself with the planning and the couple of friends whose help he enlisted pulled the whole thing together. I never, in my wildest dreams, would have suspected a surprise party mere months after moving! It was a wonderful surprise!

It didn't end there, either! On Monday, I was told to relax, while my husband cleaned up from the party and cooked dinner!!!! He told me to enjoy the children and take some time to get used to the new camera he gave me for my birthday! So now all my hopes of learning about photography can be put to the test! I have now taken so many new photos that we need to upload and organize them all. You will see them in the coming weeks, and hopefully there will be steady improvement in my technique!

So suffice it to say that I had a VERY memorable birthday this year, and although I DID enjoy each and every part of it, what meant the most was the fact that my beloved cared to show in such an overwhelming way that he loves me. It was a wonderful beginning to my thirty-third year. For as many breaths as He grants me, I will give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness expressed in so many ways, so undeservedly!

"...Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear Presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!...
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

(Selected lyrics from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923)

Monday’s Memoir

Last evening we experienced our first fireworks display in the cold. Yes, the explosions of light and color we usually associate with the celebration of United States Independence on a blistering hot day in July were seen in various areas of England this weekend. For our little family it was a “neighborhood” effort as the men folk from our little “farm community” set off the fireworks display for the enjoyment of the rest of us. Preceding the fireworks was a delicious potluck dinner of the following: assortment of pork pies and pasties, British “hot dogs” (I thought they were sausages with an unusual flavoring,) twice-baked potatoes, broccoli salad, mini pizzas, vegetarian sausages, dips, snacks, mulled wine, and other beverages. Directly following the dinner and accompanying socializing, most of our crowd headed outdoors for the fireworks where a sumptuous assortment of desserts and hot drinks were served out in the cold! (Liam had had QUITE enough fireworks the evening before, when they kept him from going to sleep at bedtime, so he came back into our friends’ house to play with toys. Aine is not one to keep a hat on her head for long, so she and I stayed indoors, as well, while I sipped Peppermint Tea and chased her around.)

Why, you may be asking? Why fireworks in November? The answer is that today, November 5th, is known as Guy Fawkes Day around here. Traditionally, it has been the celebration of the execution of Guy Fawkes, who is notorious for having been among those who plotted to blow up Parliament and King James I on the fifth of November in 1605. This was referred to as the Gunpowder Plot. While other traditions for celebrating this “holiday” are quite gruesome and morbid, in my humble opinion (as I said it was originally in celebration of the execution of a terrorist) not a word was mentioned about Fawkes at all at our little child-friendly gathering! :) (In British schools, Guy Fawkes and his death are taught about as early as Pre-school. We learned this because one of our neighbors was horrified during her child’s first year of school when he came home retelling her all the gory details!)

So we have experienced our first “holiday” British-style now. Many of the other “holidays,” here referred to as Bank Holidays, are simply a Monday when banks and some businesses are closed, but there is no name for it and nothing is celebrated. Interestingly enough, THIS holiday IS celebrated, yet no one gets a day off. It is fascinating to note the differences, small and great between here and home.

Thursday's Thankfulness

Today I am (especially) thankful for my dear little children.

I awakened not feeling well, but this was to be our (dreaded) weekly shopping day. It is not that shopping day is without its enjoyable aspects, but it makes for a very long day and the children get so tired out by the time it’s done. I drive 40 minutes in to shop for groceries and other things as needed, take the children to the beloved library, and we also meet Daddy for lunch. Today I needed to make a few other stops, as well, so it was going to be particularly grueling. I considered not going, but it would set us back in several respects if I didn’t go, so I went anyway.

So we had lunch, picked up a few miscellaneous items, went to the library and met some friends. Next on to grocery shopping, when I realized I REALLY was sick and we needed to cut activities short, finish shopping, and get home. By 5:00 it is fully dusk around here (we are fast approaching the time when we will enjoy a mere six hours of daylight per day.) So I brought all the groceries in and put them away and just sat down feeling sick and wanting to rest for a few minutes before heating up dinner.

When I told Liam I didn’t feel well, he stopped what he was doing and said, “Do you want me to hold you, Momma?” So he gave me a hug and rubbed my head. Aine came over and patted my cheek! They were so tender with me! Then they followed it up by getting back to playing –with Liam “making tracks to great destinations” and Aine putting a box on her head and serving more tea. They really energized me enough to go heat up dinner! What little blessings!

Well, think when the kids go to bed, I will soon follow after. Have a good evening!

One of the differences I have noticed here is the lack of emphasis on observing Hallowe’en. The stores are not all draped with webs, crawling with spiders, nor startling you with cackling soundtracks upon crossing the threshold. I have really found it a refreshing change! It has just been…harvest time. Trees are magnificent shades of russet, brown, and gold—as is the ground beneath, due to the furiously falling leaves. The air is crisp (yes, that’s the romanticized form of the words “BRRRR-COLD!”) and I have this recurring urge to cook/bake with apples, root vegetables, and squash. I have really enjoyed the season without Hallowe’en overshadowing everything.

Now, just to be clear, I do not CAMPAIGN against Hallowe’en, nor did I mind my children being invited to a costume party (to which they attended as THE most adorable little chicken and Tigger, incidentally.) I also don’t believe that most people I know are celebrating Satanic phenomena or anything—they just have fun with the costumes, candy, and attached childhood nostalgia. However, I just personally cannot feel peaceful about observing a sinister or spooky holiday. I am reminded of the eighth verse of the fourth chapter of the book of Philippians,

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Now this verse is obviously about far, FAR more than whether or not to observe Hallowe’en—it’s about evaluating ALL of the things upon which I spend my time and energy. But on THIS day, THIS is what it brings to my mind and so… the children do not know about Hallowe’en. Liam knows nothing about Trick or Treating. He thinks he dressed up as Tigger because…well, he LIKES to act like Tigger most days anyway, so it’s fun to dress up as the bouncy fellow once in a while. Our candy consumption will be no more or less than usual. (Yay!) In most ways, October 31st is just another day for us. Most ways, except for one.

Though many Protestant Churches officially celebrated Reformation Day this past Sunday, it was actually on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Castle Church in Germany. So along with many others, I choose to remember THIS on this last day of October. In very simple terms I explained to the children what Martin Luther accomplished with that act—standing for his convictions that were based not upon traditions or popular thought, but on God’s inspired Word. His Word by which we are able to determine “whatever is true, whatever is honorable…”

2 Timothy 3:16, 17, “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

As Liam colors a picture of Martin Luther, his understanding is very slight at this time, and Aine just wonders about how many little pieces of paper she can tear it into! :) But as they play, I PRAY! I pray that I will live before my children, teaching in word and deed the Truth of the same Holy Scripture that compelled Luther to write his Ninety-Five Theses hundreds of years ago. It is this same Holy Scripture that I return to day after day for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. I pray they observe the joy that comes from salvation and abiding in Christ. I affirm, as did Luther, that this salvation is afforded to me through FAITH in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, not through any good works that I manage to commit by His immeasurable grace (Ephesians 2:8,9.) This new life of abiding in Christ means worshiping God, praying to God, and reading God’s Word in personal relationship with God through CHRIST alone as my MEDIATOR (1 Timothy 2:5.) To God be the glory!

These are the things I purpose to remember and teach my children EVERYDAY—but I've taken time to refocus especially on this 31st day of October. I celebrate not only “Reformation Day,” but more importantly the daily reformation of my heart.

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

If you know us, you know that we are currently living in the UK. One funny bit of info that most people don't think about, is the UK is at the same latitude as the Scandinavian countries (like Sweden and Norway). This means , when the Earth's tilt is away from the sun, we get less sun light in the "winter months." This is definitely taking some getting use to, even though it will get darker earlier. Right now the sun is setting around 1800 BST. I see why the British really don't care much about daylight savings time, like they do in America. Anyway you slice it, it gets dark here early. I can not wait until December (two months from now).

Remembering the Sabbath...Keeping it Holy

Philippians 4:6-8
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Isaiah 26:3
“Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.”

Simply Saturday

Today we went into “town” in search some stores. We were able to find a DIY/gardening-type store to check on needed household items, i.e., curtain rods, shelving units, etc. It was interesting to walk around and observe the differences in terms. Here are a few:

Lawn Tic-Tac-Toe set = Naughts and Crosses
Zucchini seeds = Courgette seeds
Shopping carts = trolleys

It was a fun, but tiring day. We hope you enjoyed your Saturday!

This Week In Pre-School

As D week draws to a close, we are planning to make Doughnuts tomorrow, since we have had company over the past two nights, and simply ran out of time. Other than that, here is an overview of school activities:

• We generated a Dd word list from our discussions, book reading, and as a word comes up and Liam recognizes it as “another D word!” (Will seemed to especially enjoy this week, since the first word out of Liam’s mouth when asked what words begin with D was, “Daddy!”)
• Liam “wrote” D’s on his own sheets of paper. This week, Liam didn’t want anything but real, correct “D’s” written on his paper, so he wanted me to hold the marker with him while we made them—I continued to encourage him to try on his own, but he wanted them to look correctly formed. (Ah, perfectionism—I know thee too well!)
• We continued to review all of the songs and rhymes we’ve learned over the past four weeks, that all begin with or deal with A, B, C, or D. (Aine LOVES this part, too!)
• We enjoyed reading many new books, as well as old favorites, including “Dinosaur ABC’s,” “My Dad,” and “Dark Night, Sleepy Night.”
• Liam reviewed his first five catechism questions, in addition to learning the sixth regarding there only being ONE GOD. (Oops! In my last post I mistyped, so A. #5 was “Because He MADE me and cares for me.”)
• Liam learned a Bible verse for the week, as well as a song to accompany it. He learned Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Incidentally, this is the song during which Aine chimes in on the word “come” each time we sing. She gets so pleased to be joining in, too!) He is also working on learning the hymn “This Is My Father’s World” during this month of October.
• Liam worked on the concepts of old and new, as well as reviewed big and small. (opposites)
• Liam practiced fine and gross motor skills through use of Play-Doh, balls, etc.
• Liam counted as many D’s as he could find in alphabet cereal, for snack.

He is also potty training, which is going well and we hope to soon be buying our last package of diapers for him. So far Pre-School with Liam is off to a great start and everyday he seems more eager to learn. He is also learning to sit quietly and work diligently on certain tasks, although at this point it is obviously for a brief period of time. He continues to get plenty of active and free time, as well.

Enjoy the weekend! We plan to!

Thursday’s Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for a sunny day after several of the dark and rainy variety. Do understand that it will likely not stay a sunny day throughout ALL of the day—but I am thankful that this first part is bright and cheery! That is how it works around here. As we have begun a weather chart this week in school, the weather here presents quite a challenge in recording the weather, because the majority of the day rarely falls into one category or another.

I am also thankful for automatic washers and dryers. I say this because at times, with two little loves who are always spilling something on my and their clothing, it feels a bit frustrating that the washers/dryers here hold so few articles of clothing. And because the wash cycle alone takes nearly two hours to complete, laundry is a constant activity. We also have one of the typical dryers which is not vented, so you must monitor the water basin and pull it out and pour it down the sink after each couple of loads. So doing laundry is a lot more labor intensive than I was accustomed to, however, it is still better than using a wash board or other such old-fashioned approach, so I’ll be thankful for what I have!

Well, we’ll be completing D week here tomorrow, so the post tomorrow will be an update on Liam’s progress at that. “Talk” to you then!

Have a joyful day!

But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy!
Psalm 68:3

Wednesday’s Wonder

Aine is adding more to her vocabulary, saying her own name, “come,” and kitty. She loves to sing about all kinds of things, however, there is ONE person who seems to lend the greatest inspiration for songs—DADA! Yes, Aine awakens calling for him, sings for him during the day (and at times, gets very sad when she sees his car is still not in the driveway,) yells his name the instant she hears the front door open—even if it’s NOT him yet! We figure that since Will was home more during grad school and could come out to play a few moments here and there during most days, she has “grown up” VERY attached to him! However, that all seems to have an expiration time of 8:00 PM, because at bedtime Momma is still the only one anyone seems to want or need! They’re so funny and sweet!

Lately, Liam is fascinated with “making pie.” He frequently comes around with colored Quattro blocks on a tray offering Aine and I a NEVERENDING supply of pieces of pie! (So sometime this week I told him he can make a real apple pie with me and that made him very happy.) Another great part of the whole “Pie Game” is that Aine is learning to pretend-eat the pieces of pie. At first she just grinned at me and Liam as we “gobbled” up the pie, but then she started to imitate us (while giggling, as she must recognize it’s not real food and she thinks that’s funny) and now she joins in as soon as the pie gets passed out.

Have a great evening!

Tuesday’s Tidings

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite creative activity is devising new recipes, particularly out of ordinary ingredients which I typically have on hand. The week’s menu is typically planned out ahead of time, but I always reserve the right to adjust according to taste, unexpected events, etc. I like to plan at least one day to try something new, be it a recipe I’ve found and wish to try or an opportunity to create my own. They are all more than edible, but tonight I have finally hit on perfecting a soup recipe that is easy, hearty enough for my husband’s tastes, and uses “everyday” ingredients. I thought I might share it for those who like new recipes like me! So here you are:

HEARTY SAUSAGE AND LENTIL SOUP

2 parsnips, finely diced
3 carrots, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1 medium red onion, finely diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp butter
4 C. beef broth
2 C. tomato juice
1 C. lentils, sorted and rinsed (I love lentils because they need not be soaked ahead of time.)
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp dried oregano
7-8 oz. kielbasa or smoked sausage, diced

1.) Melt butter in large saucepan or soup pot, then add onion and celery and cook for about 5 minutes. (DO NOT BROWN!)
2.) Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. (DO NOT LET GARLIC BURN!)
3.) Add beef broth, tomato juice, lentils, parsnips, carrots, black pepper, and oregano.
4.) Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until veggies and lentils are desired (er, soft, but NOT mush) texture, stirring occasionally.
5.) Add sausage and heat through for 5-10 minutes.

Serve with crusty bread or crackers. Serves about 6.

You need not finely dice everything, but with my little ones, I find this makes it easier to eat—especially the sausage. Those seeking a meatless meal should find this works sans the sausage, too—you could add extra lentils and it shouldn’t alter the cook time much. I happened to have the parsnips on hand, along with my usual celery, carrots, and onions, but I'm sure you could use turnips, rutabagas, or even a couple potatoes--though it was REALLY great with parsnips! Also, I prefer beef kielbasa myself and enjoy the richness it lends to the flavors of the broth, but I believe ALL cooking recipes are best altered to suit individual tastes. I’m just pleased I’ve finally found what suits ours! If anyone gives it a try, let me know how it turned out!

Well, briefly, in other news, potty training is going along well for Liam and he enjoys aspiring to be a “big boy!” He continues to amuse us with his vocabulary, like lately when playing with his trains he will tell me that a certain one is "cross, that means mad inside, Momma!" Aine is putting her new walking talent to good use helping to clean up toys each day in the play room. However, I do believe Liam thinks this means he can get twice the number of toys out at one time, because of the extra helping hands. We’re putting a stop to THAT one!

Enjoy your evening!

Monday’s Memoir

Well, as we begin the month of October, it occurs to me that within a few days, we will have moved three months ago! In some ways it seems we have lived here MUCH longer than that, but in other ways it seems hard to believe it has been that long already! The end of September and now October has brought with it very “crisp” weather and due to the strong and driving winds, we typically need our winter coats and hats on. (If you’re outside for any amount of time, gloves feel better, as well.) So it is that perfect time of year to bake delicious apple and pumpkin creations, as well as to have a big pot of soup simmering on the stove. I love the scents of Autumn and that sense that all nature is preparing to rest for the winter which is fast approaching.

I have always loved Autumn, but I notice it is enhanced by the presence of little loves, whose wonder over the change of the seasons has just begun! (With both of them having been born in a state where Fall feels more like a slightly cooler version of Summer, the effect was not so pronounced as it is here… AND we actually have LOTS of trees around upon which to observe the changing of colors and falling of leaves.) I am so blessed to have the privilege of spending each day with little ones who meet each new experience and sight with great wonder and excitement. I see everything anew, through their eyes. Since I find myself in this position of experiencing new beginnings, we have tried a few new things starting today. I have been reading a book about Family Worship and so the children and I began that new habit today. In short, we will sing a monthly hymn, pray, read passages of Scripture, etc., for about 15-20 minutes in the morning. (This leads well into the time we devote to catechizing and scripture Memory anyway.)

I am also, in the few spare moments here and there, trying to learn some about photography. (I have been interested in this for several years now—since I took a photography class one summer while in grad school, but I feel incredibly inspired by the countryside on which we currently live and wish to capture what I see for William and I, but also for the children to remember this time, though they are still quite young.) There is hardly time to add a new hobby (okay, add a HOBBY period!) but we snap photos as a matter of course anyway, so I’d like to improve in taking better shots of the things I love most.) As these begin to appear in the photo gallery, we can all see whether or not I am making any progress. LOL! It should be fun anyway!

I hope everyone is having a joyful day! We’ll “talk” again soon!

Hello, again! As promised I am writing to provide an update on our exploration of the letter C! Unfortunately, I have not gotten many photos so far and none of the photos are as yet uploaded to the gallery, so this will need to wait until next week. But here is what we've been up to!

• Liam helped Momma make and bake chocolate chip cookies! He did like adding
ingredients, but tasting the chips to be sure they were good for the cookies, was
the biggest hit with both Liam and Aine!
• Liam learned a lot about colors, since the word begins with C, and loves to go
around the house identifying the colors he sees while playing with Play-Doh,
coloring, or just looking at books, etc.
• We created a list of Cc words which included, cloud, clown, caterpillar, cookie, and
cow, among others. (I’d say that COW became THE most memorable C word, when on
Sunday we looked outside at one of the pastures and saw cows trying to jump on each
other’s backs. Liam thought THIS was the funniest sight!)
• Liam completed the fifth catechism question, “Why should you glorify God?” A:
“Because He loves me and takes care of me.” He is also really enjoying learning the
songs to a variety of Scripture Memory verses and is learning to say the verse,
Matthew 19:14, “ Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them for of
such is the kingdom of heaven.”
• Liam is continuing to work on counting when he gets out his daily snack, which was
Chocolate animal Crackers for C week. (We are, of course, focusing on seeing the
letter in print at this point, not so much the sounds, so CH words work at this
stage.)
• Liam worked on making C’s on his own paper. (I have encouraged him to just make
whatever he can, but interestingly, this week he asked me to help him make a C over
and over again. He seems to want his letters to look more like the real ones, now.)

Well, that about catches us up on the school accounts. This week we are working on the letter D, and beginning some new things with the start of the new month. (It helps that William and I finally started on the third floor boxes this past weekend and I was able to locate some more of my teaching materials that I had been unable to locate prior to beginning the “School Year.”

I will endeavor to post the account of the week’s school happenings on Friday of each week!

Here’s the weekly Pre-School update for those who wish to remain informed! (Due to illness I have gotten a bit behind in reporting, so I need to catch you all up.)

• We created a list of “Bb” words, including baby, bumblebee, ball, beetle,...
• Liam counted to ten with (teddy) bear grahams for snack
• Liam helped Momma make banana bread—really enjoyed mashing the bananas and putting
in the flour, but it was hard to squeeze in time to cook. As Liam put it, “I’m busy
Momma. I’m makin’ tracks to great destinations with Thomas!” (Yes, that is an
exact quote—the vocabulary he learns from the Thomas and Friends shows!)
• We read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?," the Bear books by Frank Asch,
and "Billy’s Beetle."
• Liam learned some rhymes about bumblebees and babies.
• Liam finished learning the fourth catechism question and began Scripture Memory
using some fun DVD’s and CD’s.

We took two weeks to complete the letter B because of getting sick and then being so busy getting everything ready to celebrate Daddy’s BIRTHDAY last weekend! We had Birthday Brownies! Now has begun the rainy season here, so we cannot go outside as often to play, which allows for more fun learning inside.

In other news, Aine officially began walking two weeks ago! She still crawls on occasion, but if she stumbles now she most often stands back up and gets going again. While she undoubtedly enjoys her new-found freedom in walking, the biggest thrill seems to be a greater ability to dance when she hears music! :) She is also expanding her vocabulary, now saying more two-word phrases, such as, "Aine's turn," "Lay down," and "Get down!" She is also saying "EEeeeee!" (when she is looking for Liam,) "Wheeee" (when she swings or slides on the playground,) and "Ummy" (as in yummy.) Aine LOVES getting in school time with Liam.

Tune in later for our account of the letter C! :)

It is funny watching your children grow and the things that they learn without you realizing it. Liam recently really seems to be picking up, and acting out, things that we do to/with him. The funniest has to be in concerns with his younger sister, Aine. He thinks that he is the third parent in the house, capable of disciplining Aine. If we leave them alone to play in their playroom, Liam corrects Aine, even though we try to get him to understand that only we are allowed too.

Bekah came in one day because Aine was crying. When Liam was queried why she was crying, his response was, "Aine was being bad, so I told her 'No, No' and smacked her (hand)." I guess the pack instinct for pecking order is natural. The only problem sometimes for Liam with his antics is that strong willed Aine does not like to be told what to do. She does not have to much problem just pushing him or moving him out of her way. Ahhh, makes a father think that she may be OK when she starts dating at age 30.

Last week was Liam’s first week of Pre-School! (As I develop it, I am referring to the curriculum as “Pre-School I” since it is a very basic skeletal structure for introducing concepts and designed for very small bits of time. He is, after all, not even three years old yet, so there is no pressure with this “school time.” In fact, it is largely a purposeful expansion of our times devoted to reading and catechism instruction.) He is SO eager to learn about letters, numbers, and really anything I want to tell him about and since so many of his little friends started school last week, it adds to his confidence in becoming a “Big Boy, too!” ;)

With that said, the following is just a brief synopsis of our activities focusing on the letter “Aa:”

• We added words that begin with A to our “Aa” list throughout the week as we read
stories and looked around the house for the letter A. At this point, any exposure
to the sound associated with the letters is purely incidental, as my focus is on
letter recognition and a beginning awareness that there are big and little letters.
(A tip of my hat goes to Bill Martin, Jr. for writing Liam’s current favorite book,
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.)
• Liam “wrote” A’s on his own sheets of paper.
• We sang the “Alphabet Song” and Liam practiced matching with the “A to Z Zoo” from
Fisher Price.
• We enjoyed reading many new books, as well as old favorites, including Animalia, A
is for Angry, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, and The Big Red Apple.
• We introduced the fourth Catechism Question and learned about the first day of
Creation.
• Liam helped Mommy make Apple Crisp! He really did a lot of it himself…AND he helped
himself to a lot of the apples that were supposed to go into the baking dish. LOL!
He did a great job and Daddy agreed that the Apple Crisp tasted great, too.
• Liam counted out ten animal Crackers for snack.

William asks Liam every day what he learned about during school and Liam enjoys recalling our activities. He then often chooses books we’ve read as bedtime stories in order to “show” Daddy what we learned.

Aine also wants to “tell” Daddy about what they read and launches into an adorable little jibber-fest with recognizable words here and there. She is so exuberant! ;) Aine is saying her own approximations of several words, including Aine, Liam, doggy, kitty, water, cracker, COOKIE, (and thinks we should eat them at EVERY meal), juice, and of course, Momma, Dada, hi, bye-bye, and NO! She has taken to arranging books all neatly lined in a row, much like Liam has always done, although she is NOT inclined to LEAVE the books neatly arranged IF Liam has arranged them. The two play very well together at most times, however, and just the other day I overheard Liam teaching and encouraging Aine to roll the ball to him in the play room while I was washing dishes. :) How sweet it was to hear his little voice (made higher-pitched as he spoke kindly to her) saying, “Roll the ball to me, Aine! You can do it, baby!” And when she rolled the ball to the OPPOSITE end of the room, responded with, “That was nice, Aine. Now this time roll it to ME!” :0)

[I will endeavor to take photos THIS week to show some of the learning activities—especially the cooking, as I am using the Gold Medal Flour Alpha Bakery Children’s Cookbook for each letter, providing lots of great culinary and motor skill opportunities!]

Well, yesterday was a typical Monday! I say this, NOT because it went as every Monday always does, but rather that it went in a way that I could least have anticipated the night before! (I have concluded that Mondays will ALWAYS be this way, to ensure that I approach the new week (and each new day come to think of it) depending on God for strength, wisdom, and direction.) I had had great plans of reclaiming the house from the Football Get-Together we hosted the evening prior, starting exploration of the letter “B” and related topics with Liam, and doing several loads of laundry in our little, tiny washing machine. (No kidding! At full capacity, it fits a bit less than a typical American small load.)

All of my plans changed when we were awakened before 6:00 AM with Liam screaming and crying and eventually explaining that his neck hurt when he moved it. This foretold how the rest of the day would ensue—with much crying and the needing of Momma’s time and comfort. Aine also seemed to be under the weather—and working on a new tooth was not helping matters. So up went my plans in a cloud of smoke as I spent most of the day holding a sobbing child in each arm, in search of that elusive SOMETHING that would make each feel better. As I began to lament to myself over all I would NOT accomplish, it occurred to me that one day the children will manage being sick more independently and what ails them may not be so easily remedied by my rocking them and singing songs. So I treasured the time holding my little loves and committing to memory each little look of rest and relief as FINALLY something I tried seemed to help. Overall, it seemed that just being there for them and patiently trying to comfort them was what was most needed—AND for some reason, nothing all day brought delight to their faces the way some sweet little tangerines did! Go figure!

So I stayed up a little later than I had wanted, to finish less loads of laundry than I had wanted and the house is not as “spic-and-span” as I had envisioned, but we had three meals to eat and we read books about BEARS and ate BANANAS! Best of all, my heart has tucked away the priceless memories of the tender hugs I received from two little sets of needy arms and a spontaneous “I yuv you, Momma!” It was not an EASY day (especially for my little loves,) it was not the day I PLANNED, but it was still a GOOD day and I thank God for it!

Incidentally, I have also decided to keep tangerines around at all times---just in case! ;)

Thankfully, they both seem to be in good health and spirits upon awakening this morning! :) Later, I will try to update anyone interested on what we did in Pre-School last week. Liam loves telling Daddy about what he does in school each day!

Have a joyful day!