2009 is almost done! Today is the last day and tomorrow will begin a new year. I am hoping for great things in 2010! I can't wait to ring in the new year!
A recap of my last year:
moved into our new home in Feb.
lost a baby to m/c in March; broke my heart..:(
went through a very hard emotional trial that lasted almost all year..left me more broken..
got pg again in August..so blessed!!!
was surprised with a brand new bike from my dh
started a new exercise with my family; bike riding on the trail near our home
continued with my weight loss until August
begin attending home fellowship in April
learned alot about myself; not all of it good but not all of it bad
learned alot about friendship and what I want and need in a friend
let the L-rd G-d change me in some areas
made new friends!!
went to Chicago for the first time!!
fell more in love with my dh!!
went to MN and saw our dear friends!
started a new curriculum in homeschooling
have an 18 yr. old, 13 yr. old, 11, yr old, 9 yr. old, 4 yr. old, 2 yr. old, 7 yr. old, 6 yr. old, and 12 yr. old; all new ages this past year..
started feeling baby ahava move
belly grew
started co-leading a homeschool group
met wonderful homeschool mamas
finally feel like I have come home; love it here!
dh got a new work vehicle from his boss
went to MI for a weekend camping trip
found out my teeth need lots of work and it will cost way too much money!! :(
started our homeschool schedule 3 weeks on 1 week off; it's working great!
learned more about Torah
learned more about Yah!!...he is healing my heart!
celebrated chanukah for our 8th year
made lots of new memories; some not so great and others..WONDERFUL!!
read new books and gained more insight
reconnected with old friends
There's my list..what's yours??
Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Mexican Lasagna
Tonight for supper I made mexican lasagna. A dish I created as we LOVE mexican dishes here in our home!
prep..
simmering the meat mixture
(Sometimes I use
ground turkey and other times I use chicken; I used chicken tonight)
Layering the dish..
meat mixture, corn tortillas, cheese and repeat..ending with cheese as your top layer
finished meal: mexican lasagna..goes in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes..
prep..
simmering the meat mixture
(Sometimes I use
ground turkey and other times I use chicken; I used chicken tonight)Layering the dish..
meat mixture, corn tortillas, cheese and repeat..ending with cheese as your top layer
finished meal: mexican lasagna..goes in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes..
Monday, December 28, 2009
Multitude Mondays; Gratitude
11. internet; library at my fingertips
12. clothes that make me feel pretty
13. easy hairdos
14. sweet 4 yr. olds
15. the smell of babies
16. fuzzy socks
17. motherhood
18. comfy couches to lay my tired body
19. prayers for patience
20. knowing I have come home....
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Junk Food Day and What I Have Been Learning..
Yesterday was a great day! We don't celebrate christmas but my dh has it off so we have made a traditional junk food day on Dec. 25. :)
We don't eat much junk food around our house so on this day we get all sorts of junk type foods and put them out buffet style and eat all day. We also watched several movies and played games into the wee hours of the morning with our older kiddos. One of the movies we watched was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was such a great movie. We had it watched years and years ago and I had forgotten much of it. I really liked it and it was great seeing a clean movie that we could all enjoy.
My children are a great bunch of little and bigger people and I enjoy their company so much! We always have alot of fun together and spend so much time laughing and having a good time!
Today was a restful Shabbat day. :)
This evening we relaxed around the house and Gabriellia made cookies. I took a quick minute to trim ZaraLayna's bangs. You can see her eyes so much better now.. :)
I also got my chili in the crockpot for tomorrow and just have to remember to turn on the crockpot before going to bed.
Thursday my dh surprised me by staying home! I didn't know he got the day off! It was so nice having him home! He took the littles with him for a trip to Walmart so I could get schoolwork done with the other children which helped me alot. Then he came home and we headed to the shop so he could show me his new car. My dh's boss bought a used car that the owner no longer wanted because he didn't want to fix it. He bought it with the sole intent to give it to my dh! I was surprised and thankful! My dh's car is on it's last legs and needs alot of fixing so this car was definitely a need! Hashem sure does surprise me in the way He works and who he works through..:)
:):)
Thursday afternoon after we got back home I got the children's school work from last week filed away and was able to get new school work up on our Wall of Fame that I made in the dining room for the children so they could show off their work. I love it when they come and point out their school work! They are so proud that it's on display. :)
What I have been learning...
The L-rd has really been working on my heart and showing me how important training my children to be good helpers is.
It has taken me many years to feel in my heart it is alright to let my children do things around the house to help me. I always felt that if they did things for me and I wasn't doing it all that I wasn't being a good mama. BUT now I see how important it is to train them in the art of helping and having the heart of a servant.
My children have always been trained to do chores and work hard but my heart never felt right about it because I felt like if I didn't do it all then I wasn't being a *good* mama. What nonsense I allowed myself to believe!!
It is a direct reflection on the mama if her children are seen helping and working in the home. Children should be trained and taught in service to others. If they don't learn it first in the home then they won't serve others out in the world. How will a child know how to do the basic things needed in life if they aren't taught these things in the home by their mamas? (and even daddies!) Our homes are a training ground for our children..and so often the L-rd uses it to train us also as their parents!
Blessings to you as you train your children! :)
We don't eat much junk food around our house so on this day we get all sorts of junk type foods and put them out buffet style and eat all day. We also watched several movies and played games into the wee hours of the morning with our older kiddos. One of the movies we watched was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was such a great movie. We had it watched years and years ago and I had forgotten much of it. I really liked it and it was great seeing a clean movie that we could all enjoy.
My children are a great bunch of little and bigger people and I enjoy their company so much! We always have alot of fun together and spend so much time laughing and having a good time!
Today was a restful Shabbat day. :)
This evening we relaxed around the house and Gabriellia made cookies. I took a quick minute to trim ZaraLayna's bangs. You can see her eyes so much better now.. :)
I also got my chili in the crockpot for tomorrow and just have to remember to turn on the crockpot before going to bed.
Thursday my dh surprised me by staying home! I didn't know he got the day off! It was so nice having him home! He took the littles with him for a trip to Walmart so I could get schoolwork done with the other children which helped me alot. Then he came home and we headed to the shop so he could show me his new car. My dh's boss bought a used car that the owner no longer wanted because he didn't want to fix it. He bought it with the sole intent to give it to my dh! I was surprised and thankful! My dh's car is on it's last legs and needs alot of fixing so this car was definitely a need! Hashem sure does surprise me in the way He works and who he works through..:)
:):)
Thursday afternoon after we got back home I got the children's school work from last week filed away and was able to get new school work up on our Wall of Fame that I made in the dining room for the children so they could show off their work. I love it when they come and point out their school work! They are so proud that it's on display. :)
What I have been learning...
The L-rd has really been working on my heart and showing me how important training my children to be good helpers is.
It has taken me many years to feel in my heart it is alright to let my children do things around the house to help me. I always felt that if they did things for me and I wasn't doing it all that I wasn't being a good mama. BUT now I see how important it is to train them in the art of helping and having the heart of a servant.
My children have always been trained to do chores and work hard but my heart never felt right about it because I felt like if I didn't do it all then I wasn't being a *good* mama. What nonsense I allowed myself to believe!!
It is a direct reflection on the mama if her children are seen helping and working in the home. Children should be trained and taught in service to others. If they don't learn it first in the home then they won't serve others out in the world. How will a child know how to do the basic things needed in life if they aren't taught these things in the home by their mamas? (and even daddies!) Our homes are a training ground for our children..and so often the L-rd uses it to train us also as their parents!
Blessings to you as you train your children! :)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Granola
Today my one main goal besides getting homeschooling done with the kiddos was making granola for my family to enjoy! I had planned on making it weeks ago but becoming pg and then sick until 17 weeks pg put a damper on all my best laid plans.. so we have been without granola for breakfast for a bit. Today though I got it made and plan to stay on top of it now that I am feeling better and hopefully things will stay at a more
normal pace..
ETA: How I make my granola:
I start with rolled oats, not quick. I then add diced dates, papaya, (any dried fruit tastes great!) coconut and walnuts. (nuts of any kind work well)
I also add powdered milk. I then melt crunchy peanutbutter with olive oil and pour over the oat mixture. I also added sucanat crystals, agave nectar and a little bit organic cane sugar as my sweetener.
I mix this all together and then put on cookie bar sheets and toast at about 250 degrees for 20 minutes. I then cool and put into a sealed container. This keeps well and taste superb!! :)
Monday, December 21, 2009
My gratitude to the One who deserves the glory
My list of gratitude and thankfulness to the One...
1. the newest blessing in my womb..my ahava (love)
2. my sweet dh who has grown more wonderful with every passing year
3. lovely books that challenge me to grow to be more like Messiah Yeshua
4. My children who bring much adventure to my life
5. knee high pantyhose
6. warm maternity shirts
7. rekindling old friendships
8. a cozy home
9. baby movements
10. good food
pictures...
My oldest dd and I went to India Garden for her b-day Friday evening. The above picture is what we ordered...mango chicken. It was delish!! :) And of course my dd Morgan-Britney above also...
Here are some pics of last week and our Chanukah baking days!
Self Punishment
(I get these in my email inbox and wanted to share this one with you..I know I have had to deal with this and thought it might bless someone else! )
Va-Yiggash
For the week of December 26, 2009 / 9 Tevet 5770
Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 44:18 - 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Some of us, when we realize that we have done something wrong, get very upset with ourselves. The details of the event play over and over again in our minds. We try to think how we could have done it better. We earnestly apologize again and again, but never feel forgiven. Others may feel just as bad, but deal with it differently. Instead, they internalize their sense of guilt and shame and never talk about it, allowing it to fester inside of them.
Joseph was concerned that his brothers would be too hard on themselves for how they had treated him. They certainly had done him wrong. Enraged with jealousy, they wanted to murder him, but in the end sold him into slavery. We can hardly imagine what the subsequent years for Joseph were like. Even with how things turned out in the end for Joseph - after years of slavery and imprisonment, he was promoted to second in command in Egypt - few people would have what it takes to console the very ones who were the cause of their years of suffering. Yet he does console them. Joseph's understanding of what God was doing through his terrible circumstances gave him perspective and the ability to not obsess over his brothers' wrongdoing.
Joseph was not saying that they didn't do wrong. He wasn't saying that they didn't need to face their guilt and deal with it before God. What he was trying to do was share with them a godly perspective to keep them from mishandling their guilt.
When we do wrong, we are guilty. We need to deal with that. How we deal with it is another thing. Punishing ourselves, which is what Joseph was encouraging his brothers not to do, doesn't do anybody any good. It doesn't change what happened or appease the one we have wronged. All we can do for the wronged party is express regret through a sincere apology and make restitution if the situation warrants it.
Self punishment shifts the focus of our wrongs to ourselves, which is most likely how we created the problem in the first place. Wallowing in failure may give the impression that we are taking the situation seriously, but actually prevents us from effectively dealing with our guilt.
Joseph's perspective on his situation is the key to being free from self punishment. Without saying that his brothers were free from any responsibility for their wrongs, he understood that ultimately God was in control of their lives.
Some may think that to accept what Joseph was saying regarding how God used his brothers' wrongdoing for good purposes would lead to their not taking their wrongs seriously enough. Perhaps they would start to think that there is no such thing as evil, since God uses everything - including jealously and murder - for his purposes. This certainly wasn't Joseph's understanding. Later on he would say to them, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Bereshit / Genesis 50:20). The key to freedom from self punishment and from the guilt that spurs it on is to understand the relationship between our actions and the God who rules the universe. Do we really think that we control the destiny of others? Beating ourselves up for our wrongs furthers the lie that somehow we rule over life, when God, the Master of the Universe, is always in control. Once we accept that, then we can face our wrongs properly.
Self punishment completely missed the point. Wrongdoing is fundamentally an affront to our Creator. Apart from apologies and restitution, we can only be free from guilt through the forgiveness of God. So many of our misdeeds can never be resolved through anything we say or do. But God has made provision for our guilt. Through the sacrifice of the Messiah and acknowledging the seriousness of our wrongs, we can be free from guilt. The Messiah was severely punished on our behalf. So, stop beating yourself up!
Torahbytes.org
Va-Yiggash
For the week of December 26, 2009 / 9 Tevet 5770
Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 44:18 - 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Self Punishment
And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (Bereshit / Genesis 45:5; ESV)
Some of us, when we realize that we have done something wrong, get very upset with ourselves. The details of the event play over and over again in our minds. We try to think how we could have done it better. We earnestly apologize again and again, but never feel forgiven. Others may feel just as bad, but deal with it differently. Instead, they internalize their sense of guilt and shame and never talk about it, allowing it to fester inside of them.
Joseph was concerned that his brothers would be too hard on themselves for how they had treated him. They certainly had done him wrong. Enraged with jealousy, they wanted to murder him, but in the end sold him into slavery. We can hardly imagine what the subsequent years for Joseph were like. Even with how things turned out in the end for Joseph - after years of slavery and imprisonment, he was promoted to second in command in Egypt - few people would have what it takes to console the very ones who were the cause of their years of suffering. Yet he does console them. Joseph's understanding of what God was doing through his terrible circumstances gave him perspective and the ability to not obsess over his brothers' wrongdoing.
Joseph was not saying that they didn't do wrong. He wasn't saying that they didn't need to face their guilt and deal with it before God. What he was trying to do was share with them a godly perspective to keep them from mishandling their guilt.
When we do wrong, we are guilty. We need to deal with that. How we deal with it is another thing. Punishing ourselves, which is what Joseph was encouraging his brothers not to do, doesn't do anybody any good. It doesn't change what happened or appease the one we have wronged. All we can do for the wronged party is express regret through a sincere apology and make restitution if the situation warrants it.
Self punishment shifts the focus of our wrongs to ourselves, which is most likely how we created the problem in the first place. Wallowing in failure may give the impression that we are taking the situation seriously, but actually prevents us from effectively dealing with our guilt.
Joseph's perspective on his situation is the key to being free from self punishment. Without saying that his brothers were free from any responsibility for their wrongs, he understood that ultimately God was in control of their lives.
Some may think that to accept what Joseph was saying regarding how God used his brothers' wrongdoing for good purposes would lead to their not taking their wrongs seriously enough. Perhaps they would start to think that there is no such thing as evil, since God uses everything - including jealously and murder - for his purposes. This certainly wasn't Joseph's understanding. Later on he would say to them, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Bereshit / Genesis 50:20). The key to freedom from self punishment and from the guilt that spurs it on is to understand the relationship between our actions and the God who rules the universe. Do we really think that we control the destiny of others? Beating ourselves up for our wrongs furthers the lie that somehow we rule over life, when God, the Master of the Universe, is always in control. Once we accept that, then we can face our wrongs properly.
Self punishment completely missed the point. Wrongdoing is fundamentally an affront to our Creator. Apart from apologies and restitution, we can only be free from guilt through the forgiveness of God. So many of our misdeeds can never be resolved through anything we say or do. But God has made provision for our guilt. Through the sacrifice of the Messiah and acknowledging the seriousness of our wrongs, we can be free from guilt. The Messiah was severely punished on our behalf. So, stop beating yourself up!
Torahbytes.org
Friday, December 18, 2009
Chanukah
Today is the last day of Chanukah..
We're going to be making raised baked donuts...
We're using this recipe from cooks.com..
Yesterday the children made pretzels. They really enjoyed shaping them! I thought they tasted very good.
On our children's b-days we let them pick the place they would like to go and we then treat them out to a meal wherever they choose. We only take them and enjoy the time with them one on one..
Morgan-Britney chose to go to India Garden and then to a movie at the cheap seat theater. We love Indian food so we are really looking forward to it. We're heading out after our Shabbat celebration this evening..
Tomorrow we are having our Chanukah Feast. We are going to be having a turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and several other traditional dishes. I am then going to be making a few traditional Chanukah foods.
These recipes are from recipegoldmine.com
Sweet Potato Tzimmes
5 large sweet potatoes, peeled, cut in chunks and cooked
4 large carrots, peeled, cut in chunks and cooked
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons melted margarine
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
Salt, to taste
Orange juice, optional
2 or 3 apples, peeled and sliced
Mash sweet potatoes and carrots. Mix in the prunes. Add cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Combine honey and margarine.
Grease a 2-quart casserole dish. Alternate layers of mashed seasoned vegetables and apples, dribbling honey (and juice) mixture over each layer. End with vegetable layer. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes.
Sweet Kugel
This is a wonderful Chanukah treat.
1 (12 ounce) package wide egg noodles
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (16 ounce) carton cream-style cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup corn flakes cereal
Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well; set aside. Combine eggs and next 7 ingredients; stir half of cottage cheese mixture into noodles. Spoon noodles into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Pour remaining cottage cheese mixture over casserole; bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Sprinkle with corn flakes, then serve.
Yields 10 to 12 servings.
Me and the children have to head to the chiro at 1pm this afternoon. He is treating me and all but 2 of my children also. I am glad to be going in again. My hips have been popping in and out and clicking. OUCH!
Have a great day everyone!
Shabbat Shalom!!
I leave you with this..may this be your prayer on this Shabbat!
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
A home for You, Lord.
A home for You, Lord.
Let everything I do open up,
A door for You to come through,
And that my heart would be a place where You want to be.
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
You are my portion, filling up everything.
You are the fortune that's causing my heart to sing.
That it's amazing, that You could make Yourself at home with me.
Come and make my heart,
Come and make it Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
We're going to be making raised baked donuts...
We're using this recipe from cooks.com..
| BAKED RAISED DONUTS | |
In a large saucepan bring to a boiling point: 1 1/2 c. milk Remove from heat and stir in: 1/3 c. shortening 1/4 c. sugar 2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. nutmeg When lukewarm - add: 4 3/4 c. sifted flour 2 lg. well beaten eggs 2 yeast cakes, dissolved in 1/4 c. lukewarm water Beat dough until well mixed. Cover pan and let stand in a slightly warm place until dough is light and double in bulk, about 60 minutes. Turn dough onto a well floured board, turning 2 or 3 times to form a stiff ball. Roll lightly (avoid stretching) until about 1/2 inch thick. Cut with a 3 inch cutter. Place rings carefully 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Brush rings with butter and let rise in warm place until double in bulk (about 20 minutes). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. As soon as donuts are removed from oven, brush again with butter and roll in granulated sugar. Makes 2 1/2-3 dozen. | |
Yesterday the children made pretzels. They really enjoyed shaping them! I thought they tasted very good.
On our children's b-days we let them pick the place they would like to go and we then treat them out to a meal wherever they choose. We only take them and enjoy the time with them one on one..
Morgan-Britney chose to go to India Garden and then to a movie at the cheap seat theater. We love Indian food so we are really looking forward to it. We're heading out after our Shabbat celebration this evening..
Tomorrow we are having our Chanukah Feast. We are going to be having a turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and several other traditional dishes. I am then going to be making a few traditional Chanukah foods.
These recipes are from recipegoldmine.com
Sweet Potato Tzimmes
5 large sweet potatoes, peeled, cut in chunks and cooked
4 large carrots, peeled, cut in chunks and cooked
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons melted margarine
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
Salt, to taste
Orange juice, optional
2 or 3 apples, peeled and sliced
Mash sweet potatoes and carrots. Mix in the prunes. Add cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Combine honey and margarine.
Grease a 2-quart casserole dish. Alternate layers of mashed seasoned vegetables and apples, dribbling honey (and juice) mixture over each layer. End with vegetable layer. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes.
Sweet Kugel
This is a wonderful Chanukah treat.
1 (12 ounce) package wide egg noodles
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (16 ounce) carton cream-style cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup corn flakes cereal
Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well; set aside. Combine eggs and next 7 ingredients; stir half of cottage cheese mixture into noodles. Spoon noodles into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Pour remaining cottage cheese mixture over casserole; bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Sprinkle with corn flakes, then serve.
Yields 10 to 12 servings.
Me and the children have to head to the chiro at 1pm this afternoon. He is treating me and all but 2 of my children also. I am glad to be going in again. My hips have been popping in and out and clicking. OUCH!
Have a great day everyone!
Shabbat Shalom!!
I leave you with this..may this be your prayer on this Shabbat!
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
A home for You, Lord.
A home for You, Lord.
Let everything I do open up,
A door for You to come through,
And that my heart would be a place where You want to be.
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
You are my portion, filling up everything.
You are the fortune that's causing my heart to sing.
That it's amazing, that You could make Yourself at home with me.
Come and make my heart,
Come and make it Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wild at Heart
This past Monday my children and I took a trip to the library. While there I ran across a book that I had already decided not to read. But this time I decided I was being led to read it and it had been recommended to me by some G-dly ladies at our home fellowship.
We came home and I sat down during our quiet time to begin reading this book. I couldn't put it down!
The book is Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.
It could not have come at a better time for me as my oldest son Josiah is leaving boyhood behind and transitioning into manhood. It opened my eyes to so many things I didn't understand about this process and it better helped me understand my dh.
John Eldridge wrote the book in such a way as to make the wisdom he offered easy to understand and grasp. He helped me to better see my L-rd who, yes, is a warrior!!
Why don't you check it out..
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
A tip: Every book you read is worth praying about first! Take the good and leave the rest!
We came home and I sat down during our quiet time to begin reading this book. I couldn't put it down!
The book is Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.
It could not have come at a better time for me as my oldest son Josiah is leaving boyhood behind and transitioning into manhood. It opened my eyes to so many things I didn't understand about this process and it better helped me understand my dh.
John Eldridge wrote the book in such a way as to make the wisdom he offered easy to understand and grasp. He helped me to better see my L-rd who, yes, is a warrior!!
Why don't you check it out..
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
A tip: Every book you read is worth praying about first! Take the good and leave the rest!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
18 today!!!
Today my oldest child Morgan-Britney turns 18!
I am so proud of her! She is a sweet G-dly young lady. So full of compassion and kindness. She desires to obey the L-rd's word and do as He has called her too. She has a servant's heart; serving others bringing glory to YHWH.
She is very smart and has a great head on her shoulders. She is also a beautiful young lady; inside and out!
I am thankful for the relationship we share.:) :) :)
I am so proud of her! She is a sweet G-dly young lady. So full of compassion and kindness. She desires to obey the L-rd's word and do as He has called her too. She has a servant's heart; serving others bringing glory to YHWH.
She is very smart and has a great head on her shoulders. She is also a beautiful young lady; inside and out!
I am thankful for the relationship we share.:) :) :)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Happy Chanukah!!!!
Here are a few of the pics from our Chanukah so far..
Morgan-Britney made a scrapbook for all the children with some blank pages so they can add pics later..
Isaac made a gun belt and lasso for Micah
Morgan-Britney made a dollhouse mat for ZaraLayna
Gabriellia made a hankie that she hand embroidered Morgan-Britney's name on..
Today we made sugar cookies and frosted them! The children love doing this every year..
Blessings!!
Here are a few of the pics from our Chanukah so far..
Morgan-Britney made a scrapbook for all the children with some blank pages so they can add pics later..
Isaac made a gun belt and lasso for Micah
Morgan-Britney made a dollhouse mat for ZaraLayna
Gabriellia made a hankie that she hand embroidered Morgan-Britney's name on..
Today we made sugar cookies and frosted them! The children love doing this every year..
Blessings!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Our weekend!
This past weekend was very busy! Friday night was Shabbat and we had homemade pizza for our Shabbat meal! We also finished up our Torah Portion (Parashah) for the week. Saturday was the first full day of Chanukah and we enjoyed our day together as a family! My lovely dh made a big huge pot of homemade chicken noodle soup for supper. It was yummy as his food always is. He then canned most of the the rest of it last night. Sunday morning was home fellowship which was here at our home. Afterwards we all share a meal together which I enjoy! Later that afternoon was a Holiday tea at another families home! We had a great time!
This morning we headed to the library where we all picked out good books to devour! We're huge book people in our home!
I checked out the book 90 Minutes in Heaven for my oldest dd Morgan-Britney to read. When I shared this with her my 13 year old son asked me if he could read it so he is currently reading it and has said he loves it so far!
I would recommend reading it if you have not! It was a great book!
This week my oldest dd turns 18!! I am so proud of her and who she is! She loves the L-rd and lives her life for him. She is kind and has a servant's heart! I am amazed at the how much more mature and far she is in her walk with the L-rd then I was at her age! I am so thankful for that! And I am thankful that we are very good friends! We share and talk with each other daily! I am thankful to share this with my dd as it is a true privilege to have this sort of relationship with her as I know this is not always the case. I know it wasn't for mom and me..
I am thankful for my dd..
I am thankful for all of my children! They bring me so much joy! Every age is a new adventure for me as a mama! There is nothing I would rather be doing then being their mama and raising them up for the L-rd!
I am thankful for my dh who is the sweetest and G-dliest man I know! I love his kind and giving heart. I love how after all these years I can say I love him more now than I did the day I married him.
I am thankful for my lovely home!
I am most thankful for my L-rd and Saviour who saved me from a life of death and that His spirit lives within me!
I am thankful for YWHW's word and that it brings light into my life!
I am thankful that I have that light to give freely to others!
Happy Chanukah!!
Blessings!
Each week we read a Torah Portion (Parashah). We work on it starting on Monday and then finish up on Shabbat . So for this week's Shabbat the Torah Portion is:
Parashat Miketz
Genesis 41:1–44:17
1 Kings 3:15–4:1 Acts 7:9–16;
Matthew 7:2
This morning we headed to the library where we all picked out good books to devour! We're huge book people in our home!
I checked out the book 90 Minutes in Heaven for my oldest dd Morgan-Britney to read. When I shared this with her my 13 year old son asked me if he could read it so he is currently reading it and has said he loves it so far!
I would recommend reading it if you have not! It was a great book!
This week my oldest dd turns 18!! I am so proud of her and who she is! She loves the L-rd and lives her life for him. She is kind and has a servant's heart! I am amazed at the how much more mature and far she is in her walk with the L-rd then I was at her age! I am so thankful for that! And I am thankful that we are very good friends! We share and talk with each other daily! I am thankful to share this with my dd as it is a true privilege to have this sort of relationship with her as I know this is not always the case. I know it wasn't for mom and me..
I am thankful for my dd..
I am thankful for all of my children! They bring me so much joy! Every age is a new adventure for me as a mama! There is nothing I would rather be doing then being their mama and raising them up for the L-rd!
I am thankful for my dh who is the sweetest and G-dliest man I know! I love his kind and giving heart. I love how after all these years I can say I love him more now than I did the day I married him.
I am thankful for my lovely home!
I am most thankful for my L-rd and Saviour who saved me from a life of death and that His spirit lives within me!
I am thankful for YWHW's word and that it brings light into my life!
I am thankful that I have that light to give freely to others!
Happy Chanukah!!
Blessings!
Each week we read a Torah Portion (Parashah). We work on it starting on Monday and then finish up on Shabbat . So for this week's Shabbat the Torah Portion is:
Parashat Miketz
Genesis 41:1–44:17
1 Kings 3:15–4:1 Acts 7:9–16;
Matthew 7:2
Friday, December 11, 2009
pregnancy pics..
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Who I am is not who I was..
I have always had trouble with compliments. I am like everyone else and enjoy getting them. I need to hear that others see G-dly truths in my life and that there are fruits in my children and in my life. But when someone irl (online it's easier) says something compliment wise I am just never sure how to respond. Every day I look in the mirror at myself and I see this person staring back at me. This woman who isn't all she wants to be. I know who I truly am and I see so many character flaws and faults. I see how far I still have to go...
But then if I stop and ponder who I was years ago I can see how much my life has changed. How different I am and how much YHWH has changed in me! It's hard for me to recognize that person. I am ever so thankful that He did not leave me as I was!!
Tuesday night my children wanted to have a game night/family night. So after supper and chores were finished we all started with a game of hide and seek. It was fun hiding all over the house and having to run to base which was my glider in the living room. At one point I was hiding upstairs and Gabby who was *it* came into her room where I was hiding behind the door. Thankfully she didn't see me so I dashed out the doorway and literally flew down the stairs as fast as my pregnant body would move. All the while thinking how funny I must look with belly bobbing down the stairs!! I made it to base and had a good laugh at myself.
We then went onto play Mother May I and Simon Says. We ended our game playing with the memory game. We all had the giggles and had a great time! During our game of hide and seek my 4 yr. old dd ZaraLayna came up to me and hugged me. She then looked up at me with her big beautiful blue eyes and said, "I'm so happy!" It was then I realized again how simple things like playing games and allowing myself to be child again with my children meant more to them than most anything else I do. And again I have been pondering how the woman I am today is not who I used to be.
When I first started having children I truly did not enjoy doing things like this. I didn't enjoy going to the park, playing games or anything of the sort. I avoided them like the plague. I just stuck to being a mama and let my dh do those dreaded activities. But somewhere over the years Yeshua has changed my heart and today I LOVE doing these things with my children. I really enjoy my kiddos! I LOVE playing games with them and being with them.
I used to love being anywhere but at home. I would much rather be out than at home. But again I see such a change. I still love being with others but now it's only so much at a time becuz the truth be told I would rather be with my family at home than anywhere else in the world! Home has become my safe haven where the love of my children and amazing dh brings me peace and comfort. This is how Hashem wants our homes to be; filled with His love that we then give to each other.
As I have been reading thru this week's Parashah (Torah Portion) I have seen such devastating issues in these families that have had drastic consquences for all involved. Judah's sons not being willing to give Tamar a child and being struck dead to Judah not following through with his promise to give Shelah to her as a husband when he was grown. Tamar then took the situation into own hands pretending to be a harlot and conceiving a child with Judah himself!
If we would but live righteous lives and follow the whole of YHWH's word our lives would produce such wonderful bounty and fruit!
I am thankful that Hashem left us with these examples. It gives me much to meditate upon...
I know I have not arrived yet but thru YHWH's word and His strength I can try to live my life for His glory and years from now be able to look back and see that once again I don't recognize that person!
But then if I stop and ponder who I was years ago I can see how much my life has changed. How different I am and how much YHWH has changed in me! It's hard for me to recognize that person. I am ever so thankful that He did not leave me as I was!!
Tuesday night my children wanted to have a game night/family night. So after supper and chores were finished we all started with a game of hide and seek. It was fun hiding all over the house and having to run to base which was my glider in the living room. At one point I was hiding upstairs and Gabby who was *it* came into her room where I was hiding behind the door. Thankfully she didn't see me so I dashed out the doorway and literally flew down the stairs as fast as my pregnant body would move. All the while thinking how funny I must look with belly bobbing down the stairs!! I made it to base and had a good laugh at myself.
We then went onto play Mother May I and Simon Says. We ended our game playing with the memory game. We all had the giggles and had a great time! During our game of hide and seek my 4 yr. old dd ZaraLayna came up to me and hugged me. She then looked up at me with her big beautiful blue eyes and said, "I'm so happy!" It was then I realized again how simple things like playing games and allowing myself to be child again with my children meant more to them than most anything else I do. And again I have been pondering how the woman I am today is not who I used to be.
When I first started having children I truly did not enjoy doing things like this. I didn't enjoy going to the park, playing games or anything of the sort. I avoided them like the plague. I just stuck to being a mama and let my dh do those dreaded activities. But somewhere over the years Yeshua has changed my heart and today I LOVE doing these things with my children. I really enjoy my kiddos! I LOVE playing games with them and being with them.
I used to love being anywhere but at home. I would much rather be out than at home. But again I see such a change. I still love being with others but now it's only so much at a time becuz the truth be told I would rather be with my family at home than anywhere else in the world! Home has become my safe haven where the love of my children and amazing dh brings me peace and comfort. This is how Hashem wants our homes to be; filled with His love that we then give to each other.
As I have been reading thru this week's Parashah (Torah Portion) I have seen such devastating issues in these families that have had drastic consquences for all involved. Judah's sons not being willing to give Tamar a child and being struck dead to Judah not following through with his promise to give Shelah to her as a husband when he was grown. Tamar then took the situation into own hands pretending to be a harlot and conceiving a child with Judah himself!
If we would but live righteous lives and follow the whole of YHWH's word our lives would produce such wonderful bounty and fruit!
I am thankful that Hashem left us with these examples. It gives me much to meditate upon...
I know I have not arrived yet but thru YHWH's word and His strength I can try to live my life for His glory and years from now be able to look back and see that once again I don't recognize that person!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Daily dailies..
This morning I took myself and 4 of my children to the chiro. After the appt. we headed to Staples for printer paper which we were out of. I am able to save alot of money with homeschooling because I copy my children's schoolwork and then I can reuse it with another child.
I, of course stopped at Starbuck's for a coffee..:)
Here are a few pictures of the weather in our neighborhood. It is cold! BRR!
I was so excited to hear from a good friend of mine. It has been many months since I heard from her last. We met when we lived in PA but then we moved here and she actually planned on moving here but they had to wait a bit longer. Then in August they moved to an area by Indy and I had not heard from her since then. We were able to reconnect and talk on the phone for several hours. It truly blessed me! And we live close enough to visit!! :)
I am truly blessed! I have wonderful children, an amazing husband, sweet friends, a warm home on cold winter days, lots of food in our pantry and many other blessings!
Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion. ~The Talmud
I, of course stopped at Starbuck's for a coffee..:)
Here are a few pictures of the weather in our neighborhood. It is cold! BRR!
I was so excited to hear from a good friend of mine. It has been many months since I heard from her last. We met when we lived in PA but then we moved here and she actually planned on moving here but they had to wait a bit longer. Then in August they moved to an area by Indy and I had not heard from her since then. We were able to reconnect and talk on the phone for several hours. It truly blessed me! And we live close enough to visit!! :)
I am truly blessed! I have wonderful children, an amazing husband, sweet friends, a warm home on cold winter days, lots of food in our pantry and many other blessings!
Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion. ~The Talmud
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Daily Duties..
It's been a busy morning! Our dryer which was supposed to be fixed only dried about 5 times so the dryer guy had to return this morning and replace another part. Hopefully this will be the last time! It cost us 62$!
After he left I corrected Gabby, Josiah & Zeke's math; got them busy on corrections and then headed upstairs to get vacuuming done. I stripped my bedding as it really needs washed. Vacuumed the girls room, boys room and hallway. While doing this I managed to help Micah with his reading questions. He is doing great with his reading and even reading whole sentences now! :):)
I then straightened up the office and when finished headed to the kitchen where I cleaned out the silverware drawer along with the utensil drawer. I also stopped here and there to direct Gabby on what she needed to be reading and doing for schoolwork.. My next chore will be to get my bedding into the washer and the current load into the dryer which thank goodness is working once again!! The boys are working on their book reading; The Boys Ben Hur and The Illiad. Quentin was doing mazes in our maze book as he is finished with his schoolwork for the time being. After lunch we will do our unit study. Morgan cleaned the upstairs bathroom for me and is currently reading her bible and doing devotions. And the other children are busy playing.. :)
We have bread in the bread maker and meat (ground turkey) out for supper. Supper is sounding good about now as I am hungry. Mornings are so busy that getting in my devotion time is quite the accomplishment. So eating breakfast rarely happens. I did get to drink a cup of chai tea and a cup of apple cider this morning. :) So it wasn't a total loss...:):):)
I am reading for devotional time the weekly Parashah (Torah Portion). Today I read ch. 37 in Genesis which begins the story of Joseph. I have been thinking on how sad it was that Jacob (Israel) favored Joseph over his other sons which I believe caused the hate in his brothers hearts. Although throwing Joseph into a well, selling him and then telling their father he was dead wasn't right I can see why they felt as they did. It gives me something to meditate upon and as a parent to make sure I love each of my children equally.
I had to come back and edit:
I have started limiting my computer time and I have taken that break from facebook which is a huge time waster! I give myself about an hour and a half each day..an hour during the day and 30 minutes in the evening after my dh is home. My children are my priority and what kind of mama would I be if I wasn't truly being a mama and spending all of my time online??
May each of you have a blessed day as you seek the Father and parent your children for His glory!
After he left I corrected Gabby, Josiah & Zeke's math; got them busy on corrections and then headed upstairs to get vacuuming done. I stripped my bedding as it really needs washed. Vacuumed the girls room, boys room and hallway. While doing this I managed to help Micah with his reading questions. He is doing great with his reading and even reading whole sentences now! :):)
I then straightened up the office and when finished headed to the kitchen where I cleaned out the silverware drawer along with the utensil drawer. I also stopped here and there to direct Gabby on what she needed to be reading and doing for schoolwork.. My next chore will be to get my bedding into the washer and the current load into the dryer which thank goodness is working once again!! The boys are working on their book reading; The Boys Ben Hur and The Illiad. Quentin was doing mazes in our maze book as he is finished with his schoolwork for the time being. After lunch we will do our unit study. Morgan cleaned the upstairs bathroom for me and is currently reading her bible and doing devotions. And the other children are busy playing.. :)
We have bread in the bread maker and meat (ground turkey) out for supper. Supper is sounding good about now as I am hungry. Mornings are so busy that getting in my devotion time is quite the accomplishment. So eating breakfast rarely happens. I did get to drink a cup of chai tea and a cup of apple cider this morning. :) So it wasn't a total loss...:):):)
I am reading for devotional time the weekly Parashah (Torah Portion). Today I read ch. 37 in Genesis which begins the story of Joseph. I have been thinking on how sad it was that Jacob (Israel) favored Joseph over his other sons which I believe caused the hate in his brothers hearts. Although throwing Joseph into a well, selling him and then telling their father he was dead wasn't right I can see why they felt as they did. It gives me something to meditate upon and as a parent to make sure I love each of my children equally.
I had to come back and edit:
I have started limiting my computer time and I have taken that break from facebook which is a huge time waster! I give myself about an hour and a half each day..an hour during the day and 30 minutes in the evening after my dh is home. My children are my priority and what kind of mama would I be if I wasn't truly being a mama and spending all of my time online??
May each of you have a blessed day as you seek the Father and parent your children for His glory!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Pondering in my heart..
I have been pondering some things lately in my heart..
Women in today's world feel so much pressure. Some of it the world puts on us, some we put on ourselves and some we put on each other.
Women are pressured to be this weight, to look this way and to never grow old. Why are we all so afraid to admit our age? What is it about growing older that makes us all so afraid?
As women who stay at home we feel pressure to bake everything from scratch, can every harvest, grind our own grain, cloth diaper, clothesline dry our clothes, eat vegan or darn close to it. Use herbs to treat illness, homebirth, etc.. In todays world they call this a crunchy granola mama..
But what if we don't do all those things? What if we only do some of them? And what if we only do some of them some of the time?? Does that really mean we're less of a woman or a mama? Does it make the one who isn't doing all of this less than the one who is? When we stand before Yeshua will He ask us if we made all our meals from scratch or if we used cloth diapers? Or will our faith on Him and our works that come from that faith be what He speaks of?
Why do we think we're not as much as someone who does do all those things? Why do we judge mama's who don't do things as we do?
I am going to let you all in on a little secret...
I do grind my own grain..sometimes..Sometimes life gets so busy that I simply don't have the time and will grab the wheat flour in my freezer that I keep on hand.
I do cloth diaper but I put a disposable on my baby at night becuz of his sensitive skin. The first two weeks of my babies lives they wear disposables (until the meconium is gone because it stains) and when I am healed and rested and can take on more duties once again.
We do cook from scratch but will sometimes buy a quick food when money permits and time is short.
I honestly don't like canning food. I canned peach jam this past harvest and although I didn't enjoy it I am glad I did it because it was super yummy. I will do more next year. My dh loves to can and he does most of the canning in our home. Do I feel like I am less because of this? NOPE! I am thankful my dh helps me as much as he does!
Do we dry our clothes on a clothesline? Well, we have for many years but we started using our dryer and I really enjoyed having one. Then the end of this past July our dryer broke and living where we do with all of the rain and humidity meant that keeping 11 peoples clothing washed and dried became extremely hard! Just yesterday we finally got it fixed and I am so happy to have it back! I love my dryer!!!
We don't eat vegan. We do try to eat healthy but I have been known to eat a yummy cheeseburger here and there..:)
We do use herbs to treat illness but if it was needed we wouldn't think twice about going into the dr..
And yes I homebirth. It's what I feel is best for me and baby.. but I have birthed in the hospital twice and I am still here to live to tell about it..:) If I had to birth in the hospital I would but thankfully the L-rd has allowed me to have easy good births and I am able to birth at home.
Do any of these things make me a better servant of Christ? Do any of these things make me a better mama then the next person? I don't believe so!
I LOVE my children! I LOVE my husband! I try to be a good mama to my kiddos and a good wifey to my dh. I have bad days where I feel like pulling my hair out..days where I feel like screaming! Hey, I have 9 children I homeschool and am pg...so ya, I have those kind of days..
I am not perfect..I am like all other women just a work in progress! His work!
The only thing that really does matter is that I am following Yeshua and His word and doing as He has commanded. The rest of it can burn away as in the end what will remain is the things I obeyed from His word..they will build upon that foundation...
I am who I am and I want that to be simply a woman of G-d!!
Women in today's world feel so much pressure. Some of it the world puts on us, some we put on ourselves and some we put on each other.
Women are pressured to be this weight, to look this way and to never grow old. Why are we all so afraid to admit our age? What is it about growing older that makes us all so afraid?
As women who stay at home we feel pressure to bake everything from scratch, can every harvest, grind our own grain, cloth diaper, clothesline dry our clothes, eat vegan or darn close to it. Use herbs to treat illness, homebirth, etc.. In todays world they call this a crunchy granola mama..
But what if we don't do all those things? What if we only do some of them? And what if we only do some of them some of the time?? Does that really mean we're less of a woman or a mama? Does it make the one who isn't doing all of this less than the one who is? When we stand before Yeshua will He ask us if we made all our meals from scratch or if we used cloth diapers? Or will our faith on Him and our works that come from that faith be what He speaks of?
Why do we think we're not as much as someone who does do all those things? Why do we judge mama's who don't do things as we do?
I am going to let you all in on a little secret...
I do grind my own grain..sometimes..Sometimes life gets so busy that I simply don't have the time and will grab the wheat flour in my freezer that I keep on hand.
I do cloth diaper but I put a disposable on my baby at night becuz of his sensitive skin. The first two weeks of my babies lives they wear disposables (until the meconium is gone because it stains) and when I am healed and rested and can take on more duties once again.
We do cook from scratch but will sometimes buy a quick food when money permits and time is short.
I honestly don't like canning food. I canned peach jam this past harvest and although I didn't enjoy it I am glad I did it because it was super yummy. I will do more next year. My dh loves to can and he does most of the canning in our home. Do I feel like I am less because of this? NOPE! I am thankful my dh helps me as much as he does!
Do we dry our clothes on a clothesline? Well, we have for many years but we started using our dryer and I really enjoyed having one. Then the end of this past July our dryer broke and living where we do with all of the rain and humidity meant that keeping 11 peoples clothing washed and dried became extremely hard! Just yesterday we finally got it fixed and I am so happy to have it back! I love my dryer!!!
We don't eat vegan. We do try to eat healthy but I have been known to eat a yummy cheeseburger here and there..:)
We do use herbs to treat illness but if it was needed we wouldn't think twice about going into the dr..
And yes I homebirth. It's what I feel is best for me and baby.. but I have birthed in the hospital twice and I am still here to live to tell about it..:) If I had to birth in the hospital I would but thankfully the L-rd has allowed me to have easy good births and I am able to birth at home.
Do any of these things make me a better servant of Christ? Do any of these things make me a better mama then the next person? I don't believe so!
I LOVE my children! I LOVE my husband! I try to be a good mama to my kiddos and a good wifey to my dh. I have bad days where I feel like pulling my hair out..days where I feel like screaming! Hey, I have 9 children I homeschool and am pg...so ya, I have those kind of days..
I am not perfect..I am like all other women just a work in progress! His work!
The only thing that really does matter is that I am following Yeshua and His word and doing as He has commanded. The rest of it can burn away as in the end what will remain is the things I obeyed from His word..they will build upon that foundation...
I am who I am and I want that to be simply a woman of G-d!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Creativeness...
Since we don't have much money for Chanukah gifts this year my sweet children have gotten ahold of their creative genius and are making all sorts of things for each other and mama and daddy..
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