|
Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone! This post is a little early, but I have a moment so I thought I should use it to wish everyone a very merry & blessed Mother's Day! I know that Hallmark sensationalizes Mother's Day and society makes it into another day to go spend oodles of money; however, I LOVE my "job" of being a mother and am so blessed that I wanted to share some thoughts to let every mother know how special they are. That God has chosen motherhood for us is indeed a blessing and a miracle. I am filled with joy at being a mother, wife, daughter, friend. To all of you--enjoy your day, take in the small miracles, and above all praise God and rejoice in His goodness! A few words about mothers: Faith; Hope; Love; Patience; Trust; Kindness; Honesty; Caring; Sharing; Believe; Learn; Dream! It is the mothers, not the warriors, who create people and guide their identity. (Standing Bull)
The mission of the ideal woman is to make the whole world home-like. (Frances E. Willard)
The mother love is like God's love; He loves us not because we are lovable, but because it is His nature to love, and because we are His children. (Earl Riney)
"Home is the Starting Place of Hopes & Dreams."
No man is poor who has had a godly mother. (Abraham Lincoln)
It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world. (Kate Douglas Wiggin) |
|
Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its Thank you to all who responded so quickly on my blogger confession :) I really loved that AnOldFashionedGirl gave me such an easy explanation! I am so excited now! Thank you so much! You have made my day! So Onward to sharing some photos! To all my family who silently looks at these pics--we love and miss you so much! Por Tio Raul y Tia Chayo--nuestros sobrinos y familia en Mexico--siempre con mucho amor! Besos y abrazos por todos!
Hannah Faith Y Emma Grace! Que lindas!
Papi y los ninos--mostrando el pescado! At the Beach!
Jaime y el diente de tiberon que encontro! Que fabuloso! Look at that sharks tooth!! Cool, huh?
Nadando en Octubre--que frio!
No es bonito? A beautiful day--Can't you just see the hand of God in this? He touches everything! Enjoy the photos! Now that I have this figured out a little bit--I must start taking more pictures again!!!!! Blessings and love! |
|
Matthew 6:34 So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. All right, Okay, I always thought I was at least somewhat computer literate..I could do the basic things even a little html when I felt like it. So here's my confession: I can't figure out how to put more pictures on my blog! It says I've completely used all the space in my photo album. :( Sadness for me. I even went to try to change to a custom template, but can't find that option anymore. I need my eldest daughter home from the navy to figure this out for me! Any advice out there?? I even tried to put up a photo link from photobucket.com, but I wanted it on the right side of my blog and everytime I put it in the template edit section, no matter where I put it, it ended up at the end of the blog. ARRHH. Okay, so onward.. "Each day has enough trouble of its own." With my parents help, we finally put in our garden! We are so excited and feel so blessed! My father worked hard tilling up the land and then we planted 3 rows of corn so far, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, onion and potato. It's just so beautiful to me. We started another section of garden in another corner of the land and will plant more tomatoes and potatoes, etc. there, plus I want to do beans and some sunflowers--just because! My husband also got into the action after working at our rental house for like 10 hours and then came to till up a section for watermelon, melons & pumpkins. The simple satisfaction one feels after surveying all the hardwork--it's indescribable! (If I could figure out my picture issue I would post some pics...arrhhh) I bought the littlest three watering cans--2 pink and 1 green--and they LOVE watering the flowers! To the point that even after a hard rain they wanted to go a watering! They are learning responsibility and taking care of things at such a young age--the opportunities a rural life provides is wonderful (they'll probably grow up hating it and want to be in the city--though my 11 and 15 year old say despite the work they dislike the city and would not want to live there at this point in their thinkings of the future--so there is hope :)) My little ones Cruz (4) and Emma (2) helped carry the feed buckets to the horses yesterday and it was so cute b/c the bucket was about as big as Emma and she carried it so proudly. Hannah helped mamma with the wheelbarrow of hay--keeping her little hand on the side. That's what they mean by precious moments. We recently purchased the movie "Charlotte's Web" and Cruz announced to his papi that we need to buy a pig. Ha ha!! Not quite yet. Goats, yes, pigs not quite yet! I fell in love with a brown nubian my friend recently purchased. It was quite sad as her father purchased the goats at an auction without seeing them and they were in such a state. They had pink eye and are so thin. Amazingly, they are the sweetest, gentlest goats. I can't imagine they had much interaction considering their physical condition--but a female and I made friends and she followed me around nudging my hand so I would continue to love on her. I wanted to pack her up in the mini-van! ha ha! Imagine that one! Though we have had chickens in their before--at the same time we were babysitting for my friends mini-daschund--plus a milk can she had gifted me and a churn--the kids kept teasing me about getting pulled over with chickens, a dog, kids, butter churn, milk can all crammed in the mini-van. It was fun! (and no I didn't get pulled over :)) Any advise on goats would be appreciated. I do want a Nubian, but would one to start be okay? I have heard you should at least have two for companionship purposes. Whatcha think?? Blessings to all--look around you--cherish those little moments! God is so Good!!!
|
|
Matthew 6:34 So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Yesterday's post remarked on "a glad heart makes a happy face" Proverbs 15:13. Well, wouldn't you know, this morning I picked up one of my all time favorite reads Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell, www.Titus2.com, and the page I turned to said "A Smile." It is so amazing how God speaks to us and nudges us in the direction of His will. He knows us inside and out. Today I will be working on my smile, but I want to leave you with the thought provoking words of Teri Maxwell as we journey on our day as mothers, wives, homeschoolers and Gods children. Taken From Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit: "Have you ever stared at yourself in the mirror thinking "Wow, I am looking pretty ragged!" Then you smile into that mirror and see an amazing transformation. Try it!" " I am a serious person by nature. While smiling at others in public comes easily, when I am about my daily tasks, it doesn't. Quite often, though, I am holding the keys to the atmosphere in our home. When I make a concerted effort to smile, everyone in the family seems to put on a smile as well." "A smile conveys love, acceptance, warmth, and understanding. It is almost always appropriate within a family. It might be good for us to have little mirrors on our children's foreheads so that we coudl see how we look as we are teaching them, disciplining them, playing with th em, or just talking with them. Is our countenance pleasant or harsh? Is it interested or bored? Would we see joy or dissapointment?" My challenge is to put on that smile even when I don't feel like it! Even when I'm so tired I feel like I can't read one more book, I'll put on that smile and my children will be left with feeling love, acceptance and the warm cuddles from their mommy. My husband will feel loved and content in a happy, peaceful home. Teri goes on to say that a "smile characterizes the words that describe a meek and quiet spirit: mild of temper, soft, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated, peaceable, not turbulent, not giving offense, mild and contented." As homeschooling moms, we all know too well how that spirit can be challenged by imaginitive, active, thoughtful, intelligent children! May we realize God's blessing in our lives and live to love Him and embrace our children, husbands, and home and grace it all with a SMILE! Blessings! On a more practical note, we are off to the store. I will be challenged with 4 of my six children with me to have that meek and quiet spirit! I will be trying to do grocery shopping for 2 weeks. I want to lead up to monthly shopping to not only save gas $$, but also give me time in my week. It seems like one day each week is taken over by shopping when I could be doing so many other things! If ya'll have any experience with this let me know! I'm not really sure how to organize myself for monthly shopping for 7 :) Blessing in Christ! |
|
Matthew 6:34 So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I've been having a time of it the past couple of weeks with my little ones who are growing and changing and challenging their momma :) Having three blessings ages four and under can definitely challenge that meek and quiet spirit that Teri Maxwell www.titus2.com so thoughtfully and gently reminds us to have. This morning, during my devotion time, He showed me that I should smile because He loves me and my little ones. I realize no matter what the challenges, a happy heart will produce a happy face which in turn will spread happiness. In Proverbs 4:12-23 it speaks about "above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." So powerful! As wives & mothers, this is such a powerful verse. Sometimes I wonder if we truly realize how important we are as wives & mothers and how much God loves us to have given us this role. He truly believes in us and so we should believe in ourselves too! In our family devotion book it prompted me to think: "Do you spread happiness and goodwill with cheerful face? Or do you spread unhappiness and depression with scowls and frowns? What you feel in your heart usually shows on your face, so it's important to keep your heart right with the Lord. Before facing the world each day, spend time with God." That really spoke to me because it has been brought to my attention before that though I will do things and serve my family, my husband etc. when I do it with a look of resentment or annoyance it's as if I haven't even done it at all because they feel what I am feeling! This doesn't mean we can never have those days when things get to us, but to learn to rely on God and lean on Him during those times so the smile can return to our hearts and our faces so we can love and cherish the husband and children that God so graciously gifted us with. Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. In Christ! SMILE......GOD LOVES YOU!
Papi and the younger ones! Look at those beautiful Smiles!!
Cruz with big sisters Catherine and Barbara! We miss you Barbara! Go Navy!!!! Smile! We are so blessed! |
Our Miracle Babies when they were 2 months old!
|
Matthew 6:34 So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Good Afternoon! I have some friends who were interested in learning how to make jam, so I thought I'd put a pictorial post of how to make jam here. I love pictorials because I learn by doing and pictures are just about as close as someone being here at my house helping me to do it with ONE exception: Knitting. Boy did I try to learn on the internet and that was difficult! But thanks to a good friend of mine, she has gotten me on my way! The kids and I had so much fun making jam and Catherine really enjoyed that mom and daughter time! Baking and doing the basic skills young girls and mothers did so long ago is such a wonderful way to spend the morning! Okay so here it goes! Ingredients: 5 cups crushed strawberries and 7 cups sugar! Go to your local farm and pick some yummy strawberries with friends & family!
These two buckets, minus about 1/4 that my little ones ate, made around 10 jars of jam! Wash your jars and lids.
Washed jars/lids Bring water to boil on stove and pour over the lids in a separate pot. Keep off burner and in water until ready to use. I also, per my Grandma's instructions, pour the hot water over my jars as well!
Lids over hot water.
Jars over hot water! Discard stems and crush strawberries.
Catherine crushing strawberries! Measure exact amount of prepared fruit (5 cups) into a 6 or 8 quart sauce pot. Stir in 1 box pectin into fruit in saucepot.
Strawberries on stove. Measure exact amount of sugar into a separate bowl. (7 cups) Bring strawberry mixture in saucepot to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar quickly. Return to a full boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam. Ladle into prepared jars! Fill within 1/8 inch of tops. Cover with lids and screw bands tightly.
Filling jars! I use the inversion method (instead of boiling water bath method) so after I fill the jars and screw the bands on tightly, I turn the jar upside down for about 5 minutes, then turn upright. All of my jars sealed! Sometimes I leave them for a bit longer than 5 minutes to ensure proper seal. If not, just eat the jar of jam that didn't seal first! Inversion method!
Yummy Strawberry Jam! Notice I used bigger jars! My kids are jam monsters! Enjoy! and Blessings ! |
|
Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We had a blast with our Homeschool friends strawberry picking! The kids had so much fun eating, oops, I mean picking the strawberries! Of course, my luck, the twins had bright red strawberry cheeks, hands, lips and of course their dresses were streaked with strawberry red! No such thing as hiding the evidence! It was really a great preschool activity not only for the yummies in the tummies, but because they had to really learn what "red" was so as to not pick the unripe strawberries which they discovered didn't taste nearly as good as the red ones! Experience Life and you Will learn!!! Anyway, here are some pictures of the kids!
Cruz, Emma and Hannah picking berries!
Cruz and his Strawberry!
James picking! He looks like he could get a job there!
The twins picking berries! Aren't their dresses lovely?? Handmade (not by me, I wish!)
The fruits of their labor! Of course, Emma (Ms. Independent) refused the picture because she was busy playing with rocks!
I had to add this for the family to see! My azalea princess! The azaleas are blooming beautifully now in NC so we go and get fresh cuts for our house and the girls love to adorn themselves with these lovely flowers!
Momma's girl--Hannah Faith!
We all had yummy strawberry jam for breakfast this morning with biscuits, sausage, bacon and eggs! Yummy! The kids have already eaten 1 full jar! Can you imagine?? Goodness me! Blessings to all! |
Hannah Faith picking strawberries!
|
Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. We woke up on Thursday morning to the surprise of cheeping in the woods! We thought we had lost a hen about a month ago, when to our surprise she went incognito in the woods to have 5 beautiful baby chicks!!! They are Rhode Island Reds and we are so delighted! What a great learning experience for all the children! They are just loving touching the chicks! Another beauty of homeschooling moment for our family! We feel so blessed our children are able to experience moments like these! Our dog, well actually, the dog our friends could no longer keep, gave us 6 puppies. Oh my. Sigh. They are very sweet and cute and just another wonder that God created. Two of them already have homes and we are praying that we will find good homes for the others. They are a German Shepardish/Lab mix--4 black and 2 the color of German Shepard. Needless to say, the children are enthralled. Emma & Cruz don't want to leave them..ever. I hadn't updated in a while because we've had so much going on! I have strawberry picking and Jam making to follow. I LOVE making Jam! We only made 10 Jars, but we will be making more this evening after the soccer game! Blessings to all and enjoy the pictures of God's Blessed Creatures!
Mama HEN & BABY Chicks
CHICKS!
Isn't the baby chick cute??
They All Have to Touch Them At Once!!!
Kids & Pups!!
All SIX!
|
Emma Grace and Pups!! She can't get enough!!
|
Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Today was a great day for Homeschooling! Actually representative of what we envisioned when we started this journey. We went to ancient Greece today! The kids had fun making their chitons and himations. My eldest son thought the chitons were cool! He said and I quote "ooh, these are comfortable..you can feel a nice breeze!" Ha ha! We, of course, all died laughing! We did a little weaving today from one of those "weave a pot holder in a minute" kits. It was fun, yet my son said it made the smallest and probably most ineffective pot holder. He lovingly advised me not to use it as I may burn myself in the process. It was quite a fun day! We will be deciphering notes using the greek alphabet tomorrow and then moving on to Rome! I told him to watch what he wishes for about wearing the chiton because I just may make him wear a Roman Gladiator outfit (aka big diaper looking thing!) James and his big sister Catherine are planning on making some Greek pottery as well--if they can fit it in tonight. If not, tomorrow is yet another day! The book we used as a guide was "Spend the Day in Ancient Greece" by Linda Honan. She has several different books out like this. It was spectacular. You could do an entire unit study with this book alone. We just pick and chose different activities to supplement Alpha Omega history. I sometimes find them a little bit dry and thoroughly believe in a hands-on approach to learning so the library is our friend! Reading back that makes me feel like I've accomplished a lot and with the twins in their scream or sleep stage (they are either screaming or sleeping! ha ha!) that feels pretty good! They are talking more and more everyday--no longer my little babies I guess :( We've graduated from mookie to moonie for movie! It's a mathematical equation: one mookie + one moonie = two movies Okay, homeschooling on my brain. It's a rainy day here in ole NC! Praise God as we've had a drought so we need the rain and the garden will grow and soil be softer for the tilling by hand! It's time to start planning and putting out a small garden. We dream of a big garden, but that'll have to wait until next year when daddy isn't so busy with renovations. It's about time for dinner so I better go get a plan! With prices so high in the supermarket, it will serve me well to start planning meals again. Probably make my life a big easier too if I didn't have to worry about what to cook each day:) Plus horses and chickens need a feeding! We are going strawberry picking tomorrow! I can't wait! I guess that means Thursday is jam making day!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!! We love that!!! I'll try to post some easy strawberry recipes! 'Tis the Season!
Weaving Fun & the book "Spend a Day in Ancient Greece"
The finished highly-safe, oversized potholder!
James and Cruz in their Greek Chitons! Aren't they handsome!
James & Cruz laughing at their Chitons! "Feel the Breeze!"
Expensive Toys! A jar of beans and an empty egg carton= hours of fun! (was that another equation??) haha!
I just had to put in this cute picture of Emma Grace and Hannah Faith!
|
|
Matthew 6:34 So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Happy Friday! It is a beautiful day here in ole' North Carolina! The children are enjoying being able to play outside and get their hands and feet in dirt and insects! The children especially love the caterpillars that are out right now! We love to be able to re-use things if we can so yesterday, we took an old wheelbarrow my neighbor had lying around (that she graciously gifted to us) and planted flowers (that were from her yard that had spread out from years of a beautiful garden). It was exciting because the kids learned a lesson on beautifying the yard using things that we already had lying around and instead of going and paying a lot of $$ on flowers, we helped a neighbor to weed out some of hers and we all enjoyed the fruits of our labor! What a great environmental science class!
Starting the Garden! Notice the simple tool--no electrified-making-work-easy tools for us!
Emma working Very hard--who's going to win--her or the shovel? (and a square one at that!)
Now we know what's in a purse--DIRT!
Emma Fascinated by the Dirt!
Isn't the wheelbarrow garden beautiful? Cruz, Hannah & James. Emma was busy on the porch and didn't want to be a part of the picture--I guess she was just plum tired!
James looking for eggs--nope none under there! Our hens like to play a game with us..it's called guess where I'm laying my eggs today! To all--hope you are having a blessed day! |
