The hymn I have chosen for this month is O blessed, living Lord . Follow the link if you wish to check it out yourself.
I didn’t forget, I have been practicing it. I just didn’t get around till now to post about it.
Lyrics where written by George West Frazer
TTFN
I had been hoping for a real slow pace till school starts up again, you know, lots of lazy days around the house, just the kids and I… sprinkler fun and lots of sun… didn’t think I would get my wish in such a way!
Three down and one to go…well maybe one to go… doc thinks Baby Boy might have had it already and it was just a mild fever and a few spots. Amazing that we didn’t get a for sure diagnosis till it was almost over. My oldest had it first and was so mild she didn’t feel off, just had a couple spots. It was over in a few days. Some where in there my youngest may have had it but we will have to see. My middle two showed signs yesterday and are already on their way to the scab stage (which is when they are no longer contagious). I am thanking the Lord for such mild cases and it happening before school started up again.
TTFN
In the land of lakes, trees and bedrock we spent our time following our noses. Everyone seems to go at a slower pace where my folks are from and it took an adjustment for me but it was exactly what I needed. This was a slow week of doing what ever we felt like at the time.
The first morning there was a perfect illustration of how my week went. Baby Boy slept in and so I did as well. I awoke very late and realised the house was very quiet. In my pajamas I walked out to the kitchen and although I could hear chatter and giggles I could find no one around. I went to the big bay window in my parents living room and glancing out at the garden I saw a bit of white amidst Nanny’s berry bushes. Then I noticed some little blond heads and heard my Dad talking with Little Woman. All three of the oldest where out with their grandparents picking berries for their breakfast. They where still in their pjs. It was a quiet, fresh morning and I remember sighing and thinking ‘this will be a break after all’.
A farm built with sweat and love. Carved amidst the bedrock, wrestled out of the forest and settled with expectation (expectation of years of hard work and years of memories). A place for all of the children and grandchildren to go and relax, feel blessed and most of all feel that northern blood well up inside;) This is my first home!
TTFN
(Just me and my four babies on a big northern adventure!)If parenting isn’t the perfect opportunity to learn more patience then I don’t know what is. I feel like I am always choosing to be patient or to wig out but every now and then there is a chance to step into an obvious opportunity to practice patience. It looks big and can either be a disaster or a victory. Heading north to my folks for a week with out my man was such an opportunity. Four kids, one mommy. Now I am no fool so I went at this challenge with some help. I had a plan and I wasn’t afraid to stack the odds more in my favor (as apposed to anarchy’s favor). My beast van (I call it that because it is large) was newly equipped with a DVD player. I had a cooler full of snacks and each child had a lap table to color on, books and a back pack of toys.
Even so… patience was required and I decided early on I was going to have to just pace myself, slow down and embrace kid speed. Good thing I was realistic! A six hour road trip turned into almost a nine hour one.
The kids found every reason possible, and invented some too I am sure, to pull the van over. We had potty breaks, snack breaks, emotional break downs… put a new movie in breaks, restart said movie breaks, I don’t like movie and have changed my mind breaks… On one such occasion my oldest was standing next to the van with me. This stop was hard for me, we had barely started driving after the last one and where only minutes from a city and could have stop some where nicer once there. She looked at me and with a big smile said ‘Traveling is exciting!’ Shucks, that makes it worth while! She is having a good time, they all are… so I should too… so I did.
We stopped a few times just to let the kids run. I invented some relay games and got them running so many laps they where more then happy to get back in the van. We ate our fill of cheese strings, peanuts, yogurt tubes and triple chocolate chip cookies. They watched and I listened to a couple movies and I even got to listen to some of my favorite road tunes: TFK, Toby Mac, Jill Barber and Mikey Bubbles (Guess who that is!? My man gave him that nickname) among others.
It was all worth it. When we arrived at my parents acreage in the valley, surrounded by trees and bedrock I wasn’t even over whelmed. We where excited and in good spirits. All of us where thinking about beach days and lazy afternoons, fresh air and adventure.
Everyone cautions you about asking for more patience but the fact is you are a happier person once you accept the gift it holds.
TTFN
YUP! 
TTFN
Big Girl brought home a little sprout at the end of the school year, a little sprout in a bag. We watched the roots form and watered it daily (just a little). As the vine grew it became clear we had a bean in a bag. Today Big Girl and I both squealed when we found A VEGETABLE! The bean plant that could DID! It had a bean! Yes had, for it only lasted long enough to get a picture then it was popped into Big Girls mouth. “Mmmmm, fresh!” she said. He he he, you can’t get much fresher then that!
TTFN
I’ve decided I need to live some where else. I need shorter winters! Longer summers! Not hotter summers, just longer!
(Our last trip to the lake… ahhhh wish I was there again already!)
Forget the house! That messy house will wait for me and will be all I get to look at and work at all winter! For me, puttering at home, in my yard is the best! I could work on my yard with great joy all day and then play hard with the kids afterwards as a sweet and true reward. Forget big suppers. Come summer I forget that I even kinda like to cook…Eating a lazy supper of raw veggies and yet another sandwich is the perfect conclusion for me.
Yesterday my eldest son and I weed whacked part of the back alley lawn BY HAND! We snipped and racked for almost two hours and the monstrous pile was proof of our victory, even thought there is plenty more work back there for another day. He is such great work company. He sets his mind on the task at hand, doesn’t complain or talk my ear off. We just bent our backs and worked side by side till the sweat poured.
We went in for a cool drink and then ran through the sprinkler till we where beyond wet. Sitting in the sun I closed my eyes and told myself to remembered this is summer to me…
If only I could convince my mind to stop finding things that need to be done and if only being done didn’t mean taking me away from my little house!
TTFN
One of my favorite bands right now. I really appreciate their style of worship.
You are the great listener.
You speak to me anyways, You find a way, You bring me your way.
Through it all you always let me come.
No matter how often and how weak or strong I am you let me come.
When I can come, give it and walk away in peace but once, you let me come.
When I have to return over and over and choose to leave it and then walk away choosing to be at peace, you let me come.
Lord Jesus I thank you for the place to come… for you being my place to come no matter what…
I thank you that there is no formula to our relationship, no zone; no person I have to pretend to be or find with in before I can come to you.
Thank you my Jesus!
I love menu planning! I now have such a folder full I can just pull them out (grocery lists included) and go at it again! As way of showing a regular, repetitious oh so real, big deal part of my world I thought I would show a week of meals that where successful thanks to my menu set up. Please note I find planning only for the work week is best for me, thus 5 meals! Saturday is always left overs and Sunday is always a simple supper like eggs, pancakes or faspa ( a traditional Mennonite light meal between lunch and supper).
Tex Mex Chicken and Rice Casserole
This BIG FILLING meal is only on the list because of the oodles of cheese and veggies mixed in with the rice… otherwise… I am not one who likes to mix rice in with other food.
A rainy day made it the perfect night for this macaroni chili and some home made bread with butter. We sweetened the chili with coconut sugar so my man could enjoy it as well.
Home Fries and Feta Salad
Everyone has a nuts day when the menu doesn’t go according to plan (forgot to take out the meat) well this meal developed on such a day and ended up making everyone happy. Potatoes are a rare treat around here so the kids where tickled to get home made fries with their salad and kippers. My guy was able to handle them by mostly sticking to the sweet potato fries mixed in (less starch).
This kid friendly meal was so pretty in prep I have to share a few pictures of it. Although not the biggest hit with mom and dad (we weren’t that impressed with a crust of macaroni and cheese sauce) the kids LOVED IT!
When I make it through another weeks menu and look back I always feel relieved and successful:)
TTFN
