PECAN BLUFF

Happy Homecoming, Sweet S!

2012-01-23T21:29:00.000-06:00

Today we celebrate YOU, sweet S! We enjoyed beautiful January weather for your special day and you played hard with your brothers and sister outdoors most of the day. After supper we celebrated with sweet pink cupcakes with star sprinkles. And since you believe every celebration needs a candle and a song, we sang "Happy Homecoming to You" and you blew out your big star candle! You are adorable.

You came home with us from Ethiopia three years ago today, and every single day with you has been such a blessing. You are precious. You are loved. You are ours, and we praise God for your life!

Happy Homecoming sweet girl!

So tickled about the song and candle!

Ready to blow it out

And one more time, just for fun!

You are such a little lady

Yummy!

I love those beautiful eyes

After celebrating it was time to play with your dollhouse

Will you play with me, Sissy?

Sweet Sisters

Christmas 2011

2012-01-12T12:27:00.000-06:00

I'm just now getting caught up, so here is a look back at Christmas 2011 at Pecan Bluff. So thankful for so much!

Christmas Eve
HA, HW, R, and S

Now, isn't this adorable?
The boys had the idea to build S a little table for her dolls.
They did it all by themselves and painted it pink.
I am so proud of my little elves!
And I am very thankful that their Daddy
takes time to show them how to build things.

Santa leaves apples and oranges in all the stockings and they are always a favorite.

R made lots of knitted toboggans for gifts. I'm so proud of her!

"Wonder what's inside?"

"Thanks for the cap, R. I love it!"

The new gown her Big Sissy picked out.

Trying out the new tea party table.

Best buddies, looking forward to a game together later.

My sweet big girl. I still call her my baby, but that's just between you and me.

Winter Color

2012-01-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

I snapped these shots during the past couple of weeks around our yard and pastures. I love the colors that winter brings around here!

Christmas Salad

2012-01-06T11:55:00.000-06:00

Our freshly picked salad greens from the garden, just in time for Christmas dinner!

I feel like I am learning so much about how we can best use every resource we have here at Pecan Bluff. Gardening year-round lets us have something fresh and wonderful to eat from the earth every single day of the year if we plan and work well. This is so much fun!

Regional Orchestra Performance

2012-01-03T11:27:00.001-06:00

We are so thankful for R's dedication to her violin music. She was handsomely rewarded for those efforts when she auditioned for a coveted spot in the Regional Orchestra and was selected to play 3rd chair, 2nd violin. She attended an intense clinic at Baylor University with all the selected students in December and that afternoon treated us all to an outstanding performance. We were truly blown away by how beautifully the kids played. The students were also blessed to have some wonderful teachers and conductors.

A special thank you goes to Granny, who found the perfect black skirt and jewelry for R to wear, and who also stayed nearby and handy with R during that long day of rehearsals. And we appreciate all the family members who were able to come see the performance ~ it meant so much to R to have your support.

This orchestra is all middle school students, if you can believe it! R is in the center with french braids in her hair. This piece is Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement. Enjoy!

Wonderful Holiday Music

2011-12-31T12:00:00.001-06:00

Our three eldest are musicians, and we enjoyed lots of great holiday music from them this season. They kicked things off with a concert at the convention center where the kids from their music academy played for shoppers at a beautiful charity fund-raiser. This was HW's very first classical guitar concert, and he did just great! He said he was a little nervous, but we couldn't tell it at all. All three looked like old pros. The music was lovely, as expected. R, HA, and HW, we are proud of your dedication and hard work to make beautiful music! And a big thank you to Gram and DDon for supporting our kids' musical dreams!

HA and HW concentrating

Taking a bow

You sounded great, guys!

R playing her beautiful music

R (center back) and some fellow violinists finishing up their performance

Christmas Trains at the Museum

2011-12-31T09:15:00.000-06:00

We had so many wonderful times with family this month. Granny and Grandpa spent some time with us when they came down for a very special event in R's life (more about that in my next post!) and we all enjoyed our time with them. They took the boys and Mike to the children's museum to see the Christmas train display and everyone had a great time. S and I stayed home so she wouldn't miss the all-important nap time, but we heard all about their fun day when the boys got home. Thank you Granny and Grandpa for our museum membership ~one of the best gifts ever!

This smile says it all! HA loves him some trains.

Grandpa treated everyone to lunch from Subway,
and R was even able to join them
during her lunch break from her special event.
More later about where R spent her very long and productive day :)

Best buddies, with trains as far as the eye can see.

HA, Grandpa, and HW

S is always happy after her good nap

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T19:52:00.000-06:00

Back row: HA, age 9 and R, age 13

Front row: HW, age 9 and S, age 3

Why adopt? Xiaoyun answers best.

2011-12-12T14:41:00.000-06:00

Amazing Xiaoyun is fourteen years old. She was adopted just a few months ago, right before she aged out of the system in China and became permanently unavailable for adoption. Thankfully Xiaoyun is HOME with her family and getting the medical help she needs for her scoliosis and learning just how much God loves her. But she knows that many still wait for a family to love them. And she knows what it feels like to wait ~ every child deserves a family of her own!

Giving Thanks ~ More Family

2011-12-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

We had a fun time visiting my sweet grandmother (we all call her Mom) at the center where she lives. The kids played music, sang, and hugged on the residents there. I'm very thankful they are comfortable around older people, and I am thankful our whole family was able to spend our Thanksgiving afternoon visiting this special lady who is so precious to me.

HW and HA played their whole song list, while Mom tapped her foot
to the music and clapped after each song.

S made her rounds and loved on each resident. They love to see her coming!

Mike was helping S get tuned up to sing for Mom. She sang a solo of
"I Wandered Today to the Hill, Maggie" and Mom remembered it!

Mom and me and S

S singing her song

The next day we enjoyed time with lots more family at Gram and DDon's house. The food was great, the conversation was good, and it was such a blessing to be together. We love you all! We have so much for which to be thankful.

The kids' table

The big kids' table

The three amigos

Cousin J getting some love from S

When the fun was finally all over, this is where I found S.

Giving Thanks ~ Family

2011-12-02T21:11:00.000-06:00

We are so thankful for all the people who love us and our children. There is a whole lot of love going on in our big ol' family, and we thank the good Lord for the blessing of each and every person.

We really enjoyed celebrating our early Christmas with Granny and Grandpa, Marla, Mandy, and Drew. As always, there was lots of good food (delicious tamales, compliments of Granny!) good fellowship, and good fun. The house was full of laughter and love. We love you all.

"Thank you for helping me be a cowgirl, Granny!"

HW, S, Grandpa, HA

Since the boys are into Legos, Granny has become an expert.

Isn't this a beautiful Ethiopian doll for my beautiful dolly?

HW and S

I love HA and R's faces ~ they were so excited for S when she opened her gift.

One of R's cute handcrafted gifts for Aunt Marla

"See how cute I am, Grandpa?"

Fun!

Giving Thanks ~ Friends

2011-11-30T18:05:00.000-06:00

We had a wonderful Fall Festival with our friends and neighbors this autumn. The kids had so much fun with their games and races and contests, and the adults had just as much fun laughing at the kids. I only have a few pictures to show for all our fun, because much of the party went on way after dark. We shared hot dogs and apple cider and all kinds of treats, then we topped off the evening with s'mores. We sorely missed a couple of our dear friends who were under the weather! Thank you, dear Lord, for friends who love us.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:12:00.000-06:00

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Giving Thanks ~ The Happy Gardener and His Happy Helpers

2011-11-17T17:55:00.004-06:00

This afternoon I took a break from making brine for our green bean pickles (yum!) and stepped out on the porch into the cool fall air. As is often the case, the Happy Gardener (aka DaddyDon) was working in the sunshine out in the big garden with one of his best gardening buddies, R. I just love seeing my kiddos pitching in and learning to love the land.

In the late autumn around here we are finishing up the last of our good fall veggies and planting winter crops like cabbages, broccoli, onions, and lettuces. I don't know which garden season is my favorite here in the south~ it works out great because just about the time we get good and tired of squash, the first frost of the season kills it and we get to move on to the salad greens. Or when we are up to our ears in watermelons they finish up and the tasty fall green beans come on strong. When the summer weather gets too hot for anything else, the okra and peppers and zucchini are just hitting their stride. We may not get to have a white Christmas very often, but we sure can grow awesome veggies.

Today I am very, very thankful that my dear Daddy loves to garden, and more importantly, that he is teaching my children all the secrets he knows. We eat mighty well here at Pecan Bluff because of his vision and planning and all his hard work. And we are thankful that Gram pitches in wherever he needs her. The pictures below show just a fraction of the fun and bounty we get from our big ol' gardens through the year. What a blessing.

adapted from

The Garden Song

by David Mallett, sung by John Denver

Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow

All it takes is a rake and a hoe

And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row

Please bless these seeds I sow

Please warm them from below

'Till the rain comes tumbling down.

Pulling weeds and pickin' stones

Man is made of dreams and bones

Feel the need to grown my own

'Cause the time is close at hand.

Grain for grain, sun and rain,

Find my way in nature's chain

Tune my body and my brain

To the music from the land.

Plant your rows straight and long,

Temper them with a prayer and a song.

Mother earth will make you strong

If you give her love and care.

An old crow watching hungrily

From his perch in yonder tree.

And in my garden I'm as free

As that feathered thief up there.

Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow

All it takes is a rake and a hoe

And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row

Please bless these seeds I sow

Please warm them from below

Till the rain comes tumblin' down.

Good Book Review :)

2011-11-16T22:20:00.000-06:00

Back in early spring I decided to do something I've never done: read through my Bible, cover to cover. I'm ashamed to admit I've tackled this project before and failed miserably. What a lousy feeling. I knew it was high time for me to read God's Word like the story that it is ~ His story.

In the past I seemed to start out strong with the best of intentions, then I'd fizzle out. I let life get in the way. I got busy, got bored, or just got lazy. How depressing. Even though I've always cracked the Good Book open at least once or twice per day, it was usually for schooling with the children or for Family Time devotionals. I'd read a scripture here, snatch a verse there. We memorize verses together, and I even print out verses and hang them around the house to help us with memorization. But I really wanted to read the Bible as a story. That just hadn't happened.

This time I decided things would be different, so I started by adjusting my attitude. Owning a Bible, knowing how to read it, and having the blessed freedom to do so anywhere and anytime is a gift ~ a true blessing of immeasurable worth. This book holds the very words of God, and they are written for me! What an amazing treasure. And what a tragedy to take it for granted. I also realized that in my relationship with the Lord I was doing way too much of the talking, and far too little listening. I actually find it quite easy to pray often, and I'm glad I have that habit of talking to the Lord. But what on earth made me believe that what I have to say to Him is of more importance than what He has to say to me? Forgive me, Lord.

Another mistake I've made through the years is picking up my Bible, flopping it open to a page and starting to read, all the while expecting some enlightening passage to leap off that page and meet my every need. Would I check out a library book and just pick and choose passages at whim, never reading it completely?

So this time around, the teacher in me resisted the urge to make a chart and schedule my pages and commit to reading a certain number of minutes per day. I also ditched the idea of using a specially arranged Bible that tries to keep things interesting by grouping together bits from the Old and New Testaments. In years past I'd try to study with one of those arranged Bibles and found the whole thing so disconnected that I just didn't enjoy it and I never stuck with it. This time I determined to simply pick up my New King James version Bible every day and drink in the words the good Lord laid out before me, beginning in Genesis and working through it page by page. No pressure. No assigned pages to tempt me to speed through the passages. No skipping around and picking and choosing. No guilt for falling behind.

To develop the habit of reading for my own profit every day, the first week I made sure I didn't go to sleep until I'd done it. Granted, I was up late some nights that first week, and I could hardly keep my eyes open past a couple of chapters; but after that, daily Bible reading really had become a habit, and my first hurdle was conquered.

I also took a break from reading other material. Now, as a home school mom I normally read a lot of materials. Either my husband or I read and approve everything before our children consume it. But there was just no way to keep up my normal schedule of reading while tackling my big Bible project. I put aside any leisure reading as well, to make sure I gave myself no excuse to spend precious moments reading anything else. Turns out, I have plenty of already reviewed books on our shelves just waiting for the kids to tackle them. Even after my break of several months, they still have reading material for school they are working through. I know that at some point I'll work back into reading our literature for school, but by then I pray that my Bible reading will be such a strong habit it will always take priority, as it should have all along.

Want to know the most amazing thing about this process? As I said, I gave up leisure reading when I started my little experiment, and I thought I'd really miss it. I really do love to read ~ from inspirational personal stories to classic literature! But I can honestly say I haven't missed those other books during these past months. I prayed that God would help my daily Bible reading become more than just a good habit. I wanted to want to read His word every day. And praise the Lord, He has worked that good work in me. Now I can't wait to pick up my Bible every time I get a few minutes~ His story is that good! Now I carry my Bible around the house and leave it in handy places so I can grab it up when I have a free moment. I even carry my Bible to appointments so I can read in the waiting room. I am enjoying this trip through scripture so much, and I am thankful.

I'm not setting any records for speed reading. I frequently allow myself time to research passages that I don't understand. I've taken time to study some archaeologic sources as well. But it's really OK with me if this project takes me another year, or two. I'm learning and growing and spending time in the Word. As of today, I've read up through II Kings and am still going strong. I really have a different attitude about Bible reading now, and my children sense it. They see that I'm excited to pick up my Bible~ and I want them to develop that love for the Word. His Word has become the good book I just can't put down!

If any of you busy moms have struggled to keep yourself in the Word every day I'd love to hear your tips and advice. I'm just so excited that I'm finally making good progress!

Giving Thanks ~ Smiles

2011-11-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

These smiles

make me smile.

Thank you, Lord,

for these precious people.

Sunday Saying

2011-11-06T15:46:00.000-06:00

The more I study nature,

the more I stand amazed

at the work of the Creator.

~Louis Pasteur

Giving Thanks ~ Train Rides Together

2011-11-02T06:49:00.002-05:00

We had so much fun taking this family outing to a park for a train ride! I'm thankful for my train-loving boys, who always have an intricate and ever-changing train layout filling half their bedroom floor. I'm thankful they were so excited to see their little sister get to ride this train with them for the first time. Loud noises, new places, and crowds of people can all trigger stress for S. See where her fingers are in the first picture? She is prepared! The train driver agreed not to blow the whistle while we rode, and we were all thankful that S made it through most of this experience with a big smile on her face. And I'm especially thankful for my precious teen, who truly enjoys anything that brings joy to her siblings.

Giving Thanks ~ Rain

2011-11-01T16:08:00.003-05:00

I love this time of year! What a wonderful time to find moments to thank our good and loving Father for the many blessings in our lives.

Today I am thankful for rain. We suffered so long this year with record-breaking drought and heat. When the rain finally came this fall it was sweeter than ever. The rapid change from parched, dry ground to fresh green grass was a sight to behold! We are still in need of more, but every precious drop was a blessing from the heavens. To God be the glory! Thank you Lord, for rain.

"I would seek unto God,

and unto God would I commit my cause:

Which doeth great things and unsearchable;

marvelous things without number:

Who giveth rain upon the earth,

and sendeth waters upon the fields:"

Job 5:8-10

Just because.

2011-10-19T16:43:00.000-05:00

My husband came home from work with these for me. I was so surprised!

When I asked what the special occasion was, he grinned.

"Just because I thought you could use some flowers."

How sweet is that?

This Moment

2011-10-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

It's been a whirlwind of last-minute travel, unusual appointments, weird schedules, rushed school work and hurried chores around here for several weeks now. It seems I wake up behind, and go to bed further behind. In addition, we've been without Daddy for four days. He made it home safely this evening.

Finally, I am again hearing the lovely sounds of my whole family, including dear Daddy, clearing the spaghetti dishes from the supper table and chatting and laughing.

I love this moment. All is right with my world. Thank you, Lord.

Peculiar

2011-10-04T15:10:00.001-05:00

Every month R and I make one massive trip to Sam's Club to stock up on pantry and freezer foods. We shop from our list and keep track of prices. It's fun to do it together and see how much we can save.

Back in August we marched in with our flatcar and were promptly met by a nice young man with straight, white teeth and slicked back hair. He flashed us a smile and began his spiel.

"Hello, how are you ladies today?" he smiled.
"Fine, thanks. How are you?"
"Just great!" he beamed. "Can I ask you who provides your cable service?"

To be honest, his question that hot afternoon in August actually caught me off-guard. I stammered a little, embarrassed, then shrugged, "Uh, we don't have cable. We actually have a digital converter box and a really old TV we play videos on. We don't even watch TV."

"You have a what?" he asked, clearly confused. As I explained briefly that we have a little box that converts those newfangled digital signals so that our ancient TV can still pick up the weather reports via our antenna, his expression became more and more amazed. When I explained that we get about three channels on a clear day, his eyebrows went up a little, then knitted in the middle. He tilted his head to one side and his mouth hung open. He was looking at me as if I were an alien that had walked right in off the parking lot. He shook himself out of his amazed stupor and I could see the wheels turning in his well-trained mind. He was thinking so hard I could almost hear it. These people don't have cable? These people don't watch TV? What on earth do they do? This wasn't in my sales training manual at all! What am I supposed to say to that?

He tried valiantly to figure out where to take this odd conversation with these peculiar people. He didn't come up with anything so he just sort of shrugged back at me and said, "Cool." You know, just like you'd say if you saw an alien. Cool.

I smiled politely and said, "Have a good day." We pushed our cart away and rounded a corner down the first aisle. R looked at me, and I looked at her, and we burst out laughing. His expression was priceless! Although I'd been a little embarrassed at the time, it really was a hilarious moment.

In September we headed back to the price club to stock up. As we walked in the door I spotted her coming toward us. This time instead of a toothy young man we were facing a pretty young lady, all business, brochures in hand. She was ready to tackle our cable problems and sell us on a new provider. I braced myself.

"Hello!" she called to us.
"Hi, how are you?" I responded.
"Just fine, thanks. Can I ask who your cable provider is?"
I smiled, squared my shoulders and met her gaze. "We don't have cable. We don't watch TV."
She truly looked like I'd just slapped her with a wet rag. Again, this situation is obviously not in the training manuals. After a few awkward moments she regained her balance and said, "Oh, OK. Well, have a good day?" The question mark is there on purpose, because she said it like a question. The wheels were still turning, and she was full of questions about our quirky selves, but she refrained from asking them out loud.

We waited until we were several steps away before R and I dissolved into giggles.

When this month's trip to Sam's Club rolled around, I was prepared. We got our cart and marched in the doors. But there was no one running toward us to discuss our TV habits this time. I admit I was a little disappointed. You see, I'd prepared my statement beforehand and was looking forward to using it. I was going to say, "We don't watch TV. Too much filth!" But, we made it all the way through the electronics sections with nary an encounter.

Just when I let my guard down and started digging in my purse for the list, round the next corner a freshly scrubbed kid stepped out toward me. "Have you heard about the event we are having in the store today?" he asked excitedly.

I turned toward him and smiled. "No, I haven't."
He brightened, then plowed ahead. "Three lucky customers will have a chance to win a year of free service from blah-blah-blah cable service! Can I ask who provides your cable service now?"

I looked at him. He couldn't have been over twenty and he was so happy about his task today, accosting people and getting them signed up for stuff. I just didn't have the heart to smack him with my prepared "filth" statement, so I simply replied, "We don't watch TV."

He faltered, confused and shaken. He opened his mouth, then closed it. He titled his head to one side, nodded slightly, then recovered nicely with this little nugget. "Oh, is that by choice?"

Now, I'm not sure what he meant, and I'm not sure he knew what he meant, either. Are there folks out there who don't watch TV because they are under duress? Maybe. But for us? Yep, it's by choice.

I've got to give him credit; he came up with a way to continue our conversation without too long of an awkward pause. His expressions were absolutely hilarious, but he managed to smile politely and keep chatting with us weirdos while his mind raced around and around the concept that some people just don't watch TV. We ended with smiles all around, but clearly he was thinking, "I can't wait to tell everybody at break about these people!"

We'll see what next month's trip to the price club holds. It should be interesting for everyone, especially the young people peddling cable plans.

Celebrations!

2011-09-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

The summer seems jam packed with birthdays in our family. Here are some pictures of our celebration at Granny and Grandpa's house. We partied in honor of HW's ninth birthday, and S's third birthday so it was a big blowout! Everyone had a blast and we were all thrilled to get to spend time with the whole family. Unfortunately in all the fun we failed to get all the pictures I intended to get ~ Aunt Mandy and Uncle Drew were certainly there to celebrate with us, but were somehow completely missing from the photos ~ boo! So sorry guys!
We had a great time and the kids were sugared up and played hard the whole weekend. Thanks for such a great summer birthday celebration, Family!

While Granny and I were trying to herd folks into the kitchen for singing and cake, S just couldn't stand the wait any longer and took a little nibble off one corner. I had told her not to touch the cake, and like an obedient little girl she kept her hands down at her sides ~ she never touched it, just tasted it. Good job, baby!

Look at my beautiful new rocking horse!

HW requested an ice cream cake this year, and boy was it delicious!

Some snuggle time with Grandpa

New Legos were a big hit!

R and HA also got some goodies, just for being the sister and brother of the Birthday Boy and Girl.

Snuggle time with Granny

Love all the pretty new clothes Granny picked out, too!

This picture with Aunt Marla was after the big kids wrapped up the fun weekend
with a visit to a very cool traveling exhibit about Genghis Khan.

Nearly Went Dumpster Diving

2011-09-02T17:51:00.000-05:00

Usually R and I do the grocery shopping on the weekend when Mike is home to stay with the other kiddos, but yesterday I opened the fridge and realized I didn't even have anything for supper. So, I loaded my crew and we went to the store. I planned to just grab as much as we could until S got antsy in her stroller, then we'd head home.

We made about half the aisles. While the boys helped me fill the basket, R kept S entertained with snacks and toys. When we reached the bread aisle I noticed S was getting pretty tired of sitting, so that was our cue to wrap things up. We zipped through the check out lane and steeled ourselves to go back out into the heat. We reached the car, buckled S in, folded and loaded the stroller, packed the groceries around it, sweated (it's still in the 100s here!), and all buckled up. I cranked the a/c and we headed down the road toward home, hoping the milk wouldn't spoil before we got there. A few blocks later R turned to me with a funny expression.

"I hope we got the Pup..." she said.

Now, if you've ever had a child love a special blankey (aka "the Buppy/Puppy/Pup"), you'll understand the fear that her comment struck in my heart. Where is the beloved blankey? Why didn't I check before we left? Surely it's somewhere in this minivan, right?

I pulled over into a parking lot, jumped out and started searching around her and her car seat. No luck. I pulled out the stroller and unfolded it, praying her sweet little soft Pup would fall out of it in front of me. Nope. The kids checked all through the van and pulled stuff from under the seats that we haven't seen in a good, long while. But no Pup. My temples were throbbing.

Back to the store we flew. I told the kids to pray for me, and hurried in. Retracing our steps I quickly checked the parking lot, then entered the store and backtracked through the check out lane, up through produce and into the bread aisle.

"Have you seen a little white rag?" I asked the man on his knees stocking loaves. "It's my daughter's blankey." He hadn't.

I turned left and walked by the cheese, quickly glancing always to my right down the long aisles we'd visited. No little white rag to be found.

Thankfully, the Puppy has a twin that we bring out when it's time to wash the dirty little thing. By switching them back and forth we've been able to extend the life of the well-loved lovey far past the normal life-span of a thin, cotton rag. When you're talking about old, raggedy, threadbare Pups, two is always better than one. I felt my eyes filling with tears as I remembered all the good times with Pup.

Pup helps close the gate

Pup visits the zoo

Pup plays with Grandpa

Pup attends B and K's lovely wedding

Pup snuggles with DaddyDon

My heart sank. If one of the precious Pups is gone, that dreaded day when the remaining Pup disintegrates into nothing more than blankey molecules will arrive much too soon. Oh, I just can't bear the thought of S losing her beloved blankey until she is good and ready to give it up!

Just then I turned to the side and looked into the doorway where the meat market guys come and go. And there, against the greasy baseboard, on the bottom of a pile of rubbish swept up from all over the grocery store, was the Pup. I couldn't help but say out loud, "Thank you dear Lord!"

It was filthy, blackened, and pathetic. But I grabbed it up in a second and hurried away with my prize before the sweeper returned for his pile. I missed dumpster diving for that precious little rag by mere seconds.

It's been through several hand-washings and hung out in the sun just for my peace of mind. The Pup seems no worse off than it was before its big adventure. I, on the other hand, have several more grey hairs.

Out Riding Fences

2011-08-16T08:20:00.000-05:00

Granny and Grandpa gave our little cowgirl this beautiful rocking horse for her 3rd birthday. She loves it! S and her pony named Pinto spent all day yesterday out riding fences with Dora. This one is for you, Granny! Thank you for finding the perfect pony for S! And don't miss the trick riding near the end :)

Encouragement to the Task

2011-08-15T10:39:00.000-05:00

I posted these thoughts last year as we slid from our summer school routine into our autumn routine. I really needed to read these truths this week, so I decided to share them again.

What do you expect of me, Lord?

I have one vital task in rearing my children: to point them to Jesus. My daily focus is not to make sure they are happy, or successful or smart. My job, as their mother, is to help them know the Lord.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

and forsake not the law of thy mother;

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,

and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

But how will I have the strength and wisdom to do this, Lord?

I do not have the strength and wisdom to do this. It will come from my gracious Lord.

But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

On what should I focus, Lord?

I musn't be distracted by all the "good" things this world has to offer, but rather focus on the righteousness that God offers.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned,

and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:8,9

Will You bless me in my efforts, Lord?

It is my task to sow diligently the words of God into my children, and the Lord will bring forth His harvest.

Be not deceived, God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit shall

of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well doing;

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:7-9

Out of the Mouths of Moms

2011-08-12T09:35:00.001-05:00

It's hot, and the walls are closing in around here. We've been creative and tried to keep busy with indoor activities, but we are so ready for some cooler weather so we can run around outside again! And right now "cooler" could mean any temperature below 100 degrees. If it ever rains again here in Texas we are going to spend an entire day splashing in puddles. I think the kids may not remember what a puddle is.

After we finish school and chores each day we try to find some fun stuff to do that involves air conditioning. We baked and decorated sugar cookies one day, and the kids chose Christmas shapes to make thing feel cooler. It didn't really work, but we had fun. We dug around in the closet and found every musical instrument we own and they played them all at he same time. We've played hide-and-seek indoors, which reminded me how badly I need to clean out closets around here. We painted pictures. The boys have spent hours with Legos and R is sewing hard on a lovely Christmas surprise.

We got so desperate yesterday that we made birthday cakes out of play-do for S and stuck candles in them. Then I burned through a half a box of matches lighting candles over and over while we all sang the "Happy Birthday" song umpteen times. Good fun. It felt like surely we'd been at it for at least an hour, but when I checked the clock that mighty mess only used up twenty minutes of the long, hot afternoon.

These words of wisdom came out of my mouth this week:

"Don't bite your brother on the bottom!" (And this wasn't the first time I've said that.)

"Don't lick the fish tank!"

And, one of my favorites:

"Don't lick that frosting off your sister's foot!"

Seriously.

Summer Struggles

2011-08-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

It's hot here. Very, very hot. Too hot to swim, because the water in the kiddie pool is literally so hot I could toss in some veggies and make soup. It's too hot to play outside, because it is downright dangerous. It's too hot.

So, with all this indoor time I've had more hours to notice how much I need to do around here. I need to paint the beat up living room walls, scrub the corners on the vinyl floors, wash windows, clean out the linen closet (didn't I just do that?), organize my mudroom, wash my kitchen cabinets, reorganize my study, sort through the boys' room, continue to dejunk, and always chip away at the never-ending pile of books with no home. All that is stuff I should do in my spare time, but I can't seem to find spare time with the everyday chores and mothering that come hard and fast from the time I get up until my head hits the pillow at night. What to do? I thought about just giving up completely for a week and just relaxing, but can you imagine the mess I'd face after a week of letting things go? Ugh. Not a great plan.

So, I figure I'll start by paring down my list. Some of those jobs would nice, even fun, to accomplish. But they are not really necessary right now. In fact, it's not even feasible to have them on the list right now, so I'll strike out washing the kitchen cabinets and painting anything. The mudroom is a daily frustration, so that truly needs to be done. But, I'll let go of my ideal makeover and instead embrace a more workable redo that will help me more efficiently deal with all this produce coming into my house daily, while still being able to find my laundry baskets (even though they are all full of cantaloupes and watermelons). The linen closet is also pretty frustrating, so I'll delegate that. My eldest daughter enjoys those kinds of challenges, so what have I been waiting for? Give the job to her, and then praise her for a job well-done, even it's not exactly like I envisioned it. Maybe we'll take a picture of it when it's done and post it inside the door so that all our male family members can tell exactly where to put those clean linens when they are folded.

My eldest son is good at washing baseboards, and has been slowly working his way around the house each week via his ChorePack. But perhaps I could set him up to do the whole house as a paying job, or maybe his brother would like a turn at it, and every room could get a fresh wipe down? Now that's an idea. If I'm going to get down the on floor I'd like to be playing Twister or dollhouse with the kids, not wiping something down. As for washing the windows, forget about it. We'll tackle that job when it's not 109 degrees outside and we can do both sides of them. So I'm marking that off now.

Things already look a bit better. And that's enough time spent pondering my plight. It's time to get on with it and get this stuff done. I'm going to make sure I'm drinking enough water, get everyone to bed on time each day, and get up early to get a jump on the day. Hopefully after a week of concentrated efforts, and continued regular Bible readings for strength and courage, I'll feel a little more in control of my household and better able to serve my family. Or maybe I'll just be really, really tired :)

Don't Eat That!

2011-07-25T22:46:00.000-05:00

Baby S reached a wonderful developmental milestone this summer ~ she can finally be trusted not to eat every single thing she touches! Oh, she still tastes things she shouldn't sometimes. But now, as long as I am right with her, she gets to squish playdough or scoop beans or string chunky beads for a necklace. She's pretty pleased about it, too. With the temperatures over 100 degrees almost every day this summer, I'm glad we've been able to pull out some of these toys now and enjoy them in the air conditioning.

Pitching In

2011-07-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

We had three generations shelling black-eyed peas

The boys picked our first crop of Champanelle grapes! So exciting, and yum!

Moment of Library Clarity

2011-07-08T14:57:00.001-05:00

Finally, finally. I've been praying for the answer to organizing our books ~ our many, many books. Grouping by author was absolutely useless, as was grouping alphabetically by title. I even looked into several computer programs designed to help me keep organized, but they just weren't the right fit for our situation. It finally dawned on me to organize them as we use them: by relevant time period! Oh, what a relief.

I put the system in place a couple of months ago while Mike was off from work to help wrangle the kids, and it was a chore getting everything in order! I went through every book and noted on the front flap in which section it belongs. But I'm so glad I did it ~ it is working wonderfully. For the first time in years, I can walk to any of our numerous shelves, find the correctly labeled section, and quickly pull out a certain book. So nice.

We have biographies, history, and historical fiction all organized by historical period. We also have several shelves devoted to what we call "Our World." That can include books about cultures, maps, weather, insects, how things are made, and all kinds of other science materials. Finally, we have several shelves for what we call "Story Books" that hold all the fiction, readers, and just-for-fun materials that don't really fit any other category.

This has been such a blessing, since we are a Charlotte Mason family, and we mainly use books as they correlate to our history studies. When the kids pull a book on their own to read, they drop it in a basket in the school room when they are finished. HW is responsible every day (it's in his ChorePack) to shelve books from that basket. For the most part he does a good job of it, with just a little follow-up from me.

We do have one problem, though. We still, even after a ruthless culling, own too many books. What a nice problem to have, and we feel very blessed, but it is still a problem. Another paring down is in order, and I'm going to have to get tough about it. Until that happens, though, I'll just ignore that stack on the floor, and enjoy my neat and tidy shelves.

Southern Summertime Suppers

2011-06-27T11:57:00.000-05:00

We've enjoyed filling our table with so much goodness fresh from the garden this season. The potatoes have been a hit every way I've made them. HW loves the tomatoes so much that he runs through the kitchen several times a day, grabs a couple and pops them in his mouth on the go. And the okra ~ wow! Normally, I never fry foods. But during okra season we just have to have some platters of this crispy southern goodness on the table, so I pull out the frying pan. It's truly worth the mess of frying just to see Baby S ask for "More kokra, puh-leeeeease!" The black-eyed peas have been very productive, too, even in this terrible heat wave we are having. We eat all we can, then fill the freezer with peas ~ we already have 11 quarts vacuum packed and stashed away for the winter! We are so thankful for all these goodies and for the chance it gives our children to learn about how God sends us our food. They are really looking forward to the melons and pumpkins next!

We eat this crispy okra like popcorn.

We've had some big beautiful reds, lots of grape tomatoes, plus these luscious little yellow pear tomatoes.
They make a gorgeous salad with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top.

The black-eyed peas thrive in this heat, with a batch ready to pick every two days!

Our first cantaloupe! It was gone in minutes.

The Wrong Dream?

2011-06-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

The Fort

2011-06-14T16:04:00.000-05:00

Remember this?
This project has been a long one ~ lovingly crafted from the ground up, with all the kids pitching in to help their Daddy. Dear R especially has been his biggest help, rising early each Saturday morning to put in several hours of work before the day heats up too much. They have enjoyed working together so very much! I'm so proud of them and all they've accomplished. And soon we'll be able to show finished photos of this great big fort. It's going to be a playhouse any kid would love!

After their work this past week, R and HA and HW packed a quick lunch of hot dogs and strawberries and chips, kicked their shoes off and had a picnic in the ground floor of the new fort. I'm so happy for them!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2011-06-07T13:49:00.000-05:00

Mom is what we grands and great-grands call my dear grandmother. She celebrated her 91st birthday in style with a bash at the beautiful nursing home care center where she now lives. My parents, my aunt and uncle, and Mike and I and the kids were all there to help her celebrate!

A fun time was had by all at the party. R decorated the brightly colored cakes and decorated the dining room. HA played some tunes on his guitar for the residents. HW gave lots of hugs and handshakes and helped blow out candles, and S ran around being entertaining and generally bringing lots of life and noise to the party. I know that Mom enjoyed having everyone there to celebrate, and all the other residents had fun, too. It was a pleasure to be there, and we are thankful Mom is doing so well and is so close that we can visit her often. Happy 91st Birthday, Mom! We love you!

Days Like This

2011-05-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Since I can never seem to stay caught up on scrapbooking for my dear children, this blog serves as a reminder of the big stuff and the little stuff that I want to remember with my family. Here are some of the blessings that I'm keeping in my heart this day.

Last evening the weather was beautiful again. We ate a simple supper on the porch, then we taught Baby S how to chase fireflies. The big kids, with enthusiastic help from Hank the cowdog, did relay races and all sorts of games that had their Daddy and me in stitches. Baby S ran about laughing and copying everything they did. After soapy baths to wash all the chiggers off, I tucked them all in with kisses and a heart full of gratitude that this precious family is mine.

We generally take Friday's off from school in the summer, so today started with gardening. R tidied the kitchen after breakfast, and the boys watched Baby S while I picked green beans, peppers, squash, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli and the very first tomato of the season.

While I worked my way down the rows, I mentally planned out several menus to use up all that good bounty, including plans to freeze some of the beans since there are so many I don't think even my veggie-loving family can eat them all up right now. Praise the Lord for all this fresh goodness, and for all the work done by my parents and my extended family in keeping the garden going for all of us. It's a huge blessing to feed our children this healthful, fresh produce straight from the field. And praise Him for the rain we are expecting later today and this weekend!

A few peaches survived the hail, wind and hard rain a few weeks back. We didn't beat the worms completely, but we did a much better job this year controlling the pests. They tasted great and the kids thoroughly enjoyed every morsel!

Our first year to grow grapes ~ and they are looking good!

HW showing about a third of the big garden. Yep, it's big.

HA can't wait for some good sweet corn! It's almost ready.

The potatoes have been delish, and we still have rows and rows of them left to enjoy.

R is still taller than the corn, but not by much~

I think most of our rows are about 70 feet long. The melon rows are even longer. Here is HW at the far end of the beans.

After gardening, R, HA, and HW took a wheelbarrow full of garden scraps (spent broccoli plants and cabbage leaves) to the cows and chickens. As I watched through the kitchen window they joked and laughed together while they lugged the heavy load and forked the greens over the fence. My heart was warmed by watching them at the task together. I love that they love each other.

They came inside, washed up, and went to do R's School while Baby S and I played make-believe with the Playmobil people on the floor. R's School is a family tradition that started two years ago when a young R asked if she could teach the boys. She began carefully preparing lessons and teaching her little brothers for about half an hour, a couple of times per week. R's School has now expanded into several hours per week for the boys. On R's School days, Baby S and I enjoy some quality play time together while the three big kids have a blast doing fun projects, zipping through math flash cards, and playing educational games together. Some of the fun stuff they did today included agriculture worksheets, an art lesson, and building a working clock from lemons. The best part was that I overheard the very start of their school time, as the three kids began with this very thoughtful and humble prayer from eight-year-old HW:

"Dear God,
Thank you for this day, and thank you for all your blessings. Please help us to have a good day at R's School. Please help R to be a good teacher, and please HA and me to be good students. Please help us to do your will. In Jesus name we pray. Amen."

Cool! Can't wait to talk to Daddy about it when he gets home.

It's time for lunch now and we've already accomplished much together. I am so grateful to be able to teach these kids. Days like these refresh my spirt for all the mothering tasks I've been entrusted to do. And today I do them with a happy and full heart, praising God for every good and perfect gift.

Sheep Dog Trial

2011-05-14T12:55:00.012-05:00

A few weekends back, Mike took the bigs to a sheep dog trial to watch the working dogs do their thing. They had a great time and learned so much about those smart collies. R had packed a picnic lunch, so they ate in a beautiful park and did a little exploring before calling it a day. Once again, they enjoyed the blessing of perfect spring weather. Good times with Daddy.

A Fish Story

2011-05-13T20:47:00.001-05:00

The kids enjoyed a beautiful, fun day of fishing with their Dad, cousin J, and DaddyDon ~ this was several weeks ago, even before the trees were leafed out. Now everything at the tank is leafy green.

The fishing party

Getting set

I love this face!

Cousin J keeping cool with DaddyDon

I love this smile!

The sky was so beautiful that day

HA getting a little instruction from Dad

The big catch!

Success!

Made in the Shade

2011-04-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

Baby S is still prone to tossing sand and rolling on the ground when we play outside. Come to think of it, all the kids still do that! I love these sweet, cotton bonnets to protect my little pioneer girl's face from the sun and to keep sand and grass out of her curls.

Hooray for modest swimsuits!

2011-04-23T21:25:00.000-05:00

How beautifully modest are my two sweet girls in their new swimsuits?

I am so happy we were able to get these suits so R and S can enjoy swimming and still be modest. They love them, the suits are very comfortable, and their Daddy is very pleased. I'm so happy we found Simply Modest Swimwear and we feel very blessed to be able to order suits from them for the first time. They also sell patterns and fabric, so we might try sewing our own when these are outgrown. The service was really great, too.

Breathless

2011-04-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

This spring has left me breathless, not only with the beauty of green growing things and beautiful blooms, but also because we have a lot going on and things are so busy here at Pecan Bluff. I have tons of pictures to share that show some of what we've been up to, so those are coming up soon.

The gardens are truly amazing this year. We've been very dry and windy all spring, but everything is still looking great with some extra special care from the busy gardeners. We are so excited about all the goodies growing in the two gardens ~ that's right, we've got two big gardens this year! So, so exciting! We now have lots of room for all those huge vining plants that seem to eat up garden space as they grow, and that is such a blessing.

We are still enjoying broccoli, asparagus and onions, while hoping for great crops from our potatoes, corn, onions, tomatoes, peppers, peas, green beans, squash, pumpkins, and melons. And I'm sure I forgot something ~ they are really big gardens! The lush green plants look absolutely beautiful right now.

While we eat breakfast each morning we watch curious crows visiting the gardens looking for something good to eat. I guess some scarecrows will be needed pretty soon to keep those pesky crows at bay. Sounds like a fun project for the kids!

On a Roll with Fleece

2011-03-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

R has been making fleece blankets for lots of family members the past few months. They've all turned out so cute and are well-loved. This particular blanket took some extra effort, and lots of extra fabric. Cousin M is very tall and long-legged, so he has trouble finding a blanket long enough to cover him from head to toes. Well, this warm cammo blanket R made for him will do the trick. It is long enough that he can wrap up in it and even keep his toes warm. Doesn't he look pleased?

Sunday Singing

2011-03-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day;
I don't borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray;
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For he knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me;
And the path that be my portion,
May be thru the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.

Dress Up Shoes

2011-03-19T13:52:00.000-05:00

Oh, the cuteness! I love the sound of Baby S clomping around in her plastic dress up heels. She walks like a champ in them, and really loves dressing up with hats and bows and purses. Such a very fun age!

How about twenty in twenty-seven?

2011-03-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

I didn't make my deadline for the Twenty in Twenty Challenge to de-clutter our home and share things we no longer need. But, I did finally get my twentieth bag tossed today! Yay! And thanks to my family for pitching in where asked and for giving generously to the donation center.

I'm pretty burned out on sorting and purging for now, so I'm taking a break to enjoy the empty spaces we found. We may still try to tackle our big barn/garage before the weather warms up too much, and I know that big job will be rewarding when we accomplish it.

Kudos to those of you who joined me in the Twenty in Twenty Challenge. Now, doesn't that feel better?

Our Guitar Star!

2011-03-03T15:06:00.001-06:00

HA had a great performance this week in his very first classical guitar recital. We are so proud of his rousing rendition of Lightly Row. Great job, HA!

Yummus Hummus

2011-02-28T12:09:00.001-06:00

Here is a hummus recipe that will knock your socks off! This is fast and easy and so good you just want to eat it with a big spoon. But if you can hold out, make some good Easy Flat Bread and dip it with that instead. Oh, so good.

Yummus Hummus

3/4 olive oil
the juice and zest of 2 large lemons
2 cans of garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), drained
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp course salt

Blend all until smooth. Cover and refrigerate one hour to meld flavors, if you can leave it alone that long. Otherwise, just grab that big spoon and go for it.

Easy Flat Bread

3 cups flour, plus some for rolling out
3 T shortening
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp soda
1 cup cold water

Preheat skillet to medium high. Mix dry ingredients, then cut shortening into the mixture until crumbly. Add water and mix until a dough forms. Pinch off pieces of dough about the size of a tennis ball and knead each one a few strokes on a floured surface until smooth. Roll out dough, or press out with fingers until circle is about 1/2 inch thick. Add a tsp of olive oil to skillet, then cook bread on each side for about one minute until nicely browned. Serve with hummus.

Twenty in Twenty - Challenge Update

2011-02-22T10:57:00.000-06:00

We have donated or trashed fourteen bags of stuff, and I am so thrilled! I have exactly one week left to move six more bags of junk off the Pecan Bluff premises. So far we've culled clothes, shoes, games, toys, kitchen items, and even a variety of old boxes (now why on earth was I storing those?) I also made a conscious effort to use up various hair products and soaps, etc, that we started and then moved on to using something else. What a waste, and what needless clutter to have those half-empty bottles hanging around! So, we've tossed lots of bottles and jars too, as we've used them up finally.

Our home feels lighter, and my heart feels joyful at seeing open space where it wasn't before. This has been a great way to bless my family and teach my children that the stuff of this world musn't keep us from doing our job on this earth ~ to bring glory to God. Sharing things we don't need and paring down what we own has already helped our family work and serve more effectively in the past couple of weeks, and that's been a wonderful change.

Incredibly, we accomplished this big challenge so easily in the house and yard that we didn't even do much clearing in the garage yet. And it really needs it. So, this challenge may be reinstated for the month of March so we can get that mammoth job done before the hot weather hits.

I got emails that some of you were working toward cleaning up your messes along with me this month. If you joined me in the Twenty in Twenty Challenge, congratulations on all your hard work. Let me know how you are doing, and keep on blessing your home and your family. To God be the glory!

Home Schooling Year Round - Update

2011-02-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

alternatively titled

Why I Love the South in February

alternatively titled

Why On Earth Did It Take Me So Long

to Try Year Round School?

Yep, this whole winter break thing is working out really, really well.

Proud Parents!

2011-02-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

Our beautiful daughter wrote this the other day

when she hit the teen years,

and I just have to share it here.

We are so proud of her, and so thankful to be her parents.

We love you, R!

Typical Teen

by R

Me, age 13

People seem to think that when a child turns thirteen, that he or she has to act, speak, dress differently than they have in the past. I am positive that when I turned thirteen last week, that I did NOT turn into what everyone might expect ~ a rebellious, lazy, self-centered teen. Some people think that it is like turning a switch, some parents think that their child has to turn into a monster. My parents will NEVER think that. They believe (and it's true) that the Bible never tells us to let kids act out, even when they are teenagers. It says that we are supposed love each other, respect our parents, and obey God, even when we are teens. The Bible never will give any excuse to teens to let them do things that they SHOULD NOT do, just because they become a teen. No excuses! If you think every teen has to be obnoxious and rebellious, just stand back and watch me! I don't plan to do those things, because I really do love the Lord and I really do love and respect my parents.

The Blankie (aka "Buppy")

2011-02-10T10:49:00.000-06:00

I'm growing up

and I'm such a big girl

I can even close the gate all by myself...

... but I still need my Buppy.

The Challenge : Twenty in Twenty

2011-02-08T14:02:00.000-06:00

I'm ready for a new challenge, people!
Before this month is up we will purge our home and garage of 20 bags of stuff we don't need! It's a big challenge, but I think we can do it. That's one bag per day every day until the end of February ~ 20 bags in 20 days. Want to jump in and join us?
I'm aiming to get one large trash bag filled per day, but even small bags will count. Plus, if I get rid of a big item (like the giant electronic phonics game I found today that makes the X sound no matter which letter you push) it counts as one bag of stuff all by it's lonesome.
So, we are off to dig through closets, rummage through the garage, and shuffle through shelves to find stuff we don't need, don't want, or don't use. If we find something we haven't used in the past year then we're going to think long and hard on whether we really, truly need that thingamajig. Then we'll haul all those donations to Goodwill and pray that someone needing just such an item will find it there.
This is gonna feel great!

Snow!

2011-02-04T10:37:00.000-06:00

How on earth do you northern mamas do this for all those winter months? We have four inches of snow today and the temps are in the twenties. The kids were so excited to play in it that they could hardly wait long enough to scarf down breakfast. They dragged out every warm thing they own and I bundled them snuggly into the layers. They doubled up on socks and gloves, pulled on their cowboy boots, then ran out into a winter wonderland.

Not ten minutes later they came to the door like stiff snowmen, covered from head to toe in powder and half-frozen. I peeled off all their layers into a massive pile of soggy stuff, then hung it all to dry in front of the stove. The children thawed out with hot chocolate, and I mopped up the floor where they undressed and left a big puddle. Now they are ready to do it all over again!

Snow may be beautiful, but it's exhausting, what with all the sopping clothes, the changing in and out, the thawing of appendages, the heaving on and off of frozen boots. I really don't know how you moms up north manage it every day. Hats off to you!

I'm Mom to a Teen!

2011-01-29T16:10:00.000-06:00

Our sweetheart R turned thirteen, and she is such a blessing to us all! She is so full of talent and such a ray of sunshine every day. After postponing the party for a while until we could all get well, we were finally able to celebrate with lots of family and had a great afternoon. And can you believe that R designed, made, and decorated her birthday cake?!

Happy Birthday, R!

We love you!

Is she amazingly talented, or what?

Check out those precious, perfect little flowers she made!

The birthday girl ~ Happy 13th!

Yes, she thoroughly enjoys being taller than Mom

Best gal pals

Starting Off Right

2011-01-24T09:09:00.000-06:00

It's a little odd to be thinking of the summer fruit season right now. But, after our year-long experiment, we realize that this Eat What You Grow plan is an everyday sort of thing ~ we always have to be planning ahead and setting ourselves up for success. For example, last year we pruned the fruit trees later than we should have, and though the trees truly needed that shaping up, we had to take off most of the blooms when we pruned. So this year we were determined to start the fruit season off right, by pruning all the trees right on time in January while everything is dormant and resting. And we did it!

Actually, Mike pruned the blackberries right after they bloomed late in the summer, and that was exactly right on time for blackberries. Then yesterday, he and I pruned the pears, apples, and peaches (bless his heart, he did most of the pruning and I stood back and pointed to limbs we wanted removed.) It was cold and windy, and pruning is always a big job here in the land of Canaan because things grow so huge here. But I know that work will pay off when the trees start to bloom and then set fruit on their new shapes. We are hoping for a productive year, and it feels great that we're off to a good start!

Do I See A Light?

2011-01-18T21:24:00.000-06:00

Everyone is perking up. The coughs are hanging on, as they always do. But the fevers are gone and the antibiotic bottles are almost drained. Speaking of drained, so am I. Is there anything more tiring than having a sick family? Praise God everyone is on the mend.

Granny and Grandpa sent a special treat in the mail to cheer everyone up ~ fun get-well cards for each child plus gift cards to Sonic. Whoop! No one has had much appetite for anything this past week, but they all got curious cravings for fries when those cards came. And since the walls seem to be closing in on us around here, they really enjoyed bundling up and getting out of the house with Daddy for that quick Sonic run. Thanks Granny and Grandpa!

Laughter Really is the Best Medicine

2011-01-16T14:22:00.000-06:00

I've been a parent for 13 years now, but I just figured something out today. This would have been very helpful had I realized it a dozen years ago, but I can be a little slow sometimes. Better late than never, I guess.

To be honest, it's been the pits around here this week. In addition to all the sickness going around this house, my hubby has been very busy at work, and there were a couple of days in there when I'm not even sure if we saw each other. The kids and I haven't been out at all except to go to the doctor's office and the pharmacy, and those weren't exactly fun excursions. One such visit even involved a shot, so that stunk.

Well, we are all still home together today recuperating. Daddy is home, too, thankfully. This morning he and I were trying to blaze a trail through the living room and tidy up the kitchen a little, because I've sort of ~~gotten behind~~ let things go completely this week, and the place is a wreck. I'm not feeling great, and he is exhausted from a hard week at work. So, this morning I really didn't want to be doing laundry, and I know that Mike didn't want to do the yucky job he was doing (I'll spare you the details, but believe me, it was yucky.) In the middle of doing those tasks, (just about the time I was ready to get grumpy) we started laughing with or at each other, and we really couldn't stop. That wasn't too unusual, because he makes me laugh all the time. But what happened next really got my attention today.

Keep in mind that the kids are still feeling bad and coughing like crazy. They haven't slept well in days, it's freezing and raining outside, and we all have cabin fever from being stuck in this house for over a week together. But, when Mommy and Daddy laughed, the kids laughed, too. They didn't even know why we were laughing, but it made them happy to see us laughing. And that little family laugh-fest left a rosy glow on each face, despite their hacking.

For a good long while, no one fussed and no one complained. Everyone pitched in as they were able and everyone was cheerful. And it was all because Mommy and Daddy laughed.

NOTE TO SELF:
More parental laughter = happier kids

Sick, sick, sick

2011-01-14T12:18:00.000-06:00

None of the kids have been sick in a long time, but I've taken three of four kiddos to the doctor just this week! Baby S has pneumonia, and the boys are down with bronchitis. Yuck. Poor things. So my house, which was still a bit of a wreck from Christmas-palooza, is an even bigger mess due to sick beds on all the couches, vaporizers, medicines and boxes of tissues placed strategically all over. Everyone is doing their best to drink all the liquids I insist on, but HW in particular really feels rotten and just slept all afternoon yesterday. He is some better today, but sounds awful. Thankfully, Mama and Daddy and R are still holding out and feeling fine. We are washing hands and wiping down surfaces like crazy.

It's really been cold here. Unfortunately because of all the lung issues, we had to put the whole heating with wood challenge on hold for at least a week. We don't want any irritations in the air while the kids are healing up. We really miss the toasty feeling of that wood stove heat!

I'm off to pour some juice down HW and put the baby down to nap, then I'm declaring it movie afternoon while I lie down! Thankfully, the kids got the whole super-awesome Liberty's Kids series for Christmas from Gram and DaddyDon, so that will keep them busy for a while.

What Doesn't Work for Me

2011-01-09T19:38:00.000-06:00

Instead of making resolutions (who needs that kind of pressure?) I've decided to write down some of the things that don't work for me and my family, and then happily let those things go. These are things I've felt like I ought to be doing, but haven't found a way to make them work for us. So here is my list of things I'm gladly letting go in 2011:

Extreme couponing doesn't work for me. If I happen to already have a coupon handy (or there is one hanging in the store right next to the item), and if I was planning to buy the item anyway, I'll gladly use that coupon. But I don't have time to clip coupons, carry them around in my purse, sort out the 39 that expired yesterday, then forget to use the remaining 3 when I get to the checkout. I just don't need that kind of aggravation. I buy store brands when they are good, buy in bulk when possible, and I don't buy convenience foods. I don't get baskets full of free groceries like the good couponers do, but it's a fair trade off. With the time I don't coupon I can play a game of scrabble with the kids.

Rebate programs do not work for me either. Take the aforementioned aggravation, multiply it by 4387, then quadruple it. I do not want to be required to shop at certain places within a certain time period in order to use certain points on certain brand items of a certain size. Rebates are so not for me.

Store-hopping also does not work. I know that some moms save lots of money by checking out circulars, comparing prices, making lists, then going from store to store to pick up the items that are the best deal that week. Since we live in the country, gas is too expensive to make that kind of shopping all over town worthwhile. Also, don't forget about the aggravation factor I keep mentioning. Do we see a theme here? I don't really like going to even one store, so I certainly don't want to go to several just to get the weekly groceries.

Menu planning also is not working right now. It actually used to work great for us. I planned four weeks of menus down to the side dishes, and we shopped from those lists and cooked and ate from those lists faithfully. But then we challenged ourselves to eat what we grow, and the menu plans went out the window. With eating off the land, my available ingredients change from day to day, therefore menu plans just don't fit our family. It's been a little frustrating trying to keep up with the meals without a good plan, but my sous-chef R and I do seem to be getting better at it every day. And I'm still hopeful we can come up with some sort of general, seasonal plan that will help in this area.

Orange you glad I finally figured out how to post videos?

2011-01-05T13:31:00.000-06:00

The picture quality may be poor, but the star is all kinds of adorable. She's surrounded by new Christmas stuff, but fruit is her favorite toy!

In Everything Give Thanks

2010-12-31T20:49:00.000-06:00

We are thankful for all the Lord's blessings of the past year, and I want to use the last day of 2010 to make note of some of the growth we've enjoyed seeing in our family.

Mike and I will celebrate twenty years of marriage a few short weeks from now. We are amazed! How quickly the time has flown, and we've been so very blessed to share this grand adventure together.

R, HA, HW, and Baby S are all healthy and growing, and we praise the Lord for the privilege of parenting them. Having a toddler, a preteen, and two in-between is keeping us young! We are enjoying this year of home schooling very much. Our most important focus each day in Pecan Bluff Home School is still on the Bible, and we find that listening to God's word sets a good tone for our entire day. We are very proud of the academic progress of all the children, and we are thankful for the opportunity to teach them.

Thanks to teamwork, we have a pantry full of home-canned goodness, including rows of pear and fig preserves and pint after pint of green tomato relish. Mike loves our home canned pepper sauce and I'm glad to have a freezer full of homegrown pasta sauces, pears, broccoli and zucchini to bring us through the winter. It was a steep learning curve that got me through the canning seasons, so I feel I'll be better prepared to tackle the job next year when harvest time rolls around.

We also have a nice stack of firewood ready and we really enjoy heating the house with our woodstove. The boys are doing a great job keeping the wood box filled and the kindling box topped off. The kids learned so much about living off the land this year, and we enjoy learning right alongside them.

R is our beautiful twelve-year-old. She is in seventh grade this year, and she's doing well in her studies. She's also the best big sister around. Her brothers can always count on her for games and giggles. She truly has a natural gift for tenderly caring for her little sister. She's a good student and enjoys reading nonfiction how-to books. She likes sewing, quilting, and working on 4H projects. She loves playing violin with the orchestra, and we are amazed at all she has accomplished with her music in the past five years. She had several great performances this year, and she also frequently gives us concerts here at home. It is so much fun to see her enjoying herself with music. She found a sport she loves when she played her first season of volleyball! She is still growing taller, and she got a big kick out of passing me up in height this year. With two brothers who seem to be hungry all the time, she is a true blessing in our home as an accomplished cook.

Her home-keeping skills have been a big help with putting up all this fresh produce this year, and she cheerfully tackles many projects that help keep our home buzzing. She is a crafty girl, too, so she made some great gifts for loved ones this year, and she is our official birthday cake baker. Thankfully, she enjoys working in the garden, too. Her sense of humor and cheerful spirit continue to delight us, and we cherish these special years with her as she grows into a lovely young lady.

Our HA is eight years old and is in the third grade. This year he discovered a love for Legos, and he's designed and built some spectacular vehicles. He also still enjoys designing and building railway layouts with the boys' wooden train set.

He was especially thrilled to continue to tradition of setting up the electric train in their room for Christmas. He is a devoted student of all kinds of wildlife, and he loves to read just about anything. He got glasses this year to reduce eyestrain, and he looks so handsome when he wears them to read. He began studying the classical guitar and had several great performances and concerts! We are so proud of him for working hard at it. He is still very loving and tenderhearted and gives the best hugs. He has grand adventures every day with HW, laughs a lot with R, and is a very protective big brother for S. He loves helping his Daddy with fix-it projects around our place, is a helpful gardener, and keeps my herbs watered. In just the past few months he's developed a cheerful attitude when doing his chores, and it is a real blessing to me each day. He is hoping and dreaming of the beautiful horse he hopes to own one day. He has a tender heart for spiritual things, and we are so happy that he obeyed the gospel and was baptized this summer. He is growing into a fine young Christian gentleman, and we feel blessed to help him grow in the Lord.

Our HW is eight and is in third grade this year also. He is mischievous and always loves a good joke. He likes to sing, and he's very interested in how things work. He is an avid reader of everything from encyclopedias to history books to dictionaries. He is full of big words and he sometimes surprises us when he slips one of them into conversation. He loves making Lego creations and playing just about anything with his brother. HW has a vivid imagination and can make up some very complicated and interesting scenarios for his Lego men or trains. He loves learning about insects. In fact, whenever I find an icky bug that snuck its way into the house, he is the one I call for help. He first investigates it, identifies it, and then takes care of it for me. He plays patiently with S, and he is good at keeping her entertained. He loves to cook with R and me and he is always excited to do special projects to help around the house or farm with his Daddy.

He's grown several inches this year and is such a handsome young man! He works ahead in many of his school subjects and he truly loves learning. He is always quick to help and a cheerful, thorough worker when he does his chores each day. He works hard to please us in everything he does. We are very proud of him and he brings us great joy.

Baby S is our adorable and very busy two-year-old. We are thrilled to hear all her new words each day, and we are very thankful for her good health. She is such a happy toddler and is really a joy. She is attached to her blanket, loves music, is in constant motion, and has all her grandparents wrapped around her finger. She always wants to be outside, no matter the weather. She played hard in the fun snows we had this year, and then she swam hard in the kiddie pool all summer long. She really loves the water. She also loves long walks, throwing rocks into the creek, digging in the dirt and playing games like ring around the rosy with her siblings (she calls it "Ring Row! Ring Row!") Her baby talk is especially precious. She loves to hold hands and walk together. HA is the first person Baby S asks for each morning, and HW is the one she calls to whenever she needs a playmate. Baby S and Big Sister R are especially close and share a special language together. It is so wonderful to see the sisters' close relationship. S loves to learn everything, and she already sounded out her first word on the chalkboard ~ bed. She sits like a little lady while I fix her hair each day. She still eats things she shouldn't when we aren't looking, but I'm thankful she seems to be growing out of that tendency.

And did I mention that she is full of boundless energy and keeps me hopping? It's a good thing that she also loves her naptime and her bedtime! We are in awe of all the Lord has done in her life, and we feel blessed that she is ours.

As we watch 2010 fade into the past, may each of us be moved to share the love of Jesus with the precious children of our world who don't yet know just how much He loves them.

More Merriment with Family

2010-12-27T14:24:00.000-06:00

I managed to get the whole gang!

R's special present to Granny ~ a cozy blanket she made all by herself!

The boys can be found in this position most of the time now.

Some Christmas Fun

2010-12-26T17:18:00.000-06:00

One good thing about living in the south ~ the trees keep their red color until Christmastime!

Baby S didn't know what all the excitement was about this season, but she enjoyed every minute!

The kids had fun helping make these goody baskets to give to special people.

Merry Christmas to You!

2010-12-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas

from all of us at Pecan Bluff!

May the Lord bless you

and keep you in His care.

So True

2010-12-17T13:34:00.002-06:00

"The Bible calls debt a curse
and children a blessing;
but in our culture,
we apply for a curse
and reject blessings.
Something is wrong with this picture."
~ Doug Phillips

Chocolate Turtles

2010-12-15T19:56:00.000-06:00

We've been busy little elves around here, making up batches of holiday treats to share as gifts this season. Here is one of our favorite quick and easy gifts.

Chocolate Turtles
Fill a cookie sheet with square pretzels. Top each one with a Rolo or Dove chocolate covered caramel. Place a pecan half on top of the candy. Place sheet in a 250 degree oven for about 3 minutes. Remove from oven and gently press each pecan down into the chocolate candy. Let cool completely before removing from cookie sheet. I cool mine in the cold air on the shelf outside my kitchen window so they set up nicely.
After they are set they can be stored at room temperature. We wrap them in a clear plastic treat bag, tie it with a pretty ribbon, and put a tag on the bag. Of course we use pecans from our trees here at Pecan Bluff, and the kids do the picking up and shelling of all those nuts each winter so when Christmastime comes we have a good stash of pecans ready to use. They love making and giving these treats!

Ink You

2010-12-03T22:03:00.000-06:00

I snuggled my little princess while we rocked in her room before bed tonight. She smelled delicious all slathered in apricot oil and jammied up, ready for a good night's sleep.

She put her head on my shoulder and I whispered all the tender thoughts I share with her as she falls asleep every night. Some phrases are my humble versions of what the nannies at the Care Center tried to teach me in Ethiopia. I speak them aloud every night to help her little heart remember that she is a cherished child of God, and a precious part of our family.

"I love you, S. Uh wah di shiloh (I love you.) Yah nailej me (You are my baby.) Mommy takes care of S. God loves you, and I love you."

She usually just listens quietly while I speak into her ear. But, tonight when I spoke those words she turned her face to me. She looked at me and said,"Ink you. Ink you."

That is her two-year old adorable version of "Thank you." She said it to me twice, then she snuggled into my neck and drifted to sleep. And I melted into a puddle of mommy mush.

Beautiful Ethiopian Doll

2010-12-01T18:58:00.000-06:00

All you mamas of beauties born in Ethiopia have to check out this gorgeous doll from Target! I can't wait for Baby S to have one. Isn't she lovely?

Meaning

2010-11-29T22:34:00.000-06:00

Does everybody on your Christmas list already have all the junk they need?
Instead of hitting the mall and buying them one more something, here is a great gift idea that is filled with love and meaning!

You can give a gift in honor of your loved one, and actually help a precious child who is struggling with serious challenges like poverty, sickness, or malnutrition. Or you might choose to support a family that wants to start a home-based business to improve their quality of life for their children. There are lots of options, and each one is a truly meaningful way to tell someone you love them this holiday season.

Click here to read more about Holt International's Gifts of Hope or to send your gift.

Holt blesses so many children across the world. As a Holt family, we have seen and felt those blessings in the lives of our own children. We are so thankful for Holt, and can recommend them without reservation. Holt loves God's precious children, and this Christmas you can become a part of their work all over the world! Won't you join us?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T18:09:00.001-06:00

R, Mike, HW, HA, Brenna, and Baby S at my brother's wedding last week.

All my favoritest people!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

This is one of my favorite scriptures for the children to recite from memory for school. What a blessing to be learning rich passages like this alongside my children ~ messages to us straight from the heart of God. Blessed, indeed. May you each enjoy a blessed thanksgiving with your loved ones, and may we all enjoy counting our many blessings!

National Adoption Day

2010-11-20T22:54:00.000-06:00

May God bless all you lovely families He formed through adoption!

May He bless all of you who support and pray for families like ours.

May we all be moved by His desire that the lonely be set in families.

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families..."

Psalm 68: 5-6

Fall Festival 2010

2010-11-16T22:19:00.000-06:00

Our second annual Pecan Bluff Fall Festival was so much fun. Our dear friends joined us for a wonderful time of food and fellowship. The weather was gorgeous and perfect for roasting marshmallows over the fire. I was a little slow on the draw and missed lots of good photo ops, but here are a few of our favorite game, Bobbing For Donuts. What a fun bunch of kids. A good time was had by all, and we celebrate this autumn with hearts filled with thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Setting up

On your marks...

Chasing those donuts

Trying new strategies and making Baby S laugh

Success!

Now I've got you!

Sweet!

Applauding Mr. Spence

2010-11-11T01:13:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Mr. Spence. Your article entitled "How to Raise Boys Who Read" succinctly states exactly what my gut has been telling me all along. Boys can learn to love reading! And they don't need dumbed down books full of gross-out humor to do it. We parents needs to set the bar higher than that.

Our boys are now eight, and they are turning into interesting, polite, educated, funny, well-rounded, and well-behaved young men. I'm proud of them. And, on top of all that, they really love to read. And we've never resorted to any of the foul books mentioned in Mr. Spence's article to pique their interest.

Now, don't get me wrong. HA and HW can hardly contain their giggles if someone burps at the table. They think smells are hilarious. They are absolutely all boy. But they are civilized. We don't feed them books that encourage them to act like animals. That's because we don't want them to act like animals.

Since our boys were very young we've enjoyed reading aloud together from books like The Wind in the Willows ~ it made them laugh out loud, fueled their imagination, and stretched their vocabulary. Now, in addition to classics, they devour how-to books, clean joke books, and science books. (They've learned more about God's amazing insects than I will ever know.) Right now their Daddy is reading Pat McManus to them every night, and they all get so tickled that we have to keep the door closed so they won't wake the baby. There are tons of great stories and great adventures out there for my boys to read. And those stories needn't focus on bathroom humor to hold their interest.

I should add that we don't have video games. If we did, I doubt I'd be writing this post. Instead, I'd probably be scouring the web trying to figure out how to get my boys to read.

Mr. Spence, who is president of Spence Publishing, closes with a great point:

"Most importantly, a boy raised on great literature is more likely to grow up to think, to speak, and to write like a civilized man. Whom would you prefer to have shaped the boyhood imagination of your daughter's husband—Raymond Bean or Robert Louis Stevenson?"

The Statistic That Matters Most: One person can make the difference in the life of an orphan

2010-11-08T22:17:00.000-06:00

Creation Groans from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Here Am I, Lord

2010-11-07T19:05:00.000-06:00

True Religion from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Start Them Young

2010-11-04T19:51:00.000-05:00

I love the Managers of Their Chores system for our family. We tweaked it a bit to make it work for us, and we are decidedly less disciplined than the lovely family that wrote the book on it. But, it does work very well for us to require the kids to use their ChorePacks daily to keep our house from becoming a pit! I've found it helps my attitude tremendously for the kids to start the day by tidying and wiping things down. It's certainly no showplace, but it's world's better than it was before we instituted ChorePacks.

Here is Baby S and Big Sister R doing their very favorite chore: cleaning the front glass door. R sprays the cleaner on the outside and Baby S wipes the inside with a cloth diaper just as hard as she can, copying her big Sissy! It is so cute, and it tickles them both to do that chore together each morning. Baby S keeps that door smudged up watching the birds and goats and cows outside, so it needs that good wipe down every day. You can never start them too young!

One Less

2010-11-02T12:14:00.000-05:00

My Young Lady in the Kitchen

2010-10-29T05:46:00.001-05:00

R made

this gorgeous apple pie

from scratch.

It tasted

as good

as it looks!

Huh?

2010-10-28T18:00:00.002-05:00

I found HA at the table like this:

"What on earth are you doing?!?!?!" I asked.

And he replied, with a shrug,

"Just decorating my face to look like Abraham Lincoln."

Oh, of course. Silly me. I should of known.

The Forgotten Ones

2010-10-27T20:50:00.000-05:00

Orphan Sunday from Greg Buzek on Vimeo.

Because He Loved Us

2010-10-27T05:02:00.002-05:00

Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Hope is Fading

2010-10-26T11:52:00.001-05:00

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Reality and Our Faith

2010-10-25T22:33:00.000-05:00

Please read this powerful piece by Heather Hendrick. It is so touching, and so moving, and so true.

Though I have not seen the suffering in Haiti, the scenes that Heather describes rush me straight back to Ethiopia. Back to the crowded, muddy streets where I saw and touched the filthy, precious street children dressed in rags, begging for food. It was a life-changing experience. How absolutely heartbreaking to come home to our comfortable life and leave so many of God's little ones hurting and hopeless!

I'm still struggling to figure out what to do with this reality, so sharp and fresh and raw, even now. Where do I put those images in my mind? Just exactly how can God use me?

Reality is a weighty thing.

Pecan Bluff Dinner Bell

2010-10-20T14:27:00.000-05:00

I'm so proud of twelve-year-old R! As part of her 4H Foods and Nutrition project this year she is blogging about her cooking adventures at www.pecanbluffdinnerbell.blogspot.com

Go check it out, and encourage her with a comment!

Summer Wrap Up

2010-10-08T13:41:00.000-05:00

Hang on to your hats!
Since I got so far behind,
I'm going to do one mega-post
to wrap up the final fun of Summer 2010.
We had a blast!

Christian Homes of Abilene Family Picnic

Train rides, a zoo trip, and a giant water slide were so much fun.

We also enjoyed precious time with loved ones,

including R's very special Foster Mother.

What a great weekend!

Happy Birthday, HW!

I got most of HW's birthday photos up in a previous post,

but Big Sis also made a cool beach cake for our celebration here at home.

And we enjoyed some time at a hotel near Granny and Grandpa's house.

And more good times~

Boys, gardens, goats, and mud!
These boys know how to play hard!

They had a blast together,

and we all loved having Cousin J here for a visit.

HA, HW, DaddyDon, and Cousin J in front

Whew. We're back.

2010-10-01T18:02:00.001-05:00

Well, our computer died and it's just now back up and running. Boy, am I behind on posting pictures and updates of all the fun here at Pecan Bluff!

I'll be back soon to recap our summer and welcome this lovely autumn.

Making Myself Get Real. Again.

2010-09-15T14:14:00.002-05:00

I just cleaned the bathroom. Again. For the gazillionth time, I cleaned it. And while I cleaned I had a little pity party. Poor me, on my knees on this dirty floor, scrubbing away like Cinderella.

Ahem, excuse me? To clean my bathroom I simply walk through my air conditioned house, get the cleaning supplies, then wipe all those smooth surfaces until they sparkle. I can then throw the dirty rags into my washing machine and let them clean themselves while I sip an iced tea in comfort (well actually, I watched the kids play monopoly, but the point is that I could have sipped an iced tea in comfort. I have both iced tea, and I have comfort!)

My little task did not involve a long walk through dangerous countryside to haul dirty water from a river. There was no standing outside over a fire, stirring a boiling pot of water to clean the rags when I was done. In fact, my bathroom flushes and the water runs from the tap. It smells nice, and it doesn't harbor germs that threaten the health of my family. In fact, it's a really pleasant place, compared to some of the "bathrooms" I've visited in developing countries. The very least I can do is wipe it down without complaining in my head.

So, I'm getting real. And now I'm off to clean the other bathroom with a smile on my face.

Did I Say That?

2010-09-06T19:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday as the kids paddled around the pool I heard myself say to HA, "Don't bite your brother on the bottom!"
He replied, "But, he does it to me all the time."
Clearly, I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on these two.

Call Me Weird

2010-08-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

I guess I'm just weird, but there's something I don't get. All I've been hearing lately is how thrilled parents are because it is "Back to School" time. Everywhere I look, fall is being touted as "the most wonderful time of the year," the "recess that parents need," and "every parent's favorite time of the year." People seem to love commiserating about how their children have driven them crazy all summer, and how they can't wait to finally have some peace and "me time" after school cranks up again. I just don't get it, people.

I don't feel that way at all. Not when autumn breezes hit the air. Not ever. I'm glad ~ no, I'm honored ~ to be with these urchins every day. They are hilarious and curious and fun and they make life interesting. I'm thankful that they have laundry for me to wash, that I can steal a kiss from their dirty faces anytime, and I even don't mind feigning surprise when they jump out at me from behind a door for the umpteenth time. I really like my kids, and I enjoy spending time with them.

This is just a season in my life, and I plan to enjoy it to its fullest. One day soon my children will be grownups, and they won't need me to kiss their boo-boos, or button their pants or cut up their meat. They won't ask me to snuggle them while they fall asleep, and they'll figure out how to make their own sheets smell April fresh. They'll brush their teeth without my prompting, and they'll never leave their wet towels on the floor, because they will understand how expensive carpet is.

My house will one day be clean and quiet. I'll be able to talk on the phone as long as I want. I won't step in sticky spots on my kitchen floor, and I will sleep late if I want to. But that won't be a better season, just a different one. I just can't imagine ever wishing away these happy, exuberant, noisy days of my children's childhoods, simply because I'm a little exhausted. Ok, a lot exhausted. But exhausted in a really, really good way.

I'm thankful that I get to be there when they lose a tooth or when their stomach hurts. I'm glad I'm the one they tell their secrets to, and that I'm the one to serve them lunch. I like knowing what games they like, and I enjoy being the one to model good sportsmanship when they beat me soundly, even though I was trying to win. I like practicing spelling words and doing math flashcards, and listening to them recite memory verses. I like our bedtime routine, and I enjoy listening to them ~~screech~~ improve as they learn new instruments.

I'm really glad they can ask me about the important, serious, confusing, sometimes embarrassing things about life. And I'm so happy I'm actually with them every day, so that we can talk about those things. I'm glad it's me they talk to, and not someone else. I'm so thankful we get to pray together several times per day.

Our society seems to be under the impression that our main job as parents is to find someone else to manage our kids for most of our waking hours. If that is our goal, why did we become parents in the first place? If we hand off our kids every morning and sign them up for afternoon and evening clubs and activities and then drop them at sports tournaments all weekend, where is the parenting in that? That would make me feel like a manager or a chauffeur, perhaps, but not a parent.

Maybe there are other moms out there who actually enjoy spending time with their kids. Maybe it's just that all the moms who love taking care of their kids are so busy having fun that they haven't taken the time to speak up. Well, I'm on the record now. Call me weird ~ I like my kids, and this full-time mom job is the best gig going.

Librivox

2010-08-30T10:35:00.000-05:00

We discovered a great source for free audio recordings of books in the public domain ~ Librivox Recordings. We constantly have read-alouds going in our family, and hubby's and my voices get pretty worn out. So every once in a while we choose a work that is recorded, and we all get to listen together. We listened to The Railway Children last year, and are now enjoying Robin Hood from Librivox. Later this year we'll use the Librivox recordings of Pinocchio and Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan. What a blessing!

God Bless Daddy

2010-08-25T18:14:00.003-05:00

I've been fighting a head cold all week, so splashing around in the ~~livestock tank~~ pool every afternoon with Baby S has not been much fun. Today, I just couldn't muster the energy to do it. But she has been asking for her daily splash. So, I called my dear husband on his way home and asked if he would give her a swim when he got here.

"Sure," was his cheerful answer, even after a long, hot day in the field studying creek channels.

So, he just came home, dropped his poison-ivy covered clothes in the mudroom, showered off, dried off, put his swim trunks on, and hopped in the pool with a very happy baby girl and all the siblings, too. They are laughing it up out there.

I love that man.

18 Seconds

2010-08-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

Sunday Sweetness

2010-08-08T13:40:00.000-05:00

Baby S

Healthy Eaters

2010-08-04T09:41:00.001-05:00

I was asked again the other day how I "lucked out" because I have four children who are healthy eaters. Well, pardon me, but it's not luck.

There are lots of things I do not take credit for with my children. I had nothing to do with their stunning looks, their mischievous smiles, or their athletic abilities. But I do take credit, thankyouverymuch, for teaching them not to be finicky.

I've been accused of having some secret formula, some amazing trick that helped me accomplish this feat. Pshaw. There are no tricks in parenting, just planning and consistent execution. Here's how we teach our kids to be healthy eaters.

1. Love your kids. I love mine, so I don't want them to be fueled on junk food and have a mouth full of rotten teeth. I want the best for them in every way. Teaching them to enjoy healthy foods is just one of the ways that I love my children.

2. Don't be a short-order cook. I, for one, have just about all the work I can handle keeping these kiddos bathed, fed, and in line. I'm not about to start cooking separate meals for picky people three times a day. Don't start it when they are little. When they are little I offer healthful foods over and over again, until the child finally tries it. They may like it right away, or they may spit it out, and then try it again next time. Eventually, my kids have all learned to like just about everything, if given enough time.

3. Don't make a federal case of it. They don't have to like everything, and they don't have to like asparagus just because you do. Each of my children has a few things they just don't like. That's fine. They are never required to eat every single dish I serve at a meal. For many years, R didn't like lettuce. So, when I served a big salad she could dip around the salad greens and choose the sliced peppers, olives, tomatoes, green onion, and shredded cabbage for her veggies. HA loves every veggie except tomatoes. So he gets to pick around those when he dips a pile of salad onto his plate. When I make sauteed onions and garlic, I always provide some other veggie choices, too, because HW is not an onion guy. So far, Baby S likes any vegetable or meat, but prefers most things ground up. So, I'm still grinding lots of her meals for her. And I continue to offer her bits of everything we eat at every meal on her tray, just in case she wants to try it.

4. Serve a variety. I always serve a variety of healthy choices, especially if I already know one of the kids doesn't prefer something on the menu. And just so you know, offering "variety" around here is as simple as slicing up an apple or cutting some carrot sticks ~ I don't make multiple amazing recipes for each meal. Far from it.

5. When we have a new dish, everyone tries a bite. If they don't like it, they say, "No thank you" when they are offered a full-serving. No violent retching or gagging is allowed. There is nothing more disheartening to a busy mama who has sweated in the kitchen over a new recipe, than for children to come to the table and say "Yuck!" I work hard to make wholesome meals, so if a dish doesn't float their boat they can taste it, then decline it politely. That's basic manners.

5. Don't do fast food and don't buy junk. People's tastes tend toward what they usually eat. Therefore, restaurant food and grocery store junk are rare treats around here. Steering away from the drive-through is not only good for the budget, it also helps kids develop a taste for good food. They learn early on that real food really does taste better than junk.

6. Let them grow it, and let them cook it. Children can't resist trying things that they grow and cook themselves!

7. Teach them to be thankful. When we pray at mealtimes, we strive to be truly grateful for the food in front of us. Our trip to Ethiopia gave us some insight into the reality of need in our world. We saw and touched people who face the challenge every day of having enough food. Frankly, it's shameful for us to feel any way other than thankful for every single bite we have.