Christmas hymn redux

Josiah:
Hark the herald, angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn king,
Pizza on earth and mercy mild..."

Micah: (from The 12 Days of Christmas)
"Five days til Christmas, the wait is killing me..."

in his words...by Micah

8th grader, 13 years and 353 days old, homeschooler, devourer of books and pizza, EWO youth groupie, soccer goalie/defender, basketball player, trumpet & piano player, Tolkien fan, Lego Master, dusty old fossil lover, card gamer, video gamer, one year till driving permit, and Apple warrior against the forces of Android.

Sent from my iPod and iPhone

a moment in time

Josiah: kindergarten, smiles, snuggles for Mom first thing in the morning, all things science, playing stuffed animals with Rachel, heartfelt prayers to God, pumpkin pancakes and spaghetti (no sauce!), read alouds, stubbornly determined to have things his way, soccer and gymnastics, Rush Hour games and Imaginext, the color green, airplanes, figuring out how things work.

Rachel: 6th grade, red and black, avoids dresses, theater, creative mind, diligent, making cookies, everything animals, taking pictures, gymnastics, American Girl, outdoor genes, clarinet to piano and back again, hands-on learning, reading, American history and Abraham Lincoln, making others smile, thoughtful, surprises on our pillow, fiction, friendship, keeping room neat, longing for Yellowstone.

Micah: 8th grade, 13 going on 23, almost as tall as mom, paleontology, texting (but not a lot), trumpet and piano, devours books, Cedine Ministries, music, silver, skin-tight warm up shirts, soccer and basketball, science, algebra, world history, nonfiction, loves kids, childcare at church, Euchre, serving others, youth group, Wii, eating pizza, independence.

Just for fun, here's a link to another glimpse from several years ago.

betcha didn't know!

What do you get when you cross a chihuahua, and pug, and a poodle?

A Chipuggle.

Once Rachel fulfills her dream of becoming a dog breeder, we'll include a picture.

a complicated kitchen

If you were in my kitchen tonight, you would be able to smell the delicious scent of homemade gluten free chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven.  This is one of my favorite recipes.  Coconut oil used in place of shortening gives them a special melt-in-your-mouth flavor.  I don't miss the wheat flour and although admittedly some people do not care for the texture of rice flour, I don't think many people would turn their noses up at these. 

So much of the time, I can be content and thankful for the food journey we have been on.  My kids are healthy, overwhelming days of dealing with behavior are mostly behind us, many of my own stomach issues have subsided, and even Eric has benefited from the changes we have made with huge drops in his cholesterol and triglycerides.  Josiah has come so far in the past year, even in the past 4 months since school started as we tweaked a few little things about his diet.  What a difference the right food can make!

But there are a handful of days now and then when trouble comes creeping back.  Sometimes I see reactions in my very food-sensitive Josiah.  It may be just a matter of needing to back off of stage 2 (like the tomatoes we have been too joyfully allowing in the form of chili, although happily pizza once a week is that "just enough" amount of tomato sauce).  Another time it is a new reaction to a food like oatmeal that his body is not handling as well as it used to.  Not only does he become much more impulsive, on an affected school day he writes some of his letters and numbers backwards--unheard of on his good days--and takes at least twice as long to get things done.  He says his brain feels foggy.  My heart goes out to him even though I'm also worn down trying to keep up with what he needs.

For the past month, Rachel has had diarrhea at least once a week, a bit of a return of old symptoms of two years ago.  So far we suspect dairy and tomatoes as her worst offenders.  Why she did fine for two years but is now having a flare is beyond my understanding, but this is often the way with GI issues.  After spending considerable time and effort to make holiday feasting safe for my kids to eat, both she and Micah indulged in foods that caused digestive upset for the first part of the next week.  Josiah simply does not eat off diet, he did just fine.  There may be a lesson there, one that my older children need to internalize for themselves.  They are beginning to do so, and I'm blessed by their willing attitudes.

So, a deep breath, another look around the kitchen for tolerable food, another scouring for new recipes, and we forge ahead.  When I want to throw up my hands, I remember I don't have to go slaughter my own cow and make my own candles and soap.  But maybe, if I didn't know any better, that wouldn't be so bad. 

Magnificat

 

My soul will magnify the Lord.

I rejoice in God my Savior,

in the wonder of His favor.

always faithful

We heard a beautiful trumpet version of this song in church this morning.

Life gives us so many opportunities (sometimes disguised as trials) to rejoice in God's faithfulness.

 



Happy Thanksgiving!

PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN - OCTOBER 3, 1863

 

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God..."

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People."

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens...to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or suffers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union."

"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed."

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

truths for bumpy Rhodes

 In the midst of a busy household, I've been trying to listen for the quiet voice of God as He speaks to my heart.  This fall I've been troubled that I've not been able to give all of the kids more direction in their spiritual lives.  Making sure we are in the word and praying together as a family each morning before we start our day has become a bigger priority.

 

Enter some ideas He's given recently.

 

Stones of Remembrance

After crossing the Jordan River at flood stage in Joshua 4, the people of Israel were instructed to remove stones from the middle of the river as a remembrance of God's mighty acts among them.  He wanted this to be a testimony to their children and the generations yet to come.

 

We cut out stones and wrote down some of the mighty acts of God in our lives.  This exercise went from being mainly academic straight to my heart when I read my children's stones.

 

 

Josiah's stones

 

Rachel's stones

 

My stones

 

 

God's Names 

 

For Bible we began to work through the book God's Names by Sally Michael.  Each child is constructing a poster of His names as we learn them. 

 

Josiah's poster--he says he thinks about the names of God at night when it is dark and scary.

 

"Enlarging God in a sinful world" complete with magnifying glass on Rachel's poster. How these children touch my heart!

 

(Both of Micah's projects are still in progress.)

 

Eric has been experiencing some intense leg pain in a muscle behind his knee.  Last week the doctor sent him to the hospital, suspecting a blood clot could be the cause.  As anxiety rushed through my body, the names of God and His mighty acts entered my mind just as quickly.  The remembrance of both quieted my fears and focused me on the One who has all things in His hands no matter the outcome. 

 

Good news, no blood clot.

 

I was later able to share with the kids how our discoveries had been a comfort to me.

 

These lessons are far from academic.

having a party

Saturday was Josiah's birthday party.  Airplanes was an easy theme to choose for this boy.  The camouflage decor was a Walmart find I was not expecting but thankful to discover.

 

 

Setting the table after an evening and morning of saying, "No, it's not time to do that yet."  It's finally time!

 

Rachel brought this cake pan home from a 4-H auction knowing how much Josiah would like it.  I debated a lot about what kind of cake to make, and finally decided to do Cha Cha's coconut flour recipe.  I knew how that one would turn out!  The frosting was another story, a bit on the drippy side.  We tried pureed spinach to turn it green.  The flavor was fine--you are adding it to sugar and margarine, after all!  It really matched the camo decorations but one boy eyed it suspiciously.  "Are you sure that cake is good?"  He did try it, and the other two devoured either an entire piece or frosting only.  So really, I think it was a hit.  The rock candy rocket thrusters are almost invisible but were so fun. 

 

Two of the little boys Josiah invited burst through our door shouting "This is going to be the best party EVER!" No pressure regarding those high expectations.  It looks like they might be enjoying themselves, though?

 

Sorry about your head, Eric.  Other than that, I love this picture.  Especially M's face!

 

Micah crushed up the rock candy so everyone could have some.  Root beer from Whole Foods was another special delight.

 

Then for the best party ever moments.  I had all kinds of ideas in mind, but flying paper airplanes was first on the list.  Eric was the master designer and let the kids pick out their model from a book.

 

Oh, how they loved it!  And the weather...a perfectly warmish November day.

 

The boys came back for more and more.  It kept Eric busy.

 

And sent Eric to the roof to fetch airplanes off several times.  We didn't even get to anything else on my list, the boys had so much fun.  They flew planes for an hour and a half!

 

It was the best party ever, and the simplest one we ever hosted.  Happy birthday, Josiah!!  Just a few more days until the real thing.

 

what's under your refrigerator?

 

We had a bit of a reenactment of this one in our kitchen this morning.  Prisma's favorite toy?  Legos, which inevitably end up in the coat closet, at the bottom of the basement steps, and under the refrigerator.

Fetch!

 

 

This dog reminds us of Eddie.

never a dull moment

Josiah: "Mommy!!"

Eric: "I'm right here, Josiah, what can I do for you?"

Josiah: "No, I mean the other Mommy."

laugh or cry?

 

 

The teacher in me is thrilled.  "Look at that penmenship!  He's showing an enthusiasm for writing I've never seen before!  He's trying to spell words he doesn't know yet (his middle name)!"

 

The mother in me is horrified.  "That's our living room couch!!!!"

 

When I talked to him, the teacher voice won the attitude, the mom voice won the message.
 

I have also learned that rubbing alcohol is a great ink remover.  

the one worthy Goal

My Goal is God Himself

 

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
'Tis His to lead me there—not mine, but His—
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

 

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

 

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be oft-times great,
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,
The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.

 

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;
My God my glory here, from day to day,
And in the glory there my great Reward.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today: November 10, 2012

Outside my window...it was a rare, warm, beautiful November day, perfect for raking leaves, which we did at two separate homes today.  We have no trees in our yard.  Have rake, will travel!

I am thinking...that this friend has got it right.  And repenting of throwing up every fun curriculum tool I've found to use with my kids.  The precious moments together, as we learn more and more about God's amazing world, have been the most valuable part of this journey.

I am thankful...so thankful, to find that God truly can be trusted to give the equipping and emotions as He has called me to new ministry areas. 

In the kitchen...after one year, gluten free is becoming our new normal.  There is no doubt this has been Josiah's best year yet, and my attempts to reintroduce gluten for myself over the past couple of weeks have meant digestive discomfort and eczema flare ups.  It is nowhere near as horrible as some may experience, but showing me it's well worth the trouble.  Today's new recipe was banana muffins, and Eric was the chef.  They tasted great.  Our biggest problem is that the kids eat faster than we can bake.

I am creating...shh...something that has to do with the book of Jeremiah.  Trusting that whatever happens with it, God will reveal His heart to me more fully and allow me to share His truth with others.

I am going...to hold on to God for dear life as we pray and follow His leading on high school decisions.  Everyone has their own opinions, and they are all very helpful, but it has shown us how necessary it will be to listen for His voice.

I am wondering...how to make gluten free hamburger buns.   This is reminding me of a recipe I need to look up.

I am reading...Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt.  It is a gem of a book.  That reminds me, I need to finish two more chapters by Monday night.

I am hoping...to see some very dear friends over Christmas break.  Whenever I see them, it's as if they still live just down the street.  Some friendships are like that. What a blessing.

I am looking forward to...a little boy's first birthday party with just friends.  And I love google.  There is no way I could come up with such fun ideas on my own.  His theme is airplanes.

I am learning...as I seek to discern God's will, what He is doing often has far more to do with what is in my heart than the choice between one decision or another.  When I sense He may be uprooting idols, dealing with sin, or reshuffling priorities, I aim for the hard choice and trust He will do what He will do.

Around the house...we sometimes find that replacing light bulbs can become a full time job.

A favorite quote for today..."I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said."  Luke 1:38  This verse spoke to me years ago, and I continue to cling to it.

One of my favorite things...is homemade chili in the crockpot for supper, and the hug from Josiah for making his own special batch, which he ate with much relish.  Hooray for stage 2, even if a little goes a long way!

I am pondering...how to shave some money off our grocery bill.  That may make some other entries make more sense.  Or cents.

A few plans for the rest of the week: come up with a gluten free birthday cake recipe, rather than spend $6.50 on a mix, so that my son can have a rocket ship cake.  Then figure out how to decorate it with natural food coloring and candy that he can actually eat.  It's a tall order, but he will be thrilled no matter what.  You gotta love kids.

A peek into my day...

Cousins, sharing a love of dinosaurs at the science center!

beyond the voting booth

"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth and Falsehood, for the good or evil side.

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own."

-from "The Present Crisis" by James Russell

enjoying the season

 

 As soon as Josiah began to notice other's fall decorations, he insisted it was time to carve pumpkins.

 

 

 Rachel is never far behind.  She still loves all this stuff! You notice one child is absent, who thinks he's too old.

 

 

Getting ready for the mother/daughter tea at our church.  Rachel is growing as fast as she can...and wearing some of my shoes.  We had a great evening together painting pumpkins, but she did NOT appreciate the princess theme (not so much an age thing as a Rachel thing), though the speaker did such a neat tie-in about how each girl who trusts in Christ is a daughter of the King.  She loves T and T but can't wait until she is in the Jr. High group next year.



 

The kitten playing the ipad.  We got it just for her, you know.  She also likes to play the piano, especially in the middle of the night.  We call her our midnight Mozart.

 

After Eric's surgery we were homebound for about a week.  The day he went back to work was 70 degrees, probably for the last time this year.  We escaped to Sugar Grove for the afternoon.  Micah was hoping to have it to ourselves, but as you can see, it is pretty popular with the homeschool crowd!  And yes, he gets comments on his cowboy hat.  And no, he doesn't mind.

Kids and a creek.  They just go together!

 

 

If you can find an orange speck in the water, it's Micah's morphibian, a jeep that works in and out of the water.  Sooo much fun to play with here!

 

This gang sticks together!!  I really loved watching them come up with ideas and look out for each other.

 

They two say they have to stick together, being the two middle school kids in the house.  I can barely keep them in clothes that fit right now, and am almost looking Micah in the eye.  Scary!!

 

We've all done this one, right?  Well, he hasn't...until now.  Do you see the look of amazement on his face?  It is so much fun to teach him!  The world is such a place of wonder and discovery.

 

We had a really low key Halloween party and the youngers loved painting.

 

 

And painting...

 

And painting!

 

A couple of years ago Grandma Netta and Grandpa Chuck gave us these monster puppets with felt features.  I had forgotten all about them until Rachel pulled them our for our party. It provided giggles for a half an hour.  Too bad I can't capture those sounds in these pictures!



boy on a mission

The weather is getting colder and the outdoors less inviting.  Now Josiah can no longer escape to the backyard to play when his schoolwork is done.  What to do during those times when Mom is working with the other kids? 

Give him a mission!

(I think this idea was sparked when I overheard another homeschool mom talking about her son's spy missions.  Whatever brought it on, thank you!!)

Here is a sample of today's mission:

Josiah’s Mission


1. Pick up room.

2. Make a picture with stamps.

3. Look at 2 books.

4. Brush the dog (carefully).

5. Build something with the building set in your room.

6. Draw a picture with Color Wonder paper (he loved this!)

7. Do a cutting project.

8. Tuck a stuffed animal into bed and read him a story.

9. Do a Dr. DoRiddle page with Mom.

10. Jump up and down 10 times.

11. Fly your airplanes on a mission.

12. Show your checklist to Mom for a prize.

 (I'm not sure he really needs the prize, he enjoys this so much!!!)

If you have any ideas to add, please leave them in the comments.  I have a feeling we will be using this idea over and over.  

In Kelly's words...

I was touched by this story told by a fellow Feingold mom.  I've heard similar stories time and again, shared by mothers who are grateful to see their troubled or difficult children for who they really are after implementing Feingold.  Perhaps it will be an encouragement or help to someone else.

How the Feingold diet changed our lives for the better

living on this side of redemption

We were feeling pretty triumphant.  My husband had just had a physical, and his numbers were incredible!  His cholesterol had dropped by over 40 points with HDL on its way up and LDL down, and his triglycerides had dropped by an even more incredible number into the normal region.  It has been years since his labs looked this way, and it seemed that good health was something we could celebrate.

Then about a week later, he woke up with digestive discomfort, symptoms similar to the ones that sent him to the ER in February.  This time we knew his heart was not a concern, so we waited things out to see if they would get better.  The doctor eventually prescribed an acid reducer and did some blood work.  Life went on but the pain didn't go away.

After more tests and three more weeks of waiting, the verdict came last Friday.  While he doesn't have gallstones, his gallbladder is not functioning.  We're waiting to talk to a surgeon, but it sounds like it's going to have to come out.

Middle age is upon us, and our weeks of waiting and my own worrying has meant plenty of time to think.  While we hope for many more years of serving Christ and good health to do so, our bodies are beginning to wear out.  The curse of sin resulting in the death of the body is becoming more real.  And it has made me think how sin-wrecked our daily existence really is.  It is a bit like the CD player in our van.  We got so used to it not working, we quit thinking about it.  Isn't that a bit like this life?  Things are not what they should be, but we are so used to heartache and pain that we continue to plod on, thinking this is about how things should be.

Headache?  Take a pill and wait for it to go away.

Pet fish died?  Flush it down the toilet and buy a new one.

Bad day at work?  Come home, find some good fun or entertainment, and push it out of mind as best you can until tomorrow.

Drought?  Pull out the garden plants, make adjustments to the food budget, and hope for a better growing season next year.

All of that seems reasonable until the pain is more than we can easily bear.

Disease, pain, and death, all inescapable yet somehow we must push through, until our own time to part from this world will come.

It sounds morbid, but it is reality.  Life is not all pie in the sky, and pain is real.  So is my sin and the weight of the curse.

However, I'm finding that in moments of pain, the gospel becomes all the sweeter.  There really is something wrong with this world, and the brokenness we all experience will one day be set right.  For every burden and tear, there is the promise of future redemption and joy.  That is the hope we have when we trust Christ has taken our punishment and will return one day in triumph over sin. And disease.  And death.

If pain is a reminder that all is not right with the world, it is a welcome one.  Because right around the corner is the gospel, reminding me that our best days are yet to come, when sin is defeated and sweet fellowship with our God is fully restored.  Perhaps it will help quell the longings for this world and give me more for the next one.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved..." Romans 8:22-24a

moments in the past week

 Love this picture of Grandma Rhodes swinging with Josiah!  Eric's parents came this weekend and were able to see both boys score soccer goals. :)  One more week of soccer sounds nice, but it's been so fun to see both of them learning, exercising, and loving every minute.  Micah's glasses broken at practice one night have caused us to investigate contacts!

A cookout means roasting marshmallows.  That is not an easy one in this house.  Micah can't have gelatin so we buy him vegan marshmallows.  Josiah can't have corn sweeteners so we made homemade with this recipe.  (Thanks to Suzanne for posting this recipe with pictures!) It is the first time he's had marshmallows in over 2 years, since we started Feingold.  They were not easy to make but I guess maybe they turned out alright. His sticky smile makes it so worthwhile.  Yes, that is the whole beater in his mouth.

I thought school was over for the day.  Not so--I walked in to see this reading lesson in progress.

It is so easy to imagine this girl teaching someday!  Looking forward to seeing God's plan unfold for her life.  But no hurry.

making fall memories

It has been a beautiful fall, such a wonderful time to get outside again after a stifling summer.  The temperature climbed near 80 today, so we headed out to Rader's for some fall fun. 

We love the pillow--it is my favorite thing to do, too!  The dark clouds were starting to roll in along with quickly cooling temps, but it was still a beautiful afternoon.

Lady bug cars!

There is nothing quite as therapeutic as sitting in corn.

Except maybe laying in it.

When did this little boy get so mature?  He's growing up before my eyes this fall!

Don't talk to me about growing up--this one is way too close to becoming a man.  I'm so glad he still likes to play like a kid.

Buried!! 

Take the plunge!

Are you ever too big to enjoy jumping?  (Go back and see pillow entry!)

Kind of looks like a super hero, doesn't he?

toothless wonder

the Bible through a wide angle lens

I'm reading through a couple of children's Bibles with my youngest this year.  The first would be a great Bible to start with a child as young as two.  The story line is engaging and it presents Jesus as the long-awaited king from Old Testament days who brings salvation to the world.  Our pastor recommended it a few months ago; it was already on my Amazon wish list. :)

We are almost ready to start the second, and after glancing through I am excited!  The Jesus Storybook Bible captures the breathless anticipation of Christ as it chronicles God's loving story of rescue in page after page.  This is more appropriate for early elementary, but there is plenty of food for thought to benefit any age!! 

milestone of a different kind

It has been a tradition in our family to present each child with their own Bible when they are learning how to read.

Last week Josiah had his first day of children's church, and since we were going to wait until Christmas to get him a Bible, I let him take his big sister's with him. 

His response was not what I expected.

Josiah clutched that Bible with excitement, like he had hardly dared to believe he could be entrusted with such a precious book.  On the way to church he was "reading it," exclaiming each time he found the word "God."

Oh, to have such a joy over the word of God!!

Needless to say, he got his new Bible this week.



"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise..." (Ps. 8:2)

a milestone

It is such a kind blessing of the Lord to have allowed my great grandma to live for 100 years.  Today is her birthday.

I hoped and prayed while in high school she might live long enough to see just one great great grandchild.  She now has 7.

I think this picture says it all. 

She does not know who we are, but we know who she is so that's all that really matters.  When the kids are around she always lights up and loves on them, even though she doesn't understand they belong to her.  And in so many ways... I'm amazed every time we take the kids to see her, how much they give to her and love her back.  Josiah has always been willing to give her a snuggle.   He's seems to have a special place in his heart for older people.

I have to smile when I see this picture partly because Grandma kept trying to escape.  She was ready for a nap after such a big afternoon.  And of course the rest of the smile comes because it is my family. :)

Family...that is Grandma's legacy to us, but not only family.  Her faith has lived on in each progressive generation, and that is her greatest gift to us.  It's not that she was a perfect woman.  She was faithful but tried through a difficult marriage for over 60 years, and one can find the evidence of sin and wrong choices in each generation of her offspring because that is the way of the human heart.  Yet I also see God's hand of grace, redeeming those who trust in Him.  In a time when families are disintegrating, I see each generation growing stronger and more faithful in the Lord as they have become students of His word, its application, and its proclamation.  I also see His sanctifying work as He perfects individuals in each generation, a work begun now that will see its completion in heaven (Phil 1:6).  What a Lord, who is faithful in the past, present, and will continue to be faithful in the future!  He is our legacy, and I'm so thankful He rescued my grandma with salvation so through a chain of events, people, and the godly influence of family only He could orchestrate, He could rescue each of us.

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done." Ps. 78:4

Happy birthday, Grandma.  We love you!