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!