Mountains and Meadows

Parenting in the Spirit

2010-05-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Spirit. Spunk? Life? Joy? Holy Spirit. Life! Love! Fullness! Walking in the Spirit... Living life to the fullest, finding great satisfaction in obeying, honoring, adoring my Savior and living each day as though it could be my last. It is loving my children are unloveable, having hope when life feels hopeless and choosing to listen to His still small voice.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. I Kings 19:11,12

A dear sister in Christ, Shonni, was inspired by another sister in Christ who shares her passion to adopt, to continue this work the Holy Spirit has given us...to not strive to complete the work in the flesh. I was also greatly inspired at my church's recent womens' retreat to think about how different my parenting is when I am walking in the flesh compared to when I am walking in the Spirit. Yes, living by the Spirit's leading most definitely affects our choices in adding to our family, continuing in the process of adoption, and many other enormous life choices, but how great is the reward when we see our everyday lives through His eyes!

This was so evident to me the other day as I was listening to one of my favorite songs..."when fears are stilled, when strivings cease" He can become everything to us when we realize it is not in our power to be everything to everyone. As a mama we have the greatest influence in our home and on the choices made for our family. What we feel we can handle and what we think we are able to be good at completely changes what our husbands think they can provide for and what they can handle. Whether or not we like it, we set the tone in our homes. I laugh everytime I hear the old saying, "If Mama aint' happy, ain't nobody happy." Isn't it true?

It comes back full circle to what we allow the Holy Spirit to keep charge of in our lives. Everything. I want Him to control everything I do, say, think. My thoughts will determine my words, my words will determine my actions. Everything I believe I can handle. Every challenging behavior in each one of my children. Each pet sin that rears it's ugly head, once again. He is the author and perfector of my faith! He is responsible for finishing this work he has begun in me! Praise God it isn't in my strength or nothing would be finished. Not this post. Not the breakfast dishes. Not homeschooling or bills or menu planning. Everyday. Every task. It is all by His strength I succeed and will eventually hear Him say..."Well done my good servant. You have been found faithful."

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear of death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

My oh my, how time does fly!

2010-04-19T22:53:00.001-07:00

Life is truly full right now. Full of laughs, tears, hard work and play...the day flies by before I know it I fall into bed exhausted and wondering if I accomplished everything on my to-do list. Time for blogging has had to come second, or third or fourth...or rather not at all! Our computer died and so we've been sharing Chad's laptop(s) which makes editing pictures and posting them tough. But all is well and here are a few pictures to prove it. :o) Well I've tried three times and no such luck! I'm not meant to blog/post pictures I suppose!

the last few months...
~falling in love with a 4.5 month old puppy...Chelsea :o)
~training said puppy, loving on said puppy, training, loving, training...
~homeschooling at the park on nice days...so looking forward to REAL Spring
~chase toddlers around, giggling, snuggling, loving their voices and all they say
~stepped down from "Children's Ministry Leaders" still teaching though
~decided to homeschool all the kids next year...joined a great co-op for one day a week...Annah and Viktoriya will take Guitar & Marine Biology, Aidan will take Body by God's Design, Ethan and Ry will take Character First and all three boys' second class will be a writting/spelling class, Hope & Halle are taking Preschool Music and a Preschool Nature class...we're looking forward to it! AND we'll have a year book too...all 7 kids in the same yearbook will be fun!
~we decided to end our foster care liscense...our home is full :o)
~ Chad went to town on the new garden early this year...we just had our first salad from the garden...our mini farm is providing us with eggs (duck, chicken and goose) , rabbit meat and soon fresh goat milk!
~planning stairs for the deck...and some landscaping
~Taking Annah to see Beth Moore's "So long insecurity" simulcast this Saturday...lots of our family are meeting us there! Then next month I get to take Viktoriya on our churchs' women's retreat.
~We got a piano...what a blessing! Thank-you Grandma Sharon! It's so exciting! My friend Jada will begin private lessons with the 3 boys in May!
~A&V have been growing in the Lord and closer to me as well. I began praying/talking with them every night and it's been beautiful.
~

gaurding his flock

2010-02-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Freedom

2010-02-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

All I could think today as my five younger kids ran, danced and played with Tennyson, was freedom. How beautiful it is to be so free! To twirl and yell, to laugh and play hide and seek. Sigh. Gorgeous.

an extension of one's self

2010-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

As a twin, Halle thinks of Hope as merely an extension of herself, one to played with, loved on and hugged whenever she wants to. Hope, however, thinks of herself as a separate being, one to given space and asked to be hugged. This makes for some interesting mornings as of late.

Halle wants to listen to Hope's heart. Hope wants to fold laundry with Mama.
Halle wants a hug from Hope. Hope wants to lay on Tennyson.
Halle wants to sleep with Hope in Hope's bed. Hope wants Halle to sleep in Halle's bed.
Halle wants to hold Hope's hand. Hope wants to help Mama rinse the fruit.
Halle wants to sit in Hope's highchair. Hope wants Halle to sit in Halle's highchair.
Halle wants Hope to sing with her. Hope wants Halle to be quiet.
Halle wants to drive Hope crazy. Hope wants to be left alone.
It's a rough life.

Until she can't find her twin. "Haaaaaaaaaallleeeeee. Halle where are you?!?!?"
"Hopie!!!!" "I LOVE you!" "I love you too."

I'm amazed

2010-01-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

everytime I do something so simple with my toddlers, like making scones, just how much fun they have. :o)

I Surrender All

2010-01-27T08:35:00.000-08:00

I Surrender All
Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter
Music by Will Winfield S. Weeden
1896

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender (I surrender all),
I surrender (I surrender all),
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Mini-Farm {Mini-Homestead?} Life

2010-01-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

Somedays it's a chore {think rain}. Most days it's joyful {sunshine helps}. Almost always...I love it. :o)

I'm really looking forward to Spring when we have baby goats (I couldn't just write 'kids' because someone may think we're adopting again!;o)), goslings and ducklings (hopefully!). We think Ashtyn miscarried when she ate something she shouldn't have; so we'll try again soon with her. Emily is most likely newly pregnant...we'll know Feb 11th. They have a 5 month gestation. We'll see how much I like homesteading once I'm in charge of milking twice a day! ;o)

These two mini-farmers make it more fun...

Guess who is 7 today!?

2010-01-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

Ryland Christian. Picture taken yesterday.

A day I will never forget...

2010-01-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we celebrated the faithful life of one of God's servants...Chad's grandpa. He fought the good fight and he finished the race. We began with a morning graveside service.

Watching the deer run in the green of the cemetery and feeling the warmth of the sunshine was not a small gift from God on this January day. Our 7 children were quiet and behaved, reverent and respectful. Not an easy task and one I do not ask of them often (the quiet part, anyway). I was in awe of all our family, gathering to pay tribute to their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband of 69 years.

As a song was sung and the guitar made beautiful music Chad's aunt and Grandmother raised their hands in praise. He was there, in heaven with his Savior and King, rejoicing! We all laid a rose on his casket and smiled remembering his sweet nature and his mischievous sense of humor. All the way until his dying day he was playing jokes on his loved ones. Even more admirable was the way he led people to the Lord even when he was sick and in pain.

At only 19 years of age, a shy Warner was called to ministry, and without fancy degrees or titles, he served. He drilled wells, helped with farming and walked many miles in the snow of Minnesota to visit his parishioners. As we listened to his children describe his faithful life, Aidan's heart was touched. The large church we met in, had begun as a prayer meeting in Warner and Pearl's home. Aidan smiled, "Just like our church began as a Bible study in our home!"

When we watched a slide show of photo's Chad made, Aidan remembered how at only 3 he would tuck his little orange Gideon Bible under his arm and jump up onto a toy box and preach his heart out. He would line up his stuffed animals and teach about God's ways. From age 90 to age 10, the Lord uses Godly examples to inspire and encourage. Aidan looked up at me and whispered, "Mama I want to be a preacher too. I hope He calls me too."

Later as Grandma lifted her tired, 93 year old arms up for yet another hug, I told her that Chad and I want to commit to praying daily for all the family members as she and Warner did for all those years. How valuable were those prayers! I know this without a shadow of a doubt. She smiled and said she would love that. Then I told her what Aidan said about wanting God to call him to be a preacher and her blue eyes widened and she smiled ear to ear, stretching our her sweet wrinkles..."Oh, oh, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Look at all this offspring gathered in joyful remembrance and thankfulness of a godly heritage...

We were missing two families...Steve and Katarina and their two daughters and Chad's sister Micki and her two children, as well as Heidi's husband and their two boys.

Something I realized when we were there was that of all the family members, our three sons are the only ones to carry on the Keller name. There are still two guys, one married and one not, that may have a boy someday!

All of the great-grands!

Aunt Barb, Grandpa Rick, Chad and I

Grandpa Rick, Great-grandma Pearl, Chad and I

Aidan and Hope as the service began.

Deeeeelicious!

2010-01-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hi my name is Halle and I love to eat healthy food. Smoothies are the best! I ask for them everyday. This is my favorite smoothie Mom makes. I have a name for it but Mom doesn't understand me when I say it. Sigh. The yogurt is plain and unsweetened. The honey and fruit are all the sugar I need. I don't even know there is anything green in it (but you can see a broccoli bit in the last picture)... it's still deeeeeeeelicious!

1 cup plain yogurt
4 peeled clementine oranges
1 large apple, cored & sliced
3 tablespoons raw honey
1 cup crushed ice
3 broccoli florets
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1/2 cup blueberries
3 large strawberries

When Mom makes it for herself she adds:
1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
1 packet truvia (from stevia plant)

10 on 1.10.2010

2010-01-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

Aidan's 10th birthday party was special. Special because he's double-didgets. Special because we toasted to his specialness. Special because I had to refuse to do a pinata and party favors. It was simple and special. He didn't even want any planned games. He wanted an ice-cream cake and his friends there. We toasted Aidan and everyone shared what they loved about him. He loved it. And we love you Aidan!!! My amazing 10 year old...

Loving the COLOR!

2010-01-06T08:10:00.001-08:00

It's a bit loud, yet a bit soothing as well. Strange I know. We love it!
Viktoriya and I had so much fun bonding as we painted this room together...

A before shot of our playroom in a boring shade of builders white. It's been in some serious need of a paint job for about 2 of the 4.5 years we've lived here.

We had lotsa helpers.
This picture cracks me up; see a goat and a goose in the background? Reminds me of the beginning of this movie Pride and Prejudice. This here is my wonderful, crazy, hectic, beautiful life.

At this point I was thinking "What have I done?" But now I really do love it. And Chad even just requested that we paint his home office the same color when we make the room switch.

Oh come on, give me a kiss!

"Why does she think it's funny to degrade me in this way?"

Enjoying an ice cream break before removing the tape. We had the BEST paint ball fight ever after we were done this room. It has become a tradition we look forward to. After we remove the tape, we ball it up really tight, aim and FIRE!

Ta-da. The perfect room in which to curl up with a good book and a sibling. I'll post a better pic after the decorating is done.

riding lawn mower unnecessary

2010-01-06T08:05:00.000-08:00

we've listed our riding lawn mower on craigslist~can you tell why?

Random beauty

2010-01-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

Happy 15th Birthday Annah!

2009-12-29T21:22:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe Annah is 15! We have two 15 year olds for a little while. Chad didn't get a picture but I made her a white cake with chocolate frosting covered in shaved coconut. Yum!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

w.w.

2009-12-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

When is a home full?

2009-12-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

Our week was wonderful. Normal and wonderful and somehow ended up surpising me completely. There were friends, Christmas lights, hot apple cider, pony rides, hugs, laughs, presents, home-made fudge, cookies and so much more. Caroling along the streets with a horse-drawn carriage, freezing in the rain at the Lights (lines) of Christmas, a gift exchange with no less than 15 kids at my sweet friend {newly family!} Corrie's. We've become family now that she is adopting Annah and Viktoriya's youngest brother Ven. Lidiya, Andrey and Ruvim were there as well.

Dampening the joy was the revelation that Lidiya's family does not plan on allowing her to stay in contact with her biological siblings. They actually went as far as to say that Lidiya should forget "her old family". Thankfully this is not how Lidiya rolls and hopefully she'll be able to stand up to them and stay in contact with her sisters. She stayed the weekend with us and she fit in well with our family. All five girls had a sweet sleepover in A & V's room...

{These walls may hold another sweet russian girls name but the closet won't hold her belongings, crowded as it is, so I think it's possible to make our bonus room/family room into the boys room and then move A & V into the boys bigger room so Lydia would fit; I would turn H&H's room back into an office....the current family room houses the tv etc. so I would put the pc into the new office making room to move the tv upstairs into the great room along with another chair and couch }

Annah told me Saturday night as she went to bed "Mom, I've been thinking, but we can talk about it tomorrow." :o) We talked about it the next day (yesterday) and she asked if we prayed about it, might we fit a bunkbed in her room and allow Lidiya to become part of our family too. I had already begun praying that His will would be done. I thought our home was FULL. As in even after Hope and Halle. Then after Annah. Then after Viktoriya.

As I was praying that morning (Monday), I felt the need to bring Lidiya down to Seattle to meet up with her family. {This made for a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Nana, Joyce and Sharon!} Their social worker came too and we chatted for a bit. After Lidiya and her family left, the SW and I discussed the fact that the state has no say or opinion on family size once you are not a foster parent any longer. Meaning that while we are foster parents we are limited to 6 kids and NO more. Unless God says different and changes peoples minds. ;) BUT, once you've adopted children (ie: Viktoriya and Annah which should be finalized by February or March) you can adopt as many as you want. This was news to me.

So from the Northgate mall, I called my sweet husband. Laughing as I tried to think of a way to ask him if he might consider yet another teenage girl to join our family. Thinking I may shock him, Chad turned the tables and shocked me... "Of course. I thought all along they should've stayed together." What a man. The world needs more men like him. I'm hoping that's what we're raising in Aidan, Ethan and Ryland.

And speaking of these three...we have three votes for Lidiya to join us as well. Now it's completely up to the Lord. But even if He doesn't have for Lidiya to join our family, I have a feeling our home isn't full for good. It begs the question...

When is a home full? When is our home full? Is 2550 sq ft too small for 8 {or more} children? I'm thinking not. I love our home so I have some ideas. One version involves finishing our basement which would add another 750 sq ft but another version does not. I think the second version (described above in turquise :o)) would work since we'll need to wait another year or so to get the work done. And I'm beginning to think the Lord can make anything work in us if it is His will. Am I a slow learner or what?

These little girls...

2009-12-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

are so, so....girly! lol Yesterday, as Hope pulled her socks up as high as she could and said "Soccer Mama! Hopey play soccer!" I asked her if she wanted to do soccer or ballet. And she jumped up ran to the front door and said "Ballet Mama!!! Hope do ballet. Pleeeeease Mama. Now, ballet!" And that's all I've heard since then. We even ask her if she's sure she doesn't want to do soccer and she says, "No, silly Mama, Hopey princess. BALLET!!! Today!!!" So cute. And Halle agrees 100%. I've got two girly girls on my hands!

Galatians 6:1 Parenting

2009-12-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the book I'm {slowly} reading right now... Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids! by Turansky and Miller.

It would be an excellent choice for a Christian Parenting class to do together because at the end of each chapter there are questions for discussion with scripture to help dig deeper.

At the end of the chapter I read last night they talked about the godly ways of correction found in Galatians 6:1. I've never thought of this in relation to parenting but it is good, especially for teenagers.

Gal 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Gal 6:2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Gal 6:3 If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.

Gal 6:4 Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Gal 6:5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Isn't this a beautiful and truthful example of how to correct a child or teen who is straying. One of own struggles is getting into an argument with my kids instead of focusing only on the behavior, being careful to not be led into a boxing match. So I am trying to more gently and humbly focus on the sin itself and what needs to happen differently, being careful to not attack their character, and guide them back onto the right path.

So we're aiming to 1) Help carry their burdens, while not falling into the same sin (such as arguing in my case), 2) Watch that you have an attitude of humility (they respond so much better!, 3) Test your own actions and 4) Remember the goal...Restoring them gently.

They show how to focus on what they did wrong, using your words only, and if they do not respond well to the discussion they go take a break to think about it. This is not the obligatory, punishment type time out. It's a break to calm themselves and return ready for correction. Then if they respond positively, great. If not you may need to add a consequence. Then, and I love this part, always strive for a "positive conclusion" where they have hope that they can make a better choice next time.

I highly recommend this book :o)

a happy good-bye to {toddler}babyhood

2009-12-16T09:21:00.001-08:00

Doesn't she look so much older all of a sudden???

The twins new big girl bedroom is small yet perfectly simple and super sweet. Nothing new except 2 sets of sheets and a new bunkbed.

They love their big girl bed and the transition has been relatively easy! They decided amongst themselves that Halle would have the top and Hope would have the bottom.

Their conversations are absolutely adorable. Their budding friendship is beautiful to watch. More on that later...but for now some pictures of their nearly finished big girl room {all that is left is to finish painting their pink armoire!}...

w.w.

2009-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

some serious sadness

2009-12-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

Any guesses on why the long faces?

On a side note I figured out the html on making the pictures bigger. It's the little things sometimes. :o)

The answer is..."Sorry girls, we used up all our frozen shredded zucchini from our garden. We'll have to make do with store-bought now. And Mama needs to go to the store so we cannot make zucchini bread today." lol

aiming for even more beauty, cheer, joy

2009-12-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

and love in our hearts than in our home...

Dinner last night

2009-12-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

was delicious. Can you tell what is was?

That Mom

2009-12-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

I'm that kind of mom...

The kind of mom who loves to be silly with her kids and allows pictures that prove it!

That mom that people have to stare at when she dares to bring many young children on a shopping trip to costco, then is brave {rather dumb} enough to eat at the food court afterwards.

The kind of mom who will go for coffee & drop a kid off at school in bright pink pajamas with sledding elephants on them, and not be embarassed.

The kind of mom who hates it when people say, "Wow, you have your hands full." or even worse "Better you than me! I quit at two which is plenty!"

The kind of mom who often hears "You don't look old enough to have 7 kids. I don't mind that one. ;o)

The kind of mom who still licks her finger then wipes her teenager face when they have a spot of something.

The kind of mom who has a child sleeping on her floor nearly every night, but none in her bed.

The kind of mom who thinks it's still a date when she only brings one (or even two) kids on a date with her husband.

The kind of mom who makes her 8 year old sit in a 5 point harness carseat because he's not yet 80 lbs. He's so mad!

The kind of mom who doesn't give her kids junk cereal for breakfast but let's them have it for dessert.

The kind of mom who wakes up to dishes from last night dinner and swears she won't leave them again! Until the next time!

The kind of mom who takes far too many pictures of her kids and resorts to goofy faces and jumping up and down to make her babies laugh for just the right shot.

The kind of mom who goes to bed wondering how she made such a mess of the day and prays about how to be a better mom tomorrow.

The kind of mom who LOVES to teach her kids about Truth in history, geography & science and enjoys coming up with fun projects to cement these truths in their little brains.

The kind of mom who writes appointments on the calendar and enters them into her phone calendar and still forgets them.

The kind of mom who loves each of her children equally, whether they grew in her tummy or not.

The kind of mom who is often late, even though she tries so hard not to be!

The kind of mom who steps on legos, yells and takes them away (for good!) then gives them back the next day.

The kind of mom who loves to play tag, hide-and-seek and build forts.

The kind of mom who makes mistakes and can humble herself and ask her child's forgiveness.

Inspired by Brittany who was inspired by Susie. Join in if you blog :o)

my heart's prayer today

2009-12-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Prayer of Saint Francis

cheap fun in tight times

2009-12-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

My first paid shoot

2009-12-10T04:43:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! I have my first paid photo shoot...school picture alternative for a friend of the girls thanks to these pics I took and they gave to their friends. I have been so choosy about doing anything to make some extra money besides selling a few things on ebay several years ago. I haven't worked outside the home at all since my social worker position with Aging and Disability Services with the City of Seattle. But this is fun and doesn't take too much time away from my family. Say a prayer that it might be fruitful, if it's His will, please? :o)

family photo shoot

2009-12-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

gorgeous

2009-12-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

It's just gorgeous here. Is it not?

love of reading

2009-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

I consider it a great goal in parenting to nurture a love of reading. I know each child is different, they are all on different time tables and they are all allowed to have their own "loves". But I truly do desire for all my kids to really enjoy reading!

Viktoriya and Aidan will spend hours reading and I have to break them away. My other 3 are still needing to be nudged but I do not believe that late (accelerated) reading is a handicap when you home school as it may be if your child is public schooled. The simple fact is that if you make learning fun, they'll love to learn. If we're stressed about it, so will they be stressed. I'll admit I was stressed at the beginning of this year. It seemed learning was going to be a struggle for my younger two boys. Yet, to my surprise and delight, they are cruising right along and having fun while they're learning.

I have put together a list of ways to encourage a love of reading. I want to remember these things I've learned over the last year or so when my twins are reading to start reading. Please share any ideas you may have found helpful.

~Set the learning "table" like a great feast...a little of this a little of that...all delicious.

~Keep your attitude light and encouraging...even if you're frustrated on the inside. Patience is not only a virtue but a necessity when teaching reading. Have you heard of fake it till you make it? This worked for me! lol

~Select books they'll love to read, then sneak in the necessities at other times. Read aloud with excitement and if you do the voices, they'll be glued.

~Don't be afraid to read seemingly "boring" poetry. I've been surprised at how much they love it!

~Read all summer long outdoors! After running, climbing and general wearing-out, they are often the best listeners!

~Kids LOVE to put on plays. Have them act out each chapter in place of their oral narration.

~Take turns choosing the books for read-aloud. I have a choice of three and each boy chooses in rotation.

~Allow them to build something or play with something quiet as you read, they're little hands can be busy, but their minds are actually paying attention to you!

~Keeping the time for reading aloud at a regularly scheduled time helps them to look forward to it rather than it coming here and there and interrupting something they would rather be doing.

~My boys have loved our weekly library bookshelf where I put books they're only allowed to read at a certain time (when I'm working with another child one-on-one and need quiet). I pick out mostly picture books that they'll love and save them for when I really need them to be quiet.
~The interest I show in reading with them truly spills over into their little hearts! Halle LOVES to be read to and I've noticed that I tend to be excited to read to her more. Perhaps Hope has picked up on this. Always something to work on!

Please comment and share ways you encourage a love of learning/reading in your home!

Made me smile

2009-12-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Finding the twins like this last night...

A note my sweet & sour 6 year old Ry wrote me after a challenging day with him...

I love my mom

You are my best mom

I love you

You help me even

though I am hard for you

I still love you

By Ry Goodbye

And more poetry by Aidan...

I'd Leave
I'd leave all the hurry
the noise and the furry
for a place with only
two things...
including a mother and father
or a place that would suite all my dreams
for a house full of books
and a garden of flowers.

From the Bible
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold
and picturs of silver.
He that is slow to anger
is better than the mighty.
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want.
(compilation of recent verses memorized)
He is my Lord, my God,
and I love Him!

My Gift
What can I give Him poor as I am?
To a King like Him!
Who has given me so much!
What would He like?
Christmas is nearly here!
It's His party, His birthday!
He deserves something!
I won't give up, I won't, I won't!
But what I can I give Him?
I will give Him my heart!

A thankful heart...

2009-11-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

is a happy heart! So we are ever talking, walking, focusing on thankfulness...contentedness. Knowing our Father leads to a thankful heart and from that thankfulness flows contentment. I do not know why someday fly by without taking the time to truly praise our Father for His blessings. But most days we pause many times to tell Him how precious His gifts are to us...

what should we do with these gorgeous pumpkin pies?

Adam has an idea! Noooooo!!!

Halle and Aunt Jennifer catch a snuggle

Mama's favorite! Sweet potatoes with marshmellows!

Not interested in having their pic taken~too bad! :o)

Grandma Cheryl's pumpkin pies!

Grandpa's horsey rides were the day's fave for Hope & Halle!

This was mama's first attempt at gluten free. Yuck.

This year our family is thankful for...

our yard and animals, swings and trees and leaves

our warm cozy home, that is clean and comfortable and cheerful

our dog who loves us and protects us

our daddy who works so hard to keep us well taken care of

our mama who teaches us and plays games with us and reads to us

brothers and sisters who we love even when we fight

our friends and our church and all the good times we have together like wed night

good food and enough of it to not be in need

sisters we haven't seen (Chad's sister Jennifer) or talked to mine (Sarah) in too long!

opportunity to grow and allow our character and faith to be tested

enough to be able to share with those in need

true friends and family who you know you count on

and the greatest blessing of all is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours.

missin' this

2009-11-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

not sure why Hope is cut off...click on the pic to see both sweet chubby babes

I'm listing the twins beautiful cribs on craiglist. Sniff-sniff. I think they'll love their full under twin doll house bunk bed I'm getting them. But I sure do miss these sweet lil chubby babes...

Good and Angry

2009-11-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Good and Angry by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller has provided me with a wonderful addition of tools in my parenting belt. I don't know how many times a frustrating exchange between one of my children and I left me wanting to pull my hair out. I try with all my heart to be patient during my children's fighting, undertanding when they do what they've said they will not do {after all, I struggle with this as well!}, listening and observing before speaking, praying before I discipline. Yet far too often, I respond with anger and that is only encouraging them to do the same. Not my goal in parenting. Obviously.

So I began reading this book with hopes of some useful tools to combat this character flaw of mine. I had taken a parenting class long ago at my old church, Calvary Chapel North Bend, which was a video series these same authors taught, using their book Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids. It was a possitive experience for Chad and I and we've carried many ideas out years later. The 'wise appeal' for instance is a chance for children to respectfully aks their parents to delay a task or see if there is a way to do something different. They repeat back to you your request..."I understand you would like me to _______ because _______, but I have a problem with that because I need to finish _________ . Could I please take the trash out after I finish what I'm doing?" Sometimes the answer is "no" and they need to accept that and immediately do what was asked. Other times they present a compelling case that you had not considered, and you grant their request.

In reading Good and Angry I've learned a great way to avoid arguing and the frustration of finding a task uncompleted when it was something as simple as returning a pair of shoes left out to their rightful spot. They suggest getting close first...always bring your child to you rather than yelling a request out across the home. Second...consider your timing. {Asking A or V to do their chores the second they get home would not show the importance of our relationship over the need to have chores completed}. First invest in your child, of course, then consider the timing and make your requests known in ways that show they matter to you. Third, give the request and wait for your child to report back. And if they often struggle with following through, inspect that it was done.

Another fantastic suggestion was to avoid the boxing ring. Annah and I go at it sometimes and I know that I jump into that ring. That is not what I want for our relationship. I do NOT want to fight and deaden it, I want to grow and nurture our relationship. So I've begun saying "lets talk about this after we've both calmed down and realize the true size of this dissagreement". And thanks to my sweet friend Charity...we no longer discuss emotional issues after 9pm {and aren't most things pretty emotional when you're in dissagreement after 9pm at night}?

There is so much more...this book is wonderful and highly recommended!

:o)

2009-11-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

I actually do not blog for comments. But there is just something about that big " O " sitting down there at the bottom of a post. Silly I know. Shouldn't bother me but it does. I am blogging to be able to print out the text for my scrapbooks and it's proved very helpful for the scrapbookers journaling block. But still...

Our laundry system...

2009-11-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Granted I only have a few readers and most don't have a large family and some have even more! {Shonni!!!} but people do ask how I keep up with laundry for 9 and so I thought I would share! This combined with our shoe/sock system for the boys has made everyday life easier. Being organized makes a world of difference in how peaceful our home is.

We have bins on one side of the wall; we fold and sort right into the bins. The three on the top shelf are for Chad, kitchen towls/rags, Becca. The three on the bottom shelf are for Annah/Toriya, Hope/Halle, Aidan/Ethan/Ryland. Under the shelf is a laundry sorter for lights,mediums,darks and when Ry brings in all the laundry he sorts them into the bins for me. I do all the starting and switching of the loads. And Toriya does all the folding and sorting (she and Annah switch monthly). It really works. I can't remember a time since this system was implemented that I've been behind on laundry...even with my back hurt...I just taught Toriya how to start and switch loads!

The only thing I don't recommend? Leaving your detergent on top of the washer. We woke to this on Sunday morning after a wild load of my bathroom rugs made the washer bounce. Sigh.

My smart husband was so kind to clean it up and save a bowl full! {My back was out at the time.} He used a dustpan and a spatula!

And here is our shoe and sock area for the boys. It's right outside the laundry room and the boys socks go right into the bins. I try to only have the same type of socks so they all match. Works for me!

Happy Half Birthday H2!

2009-11-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

I made the blog as cheerful and as pretty and as girly as I possibly could in honor of my beautiful, girly twins half birthday! Cute, isn't it? Head over to http://www.shabbyblogs.com/ to get one for your blog. :o)

So what is H2? The person otherwise known as Hope&Halle. I truly do strive to make sure they are two complete beings in and of themselves. But it happens. They are twins. They do not know what to do when their other half is missing..."Mama, Halle go? MAMA Halle GO!?!"

{Don't make Halle sad or you'll have the biggest, sweetest, sadest puppy dog look to deal with.}

These pictures where taken the 1st of Oct. A nice and mild Fall day; the last pictures were taken yesterday the 13th of Nov. They've changed so much in just 6 weeks!

They are 2.5, and they are no longer babies. It is time to transform their cribs into toddler bed. Hope is completely potty trained (ie: no pullups whatsoever at night or for travel). Halle is not far behind. They are quick to present their opinions about this and that (and everything in between).

They don't let you teach only the boys. And they will not allow you to cook or bake without pushing up a stool and helping. They must say hello to Daddy on the phone while he is working, and they will ask where every single family member is the second they wake up. "Daddy, Mama, where's Daddy?" "Daddy is at work." "Oh, sad. Bubba?" "Bubba's still sleeping." "Ok. Wake-up sleepy head?" "Sure, you can wake him up." "Ry-Ry?" "He's downstairs." And on it goes...everyday.

In fact my happy little girls are barely toddlers now that they run, jump, talk, draw, pretend to read, and can change discs in the dvd player (shhhh, don't tell Chad). They can fend off the chickens, ducks and geese, talk nonstop, love to wear lipgloss, beg to swim everyday, and are quick to tell you "I do it, Mama. Thank-you, I do it."
Halle is full of spunk and her sense of humor is amazing. She is a go-getter and will do anything you ask of her, running off with excitement to help. Hope on the other hand will say "Halle do?" "No Hope, can you help Mama." "No mama, Halle need do." lol She is so very compassionate and nurturing. Quiet honestly, she's not the tom-boy I thought she would be. While she can throw the football, kick the soccer ball and shows Tae-Kwon-Do potential, she would much rather prance around in a princess dress than anything else. And quite often, when she is quiet and cannot be found...I'll search and search and she is hiding in my bathroom putting on my make-up. Her other love is books. She surprises me at the length of time she will sit and look through book after book, squealing with joy as she spots a horse, butterfly or a "mama". She brings me paper often asking me to "Draw Mama with me. Draw Halle kiss Mama." :o)

Halle is 27 lbs and seems much thinner to me lately. She is wearing 2t and 3t and size 7 shoes. She loves to eat just about everything! It's such a joy to have girls who enjoy chips and salsa or veggies and hummus with me.

Hope is 26.5 lbs though she feels so much lighter than Halle. She is also in 2t and 3t and wears a size 7 shoes. She and Halle both LOVE to wear dresses {"Princess, Mama. Please. Princess today."} and they will put a tu-tu over anything they are wearing.

Don't let these pictures fool you...Hope is every bit the girly-girl also, she is dainty and composed, doesn't like to be dirty or rough. She adores playing outside, as long as she doesn't get too dirty or knocked over by the animals. She loves swimming more than anything else, besides cuddling her mama. :o) "With you Mama?" is still the sentence I hear most from my Hope.

Hope is easily offended should she be told "No." or asked to do something she's already expressed her disdain for. She will clamp her hand over her mouth and burst into tears. I think she is just sensitive, but Daddy says she working her Mama. {Actually the rest of the family are wrapped around her tiny little finger.} She truly is one half of the sweetest little H2 you could ever imagine!

I really enjoy carrying these girls but my back will have no more of it and it is a sad day. Hopefully after I strengthen it, I will be able to wear just one of them at a time. Everyday they jump and climb on me, and it makes my back worse but if I dare say "get down girls, mama's back hurts" they look so hurt and forlorn! Sigh. Yep, I'm wrapped around their little fingers.

Thank-you Lord for blessing us with these treasures and entrusting them to us for a few seasons. I praise you for their health, something we do not take for granted. I thank you for the opportunity to be home with them and their primary influence; I pray for the ability to to homeschool them and the joy of watching them learn to read and write and sing and dance! I praise you for Hope and Halle and I pray they will grow to know and love you Lord.

Time for bed girls...

2009-11-12T14:12:00.001-08:00

or not.
This is what we find at night after we've brushed teeth, gone potty, read books, sang, rocked and prayed...life as I know it may be over.

"One more minute Daddy."

Snoqualmie Falls

2009-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous as usual but the massive rain we've had lately made the falls even more breathtaking! I remember loving Autumn in Arizona, despite the lack of a true four seasons, because you finally got reprieve from the heat. But I just LOVE fall in the Pacific Northwest! Just look at the colors of the trees! {Okay, I just realized where Aidan get's his cheasy poetry ideas. :o)}

soccer Pacific Northwest style!

2009-11-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

Their team is undefeated this year! Annah played so well. It's her only game I missed all year, but Chad and boys supported her!

our all in all

2009-11-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising up again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising up again I bless Your name
You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up
When I get dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name

Can you see it?

2009-11-05T22:21:00.001-08:00

Nope. Not a snake. Click on the picture for a better view.

It's a darlin lil box turtle hiding!

wordless wednesday

2009-11-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

answered prayer {and more pics in leaves!}

2009-11-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

This little guy, Ven, is such a sweetheart. We had him over for a bit on Saturday, Oct 31. Guess what he said after we'd raked leaves, buried him and then threw the leaves in the air? "What a wonderful way to end October." So precious.

And the best news of the month was... He has a {Christian} family working on their adoption license! Praise God!

And keep praying for Ruvim!

Like kids in a candy store

2009-11-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

yep, it was just like that

and they loved it!

free candy galore...Microsoft Halloween Party

nearly 2.5 years

2009-11-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

Bonding is great like this is great, but...

bonding whilst getting all the chores of everyday done is even better!

I've been carrying these babies for nearly 2.5 years! I can't imagine a day without them asking "Carry Mama?" while bringing me a carrier. I've finally begun carrying them together again, and I love it when one lays their head on my back and one on my chest and I look down and see that they're holding hands. :o)

I meant to post this during national baby-wearing week but I forgot. I'm too busy carrying around these cuties! But now my back is out and I'll be snuggling them from the couch instead. :o( Pray for quick healing please. There is just too much to do around here!

Mei Tai's are my favorite carriers. But I also love my Ergo. It seems there is no one carrier perfect for everyone. But beg, borrow or ebay one... you won't be sorry!

It's Fall Indeed

2009-10-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

~ the falling leaves in our yard are gorgeous ~

~ the kids love exploring no more or no less than every other time of year ~

~ but I find it all to be so different looking and more interesting ~

~ swinging from one of the rope swings, trying many {dangerous} different ways ~

~they love to scale the highest stump & tree branches ~

~ pointing out critters & treasures such as a myriad of "helicopters" {aka Maple seeds} stuck together ~

~ imagining catastrophes where one of the boys saves the day ~

~ usually saving Hope and Halle at least once from a big nasty spider ~

~ watching and laughing hysterically as Tennyson vomits his lunch of grass ~

~ gleefully proving they know the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees ~

~ singing songs ~ playing heroes ~

mini-me

2009-10-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

How funny it is to have a daughter who looks like me that I didn't give birth to!

Adoption Update

2009-10-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Adoption #2 {or is that #3 & 4?} is going well. The girls are both legally free as of Friday. We waited a month since the judge ruled Dad's rights terminated for him to have a chance to appeal and he did not. So we mailed in the rest of our paperwork for our adoption update to be done. They'll be out to our home yet again and then it will be the waiting game if we have to have background checks and fingerprints done again.

I think Annah and Viktoriya {as well as the rest of us} will benefit from the finality of an adoption. They know they aren't going anywhere but they are so thrilled to have our last name and make it final. They are such sweet girls and I'm so happy that God has knitted our family together in this way. I would've never imagined it and someday's I do still wonder what He was thinking!

Somedays I think they would be better off with a family with less children. And when I have to miss one of the boy's soccer games to go to a sibling visit with the girls I wonder if the boys are suffering. In fact last night I poured my heart out to the Lord asking Him if He was sure. {I'm laughing under my breath right now, so as to not awake 2 little girls}. He made it clear with the way He brought Annah here. We could never do to her what her previous {Christian} foster family did to her. And then with Viktoriya, having Nana and Sharon both support us in such a real way when they had previously encouraged us to not take on any more children! And that was while we still had Teighly!

So in my physical body, when the wears and tears of this world feel heavy, and when I see A & V's brothers still in need of a home, I am discouraged. I think there is no way a good nuturing Christian home will be found for every child and every child deserves one! And I kneel by my bed crying and wondering why God allows our world to be like this.

It is then, and always then, when I'm at my lowest that He meets me, covers me with His presence and His peace. He gently reminds me I am only called to be faithful to what He has given me today. I woke with a new excitement and energy to parent the ones He has given me. They are the ones I can pour myself into; I cannot burden myself with every child I see or know of. I have to focus on those He has entrusted to my care. And I must take the time to be filled up each and every day.

While I cannot be consumed by the needs of everyone I can still be on my knees for them. Please...pray for these two sweet boys who deserve parents, and a loving forever home.

"Wimming!"

2009-10-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Swimming, or "wimming" as Hope says nearly every day, is one of our favorite family activities. Here are my 7 treasures at our local YMCA on a rare day that I sat out...

It's really too bad

2009-10-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Halle is not a happier child....

Our 14 Family Ways

2009-10-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

1) We love God with our whole heart, reading His Word and praying to Him daily.

2) We love one another, treating each other with kindness, gentleness and respect.

3) We serve one another, humbly thinking of the needs of others before our own.

4) We encourage each other, using only words that build up and bless others.
We think before we speak.

5) We forgive one another, covering an offense with love when wronged or hurt. We seek reconciliation with our family members.

6) We are thankful to God for what we have. We’re content with what we have and we are generous with those in need.

7) We take good care of what the Lord has blessed us with.

8) We are responsible and do our chores for God not just our parents. We do tasks diligently, with a cooperative spirit.

9) We try to lovingly communicate with our family hoping to strengthen our relationship, with love and honesty.

10) We choose to be peacemakers, patient and gracious even when we don’t feel like it.

11) We do what we know is right even when others do not.

12) We choose to be joyful & happy doing all things without complaining or arguing even when we don’t feel like it.

13) We tell the truth, always, being completely honest.

14) We honor our parents and obey with a cheerful heart listening to correction, and communicating our feelings kindly.

These will go here {finally ;o)}. They are adapted from the Clarkson's Our 24 Family Ways.

The Zoo {not the one at our house}

2009-10-23T12:34:00.001-07:00

We left our zoo for a day at a larger one for lots of family fun!

We oohed and aaahed at this peacock's colors...turquise, teal, sapphire & more!

We tried to figure out what kind of silly dance the Ostrich was dancing...

We decided it was a mystery to complicated to unfold...

We admired God's creativity & longed to swim like the penguins...

We enjoyed spotting animals & showing them to each other...

We learned there is more than one way to see a situation;

it's not always just black & white...

We communicated our feelings & sought to understand one another...

We ran & we giggled; we laughed & we chased...

We rolled & we wrestled & we tickled each other...

We climbed large trees and posed for memory's sake...

We "lived" in Africa, saw their school & tried to fit in their huts...

We reveled in the color of flowers, fruit & leaves...

Admiring and adoring our Creator through His creation...

We connected & cuddled; we ate & we played...

All in a good homeschooling day!

water babies

2009-10-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

Nov 08

Hope and Halle have always LOVED water.
"Wimming?" Can be heard here daily.
What a difference a year makes!

Oct 09

Such happy days these are...

I have my own Reptile Man

2009-10-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Happy 8th Birthday Ethan!

2009-10-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Our precious middle son...you are 8 now! It has been an important year for you. You have matured in many ways and we are so proud of you. I love your sense of humor, your love of animals, your compassion and empathy. You are a wonderful son Ethan and we love you dearly!

Happy Birthday Chad!

2009-10-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Chad turned 38 on the 9th! It was a joy to celebrate this wonderful man. I am amazed each year that God saw fit to bless me with Chad for a husband and the father of my children. Thank-you Lord!

apple cake skillet delight!

2009-10-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

What should we make for Daddy's birthday. It needs to be special...delicious...one of his favorites???

In honor of my man's birthday Viktoriya and I made a delicious dessert! He loves apple crisps so I decided to try a variation on the old favorite. I got the idea at Shonni's...who got the idea from The Pioneer Woman, but we adapted it to our liking. We shreded the apples and layered the cake batter, and substituted brown for the white sugar. We also doubled the vanilla and the cinnamon. Oh and we substituted cream cheese for sour cream because we were out and it turned out...perfectly yummy!!!!!

On a side note, I had so much fun cooking with my eldest daughter! Let me know if you like me to post directions/our recipe.

worthy

2009-10-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song,
to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything,
And I will adore You

ww

2009-10-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

{on thursday as usual ;o)}

too cute not to share

2009-10-06T13:20:00.003-07:00

how unfair that we get to see this insanely cute combo every day!

education

2009-10-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

“‘Education,’ said Lord Haldane, some time ago, ‘is a matter of the spirit.’ — no wiser word has been said on the subject, and yet we persist in applying education from without as a bodily activity or emollient. We begin to see light. No one knoweth the things of man but the spirit of a man which is in him; therefore, there is no education but self-education and as soon as a young child begins his education he does so as a student. Our business is to give him mind-stuff, and both quality and quantity are essential. Naturally, each of us possesses this mind-stuff only in limited measure, but we know where to procure it; for the best thought the world possesses is stored in books; we must open books to children, the best books; our own concern is abundant and orderly serving.” – Charlotte Mason

a breakfast favorite

2009-10-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

choco-berrie smoothie

4 cups organic milk

4 tbs nutella

4 tbs flax seed meal

1 cup strawberries

1 cup ice

4 raw eggs

add everything to blender, blend, pour and enjoy!

{top with a bit of whip cream for extra oohs and aahs}

{not so}Littte Boys

2009-10-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

oh how I love our sweet, precious, little boys,

their wrestling, their laughing,

their love of protecting, so fierce and so brave,

adventure & exploring they crave

their lack of bed making, even the ornery looks that they give,
their need of a bath, both morning and night,

the way they challenge your thinking,

and cause you to pray with all your might...

the way they pull you into their play

and allow you be a child at least once a day...

their naughty, sneaky dogs, sleeping in their beds

the way they try so hard, to make Mama happy,

their touseled bed heads

their prayers, so tender, so real & true

how they trust you, to know just what to do

and the way they still love you, even if you've failed when the day is through

how I love my little {and not so little} boys

thank-you Jesus for these sweet precious joys

Blessed are the peacemakers

2009-09-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

. . . for they shall be called the children of God.

September 20th...Annah's Gotcha Day

2009-09-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

beautiful, complicated, sweet, emotional, happy, sick day. :o) It was full of more ups and downs than the fair {which I just realized I never posted pics of}! All in all a day we'll remember forever! 1 year of Annah. Many, many, many more to come!

Dear Annah, we are in awe of your go-get-em attitude. You just never give up and this will take you far in life. Hopefully not far from us! You are so full of life and spirit; thankfully God's Holy Spirit! You love the Lord and it is a beautiful thing to see. We know God brought you to us and pray He will continue to allow us to guide and direct your last days of childhood. You know there is no perfect family and yet you love ours like we are. You are so happy here and we praise God that you fit in our family so perfectly. We look forward to your adoption in December or January when you'll share our last name and you'll be in our family forever.

We love you Annah!

Mom & Dad

1st nature walk of the year

2009-09-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

and it was wonderful! This is my favorite part of homeschooling... getting to do this nearly everyday. We're looking forward to many, many more to come...

{Oops posted using chad's account;though he will undoubtedly have the honor of taking some nature walks with the kids as well.}

Another 1st day of school

2009-09-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Aidan, age 9, 4th grade!

Ethan, age 7 (nearly 8), 2nd!

Ryland, age 6, 1st!

And we're off!

{pics taken Sept 22nd}

ww

2009-09-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

{a day late, so what, these may make you smile}

soccer mom

2009-09-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I am not the traditional soccer mom...sometimes I wonder why I chose to let my kids participate in sports. Yet, as they work so hard at something they enjoy, and they learn to communicate and to put others first, and get back up, and keep going when they're tired
and learn to stand up for what they believe in (we won't miss church for games
or team pictures) and let kids know why they believe what they believe, it's worth it...

halle-bear

2009-09-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

more cuddly than a teddy bear any day!

Charlotte Mason wisdom

2009-09-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Charlotte has my number once again. Some principles I'll be working on...

Volume 2, Parents and Children; Chapter 2 - Parents As Rulers

The Family Government is an Absolute Monarchy

Let's continue our illustration of the family as a miniature nation that has the same responsibilities, rights and requirements that nations have. The parents are like the 'government,' but the parental government is always an absolute monarchy. It makes adjustments according to the needs of its citizens, but it rules in accordance to whatever laws the parent has engraved on his own conscience. Some parents reach levels of higher thinking and are like Moses when he came down from Mt. Sinai beaming, with the tablets of The Law whole and complete in his hands. Other parents never reach those challenging heights and have to be satisfied with whatever scraps and fragments of broken tablet they can find lying at the bottom of the mountain. But whether a parent's knowledge of the law is thorough or only a fragment, he can't escape his responsibility to rule his household.

The Parent's Rule Can't Be Delegated

The first thing we want to know about any ruler is, 'Is he capable of ruling? Does he know how to maintain his authority?' A ruler who can't rule is like a biased judge, or an immoral priest, or an uneducated teacher. He's incapable of the most essential attribute of his role. It's even more true in a family than in a State government.

A king can delegate the rule of his country to someone else. But a parent's functions are so urgent that he can't delegate the job to anyone else. He can have helpers, but the minute he abdicates his rule and gives over his functions and authority to someone else, the rights of parenthood pass to that other person and no longer belong to the parent. British parents in India have felt the heartache of coming home to England only to find that their children's affections belong to someone else and their duty is owed to someone else, while they, the parents, are relegated to the role of a fairy godmother who can have fun with the children, but has no authority over them at all. And this isn't anyone's fault, because the guardians who have kept the children at home have done their best to keep the children loyal to their parents while they were away overseas.

Reasons Why Some Parents Abdicate

This is an example of one obstacle that the head of the family can stumble over. Parents sometimes think that parental authority is built into them, a trait that might lie dormant inside of them, but that can never be separated from parenthood. Such parents think it's okay to let their children do whatever they want from the time they're babies, but then they find themselves complaining along with King Lear,

'It's more painful than a snake's bite
To have an ungrateful child!'

But it was King Lear's own fault. All along, he had been stripping off the honor and authority that should have been his, and handing his rights as parent over to his children. This quote tells us why he had been doing this: his disappointment is in his children's ungratefulness. His goal and what he had been working for had been the thanks of his children. His desire for them to think of him as an affectionate father was more important to him than his duty towards them. And in proportion to how much he neglected his duty towards them, they were oblivious of their duty towards him. I suspect that parents' unrestrained desire for approval is to blame for more ruined families than any other single cause.

And the rest

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of the pics that went with the last post...

All from our garden! Yum!

Summer is NOT over...just yet.

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Because....
I got some HOT sun on the deck whilst decoupaging my half-bucket chore-card holders yesterday.
We ate lunch on the deck because it was too HOT to eat inside.
I have't worn anything but tanktops yet during the day.
Our garden is still prolific...
Our flowers are GORGEOUS and still in full-bloom.
We were able to around on the grass during soccer practice on Wednesday...

{nearly} wordless wednesday

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{Goodness I love my new camera! This is an untouched photo I took yesterday of a flower in our front yard~Halle picked it right after I took the shot.}

how many almonds

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can a lil ground squirrel hold??? please, oh please :o)

the answer is "just one more"!

35

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Can it be??? :o) Cheesecake with friends in the mountains. It was wonderful! Thank-you Lena!

On our way!

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Trying to fit all 7 kids in one shot (one of Halle's pom-poms is showing).

Guess where we've been...

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I think she loves him...

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don't you?

oh boy oh boy

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This camera ROCKS and it's keeping me from my chores!!!

old fashioned portraits

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too cute, aren't they??? our first portrait of all 7

now if we could get a shoot of our entire family!

two to school

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These two sweethearts are going into 9th and 10th grade respectively. I can honestly say I am going to miss having them around all day! Yesterday, Aidan said, "You know what Viktoriya, as soon as you're all adopted, you're going to be homeschooled." And to my surprise she replied, "Sounds good to me!" :o) I actually went away last weekend to a scrapbooking retreat, and I spent a good deal of time praying about our family and our schedule. I decided what didn't fit into our schedule and what did. What our homeschool routine should be, etc. It was a sweet time. It was also a wonderful time of ministry. Surprised? I am too. Everytime I go to a scrapbooking retreat and our photos are viewed, I tell our story, a story of a beautifully blended family, orchestrated by our One, True, Living God. And it ministers to many hearts. I hear so many stories of other who want to adopt or foster or both. So many stories I treasure in my heart.
Okay back to the point of this post, Annah and Viktoriya are off to high school. Wow!!! I have two highschoolers....unbelieveable.

At the court date last week a decision was not made but it will be handed down on September 21st and we are told that they are 75% sure that the girls will be legally free on that day. So adoptions may not be too far off. Most likely they will be bearing our last name (in addition to their original last name) by Christmas. So we will have adopted 4 girls in 2009. Wow, what a year. :o)

This was my two girls saying they're sad to be leavin' Mama for 7.5 hours a day!

PS: I am back in action with my Canon Rebel. I had bought the Costco deal with two lenses, but then we decided that was too expensive and I had to return it. Then my wonderful husband received a bonus this year {Great job Chad!!!} and he blessed me with an amazing birthday present a couple days early so I can take it on our camping trip this coming weekend! Thank-you honey!

wordless wednesday

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Grandparents

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make the world a better place. Don't you think?

My kids are blessed with some of the best!!! We love you Grandma Sharon, Grandma Cheryl & Grandpa Rick

13 years and going strong

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I love you bud.

Thank-you Auntie Charity for watching all 7 kids so we could get dressed up and go out to the Keg! We also had 1 night away, completely uninterrupted. Wow! It couldn't have been a nicer anniversary.

8th grade grad pics

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our lovely soon-to-be 9th grader!

on their birthday

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Ask me to sing

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for you sometime. My best? "Halle Faith". Lyrics: by me. Music: by me.

Halle Faith, Halle Faith
Halle how I love you!
Love your smiles, love your frowns.
Love you all the way around.
Halle Faith, Halle Faith
Halle, how your mama loves you...

Halle Faith, Halle Faith
Halle how He loves you!
He brought you to us, He kept you with us.
He loves you even more than I do
Halle Faith, Halle Faith
Halle, how your Father loves you...

It's short, it's to the point, but she loves her song I've been singing since she was 4 weeks old.

Puts her right to sleep. Which was especially handy at a time when she was a serious fussy gus {thus the "love your smiles, love your frowns" because we saw more frowns than smiles for quite awhile. We think she may've had a pinched nerve in her neck or something wrong with her back.

I digress....back to the song:

Aidan heard it the other day and said "That's even better than our song!" {referring to the "boy" song "Love you forever" which I didn't write but borrowed from this book; but the music is mine. I can sing that for you too if you like. Or not. :o)

And in case you were wondering Hope has a song too. Hers is to the tune of "The first Noel" with my own lyrics. Didn't know I was talented like this, did ya? {ha-ha}

My dear Halle, you are one vivacious little girl!

Your eyes just penetrate right to my soul!

They are so deep, so brown, so curious, so beautiful.

As are you, my baby girl.

God must have great things in store for you!

At only 2 years of age, you have overcome great obstacles
and you are on your way to serving your Mighty God!
You could have died when you were born, you should have
according to the doctors. You were purple when you
were brought to the hospital and your cord had been
clamped with a hair barrette. You were intubated and
your God rescued you and place you into our hands,
to raise you to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.

And that is just what we aim to do. While we have you in
our home and under our protection and care, for this short
season of your life, we will point you towards your Savior.

Halle how He loves you! He loves you when you smile so
cute and your brown eyes sparkle mischievously. He'll
love you when you sin and fall. We're so so very grateful
He brought you to our home!

How we love you Halle!!!

Next on my reading list...

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and maybe yours too??? Dr. Timothy Keller's "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism"

"The doctrine of the Trinity overloads our mental circuits. Despite its cognitive difficulty, however, this astonishing, dynamic conception of the triune God is bristling with profound, wonderful, life-shaping, world-changing implications... Ultimate reality is a community of persons who know and love one another. That is what the universe, God, history, and life is all about. If you favor money, power, and accomplishment over human relationships, you will dash yourself on the rocks of reality. When Jesus said you must lose yourself in service to find yourself (Mark 8:35), he was recounting what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been doing throughout eternity. You will, then, never get a sense of self by standing still, as it were, and making everything revolve around your needs and interests. Unless you are willing to experience the loss of options and the individual limitations that comes from being in committed relationships, you will remain out of touch with your own nature and the nature of things. In many other places in this volume, I've traced out how impossible it is to stay fully human if you refuse the cost of forgiveness, the substitutional exchange of love, and the confinements of community... this world was not created by a God who is only an individual, nor is it the emanation of an impersonal force... We believe the world was made by a God who is a community of persons who have loved each other for all eternity. You were made for mutually self-giving, other-directed love. Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made..."

thankful {thursday}

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there is so much to be thankful for this day

Annah and Viktoriya are at CCLS camp {not that they're gone but that they're learning more about Him, worshipping Him, and making friends}

Hope is nearly potty trained {only needing diapers at night}. Only 1 in diapers!

Chad's having a blast building a cool turtle yard. We were given a new tortoise whom the kids love. His name is Dozer and he's pretty darn cute.

We've been so healthy this summer.

Our church is flourishing. We love teaching the children every other week. We've made wonderful friends. And our Friday morning women's Bible study is awesome!

Aidan's love of reading is contagious and fun!

Halle's laugh is better than chocolate.

Our garden has yielded the yummiest tomatoes, romaine, lemon cucumbers. The peas were bitter but they're pretty anyway! The goats got to the fruit trees again. Argh!

Scrapbooking with the older girls has been so much fun lately.

Annah is a soccer natural. It's neat to see her work hard and she found out she and her friend Maddie are on the same team for the fall.

My husband is just the best. 13 years of marriage this Monday. Besides the Lord,

the greatest blessing in my life is my best friend.

Sweet Hope

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My Hope Noelle, how your Mama loves being with you...whether it's folding laundry, or baking or just talking: you are my sweet little friend.

When you hear me say anything that sounds even romotely like "be right back" or "store" or "see you soon" you always ask "With you? With you Mama?" Of course I have to say "Yes, my Hope, you can with me." You are sweet.

You are just sweet to the core, and that sinful nature, it must be in there somewhere {Chad says he's seen it} but I'm not sure! You are sweet.

When I'm reading a book on the couch or sitting outside at the picnic table watching you play, or typing on the computer, you'll come up to me and "Hi, mama. Hi." and you rub my arm or pat my back. And sometimes you'll lay your head on my lap. It warms my heart! You are sweet.

At night when you know it's time for bed, you'll ask "Movie? Movie, with you Mama?" No Hopie, it's time to sleep." "Teeth Mama?" "No we already brushed your teeth." "'Nack Mama? Nack. Num-num?" "No Hopie you already had a snack. Or two. Time for bed." "Rock. Rock Mama?" "Okay, Hope, we can rock one more time." So sweet.

You love fruit. Nearly ALL fruit is your favorite. You love spicy foods like mama. Salsa and chips with guacamole are your faves. Hummus and bell peppers are up there as well. Zucchini bread, cereal with rice milk, and veggie pizza are "nuuuumy!" You don't like peanut butter. Our first to not love peanut butter! You like me to sit and eat with you {of course}; but I love how you say "sit mama, eat, sit mama". You are sweet.

When one of your siblings get hurt, or are in trouble, you will walk over and just lay a gentle hand on them. {as in the picture below} No words, just some support. You are just so sweet.

And I love you,
your Mama

wordless wednesday

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another river post

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I am making up for a busy summer of not posting much. :o)

This is the spot to play in the river. Ask me where and I might tell but then I'd have to... well you know. Anyway, a few more pics of our little family...

a trip down south

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all of us girls {and Caleb, Katherine's new baby boy!}

auntie charity kisses hope's owie

and grandma carol nurses ry's

new baby Grace with mama Andie

carol's gorgeous hydrangeas

15 years later and still best of friend :o)

carol helps halle scale the steep ladder

and lastly a trip to Krispy Kreme's, a rarity for us

so hard to eat just one!

a perfect way to end the day, dontcha think???

fun, according to Ry

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clean is almost as good as dirty

more lake wenatchee camping pics

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I tried several times to edit the last post, unsuccessfully! So here are a few more anyway...

silly faces 'round the campfire

Ry, my clean little boy. Detests dirt, this one.

Chad shows Annah how it's done.

A quick stop for lunch in Leavenworth on the way home!

After this they went to the Reptile Zoo in Sultan.

Everyone else got ice cream and Ethan thought it way cool that he

got a rice crispie treat instead. :o)