Caleb and Adri!

Hop on over to Stef's blog for full details of our friends' wedding we went to Virginia for on Saturday. May I introduce to you...Mr and Mrs DiLella!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Be sure to visit Peggy's blog for more daybooks.

FOR TODAY March 30th, 2010
Outside my window...looks to be like it is going to be a beautiful spring day. Each day is getting warmer and warmer. High in the upper 60's today.
I am thinking of how we need to one of these days get my little garden in.
I am thankful for...strength to get up this morning and the promise that His mercies are new every morning...that means I get fresh mercies again today!
From the learning rooms...today is piano lessons and Latin class this afternoon (we have changed from Thursdays to Tuesdays)
From the kitchen...coffee!
I am wearing...my robe still. It is still early as I type this
I am creating...I am daily seeking to have a home that reflects the glory of Jesus
I am going...to smile at my children more today
I am reading...The Redemption of Sarah Cain (I watched the movie and wanted to read the book) Also, still working though Worldliness by CJ Mahaney, and Worldly Saints.
I am hoping...to hear that my sister has booked her tickets for her and the children to come visit for the summer!
I am hearing...my children playing the new Wii...oh, what excitement! Thank you Papa and Nona!
Around the house...well let's see...bowling, sword fighting, plane flying :)
One of my favorite things...a beautiful spring day!
A few plans for the rest of the week: Today piano lessons and Latin, movie night tonight with Stef. Wed-church. Friday- the Reeders are coming to house hunt for their move here (yay!) Sat- family birthday party over at the Pressleys.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
This was from the end of the year in Arkansas. I love J's face as he plays with S!

Lord's Day Gleanings

[CHRIST] forgets not His promise, nor us. If the heavenly host, for the celebration of His nativity, must praise God, with what shoutings will angels and saints at that day proclaim glory to God, peace and good-will toward men! If a star must lead men from remote parts of the world to come and worship a child in a manger, how will the glory of His next appearing constrain all the world to acknowledge His sovereignty!

Richard Baxter

Happy Birthday!

This is the baby who was almost born in the car.

This is the baby who I wondered and worried if I was truly in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This is the baby who let me eat supper between contractions,

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This the baby where I thought I needed to push before I left the house,

after I ate supper between contractions

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This is the baby where Mamamo drove 90mph looking for a police escort,

when I thought I needed to push before I left the house,

after I ate supper between contractions

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This is the baby who made a 45 min. ride turn into a 20 min. ride

when Mamamo drove 90mph looking for a police escort,

when I thought I needed to push before I left the house,

after I ate supper between contractions

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This is the baby that was born so calm, sweet and lovable shortly after arriving

at the birth center,

after Mamamo drove 90mph looking for a police escort,

when I thought I needed to push before I left the house,

after I ate supper between contractions

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

This is the son who now turns 11 and is such joy to our hearts!

Who was born, so calm, sweet and lovable shortly after arriving

at the birth center,

after Mamamo drove 90mph looking for a police escort,

when I thought I needed to push before I left the house,

after I ate supper between contractions

and I wondered and worried if I was really in real labor,

who was almost born in the car.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR DEAR SON!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

(and thanks Daddy for being a great coach during that hairy van ride!)

History Lesson

I know I just posted a history lesson on here. And I normally do not use my blog for political purposes. But I could not help see the correlation between what we just studied today and our recent political events. Today we learned about Hippocrates and how he changed the study of medicine. Did you know that the original Hippocratic oath said this? "Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy." How tragic in light of our recent heath reform bill that now has opened the door for insurance companies to pay for abortions. If you would like to read the original hippocratic oath click HERE.

So Beautiful

Another homeschool mommy Liz in her post wrote the lyrics of this Steven Curtis Chapman song. It was so beautiful that I went to YouTube and found it. This was made for Mothers Day and I know it is not Mother's Day, but I still wanted to post it. This is dedicated to my dear mother and my dear mother in law. You both have toiled and labored and loved your children with all your heart...S and I are only beginning to understand how much.

And this is to encourage all you mamas out there...you are changing the world, one heartbeat at a time.

History Lesson

We up to the Golden age of Athens...only a little over 400 years before Christ! It is exciting as we see the finish line, still a little ways off, but within sight! We will be excited to start Mystery of History 2, and study the time of the life of Jesus.

So yesterday we learned about Socrates and his tragic story (remember, "Know thyself"). Do you want to know what Socrates looked like? Well, here you go.

Didn't Socrates look alot like my son?

Simple Woman's Daybook

For more daybook visit PEGGY

Outside my window... cloudy cool day. High only around 50. We had a few gorgeous spring days last week which I am looking forward to again. Some of the trees are popping out and the Bradford Pear trees are beautiful!

I am thinking... how glad I am that the chickens are out of my bathroom and how thankful I am to have Stefanie cleaning it right now.

I am thankful for... two rich sermons I was given yesterday at church and the sweet fellowship we enjoyed, including friends visiting that we had not seen for a long time.

I am wearing... sweat pants, t-shirt and S's flannel shirt

I am remembering... the apple pie that a friend made especially for S that we enjoyed last night!

I am going... to a wedding this weekend!

I am currently reading... just finishing up "Broken Minds" (excellent book!), for fun I am reading "The Inheritance" by Louisa May Alcott (very lovely, clean romance-they don't write them like this anymore), also I am starting "Worldliness" by CJ Mahaney

I am hoping... That my headaches will go away. I have had a headache for three days (and chills last night). Thinking it might be upping my medication too quickly. Found out that my meds could also increase allergies--fun!

On my mind... my sister in the UK

Noticing that... my children are growing up right before my very eyes!

Pondering these words... "Dependence upon an unseen God, resolute adherence to a withdrawn God, is the flower and glory of faith." Thomas Manton

From the kitchen... kitchen...oh you mean we have to eat today?

Around the house... my boys have already completed their school. They were motivated today and worked so hard this morning!

One of my favorite things... to see the children of our church begin a group after the services where they all copy out chapters out of Ephesians and Philippians and get excited about it together!

Plans this week: My dear son's 11th birthday is this Wednesday. Thurs is Latin. Friday birthday party for W. And then Saturday a day trip to NC for Stefanie's brother's wedding!

From my picture journal...

My dad doctored up this picture...funny huh?

Excellent Sermon!

Our pastor has been preaching a sermon series on the book of Jonah. It has been amazing how much we are learning as he very slowly goes through a few verses at a time. I can highly recommend his whole series so far. But THIS sermon today was absolutely wonderful. Do you ever feel afraid that God has forsaken you...and what if it could even be because of your own sin? Do you feel His chastisement and are you tempted to despair? Well, I need not say more, but may the Lord bless many through this sermon!

Lord's Day Gleanings

Because man is so welded to the world and dotes upon his lust, all the arguments that we can use are commonly unsuccessful. Therefore I shall add one more upon this sort of motives drawn from the qualifications of Him whom I would fain have you acquainted with...

Consider that He is altogether lovely; He's made of love, goodness and all excellencies...

Ask of them that by faith have seen Him.

James Janeway

Spring!

It's the first day of Spring and I am so happy about that! I have borrowed some pictures from my in-house (and sometimes out of house) photographer aka: Miss Stefanie.

My baby chickies get to go outside today as well....and for that we are celebrating! They are cute, but have majorly outworn their welcome in our guest bathroom.

Happy Spring everyone!

Keepers Class-baking

We had our March Keepers at Home class today. Wendy was going to teach baking, but her daughter got sick, so at the last minute it changed to being at my house. In a day when home cooking is going by the wayside, it was wonderful to encourage them in this area.

Girls, this is a cookbook...

These are measuring spoons and cups...

Now lets put this into practice...

A double batch of peanut butter cookies.

Everyone gets to help

Almost done.

Now for a double batch of sugar cookies...

learning about creaming butter and sugar

They had so much fun!

And we had a yummy reward of our labors later on!

Harvest again!

Many of you may remember this slideshow from last fall. Our local vineyard here is a special blessing to us, owned by Christians and such a joy to watch the seasons change at this place. They have generously given us leave to pick as many muskadines (or scuppernongs) as we would like. So now our delicious grapes have gone from this...

to this...

the big day was a few days ago to dig up our family recipe...

THIS was a red letter day to actually get Stef to drink a full glass of wine!

If you are in the area, stop on by for the best muskadine/scuppernong wine in the south!

Not Me Monday

So my dear husband and I were not extremely tired last night and did not turn off the lights at an earlier time than usual. In fact, I did not have any trouble going to sleep at all...no not me. And my husband did not instantly fall into a deep sleep and hardly move again...him? no way! Our youngest son did not throw up before we had gone to bed and he did not have a palet made for him next to us on the floor. I did not lay there with my mind wide awake and finally decide to get up and take something more for sleep that might wipe me out in the morning. I was not just dropping off when Sissy came in with tears streaming down her face in pain needing help. I did not call my mother and wake her up to ask her to help me assess what was going on. After a bit we didn't make another palet on the floor for her in our room. And...S still was not sleeping. Then, in the early hours of the morning, Pilly did not come to my side of the bed saying he had a bad dream. I absolutely did not tell him resignedly to climb in next to me. We now did not have three children in our room, and S was not still sleeping. I did not sleep late this morning and I certainly did not think of how I could blog this....I can't have the blog bug that bad...nah, not me.

I did not call my husband to tell him the kind of night I had. It is not usually him that has those kind of nights that I am unaware of..the tables were not turned this time. And also did not wake to having baby chicks whose light had fallen in the night and must be moved today. Not me.

addendum: I think Sissy will be fine, D is his normal self today and ate a healthy breakfast, Pilly got over his dream....and I am still in my robe. :)

if you want more Not Me Monday hop over HERE

Lord's Day Gleanings

All is now hidden, Christ is hidden, the saints are hidden, their life is hidden (Col.3:3) their glory hidden, but then shall Christ appear, and we shall appear with Him in glory...it is a day of perfection...

Here we are very weak...the is some fruit of sin continued upon the body; but then the body and soul are united, and perfectly glorified to praise God in heaven... It is a day of congregation, or gathering together.

The saints are now scattered, they live in various countries and ages, but then all meet in one assembly and congregation.

[We have]and earnest, well-grounded expectation of blessedness to come.

Thomas Manton

YouTube

I did not grow up listening to the Beatles. In fact, when I first paid heard this song my recollection of it was just the first few phrases because of a TV commercial. :D

Now, I realise that there will be varying opinion on the part of my readers on the Beatles music. However, I wanted to post this because I really appreciate this song, after the last several months in my life. Sometimes the Lord brings us low to show us how much we need each other. And I have gotten so much blessing out of the help of the brethren that has surrounded me. You know, as Christian's there are times when we really do need the humility to learn to say "Help, I need somebody".

Friday This N That

Ok so Stef and I are playing "who can borrow the most pictures from each other's blog". LOL! Since she lives at my house half the time, maybe we should just have one blog, but then we couldn't each play with the designs like we often too. Well anyhow, I am borrowing pics from her post today. Enjoy!

Joshua came over and was having fun playing with the children the other day...

Discussing a game of duck, duck, goose....

An energetic, vigorous game,

Lots of laughing!


Yesterday there was an "Invention Convention" at the BiLo Center. Of course, this is right up the boys alley so off we went! The whole auditorium floor was filled with 4-6th graders inventions. The boys want to enter next year. J will be too old, I think, but W certainly could! We went a little late, so we did not get to enjoy some of the games and free icecream that was up along the edges of the arena, but especially Pilly enjoyed seeing the inventions. Let's see, some of the highlights? Remote control cars that had brooms or swiffers on them to mop your floors. Or a laundry basket driven by a car. W loved this cool hover board that worked off the polarity of magnets. There were some really silly "inventions" too, of course. As my scientist son pointed out...alot of them were "remakes" not true inventions. Anyone want a pair of shoes that have slits in them for credit cards? How bout a hat with a fan attached to cool you as you walk?

The children checking out inventions made by other children at the Invention Convention.

On another note, you cannot believe how busy of a week this has been. I have literally been having to actively rest between each event to be able to keep up. Monday we had a home visit with our pastor and elder. We always look forward to this! Tuesday and Wednesday we attended evening sessions of a conference here in Greenville. David Murray was speaking and was excellent as always. We feel so privileged to have such a gifted man of God in our denomination. Yesterday was supposed to be my quiet day, until I realized that the Invention Convention was yesterday and not a week from now. So off we went in the chilly rain! Today we are going for a fun overnight at the Broyles house to have a Ben Hur night...we look forward to fun, fellowship, late night movies, and don't forget eating! And yes, our baby...chicks that is, have to come with us.

Grown up chicks!

Speaking of baby chicks, I had forgotten the care these little cuties take. As I posted on facebook the other day

"oh sweet, dear, baby chickadees, thou dost make one want to gag....reflections of the baby chick nursery cleaner." Just be glad you are not a guest in my house right now, because these ten little things are in the guest bathroom and are going to wear out their welcome in my home very soon. They surely are cute though, and growing so fast! By the way, since we moved our ten hens and one rooster we are getting nearly a dozen eggs a day...they must like their new home!

I will close with a quotable quote from dear E...do you know the name of these, according to my dear daughter?...

These are Life Guards! :)

Addendum:

Forgot one other little tidbit. We got a notice a couple of days ago from the water company that we needed to check for a possible leak. It said we had used 36,000 gallons of water in the last 60 days! Now, I have been taking lots of hot baths, but...I don't think so! Come to find out, several others up our lane got the same notice (wipe sweat off of brow in relief). So now there is a truck up there today trying to find out the problem. Our landlord is also coming out today (one of the nice benefits of renting) to try and locate the issue. So, wasn't that exciting news that you just really wanted to know? Ok, well then just skip this part of my post. Until next time...

One Year!

One year ago today, our Miss Stefanie came to live in our home. What a blessing she has been to us. She is a wonderful friend and fits in so well with our family. We feel very privileged for the Lord to have placed her in our lives. Now she lives with her brothers nearby, but still is here 3 nights a week and helps me 3 days a week in the running of the home. Happy Anniversary of your move, Stef! And we hope you know how much we love you! (and how much H loves your pancakes!)

Slideshow

Green Acres is the Place to Be!!

On Saturday we had such fun as a family building our chicken coop. We have 11 hens, one rooster and now 10 baby chicks. For those of you who can't view the slideshow I am about to post, here are a few pics.