Thanksgiving Day at our house

I hope each one of you had a good Thanksgiving! We sure did, but it was probably the most unique Thanksgiving Day we have had yet. For the past 14 years, every year except for one, we have spent with the Ervins in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We enjoy Nona's scrumptious thanksgiving cooking and have a relaxing fall vacation. This year, however, with S's new job there is no vacation time, so we were to be here in SC. Our plan was to go over to my mom and dad's and have Thanksgiving with them. Well, the Lord had other providences in store for us. We have been dealing with a difficult stomach virus the past week and a half. The night before Thanksgiving was this mama's turn. So, there we were, Thanksgiving day, homebound and recovering from sickness. I had bought some things to still have a Thanksgiving dinner here, forseeing this might happen.

We had a very nice quiet day, Mama slept all morning after the sickness zapping her. Daddy made french toast for the children and put the turkey in the roaster. In the afternoon, Daddy did some clean-up in his shop and mama sat outside the shop enjoying the lovely weather and fresh air. Then began the preparations. We came inside and set up a fancy cloth tablecloth-candlelight-china dishes table (the children don't remember having used my china before). Our landlord was by himself yesterday and so we told him if he was not scared by our sickness that he was welcome. So, he came as well. In spite of our sickness, we were able to have together...turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, cooked broccoli, and rolls. I had placed a chocolate covered pretzel at each plate which delighted the children. (If you know my children they get excited over the littlest things) :) We also had a couple of frozen pies that I had put in the oven (one cherry, one pumpkin) with whipped cream.

Before we began I placed a few kernals of unpopped popcorn on each their plates. Explaining that this was all the pilgrims had to eat the first year. Then I read a couple short accounts of the first Thanksgiving day. We then sang together a psalm and prayed and began our meal.

After clean-up we family worshipped, followed by each one sharing what they were thankful for. Then, we settled down to watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and another Charlie Brown special on the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Off to beddie for the children, and mom and dad settled down to watch a DVD together.

All in all, it turned out to be a cozy Thanksgiving day. We have so very much to be thankful for, our God is to be praised!

Of dinner and eyeballs

Tonight H had us all laughing. We were eating dinner and she began complaining of her "eyeball on her pinky" (referring to her little pinky finger.) I kept asking her to repeat what she was saying..."What is it?" "Eyeball" she kept saying. "Take my eyeball out" she said. We were in stitches by this time, with the image of an actual eyeball sitting on her cute little finger, needing to be extracted. About this time, I realized, "Oh, is she saying elbow?" It's hard to know what was in this little girls cute little blond head, but from what I can conjecture now, she was saying "elbow" referring to the knuckle on her little pinky finger. Gotta love those toddlers!

Saturday Sentiments

Well, it is a beautiful cold Saturday here. Yes, we are not in Houston anymore and we have been experiencing close to record lows here. This morning Blackie's water dish was frozen. The children are going to learn what bundling up means, cause they did not do that much in Tx. This picture is of H bundled up in her flannel nighty.

We have had a dear friend from church staying with us since Wed. evening with her two girls. Her husband went out of town so we asked her if she would like to come stay with us. We had the best time. We homeschooled together, the children played, the mommys worked together, and nursed sick children...yes, sick children. We had a stomach bug go through several of the children. At one point as we were getting one settled after throwing up, another one would come in a say he was really sick. So we have had some rough nights. Thankfully, it was just a 24 hour sickness, but with many children to go through it is still tough. H has not gotten it yet (gulp). We will see if she still comes down with it. B got a mild case one afternoon, not sure if that is it for her or if she might still get it too. It is in the Lord's hands. My dear friend was such a help to me through it, folding laundry, helping me with school etc. Now her little girl was not feeling well when they left today, so it might go through her two girls too. :(

Other than the sickness, we are doing great here. I am reminded again of the Lord's goodness to me this week. I had some good health reports, my husband and I celebrated the 14th anniversary of our engagement, and the blessings all around me abound.

We have been memorizing Ps 34 and singing it in our family worship times in the morning.

"God will I bless all times His praise, my mouth shall still express. My soul shall boast in God, the meek shall hear with joyfulness. Extol the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord He heard and did me from all fears delivered. They looked to Him and lightened were, not shamed were their faces. This poor man cried, God heard and saved him from all His distresses. Oh, taste and see, the Lord is good. Who trusts in Him is blessed. Fear God His saints, none that Him fear, shall be with want oppressed. The lions young, may hungry be, and they may lack their food. But, they that truly seek the Lord shall not lack any good."

A blast from the past... and present

On Saturday we had such a wonderful time. We went and spent time with a dear family at our church. Mrs G was demonstrating spinning at a local mill. So we went and spent a few hours there at the mill. It was really neat, with a full working mill where the wheel was churning away at the water, and they were grinding corn. They had other exhibits there and it was a really great place for the children to see lots of handmade things, as well. Then, we went back to their home. It is a log cabin house, that Mr G built a good share of. He is a an amazing craftman, and showed us everything from handmade guns, to beautifully inscribed chisel work on slate. He played the banjo for us, and we roasted hotdogs over their huge fireplace and enjoyed Mrs G's homemade soup. Pumpkin custard cooked over the fire, and roasted apples made it a complete day. This picture was taken next to their fireplace. That is Mrs G there with us. Ya'll come back naow, ya heya?

Mechanical Mama

So what does a homeschool mama do, when her son is an inventor already and interested in everything that he can get his hands on about engines, mechanics and machines? Well, for science she assigns him to read about small engines, combustion and gas powered engines. But, then what does a homeschool mom do when that spurs lots more questions from her son? "Mama, does just a little bit of gas come through the spark plug to make an explosion?" Uh, this mama is about a non-mechanical as possible. But, I do think that is right, so I say. "Yes." I think that is right. But, then I am amazed at this 9yos confidence in his mother, that he would so sweetly ask me all these questions. Mama, must know, cause mama's just know. I am so glad my children think that mama's just know. Yes, there are times this is not the case, and the challenges will come, but for now I am enjoying the fact that my son who already knows more about how engines work then I ever will, assumes that mama just knows.

Thursday breakfast conversation

D: Mom, can you spin on your heel?"
E: "Of course not, she is too old."
So mom HAD to prove that yes she could spin on her heel to the amazement of all.
D: "Can you spin on your toes?"
So mom HAD to spin on her toes right there in the kitchen.
J: "Wow, mom, I did not know you could do that"

Ok, you can stop giggling now.