With the new year has come a new sort of busyness. Driving our eldest to work three days a week has majorly disrupted my "staying home" and homeschooling. I was consistently exercising at the Y three mornings a week after breakfast, biblestudy and helping with math for the younger ones. Not lately. Even this week the next oldest started to babysit for a sweet new family in our neighborhood. Their mother has several immediate needs for doctor visits and we are happy to help. But, there goes my second sitter in our family...this makes running out the door for our own appointments and errands tricky. I suppose we are now living a life a little closer to what the rest of the families in this culture are experiencing. But I doubt if many of them have eight children and one on the way. ; )
Hand, foot and mouth disease (or the coxsackie virus) has struck our four youngest this week. That means that the baby has been refusing food and most everything else. For two days I did nothing but hold him. That can be enjoyable or stressful, depending upon how much else I have to be doing. Sadly two of the younger girls have been vomiting and having sore throats, headaches and fevers. That seems to have ended today! I thought it was strep and am somewhat relieved to know its coxsackie. Poor baby, he has blisters on his toes and feet, hands and face. Thankfully he's eating, drinking and sleeping again!
The washing machine broke last week. It's only three years old. Apparently it was poor choice. The repairman laughingly told me that it is the lightest machine on the market. We need heavy duty and that it is NOT. So off to the laundrymat the boys and I went one afternoon. Fifteen dollars and two hours later we had six baskets of clean, wet laundry. We spent the rest of the evening drying our clothes at home. It was a good learning experience. I think I figured accurrately that we could buy a new washer and dryer with all the money we'd spend in three months at the laundrymat! Note to self: never use a washer with two cups of Downy already inside of the machine if you hate Downy scent!!! We have one load of clean, dry clothes quarantined to the garage due to its horrendous scent. People who use it all the time wouldn't even notice, but since we are scent-free in our home, it is really making us feel sick! When our incompetent washer is repaired tomorrow, I will wash that stinky load several times and hope it returns to normal. Thankfully we bought an American Home Shield warranty a few months ago so the repair will be cheap, comparatively speaking. We've already shopped for the new washer and dryer online and hope to win the approval of the repairman tomorrow. That will be a tax-return or summer bonus purchase.
We're expecting my dad and stepmom to visit on Saturday. The oldest even got off of work to be here. We're planning to make lunch for them and they'll be bringing Christmas gifts. We haven't seen much of them over the last several years. There seems to be a softening of my dad's heart lately and he is making a priority of visiting with us. We are gladly cooperating, and praying for the best.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Another new year, another blogging beginning...
Our teenage girls have taken over our family blog and have lots of followers and friends. That's fine. But it hardly seems like a good place for a mother to blog her lofty or commonplace thoughts anymore. So they can have it. : )
I recently read a lovely blog that was used in a manner that I think I'd like to try: Since my journal is so neglected and I don't have time for beautiful blog entries with photographs and perfectly scripted entries, I'm going just write a little each day. I'll be writing for me mostly. I hope if anyone decides to read it, that it will be a blessing to them too. Maybe it will cut down on the need for long phone calls if I really share my heart...
I recently read a lovely blog that was used in a manner that I think I'd like to try: Since my journal is so neglected and I don't have time for beautiful blog entries with photographs and perfectly scripted entries, I'm going just write a little each day. I'll be writing for me mostly. I hope if anyone decides to read it, that it will be a blessing to them too. Maybe it will cut down on the need for long phone calls if I really share my heart...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A Day with Long-time Friends
We've known the Heffington family for years. We've really missed spending time with them since both our families changed churches nearly seven years ago. Last summer we were reunited and spoke of spending a day together at their new home. God has blessed them in miraculous ways with a lovely new, large house. On last Friday it finally worked out! (the dads and Daniel were aaway at work) Everyone had a great time getting to know one another again, or for the first time. We have added a couple of children to our families since we were together regularly. The children wasted no time getting reacquainted. We share many similar hopes and experiences and we enjoy encouraging each other in new seasons. We are very thankful for all of the Heffingtons!
Isaac, Benjamin, Daniel and Noah were out-numbered by the girls, but they had a great time doing boy-stuff!
It's just about time to say "goodbye" and everyone is getting comfortable...hopefully it won't be so long between visits from now on.
Isaac, Benjamin, Daniel and Noah were out-numbered by the girls, but they had a great time doing boy-stuff!
It's just about time to say "goodbye" and everyone is getting comfortable...hopefully it won't be so long between visits from now on.
Fall Vacation
It seems so long ago, but a couple of weeks ago our family travelled to Floyd, Virginia, to stay with family and friends for a long weekend in the woods. The weather predictions had been so grim that we were tempted to cancel. Ultimately, we decided that we were willing to risk being stuck indoors if it did rain or snow all weekend.
We had a wonderful time of being with Granddad Bill and Grandma Brenda and their friends, Buck and Darlene. Buck had brought a couple of four-wheelers for us to ride. Despite the cold weather, we were all able to enjoy some beautiful trips through the colorful woods and fields. Last summer we had fished and swam, this fall, we spent our time indoors or hiking. It was warmer in the woods than near the lake and everyone was well-dressed for adventure.
On the way home we finally stopped on the Parkway at Lover's Leap. We had driven by many times, but had intentionally pulled over this time. The view was breath-taking! If only we could have made a family photo there.
In Danville, we spent a couple of hours looking at tanks in the museum there. The boys and Bob loved it!
We're already hoping for another trip to the mountains in April!
Mabry Mill (a favorite on the Blue Ridge parkway) was lovely as we passed by on our way to the cabin. It made this snapshot from the road look like a postcard!
Noah and I went with all the girls on a hike to the pasture. It was the first of many for the older ones.
This is called Buffalo Mountain, named for it's appearance.
Bob and I snuggled with our littlest ones on a couple of chilly rides. When we started to ride we moved Noah between me and Bob where it was most warm. Poor Bob took all the 40 degree wind!
We found these edibles: snowberries. They taste like wintergreen, or the old Clark's Teaberry Gum.
This is the whole crew. Mom and Bill, Buck and Darlene, their daughter, granddaughter and son in law, and our family.
Dan, Kendal, Kelsey and Anna at Lover's Leap.
At the Tank Museum. 
We had a wonderful time of being with Granddad Bill and Grandma Brenda and their friends, Buck and Darlene. Buck had brought a couple of four-wheelers for us to ride. Despite the cold weather, we were all able to enjoy some beautiful trips through the colorful woods and fields. Last summer we had fished and swam, this fall, we spent our time indoors or hiking. It was warmer in the woods than near the lake and everyone was well-dressed for adventure.
On the way home we finally stopped on the Parkway at Lover's Leap. We had driven by many times, but had intentionally pulled over this time. The view was breath-taking! If only we could have made a family photo there.
In Danville, we spent a couple of hours looking at tanks in the museum there. The boys and Bob loved it!
We're already hoping for another trip to the mountains in April!
Mabry Mill (a favorite on the Blue Ridge parkway) was lovely as we passed by on our way to the cabin. It made this snapshot from the road look like a postcard!
Noah and I went with all the girls on a hike to the pasture. It was the first of many for the older ones.
This is called Buffalo Mountain, named for it's appearance.
Bob and I snuggled with our littlest ones on a couple of chilly rides. When we started to ride we moved Noah between me and Bob where it was most warm. Poor Bob took all the 40 degree wind!
We found these edibles: snowberries. They taste like wintergreen, or the old Clark's Teaberry Gum.
This is the whole crew. Mom and Bill, Buck and Darlene, their daughter, granddaughter and son in law, and our family.
Dan, Kendal, Kelsey and Anna at Lover's Leap.
At the Tank Museum. 
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A great source of protein...
Once Daniel ate an earthworm. He told our optometrist who is also a Boy Scout troop leader. Right then he began to search the internet for a real earthworm recipe. We found several and discussed this new menu item for days.
Recently Isaac decided that he must rise to meet the challenge and he ate a worm too! The girls captured it all on camera video and we think it's hilarious. So we're posting it for your entertainment and to preserve our family "memory".
By the way, we asked the boys to stop eating worms, unless we are starving. We checked out some books and even bought one that tells us about edible plants. Now they're all eating sorrel from our yard. That's ok though. It tastes like sweetarts and is loaded with vitamins. There's also no internal organs-that's the best part! Here is a photo of sorrel:
Isaac eating the worm: ( If you were wondering, it was still alive:) )
Recently Isaac decided that he must rise to meet the challenge and he ate a worm too! The girls captured it all on camera video and we think it's hilarious. So we're posting it for your entertainment and to preserve our family "memory".
By the way, we asked the boys to stop eating worms, unless we are starving. We checked out some books and even bought one that tells us about edible plants. Now they're all eating sorrel from our yard. That's ok though. It tastes like sweetarts and is loaded with vitamins. There's also no internal organs-that's the best part! Here is a photo of sorrel:
Isaac eating the worm: ( If you were wondering, it was still alive:) )Trying to Celebrate the Feasts of the Lord!
This fall our family was anticipating the celebration of the Fall feasts that are described by God to Moses, in the Old Testament. The feasts have been considered to be part of the "Law" therefore not "required" for those of us who are Christians by Christ's death and resurrection. However, we have enjoyed reading and learning from other Christians and Messianic Jews about how and why they celebrate the Feasts of the Lord. The Fall feasts are defined as dress rehearsals for the Lord's return. So why wouldn't we, who are excited about His return, celebrate?
This year we invited dear friends over for Rosh Hashana. We were going to have a meal, read some scriptures and worship together. That means lots of guitar playing and singing! Sadly, both families fell ill and we had to cancel. We'd hoped that by Yom Kippur we'd be able to try again. Not so.
Our last chance was Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth (Gen 33:7), a family fort festival. The celebration of this feast was recorded in II Chron. 8:13, 31:3, Ezra 3:4, and Neh. 8:15-17 and John ch 7.
We were to built a "temporary dwelling" or sukkah in our yard and spend some time in it as a family for seven days during the Feast, last Sunday through tonight. Unfortunately, last Saturday night after we enjoyed a meal, a reading and short worship time in our sukkah, Bob fell ill with the flu. Thankfully, we had started one day early.
This week, the children have been adding onto and playing inside the sukkah. It became their camp. This was a far cry from the scripture which says to "live in booths" or huts for seven days. That would be challenging but definitely a memory maker! Bob is feeling alot better and we hope to be able to gather there once more tonight.
We hope each time we attempt to put more of God's word into action that our children will have His love and priceless heritage written upon their hearts. We want to diligently teach them all of God's ways. His words of rich blessings of tradition are a large part of how we can know our God and Savior. The more we know Him, the more we trust Him and want to serve Him.
'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' Lev. 23:39-43
The dates of the Feasts are determined by the Jewish calendar and their New Year is in September, their seventh month. It's all based upon the cycles of the moons, Sabbaths, and seasons. What a wonderful time to celebrate the fall harvest time! There are atleast three names for each feast and we are still getting the spelling, meanings and such mixed up. But we do understand much more this year than last! Glory to His name. It's all about remembering His faithfulness to His people!
Our neighbor climbed in the sukkah, at the boys' request, and asked if it was a duck blind. : ) We gave a short explanation of what we are really doing. The already knew that we are different. That confirmed it!
Hopefully by next year we will figure out a better building plan for our temporary dwelling, but as you can see, this time we used stepladders for the main supports!!! It did look nearly attractive when the leaves of the branches were green...not so much a week later. The children had a blast working on it. Not a single complaint! />
It was lovely inside!
added later:
Shalom!
This year we invited dear friends over for Rosh Hashana. We were going to have a meal, read some scriptures and worship together. That means lots of guitar playing and singing! Sadly, both families fell ill and we had to cancel. We'd hoped that by Yom Kippur we'd be able to try again. Not so.
Our last chance was Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth (Gen 33:7), a family fort festival. The celebration of this feast was recorded in II Chron. 8:13, 31:3, Ezra 3:4, and Neh. 8:15-17 and John ch 7.
We were to built a "temporary dwelling" or sukkah in our yard and spend some time in it as a family for seven days during the Feast, last Sunday through tonight. Unfortunately, last Saturday night after we enjoyed a meal, a reading and short worship time in our sukkah, Bob fell ill with the flu. Thankfully, we had started one day early.
This week, the children have been adding onto and playing inside the sukkah. It became their camp. This was a far cry from the scripture which says to "live in booths" or huts for seven days. That would be challenging but definitely a memory maker! Bob is feeling alot better and we hope to be able to gather there once more tonight.
We hope each time we attempt to put more of God's word into action that our children will have His love and priceless heritage written upon their hearts. We want to diligently teach them all of God's ways. His words of rich blessings of tradition are a large part of how we can know our God and Savior. The more we know Him, the more we trust Him and want to serve Him.
'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' Lev. 23:39-43
The dates of the Feasts are determined by the Jewish calendar and their New Year is in September, their seventh month. It's all based upon the cycles of the moons, Sabbaths, and seasons. What a wonderful time to celebrate the fall harvest time! There are atleast three names for each feast and we are still getting the spelling, meanings and such mixed up. But we do understand much more this year than last! Glory to His name. It's all about remembering His faithfulness to His people!
Our neighbor climbed in the sukkah, at the boys' request, and asked if it was a duck blind. : ) We gave a short explanation of what we are really doing. The already knew that we are different. That confirmed it!
Hopefully by next year we will figure out a better building plan for our temporary dwelling, but as you can see, this time we used stepladders for the main supports!!! It did look nearly attractive when the leaves of the branches were green...not so much a week later. The children had a blast working on it. Not a single complaint! />
It was lovely inside!
added later:We were able to have a meal and worship on the last night of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Shalom!Saturday, September 26, 2009
Our loss, our baby's gain
Deciding whether to post such a sacred family event has been difficult. However, since our family uses this blog to document many of the things that really matter to us throughout the year, missing a baby that we'd hoped for in April 2010, cannot be left out.
We had been slowly sharing the good news of expecting our ninth precious child, when at week seven, on September 13, he/she suddenly left us. This was a first for our family. I am especially thankful for the ease of the process. In a week I was "back to normal", although I hadn't really wanted to be. Friends who knew were especially kind and prayerful. I spent what could have been a terrible week feeling truly cared for by God and by people. Even my mother, who lives eight hours away, was close to my heart (by phone) on one of the more difficult days.
We will not forget that this one little person awaits our family in Heaven. We are so very glad that he is in the best possible place and that his life has been nothing but pure perfection and love. We do not grieve for him. I have grieved for dashed hopes, and a miscarriage-free history, but not for long, because I know I am truly blessed. If God never gave me another child, I am satisfied in Him and with our family. Of course, I truly hope not to miscarry again. But regardless, God is sovereign and He is the same One, worthy of all my trust in any circumstance. Since we trust Him completely with our womb, we look forward to another baby, in another season-if God should be so generous. And I am beginning to understand a fraction of the pain that other ladies who've miscarried are experiencing. This is good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. "Romans 8:28
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." II Cor. 1:3-4
We had been slowly sharing the good news of expecting our ninth precious child, when at week seven, on September 13, he/she suddenly left us. This was a first for our family. I am especially thankful for the ease of the process. In a week I was "back to normal", although I hadn't really wanted to be. Friends who knew were especially kind and prayerful. I spent what could have been a terrible week feeling truly cared for by God and by people. Even my mother, who lives eight hours away, was close to my heart (by phone) on one of the more difficult days.
We will not forget that this one little person awaits our family in Heaven. We are so very glad that he is in the best possible place and that his life has been nothing but pure perfection and love. We do not grieve for him. I have grieved for dashed hopes, and a miscarriage-free history, but not for long, because I know I am truly blessed. If God never gave me another child, I am satisfied in Him and with our family. Of course, I truly hope not to miscarry again. But regardless, God is sovereign and He is the same One, worthy of all my trust in any circumstance. Since we trust Him completely with our womb, we look forward to another baby, in another season-if God should be so generous. And I am beginning to understand a fraction of the pain that other ladies who've miscarried are experiencing. This is good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. "Romans 8:28
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." II Cor. 1:3-4
Friday, September 25, 2009
City Gardening
Over the last year, Bob and I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with a man and his wife who are master gardeners. Bob met the husband while swimming at the YMCA. Our family visited their home and farm this summer. They generously shared blueberries, raspberries and figs they'd grown. They own several acres and have gardened for decades.
Recently this nice couple began to teach us how to make raised beds for ourselves. This fall, following their instructions, we've built two raised beds and planted seeds for lettuce, spinach, chinese cabbage, and some herbs. It's been a slower process that what we'd intended due to heavy rains, and borrowing a truck for transporting dirt, and family illness. But we're finally seeing some of the "fruit" of our labor.
Today, after only five days, I observed sprouts from our newly planted seeds! God brought sunshine followed by alot of rain during the last twenty-four hours. This was exactly what was needed since we have been inside with the flu for two days and haven't thought much about watering. I love to see God's hand in all the little details of our life. We are praying that our money and efforts towards raising some of our own food will be very fruitful again in this season. Thankfully, we were able to save enough money over the summer by raising our own salad tomatoes and sweet peppers, to buy all the supplies for the garden, summer and fall!
Bob built two different size beds. We'll decide over time if the deeper one is worth the extra expense.
Daniel, Anna and I moved most of the dirt to the beds on this past Monday.
Both children were so diligent and faithful. I really appreciated their help.
The hoops will support butterfly screens initially, then plastic when it begins to frost at night.
I purchased two packs of plants so that our harvest would be staggered. They were so very reasonable compared to buying the produce at the store! We're praying the butterflies do not find them before we get them covered. Bob's face was priceless when he thought these plants came from the seeds I'd planted a couple of days earlier. : )
One of our first spinach sprouts.
Today our friends brought plenty of spun bond (looks like interfacing to me) for covering the plants. So the beds are safe from butterflies for now!
Recently this nice couple began to teach us how to make raised beds for ourselves. This fall, following their instructions, we've built two raised beds and planted seeds for lettuce, spinach, chinese cabbage, and some herbs. It's been a slower process that what we'd intended due to heavy rains, and borrowing a truck for transporting dirt, and family illness. But we're finally seeing some of the "fruit" of our labor.
Today, after only five days, I observed sprouts from our newly planted seeds! God brought sunshine followed by alot of rain during the last twenty-four hours. This was exactly what was needed since we have been inside with the flu for two days and haven't thought much about watering. I love to see God's hand in all the little details of our life. We are praying that our money and efforts towards raising some of our own food will be very fruitful again in this season. Thankfully, we were able to save enough money over the summer by raising our own salad tomatoes and sweet peppers, to buy all the supplies for the garden, summer and fall!
Bob built two different size beds. We'll decide over time if the deeper one is worth the extra expense.
Daniel, Anna and I moved most of the dirt to the beds on this past Monday.Both children were so diligent and faithful. I really appreciated their help.
The hoops will support butterfly screens initially, then plastic when it begins to frost at night.
I purchased two packs of plants so that our harvest would be staggered. They were so very reasonable compared to buying the produce at the store! We're praying the butterflies do not find them before we get them covered. Bob's face was priceless when he thought these plants came from the seeds I'd planted a couple of days earlier. : )
One of our first spinach sprouts.
Today our friends brought plenty of spun bond (looks like interfacing to me) for covering the plants. So the beds are safe from butterflies for now!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Kelsey's Fourteenth Birthday!
Today Kelsey is fourteen! Last night Bob took her out for a very nice dinner. They both dressed up and when they were ready to go, Bob gave her a necklace of pearls to wear. She looked lovely. They had a delicious dinner and brought home beautiful chocolates to share with Kendal and me.
We made a great Sunday dinner for her birthday this afternoon. We also put a candle in her dinner roll and sang to her. We weren't able to go to church due to alot coughing in our family. But we've had a nice day together.
This evening Kelsey asked if she and I could drive to Edenton, NC and visit Ms. Ennis ( a dear friend of our family). Since it is her birthday, Bob agreed and let us go. We had a short and lovely visit. It would be so nice if Ms. Ennis were closer. We're glad to see her every chance we're given. 
We made a great Sunday dinner for her birthday this afternoon. We also put a candle in her dinner roll and sang to her. We weren't able to go to church due to alot coughing in our family. But we've had a nice day together.
This evening Kelsey asked if she and I could drive to Edenton, NC and visit Ms. Ennis ( a dear friend of our family). Since it is her birthday, Bob agreed and let us go. We had a short and lovely visit. It would be so nice if Ms. Ennis were closer. We're glad to see her every chance we're given. 
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Family Reformation Conference
Today we had the privilege of listening to James and Stacy MacDonald speak about raising children for the glory of our God. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald came from Illinois with eight of their children to minister to our little group today. It is an honor to have people visit our church who have shaped our lives through their ministries and books. Tomorrow Mr. MacDonald will give the sermon during our household worship service. And we will gather with their family in the evening for a small social over dessert at our pastor's home. What a blessing!
Mrs. MacDonald wrote a spectacular book called Raising Maidens of Virtue. Mr. MacDonald is a pastor of a family integrated church, founder of their family ministry and radio speaker. His email newsletters are biblical and encouraging.
Kendal and Kelsey read a couple of the MacDonald family blogs regularly. I think they especially enjoy meeting other, somewhat famous, virtuous young ladies.
The MacDonalds talked about many things. Their message was bible-based and practical. We especially enjoyed their talk about courtship. They have one married daughter and one in a courtship relationship. With seven daughters and three sons, they'll be pros in due time.
Mrs. MacDonald wrote a spectacular book called Raising Maidens of Virtue. Mr. MacDonald is a pastor of a family integrated church, founder of their family ministry and radio speaker. His email newsletters are biblical and encouraging.
Kendal and Kelsey read a couple of the MacDonald family blogs regularly. I think they especially enjoy meeting other, somewhat famous, virtuous young ladies.
The MacDonalds talked about many things. Their message was bible-based and practical. We especially enjoyed their talk about courtship. They have one married daughter and one in a courtship relationship. With seven daughters and three sons, they'll be pros in due time.
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