The opening prayer, the cry of my heart this Lent, is the Trisagion...
Holy God
Holy and Mighty
Holy Immortal One
Have mercy
Have mercy
On us.
Slipping away to hold a handful of Quiet, to draw near to my Savior in gratitude for His long walk to the cross.
'Til the Resurrection, kind friends.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
WFMW:: Wise (Accessible) Words for Moms
But sometimes (okay, frequently) I'm so rattled, it's difficult to stop in the middle of this heart-to-heart with my child to look at the chart for my next step! So about a year ago, I prayed over my concerns and my very humble desire to make this chart work for me, and the Lord led me to something that has been another blessing in my life.
Four by six notecards! At the beginning of the month (I came up with this time frame because it seemed like it was taking all of us at least this long to make a habit of a particular good behavior!), I write down one of the behaviors and steps on a notecard. All of it. If I can fit the extra scripture references on the front, I will, but a lot of times I need to write them on the back.
Then I put them in a visual place, which since shortly after moving here is in the acrylic stand on the kitchen sink windowsill that holds my Bible already. I see the card and read through it several times a day, familiarizing myself completely with identifying the behavior and the steps to walk it out, scriptures included.
And we've added Wise Words to our morning circle time (Grove Tending, here at Sapling Academy!), so the children are familiar with what we will be expecting of them, and why these steps are helpful for getting to the root. We regularly act out a particular situation and show the wrong AND right way to walk it out.
I can't tell you what a difference having these wise words in a more visual, easily accessible place has been- no more speaking to my child and having to let my eyes roam to the chart to remind myself of the next step. By reading over it several times a day, when I have to be standing there anyway, elbow deep in suds, it's being hidden in my heart as well.
I really love the heart of Ms. Plowman's Wise Words for Moms chart- and I'm so thankful I found a way to make it work for me! I hope it blesses you as well, kind friend.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Children's Book Monday
by Francis Chan
illustrated by Matt Daniels
They had Gideon at "tractor". They had me at Francis Chan.
All it took was Crazy Love, and we knew we would also want The Big Red Tractor for our children.
This is one story in a group of three books (so far!) by Chan that reads like a parable for children, and it is profound enough to move, while still remaining simple enough to understand and encourage dialogue with your child.
The Big Red Tractor lives happily in a cozy little shed in a happy little village. The problem is, he's only appreciated for the powerful noises he makes; even though the entire village works together every day in the fields, they merely pull the Big Red Tractor to the field to sit and idle while they do the plowing and planting.
When Farmer Dave discovers the owners manual for the Big Red Tractor, he stays up all night to read it. When the morning comes, he can't wait to share what he learned!
But nobody believes him. How can the Big Red Tractor move on its own? It sounds like a fairy tale to them! Farmer Dave spends many nights fixing the tractor according to the manual, and when the village sees that he's plowed an entire field in one night, the wonderful news spreads.
This beautiful story reminds us that we shouldn't keep the Good News to ourselves- and why would we? When it can minister to and help so many others, why would we not act on it, share the blessing we've been made to be?
Happy Reading!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Date Night In (no tomatoes, please!)
Every night, after the last big boy is tucked away in bed, my husband and I, we stay up way too long, playing board games (top two: Scrabble and Dominion!), watching shows or a movie, talking, reading... but once a month, I really like to make it more special.
And having no options for a Date Night Out in our sweet, tiny (pop. 177) town, our Date Nights In have become precious to us.
It all starts the day before...
When I write our menus for the month, I always include a special dinner for Date Night In. And so the day before, I'm making one last check to be sure I have all the ingredients together and ready. Sometimes I choose a new recipe, but not one that has ANYthing at all that my husband won't like- tomatoes? Nope. (I know! So sad.) A meal is chosen for it's ease as well as it's deliciousness- January was grilled hot pepper and sharp cheddar sandwiches on sourdough, quinoa salad, and canned peaches. This month, I needed to keep the cost down and wanted to try to use what I have, so I searched the cupboards to pull together the meal. I totally scored- I had all the ingredients for Cheddar Potatoes and Sausage. My husband's childhood favorite! Okay, they're called Potato Boats. But somehow, when I was printing up my menu with pretty pink ink and a new font, Potato Boats under *Date Night In* didn't look as romantic and attractive as Cheddar Potatoes and Sausage. (Recipe: Hot dogs, cut in half the long way and laid flat on your plate, a huge scoop of mashed potatoes, and shredded cheese on top. I know. I know.)
But it's my best friend I'm preparing this night for, and he loves them, and they're so easy to make! All of those reasons are a necessary part of choosing the meal for Date Night In.
So, ingredients are together for our meal, and then I plan for the children's meal. We learned long ago that rushing the kids through a simple dinner and hurrying them off to bed did not make for an uninterrupted Date Night. Their love cups are running empty, they sense the rushing has something to do with us not wanting them around, and they do not sleep well. So, not only is Date Night In interrupted with tears and rubbing of the eyes and sad, legs-wrapped-around-our-waist hugs, but we've only achieved a little bit of time alone at the expense of our children's security.
It didn't take me long to come up with a plan of attack: keep a slow, normal pace to the day, prepare a warm meal with love and care from our regular menu (or buy take and bake pizza from the town ten mountain highway miles north of us), play a family game, and keep the bedtime routine the same; tidy rooms, brush teeth, read a story, sing and pray, taking our sweet time doing so. This almost assuredly results in smiling, tousle-haired little ones falling asleep quickly and staying there.
All of this preparation is so worth it to me- in loving my children through extra kindnesses, even when I am working towards preparing another meal and hoping to enjoy enough quality time with my husband while I'm still wide-awake, I am blessing him as well. His heart is open to me. He sees my patience and diligence in preparing a special night for his children as well as him, and he assures me there's almost nothing more attractive to him than watching me mother our children well. (Whew- that could burden me or encourage me- I'll let it encourage!)
Throughout the day I've prepared what I can (the quinoa salad is better when it sits anyway), and the rest of the meal is so simple it comes together quickly. (Believe me- simple is key! You can make it yummy and fancy- but it must not take hours and it must not stress you out! That's not a fun date for anyone. Just prepare in advance.) Now- hurry and change out of my sweats and dab on some lip gloss at least! This, too, goes a long way in making my husband feel loved- remember that girl? How I never wanted him to see me without my makeup and I always adjusted my clothes so they lay just right before I knocked on his door? I find her. At least a little piece of her.
A lit candle or two, a bottle of sparkling cider or wine, our chairs pulled as close together as possible while still being able to gaze into one another's eyes... *sigh*. My favorite part.
(It's a terrible picture, but I didn't want to waste any precious time clicking away when there was such a handsome man to talk to and such yummy food to eat!)
Dinner sets the mood, and the rest of the evening just flows right after it. Conditions are perfect. Perfect.
We've been married for almost fifteen years, and I'm still learning how to love my man. How to really love him. How to think of his interests before my own, even if it means making two meals in an evening and giving up tomatoes for one night. ~grin~ How to show him that I'm not only content with where we live and how we're limited, but how I can make it beautiful and exciting and romantic... just like the girl he met long ago. The Lord has been working so gently with me in this area for years now, and I just wanted to share one of the ways we've discovered to keep our relationship and romance strong, using what we have and being all the more blessed by it. I hope it blesses you, too, kind friends!
And having no options for a Date Night Out in our sweet, tiny (pop. 177) town, our Date Nights In have become precious to us.
It all starts the day before...
When I write our menus for the month, I always include a special dinner for Date Night In. And so the day before, I'm making one last check to be sure I have all the ingredients together and ready. Sometimes I choose a new recipe, but not one that has ANYthing at all that my husband won't like- tomatoes? Nope. (I know! So sad.) A meal is chosen for it's ease as well as it's deliciousness- January was grilled hot pepper and sharp cheddar sandwiches on sourdough, quinoa salad, and canned peaches. This month, I needed to keep the cost down and wanted to try to use what I have, so I searched the cupboards to pull together the meal. I totally scored- I had all the ingredients for Cheddar Potatoes and Sausage. My husband's childhood favorite! Okay, they're called Potato Boats. But somehow, when I was printing up my menu with pretty pink ink and a new font, Potato Boats under *Date Night In* didn't look as romantic and attractive as Cheddar Potatoes and Sausage. (Recipe: Hot dogs, cut in half the long way and laid flat on your plate, a huge scoop of mashed potatoes, and shredded cheese on top. I know. I know.)
But it's my best friend I'm preparing this night for, and he loves them, and they're so easy to make! All of those reasons are a necessary part of choosing the meal for Date Night In.
So, ingredients are together for our meal, and then I plan for the children's meal. We learned long ago that rushing the kids through a simple dinner and hurrying them off to bed did not make for an uninterrupted Date Night. Their love cups are running empty, they sense the rushing has something to do with us not wanting them around, and they do not sleep well. So, not only is Date Night In interrupted with tears and rubbing of the eyes and sad, legs-wrapped-around-our-waist hugs, but we've only achieved a little bit of time alone at the expense of our children's security.
It didn't take me long to come up with a plan of attack: keep a slow, normal pace to the day, prepare a warm meal with love and care from our regular menu (or buy take and bake pizza from the town ten mountain highway miles north of us), play a family game, and keep the bedtime routine the same; tidy rooms, brush teeth, read a story, sing and pray, taking our sweet time doing so. This almost assuredly results in smiling, tousle-haired little ones falling asleep quickly and staying there.
All of this preparation is so worth it to me- in loving my children through extra kindnesses, even when I am working towards preparing another meal and hoping to enjoy enough quality time with my husband while I'm still wide-awake, I am blessing him as well. His heart is open to me. He sees my patience and diligence in preparing a special night for his children as well as him, and he assures me there's almost nothing more attractive to him than watching me mother our children well. (Whew- that could burden me or encourage me- I'll let it encourage!)
Throughout the day I've prepared what I can (the quinoa salad is better when it sits anyway), and the rest of the meal is so simple it comes together quickly. (Believe me- simple is key! You can make it yummy and fancy- but it must not take hours and it must not stress you out! That's not a fun date for anyone. Just prepare in advance.) Now- hurry and change out of my sweats and dab on some lip gloss at least! This, too, goes a long way in making my husband feel loved- remember that girl? How I never wanted him to see me without my makeup and I always adjusted my clothes so they lay just right before I knocked on his door? I find her. At least a little piece of her.
A lit candle or two, a bottle of sparkling cider or wine, our chairs pulled as close together as possible while still being able to gaze into one another's eyes... *sigh*. My favorite part.
(It's a terrible picture, but I didn't want to waste any precious time clicking away when there was such a handsome man to talk to and such yummy food to eat!)
Dinner sets the mood, and the rest of the evening just flows right after it. Conditions are perfect. Perfect.
We've been married for almost fifteen years, and I'm still learning how to love my man. How to really love him. How to think of his interests before my own, even if it means making two meals in an evening and giving up tomatoes for one night. ~grin~ How to show him that I'm not only content with where we live and how we're limited, but how I can make it beautiful and exciting and romantic... just like the girl he met long ago. The Lord has been working so gently with me in this area for years now, and I just wanted to share one of the ways we've discovered to keep our relationship and romance strong, using what we have and being all the more blessed by it. I hope it blesses you, too, kind friends!
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Children's Book Monday
Lighthouses have long fascinated my husband and I... their histories, their stoic beauty and steadfastness, the people who keep them. Hanging in my his office is a framed poster of this incredible scene. (Take a moment to look at all fifteen pictures (and a video!) at that site- such amazing captures of silent beacons surrounded by storms!) For us, the lighthouse creates a beautiful picture of God's protection during difficulty; we can be buffetted, surrounded, in mortal danger... and He stands firm and tall, guiding others to safety even as he shelters us.
So of course, any book with lighthouse in the title captures our attention! At our favorite used bookseller a year ago, as I sat on the floor surrounded by shelves of musty children's books, several stacks climbing higher around me, I came across this hidden gem...
Birdie's Lighthouse
written by Deborah Hopkinson
illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root
Bertha (Birdie) Holland keeps a diary that her Papa gave to her before he went to sea, and each entry tells her story. When her father returns, he is chosen as the new lighthouse keeper for Turtle Island, and the family gathers to their new home. Birdie is lonely in this isolated place; the "Smearin' In", as the old-timers call it, bringing dark fog that makes her long for meadows and flowers- and no sea wind to blow them away.
Birdie's Papa teaches her how to polish the reflectors and trim the wicks, but when he takes sick after staying up all night during a storm to keep the lamps burning, someone must watch over the light; proudly, she enters her name into her diary for the first time as "Bertha Holland, Keeper's Daughter."
Her vigilance lasts over several days, as long as the storm does, and long enough to guide someone dear to their hearts... home.
Deborah Hopkinson is a beloved author in this home; she is especially gifted at historical children's books. We highly recommend Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt and A Boy Called Dickens. Kimberly Root's illustrations are simple and expressive, and when I read that she had also done the artwork for a version of Understood Betsy, I was so happy! What a match- that story, her pictures... perfect.
We so enjoyed learning some new seafaring quotes and terms throughout the story- and at the end of the book is a beautiful short biography of four real-life light keepers who saved lives and kept the light burning for many, many years. One in particular, Abigail Burgess Grant, who lived on an isolated island called Matinicus Rock, kept the island's two towers lit for four stormy weeks while her father was away. She married a lightkeeper and lived her whole life in lighthouses- and at the end of her life, simply wrote, It has almost seemed to me that the light was part of myself.
May we all endeavor to say the same at the end of our lives... that the Light was part of ourselves.
Happy Reading!
So of course, any book with lighthouse in the title captures our attention! At our favorite used bookseller a year ago, as I sat on the floor surrounded by shelves of musty children's books, several stacks climbing higher around me, I came across this hidden gem...
written by Deborah Hopkinson
illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root
Bertha (Birdie) Holland keeps a diary that her Papa gave to her before he went to sea, and each entry tells her story. When her father returns, he is chosen as the new lighthouse keeper for Turtle Island, and the family gathers to their new home. Birdie is lonely in this isolated place; the "Smearin' In", as the old-timers call it, bringing dark fog that makes her long for meadows and flowers- and no sea wind to blow them away.
Birdie's Papa teaches her how to polish the reflectors and trim the wicks, but when he takes sick after staying up all night during a storm to keep the lamps burning, someone must watch over the light; proudly, she enters her name into her diary for the first time as "Bertha Holland, Keeper's Daughter."
Her vigilance lasts over several days, as long as the storm does, and long enough to guide someone dear to their hearts... home.
Deborah Hopkinson is a beloved author in this home; she is especially gifted at historical children's books. We highly recommend Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt and A Boy Called Dickens. Kimberly Root's illustrations are simple and expressive, and when I read that she had also done the artwork for a version of Understood Betsy, I was so happy! What a match- that story, her pictures... perfect.
We so enjoyed learning some new seafaring quotes and terms throughout the story- and at the end of the book is a beautiful short biography of four real-life light keepers who saved lives and kept the light burning for many, many years. One in particular, Abigail Burgess Grant, who lived on an isolated island called Matinicus Rock, kept the island's two towers lit for four stormy weeks while her father was away. She married a lightkeeper and lived her whole life in lighthouses- and at the end of her life, simply wrote, It has almost seemed to me that the light was part of myself.
May we all endeavor to say the same at the end of our lives... that the Light was part of ourselves.
Happy Reading!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Party at the Little House in the {Little} Woods
The sixteenth of December dawned brightly, sun peeking over the mountains and pouring down into the valley. There would be no snow this day, no maple sugar candy makin', but she popped out of bed with her blonde tresses a mass of rag curl bumps and proclaimed, I don't even care!
And only two invitations had been sent, one for sweet cousin who is her best friend, and one to the grandparents, who like to receive and delight in that sort of thing; but the day promised to be full of the marvelous gift of family, celebrating our girl.
I'd made two muffs to warm the hands of girls who would be wearing the gift of prairie dresses, made so lovingly by their auntie, and the roast was in the (not-so-Little-House-like) crockpot, the loaves of bread wrapped and resting, and peppermint pies chilling. We hadn't planned for too much structure to the day, for when two six-year-old girls (who see each other far less often than they'd like) would finally grasp hands and jump up and down for joy till they were breathless, the day would gallop away and hardly be reined in for a schedule, for goodness' sake.
There were dresses to be opened and tried on, a special lunch at the (one) local restaurant, the sewing of yo-yo's for some handwork (that ended up being a mama project, as two little girls had plans of their own...), a walk in the little woods, a simple family supper, followed by fiddlin' and dancin' with Papa, and sweet peppermint pie.
Join me for a stroll through the memories of that fine day?
And only two invitations had been sent, one for sweet cousin who is her best friend, and one to the grandparents, who like to receive and delight in that sort of thing; but the day promised to be full of the marvelous gift of family, celebrating our girl.
I'd made two muffs to warm the hands of girls who would be wearing the gift of prairie dresses, made so lovingly by their auntie, and the roast was in the (not-so-Little-House-like) crockpot, the loaves of bread wrapped and resting, and peppermint pies chilling. We hadn't planned for too much structure to the day, for when two six-year-old girls (who see each other far less often than they'd like) would finally grasp hands and jump up and down for joy till they were breathless, the day would gallop away and hardly be reined in for a schedule, for goodness' sake.
There were dresses to be opened and tried on, a special lunch at the (one) local restaurant, the sewing of yo-yo's for some handwork (that ended up being a mama project, as two little girls had plans of their own...), a walk in the little woods, a simple family supper, followed by fiddlin' and dancin' with Papa, and sweet peppermint pie.
Join me for a stroll through the memories of that fine day?
Heartfelt thanks to my sisters, Maddie and Bethany, for all of the photographs...
The invitation. (template found here)
In the morning, cousin, aunties, and Nana arrived first- time to open the dresses!
Oh, yours is lovely! Let's put them on and go to the woods!
These two hardly stopped laughing and being silly as we explored the woods, the river, and our small town.
Although the sun was out, it was crisp- they were happy for their warm, chenille-lined muffs!
I can't tell you how many pictures there were like this- I only wish the camera had caught their mamas casting off for a good laugh at the same time!
The menu: Beef roast, graham bread, and creamed carrots, all from The Little House Cookbook, with a slight variation on the roast...
She could hardly believe it was true... The Three Gifts of Christmas, for her very own!
And she thought she might know what this gift was, from Aunt Maddie...
It is! It is! A bonnet to match!
And now, what do you suppose might be so captivating over there?
Of course- it's Papa, with the fiddle!
Eliana couldn't get enough of watching for Papa's finger to "pop" for Pop, Goes the Weasel!
Sprinkling crushed candy canes on the peppermint pies- I couldn't have made them without her!
Six. She's six.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Children's Book Monday
*Big sigh*.
Hello, little place. Hello, little chicks, scratching about for food underneath my toadstool. You look familiar...
Testing the waters... dipping in a toe, watching the ripples spread. Think it'll get warmer the longer I'm here? ~smile~
Let's talk about books, shall we?
Marguerite Makes a Book
Written by Bruce Robertson
Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
This beautiful piece of historical fiction is a favorite among all the ages in our family. (Seriously, Kevin just walked through here and saw what I was reviewing and said, You're reviewing that? Oh, I love that book!) We just couldn't resist a story that begins with a sprawling overhead map of Paris, depicting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Libraire, the River Seine... And when a glossary of technical terms on the last page is followed by a note about how this story was inspired by a group of Parisian manuscripts in the Getty Museum's collection that date from around 1400 to 1425... well, it's all over.
The story sent my little artist, Eliana, into a flurry of paint brushes and scraps of paper. She sported stained fingers for days, and even wore a ring on her second finger, just like Marguerite!
The oldest and most famous book painter in all of Paris is Papa Jacques. He illuminates manuscripts for the nobility of the day, even the King and Queen! His daughter, Marguerite, watches over him anxiously as he works to finish a book of hours for Lady Isabelle; when the deadline fast approaches and the threat of no pay begins to loom, she even offers to help her father finish. But when his glasses are broken in a close call while they are out running errands, Marguerite must step up to the task!
As she fetches eggs for mixing paints, and parsley, dried saffron flowers, madder root, vermilion, and lapis lazuli for color, we get an up-close look at the marketplace of the day, as well as an apothecary. But the magic really comes as Marguerite begins to illuminate a manuscript. As she crushes roots and herbs and mixes them with egg whites, the process is laid out so simply, step by step- you almost imagine you could make paint of your own, just like this! Eliana sure did...
The kindness of a daughter protecting the reputation of her father by serving him in this way, and the gratitude of a father who passed on his art to his daughter, spills onto the pages of this story as surely as the artwork. The pictures are what children fall in love with first, I believe, and the delightfully informational story only enhances the simply beautiful watercolors. Paint pots and ingredients for homemade paint like Marguerite's? On the wishlist.
Happy Reading!
Hello, little place. Hello, little chicks, scratching about for food underneath my toadstool. You look familiar...
Testing the waters... dipping in a toe, watching the ripples spread. Think it'll get warmer the longer I'm here? ~smile~
Let's talk about books, shall we?
Written by Bruce Robertson
Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt
This beautiful piece of historical fiction is a favorite among all the ages in our family. (Seriously, Kevin just walked through here and saw what I was reviewing and said, You're reviewing that? Oh, I love that book!) We just couldn't resist a story that begins with a sprawling overhead map of Paris, depicting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Libraire, the River Seine... And when a glossary of technical terms on the last page is followed by a note about how this story was inspired by a group of Parisian manuscripts in the Getty Museum's collection that date from around 1400 to 1425... well, it's all over.
The story sent my little artist, Eliana, into a flurry of paint brushes and scraps of paper. She sported stained fingers for days, and even wore a ring on her second finger, just like Marguerite!
The oldest and most famous book painter in all of Paris is Papa Jacques. He illuminates manuscripts for the nobility of the day, even the King and Queen! His daughter, Marguerite, watches over him anxiously as he works to finish a book of hours for Lady Isabelle; when the deadline fast approaches and the threat of no pay begins to loom, she even offers to help her father finish. But when his glasses are broken in a close call while they are out running errands, Marguerite must step up to the task!
As she fetches eggs for mixing paints, and parsley, dried saffron flowers, madder root, vermilion, and lapis lazuli for color, we get an up-close look at the marketplace of the day, as well as an apothecary. But the magic really comes as Marguerite begins to illuminate a manuscript. As she crushes roots and herbs and mixes them with egg whites, the process is laid out so simply, step by step- you almost imagine you could make paint of your own, just like this! Eliana sure did...
The kindness of a daughter protecting the reputation of her father by serving him in this way, and the gratitude of a father who passed on his art to his daughter, spills onto the pages of this story as surely as the artwork. The pictures are what children fall in love with first, I believe, and the delightfully informational story only enhances the simply beautiful watercolors. Paint pots and ingredients for homemade paint like Marguerite's? On the wishlist.
Happy Reading!
Friday, January 27, 2012
