“I know not a word which can express the surprise and wonder our souls ought to feel
at God’s goodness to us. Our hearts playing the harlot; our lives far from perfect;
our faith almost blown out; our unbelief often prevailing; our pride lifting up its
accursed head; our patience a poor sickly plant, almost nipped by one night’s frost;
our courage little better than cowardice; our love lukewarmness; our ardour but as
ice—oh, my dear brethren, if we will but think any one of us what a mass of sin we
are, if we will but reflect that we are after all, as one of the fathers writes, “walking
dunghills,” we should indeed be surprised that the sun of divine grace should
continue so perpetually to shine upon us, and that the abundance of heaven’s mercy
should be revealed in us.”  (this quote totally sums up what I have been feeling…so ugly, and surprised to grateful tears that God is so good to me.  He is!)

“Give me the doctrines of grace, and I am in clover.”  (oh yum…..I can almost feel the warm air, and the sweet smell and taste of clover)

“An enlightened man is grateful to God for temporal blessings; but he is much more grateful to God for spiritual blessings, for temporal blessings do not last long; they are soon gone.  Temporal blessings are not definite marks of divine favor, since God gives them to the unworthy, and to the wicked, as well as to the righteous.”  (this quote reminds me to switch my thinking to the spiritual, it’s so easy for me to be caught up on the temporal…)

“Do not consider that adverse circumstances are a proof that you have missed your road; for they may even be an evidence that you are in the good old way, since the path of believers is seldom without trial.”

 (I love that good old way!)

“Omniscience shall bow itself to instruct your ignorance.  Infinite power shall stoop that you may lean upon its shoulder.  Boundless love shall deign without any degradation to take you by the hand and pick your pathway for you, and infinite patience shall continue to direct every step of your course, till you are brought to your home at last.”  (A quote to make me cry in thankfulness)

 All quotes are by Charles Spurgeon

I make myself skirm…I am so uncomfortable with the evil thoughts I think, the bad choices I make, the hasty reactions.  I want to crawl under the covers and hide.  I want to shut my mouth and not open it for fear that I will say the wrong thing…again.  Then I cry because I’m so self focused, stuck on myself…instead of focused on ah, yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Things are so topsy turvey sometimes.  I look in the mirror and see my ugly self, I turn away from the mirror in shock not knowing how to fix myself….. but when I turn to the GOSPEL I find RELIEF because I see that I AM NOT PERFECT AND IT’S OKAY BECAUSE MY SAVIOR, who LOVES ME, HE IS PERFECT.  He has grace for the sinner, mercy for the sinner, forgiveness.  Satan’s whisperings in my ear are so loud but I’m holding on to Christ and He is everything I need –my Rock, my Salvation, the lover of my soul.  I can’t fix myself but I know that Jesus can, and will, eventually.  And someday, in Heaven, I’ll be free from the struggle between my flesh and my spirit.

Romans 7:14-24

(New American Standard Bible)

These are pictures that we took a few weeks ago of dear little Seth.

He looks mighty cute in his hat and scarf.  How we’ve managed to keep this set together after so many years is beyond me.  They were originally Ethan’s and he is almost 13 now.

Hope you are all having a marvelous day!  Bear with me as I continue to post blogs even though I feel totally uninspired to do so.  Can anyone say “extremely overtired mama”?  Yes, I’m sure you can.  Thanks for understanding.  

Love, Shanda

You are my sunshine

my only sunshine.

You make me happy

when skies are gray.

You’ll never know, dear

how much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.

I took these pictures of Sarah last week after she woke up from a nap one day.  Jacob and I were playing with her, and laughing as we watched her play with her sunshine toy (from Barnes and Noble).  The toy has a tiny bell on the back that makes soft jingling sounds that you can barely hear.  I like it because most children’s toys are too noisy.  This one is just right, plus it’s a happy, bright little thing.  Just like Sarah is, herself.

Today (so far):

I ordered Christmas cards.

I took the children to the dentist.

I went to Crackerbarrel, ran in to pick up a few things from their giftshop.

I went to my friend Kathy’s house to visit.

I baked cookies there while we talked and the children played.

Jacob got sick so we had to come home way earlier than we planned.

My plans for the rest of the day:

I am going to make a pot of chili for dinner.

Read to the children.

Clean up the house.

Drink a cup of coffee.

Hope and pray that no one else gets sick.

Happy Tuesday!  ((hugs))

How lovely are your decorations!

Rich surpised us by coming home early from work yesterday.  We were happy, but when he surpised us further by saying he was going to go get the tree, we became even MORE happy.  He took Grace and Davy with him while the rest of us stayed at home to dig out the ornaments, vacuum the rug, and perform all the other necessary preparations.  They arrived back home with a lovely, fragrant tree and very soon, the livingroom went wild with joyful chaos as we rapidly strung lights, broke ornaments, ran into each other, laughed, talked really loud, held Seth hostage on the couch out of the way, voted on whether or not to use red lights, and so on.  *whew* It was crazy gleeful fun and somehow we all worked together and ended up with a most beautiful result. 

The children and I had a nice time at home this morning, watching a Winnie the Pooh Christmas movie and making apple pomanders.

Pomanders have been made and enjoyed for a very long time and most of you have probably made them before, (lucky you), but this was a first for us.

We learned today that pomanders “are a ball of sweet-smelling fruit and spices, originally worn around the neck to protect people from disease and bad smells.” (quoted from the craft book I used, Crafting Fun)

People now traditionally make them at this time of year as a holiday decoration or as gifts to give to friends for Christmas.  You can use oranges or apples, not radishes, potatoes, bananas, or onions (Grace’s fun but rejected ideas).  

We wrapped ribbon around the apples (you are supposed to use masking tape but we didn’t have any) and then gently pushed whole cloves into the apple.  The juice drips out so we dabbed it off now and then with paper towel.  After I was done with mine, I continued to follow the directions in the book, and removed my ribbon (masking tape would be better so you can keep your ribbon clean) so I could shake my apple in a mixture of cinnamon and ginger.  Then I put the ribbon back around it, attached another ribbon and hung it on the kitchen curtain rod by the table.

We made three and the project is now a happy memory of our day, as I remember making them with the children.  It was a crafting experience for our senses; the fun sound of the clove popping into the apple, the feel of the cool apple skin and the little hard cloves, the beauty of browns and reds and greens, and most of all the yummy smells of spice and sweetness as we worked with our hands, sitting side by side by side.

We are getting our Christmas tree this weekend and the children are eagerly awaiting the day.  In the meantime, I thought it would be festive & fun to have them help me decorate the front porch for the first time ever, with pretty lights.  I had to run errands anyway so the eight of us got ready and went out this morning.  We had plans to get lights and a lighted deer figure for the front of the house.

However, as we browsed excitedly around the Christmas aisle in the store, the children spotted something even better than a deer.

Honestly, is this a great find or what?

I have had a thing for pigs for years now, I think they are cute.  I could not believe there was a PIG lawn ornament (of all things) on sale, for Christmas.  He’s perfect for me and I’ll smile whenever I see it.  We strung lights on the front porch and in a few in the bushes in front, and carefully placed Mr. Pig in a noticeable spot.  He’s standing guard and helping us celebrate this most wonderful time of year.

I think Pilgrim’s Progress must be one of Rich’s favorite books because I just counted and this is about the fourth time he’s read it to the children.

I love this picture because it was unplanned and I had to talk myself into taking it.  At the time, I was sitting by the fireplace at the end of the day, sleepy.  Baby Sarah was sitting on the floor in front of me and I was propping her up with my legs.  

I was half listening to the story but then my eyes woke up and I saw….my family all in front of me.

Davy in his footie pajamas that he’s wanted and wanted and I recently bought for him, at Target.  He sat on the couch for a while, then sat on the floor.  He had a little trouble paying attention this night but a change of scenery sometimes helps.

Precious Ethan busily crocheting his blanket.

Jacob looking bored, but I’m sure he was *simply absorbed* in the reading. 

Grace where she loves to be, snuggling up to her adored Papa; Caleb was snuggling on the other side and he was sound asleep and snoring by the end of the chapter.

Rich still in his clothes from work, tired, but beginning to relax at home, with his black shoes kicked off his aching feet (finally).

Little squirming Seth, I offered to put him to bed but Rich wanted him with us.  Seth would have preferred going to bed, he objects to being held for so long but he knows he can’t get away from Papa unless Papa says so.  Every once in a while he would protest and whimper and look at me like, “Save me mama!”….he had given up and resorted to quietly playing with his toes during the moment I snapped the picture.

I realized to myself that a beautiful picture was in front of me….what I was seeing should be recorded for our family album, but I had no intentions to disturb the reading with my photography antics and kept telling myself, “NO, don’t get up, don’t get up.” 

Then I sighed, put Sarah on her tummy, walked softly to the kitchen, grabbed the camera, took the picture and now at this moment I’m looking and smiling and grateful.

You know, these moments won’t last forever.  We need to seize them, while we can.  This one’s in my heart and in my photo album.

Another one is right behind me…a stinky Seth in my chair hugging my back and chattering.  Must go change a diaper now and I won’t be tempted to take any pictures this time.    However, I do love making my baby clean…maybe I’ll give him a nice bubble bath.

(((hugs)))

Today:

We would have been on time to Sunday School if I hadn’t taken these pictures.  (oops)

Sarah wore a beautiful Christmas dress sent to me from my dear friend Bridgette.

Jacob joined the orchestra at church for the first time; he plays the violin.  He said he was so nervous he was shaking and it was crazy.

I was paged two times to go to the nursery to console dear baby.  She’s darling cute even when she’s all upset.

We ate fast food on the way home.

Rich and I went out this afternoon to get some groceries and he carefully picked out new coloring books for Davy, Caleb, and Sethie.

He also picked out food for a party; hot chocolate and chocolate covered donuts.

We played PIT with the older children and it was so much fun.

I lit a green pine candle, it has three wicks and smells wonderful, like Christmas.

Grace practiced the piano; she has a recital on Saturday.

I’m thinking of my friend Lea Ann, it’s her birthday today.

We don’t have our tree yet, do you?

Today:

I woke up to my husband’s voice, telling me I am beautiful.

Jacob and Ethan had Christmas program practice at church.  They are both reading such beautiful God-honoring words, standing alone with their voices reading slow and clear.

The two of them were also able to go to the church teen group activity; whirlyball (I have no idea what that is).

We sponsored a child from Compassion.  A little girl from India who has six brothers and sisters.

Our hearts grew when we did it.

Rich and I took a nap with baby Sarah.

David and Caleb just came inside with red noses from shutting in the chickens for the night.  David had his hands full of eggs.

There are two tall loaves of homemade bread cooling by the stove.

Sarah is in her swing and won’t lay back in it, she wants to sit up and move.  Seth won’t leave her alone but David is the one making her laugh right now.

Rich is picking up the boys from church and bringing pizza home for dinner.

I must go break up a fight; three boys all want my salad spinner.  (there’s a Christmas gift idea for you)

Happy Weekend!

God has blessed me with seven children, five of which are busy, active boys. 

I get tired at times, grumpy, mad, impatient. 

The past few days have been like that for me.  The children and I had lots and lots of good moments, but I found my fuse shorter than usual.

I told my husband last night with tears running down my cheeks that I didn’t feel good enough to be a mother.  (He encouraged me that I was good enough, and doing great.)

Yes, by God’s grace and through His leading I somehow get through the days, I do get through them.  And then, at nighttime when the house is finally finally quiet, my aching head hits the pillow and I sleep such a wonderful sleep.  Sometimes.  I am still nursing a little girl baby, too, after all.  

For the past few days David and Caleb have been vanishing for long periods of time, outdoors.  When I asked what they were doing I learned that they had a Clubhouse in the chicken coop.  I thought that was precious, I wondered what they were working on and talking about, out there for so long.  I’ve been busy and didn’t go look.  I was so busy that I had Ethan go spy, but when he came back to report I was too busy to listen very well.

You see, Seth has been giving me a run for my money.  If I leave him alone he gets into mischief right away.  In fact, the reason I’m sitting and typing now, is only because Rich is home from work and putting him to bed.

He does stuff like this, all day long:

Anyway.  This morning I went downtown to get some candles for our advent devotional we are reading through.  When I came home, I bundled up my busy boy Seth and we walked outside to find some pretty pine needles to arrange around the candles. We walked together to the chicken coop and when I opened the door, not expecting anything at all, I found it, I found The Clubhouse.

I haven’t had the mental resources to write lately, I needed some fresh inspiration…..and, as it often happens, I found it in my children.  Happily, I ran to get my camera.

The metal garbage can holds the chicken feed.  The boys put a bunk bed ladder on top and that’s how they get up to the loft.  Seems kind of dangerous to me.

“the only pepel hoo are alowed is David Austin Caled Leio and Keney”

“No girs olowed”

I stood up on the garbage can and still couldn’t see what was up there so I lifted the camera up and shot a couple of blind pictures.

Their clubhouse is sparsely decorated, with a resting spot (David’s name for it) with a sleeping bag and pillow.  A shelf that has a hammer and a knife (the one he made himself when he was blacksmithing, David explained), a glass that holds nails, guns on the wall, and a table in the middle of the floor.

When I asked what they did up there all the time I learned that they basically just sat around and made further plans/hopes/wishes/dreams for the clubhouse.

As we were leaving the coop/clubhouse I found a couple of things that have been missing.  I get frustrated when the children don’t know where their coats are when I send them outside or we have to go someplace.  There are so many of us that I simply cannot keep track of everyone’s stuff.  I can’t.  I have learned that sooner or later things will turn up.  I found the boy’s coats today, in obvious plain sight.

Caleb’s coat:

David’s coat:

Now, if we can just find Sethie’s new coat I’ll really be over the moon with joy!

I’ve often thought that if I were a child growing up in this place, I would go hide out in the chicken coop and make myself a special spot in a quiet nook.  It makes me happy to see that the children have decided to do just that.

Did you have a fort, clubhouse, or treehouse when you were growing up?