Hello friends,

We awoke to a heavy frost.  There was a chill in the house when I got up to send the childen off to school.  David made me smile as he ate his scrambled eggs.  “I woke up happy this morning.” he said.  “I noticed!” was my reply.  It is sometimes hard for my 10 year old to get up at 6:30.  Last night he was so tired he fell right to sleep and slept so good that he woke up happy.

I went down to the coop after they left on the bus, and I gathered one egg.  I will go down again later to see if there are more of those lovely treasures waiting for me.

My house is pretty messy but at the moment I am choosing to neglect/ignore it.

I had to go to the grocery store this morning.  The dog was out of food and the fridge was getting empty.  Seth and Sarah had a hard time while shopping.  Sarah rode in the cart and Seth walked (if you can call it walking).  Sarah had put a tiny car in her coat pocket and Seth kept trying to get it from her, causing crying and nervousness.  I could not get him to forget about that car and I was about ready to pull my hair out (or, his).  I spent some time carrying him on my hip AND pushing the cart around.   Finally we were done and home again.

For lunch, they had raspberries and peanut butter sandwiches and I ate a big bowl of salad with lots of veggies.

The dog is sound asleep next to me, and the children are tucked away into their beds for a short nap, as I have to leave in an hour to take Ethan to the orthodontist.

When I was at my parent’s house this weekend I studied their Christmas tree.  So many of the ornaments I remembered, but there was one I wondered about.  Did one of the children in our big family make it? 

Mom noticed me looking at it and told that she had made it herself.  She said, “I found a picture in magazine, I don’t remember which one, and I got right up to make one.”  She inspired me to do the same, because it is made with a very common place item.

Instead of throwing away your next paper towel tube, you too, can make a pretty Christmas ornament.  I just thought that was too fun and determined to make one.

As fate would have it, on Monday we used up the remaining towels from TWO tubes, one for me and one for a child.

David walked by and so I grabbed him…..”Dave!  I’m going to make an ornament!  Do you want to make one with me?”  And he graciously agreed.

This is the one he made.

And this is the one that I made.

All you have to do is cut the tube into 10 pieces, and hole punch each end.  Then, take some wire ribbon and gather the circles onto a short length of it.  You will see the flower shape start to come together.  Then, take a longer length of ribbon and run it through the outer holes of the tube.  Tie the ends together as you see in the picture, making a small circle of ribbon in the middle, and a larger one on the outside.  The knot goes INSIDE the tube-circle in the center to make it look balanced.  Tie a hanging string on, and put it on the tree.  The whole project takes no time at all, perfect for busy mama who want to do a little non-stress crafting of a very simple sort.

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In other news, our girl Grace sang in the school chorus Holiday concert last night.  We had a wonderful time enjoying all the music.

Yesterday at Bible Study, our speaker said this:  “I’ve been around long enough to know that God will provide the time you need to get your Christmas preparations done.  Whatever needs to be done WILL get done.” 

“The Christian life is a call to rest.” 

“He will sustain His people through everything.” 

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Now that I have written a little note here, I will go make my afternoon cup of coffee and do my devotions.  What a blessing this quiet time of day is!

I hope to hear from you about anything that is on your mind and heart today~

With arms outstretched I thank. With heart beating gratefully I love. With body
in health I jump for joy. With spirit full I live. ~Terri Guillemets

Oh, my friends, imagine my great delight this morning as I entered the coop to tend my flock and discovered not one, but four new eggs.  My flock is officially laying for me, after these many long months of having to buy eggs at the store.  I was looking forward to this day so very much. 

First eggs are quite small.  So small that I could hold four in one hand.  Or, could I?

Oh botheration!

I dropped one.

The hens came running to see.  They hardly even know what eggs are at this point, as only four of them are producing.

So they are curious.

*sigh* It was a regrettable loss, but I still had three.  Two for my breakfast and one for Sarah. 

Fried in a cast iron pan in plenty of butter, I even got to eat them off a Christmas fiestaware plate.

Next to me at the table, Sarah ate her small egg right up and then asked for more, so I gave her the rest of mine. 

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In other news, look at my Ethan.  Isn’t he handsome?  This is how he dressed for school today.  Apparently, the basketball team has to dress up on game days.

The first thing I did this morning was iron his shirt and tie his tie.  Then, I took a picture.

Right now?  At this moment?  I love my life.  Thank you, Father. 

“Blessings all Mine”

Watching Ethan’s face light up when Rich asked if he would go get the tree with him.  (just the two of them).

I hung the lights up all by myself with a very curious pair of little ones getting underfoot.

Answering the question “Is it Christmas now?” 15 times.

Calling the older boys from their room, to decorate with us, and they were happy to come.

The sound of a cartoon on TV as we worked. (letting go of the perfectionist idea in me that says “Thou shalt only listen to christmas music while decorating the tree”)

Grace broke the first ornament.

The smell of fresh pine.

Caleb’s joyful face as he found the ornaments he made in school last year, “MOM! I remember this one! I made it in first grade!”

David’s sorrow as he could not find any of his. (a mystery)

Catching my husband quietly watching me untangle the gold bead garland from across the room, “You are so beautiful.”

Sarah’s shoes on the wrong feet.

The non-stop noise and talking.

The hysteria as we took self timer portraits of our family, and the resulting picture that makes me smile.

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It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.  ~W.T. Ellis

In a house in the country, a house full of blue, there lived my dear mother, and my dear father, too.

They invited their daughters to come back for a visit, for a weekend of baking some cookies for Christmas.

It wasn’t just daughters, it was their daughters, too.  So the blue house was full and the baking grew

to immense proportions, they baked this (bread)

and that (pork butt)

but the main thing that they baked was cookies, upon cookies.

For Christmas, you see, was a time of sweet eating, and the women must work and toil to be meeting

the grand demand for cookies more, from the men that they love and yes, even adore.

As we ladies stood in the kitchen to ponder, the men were sent out to wonder and wander,

just us girls remained to do what we do, to talk and to tease, and peel candies, too.

Sarah, a joy, Makayla was sweet, and blessed Naomi was happy to please.

We put these elfin girls to work, it was done with a grin, and a sneaky mouth to put extra bits in.

Walnut frosties were what this dear lady made first, and boy were they good we agreed in a burst.

This dear lady is me, I was wearing pink pants, and an apron to match them all by perchance.

Our unhappy dog was there, too, he was sick with the flu

or perhaps it was stitches that he wanted to chew.

No matter the reason, he was sad on this season, to be stuck in the house with such smells and a reason

not to partake, with a cone `round his neck.

So we sighed, poor dog.

Cookies, cookies, cookies galore, we did not stop, we kept making more

until each and every one of us felt very sick

and round, as we wielded our spatulas and trays, potholders, and recipe cards

and spun in circles not knowing what

to do next.  Russian teacakes?  Chocolate Crinkles? 

Just keep baking!

Mixing and forming and dipping were we, with the cookies from the oven as warm as can be.

The boxes were filling to over-flowing

but still we girls kept on a going.

With spoons and sugar and lots of flours, we showed ourselves worthy of the glittering powers

to make magic in the kitchen for all those hours.

Christmas music was playing, the stove timer set,

and with it’s beeps not a cookie was burnt.

It was our own quiet miracle for which to give thanks.

But wait, what’s this appearance at the end of the day?  But one of our brothers, with a beard like dear Santa’s, and a laugh that shook his belly like a bowlful of jelly!

It must be Saint Dave with a heart of good cheer, to help sis in the kitchen roll those peanut butter candies we hold dear!

And since he was there, with a willing heart, we enlisted his help with the camera

to take The Christmas Cookie Weekend Portrait,

of each willing worker, nine in all,

Amanda, Abigail, Naomi, Melissa,

Grace, Makayla, Shanda, Sarah,

and Cindy

(better known do us all as MOM, or GRANDMA)

We did a good job, if I say so myself,

but the best part of all was that we did it together,

each one of us crazy and silly and special ’tis true,

God’s love covers all so that we can say

Merry Christmas, dear ones and enjoy the cookies,

remember the time spent as you eat them, and smile, for I love you and you love me (we’re a happy family).

And now that I’m back home with my girls I must say,

the boys sure did like what we did on that day.

In fact I must tell you, and I’m telling this true,

my share of our cookies are

half gone, by this crew,

thank you!

sugar

flour

butter, in shameless amounts

measuring cups and spoons, containers for the finished product

jam and marmalade

candy

vanilla, almond flavorings

chocolate chips

nuts

baking cocoa

spices

marshmallow fluff

a big list for a big family

plus extra to give away

powdered sugar

peanut butter

cookie sheets, hot oven, and oven mitts

cookbooks and recipes

and time.  lots and lots of time

We don’t have our Christmas tree yet, and I’m afraid not much decorating is going to happen this year.  With all of life’s happenings swirling around, a woman has to chose what’s important and cross everything else off the list.  Busy seasons of life call for as much simplifying as possible. 

We will get our tree eventually, and happily, crafting Christmas cookies will also remain on my personal “to do” list.

Today I’m getting organized and planning a weekend of baking with the help of some of my favorite people.

Are you baking this year?  What’s your favorite Christmas cookie?  You know, the one you would NEVER ever leave off the tray?

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.  You will find it is
to the soul what a water bath is to the body.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Rich and I went to see Jay Ungar and his wife Molly Mason perform some beautiful folk music on Friday.  I ordered the tickets a month ago and had been excitedly anticipating this night.

Best of all, the show took place in a newly reopened theater in our own hometown.

“With exceptional musicianship and a vast knowledge of a number of music styles, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason are one of the most celebrated duos in American acoustic music.  They achieved international acclaim in 1990 when their performance of Jay’s composition ‘Ashokan Farewell’ became the musical hallmark of Ken Burn’s The Civil War on PBS.  The soundtrack won a Grammy and ‘Ashokan Farewell’ was nominated for an Emmy.”  ~ A Fiddler’s Holiday

The show was wonderful.  Because of my Dad’s influence, I’ve been a fan of Ungar’s music for years, and I love acoustic music, especially the guitar, violin, and piano.

Afterwards, I was able to get my picture taken with Jay and Molly.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.  ~Berthold Auerbach

Here is a video that I pulled from youtube.

I had taken along my copies of two songs that I like to play on the piano, and I was able to get them signed.

I will treasure these.  I was especially touched that he used one of my favorite words, “ENJOY”.  (my word of the year for 2010)

 “Keep enjoying your music!”  Jay Ungar

It was a very special night, and we look forward to many more dates like this one.  What a feeling, to be walking down the street to the truck afterwards, in the dark, with my heart full of the effects of all that lovely music, my high heels clicking on the sidewalk, and my hand tightly held by my husband.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  inspired by soulemama

 “two chairs”

I’m not the only one smitten with her.  Seth is always by her side. 

Yesterday, he got up from his nap first and I sat on the floor, holding him in my arms as he drowsily woke up.

From out of the silence, his small voice called, “Sarah!  It’s morning!”

A quiet minute later, as I continued holding him he tried again, “Sarah!  It’s morning!”

“Mom, can I go wake up Sarah?”

“No, let her sleep.”

The conversation was forgotten (by me) as I slipped him off my lap to go tend to something else.

He ran right directly upstairs to wake up his Sarah.  I didn’t realize until I heard the feet running around up there.

Although I thought he was a little stinker for waking his sister up from a good nap, I understood, and it did my mama heart good to see the love.

I get to see the love all day long.  And I’m so very thankful.

Home

‘Tis whispered in the ear of God,
‘Tis murmered through our tears
‘Tis linked with happy childhood days,
And blessed in riper years.

That hallowed word is ne’er forgot,
No matter where we roam,
The purest feelings of the heart
Still cluster round our home.

Dear resting-place, where weary thought,
May dream away its care,
Love’s gentle star unveils her light,
And shines in beauty there.

by Fanny Crosby