As the children were getting ready for school, I caught a glimpse of the sunrise so I went out on the porch to *take a picture*.  It was a stunner.

Red sky at morning, sailors take warning;
Red sky at night, sailors’ delight

From the same spot on the porch, I took this picture just half an hour later…because my little Sarah said, “It’s snowing, you need to go *take a picture*”!

She wanted to touch it and taste it.

The three of us went upstairs to her bed, which is right by the window, so we could watch the gentle snow come down.  We read Jan Brett’s Snowy Treasury  (highly recommended) while snuggled up in blankets.

Then, after lunch, I took them outside to make snow angels, to eat the snow, to touch it.

A Brave Hen ate some, too.  The other seven were confused and hesitant.

She was shaking the snow down.

She was really proud of her Snow Suit (which all my children have worn in turn).

There was an early dismissal!  This is handsome E, making a funny face as I snap his picture with my zoom lens.

I just had Jacob start the fire in the fireplace, and I’m kinda bummed because he and E made plans on the bus to go over to their friend Zach’s house for the rest of the day.  They said I can’t keep them to myself.  I did insist that Grace stay home.  She’s been gone so much with her singing programs that it will be nice to have her here all afternoon. Soon David and Caleb will arrive and I hope to watch a movie with them, either “Home Alone” or “The Chronicles of Narnia”.  I have gingerbread dough chilling in the fridge, so we can make cookies, too.

Oh, I made a good tuna casserole last night and the recipe is HERE.  The changes I made are as follows:  I doubled the recipe and used half chicken broth and half milk for the cream sauce.  I added a big scoop of cream cheese to the sauce, & omitted the peas and the bread crumb topping (only topped with cheddar cheese).  It was super good and a nice change for us, as I rarely make it anymore.  Grace said I used to make it all the time when she was in seventh grade.  LOL

Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We’ll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!

I’m looking out the window and I see no sun, no wind, and only ice and drips.  It’s a silently gray and icy day.

I have been rushing impatiently through my morning so I could get to the good parts, like maybe a second cup of coffee, forgetting that a morning of doing chores and chasing kids IS good, a blessing, a joy, if only I had realized, if only I had slowed my mind down even as my hands worked, with gratitude.

(I may have saved the children from hearing me yell in frustration over the Christmas Pickle!)

Jacob, Ethan, Grace, David, and Caleb had a two hour delay so I made bacon and pancakes for them and after they left I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, gave Sarah a bath, watered plants, cleaned the pantry, started the fire (took three tries, apparently the wood I was using was secretly damp…I couldn’t tell by feel….it wouldn’t catch, fires and wood are such interesting creatures, I’m still learning).   I made a chocolate cake because Grace is in charge of chorus snacks after school today. I know this because she has reminded me a number of times.  I cleaned the fridge, did laundry, tended chickens (1 egg), emptied and loaded the dishwasher, general pick-up, took out garbage, etc.  Is it obvious, yet, that we didn’t clean this weekend?

Instead of cleaning the house, guess what we did?

The nine of us worked like a well-oiled machine and decorated our 2013 Christmas tree.

Jacob posed with an ornament he made years ago, with a picture in it, of his younger self.

Ethan with his old ornament, too.

Seth tried on the stockings.

I have had this Shanda Santa hat since way back in Kindergarten. I marvel that the glitter has never come off (how?)!

We took a family picture in front of our completed tree.

Jacob loves to torture our cat Sherlock by holding him whether he wants to be held or not.

I found Jacob’s CL this morning on the table.  (Christmas List)  that’s how he titled it “Jacob’s CL”,  already I’m amused:

1.  Lego Lord of the Rings Orthanc Tower (big black tower with Gandalf and Saruman) [includes an Ent]

2. Bose headphones cord (replaceable cord)

3. Dean Koontz Book (NOT:  Winter Moon, What the Night Knows, The Husband, The Good Guy, Velocity, The Face, Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, or From the Corner of His Eye.  [Preferably a large one]

4. Monster 4 pack (smiley face doodle)

See why I needed it written down?  It’s full of stuff impossible to remember.

I save every handwritten Christmas  wish list.  Each one is a treasure to my heart.

You know the wonderful thing about God?  I didn’t have to be good in order for Him to save me, and I don’t have to be good in order for Him to love me.

 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

Tears are in my eyes because the days are full and beautiful.  You are so good to me, Father, my heart is humbled and bows before You forever and ever.  There is sweetness in daily life with Jesus that only a believer can understand.

Mental illness is a horrible thing.  Two years ago I was afraid I was dying, I wanted to die, I didn’t want to die.  I was having panic attacks.  But by the grace of God His love went deeper than my darkest moments.  I began taking 50mgs of antidepressant each morning to combat the depression and my friends, for the last 2 YEARS I have passed each day on the shaky edge of a cliff of exhaustion.

I want to share with you that I finally figured out the solution to that trembling exhaustion, and it is so very simple I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner; I’m taking my pill at night before bed!  I’ve been doing this for over a week now and the difference in my energy is very marked.

For the first time in years, I feel like my old self, actually, I feel better than my old self.

Still, I hold this “feeling good” loosely in my hands as an offering to my Father in heaven, who has a plan and a purpose for each of His beloved daughters.  Only He knows what is in store for us in this life.  One thing is certain, nothing can compare to the joy awaiting us in Heaven.   What a mercy that divine joy skips and laughs through our days even now.

I have 45 minutes before I have to take little Sarah Joy to the dentist and I’m still in my pajamas but I want to blog and write so very badly that here I sit, with my cold feet warming up on a corn bag, under a blanket crocheted by a mystery person (bought from the thrift store) in blue and brown.

I think you will really like these snapshots from the last few days;

There are many different varieties of pine trees and we have some that have these teeny tiny pinecones on them.  I had the loveliest moment the other day, watching two cute chickadees working their beaks into these cones to eat the tasty seeds within.

Under the tree there was an old wooden raft that Ethan had made for the pond; I found bits of pinecone left behind from the birds’ feasting.

Seth was walking along singing to himself.

While Sarah Joy pretended to fish.  I’m determined to get them outside as much as possible, even 15 minutes of fresh air and nature makes a big difference.

We mixed up gingerbread dough and by the time David and Caleb came home it was cold enough to work with.

I found these cookie cutters which the boys LOVED.

The box gives a recipe and cautioned:  “Super-Stealthy—–they disappear as soon as you make them”

“Your hands move like a whisper, cutting dark shapes into pre-rolled dough”

(I bought them at the mall but amazon.com has them, too.  BTW, they are plastic.)

I get uptight during these endeavors so it was a good thing that Sarah sincerely needed my help because then I had to ignore what the boys were doing.  And of course they did JUST FINE without me breathing down their necks.

It was true that they disappeared in a very sneaky way, in just one short afternoon!

Christmas decorations from the great outdoors.

Christmas decorations from the Hallmark store; this one is so cute; it’s solar powered and moves it’s arms and legs to make  a snow angel.

Scarlet and Shamrock fiesta vases

.

Sherlock washing his face in the sunshine.

A frosty pearl of a morning.  Yesterday dawned clear and cold.  We left the house early for a day of Community Bible Study.

These two got to be in the children’s Christmas program.

Seth wore a crown.

Sarah Joy (front row) wore a halo.  See Seth looking at her?  And she’s studying her halo.

Sarah has a performing streak, I noticed.  They all did so well, & all the mamas were properly adoring and appreciative.

Sarah Joy was with me in the front row during the last song, dancing with all her heart, so Annie called her up on stage!

With my littlest love.

****

There is  no frost this morning, we are back to chilly rain and fog.  I’m taking Sarah downtown to the dentist and then home until 4:30 when I have to pick up the boys from wrestling and go to a teacher’s conference at the elementary school.

I hope to get around to visit some of your sites today.  I haven’t had the extra time to read blogs lately but I look forward to doing that later, during naptime.

Grace, peace, thanksgiving, joy, and prayer to each one who passes through this page today.  You are loved.

To God’s holy people……., the faithful brothers and sistersin Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father…….

Colossians 1:2

This is the kind of day it is today.

Drips.  Fog.  Quiet.  Calm.  Cold.  Dim.

Pond with a thin layer of watery ice.

I haven’t been outside enough so this morning I breathed it in deeply.

And admired the stream.  It has a little bit of ice in it, around the rocks and sticks.  The children like to gather it up and eat it.

Red berries, a log bridge.

I took all the outdoor pictures with three eggs in my pocket.

***

It has been several years.

I used to sew and then I had a couple of babies and the machine was closeted away.

Now that Sarah Joy is three (and a half) I have felt the sewing urge return.

First it was “I’ll never get to sew again”

then, “I remember when I used to”

then, “wouldn’t it be nice?”

then, “I really should”

then, “oh, I’ll buy these old patchwork quilt scraps and make a pillow!”

and, “I’m sick of sitting around pinning things on pinterest, and gazing at beautiful pillows in Country Living UK magazine, I’m going to get up and DO SOMETHING CRAFTY”

***

The little ones were underfoot as I pulled all my stuff out of Sarah’s closet and set it up in my room.  I had Rich and Jacob bring in a table.  I put a cloth on it but I’ll be taking it back off because the fabric drags on it as I’m sewing and bothers me.  I put one of Jacob’s paintings behind the machine.  All the while, Sarah was RIGHT BY MY SIDE talking and admiring everything, she is just the darned cutest thing.

Really, I credit God for everything good that happens in my life, including the very smallest of situations like the sewing machine ACTUALLY working after being in the closet (not even in a box) for so long.  THE TENSION WAS EVEN PERFECT…..I set up the ironing board and set to work with the four quilt scraps that I had bought at an antique shop a few months back.  I ironed them, arranged them, and then sewed them together.

I used a nice piece of fabric from my box for the back of the pillow.  Seth and Sarah enthusiastically stuffed the stuffing in it while I held on tight.

I love it.

I read books on it.

I wish whoever began the quilt could know that I made it into something!  We did it together and she doesn’t even know.

***

Last night I found Grace and Sammie reading a book on the ipad.

I made the big boys match socks.

And they both chatted on Facebook while they did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning Seth said to me, “Mom I need these so I don’t have to listen what you say.”

Thanksgiving morning.  My three youngest helped me tear the bread into little pieces for the stuffing.

I was a little worried about the day; hoping that I would have the right attitude and energy for a warm family gathering.

It was the best Thanksgiving ever.  I praise God for that.

***

I was surprised by a double yolk.  David told me to leave it the way it was and he ate it himself at dinner time.

All of the children helped me; here’s Ethan doing the carrots and dip.

My big beautiful new addition!  There is another table to the far right, and one on the far left (not seen in photo) under the window for the food.

Mom and Dad arrived at around 12.

My brother Nate was given the important task of getting the heavy bird out of the oven…..it was 25 pounds, so with the stuffing it was even heavier.  We were all nervous.

He’s smiling because he had pretended to drop it!

Dad said it was one of the moistest turkeys he ever had.  It was a butterball and I roasted it in an oven bag.

Brother Isaac taking a photo of the pies in sunshine.

Abbie and Grace, and Jason hiding behind the flowers.

It’s really hard to take a good picture of these two, when they’re together they get silly!  Abbie’s birthday was Wednesday so now they are both teenagers.

Rich carving the turkey.  Nate making sure he does it right.

Seth was asking me if he could have soda.  Look at that face, of course I said “yes”.

Dad and sister Amanda

deviled eggs, seafood salad, orange tapioca salad.

mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, squash, stuffing, salad, rolls, and Sarah in the high chair.

I had no appetite after cooking all morning but managed to eat all this.

My nephews, Gregory and Weston.

Caleb with my nieces Makayla and Naomi

Brother Isaac sat in the rocking chair.

It was wonderful to have space for everyone in our new room.

Right after dinner the little ones went outside for fresh air.  I took this picture through the window, just before poor Seth fell down the hill.  He was okay.

Mom and Dad spent the night and left on Friday.

Seth.  I had to pin his arms down, and then booted him off my lap.

With my dad.

With my parents.

So much to be thankful for.

And now we move gracefully on into the Christmas season.

Please pray for my friend Hannah, it’s her birthday today and she’s an hour from being induced for delivering her sixth baby!

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving