food for thought

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Shanda

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they simply are!

Think of the sea,

the air,

the sun,

the stars and the moon—all these things are, and what a ministration they exert.

So often we mar God’s designed influence through us by our self-conscious effort to be consistent and useful.

Jesus says there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentration on God. ‘Do not worry about being of use to others; believe on Me’—pay attention to the Source, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. We cannot get at the springs of our natural life by common sense, and Jesus is teaching that growth in spiritual life does not depend on our watching it, but on concentration on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows the circumstances we are in, and if we keep concentrated on Him we will grow spiritually as the lilies.

The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and uneffectedly. Those are the lives that mold us.

If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.”

~Oswald Chambers

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which if you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:25-29)

“Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:32b, 33)

(I should not worry about my spiritual life or my neighbor’s spiritual life, either! God knows our soul needs and knows the way He will lead us. He will supply our spiritual food and drink as well as our body’s food and drink. If I seek first His kingdom and righteousness, all of our soul needs will be supplied!)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20, 21

Consider the graceful fern in the woods, with the sunlight shining on it

Consider the flowers by the lake, so beautiful and lovely. They simply are.

Consider the bright flower in a field, with a butterfly resting upon it. Our Father made these things!

For His glory!

And that is why He made you and I.

For His glory!

Just be yourself. In Christ. Rest in Him. Trust in Him.

muddy boots

Posted on March 6, 2008 by Shanda

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace have been outside almost all day. They even ate lunch out there. I’m looking out the window right now and I see Grace and Jacob riding their bikes back from the dam and Ethan running with their bag of picnic food. The picnic is over, apparently. It’s a springlike day with bright sunshine.

I went out for a little bit with David and Caleb. I have struggles when I take them out; keeping track of David is tough, he goes all over the place, and at 5 years old, is still not able to be sensible when it comes to danger. His biggest fault is disappearing back into the house without me seeing him go. Very Irritating indeed. Caleb needs constant help, so I am usually holding his hand and yelling to David to either wait up or catch up.

Today we looked at the stream for a while. By the way, when I was growing up we called it a “creek” –pronounced “crick”. Does anyone else pronounce it that way? I live in a different area now, and no one, that I know of, says “crick” so we say “stream” to be on the safe side. After we watched the water for a while (and Grace surprised me by asking if she could go swimming in it!!!!) we decided to go for a walk to the dam. David brought along a ball and bat.

Not too far into the walk, Caleb got ahead of me and walked into some mud. Ethan tried to help him, got his feet stuck, dropped Caleb, and lost his shoes. Caleb was so mad. He was covered from the backside down with black icy cold mud. I had all the kids around me and we all wondered what to do? I ended up running back to the house to get a new pair of pants for him, socks, and a pair of Grace’s old boots. Ethan had to come as well, to get some dry boots on. I think his sneakers are still in the black mud.

Here I am, changing Caleb’s pants, socks, and shoes. Jacob took the picture.

These are the moments (I’ve had lots and lots like this) that have made me a “for the most part” patient mommy.

He did a good job at holding onto his sticks during the wardrobe change. LOL

It took me a while to get the boots on his feet! Isn’t he cute?

Eventually we got him all set (his dirty pants and shoes are still in the woods, oops) and arrived at the dam.

The boys played some ball.

I joined in.

And Grace aired out her wet boots and curled up in the sunshine. She was listening to the birds.

Now that I’m back inside (and the 4 older kids are jumping on the trampoline) I am going to continue with laundry and cleaning. I also wanted to write a few letters. Caleb is watching a Thomas video and looking sleepier and sleepier. Rich is coming home early so that he can take me to the DMV to renew my driver’s license. I still intend to teach the kids school, too. I’ve been so busy lately, it’s no wonder I’m usually sound asleep by 9:30. Last night I fell asleep on the couch before 9. Busy days full of all kinds of adventure!

Today is special because it feels like spring. We’ve been pretty much stuck in the house and it felt good to get outside. Makes me look forward to when warm weather comes to stay.

I just checked on the little one and he was doing this:

Naptime!

Happy Birthday

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Shanda

10 years ago I gave birth to my 2nd son

Yep! Ethan is 10 years old today.

I’m having a hard time processing that number.

I have two children in double digits now.

Ethan’s personality is pure sweetness. He’s so sweet I worry about him. LOL

This morning, I gave him a long hug and his hands pat pat patted my back the whole time.

We gave him a huge “lego police station” set and he’s been at work putting it together for several hours.

I did drag him away for a few photos, however.

Ethan was born at 6:48pm

He was 6 pounds and 7 oz, 19 inches long

His first 10 years went by so fast. I suppose his next 10 years will, too.

I’m just along for the ride, and I like it. I enjoy watching Ethan grow.

Ethan’s Special Mashed Potatoes

5 pounds pototoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup sour cream
2 pkgs (3 oz each) cream cheese, softened
3 T. butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Boil potatoes 20-25 minutes, until very tender, drain.
In large mixing bowl, mash potatoes. Add sour cream, cream cheese,
butter, salt, onion salt, and pepper; beat until fluffy.

Transfer to a greased 2 quart baking dish. Dot with butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Yield: 8 servings

Edit (more pictures)

Well, I took E to the store to pick out junk food. Then, we came home and invited friends over. It was quite a fun day. We even all went outside. It’s almost 8pm now, and I just put the kids to bed full of cookies, candy, soda, chips, ice cream, and cake. Oh yeah, they had dinner, too. Rich wasn’t here for the candles, which is so sad, but he was here for breakfast. He has a meeting tonight after church and will be home later. He wants Ethan to wait up for him so they can spend time together. So, after I get done here, I will be going to the livingroom to hang out with my new 10 year old.

If you go back to last year’s post you will see the same group of kids. Fun to see how much they grow in a year. Grace is WILD here, and Caleb is pant-less.

Without my husband at cake time, I had to delegate jobs to the kids. Jacob was in charge of candles.

When I looked at the pictures after we were all done with cake, I noticed that Ethan ended up with 11 candles instead of 10. The perfectionist in me feels uncomfortable with that. LOL

11 candles!

Time for pj’s and tv with Ethan. Good night all!

snacktime

Posted on March 3, 2008 by Shanda

Once upon a time, last Friday afternoon, Mama bear’s tummy started to growl. She was hungry for a snack. In fact, to be perfectly honest, she was having a craving for chocolate.

She wanted chocolate cake with creamy frosting. But when she checked the cupboards, she found none.

(none)

She thought about making her own cake but she had no energy.

(none at all)

Then she decided to have some Ben and Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. But when she checked the freezer, she found none.

(none)

Then she dreamed of Godiva chocolates. But that was only a dream.

(a day dream)

She looked and she looked and finally she found something that might possibly satisfy her craving. It was Nutella. Every good Mama bear buys her cubs animal crackers, so she got those out, too. Then she got a knife.

Her five bear cubs of various sizes were busy in the other room, playing games, so Mama bear sat cross legged on the couch, turned on the news, and ate animal cracker after animal cracker, all spread thick with creamy, chocolaty Nutella.

Soon Mama bear was beginning to feel full. But she recklessly kept on eating anyway. Then, along came her baby bear cub. He wanted his Mama to share and so she did, happily. She started making baby bear his own crackers w/Nutella. Baby bear had some organizational skills and so he lined them all up like this:

Mama bear decided to eat one of Baby bear’s crackers. But this made Baby bear very mad.

Not only did he take it back, he also made himself a new one.

Mama bear was starting to feel very silly from all that sugar. So she decided to do some decorating.

She decided to start with Baby bear’s itty bitty nose.

And then, she decorated Baby bear’s favorite choo-choo, the dirty ink-faced James.

Mama bear’s tummy was round and full when she finally got up and brushed the crumbs off her shirt. She twirled the tops back on the cookie jar and the Nutella and looked at the clock.

Hopefully her chocolate fix and silly mood would last through the next few hours, until Big Papa bear came home. Although she was a bear, she tried hard not to act like one. It was very difficult to keep herself from growling at times.

Chocolate seemed to help with attitude and endurance problems and so Mama bear got back to work, feeling much better after her snack. She was a Very Busy Mama, but no mama should ever too busy for chocolate.

The End

compliments to the chef (?)

Posted on March 2, 2008 by Shanda

I’ve been chuckling over this since dinner time. I made steak and the kids do NOT like any redness in their steak. I cooked it “well-done” just for them. After I served them all, I sat down in the livingroom w/Rich and a little while later we overheard these dramatic words from Ethan:

“Oh this steak!!! I’ve been chewing it for hours! Just one piece! It’s gum!! Everlasting gum!”

If that’s not insulting I don’t know what is! LOL

happiness

Posted on March 2, 2008 by Shanda

“Often we set our minds on some one thing we think will make us happy–a husband, children, a particular job, or even a ‘ministry’–and refuse to open our eyes to God’s better way. In fact, some believe so strongly that only ‘this thing’ can bring happiness, that they reject the Lord Jesus Himself. Happiness is not found in marriage; or work; or ministry; or children. Happiness is only found by being secure in Jesus.”

~Corrie Ten Boom

“My heart trusted in Him. . .and with my song will I praise Him.” Psalm 28:7

free to be

Posted on March 1, 2008 by Shanda

Take

time

from

doing

enjoy

being

yup, this is what we woke up to this morning.

I ate my breakfast while walking through the woods. My bran muffin tasted great with snowflakes on it.

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Shanda

What inspires me at home:

the color yellow

the color green

the color red

clothelines

cool knobs

fiesta ware

hammocks

beautiful beds

baskets

tins

crystals (the ones that dangle from chandeliers)

flowers dropping over, half wilted, in a vase

old canning jars

wooden floors, no matter how beat up

rustic benches

quilts

small outside buildings

tire swings

big trees

peonies

sandbox for the kids

open cupboard doors

hooks down low for the kids

lotsa books

blankets

wooden rocking chairs

big comfy chairs

chipped paint

old tin cans used as a vase

bowls of fruit or nuts

wooden crates

hat boxes

my porch

mismatched chairs around the kitchen table….all painted a different color

a tablecloth on the picnic table

braided rugs

cats/kittens

a piano

robin’s egg blue

collections

baby girl’s small baby dresses, hanging up on the wall

rustic wreaths

mirror

colorful throw pillows

a yellow front door

glass storage containers

old suitcases (look cool and are great for storage, I don’t even care if they smell old)

framed photographs

my kids toys in every room

Weston came for a visit

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Shanda

To all you moms out there. . .remember that “my baby is one month old and I’m in an under-water haze of exhaustion” feeling?

That’s how my sister Amanda woke up yesterday. . .after a month of little sleep. . .a newborn to take care of, a not-quite 2 year old, and an 8 year old. Her husband Jason was home for a few weeks but now she’s adjusting to him being back to work. It’s so hard to have a newborn! Yet, so delightful as well!

Anyway, she did the right thing yesterday and came to big sister’s house for the day. I was shocked when I was in taking a shower and David ran in yelling, “Aunt Amanda’s here!!!” and then ran right back out.

The kids and I were so happy to see her (and the 1 dozen dunkin donuts that she brought) and we all enjoyed holding Weston and spending time with Naomi. After we visited for a little bit, I sent Amanda to bed for a nap and I sat at the table with the new baby in my arms, 4 kids around the table, and 2 playing on the floor. Naomi made me smile a lot because she kept calling me “MOM”. Much easier than “Aunt Shanda”, I suppose.

Of course I took advantage of the day and took some more photos of the baby.

David was so quiet when he held Weston. He only used a whisper to talk and was very annoyed with Caleb and Naomi, who were as noisy as ever.

Grace was absolutely smitten.

Those arms just get me. The fists. The elbows. So darling.

Aunt Shanda made him have “tummy time” and isn’t he cute, this is as far up he could get his head. I love it! He was bobbing up and down and making those funny noises.

Grace took these:

He’s smiling in my arms. He thinks Aunt Shanda is funny.

He weighs over 7 pounds now!

hope

Posted on February 28, 2008 by Shanda

I woke right up thinking about God this morning. My heart and soul long for the day when I finally get to see Jesus and be in heaven with all other believers. “Oh that will be glory for me!” as the hymn says. I know if I died today I would have precious family members there to meet me, “but I long to see my Saviour first of all.”

Have you ever just closed your eyes and imagined what it would be like to see Jesus for the first time? I am convinced that his eyes will be full of love, compassion, and understanding. He knows me, “he remembereth that I am dust”, He is merciful. He has perfect love toward His own.

This morning I was thinking about Jesus’ last words on earth. After 30+ years of earthly ministry, He was leaving! But what did He say? “. . .lo, I am with you alway, even until the end of the world.” He last words on earth were full of comfort.

He is with me always! Always!

I’ve also been thinking a lot about my Bible. What a precious treasure it is! I just finished a book about 5 men who were shipwrecked on a deserted island. They had a Bible with them and my heart was pierced when I read that when they were on the verge of collapse from discouragement, they read the Bible to one another until they were comforted.

Do you remember when Corrie Ten Boom and her sister were taken to a concentration camp for hiding Jews in their home during the war against Hitler? All their earthly possessions boiled down to one thing.. . .the one item that they wanted, NEEDED more than any other.. . .was their Bible. The story is beautiful. Corrie was able to enter the camp (despite being strip-searched!) with her Bible, through a miracle of God.

“And so it was that when we were herded into that room ten minutes later; we were not poor, but rich–rich in the care of Him who was God even of Ravensbruck.” (the concentration camp)

“So Betsie and I came to our barracks at Ravensbruck. Before long we were holding clandestine Bible study groups for an ever-growing group of believers, and Barracks 28 became known throughout the camp as ‘the crazy place, where they hope.’” ~Corrie Ten Boom

Our Bible gives us hope! Hope in any circumstance!

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

I have two Bibles! Two! I feel rich. And ashamed, because so many times I wonder where my hope is, when I haven’t even read my Bible in days. . . . . . .

“I have a wonderful treasure!
A gift of God without measure.
And so we travel together,
my Bible and I.”