Wednesday, January 21, 2009

For the Love of Aprons

It's not secret that I love aprons! The girls and I wear aprons almost every day.

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Not only do aprons fulfill the practical purpose of keeping clothing clean, they also have so many other practical uses:

  • they are handy for wiping tears from little faces. : (
  • super for carrying home eggs from the chicken coop.
  • pockets are always available to stash the random pieces of "life" that I find when picking up around the house.
  • handy for giving a haircut! (Tom has even been known to wear one of my pretty floral aprons to cut the boys' hair!)
  • I love to wear a full apron when working on starting my little seedlings as the dirt can easily be contained that way.
  • I almost always wear an apron when I am working with our animals on our little homestead.
  • super for gardening. I have plans to make a new gardening apron for this year that can readily hold some of my more necessary tools.
Aprons somehow make me feel more "professional" in whatever domestic job I am doing. They are both practical and feminine; but more importantly, they speak positively of the domesticity that I have embraced as I serve my family. Pretty aprons tell my family and anyone else who stops by that I am very happily employed as "mommy" to my brood.

Are you interested in learning to sew? Aprons are a super-easy introduction to sewing. Here are some helpful links to free online patterns for aprons! Look here and here for lots of wonderful patterns!

I love this idea for a "gathering apron!" Definitely an idea that I want to modify and use here this spring/summer!

Look at these unique aprons that my dear Mother-in-law made for the girls and I!

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Here's another picture of Abbie holding one of the aprons so you can get a better idea of the unique design. Plus, I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but they are reversible too, with pockets on both sides! Fun!

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For some additional apron inspiration, check out these books! The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel.

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and the book Apronisms, also by EllyAnne.


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Plus another sweet little gem that I accidently ran across at our library,
Ma Dear's Aprons by Patricia C. McKissack

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Hope that gave you some apron inspiration! Have fun serving your family~ beautifully!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Gaining Perspective

I'll admit it. The last few days have been trying for me. My heart aches with concern for someone I love.

This seems to make my normally optimistic outlook quite gray. My heart feels like winter right now.


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Today was as full as could be... my time gratefully filled with homeschooling our ten children who are still home.

Self-pity began to creep in by dinnertime though. In each room was evidence of an active family, home all day, living life fully. Shoes and coat here, papers there, my scissors left out for the dozenth time, it seemed.

"What, another mess?" I thought.

"Children, please play quietly," I admonished gently... tears, forming in my eyes. "Oh for a few quiet minutes!" I allowed myself to whine inwardly.

My quiet minutes arrived after dinner when the children and I sat down for some time together in God's Word.

Truly His Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12)

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Tonight we were reading in 2 Corinthians.

2Co 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Yes, even Paul was perplexed and even discouraged at times. 2 Cor 4:7 reminds us that

"we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;"

Yes. The surpassing greatness is in Him, definitely not in me.

Winter is good. The times when I am "afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within." (2 Cor 7:5) are for my good when they are orchestrated by God, when I choose to renew my thinking by spending time in the Word rather than by relying on my own reasoning.

Spring will come again. Look what, even now is blooming in my kitchen window;

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The only boasting I desire to do is in my weaknesses. Truly I have many. But thanks be to God, "His grace is sufficient for me" (2 Cor 12:9) and for you too.

My loving and gentle admonition is this: do not neglect time in God's Word, either alone or with your precious family. God's grace be with you all!

Lovingly,
Susan

Gaining Perspective

I'll admit it. The last few days have been trying for me. My heart aches with concern for someone I love.

This seems to make my normally optimistic outlook quite gray. My heart feels like winter right now.


IMG_0435

Today was as full as could be... my time gratefully filled with homeschooling our ten children who are still home.

Self-pity began to creep in by dinnertime though. In each room was evidence of an active family, home all day, living life fully. Shoes and coat here, papers there, my scissors left out for the dozenth time, it seemed.

"What, another mess?" I thought.

"Children, please play quietly," I admonished gently... tears, forming in my eyes. "Oh for a few quiet minutes!" I allowed myself to whine inwardly.

My quiet minutes arrived after dinner when the children and I sat down for some time together in God's Word.

Truly His Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12)

IMG_0471

Tonight we were reading in 2 Corinthians.

2Co 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Yes, even Paul was perplexed and even discouraged at times. 2 Cor 4:7 reminds us that

"we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;"

Yes. The surpassing greatness is in Him, definitely not in me.

Winter is good. The times when I am "afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within." (2 Cor 7:5) are for my good when they are orchestrated by God, when I choose to renew my thinking by spending time in the Word rather than by relying on my own reasoning.

Spring will come again. Look what, even now is blooming in my kitchen window;

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The only boasting I desire to do is in my weaknesses. Truly I have many. But thanks be to God, "His grace is sufficient for me" (2 Cor 12:9) and for you too.

My loving and gentle admonition is this: do not neglect time in God's Word, either alone or with your precious family. God's grace be with you all!

Lovingly,
Susan

Monday, January 19, 2009

A Daybook Entry

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Each Monday I plan to join with Peggy from the The Simple Woman and many others who are celebrating the joy of simplicity. Here's a peek into my life right now...

FOR TODAY (January 19, 2009)...

Outside my window...
dark now... I intended to write this earlier, but the day was full of other needful responsibilities, so I am stealing a few minutes to write now.

I am thinking... of the need for my heart and very life to praise God, even (and mostly) when I feel least like it. Something happened over the weekend that made my heart very heavy and grieved me deeply.

The Lord used my little boys to convict me this morning. As I walked into the school room I could hear them sweetly (and spontaneously) singing "turn your eyes to Jesus, turn your eyes to Jesus, He cares for you!" Yes! Thank You Lord. Is that what You meant in Heb. 13:15? " Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." Sometimes praise is a sacrifice, isn't it?

I am thankful for...

the godly saints who have gone before us. I draw great strength and find myself challenged by the heroes of the faith both that I have been privileged to meet personally and those whom I have only "met" in books.

From the learning rooms… we are continuing to work on all of our "normal" school subjects, plus extra work on our new scripture memory challenge... 1 Timothy.

From the kitchen... not sure what I'll be making later this week, but tomorrow will probably be soup and cornbread, plus I would like to can some chili beans. I love having those on hand.

I am wearing... black workout capris and pink t-shirt. I needed to get my workout in this evening as it didn't happen earlier with school responsibilities and taking the children to piano lessons.

I am creating... clothing for a trip that Tom and I get to take in a few weeks!

I am going... to bed soon! : )

I am reading... 1 Timothy, plus today we were reading aloud 1 Corinthians. Aaah, the riches of God's Word! Truly the best time of our day is spent together in the Word.

Also I am looking a neat idea book for photo display, Photos Style Recipes. I believe this was originally published for Pottery Barn. Some pretty neat ideas for getting photos out to be enjoyed. Definitely going to implement some of these ideas.

I am hoping... to remember to "turn my eyes to Jesus."

I am hearing... Lucy, our large Mastiff, snoring by the woodburning stove, and that's it. All's quiet now after a very full and busy day here.

One of my favorite things... laughter, especially from the youngest members of our household. Timothy has the most wonderful spontaneous laugh right now. True and total delight in the simplest things.

A few plans for the rest of the week... school work, starting seeds, some sewing and photography too...

Here is picture thought I am sharing... we have a new baby goat! Here the little guy is, with Abbie, searching for more milk! "Where is that bottle," he wonders.

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Monday, January 12, 2009

A Daybook Entry

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Each Monday I plan to join with Peggy from the The Simple Woman and many others who are celebrating the joy of simplicity. Here's a peek into my life right now...

FOR TODAY (January 12, 2009)...

Outside my window...
dark, dark, dark, and windy too! I intended to begin this post this morning, but we had a busy (and profitable) day, so here I am at 8 pm!

I am thinking... of gardening. It is time for us to begin planning the spring/summer garden. I will be inventorying my seeds in the next few days and deciding what to order for this year. Fun!

I am thankful for...

our little 6 acre farm! We are able to do so many things here~ gardening, plus we have dairy goats and chickens too. I feel super blessed to live here. It is our little "splotch" of country right in the city!

From the learning rooms… hard at work on all of the regular school subjects. I thought it would be more difficult to get going again after Christmas break, but the children are doing a good job learning diligence, among other things!

From the kitchen... tonight was an easy dinner... baked potatoes with choice of toppings, either broccoli (which my children love!), or taco meat, or both! I definitely am not a gourmet cook, but I do strive for healthy, yummy and inexpensive!

I am wearing... floral overalls, white long-sleeved cotton shirt and white keds. Feminine and comfy too!

I am creating... garden plans, new laundry room plans, plans for a new quilt for Tom and I's bed, plus still working on finishing some sewing begun several weeks ago for the girls and I.

I am going... to stay home this week! My favorite plan of all. I really do delight in all there is to do here. When I am gone I feel that I miss out on so much... it is easy for the house to become disorderly and I do not have time for the "fun" part of homemaking... the creative aspect of it. I do miss *creating* and find that when I am too busy for that my life really lacks some sparkle.

I am reading... and meditating on 1 Timothy. We are still working diligently on memorizing the book. We are currently up to 1 Tim 4: 5-9. This has been a super challenge for me, but I can't even begin to tell you the delight I have found in this discipline of my mind. I say this *not* to "brag" in any sense, but to encourage.... if I can do this, *anyone* can! The best part is that the Lord uses His Word to change me, to challenge me and to prompt me to pray~ all based on the truth of His Word.

I am hoping... that we will still get some decent snows this winter! I know, many would think I am addled for that wish, but the children have so much fun in the snow, plus it is good for the plants which are overwintering. We simply haven't had very much snow yet!

I am hearing... lots of giggling as Tom plays a card game with some of the boys in the living room. They love playing games with their Daddy!

Around the house... Everything is getting "buttoned up" for the night... we are piling wood by the wood stove for the rest of the evening, feeding the dogs and I will do one final cleaning of the kitchen soon before I go to bed. I will probably throw in one more load of wash too ( it is not a good thing for me to get behind on that!)

One of my favorite things... Seeing the house all straightened up before bed. It doesn't stay that way for long with ten children still here at home, but I do find delight in "everything in it's place" when it is in it's place!

A few plans for the rest of the week: as I mentioned above... garden planning, sewing, completing our new laundry room so we can move the washers and driers out there, plus a full week of school thrown in for good measure too!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

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Friday, January 9, 2009

Thoughts on Faithfulness and Scripture Memory

Tom, the children and I are continuing to work on memorizing 1 Timothy. Quite honestly, the children do a much better job than I, but I continue to work on this, knowing that even my slower progress is beneficial. It is helpful for me to have the verses portable, so I can carry them with me wherever I go throughout the house or even when driving in the car. ( I have found some additional resources for scripture memory that I will try to post over the weekend, as time allows.)

One of the verses that has particularly stood out to me as I have meditated on the verses that we are memorizing is this:

1Timothy 1:12 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service."

What does it mean to be faithful? For a super interesting and encouraging study, look up what God's
Word has to say about the word "faithfulness." You can simply use a concordance, such as is found in the back of most Bibles, but my favorite way to look up lots of verses very quickly, is to use e-Sword. E-Sword is a free, super-powerful Bible study software that you can download here.

For most of us, I believe, faithfulness consists of doing many "mundane" tasks with joy and in a timely manner. Very few of us will ever be well-known, nor will our service be noticed by many other than our family and, of course, the Lord. I am sure though that we are pleasing the Lord as we cook and clean,

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serve our husbands, and instruct our children,

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managing our homes well. When I gently comfort a child rather than being irritated by the unwelcome interruption to my schedule, this is good. Healthy, frugal meals served with joy are a delight, not only to my family, but, I believe, to the Lord as well.

Consider the following quote that I read on Holy Experience.

No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow.

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It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards,

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and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God.

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If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) Scottish Preacher


Warmly,

Susan

Monday, January 5, 2009

A Daybook Entry

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Each Monday I plan to join with Peggy from the The Simple Woman and many others who are celebrating the joy of simplicity. Here's a peek into my life right now...

FOR TODAY (January 5, 2009)...

Outside my window...
the sun is up other places around here, I am sure, but in the valley we live in, it has yet to crest the hill behind our home,. It does appear that we will have a brisk, sunny day here. Glad for the heat from our woodburning stove on a cold morning. Brrrrr

I am thinking... of the need to impart a desire to reach out and minister to other people to our children. It can be so easy to be happy here within the confines of our home and forget about the great needs that surround us.

I am thankful for...

Timothy being healthy again! He developed pneumonia last Monday! Praise God for modern antibiotics~ he is doing great now.

From the learning rooms… back to school this week. Nate leaves tomorrow to go back to basic training with the Army, and I will be completing lesson plans today and tomorrow so we can begin on school once again on Wednesday. It will be good for all of us to be back in a routine again. The break has been great, but too much free time for the children can create a "bicker-fest," if you know what I mean! LOL!

From the kitchen... I am thinking something warm.... some sort of soup and perhaps I will make some bread bowls too; I haven't done that in a long time. I also plan to make a big stack of whole wheat tortillas today or tomorrow for use later this week. Hmmmm, perhaps we will have Mexican instead tonight. I definitely need to complete my menu plans for the next few weeks too.

I am wearing... a brown floral corduroy skirt, burgundy top, jean jacket, clogs, etc.

I am creating... lesson plans, and perhaps a little bit of sewing that I have not had opportunity to work on over Christmas break.

I am going... to City Union Mission with Tom and some of the older children this morning. CUM is a local ministry that reaches out to homeless men in our city here. Tom preaches there two times a month there and we sometimes go along to sing, etc.

I am reading... and memorizing 1 Timothy with the children. This is a challenge for my little brain, but it is so worth it. Plus the time discussing God' Word with the children is so rich.

I am hoping... to use my time wisely during today and tomorrow before we begin school again. There are so many things I could be doing... my desire is to spend my time as the Lord would desire me to.

I am hearing... Fernando Ortega music playing in the kitchen, Hannah and Daniel having a discussion about forks~ seriously! We have an unusual assortment of forks that have been given to us at different times~ some with four tines (the preferred ones) and some with three tines ( the ones that no one wants to use)~ but we are grateful for all of them, as long as they get the food to our mouth! LOL!

Around the house... Still planning to do a little post Christmas organizing and rearranging in the next few days. The Christmas things are all put away now, but it is nice to spruce up and rearrange the "normal" decorations in new ways. Praying for some creativity here.

One of my favorite things... busy days to serve my family and my precious Savior. Hot chocolate is good too!

A few plans for the rest of the week: school, school and school! Plus some laughter and fun sprinkled about for good measure! Check back later this week for some thoughts I plan to share on "joy."

Here is picture thought I am sharing... here's Mr. Timothy, our little guy who had pneumonia earlier this week~ I am so grateful for all of the dear ones that we have been blessed with here.

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Thursday, January 1, 2009

One Little Word

One of my favorite scrapbooking bloggers, Ali Edwards has proposed the wonderful idea of choosing one word to focus on during the coming year. This word can be whatever you want... probably something that summarizes areas that you desire to focus on this coming year. There are so many possibilities! I am considering the words INTENTIONAL, FOCUS and PAUSE. Not all of them, of course! I will make my final decision in the next few days.

Look here for a list of One Little Word ideas. I'm sure that you could come up with equally wonderful additional words.

Finally, a photo for you of some super-cute little boys! Aren't Jon and Daniel adorable?

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Happy 2009 plus Scripture Memory

My oh my have we had a full week since Christmas here! Somehow we contracted an upper respiratory "bug" and it has systematically attacked almost each of the 13 family members who are currently living at home now. Then, this last Monday, little Tim, the "baby" of our family, awoke with a particularity icky sounding cough. We are rarely sick, certainly almost never have to go to the doctor, but I knew that this cough needed to be checked out. So we took him in to see our family doctor. Poor little guy had pneumonia! Can you imagine?

Anyway, after several days of antibiotics and back-and-forth trips to our wonderful doctor, Timmy is on the mend. I am so grateful to the Lord for His care in our lives, and for modern antibiotics~ they do have their place!

It was a trying and full week, with lots of little ones who needed their "momma." When we are in the midst of a season like that, it is my desire to wholeheartedly embrace God's change in plans for me and joyfully serve (and hug and love and hold) my little guys. They quickly reach an age when they don't want to sit on my lap.

Following is a post that I had begun multiple times in my mind this past week, but now am finally having time to post. I do hope it is an encouragement to you.

A Worthwhile Pursuit

I would like to share with you a resource that Tom recently discovered. It is a plan to memorize the whole New Testament in five years! Wouldn’t that be a fabulous accomplishment?

I recently read the following quote: “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Isn’t that telling? What do you wish you had begun (and stuck with) last January 1st? Things like losing weight and becoming fit certainly do hold some value for this life. (It is good to stay fit in order to serve the Lord and our family as we best may)

I would propose though, that there are pursuits that hold greater value. Memorizing God’s Word is a pursuit with eternal significance, holding value for both today and for eternity.

Please don’t tell me that you “can’t memorize scripture,” or that you simply aren’t “smart” enough to attempt this. When our children were younger we began memorizing God’s Word with them, initially using a topical memory system. This was effective, but we soon decided to begin to memorize scripture in context, whole chapters at a time.

I was shocked to discover that not only could even our younger children could accomplish this (I'm talking two and three-year-olds!), but I could too! To put it nicely, scripture memory has always been a “challenge” for me…. Ok, I was terrible at scripture memory. I tried many different systems, but what we do now works!

Here’s how we do this. I simply use spiral-bound 3” x 5” index cards. (These can be purchased at Wal Mart or other office supply store. I usually put one, or sometimes two verses per page. Here's a picture of some of the past booklets that we have worked on.

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This little scripture memory book usually follows me around all day. When we work together with the children, I try to make it fun. We like to make up actions for the significant words in each verse. Sometimes we use actual sign language for the words, but more frequently the children like to make up motions. It is amazing how putting motions to the words helps all of us remember the verses we are working on.

This, though, will be a new challenge for us. It requires memorizing about 5 verses/day. Here's a link to the page that tells how to go about this, plus it includes info on reading through the New Testament each month of the year. What do you think? Is anyone else up for the challenge? : )

I've already almost got my five verses for today memorized!

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