Ways of Zion

2012-02-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

Slow

oh ever so slow

We have no car. Suffice it to say that the weekend involved Strep throat. Car in the ditch. Weekend crazy gathering.

so this week it seems that every day is going so slowly. Its not that I don't have things to do.

Wash the floors
Bake Bread
Bake Muffins for hungry munchkins
Read that silly book "one more time"
Sort a bazillion loads of laundry
Scrub the toilets
Put away the bazillion loads of laundry
Clean my desk (again for the hundredth time)
Put all the left over stuff from the gathering downstairs
Try to discover my sons bed, or at least open the door!
Set up Crib
Empty all that random stuff out of the playpen

etc

etc

etc

all thrilling and mind stimulating stuff right? Yeah I know there is a huge pity party going on here. So positive focus time.

Baby is sleeping (no caffeine=no colic! who knew?)
Monkey is sweet and not annoying today
Kitchen is actually clean
Dinner is half done (its only 2pm!)
We have clothing to wear (the positive to all that laundry)
Kids are healthy (for the first time this winter they are all healthy at the SAME TIME~!)
Antibiotics..............amazing wee yellow & red things..........really
Car only needs a new front grill & tire (huge amount of snow in ditch=nearly no damage)
Nerves are back to normal after said car thingy
Fresh snow falling
Grocery shopping and only forgetting 2 things (last night)
Good Amish book from library (now if only I can find it)
Blackberry caffeine free vanilla tea :-)

Monkey is currently emptying all the books from the lowest shelf in the study.....times up!

Until next random moment
L

2012-02-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

Next Week's Menu

Monday: Easy Italian stew (Kraft slow cooker recipe)

Tuesday: Beef (leftovers) & Veggie (Cabbage, Bok Choy, Onions & grated carrots) Stir Fry over brown & wild rice

Wednesday: Veggie Stew

Thursday: BBQ Chicken & Garden Salad & Brown & wild rice

Friday: Mince with Peas & roasted potatoes

Saturday: Dinner at Gathering

Sunday: Orange Chicken Slow Cooker meal

2012-01-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

Cabbage

Yes, this post is named "Cabbage". Have you ever given this purple or green veggie much thought? If I told you that they have proven that the group of foods that it belongs to actively discovers and destroys deformed cells, including cancerous ones, would you sit up and take note?

We have.

Starting this week we will be eating one or more veggie from this group (with a fancy name that I can't be bothered to look up in my rush right now) at every lunch and dinner.

Off the top of my head this includes:
broccoli (mainly the stem)
cauliflower
turnip
rutabaga
cabbage
bok choy
Swiss chard
kohlrabi
& a couple I can't remember

so on that note here is our Menu for this week:
Monday: Veggie stew (carrots, 2 potatoes, 2 parsnips, grated purple & green cabbage- 1 C each), zucchini, tomato

Tuesday: Veggie (carrots, purple cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, onion, mushrooms) & chicken stir fry over brown & wild rice mix

Wednesday: Veggie (grated carrots, grated purple cabbage, broccoli, onion & tomato) omelet with maple bacon (oven cooked for less grease) & roasted potatoes

Thursday: Beef roast, roasted root veggies (toss together potatoes, parsnips, carrots with 1 Tbs olive oil and garlic & red pepper seasoning) & broccoli & cauliflower

Friday: Burgers with coleslaw (purple, green cabbage & carrots) and tossed garden salad (lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli & grated carrots)

Saturday: Beef (leftovers) & veggie stir fry (same veggies as Tuesday)

Sunday: Crock pot meal of sausage, green cabbage, carrots & potatoes. Apple Pie

Happy Cooking!

2012-01-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Snow,

Blissful, white , pure snow!

Finally we have our winter snow. True its only a few inches but enough for the monkeys to play in. Yesterday school closed for the afternoon and i was secretly pleased. It is such fun to all curl up together and enjoy the snow day TOGETHER!

Snow people, snow forts, snow tag, snow paths, snow shovelling. It all was happening here yesterday and today will probably prove to be a repeat performance.

Hot coco. This milk free mother was really struggling with all the delicious hot coco flowing around here yesterday, so we played with Cocoa, sugar & almond milk and volia:

3 tsp Cocoa
3 tsp white sugar
1/4C almond milk
fill the rest of the large mug with boiling water

It is as thin as water but ever so yummy!

Magoo needs help with Bible marking. Princess needs help spelling & Monkey is "playing the piano" so I must run.

Until next time!

2012-01-16T18:51:00.000-08:00

Organization

is now my favourite word. Another sister commented before our fourth was born that you just had to keep doing everything that you can see needs doing when you have four. I've discovered that this is so very true! It is simply impossible to get too far ahead or to get to much ready ahead of time.

But, it is a mindset that I am so glad she pointed out to me. It has made life a lot easier and our days running smoother.

It sounds and seems so simple. Picking up the extra clothes and taking 10 or so minutes to fold and pop them into their drawers. Keeping the kitchen counters clear and wiped. Loading up the dishwasher with any dishes you find during the day. Switching over the laundry. Packing lunches the afternoon before. Crock Pot dinners.

The biggest help is actually so plain and boring. I wish I had done this more often before! Setting our breakfast the night before. Tonight there are bowls full of oats, raisins and even their spoons! So all they need to do is have Magoo pour in the milk and volia, breakfast! Empty plastic glasses wait to be filled with the water from a covered pitcher already on the table. This way I can be feeding Baby and not worry about the others getting fed as well.

Other breakfasts we've done & set out:

Muffins & piece of fruit (just put the fruit bowl on the table and they can help themselves)

Premade & frozen pancakes (to be heated by the kids in the toaster)

Fruit shakes (put out the bag of frozen fruit the night before beside the blender to thaw, add water & a couple bananas and after Mama blends it Magoo can pour it out)

Toast (set out everything, bread, peanut butter, jam, butter, honey, stack of plates & plastic knives BESIDE the toaster on the counter so everything is there for them - major time saver)

Yogurt & fruit salad (make and put in fridge fruit salad in a plastic bowl so that it isn't too heavy for one of the older 2 kids to carry from the fridge to the table)

Of course an equally important part is setting everything you can ahead of time on the table. Everything that the kids or you needs to get out in the morning adds time.

This has saved us so much stress and time in the morning. Instead of having to get up earlier to see to baby we can still stay in bed unit 7:30 and then get everyone going.....thankfully since none of us are morning people!

well, speaking of morning, its time for bed ! ! ! Till next time :-)

2012-01-13T07:32:00.001-08:00

Hello again

Oh dear, I though of something to write, but it's flown out of my mind at this second. Which probably has something to do with the fact that currently Magoo is attacking long division outloud, Monkey is "practising" piano and Princess is working on spelling while walking around on tipoes.

Enough said.

We finally have some snow. Not much, the grass is still peeping through, but enough that our winter village that is set up on the hutch no longer looks so hideously ridiculous.

Well, I haven't the foggiest about what I was going to write. Probably something important. Or amazingly brilliant. Or hilariously funny.....

Instead I'll bore you with the details of today. Banana-chocolate chip-peanut chunky waffles for breakfast. Oh wait, that ain't boring! That's delicious! we thought that snow = celebration so since we usually celebrate with food we did. The monkeys are trying to get back into the Friday home schooling routine and so far so good. Princess is nearly done and Magoo will be as soon as the martians land of Pluto!

Or he memorizes his multiplication tables.

Which ever comes first!

Poor boy!

The piano teacher should be arriving any minute and after lunch we have an adventure planned. Since the kids lost out of their holiday (flu twice & the "100 day cough") I'm aiming to do something extra fun every second Friday. Over and above the usual library visit. Of course I love the library and so do they but it's got a bit old hat.

They cannot figure out where we are going! They have guessed everything BUT the surprise. There is a huge pet store in the next big city where they even have sharks! Okay miniature ones but still, very cool. So we're going there to see all the crazy fish, birds & dogs and pick out some new ciclids. We need some more in our tank (a full tank is a happy tank) and I'm hoping they have some nice small ones because those are cheaper. AND if (huge big if) Baby is happy we will stop at Tim Hortons for a snack! Yahoo!

Our weekend is going to be packed. Study day tomorrow for the whole day, meeting & Sunday school on Sunday, and the next thing we know it'll be Monday morning again.

See you then :-)

2012-01-08T15:33:00.001-08:00

Hello to anyone still checking this.

My we have been terrible at updating haven't we!

There is hope though, Hubby got me a mini laptop so that I can work while nursing and so now I don't have to wait 10 minutes for the OLD one to boot up and finally maybe perhaps work!

We have indeed been blessed at the beginning of December with another wee girly. She looks just like Princess did as a baby and We'll just call her baby on here for now until she gains a nickname.

Like the last little girl, we have named her after a very special town in Israel which has very important themes attached to it in the Bible. We only knew of one other girl with this name, only to find out that 2 other babies were born that month in Australia that were also given that same name! So funny

Baby is sleeping in her front pouch right now, her favourite place to be other then in Mummy or Daddy's arms. Yes it kills the back after a while, but with three other olive plants to care and tend to it is essential!

So after giving ourselves a month to get used to this new reality, and the flu going through the household TWICE! We are now full of colds and ready to get back to the usual routine. Well, as much as usual is around here!

A wonderful and very special sister is still willing to drive the older to to school most of the week so that is a huge help, I cannot imagine how I would do it otherwise. School starts up again tomorrow and the 2 have enjoyed their new responsibilities of packing their lunches (with supervision) and getting their backpacks & uniforms ready for the morning. I really miss the children when they are at school, but until the day when we are up to homeschooling this is life.

I have discovered that with 4 you really need to be organized, so the weekly menu has returned to our household as well.

Monday: Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday: Chicken Burgers and Salad
Wednesday: Chickpea Tacos
Thursday: Quiche & Salad
Friday: Spaghetti with Veggie Sauce
Saturday: Veggie Stew with Herb Scones
Sunday: Sausage Bake

It's bedtime for Monkeys now so I will sign off to go and say prayers, sort laundry & collapse!

Until next time :-)

2011-09-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Monkey leans down to put her face directly in front of my Baby Belly

"Baby Sister, i found a lady bug"

"see?" (holds out said bug at my belly)

"it is redz & black and cute"

"I putting it backz now"

(mother full of joy!)

2011-09-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Weekly Menu
(Hubby will be busy with meetings all week so this is a kid focused menu!)

Monday: Whole Wheat Mac N' Cheese
Tuesday: Veggie & Cheese sandwiches
Wednesday: Eggs on Toast (with cut up fruit)
Thursday: Veggie & Cheese sandwiches
Friday: Corn Roast at a friend's house
Saturday: Chicken & veggie fajitas
Sunday: Roast with all the trimmings (potatoes, carrots, broc, peas, etc...) & Apple Crisp with English Custard sauce (can we say company coming?!?)

2011-08-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Countdown is On....

In 1 week our 2 oldest will be heading off to school again. As I'm typing we can hear the clanging of backpacks, pencil cases & lunch bags in the washing machine getting their "back to school" bath. I've heard so many mothers gleeful about the fact that soon they will have more free time and less kids bugging them all day. But I never enjoy this time of year. We love, love, LOVE our summers. Endless days spent together in whatever task we decide to do. Lazy days spent reading books & splashing in the kiddie pool. Bible schools. Late nights because after all their is no school. Even though we love their school, and trust the wonderful brethren & sisters that are teaching them there....I would love to have them under our roof just about all day. Magoo will come home to be home schooled in 4 years and his sister's will follow so it isn't really that far away!

Monkey will be so lost without her older brother and sister. So we're going to head into school for a couple hours each Monday to help with marking and such. Some of the local moms wanted to start up a preschool, and while we don't agree with the idea that you need to start schooling your child at such a young age, we've decided (after initially saying no) that it would do Monkey good to have a day set apart in the month to see her friends (on top of play dates). Since it is only once a month it seems manageable.......I think ;-)

But the one good thing is that the beginning of the school year always gets us into the organization mood. Yesterday was the attack of the girls bedroom. OY! it basically took all day, 1 garbage bag to the curb and 3 of clothing that is either too small or too big packed up and thrown down into the basement. Now it looks clean and ready for a crib to be set up (in a few months) on the opposite wall from their bunk beds. Magoo was so wonderful and tidied up his room on his own! Such a big boy! Of course some weeding out needs to be done, but we'll save that for later when he is at school to lessen the trauma.

It's taken a few days but the study looks like it may possibly be done by tonight.......amazingness. After that it is relaxing time!

Why all this cleaning..............? We have no car. Well we have 1 but Hubby must use it to get to work so until the other one is ready (new to us - hurray) we are here at home.

Well the monkeys are playing nicely downstairs so I must be off to get more done.

Signed
the insane nesting one!

2011-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well!

It has been a while, hasn't it. We are once again connected to the Internet, and life is flying past at an unspeakable rate. Our summer has been, well I think the perfect word to describe it would be: lovely. Simply lovely.

2 Bible schools (tenting it), twice a week library visits, ice cream, splash pad, back yard voyages of imagination, Astrix & Oblix comic books (a bit of Tin Tin as well), cuddles on the very seldom rainy day, old fashioned iced tea, kiddie pool hysterics.

Was there tough times - oh yeah! but we'll ignor them for now.

Now that summer is winding down organizational thoughts seem to keep barging into my brain. Only 3 months to go until we are blessed with another olive plant and ever so much to do! So "the list" has been gutted and cut up and re-organized itself.

1) Finish unpacking (a year past the move) and organize the playroom for the winter in the basement
2) Move crib & baby GIRL stuff into the girls room (yes all 3 will be in one room)
3) Do a bit of something in Magoo's room (he is growing up ever so fast)

and that's it. Of course the daily grind stuff will always be there, the meals, laundry & etc.... but if we can get those 3 done I will feel a lot more prepared for the end of November!

It's also time for a new study, and I'm leaning towards Jude. Such a small and overlooked book me thinkest. Anyone care to jump in with me?

Until next time, which I can promise will be more frequent again.

2011-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...
snow flurries (and its almost May~!)

I am thinking...
of laundry

I am thankful for...
the fourth olive plant growing inside of me

From the Kitchen....
falafal!

I am wearing....
jeans (i still fit them)

I am creating....
bags for the garden sale

I am going...
to hug our children more

I am reading...
God-Governer LIFE in the Psalms by Dennis Gillett

I am hoping....
and praying for a healthy child

I am hearing...
"Even So, Come" CD2

Around the house...
Disaster!!!!

One of my favorite things...
pure, unadulteraed laughter out of the mouth of children

2011-03-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Time for our monthly post,

Oy, I'm pathetic!

Hubby and I spent the most wonderful weekend in Boston a bit ago to celebrate our 10th anniversary. This may sound weird, bizarre, actually it does, but it is the first time I felt like an adult.

Okay, slow down you're thinking! You've been married for 10 yrs and have 3 slightly hyperactive children and only then did you feel like an adult?

Well, um, yeah!

Getting married young is such a blessing from God! When you graduate high school and within a year and a bit are married, you never have any time to just be an adult. And that my friends was a really good thing! No time to mess up!

And life carried on and kids arrived and we've been in 5th gear ever since (and still falling behind)

So to have a weekend where we

a) ate pastry and coffee for lunch when we felt like it
b) had dinner at 7 or 8pm because we weren't hungry until then
c) walked for hours and could actually hold hands
d) sit and TASTE breakfast
e) sleep in.........oh wait that didn't happen, I still woke at 6:30am!
f) shop and actually have time to spend an hour trying on suits until the right one is found (yes, I won super wife points that day)

I think you get the picture. It was refreshing and uplifting and amazing.

And, by the way, Boston is beautiful and perfect! Coffee shops, used book shops, water, history and Ann Taylor Loft......need I say anything more?

So we've been back in reality for a while and had to jump back in with both feet.

But here's what I came back to change

Talk. Just sit and talk about the mundane, it doesn't always have to be "important" topics

SLOW DOWN. I mean, is all this busyness really REALLY important, I think not.

Appreciate the smallest of details in the day

Teach our own kids (hence the photocopying of "learning colours through God's creation" & "Girls of the Bible" workbooks)

Cuddles. I am a cuddle person. Cuddle the kids too.

And for crying out loud why doesn't anyone else hug their kids when they drop them off at school.....sheesh!

Oh and read "holding the head" by bro Michael Ashton....amazing read. I've read it twice and want to read it again!

Time to make dinner.
Hugs

2011-02-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

Time for another meal plan

We are being blessed with a lovely and dear sister staying with us for a few days so our usual is getting some special added to it as far as the food goes

Monday: Roast chicken with baked sweet potatoes, peas, gravy. Fruit salad & raisin scones for dessert

Tuesday: Bacon & veggie quiche with garden salad and roasted potatoes. Giant dairy free choc chip cookies

Wednesday: Beef Fajitas (dessert at Bible Lecture)

Thursday: Veggie Stew with homemade bread

Friday: Veggie & leftover chicken stirfry with rice

Saturday: Soup & oven grilled cheese

Sunday: Roast with all the trimmings

2011-01-27T13:07:00.000-08:00

Bliss

I haven't had the importunity to teach at CHC for nearly 8 years. Magoo came upon the scene and we disappeared into the background doing the little everyday things that help things "keep on trucking" as my Mom would say.

So it was with some trepidation and some fear of the my own abilities that instead of laying out 2 uniforms last night, I laid out those 2 uniforms and an outfit for Monkey and I. Instead of 3 lunches sealed with a kiss, 5 were prepped and packed. The alarm went off earlier then usual, in other words Monkey woke me up for Mummy cuddles at 6:20am and we whispered to each other and Teddy so as to let Daddy sleep a little while longer. Americano's, fruit salad, teeth cleaned, morning prayers, clothing put on and bags packed we filled the car and off we went to start a new adventure for the day.

I had been a bit worried about Monkey. She is now used to having Mummy to herself for 2 days a week, and today she had to share me not only with her sister but three other girls as well.

She shined. It was that simple. I am such a happy mother right now. She read stories, coloured in her worksheets and joined in with the activity centers. The girls in the class carried on as though there was no 2 yr old there....and I smiled all day long! (and an Aunty took her home for the afternoon for some fun)

What a blessing today was. I often miss teaching. Then laugh at myself because since Yhwh has blessed Hubby and I with 3 Olive plants, that is basically all we do all day long is teach. Teach in actions, teach in words and teach in love.

And then I realized that the reason today went so well is because it was blessed by God. There is simply no other way to see it.

Another thing to thank your Heavenly Father for.

A simply wonderful day.

2011-01-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

What a month full of blessings!

In counting my blessings I am constantly finding the Husband that God has given me at the very top of the list. This week has been the usual crazy, insane pace of ecclesial life. Sunday school lessons to prepare and do, Bible classes, Memorial, school work to be completed WITH PATIENCE...

"Helper what is this word BIG?"

"um"

"You know this one so let's sound it out"

"DDDDDDDDDDD"

"no, its a B, what does B say?"

"TTTTTTTTTTT"

"No that is a T sound, what does a B say?"

"um"

"B is for Bug"

"B"

"Good now that is the next letter"

"Eh"

"No that is an E sound, what does the I say"

"um,"

"I is for Indian"

"I!"

"okay so lets make the blend"

"BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBeh"

"Try again"

"BBBBBBBBBBBBBB I!"

"okay now well add the last letter, what does G say"

"I know, G says G"

"great! so say the word"

"BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG"

"say it faster"

"PIG!"

Oy!

Hubby on the other hand is so patient and can keep this up for a whole reader, Mummy does pages at a time.

Tangent aside, Hubby has put together our new book shelves. You know us, we hate to have to buy new stuff, but the book shelves we had were not big enough, and they were already double deep on the shelves! So off to Ikea we went and came home and in only 1 week the study is nearly done! YAHOO! 6 Billy (so suitable don't you think) and 1 corner and extensions are all up and are already nearly full.

How many times have we simply stood at the open study door and looked at the books while sipping tea....

Countless!

Well, instead of napping, I hear giggles so I do believe that is my cue to put on the kettle for a tea party. After all it is -22 C and that is without the windchill!

2010-12-20T19:03:00.001-08:00

Well, this post nearly did not happen....

When blogger crashes 4 times while trying to load your page you'd think I'd give up but never!

Well actually sometimes I do

Fairly often

but....nevermind all that

So this evening was wonderful! This morning the Monkeys and I were out for 4 hours (packed jam sandwiches & veggie sticks came VERY handy for lunch in the car) and only got to 3 shops. Oy! People are crazy!

Tonight on the other hand was such fun. As we did last year, we took the kids to Dollarama to pick out gifts for each other and the parents. So Daddy took Magoo to buy for the girls and I and I took the girls to buy for Magoo & Daddy....

Watching them pick out their gifts are so cute! It is really amazing what you can get at the dollar store! I think Magoo got a peek of his gift but it will all be good in a couple days.

Then, as tradition dictates, we went out to Tim Hortans for hot choco and donuts. This year's flavour was "double chocolate candy cane" and they were delish! Mummy was good and didn't have a donut, just a teeny tinny taste of Monkey's one.

Then we headed to the "nasty grey box" store for cream and ended up spending $50. That is part of the reason I hate that store. But it was all stuff we needed....except for the 6 suet balls for the birds when all we needed was one....but it was a six pack....and.......um......you get the idea I'm sure.

We managed to find a mini checker board for Magoo's sock and so everything is done.

YAHOO!

WE SHALL REJOICE

oh wait.......slight problem, Hubby's stocking is still half empty.....argh!

That's all for now. OWBS class prep is calling (more like screaming) my name. So if you don't hear from us for a couple weeks don't be surprised. Then again we may pop in....if blogger lets us!

Happy Holiday!

2010-12-10T06:52:00.000-08:00

P31

Oh how I love our P31 classes.

Really we should have them more then once a month....maybe in the new year we shall increase the frequency!

Last night was a instead of a class we held a celebration of 2 of the very special ladies that are being baptised on Saturday evening. So we had purple "baptism balloons", our signature hot chocolate (crushed candy canes and a million marsh mellows) in Grandma's china cups (she would be so pleased), and served each other by washing each others feet, oiling them and polishing them! Such fun.

Bibles open,

Nail polish,

Filling a jar to send to another precious Olive Plant out West,

"Even so, Come" Cd blasting,

Chocolate brownies,

Sharing Fav Verses,

Impromptu hymn singing...with no sheet music,

Birthday Cake (baked by the birthday girl unknowingly because she thought it was for me!),

Discussion over different Bible bindings, versions, etc,

Chocolate pudding mint amazing thingy dessert,

A shared letter from my Grandpa George (instead of a class)...that I've only ever shared with Hubby. Yes, I teared up at the end.....but I'm so glad I shared it with these ladies, they are so dear to me. The letter was my grandparents gift to me for my baptism. Full of insights and good advice and lovingly chosen verses woven through.

Man, there's gonna be buckets full of happy tears tomorrow evening!

Off to mail cards, teach homeschooling lessons, drink tea and oh yeah eat breakfast!

2010-12-03T18:17:00.000-08:00

What do you have when you take 9 ravens 6 yrs old and less, 1 very wimpy king, various narrators in ingenious cosutmes with english and indian accents, 2 live cows and 2 Jezebels?
>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>

HILARITY!

The play practice was tonight, and I just have to say that Sis A. has done such an amazing job!

Everything went perfectly.

Well except for:

Elijah had no um, costume on after he took off his mantle to strike the river (must remember to pack a robe for that poor man for tomorrow)

1 of the ravens (AKA: Monkey) sat down beside Elijah and proceeded to put the KFC bucket on her head.

Jezebel's robe kept falling down....and looking more and more realistic for her part(bobby pins are required).

And half the cast was downstairs eating pizza when we were looking for them to sing the last song.

Tomorrow will be amazing! I will of course have hubby take loads of pictures, which of course cannot be uploaded because in the time that it would take I could get 3 children dressed in winter gear, buckled into the Mazda, drive to Timmys, drive back, undress 3 children out of winter gear, eat Timbits, drink a double-double, get their home schooling done (for a Friday) and VOILA it still would either

A) be downloading

OR

B) CRASHED!

You get the picture.....(pun so completely intended!)

And get this, I went to Timmys to ask for some empty un-used timbit boxes for use in a "children's church play" (for ther avens to give to Elijah) and they said:

NO (assume olde lady snooty voice) "it is against our policy because someone could eat something else out of them and sue us"

excuse me, this is for a children's play...duh

(assume olde lady snooty voice) "I said it is against our...."

yeah, never mind that coffee I was ordering....I'll make it at home.

I tell you what in the world is this world coming to! oh yeah....itself!

I'm off to sew 2 Jezebel headpieces (SLIGHT procrastination here) and find some clothing for poor Elijah so the poor man is decent tomorrow!

and pack my blood red sandals for Jezebel to use,

and pack some Advil,

oh and some chocolate,

and head to bed,

on second thought I'll have the chocolate now and THEN head to bed.

ta ta!

2010-12-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Children have such a gift.

They show you things that are as plain and simple and real as the nose on your face.

Today they taught me to have fun again.

Yesterday Magoo asked "Mom can we set up the winter village tomorrow?"

My reply "We do that on December first, so you can wait"

To which he responded non-verbally with a look of "Mom's lost it again!"

Yeah, today is Dec 1, so yes we set it up. It was such fun! Usually I'm all a basket of nerves, worried they'll drop and break something....so Helper picked all the fluff off of the trees, and Magoo unpacked it all (yes, the china ones) and

Monkey was asleep.. (maybe that had something to do with the fact that is was fun!)

So we set it all up, listening to their "serious conversation" about where the "pet shop" and the "school house" should go was amusing, but very insightful.

Yes we have some broken people....missing heads....that sorta thing. However that is from the move, not the actual helpful hands.

and since we are STILL on dial up (the "click on a link and go and make a cuppa and then come back and see if it loaded yet") no pics, but someday!

I'm off to write a Bible school curriculum on Biblical Archeology.....and turn a Rahab costume into a Jezebel one.

Oh gotta share this. So we headed to the seasonal aisle in WalMart (I hate going there but it was cheapest) for gold beads and such for the Jezebel costume....and so we're at the check out and the lady goes

"So you're decorating your tree today"

"We don't have a tree" Helper replies

"These are for a Church play" I explain

Puzzled store clerk "Mary wore beads?"

"Um, no its for Jezebel." I further explain

"Have you heard of Elijah? We're doing a play on him" Helper helps out

Oh dear, I think we confused that poor old lady.

Oh well, us three girls laughed all the way from the moment the store door closed behind us until the were drinking hot choco as a treat for surviving shopping at this time of year.

2010-11-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

Mondays are so

MondayISH

aren't they?

Today it poured rain, and I was thrilled. We've had so many nice days, that lately we've spent more time inside and out and although normally I would simply love that....we are still unpacking.

So today started with a lovely sister inviting herself for tea (which I love, but no one really does that anymore) and then the girls and I emptied all....and I do mean ALL of the kitchen drawers and re organized them. Each drawer still has the same main purpose, but all those "extra" items that had snuck in are now in their own little homes.

The master bedroom is finally box free.

The linen closet is finally box free.

AND we had a hot chocolate party. I love being a Mommy to wee ones, hot choco parties are such fun, and the giggles are even better then cookies....well we had those too!

oh, and for those of you who don't mind the mundane. We have had an addition (or maybe 2) to our home...

MICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

It's time to celebrate that answered prayers of a wonderful couple and shower them and their adorable child with blessings!

I LOVE hosting events....don't you? I think it is in my DNA thanks to my Grandma! so tomorrow from 2-4 we will have a house full of lovely ladies.

Menu

Flower Sugar Cookies

Fancy Sandwiches Mini Lemon Cheesecakes

Truffles

Veggie Sticks with Onion (to die for) dip

Scones with Jam & Cream

Coffee

Tea

Lemon Water

Have you noticed how expensive party decorations are....such a rip off! Usually we decorate with cheap flowers, but with the season being WINTER we are going for the easy and simple white & pink bunches of balloons, pink Toile on the table, Grandmother's china & crystal plates, tea service, etc. I had really wanted to do a favour of some sort, but even the smallest added up to a lot when there are 20 guests.

On that note, I'd better run, the fridge needs to be filled with goodies and the flours need a good scrubbing....and the children need to be played with.

God Bless

2010-11-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

MENU

Wed: Veggie Stew with frech whole wheat bread
Thurs: Dinner at friends....Yeehaw!
Fri: Beef (leftovers) & Veggie stirfry with Basmati rice
Sat: Roast beef (re-heated in crockpot from the massive one done last week) with potatoes, carrots, peas & corn (gravy & bread)
Sun: Veggie Stew with cheese & ham scones
Mon: Roast Chicken
Tues: Orange chicken (leftovers) & veggie stir fry with Basmati rice

2010-11-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those "Bad, no good, terrible" days?

One of those days where you seriously consider jumping into bed and hiding from reality under your covers?

Yesterday was one of those days. Little things seemed to add up, piling untop of each other, pushing other concerns out of the way and fight for my attention. Why is it that as women, emotional concerns effect us so much?

I'm positive that this is one of the many reasons that God, in His mercy, brought Hubby and I together. D has this amazing talent, that when I fall and collapse into little tiny fragile pieces. He can pick them up, and like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together, gently sort through the mess and push the fractured pieces back together again. Gluing and taping them with kind words, Biblical advice, nurturing hugs and volia! I am whole again.

Kids are great for that too.

So are Sisters.

But no one can help to quite the extent or in the same manner that a husband can.

A phone call to him, a dinner made for a Sister with a sick infant, an hour and a half spent at our favourite little library in our old town....and soup (always soup) with cheese scones for dinner and I felt better.

oh, and husband booked a weekend away for our upcoming tenth anniversary. Maybe that had a little bit to do with my coping....maybe a large bit!

So "today is a new day with no mistakes in it" (Anne of Green Gables). We slept in (the hydro went out yesterday, and the clocks were reset to the wrong pm - am time) whops! but everyone worked together and Magoo got to school on time and Husband to work on time (we ate banana bread in the car for breakfast...yum!). The girls and I set off for grocery shopping and to pick up fleece for one of the craft sessions at OWBS this year.

Grocery shopping was extra fun (we love that task anyways) because we are hosting a shower for a extremely special and dear to our hearts Sister & Babe. We are doing a honey theme (if you know the baby you know why....think about it) and found everything needed except for the honey comb, which I can pick up still from a local farm.

I had wanted to do an elaborate bee hive cake that I saw in a magazine....but I think cookies will do perfectly fine!

The girls are working on letters and sounds in the dining room, and I have ever so many more tasks to complete before we can sit down for story time....so off I run.

Hugs to all you Mothers & Sisters out there.

2010-11-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

I have this pet annoyance.

If someone says they are going to do something and don't show up. It bugs me, doesn't that bug you?

The painter never finished the house, so he's come back twice. Both times he said he'd be here at 9:30AM and both time he didn't show up until 2PM!

So today, he was supposed to be here, at yup, you guessed it...9:30AM and he never even bothered to show up!

After calling Hubby and getting my priorities all back on track, we had a good day. The problem today was really that I haven't had a chance to head to the library in almost 3 weeks! which for us is amazing because we usually go twice a week (Tuesdays & Fridays) and for those who know me in "real life" I am a book-a-holic! and love to read.

So instead we unpacked...yup still doing that! and organized our new craft cupboard. It is the corner cupboard in the kitchen with 2 lazy Susan's and is now full of unpacked craft & activities. The girls had tea, and the whites got washed and hung out to dry.

Tonight is a Bible School meeting at our house, so we must clean, and sister's class is here tomorrow morning...so we must clean the basement up for the children's class.

I'm trying what my Mom used to do. There was a huge roast on sale the other week, and instead of cutting it up (it's been frozen) I am roasting it all (covered in salt, pepper and garlic) and after having roast beef dinner tonight with mashed spuds and corn & peas (bizarre for midweek) I am going to cut it up into slices and chunks and store the precooked stuff for latter over the next week.

We'll see if that saves me any time in the long run.

Well that washing needs bringing in, a diaper needs changing and spelling list's need to be reviewed....oh and a 2 year old needs to be taught to obey. Oy

God Bless

2010-11-13T16:38:00.000-08:00

Do you get the Kraft magazine? It comes out quarterly and usually I look at it and fall in love with all of the recipe ideas, and that's it. Nothing gets baked, stirred or cooked....

But I've fallen into a dinner cooking rut and so this week we've tried 2 so far, and loved both of them! Actually 3 because 1 was a dessert....that was so good.

Tonight we had Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Toss 8 (boneless skinless) chicken thighs in 3 Tbs of flour in your crock pot

Add 1/3C orange marmalade, 1/3C BBQ sauce, 2 Tbs soy sauce and 1 Tbs fresh grated ginger (the only fiddly part of it)

and you leave it for 3-4 hrs on HIGH, 6-8 hrs on LOW

We had it with stir fried veggies (onion, broccoli, grn pepper & mushrooms) and rice and it was delicious! Now it says it serves 4 but it easily served us 5 (and our kids eat a lot) with leftovers...so I'd say it serves 6.

Thursday we tried the "Creamy beef & noodle bake" from the current issue and it was good too. Again it said it served 4 but obviously these are American portion sizes. We had salad with the dinner and I doubled it because there were 9 of us...and we had 3 servings of leftovers. It was good, but not company-ish enough for me, but it was yummy and creamy. We served the "Chocolate-peppermint stripped delight" for dessert and it was amazing....and yes you should put the extra crushed candy cane pieces on top. We left it out because frankly I forgot...and it could have used the extra mint flavour. You can find these recipes on the Kraft Foods website (google it).

After crushing what was needed in Ziploc bags (and having them brake through and go everywhere....sticky flours are us!) I noticed in a flyer last night that the bulk barn sells CRUSHED candy canes....so this week I am going to buy 3-4 Cups worth and store them in a caning jar for the season. After all I have a bulk barn coupon, so what better use could it be put to!

I see many uses for this new baking staple...think "candy cane hot choco!"

On the house front (yes it is a war zone) the mudroom is clean....and BEHOLD we had a tile flour, I frankly couldn't remember what we put in since it was covered in everything that was dropped there. See it is our main entrance to the house (from the garage), for us anyways, and the coat hooks are in there...and since the shoe bench is in the garage the kids can't reach to hang up their coat....argh. AND it doubles as the laundry room (L-shaped) so I had to organize it, and unpack the 6-7 boxes that we'd stashed in the closet in there during move in. So now we have a system, and I've decided I'm just going to hang up their coats for them.

This weekend was also the great "winter gear" wash and sort time....and surprise surprise Micah's out grown his, why I never thought of this before boggles the mind but I digress. So remember those baskets I got to organize the linen closet for "staging" the last house...they now hold hats (stuffed with a pair of mittens each). 1 for Magoo, 1 for the girls to share, and 1 large one with all the scarves (if I EVER mention knitting more, someone please break my knitting needles!!!!) and hubby's and my stuff.

Other then snow pants (which I cannot find anywhere in his size) Monkey also needed boots...so we sat in the store and tried on boots (our trusty second hand store) for HALF AN HOUR only to come home and discover.....I bought size 7s and we already had that. We needed size 8-9 and they had none so we are keeping the new boats ($5) since they are wider then the ones we had and giving the smaller ones away.

Oh the things we put ourselves through as mothers!

I always get into the organizing mode before winter...do you? Thursday Monkey "helped" me sort all the girls hand me downs and all their toys and we filled 1 bag of garbage and 1 bag to donate....so now we can manage with their broken dresser. 2 girls, 3 full size drawers and 2 mini drawers = must be organized!

Well, I have a Bible school kids program to organize and classes to write so I'd better be off.

God Bless

2010-11-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Remember back "in the day" when we posted our weekly menu, well we're trying to get back into the scheme of things, and since Thursday's are now grocery shopping days, here goes!

Thursday: Creamy Beef & Noodle Bake
Chocolate-Peppermint Stripped Delight (can you tell we're having company!)

Friday: Veggie Stew, Whole Wheat bread, butter

Saturday: Slow-Cooker Orange Chicken

Sunday: Slow-Cooker Soup & Grilled Cheese

Monday: Baked Potatoes & BBQ Sausage

Tuesday: Veggie Stir Fry & Rice

Wednsday: Veggie Stew with Cheese Scones

The other night I was so annoyed, just completely frustrated....and so I went out with a cuppa to watch the sunset over the next door farm field of harvested soy beans. Even though my frustration was from the 3 Monkeys I had to share the beautiful colours of God's sunset with them...

So we bundled them up in 2 quilts that were made by my great-grandma (the girls shared of course!) and watched the sky turn mauve, bright pink and floresant orange.

And this mother went back inside the house feeling completely peaceful.

2010-11-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

Outside my Window:
3 C slush falling from the sky

I am Thinking:
Thankfulness for unnumerable blessings

I am Thankful For:
Precious time spent a wonderful niece over from the UK

From the Kitchen:
Mushroom quiche & veggie stew

I am Wearing:
The warmest sweater in my closet!

I am Creating:
Nothing, absolutly nothing...the sewing machine is broken!!

I am Going:
To the Prophecy Day

I am Reading:
The Acts of the Apostles

I am Hoping:
This cold leaves our family soon and we all get better!

I am Hearing:
"Mummy my nose ouchy"

Around the House:
"Return of the Exiles" CD

One of My Fav Things:
Sipping pipping hot tea with the kids

2010-09-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Well, we are finally online again, though on dial up so it is very slow....we'll have to wait for a couple months until Highspeed will be in our area and then we can post some pics.

What a wonderful September we have been given. The children simply love the freedom of living out in the country proper. They can choose their outfits and get covered in mud and Mummy really doesn't need to care about what the neighbours might think because they are farmers themselves! Our days are full of mudpies, pretend firepits made by Magoo to "warm" us, bike rides, hikes down by the river..etc.

Our trees that we planted have all survived except for the 3 birch trees. The grass was planted by an 80 yr old farmer that we used last time we built, and now it is up 2 in in places.

Fall is in full swing, with the Maples a glorious red and the sumac trees a bright yellow....I had assumed they would go red like the sumac bushes, but nope.

Magoo has not had to go to the hospital for the first time in his life in the fall...thanks be to God.

This was Helper's first school year, and oh does she ever love it! Mummy loves it too as then she naps again on the other days! It has tiaken me a bit to get used to not having her around 2 days a week to help with Monkey, but we are getting into a good routine.

Sister's class has also started up again, and we are contiuing our studies in the Psalms (I think we will be doing that for atleast another year as well!).

So life preety much is continuing as it has been in our little place of sojourn. And since we are only 1/2 unpacked and getting on fine I can't wait to have a huge garage sale int he spring!

Take care and until next time

2010-09-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are moved in,

Yes, we are internet free for another 2 months

Yes, I'm asking for your patience!

We are enjoying:

Mud!

12 apple trees planted

fire pit in the making

7 min for the Hall and school

Bliss and thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift!

2010-08-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

oh dear me!

Has it really been 2 weeks?

Our summer is simply flying by, hence the neglect of the blog, and the chlidren need to be kept out of trouble, hence the neglet of the blog, and when you are feeling a wee bit down you don't always want to share it with the whole world....guess I just did anyways!

Thanks be to God that we finally have a moving date. yes it is a month late, yes I am going crazy but on the other hand staying with the Sr. household has been amazing.

Oh I have been taught ever so many lessons in our 3 month stay here. Patience with the children, a softer voice, priority shift back to the Bible, getting back to Bible reading in the morning, the wisdom of gray hair, perfect scones, complete service to others....the list never ends.

And......Monkey has at this momment escaped downstairs so the rest of this post must now wait...again.

Please have patience with me!

2010-06-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Another Day, another cavity

Well for Magoo anyways. Our kids are those bizarre children that LOVE to go to the dentist, I mean what's not to love about a place where you get to wear heart shaped or race car sunglasses, watch an animal movie while your teeth get checked and then play on an indoor play fort while waiting for your sibling??? Pity they don't do that for adults!

Finally (in a long time) today has been one of those days where everything seems to go as planned. Correction....as closely related to planned as it can possibly come with 3 Goons 7 and under. We were even 30 minutes EARLY for the dentist so enjoyed a lovely stroll through the quaint village where their offices are and picked up some loose pumpkin spice black tea and a chilled "mango cheesecake tea" (which was very yucky in case you were wondering) with the three of them in toe.

Magoo has gotten into the summer routine and Helper just follows his lead, so now it's all good. Monkey is in fact.....prepare for it......................SLEEPING~!!!!! A miracle has occurred!

This past weekend was spent watching a beloved sister in Christ, friend and cousin prepare for marriage. what a wonderful (though exhausting) weekend that was. Hubby even took Friday off to help with the driving as we had to drive into Toronto with G20 traffic and I don't do well with more then a dusty red ford pickup in front of me and a couple goats wandering across the road!

The house is coming along, for those who care, and they should be bricking soon. I'm thinking the green from our old house in the main and girls bedrooms, greyblue (brittany blue BM) in the main areas and a deep blue/grey in Magoo's room and the main bathroom...thoughts?

Well the laundry is calling, the kids are playing and I've devoured the 2 "Rocky Mountain" chocolate clusters that an amazing sister in Christ sent all the way from Alberta....Love You!

So back to life we go. When Monkey gets up we have our Bible study time to do. We are on the letter C in our Alpha-Bet Creation Scrapbooks.

God Bless!

2010-06-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

A Basket of Love

After the past 2 weeks I am beginning to realize that my imagined sense of life getting easier was a joke! But a good joke at that. For the past 2 weeks my wonderful God given Husband has been wiring speaker cable through the new house, this way we can add speakers through out the house over time so that classical music and Bible stories can be played and listened to while we go about our daily tasks. After all who stays in one room for longer then a few fleeting minutes! I've been wondering if there was a way to add subliminal messaging....."I love to make my bed" "I love to scrub the toilets" "Yes, Mummy, of course Mummy" but then they would be working on me too!

Joking aside, the children and I have been enjoying heading over to the house on days when Husband is going there right after work with dinner and a picnic blanket.

We spread the quilted blanket out on what will be our living room and open a darling wicker basket with a hinged lid that we found at an antique market and unload a portable feast for the senses.

Each night we try to include a surprise for Daddy. Tonight it will be freshly picked strawberries from the farm across the road. Local chocolates picked up on the way, iced coffee and watermelon cubes have also been hidden in the car until dessert time when one of the kidlets is selected to go and retrieve our surprise.

This got me thinking about the simple, small acts of Love that sometimes get overlooked in our fast paced society. That longing gaze across the room at your spouse, ruffling your sons' hair, kissing the forehead of the cuddle-bug, preparing special favorites for meals (even octopus hot dogs!), picking up the dry cleaning without being asked, helping a little one with their responsibilities, really every moment of our day to day activities has the opportunity to be an act of love to our family and friends and ecclesia.

Do we take the time?

Not just the time to show our care and love but do we activitly seek ways to help, sooth, comfort, put a smile on someone else' face?

Perhaps that should be our daily prayer.

My Grandfather used to say "Ask God to show you what needs doing, and then ask him for the strenght to persevere."

What a wise man he was. I pray that we will be joined together again soon at the Resurrection!

Now the kidlets and I are off to pack the picnic basket....such fun!

2010-06-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Wedding Outfits

Oh my vanity! Oh my sweet vanity!

Husband told me that it was time that I spent some time and money and got a dress for the upcoming wedding of a very dear cousin, friend and sister in Christ. If only it was that simple!

The girls and I spent nearly six hours at the large mall in the next largest city. Nothing, NOTHING! either it was immodest on the top yet long, or it was nice and simple on the top and barely covered my hips! Oy only 2 weeks, actually less, and therefore no way is there time to sew a dress.

So instead I'll phone around and see if I can borrow a skirt from another sister. Or dig through the closet and try to find a skirt without a stain on it.

The imporant part is that the flowers are all ordered, and the pins and only floral tape needs to be picked up.

Now if only the G20 traffic would let us even GET tot he wedding.

Oh well, time to put these silly and pathetic cares away and focus on my blessings.

2010-05-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend we've been blessed with!

Monkey has discovered bunnies living in our front gardens and watches them each and every evening. It is adorable to watch her running back and forth to the window and back again to Daddy to relate in full action what the Bunnies are up too.

I think perhaps we are finally starting to understand that we need to fit and make room for the children in every aspect of our lives. Today was a "sit in the car and look at brick" day, well for the afternoon anyways. So we stopped in at DQ part way through the list and got everyone some ice cream to keep going.

I've been struggling with getting frustrated with monkey during Meeting time. Especially the Memorial service. The selfish part of me is yelling "this should be my time" but the mother in me is reminding me that no, this is God's time and in His wisdom He has granted us this child to mold and give back to Him in service. Really when I look at it I do still get the exhortation, just might not be able to turn up every passage referred to. This too shall pass and the last thing I want is her to think that Mummy doesn't like being there. Because it is the most wonderful place to be.

The house is coming along. The roof is partway covered in press board and all the walls are up now. Watching the Goons run up and down the gravel lane way, chase birds (this one type the runs everywhere that we call Toronto Birds as they resemble the people that we've seen on the streets there), and exclaim over where they would like to place different furniture items struck me with such a powerful feeling of awe at the opportunity that God has blessed us with this piece of land. I know it is only 2 acres but for us that is huge. Apple trees, pear trees and a chicken coop are on the list. Most of all it will be so nice to get out of a "keeping up with the Jones'" neighbourhood and be able to live somewhere where if all you want to plant is veggies is fine, or if the grass is long that is okay too!

We are nearly packed up. Oh how thankful we are for the many loving hands that are helping us. Older couples in the Truth, Sisters with nursing babes, Families with carloads of children. The blessing hasn't just been in the actual physical labour but the gift of fellowship and love found only in the bonds of the Truth.

Magoo has been struggling a bit with his ashma, mainly because of the high heat (30C today) and humidity. But the silver lining in this cloud is that he has been home since Wednesday and we have enjoyed an extra long weekend. Now that the weather has stabilized he should be fine, it just seems his body takes a while to re-calculate to the heat of summer.

2010-05-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

To Blog or not to Blog, this is the question!

Basically now that blogger doesn't let you type in another program and then cut and paste into blogger I'm finding it frustratingly annoying to try to blog. Because you have to finish it all at once, not such a great way to blog for a busy mom!

So as I am the ultimate at procrastination here I am when in fact I should be packing as we move in um, 12 days. Yup, and don't even think of asking how much is packed.

Okay, I'll tell you, 7 boxes.

Oh my, has only a month passed. Opps! So much is happening around here that life is even busier then it's normal fast paced hecticness. Thankfully we have a verse posted (in our bathroom) that keeps reminding me to "Stand Still and Wait upon the LORD"

Last weekend it was "Mother's Day" yet another invented celebration of selfishness. I made the mistake of tuning into CBC (Why when they are so anti-Israel and anti-God...I just don't know) while Magoo was in piano lesson and they had a phone in for mothers about "Mother's Day"

OY!

I cannot believe that these women are mothers! The common thread of ALL the calls was that they wanted a day ALONE, either at a spa, in their bedrooms with a good book, or shopping with friends. NONE of them wanted to be with their children on "Mother's Day"

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Yeah it got me a wee bit mad. Finally someone phoned in that told them all how selfish they were and that it is a day not about the elaborate gift but hand drawn cards.

Since being blessed with wee olive plants I have found "Mother's Day" a wonderful time of reflection on the passed year and the places where I have fallen short as a Mother and to re-dedicate my life to grafting these wild olives into the Israelitish olive tree. After all they are not truly our children, but God's children. I sipped my coffee in bed with a grin (as Magoo had asked to be woken up to "make" and deliver it to Mummy in bed) and eat my cinnamon roll with glee...and tried REALLY hard not to look at the clock as we had to get to Sunday School on time. A luncheon for my mother and time spent curled up with books with our children was all so precious. The fact that they each choose out a new knitted dish cloth for me told me that the children pay attention to detail and the fact that Mummy can;t knit them anymore because of the ache in my hands.

Those dish clothes mean more to me then a diamond bracelet (that the other moms wanted).

On the house scene they are finishing the walls and putting on the roof (hopefully) this week. We had a picnic dinner there yesterday before Bible class while Magoo and Daddy put in our new mail box.

Well it is time to feed the monkeys lunch so off we go. Perhaps I'll get another procrastination time out on here again this week.

Until then, please remember that being a Mother is not about us but about the children that God has graciously given his servants!

2010-04-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note, if you are on Facebook we are up to day 8 of Israel pics that are uploaded! Yahoo!

On another note, Allergies + Cold = adoring all the wee helping hands in our household!

2010-04-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

The Schedule

Well life is finally returning to our version of "normal". Not only is the house sold (thanks be to God) and sold in 11 days...but we are also done a whole whack of medical testing.

I haven't blogged about it, or even really talked about it. Suffice it to say I had been having tremors and spasms on the right side of my face and down my arm and hand. On occasion it even felt like my inner organs were shaking.

So after a Doppler, CT scan and now an MRI we are in the clear and don't have to return for 6 mths (unless they start back to 4-5 times a day again).

According to the Neurological Specialist (big fancy title eh?) It is most likely a connection in the brain that had terminated and is re-connecting itself by finding new pathways through the brain. He even said that the brain is the "final frontier" of medicine and that they really don't understand a lot and definitely cannot explain what has been happening in my brain. I had an episode during the MRI and they could see the neurons (or something) "firing" or talking to each other in the left lobe.

The fact that the brain can heal itself and fix bad connections is simply amazing. God has created us in such a unique and amazing way hasn't he.

The annoying (and maddening) part is that someone decided to send out an email about me....and you know how they get forwarded around and now people think I have a brain tumour. Nope, they checked, no tumor! I hate gossip! Really really hate it!

I am glad that this all happened though. I have finally learnt that it doesn't matter what the house looks like, what the kids look like, what I look like ( or wear for that matter), what I weigh, if I'm stylish (cause I'm not....). All that matters is being a loving and patient Mother, teaching them the Word that they may grow to be godly olive plants set to serve Yhwh!

So that was yesterday. Now life is returning to our version of normal. Monkey is doing very well at being seat trained for meeting. She sits through Bible class and lecture on her own chair and we no longer bring her booster seat for her to be strapped into. Yes, we tried the whole blanket training thing and it simply didn't work for any of our three. If it works for you then great, but our kids aren't allowed toys in meeting so hence the blanket didn't work. This way they understand that they have to sit for the whole service in a chair.

Hr Bible bag is full of interesting Bible and old fashioned (my first little house books) books and some crayons, stickers and a Bible colouring book. She also has a small magnet board and some lace up bear clothing. The most important for her is her small hymn book and Bible and head covering, she loves to sit there with her Bible on her lap (usually upside down) her head covering on and point out how Mummy and Helper and she has one on and point out all of our Bibles (whispering of course)

I love it when the children can get to this stage. We've been sitting out for ages but now I can listen instead of constantly being on top of her.

It has been pouring rain here for the last week, and many family are sick, so we've been making chicken soup by the pot full. Last night we enjoyed this one:

Heat 3 T Oil in pot
Dice and add 1 onion, 1 stalk celery, 1 large carrot, 4 lrg potatoes
Cook until browned
Turn down to a simmer and add 6 C water, salt and pepper to taste

Cook for 1 hour, covered
Serve with fresh bread and butter.

There is another pot of it simmering this morning for Mum as she has the flu.

I've been asked to blog about our 2 Passover Seders but I have no pictures! I will try to tomorrow though.

God Bless

2010-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Outside my Window...
Grey skies

I am Thinking...
The house is too quite!

I am thankful for...
The house being sold and wonderful news from dearest of friends!

From the kitchen...
Currant Cake for a tired teacher

I am Wearing...
The blue grey skirt we got in Jerusalem

I am Creating...
Patience

I am Going...
to clean the house up at some point...ha!

I am Reading...
Psalm 24

I am Hoping...
For Yhwh's blessing on a new mother

I am Hearing...
The furnace kicking on

Around the House...
Chaos!

One of my favorite things...
Cuddles with Olive Plants!

2010-03-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

The Verse that Kept me up Last Night:

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." Psalm 127:4

Some of the aspects that were turning around in my head:

You have to make the arrows straight

The Bow has to be staight

The Aim has to be in the right direction

The Target has to be the right one

I see a huge study coming out of this one. Anyone want to join me?

ps: the house is going.....we're leaving it in Yhwh's hands and praying a lot!

2010-02-05T06:04:00.001-08:00

Missing In Action

Our computer keeps producing "the blue screen of death"

and we're packing up the house in anticipation of marketing!

So for the next 2 months we'll be gone

Hugs and God Bless
Hope you wait around for us

2010-01-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

Stuff

Man alive we have so much stuff!

I didn't realize how much stuff and junk we had stuffed into the basement...wow! We have filled the Mazda 5 with garbage bags of clothing and toys for charity 3 times, yup THREE times!

"Love not the world, neither the THINGS THAT ARE IN WORLD. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

Okay so after reading that verse (and many like it) it is very easy to clear out this house to get it prepped for sale and that will make moving a ton easier!

Our biggest moving things around project right now is all the books, and for those who have been here that is a huge job! Instead of boxing them up for a year, we're going to set up a library in the basement....Oy

So what stuff are you getting rid of this year?

2010-01-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

Random Thoughts

The girls are tucked under quilts in their beds, a cuppa sits next to the keyboard and sister's class is nearly done so here I sit enjoying a few spare minutes in the day before jump starting yet another project.

The girls and I joined in today as it was "Beach Day" at school and really enjoyed all the bright and cheerful faces as we served up a fun lunch. After reading a simply amazing and powerful article in the Lampstand last night on Mary Magdalene and her spirit of serving others it seemed fitting.

Question though. I find it easy to serve in aspects I love, cooking, baking, writing note cards, knitting, opening our home to others...and less so with other things. You?

Is it service when you are doing something you love?

Something I need to ponder and come up with an answer for.

So this new project....

We're selling the house. So if anyone is interested in a custom designed and built home...let us know!

We never thought we'd be moving from here unless we had too.

BUT we need to be closer to CHC. Right now we spend 2 hours a day in the car. OY!

The Lot is purchased and now we have to get the house set up and prepped with 3 kids in the house!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I think I need an espresso instead of this tea.

Off I go to start loading boxes!

2010-01-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Winter Photos:

I Love that sequence!

Monkey got mittens and socks

Helper got a knitting bag, mini mixing bowl and candle stick holder

Can you Figure it out? They all had clues from the Bible this year, even on the lifesaver roll and oranges!

"Slightly" excited!

The joint gift, a board game to learn the offerings and Feasts! (picked up at The Temple Institute in Jerusalem!)

ps: Dad & C there are more photos on facebook!

2010-01-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

Weekly Menu

Today was grocery day again after dropping Magoo off at school. It feels good to get back into the routine of groceries on Thursday. This was we have plenty of nice and good things to eat for the weekend while Hubby is home and at the same time don't need to run out first thing on Monday morning. After trying grocery shopping on both Monday(s) and Friday(s) this works well for our family.

Thursday: Chicken fajitas (homemade salsa, plain yogurt - tastes the same as sour cream, shredded lettuce, 1 cubed Roma tomato, stir fried leftover chicken and green & red peppers, onions, taco seasoning.

Friday: Challah bread and beef & veggie stew

Saturday: Crock pot Chili (recipe was a few weeks ago)

Sunday Lunch: Leftover roast beef warmed in gravy in the crock pot with potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce and pull-apart rolls

Sunday Dinner: Ham and Cheese Melts

Monday: Beef & veggie stir fry with basmati rice

Tuesday: Mince (Scottish fav of Hubby's family) with potatoes

Wednesday: Homemade pizzas (ground beef, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese)

2010-01-13T08:09:00.001-08:00

The Importance of Important Tasks

While I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, it is nice to take a chance at the beginning of a new year (and yes it is the Western New Year and not the Biblical Israeli one but that is another discussion for another day!) to sit down and take stock of what we spend or waste our time doing and seeing to and whether these are really important in the grand scheme of life.

I have come to the realization that I keep getting stuck in the Martha Rut. Seeing about and being stressed with the house and not sitting quietly down to good and solid Bible Study.

So after the company left this started to change. Instead of running around cleaning during Monkey's nap time an hour of that is set aside for Bible Study and this week and next that will be preparation for a sister's class on Psalm 16 and Dt 1.

Another thing that has to change is the sheer amount of stuff in our house. I aim to pack up seasonal stuff and put it into storage and to pack up items for donation so that the house is clear of clutter as we are planning to put the house up for sale in the Spring.

Another Important Task which I have found lacking is good time with the children. So the focus is moved off of the house and unto them.

Our weekly schedule needs to be re-done and this is what we are working on right now:

Monday: 2 Loads of Laundry (sorted and put away), Bathrooms, Bread Making
Tuesday: Bedrooms, Wash Linens and Change Bedding, Morning 1-2 hours on library duty
Wednesday: Home School Bee, Bible Study and Home Ec with her. Mend Clothing
Thursday: Scrub Floors and Vacuum, Sister's Class in afternoon
Friday: Bathrooms, Kitchen, Local Library visit

This leaves the weekend free for family fun time and practicing hospitality

Our new daily list:

Breakfast
Get dressed (put on bread to raise)
1st section of the daily Bible readings
Nap time/Bible study
Lunch Time
Chores
Pick up Magoo from school
Homework/Reading together time
Make dinner
Sweep Kitchen and Dining room
Dinner
2nd portion of daily Bible readings
Children to Bed
3rd portion of daily Bible readings
Bed

2010-01-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

The Many Reasons we are MIA right now

Amazing time at Ontario Winter Bible School
Magoo's first week back at CHC
Extended stay by a very wonderful family that is dear to our hearts (since OWBS)
Multitudes of amazing classes by Bro Brian Luke
2 loaves of bread baked and eaten every second day
Stew pot on each morning to make leftovers into lunch
Cookies trays made up and devoured
11 loads of laundry and counting
2 memory verses
Clearing out the house to sell
Evenings full of uplifting conversation and gut aching laughter!

The company leaves on Monday (sobbing) so we will be returning then

Thought I'd end with a verse that has hit me over the past 2 weeks:

"Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house save this pot of oil" 2 Kings 4:2

2009-12-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Today is a new day

Last night was spent surrounded by family, yummy food and the best coffee I have ever tasted! The children and i went sledding. Monkey pet a dog for the first time and said "thank you". Helper sat beside Grandma at dinner and glowed under the attention and care while they shared tea at dessert. Magoo glowed under his big cousins' watchful and helpful instruction with his helicopter and now Magoo & Helper are playing nicely and loved their stuffed socks (hammer and nails for Magoo, a mini version of Mummy's mixing bowl and a candle stick holder for Helper).

We were going to go to the Gathering today, but after being over burdened with all to get ready for OWBS we are staying home and packing.

Thanks be to God for the gift of peace in our hearts and the energy to keep pushing forward!

Hubby is off to pick up the keyboard for the Bible School and everything is falling into place.

Skates sharpened
Bible bags packed
Children's clothing packed
Winter Gear packed
Sleds brought up from the Basement
Crafts nearly ready

and a pot of Cranberry Pomegranate Tea is waiting for me(Hubby is so thoughtful with his gifts!)

Until Next Friday we are signing off then. God be with you all in the study of His word.

"Now the God of Peace be with you All, Amen"
Romans 15:33

2009-12-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

You know you are doing too much when you wake up at 5:30am in bed in the middle of an anxity attack.

Yup that was me this morning!

So today instead of getting that list done I am taking it easy, hemming Helper a dress we let down for the winter, making secret yummys for Hubby and wrapping presents with the Goons.

Thankfully a very special young lady is here to help me today!

I have to learn to leave everything in God's hands. Especially the Ontario Winter Bible School. Everyone thought it was a great idea, said they were coming but then never registered. However we are trying to make the most of it.

If I think about it for even a minute I get very depressed!

And on top of that they are calling for 3C ABOVE on sat....and we have outdoor winter activites planned as they have 100 cm.....we'll see

All in God's hands, I know

My heart understand,

My brain is trying to, really hard!

So instead of lovely pictures and everything I'm signing off to cuddle with the kids and try very hard not to cry over all of the negative - gross - ness going on in our area.

2009-12-20T18:16:00.000-08:00

and blogger crashed while uploading photos again! ARGH! I will try again tomorrow!

ps: Saturday was special because a very dear to our hearts couple joined us for dinner and brought dessert!

2009-12-20T18:08:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, is it really Sunday night already!

Yes, I know the whole "posting a few pics a day" just simply didn't happen last week, appologies! This week I will try my best. We have been insanely busy, but a joyful insane busy! Thursday was Magoo's last day before Winter Break at CHC. So that afternoon extra plans for fun and friends started with The Cousins over for hot chocolait (with candy canes stirred in to make it mint!) and plates full of coloured mini marshmellows, cookies, gingerbread boys, muffins and the table was completely with the sounds of rioteous laughter reached its peak! I felt uplifted afterwards because of such nice and missed chats with a very dear sister in law and Auntie Loving Kindness (the latter of which babysat in the evening so that we go out for a joint B-day dinner!)

Friday brought on the cookies exchange. 8 adults and 23 kids and LOTS of SUGAR. It was fun I think we did too much having to fit in the piano lesson and cleaning as well. Next time we'll drop the cleaning!

The weekend has been full of the usuals, the blessed routine of congregating to worship our Father and for fellowship afterwards. I felt terrible at the momment that I realized I'd left the strawberry jam that a certain dear sister was going to take for me to her Mother out West....oh dear my brain was not awake this morning.

Today the children impressed us, they sat for Memorial and then in the car for a 4 hour round trip to pick up a used - new to us stove (KichenAid!) and then straight to sit through Bible Class (and a very good one on Esther!)

After all that you are wondering "and where are the photos!"

They will follow!

2009-12-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

Weekly Menu

Monday: Chili

2lb ground beef
2 med. onion chopped
1 med pepper (whatever colour you want) chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1/4 dressing (Greek or Italian)

1 28 fl oz can of chickpeas drained
2 sm Ziploc baggies of frozen purred tomatoes (or 2 19 fl oz cans of diced tomatoes)
1 tsp chili powder

cook the first group until cooked through then add the second group, mix well, bring to a boil and then reduce to med-low heat and simmer for 20 minutes (or whatever time you have!)

Served tonight with homemade white bread and Balkan style yogurt and shredded cheese.

Tuesday: Roast chicken, potatoes, carrots & brussel sprouts with cheese melted on them

Wednesday: Broccoli and cauliflower quiche, garden salad, pull-apart rolls

Thursday: Make your Own pizzas with Auntie Loving-Kindness while we go out for a joint B-day dinner!

Friday: Shepperd's pie (make on Thursday afternoon as we have a cookie exchange and Little disciple on Friday)

Saturday: Roast, potatoes, brussel Sprouts, cauliflower, gravy

Sunday: Crock pot Fajitas (cut up leftover beef from night before, add 2 tsp taco seasoning, 1/2 C water, 1 onion sliced, 1 pepper sliced and 1C mushrooms sliced, heat on high for 1 hour then turn down to "keep warm" until we return from meeting) Salad for Mummy ;-(

2009-12-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

Why oh why does blogger load the photos in the reverse order that you select them? Oh well, so this is our day in Haifa but backwards!

This is Tel Dor where we went swimming at the end of the day. The actual Tel (or the archaeological ancient site for those who don't know what a "Tel" is) is on the top of the hill and under the water under the point of the hill. We really wanted to go up and hunt around the ruins but time was the enemy as was our exhaustion by the time we got here.

This is at the "Illegal Immigration Museum" The kids are standing in front of an actual ship that they used for Aliyah B as it was called. A was the British approved Aliyah and the B is for the secondary groups that made it to the shores of Israel during the Mandate period after WW2 when the Jews basically had no where to go but home! Usually you can go into the ship and it is all set up as it was back then but it was closed for renovations ;-(

Here are the 2 Goons inside an Israeli Navy Sub....they had audio playing to mimic a battle.

I thought this comic published at the time of the so called "white paper" during the Mandate period was a perfect representation of what was going on.

This is a Israeli Naval Patrol boat that Daddy took the kids into while Mummy watched Monkey play with rocks.

They had a great movie and display about the camps at Cyprus. After surviving the horror of WW2 the British put all the Jews that they caught coming into the land "illegally" and put them into camps on the island of Cyprus, a very said and disturbing time in history.

The Girls and I and my humongous hips!

This is the Sub that we went into...very cool!

This is the view of the full ship that they had that was under renos. It was a really neat museum as there was so much actual things to see and touch. Even terrorist boats and such that they have captured. They even had the wheel of the Arab ship they caught full of missiles and such smuggling to the so called palestinians...but why them calling themselves that is wrong and not historical is another blog post in itself! I will simply refer to them as Arabs.

Well that's it for today!

2009-12-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Again

Or should I say Shalom! Yes, we have been absent online for just over two weeks, but a needed break was essential to get everything running again on the homefont in our little place of sojourn this side of the Kingdom. The flight home went really well, considering. Helper fell asleep right away and slept for a solid 9-10 hours, Magoo fell asleep after they served dinner (at 12:30 am!) and slept on and off for about the same. Monkey slept (flinging herself about in Mummy's arms) for about 8 hours waking here and there...so they basically switched right away back to "Canada Time" as we have taken to calling it. Thankfully they were all happy and well behaved on the plane. We were so very thankful to have a happy and cheerful, simply wonderfuls Sister in Christ pick us up with a smile on her face.... at 5:30 in the monring! This made the arrival back a lot happier then it would have been, having left our home in Israel to come back to the land of ice and snow (well none yet, but I digress). We stopped of a MUCH NEEDED Starbucks on the way and then she dropped us home and headed straight for her day teaching at CHC....yeah she;s one of those Proverbs 31 kinda Lady that puts the rest of us, okay > ME to shame!

We walked in and were surrounded by the love of family. 2 bouquets of flowers on the kitchen island, groceries in the fridge. Dessert and dinner already made! It was such a nice welcome back from them.

So everyone settled in and Magoo kept commenting that "there is no sun in Canada Mummy" which was no all that helpful! Needless to say the children never napped that day so Daddy and Mummy were up for basically 48 hours straight!

The only catch of the whole day was finding black mold growing in the fridge and the smell had travelled up to the freezer so we had a throw out everything in the freezer and clean with bleach and then soap and vinegar.

It was wonderful to fall into bed that night, finally after a long 48 hours, well I think we got to bed at 47.5 but whose counting.

Now we have gotten back into the routine of CHC, Sunday school (the play was last week and went very well), everyday chores, piano lessons and preparing for the first ever Ontario Winter Bible School. Which we are very excited about! Today I finalized the plan for the children's class we are doing and it is focused on our vision and hope of the Kingdom. Such a thrilling topic. Thankfully even though we don't have snow they have a meter up North! So if anyone is reading this and going (cause no one leaves comments and mentions latter they read I have no idea who may glance at this) bring your stakes and sleds!

So the next two weeks will be on the verge of insanity but good spiritual busy insanity! We finally moved all the pictures and video from D's work laptop to the home computer so we aim to post 5 pictures each day for the next couple weeks of our trip to Israel to share with you all.

May God bless you in the study of His word of Truth!

Monkey crashed before we even drove out of the airport! Helper fell asleep soon after but Magoo was too excited to sleep!

I love this shot of Magoo helping Daddy by pushing a pram full of bags.

He is turning into a little man! The airport is really neat you go down this ramp as you arrive and departures are on the other side of the glass walking up.

Our first day in Jerusalem, the children simply loved playing around

the Roman pillars in the Cardo area.

The Kotel (our first of three visits, the second was for the

Rosh Chodesh march and the third was while sheltering from the rain on the last day)

Lunch on the first ful day there. Hummus on Challah bread rolls with letuce, mini cucumbers and the such like. I think Monkey is in bed in this picture!

2009-11-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Shalom

It is with a heavy heart we sit down and type tonight. Today was our last full day in God's land. We got up and out after the usual yogurt and fruit breakfast. We drove and found a house that another family in the Truth are thinking of renting and then found our way back to Mamilla to park.

We walked up Yafo (Jaffa) street to the main post office to post a book to Avi and get stamps for the plethora of postcards we need to send before we leave. We picked up the postcards a week ago with the plan being that we'd mail them early so that the recipents would get them while we are still gone...yep that never happened, but plan B is to get them into the cute little (very British looking) mailbox in the Old Quarter tomorrow.

Then we walked back through the mall and through to the Yafo gate. We walked through slowly taking our time as we had all day. Such a nice relaxing feeling. As walking down the narrow lil street (which is stressful as it is one narrow lane for traffic and NO sidewalk and we have a double side by side stroller!) anyways we noticed a bunch of Jews coming out of this archway and had noticed before and finally asked someone and lo and behold it is a way into the Quarter without having to go through the bulk of the "dangerous for a double stoller and children" way.

We did get a bit turned around but since we knew we were in a safe area (and very clean!) we felt fine and it was a good and fun adventure for all of us. Saw some beautiful window boxes and clay pots all over their balconies (this is the mainly residential area of the Jewish Quarter) they make great use of any growing area. There was one spactaqular Bougenvillea (pink) growing down from a 3rd floor blalcony. We found our way through and wished we'd known about this short cut earlier as it saved us a lot of stress.

We headed to the Hurva square and bumped into Avi right after mailing his book ~ Oy! It was a really nice surprise to see him again before we left. We settled into our cafe and ordered a salad for me for lunch as my gluten free tummy is fed up of all the bread I've had, even with limiting myself to bread at lunch only, and the odd pastry. Such a beautiful greek salad, it was beautiful and tasted to yummy! they grated the feta it was much tastier that way. D got a cappuchino but since I'd had the shakes earlier I decided to forgo the usual caffeine shot.

We then popped over to the Ariel Institute of the First Temple but it was full of a class trip. The kids played on a playground right beside the Broad Wall...another only in Israel moment! Poor Princess got a bit hurt so we went to find Daddy who had been shopping. We then wandered down to the Temple Institute and went in to see the actual models, well they aren't models but they've actually tried to make the instruments of the Temple, the musical instruments and the Menorah and the Table of Shewbread, and the priestly garments and so many other smaller items. They have done this to prepare for Moshicah (Messiah) to come and set up the Thrid Temple. You've got to admit that is very cool and amazing mindset!

We left with 4 bags!

Yeah I know...

Puzzles and a game for the kids (to teach the different offerings and Feasts according to the Law of Moses) and a print for the wall and a couple mini things.

Gift shopping for the Goons is offically done!

Then we walked back and popped back into Esther Wiess' shop to get headcoverings for the other 6 sisters we needed to....so hard to do as they are completely different colours as last time (of course) and hard to decide for someone else!

Then we walked back via the shortcut and down to the mall for a loo stop (very clean there!) and 2 cappuchinos for the parents. The plan being to drink them while the GOons played at the YMCA playground, well that didn't happen as we had to wander around for a bank machine to get INS to pay for parking. So by the time we got home to the apartment they were drunk!

We unloaded the car and sat and rested for about 30 min and then headed out to the playground (we like the YMCA one as it has a gate so Monkey cannot escape). After about an hour we headed home to make dinner. Lamb kebab sausages, potatoe & cheese pastries for everyone else, peas and rice for me. While that was cooking we did the readings with the Goons.

Monkey is in bed now and we got Magoo and Princess to do their postcards and D is atempting to attack the stuff we have to pack. The problem is that we thought we could take 70 lbs so had to use our extra bag on the way here......oh dear me!~ We got a box and some tape from the Temple Institute but it's still going to be tricky.

The 2 Goons are still up because we need to switch them back.

Li La Rev and Shalom for a final time from Yerushaliyim.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

2009-11-22T22:38:00.001-08:00

Li La Rev

Yesterday was a really nice ending to our ventures outside of Yerushalyim. We were able to be up and off by 9:30 with our packed lunch, some chips (and here they actually fill the bag, fancy that!) some chocolate wafer cookies and lots of water bottles. We headed out on hyw 1 and hit traffic. A police motorcycle had been in an accident so we were down to one lane. Those who have been here know how slow going it is when the heavy trucks are in front of you!

So instead of 1 & 1/2 hrs it took about 2 and a bit. We stopped at a rest stop for a cafe and crossants and Micah left his New Zealand hat there he was absolutely devestated and even though we tried to get there on our way back, you couldn't as it was on the other side of the divided hyw 6 (the toll road). So we are very glad we picked him up one at The City of David.

So off we went and got up to Migiddo. Ate lunch in the car in the parking lot and went in. They had a short video which helped explain the different time periods found at the site. Then we headed up and out to the Tel.

Wow, it was huge! and amazing whole city is up there, complete with 2 palaces (Ahab's and Solomon's) and the horse stables (Solomon's) and a yard for the horses and chariots and an Assyrian city and the views were astounding, the entire Jezreel valley was in view and Mt Tabor, and the IDF base there (complete with them doing flights over the valley!). Then we went down Ahab's water system. See they had a problem as there was no water source on the hill so they dug a tunnel down and through the hill to the water source and then buried it on the other side with rocks and gravel so that in a seige they would have water and the enemies would not. We went all the way down and the turned around and climbed ALL THE WAY UP as it ends at the hyw 66 and we would have had to walk along it for 600 m. with kids this was not really an option.

In total we spent about 3 hours there, buying a good book on life in New Testament times there and wishing we had space for stuff for Apps Mill!

Then we drove home and had pasta with peppers and onion for dinner and did the readings. Then we walked up to Ben Yehudah street to get pastries for today and donuts as this is the month of Hanukkah they celebrate buy boiling and frying lots of food in olive oil. The kids loved theirs and so did D but mine was more like a thick bagel. Not so impressed.

We picked up a surprise for Magoo and so far have managed to hid it!

Then we walked home and tucked everyone into bed. Monkey keeps waking up just before 7!

Well we are off today to spend the day where God has choosen to place His name.

We hope you are having a wonderful day as well!

2009-11-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Just tried to upload pics again....

Blogger keeps crashing when I try to load pics....

Promise to upload lots when we get home!

2009-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Shalom

Shabbat is over, and you can tell as the car traffic is picking up outside our living room window. We had a nice slow morning, eggs on toast for breakfast and then packed up the car and off to Tel Aviv we went as it was the closest beach. We drove down and parked in the same parking lot as three years ago, and low and behold our fav cafe is still there in the mni mall on the beach. A latte for D and an iced coffee for me and we were ready to wade through the sand (it is so super fine!) to get our picnic blanket down and get set in. The beach was nice and clean and there really wasn't that many people there considering.

All of us really enjoyed our time there. D and I taking turns taking the older Goons into the water to splash in the waves and the other would stay on the beach and play in the sand with Monkey. She was having an absulote blast using my iced coffee cup to make sand castles.

Princess asked to be buried, so we did and she kept giggling and it was very funny.

We headed back to give the sandy Goons baths and then took them to this really nice park across the road from our living room window.

Came home and made dinner. Pastries, potatoes & corn YUM!

We had been planning to walk up to Ben Yehuda street for cafe Afulk and pastries but we are too tired. I finally fell asleep around 1:30 am (a lot on my mind) and the sun has exhausted all of us.

We are about to do the readings (read Jonah 1 on our was to Tel Aviv = Yafo) and are doing Nehemiah with the Goons right now.

The older two are currently working on their scrapbooks and Monkey keeps rubbing Magoo's head and saying "Hi, Hi" and when they say "Hi" back she starts jabbering away in her own little made up language.

We are off early in the morning (God willing) for Megiddo.

God Bless & Li La Tov

2009-11-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Shabbat Shalom

You know, at the beginning of this trip (in the planning stages) I was preety annoyed that we were going to have basically 1 & 1/2-2 days of each week where nothing was open. Other then in Tel Aviv that is. Here in Jerusalem most things close at 2pm at the latest. The National Parks (which is most of what we want to see) are not even open Friday and Saturday.

Now we are learning to enjoy the slower pace on these days.

Today we stayed in bed until 10:30, of course the kids did not and we had to get up a couple times to sort out toys and get Monkey her milk. We had the usual breakfast of fruit, toast and yogurt. Made a grocery list and headed out. Grocery shopping here is an adventure. Once again I thought we bought eggplant salad, only to get home and open it and be let down again - Salsa! As I told D: "I'm not asking for help anymore in the grocery store!"

Seriously every aisle or two I get to try out my "Sli-ha, Mavin(a) Englit?" and yep, everyone does or the one lady that didn't understood French so there I was in the middle of Jersalem trying to get my brain in French gear.

After dropping off the groceries at the apartment (and smearing raw egg down my skirt after a mishap in the front door) we headed off to the Mamilla Mall again. This time for a good look at the bookstore there for a cook book (left without one, but with 2 bags full of other goodies) and a stop at our fav cafe, which we have no idea what it is called in English but recognize the black and red Hebrew lettering. This is the shop that serves chocolate stuffed crosants (that are actually in the shape of squares) that are about 5 in square and about 2 inches high and oh so delectable! We always order 4, and the kids never have a problem eating all of theirs! They also do the typically European thingy of giving you a chocolate with your cappuchino or latte (which we have discovered are the same thing in Israel) which is nice.

Then we had a bit of a parking fiasco. See it is free for the first 3 hours, but apparently we parked in the wrong side....because the other side was full and had to pay! oh well it was only 17ins but still.

We headed home and the Goons had mini cucumbers for lunch with some cheese and bread, but us grown ups were still full from the Lattes and pastry. I don't know how the kdis eat what they do! Then the girls went for a nap and before we knew it the afternoon was gone. We downloaded the many pics and videos....laughing at my pathetic atempts to take pictures through the window and video while the car was going 120km! Not so clear but gut aching hilarious!

We woke the girls up around 4 as the sun was starting to set (Shabbat had started) and walked around the corner to the YMCA where they have a lil playground and basically it took both of us to keep Monkey from seriously hurting herself-that girl has NO fear! Then walked back to an oven full of hot dinner.

Roast Chicken, baked potaotes, peas and Challah bread (which is INFANITELY better then the recipe I make).

We kept Monkey up for the first reading and then after she tucked into bed we had our Memorial Service. Which is always especially touching in Jerusalem. We ended by singing the 2 hymns that the Goons know well and then they were tucked into bed as well.

Now everyone but me are asleep, typical! I was exhausted 2 hours ago and now can't fall asleep!

Tomorrow is another easy day and then we will have 2 busy days before leaving for our place of sojourn,

God Bless

2009-11-20T00:20:00.001-08:00

Shalom

Sorry for the delay in updating. Bloger keeps crashing on me so that we type up an update and then it disappears.

And no I didn't drive in Jerusalemn after all. Lost my walet so had to walk.

Wednesday was a really nice day. We headed off to En-Gedi and since it had rained in the dessert the night before it was really neat. The steps and pathway had placed where you were walking through the clear, cool water. We saw a few conies (Psa 104) and even a mama and baby together. We also saw a group of about 30 (at least!) ibex crossing high up on the cliff edge. Unfortunately Monkey and I were up ahead so D only got the tail end on video and missed the huge Daddy one with massive horns. The Goons simply loved En-Gedi, hiding in caves, and trying to figure out which ones David would have used.

Since it was hot we treated ourselves to some ice cream before heading across the road to swim in the Dead Sea. This time everyone got in, though Princess got some in her eyes and came out after a few minutes. Even Monkey went in! Magoo LOVED floating and didn't find it scary at all. He was having the time of his life. D & him must have been in the Dead sea for half an hour. Mummy went in as well, and then we found salt crystals on the rocky beach and some neat red, orange and green rocks.

We headed home for dinner and found we were locked out! we've only been using the code and not the key and the landlady had been in to check something and had used the key. So we blasted the heat in the car and dried Monkey's pants (she got soaked at En-Gedi) and got ready to leave for dinner at the YMCA (famous building a block away) when someone arrived to let us in. We treated ourselves to dinner out anyways. A cheese platter very different from in Canada! Pasta for the Monkeys, fresh bread and such creamy butter. D had some grilled chicken wrap thing that was good and I had some Arabic "pizza"s lets just say I was not impressed.

So that was Wednesday.

Thursday we went to Budget and they were going to look in the other rental car for my walet (slightly freaking out, but D got me calmed down and put a hold on our cards and all that) We headed off by 8:30 travelling south to Timna.....of course there was a protest on the road so it took a bit longer then 3 hours. Timna was amazing. Copper mines which Solomon used (laver in the Temple) paddle boat ridding in a artificial lake, exact model of the Tabernacle and collecting sand in bottles (black, red, bright yellow and white are all found there) then plugging the bottels with clay found there as well.

Then we headed as far South as you can go to Eliat. We missed the underwater observatory as we arrived at 4 (because of the protest) and choose to swim as we only had an hour of daylight left. We had purple and orange fish swimming around us, pointed out Jordan, Egypt & Saudi Arabi to the kids and had a lesson on the crossing of the Red Sea.

Had dinner at the food court at the mall there and Lattes in the car for the driver. We drove down by the dead sea and had to drive back through the mountains so as not to go into the Biblical Heartland at night. Switchback after switchback and feeling like you were going to fall off of the mountian! Freaky drive home for the first part. Oh and Monkey SCREAMED for a good hour of it.

Now we are up, slept in a bit as we got woken at 4 am with either gun fire or distant tank fire (they were setting up in the Negev for a night training session as we were driving through) but there is nothing on the news yet as what that was all about!

God Bless

2009-11-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

Blogger keeps "error"ing and I can't upload any pics! Have tried twice and will try again later.

Right now I am off to drive to the grocery store............ah! We are off early in the morning and need some stuff for our usual packed lunch.

God Bless and we will try to update about our wonderful day today latter (Dead Sea & En-Gedi)

2009-11-17T09:52:00.001-08:00

Highlight Day!

Wow, what a spectacular, incredible, unbelievably amazing, stupendous, simply wow!

Today we had to get up earlier, about 7am. D went off to the King David hotel to pick up another, and bigger rental car, as we needed room for Avi (our guide for the day). After he left the kids got up and dressed and fed just in time as he and Avi pulled up and we were able to go straight from the breakfast table and out the door (Mummy frantically washing up the dishes from cereal as they put on their shoes and then took them off and put them on again, this time on the correct feet).

We pulled out of here around 8:30 to start our jam packed day. To start with the drove North, through past the security wall. Which in fact is only 10% built and doesn't stop anyone really as they can go through the drainage system. All this fuss about a "security wall" that barely covers any area at all. Where we drove through it ended nearby where we could see with our own eyes the truth of this fact.

So yes, we drove into Area "B" and up through we think Hawara (in any case it was an Arab town) all the way to Elon Moreh. Here we parked, got out and had a perfect lookout over to Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal even able to pick out the ancient altar which has been dated back to the time of Joshua with binoculars. It is not safe to go up there as it is near Nabulus. Everywhere we got there are fragments of pottery, and the children were given bits that Avi picked up. He was simply great with the Goons, relating it to them, asking them questions, even squeezing an ripe olive to show the oil coming out from it.

All the way along the road Avi was pointing out so much info and then kept having us get out the Bible, open it up and read it! Amazing, simply amazing!

So anyways, we jumped back into the car with our open Bibles and headed back through Hawara as we had to get through there before the kids (esp the teenagers) got out of school and started throwing rocks.

So we got through no problem and headed towards Shilo (Shiloh) which was incredible. The remains of the town ARE STILL THERE!

Think about that for just a sec.

Stop and think.

We know that the accounts in the Scriptures are true.

Do we really realize that the evidence is there.

In Shilo you walk through the gate, and down the ACTUAL path, past the foundations of store houses where the wheat, oil and wine was kept for the offerings. Then you round the corner and there is a flat place. Get this....the ONLY FLAT place large enough for the Tabernacle. and it is surrounded by a low wall. Here it is. The actual place where Samuel lay down and slept near the door where God called to him, where Hannah poured out her heart to God. Where Eli fell and died (okay that was at the gate and the gate is there! and Avi had Micah act it out for us).

Yeah that really took my breath away. One thing to hear about it, another thing to climb over the rocks and pick up pottery and get "Israeli scrapes" as Princess calls them (yes, she got another one today and was so pleased!)

As we left they were having a "big wigs" meeting about this town, which is in fact a town. Actual built houses, not exactically what you picture when you here the word "settlement". We are talking about families homes with flowers out front, toys and bikes in the small parking place or side walk. Strollers. I read an article recently that discribed them as subarbs of Jerusalem...but I digress,

We also saw a model of the Tabernacle and watched a short video of the Scriptural accounts that took place there, including the destruction of it by the Philistines. Which is why it is preserved so well as they burnt it and it was barely used afterwards in History.

Avi found and gave to Princess and hunk of white pottery that is curved and clearing part of something. He said probiblly part of the edge of the top of a large pot. She was thrilled!

See pottery, laying everywhere.

Then we headed to Bet-El (Bethel) and what a wonderful time we had there. Magoo thought the bits of the solider lookout towers and 2 army bases and seeing them practice shooting was all "so cool", I think we need to have the whole concienous objection chat again with a certain little man.

First we drove around a bit, about 6,000 people. Regular houses (small by North American standards) and caravans and apartments full of people there becuase of their faith in the promises to Abraham.

We drove through and right up to the top, the oldest section of the hill where there is a Biblical timeperiod cave burial (look it up in Genesis!) and the probible place of Jereboam's fake temple. This is the thing, I always pictured a town as in the size of a small city in Canada. The hilltops are not that big. AND it is definate from discriptions and wqhen you go there it isn't "oh well maybe it can be the next hill" no it is obvious!

Then we got to see a school there which has been in the Bible Magazine. So amazing listening to these 6 year olds recieting Genesis from the begining...and we have kids that complain about a single memory verse a week, pathetic!

We spent quite a bit of time there, chatting with the kids and looking at the walls that have posters of Noah's ark, the Tabernacle, the vessels of the Temple, all Bible stuff!

Then we visited across the road where the Jr highschool has been set up (7-8) and through a girls Yeshiva (part regular building part caravans) and then down past the ritual Mikveh (closed so the guys couldn't go in) and then into Arutz-7. One of the guys there was from Canada before he made Alyiah and he even hooked Magoo up to a mike and recorded him for a commercial for Eyesh Chyl (Woman of Valour) that I listen too. Wasn't expecting that so it was so cool. Except he wasnted to "interview" Magoo and he froze and was all "I don't rememeber, I don't know" ARGH mother's frustration.

They sort of remembered Dad and asked if we were Christians from Philidelphia and I just had to laugh as we get that all the time instead of Christadelphians. Asked to buy shirts and they couldn't find any....oh well we can always order them off the internet.

Well to get back to Jerusalem Avi had us pick up a hitch hiker that was heading here which at first I wasn't so sure of but he made sure they knew where they were going and everything. It was great a real genuine Israeli experience. Afterall Bet-el is only 15 min from the outskirts of Jerusalem! Settlement my foot.

Dinner was in again, as the kids had been SO good and needed some time to goof off and run around and simply play. So as D returned the rental we made salad (you don't need dressing as everything is so fresh and gorgeous) and lipton's feticinni alfredo that was brought over in the suitcase. We have now just about gotten through all the food we brought (well we only brought some basics) and so we will be able to eat out more now as we get more tired.

D is looking through video clips from today, and we weren't taping when we thought always. Oh dear, but still some gems. Of course the clip of the Area "A" sign (another rant but I'll leave it for now) was all a blur.

Going into the Biblical heartland was simply amazing. Seeing it for our very own eyes. Touching it with our fingers. Is it safe to to there? Definately (though I would say with a guide as the GPS shuts down and you wouldn't want to get lost!)

We look forward to that day soon to come when the tribes will be again settled in their new cantons. Benjamin and Judah as bookends to the holy area for the Prince and the Sanctuary.

May we be granted grace and blessing in that day to serve our Heavenly Father there.

Amen.

2009-11-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Some pictures of the last couple days. For those who are wondering what all the fuss is about Silwan (borrowed of the net as we didn't dare taking photos!):

Then we finally arrived at the Mount of Olives

One of our Favorite places to end the day (Sambooki for Pastries)

and because it was the very end of Shabbat, we got fresh and hot ones!

the only ones missing from the photo are the ones we ate!

Daddy had a Cafe Afulk here instead

2009-11-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

Li La Rev

Apologies, yesterday evening we gt in late and spent the little time before crashing into bed trying to get D's cell phone working (it does now) and preparing the backpacks and clothing for today, so were not able to update.

Yesterday we were able to get off to an early start, doing a load of much needed laundry while eating breakfast. We decided that since we were going to be so late leaving the Old City that we would park the car in the Mamilla Mall just outside of the Jafo gate which would cut out walk into half.

We spent about 30 minutes walking around the mall and another half hour getting a Cafe Afulk and pastries there as the english tour of the David Citadel (which has nothing to do with David by the way) did not start until 11. We got there in plenty of time and followed it as we went up to the top (so high and yes I am a wee bit scared of heights I am discovering) and were given an overview of the city. Because of the timing we were up there trying to listen to the guide while the Moslems had there 1 of 5 call to prayer, Oy so loud. We all giggled a bit when she said "this is a bit disturbing" and agreed. It was so loud you couldn't even hear yourself think!

Then we followed the tour for the first 2 hours as they did the section on Biblical Jerusalem and then left as it was 1 pm and we needed to get the Goons lunch. We walked through the quater to the Quarter Cafe which is very high up and over looks some Roman Ruins and also the stairs down to the Kotel. Potatoe Latkes, brocoli quiche, veggie soup, falafal and eggplant baked something was the menu which we all shared out between us.

To get down we walked on the tops of houses and past some of their homes...so neat to see. Then we entered the Burnt House for the portrayal of the Roman descruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It was very moving and near the end poor Magoo was in tears and so upset to see what the Romans did to God's people. So him and I left with Monkey and waited for Daddy and Princess at the end. This opened a door for us to talk to the children about AD 70, the prophecies it fulfilled and the reason for God's judgement on the Nation at that time. They really took it in, as we sipped hot cappuchinos (it was cold yesterday) and coke. We met up with the Sweenys and had a nice restful visit before they went off to Tel Aviv and we went throught the Herodian Quarter.

After 1967, because most of that section (nearly 100%) was destroyed and leveled by the Arabs, they had the great oppurtunity to excavate and found 4 houses (as well as the bunrnt house) remaining with the chared beams and mosaics and walls and baths and so many things. This was great as the kids love running around the ruins and exploring and trying to figure out what they are. It is like a giant puzzle to them. They had a reconstructed model with lil people in it down there as well which really helped us understand what exactically we were looking at.

Then we popped into some stores just to look and headed slowly down to the Kotel Plaza where they were gathering for the Rosh Chodest March (the New Moon celebration under the Law, but since there is no Temple they march around the Temple platform singing the Psalms of Ascent and praying at each gate, I forget how many, for Messiah Son of David to return and build the thrid Temple and bring redemption to His people.) We thought it started at sun down (5ish) but instead it was that Ethiopian celelbration instead and then we waited forever. We could see the truck with the Temple flags, but nothing was happening. Then Moshe arrived to say he found out it wasn't starting until 7! Oy. The kids ate snacks while we waited of fresh dates and the gummy bears Aunty L had sent for the trip (thank you!) Then it started (2 hr wait) and we watched from the stairs as it was too late to go on it with tired children. We had the oppurtunity to explain it to a couple from England that had helped with the stroller at one point. Also had a good chat with them about the Truth.

We stopped in the Jewish Quarter for Swarma for dinner, and the is much leftovers as the kids were full from snacks. Oh well.

Now I am desparately drinking coffee and trying to wake up. Got woken up around 6am with the garbage truck or something loud. Avi arrives in less then an hour and so off to the shower I run!

God Bless on this day!

2009-11-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

Shalom on Sunday

Apologies at the start, my brain is weary so this may be short, or it may not. I will try to make it flow though and make sense to the readers.

Today was a busy and rewarding day. We had our usual breakfast and decided instead of paying for parking we would walk up to the Old City again, through the Armenian and Jewish quarters and the down all those many many steps at the Kotel and out the Dung gate, hang a left and head down to the City of David.

They are doing even more excavating in the area where it used to be a parking lot and they have cut outs in the boards beside the sidewalk so we were all able to peak in at the latest excavations. We found out later that they have found a Roman earring, some pottery and such in a large building so the theory right now is that this is Queen Helena's Palace (she converted to Judaism and it is recorded that she built a palace in this area of the city). Then we went in and enquired about the english film and mentioned that we hadn't been shown around King David's Palace last time. They were SO accomidating, no hassle whatsoever. They called back and a guide came out and we got our very own tour of King David's Palace (and video taped it of corse) and then she rushed off after we were done as another VIP group was here. We also saw the guy incharge of all the City of David excavations and now know that we have his photo. It is simply amazing all the discoveries that have been made on Mt Zion. Then we had to wait a bit (for the said VIP group to get out of the way) for the video so we spent a lovely long time in the gift shop and fhound a great book about the excavations, and D just was flipping through it and it mentions Henry Sulley! WOW! Got some presents to bring home as well. D tempted me to get a necklace but I will keep looking around for the best deal. We may end up going back.

The movie turned out to be 3D and was so moving. It takes you through the whole history of the City of David. Monkey freaked out a bit but we sorta expected that to happen. We taped it but only the second half with the glasses so the 1st half is burry but the audio is still good. The Goons really took in and absorbed a lot of info from it. Princess didn't like the bit where birds flew at you that much but since it wasn't gory at all she enjoyed it as well. They even showed Jeremiah in the pit and Isaiah on the walls shouting at the Assyrians. Definately worth going back for!

Then we crossed back over to go into the Davidson Center. At this point we noticed the increased security and low and behold the US peoples we mentioned before arrived at the Kotel. They seem to be following us around.

The Davidson Center was much better this time without a sick child. They also had a 10 minute movie using thier virtual reality set up (which you can pay 160 INS each to go in....we obviously did not) to show you what it would have looked like at the time of Christ to walk up to and through the Temple.

They also have exhibits of daily items from that time period that were found there just outside the Temple platform, many coins, oil lamps, pot sherds and also items from the Ummaydian period.

We spent some time walking up the road that dates from the second Temple time period past remants of shops where the pilgram would have purchased his/her sacrifical offering which led to the staircase that ends at Robinsons' arch.

This time we were able to go up the ACTUAL ORIGINAL (that blew me away) steps to the Hulda and Triple gates. Last time this was closed and locked. The kids loved climbing all over the ruins and actually "acting" things out. They had a blast going up and down the stairs to the Mikveh "Look Mummy I'm on the dirty side I'm going to get cleansed" Princess said. Magoo kept jumping from one side to the other thinking it was hilarious!Monkey simply wanted to pick up each and every single stone on the path!

Afterwards we climbed up the many Many steps back to the Jewish quarter and headed straight for the Hurva Square and our fav cafe. They have the most amazing iced coffee! The Goons shared some Bamba (a fav Israeli snack food that looks like chessezes but are peanut butter flavoured instead) and a coke and D had a Cappuchino. Then we popped into Shirorisim again and this time picked up some Hebrew Calligraphy cards.

We walked back past Esther Wiess' and grabbed some headcoverings for gifts but we will need to go back as there are more that we need to get for. I only got 2 this time, be proud!

D bought some bread and we munched on that as we walked back out of The Old City and down Argon St to the King David street...and straight past the Saban Convention that is going on! No wonder there was heavy security. Then as we walked past the King David Hotel the US group was leaving.

We had Chesed's potatoes, swiss chalet gravy, peas and chicken for dinner and as that was cooking quickly threw the Goons in and out of the bath! My they were dirty.

Now we are enjoying the relative peace and are hoping that the Sweenys will pop by this evening.

Tomorrow is turning out to be jam packed. David's Citidel Tour at 11am, Burnt House Tour, Ariel the 1st Temple Institute around 1pm, The Temple Institute, Start the Rosh Chodesh March and then turn around at the first gate (Moshe said this is safe to do) and have dinner overlooking the Kotel and then meet up with the march at the end near the Golden Gates!

Li La Tov!

2009-11-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Change of Pace

With Shabbat being today (until 6:20ish) we took a much slower pace, and it was needed. We had a very yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage (beef) and hashbrowns and toast. The sausages weren't exactically what we are used to at home but still good. Then we headed up to the playground on Ramban Street that we visited frequently on our last trip. The children loved the chance to play and run and yell! They are quite shy around others, even at home, and more so here where they do not understand what is being said around and to them. After about 30 minutes of good solid play time we walked home and had lunch. Phyllo pastry squares stuffed with potatoes and cheese...oh yeah and some salad for our goodness :-)

Monkey went down for a much needed nap and we settled into the living room for a memorial service. We started with "Lead me Lord", D read the three daily readings, the memorials and then ended singing "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem" (those are the children's two fav. hymns).

Princess then tucked into her own wee bed and we had about 30 min of peace, sipping tea and nibbling the last 2 pastries leftover from our complany on Erev Shabbat.

Noticing the time we got the girls up and out the door as this time we wanted to make sure that we got to see the Mt of Olives (a miss because of the sickies last trip). So off we went, merrily following (blindly following) the GPS. We were both a bit concerned as it seemed to be taking us away for Jewish Jerusalem to the East....Oy

Yep, we ended up in Silwan, again. This time though we were on such narrow roads that there was no way that we could turn around at all. The windows were up and the doors locked! It is amazing that the momment we drove a block from the Jewish area into the Arab area it was covered in garbage, and just basically disgusting. Says a lot doesn't it.

So we got through. At one point we were stuck still behind a bunch of cars and kids were coming up to the car...At the one point we were stopped and the kids were goofing off and one walked backwards into our car and then we had them yelling at us. Great here we are stuck in Silwan (again) with cars parked in front of us, cars parked behind us, no way to turn around and kids yelling at us....Yes I prayed our way through there. Oh yeah and a group of them had this horse tied to a rope and as a couple of them were holding on to the rope the other kids was beating it with a stick!

It was a huge relief to recognize that we were coming up to the City of David and the Old City walls. We got up to Olives and parked the car in this random car pull in and got out. After enjoying the view of the Old City and a couple of pictures, D noticed stairs going up. So we crossed the road and climbed the rest of the way through the graves up to the top of Olives (Magoo was disappointed there was no gamal = camel) and took some more pics. At which point I realised that I'd left my backpack with walet IN THE CAR! There were police guarding the one entrance to the Jewish cemetery and another near the Dung gate on our way home. Definately something going on tonight!

Oh and did I mention that that entourage that we had pass us the other day on the hyw to Jerusalem was Clinton and Arnold Swar....however you spell his name! they are staying just around the corner at the King David. Though we haven't seen them we had a VIP group pass us at the City of David tour (ours was stopped so that we wouldn't be near them) and overheard the one lady (dressed to the nines and in stelleto heals, yes I rolled my eyes!) chatting away about how Hillary was mad cause Bush was late and the plane was late.... interessting.

Anyways. That's not why we're here just an interessting aside.

So we made it home, thanks be to our Heavenly Father. Dinner was Fetichinni with stirfried veggies, sauce, chicken and left over Challah bread. After dinner we headed out and walked up to Ben Yehudah street in time for we thought an Ethiopian Jewish celebration....well I don't know what happened but it didn't happen. So we walked through and down Jafo for a cafe Hillel for Daddy and Pastries at SamBooki for the whole family. They were still warm as Shabbat had only just ended.

We popped into some shops on the way back and picked up a print for the wall. Princess and Magoo walked the whole way there and back, so impressed with their little legs! Of course it helps when you are playing games to pass the time.

We noticed the grocery store was open again so we popped in for fresh, still warm bread, melon and some dried apples and treats for breakfast and lunch tomorrow.

We are hoping to see the movie at The City of David that we missed the other day and then maybe the Davidson Center.

God Bless and until next time...
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

2009-11-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

Some pics from Wed-Thurs

Monkey in Ceasarea

The Family in Ceasarea

Magoo discovering the ruins there

The Fortress of Elah

Bougenvellia cover the country!

2009-11-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

Shabbat Shalom

This morning we actually set the alarm as we had to phone The City of David to get information on the english tour that went out this morning. Today is Shabbat so they were only doing the 10 am tour instead of another one in the early afternoon. No problem we thought, we have just over an hour to get showered, dressed, fed and out the door.

Well, that wasn't the problem! We got out in time, leaving by 9:20 to get there for 9:45. Do remember this is very close, it SHOULD be a ten minute drive.....MAX!

However you see they have these roads in Israel that one minute are two way and the next minute, with no signs whatsoever of what is coming up switches to one way. Not going the way you are driving, of course. So here we are driving around the circumfrence of the Old City and Bam, there in front of us, taking up the entire road, is a massive tour bus and a not so happy driver. Okay, he was mad. Thankfully D was driving (okay lets be honest here, the ONLY reason I am on the car rental and the ONLY way I will be driving is if there is an emergency and D can't because he is in an ambulence or something like that). So we reversed merrily down the road, around the bend and down the hill, until we could pull in and turn around on some little wee street.

Yeah, so then the real fun started.

We "followed the signs" to The City of David. In Canada these actually point you in the right direction, here they sortof point in the general direction and the left is left up to some inner geological positioning capabilties that Israelis must posess.

Four tries, and a near tears wife as we are once again lost in a not so great part of town, and into "Peace Forest" that was covered in anti-Israel graffti (someone please explain how THAT is peaceful!) and we finally discovered a little old road that lead down the Gihon valley and in the general direction of where we'd like to go.

Then we had to park

Enough said about that!

Magoo and Mummy ran in to find out that yes we were late (10:20 instead of 9:45) but all we had missed was the movie, and we could come back to see that on Sunday, and yes we could catch up with the English tour if we left "right now". So with much rushing about and everything we made it.

Was all that fuss worth it? Absulotely!

The tour was amazing, so much has ben uncovered since we were last here 3 years ago. What everyone thought was the pool of Siloam is not! instead they have uncovered the actual steps down from the Temple to a massive pool that Herod had re-done that messures 30 METERs square. Herod did nothing small did he! but not all is dug up, see they have this wee problem of the fact that a good portion of it is under land owned by the Greek Orthodox Church and they being what they are will not let anyone excavate...typical!

They also have uncovered the stairs with remants of those Jews that hid under them in AD 70, this is recorded in F. Josephus when he tells of the Romans breaking up the stairs to find the last Jew and destroy them. Remind you of anyone?

The stuff from the time of King David was simply breath taking. His actual Palace, the fortified walls and the tunnels. They have just found a tunnel in the past 2 months and are excavating it right now.

I was on video duty as Monkey wanted Daddy...and we have a full high definition video of the sky, ground with crying child in it as I kept making mistakes and having it on when it should have been off.

Note to self, when walking down steep and see through steps and afriad of hieghts, pass the video camera to someone else!

Since it is Shabbat we had to stop at the grocery store for food, and it being when it was ended up not getting home for lunch until 2:30. For all you freaking out because of the poor children, they had snacks on the drive inbetween.

This afternoon it POURED rain (odd occurence right now) for a good 15-20 minutes. The girls had a long 2 hour nap and we got dinner ready and a wonderful couple in the Truth that are over here right now. That was how we spent our evening, dinner and a Bible reading with others in the Truth, refreshing!

Now it is time fo Li La Tov. Tomorrow is going to be a relaxing day, we may go up the Mt of Olives and then just let the kids play.

Shabbat Shalom!

2009-11-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

Shalom from Erezt Yisrael

It is so nice to have older children to play with Monkey when she wakes up and Mummy is exhausted. Princess & Magoo gave her, her bottle and played with her as we attempted to get up this morning. Breakfast was yojurt, it is so creamy (3%) and delicious here, this morning's choice turned out to be strawberry cheesecake and banana and toast.

Once again our rental car was loaded up with strollers, beach towels, packed lunch, 2 huge water bottles + 4 smaller sippy cups and bottles full of water, GPS, maps, diaper bag and swimming stuff. Off we went West towards Tel Aviv and then up hyw 2 to Queserya (Ceasarea). On the way we told the children the Bible stories surrounding the places we were going to visit today. Paul persecuting the ecclesis then being in prison himself there (yesterday's reading!) for 2 years. Cornellius and Peter and then the best we saved for last, Herod being eaten alive by worms! Magoo thought that was cool. We slightly changed plans and headed for the actual Tel first and ate lunch in the parking lot.

It is humbling that Paul witnessed even to the Roman authorities even appearing to Ceasar himself and how that we need to follow his example.

Last time we went (3 yrs ago) there was almost no one there, today it was packed! The children absolutely loved runing and climbing all over the ruins and there were quite a few hilarious episodes. Magoo thought the sand on the path was ancient, Princess was so excited to get yet another Israeli scrape on her arm, Monkey driving us all nuts in the background of nearly all the video clips. This trime we watched a 10 minute video presentation on the history of the city which was very good, though we didn't get to record it as we were sitting to close to the screen. The Hippadroom was huge and they had a pretend chariot there for the chidlren to climb up on, a highlight for Magoo. The tiled mosaics on the public bathroom floors were neat, the theater was great and they actually still use it today for events and productions. We have a hilarious video clip of the Goons up sitting in the theater with Daddy but that will have to wait until we download it all!

There seem to be so many more tourists around this time. Even at the Aqucduct (which is a couple minutes up the road) there were 2 full buses full and so many people. The children and Daddy still swam (we choose to pretend we couldn't read English and ignor the sign posted there) while Mummy stayed with Monkey near the car as she was FINALLY asleep! After about an hour or a bit less she woke up and we joined the family on the beach to collect shells and perfectly smooth rocks. I cen see luggage weight being a problem on the way home! Princess was so sweet chatting away as she picked up rocks "and this one is a Daddy shell and this lil one is a baby shell..."

Thankfully we packed some snacks as it was 5 when we left and shoule have taken about an hour and 15 to get home. We sorta forgot about rush hour and spent forever stuck in Tel Aviv! People watching, trains and giggle fits kept the children entertained. Watching 8 police cars race up to Jerusalem made us wonder what was going on tonight.

Oh and Monkey learnt a new word "yes" which comes out as "bes"

Finally we got in around 7:30 and quickly made a dinner of fried eggs on toast and fruit. Tomorrow we are planning on staying in Jerusalem as they are calling for rain (it sprinkled on the way up the mountain) and there is a wet warning!

Li La Tov!

2009-11-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

We arrive!

Park across the road

Haifa Museum
Princess at Tel-Dor
Monkey in Tel-Dor

Magoo loved the crab & lil fish in the water!

Read Below for Post, here are some photosof the first 2 days!

2009-11-11T09:53:00.001-08:00

Shalom on day three

Today has to be one of our favourite days in Israel. We actually got out of bed in record time this morning, Magoo and Monkey (D says that should be Sprout's new name) getting up around 7:30 and Princess not to long afterwards. Breakfast was a combo deal of basically what was left in the kitchen. Toast with raspberry jam, mango yogurt, strawberry yogurt, bananas and cereal. We had packed up the night before (you wouldn't believe how much time it takes to gather together all the stuff we need) double checked our water supply for the day as it was to get hot and we were planning on spending the day outside.

Our first stop was to the King David Hotel right up the road to double check on a different rental car for tuesday...you'll have to wait to see what we are planning that day! Then we were off and this time didn't have to do any illegal u-turns in order to follow the GPS, which is a great source of ammusement and it has taken us a total of 5 different ways into Jerusalem so far. We're wondering just how many different ways it can by the time we head home. The best was the first night when it took us through Machaneh Yehuda and the edge of Me'a She'arim. But I digress...

It was simply stunning, espcially after turning onto highway 35 S which leads to Bet Shemesh and places beyond in the Shomron. Daniel pulled over a few times for photo ops and then we found and stopped at a look out where you can see the valley leading from Gat (Gath) to Bet Shemesh where we are told in the Scriptures that the ark came up on a cart lead by 2 milch cows when it was returned from the Philistines to Israel. We drove through Zoar and Esh-tol; Samson territory! Then we looked and found the little dirt path that leads to the Fortress of Elah. Amazing discoveries there in the past couple years (http://www.elahfortress.com/ has a lot of neat info and a video).

Basically you have to find this small dirt road (and there are numerous) after Z(ec)harya and then choose another of 4 dirt paths. The driving instructions said to take the second path, and we thought we took it. But, well, it was a neat drive and then we realized we were on the wrong side of the hills! So Daniel amazingly managed to turn around (the first of two amazing turn arounds today) and go down the correct one. There is nothing there but the ruins that they are just now excavating...exciting. The kids thought seeing a turtle was neat, and the ruins were breath taking. So much more to write about that but I'll let their website to that for us.

We then munched on the usual lunch in the car driving South again on 35 to La(c)hish. We drove around the kibbut first and thought it was neat that in the same spot is another "watch town" for Jerusalem. It was a wee bit of a climp UP to the ruins on the very tip top of the hill/mountain. Daniel took the time to explain to the children all the importance of the town and it's history as a watch/signal town and the destruction by the Assyrians. Monkey was such a great sport and loved walking around and up and over the steps to the ruins.

The view was incredible, again. We know we saw the hilltop of Hevron, but didn't know which one it was. You can completely understand why it was used as a signal and guard settlement when you see the layout from the lookout at the top of the ruins.

It was very hot there, no shade and it was at least 26 degrees C. Us girls washed our faces off after the hike before we got into the air conditioned car. We understand now why everyone carrys water with them in Israel. Seriously everyone carrys watter around!

On the drive back up and North to Jerusalem we desided to go up the Burma Road...intended for jeeps only and sign posted as such. After much intakes of breath and giggles we turned around (the second amazing turn around, I am so very greatful that we didn't go off the edge or get stuck on the cracks in the road!)...we have a priceless video clip of it but as with everything we are needing to download it all.

Monkey needed a wee nap so we headed home for a break. A cuppa on the belcony laughing at all the horns honking on the road was refreshing. We then trekked up to Ben Yehuah and I enjoyed the "descreet skirt shop" a wee bit too much and got two new skirts and blue one and a khaki one. As I brought mainly denim ones these will be great as it is much hotter this time then the last trip during the same time!

We had our first Swarmma for dinner (54 INS=15CAD for all of us to eat!), and no I couldn't figure out how on earth to order a juice so we walked up for Daddy's Cafe Afulla at Sambooki and got strawberry and peach juice for the kids there instead. So yummy, oh yeah and a BOX of pastries for our dinner guests for Shabbat (if we don't eat them first Laurie!)! It is by weight and so delicous. Thank goodness for all the walking otherwise I would be returning to Canada so extra weight not in the suitcase but around my middle!

(as it was we were overweight coming as we thought it was 70 lbs but it is 50 lbs aloud, not sure how we are going to manage coming back!)

Then we walked back home via the grocery store and Magoo and Mummy ran in for breakfast and lunch fixings for tomorrow. Thankfully I found another young Mom (with kids in tow) and she spoke english and was so kind and figured out which butter I wanted (regular, salted, garlic, onion, mixed...).

So now the children are (we think) asleep and we are working on plans for tomorrow. It is so nice to just decide the night before what to do.

God Bless from Yerusaliyim!

2009-11-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

Shalom on day two!

Hello again, to whomever may be reading this...

We had yet another wonderful day, but then we are in God's land so how could we not? It was much harder to get out of bed this morning. Sprout has developed an evening cough which keeps her and Mummy up and I simply am having a bit of a rough go with the time change. Is it worth it? definately!

This morning breakfast was bowls of "harvest crunch" that we brought over in our suitcases and very sweet apple juice. They grow different varities of apples here and you can certainly tell the difference in the juice. It was a bit of a mad ash to get ready as we had desided the night before to go up North to Haifa to visit the Illegal Immigration and Naval history Museum. The car ride was great, I mean where else in the world can you have a running commentary of Biblical stories based on the view? and the questions from the kids were as usual, ammusing. We saw a flock of pelicans flying from the Med. Sea inland and tried to capture it on video but Mummy had not yet figured out the zoom feature on the camcorder. Lunch was eaten on the way up (Challah rolls with smoked turkey for the boys, the same in pitas for the girls and mini cucumbers and gold fish crakers).

We arrived (thanks to the trusty GPS) only to find that the main exhibit (an actual boat used to bring Jews from pots WW2 Europe to Israel that is beached that you can walk through and see what the living quarters were like) was closed for construction, typical. However the rest of it was good. A highlight for the children was to actually walk into and through an Israeli Sub. and a navy intercept boat. There were many models, a notable one of the Exodus (and if you don't know about that google it!) Ship. Magoo loved climbing up and all over the various caputred terrorist boats and old Israel boats and weapons. It was a great place for the kids and really interessting, espceially for me, was the section on the blockabe and deportation to Cyprus by the British of so many Jews because of the White Paper. Such a sad part in history! But God had stated that the Jews would be back in the Land and so the British were over-ruled by the Highest power!

After a few hours there we loaded back into the car and headed South to Dor/Nacholim where the ancient Tel-Dor is. We were a wee bit too tired to hike up to the actual Tel and so changed into our bathing suits and splashed about, built sand tunnels, exclaimed over a poor spotted crab and collected shells. Sprout was simply adorable and ingenious as she soon was using a shell as a shovel! The sun started to set as we headed back to the car, quickly dried off (as the tempurature was dropping quickly) and sat down for a snack of personal sized cucumbers and oranges.

Get this, we bought a bag of oranges (about 20) for 2.99 INS that is LESS then a dollar! Wow!

It was soon evident to Daddy that we were not going to make it home for dinner as Mummy's head was simply splitting. So we stopped at Zichron Yaakov (which was on our list to do thanks to the Loveridges) and you are going to roll your eyes, had Burger King for dinner....I know pathetic! but everywhere else was more Shekels and it was still an interessting experience as we don't speak Hebrew and the cashier didn't speak English (I got laughed at twice, but that'ws fine). So with some pointing and holding up numbers of fingers we got our supper...such a yummy salad and burger! They always have salad here, so healthy. Then Daddy, who was full of marvolous ideas popped into another cafe for Cafe Afuuk (upside down coffee = cappuchino) and chocolate stuffed crossants. Wow were those good.

So there we are standing at the front of the car simply swooning while eating these pastries and I look over and Sprout is sucking on her thumb, not unusual...and her hands are covered, COVERED in black oil from the tire of the car next to us. We're eating chocolate and she is eating car grease, great! Purelle saved the day, and wet wipes which we are thinking we should have brought 3 packs instead of 2, but I digress.

The rest of the drive was uneventful, other then a bit slow going on the way up to Yerusaliyim and we figured "great some so called important person is visiting so they are checking all the cars" which by the way does happen as last time we were going the other way and it was lined up for miles because Condalessa Rice was visiting, blah. But it was just a car bump, how boring.

Now the Goons are tucked into bed. Princess dreaming Gravol dreams again (she is finding it hard) and are planning out tomorrows great adventures.

We plan on going to the Elah Fortress, http://www.elahfortress.com/page18/page23/page23.html

great article on the importance of the site.

Until tomorrow then, God Bless and Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

2009-11-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

Shalom

What a wonderful and very full day we have had today. This morning we enjoyed a slower pace and set out first thing for the grocery store, enjoying the walk and then really enjoying the lovely creamy yojurt and bananas. At that point it was desided that Sprout really needed a nap! Lunch was lovely doughy fresh pita and Challah buns with with poppy seeds, onto which we sliced tomatoes (which tasted so fresh as from a garden) cheese (which we think was a variation of Havarti) or turkey and iceburg letuce. The best part of lunch were those mini cucumbers so crisp and sweet! Well, that and the humus!

After lunch we put on our walking shoes and ventured up toe the Old City. Such a beautiful walk through the most stunning park we've seen. The lushness of the bougenvillea vines, the old and knarled olive trees, the roses bushs and fragrent evergreen bushes, everything was just perfect especially the views up to the old city. We also walked past the famous Windmill and through that area which has been inhabited by Jews since the 1870s.

After asking for some directions in the park (as the map showing roads were not infact real roads) we made our way up to the Jafo Gate instead of the Zion Gate as had been planned since we were on that side of the valley. Both Princess and Magoo walked the whole way there and through to the Jewish Quarter.

After entering the Jafo Gate we remembered the narrowness of the sidewalk...and that is only when they exsist! They always disappear when you need them the most, such as going through a tunnel and around a blind corner!

It was refreshingly familiar to walk this route, past the Pizza Carbo where Esther Wiess has that amazing headcovering shop (and no I only looked today, no purchasing!) and stopped in the Hurva Court to enjoy an iced coffee, cappuchino and sprite. Mainly we spent our time today just walking around, enjoying the sites and taking the time and patience to explain the significance and importance of the Broad Wall remains, the remnant of the original city wall from the time of King Solomon, the model of the Menorah, the Pillars from the Roman Period.

After a good chat with Moshe (and promises to come back) we headed down the many, many, MANY stairs to the Kotel.

To me the Kotel signifys all that has been there and also the Hope of the future when once again the Temple will stand, though in a much larger size (it will take up all of the Old City area). I took the girls down because Princess doesn't remember seeing it, and she could not get over the size of the stones.

We spent some time just watching everyone there and then went back UP all those stairs, and yes we were carrying the double stroller with Sprout in it the whole time.

Poor Princess got a blister from her crocs so she was allowed in the stroller from the Kotel on (excluding the steps) and good 'ol Magoo walked all the way back explaining to Mummy all the differences between Israel and Canada....this taking, in his absent minded professer way, nearly the whole walk home until we turned off of Ramban/Argon and headed down to our lil road.

Now the children and tucked in for the night, Sprout having excepted this as home for now, with their tummies full of chicken, rice and salad.

We are going to have our memorial here in Yerusaliyim and then tuck in as well! Our feet certainly deserve a rest and we must get up early for our next adventures.

God Bless and hopefully we will have an update for you again tomorrow.

In the Hope of Israe!
(ps: pictures to follow, and the spell check is not working, sorry!)

2009-11-08T23:21:00.000-08:00

Shalom from Yerushalylim

The 11 hour plane ride went resonably well. The children went to bed at 4 30 and we woke them at 715pm to go to the airport. Expecting them to sleep in the car turned out to be hilarious, of course they were as excited as we were. Thankfully Dave drove with us so that we didn't have to pay to park the car for over two weeks! You won't believe it but we all fit in the Mazda 5 AND 2 strollers (a double umbrella thanks fo Ashley) and a regular unbrella storller. The children's clothing and the food (rice, pasta, cereal & snacks) and enough diapers for 18 days and wipes all fit into one medium bright purple suitcase we borrowed and our clothes, reference books and scrapbook stuff all fit in our usual suitcase. Then we had 5 backpacks.

The two older ones finally fell asleep about 2 hours into the planr ride, Sprout was off and on. She'd sleep for an hour, then wake up, then sleep for an hour the wake up...finally sleeping for a total of about 4 hours in between play time on Mummy's lap. We were so glad to have packed many little bags of different toys as they all came in handy with her. She finally got fed up after we entered Israeli airspcace, but it was too late for her to get up! They have a security code that no one is aloud out of their seats once in their area, so there was a mad dash to re-pack carryons and such as we were only given a 15 minute warning.

Seeing the lights as we approached for landing literally brought tears into my eyes, strugglying to keep my composer to explain to Magoo what we were seeing.

What a blessing it is to be back here. G-d is so good to us.

Well that is all for now, we need milk for the ceareal we brought so off for our first adventure, grocery shopping in Hebrew with no-one here to help! Oy!

2009-11-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

A Wee Look at our Homeschooling Days:

Magoo's work done for the day!

LOTS of time for Legos

Our pathetic Brussel sprout harvest, oh well less to blanch and freeze before Sat!

Time to get out the mittens and hats from the winter dresser in the basement (such a good organization trick)

3 Goons battling for more space at the chalkboard!

2009-11-02T05:16:00.001-08:00

10:16 am

That is what my body is telling me it is right now, though the clock on the computer screen reads 8:16am. We have been waking up at 7 (in reality it is 5) and I can tell that the kids have made this switch fine, it is the parents that are struggling! Five more hours of time changing to do, and in reality that simply is not going to happen, so we are aiming for another hour changed and then we would be just about half way there. Really the sunrise is spectacular.

The hardest aspect of this week is the cabin fever. Magoo is doing well with his homeschooling, and seems content to spend the days inside at home (too cold outside as it would trigger his asthma) I on the other hand am going stir crazy mad!

Oh well, it is all for a great cause and we only have 5 days left! This morning Magoo was bugging me to "pack up the adult things" since the children's clothing is all set aside and ready to be put into bags and suitcases.

The Husband's new toy arrived last night, a mini camcorder to record our visit to Israel this time. He was very excited, and recorded us trying to wake up this morning, the the children gleefully recounting that "it's five o'clock Daddy, five o'clock!"

well I'm off to work on the workbook for Apps Mill, yet another job to get done before we leave!

2009-10-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

10 days

WOW! in only 10 days we will (God willing) be flying off to Israel with the three Goons. Lists are being made, and changed...and changed again. Clothing is being put aside as it comes out of the wash. Dreams of places to visit are making their ways to the forefront on our brains....and in all this there is a nasty cold going around school so Magoo is now being home schooled until we leave, in total 4 weeks (while we are away as well).

So today was hospital tests, no word really on that, and our first at home day. Magoo was so dedicated and managed to get 2 days work done in math & English so we were able to go to Apps Mill for a lovely 1.5 hour hike. The rest of the day was spent helping a friend on a history diorama...such fun.
'
Now I am off to get more done, prepare for school work tomorrow and semi-transform the dining room into a home schooling room....now where did we put that chalk board we got 2 yrs ago that I knew would come in handy!

Oh and heads up we will be blogging while in Israel so stay tuned!

2009-10-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful-gut day we are having here today. Rain streaming down the windows and creeping under the back door (yet another job) highlights the warmth and cozy feeling of being inside and home. We've been struggling with the whole "home schooling" Fridays, even thought we love them, they seem to run away on us! However after a few weeks, well I suppose 2 months at it, finally it is all coming together seamlessly. Here is how we have found the day works best for us:

8 - wave bye-bye to Daddy

8-830 play time while Mummy drinks a cuppa, set the table, prepare something special (pancakes, fruit bowls with yogurt, eggs, etc)

8:30 eat breakfast & get dressed

9:30 start school work. Usually 5 pages of math & English for Magoo, Princess is working on her letter writing and recognition, Sprout scribbles happily on a pad of paper
(at the same time Mummy makes the 2nd weekly batch of bread and pops it into the oven to rise)

10:30 Story time (length varies as to when work is completed)

11 a quick library visit

12 eat lunch, turn on the oven to bake the bread (use timer to turn it off as we will be out), gather piano books

12:40 leave for piano

1 Magoo's piano lesson (sometimes the "ladies" take tea at a local shop, or hang out in the car like today while Sprout sleeps)

2 arrive home, "nap time" which consists of Mummy ignoring the gleeful sounds descending the stairs from the children's rooms ... for as long as I can stand...20-30 minutes.

3 Baking of important and essential items such as chocolate cookies, gooey bars, tarts!

3:30 or 4ish Tea Time starts as the first batch of the above comes out the oven, "Pippy Long stocking" always Joins us from Sweden (from Grandpa B.and Grandma C...which if you are reading they LOVE!)

5 freak out dinner isn't ready......through something yummy together

6 Daddy gets home, dinner is served

7 Daily Bible readings as a family (one chapter, questions, books brought off the shelves to show the kids...pictionary!)

7:45 Bed time

8 Bible Tape Class starts

11:30 ish Mummy falls into bed!

(Have I mentioned how much we simply adore Fridays!)

2009-10-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

Burlap Wrapped Mums
Shiny New Soap
Freshly Pressed Dresses

and once again, mummy has not lost the ten pounds she wanted to, and has nothing to wear, but that DOESN"T matter when you'll be in an apron anyways

Such Joyful Preparations!

Still to be done:
Broom Corn Wreaths
Lovely Tied Corn
Pumpkin Vases

2009-10-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Close of The Season

Alas this morning "The Stand" closed for the season until they hang out their "open" shingle sometime early June. The children and I always find this a hard and sad day. So this morning we went and picked up our 100 lbs of potatoes (50 lbs Yukon Gold, 50 lbs Red Skinned) and a bushel of butternut squash...and that was it! I couldn't believe it! We usually spend a good $70 at the Stand on the last day, but nope only $30 this year as the harvests have been so dreadfully poor in our area.

But dear Jane (the Stand lady) threw in a box full of gourds for the upcoming Marriage Supper, and then directed us to a local farm for pumpkins (orange & white), Broom corn & Indian corn for more decor, and we shall eat the pumpkins latter on as both a side dish and pie! Yum!

So already winter is banging at the door, killer Frost arrived Saturday morning ;-( and they have snow in Barrie already!

But today is beautiful so off I run, time for a walk with the girls, corn cutting and flower pick up for Friday's dinner and hopefully a family bike ride after school.

God Bless

2009-10-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Oh dear me, has it really been this long!

Our lives have changed in so many seemingly small ways, that any spare time is nearly non-existent, but then again it does keep me out of trouble!

Magoo is at CHC 4 full days a week, though we all love "at home schooling Fridays" and make that a fun filled day. With this plus piano and all the usual, our week seems to be filling up even more then I thought possible. So even though the weekly schedule was thrown out last entry, I think it will have to be reworked and put back on the cabinet.

Part of the new busy-ness is that we have come in a round about way to "adopt" some members into our family. No they do not live with us, but our lives are becoming more and more intertwined as we help each other down that long and narrow way to life eternal. We believe that this is a very basic Biblical teaching, taking care of the widows (physical and/or spiritual), fatherless & the poor....especially those in the ecclesia. It is such a joy to send the children to collect chairs to fill the dining room table, to place 10 instead of 5 place settings on special evenings, and to make it a habit of creating a special time for others on a night set apart. We have chosen to set apart Friday evenings (every second one because of little disciples on the other weeks) and join together in a meal, Bible readings and wonderful fellowship.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

It reminds me a bit of the Sabbath, they were instructed to stop doing their own work, and to do God's work.

Well we have come to a decision about the commute to school, move. Yep, we are looking at moving closer to D's work and CHC. This will be such a blessing and allow us to be even more available for help in both the ecclesia and the school, something we'd really like to be able to do.

Isn't it wonderful to be so busy in the Truth! After all it isn't simply a Sunday morning religion but a sincere way of life!

But is it understood that way?

If a certain dear sister is reading this, we can't wait to see you! Counting down the days! and if you both would like to spend Friday here as I'm assuming you would like to be around Saturday...we would love to open our home to you.

Well I suppose these ramblings will do for a post. I really must sit down and get a schedule re done....again. ;-)

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

2009-09-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

"I waited patiently for Yhwh;

and he inclined to me, and heard my cry..."

Psalm 40:1

Magoo had his first of monthly checkups on his lungs this morning, and what an answer to prayers! His lungs are still clear, so between the physio patting and puffers we have been told that this should keep him clear for now. They have decided to delay testing for CF for now, which I'm a bit disappointed in as the hospital was telling us it was a must....but we are in Yhwh's hands and I really must learn to trust Him more!

If it wasn't for the fact that Magoo is going to a small wonderful school where I know he is being watched (and taught by God fearing individuals) and that they have our full trust to intervene in case of an emergency, we would be pulling him out and home schooling where I can watch him. What a sure blessing CHC is to us, especially right now!

Btw Kate, thanks so much for the Thursday offer (you are a sweetheart)! I will be coming in anyways for groceries but will let you know how we are doing! Another sister has offered to drive him home once a week as well.

Now I sit here and type while the girls are tucked in for naps and the bread is rising and the fruit sauce is bubbling away again (it takes at least 1-2 days to get the right texture) and this time on 2 not 6 so it should not burn!

The house is a disaster

But this is another place I need to work on. No not that I should get it spotless, but that I need to get the correct order in our priorities. I have a deep set Martha syndrome....not Martha Stewart but Martha the Disciple of Christ.

I really struggle with that balance.

"One things is needful and Mary has chosen that good thing" was one for Princess' memory verses and Mummy needs to memorize not only the words but the practical implications. Husband is wonderful and frequently says that he'd rather a happy home then a clean home. Isn't he the best!

So instead of frantically cleaning up after I sign off, I think it is time I got into some good sound study again. The Summer was great, but this was lacking a bit in all the busyness of preparations for trips and then the aftermath! Any suggestions? I'm going to start on sister's class for Psalm 4 and then would love some ideas.

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yhwh. Blessed is that man that maketh Yhwh his trust..." Psalm 40:2-4

2009-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back

(Well to me anyways)

We have thoroughly enjoyed our summer. Time spent relaxing (as much as one can with 3 children 6 and under) and playing with the Goons. Magoo had 2 hospital stays because of his poor wee lungs, Princess has turned into a sweetheart and helps Mummy around the house, Sprout is no longer just a sprout, but a climber! oh my! We were blessed to go to one Bibles School this summer and gained a lot spiritually from that. A week spent at the family cottage (read very rustic) was also a nice break.

Now it is time to get into gear for CHC and the Fall. Last week we made 4 batches of salsa and 1 batch of fruit sauce for our pantry, but alas the fruit sauce needed re-processing and well, um, I burnt it all! 12 2C Mason jars worth in the garbage. Yes, that made me feel so sick! So now that job has to be redone, again!

Magoo has started grade 1, loving every minute of it. Mummy is finding the drive difficult. 2 hours every day (there and back and there and back) that in fact last Thursday I nearly fell asleep at the wheel and therefore had to miss the baptisms that evening.

So any ideas on making the drive a bit more bearable for the girls and I?

Saturday night I ripped our weekly schedule off of the cupboard it was taped to. It was driving me crazy. With Sprout climbing everything, including frequently dancing on the dining room table, standing on the kitchen counter, and getting 1/2 way up the upright piano! I simply cannot get enough done in a day. Laundry sits wet in the washer until I remember to put it into the dryer....2 days latter, and did I mention the dryer is broken so it takes 2 runs to dry clothes.

To help with all the jobs to get done, we are clearing out the house! So nice to get rid of stuff and actually be able to see the basement flour, well in some areas at least.

So between being humbled immensy by the Goons and being shown I am anything BUT a super Mum, that plus Magoo's health troubles, are teaching me to lean more on God and let Him lead me in the path that we should go.

So many things to post about, but thought that after the hiatus of the summer a catch up would do.

Until next time "Trust in Yhwh with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding"

2009-08-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I was going to update, but Two of the Goons have arrived with books for storytime...

and I cannot resist that...

We are super busy, and so will be missing probiblly til next week!

Here is a verse to keep you going:

"Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment." Eccl. 8:5

Off to read!

2009-08-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

Meaningful Mondays:

A Quote

"We can only enter the kingdom through the fire, but if a man be courageous, and "holding fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" he will emerge from it unscorched; and be presented holy, unblameable, and unrebukeable before the King."

John Thomas

2009-07-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Fhoto Friday:
Remebering Israel!

2009-07-23T07:45:00.001-07:00

So who deleted a comment?

2009-07-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Meaningful Mondays:

Providence

Some people call it coincidence. Some Karma. Some Luck. Some Intuition.

We call it the providence of God.

There are many times in our lives, where looking back we can see the hand of God. He is there guiding events, directing situations, leading us forward.

Usually when Magoo has a nap it is a rare occurrence. He is great though, and I don't have to worry about him. Usually I will grab the spare hour or so and weed the veggie patch, knit, call a friend. I nearly never have to check on him.

Yesterday I was sitting at the computer checking Arutz-7 news with Princess and had this very strong urge to check Magoo. I had no idea why, didn't really think about it at the time. Just got up and told Princess that I had to go check Magoo while he was napping.

I opened the door to find my son asleep, gasping for breath.

All I could think was, hospital RIGHT NOW. Since we live a bit in the country and going by past experience I knew it would be faster to drive there myself. I scooped him and Sprout up in my arms and RAN downstairs and threw them into the car and strapped him and the girls in.

Slight problem. We had only JUST arrived home from a week and a half up on Manitoulin Island and basically the trailer and car had vomited up all its contents all over the garage and house.

My purse was no-where. His health card was in my purse.

Get the kids out of the car.

Oy.

by now his checks were pinpricked with burst blood vessels and his lips were turning purple.

911

And yes I told the operator off when she told me to NOT comfort my child as he was getting oxygen if he was crying.

Then of all things the doorbell rang.

What?

Our neighbour is a volunteer firefighter and had been napping, he got the page and was there.

Thankfully.

As it took the ambulances ten minutes!

4 firefighters (gotta love the fact the one from Home Hardware arrived on a bike, only in the village we live in!)

8 paramedics

2 ambulances

SIL arriving at my house to take care of the girls right away. The fact that the family all lives within 4 kms. Such a blessing.

Magoo is now home. Thanksgiving is pouring from our lips and hearts that Yhwh saw fit to spare him.

May you see God's hand in your life as well.

2009-07-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...
An Indigo Bunting

I am thinking...
We should Really start packing

I am thankful for...
Refreshing physical rain for the garden. Spiritual rain for my heart.

From the Kitchen....
A rice flour raisin scone from my Mum

I am wearing....
Dirt encrusted gardening clothes

I am creating....
Food for the winter....shelling fresh peas from a local farmer

I am going...
To Manitoulin (God willing) in a week

I am reading...
A Sister's Secret by Wanda Brunsettler

I am hoping....
For God's healing hand upon our family

I am hearing...
Children laughing over catching bugs

Around the house...
Chaos

One of my favorite things...
My sisters (blood & spiritual)

2009-07-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Missing In Action

Four doctor's appointments in 2 days. That is our explanation for missing from here. Needless to say Mummy is on antibiotics and 2 puffers, Sprout is on 2 puffers (total of 16 puffs a day), Princess is going through some tests and then probably antibiotics.

Thanks be to God that Magoo is fine. His pediatrician gave him a clear bill of health for his lungs for the first time since his birth.

2009-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Fhoto Friday:

An Exhortation From a Bird

Yesterday morning I woke up with the beginnings of a migraine. That was our first clue that a storm was heading our way. It was clear blue skies in the morning, but by noon it was pitch black as the clouds rolled in. Then came the rain. Not your ordinary rain, but sheet rain for over an hour! Then came the hail....bye bye tomato plants....and more sheet rain. For those who have never experienced it, sheet rain means that instead of drops of rain, it all comes so fast that it descends in a continuous sheet of water akin to pouring a bucket out. After the storm (and my migraine was gone) I headed outside to put to right some of the pots of plants and such.

And that is when I saw her. I fledgling robing, about the size of my palm. The down was mostly replaced by feathers, but still very young. We Had discovered a robin's nest in the green maple tree next to the deck and that is where she must have come from.

I leaned over from the deck and saw that she was breathing, and walked back into the house, not knowing what if anything we could do to help her.

Then the storm turned back. They sometimes do this in our area. The wind shifted and it was coming back for a second hit. I ran outside to move the already drowning plants to shelter under the front porch, and couldn't for the life of me figure out what to do for the bird.

The rain started again, Giant drops that soon turned again into sheet rain. The power went out, we lite candles to pierce the darkness so that dinner preparation could go on. Donning rain gear I went out to BBQ supper, the gas still works even when the power is out.

That's when I saw her. Not the fledgling but the mother. She was sitting on top of the fledgling, her wings outspread, sheltering her young from the rain. Getting hammered in the process.

I went back inside and told the children with tears in my eyes. A favourite study we've done is where it talks about God sheltering the faithful under His wings.

"Be merciful unto me oh God, be merciful unto me.

For my soul trusteh in thee:

yea in the shadow of thy wings will I

make my refuge until these calamities be overpassed"

Psalm 57:1

(The destroyed nest that fell out during the second storm,

after the young one was already on the ground)

"Because thou hast been my help,

therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

Psalm 63:7

It reminded me of all the times that God has done such for us. Hiding us under his wings in times of trouble.

Then it made me think of my actions as a mother. How humbling to see this robin's actions, it was a vivid exhortation to me of how a mother most act. Putting her safety aside to protect the young one from the dangers, both physical and spiritual.

But it didn't end last night. We have noticed the mother sheltering the young one from the hot sun (above), and feeding it. Obviously it either doesn't know how to fly, or cannot.

So for now we have kept the children inside, mowing the rest of the yard and leaving that half. Giving the parents room to help their little one.

2009-06-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Working Wednesdays:

Meal Plan & Grocery Shopping with Kids

Wednesday: Faijas with precooked beef, red pepper, onion, mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes

Thursday: Hamburgers & homemade BBQ fries (precook the potatoes the night before to save heating up the house)

Friday: BBQ chicken, BBQ veggies, salad

Saturday: Chef's salad with boiled eggs and cut up ham on top

Sunday: Roast chicken, potatoes, carrots, salad, ice cream for dessert

Monday: Spaghetti for the family, salad for me

Tuesday: BBQ veggies and basmati rice

I've had some comments recently to the effect that I am insanely crazy to go grocery shopping with 3 kids aged 6, 3 & 1. Here are some pointers that we find helpful:

1) Explain the reason for the shop, what we are getting and for who. Example: "today we are going to shop for Ethan's Birthday gift" then I ask "So who are we shopping for?" and they answer "Ethan". This helps to stop the gimmes and focus their attention on the task at hand

2) Make a master list on the computer. This way it is a simple task to cross out the items we do NOT need and this leaves us with our weekly list.

3) Never go after 4 pm or on the weekend, as it is crazy busy which makes it more difficult with children.

4) Make older kids their own grocery list. Magoo's are 4-5 items that are small words that he can read and Princess' is 2-3 pictures. I'll also let them make their own and bring them.

5) Let the kids help pick out produce and items (i would recommend not letting them pick the eggs!). So what if it isn't the cucumber you would have chosen, they feel helpful and therefore happy.

6) Have a snack or meal before you go, hungry kids are grumpy kids.

7) Don't go within an hour of baby's nap time....if you run late you will pay!

8) For discipline in the store, as the 2 are old enough now, I will take something away. Example "Princess you have asked for too many things, that is Achan like and greedy, when we get home you have lost your princess doll." They understand that they have lost it for 3 days to a week and it goes on Mummy's desk for that. Make sure that you follow through!

9) Don't go when you are stressed or impatient. It will only get worse.

10) Work in an extra 20-30 minutes, as with all activities with children, it may and probably will take longer then expected.

How do you handle shopping with kids?

2009-06-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

Meaningful Mondays:

Way Posts

Such a wonderful and meaningful exhortation yesterday. Bro Don focused on farming in scripture, and had many good points to ponder. Thankfully Sprout was well behaved so I managed to get it all from the cry room.

Something brief I wanted to share that we have decided to implement. He mentioned that when plowing a field that was hilly, a farmer will put up way post or markers so that he stays the course and the furlough is straight. Since he used to farm he knew all about it!

He said that to stay the course in the Truth and also to grow we must have way posts in our lives and here are his recommendations:

Daily: Daily Bible Readings

Weekly: Focused spiritual family time

Monthly: Hospitality to those in the ecclesia

6 mths: Read a Christadelphain book, or even better study a book of the Bible

Yearly: Bible School

We arrived home from meeting feeling rejuvenated to continue the course. To do the readings every single day with the children, even if it is a struggle. Actually the hard part for us is that we do one with the children and then don't get to doing the other 2 with just ourselves. We love opening our home and serving the ecclesia in that way, but often it is the same families that we are having over, so we are going to aim to have others over that we do not know so well. Daniel is in the middle of a study on Micah so he is doing well but I need to get back into some serious study and would welcome ideas for that. I'm thinking of studying the Songs in the Bible (Moses', Miriam's, Hannah's, Deborah's, Mary's, Song of the Lamb....), This year we are blessed to be going to Family camp.....and somewhere else but I will save "spilling the beans" for another post!

So how about you and your family? Do you have Way Markers/Posts? What are they?

"As for G-d, his way is perfect:

the word of the Yhwh is tried,

he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."

Psalm 18:30

2009-06-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

"Fhoto Friday"

CHC Open House

Parents and siblings joined in the lunch time fun

(Princess at bottom in blue)

The Whole CHC closed with a wonderful spiritually uplifting song

"The Lord is a Sun and Shield"

(Magoo front, 3rd from right) Magoo & classmate singing "Zion shall Rejoice"

Magoo's wonderful class. sad goodbyes to one as she leaves for Australia
"Can't wait for grade one Mom, it's going to be awesome!"
(Magoo 2nd from right)

Princess (in blue) playing with "Da Big Girls"

We have been blessed by God for a wonderful first year of Magoo's schooling! CHC is simply amazing. Godly teachers instructing our wee olive plants to be molded into a young tree grown in his youth (Ps 140) what more could we ask. Thank you to all who put their time and effort in there (I know some read this). we felt badly that we couldn't be as involved this year because of Sprout, but we hope to help next year. May YHWH bless you all & keep you safe this summer!

2009-06-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

Working Wednesdays:
Gluten Free Menu

Well finally my tummy troubles have been found out, the culpriate: Gluten! This is taking some getting used to, but it's been nearly a week off of gluten and I can tell the difference!

Wednesday: Rice & Veggie Stirfry (red peper, eggplant, zuchinni, onion, bok choy)

Thursday: Hamburgers for the family, BBQ shrimp w/ veggies for me & salad

Friday: Steak (cut up cheap roast), Baked potatoes & salad

Saturday: BBQ Chicken & BBQ veggies

Sunday: Ham & scalloped potatoes, beans

Monday: Pasta for the family, salad for me

Tuesday: Rice & Stirfry

Today is the last day of CHC, tomorrow is the trip to the waterpark with the whole school.

I hate bathing suits!

Any ideas for fun for the summer? Magoo told me yesterday that I'm boring...yep, preety much broke my heart!

2009-06-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

Meaningful Tuesdays?

Getting Rid of the Dross

What a weekend! The Sunday school picnic at the beach, visiting another ecclesia and spending the day, an excellent exhort on "Happiness" and a great final class on the Psalms. I feel refreshed but weary. One can only do so much! This week is full as well, The CHC open house is today, Magoo has classes as usual on Monday & Wednesday, and the the water park on Thursday. Bible class on Wednesday, Tape class here on Friday, and then there are is all the regular tasks of life, running and home, and training olive plants for Yhwh.

Yesterday while I was sipping my morning cappuchino, I glanced around and was disgusted at the shear amount of stuff laying around. The house wasn't dirty, just full of clutter! I had moved piles off and back onto my desk every time we had to use the computer, moving toys to other ends of the island counter and back again, party decorations still all over the walls. Oh and I will spare you both pictures and description of the mud room! Argh!

So much to go through and get rid of. Yesterday Princess and I started on the study. We had 4 boxes of Bible books for Apps Mill that had arrived over the past 2 months that needed to be put in the corner of the basement. Material, thread bobbins, pin and tape measures had to be gathered from the dining room, study floor and my "desk" and sorted and put in some semblance of order. I'm thinking that I need to get one of those plastic drawer organizers for the sewing materials, they are taking over the study! We dusted as we cleared and actually found treasured items we were missing. Princess' Calico critters (she only has 1 set) turned up, as did Hubby's Messiah music scores. Oh and the books! enough said.

So in between the craziness that this week is turning out to be, we have made it a priority to get this house back in order before the Summer starts with a bang.

But what about our spiritual homes? Christ is definitely at the door, are we getting our house in order for that great day? Are we ready to leave ALL and follow him when we are called to the judgment seat, or are we going to be like Lot's wife and look back with desire at our material possessions? Worldly friends? distracting hobbies?

It is amazing the clarity that children can give you at moments like this. They have both found items to be given "to people that don't have so much stuff Mummy", but they never choose their Bible books to give away! They don't need the instructions to keep the more spiritual items....but I do! So much time is wasted in the pursute of a lifestyle that we were not called to keep. We are called to manifest our heavenly Father, and in doing so, must rid ourselves of that dross. Our trials are sent to help us get rid of the dross, just as gold is purified likewise are His children. That they may possess tried faith.

Take a moment today and read 1 Corinthians 3:9-16. I was going to put it up, but blogger doesn't let you copy and paste anymore.....

So this week we will get rid of the clutter, and by God's grace get rid of the dross as well!

2009-06-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Fhoto Friday:

Archeology Birthday Party

2009-06-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Meaningful Mondays:

Getting the Right Balance

"But it is not just the world which uses its family life as an excuse. These are some who respond to the call of the Gospel and then allow "the cares of this like" to choke their interest. Family demands can be very great. A howling baby cannot simply be abandoned, the washing and cleaning, the house repairs, the garden, the car all need time and energy spent on them. They are not divorced from the life of the Truth; we do all things "unto the LORD". But we must find time for prayer and reading, and for our responsibilities in the wider family of the ecclesia. It is sad to see a couple who have bee active in the meeting fade into obscurity once baby arrives, it is not necessary. Babies can be taken to a meeting; when they cannot, parents can take turns- and the Bible class need not be neglected. When the children are older, both parents can attend the Bible class, with the children. Small cassette tape recorders are a useful thing today, as we can unobtrusively record an address so that our partner can hear the full version at home. Meetings can help a great deal by tolerating baby noises and children's fidgeting, as long as they are not too distracting, or perhaps by organizing a nursery/cry room or helping with baby sitting. As children get older, so our involvement in ecclesial life becomes their involvement. They should feel part of the ecclesial family and take it for granted that the help with bill distribution or getting the hall ready. Family Bible study weekends and Family Gatherings are welcome developments in Great Britain, while in America and else-where it has been taken for granted for a long time that a Bible school is a family affair. We need more family fellowship, so that we may work and worship together. It is possible then, with effort and will, to be involved in ecclesial life along with our family."

Bro Michael Owen, The Christadelphian Dec 1972

"The early year of childhood are supposed to be the most crucial. If our children are involved in ecclesial life then the habit is more likely to remain. If our newly born spiritual babes find themselves in a warm family atmosphere, it is more likely that they who will stay. In Ephesus, Paul taught not only in public places but "from house to house" (Ac 20:20). It is a very homely scene. The next chapter of Acts records that after a week in Tyre, "They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were outside the city; and kneeling down on the beach we prayer and bade on another farewell" (Ac 21:5 RSV). Here is a moving insight into the family spirit prevailing in the ecclesia, with its sense of belonging, of involvement and care"

Bro Michael Owen, The Christadelphain Jan 1973

2009-06-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fhoto Friday:

Glimpses of Summer

Fresh Rhubarb, oh the choices!

A Labour of Love, Hubby double dug the patch,

made the wooden box & put the dirt back.

All I had to do was put the raspberries is!

Another Labour of Love!
Our washing line with Magoo's
gym uniform shirt drying in the brisk wind.

2009-06-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

Working Wednesdays:

Weekly Meal Plan

As yesterday was busy with a sick child, I thought you would understand the delay in posting this.

Wednesday: Garden salad with boiled eggs

Thursday: Veggie Stew

Friday: BBQ chicken, brown rice, zucchini & peppers charred on the BBQ

Saturday: Kebabs & garden salad

Sunday: Quiche & boiled potatoes, salad. Apple strudel for dessert

Monday: Steak, baked potatoes, brocolii, butter fried mushrooms

Tuesday: Penne w/ BBQ chicken & mushrooms, white cheese sauce

Magoo is still not feeling well. He was bouncing around yesterday afternoon but this morning he fell asleep getting dressed! For those who know Magoo this is NOT normal AT ALL. So yes, I am concerned and if this keeps up will be calling the ND & tele health. He asked for fruit salad for breakfast and I sprinkled on some almonds to give him strength. Odd that he was fine as of lunch yesterday and had his energy back and today is dead tired. Concerning to say the least.

Part of being a Mother (I find) is being flexible. Yesterday was errand day, it didn't happen (obviously) so it was going to be today, but now it looks like it will be tomorrow! Which is fine, as Sprout and I ran out and got some groceries yesterday in the early hours of the morning while Hubby was getting ready for work and the other two were sleeping. I'll close with a verse from a hymn that seems to be running through my mind lately.

"I ask thee for the daily strength,

to none that ask denied.

A mind to blend with outward life,

while keeping at thy side.

Content to fill a little space,

if thou be glorified."