Our Team

'daDad (38 yo), the Mama (36yo), FarmerBoy (19 yo ds), Gypsygirl (17 yo dd), Miss Petite (16 yo dd),LionHeart (14 yo ds), Red (12 yo ds), Belle (10 yo dd),Nae Nae (7 yo dd),Bunny (2 yo dd), Little Britches (3 months)







Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Change of Focus

We have been busy around here. We are planning to move before baby arrives, so we will have a bigger nest to bring him/her into. So, we have been working on packing, decluttering, and cleaning in earnest. I made up a schedule for how to get the things in our current home ready ASAP (thank you Flylady!)
I am trying to work in last- minute preparations for the baby and ,yes, we are still home schooling.
I just try to apply the "do-it-now" principle to most things. I may decide to divide my days up, though.
Something like do my portion of the packing/cleaning (the big girls are helping pack and the boys haul it out for us) before school while Gypsygirl does her dishes, then schoolwork after, then baby prep in the evenings. Fitting in normal work, such as dishes and putting laundry away, that's the tricky part. Please pray that we can balance it all and that everything we need to do, gets done.
The men did get some work done last week. I cannot tell you all about it b/c I was not there. 'da Dad gave some of us the day off, so we went to a local state park festival. We all had a great time.
I may be spending a lot less time on here, w/ the prep for the move, the move, and baby coming. But, I'll do what I can :).
Be blessed.

Proverbs 29 Revelation 14-15

Monday, September 20, 2010

Random Meanderings and House Update

It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I've had a lot of ideas cooking in my mind.
God has been teaching me some interesting things, largely through my children. As we teach them, and help them through their difficulties, God is also revealing Himself. He is, after all, the best, most perfect parent.
As a family we are studying disobedience/obedience from an outline in For Instruction in Righteousness (available from Doorposts). One of the things that has become clear to me personally is that obeying God means that I am saying Him and His will are the most important thing. If we love Him we will obey Him. Our pastor has been preaching on John 14-17 and His sermon yesterday dovetailed perfectly with what we were reading about last week. It's really neat how God works things out like that.
Another thing I've been mulling over is the Biblical command that the older women teach the younger women. This almost never happens anymore, but it is really worth it if you can manage to find a mentor. Having said that, are we ready ourselves to come along side another younger lady? One of my older girls was discussing with me how she feels a special responsibility to a friend b/c she takes her opinion very seriously, often adopting her views on various things. What most of us don't consider is that we are all that older woman to someone else, even teenagers.
I remember the day I realized I had influence in a young girls life that I did not know I had. I was then teaching Sunday school and this little girl was in my class. In those days, I wore make up, permed my hair, and typically wore heels to church (those of you who know me, please don't choke laughing). Well, one day her mom told me that she was parading around her house with heels and pearls on saying she was "Ms. A". Wow. I was shocked b/c I could never have imagined anyone wanting to be like me, and I realized what I did mattered, even in the small stuff. Someone is always watching us. Maybe they need help, and maybe you're the one God wants to use to aid them along their path to glory.
I was reminded last week to pray for God's viewpoint when dealing with my children, not leaning on my own understanding. Oh, how I needed that fresh perspective on the situation. God is so good to give us people who love us enough to tell us the truth?
I am now reading Proverbs and Revelation. Proverbs b/c it has so much direction on how to live a blessed,Christian life (yes, I know it's OT, but the same God directed the writing of the whole Bible, so the whole thing works together :). Revelation because I've really needed to focus on the victory at the end-remembering Who is really in charge.
Since I last posted we have done more insulating upstairs (approx. 1/2), painted areas on the cabinets we could not get to before, finished the soffit on the front of the house, set the toilet, built some scaffolding, and started building the bathroom vanity. We are getting there. Please keep praying.


Proverbs 20, Revelation6

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

If I Were a Feminist...........

I knew that would get you!
If I were a feminist I would hate abortion. It kills women (at least 1/2 of all abortions are female). It victimizes women, because it causes long-term mental and physical health issues. Lastly, it encourages the one thing feminists hate most-men using women and then allowing them to dump the "responsibility" on women. Feminists who are anti-life are not consistent in their world view.
I am not a feminist. I do believe abortion is wrong because it kills children, hurts women and men, and encourages people not to take responsibility for their actions. I just happen to believe what God says about children in Psalm 127-8-they are a blessing.


A while back I said I canned some grape juice. All of the seals popped, except the 2 I water bathed. Never again. Always water bath.
Then, i had an opportunity to can 1/2 a bushel of peaches. The big girls and I worked on those, and that gave us 10 quarts of peaches.
On Saturday, a friend sent over a box (approx. 1/2 bushel) of pears for us. We put those up, and now have 8 quarts of them.She called a little later to say she would have access to another tree come October. We'll see where we are at by then.
Not to bad for a lady with no garden, who didn't think she'd be putting any home grown food by?
We finally got some good rain here. It sure has been dry. Pastures have been burning up, and some cattlemen have already started feeding hay. It's a pity b/c beef prices have been better (for them) and now they have increased overhead. One of the most thankless and risky jobs is farming/ranching. I hope we are all as thankful as we should be, and treat those folks with some respect. Prayers would be good,too.
Nothing got done on the house last week due to commitments at church.
Everyone is doing well, progressing in school. Farmerboy is faced with some tough classes, but is working hard to persevere. I am very pleased to see him putting forth the extra effort needed.
I have added in some exercise for Lionheart and Red during the school day, just to help them manage their "wiggles". They are a lot more able to concentrate when the y have had some physical activity.
I also read on The Robinson Forum that it is helpful to have a routine of sorts to help them know when you are shifting to "school time". We have one that we use irregularly, but I am going to try to be more faithful in this area to see if it helps the littles.
I was thinking a while back that our clothing was getting a little shabby. I sort of passed it off to my vanity. 'da Dad brought it up yesterday evening while he was sorting out some clothes, so it probably is for real. Good thing city wide yard sales are coming up.

Be blessed.

Psalm 110 Proverbs1