Time Flies!!

It has been a really long time since I have posted much on the blog. Facebook has been a distraction!! I am thinking that I will start blogging again. I love the way the blog is a story of our family over time. I also miss writing about my family and our activities, and the way it helps me focus on the time at hand. It is fun to think about all that we have been up to and put it down on paper, so to speak! So, for today, some pictures of my beautiful kids!

The Tuba!

Aidan with his tuba!

He is laying the tuba in the concert band and the trombone in the

jazz band. I didn't know there was such musical ability in our family!

We are proud of all the hard work he has put into his music!

The Farm!

Well, here is our miracle! We have been wishing for property for a very long time and now we will have some(at least temporarily!) Our heart has been to have a place where we could grow more than enough food for our family to eat, and the abundance we could give to needy people. However, we have not has access to land or the resources to purchase any. God is always bigger than our circumstances! In early December Brian got a call from a client that he has only met once. He wanted to offer his land to us to use until he is ready to develop it(in a couple of years). His own family had gardened there in the past and have some chickens there now. He was thinking abut the land and Brian crossed his mind! So, he called to offer to let us garden(farm) his land for free. We just can't believe how good God is to us! He is providing for us in ways that we would have never expected!
I will try to keep the blog updated with our adventures on, what we are calling, the farm! Please check in the Kitchen and Garden Adventures section of the blog.

Christmas Carol

Christmas Carol

The kings they came from out the south,

All dressed in ermine fine;

They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,

And gifts of precious wine.

The shepherds came from out the north,

Their coats were brown and old;

They brought Him little new-born lambs--

They had not any gold.

The wise men came from out the east,

And they were wrapped in white;

The star that led them all the way

Did glorify the night.

The angels came from heaven high,

And they were clad with wings;

And lo, they brought a joyful song

The host of heaven sings.

The kings they knocked upon the door,

The wise men entered in,

The shepherds followed after them

To hear the song begin.

The angels sang through all the night

Until the rising sun,

But little Jesus fell asleep

Before the song was done.

Sara Teasdale

Turkey Day Thoughts!!

I love this picture. I think this could have been me as a little girl! I still think a giant Tom Turkey is about the coolest looking bird on the planet! I will also admit that I don't really like to eat turkey, especially on Thanksgiving. I can't remember the last time a actually ate any of the turkey that was served. Every year Brian asks later if I had any of the turkey and I always feel bad when I tell him "No." Luckily, after 18 years of marriage he gets me, or has given up! Yes, Brian is the one who cooks the turkey at our house, and he will again this year. It always smells good, looks beautiful and everyone raves about how it tastes. I would say that maybe this will be the year that I eat the turkey...but I seriously doubt it!

We decided to make some hand print turkeys. This is one of my favorite crafts of fall! It always amazes me how much the kids hands have grown each year!

Camille always loves to get her hands dirty, so this project was right up her alley! I think she even had fun washing off all the paint by the way the bathroom sink looked when she was done!

After hand prints the kids took turns painting.


Joe loves to paint! Actually, he likes to do anything the older kids are doing!!

Yes, I did make them all wear the chicken apron that Elise and I made a year or so ago. I really need to get smocks...maybe for Christmas everyone can have their own smock!

We have been decorating for Thanksgiving and we are excited to have all of the family at our house this year!

My life is like a bowl of miso soup!

My life is like a bowl of miso soup! Recently, God brought some clarity and reassurance to me by giving me a picture of miso soup. I felt like He was telling me that the bowl represents myself and the soup is my circumstances. Then He showed me that He is gently cradling the bowl in one hand while carefully stirring the soup with the chopstick in His other hand. Just like the miso soup is better when stirred, my circumstances are stirred to bring about a higher good in my life and the lives of those around me. Please don't try to read too much into this analogy or take it beyond the simple picture given. I am thankful for a God who holds me in his hands and who uses ordinary everyday things to remind us of his love! ~Staci