Most Know What Kony2012 Is

Are enough of us aware that there are also people with other options that we can support, who have been working for these children for years? There are places we can get involved that put forgiveness and reconciliation on the table as active peaceful tools to fight with.

YEARS AGO I heard about Kony through a missionary group that was reaching out to his child soldiers and seeing results with the offer of forgiveness. I therefore feel compelled to share this link my husband found through a Christian brother's page. There is always a peaceful option.

LINK HERE to read more

and HERE TOO. 

TTFN

Warning, Not Making

Watching your children face consequences is so very painful, so important for that child's healthy growth but so very hard for a mommy's heart. As I start to let my stubborn child face up to choices made I acknowledge this is a very new and scary place for me as a mother.

Always available to tell you the better way my love,
to help you find it,
but also to let you learn... insist you face consequences
and to love you any ways.

I didn't think I would move out of the young stage so soon... it is hard to acknowledge that I physically can't prevent my kids from all harms and bad choices anymore... that even though I still have preschoolers my older two are far beyond that stage and onto bigger things that are so much harder on my mind and heart. I can warn them but unlike my babies I can only MAKE them to a point now...

Following my mom's wise advice I will be praying so MUCH for my children, so much more now even... it is so easy to pray for them when they are sweet babies and tender children but as they move into more ornery stages I hope I will be all the more disciplined a prayer warrior on their behalf.

I am moving beyond my comfort level as a mom already, LORD protect my heart!

Note: This section added January 10th.

P.s. Found this phrase, LABORING OVER LOVE or love laboring, and it hit me that that is how I have been feeling, in regards to my babies... Found it at the link above.

The author shared a concept that you never stop laboring over your children... painful but necessary and oh so much a part of love... I needed to read that... and just breath.

She seems like a very thankful lady so I must look into more of her writing as I work on a year of thankfulness myself. Right now I am truly thankful for her article and her concept, for it has calmed me down and helped me see the strength in being a mom, in being one mom among so very many, world wide, who deal with the pain of loving children all their days...

TTFN

Won It So Read It

I discovered a new blog, I often do as I am a habitual blog surfer. Randomly entered a contest on before mentioned blog and actually won! Won a book no less! I needed a new read because I had burned through my latest historical fiction read and had no budget to purchase another this month. Yay for Simple Mom's site!

It was interesting to me that the book I should win was titled 'the reluctant entertainer'. I had just recently realised, after compiling many comments coming with in ear shot, that many many people wish they where thought of and invited over and so many people ESPECIALLY in the church feel lonely. I really enjoy to be hospitable but one can never learn enough about wise domesticity! I have started to read it, and perhaps it can encourage you too, check it out!

To get a friend you must be a friend... it might not be what we want to hear when lonely but to be shown hospitality you must be hospitable. Some one has to start, someone has to take the time first, make the effort first and reap the rewards of giving first!


On a side note, I am pleased as punch (think my m.i.l. taught me that witty saying) to show you my little side table solution! Those two square baskets with a few books I am often dipping my fingers into are my make shift solution to not owning any side tables for the living room! I find it such a cute little solution I will be all the more picky about an actually set of side tables. Perhaps I will just buy a few more square baskets! Oh and more books! Yeah that is a legitimate reason to buy more books!


On a second side note, this post is also tagged 'the pet' so I must post another picture of my fox terrier. He is still so new to our family that he will often stand next to me as I type away on my computer and I can tell he is wondering what I am so intent on and why it isn't him? He will get used to me and my click-y pass time. He just yawned at me and went to his doggy bed. It is being baked in a sunbeam and I can tell he is far more comfortable there then standing near me and my laptop.


TTFN

Killer Time Management for Busy Families (Marriage Mondays)

Do less...
I picked this topic out of the choices given because it has been specifically something I am working through of late. With school starting up again everything else kicks in to gear; church and social opportunities as well as activities for the kids and the parents. I was full of anxiety as time eaters invaded my schedule. There was going to be no time for mistakes, the little things, LIFE...

As a single income family of six in the city I find we struggle with the temptation to try to keep up with the culture around us. Financial damage is NOT worth taking on in order to put ourselves out there more. Family time equals family health and this highly valuable commodity must be fought for now a days. Personally I just can't take a crazy pace either. It quickly becomes to much for me and I hate missing the moment while I rush to another moment. Time is so precious and so easily taken away from a family.

Less in more in my world... The simple life is to be sought... Over and over we must remember it isn't the rat race we want to join but the race that Paul talks about, that race to the finish line, that race with Jesus.

With all these things heavy on our hearts my husband and I chose this year to do less then others expect of us. It isn't easy and goes against the energy outside our front door, the cultural mind set that pushes and pulls with its demands on a family. Our main activity this year is to seek out more time to be, time to be for all six members of the family.

TIME, handle with care!

P.S. Check out this link to a post I put up in the middle of our amazing summer, it relates, and is about all the fun to be had when you have an abundance of time to do nothing really!



TTFN

Rock Climbing

I can't decide if she faced a giant or not!

My girl has many things she is too cautious about. I wonder if it is being the first born that will often make her very standoffish and mistrusting? She has many things that get her easily worked up and even afraid and so way back we started encouraging her to fan the flame of the areas in life she was brave about.

Like every little woman, she is braver then she thinks.

When she started standing up in class (randomly) and sharing songs and poems she had written we knew she had a spark of bravery and thankfully she is now in a fine arts school where she is encouraged in those areas.

When she was almost two she started climbing everything in sight. She could shimmy up her bunk bed no problem and started sleeping on the top at a very young age. She worked on the monkey bars, starting in kindergarten, so determinedly that she had callouses and raw patches on her hands and had to be forced to take a few days off of them to let the raw spots heal.Yesterday night was family adventure night. We had ice cream and burgers then watched Big Girl try something she has been dreaming about for a while, rock climbing! Lynn Hill has entered into conversation a lot lately. Check the link to her blog, she is a well known climber and my girl thinks she is pretty great. Well Big Girl got a little bit of a taste of Lynn's world last night and she LIKED IT! It was wonderful to see her impressed with her own abilities and not holding back but getting up there.

(The other three sat at the bottom JUST MESMERIZED!
Baby Boy kept pointing and saying 'Uh Oh!')

TTFN

Just Putting It Out There

I can't help but notice the wonderful dresses this blogger makes for her children!

http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/

Most of you who know me know I adore dresses and specifically retro or old fashioned or era specific ones, well this lady has a real talent! If you are looking for a pretty and fabulous little blog to enjoy going through check hers out!

TTFN

Deliberately Flirt!

It is beneficial for both your man and yourself when you make the effort!

A fellow blogger posted this in my comment box a couple posts down and I agreed whole heartedly!

Constance shared, "It tells our spouse that we only have eyes for them and that we would do it all over again!"

My heart wanted to add to it. Not only does it remind them how much we adore them but it forces our focus deliberately to them. It therefore, makes us remember how much WE love them and only have eyes for them! So healthy in a marriage especially in the tiring and stressful times!

TTFN

I Am From!

For E-Mom... This is the best I could do, thought about it for a few days and when you commented today I thought I should just put it up...

I am from cheese cloth, from co-op freshie and early's seeds.

I am from the forest; a sleepy, weedy creek meandering towards my future.

I am from the bed rock, the wild pink rose.

I am from evening family Bible studies, days full of milking goats, chopping wood, harvesting corn and fire-y tempers;

From Robin and Katherine and Nanny.

I am from big talkers, and bigger singing voices!

From 'you alone decide you will be happy' and 'family must work and play together'.

I am from Holy Ghost filled folk, revival tent meetings and Bible thump'n, Jesus lov'n parents!

I'm from the great white north, Scottish pride, Irish wit, Welsh respect and a little English that they will not admit, shortbread like grandma always made it and pans of venison lasagna from my mom's heart to our stomachs shined at every occasion, especially my wedding!

From the grandmother who was the first in town to wear pants and the mother who traded in her high heals and comfy bank job for the army. Grandmother was a feminine tomboy and down right practical. Her garden boots just went better with pants! Mother had a lot to prove due to her small size and reputation as a girly-girl, no one would dare call either that now!

I am from Grandma Smith's quilt on my couch, Her earrings in my jewelry box, Mom's red dress coat in my closet and anything else that speaks to me of the strong women in my line. They speak, reminding me to be as brave and determined as my grandmother, as open and true as my mom and as beautiful in spirit as my daughters.

TTFN

January's Hymn

After my morning walk with all the kids to the bus stop I am filled with energy. Lungs full of fresh air I load up the audio clip I found and practice my new (well, new to me) hymn.

Check out my previous post to learn more about where THE HYMN PROJECT started.

MY METHOD_______________________

My method is simple, flip through the old hymnal I have till I spot one I don't know. Once I have a look at the lyrics and find something that moves me I look it up on a couple different sites I know of that have the audio and the lyrics so I can learn the tune (I can't read music). I then sing it through about once a day so I know it well by the end of the month.

MY CHOICE________________________

I chose from the peace and joy section of my hymnal for January's hymn and came up with 'Loved with Everlasting Love', written by James Mountain, please click on the authors name to link to an article from a favorite blog of mine on the author. I have to say, the authors name caught my interest too. I hadn't heard of James Mountain before.

MY JOY___________________________

This is proving to be a lovely goal and interesting project for me. I grew up only knowing a few hymns. I think choruses where far more common in my church background. I am finding many hymns move me because of their wonderful poetic lyrics! I also love history so looking up the hymns and authors has been very enjoyable for me too!

Here is the site I found the audio for this hymn; http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/284 . I just noticed this site also has an option to get the guitar chords... hmmm... maybe this will encourage me to pick up my guitar and start playing again... maybe...

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o'erflow,
Flow'rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

My Favorite Verse From January's Hymn

TTFN

Menu Planning HELP!

I am all about trying new things when it comes to cooking. I get bored and wanna learn more and try new types of food. I also menu plan and used to find it hard to get enough material to quench my need for NEW RECIPES! Since we have become regular internet users that has all changed. I keep finding sites on line that make whipping up my monthly menu a breeze.

All Recipes is my current fav and most used site for recipes. It has a vast and varied collection put together by regular cooks with special finds. I have a profile so I can take advantage of all the special features like the recipe box, question feature and option to rate and review recipes. The review option makes it easier to avoid the dud recipes!

I have never doubted that 'Mennonite Girls Can Cook' but this beautifully maintained blog proves it. I just love eating this blog up and enjoy its big selection due to many contributors.

I also make it a habit of checking out the sites of my favorite food brands or products because they will often have really good recipes, since they want their product to shine!

Anyone else have a really great site I can check out? Let me know and leave the address in the comment box.

TTFN

Prayer Closets and Aprons

I have tried the prayer closet and the kids think it is cute to bang on the door and stick their little fingers under it and plead to come in too... I tried going to another room and usually the kids flip out and start pounding on one another at that time...

Yesterday I was inspired by Susannah Wesley... many of you probably know her story already but here is a link to a blog I just found. She gives a quick run down of the apron over head story and I think I am going to enjoy her blog!

http://susannahsaprons.blogspot.com

Basically, the mother of many many children would put her apron over her head where ever and when ever she needed to pray and then the kids new to give her time.

I have enjoyed her story for years but never thought of trying to put it into literal practice!

Now I love my aprons... but they wouldn't go over my head well. The red work one is tied at both sides thus wouldn't go up. The white one is too short and the pink one to fitted. The red was made by my mother just for me. It is a double bibed (front and back) apron with a big pocket on the front. Just like the one she has used for as long as I can remember. My white apron is very pretty and the first I picked out myself for myself! The pink was handed down to me by Garnet's great aunt and used to belong to his great grandmother!

The other morning I put my wrap over my head, the fuzzy comfy wrap I wear in the mornings, and the kids actually sat around me quietly and let me pray. I think it took them by surprise and perhaps that is why they behaved so well but either way I have began a new thing in our home. When Mama needs to pray she needs to pray!

TTFN