Day Journal 3

We awoke to a frigid 8 degrees outside this morning.

  With the cold, came a flu bug

slowly working it's way through the family. 

Three are down with fever and chills, 

bundled up in front of the fire. 

It is a slow, quiet day...except for a certain cow poke:

We have been reading "Down the long Hills" by Louis L'Amour,

a story about two children who survived an Indian raid

on a wagon train and are on the track to Fort Bridger

by themselves. The tail is full of cowboys, trackers, Indians, grizzlies, and mountain men.

  It has Ben imagining the glories of cowboy life. 

He looks pretty  handsome in that hat, don't ya think?

Someone thought Gabe needed some sweetening up.  

I think he is  awfully sweet already, and cute as a bugs ear. 

I may be a little biased though. 

Today we are reading, napping, 

and playing legos in front of the fire.

  I am making macaroni and cheese, sipping tea,

and cuddling with our sweet little bundle.

  She is 6 weeks old already.  

The time of newness and cradling a wee babe goes so fast! 

Therefore, I dont feel bad at all if I just take some time 

doing nothing but hold her, stroking her oh so soft hair.

I was reading in the Psalms this morning, as usual. 

I find myself returning to them over and over, 

like putting on a favored, well worn sweater 

or drinking from that special tea cup,

the psalms are my comforting portion for the day. 

I was reminded how God's love endures forever. 

He will always love, 

For every moment of forever.  

He will always lead, guide and correct.

  His love will endure through my worst and best days, 

and it is unchanging. 

This is our rest,

though life rolls pitching waves of turmoil

against us time and time again,

God's unfailing, enduring love is a safe harbor 

in which we can seek out peace to get through each day.

Ten things am thankful for today:

  God's enduring love,

a warm fire,

my family,

tea,

times of quiet,

the joy of little kids,

music,

the Psalms,

laughter,

and You.

From our Home to Yours

 I invite you to nestle up with a cup of tea 

for down to earth chit chat, and the best photos of the week,

from our  home to yours.

We are back into school and a daily routine,

which is a very pleasant change of pace. 

Anna helps with the little ones;

Bethany and Gabe, at one end of the table,

and we tag team to help Ben.

Just in case you love this little green dress as much as I do, 

I did a search on ebay for "girls smocked dress," with her size,

and found page after page of wholesome dresses,

most unaffordable, but a few were very reasonable. 

We were able to get this one for under $15 including shipping.

 

John has been occupied with his trap line.

  It takes him 4-6 hours a day to run it. 

Yesterday, he got his first beaver of the season. 

This one hadn't drowned in the set, which would make it permissible to eat. 

Beaver meat is the highest protein meat available,

just so you know, in case you are ever in a survival situation. 

We did not eat it, just to clarify. :-)

   John  harvested the castor for using as lure in his traps,

and will use the meat as bait. 

Our freezer is now brimming with all kinds of odd things.

Olivia.

  Beautiful.  Delightful.

Snuggly.

"The home improves happiness 

and abates misery

by doubling our joy and diving our grief."  

-Joseph Addison

January always brings me a need to clean, organize anew, and declutter.

  So, after schooling is done, I have been doing just that. 

I went through my desk and each drawer, reclaiming them as my own again. 

I also moved it's location

and am feeling much more inclined to sit at it

and get things done that I have been procrastinating, 

like thank you notes. 

I inheritied this old desk from my parents,

who have had it in their garage for years.  

I believe it was my dad's accountant's desk at one time. 

I can usually find all kinds of interesting things in the cubbies; lego men, 

rocks, pocket knives, chewed gum....

Here are some shots of my decluttering efforts:

 (Sigh)

I love waking up to a clean home.

  It is a very energizing way to start the day. 

The children are all very occupied with playing this morning, 

so while Olivia is napping, perhaps I will be off to make aprons.

Sending blessings your way.  Have a wonderful weekend!

"A house becomes a home when each room is clothed with peace,

each wall is covered with laughter, 

and each heart is filled with love."

Wise Men

I am still stuffed from dinner last night.  Oh it was good!
Last night we finalized our family's celebration of Advent.

  Starting on Christmas day, we followed the 12 days of Christmas 

to January 6, where we culminated the festivities with an Epiphany Feast.

As the legend of the song, "The 12 days of Christmas" goes,
God the Father, our True Love,
gave to us the ultimate gift, Christ our savoir, on Christmas,

he is the "partridge in a pear tree."

Each of the days in the song have been referenced to gifts
given to us from God.
Two turtle doves- the Old and New testaments
Three French Hens- Faith, Hope, and Love
Four Calling Birds- the four gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Five Gold Rings- the Pentateuch; Genesis-Deuteronomy
Six Geese Laying-the 6 days of creation
Seven Swans a Swimming-7 gifts of the Holy Spirit;
prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion
Eight Maids a Milking- the 8 beattitudes, Matt. 5:3-10
Nine Ladies Dancing- fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22
Ten Lords a Leaping- the 10 commandments, Ex. 21:1-17
Eleven Pipers Piping- the faithful apostles, Luke 6:14-16
Twelve Drummers Drumming- the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed

  Legend or true history, the song is a fun way to teach our children.

Epiphany is a traditional church day for remembering
the Wise Men

coming to give baby Jesus gifts.

A five course dinner,

served with singing in between each course,

and gifts at the end,

made for a happy finale

to this blissful season of hope, love and joy.
Gabe loved the singing,
and always ended the phrase with us, singing "tree"
(the only word he could get), at the top of his lungs.
Every home needs a two year old!

We celebrate because this is the first revealing of God incarnate to the gentiles.  We are so very thankful for that!
I love the saying, "Wise men still seek Him." 

Today, those who are wise will seek God and follow His ways. 

What does seeking God look like?

    Wise men will seek to become close to His Majesty

by soaking in His Word, 

letting every lesson permeate his soul,

and teaching them to his children.

Hosea wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” 

It is tremendously easy for people to be led astray 

by a thousand forms of heresies, cults,

and erudite ideas the culture screams at us. 

The only antidote for this all-too-common scenario

is a thorough equipping in the Truth of God’s Word. 

But this cannot happen in a weekly, thirty-minute Sunday school lesson,

or a shallow fifteen minute sermonette.
 In order to be adequately prepared to stand strong

in the raging storms of deceit the world dishes out,

we must spend the time to be built up in the truth. 

Good, solid Biblical preaching,
followed by the Bible in the home,

being taught, memorized and explained

is the prescription to thwart theological ignorance.

I am ever so grateful for my husband, 

who, as a pastor, 

would rather error on being in-depth and long

with his sermon than watered down and short.

  It is not a popular position though,

and he takes quite a bit of flack for lengthy exposition. 

Would that the people rejoice over thorough exegetical preaching

rather than grumble about it! 

  A wise and godly father is one

who has made it a priority that his children know the Creator. 

As my husband reads to the family and discusses life issues at the table,

or at bedtime, or meets with the boys in one-on-one discipleship,

they are being trained to sit and listen, hearing instruction from their father, learning the ways of wisdom.

  Unfortunately, this practice is not the norm in our generation,

and few and far between are the men who take this responsibility

seriously enough to act upon it. 

Those that seek, will find God,

when they seek Him with all their heart. 

Then cometh wisdom.

"Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:

  for blessed are they that keep my ways. 

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,

waiting at the posts of my doors.

  For whoso findeth me findeth life, 

and shall obtain favour of the Lord."  

Proverbs 8: 33-35

New Tradition for a New Year

We began a new tradition this year at Providence Lodge. 

Wanting to be deliberate about creating a beautiful life for our family,
 Brian and I determined that

a treasure hunt and bonfire, complete with mulled cider and cocoa, 

would be a great way to celebrate the coming New Year.

So we invited over some friends and did just that, 

followed by a potluck and board games inside.

The cider on the BBQ was a huge hit.

It didn't seem to matter that it was 1 degree outside, 

friends had so much fun in the frozen outdoors,

 we did not want the day to end.

Everyone had a good time,
-with the exception of Gabe-
who thought that being trapped in his snow suit 

was some sort of punishment.

(smile)

In the end, it was a super way to start off the New Year.

With Food, Fun, and Fellowship- you just can't go wrong!

I love Traditions!

Blessings to ya all in 2011,

Julianne