Monday

Monday, today.

Woke up at 11, spent the day in my pajama's.

Is that OK? Perhaps, but only since I didn't get any surprise visitors. Had someone stopped by they would have heard this.

Singing. Me, learning how to tune Joshua's ukulele with the new electric tuner that came today in the mail, they might have heard me trying to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" while pathetically strumming away. It was so much fun and the children really get inspired by my musical talent-(that's a joke).Joshua can now continue his youtube lessons in tune.

Laughing. Eve and Sim falling over laughing from a big hug. Cooing from Job Isaiah who wakes up from his naps talking to himself. Fighting from Heaven and Noah over who gets to hold the baby while I am Reading "Spy's for the Night Riders" out loud. Lego bombs hitting the ground, splattering Lego's under the couch, under the table, behind benches and boxes and of course the cry of delight from the silly boy who is quite satisfied with the surprise attack. Sounding out of three and four letter words, a determined reader who is pressing on. Encouragement, correction, and direction coming from me holding my bowl of m&m's ready to bless little ones with chocolate!

OK so I stayed in pajama's all day, but I seized the day never the less. I laughed with, or at least made each of my children laugh today, even if I had to sing like a fool or or play tackle tickle. My house is clean, laundry is folded and put away, my husband said he loved the roast I cooked for dinner, my children had baths, did school, we made laundry detergent for the month, I even chatted with my sister on the phone for 29 minutes. The day was a success and the really cool thing is, I don't even have to waist time putting on my pajama's before bed tonight!

Figuring Life Out - One Thousand Gifts

I am reading this book and really enjoying Ann's writing style, her passion for simplicity and life's natural beauties and her love and faith in our Creator GOD regardless of our circumstances. You can buy this book on Amazon right now for under $10, what a deal! I bought 2, one for a friend and one for me...also check out Ann's Blog at A Holy Experience.

Green Onions

You probably already know this, but this is just a reminder to remember to do actually do it. When you buy your green onions from your local grocery store don't discard the ends when you are done with them, instead save about an inch and a half at the root and put them in a jar or cup of water. Place the jar or cup in the window and you will almost be be able to watch them grow! Within a week they will be as big as they were when you bought them. ( Remember to change the water daily!)

Can you guess what we did yesterday?

We went on our Sunday Adventure.

We got a little messy.

This is on our 20 acres, the rock house property. The seasonal creek is bubbling and Joe and the kids built a dam together.

Isaac jumped across!

Isn't it absolutely beautiful!

ooops, we almost lost Joshua.

Hey guy's, time to pose for the camera....Noah is ready to jump in the creek but Isaac gets it!

Here they are lifting, caring and throwing the rocks. Good team work fellas!

An old radio system came with the house, Joshua and Heaven are putting it to good use here in our GIANT OAK tree that fell.

SIM COURAGE<>

Things that go boom...






That's right, still trying to impress my man :)

Job Isaiah had enough and was ready to go home.

The Rock House

I get asked all the time, even in the grocery store, if we are living in the rock house yet. Well here is the update.
What we thought would take 6 months to finish has now become a two year project...and counting :) But that is OK. My husband is doing this in his "spare time"...
When we first looked at it and thought 6 months of hard work and we'll be in. It was completely gutted, Joe even had to pour some of the foundation. There was just dirt and walls. Well that was 2 years ago. There are so SO sO SOOO many codes, so many rules and regulations. Joe has had to do and re-do and tear down and put back up just enough times to be quite irritated. I don't blame him.
I don't think Pa Ingles asked for a building permit or had to have his ceiling be a certain number of feet above his toilet when he built the house on plumb creek. Makes you realize what a bunch of commies we have become. But on the bright side we won't bump our head on the ceiling if we jump off of the toilet!

The side of the house. Because the back part is stick built we can add on later if we want.

Wow this looks like a junk yard. Well we bought it looking like a junk yard and added a little more junk to it. It will soon look like a garden paradise and the building is coming down, I think I'll keep some of the old wood for some project though.

The front door, covered deck on 3 sides of the house, picture lavender and hollyhocks...

This is the back of the house, I plan on getting a clothes line right out here first thing!

You just came in the back door and are now entering the kitchen/dining. See how long and open it will be!

My laundry closet is in the kitchen, now I will never lose track of laundry! Hooray!

The girl room. 4 windows in all!

This is our room. 4 walls and a window. The GREAT part is there is a great walk in closet with a window, perfect for a baby to take naps in and still plenty of room for clothes etc.

This is the front door leading into the family room.

This is the family room, it will have a whole wall of just books, another wall the piano and than of course seating. ( No T.V.)

This will be where we dine, the kitchen runs into the dining room. This will make hospitality easier with more room.

Now you are entering the Boy 's dorm, looking toward the bathroom. We can squeeze a double bed on one side of the door and a single bed on the other.

At the top of the stairs, the boy's dorm.

This is the boy's bathroom, upstairs. Just basics. Shower, toilet and sink with storage. Ideally I wanted a laundry shoot but their was a code against boys bathrooms having laundry shoots :)

We'll put bunk beds on both sides of this window.

This is one of the views out the boy's room window. They want to hunt from here...

Room for passing on the staircase, leads right into the kitchen.

It is really hard to tell but this is the downstairs bathroom, it will have double sinks for hand washing and teeth brushing.

OK so it is really still a work in progress and hard to really see in pictures but this is the kitchen from the staircase looking out the back door.

Here is a coupon code for you all from Doorposts. If you have not heard of Doorposts you are in for a sweet treat, Pam Forester is grounded in the word and has put together many charts that you can use to apply Scripture to everyday discipline, character training, and resolving of disagreements in your home. If you want to more about Reformation or just check out their freebies you wont be disappointed. Our family personally has really appreciated the If Then Chart and Instructions in Righteousness book. Check them out and save yourself $10 if you order this week using this code!
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Happy Shopping!

Moses

See the bubble between front tooth and lip? This is caused by blunt trauma to your brothers knee. The tooth had to be pulled today so that it could drain, Mr. Brave handled it quite well!

A Pearl-Strewn Pathway

No, there is no more snow in Goldendale, the snow has left and the wind has taken its place. It blew so hard today that the power out and as exciting as that sounds we really did run out of water. Heaven was hoping that it would stay out because she likes to walk around with candles and went to bed tonight disappointed because the power did come back on before bed time. Oh well at least we had a hot dinner, a running dishwasher, flushing toilets and a humming washing machine to compensate. Poor girl so deprived.

Today we nature journalled, it is something that has been sitting on the back burner of my mind. With all the overflowing creeks all around us we decided to grab our sketch pads and pencils and jump in the suburban and head on down the highway-nananana-looking for adventure-nananaan-or what ever came our way-Sorry, those songs stay with you forever. Back to nature journalling. Yes we found adventure, we saw deer and water and our cows. I got to stay in the suburban with Eve and Sim. (baby was at home with papa daddy) It was sooooo super cold and only the brave could handle it, us babies stayed in the suburban while everyone else sketched away. They had so much fun even thought they must have been freezing.

I sorta pictured me laying in the grassy meadow, wind blowing my hair ever so softly and sketching with the children-perhaps next time. It is amazing how easy it is to find adventure!

I posted a poem at the bottom of the page, it is by Francis Ridley Havergal. We have been reading one of her lovely books, Morning Bells, and we LOVE it. I loved it so much that I went searching for more about Mrs. Havergal and found her to be quite inspirational.

Heaven bringing home the mail. This is a real treat at our house! (not sure why?) note the big smile she has!

(I really enjoy picniking with my photo's)

Noah enjoys photography and took this picture of our feathered friend. Eve of course prefers butterly's.

New Year’s Wishes

or A Pearl-Strewn Pathway

Frances Ridley Havergal

(1836-1879)

A pearl-strewn pathway of untold gladness,

Flecked by no gloom, by no weary sadness,

Such be the year to thee!

A crystal rivulet, sunlight flinging,

Awakening blossoms, and joyously singing

Its own calm melody.
A symphony soft, and sweet, and low,

Like the gentlest music the angels know

In their moments of deepest joy;

’Mid earth’s wild clamour thy spirit telling

Of beauty and holiness, upward swelling,

And mingling with the sky.
A radiant, fadeless Eden flower,

Unfolding in loveliness hour by hour,

Like a wing-veiled seraph’s face—

Such be the opening year to thee,

Shrouded though all its moments be,

Unknown as the bounds of space.
Blessings unspoken this year be thine!

Each day in its rainbow bright entwine

New gems in thy joy-wreathed crown;

May each in the smile of Him be bright,

Who is changeless Love and unfolding Light,

Till the glory seem to thy trancèd sight

As heaven to earth come down.

Straight 'N' Arrow Sports

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity. One who practises archery is typically known as an "archer" or "bowman," and one who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a "toxophilite."

Noah, Grandpa and Uncle Dan all competed today at our first archery tournament. We all enjoyed watching and tromping through the woods, it was just what we all needed!
Stimulation, a little friendly competition and some fresh air. Archery is a sport that my boys absolutely LOVE! Although only Noah competed this time I am sure that Joshua will be right up there next time and then Moses and Micah and then Simeon and Job Isaiah! (A bunch of little Robin Hoods but without the tights!)
Archery is a sport that the whole family can enjoy and do together and if you interested in exploring more about it check out my father-in-laws store, Straight'N' Arrow Sports.