My Family - A Precious Circle

"In a true family circle a father and a mother first clasp each other's hands, liking well to be thus clasped; then they stretch out a hand on either side, and these are speedily grasped by children, who hold one another firmly, and complete the ring. One child is better than nothing, a great deal better than nothing; it is at least an effort in the right direction, but the circle that ensues is not, even then, a truly nice shape. You can stand as handsomely as ever you like, but it simply won't 'come round.' The minute that two, three, four, five, join in, the 'roundness' grows, and the merriment too, and the laughter, and the power to do things."

~Mother Carey's Chickens

by: Kate Douglas Wiggin

I read this the other evening and it has rolled round and round in my mind. Many tidbits from this old novel have played around in my thoughts as I continue to read. More love, more encouragement, more compliments, more displays of affection need to come from the core of this mother. I am working to develop sweeter habits.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

First Sewing Project

Sabin wanted to try his hand at sewing. So we worked on project while Chloё napped. I cut a couple of pieces of felt into the shape of a Christmas tree. My plan is to let him stuff it once he finishes sewing around it. And if he hasn't lost complete interest, he can decorate it with glitter glue.

 As you can see, however, his attention span is short. He got almost half-way around before he'd had enough. We'll finish it one of these days.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

Through The Roof

I wrote, last week, of the blog post that I read in which I was challenged to be Jesus to my children. The next day I began reading the book of Mark in a way I have not before. I'm looking at Jesus. Who is He? What is He like? How did He treat people. I included an entry in my journal from the 14th.

I'm not reading very quickly. I get snippets and think them over. I'm re-reading. Wanting to absorb. This evening I began chapter 2 of Mark.

You know the story of Jesus preaching in the house full of people? The house so full that the four men couldn't get their sick friend through the door? Well, this time while reading I thought about some things that hadn't before crossed my mind. I'm still mulling them over.

Jesus was preaching... to important people, lots of people. This was a big deal. He was obviously in the middle of serving God. Then all of the sudden some crazy person/people, unaware of how important this message, was began making racket in the ceiling above. And then without caring at all about the people trying to listen, the sick man came right down through interupting everything in order to get his needs met.

Do you know what Jesus did? Of course you do. Well, I started thinking about what I would have done. And what I do - I have regular interupters in my home.

Let me simply say that most times I do not re-act in the way Jesus would re-act. I want to nurture their faith rather than be annoyed by it.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Christmas Angels

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

Building Houses

This was so much fun for the children.

(Hint: Graham crackers are so much easier than gingerbread.)

They needed a bit of help with the actual construction. Ok, Sabin needed a bit of help. Chloё was busy brushing "Baby Kangaroo's" hair so I just put her house together.

Then they decorated while I just sat there taking pictures and listening to their stories.

And the stories were my favorite part. I loved listening to the imaginations spin tales.

Chloё: here is a flag for my roof, Mama.

Sabin: there is a pond over here where they go fishing.

etc

Busted! It was just too tasty to resist.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

The Great Outdoors

Every once in a while we get really crazy and actually play on a playground.

Well, the children play and I hike around it in order to get my exercise points.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Awaiting Baby

This morning I awoke to the movements of a tiny child. I couldn't help but smile as he slid his foot along underneath the palm of my hand.

The time is passing quickly (of course it always does) and soon I will hold the little foot in my hand. As the weeks pass, I am more and more settled confident peaceful with the changes that this little one will bring. As the weeks pass, I am more anxious to meet this little kicker.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Just My Quiet Time Thoughts

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Loving Like Jesus

I awoke too early this morning, listening to the sounds of gentle breathing all around me. I could not fall back to sleep. I thought about my family: my children, my husband, my life. What am I really doing for Jesus? My mind tossed the question around. My spirit has felt stale of late. I prayed to God, asking for wisdom, wondering where I could get direction and encouragement. Yes, His Word. Of course His Word. But sometimes, in my less-than-holy-life, I wonder where to turn there. And that too seems dry.

Finally, I crawled from bed as the sky was changing from black to blue. My early bird would soon arise. Snuggled in the livingroom, under the light of the Christmas tree, I turned on the computer. I was thinking about a blog that a friend recently shared with me. Maybe there would be a crumb for me there. God is so gracious. There. Just a few posts down. Exactly what I needed. The author wrote of being the example of Jesus in my home. She wrote of being love to my children and how that would look if I looked like Jesus.

This day I am encouraged. I feel as though I have had a long drink from the most refreshing pool. Somehow being sweet and patient and training in love came easier today. Truly the children behaved better, were more eager to please their cheerful mama. My day has been a delight. I am anxious to do it all again tomorrow.

Also, I have a springboard for studying again. A search to know the Saviour better that I might be more like Him in the moment to moment. I long to be that in my home.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Sweet Peace

Nature Walk and Nature Painting

We went for a walk in the snow today. Down by the river of course. We threw rocks across and sometimes through the ice, explored animals tracks. The children ran and we all giggled. The chilly air was refreshing to our lungs.

Chloё likes the dried flowers along the banks of the river. She picked some to carry home and shared with her brother. We were out for more than 2 hours.

Upon our return home, the Littles used the flowers as paint brushes and made lovely snow pictures.

 

Painting was serious business today.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

Sometimes It's Tough To Just Get Out There

I have a commitment to get us outside for fifteen minutes every day. It is part of our... er... school curriculum. (There are some exceptions to this commitment; i.e. poor health, inclement weather.) Some days seem much harder than others - like those days when everyone needs to bundle up in snow gear, for instance, especially when the littles seem content to just stay indoors. Today was one of those days. But out we went.

And the rewards, as usual, were fabulous.
Sunshine. Fresh air. Room to run off energy. Imaginations piqued. Spirits calmed.

Today we were out for a little over 2 hours.



Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

The Lamb

This morning we glued wool on some sheep which we then hung on our tree. While the children glued we chatted about what a sheep has to do with Christmas. We talked about the sheperds who heard from angels of the birth of a Savior. We talked about God being our good shepherd. Most of all we talked about the Lamb of God.

When finished with their lambs the children watched chapters 6, 8 and 9 of an audio book "The Lamb". You can also enjoy this wonderful audio book online here. This is only a taste of the book. But if you sign in or register for a free membership you can watch the entire book for free as often as you'd like. (I occasionally get email updates regarding their ministry, but nothing annoying comes of signing up.) Sabin really enjoys this story and asks for it often.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

A Cookie Baking Day

Little man wanted to make cookies while Chloё napped. We've been talking about measuring ingredients and he is still trying to figure out why we fill a "half cup all the way full".

Because I often come back to these posts, I like to add tidbits of how and what they are learning. We have not worked on letters (other than an S and C) nor have we taught any addition/subtraction - well at least not on purpose. I fully intend on delaying all formal and even semi-formal lessons for at least a year or two yet. This said, I found it particularly interesting that while I pulled ingredients out of the cupboard, my little man sang, "1 and 1 is 2. 2 and 2 is 4. 3 and 3 is ... uhhh... 6. 4 and 4 is.... What is 4 and 4, Mama?" I told him the answer was 8.

He does really like numbers. A few months back he figured out a substraction problem in order to figure out how many buttons he could keep after giving me what I needed. I was delightfully surprised.

Anyway, back to the cookies. Sabin's favorite are oatmeal cookies with "everything in them". Which means he likes to add cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, and 3 kinds of chips: chocolate, white, and butterscotch.

 He's getting really good at cracking eggs. Not even the tiniest piece of shell.

The cookies are delicious.
Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Christmas Ornaments

We made salt dough ornaments today. The children had a lot of fun with it. We made both stars and talked about the wisemen looking for Jesus. We also made some bells.

Our Recipe:

1/2 c salt

1 c flour

1/2 c water

Mix ingredients. Knead on slightly floured surface till dough is smooth and elastic. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes. Bake at 250' for 2 hours. (Don't forget to poke a hole for attaching ribbon before you cook your ornaments.)

Rolling out the dough

Cutting it into shapes

We went outside to play while the dough cooked and cooled.

Painting the ornaments

And of course there was glitter.

I still need to spray them so they are shiny and sealed.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

Preparing for the Preparation

For my children who love all things scissors, glue, and messy, we made these candle holders for Advent. Joe has a standard appointment on Sunday evenings for the next several weeks, so we chose not to begin Advent tonight.

Instead the children and I popped coconut popcorn and made up a large fruit tray with yogurt dip and prepared for Advent.

They made the candle holders and we talked a bit about Jesus being the light in the darkness.

Our Advent will be similar to last year. We will be putting up the children's nativity one day at a time, using a story written by Noël Piper. We will also have a paper chain to count off the days. We've used a chain to mark off other things and Sabin really enjoys the visual. 

This year I plan to add Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree Devotional --just the Bible stories and ornaments for a tree, in order to keep it simple.

What will you be doing to truly enjoy this season?

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

The Beginning of Advent

I sat in a chair carefully unwrapping each piece of the Nativity and placing them one by one on the table. Sabin stood bright-eyed waiting. He was looking for the baby Jesus. But Jesus never came. With the tiny babe hidden from sight, I told my little man how there would be no baby today. I told him that people waited and waited for the Saviour to come and that we would be waiting too.

Sabin was not satisfied, telling me again and again that baby Jesus should be there and that he was missing. "Where is baby Jesus?" He demanded. I played a bit naive, repeating what I had said about the waiting until the matter was finally dropped. Throughout the season, I plan to tell stories of those who awaited the arrival of the Messiah. It will be so exciting to see his face come Christmas morning when the manger is no longer empty.

Chloё came over to see what the fuss was about. She didn't understand who all the people were and kept asking me to repeat their names. She's heard the story before, but never with such lovely figurines. So I told her the story with all the enthusiasm I could muster. The little Princess and her brother stood staring wide-eyed, listening to the tale. The more they stared in wonder the more excited I was in the telling. It was like Chloё had never heard any of it before. And even Sabin, who could probably tell me the story, stood fascinated.

I'm still working out a few details of our Advent season, I'm hoping to share more of our plans with you tomorrow.

I am so looking forward to this season.

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day with family friends. We always appreciate their great hospitality.

Early this morning Chloё made Thanksgiving dinner for her dollies. Each had her own "book plate" with a fish to eat and a cushion to sit on. I am so excited to give her the kitchen set we have hiding in the basement.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Down By The River

Lately we've taken quite a few nature walks by the river. Since one day last week, when we happened to drive by a large excavator there, we have returned almost daily. Sometimes we sit and watch the men working. Other times we walk and climb and play in dirt. We usually spend well over an hour on these escapades (frequently 2-3 hours). Often we take a snack or even lunch with us.

This was a walking/climbing sort of day.

Sabin is singing "Sand Bar"

Peacefully BuZzInG,

Misty