For Today 10/21/09

For more information, see http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY October 21, 2009...It's not even fully light yet at 8:30 in the morning. Winter is coming way too fast!

...I am thinking - I need to clean up my summer kitchen and find room for the stuff that was moved to make room for the freezer we were just given.

....I am thankful for - God's provision for vehicles. Just found out that the minivan needs a new tie rod end, but God already provided the funding.

...From the learning rooms - Abigail is reading well enough now to join in reading passages on Sunday morning!

....I am wearing - my white blouse and my purple and blue peasant skirt (LOL Would you believe I've got the same outfit on today? - 5 outfits and this one just happened to come around again today - I need to make myself something new to wear.)

....I am creating - a bonnet for a customer's rush order

...I am going - hmm I could say "crazy" but that would imply that I wasn't already there!

....I am reading - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jeremiah%2037:1-38:28;1timothy%206:1-21;psalm%2089:38-52;proverbs%2025:28&version=NIV

...I am hoping - my sister and brother in law have safe travels and wonderful experiences on their mission trip to India

...I am hearing - a couple of pine squirrels chasing eachother up into the pear tree, down and around the back porch, and back again and again.

...Around the house - Micha's making french toast (kind of a late start this morning after a late night.), Terran, Juli, and Lissa are reading in the livingroom, Jeremi's playing with Emilie, Manda's digging in the community shoe box, and Abigail's setting the table.

....I am wondering about - lactose intolerance. Everyone in my family has it. Mine's been mild enough to be in denial, but the slowed digestion of pregnancy seems to be making it much less ignorable. :(

...One of my favorite things - the smell of coffee and french toast in the morning

...A few plans for the rest of the week: sewing projects, planning what to serve on Saturday when Mom comes, hoping to start working on a few Christmas presents. (We do all homemade gifts and there are only 60 some days left)

From my photos...

Another third birthday - 7 years ago. :) Julihannah Kristine

Don't forget to scroll down to the last post and leave a message for a chance to win a copy of Chautona Havig's latest book, Argosy Junction!

Book Review - and possible prizes :)

Title: Argosy Junction
Author: Chautona Havig
Publisher’s Synopsis: The romance of the Montana Rockies has a pull on Matt Rushby that he's never fully understood. Sheep, mountains, and a family wounded by the spiritual abuses of a cult capture his heart on his first vacation from the metropolis of Rockland. While he learns how destructive the church can be to its own, the Argosys discover a Jesus they forgot.

My Review: Chautona's second book to come out in print, this book was a joy to read. This work of Christian fiction tells the story of the meeting of Matt Rushby - the boy who grew up in the inner city - and Lane Argosy - ranch owner's daughter. Talk about opposites attracting! Both are introduced to a world they've never known.

First, Matt sees life through the eyes of the Argosy's who have been shunned by The Brethren, a church that they had originally been a founding part of. Seeing the way they've been treated, Matt understands Lane's reluctance to have anything to do with the Lord, but he is determined to show her what true faith really is.

Then Lane and her sweet and naive little sister, Patience come to visit Rockland and experience the inner city. "A little child shall lead them" rings true as Patience finds joy in helping the homeless and showing love to a prostitute who visits Matt's church.

Chautona does a great job of showing balance in this story. The point of separation for the Argosy family from the Brethren was over an incident with a young lady wearing jeans and she does a good job of showing how easy it is to slip over the line into legalism. Yet it would be easy to portray all people who wear dresses and long hair as being legalistic, and for a while I was a bit concerned that that could be where the story was going. (At the same time as I was sure it couldn't be, knowing the author!) I loved how Chautona brought into the story a lovely family who outwardly may have looked like the Brethren but inwardly they truly loved the Lord and others and understood the concept of Christian freedom.

This book is part of Chautona's "Rockland Chronicles". I love how each story stands alone, yet she weaves characters from one to another. (You can read one of her ongoing stories called Past Forward here: http://www.fairburytales.com/fairburytales Matt and Lane peek into that story too!)

The Contest: http://paradoxology.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/contest/ Chautona is doing a contest. If my name is chosen from those who have blogged about her book, you will have a chance to win too! Just comment on this post and if my name is chose, one of your names will be chosen also to receive a copy of Argosy Junction.

Happy Birthday to my 3 year old!

3 years ago, yesterday, Emilie Lynnette joined our family in the wee hours of the morning. Truly joy came in the morning, and she is such a joy!


Here is a picture of her "cake". Emi requested chocolate cake with mint frosting. Terran made the cupcakes and the frosting for me and let me decorate it. I made fondant to create the little characters. (Some of them turned out better than others. LOL) Emilie LOVES Winnie the Pooh. She has nicknamed herself Pooh Bear and calls Micha: Owl, Terran: Rabbit, Jeremiah: Tigger, Julihannah: Eyeore, and Elisabeth: Kanga.

The fondant recipe is super easy -
1 cup of mini marshmallows squished down and stuffed as full as possible,
1 T water
microwave for 30 seconds and stir until liquidy (is that a word?)
then stir in (and knead in) powdered sugar until you have a modeling clay consistency.
You can separate it into different bowls and use food coloring (and extra powdered sugar as needed) to achieve different colors.


Here is Emilie with her cake. She loved it! :) (Terran and Jeremi decided that the Eyeore looked more like a leopleuridon. - those who have experienced the insanity of "Charlie the Unicorn" will know what that means. - you can look it up on youtube, but maybe you'd rather not know. ;)



And Emilie in her new birthday dress from Nana. (I promised my mom I'd get a picture and let her see it. Hi, Mom!)

"Behold, children are an heritage of the Lord."

Have a great day!

Trying something new and simple

I've come across this "Simple Woman's Day Book" recently and have enjoyed reading the entries on my friends' blogs. For more information, see http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/





FOR TODAY October 13, 2009


...Outside my window - The sun makes it look like a warmer day than it really is. Snow flurries yesterday!


...I am thinking - about a story I'm writing. I'm stuck.


...I am thankful for - God's incredible blessings - a beautiful home, land, wonderful children and husband, a reliable job for Mike, provision for our needs, and a precious little one that God is knitting within me. :)


...From the learning rooms - found a great website this morning on teaching spelling. I have children who are voracious readers. I thought spelling would come naturally. Um, maybe not.


...From the kitchen - our neighbor filled up our kitchen with apples and my mother in law blessed me with more jars. Just have to get going on making the apple sauce.



...I am wearing - my white blouse and my purple and blue peasant skirt and my warm turquoise wool sweater.



...I am creating - dresses for customers and working on a new song


...I am going - no where. :) Snugged in our warm house while we get over our colds.


...I am reading - Bible reading today: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jeremiah%2022:1-23:20;2thessalonians%201:1-12;psalm%2083:1-18;proverbs%2025:11-14&version=NLT and DragonLight by Donita K. Paul


...I am hoping - to see my mom, sister, nieces and nephews later this month!


...I am hearing - my Judy Rogers cd (a wonderful gift from a reader here!), my daughter washing dishes and the little ones playing


...Around the house - Micha and Terran are reading Ivanhoe for their literature class, Jeremi is just coming in from taking out the trash, Lissa is working on spelling, Juli's doing dishes and planning lunch, Abi's playing the computer, and Manda and Emi are playing with Emi's "Little Einsteins" toys.


...I am wondering about - our country's future. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!


...One of my favorite things - afternoon naps :)



...A few plans for the rest of the week: apple sauce! lots of apple sauce. :)


From my photos...

I'm so thankful for the relationships between my oldest and youngest children!

Finished!

I've been talking for a long time about how I was working on publishing a version of Savannah's scrapbook and about the cd project to go with it. Well, it's finally finished :) I worked out all the pages in a digi-scrap format and got it printed through Lulu.com - then added little bits of special touches - rhinestone stickers, 3-d elements, mini books - one that even has a buckle to open it.

Then I conned my sister, Cheri into helping me with my cd project.

And it all came together today - (It only took 7 months hehe) and I finished the website :) Let me know what you think. :)
http://www.savannah-rose.com

God bless you!
- Heidi

A Neat Blog I Started Reading Today

I ran across a link to a really neat blog today. It is the journey of a family who buys and old Amish farm and lives without electricity etc.
http://eclecticculturefarm.blogspot.com
I imagined when we were looking to buy this house that our life would look a little bit like this. Of course, God had a slightly different plan in mind. :)
Anyway - just wanted to share a blog that I'm sure you'll enjoy!

Summer Fun

A few weeks ago, we had one of those really hot August days that have been so rare this summer - the kind of day that makes the kids wish we had a pool - the kind of day that makes you actually consider really crazy things like going to a water park. :) Fortunately, we have creative people around here who can come up with better ideas!

Mike pulled out a large tarp and the boys set it up on a small hill with some rocks to hold it in place. Micha didn't want to go down the makeshift water slide so he was conned into holding the hose.

Going down the slide is fun, ending up in the mud at the bottom is a little more concerning!

I don't know what Lissa said to earn the extra spray. Wow, that well water's cold!

Manda says, "Whee!"

Terran comes *flying* down the hill!

Maybe that was a little TOO fast!

"My turn! my turn!" Emilie needs a push.

What a fun way to spend a hot summer day!