Feb 18, 2009

Deer and Me



I've been thinking a lot about this verse lately. Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God." Maybe it's all the deer we've been seeing up here! I haven't studied deer in any way, (only out my window), but what I have noticed is there is an exact path that goes from the woods out into the apple orchard.


These deer are searching for nourishment. Their lives are dependent on it. This verse reminds me that my life is dependent on God. I would not exist if it were not for Him. I would have no reason to exist if it were not for Him. I want to know Him more each day. I want to make a well trodden path with my own feet for our children to follow. Right now, it's a cold, wintery season, and those deer are on a serious search for food. We all go through cold, hard times. Every day, we hear updated reports on our country's economic crisis. People are losing their jobs. People are losing their homes. People are losing hope. These are cold, hard times. Go to God's Word, take in the nourishment.

Psalm 70:5
"But I am afflicted and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."

Psalm 71:5
"For you are my hope; O Lord God, you are my confidence from my youth."



Psalm 46:1-4
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High."

God is NOT a "temporary retreat; He is our ETERNAL REFUGE." -I love that!

Feb 12, 2009

The February 11th Birthday Babies



Well, here they are, our 11 and 4 year olds. When Emma woke up, she walked downstairs all disheveled and said in a groggy voice to Matt, "Happy Birthday." He said, "Thanks, Emma." She said, "Are you 11 now?" He said, "Yup, I turned 11 when everyone was asleep last night." She gasped and her eyes grew wide. There was a problem, a big problem that nobody had thought about! She asked, "Does your coat still fit you?" Emma thinks that with the celebration of a birthday comes immense growth. -thankfully, she's wrong on that one!!!!!!!!!!

We set up a boy table and a girl table...

Matt gave Annie these butterfly clips, and she wanted to wear them on her special day.



And Annie gave Matt.....



a box of Ritz crackers. :o)





a little birthday love from Mikey.


We enjoy playing this joke over and over again. I think we did it to you one Christmas, Trish. We did it at the teen christmas party, as well. It's called, "put a tiny present in a huge bag and fill it with filler." In Matt's case, we chose pillows. :o)

He was confused at first.

Then he realized what was going on.

And it became extremely funny to him.



I loved the look on his face when he found out what was beneath all the pillows.

A flight simulator game....


Another big moment was receiving his cello!

He woke up this morning and went straight for the cello. The warm low tones are just beautiful. I love this instrument. I can't wait until he is playing songs with his sisters. I like it that they are all playing instruments that are different but in the same string family. Mary plays the violin, Emma plays the viola, Mikey plays the guitar, Annie is playing her cardboard violin, :) and now Matt plays the cello. When they learn to work and come together on these instruments, they can make beautiful music together. Thank you Dad and Mom! There will be plenty of concerts this summer for sure! :o)

Yoyo Ma meets "Whose your mama?"


Ever hear of the saying, "Families are like fudge. Mostly sweet.....

With a few nuts." :o)

Feb 7, 2009

Precious Memories

I was going through some old pictures the other day. When I got to these, I laughed and cried. That little binky-faced baby girl down there is going to be 4 on Wednesday, and Matthew will be 11! I can hardly believe how fast the time goes. With each newborn baby, I've always been reminded by a seasoned mother, "Oh, cherish the time. It goes by so fast." I tried to cherish that time, but how is that my babies grew up so fast?




And this is the one that just makes me laugh. I'm sure it was something very traumatic like she wasn't able to hold the new baby the second she asked.


I love being a mom. I love these little faces. I love each day that God gives me...even the bad ones. No doubt I was behind this camera in my pajamas, hair piled on top of my head in a rat's nest and the house an absolute mess. I've learned that it's ok to leave the dishes, laundry and clutter once and while, and go sledding, have tea parties and make forts. You never really lose time if you're "laying up treasures in heaven."

Feb 3, 2009

A Cold Yummy Treat

What to do with all this snow?




I got a wonderful idea off the internet.

First you need 4 cups of clean snow. -emphasis on the CLEAN. That's why we chose the freshly laid snow on the deck.




Mix with all these ingredients...


And what do you get?



SNOW ICE CREAM!!!

Mikey certainly loved it, but then again, you could pour sugar over the bark of a tree and he'd probably eat it.

Here's the recipe.

Snow Ice-Cream

1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups clean snow

In a large bowl, beat cream at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
Add sugar and vanilla (adding more of each if you prefer).
Fold in snow, stirring gently to blend.
Eat immediately or freeze until ice cream hardens.