A Mother's Journal

The Sunday Train

2009-06-20T16:27:00.003-06:00

Waiting for the Sunday train to choo choo us off to church.

New York style fun.

Thank you, Father, for the experiences you give us....

Quiet Time

2009-06-19T13:23:00.022-06:00

"And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so."

God's Word and one of His many creations, the hydrangea. Clipped from our yard.

Beautiful joy.

Nature Walks

2009-06-16T15:57:00.005-06:00

Our daily nature walks consist of crossing the street, using the path bridge over the highway (mentioned in the last post), and descending into absolute God-given beauty. Charlotte Mason's nature journals have a whole new meaning to all of us here. Thank you, my King.

Then we casually mozy on home through the winding streets of the neighborhood. Bliss.

Our Winter Wonderland

2009-06-13T09:55:00.009-06:00

So this is our new home and what it looks like in the winter. We really enjoyed experiencing living in the snow...even in a storm, it is so peaceful and serene. It has a way of making the dead things of winter come alive with beauty. The boys and I even enjoyed shoveling the snow off the walkways and throwing salt out to keep them from icing (I was scolded by the mail woman when it wasn't done and then she gave me a quick lesson on how to do it when she realized I just moved from AZ!) The view from my kitchen window looks out onto the driveway, but in the snow, even a driveway is beautiful! You can enjoy the view too watching Steve leave for the train in our new van.

The picture with the pine tree close-up is taken from our front door and is the corner of our yard...notice the traffic lights in the background and, if you look even closer, you can see cars driving down the highway just past the hill. Between the highway and the traffic light corner, we were initiated pretty quickly to living in a suburb of the City that never sleeps.

Hello Again!!

2009-06-11T18:10:00.006-06:00

Can you believe it? I am blogging again! It has been so long that I forgot my password and had to reset it again. :oP Just typing this, I feel like I am working out the blog rust!

It took me a few months (shortly after my last post to early December) to settle into the idea of moving from the southwest to the northeast, then it has taken me from December to now to settle into the element change and adjust to the new homeschooling laws. When I wasn't teaching or shopping for clothing to help us from freezing, I was busily writing out scopes & sequences, plans of instruction, quarterly reports, and helping educate our local school district on the legal rights of the homeschooler. But, ahhhh, "school" is over and spring is here!

Despite the strict homeschooling laws and being popsicle-like in the winter, we are really enjoying being here and feel so blessed to experience the culture and the nature (yes, nature in a suburb of Manhattan!)...I can't wait to share pictures with you! (now I just need to remember how to retrieve the pictures and post them....oh computers!!) I sincerely even feel blessed to experience the homeschool laws here...God works it ALL out for our good and His glory!

Thanks for your patience and encouragement while waiting for me to post again.

I love you all!

Ship Logs and Hardtack

2008-09-24T20:09:00.003-06:00

These are some photos from our study of explorers. The children had to "learn the ropes" of being a limey (a sailor for those that aren't sea savvy)! They drank beer (apple juice with powdered vitamin C added), ate hardtack (dry biscuits), salthorse (jerky), limeys (straight lime juice - talk about puckering!) and dried fruit.

They also had to learn how to tie different types of knots and know the reasons behind the knot. They handmade their own ship logs by dipping crumpled paper into a coffee bath, sun drying it and having to hand-sew the binding. It has been great fun! They love writing in their logs using the vocabulary they have learned of the late 16th century. If you click on the pictures, you can actually read some of their log entries. Enjoy!

A Summer Study Wrap-Up...

2008-09-24T19:54:00.003-06:00

We are ending our summer studies that began with the Middle Ages and is wrapping up with the Era of Exploration. We thought we'd share a bit from our Middle Ages studies now, with more to come on the Era of Exploration.

A (downloaded) photo of William Wallace's actual sword - which of course was a total hit with the boys. In case you don't know who William Wallace is...he is the namesake for our youngest son and the freedom fighter "Braveheart" so gallantly showed.

God was so good to bless the girls and I with a summer tea at real castle - especially during our study of castles!

Our family had the opportunity to help give and attend a "King and Kingdom" themed baby shower this summer...another timely gift from our Father! Everyone dressed as a knight or princess...it was great fun. The boys' knights and tents were used as decorations...and then photo props! Ja. set the props and took this picture.

Happy Autumn!

2008-09-22T22:27:00.003-06:00

Today is the first day of our family's favorite season. Wishing you an Autumn full of joy. And no, this is not a picture of where we live...or anywhere in the southwest. Isn't it dreamy though?

A Summer Storm

2008-09-18T09:09:00.001-06:00

As summer officially nears its end, I wanted to share this picture that was taken from our back porch one afternoon a few weeks ago. I really enjoy the monsoons when they come through - they offer such a break from the brutal heat (even if just visually!). With this storm, the monsoon's gray sky mixed with the sunshine to make this fantastic color of orange everywhere! Isn't it beautiful? I am thankful to my Father who blesses our hot, southwest afternoons with such beauty. I praise you, Lord.

Hello Again!

2008-09-16T21:54:00.006-06:00

I cannot even begin to list all the reasons why I have not posted on my blog this summer - the list would be far too long! I am excited though to be back on and start posting!

I am really delayed when it comes to modern technology (like doing anything productive with pictures I have taken on our digital camera), but I have just figured out how to upload my pictures to the computer and then share them through email or my blog...can you believe it?! I have taken many pictures I want to share and our oldest daughter and son have just begun a photography class, so I can now start sharing those pictures with you! Yay! So...be on the lookout soon for some of our photos.

Until then...with all my love...

Raw Apple Pie Recipe

2008-05-25T21:36:00.009-06:00

I recently found a fabulously delicious raw apple pie recipe that is quite easy to make and thought you might enjoy making it too. I have made it several times and the family has even eaten it for breakfast since it's so healthy! Because it's raw, it is gluten, dairy and egg free. Enjoy!

All American Apple Pie

(from "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen")

Almond Pie Crust:

2 cups almonds, dry

1 tsp. sea salt

2 cups pitted dates

Syrup:

1/2 cup pitted dates

1 orange, peeled and seeded

splash of water, as needed

Filling:

5 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced (about 5-6 apples)

1 cup raisins &/or cranberries

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

Place pie crust ingredients in food processor and process until ingredients begin to stick together. Remove and place/shape into bottom and sides of pie dish. The sides can be shaped in traditional decorative pie edges. (It is helpful to process a small handful of the dry almonds first and then line the pie dish with the crushed almonds...it helps the pie crust not stick)

Blend syrup ingredients in blender, then mix the syrup with all the filling ingredients in a large bowl. Pour apple mixture in pie dish and place the last bit of apples in a decorative way on top. Tah Dah...beautiful and yummy!

Peach Preserves

2008-05-23T21:39:00.008-06:00

Today I spent a wonderful afternoon with my dear friend, Becky, at her home in the country. As our children ran and played on her family's five acres, we chatted about all things having to do with being a homemaker, picked fresh peaches from her peach trees in these cute little baskets and then made preserves with those peaches. While I grew up watching my grandmother can fruits and vegetables, I had never attempted such a thing...it seemed too complicated! But the unknown seems to always be more daunting than the reality...it was so easy to 'can' those peaches! Pick, boil, ice-bath, peel, cut, mix in pectin & sugar...tah dah! Peach Preserves! Becky was so gracious and sent all 5 jars home with me! Yay! We are going to have warm muffins with fresh preserves for breakfast in the morning. Scrumptious! Thank you, Becky!

Afternoons like the one I spent today are so fulfilling. I felt so much joy fellowshipping with a sister in Christ, learning more homemaking skills, and watching our children play so free and safe on wide open land. Thank you, Father, for the rich gift of simplicity...may I always find the joy of contentment in the simple things You give. Amen.

A Field...

2008-05-21T00:31:00.008-06:00

God's Word in Proverbs 31:16 says "She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." As I was reading this passage again recently, I thought of what we often ask young adults as they're heading off to college...'What field are you entering? Or studying?' I always find it curious where certain phrases come from...

For many years as my husband's helpmeet, I have pondered what "field" I can consider, get and plant to bless him and our family. Until recently, I had not even considered how the Lord had orchestrated my college degree with my desire to purchase a field and plant a vineyard. The Lord may or may not use college in the future of our children, but when I was growing up, it was almost expected of everyone to attend college. At 17 years old I entered college and had to declare what "field" to study. I really had no idea what field to study...I just knew that I wanted to serve children. By God's grace and plan for my life, He introduced me to the "field" of Speech Language Pathology and several years later, I graduated and became a licensed Speech Language Pathologist working in the public school system. After only three years of working, I came home full time to be what I had always longed to be: a mommy who stays home with her little one, preparing her home to bless her husband after his long day at work. I thought that was the end of being a Speech Language Pathologist.

Recenty however, several fellow homeschooling mothers have asked me if I offer speech therapy services and I have always said no, for many reasons. I was so busy pondering "fields" to purchase, that I didn't even see "vineyard" value in the field I had already purchased. But then as I read the passage above, and pondered "field" in relation with the "field" I studied in college, I realized Speech Language Pathology was a field that I considered and received - by my Lord's provision. I was so excited! Our Lord uses all things for His glory! I immediately started organizing ways to "plant a vineyard" using the "field" I had purchased. Now, several months later, I am blessed to be servicing three homeschooled students from my home, with my own children near by working on their tasks at hand. I love the "vineyard" I am planting, being able to pray with my students and their parents, giving all glory of healing that takes place to Jesus, and blessing my husband and children with the earnings. Praise be to Jesus! Thank you Jesus for your loving guidance and provision! May You produce fruit out of the vineyard You have given me. Amen.

Welcome!

2008-05-19T16:11:00.004-06:00

I am so excited you've come to visit! I hope you enjoy your time here on my blog. I adore having others to our home, spending time fellowshipping and praising the Lord for all His good works. Having you with me on my blog feels as if you're here with me at home! I look forward to sharing my journey of being all that God created me to be, doing the good works He prepared in advance for me to do, and sharing the struggles that He helps me to overcome. So, when you have a moment to relax...grab a cup of tea and join me! I would love to hear from you too, so please feel welcome in leaving me a message in the comment section of the post. Until the next time we meet, with lots of love....