4HIM - The Basics of Life

Alan Jackson - Are You Washed In The Blood

Merry Christmas!

The song "to us a Child of Hope is born, to us a Son is given..." is going through my head.
What would we be without hope?  When I see the expressions on my childs innocent faces I remember the hope that filled my heart as a child.
Gradually the trials in life started slapping me in the face trying  to steal away my hope.
Some days it sure worked, I've had my days of feeling hopeless.  More so than not, but this time of year I am reminded of the hope of Heaven.  
You know with all the stink about not saying "merry Christmas"  , or if you watch the news at all you soon realize that not everyone has the same point of view as you do.  That is okay!  We are free to believe what we want.

I choose to cling to the hope that Jesus came to this earth as a baby, died on the cross for my imperfections and sins and was raised to life again, Giving us HOPE!

Without that hope I don't know why I'd want to go on with life.
 Life is Hard!  It is full of hurt and pain.  Conflicts and fighting, it makes me sick in my stomach.

An innocent child has hope!  Until life starts to hurt too much....

I don't know about you, but through my journey I've clung to the HOPE I've found in Jesus!
Life is such a journey.  I'm sure glad that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. To have it all together.
To understand everything,   We'd never make it.  Through God's love and forgiveness,  I am drawn to Him.  May you find Hope in Him this Christmas season.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelations 21:4

Princess Kate ain't got nothin' on you, Mama! - Articles on God and faith from mom expert Hannah Keeley

Princess Kate ain't got nothin' on you, Mama! - Articles on God and faith from mom expert Hannah Keeley

The Donkey Story

This weekend was palm Sunday.  The day we tell our children the Bible story about when Jesus came riding into town on a donkey and the children waved palm branches.  Shouting "hosanna to the King!"

Today I'm thinking about a different donkey story.  I just heard the story of a farmer who had a donkey.  It was getting old.  One day it fell into a deep hole.  The farmer knew that the donkey was so old, he didn't want to try to get him out, he would probably die anyway, so he decided to let him die there.
The farmer started to throw dirt on top of him to bury him.  Each shovel full of dirt he threw on top of the donkey, the donkey shook it off.  Eventually the dirt created a "hill"  for the donkey to climb up on and eventually, instead of laying down and dying, he used the dirt for something good.

Just something that I've been thinking about lately.

Paul Overstreet - Dig Another Well

A Fresh Cup of Coffee

40 A fresh cup of coffee! 

41 Friendships and 43 Energy!
The guys moving the piano to the basement

33 the fire in the fire place on a cold day.....

My new flower beds that I anticipate growing things in this summer!

So many things going through my head right now, not sure what to write about today.


This week our family is participating in
Celebration of Hope  by Willow Creek Church

WE STAND

THE FIVE-DAY CHALLENGE

For five days, eat as half the world’s population eats—on less than two dollars a day. (April11–15)

FOOD

Restrict your intake of food to a small serving of oatmeal or Cream of Wheat at breakfast and a cup of rice and beans at lunch and dinner. Consider this: One cup (eight ounces) of food is a generous meal portion for those fighting poverty—and eating meat is a luxury. (You may add small amounts of vegetables and approximately one ounce of meat—the size of a small chicken nugget—to your portion each day).

WATER

Drink only tap water, and remember the more than one billion people who don’t have access to clean water. Children in many developing countries walk for miles to fill jugs with water, often from disease-ridden sources.

I am feeling hungry right now , but it makes me think of those who are hungry every day.

Being Thankful

This weekend as we drove, Leslie read me part of a book she was reading.  I forget the title, but in it the author was writing about being joyful.  Lately, I haven't been feeling very joyful.  Winter blues really get to me.  Plus a wide range of other things in my life that I've been letting "get me down".
Anyway, a short version, she said that someone challenged her to write 1000 things she is thankful for.
That it is hard to be joyful if you are not thankful, and grateful.
I thought, hey if thinking about things I'm thankful, could bring joy to my life, I'm up for the challenge.
So, I started yesterday.  I'm up to 45 already.
I'll share a few with you in a minute, but I've really been thinking about joy and happiness and depression and discouragement.
A few things that I wonder about is things like "fake it till you make it".  If you aren't feeling happy, smile anyway, and "fake" it until you actually are happy.  hummm.... I'm pondering that one.
If you know me, I don't fake anything.  I wear my emotions on my sleeve.  You can read me even if I don't want you too.!

Here is a few I thought I would share with you:

1   sweet smell of a fresh orange
2 Teaching a child something new

Teaching Trevor to Draw

8  "flowers" hand picked by my little boy and telling me "because I love you!"

Here Mom "I Love You!

11  Music
18  sounds of water dripping from the eaves or roof
20  Quiet time in the afternoon
22 The Holy Spirit and God's presence in my life
28 Popcorn and America's Funniest Videos

Watching Americas funniest Sunday nights

33 smell of wood smoke and a warm fire in the woodstove
45 freedom to be a stay at home mom
46 the anticipation of new flowers in the spring

Starting seeds

Here are some verses I've also been pondering

Ecclesiates 6:9  Enjoy what you have, rather than desiring what you don't have!
I gotta go, the girls are home and it's time to get ready to go to music lessons.

A week on the couch and the Science Fair

Okay, I admit, I am not feeling so great.

It started Sunday, after we got home from church I was feeling so exhausted.  When the kids went down for their quiet time, I did too.  I slept all day and didn't get up at all.
Monday came and I felt even worse, so after getting the girls off to school by 8:15, to the couch for me!

The boys, watched T.V. all day.  I was too sick to care!  They were quiet and allowed me to rest on the couch.
 Tuesday came and I woke thinking "oh I'm feeling better"  So I got the boys ready for swimming lessons, draggin my feet all the way, but I was feeling a bit better.  By the time we got home I was ready for another couch run!
We had our usually Tuesday night "potluck"  friends night and by the time everyone was gone I was exhausted again.
Wednesday brought another almost full day on the couch.  Jeff stayed home to get the girls off to school so that I didn't have to deal with that stress.  He stayed home for the morning until I was able to get up and move a bit.  Finally that evening I had Jeff buy me some gingerale.  That helped get things really moving!  More gingerale today, maybe it will clean me out!

I am hoping and praying that I am better for tomorrow.

Tia won 2nd place in the science fair and goes on to Fort Frances.  She is pretty excited, because her good friend, Jamie, from the neighboring school won also.  Tomorrow Les, her mom, and I are going to take our 4 girls for a ladies trip!  We get to go shopping!  Get a hotel with a pool to swim in for the evening. Then be at the science fair for Saturday morning.

Yeah, for those who live in the states that is no big deal, but for us!  Whoo hoo!
We live 3 hours from the nearest Walmart!   We get to go out to eat!  Boy, I hope I am feeling better!
I wouldn't want to miss eating out when we are "out of town"!

We have a Subway, let's see what else?   Oh....... yeah, I guess nothing!  Am I forgetting any fast food places here?  They are talking about putting a Tim Hortons in soon... talking, but I haven't seen action yet.
We do have a few small privately owned resturants, which is nice.

Really though, I don't mind, it makes it much more special when you don't have all that,  all the time.

Reminds me to be grateful for what we have.  A warm home, family, clothes, food and clean water.

This is Tia's Science Fair project.  Her idea!
She wanted to make a Solar Water Cleaner, so that she could make clean water for Haiti.
Jeff went to Haiti for a week this February to build houses.
His experience was life changing for him and the rest of the family.

So in the big birds eye view, really does it matter that I  am sick for a week?
Or that I don't get to go to Walmart whenever I feel like it, or need something?
Or miss eating out at fast food resturants?
It is things we take for granted.

Our Grandparents

My Grandpa Rutt

Jeff 's Grandpa Yutzy
Jeff's  Gandma Gingerich

My Grandmom and Grandpop Messner

My Grandma Weaver and aunt Fern

In order of pictures.  I still can't figure out these captions!

Take the time to smell the flowers and say I love you!

After a long conversation with my dear twin Wanda, It made me think about how easily we assume things.  For instance we assume that things that are unspoken are known to the other person, just because.  I was challenged to use my words to speak life, and not destruction! God put a tight reign on my tongue!  I have learned that when I am hurt, I either lash out in anger, or say stupid things without really thinking it through first.  That always gets me into trouble!  If I have ever hurt you with my words, please forgive me!  I think many times I have done so without realizing it.  May God be the healer of our hearts today!  I love you all!

Hibernating!

Dylan has two new teeth!!

Alabama and Tia and their new cousin Hannah.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.  About the reason we are alive!  What is our goal in life? Like my friend Iris said  If I only had 6 months to live, what would I find important?

I find we spend so much of our time on things that don't have value.  I rush around doing things, and neglect the really crucial things.  

I have already weeded out of my life many things that I felt weren't necessary in my life right now. Like, crafts, painting, most scrapbooking, and the list goes on.  But still I question if that is enough.  

Important things like putting God first in everything I do, tends to get pushed aside, I'll spend time with God later, when the work is done.  Things like, playing with the kids, listening to them, and really hearing there heart.  Just tonight, I had an opportunity to listen to Tia, because I took the time to be with her.  Just her.  All the others were sleeping or on their way to bed and she was begging to watch a movie with me.  I didn't want to, but I knew she was really crying for quality time with me.  So we did a few house hold chores before bed, getting the house presentable for morning.  Usually she goes to bed.  But as we cleaned up, side by side, her talking non stop she eventually poured out her heart to me.  Some boys at the pool have been making fun of her crooked teeth.  It was good for her and I to take the time to just talk about how to handle teasing like that.  

I've been reading the New Dare to discipline by James Dobson.  I'm learning so much.  I wish I had it 7 years ago!    

I know I need work on disciplining my kids.  It is such a learning experience being a mom.  

Anyway, I decided, since it is cold out anyway, and I have a baby, I 'm going to take 6 weeks to reevalute.  "fast" from any extra cirricular things.  I'm going to stay at home and focus on our family.  (Like I really go anywhere anyway!)  But I'm going to take the time to read some books about children.  I going to invest some time in the in's and outs of daily time management in our home.  I want to get home schooling ready for a new year.  We aren't on the regular school schedule.  Tia is getting ready to start grade 2 and Bama wants to learn to read!  

I was wondering if anyone out there has some advice on raising four young ones and home schooling.  Plus trying to get fit and eat healthy.  Life feels a bit overwhelming at times.

I know I need to relax....But when I relax, I feel like I'm being lazy.  I get lazy.  I guess there is a balance.  

Anyway, I feel like I'm just babbling, so I 'll quit!  I'd love to hear from anyone who has some suggestions. 

My Dream

I just woke up from a very vivid dream.  Jan 27 11:52 pm.

We were going out onto the frozen lake to skate, Me, Alabama, Tia, I’m not sure who else, but it was obvious that it was my family.  There were lots of people already out there skating around.  Two of my friends from elementary school were talking, Linford and Melody.  They asked, is that Wendy?  As we enter onto the Lake.  Everyone was skating and having fun.  I don’t clearly remember how it happened, but slowly things started to change.  The ice was getting cracks in it.  It was kinda odd because it was solid ice at the time we enter the Lake to skate.  As the winds blew and I guess a storm arose the cracks started getting bigger.  Soon it was so evident that we were all falling in the frozen lake.  I was  one of the last ones to fall in and as I fell, I started crying out.  Oh Jesus, give us strength. Jesus, help us, oh Lord give us strength, over and over I prayed this for the three of us that were there.  “ Just keep swimming, keep swimming,” I encouraged my friends, It looked like Leah Roy, or Melody Nolt one of the people I wasn’t sure if was a believer, but the other one was and we just prayed that God would help us, and give us strength.  over and over, then just as we were feeling like we were going to drown we all felt this table, or solid ground under our feet.  You’re going to be all right, just keep swimming.  Supernaturally, Jesus hands just lifted us up, kept us from drowning.  We were still struggling in the cold icy waters and our heads were bobbing, but I knew we were going to be rescued.  But until then, he was keeping our heads from going under, because of prayer.  

I don't know what all that means, but there are  a few dreams that are so vivid and clear that I believe it has a message for us.

As we are struggling in this thing we call life, trying, swimming to keep our heads above water, keep from drowning.  We need to pray!  Jesus wants us to give Him our burdens, rest on His shoulders.  Give Him our struggles.  He's not going to just take us out of our struggles, but He gives us a solid place to rest as we continue to "swim"  

This past weekend a van load of women went to Kenora to celebrate our friend Mary Jane's 40th birthday!

This is a picture that Rita took on the way home of Dylan and I.  Isn't he so cute!  I just started feeding him cereal this week.

I should head to bed.  I am enjoying the quiet house.  

Alabama's 4th birthday is coming up! Friday! 

I'm still here

Well, to answer your questions, I am still big and pregnant. We are enjoying the week with Jeff and Janet and their three boys. Jeff and Jeff have been out fishing lots. Emily came along and I'm so excited to have her here. She has been such a blessing already. My due date isn't until August the 13th. Them being here is helping pass the time without thinking about wanting to have this baby! Thankfully the weather has cooled off. Those hot days aren't that much fun!

Today Pento came and planted the grass over our septic field. Finally! We are going to have some grass! Also Al Greene came and fixed the driveway this week. And Timbermart delivered material to build the garage and deck!! Things are happening around here!

I finally ordered the pictures of our family that Kim took. Along with others from this year. Jenni wanted to scrapbook, maybe I'll actually be able to with Emily here. As long as the baby doesn't come too early. I thought it would be nice for Jeff's to be able to meet the new one, but Only God knows when the right time is!

My kids must be exhausted, they went to bed really well tonight.

Trevor is back on all foods and seems to be doing well. I really can't figure that one out.!

I don't have patience to wait to upload these pictures. I'm tired and want to go to bed. What else can I say while I wait.....?????

I've been reading through Joyce Meyer's "battlefield of the mind" book lately.

# I'm trying to take the time to renew my mind in the word of God, to think postive, true thoughts and get rid of negative, complaining and murmuring and false things the enemy wants to feed us.

# I need to spend a few days to get our books in order for the year again.

# I'm trying to think up what to do with our windows in the living room. It doesn't need much, the view is pretty awesome, but I want to bring some color into the room.

Okay, signing off, the pictures are uploaded. Have a great week and I'll try to keep you posted on the baby.

Thank you Jesus!

The baby is head down as of 10:30 today!!! I never felt it turn, but sure enough, it did!
Now I can stay here to deliever

Monday Morning

This morning the kids slept till about 8:00 They have been dealing with a short two day fever and headache. Alabama first, then Trevor now Tia. So they have been sleeping longer.
Tia went to Bible school today at the Lutheren Church then when I picked her up she was crying of a headache. she is sleeping now.
So far the baby hasn't turned. I have a Dr appointment tomorrow and and ultrasound on Friday.
From there if it hasn't turned I go to Winnipeg to have the baby turned. If they can't turn it, then I am supposed to stay there to deliver, which is not at all working out for me!! All the what if's.... where do I stay? What do we do with the kids for that long.... what about Jeff, I want him with me... Jeff and Janet and family and Emily are coming the last week of July beginning of August. I know that God cares about even the "little" things in our life, I 'm asking for a miracle, I want to deliver here in Red Lake! I don't want to be gone while they are here!!
Jeff and I watched a movie last night called Facing the Giants. Awesome movie! I recommend it!
I got my pictures back that Kim Freisan took the other week. I 'll post a few. If it lets me....

Today

Well today was rather interesting. Last night I had been having tightenings that were 5 minutes apart for about 3 hours. Then they started up again in the morning. So I called the Hospital. They wanted me to come in and check the position of the baby and just monitor me a bit.
I had an ultrasound again and the baby is bum down, head and feet up. So....Pray that it will turn in the next weeks and stay down or I will have to go to Winnipeg to try and turn it. If that isn't successful then I'll have to stay in Winnipeg to deliver. I don't want to do that!! Jeff and Janet are coming the last week of July. My tightenings have stopped for now and the baby hasn't dropped. I'm not dialated at all either so I'm not in labor. I still have a few more weeks to go.

I don't know how to do these Jenni!!

What is a meme girls? Jenni wrote on her blog about her pregnancy and tagged me so I will attempt this meme thing and the theme is my children.

I AM: So thankful for my family, each one is an answer to prayer.

I WANT: To teach them to love the Lord

I WISH: My kids could get to know my family better

I HATE: Yelling at my kids.

I MISS: Fresh fruit and vegetables that are so plentiful in PA, and healthy for my family

I FEAR: Losing my children unexpectedly

I HEAR: My girls singing "It's raining, it's pouring"

I WONDER: What they will grow up to be?

I REGRET: Always looking ahead and not enjoying the moments and stages in life.

I AM NOT: A very organized mom.

I DANCE: When no one is around!!

I SING: My babies to sleep

I TRY: Not to complain

I CRY: When I'm tired and feeling hurt

I LAUGH: not often enough

I AM NOT ALWAYS: Very consistent in discipline

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: Food for my family

I WRITE: In my journal sometimes, and too many lists that don't get done!

I CONFUSE: What my priorities should be, and my wants and desires

I NEED: To go to bed

I (am)FINISH(ed): Packing for the weekend

I START: my weekly Prenatal appointments in July!! Only 9 more weeks to go!

I TAG: Elise or Tish( see if I can get you to write on your blog!!)

We are going to visit Jeff's grandma Gingerich this weekend at the Farm one last time before they sell it. Here are some pictures of the last few times we were there. It will be different without Grandpa there this time. Alabama was Trevors age on this one picture.