Happy New Year!

After a six week sabbatical, I decided there was no better way to begin a new year than with a blog post and a resolution to not wait six weeks between posts. :)

Since the last post, we took a few weeks to visit friends and family in multiple states. Upon our return to Missouri, we were greeted with winter a few weeks earlier than the notation on the calendar. This Texas girl had the opportunity to drive in the snow like a native Missourian as the front came in. It was slow-going, but not as bad as I expected. However, the van was unable to make it up the driveway when I got home. Thankfully, Randy was able to get some traction and get the van to the house. We got seven inches that first snowfall. A few days later another five inches piled on top of it. The temperatures stayed well below freezing for several weeks, so the children got ample time to experience snow. Sledding, snow angels, launching snowballs and laying the foundation of a snow fort consumed their time outside. 

One afternoon I was walking through the woods behind the house. The scenery was amazingly simple: white and brown as far as the eye could see. While the visual contrast was beautiful, it was the stillness that struck me most. During the summer and fall, those woods are teeming with the sounds of life - birds, insects, and small animals. However, that winter day, none of those creatures were stirring; they were probably nestled in their warm nests or burrows waiting for a warmer day. It made me realize how noisy life can be...in the woods, in the home, in the car...there is always something clamoring for our attention. These are not all bad sounds, you get used to them, but when they are silenced it is a bit disconcerting and yet refreshing. I am thankful for the sounds of children laughing, beautiful music, a tea kettle whistling, and the wind, but I am also thankful for the quiet moments. These times help to balance the volume of life and are so revitalizing. Winter seems to be the time when God planned for all creatures to quiet down and rest. We should do the same.

"The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing." Isaiah 14:7

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;" Isaiah 32:17-18

Intentional Parenting

A friend sent this very interesting article in which the author makes a convicting observation about Christian parenting. It challenges you to evaluate your parenting objectives and examine your approach to see if you are falling short of the true goal to raise children who love the Lord and seek to live a life pleasing to Him through the grace granted by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

The time with our children moves too quickly that we need to be intentional in our child rearing. Training up our children takes time; time preparing our hearts and minds to do so and time with our children. Take the time to teach your children the standard by which to live and the source of the grace to do so: Jesus Christ.

http://infoforfamilies.com/blog/2013/11/13/how-to-raise-a-pagan-kid-in-a-christian-home#.UojhNNKWYVA

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:7

Autumn in Missouri - Update

As I anticipated in my previous post about autumn in Missouri, the changing of the leaves was amazing. They say 'a picture is worth a thousand words', so I decided to let the trees speak for themselves...

The Great Outdoors

One draw to country life is the amount of time the children get to spend outdoors. At our place in Texas, their room to roam was limited. I knew they needed to be outside more, but we simply did not have the space big enough for their imaginations. We tried to work into our schedule a weekly park outing, but even that was not sufficient for the energy of little children.

I have been pleased to see them outside for hours upon hours riding bikes, harvesting the plants in the garden, collecting eggs, chasing chickens that have gotten out, playing with the dog, and making up games at their little fort in the woods. They have given themselves little projects to clean up the walking path in the woods and lined a few more trails with rocks they have found.

The neatest little project is their 'log cabin' in the woods. Using felled limbs, they have made a little fort which is used for all sorts of settings: weddings, battles, and even a funeral for a little chipmunk that lost its battle with the cat.

A cedar tree is the location for a tree house. H and B like to enjoy some reading in their little refuge off the ground.

On school days, they all work hard on studies, finish their chores and are back outside picking up where their pretend world left off. Ironically, these playgrounds of their own creation get much more attention than the pre-made swing set in the yard.

It makes me smile to see them running around outside, soaking up all that vitamin D, burning off some energy, and building memories.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward." Psalm 127:3

Property Search Update

For those who know our plans, you have probably been curious if we have made any progress on our home. We are still looking for the right piece of land.

Randy has made it his full-time assignment. He has diligently scoured the internet for properties, driven to look at them, spoken with owners and met with a real estate agent. We keep tabs on the market to see what may come available.

We know that the Lord has his plan for us and we are learning to find peace during the wait. As you can tell from the other posts, we have been more than busy. There is not a shortage of things to do here in Missouri.

We covet your prayers for guidance and direction in our search and the patience to let Him lead.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Autumn in Missouri

Growing up in Texas, I always looked forward to the fall because it meant an end to the stifling hot weather; a time when I actually wanted to be outside. Now that we are in Missouri, the transition to autumn is much more subtle. The temperature gradually grows cooler as the days shorten. Where jackets and sweaters may not be needed until December or January in Texas (if at all), I have already worn each of those many times. (This morning it was 40 degrees outside.) 

The leaves are already starting to change which is another highlight of fall. I can't wait to see the colors the native trees of Missouri will make this year.

The weather and the shorter days invoke a desire for fall foods like apples, pears and pumpkins. Soups and warm apple cider or tea always seem to hit the spot this time of year. We have already prepared our applesauce and ventured a round of pumpkin muffins. Soups are on the menu and a kettle of hot water is always close at hand. A cup of hot chocolate was our dessert the other evening. Quiet walks in the brisk morning air are a special treat.

I know the winter here will be keenly different than Texas, but I am enjoying this season between the hot and cold weather for as long as it will last.

"Nevertheless He left not himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17

Every part of the buffalo...or in this case, apple

Now that apple season is upon us, we knew it was time to can applesauce! We ordered a bushel and a half of Honeycrisp apples and set aside half a day to do it.  

In about four hours we turned 60 lbs of apples into 22 quarts of applesauce, 4.5 pints of apple butter, 1.5 quarts of apple juice and left a dozen just for enjoying.

While I have made applesauce before, I had never canned it, so that was a fun learning experience.

On the last box we brought the children in to help juice the apples and observe the canning process. It was great to see their enthusiasm to help and learn. There are many great lessons in the simple act of making applesauce: following instructions, volume measurements (quart, pint, and cup), and the law of thermodynamics (ie, don't put hot applesauce in a cold mason jar - this was a verbal lesson...no demonstration was attempted).

We truly used the entire apple. The peels cooked down with the applesauce and the cores were either eaten by the children or fed to the chickens as a treat. We saved the pulp from the juicing to use in a yummy bread recipe.

Apple season is just another reason I love autumn!

"My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." Proverbs 7:1-2