When You Go Out With Your Children...

"When you go out with your children, lift your head up high,

put a smile on your face, and be proud to be a mother.

You have one of the most important careers in the nation.

God Himself is your employer and you are helping to determine the future of this nation.

Be a light in the midst of a society that does not embrace children. Do not be intimidated.

Show your love for your children as you speak sweetly to them and are patient with them. If the Lord has blessed you with a number of children, be proud to display your "blessings" from the Lord. 

You reveal to the world what God is like....for He loves children.

Jesus did not reject children. He welcomed the children to come to Him...."

Nancy Campbell

 - 100 Days of Blessing: Devotions for Wives and Mothers

New Life {Guest post}

My 13 year old son volunteered to do this post for me. He's our fowl expert.  :)

Several months ago, my siblings and I decided to start a chicken-selling business. We wanted to hatch our own baby chicks and sell them as a way to make money.

At that time, we had 1 rooster and 30 laying hens. But we didn't know that the rooster/hen ratio should be 1/12 for successful fertilization.

After realizing that we were 1 rooster short of a successful hatching, a very kind older man gave us a 2nd rooster.

A couple of weeks later, one of Mimi's Black Australorps began setting on some of the eggs. So we moved her and her eggs to a separate coop to wait it out. But 4 weeks later (it only takes 3 weeks for chicken eggs to hatch, but we gave her an extra week) - no baby chicks. We were so disappointed!

Then my Golden Polish went broody. So we moved her and the eggs to what has become the "hatching out" coop.

And 3 weeks later......

SUCCESS! We have 6 baby chicks!!

Some of the chicks have feathered shanks, like Elmer, our first rooster. And some look like they're Aracaunas (which are the colored egg layers) and which is the breed of some of laying hens and the 2nd rooster.

There is one problem, though. This was supposed to be a money-making adventure for us. But we are so attached to this first clutch of baby chicks, there's no way we're going to sell them!

Oh well, maybe next time. After all, there is another hen and her eggs in the hatching out coop.  ;)

Thanks for reading,
Ian

" So God created...every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. "  -  Genesis 1:21

The Dreams of a Little Girl

When I was a little girl, I couldn't make up my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I would decide on one career, then change my mind, and choose a different one.

I wanted to be a nurse; to take care of people and help them feel well again.

I wanted to be a teacher; to help children learn.

I wanted to be a chef; to whip up gourmet meals for hungry customers.

I wanted to be a seamstress; to create beautiful clothing for people to wear.

I wanted to be an interior decorator; to brighten a home with colors and textures.

I wanted to be a vet; to care for animals.

But more than all these things, I wanted to be a wife and mother. And as a mother, I am all these things...

I am a nurse; I care for my husband and children when they are sick.

I am a teacher; I home school my children, and not just during "school time", but all through the day.

I am a chef; I prepare healthy meals for my family every day, including holidays - just like a "real" chef.  ;)

I am a seamstress; I sew dresses and skirts for me and my girls, make curtains, and crochet.

I am an interior decorator; I decorate our home to suit our tastes and needs.

I am  a vet; I help care for our animals, and have even been known to perform "surgery" on our chickens (with the assistance of my 13 year-old).

So the Lord has graciously fulfilled all my little girl dreams in one role: as the keeper of my home.

Hoping that you are encouraged today, friends, in the high and noble calling of being the keeper of your home,








"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose." - Psalm 20:4

The Modest Mom 
Raising Arrows 
Far Above Rubies 
Thankful Homemaker 
Our Simple Country Life 
Deep Roots At Home 
Raising Homemakers 
A Wise Woman 
Consider the Lilies 

Thankful Thursday

It's been a rough 6 days for many people in our area.

First of all, last Friday, the heat soared to 106 degrees. Then, that night, severe (as in 80 mph winds) storms came through, causing major power outages.

Many people lost all their food in their refrigerators and freezers. Many people had to go to cooling shelters to get relief from the oppressive heat. Many people had trees fall on their houses because of the strong winds. Some people lost their loved ones, who were outside when the storms hit. (Most people got no warning that these storms were on the way.)

However, in all of this, there is much to be thankful for...

...for the many people who gave so much to those  lost so much.

...for the slight reprieve from the hot weather at the beginning of the week.

...for the reminder that God is still God, and that no matter how surprised we were by the storms, He was not. I've heard many stories of God's protective Hand during the storms.


We didn't lose power at our house, although during the worst of the storms, the lights flickered a couple of times.

We still have all our food in the fridge and deep freeze.

We have plenty of cool, clean water to drink.

Our A/C is working hard to give us relief from the once-again oppressive heat.

But we continue to pray for those who are still without power and for those who lost more than just food.

Hope you're having a thankful Thursday, friends.  :)









"giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

A Skirt From A Dress

A few weeks ago, I bought this dress at the thrift store...

 

And for some strange reason, once I got home, I didn't like as much. The skirt is beautiful, but I didn't like the bodice. So I decided to make this dress into a skirt.

First, I pinned the hem so that I would make a straight cut when I cut off the bodice..

The next step was to cut off the bodice..

Then I folded down a 1 1/2-inch elastic casing for the waistband...

I sewed up the casing, leaving a 2-inch opening to thread the elastic through. (Oops...forgot to take a pic of that one.)


Next, I measured my waist with 3/4-inch elastic, and added 1 1/2 inches for overlap.  I always put a safety pin at the end of the elastic to make it easier to thread through the casing...

After the elastic has been threaded through the casing, I double zig-zag stitch the ends of the elastic to make sure the ends don't come apart...

Then I stitch the casing closed...

It's finished - quick and simple - it only took 30 minutes from start to finish. And I love the way it turned out...

Sorry I don't have a pic of the me wearing the skirt, but my resident photographer (Aaron) was outside sword-fighting with his brothers.  :)

Have a blessed Monday, friends!

"She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and gold." - Proverbs 31:22


linking up this week with Feminine Friday
                                     Our Simple Country Life
                                    
                       

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Can you see the disappointment on Asher's face that he has watch Aaron mow the grass instead of mowing it himself?

Fact is, Asher is a bit younger than Aaron (16 months to be exact), and not quite ready to handle the mower.  Maybe next year, son.   :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

"This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm118:24

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Last November, I posted about why we had chosen to switch to the Charlotte Mason methods of home education. I also posted about the how of implementing her principles. Lastly, I posted an interview with my children where they got to voice what they love most about the CM methods.

Looking back over the school year, I wondered...do the children still love it as much as they did last fall? So I asked them for their favorite things about the school year, and here's what they said...

Mimi loved doing her nature journal.

Natty's favorites were narration, copywork, and shorter lessons.

Asher liked artist study, family lessons (doing some subjects as a family), and his nature journal the best.

Aaron liked poetry, family lessons, and copywork the most.

Ian's favorites were artist study, family lessons, and shorter lessons.

All in all, we had a great year. The children actually loved doing their lessons! Complaints from the children about school lessons were few and far between, and I was one happy mama.  :)

Looking ahead to the fall, we are beginning the Ambleside Online Curriculum.  I must confess that I was completely overwhelmed by this curriculum at first glance..and second glance..and third..well, you get the idea.  ;) The booklists are very intimidating, and I wasn't sure if we could handle it. 

However, after much personal cheerleading and question-answering from experienced Ambleside moms (not to mention lots of prayer on my part), I am taking the plunge!

And we so excited about the upcoming new year. We're looking forward to a new curriculum with tried  and true methods.  Is it August yet?  ;)

How about you, homeschooling friends? Are you trying a new method or curriculum next next year? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy homeschooling!








linking up with The Modest Mom
                      Deep Roots at Home