Even though our church was called off because of the cold weather we still managed to travel across the country and have a wonderful warm weekend with friends! . . . warm hospitality, warm hearts, lots of laughter and children and love. The close quarters really wasn’t all that bad . . . I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
Japheth recently put up our blackboard. He got it out of a school that was going to be demolished. This was one of the ones that didn’t have a rock thrown at it. I love these old slate boards . . . takes me back in time . . .
Anyway we are looking forward to a short trip to Stone Lake, WI in a couple weeks to visit some friends. It will be a nice break from school . . . just two short days though . . . but with all the children, let me see our six and their eight and all of them 10 and under. I think they live in a trailer . . . 
but you know sleeping on the floor at those ages is ADVENTURE!
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ” Romans 15:4
Just one of our Bible memory\ Scripture songs. I know all about the comfort of the Scriptures, but what does it mean the patience of the Scriptures?
Japheth and I had fun this morning taking pictures . . . Boy, they’re growing up!!!
This week Lynne we have attached a new nickname to our little girlie, although she already has one (Missy Lou). She is now affectionately being called (and it first came off the lips of her Papa dear) . . . “Little Miss Pink Pajamas”
I don’t know many lullabies if any really except this one I learned from a friend and neighbor and if I remember correctly she made it up. I love to and often sing this to my babies.
“I love little babies, Jesus made made them sweet!
I love little babies, I love to tickle their feet!
I love little babies,They burp and giggle and coo!
I love little babies
and - I - LOVE - YOU!!!
Japheth has our family picture (from over a year ago) displayed in his store. One can see it as soon as you step inside the door. This, of course, brings about some various responses! . . . But lately there’s been a new note added to it. The conversation goes something like this.
Customer - Are they ALL YOURS?!?
Japheth - No.
Customer - (Trying to figure this out) Well . . . .
Japheth - (Pulling out a picture of him holding Lynne) Here’s the latest one . . . Another girl!
Customer - (Gulp! Eyes bug out . . .)
It was wonderfully nice having help after Lynne was born, but it is wonderfully nice to be on my “own” again! One might think that with a maid around your household could run soooo smoothly and everything could stay in top shape, being sparkling and clean . . . hmmm . . . well, we still had lively, real children . . . thus it just wasn’t the horrible chaos and hopeless feeling wondering if life will EVER get any better. It was relaxing and restful, but still none the less, real life with six children six and under and another VERY helpful set of hands! But we are doing fine and dandy now . . . and can’t wait for next week when we get EIGHT FULL DAYS with Papa!!!
“Oh, the Lord’s been good to me!!!!
And so I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need . . .
Hallelujah, Amen!” (Know the Johny apple seed prayer song?)
Ok, so I’m going to start going around the house with a big “necklace” decorated with a red pen, a long glue stick and a whistle. The pen is to score the boys school work, the glue stick is to “remind” little people what they are to be doing or NOT doing, and sometimes I need the whistle to get everyone’s attention without yelling, and I need these things where ever I’m at and with me at all times . . . This is life right now . . . Some day I will reap what I have sown . . . I long to reap a good harvest . . . so I keep at it . . . Seeing families either good or bad harvest spurs me on . . .
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them about thy neck,
Write them upon the tablet of your heart.
And so find favor and high esteem with God and man.” - Proverbs 3:3,4
Toddlers are so funny at times!!!
My sister-in-law sent me this email yesterday . . . .
I think it was a couple weeks ago that Mom was reading the ABC book with Wayne. She would say a letter and have him repeat it after her. All went well until they got to "w". Mother slowly sounded it out: "Double-you". Wayne, with equal solemnity, replied, "Double-me". Thinking he had not understood, Mother repeated it, emphasizing the "YOU" part. He repeated it, emphasizing the "ME" part. It was so funny! His little sober face indicated a real determination to do this thing right. He wasn’t trying to be contrary, but was actually making a rather astounding connection between "you" and "me"!
Jaden’s happy now - he was banned for awhile of holding Lynne because of his cold. Can you guess how many times a day he begged to hold her? (No, I haven’t actually kept track) And the others beg too. All these add up, you know. But thankfully the newness is wearing off just a bit. But we all, are still awed at the miracle of new life and are enjoying her immensely!
Lizzie is such a help to me these days . . . but it still is hard to rest . . . there still are six munchkins six and under, under this roof. I had my husband buy me a set of earplugs and they have proved to be quite useful in allowing me to sleep at times. Somehow noise is quite irritating to me (I think it’s mainly when I’m extra tired), even just the sound of little feet running across the floor downstairs (kinda like little mice running throughout walls or the ceiling of ones room) bugs me. So thus the earplugs are a lifesaver, I mean sanity saver!
. . . And tell me how can one rest in sweet serenity when there are little persons needing instruction in life . . . one can never run away from being Mom . . . training never ends (at least at this stage, I mean)
. . . but just so you know, you don’t need to pity me, that’s not why I write my frustrations on here. I just want to tell how the Lord “been there” for me and say that He is indeed a faithful God! Read His words below . . . He does truly help this poor weak women . . . He is my lifesaver!
“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
neither faints nor is weary!
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak.
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint!” - Isaiah
Winter wonderland is here . . . ah . . . I love it! We did have our first snow a few weeks ago but of course it melted after a few hours.
I was thinking about how babies birthday and the judgement day are alike . . . sometimes it seems like it will never come, but once it hits there’s no getting away from it . . . one will meet God and be judged . . . and those labour pains will come and continure to get harder and harder until at last deliverance comes. There’s no way out. It will happen whether one is ready or not.
Last evening we were at friends house and a comment was made that made me stop and ponder and realize the true implications. (My friend grew up in Portugal as a missionaries daughter.) Japheth had said to one or the children, “Where’s your manners?” Bonnie replied, ” In Portugal, they would say ‘Are you poorly raised?’ ”
. . . Hmmmmm, not only is it shame for the child, it is great shame for the parents who didn’t teach the child better . . . It is our responsibility after all, children are NOT born well trained in submission, obedience ect . . . Foolishness IS bound up in the heart of a child just as the Bible says.
And somehow it is especially shameful to me as a mother . . . I am with the chidren day in and day out while my husband is working to provide for us . . . ALOT of this training is up to me, how much do I let the children get by with? How consistant will I be? It does show . . . what is being taught or not taught in the privacy of our homes does come out inthe behaviour of our children.
Though even if I were perfect and did train my children perfectly, I’m sure they would still bring me shame . . . Look at the children of Israel, at God’s children . . . Sometimes it seems useless, it’s heartrending, will they ever learn??? But God keeps on . . . and on . . .and on . . . And so must I . . . if I want to reap good things.
“The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
- Proverbs 29:15
Meeting cousin for the first . . . all eight lbs. of him.
Loraine cried and cried when it was time to leave . . . She’s VERY anxious for our own little one to arrive! All her little mothering instincts were welling up, I guess . . . They were all clamoring for a turn to hold the darling boy!