Just a Daisy in the Meadow

Ahhhhh . . . what a feeling . . . home at last, home again!

I spent quite a bit of time “going in circles” just looking at things “remembering” what it all looked like, seeing the garden’s growth, what flowers were blooming, weeding a bit around them (the flowers of course, not the garden yet ) and ahhhh . . . sleeping in our OWN bed!!!

It was a very good month! . . . . I am satisfied . . . no, of course we couldn’t get in everything we might wish to, but that’s life . . . . many joys and many sorrows, both running along there together . . .

Anyway we are here and as the saying goes “No matter where you may roam, there’s NO place like home.”

Stay tuned for some pics

This weekend we head to WI again for a wedding. (this is in a different area than last time) Japheth and I have not been to very many weddings since we said our own vows (maybe about 3 or four, one just doesn’t travel 24 hours with many toddlers for a wedding very often!_ . . .  and there just haven’t been many our age at Kitchi though there is a group of young people coming up.)

And in June, Lord willing, we take off to VA for several weeks!  Yipee!!!

I think the snow is gone now for good . . . though there are a few piles here and there and the lake is still covered. But as soon as it disappeared, we started yard cleanup - picking up sticks, stones, raking leaves ( yes, although we did rake the leaves last fall the wind brought in more) and fluffing up the grass to help it get green faster Ha!  (Little boys don not have much stamina for raking leaves . . . neither does Mama, . . . and so we are rather tired and sore :), but plenteously happy )

Japheth was gone the past two days. And even though I might have liked to get out and do something different (or oh, joy and delight go with him!) the best thing for us to do at this stage in our lives was for the children and I to stay at home.

I like to keep busy while he’s gone, it makes the time go by faster. So we basked in the sunny 50 degrees days and burnt our little brush\leaf pile and had hotdog roasts. And of course one of the best things was bringing in some mulch from the woods. We’d go find a deteriorated log, tear it apart, fill the wheelbarrow and bring it back . . . Regular fun stuff this is!

This phrase keeps running through my head, “For lo the winter is past . . . the flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come . . .” - Song of Solomon 2:11-12

And yes, the Red-Winged Blackbirds are back . . . they sing down in the marsh . . . and it is beautiful! What would life be like without the songbirds? . . . Yep, that is one of the best parts of spring . . .God just made it SO DELLIGHTFULLY GOOD!

A rose has thorns on its stem.

. . . and so my thorny day eventually blossoms with rosebuds too, though I have to claim every promise in the Book as mine every chapter, every verse, every line . . .

It’s a cold world out there . . . tonight it has a wind chill of 45 below. Brrrrr!

. . . And in more ways than one “So, carry your candle,run to the darkness seek out the helpless,confused and torn.  Hold out your candle for all to see it . . .Go light your world” - Chris Rice

You know you live in luxury when it’s hard to lose weight.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” - Proverbs 16:32

"Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next (woman).  It is the comparison that makes you proud;  the pleasure of being above the rest."        - C.S. Lewis.

" . . . but they measuring themselves with themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. "  - II Corinthians10:12

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?)

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

I really don’t care for cats . . . but . . .

Two kittens to share among five youngsters . . . poor kittens . . . so much “tender” loving care!

Our birthday boy for July (July 1st to be exact)

If we told our children to take a nap and they decide to have their way and play outside,and they are out their lighting firecrackers and celebrating their freedom, would we celebrate with them? . . . They are being rebellious, are they not? . . . Should we be celebrating the winning of a war (that gives us our freedom) if it is not right the way it was gotten?

I am very grateful for the freedom to serve and follow Jesus and worship Him that we have in this country, but sometimes I think it would be better for our spiritual heath to now have so many of what we call these blessings. Maybe we wouldn’t have so many wrong theologies in our Christian churches today.

. . . Just a thought.