Christmas boxes for Mexico

It's pouring rain here today {yay!} so I'm not going shopping immediately.  BUT, since I missed out on this last year, I have been promising myself we'd jump in this year.  Tomorrow I will be out {and the rain/snow will likely be done} so I will see what I can find.

The catch is to do it NOW.  In just a couple weeks, the Lockwoods will return to Mexico, so the gifts need to arrive in California soon!  Before November 14.

Maybe you are familiar with Operation Christmas Child?  We enjoyed that for several years, but then it became difficult to find a local drop-off for the boxes.

But with Lockwoods doing a similar ministry with families in Mexico, it seemed like a great opportunity to help the kids and give the Lockwoods an open door to reach them with the gospel.

You can read Jaynee's post here.  And please do!  : )

eleven eleven

This is a fun month if you like numbers.  I must, because I’m getting a kick out of several dates this month…

11/1/11

11/02/2011

11/11/11

and ~
11/20/2011 ~ when you say it, “Eleven, Twenty, Twenty, Eleven.”



Eleventh month of the eleventh year ~ Cool.  Yes, I’m easily entertained. Obviously.  8-)
You can even get a free desktop wallpaper with a November calendar ~ Click here and Enjoy!


PS ~ Seems like I should share the blurb about this wallpaper photo... 
"This big oak tree is standing in the middle of a big corn field, near the trail where I jog every other day. I always wanted to include into on of my creations, and finally, with Smashing Magazine’s wallpaper contest, it finally found its place in my November’s wallpaper. This year, autumn was very warm, and I hope this photo taken on a warm october day, will keep you warm through a cool and cold november that is coming up…" Designed by Uros Opaka from Slovenia.

Great God of wonders!

Great God of wonders! All Thy ways
Are matchless, Godlike and divine;
But the fair glories of Thy grace
More Godlike and unrivaled shine,
More Godlike and unrivaled shine.

Crimes of such horror to forgive,
Such guilty, daring worms to spare;
This is Thy grand prerogative,
And none shall in the honor share,
And none shall in the honor share

Angels and men, resign your claim
To pity, mercy, love and grace:
These glories crown Jehovah's Name
With an incomparable glaze
With an incomparable glaze.

In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
We take the pardon of our God:
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,
A pardon bought with Jesus' blood,
A pardon bought with Jesus' blood.

O may this strange, this matchless grace,
This Godlike miracle of love,
Fill the whole earth with grateful praise,
And all th'angelic choirs above,
And all th'angelic choirs above.

Chorus:
Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

Lyrics: Samuel Davies
Music: John Newton

Listen to the midi here.

 

Our hymnal has only three of these verses ~ This is one of our family's favorite hymns!

Samuel Davies, 1723–1761

The author of this hymn text, Samuel Davies, was an American Presbyterian minister who was appointed president of Princeton University in 1759, succeeding the well-known evangelist, Jonathan Edwards. Dr. Davies was highly influential in the fields of religion and education. He wrote a number of hymns that had a wide acceptance in the 18^th century, especially in England.

another sporadic daybook 10/27/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Thursday, October 27, 2011

 

Outside my window...

sunshine and clouds, a pretty yellow tree off in the pasture, the hayfield’s bright green is fading

 

I am thinking…

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat… or at least the mailbox is full of catalogs!

 

I am thankful to God …

• There were four pastors involved in Saturday’s wedding.  Each had valuable things to say ~ good for the couple to take heed to as well as the rest of us old married folk!
• Sunday we met a family who minister in England to the Muslims (and anyone else who will listen).  Mrs. C. has a great ministry among the women there ~ Exciting!

 

I am praying for...

… Hiromi in Japan (near the Fukushima nuclear plant) 

... the Rettigs & the church in Prague ~ Praising the Lord for a new building!

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Cinnamon ~ her Marine son is in Afghanistan

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Sarita & Jeff &family will soon be on their way back to Israel ~ Praise the Lord!

… the A Family, on furlough from their field of ministry

… Lea’s dad ~ in the midst of a serious health crisis

… H & A

… for direction for our church, for our family

… Laura

… and especially marriages ~ meant to last a lifetime

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

From the learning rooms...

iamb, trochee, anapest, dactyl… and more  : )

Birds, such as the chickadee; Earth’s structure; archeology, geology, paleontology {the Cowgirl has been quizzing for an exam this afternoon}

Fractions; rounding off, dividing with decimals; parallel lines and triangles {algebra}

Lots of good stories waiting for someone to enjoy {the ILL books arrived}

 

From the kitchen...

So far this week: taco soup, chicken fajitas, cheeseburger soup

 

I am creating...

Not much, as usual.  A baby due soon still needs a blanket from me.

 

I am going...

to have to come up with a menu plan for November.  This month has been too chaotic without a plan.  :-\

 

I am reading...

Jeremiah; finished 2 Timothy today

Amish Values for your Family; No Greater Joy magazine; recently read the Keepsake Legacies series by Stephanie Grace Whitson

 

and I started Knight’s Fee by Rosemary Sutcliff today for a change of pace {can’t remember if I read it six years ago, or not}

In case you are interested in what this book is about…  Out of sight of the patrolling sentinels, Randal sits on the gatehouse roof. The orphan is more at home with the hounds he tends, but he yearns to see the new Lord arrive at Arundel Castle. As he leans over the battlements to watch the procession, a fig slips from Randal's hand and lands right on the nose of Hugh Goch's horse. The accident is small, but it will change Randal's entire life. A game of chess, a brave minstrel, a kind old knight, and a friend will point Randal to squirehood, and his own courage will pave his path to become a knight. Battle between the sons of William the Conqueror makes Randal's journey in Norman England an exciting one, but intrigue and deceit may take from Randal a heavy knight's fee.

 

I am hoping...

some of my potted flowers will survive the winter ~ which means I’d better bring them into the basement soon!

 

I am hearing...

the Cowgirl at the piano, the Popper telling me about her verses for K4T

 

Around the house...

there is a pesky fly that needs a swat!

Better ~ laundry is caught up, my desk is relatively tidy, and supper is under control  :D

 

One of my favorite things...

Having my hubby home for supper

  

Pondering these words...

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 1 Timothy 5:10

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Friday ~ piano lessons 

Saturday ~ Jack’s Extravaganza? {hog roast, shooting range, fireworks!}

Sunday ~ the Cowgirl is playing an offeratory at the evening service  : )

End of the month duties

 

Here is a picture for thought...

  

  There’s been a forest in the basement lately!

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

life in the fast {busy} lane

 

While I’m catching up the blog and laundry load four is rumbling in the dryer…

The crazy kitchen days of last week transitioned into a Family Wedding Weekend in Wisconsin.  While I dream of the get-aways others describe… The quiet lake, a clean cabin, no phones, no computers, no schedules, and good food appearing like manna...  The fact remains that we just don’t live that way here.  Welcome to my world of reality…

Wednesday was Tim’s birthday.  Tim was able to come home for lunch (birthday dinner!), but he worked late into the evening getting equipment ready for the next phase of fall field work.  I took the kids to church ~ and thankfully stayed awake to drive us all home again  : )

Thursday ~ We were expecting Tim’s brother Neil (and crew!) to stop by on their way to Wisconsin.  Maybe about 4pm at the earliest.  Some of the crew would see our ‘new’ home for the first time, soooo we thought we’d try to make it more presentable with some thorough house cleaning.  Should I admit how bad it’s been here??  I honestly don’t remember the last time I had dusted our bedroom ~ At any rate, it was finally attended to!  {yay me!}  I took volunteers for the other vacuuming and dusting.  I also had an appointment for the Suburban to get serviced in town.  Thankfully, they loaned me a car after I learned it would take about 2 hours to accomplish the work!  I picked up a PILE of inter-library loan books from the Roland Library.  I cooked up some stew meat for soup for supper ~ along with some potato buns.  But I spent most of my time and energy getting the house ready for inspection!  About 5pm I finally got the message they wouldn’t arrive before 7:30pm {my cell phone was still on silent from Wed night church}  So the kids got a bit of school work done, we enjoyed our soup and buns ~ and had the kitchen cleaned up again ~ with cookies baked and more potato buns for all the hungry folk soon to arrive.  I think it was after 8pm before they got here.  The kids enjoyed the dog {Luci} and the rock piles {mostly boys, ya know} while most of the potato buns and cookies disappeared, along with a couple bowls of soup and a little pot of coffee for the drivers.  [No pictures, but you’ll see them soon on location for the wedding…]

Tim had decided after finishing the corn harvest on Tuesday that we should change our weekend travel plans.  I rearranged our overnight accommodations accordingly (and as cheaply as possible).  Tim & I would stay in town Friday night while the kids camped out on the floors at Uncle Larry’s.  Kate wanted to take some baked goods along to share with the family too ~ So her Friday included a batch of bread and some nutty apple muffins along with packing.  We left shortly before 3pm? 4pm and arrived about 9pm to check in to our ‘motel’ before taking the kids out to the farm to stay.  {I recall being frustrated with our boisterous back row which included the two boys… One of the kids called for a Quiet Contest at 7:16pm… the Cattleman was the first to give in about 70 seconds later ~ ha!}  I say ‘motel’ because it was more like a long distance neighbor’s spare room with a closet for a bathroom.  It was clean enough, so we were thankful for a place to sleep undisturbed… until 4:30am when some other guests must have been getting ready to go hunting (?) – What else would a couple chatty, cheerful men be doing at that time of day on a Saturday?!  :D  And the best part of the story is that this was the first occasion since our honeymoon {almost 19 years ago} that Tim & I have stayed in a motel/hotel without our kids!  Ha! 

Hmm, no pictures of the bakery goodies we picked up while in Thorp Saturday morning?  ;-)  The Cattleman and the Popper especially enjoyed living in the barn while at U.Larry’s  :D  and Aunt Cheryl said it helped her to relax on the Big Day to have them out there doing chores with her.  Praise the Lord for that!  I spent Saturday morning feeding whoever was in the house and then chasing them off to the church… Kate washed dishes, Miss Artist was nanny for Little Boy B, Tim helped out with the barn chores.

When we arrived at the church, I found some of the beloved young boys in a corner…  I suggested they get together for a picture ~ Look goofy!  What do you mean?

 

That will do!  :D

 

Little Boy B was good friends with our Miss Artist ~

My bigger boys with their Uncle Randy ~

And Pastor C with the fathers of the couple ~

And here are the sweet little girls all pretty in pink ~

~Baby E with her Aunt Neilia and Big Girl B ~

        

and our very own Popper ~

 

After a quick visit with Mrs. Photographer {an old friend from our years in Wisconsin}, I sat down to enjoy the wedding.  Oh, we were standing up for the entrance of the bride of course!

See the happy groom?!

 

The bride’s Uncle Neil preached… Pastor C led the exchange of vows (even if you can’t see him as they are laughing after Tim tripped over his words)…

    

Pastor S also had a good word or two for them…

And finally Pastor C announced them husband and wife ~ First kiss!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the reception ~ my Tim with his siblings and mom ~

 

The bride’s family ~

 

Uncle Lee kept a handle on Little Boy B while most of the cousins assembled with Grandma for a picture (missing two, plus Jeremy is hiding behind our Computer Geek) ~

 

 

It became almost a juggling act with little ones falling asleep or wishing they could…

  

         

Mom F has nine great-grandbabies!  So much fun when we all get together!  :D

 

Leaving the wedding, we traveled down to Tim’s mom’s for our stay Saturday night.  Listening to the pathetic Badger football game  :-\

Sunday we enjoyed a visit at Mom’s church and headed toward Iowa/home after lunch.  Listening to the Packers triumph over the Vikings!  Yay!  :D

 

You should have seen Luci after our arrival home ~ Happy, happy dog!  hee hee

Happy, happy me ~ Home Sweet Home!

and it’s even clean after I vacuumed again today! ;D

kitchen days {daze}

 

This week I’m coming to the quick conclusion that it is NOT a virtue to “not do anything by halves.”

Case in point…

It’s now Wednesday about 10am.  I have tortillas warming in the oven, rice and refried beans cooking on the stove, sauce and enchilada filling ready to combine in a dish, and dessert is ready to cut and serve.  {still lacking an official veggie – not sure if I’ll wash lettuce or what..}

Today is {Last Wednesday was} Tim’s birthday!  :D

 

And I expected him to be in the combine still today.  {But they finished last night – woot woot!}  So I volunteered to fix birthday dinner for all the field guys.  Tim chose enchiladas instead of lasagna.

Sooo yesterday, I baked two batches of bread {one was for my brother}, mixed up potato bun dough {because that’s what you do with leftover mashed potatoes}, cooked up something ‘easy’ for supper, cooked up the enchilada burger filling, and made tortillas {first time ever!}  Oh, and I took Kate to/from work – and rode in the combine for a couple miles while Mike’s bread rose a bit higher than necessary  ;-)

Of course I took pictures  : )  But I’ll hopefully snap a few more when the meal is actually ready to deliver.  {snap?  Do we still snap pictures with digital cameras?}

Stay tuned…

 

…. Much Later ….

So much for finishing this post while it was still Tim’s birthday!  8-)

But here are the promised photos…

Tortillas!

      

          

My method needs improvement, but they were still edible.  And Tim says less whole wheat flour. 

 

Filling and sauce for the enchiladas ~

  

        

 

Refried beans and Mexican rice (with some spicy peppers from the garden!)

  

 

For a meal that looked something like this:

 

And don’t forget dessert!  Symphony Tier Bars ~

 

 

 

While the potato buns have been baked and consumed without a photo op, here’s proof I did bake bread  ;-)

 

And even better looking and tasting was this cheese cake by Kate ~ Mississippi Mud!

                

 

She made the cheese cake last weekend before Tim’s birthday ~ The last sliver is still in the fridge along with the last piece of symphony tier bars!  Is there any such thing as too much chocolate?!

almost AWOL

I started a post last Wednesday, which was Tim's birthday.  And I hope to be able to finally finish it yet today... maybe? 

And it's time for another daybook post.

And maybe to tell about our recent weekend filled with driving and time with family.

Lots of pictures to download and sort.

But, for now the laundry is running with the third load in washer.  The bills are paid, the checkbooks reconciled/balanced.  And I caught up our computer records (accounting).   woot, woot!

Time for lunch!  Then I'd really like to hide out with a good book ;-)

But I haven't written out the school assignment sheets for this week yet... (They are still catching up on last week's list.)

~ ttfn ~