Makeover: Stage 1

The girls are getting a new room!!!  First up, paint!  You can see the room was originally a very dark terra cotta-ish color.  I let the girls pick out the color with much guidance!  You will never guess the name of the color....never.  Take a look and I will tell you at the end of the post...

This picture is a serious failure in doing the new color, called PLUM PASSION, any justice.  I was very, very skeptical at first but continued on with the help of my friend Angie, who found out I was painting and wanted to get in on the fun.  :)  I LOVE the paint color!  It is gorgeous with the white trim and I can see the possibilities are endless.  It is a yellowish-green.  Stay tuned for more.....

Priceless People

When Scott worked for the state before Kate was born, actually we were still living in our first house, he met Mike.  Soon after that the two couples got together so the wives could meet and hang out.  I remember clearly that we drove to their house on Maul St. in Newark.  We all rode in their car to eat at Bravo at Easton.  We had to wait two hours to eat so we walked around, visiting Pottery Barn, Harry & David, Crate & Barrel, and Restoration Hardware.  We also visited a music store, Virgin Records maybe, and they bought an ABBA CD.  After dinner, which was totally scrumptious, we listened to ABBA all the way back to their house.  I can't remember if we stayed and played euchre or not but since then we have had many, many fabulous memories made with them.  I am sooooo glad that our friendship with Mike and Pat wasn't just for a season.  Our visits have been fewer and farther between, but they are as rich and wonderful as from the beginning.  Pat's family is Italian!  Could you tell?  She is amazing cook and we love to cook for one another.  She is a speech pathologist and can do all these amazing accents, which the girls absolutely adore.  Of course, she can also sing and play the piano.  WAY FUN!!  Mike loves the girls as though they were his very own nieces!!  He gets such a kick out of their antics.  These are precious and selfless friends who came to spend an entire day with us when we repainted our cabinets.  Mike is a designer.  We are doing some updating and projects on our home right now and he is just itching to get up here and help us paint.  I love it! 

Kate, Anna, and Pat were just a'singin' their hearts out.  Then Kate left to go on an adventure with Daddy and Mike to our treeline but Anna was soaking up the singing and playing from Pat.  LOVE IT!

Crocodiles & Alligators

Just a little bit ago I saw that Kate still hadn't fallen asleep.  This is unusual as she is usually out cold first.  Anyhow, I told we could cuddle a bit.  I asked her a series of different questions such as what is your favorite book, what is your favorite thing we have done as a family, etc.  I asked her what was something that made her feel afraid?  She replied, "Crocodiles & Alligators." 

Maple Syrup is Incredible!

This afternoon we visited Stratford Farm in Delaware with our homeschool group.  It was amazing!  We tasted winter greens they grow in the greenhouse.  The vegetables are grown in here all winter long, and the greenhouse doesn't usually dip below 40 degrees.  Our guide, Bethanie, also talked about beets and how they were used to dye things.

Bethanie then showed and explained to us how we can make our own greenhouse using straw bales and old windows.  Soooo cool!

We then explored the animals:  chickens,

goats & cows,

lambs,

and a llama.

Isn't he cheesy?

We then took a hike through the farm's woods to learn about the process of making maple syrup.

Each year the tree is tapped in a different spot.  Just like when we are scraped up after a fall we usually have a scar, each tap scars the tree.  You can't see it in the above photo but that was what I was trying to capture.  The story was told today that there are trees in Vermont that have been tapped for the last 100 years.  The picture below is of Bethanie explaining to the students how the farm hand drills each tree to set the tap.  Trees are generally tapped in late February to early March.  The farm currently taps 150 trees.  A maple tree can be tapped once it is 12" in diameter.  For every additional 12" another tap can be added to the tree.  It varies from year to year as to how much sap is collected, thus how much syrup is produced.  It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. 

 Every student had a chance to work the hand drill on a dead tree. 

Each day the workers collect the sap into this tank.  The sap is then stored in these barrels (below) as they then begin the maple syruping process.

*taking a peek at the sap*

The maple sap is 98% water and only 2% sugar, thus it takes 4-6 hours for them to boil down each batch to make syrup. However, the first batch of the season takes over 30 hours to make. Needless to say, I had a greater respect for the prices paid for real maple syrup!

 

Two gallons = this tiny bottle of maple syrup

The BEST part....TASTE TESTING!

I can't even begin to put into the words the absolute pure yumminess of this syrup.  I am going to have to figure out a way to work it into our budget.  Amazingly delectible!! 

Thank you Lord for this amazing goodness!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today the girls and I had the privilege and honor of babysitting some of the most precious little people I know.  Since it was St. Patty's Day, I wanted to be sure we would be celebrating with yummy food.  We had green foods like grapes, apples, green peppers, and pistachio pudding; however, the item that took the cake literally was....RAINBOW CUPCAKES!

WAY cool!

Check out the deets here!

Brainstorm Idea: Yay or Nay

Tonight I was preparing for a special date with some little people tomorrow and I got this brainstorm.  I need some feedback: Yay or Nay.  Be honest! 

I recently was in a spot where I left my darlings in the care of a teenager.  Yes...a teenage babysitter.  Ummmm, I was pretty okay with it because I totally trust my friend's judgement (we were having a girl's night out) until someone reminded me again of all the pressures facing today's teens.  (Ugh...I will not digress, I will not digress!).  I don't know what your personal thoughts are on babysitters, especially teenage babysitters, but I. am. leeeerrry (said in sing-songy voice)!  I have had some friends comment how they have had a few but the girls are not so much into the kids, constantly texting, etc.  When we first moved here we were soooo lucky and found two of the BESTEST girls ever to babysit.  They were awesome with my girls.  I could tell they played with the girls the entire time, cleaned up after the girls and themselves, and wanted to hangout and talk long after I had tucked the girls in bed.  This is rare.  Sadly, these girls were seniors, graduated, and went to college. 

Sooooo, all that to say here is my brainstorm.  What about me developing a little "Babysitting Class with a Christian focus" to offer to girls who are currently babysitting or interested in doing so?  My mind was racing with possible ideas and topics tonight such as role playing situations, lunch/dinner options, craft ideas, story ideas, game ideas, babysitting manners and etiquette, etc.  I was thinking I could meet in my home or work out another location, charge a nominal fee, for a few weeks.  Each session would include a devotional and time to pour into the girls who are present.  Please let me know YAYS or NAYS and any other ideas you may have. 

He reigned then & He reigns today

We are currently studying ancient Rome in history.  I just recently finished the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, which was an incredible series set in ancient Rome, so it has been fun learning along with the girls in more detail the facts of this ancient civilization.  Today we learned how Mt. Vesuvius erupted and basically buried the city of Pompeii alive.  We read how the ancient city was then re-discovered.  Is it coincindence we are learning about Pompeii at this very exact moment in history?  No...because I don't believe in coincindences.  I was struck by some of the unique parallels between ancient Pompeii and the tragedy that has hit Japan.  I am finding that as I get older fear can grip my heart faster than a hummingbird flutters its wings.  Okay, well, that is pretty fast so maybe not quite but it sure seems like it.  I really think it has something to do with becoming a mother, especially a mother of little girls.  Anyhow, I have been really shaken by the tragedy in Japan.  Look how the Lord has been preparing me and surrounding me with His comfort during this time...

• My mom sent me several scriptures to encourage me because she is simply awesome!
• I am currently doing a Bible study entitled "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow (again!).
• My friend posted the most incredible story on her blog, full of truth and focus (see below).
• We studied Pompeii today.  Can you even imagine what the people were thinking who escaped?  Can you even imagine what the people were thinking who witnessed this catastrophic event?  I can't.  God reminded me through the study of this historical event that He reigned then...and He reigns now. 

From my friend Kole's blog....
A recent post by author Marlo Schalesky got me thinking. Her post talked about the summer her daughter caught a grasshopper and put him in a bug container. After a few days of lost interest in her bug, Marlo prompted her to let the grasshopper free before he died. When then opened the insect container, the grasshopper wouldn't leave. They left it out on the deck for three more days. He was still there. Finally, Marlo coaxed him out on a stick and once outside the cage he hopped away. He had freedom but didn't take advantage of it. He would have died with freedom only a hop away.



How often do we "cage" ourselves with fear and seemingly forget our faith? Why do things concern, worry, and frustrate us? Aren't we free to cast our cares on the Lord? Isn't His grace more than sufficient for all our needs? Can't we do all things through His strength? So why do we choose to live in the cage?


I think we forget who we are. At least, I do. I was reminded today that God put me here on the earth and this time and at this place for His reason. He saved me and entrusted me with His hope to share with others. That is what my job is. Regardless of where I work, what I do, I am His influence at this time, in this place. What kind of job am I doing? How can I be an ambassador for Him if I am choosing to say in the cage of the world? I am free from worry and fear of economic and earthly disaster. I have hope. I know the world will end. I see it coming, but I have hope because I know the end of the story. I have trusted Jesus for salvation. Now more than ever, I need to live free in Him so that my influences are bringing others to Him.


Lord, people are watching me. They are watching my reactions, listening to what comes out of my mouth, reading my blog, listening for what I say about other people, watching the choices I make and how I live. It is rather frightening to be entrusted with that responsibility, so help me do it well. Remind me of it every morning when I look into the mirror. Whisper words in my heart and give me ears that hear and a heart that will listen and do what you want me to do.

Introducing My 8 Year Old...

who no longer needs my help with a bath

who can get all around on her own

who is such a tender big sister (most of the time)

who continues to grow into a beautiful girl, inside & out

who is always ready for an adventure

who continues to trust in Jesus,

the author and perfector of her faith

We love you sweet girl!

Finally! The Birth of Jesus

Our history is verbatim from "The Story of the World" by legendary homeschool guru Sharon Wise Baur.  In this curriculum we began with studying ancient Egypt and have continued on studying ancient Greece, India, and China.  We are now in year two and studying ancient Rome.  Today I told the girls the lesson was titled "The Birth of Jesus."  Anna said, "YES!  Finally!  We have been learning all this stuff and we finally get to Jesus.  We will know all of these answers for sure!" 

Love it!

Nostalgia

Ya'll know I have said before that I am really nostalgic.  I love old things.  I love to imagine and think about the simplicity of other eras.  My mom and dad's basement is full of stuff.  It is frightening how much stuff but at the same time, I know there are treasures down there.  Here are some treasures they have found recently as they were cleaning up from the unfortunate "winter flooding". 

This is my great-grandmother's examination tablet from her horticulture class from 1914.

Go BUCKS!

Can you tell how beautiful and neat her handwriting was?

Amazing!

Isn't this a neat old mailing label?

Notice the "Made in the U.S.A."

This is my grandma.

Do you get a "Congratulations" nowadays for purchasing an item?

Maybe...but I still think it is kinda cool.

These really cool "Libbey" glasses are now mine. 

They came with a serving tray.

How cool!