Little Cabin In the Woods

Winter tide

 "Mama!!"  whining, whimpering

"What?"  sighing, wondering

"Willow put play dough in my mouth"  , whimpering, false sniffing

"How, did Willow put play dough  in your mouth?"   sighing, wondering, really wondering

"I was laying on the floor and yawned and she put play dough in my mouth"  a bit of a tear  for sympathy effect

"Willow, Why did you put play dough in your sisters mouth?"  questioningly, wonderingly

"I wannid do"  mischievously , grinning, smirking with enjoyment

~~~

Thus are the pleasures of the simple life.

            The quietness of home and hearth, 

                        the playfulness of raising many children,

                                the confined restlessness of winter tide.  ;0)

 

You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter. {Psalm 74:17} 

 

We recently fostered a Great Pyrenees and her 16 week old pup.   The puppy was full of frolicking fun!

And mischief.

He was such a snow bear.  Don't let his innocent looks fool you.  He was a naughty little big thing. 

When the end came, we kept the mother.  ;o) 

She is lovely

  An ancient breed, the Great Pyrenees is gentle, intensively protective, obedient and kind.  They adore children are playful and love the snow diving head first.  Gentle guardian giants is what they are.  I had a Saint Bernard years ago and adored him.  I guess I just love big dogs. 

 

He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.{ Psalm 147:16}

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet. {Proverbs 31:21}

After more playing in the snow...

Winter is a good time to break out the games

I love having four seasons

just when you grow weary of one ~ another springs forth

but not quite yet...

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?  {Job 28:22}

 

Glimpses of Home

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  {Hebrews 13:5}

It is a crisp 17 degrees this morning.  The sun is peaking through the french doors spreading her warmth on our little cabin.  Pookie is snuggled up next to me, kitty is perched on corner of the chair and a new day has begun...

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.  C.S. lewis

Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.  {Genesis 9:3}

old but usefull books ~ hand carved walking stick from a friend

little hands making playdough

 great uncle's mandolin

Books are the blessed chloroform of the mind ~ Oswald Chambers

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. Oswald Chambers

 

Expression

We were recently gifted a large brown paper sack chock full of handmade knitted items of hats, dresses, sweaters, socks and shawls.    I wish I could share with this person how much her homespun talents have blessed us, but I have no idea who she is or where she is from!  The articles do have tags which say by Lori Cordoni.  Maybe she will see one of my littles sporting one of her creations. I plan to use them in my studio too as they are so cheerful and full of personality.  I wish I had this talent!  So, here are a few to share....

my pookie

 

We still have no idea where we will in the future or when.  Only the Lord knows and I have given it to Him.  It is not mine, but His. So many closed bolted doors the past year - so much growing, groaning and searching.  Looking on each day as a gift.... we know he is moving us.  Please lift us up in prayer... to have discernment and joy no matter what, to be lead by His grace, to follow Him and to always be an expression of His love.

Have a wonderful day!

Patricia

Passage to Tempie

Three years ago I met an amazing couple who attended one of my adoption seminars  Many couples have touched my heart but this particular couple more deeply than most.  This beautiful mother and father had a deep heart yearning for a child but had none.  I wanted them to know what I have known.  Soon they will.  It is always a joy to see parents and child find each other.   Danny and Shelley  were LID 2/7/07 (for those of you in the know) , the same day we were for Willow.   I have watched them go through the ups and downs of waiting.  Not knowing, giving up, seeing other parents with their children wondering if it will ever happen of if it is only a long reaching dream.  Well, it did happen... it is happening, as they were recently  matched with the most perfectly delicious little baby girl named Liu Yang.   She is 8 months old, a lil' bit of a thing to be sure weighing in at 8 lbs.  (small like Willow).  She is from Zhengzhou in the province of Henan and is residing at the Lily Orphanage Care Center.   She is almost exactly to the day 2 years younger than Willow and they share the same surname ~ Liu which means "Willow".  ;)  Since their referral they have zoomed through their approvals and are waiting for TA which should arrive any day now.  I am over the moon with happiness for this precious couple and know deep in my heart this wee one was born just for them.  I can't wait to meet her and see them together!!   Our Lord is good and this couple has just won the lottery.  For those waiting.... hold on to that faith.  It will happen.

So ,It is with the utmost delight that I introduce you to Tempie Sue Yang.....

May our Lord Jesus be with you sweet little one until your mommy and daddy have you in their arms.

Patricia

Togetherness

"Here mama,  this is for you"  wee one said in her scruffy morning voice as the first stream of sunrise appeared.  First glimpses of this new day and she has brought me joy.  Later, I am gifted a bouquet , this one of wheat and weeds.  With great pleasure I grin carefully placing my bountiful bouquet in a blue glass canning jar to adorn our table.   Stepping back, I smile at the little wheat & weed gift sighing with contentment.  Nothing compares in this life to being together with loved ones.

   a tiny bud for a book mark.

The littles are ever so imaginative when left to their own devices.  Making their own fairy wings, playing and picnicking  by the creek, running a  restaurant or making a teeter totter out of boards.  A dish towel cape around their neck, a hat plopped on their head~ and they are cowgirls hopping on an old saddle to "ride".   Watching them place together  I know they will always be close.

  Togetherness is her tiny baby lovingly placed in a  paper sack ~ I mean velvet blanket.

Togetherness is ~ discovering nature together

Togetherness is resting  in a wood of plush green,

 watching a son ponder his thoughts

 or making wishes together.

Wishes coming your way.....

Togetherness is snuggling a pile of fur you raised from a kitten

Togetherness is a sister giving you braids like hers ;)  no matter how impossible the task.

Togetherness is giving soft tickles under the chin.

 or roasting peeps on an open fire. ( no flames please ;)

Togetherness is waiting and watching....

wondering where this road will lead and knowing we will all be together.

 

Togetherness is knowing the Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go...

Have a blessed week full of togetherness!

 Patricia

We are reading ~

   

3 Little Kittens

If you are not close to a library like us,  there are so many resources  available online.  One I recently found is Children's Library.   Oh such treasures are to be found there for all ages in all sorts of languages and subjects. 

The younger ones have recently finished a lapbook for "The 3 Little Kittens". I found the book at children's Library and didn't realize I have never read the complete story.   Click on the book below to read it, then make the lapbook  here.  The Lapbook includes a mitten match, mitten hunt, little booklet and more.  My littles really enjoyed it.

 

And then they had some pie!

What darling kittens....

You can see more of our 3 Little kittens Lapbook on our homeschool page.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been an angry snow here lately.  She is not at all in a good mood and has been stirring up her temper something awful.  I am ready to make peace with her and beg her to let the sunshine again!  :o) 

For many reasons my soul is weary and my heart is torn.  It has been a most difficult season in my life and I  find my self afraid of what will happen next.  You know how when things continually go wrong you begin to wondered what will happen next?

In my weakness, He is sufficient.  Everything needed for life and godliness has been given  through him.  Great and precious promises through which I can escape the corruption of the world and the sins of this life.   So for this reason, I must make every effort to add to my faith,  goodness; to goodness, knowledge;  to knowledge, self control; to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and  godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness; love.  For possessing these qualities in continuous and increasing amounts will keep me from being an unused, ineffective and an unproductive child of God.  Oh let me not forget these, for he who has has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  So may I be all the more eager to have a purpose, a calling and election for things of God, for if I do I will never fall and will receive  a warm rich welcome into his arms.  He will guide me through this storm as he controls everything under the sun.  His peace is mine and I claim it.  ( see 2 Peter)

To Be Busy At Home...

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Temperate....worthy of respect... self-controlled...sound in faith, love and endurance

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

Devoted, Reverent, neither  a nit-picker nor prone to hard drink,  teaching what is good.

A wife of noble character who can find? 

She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

 

Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Love, self-control, purity, busy at home, kind, subject, integrity, sound speech...

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She gets up while it is still dark;
   she provides food for her family She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

   She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Work, strength, trades, barters, sells, spins, femininity, cares for the poor and needy

...say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;  for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Godly, self-controlled and  upright in an ungodly world, creative, respected, dedicated

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness

Industrious, effective, dignified, wise in choices and actions, a controlled tongue, faithful, sets priorities, family first, steady

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

 Blessed, noble, praised

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised

Fears the Lord

(taken from titus 2 and proverbs 31)

I will never forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... Isaiah 49:16

Man may disappoint  but God never leaves or forsakes us. 

Joys of Home

Oh, the joys of home. Little maidens busy with their duties around the cabin.  Baking, cooking, sewing, knitting, reading, letter writing.... many hands make light work.  How divine it is having little daughters all around me during this season of my life.  These three little wonders fill my days with goodness and joy.  My cup runneth over.

   The pastor's wife  down the road brought the girls each a  personalized apron.  "For our favorite little mountain girls" they said when they brought them over.   And even one for me! So sweet.  MaryJo is always quilting and sewing.  Such lovely neighbors.   When ever I cook or bake I make sure the girls are right in there with me stirring and mixing.  Their effort counts in our little cabin and I adore having these helping hands.  Worries may be many and unknowns fill our life but ahhhh, these three enchantments make it all ok.    So as we snuggle in tonight with "Runaway Bunny", "Tom Kitten"  and "Ms. Holly" then pray to our heavenly Father for all His goodness, I am content knowing  all will be well.

3 little busy bakers

stirring and mixing

get the dough off, get the dough off, get the dough off

a dash of  salt

a drop of sweet golden honey

fresh, warm, butter topped homemade bread....

right from the oven

hmmmmm

Let's eat it

We even had time to make a bowl of fresh strawberries. ;)  Willow loves play food so we make her some when we can.  You can find directions for these easy berries on our homeschool page.

May your week be warmer and safe.... do something simple at home with your children ~ play a game, sing a song, take a hike make some strawberries. ;0)

3

Willow  (Weeelow, as she calls herself ) recently turned 3.  However, she will not accept the fact she is 3. " I 2!!"  she insists.  She's my little cowboy, my ruffian, my pookie, my little elf, my precious, sassy daughter who is walking around wearing her daddy's dirty, stinky outback hat..... and nothin' else.  Nada.   I think I'll let her be 2 a little longer. 

One of my sons is leaving this week.  He is off to take LSAT"S and then law school.   My mother's heart will bear an emptiness when he leaves.   A loss for those days I can never have again.  I won't see him everyday.  I won't hear him  rattling around~~ which is comforting for a mother.  I won't have to pick up his dirty towels ( ok well, that's a good thing).  The girls will miss him terribly. Whose bedroom will they march into early in the morning to holler "good morning  Jack!" while he is still sleeeping?  Who can they swipe candy from?  Who will chase them around the house while they scream 130 decimals?  ( hmmm, that might be nice too)  Who will give them brother moochies and bring them treats from the store?  Who will take out my trash and bring in my groceries? !  just kidding (well, not really but).  He won't be here anymore and  I will be lost for a while but, it is a new season in his life and mine.  He is a man who loves the Lord and I pray always keeps him first in his life.  I know he will become a great attorney one day.  One who will make a difference.  I'm gonna go cry now.

Elf

Miss-chevious

Actress

Sweetie Pie

Willow

loves her brother

and will miss him when he's gone...  I'm gonna cry.

smirker

orator

Mama's little Pookie

Worms cake... she loves caterpillars but the closest her sisters could come were worms. Didn't they do a great creative  job..... lol  She loved it.

Chocolate

Little Caterpillar "Babe" 

.....she names them all "Babe"

... be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  2 Timothy 4:2

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.  

Ecclesiastes 3

Patricia

 

The Joys of Home....

A mother must have great control over her own feelings ----- a calmness and composure of spirit not easily disturbed ---- or she will be occasionally provoked to acts of injustice by the misfortunes of which her children are the innocent cause.  ~ John S.C. Abbott, The Mother at Home

How I wish I could say I was such a mother!   How fortunate to have new mercies bestowed upon me each day.  How often than not I find myself short on patience and godly manner, subjecting my children to displays of agitation and unease.   A disposition of equanimity is a necessity for  mothers....  the Lord   frequently  convicts me to improve my composure in my walk of the blessed role of motherhood.

The first songs of spring have alighted here in the mountains setting out her promises of renewal and rebirth.... a balm to my soul.   We played outdoors for a short period on Easter Sunday and found our first flower of spring.... a tiny yellow marigold standing alone defying the cold weather.  Funny how excited we all were rushing over to see this little fellow.... our spring inspiration.  The birds have yet to take the challenge knowing it is safer to wait until May.  I say come little birds!  Hurry hurry!  Most of you are probably already enjoying this seasons gifts of color and warmer temperatures but spring comes in slowly up here.... so as the cold abides outdoors, I sit inside by the warm fire and wait as a bride anxiously waits for her groom.

The girls are getting over pneumonia, flu and the stomach bug.  Our house has been black listed as we have sequestered the girls snuggling them down in the bed, on the sofa or  wing backed chair to rest and recover.   A simple celebration of our risen savior at home and a short outdoor adventure kept this Easter simple and sweet. 

This season is a time of reflection for me... a time of waiting and watching... learning and growing.   The Joys of Home abound as do the challenges.   As illness allows we do something fun in the kitchen, play a board game, paint a pony, sew new frocks and skirts, unclutter a closet, read the Word, play music, pray and rest.    A free range turkey is in the oven cooking, the littles have their bunnies out for a romp while they look through books.  Later we will continue work on our insect study.  We hope for a short trip to Black Mountain next week.... a  respite from staying still for so long.   I hope you enjoy the photos of the girls as they help me bake this week.   I always give them a bowl of their own when I am cooking so they can create something for daddy when he comes home. ;) 

A bit of this...

hmmm something is missing....

well, it looks ok...

It tastes ok

Add  flour

eggs...

more eggs... I like cracking eggs

a bagel.. bagels are guuuud

stir, stir, stir...

and wallah.. bread rolls for dinner.  You can also enjoy Mary's easy Ranch rolls recipe.

cooking is hard work

rreeeaaaly hard work

dying eggs

handmade candles for great for drawing and marking

washing little hands... (ok, playing in the water)

~~~~

A little baby girl was untied with her new family Easter Sunday.... we had spoken with them about adoption over 3 years ago.  It took exactly 3 years for them to be matched.  whew....She was worth the wait. ;)

Gotcha for little Chuan Bai now known as Tatum.   I think she is rather tall for an 18 month old! Congratulations Mike, Monica, Sydney and Tatum!!

Tatum and daddy snuggled up... I love these pictures...priceless

Tatum and her big sister Sydney.  This family has waited so long... I am elated for them and can't wait to meet their new addition.  Don't you love those eyes.  Chuan Bai is from Fuzhou, Jiangxi.

~~~

And wait!  More glorious news! Willow's crib mate Tian Tian is coming home!!  Her parents called me from the airport this morning and said their plane leaves at 10:10.... get it?? Ten Ten - Tian Tian?  lol.  They will be united with her Sunday.  I can not wait until they come home!!  for those friends and family of Teresa and Jimmy, i will be posting updates and photos so check back!

Next time you feel ungrateful or dissatisfied all the treasures that God has bestowed upon you.  Be blessed and praise the Lord for his gift of the rebirth of spring!!  Until next time....