Grocery Shopping. . .

So tonite my husband and I had a date. To Walmart. Grocery shopping. Before you think that is just way too cute and romantic, let me preface by saying we did really have a great time. Well, we started out arguing, but talked through that issue and THEN had a great time. Moments together without the children are rare, but becoming more frequent as they grow.

Anyway, we did our "fun" shopping, like the last of the Christmas gifts, etc, and then we went to the food side and did the "actual" shopping. I always grocery shop for 4-5 weeks at a time, according to a menu I have made up. I can fly through the store fairly quickly, bargain shopping all the while, and generally I don't get too caught up in impulse purchases. So, through the aisles we went, my husband shaking his head at the quantities of items I picked up. 5 bags of chips, 6 cans of olives, 8 bags of chocolate chips, 6 lb. bacon. . . you get the idea (and no, those aren't the ingredients for one of my menu items!).

We got through the store in good time (in my opinion) and headed to the checkout with two FULL grocery carts. Now, I usally do this by myself, so having a person along to push one of the carts was truly a luxury and I actually enjoyed the shopping this time. As we neared the checkout lane my dear, if delusional, husband perused the carts and said "Hmm. $300?" I laughed right out loud. "I'll be happy if I make $450, dear." *audible gulp* "You're kidding!" I just smiled and said "See why I make spaghetti so often? (he doesn't like spaghetti) It's CHEAP."

Well, I was a bit off on my calculations, and it actually came to $471 and some change. I don't use a calculator, and generally I'm closer than that on my guesses, but I had thrown in a couple "luxury" items for myself, like a callous scraper and a poop scoop for the kennel. Boy, I really know how to live it up.

My conclusion? It was really beneficial for my darling husband to see what things really cost, and that I'm not out buying lobster and caviar. All in all, our date was a good one, though he did forget to kiss me at the door.

Shaney with Larry's 10 pt buck

As always, God is good. . .

Well, things are definitely looking up around here. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day, though we only had 3 guests outside our immediate family. My parents and Larry's dad joined us, and other than forgetting to make the corn, the meal turned out really yummy!! As always, we were blessed with a bountiful feast. No matter how lean things get around here, we never go without plenty. We sorely missed my aunt and uncle and my grandmother, who were unable to attend due to health issues.

Last week we were greatly blessed and humbled by an anonymous gift of $500. . . that was such a godsend. We always have everything we need and then some, but sometimes a little boost like this does so much. I was able to take the 4 oldest girls shopping, and we had a wonderful time buying new clothes off the rack! Now before you feel sorry for us, let me just say that no matter how rich I ever become, I will still shop at thrift stores and off clearance racks. . . just as my husband goes in search of the big buck (he got a 10 pt this year, btw), I go in search of the big bargain. My children enjoy this as well, and not long ago Ericka was quite proud of her "new outfit" that set her back a total of .50! That said, we had a ball bargain hunting and shopping at Old Navy. The girls each got a couple new outfits and new shoes, and had so much fun. I was touched by their grateful hearts. . . several times one or the other would say "Thanks, Mom for spending this money on us. We know there are so many other things you could have done with it." Praise God for my children, who continue to bless me daily. And forgive me, Lord, when I forget that and focus on their shortcomings. (Oh! and I found a new outfit too! Having lost 36 pounds, this is the first time in forever that clothes shopping hasn't been a horribly depressing situation!)


I also have some adorable puppies for sale, just in time for Christmas. I'm praying that they sell and that we can be a light to whoever buys them. There are so many hurting and depressed people in the world, especially at the holidays, and I pray that maybe one of them will find their way to our doorstep and whatever hope we can offer.

Well, it's past my bedtime so I'll sign off. . . blessings to all.

On Surrender. . .

I have been learning alot lately about surrender. A few weeks ago, I prayed that the Lord would change me. Wow. I guess I wasn't asking for major overhaul. . . apparently, that is what the Lord felt I needed. Actually, I don't know if He's even overhauling me as much as he is asking me to put my money where my mouth is. I am constantly praying to commit things in my life to God, and in the last three weeks, He has tested that committment and asked me to give up more than I've had to give up in a really long time.
My 4 year old son had an accident at the babysitter's, in which a pony stood on his foot and Shane, in a panic, twisted around to try to free himself. The short story is that he broke the top of his tibia (just inside the knee joint) and required surgery. The long story would take too long to tell. . . suffice to say that the medical "help" he received throughout the ordeal has been like a three ring circus. Shane and I have had countless hours in medical facilities, and I have had countless frustrations with clinic/hospital staff that I am working to forgive. Thankfully, in the end, God provided an EXCELLENT staff at St. Mary's with a fabulous surgeon.
Along this medical excursion, I have had to surrender the following things (among others):

Control of my household
Control of my schedule
Consistency in homeschooling
My son (in the sense of trusting God to bring him through surgery and general anesthesia)
My chickens (a story in itself--I had to sell them)
My horse (another story--he's going blind and I can't safely keep him)
A litter of 5 newborn puppies--no obvious reason for their deaths
Fellowship in person with believers--missing church, no time for visits/prayer
Discipline/Training of my children, who tend to go downhill in the absence of their mother
A special, long-planned visit for my eldest daughter with a missionary

I am writing this after a total meltdown. I have so looked forward to going to church tomorrow and it looks like the children now have pinkeye, so I may have to surrender even my fellowship with the Body. I am not looking for pity, I am not being a martyr. I'm just sharing my raw feelings in a tough situation that seems endless.
There have been several things that God has done to make Himself so clearly known. . . at one point, Shane had to lay still for 45 minutes (I mean perfectly still) for an MRI. Conscious sedation in a 4 year old can be quite risky, and we were praying we wouldn't have to go that route. After the first couple tries, it was obvious he just couldn't lay still enough. I started praying. I felt the Spirit of God decend on us in that room, and Shane FELL ASLEEP. For those who haven't had an MRI, you are put into a tube, and all around you hammers bang and knock. It is so loud they make you wear headphones with additional "pleasant" noise piped in. My boy slept through the entire thing, not moving a muscle. It was totally God.
After the last of my puppies died, and a subsequent meltdown, I asked God if He had a scripture to encourage me. Instantly "Jeremiah 17:10" came to mind. I looked it up and found this. . . "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." I realized right then that I am indeed being tested, and that my reward (there will be one sooner or later) will be in direct proportion to how well I handle the trials I am facing. So far, the reward won't be great. I'm not handling things as well as I should be. However, more than ever before in my life, I'm learning the meaning of the word "surrender" and what it means to truly trust in the One Who Gives Me Life. I know beyond a doubt that God has a purpose in all of this, and that it is for the good of His Kingdom and for His glory.
Just keep reminding me of that, would you?

Is the Election Over Yet???

Have I mentioned that my dear daughter Ericka is a political nut? She is eleven years old and we can't go anywhere without counting McCain signs, cheering when we see them, and booing Obama signs. (Apologies to those who would do the reverse). We went to Superior and she wrote out a McCain/Palin sign and held it in the window, pointing and smiling as big as you please. If Dad is watching news or debates, the girl is glued. Man. She is her father's daughter. We are building a kennel building, and I sent her around the side to paint one of the walls. This is what I got. . . As for me, November 4 cannot come too soon. *sigh*

(Incidentally, the child in the photo is Shannah, not Ericka.)

My children and their cousins. . .

Can you tell which ones are mine? Here's a hint. . . the two in the cab are mine.

Hello again. . .

Well, if anyone out there is still sticking with my few and far between posts, I am finally taking a minute to update you on our lives. . .

School is in full swing here, and the children are all doing quite well. They aren't always enthused to "do school," but it gets done nonetheless and they are actually learning something! Wendy is learning to read, and giggles with delight when she masters another story in her Dick and Jane book. Ericka is doing 6th/7th grade work and has just finished a unit on the Revolution. Shane has been learning shapes and numbers, and trying his best to get the hang of counting. He's great up to 4, then thinks 1 comes next again. He'll catch on eventually! Shannah is conquering her arch-nemesis, math, and is quite good at map skills. Creativity is Eliza's strong point, and she takes any opportunity to decorate her schoolwork.

We are in the midst of our fall birthday flurry, with 5 of the children celebrating in 8 weeks and all turning even numbers. After Wendy and Linnea's birthdays in early November, the children will be 11, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2. I can't believe my "baby" is already going to be two!!! What's next, college????? She is learning to sleep in a big bed, and the queen bed she sleeps in practically swallows her whole. It's so sweet to see her tiny body curled up in the middle of that big bed.

The biggest development here is the building of our kennel. We are putting up a 16x16 kennel building with 12 ft chain link runs outside. I think our Papillons will be quite comfortable in there new home! The mastiffs will have their own "room" too, complete with an enormous dog door so they can come and go as they please. They have run of the yard, and are proving to be quite the protectors. Larry is doing a marvelous job on the construction, and soon I will get some pics up here so you can see his progress.

I am blessed (maybe) to have a husband who is totally into politics and a daughter (the eldest) who is equally enthralled. Therefore, we can't drive anywhere without counting and comparing the number of Obama signs vs. the McCain. We also have to watch every news snippet ever made that pertains to the election, and I am amazed at just how much there is to see on our 4 network channels!! Suffice to say, I will be relieved when the election is over and we can go back to business as usual. *grin*

Blessings to you all. . .

It's been awhile. . .

Wow! It's been FOREVER since I posted on here. I hope somebody still checks from time to time. :o) July was an absolute blur. 4 children went to camp this summer, of course each a different week. Three of them had a wonderful time, and Ericka, well. . . she learned alot. She had a couple older girls in her cabin who were pretty hard on her, giving her a bad time about being a farm girl, shopping at thrift stores, etc. She really wanted to come home Wednesday night (2 of her friends DID go home Wed night, for the same reason) but stuck it out the rest of the week. This is the kid who would live at camp if she were given the chance, so I knew something big was up. Thankfully, the director handled things well and the week finished out much better than it had begun. She came home feeling that God had taught her alot of things about being on the mission field, and though she's as convinced as ever that she will be a lifelong missionary, she also realizes that she has alot more to learn before she goes. I am so proud of her maturity and the way she handled the whole thing.

We also had our VBS for church in July, and to top it all off, my parents' 40th wedding anniversary party. It was a wonderful party. I am so honored to have Godly parents who have taught me so much throughout my life. I pray that the Lord blesses them with many more years together.

August has been busy, but manageable. I'll be running our HOPE (Helping Other Parents Educate) group again, and this year we are doing a great study on the History of Minnesota, from a Christian Perspective. If you'd like more on that, it's www.statehistory.net . It will be a fun year, I think, and with only one meeting per month, it won't be overwhelming.

We are getting "practiced up" for school, with the children schooling a couple days a week. We'll have another "easy" week, then start full bore into the school year. It's been a good summer, but the children are ready to study, and ready for more structured days than we've had lately. Now if I could just squeeze 5 minutes in with my husband. . .

Speaking of my dear Knight-in-Shining-Armor, the crops look really good for the first time in several years. It's nice to see his hard work paying off. As for the foam business, that was SLOW until July, then all of a sudden we have TONS of work. Thank the Lord for that!! Add those businesses together, and there isn't much family time, but we do what we can.

So, there it is in a nutshell. Hope everyone out there is blessed and filled with the joy of the Lord.

Learning about Honor. . .

I posted a picture earlier of the new Mastiff male I was planning to get. . . well, thanks to the economy, we haven't had any insulation work, and thanks to the drought, the farm is still in the hole. My dear husband was still allowing me to go get Chance despite our financial situation, but I knew that it wasn't sitting well with him. I had recently made a committment to the Lord to honor my husband, no matter what. This is revolutionary for me. I have always been obedient, I am that by nature. However, my spirit so often did not match my actions! Obedience with a bad attitude is NOT honor. Needless to say, the minute I made the committment, the Lord allowed me to be tested. I know we are in a financial crunch right now, so I decided (with the right attitude for once) to give up the opportunity to get Chance. This has been extremely difficult for me, but it has given me great opportunities to share with my girls and teach them about honoring their daddy and eventually their husbands.
I had been struggling with the sacrifice I had made, and my only consolation was the Purity conference my two girls and I had planned to attend this past weekend. At least we could still do that. Well. . . guess what? When it came down to the wire, I ended up sacrificing the conference as well. That one was tougher, as it greatly disappointed not only me, but also my girls. Though I struggled with my attitude, through the Grace of God I was able to maintain a positive face to the girls, and had yet another opportunity to show them what it looks like to honor Daddy. The Lord showed me that they were learning more at home about honor than they would have been learning about anything else at the conference. As a consolation, the girls and I met my mom for lunch and had a fun little outing with Grandma. Later that day, a different person called me and, knowing that we are struggling financially, offered to loan me enough money to get my dog!!! This call was out of the blue, and so clearly God's leading. I called the lady that has Chance, and though she had 2 other opportunities to sell him for more money, she really wanted me to have him.
It is so amazing to me that whenever God calls us to stretch and grow, the rewards so far outweigh any sacrifice we may make. If I had gone to the conference (Larry left the decision to me) I would have missed out on my dog, as he would have been sold that very day to someone else. I am so blessed to have a God that cares about me and wants to make me a better person, and that what is important to me is important to Him, even if it's just a dog.
The very best part of all is that my 11 yo daughter heard that I was getting Chance after all, and the first thing out of her mouth (after she quit screaming and jumping up and down) was "It works! It really paid to obey God and honor Daddy!" I couldnt' ask for anything better. All glory and honor to my God and Father, Jesus Christ.

Eggs!!

Aren't they beautiful??? Now if I could just get my chickens to lay a carton from time to time. . .

Updates. . .

Man, life just goes around here. I can't believe we're into the summer camp season already. Liza will be headed off Sunday to camp. . . she can't wait

My chickens continue to be a blessing and lots of fun to watch. I had to start over with some of the chicks, though, since 12 of my baby chicks died in a rainstorm we had. I am left with 6 red and 6 black from the original batch, and I've gotten 12 more of a third variety. As much as I love the laying hens, the chicks are a pain!! I'm glad I'll only have to have chicks every other spring.

We've had a fox in our yard. . . last night he was on our back porch!! That's a little too close for my comfort. I am pretty sure he's a domestic fox that escaped from our neighbor's fox pen, but still! So, tonite I have a live trap set outside the back door with a tempting piece of turkey in it for bait. . . we'll see what happens.

The dog business is going okay, I'm praying Mila is bred now. Gracie had a single puppy a week ago, and Ericka named him Joseph. He's a cutie pie. Her dog was never supposed to be bred--I guess you could call it a "misconception." Joseph is a cute little stinker, though, so I'm hoping to get enough money from him to have Gracie spayed! She's a nice little dog, but NOT a good breeding prospect. Ericka is thrilled for now, though, being a grandma. ;o)

On Tuesday, I and a few of the girls will be making a flying road trip to Des Moines to pick up my Mastiff male. He's a beautiful dog, I can't wait to see him in person. His name is Chance. It will be a whirlwind trip and we'll all have "tractor butt" by the time we get back but it will be fun, I think.

Ericka is working hard on her family newsletter. . . when she gets it done, I'll post it here.

Blessings to you all!! Email and say hello if you have a chance. . .

New Chicks

Hmm. Apparently we didn't have enough "chicks" at our house. . . :o) We now have 27 more. These babies arrived today, and they are sooo cute! It amazes me that just 3 days ago, these lil' gals were all tucked up inside eggshells. God's creation is so unfathomable. It's equally amazing that by late fall they will be mature hens, laying eggs of their own. The chicks are getting plenty of attention here, being held and handled as much as I will allow them to be. The black ones are Black Sex Links (sex-link means you can tell the gender by the color of the chick at hatching) and the buff ones are Production Reds.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww. . .

Need somebody to love? This is Joy, a purebred Papillon female. She will reach 7-8 lb. as an adult and just LOVES people, especially children!! Email if you know of someone interested in her. . . she will be ready to go next week. $500.

Peace of God

Tuesday night, the girls had their final night of Dog Obedience class. As we were leaving, Linnea got her pinky finger slammed in the heavy gymnasium door at the high school. It was cut nearly to the bone, and about 3/4 inch long. My friend Jennifer and I and a couple of our children laid hands on her and prayed, then off to the hospital we went. About half way through the prayer, Nea stopped crying. She was quiet all the way to Sandstone, then held her hand out happily for x-rays. When it was time for the stitches, I left the room, thinking she would do better without me there. The doctor came out and said "That is the best little girl in the whole world!" My baby had lain on the bed in the emergency room, sucked on a sucker, and let them give her shots and do stitches WITHOUT MAKING A PEEP. The doctor said she actually started to be a little bored with them toward the end. What a wonderful example of the peace of Christ!!

Chicken Pox. . .

Okay, so the day after I called the co-op to order my baby chickens, we got chicken pox. I need to call and see if my order was misunderstood!

So far, 5 out of 6 children are now polka-dotted, and Nea has been throwing up off and on for several days. That part is getting old. I have had several friends want to arrange play dates so our children can get together and breathe on them. . . wanting to get the pox and get it over with. Any takers? :o)

Now the question is. . . can our chickens catch chicken pox?

I HAVE CHICKENS!!

One of my longstanding dreams has finally happened. As of yesterday, I am the proud owner of 15 laying hens. It is so wonderful to have our own eggs, especially considering the cost of eggs in the store these days. The children have already tamed some of them and carry the ol' girls around. We have been buying our eggs from a nearby farm for some time, and yesterday they offered us the hens whose eggs we have been buying! They are getting new chicks and had to move the older layers out of their coop. We had our first egg last night, and I look forward to collecting 6-12 eggs daily from here on out. We are also getting new chicks on Thursday, so when they are old enough to lay, these ol' gals will be going in the freezer. Another blessing!! We love chicken and don't have it much. I promised the children I wouldn't label the packages with their chickens' names. . . I'll be getting some pictures up here soon, just having camera issues at the moment.

I suppose I should write. . .

I've thought often of my blog lately, thinking I should write. Then I've thought "What do I have that is noteworthy right now??" So after all the procrastination, I've decided to do just a good ol' fashioned update on what the "herd" is doing.
Larry is finally in the field, gone from dawn (well, 7:30 or so) til dark plowing, disking, cultivating, and getting ready to plant oats and corn. The children and I often bring his meals to the field, and we love the smell of the freshly turned dirt and the feel of it on our bare feet. It's one of those picturesque "farm" moments that make us glad we're doing what we're doing. I do miss my husband, however, and some days get long being a single mom.
I am working on getting my garden ready. Larry is going to build a bunch more raised beds for me so the children can each grow their own crops this summer, in hopes of yeilding enough to sell some at our local gas station. (I know, you don't think anything is 'local' for us, but we do have a c-store 3 miles away!)
The children are finishing up school, just about 2 weeks left to go. We are going to continue working on math through the summer, and my summer goal is to get Wendy reading well. The kids can't wait for swimming season to arrive, and just as they finally got mom's permission to run barefoot, winter reared it's ugly head again and they had to put on shoes.
Ericka, Eliza, and Shannah have been participating in dog obedience classes with 4-H, and for the first several sessions I was able to participate as well. We've all had a wonderful time with it and the dogs are doing so well. Now that Larry is in the field, I just watch the girls in class, as I have the small children with me too. I think all the girls are enjoying it and will be going on to agility classes next year.
Our horse, Thor, and our pony, Louie are in high demand now that the weather is nice. I have only had Thor out once to pull the cart, but he did very well and hopefully I can get him out again this weekend if the rain holds off. Larry is going to build me a 4x8 wagon for me to drive, and it will have an open box so the kids can all pile in behind the seat. I look forward to that!
So, I guess that's all that's going on here. . . we visited Grandma Ilo today; it was so wonderful to see her. Her apartment is really nice and homey and she is able to feel more secure now with assisted living and nearby neighbors.
I'll try to get some new pictures on here soon. . . blessings to you all (both of you who read this blog, that is!)

A Great Weekend

This past weekend, I was blessed to have the opportunity to attend the annual conference for MACHE--MN Association of Christian Home Educators--in Duluth. What an awesome experience!! It was my first opportunity to go, and it will take an earthquake to keep me away next year!

I and my sister in law, Maia, left on Thursday afternoon. After we deposited our total of 9 children at various grandparents' homes, we headed north, positively giddy at the thought of nearly 3 days OUT! I love my life, I love my home and children, but this is the first time I've ever had an extended outing like this, and boy, did I need it. We went out for chinese food (yum!) and then headed to our hotel, where two other friends met us. We stayed at the Edgewater, so Thursday evening was spent at the waterpark. It was fun, and we got into a war in the lazy river and surprisingly weren't asked to leave. :o) Suffice it to say, we were all quite ready for bed that night.

Friday was so encouraging. I shopped at the used books sale and in the exhibit hall, and God spoke so clearly to me about what I should and shouldn't buy. I know some of you will think I'm nuts, but I could literally hear the Lord say "yes" or "no" to each and every book I picked up. My favorite purchase was 6 albums of Adventures in Odyssey for $20! They were brand new and on clearance for $3/album, when they usually cost $17 apiece.

When I got there, I was still undecided about which seminars to attend. The only thing I knew was that there were a couple I was NOT going to go to. Guess which ones I ended up in?? Yep. Those. It turned out to be just exactly what I needed. How does God DO that?? So, the day was really encouraging an equipping for me, and I was ready for a new start at home. I went to bed on a high that night, from all I had learned and discovered about myself and life in general. Then came Saturday. Ugh.

I got to the DECC Sat. morning with great anticipation. It turned out that my first seminar hit really close to my heart in a way I never expected. It was one of those moments where the Lord lays my heart bare and shows me what's really there that I'd either been hiding or been unaware of. I left the DECC after that and spent a good share of time sobbing and writing in my journal, processing, repenting, asking forgiveness, and then being loved and refreshed, and given a new direction. That's the thing about God. . . he never points out a problem without also giving the solution. I went back for the remaining two seminars, though I was pretty much spent by that time and just sitting there, still thinking and processing. I am so grateful to have had friends there who listened to me talk and cry, and then prayed for me and understood what I was feeling.

All told, it was a life-changing experience, and I thank God he worked it out for me to attend. Now comes the hard work of implementing in my day to day life all that I have learned. . . but HE will be faithful to walk before me, behind me, and beside me as I work it all out.

Emerging from a Cocoon

I have long been plagued by feelings of inadequacy. No matter who I am with, I just don't feel like I measure up. One of the biggest areas in which I feel this is my household. I feel that I can clean and clean and clean and the place is still dirty and still a dump. People are very gracious about it, which I appreciate, letting me off the hook because I homeschool or because I have several children, or whatever. However, I've always felt the Lord in the background saying "There is a better way, you can have a tidy home and homeschool and have several children all at the same time. . ." Understand me. . . He never makes me feel that I am not measuring up, or that I am failing, but He does nudge me gently and remind me that there is always room for improvement and that my day to day life should not be a black cloud of frustration and constant striving. Tonite God made it clear to me through our Bible study (the topic was "work") that the key to the whole thing is my attitude. Perhaps you are saying "duh!" but stick with me here. . . my house has always reflected ME. This is MY house, and if it's a pit, people will think poorly of ME. You know what??? This isn't my house. It's HIS house. These are HIS children. I am but a steward. The Lord God Almighty, who created and controls the universe, placed ME in charge of this bit of HIS creation, HIS property. He lets me call it mine, but how different my attitude and my heart are when I consider that I am caring for my Master's belongings. I can take great joy in the proper placement of my effort and energy. . . working and striving joyfully to please The One who has given me all these things. I can look at my home differently, I can interact with my children differently if I realize they reflect upon the One whom I love most. It's not about me, it's about my Savior, Jesus. If I keep my eyes on Him and just do my best to please Him in everything I do, it'll all come right in the end. And you know what? On those days that the house is a wreck I can still smile, knowing that He is pleased with me anyway, because my Heart trusts in Him. What more can I ask for?? I don't measure up. I am human. He measures up through me, and that's so much better.

Wean Me Gently

by Cathy Cardall

I know I look so big to you,
Maybe I seem too big for the needs I have.
But no matter how big we get,
We still have needs that are important to us.
I know that our relationship is growing and changing,
But I still need you.
I need your warmth and closeness,
Especially at the end of the day
When we snuggle up in bed.
Please don't get too busy for us to nurse.
I know you think I can be patient,
Or find something else to take the place of a nursing;
A book, a glass of something,
But nothing can take your place when I need you.
Sometimes just cuddling with you,
Having you near me is enough.
I guess I am growing and becoming independent.
But please be there.
This bond we have is so strong and so important to me,
Please don't break it abruptly.
Wean me gently,
Because I am your mother,
And my heart is tender.

Grateful for friends. . .

I am continually amazed at true friendship. I have many friends, and some of them I don't even know all that deeply or well. However, I see over and over how God brings different people into my life in response to different things I or my friend are experiencing. Sarah is an example of that. She and I rarely get together or visit on the phone. . . I think the last time we were together was in July of 2007, when they had a celebration at their home. I had occasion to call her the other day, and ask her for prayer. She is one of those people that will actually pray if I have a need, and not just say she will. She said God had had me on her heart for several days in a row, and had been telling her we need to get together. So, that afternoon, she came to my house and we visited while our children played. She has two tiny daughters and is expecting a baby boy in July. Our conversation was as though we had visited every day for the last year, rather than feeling ackwardness at having not spoken in nearly a year! We found that we are currently dealing with some similar issues in our lives, and we were able to encourage one another and both went away refreshed. I praise God for Sarah, but more than that, I praise Him for knowing exactly what I need and sending it at just the right time. I pray that I can be a blessing to someone else the way my friends have been to me.

To Watch You Grow

I have discovered a new pastime. . .
When I slow down long enough
to indulge myself.
In fact, I think perhaps it is my favorite
Way to spend an hour. . .
When I'm not too busy.
Busy. . . busy. . . what is more important?
What could possibly transfix time?
Dishes, laundry. . . will be there tomorrow.
Meals to fix, groceries to buy.
School. . . yes, that's very important. . .
But more important?
No, not more important.
Adn so, a new goal.
A new pastime. . .
I will make time for the more important thing.
Perhaps the most important thing.
To watch you grow.

Chick Update

Nope, not talking about my 5 daughters! *grin* Here are some new pictures of our birds. . . the first one is Hula, pictured last time. She is now a gorgeous bird, and at 1 month old, almost full grown. Mom and Dad don't seem to be feeding her anymore, she is eating on her own. The second one is Blackbird, and he (or she, we can't tell gender of any of them yet) is a really pretty turquoise color. He is a few days younger than Hula. Last but not least, is Shorty. He is still in the ugly duckling stage, and we aren't sure what color he'll be yet. He has some turquoise feathers budding in his tail, so he may look alot like Blackbird. Time will tell. . . he should be fully feathered by April. Ericka is enjoying her bird adventure, and has invested in another cage. She hopes to have our other pair of birds laying soon and would like 2-3 clutches (litters) per pair each year, and hopes to sell them to make a little extra money. OOPS. THE PICTURES UPLOADED BACKWARDS, SO FROM THE TOP, WE HAVE SHORTY, BLACKBIRD, AND HULA. I AM NOT BLOG-SAVVY ENOUGH TO HAVE REARRANGED THEM.

New Babies of a Different Sort

Even as we are mourning Molly's passing, we are enjoying new life of a different sort! Ferdie, Ericka's parakeet, is the proud new mama of 3 baby chicks (so far). They are interesting to watch. The eggs do not hatch at the same time, so all 3 are different ages and at different stages of development. Ferdie is a good mama and Zeus is a great dad who helps feed the little ones and feeds mama when she is in the nest. We all agree though that as fascinating as these babies are, they are U-G-L-Y! Talk about a face only a mother can love!! The oldest one, seen here, is named Hula, and she (or he) already loves to be held. Ericka puts her hand in the nest and Hula grabs on and stops cheeping! It's amazing. We'll post pictures as they develop. It will be especially fun to see what colors they end up being.

A Sad Goodbye

It has been a very sad day at our home. Our long time friend and protector, Molly, has been put to sleep. She has been such a wonderful dog. . . we got her when Eliza was one year old, and none of the children remember life without her. She's been my best dog ever, and though she loved all the family (well, maybe not Larry so much), she was definitely MY dog and let me know it daily. I am so thankful for her loving devotion all these years, and it will be sad to come home and not have Molly running out to meet us. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing she has been. The torch has now been passed to JJ, and a new era has begun on Kenney Creek Homestead.

My Newest Baby!

Okay, I hope you're looking at the picture of the puppy, and not me!! Last weekend, I drove with 3 of the girls to Kewaskum, WI (near Milwaukee) to visit my sister in law and pick up my new Mastiff puppy. This picture was taken upon arrival home, after being stranded for 2 days in a blizzard in southern WI. It was a harrowing experience, if you can't tell from my appearance above!! Anyway, this is JJ. She is a 12 week AKC English Mastiff, and she is the next phase of my dog breeding program here on the farm. Her name, JJ, stands for Jehovah Jireh, "My God who provides." My business is committed to Him, and I wanted a name for her that reflects that. If anyone knows of someone who breeds Mastiffs, please let me know! I am keeping my eyes open, as I'd like to get a male within the next year or so. JJ is so much easier than my small dogs! She's very mellow and is catching on very well to housebreaking. She weighs 25 lb right now, and will reach a weight somewhere between 150-200 lb. Last week, my sweet little Papillon, Piddles, broke her leg beyond repair and had to be put down. JJ is helping to fill that void.

What we mothers won't put up with. . .

Nea's Hat

Do you think she's related to that guy with the hat on the old cartoon "Fat Albert??" Nea was walking all over the house like this today. Not sure how she managed to see where she was going, and any time someone tried to "fix" her hat, she had a fit!! Maybe her eyelids were cold?

Amazed. . .

Today my chihuahua, Lightning, had her puppies. It's amazing how excited I get about birth, no matter what species it is! Babies are just such a miracle! I prayed my way through her delivery, helped out a little, and I'm praising God for the arrival of a healthy girl and boy. It just amazes me that these tiny, helpless little beings emerge into this cold world and immediately know what to do. They are instantly whining, squirming, and looking for nourishment. Nobody taught them how to find the mother's milk. The babies are blind at birth, yet using their sense of smell, they manage to be nursing within minutes. Please explain to me how anyone can believe in evolution. . . I just don't see it. Today, once again, I was reminded of God's marvelous plan, HIS CREATION, and I praise him that I was able to be a witness to the miracle of new life.

Well, Here Goes!!!

I have officially launched my website!! This is the official site for my puppy business. Please check it out, and I'd be thankful for any feedback you can give me. I'm new to web building, and I'd like to make any changes and improvements that would help my business!! Thanks in advance! Blessings, Brenda
http://www.freewebs.com/kenneycreek/index.htm

Proud Mama

This was Ericka's first sewing project on the machine. She loves to hand sew, but now she's hooked on the machine sewing. She made this skirt for herself and one for Wendy. She has one for Nea partly done. I"m so proud of her great work! Great job, Ericka!

My Uncle is a Genius

Early this week, my family got all shined up and headed to my uncle's house for family portraits. Uncle is a retired band teacher, and has done photography as a hobby for years. We knew he was good, but we were so unprepared for the wonderful quality of his photos! This one is one of my favorites of the 80 (80!!) pictures he took of our family as a group and the children individually. I have for years wanted to get professional portraits, so this was a treat for me! I was impressed with Uncle's abilities, and equally impressed with Auntie's talent at props and positioning people. My favorite memory of the day, though, is Auntie singing "Little Bunny Foo-Foo" and bopping herself on the head. Of course it made the children laugh. . . it made all of us laugh! Thanks sooo much. We are blessed to have had this experience.

I hate the dentist. . .

When I woke up this morning, I had a nice day in mind. We'd pick up the house, do school, then meet with my friend Sandy, who was coming to visit. That is SO not how the day went! I've had a tooth bothering me for several months, and it was getting much worse last week. I called on Friday and left a message that I'd like to be seen. You know, generally when you try to get in on short notice anywhere you end up waiting at least several days, if not a week or more. Lucky (!) for me, the dental office returned my call at 8 a.m. "Can you come in at 11 this morning?" "Uh. . . sure. . ." So, since my back has also been messed up, I figured I'd kill two birds and head to the chiropractor while I was in town. Living 24 miles from town, it's necessary to combine trips as much as possible! Wouldn't you know, I called the chiro at 8:10, and the appt. she had available was 9 a.m. I kicked it into high gear, showered, yelled at the kids a bit, threw clothes on the baby and was out the door in 30 minutes, which was 10 minutes later than I should have left. "This is just not the laid back day I had in mind. . ." I got my back adjusted, put gas in the car, did a little grocery shopping, and had a root canal, all before noon. Man. I'd rather have given birth.

God is so much bigger. . .

I've just finished my lesson for the day in The Lord's Table. It was about how great and how big God actually is. I really needed to hear that this week. It's been a really rough haul, and I've spent much of my time focusing on how rough it's been, rather than on the One who can lift me from the muck. Today, after a HORRIBLE start to the day, the girls had a meeting at church. I was able to sneak away into the sanctuary alone, for some solo worship. Faithful as always, God met me there, and refocused my thoughts and refreshed me. My, how I needed it. But you know, God doesn't exist in the church sanctuary. He exists WITHIN ME. Yep, little old me. . . In comparison with the country, the planet, the universe, I am so insignificant. However, my heavenly Father delights himself in strengthening me for the walk, lifting me up and refreshing my spirit. Like Peter, I lost my focus and began to sink. Thanks be to the Lord God Almighty, I am back on track, and man, it feels great!

The ground is lower than I remember. . .

So I've been in terrific need of exercise. It was a nice day here, so I went outside with the children, to go sledding. We have a couple decent hills here in the yard, and with the recent thaw/refreeze, it's quite a fast track! I bundled Nea up til she looked like a little pink snowball and headed outside. It always amazes me how long I can be indoors without even realizing I haven't so much as stepped on the porch. Sometimes several days go by and I've not made it outside, much less "outside."

On my first run down the hill, my mind flooded with all the memories of flying down Lion's Hill as a child. The wind in my face. . . snow spraying. . . my hair in my mouth. . . it was a great moment, traveling memory lane. . . or hill, as it were. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Then the sled came to a stop. That meant I had to get out. Hm. A dilemma, to be sure. I got my feet out without a problem, and though I frequently sit on the floor and have no trouble getting up, I realized that getting out of a sled, bundled up, with one foot sinking in the snow and the other not, is an art form. I am not Monet. As a kid, I just rolled out of the sled and jumped to my feet. I have more ballast now. And farther up to stand. . . I finally got my carcass out of the sled and hit another childhood memory. . . the long, long, long, long, long, long, trek up the hill. I realize we don't live on Mt. Vesuvius or anything, but man! The way I got up that hill was laughable. Thank God and greyhound none of my children had cameras.

All in all, I made several runs, then walked to the mailbox and back. I had a wonderful time and laughed with my darling children. In a few days, I'll write a post whining about my sore muscles.

It's Your Move, Daughter

I can give you life, but I cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you lovely inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to be a friend, but I cannot make you one.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can grieve about your report card, but I cannot doubt your teachers.
I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you.
I can teach you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you about drink, but I cannot say no for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I cannot prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you.
I can let you babysit, but I cannot be responsible for your actions.
I can teach you kindness, but I cannot force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sin, but I cannot make your morals.
I can love you as a daughter, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make him your Savior.
I can teach you to obey, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you Eternal Life.
Thanks for listening,
Your Mother

First steps!

My baby, at 14 months, 1 day, has taken her first steps. :o) and :o( I'm sure fellow parents can understand. . . can't wait til Daddy gets home so we can show off!

Little House in Ogema Township

We love to watch Little House. The entire family sits down every other day or so. I wasn't sure whether Shane, at age 3, actually understood it or if he just enjoyed the family time. However, he has now taken to hitching up his "wagon", flipping his reins, and saying "I Chawles." I love that at such a young age he can enjoy the show, even though he likely misses most of the content. He climbed into bed with Larry and I this morning. After a few moments of silence, Shane asked "Can I put on my nice clothes and go to see Cawwie's house?" Hm. This led to a labyrinth discussion on reality vs. pretend. . . "They aren't real." Well, no, that's not quite right. . . "It's a pretend family. . ." That didn't cut it either. . . fortunately for Mama, Shane quickly lost interest in the subject and headed off to sleep. I love my children, but man! 7 a.m. is just too early to school my three year old in the arts of theatre. :o)

A note from Ericka. . .

i feel that i was called to missions when i was about five y/o. i am checking into a mission for 10-13 y/o. i would be gone for 6 wks in Florida this Summer. I will help in Nursing homes and adult daycares... please pray for me as I am listening for Gods voice.

Pups for sale. . .

If you'd like to see the pups I have for sale, here's the link. . .
http://www.gadzoo.com/TwinCities/PetsAdView.aspx?AdID=100966485

My Bread Recipe

1 c. gluten
1 c. coconut oil**
1/2 c. blackstrap molasses
1/2 c. honey
2 T. salt
3 T. yeast
6 c. hot water
15 (or so) c. wheat flour ***

This is my family's favorite bread ever. It is packed with nutrition, especially if you grind the wheat directly before mixing the bread. I just put all the ingredients into my Bosch bowl and knead on 1 for 6 minutes. Turn bread out and shape into loaves. Place into pans, cover with a towel for 30 minutes, then bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

**Despite the use of coconut oil, the bread does not taste of coconut, so shouldn't be a problem if you don't care for coconut. This oil is one of the healthiest there is, and though it is expensive, it is well worth it for the health benefits.

***For years, I couldn't bake a decent loaf of bread to save my life. I finally watched a demo cd from someone, and discovered that I was way over-flouring. I have found now that I get the best bread, and the lightest, if I only put enough flour in to hold the dough together. When I turn the dough onto the counter, it is quite sticky and will ooze if I let it sit long.

Can we learn to babysit?

It amazes me to watch my children grow and learn. We homeschool, so my children are always together, always at home with Mama. This picture was not posed. I came into the living room to find Wendy watching t.v. and Nea happily nested on her lap. It reinforced some really neat things for me. . . one, my children are used to being cared for and handled by thier siblings, even if those siblings aren't "old enough." Weebit, age 5, can barely carry Linnea, but when she does, Nea is as comfortable and trusting as can be. They have learned that Mama doesn't have to do everything for them. . . what they can't do for themselves, they can ask the older children to help them with. We have our own little microcosm here, a community where everyone helps everyone else, and usually it's even without squabbles! :o) I also am amazed at what instincts my children have the opportunity to develop that I didn't, being the baby of two children. When Shane or Nea need help with something, the older children just instinctively come along side and meet whatever need there is. Often, I have to prompt them, but just as often, I will enter a room to find one child taking the hand of another and helping them along. So when they ask "when can I learn to babysit?" I just smile and say "I think you'll be ready."

Enjoying the warm days!

Have you been enjoying the warm balmy days we've been having? I have. I've even got a bit of spring fever. I've been making my gardening list, as the company I order from sells out early in the season, and if I want to get all I want to plant, I need to be on the ball and order plenty early. The girls are going to have their own garden plots, in hopes of selling some produce this summer and fall. They'd like to have a bit of "walking around money". :o) I do realize it's still January, and the temps will dip below zero before we're done. . . that's okay too. I love winter. I love to snuggle up in front of a roaring fire. We have 2 woodstoves going in our house, and if it gets below 78 degrees, we get chilly! In this season of horribly high fuel prices, we are very blessed to have wood burning capabilities.
If you'd like to see a really cool seed catalog, check out www.rareseeds.com . It's the homesite for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

No More Pills!!--Warning: Pretty personal. . .

I'd like to share a testimony with you that is very difficult for me to talk about. I want to share it because I want to give the Lord God Almighty the praise and adoration due him. For most of the past 10 years, I have been on Paxil, an antidepressant. I have at times tried to get off it, I have always wanted to be off it, but never was able for long. It was a humbling experience to feel that I couldn't succeed in life, indeed couldn't even function, without my little pills. I didn't want to admit to anyone that I was on antidepressants. Depression has not been a socially acceptable "illness" until lately. I felt I was stuck, lacking, incapable, inferior, and on and on. . . I have always felt that I would never measure up, and the pills just made it worse. I did not realize that the root of my depression (and indeed I believe this is the truth in most cases) was spiritual. The enemy had me defeated. I had something permanently wrong with me that only a pill could cure. Without it, I was incapable of normal life.

About 6-8 weeks ago, my dh asked me if I thought I would like to try going off Paxil. Not weaning off, like they recommend, but quitting. Done. I wanted to, but didn't believe I could. I figured "Hey, I'm a failure anyway, why not try it? The worst that can happen is that I'll fail at that too." So, I quit. For several weeks, I experienced emotions and thoughts that I hadn't felt in 10 years. I was like a 2 year old who has to learn to control herself. I'd cry one minute, laugh the next, then blow up and throw things, tantruming and screaming. My husband was so patient, and never once said that I should go back on the pills. I have no doubt he thought we'd made a mistake, but he didn't crush me with the words. Thank you for that, my darling. I don't deserve you. One night, my very short fuse went off and I blew up. I shrieked, screamed, sobbed, threw things and generally melted down. Over nothing of consequence, I might add. My children hid and my husband didnt' know what to do with me. I went to my room and sat on my bed. I had a physical feeling of my arms being bound to my sides and my head pinned to the wall. I was thinking of hurting myself, perhaps killing myself. I wanted to bang my head on the wall, scratch myself til I bled, and generally destroy myself. I couldn't. I was bound. I could not move a muscle, except to sob. After several minutes of this, I felt the Holy Spirit rise up in me and I found a strength I'd never experienced before. Suddenly the evil which had held me for 10 years was evident. I could see it for what it was and I wanted to fight it, to defeat it. I began to renounce satan, rebuke him, plead the blood of Jesus, and generally war against the evil one. I was able now to move, and I lifted my hands to the Lord and committed myself to him. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1O YEARS, I KNEW I HAD A SOUND MIND. I knew without a doubt that my depression was gone. GONE! I knew that in a matter of about 15 minutes, Christ had won for me the battle, and I was done with antidepressants, self-abuse, and a host of other traps I had been stuck in. I felt freedom that I have never known. Praise be to God, I am free, and never will I walk the ugly road of depression again. Satan has lost his power over me. My behavior since then has done a 180. I am still working on controlling my emotions, being patient with the children, etc, but I haven't had one blowup or tantrum since. I am able to function like a normal human being, and able to call upon the Lord when I need him, rather than turning my frustration and anger on myself, which is what satan had me doing for much of my life (even before antidepressants.) Daily I am amazed at how numb I used to be. I am able to enjoy my children, enjoy life, keep my house up, keep up with the organization required for school, home, and small business. I am an entirely different person. I am God's child, in a way I've never known before. All Praise to Him who Reigns above!!!

Setting Captives Free

Just want to let you all in on a wonderful secret I've found. It's at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. If you struggle with an addiction of any kind, this is the place to go. It is a Christ centered site with Bible studies (complete with live mentors) to help people overcome the slavery in their lives. I am currently enrolled in The Lord's Table course, and I'm finding freedom I've never known. Check it out. . . even if you don't need it, chances are you know someone who could benefit. Blessings to you all.

The Joy of my life

My friends were right. . . blogging is addicting. It's a great place to journal. I suppose I should print the blogs, too, so I don't lose them in cyber space someday with the wrong press of a button. . . I've been known to do such things. Our baby is the Joy of my life. Her name is Linnea Joy, and she's growing so fast. It makes me happy to see her milestones, but sad at the same time. She is 14 months, and not quite walking. I like that. She's not in a hurry to grow up and that's something her mother can appreciate. She is deciding whether or not she should continue to nurse. Some days she nurses, other days she doesn't. This is hard on Mama in more ways than one!! :o) She doesn't talk yet, but has those wonderful baby squeals, giggles, and today she learned to roar. Somehow, every baby I've had is the cutest baby that ever lived. . . that is until the next one comes along. They all get a chance to be the star of the show and the center of Mama's heart. Praise you, Lord, for giving me the gift of children, and today I thank you particularly for my darling Nea. Bless her as she grows.

With winter comes home renovation. My dear husband is working currently on finishing our living room. He has been putting up trim, making a built in video cabinet, refinishing hardwood, etc. The finishing touch will be pictures of our family, done in sepia, and mounted behind the glass in an old 9 pane barn window. He has been playing around with the camera, and here is one of the cute pictures he took today. If only we'd taken the date stamp off. . . it kinda kills the old time appeal, don't you think? Anyway, this gives you an idea. And, if you haven't seen our children in awhile, here they are. . .

Puppies!

One of my "new" businesses is raising dogs. I say "new" because I used to raise dogs 5 years or so ago, until I had to choose between caring for the babies and caring for the dogs. I made the wise choice. :o) Now, the Lord has opened up a wonderful opportunity for me to begin again. I am raising Papillons and Chihuahuas. My children love the business, but have difficulty getting ahold of the "come and go" of it. They get attached to every little critter I have. If they had their way, we'd never sell a pup and soon be overrun. My first pup is ready to sell now. He is a Papitese (papillon/maltese) that the girls named "Baptist." *grin* They thought Christian names would be best, and somehow that won the toss. My next litter will be ready at the end of this month. Their mom, Rainbow, lost 2 pups, and the girls named the remaining 3 after the verse that says "these three remain. . ." So, their names are Faith, Hope, and Love. The verse also says that "the greatest of these is Love" and the girls figure Faith and Hope must be a little bit jealous. :o)

Start at the bloginning. . .

Hello. So, here's my first shot at a blog. I remember the first time I ever heard about blogs. . . I thought it was pronounced b-log. Ha. I'm getting more savvy all the time! I decided to try blogging because I love to write, and I love to putz on the computer. Blogging is better than ebay because it's free. :o) My husband likes that. So, bear with me as I figure this thing out, and I'll try not to bore y'all with my ramblings. . .
Blessings. . .