My girls....

Today was a "girls only" day! While Ron & Ronnie did their "guy things", myself and my 3 darling daughters went thrifting!

Thru out the day, for some reason, I was more aware than usual how very DIFFERENT my daughters all are! It is a little difficult to tell with my little Anna, how she will be as a young woman, but since she takes so much after Sara in most ways (and yet uniquely "Anna"!), I will be curious as to her oldest sister's influence on her in the future.

Meghan, as the eldest, is very mature, an "old soul" so to speak. She loves anything old-fashioned...vintage. Meghan also is very domestic...she loves anything having to do with homemaking, and is very good at these things, as well! Meghan is very creative in the 'domestic arts'...that, her writing, and her beloved piano are how she expresses herself creatively. Meghan tends to "mother" everyone...a trait that is very much like her mother! She also tends to be a little bit of a 'perfectionist'...and is harder on herself than anyone. Her style is traditional and feminine.

Sara, my 2nd daughter, is SO MUCH like me!!! She is a 'rebel',(very much like me!) ...highly intelligent, and always has to know "why"....very imaginative and playful. Sara
is also very creative, making bead jewelery, writing beautiful song lyrics and poems, loves to worship dance and has a great eye for color. Her personal style is very 'eclectic'...playful and funky...very Sara! Sara is still finding areas where her creativity flows....actually, Meghan & I both are as well! I guess you can always find new ways to be creative.

My Anna....my little 5 year old girl. She, as well, is ME!!! She never walks...she skips, dances, bounces and twirls thru life right now....with her own individual sense of style...she really is getting better at matching! LOL She is now very into coloring...planning her own colors rather than "following the pattern"...she, too, is very much like her mother. :)

We had a nice time today, talking, singing...checking out a few things at Michael's as well.

I'm finding that each one of my girls needs something different from me, as their mother. (of course, my son does, too....but as the only boy here, he treated "manly" to begin with from all of us) But, no matter what age they are, they all seem to need Mom's approval (I know I still like my mom's approval) ...even if I don't agree with some of their choices in colors or styles....they need to know that I accept their individual likes/dislikes and sense of style. (of course, well within our modesty expectations for our daughters)

On my journey of mothering for the past 16 1/2 years, one of the things I was thinking of today was how the Lord created each one so special and unique. Even though Anna is very much like Sara, she is not completely like Sara...and I see little bits of each one of my daughters in each other....and a lot of myself in each one. I am so grateful to have these precious daughters!!! Knowing how quickly Meghan & Sara are growing up and will probably be gone within a short time, sometimes make me think about what a short time I have with all of my children and what eternal truths does the Lord want me to teach them....what skills and lessons have eternal value? They say more is 'caught' than 'taught'...and I hope that all of my children will learn from observing me that the Lord showers grace on sinners...and since no one is perfect, to imitate the only one who IS....Jesus...to walk in His ways, and to be grateful for His love and forgiveness everyday. Thank you, Lord, for these precious gifts of my children! ~Sue~

Do your Best!

Tonight was the annual Cubscout Blue & Gold banquet for Pack 215. It was also a celebration of 100 years of scouting in America. It was a wonderful celebration and our whole family attended!

One of the reasons that it was so special, is that my husband, Ron, was a cubscout and then a boyscout when he was young...now Ronnie is following in his footsteps. They teach so many lessons...duty to God, duty to country, obeying the laws of the pack, service, teamwork, leadership...as well as lots of wonderful 'hands-on' skills, survival skills and good old-fashioned fun! Last year, for Ronnie's first year, Ron & I were den leaders. This year, we help out by opening our home for all the den meetings, and helping in any way that we can. I especially love the "Father and Son" memories that are made!

Lot's of great friendships are made along with fun memories for the boys. Ronnie and his friend, Caleb, seem to have forged a special friendship over this past year.

The skit this year had the boys being "indian" braves, pounding on drums, and honoring the pack chief, who will be moving onto boyscouts and a new pack chief will be taking over...my good friend, Diane.

Wolf Den #10!!!!

~Way to go, guys! Lots more fun and adventure awaits us in the future! ~

Mother.....

My "Best Friend" just got back from being out of town for 9 weeks....my mother. Oh, how I've missed her! She is my biggest 'cheerleader'...my children's biggest fan. The older we both get, the more we have in common and like to do together and share. I'm grateful that she is not living 11 1/2 hours away anymore, but is only about an hour away...but I wish it were only 10 minutes! Today, we spent the whole day with my mom and step-dad. What a relaxing, fun time we all had! Simple luncheon when we arrived, the little ones played, Ron was able to relax and watch a Dean Martin Variety show with my step-dad and laugh a lot....Mum and I lay on her bed talking and laughing....sharing books we love, and catching up. They will be leaving soon for another vacation, but will be back in Pittsburgh after that. Looking forward to a fun summer visiting with them! My mom....I missed her a lot while she was gone!

She made one of my favorite meals...the one usually reserved only for my birthday....her famous "chicken bucket" chicken! I helped her make it so I can borrow "The Bucket" and make it for my dear friend, Jolyn...yes, Jolyn....I will make it for you!

The best chicken in the world!

She brought Anna back a baby doll that Anna named 'Clara'...and calls her a rub-a-dub dolly.....Anna is so excited!

Buppy picked out marbles for Ronnie and a real sling-shot....he can't wait to target practice outside!
She gave Anna a hair cut....she always used to cut our hair...and still trims mine when she is around.

My wonderful mom and step-dad! We love them so much and are glad they are back from being 'snow birds' in Florida! Of course, they came home to over 2 feet of snow...but after relaxing for 9 weeks...I think it might be refreshing for them! LOL

~My mom and I have always, as long as I remember, had a special relationship. Growing up, she was always there, she fostered our imagination and creativity, my love of books......and as I got older, she was always there for me, no matter what I was doing...and now, we share so many of the same interests, likes and dislikes. The same type of relationship that I want to have with my own daughters...now, and when they have homes of their own. What a wonderful day we all had!

~Thanks for a great day, Mum! Love you very much! ~ Sue

Less 'technology'...more creativity!

Less 'technology'....ever since the weekend, the Lord has been working on me...speaking truth to me and refining me...and I feel as if a fog is lifting...and I'm listening. Today, I quit 'Facebook'...I also unplugged and put away the little laptop from my room. (where I was going to 'retreat' and rest for the past few couple of months...when the exhaustion of sick children got to me, or when I was simply in so much pain and exhaustion myself, that I felt the need to rest) Knowing that feeling the need to rest is not horrible, and with my fibromyalgia and bone spurring in my neck...I WILL have bad days, and need to take it easy...more lessons along those lines another post. So, today, if I needed to rest, I went right over to my little 'corner' of the livingroom and did just that...rested, but with my family around me. My children still had me THERE with them, for a hug/snuggle, to talk to...I was available to them. No matter how I am feeling....they still need me to be available to them. I love to read, research, learn new things....so instead of spending a lot of time on the computer, today I was able to read bits and pieces of the new MaryJane's Farm magazine that arrived....read thru the new "No Greater Joy" magazine that arrived as well....get some great ideas and inspiration from both...and in between knit a little bit more. I was able to talk to my daughters, plan some menus, discuss a myriad of things with my older girls. (you know how young ladies are....so much to talk about, from one subject to another) Then, tonight....make popcorn and watch the Duggar family for 1/2 an hour. What a sweet family! We all enjoy watching their show, seeing their family and praying for their new baby, Josie!

And, as for my 2 little ones....well, they each designed and made a board game! I was able to play Ronnie's lego game...then Anna's little game...she told me it had no rules, and that whatever I landed on, she would tell me all about it! LOL What fun!

Don't get me wrong.... I think some technology is wonderful...electricity and running water, for sure! I do like researching on the internet, blogging as a creative writing outlet, and I do love the idea of skype...can't wait to talk to my niece in Italy and our dear friends in Africa....but, I still LOVE 'snail mail'...the girls and I still send letters and little cards in the mail frequently and now Ronnie and Anna are starting it, too. There is just something about the written word....something about a blank piece of paper or a journal that gets my thoughts flowing onto the paper....and something to pass on to my children and grandchildren.

Now....if I can re-set my internal clock, after all of this sickness...early to bed, early to rise...I can get up early tomorrow for some quiet time with God's word and my journal....2 things that I would not want to live without! I can live without facebook....but spending time with my family, and having visits face to face is so much more precious to me, than a minutes thought many times thru out the day! Do any of you have a love/hate relationship with technology too? So blessed to be able to share our lives thru this blog, with photos and memories of our days and with our loved ones. Now, I'm off to probably dream that I am back living in the prairie times! LOL Grateful for the blessings that I have......~Sue~

Chicken Nut Puffs....

We've been trying a lot of new and different recipes lately in light of trying to be as frugal, creative and healthy as we can...so we made these for lunch the other day and served them with a bunch of veggies....these were so good!

The origional recipe, above, is from Taste of Home magazine...and we simply used GF brown rice flour in place of the white (wheat) flour. These were made in no time!

Anyone else out there trying new healthy, frugal recipes? I especially love when my daughters get excited about trying new recipes...a couple of new ones coming this week that they are trying out. I love when my daughters cook, they are such a blessing!

Comfort.....

~Today, the Lord taught me a great lesson on 'comfort'. The equal importance of giving comfort and receiving comfort. The analogy was used that comfort comes from God thru Jesus to us...and then, out of us to others. (for more notes on this sermon, please see my daughter Meghan's blog at justasiam-meghan.blogspot.com )

Among the many lessons that I am absorbing today, is not having to always be 'strong'...to receive the Lord's comfort, to rest in His love...and His plan for me each day.

And...in so doing, I have thought a good deal today on extending that 'comfort'...that 'grace' to my children. My goodness, parenting is hard! LOL
I think we, as parents, need to walk such a fine line between not being consistent to discipline and curb those 'heart issues'....sin issues...and wanting (oh, with my whole heart!) to overlook, extend grace and comfort....and yet...without consistency, these issues can rage out of control.

With the winter we've been having around here...illness for 10 weeks, myself being sick and exhausted...I've found myself overlooking a lot of behavior that should not be overlooked. I've found myself not being consistent with discipline or in a routine...and I see where that is so necessary! But...my mother's heart is to comfort, to laugh and enjoy my children....so I've found myself crying out to the Lord today for guidance as just how to do that. To teach them, to have a workable routine around here, to be consistent with my children...and to laugh more with them, to comfort them more (it is hard to learn to die to self...to surrender their wills)...to extend grace more. Just to listen to their struggles, and to sympathize more....not necessarily try and fix them.

As God is pouring out His comfort on me, thru my wonderful savior, Jesus...so I should be a conduit of His grace and comfort first to my family...then, letting it flow out to those around me...extended family, friends, neighbors, church family...and to any hurting heart who needs comfort and hope.

So, for this mom....I will be learning to 'rest in His comfort' more...to extend that comfort and grace to my hard-working husband and wonderful children...and to be still...and listen to His voice, and know that He is God...my God of all comfort! ~Sue~

Showers of blessings....

"I will send down showers in season, there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26 I am so unworthy of so many showers of blessings...and lately, I've been feeling a little 'blue'...I suppose I could blame it on the never-ending coughs and illnesses going around here....or the 40+ inches of snow this month...or no sunshine....or just being tired, but lately, the Lord has been showering me with blessings....and using my friends and family to do that.

The above picture of my CUTE red tea kettle was a surprise gift today from a friend...and it whistles, too! She surprised me with the gift of a visit today, along with this tea kettle and some special flavored tea. (tonight, it is decaf. chocolate hazelnut when the little ones go to bed!) Then...a couple of hours later, she returned with 2 big bags of 'goodies' for me. One huge turkey carcass for me to make soup out of, 3 ham bones and (best of all) 3 huge ORGANIC, grass fed beef roasts! They are not her favorite cuts of meat, and she knows they are MY favorites...so she blessed me! (Thanks, Rhonda!) Wow! I am still shaking my head in awe!

Yesterday, the elderly neighbor across the street from us and I were talking when he said "Hold on....I have something for you"...so he brought out the above new gardening book for us! He said it is his favorite book and wanted us to have one...then proceeded to tell me the best way to put our gardens in this year and expand them. He is such a blessing to us! He will 89 on his next birthday, and we are all grateful for his friendship.

Recently, I had commented that my food processor had broken and I really missed it...and a friend of a friend read the blog, and gave us a Cuisinart food processor! I love it so much and have used it daily since then! (Thanks, Dianne!) I had also blew the safety valve on my pressure cooker, and another friend (Thanks, Jolyn!) brought a brand new one no one was using! Add to that a friend from church who regularly gives us bags and bags of dried beans (Thanks, Jill!) and family members (Thanks, Lor!) who save us ham bones (with lots of meat on them) , pass along coats (Thanks, Pam!) and clothes to my kids, and parents who like to 'treat' us....and I am overwhelmed with God showering blessings on us!

I feel as if He is showing us, once again, that He will always provide! He will provide for our needs AND bless us with special reminders of His love and care of us.

Even though we are going on week 10 of sick little ones...and we are going to have 3-6 more inches of snow AND high winds...I can see the sunshine...I can see light at the end of this tunnel....Ronnie and Anna are improving, Ron is amazingly calm and trusting in the midst of job uncertainty, Meghan & Sara are working so hard and helping so much....I am so blessed! I thank an amazing God for my many blessings...blessings of family, friendships and His love and provision! Thank you, Lord!!!

Evenings with Victoria Botkin

I'm posting this as an entry to a contest to win this that Joyfully Home is sponsoring