My Little Boy Is 5!

Happy Birthday Jeffrey James!  It's hard to believe you are already 5.  A whole hand old.  You are growing really quickly.  Thank you for being such a hard worker.  For being a helper.  For seeing what needs to be done. 

I'm looking forward to celebrating with you today, and spending much more time together in the years to come. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures of my favorite five year old!

JJ's first profile...20 weeks in the womb.

He always is up for a challenge.  Here he is pulling Daddy and Ellie in the wagon.

Jeffrey loves all things tractors.  He's helping Grandpa test drive this one before deciding to bring it home.

Sleep is not his favorite part of the day--but he is such a cutie when he does!

Ready to save the world, or at least his house from danger.  He can squish stink bugs and swat flies.  It's Captain America...Jeff style!

Ellie and Jeff....never a dull moment on Grouse Creek!

Digging at a favorite park.

Crossing the log bridge he helped to build.  

His first picture as a five year old--enjoying the first snow of the season.  God's answer to Jeffrey's praying.

Lazy Learner

On Sunday, I became convicted that my time with God was becoming just a box to check off my daily schedule. I've been asking the Lord for wisdom and guidance, and yesterday felt compelled to learn more about studying His word. I'm very thankful for what I learned!

I started in 2 Timothy 2:15.  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The word study is the one that's been getting me in trouble.  I was READING God's word.  I was not STUDYING God's word.  There's a big difference.

With my handy Strong's Concordance, I looked up the word study.  It was 4704.  In the Greek, it means to make effort, to be prompt or earnest, and to be diligent.  In my hurry to read my four chapters a day and check off the boxes, I had lost sight of the effort part.  And the diligent part.  And pretty much the whole meaning of the word. 

I was a lazy learner.  Doing a quick reading meant that I had no idea just a short time later what I had read.  It reminded me of myself in high school and college.  I maintained a great average--4.0 average with my master's degree. But I don't think I actually learned anything.  I certainly didn't put out much effort.

High school vocabulary tests were a joke.  I would review all of the words, meanings and spelling a few minutes before class.  I'd take and usually ace the test.  And then I'd forget.  Everything.  I didn't put forth the effort needed to actually learn.  I didn't really study. 

All the way through college it was the same.  I think I can count on a single hands the number of times I actually cracked open a textbook to study.   I look at all the knowledge I could have gained.  But I chose to be a lazy learner instead.  I did the bare minimum for me to get the grade I desired.  Looking at my transcripts, you'd think I worked hard.  I didn't.  And my bad habits continued into my time with the Lord.  Until He opened my eyes to my laziness.  My sin. 

I studied two verses yesterday.  Just two.  But I learned and remember and reflected a whole lot more than I ever did reading chapters at at time.  I'm still learning.  Still trying to break bad habits.  I'm sure it will take a while.  But I'm so excited to actually be studying God's word.



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Checking the Boxes

Sunday's sermon hit home with me.  We have special fall meetings next week, and our Pastor was preaching a message on preparing our hearts for revival.  He was going through several questions that we should ask ourselves, and challenged us to make changes as necessary.

The area of prayer and studying God's word was what I needed to hear.  I think I've tried to read the Bible in a year annually for the past four or five years.  I always give up part way through though.  This year is the longest I've made it--we're into November now and I'm still on track. The plan I'm using has me read through the Old Testament once, and the New Testament and Psalms twice.

So how is that a problem?  I just admitted that for the first time in years, I'm actually on track to read the whole Bible in a year.  That's not a problem...that's progress! 

But...I've really just been reading to check the box so to speak.  I'm reading on my phone this year using an app.  It's been very useful at helping me remember where I am in my plan.

I read my four chapters a day, and hit the done icon.  A beautiful green check mark appears, and I move on with my day.  Done.  Most of the time I don't actually remember what it was that I read. 

This quick style reading is doing nothing to help me grow spiritually.  Reading the Bible has become a chore to check off instead of a quiet time reflecting on God's word.  I was convicted of that yesterday, and felt lead to change my path.

I'm going to stop with my reading plan app and go back to some old school study.  Four chapters a day is too much at this point in my life to study, so I'll be cutting back. That means I will not be finishing the Bible in a year in 2013.  And I'm okay with that. 

 Actually, I don't even want to set a number.  I want to study as much as I can, and actually remember what I read.  I want to spend the rest of the day reflecting quietly on the truths I've gained.

I'll be digging out our Strong's Concordance and a real Bible (not an app).  That will help me to take notes more easily without having to switch screens.  I'm excited to feel excited about God's word again.  I don't want to just be checking boxes.  I want to grow.

I also was  convicted of the need to spend more time in prayer.  The kids and I pray during our Bible times, and before meals.  But it feels like it's also become a chore--we do it because we know we should...it's not necessarily something we enjoy.

We have the power to go directly to the throne of God through the work Jesus did on the cross. We are called to bring our burdens and praises to the Lord.  And He answers!!! Why is this not something I've been rejoicing about?  How did God become a daily chore?  

My attitude has not just been wrong.  This is a major area of sin in my life.  I needed to confess it, and now I'm asking God to help me change.  I want to enjoy learning more about God.  I want my children to develop a healthy attitude towards God so they can be lead closer to the Savior who they need.  I want to change!I don't want to be a lazy learner any more.

If you know of any good resources that go through good old fashioned study, or have your own routine that works, I'd love for you to share.  I don't know that I've ever really taken the time to really dig.  I'm looking forward to all the nuggets I'm sure the Lord will help me uncover!

Linking to: Raising Arrows

Friday's Lunch Menu

Friday is Jayme's day.  When I made my repeating breakfast and lunch menu, she got to pick breakfast and lunch options for the day.  She picked omelets for breakfast, and mashed potatoes, meat gravy and corn for lunch.  Yum!  This is one of my favorite lunch meals:

 It's a great way to use up any leftover meat from the week.  Chicken, turkey. tuna and ground beef all work well.  Peeling the potatoes takes a little time, but I have some great helpers!  While the potatoes are  boiling, I  just make a simple white sauce and stir the meat in. Organic frozen corn is an easy addition.

We keep freezer bags of cooked chicken and turkey in the freezer, which I can grab for this meal if I don't have leftovers.  By utilizing already cooked meat, this meal is really simple to make.

What'd you have for lunch today? 

Our Cowboy Adventure

Last Friday we went on a Pirate Adventure. Today's Fall Friday Adventure was a cowboy theme.  We donned cowboy hats and headed out into the woods.

 After a quick brainstorming session, we had a list of five items we were hoping to find:

1. Pistol (gun shaped stick)

2. Long Rifle (longer gun shaped stick)

3. Gold nuggets (wood chips or yellowish hued rocks)

4. Lasso (bailing twine)

5. Gold Pan (large, thick piece of bark to hold our nuggets)

We set off down a different path than last week.  Pirates and Cowboys don't use the same road after all! Jeffrey decided we needed to bring along his little wheelbarrow.  He found this in the junk pile a few weeks ago, and it just got outfitted with a new tire..

Here's Jeff with a wheelbarrow full of goodies.  He is standing on a big pile of gold! :)

Ellie found a great long rifle!  Sydney discovered a pistol.  It was so much fun looking through the different sticks and finding the shapes we wanted.

Simon decided it was time to eat, so we made our way to a beautiful clearing.  The kids played in the woods and made a home between the trees. They "cooked" up some mighty good grub!

Here is the main dish that Jayme made me.  The red leaf is the special ingredient. 

After Simon was finished, we hiked back home.  It was an enjoyable adventure!

Busy Kitchen Morning

Wow!  It was a productive morning!.  Yesterday was a crazy day (unanticipated trip to Spokane to take Owen to the ENT), and since everyone was tired, I decided to let the kids sleep in.  No school today!

With a quiet house, I took to the kitchen to see what I could whip up to help us get ahead in the kitchen.  I bought a can of pumpkin on sale while I was in town, and wanted to put it to use. I haven't made much with pumpkin before and wanted to give some recipes a test run before I stock up my pantry.

I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins as a treat for breakfast.  The kids have been wanting muffins.  My aunt Margie gave us some cool shaped Flexipans and I wanted to use them.  Thanks Margie!  The kids loved their star shaped muffins!

 From the muffin batter, I also made a dozen in a regular muffin pan.  These went into the freezer for our breakfast next Friday when we head out on a shopping expedition.

Bagels are Jayme's choice for snack on her day (Fridays).  Since we didn't have any left in the freezer, I made another double batch.  I leave out the wheat gluten, and use half white whole wheat and half all purpose flour to make these.

I got 25 bagels this time.  I froze two bags of 8, and kept 9 out.  Jayme loves them spread with butter.  I prefer homemade yogurt cheese.  Yum! Now I don't have to make these again for a few weeks.

Since we'll be butchering again at the end of the month, it's time to start using up the rest of my soup bones from the freezer.  I started two packs boiling in water to make some beef bone broth for the freezer.  That will come in handy for cooking rice, making soup or creating a cream soup base. I use my bones twice, so I'll get some broth in the freezer today.

Since the oven was already hot, and I had pumpkin left from our muffins, I thought chocolate chip pumpkin cookies were a necessity.  With the one batch, I got a ton of cookies!  I baked 4 dozen (two to take to my parent's tonight for Pizza Night!).  I put 1 dozen unbaked in the freezer to bring to my mom's after she has foot surgery next Friday.  And I put 1.5 dozen in the freezer unbaked to take to a church potluck later in the month. 

With just an hour and a half of active work, I was able to get ahead in the kitchen.  What are your favorite ways to do that?

Memory Hymns 2013-2014

Songs to Memorize for the 2013-2014 school year: 

Each month the kids and I work on memorizing a hymn from our church's hymnal.  Since the hymnal is divided up into sections, we decided to try for one song from each section over the next few years.  

We sing our hymn of the month every morning and evening during Bible Time.  By the end of the month, most of the kids are able to sing it all. If we need help with the tune, we use You Tube.  It's been very helpful! 

Throughout each month, we review songs that we've already learned to keep the words memorized. 

Here are the hymns we are tackling this year:

September: Worship Section

Brethen, We Have Met to Worship

October: The Trinity Section

Holy, Holy, Holy

November: God’s Majesty and Power Section

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

December: Christ’s Birth Section

 How Great Our Joy

January: God’s Grace Section

Amazing Grace

February: Jesus Christ Section

Blessed Be the Name

March: The Cross Section

The Old Rugged Cross

April: Jesus’ Resurrection Section

 In the Garden

May: 2^nd Coming Section

 Maybe Today

June: The Word of God Section

Wonderful Words of Life

July: Life in Christ Section

I Want to Be Faithful

We'll select new songs at the end of July next year.  It's a great way to be able to sing praises to God!