Our week, January 20 to January 26, 2013

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Sunday was a busy church day for us.  The girls and I had nursery duty.  We also helped serve coffeetime, visited for a few minutes with our marriage speaker from the day before, and then I had to teach Sunday School.  Ephraim also had to sing with his class for both services.  The photo is of his group singing while I watched from the nursery tv.  

Monday, January 21, 2013

Monday was a State holiday for me.  My sister also had the day off and her children didn't have school.  It was a great day to get together at her house and make freezer meals!  From about 10:30 until 3pm we worked in the kitchen.  We made 4 Creamy Chicken Casseroles, 4 Chicken Roll-Up meals, 4 Pizza Burgers and 4 Roasts in marinade.  And then we finished up with 90 Twice-Baked Potatoes.  The photo above is just the half that I came home with.  

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I just finished this book, Last Man Out.   It's a true story about an Iowa man who survived as a Prisoner of War in WWII.  What a story.  I think it is important to read something like this so that we don't forget the horrors, the wickedness of war.  Many of the men at this prison camp didn't survive and they were tortured beyond comprehension.  At times, it was a difficult book to read.  We need to be thankful for the men who have fought for our country and we cannot forget them or their sacrifices.   

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

With some freezing temperatures outside, it has be the boys' job to make sure the cattle waterer doesn't freeze during the day.  A couple times a day we go out to check it.  We break the ice if it is frozen and pour hot water on it.  

Thursday, January 24, 2013

A new look for our living room window.  Previously, we've had the shades and a valance.  Well, after our recent "incident" I wanted something with a bit more privacy over the window.  Something to cover the cracks between the shades.  I was lucky enough to find some sheer curtains in the same color as the shades at the Pella Thrift Store for $8.  Sweet.  

Friday, January 25, 2013

Our American History unit has us reading about the Pilgrims right now.  The children are loving it and I'm learning some new stuff, too.  I found some online crafts for the children to do.  So far we've mapped the Mayflower route, built a ship, studied the New World/Old World and built an Indian Village and an English Village.  

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Ephraim on the ice.  Yes, I was a bit nervous but we drilled the ice to see how thick it was and we were safe.  He wasn't doing anything too crazy and he kept the 4-wheeler under control the whole time. You can't see the edge but it's just to the left of the 4-wheeler and he never went out in the middle.  Meanwhile . . . 

. . . . Emmet lighting a fire around the pond.  Yes, I was a bit nervous but the adult/child ratio was 1:1 so we were safe here, too.  Overall, it was a pleasant January day to be outside.  We just spent the afternoon at Seth's parents so we could feed cows and light the fire around the pond.  

Farewell

Friday, January 4, 2013 was the funeral visitation for Seth's Grandpa Elmer.  It was a full two hours of shaking hands, receiving hugs and talking with many friends, family, church members and neighbors.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day . . . " 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

A nice bouquet of flowers from Elmer's only living sibling, Marvin.  

I took more pictures at the visitation, but mostly to send to faraway family members who couldn't be present.  If you are one of those, and you want the pictures, let me know.  I did put them together in a memory photo book for Elizabeth, Marvin and Arlin.  I can always order more.  Taking pictures at a visitation and funeral seems a bit unorthodox, but I wanted to remember the moment.  I wanted my children to have something to look back on and remember.  

After the visitation, the family was able to enjoy a meal together.  Here is Paul reading some emails from faraway cousins who wrote about their memories with "Uncle Elmer" and the farm.

The funeral was very fitting and gave the glory to God for Elmer's life.

"Elmer was good to his faith and it was good to him.  Elmer was good to his family and his family was good to him.  Elmer was good to the farm and the farm was good to him."

A yummy luncheon with cousins.  

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . ."  Psalm 37: 3-7.  

Michelle played the prelude and postlude on the organ.  

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children . . ."  Psalm 103:17

At the cemetery.  Saturday, January 5, 2013 was a chilly day with a south wind.  Elmer will be buried by his parents and his brother/sister-in-law.  They have one tombstone for the six of them.  

Good-lookin' brothers!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  Matthew 5:8

Eliza was pretty smitten by the plant with the birdie.  Thankfully, it was from Grandma Donna's work and she allowed us to take it home.  

Seth and I.  

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8.  

We were able to come home with some roses and wheat from the casket spray.  

Crashing on Grandma's couch for a bit after an exhausting weekend.  

The Bible verses are all ones that were mentioned during the funeral.  

I wanted to be able to remember them, so yes, I took notes.  

Grandpa lived a good, long life and he is enjoying his eternal reward in heaven now.  He left some big shoes to fill for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but we're up to the challenge.  

He left a legacy of faith, family, love and stewardship.  

We'll forever carry with us special memories of Grandpa Elmer.    

2 pictures from Saturday

The children spent the day with my parents on Saturday, the 19th, while Seth and I were helping host a marriage conference at our church.  My mom took these two pictures.  

The boys with their new scarves that Grandma Twyla made for them.  

Eden & Eliza have had scarves made by Grandma Twyla for a year or more.  Ephraim saw the use for one and asked for one.  And in typical Emmet fashion, what Ephraim wants, so does Emmet.  The boys got to pick their own colors and were pleased with the result!

Also, they had fun playing in the snow in the ditch.  They were able to make a snowman!

Our week: January 13 to January 19, 2013

Sunday, January 13, 2013

We celebrated Christmas and Grandpa Gene's 90th Birthday on Sunday, previously blogged about.  

Monday, January 14, 2013

I received a jumbo muffin pan for Christmas.  We've wasted no time in using it every week.  Our favorites have been banana muffins and pumpkin muffins.
Monday night we had Bible Study so the children stayed with Seth's parents.  Tuesday my dad watched them while Donna filled an extra shift at the hospital for a friend.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Part of the boys' chores during the day is to feed the two cows we are raising for beef.  Seth tells them how much to give them and the boys take care of it.  

On this day, I was also able to enjoy lunch with a friend from the Extension Office.  We're putting together an evening class on freezer meals!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

We've had some unseasonably warm January weather.  Emmet's weather station he got for Christmas is a good indicator to the children whether they can go outside or not.  If it's warm enough, which it has been, then they go out for recess.  Their favorite activity is climbing and traipsing on the bales.  

Thursday, January 17, 2013 

Playing a dice game with Emmet, working on his Math skills. 

Also on this night, I took a class on the basics of protecting my family and property.  It was informative, to say the least.  It was 3 1/2 hours long and the class was packed with others who are obviously concerned about protecting themselves from others.  

 Friday, January 18, 2013

Back to that warm weather . . . am I really hanging clothes on the line in January?

January 19, 2013

I made cinnamon rolls for a marriage conference.  

We had Bob Moeller speak at our church in March of 2008.  He's come out with some new material and we invited him back.  We are glad that we did!  His non-profit marriage ministry is For Better, For Worse, For Keeps.    He spoke all day on "How to be Really Married."  He talked about how to talk to each other, how to become one, how to woo her heart and how to steal her heart.  I think we all came away with some ways to make a good marriage better.

Thanks to Bob Moeller for the conference and for speaking in church on Sunday, too!  Check out his website, get signed up for their weekly emails or follow his wife Cheryl's blog.  They're also due to have a devotional book out in just a couple weeks.  I'm sure you'll like what they have to say.  

Our week: January 6 to Jan 12, 2013

Sunday, January, 2013

The uncles & aunts on my mom's side.  We had our yearly gathering on Sunday for lunch.  It was a smaller group this year, but we still had a good time visiting while the children . . . 

. . . had fun playing together!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Playing a round of UNO before bed.  Notice the children's elaborate shields to hide their cards (books on end). 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

We have 5 of our own cats.   Four of them are identical and then there is their mom.  Here lately we've had four orange cats show up, like clockwork, at supper time.  They aren't very tame but they're less skittish than they used to be.  I'm hoping for some cute orange and gray kittens sometime!

The boys also had Clover Kids on this afternoon and made their own butter!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

We had a "home ec" lesson today.  I wanted the children read the recipe, find the right measuring cup and do the mixing.  They really enjoyed it and the results.  They've always been quick to help in the kitchen but it was time to give them more responsibility.  It was a new cookie recipe and it passed with flying colors!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

By Thursday, this is all that was left of the cookies!

Friday, January 11, 2013

By January 11, I decided it was time to take down the Christmas tree, don't you think.  I was thinking I must be the last one to take ours down but quickly found out that is not the case.  My sister still had hers up!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

This Saturday found us in our local town at a swim meet for my nephew.  He's new to the competitive swim circuit but is doing well!  We watched him in two races and then left. 

He was in one relay race and one solo race.  

It was fun to watch him but crowd seating at this location was less than ideal :/  Maybe we'll get to see him swim again!

90th Birthday & Ferguson Christmas

Seth's Mom's side had their yearly Christmas gathering on January 13.  It was also a 90th Birthday celebration for Grandpa Gene.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch of hamballs, cheesy potatoes and a potluck of salads!

Happy 90th Birthday Gene from your family with love.  

Grandpa Gene with his daughters Donna & Janet and son Paul.  

Grandpa Gene with his grandchildren (left to right, front:  Michelle, Grandpa & Paul.  Middle: Holden, Hunter & Heston.  Back:  Mike, Kurt, Karl, BJ, Seth & Levi).  

Grandpa & the grandchildren & great-grandchildren:

(Left to right, front:  Michelle, Mark, Grandpa, Eden, Paul &  Eliza.  Middle:  John, Gideon, Cody, Johnathan, Holden, Hunter, Emmet, Heston, Ephraim.  Back:  Rachel, Adalli, Mike, Kurt, Karl, BJ & Natalie, Seth, Levi with Addi & Evie).  

We had a talent show.  The boys and I played the Doxology on the bells.  The boys also told jokes and recited the books of the Bible.  Others played instruments, recited Bible passages or told jokes.  

Here's Ephraim and Emmet telling a couple jokes.  

What's a sharks favorite game?  Swallow the leader.

What does a lazy dog do for fun?  Chase parked cars!

Donna playing the accordion.  

(Oh, I hope she's not mad at me for posting this.  I've been in the family for 15 years and didn't know she had this talent!)

Donna playing "Ol' Susanna on the accordion while Arlin & the girls do some hand actions!

It was a nice afternoon of fellowship and food and family.  We don't always see everyone on a regular basis so it is nice to catch up and chat.

Psalm 100:5  "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Ornaments--Truth in the Tinsel

Here's a quick look at what we did for our Advent devotions each day.  I do not have a picture for each devotional.  I know, hard to imagine, but true.  

For each day leading up to Christmas we did a devotion from Truth in the Tinsel.  If you Google it or look on Pinterest, you'll find it.  It is available for a small fee, but I think I got mine for free somehow.  It is a devotional that breaks down the Christmas story to one character or object each day.  There is also a suggested craft for each day.  

We did Sculpey (baked play-dough) for a nativity scene.  Ephraim spent a lot of time on his wise men, there on the left.  The ones on the right are Eden & Eliza's.  The brown one in the middle is Emmet's camel.  You also see the angels from toilet paper tubes. The wings are their hand prints.   

Josephs on the left, Shepherds in the middle and Jesus name boards on the right.

A Sunday night craft of painting toilet paper tubes for a crown. 

Making angels with paper and jingle bells.  

Getting a wee bit silly!

We hung the ornaments on garland in our doorway.

Our Zechariah ornaments

Cutting felt for Mary made from a clothespin.

Gluing beads on old discs to symbolize Mary's song to God.

Many thanks to neighbor Lee for the pill bottles full of sequins!

The boys hanging their ornaments.  

Our Christmas countdown that shows each item for the day.  This was also printed from Truth in the Tinsel.  Check it out if you're looking for something like this for your children during Advent.