Roger & Rosaleen's Overseas Adventure

Tender Mercies

2012-01-31T17:08:00.000-08:00

~ In a table top plot tender mercies rise in violet wonder ~

Groceries

2012-01-26T08:45:00.000-08:00

Every Family has adifferent method of grocery shopping; you would think my main goal would be to simply purchase food. Not so my friends it is to KEEP LACHLAN AWAY from all stores! Seeingas we are thirty-five minutes to the closest Super-Store, a fifty minute drivefrom the Health food store and an hour to Costco, lopping Lachlan into traveland shopping, well let me just say our weekly grocery shopping brought out the ‘bestin me’! While living abroad we wouldshop and take a years’ worth of dry goods into one shipment. I learnt exactlywhat our families food needs were and decided to do the same thing here onCanadian soil in hopes of avoiding the shops as much as possible. I ordered a years’worth of dry goods from a distributer that supplies health food stores. Bybuying bulk we cut our food costs which afforded room in our food budget topurchase our meats organic and local, in which we bought bulk bringing the meatcost down. A couple times a month Rogerand I buy the produce on our date night ultra-romantic,I know! I store all the bulk food in our basement and restock my small kitchenpantry when needed. It has been such a relief having all my foods on hand despitethe fact that it is an eye sore and most people wonder at my sanity!

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Marriage on Wheels

2012-01-24T12:28:00.000-08:00

Summer rolled into my yard this week

A year ago when we started talking of travel-trailering it

I pictured a beach cottage on wheels

Vintage Delights

The love of my life and banker in this so called holiday venture went slightly cross-eyed at the mention of white-scuffed cabinetry and rose patterned linen

Not only did he go crossed eyed but he ignored every idea I mentioned

He was thinking 'no fuss - no frills' mountain cabin on wheels

So I am giving up on my 'shabby' dreams (bellow pictures) and working on merging our two cottage/cabin dreams into

One happy marriage on wheels.

Lets see what I can come up with!

Face of Perfection

2012-01-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Not wanting to leaveour precious fourth out of last posts family photos

(He was there warmly wrapped in my round belly)

Now six weeks ofperfection

Captured Gold

2012-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Early autumn broughta travelling photographer into our city

She perfectly capturedsome family loving

Now that gifts havebeen given and opened we can finally share these golden moments with you

Visit talent on herpages

BlueLily

Silent Epic

2012-01-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

It had been six weekssince beauty fell from these northern skies.

Brown lied stark acrossour land.

Then a wish was blownfrozen.

A silent epic dazzling from a thousand limbs

These crystals been the longing of my years on the equator

Winter wisps my awed prayers away!

Holiday Touches

2011-12-26T07:13:00.000-08:00

~ Delightful holiday touches fill our home and quite timesseeped the memories ~

~ Praying the holidays are a joy for you and yours ~

~ Merry Christmas ~

Family + Jeriah

2011-12-11T19:52:00.001-08:00

Just a few snaps to capture the new love in our life and of course frame the beauties that have been growing our hearts for some time!

Jeriah Peter Milner

2011-12-05T19:51:00.001-08:00

Winter is falling from the heavens in crystal miracles ~each alive with the unique finger print of a glorious Master. Like lace it garnishes my world, I feel thesestiches of creation’s grace and beauty knitted into the fabric of my heart andthe life of my babe.

Long months ago I wrestled with the loss of a baby. My wholeworld was in the mothering countdown of a precious addition. I longed to carefor a neglected baby, everything Innocent to be nourished by my love. And whenthe adoption fell through I felt I buried my own, when I left Africa I left myheart. I still cry at night wondering if he lives, well and innocent. I wonderif he knows me and my love so far from him.

In the wake of my loss the Lord whispered a breath and ahope into my womb and I loved deeply and fully. I slipped my fears like fingersinto the hands of God asking for the faith to trust him through the vulnerabilityof another mothering experience. And thenone morning I bleed. Hope flooded out of my body. My hours were simplestumbling from one prayer to the next. Later that week we watched a screen andsaw one heart aflutter and another slipped away to heaven. Joy and Grief weremixed equally into that moment.

These months of growing this gracious kiss from heaven Ihave had my life, heart and hopes humbly bowed, knowing that this babes lifewas God’s, requiring of me a full dedication, a complete return of this gift.

In the final days of life hushed inside me, new-life wasplaced on the chest of another Mother, a friend in another city, the only hours givenwere that of a heart failing into the beauty of heaven. God is so fearfully near during pain.

A few nights later my own son arrived, so quickly he wasborn into the hands of his father, the midwives still en-route.

So much peacefilled our home ~ our hearts. God had seen.

He was named with a blessing:

~ God Has Seen ~

~ Jeriah Peter Milner ~

"According to the family tree of the Hebronites, Jeriahheld pride of place. In the fortieth year of David's reign (his last), theHebron family tree was researched and outstanding men were found at Jazer inGilead, namely, Jeriah and 2,700 men of his extended family: David the kingmade them responsible for administration of matters related to the worship ofGod and the work of the king in the territory east of the Jordan—theReubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh."

1 Chronicles 26 : 31-32 The Message

Our gift came, miraculous and perfect!

We are blessed ~ We are humbled!

~ Corner for a Cradle ~

2011-11-19T20:30:00.001-08:00

~ Roger suggested I show up sometime on these pages, kindly informing you sweet friends that travesty has not hit ~

~ Simply tiredness ~

~ I am greatful and highly relieved to share that I finally managed to prepare for my upcoming sweetness ~

~ Still a precious ~ Gender ~ mystery ~

~ Due to lack of space in the other nursery we are tucking this new one into a corner of our master bedroom ~

~ All is ready for this grand anticipation to be replaced with love at first sight ~

~ My endearing midwife visited my home this week and said all was good to birth at home and at anytime now ~

~ Blessed music for this waiting mama’s heart! ~

{ I must admit how much I love this ‘corner for a cradle’. Iknew exactly what I wanted, but could not find those ‘perfect’ pieces anywhereor at least not in my budget! When all my things came from Africa I told myselfto become resourceful and put all this ‘extra’ stuff to good use. The crib beddingwas sewed out of curtains which were used in Africa, the chalk board andbaskets and tins were all items used in our home in Africa, even the cloth hearts were made by my dear friend who lives in Africa, I feel her love and nearness were added to this special space. What we were still in need of I was blessed tofind used. I have always wished for an organic cradle mattress but the steep pricewas never justified, until this fourth baby of mine! A beautiful never usedorganic baby mattress was on kijiji for a quarter of the regular price, thrilledto say the least! I have also found allthe ‘gender neutral’ baby blankets and little outfits organic and gently usedfrom thrift shops and oh so cheap! My heart is full of blessings every time Isee this space it makes me thankful to the Lord for his provision and hismercies sent with the newness of life! }

Ahhh…

2011-10-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

~ Its evening and the hush of babes is to be savoured for a few hours! I have found my seat… finally having a moment to introduce yet another ~ and last of our new pets. Our fluffy sweetness joined us this spring and has been a great asset to the ‘mousy murder rampage’ that takes place on every farm! ~

~ Her name is Moppet ~

~ Like all the animal names on this ‘farm’ we have taken them from the enchanting pages and wonderful imagination of Beatrix Potter. Just yesterday Davina was asking if we will be naming our baby after a Beatrix Potter character! ~

~ Barns ~

2011-10-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

This land provided a great amount of little barns which gave room for a little creativity…

The barns were built on the lowest point of three slopes so they all needed to be lifted and a proper underground drainage system needed to be installed.

We then went about painting them which was coming along great until it rained (a rarity out here) and we found that the roofing was incompetent at keeping moisture out! So new roofs it was!

A chicken run was added with a beautiful handmade gate. The inside of the chicken coup was white-washed, a window and chicken boxes installed, allowing my flock of feathered friends to receive a warmly welcome!

Loads of chips were added to the area pulling everything together just in time for the leaves to cover the area.

I love this space. We have a few ideas of future animals we would like ‘welcome’ to these barns, though I am thinking I will wait until my children can take on the majority of the responsibility! In the mean time I will love to complete this area with touches of charm, a fun thing to plan and look forward to next spring.

Of course the credit of the handy work for the above must be given to my older brother Jason and my Dad, two handymen extraordinaires!

Now that one major project is complete you would think we would breathe for a moment or two but no…

This week our things from Nigeria arrived leaving 117 boxes in the wake! I have unpacked them all but my house looks sadly disarrayed… and we ordered a year’s worth of food from a Natural Food distributor which arrived last night all wanting to be organized! I am praying now that my nesting instincts will kick in full force and I will whip around get everything set in its place!

~ After ~

~ Before ~

~ Flock of Feathers ~

2011-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

~ Ruler of the Roost, Mr. Hunka-Muncka ~

~ Henny Penny ~

~ Cecily Parsley ~

~ PipKin & Mrs. Mumby ~

~ Aunt Pettitoes ~

~ Chippy Hackee ~

~ The hen house where my lovely ladies live and lay ~ governed by their handsome black roaster ~

~ Simply Wonderful Hoilday ~

2011-10-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

~ A Boy and his Pup ~

2011-10-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

~ A Boy ~

~ A Pup ~

~ A Boy and his Pup ~

{A beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retriever joined our growing clan. Chosen specifically for their calm, obedient and Protective nature! Protective as in ‘I pray and hope this Pup will fallow my little guy into every out of reach place he wonders off to’…

Protective as in warding and warning off the Grizzlies, Cougars, Black nuisances that have been frequenting our property these last autumn weeks. Our family christened her Tabitha, I believe I have heard my little guy slip the word "Tabs" more than once out of his generally
none vocal mouth!}

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~ Treats from my Dutch Land ~

2011-10-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

~ The only good that comes from him being away… ~

~ Is the goods he comes home with! ~

~ The Autumn ~

2011-09-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

~ The dearest hands that clasp our hands, Their presence may be o'er; ~

~ The dearest voice that meets our ear, That tone may come no more! ~

~ Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth, Which once refresh'd our mind, ~

~ Shall come - as, on those sighing woods, The chilling autumn wind. ~

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning ~

Back To School

2011-09-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

~ Indicative of the title of this post… I am consumed with my learners and the time it takes to teach ~

~ Weeks ago before school bell ` heralds rang, we celebrated the year ahead ~

~ Took time too inaugurate the first year students ~

~ Refocus the returners ~

~ Christen the year with positive blessings ~

~ Wrap our love and dedication around all these beautiful souls ~

{Oh my, September has been a flash! I am a teacher! A host to my family who are renovating my barn area! Sipping lots of pregnancy tea and watching this belly of mine grow! Sighing eagerly for my husband’s return back to this side of the ocean and gather his hormonal wife in his arms! But all together gratefully praising the Lord for his splendour draped in autumn’s radiance.}

Ode to Summer ~ Part Two

2011-09-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am so often humbled by the beauty that lies around me filling my life with awe and wonder. Such delight is found in the mountains that lie at my doorstep. Over the summer we have walked and hiked and tasted the radiant nature of this vast mountain country.

~ We find our home and heart settled peacefully and abundantly~thankful in this Country ~

Ode to Summer

2011-09-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

The temperature is slipping and shadows are stretching longer – earlier.

Deep rich colours are fading out the greens. Nature is coming with her season changes.

I still have moments of summer saved on my camera, ready to share with you as Autumn heralds her coming beauty.

~ Yellow of summer the medicine of nature ~

~ Mountain Arnica ~

~ Memories of scattered flower patches blanketing my forest floor ~

~ Made into cream to rub them bruises and aches away ~

Bradley's Bride

2011-08-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

~ A Brother Groom ~

~ Adding a beautiful bride to our family ~

~ Breath caught around my heart at the sight of my growing sister ~

~ Held hushed tight by my flower girl`s sweetness ~

~ Boots and hats,collections of a celebration filled with western charm ~

{ Eighteen hours of westward driving over the Rockies in a fifty-four hour round trip wedding weekend. The first time ever our current family was all together. I took the time to enjoy the moments {almost} camera free. The whole whirlwind weekend worth every exhausting second! }

Laundry...Again!

2011-08-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Powder Laundry Soap

Mix Together

2c. Borax

2c. Washing Soda

1c. Soap Flakes {Grated Soap}

Essential oil {Which ever scent fancies you, added to the amount that makes you happy, my last batch was made with geranium, warms up my whole lower floor on washing day…which is just about every day!}

Happy Laundering

~The Learning of Love ~

2011-08-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Education is on the minds of most Mothers with Canada’s students resuming their roles as learners. While we Mothers fill in the millions of little details to guide them successfully through another year. ~

~ I stand hesitant this year. Little minds and active babies are constantly in my thoughts. ~

~ Through the rumbles I am assured by the Grace of heaven that Learning is a Love and I am the facilitator. ~

~ I can do that ~

~ Together, gently we will wade the deep pools of history ~

~ Read the science and intricacies of the bird kingdom ~

~ Explore the globes lines and memorize her details ~

~ We will sit through the winter months curled around topics of rich detail ~ turning pages into the love that fosters growth and learning. ~

~ Ahhhh ~

2011-08-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

~ For the first time in seven years I was alone ~ delightfully ~ alone. Roger braved the constant of three ~ escorting all the busyness away for four whole days! ~

~ I sighed with the beauty I could slowly enjoy ~

~ I rested ~ sweet rest ~

~ I planned one full year of teaching two ~ giving thought to the juggling of four ~

~ I stitched some pretties ~

~ I drove Roger’s car, no bulky seats and balking babies behind… I was tempted to cruise somewhere swanky but alas I only made it to the Home-School store…ladies I have arrived! ~

~ I loved each darling little Milner something so much more after such a generous retreat ~

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~ Luv'em Lips ~

2011-08-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

~ My {not so little} guy going 'pop' crazy ~

~ Cherries ~

2011-08-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

~ The beauty and sweetness of summer ~

~ Stored for cooler days ~

~ Greatfully delighted in the fruit of this land and the labour of our hands ~

Weekend Highlights

2011-08-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

~Back Yard Picnic~

~Farmer's Market Fun~

~Fun Fulfilling Family Time~

~ Adored ~

2011-08-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

~When a girl turns thirteen you celebrate~

~Sister of ten, daughter of two, little in-law of four, Aunty of eleven ~

~We all promised her a thirteenth party decked in picnic style~

~She was fussed over, loved, celebrated and cherished. Because her family simply ~ADORES~ her~

{While the birthday girl was visiting me we collected all the decorations for her birthday party at thrift shops and garage sales. We painted up old shutters salvaged for pennies then hung thirteen years of memorabilia to display at the picnic. We set it all up in my house so I could get some pictures before she took it home and had her real country picnic.}

Friday's Treat

2011-08-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

~ Mama and babes are loving the chilling summer menu. Our treats are coming cool and refreshing these days~

Berry Best Pops (with some hidden goodness)

(A mesh of a few of my favorite pop recipes)

This recipe makes 6 pops

1 cup water

1 tbsp. lemon juice

2 pitted dates

Because I have these flash forwards of my adult children blaming all their issues on me and the fact that I hid Swiss chard and other wonders in their treats, denying them of a ‘normal’ childhood. I decided to splurge and add a few tbsp. of honey… Honey can resolve just about any issue; it’s solve- all powers rival that of duct tape!

2 tbsp. honey

2 fresh peaches or bananas

2 cups dark berries (fresh or frozen)

2 cups Swiss chard or other dark leafy vegetable

Optional

1 tsp. spirulina or other herb, I have been adding some of the dried herbs I have been collecting over the summer.

Layer in blender as listed. Blend really well or until all evidence of vegetable has been removed.

Freeze and enjoy!

Travelling Treasures : Part Two

2011-08-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

~From the west came wonders~

~A Grandma to Roger (great to my baby brood) and Mother~

~A rare visiting occasion that beckons to linger~

~Passing the hours talking and listening to tales from passed days~

~Gathering of generations ~

~A fast flicker and such a sweet visit ended~

~Leaving loving memories to add to the stores and tales of past days.~

Travelling Treasures

2011-08-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Monday brings sweet loved ones into my home

~ Visitors from afar ~

The warmest welcomes were extended, hugs and kisses and memories in the making.

I can feel the delights of this week slipping in with our guests!

{Thank you each sweet friend who’s words of congratulations blessed my life… my desire is to write each of you! Currently I am exhausted and any moment I have to email, take a picture or blog is quickly given into some extra sleep. Please know my heart of thanks is full because of you! P.S I’ll email soon…}

Gift

2011-07-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Monday morning is wrapping the ordinary in the most brilliant display of rising colour, and I am humbled by the miracles I so generously get to experience. God's generous gifts are so often in the most common awe striking beauty. I wait in these moments and can always feel the breath of God sweeping through my spirit.

~Never more then when I feel the first roll and kick ~

~ Life coming anew ~

~God stitching another master piece tight into my heart. ~

I wait in eager ~ patients ~ to greet my December baby!

~A Mother is the only person on earth who can divide her love among all her children and each child still have all her love. Anon~

Weekend Goodness

2011-07-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

~ I have welcomed the weekend with raw ice cream and enjoying every moment of its delicious goodness ~

Easy Ice Cream

1 c. cashew nuts

1 ½ c. water

Blend until creamy then strain through a nut-milk bag or cheesecloth. Pour ingredients back into the blender.

Then add.

1/3 c. agave nectar

¼ tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Vanilla

1-2 Tbsp. coconut oil

½ -1 c. strawberry (or any other berry or fruit)

Blend well and refrigerate for a few hours then add to ice cream maker.

Trust me when I say you will not be able to keep your hands (or lips) off!

{I am sorry for my summer-skipping of this blog... It takes some time to settle into a family schedual again and getting ajusted to life as a family on Canadian soil. Along with all the adjusting we are now offically repatriating which brings stacks of paper work and running around, car shopping, doctore and various other appontments and then some more offical buisness of yet more paper work! I do appreciate each of you and your sweet coments and email here and there through out your busy summer. And please visit often next week I have faith life will be more settled affording me the time and gumption to share a few specials of my life.}

Storing Summer

2011-07-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

~ His return brought love ~ loads of love to wash for my handsome groom {nine blessed years today} This anniversary day brings him to the first day on his new job, making it a wet Wednesday feeling the melancholy of a Monday and me working on staying above the mundane ~

~ I mixed some summer beauty to saviour when the white of winter has hidden the gifts of summer ~

~ Wild Alberta Rose petals ~

~ Mountain borage flower ~

~ Loose rooibos {bulk from the health food store} ~

~ Stored in dainty vintage {thrift…of course} ~

{Click on the names of ingredients to read about the health benefits of each beauty this wonderful world produces}

Days Anticipation

2011-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

~ Laundry aired and complete ~

~ Wild flowers picked and placed throughout the home ~

~ Linen soaked in lavender and set for rest ~

~ Tastes tinned ~

~ Bread baked ~

~ Love notes hung in spaces soon to be filled ~

~ By my Love returning tomorrow ~

~ Lemony ~

2011-07-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

~ Sipping lemony goodness outdoors today ~

Holiday Sweetness

2011-07-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

~ Summer leans towards enjoyment ~

~ Ingredients of pure sweetness ~

~ Idyllic home-made holiday fun ~

God's Gracious Arrangements

2011-06-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

~ With the freshness of morning still hanging in the trees ~

~ Arms hung with baskets ~

~ The little ladies and I meandered through fields of wild flowers ~

~ Absorbing natures delicate touches ~

~ Gathering God’s gracious arrangements ~

~ My love language spoken in beauty scattered full and wild in my home and field ~

Bottled Relief

2011-06-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

~ A cup of fresh well water ~

~ dashed with drops of essential oils ~

~ A bottle of bug relief ~

(Natural disclaimer ~ If you are used to the expensive hardy chemical coverage this spray will leave you itchy…

This cheap natural alternative only works if you spray liberal and apply often. )

Pegged Gifts

2011-06-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

One year ago last month ~ the week of the lilac bloom ~ I hung white sheets in a forest grove. One year and one month later I draped sheets in the trees and let the perfumed blooms fragrance my dreams.

During my jetlagged week I mumbled some ideas to my Dad, something sturdy and lengthy enough to fit a days washing, I think Martha Stewart might have been mention. I then went for a nap and woke to a strung wonder.

Simple delights ~ humbly cherished after years away from natures crystal breath and budding joy, and a father’s handcrafted gift speak straight to this country girls heart!

Dandelions

2011-06-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

One of natures richest gifts for health and wellness.

Abundant over my land.

And have gratefully been harvested into a powder to nurture my family through the winter and a warm oily infusion to massage aches and pains.

Thrifty Make-Over

2011-06-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

One-dollar garage sale buy, coupled with a three-dollar can of white spray paint.

All the girls tights and flailing legging chaos can avoid tight cramped dresser space.

Chaos can breathe a bit prettier.

A Gabled School Room

2011-06-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

A room where dreams are made ~ true.

A long lasting hope for a teaching room built into eves with views of treetops.

Large and bright.

Touched with salvaged treasures.

Back drops for nature’s gifts.

Vintage reds ~ yellows ~ swirls of blue and green.

Art ~ Books ~ Books ~ Art.

Room for creativity and display.

I am blessed ~ happy to be the teacher of this charming little home-school.

(I broke my own rules in this room ~ by buying the display cabinets and red chair (brand-new ~ Ikea even!) I was dutifully back on track with my garage sale treasures of table and chairs, baskets and wooden crates, jars and trays, stools and quilts. The wonder of thrifting! I am waiting for my things being sent from afar to fill the vacant spaces on the walls and shelves. But thus far I am thrilled. This room is what my dreams have been made of…)

London

2011-06-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

We walked.

Enjoyed the sights.

Played at parks.

Each one trying to ignore the shadows of good-bye looming ahead.

Good-bye to Europe and our overseas adventures ~ Good-bye to each other for another season of living in different homes on different continents.

Scotland

2011-06-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Castles…

History…

Golden Sun…

Blue Skies…

Impressive Architecture…

Ruins…

Wonders… Scottish wonders that is…

Miss C.Mason

2011-06-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

I found her heart in the District of the Lakes. I touched her work, her genius, and her abounding inspiration.

I was generously allotted a few mornings uninterrupted to scour a library full of her works and works of her students. My fingers danced along the lines of unpublished un-displayed Charlotte Mason treasures. To see her philosophies on page, in the workbooks of her students, to experience tangibly C. Mason’s standard of beauty and excellence in the products of her educated, will forever be a gift to my life as a person and teacher.

I continue to humbly receive the blessings of Charlottes teaching philosophies and the aspiration she continues to share with Mothers and Teachers.

A dripping sky procrastinated my search for Miss Mason’s final resting-place. Reluctantly on my final evening I romped through the rain and was rewarded by a warm glinting break of sun shinning directly above.

Beneath the shade of majesty I found her final mark on the world, written with all honour due and testifying boldly for history to read

~ lies her life and destiny ~

In Loving Memory of

Charlotte Maria Shaw Mason

Born January 1 1842 Died January 16 1923

“Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty”

Founder of the Parent’s National Education Union, The Parent’s Union School & The House of Education.

She devoted her life to the work of education believing that children are dear to our Heavenly Father and that they are a precious national possession.

“Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life“

“ I Am. I Can. I Ought. I Will. “

“For the Children’s Sake.”

Charlotte your love for God, Children, Nature and Quality Education continues to gift generations with insight, inspiration and direction. Your wisdom has helped form a life I am humbled and blessed to live.

I am eternally thankful.

Dear Beatrix

2011-06-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Northward into a greener damper world of the Lakes, home too geniuses of pasts.

A long visit at Hill Top Farm with all the imaginary wonder that as a child I could have mustered… and a wee bit more!

Nooks, crannies, gardens, pets, lands and views that inspired much loved children’s fables were brought vividly alive.

Beyond the fanciful childlike characters we found a kindred women, thoughtful, bright and challenging.

It will be an experience that stays with us for some time, bringing to life the magic Tom, Peter and Hunka-Munka.

(I am writing from home ~ settling sweetly back into my House of Dreams. Excuse my long pause on these pages, my babes needed assistance during their cross continent time changes, I linger over the joy of being home ~ For Good ~ letting permanency seep straight into my heart. I hope to finish up my journal of travels and then get on to all the beauty that is taking place around me… )

Shakespeare

2011-05-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Naturally we found our selves walking the ancient literary pilgrimage to Shakespeare’s home.

Humbly in awe of the history we were experiencing.

Loving the aged details.

Enjoying alighted interest ~ deepening enjoyment ~ growing understanding of this worlds great story teller.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Sonnet 116 ~ William Shakespeare

Cotswold Country

2011-05-27T02:33:00.000-07:00

Stone cottages with it’s clusters of fragrant vines and front gardens of heritage Victorian blooms ~ fancies my romantic nature. Sweeping green country sides, dotted with sheep farms and it’s spring lambs, rock walls climbing and twisting along fields and forest, bramble hedged charm, meadow’s of wild flowers, are but a few of the Cotswold delights.

Dare I rival this patchwork county charm against my other European favourites…

Tuscany? Provence? Amsterdam?

For me there is an obvious love.

One where modern time takes a humbled bow to the slow farming pace, nature the art, flowers the master piece, history the foundation and country is your life.

I wish to hold my breath ~ capture these wonders ~ infusing some English inspiration into my life...

One

2011-05-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Perched on a hill overlooking the lakes loved by Beatrix, Wordsworth, Mason. Our Boy celebrated his one-year of life.

A picnic outdoors… the most fitting place for a young boy!

A few interesting guests showed up, much to the merriment of the birthday boy.

Mama found a way to provide sweetness (kindly baked by our Manor’s pastry chef), topped of course with a friend’s handmade and generous creativity.

He inhaled ever sprinkle of his first sugar!

It seems but a second that fresh Morning of last May when beauty was bursting all around ~ you came to us ~ joining spring’s vivid gifts of wonder ~ My world erupted with the joy of you ~ These slipping seconds of last year's days, have been glimmers of God’s grace and the wonder of you and your precious life ~ Sweet Boy ~ I Love Deeply ~ Happy Birthday!

Blenheim Palace

2011-05-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Illustrious in Land and Lord.

Though there was no lure for such grandness in my country heart.

I am pleased to have had the chance to walk sweeping grounds and taking in the rich history and greatness of the Palace.

Cotswolds

2011-05-15T13:37:00.001-07:00

Far from the equator I find beauty lands ~ illustrious green and spring’s blossoms.

Nature settles my longing heart again…

Tucked neatly behind hedgerows, climbing vines and enchantment is our 17century~farm cottage.

My girls were instantly lost behind a stone walled meadow, emerging just long enough to gift handfuls of wildflowers.
~
I in the breezes whisper between trees and the constant sweet warbles of the country bird.

~
Roger ~ ancient architecture and winding cobble streets.

Today we walked ~ sipped tea ~ and savoured sweets.

All is delightful in this quaint Cotswold town.

(My second part of ‘Africa Living’ has been rolling around in my thoughts, there was just no spare time to share. Give me a few weeks of holidays and then I will put to pen the positives!)

Final Days in Africa

2011-05-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am thinking I should write some final words on African soil. Try to capture these last hectic days and my thoughts on this adventure in Africa. I know it has not completely sunk in that leaving in a week may mean never seeing this city ~ this home ~ ever again. In farewell to this season of my life I thought I would have a two-part good-bye to Lagos…

( Main view from my living-room check out the mold growing up the side of the house)

The first being the complaining ~ so glad to put this crazy behind me. I have wanted to show a more honest side to our life here for the last three years. But when you are in the middle of something challenging you know is not going to change anytime soon ~ well I have chosen to look on the bright side and try to stay positive. I would love to take more pictures of our dilapidated compound but in no way would I want to be disrespectful to our company. Lets just say it is lower then the very ~ very lowest standards of Canada. I have after all these years finally taken (some very hurried) pictures of the most frustrating parts of my home.

(Entrance to our home. Love the dirty paint and bright green mold, top left!)

Living hear has it’s set backs. It is an incredibly dirty city. Trash is literally everywhere, burning and simply just rotting under the hot sun. It almost always stinks. I remember this summer we were driving through the rolling country hills near our home in Canada, and Marion made a statement “Canada is so clean” she said it as if it just dawned on her how polluted Lagos was. Since then she has had a very difficult time dealing with the garbage and smells of Africa.

(Dryer vent running through my pantry...during laundry my pantry heats up and spoils my food)

Another very challenging part of living in Lagos is working with staff… oh I know you are all thinking ‘sure Rose life is so hard having a house maid and driver…’ well honestly it is hard. It is not like having help in Canada. I have had two house staff in my time here and have had to fire both because of obvious theft. My last one just this week, days before I am leaving! They are moody, challenge everything you say, if it takes me one hour to clean the main floor I will have to allot five hours for my staff to do the same work. It is often more of headache then a help!

With my driver I am constantly feeling like there is a game going on of how he can outwit me into getting something from me.

(Black Mold!)

Which leads to the third challenge of living in Nigeria. Nigerians have a worldwide reputation of being hostile and aggressive. Among each other and with foreigners. I have found the navigation of culture incredibly overwhelming. With three years under my belt I can honestly say I feel no more adjusted in understanding of this culture then when I first arrived.

(Note the toliet...why oh why did they tuck it beside the sink?)

Another huge stress I think every parent living in Nigeria carries is the weight of health and wellness for our families. Even with a large company like ours the medical system is terrible! At least every day I have a moment of fear of the ‘what if’. Roger and I agreed a while back that if anything happened from a broken bone to a heavy virus we would fly out to Europe and get treated there, which is honestly way easier said then done. For example sake, just recently we had a friend who suffered from a serious concussion and was blacked out for ten minutes. The Doctors here prescribed her antibiotics and vitamin C. I could go on and on with the ‘crazy medical story’ list. But would rather save those for face to face. I will sigh large and gratefully with relief once I land in Europe and know that stress is off my shoulders for good!

(Giving us six inches of leg room...)

To wrap this up…

Last night Roger and I were saying that when you live in Lagos, you wake every morning wondering what the day will bring. There is always something that comes up that surprise and bewilders you. You simply can not plan too much in advance. The only success in succeeding in this country would be to have the attitude of rolling with the onslaught of daily punches!

When it is over you realise you were much more adventurous then you ever could have imagined, and are capable of things you never dreamed you were capable of. I am sure I will look back on the challenges of my time here in a hazy ‘as if that really happened’ attitude.

I am glad it is almost over!

For next time tune into the ‘amazing so I glad I had this chance’ part of my West Africa adventures…

I am off to tackle more madness in preparation for our house sale tomorrow! Somebody ~ anybody wana come and help me before I start pulling my hair out? Oppps too late!

Whirl

2011-04-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

Our weekend was splendid… Sweet friends, six adorable littles, Easter. We all put our goodbyes far from reality and soaked in the pleasure of our friendship. It was perfect…. Except for Lachlan and his non-sleep fiasco!

Roger booked me and the children summer flights home…one way!

I am now realising exactly what that means.

Good bye to Africa and this wild adventure I have claimed mine over these last years.

Two weeks of whirling busy ~ good-byes and packing, school to finish, babes to raise and feed, and a Continent to ease out of!

It is slightly overwhelming and I am sure my voice here over these next days will be but a whisper and hint…

Tis the Long Weekend

2011-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Tis a long weekend! Even longer for us enduring another Nigerian election. Apparently when this country was planning the elections they forgot it was the Easter weekend, and have now bumped voting/no movement day from Saturday until Tuesday!

I will be watching my poor boy’s nail! Product of an engineer’s son! Enthralled with opening, closing and slamming doors!

We are going to spend the weekend with Friends. Maybe are last time lounging out with or dearest…

I will be thinking of you all over this weekend, we will meet again soon after the holiday!

Bloom

2011-04-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

Twice yearly, for just a few faint weeks amid seasons of dry and thunderous wet, Lagos blossoms. With brave tenacity a rush of blooms spread ~ rare ~ delightful ~ pleasure over dusty chaotic of Africa’s largest city.

Patiently I wait, first months of fogging dust giving gingerly way to pelting heat ~ then colour, beauty declaration that the rain is coming to sweep the sands away.

You come to turn ear carefully for the first ominous claps of storm, sadly rushing to gather what might be salvaged before the hasty whirls crush petals into rivers of mud.

~ The last of my african crimson sets stage on my table ~

Mothering Monday ~ Teaching

2011-04-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

I believe education is one of the higher responsibilities of parents as we raise our heaven-gifted children.

I have many an email and questions in regards to this topic. Many know I am easing into making our lifestyle that of educating at home, full time. I feel the need to communicate that I adamantly believe the home is the best place for education to birth and flourish, regardless of choice between formal or unconventional education paths for your children. If learning is to be a passion and thrill for your child, it will always start from home!

A Love for Learning is a gift I want to give my children. I want to help set a lifestyle of learning for them that will not be completed when they have received their highschool or university diploma. For me to see in my adult children a passion and continuation of learning, will be a great reward.

For me life is simply too short to waste any precious time on junk! Junk Education!

There are so many beautiful, alive and uplifting things for our children’s (and our) minds to dwell on!

Beautiful Music

Beautiful Art

Beautiful Words: Poetry, Stories

Beautiful Thoughts ~ in touch with great minds

Beautiful books filled with life ~ art ~ poetry ~ stories ~ thoughts

Beautiful Nature ~ Seasons drenched in wonder

I have seen growth in children minds and characters when life settles in beauty.

For your home to emanate peace and learning…

Turn off the t.v or computer, cancel as many after school lessons as possible.

~ Go home ~

Play music of Vivaldi, Chopin, Holst, (most children’s favourites).

Pull out books sparked with wonder, adventure and truth. Read to your kids in as much enthusiasm you can muster.

Take them out in nature. Let them feel her pulse. Have them run with the waters, meadows and mountains of this grand earth. Encourage them as they collect pocketfuls of treasures hunted from out doors. Once home read and explain what leaves and woods, rocks and plants they have collected.

Filter your home play with a standard of greatness, purity and reality. Play with them.

Have fewer toys providing more room and time for art supplies.

A child will feel much surer, encouraged, adventurous and healthy if they are dwelling on wholesome, enlightening and uplifting materials or activities.

Make learning your life and their life will learn!

There is a world of ‘educational’ things you could buy and fill your life with that is sadly ‘fluff’, taking precious space of shelves and minds!

When life boils down to home work and math facts and midwinter house blues remember that all things should be a blessing. Learning the disciplines is so important. Work with your child’s character to be able to manage their ‘harder work’ in a timely fashion and with self-responsibility. Let discipline subjects be interwoven with the lighter more engaging topics. Do not make excuses for their tardiness or lack of discipline. Use wisdom, if math is not working try another program, if that is still not working, work on character, your and your child’s, encourage your child’s mind to think new thoughts of math. Read to them about Galileo, Leonardo da-Vinci, Albert Einstein (or any scientist, inventor or explorer for that matter), let them taste the importance of math. Point out throughout the day when you or they have just used a math skill. Your goal with difficult subjects is to make it as alive and interesting as possible while still having your child learn the subject matter fully.

I encourage you Dear Mother ~ you are a teacher ~ if you have a babe tucked close to heart, you are their main educator, if anything, teach them of adventures in learning, the glorious wonders of this World.

My amazing friend and brilliant educator Marion, has some wisdom on teaching she is so generously sharing with us this morning.

There are so many good ideas for teaching/learning situations. Each Mom/Dad knows their child and knows what sparks their interest and keep them going. I am so blessed when I see the work that home-schoolers do with their own children. I love working alongside some of those parents. It is a great joy!

Questions to ask?

Does your child listen well? Will your child copy (actions, etc.) and remember what they have seen shown to them? Does your child like to learn by being shown something? Does your child remember well? Can your child sit for 5 minutes or for 20 minutes?

The answers to these questions and others like them can help you shape the teaching styles and times in your child's day.

.....teaching/learning should involve as many senses as possible (seeing, hearing, feeling, even tasting or smelling something).

.....much teaching involves listening/seeing and should include doing something as well.

.....be at your child’s level when you’re teaching them something---ie. Sitting at the table alongside them or being on the floor or a low chair for activities at that level.

.....play games with a purpose....ie. Memory games can build and perfect listening skills if you start out instructing the child to do one thing/two things/three things/etc.; memory games can also increase visual retention if you play a card game with face-down pairs of pictures and takes turns flipping over pairs of them to try and find those matches. Putting together puzzles is a great way of getting children ready to read as it helps them pull out details from a whole array of details on the table (it’s called “figure-ground” and helps a child find letters/words on a page of other words);

.....READ TO YOUR CHILD----I think we, as parents, can never do this enough. Reading as your child(ren) snuggle around you provides them not only with rich language but also the closeness/safety/pleasure of being YOUR focus. Read books that include words new to them....use these words later to increase your child’s vocabulary. Talk about synonyms and antonyms and homonyms.....about descriptive words (adjectives), action words (verbs). Model good English is your speech around the home. If children say something that isn’t grammatically correct, repeat it back to them correctly (ie...”Sally and me want to play outside” should be repeated, “Sally and I want to play outside”....or “Tommy gave that to Peter and I”...repeat it correctly as “....to Peter and me”)

.....have your child describe something to you using only words....or only a drawing...or whatever other creative way you decide.....this can come after you’ve demonstrated how to do it together. For instance, put a ripe yellow pear on the table on a plate and start writing down words to describe it....use sight, sound, smell, feel, taste words.

.....use your child’s BACKboard---I have found that most children have a great message centre to their brain---it’s their back. Try writing numbers or letters (particularly those which a child may write “backward” or inverted) on a child’s back and have them write what you have done on a paper in front of them or trace it on a “sand square” in front of them.....a sand square is a small box filled with a layer of coarse sand/rice/flours/beans/etc. to give your child a tactile (feeling) sensation of what is being written. Another fun way of writing such letters is in chocolate pudding on a heavier type paper....fun and TASTY!

Some over-riding suggestions:

Always be positive. In whatever learning activity your child is involved, there is always something. Some days, finding that positive note might provide you needed humor as well (:

Teach from what your child already knows. For instance, math is not stand-alone bits of knowledge....it is all inter-related and must be built consecutively day by day. Addition/subtraction facts live in families as to multiplication/division facts. Teach these facts to rote memory as this knowledge gives your child the tools they need to build with greater ease the higher levels. Provide more practice in a skill than not enough. Encourage mastery (ie. 80% or better) in this subject.

If you hit a road-block in learning, leave it for an hour/a day....then return to it and try it “another way”....let your child tell you in words HOW they did something. Listen carefully and you will likely be able to see where they took a wrong-turn. Encourage them; tell them what wrong turn happened; and walk them through the correct pattern. Then allow practice in it and keep up the encouraging words.

Take breaks.....have a wee snack/run around the yard....then get back to it. Have a finish in mind and congratulate your child on a job well-done.

Be ready to learn yourself.

Marion

Ladies, my teacher’s hat is off to you, may your week be a wonder, with your child’s hand warmly tucked into yours through your learning adventures.

Friday Tin

2011-04-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Fudged delectable ~ whip topped ~ garnishes of mint!

For all those previously asking for my sisters terribly delightful ‘Caloric Crack’

Heat oven to 350

Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil the grease the tinfoil with butter.

Lay ‘Premium Plus’ crackers flat on the tray.

Melt until a caramel sauce. I had to whisk the butter and sugar together.

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Pour over crackers. Then bake for five minutes.

Remove from oven and top with chocolate chips, nuts, and score bits. Put back in oven for a minute or two. Spread around.

Place in fridge until hard. Then ‘crack’. Store in the freezer! Enjoy!

Spring Tour ~ Kids Sets

2011-04-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

I am thinking my little globetrotters will be packing such sweetness...

Lovely Number ~ 1

Lovely Number ~ 2

Lovely Number ~ 3

{For those who asked ~ We will be travelling in Great Britain, starting in the Cotswolds, Lake District, Scottish highlands, Edinburgh, London. I am holding my breath with excitement! }

Spring Tour

2011-04-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

In a few spring weeks I will be touring Europe.

I am thinking ahead to what I should bring.

Dreaming of excursions in nature’s blues and yellows.

Draped curls and strands of pearly sophistication.

Mothering Monday ~ Links

2011-04-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Mothers,

My second born beauty ~ all wind and whirl ~ fell exhausted into a napping midday oasis ~ such rare tranquillity found my tired and lured me into afternoon rest ~ arresting my free time for today.

With a quite rush, I leave you some links ~ Mothers of this world that I steal away to from time to time (though my life hardly affords me internet surfing.) I think you may find some creative encouraging thoughts... I certainly have.

Pleasant View School House (Here)

A Holy Experience (Here)

The Stay-at-Home Missionary (this blog was ended but gratefully never deleted, lots of wonderful archived posts) (Here)

Garden Mama (Here)

4Little Men and Girly Twins (Here)

Life Made Lovely (Here)

Moments with Mother Culture (Here)

The Handmade Home (Here)

SouleMama (Here)

I am sure there are thousands of others I have missed because of busy! If there is a gem blog out among the Mothering blog world, just waiting for the rest of this Mothering community to be encouraged through. Please send the link! I would gladly like to post links here for other busy Mothers to find ~ easier then digging around.

Have a blessed Mothering Monday!

Spring Tin

2011-04-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

My senses are instinctively tense, this northern girl hears a beckoning… Symphonic whirls scattering her marvels on winter’s barren scape. I wish to swing wide my windows and feel the rush of fresh tantalising hope ~ Spring ~

I know my House of Dreams nestles cool in a forest of white. I still long…deep and passionately for my world of seasons and their yearly fleeting masterpieces.

Today I shut out the African heat and city bustle, and whisk my heart over seas and lands straining to feel lyrics of spring's poetry.

I searched for some reminders ~ Strawberries and Whip, escorted gently up from the Cape, souvenirs of civilisation ~ Crimson blossoms, the flare of foreign beauty ~ Gifts laced with bow’s ~ And the weekend…

Whole Wheat Bread

2011-04-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have been working on tweaking my Mother’s oh-so-easy-staple bread recipe.

My problem with Whole Wheat is that the bread is so heavy that little kids do not seem to enjoy eating fibered bricks, regardless of how healthy it may be for them!.

I have thought about using gluten, dough enhancer or xanthum but feel that all these ingredients are unnatural additives. And would rather find my way around using them. I did some googling and found that eggs, molasses and ginger (will not flavour your bread) are all yeast activators. And truly help in the fluffing! I realise that yeast is not the healthiest thing on the block ~ in my humbled opinion so would life be without fresh warm bread ~

Whole Wheat Bread

½ C. Coconut Oil

½ C. Honey

1 TBSP Salt

1 TSP Powdered Ginger

1 TSP Molasses

3 Eggs

2 ½ TBSP Dry Active Yeast

Place the above ingredients in a bowl of a mixing machine (this will make four loaves so half this recipe if using a kitchen aid) (or if you are mixing by hand put in a large bowl).

Then add

5 C. Warm Water

Cover the top of your bowl with a cloth or lid until the yeast has fluffed up.

Now slowly add your flour.

I start with a 3 cups white flour.

Then add the rest as Whole Wheat.

Add one cup at a time

Once you have added about 10 cups of flour start adding flour by the ¼ or ½ cup. Very slowly. You are looking for the dough to stop sticking to the sides of the bowl. The trick is making sure it is ‘cleaning’ the sides while still keeping the dough sticky. The softer the dough the fluffier the cooked bread.

Once your dough is to this stage let your mixer kneed the dough for four minutes, this activates your yeast.

Now turn your dough onto floured surface and round into one large ball. Cut into four equal parts and form into loaf shape. Place gently into greased bread pan (or tray for buns or pizza crust) Now let your dough rise until double in height. Preheat oven to 350 when placing your dough into the oven be very gentle, by shaking your loaf you risk having your dough go flat. Then you will need to let it rise again.

Bake until it is browning and the top sounds hallowed if you were to ‘knock’ on it.

Enjoy!

Priorities

2011-04-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

To my new friend H,

I am thrilled you wrote me this morning with your questions, kindly join in on this constant discussion of managing home life with littles! I have been talking with so many mothers on this very topic. Grab a coffee and settle in…this is a long post!

When I was young I saw a ‘Priorities’ example. I am a very visual person and this example has stuck with me through out life.

The teacher had three rocks (I will use lemons) and thousands of grains of rice (sesame seeds) and an empty glass jar. She said that the rocks represented your life’s priorities, the rice, millions of little time consumers, the jar your life. She first poured the rice into the jar and tried to cram the three main priorities around the millions of distraction, those three did not fit on top of all the others. She then removed the rice, and first added priorities after allowing the rice to settle and shift around the three mains. Amazingly it all fit! Later in life I read Steven Covers 7Habits and came across this teaching again. I will never forget that visual teaching. I have adapted that principle to almost every planning I do in my life.

I now use this system daily. I know for my self (and most other Mothers of young children) three projects in three hours. I make my day’s list, with only three things per section. Knowing that if I put my most importance at the top all the other little things will settle into place.

While my baby is awake my older (4 - 7) girls are playing with something the baby can be part of. Or they colour – paint something they can do with out the baby interfering. I try to accomplish light tasks around the home while all three kids are awake. When my youngest naps in the morning we do home-school. When he naps in the afternoon the girls are also in bed for an hour of that nap time, after an hour they can come out of their room and can accomplish something that is more difficult to do while the baby is awake. In the one kid free hour of my day I accomplish things I can not do while the kids are awake. The girls do stay well occupied in the afternoon while the baby is sleeping because they want to play while they can. So I can still manage to get a lot of things done.

I would suggest that you write out a schedule for you and your kids on the days you are home. First write all the things you need to accomplish on one blank sheet of paper, then write the things you would like to be doing, like going to the park or library with the kids, maybe a weekly craft time with your little guys.

On another paper list all the toys and activities your children have and can play with. List them under ‘lots’, ‘little’ or ‘no’ supervision needed.

Now make a rough schedule of the ‘block’ of time your life affords. Such as pre-breakfast, 8 a.m – 12.noon lunch hour, 1 – 4, 5-8, 9 –10.

I have found that I can only fit three things into each block of time. My morning block might read: House clean up (dishes, beds, floors) school (that is all for me)

Afternoon block gets three priorities. Maybe: make dinner, mop floors and wash bathrooms, do a craft with kids.

Now if I get the three priorities done in my allotted time with some to spare I can look at my master list and add a few more things.

At least I am steadily accomplished my highest priorities.

If you have more then three things planned for these times you will always feel overwhelmed.

A mother can not expect to have a morning work out, play group, make cookies with the kids and wash all the windows in three hours. It is unrealistic.

I struggled for a while because on paper it seemed I would never get everything on my ‘master list’ done in a week. Thankfully it has helped me prioritise and lets me feel on top of things. If by the end of the day I have accomplished twelve projects then I have done well. It allows my kids to enjoy their day and rarely do we scramble to find things for children to do.

It has also encouraged me to say no! Some things sound like an amazing opportunity, once brought to the schedule you can see that to add one more thing makes you have to remove another, you can weigh what is of more value to you and your families life.

An example would be ~ karate has opened up down the road and you think it would be amazing for the boys to get some energy out on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Being realistic with the time frame and the effort it takes to gather snacks, sippy cups, coats and shoes, your commute, lesson time and your return commute might take up a fair bit of your afternoon’s block. So in organising you will see that washing the house and making dinner has to be dropped. Weigh what is most important. It might be karate, knowing that on Tuesdays and Thursdays you will have leftovers or take out, rescheduling your evening block to cleaning the house. Or you might say, well I have something that I do not want to drop on those nights so I can not switch my three things around and against my other priorities karate does not rank high enough the investment of those time blocks.

You might find that most days have similar priorities. My day always gets –exercise, devotion, home-school, dinner, out door time, and devotions. These are always my priorities, on my list every day! But then there are some rotations. If on Monday I realise a friend is coming over and I will need to make a snack for serving I will reassign my Monday afternoon ‘window washing’ for making a snack and my Tuesday ‘closet cleaning’ time to visit with my friend.

For your kids play times schedule three to six activities a block.

Morning might look like:

Tomas the Train 30minutes

Playdough 30minutes

Activity with Mom (washing windows, baking or anything allowing them to join you in your work.) 45 minutes

Snack 15minutes

Wooden Blocks 30minutes

Colouring Books 30minute

Lunch

Afternoon:

Nap 1 ½ hour

Snack and cuddle 30minutes

Books 30minutes

Activity with Mom (painting, crafts anything your child would fancy you playing with them.)

Late Afternoon: 5-8

Out-Door activity 1hour

Free time 20 minutes

Dinner 1 hour

Bath 15 minutes

Devotions 15 minutes

Bed

I highly advise you to teach your children to clean up after them selves. Make this easy with buckets and baskets. Just give a bit of encouragement at the toy changes, “please clean up you trains while Mommy puts out your playdough”.

As you can see it is rather simple, simple enough for me! I have never done well under-pressure, and need to have a system that allows me to feel that I am on top of things while having flexibility to change my priorities. Easily saying No or Yes when new things arise.

I pray this will help. May you be blessed in your Mothering of your two boys! If you have any more questions please fire away!

Here are a few links that may help with time/home management

This is a wonderful family ministry built to help organise the family. Look through this web site for other families schedules.

www.Titus2.com

Tsh from Simply Organized. I highly recomend her book and website www.simplemom.net

Blessings

Mothering Monday ~ Youth

2011-04-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mother’s I grace plea, my day drifted steadily away from these pages, the mooned hour of this day is finally affording me hushed peace.

~ Quiet enough to meet you ~

There has been a weekly growing Mothering voice, looming awkward with the uncertainty of parenting a Teenager.

You know and I know I am not the experienced voice. And am very aware of my ignorance on this topic, and fear anything I write today may arise tangibly in the future to haunt my parenting of teenagers!

May I proceed humbly, requesting Grace?

Teenagers!

I think on these years of my recent adolescents, and shutter at the knowing intensity of youth ~ forming, trepid voice,thoughts and hormones. It is a pregnancy like journey ~ a stretching slow growth of daily experiences birthing maturity. Deadly deep passageway fit to make capable the weight of adulthood. A time when everything hinges on the past and present colliding into a hoped future. It is a waiting game of challenges.

And requires the utmost Grace from Heaven Gifted Parents.

When your teenager was a puking -pooping darling baby growing oh so sweetly into a messy challenging two-year-old, and you were years behind on sleep, showering and sanity. What gave you the incredible capacity to love that little demanding tyrant?

I have come to know deep with in the sad rebellious tears of lost youth ~ they all alike ~ crave and require MORE tangible Love then in their baby years.

They need brilliant lighthouse beams of Love cutting the fog of adolescents ~ a deafening, constant, guiding warmth ~ Love ~ Love ~ Love.

Some teens will be sweet crowned glory of the last years under your mothering wings, others rip the core of your pride. But both need the same amount of Grace heaped Love barricading the fragility of these years.

They need your eyes sparkling unconditional ~ Love ~ They need your heart every Mothering beat ~ Love ~ They need those weighted words your lyrics of ~ Love ~ They need your humbled honest humanity ~ Love ~ They need your silent prayers every desperate cry ~ Love ~ they need your time a most precious exchange of ~ Love.

They need to know what makes them ~ them ~ while they are yet still piecing all their uncertainties together. And they need you to WANT to do this, humbly and wisely ~ Graced Love ~

They need your life mannerisms to shout I LOVE YOU!

When it seems there is no point and they turn their shrugged, cool, defiant shoulder at your Love ~ Love them again. When they fly through their tests of adolescent initiations ~ Love ~ when dark ugly prevails and loss is gripping tight ~ Love.

Love is the only way!

Love will lead you straight into the heart of your changing babes.

Love ~ come sun or storm.

And for the nuggets ~ pebbles if I may…

Keep your teens fulfilled at home ~ ethos of pure lovely fun ~ a crave for home is safest for youth.

Keep your youths day purposeful. Let them experience maturity. Work teaches value of time. Accomplishment births satisfaction, satisfaction a safety net of confidence.

Keep compassion hot under these cool selfish years, that poverty is more real then hollywood, let less preach gratefulness. Serve along side them.

Earn your respect. Your youth can see right through you, Each parent needs Grace returned. This is the season for their eyes of insight to parallel yours ~ frightfully exposing I know ~ Respect gains Respect.

Above all flavour every encounter with your fleeting babe ~ generously in Love!

Timorous

2011-04-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today, trepid I write. I have thought and I have prayed and still, uncertainty. And so I am doing what I always do, I pen ~ sometimes while my mind whirls ~ scratched on white, life lits shadows and clarity emerges. I wonder how to journal to the world? Transparent to strangers? Can I be safe here on these pages, scrawl my story between beauty?

I have Ecclesiastes days. Days where I wonder if I am but a vapour, a wisp of fading wind. Heavy days of wondering if everything turns out to be nothing. I post here about beauty ~ blessing and I soak in the rays that heaven shines brilliant, but there are other days, darker yet. Days I wrestle with God. I have prayed for a deep change of soul, and He, faithful, answers. But then a violent torrent of weeding. Why does the miracle of his purity strip me raw. I wonder does he really know what he is doing? Is trust, really, enough?

I ask ~ Is trust, really, enough?

I was full with the expectancy of another baby, born black under the African sky, his Mother’s voice pled months, his life to be grafted into mine. Every time I walked away, needing to know her heart was strong enough to give her birthed love, to another race of mothers. Every time she wished it again, begged strong and clear. I trusted, a guiding voice, following faith. Hours of paper work and lawyers and prayers and a welling hope that he, saved from poverty, a life transfigured,

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Innocent
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I dreamed of a new life for him, safe in my cradling arms.
And then just like that, it all ended, unexpectedly.

I wrestle, a tight hand on God, How? Why?

I weep grief!
God leads me painfully dark, examining deep…

~

These evenings, here in my red earth home, have been talk filled, of a move. A Spring return to our North Country, I look deep inside and wonder, can I give up an adventure that I have allowed to define me?
I examine… can I do this change, back to ‘normal’?

~

I pull books off shelves, summon learners, teach intellect, muster patience. We go again, another round. A few hours later, I clean up, tidy the mess.
I am led to examine my motives…

I receive a surprise mail from my husband, he finalised the purchase I was too busy to complete. A pair of Berks ~ perfect comfort. Joy, tags a cloud of thoughts. My life is changing, I need good shoes, support to my hours on foot, am I growing age? Young still I know, but time is slipping fast.
Examination of youthful years ~ my now ~ future looming…

This is where all my life details settle: definition. Traveller, Beauty-Finder, Mother, Teacher, Wife and I love my life!

But God he is seeing these title comforts, and he is asking for them. I am fear wondering… If the letters behind me name, read blank…

I write fearfully honest, have I been looking for a title? That of a Mother ~ an armload of colours, unconventional teacher, darer of nations, constant adventurer?

And this, this is the clarity I needed.

Heaven wants my name to read ~ servant ~ nothing more.

Heaven asks my fibres to splinter bleed ~ Cross.

And he asks for it all, to gain ~ death-life.

And I, humbled, thrash desperate. Timorous!

Can I do this?

{A humbled repost ~ joining in with other speaking sisters. Ann's beautiful grace is giving generously again. Come voice with this community (click here) }

Friday Tin ~ Slow Sweetness

2011-04-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Is it Friday? Can I dare wish a weekend? Maybe hints of a husband?

This week I stole away to slowness, manage life ~ just as it came.

My computer was slow and so was my spirit.

I hushed busy, knowing my need to taste my girl’s laughter, spread manicured love ~ smother my Babes alabaster rolls in lip brushed affection ~ stretch my heart around their seemingly overnight changing beauty.

I wanted to grieve news of a friend’s battling illness road ~ which lies daunting ahead.

My sister suggested a caloric weekend of eatable delight ~ Sweet Sis, what were you thinking sharing such a recipe!? My taste buds are rejoicing ~ my mid-section…

This weekend has us placed under strict non-movement. Nigerian Elections!

Such a reason to slowly saviour this weekends promise of sweetness...

DoDads

2011-03-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

I have come down with the spring sneezes…

I think my four-year-old computer has come down with a serious slowness virus. Or maybe she just needs to be retired…Right Roger!

I am pounding away on these uncooperative keys trying to finish this post that I started at five a.m.

Just a few things that came today that have me feeling happier…

Handy steel wonders ~ for my little food eater ~ I am graciously trying to share my precious supply of blueberries while he finds joy in watching Mom have a conniption every time he chucks imported blue gold on the floor! (Want Steel Go Here)

Wood Pencils. Been looking for these for some time. Art bark here!

Block colours! European quality! Who can say a thrilled adios to thousands of broken crayons! Bella Luna

And a few things that I am dreaming of…

Bella Luna Toys

Healthy Family Eating

Coloring Book

Sweet Spring Crafting

Summer Attire

Homeopathic First Aid Kit

Thinking our personal Master Carpenter a.k.a Grandpa might need to start thinking little girl playhouse...wink wink Dad!

Mothering Monday ~ Love Feast

2011-03-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

My day has sailed deep into dark, usually my mind has been long ago set to sleep, yet I am here, new thoughts dancing alert, excited, awake.

Agape words ~ familiar to many ~ Spiritual love word for friendship between Almighty and us!

Agape ~ Friendship word ~ written simply ~ Love ~ in his Holy Book.

This week in my stumbling tired of days alone with babes, my husband ~ friend faraway. Uttering humble prayers for sanity and perseverance and peace ~ I found my soul ablaze with wonder.

Agape Love ~ translates 106 times ~ Charity.

Charity ~ Affection, Good Will, Love, Kindness, Brotherly Love, Love Feasts

I was searching a miracle of divine energy to get through another twilight parenting feat, the holed hour that drains all joy. I keep finding excuses for my exhaustion fuel to my tight inpatient words and actions. Directed to these marvel beauties I love. And I found this meaning of true love that I am so often wasting to the wind of my Mothering emotions. When my parenting perseverance is waning ~ I confess this ~ Agape Loving ~ is far from my spirit.

When all the world of littles is caving in around me with no obvious escape route, how often I fall steep into impatience and ugly. Am I acting love? There is no doubt I ~ love ~ maternally instinctively! I keep wondering is that really ~ Agape ~

In chaos ~ affection is first to go, good will stammers stubborn, kindness slivered thin, brotherly love family strife, love feast rather a mangled attempt at surviving the moment.

Oh receive my repenting tears ~ Heaven ~ Precious Children!

The miracle of the last days is the revelation that to Love ~ True ~ Agape ~ Charity

I wish for my Mothering Love only to be expressed Pure and Holy ~ Agape ~ Affectionately, Kindly, setting Love Feast ~ to ~ Agape Love Charity ~ in all things, through all things! All things… the ups the downs the highs the lows the dark and the light.

The mental turning of my spirit when I think ~ Love Feast, purposefully set, Warm and Kindly now! ~ In this heated, overwhelming Mothering moment ~ Can I Agape? In all things! Right here, Right now!

Mothering hope is building!

Today I am determined to gird my Mothering with Agape ~ Charity ~ setting lasting beauty banquets, a Feast of Love!

Lachlan Loving

2011-03-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Usually on Fridays I share some tasties, here he is, all ten months of pure loving! Is he not delectable? Pure Love ~ I say ~ Pure Love!

Poetry

2011-03-24T07:03:00.001-07:00

My sister and I have been talking of ~ living poetry.

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Word lines exchanged ~ femininity ~ gender gifts of heaven

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A sister’s revelation had me wondering truth ~ I read a Kings Psalms ~ prayer poetry for his daughters ~

Make our Daughters as shapely and bright as fields of wild flowers ~ Psalms 144

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Shapely ~ Bright ~ Wild Flower

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I think I could live ~ beauty ~ the fragrant dancing poetry, natures reflection of heavens purity.

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We know, Me under the humid African heat, sweat beads and damp hair, her with curly red and four men in the making and the ponytails and t-shirts ~ garments of survival.

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We echo each others thoughts of honouring heaven, our husband, children, a world of strangers ~ with the weaving treasure of feminine art ~

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We traced each others challenge and have dug through the mass production of false stagnant beauty, her with flowing lovely among her broad of denim manly, me with light strokes and delicate details.

Contented to reflect the uniqueness of our souls. Swirling sweet, captivated by this wonder of women ~ bearers of beauty.

Warming Aches

2011-03-22T02:53:00.000-07:00

~ We are warming aches ~

~ Medicinal gifts of nature ~

~ Skipping School, shhhh ~

~ All part of the healing ~

Mother Monday ~ Parenting Pebbles

2011-03-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Mothers,

I would love to share some pebbles of wisdom that I have gathered over years by observing other families, reading and I guess some plain old common sense. As I wrote this I realised that if all the bellow elements came together in a day I would have perfect children! Which is of course is far from the truth! I do have beautiful, fully human, children. My goal in purposeful Mothering is giving my children methods to help accomplish what is required of them. And to set a foundation that will help them become everything they are designed to be through out their life. These tools have been very helpful in gearing me with direction and aids me and the children considerably. They are simple little things that help me…

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Have your children respond to you in a positive manor, not just a yes Mom but an enthusiastic, “Yes Mom, my pleasure!” If my girls forget or grumble in their response to me they automatically get a discipline. Advice from:
Michelle and Jim Bob Dugger

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We discipline our girls in different forms, but the most effective thus far has been taken from the advice of my Aunt Anita (mother of nine children) we call it Toilet Time or Badkamer (the Dutch word for toilet)! We give our kids a time-out sitting in the bathroom with the door shut. If they destroy things (like pulling the towels down or unrolling the bathroom tissue) they must clean it up before allowed out. This ‘toilet time’ has worked wonders! We can make it time applicable and both Marion and Davina hate it, always a plus when coming to disciplines!

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An insightful and effective tip we learnt from the book Baby/Child Wise By Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. To always greet your spouse first before greeting the children (when Dad comes home from work.) Amazingly this establishes security in a child’s life, knowing Dad and Mom love each other. Taking this a step farther the advice is for Dad and Mom to have couch time upon working spouse arrival home. Just 10-15 minutes talking and cuddling as spouses on the couch has proven healthy and very effective in offering security to children. I must say Roger and I do not apply ‘couch time’ everyday because we often greet each other at the park or pool. Though on weekends we do insist on having 45-1 hr coffee, uninterrupted. This is a time during the kids wake time, they are learning that Dad and Mom are important to each other, they can hear us talking and laughing and smiling at each other (most of the time)…very effective!

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A long time ago I realised kids do much better when they have direction in their day. I use the word direction as opposed to ‘busy’ because I DO NOT BELIEVE children should be busy, actually I have yet to meet a health/happy busy child. Children like adults need to have a sense of satisfaction in their achievements at the end of their day. To me direction could be defined as ‘direction’ novel hey? Moving your child purposefully through out their day. Giving them an allotted time to learn/read/work/play. I generally move my children along to the next thing even if they are engaged nicely in their project. This is to help maintain excitement for an activity and avoid boredom. Boredom always breeds restlessness, the ultimate killer of peace in a home! To give you an example, my children have very little ‘free time’ in a day. This does not mean my kids hardly play this means certain activities of play are schedule for a certain time. Arts and crafts, dolls, baking with Mom, outdoor time, reading, lessons, work, it all has a designated place in our day and week. The girls do have few ‘windows’ in their day to do something of their own choice. Let me tell you, they settle right down and make the most of this time! They know is worth playing and not a time to waste! Charlotte Mason wrote about her adventures out doors with children, though she is often held esteemed for her encouragement to let children have much freedom to explore their surroundings, she in no ways believes children should be left alone to mischief! More correctly she advises direction in their hours of exploration. Having her pupils explore a field, draw it, write about it, getting to know it intimately. Only for a short time would she allow the children to make fun on their own accord. This is directive play. It is enjoyment within a time frame. It ends before the fun has been exhausted. I have seen this to eliminate bickering among siblings because kids learn to settle down and play, knowing they do not have all day to engage the fun on hand. (Please be gracious in this. If Marion has been studiously working on a picture during her art time and now time is up and is nearly done. I would not be harsh and have her put it away ‘on time’, I would let her finish, but would not let her then pull out another project in art to work on, even if she wanted to.)

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I am not sure when I first saw this ‘interrupting aid’ most likely from my Mom or Aunt…
Do your kids interrupt as chronically as mine? Is it as annoying to you as it is to me? A little way around this frustration is, if your child needs to interrupt a conversation you are having. Have your child place their hand un-disruptive on your arm. In response place your hand over their hand so the child knows you recognise they need you. When a moment arises, pause your conversation and address your child. It works wonders… when applied…I think I need to work on this one…

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Another assistance to eliminate frustration between adult and child is simply to make eye contact when speaking. I think children feel more respected when spoken and treated politely. I have a habit of calling my children with out focusing on them. I find it more effective and peaceful if I find where my kids are, scoop their face in my hands, make eye contact, smiling sweetly and ask your request, “Marion it is time to start chores may you please go get your basket and gather the upstairs piles” it is rare under these circumstances for a child to want to disobey.
Applied, this greatly helps when disciplining or correcting a child, make eye contact, talk firm but calm, let your face stay pleasant, not happy but loving, then execute the intended punishment. Like wise if a child is showing you something, art or anything really, they want your full attention! Give it to them! Sometimes in the moment it is not going to work, like when you are washing toilets or running to grab the ringing phone, communicate in some way that in a moment you will give some time to that child’s current interest he wants to share with you. Then when that moment arises seek you child out and ask to see what they wanted to share, make eye contact, get excited, show your pleasure. If a child knows he is understood, he will automatically desire to be pleasant and an asset to you.

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The tips above are my tested, tried and true!

May your Mothering be blessed with direction and purpose this week.

Friday Tin ~ Second Round - Less Burnt

2011-03-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Guess who just walked through my door (I just have to share)? I was sure he would be off helicoptering somewhere of the coast of West Africa! He walked in just in time to help put the babes to bed, shovel down some food ~ kiss me, of course ~ and now returned valiantly back to the office where his stellar engineering skills are being put to the test! And once I thought engineering was a dull profession! I might not get to have the heart to heart or a long ‘mommy time out’ this weekend…

But at least he is here!

And I made another batch of cookies! I sat by my oven to pull the trays out if the temperature started to flail around! They turned out eatable, at least!

And can I ask you to join hands in prayer for a mother of this community? A warming ~ spirit women has found her life whirling ill. She was taken to the hospital because of a debilitating headache caused by a (then unknown) brain tumour. The pressure of the tumour made her have a seizure. She quickly underwent brain surgery, all in a matter of a day. I can only imagine… this news has bitten bitter sadness, her fight gasped the breath right out of me. She is precious ~ such rare gentleness ~ so deserving of this communities prayer gifts. Will you whisper ~ plead ~ care for her? May we move in tight around her pain, embracing our hearts around hers.

~ Thank you ~

Friday Tin ~ Burnt!

2011-03-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

Fridays tin is… Burnt! My Friday is going south, by the moment, my gas oven is flipping temperatures faster then a hormonal women, dashing between 200 degrees and 500 in thirty seconds or less. Not the nurturing stable environment that my cookies need for thriving! I guess my appliance are having a ‘who can be more dysfunctional’ competition. My usually very co-operative dryer plug decided to stop working, so I have to do a load in the washer then switch the plug over for the dryer. Which means one load in the time it usually takes for two, not so good for the miles of filth hanging out in my laundry room!

Of course I thought all my worries would be washed away once Roger returned home for the weekends… Which in my mind played something like this… “Oh my beloved and most incredible wife. It is the weekend, where my only plan is to massage your feet and talk from the heart and look deep into each other’s eyes. I will use my super powers to mute our children, wash the dishes and make all the food, you will have a long break, and then to top it of I will watch ‘Little Women’ with you!”

In actual reality it went something like this… “Enter engineer, and in true engineering style efficiently announces he is going to have to be gone for the weekend, smiles sadly, picks up his ringing cell phone, talks all important for a few minutes, shovels some food, eats a BURNT cookie and…exits the scene!”

So I guess that it’s friends, burnt cookies, adios husband… oh but such sweet dancing girlies (above)!

If you would like (and I would like) humour me, any thrilling adventures on the agenda for your weekend? Oh please share the fun!

Sweet Squeeze

2011-03-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

It is a bit lemony in this house today with bright sun flitting and jungle fruit recovering after months and months of dusty season.

Such reasons to sip joy!

Lemonade How To:

Squeeze some tart ~ add some sweetness (I used light maple syrup ~ mix with water ~ cool with ice ~ top with mint!

Ah… summer in a jug!

Kindred

2011-03-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

My treasured friends. It has been some days since I scrawled my heart. I was quickly wrapped in your care words, comfort gifts. You stun me with your friendship, your sweet spirits extending oceans and miles and found me safe in this community of beauties.

~ I thank you ~

I am still raw. You must ~ know this. Loss aches fresh. And I only know this mothering pain recent. I am grieving but still finding humbled thanks. Today in the wake of rushing nature a whole nation of mothers will throw heavy dirt on babes death beds, and weep unimaginable grief. Today I am choosing to cling to the life that is around me, and find beauty in their faces.

May I speak of another grief? It is a lonely debilitating separation of God’s miracles! It takes us breathless through a torrent of emotions.

Let me share…

I was busy thinking thoughts ~ prayerfully ~ for you, ~ this world of women, when my sister called. She told me precious names of Monday’s Mothering community. I was so honoured to know I journey motherhood with women, brave brilliant and true. And then she slipped me pure sadness ~ that you ~ shy! You wonder if comments are really welcomed!

I took these thoughts heavy into the night, journeyed to church with this weight. As my husband sang heaven lyrics, I ~ I ~ stood broken, a tear rushing mess. With the smudges of my weakness yet still on my skin, a beauty sister ~ mother ~ greeted me. Oh I wondered at her, a marvel of God’s artistry, shining, perfectly her. But she talked of comparing and measuring and distancing speaking utter crazy about herself! And all I could think was how and who would every want to measure a life given to them against life given to another! If you ~ my sweet friends ~ find a measuring ruler in these pages, that would shake me broken! I would rather burn these pages, lost forever, fold this story away.

I desire only to join you, grow friendship, love you this `~ wild ~ modern way of meeting daily. I can see only beauty in my story if it links hands to bless.

I respect busyness and understand needing a place to come quite, read and leave. My friend if there is another reason…

Please know my story is the lines of a real and tangible life. I have failed ugly and I have wept deep, I have a daily history of humanness, I search beauty and crave heaven ~ this is my journey journal. If I could I would sit with you at Starbucks share a tea and a laugh and because we are women, slip tears. But I live far…

So may I invite you, earnestly, to join me in this blogging way of friendship. Some have asked for the comment section to open, really? Will this help? Is it truly less intimidating then an email? I am of the Kindred Spirit cloth. And pray, wish, hope, hold my breath, to be a friend of yours!

Mothering Monday ~ Simply a Day

2011-03-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share the rolling of my days. I learn by seeing and listening to how other families run. Though I think my life is essentially rather mundane ~ filled with the wiping, tiding, teaching and correcting, sloshed around with the constants of food and sleep. This is how my days look...

My day starts early. I am naturally a morning person and enjoy having a few hours to my self before my family greets my ‘mothering’ day. In that time I get ready, devotions, email/blog, and make breakfast.

I have taught my kids that they can not meander out of bed until 7a.m ( I use a large digital clock and a piece of paper with the time they can come out, even pre-schoolers can fallow simple time frames on their own, with this method)

My kids are suppose to make beds and get dressed before coming for breakfast, but honestly this never happens, there is something in every younger kid that needs a solid cuddle before their day starts!

After breakfast and dressing, we head out doors and I walk with a friend, Marion bikes, and Davina and Lachlan get pushed in the stroller, we power walk for 30-40 minutes. I have found this a great way to start my school day, Marion’s energy is settled and she is more focused. I feel at this point my personal importance of the day have been accomplished, devotions and exercise!

The girls then practice their music for 15 minutes. I have learnt a lot from the brilliant educator Charlotte Mason. One of her findings and successes with teaching children is to give children small but meaningful bites of learning. Her way of doing this was by (in the young years) only spending 10-15 minutes on a subject. When I read of this teaching/learning method it confirmed what I had observed while working with kids. That in most cases a child’s attention span is double their age (a two year old will give you 4 minutes of attention) (a minute or so less for a boy). Until they hit about eight years of age, and then attention spans greatly increases.
I have used this principle in my teaching and have found it to be a great principle reaping good results.

We then do chores.

Lachaln has his morning nap.

9am – 12:00 school.

12:30 – 1:30 Roger is home for lunch.

When Lachlan goes down for his afternoon nap (this is a bit of a rolling time, dependant on his previous naps wake time) I also put the girls in their room for what we call book time. They get a stack of books and have to sit on their beds and read for 1 hour. We employ the clock method again, when an hour is up they can come out of their room. If they disrupt this time for goofiness or disobedience they have that time added to their bedtime, for instance if one of the girls is acting up or comes out of her room 20 minutes into book time, she will have to go to bed 40 minutes early. I am very strict with this time and will defend it fiercely! In this one hour I race around getting things done that are much easier with out three littles underfoot. Often this means I am in the kitchen making dinner. My goal is to end this time with at least 10 minutes to saviour a cup of tea and chocolate, uninterrupted so I can actually taste my calories!

Once book time is over, the girls have free time. We then move on to a project of sorts, we cook or craft together. I allow this block of time to be a ‘freelance’ rotation, either to get caught up on extra projects or to enjoy a set play thing. I will often take some of this time to tackle an extra job, make granola, fold laundry, wash widows, or anything that is pressing to get done. Marion also has her music lessons during that this time. I move my kids along through out the afternoon projects. They generally only have an hour or so of ‘free time’ in an afternoon (I explain more about this in another post.)

4:30 Clean up time

5:00 Out door time/ swimming lessons

6:00 Bath time

6:30 – 7:00 Dinner

7:00 Lachlan goes to bed

Story time

Devotions as a family

7:45-8:00 Girls in bed

Roger and I tidy up and do dishes

FREE TIME! ~ Rather short-lived as I am always in bed by 9:00!

I hope you enjoyed coming along with us today. The above plan is simply a format and not the rule, nor does every day look the same or down to the finite minutes. It is helpful to me to know there will be respites throughout my day, and eliminates questioning from my children as of what to do next. It works for me!

Timorous

2011-03-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

{A humbled repost ~ joining in with other speaking sisters. Ann's beautiful grace is giving generously again. Come voice with this community (click here) }

Birthday Bakery

2011-03-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

The girl’s birthdays were celebrated bakery style. The goal was to create a bakery kid height, kid style, with kid bite sized foods.

The little ladies and I made all the tasties, menu prepared by the celebrants their selves! I covered a piece of wood in drawer liner paper I bought from Walmart for $5.00. It set the background nicely. The flag banners were EASILY made out of tissue paper and a stapler.

Every guest got a stash of bakery currency...buttons. They enjoyed following the price list! We had a cash register set up. They were able to go and choose out their own goodies and then had to purchase them.

There was plenty of tempting treats along with decorating and delighting!

The party favours were aprons. Which the kids and parents loved! I bought the white aprons on Amazon for $2.00 dollars each and then sewed the cupcakes on tot he front. So Easy, So Cheap!

We had a lovely time and our sweet birthday girls were happy bakers! I must mention two very sweet ladies dashed this birthday with generosity… A dear friend made the little doughnuts and sent them over just before needing me to fry them up. They were a tasty hit, Thank you Amy! My talented friend Lori sent us to Africa with a stash of cupcake toppers she had made! We have had so much fun using them in a myriad of ways that I would like to give some to you also, for more details look up in the ‘gift give-away’ tab on the menu bar.

Another year down, I pray, many more to come!

Mothering Mondays ~ Making Memories ~ Part 2

2011-03-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Mothers

Last week I shared some of the special things we do with our children month by month. I wondered if it really was valuable enough of a topic to use space on the Mothering Mondays? I am sure there are many topics that are more important then this one... BUT... When I laid in bed last night, not able to sleep... I began to ponder the events of that day. It was a normal day. A day where I continue to rest allowing my body to heal after my hip replacement... until the afternoon, when I asked the children if they would like to plan the March Party... which is a double party... Purim (Jewish Feast), and our First Day of Spring Party.
My children’s faces lit... they went and got our " Purim " box with everything from props, to shakers, to home-made scrolls, sceptres etc. They started to reminisce about the parties in the past. They made lists of things to make and add to what we have and most of all they asked if we could invite alot of friends. So we did... and hopefully if they all can come we will have over 30 guests. My children reminded me more then once that this is their FAVORITE feast.
I am a happy mother! What a wonderful blessing to remember the beautiful story of Esther. I remember in the past how a sweet peace filled our homes for days after, and I sensed God’s kindness upon our home. I am excited. I am grateful that my children are excited.

So, maybe this is a fine topic to fill the Mothering Mondays Spot... and so... here I am again... desiring to share some of our monthly memories and hoping that it will inspire, or confirm to you that special times at home do strengthen the family bond.

Lets dive into the month of June.

The party I remember fondly was one that Rosaleen hosted while visiting us. She told her younger siblings that she would host a party for them and their friends... all they had to do was pick a theme. Well... they chose " A Nature Party"... Again, while they were making all the things for the party, the food and goodie bag’s it kept the children happy for several days. The day of the party was gorgeous and so the games and snacks could all be enjoyed outside in nature.
From tiny bird nests, scavenger hunts, sketching and lots of yummy snacks... the party was a huge success and two years later, the banner still graces our homeschool wall. I think that pictures are like 1000 words. They will sum up the delightful afternoon.

July and August... are not always the time for special parties, simply because living where we do and having the hot summer weather is like celebrating day by day. Its a time of horse back riding and dirt biking, taking the small boat with electric motor in our lake or swimming in our pool. It’s a time of picking the many wild flowers, or having a picnic in the untouched wilderness that surrounds us. A time for fishing, for gardening, enjoying new life ~ like calves, baby goats, chicks and ducklings.

It is a time for collecting 100's of frogs and leeches and making forts and swinging from our many swings and zip line. Its a time for make believe. Playing their log playhouse or travelling in the home-made chuck wagon or perhaps living and preparing your meal in a open fire at the Native Village a little ways from the pioneer home. Or you might be the schoolteacher in the pioneer school lovely decorated in the hayloft of our barn. I love watching the children wash their play clothes in the lake, picking peas, strawberries and herbs to eat, right out of the garden. Summertime is a time of overflowing blessings. The simple things like dirty faces and grins and the many, many bouquets of flowers. They are the two months that fly by quickly!

September... school again! Happy children, and a happy Mama. We always try to start the year celebrating. This past year, we invited our friends over and had a time of games and our supper bon fire ended up being indoors because it was a very windy day. For dessert, my children baked a sheet cake and then with many colours they 'made' a map of Canada and labelled all the provinces and bodies of water. We also had a time of prayer with our friends, committing the school year to God. A pleasant day, a day that helped my children focus on the privilege of living like they do. I could feel my children changing almost like the autumn around us. Contentment for the satisfying summer they had, and joy to be learning again, knowing that the days of drinking tea and reading many good books was here once again.

Well, I could go on and on and finish the year telling you more and more stories, capping times we have had as a family... but I just want to use these last few lines to leave you with a nugget from my heart. Children grow up fast... very fast. Making memories is very important and often the thing they remember the longest as adults. Waiting for enough money or this or that will always give you a reason to put it off making a memory. Be creative, resourceful and you will be amazed on how little it took to have a great time with your children.... who will be smiling and loving life!

Blessing to you all...

Alice

Mother’s you are the guests of honour on Mondays and because you mother, are the giver of gifts, and pour out from your life ~ life to your children. I wish to send you something to let you know you are remarkable! And I know that! I know you often give more then you have to give. Every week I will have a little treasured package carefully chosen out to bless your mothering ambitions. All you must do is quietly slip your name into my inbox and I will fold your name into a draw. On Fridays I will randomly choose one of your beautiful names, then as quickly as I can, get it sent off to balm your long days. Email me at rogerandrosaleen@gmail.com and I would be delighted to add your name to this weeks gift give away!

Bakery

2011-03-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

Has time truly slipped into a new month?

My February birthed babes have been hinting on a celebration…

Two charmers gathered the recipes, flour and sugars of colour…

Mama has been mixing and stringing and crafting and delighting my two-treasures…

I think this ‘Bakery Celebration’ may be open for fun this coming weekend…

Cape Town

2011-03-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

Truly a thrilling city! The sun and the sea and oh how they meet! I could have had more time experiencing this city...

We stayed at a very chic villa, hosting extraordinary views! Table Top Mountain blessed us with a perfect walk in the clouds.

It took all of Roger's persuasiveness to get me back to Nigeria, I sure you can all see why!

The lot of us travelers.

Achromatic Artistry

2011-03-01T08:26:00.001-08:00

The sea blew a silken grey around the senses,

A seek in steel,

Achromatic artistry,

Alive with adventure,

Charcoal sketched sand,

Pendants of dampened sky slipping into the moist of memories.

Mothering Mondays ~ Making Memories

2011-02-28T05:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Mothers,

Today I would like to share something from my heart that has been important to me through out my 'mothering ' years. It is about creating memories, creating happy times that make our children laugh and smile and enjoy daily living! I am passionate about this because I have seen the good that has come out of creating memories. I have seen how activities like the ones I am about to share about have knitted our family together tightly. It has aloud me to mould my children’s hearts as they have seen my love displayed in the efforts made to ' bless ' them and they have felt good about themselves.

When I talk about memory building, I do not mean making traditional holidays good memories... no… I am actually talking about making memories spontaneously… Just for the simple reason of loving life and living purposefully. Years ago I adopted an idea from a children’s book I read by Tasha Tudor. The book is called " A Time For Everything" In this beautifully written and illustrated book, Tasha writes about special memories they made, month by month...

I think I will do the same and share some of the memories we made this past year...

January: The children and I thought it would be great to a have a party to bless a girl that we had got to know. She is so sweet and unfortunately lonely as she has no brothers or sisters and lives with her Grandmother. So in our planning of our party, we knew she loved rabbits, but did not have one. We asked the grandmother if we could buy one for her and the grandmother agreed. So on the day of the surprise party our house was humming with " rabbit '" theme decorating, a poster on her plate telling her that she is special, a " rabbit " welcome sign on the door and a table set with tea cups, goodies, and ' rabbit ' cookies ready to be decorated etc. My children loved it.... And preparing for the party was as much fun as having the party!
When she arrived, and realised that she was the " guest " of honour ... she was flushed with happiness. The children gave her a basket of small gifts and on the bottom of the basket was the first note of a scavenger hunt that ended with her opening a picnic basket to find a live rabbit. She was so overjoyed, tears slipped out of the corner of her eyes... she could not believe it. She was so happy, she could hardly put the rabbit down to decorate her cookies!
At the end of the party, I asked my children what they thought of it all, and they all agreed that it was so wonderful to bless their friend. My children were happy!

February: Valentines Party ...with a twist...
This past year, I hosted a valentine party for my children and 6 guests. My children and their friends really love their stuffed toys and I wanted to include them somehow so... prior to the party, we asked our friends to let us know the name of their favourite stuffy. Instead of the children making cards for each other, their stuffy made a card for the other stuffs. I had a beautiful sparrow that we dubbed as the postmistress and when the children arrived all the cards were dropped in a wicker basket that looked like a house with a roof that opened. Later, the ' sparrow ‘ delivered all the cards to the right animal. I had games that included both children and stuffy.
We set the table very festive, with a heart tablecloth ...candles glowing and little wooden trough for the " stuffys " snacks!
The party was a success and my children smiled right into the month of March!

March: Many years ago we began hosting and celebrating " A First Day of Spring Party ". We all love this party. This is how we celebrate it. We invite our friends and family over for an afternoon of fellowship and fun. The fun is that this is the one-day of the year that we eat ice cream in every way you can! Ice cream a la mode, ice cream with brownies, banana splits, sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream cones, ice cream with fruit, ice cream cake... my 10-ft table is full from end to end. We decorate with pictures of baby lambs, chicks and flowers etc. I often have hoped our sheep would have lammed and we would bring a sweet lamb inside to be held and cuddled by my children and their friends. A couple of years ago... we timed the hatching of chicks to fall on the first day of spring!
Sometimes the Jewish Feast of Purim would fall on the same day and so we would have a combined feast of remembering the story of Esther and then ending the day with ice cream of all sorts.
My children’s face glowed with happiness and excitement for days before the party and after !

April: A & W and Movie Night. Here in the Cariboo my children are getting restless. The snow is melting finally and it is time for some fun to get us through the 'muddy ' month. In the past years we have done several theme parties. One party Rosaleen hosted (when I was giving birth to my 11 child) theme was "junk food party " They invited cousins and played games and enjoyed junk food ! We also have hosted ' bon - fire ' parties. We would invite families over and even us Moms were ready to enjoy the outdoors after months of being inside. We made our bonfire right by the animal barn so that we could enjoy our
Livestock and take in the delicious smells of hay and animals.
But the one I want to talk about is, A & W and movie party. It all started with going to our local A & W where I asked for enough cup lids, straws, foil wrap for hamburgers, paper holders for french fries, ketchup packs etc (I paid a small amount for these items) We set a date, sent our some invitations. My children were getting excited for the day of hosting a restaurant and movie night for their friends.
On the day of our party, we made home-made hamburgers and wrapped them in the foil envelope and fries in their holders, milkshakes or root beer floats and set up the kitchen like a fast food outlet. We had little trays and napkins and our guests stood in line, as my girls took their orders. In the background we had fun music playing and the atmosphere was that of laughter and fun at its best.
After everyone enjoyed dinner and a bit of free time, the guests bought their movie tickets and popcorn made by my children and enjoyed a wholesome movie in our ' home-made ' theatre! The party was fun and left my children with a lot of good memories. Not only that, they raised some money for a worthy cause!

May: This past May I was thinking of an idea when a good friend of mine asked us if we would like to come and have a party at her house. She called it “ Sandwich Day! " Yes...we were game and we had a great time at her home. The date was set for May 25th! Bright and early that morning we got a phone call telling us that Little Lachlan was born! All the little children were auntie’s and uncle again and I was blessed to be a Grandmother again. We were so happy, we could hardly settle down to do school... and how fitting to be celebrating at noon with a " Sandwich " party! When we arrived at our friends, we made them guess our good news, which added to the celebration!
The sandwich making was so much fun. My friend baked the loaf of bread and then the children all took turns adding ingredients. I think there were 15 entries! Now for eating it... my… it was so yummy and fun to eat! We all sat around the table laughing and telling stories. The fellowship was refreshing!
After that the children played outside in the warm sunshine and we ended up finishing our party with pie! Look at the pictures. Look at the happy children… does life get any better then this?

That is all for now, and my prayer for all you dear Mothers is that you might have found some encouragement. May you enjoy the seasons of mothering and find contentment and peace inside your homes.

Blessings Alice

~

Mother’s you are the guests of honour on Mondays and because you mother, are the giver of gifts, and pour out from your life ~ life to your children. I wish to send you something to let you know you are remarkable! And I know that! I know you often give more then you have to give. Every week I will have a little treasured package carefully chosen out to bless your mothering ambitions. All you must do is quietly slip your name into my inbox and I will fold your name into a draw. On Fridays I will randomly choose one of your beautiful names, then as quickly as I can, get it sent off to balm your long days. Email me at rogerandrosaleen@gmail.com and I would be delighted to add your name to this weeks gift give away!

White Sands Villa

2011-02-25T05:54:00.000-08:00

The sky rolled blue above and the sea dazzled turquoise bellow.

It was like stepping into my mountain home, except a world of sea away.

Everything was awash in white

The furl of rose petals woven into linen.

Lavender hedged the lawn, pillows, down, the sea breeze.

Antique charm, rustic warmth.

Baskets and hats and the beckoning beach with treasures to be found,

Every chair the view of waves.

My heart beat beauty joy.

Sea Dreams

2011-02-24T05:22:00.000-08:00

Today the holiday is officially over, three feverish babes, bathed in tears!

I am dreaming of blue skies…

Shall we dream together?

Just don’t dream to long about the handsome kayaker or chubby sand-eating baby, their all mine!

~

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Have I mentioned we were blessed to have travelled with our dear friends?

~

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Blue Beauty

2011-02-22T23:41:00.000-08:00

Our dancing girl whirled and twirled a year away, and now she is four. More stunning then ever. Living daily up to her meaning

~ Beloved Beauty ~

Vibrant and lovely she exudes life’s excitement.

Leading us in the dance of HER, captivating ~ always ~ captivating!

Sea Serenade

2011-02-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

I curl my feet ~ heart ~ into warm cascading earth. A masterpiece changing with the lapsing waves. It is here I feel my home. I hear the ocean’s serenade, a sea lullaby, sung for me, danced by my daughters.

This is the holiday ~ ebbing beauty ~ I know to soak in this reflection of majesty, to bask in it’s grandeur, to memorise these fingerprints of heaven.

There is no rival elixir then sea-spray for this ocean born gal and I drunk a full portion, letting refreshment soak deep.

Seven days of blue on brilliant blue from sunrise to sunset and it took each moment to fill my nature drained soul.

Gratefulness takes the turning tides home!

Reluctant Return

2011-02-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

Holiday has slipped behind into memory. The sand has been washed and sea smells faint. Rejuvenation the lasting souvenir. I have beauty caption to share, once I creak out my typing fingers…

I have missed you.

Hope you well...

A Gift For You

2011-02-11T02:51:00.001-08:00

Another uplifting journey with you. I am daily reminded and encouraged by each of you amazing Mother's. This weeks Mothering gift will be sent to Nikko, on the cold and blustery West Coast Island, I hope you feel wrapped in warmth and care. That this gift will welcome spring colours into your Mothering days.

I welcome each of you. And would love to continue meeting the people who pass by these pages. An email can feel incredible personal, please believe me when I say I am delighted when in the company of a friend and I desire to be that with you.

Off to the Cape

2011-02-10T05:42:00.000-08:00

I am off again. This time we are heading down to the Cape. This families, first sojourn to South Africa. We first had plans to go to Egypt, well, then we changed ideas and had booked a place in Mombasa Kenya, and then I saw a few pictures of White Sands Villa on the Cape, It was then officially set, firm in my heart!

I had a few intense requirements. Fresh Ocean air with a chair facing it (with me in it of course!) By the sounds of it I will be getting both!

Six months in Lagos is a sure way to earn a holiday. And I am counting the moments…

I have a feeling holiday mood is going to set in fierce once I see,smell and hear the sea, so I am going to let ‘holiday time’ guide my blogging. It might be a week or so until we meet again unless I can not withdraw from writing for that long. Words are a way I store treasures.

May I ask that we close up this week’s Mothering gift a day early? If you are interested in receiving this week’s Mothering gift (information in the ‘gift give-away’ tab on the menu bar) please add your name today so I can send the gift tomorrow before I leave. You are so very gracious and sweet.

I will be thinking of you, Dear friends!

Tessellation

2011-02-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

My Blue eyed girl has a knack for puzzle making.

Easily piecing a hundred shapes together…on her own.

It can be a challenge keeping young minds occupied and learning all while having fun.

A few wooden shapes mix learning and enjoyment perfectly.

And keeps those blue eyes sparkling with content and satisfacion.

Celebrations

2011-02-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

We had a celebration of a weekend with Marion’s seventh Birthday. What a Joy!

Love that Girl!