New Beginnings

It's about time to post an update on here! I had a couple of drafts I intended to post, but sometimes if I can't quite put into words what I want to say, and if it doesn't feel right to me, there it sits until I feel ruthless and delete.

December was full... Chloe and Abigail had their birthdays, which we celebrated by having a tea party. Abi is four years old now! She strives to keep up with her big sisters in all things.

When I was shopping for her birthday, I asked her what is her favorite thing to play with.

After some time, she said, "Mommy, my favorite thing to play with is my sisters!"

Chloe is six years old. She is discovering the joys of reading, this winter. Also, she and Hadassah spend as much time as possible playing outside if there is any snow. We have clean fresh snow blanketing the ground again today!

Chloe wanted these pink snowballs instead of birthday cake this year, which was a blessing for this morning sick mom! Also special because they were a favorite of my Dad's!

Yes, one of the new beginnings for us is the expected arrival of a baby in July!

We are most excited, since there are miscarriages in my past. I am now in the beginning of the 15th week, and so far there have been no complications. The girls are tickled at the thought of a baby in the house. It will be a bit different for me, having older children to help. Last time my oldest was 6, with a 4 year old, and a 2 year old. Damaris will be 11 the same month the baby is due, and the others will be 8, 6, and 4. I am already gearing towards using their help a bit more than I have been. There are simple things they are learning to cook, etc. that will be a welcome assistance with a newborn in the family!

Another new beginning is that Damaris has started taking piano lessons. Our closest neighbor lady offered to start teaching her what she knows, which is very sweet of her and convenient for us! We just trudge up over the hill. On these snowy days, we don't need to venture down our hill, nor up her even longer one.

It seems like 2010 flew by on swift wings. We have before us an uncharted year. It will be interesting to see what events the grace of God will see us through, what new joys and old hopes are fulfilled in the days ahead. I'm just so glad that mercies are new every morning!

May our days be numbered by the many blessings of being saved on a daily basis, growing into the image of our precious Lord Jesus!

Emmanuel - God with us!

The stable was the first place God dwelt with us in the flesh, because first things first.

A king was born one silent night,

Not in a castle, but out of sight

In a cobwebby stable that smelled of hay

God ushered in a brand new way.

He came as a babe, for as we all know,

To learn to obey is the way we should go.

He humbled Himself and came as a son

Who went on to be the Obedient One.

He says the humble shall hear

And the humble shall see.

Humble yourselves in the sight of Me.

I'm looking for room, in hearts, don't you see?

Please humble yourselves and dwell with Me.

Let's join Him in the manger...

The manner of His entrance into the world was known and orchestrated. It was not impromptu.

As He stepped into time, He was also conducting the orchestra of His life.

He chose every word and action to perfectly reflect His Father, and ours.

He did not dodge any aspect of difficulty that being a true son of His Father might give rise to. He was a man, in the truest sense of the title. He was also "God with us".

In order to experience His abundant life, we need to follow Him, and be in all points, as He is.

He was born into impossibilities... no room in the inn, a king set to kill him, appearing of not only doubtful, but shameful parentage.

May we surrender the "impossibilities" in our lives and hearts to Him, who is so able to turn dirges into dances, cold dark nights into bright sunny mornings, and all that is meant for evil into astonishing good!

GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE, WITH EARS TO HEAR AND EYES TO SEE.

May we know, in the deepest recesses of our hearts, just WHO our Saviour is.

May we grasp in an ever-deepening way, what "God with us" really means, experiencing it every day of our lives.

Happiest and most Blessed Christmas to each of you!

Corn Maze Fun

One of Abe's organic hay customers tried something new this year. They did this HUGE corn maze. He gave us free tickets to go thru it. Somehow it didn't seem that exciting and the days kept going by...
Then one Saturday Abe was out hauling hay and he called and said he would be coming by there, and if we wanted to meet him there, we could check it out. So we did.
This picture is the view from up on one of the stairs/bridges they have in the maze.

I must say it was a lot more fun than I expected. The girls really enjoyed it! The air was brisk and fresh. They had a bunch of points where there was a sign with an early American history question, with multiple choice answers. Each answer had a corresponding arrow, giving you a clue of where you should go (that is, if you got the right answer!).
We never got majorly lost, and for another time it might be fun to go in without a map, and see what happens! :)

There was actually three mazes. The kid's one was pretty easy and small. The two others were much more involved. We went thru them all.

They had a bunch of other family fun things to do, mostly involving corn. Cornhole game, and this big slide where you go flying down into a "corn" box (like a sand box). That was a big hit! They had a small train pulling barrel cars for the kids to ride, numerous campfires to sit around, and old-fashioned, cooked in a big cast iron kettle, stew, also hamburgers and hot dogs. They had a teepee set up with a fire pit in the middle that was pretty neat, too.

All in all, it was well worth going, and the girls enthusiastically said they'd want to go again next year.

(Click here to visit their website and see an aerial picture of the maze.)

Come Forth Gold

There is this grove of trees close to our house. Somehow I have never yet determined what species it is. I sure do enjoy them though!

They are gloriously gold right now. When the sun hits them in the evening, it creates such a glow.

These leaves, I believe, are from a tulip poplar.
When they caught my attention, and I snapped this picture, I did not realize that there were actually two leaves.

When my life is done
This is how I want to fall.
Two, better than one.

More Fall Glory

Going up our drive...

Almost bare... a few leaves with a tenacious grip...

Home Sweet Home!

Haiku:
Today is your day.
Blaze your heart out, young maple,
It's your time to shine.

Thinning leaves create
Opportunity for sun
Light to penetrate.

Fall Glory

Here are a few pictures I like, from this month. It has not been the most colorful fall on record, but I find I am enjoying individual trees more. Certain ones stand out, each with a glory all it's own.

October Sunset

The evening of the 17th, we had the most beautiful sunset! Of course photos do not do it justice...

It changed so rapidly and varied so much from beginning to end.
Pictures taken from one moment to the next, were different. It's like a show going on, and if you look away, you miss part of it.
This show is one of a kind, never to be duplicated exactly the same way.

For some reason, it occured to me to wonder... What do the colors come from?
I can not remember ever hearing (or reading) anything about it.
What is the scientific explanation?

I love WHO colors it for us!

What a lovely way to say goodnight to a day!