Time Marches On

Is it just me or is time done marching and now it's just flat out running!
  Bentley's first year has just flown by.  Can't believe he's one year old.

And Bevan graduated!  Now I have 2 adult children. How did that even happen?

  A couple more days and the "bigs" are all off to camp for the summer.  Two are missionaries there and one volunteer staff.
  I will be here with the 3 littles and no bigs. Well there is Daddy😉
  Time to get my "how to keep little people occupied " hat!  Suggestions are welcome!  Goodness chores will be interesting.
  Tomorrow is the beginning of a new month. Time to wrap up June.  It feels like June just started!

Father's Day

I have been blessed to have 2 Dads.  My Dad passed away when I was 18.  That was so hard and I learned so much about who God is in dark times.
My step Dad was such a great Papa to my youngins.  He passed away in 2011.  Again I learned more about God.  How we are really living in boot camp and the goal is eternity not here.
My Father in law is a great Dad.  A wonderful papa who likes to show the little ones the big wide world and spur the big ones on to good works.
Then there's my husband.  He's the best Dad I've ever known.  He's gentle yet firm when needed.  He loves to spend time with his kids playing but also teaching them to work hard.   Sharing God is of utmost importance and love.  Love for God, for each other and for others.
Of course nothing tops our Heavenly Father.  What a good Father we have.  He provides all our needs, cares about our cares and loves us more than we can ever fathom.  Oh that I can know Him more!

The prodigal blogger

So its been a few....years.  Sorry about that.
But I have returned and I feel the need to write!
Some catch up for you.  We added one more child bringing us up to 7.  The oldest now graduated and living on his own. Still on our 82 acres with the parents.
I am amazed at the growing up of my younguns and still revelling in the babydom of the littlest.
It feels like I go in a million different directions everyday.   Its marvelous and exhausting at the same time.
Stay tuned for posts about the latest babe.  He's almost 1yr😁

  Here we are.  A week from our due date.  I don't feel rushed, I'm ready to wait till he's ready.  Maybe he'll be here by the 16th.
  Dr. has tried to check and even offered to strip membranes.  I said "No thanks!"   Both the Doc and the Nurse were surprised that I was not interested in any of that. 
   Today we or I should say Josh and the boys are doing house demo and rearrange.  I'm washing baby clothes, thinking about packing a bag, and getting Bradon into one math lesson. 
   I think I'll get the carseat washed up and the bassenet, although I plan on having the sugar baby sleep with us. 
   
  Update: Bowen was born on April 16th.  Dr. A tried to break my water 45min later he was out! He was hung up for a bit by a shoulder. 

   I love Ann Voskamp's idea of a Prayer Bench.  I would love to have one in my house. 
  Finding a good spot is a tricky.  I think it's such a great thing.

Maybe this is something we can consider while we renovate. 

911 (from Dec. 2012)

      I called 911 for the first time in my life.  Christmas Eve.  I hope I never have to do that again, but it's nice to know that there is someone to call that can get you an ambulance when you need one.  Even though it took them over 15mins to get here.
The kids were out sledding, Auntie M and I were getting the Littles all geared up to join the Bigs outside.  The Bigs were waiting for the Littles, they decided to hit the "big" hill a couple of times while they waited.   Only it hadn't snowed in a few days, it had rained, the hill was a little slick.  My 13yr old usually very cautious boy hopped on a saucer, like he had done everyday the past few days.  The ride was a lot faster than he anticipated and the saucer jumped the run.  His knee sunk into a little hole abrubtly stopping him his leg hitting the log behind the hole. 
       Josh was watching from the window, with our company.  He knew instantly something was wrong.  He passed me on his way out saying, "Bevan stopped kind of sudden I'm going to see if he's ok."
Right away my alarm went off, because my husband is not the kind of Dad who runs at every booboo.   I panic at most things, "She has a toothpick in her knee! We're going to the emergency room"  Josh would say, "Hang on, I've got plyers!"
I knew something was not right.  I looked out the window.  My 16yr old was on the ground beside his younger brother who was laying there not moving.  He was talking to him, keeping him company.  I was worried but I knew Josh was on his way down, I heard the snowmobile zip by the house. 
   Auntie M and I got the kids outside on the "little" hill and I ran over to the "big" hill.  I had my cell phone, I'm not sure why I did.  Josh was already down there with him.  So was Mr. M and Uncle J.   The look on Josh's face sent me into sheer panic mode and I yelled down the hill to them, "I'm calling an ambulance!!"  He looked up at me and his words did not match his face.  "Just a minute"  I hung on just one second and called 911! 
   The very great and wonderful men here very carefully lifted my broken boy into a plastic tobagon and carried him into the house.   Big brother and cousin ran to the road to make sure the ambulance knew where to go.
   His leg looked awful, he was in so much pain.  It was heartwrenching.  I was down on the ground by his head.  I talked to him, prayed with him, and tried to keep him awake.  The poor guy just wanted to sleep. 
    The fire crew arrived first.  They cut off his boot, snow pants and pants.  He was not impressed.  Then the ambulance got there.  They gave him some laughing gas to help with pain.  They, with the help of Uncle J, pulled his leg straight. 
     Then we were whisked away in the ambulance.  I thought we were through the worst part.  I was wrong.  Mucsle spasms kept making my baby scream.  He would dilegently take deep breaths of the gas.  At the hospital, the part where you think it's all going to get better, it got worse.  They gave him morophine which helped with the pain, but because he is rarely even on tylenol or advil the moropine really effected him.  His breathing got really slow.  Now the nurses were good, they didn't let on how scared they were till after.  I was curious about why they wanted me to keep telling him to breath. 
   That was not the worst, the worst was coming.  I am not sure how long we waited for x-ray.  It's all a blurr.  They were wheeling us into the x-ray room.   The nurse told me that they gave him a sedative and he would sleep through all this.  WRONG!  He reacted badlly the meds and had nightmares out loud!  I stayed by his head and talked him though it. 
   They put his leg in a different traction contraption.  They gave him an antidote to the sedative and he finally slept. 
   We were back in ER waiting for a transfer team.  Now I'm told we don't have an Orthepedic surgeon so we need to go to PG or Vancouver.  There is however Dr. T who is out of Kitimat and PR, so if we're lucky and he answers his phone then we could go there. 
   I am still breastfeeding baby B, and I'm trying to think what to do if I'm gone too long. 
We put it on the prayer chain
 

Do you even know me anymore?

   Did I ever tell you about the time I had a 9lb 4oz baby boy?  Or that time we up and moved to 82 acres?  Or how about when we went 2 days with no electricity?  Or when....well I think it's been a long time since I blogged.
    Perhaps it's even time for a new introduction.  Do you even know me anymore?
    Life has a way of getting busy, but I'm back to fill you in a little. (Thank goodness for Facebook or you really wouldn't remember me at all!)
   
   We have chickens again.  Remember when we did that a few years ago.   Only this time they are standard size.  Which means we'll have normal sized eggs. 

We have 3 barnvelders, 6 americaunas, and 1 icelandic.

The plan is to get some meat birds too.    I will be adding some Jersey Giants to my flock soon.

 

We know live nestled into Bornite Mountain.  We have waterfalls, a mine, rolling hills and lots of room to run.  The house is nice too.

We don't live here alone.  My in-laws live here too.  In their own house, across the lawn. 

 

 

Now we just need to finish the other house so we can sell it.
Finishing the last month of school and heading for Summer!
So glad the warm weather is here:)

 

 



Homeschool 2012/2013

This year I have grade 11, 8, 7, 5 and a pre-schooler. 

I've been using Tapestry of Grace for 5 years.  This covers every one's LA, Socials, Bible and Geography. ( I have pictures of our lap books and salt maps but I'm having trouble loading them)

For Science we are using Apologia.   We'll be using Exploring Creation with Chemistry,  Exploring Creation with General Science, Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy.  I get the notebook journals for the younger students.  

Math for my grade 8 and 11 students is
Video Text. 
My younger ones are using Teaching Textbooks Math.

Copy work for Grades 7 & 5 is A Reason for Handwriting.

We use Spelling Power.

I love TOG.  It's such a rich and full curriculum.

Preparations

   
    I don't know if I've ever shared here what I do. 
    You see since my first labor and delivery was so long and difficult I decided to learn a few things.  With my first I walked, a lot!  That was all I did.  Perhaps if I had known that I was getting ready for a 26 hr marathon I would have done more.
   With my next baby I dug into research.  I realized one of the reasons I had such a hard time with the first was baby's posterior position.   I was ready to do all I could to make sure that baby #2 was not going to be posterior!  I found out that being on all fours would use gravity to turn baby.  I spent a lot of time crawling around on in our little trailer.  Which my 2yr old loved.   I also did side lunges with my foot on a chair or stool.
   Baby #2 was a brief 4hrs.  That was good.  But I still had stitches, not as bad as the first, but I really believed there was more that I could have done.  Or done different. 
  With #3 I discovered that it wasn't more I needed to do but less.  Less pushing.  Or actually no pushing, more of a "blowing air into a balloon" technique.   This baby was out in 2 1/2 hrs, and I didn't push, and I didn't need any stitches.  I had also added red raspberry leaf tea to my prep list.   This was by far the easiest labor, not painful, intense and quick, but not painful.  Unfortunately this one I post partum hemorrhaged.
   There are lots of details that I'm leaving out.  I mostly want to focus on the preparing for labor.  
  #4  I was in the hospital 45min.  I think all total that labor was 1 1/2.  Again, the exercises, the tea, the no pushing. 
  #5 well it had been 6 yrs since #4, I wasn't doing much for exercise and because of the medication I was on for her heart I was pretty inactive.  I was afraid to take the tea in case it interacted with the drugs.  But I still applied my "no pushing" and I didn't get a single stitch.  Plus her head was in transverse position and I delivered her that way (not a stitch!).  That labor took about 7hrs.
  Here we are with baby #6.  I have found new exercises to add to my list.  I have been doing the all fours with pelvic tilts.  I just added one forward-leaning inversion a day.  I make sure I sit straight, not reclined.  I have at least 1 if not 2 cups of red raspberry leaf tea a day.
   If you are pregnant, no matter what number you are on, I highly recommend Spinning Babies.com.
  There is a wealth of information there.  Not just to prepare your body for labor, but even what to do in labor. 
   I've been a little hesitant to write on here what I do in labor.  Only because I don't think everyone wants to know.  If you want me to write about the labor and delivery part let me know.
 

Amazed

  Well I didn't finish the Joy Dare. 
  I did however while sitting here looking at FB have an amazing realization. 
 9:30 am is around the time that Josh phones from work. He usually catches me still in bed, usually with a pre-schooler climbing around my head or she's stacking up pillows and using my knees as a launch pad.  Anyway the point is my feet have not yet hit the floor.   I started the Hello Mornings Challenge from Inspired to Action.  
  For the past couple of weeks when Josh calls I'm already done my coffee, and school assignments are started. 
  TODAY.....he hasn't called yet and I've already been to the grocery store and back!!!! Miraculous!  Although I probably wouldn't have left the house if the kids were not attending Spiritual Emphasis Week.   And to be totally honest I wouldn't not have dashed in for a few things IF I had not been totally out of dishwasher detergent. ;)
   Yet I sit here still amazed at what has been accomplished in the time that I would have previously still been in bed! ;)

Joy Dare 19

19. a grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might never have been.

~ A sink that both sides work, thanks to my handy hubby

~ With this -23 feels like -39 weather I find it really hard to find something thankful.  But the sun is shining and that is bright beauty, we can enjoy from inside.

~ I have a few graces that might never have been.  Right now I'm thankful for a 3yr old girl who came 6 years after her sibs and the little one that will follow her.  Had we been "planning" things they might never have been.

Joy Dare 18

18. 3 gifts from God's Word.
 ~ "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord" Ps.112:7

 ~ "For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice]." Romans 8:3

 ~ "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who  live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gal. 2:20

Joy Dare 13 -17

When Josh is home it's hard for me to get over here.

13. 3 sounds you hear.
 ~ The quietness of children busy at their school work.
 ~ The giggles of a 3 year old
 ~The diesel truck warming up outside

14. 3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God.
 ~ A hug
 ~ The smiles of my children
 ~ How peaceful they look while sleeping

15. one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared.
 ~Maternity jeans that don't make me feel fat or frumpy
 ~boys clothes that have been outgrown
 ~tears for a friend gone Home

16. 3 ways you witnessed happiness today.
 ~ Hubby's happy about yummy coffee
 ~ Madi's happy to cuddle in bed with me, so am I
 ~ 9 year old happy with getting her Math correct

17. one gift that made you laugh, one gift that made you pray, one gift that made you quiet.
 ~ Josh always makes me laugh
 ~ The gift of praying for a friend
 ~ When my friend left this earth and moved into Heaven

Joy Dare 11 &12

 11. 3 yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy.
  ~ SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
  ~ Egg Yolk the really bright almost orange ones
  ~ Bananas

12. Something above you, something below you, something beside you.
  ~ A new non-leaky roof
  ~ My sweet Hubby working away to get the furnace installed
  ~ Madalyn drawing away happy as can be with just pen and paper.

Joy Dare 10

10. a gift that's sour, a gift that's sweet, a gift that's just right.

 ~ lemons...yummy and healthy
 ~ brownies and whip cream
 ~ coffee, mmmmmmm

Joy Dare 8 & 9

Yesterday was a very hard day emotionally.  Getting back to what I need, and want to do.  Give thanks.

8. a light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely.
  ~Well it wasn't a physical light, but it shone in my heart, to let me see things a little different.
  ~ Perhaps it didn't surprise me as much as make joy swell within me.  My little girls face pressed up close to mine and my big girls face smiling at me.
  ~ The shadow hasn't fallen yet, but if it does yes it will be lovely in a sad way, but lovely.

9. a gift in your hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with.
  ~in my hand coffee made for me by my eldest
  ~I walked by the girls painting together at the kitchen island.
  ~Morning cuddles with toddler, makes rising and shining so much easier.
  

What I Need a Joy Dare.

  Maybe this is what I need to do right now.  Not that I am feeling depressed or anything really.  As a matter of fact I'm not even sure what I feel.  I don't feel anxious, maybe a little sadness.  I have a friend in a hospital far from here he may die from the cancer and he might not.  Depends on what God will do.  I know God can do all things, but from my own experiences with loved ones dying I've come to realize that God does not view death the way we do.  Especially for the believer.  So we wait, and pray, and hope, and know that we are dearly loved.  God is good and He loves us deeply.
    I have been inspired by Ann Voskamp.  To be thankful, to count His many graces in my life and in the world around me.  I have even attempted to write some down.  But never consistently.  She has started The Joy Dare.  I'm going to try it.   I'll keep track of it here on my blog.  Papers are lost to me.  I start one and it always disappears.  Buying a journal, well that takes me remembering to grab one when I'm down town, which is usually only when I have to buy groceries.
   Here seems like a good place to start.  If you want to join in follow The Link.  Read her blog it's awesome! Scroll down to the Joy Dare. 
   I'm a bit behind so I'll get caught up to today.
1. 3 things about yourself that you are grateful for.
   ~ I love people
   ~ I am a peacemaker
   ~ I forgive

2. A gift outside, inside, on a plate.
   ~ It's not below 0
   ~ My boys cleaned the kitchen and made me coffee
   ~ Toast with honey

3. 3 lines that you overheard that were graces.
   ~ We will rise from the ashes
   ~ There is no reason to be afraid
   ~ Hugs and Kisses Mommy I love you

4. one gift old, new and blue.
  ~ A praying Grandmother who is long since gone, but I believe her prayers are still being answered today.
  ~ New life within my womb.
  ~ Blue for it maybe a baby boy (pretty sure of it anyway;)

5.Something you're reading, you're making, you're seeing.
  ~ I've been reading Ecclesiastes
  ~ Well I'm being used to make this little baby but as for actual creativity on my own I'm not doing anything.
  ~ I'm seeing my children grow up before my eyes, it is happening so quickly it makes me sad.  But I am so, so grateful I get to be here and see it.

6. one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart.
 ~ My drivers license
 ~ Eggs
 ~ Thankfulness

7. 3 graces from people you love.
 ~ How my husband makes me know without a doubt that he adores me, loves me and there is no one else (besides Jesus) as close as me.
 ~ That even when I blow it as a mother my children always forgive me.
 ~ The love and support of our parents and siblings, to walk in the way that God leads us.
  

Blank Pages and Time

  I love blank pages.  Never been marred by pen or pencil.  Open to all the possibilities. 
  I especially enjoy looking at blank calendar pages.  For the time that it's blank it means I don't HAVE to do anything.  I like that thought. 
   It never stays that way.  I always have to write some one's lessons in, or remind myself of some appointment. 
     'Cause we all know that if it isn't on the calendar it isn't happening.
   Funny,  I'm always a little sad to turn the page, as much as I love that fresh new page. 
   I know that I have to write on it, or those $70 violin lessons will go to waste. We won't show up for swimming lessons because no one remembered, we'll miss those free skating days, and who wants to miss the free things!
   Turning the page means no more going back.  That month, that year is gone.  How many moments passed me by?  Did I tell my children I love them enough?  Did I show it?
   That time is gone and never to return.  It's a death of a thing, time.  We only get so much.  If we don't spend it wisely we waste it.  Regardless of how we use it we run out, always.
  Time waits for no one.  It has no favorites and cares not for our need of more.  Time can not be saved or borrowed.  It is here for the moment and gone.  Moving on, forward marching, whether we are dragging behind, in-step or trying stay ahead.
  Learning to be here, right now in this moment.  Why is that so hard?  It is the only time we really have, right now.  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not come.  How do I just be here, and understand it's the only place I can really be?
  

Many Christmas'

      We had a lovely little Christmas with Josh before he went to work.  Rather than make the kids wait until the 28th or 29th, we had an early Christmas.  Of course this means the kids will participate in 3 Christmas' this year.  One with Mom and Dad, one with Grandma, and one with Oma and Papa.
    It is kind of nice to spread it out.  Then it's not all over in one day.
    I don't think I'm cooking a turkey this year.  We started a new Christmas meal tradition a couple of years ago, prime rib roast.  It started after a Thanksgiving of too much turkey.  I couldn't even look at another turkey!   The prime rib has turned out scrumptious the last two years.  Hoping for another one this year.
     I would post some pictures, but I can't seem to find the right camera cord.  All these wires and cords and not one that works:(
    I'm looking forward to just relaxing these next few days.  No where to go and nothing to do is nice.
    

How It's Been

     It's been awhile since I was on here.  Better write something!
Our Jesse Tree hasn't been quite as consistent as I'd like it to be.  I would prefer to do it everyday, but it just isn't happening.  My fault. 
     I'm tired, and hibernating.  Actually I'm making myself go to the Church dinner tonight.  It wasn't to hard to convince me since my first thought was, "Then I won't have to cook dinner at home."  I do feel a little guilty that I'm not bringing anything.  I will check and see if my good friend MJ wants me to grab anything on my way up.
    My house is a somewhat scattered mess.  I have no motivation to care at the moment.  The kids are all playing with friends, except Madi.  I am keeping her entertained with a video.  I know not really a great thing to do with a three year old, but it is what it is for now.
    I went to bed at 11pm and slept until 8am, well I stayed in bed till 8, not sure how much of the night I actually spend sleeping.  The cat was outside so that was one less thing to wake me up.  It was mostly bathroom breaks and sore hips.
   I'm only at the 22 week (23 tomorrow) mark, I'm thinking it's a little early to have a sore hip!  Oh well.
   This little baby has gotten quite active which is fun.  It'll be fun to meet this little person.
   I have some Christmas shopping done.  Just about half I think.