It's Beautiful!

"It's Beautiful!!!" has been the expression heard quite a few times out of Hilkiah's mouth.  There is something so incredibly precious about hearing a three year BOY exclaim "beautiful" while viewing a blooming flower!  We were given a video for Christmas called "God of Wonders", which does an excellent job of looking at various parts of the creation that surrounds us and explaining some of the unfathomable wonders and complexities of that creation. And the commentators again and again point out that all these incredible things we see around us should point us to our awesome Creator God and how infinitely greater He is then even His creation!  There is NO other possible way this amazing universe could have come to be! I recommend this video for everyone!

As we watched a section of the video last night about the complexity of plant life, many flowers were shown blooming.  Hilkiah exclaimed more then once about the "beautiful" flowers.  Once a rose was shown blooming and he said "I wish we could get one of those for you and Dad."  So precious. 

And at the store he and his sister were urging me to by a scented candle because they were so "beautiful"!!!  That was extra special because it wasn't a toy or candy they were asking for, but something more Mommy-ish. 

May our little boy grow up to be a godly, manly man, who also greatly enjoys God's beauty!

Thank You, Lord Jesus for Your incredibly beautiful creation and for the precious little man You have entrusted us with!

What A Dad

I was gone the other day and Daddy decided to give Ittai a horse back ride.  Apparently, the little guy was ready for his nap, 'cause he knocked out!  Thankfully, Clara was there and able to capture the cuteness!

How to Eat an Apple and Other Rants by the Husband

Please note the teaching session and natural desire for an apple kick in:

Next see what the after math brought about:

 

Ty got it down to about the size of an apricot...pretty good for a beginner!  :o)

 

I have been looking around for sewing machines.  Little did I know that it was like a trap for mechanical engineers.  I spent HOURS looking and studying and seeing what the Swiss, Japanese, Swedes, Italians, Germans, and red-blooded Americans hath wrought.  There are some beautiful machines out there!  100% mechanical except for the drive motor.  I was looking for free arm, zig zag with various widths, steel gears (think 50s-70s), cams with decorative stitches a plus, darning capability with DROP DOGS (learned what darning was!), solid reverse mechanism, nice light, and of course looks.  I came up with a list of dream models, so if you see any of these in Goodwill, snatch them up for me and I will pay you back.  

 

Husqvarna Viking Model 21 with attaching table - She's a beaute!

Bernina Model Record 730 - Masterpiece!

Singer 431G  (Made in Germany for an American Company.  Incidently, Singer stopped making sewing machines during WWII and made bomb parts.  Their factory in Germany did the same.....for the other guys.  At the end of the war, everyone went back to making sewing machines.  That's how I understand it, but it could all be an internet fable.)

Pfaff 139 (I can't even find a good picture), not free arm though.

Janome's comparable version (haven't figured out what that model is)  (New Home 270?)

 

Here's what darning is:

 

http://youtu.be/1yqzpspZRbQ?t=2m47s

http://youtu.be/wtb5gqT7f44

 

PRIT-ty handy.

 

If you have a wood stove that half sticks into your chimney where [little] people can roll random stuff out of eyesight really easily and thus exposing to 400F+, make sure you check that area before lighting up........yeah......for instance....for alkaline batteries.  By the way, we thank the Lord for firewood gifted to us!  Please bless the givers!

 

Reading Hudson Taylor as a family is good times.

 

Right now we are at 3:30 to poach an egg on the stove top.  Does all our other poaching friends concur with that time?

 

If we get more chickens I am probably going to go all out and get RI Reds.  Forget being Mr. Nice Guys...I want production!

 

"And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head." Zech. 3:5   -Stephen

 

 

 

 

 

  

Thank You, Lord Jesus, For The Preciousness

Precious moments.  I wonder if at times, the Lord just mercifully lifts the blinders of stress, troubles, other thoughts, etc., and let's us just see the preciousness of a moment.  Like today, while we were driving to the zoo, Hilkiah excitedly exclaims "Mom! I saw a shark!".  I struck me, for how much longer will that little boy be excitedly telling Mom about a painting of a shark that he sees out the window?  These "little guy" days pass so quickly.  The thought made me kind of sad. 

Then tonight as I was doing this or that Hilkiah says "when you are done with those dishes, can you hold me and read a book."  Awwwww.  Melt. 

Lord, I need You so much!  I need your enabling to enjoy and treasure these dear little moments, but to also look forward to the future ones you may give, as my babies grow up!  I also need Your enabling to STOP and take the time to hold them and read a book!  Thank You, so much, Lord Jesus, for giving me these precious little ones!!!



And before I say good night, I must share a cute Clara moment from last week.  Hilkiah was noisily rattling a tin with crayons, when big sis stepped in and firmly told him "Hilkiah. That is too loud for peoples nerves."  :-) 

Why No Pictures?

To the long distance Grandma and Grandpa, and aunties (and Uncles, to some degree :-) ), who like to see pictures as frequently as possible... for some reason our computer isn't wanting to talk to the camera.  :-(  I don't know what the problem is, but hopefully, we can get it resolved soon. 

Pictures or no pictures, we are well here.  The weather has been freezing the last few days, but I have a cozy house and a husband to fire up our woodstove, and my girl is getting big enough to offer to put more wood on the fire and even volunteered to go out and get another load of firewood.  And get it she did, though her pile was comprised of small, almost kindling size stuff.  Sweet girl.

Yesterday, we had two little boys with unhappy tummies and GI tracks.  The big boy vomited three times, and kindly did all of those before Daddy left for work in the morning.  What a HUGE blessing washers, driers, and tubs with running hot water are!!!  Can you imagine being a pioneer in the dead of winter with sick kids???!!!!

Though, Clara hasn't yet mastered all the letters and sounds of the alphabet, she is dong fairly well with that, and yesterday I decided to try her on sounding out REAL words: mat, rat, sat, etc.  At times, we were both frustrated, and at others we were both very pleased with her successes!  At her request, we did even more then I had been planning to!  And one of the very cute happening was that Hilkiah seemed rather tickled that Clara was "learning to read!"

The other day Clara popped out with the observation that "Artichoke starts with an 'R'".  She wasn't looking at the word, but just how it sounds.  I started explaining about the sound "R" makes and the sound "ar" makes.  But Hil's reaction to big sis's observation was just too sweet!!!  In a impressed, sincere, almost "big person" way he says "Good job, Yahyah!"  (Yahyah is his name for her)  The way he said it was just incredibly adorable.  The tone of voice was like "Wow!  That's really impressive that you figured that out!!!" 

Well, that'll be it for now.  I'll try to be back soon with more from 'round here!

More Hilkiah-isms

A couple days ago, said to some friends who were over, and talking about his little brother:

"Don't look at him.  He's shy."

Tonight:

"My tummy has a headache inside."

At supper:

"Can I have some more cow."



And a bonus precious moment.

You break up fight after fight and tell your kidos over and over that they need to share with each other and need to include little brother, etc.  And then you see a precious moment when they are doing just that. 

We recently got a hand-me-down toy for racing two matchbox cars.  Last night Clara and Hil and two cars all set up to race down the little spiral tracks.  All that had to be done was push the little lever that gets them started.  And there they were, both urging Ittai to push the lever.  "Come on bubba.  You do it!  You do it!"  He just stood there looking at them as they urged.  So I helped him do their bidding. 

Thank You, Lord, for these dear moments!

We had forgotten to give an ice chest back to some friends.  Clara had informed me as we came chapel one day that she would remind me to give it to them.  As we were pulling away later that day, we realized that we had forgotten AGAIN!  Little Miss Organizer said something along these lines, with some distress in her voice  "Mom. We're both going to be so sorry for each other."  And then a bit later, "I guess we're not very good at this."

So sweet. 

A Few Moments

Some little people got themselves all set up, comfy and cozy in front of the first fire of the season.

 A girl and her new hat 

A design created by Miss Clara

God's Facts, Not My Feelings

I have been so blessed on multiple occasions by the devotional, Streams In The Desert.  The other day was another one of those instances.  I was so in need of encouragement, strengthening, and this so touched me.  It is the devotion for September 26, but I stumbled upon it a couple days ago.  I wouldn't be surprised to find it was a God directed "stumble"!!!

"We walk by faith, not by appearance."  (2 Cor. 5:7,  R. V.)

"By faith, not appearance;  God never wants us to look at our feelings.  Self may want us to; and Satan may want us to.  But God wants us to face facts, not feelings; the facts of Christ and of His finished and perfect work for us.

When we face these precious facts, and believe them because God says they are facts, God will take care of our feelings.

God never gives feeling to enable us to trust Him;  God never gives feeling to encourage us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to show that we have already and utterly trusted Him.

God gives feeling only when He sees that we trust Him apart from all feeling, resting on his own Word, and on His own faithfulness to His promise.

Never until then can the feeling (which is from God) possibly come; and God will give the feeling in such a measure and at such a time as His love sees best for the individual case.

We must choose between facing toward our feelings and facing toward God's facts.  Our feelings may be as uncertain as the sea or the shifting sands.  God's facts are as certain as the Rock of Ages, even Christ Himself, who is the same yesterday, today and forever."

Streams In The Desert

The Amazing Seal!

Hilkiah was pretending to be a seal this morning.  Apparently, this particular breed can eat polar bears and alligators!  Who knew!!!

These overalls were Hil's and I was thinking Ittai might be big enough to wear them now... or soon.  Well I tried them on him today... and thanks to the length of his torso, they are already on the small side for him.  I had to at least snap some pictures.  And somebody was in a very happy frame of mind during our photo session. :-)

And a fun one snapped by big sis!

Daddy's work on the brain!

On Sunday, we were eating lunch at church.  There were some of those long fluorescent light bulbs lying on the table along with a light fixture or two.  Hilkiah points at them and asks:

"Are those hydraulics?"

Introducing the newest member of the "Treats from the Bank" fan club!!!  One of the best things about going to the bank is getting suckers!!!  I kids are usually very happy to accompany me on that particular mission. And in the last few weeks I've started asking for three instead of just two.  :-)

Birthday Pary, Moving X 2, A Fort, Electric Cars, A New Building.........

 Well, we rolled in awhile ago from a great trip.  We took off early, last Thursday for a busy but fun excursion.  The first thing on the agenda was training for Stephen, which took place on Thursday in a town about two hours from us.  I really didn't know how the kids and I were going to spend the time while he was busy... but it worked out beautifully and we had such an enjoyable day!  Thank You, Lord!  Not far from where Stephen's meeting was, there was a lovely park that we spent quite a bit of time at.  While we were driving to the park, we noticed people unloading what appeared to be go-carts from trailers.  We stopped by afterward, and found there was a once-a-year electric car race going on.  The kidos really enjoyed watchin'. 

After lunch with Dad, the kids and I took a tour of the four buildings remaining of an 1800s military fort.  I had been a little dubious as to how interesting this would be... but ended really enjoying myself. 

Friday night we helped out with Heather's move... though honestly, so many people showed up to help from three different assemblies in the area... that we really weren't that necessary!  Thank You, Lord, again!

Travelin'

Saturday was the big party for Great-Grandma's 90th!!!  We got so see lots of family, some of whom I had never met before.

Here's Grandpa Ken with two of his Grandbabies!  Ittai and Clementine.

Cousin Hug!

The Seven Grandkidos!

These two are three weeks apart.  :-)



And here is the lady of the hour... on the right. 

Following the party we began the loading up of great-grandma's things, in preparation of her move out to our part of the state!  The packing was finished up the next day.  We were able to stop along the way home and see Daniel and Sarah's new building, which was a treat!

All in all, it was a full and enjoyable excursion. 

Can't Trust Those Aunts!

Hil was getting ready to go to Home Depot with his Daddy and picked out his tennis shoes to wear.  Daddy asked him wear his socks were.

Hilkiah " They're lost.  They're all lost."

Daddy: "They're lost?"

Hil: "Yeah, they're lost."

He repeated this line or variations there of multiple times, then moved on to:

"Somebody took all them.  Aunt Anna took all them."   :-)



That would be the "Aunt Anna" that lives half way across the COUNTRY from us and we haven't seen in about FIVE months!  Somehow I doubt she snitched any socks.  :-)

 So, one of Hil's and Clara's new things is to pour straight lime juice into a spoon and drink it.  In this one instance Hil did about three or four spoons!  Adventurous kidos... with maybe just a touch of show-off.  :-)  Love the face in this next one.  This is right after downing the spoon in the first picture. 

And here is my toppling toddler playing outside after a good rain.  He's walking more and more and getting better... still plenty of topples.  And yes, he's wet.  He and his older siblings think water is just great. 

And here are two strange, adorable creatures that were tree climbing earlier today.

We sure love these gifts from God!

"Stealing" from the chickens!

This morning I fixed pancakes for the kids and myself.  Hil did his normal... and stuffed himself with them.  After they had finished, I sent Hil outside with three of the extra pancakes to give to the chickens.  Looking out the window a bit later, I saw him and big sis plopped down out back, both with pancakes in their hand.  It appeared they had both decided they could both handle eating some more!  :-)

Walking, Singing and Arican Bears

 On the move.  That's my little guy.  Always goin'.  Here he is on the bottom shelf of the changing table.  Love that boy.  And guess what?!  He's starting to walk.  Very unstable with arms extended out.   So cute. 

And now, here's my girl.  All dressed up and singing away!  Here she's singing the tune of "In Christ Alone" and using words she was coming up with as she went along. 

And my other boy.  Today was our first official day of "school" for the new year.  These bears are used with Saxon math.  When I put them on the table I asked the kids what they could tell me about them.  Hilkiah responded "They live in Africa".  :-)

Gifts of Beauty and Design

Amazing.  I've seen butterflies here and there before.  And I've seen so many different kinds on this great video we have.  But seeing this beautiful creature in our backyard struck me so much... for one thing, it spoke to me of his awesome Creator, and the beauty He placed in this world.   If you can, blow up these pictures and check out the blue spots on the wings.  Each spot is not just a single spot, but many tiny ones and the over all look makes me think of the blue being spray painted on.  Beautiful. 

Could this have evolved from nothing?  No.  No, it could NOT.  There is no reason or way a butterfly could decide to give himself such beauty and design.  No way at all.  

And then today, we got another treat... getting to check out this big guy!!!

May the Creator receive the honor and glory He deserves.  He is the God of order, beauty and design.

Hilkiah-isms

When being asked if he wants a particular thing: "Let me think about it."

After being put to bed for the night: "My body don't say take nap."

And this morning, after presenting himself at our bedside at 4:55am
: "I want pancakes".   Thankfully, Daddy insisted that more sleep was in order before breakfast.  When he walked out of his room at about 8:00 this morning, the first thing he said to me was... "I want pancakes."  He hadn't forgotten.

We love that boy.

Higher Math...

A Summer Evening + A Mud Puddle + Three Children + Not Enough Supervision =

Happy Birthday~

This very precious little gentleman turned one on Thursday.  This year has zipped by and what joy this little guy has brought us... and plenty of wakeful nights too.  :-) 

So what is our little guy like at one year old.  He's pretty easy going, though a very busy mover.  And he does like to be held... as long as you don't stand or sit still for too long.  He's eating a fair amount of solids.  Walking hasn't started yet, though he is "cruising".  And I have seen him standing up when there was nothing around to help him get into that position.  And last night he took a little tiny step.  We're getting there.

We love you little man.  You are such a wonderful gift from our loving God!