Hi all!  Alicia, I’m ok.  Winter hasn’t taken me down - life is just insane right now.  Thanks for thinking of me.  Our computer had a sad accident and we just can’t afford to repair or replace it right now.  I’m hijacking a friend’s for a moment just to let anyone who’s been wondering know I’m fine.  I’ve been working way too much lately - King’s Landing is AWESOME though - will likely go again next year for the Christmas dinners even if we don’t need it financially.  I just don’t want this many hours again. 

 I’ve been very disappointed to miss the weekly assignments I’d been doing.  I miss everybody that stops by and that  get to visit!

I’m beyond exhausted, and there’s been a lot of crazy happenings and revelations going on in our lives.  Work, relationships, family….once again I am SOOO thankful that God is in control and knows everything from beginning to end.  It’s nice to sit back and let Him do His job.  I’ve never had much success at it when I’ve tried.

Merry Christmas, one and all!  O come, let us adore Him!

Memory Verse: Isaiah 40: 1- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Intro: “Have It Your Way” (Burger King)  - As cooler weather approaches and the winter eases into our doors I like to lounge by the fire after a hot shower.  I love to make soups that are brimming with a rich and full flavor.  In our home there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of soup or and a hot cup of coffee or cocoa on a cold winter night.

Assignment: Tell us all about how your have “your” relaxing time, more especially how during the cooler months you take time to curl up with your favorite movie, book, Bible study, and what your favorite warm drink would be.

Share a picture of your favorite spot in the house or your favorite warm beverage, your favorite movie or book; possibly even your favorite Bible Study or maybe your women’s Bible group.

Well, as any longer-term readers are well aware, winter is, putting it lightly, my LEAST favourite season.  Oh, who am I kidding - it doesn’t even register anywhere on my “season’s I like a little bit” list.  There is some nostalgia as I recall times earlier in my life when I DID enjoy the winter period.  First snows, Christmas, second (or third or fourth) snows that actually were here to stay, skating, sliding, and fort-building.  Somewhere along the way, I lost it.  My connection with it all disappeared.  In my previous BFS post, we discussed fall - well, we were supposed to be discussing recipes, but I rarely stay on topic well.  ;)  I do love a good one-dish meal, be it soup, chili, chowders or casseroles.  Last night I had a turkey pot pie for supper - now that’s comfort!  One thing that I’ve been missing more and more each year is a FIRE.  I grew up in farm houses.  At my grandparents, where we lived for a couple of years, it’s the old cooker stove that used to be essential to every farm house.  It was the source of heat, and how they cooked their food.  I still remember my dear Little Nanny (she is very short, so she is affectionately known as Little Nanny) leaning against the stove, knitting away.  Anyway, I don’t know if we’ll be able to add a woodstove to our list of purchases this year, but I would so love to.  I am hoping to at least have an electric fireplace in our living room, to try and trick my brain into that “all’s well” feeling one has when sitting near a fire. 

We do get excited when a storm’s brewing.  There’s nothing quite like knowing you won’t be able to go anywhere for the next 24 hours, and having everything you need to just snuggle into your house, and watch the storm take place.  Being from Atlantic Canada, we do have fairly decent snowstorms, and due to my husband’s work, a snowstorm means a day off work. 

I admit to being a “fluff” sort of gal, so you will rarely find me reading philosophy, deeply intellectual, or self-improvement books.  I really enjoy Lori Wick, Jeanette Oak, Beverly Lewis.  When choosing a movie over literature, I alternate between Pride & Prejudice (the BBC version, of course!), Anne of Green Gables, and While You Were Sleeping.  I told you I’m a fluff girl!  Sometimes, though, we choose a great worship cd, and just lay back and soak it in.  Throw a pair of flannel jammies and a cup of vanilla-spiked Stash green chai tea or a Tim’s cafe mocha into the mix, and I can almost feel myself connecting with winter.  Almost.

So maybe it’s coming back.  Slowly, maybe I’ll find my way back to enjoying a season that offers much enjoyment.

Maybe this year I’ll buy some proper boots so I can play in the snow.  Because really, playing in the snow only enhances the comfort of crawling into those flannels, pouring a cup of chai, and settling in for some quality time with Anne and Gilbert.

Most importantly, is settling into the knowledge and finding comfort in the fact that it’s ALL in the hands of our Mighty God, and He knows this part of me.  He still holds me in the winter, maybe even a little bit tighter, and perhaps that is the most comforting thought of all. 

Daniel 2:21

      And He changes the times and the seasons;
      He removes kings and raises up kings;
      He gives wisdom to the wise
      And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Well, I did great for the first month.  Then I hit a wall.  So we’ve been on vacation - already - from school for the past two weeks.  Today, I got Cole going again. 

I’d heard somewhere - wish I remembered where, because I would look into it more - that when going off medication for depression, people will often relapse at about 3 months.  The reason given was because that’s when the medication is actually all out of your system.  So it takes a bit of time for you body to regulate back to doing it all by itself.  I truly hope that’s what I just went through, and that now I’m on the other side.  I’m definitely doing the Vitamin D - have been taking that for a bit, but I think I’ll have to stick with things like diet and exercise more than supplements as I’m still nursing.  Somehow there has got to be a way to stay on top of this monster without being medicated for life. 

Anyway, here we go.  Getting back on track with school.  This week, we’re having a fun field trip to Kings Landing. We all enjoy getting out, and hopefully this will increase our forward motion.

The great thing about homeschooling, is that if students or teachers find themselves not well, or for some reason unable to do school, or even just stressed, we need no doctor’s note to take off for a couple of weeks, if need be. And we have so much time to make up for it. And there is no guilt!

Keep going, everyone! We can do this. Sometimes it’s tempting to fantasize about that big yellow bus pulling up and whisking all of our young ones off to the care of some strangers. But in the end, for those of us who have chosen life this way, it’s really amazing to know we not only are educating our children, but demonstrating a key life lesson - if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Giddyup!

That’s the best word to describe you.  We cannot even count now how many times a stranger has seen you and declared, She looks just like a Precious Moments drawing!  We happen to agree, but mostly because we know you.  Sometimes we even call you our Precious Moment.  But precious is not the only word. 

There’s also, frustrating, when you continue to climb on the chairs and dining table, even after numerous tumbles have resulted in bleeding lips.

Darling, the way you say “Mama.” 

Hilarious, your antics that have your big brothers and sister busting up with laughter.

Beautiful, as your sleepy eyes finally close so your eyelashes gently rest on your chubby, rosie cheeks.

Captivating, your feet - I’ve always been fascinated, as you know, and stare at them whenever and wherever I can.  I can’t help it.  They are the world’s cutest feet.  Ever.

Loud, the way you greet Daddy at the end of the day, with your arms stretched way up over your head and your hands quickly opening and closing and yelling “HI!  HI!  HI!”, pushing your way to the front of the crowd, hoping he’ll pick you up first. 

Wonderful, the way you still come to me many times a day just for a snuggle, and reassurance, the way you check in, and lay your head on my shoulder for a few moments.  I love that for now, my arms mean all’s right with the world.

Petite, your tiny frame belies the fact that today you’ve marked seventeen energetic months of life. 

Adorable, though it’s a toss up between your tights-clad legs and new shoes - I’m not sure there’s anything in the world so adorable….your little bit of pigeon-toed-ness makes me smile….a lot - and your “po-tails”.

Feisty, you are definitely NOT going to be left out of anything, and will let any and all siblings know when you are most seriously displeased.

Exuberant, the way you’ve been about life since the very beginning, in spite of the hurdles we had to overcome to make it. 

Unique - you are all you!  Yes, you share physical similarities with the army of siblings you have, but you are just you.  I’m completely in love with just you. 

And Precious.  So much so, that I find tears in my eyes when I think that Daddy and I almost decided we were happy with our four children before you.  That they would be enough.  We love each one of them beyond measure.  But you have brought a newness and a totally different flavour to add to this family, and I am forever grateful that God chose me to be your Mommy, my Precious Girl. 

I love you! 

You’ve all said it.  Come on.  Admit it.  Those of us who swore we’d never utter those words - we’ve all done it.  How many times have I told you…..I’m not hearing much denial on this charge. 

There was a lot of dysfunction in my home growing up.  Some of the issues I’ve managed to avoid reproducing as I have begun my own family.  Others seem to proliferate daily, if not hourly.

Have you ever caught yourself in the irony of yelling at your kids to be quiet?

Then the heavy, huge weight of guilt that tries to take hold.  Failed again.  Never make it.  Never change.  These words burn deep, and the despair that accompanies them is enough to shut everything down.

Then I remember….

How many times?

How many times did He promise He would NEVER leave or forsake us?  How many times has He declared us righteous by the blood of His Son?  How many times does He speak tender words of comfort and forgiveness  to wash over us, cleansing us from it all?  The failure.  The guilt.  The anger.  The despair.  When it seems like it will never end, if I would just stop and listen.  REALLY listen…and let it go.  How many times do I keep reminding Him?  How many times do I hold a grudge against myself?  I am my worst enemy. 

And He?  He just loves me.  That’s all. 

He loves me.

My dear friend, Rachael, has written a post about Halloween. I know there is a lot of discussion and controversy over whether or not as Christians we celebrate. Rach and I are actually on opposing sides of this issue. We are still very good friends, though. One of the commentors to the article Rachael linked to said something to the effect of with all the pain and suffering going on in this world, why are we arguing about something so petty.

I actually disagree. I think as Christians we have turned our eyes and ears away, and are very undiscerning about many spiritual things. We don’t like to do the hard things, deny ourselves or our children. We aren’t realistic about some of the things that threaten our spiritual health, and in particular the spiritual health of our children. They are sponges. Why are we commanded to instruct them in righteousness and the fear and admonision of the Lord at a young age, if they are invulnerable or to naive to get it at that age? They soak it up! Now, we don’t want to be raising clones. We are teaching our children to ask questions. To find answers for themselves. But we also need to be teaching them that sometimes, no matter how fun or harmless things might seem, there are times when we truly just need to do the hard thing, and deny ourselves. By doing so, we are showing our children how to be in the world, but not of it.

Also, there is much said in the Bible regarding blessings and curses. When we go the way of the world, and align ourselves with heathen practices or mindsets, we are welcoming a curse on our land. We like to blame the woes we face on those in leadership. There are for sure many corrupt leaders who have come and gone. But as a people, when we turn away from righteous, holy living, God CANNOT bless that, and the land is cursed. I’m not implying that life would be perfect if we all didn’t celebrate Halloween. We live in a fallen world, so there will always be trials, but the Bible is very clear about blessings and curses, and how they carry from generation to generation. So back to the commentor’s opinion, perhaps there would be less pain and suffering if we set our hearts like flint to following the Lord with such a passion, that all things impure would appear so vile to us, that we would have no choice but to flee from it.

Also, I have experienced YEARS of Christians pulling out the verse, judge not. I think it’s a cop-out. It’s a way to be unaccountable. Accountability is uncomfortable. I don’t like it either. I’m as defensive as the next guy when it comes to having my weak points spot-lighted. However, we ARE called to judge - those within the body. We are to hold each other accountable. I chat once in a while with a precious lady in Texas. She and I share many convictions. One we do not share is our view of Christmas. She feels it’s wrong to celebrate. I’ve not put much thought and prayer into whether we should or not. Last year we were discussing it, and I got a bit defensive. But you know, she had some good points. And I needed to hear them. I needed to figure out first of all my I felt so defensive. That’s a good sign right there that I at least need to step back and look more objectively at the topic. And do my own research. And lots of praying. Was she judging me? No, certainly not. She was just stating what she believes, and encouraged me to invest time praying and researching. I’m still not settled on the issue of Christmas. I do know though, that I cannot just say, well, I’ve not been convicted about it, so I’m not giving it up. Perhaps I’m holding on to my enjoyment of the many beautiful and wonderful traditions, instead of asking God, what do YOU think about it. That would be the biggest thing I’d have to say to those who are adamantly refusing to give up their Halloween traditions.

I’ve been called hypocritical for celebrating Christmas and condemning Halloween. I realize there are traditions which seem to have pagan roots for Christmas, I cannot argue against them all. I’m still researching them, though. However, Halloween is blatantly evil. And as harmless as we want to make it, it’s not. If it’s a matter of celebrating the season of Autumn, and the harvest, that can be accomplished by many other ways, namely Thanksgiving.

I did ask my children today if they feel like they are missing something because we don’t celebrate Halloween. They all said NO! It’s yucky! BUT, then Cole said, it would be kind of fun to dress up and get candy. I said, well, we can do that anytime. He was very happy with that answer! So that may just be part of our near future. Actually, a couple of years ago, we were planning a Hawaiian luau to break up the winter. We may just have to do that this year. Now THAT I could throw myself enthusiastically into.

As an aside, I did find an interesting article on the origins of the Christmas tree as we know it. I’ve heard for years about the pagan customs of the druids and Romans and what-not that purportedly led to our use of the Christmas tree. However, it is known that the tradition as we know it began in Germany, and eventually made it’s way to North America, after first becoming popular in Britain. That I knew. What I didn’t know was the following I found while googling the topic.

Subtopic: The Christmas Tree

Grade Level: 4th-5th

Author: Rayn Blair

Background:

The origin of the first Christmas tree dates back to the Middle Ages in Western Germany. The people during this time period participated in and watched dramatic plays called miracle and mystery plays. These plays were performed to teach the common people about religious truths that were contained in the bible. There were no printed books available, and pictures were scarce during this period of time. “As laymen joined with the clergy, the individual plays were arranged in a lengthy series or cycle throughout the church year” (Foley, pg. 39). In this way, peasants were taught about the Old and New Testaments of the bible.

During the Christmas season, the Paradise play was presented. This play depicted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. On stage was an evergreen tree, covered in apples, which showed Adam and Eve’s sin and later banishment from the garden. The tree received particular attention because it was the only prop on the stage. This symbol remained firmly planted in the minds of spectators and actors. Later, after the plays “ceased to be performed in Germany” ( Foley, pg. 41), people began putting their own trees in their homes.

This early Paradise tree had a lot of value to the Germans. By having the tree in their home they were able to teach their children the story of Adam and Eve. They taught this story through symbols. The evergreen tree symbolized immortality because it stays green all year. The apples on the Paradise tree symbolized Adam’s sin. Round wafers and cookies were also added as decorations. They represented the fruits of redemption.

Candles were also important symbols to the Germans. The candle was their main source of light, and it represented Christ being the Light of the World. The candles were placed on a wooden pyramid structure with shelves called the lightstock or Christmas pyramid. This pyramid stood next to the Paradise tree. This candle holder was also decorated with tinsel, paper or cloth roses, and a star was usually placed on top.

After some years the two were combined. The Christmas tree we know today is a combination of the Paradise tree and the Christmas pyramid.

From Germany, the idea of a Christmas tree spread. As Germans left the Rhineland to settle in other places, they took their proud custom with them. In England, German settlers had brought the idea of a Christmas tree over. It wasn’t until several decades later that it was formally introduced by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, a German.

At first the Christmas tree was found only in the homes of the upper-class English. The idea soon gained in popularity and became an English sensation. It became a Victorian symbol “laden with ornaments and surrounded with gifts” (Foley, pg. 65).

Hessian (German) mercenaries fighting for the British during the Revolutionary War, most likely introduced the concept of a Christmas tree to America. Tradition says that these soldiers set up Christmas trees for the colonial children. They did this so they would be able to cherish their homeland customs, since some of them had been away from home for three Christmases. No documentary evidence has been found to support this tradition, however, only stories.

Documented evidence of the Christmas tree began showing up in the early 1800’s and continued to grow steadily. Most of the information is from the personal accounts of German settlers. The earliest illustration of a Christmas tree in America was from a book entitled The Stranger’s Gift by Herman Bodum, printed in 1836. The Christmas tree began to spread rapidly throughout America. By the year 1850, the Christmas tree had become the fashionable thing for the holiday season.

Today most Christians celebrating Christmas have a Christmas tree in their home during the holiday season. They have their own special traditions involving the cutting and decorating of the tree. Many people view the Christmas tree as the most glorious and best-loved symbol of the Christmas season.

References.

Bodum, Herman (1836). The Stranger’s Gift. Boston.

Foley, Daniel J. (1960). The Christmas Tree. Philadelphia: Chilton Company.

Pauli, Hertha (1944). The Story of the Christmas Tree. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Each family has something special about them… we’re all unique in that way! LOL! I know my family is like no one you’ll ever meet and I’m sure you all can say the same thing! Sometimes God has a sense of humour when creating families, but he has a plan in everything. Isn’t comforting to know we were designed with purpose?

THEME

This week’s theme is about your family. Don’t worry. I’m not going to make you write a long essay about all the great things your family does. Just something little diddy that I know everyone will have fun with!

The Edwards Family The Lord is a good Giver.

Memory Verse: Psalms 13:6 NIV
I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Please try to learn our memory verse this week. We will be sharing a new verse every week and hope that you will store them in your hearts and find a special joy in His words.

Intro: M’m M’m Good (Campbell’s Soup)
The fall is such a wonderful time of year.  The beautiful foliage and cool, crisp morning air is such a wonderful change from the hot summer.  I also love the M’m M’m good smell of fall cooking and baking.  The wonderful fall veggies, fruits and Thanksgiving foods.

Assignment:  Post your favorite fall recipe/recipes to share.  I love trying new recipes, do you?  It can be baking, main dishes, veggies, dessert or anything else you can think of.  There are no limits.  Mmmmmm..I can’t wait to take a look at some of those recipes.

For the past several years, I have struggled with enjoying Autumn, because of it’s note of impending change….to Winter.  Cold.  Snow.  Ice.  Darkness.  For nearly six months.  I’m a Summer girl, through and through.  I love the heat.  I love swimming and boating.  I love barbecue’s.  I used to enjoy all the seasons, and Fall used to mean Christmas planning, which I love. 

This year, I’ve been trying hard to drink in the colour, the smells, the sounds of Fall.  Yesterday I caught a whiff of something that took me straight back to childhood, playing in the woods behind our bean field, building log cabins from all the dead trees laying around.  The floor of the forest was prickly-soft as it was covered with pine needles.  The sickly sweet smell of fallen apples rotting on the ground sharply interrupting the other scents around. 

We have some corn stalks and faux fall garland on our front step.  There are some gourds sitting in a bowl on my hutch.  Maybe next year we’ll find more ways to decorate for the season.  More reasons to celebrate. 

We are now waking up before the sun, watching the sky turn pink, orange, mauve.  The garden is tilled, and the flower beds need to be emptied and prepped for winter.  There are a few bushes to be transplanted.  Every so often, it’s cool enough in the early morning or late evening to turn the heat on. 

The cool air IS refreshing, and it’s fun to pull out the sweaters and turtlenecks and socks…and the crockpot.

I’m a huge fan of one-dish meals.  Their simplicity, their ability to stretch and feed many once or few several times, their level of comfort, it’s all Fall.  It’s one more thing I’m trying to use to overcome my disconnect with this wonderful harvest season.  My kids particularly love Shepherd’s Pie.  I know there are a few different ways to make this, but here’s my version.

Shepherd’s PieMashed Potato - I’ve never actually measured this. I just boil up a fairly large pot of potatoes and mash them. You can add butter, but don’t add milk, it can make the potatoes kind of thin after they are baked.Ground Beef - again never measured. I make a 9×13 pan of this, so it’s probably 1.5 to 2 lbs. You could use other ground meat.

3-4 large sweet potatoes or yams 1/3 cup oil1/3 honey

 

THEME:

This week share your favourite spot to study with your kids. There are many places you can sit down to teach, learn, and work, but where do you prefer and why? You’re welcome to include a photo of your study spot! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s!

We’re pretty boring here.  Our usual study spot is the kitchen table.  Our favourite one is outside on a blanket in the sunshine.  Our future one is in the boys’ bedroom downstairs.  When we are able to renovate our attached garage into bedrooms, we’ll be moving the boys upstairs, then converting their bedroom into a school room.  Of course in my head it will be attractive and organized and enjoyable.  Time will tell.  I can’t wait, though.  I’ve already got a Dick & Jane theme figured out.  How fun will that be?

Don’t Leave Home Without It! (Marketing Credit: American Express)

Memory Verse: Matthew 28: 20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

Intro: Never Leave Home Without It (Marketing Credit:  American Express) Diapers, bottles, wipes, bibs, pacifiers, extra clothing, cell phone, PDA, ipod, iphone, credit or debit cards … what would you never leave home without?

Assignment: In the memory verse Jesus tells us that He will never leave us, not even at the end of the world.  He assures us in this verse that He will be with us and that means through everything we go through in life.  I thought it would be interesting to write about the things we would never leave home without.  For some it might be baby needs, others it might be a gym bag and bottle of water, and for some  it might be your Bible and a notepad or small journal, maybe even your son or daughters favorite blankie!  I’d like for you to write about something that you would never leave home without.

Of course there are the standard items like diapers, wipes, shoes - although we have left home WITHOUT shoes at times.  I’m also very careful to always have my driver’s licence, everyone’s medicare cards, and….my lipstick!  How vain, I know.  But as long as my pout is pretty, I feel very confident.  A quarter is usually in my pocket or purse, because you never know when you’re going to need a pay phone. 

All these items aside, as a mom of five under 9, I’m actually quite happy to leave home with ALL of my children secured safely into their respective car seats. 

Psalm 5:11 

 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
       let them ever sing for joy.
       Spread your protection over them,
       that those who love your name may rejoice in you.