Behold how good and pleasant it is.....

"If you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done,

And counting find One, self-denying deed, One word That eased the heart of him who heard One glance most kind That fell like sunshine Where it went-

Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day, You've Cheered no heart, by yea or nay- If, through it all, You've nothing done that you can trace

That brought the sunshine to one's face- No act most small

That helped some soul and nothing cost-

Then count that day at worse than lost. "~Author unknown

For at least two hours Cooper stood holding his bike up for him a bike that was way too big for him but the words came.

Words flowing of encouragement,

"you can do this Cullen".

Cullen believing him and to my surprise pedaling to the words of his brother. Not looking back, just listening to his brothers reassurance and pedaling...

Over and over, one brother holding the other brother, trusting that his brother wouldn't let go.

Cooper running to him when he couldn't stop and helping him up

and then holding again and starting over,until he went further and cheers could be heard through my open windows. Cheers from brothers and from sisters..The chores would have to wait. I went out to the porch and watched, laughed, and lost myself in cheering.

Every-night at supper we sing:

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.

and in Hebrew:

Henei ma tov umanaim Shevet achim gam yachad Henei ma tov umanaim Shevet achim gam yachad

I'm thankful that my children dwell in unity..it is a very pleasant thing...

Help me!

I can't get anything done today because my kids keep me laughing.....

Look inside our day!

"A wise woman builds her house.." proverbs 14:1

My skirt touching the back of my calves and my apron already dirty before 1o:ooam. I notice the weeds popping up in my garden and hear one of the kids crying around the front of the house. This feels like deja-vu all over again. Didn't I just do the same thing yesterday?

Laundry on the line before the sun is hardly up and lunch and supper on my mind. Teaching a little one to read. Correcting wrong attitudes. Making time for my husband, wishing I had more time with him.

Sweeping the same floors that never stay clean. Feeding bottles and changing diapers and more laundry, always laundry.

My car has not left it's spot since the weekend. I'm here building my house; one imperfect board at a time, day by day. Trying my best to be a wise woman that the Lord speaks of but knowing I fail miserably at times.

Stepping out on the same steps that lead me to my yard

where my kids are playing and running and soaking in the dirt that has been a part of them since they were born. I'm stepping over swords and pretend swords made out of sticks of every kind. Telling a little girl how I played kitchen when I was her age and then pretending to eat grass soup and tell her how very good it is.

She says that when she is a Mommy she will play this with her little girl. I think to myself how wonderful that would be. Rocking crying babies and looking down at the wonder they are.

Kissing the many boo-boos that run through my front door and trying to be concerned with each and everyone like only a mother could be:) cleaning noses, and faces and stop for just a moment and realize their getting bigger and push that thought out of my mind...

I walk to my backdoor and up my steps again where I climb back in my home and continue doing the same thing I did yesterday.Learning to love being home and learning to make each day special and new.

You can always find me here. Busy about my day and looking forward to doing it all again... tomorrow :) The kids, my chickens and the goats all learning to live day by day....and looking forward to tomorrow and thanking the good Lord for new beginnings.

There once was a boy who lived in Africa but now he lives with us..

We have spent our weekend celebrating the life of a little

boy..

Joseph Turner

He is now 4 years old and this is our 3rd birthday celebration

with him.

All he wanted was a red bike and that's what he got, along with

a big chocolate cake and ben and jerrys icecream.

He also got lots of hugs and kisses and well

wishes from all our family and friends.

A very special thanks to the best daddy

in the whole world for pulling off

a great birthday party!

Jo, I pray God's blessing over you.

I know the Lord has huge plans

for your life and I'm thrilled

to be a part of God's plan in your life.

You are such a blessing and we love you

all the way around the world and back three

thousand times..

mom

Building bridges to the next generation:

This weekend Taylor and I spent the night in a beautiful bed and breakfast while I learned how to better educate
my kids through the Charlotte Mason way.
It was such a very organized event and I walked away
with so many ideas on how to teach my children.
I couldn't write fast enough..All the women there home-schooled and everyone threw around their ideas and what worked or didn't work for them.

Taylor, loves the Charlotte Mason way of home education and thinks she wants to use this when she has kids (my grand kids) so I had to bring her along and invest in the lives to come.(Not to mention I love her company.:)
She learned the complete CM
method and got to socialize with some wonderful home-school moms.

We were treated to some incredible meals stayed up way to late..laughed and giggled like school girls.

A wish

I looked at the wish and knew it wouldn't come true. Not from a chicken bone, but nonetheless it reminded me to say a prayer. To lift my heart heavenwards and whisper.

He already knew what I wished for, hoped for, needed long before I whispered but He listened again to my small voice. My hopes and dreams rest on Him. My daily bread is given by Him and I'm so thankful for the bread he has provided. He has given me a a beautiful life. My prayer was simple "Lord, let my food not only fill their tummies but their souls as well"..... Let my table, His table, be a place of refuge. A place where the sick are healed, the broken hearted mended, the downcast lifted up. Let the feet that dangle there be well rested when they depart from my table. His table. The one place I can minister to my whole family.Oh, Lord, let me always set a beautiful table before Thee..

When you love someone

She reaches over and pulls him in. She is telling him a secret and he is laughing so hard I wonder what she said. They share the better part of their day either laughing together or being mad at each other.
Sharing is easy.

Sometimes it's not so easy.
She falls down.

Some days

he gently helps her up

and looks at her boo-boo

with such concern.

Other days he walks

right past her and I have

to remind him to be a gentleman

and help her up.

Some days she tells on him

for everything. Some days they

wouldn't tell on each other

for anything...

She can make him laugh,

He can make her cry,

but

they need each other.

She dies more to herself with

Jo than any other person

in our house.

He learns more about love and forgiveness from Channie than anyone else.

I can almost see the Lord giggling when he made these two

brother and sister.

I have learned more about

being a mom by having these two in my life.

They take motherhood to an all new level.

Your love is better than Ice-Cream

These moments in mother-hood

I would not trade for anything

else in the world...

I love the new

everyday..

You are the face of the faith I love..

My emotions overtake me at times.

I can't keep myself focused

on the day because these brown eyes

are all over the place.

They watch me and plead with

me to sit and play awhile

and I do.

(Believe me, you would too!)

Being in love with these two

is one of the easiest feelings in the

world!

Ellie Cate you are the hope I cherish..

I love you sweet girl and I'm

so thankful for your birth.

I will always be here!

Mom