Behold our God

We sang this in church yesterday. Thought you might enjoy it. Blessings!

Easy Autumn

We have had a really mild Autumn for Maine this year. Here are some pictures I took a little while back:

 After a long period of no rain, the boys were itching to play in mud, so I filled a pail of water (about 5 times!) for them to make mud. They loved it! They are making mud soup here.

 On one of our nature walks, we gathered some things to make a little house together.

 Feet like these = happy boy!

 Making a braided loaf with Mama.

 Little Boy said he was all dressed to go outside!

 Big Boy lining up his counting bears.

 Little woodsman.

 Two little woodsmen.

 Watching Veggietales with cousin Keenan!

I hope you have a wonderful day! Enjoy the sunshine!!

A WARNING TO AMERICA ( MUST WATCH!!)

~Interview Question #7~

I interviewed my grandmother and this is the seventh question in the series. Hope you enjoy!

Question #7: What are some ways you kept your toddlers busy?

"It was always a challenge to keep them busy when I really needed them to be! Sometimes a little bribe worked-"If you play really good while I put the cookies in the oven, you may all have one as soon as they are done." This worked a good few times with the first three toddlers. As soon as they heard the oven door open, I heard "Cookies!" and they came tearing down the stairs! It wasn't always that easy. I tried to get them interested in their toys, etc., which sometimes worked. (And many times didn't)."

I'm In For It

Too long between posts. I seem to say that often, don't I? Sorry about that. Well, I just put up question 6 in the interview series. Now for a snippet about what we've been up to:



My adorable little niece, visiting at Gran-Grans

Darlin' made Little Boy a paper bag monster costume, he loved it! Big Boy thought it was cool, so he got one too!

The old one-bottom plow just behind the garden.

Little Boy (affectionately known as "Lemmels") playing monster truck at the picnic table.

Independence Day! Nana, Auntie  Kaelie, Keenan and Darlin' enjoying the fire.

Uncle Jay driving some golf balls

Darlin', playing with the fire.

Some fireworks!

Pretty wands from Gran-Gran

Uncle Chance taking Big Boy for a four wheeler ride! Aunt Foofie helping with his helmet.

Good people eating a lunch of BBQ chicken, hot dogs, baked beans and an array of salads.

Friends and family!

Aunt Foofie giving Big Boy and the two little nieces a wagon ride.

Lemmels and Belle-Belle playing in the garden

Uncle Pat-Pat, takin' 5.

A little "Pickin' and Grinnin' by the fire, waiting for it to get dark enough for fireworks.

Gump and my coolest nephew ever....(so far?-Hint hint Kaelie and Elise!)

Gram Osgood, having a good ol' time!

Our little tadpoles turned into little frogs. We got back from church a few weeks ago and one of them had jumped out, and I couldn't find it! Poor little guy, I felt so bad. So we all went down to the pond and let them go that night. It was a fun project, and I think the boys will be really excited to do it again next year now that they know what's going on!

I also have Homecoming pictures to post soon. Hope you all have a good day!

~Interview Question #6~

Question # 6: Do you have any advice for gardening with toddlers who want to help?

"Toddlers in the garden can be fun if you're not too worried about the outcome! They like having their own little space to plant. I did more gardening with you, Patrick and Mary than with my own children. For one thing, I had more time and patience to enjoy the process! My first three were so close together that they were almost all babies at the same time. They were fun, but I didn't do many "picky" things with them until they were a wee bit older."

Boy, isn't that the truth! Every time I try to go weed, Little boy comes out and steps on all my plants (just going in a straight line to wherever I am). Big Boy tries to help, and is doing better. He will come out with me and help pull "Rumor Weeds" (it's a Veggietales thing). It is much easier to show him what to pull and what to let grow now that the plants are bigger. I love the look on his face when he picks something that grew from seed and realizes it is now food, ready to eat!

Just a note on grandparents and life: From my perspective, when I was little, I had this secure feeling that I was okay; that we were all okay. Life was a certain way, and would always be that way. Grammie and Grampie, well, they are always there. Mom and Dad are always there. As a family, we were all together and nothing would change that. Obviously, the older you get the more life just proves that theory wrong. Children grow up, go to college, move away, get married. You lose precious people. That particular feeling of security is thrown out the window. Your family will not always be there, will not always be the same. Change has always been difficult for me. I am thankful for the hope and promise of Heaven. Where we will be together again. Love your family, all your special people. Take time for them. Christ summed up the two most important commandments. Love God, love others. Relationships are the most important things in this life. 

~When Groundhog Day Gets Your Goat~

~From The Homemaker’s Hearth~

By Danielle Osgood

When Groundhog Day Gets Your Goat

If you are a stay at home mom, life can often feel like you are stuck in the movie “Groundhog Day”. You get up, the same time each day. You wash the same dishes each day. Fold the same laundry. Clean the same bathroom. Break up the same sibling squabbles. Have the same conversations with the little guys. Read the same stories. Answer the perpetual question of “Mamma, what are we going to do?” for the tenth time each day. I can never understand why, when your daily routine doesn’t vary that much, they feel the need to ask what comes next! It is usually times like this, when you think you can’t take anymore, that the dog finds herself a “striped kitty” in the woods and gets into the house while wearing her offensive badge of curiosity.

     I think it is fair to say that all parents struggle with parental anger at one time or another. I know I do. What are we to do about it? Well, I am right in the middle of the battle myself. I do not have all the answers. But, I would like to share what I do know, and hope it may encourage someone else.

     One time, (one of the many) I was lamenting to my husband how much I longed to be like the sweet, older Christian ladies who seemed to have an endless supply of patience and joy. Namely, my grandmother Charleen. My grandmother had 6 children. I have NEVER heard her speak ill of anyone, nor swear, or raise her voice. She is so calm, cool and collected. How do they do it? I wondered. It seems like such an unattainable goal, being able to not only “roll with the punches” but to do so with grace. I will never forget Joe’s response. “Maybe they were able to develop that character only after years of being “put through the wringer” with day to day challenges like you are dealing with.” WOW. Maybe that seems obvious to most. But for me, that hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe these ladies weren’t hiding some secret to the long lost art of patience. Maybe they were just like me. That gave me a little bit of hope-all was not lost!

     So here are some tips that I am using to help deal with the feelings of frustration:

1. Pray. Seriously. Pray.

2. Read the Word daily. You may think that you don’t have much time as a mother to read and pray very much during the day-I dare say that as a mother you cannot afford NOT to. Our job is difficult, draining, and to be taken seriously. We need the refreshment/encouragement/rebuke that can only be found through daily reading of God’s Word. If you have time to check your Facebook, email, whatever, then you have time for God’s Word.

3. Rotate toys. Kids get bored with the same stuff all the time. Switch it up once in a while by rotating the toys that are available to them.

4. Post a daily routine on your wall. Use pictures for non-readers. Kids like knowing what to expect.

5. Be diligent in correcting bad behavior as well as reinforcing good behavior. We have a glass jar of M&M’s on our counter. We call it the “blessing jar”. Our boys are 2 and 3. This works well at this age as a visual that obedience results in a blessing. (you’ve got to keep the concept simple at this age, don’t over complicate things!) I taped this verse to the jar: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Ps. 34:8

6. Make sure they know the rules. We have simple, basic family rules. Be kind. Be gentle. No whining. Tell the truth. That’s it. We posted them on our wall, and even though he can’t read, our 3 year old has them memorized.

7. Memorize Scripture. Write out verses on index cards about patience, self control,etc. And stick them in your pocket. Refer to them throughout the day. Tape them above your sink to memorize while washing dishes. Hiding God’s Word in our hearts helps us not to give in to temptation: Ps. 119:11. Listed amongst the fruits of the Spirit(Gal. 5:22-23) are Joy, patience and self control. Get some Scripture memory CD’s to listen to them with the kids. Before you know it, you will all be singing along!

8. Persevere. When you are “in it”, it can feel like you are not getting anywhere. The kids continue to fight about the same things, every day.”Will they ever get it?” you ask yourself. It can seem like all your hard work never makes a difference. This can be very discouraging. I have found that these are the times when I am most likely to “lose it”. You spend nearly every waking moment (and some groggy, midnight moments!) pouring into your children and you see no fruit. This is when we are more apt to entertain thoughts of “why bother” and “this is pointless”. Maybe I’m the only one, but some days I really struggle to keep calm, be joyful and loving, and patient. It is exhausting! I remember a time, not long ago, I had just spent over an hour scrubbing our kitchen floor on my hands and knees. Then Jack(3) went to help himself to the fridge for a drink.(He is supposed to ask for help). He spilled a lot of sticky iced tea all over the inside of the fridge and the floor. I vividly remember how hard it was not to get angry. I nearly choked out the response “Jack, next time please ask for help.” He said in a cute voice”Oops, I’m sorry Mamma.” It melted my heart. Now, wasn’t that much better than yelling, which probably would have made him cry? I think so. Then one time Liam, our 2 year old randomly burst out singing “Rock of Ages”. And another time Jack started to recite Psalm 23. These moments took me by surprise. Just when I think my efforts are fruitless, wondering why I even get up in the morning, I get these little boosts of encouragement. They are listening. They are watching. So take heart, don’t give up. Don’t let “Groundhog Day” get your goat!

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

~Interview With Grammie Question #5~

Question #5: When did your love for gardening develop? Did you enjoy it as a child?

"When I was just a little kid, I remember "helping" Mom and Dad plant our garden. They got a big kick out of me carefully picking up and planting one carrot seed at a time. They showed me a quicker way to get the job done! Outside of that I didn't do much gardening until I was grown up. It was something I gradually took a real interest in doing."

~Of Deer And Legos~

This big doe has been hanging around the house. She doesn't have any little ones though. Her favorite meal seems to be our small fruit trees and my garden!!! You can get fairly close before she takes off, snorting in disgust that we disturbed her snack!

 Lunch time at Gran-Grans! My nieces were down last week so we turned our weekly Cooking Day into a little party!

Last week's lesson: How to properly slice.(Using ''dull'' knives).

Aunt Nina sets up and demonstrates.

 Determination!!!

 What a slicing cutie!

Trying desperately to get a picture of the two cousins in the aprons I made them....

 Dance break?

 This is the best one! They just had so much fun to have and so little time, they couldn't stay still for dumb pictures!!!

Zonked with TV for quiet time.

 Legos, anyone? This is the first time Big Boy has ever played with ''real'' Legos. He loved it! Guess Mama will have to start buying Legos now, lol.

 Just like Uncle Pat-Pat! My brother used to spend hours playing Legos in his room. He kept them in a large, blue tote. The rattling noise the Legos would make as he pawed through the box looking for a particular piece used to drive me crazy! Now I kinda miss it, lol.

Well, that's a wrap folks. I will post an interview question soon! Take care and God bless!