Honesty P.S.
Since posting “Honesty”, I have received two (loving) criticisms on one subject: that Jehovah Witnesses (two strange men, none the less!) were invited into our family's home while I was alone.
To set the record straight: I did not invite strange men into the house while I was alone. I met them on the doorstep and there we stayed until they left.
Although I never said that I invited them in, I should have made it clear that I did not. And I apologize to those of you who assumed that I did. I hope that this reassures you of my integrity, virtue, propriety and lack of stupidity. Because it is rather stupid to invite strange men into the house when you're a girl/female alone. Even backwoods Saskatchewan.
On a more cheerful note, I'm rarely alone. ;-)
Life has had it's usual twists and turns lately. Some really good times and some really rough times. I am thankful for it all. How would we grow unless we had everything from life? If it was all good, it would be difficult to learn patience and perseverance. If all was bad, our hope and patience would wear away.
A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend of mine and we found that both of us had been dealing with some difficulties. She said, “I find when things are really hard, it helps to start praising the Lord.” The funny thing about that piece of information was the day before, I had been through a tough situation and was feeling like life was pretty crazy. So I started praying... that God would somehow work through this situation and through me to bring glory to Himself and I also asked that He would show me something to be thankful about. Because at that moment, I could not see anything particularly to give thanks for.
About 1/10 of a second later, everything in my life that I could be thankful for was laid out for me to look at. It was amazing. God answers prayer like you wouldn't believe!
So when my friend tells me that she chooses this pathway of thanksgiving during hardship, it made me realize, again, what a great God we serve. :-) :-) Only through His power and mercy are we able to even want to give thanks... let alone do it.
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in its adversities. (Ps. 31: 7)
I've been reading a lot lately. I finished Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian and am working on Bodie and Brock Thoene's A.D. Chronicles series. After that, I have two Jane Austen books, one by Tolstoy and four of Lynn Austin's biblical fiction (Old Testament).
Since I first was introduced to their work, I have always been amazed by the Thoene's books (husband/wife writing team), whether biblical fiction or history of Ireland, WW2 or Israel's fight to become a nation. Their work is very powerful and the message is always a good one. It's hard to explain why I like their work so much. Yes, the style is good. Yes, the story subject is very interesting. Yes, they always give God the glory. Yes, they have researched extensively. Yes, they obviously love each other and what they do. Yet, it seems to go deeper than all of that. But perhaps it is a mixture of all those things that makes their books so special and amazing.
Sara has three teeth and is starting to act like she might like to walk. Her balance continues to get better each day. It's so much fun watching her grow. She's extremely cute. :-) :-)
The rest of the kids keep growing and growing and maturing. The other day, Ruth (4) came to me and said, “Nomie, will you teach me how to read?” :-) You know how good that makes a person feel? :-) :-) Teaching a child how to read is like unlocking the door to a new world and ushering them in. It's a rewarding experience for both the teacher and the student. I remember teaching my sister Cilla how to read a few years ago. It was something that changed our relationship for the better. I have always loved her as my sister but having to spend that time together each day made me realize that she was more than just a little sister. She is a unique individual and has her own personality and feelings. This may sound crazy but it's easy for me to forget that I'm not the only one with a personality. I suppose it would be called selfishness. :-) And in this area, teaching is better than caffeine when it comes to wakeup time.
(Uriah)
We've been practicing music lately because next sunday we're supposed to play at the hospice service. This morning, while we were practicing, Cilla (8) got the accordion out (we have a small one) and started to play the songs with us. Needless to say, we're now going to give her some pointers on the piano (and accordion). It's amazing how the kids seem to just pick up the music on their own.
I have also been taking quite a few pictures lately of nature. It's been pretty warm and very beautiful here (yeah, I know... it's November! :-)) but the mornings are always frosty. So I went out and took some pictures of the grass with frost on them. The variety of shapes of ice and frost with the sun glimmering them into diamonds is breath taking... there is no word to accurately describe the frost in it's glory.
My Dad went to BC this week and picked up a sawmill. Zeke, who went with him, calculated that they drove 44 hours in total. The first day, they drove all the way there: 21 hours. They arrived safely home last night and already, one our neighbors is here to look and help. LOL! Guys. We do have the greatest neighbors in the world. I love it here. I don't think you can get too many neighborhoods like ours.
Anyways, Dad is talking about building a bunkhouse for us four oldest girls. We'll see how that goes. Building living quarters always seems to take more time and effort than you first planned on. It would be nice to get a place of our own to sleep in. Not that the living room is horrible or anything... (and it's great incentive for making my bed every morning :-) :-D).
(Emma)
Well, it's lovely and warm outside so I should close this up and get out there. We will be processing turkeys at our neighbors in a couple days and I'll be doing the babysitting. They have the internet so I should have plenty of time to upload some pictures with this post. :-) :-) Have a great week with lots of smiles and God's joy... with a little banjo music tuned in. ;-)
I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee... O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful... Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. (31: 22 - 24)
