A humble kernel.

It's been over a month since Rick has been in the hospital, had brain surgery and has been home to recover. It's been a few weeks since all six of us have been home together, living side by side in our small two bedroom apartment. Tomorrow will mark the end of our second week of homeschooling an eighth grader and kindergartner with a two year old and six month old in tow. Last week was rough, to state it simply. Rough and trying. This week has been better and today, the best day so far. We didn't just survive today, we lived. All thanks to the humble kernel. Today we made stove top popcorn and it elevated the day in a way I could have never foreseen.

Afternoon came and finally Westley, our almost two and a half year old fell asleep for his nap. I told Natalie to begin reading her second chapter of Winston Churchill's The New World since the home was drastically quieter. As tired as my mind and body already was, I took Finn and Rowan into the second bedroom to nurse the latter to sleep and hang out with Finn. Honestly speaking , while we quietly played with linking toys, I really just wanted to close my eyes and drift to sweet sleep myself. Rowan successfully fell asleep and I realized Finn was having too much fun wanting to laugh and play. I gathered my energies up and said, "Buddy, let me look something up." I went on Pinterest to find just the right recipe to make popcorn on the stove.

Last week I had started Finn on The Playful Pioneers, a literature and projects based curriculum with daily readings from the Little House on the Prairie books. A project for last week was actually to make homemade popcorn (something I've been meaning to do for some time) but we just couldn't manage it last week. That's because it was meant for today, to bring life and delight to us. 

 

We brought over his chair to the counter next to the stove. We went over some rules and we brought out our ingredients and measuring tools. He measured the kernels, cut the butter and poured the oil into a bowl. I turned on our electric stove, made sure the burner was heating up, had him pour the oil into our Dutch oven, and placed four corn kernels in that he counted out for me. We covered the lid and eagerly waited to hear them 'pop' to let us know the oil was ready. We waited. And we waited. We joked, we played, along with Nat who was doing work on the kitchen table. Yet, the kernels never popped. I thought maybe it was the stove, being electric and all. Eventually after quite some time Finn saw that the back burner was actually red! Whoops! I thought for sure I started the right one. I even kept putting the heat higher and higher and for sure felt the heat on without touching the pot! Oh dear, we all had a good laugh at that. 

I put the pot on the right burner and we fell silent waiting to hear those kernels pop and they did! Wes had gotten up from his nap by now (preceded by Rowan who was being held by Nat) and the process began. We all squealed with delight as we poured in the remaining kernels, hearing them sizzle and burst. Through the not completely put on lid, we could see them popping and jumping inside. When it was time, I poured the hot and freshly popped corn into a bowl and put the butter in the still hot Dutch oven. It fizzled and promptly melted. I poured into over the popcorn and with caution and wooden spoons, the boys took turns mixing it all up while Finn and I took turns shaking the salt over it all. 

The boys quickly brought the chairs back to the table, and served themselves. We went into the room where Rick was resting to ask him if he wanted some. We got him a bowl and he came out to join us in our popcorn celebration. This small event yielding not just a wholesome, tasty treat but so much more. In all the ways. As Rick said afterwards, "This really brightened my day."

*Other things I want to remember from today:

• Salty, the squirrel shaped salt shaker (say that five times fast!)
• The 'haunted face' Finn made out of the kernels in the pan
• Franklie, the apple we made a scary face in earlier that Finn named
• Rowan with his first crawl on the bed (trying to get to the pop corn!)
• How truly happy we all were together, how all the current stress seemed to be lifted for the moment
• Chasing the pop corn down with the day's Grapefruit Orange Honey Switchel
• The boys telling me all the shapes and creatures the corn looked like (a mama octopus and bunnies to name a couple)
• How proud Finn was to be such a huge part of it
• How much we all really enjoyed it
• All the other things my heart knows but I'm having trouble putting into words

'Royal opened its iron door, and with the poker he broke the charred logs into a shimmering bed of coals. He put three handfuls of popcorn into the big wire popper, and shook the popper over the coals. In a little while a kernel popped, then another, then three or four at once, and all at once furiously the hundreds of little pointed kernels exploded.

When the big dishpan was heaping full of fluffy white popcorn. Alice poured melted butter over it, and stirred and salted it. It was hot and crackling crisp, and deliciously buttery and salty, and everyone could eat all he wanted to.'

 -- Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Fourth of July.

Independence Day is one of those holidays that took a long time to grow on me. Last year was the first time we celebrated it in our home town and this year we did the same. The morning started out with our neighborhood patriotic parade. I never knew I could be blessed by such a thing but it is so neat seeing neighbors, friends and children walking around, smiling, talking, riding bikes and skateboards, walking dogs and wearing red, white and blue.

Afterwards Nattie spent some time with friends while Finn and I came back home.  Rick worked the fireworks stand for Nat's softball organization but came home in time for all of us to spend time with friends who live on the other side of the school.

The kids went swimming (and the littles had their own pool. We ate, talked and when it was time, headed out for our street fireworks. It was simple and great, in every way.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 ESV)

Another year, another Summer

Today is her last day as a fourth grader. It marks the end of a school season and the beginning of the summer. I find myself realizing not just that my first born is rapidly growing but also we are still where we were last year. Has there been progress? How has our resolve been? It's a little hard admitting certain truths but also realizing that everything is really in His hands. That has not changed, nor will it ever. He has ordained all things in our life for His glory, His purpose. And for our good. 

I do find myself without a large sense of dread towards summer like I usually have and I count that as a blessing. I know the heat hasn't quite kicked in, or the quarrels between ten and two year old haven't occurred much yet. Hopefully it's growth in me, and growth in Him. I do look forward to the next few months because we are going to try our hand at a bit of Charlotte Mason style 'summer' homeschooling. Just a few things to give a bit of order to summer without overwhelming it or quelling it. Also as a way of preparing me if and when we do homeschool. A look into managing things and still trying to have fun and learn as a family.

It would seem like we still have a long way to go. I'm just hoping it's not as long of a wait as it seemed last year. I'm also hoping that my heart is continuing to change and grow. Not just mine but my family's as well. We need it. We need Jesus. We need each other. We need His promises. Everyday.

Here's to Summer and all that He brings with it!

Adventus.

Advent or Adventus, meaning 'coming'. This is our third year of Advent devotionals leading up to Christmas day and every year I love it more and grow deeper in understanding. It's more than just Jesus being the Reason for the Season but why He is. It's a remembrance of His coming and how all of the Old Testament whispered of it. Advent is beautiful to my heart, and I am thankful to celebrate the King in this way.

Honestly, for us, it's been challenging doing our devotionals because of our schedules. To sit and have an evening, every evening carved out to reading and crafting is not what we are able to do. I am thankful that we have been intentional about having a nightly reading and I know He is being glorified through that.

This year we are using an eBook we downloaded from the Verge Network which utilizes scripture and selected stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible. I was able to print out the daily ornaments for the kids to color and I also learned about having a Jesse Tree in which to hang them. A Jesse Tree is an tradition based on Isaiah 11:1"A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." The idea is decorating a tree with ornaments that 'connect the Old Testament history to the birth of Christ'. I put together a simple hanging tree with branches we 'foraged' for our Jesse Tree.

 

Also for the season of Advent, I remembered what a friend shared with me a few years ago.  For the month of December, she challenges herself to thank God in her prayers instead of just asking Him for her supplications. That idea resonated in me and just the other day, I received a most timely and challenging proposition from her.  I wish I could share what she poured out to me and a few other friends but it was profound, real and thought provoking. She encouraged us to all come to Him in prayer at an appointed time, no matter where we are at, and just give Him thanks.

Today was the first day of what I'm calling Advent Thanksgiving and Prayer (ATP). How great and providential it was too. This is what I shared with my friends:

You have no idea how much my soul needs this. In His providence this is the first day of your proposed idea. Of all days I need to be thankful. Having a particularly rough day, with challenging days before. On a day where I've cried because of how life is at the moment for us. Where I feel lost and helpless. Where Finn is getting crazy and not allowing me any space to deal with the matters of my heart. I heard my alarm sound off and I knew it was time to go before The Lord and JUST THANK HIM. As hard as it was, I knew it was the right and good thing to do in so many ways. As my heart aches I pray the spirit of thanksgiving and hope in Him will be the blessed salve. His life was brought here and given for me. That's the truth that sets me free.

There it is, in truth and reality. Here is my heart. I will give thanks and celebrate Advent because the Savior came. He came for me. He came for you. For us. Because of God's great infinite and incomprehensible love. What better gift is there?

Andrea

Halloween Roundup

Halloween 2013. All photos iPhone. Edited with VSCO, PicTapGo and Afterlight.

Andrea

My little wild things

Sweet, wild and free. I'm thankful for these children. So very thankful.

(Photos taken in Los Angeles, CA with my iPhone, edited with VSCO)

Andrea

Kingdom first.

I am thankful for His constant pursuing of my heart and His desires for me. He continues to reveal more of what my life in Him should be and challenges me daily. This morning our devotional was about 'The Most Important Prayer'. To be honest, some mornings feel like I'm just reading words with the meaning falling to the wayside. Today I read and my own heart was opened and listening. We talked about what it means to seek His Kingdom first. I had to assist my daughter's answers and by helping her, it was being revealed to me also. How will others see that God is our King, that His Kingdom is first in our lives? Yes, praying and reading His word is essential to every son and daughter but there is more. I challenged her thoughts with the ideas of showing kindness, love and service to others. Asking more about themselves than talking more about ourself. Having kind tones in the way we talk to others and to each other. Being helpful with her brother and obedient to her parents in front of others. All these examples are ways to shine our light and show that He is first in our life. As I shared this with her, areas in my life came to mind that needs adjusting to His will as well. After walking her to school (and confessing my need for Christ in these areas), I began to pray. That our family would seek first His Kingdom before all other things. For us as parents, to adjust and change what needs to be changed in order for us to glorify Him more than anything. For Him to continue to reveal our hearts and to aid us in leading our family well, as our first mission. For these things and more. I'm encouraged by Him and for the desire to want His will more and more every day. To seek His Kingdom first. Here on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

Andrea.