I am in the process of cooking our Thanksgiving meal. It always amazes me when I get to the end of the menu, because it continues to grow until we actually sit down to eat! Last year we had two friends come and eat with us, making a total of eight eating Thanksgiving dinner at the Pearsons. That's great, but I cook for at least 30 people! This year is the same type of menu, but we have a few more people coming. Yay, less leftovers!
We are having:
Fried turkey (thanks to the Garris family)
Gravy
stuffing
green bean casserole (thanks to Caroline)
corn pudding (thanks also to Caroline)
watergate salad (a Hight family tradition)
Potato Salad (with my Mema's homemade pickles)
fresh sweet potatoes
butter beans
cranberry salad
homemade macaroni and cheese (made by my 11 yr old daughter)
broccoli & cauliflower salad
And for dessert:
chocolate layer cake with fudge icing (you know, the kind with the itty bitty layers and lots of icing poured over top! Also made by my 11 year old daughter)
peanut butter pie (my nephews favorite)
sweet potato casserole (thanks to Samantha)
and last, but not least,
homemade banana pudding (custard is from scratch, just like Mema's!)
So, you see, there *is* enough for an army! We will have seven adults and seven kids. We are gonna have soooo much food leftover!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Coming to the end of the week. . .
This is the end of our first week of school, and it's been a good one. Rachael has gotten a dose of what 7th grade is like, and she dominated! I thought it was going to be a shock to her system, but she actually finished her work in three days...so I've already threatened to add more work to her schedule! I do realize, and so does she, that its really just review from last year, so the math and english isn't really hard yet. In a few weeks we'll add a Geography Co-op to our schedule - studying Asia. The kids will do the research (working together) and put together a presentation. Last time the kids learned how to do Powerpoint, and we'll probably use that method again this year. In addition to the presentation, all the families who participate in the co-op prepare a food dish from their particular country and we all feast! It's a lot of fun to try different things that we wouldn't normally try!
For the next few days, Rachael is farm-sitting. Yes, farm sitting! My friend is out of town, and has asked Rachael to take over feeding and watering her animals. She has goats, chickens, one lonely duck, and two kitties. When we pulled up to her house tonight, we saw that one of the boy goats (about the size of a small dog) on the *outside* of the fence! Argh! So, we set to luring, pleading, chasing and herding this little goat back into his cage. I bet anyone riding by would have been really, really entertained by that sight! While my oldest children chased the goat, my little Lukie had spotted the tiny kitten named Luke (all the animals are named after friends and this one is my Lukie's namesake). So, he proceeded to hog the kitten, and not let any of the other kids have a turn holding him. He toted him all around, holding him with one hand. I don't think Luke (the kitten) was really unhappy with the situation, but I did see him run away from Lukie a few times. Then Lukie, the boy, would chase down Luke, the kitten, and catch him again. It was very funny! Just before we were getting ready to leave, Luke, the kitten, had hidden himself under the car just out of the reach of Lukie, the boy. It frustrated Lukie and he was very upset that he had to leave the kitten behind and go to our home, which has no kitten... Life is always an adventure!
My dad and stepmother came by tonight and we sat outside and had a very nice visit. The weather was pleasant and the conversation entertaining.
Tomorrow we will spend part of the day with friends we only see about once a year. All the kids will be together and will spend the day in and out of the pool. That will give us grown ups time to catch up with each other's lives.
Just a note about Independence Day - I am so thankful for our country, and the freedoms we have! It's awesome that God placed me in this country when he chose me to be born. We have the freedom to worship our God, freedom to homeschool, freedom to choose our career, and our friends. I'm thankful to all those who have served in the military (including my husband) to defend our freedom against all those out there who would like to dominate us. I will be ever thankful that I serve a God who is, above all, in control!
For the next few days, Rachael is farm-sitting. Yes, farm sitting! My friend is out of town, and has asked Rachael to take over feeding and watering her animals. She has goats, chickens, one lonely duck, and two kitties. When we pulled up to her house tonight, we saw that one of the boy goats (about the size of a small dog) on the *outside* of the fence! Argh! So, we set to luring, pleading, chasing and herding this little goat back into his cage. I bet anyone riding by would have been really, really entertained by that sight! While my oldest children chased the goat, my little Lukie had spotted the tiny kitten named Luke (all the animals are named after friends and this one is my Lukie's namesake). So, he proceeded to hog the kitten, and not let any of the other kids have a turn holding him. He toted him all around, holding him with one hand. I don't think Luke (the kitten) was really unhappy with the situation, but I did see him run away from Lukie a few times. Then Lukie, the boy, would chase down Luke, the kitten, and catch him again. It was very funny! Just before we were getting ready to leave, Luke, the kitten, had hidden himself under the car just out of the reach of Lukie, the boy. It frustrated Lukie and he was very upset that he had to leave the kitten behind and go to our home, which has no kitten... Life is always an adventure!
My dad and stepmother came by tonight and we sat outside and had a very nice visit. The weather was pleasant and the conversation entertaining.
Tomorrow we will spend part of the day with friends we only see about once a year. All the kids will be together and will spend the day in and out of the pool. That will give us grown ups time to catch up with each other's lives.
Just a note about Independence Day - I am so thankful for our country, and the freedoms we have! It's awesome that God placed me in this country when he chose me to be born. We have the freedom to worship our God, freedom to homeschool, freedom to choose our career, and our friends. I'm thankful to all those who have served in the military (including my husband) to defend our freedom against all those out there who would like to dominate us. I will be ever thankful that I serve a God who is, above all, in control!
Monday, June 30, 2008
The first day of school
I was greeted this morning at 6:50am with Rachael by my side, grinning, telling me that she was dressed and ready for schoool. (I told you that they were excited!) I encouraged her, and she left the room. Very shortly thereafter, Alex and David came in and told me that they were ready. David told me he was ready by silently appearing at the side of my face (my eyes were closed and I had fallen back asleep) and saying "See, I brushed my teeth. Doesn't my breath smell good?" and breathing heavily on me. I laughed and said, "Yep, you brushed 'em."
As soon as I walked down stairs I was bombarded with questions about the schoolwork Rachael needed help with and the younger kids asking to start thier work and Luke asking to play his Dora computer game. Aarrggghhh! I told them all as calmly as I could I needed some coffee and a minute to breathe before I jumped in to the day. I got the boys started decorating pages for the front of their schoolwork notebook (to make it 'thiers') and then fixed some coffee and a bagel (thank you Pastor Aaron).
On a different note, Ferrell Galloway was at Open Door yesterday and God moved in an awesome way in me. It was a great service and I really enjoyed hearing about what God was doing all over the country through The Call. But he shared a word about God calling us back to pray... To fast and pray for the root of those things that really pings in our heart. Not to do 'exploratory prayer' where we try to cover as many topics in our prayer time as we can. But to deeply pray and seek God's face for our nation, our body of believers, our city, and our own struggles. To believe that God *does* hear us, and that He will answer, according to His will. I so terribly want to linger in God's presence...to talk with Him intimately...it's hard to make the time for that at this stage in my life (and my family's life).
Alrighty, I'm off to begin educating my kiddies for a new school year... Let's see how long they stay excited. . .
Oh, by the way, these postings are originating from my blog (see my profile on Facebook for the address) but are being imported to Facebook. So, if you want to comment, visit the actual blog on blogspot...
As soon as I walked down stairs I was bombarded with questions about the schoolwork Rachael needed help with and the younger kids asking to start thier work and Luke asking to play his Dora computer game. Aarrggghhh! I told them all as calmly as I could I needed some coffee and a minute to breathe before I jumped in to the day. I got the boys started decorating pages for the front of their schoolwork notebook (to make it 'thiers') and then fixed some coffee and a bagel (thank you Pastor Aaron).
On a different note, Ferrell Galloway was at Open Door yesterday and God moved in an awesome way in me. It was a great service and I really enjoyed hearing about what God was doing all over the country through The Call. But he shared a word about God calling us back to pray... To fast and pray for the root of those things that really pings in our heart. Not to do 'exploratory prayer' where we try to cover as many topics in our prayer time as we can. But to deeply pray and seek God's face for our nation, our body of believers, our city, and our own struggles. To believe that God *does* hear us, and that He will answer, according to His will. I so terribly want to linger in God's presence...to talk with Him intimately...it's hard to make the time for that at this stage in my life (and my family's life).
Alrighty, I'm off to begin educating my kiddies for a new school year... Let's see how long they stay excited. . .
Oh, by the way, these postings are originating from my blog (see my profile on Facebook for the address) but are being imported to Facebook. So, if you want to comment, visit the actual blog on blogspot...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Peaches and Apples
I had a chance this morning... a very impromptu opportunity with my two oldest children. We were all the kitchen this morning and I was cooking French Toast (yum). My oldest daughter was wearing a t-shirt that had the fruit of the Spirit labeled with different fruit. My oldest son made a comment about the apples being self-control. It immediately made me ask them both, "what do you think God was trying to tell us about the Spirit of God by equating Him in our lives to fruit?" ... ... ... no answer, "well?" ... ... ...
It started stirring in me so strongly, and we began to discuss the stages of a fruit tree.
You see, a fruit tree starts with a seed in the ground. A tree sprouts from that seed, but it still does not produce fruit immediately. The tree will have blooms early on, but it will take many years before fruit will actually appear on the tree. The funny thing is it may take a few more years before the fruit is actually good enough to eat.
When we receive the Holy Spirit, it is the 'seed' that Jesus promised us with, that He would never leave us or forsake us, and that we would do greater things than He did. I think some of the problem is that we get the 'seed' and we mistake the things we do early on as 'fruit', when in fact they are just 'blooms'. Now there is nothing wrong with 'blooms' as they are beautiful, we need the 'blooms' because they are a promise of the 'fruit' that is to come.
If we don't take care of our tree and help it to grow and mature then it will never actually bear 'fruit'. I asked my kids, " What do you want to do when you see a juicy peach hanging on the branch of a tree?" 'Pick it and eat it', they said. "that's right!!"
It is amazing to me that we just don't get this principle, that people are more attracted to juicy ripe fruit than they are to rotten fruit. The Holy Spirit wants to make us attractive to people around us, not so they will be attracted to us, but to God. We don't produce fruit because we want to, or because we try to, we really produce the best fruit when we are in touch with God and His Holy Spirit, and just let Him be in us.
Don't strive to produce fruit, it will exhaust you. Spend time with Jesus, He is the only one that can produce anything in you and through you. I want my 'fruit' to be evident to all, so that people want to, 'pick it and eat it', not for my glory but for His. I know that people are more attracted to the following attributes: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-Control.
It started stirring in me so strongly, and we began to discuss the stages of a fruit tree.
You see, a fruit tree starts with a seed in the ground. A tree sprouts from that seed, but it still does not produce fruit immediately. The tree will have blooms early on, but it will take many years before fruit will actually appear on the tree. The funny thing is it may take a few more years before the fruit is actually good enough to eat.
When we receive the Holy Spirit, it is the 'seed' that Jesus promised us with, that He would never leave us or forsake us, and that we would do greater things than He did. I think some of the problem is that we get the 'seed' and we mistake the things we do early on as 'fruit', when in fact they are just 'blooms'. Now there is nothing wrong with 'blooms' as they are beautiful, we need the 'blooms' because they are a promise of the 'fruit' that is to come.
If we don't take care of our tree and help it to grow and mature then it will never actually bear 'fruit'. I asked my kids, " What do you want to do when you see a juicy peach hanging on the branch of a tree?" 'Pick it and eat it', they said. "that's right!!"
It is amazing to me that we just don't get this principle, that people are more attracted to juicy ripe fruit than they are to rotten fruit. The Holy Spirit wants to make us attractive to people around us, not so they will be attracted to us, but to God. We don't produce fruit because we want to, or because we try to, we really produce the best fruit when we are in touch with God and His Holy Spirit, and just let Him be in us.
Don't strive to produce fruit, it will exhaust you. Spend time with Jesus, He is the only one that can produce anything in you and through you. I want my 'fruit' to be evident to all, so that people want to, 'pick it and eat it', not for my glory but for His. I know that people are more attracted to the following attributes: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-Control.
Wives and mothers...
I read this today in a great little book called "Signposts on the Road to Success" and I was impacted by it and wanted to share. It's amazing the power of our words. It says in the Proverbs 21:23 - Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.
********************************************
Children's lives are largely made up of words - the words of their parents and those whom they love and admire.
A mother can fill her boy's heart with zeal or an education and for a position in life, or she can, with words, destroy the finest spirit that was ever given to a home.
The children are word-made.
What do I mean?
Their lives are made up of words of thier parents and loved ones.
The wife little appreciates the power of words on her husbands life. When he loses a job, she could scold him and tell him that he is no good. He was whipped before he came home, but then he would be doubly whipped.
Instead, she puts her arms around him and says, "That's alright dear. You will get a better position . You are worthy of a better job anyway."
He goes out the next morning, thrilled by the touch of her lips and her words have filled him with courage and confidence. He leaves her heart filled with joy and gladness, and she says "What a man God gave me."
He says "what a woman you gave me, Lord."
They have learned the secret of words.
A few devastating words could have filled his mind with confusion, his heart with pain, and his eyes with tears.
Words give heartache, and words give strength and comfort and faith. Let's be careful with the words we use. Don't tell that story you heard the other day about this man or that woman. Don't let any other ears be poisoned as your ears have been poisoned with it. Never repeat scandal, never repeat the calamity of things. Let others do the talking about that.
You keep your lips for beautiful things, helpful things, comforting things.
********************************************
Children's lives are largely made up of words - the words of their parents and those whom they love and admire.
A mother can fill her boy's heart with zeal or an education and for a position in life, or she can, with words, destroy the finest spirit that was ever given to a home.
The children are word-made.
What do I mean?
Their lives are made up of words of thier parents and loved ones.
The wife little appreciates the power of words on her husbands life. When he loses a job, she could scold him and tell him that he is no good. He was whipped before he came home, but then he would be doubly whipped.
Instead, she puts her arms around him and says, "That's alright dear. You will get a better position . You are worthy of a better job anyway."
He goes out the next morning, thrilled by the touch of her lips and her words have filled him with courage and confidence. He leaves her heart filled with joy and gladness, and she says "What a man God gave me."
He says "what a woman you gave me, Lord."
They have learned the secret of words.
A few devastating words could have filled his mind with confusion, his heart with pain, and his eyes with tears.
Words give heartache, and words give strength and comfort and faith. Let's be careful with the words we use. Don't tell that story you heard the other day about this man or that woman. Don't let any other ears be poisoned as your ears have been poisoned with it. Never repeat scandal, never repeat the calamity of things. Let others do the talking about that.
You keep your lips for beautiful things, helpful things, comforting things.
I started a new blog!
I decided to let my other blog go and try blogspot. What I'm hoping is that I'll blog here about our life, our adventures in homeschooling, and any other things that we come across that are a little bit interesting!
Also, Elliotte has discovered an interest, and seemingly, a talent in photography. I've been impressed with what he's learned in a short time with his graduation present - a digital SLR camera. So, I plan on posting some great pics here of the kids and maybe even some of Elliotte and myself.
As Elliotte finishes grad school in the next three or so weeks, and as we get started back to school, we'll all be on a path to discovering what "regular" life is for us (and expressing that here).
All I know is, that we are blessed - blessed to be called children by the living God, blessed to be healthy, blessed to all be together, blessed to have God provide Elliotte with so much favor with his job and school, just blessed. . .
Also, Elliotte has discovered an interest, and seemingly, a talent in photography. I've been impressed with what he's learned in a short time with his graduation present - a digital SLR camera. So, I plan on posting some great pics here of the kids and maybe even some of Elliotte and myself.
As Elliotte finishes grad school in the next three or so weeks, and as we get started back to school, we'll all be on a path to discovering what "regular" life is for us (and expressing that here).
All I know is, that we are blessed - blessed to be called children by the living God, blessed to be healthy, blessed to all be together, blessed to have God provide Elliotte with so much favor with his job and school, just blessed. . .
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