So Cold But So Beautiful

Today it is -20 degrees Celsius with a high today of -11 degrees, however there is a windchill of -28 degrees and a snow squall warning. This means that the little ones and I are house bound again today and likely tomorrow as well. There are upsides to this though...First it is very beautiful outside. Everything is crisp and clear and fresh.
This is the view out my kitchen window right now (the picture does not do it justice) so many shades of white - breathtaking.


The other upside is that I am home. I am really enjoying the forced time inside, I have been able to get alot done and spend some real quality time with the littles as well as being more creative with ways to keep them busy. They miss going out though. Children love routine so when we cannot get out for our daily walk it can really throw them off. But so far so good!

Hope you are enjoying your day too!

Blessings,
Liisa

Older Women

In my morning study I was reading Titus 2 and I couldn't help but see the tie in to the post I wrote yesterday.

Titus 2:3-5 says -
...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

We need to help and encourage younger women to love their husbands, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, and obedient to their own husbands. What a contrast this is to the advice found in the world. We need to do this so the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Let's uplift and encourage each other not tear down and discourage.

How I love the teachings found in the Bible. When my sister had her shop she carried a t-shirt with a picture of a Bible on the front and underneath it said Life's Instruction Manual. How true! If only everyone would read the manual life would be so much easier!

Happy Thursday!
Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com

Marriage - Sticking With It

Note - Right at the outset of this post I would like to say if your husband is abusing you or your children find help. Do not stay in a situation that will endanger you or your children.


I think one of the biggest causes of divorce in our day is the failure to just stick with it. Everywhere we look we are told that it is all about us, it is all about our happiness, life is too short to waste being unhappy, kick him or her to the curb etc. But what happens if things in your marriage hit a rough patch and you choose not to listen to all that "advice" from TV, celebrities, friends etc.? What happens when you choose to stick with it? When you choose to believe that you took sacred vows and you will honour them until death you do part?

You stick with it and things do improve.

My marriage has hit it's rough patches too, every one's has, especially in the first few years we were married. But you know what, even though I was told to just give up and move on and I know my hubby separately received that same advice we stuck with it and how grateful I am because my marriage is wonderful and I cannot imagine my life without my hubby. I love him so much and he is the husband I always dreamed I would have. If I had given up I would have missed out on this.

When I think of all the couples who have had marriages that have lasted for 40, 50 even 75 years I can't help but wonder what kind of advice they received through their marriages. When they married they married for life. I am sure they hit rough patches too but they worked through them together. When you do not see divorce as an option then you are more willing to work together to make your marriage happy and move past difficulties.

I would urge you if you are having trouble in your marriage don't give up. Stick with it. Seek solid Christian counselling for issues you feel you can't resolve on your own. You may be surprised to come out the other side of the difficulty even more in love than before and with your bond strengthened.

Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com

Recovering

Well, everyone here seems to be recovering at last from the nasty icky stomach virus that went through here. Two monkeys came down with it Thursday night, my son got it Friday afternoon, I had it Friday night through Saturday. So far my hubby has not gotten it yet and neither has one little monkey. I hope they skip it. It was awful as all viruses are.

So I had alot to catch up on yesterday since I wasn't able to get much done over the weekend.

However we were feeling well Sunday morning and the weather finally co-operated enough that we were able to make it out to church! I was so happy - I really do miss it when we can't get there. The sermon was given by a man in our congregation since our pastor was away and it was wonderful. My son really enjoyed it as well and could really relate to him as he is a young man and used references my son really got.

He spoke on John 3 and Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus and being born again, what that means and the importance of reaching out to others. Inspirational!

This morning I have been busy with little monkeys, we colored some pictures of ducks and sang the Five Little Ducks song using a glove with pompom ducks with Velcro on the back that stick to the fingers to act it out. They really enjoyed it.

I also spent some time baking chocolate chips bars. After Christmas and especially at this time of year stores dramatically reduce their Christmas chocolate and candy. When this happens I buy solid chocolate balls, bells, figures etc. and chop them up to use for baking. It works really well and saves so much money. The bells I used for the bars today cost 40 cents!

After that I made some flour tortillas to use for lunch. The little ones had cream cheese roll ups and the rest I will use to make chicken ranch wraps for my hubby's lunch. I am thankful every time I make the tortillas for Laine's Letters. We have saved so much money by making our own.

The weather here is taking another crazy turn....more snow and high winds.....~sigh~ It doesn't make for very safe travel. My hubby said there is a big accident that has shut down the highway he takes coming home and he has to take another route. I am praying for those involved and those who are helping and I am so thankful that my hubby left work a little later. I am always worried when he goes to work and back but trust God to see him home safely at the end of each day.

Hope you are having a Happy Tuesday!

Blessings,
Liisa

Today's Craft for the Littles

This is actually yesterday's craft project. I didn't get a chance to post yesterday as one of my little monkeys woke up early from nap time and then proceeded to fall asleep on me - which was actually really nice just snuggling with a little one and listening to his soft little snores. Then another little one came down with a violent stomach virus. The poor little thing - fortunately her parents were close by and able to pick her up. I am just hoping no one else gets it.

Anyway, on to the craft project...

We had a pig themed day. I bought some little kits at the dollar store. Each one had three porcelain pig heads, paint and a brush.


I decided that we should take turns doing this one so we could avoid a paint disaster. The monkeys loved this project!

After they were finished and the pigs were drying we read some pig themed books I picked up at the library. I do wish I had pre read The Three Little Pigs book though.
The story I remember from childhood had the straw and twig house pigs run and join the brick house pig and the wolf couldn't get them. In this version the wolf eats the first two pigs and the third pig ends up eating the wolf after he comes down the chimney into a pot of boiling water and the pig slams the lid down and cooks him alive! I took the liberty of "editing" the story for young ears as we went along.

Mind you I have read some children's books myself from the thirties and forties and they were like little horror novels and yet the children from that generation turned out fine. I turned out fine too with Bugs Bunny cartoons where characters get blown up, eaten, run over, squished and fell off cliffs. Do you think we sugar coat things too much for children these days? I don't know but I do know that I just couldn't read what the story really said when I looked into those innocent little faces.

The other three books were wonderful though. They were....
Puppies and Piggies by Cynthia Rylant and Illustrated by Ivan Bates - a very sweet story.
Grandpa Loves by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Illustrated by Kathryn Brown - so cute!
and
Goodnight Sweet Pig by Linda Bailey and Josee Masse - quite silly ~smile~


The finished product...


Blessings,
Liisa

Really Cute Book for Children

The other day when I was at the library getting some books for our pig themed day I came across this book.....


It is so cute! My sister and I read it in the library - I am sure people thought we were crazy as we couldn't help but laugh out loud at this story.

Here is one of the pages.....


Too cute! If you get a chance pick up Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend.

Happy Thursday!
Blessings,
Liisa

Today's Craft for the Littles

Today we are making dinosaur hands. I made these like mittens for the monkeys to wear on their hands. These could have been much more elaborate but I was a bit rushed and basically just wanted something they could draw on. I taped the edges rather than glued them because I figured that would stand up better to the little ones taking them on and off. I may make some sets out of felt to have whenever we act out this song.

This morning I will let them draw and color on the hands. When they are finished we will sing this little song and act it out. ( I found this song at Preschool Rainbow)

I'm a Mean Old Dinosaur (Tune: I'm a little Tea Pot)

I'm a mean old Dinosaur
(Make a mean face, the kids make the cutest mean faces)
Big and Tall
(Gesture hands big and tall )
Here is my tail, here is my claw.
(Gesture hands behind your back for tail and make claw hands)
When I get all hungry
(rub your tummy)
I just growl
(have the kids exaggerate the grrroooowwwlll)
Look out kids I'm on the prowl.
(Here I tickle each one of the tummy and they all giggle)

I wrote this song on one of the hands of each set so that they can do this at home with Mommy and Daddy too.

Blessings,
Liisa