It's where my heart is....

Advent Week 2 Reading

Week2/Candle 2

Bethlehem Candle

God prepared a place for his Son to be born. The Bethlehem candle reminds us that we need to be prepared.  We need to prepare our hearts for Him so that we will be prepared when he comes back for us.

Micah 5:2

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Matthew 2:1

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Matthew 25:1-13

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Memory Verse

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Song:   

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Refrain

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Refrain

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

Refrain

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

Refrain

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Refrain

Advent Week 2 Meal Plan

Taco's

This week is a meal of preparation. It is definitely not a gourmet meal, it's VERY simple. But everyone can take part in making it! Prepare it together and eat together, after lighting the 2nd candle: Remember the Spanish speaking countries and South America at this meal.  Make this advent season a time to pray globally.

Working together the job gets done quicker.  And when we support our missionaries and are willing to be missionaries in our own communities, Christs salvation message spreads more quickly. Be a part of the great commission. God Prepared a place for Christ to be born, and has promised to prepare a place for us in heaven if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Taco's 
1 box of corn GF  Taco shells or 1 bag of corn chips.

1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 small onion chopped
S&P 1 can of beans (pick you favorite, black, chick, kidney, navy)
1/2 cup frozen corn

Taco Meat seasonings:
1/4 c water
1/4 cup GF ketchup
1/3 cup chunky salsa sauce
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika 
2 dashes Hot pepper sauce


Toppings:
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Grated cheese
Salsa Sauce


Directions:
Brown the meat and onion. Add Salt and Pepper (S&P) and drain and add the beans and corn.Mix up the Meat seasoning and pour over mixture and simmer.

Serve hot in Taco shells or over a plate of chips and add your fresh toppings.

Have the younger members of you house pull the toppings from the fridge. Little ones can pull apart lettuce, older ones can cut cherry tomatoes in half  and teens can grate cheese. Everyone can prepare their own plate of food the way they like it!

Advent Week 1 Readings

Wreath

We use the wreath to remind us that God has no beginning and no end. He is eternal

Psalms 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Candles

We use Red candles instead of the tradition candle colors to remind us of the wounds on Jesus back, that Christ suffered for us that we would be able to receive eternal life.  And we use a white candle to represent Christ’s purity and our cleansing.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalm 51:7b

…wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Week 1/Candle 1

Prophecy Candle

The Prophecy Candle reminds us of the Promise God made to the Israelite people that God would send a Savior for the world. There are over 300 prophecies in the old testament of the coming Savior, and each one was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Memory Verse:

1 John 4:14

 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Song: : A  song that refers to many of the Old testament writings and Prophecy 

O Come O Come Immanuel

 O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Advent Week 1 Meal Plan

GF Lasagna and Latkes:

We are doing advent again this year, following last years outline. It is so wonderful, to see the children excited about lighting the candles every night and learning the memory verses.  We have added songs and I have been working out a meal plan for each Sunday night of  advent.

Here's our plan for the first night of advent:

Meal: 
      
Latkes:Serve with French Apple Sauce

We choose latkes because this is the week Hanuka begins and our first candle is Old Testament Prophecy. This week we pray for the nation of Israel, rejoice for the Christian Jews and pray for the opening of the hearts and protection of Jews world wide to the message of Christ. Christ IS the Savior promised to us in the Old Testament  !

Recipe:

• 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup canola oil, or as needed

you need a cheese cloth or open weave fabric to strain the potatoes...

1. Shred the potato and onions by hand or with your processor. remove from bowel onto the cheese cloth and wrap it up tight around the mixture. Squeeze hard, remove all the excess water from the potatoes and onion. 
2. Place back in bowl and add remaining ingredients.
3. Heat small amounts of canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Scoop up about 1/3 cup of the potato mixture per latke, and place into the hot oil. Press down into a patty.  Fry the patty until brown and crisp on the bottom, flip it, and cook the other side until brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the rest of the potato mixture, replenishing the oil as needed. Serve hot.

French Apple sauce:

4-6 large apples peeled and chopped into pieces

1/4 cup water

1tbsp butter

Place apples into a pot with the water and cook on low heat until they begin to soften. Stir to keep from burning. Do not mash the apples, the apples will fall apart on their own as the cook and are stirred.  When apples are chunky and soft like apple sauce, add the butter and remove from heat.  Serve hot over pancakes or latkes.

Lasagna made with homemade Gluten Free pasta

Ingredients:
Lasagna Noodles (see recipe for fresh variety)
1 large jar Tomato sauce
1 can mushrooms
1 recipe of meat mixture. (see below)

Pasta Recipe:
4 cups Basic Gluten Free Flour Mix (or all purpose wheat flour if you aren't GF)
1 tsp Xanthan gum (omit if using all purpose wheat flour)
2 t. salt
1/4 c. butter
1 c. boiling water
Mix all, (I used my bread machine) roll out really flat,

Ground Meat Mixture:
1 onion, diced small
1 lb ground beef or turkey
2 tsp garlic powder
Italian-type seasonings (oregano, basil, parsley, salt, pepper)
Brown together, remove from heat.
Add 1/4 c grated Parmesan and 1 egg.

Roll out the dough as  thin as possible but still holds together, and cut into strips that will fit your pan (Work quickly with the dough, as it dries out fast!)
Pour some tomato sauce into bottom of 9x13 a pan
Layer fresh noodles  into pan with the Ravioli meat mixture, mushrooms and tomato sauce. On the third layer of noodles add the remainder of the sauce and a layer of mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Place in oven at 350o for 45-60 min. covered. Uncover and cook 10 more minutes.

Book Review

I struggle to know what to say about this book....it wasn't a bad book by any means.  It was even a pleasant read. I just found that the author would appear to get on a roll with a thought, and then it would drop off into a fluffy,"no need to get personal as your views may not be mine", finish. As a "pick it up and read for a minute" devotional type book it is fine.  It gives you a good place to get started on organizing your life, spiritual and personal. And for me it did leave me with the desire to sort through my own personal decisions regarding each topic.  But for someone looking for "the perfect answer instantly in a book" this isn't it. It has become a coffee table book here.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Homeschool Resources

Finances are tighter, but the schooling must continue on without a break.  I have made a few changes to our curriculum to accommodate our budget and to keep the kids progressing in their grade level.

Two free resources I have recently discovered are:

1.  A  free Homeschool Tracker, which generates lesson plans, report cards, accumulative grading and resource lists. It downloads right to your computer and has an inexpensive upgrade that would benefit high school level students and parents. 

2. The National Gallery of Canada CyberMuse, with artist related materials for ALL ages.  A great way for those of us "in the boonies" to see and appreciate art, past and present in a fun way. At our local Homeschool group we have had a wonderful experience this semester learning about art and making our own interpretations of artists such as Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani

Hope these links are helpful!

MOM......?

DS: Do you know what SuperMan does?

Me: Leaps over tall Buildings?

DS: Nope.....Cleans His Room!

(From the mouths of babes folks!)

Ontario in Autumn

Here are some beautiful fall pictures I took from right outside my house. It inspired me to do the watercolor, that now hangs in my kitchen.

Have you ever found one of these in Your Garden?

Look what I found, playing in the woods today !

 

These little guys are full of fun and mischief! WARNING: Do not feed them sugar or candy or Chocolate or they may explode into an uncontrollable ball of fun!

My Love

You talk about Amazing Grace
And in your life God has some place.
Singing “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus”
Wearing a smile upon your face.

You do your part, teach Sunday School.
My precious young learn the “Golden Rule”.
You read about the glorious day -
My greatest triumph! the third day raised!

And though that all is very true.
(I did that for everyone of you.)
Love cost more than that for me,
I let man nail my limbs onto a tree.

You need to know that as I knelt
With sweats of blood, the fear I felt.
You need to know the pain endured -
Each flesh tearing blow, each iron filled belt.

You need to know the shame I felt
When in nakedness I was paraded out.
So that when you stop to look at your worst self
You KNOW that I’ve been in that same place too.

You need to know that through my pain
Forgiveness was still handed out.
To the thief who hung beside of me,
To the ones who mocked, and the ones who flee.

It’s not just the sweet you should talk about.
I defeated mans worst, I threw death out.
In my names sake, let me see you through.
That’s really what my love is all about.

CEJTM 09/2010

Dolly's Room

From her Door

Mural I painted around dollar store mirrors

While Dolly was away at camp (sleep over camp for the first time EVER!!) I cleaned and decorated her room. It had never really been fully unpacked since we moved. It was a great surprise for her when she returned and is now the envy of all her friends on the block!

From her bed, and on the floor beneath......

.....the perfect place for a little brother to land and sleep!

Buskering!

This year Get Stepping participated in the downtown Buster festival! The kids even made a few coins (!!) which we put together to buy cookies from our Uncle Neils coffee house across the road ;o)

Waiting our Turn

On stage ready to go....

Watching carefully, new moves we want to learn too!

Teacher at work!

Summer Fun and Friends

A four year old at camp can have a wonderful time! Especially when they're cute and everyone knows your name!

Smiling and Cute as ever!

Monkey on the swings......

Taking turns at the pinata .....

Running for a hug from "My Emmy"

My Quiet Place

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel His mighty power and His grace. I can hear the rush of angel's wings, I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

This is my quiet place I retreat to each summer. God truly walks among these trees and whispers to us in the breeze. You walk onto the grounds and the only way to describe it is peaceful. Perhaps the following pictures will give you the same sense. I was baptized here last year, it means so much to me that I was able to do that in my quiet place.

New Cake! Dragons!!

I used the Marshmallow icing recipe again to make this cake for my friends son. Record time, start to finish, 2 1/2 hours.  (Except clean up, which I am avoiding)

Matthew 25: in American Thought

10 women were waiting for a plane. 5 had read in their brochure specific details about the flight and ticket purchases and came early to check in and brought just the right amount of cash and purchased their ticket. 5 had not yet bothered to purchased their tickets, and had not read the details in the travel brochures, but ooed and awww’ed over the beautiful pictures of their intended destination. 

The ten women stood chatting, excited about their trip when the 5 who needed their ticket noticed the late hour and ran to the counter. Much to their surprise the ticket counter only excepted cash, and they ran to the other 5 women with tickets, begging them to lend them any spare cash on hand so they could purchase their tickets. But the 5 with tickets had only brought enough cash to purchase their tickets they now held in their hands. The five with no tickets ran madly through the airport, looking for an ATM, but when they had finally found one and returned to the counter, the plane had been boarded and the door was shut.

The story is about Christs return to earth, it is not a story about compassion, it is a story about company policy. We have the travel guide, the bible. If we don’t bother reading it (and reading it in context) and we are unaware of Gods expectation of us and he comes and you’re not ready…he’s leaving you behind. And I know that seems harsh and mean, but if you’re not willing to give him the time of day down here, why do you think he’s going to want you up there? He’s laid out the consequences of ignoring him in the word, and just like the airline pilot, it’s not his problem that you didn’t purchase your ticket, especially when Christ purchased it free of charge for us already. He’s going to take those who are ready, and leave the rest regretfully behind. God shows us compassion here on earth, and Christians are to show compassion to the world. But when your last day comes, “company policy” will be what dictates where you end up.

 

Birthday Party Cake!

Dolly turns 8 tomorrow!

(....shaking head in disbelief)

So we had many discussions about cakes and came up with a birthday party cake idea that was great!
I made one box of yellow cake mix up and baked it into 6 muffins and a deep, 6 inch round pan.

I cut the cake in half on the edge and iced the cut edge of both halves, and placed a layer of raspberry jam on the bottom layer, then stacked them. Ice thinly with butter cream icing.

Do the same with 2 of the cup cakes to make the stools.


Now THE FUN PART!!

Making rolled Fondant is a daunting task, UNLESS you make...
 

Marshmallow Fondant!! 

It's as easy as 1,2 ,3

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces miniature marshmallows (4 cups not packed, or half of a 16-ounce bag)
• 2 tbsp water
• Food coloring or flavored extracts, optional (I used2 Tbsp of Raspberry Jello to make pink)
• 1 pound powdered sugar (4 cups), plus extra for dusting

Melt the marshmallows and water over extremely low heat until puffy and melted.  Stir in your coloring or flavors  if you want now.  Then fold in the icing sugar.

It won't fully mix in the pot, so dump the contents out onto a icing sugar dusted surface and knead like bread until smooth and pliable.
Roll as thin as possible on a sugar dusted surface and cut out desired shapes. Or shape like play-dough to make edible figures. (My tea cups and plates are glass toys from the dollar store)

For my cake I cut out 3 circles, tracing around cups and dishes and rolled them even thinner.  Then I laid them over my cake pieces and shaped them. To attach decorative items, add a dab of butter cream icing to the bottom of each piece.

Tremain Family Music

Instruction Studio

SO exciting!! I am now teaching piano lessons. I have 3 students starting this fall and one who has already started. I haven't even advertised yet :o) I am also now a Kindersigns instructor and can teach parents how to sign with babies and toddlers, and I'm coming up with a matching music based program from that curriculum for toddlers up to age 4....then they can graduate into piano lessons. I have studio policies written up and a catalog of books available to me and my students, I'm taking a basic accounting course to keep my books straight, and I'm ready to go.

I've been wanting to show off pictures of our new living space, so I will start with our STUDIO!! I have a sign from Vistaprint coming for the upper window of the front door. The only childrens play things in this room is a bag of blocks and our log cabin. No food allowed in this room!  (They have a great playroom in the basement I'll show off later)

 Front Door

Standing at the front door I took these pictures.....

Sitting at the desk chair......

The couch and TV will be perfect for having a few families of toddlers in for Music and Sign classes

What happens when you leave homeschoolers to their own devices....

You get a puppet show!

Creative juices were flowing, and the oldest two children colored and cut out coloring book pictures and taped them to craft sticks, all thought up on their own! They covered the kitchen chairs with blankets and moved the big pillows from the studio into the kitchen and put on a show for me. They even made two extra to share with their little brother, a wonderful day!!

Clean under the Son

All laundry starts out dirty, that's why it's in the laundry. Everyone knows the clothes out on a family's laundry line were once dirty, most-likely  smelly and there were probably stains. But once it's been cleaned,we aren't embarrassed  to hang it in the sun (SON). Hiding our laundry just makes it stink more and the stains increasingly  difficult to remove.
It's not helpful when Christians hide other Christians problems, mistakes, sins...... neither is it our right to air out others laundry publicly, dirty or clean.  But we shouldn't encourage them to hide it, even if it might make us uncomfortable somehow. We should encourage them to do their laundry. Encourage them to make right with God, so that when other people discover someones laundry, they will also see the forgiving grace of God in their life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn  the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 
John 3:17

Spring In the Park

The sun has finally come back out so we could stay out to play.  And look at these wonderful treasures we found in the park today!

Top 5

Top 5 Things I would have rather done today.....

5. Unpack the new house
4.Play at the park with the children
3.Sit under a tree and read a book
2.taken a nap
1. Ride bikes with the children around the new neighborhood


Why I didn't.......

5. Had to finish the last load and cleaning of the old house
4. see #5
3. It was a bit too cold, and see #5
2. I had unload the last of the boxes from our trucks and stack in the basement in the afternoon
1. My NEW bike developed a clank and had to go to the shop ( and see #2)



BUT the old house is empty and I never have to go back! So really all is well. I can't wait until the boxes are gone and I can show off the new nest!

Rainy Days

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me

John 15:26

  

We have had quite a bit of spring rain this last week. The days have been dark and cold again, making the day feel drudgy and the children and I felt cooped up. All around us there are stacks of boxes, bags for the thrift store and piles of possessions to sort through as we prepare to move. It's hard to convince yourself to get working on these rainy, wet dreary days. 

 I was standing at the front door, sighing and avoiding work for a moment to watch the rain, when I spotted a pair of starlings. The sun had just begun an attempt to show itself and a beautiful chorus of birds could be heard singing from the trees and the riverside close by, despite the rain. The starlings were down on the lawn, and they were picking up worms and grubs and having an absolute feast on the creepy crawlies that had come up from the flooded ground  for fresh air. And it hit me that God looks after us this way too.

  Even in the rain storms of life, God is right by our side, providing for us the most. Because that is when we are most willing to let Him.

Today, I am official separated from my husband in the eyes of the government. The children see their dad once a week now. Our relationship has been a struggle for years now. But yes it was necessary. I am neither happy with it or depressed about it. I had to ask him to leave for a bit so I could catch my breath and sort through what was going on between us, and he chose to leave in a manner that made it permanent.

 I do not feel that it is Gods desire that any family should be separated.  But neither is it Gods desire  for the children to suffer for their parents actions and choices. A cloud of depression has been lifted from this home, and new life is beginning, as are we beginning to heal. The comforter has come. And Gods glory is radiating through this situation.  

God has provided us with social  assistance until I can work out employment, I have never missed a rent payment or bill. And there has always been food on the table. God also provided us with instant  housing, so my funds don't have to stretch so far. What should have taken months or even years, was handed to me in one meeting with the  housing rep.  God has also given me a feeling of grace about the situation. It is not my job to judge him beyond the scope of our own relationship, he needs to work out his relationship between God and his children.  But it is my job to keep the children safe, physically and emotionally. I don't resent him for leaving permanently, and we have quickly learned how to be "pleasant" about sorting out visiting arrangements for the childrens sake. I have the support of my family and friends and my church. And my children are happy again, and have an hungry desire  to know God more. The  grace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ is here with us.

God has promised to look after us, and His glory is evident to us, even in the midst of the rain. 
 

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

22 ¶ And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 ¶ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 Luke 12: 6-7, 22- 32