Gripe of the Day

Today is a new day. Doesn't feel very new due to another mostly sleepless night. It seems as if it isn't one thing, it's another. I would love to be refreshed and cheerful, but can't find it in me to do so. I did take my vitamins, so hopefully that'll help. Coffee is a catch-22. Makes me feel better in the morning, but then I'm out of luck, should the slim chance come that a nap would be available. Whether it is a teething baby, a windy stormy night or a sick boy, I'm up way too many times at night. I'd love to be more patient or need less sleep so that the day could be handled better, but just can't make it happen. Such is the life of a mother, apparently. By the time I start getting good sleep, I'm sure menopause or something will be on the horizon, and for some reason sleep will evade me once more. I've actually given up ever having a good nights sleep ever again. Then maybe I'll be surprised one day to actually find that I did have a restful night, without a million wakings.

I do have this dream of one day just going to bed though. No brushing kids teeth, settling a baby that takes 2 hours, giving snacks, etc, etc. Just go to bed...maybe read a bit of a novel while there, and then peacefully drift off. Not that it will ever happen, but one can dream, can't we?

So, there's my gripe for the day. Not too thrilling, but I needed to vent. I was told that I can't cry (by my boys, "Mom's don't cry, only kids do" I was told), so typing is maybe somewhat as therapeutic. I'll try to convince myself of it anyways....

Truth

There are many thoughts that come to mind, but the most prominent is the answer to the question What is truth? And if truth is what we think it is, how willing are we to stand up for it, and be set apart from the world for standing up for it? These questions come in response to the Bible verse Romans 12:2 which says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

We've starting watching "The Truth Project" DVD series, and it reiterates alot of thoughts I've had, but haven't been able to put into words. In the one yesterday, the speaker tells how only 9% of confessing Christians have a Biblical worldview these days (as a result of a survey). How does this happen? I believe much of it has to do with a prosperous society in which none of us have to read our Bibles as often as we should, be on our knees in prayer as often as we should, or be called on our beliefs. There is nothing that gets our convictions in order as quickly as a problem or something to uphold or defend. The problem lies in the fact that we get lazy when we don't have to stand up to tyranny in whatever form it may come. People would rather gripe rather then getting out and sharing the Gospel. (I'm not pointing fingers, as I'm just as guilty) In Bible Study we were also studying the verse in Hebrews 12 (5-8) which says that the Lord chasteneth those He loveth. Chastening isn't very enjoyable (ask my kids when they're disobedient), but it "yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness"(verse 11) which I would like to be a part of. We should be thankful that the Lord chastens us, even though it is usually very unpleasant.

God has given us the answers to the most difficult questions, but we have to trust His Word in it's entirety, and pray for His wisdom. That we would each be able to evaluate every aspect of our own lives and measure if what we are doing is for the praise of men or the approval of God. If only we can prayerfully be continually transformed into the image of Jesus, the Son of God who was perfect in the flesh, putting away things of this world and focusing all our attention on things eternal. It seems to be a continual process, needing reevaluating on a regular basis (in my own life anyways) The word transform means a metamorphosis, which in the DVD he likens to the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It's a pretty ugly process, but the end result is beauty. I want that beauty, I don't want to stay an ugly caterpillar forever!

http://www.thetruthproject.org/

Just a Couple Thoughts

I have more than a couple floating around in my brain, but will have to mull them over and edit them a bit more before I can put them into words, but here's what I have today...

From our trip...
We went on a breakfast date while in Canada (it doesn't take much to talk a Grandma into watching grandkids for a couple hours!), since we rarely get free dates down here. And breakfast works best, since baby girl is cheeriest in the morning. Anyways, on the date we discussed our two favorite topics- sharing our past experiences and looking forward to our future experiences. After the date was over, I was pondering because I've had multiple people tell me "we don't go on dates because we have nothing to talk about". I concluded that every couple has those 2 things in common, and that should suffice through one dinner conversation, even if the days events are rather boring and mundane. Sharing the past is fun (now that we have some past to talk about, which you don't when you're newly married) and looking forward to the future is just as enjoyable (even if it is talking about what we're going to do when we retire). It helps the drudgery of whatever we're facing today seem more doable when it's all put in perspective.

The other thing I wanted to share was one of those moments when you don't know what your kid is going to come up with, so you have to hold your breath for a minute. When we were at my brothers, their little guy was crying (it was way past bedtime and he was overtired) and Luke says to his aunt, "You need to DEAL with him" (in a very confident voice). I held my breath wondering what that meant, so his aunt said, "And what do you think I should I do with him?" and Luke replied, "Well, sing him a song, or something". Whew. I was expecting much worse. Comments at those times are when our true parenting is reflected in our kids, so it was good to hear such a reasonable response. (it's not always that pleasant when my kids are crying endlessly, but singing a song is likely alot better response than getting irritated!)

Panda Style Orange Chicken

Inspired by the books in my previous post, I found a recipe that will hopefully curb my Chinese tastes. We have a wonderful restaurant in Kalama called the Lucky Dragon, which is a nice treat, but also doesn't fit into the budget regularly. I've wanted to try this for awhile, so am hoping to get inspired again. I did find a great Kung Pao Chicken that I made last week that turned out great too, if anyone wants it, let me know.

Panda Style Orange Chicken

Serves 6
Prep Time: 40 minutes

2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon peeled and minced or grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Dash of red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Orange Chicken Sauce:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup water
Grated zest from 1 orange

1. Place the cubed chicken in a large bowl. Stir in the egg, salt, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil. Mix well. Stir 1/2 cup of the cornstarch and the flour together in a large shallow bowl. Add the chicken pieces, a handful or two at a time, and stir to coat evenly. Tap off any excess.
2. Pour about 1 inch of oil in a wok or deep, heavy skillet and heat to 375 F. If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the oil until it starts to ripple in the pan. Add the chicken pieces, a small handful at time, and fry until golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside. When cooking the next batch, you will probably need to turn the heat down to keep the chicken from cooking too fast and possibly add a bit more oil.
3. Once all the chicken is cooked, reserve a couple tablespoons of the oil remaining in the wok in a separate bowl. Clean the wok. Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup and whisk until the sugar dissolves.
4. Heat the wok for 15 seconds over high heat. Add the reserved oil back into the pan. Add the ginger, garlic, red pepper, and green onions and stir-fry for a couple minutes. Add the sauce and bring to boil. Add the cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch and water, and mix until smooth. Stir into the chicken and heat until the sauce is thickened. Stir in the sesame oil. Serve with rice or chow mein.

Book Reviews

Recently I've unintentionally come across 2 books on large families. One was recommended by a friend, and received great reviews on Amazon so I decided to purchase it from our local bookseller. The other was Christmas gift from my dear mother who is always trying to find ways to make life easier for her 3 daughters and 1 daughter-in-law who are all the mothers of young children at this time. I thoroughly enjoyed both books, and would highly recommend them to anyone, even those of us who don't have a large family, because they offer lots of child training tips, organizing tips, recipes and ways to better run a household.

The first book is called "A Sane Woman's Guide to having a Large Family" by Mary Ostyn. Mary is the mother of 10 children. She says how these days, a large family is anything more than 2. Well, you're allowed 3 if the first 2 are the same sex. How true I've found that. I can't tell you how many people have already asked me "Are you done, now that you have your girl?" As if having one of each is what life is all about, and it's any of their business anyways! Back to the book though, probably the most important thing to me, is what she shares about extracurricular activities. I've wondered at what age you should put your kids in programs, how many programs is "reasonable" and what type of programs are worth your time (and hard earned money!) I resolved long ago that my kids will never play organized hockey (thankfully I'm not raising them in Alberta, as that would be much harder to avoid), but other than that, didn't have much direction. What Mary says is this: Don't start organized programs until your kids are school age (or older if they are less mature, depending on the activity), unless you enjoy throwing your money out the window. Your kids will get just as much learning and enjoyment from you teaching them the skills yourself or playing with their friends. Their progress is so slow (due to lack of coordination and attention span) that your child will learn much more in less time if you just wait. I've seen this in my own experience in swimming lessons. You can teach a preschooler to swim, but you still would never trust them around water until they understand safety and dangers of water (about age 6, in most cases). So what is the point of swimming lessons for them other than the pleasure of it, which they can learn just as well going to public swim with you. She offers many other tips on what chores children can do at what ages, how to cook great meals for little money (if you have a weakness for Kung Pao Chicken, learn to make it and keep the ingredients on hand so you're not tempted to run to Panda Express when it isn't in the budget, etc.), as well as their own reasons for homeschooling her children (much the same as ours- including the Biblical values into all aspects our children's education and having control over the pace of each child, paying attention to their needs and learning styles, rather than the one-size-fits-all theory of public school). She has also figureed the cost of raising a child to age 18, which is much less than what most numbers you hear these days would tell us. What I like most about the book, is that she is normal. That's just plain hard to find these days...those who are not too extreme in any (visible!) way. Those who aren't obsessed with this aspect or that, but can see many viewpoints yet firmly stand on their own. http://www.owlhaven.net/about/



The other book is "The Duggars, 20 and Counting" by the Duggars. You likely know who they are by now, and if you haven't...that's okay too! I just was "introduced" myself, and now after reading their book, feel like I know them as friends. Well, maybe not friends, but casual acquaintances. This book too, was an enjoyable read. The first half of the book is mostly their family history, the second is how they do things. It's important to read where they've come from, to see why they've done what they've done, but skimming that part is permissable! The second half intrigued me though. I especially like how they incorporate Christ into every aspect of life (including potty training!) They also homeschool, so that was encouraging to me as well. As beginners in this area, I've been a bit overwhelmed by the many options out there, but also reading more, am narrowing down our own education outlooks more too. Seeing what others do makes it more doable, and the results these people are getting are making me more devoted. Wonderful Christ centered lives, with strong work ethics and strong bonds of family that can't be matched by any public school agenda. They also share many recipes, which are great for company (who needs pans that huge for just our little families?!), but alot of them are also sized to 9x13 pans, which are totally doable. You also know they are cheap to make, because they have to be. The fact that the family lives debt free (and has for years) is also encouraging to me, as that is our goal too, if we can stay on track! ("Buy used and save the difference", I love it!) God provides for all His children, when they trust Him. Mrs. Duggar also shares how they get chores done each day, and how they stay organized, as well as the back of the book has a good many references to resources they have found helpful in all areas of life (spiritual, practical, cooking, organization, etc).

Another great idea Mrs. Duggar shares is her "Playpen in Your Purse" otherwise known as blanket time. It involves teaching your baby/toddler to sit quietly on a blanket each day (increasing the time spent, within reason), so that they know how to sit quietly for whatever reason you may need them to (church, doctors office, during homeschool, etc). It keeps the baby from running all over the place, while also teaching them self-control. I've started with Elise, and am only up to 5 minute increments, but am excited to try it, as we'll need her to behave with school starting in the fall.

Their website is also a wealth of information, if you aren't into reading the book. I especially like the "Character Qualities" list they use for their kids, as there are many Biblical character traits that I wouldn't think of teaching specifically, in yet are so necessary to life. http://www.duggarfamily.com/index.html

So there you have it. I only shared here the more profound things that I have learned by reading these, although both books are full of much more. (I did know much of the information, only because I'm a tightwad Christian mother myself and have read many of the same books that these ladies have relied on too!)

Christmas Vacation (if you can call it that!)

So we're back. Home that is. Late, late last night we finally crossed the threshold, tired and worn. We got to bed quickly only to have a big boy puking in a couple hours, and a baby with a fever who wouldn't let me put her down. And my arms were too tired to even hold her. Greg helped the ill big boy all night, and I tried to keep baby girl comfortable, trying to get some sleep in between. And then we wonder why vacation is so exhausting.

The trip started well. We were on the road by 0430, and we got a good many hours of driving in before the sun even came up (photo of wind generators in the Columbia River Gorge at dawn). We felt the thrill of a road trip (with the addition of 3 little bodies snugly tucked in their car seats with blankets and animals to boot) which consists of hot coffee in the travel mug, good music playing, snacks galore and breakfast on the road while watching the sun come up. We made good time, although by late afternoon, baby Elise was starting to get sick of the car seat. So, I sat back there with her trying to keep her happy as we tried to make our destination. Being it was Christmas Eve, Santa had come a night early so that he wouldn't miss 2 little boys who wouldn't be home on Christmas Day. This gave the boys some new toys to amuse them on the journey. We made it up to Cranbrook, BC for the night (which was where we wanted to get to) and found a motel and then headed to the only restaurant open in town that late on Christmas Eve, being Denny's. We enjoyed stretching our legs and heading back to the motel to catch some winks.

The next morning we got on the road, and survived on power bars, since it was Christmas and nothing was open. We later found a Tim Horton's that had a drive thru open, and that was like an oasis in the desert. Fresh hot coffee and some breakfast sandwiches and we were good to go. The roads were all fine, so we were thankful for that. The boys were troopers the whole trip, but I can't say the same for baby girl. Fussing the whole way. I'd just get her to sleep and then something would wake her (like a burp, or a noise or pretty much anything), so I was pretty frazzled by the time we reached Dad and Mom's that evening. My brother and wife and nephew, and sister and her son were there, and we had our traditional Staudinger Christmas Eve dinner (they kindly waited a day for us). This consisted of rice pudding and fruit soup, meat and cheese trays, crackers, smoked oysters, homemade eggnog and treats. After that and opening gifts, we relaxed and were just thankful to be there.














On Saturday we caught up on sleep, and just visited. The kids enjoyed all the "new" toys at Grandma's, and they also got outside to play in the snow and with Mick the dog. I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures, so don't have very many to post. Sunday was chruch and all the Staudinger's met for dinner. It was so good to be with my cousins and aunts and uncles who I grew up with. Familiar in an unfamilar way, since I now am married with children. The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins too. I found Luke on the stairs with another cousins boy who he hit it off with (they became friends once they found they had something in common - they are both 4!). I heard Luke ask him, "So, do you live in Canada?" and the boy thought for a while and then replied, "No, I live in Sylvan (the town)". Wish making friends as an adult were that simple!

Sunday night I commented to Greg that we had had a very nice day (which I hadn't expected since their were so many unfamiliar people and places to bring the kids to). I spoke too soon. Elise fussed all evening until 2 am. Then promptly at 2, James started throwing up, and continued all night. Fun stuff, especially when you have limited clothes and are not at home. Monday we spent recovering, Tuesday we went to my sister A and her husband N, with cousin F (20 months). They have a new house, so that was fun to see their digs. The boys got snowmobile rides, so they were pretty impressed. That evening was Grandma's viewing, which was an uplifting time spent sharing stories and singing hymns.

Wednesday was the funeral, and the coldest blusteriest day I've seen in a while. The temperature got down to -10F that night, with a good stiff wind. The burial was pretty short, due to the weather, and I have a newfound awe and respect for parents of little kids with that weather. We are pretty wimpy when we have to put a fleece coat and rubber boots to get out of the house. Up there the kids pretty much always need at least a hat, snowsuit or pants/coat, mittens, boots (all of which require a good 10 minutes per kid to put on)














Thursday we had the luxury of a breakfast date, as Mom watched the kids so we got have a few minutes together. We later headed out to my brother J and his wife R and their baby R (22 months) house, where also R's sister was staying. We had an enjoyable evening (New Year's eve) at some of their friends house for dinner, but it was rudely interrupted shortly after midnight when Luke started puking. All night. Their little guy was also crying much of the night, so nobody got much sleep. M (R's sister) had to get to the airport (a 4 hour round trip drive) and we didn't want to leave and drop her off until we were sure Luke was feeling better. Greg and J ended up driving her there, and then we headed out for home after that. We drove all evening, meeting up with another cousin and her husband from WA that were also heading back. We travelled with them for the evening, and then much further since the town we planned to stay in had no motel rooms left.





After a short night of sleep due to our late driving, we got going and drove most of the day. We saw a few frozen lakes, where I took this picture. The wind swept ice was so beautiful, especially the cracks in the ice. Luke longingly wanted to skate (we didn't get a chance to use his new skates on the trip), but we really weren't able to stop. We did stop to stretch our legs at Cabela's in Idaho, and then continued on. Got home late, and thus concludes the trips details. We did have a few hours to visit (which is our favorite road trip thing to do), so I'll post some conclusions in a future post. We love reliving past trips, as well as learning new things, and sharing new experiences as a family. It's so good to get away, but so good to be home in our own beds again (even if you aren't sleeping because of a fussing baby!)

“Come thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.”

It seems that is was not too long ago, when I was sitting down to write last years letter. How the time does pass, with now 3 little ones in the house to keep up with. I can’t say that I actually ever feel like I’m caught up with them, but I certainly do try!

That said, the biggest news this year in our family, was the arrival of our baby girl on April 27, named Elise Meredith. She was overdue, so we spent a few days anxiously awaiting her arrival. We had a doula (birthing coach) with us this time, and her birth went so much better than the boys did. I’m still not sure that I’m used to having a girl yet, as I was just starting to get comfortable with the thought of boys. So far no girl traits have shown themselves, other than massive quantities of pink around the house. She is trying to crawl these days, but I’m hoping that she doesn’t succeed until the Christmas tree is gone for the year!


Luke is now a big 4½ year old. He is a typical first born (pleaser, thinks he’s an equal with Dad and Mom) and keeps me challenged. As a middle kid myself, I don’t understand him much of the time, but Greg does as he is also a first born. Luke is excited to learn anything, and we’ve been working with him on various subjects. We plan to home school, so are using this year to review curriculum and learning styles to see what will work best for our family.

Our James is 2½ and there is never a dull moment with him around. The best word to describe him would be “random”. You just never know what to expect, and usually he is unintentionally making us laugh. He’s been a late talker, so is just starting to put words together. His sentences consist of words like “none coal ucgh” (he doesn’t want any ucky coal in his stocking). He gets his point across quite clearly, despite his limited vocabulary. He dotes on Elise (he calls her NaNa) quite well, which pretty much always makes her cry because he’s so “in her face”.

This year we have delved into two new areas that we haven’t been before. Chickens and wood stoves. They both have involved much learning, and we are still eager to learn more. The chickens now give us plenty of fresh eggs, and we may expand the numbers next spring to include broilers (meat chickens). The wood stove has given us plenty of work to do, as well as toasty radiant heat. The stove has a window in the door, and we love just sitting in front of the fire all evening and watching it flicker (the kids pretend it‘s TV).

We also were able to purchase a full size truck (needed mostly for the wood) and now plan to go to Arizona for Christmas where we have also acquired a camper to bring back with us. We’ve had many camping disasters with kids and tents, so are hoping this will help solve that problem. The price was too good to pass up, and now it gives us an excuse to head for sunshine when it’s at the rainiest here. We’ve been here 4 years now (in the Pacific Northwest), and I feel like I must be finally getting acclimatized. The other morning I woke up to a gray day, and wasn’t even disappointed. That had never happened before. So, we’ll see what my thoughts are come March, but right now, it’s all okay! (oops, change of plans...my Grandma Staudinger passed away, so we'll be headed to Alberta, Canada for Christmas instead. Feeling sadness for the loss of her, but rejoicing that her battle here is done, and that she's gained the victory through Christ!)

Much love to you now at Christmas time, and may God richly bless you in the coming 2010!!

Greg, Rachel, Luke, James & Elise

Giving Gifts

I've been pondering about what to give my kids, since they don't really need anything, but it definitely is fun to give them something. I thought back to my own childhood, and although I would have liked a "trendy" gift to show off at school after Christmas break, I'm thankful that my parents bought practical and fun things (ice skates, purses, etc). Now as a parent I've tried to set some guidelines that help me choose what to get for my own kids. I like A's idea on facebook about 1 fun, 1 spiritual enriching, 1 item for the body (clothes), just as the 3 wise men bought 3 gifts for baby Jesus.

My "rules" are these:
-something they won't fight over and be jealous of each other for
-equal in value for each kid
-useful and fun, something that will last for years (rather than weeks or months)
-bought used at the thrift store/garage sales if possible. (which I was an idiot and saw the perfect gift at Goodwill in about September for my boys, and didn't buy it because I thought it was too early in the season, then had to pay full price now in December) Lesson learned !!
-(this year only because we have a long road trip ahead) something small and non-annoying that they can play with for hours in the car. We did this last year going to Florida, and the toy kept the boys happy the whole flights there and back, as well as the whole trip (and are still played with daily!)
-something I won't be tripping over and grumbling about in the near future!

Last year I filled their stockings, and they didn't appreciate it at all. They just kept digging and tossing things aside over their shoulder. This year, only 1 item will go in the stocking and maybe a few candies or an satsuma orange (which is what we always got), and it'll likely be a consumable so we don't have to deal with it in the future (markers, craft items)

As for the baby, they usually love the box, but I did find something to give her. Usually baby just gets a new teething ring or chewy book, but I wonder if I even need to do that. They are just as happy with the wrapping paper left lying around!

Here's a few pictures of the boys at the Christmas Program, and Luke saying his verse. James' verse was supposed to be the answer to "who was born at Christmas?", but he got too distracted and just smiled at everyone with his "Snuggle Monkey". I was unaware that the Wise Men carried monkeys with them, but J insisted that they did (since the Shepherds had sheep)!

I love watching the kids do their verses, and think back on all the programs I was in as a kid, and the excitement, but also nervousness involved.

We're going on a trip, in our favorite rocket ship...

I've been busy these days trying to get the Christmas stuff done. You know- cards, food, this morning it was a Shepherd and Wise Man costume for the Christmas program. So, the kids have been keeping busy as well, playing Little Einsteins alot of the time, when they aren't helping me. This morning they were going to Minnesota (one of Rocket's favorite places, I was told), so here's a picture (a.k.a. bunkbed). From left to right, Annie, Quincy and Leo (I'm June). Annie chews on the map (an old dead calculator), Quincy operates the GPS (a cd player), and Leo drives and calls out orders. I hear alot yelling "HELP" "WOW" and "OH, NO" from Quincy with his limited vocabulary coming from the Rocket. And alot of bossing from Leo since he's the oldest and does the driving. Annie comes along on special missions, but can't be trusted too much, so June always has to be present when Annie wants to go!

Obedience

The other night 5 of us Canadian girls that live around here got together for our annual Christmas "evening". We are all at the same stage of life, which is mothers to small children. One of the topics of discussion was about getting kids to obey. The question was, "should we explain to our kids why or why not we decide yes/no when they ask if they can do something?" There were many pros and cons to the subject, as we each voiced our opinion. My son L always wants to know the "why Mom?", and sometimes I explain, but then I feel guilty if I don't explain it. Deep down I feel that I am the parent, and shouldn't have to explain my reasons for deciding what I do. And there always is a reason, as we all know. No conclusion was made, but today enlightenment came.

We are reading "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the kids, and tonight here is the excerpt I found significant, when Laura and Ma went to milk the cow.

When Laura walked behind Ma on the path to the barn, the little bits of candle-light from the lantern leaped all around her on the snow. The night was not yet quite dark. The woods were dark, but there was a gray light on the snowy path, and in the sky there were a few faint stars. The stars did not look as warm and bright as the little lights that came from the lantern.

Laura was surprised to see the dark shape of Sukey, the brown cow, standing at the barnyard gate. Ma was surprised, too.

It was too early in the spring for Sukey to be let out in the Big Woods to eat grass. She lived in the barn. But sometimes on warm days Pa left the door of her stall open so she could come into the barnyard. Now Ma and Laura saw her behind the bars, waiting for them.

Ma went up to the gate, and pushed against it to open it. But it did not open very far, because there was Sukey, standing against it. Ma said:

“Sukey, get over!” She reached across the gate and slapped Sukey’s shoulder.

Just then one of the dancing bits of light from the lantern jumped between the bars of the gate, and Laura saw long, shaggy, black fur, and two little, glittering eyes.

Sukey had thin, short, brown fur. Sukey had large, gentle eyes.

Ma said, “Laura, walk back to the house.”

So Laura turned around and began to walk toward the house. Ma came behind her. When they had gone part way, Ma snatched her up, lantern and all, and ran. Ma ran with her into the house, and slammed the door.

Then Laura said, “Ma, was it a bear?”

“Yes, Laura,” Ma said. “It was a bear.”

[...] He didn’t hurt us,” Ma said. “You were a good girl, Laura, to do exactly as I told you, and to do it quickly, without asking why.”

Ma was trembling, and she began to laugh a little. “To think,” she said, “I’ve slapped a bear!”

The answer is right there. When (or if) you get in a situation where you need your kid to obey, you need them to do it NOW, without asking why. I do recall a story where a family's house was on fire and the dad (on the ground) told his son on the second floor to jump out the window and he'd catch him. The boy disobeyed and said he'd go down the stairs through the burning house. The father never saw him again. I'd hate to be the parent that when I needed my child to obey in a time of trouble and they didn't. Prayerfully we can teach this concept to our little ones, because it's so much easier said than done.

A Day in the Life of a True Outdoorsman

My sister A and her husband N live a much different life than us. It involves everything outdoorsy. I like to think we 'rough' it a bit, but compared to them, we're city slickers. N is one of the few outdoorsmen left who actually could live off the land. When he hunts, it's not with all the new fangled gear and gadgets, just a gun and himself (no camo even). And he gets more animals than anyone I know.

The other day an older couple they know called them up to say that a there were 2 deer fighting in their field, and they didn't know what to do. Apparently the deers antlers were locked together, and they were unable to get away from each other. The couple had called Fish and Wildlife, but were unable to get ahold of anyone, so they called N, since he was the only hunter they knew. N and A went over to their house to investigate, and found what they said was true, only the one deer was dead already. When N got closer yet, he found that both deer's antlers were tangled up in a roll of twine, and so getting them free could be a challenge. Hunting season is over up in Alberta (where they live), and N only had a tag for a different kind of deer this year anyways. The old lady tried to convince him that it would be okay to kill the deer, seeing the circumstance. N told her that it was still illegal, so he would only kill it if he absolutely had to.

The people lived near a river (frozen at this time of year), so N was able to "steer" the deer down onto the ice, where the buck had less footing and was less likely to charge him, and then N could try to cut the twine and break him free. So, he got down there, and cut as much as he could from as far away as possible, but then did have to wrestle the deer a bit it finally get all of it cut. The deer was pretty tired from dragging the other dead deer around for who knows how long (it was partially eaten by coyotes, so the alive deer likely had to fend off the coyotes himself too), but still was quite a challenge and charged N a few times.

In the end, the deer was freed, and there were no injuries. N got his exercise, and A got her heart attack scare for the day. And the old people who called in the first place were very appreciative of his good deed. A got a bunch of pictures, so I'll post some if I can get her to send me some.

PS. N is also the one who has hounds and hunts cougars, if you've seen my pictures on Facebook.

Today...

The past few days have been extremely exhausting, to say the least. E has had a fever for 4 of them, with no apparent cause. So, that meant much mommy-baby time, and little time for anything else. When I finally got back into life today and turned the computer on, I found this link that was very encouraging to young mothers. Just what I needed, as I had gotten rather overwhelmed with it all. Putting God back in the center, instead of being bombarded with details that really don't matter. So, baby is better, and so am I (and hopefully the rest of the family) This link is a friend of a friend, so if you want to buy anything, it's locally (WA state) hand made with care. Enjoy!

http://www.whispersofjoy.com/1/post/2009/11/article-from-revive-our-hearts.html