How can I get it all Done?

Since the beginning of the year I have been part of a book study on FB. We are going through Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman. It is a basic how-to manual. One I would have loved to have years ago when I had lots of littles. Growing up as a youngest child doesn't always equip you with everything you need to know and I needed lots of help in management. This book is GREAT for that. It could also be renamed the House Keeping book for Dummies. Written from a Christian perspective, lots of good food for thought and help, from attitude to the nuts and bolts of living and getting it all done.

In Chapter 6: Where does the time go?, she suggests writing down everything you do in a days time. As it happens. I knew that would be to much for me. I would never get anything done because I would be to distracted by writing things down. So I came up with an alternative that I liked better. Every hour I wrote down what I had just accomplished. It was so much easier. I am attaching that form for you in pdf, for you to try and see if it works for you. http://freepdfhosting.com/43eee6dc46.pdf

Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family By Kim Brenneman / The Vision Forum, Inc Flip open this book and discover encouragement on every page. . .even if you only have a few precious seconds! If you're looking for a structured time of evaluating and improving your family logistics, start at the beginning and read your way through; if you want to start on a particular subject, jump right to the chapter that speaks to you! Part one covers the philosophical grounds for homemaking and childrearing, the Proverbs 31 woman, making goals, systems, self-discipline, work ethic, rejecting me-centeredness, and other reflective aspects of being a SAHM; part two focuses on all those nitty-gritty particulars of laundry, deep cleaning, gardening, tea parties, crafts, worship, feast night, meal planning, pregnancy, and much more. 320 pages, softcover. 8.5" x 11".

SPRING!

 

I can't believe how busy this winter has been and how little time I have spent here! Even though I love the snow here in the great NORTH! I am also very delighted to see little signs of spring. Not only is the snow vanishing daily, but the Sand Hill Cranes are back and I suppose we will soon see Robins as well.
                                                        

My mind is being drawn to SPRING CLEANING. I am ready to wash away the grime that goes with heating with wood. I also have dreams of turning my old dilapidated hutch into a unique COFFEE STATION! Of course when I start thinking that way it also snowballs into bigger plans like a fresh coat of paint and new color for my cupboards. Hopefully that won't include the walls!

I will try to post a link for a pdf checklist for spring cleaning using my favorite cleaning products. All natural, green and not harmful for your children. They can help you clean and you don't have to worry about chemicals.http://cdnus.melaleuca.com/PDF/ProductStore/Cleaning_Laundry/SpringClean_CheckList_2013.pdf  You need to be a member if you want to get the best price on these cleaning products. Membership is sometimes as low as 1.00. 

 

Another great thing about this company is they support an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador.Here is a link to info on that........http://www.melaleucajournal.com/enhancing-lives-at-the-santa-lucia-childrens-home/

Christmas at Home

  We spent Christmas Day at my brother Darwin's house. At home as a family we had a gift exchange on the 23rd after church. We don't go super elaborate with gifts. It's more of an opportunity for the children to have the fun of shopping for or making something for one of their siblings. We try to avoid the gimme, gimmes and focus more on the givie, givies. I had fun making a doll house for Merry Grace from binders. I took a few photos to share with you all.

I downloaded free scrap booking pages for the background, including the brick for the chimney. The windows, kitchen and dining room pics came out of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The picture on the wall of the horses came from a friend on FB who posts horse art quite frequently.Oh, and the mounted deer is one that our son Mark shot. I just took a pic of it and printed it off. Then I Modge Podged everything.

  

The stand, I made from a lid from a jar of Jelly , a plastic 3 legged thing that keeps the lid of a carry out pizza from squashing the pizza and an empty spool. All hot glued together and painted black. The doily is a mini paper snowflake also Modge Podged right onto the stand. The lamp.....I should let you guess..... its made out of a chess piece and a lid from a ketchup bottle.

Luc n Anna's wedding

 

So happy to add Anna to our family circle. We made the trip to PA. Our last trip was 10 years ago. We prefer to head west instead of east but a son's wedding is good reason to make the trip. We met some really nice people there and it turned out to be a very enjoyable trip. We stayed for two nights at Larry and Naomi Burkholder's. Naomi is Anna's coworker and good friend. We loved our time there.They showed us some of their many photo albums of trips they had made together....Alaska, and Hawaii. They introduced us to their Water Buffalo and Yaks,  and sent us home with a package of their Burkholder coffee, grown by their missionary son in Honduras.It is very good and when we grind it and drink it we think of them with warm memories!

  We met Anna's sister Kate, her friends Gwen Martin and Rachel Oberholtzer, who were also her bridesmaids. On Saturday after the wedding we ended up together at Luc n Anna's house and spent time together getting to know each other and having a good time.Sure enjoyed our time with them too. We were a little hard on them about PA compared to what we are used to here in Wi :) Please accept our apologies for that. You certainly helped make our stay there enjoyable. You all are welcome to come visit us, would love to have you.

Matt n Kaitlyn~Engaged!

I have been waiting on an official engagement picture, but I decided to go ahead and post this one.

Jesus is the sweetest friend I know ~by Tebo

 "Jesus is the sweetest friend I know"

Jesus is the sweetest friend I know,

He walks with me wherever I must go.

Through the valley of the shadow of death He's there I know

Jesus, yes Jesus is the sweetest friend I know.

Chorus

I'd never make it through his life without him by my side.

Guiding every footstep and wiping every tear I cry.

When the trials of this life seem to overwhelm my soul

its then that I'm reminded of the sweetest friend I know

Jesus is the sweetest friend I know

He's my only comfort and I love him so

When the pain that I am feeling is heavy on my soul

Jesus, yes Jesus is the sweetest friend I know.

Jesus is the sweetest friend I know

As I walk in pain here on this earth below,

My heart cries out to my Savior, and faith just fills my soul,

Then I've got peace beyond all measure from the sweetest friend I know. 

This is a song written by Jeff Kropf (Uncle Tebo)

written in the midst of the valley he walked through.I checked youtube but I couldn't find that he had recorded this one.Too bad, it is a beautiful song 

In honor of Tebo, by Darwin Hostetler

         A Battle lost....But a victory won!

My minds been traveling down memories lane

But my heart is in prayer for a family in pain

Yes, I know that our loss is Tebo's  gain

But The tears still come like falling rain

Tebo,

I stood there beside you when you said "I do"

And you were faithful all these year's thru

I'll not forget when you stayed in our home

You played with my children like they were your own

You wired my shop,then at the end of the day

We gathered to sing and took time to pray

We wept with you as you struggled in pain

Not knowing how soon your life would see gain

Your battle is over, our race we still run

You went on to Glory not knowing your son

We continue the fight in the army of prayer

And trust that one day, you'll meet them over there.

I set here with tears as I send you this prayer

Yes I know, it's so much better because Jesus is there.

So we wait our turn, and one day we'll meet with our King

Jesus is the sweetest friend I know....together we'll sing      

                                                                   ~Darwin Hostetler



     In our teen years Jeff spent time at our house a few summers and we have lots of good memories. Darwin and Jeff were partners in crime, the first thing that comes to mind is when they killed and ate a rattlesnake.My Mom wasn't home .......does that tell the story?:) I wasn't home either, thankfully, because I know Jeff would have coerced me into taking a bite:(               Now they are no longer partners in crime but brothers in Christ.

    I really like these lines in the poem........

We continue the fight in the army of prayer

And trust that one day, you'll meet them over there.

......referring to Jeff's family. Lets please remember to pray for his family, I know Jeff wants to see them again.Pray for their spiritual condition and that they can be reconciled to the Kropf family.