Sunday Devotions - Withered Grasses

The grass withers, the flower fades, but he word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 


Right before Christmas we were blessed with lots of beautiful snow. Over the last couple weeks the kids and I have enjoyed walking and playing in the snow. There is just something about a bright new snow that brings joy to my heart. 


However over the last week our temps have been rising and the snow, all 6 inches of it, and ice have been quickly melting to reveal the brown dead grass hiding below. Where the sight of white snow brings joy, the sight of all the dead grass brings a bit of despair. It's hard to look at it and think that our landscape will ever be pretty again, whether with snow or green grass.


Sometimes we get dogged down in life the same way with the same thoughts. Days go by where we are trodden down by worries and chores, then the negatives headlines or unexpected stresses just add upon the despair that can build in our hearts until we may think we'll never be happy again or life will never be 'good' again. 


But God gives us a never ending promise in his Word. Heaven awaits for us where there is no sadness, there is no pain. Although today we may be filled with despair, by believing in the love of God we are reminded that we won't always be here on Earth, that is full of despair. Thank goodness! 


Lord, I sometimes feel as dry as mown grass. Still, your Word sustains me. Your promises give me courage and hope. Draw me deeply into Your Word. Teach me to love. Amen (God's Promises to a Woman's Heart)

Vacation is almost over :(

DR commented just the other day that I must be happy that Christmas vacation is almost over since the boys go back to school on Tuesday and I'll get back to my own schedule and getting things done around the house I've neglected. I admit, during the last two weeks the house has been louder and messier. I've had a tougher time getting stuff like laundry or dishes done without being interrupted or being any way organized (not that that's such a difference than normal though). But really, I am not looking forward to the boys going back to school because I have really enjoyed this extra time I've gotten to spend with all my kids.

We've tied a blanket for Project Linus...

...built forts...

...constructed gingerbread houses...

....played in the snow (a lot!)....

...baked Santa bread and....

....used the same recipe to make Snowman bread. (Yeah, I'm not sure what that thing on the right is either but Yap enjoyed eating his creation.)

Yeah, the house has been loud and busy and there's been nights I'm just too dang tired to move but I've just really, really enjoyed my kids this Christmas vacation. They surprise me more and more everyday with what they think and do and say. Watching my children grow and learn and explore and create has been one of the very greatest gifts that I've ever received in this life. 

 I remember the time before I got married thinking that I may never get married or have kids...then BAM, husband and twins before I knew it a daughter...what a handful she's become.  My kids have gotten so big so fast. Yeah, I should probably clean my house or do laundry but I'd much rather spend time with my kids. They sure won't be this little forever; in the blink of an eye they are almost as tall as me. Time goes by so quickly the older I get...there will be time enough to clean my house.

The older my boys get the more they talk about their memories. They don't talk about how well I folded laundry or cleaned the house. They remember the walks we took to the old barn or splashing in the flooded ditches of Illinois. They remind me of the time they spent with their cousins at a Pirate Party or rope making. A dirty house isn't that big of a deal when the mess is just a part of making memories. 

Fort Friday

Lately I've been surfing the blog, All for the Boys. As it says on their blog, " - a space for the boys in your life! We've often found that there is so much inspiration for girls on the web - so much to sew, craft, and create for girls. It is harder to come up with (and find) things that we not only like as parents but that our boys will like as well. No ruffles and lace here! We hope you'll be inspired to create, purchase, and play with your boys just as we are!"

Every Friday on All for the Boys it is Fort Friday where people share fort ideas to build. Some of them are as simple as a cardboard box with Christmas lights while others get quite elaborate! The boys and I enjoy surfing the photos wishing we had the skills, and space, to build some of the wonderful ideas we see, like the huge igloo! 

Being as we've had time on our hands this Christmas vacation the boys decided to build their own fort from their bunkbed. 

Yip, who sleeps on the bottom thought the red and green paint clothes would give him much needed privacy! And their blacksmithed hooks hold the curtains back. 

Yap, my wanna be soldier, received a camoflauge blind thing for Christmas which we attached to hooks in the ceiling. It's pretty cozy up there! 

Gotta say, I'm a bit jealous. This looks like a fun place to play..and sleep! 

The Linus Project

Recently I read about Project Linus in my Guideposts magazine. 

 As Charles Schulz’s Linus character from the PEANUTS® comic strip was comforted by his blanket, Project Linus strives to do the same and more for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. The blankets our nearly 400 chapter coordinators collect from thousands of “blanketeers” (volunteers) across the United States and then distributed to these children provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort. (Project Linus website)

DR and I try to include our kids helping other people and making a blanket for another child is a great way to really get the boys involved for someone else. Sometimes writing a check is so easy, but important, that we forget our boys don't really see us helping others. 

We went to Wal-Mart and Yap chose the bright circle designs and Yip chose the green backing and we got to knotting. I didn't realize how tough tying fleece knots could be and I ended up cutting the fringe longer than I had planned to. 

The finished blanket was about 51"x51", kind of small but it will work for a small child. 

Next time we'll do a much longer blanket. 

My kids love their fleece blankets and this was just about the perfect project. It was easy for the boys to do the work but didn't take so long they grew bored. I really like the idea of Project Linus and we're planning on picking out more fabric the very next time we are in town. 

Christmas Morning

We had a pretty good Christmas morning in the Prairie Mother household. 

Yip received a punching bag from Santa. Good! Maybe he'll work off all that excess energy!! 

Everyone had to take turns trying it out. 

And what Christmas morning is complete without Legos? 

Yep, just what I needed...more tiny pieces to "accidentally" vacuum up! 

Oh boy, the first Barbie! 

Yahoo LOVES it! 

See those clothes Barbie is wearing? She wore those clothes exactly 5.2 seconds after this photo was taken. She's been naked ever since. Yahoo likes Barbie that way. Oh boy. 

Yahoo's first doll house; she just loves how she can walk around all sides to play with it. I love how durable it and all the furniture is! 

Yap my little soldier got the army he was wishing for. They've been dispatched on missions all through the house. 

DR and I had good Christmas mornings too. The best part of course was just watching our kids and enjoying their toys with them. 

Although I have to say next year I'm getting up early and putting on makeup if DR is going to take pictures like THIS of me every year! 

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas! 

The Bacon Battle

We love bacon. We plow through bacon. We usually eat a pound of bacon every Sunday morning. 

As much as we love bacon, the Bacon Battle rages every Sunday morning and Christmas morning was no exception....

......because DR doesn't know how to cook it the right way!! 

It's gotten so bad that I have to cook my bacon separate from DR's. 

Mine is on the left, brown and crispy...utterly perfect. 

DR's is on the right, pale and practically raw....what a disgrace! 

Normally this wouldn't be an issue but DR has brainwashed our children into thinking "bendy" bacon is the proper way to cook such a wonderful delicacy. 

Curses! How am I to get them back on the side of good and noble and CRISP bacon?  

*sigh*

Bacon. It's become one of the great battles of my life! 

(So, how do you cook bacon? The right way I hope!)

Sunday Devotions - What a Gift!

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, 

   you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, 

 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 

   and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:28-32

Happy Birthday Jesus! 

Dear Heavenly Father, 

For giving us the Greatest gift on this Christmas Day. 

And what a gift! 

The magnitude and the grandeur of Your Gift Jesus is far beyond what we can fathom. A Gift we are not worthy of and a gift we can't give nearly enough thanks for. All we can do in thanks is believe in Your promise of salvation. Thank You. 

Amen.