What Schweitzer is All About

It's about lots of driving....5+ hours with kids, but it went really well!

It's about Games... Pool, Air Hockey, Catch Phrase, Dutch Blitz, Go Fish, MAFIA, and many more...

 It's about Make-up... Lots and Lots of make-up....

 And learning new things, like how to knit by the European or Continental method! 

It's about exhaustion...  So exhausted that she couldn't make it through worship and prayer time!

 

Of course, it's about Skiing... and Snowboarding!  With great family!  Enjoying God's amazing Creation!

 

It's about the all important Daddy-Daughter time!

It's about new discoveries... 

In the end, it's about being so thankful for this opportunity... and looking forward to next year!!!   

The Depths of Despair

My local friends may have noticed the protesters standing outside our Wenatchee Family Planning building for the past several weeks with signs saying "Pray to end abortion."  Yesterday when I drove by, there was a small hoard of teenage protesters with neon colored signs saying "Equality"  "Women's Rights"... and the whole gamut of rhetoric. 

I was tempted to stop and get out MY baby.  I wanted to show them.

"This is my son.  His name is Caleb.  He was born in May of last year.  He is now 10.5 months old. He loves food and getting into everything, especially the dishwasher.  He babbles my words back at me, and throws a fit on the changing table....  Being his mom is one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I'm not sure I can be successful at it. I'm not sure I can raise him.  Beside, I'm just not being a productive member of society staying home with him all the time...

Can I kill him?  Is it ok, acceptable, to take his life?  Why?"


My heart breaks over this.  Years ago, I believed in the pro-life cause because it was right.  Now I pray desperately for God to open the eyes of these people who have NO understanding of what they are doing or protesting for, because He has truly given me understanding.  His perspective.  It is SO painful I can barely stand to think about it.  Words cannot begin to describe the emotion, the heart wrenching destruction and sorrow that indwells this savage practice. 

I want them to know- I want them to SEE.  To be responsible for these precious lives, to carry the weight of their existence, their survival, and TRULY, their eternal souls in their hands.  MAKE IT REAL.  Make them nauseous with the understanding of what abortion truly is.

Because it is not women's rights.  It's not equality.  It IS the choice to MURDER. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

Kiera's Breakfast.... Salad?

Apple chunks with string cheese sprinkled over the top.  Interesting, but it works!

Kiera Wit

Me:  Wow Kiera.  Your hair is all over the place this morning...
Kiera:  Yours is too.

*******************************

Me: (dumping load of laundry on bed)  OK!  We have three loads of laundry on my bed. (in deep voice).. LET'S DO IT.

Kiera:  Let's NOT do it.

*******************************
She is SSSOOO quick.  Someone told me recently they were glad she is being raised in a Christian home...  Me too.  Some days her tongue is quite barbed and does it's share of damage.  Other days she is the biggest hoot in the witty, snappy things she'll say.  Oy- our special Kiera blessing :-)

Mac Attack

 Today I proudly watched Gabe and Isaac get their heads shaved in support of Mac Van Lith, son of Gabe's co-worker. 

 Truly, watching SO many people show their love and support for Mac was inspiring.  A great sense of camaraderie for this young man permeated the courtyard.  The ladies who set up this "Mac Attack" outdid themselves, if that is possible, for such a worthy cause.

Many friendly, familiar faces!  This is Charles Steinberg, one the local candidates for judge last year.  (Saw John and Sue B. there too, but didn't get their picture.)

I was suprised by the emotion I felt watching Isaac's little head get shorn.  I'm sure it had a great deal to do with the many feelings felt years ago when Celeste's tiny head was bald...

 

    

What a beautiful day for a Mac Mocha and Mac Hot chocolates!!!

Komo News covered the event. Enjoy! There's a tiny clip of Isaac in there as well.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Dozens-shave-heads-to-support-cancer-patient-198548921.html?tab=video&c=y

Please keep Mac and his family (Tommy, Carrie, and Eli) in your prayers.

Pre Pic: MAC ATTACK!

This couldn't end badly...

More Pinterest Fun- ART

http://pinterest.com/pin/19632948347844457/

 

 

Any guesses on whose is who's?  (Did I get that grammar correct?)

Perfect Comprehension

Matthew 7:15-16 
Be aware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?

Q:  What should you be aware of?  How will you know a false prophet?

Melia's answer:  False prophets... by their clothes. 

:-)  Love!

More Vehicle Blessings

You all know my van stories? Buckle up!  I've got a new one for you!

The time had come when Gabe felt the need to sell the suburban and the bronco.  He had the 'burb listed for quite a while and was struggling with common car-selling-frustrations... How much can we get for it?  How much is the right amount?  How much do I tell the buyer?...  If you've sold a car, you know where he was at!  He then listed the Bronco as well.

After just not having a lot of solid interest, he came to the point of being willing to sell for significantly less than what he was asking.  But he was also going to be completely honest and forthright about what problems it had (which weren't that many, but like many late model vehicles, they were present).   He had interest the next day and within three days had sold the 'burb for a much better amount than he was willing to take.  The day after that he traded the Bronco for a truck. 

I love how God waits patiently for us to wait on Him.  We try to control things and make them work to our advantage.... and all the while He just sits back, holding our blessings in His hand, waiting for us to be in the perfect place to be able to completely recognize His goodness and faithfulness in our lives.  Once we are there, walking in His will, being obedient to His ways, He reigns down His goodness so much that we cannot stand under the weight of His love.  So we sink in worship to our knees, thankful that He truly is our Provider, our Comforter, our Peace.

Now we are waiting, cash in hand, for Him to provide a daily driver for Gabe... (He's hoping for a jeep! :-) 

The Amazing Race is....

Exhausting.

 

Caleb Memories

This is how Caleb sleeps.  Always.  You put him down, he rolls over.  He's done this since he's been able to roll!  Don't let that binkie fool you- it's only for playing with after he wakes up.  He still has NO crutch. 

Caleb's Ginger Thin face :-)  What?  You love those little cookies too?  They are a treat here- one package doesn't last long at all!

Who is behind that camera anyway?

 

So, the overwhelming answer to my last post was a no.  The only thought that generated any interest was our eggs, so I guess we need to go buy more chickens! 

 

I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions for fostering that enterpreneurial spirit?  My girls are always making things and wanting to sell them.  From hair bands, to toy horse bridles, to headbands, to scarves... I don't exactly want to tell them that these items are not really needed, because for kids they are great fun.  But both girls are adamant about wanting to do a booth at the Farmer's Market, and constantly asking about making an online store, or having a yard sale.  How do I encourage their creativity but not allow them to exist in la-la land about making millions on fingerknitting at the same time?  (Who am I kidding?  Aren't we all wishing we'd come up with a million-dollar business?  -that is, pre-Obama-taxes.  I don't suppose I want that dream anymore! LOL!)

Input Requested...

If I were to make an online store, how many of you would like to support the entrepreneurial endeavors of the Smith family?  We are talking about kid-made, Denaye-made, and Gabe-made items, along with possibly farm fresh eggs and berries?  The kids have been begging to be able to sell things... to the point of Kiera and Isaac setting up a "lemonade" type stand in the front yard and yelling that their store was open!  :-)

 

Let me know! 

Our Homeschool Is....

Taking advantage of whatever learning opportunities present themselves...

 

However odd or random they may be!

 

 

These were in a bag, in a bucket, left outside all winter.  Apparently, we will be growing walnut trees!  Anybody want one?



Purge...

Last night I blew- with frustration.  This whole housework thing?  What a joke!  I feel as if I'm running in circles, with no end in sight and no ability to catch up or sit down or feel like I've accomplished anything. 

I know I've said it before, and Gabe and I have no problem admitting to anyone:  We are pack rats!  And we are Horrible about putting anything away!  I'm not even sure it's a learned thing- I've tried and tried and tried... all I know is that I cannot blame my children for being easily distracted- that IS genetic! 

So today, my goal is to fill at least two boxes to go to Salvation Army or Goodwill.  I will drop them off before Kiera's gymnastics class. 

Tomorrow- I aim to show you proof in pictures of the purge. 

Maybe.

In the meantime, here's a little Isaac love to keep you comin' back for more...

"Where all the guys go..."

I promised to take Melia and Kiera on a "girls' day out" once Hobby Lobby opens here in town.  They are super excited to go, although since they opened yesterday I keep putting the girls off because I'm sure it is complete chaos there for a few days!  The parking lot was packed when I passed it on my way to work yesterday!  We'll make a go at it sometime in the next week- I need some paint anyway for our garden stones.

In all the excitement, Isaac was telling me that he and Daddy are going to go "where all the guys go."

 Curiously, I had to ask... "Where is it that all the guys go?"

"HOBBY WOBBY!"

Lotion Bars

I've been wanting to try making my own bath and body products for awhile. I finally got around to ordering some shea butter from Amazon and immediately set out to try some recipes from Pinterest! 

 I purchased the coconut oil from Costco (GREAT deal!) and the beeswax from Craft Warehouse. 

I had to grate the beeswax...

 

My cheesegrater and I never get along. It's a love-hate thing.

I melted the oil, wax, and butter in a mason jar, then added Young Living Lavender essential oil after.

Using my handy silicon cupcake molds, we made some pretty cute flowery lotion bars!  I did learn that one MUST put the mold on the cookie sheet BEFORE pouring if one wants to be able to move the bars somewhere *safe* to cool.  Just sayin'- so you can learn from my mistakes :-)

 

Of course, the kidlings couldn't keep their hands off the cooling bars, so I ended up melting them down again and re-pouring.  Nobody wants lotion bars with fingerprints in them!  It's like the traditional fingerprints in every wedding cake! 

 

Lotion Bar Recipe:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup shea butter

2/3 cup grated beeswax or pastilles

approx 20 drops essential oil (optional)

 

Coming soon... Homemade vaporub!  And just a note, I think I will add more beeswax next time... these are a little soft for little hands to use (or adult hands who don't pay attention to what they are doing... like me!)