busy fall and representing God

I haven't been able to post anything lately, due to our very busy fall time here. We are back at school work full force, as well as finishing up our gardens, and preserving vegetables.
 I love this time of year though, when it starts to cool off, the leaves are turning colors, and we are harvesting everything from our gardens.
 
 Even though I haven't been able to post  my thoughts here, I have been thinking lots. I will just share something quick and short this time.
 One of the main things  that I have had on mine mind lately is that we if are truly children of God, then we are to represent Christ in everything we do all the time -- 24/7. Others should see Him in the way we live our lives in a daily basis, in the choices we make, the things we do, places we go,the  movies we watch, books or magazines we read, ect.. ect....   Everything should point towards Christ. If it is not apart of Him and who He is, then it should not be a part of us either.


 
If we truly love God, then our lives should surely show it!!
  Hope this has been an inspiration and a blessing to you to day!


In Him,
Mae

summer, gardening, animals ,children and fun!!

  Here it is soon to be the first day of summer for 2015!!  The days are getting much longer now. Doesn't get dark till about 12 or 1 p.m., and then light again by about 3 a.m. Pretty neat!!


 It has already seemed like summer for awhile though. We still have cool evenings and mornings a bit though.


 Our garden is going like crazy, but unfortunately so it the weeds too! But what is a garden with out a few weeds huh!? We just got lots of much needed rain here. That is so good! Now we have to wait for it to dry up a bit and then attack those weeds! I honestly can't stand weeds!! Nothing more I like than a nice clean looking garden! :) 
  We have a  bigger garden this year with lots of variety. We even managed to get Chinese cabbage  which we started our selves by seeds in the house. So that's exciting! This year besides starting seedlings in our cold frame we built last year, we also set up fluorescent lights in the basement and I started some plants that way too under the lights. They turned out really well. I just planted out the rest of the tomatoes we started under the lights. They look great!


  The children are nearly finished with school. Maybe about 3 weeks or more left. We get a bit behind when we go to Texas in the spring time.
   Nathan who turns 15 in July is finishing up 9th grade. Clayton just turned 13 yesterday completed grade 6,and  Samuel age 11 is finishing up with grade 4. Sarah turns 8 in July and is almost done with grade 2. Then we have Anna ,5, she did Kindergarten this year.  Then our 2 youngest Benjamin 3 1/2, and Daniel one.


  Lots out door fun things are occupying the childrens' time now, besides helping with the garden and other summer work projects we have lined up. Always so much to get done in the months with no snow!  The summers are short and sweet here in our neck of the woods!  Some of our projects are:  painting the house, replacing some windows, putting up a fence for our cows.


 Yep, we got cows!!!  They are at someone place for now though. I am anxious to get our fence up so we can get them. So we can milk our cow!!  I am so happy to finally have a milk cow!! Lots of fresh milk, cream, home-made butter!!! YAY!!!


  We got our chicks ( 125 of them!)  in early May.  They will be our meat chickens come late summer/early fall.  Yay, for our freezer!


 The big weekend I had planned for most of a year was just last weekend ( June 5th-7th)  An Above Rubies Ladies Retreat held here in our Northern Alberta area!! I am so glad I got to be a part of organizing and planning it!  It was a very special weekend! Nancy Campbell author of the Above Rubies magazines for over 37 years was our speaker. She is so gifted in speaking and ministering to ladies. And what a great message she had for us.  We had a big turn out, over 100 ladies and teens, and several babies too!  Sadly we had to turn down ladies.  Lord Willing we hope to have another ladies retreat in this area though, or a family camp with both Nancy and her husband Colin.




 Now that I am not busy with the preparing of the retreat, I will put my energy in to other things  again. I want to spend more time reading great books, reading my Bible, and memorizing Bible verses. Plus posting more great things on here for your enjoyment and encouragement!


  Wishing you a very great summer! Stay strong for God! Keep Him first in your life!


In Him,
~Mae

Above Rubies ministry and retreats

Above Rubies is a magazine to encourage women in their high calling as wives, mothers, and home makers. Its purpose is to uphold and strengthen family life and to raise the standard of God's truth in the nation. The name has been chosen Proverbs 31:10 AMP

"A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman,
who is he who can find her?
She is far more precious than jewels and her
value is far ABOVE RUBIES or pearls

Nancy Campbell is the editor and founder of Above Rubies.

Her magazine goes out to over 18 countries.

Nancy travels all over the world speaking at ladies retreats and seminars  encouraging and strengthening women in their high calling of being a wife and mother.

There may very well be an above Rubies ladies retreat in your State, province, or country. Just check out the above rubies web-site and click under retreats.

www.aboverubies.org

They are perfect for getting to know the above Rubies ministry better, hear Nancy give her wonderful, inspiring, and encouraging messages. You can view all her books and study manuals that she has available. Meet other like minded moms. And be refreshed and uplifted!!

Right now I am helping to organize an Above Rubies retreat in my part of Alberta. I am so excited about that! I have been to 3 of her retreats, but this is my very first time to organize one. Lots of work, but way more fun!!

I can't wait till the retreat, only 6 more weeks! It is June 5th-7th, 2015.

If your in Northern Alberta, you may be able to attend this retreat! You won't be disappointed!

check out our web-site.

www.albertarubiesretreat.weebly.com

how we travel

How we travel.

  We have just returned form our  month long trip to Texas.  Went not bad after-all. All my worries and concerns  for nothing!! lol!!  We had a great visit with family and friends, and great traveling as well!!
Praise the Lord!!




Not sure how many trips it is now that we have made back and forth from Alberta to Texas, but I know it is several. And by now we actually kind of got a routine going that is most likely the reason things are going more smoothly on the road. And of course with God's great protection over us and His helping me to have a better attitude. Probably that right there is what makes all the difference!

Here I will share how we roll on the road, in case you’re planning a trip and would enjoy hearing how our troop of nine manages a 4 day road trip, keeping our sanity intact!! If we can do it you can too!!



Packing suit cases:

My rule is no over packing, just a 4 or 5 out-fits; if we need more we will shop second-hand while we are there. Also we told the kids this time that they had to pack in way so that we would only carry in 2 suitcases plus our bathroom bag in to the motels, not the usual 5 or 6. So the big boys packed their travel clothes in one bag, and I packed for the rest of us in one suite-case. Then anything extra we needed went in a big tote container.

The older ones (ages 14 and 12) can now do their own packing, YAY!! Plus my oldest also supervised the packing of our 9 year old too (he just had a Birthday, he is 10 now)!! I was left to help the younger 4 from our 7 yr. old down to our 10 month old Daniel. Oh, our 7, 5, and 3 yr. old packed though!! You should of seen all the things they packed, lots and lots of clothes, play shoes, good shoes, play sandals, dress sandals; lots of little books, and little trinkets and goodies that you just can't possible live 30 days without; and lots of blankets ( it was hard to convince them that we had several already down here). The little ones really over whelmed me this time on packing, I went over their stuff and took out some I clearly knew they would not need, but they still had too many goodies. So my sweet 14 year old decided to help me out, and went in the room with each sister and lovingly dumped out their back-packs and traveling bags, and helped them slim down a bit. He was good!! I finished helping our 3 yr. old son pack, boys are easier!! :)




Loading the van:
Now that all the suite cases, and totes are packed, snack box full and ready, a box full of diapers and baby wipes ( to go conveniently under a van seat ), it is time to load the 15 passenger van with Dad supervising. (That’s his role) We have the last seat in the back taken out for more space for our luggage.

Oh and don't forget his tools, and the last item to be loaded is the ice chest with makings for sandwiches.




And we're off!
Our departure date and time was preset, and now the long anticipated day is here. The van was loaded the night before along with car seats and booster seat buckled in place, and double checked. The kids are up early, fed, and dressed, and the older ones take the younger ones out and buckle them. Mom and dad walk around the ones for one more quick check to see if we missed something important; mom grabs a few more items; Dad shuts off water, sets the heat to right temp, locks the doors, and out the we go.

Hey, forgot the most important thing we always do before the kids go out to the van (as well as each morning when we leave the motel rooms). We all gather in a circle, kneel down, hold hands and pray together. Each one says a prayer (some short some longer, but all heart felt) for protection and wellbeing on the trip. (My favorite one that one of our dear ones pray is, " help us get to the motel fast and that there is a pool, don't let us get sick, and make sure mom doesn't get mad at me.") Children and prayers, you got to love it!! :) And you know God does too!!! They touch the heart of God like no one else!




For motion sickness:
The first few trips we made, some of the children got sick a lot along the way. Was not fun! We soon realized that we need to carry ice-cream pails with lids, lots of paper towels, and free breeze! Then someone told us of gravol for motion sickness! YAY for that! This is now our second trip using that, and no one sick at all!!!!

So we give a gravel tablet to each child a half hour if possible before heading out each morning. (Expect our oldest that doesn’t seem to need it)




Traveling with GPS and Getting a motel room:
We have used GPS now in our traveling several times. Very handy. Hubby sets our trip head of time, he programs where we will stop for each of the 3 nights on the road, and usually has the first night's room already booked. Then for the following nights just after lunch I start looking on the GPS for motels in the town where we will be stopping for that night.

I start making the calls, looking for motels with either a large family suite, or two adjoining rooms, or if we have no other choice 2 rooms right next to each other. This trip down we did well, the first night while still in Alberta we had to get 2 separate rooms, but next night we got 2 adjoining rooms, and the last night a large family suite complete with a king size bed and whirl-pool! We are finding it harder to find motels with large family suites.

The kids love the GPS so that they can count down the time till the time we arrive at the motel, and they get really excited when they see the flag!! And it is handy for when we get off the road at a gas station, so easy to follow that purple line and annoying voice back on our route again! OH ,if only my mom and dad had that in their travels years ago!!




Breakfast:
The motels we stay in have continental breakfast, which is usually open at 6:00 a.m. So at 6 me and the older ones are ready to go eat, then when one of the older ones finish they go back to the room and see if one of the younger ones are now up and ready to eat, or takes Daddy's place in the room with little ones, and he comes and eats. Some motels have really good breakfast complete with scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and waffles. So we eat well. And have everyone fed and ready to hit the road by 7 or 7:30 a.m.




For lunch on the road:
We mostly just do sandwiches which I make up as we travel. I call for one of the boys to grab our lunch stuff out of the ice-chest in the back of the van. Then I start making up the sandwiches, and pass them back to the children. Then for myself and hubby. Once we are all done back to the ice-chest got the meat and cheese, ect..

Plus we have loaded snack box between the front seats so I can easily get out and pass snacks. Also plenty of water bottles. Having a bunch of snacks already bought and ready, makes for no need for begging for goodies at gas stations cause we already got everything, and cheaper too.




Gas and bathroom stops:
The only stops we make during the day are for gas and bathrooms. Usually just the times we stop for gas is all we need for bathroom stops too, but occasional we make quick stops at rest areas as well for bathrooms.

Here I should note that our 4 youngest ones (yes even our 7 year old) wear diapers on the road. So at bathroom stops I take the girls and baby with me to ladies bathroom, our oldest is in charge of our 3 year old son and they head off to the men's bathroom, while Daddy gets gas. Everyone goes potty and diapers changed if needed. (The diapers are a major time saver I tell you, if it wasn't for the diapers we would have to stop much more often for potty breaks)




Supper:
For our evening meal we either eat in a restraint after we have got our room for the night. Or call in pizza delivery to our room. Either way is very wonderful after a long day on the road!! Since we make our day time stops to a minimum, we make good time and can stop fairly early in the evenings, anywhere from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. That way no one is too worn out, although even by then little ones are going a bit crazy!

Some trips we have planned certain sightseeing stops (like Yellow Stone National Park, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments, The Red Woods in California) and so then our traveling was different those times, but we haven't done that in a while.

~ Here I should share a thing we have just started for our restaurant outings which has helped a lot. We have choice each of our older sons to be in charge of one of the younger ones to help them get seated and get their food if it's buffet style. They know who they are in charge of, and works pretty smooth. For example Clayton is in charge of Anna, so he holds her hand going in to the restaurant, helps her dish her food, and get seated, then he gets his food. They all do that. Going out each boy again holds younger siblings hand, helps them in the van, and buckles them up. (Same procedure goes for getting them out too) Together daddy and I are both in charge of baby and over-all overseeing everything




Pools:
We always try to make sure we get a motel with a pool, and if it has a slide even better! It gives the children something to look forward too during the day while on the road, and gives them a way to burn energy off before bed time. And a way for mom and dad to relax, especially in the hot tub!

We don't do the typical swim wear stuff, so if you’re like me you may cringe at the mere mention of public pools and hot-tubs because most people's swim attire unfortunately isn't exactly family friendly (sad but true bathing suites are very skimpy anymore, or maybe they always have been and I am just more aware of it with a hubby and growing sons). But we have done very well, there hardly ever has been anyone else swimming. And very often we have the whole pool room to ourselves!! For this I praise the Lord! I have made it matter of earnest prayer before we start our travels that if we do get a motel with a pool that it be family friendly. I normally would not have my family in public swim area at all, but when traveling getting to play in a pool at the end of the days makes our days more doable, and it means so much to the kids. God cares about these little things!! I am a firm believer that nothing is to big that God cannot handle nor to small that he does not care!!





Well I believe that pretty much is our traveling how-tos is a nut shell.

Hope this you find this helpful in your traveling or ate last an entertaining read at the least!! :)

Here is one final tip, if you travel don't stress, just take it all to the Lord in prayer! He is with you where ever you go!! Our ever present Helper, Protector, and Guide!
    In Him,
Mae

winter fun

   Here it is 13 degrees F right now where we live. It is still not very cold, but has cooled off from what we had last week. For a couple weeks in January we had plus temperatures. Some days it was even up 50F. One particular day like that, we found out it was 10 degrees warmer than it was where my brother lives in Texas.  Pretty neat!  It was nice having that warmer weather, giving us break in the winter. Was much easy getting the little ones dressed to go outside. One down fall though was that meeker amount of snow we did have melted mostly gone. So now we are waiting for more snow for the ski hill to open again.
 One up note though is that during the warm weather we ended up with running water in an area out in the woods. Then when our temps dropped again, we were left with a frozen skating rink. What great delight for the children! we now have our own ice rink! a nice gift from God.  They will just have to keep the snow cleaned, and will have a wonderful rink all winter now!


School is going great with 4 students in grades, 9,6,4, and 2. Oh and pre-k, can't miss dear Anna!!
  Benjamin is our lively 3 year old who loves to get into mischief.


Our youngest little "big" guy is growing fast, getting around every where, and super lovable and huggable is now over 8 months. Gotta love Daniel!!

   I know haven't been posting as I should, and as I would like too, but with school keeps me busy. Plus I also have the great honor of helping to organize an above Rubies ladies retreat here in my area. I am so excited about being apart of this wonderful event for moms, and wives. It will be a time of encouragement, inspiration, relaxation, and meeting with other like minded mommas.  I praise the Lord for this great opportunity!  I am  so excited about the upcoming retreat and have been having lots of fun planning and organizing.  But that has been keeping me a tad bit busier than usual.


  Well I will keep posting here as I can.
Take care, and God bless!
In Him,
Mae

for the love of rainy days!!

It's raining out side.  And you know what? I'm lovin' it!!
  Yeppers I sure am!
 I know your thinking I'm crazy, cause who in their right mind loves a cool rainy day?


  I may not always have been able to say this though. ( or will always be able too :) )
 But I can honestly say right now, I LOVE RAINY DAYS!!!!


The reason why?


Cause summers are very very busy at our house. So when it's coming down rain out there all I have to do is worry about the 100 things in the house that needs doing, with out the 100 things out of doors hanging heavy over my head as well!!
 It's the most wonderful thing ever!
    I just put all my time and attention on the indoor chores and taking care of my sweet children.


  And not worry a tiny bit  about the weeds waiting to be hoed,nor about the peas  that might need picked.  Not butchering chickens . And especially don't need to bother about watering!


  Yummy chocolate-chip cookies baking in the oven. Time for writing e-mails, working on a picture book I have in the works, and posting on my blog! Lay down for a leisurely nap later with a good book, and my Bible too.   
    It's  a might harder to keep young ones occupied and happy on rainy day, but at the moment all is well that way too. They are all off on their own contently keeping busy. This must be my blessed day for sure!!  :)  ( I was going to say lucky, but I don't tend to use the word luck , just blessings. )


 Maybe, just maybe, not every rainy day goes this smooth and sweet. But this rainy day is great one!!


  Nothing like a good ole' happy rainy day!


 Hoping your having a lovely one too!


In Him,
Mae


 

pictuers of our spring so far

Well I managed to get some pictures on here this time. It was painful and slow process, but here we are. This is some of our spring happenings so far, and of the cold frame my husband built for me! We have plants coming up n there already! 

The snow keeps going down a little more each day!

spring time

    Tis' spring time here, though at this point in my neck of the woods it still looks quite wintry.
   But we are getting there!  Day by day there is less and less snow in our yard, drive way, and garden area. 
 The temps are nice and the kids have been enjoying playing out side lots. They have the trampolines set up.  Also they love to go out for a pic-nic!


 My husband built me a cold frame, and now I have a bunch of my plants started in there. I started stuff like tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, okra,  water melons, and pumpkins.  So lots different fun things.





  We will have our of plants that we will be planting arriving in early May, our raspberries, asparagus, 2 plum trees, and some flower bulbs.  Plus our regular planting.


 Then we have our 200 chicks due in May 1st. We raise those for meat chickens. So you know what we will be doing come fall, and what will our freezer. But they are not all for us. I raise and butcher for others too.


  Nice to be back from our month long trip to Texas. Though it was very nice to visit with friends and family again after being away for 2 years. Plus we went to Tennessee too, and got see wonderful friends there as well. Would have had more fun, had I not been down with allergies while there. Over all though was good.  But like I said nice to be back, and settled in here again.
  Continuing school, doing the spring things, and preparing for baby!!  Our sweet number 7 baby is due May 4th. So coming soon!!!!!




  I took pictures of all our spring happenings so far, and have tried to post some , but no luck for  some reason.  When I can , I will post pictures.


     In Him,
Mae
 

a few sweet pictuers

 Our girls having fun on the trampoline! They can spend hours out there. Most of the time it is mounded with blankets too.

 Here is our family, all eight of us!! This was taken about a month ago.

What a sweet picture we all make!!  :)

Hope you enjoy. 
In Him,
Mae

Fall blessings

Fall time it is once again!!
 Yep, my favorite season is here, and in high gear!   And all the many blessings it brings.
  Gardens are nearly all harvested.  Lots of vegetables  are in jars, and in the freezer.
 And carrots, beets, rutabagas, potatoes, spaghetti squash, onions, and pumpkins  are filling our cold room.
   Nights and mornings are frosty now, but afternoons are warmer and sunny, so the kids still have lots of fun out playing. They spend lots of time on our two trampolines, but now their latest thing is all the pretty leaves falling form the trees, which they rake in to piles and then jump into them,  or hide each other under the leaves.
    Hoping the really cold weather holds off a bit yet and long with the snow, so we can enjoy our fall time longer. 
   Schooling is in full force with 4 students going. They are grades 8, 5, 3, and 1. With our 3 and 2 years old keeping them selves super busy in the mean time!! :)


Summer here was short, fast and sweet. Could have been hotter longer, but I won't complain either.

I am just happy and content in season here are in in now, and enjoying all our blessings.

I have waited to end to share our greatest blessing though!! You may have  already guessed.
  Yes, the lord has blessed us once again with new life in the womb!!  So super excited, and praising God! This new one will be arriving May 4th, 2014 if our Lord willing.
   May I be the mom I need to be for my precious blessings.

I hope to post on my blog more often now that things have slowed down here a bit. So keeping coming back here for a visit.

  In Him,
Mae

Summer time kid and garden photos

 Husking corn.  Yep, the long awaited for corn is getting ready!!!  Our most loved summer vegtable!

 Cucumbers that we picked at my parents market garden.

 Benjamin and flowers!

 Sarah in my flower garden.

 Sarah holding green beans, and purple beans.

 My little ones by my flower tire.

 Close up on the cucumbers.

 My pretty bowl of beans, green, purple, and yellow!!

 Anna and her pretty pink Vitenam clothes

My Anna and the flowers!

I love summer time, and what a perfect time to get some great photos!!   Hope you enjoy!

summer time kids and animals ( photos )

 Sarah happily holding one of our newly acquired ducks. They are so friendly.

 Sarah and Anna with our cat.

 Sarah, Anna, and Benjamin with our momma cat who is very expecting. Soon we will have kittys!!

 Our six friendly and happy ducks. I have always believed that ducks smiled!!

 Enjoying our rabbit!

 Benjamin giving the rabbit hugs!!

 Our chicken bunch!  

 The girls having fun in the trees!

Clayton and Sarah holding a couple of the  ducks. The children sure love this new addition to our farm. 


Now altogether we have 48 chickens ( the other 64 are snugly in our freezer now ), 6 friendly ducks, one male giant daddy rabbit who needs a wife, and one very expectant momma cat .  Wished we had a milk cow too though. Yep, then our farm would be complete!!  :)

The garden is going good. We have lots of lettuce and onions ready to eat. The other vegetables  are coming along very well too. The weeds are unfortunately doing very well too though. So that means a constant job of weeding, and weeding, and weeding. I don't like a weedy garden!!

  So our summer so far finds all well and booming here. Busy and fun at the same time.
Thanking the Lord for all He provides.

In Him,
Mae

hello spring, goodbye winter ( a poem )

   Here is a fun poem I recently composed in tribute to the arrival of spring!! Right now it is really sunny and warm out; an absolutely beautiful spring day! Gotta' love it!

  Hello Spring, Goodbye Winter!

Winter is going away for another year,
And spring is rushing in to take it's place.

Out with the cold winds and the snow,
In with pleasant breezes and spring showers!

Goodbye snow boots and big winter coats,
Hello to rubber boots and light spring jackets.

Away with the ice and snow,
Here comes the water puddles and mud!

No more snowy boots making water messes,
It's now mud being carried in that covers my floor.

No more skiing and sledding,
snowmen or snow ball fights,
Now it's bike riding and long walks,
mud pies and pretty sights.

It's goodbye to waking up in the dark,
and eating supper by artificial light.
Hello to sun shining in my bedroom window way to early in the morn.,
and going to bed well before darkness settles in around us.

Take off the plastic that covers the windows,
No need to keep everything closed up and sealed tight,
time to let in the fresh air, the warmth and sun,
and the pleasant sounds of  chirping birds.

We are oh so happy that spring is finally,
though we'll certainly miss all the fun of winter.
But we know that this far North summers are short and sweet,
and winter will come again soon enough.




Yes, goodbye winter, I am more than ready for spring and summer!

Hope you enjoyed my silly poem of spring. Though most of the things I wrote about are already gone for the year, like mud-puddels made from melting snow, and mud from rubber boots being tracked in the house. That part of spring is already gone and done. Of course unless we get alot of rain.

 Our 125 little chicks are here and doing very well. The children love helping to feed and care for them.
  We have been planting already, at least the early things ( the vegetables that won't be harmed by frost ).
Still waiting on our strawberry plants to arrive though.
  Hoping your spring and everything that goes with it is going well for you.

 Until next time,
In Him,
Mae

I think spring is here-- finally!

We are finally having a nice and sunny warm spring day here.  The temp. this afternoon is the highest it has been yet at  61F (16C ).
 Winter had been really hanging in there. We even recently had more snow falls, though barely a tiny bit each time.  But now today I think winter is truly gone for this year.
  Snow still clings in areas in our yard and garden, and out in the surrounding fields as well. But everyday the snow is getting a little lower, and less of it.  Each day makes a huge difference that way, and especially with temp.s like this today.
  
The children now have an area to play out on our yard. They are shedding big coats, snow boots, and mittens for jackets, clogs, and rubber boots.  What fun they have been having. Riding bikes and playing in water puddles!

   Our order of 125 little chicks will come in with in a week or two now, and my little girls are so excited. Often Sarah is asking me, "Is this the day we get the chicks?"

   My strawberry plants  arrive later in May. What fun the kids will have helping to set them out in the ground, knowing what they will get to enjoy later on in the summer.
  And the saskatoon seedlings I have coming. I am eager to get those started, though it will be a year or two before we get to enjoy their fruit.
   I am excited to see how the raspberry plants do this summer that I transplanted from my mom and dad's place last year. We should be reaping from those this summer already.
  And then there is the rhubarb plants as well. I am very anxious to see how they do. Seems rhubarb doesn't to well just anywhere. My dad and mom have had poor luck with them at their place.
    
  School is still going strong here, though our two older boys are done with some of their subjects. So that makes each day easier.  We have probably another good month or more to go though. Will be glad when they are all done for this year. With the nice weather we want to be able focus on out door things more.
    We have been going for walks now in the evenings after supper ( the kids ride thier bikes ). That is very nice.  I love the longer day light hours that make evenings outings like that possible. In the winter, by supper time it is already dark!

 Yep, spring is here and we are happy for it. So very thankful to the Lord for our great first winter here. But celebrating that it is now over!! :)
   Hoping you all are having a wonderful spring too!!
  In Him,
Mae

spring time is here

 Not only does it say on the calender that  spring is here, but it is getting more and more evident out side that spring is truly in the air.
 Winter put up a fight and held it's own even after the calender said it was spring, now though winter has seem to given up the fight.  And spring has got the upper hand!!
  Temp.s are warmer each day ( 48F at the moment ), water drips from the roof, snow is wet and slushy, dirt roads messy.
   The kids are spending more time out doors and less time in which makes a happy mom!
 The snow is sinking lower and lower each day though we still got a good 2 feet
.
  Daylight hours are longer! We can actually got out and do things after supper now with plenty of day light to spare.
 Looking at ordering strawberry plants and saskatoon seedlings to set out this spring, and wishing I had a place by my windows to start some tomato plants.
 Put in an order for 100 boiler chicks to raise for meat, which will be arriving first part of May.

Yep, all sure signs that spring is sprung, and summer is around the coner!!!!!!

Hoping you all have been visiting my blog often, and enjoying your time spent here!

Have a great spring time, and keep on strong for the Lord!

God is great!!

In Him,
Mae

It is a new year and I am counting my blessings!!

As we go into this new year of 2013, I want to make sure I start it off on the right foot!

First I am thanking the Lord for keeping us safe and taking care of us way beyond what we deserved in 2012. What a blessed and wonderful year it had been!

 Here is just a few of the blessings from last year......
~ our paper work went through for my husbands Canadian permanent residence in early 2012 therefore making it possible for us to live and work here in Alberta.
~ we had a good and safe return trip up here end of April.
~ we got snuggled and comfortable settled in our house here again.
~  my husband got a really good job that he likes very quickly.
~ we had a very good summer and grew lots of vegetables with my parents. ( full canning jars, bulging freezers, and full bins of potatoes, beets, and carrots in the cold room tells the story)
~ the children have all been very healthy, and growing like weeds.
~ many prayers have been answered.
~ wondeful firends nearby
~ we've had good and fun winter so far!
~ this old house is staying nice warm for us ( something that I had been a little worried about )
~ and many, many more little wonderful ways that we have been greatly blessed by our loving Father!!

Secondly I want to thank the Lord for the blessing of the first couple days of this new year! I thank Him for each new day of life that He gives us. It is so easy to take our life for granted, but God has said our life is like a vapor, " Here to day, gone tomorrow."  So each day is a gift from God! And we need to make the most of each day!

My only goal for this year is to use each day of it wisely and faithfully  to Lord.
~I want to spend more quality time with my husband and children,
~ put my self out for others more.
~ I want to spend much more time on things that edify family and my self, and alot less time on the things that don't!
~ write more letters to family and friends
~ more phone calls ( family watch out! )
~ I want to encourage, uplift, and inspire others more
~ write lots of great posts here on my blog
~ spend lot less time on fruitless things, and much more time on things that bear fruit!  :)
~ I want to read much more great books to my kids! ( I can't get enough of reading to my kids!!)
~ I want to spend more time loving, hugging, and talking, and listening to my kids.
~ I want to show my husband what an awesomely great fantastic guy I think he is!!
~ I want to to encourage him to keep strong in Lord as he keeps leading and guiding his family after the ways of the Lord! ( christian dads have a huge responsibility )

.
 Lord I commit this year to you. May I use each and every day of this year that you bless me with for your glory only. Lord help me as I tend and care for these children that you have blessed us with.  Praying for your strength Lord as I face each day. Thank you Lord for all your blessings that you have poured over us.  Thank you for the gift of life!

Wishing all you of you a fantastic year! May you use each day for the glory of Lord!
In Him,
Mae

  

winter thus far in the North

 Anna loves to be pulled on this sled! And she seems to love all our snow .
It keeps snowing, and we are at around  18in.s at present.

Today has been our coldest so far. It was -26F ( -32C ) this morning. It warmed up though by afternoon, and the kids were all out paying and having fun! It is -12F now.
   Glad the cold weather doesn't keep them too cooped up in the house. I just bought them some sleds the other day, and though we do not have a slide hill right here, they were able to slide on the big heap of snow that was created from our driveway being plowed.  So that is nice.

For me I have been more cooped up in the house than the kids. I haven't been out much just for pleasure so far. Mostly I just run out to the van to go somewhere ( which is very sledom except to drive the 3 miles to the post-office) , or to run to the shop to get something from our freezer. I have been out a differnnt times to pull the younger ones on a sled. And I have tried out cross country skies a few times, though not with much luck. That seems a work of art!
  So I have been cooped up mostly so far this winter, but I am loving it anyway.  I like that that I don't have a hundred little things I need to be out side doing like in the summer. I love that I am not busy all  day long trying hard to get everything done! I like that I can just be in the house doing school with the kids, doing lots of baking, writing letters, reading books, organizing, and the kind of things you usually don't have time for in the summer. I like that the daylight hours is much shorter so that going to bed early and sleeping in is now possible.   
So I am definitely liking winter thus far!!!  To me it is like a nice break or rest period.

  Even my Texan hubby  is doing ok in this cold! He seems to be very tough!  Though he would much prefer to be down south about now! :)  His job is going good! On the job he has been plowing snow for this first time ever!! I am so very happy that he his willing be here in the north out of his element  all for my sake! Oh, and he even tried out a snowboard for the first time the other day! Yep, my hubby is awesome!!

  So thus far winter here in Northern Alberta is going very well for us!!  Our house is warm, our freezers are full,  we are healthy, and very, very blessed!!
  God is good! 
In Him,
Mae

Winter time fun

Sarah and Anna having fun in the snow!

 So it seems winter is here to stay. Our first snow fall only lasted a few days. Then it melted all off, and warmed up for a few days.  Only a few days after that though it cooled off  and started snowing again. This  time it seems to be here to stay, so winter is officially upon us.

I had been looking forward to winter time up here, but I honestly thought we would have fall for awhile yet and wanted to enjoy it still longer. But nature had other plans! So here are in the cold and snow, ready or not!!!

 So far everyone is enjoying it. The big ones dress up in layers and out they go for snow fun! Either ski, or make tunnels in piled up snow in our drive way which was created by the snow plow. So all the snow you see is because it has been piled up, we really don't have that much. I think we have between 12 to 15 in.
 It has been colder, but today is nice at only 25F.

The little ones I bundle up and take out with me for la ittle while. Got to be so careful with them so they don't get to cold. Here I am out with Benjamin. He loves the snow!

 Anna with a snow "cake" . They make snow "cakes" by pressing snow firmly in ice cream bucket, and then putting it out carefully, and there you have it! And if your lucky you can even pick it up! As Anna has here below. Isn't she cute in her pink outfit!?

Some other winter fun things .......

 ~water puddles inside the door from snowy boots
~snow ball fights
~ wet coats and mitts to hang up to dry before the next outing
~ making snow men
~ remembering to plug in the van the night before so that it will start in the morning
~sliding (if we can find a good slide hill)
~having to bundle everyone up in order to go anywhere!
~ skating
~ having a heap of coats and boots and mitts by the door for several months!
~pretty and white every where you look!
~ snowy and icy roads  ( actually they are pretty good most of the time though)
~cross country skiing ( if I can ever get the hang of it!)

Hoping you all have a good and fun winter too wherever you are!
In Him,
Mae

Our first snow fall ( pictuers)

 Our first snow fall for winter 2012-2013!! 

 So we were surprised with an early snow fall this winter! And the kids are most delighted!!

 Lots of fun in the snow when they are dressed warmly.  Above is our big Ben!!! ( i know he looks girly!)

 Pulling out the skies already though there is hardly enough snow, but if they stay on the grass it should not scrape up thier skiies..

 I am sure this snow will melt off yet before our winter really begins though. I wasn't quite ready for winter just this soon. I was hoping to have a longer fall season.

 These kids are in for a awesomely fun winter I think!!!

Looking forward to a nice winter here. Lots of vegys canned and in freeezer, and  lots of firewood cut to keep the house warm, so we should be ready to snuggel on in here for the winter!!

In Him,
Mae
 

Fall it is, and Fall I love!

It is that time a year again. Fall time. My favorite season!
And  with it all the fall things.


~Trees turning their pretty fall colors.
~ Cool crisp mornings with bright sunny days.
~ Day light hours getting noticeable shorter each day.
~ Wild geese and ducks
~ digging and picking the last of the garden vegetables.
~ brightly colored leaves floating in the cool breezes
~ canning and freezing vegetables
~ putting potatoes, carrots, and beets in roots cellars or cold room for winter
~ my kids playing in the leaves
~ darkness when I put the kids in bed, instead of the bright sun still  shining high in the sky!
~ school filled days
~ summer work nearly over and winter rest almost here!
~ anticipation of the first snow fall
~ making the most of last remaining warm sunny days
~ cool and windy, and makes me want to run around with my arms out wide like the children
~ the pride I feel of putting up all kinds of wonderful vegetables and berries for my family's enjoyment over the cold winter.
~ The  great thankfulness in my heart to God for the bountiful harvest which only He alone provided.
~ the change of a new season.
~ watching the kids rack leaves in mounds, and then jumping in them. Or burying each other in the leaves!
~ cutting fire wood to keep our house warm when the cold winter wind blows.


Oh how I love this season of Fall!

Hoping you all are having a fantastic fall so far too!  Enjoy, for winter is approaching!

In Him,
Mae