Foggy Farm.

Our very long driveway.

I figured it was time to post some pictures of the farm. I have hesitated up until now, simply because this drought has made things rather ugly. But there is something wonderfully mysterious about fog, so I thought I would take some photos.

Part of the front yard with a small view of horse pasture.

Close up of the ponies!!! It is so nice to have them right off the back porch.

Dasa and the puppies getting ready to feed the ponies.

My view out the back mudroom towards the stock pens.

Standing at the stock pens looking towards to back of the house.

This is beyond the stock pens towards the back acerage.

 Trying to give some idea of the property. This shows about 30 of the over 200 acres we get to play with. :)

A close up of the tree I thought looked pretty in the fog.

Part of the front acreage. Pecan trees.

More Pecan trees.

The front view of the farm house.

Side yard.

The one lone cow I could find in the fog!

Christmas Ornament Fun!

 These were so much fun! Salt Dough, acrylic paint and glitter. Now I am trying to find new ways to dress them up and fun things to add to them.

 I did one for each of us. Behold a new family tradition is born! I cannot believe it took me this long to come up with homemade ornaments to mark a new year.

 Hot glue a little twin rope for the perfect final touch.

I think they are perfect for our first Christmas back in Texas!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Of Trains, Christmas Trees and Orthodoxy

Yesterday morning was a gift, a very special gift. My 6 yr old son loves trains, I mean LOVES trains!!! The only thing that comes close to trains....is anything Christmas. I was doing what I normally do (sitting on the couch, drinking coffee and watching GMA) when I noticed my son industriously rebuilding his Geo Trax under the tree we had put up the night before. The perfect combination Christmas Tree and Trains!!!

This is my quiet, contemplative, youngest son whose nickname is "Stealth Baby". I loved the peacefulness the two of us were enjoying before his older siblings decided to grace us with their boisterous presence. I remember waking up early just to play with my She-Ra dolls and Trollz in the beautiful, prismatic branches of my own childhood trees.

With these fond memories, of Christmas past, warming my heart I glanced down at my little boy. The industrious building had stopped and he settled into a seated position right in front of his masterpiece. He just sat there, controller in hand. What was he thinking? What was going through is 6 yr old mind? Did he fear it wouldn't go?

There was a deep, deep breath and then I watched as he bowed his little head and crossed himself. He straightened, sat as tall as he could and pressed the, "Go," button on his controller. My heart melted taking in the sweetness of his glittering eyes on the train, "Choo Chooing," around the base of the Christmas tree.

Some of you may ask why this is so special. Well, my family is going to be baptised into the Orthodox Church in a couple weeks. Even though I have had a year to explore this branch of Christianity, sometimes fear creeps in. What am I thinking? Is this best for my family? Does it work?

....then I have moments like that morning. Catching a glimmer of Living Orthodoxy, through the actions of a 6 yr old boy!

A season is ending.

I guess it is fitting that winter has begun. A season where things are dead, dormant, and transitioning to new life. In a few weeks the kids will be going back to public school and it is bittersweet. I have loved homeschooling and it has been wonderful for us as a family. But, we have finally settled onto a wonderful farm not far from Houston, and the kids have the opportunity to go to small rural school. They are such social buggers! And have really missed being a part of a school community. I am excited for them, but am already grieving the loss of complete family freedom. The freedom to go where we want and when we want. To spend an entire day on one subject. To see them playing amidst the trees and creeks....in the middle of the day!

This new season brings opportunity as well. A chance for them to grow new friendships and bonds. Experience new experiences. To grow and mature. A chance for me to hone some craft projects I have put on the back burner and even progress in new pastures. It is exciting and scary and the right thing at this moment.

So, I lay down the mantle of "homeschooler," pick up the cloak of "afterschooler," and embark on a new adventure!

My verision of Accountable Kids! A chore system that works.

I recently came across this book. I really appreciate the depth and thoroughness of the program. As a mom with children with ADHD and impulse disorders I have watched my boys thrive of the stability and consistency this program offers.

 

 

You can buy the whole kit pictured above, but I needed to add my own creative spin on things. I printed off cards from this site http://printable.tipjunkie.com/pocket-chore-cards-printable-chore-charts/ on colored paper. Then I ran them thru my Scotch laminator. My husband bought and cut me 4 wooden plaques for each of the children. Here is what things looked like when I was in the middle of this project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I got to the fun part! I was able to start painting. I love painting and this was so fun to do.

Finally, the finished result. A kid friendly chore system!

A Broken Vigil Lamp.

A  few days ago I was getting such enjoyment out of watching my children process thru the house. One of my kids even took this little hanging candle holder/vigil lamp and was swinging it like a censer. To cute, right? The game has continued of and on, and occasionally I would warn them to, "Be careful," with the lamp/censer.

Fast forward to last night. Husband and I are getting dinner ready in the kitchen when all of a sudden I hear a CRASH followed by, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" UUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH, honestly some days I do not think I am going to survive getting the twins to adulthood . Yes, twinB had swung the lamp/censer into a door frame. The glass candle holder portion would no longer stay attached to the chains from which it would have hung.
I wish I could say I handled it better. That I was calm, understanding, and soothing, but I was pretty upset! Oh, did I mention that I had just gotten back from the store with the hardware to hang the lamp in our Icon corner?!

Here's where the story takes an up swing. As I was going to sleep last night I realized I could crochet with wire a sort of basket to hold the glass portion to its chains. So, I got up in the morning and did just that. I went to hang it up, but it didn't look quite right. It was hanging to high. But wait! I have wire and the perfect beads to string on the wire. I was able to extend the length of the chain with a beautiful string of beads.

I placed a candle in it, lit it, and stood back. As, I took in the scene I realized something. Aren't we like this lamp? Cracked and broken, sometimes by people who don't even mean to. Then God comes, He doesn't just fix us like we were before. The damage is still there, but under His loving hand we become more. More than we ever were before.

I called my son into the room. "Son, I was able to fix the lamp. See, no harm done." Son, "Mom, you are so creative!"

Now I have a cheap broken hanging candle holder that is more precious to me than anything else in the Icon corner. I also have a restored relationship with my son.