For all of you who have lifted Joel up in prayer, as he battled brain cancer, here he is about 10 months ago…

and Joel today… I think he rocked it!!

The Rules

Currently there aren’t many and I reserve the right to change that up too.

Add your link below, it has to be about Homeschooling, it can be something you just did or an archive post that is a real good one.  Art projects, Science experiments, Nature hikes you name it!  If you don’t blog feel free to leave a comment telling us about what you have been up to.  G-rated blogs please!

Optional~ Grab the button in the sidebar and spread the word!!

Our Week

It has rained and rained and rained around here so we have been stuck in the house. Not much in the way of field trips has happened. Well, unless you count going to speech therapy and physio.  There was one special outing that Elijah took with Dave though.  Early in the morning they headed out to have Elijah’s braces removed.

One of the things I love about having my children at home is that we get to celebrate these moments together.  We were all here when he walked through the door braces-less.  Elijah proudly announced, “Now I can eat ribs and popcorn!”  One of the little ones asked, “Can we have popcorn now?”  ”Sure!” I said, and at 10 in the morning we stopped what we were doing popped some popcorn and watched a movie in celebration of the braces coming off.

I know if we weren’t homeschooling we could have just as easily done this in the evening but I love that we can be spontaneous.  Sure we have a schedule that we try to stick to  hangs on our wall, but with homeschooling the books will always be there.  If there is a little bit of blue sky after days of rain, we can put down the books and chase after the blue sky.  We have done lessons at 7 o’clock at night or even on a Saturday morning.  March break? What is that?

With homeschooling it becomes a lifestyle.  We discuss what we are learning as we are driving in the car. The movies that we pick will often have historical value or show us how to do something.  Learning is a lifestyle that for us does not have set hours of the day, or days of the week, or even seasons of the year.  Oh, and rib-fest is scheduled for next Friday at Gramma and Biba’s house!!

What have you been up to this week in your homeschool?

Often I will look at something and think I could make that, and then I usually won’t buy it.  However, if I don’t think I would ever make it I would be more likely to buy it .  So by putting tutorials out here I suppose there is a chance that I could lose the odd potential customer but for the most part I think those that would buy what I’m making most likely would not make it themselves.

Over the next few weeks I am hoping to share my Princess Tutorials here.

The Princess Tutorials will consist of the cape, crown, and wand not necessarily in that order.  The one item that shows up on all three pieces is the felt flower.  So today I will do a little tutorial on how to make the  felt flowers.

~Felt Flowers~

To begin pick your colours and gather your materials.  You are going to need;

felt
scissors
needle & thread
paper & pencil (optional)
ruler (optional)

I am probably the worst person to make a tutorial on anything because I am notorious for winging everything.  The paper, pencil, and ruler are to be used if you like things precise.  If you do then you will use these tools to make a pattern and measure, I on the other hand like to eyeball things.  I begin by cutting a strip of felt about 12 inches long and about an inch wide, then I decide what I want my flower to look like.  For this tutorial I chose a scalloped edge and a fringed edge.  On one side of the felt strip cut just over half way down to make your fringe and about half way down as you make your scallops.  You can see I am not precise but you could even print out a scallop from your computer and trace it on to your felt if you prefer.

Next you are going to grab your needle and thread and knot the end.   Next near the top of the straight edge (in my case nearly straight edge) you are going to make a running stitch.

Once you have done this all along the top of the straight edge you begin to pull it tight.

This is the part I find hard to explain, once you pull it tight, leave the needle and thread attached. Starting at the far end that has the knot in it begin to spiral it around, as your flower takes shape you may need to loosen it a little.  Once you have the shape you like stitch it together.  You can do this by pushing the needle back and forth on the backside of the flower.  If you like you can add a little dot of felt in the center of your flower.

For the fringe flower you are going to do the same thing…

Your going to pull it tight…

This is where it is a little different instead of arranging it into a spiral this time you are going to roll the end, be careful to keep your fringe facing the same direction.

Again leaving the needle and thread attached so you can stitch the flower together.

Your fringe flower should look a little like this (depending on how precise you are it might look a lot like this).

You can add a center to the fringe flower or leave it plain. You’ll notice a third flower that is slightly different from the first in the first felt flower picture. With that one I rolled it instead of doing a spiral. Once your flower is done you might think, “hmm that pedal looks too big,” grab your scissors and trim it. Instead of scallops cut a row of pointed triangle like shapes for a different look. You could give each scallop a double bump. Be creative, you can come up with all sorts of different looking flowers.  Have fun with it!

If I am going to be honest, it is much harder to look at what He is doing. I could talk about all the tiny and huge miracles He is at work doing in Joel’s life, yet then I am avoiding talking about MY life.

In my life I am wrestling with Him over some old issues and some new ones that He reveals to me. For the last eight years or so, I have had a laminated piece of card stock in my room that reads;

humble,
gentle, patient,
understanding &
peaceful

That has been my desire as a Momma to answer my children in a gentle, patient, manner taking time to understand them.  To create a peaceful environment by being a person who exudes peace, while humbling my self just as my Saviour did to be a servant of all.  It hangs on my wall to this day because I have yet to perfect those qualities.  Just tonight as I was doing dishes I bellowed, “Joshua, Joel and Hannah in here now! ”  Then as I began to correct their behaviour I continued at my impressive volume only to realize they were all standing in front of me and there was no need to be so loud.  Once I began talking in my ‘patient, gentle voice,’ Samuel began to holler, hmm where did he pick that up?

I could have just as easily set down the dishcloth and walked in to the next room and gathered my little ones around me and had the same conversation.  I am learning each day.  What is God doing in my life?  He is slowly and patiently chipping away at the old me and carefully forming me into the image of His son, into the woman who He sees in me.  It isn’t always pretty and sometimes the work gets a bit messy but He faithfully works away at reshaping me.

“being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ” ~ Philippians 1:6

What is He doing in your life….?

]]> http://ontheoldpath.com/2012/05/08/what-is-god-doing-in-your-life/feed/ 8 http://ontheoldpath.com/2012/05/07/the-orchard-the-vineyardand-the-berries/ http://ontheoldpath.com/2012/05/07/the-orchard-the-vineyardand-the-berries/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 12:30:13 +0000 ontheoldpath http://ontheoldpath.com/?p=2518 Traditionally, when someone would use the word orchard they would be describing a piece of land set apart for the use of fruit trees.  Today people often think of apples when they hear the word orchard.  Here at the Old Path I guess we have taken a more traditional approach and mixed in various fruit trees.  Living in an area of the country that experiences harsh winters we need to plant varieties that are hardy.  Thankfully when we moved here some of the trees had already been planted.  Slowly we are adding to their numbers.

In early spring Dave was out pruning the trees and getting them ready.  This weekend Dave and Joshua planted a plum-tree and a pear tree.  The blossoms are springing forth and they look exquisite. I can’t help but look forward to the potential crop of fruit!

We have also been busy in other areas of our little homestead, how many vines constitutes a vineyard? Well, currently we only have five.  The first vine is a well established one that was here when we moved in and blesses us with a generous crop.  The next three are ones that Dave started from the original vine. We use these grapes for making juice and jelly.  The fourth is a different variety altogether and is more for eating.  Again, Dave has been busy tending the vines and getting everything ready.

As for the berries we are happy to see the blackberry bushes coming back, we planted them last year and were a little worried with how they would fare through the winter.  In the early spring we planted two different varieties of raspberries and they seem to be coming along too.  Our blueberries that were planted 2 years ago did not do so well through the winter we lost two and the other three look poor.   We have replaced the two that didn’t make it and our now looking into ways to strength the three that are struggling and maintain the health of the two new ones.  Currently we are trying to lower the pH of the soil around them.

Finally, we have some strawberries that made it through the winter and 25 more plants to add to the strawberry patch.  We are going to relocate all the strawberries to a new patch this year.  Today Dave is going to turn over the new patch and begin to get it ready for planting, as well as, our vegetable garden.  So he will be quite busy with that.  We have had so much rain that this has been our first break to really get outside and do stuff.  The lists of things to do are getting longer and there is more rain in the forecast so we hurry to get done what we can before it rains again!

As I mulled this idea over I decided that perhaps it would be better to change it up a bit.  I didn’t want to throw Field Trip Fridays out completely as I think it is important to get out of the house and explore the world but I thought it would be fun to include the whole world of Homeschooling.  So from here on out On the Old Path will be hosting a weekly feature called Field Trip Fridays & Other Homeschool Fun.

The Rules

Currently there aren’t many and I reserve the right to change that up too.

Add your link below, it has to be about Homeschooling, it can be something you just did or an archive post that is a real good one.  Art projects, Science experiments, Nature hikes you name it!  If you don’t blog feel free to leave a comment telling us about what you have been up to.

Optional Grab the button in the sidebar and spread the word!!

Both David and Joel had dentist appointments today so Samuel and I went a long and my very capable 14 and 11 1/2-year-old over saw things at the house with our 8 and 4-year-old.  Elijah our oldest relishes being in charge I have never left him on his own with all the kids at night or with Samuel.  I am sure he could manage but it seems like a lot to place on the shoulders of one so young.  Actually Joshua and Hannah my 8 and 4  year olds are very independent, so he has very little to do.  Taliah is my little mother hen, she is helping Hannah with her reading lessons and loves to set up little art activities with her younger siblings.  It is a wonderful feeling to trust your children.

While in town Joel also had his Occupational Therapy session.  He had a good time with his therapist, and it is good to see him making some progress.  Dave and Samuel went to do a few errands while Joel and I were at his therapy.  Once Joel was done therapy the fun started we went to the local nursery and bought each other anniversary gifts!  Well I think we had decided to buy them regardless of it being our anniversary.  It is fun to see our little homestead grow…

• one plum-tree
• one pear tree that has 5 varieties on it (they graft on the different varieties)
• two different types of blueberry bushes (to replace the two that did not make it through the winter)
• two elderberry bushes
• seedless grapevine
• 25 strawberry plants
• seed potatoes
• spanish onions (I would have like to start onions from seed but it didn’t happen)

We also picked up some extra non plant items.  We are going to have to get busy and add these to our growing orchard and berry patch.  Once home Joel told Dave and I to cover our eyes and follow him to the kitchen.  On the table he had in a glass of water a lovely bouquet he had picked for our anniversary.  Taliah made a lovely card.

Tomorrow my Mom and Dad are taking all the children for supper so Dave and I can go out to dinner for our anniversary.  I can not remember the last time Dave and I went out on a date.  I know people say you should have regular date nights but we just have not figured out how to fit that in.  For non-daters we have a fantastic relationship, we fit in time together whether it is going for a walk around the yard, dreaming of what we will plant next, or staying up late talking.  Those are our dates.  Yes, we may have a trail of children behind us as we walk around the yard but that is how we like it.  I am looking forward to having a supper I did not make, and no dirty dishes or kitchen to clean.  Here’s to many many more years!

We have picked up some travelling tips along the way, that I’d love to share.

First if you are taking a road trip and it is at all possible avoid travelling on a long weekend and if you can travel mid-week you will have less traffic on the road and when you do make stops the service centres will be much emptier.

To make things go smoothly when travelling with children plan ahead as much as possible.  Brainstorm about the worst case scenario and then problem solve ahead of time.  If you have a young child that are potty training or have just trained, bring along a potty chair and the necessary items you’ll need.  You never know when a little one might need to go.   Do you have a child with high energy levels and the though of a 7 hour drive is terrifying?  Plan ahead, eat a breakfast that is low in sugar and other trigger foods,  have him or her run some laps to get the wiggles out before you set out.   Plan stops along the way, where they can run off some energy.  When we were travelling as kids in the summer my Dad would pull off the highway and find a school we’d have our lunch and play on the swings for a bit before hitting the road again.  You could do a google search for parks in the cities you’ll be passing for possible places to stop.

Food and drink, you can spend a small fortune on take out when travelling so pack as much as you can.  There are all sorts of drink boxes available today.  Maybe you all have your own water bottles, pack those.  If I can I love to take snacks that are not crumbly.  Grapes, Cheerios, cheese, raisins, wraps, my guys love kielbasa sausage cut in coins.  Bring wet wipes or some damp wash clothes in a Ziploc bag.  Pack a lunch, you’ll save lots of cash.

For years I would run around a few days before we’d go away making lists trying to remember everything I needed. Finally, I thought why do I write a list every time we go.  I finally made a Master Travel Check list.  You are welcome to print it out and use it too.  It is suited to our family and you may want to edit it, and make your own, but at least it gives you a starting place.

This past Christmas I decided to make the children their own travel bins.  I made some covered clip boards (I still need to post about the clip boards) with little draw string bags that had mini pencils in them.  The bins had a couple little surprises a drink and a few snacks, there was room for them to add a few of their favourite things to take on the trip.  The bins came from the dollar store along with the stickers for their names = affordable.

I found this cute vintage I spy game on-line  I printed it on card stock and then laminated it my children had a fun time playing I spy with each other.  Click on this image and you can print one out too.JSIM I Spy Fun sheet

I stay on the look out through the year for good travel games, over the years we have put a lot of miles on our vehicles but we have never travelled with portable DVD players or hand-held video games.  It is possible to have fun driving with little ones without these electronics.  We do have a CD player in the car and will often listen to music and stories as we travel.  Our children have made up a game called, ‘I have an animal,’ basically they think of an animal and the others guess what it is, in a similar style to 20 questions.  Hannah usually ends up telling everyone what her animal is but they have a lot of fun doing it.

If you have a bigger trip planned in the near future and are looking for tips on travelling as a family I have found a neat site that has all sorts of helpful hints for travelling as a family.  Go check out Family Travels on a Budget.  Hope this makes for stress-free travels!!

I was really struck by this.  Do you need to have deep hurts to have an effective ministry, of course not.  Yet out of the ashes there is beauty.

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,  ~Isaiah 60:3a

For those who have experienced deep hurts there is an oil of joy!  What do you do with your deep hurts?  Do you push them deep down inside you?  Lock them up and throw away the key?  After all deep hurts are usually ugly and messy we don’t want anyone to see that.  What do you do with your deep hurts?  Do you lie to yourself and say they are not there?  ”If I fill my life with all sorts of things and keep myself so busy I will not have to look at them.”

What do you do with your deep hurts?  It seems we are a people who are so blinded that we have lost the way.  We look to the world or even to the power from within us to make us whole.  There is One who can console you when you mourn.  One who can bring you beauty from ashes, and a soothing oil of joy for your mourning.

We all have some brokenness in us.   We can let it sit and fester.  We can let it make us bitter and angry or we can let the oil of joy do it’s work.

Many of us are familiar with, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28  There is great hope in those words but someone who is in the throes of that deep hurt may find no comfort in those words.  I have said before, I am no theologian but I have shared my take on those words before, and I’ll share it again today.

There is nothing good about cancer.

There is nothing good about divorce.

There is nothing good about losing your job.

There is nothing good about abuse… a destructive fire, a sick child, a death…

Where the good come in is that these deep hurts that could wound us, break us and possible even destroy us, do not have to.  If we answer His call he can turn our mourning into dancing, He can give us peace where there isn’t any, hope in the impossible and love that conquers all.  We may still carry the scars from the battle, but the good is the miracle that happens, when our ashes are turned to beauty.

Often we can even emerge stronger, wiser, and more compassionate and from there we can go on and let our deepest hurts become our most effective ministry.

Sharing this at Tea on Tuesday

For awhile now we have been hearing the chirping of birds and been watching them building their nests.  We have roamed the property anxiously inspecting plants, trees, and bushes to see if they survived the winter.  The roosters crow and the hens are happily pecking away at the new grass and umm weeds that are growing.

After ending up with too many roosters last year we decided to add some sex links to our flock.  We have been selling some eggs and have customers waiting for us to expand.  It is nice to be able to cover our chicken expenses and still make a tiny profit.  We have not given up on heritage breeds and have decided to try to hatch a few out.  The children are counting down the days until hatch day.  I sure hope our rooster was up to the task otherwise we will have some disappointed little ones (and big ones). 

The apple trees have all been pruned and the buds are starting to burst open.  We are hoping to add a few more fruit trees this year and have already added ten raspberry canes.  We decided to try five regular and five ever bearing and see which we prefer.

We need to get moving forward with the garden, between the rain and David’s work schedule we are at a stand still.  Around here you can have frost up until the May 24 weekend so we have some time yet but it will be here before we know it.  I feel very unprepared.  I dream of a large country garden, orchard, a going chicken concern, a few turkeys, some pigs, and perhaps even a dairy cow or goat.  Yet reality tells me that as many of these skills are new to Dave and I that we should take it one step at a time, and try and master a few skills before pushing forward.

I can’t help but look at all the new life and new beginnings and reflect on the new Life that Christ brings into our lives.  As I reflect on the state of our Homestead, I find myself reflecting on the state of  my heart.  I guess the wonderful part is if there are any weeds starting to sprout up in my heart they can be pulled and I find that HIS mercies, “They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:23

Looking forward to an abundant year in both my heart and the Homestead!