"The best thing one can do when it's raining...

...is to let it rain."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I guess that quote is true...for what else can we do? We can't stop it, can we? Today is grocery day...but with that constant stream of water falling from the sky...we'll wait! It may be a great day to stay indoors. There is always plenty to keep us busy. If the rain slows, later, we'll head out to the market. I have already, though, been out in the rain...tending to the wood stove. It's quite wet and muddy out there! ;)

I have pictures to show of our comings and goings of the past few days. 

Madelyn and Jaxson playing Brain Quest...

Xavier, waiting for daddy to get home, one day...

Jaxson, silly guy that he is, was moving all over the place seeing if he could avoid my camera (I caught him though!!)...

Outside, this Monday evening, it was beautiful...

When Chris got home form work, we spent time splitting and stacking wood...

Christopher....oh how I love watching him work....

I ran the lever for the splitter. It's hard to tell (as I was trying to take an action photo while running the lever at the same time) but this is a log splitting in half (the piece to the right is falling to the ground)...

 Madelyn, helping to stack...

Homemade bread, pasta, and our homemade sauce for supper one evening...

Yesterday the big Squeeze, in all her baby-cuteness, came to town!

Jaxson and the Squeezle...

Eloise loves when I tap my nails on something...she tries to do it too! ;)

Reading with her mama...

I love how she plays with her belly...

The Squeezle loves Madelyn...

Our aunt came to our dad's garage (where we all usually meet when Devon comes to town) and brought a couple gifts for Eloise...

Chris's birthday is coming up soon. Devon wanted to do something funny for him (as he has such a great sense of humor) and she made this...*edible* kitty litter! Chris laughed and thought it was pretty clever!

Watching a movie and drawing *comics*...

Stuffed chicken breasts (in cream of mushroom soup), mashed potatoes and corn (canned from the garden) was on the menu for supper last night!

I am always up early in the morning (4:45am today) and Jaxson came down around 7 and took a bit of a snooze on the chair for a few minutes...

After tending to the wood stove, getting laundry started, and time spent on the phone with my sister...I need to get moving. The morning is passing by much-too-quickly and we have schoolwork and housework to do! Happy Wednesday...thank you for visiting! :o)

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied,
Katy

"In the family...

...life is brought not only to our doorstep, but into our kitchens, bedrooms, and dens. In the family, life is happening all around us, and it begs to be questioned, evaluated, interpreted, and discussed. There is no more consistent, pregnant, dynamic forum for instruction about life than the family, because that is exactly what God designed the family to be, a learning community."

~Paul David Tripp

"I have no faith in that woman who talks of grace and glory abroad, and uses no soap and water at home. Let the buttons be on the shirts, let the children's socks be mended, let the roast mutton be done to a turn, let the house be as neat as a new pin, and the home be as happy as home can be."

~Charles H. Spurgeon

Our families...our homes...such an important place of ministry for each of us wives and mothers. Sometimes, it's a duty we don't take seriously enough, I think. How can we be more like Christ, fellow sisters? By serving! And we should do so graciously, cheerfully...with love and patience. This can be such a difficult thing to do...but one that is completely necessary for a happy family. I know that I am still learning and trying to improve daily. It's easy to feel frustrated with things when they aren't going *right* and feel like throwing your hands up in disgust. It's much harder (but more beneficial) to smile amid the trials and work through things, knowing that God is *growing* you through it all. I know that at times, actually more often than not, I need much encouragement in this area. I get it through reading God's Word and spending time in prayer...and also reading Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot! Be encouraged! We need no strength of our own to be the wife and mother God calls us to be...for His strength is all we need! Lean on Him and when times get tough, cry out to Him. He is our strong tower and help! :)


I have just some photos to share from around our home and the children. Many comment that they enjoy seeing these things...so I try sharing them when I can! 


Icicles, glistening from an outdoor light, hanging outside from the roof...

Some neat bottles Chris and Xavier found while out "hunting" (taking a walk) in the woods one weekend...

The children playing Legos....

Schoolwork...

A cross-stiched pillow my Grammie made me one year. It says: "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me."...

In the kitchen...

Simple things, like neatly folded towels...all put away and ready for use, make me happy...

The children are planning a circus to perform sometime in the near future...

Well, it's about lunch time and bellies are growling! Most of our schooling is done for the day...and many chores done. Now it's time for lunch and some time spent reading! :)
Have a great day! Thanks for coming by!

***Today is the last day to vote for the Rafflecopter mascot name (in which the name I chose is in the running). If you haven't yet, would you consider going HERE and voting for FLECK? Thank you!

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied,
Katy

*The Work of a Mother*

"O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He hath in 

effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy 

wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly 

furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty 

boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the 

quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him. Those who 

think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the 

reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of 

worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is 

doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your 

offspring is your first and most pressing duty."

~Charles H. Spurgeon

Days of Grace

"Our God will supply us with those choice graces and consolations which shall
strengthen us to glorify his name even in the fires. He will either make the burden
lighter, or the back stronger; he will diminish the need, or increase the supply."

~Charles H. Spurgeon

We made our trip to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, again, this past Thursday. While waiting to be called in for our appointment we sat in the same place in the waiting area that we did last week. Jaxson watched a bit of a movie on the television and I sat and read Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot, a gift from a kind friend (who could use some prayers, after a terrifying tumble).

Right on time, we were called to Jaxson's appointment. I am pleased to be able to say, that through God's goodness, Jax's eye is healing well. So far, no cataracts are forming, no infections are there either. We have been able to cut down a bit on his drops **and** don't have to make another trip back there for 2 weeks! We are so thankful for a break in the travels.

Our trip down and back went well...and we made it home safely. It's always an exhausting trip...but one we are happy to make to ensure that Jaxson's eye is healing well. :)

Friday, my sister asked for my help for the day...so my mom kept my children and helped them with their schoolwork. I took a drive over to my sister's house...looking forward to seeing her and Eloise as it had been a whole *month* since I had seen them last.
Eloise was as sweet as ever....playing, "talking", running, giggling...

She was wearing the slippers I crocheted for her (although, these slippers make her slip on their linoleum kitchen floor...so often, she wears other slippers she has that have some tread on the bottom!)...

She is truly so, so sweet! I am so thankful for her!

***You will definitely want to check out the giveaway my sister is having HERE. It's a super easy entry (just a comment). She is giving away these fantastic slipper/shoes that she made! 

When I stopped to pick up my children from the garage (after leaving my sister's house), where my mom had them, she had gotten this super-fun old, mail-truck!

Madelyn wanted to give it a try...but she was just too tall. X was too big as well...Jaxson *just* fits...

It will be something that Eloise will be able to *drive* when she gets a little bigger and comes for a visit!

We got a lot of snow, here, overnight. Madelyn and Xavier went out to shovel the driveway this morning (of their own choice...I think if they would have been asked to do it, it wouldn't have been as much *fun*). It is blustery out there....and I have every intention of staying *in*doors as much as possible today. I plan on cleaning my home...and enjoy the day with my family. I hope you have an enjoyable day, as well! Thank you for stopping by for a visit with me! :)

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied,
Katy