Incomparable

Amen?

Perspective {or creative ways to get out of finishing supper}

"I'm not going to eat the rest. I'm sacrificing my supper for the sake of our chickens."

-Ryland, 4 1/2 years

***

"We'll be sure to sacrifice your ice cream tonight for the sake of our chickens, too."

-Mom

"You can't do that!! The chickens will freeze to death!"

-Ry

It's all about perspective.

Preparing {family project}

Preparing {home} for the Easter Season. . .

We like to enjoy a 'living' centerpiece on our dining table for the week of Easter. The ingredients are simple: a small container, potting soil and rye grass seed (or wheat seed will work if you realize last minute that you used all the rye seed last Spring!) Keep the container moist and in a sunny windowsill. In a few weeks we will be gathering daily around a grassy, living centerpiece and focusing on the New Life we enjoy because of our Risen Lord.

Milestone: {15}

Just look and see what the Lord has done. . .

Fifteen years ago, he took two love-struck kids. . .

Called them to Himself. . .

And He has not left or forsaken them since.

Four sons later, countless trials, joys, sorrows and successes. . .look what He has done.

"Go. . .tell them how much the Lord has done for you. . ." Mark 5:19

Home Hair Removal

About every three weeks I line my scraggly bunch up - and start down the line with home hair cuts. Over the years this has saved us thousands of dollars. We added it up about a year ago and estimate we have saved more money than we paid for our van. That's pretty cool!



I'd love to figure the math, but my Monday has run over into my Tuesday and I still haven't finished my morning coffee yet, therefore my brain is on strike. Yeah, one of those days. The basic math problem is this:



$12 x 4 plus $18=( ) x (52/3)= ($) yearly savings



{Is that right, dear?}





She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. . .Prov. 31

{Lining them up}

***

Hair cuts have always been a challenge for me, but I think I am finally getting the hang of it. I have had plenty of practice and opportunities to become proficient! I started cutting Bob's hair when we were newlyweds. . .and I was terrible at it. I was worse than the ship's barber. That's a professional opinion, too, as we were once traveling and were without our clippers so we had to pay for a hair cut. That barber wanted to know if the ship's barber had a German Shepherd or white cane next to his barber's chair.



Ouch.



My sweet husband didn't say a word about me being the one who had butchered his hair. Now that's love.

The benefits of home hair cuts?

• No appointment necessary


• Free!


• Tips are paid in hugs and kisses (though chocolate is appreciated)

• I get to squeeze these pinchy cheeks!
  

• I finally get to 'do' someone's hair (Anyone remember Barbie's salon? I loved playing hairdresser.)
  
  

• Special requests are granted

"Mom, can I have a mohawk? Or can you just shave it all off?"

• Special requests are also denied at the whim of the hairdresser
  
  

• I get 10-minutes of uninterrupted time with each son to talk about whatever.
  
  
  

• I get to use my kitchen towels for something other than dishes
  
  

• I get the satisfaction of enjoying clean-cut boys and knowing that I have exercised a principle from Proverbs 31
  
  

And teaching my sons the art of self-sufficiency {1Thessalonians 4:11-12}

Have it your way*

* (Disclaimer: Have it your way only if you live in Nebraska and only in regards to quickly changing weather this week. Otherwise, this offer is completely null and void. Sorry!)

You can have sunshine and warm air one day, playing in the great outdoors. . .

Throwing sticks for your neighbor dog. . .

Helping Mom clean out the garden beds. . .


Enjoying Industrial Arts class outside. . .

Or using Industrial Arts as a community service project in the warm sunshine. You can have it both ways this time!

(Our oldest sons had an opportunity to help our neighbor shingle the AMAZING Hobbit Playhouse he built to auction off at his children's school fundraiser this weekend. You can tell how bummed they were about working outdoors with power tools, can't you?)

Or, you can wait just a few hours and voila -

SNOW. INCHES AND INCHES OF SNOW.

Apparently in our state, you don't need to compromise. You can sometimes have Spring and Winter from one day to the next.

Let's review:

Wednesday - Sunny and in the 60s.
Thursday - 5 Inches of snow

Nebraska: Have it your way *

Presidentially

President's Day is a pretty special holiday in our home. One of our sons is a huge fan of George Washington- in fact, when he was 2-years old he went through a months-long phase where he truly believed he was G.W. He only answered to 'George' and was quick to tell anyone and everyone he was the first president of the United States and the General of the Continental Army. It was hard to leave the house with him at times.

Besides just being a day in which we celebrate some pretty great role models, we think a lot about how God has blessed our country with some outstanding leaders and we give thanks.

Tarver started our morning off with a steaming potful of 'Presidential Porridge'. It's his special recipe containing rolled oats, pumpkin puree, chopped cranberries and some secret spices. It is so good- fit for a president!

Ryland dressed in character, which isn't abnormal at all. The exception: we couldn't find his hatchet so he had to make-do with a chainsaw. We're just calling it the modern day version of George Washington.

To end our day we made a cherry pie with fresh/frozen cherries, picked last June from one of our favorite farms just south of our home.

Celebrating the good things in life with my boys - so good.

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." -George Washington