Jesse Tree - Week One

November 30th: LIFE
Todays Reading: Genesis 1:24-31


December 1st: The Fall
Todays Reading: Genesis 3:1-21


December 2nd: Saved
Todays Reading: Genesis 6:5-8


December 3rd: Living by Faith
Todays Reading: Genesis 12:1-7


December 4th: LAUGH!
Todays Reading: Genesis 21:1-7


December 5th: Laying Down Isaac
Todays Reading: Genesis 22:1-14


December 6th: Jacob
Todays Reading: Genesis 28:10-22

St Andrews Day

frost (frôst, frst)n.

A deposit of minute ice crystals formed when water vapor condenses at a temperature below freezing.

St. Andrew's Day is the feast of Saint Andrew, celebrated on 30 November each year. Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland and St. Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day, although Burns' Night is more widely observed. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated the Day as an official Bank Holiday. [Wikipedia]

We celebrated with a 'fish supper' [Andrew was a fisherman] and a movie.

Simple Saturday

Drawing pictures in the frost!

Hot chocolate - just the thing for a cold morning!

Ah, that's perfect!

A trip to Toys'r'us to spend pocket money.

A couple of loads of washing...

Done.

A relaxing evening.

The Outdoor Hour #1

Finally, we've got round to starting this wee project that I discovered - The Outdoor Hour. It looks fun, so I thought we'd give it a go. I have the prescribed book 'Handbook of Nature Study' by Anna Comstock, and thought it would be good to go through it in a kind of structured way.

Ok, so for the first challenge... we spent some time outside, looking around us and seeing if anything interested us inparticular. Interestingly, the kids were more excited about the things in our own garden than elsewhere! Both the kids were really taken with the frost on the ground (I like the picture I managed to get, the frost is so clear - click and enlarge to see it better); and then they pulled up a flower (I have no idea what kind of flower it is!) and were amazed by it's large root - I was too! So, these two things we are going to investigate further - Frost and Roots.

Snapshot of our week

Barren trees, but still beautiful.

We decided to spray paint the branches we collected last week - I had a can of gold spray, so armed with that and a paper we spread the branches out in the shed and set to... me spraying and keeping the sleeve of my jacket tight to my nose and coming up for air occasionally... Bubbles standing nearby sniffing and saying "WHY are you covering your nose? *I* can't smell anything...". Unfortunately she has trouble smelling through her nose... I could smell the spray even through my jacket - sharp exit into the fresh air once job accomplished. We left them a day to dry, then brought them in. Having no other suitable product handy to put them in, we opted for the Christmas tree stand from last year, and improvised. The finished product is actually quite nice... Bubbles hung on some straw decorations - we didn't make them ourselves, though I'm sure we could have. The colour scheme is a bit strange, but there we go. She then decided to play with some of her Sylvanians under and in the 'tree'... I think she had fun!

So, the idea had been to use the branches as a 'Thankful Tree' - to hang on notes of things we are thankful for (I keep meaning to do Harvest Festival with the kids each year, but none of the churches I've gone to lately seem to do this, so I forget when it is... but I would like to do it). BUT, it hasn't worked out that way... SO, it is going to be our Jesse Tree and our 'alternative' Christmas tree this year.

I stumbled (nearly literally, it gave me quite a shock!) over a wee dead mouse whilst topping up the bird feeders one morning in the week. Bubbles has been faithfully giving the little dead creatures we find a wonderful burial! This promptly received one too! She didn't do a procession or sing a hymn this time though - I think it was too cold, and she was only in her pjs! No doubt it will be dug up in due course, in order to examine its bones.

We said farewell to the 6 Bobs this week... it's pretty hard to name fish I think... and 'Bob' just kind of suited them all! We freecycled them, because we can't really take them with us if we're staying with friends in between houses. I like freecycle... I've managed to pass on quite a few things this way - though I've never been quick enough to grab a bargain for myself!

The primulas in the garden are looking quite jolly in the cold. And the carnations in the house are still looking fresh (thanks for those Mum & Dad!). The last of the leaves have decended from the oak tree at the bottom of the garden, so I thought it a safe bet to rake them up again... once again, 4 of these big piles.. but it does actually look like I have cleared some of the grass this time, yay! The frost hasn't lifted from the back garden at all today, the sun barely reaching it... that's the trouble with a north-facing garden in winter!

Spike had his hair cut today... I suggested he didn't have a number 1 or 2 because the weather is colder, so he opted for a number 4 - it still looks very short! It should last him now until after we've moved.

(look! empty chore chart! I'm very proud of that this week!)

Mum and Dad retire today - yay, Happy Retirement!

Wonderful to see the new life there already, waiting to burst forth, despite the barrenness of the tree.

O let my trembling soul be still

O let my trembling soul be still,
And wait Thy wise, Thy holy will!

I cannot Lord, Thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by Thee.

Unknown Author

I had this written in the cover of my Bible many moons ago. I don't think I have that Bible anymore... but I seem to remember the quote... and often think on it when my mind is in a whirl, or my heart beating fast. I thought about it today while I spoke to Estate Agent, Solicitor, Mortgage Broker... sometimes some 'hic-ups' come along just as things are seemingly progressing fine... maybe just to remind us that God is ultimately in control, and to rest our eyes on Him. I have to remind myself of this constantly Maybe one day it will come naturally...

Our wonderful language!

Found this on another blog... hilarious! I had to read it slowly first time. I'm very glad that I'm not learning English as a second language!

**************************************************
I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you
On hiccough, thorough, lough and through?
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?
Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird,
And dead: it's said like bed, not bead -
For goodness' sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).
A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear.
And then there's dose and rose and lose -
Just look them up - and goose and choose,
And cork and work, and card and ward,
And font and front, and word and sword,
And do and go, and thwart and cart -
Come, come, I've hardly made a start!
A dreadful language? Man alive!
I'd mastered it when I was five!

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How to be happy

We are reading a book called 'More Little Visits With God' (by Allan Hart Jahsmann & Martin P. Simon) at breakfast at the moment. I loved the little story this morning, based around Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart". This is how it started...

"I never get what I want," said Henry.
"I know how to change that," said his brother George. "Start wanting what you get!"

Gets you thinking that, doesn't it? We learn to like all kinds of things - I didn't use to like olives or avocados, but I do now; there was a time when I didn't know what Chinese food looked or tasted like, but I tried it and like it; I'm not awfully good in groups of people, so I've learnt to like time on my own... all sorts of things we learn to like over time. So, why not learn to like what God likes? That way we can be satisfied and happy, because we will have the desires of our heart.

I will miss...

... the view from my bedroom window... it's a wonderful one of the Pentland Hills. I have looked out on the Pentlands for about 12 years, so they will be missed. I don't think there are any hills in Kidderminster... but I shall have to seek out some countryside... somewhere...

(ok, the telegraph pole isn't such a good feature, but consider the rest of the picture!)

House hunting...

.......... Is extraordinarily tiring! I feel quite washed out! My observation skills have - even if only temporarily - increased though, after all that poking around and examining of each room in each house! Maybe that's not a good thing... as I even started looking critically at the state of the decor in the Travel Inn where we were staying! I don't think it's good to be too negative about things! The kids had a great time... made themselves at home in the Premier Inn straight away and enjoyed the stay there. They did really well on our whirl-wind expedition to Kidderminster... generally not too much complaining, though they were very tired at the end of our time. It was good to catch up with a little cousin too.

It's hard to believe that we might actually have secured ourselves a house down there in Kidderminster... that's pretty incredible for a 5 day whirl-wind visit... isn't God good?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, 24th November 2008...

Outside my window... a family of sparrows eating from the bird feeders, squabbling over the grain on the ground - I love the sparrows... they remind me of the goodness, faithfulness and generosity of Jehovah.

I am thinking... about all the things that need done in order to sell here, purchase the new house and move - my mind is a whirl!

I am thankful for... the sale of this house and the new house. God is good.

From the learning rooms... a little 'break' while we catch up on sleep and rest some, but always learning in the school of life.

From the kitchen... Baked potatoes & salad, Monday; Burgers, mash & peas, Tuesday; Baked potatoes & salad, Wednesday; Spaghetti Bolognese & broccoli, Thursday; Pasta & Tomato sauce, carrots & broccoli, Friday; left overs and own choice Saturday & Sunday.

I am wearing... trousers and fleece jumper because my skirt is in the wash; and thick socks, because my feet are actually cold!

I am creating... crochet purses for the kids pocket money; paper Jesse Tree ornaments as plans to cross-stitch them have been way-laid (there's always next year!).

I am going... no where right now - too many phone calls to make!

I am reading... The Glorious Coming by Ann Voskamp - preparing for our Advent Studies.

I am hoping... things go smoothly with the purchase of the house.

I am hearing... the kids playing nicely and the new High School Musical 3 soundtrack.

Around the house... is a mess - time away and tiredness on coming home = less time cleaning up! I'll catch up next week... for now I have 3 loads of washing to see to...

One of my favorite things... watching the birds at the bird table while I do the washing up.

A few plans for the rest of the week: phonecalls; see another removal man for a quote; get back into routine; maybe start 'The Outdoor Hour' challenge; get the Jesse Tree ready.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...(this is the kids 'car sculpture' gallery... I like it very much when they use their imagination in play)

Click here to read more from "The Simple Woman Daybooks" posts for today.

"Unless the Lord builds the house"

I'm feeling very confused in my mind! It's hard to find the "perfect" house! Though I know that whatever house the Lord provides will be the "perfect" house for us. I found the perfect house in my dreams last night - a mish-mash of various aspects from all the houses we've visited! Highly amusing - I couldn't quite gather my thoughts this morning because I didn't know if it was real or not!

Psalm 127:1 says "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." I might not physically be building a house, but if the Lord isn't in the choosing, then it will all be in vain.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6). I feel quite humbled today - 'plans' have been dashed. I don't know why. I do need to trust and lift all to Him and watch for His leading.

Ponderings

I am definitely like Martha - "worried and bothered about so many things" (Luke 10:41). I was pondering on this while driving today, how I often worry about things in tomorrow, and how it really saps me of today's energy - what a futile exercise! "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" (Matthew 6:34). I'm glad the Lord "knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:14). I'm glad He foresaw that I would be inclined to worry, and wrote His instruction not to do so, very plainly for me to see! I must continually seek to live in today - it doesn't come naturally to me.

I was also thinking on the saying "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery; and Today is a gift, that's why it is called the Present". I think it helps me to remember this, sums life up well.

This led me on to thinking (I do a lot of this when driving!) of the fragility of life - what if we waste today worrying about tomorrow, and tomorrow never comes? It was not long after considering this that I heard that a good friend had unexpectedly had a major heart attack and the outlook is not good... and it made my ponderings all the more poignant.

I'm glad I don't know the future. I know I have made many mistakes in the past. I don't want to continue wasting the present, rather to "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness".

Gore Glen

I have just discovered this Glen, off the A7. We went there with Aunt Jill to explore. Unfortunately there weren't any maps around to inform us where we should go, so we just followed a zig-zag path down the side of the hill to the water and voted whether to go right or left! The 'left's won, and we walked along the river for a bit and under the road and ended up coming back up to the road, crossing over, then returning round to the carpark. It probably only took us half an hour, but it was quite strenuous so a good enough walk!

The view was lovely! And there were a few flowers that we spotted - knapweed and margerite I think (though my knowledge of wild flowers seems to have dwindled a bit this year). We also managed to find some nice beech branches that we are going to use for our Jesse Tree and an alternative to a Christmas tree this year.

At home after the walk, Bubbles and Spike helped Aunt Jill to finish a jigsaw they had started together. Unfortunately 2 of the pieces were missing, but it looks lovely all the same!

Peg Activity

I have created a new activity for our Life Skills workstation. The Occupational Therapist wants Spike to work on some activities to strengthen his pencil grip... so I thought this peg activity would help with muscular co-ordination. The idea is to use the thumb and first finger to open the pegs and place them on the side of the basket. I thought I'd take it a step further and work on the alphabet and numbers 1-20 at the same time... so it's not just a case of putting the pegs up, they will have to think about what order the pegs go in! Hopefully it will be useful. Obviously, Bubbles is way beyond this kind of thing, but she doesn't seem to mind joining in!