Sophia Says

Menus

2012-02-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I am not very organized, especially when it comes to cooking and menu planning. I have a desire to and I've heard it said that the state of your home, organized or not, is a reflection of the state of your soul. That freaks me out because I desire for my soul to NOT be in utter chaos!
That being said, I work daily on the state of my house. Decluttering and trying to make some semblance of organized routine, of any kind. My mom recently discovered a new website network called Pinterest. I haven't been able to explore it much because you have to be a member to explore it too much and you can't join without being invited. But it looks like an online bulletin board of sorts where you can share ideas. Anyway, she found this very cool idea for menu planning and sent me a picture of it. I immediately fell in love with it and today I created my own version.
I had an OLD tea tray hanging around that used to be my grandmothers and I always said I wanted to do something with it. So I thought it very fitting to use as my frame for my menu board.
Here is a picture...
Along the left there is a column of clothes pins marked with S, M, T, W, T, F, S for the days of the week. The black squares are pockets that will hold menu cards. I do want to put labels on my pockets, one for fasting meals and one for non-fasting meals. In the original post the gal had a stack of meal cards in one pocket. As she used them she moved them to the other pocket so as not to use the same meal in a certain length of time (as many cards as she had). But I don't mind if we have the same meal each week if we feel like it. So I'll have the 2 pockets for the 2 different kinds of meals since we need fasting meals every Wednesday and Friday at minimum.
I'm very excited about this. It will make menu planning SO easy!!! I can even have the kids help.
On another note...I WAS hoping to sign up with Pinterest. I thought it looked so cool. So I had my mom invite me. Boy was I disappointed to learn that I need to be part of the passion pit (aka Facebook) in order to join. Bummer. Looks cool.

Procrastination

2011-12-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

Abbot Tryphon posted this today...Procrastination.
It is well worth the read!

Thanks!

2011-11-30T21:39:00.001-08:00

After my last post and since we just finished the Thanksgiving holiday I just want to say thank you! Thank you for the encouraging words. God is so Good!!!

Fr. Vasilli, thank you for the encouragement with regards to the "farm". I still use "farm" in quotes because it's still very much in baby mode. We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Yakima, WA a rural farming community and it really re-inspired my love for that which is self-sufficiency and accomplishing this through farming. I have so much to learn. But am inspired to move forward! If you still would like to chat via email it's susansophia(dot)f(at)gmail(dot)com.

Mimi! Thank you so much! You are a dear and I wish we lived closer! Although you aren't that far away and I can't believe I've never been to Holy Resurrection! I hope we can chat soon!

Xenia...I read your post recently regarding the Women's Retreat and I so dearly wish that I could have been there. One of the reasons is that I long to just chat with you! It really is too bad that it was butted up against the OCA AAC. Next year!

Thank you all. I can't believe people still read this. I have so little to say anymore. But I am truly blessed by this little online connection. Please keep in touch.

If I can't have my Orthodox Intentional Community than this will certainly do. Love to hear form you all.

Confession of a hypocrite

2011-11-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

I find the need to be real. One of the real dangers of the internet and creating a journal online or being a part of FB (aka. the Passion Pit) is that we often times don't show the world our true self. We often, without realizing it, only show our best days, or even that which we wish we could have. Oh I know you all know of this danger. It's really old news that we've all talked about before. It's safe to show the best. We know no one will think ill of us. But I don't think we intentionally only show our best and today I feel the need to be real. Mostly I hope to find that maybe, just maybe, I will find that I am not alone. Deep down inside I know that I am not alone, but it's hard to see that.

I've become increasingly aware of the fact that I have lived a profoundly pharisaical life. I looked up the word hypocrite:

Definition of HYPOCRITE

: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Yep, that's me.

I'm sure many others have known this about me for quite some time, but for me to fully grasp this has taken, well, all my life. The scales have slowly fallen from my eyes and it's not pretty and rather painful to see how hypocritical I've lived.
I remember almost 2 years ago when I was helping someone homeschool another family. They came into my home every day to do school with us. It was one of the hardest things in the world for me because suddenly my safe haven was taken away from me. The place I felt I could be free to be who I was and suddenly I had to be "perfect" even in my own home. Talk about facades. That's the time the first set of scales fell off.
But most recently the scales have fallen off to reveal the hypocrisy of something completely different but hypocrisy nonetheless. It doesn't really matter what it is but just the fact that I have this whole set of beliefs that I profess but do not live my life according to those beliefs.

It makes it difficult for those around me to respect and trust me. And this is truly the most painful thing that one can open their eyes to. But I believe it is one of the best.

There is a song by BarlowGirl called “I need you to love me” and it has really ministered to my empty heart lately. The first verse says…

Why? Why are you still here with me?
Didn’t you see what I’ve done?
In my shame I want to run,
And hide myself.
Yeah, but it’s here I see the truth,
I don’t deserve you.

The line I bolded is exactly what I was talking about. It is the pain that we feel that opens our eyes to the truth. And with truth, hopefully, comes growth.

By finally seeing the truth I pray that I can finally, with a trueness not seen before, bow before God as the publican did. “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Kontakion, tone 4: Let us avoid the proud speaking of the Pharisee and learn humility from the groans of the Publican, and let us cry in penitence: O Saviour of the world, be merciful to Thy servants.

A Must See Movie...Coming Soon to Theaters Near You

2011-09-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Honor Begins at Home

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?

Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the movie making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous.

In Theaters September 30

Consumers For Dental Choice

2011-09-05T09:34:00.001-07:00

Prayer Request

2011-05-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

My dad has been through the wringer over the last several years. Back in 2006 and 2007 he fought throat cancer. I asked for prayers, for body and soul.
Last summer he had a heart attack and we went to visit. Prayers were asked, for body and soul.
Just about a month ago, he had open heart surgery, a double by-pass. He was doing great! Until yesterday.
But it is completely unrelated to his heart.
He went to the emergency room because he kept falling down. He said he was so weak. So they did a scan. What they found was completely accidental. They found lesions on his liver. He knows nothing. He hasn't seen the oncologist yet. He didn't even call us, his children. He wasn't going to call us until he saw the oncologist, which is today. But in a very round about way, which I am still sifting through the emotions of, I found out via the "Passion Pit" (FB). Apparently, his wife told one of her daughters and so it goes on. My dad was shocked and upset about my call, knowing about this before he got a chance to tell us himself. I was shocked and upset to learn about this in this manner.
But now I know. He doesn't know anything; treatment, prognosis, etc. We should learn today.
I know enough to know that if it be cancer, it isn't good.
Right now, I beg of your prayers for a man who I believe God is trying to wake up.
May he wake up and see God, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things!
His name is David.

Addendum: I learned that his appointment with the oncologist isn't actually until Tuesday, May 31st. Thank you for your prayers.

They grow too fast.

2011-05-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I want my googly-eyed babies back that love my whole being.

Needing a Reminder

2011-05-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

I need to read this book again.
I need a reminder.
Life is too short.
They grow up too fast.
Soon I'll be alone in this big ol' house.
And the silence will be eerie.
Take a deep breath.
Say a prayer.
Continue.

1,000 Gifts

2011-03-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

One Thousand Gifts

by Ann Voskamp

This book is brought to me at just the right moment. The moment when God knew I was ready to hear the words within. For months now, maybe longer, I've been telling Fr. C that I want to find joy. I don't understand why it is that I can't see joy, feel joy, have joy. It should be easy. I'm living the life that I've always wanted. A husband with 4 beautiful children. A home in the country with some animals. The ability and desire to stay home and home school. All these things were a dream and now alive. So where is the joy? I have been wondering, searching, praying, crying, needing.

Yesterday this book arrives via the Kitsap Regional Library system. I requested it, they ordered it and now I can read it. I know it's about gifts, God's gifts. About blessings. But what I don't know is that within the first 3 chapters Ann will help me to find the answer to the questions I have been asking. She will open my eyes to what I've needed to know for a long time. And I finally have hope that I will soon find this joy God speaks of.

Not only that, she knows how I feel. She used to wake each day in a similar manner. It's comforting to read the words from another woman as she shares how she feels and those feelings are exactly the same as mine.

For years of mornings, I have woken wanting to die. Life itself twists into nightmare. For years, I have pulled the covers up over my head, dreading to begin another day I'd be bound to wreck. Years, I lie listening to the taunt of names ringing off my interior walls, ones from the past that never drifted far and away: Loser. Mess. Failure. They are signs nailed overhead, nailed through me, naming me.

Funny, this. Yesterday morning, the morning before, all these mornings, I wake to the discontent of life in my skin. I wake to self-hatred. To the wrestle to get it all done, the relentless anxiety that I am failing. Always, the failing. I yell at children, fester with bitterness, forget doctor appointments, lose library books, live selfishly, skip prayer, complain, go to bed too late, neglect cleaning toilets. I live tired. Afraid. Anxious. Weary. Years, I feel it in the veins, the pulsing of ruptured hopes. Would I ever be enough, find enough, do enough? But this morning, I wake wildly wanting to live. Physically feeling it in the veins trembling, the hard pant of the lungs, the seeing it in the steady stars, how much I really want to really live. How I don't want to die. Is that the message of nightmares and dreams? To live either fully alive...or in empty nothingness?

She searches, looking deep, prays, reads and longs for an answer to how to live fully. She finds her answer in the word eucharisteo. It's all there, deep within the meaning of the word. Thanksgiving, Grace, Joy!

Deeper still the meaning comes with more reading of scripture. She is finding the mystery of what eucharisteo is all about. What is this thanksgiving really all about? This joy? And she is sharing this with us.

That might be what the quest for more is all about—that which Autustine claimed, “Without exception...all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that is, joy.”

And this was it; I could tell how my whole being responded to that one word. I longed for more life, for more holy joy.

She digs deeper still and finds meaning, deeper meaning, in the parable of the 10 lepers who are healed and only one returns to give thanks. He is made well, even after he was healed. What does this mean? She reads, prays, questions and finds answers. She shares.

I would never experience the fullness of my salvation until I expressed the fullness of my thanks for every day, and eucharisteo is elemental to living the saved life.

I am having a hard time deciding what parts to quote and what not to. I find I want to write it all. It's so profound. It's so from God to me. I can't just pick one little piece or even several because it all goes together. You need to read it. You need to see what she means when she dug deeper into Luke 17, or when she discovered the deeper meaning of eucharisteo. Or what began to happen when she started counting towards one thousand, seeing the gifts in her every day.

What will happen if I start to count. If I begin to live out the fullest expression of my salvation in Christ by taking everything in my life and returning to Jesus, falling at His feet and thanking Him?

Depression or midlife crisis?

2011-02-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

...or plan old selfishness?

Each day I am faced with a mountain of tasks. I must teach my children in math, reading and writing. I must do laundry and cook 3 healthy meals on very little money. I must teach the children to pick up after themselves and to do tedious weekly chores and to take care of the poultry.

With all these things comes a litany of complaints and moans and whines of great injustice.

Over the last year, and ever so more evident in the last few months, I find that I do not look forward to this any longer.

I feel frozen. I feel as if I cannot nor do I want to hear it anymore. I don't want to hear the constant complaining when I try to teach or expect cleanliness nor the constant dissatisfaction in the food on the table.

I've had this dreaded feeling for months that I have not been able to put my finger on. At first I thought it was depression or the lack of organization in my life, but I think it really is just the fact that no matter what I do for my family, no matter how hard I work at things, no one is ever happy with what I do. There is always someone there to complain about something.

I lay this out here because I am hoping with all my heart that I am not alone. That someone out there knows what this feeling is. That someone will pray for me and maybe even have some sort of secret advice that will help me get through this. But maybe it is depression or lack of parenting skills. I don't know, but would love some words of wisdom and prayer.

Thank you for listening and for your prayers.

Seventeen Years Ago...

2011-02-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

...ago today, my beloved sang me song HE wrote, bended a knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

I said, yes!

I Love You, James Mark Ferrenberg!

Disgusted and Sad

2011-01-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

In the checkout line today at the store I happened to glimpse at the newest Seventeen magazine cover. Don't ask why, I have no idea!!! I wish I hadn't. But apparently I have glanced at one in about 20 years because I am disgusted at what I saw. It saddens my heart to see what it is that "they" are saying to our CHILDREN these days! I used to subscribe to this magazine 25+ years ago. It saddens my heart that this is totally acceptable by moms and dads all over. Tell me what you think of the headlines of this magazine.

After I published the post and reread it, I noticed that you can't really see some of the titles. So I must point out to you the most astonishing of them all, because you cannot see it.
"Love and Sex Secrets: What they no one tells you about your first time."

Yes, and this is published for TEENAGERS of all ages!

Chores

2011-01-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

Chores are never very fun, but they are a necessity in life. Work is inevitable regardless of whether or not it is at home or away.
I do not believe I grew up learning very good self-discipline. I find myself struggling with "chores" all the time...household and organization. I also find it easier to just do the jobs myself rather than have the children do them. I wonder if it is because of my perfectionist attitude and that I want it done right. But what I am finding is that the workload is becoming unbearable and stacking up, the clutter is overwhelming and my kids are becoming me (undisciplined). Blech!
Oh, I've read books and blogs and stories. I KNOW I ought to be teaching them to do it themselves, consistently on a daily basis. I KNOW! So why don't I do it?
Because I am undisciplined! Okay, so I've developed this incredible vicious circle that goes around and around and doesn't get anywhere.
I've discovered for sanity's sake I NEED to learn how to break free of this circle and begin moving forward. One of my deepest desires is to teach my children to become disciplined in their every day tasks so that they too, won't spend their days overwhelmed.

Wisdom of Sirach:
22:1-3 A lazy man may be compared to a filthy stone, And everyone hisses at his dishonor. A lazy man may be compared to the filth of manure; Everyone who picks it up will shake it off his hand. The disgrace of a father is begetting an undisciplined son, and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
26:16 Like the sun rising in the Lord's heaven is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.
Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

How have you broken free from this vicious cycle, if you were trapped in one? How have you endeavored to teach your children to be orderly and disciplined? Do you have any favorite scriptures that have encouraged you through this process?
I know I do not have a huge audience on here (maybe only get 3-4 hits a day), but I'd love to hear from you. You could even ask around and see what answers you may get.

I look forward to hearing from you.

My amazing 8 year old teaches me a lesson on fighting the passions!

2010-12-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

This morning I was having some cuddle time with my joyful, loving 8 year old son Joseph. He is truly a light in the dark world on most days! He is always joyful! Most of the time he is seen skipping about through life, humming or singing as goes. He's always ready to give hugs to anyone he knows! What joy!
This morning we were talking about sin and what it is because he is preparing for his first confession. After a good long talk and cuddling he says to me, "One time I felt this anger rising in me. It was after Nicho or some did something mean to me, I can't remember exactly." ( He motions with his hands, starting low on his body and moving his hand up towards his chest.) "But I decided 'no thanks' and I pushed it back down." (Pushing his hand back down.) I asked him, "How do you do that?"
He says, "Just ignore it."

Quote for me.

2010-12-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Man seeks joy and happiness in heaven. He seeks what is eternal far from everyone and everything. He seeks to find joy in God. God is a mystery. He is silence. He is infinite. He is everything.
Turn your mind towards Him continually. Learn to love prayer, familiar converse with the Lord. What counts above all is love, passionate love for the Lord, for Christ the Bridegroom. Become worthy of Christ's love. In order to not live in darkness, turn on the switch of prayer so that divine light may flood your soul. Christ will appear in the depths of your being. There, in the deepest and most inward part, is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is within you.

Wounded By Love: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios

Please Pray!!!

2010-11-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

Back in August I wrote about our trip to MN/WI and our visit to my cousins farm.
Today I found out that the barn with all the cows in it (the one pictured in that post), burned down! No one was hurt, but they've lost everything...this was their livelihood!
Please pray for Dave & Judy Zesiger and their family as they work through this. May God be with them, guiding them and comforting them.

Quote for me.

2010-11-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

Where there is humility, there is no depression. An egotist is vexed at the slightest thing.

-Wounded By Love: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios

We are in Minnesota

2010-08-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's almost surreal how quickly things moved forward and we ended up in Minnesota. I haven't stepped foot in this state in 6 years and that was just for a funeral. It's been 7 years since we've been here, all of us, for fun and visiting.
Last Thursday I got word that my dad had a pretty severe heart attack and that is what got the ball rolling. He had a stent put in and was home pretty quickly but he has quite a bit of recovery and there is yet another artery that needs attention and they are talking a possible bypass which is pretty serious. So I got to thinking about time and life and all that and how it has been far too long since I've seen so many of my beautiful family and friends and realized I needed to try and come. So here I am. Everything fell into place so nicely that I just know I made the right decision.
My mother-in-law loaned us her car since it was more reliable and gets way better gas mileage. So we loaded up suitcases and books on tape and food and headed east. The kids drove me crazy of course as we were packed in a fairly small car with the 3 youngest in the back. But we made it on Wednesday by noon. Yesterday we went out to see grandpa Dave at the lake. Here are the kids having a blast. It was nice to see my dad, he is still very weak and tired and needs lots of rest! Please pray for his health and salvation. I hope to see him a few more times before leaving for WA (we are staying at my moms).

Susan, Susan...my how your children grow....

2010-07-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Kelsey Anna on the last day of monastery camp, she is 13 1/2! She LOVES this camp and this was her 6th year I believe and her last. They announced that they would no longer be holding camp here at St. John the Forerunner monastery in Goldendale. There were lots of tears! She has a love and appreciation for the monastic life that is beautiful and her years at camp have grown her love of Orthodoxy deeply. She loves her faith and above all God! In fact her email address starts out with "iloveorthodoxy....."
She picked up her first book at 9 months old and hasn't put it down. Constantly reading she is growing faster than I care to admit. She recently devoured a series we found recommended in "Well-Trained Mind" which covered every old fashioned fairy tale imaginable, "Andrew Lang's Fairy Books". Well, now that I looked on wiki I don't think she's read them all. But close. As I walked out the door this morning I saw her with a stack of National Geographic.

Charissa just turned 11! wow! Vibrant and full of energy and I am desperately trying to learn and seek God's guidance on how to channel it in the right direction. You know the saying about red heads? It's true! Lord have mercy on me as I learn to guide this bundle of determination. She loves, loves, loves God's creation and loves to create just about anything herself. I need to stop being so selfish and find things for her to create!

Nicholas is 9 1/2 and within 5 months will be a double digit!
He is such a cuddly, handsome little man who desperately wants to be a man. He is growing so fast and I am trying to teach him the gentlemanly way of doing things.
Nicholas loves to cook! He will make breakfast of eggs and toast for everyone and his favorite lunch to make is fried tortillas with cheese. And boy are they good!

Last but not least in any way, shape or form, we have Joseph. My baby!
He will be 8 tomorrow and is so excited about his birthday!!! But at the same time he's discovered he's not so sure he wants to grow up and has crawled up into my lap with tears in his eyes to tell me he just wants to stay little. He was a gift from God in every way, if you know his story you know this to be true. I cannot wait to see what wonderful thing God has in mind for this very sensitive and loving little guy. He loves to love people and makes quick friends with everyone he meets!

Thank you, Lord, for these little angels you have given me. You have entrusted me with them. To teach and mold them in the way they should go. I pray for a renewed vigor to nurture and love them so that they may see You in me. Guide me and give me wisdom in all my interactions with them. Give sweetness to my words, pushing any harshness away so that their ears will only hear the love of You through me. Protect them as they grow independent and seek to be on their own more and more each growing year. Protect them and guide them where I cannot be or where I fail to be. Thank you for each of them and now be with me for even though You've given them to me, I cannot do a single thing without You.
Amen

Prayer Requests

2010-06-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

My mom isn't well. She's had a deep cough for about a month now and nothing seems to be helping it. They did a CT Scan last week and she found out yesterday that it is clear, Glory to God. But she is still hacking and is frustrated not knowing what is going on. She does have asthma and so it could be that the allergies are really bad and effecting her a great deal. She's never had testing done. Please pray for healing and answers.
James is looking for a new job. His current job, which he has had for 15 years and he really likes, isn't willing to work with him on some issues and so he is having to take an 8% cut in pay and we just cannot afford this. I'm picking up odd jobs here and there to help out (which is stressful as well) and hopefully these will carry us through until he finds something new. He's put out his resume to several different places and I pray something will come up soon. God is Good and He has undoubtedly taken care of us over the years and I trust He will continue.
That God will make it clear to me how to fit everything into my day. I struggle so much with making a schedule work, sticking to a plan and it really is frustrating to me. It is so apparent that it is needed for me and my kids. But I don't know why I can't stick with a plan. I have all these ideas about how I'd love my day to go but it never goes that way, mostly due to me not sticking with the plan.

Thank you so much for prayers and for your faithfulness in reading this little itty bitty glimpse of my world.

The Best Mother's Day Ever

2010-05-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

I want to thank my family for the best Mother's Day ever! We started the day with our dear parish family celebrating how we celebrate each and every Sunday. After an hour or two of fellowship we headed home with a sun-filled afternoon and evening ahead of us.

After changing into my “play” clothes the kids and James presented me with a beautiful lilac to plant out front. I love lilac! It is my favorite scent and from childhood. At each of our homes we've had (this is our third) I've planted a lilac but I haven't planted one here yet and we've been here for 3 years now.

So now I have a lilac. I was also given the gift, from James, that he will be starting a batch of strawberry wine for me. We'd like to start making our own and he thought this was the perfect opportunity to do that. So it is now fermenting.

After that I spent the whole afternoon doing what I love to do, tend the garden. I weeded and planted and weeded some more. There is something about weeding that is very calming for me, very therapeutic. If I could weed a little everyday I'd probably be a saner a person. :) And now that I'm not attached to the "time leech" as often I have far more time for this therapeutic activity.

Before the end of the day I figured out where I want to put my new lilac. I want to be able to see it from the house, and smell it as well. So I decided to rip up all the snowberry bush from the front bed near the driveway and put it there. This is an incredible job because it turns out snowberry bushes ( which have no real usefulness since their berries are poisonous and they don't even have a show of flowers-why would you plant this on purpose?) are extremely invasive with their roots. When we moved in 3 years ago there was one little bush and it has grown into 3 separate bushes via root sprawl. Plus there are tiny little shoots all over the place. So I spent the evening slowly digging up this bush. I got the main bush out and another side bush before going in for the evening and watching a movie with my family while enjoying a cold, crisp glass of Silverlake Reisling.

It was a fabulous day. Thank you my beautiful children and husband for a wonderful day. Thank you God for blessing me so richly and for the added blessing of sunshine!

Here is a series of pictures I took Sunday morning of the kids. I wanted just one of the 4 of them, but they got really silly. Some of the silly shots are awesome.

From left to right: Charissa ( 11 in July), Nicholas (9 1/2), Joseph (8 in July) and Kelsey Anna (13).

Nicholas is definitely the clown of the family. He'd definitely have the title of class clown if he were in public school.

Here they are again being funny.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!! These are the two middle ones and they are only 17 months apart. These are the two that, most of time, would rather the other didn't exist. I saw this picture and was in awe at how much they look EXACTLY alike!! Wow! And look they are smiling and have their arms around each other.

This picture wasn't taken on Mother's Day, but last night. Last night Joseph lost his top front tooth...FINALLY!!! The other one fell out nearly a year ago and the adult tooth is well in place already. We thought the dentist was going to need to pull it. But it just wasn't ready. The orthodontist said, "Wait, it's not ready, it'll come out when it's ready." Yes, Joseph sees the orthodontist already because he has had teeth fall out and has no room for the new ones to come in such as that big one on top on the right...it is filling the spot of 2 teeth. But we soon found out that Joseph has 4 adult teeth that are missing from the x-ray and don't seem to be anywhere in sight. I think it is God's way of making room in his mouth the natural way. :)

Sunday of the Paralytic

2010-04-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was when we remember the Gospel story about the paralytic that Jesus heals.
The Kontakian (hymn) that we sang left a pretty good impression on me.
I just love the words.

By Your divine intercession, O Lord,
as You raised up the Paralytic of old,
so raise me up my soul, paralyzed by sins and thoughtless acts;
so that being saved I may sing to You:
Glory to Your power, O compassionate Christ!

Sung in Tone 3

Happy Anniversary!

2010-04-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

16 years ago today, I married my sweetheart! I love you, James!

Leaving on a jet plane...

2010-03-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

...returning in 12 days!
The girls, my 2 beautiful daughters and I head out today for an adventure. We head to LA area to visit wonderful friends and see family I haven't seen in 20 years.
Then we head to St. Paisius Monastery in Safford, Az for a week long pilgrimage.

I'll take lots of pics and post about it when I return.

Quote from Abbot Tryphon

2010-03-03T15:50:00.001-08:00

The Kingdom of Heaven, is within! With all the noise of constant radio and TV, to say nothing of the internet, most people today give no thought, whatsoever, to the inner life. Without silence, God is not heard, and the heart grows cold.

Abbot Tryphon

Forgiveness Sunday and the start of Great Lent

2010-02-14T20:08:00.000-08:00

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever. Amen.

The season of the virtues now has come, and the Judge is at the door. Let us not hold back with darkened face, but let us keep the fast, offering tears, repentance, and almsgiving; and let us cry: our sins are more in number than the sands of the sea; Deliverer of all, forgive each one of us, that we may receive an incorruptible crown.

—from the Vespers of Forgiveness Sunday

Please forgive me brothers and sisters.

May Great Lent be a blessed time for all of you.

Meatfare Sunday

2010-02-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

Woe, to you, O my darkened soul!
Your life is stained by depravity and laziness;
your folly makes you shun all thought of death.
How complacent you remain!
How can you flee the awesome thought of Judgment Day?
When will you change your way of life?
On that day your sins will rise against you.
What will your answer be then?
Your acts will condemn you; your deeds will expose you.
The time is at hand, O my soul.
Turn to the good and loving Savior!
Beg Him to forgive your malice and weakness, as you cry in faith:
“I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against You,
but I know Your love for all mankind.//
O good Shepherd, call me to enjoy Your lasting presence on Your right hand!”

-Aposticha from Vespers for Sunday of Meatfare/Sunday of the Last Judgment

Reading and Blogging

2010-01-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, my New Years Resolution is "to run!" In doing this, working towards this mentality (which is really a difficult thing for me), I am trying to read some books that I hope will inspire me. I cannot lose sight of this goal, I do not want to lose sight of this goal. Since I haven't been posting much as of late I thought that I would "try" to just post quotes now and again from the books that I am reading. Putting them here will help remind me of these little bits of inspiration and just maybe someone else might find them inspiring as well.

I am reading a few different books at different speeds (some take longer to digest then others). One of them is called "Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and 'Women's Work'." I am actually re-reading it, the first time being about 7 years ago. I used to own the book but have no idea where it went to. I must have loaned it out or something. This copy is from the library.
Quotidian means : occurring everyday; belonging to everyday; commonplace, ordinary.

She starts out talking about how we always have the "daily" with us; dishes, laundry, diapering, etc. But we've stigmatized it. All too often, however, we stigmatize such work as "menial," considering domestic or janitorial work to be suitable only for those who are too limited mentally to find employment elsewhere. Cleaning up after others, or even ourselves, is not what we educate our children to do; it's for someone else's children, the less intelligent, less educated and less well-off.

A few paragraphs later....

The fact that none of us can rise so far in status as to remove ourselves from the daily, bodily nature of life on this earth is not usually considered a cause for celebration, but rather the opposite. The daily routines that provide a modicum of discipline in our lives are perceived as a drag, a monotony that can occasion listlessness, apathy and despair. The word acedia is not much in use these days- The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "spiritual torpor or apathy; ennui"-but I wonder if much of the frantic boredom and enervating depression that constitute an epidemic in modern life are not merely the ancient demon of acedia in contemporary dress. Although acedia was long thought to be the province of monastics alone, plagueing them because of lack of distraction in their daily lives, I believe that the description of acedia given by the fourth-century monk Evagrius is as relevant to us in twentieth-century America as when it was written. He states that the bad thought, or demon of acedia "makes it seem that the sun hardly moves, if at all, and that the day is fifty hours long. Then [it] constrains the monk to look constantly out the windows, to walk outside the cell, to gaze carefully at the sun to determine how far it stands from the ninth hour" [i.e., lunchtime].
Once the monk has given in to these outward distractions, the thought of acedia moves inward, and Evagrius writes that it "instills in the heart of the monk a hatred for the place, a hatred for his very life itself." He begins to think less of the other monks- we might translate this as our family , coworkers or neighbors--brooding on the ways they have angered, offended or merely failed to encourage him. "This demon, " Evagrius reports, then drives the monk "to desire other sites where he can more easily find work and make a real success of himself." Having rejected the present and present company, the monk begins to dwell in self-pitying "[memories] of his dear ones and his former way of life." Acedia then moves in for the kill, "[depicting] life stretching out for a long period of time, and brings before the mind's eye the toil of the ascetic struggle and, as the saying has it, leaves no leaf unturned to induce the monk to forsake his cell and drop out of the fight."

I can see how this can totally happen in the life of a stay at home mom.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Happy New Year from the Ferrenbergs

2010-01-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

I never did get my Christmas Letter written this year, or cards sent out. I started, but still haven't finished and feel that it isn't worth it now being that it is January 15th.
I just really do not know where the time goes! It is absolutely crazy!
I've not given much time over to blogging these days and as I've said on FB, "Facebook will be the death of the blogging world." Because of FB I really feel that I don't "need" to blog. I also don't feel like I need to blog because I've decided I don't really have much of anything to say. But I'll still post from time to time things that I feel that have really been encouraging or eye opening, etc. Sometimes I read something and I really believe it has helped me and maybe it could help someone else.
I've seen other people talk about their New Years Resolutions and so I've been giving it some thought. This year instead of having a long list of resolutions I've decided to concentrate on just one! Because this ONE if concentrated on would really help just about anything else I would want to resolve to do. I was talking with friend yesterday about passions/sins and he read in "Unseen Warfare" ( I THINK that was the book) that in all of us we have a chief sin. If we were to concentrate on just that one sin, putting ALL effort into that one sin, we would be far better off. If we look at all our sins that we want to conquer we tend to get overwhelmed and feel like we can't possibly tend to everything so we don't do anything. But if we just look at that one and we put all our energy into that chief sin it actually will give us power to conquer others without even knowing it. I forget exactly how he said it. Sins gain strength from each other and work like a net so if we begin to conquer just one the others lose their strength as well.

So my resolution is to conquer sloth! Everyday, I want to run!

I'm reading Wounded By Love: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios. I read this and it has inspired me to put all my energy and concentration into fighting this one sin.
Elder Porphyrios says that he "ran, I didn't walk" whenever he did things.
There was no question of laziness. I liked to pray even when I was tired. When I was exhausted I sought God even more. You must believe this and realize that it's truly possible. It's a matter of love. It's not simply that you work quickly. You do one job, then you begin another, you come back and do yet another, and you make sure that you finish them all: you water, you hoe, you bring earth and branches, you go up the mountain, you fetch wood for your woodcarving. With love you are in perpetual motion. You should see then where sins go. They all fall into a deep sleep. Do you hear? This is truly a life lost from the world, a blessed and holy life, a life in Paradise.

I want to run!

Blessings to you all during 2010!!

Fat Head: the movie

2009-12-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

Fathead...
A must see movie!!!!
Here is the blog post written by creator of the movie.
Here is a review.
And my own husband has started writing a review. This one is of the first half of the movie. We watched the second half last night and I hope he reviews that as well. The 2nd half is by far the best, I think.

Watch it....it is worth it!

benches

2009-11-26T21:06:00.003-08:00

Thank you, James, for these incredible new benches you made for us! I love them! You did an incredibly beautiful job!
Next, a table?

A Teenager?!

2009-11-26T19:16:00.001-08:00

Kelsey Anna Sierra came into this world 13 years ago today! I am completely and utterly flabbergasted as to how quickly the last 13 years have flown past. She has grown into a young lady! She wears my shoes, my skirts, my shirts and my socks (give them back!). She reads more books than I could ever keep track or count. She writes pages and pages of stories every day! She cooks and cleans ( I just wish she would do it cheerfully), and last night she baked a banana cream pie almost by herself for her birthday "cake". It was SO delicious! She is sweet and loving, when she wants to be, because yes, she is very much a teenager! Today, she can truly say it in number.
I love you my Kelsey Belle!!! May God grant you many years!!!

Our Church Fundraiser

2009-11-07T23:08:00.000-08:00

The women in our Women's Fellowship group have been working for months to get ready for our 2nd annual Christmas Boutique. Last year we crafted on what each of us specialized in, donated our goods and set up a table where we sold our crafts during coffee hour for 5 or 6 Sundays leading up to Nativity. This year we decided to see how it would be if we had a Saturday Holiday Boutique open to the public. So we worked even harder! Being that it was our first year, we are a very small mission fairly unknown in town, and there were 4 other Christmas type bazaars in town on the same day I think we do alright. We'll be running our table during the next 6 coffee hours to sell what's left (lots).
I decided to take a bunch of pictures of the goods we've created. We've got some pretty talented ladies in the Church. Here I am to show you some wonderful Christmas gift Ideas. If you would like to do some Christmas shopping for Quality Handmade Gifts AND support our small missions land/building fund(we are currently leasing in a business park) you've come to the right spot. ALL proceeds go the land/building fund. I would gladly ship anywhere in the USA for just a small fee (flat rate $1.99). If you would like to see closer pictures I can email them to you. Each picture below has descriptions and prices. Click the images to enlarge and see the items closer for details. Please feel free to contact me with any questions! susansophia.f[at]gmail[dot]com

First up, Resuable Gift Wrap and Bags. These are fabric gift wraps and gift bags with ribbon to tie them. Reusable year after year. There are several different patterns to choose from. Each set typically has 1-3 wraps, 1-2 bags and ribbon for each. Each is a packet of several. Some are a set of 2 (wrap or bag or both) for $5. Set of 3 (wraps and bags) for $8, and set of 4 (wraps and bags) for $10.

The earrings below are made with sterling silver hoops and beautiful colorful beads. Click to enlarge photo for better view. Handmade! $20 each.

These are some of the best dishcloths I've ever owned! I got a bunch for Christmas last year from my kids who shopped the sale. I LOVE THEM. They are small, tight crochet and they last forever. So soft but not flimsy. I hope I get many more this year. There are tons of colors available and you can even order certain colors to be made if you don't see what you want.
$3 or 2 for $5

These scrubbies have a crocheted circular dishcloth sewed on the one side. So your scrubbie has a soft side and scrub side. $3

There are several things here to point out (click the picture to enlarge).
First, in the background you'll see 4 framed Quillings: salmon($25), flowers($15), farm($25), flower basket($15). Next right under the salmon quilling you have Reusable Produce Bags. You can use these when buying your produce instead of those plastic bags that just fill the landfill. $2 each. Next to that you have a stack of Shoe Bags. These are so cute, they look like a little pair of pants, but they hold your shoes when you need to pack them up in a suitcase. Many colors to choose from. $4 each. Next to that you some Jean Bibs that my 12 year old daughter made. $4 each.

Lavender Bath Salts & Foot Soak. Click on image to enlarge and read the description.
$8

Gifts in a Jar! These are meant for the Slow Cooker but could be adapted for oven or stove top. They are $10 each. These are the meals that are available: Black Bean Chili, Ham Hock Stew, Rice Pudding, Old-Fashioned Brown Bread, and Red Beans and Rice.

These are an artisan type of box hat. They are cleverly made reversible and are absolutely beautiful! $25

Lavender Sache $3

Crocheted Water Bottle Holder, water bottle included. If you have certain color schemes you are looking for we can see about making them. For example school colors, or sports team colors. $12 each

Crocheted and Wool Felt Handbag. Fairly small these are currently holding perfectly, a notebook/journal. $20

This is our pet section. In the basket are handmade catnip toys. The catnip is home grown. $3 each. Then we have a quilted dog blanket/bed and quilted cat blanket/bed. $20.

Here we have Beaded Bookmarks. This first picture isn't very good but it gives you the length and look of these beautiful bookmarks. The next picture is a bit closer to see more detail. $8 each.

That's it folks. Thanks for browsing and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Tips for fighting colds!

2009-11-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

These are my tips and I am not a doctor, but these are things that have definitely worked in our home time and again!!! I really swear by them. These tips are mainly to fight colds: sore throat, coughs, etc.
The earlier you start these when symptoms appear the better.

1. Squeeze half a lemon, add enough honey and water to make it palatable. Drink several times a day. The sooner you do this after the first hint of sore throat or scratchy throat the better. A hot cup of water, with a whole squeezed lemon with honey is nice alternative, hot lemon tea. It's good.
2. Start taking echinacea with the first symptoms of cold or flu. This is an immune booster. It is known to shorten the length of illness. Studies at the UofW, have shown this. (Wish I had a link to the study, James, can you find one?) Take no more than 2 weeks.
3. Garlic is a well known anti-viral, anti-bacterial. Take as raw as you can. I make garlic oil and sneak into the shot glass of echinacea juice for my kids. Yes, the older ones notice the floating but it's medicine...put a little honey in it and they won't complain too much. "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

Some other tips I've found to work:
If you child complains of ear pain, make or get some garlic oil and put a few drops in the complaining ear. In no time at all the pain is gone.

My friend Carrie has posted on Immune Boosters to fight the flu! Check it out!
The healthier you are inside the easier it is to fight any bugs trying to make their way in.

Again, I'm not a doctor, these are tips I've found after researching on my own. You can do some research as well: Herbal Remedies for colds. Yes, it is not "orthodox medicine" but after trying, I've changed my mind.

Fathers (and mothers)

2009-11-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

>For Father's Day this year Kelsey Anna spent a great deal of time creating a music CD to give to James. She spent her money at iTunes and searched through our CD's picking songs that seemed to fit a father/daughter theme. She did an incredible job. I just recently really started listening to this CD and I've got to say it really makes me think. Mostly about how fast my kids are growing up, how much time I waste during these years that I have with them. In no time flat they will be grown and on their own. There is one song in particular that has me in tears nearly every time because it is actually written from a daughter to her mother. It's a Taylor Swift song but it isn't one that has ever been released like on the radio. It's called The Best Day. What gets me about this song is the relationship between mother and daughter. I want desperately to have my daughters look back when they are older and say just this! Will they? I'm really not sure. I think I really need to sit back and relax! Relax about all the tiny details that I fuss about all the time. Relish in this VERY SHORT time I will have with them to build a loving relationship. Stop worrying about every little detail and when I do....give it to God and know that He is all merciful, all gracious and in control of everything. By His grace it will all be okay.

Smile and laugh with them. Have fun learning with them, instead of looking at it as a chore. All too soon, this time will be over, but being their mother will never end. I want them to always know they are loved. And I only have one chance.

I just really love watching this.

2009-10-20T09:39:00.001-07:00

Quote

2009-10-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

"Know, beloved, that the valleys shall abound with wheat and spiritual fruit. This valley is a soul low and humble among the mountains, that is, it is filled with labours and virtues, and always remains unhaughty and steadfast."
St. John Climacus

"The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (Step 25)

Grammar

2009-09-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

Grammar lessons are my biggest hurdle as far as required subjects is concerned. I just want to know what everyone else uses for grammar. I have 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th graders. They've had very little formal grammar instruction although my 7th grader is an incredible reader and writer. She wants to be an author when she grows up. We've done a tiny bit with Easy Grammar and are currently working on Writing Strands 2 and 3.
I'm just curious what everyone uses and why.

I've had recommendations for the Building Christian Writing from Rod & Staff but am not sure how I would choose where to start.

Thanks for your input.

"Way of the Ascetics"

2009-09-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

by Tito Colliander

I bought this book at the bookstore that was set up at the Women's Retreat I attended last weekend. The retreat was wonderful, just not long enough.

The first chapter of this book is amazing and speaks directly to me and my slothful tendencies. I struggle everyday against the demons that entice me to sit and read, sit and surf, sit and _____. I sit and then I despair because I sit. It's a vicious cycle. I find that reading other peoples blogs only exasperates the whole cycle because I tend to see all of these "perfect" people and the "perfect" lives they live and question my abilities even more.
This chapter spoke to me deeply and profoundly. I have vowed to read this 2 page chapter over and over and over again throughout the day. To find Christ in my day by working harder with my children, opening my eyes to see Christ in them, to see Christ in each and every encounter I have.

Chapter 1 "On a Resolute and Sustained Purpose"

If you wish to save your soul and win eternal life, arise from your lethargy, make the sign of the cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
Faith comes not through pondering but through action. Not words and speculation but experience teaches us what God is. To let in fresh air we have to open a window; we never reach a goal by just sitting in comfort and waiting, say the Holy Fathers. Let the prodigal son be our example. He "arose and came". (Luke 15:20) However weighed down and entangled in earthly fetters you may be, it can never be too late. Not without reason is it written that Abraham was 75 when he set forth, and the laborer who comes in the 11th hour gets the same wages as the one who comes in the first.
Nor can it be too early. A forest fire cannot be put out too soon; would you see your soul ravaged and charred?
In baptism you received the command to wage the invisible warfare against the enemies of your soul; take it up now. Long enough have you dallied; sunk in indifference and laziness you have let much valuable time go to waste. Therefore you must begin again from the beginning: for you have let the purity you received in baptism be sullied in dire fashion. Arise, then; but do so at once, without delay. Do not defer your purpose till "tonight" or "tomorrow or "later, when I have finished what I have to do just now." The interval may be fatal.
No, this moment, the instant you make your resolution, you will show by your action that you have taken leave of your old self and have now begun a new life, with a new destination and a new way of living. Arise, therefore, without fear and say: Lord, let me begin now. Help me! For what you need above all is God's help.
Hold fast to your purpose and do not look back. We have been given a warning example in Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back (Genesis 19:26). You have cast off your old humanity; let the rags lie. Like Abraham, you have heard the voice of the Lord: "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from they father's house, into a land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). Towards that land hereafter you must direct all your attention.

Field Trip Fridays

2009-09-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

ADDENDUM: I realized that for being a scrapbook of sorts for our "Fun Friday" field trips I didn't have very many pictures of our first 2 field trips on here. So I have added 9 or 10 more pictures with descriptions to this post!

I've been meaning to blog about the start of school this year but just haven't had time nor the words. I've been second guessing my purpose for blogging but that is a whole different post entirely.
I just thought I'd share with you what our Fridays are going to look like. I want to "scrapbook" all our "Field Trip Fridays" but I'm not really into scrapping so I think the next best thing is blogging each trip. The purpose of that will be more for our own preservation of memories than anything else. After the year is over if the kids want to print out the Field Trip Friday posts and make a book I think that would be a fantastic idea and really fun!
I wanted to make it easy on myself and not have to do too much planning and as little driving as possible. So we are sticking around North Kitsap County and we will explore as many parks and hikes as we can. Some days it'll be a really simple playground visit and other days I hope to get in some pretty good hikes. Even a museum now and again.
On Friday, September 11th was our first Field Trip and we went to Battlepoint Park on Bainbridge Island (which really is only about 15 minutes from here, if that). They have an awesome playground, a nice 1 1/2 mile trail with a cool pond. Here a few pictures of that day.
I hope to get some cool pictures of the kids too during our outings. I haven't been taking a lot of pictures of them lately and they are sure growing up fast! During the very hot hike we finally reached the pond we had heard was there and it was such a nice little respite. Then as we watched a ton of ducks approached. They were so friendly and came up so close but we had no food for them. Later on down the path we ran into a couple little brown bunnies. We sat and watched them for quite awhile.

Here are the ducks making a bee-line for us. It was really cool. They got so close I was able to snap this really neat picture of a female Mallard.

Here we have a picture of the rabbits we ran into. You might have to click on it to enlarge to get a better look. They were so cute. The boys were able to get quite close to them before they hopped away.

Our 2nd field trip was a simple one to downtown Poulsbo to walk the boardwalk that overlooks Liberty Bay. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it. September 11, 2009

I think this picture of Joseph is so neat. This was actually taken on our way back to the parking lot. After all the walking and running on this boardwalk, he finally realized that if he looked down he could see through the cracks to the water. This always freaks him out. The cracks are quite small so he didn't notice before. When we've walked bridges before where you can see water below he is almost paralyzed. It's funny.

It was another beautifully sunny day, of which we really need to take advantage of and be grateful for because they won't last much longer. We walked a short walk on the boardwalk and here is where it ended and the path goes into the woods a little to a VERY tiny play place. I like this picture of the kids.

I have no idea what Charissa and Joseph are looking at.

My "almost" teenager...she is as tall as I am now!

There was this very odd scum on the bay and we took a picture so I had to include it for their memory books. We wondered what it was and why.

This next Friday their "field trip" will only be a playdate at a friends house because I am headed out of town by 11AM to go to a women's retreat in Portland, OR. I am VERY MUCH looking forward to this and wondering what God has in store for me. I waited till the last minute and I just know the way it all worked out it was of God.

I want to post about our curriculum soon.

St. Sophia

2009-09-17T08:57:00.001-07:00

Today we commemorate St. Sophia and her three daughters; Faith, Hope and Love. To learn more about her go here.

Troparion - Tone 5

You blossomed in the courts of the Lord
as a fruitful olive tree,
holy martyr Sophia;
in your contest you offered to Christ the sweet fruit of your womb,
your daughters Faith, Hope, and Love.
Together with them intercede for us all.

Oh Most Holy St. Sophia, please pray unto God for me.

Joseph

2009-09-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

My baby, Joseph, who turned 7 in July, got to serve in the altar yesterday for the very first time! I wasn't prepared for this occasion like I was with Nicholas' first service nearly 3 years ago so I had to use my phone to make a memory.
This is a picture of both my boys during the Little Entrance. Joseph on the left and Nicholas on the right.

And here are ALL my boys!!!!
(L-R) Joseph; their daddy, Sbdn. James; Nicholas.

Contest at Organic & Thrifty

2009-09-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Win Some Counterculture

over at Organic and Thrifty.
Thank you, Carrie, for this opportunity. How how I would love to win some of these cultures. I've been wanting to try the Kefir!
Good luck to all but I sure I win!!!

I needed this!

2009-08-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

"Tedium is the granddaughter of despondency, and the daughter of slothfulness. In order to drive it away, labor at your work, and do not be slothful in prayer. The tedium will pass, and zeal will come. And if to this you add patience and humi...lity, then you will be rid of all misfortunes and evils."
St. Ambrose of Optina

What Children Should Be Taught

2009-08-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

I picked up a book at the library called "Easy Homeschooling Techniques". At the start of the book, before the Foreward and Preface you will find these two lists. I love them! Notice where they come from and the date.

What a Little Girl Should Be Taught:

• To cook plain wholesome food

• To make her own clothes

• To be neat and orderly

• To care for her own room

• To learn well the art of housekeeping

• To care for her person

• To exercise a quiet reserve in the presence of boys and men

• That all cheap talk is unbecoming

• That loose jokes about "beaux" and "lovers" are improper

• That modesty is a priceless treasure, and will prove her surest protector

• That her brothers are better escorts than most other young men

• That her mother is her best companion and counselor

• That her dress should be plain, and not the chief subject of her thoughts or conversation

• That she should wear only such styles of clothing as will cover her person modestly

• That it is better to be useful than ornamental

• That there will be time enough to learn fancy work after she has learned to darn stockings

• That the old rule, "A place for everything and everything in its place," is a good one

• That she should dress for health and comfort as well as for appearance

What a Little Boy Should Be Taught

• To be strong and brave-a little man

• To shun evil companions

• To respect gray hairs

• To be gentle

• To be courteous

• To be prompt

• To be industrious

• To be truthful

• To be honest

• To prefer the companionship of his sisters, over other girls

• To honor his father and mother

• To be temperate

• To discard profanity

• To be thoughtful and attentive

• To keep himself pure

• To be his sister's protector

• To refuse to listen to vulgar jokes or stories

• To use common tools skillfully

• To care for his own room

• To do all kinds of housework

• To earn money, and to take care of it

• To be neat and orderly in his habits and appearance

• To be self-reliant

• To be his father's partner

Curriculum and Changes

2009-08-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

I've been working on our school schedule and curriculum for a couple weeks now. I want to start with the Church New Year(September 1) and base our year on Church Calendar. In the past we've used Story of the World for History, Math-U-See for well, Math; A Unit Study approach to Science from Tanglewood (which I love ). Explode the Code, Spelling Power, Paidea Classics for copy work, Critical Thinking Co. for Logic, Writing Strands and a hodge podge of other phonics methods for the boys.
I have this huge 3-ring binder that holds weekly lesson plans and I fit all 4 kids on one sheet. This year I was going to use one of those pens that has the 4 colors and write their separate assignments with that by giving them each a different color.
The problem is there too much to sort out and write down and well, I just want to try and streamline it and make it easier. I also would like to approach things differently with regards to L.A. and History. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE the Unit Study approach we did last year with Science. I would really like to try and do this with History as well and within these 2 topics as Unit Studies add into the units the L.A. I'd love to hear from anyone else who approaches their schooling in this way or something similar. I have some ideas that might work and would be fun but tell me what you do? Do you know any websites that talk about this? Share with me what you do in your home!
I'd love to discover a better way of recording my schooling projects and assignments on my laptop vs. having to writing everything down. I have Vista on here there is Windows Calendar. I also know about google calendar. I don't want some fancy home school record keeping program, just a simple calendar aid of sorts to write down what I want to accomplish each day for each child with the ability to "cut & past" or hit a recurring button or something like that. Any ideas?

Our Library is SO COOL!!!

2009-08-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

I've posted before about our library ordering books we've requested. We've had them bring us books often through the Inter-Library Loan system and have had books come from places even as far away as Florida! I do not know how they decide what books to buy and what books to ILL. I was so excited when they bought "Close to Home: One Orthodox Mother's Quest for Patience, Peace and Perseverance", but the latest book PURCHASE by Kitsap County Regional Library System tops the cake.
Kelsey Anna went to St. John the Forerunner Monastery for girls camp in July and came home talking about a book the Sisters were reading them. They didn't get to finish it and she really wanted to read it all. She asked Father if he owned it but he didn't so she decided to fill out the form for ILL/Purchase request at the library.
They bought it! The title?
Experiences During Divine Liturgy by Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos
I cannot believe it! I can't find it anyplace for sale except at St. Anthony Monastery so I am SO curious where they are buying it from.
We are spreading Orthodoxy on Kitsap Peninsula! Maybe the book purchaser is curious about Orthodoxy and that's why they are approving so many orthodox books.

Thank you again, Abbot Tryphon...

2009-08-05T08:07:00.001-07:00

...for more great quotes on Morning Offering.

"Don't sit, glued to the television....Guard yourselves from the means of mass blinding."

Elder Epiphanios

"...It is patience that both commends us to God, and saves us for God. It is that same patience which tempers anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, breaks the onslaught of lust, suppresses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of dissension, restrains the power of the wealthy, renews the endurance of the poor in bearing their lot, guards the blessed integrity of virgins, the difficult chastity of widows, and the indivisible love of husbands and wives. It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, meek in the face of injuries and insults. It teaches us to pardon our offenders quickly; if you yourself should offend, it teaches you to ask pardon often and with perseverance. It vanquishes temptations, sustains persecutions, endures sufferings and martyrdoms to the end. It is this patience which strongly fortifies the foundations of our faith. It is this patience which sublimely promotes the growth of hope. It directs our action, so that we can keep to the way of Christ while we make progress because of his forbearance. It ensures our perseverance as sons of God while we imitate the patience of the Father."

St. Cyprian of Carthage

"The Good of Patience"

Quote...

2009-07-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

...from the blog of Morning Offering.

"The greatest sacrifice we can offer to God is our peace; it is fraternal harmony; and it is a people gathered together by that unity which exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Saint Cyprian (200-259)

Quote

2009-07-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

"This life has been given you for repentance, do not waste it in vain pursuits."

St. Isaac the Syrian

Die Death!

2009-07-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

My husband posts on his blog, Paradosis, his thoughts regarding our ex-brother-in-laws death last Thursday.
He says it so well, I have nothing more to say.

Thank you for your prayers.

Tragedy in our family....PLEASE PRAY

2009-07-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

My husband wrote this:

Prayers please for someone we know who today took their own life. For him and for his family as they/we sort through this all. In particular we would ask that guilt not be allowed to settle upon and cripple us who are likely to look back and believe they should have done more to help.

I can tell you that there are children involved and until all children involved have been told we won't release names. Please pray for them!

Remembering a friend

2009-07-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

Nate's in the center, at his own wedding.

Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the repose of my dear friend Nathaniel Listerud. May his memory be eternal!

"With the spirits of the righteous give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Your departed servant, Nathaniel, and keep him in the blessed life with You, O Lover of man. In the place of Your rest, O Lord, where all Your Saints repose give rest also to the soul of Your servant for You alone are the Lover of mankind."

This is me and Nate in 1976, Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.

Walking Daddy Blues

2009-06-26T16:49:00.001-07:00

Thought for the day

2009-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love to read Abbot Tryphon's blog The Morning Offering. He has a quote for the day, scripture reading and a daily picture from around the monastery or outing or area in which they are (Vashon Island).

Here is the quote from today...

"Beware you do not blindly insist that things must work out according to what you consider to be right and good. God sometimes does permit such blind insistence to be followed by the fulfillment of our ardent desires. This always leads to misery and disaster (intended to open our eyes on our folly), and happens particularly often when our desires are founded on wild passions. Pray to our Lord for guidance, and to His Holy Mother for special protection."

Staretz Macarius of Optina

Good ol' HIPAA

2009-06-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

So, we've had well-check visits this week at a couple different times. Yesterday I took my 12 1/2 year old daughter in for her well-visit. She is healthy and doing well. She still wants me to go in with her, well, you know...I'm her mama.
Today, I went in with the boys. As I checked in the receptionist asked me if I wanted to fill out a form to give me access to their medical records online like I have with mine. I can make appointments, check lab results, email their doctor, etc. I said I'd love to and asked for 2 more forms for my daughters as well. Before agreeing they asked me how old they were and I so I told them the ages. I then get to find out that there probably isn't any point since in 6 months from now it will all be canceled because she'll be 13. I said, "so."
Apparently, due to HIPAA laws, my daughter (in 6 months from now) has the RIGHT to her medical privacy with regards to drugs, sex and MENTAL HEALTH!! In 6 months from now I have NO RIGHT to know anything about my daughter with regards to those 3 topics! She'll be THIRTEEN!!! NOT 18, not 21... THIRTEEN!!! I was astonished...my heart was actually doing flip flops! The ladies behind the desk...all three of them saw my amazement and AGREED with me! They are equally irritated by the absolute audacity of it all.

My question to HIPAA...whose going to pay the bills!?

Thank you, Molly!!

2009-06-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Close to Home by Molly Sabourin. I ordered this book from the library(which I posted about here), they didn't have it but I put in a purchase request and they bought it.

First, I need to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Molly for writing this book. Thank you God for giving Molly the words to put on paper, words I believe so many mothers need to hear. Words of encouragment. Words of comfort, knowing that I am NOT alone in the race. That I am not the only mother with these thoughts racing through my head. Thoughts of doubt and fear. Thank you for bringing to these thoughts an Orthodox understanding, a perspective that I just didn't see and REALLY needed to hear.

This blog post is the only way I can thank you, Molly. By letting you know how incredibly real this book was to me. And by sharing with those that may happen upon my blog...this is a MUST READ for all mothers...Orthodox or otherwise.

Here is one section that really hit home for me. And it feels so good to know I'm not alone!!!

Of the many cracks in my mothering armor, there is one that leaves my children and me particularly vulnerable to harm: a subconscious habit of judging my family in regard to how we mearsure up to others. I am ashamed to admit how many years I wasted trying to be somebody I wasn't, or how many M&M's I consumed because our papers were chronically out of order, the clutter more conniving than my impractical cleaning schedule, or because the laundry had washed with a tube of greasy Chapstick in my pants pocket...again.
I got downright crabby when my idealized self stood just inches out of reach, looking more muscular, organized , and outgoing than this all-too-human flabby-thighted mother pressing her nose against the glass that divided heavily marketed pipe dreams from reality. My neck was chronically sore from craning over fences for a nice long look at where the grass was always greener, the children better behaved, and scrapbooks filled to overflowing with anecdotes and updated photographs. Guess how few people were blessed by my neurotic desire for flawlessness?

Later in the chapter regarding the above...

I could try to be you, all clever and crafty and virtuous, or her with the delicate feminine disposition; but eventually my real, Molly Ann Sabourin self would rip holes all through that disingenuous disguise. It is my first fruits God is asking of me--my talents, my quirky habits and convictions. It would be awefully counterproductive to try ato work out my own salvation with fear and trembling by concentrating on everybody else's.
I know I am impatient. I know I am absent-minded. I know I struggle with being too impulsive and easily distracted. I know I am sefish, but I also know that I am the very best mom for the wonderfully human kids God gave me. If I start each day with a prayer of humility, admitting that on my own I will really mess things up, my mind and heart remain open for help and direction. I set tiny goals, like not yelling through breakfast, or putting aside my "work" to sit and play one game of the children's choice.

I needed that!

One last quote from her chapter Acceptance...this is huge for me....

The quiestion I need to ask myself is not, "What, in addition to the blessings right before me, would make me happier?" It is rather, "What do I need to rid myself of in order not to get sidetracked from my first and foremost goal of achieving salvation?"

Whoa! There is so much more in this book that is just...wow! For me!

I think I'll read it again before it's due! (or buy my own!)

Thank you again, Molly!!

(It's really late so please forgive the typos and if they are really bad please dont' hesitate to let me know.)

Learning about forgiveness from my 6-year-old son

2009-05-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to share this story that truly touched my heart but kept forgetting. Now another, equally beautiful (to me, his mother) happened today so I will tell you about both.

I'm biased, of course, but he has truly touched my heart. He teaching me about forgiveness!

Three weeks ago....
I needed to pull J aside to talk to him about some harsh words I overheard him saying about another person. They were said somewhat playfully but still they weren't appropriate and I really don't think he fully comprehended what he was saying. So we talked about it a little and I told him that I really didn't think he meant it. He leaned over and said, "Like sometimes when I say rude things to you, mommy, I really don't mean it. Will you forgive me?"

Today during Divine Liturgy for the Ascension of our Lord, Joseph made it quite clear he really did not want to be there. He was very cranky for the first half of the service. Early on in the service I bent over and told him that he really needed to change his attitude before he approached the chalice, that he shouldn't do so with such anger. I told him he needed to find forgiveness. Just as we were starting to say the communion prayer he came up to me and hugged me and said (with a big smile on his face), "Mommy, I forgive you." I hugged him back and said, "thank you, I forgive you too."

Quote

2009-05-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

"Behold, you have three weapons for spiritual warfare: humility, patience, self-condemnation. With these conquer." Elder Lev of Optina

Quote I found on the Fr. Tryphon's blog, Morning Offering. He is the Abbot of the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island, WA.

Prayers Please

2009-05-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

This might seem rather silly but it is pretty serious to us.
It seems as though our goat, Butter, has milk fever. This is what I lost my goat, Firefly, to last year. It is a lack of calcium and it happens either within days of kidding or in large producing milkers. Butters been giving me over a gallon a day. I changed the way I fed the goats after I lost Firefly last year but I guess it wasn't good enough. I feel only slightly hopeful in that she isn't completely down yet (although I don't think it is far off) and I have someone on the way to help me administer a calcium drench. But I have to wait.
She isn't eating. Bad thing as it can cause her rumen to shut down and this is very dangerous.
I'm trying to figure out what God is telling me.
"Persevere, Susan."
or
"It's time to let the goats go. You have too much on your plate."

The children will be devastated if we lose her. I will feel like a complete failure!

Oh, Most Holy St. Brigid, Please pray to God for us!

UPDATE:

I just came in from the barn after spending a hour and a half with my friend who is my mentor. She was awesome! Thank you, Sherrie!
Before Sherrie arrived I was able to get Butter to drink some Molasses water (for energy). And she nibbled a leaf of alfalfa. She was up and around. By the time Sherrie arrived her eyes actually looked brighter. Last night she was very droopy. We decided that it really isn't acting like milk fever, but rather a very, very bad case of stomach ailment. On Sunday I had to give her some feed she wasn't used to be Cenex Feed Store sold me the wrong bag of feed and it was Sunday. No choice, and I actually didn't know for sure it was the wrong stuff until I went in Monday to see what the problem was with the feed.
Apparently her body didn't like it.
By the time Sherrie left Butter was eating a favorite weed of hers called Fireweed. We gave her a big dose of Pepto-Bismol, which she didn't like.
I do not think we are completely out of the woods yet. Until she starts eating alfalfa again, which is her main source of calcium, I will be very worried. She still won't eat much...but this is a start.

Glory to God. I'm feeling hopeful again. Now, I must decide what route to take for the future. This is so stressful.

Christ is Risen!

2009-04-29T14:57:00.001-07:00

Indeed He is Risen!

It has been amazing several weeks.
Several weeks ago I began to prepare to be a new godmother and help my 12 year old daughter be a first time godmother to a 6 year old little girl. We were supposed to sew her chrismation/Pascha dress but it turned out to be I. Kelsey said, "This is too fancy for my first project." So I took it on as MY first fancy project. With a infant baptismal gown in a close 2nd as my fanciest yet (that story further down).
On Lazarus Saturday the Ferrenbergs were excited to help welcome the Sallis family into the Orthodox Church.

Here they are kneeling to receive prayers of absolution: (from left to right) Walker Gregory, Gregory, Marina, Alauna (Euphrosyne), Riley Benjamin.

A friend of ours took tons of pictures but the best ones are of the kids of course. They were awesome during the whole service!

Marina is 6 years old.

Walker Gregory is 5 years old. (if you click to enlarge you can see his cute little smile.)

Riley Benjamin is 2 almost 3 years old.

Then we were into Holy Week with all of it's splendor and preparations and on the list goes!
Followed by the Feast of Feasts and a week of celebrations!
Here are my children ready for the midnight feast, tired already and being silly while grandma took pictures.

Bright Week has been followed by a challenging week of sickness for me and me alone in this house. Sometimes I really think it was just all the overdoing it that took place for 2 + weeks which ended on Bright Saturday with an entire day of tilling up the garden using a heavy duty tiller. My body had enough. Because the only symptoms were sleep, sleep and more sleep, headaches and chills. Today I feel much better, but still not 100%.

During Bright Week I also scrambled to put the final touches on my first baptismal gown ever which is for baby Isabelle, the first infant I was blessed to become godmother to! My mom helped me out a lot with the sleeves and the bonnet.
Sunday, Thomas Sunday, was a glorious day with baptism. She is so adorable.

It wasn't until Monday that I crashed!

Christ is Risen!

2009-04-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

15 years!!!

2009-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

What Greater Thing
What greater thing is there for two human souls,
than to feel that they are joined for life-
to strengthen each other in all labor,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other
in silent unspeakable memories ...

George Eliot
(1819-1880)

I love you, James!
Thank you!

Prayers

2009-04-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

Rising River Threatens Fargo, ND March 27, 2009 Volunteers are working around the clock to raise the dikes protecting the city of Fargo, N.D. from flooding. They hope to hold back the Red River which is expected to reach record high levels by Saturday. IOCC has been in contact with the local Orthodox community to determine needs. “Officials and emergency workers are scrambling to determine a course of action for a situation that remains unpredictable,” says Pascalis Papouras, IOCC US Program Coordinator. “We urge the Orthodox faithful to pray for the people of Fargo and the surrounding areas as we continue to monitor the situation in these next critical days.”

Admonitions for Parents finale...because I can't post everyday!

2009-03-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

It's just too much work to post everyday! So I highly recommend that you go here to read the entire article (if you haven't already) and I will leave you with this one that is...well...wow!

27. I have said this so that you would know that God will not be condescending to those who are neglectful of those for whom He Himself takes such care. For it is impossible that one and the same God should do so much to save these (children), yet pay no attention when their own parents disdain them. He will not ignore this, but to the contrary, He will all the more fearfully display His displeasure and wrath, as it actually hap pens. Therefore the blessed Paul insistently convinces us, saying: Ye fathers... bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). If we [4] are obligated to tirelessly care for their souls, as they that must give account (Heb. 13:17), so much more is the father (obligated to do it), who gave birth to the son, brought him up and lives constantly with him. For just as he can find no excuse for his own sins, he cannot find one for his childrens misdeeds. The blessed Paul showed this same thing. Describing how those who have accepted authority over others should be, he requires care for their own children over all other requirements, so that we have no excuse for our childrens unruliness (I Tim. 3,4, 5). And this is perfectly just! If evil in people is from nature, then everyone would have a right to excuse himself; but as we ourselves are impious or honorable according to our own will, then what good excuse could one present who has allowed his son, whom he loves more than anything, to come to impiety and dishonor? That he did not want to make him honorable? But not one father will say that nature itself insistently and incessantly inspires him toward this. Or that he was not able to do it? But this also cannot be said; for everything—that he took his son under his protection at a tender age, and that he alone primarily has been given authority over him, and that he constantly had him around—all of this makes the education of his son very easy and convenient. It means that the childrens unruliness comes from nothing other than the insane attachment of the fathers to earthly cares. Paying attention only to earthly cares, and counting nothing to be more important, they involuntarily begin to neglect the souls of their children. I will say of these fathers (and let no one consider these words to be born of anger), that they are even worse than child-killers. The one only sunders the body from the soul, but the other casts them both into the fires of gehenna. Death is inevitable according to the natural order, but the second fate could have been avoided if the fathers neglect had not led up to it. Physical death can be ended instantly by the resurrection when it comes, but no reward awaits the lost soul; it will receive not resurrection, but will have to suffer eternally. This means that we not unjustly call those fathers worse than child-killers. It is not so cruel to sharpen the sword, take it in the right hand and plunge it into the little childs heart, as it is to destroy and degrade the soul, for there is nothing equal to the soul.

Coming soon to a library near you....if you request it...

2009-03-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

I am TRYING to be frugal these days and REALLY want to read Molly Sabourin's new book Close to Home: One Orthodox Mother's Quest for Patience, Peace and Perseverance. I have often ordered books at the library through their "Purchase Request/Inter-Library Loan request" form. So I decided to give it shot and request this book using the form. I just looked on my account and see that they indeed ordered this book, it is listed as "on order". I'm so excited!
Thank you, Kitsap Regional Library, for supporting Molly Sabourin, an Orthodox mother.
I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.

Admonitions for Parents 6 & 7

2009-03-29T22:43:00.000-07:00

I missed a day...so here are 2 days worth of wisdom from St. John Chrysostom.

9. Let us suppose that you fulfill the commandment of the law in every other respect, but being unfaithful in this one commandment you will be severely punished. Listen to this proof taken from the history of one ancient people. You will immediately see to what terrible punishment those fathers subject themselves who neglect their childrens upbringing. Among the Jews was one priest who was respected for his meek character. His name was Eli. This priest had two sons who had given themselves over to every vice. The father did not concern himself with this and paid little attention, or if their depravity, having reached the limit, forced him to reproach them, he did it without the necessary fervor and authority. He should have punished them severely, thrown them out of his presence taken strict measures in order to put a stop to the outrage. He did nothing of the sort. He limited himself to giving them a form of admonition: Nay, my Sons, for the report which I hear is not good; do not so (I Kings 2:24). Is this what he should have said? They offended the One to Whom they owe their existence, and he still accepts them as part of his family? His admonition was useless and vain. No, this demanded not an admonition, but a strong lesson, severe torments, a treatment as strong as the evil. He should have used fear to root their young hearts out of this blindness. An admonition! Elis sons had no lack of these. O useless words! O criminal meekness by which they became victims! A war began, and the wretches became the spoils of their enemy. When their father learned of their misfortune, he fell to the ground and, smashing his head, died.

10. I have just told you that fathers who do not take care to give their children a Christian upbringing are murderers of their own children. Is it not true? Who should Eli blame for his son's death? Himself. True, the enemys sword slew them, but the neglect of their false father directed the blow. Abandoned by heavenly help, they appeared naked against the arrows of the Philistines. The father destroyed himself and them. Meanwhile, we see the same thing before ourselves daily. How many parents there are who do not want to take upon themselves this labor of correcting their unsubmissive and unruly children! They are as if afraid to upset their children by reigning in with stern words the vicious tendencies to which they have submitted themselves. What is the outcome? Their disorder increases; their impunity leads them to criminal offenses; they are brought to trial; and the wretches die at the hands of the executioner. You refused your personal rights over them and committed them to the severity of civil punishment, and human justice wielded its harsh rights over them. You are afraid to humiliate them with some light punishment in your presence; but what horrible dishonor shall befall you when your son is no longer around, and the father, hounded everywhere by accusing glares, no longer dares to show himself anywhere.

Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostomos on Raising Children

Admonitions for Parents 5

2009-03-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

7. Children who are submissive and faithful to God in their obedience to His law will have found an abundant source of happiness, even in this temporal life. A poor man with Christian morals inspires respect and love from others. Meanwhile, with an evil and depraved heart, all your riches will not save you from the displeasure and aversion of everyone around you.

8. The youth to whom you give a good upbringing will not only enjoy general respect, he will also become dearer to you yourselves! Your attachment to him will not be a mere natural attraction—it will be the fruit of his virtue. For this, during your old age, you will in turn receive from him the services of his filial love. He will be your support. For just as those who do not revere the Lord also have contempt for their own parents, those who revere God, the Father of all men, will have every respect for those who gave them life.

Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostomos on Raising Children

I'm sold!

2009-03-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

I have recently been doing a lot of reading on herbal remedies. It just comes naturally after reading Nourishing Traditions and making a conscience decision to try and feed my family with healthy foods staying away from processed foods and chemicals in foods. Lately there has been a lot of negative talk about cough syrups for children. The FDA discourage children under the age of 6 to take it at all now.

I have become friend with a lady I met through Azure Standard co-op and she has been into medicinal herbs for quite awhile and I am learning a lot from her. She introduced me to a couple of books, one which is called “Family Herbal” by Rosemary Gladstar.

Recently the children one after another became sick with the “crud”, coughing head congestion, etc. But...those who started symptoms later had it less because I was able to nip it in the bud...that's my theory anyway. I'm hooked and hope to do a lot more herbal research for my family AND my farm. I already by herbal wormer for the goats and have gotten other herbal remedies for them during pregnancy for the goats so maybe I can make my own.

The boys had the sickness the worst but with diligence we have been able to ward off prescriptions and doctor visits.

I didn't start the herbal cough syrup until after they were coughing for a couple days and so that is why I think it got the best of them. But I did start the cough syrup when I learned about it and also started them on echinacea tincture immediately. As soon as I did start the syrup though the symptoms would be relieved. No nonstop coughing at night or otherwise.

Charissa got it slightly less, mostly just a cough. Started her on the syrup and echinacea.

James and Kelsey both woke with sore throats one day, I pumped them with fresh squeezed lemon and honey and echinacea tincture and it never developed into anything more. They took echinacea for a few days but then were able to stop.

Joseph complained of earache's a few times but each time he did I put a few drops of homemade garlic oil in his ear and that would relieve the pain and nothing more ever came of it.

I'm sold and I will continue to research and read on ways to help my family be healthy. It is very rewarding.

After researching the vitamins in herbs my friend created a mineral tincture out of 3 herbs that she uses in place of store bought vitamins. This tincture (which is very tasty) along with kelp capsules, give you all the minerals and vitamins that your body needs. And it is more natural and more readily absorbed and available to your body. Even Joseph likes it.

I have so much more to learn and I can't wait dig deeper into this new world of tradition medicines we can grow in our own garden. It was and will continue to be very satisfying to help my family like this.

Admonitions for Parents 4

2009-03-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

6. The wise Sirach says: Hast thou children? Instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth (Sir. 7:25). But the Lord does not only prompt us with this command through the lips of His prophet; he even takes our side, supporting the fulfillment of this commandment with the fearsome punishment that awaits those children who do not submit to the authority of their parents: Every man who shall speak evil of his father or of his mother, let him die the death (Lev. 20:9). He punishes with death those who become guilty before you, and you look tepidly at these sins that they commit against the highest possible authority. They are rebelling against God Him self, transgressing His commandments, and you look at this without the least displeasure, without the slightest criticism of your children. What does He have to lose from their offense? Nothing. But you, why should you not fear for your own selves? For whoever abandons the Lord will never respect either his own father or himself.

Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostom on Raising Children

Admonitions for Parents 3

2009-03-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

4. Your children will always be sufficiently wealthy if they receive from you a good upbringing that is able to order their moral life and behavior. Thus, strive not to make them rich, but rather to make them pious masters of their passions, rich in virtues. Teach them not to think up illusory needs, reckoning their worth according to worldly standards. Attentively watch their deeds, their acquaintances and their attachments—and do not expect any mercy from God if you do not fulfill this duty.

Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostom on Raising Children

Admonitions for Parents 2

2009-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

p3. This obligation belongs to fathers as well as mothers. There are fathers who spare nothing in order to secure for their children teachers of pleasure and to pander to their cravings as wealthy heirs. But so that the children would be Christians, so that they would exercise themselves in piety, is of little need to them. O criminal blindness! It is this very crude inattention that is responsible for all the disorder that causes our society to groan. Let us suppose that you have acquired large property for them. However, if they do not know how to conduct themselves sensibly this property will not last long with them. It will be squandered; it will perish with its owners, and will be their most grievous inheritance.
by St. John Chrysostomos

My introduction to this list I'll be posting for the next 25 days is here.

Admonitions for Parents 1

2009-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

I found this needed (for ME) and very profound article recently titled "Admonitions for Parents: Lessons by Our Holy Father John Chrysostomos on Raising Children". It is a list of 39 admonitions and I thought it would be a great Lenten Journey, for the rest of Lent anyway. There are 26 days left until Pascha, so each day I'll post one or two of these admonitions, in order they appear in the article. I cannot find the word I want to use to describe how these admonitions REALLY grabbed my heart and soul, jerking from my selfishness and putting me in my place. So here goes day 1:

1. Having children is a matter of nature; but raising them and educating them in the virtues is a matter of mind and will. [1]

2. By the duty of raising them I mean not only not allowing them to die of hunger, as people often limit their obligation toward their children to doing. For this, is needed neither books nor rubrics, for nature speaks of it quite loudly. I am speaking of the concern for educating childrens hearts in virtues and piety—a sacred duty which cannot be transgressed without thereby becoming guilty of the childrens murder, in a certain sense.

1. The first part is taken from Christian Reading, 1838, part 4, pp. 242-253, which was taken from vol. 5, Benedict in Mund; vidua Eligatur.

Laziness

2009-03-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

When our good and all-gracious Lord and Master sees people too lazy in their exercises, He lays their flesh low with sickness, an asceticism with less toil; and sometimes it also cleanses the soul from evil thoughts or passions.

St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step26: On Discernment of Thoughts, Passions and Virtue

Lord Have Mercy on me a sinner.

Clean Week cleaning.

2009-03-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Emma over at Charming the Birds from the Trees posted her "Lenten Cleaning List". She asked for others to share so I thought I'd share what I was doing. I don't have a Lenten cleaning List but rather a "Clean Week Cleaning List".
I decided for this week we would take the week off from school and focus on Church and cleaning. To start Lent off with a clean and organized home my hope is to being to then focus the rest of Lent of prayer, fasting and alms-giving.
During the time that we would normally be doing school we'll work together to clean and each day we will cover a different room. In each room I hope to deep clean by cleaning off shelves, culling unneeded items (next Wednesday Northwest Center will come through the neighborhood), washing windows and scrubbing floors and moldings, etc. Here is my list:

Monday: Livingroom
Tuesday: Kitchen/Diningroom
Wednesday: Laundry room (Presanctified Liturgy in the morning will shorten our cleaning for this day)
Thursday: Girls Bedroom and downstairs bathroom and downstairs hallway.
Friday: Master Bedroom and Boys Bedroom
Saturday: Cabin

Have a blessed Clean Week and a fruitful Lent!

On Forgiveness and the start of Great Lent.

2009-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from "Great Lent" by Alexander Schmemann

He is speaking about the Vespers service...

This day's Great Prokeimenon announces the beginning of Lent:

Turn not away Thy face from Thy servant for I am afflicted!
Hear me speedily.
Attend to my soul and deliver it!

Listen to the unique melody of this verse--to this cry that suddenly fills the church: "...for I am afflicted!"--and you will understand this starting point of Lent: the mysterious mixture of despair and hope, of darkness and light. All preparation has now come to an end. I stand before God, before the glory and the beauty of His Kingdom. I realize that I belong to it, that I have no other home, no other joy, no other goal; I also realize that I am exiled from it into the darkness and sadness of sin, "for I am afflicted!" And finally, I realize that only God can help in that affliction, that only He can " attend to my soul." Repentance is, above everything else, a desperate call for that divine help.
Five times we repeat the Prokeimenon. And then, Lent is here!...
We will have to wander forty days through the desert of Lent. Yet at the end shines already the light of Easter, the light of the Kingdom.

One of the things that is so amazing to me, the thing that has been so comforting and appealing to me from early on in my journey to Orthodoxy is knowing that all over the world, Orthodox Christians are singing these very same hymns. Orthodox Christians all over the world are walking together, singing and repenting, asking forgivness and beginning this journey of Great Lent together. Knowing that I could go just about anywhere and enter just about any Orthodox Church and I would hear the same hymns being sung:
Turn not away Thy face from Thy servant for I am afflicted!
Hear me speedily.
Attend to my soul and deliver it!
Together we fast, pray and give almsgiving as we strive a little harder on our path to salvation. That we may come out in the end a little bit more like God.

My dear friends and family in Christ, as we begin our journey through Lent I ask forgiveness.
Please forgive me!
God forgives all!

Some thoughts from Wisdom of Sirach to ponder as Lent approaches.

2009-02-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

If a man washes himself after touching a corpse,
Then touches it again,
What does he profit by his washing?

So it is with a man who fasts over his sins
And goes and does the same sins all over again.
Who will hear his prayer?
What does his humbling profit him?

34:25, 26

My Job and goals!

2009-02-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

Early on in the year I decided that my goal for this upcoming year was to become more organized and purposeful in my daily life. It is evident that I have a lot on my plate and at times it is overwhelming! But I believe it is overwhelming only because I typically go about the day very unorganized and without a plan. Things have been going well as I work on created cleaning schedules (I'm tired of power cleaning every time I know someone is to visit-I just want it presentable all the time--power cleans are stressful for me.) and school routines.
The last week I've been discouraged a little and so last night as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep I began to pray that God clear my mind and help to keep my goals alive. That He give me wisdom and courage to keep moving forward. But most of all I wanted Him to show me clearly again what my vocation and goals ought to be.

As I lay there praying, a little boy came slowly into the room and whispered to me that he was having bad thoughts and couldn't sleep. I cuddled with him for a brief moment and then lead him back to his room. Taking an icon of the Theotokos off the dresser for him, we prayed and talked about the best "Mommy" in the world being with him, and his angel and St. Joseph and Jesus. I kissed him and said good-night and went back to bed.
As I lay there I thanked God for reminding me what my true goal is as a mother, the job He has given me....to show Him to my children! Every day with LOVE, compassion and meekness, to show my children God and His Love for them.

A Good Wife

2009-02-17T15:35:00.000-08:00

My last post quoted a Sirach 25:1 but as I've read further through 25 and into chapter 26 I have found a wealth of wisdom on being a good wife and warnings against and evil wife, even a section on "the fallen woman". If you have access I highly recommend reading both of these chapters fully, but here are a few of my favorite verses:

26:1
Happy is the husband of a good wife: The number of his days will be doubled.

26:13-16
A wife's grace will delight her husband, And her skill will put fat on his bones.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, And there is nothing worth as much as a disciplined soul.
A modest wife is blessing upon blessing, And there is no scale adequate to weigh a self-controlled soul.
Life the sun rising in the Lord's heaven is the beauty of a good wife in the ordering of her house.

My main goal for the year is to order my home and life, so I was pleased to read this last verse.

Beautiful Things

2009-02-12T07:16:00.001-08:00

There are three beautiful things to see,
And they are beautiful before the Lord and men:
The harmony of brothers,
Friendship between neighbors,
And a wife and husband well-adjusted together.
Wisdom of Sirach 25: 1

Note regarding verse:
It is interesting that one of the great celibate monks of the Church, St. John Chrysostom , should say of vs. 1: "For there is no relationship between man and man so close as that between man and wife, if they be joined together as they should be....nothing whatever is more precious than to be...loved by a wife and to love her."

Self-Control*

2009-01-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

Do not walk after your own desires,
but restrain your appetites.
If you fill your soul with the desire for pleasure,
it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.
Do not rejoice in great luxury,
Lest you become needy by its expense.
Do not become a beggar by feasting on borrowed money
When you have nothing in your purse.

Wisdom of Sirach 18:29-32

*The heading "Self-Control" actually appears in the Greek Text.

Demand 22 Weeks The Movie

2009-01-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

The widget at the sidebar will allow you to request/demand the movie come to your neighborhood. If you want to watch the trailer go here, but come back and click the widget.

Bring it to your neighborhood.

Today's reading from the book of James

2009-01-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

The whole reading for today was James 1:1-18, all of which is really good. But this piece (vs. 2-4) really stuck out to me, encouraging me.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

"A Mother's Rule of Life" revisited

2009-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

It has been almost 3 years since I first read "A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul" by Holly Pierlot. I blogged about in February and March of 2006! Wow! Where on earth does the time go? When I read the book back then I REALLY needed it. I was looking for something to help me "bring order" to my home and life. It didn't stick. I raved about the book. I thought it was the "cure". Well, things didn't go the way I had hoped. But the I think the problem was that I was looking for a "cure", a quick fix, a magic pill. But really there is NEVER such a thing.

As life goes now I feel I never read the book. I'm back where I was 3 years ago. So I've dusted it off and I am starting over. This time I have a little bit more determination, a tiny bit more mature, maybe. It really is a little difficult to explain, but I feel that I've come to a place where I can see that this is really the only answer to what I am looking for. I feel that I've been searching for something over the years, something to "fix" my hurdles I face each day. Well, I'm finally seeing that what is going to "fix" it all is ME. It will take work, but I'm the only one who can change what needs to be different and only with God's help!! His Grace and His Mercy! His Guidance and Love!
So with a new determination, a new focus (GOD), I move forward to create my "Rule of Life" based on the vocation God has given me.

Feast of Theophany at St. Elizabeth Orthodox Mission

2009-01-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

As we went down to the water today to bless it we had company, some reporters from the Kitsap Sun Newspaper, a local paper.
The article that is online, along with slide show and video, is VERY impressive!
Check it out!

If the main page no longer has the article front and center here is the direct link.

Glory to God!

James, I've a feeling we're not in Washington anymore.

2009-01-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Okay...so we have had snow on the ground in my yard for 21 days!!!! In my 15 years of living here in Western WA (if I'm still in WA) we have never had snow on the ground for more than MAYBE 4 days. On the 21st day that we've had snow, it did this...

It's amazing!!

Blessings on the Feast of Theophany!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

With love to all.
From The Ferrenbergs

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T01:22:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Winter Wonderland part 2

2008-12-22T16:15:00.000-08:00

This has been quite an amazing storm we've endured. For the most part I LOVE the snow! But this part of the country is not meant to get this much snow (our yard has received approximately 11 inches). This snow will hang around longer than we are used to it hanging around here BUT it WILL melt much much faster than the ground can handle and it's not going to be fun! I'll enjoy it while I can though and share some of the beauty and adventure we've had.

First I want to say....Nicholas turned 8 today(the post is taking longer than I'd like to finish so his birthday was yesterday)!!!
The power went out last night and didn't come back on until this afternoon so after lunch we put a candle in a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup and sang "Happy Birthday".

This picture is looking up our driveway towards the house. This is after all the snow finally stopped falling. I still can't believe all the snow. And to think others had way more.

I was keeping track of this ladder, taking pictures of it throughout the storm. Here is the photo I last posted. The last picture in that series was 8AM Sunday, this one was taken Sunday night. Wow! What a difference another band of snow makes! Crazy!

I love this picture. I posted one previously from a day earlier. It looks so cool.

Some roof adventures through it all. I woke up to find the gutter down and snow starting to slide off the roof. It looks really funky, eh?

This is after James fixed it. Look how deep it looks!

James decided to try and go to town but first he had to get out.

This is the drive down Widme Road. They don't plow around here, except the major interstates or highways and if your lucky other main arterials. That's what's so frustrating me so much. I love the snow but not when they can't keep up with it.

This is in the Albertsons parking lot. Those of you used to snow wouldn't think much of it but my kids think this absolutely amazing!

My grass bush is covered with snow and it fell down to the sides and created a cool tunnel through it. Charissa discovered this. She crawls in the hole you see on the left and through a "u" shape to the right. Cool, eh?

I found this nail on the front porch and found it really funny how the snow collected on it. A nail!

These next 2 are just some trees in the front yard. They are completely weighted down with snow.

I'm completely astonished at how much snow we have and how long it is sticking around. Like James said, it's usually gone in 24-48 hours. Despite the fact that I LOVE snow and really miss my Minnesota snow, I am tired of this. I think mostly because it shuts the city down! It has to go away and typically goes away fast leaving an ugly, disgusting mess of mud. We haven't been to Church since December 14th. All services have been canceled till tomorrow and, OH, I just pray we get there tomorrow.
So, to say the least, it really grieves me that I see THIS in the weather report this morning.
UGH! If I was somewhere in the midwest (like between the Rockies and the Appalachians) this wouldn't be an issue. I'd welcome it. But, alas, it is not!

Pictures of our Winter Wonderland

2008-12-21T10:58:00.001-08:00

This is a rare occurance here in Western WA. So I just need to take lots of pictures and have fun with it. Here are 2 items I watched pile with snow through the evening. We are not expected to melt any of this away for several days and it is very possible it will still be here for Christmas.

After the mosaics are some fun pictures from around the yard this morning. I measured 5 1/2 inches this morning.

This is right out the front door. That round thing is the mini trampoline.

Birdhouse on the front porch. I just liked the look of it.

This is the chicken waterer in the garden. It's been frozen all week and hasn't been in use at all.

I need to get out and measure the snow on this lid. It has remained undisturbed over the last week so it would give a good indication of how much snow we've gotten in the last week.

I'm looking up our driveway at Mina. You can see our house in the background.

Kelsey Anna built this little snow fort by herself. She named it "Fort Snowy Mittens".

My favorite picture. The fence along our driveway.

Sewing with the girls

2008-12-20T07:51:00.001-08:00

We've been working on making Christmas presents and the girls have really been enjoying sewing. They've come up with their own creations and grandma (before she left) helped Kelsey quite a bit and now I am stepping in and helping them both. Kelsey started out wanting to make "cool dude" dolls for the boys but as we've run out of time I talked her into turning the one doll she has nearly done into a girl for her sister. When the doll is complete I'll post pictures but for now, here is the outfit we've made for the doll. She is really enjoying making dolls and would like to make a whole bunch of them for next year and maybe try to sell them at a craft fair.

Charissa wanted to get in on the action and seems to pull out fabric and randomly sew something so I helped her create something for the boys. I told her that they might like a belt to stick their swords in and so she designed something even better. She is calling it a "Jedi belt". She came up with the idea of pockets and so we used some old jeans and made both these belts in one day. She loves to sew. They have 2 pockets each, 2 loops for swords and several button holes to make room to grow. The boys will love them!

I am really enjoying sewing lately and hope to have many projects done within the next couple weeks. So thankful we celebrate the 12 days of Christmas so everything doesn't have to be done by the 25th. Yeah!

Wild Weekend

2008-12-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

We started out Friday with Winter Weather Warnings that downgraded into just wind warnings. Which can be a big deal where I live. And it turned out we needed the warning to prepare, I'm thankful I did. Our power went out about 2:00pm and was out for13 hours. We enjoyed a woodstove cooked dinner, drawing by candlelight and guitar music entertainment from dad.

As we moved into Saturday with renewed "light" we busily prepared for a house full of guests for the impending ordination on Sunday, God-willing. The temperatures were scheduled to plummet but they told us no need to worry about snow. Well, later in the evening Saturday it began to snow. We went to bed with the snow blissfully falling from the sky and woke to cold temps and about 2-3 inches of snow.

Those of you not from Western WA need to understand this just isn't something anyone around here ever gets used to, it only happens MAYBE once or twice a year and when it does come it goes just as quickly. So we head to Church 20 minutes earlier than scheduled just in case the roads are slick and arrive to find our choir director would not be joining us due to her one hour commute and too much snow. Apparently her area received about4-6 inches of snow. Our choir director in training, Nathaniel, (literally, he's been doing vespers choirs for about 5 months and filled in for liturgy a few times but never been to a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy before) stepped in to save the day. He did a FABULOUS job.
Reader James very quickly became Subdeacon James after a few prayers by the Bishop and a first Subdeacon "job".

Bishop BENJAMIN saying the prayers over James and below Subdeacon James doing his first job.

Subdeacon James, Nathaniel, and Walter did the Eis Polla Trio during the service. Walter took Scotts place (he's the choir director's husband) after only practicing it three times before service. He did great! They all did!! At the bottom is a video of the trio.

We had a wonderful visit with those of our friends who were adventuresome and came over despite the snow. Then I prepared to help my mom pack up and get ready to be on the 4:45AM ferry this morning. She's been visiting for 4 1/2 weeks and has become a part of the household only to leave us early this morning. We are all really going to miss her. Yesterday Charissa told her she needed to sleep in her room so that she could be near her just a little longer. She spoiled us all.

Grandma and Joseph cuddling on the sofa.

Now we have frigidly cold temperatures forecast for the entire week with another chance of snow on Wednesday and Thursday. This morning when I took mom to the ferry at 4:15AM my thermometer read 20 degrees .

Here are a couple pictures I had mom take after Church since we were all dressed up. It's been awhile since we've gotten a good one.

Subdeacon James, Myself (Susan Sophia) and the kids from left to right:
Kelsey Anna, Charissa, Joseph and Nicholas.

Weather, Bishops and uncertainty.

2008-12-12T07:36:00.000-08:00

We have an amazingly busy weekend planned. The weatherman is guessing that we are in for a very big chance of snow and, for this area, a significant amount. The Bishop is in the area visiting all the area OCA Churches. Today he is in Seattle celebrating at St. Spiridons for their Feast Day. Later he heads up to Port Townsend for an evening vigil and Divine Liturgy in the morning for St. Herman's Feast. And then he heads back down to Poulsbo to be with us Saturday evening and Sunday. On Sunday, Rdr. James is scheduled to be ordained as a Subdeacon and another man at Church will be tonsured a Reader. We expect lots of friends to visit but now I'm not sure if that will all happen.
Why?

Winter Storm Warning

I'll highlight one sentence....

A WIDE RANGE OF SNOW AMOUNTS
ARE POSSIBLE WILL SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING AREA GETTING
LITTLE IF ANY SNOW WHILE IN THE CONVERGENCE ZONE AS WELL AS OVER
THE KITSAP PENINSULA AS MUCH AS SIX INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE BY
SATURDAY MORNING.

What makes this even more interesting is the temps aren't suppose to warm up. So if it snows it will not be going anywhere anytime soon. And around here we aren't prepared for that. More snow scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, but just a little. Most likely everything will work out just fine because they are NEVER right! But it puts a little anxiety into my weekend.

I try to remember the words of Mother Raphaela...."God is in control of the universe! Give it all to Him."

ADDENDUM: Warnings have disappeared, sounds like things should be fine for the busy weekend. Another chance at some snow will be later this week...we aren't suppose to warm up at all this week.

Birthdays celebrated

2008-12-08T12:24:00.001-08:00

On Saturday we had a few friends over and celebrated Kelsey and Nicholas' birthdays.
I cannot believe how fast they grow.
Kelsey turned 12 on November 26th and Nicholas turns 8 on the 22nd of December.

Feast of St. Nicholas

2008-12-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Today on the Feast of St. Nicholas we celebrate the TRUE beginning of the man in the red suit. St. Nicholas of Myra is a wonderful and fun Saint to commemorate with the children. It makes me feel good to be able to tell my children, yeah, Santa is real here is who he is. We've read stories of Saint Nicholas all week. Last night they kids put their shoes out in front of their bedroom doors and they will have fun surprises in them. My dear friend Liz sent these to share with me and the kids will think they are really cool.
Today is Nicholas' Patron Saint day and since we became Orthodox (the year he turned 1) we also celebrate his birthday since his birthday is so close to Christmas (22nd). I can't believe he will be 8!

If you don't know the story of St. Nicholas well, here is the story from the OCA website. Just click on the life of the Saint.

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Troparion - Tone 4

How cool is this?

2008-12-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

More on the search for Wisdom

2008-12-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sirach says in 4:11-16
Wisdom exalts her children and lays hold of those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
And those who come to her early in the morning will be filled with gladness.
He who holds fast to her will inherit glory, and the Lord blesses every place she enters.
Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who lover her.
He who obeys her will judge the nations; And he that gives heed to her will live with confidence.
If he trusts in her, he will inherit her, and his posterity will be in possession of her.

The note in my Orthodox Study Bible says: (bold is my emphasis)
*****Gaining wisdom is not passive or automatic. Note the action verbs: seek, loves, come, holds fast, serve, obeys, gives heed and trusts.

The Lord shows me another answer to my question.....How do I gain wisdom? What does it look like?

Craft Fair

2008-12-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

My mom and I had a booth at a Craft Fair this weekend, Friday and Saturday. This is the first time I've ever done this and it was extremely disappointing. A combination of things made it very unsuccessful: 1. advertising was terrible and 2. it was Black Friday and anyone who went out went to the mall or big box store, those who didn't wouldn't go out for ANYTHING. We did earn our booth money back and about $20 extra dollars. But I had high hopes to earn some Christmas money. :(

I thought I'd share with you what we were selling. If you see anything that sparks your interest feel free to email me with any questions (sorry for the shameless commerce )
susansophia.f [at] gmail[dot]com

Here I am sitting at the booth. On the far right you'll see a beautiful quilt that someone at Church hand quilted. It's a lap size quilt and we are raffling it off to raise funds for our Church building fund. If you'd like to know more let me know.
The drawing is December 17th.
The stars on the Christmas tree are handmade paper stars we call German Stars. They are folded and hand-dipped in wax and sprinkled with glitter. Beautiful.

My mom has been doing an old fashioned art called quilling. She has been working on this for a few years now and has gotten really good at it. She makes beautiful quilled art and frames it. Below you will see her artwork.

This Eeyore is one of my favorites. She has also made Tigger for Joseph a year ago I think.

And I requested this barn....I love it.

Please Consider

2008-11-20T15:17:00.001-08:00

If you have not done so already please, please prayerfully consider signing the petition against the Freedom of Choice Act. For more information and to sign click here. OR click on the ad in the right sidebar.