the difficulties of daily life (with many small children)

Sometimes I feel as if I am having one-of those-hard-days every day. Amy continuously takes toys away from the boys or Owen will take toys away from Amy/Aaron causing them to scream frantically and it usually ends up with Owen being pushed or hurt (more crying). And usually those kinds of days are accompanied by much disobedience from the children. Then there are days when Jett needs quiet to study, and to prepare sermons, which is doubly hard when kids are doing the above things. Topped onto that is all the workload of a regular housewife (laundry, dishes, making meals etc) and you end up with quite a tough day, or week!

Many times (or rather every time!) I look forward to the kids bedtime because afterwards I can begin to unwind, regroup, think in silence, and refresh my mind with the Bible, and any good book I might be reading. But then there are the days when one kid (like right now for example) refuses to sleep. Believe me, I am quite hard on my kids when it comes to bedtime, but when a little one really is crying uncontrollably there really isn’t any point in keeping the poor thing wailing in bed and possibly wake up the other two… but, it does mean less quiet time for oneself and sometimes after a particular hard day, it is a trial, perhaps unexpected and unwanted.

I have tried to get up earlier in the morning to get a bit of this quiet time and from experience I know it is extremely helpful, but my children are early risers, even if I were to put them to bed closer to 8:30 or so they would still be up at 7am and then I would have even a harder day dealing with their grouchiness. But, I do manage something in the mornings. One mother had said to me that she looks more to the Lord for strength for the day. And isn’t that nice? I was thinking how getting married, and having children has driven me more to my knees throughout the day because I realize how needy I (we) are of grace and strength when dealing with the children. It is not an easy thing to be training up little ones! Naïve as I was I think I’ve taken quite the crash course in learning that fact. And I have so much more to learn and experience. (Homeschooling here we come…!)

So, what are you learning about childrearing?

Cheddar Ham Soup = so yummy!

Cheddar Ham Soup...

Is very tasty...

And excellent if you have leftover ham, mashed potatoes and corn! :)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water
• 2 cups cubed potatoes (or even better use leftover mashed potatoes that have already been seasoned garlic powder/onion powder/ salt and pepper...)
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced celery (well, I tend to never have this on hand so this is optional in my mind!)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp of pepper (but I season to taste with the salt & pepper every time)
• 1/4 cup of margerine (uhm, no. I use butter)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese (uhm I use much more than this make that 1 & 1/2 cups. Use full flavoured or close to it as cheese is a huge taste factor in this soup)
• 1 cup of canned corn (whatever you have as long as it has been cooked before)
• 1 & 1/2 cups of cubed ham (give or take...)

In a large saucepan bring water, potatoes (if they are the cubed stuff), carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper to boil. Reduce heat; cover & simmer until veggies are tender. I usually add the mashed potatoes after the veg are tender and half of the milk and then start on this part: In a medium bowl melt butter in the microwave (or however you melt butter) add flour and whisk till its nice and smooth. Add 1 cup of milk and mix well. Add this to the large saucepan and cook until thickish. Add the lovely cheese you've been snacking on, and melt through, then add corn and ham (also something you've been snacking on) and heat through. Serve and enjoy... I think it mmakes about 4-5 servings maybe 6 but I doubt it...especially if your wanting 2nds. :)

comings and goings

I've been meaning to get around to this post but I keep getting interrupted or distracted or something else!

Anyways, to answer a few questions from FB, and also from here:

Our visas run out (legally speaking) 4 months after Jett finishes his course, leaving us till the middle of October to be out of the country. Some of you initially thought that I might be flying with three children over the Atlantic...uhm, absolutely not! I'm not that crazy! :D It actually happened to be before we knew we had to leave the country that my mother emailed me a wild idea. She thought since Jett would be in NZ in October, that perhaps she could come over to help me come back to Canada to visit her and the family for awhile. So yes sounds lovely but no I doubt that would happen. Little did I know! Anyways, our flights at the very moment are either being booked or are booked (hopefully the latter). My mom hopes to come to help me over (her flights are being booked simultaneously with mine), and that alone is a huge provision for us as Jett wouldn't be able to help me.

I hope to go to Texas (flights are currently being researched in order to find the best price :( ) in late Oct for about 4 months and a half...yes, I'm very nervous about this part...ready for it? *THE BORDER* :D Those good CBP officers hopefully will see that A. I have a return ticket, B. My husband could not be called to take a charge in the States because we don't have a vacant congregation there, C. Uhm...we have a car in the UK? And have been living there for 3 years? Anybody else have some good points to give to the CBP so that they will see I WON'T BE STAYING! :) Sorry for the caps, but I've had problems in the past so I'm trying to cover every last detail. And C is not really a good point I see that.

Now this does cause some problems for Amelia, because she is on regular doses of medication. Anybody know what I'm supposed to do in order to get her meds in the States? Surely all of Amy's letters from the Dr. would be sufficient... oh the stress. :(

But, all of these things are in the Lord's hands which is comforting.

Strength for the day

(by a James Smith 1859) Something I needed today was dropped in my email inbox fro Grace Gems. Thought I would share.

"As your days--so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25

This promise which ensures us suitable and sufficient strength for all future days--is made by One who loves us dearly. Loves us--but who shall describe, who can suitably represent His love!

It is Infinite love--and cannot be comprehended!
It is Eternal love--and cannot be measured!
It is Unchangeable love--and cannot be diverted from its objects!
It is Sovereign love--and was fixed on them without anything in them to attract or draw it toward them!
It is Divine love--
deeper than a father's love;
more tender than a mother's love;
stronger than a husband's love.

This Divine love is...
a fire that cannot be quenched,
an ocean that cannot be exhausted,
a sun that will never set!

too much stuff

Do you know what it's like going through childrens clothes/stuff and having to throw some away, put some in charity bags, and then what to do about the good stuff...do I ebay it? Do I advertise it on my blog? Hmm...!

So, I'm trying to go through the kids clothes, and my own too, this way hopefully, I'll have less to pack away, and then I'll be keeping only stuff that I would really use in the future.

So, does anybody need a baby bath? I also have a few pairs of girls shoes all Clarks, but I don't know if anybody has little girls 2-3yrs out there that would be willing to buy!

Anyways, it is fun going through stuff and remembering when the kids used to fit baby clothes, and those cute dresses and yes...on and on :)

Ooh I had better start working on that lasagna for tonight before I forget! :)

Our time in Skye...

...consisted of nothing more than figuring out stuff (we will tell you soon what that is) and just trying to keep up with the kids.And allergic reactions in this little man here.

We had two days of ok weather...which as you can see in the below pic the sky was not looking very promising!

And again...

And for all who miss those single-tracked roads and their passing places...

...I actually had fun driving on them today, reminded me of Harris days.

And of all things, we go to see the Mr John & Jesse Campbell, and the Jardines were there...I took my camera I really did, but I never once took it out. :( And theres the phone!

Halkirk & Amy & Annelise's Birthday

But first a photo I forgot to post...(sorry Sharon I didn't take many at all!)

This is John & Jett.

A week ago or so we were in Halkirk, Caithness (which is more or less a farm community so much like home). Annelise (Flora & David's girl) turned 4 on July 23rd, and then Amy turned 4 on July 24th very neat! :)

The kitchen is nice and large, so large little kids can fit neatly in cupboards now they will be not seen but likely heard! ;)

Amelia writing her name (she had to ask me what letters would finish her name but this is her handwriting).

Every little girl needs a nice dolly...so that is what we got her. Meet Baby Anna (rarely called Annabell.)

She took a liking immediately. :)


The cake unfortunately was store bought and was an awful cake in comparison to the cake Annelise's granny made!! I hope I never have to buy store bought again!

Monday, we went to Dunnet where Christina & John Logue live. Had lunch with Christina and the kids lounged around on the rug...

...and read on the fluffy rug...

...and they tried swimming on the rug too.

And that was Halkirk...well, not really I should have taken a whole lot more and I wish I did because you would've loved seeing Yvonne's children, and Granny Elsie. I'll try better now that we are in Skye...no promises though!