Caedmon's Birthday #3

Yesterday was Caedmon's third birthday.  I think he was a little worried that there might not be any presents or a cake.

But, then again, I think he may have had a sneaky suspicion that something was up.

For his birthday breakfast he helped me mix up his first ever muffins.  This little guy is allergic to wheat, dairy, egg and much, much more.  We made muffins with a gluten-free flour, rice milk and applesauce to replace the eggs.  He really enjoyed them!

And he loved geting to help cook.  The kitchen can be dangerous for him with so many of his allergic foods constantly being used, so helping to cook was a grand adventure.

When you are the seventh child you most likely have a houseful of toys that have been passed down from your older siblings.  And if your mom is in the midst of the Great Declutter Challenge, getting more toys may not be an option.  Caedmon asked for a flashlight and a ball, so he got THREE flashlights and a little ball.

He also got a cowboy hat and a gun that makes way too much noise for his mother's comfort.

Not only had Caedmon never had muffins, but he had never had a cake, either. Devin made this cake using a gluten-free cake mix, olive oil and applesauce.  It turned out pretty well.

Blowing out the candles

The first bite

And the verdict?  It was good!

Happy birthday to our precious Caedmon!! 

If you are interested in how Caedmon got his name, read here.

47 and a Giveaway

Today is my 47th birthday.  It is so hard to believe that I have lived 47 years.  I really don't feel "that many fingers" old!!  Where did the years go?  In the last few days I have reconnected with my hometown via a Facebook group.  It has brought back memories from childhood that are sweet as only small town memories can be, but also memories that are not so sweet as there have been many mistakes made in my life.  I have laughed and smiled remembering friends and teachers, people I worked with at McDonald's in my teenage years and people who worshipped with me in a beautiful sanctuary that is no more.  I have mourned as I have seen a side of small town life that I really didn't know about and rejoiced as I realize, once again, that God's hand was leading me....even as a child.

This morning I walked into the kitchen where my daughter was preparing breakfast to get my morning coffee which was prepared in the wee morning hours by my wonderful husband who had already been hard at work for an hour or so.  My daughter noticed my Ben Gay scent which is one other indication that my years are catching up with me.  A brief rub down of that delightfully scented ointment enabled me to sleep last night.

Birthday greetings abound and even the two year old--who has no idea that his mama has a birthday today and doesn't seem to mind that I am so very old--gave me the sweetest gift as we settled in my chair for our morning snug-fest ritual.  I asked him, " Do you know I love you?"  And, with a very deep sigh as he snuggled ever deeper into my arms, he said, "Yessssss."  I consider it such a blessing to be 47 and still have a little man to snuggle in my arms each morning.  Thank you, God, for that sweet, precious gift!!

A hearty breakfast with gift bags placed beside my chair.  A sleepy six year old awakened for the "revealing".  He enters with a sheepish smile and quickly goes to collect a bag that he had hidden last week.  A large ceramic mug in just the right shade of orange, a bright red colander (my girl doesn't like to acknowledge how much like her mom she really is....her gifts reveal the traits that are not hidden to others), a package of Snicker bars to have for those moments when nothing else will satisfy  (it's an inherited trait), a huge container of mocha cappuccino mix,  a six year old boy's cut out efforts consisting of a couple of brown hearts and a paper dog and a musical composition whose melody can only be heard in his heart, but the effort is so very precious.  A package from my husband that hasn't arrived yet, but he can't keep a secret and I can't wait to get my new canning cookbook.  I am such a practical homebody!!

A promise of a wonderful Italian dinner with dessert of my choice, laundry gathered, sorted and the wash started without my asking.  Facebook and email birthday greetings and extra time to soak in the tub this morning while enjoying the latest edition of Above Rubies magazine.  And now to spend the rest of the day teaching and serving these most precious gifts that God has given me....my family!

But before I leave I have a gift for you today.   Kaelan (12) and I have greatly enjoyed Victoria Botkin's audiobook series Voices from the Past.  Today I have The Letterbook of Eliza Lucas Pinckney.  From the cover:  When 16 year old Eliza Lucas's father was deployed to Antiqua in 1740, he left the management of his household and three plantations in Eliza's capable hands.  In these lively letters, she describes her adventures handling her father's affairs, cultivating and exporting indigo, educating her sister and the black children on the plantations, and helping to build up the economy of her fledgling colony through her many business schemes.  Hear her words of encouragement and exhortation to four generations of men in her family, including her two sons, both Revolutionary War heroes, over the full and fruitful lifetime of this great mother of our country.


If you would like a chance to win this very well-done audio book, please leave a comment letting me know.  I'll draw the winners name next Monday!  Be on the look-out for more giveaways this week!!

Hip Homeschool Moms Giveaway Day

In Which We Are Six

Wednesday was Jackson's sixth birthday.  He has been counting down the weeks and days for a while.

We usually start our birthday celebrations at breakfast, but Jeff has been going to work extremely early every day this week because of filming.  To compensate for this, we took Jackson by himself to Baskin Robbins Sunday night where he enjoyed a double dip cone.   So, Jackson had to wait until dinner time for his celebration.

Kaelan made a sign for his chair .

Last week we asked him what kind of cake he wanted and his reply was an Irish cake.  Devin has introduced him to the Celtic Woman and The High Kings, so he is on an all things Irish kick right now.

We tried to get him to tell us what an Irish cake was and all he told us was that it was four layers with chocolate cake and brownies!  So Devin, Kaelan and I brainstormed a little and decided to go with the chocolate cake and brownie layers and add a  couple of layers of chocolate mint ice cream.  He also wanted white icing.  He choose spaghetti, French bread and salad for dinner.  I tried to get him to choose a corned beef dinner in keeping with his Irish theme, but spaghetti it was!

Jordan googled "Happy birthday" in Gaelic and Devin wrote it on the cake and added in a few shamrocks and sprinkles.  It was delicious!

I have to throw in a picture of little brother Caedmon.  We do like our Gaelic names around here!!

Happy Birthday to you!

I am so thankful for this sweet boy who still climbs into my lap and loves to cuddle.  He still sneaks into bed with me occasionally in the early morning hours for a sweet snuggle.  I know this time will soon pass and try to enjoy it as much as I can.  

Three

Today we visited with this little man and the rest of his family.  We had some birthday gifts to deliver and took a lunch of bbq sandwiches, baked beans, chips, BLT dip and yummy blueberry cobbler.  Chase had a grand time opening his presents.  I got him several "first" games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Memory and Don't Spill the Beans.  All were favorites of Lauren's growing up.  As Chase pulled out the first game, he exclaimed, "Cereal!!"  He thought it was a box of cereal.    These gifts were greatly overshadowed by Devin's gift of .....Buzz Lightyear.  Earlier in the week he received a Toy Story movie and a Toy Story sleeping bag.  He was really excited about Toy Story!  

Happy Birthday, Chase!!  We love you!

Grandson Elisha's First Birthday

Last Thursday was Elisha's first birthday.  Lauren had a family celebration Sunday evening with the Phillips and Chamblee families and a couple of Elisha's great-grands.  

Devin went down to Lauren's the day before to help her prepare.  She decorated the cupcakes.  We also had lots of pizza and ice cream.

I think Elisha was enjoying his cupcake just a little too much!  It looks like he is winking in this picture!

Big Brother Chase, 2, covered in pizza sauce!

Uncle Jackson, 5, also covered in pizza sauce, but always ready for a picture!

Playing Catch Up

 Life, as usual, has been busy around here lately.  I am always amazed at how other moms can be involved in so many outside activities and maintain their sanity.  I learned a few years ago that I needed to say "NO" more often so that I could keep things going on the home front.  We are busy enough as a family with music lessons, work and travel schedules to add any other activities to our load at this time.

I just wrote that and  I now see how ridiculous that looks as these last few weeks have been filled with activities that I was involved in.  A couple of weeks ago we had our annual father/daughter banquet that I helped coordinate.  We were blessed to have Geoffrey, Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin join us and share with our fathers and daughters.   The next day I began baking over 400 rolls for a friend's daughter's wedding which is this Friday evening.  This family is extremely involved in fighting a culture war in our state and I felt so blessed to be able to help them in this small way.  I have also been coordinating a How Great Thou Art Seminar with Barry Stebbing which will be held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   The Stebbings will also be here through next week filming a nature study series for The Homeschool Channel.

In the midst of all of this we have had our normal piano and violin lessons, Devin's teaching schedule and Jordan's work schedule.  We also had a short visit by Lauren and the boys on Saturday.  The boys are growing so quickly and now, Lauren is expecting baby number three!  Devin went home with them and helped Lauren clean her house and get ready for Elisha's first birthday party.  Jeff's parents were able to attend along with our son-in-law's family.  With just family there were about 27 people there!

Please remember Jeff's step-father, Earl, in your prayers.  He has recently found out that he may have lung cancer and will be finding out from the surgeon today when surgery will be scheduled.  He and Jeff's mom, Erma,  have both been fighting pneumonia these last few weeks and, of course, he is very anxious about the cancer prognosis.  Please keep both of them in your prayers.

After the Congressional vote in Washington on Sunday I found it a little ironic that we were beginning a study of the Revolutionary War on Monday.  We are continuing to study the character trait of responsibility and will soon begin a study on courage.  Can I just say that it would so amazing if all of our elected officials would take some time off and do a little study on these topics as well?  I am so very grateful that I can point my young men to the examples of responsible and courageous men from our country's past history.  I can only pray that they will be men who will stand in the gap, speak truth, and follow God in all they do.  No, I can do more than that!!  I can teach them God's Word and point them to Godly examples who have done great things in the past!

It is so very easy for Christians to become discouraged and dismayed in today's world.  We have had many discussions around our  dinner table about what this legislation means and how we can respond.  Jeff has shared this portion of scripture with us and it is so very appropriate.  The LORD tells us here specifically what we are to do!   This is a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah in Jerusalem to the Jews who were  captive in Babylon.

                   Jeremiah 29:  4-14  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried                away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:  Build houses and dwell in them;  plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters--that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it;  for in its peace you will have peace.  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:  Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.  For they prophesy falsely to you in My name;  I have not sent them, says the LORD.

                   For thus says the LORD:  After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me will all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity;  I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Notice that God caused them to be taken captive.  He also tells them to build homes, plant gardens, marry, have children SO THAT YOU MAY INCREASE AND NOT DECREASE!  Seek the peace of the city, town, county, state and country that you live in.  Pray to the LORD for it.  If there is peace in the city, town, county, state and country then you will have peace.  Search for the LORD will all your heart.  He will be found!

    

45

I suppose if you are in your 20's or 30's that 45 seems pretty old. It even looks old up there in my title for this post, however, it really doesn't FEEL all that old. Until I look in the mirror first thing in the morning, that is! Yes, this weekend marked my 45th birthday! The children blessed me with a great breakfast Saturday morning along with some wonderful gifts for my "research time" in my garden tub. Two of one of my favorite contemporary writer's newest books along with bath bubbles and hot chocolate. Jeff got me a beautiful red Fiesta casserole dish! I love the color! I only have one other piece of Fiesta ware and I have had it for about 13 years--a cobalt blue tea pitcher my mom gave me for another birthday years ago. I also received a beautiful necklace and ear ring set made by a sweet young friend (they match my new casserole dish!) and another set of ear rings that she also made as a gift from her mom! So sweet! I can't wait to wear them.

Kaelan also made a beautiful chocolate cake that we enjoyed last night! Devin thought it turned out better than her cakes do! Oh, the blessings of having daugthers! Especially ones who love to cook!

How many 45 year old women to you know that have a 10 month old baby? Not many, huh? I think having the babies keeps me feeling young. Some days that is!