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The Family Meal Table

pamela ♥ — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:58:05 +0000

One of our greatest treasures and lasting blessings is our meal table. It’s a real challenge to maintain mealtimes when the family begins to grow and scatter in different directions each day. But we endeavor to have at least one meal, if not all of them, together each day. It’s difficult to persevere with this one sometimes — especially when it’s easier to just “grab ‘n go” when schedules are hectic or when schedules are so different for older family members. Still, I desire to hold fast to this treasure — this family tradition — this mainstay: the family meal table.

One of my favourite encouragers is Nancy Campbell. Her seeming tireless work on behalf of mothers and families is such a blessing to me. I love to listen to her, to learn from her, to be inspired, encouraged and uplifted as she shares valuable truths and lessons on motherhood. I so wish I had had her manuals when I began motherhood thirty years ago. I so needed encouragement as I was sort of “pioneering” my way through early motherhood.

Here’s a glimpse of Nancy Campbell. Through the years, I’ve included articles and links to articles on our site. You can also read more at the Above Rubies site.

Another homeschooling year

pamela ♥ — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:28:11 +0000

So, yes… another homeschooling year has begun. We’ve already had the usual variety of commitments — planned and unplanned, absences and extra-curricular activities: some sick, some tardy, some cutting class (uh, that would be two of the teachers :-O ), etc., etc.

Three days into the new school year: We’ve already had to revise our expectations — both raising and lowering them regarding courses of study and assignments for different students. We’ve had to do this many times through 22 years of homeschooling. We seem to forget this every year!
Three days into the new school year: We’ve discovered we have too many of some and too few of other materials we need for each days’ work for each student. Again… this is a repeat of the previous 22 years. Someday we will “get it!”
Three days into the new school year: The teachers have forgotten, missed, or been late to the kitchen table class. Ditto, the students.
Three days into the new school year: For what can be accomplished in any given amount of time, we’ve had to revise our expectations. Up and down.
Three days into the new school year: We’re saying: we are off to a great start! This is going to be a wonderful school year: we can just tell!!

Aebelskivers

pamela ♥ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:42:14 +0000

My husband’s birthday was on Tuesday — we began the day’s celebration with aebelskivers for breakfast for him! I make aebelskivers for special breakfasts — but sometimes, when it seems it’s been ‘awhile’ since I made them, someone will ask for them for breakfast (or dinner!). We serve them with powdered sugar (as you see here) and raspberry or blackberry jam or maple syrup. I’ve been making these for many years — and though at first they are a bit tricky to make, after some practice, they’re a very, very easy and fun breakfast tradition. I have some more photos and the recipe here! My favourite pan is the SCI cast-iron aebelskiver pan — you can purchase from the Solvang restaurant here. They’re often out of stock, though. You can also purchase aebelskiver pans from Williams Sonoma. And I wouldn’t bother with two ‘hand tools’ for turning the aebelskivers. Just get a #4 knitting needle and use it for turning the aebelskivers. Medium heat to medium-low heat seems best (but you’ll get the hang of it and what temp works best on your stove). And use 1/2 butter-1/2 oil for the ‘cups’ of the pan. Too much butter makes them brown too easily and too much oil is… too much oil. )

As the years go by, I’m sure thankful for family traditions — I think everyone ought to have special traditions they look forward to and fondly remember from days gone by. I love hearing my children’s “we always ______ “ (but those comments are sometimes followed by an older child saying: “O, yes, we always did that. One time.”

Well, for us, Aebelskivers are a many-many time thing. And, when we go to Spokane we always have at least one breakfast at The Olde European restaurant and always have at least one order of ’skivers.

Wes's Birthday breakfast: Aebleskivers!

Summer fun: jumping bales

pamela ♥ — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:38:51 +0000

In case it seems I’ve lost the lighthearted side… I haven’t. Here’s my lighthearted side.

Jump!

The local farmers do three cuttings a year… and through the years, the youngest of our children have the greatest time jumping from bale to bale all over the land! I don’t usually get pictures of this fun event, but my neighbor graciously gave me these! It’s always a sad day when the tractor loads the bales of hay onto the truck and drives them away.

30 Favourite Things #20

pamela ♥ — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:10:58 +0000

In all my life, my greatest gift has been faith and salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord. And in our marriage, in our family – parenting – life work… we are humbled at the mercy of God… the greatest gift — the greatest joy — is walking with Him and knowing our children walk in Truth. That they, too learn to walk in faith is answer to prayers — many prayers for each of them from birth. Answered prayer, each having received the gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus. The baptisms pictured below are of four of our children… to the Praise and Glory of God.

samuel josiah

Wes had the privilege and joy of baptizing them this past summer at the Believer’s conference north of Deer Lake in Eastern Washington. The first photo is Samuel (was 18 at the time) and then Stephen (15) and then Joseph (13) and then Naomi (12)

We have no greater joy than that our children walk in Truth.
3John – 4

stephen joshua

It was a tender time of repentance, of commitment to the Lord Jesus and obedience to walk in His ways.

joseph elisha

naomi anna-noëlle

Of all the wonderful things that happened in this past year, surely this event is the very best one. It’s numbered in the entries as #20, but it’s number one… number one of my memories, number one of my hopes and prayers and number one of my goals in parenting our children.

Truly, I have *no greater* joy than that my children walk in Truth.

30 Favourite Things #16

pamela ♥ — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:13:38 +0000

Birthdays! Birthdays! Birthdays! These were favourite things from my fiftieth year. I’m not sure just which birthday stood out the most over this past year. But one birthday I was *so* extraordinarily happy to celebrate was my husband’s birthday. As I look back I marvel at the goodness and mercy of the LORD and truly, I was/am so thankful the LORD gave him another birthday and I pray for many more. Wes’s birthday was one day shy of one year since he had a heart attack. I recall thinking in the ICCU surgery waiting room: Lord, will he have any more birthdays — was yesterday’s birthday the last? And now more time has passed… and I do praise the LORD for every day.

Well, many happy birthdays were celebrated. A couple were celebrated without the ‘birthday boy’ or ‘birthday girl’ present. Both Kathryn and Timothy were in Africa (and Timothy just had his second birthday celebration the last baby turned 7 and the first baby turned 29. In between were all the other wonderful birthdays of our own children (and many other wonderful birthdays as well!!) — 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 27… which actually means that some of those have already or will shortly be one higher. Again, I marvel: I never thought I would be this old (and feel this young!!). Truly, no kidding around, I marvel that my ‘baby’ will soon be thirty — bcz I find myself thinking: didn’t *I* just turn thirty!?! I mean it sort of seems like it was recent – I know, I know.. it was soooo long ago that I simply cannot remember it.

So, anyway, now I find I further understand people’s comments such as: age is a state of mind or you’re as young as you feel or you’re only as old as you feel, or I’m not getting old, I’m getting better, or whatever. I know I probably used to think those comments were sort of silly, I’m sure. I probably thought they were the sort of “positive mental attitude” stuff that “old people” say to console themselves — you know, that condescending attitude ~~most~~ many young people have toward anyone 20 years older than themselves.

Okay. I repent. I wish I had known then what I know now.

I don’t feel old. I do feel better. I know I’m not as young as I was — but I sure don’t feel older. But I do have to admit: when I stop and attempt to recount but a few hundred of the thousands of things that have happened — well, my goodness, I’ve got to be older! I marvel at how much has occurred, how many things we’ve done in such a short time!! I’m sure glad I got to live this long. Wow. What if it’s double this?!??!!!!!

So I resolve not to listen to young people’s ignorant comments and respond in kind. I want to grow older gracefully. I hope I’ll remember how these days feel and how those days felt. I don’t want to become an impatient, bitter, crotchety old woman waving my cane at the little whippersnappers and yelling: just wait, your time’s coming!

30 Favourite Things #14

pamela ♥ — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:49:02 +0000

Another thing among thirty favourite things from my fiftieth year: Facebook! I love Facebook! And, this, from someone who was/is so adamantely opposed to MySpace. Adamantly opposed. As for Facebook “safeguards” — I have opted for the “no ads” on the sidebar and I don’t add many “applications” and don’t add people I don’t know — but it’s totally not an “anonymous” atmosphere. There’s no real anonymity on Facebook. A “safeguard” I have to personally adhere to is: I’ve got to be *very* careful to watch the clock and not spend too much time browsing Facebook! Warning: It. is. a. time. vacuum!

I first opened a Facebook account when Kathryn was in Uganda a couple of years ago. It was a very simple way for us to communicate as the internet connection wasn’t always reliable and leaving notes for her there was a quick and simple process for her to use when internet time was at a premium. We also benefitted as a family bcz we could see “her life” and feel like we were in close touch.

Well, such has been the case over the last year for Timothy in Ghana and for when Kathryn went back to Uganda. In addition to writing notes to them (and our other children), which I try to do each day, I’m able to see photos they post or comments from others that are soooo encouraging to me. It’s such a blessing to my heart to see the many who are praying right alongside me in many places. It’s been sweet to read the notes and see all the loving encouragement — I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the tremendous support our children have or have had! How lavish the Lord has been to give us a glimpse of His care — and to show us, often in photographs, what He’s doing in remote places! We sure see it — and, more importantly, Timothy sees it — the encouragement Kathryn saw before, during and after her mission’s trips.

Another unforeseen benefit has been the great blessing of reuniting with old — and I do mean old!! ;o) — friends. I wonder if I would have ever sought out some of the old friends I have been able to reconnect with. Interestingly, it’s like the Lord is answering questions for me… or giving me answers to questions I never thought to ask — sort of showing me (as Paul Harvey might say) the reeeeeeest. of. the. story.

It’s been refreshing, encouraging, and instructive to me on so many levels. There are downsides — yes, there are downsides to Facebook. Just like there are downsides to the whole Internet — and I’m not even referring to the obvious potentials for internet sewage to be pumped into homes across the world. I’m referring simply to the downsides of too much time reading “good things” and other downsides to websites… our website… to blogs… to this blog. But there is good — there’s potential for a whole lotta good — when discretion is applied.

So, especially during my fiftieth year… it’s sure been fun to see old faces. The reflection in the mirror is not alone. )

Facebook. Don’t say I recommended you ought to get an account. I’m just sayin.

The Will of God

pamela ♥ — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:56:47 +0000

The will of God will never take you…
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now,
but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best.”(author unknown to me)

To my boy this morning.

“Timothy, one thing I know for sure… God is only Good *all* the time… I thank Him again and again… that when I see the moon – no matter how far you are – we’re looking at the same moon. The same Sun. The same Son. The same God of all Creation loves you & me and no matter how far…. His Hands can span that distance and hold us both at the same time. Thank you for your love for the LORD… walk on.
I love you. ♥”

This is one of those days where concerning trust and faith in God, I know that I know that I know… but pray: I believe, Lord; O, help Thou my unbelief when a wave washes over.

30 Favourite Things #3

pamela ♥ — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:04:11 +0000

On the first day of my fiftieth year… my husband’s family began arriving for the funeral and memorial service for his grandmother. It was a bittersweet day as many gathered to honour her — to pay their respects, laugh, cry, look at photographs, reminisce, sift through treasures and memories and to lay to rest a woman who’d spent her whole life toiling for the Lord and for those He brought across her path.

At nearly one-hundred years old — twice my age — she had lived a very full, very rich life. However, by many standards, “rich” might not have been the first word one would utter when taking a look at her life. But it was rich. It was, in fact, very much so. The faces, the tears, the smiles, the recollections all formed a collage of chapters and stories of a woman whose life had had a tremendous impact on many, many others. Her life was a gift and she allowed it to be used of and poured out by the Lord. It reminded me: tell people what you think while they’re living — say ‘I love you’ while you can. Live well as long as you have life!!

I thought then (and have done so many, many times in this past year): so many people came through the door of her home… many left there: changed – many were saved for the Kingdom of God. Many came in to help — but left: helped. Many came to give her gifts — but left with more than they could carry — in their hands or in their hearts. That’s just the kind of woman she was. I love that I knew her and I love that I had the opportunity to spend time with her. I love that I had before me a living testimony of the faithfulness of God. I love that I saw an example of tenacity and strength – even in weakness – even in sickness.

I love that I saw my husband’s loving interest and care for his grandmother and that he has the same twinkle in his eye she had in hers. I love that she was a woman of faith and a woman of prayer and that many, many had come to her ‘family alter’ for prayer and stayed there until a matter was prayed through. The same has been said of my husband’s mother’s mother and mother’s grandmother as well. It was a very bittersweet grief when his other grandmother died 17 years ago… I had that same sinking sadness when this grandma died… knowing that one less person would pray for me by name every day. What a comfort that is to know someone’s praying for you by name day after day.

And so… O, what a legacy of faith my husband brings and now passes to his grandchildren. And I am so thankful to have begun my fiftieth year in that place… in that way. It was as if to show me: this is the way, walk ye in it.

I often think of the prayers of mothers and grandmothers… still ascending to the Throne of Grace — it is a charge to keep. What a blessing to have witnessed the testimony of faith and to have that path so clearly and beautifully demonstrated before me.

“And the smoke of the incense,
which came with the prayers of the saints,
ascended up before God
out of the angel’s hand.”
Revelation 8.4

Through the Bible in a year

pamela ♥ — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:19:33 +0000

I’m always amazed (but not surprised) that God works in marvelous ways. Every now and then (and it happens infinitely more often than I’m aware of), God lets us in on His doings — or lets us see His Hand. I suppose were we to stop and really consider it, we’d see His Hand much more often than we do.

Well, so last year (I cannot believe this is already 2009!), my husband was impressed that we should read through the Bible in a year and that we would do so with no particular schedule or daily ‘requirement’ or even length of reading time. He just thought that we should read each morning during our family breakfast & Bible study. We’ve had breakfast/Bible study daily for most all our marriage.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

We were almost giddy the first of December as we opened our Bibles to 1Peter and then on through the month we read as we customarily do for about 20-40 minutes each day. Much to our delight, on December 30th we opened the Word to 17th chapter of Revelation. We read, we talked, we prayed, we thanked the LORD for His merciful kindness to us. Some days long, some days short, some days with guests, and some days with interruptions… the Lord had it all in hand. We should never doubt in the valleys what He’s shown us on the mountaintops. He took us by the hand from the beginning to the end of the book.

Now, this might not be such a big deal – for we were in no race, no contest and under no compulsion to even do this — except that Wes had been led of the LORD to just read through the Bible in –one-year– as a family. Believe me, we’ve attempted to do similar things in our quiet times – reading a prescribed number of chapters a day — two or three in the old and two or three in the new and so on. We’ve used the check-box sheets and we’ve used other methods of scheduled reading. I’m not sure how far we would get into the first month, but I recall it being in the first several days that I would get derailed. So I would just go back to reading — with no real schedule so that I wouldn’t be all flustered and feel guilty — but more, so that I would just do it.

And so, that’s why the daily reading and ending up at the end of the book at the end of the month was such a sweet gift from the LORD… and affirmed to me once again:

A man’s heart deviseth his way:
but the LORD directeth his steps.
–proverbs 16.19

God is good all the time and His ways are past finding out.