Our Sukkot 2010

There is so much to share, I couldn't possibly cover it all! I know my description will not do it justice...but I will try to give you an idea of what our week was like.

In a few words: Beautiful, inspiring, challenging, edifying, encouraging, uplifting, cleansing, intimate, revealing, humbling, learning, growing, celebrating, rejoicing, loving, working, giving, receiving, laughing, crying, holding tight and letting go.....

We met with about 15 other families at a state park in TN to keep, honor and celebrate YHVH's Biblical feast of Sukkot (otherwise known as The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths) the best we could where we are and with what we've got. About 9 families stayed all week, as others came and went during the week as their schedules, lives, commitments allowed. Families from TN, MO, HI, FL, NC, PA, KY and AL were present. We have been to larger gatherings before, but this was very special because it was small enough that you could really get to know folks and spend time together and build connections-- that is much harder to do in a large gathering.

• Torah Study Daily - Every morning we gathered around in our camp chairs, children on blankets and read from the Torah. Our goal was to read the book of Deuteronomy that week together as a group. We read about 4 chapters a day; it took a couple hours every day...but it was a SO worth it! The Fathers/Husbands read and discussion was opened to all. There was no "speaker" or preacher or anything like that. It was just several families who are passionate about Yah's Word, reading it together and sharing. It was beautiful.



• Worship and Praise with Music Daily - The family who"hosted" the gathering often lead the group in this. They had song books printed up for the group and had many talented musicians in the family. Guitar, keyboard and violin. A couple other families also lead at different times. It was nice, very "organic". There was Hebraic dancing every day and all were encouraged to join. Even the littlest ones were welcomed into the circle. There was also a Baptism / Mikvah as we gathered at the TN river. It was a beautiful thing as whole families went in the water to express their unified commitment to YHVH.



• Serving Daily - There were many opportunities to serve in the group as needed. People arrived and left at different times, so the men were quick to help others set up (and tear down) their camps, as needed. Older children from different families always had the younger children of neighboring families on their hips. There was a beautiful awareness and servitude between the age levels. There was such a tender awareness of the littlest ones. This, I was keen to notice as I have so many! :-)

We also had a chance to go to a family farm and help them bring in the sorghum harvest during the week. All ages...even my little ones. We stripped and cut the sorghum. it was a wonderful experience. I knew NOTHING about sorghum before that day...and left with a very well rounded knowledge of it! The farm was nestled in Amish country on Russel Creek in TN, on an off grid farm. Of course that is what we are striving to do (go off grid and farm - among other things they do) and so it was a real blessing to us. We got to see so much in action first hand. We learned a lot and it really connected some dots for us! We were treated to a surprise wagon ride at the end of our work day. The family we were helping does not use tractors, rather horses for their farm work - so the oldest son hook up the team and took us for a ride up the dirt road.

• Daily Hospitality- We hosted or were guests at other camp sites for meals every day. One of the beautiful traditions about Sukkot is to have guests over in your "sukkah" (tent, booth temporary dwelling or Tabernacle) and fed them and celebrated the feast. That was going on all week long between the families. We had a couple larger corporate meals too...but it continued through out the camp...as it hummed with fellowship all week long. Shofars blowing at any given time with a "Halleluyah" after were sounds in the backdrop through out the week.



• Less Was Best- There were some things planned, but the schedule was intentionally left"open" to allow The Ruach (Spirit), lead the event...and He did! There was never a dull moment...but it never felt pressured or "busy". The first night we were there, it was late at night, I was tucked in I heard a very strong wind in the camp. It was so strong I was not sure if it was rain or wind. As I listened; it was as if I heard the would "ruach" being blown thrown through the trees, I heard it again and heard Him say "I am here". Boy was that powerful! My hair stands on end as I recall it. YHVH is SO GOOD!



• Iron Sharpening Iron Daily There were many conversations all week long about matters in Torah and the Body of Messiah. People bringing things to the surface the YHVH had been working out in them and showing them. Talk of how one determines the new year was a hot topic as we find many people becoming more aware of the things that YHVH has put in place to "clock" His calendar, according to Scripture's record. It was good stuff. The Body encouraging and challenging one another without offense to people being in different places and a real willingness to understand and seek out YHVH's truth...it was spiritual poetry in motion!



• Giving/ Learning and Growing Daily There was such a sense of commrodry and generosity in the camp. In the "spirit" of Sukkot, people came ready to give and share. There was a giving table, baskets full of bounty from farmers harvest and food that they had put up. People were sharing and giving of the things they had to give. Everything from, music, recipes, handmade items, food, clothes, supplies...there was so much. Everyone came expecting to give. I was so wonderfully surprised to receive so much! We were actually given a small cook stove, when someone learned that we had taken our heater out and looking for another way to heat the house (because my daughters hair caught fire on our old heater twice last winter!). This couple (whom we JUST met!), went back home loaded up a brand new cook stove they had in storage and gave it to us! Another dear friend sewed jumpers for my girls and took time to teach me how to start knitting and Hailey how to Crochet! I also had an opportunity to embroider a square in a young lady's "coming of age quilt" (Her parents were giving her a surprise tea during the week and all the ladies gathered to encourage her and celebrate her passing from girlhood into women hood.) I had NEVER embroidered before, so one of her sisters and another friend sat and taught me how...and I was able to embroider a Scripture into her quilt. It was a precious experience. Another person demonstrated/taught us how to make colloidal silver and sent us home with a gallon! The list just goes on...as people gave of their resources, their time their experience and their skills to build one another up all week long! My friends adult daughter from PA surprised me with a precious gift she made (just like one she made for her mom) since we share the same heart for adoption. It was a really sweet mug with Scripture. They weren't even camping with us, they came for a day visit from another state park meeting about 2 hours away. It so sweet (but too short) to see their family too!



• YHVH Taking Us to Another Level We find that every one of YHVH's Appointed Times brings an acceleration on our walk with Him; Be it revelation He gives us about Himself or His plan, further clarity of Scripture study, strengthening our spiritual muscles, humbling us and fixing our course, encouraging us on the vision He has put in us, further equipping us to go to the next level or commitment and service, developing a stronger love for His people, demonstrating His sovereignty, refreshing us if we have become weary, and sometimes even a much needed "clobber up side the noggin". We are so thankful for His Appointed Times!!!! We wouldn't trade them for anything in this world. He gives His people exactly what we need! He is YHVH Yirah!

• Making Life Long Friends - True Kinship I believe that life long friendships were cultivated at this feast. I spent time with women whom I truly fell in love with. That is a very precious thing to me. I pray it be so! (I'm getting all mutsy even thinking about it!) The richness and transparency and openess and love. It was a much needed thing in my life. I am so thankful!!

• Cooperating and Dieing to Self Daily When you dwell with a group of people, in order to do it and keep your shalom it takes cooperation and dieing to self. Maybe things aren't being done the way you would, maybe you have needs that are not being met or are "out of sorts" or out of your comfort zone? Maybe the spirit of offense tries to rear its ugly head, or judgement sneaks in or selfishness reveals itself. These are all great opportunities to learn humility and how to truly LOVE one another as ourselves. It is what we make it. We can minister life or death; YHVH has given us that power. It is our job to make the choice, and to remember we reap what we sow.

In short, I think this verse best describes my experience this Moed:

Phil 2:1-5 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Yahshua Messiah

Amen!

Yom Teruah Family Recap

We looked for two nights and did not see the moon. But did see a beautiful sun set (as we often do) on our farm - as we watched and waited. That planet in the distance is Venus (do not be mislead).


The next evening we arrived in Chattnooga just before the sun had set and raised to an overlook to see if we could spot her. It was very foggy and we could not, but we blew anyway, because we had confirmed the siting in Israel earlier that day. (The whole time difference thing.) Gideon is only 4 but he gets a strong sweet sound out of the Shofar! So much so, it actually brought a tear to my eye and made me ask YHVH if He is annointed in this area. He has a gentle and sweet heart, yet has a warrior's spirit. A momma can't help but wonder how the King will use her children as they grow!


The next day, we hiked in gardens and in Creation. It was a wonderful day together as we reflected on YHVH's majesty together as a family.

We couldn't resist a picture of a " formerly rich man" enter the eye of a needle. :-) Halleluyah!

More Blowing ensues......
This was one shot of where we went in the mountains of Chattanooga TN. As you can see it was a foggy couple of days. We were there the night before at sunset to welcome the Shabbat and watch for the moon, but did not see it. However, we had confirmed the sighting in Israel at the beginning of our treck to the mountains (the whole times zone differnce thing), so we blew as the sun set and all the next day!

This point we were at in the mountains was at the intersection/overlook of 7 states. It was a real joy to blow His blessing over such a territory. It was kind of wierd in a public place...but...we have laid down that fear of man long ago. :-)


Blow Papa Blow!

Blowing over 7 US States to declare the soverighty of our Lord!

Elijah blowing over the States. He was the first of the kids to learn to blow a couple years ago. He lead the way for them.

Eliana was so proud of herself. She is 3 and can finally blow after a year of trying, spitting and watching us. It is the funniest thing to watch, becasue she is SO tiny and this roaring sound comes out of her shofar now. This is the small horn here, but is especially a site to behold when she blows the Yemanite, it is as long as she is tall!!!

Above: We tried to get a picture of Eliana blowing over the moutains as we stood behind the wall (like the picture of me) but all you could see was a shofar peeping up from behind the wall! Can you see the little horn sticking up behind the wall there, next to my hand? Eliana is down there blowing!!

I was sad to realize we didn't get a picture of Naomi blowing this time. :-( But she did!

Now...whenever we travel on a Shabbat we like to make sure we have a full tank of gas before taken care of on Preparation Day and we always pack the big cooler full of food for our travels, so that we don't eat at resturants; It helps us keep the day "set apart". We have done this many times...so you think I would be an old pro, right? Well this time, the zip lock back of silverware that was prepared was accidentally left behind on the counter at home. So this meant we were eating bean salad (our main dish for lunch that day) with our fingers! We also had endulged in a rare treat of store bought cake. The kind that is super fluffy and crumbly and heavily frosted...Yep...we ate that with our hands too! We managed to be creative by digging out "The Spoon" that we keep in the car (if needed for "corrections" away from home)...so that is what daddy used to dish the sloppy cake. Other than that - it was all fingers!!

Things don't always turn out how we might plan...but it's what we "so with it" that counts! Of course we all had a good laugh over it!

After our trip to Chattanooga we arrived home on the farm and looked for the moon again (3rd night) after having blown all day...to see if we could actually spot the moon with our own two eyes (we still like to look 'til we find her). And there she was ever so faint in the back ground. Can you see it? It is above the power line in the picture above Hailey's head. We all blew (again!). :-)

Gideon - The Tubal Warrior

Much Love ~ from the Tribe of Ben!

Shabbat Menu 9/17 and Call to Prayer

Good Preparation Day to you! Yesturday the intensity of the preparing for Sukkot has kicked in. This week we had two birthdays after Yom Teruah and have been quite busy. Next week we have Yom Kippur to prepare for, and a Dentist appointment which is a distance and some prep shopping to be done, in addition to all the camping and cooking prep...so I am starting to feel the squeeze. :-) So...through out this prep day and the work ahead next week, I have decided to be prayerful for all of you preparing Momma's and to keep worship music and calming instramental music going in my home and car. I want to be deliberate about keeping my peace in these hectic days. Would you like to join me? If you would like to join me in interceeding for other preparing Momma's at this time... it will bless the whole family of YHVH (and help us to keep the spirit!) Please comment below if you will make it a point to pray for one another amidst your preparations this week - so that we may all be encouraged.

Shabbat Evening Meal

Challah

Grilled Marinated Chicken Breasts

Salad

Homemade Ice Cream

(Papa made a BUNCH yesturday! Strawberry, Dark Chocolate and Mint Chcolate Chip He is working on his last batch of Vanilla as I type this morning for next Shabbat's Evening Meal. Ice cream is His department - he does it so well!)

Shabbat Breakfast

Thermos Apple Spelt Cereal

Smoothy

Shabbat Meal O the Day

Italian Lentil Stew

Crusty Bread

Chocolate Pudding

(Can you tell we have some dairy we got behind on last week? :-) I have 2 batches of Cottage Cheese that sat over night last night too! That will make for nice quick lunches this busy week!)

YHVH I thank you for all these ladies whom devote thier days to preparing for your Moed and serving their families with passion. I thank You for their fellowship here online and for their commitment to You and their families. I thank you for Your moed, that you reveal Yourself in us and You refine and train us through them. I thank You for revealing them to each one of these ladies may we truly know what a holy gift it is! I pray Your peace be IN us all through out this busy week and that it be a joy to serve you and others. I pray that we truly rest this Shabbat so that we may be refreshed and recharged for the next week. I pray that we all go forth with joy and love in our hearts as we serve. I pray that we truly understand the value of what we do. May we be worthy examples to our daughters and to our sons and to our neighbors. May we remain open to your Devine apointments to minister to others amidst our many tasks at hand - remembering that people are more important than chores. May we know that YOU have us covered. May we REST in YOU even is our minds and bodies may become weary in service. May we not forget to smile. May we remember hugs and kisses for our children and our husbands. May all of those in our families join in the preparations together, as we work side by side with those we love, in service. May this be a precious time of family memories as we prepare our hearts, minds, homes and succah's for your precious Moed and continue to reflect and repent of the things you reveal to us in this 10 Days of Awe. May we let go of the things that don't matter and hang on to the things that do! I pray all these things in your precious and Kadosh Name! Amen.

Much Love,

My 40th Birthday Breakdown :-)

I thought I would share my 40th birthday with you! It was yesturday. It was a good day!

• I went for a brisk morning walk with Hailey and Elijah (and Shiloh -the Beagle - who did an AMAZING job on his first leash training event) This is a new routine we have, which will turn into bike rides again as soon as pick up my new "birthday bike".
  
• Had our daily family Hebrew Class (Our goal is to learn Hebrew to study the Scriptures in the original language - my ultimate goal is memorize it in Hebrew...but that will be down the line. )
  
• The kids must have wished me a HB 100 hundred times in the day.
  
• We unpacked a big produce order (we get Org Produce in bulk off a truck again).
  
• Got to get some organizing chores done (my favorite)
  
• Opened some gifts/cards from family, had a birthday donut (ben arranged that!)
  
• Had the gas guy come to remove a gas heater form the hallway (which was my nemesis, ever since it caught Eliana's hair on fire last year!)
  
• Two friends stopped by (one of which I hadn't seen for over a month because her 5 yr old boy was just diagnosed with Leukemia...so that was a real treat to wrap my arms around her!)The other stopped by twice - once to get their produce order, the other to bring me "40" decorations.
  
• Got lots of cool emails from friends from all over.
  
• Won 3 eBay auctions (for a nightgown for Hailey, a robe for Naomi and a MUCH NEEDED Play yard for Chazaq for upcoming Sukkot).
  
• Got lots of emails from friends, sending birthday love.
  
• Got our anxiously awaited itinerary from a group of friends we plan to camp with for Sukkot (Fall Biblical Feast) at the end of the month.
  
• Took a ride into Columbia to get materials for a shelf on my porch (so I can store my canning stuff on the porch instead of the barn and still have work space on the porch...dreamy!) and astroturf to cover a super dusty entrance to the back of the house and to the hot tub. (I am SO EXCITED about that. I'm hoping that get done today!)
  
• Went out to eat at a local steak house
  
• Went to a new park/play ground so the kids could get that donut our of their system. :-)
• Listened to a Torah class to and from Columbia. (Hayasod)
• Started actually putting Sukkot plans on paper
• Ben and I ended our day snuggling on the couch, after the kids went to bed with a long awaited movie we got in the box from Netflix (which seems so rare) about Ip Man. (Very good! This was basically the man who put Wing Chun on the map.....Wing Chun is a marshal art style I trained in, during my time in San Francisco in my 20's. (Every morning at 5am before I left my 15 hour days in College. I went to school than was a lab assistant in the evenings from 7am - 10pm at night - 5 days a week. So that was a flash back! Also weirdly special! )

So really it was the perfect end to a perfect day! :-)

In posting this, I realized one things we didn't do! Take pictures! What a shame.

Shabbat Fun for Our Little Lambs

In addition to ever popular Bible Charades game, wear we gather as a family and act out character and events in the Bible for the others to guess. The kids love to play with their Bible Quest Action Figures and Games. (They have also added swatches of fabric and use Lincoln logs to builds tents and such. These figures are possible and nice toys. However...if you little lambs are real rough on these things...they will break because the joints will snap. We started with something like these, to help fill in the gap between the littlest (rougher) lambs and the one who take more care with the figures. We call them our "Bible little people" they are not possible and can stand up to the rougher play with lesser fine tuned motor skills that the possible parts require. They are safer is you have little chewers in your tribe, because little pieces could be bitten off. They can all still play nicely together.) This allows mom and dad a little more space to go deep into the Scripture together whilst keeping the little lambs focused in a worshipful way they really enjoy. Its a beautiful thing!

We have many resources, but some others we recommend for Littles and Middles are in our Shabbat Tub are:

Creation Memory Match
Armor of God Board Game (5 and up)

Resources for our older lambs or things to do together (Multi-age) :
Uncle Arthur's Books (Some of our favorite read alouds!)
Kingdom Songs Book and CD
Bible Blurt (Board Game)
Walking in Truth or Draw and Learn Bible Series by Notgrass
Outburst Bible Edition (Board Game)
Bible Alive (Book with photos) by Zondervan
Teach Your Feet To Dance (DVD)
Davidicdance.com (DVD)
Take Me to the Holy Land, by Art Scroll (book with photo)
Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation (book and CD)
Daily Life at the Time of Jesus, by Vamosh (book with pictures)
The Victor Journey Through the Bible (book with pictures)
Illustrated Jewish Bible for Children (book with pictures)
Your Story Hour (Audio Stories)

I am assuming the best resource goes with out saying...THE SCRIPTURES!

A "Shabbat Tub" also comes in handy when you go places. You can select the things that would be most appropriate to take when you visit somewhere on Shabbat or any time of the week to help the children occupy themselves if needed. When I take it, if I don't exactly what to expect somewhere, I just leave it in the car. That way I can go get it if I need it...but at the same time...I am not interfering with something else that might already be in place by the host. I like to bring enough to share and make sure they are "quiet things". We always prepare the kids of what is expected of them before we leave the car. This way, our expectations are freshly seeded in their minds, and they have a sense of what to expect and how to conduct themselves. If they forget...a soft reminder of sorts is usually all that is needed.

Or course having shared ALL this stuff...please understand this is an accumulation of things we have used over time. Only a few of these things "come out" on one Shabbat. We don't mean to encourage you to "busy yourself" on your Shabbat...it is very good to learn to be still and also to give the children opportunities to be still too. This is a very important element to Shabbat that should not be forgotten. So we want to encourage you to try to instill a "quiet time" on Shabbat for everyone. We believe this best fills the Father's intent for Shabbat...so that we may be still and know that He is Sovereign. This may be a real challenge at first with little ones. Having Bible story picture books, or soft music and prayer time helps usher this time in. You might also try a blanket on the floor with pillows.

We want everyone in the family, no matter their age to really enjoy and look forward to Shabbat, as a precious time to soak in the presence of YHVH and set it apart from other days.

Shabbat Shalom in Your Precious Home!

p.s. If you have items you would like to share I would love to see it future posts of our Shabbat Linky...or you are welcome to put it in the comments section below to share with others.

Cheetah

We are watching a wildlife documentary with the kids. It cuts to a cheetah with a zebra in his sites for dinner.

My 4 year old boy (Gideon) chimes up and says, "Dad, a Cheetah is one who knocks people down to win, right?"

Dad replies, "No Gid, I think you are talking about a cheater. THIS is a CheetAH."

My son answers, with out having taken his eyes off the screen. "Oooh ... right."

Renewing of our minds...

Before watching the amazing video below, consider the only weapon that Satan has. He cannot invent anything, he has NO TRUTHS of his own. He as no powers to create, only to distort, twist, and deceive. What lies do we still believe so strongly that we believe them to be true? Do we believe that we are too unlovable to be adopted by the King? Do we believe we are too sinful to be redeemed? Has someone spoken a lie into our lives, even in our childhood, that we have made a part of who we are? We all need to take every thought captive, compare those thoughts to the Torah, and burn those lies (cast out those demons) that do not mirror YHVH's eternal truths.

This video is from a TV series called The Baby Human. It's an amazing object lesson showing how our own minds and emotions (our souls) can buy into falsehoods without the guidance of His Word and His Spirit. His Spirit of truth must be braided with ours, which then informs our souls of the Truth, which then in turn directs our flesh in it's behaviour. I pray that others who see our outward behavior see Truth manifested, and don't see some version of what this video presents.

Somehow I think the secular makers of this TV series would phrase that differently...

Ben

Kandoo Kangaroo

Kandoo Kangaroo Hops into Homeschool, by Susna Ratner is a precious little children's book especially for your preschoolers up to about 2nd grade. It seems to make both children and mommy smile every time we read it. It is a sweet book about a 6 year old little "girl" kangaroo who starts getting inquisitive, asking her momma all kinds of questions and their is very natural response to easing her into the idea of homeschooling. It edifies family, a lifestyle of learning, relationships. community and Scripture. The animations is also very attractive. It gets a thumbs up from this mommy!

Singing The Word

We have tried a new CD for Children's Music and like it very much. It is called God Our Provider and can be found at Singing The Word It is part of a collection in which we are looking forward to reviewing more CDs. It is Scripture put to music. There is also a "Books of the Bible" memorization song on this disc. The music style varies through out the CD, which we like.

You can download it or get the CD.

Thought I would pass it on.

Practicing Restoration and Forgiveness

Time and time again YHVH has shown me that unforgiveness and pride are at the root of most of our troubles! He has walked me through this pattern or healing personally more times that I can count and with others in council. I have had lots of practice...it is how He has helped me process these things. I am not "Mommy Set Free" for nothing... its what He does!

Reconciliation and restoration is the heart of Yahshua's ministry; it is the heart of YHVH!! He has made it very clear to me that lack of forgiveness goes hand and hand with pride. Our relationship with YHVH, friends, family and community are our "practice grounds" to learn this. We are called to get our houses in order. This gets much more complicated as time passes on issues unresolved, but that need for reconciliation only increases. Whenever I run into a relational conflict this is what YHVH has shown me to do:

1. Lay it down. (Ask YHVH for help) He has taught me to decide not to be offended - no pointing figures allowed; no excuses for why I am justified in my anger. He shows me my heart (yuck!). I stop looking at my pain/injury. I stop looking at the other person's wrongs/trespasses. I realize I must FORGIVE what ever it is they have done to me and develop a contrite heart on the matter. If I don't, it will effect my ability to love.... at all. It will effect my relationship with YHVH, my spouse, my children and others whom I have no conflict with at the time...unforgiveness if like a wicked cancer that spreads with a vengeance. (But much more serious!)

2. Take responsibility for things I could have done better. (Restoration from within.) In other words, accept my "fault" in the matter. My mamma used to say " It takes two to tangle." I must ask myself: Was I doing everything I possibly could to ensure peace with that person? Was I considering them as more precious than myself? Did I try to see things from their perspective? Did I take the time to "hear them out fairly"? Was their trespass a result of pressure that I created? Did I allow myself to get offended? Did I loose my temper? Could it have been prevented? If I "can't" HONESTLY do this; and see something I could have done better ..... than it is very likely that I didn't do #1 right and I realize I have to go back to finish #1.

Sometimes, we are victims of something tragic that we truly had no responsibility in. (Adults trespassing against children, crime from strangers, authority abuse of some sort, sexual trespasses, accidental death, etc..) While we may not have been able to prevent these things from happening, all too often in these instances we believe lies related to these events that we must take responsibilities for. The enemy seeds these thoughts in our minds and hearts that must be released. In fact we often take on responsibility that we shouldn't!!! Recognise these as lies of the enemy used to shackle us to a loveless life of victimization...things like "it was my fault" or "only if I had....", etc... We need to go through all 4 steps of forgiveness in these areas as well...just a little differently.

3. Make it right. (Restoration spills out.) This is hardest part for me, because it really is the working out of my pride. This is where the final transformation takes place. This is the place where we truly go to the person with honest repentance, to ask for forgiveness (with NO accusations, or demands or expectations of them to do anything) and start the process of changing our habits which brought us to that place. If the person is receptive, light is often shone into all kinds of things for us both. This is where we really start a new chapter. This is the place few people go!! Not doing this is why hearts and families remain broken. (If I can't do this...I have to go back and repeat #1 and #2 again..until I can, because the whole point of #1 and #2 are to get to the point where we can DO #3 and #4.)

Since this phase involves the other person/people, you must understand that you can not control how the other person initially responds to your reformation... They may break down and repent on the spot and it may turn into a big love/cry fest - OR - they may respond harshly; they may not accept it at first; they may chose to never except it at all. Of course it would be nice if the first result was always the case...and it OFTEN is...however you need to remain in that state of forgiveness and reconciliation - even if THEY DON'T. (Welcome to the high road of the renewed covenant!)

4. Accept forgiveness. (Healing takes place) Sometimes we can be our worst judge. Sometimes we don't think we are able to give or receive forgiveness; as if "we done gone too far".... But that is a lie that we must not embrace. YHVH is in the restoration business and is very willing to forgive a contrite heart. He forgives us; likewise we are to forgive others - for real! By this point you have been set free from this burden. You have done all you can do. You are called to love them anyway. How you interact with them, may very - based on the situation...and it may be a lesson in "loving the unlovable", but love does cover a multitude of sins....and that's OUR job. (If I can not do this; I need to go back #1 again)!

This process I have found be universal. Even if the person whom we need to ask forgiveness from or to forgive, is dead (physically or spiritually). You may not be able to go through the "make it right" step as you would if they were here and accessible...but you can in YOUR Spirit...by confessing it and not repeating it with another person and allowing the healing to take place in you!

I pray that you be equipped and encouraged to be at peace with all people; so that you may be found blameless in His sight and walk in the bountiful blessings of the Kingdom!!

In Him,

Shocking News about Shiloh

Shiloh is the Beagle that found us. His name is of Hebrew origin which means "the sent one". He showed up one day and never left; He chose us. He was a dog in his first year when he arrived, it has been about 5 months since he first arrived. We have seen him mature in the few months he has been with us. He had tell tale signs of being abused. He cowered and was very timid when you approached him....but you could tell he was a good dog, so we went around to the neighbors to be sure he didn't belong to someone, took him to the vet, cleaned him up, named him, and called him our own. With all the events going on at the homestead, we did not get to train him right away, so we kept him as an outside dog. It was all he has ever known, so he seemed to be really content with that. He and Dot (our Boston Terrier) are the best of play pals (after they worked out their initial "getting to know you's"). We bring him onto the porch to sleep at night...he really likes that. We let him visit indoors sometimes too. We have started some training and he is really coming along. He knows how to sit, and drop things that he shouldn't be chewing, he heels and is working on "stay". His "wildness" is settling down, his confidence and security is now good (he's not so skittish). He's part of the family. We will continue to train him so we can take him places and let him in the house in the Winter.

Besides jumping up on people for attention, which is also getting better; he has one really bad habit- Chasing cars! Thankfully we live on a dead-end country road, but there are three houses at the end of the road which bring traffic. We have a daily mail man, and weekly garbage truck, and occasional tourists, who seem to be driving the back roads to spot the Amish. We don't have a lot of traffic..but he will chase EVERY car that comes by. He acts like he is protecting the homestead. In a way its kind of cute....but NOT REALLY! He has gotten more brazen, not only chasing after cars, but he meets them right as they get in front of the house and runs IN FRONT of their front tires as he runs sideways, barking at them!! When he started this...our comments of "we've got to do something about this", turned to "order a shock collar NOW, because this dogs days are numbered!"

He is such a pleasant mild mannered dog, I really hated to put the zapper on him! However, we did last week. We had to watch the road and respond to cars passing, it wasn't convenient! But it was worth it with 2 very low power zaps (3 1/2 on a scale of 10) He stopped chasing cars completely! There is also a "beeper" on the color. It is just a little beeping alarm which you control by the push of a button on a remote control (just like the zap, but noise instead.) After the first 2 zaps, we started beeping him if he looked liked he was "revving up" for the chase, with a voice command of "leave it". That was enough to stop him. We are so thankful that he has responded so quickly to the training! We are watching him closely to be sure that he doesn't pick up his old habit again...if he does, we will do a little reminder training. We were willing to stick to this much longer than it actually took...so we are very pleased at his quick willingness to obey.

My step-dad used to say "no pain no gain". This was a great example of that. I know it may not be politically correct to use a zap collar, but I believe it saved Shiloh's life! His instincts to chase that car where far stronger than his desire to obey our voice commands. We had to increase the level of discipline in this matter, for his own sake. He would not respond to lighter forms of teaching. Because we love him and as his "masters" we are responsible for his well being. What a blessing this "hard" training has been! It has also allowed him the freedom to be the king of his farm - hunting and frolicking about as he pleases, without having to be chained or caged for his safety. He plays freely with kids and Dot, and follows us as we work outside. He sits on our porch like a proud pup waiting for us to come home when we go away. Our little protector and will still bark and give passers by "the look", so they know this is HIS family. But now, he doesn't compromise his own well being in the process.

It is just like YHVH/Yahshua teaches us through His precepts...If we can discipline ourselves to live according to the Master's rules...we have great freedoms to explore and be who we were made to be! Some people may call this sort of training bondage or inhumane because they believe life is to be lived without any "restrictions", and pain is to be avoided at all costs. However, we understand His rules and Him to actually be a loving master who is guiding and protecting us from our own instincts to run head first into self destruction!

Shabbat Rest for Parents and Children

OK...so you have grown past this whole "is the 7th day Sabbath still relevant" thing. Than you really developed a love of The Day of Rest. Maybe you realized that running around for fellowship with others every week...is not restful; so you have come to the point where you would love to spend some Sabbaths at home quietly and content resting in Him with your family, studying and worshiping...and hey...maybe even a NAP! Or maybe you don't have fellowship in your region and every Shabbat is spent at home alone with your family! BUT your children don't quite understand the beauty of that...because they are children! They are full of energy and exuberance; always looking for new experiences and stimulation. In other words being still is not fun to them! How do we combine the 2?

Doing this is an art, a work in progress as we grow in our walk and as the children grow in maturity and the family dynamic changes through the years. It is actually (surprise surprise) a wonderful "shadow picture" of our relationship with our children and our walk with YHVH. It can be very revealing if we honestly observe its transition and try to be deliberate in its growth!

It is on Shabbat when the rest of "our world" stops. School, work, responsibilities, chores, news, politics, the market place, etc...we can just turn it off for a day and what are we left with? The absolute basics, the things that really matter! YHVH, His Word, worship, Creation, food, our personal family and our adopted (spiritual) family! What a precious gift!!!! Things can not (and SHOULD NOT) ever try to be escaped. These are things which YHVH has provided for us and the other stuff is what we add on. These are things that nourish and build us up...while the other things...they tend to take from us.

When we realized this, we became a little bit more deliberate about how we spend out Shabbats at home. It is easy to pass the day when their is fellowship involved with others. Whether it be in your home or away, the sun sets before you know it...but sometimes before we really find our groove with Shabbats at home alone...they can be very very LONG. The kids can get antsy, the parents can get antsy. The lack of "business" really leaves us in a state of boredom or DIScontentment...this is not an example of His rest, this is an example of us not being used to His rest! If we are honest, I think we would all admit this being a season for us...especially if we enter into this Walk in His ways with pre-exisiting children! (I am going to set aside our OWN issues for this article and focus on the parenting aspects.) What do we do with them???

ALL children take work regardless of their age. Do these things below sound familiar?

Older children: They will kick stones and say, things like "what can I do?", "I'm board" or "Can we do ____?" (Which we know is NOT in the Spirit of Shabbat...and are at a crossroads as to permit it or not.) How about "Are we done yet?".

Younger Children: If left to themselves, they always find extra trouble on Shabbat! Mommy and Daddy have slowed down and are not watching as carefully as normal. They are trying to rest, or studying or talking/sitting together; often talking about things they quite understand. They may fight, they may forget to pick things up, they may wine and fuss, they may even act sick or start "tattling" more than usual. They still need to be given things to do, they still need to be engaged and stimulated...the older kids might have learned how to do that by now, but the little ones (especially if you have a few of them!) really need to be directed constructively throughout the day, like they are through the week.

How do we do this and rest at the same time??? We have experienced all of the things I mentioned above! But it has always been our hearts desire to enjoy the Sabbath in its fullness. We work hard through the week and we are not getting any younger, our responsibilities have only gotten greater. We have come to recognize the beauty of Shabbat and we see that it is a precious gift. He has blessed us so much with His Shabbat...we really love it and look forward to it each week. We want to enjoy it...because HIS work is never done and the other 6 days we WORK.

Here are a few practical - deliberate things we have done to usher Shalom in our home on Shabbats spent at home with family*:

(*Disclaimer - we are in no way suggesting this is the standard way to do Shabbat at home. We are just sharing our journey in the process thus far, in the hopes that it may bless anyone who might want to glean a little something from it.)

These suggestions are in addition to what ever study/worship/prayer times you do WITH the children...which should not be forgotten.

First, Mamma and Pappa discussed and settled what seems to be in line with the purpose of Shabbat. We want this day to be set apart from all others days, because YHVH wants it to be...so we tried to "define that" for our family. We came up with the general list of things I mentioned above; YHVH/Yahshua, His Word, worship, Creation, food, our personal family and our adopted (spiritual) family and of course "rest". So we decided that the things which we did would fit into these categories as rule. We would abstain from things that did not fit these parameters. We also decided to abstain from purchasing and from selling. (Sometimes we have asked for grace in purchasing "necessities" if we are traveling, but we still try to prepare ahead for Shabbat and not to purchase...if we can! That means being sure have a full tank of gas and sufficient food prepared ahead of time for our outing and not to do things which require ticket purchases and such.) Anyway...back on the home front...

It seems fine to enjoy Creation on Shabbat, YHVH did on the first one! We love the outdoors, so if the weather permits, we like to be outside. Leisurely hikes on our property (or at a park), are very common for us on Shabbat. We love to observe His Creation at a slow an leisurely pace. Sitting on the swing outside as the kids play or taking a nap on a blanket/cot/lounger outside it marvelously refreshing! Ma and Pa have wonderful porch rockers we like to sit in and discuss the wonderful things that YHVH is doing in our hearts and minds and the things we witness in our childrens'. On Erev, we like to go out and look at the stars at night. This time of year we get an added light show with the lightening bugs flickering in the fields!

In the morning - we have a premade breakfast (like granola or hot cereal that crocked all night or fruit and muffins) and put food out other food around noon and graze casually through the day and for supper.

We have also put together what we call a "Shabbat Tub". It is a Rubbermade tub (or 2) of items which we have chosen ahead of time for things to do on Shabbat. We like to do as the spirit leads as a rule, but this will often times run into in depth study for the adults and we want the smaller kids to enjoy Shabbat too, and not be board to tears by content that is way over their heads... This tub especially comes in handy while some (but not all) are napping or when guests come over, or on rainy days. Its contents vary. We switch it out every so often (Depending on how often we use it. We may not use it for months, or we may use it every week for a month!) The tub contains things like bible story books, Study tools, Hebrew related items, Bible Puzzles, Bible Figurines, Bible Games, Reminder lists of Bible Games (like Bible Charades or Worship songs), bible videos, Music, Worship Videos, etc...

Shabbat is also a great time to spend practic music/instruments for worship and to dance together! Our kids do this regularly through the week by mommy's instruction as a part of "school" but it is often something, mommy and daddy will put off! (We are -suppose to be- learning instraments too!)

We would love to hear some of things YOU do!

Swim Suit Edition

I don't know about you, but swim suit shopping for us girls, rates right up there with having my nails pulled out. :-) Whenever I am confronted by something I dread doing, I tend to put it off until I decide I can no longer, than I dive into it like William Wallace leading his army into the Scottish Revolution!! :-) So.... I made a good list of options for future reference for our own use and to share with others. I wanted to enclose sample pictures, but had to draw a "time line" in the project, so you will have to search them out yourself. Some sites have many options, so be sure to browse around when you are in the market. I hope this can take the pain out of trying to mix modesty and summer water play!

Personally speaking, I love loose fitting swim pants (even though i normally where long skirts as a rule for daily dress). I can frolic with the kids without being self conscious and worrying about my skirt flying up in the water. Am I the only one who gets creeped-out when I see someone in swim goggles swimming my way while in a swim skirt that is floating on the surface???

We have been using rash gaurd shirts and board shorts for all my kids. They are GREAT options when they are smaller and really active. I found them with flowers at target for my younger girls this year. That was a blessing. (but the shorts are too short for my older daughter!) We have always found the longer shorts at Lands End in the past which is very nice. (but a little more expensive) My daughter however, is turning 12 and is hoping for something more feminine than a board short...so we'll see how this unfolds. :-)

I would love to hear your feedback in the comment section! How do you keep modest at the pool/lake/etc. I would especially like you to share if you have an tips, tricks or links to share!

We cringe at the thought of public pools, the immodesty and "summer break" culture that is present there. That and "the shore" on the East Coast in season are just not places we go. However, I was raised in the lakes of Michigan and my dad always had a boat...I love the water...so we find happy mediums. Private Pools, smaller lakes, and rivers and creeks. We have our own 16ft above ground pool we usually put up. We also go to public areas in the off hours...we like to show up in the late afternoon when everyone else is sun stroked and on their way home for dinner. We either snack before we go, pack a picnic or just eat late that night. There was a precious spot in Mount Gretna, PA that had a lake that was very family oriented (I noticed no "summer breakers and Mackin'" going on and trust me these momma's eyes were scanning the perimeter!) Being new to this area, we may just stick to our pool...but we got word of a nice on the river with a lifegaurd at this Hippy spot called The Farm which is real close by...I am hoping to check it out. I would love to hear your comments on this too!

Here are my links:

Cute, 2 piece swim dress design, feminine and good coverage. These folks have expanded! Many fabrics to choose from. Swim fabric and patterns also for sale for you sewing types! A little pricey, but worth it. Smallest to largest sizes. I do not see a nursing friendly option...but I bet that could be worked out with the custom suit if need be. It is a 2 piece so you could work it out with a little wiggling (getting off your dress and putting baby under). We have been eyeballing these guys for a couple years. I think this is what my oldest daughter will end up choosing this year.

Slim Perfect
Modest, Classy and Feminine - this site is a must see! Swim Culottes even!

Hydrochic - Sporty, classic and EXCELLENT coverage. Long swim skirts with pants under and even 3/4 length sleeve options for swim tops. (or long short sleeves or wide tank with high neck) Wide range of sizes. Pricey but I could see how it is worth it! Especially if you have lots of girls who can get hand-me downs!

Swim Skirt - to the knee! They also have skorts 16-17"; Separates and Zip Dry shorts with a 7-almost 9" inseam; Even quick dry pants.

PLUS SWIMWEAR Classic styles, many options, including plus swim pants.

Board Shorts - Here are some girls board shorts (what surfers wear). They will handle rugged sports and have some long styles to the knee. It's a nice option with a Rash Guard Shirt if you can find a feminine print. They are loose fitting, unlike a "biker short" style which sticks to the body. They are a bit of a boyish cut, but color and a pretty print shirt might create a perfect balance for some. (Nice for your super active free spirit girls who would tend to be hanging overhead on monkey bars or have skirts fly up as they flip and flop in the grass or on the beach -showing unders. I have three of those...what ar ethe chances??!) :-)

Divine Modestee
Pretty and modern stylish custom mix-n-match styles with skirts. (pricey) I purchases this one year, and found that sizes run small and they do NOT take returns. It was an expensive experiment, but their suites are nice and high quality. (I personally lean toward more coverage now though.)

Becoming Swim Dress -so cute feminine,classy, mature and modest! (Some sheer and does not appear to be nursing friendly, but worth asking.)

Conservative Athletic Suits (for plus sizes too) simple conservative one piece tank suites with high necks and low legs. They have cute cover-ups (maxi dresses!) and good swim shoes.

Just Keep Swimming!

Leap Frog

My (just) 4 year old son shares what he saw today, with great excitement:

My Son: I saw a cow playing leap frog today!

Mamma: Oh yeah? Where did you see that? (Pappa chuckling in the background.)

My Son: At the Amish farm, when we went to get the milk.

Mamma: Who said it was leap frog; you or daddy?

My Son: Pappa! I asked him what they were doing.




(If you don't get it...think about it for a second.)

Black Mamma

Many of you may not know this: We adopted two (sisters) from Haiti last year (we are approaching our one year anniversary). It has been a crazy year of transition in so many ways for our family, but things are really settling in and getting "normal" (for us - for most it would be considered "nuts"). My oldest adopted daughter just turned 6. Her English is coming along very impressively...which we often take for granted...but she still has a limited vocabulary which limits her comprehension at times. She rolls with so much, and is so bright it is easy to forget she is ESL.

When she was in the orphanage, they often talked of their "new family" and "new home". They had pictures of us and we visited once in the process. She was in the orphanage for almost 2 years. They used to call her birth parents, your "black mamma" and "black pappa" and us her "white mamma and white pappa". (We prefer to call them her Haitian parents.) Since she is six she is very aware of "clothes". I recently started making the little girls skirts like their big sister. (simple long A-lines) They LOVE this! She says "Now I can dance like Mamma and Hailey". (We love to Hebraic Dance; she equates our long skirts with dance.) It is very sweet to witness her feelings of "inclusion" in our tribe's dress. ;-) Anyway...I am bunny trailing again.... She always likes to point out whenever any the girls in the home are matching in style or dress...which is becoming more frequent as I am making her skirts.

This morning she and I were both wearing a black short sleeved shirt, and black wide leg pants under a skirt. She ran to me with excitement and declared..."Look Mamma, you're black - just like me!" I hugged her and we both laughed, because she realized what that sounded like. I smiled and hugged her again and said, "Does this make me your black mamma now?!!". She got my humor and laughed and with great acceptance. Than she said, "Yes! You are my black mamma now!". It didn't take her long to develop the family's sense of humor!

Chazaq Yisrael

This is our new favorite picture. This is my 3 month old son, 2 Shabbats ago. We were in a park in KY having Midrash with the Torah Portion with a group of (awsome) folks as we were camping. He was nursing and grabbed hold of my Tzit Tzit. (This has now become a regular thing.) But it gets better: His name is Chazaq Yisrael, which is Hebrew and translates "Be Strong" Israel.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahavah,

No Bears Out Tonight

We have spring fever on the farm! We have a had a few nice warm days in a row with no rain. Daylight savings has kicked in and the days are getting a little longer. We have turned off the heat and are seeing more birds, and a few scattered Daffodils and Crocus pushing through the soil.

For Shabbat dinner this week, we set up the table outside and had our Shabbat meal in the back yard complete with burgers on the grill. It was the first time we have done that since we moved in this Dec. It was quite nice! We witnessed the new (ish) moon high in the sky and YHVH's beautiful painted sunset over our boarder of bald trees. It started to get chilly as the sun was setting, but we didn't want to "give it up" yet. So the kids ran in for jackets, we cleared the table and commenced with a very fun outdoor game I thought I would share with you called "No Bears Out Tonight". Momma nursed baby Chazaq on the swing and watched the fun as Papa and the rest of the little lambs played. It goes like this:

This game must be played at night in the dark. The boys are the bears and the girls are the hikers. You pick a home base. The girls hide their eyes and count to 30, while the boys go hide somewhere between the girls and "base". (This is especially exciting on a unlit farm property around a new moon if the boys are wearing dark clothes!) When the girls are finished counting they call out "no bears out tonight", as they head toward base. The boys hop out of their hiding places (with big loud growls of course!) the girls squeal and the chase takes place. If the girls are tagged before getting to base, she goes to the predesignated spot called the "belly". When everyone is either caught or safe, the round starts again. (Usually after much laughter and recall.) It is so cute watch the dynamics between siblings take place as I rock on my swing with the baby. My oldest daughter instinctively swoops up my tiny 3 year old and saves her from the bear. The boys love the chase and the girls loved to be chased. And Papa....he makes the best bear of all. After the boys have had enough chasing with papa on their team, they decide they would like a little sport against Papa too. So He becomes the only bear guarding base from 5 squealing hikers trying to get past him. He is 6 ft 5 and lets out his biggest deepest growls in the dark to get a reaction of out the kids. He hides and jumps out of the dark at them and chases after them like a giant with big wide steps (which only increases their excitement). We all had grins from ear to ear. When he catches them, he swoops them up and eats their bellies as they squeal in delight.

Good Times!

Poetry Left Behind

These are two simple poems my Grandma wrote and left behind for her family when she died. I am not claiming she is Shakespare, nor would she, but these "last words" reveal so much of who she was. You can see, she wanted to...for one last time...encourage us, comfort us and leave us with hope. THAT was my Grama! I thought I would share them.

REFLECTIONS

When I have left this world, don't cry for me;
For our Father God has decreed where I should be.

God in His wisdom and His precious love;
Has taken me to my home up above.

To each of my children still here on earth;
Each moment I have treasured with you from your birth.

To my husband "Thank you for the years we shared";
For all the times, you me showed you cared.

All my Grandchildren and the one gone on before;
All the blessing you have given me, I cannot keep score.

Life is for those here on earth to use and to give;
To serve our Lord and each other as long as we live.

Maybe the best thing we can give to the memory of those we love;
Is to live our lives for each other and our God above.

My Graduation

The day of my graduation has come
My time on this earth, my work is done
The Streets of Gold are laid out for me
All of God's glory and my Saviour too see
My husband and children have all my heart
And now, just for a little while
We will be apart
You have been such a joy
Words I cannot find
I love you so much
Its hard to leave you behind
But God in His wisdom, has made this great plan
That we will all be together and walk hand in hand
Until the sunrise of that morning comes
May you walk with the LORD in the victory He has won
I will be waiting on the other side for you
So keep your heart with pure LOVE, in all that you do

Health Insurance Alternative For The Body of Messiah

This is a wonderful alternative to traditional healthcare that some friend told us about. They new people who use it and had really posative experiances.

We are very attracted to it's structure. Basically, instead of making a monthly payment into big business medical scams (in my opinion), you send a check directly to another family in the body of Messiah who has medical bill needs. If ever you have a need the same thing happens for you! It is how The Body is suppose to work! Samaritan Ministries has facilitated that so that it may happen. It is something we are excited to become a part of this year, we plan to get it started by Spring.

http://www.samaritanministries.org/

A Tribute To a Beautiful Woman

I am not able to attend my Grandmother's Memorial today, so YHVH woke me at 3am this morning with the burden to express my love and appreciation for one of the most important women who has ever touched my life, Betty June Amones. These words were written for my family to be shared her Memorial. It is wierd posting this about her, knowing she can't read it; she was my biggest blog fan! I miss her already!

This past 10 days have been a roller coaster of emotions, all starting with and coming back again to the death of my Grama. We were very close, although physically far apart. She was a huge influence in my life, and as a mom I have learned so much from her. She is the type of mother and Grandmother that I aspire to be, yet feel like I could never achieve. She was so devoted to her family. I say I was close to her, and I was - but so were many other people! She made each person feel like they were the only one in the universe. She had that special touch and gave us that special attention. She knew just how to smooth things over for you and help you forget your troubles. She was always willing to serve - no matter the task. She made it a point to remember the little things that we liked. She found such joy in her family's happiness and provision. In an age where women are taught to seek identity and satisfaction outside the home, she shined forth like a beacon of light from inside the home. There was a great grounding in that for her family. A sense of stability and security came from her unending commitment and heart of service to her family. She encouraged us in the things we did well and didn't do well. She chose to look right past our faults yet wasn't blind to them. She was a prayer warrior always interceding on our behalf. She would come to our defense in an instant, like a momma bear who would protect her cubs. She spent countless hours tending to the little things that added up and meant so much. She was so sensitive to the needs of her family, whether they were emotional, physical, practical or spiritual - she saw it all - and it all mattered to her. Grama has always provided a covering for us. Now with her gone...it is hard not to feel exposed and venerable.

Grama loved God with all her heart. I believe that it was His love that shined through her onto us all of those years. If I could be half the mother and grandmother that she was, I will have succeeded in life beyond measure. I think of one passage when I think of Grama. She loved like it tells us to in
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.....

I found myself always thinking of Grama as "mine". Sure I would share her...but she was still "mine". As if no one could love her more than me. That shows how selfish I am, because thats just not true. She was all these things I mentioned above and more, but not just to me...she was that way to all her family.

My heart goes out to each one of you as you grieve the loss of your wife, your mother, your grandmother, your sister, and your friend. I also grieve that I can not be there today with you, to hear the stories of Grama, to share in the memorial of her precious life with those whom she impacted so. I hope you will forgive my absence. My heart and prayers are going out to you all and in this time of mourning.
I Love You, Pamela