January Snapshots

 "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire. It is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell

 💗  ~🏡  ~  💗

Since becoming a mother, my goal has been to make our home the place we all want to be. 

The turmoil swirling around us over this past year has only strengthened my belief that home must become the most important place.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it's that I must use this time wisely to build up the next generation in loving God, loving family, and loving our country.

We may have been held hostage by our government and media's neurotic whims, but we can ignore a lot of it, and decide to thrive at home. 

The following is a glimpse into our January...

Winter is very enjoyable to me.

If you read my last post, this next photo will make sense...

The Eiffel Tower Micah and Roman are building for our "Day in Paris" is turning out great!

It's made of cardboard and glue.

Also, we were given a proper French lesson last week...

I keep what we learned on the fridge and the children and I practice our French every day.

It's a lot of fun!!

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Elsa is becoming a very skilled sous-chef...

She cuts up fresh fruit every morning while I make scrambled eggs.

We make a good team.

I try to keep our meals colorful and nutritious.

I like to eat as healthful as possible during the dull winter months.

It lifts the spirits.

I had some steaks in our chest freezer that I decided to do something with today.

I slow cooked them in my crockpot.

The result was very tender, yummy steaks for dinner.

(I think the key is to use butter!)

When I was younger I thought I couldn't cook anything without a recipe. Now I know that I can experiment based on my knowledge and experience.

Micah is definitely a "meat and potatoes" kind of man, so I've tried to honor that over the years by learning how to make different kinds of red meat.

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I am encouraged by the realization that lately I've been setting the table by daylight...

"There is something infinitely healing about the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter." - Rachel Carson

But of course, we are still stunned by the hot pink sunsets that seem to only show up in the winter.

Elsa took this photo:

The colors in a country sunset are a joy to watch.

They can be muted and hazy one minute, like an old oil painting... grey, blue, lavender, with a touch of soft pink. Then the next time I look, the sky is lit up like bright orange fire. Just when I decide I better get out there to see it better, it's changed again. And within minutes, it's gone.

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Nola reached (and has now surpassed) lesson 100 in her Arithmetic this month.

She's the first child to do it. 

Diligence is always a reason to celebrate!

And to think, she's accomplished this even with the cat continually stealing her school seat almost everyday!

😂

Regal is loved but he is mischievous!! I just put together this winter vignette on my mantle shelf because he knocked over my last one, breaking a glass vase in millions of little pieces.

I rather like this new arrangement though, so it's ok, Regal's forgiven.

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I made up my mind months ago that I wasn't going to participate in the hype and stress of the pandemic.

Those who are lording it over us do not have our best interests at heart.

It's important not to seem oppressed or rattled anyway, especially in front of children. They need a stable mother.

Remember what Joshua said, "Choose this day whom you will serve."

God's people are free.

So, friends... be happy.

Be productive.

Don't wait for the world to get its act together.

We don't look to them.

We are the examples, and the ones who are to be "salt and light."

Thanks for reading,

💐

~ Courtney

Making Plans to Enjoy the Winter

 It's always so nice to get the house back in order after the holidays.

January is an enjoyable time for me because I like winter and being home, and I also like the thought of a fresh, new start.

It's fun to plan a few events in the winter, too. It gives me the feeling that we have something to look forward to... like something bright is on the horizon.

Today we had a little get-together for Micah's birthday.

Yesterday I set a nice table...

(Here is my project manager, overseeing my work...)

When I was at the grocery store picking up fresh flowers and fruit, I thought I'd take a quick peek inside a Home Entertaining magazine. It's inspiring to look at all the very elegant and professional table settings. 

I found this statement to be meaningful and very true for me...

"Winter Gatherings - While the winter season gives us time to rest and reflect within our homes, planning meals and intimate gatherings for those we love can add so much happiness to our lives."

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Now that our family meal for Micah's birthday is over, we are throwing ourselves into getting ready for another fun event.

We are doing a unit study on Paris, France for homeschool this winter, and so far it's been a blast!

We've been researching French cafe's, exhibits at the Louvre, and learning facts about the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.

Every couple of days Roman puts together a little French lesson for us and we all practice saying a few words together like, Bienvenue! (welcome) Bonjour! (hello) and Cannelle de gateaux (cinnamon cake). 😂

Remembering what a hit our "Downs Hotel" was last winter, we've decided to make it into a similar family homeschool project. We're calling it "A Day in Paris."

To get us in the spirit, I ordered some French music to start...

It is a very charming and relaxing CD, perfect background music for us this winter. Plus, it makes me feel tres chic!

The kids say, "We want to know what they're saying! What are they saying?"

But I reply, "No, no. It's much more fun this way!"

🎶

So, in our spare time we are working on little projects to get ready...

The kids are making Eiffel tower ornaments to sell in the gift shop...

And Micah is helping the kids create an Eiffel tower structure out of cardboard.

Their first step was to make some measurements and craft a plan...

I'll be sure to show you the end result!

Meanwhile I've been stashing away little trinkety items that I've been gathering for the event, like play money euros and a Mona Lisa print.

Everyone in the family seems excited for it, and we've been having fun coming up with ideas.

When someone has an idea I say, "ok!" and we run with it. Like Nola, she wants to be a street artist, so we assembled a little costume for her...

Planning an event like this provides such a fun distraction that before we know it it'll be spring!

 I hope you're enjoying your winter, friends, and I'll share more about this at another time...

💐

~ Courtney