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

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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