THe week

Sean and the older boys picked up twelve new layer chicks earlier this week, leaving the house at dawn for the ride. The chicks are sweet and reddish blond and soft and downy. The kids are determined to tame them and they receive much loving. Our older hens are pretty sweet and tame too, they'll squat right down when the kids reach to pick them up and have personalities of their own.

This morning we visited a few garage sales and just as we were heading home, Sean called to let me know our first foster daughter, Natalie, was going back into foster care. The kids and I had just gotten together with her and her mom last week for a visit at a park. So tonight there are six sleepy kiddo noggins tucked into beds. Tomorrow we have planned a trip to the cabin with friends for hiking and good food and maybe some wading for the kiddos since the temps are supposed to be in the 80's. It feels nice to have Natalie back.

A friend from church gave me a complete set of these beautiful vintage hand towels that her husband's aunt embroidered. I love them and they have a special place in our kitchen. So perfect for lining a basket full of muffins or covering a tray of cookies, don't you think?

I visited my midwife on Monday and was thrilled to hear our baby's beautiful heartbeat. Knowing he or she is snug and safe, an added coming blessing to our family is a wonderful thing. The second trimester is also a wonderful thing, with the exhaustion fading and queasy stomach gone!

This week is the week May birthdays begin in our home. Chase turns two on Wednesday, Andrew turns eight on Friday and Eleanora will be four on the following Tuesday. Tonight she began sounding out and telling us the different letters in Natalie's name and which order they went in. She is smart, that girl.

Biggest and Youngest

9.18 038s, originally uploaded by hannahhagarty.

9.18 038s, originally uploaded by hannahhagarty.

If she's supposed to think being the oldest in a large family is no fun, she obviously hasn't gotten that memo. {smile}

Windy

269_6955w, originally uploaded by hannahhagarty.

I think the laundry dried in ten minutes today, even the bluejeans. We braved the wind to putter around the yard, swing and check out the garden progress. So thankful there was sun and wind and fifty degree temps instead of the snow predicted!

Digging

Eleanora and I took a break among the violets on Saturday while we watched Sean dig the holes for the new fruit trees. We put in pear, apple, sweet cherries and pecan trees, 75 strawberry plants, blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes, grape vines and rhubarb. Currently we just have apple and sour cherry trees among a bunch of non-fruiting trees and a few ancient maples that make delicous, sticky syrup.

Found this sweet vintage housedress at a thrift shop like new. I am carrying this wee one very low (girl?) and I'm reminded of author Ralph Moody's description of his mother looking like her front had all fallen all together south or something to that effect. :)

Tonight I'll make the trip out to see my nice midwife. I've dowloaded a few books off of librivox.org for the drive, The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens and St. George for England by G.A. Henty and am looking forward to the quiet time to listen and pray. I really love long car rides alone.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

I had a craving for buffalo chicken dip, all the ingredients of which I had on hand except for ranch dressing. Reading countless labels at Walmart (ugh.) I found that all of them contained MSG, written as monosodium glutamate. MSG and I don't get along, and I especially wouldn't eat it with a babe inside.
Here's the recipe (so easy!) that I made in a few minutes this evening:

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayo
3 tbsp chopped chives
3 tbsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic salt (some of these have monosodium glutamate too, so check)
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix it all together -tada!

This recipe comes from a mashed potato recipe off of epicurious.com, one of my favorite go-to's for delicious recipes. Hope you enjoy it!

Happy

Happy the crocheted bedspread I found for $2 is a queen size.

Happy I conquered my fear of sewing a bathing suit. This one for three year old Ella, made to her specifications and with fabric she chose. It is uniquely her and I love the way it came out. Also love how easy it was to make!

Happy that while we seem lately to be surrounded by a great cloud of doubters, there is good reason to trust God and the Bible as being truth. Listen to a great short message on the subject here, by Dr. Voddie Baucham, titled "Why I believe the Bible".

Estate Sales and Such

Friday was a fun and busy day. The five and I were at an estate sale by 8. Some sweet Ukranian grandma crocheted this bedspread with the teeniest, tiniest hook and thread and I thank her for it. I also thank her descendants that sold it to me for two dollars.

This lace inserion tablecloth was also two dollars and I think will end up as an item of clothing or a curtain since our table is eight feet long. I couldn't leave behind the hand made lace. The kids picked up some harmonicas and little tools and we headed to a garage sale (load of tupperware cups and lids for $1, 25cent helmets, and a pair of 75cent skates) before heading home for friends and brunch, playing outside in the warm sun and cold breezes. Later that afternoon we stopped by another estate sale with an incredible collection of vintage jewelry which I resisted. I picked up a box of sewing patterns and this gorgeous hand printed fabric for $4.

I'm not sure what this kind of fabric is called. I have another piece similar. The printed side in cotton-like and the back side is silky, satiny. In Roman numerals, it says 1961. I'm thinking a cute dress next summer post baby.

What is Homemaking?

My eyes close as my head hits the pillow, little flutterings in the womb welcoming me to rest and sleep and the close of a long day.

What is being a homemaker all about?
Is it about perfection? Starched curtains and ironed bedsheets? Fancy meals and prim children and no toys about?
No. There is often not time for perfection in a busy day, but thankfully love is more important than perfection. Love bathes the imperfect, stinky toddler who took off his diaper in his crib. Love begins yet another load of laundry of sheets and blankets. Another load to wash, carry, hang, take down, fold and put away. Love as a motivation makes chores enjoyable and burdens lighter.

Love breathes forgiveness.
Forgiving the imperfect mama who kneels before her children and asks forgiveness for not being sweet and kind. For putting herself before them. Forgiveness is in the hugs of the chubby and slim arms wrapped around her in love.

Love tells stories of hard lessons learned, with a child on your lap listening. There is no pride in homemaking. Pride impresses with names and titles and stories of conquest and self. Love brings out humility and sharing shame for another's benefit.

No, homemaking has nothing to do with perfection or pride, but it has everything to do with hospitality.
Whether a cup of tea with one by the woodstove, prayers with a friend, or a houseful of noise in the evening, homemaking has everything to do with open arms. If someone needs a bed, a safe place, make it here. Make it your home.

You can make a home with little or a lot. We've managed to make a home, open our rooms, cook meals, share a table, birth and add children, and love each other anywhere from below the poverty line to well above it. Homemaking relys on creativity and heart more than money.

Love makes a home a place where people receive and grow in spirit. Homemaking is the art of sacrifice, of sharing love beyond our own, of being stretched and grown and left tired, but heart happy and contented at the end of the day. What is homemaking to you?

Refreshing

I had spent the morning biting my tongue from the harshness in my heart resulting from an incredible headache, which, ridiculously enough, all started a month ago when my pillow fell apart in the wash and I was left browsing the aisle at TJ MAXX for one that felt "right". Obviously, I did not choose well and my head and neck remind me of this every morning.
And while I write about our peaceful country life and the joyful mayhem of our home, I am a sinner and get moody and emotional when I don't feel well, which, thankfully, isn't too often and because I am a sinner who daily struggles to live the life I know I should under the blessing of God's grace. None of this life we live is an attempt at goodness or acquiring righteousness on our own, but an attempt to honor God with our lives and through our home and make decisions for our children and family that line up with the principles in His Word.

So, craving quiet, I loaded up kiddos and a picnic lunch and we drove to Root Glen on the campus of Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. We hiked the trails for a bit and then I let the kids run on their own and just sat on the stone bench, enjoying the spring warmth and sun and praying for God to heal my tightened muscles and help me keep a quiet and gentle heart.

Being surrounded by God's beauty manifest in nature, by joyful children, all while pouring out my heart to Him, who knows and understands all before I manage a whisper, is the most soothing medicine I know.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate
(portions of Psalm 127 )

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope." Psalm 130

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. GALATIANS 6;3-4

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." GALATIANS 2:8-10

We left the glen an hour later, hearts and minds full of God's beauty. I am so thankful for the lessons He teaches me and the verses He brings to my remembrance, even in the midst of pain.

In the world, but not of it

One thing Sean and I have a beautiful agreement and heart on is the childhood we wish for our children. It doesn't include a lot of society's must-haves for children today. There are no fancy vacations, status-quo clothing labels, noisy plastic toys, or popularity in the right circles or playgroups, though some of those might be nice for a season. (I cannot even begin to express how I'm pining for a vacation right now!)

There is so much vying for the hearts and attention of our children. I think one easy mistake to make, in general, is believing that the heart and mind are separate entities in a child. A brick wall in between the two sort of separation. So let's ponder together...

How many things does your mind dwell on that does not affect your heart? Could you meditate and absorb fashion magazines and not become discontented with your wardrobe? (I couldn't so I stopped reading them and love my own unique style!) Can we read something and let it pass on, not thinking on it, not meditating on it? Can you watch something and not feel towards it? The heart and mind are connected so tightly. Advertisers know this and use it in their billboards and commercials and online ads. What we allow to be entertainment for our children will be what is in their hearts.

I recently heard a secular speaker talking about culture affecting Nickelodeon (no, this isn't an anti-Nickeloneon post) and he threw out a few instances of cartoons mentioning global warming or socialist agendas. Hitler had it right when he mandated all children be a part of the Hitler Youth Clubs. You affect a child's heart, you affect cultural change.

Here are some great questions to consider in another area of child-rearing:

Do you agree with the job the government has done with spending your money?
What about with how well they've done lowering your taxes?
Do you trust the government to make good decisions regarding your health care?
Do you agree with the decisions they've made regarding obtaining fossil fuels for our citizens?
Do you trust our representatives to vote what their constituents want?
Do you believe the government as a whole values life? Honesty? Morality? Biblical values?

No? A few of these? None of these? Then the common sense question becomes - why are we handing over the most valuable possessions entrusted to our care to the government?

I love that we have those 1,440 hours of training in our hands that our kids would normally be spending away from home.
Now I completely understand that public schooling may be the only option some parents have and my statements above are not a judgement but a catalist for thinking over a serious topic. I attended public school as the daughter of a single mother and know of many instances where two parents have to work or one parent is unwilling to consider home education or public schooling is simply accepted as the social norm. We never thought we would homeschool either.

I highly suggest reading a great book called A Thomas Jefferson Education, which is neither pro or anti homeschooling, public schooling or private schooling, but simply and profoundly addresses the way our children are educated.

Some might say our kids live in a bubble (trust me, I've heard it countless times) that is guaranteed to burst someday. Our kids know who Hanna Montana and Spongebob are and could care less, see the sadness resulted from teenage pregnancy, know the basics hows of teenage pregnancy, they've seen child abandonment, know about child slavery, child sweat shops, clothing labels (hey we find great ones thrifted - they even know which clothing labels use kids), and they know about drugs and alcohol. What else should they know about the sadness of life? Anything else that should be thrown at them when they are not even ten years old? The difference is they didn't learn about these things on the back of a bus, or in the locker room, or from a tv show. Sheltered? Really? (chuckle)

I love that our children play together. One of our sons was aghast when he heard that in traditional schools brothers and sisters cannot see each other all day. Our kids are normal, they squabble and tattle, but they are also extremely close. They are each others best friends. Every once in a while Sean will take a kiddo into work with him if he has a slower day. Last week it was Andrew's turn and all I heard all day from the other children was how much they missed Andrew and "when is Andrew coming home?" The closeness of family is one reason we love home education.

So what kind of childhood do we want for our children?
One that values family, relationship, diligence and the beauty of its rewards, God's truth and unbiased love, this beautiful world God made, contentment in every circumstance, life, learning from sorrow and pain, a love for knowledge and wisdom, compassion, involvement.... I could go on and on but you wouldn't find any of the current culture's must-haves for a fullfilling childhood.

Spring Busyness

Sunday morning we packed up the beef stew that had simmered all night in the crock-pot, loaded up kiddos and pooch and headed north to our sweet cabin and beautiful outdoors in the Adirondacks.
Sean brought along his chainsaw and cleared some trees off a steep hillside. We now have a beautiful view of the beaver flats and the Four Mile Creek that runs through our land. He repurposed some of the trees into bridges that will make the trek to our swimming hole easier this summer.

The Adirondacks get hit bad with blackflies every year but so far they have not hatched and we were pest free as we hiked. I saw just one mosquito.

We've been enjoying more structured spring days here at home. Giving the children specific activities to accomplish through their days, besides finishing up lessons for the year, has worked toward maintaining the peacefulness of our home. Some may equate peacefulness with quiet and solitude, but for our family, when we are working and living together, however noisy it may be, there is a peaceful atmosphere when there isn't fighting or whining or conflict. Someone visiting our home recently told me there are such good "vibes" here. :) I told her it was God's Spirit at work!

Kaleb went to another foster home, a few hours away, to be closer to his birth mother. They are hoping that after some more work on her part, they will be able to move them into a foster home together. If not, he'll probably come back to us.

I must say, I am enjoying the temporary lull and just having my own five kiddos. My morning sickness is gone and I just take a little cat nap every afternoon to re-charge my batteries.

The garden is mostly planted. We have pear, apple, cherry and pecan trees coming via mail order as well as 75 strawberry plants and some berry bushes. I can't wait to put those in! Our peas are just up and the carrots and lettuces too. Still to plant are the potatoes and wildflowers, in an area Sean will work the soil for me and tomatoes, which I'll start inside this afternoon. Our nights have still been hitting freezing lately.

My Dad and stepmom, Pam, live up north by the land and cabin and they put us to shame with their beautiful garden. They are a zone colder than us but my dad has garlic up and loads of things growing under cold frames. He gave me some thyme and bee balm for home, which the kiddos helped me plant yesterday.Hope you're all enjoying spring as much as we are,

Hannah

Boys will be boys?

My thoughts and heart lately have been on my boys, a place of attention I believe God has led my heart. Andrew will be eight soon, Aiden is five, and Chase is almost two. These are our three sweet boys with adventurous hearts and vivid imaginations whom we can't imagine life without.

Through some recent behaviour, I've noticed things I've been lax on and letting slip that I need to make amends for. Nothing horrible, nothing drastic - just a general attitude that squabbling is alright and a general disrespect for each other.

I sat with one of our sons today and asked him what kind of man he wants to be when he is older. Sean's been reading the Ralph Moody books to the children - excellent books with fantastic character lessons. I want our sons to realize that the kind of boy they work at being now will be the kind of man they become. I am sure this is arguable to a point as I am not the same as I was when I was seven. I was shy and such a sad people pleaser and so much of that has changed - but very much of myself and of others whom I've known since childhood are the same. The same ones that were compassionate, helpful children make great friends and the ones that were bossy and rude are regrettably still the same. I was stubborn as a child and God still works on my stubbornness - ask Sean. :)

I spent some time praying for my boys as I hung the laundry out in the warmth on the line and I know God showed me some areas that I've been letting slip that are manifesting themselves in my sons. Now, these might not be the same for you or your children, but I'd like to share them in case they are helpful.

1.) I have failed by letting any squabbling carry on.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God." -Matthew 5:9
My excuse has been that I'm busy or can't stop what I'm doing right this second but in truth I have to. I ought to be nipping it in the bud and not allowing it to go on at all.

2.) I've failed by letting whining carry on at all.

"Do not complain..." James 5:9
This holds true for two of our sons that have made whining into an art form. One of them is definitely too old for it and the other I've allowed to be trained into it by not putting an end to it immediately when it starts up.

3.) I've failed by giving the children too much independent time.

The Bible gives so many examples of God keeping his eye on us and watching our ways and this is the example I feel led to follow while our children are young.
Now that our home school year is winding down, we've been taking advantage of sunny days to spend them outdoors (we don't take snow days and begin our school year in August). Having my older boys have too much unstructured time hasn't been good for them.

These are the areas I feel God calling my attention to and that I will be working on in our family.

One of my sweet boys just came to me (they've been having a time of rest to cool their tempers and think about being kind) and asked if he could do the nice idea he had for his brother (whom he pushed down in the driveway). "What's that?" I asked. "Well," he said, "I really just want to give him a hug - is that okay?"
This is the sweet spirit in my son that I love to see. I know God has made my boys rough and rugged and strong and I love that too.

One thing I've learned over the years is there is no one-size fit for parenting. Every child is a unique creation. Unique. Unique. Unique. However, there are basic principles in the Bible that fit all and are wisdom for us as parents. I love parenting books that turn your head to the Bible instead of the wisdom of man.

Lord, help me to be a diligent mother and keep my eyes alert to all I need to see and my hands and heart busy with all I need to do.
Hannah

5 Cities that Ruled the World book review

Thomas Nelson sent me 5 Cities that Ruled the World to review at my request and I have to say it has been a great read. Author Douglas Wilson has done an amazing job of reviewing the historical impacts of five cities: Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London and New York.

Walking the reader through the significance of the past, Wilson draws the reader's attention to history's fingers playing in the present. As a history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and still learned many interesting facts and cultural pieces of knowledge. Written from a Christian perspective, it is a book I intend to keep in our home library for years to come.

As stated, Thomas Nelson Publishers sent me this book for free and I did not receive any monetary compensation for it's review nor did its "freeness" affect my review.

Easter!

I joke that I'm investing in therapy for my children when they are older for Von Trapp Family Syndrome. Their clothes weren't made from curtains and they do still love matching each other so I think we're alright.
The older boy's sailor suits were made from two different vintage patterns - one from the 1940's and one from the 1950's. Chase's shortalls were from a fairly recent pattern. The girl's dresses were bits of different patterns and my imagination where pattern pieces I needed didn't exist. As time permits, I'll try to post individual photos of each outfit. The sailor suits are particularly cute designs with button front or side pants.
Hope your Easter Day was a wonderful celebration of life. We went to church, gardened, ate some delicious lamb and roasted potatoes, walked with friends, and put up a new chicken fence.
Happy Monday!

Good Friday

I loved that our church's Good Friday service tonight was focused on pointing to our need for a Saviour because our society and culture is full of their methods to safe oneself. It is good for me to be reminded of the heaviness of the weight of sin upon my soul and realize I am in no position to remove that impossible weight.

Culture gives us self-help books covering every subject, diets to cure gluttony, and relaxation methods to calm troubled souls. Even in Christian circles of every denomination and creed, there are things we do to save ourselves, put ourselves in right standing with God, or to earn His favor. Our family believes in being Christ-like and emulating the examples Christ gave us. You can listen to some of the gospels here or enjoy reading them in your language. The point is that daily I fall short. I lose my patience with a child, don't pay attention when my husband is speaking to me, find difficulty in forgiving repeated wrongs.

There is nothing I can do to earn right standing with God but I can do a million things to put myself in right standing with man, an error common to humankind. I can make myself look holier, more devout, a better person than the next guy. I can think of so many examples, but more impressive are the ones the Holy Spirit brings to your heart as you read this about what you do to impress others that are of no consequence to God.

Tonight our little son looked at me in shock as I mentioned to him that I, his mother, am a sinner. "No, not you!" he said, adamantly, which led to a great discussion of how my place as a sinner puts me in the perfect place to accept the gift of Jesus dying on the cross for me.

Grace is everything to me. I would be laden with guilt, the burden of my sins, if it were not for grace. Grace carries me each day and is an integral part of our marriage, our parenting, and our daily lives. We believe that personal responsibility is huge, that grace is balanced by truth. Without grace, you have the harshness of the law by itself and without truth you have unlimited permissiveness. Paul explains it best when he urges us to become slaves of righteousness whereas before we were slaves to sin.

This weekend as we celebrate Christ's resurrection and all that this entails, make it personal. It doesn't matter your culture or language or religion. He came for you.

Quick Roast

Not any kind of official recipe BUT.... brown your venison on both sides (this was tenderloin), add whatever chopped veggies you have on hand (carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, etc.) and then add a can of German red cabbage. Makes for a phenomenal roast!

Bake as best for your cut of meat, salt to taste and serve!