Just Keep Doing Something

I think I've written a number of times about the Blossoms' personal devotions and the devotional time I have with them in the morning. 



Through my own experience and words, I've encouraged you to use the tools that are available to us.  I've also shared the Bible Story Books and devotion books that we've used at various times.  I've shared that Mommies need to adapt, adapt, adapt, when it comes to the constantly changing schedules and demands that go with having children.  I've encouraged you to just keep trying.  If something is important to you, don't give up, just because it isn't working the way you envision it to work right now.  Keep trying!  I've reminded you that if you're too busy for devotions, you're too busy.  (I know it's a hard word, but it's a much-needed word these days, and one that impacted me, as well.) 

 

When it comes to devotions with your kids, just keep doing something. 

My Dad sometimes says to employees who are standing around, "Do something, even if it's wrong." 

The point here is, at least you're trying.

I'm not talking about a half-hearted attempt, coupled with a bad attitude.  You may not know the exactly correct or perfect thing to do, but just do something.



Raising kids in this world is a faith venture.  No one has a formula for "baking the perfect cookie."  So, we step out in faith, doing our best to train up children in the way they should go.  That training is really a collection of practical things to further the Faith in their lives. 

I shared above so many of the things that God has used to help our devotional times. 

Right now, we're using Keys for Kids.  I discovered that you can actually receive it daily to your inbox for free, if you don't feel like paying the small charge to have it mailed to you.  Keys for Kids are really just parables and stories for a younger audience.  If you read the scriptures outlined at the top, your children will get a decent chunk of the Bible too.  (The girls liked Keys for Kids so much that they read the whole book in their free time!)



We will probably not always use Keys for Kids, just like we didn't always use these Bible story and devotion books.  I've learned to be ok with change, because I'm determined that by God's grace, we'll just keep doing something.

Has the Drama Found You?

Over the past week or two, drama has found me.  It's definitely first world drama (meaning not life or death). 

Perhaps you remember that one of the biggest reasons I've always distanced myself (far) from social media is to stay away from the drama.  "Drama" is really just a current word for strife and busy-bodying, among other things that the Bible calls sin. 

We try to practice Romans 12:18 to the best of our ability, as well:

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."

 

In any case, through the girls' dog treat business and some other things, drama found us, even though we were trying our best to live at peace with those around us.  This drama has helped me to think - what do I do when drama finds me?  That's when people are paying attention, when life isn't going smoothly, when you've been wronged or when you've been accused, etc. 

The thing about this drama was that it filtered into our home and affected the Blossoms directly.  We took the opportunity to talk about this at the dinner table.  It made for some really neat conversations and times of learning.  I'm sincerely thankful for opportunities to talk about real life ways that we walk out our Christianity.  It wasn't a gossip session.  It wasn't a bash session.  It wasn't a gripe session. 

"What would you do?" 

"How would you feel?" 

"How do you think we should handle this?" 

"What do you think Jesus feels about this?" 

This is where the rubber meets the road. 

We still tried to limit the drama.  After all, Proverbs 20:3 says,

"Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel."

It's easy to get sucked in.  We stopped the conversations that were controlled by the drama topic.  We love our peaceful home, so when/if it ceased to be a learning family discussion, Mommy just said, "That's enough."  We won't dwell on garbage!!!  Believe me, I was very aware that our children were watching how Mommy and Daddy handled this thing.  We also resisted the temptations to get involved further than we felt was right, wise or necessary.  We could've hit reply all, just like everyone else in the crazy email string. 

But we didn't. 

I really felt like it was an exercise in wisdom. 

We didn't do the easy thing, the fun thing, the feel-good thing, we just waited.  It was the wise thing.

If you've read the book of Proverbs, you know that wisdom is a really big deal and it's also surprisingly practical and quiet.  If I could contrast, I'd say that drama likes the flashy thing and wisdom IS often the quiet, common sense thing.

There wasn't a formulaic answer to quell the drama.  We just tried our best to walk through it in the Godliest way we could, teaching our children all along the way. 

I urge you, if the drama finds you, walk Godly, use wisdom and teach your kids through it all.

PS - Today we received a refund check for what was basically fraudulent use of our funds.  The Rugged Mountain Man and I thanked the Lord.  When the Blossoms get home from Grammie & Pappy's house, we can't wait to show them the outcome of all of it.  And we didn't even have to get crazy involved in the drama. 

Quotable Quotes

#1 - "Don't kiss it, you're gonna eat it!" (referring to baby meat rabbits)
~ Mommy

#2 - "NO (livestock) animals on the table!"
~ Mommy, feeling like we're turning into the Kettle family.

(Ma Kettle swiping a chicken off the table as she sets it for dinner.)

 

#3 - "I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE rabbits, chickens and ducks, way more than cats.  Rabbits, chickens and ducks are way more cuddly."
~ Blossom2

#4 - "If you can't finish the animal choring in 30-40 minutes, I will set your alarm for earlier!!!"
~ Dragon Mama

(and then they did the chores in 20 minutes that morning.  Boom, baby!)



#5 - "Mama, we named the new litter of rabbits.  They are Salty, Pepper, Burnt, Gravy, Crispy, Roasted and Stewed."
~ Blossom1



#6 - "Mama, are we Amish?"
~ Blossom3
 
(The answer is no, of course.  In many ways, our lives parallel the Amish lifestyle, child work ethic being one of them.  AND, prior to asking me this, Blossom3 had just tied her kerchief on her head Amish work style and said she was pretending to be Amish.  I'm concluding she asked only for shock value as she followed the question with a hilarious giggle.  Additionally, I'm quite certain Blossom3 has overheard the Rugged Mountain Man and I refer to the inside joke at his workplace that HE is Amish.)

Have a happy day, friends! 

Baking Bits

I love baking!

Sometimes I enjoy it more than others, depending on my current time constraints, but when it really comes down to it, I do love baking. 

Here's my new favorite product:

 

 

Butterfinger Baking Bits!!!!

 

Seriously, we've rolled our homemade Caramel apples in them and thrown them in our "Kitchen Sink" cookie bars.  (Our Kitchen Sink cookie bars are the Toll House cookie recipe with whatever kind of chips, m&m's or potato chips that are in the cupboard... everything but the kitchen sink goes in.  And they're always yummy!) 

 

These are basically a chocolate chip size bag of Butterfinger chunks - no pounding needed. 

 

(My little pounders gave me the poochy lip.)

 

Next time you're in the baking aisle, snag the bag and take 'em home to get your creative juices going.  They'll add the perfect crunch to your recipe - Blossom approved!

 

 

Buttermilk Falls State Park

 

Next stop on our Ithaca, NY getaway was Buttermilk Falls State Park. 



Frankly, Taughannock Falls took my breath away the moment I saw the link sent over by the friend who let us stay in his cabin. Taughannock Falls State Park was on my MUST DO list for Ithaca.



I figured the Rugged Mountain Man could pick everything else we'd do, but I wanted to go to Taughannock Falls.  It definitely didn’t disappoint us.

However, I expected only one set of waterfalls at Buttermilk Falls; my expectations were considerably lower for this state park.

I seriously underestimated this whole state park. 

 At the end of the day, the Rugged Mountain Man and I ended up liking Buttermilk Falls State Park better than Taughannock Falls, and that’s saying something considering the sheer grandeur of Taughannock Falls.

The natural wonders at Buttermilk Falls just kept wowing us, moment after moment, step after step. 

Beautiful pools, stunning falls after set of stunning falls after set of stunning falls,





amazing geology (and you know how our Blossom2 loves rocks)…



This place is one that we hope to take the Blossoms to very soon.



The hikes again were all very short and ranked a 9.5 on my aesthetic 1-10 scale. I’d call them a 5.5 on the difficulty scale, as there were more steep stairs, but I know the girlies could’ve handled them.

We don’t usually hike with a time limit and when there’s more beauty to see, we usually have to shout out, “Stay where we can see/hear you!!!!!!!!” as they charge ahead.

With so much natural beauty so constantly near the trail, motivation would be high to just keep hiking. Once again, we strung together 3-4 trails to come up with approximately 4.5 miles of hiking.

 

(The Gorge trail is the main trail, with the most aesthetic "bang for your buck."  It's the easiest to access and the most popular, by far.  However, there's so much more to see than the Gorge trail has to offer.  We did the Bear trail, Lake Treman trail and the Rim trail to complete our circuit of the gorge, waterfalls and Lake Treman.)

I do love seeing the Creator's handiwork from as many vantage points as possible.

Additionally, the falls clearly respond quickly to changes in weather and the water table, so it would be very interesting to see it during the spring high run-off season as well. 

I like places that are always unique, so they can be visited again and again.

Gratitude doesn't begin to capture what's in my heart as I look at these snapshots of our time at Buttermilk Falls State Park. 

I'm simply astounded by the beauty God's hand etched into the New York geography. 

It turns my heart to the Creator afresh.