This Week's Blessings...

• Geese honking early in the morning.
• White metal bowl of pumpkins and gourds.
• Salted Caramel Apple Gold Canyon Candle
• Sunday morning breakfast around the table
• hot Chai with cream
• A 3-yr-old's prayers.
• Soft cuddly cream throw.
• Orchid blooming.
• Quiet Sunday afternoon.
• Ganoderma coffee with cream.
• Soft leggings.
• Shoes getting too big!
• Mini Quilt - I named it winter in Romania because of all the colourful houses.
• Christmas planning...
• Sunday school discussions.
• Wyatt's little hands.
• Contacts for Zach.
• Edburg's Quartet singing.
• My men helping with dinner.
• And CLEAN-UP!
• Thanksgiving supper at church.
• Youth singing.
• Teenage girls learning to sew.
• Misty sitting by me in church.
• Rainy afternoon.
• Online shopping at Superstore.
• Free chocolate bars! 
• Colby learning Solidworks.
• Colby's talent with welding.
• Colby made a unicycle. #itworks #hecanride
• Wyatt singing How much is that doggy in the window?

WW I've Got...

WW I’ve Got…

I’ve got this thing about fabric. I love it. I collect it. I sew it. I save it. I buy it. I stack it. I dream it. I think it.

I have a huge new laundry room, thanks to my wonderful hubby and fifteen years of planning and waiting. My laundry room includes a sewing space with drawers and cabinets and open shelves to store pretty things. The end wall has open cubbies stacked with fabric, dress fabric on one side and quilt and craft fabric on the other.

But that is not all. One corner of the faux marble countertop has a huge pink and white woven basket filled and overflowing with scrap fabric, at least two dresses that have never been finished, scrap fabric from my Nana’s dresses that I want to make into some cute mini quilt and random pieces of lace fabric and layered fabric and bits I’ve bought to cover pillows.

And that is not all. Beside the overflowing scrap basket are stacks of more fabric; a funky purse ready to sew, a skirt for Mrs. Kearnan, my neighbour, and a denim jean quilt in various stages of doneness that my middle son has claimed for his project.

And there’s more. I have stacks layered out; a pile for Wyatt’s room in greys and blues and trains and such, a pile for the many-pocket bag pattern my mom bought me this summer in random pinks and greys and clever wordy blacks, and another pile pulled for a boy blanket in aqua and grey and navy. They are dreams, all of it. I look and pull and put back and weeks later I still have piles layered.

But there are more, hidden drawers of random garage sale fabric my neighbour friend so kindly gifted to me, drawers of slip fabric and lace and tricot and interfacing, a corner cupboard dedicated to batting scraps for baby quilts and mini quilts. And then there’s my cutting table cupboard with clear stacking boxes of leftover pieces from quilts gone by, to be used someday in some project.

I think we’ll overlook the remaining stacks and boxes of fabric and gaze happily at the bright pink crocheted lace piece my good friend gave me for my last birthday. It’s draped over the big window overlooking my back yard and it draws the eye from the colourful stacks of fabric to the soothing pale aqua of the walls and the white-white of the cabinetry.

WW Footsteps

My footsteps and my trusty old Acadia have led me to the distant city of Edmonton. My mom and sisters  (not all) are gathering for food and fellowship and my mother's birthday! It is truly a slice in the pie of life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

That's all I sent to the WW group but oh, did we ever have a wonderful time! It was too bad Karen couldn't be there, But all in all, it was refreshing and reviving! I don't know when I've laughed so hard! And I felt kinda petted, the littlest girl, you know. I loved the girly times. We shopped Ikea for hours, ate at Cora's for breakfasts, sat and visited as long as we wanted, drank tea together late at night, swapped quilts and kiddo stories and food and tea. It was just so so so good.

The end.

WW Pious Awe

{WW} Pious Awe

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get past the bad rap the word ‘pious’ has in my vocabulary and understanding. I have enjoyed what the rest of you have written and looked up the word myself. In the true sense of the word, yes, life and death and most certainly the new birth would qualify for an article on pious awe. But childhood memories bring back taunting terms of ‘Oh, you Pious Jeremious!’ and ‘Oh, all pious now, eh?’

I can’t seem to move past this connotation of the word pious. I’ve never heard of the term ‘pious awe’ (which is fun! And what the WW is all about!) and my only life experience, in the negative meaning of it, is rather pitiful to recollect.

I was just a child, a child of a father who was delightfully himself. He cared not what others thought of him. He did as he pleased. He took us sledding on Saturdays and skating on cold winter evenings. He led our family in devotions and got a funny smile on his face when my mother made interesting remarks. He was proud of us and proud of her. But sometimes he embarrassed us.

One time he took us on a lengthy trip to another province and we visited a ‘high-up’ couple. My dad didn’t mind asking if we could come for a meal or night or whatever it was. The most disturbing part was the reaction of the lady of the house. Oh, she was all sweetness. But her expressions and words did not match. Her actions belied her feelings. It was awful. I cried and cried and cried, in my bedroom, as a child.

This term made me think of that painful memory: a lady oh so sweet, oh so righteous and oh so not nice to the people who disturbed her perfect life, a lady to be regarded with pious awe. e

WW Fetching

Mrs. Brown and the Bat Encounter

It was a lovely August day. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the green leaves swayed on the trees. Mrs. Brown was spending a Sunday, a true day of rest, at home with Mr. Brown and the Littles. Mrs. Brown was doing laundry, not her general idea of a restful Sunday activity, but considering their lovely camping trip they had just returned from late the night before it was nevertheless essential.

Mrs. Brown stepped out her back door onto the little porch where there stood a clothesline pole, tall and statuesque, and hung a clothesline, slim and dainty, obliterated against the eastern blue spruce surrounding the Brown farm. Mrs. Brown gazed off into the trees, her thoughts on distant things as well, as she proceeded to reach into the dilapidated clothespin bag for pins.

Her attention was swiftly brought to reality when she heard an aerosol can spraying close to her. Ch-Ch-Ch. Suddenly Mrs. Brown realized her wrist was wet and instantaneously all her faculties were focused fervently in the general direction of where the noise was coming from. She jumped perceptibly as she stared at a tiny black bat staring back at her from behind the clothespin bag. The bat hissed and spit, showing wicked vampire teeth. Mrs. Brown flung the towels in the basket and went running inside, yelping, “There’s a bat!! And he spit on me!! HELP!!”

Mr. Brown came running. Mr. Brown did not generally run in an emergency. But then, Mrs. Brown did not generally yell things about bats either. Tall Boy Brown and Middle Boy Brown came running as well. Mrs. Brown hid behind the door while her men cajoled and frightened the little bat at intervals. It hissed and spit and bared its teeth. Mrs. Brown thought perhaps she had never seen something so evil in her life, as she watched from safety inside.

After a while the frightened little bat flew away, swooping dangerously into the corner by the garage, then to safety in the trees. Mrs. Brown breathed a sigh of relief and tears pooled in her eyes. Mr. Brown and Tall Boy Brown and Middle Boy Brown went back to reading their books.

Mrs. Brown stared down at her basket of wet laundry, then scooped it up and hurried inside.

Now Mrs. Brown is very cautious about fetching clothes from the wash-line. She carefully peers around and in the clothespin bag every time and shudders. 

Inspiration From Streams In The Desert

Be all at rest, my soul, oh blessed secret,
Of the true life that glorifies thy Lord:
Not always doth the busiest soul best serve Him
But he that resteth on His faithful Word.
Be all at rest, let not your heart be rippled
For tiny wavelets mar the image fair,
Which the still pool reflects of heavens glory -
And thus the image He would have thee bear.

Be all at rest, my soul, for rest is service,
To the still heart God doth His secrets tell;
Thus shalt thou learn to wait, and watch, and labour
Strengthened to bear, since Christ in thee doth dwell.
For what is service but the life of Jesus
Lived through a vessel of earth's fragile clay,
Loving and giving and poured forth for others,
A living sacrifice from day to day.

Be all at rest, so shalt thou be an answer
To those who question, "Who is God and where?"
For God is rest, and where He dwells is stillness
And they who dwell in Him, His rest shalt share.
And what shall meet the deep unrest around thee,
But the calm peace of God that filled His breast?
For still a living Voice calls to the weary,
From Him who said, "Come unto Me and rest."

Freda Hanbury Allen

Sept 2016 WW Introductions

Hi! I'm Jolene (call me Jo if you want) Esau  from Swanson, SK. I'm married to Patrick (Pat) Esau for 16 years and I'm 37, he's 39. We have 3 boys:


Colby Blaine - 14, loves hunting, fishing, camping, snowboarding, hockey but not schoolwork or singing (very unfortunately but we're working on him). He's quiet and good-natured and has his father's sense of humor.


Zachary Brett - 12, loves dirtbikes (tho he's not allowed to get one), hockey, snowboarding, biking, uni-cycling or actually anything to move quickly on wheels. He's almost legally blind (his docs say because he was preemie) but he wears contacts and most people don't know how bad his eyesight actually is - barely 20/50 with contacts, 20/60 with glasses.

Wyatt Benjamin - 3, talks a lot and comes up with a lot of winners. Feels like he should be able to do everything his brothers do, for example he has a large scrape on his arm from trying to cat-walk his bike. He's extremely agile, has been scaling the fridge and tall dressers for 2 years but we're working on that too. He loves to sing, songs like Tender Is The Love Of Jesus and Christian Hymnal songs. We feel pretty lucky to have him.

My better half owns and operates a welding shop and I do books, payroll, etc for him. Our boys have spent the summer working for him, for their Uncle Arlen (punching and bending in a welding shop), for Uncle Rennie (farming), for Carlin and Warren (both have chicken farms) and Uncle Jeff (log building and mowing yard).


I love to sew, quilt, organize, read, garden and shop! I've come to the conclusion that i must like to be busy or I would surely be able to not have so much going all the time. I love chai tea and coffee and chocolate and bright colours and home decor and shoes and purses and sweaters and many other frivolous things. I like to write. I sort of have a love-hate relationship with writing. I took the summer off from writing (completely, except my happy journal) and it was delightful.


I just wrote a list of fall things to do. And then I wrote a List of fall things to do. This is the second:

• Roast marshmallows over the fire.
• Take a walk.
• Wear a favourite sweater and warm socks and sip hot tea outside.
• Build a bonfire.
• Read a book.
• Sleep out in the tent and make breakfast over the fire.
• Visit the zoo.
• Go to Kinsmen Park with a picnic lunch and enjoy the rides.
• Cuddle with favourite blankets.
• Sew a quilt.
• Drink hot chocolate.
• Eat supper in the field with the harvesters.
• Ride on a combine, swather, grain-truck.
• Stay up late and watch the stars.
• Light the candles.

Summer...

Wanna come for a sit around the fire behind our house by the blue spruce? We’ll bring out the extra-large marshmallows. Colby will whittle some roasting sticks and we’ll sit and discuss late while the stars dance overhead and the fluffy clouds darken and the pinks and maroons settle calmly on the western horizon. In between our thoughts you’ll hear the chirping of the crickets and the pop-pop-popping of the caragana seeds on the trees along the road. Probably an old pickup will rumble past or the neighbour on his dirt-bike will be heading home from work. And if we’re lucky the lawns will be mowed and the thick grass will stick to your flips. The dew will sweep your toes as you tuck them under your chair and firelight dances higher.

If we are well acquainted you would know that Arlen & Jodi’s Nicole is getting married and I’d tell you that I’m sewing the wedding dress (just have the belt left to do) and that I helped put on her shower this last week. I might tell you about getting all set up at the Villa and then moving everything under the carport quickly when the daily shower came over. Nicole likes vintage stuff and I’d probably relay in detail the décor; strung lights, miscellaneous wooden crates, a row of wedding dresses, old wedding shoes stacked on three crates in the center, jars painted pink and dipped in gold glitter, a vintage dresser with drawers open to set the gifts and huge puff-balls from the ditches sprayed gold and set in more jars.

You probably would ask me how our two weeks were with Pat’s folks home from Window Rock on break and I’d tell you it was crazy, and busy, and full of shop yearend stuff and meals at folks and work and even a little holiday up to Otter Lake with Jeffs and folks. And you’d say, how was that? And I’d say mostly good and a little stressful. We got caught on the lake in a thunder and lightning storm and I call that high stress. We rented a fairly new cabin along the water that fit all of us and that was great. The first morning I woke up early and walked down to the pier by myself and sat cross-legged gazing out on the water, the mist falling, the fish jumping and just felt God’s heartbeat. We toured down the Stuart River and caught fish along the bottom of the waterfalls. We saw Bennet Island, fished for walleye at North Falls and cooked it over the fire, toured Robertson Falls around and down the far side where I had never been, and looked over burned-off Utie Island where we staked a claim or campsite for many years. And in between we boated and toured and ate snacks and fished and listened to the loons and breathed clean northern spruce-y air.

And of course I would ask you about your summer, your children, your friends and your hobbies and we’d probably laugh as we talk. And if we had a long time I might tell you about our trip to Neilburg to Josh & Krista’s wedding, our quick little jaunt to Deer Valley Meadows for a large Esau reunion and about my week of teaching Bible School and Rog & Lis stopping for a quick supper in Saskatoon. Probably I’d tell you that this has been the best summer for the boys; piles of jobs and work nearly every day but my toilets and floors are a little neglected.

And once it got super late we’d head inside with cups and food and mosquito spray in tow. And I’d secretly hope no one would trip over the wet pool towels and that you’d look beyond the shoes spread hither and yon and that ‘dusted baseboards’ have no part in your vocabulary.

But most of all we’d touch hearts, look beyond one another’s weaknesses and in a quiet Christ-like way point each other faithfully and boldly to our long Home.

A break...

She is taking a small break. She may be back soon and she may not. She knoweth not. Have a good summer!

{WW} involuntary/involuntarily

{WW} involuntary/involuntarily

Mrs. Brown was busy being a domestic housewife. She baked fresh raspberry muffins with lemon flavouring for afternoon lunch for her family. She made a large apple crisp for Sunday Dinner Company. Mrs. Brown even washed her floors and wiped down her counter tops. It was indeed a virtuous day. When Mrs. Brown took her last pan of muffins out of the oven she burst forth into song, involuntarily, “My bonnie has tuberculosis, my bonnie has one rotten lung, she spits in a pail by her bedside… and saves it for chewing gum…”

“What? What’s that, mom?” Middle Brown asked quickly, one eye still trained on his Black Stallion book.

“Dentyne, Dentyne, delicious nutritious Dentyne, Dentyne” sang Mrs. Brown.

“Mom, what was the first part that you sang?” asked Middle Brown again.

“Oh,” said Mrs. Brown, “something just came forth from the dark recesses of my brain.”

Monday Morning Meanderings...

G'morning, my friends! It's the last day of February (gulp)! Where ever does time go??

Here's an inspiration from my cousins, Chris & Janelle. I just have to share with you...

God loves you with an everlasting love...
Nothing is deeper than that!
He watches over you with tender mercies...
Nothing is kinder than that!
He upholds you with His right hand...
Nothing is stronger than that!
Roy Lessin

And other random topics...

I'm thinking of sewing a garment bag for myself - long enough and strong enough! I don't usually use a garment bag. For flying-travelling I like to roll my dresses, so I really have no idea why I feel compelled at this point in my life to sew a garment bag. I think I like the challenge. :)

Also, I'm partaking of a big fat cup of Coffee Crisp hot chocolate. I haven't allowed myself that indulgence for a long time... my reasons are too complicated to divulge at this time but I do want you to know I'm enjoying it. No guilt.

And I'm planning another sewing day for tomorrow. Bren and Val and Kaitlyn are coming to sew and hopefully most of the men show up for supper.

And now that it's long past morning and I soon need to leave for afternoon busing, I'll send this on it's way... my littlest boy is feeling fierce and strong again about being a man and being in charge. It's a battle. He doesn't need to listen to his mom because he's a man. And he's in charge. And I hear about it until I'm weary and cranky.

The end.

{WW} Devotions

{WW} Devotions – free write

It’s such a personal thing. I have a difficult time writing about something so personal. I don’t know why. Maybe I feel like I fall so short. Maybe I want to write something that will inspire someone else and I really don’t know how or where to start. I have a very hard time (as in never) getting up and having devotions before I start my day. I sometimes kneel by my bed when I get up and ask God to help me. I most often pray when I wake up, lying in bed. The day’s duties and tasks and fights (children’s) are not yet commenced. I’m free. For a moment. And I pray. And think. I like to take quiet time right after lunch when I put Wyatt down for a nap and everyone else is at school or work. I like my alone time. I sometimes read the Messenger, or a devotional book and way too often I spend a lot of this quiet time reading my friends blogs or other blogs about quilting and home décor. Writing this down, I’m quite sure I’ve ‘snacked’ too often and not ‘eaten well’ at Jesus’ table. I love to sing and often keep a songbook open in my kitchen. I love the outdoors and I always feel close to God when I go for a walk or eat snow with my children or examine a snowflake closely. I like to think that all the little things in life, all the moments of directing back to God are a form of worship and praise. But I need a reminder of how frail and human and selfish I really am. I need to think about devotions and where I’m actually feeding my soul.

{WW} Compliment

{WW} compliment

It was one of those snowy, blowy, wintery December days, the kind that blows you in the door with snowflakes on your hair, leaving you shivering even though you’re dressed in warm coat, boots and gloves. I stamped my feet a couple times and headed through the turnstile at Canadian Tire. The greeter, a beautiful young Paki lady with long hair gave me a huge smile. “You’re beautiful!” she said, “You just have this aura about you!” My cheeks grew hot. “Thank-you,” I said, smiling at her, as she grabbed my arms and hugged me. We exchanged Merry Christmas’s and I commenced to do my shopping. I’ve pondered this compliment for a long time. What did this lady see? I am certainly not a physically beautiful person, but I long so much to share Jesus with others. I pray that the aura I have about me is Him.

Thursday Thoughts

Hello, my friends!

It's a gorgeous Saskatchewan wintry day; some wind, big fluffy flakes of snow and -10C (colder than most of our winter has been).

I'm having a home day with only one small interruption so far when my neighbour friend, Alice Kearnan, came for coffee. She's older, lost her husband a couple years ago and loves to bring me fabric and get me to sew random things for her. Today it was a skirt (to sew for her) and MANY seriously amazing and outdated pieces of fabric that I ruthlessly sorted through. She loves to discuss it all and so we talked about what this old green denim could be used for and what kind of dress this white satin and crepe would have made. We even found cross-stitch fabric and an old house-robe pulled apart. Then we sat together and had hot tea while Wyatt climbed the cupboards and measured the couches with his measuring tape.

Yesterday I had a shopping day (with a rather trying 3-year-old) which included a stop at Periwinkle's Quilting Fabrics down on Broadway. I lovety-love that store. They even have a little room with toys where Wyatt contentedly occupied himself. It was heavenly.

Now I'm thinking of making supper: cheeseburger soup and butter-dips.

I'm also contemplating how to unplug the toilet (Gah!! This doesn't go with supper thoughts!!) on main floor where Wyatt unrolled a {WHOLE} roll of toilet paper and then went {STINKS} on top. It's horrific. I have all the candles lit that I can find. The bad thing is that this is the {SECOND} time he's done this! He has really been trying me out lately. Maybe you don't understand the full implications of that thought. What I mean is, Wyatt has been completely IMPOSSIBLE lately. The other night he got up every hour or two all night, no fever, no sickness, no nothing that I could figure out. When we talked about it the next day and I told him that could not happen again or I would 'help' him, he slept all night. He is so very very strong-willed. Oh, deary me! Will he ever manage as a normal human citizen?

What's going on in your realm?

{WW} Outdated

{WW} outdated

I was sorting through some storage boxes in my basement, looking for the elusive sewing home-ec book of mine from bygone days. I’ve promised to teach the grades 7, 8 & 9 girls sewing this year and thus the search for the book.

Four boxes into my stack, I found it, in all its outdated 90’s glory. It was just a paper folder that we each decorated with fabric. Mine was covered with a huge blue and white floral/fruity print. It had a three-inch wide ruffle in a plain coordinating royal blue all the way around and narrow royal ribbons tied on the side. I used the same royal blue cotton to cut out the letters S-E-W in my own girlish curly cursive writing. It was priceless.

I stood there, paging through it, laughing and with a small catch in my throat. Here were all my fabric samples: T-shirt knitting in the funky florals we loved, 100% rayon in rich jewel tones (I’m sure I wore that to church long ago!), 100% cotton (a scrap of the dress I sewed in class!), flannelette, tricot, denim and floral denim (oh, those were the days!) 100% polyester (the piece my sisters and I wore to my folks 25^th anniversary!) (My nose felt plugged and my eyes were wet), more polys and cottons…

I couldn’t resist paging through it all. All those seam practices: a straight seam, a spiral, iron-on interfacing, mending with stitch witchery, a dart, a taped seam, a graded seam, tucks, serging, zippers and stitching in the ditch, collars, necklines and buttonholes. (I snorted out loud. I keenly remembered sewing that neckline and laughing hysterically with Arnie about the shape of it!) Don’t worry, there was more: elastic casing, zigged elastic, blind-hem, top-stitched hem and hand hem and last but not least my measurements!

I sat thinking about my long-ago home-ec dress with its puffy sleeves, big pointed collar and hard belt, its pastel roses in purples, pinks and blues. I didn’t really like that dress, probably because it was from a sewing class. I thought about the dress we’re going to get the girls here to make; not-super-stretchy, invisible zipper, princess seams. They’ll probably feel just the same about their dresses some day and just as thankful for an old outdated book about it all.

Heart Sister Evening

Setting: Lana's basement, windy wintry evening in January, 

Characters: all the Swanson Mennonite women who joined the heart sister deal this last year (four didn't join) Pat's mom was missing

Theme: the grand unveiling of who had who

Décor: aqua tablecloths, wide burlap runners, mason jars painted aqua, blue and coral - some used for candles and some for vases of stunning coral roses and greenery, a couple long tables for the array of appetizers that everyone brought

Appetizers: Dips with chips, tortilla rollups, fruit skewers, fruit salsa with cinnamon and sugared tortilla chips, veggies and dip, mini squares (variety), stuffed mushrooms, crackers n cheeseball, mini fruit pizzas, mini heart shaped veggie pizzas, party bread, mini cheeseballs with a pretzel handle, chocolate dipped peanut butter balls, party mix and more!

Drink: Coffee with cream and sugar, frozen coloured juice cubes with sprite poured over

Gifts: Cookbooks! The ladies in charge got a list going so everyone could write down a couple they were interested in. I got the Bredenbury cookbook (pretty popular one for the evening) and I saw Pioneer Woman Cooks 2 & 4, Mennonite Women Can Cook, Meals Around the World, H & H Cookbook and many more! Our men should be faring very well the next while!!

How we actually found each other: When we arrived we each wrote our names and our heart sister’s name on a pretty piece of aqua cardstock that had a saying written on the back (in two parts). We cut it in half, kept our own and they handed out our other name (who had us). Then we read off the half of our saying, table by table, and went searching for a match. It worked really well and we had many good laughs.

Kudos: to Paula, Lana and Cindy Dueck for all the hard work and time and money!! It was a well-spent year and evening! We are truly blessed!

My heart sister: Chris Goodnough

From her paper she filled out:

                   Address:

                   Birthday: March 27/53

                   Anniversary: August 1/70

                   Favourites:

                             Colours: all except brown, grey

                             Kitchen colours: none

                             Bedroom colours: neutral

                             Candies or chocolates: Peanut butter choc’s

Hobbies: drawing, reading, poetry, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, word games, artificial flower arrangements

                    Any dislikes? Overly scented things make my eyes run

                    *Baking always welcome!

Who had me: Audrey Hiebert! I sure never guessed and I got many lovely thoughtful gifts from her!!

Encouragements: If you haven’t tried this in your congregation, do!!! It’s a bonding thing to do together! This is our second round. We did it three years ago, like, our revealing was ten days before Wyatt was born. J That time everyone gave fabric at the end. It’s a wonderful thing! (Yup, fabric too!)

{WW} Tell how one small positive thought in the morning can change your entire day

Winter mornings on the northern prairies are dark and chilly, with the sun rising around 9am and the temperatures averaging between -9C (16F) and -19C (-2F). After the morning rush of breakfast, lunches and the skates and hockey stick scramble I’m delighted to look out my kitchen window to the south-east and watch the sun slowly makes its glorious emergence. I am awed every morning with God’s splendid flamboyant demonstration; this time deepest royal blue against lacy black trees, next time florescent magenta and fuchsia swirled with charcoals and blacks, and of course the wintry frost-whitened look of ‘rose quartz’ and ‘serenity’ (pantone’s colours of the year 2016) depict the perfect wintry prairie sunrise. Every morning I’m awed with this colourful caress from my omnipotent God. I delight in colour.

Happy February!

Good morning! Here's one more soup recipe for you. These wintry mornings, falling snow and cozy firesides, always make me think 'soup' for meal-planning.

9-Bean Soup

1 cup 9-bean mixture (Costco)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion - diced
4 cloves garlic - minced
1 cup carrot - diced
1 cup potato - diced
1 cup celery - diced
2 tsp salt
6 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
8 cups stock or water (I used ham stock and cut out the salt)

Soak bean mixture in 6 cups cold water for at least 6 hours or overnight. Discard water and rinse thoroughly. Set aside. Saute onion and garlic in oil for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until onions are soft. Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook on low for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Serves 8

Three

Three

Today (Jan 28) Wyatt Benjamin Esau is three years old! It’s a common thing to hear him say “I’m a man!” On our way home from town the other day we all were saying what we were thankful for. He said, “I’m thankful for God!” He loves listening to My Bible Friends and is often heard repeating parts like “Captain Naaman is a terrible man!” (because he said he would not listen to the prophet) and “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” or “Uncle Jehoida! Uncle Jehoida!” He loves the book Go Dogs Go and the other day in town he said, “Go dogs, go! The light is green now!” I don’t think he knows his colours or his numbers but he has a very keen memory and perception! He’s a slim little boy. He weighs 34 lbs and measures 39” tall. He’s completely potty-trained, sleeps in his crib-turned-toddler-bed and wears size three pants and shirts and size 8 shoes. He loves to sing. He told me the other day “Mom, you and I like to sing songs.” Before Wyatt was born I was worried that another little boy 8.5 years later would be wimpy and spoiled. I need never have worried! Wyatt is 2 going on 15. He wants to do whatever the other men do and be included in everything. If Pat is taking the others shopping for bikes he wants to go too. And if Pat takes the others sledding he is by all means going along too! I think he is a little spoiled but certainly not wimpy. He’s a very agile child. He can climb straight up the walls. He scales the fridge/freezer, stands inside and fills his cup, gets down and shuts the door, all without spilling a drop. Not that I’m proud of it but it certainly is a feat. Wyatt’s Uncle Rennie and Grandpa Dean continue to be his most admired people. He adores them. He chose a shirt the other day (to go to Uncle Rennie’s) that ‘is like Uncle Rennie’ he said. Every cow and horse and bale is like Uncle Rennie’s. And he told Pat the other day “I’m going to get a peter-car like you.” Wyatt has darker hair that’s a bit wavy, long black eye-lashes and hazel eyes. He has fine features, beautiful oval-shaped head and little stick-out ears. Another thing, Wyatt has had asthma for a lot of his life and this winter I’ve been taking him to the chiropractor and he hasn’t needed his puffers at all!! One time I gave him his blue puffer because he was getting pretty wheezy but that day I took him in to Dr. Stacey and he very shortly got better! I’m so very grateful for that! So, in twenty years what will I want to read about this dear little 3-year-old? He loves his blankets and teddies and playing Lego with his brothers. He plays and plays with the toy kitchen his Grandma Lois left here for while they are in Windowrock. He loves to play church and lead songs like Grandpa.  He tries to stand on his head and turn summersaults like Zach. He and Zach fight and fight and fight! He’s very helpful. He helps clean out the dishwasher, set the table, puts things away in different rooms, etc. Not perfectly, of course, but amazingly well. We’re pretty proud of our littlest man.

A Bit of Wood-Work

Our boys are in need of work. Jobs. More than swishing toilets and vacuuming floors every afternoon. Winter cuts out the mowing, weeding, trimming, and all that. So, we came up with a bit of a plan. We have some wood-working tools, not very much space in the garage and a few things the boys could try building.

Last Friday we took the family to town and bought all the supplies for this bed from ana-white.com:

Well, the next day, Saturday, we spent the day working in the garage together. And they FINISHED that bed!! Now what?! I mean, I am so very proud of them! It looks awesome! They did a good job. But we are never going to be able to make that much stuff! And they are so enthused, it seems a shame to shut them down. We are a little stumped.

Anybody else need to keep teenage boys busy? What are your ideas? This is why we wanted a shop on our yard! They need a place to go to just be boys...

They do need to sand and paint it yet so I guess it's not quite done. :)

Chicken Lentil Soup

Chicken Lentil/Barley Soup from Jan (Sewing - Nov 10/15)

4 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp rosemary
3 lbs chicken pieces, skinned (The recipe says to cook the chicken, bone-in, in the soup and cut up the chicken and remove bones when it's done. I often used leftover chicken.)
28 oz can diced tomatoes, with juice (I use my home-canned tomatoes)
1 bay leaf
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced potatoes
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 cup pearl barley or lentils

Cook all together until done. The longer you simmer it the better it gets! Remove bay leaf and bones to serve. Serve with Red Lobster biscuits. Yum!

Feel free to copy and print. :)

{WW} Bulging

{WW} Bulging

My heart is bulging

Full

Of Christmas memories

Singing

Boggle games

Mom here for two weeks

Reading to the boys

Family together

Breathing

Eating

And

My purse is bulging

With receipts

Gum wrappers

Baby wipes

Mini toys

But no diapers

(yahoo!)

Or money

(woops)

And

My mind is bulging

And spilling

Pieces of lists

Groceries

Sewing home-ec class

Appointments 

And

January’s annual purge

And restore

I don’t think

I’ll mention

Anything

About clothing

Bulging

Jo Esau Jan 15-2016

Home-Ec and Church Offices

So...

I promised I would teach the grade seven to nine girls sewing this year. Chris Boese and I are doing it together and we are so enthused! She came for a cup of chai this morning and a big long meeting and discussion on it all.

We're going to get the girls to sew a basic princess seam dress with an invisible zipper. We're planning to buy a basic pattern for each of them and measure and fit it to them so they have something to take home. Also, we're planning on doing the basic folder with many different swatches of fabric types and many different sewing techniques.

Here's our list:

1. Measurements
2. Cut & glue fabric
3. Sew in a square (around and around, practicing straight stitching)
4. Sew in a spiral
5. Plain seam, ironed open
6. Flat felled seam
7. Finished seam - overcast edge and zigzag edge
8. finished seam - serge
9. French seam
10. iron on interfacing - cotton & poly
11. dart
12. double pointed dart
13. graded seam
14. taped seam
15. pin-tucks
16. square and round collar - clipped, turned, under-stitched and pressed
17. bias neckline
18. stitch in the ditch
19. shirring
20. blind hem
21. hand hem
22. rolled top-stitched hem
23. loops
24. buttonholes
25. piecing four patch (matching corners)
26. elastic - in casing and zigzag
27. mitred corner
28. mend a tear with stitch witchery
29. zipper - regular and invisible

The school board ordered the CLE basic sewing course as well, so we are working together with that. Here's hoping eight classes will be enough!! I'm so very excited! This is just such a fun project!

And then there are some that aren't so much fun. We finally had our voting meeting for the year. We're finally done youth leaders and yup. Villa Board. And then lunch committee too! I cried. I honestly can't do it all. We found out that the sewing lunches all fall on the same weeks as home-ec for February and March, so we asked to be relieved of that obligation. I think lunch committee would be fun! BUT. We can't do everything. Amen.

Plus, I have random weird physical ailments at times which limit me at moments. (You probably know that about me but I don't like to talk about it.) I so very badly don't want to "crash-n-burn". Help us all!

So, anyway. I feel very very blessed to have a little bit of work to do. I'm very very thankful for a consecrated husband. I'm so very grateful for my health. I'm so thankful we have a working church. I lovety-love my little precious family and I'm EXCITED to teach home-ec this year.

The end.

For today.

Tell me please, what's happening in your realm?

{WW} Hello

WW} hello

Hello Gorgeous

By Jo – Jan 9/16

I was perusing the giftware in Winners one chilly day before Christmas when I came upon a lovely teacup. It was delicate, large and white. It had a dainty handle, tiny pink flowers trailing down the interior and the words HELLO GORGEOUS in a feminine font. I picked it up.

It was perfect for her.

I stood holding it, turning it over for a moment, reflecting on my friendship with Pat’s uncle’s wife. We’ve always had an understanding, a heart connection. She is dear, true blue, exceptionally open and conversational. And she has always met me with a hug and “hello, gorgeous!” or a text of “hello, beautiful! What’s up today?” or something down that line.

She’s had a tough year. Her brother died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease and she’s walked the lonely valley of grief with her family and yet not together. She’s watched another favourite brother walk the cancer road. She’s sent her oldest son into the world, to work and live as a mature nineteen-year-old. She’s conquered her own little health problems and kept her home a haven for her men.

I walked up to the till to make my purchases. The teller wrapped the mug in thick layers of tissue and I happily took it home, found a gift bag and sent it on its way to Linden with Jodi.

A few days later I got a text:

                Jo

                I pulled that mug outa the bag & the hello gorgeous was facing me

                & I could just see you saying it & laughing & it was almost like you

                were here & Jodi & I burst out laughing… was an awesome moment…

I grinned big as I finished reading her message. I don’t think she has a clue how she’s affected my life for the better, my beautiful friend with a gorgeous heart.

*Please don't pass this on but if you want to pray for Michelle that would be the best. She just told me that her brother with cancer is dying...

Mish-Mash and Jumble-Bumble

I'm thinking of quoting Elisabeth Elliot until you're all sick of me. Do ya mind? I have a little journal (along with many other journals of varying purposes) that sits in my kitchen and I jot down little random poetry and inspiring songs and quotes in it. My dear friend Kim gifted this exact journal to me and it's beautiful. I'll take beauty on every hand. :)

So here's my latest inspiration from Elisabeth Elliot:

• Turn around.
• Quit that indulgence.
• Do not pity yourself.
• Forgive that person.
• Pay back what you owe.
• Apologize.
• Tell the truth.
• Deny yourself.
• Consider the others well-being.
• Lay down your life.

And down a totally different line, I've found a WONDERFUL lotion for chapped hands.

Much as I love scented lotions, when winter gets long and dry I NEED something like this. I'd recommend it.

I also love love love menu plans and thought I'd share my week with you. We usually have eggs & toast in some form for breakfast. The boys often end up frying their own eggs. :) Lunches are usually leftovers as everyone is at their various area of work and school. So, suppers are our specialty. I actually planned two weeks (last week) and shopped for that and I'm so glad because I feel like - well, like, not much today.

Sun - pork roast (the one from Costco that you can get in a huge box for cheap, 9 large roasts for $70), mashed potatoes, carrots & peas, lettuce salad, apple crisp (like with what I put in the freezer in the fall) & ice-cream

Mon - sausage, potatoes & carrots with tomato soup, onions, etc.

Tues - chicken lentil soup with Red Lobster biscuits 

Wed - baked chicken (from the Hutterites), mashed spuds, gravy, mixed veggie casserole (ended up going to folks for supper)

Thurs - grilled marinated chicken breasts, baby potatoes with the topping mix, Laurie salad, apple crisp (one track mind here) and ice-cream

Fri - taco salad (ate in Delisle instead and that's a hysterical story for another time!!)

Sat - pancakes & syrup, leftovers

Sun- to the Villa, got out leftover turkey from mom for the men's lunches

Mon - Tater-tot casserole, veggie casserole (too tired to make more)

Tues - grilled pork loin, cheese bread, layered lettuce salad

Wed - crispy baked chicken, rice pilaf, spinach & strawberry salad

Thurs - chili soup, biscuits

Fri - chicken penne alfredo, ceasar salad, garlic bread

Sat - French toast, breakfast sausage

Hellooo?

Are you with me? 

Have a wonderful evening!! May tomorrow be better than today.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! Yeah! I love January! Here are some of my inspirations:

• A new pretty weekly planner.
• Goals of walking and cleaning.
• Gorgeous prairie sunrises on my morning busing trips.
• Snow covering the grey-brown land.
• Sledding with little children.
• Hot chocolate around the campfire.
• Menu plans.
• Candles burning.
• Clean folded laundry to put away.

I have wonderful things to be thankful for. But the reality is that we've had a pretty tough week and a half here. There was a huge blow-up at the Dean Esau gathering that resulted in babysitting and having Trevor & Alex here a lot and at Jeffs and folks. Our last week of holidays was painful.

Yesterday Robin spent just three hours with me and it was enough. I can't see change happening - ever... but that's where I need to trust and leave things in God's hands.

I've been reading Discipline by Elisabeth Elliot and it's just such a wonderful inspiration. Just do the next right thing. That's all. And I don't always know what that is.

So with joy and happiness on one hand and overwhelming burdens on the other we face another year. I have no new year's resolutions. I just pray I will have discernment and energy to do and say the next right thing.