~ Brotherly Love ~

I love the dynamics of a family when you have older siblings and little ones. There is just such a sense of commitment , a wealth of love and an incredible bond between the young people and the little babes.
This was no more evident in our house last month, for our two year olds birthday.
The kids had all scurried off the afternoon previous to make cards for their little brothers big day, while I busied myself with some chores that needed doing.
The next morning when we greeted the little guy in bed with cupcakes complete with a candle the kids all pulled out their cherished homemade cards for him. I had actually forgotten about the cards and had meant to give them some special stickers to use, but apparently that was unnecessary.
They had all spent extra special attention to decorating the cards with stuff they knew he would love. Pictures of bears, drawings of cows and the number 2 was plastered all over these precious cards. The older boys had completed theirs with pockets, animal searches, and cute drawings.
But nothing was more touching than the cute little words my older boys had composed for their little brother.

This was the poem written inside my 9 year olds card:

You are two and I don't know what to do
I am not the oldest of this house
But still to me your as little as a mouse
I can't believe your two
So I can't think of what to give you
I'd like to give you a trunk of toys
Or a movie night with the boys
Just ask me what you want me to do
And I will make it true for you


This is the letter and acrostic that my 12 year old had written to the little guy:

Munchy (our nickname for him)

I love you so much!
I'm so glad that God sent me a brother like you! You're the only brother that I have had to "baby" and I guess I can kiss that goodbye now that you're two.
You're officially a "widdle" boy.

My little brother
Unbearable is my love for you
New two year old
Chubby
Holy cow you're cute!
Yep, youre the best!
Yes, these might not be as eloquent or as highly literate as girls this age would do, but for what it was lacking, it made up for in simple, boyish charm.
So this momma took off her homeschool hat, put on her momma one and reveled in it alone.

~ Godly Womanhood ~

"Godly womanhood....the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly women--or of a godly man either for that matter.
We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra modern.
The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need woman, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct."

(U.S Senate Chaplain Peter Marshalls lament of the 1940's)

Most amazing Mother

This video humbled me. It has also made me far more thankful for the incredible gift of our healthy bodies. Whenever I find myself complaining about any task or how difficult I find something to accomplish, I will remind myself of this incredible woman.

So much of what we do everyday is really a privilege.
Of course we don't look at it that way, do we? Its always considered a chore, a requirement. We even grumble and complain a little.
But, the abilities that we take for granted are truly a gift from our Heavenly father. He's so good to us, so generous with his grace. I'm thankful for this reminder today. I hope you will be too.

~ Domestic Bliss in a Bottle ~

This morning when I awoke, awaiting me was a sink full of pots and pans, a dirty microwave and stovetop, and every small appliance known to mankind was in a state of disaster along with every visible surface in my kitchen.
Phew, what a mess!

As I looked on at my children happily doing their chores, I begrudgingly headed to the sink, okay no I didn’t… I and my coffee in hand ran back upstairs screaming and I checked my email instead.
When I realized that I was not going to get out of it with a simple “bippity bippity boppity boo” I decided to face the music.

As I filled up the sink with hot water and dishsoap and immersed my hands, suddenly it was if the sun was shining brightly again, the birds were chirping and all was right with the world!

To me there is just something therapeutic about immersing ones hands into warm soapy water, just like a bubble bath really. Okay, well almost like a bubble bath, I usually don’t bring food caked pots and pans to the tub to join me.

Now I must tell you that this wasn’t just any ordinary sink full of soapy water. No way hozay…this was a luxuriously scented experience!
I may have no-name pasta, no-name ketchup and no-name toilet paper (it really isn’t as soft- trust me) but when it comes to dishsoap… well I only buy the absolute best!!
No scrimping here, no siree!
I love the many flavours…ahem… scents (they don’t taste as good as they smell) that they have available today.
There’s green apple, citrus, grapefruit, cucumber melon, and darkchocolate hazelnut non-fat mocha latte ....okay I made that one up, but wouldn't that be a good one?!
My personal favorite though is lavender.

Warning-if you use lavender in the evening it might just entice your husbands nostrils and you might find him, before you know it, saddled up beside you at the sink. (it is an aphrodisiac you know) Maybe some flirting and a little batting of eyelashes and you might find yourself out of a dishwashing job.

~Happy Faces ~

There's nothing like seeing the happy faces of your children on Christmas morning. That wonderful feeling of knowing you picked out the perfect gift.
It brings back many happy memories of my own childhood Christmases because those really were the best family memories that I have.







All those little leftover boxes have to come to sad, and fateful end. Here's my very manly, fire lovin' hubby taking care of that. Hence, his happy face.

~Happy Birthday Jesus ~

Thank-you God for the greatest gift!

~Christmas Eve Fun ~

My little elves were busy working this Christmas Eve day. Lets have a peek at what they were doing shall we.....


Are those cinnamon rolls you say?

mmm...yes they are! Now don't ya just wish you weren't on the naughty list... I heard you're getting nothing but a lump of coal this Christmas... or maybe that was me...well moving on then...
All these cinnamon rolls are for our lovely neighbors and the nice storekeeper down the road Mr. Bob and his wife. We call her Mr. Bobs wife. You gotta love them small towns.


What?! Eating on the job!! You boys are fired!!
We are all about the breaking of child labour laws in this house. Yes siree you better earn your keep around here.

Now these two pretty little elves were helping momma make m&m cookie mixes in a jar.
(you can find the recipe here)

This is something that they had wanted to do as gifts for family members this year.
So if you happen to be family and you happen to be reading this...um, uh..Merry Christmas...surprise! Maybe I didn't think this post all the way through.

~Christmas Reflections ~

I have found myself quieting down the last couple of days. I'm spending more time thinking and reflecting on the past year.
Funny really, how quickly the year passes and we find ourselves at this very spot in time where we are faced with the fact that another year has gone by right before our eyes. It seems as if I am so busy everyday just doing the "life stuff."
Then here I find myself struck yet again with the realization of Christs birth. What significance does his birth have to you? Are you speeding through life on auto pilot with no thought to the future? If so, then really the significance of his birth is nothing more than an excuse to celebrate the season.
Yet if there is something more to this Christ child, something beyond magical, beyond the hype, could it be that we are missing the mark each day in our priorities.
Someone sent me an email a few weeks back about a children's Christmas pageant. Small children were on stage each responsible for a different letter to hold up. Their signs were to spell out CHRISTMAS LOVE. Being that this was performed by children it ended up with a glitch, of course.
The little girl whom was responsible for the M had hers upside down. Snickers and giggles could be heard from the parents until the message suddenly dawned on many of them. It was spelled out clear for everyone to see CHRIST WAS LOVE.
Christ was love and still today is love. Its all consuming, ever forgiving, soul filling, abundant Love!
We are always looking elsewhere to fill that "love-yearning" deep within us.
Relationships, stuff, activities, they will fill that void for a time, but at some point- even they will disappoint us.
This Holy child found in manger scenes everywhere this time of year has real significance. His humble birth, his incredible life, his sacrificial death, and amazing resurrection. This man had such an impact that even his birth split history into B.C and A.D.

Having Jesus as a side dish at Christmas is heart breaking to me, and yet as I reflect... I am guilty of it as well.

~ Mary, Did you know? ~

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I am

(Turn off music in sidebar before pushing play on video)

~ Gingerbread and friends ~

This.....
Plus this.....

equals this......


Who says you can't use the leftover icing for something good?

Those homeschooled kids always using their heads....

~Easy Christmas Cookies or not? ~

This is an easy fun Christmas cookie recipe. That is of course until you factor in....


this guy!!!


He figured he was as much apart of this family as everyone else - so he should be allowed to take part in all of the baking festivities. Well lets see how that turned out.......


cracking the eggs for momma....


oops, that didn't go well......

I'll get the flour momma....

who needs pesky measuring cups when hands work nicely....

sheesh...where is this childs mother?

food colouring and a paintbrush...what was I thinking?

Well the destruction of my kitchen is now complete and we have 7 whole cookies to show for it!
Just kidding...we just have 7 left to show you...we are not sure...um, er... where the others disappeared too.


so if you have one of these.....

and have nothing better to do than spending 2 hours cleaning up your kitchen afterwards- make these fun paintable, tasty Christmas cookies.

Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Christmas Cookies From Childhood and Beyond

2/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange or lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
4 teaspoons milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream shortening, sugar, orange peel, and vanilla thoroughly. Add in egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the milk and mix.
Sift dry ingredients together, then blend into cream mixture. Divide dough in half (thirds if you double the recipe), slightly flatten between two sheets of waxed paper, then refrigerate for one hour (or freeze for 20 minutes.)

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to lightly greased cookie sheet and paint cookies with soft brushes with egg yolk glaze:

Egg Yolk Glaze
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
2 to 3 drops food coloring

Bake at 375-degrees for approximately 6 minutes. Do not allow to become brown.

Remove cookies from oven, remove cookies to wire rack to cool. Then, using a pastry bag or Ziplock, pipe with white icing to decorate.

White Decorative Icing
2-pound bag powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons egg white (optional)

~ Merry Tossmas!! ~

Click above for a short, funny clip.

~ Some perspective ~

It's that time a year again when all the hustle and bustle of Christmas is all about checking off our Christmas gift buying list.
The onslaught of flyers, sales and advertisements urging us to buy, buy, buy!!
Seeing everything out thats new, chic and hip to have can make your head spin.

A couple of weeks ago I saw an advertisement for Oprahs "favorite things" episode. I'm pretty sure I saw this show last year chocked full of all the amazing new "must haves," enough bling and pizazz to make even the cheapest person find herself excited, I'm sure.
I find some of Oprahs episodes worth watching, but this was one that I was determined to skip. For many reasons really, one being my own conviction to find contentment in all circumstances, another being rebellion against the worlds desire to tempt us to always be in the pursuit of MORE stuff.

I found it ironic that the day that the show was scheduled to air was the same day that we were all informed of the tragic events surrounding the cyclone that hit off the coast of the Indian ocean.
That same day there were 3000 people who had lost their lives and many more thousands who had lost their livelihood and everything that they had owned. 300 000 homes were destroyed, 600 000 homes damaged. Thousands of acreage of crops were completely wiped out. This was the sole income of so many families. A man was interviewed by some reporter on site and he said he had nothing left, not even a blanket to cover his relatives who were now dead.

I heard this report during my morning coffee and shared it with my children during our morning Bible time. The kids and I cried and prayed for these people, these poor distraught families that were cold, hungry, desperate and afraid for their futures.
We sat and looked around at our cozy, warm house, the breakfast dishes left from a yummy, hot meal piled on the counter, and lastly we looked at each other. We were all together healthy and breathing. Our hearts ached, yet we were grateful for our blessings.
So when the clock hit 4:00 and I knew Oprah would be unveiling enough loot to make people salivate and drool for more, I opted out.

I had some perspective....

~ My naughty day ~

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God-Fresh Vision for the Hopeful Homemaker
by Jennie Chancey and Stacey Macdonald
(Click above)

This obviously is the book responsible for the title of this blog. I was so excited when this book arrived one morning that I did something very naughty. I completely neglected my home and my children for an entire day so I could devour this book cover to cover.

I'm thinking that this wasn't something that the authors would have encouraged considering the point of the book, but nevertheless that is what happened in this housewives home.

That morning I looked around at my fairly clean and orderly home and then promptly kissed it goodbye! I knew very well that undue disaster would come upon it while I curled up by the fire in my chair to leisurely read.
I gave my boys some independent schoolwork to occupy them for awhile, gave the girls a pile of craft stuff to go nuts with and took a good long look at my cherub-cheeked 2 year old. I kissed his adorable little face and released him with free reign on the house.

That late afternoon as I surveyed the damage, surprisingly, not too much was done. Yes the school room looked like something had exploded in there, glitter, paper, markers, glue, and paint were everywhere-that would be thanks to the toddler.
And yes, I had had to break up a rousing game of hockey in my kitchen much to my childrens chagrin, after a potted plant hit the floor .
By supper the troops were famished and cleaned their plates diligently. Seems that moms suggestion to choose whatever you want to make for lunch hadn't produced much food. They had all decided to scrimp on lunch so as not to have to clean up much after themselves.
Poor things... I had rather enjoyed my lunch of leftover brownies and jellybeans.

I figured every good housewife is entitled to one cliche day where she fulfills the old familiar adage- that we housewives lie around all day on our sofas eating bon bons.
Okay, I've had mine!

~ Desperate Housewives? ~

Scantily clad and sleeping with the pool boy,
uptight, stuckup, and a perfect Martha in the kitchen,
oh and lets not forget drowning in diapers, dishes and domestic boredom.
Is this what we women who choose to stay at home are all about?

Are there really only 3 catagorys that we can be slotted into?
I’m having a hard time figuring out which one fits me best.
Okay… not really, I can count out the first one. (I don’t have a pool)
The second one, well how uptight can you be if you’ve got 5 children?
The third one …have you ever tried chasing a toddler through the house with a diaper in hand while shouting out spelling words, knowing you just left the faucet running at the sink and the 4 year old unattended with the electric mixer still in the bowl of cake batter…um crazy yes, but definetly not boring!!

Its sad really for those of us who have chosen, key word there “chosen”, to be “housewives” that this is how we are portrayed secularly.

I am desperate at times and I’m not talking about desperately trying to dig my way out of 20 loads of laundry or desperately trying to lose those 10 pesky pounds or even desperately trying to clean the house in 20 mins before guests arrive.

I am desperately longing to be filled . No person or earthly thing, can even begin to meet the need of my soul!
All the world has to offer are just trappings.

Trappings, I love that word because it best describes what temptation results in.
Buying stuff, stuff and more stuff just renders us helpless in debt unsatisfied and longing for more. Relationships outside a committed marriage only result in desperation, failure and sometimes ultimately, destruction of a family.
Alcohol, drug abuse, pornography, and gambling all lead to being trapped. Men and women are left feeling unfilled, unhappy and still walking around with the same void they had before.
Only now, they have got a big old helping of guilt to go along with it.

Is there hope? Is there something more?
Why is it that some of us are embracing our call to motherhood? Why is it that some of us are actually fulfilled when we serve our husbands and families?
Completely out of the norm, I know!

This will be a daily journal of a desperate for God, passionate woman!
I am passionate about many things…my faith, my marriage, my kids, homeschooling, reading, decorating, and cooking. I hope to share so much of this with whomever is willing to read.
So if you’ve ever wished to be a fly on the wall of someone elses life, here's your chance.

Grab a tea, pull up a chair and join me.

*~ the passionate housewife ~*