Five in a Family

Photo Update of Our Fantastic Four!

2011-03-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

In the photo above, Jillian is "teaching" Georgia and the Stuffies. She is teaching them Bible verses in song format. They are pretty quick learners.

Storytime with Grandpa in front of the fireplace.

Luke's first slumber party!

Elias took over read-aloud time on this February day while I was nursing Luke. One of our fam's fave books is "Make Way For Ducklings".

Laid Luke on the couch for a nap, went to the kitchen, came back in to the living room to check on him...and discovered another "mommy" thought this was a great location for her baby to take a nap too.

It must be kinda fun having these three people talking to you at once.

First smile caught on camera on February 12th...one month old, pretty sure it was a "real" smile, too :)

Sunny Snow Day!

Luke is almost two months old now, Georgia is 2.5 years, Jillian almost 5 years, Elias 6 years old. All six of us are living with my gracious parents whose arms of love have expanded greatly to allow us to live in their home for five months now. I'm learning A LOT about unconditional love from my mom and dad. I am SURE that we annoy them at times. I constantly annoy MYSELF with all of my mistakes and clutter...imagine being "empty nesters" and having a family of six enter into almost every corner of your home space. Yet somehow (I attribute it to their love for us, faith in Jesus, sense of humor, oath to each other to remain "kids at heart", their ability to forgive and "let it go", and that they genuinely enjoy being around us--at least I think they genuinely enjoy being around us...), my parents continue to make us feel welcome here until we march onward to Kentucky.

Ten Years

2010-12-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Ten years ago, sometime near today's date, I received a special Christmas card in the mail. The return address originated in North Carolina, on Bent Creek Drive, with someone bearing the last name of "Rudolph" (no, not the reindeer). The handwritten portion of the card inside wasn't simply "I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year" or "I'm so glad we've become friends" type message. Well, it wasn't sappy either...the verbage was witty, unexpected, and what I consider sweet (something like "I didn't get a chance to fare thee well before we left school for Christmas break...et cetera, et cetera). I would write the exact quote, but at the moment "The Card" that made my heart so twitterpated toward my now husband, is packed away in our storage unit across town (as we are preparing to move across the country), within my small box of keepsakes from way back when.

Every Christmas, I remember this card, remember how wonderful it felt and still feels to be pursued by this man. Oh dear, we were so immature, selfish, and crazy when we first were getting to know each other, knowing we wanted to get married, but wondering how and when we should do this when we were so...young, still in college, for heaven's sake! The verse "Flee the evil desires of your youth" applied quite strongly to us.

Dating Dustin was far from perfect...we were selfish, fickle, covetous, impatient. Honestly, not a whole lot of our two years of dating do I enjoy reminiscing about...Which is a tangible reminder that ALL of our marriage is a MERCY from God. What God has provided for us, and mostly, how he has changed our hearts over the past 10 years, has been orchestrated ultimately by the God of the universe.

Have I ever mentioned how I love my husband? One thing I love about him is his naturally strong personality, which he uses to call me out and reign me in. Dustin is my accountability partner: He teaches me about loving my neighbor. Seriously, left to myself, I am prone to be critical of everyone around me, in the privacy of my mind and heart. It usually boils down to my being envious of something a person has or a quality they possess, and I try to disguise this sinful attitude with another...comparing and criticizing others. None of this falls into the "encourage one another, and build each other up" or "Love always hopes" categories that are biblical principles Christians are to strive for as we walk the road of sanctification. Dustin typically recognizes when I'm going down these critical paths, and sets me straight. What a gift!

Okay, I have to jot down one more attribute of Dustin that I really really appreciate: he stewards his time well, according to his abilities. Before and after work, he is usually helping out at home, or studying, or playing with our kids, cooking, cleaning, communicating well. On days off, he goes to meetings, or studies more, or researches, typically before our family time (which I have struggled to get used to). We do like to take time to watch movies together usually at night on our laptop before bed, which, occasionally is a waste of time. We do take vacations within our budget, which are NOT a waste of time or money. And he is learning and teaching me how to Sabbath. Dustin is not idle, and he is not afraid to take on another task that needs to be done, and I appreciate that.

So that is my bi-annual blog entry as it seems lately, heh. With our fourth baby due in a few weeks, I don't imagine I will blog more frequently, but who knows? I just had to jot down my thoughts as this 10 year anniversary of "The Card" rolled around.

Spring

2010-04-17T23:30:00.001-07:00

Tomatoes growing on the window sill, shoring up the garden beds with mulch and great soil, reading books on a blanket outside, and eating supper at the picnic table--AND Jillian Spring's birthday just around the corner. Tomorrow we take a trip to Eliza Island, per her request, to celebrate her birthday. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad for your vision, work and efforts to make Eliza Island a very special place in my heart, and now my kids' hearts.

Here We Go Again!

2009-09-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Whenever I feel the crispiness of Autumn in the air, an internal alarm begins to signal: "It's Starting!" Well, the "It" used to be school, and in a year, that will be the "It" again when Elias catches up to age 5 and kindergarten. This year, thankfully, "It" is not school. "It" isn't anything, really. "It" is just a feeling I get at this time of year. So I decided that "It" would be the start of my blogging again.

I overwhelmed myself with the subject I attempted to begin blogging about in my last post. The first, oh, five or so times I thought about sitting down and writing about temptations, I found a reason to not do so. Then, spring, vacation, summer hit me in the head like an open cabinet one forgot to close prior to bending down to pick something up--WHAM! UGH!...Ouch, that REALLY hurt. Not that the past two seasons have been bad. Not in the least. They've been a lot of work. They've come and gone--FAST. We have reaped and are reaping much fruit (from our farm and local farms near us). Vegetables (beans, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, collards, swiss chard, peas, lettuce, zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers, beets, turnips, corn) and fruits (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, apples, peaches, plums).

Last April we butchered the 14 cornish cross chickens we raised in our back yard for 8 weeks. In July, we butchered our two roosters, that we hatched from our very own, and dear hen's eggs last February. We sold our goats (those rascals) on the day we left for our vacation (literally a few hours before our airplane departed), and picked up two lambs (literally a few hours post-vacation airplane arrival). Our order for two pigs this autumn is in and paid for. The freezer filled in the spring with Mr. Pettitoes, local-pastured beef, and whole chickens is now only 1/3 meat, and 2/3 berries, with a little room to spare for apples, lamb, peaches, and maybe another few gallons of blackberries if I can eek out another picking in the orchard below us which belongs to Shirley, our neighbor.

Practically, I've learned a lot, too. I've been using techniques described in How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons, involving "double digging", raised garden beds, composting, and companion planting. Paired with great sun and warmth, these gardening methods will forever be tools in my farming belt, or should I say overalls? wheelbarrow? I don't know. In any case, I won't be hanging up my farming belt or wheelbarrow or overalls or muckboots anytime soon. I really truly enjoy working our small farm and I am looking forward to trying out new winter gardening techniques come the dreary gray autumn so near at hand to us here in the world of the Pacific Northwest.

In addition, I recently read Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and feel inspired-- inspired to grow and nurture and learn and understand what is feeding me, and my family. I grew up in a "farming" family, in a way. So many of my childhood memories are filled with playing (sometimes working) near my parents and grandparents at Grandma and Grandpa, Jack and Lenny Hovde's Christmas Tree Farm. Dustin has some great stories about barely escaping the sow hog at his grandmother's house (think:four second-grade boy cousins, sneaking into the pen, and clambering under barbed wire just-in-the-nick-of-time before Mrs. Sow chomps or tramples you...yikes!). The Christmas Tree Farm provides helpful income. Mamaw and Papaw still plant and put many pounds of fruits and vegetables for food throughout the year.

For whatever reason, both Dustin and I have a developing, perhaps even deeply-seeded drive within us to farm. Unless God's calling is clear, it is unlikely that we will ever settle into a chicken-less suburban neighborhood...and if we do...watch out! Over the past two years we've lived in this suburban neigborhood (which never was completely chicken-less) I've gone from hearing our roosters crow, to hearing what I think are five different crows coming from different directions and distances. And from talking with and touring neighbors' back yards, I'm pretty sure I'm right. Not that our family has been the driving force in the surge of neighborly chickens. No, "local" food and backyard farming is so en vogue right now (at least among those I rub shoulders with) its no wonder my ears have discovered this crowing trend. I wonder how long it will stick around?

In my opinion, I hope this trend is here to stay, and grow. In all honesty, I am still the cheapskate, convenience consumer I have always been. I can't pass up Old Navy's "extra-50% off clearance" sale, for example. But, my hope is that it becomes more convenient for me to buy the local small farmer milk, vs. the 1,000 mile away milk at my favorite grocery store. There are many changes still to be made in my purchase choices, and the changes we have made have been slow, sometimes sporadic, but, nevertheless, manageable (which is a vital factor, especially when parenting three wee-ones). All in all, I feel I'm in a continual process of de-cluttering--my living room, my grocery list, my mind, my heart, my soul.

Yes, decluttering my heart and soul.
Titus 3: 4- 7 " But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous thins we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Oh how often do I have de-clutter my heart. Have you ever realized you've twisted the Gospel in your heart and mind? I have. It typically takes me 30+ minutes to fall asleep at night, even when I'm really tired, so I have a lot of time to think. It's usually during these times that I realize I've "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). Most of the time, I'm worshiping myself (either internally gloating about nice I am or wallowing in my lackings or sin--in both states, neglecting to glorify and fear God). I easily trip into a "works-based" religion, that it is my good works that make me "more righteous" or shortcomings that make me a sinner. That concept a lie. I am a sinner by nature, inherited from Adam. Even in my most self-sacrificing and loving moments my heart (and yours) is deceitful and self-centered. But, it is "by one man's [Jesus Christ's] obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).

In Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, he states that it "is essential to the heart of the gospel to insist that God declares us to be just or righteous not on the basis of our actual condition of righteousness or holiness, but rather on the basis of Christ's perfect righteousness, which he thinks of as belonging to us." And, in the words of the apostle Paul: "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1.

So, as I seek to declutter and simplify my heart, my home, my money-spending, our farm operations, may I do it all remembering Christ, and with a grateful heart. Thanks for reading through this long post. And hopefully, I'll post more often about our farm and life ventures.

Temptations

2009-02-27T00:29:00.000-08:00

In The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, he writes "No one is completely free of temptations because the source of temptation is in ourselves. We were born in sinful desire. When one timeptaion passes, another is on its way. We will always have temptation because we are sinners who lost our original innocence in the Garden."

I would like to meditate and reflect over the next month on temptation--in general, and in my own life and how God provides a way out for us in every temptation that we face.

January

2009-01-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few snapshots of what I've seen around my home this past month: Elias in our backyard: stick and sword in hand--a dangerous combo
One of our Barred-Rock Hens peering into our house from the deck

Red the Rooster and Henny Penny...a courtship not to be separated (or Red will attack you)

Elias in the January Sun

Nearly every morning, Elias awakes before me, comes into Mommy and Daddy's room and whispers in my ear "Mommy, I'm hungry for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich"...here he is making it so early in the a.m.

Adventures

Elias LOVES to hold Georgia in his lap! She likes it too.

Jillian playing "Princess"

Jillian loves to dance in this Princess Dress from Pop Pop and Emmy Rudolph (the dress has a built in music box that plays "Swan Lake" when the person wearing it dances--a little girl's dream!).

2009-01-25T23:11:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I had the fun of spending the day in Seattle with my dear friend Rebecca Jones. We roamed all over downtown together in the January sun, had time to laugh, chit chat, and catch up. We even went to Nordstrom to look for a pair of shoes for an upcoming event in which Becky is to take part. I felt very unsophisticated at this store, wearing REI, toting an infant in a carseat, and a two year old bolting this way and that. Plus, Steve Madden was there...THE Steve Madden shoe guy sporting a dorky pair of faded jeans atop a pair of pointy black shiny shoes. I have one pair of pumps. They are black. They are Steve Madden. This personal fact made it a little interesting to see the designer in person.

It was also interesting to browse the clearance rack at Nordstrom. I saw a sign advertising "50-60% off original prices"--an advertisement to which I am drawn like dust to a ceiling fan. I found a shoe I liked the look of...but it was a little out of my price range, even with the discount ($369.00 after 60% off).

Jillian and I had lots of fun while Becky modeled shoes. We rode escalators, elevators (a thrill for Jilly who found them to make her dizzy...which made her want to ride them over and over). Jillian also got to get a make-over at bareescentuals.

While I was feeling unsophisticated in Nordstrom, Dustin was experiencing the opposite feeling while hanging out with Elias, Elijah and Makaio. Dustin and Elijah took their boys to just about the ultimate Father/Son event ever: Monster Jam. They had a great time, and Monster Trucks are now ranked as fun to play with as Lightning McQueen Pixar Cars at our house.

It was a fun weekend.

Snow Cream

2009-01-03T00:03:00.000-08:00

This is snow cream. Dustin introduced me to it our first year of marriage. It snowed a bunch that year. I remember snowboarding down the driveway to our apartment. Pre-kids, just a couple of kids, in married bliss, playing in the snow together. Playing in the snow with Dustin is one of my sentiments because I first developed a crush on him during our snowboarding excursions throughout the winter of 2000-2001 while we both went to Seattle Pacific University. Sometimes I still get those little "crush" butterflies when I see him trapsing through snow in his snow clothes. Cheesy, TMI, I know. But its true.

Here is that delicious creation: Vanilla Snow Cream. To make, scoop loads of clean, fresh, white snow into a large container or big bowl. Add a little milk, a lot of vanilla extract, and a little sugar to taste. Mix it all up (preferrably outside where its cold so it doesn't melt too quickly). Then eat!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T23:53:00.000-08:00

I have that empty feeling I usually get after Christmas ends or after snow melts away! This New Year is a double whammie! The snow is gone and Christmas 2008 is a memory stored in my mind and on the "J" drive of my computer (the extra memory drive where we store all of our family pics. It's called Maxtor).
We had a really great Christmas season this year. We celebrated Christ's Birth in many ways and I feel that it is always a challenge to remember that this is why we celebrate Christmas.
Here is a list or our season highlights:
Hovde Tree Farm days
Christmas Dinner at church
Christmas Shopping on Amazon
Decorating our home with a Christmas Tree, Laurel Wreaths, and lots of red "shatterproof" ball ornaments
Lining our Driveway with Christmas Lights with the kids
Advent Calendar countdown
Nick and Sarah Kheriaty visit us
Christmas Eve (at Grammie and Grandpa's and at GiGi's)
Christmas Morning at Home (ahhh....home is best)
Our baby chick hatched on Christmas morning! Its name is appropriately "Christmas".
Christmas Dinner at Greatgrandma and Greatgrandpa's
The Rudolph's arrive in the Northwest the day after Christmas!
Dec. 27th Rudolph Family Christmas!
Board Game Day!
Elias' first ski day with Dad!
Rudolph family leaves :(
Visit Shoreline to see the Cabiles'
New Years Eve @ the Tarrells
New Years Day Brunch at Grammie and Grandpa's with David and Sarah.
I really truly enjoyed this busy season. Not that we don't have our moments of being marred by the curse of sin, but as we are married longer, Dustin and I are growing closer. We have the same vision, same goal for our family (to magnify Christ) and in desiring that end, we both seek to serve each other and our family. Dustin is kind, patient, trustworthy and loving toward me. He leads me confidently and firmly. I really like that. I really need that. It is a joy for me to submit to his headship in our marriage because of how he leads us. And when I submit to his headship, it is a joy for him to be the leader.

I will post some new photos of our family tomorrow.
For now, a thousand words will have to create the picture of the Rudolph Christmas Season.

Do you know your Neighbors?

2008-11-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

Here is our neighbor Shirley.
Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

I love having neighbors. I love the idea and practice of being neighborly. Growing up we had wonderful neighbors. I can think of five different families that lived on our street growing up, with whom my family shared our lives with. I still keep in touch with them today and they are my friends. As a kid, it was good for me to see how different families run and live (examining the good, the bad, and the ugly).

Shirley is our neighbor. She is in her late 80's and has been widowed for 15 yrs or so. She still wears her wedding ring. Our other neighbor mows her lawn for her once a week from spring through summer. It has been great getting to know Shirley. All of her family lives in the Seattle area or south of there, so she typically is alone, as she says most of her friend's here have died.

I like Shirley and think it is interesting to hear stories from her about the old days. We have each others' phone numbers and I could call her if I need something and she calls me when she needs something.

Our neighbors across the street are the Isaksons. They are a family of four and Yvonne and her two boys take care of our animals when we are out of town. They are really sweet. We've exchanged phone numbers with them as well. Last night she brought over some veggie scraps to feed to our pig.

Do you know your neighbors? Who are they? Can you trust them? Be wise in this area, don't risk your safety or your family's safety just because you want to be neighborly. However, it is important to build community and your neighbors are people in close proximity to you. Make an effort to get to know them. And even if you've lived where you do for a while and have never extended a hand of friendship to your neighbors, do it now and begin being a neighbor.

A Useful Blog for Moms

2008-11-13T00:18:00.001-08:00

May I recommend a practical and helpful blog, written from a Biblical perspective?
If you want handy tips on managing a home, working on your heart, and glorifiying Jesus...you can find that here: www.workandworship.com

A Shout Out to Moms

2008-11-12T23:49:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 31:28 "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

Dustin's Mom, Emily, with Jillian and Georgia
My Mama, Miki, with Georgia

How blessed I am to have been raised by a wise, diligent, fun and loving mom. The longer that I am a mom, the greater my thankfulness for the mom that the Lord provided to me. As I grow as a mom, I see how much of herself, her dreams, hopes, energy, she put forth into her raising of my brother and I. She gives and gives and gives and gives to me in boundless areas: love, wisdom, grace, forgiveness, encouragement, time, energy, friendship. And I am so thankful that she gets to share in the life of my kids as Dustin and I raise them. Mom, you are a continual blessing and encouragement to me and I love to just hang out with you. We have fun being together.

PS: My Mom and Auntie Berna cleaned my whole house for me while we were on vacation! Thank you for that wonderful gift!

Another mom I have in my life, is Dustin's mom, Emily. Over the years that I have known her, I have discovered a rare person. She is one of the most giving people that I have ever known. She is always looking for ways that she can help another person. No task is to complicated or too great for her to take on. I have learned much from Emily about giving, sacrificing of time and comfort for the benefit of others. I love to talk with her and learn her perspective when it comes to relationships and situations. I am inspired by her ability to cook a gourmet meal nearly every meal. And I am encouraged by her humbleness of heart...to look back on her life and reflect, repent, and change.

Miss Pettitoes

2008-11-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Pig I've Always Wanted. Here is Miss Pettitoes our new pig. She is a Hampshire/Duroc cross and is as sweet as can be! She is our newest attempt at growing our own meat. Some of you may remember our tragic attempt at turning our duck, Ping, into duck-dinner. The roosters were another venture to put into the "FAIL" category. Just three nights before the day of butchering, something (likely a raccoon or weasel) dug into their cage and killed all seven cockerels (one was missing, the others, it appeared, were killed for the fun of it??!!).

I am beginning to wonder how early American farmers did it, and I am gaining great respect for those living/who lived in an agrarian culture. So far, this micro-farm/hobby-farm business has produced very little, practically speaking (granted I am not doing this 24/7, and am not truly dependent upon the results of my labor). Our garden produced very little this year, especiallly in comparison to our luscious 10'x10' little garden in our Shoreline backyard. We have two birds that produce eggs, four birds in all, and...let me see....we've lost eighteen birds to wildlife and/or accidents. Not the best survival ratio for chickens and ducks at our place. Lillian apparently, hasn't reached maturity yet...no signs of fertility. And before she begins milking, she has to kid (have a baby(ies))...and before that, let me tell you 'bout the birds and the bees. And speaking of bees, we didn't have enough honey in the hive to harvest, the stuff that was there we had to leave for the bees to eat all winter long. So, I must be patient. Farming is a science and an art. And it takes a lot of time and hard work, its expensive and dirty. And we aren't very good at it--yet...we are determined to see if we can do this. So...I will not get attached to Miss Pettitoes, I will not get attached to Miss Pettitoes!

The standard is to raise this type of hog to about 220-250 pounds. This should take around 5-7 months. We've been told and have read that a 220 pound hog produces about 150 pounds of edible meat. So, if this works out for us, we should have some pork-chops and bacon to share--even if we do get another deep-freezer.

My Happy Happy Family

2008-10-21T23:05:00.001-07:00

I thought I would post a few more photos of my cutie-pies. Elias and Jillian both jibber-jabber so much nowadays. Like all kids, they say the most surprising, funny, profound, hilarious things sometimes. What I hear them say is especially endearing because I am their Mama. I can't think of any of their latest quotes right now.

If you look close, they are holding hands--I make them hold hands a lot and sometimes they do it on their own.

I love this one of Georgia. She's got the Hovde down-turned eyes, too. My cousin calls them "Precious Moments" eyes--don't know if I would go so far as to call them that, but it helps me to embrace the shape-o'-my eyes.

In this shot, I was trying to imitate a studio photoshoot. Not so much.

The Happy Toe-Heads (is that how you spell that?)

Elias and our beloved "Pogo". Pogo puts up with a lot of man-handling these days, especially since her counterpart, Lola, got eaten by a coyote a couple months ago.

I am discovering something new about autumn this year. I can grow things to eat during this season up here in the Northwest. Yes, it is true. In my west garden (I say that a little fecetiously) I have beets, spinach, corn salad, Alaskan Bush peas, fava beans and brussel sprouts growing. They are growing very slowly, but growing, they are. Also, my rosemary plant that Dustin got me for Christmas last year is still going strong.

This afternoon, the kids and I were out with the animals and we heard the hoot of an owl...likely the same owl that Elias and I discovered perched atop our chicken tractor about a month ago. It is a little ironic because, since before he could walk, Elias has been enamored with birds--particularly owls (he's a little freaked out about crows). So we trekked along the perimeter of our goat fence toward the back of our property and an owl flew out of the Sequoia tree and into a fir that graces our neighbor's pond.

Yesterday, the kids and I painted during most of our free time throughout the day. We painted on paper, cardboard, old popsicle sticks, and the like. It was really fun. I prefer watercolors, but Elias likes to paint with glitter glue and Jillian likes to paint with poster paint.

---------ORGANIZATION RESOLUTION UPDATE-----------

Since, in my last post, I resolved to organize something small every day, I thought I would document an update.

I have fixed a small shelf I bought for $2 @ the Salvation Army and spray painted it--looks great as a sofa side table (toy bins fit in it)

I have spray painted a furnace vent cover to better match our bathroom.

I have cleaned the kitchen every night!

I have put away clothes right after I folded them

I'm working on making this ORGANIZATION RESOLUTION a LIFESTYLE! Whoo hoo!

Perservering

2008-10-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

For the past month, I have wasted a lot of time. I have not been orderly in my thoughts or in how I carry out my daily tasks. I feel like I am defined by the clutter in my mind and home. A contributing factor to this is motherhood, I think. Another contributing factor is my natural bent toward the disorderly and ability to look over a mess without a second glance. But this is not a state of mind where I am stewarding wisely, carefully, what God has given me. When all the kids are in bed, I stand in my "greatroom" (i.e. kitchen, eating area, office and living room) and all of the things I have to do/should do/want to do flash through my mind as I take in with my eyes what clutter remains of our day....and often, I get too overwhelmed to begin to tackle more than the kitchen (if I even do that...hey, it can wait till 7 a.m. right?). This week I remembered something I learned a few years ago about how, often times, perfectionists don't start any projects because they don't see how they could ever get the job done the way they want it. So, not ever taking it on, whether it be scrapbooking, or organizing- whatever it is, it does not get started. Well, I'm no perfectionist, I'm just lazy. But this week I decided to organize the books in our home. Nay, they are not exactly how I had wished them to be ordered (alphabetically and by subject), but in my organizing I have created two ordered bookshelves and gotten rid of a few books that I don't care to read (okay, only 3 books)... Bonus! I found a few books I thought I had lost. So today, I resolve to steward my inklings of free time to organize one area of clutter in my life each day.
I have realized the necessity of teaching my kids how to pick up after themselves, I just am not sure how to do it. This is how the moment passes when I ask my kids to pick up their toys. "Elias could you please pick up your Lightning Mcqueen cars and put them in the plastic box?"
Elias picks up one car and puts it in the box. Then carries on playing in his merry way. "Elias please finish picking your cars up." Eventually I am the one that picks up the cars in order that peace be maintained in the home. I get really frustrated because usually the scenario goes one of two ways. The first, as above, I pick up the cars. The second, Elias picks his cars up after much coaxing, conniving, bribing, and fussing. This second scenario is much more difficult for me to endure. Its way easier for me to pick the cars up myself, or, better yet, to overlook the clutter and leave the cars on the floor. This has resulted in many a stubbed toe between Dustin and I. If any of you moms have any tips on teaching kids how to pick up after themselves I welcome them graciously. Even more so, I welcome encouragement from moms who realize how much thoughtful and wise teaching their children require.
Why is it that in the most mundane of duties do I realize my children's deepest need and do I see their wayward hearts and through that I see mine. My wayward heart doesn't want to perservere, to keep on teaching them, my heart is hard towards them and not understanding of their youthfulness. I want them to get it the first time and I despair when they don't. I lack grace and hope.
I've been encouraged by 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, I hope you will be too.

The Kiddos

2008-09-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

Jillian

Georgia

Elias

Walking with the goats

Georgia-Pie

Sisters

Parenting

2008-09-10T21:32:00.001-07:00

There are some days when I really lose it with the kids. I have had anger problems in the past (I hope that if I run for public office one day someone doesn't dig up that sentence from years prior and post it all over the news as, what's the word, is it "propoganda"? I can't think just now) (just joking-about the running for office part, I added it as a comic aside because it is still a little hard for me to share about my issues with anger-enter: pride - again).

A little over three years ago, I had to face my problem head-on. Primarily, this was because my baby wasn't simply a cuddly cute chubby cherub, but one that I realized exhibited symptoms of the universal disease called Depravitus Humanus. I'm not sure why I didn't deal with anger that I felt when I got married, or even before that. I think it is partially because I hadn't experienced or fully realized the weight of my influence on others until becoming a mother.

I Timothy 2:15 says "But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety." (The Bible, NIV). Interestingly, this verse comes right after Paul's discussion of the order that God has put in place between men and women's roles in the church.; as well as a note about The Fall, Adam and Eve (See I Timothy 2: 11-15). I will not diverge into a discussion on submission here. I will say that the "women will be saved through childbearing" part applies to me!! Through bearing/rearing my children have I realized my complete depravity, and that by continuing in faith and love I am being sanctified (does this sound too Christianese?). As I am continually convicted of sin, I go through a process of confessing sin, repenting of it (stop doing it! yikes!), and reconciling the wrong I have done (okay, this is the most difficult part for me, I get so pridefully ashamed of my past sin, I don't want to bring it up, even to reconcile it). And along the way, Jesus helps me to see myself, my attitude (on the inside or the out) through my children.

I am going to tell you about today. To preface, I realize when I tell stories about my kiddos, that they are vulnerable children, and I am not trying to demean them in anyway. I hope that I do not come across that way in this story. We came home from a really great time at the library today. The kids were well behaved, Jillian's underpants stayed dry, etc. Enter chaos. Georgia fell asleep and I laid her down. I began cooking dinner. Elias suddenly jumps up from watching the library movie, screaming "I'm hungry!" Tears appear and stream down his face while he screams "I want a banana with peanut butter!"

Me: "Please ask in a polite way!"

Elias: "Please may I have a big banana with peanut butter"

Me: "You can have a 1/2 banana".

Dinner was truly almost done and I didn't want to spoil his appetite, so I gave him a 1/2 banana, no peanut butter . I could have cut his arm off and I don't think he could have cried harder. He was madder than a hornet. He squished up the banana that I gave him. He continued to scream as I told him to put the banana mash on the counter and go to his room.

Elias and I walk to his room. Jillian is playing in there. She looks at me with watery eyes and says "I poo-pooed in my pants". I can smell it. Elias shoves her out of the way to his bed. "I just want to be ALOOOOOONE JILLIE!" He wails. Do I deal with the shove or the poop? It's a toss up at this point. "Waaaaaaaaah--I'm hungry!" in the background as I take Jill to the bathroom to clean up. Poop plops in the toilet, soiled underwear in the dirty clothes basket, Jill gets a baby-wipe bath. I hear Georgia crying, then the smell of slightly burning frying chicken on the stove reminds me to check dinner. I wash my hands, twice, as I am really grossed out. Sort of saved the chicken from burning up, get all the kids to the table (forgot to have Elias wash his library hands--didn't realize this till after dinner), bribe them to eat veggies w/ a raspberry Hansen's "natural cane sugar" soda. At this point we are all having fun again. I bring up the whole banana incident. Elias says "I'm sorry".

Jillian takes a drink of her soda. "Its spicy, it gives me the hiccups" says she, hiccuping.

I give Elias his last bite of green peas and edamame. He chews a few times, gags, and spits them out, "They give me the throw-ups" says he. We all laugh. I don't push the peas, glad I am not cleaning up barf. We actually had a really good dinner. And Elias ate the banana he mashed with peanut butter mixed in for dessert.

So, two things from this long-winded story. One, how often do I say to God, or Dustin, or whoever: I want what I want, when I want it, the way I want it--NOW! And I'm going to make you know how mad I am about not getting it! And Two: I didn't really lose it with the kids today. God gave me grace to deal with the chaos, the attitudes. The kids are all in bed now *sleeping*. I'm waiting for Dustin to come home on his "Chow" break and share a few minutes together. Praise Jesus for my precious family.

Things That Have Happened

2008-09-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we had an animal casualty: Lola the duck was eaten by a coyote (sniff). We forgot to put the birds into their pens one night, and Lola was the unlucky duck.

Dustin and Elias went on a guys camping trip with Cousin Ben and Caden; Susan and the girls joined her parents on Eliza Island-ahh, bliss! But hard being apart from each other, but good, too.

We went swimming today.

Dustin is in San Francisco for the weekend visiting two of his really good buddies.

Also a few weeks ago our baby chicks arrived in the mail and they have moved from our garage to their outside pen! Yee Haw!!! They are really cute. A couple of them have names: Scalliwag and Mexico (Elias named them).

My kiddos are really growing, physically, developmentally, heart-wise, too.

I went wake boarding today with our friends Nick and Sarah and Scott. What a TREAT!!

I started working outside the home again....I work per diem at St. Joseph Hospital in the Childbirth Center. I work there about once a week. I posted a poster in the nurses lounge of dates I am available to work. This has made me so much more sane regarding when I sign up for shifts. If I am not available (i.e. Dustin is working and we would have to find a babysitter if I were gone, too), then I say "no" to that shift. I have already fulfilled my September and October months with shifts I am signed up to work. Previously, it had been hard to fulfill my four-shift a month committment that goes along with my per diem position contract until I was already into the month. I don't know why it took me SO LONG to figure out that posting dates I was available would help this problem....perhaps it was because I had pregnant brain...I am thinking somewhat more clearly these days now that I am post-partum.

I RSVP'd to my cousin's upcoming wedding. Looking forward to spending the weekend in Seattle in October.

Went to a Zoo-Tunes concert to see Shawn Mullins...but more importantly, to see some dear friends: Becky Jones, Elijah and Lisa and Makaio Cabiles.

Redeeming Summer

2008-09-06T23:55:00.000-07:00

Summer hasn't left us yet. What a gorgeous NW day. But autumn is coming, as it always does. And I get this "can't put your finger on it" feeling in my gut when the end of summer peeks at me. Kind of a sad, defeated feeling, like the child who is REALLY tired but doesn't want to go to bed and his mom makes him go to bed. That's how I feel about autumn coming. It is a good season, but it's disappointing that summer always has to end.

Summer has always been so dang fun for me. I love summer--you can garden, its warm, you can wear shorts, flipflops, tanktops, get tan, mow the lawn, pick berries, swim, eat popsicles outside, dinner al fresco!, grill, play outside, sleep outside, camp, see shooting stars, did I say play outside?, my mom doesn't work in the summer, go to Eliza Island, go on boats w/ out getting really cold, the sun doesn't set until after dinner or later--there is a lot to enjoy, but...I love summer so much that it is one of my idols. Idol: "a material effigy that is worshipped" (http://www.wordnet.princeton.edu/). Worshiping anything that is not God. For instance: In the deep of winter, I long for warm sun so much that my attitude is changed by this longing--to the point that I get impatient, grumble, complain because of the weather. In the summer, when its sunny, I have what come close to anxiety attacks if I don't spend most of my day outside, in the sun, having fun...its no wonder my home has been such a wreck these past two months. And so, I must repent. And then allow summer to be redeemed in my life. So how can I redeem summer? For me, I think it is by cleaning and keeping up with my duties as a wife and "house manager" and mom even if it means skipping a few minutes (okay an hour or two--or, gasp, a day) of the warm weather (without having an anxiety attack about it). Or maybe by ordering my day better (wake up earlier to do a load of laundry in order to play outside later). In the winter, I tend toward that condition called "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (who doesn't?), and so I must be all the more vigilant to not despair about the weather.

And so, as summer comes to a close, I am doing some belated spring cleaning as well as some heart cleaning: asking Jesus to root out the idols in my heart to replace them, by His grace, with Him.

ThreeYearOld Logic

2008-08-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

"Dinosaurs live far far away because they are dead...and who killed them?" Such began the bedtime conversation tonight with Elias. I love seeing how his mind is developing and how he interacts with the world and how these interactions play out in his thinking.

Its been a busy month--mostly because of the nice weather we've been graced with (though Dustin keeps reminding me that there ARE places in the USA where the weather is nice 6 + months out of the year).

Our ducks have started laying eggs! We get one almost every day now.

The chickens "roost", meaning that if I leave their pen door open with the ramp down, they will go up the ramp and into their pen on their own at night! I LOVE this feature with chickens! I still have to herd the ducks, which tonight involved chasing Pogo up and down our yard three times trying to catch her. I now feel less guilty about not having a regular exercise routine.

And today I received a call from the Post Office letting me know that our new chicks were in and to come pick them up--16 of them. They were inside a 10x10x5 inch box with holes in it and peeping VERY loudly. I've secretly always wanted to order chicks by mail. They are about a day old and both male and female. Our garage is a gabarn again. The chicks that turn out to be hens we will keep as layers, the ones that turn out to be roosters will meet their fate at the Rudolph Poultry Guillotine approximately 10 weeks from today--then into the freezer with 'em. Yes, we are again going to attempt to grow our own meat. Yes, I remember that it did not go as well as hoped with Ping, the duck. We have a plan this time (we had a plan last time, too).

I've decided that a blog for me is sort of like an electronic scrap-book (minus the expense and the mess) mixed with a journal for me to look back on and reflect upon. I have a journal too (several, actually, that I take turns writing in--I think journaling is an art that I'm not very good at and I have thrown out many a page where I am simply ranting and complaining maliciously). But here's to the "log" part of blog:

A log of the week of 8-9-2008 - 8-15-2008

Saturday 8/9/2008--Went to the Mariners Game with Elijah and Makaio

Sunday-went to church as a family at Oikos Fellowship

Monday-went to the Lynden Fair with the Tarrell clan, Gigi, Mom, Deena and Berna

Tuesday-can't remember-oh yes, recouperated from the Fair, family movie night (Nim's Island)

Wednesday-Weekly grocery shopping trip to Fred Meyer together as a family, swam at Gram's

Thursday-Picked blueberries while kids played at Aunt Deena's house w/ Sunny, Caden Saylor

& Lucy; later went to pool where The Kheriaty's work so that we could swim w/ Dustin--Elias dove off the diving board several times

Friday-Met Amia @ Zuanich Park to play, picked up chicks from post office, swam at Gram's

What a wonderful week full of fun with people that we love so much!

Time with Gram

2008-07-27T22:59:00.001-07:00

I spent the afternoon with my Grammie today. Our neighborhood had a summer picnic and Grammie came with the kids and I to enjoy hot dogs, face painting, a raffle, and some freebie toothbrushes.

The kids call my Grammie "GiGi". We live in the same neighborhood that Grammie lived in while she was raising her three girls. She doesn't live in that area of town any longer, but I like living on a street that my mom used to take walks on with her pals when she was a teen. On our way back to Grammie's house, I asked Grammie to show me the house "on Cedarwood" that I've heard so much about. It's a beautiful house, well maintained and Grammie likes to see how well its been taken care of.

I like to listen to Grammie talk about her past. It seems like I always learn something new about her. I think that when you love someone you never lose interest in learning more about them. Today she told me that the home she lives in now is the only one she's lived in without "Phil". Grandpa Phil. I didn't get to meet him. He died when my mom was seventeen. It is always obvious that Grammie loved Grandpa Phil. "He was a neat guy," Gram said to me in the van today, "He was just a neat guy with a problem. And then he wasn't any fun". Grandpa Phil was an alcoholic and he died of Cirrohsis of the Liver.

I wish that I could have met Phil. I like to see his pictures from WWII looking handsome in his uniform. My mom has his eyes. I wish that I could have met him when he was healthy, I wish that I could have felt proud when he came to my events that my other grandparents came to while I was growing up. I will never know the real Grandpa Phil, just stories about him from Grammie and Mom and other family members. I wish that he could have enjoyed having grandchildren like I see my parents enjoying my kids, and I WISH that Grammie could have enjoyed her grandkids with him...

So, I'm kind of sad about that tonight. Sad that I didn't get to meet Mom's dad, that he was never around to tell me stories about her. Sad that he died a rather self-inflicted death. And I wonder if I'll meet him--a sinner redeemed-- one day in heaven?

Why did God make mosquitos?

2008-07-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

My three-1/2 year old boy asks a lot of "Why?" questions. This has been going on for the last year or so. So many "Why?" questions, that I sometimes find myself tuning them out, or answering them without the topic of the question even registering in my mind. But when Elias asked me, oh-so-sincerely "Mom, why did God make mosquitos?" I had to stop and think before I answered.

Elias had gotten a series of mosquito bites in the back yard a couple of weeks ago. A few on his arm, couple on his back, one on his eye-lid that swelled and turned kind of purple. Nasty mosquitos. Why are they here? We teach the kids about God's goodness, that God is Good, that all things he created are good. I love that my son has thought this logic through: if God has created all things, if all things He created are good...what in the world are mosquitos doing here?!

Why is there evil in the world? Why do bad and sad things happen? Why doesn't God stop all sin? Where is God in the pains of life? We talked about some of the obvious things like "Mosquitos provide food for the bats and the spiders and the birds"--which I happen to think is a really lame-o! answer, but I gave it anyway. Then we talked about Adam and Eve, how sin entered the world and is still here and causes death and decay and itchy, swollen mosquito bites. Then we talked about how every person has sin and how Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice to take away our sin. And only through Jesus can we be accepted by God. Its pretty cool that my little boy is already asking and thinking through the big questions in life and I can point him to the Gospel to seek an answer.

Romans 8:19-21 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Flower Girls & Ring Bearers

2008-07-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

My brother, David, got married on July 11th to Sarah. Dustin and I were in the wedding as well as Elias and Jillian. They got to be flower girl & ring bearer along with my cousins' kids Caden, Saylor & Lucy. It was definitely a family affair. Here are a few photos of the kids.

The mini-cousins striking a pose

From Left: Jillian, Caden, Elias, Saylor, Lucy

Elias

Jilly

Ring-Around-The-Rosy

Smile!

Caden, David, Elias and Joshua

The "Angry Eagle" face was first introduced

to the family by Caden (far left) when he was a wee-one

and has since been a favorite face

to be made by many a boy in our family photos.

The Flower Fairies

Girls getting ready: curlers!!

"Oh Mandi, how do you work such magic with hair?!"

Jillian & Elias

The kids did so great at the wedding thanks to many a family member contributing to herding, entertaining, mothering, fathering, and keeping track of them. Plus, they are all pretty fun kiddos. The wedding went really well. The weather was perfect and everyone looked lovely. All for now!

~susan

2008-07-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Lola & Pogo

I just had a real-life Discovery Channel moment. While I was making dinner, soothing Georgia and putting our animals in their night-shelters, I neglected to put the ducks away. Poor ducks.

Georgia and I were interrupted around 10 p.m. from our bonding time by very loud and distressed quacking from the back yard. I, quick as I could, went outside and there was a coyote chasing poor Lola. I did the only thing that seemed logical to me at the moment: I yelled--"HEY!" and then I screamed...so loud and shrill I scared the coyote (and myself, and probably the neighbors, but no one has come to check on me yet, so who knows if they heard). Lola, in her fright had escaped amongst the low-growing branches of a rhodedendron. When I went to pick her up, she walked right to me. Little Pogo was hiding under their night pen and I was easily able to pick her up, too. I'm not so sure that she is alright, she seems like she might be hurt--though I couldn't find any obvious injury on her. Any way...I won't soon forget the scene: Lola running and flapping her wings wildly, coyote in stride and leaping after her.

Catching Up

2008-07-16T23:32:00.000-07:00

Elias & Jillian, Tobias and Lillian
Elias giving one of our chicks a ride on the swing
The girls
Our newest "flower"

It's been a busy three weeks: new baby, coming home from the hospital, Emmy & Pop pop visiting us, July 4th, dear friends from out of town visiting, my brother David's wedding, my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary..........All this while Dustin's been on sick (paternity) leave from work--Thank you FMLA! and a really great job!

First off, I must document that Dustin, Elias and Jillian slept out in the play house last night and all three made it out there through the entire night!! I had to wake them up for swim lessons this morning.

Secondly: I LOVE SUMMER!!! I don't think its been gray outside for about two weeks and I am declaring officially that I LOVE this weather! Happy, happy summertime.

Georgia

2008-07-02T16:46:00.001-07:00

She's Here!

Well, home life is officially busier now that Georgia has been born. The labor and delivery went quite smoothly. I was induced the afternoon of June 22 and she was born at 11:38 pm, crying, slippery, and pink. She has been sleepy for the past week, waking to eat, and having a few short alert periods throughout the day.

Adjustments:

Elias expressed his desire for her to "go back into mommy's tummy" yesterday and explained that he wishes Georgia was a boy baby. Jillian likes to hug, hold and kiss Georgia and push her in the baby swing just a little bit too high.

The Groove.

Dustin's parents came to help us out the first week after she was born. Dustin and his dad built the kids a play house while his mom helped around the house and with the kids. We are fortunate to have my mom and dad in town to help out, too. It has been such a blessing to have them so near to help with the kids. In fact, right now mom has Elias and Jillian so that I can rest a bit.

That's about all...we are thankful to report that we are all currently healthy and able to enjoy the summer heat that has been gracing Bham, WA this past week. Adios for now!

Georgia's here

2008-06-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Georgia Sól Rudolph was born 6/22/08 at 11:38 PM.

She was 7 lbs 15 oz.

20 1/4" long.

We'll all be at the hospital till tomorrow, 6/24/08. And I'm sure Susan will tell you more about this birth experience in a future post. I'll quit typing now 'cause I figure you just want to see pictures anyway.

Dustin

39 + 1/7 Weeks

2008-06-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

39 +1/7 weeks...That's how long I have been pregnant with this baby girl who we plan on naming Georgia (middle name announcement soon).

There are many unknowns amidst the almost-certain knowns ahead of us: For example, unless I die suddenly or have an extremely precipitous delivery (or some other unknown occurs), sooner or later Dustin and I will head to the Childbirth Center at St. Joseph Hospital to meet Georgia face-to-face. But we don't know the exact date (although if there is anyone actually reading this, I will let you in on some news: I have a date scheduled for a labor induction sometime in the next week). We certainly do not know the exact time Georgia will take her first breath. I don't know if this labor will feel more painful than the last two. We don't know if it will all go smoothly, or if there will be complications. Being a labor and delivery nurse myself, I suppose I have tried to prepare myself for any and all possibilities that could remotely happen (thus driving myself nuts as I consider all the complications that could occur).

I am excited and nervous for Georgia to arrive. And you know what makes me more nervous than the delivery? I have admitted to myself that I am nervous, anxious about having THREE kids at home. How will this go? The answer: I DON'T KNOW!!!! Of course I hope that everyone transitions smoothly. But the reality is that I think it will be difficult--joy-filled, but difficult. I am learning what an attitude influence I have on the attitudes of my family members. When I am tired and crabby, others pick up the crabbies and whinies. I have the power to lead my children into sinful patterns of not being joyful and grumbling and complaining! Okay, this is an obvious concept. But it is also a rather profound one, I think. So, as I try to meditate on Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything.......," I am going to trust that Jesus is enough for me, he WILL provide enough for me to have joy in glorifying him-- even when I will be exhausted and sleep deprived and feeling like all I do is change diapers, answer redundant "why questions" and have ZERO motivation to clean our home because it will be cluttered again in a matter of minutes. I'm being honest here: Being a mom is one of my greatest joys, but it is also THE most difficult role I have EVER played in my life!

And so now, I need to go to bed and get some sleep. One of my goals this summer is to be more disciplined about my bed-time. I would rather read up on all the latest research, news, emails, etc. Have some ME time--right? But this is not serving my family well. So I will go to bed now and hopefully wake up a little more refreshed than I did this morning.

Jesus is the Treasure

2008-06-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

In a recent John Piper sermon, I was reminded that Jesus IS the treasure in the true Christian life. The treasure is not my life--my wonderful husband, my kids, my house. It is not my life, liberty, or my pursuit of happiness. These things easily become idols. THE treasure is Jesus, no matter how short, long, easy or difficult this life is for me. I find this freeing. When I'm frustrated with how much gas costs, how cold this June has been, how whiny my kids are, and how I can't control everything/everybody around me, this brings me to a deeper level: I search my heart and ask God to search it...IS Jesus my goal? Will he be my treasure in my greatest suffering? Will Jesus be my treasure in death? In pain? In suffering? I am novice at suffering for the cause of Christ and the Gospel. Will I avoid this suffering? Am I avoiding it? Jesus is the treasure, the goal in life. And I don't want to miss that.

Our Micro-farm is growing.........

2008-06-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so maybe it is not technically a micro-farm, but Milk Mud and Honey Farms is developing.

We decreased our number of ducks from six to two females. Four of the original heard were drakes (boys). Three are living happily with a new family with a pond and five acres. Ping, the fourth drake became an attempted dinner dish for our family. However, neither Dustin nor I could stomach the idea of actually eating poor Ping. I won't go into the butchering, cleaning, and dressing details. However, I will say that it really wasn't that bad or gruesome and Ping died very quickly, though in vain. I actually cooked the bird up, but it smelled kind of funny and he was so skinny. After the experience, we thought a lot about how most people, including us, are so disconnected from how our meats are grown, killed, and prepared for the table, yet it doesn't bother us one bit to savor each bite of medium rare T-bone or a juicy chicken breast. Perhaps in the future we will try to grow our own birds again, but for now, we await the gals, Pogo and Lola, to start laying eggs.

In addition to ducks, we now have three "pullet" (female) Rhode Island Red chicks. We got them when they were just a couple of days old. Sadly, one had an accident involving being squished by a small boy's hand. It was a little traumatic and Elias used the money he has earned doing chores around our home to buy another chick. He can tell you all the details about the incident and watch out, he may volunteer the information to you without prompting.

We also have our goats now! Tobias and Lillian joined us last week. Tobias is a "wether", a neutered male, and Lillian is a "doe" - a female. Toby, as I like to call him is half pygmy, half angora and his fur is SO soft. He loves to be scratched and petted by all of us, including the kids. The day after we got him, I peaked outside into the goat yard (we have fenced in a portion of our backyard/woods for the goats) and there were Tobias and Elias laying in the grass together, Elias with his arm around Toby's neck just looking at each other. It was too cute. I think that it is going to be good for the kiddos to have a pet that they can actually pet. Lillian is a bit skittish, but is starting to let us pet her when she is eating grain in the "barn" (our old garden tool storage shed). Hopefully by the time she is ready to have babies and start milking, she will be just as friendly as Toby.

Our wheat "field" is growing and our other garden areas are growing too, though it seems quite slowly (due to the cooler weather??).

I am now almost 37 weeks pregnant and ready to meet this baby girl! Now really comes the waiting and wondering "is this contraction the real thing?" part.

Tomorrow we are going to visit Larrabee State Park to experience the lowest tide of the summer at 12:37 pm. We are all very excited, especially since Dustin has the day off and gets to join us! Yay!

all for now,
Susan

More Photos From our Latest Vacation

2008-06-02T23:57:00.001-07:00

Journal Entry: Our Latest Vacation

2008-06-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

On May 6 we ventured to Seattle bright and early in the morning, where we picked up our friend Becky Jones, the proceeded to SeaTac Airport. She dropped us off at the airport and stored our mini-van at her house for 8 days, bless her heart. We were on our way to Atlanta, GA.

Well, another great gal in a mini-van picked us up approximately 7 hours later--Mrs. Emily P. Rudolph, Dustin's mom, this time in Atlanta. After a sleep at the Hampton Inn, we ventured out the next morning for a day packed full of fun. First on the docket was the Georgia Aquarium-the largest aquarium in the world. Next we visited the Coca-Cola Museum, the highlight of the trip for me. I tasted all of the different soda and juice flavors Coke distributes throughout the world (I would advise those visiting Italy to steer clear of a carbonated drink called "Beverly," have you tried this one yet Erin Coletti? How about you Elijah?). We then toured Centennial Park, luncheoned at the CNN Center, and eventually made our way to Turner Field to watch a winning Braves game w/ Dustin's dad, mom, and brother "Uncle Hank".

After the Braves game, we drove inter-state, to Rutherfordton, NC and bunked at the Rudolph Household. The next day we watched Mollie, Dustin's little sister, graduate from National Honor Society. She performed a magic show with their bunny-rabbit named Kotsay. This involved Kotsay appearing from no-where with a flash of fire....in a roasting pot! There he was, sniffing around! The next thing we knew, he was put into a magic cage with Mollie turning a small handle on the cage, expelling little Kotsay flat-as-a-pancake! Both Elias and Jillian are still processing how this could have occurred, especially since the rabbit was alive and well when we returned home. Hmm.

Family Fish Fry: This came on Saturday at Mamaw and Papaw Painter's house in Lincolnton, NC. If we're in the area, we won't be missin' out on a fish fry, especially at Mamaw's (although Mollie and I almost missed this one due to a flat tire). You haven't lived until you've had a fish fry from Mamaw's kitchen. The day began with the men-folk gathering early at Mamaw and Papaw's to rebuild their deck. I think that all the boy-cousins were there...Dustin, Peter, Jacob, Casey, Zack, Joe, Dave, Hank, and Trey. What a treat for Mamaw to see her brood of grandson's in one day! Together with uncles, a contractor, and a watchful eye from a few ladies, they got (most of) the job done. Then came supper time: Fried fish, hush puppies, coleslaw, fries, and as always an array of dessert. At a fish fry, one's eyes are always bigger than one's stomach.

Saturday evening came much to quickly and it was time to say goodbye to dear family until we meet again. The Rudolph clan (sans Mollie and Liz *sniff*) was off again to Charleston, SC...Folly Beach, to be more precise. At the beach house we were greeted by thunder and lightning and a beating of rain. It looked as though our last days in the south would be drenched. However, while the next morning blustered some, it cleared up in the afternoon, and the following days were even better. One thing I always look forward to when we visit Charleston is a good walk on the beach. I try to go alone, and this particular morning was cool and clear.

Being large and pregnant has its advantages. For example, I wake nearly every hour of the night to change positions in bed (imagine a car doing a five-point-180 degree turn in the middle of the road and this is how I imagine I must look as I am trying to move from laying on one side to the other). This can be advantageous because sometimes when I wake up, I toss and turn so much that I am not tired anymore. Two options: lay in bed, awake for the next two hours, my mind buzzing away...or get up and get something done. Admittedly I often choose the first option, especially in the middle of the night. But, at times I am motivated toward the latter and have accomplished much in the early hours of day.

This particular morn I got up. The sun had not yet risen. I ventured outside toward the sound and smell of the Atlantic. I don't remember the last time I had watched a sunrise, but I made it outside to watch the sun come-up--so simultaneously simple and awesome. My alone time on the beach was precious, a time to pray, reflect, observe, listen, praise, and walk without interruption. Following my walk came a delicious, Emily-style breakfast of biscuits and gravy, and a full day of hot sun, sand, and ocean, all made even sweeter with family to spend it with.

A couple of days later, it was time to head home. We were all sad to go. Each time we leave, we talk about the next time we will see each other, it is only a "goodbye for now". Hopefully our next visit will be sometime in early autumn, this time with 3 bambinos in tow. Until then, we await Emmy and Pop pop to visit us in the Northwest around the time baby Georgia gets here. Boy am I looking forward to that! No more five-point-turns!

A Few More Newer Pictures

2008-04-25T23:42:00.001-07:00

N.B. The mud on Elias' face...and how happy Jillian looks! That mud hole is now the "pond" collecting all the water drained from our yard's trench system. It is actually working quite well and we hope to attract some of the frogs from the pond next door to us. I keep telling Dustin we should get a catfish to live in it, too.

Land of Milk, Mud, and Honey.

2008-04-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

Almost a month since our last post. In our family, we are learning the preciousness of the time we've been given. The past four weeks have been filled with working at our jobs, raising our kids, and toiling on what we have started lovingly calling our "property" or the "Land of Milk, Mud and Honey"....though only 0.6 acre, we feel like we've got quite a handful of earth to till and manage

MILK, MUD, and HONEY

Let's start with the milk...

We are getting two small goats at the end of May. One is a Nigerian Dwarf doeling who will produce milk around this time next year (the "MILK" part of our land's name). Since goats are herd animals, they need at least one other friend to keep them company. So the other goat we will adopt is called a Pygora--a cross between a Pygmy and Angora goat. It will be a "wether"-a neutered male, and we can shear its fur and spin it ourselves or sell it to be spun into yarn. We've met both goats. The first one we met provided the kids and I with a mildly traumatizing experience, mostly due to a barely-dodged attack by a Turkey upon the unsuspecting Elias. After that, Jillian kept crying "I'm REALLY scared!", but warmed up to the baby goat toward the end of our visit. The second goat we met last week at a small farm on Whidbey Island. This was a wonderful experience seeing another family's microfarm endeavor which they had started about a year ago.

Now for the MUD

The mud is the bane of my home management at the moment. While the drainage system Dustin dug throughout our yard is working well, we still have to clean up after ourselves. Not sure where all those clay/dirt clods that came from inside the trench are going to go, but Dustin has a plan.

We are busy planning and planting our "hobbyfarm" with most of our vegetable seedlings sprouted indoors, as the colder weather had prevented us from planting them outside. However, this week has been a success in getting our corn, cucumbers, beans, and some others outside. Peas and lettuces have already been sown.

We are in a routine with the ducks, who look full-grown now. Aside from a midnight encounter with five large raccoons (which spurred us on to finish (quickly) their nighttime pen), things have gone quite smoothly with them (oh, I forgot about the afternoon that Elias chased them around the yard, and into the blackberry thicket next to our property ["Mommy, I want to show you where the ducks are!" BIG smile]...with minor scratches, Dustin and I emerged from the brambles with all six ducks in tow). We think, however, that we only have two females, meaning the four drakes' days are likely numbered. If we decide to eat them, it should be before they are 4 months old, as their meat, apparently gets quite tough after this age.

And then comes the HONEY

The beehives arrived last week via UPS, and let me tell you that everything was put on hold so that they could be built and put together. On Monday, we pick up the bees and an Epi-Pen, just in case. I'm sure there will be more excitement to come with the bees.

This hobbyfarming thing has been interesting. It certainly is not easy work, and it is uncertain what types of harvest we will reap. Our goal is to make it a family affair, and thus far the kids seem to enjoy the endeavor, helping us, being outside, getting dirt under their fingernails, and adding their input ("I REALLY REALLY want a goat"). I have noticed that we rarely have time to have the TV on at all, sometimes going a few days between when we watch it. And I am learning to enjoy being outside more, even in the cold and damp Northwest. Was it this cold when I grew up here?

The hardest part of this for me, however, has been letting go of the pristine park-like manicured look of our yard. We hope to make the yard-turned-garden areas into tidy looking gardens, but they just don't have that look yet. On the other hand, God wants us to be good stewards of what he's given us and Dustin and I feel that this is a stewardship of our land (goal to grow our own, organic produce, milk, and eggs) and our time (more time together as a family, more time purposefully spent).

Download Feature Up and Running!

2008-03-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted anything. This is mostly because I have not been motivated to write anything without posting a new photo with it. For the last few weeks we have been unable to download pics onto our computer. Well, thanks to Dustin's computer savvy, he figured it out. And here we are again.

On March 8, we got six Indian Runner ducklings. They were very little, just 4 days old when we got them. Today at 3 1/2 weeks old, they are quite big and their adult feathers are growing in. We shall soon be able to tell which ones are boys/girls based (apparently) on which ones begin to "quack". The females should have a louder quack and the males should have a soft quiet quack. Hopefully, we will at least have a few females as we got the ducks in order to provide us with homegrown duck eggs...yes, to eat. So far, all six ducklings have survived. From being picked up by the beak, to being chased around their swimming pool cage, to attempts at submerging them during their designated swimming hour, they are alive and growing--quickly! We are in the process of building their pen so that they don't have to live-in and stink-up our garage any longer. Unfortunately, the snow we have received the past two days has thwarted this process temporarily.

In other news, we are fervently seeking to find a church in Bellingham to call home. Oddly, it is a frustrating, humbling process for many different reasons and we did not anticipate it being so when we moved here. Yet, we are trusting our all-knowing and all-helping God during this season.

All for now,

Susan

February in Bellingham

2008-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

This is Elias running out of the ocean in Maui. Back to reality though...

Last Saturday we rented a Roto-tiller to grind up the old roots, bulbs and dirt in our front garden area. The Tiller got the job done twofold: Dustin's muscles got even bigger--handling the tiller was quite the workout according to Dustin; and our garden area is ready to be planted after being tilled and mulched. Now, we are planning out where we will plant our vegetables this spring.

Today, the kids and Susan planted tulip and daffodil starts amongst some of the existing shrubbery (a few of the bulbs got enthusiastically pulled up after planting, then were replanted--not sure if they will still grow??). We also planted pea seeds today along the picket fence bordering the back yard.

Tonight on Dustin's dinner break, he stopped by home! We all ventured into the damp and dark, but clear night and found a viewing spot in our backyard to see the lunar eclipse! The moon was turning reddish-orange as we watched it. We even got some photos compliments of our tripod and new **SLR Canon Camera** (and Dustin's developing photography skills). Photos to be posted soon!

Family Pic

2008-02-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of us on Kaanapali Beach with Black Rock in the background during our recent vacation to Maui.

Five in Our Family

2008-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

This is the new blog of the Rudolph Family, our latest attempt to document what is going on in our lives as individuals and as a family! We've titled it "Five in a Family". This is because we are expecting the 5th Rudolph to join us around the end of June. It's a girl!