And You Thought You Knew Desert Life

Mountain Man and I are earnestly trying to resume our nightly walks.  Wednesday we endured 40 mph winds, but we managed to make it two miles.  Last night we thought the winds had died down, so we headed out only to face some bitter, bitter cold. 

Having mercy on his 8 months pregnant Princess, MM gave in, and we turned back after just a mile.  Just so you know I really wasn't trying to wimp out on him, I woke up this morning looking quite sunburned.  Yep, I discovered my lovely wind-chapped skin after peeking out at the SNOW on the ground this morning.

And, even as I type, snow is in the air....just blowing through, but it's SNOW nonetheless on this last day of April.

We've got the heat on and the tea brewing as we get ready for yet another celebration......wow, with so many people in our family, life seems like one continuous celebration!  Praise God! :)  Today is Miss Little Bit's 3rd birthday.  I'll post pictures later tonight, hopefully. 

It's going to be an "UP" day, if you know what I mean. :)

Love,

The Rejoicing Feast

We had quite the grand celebration this past Saturday in recognition of God's many mercies and blessings during Luke's recent illness.  It's the first time we've done such a thing, and I don't know why we waited so long!

I got the idea from listening to Doug Phillips speak of the expensive dinners his Dad used to bless him with and how his Dad taught him of the Jews' "rejoicing tithe." 

This consumed our entire day, but it was so worth it, and I pray it made an indelible memory in the hearts of our children.  We're told throughout Scripture to remember His faithfulness and to speak constantly of it to our children.  This is just one of the many ways our family strives to do that, and I'm looking forward to the many more rejoicing feasts we'll be having and hope to extend the celebration to friends.

I started the day by making our favorite cream cheese pound cake (recipe to follow), and Little Bit was so kind to help me clean up.

Boo came to the rescue by dancing with Claire.

Luke and Claire helped prepare the potatoes.  You know we have to have mashed potatoes!

We made a royal-looking banner, but it was so hard to pick just one verse of praise to our Heavenly Father.  So many to choose from, but this reflected our desire to sing of His goodness to all generations.

Learn from us....don't buy those BIG glitter markers.  Stick with the small ones.  You can see the transition, and how much nicer the later writing is. 

Here's the menu.

Scribe selected a praise verse for each of us to read at dinner, and then made the markers quite fancy!

There were beautiful balloons.

Whistler made these lovely place cards.

We set a fine table.  Do you see Whistler's fancy napkin fold?

Here was the order of the celebration...

~Mountain Man said the opening prayer of Thanksgiving

~We all sang, "How Good It is to Thank the Lord"

~We read a Psalter selection from the hymnal

~We served the appetizers

~We then each read our praise Scriptures

~We toasted to God's goodness

~We enjoyed the main dishes

~crescent rolls in the bread machine for the first time!

~buttery mashed potatoes

~steak

~corn on the cob

~salad

I then presented each person with a blessing.  How wonderful the children handled this "crisis," chipping in, having cheerful spirits, not giving in to disappointment, making sure my Mom and Aunt were happy and fed. :

Our lives would have been pure insanity had they not stepped up and done what God would have wanted them to do.  And Mountain Man....what a comfort it was to have him stay with Luke the entire time.  I know he was exhausted and weary, but he never complained.

~cute boxes for the girls

~the Patriot soundtrack for Scribe

~a copy of J.C. Ryle's Holiness for Little Big Man

~a bug kit for Luke

After the blessings presentation, we listened to Emma read a poem of Thanks-Giving.

We even splurged on an ice cream maker and were able to enjoy homemade vanilla ice cream with our cake.

We closed with prayer....with very full stomachs and hearts full of gratitude!

Since this post, with all of its pictures, took me over 3 hours, I'll save the recipes for later. :)

Love,

These Earthen Vessels

We feel the weight of these earthen vessels daily....when we rejoice one moment and complain with the next breath, when we smile at the stranger but are unkind to our family.  The list goes on.

These are some of the many reasons our family is such a picture of His grace....truly without Christ we are and can do nothing.

Treasure in earthen vessels

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels."
2 Corinthians 4:7


Do not be surprised if you feel that in yourself
you are but an earthen vessel—if you are made
deeply and daily sensible of your frail body.

Do not be surprised . . .
if your clay house is often tottering;
if sickness sometimes assails your mortal tabernacle;
if in your flesh there dwells no good thing;
if your soul often cleaves to the dust; and
if you are unable to retain a sweet sense
of God's goodness and love.

Do not be surprised nor startled . . .
at the corruptions of your depraved nature;
at the depth of sin in your carnal mind;
at the vile abominations which lurk and work
in your deceitful and desperately wicked heart.

Bear in mind that it is the will of God that this
heavenly treasure which makes you rich for
eternity, should be lodged in an earthen vessel.

We have ever to feel our native weakness—and
that without Christ we can do nothing—that we may
be clothed with humility, and feel ourselves the
chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints.

We thus learn to prize the heights, breadths,
lengths, and depths of the love of Christ, who
stooped so low to raise us up so high!
~J.C. Philpot

Weekly Rewind 4/18-4/24/10

"We talk about circumstances over which we have no control.  None of us have control over our circumstances, but we are responsible for the way we pilot ourselves in the midst of things as they are." ~Oswald Chambers


We had a busy week of multiple trips to town for doctor's appointments. God used those times to provide special one-on-one time with most of our children, and everyone adapted to the schedule changes so well. In spite of our sinfulness and multitude of parenting mistakes, we truly have such awesome children. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the daily blessings our children pour out on us. They are constant pictures of God's grace.


~Luke's visits with the opthamologist and ENT doctors brought news of rejoicing! His eye motion has fully returned and there is no need for any additional medicines. Praise God!

~Whistler did great with her two additional orthodontist visits.  Have you ever had to get a dental impression made?  Yuck!  I was gagging along with her as I watched.  She was a trooper, and we're very proud of her.

~I had a painful complication from my pregnancy and was very thankful the doctor was able to see me.  This is one of those issues that only time will heal, and I'm so grateful I'm getting better day by day.

~Sweet Boo pondered what she'll be wearing and doing in heaven.....will she get to play outside, and will she be wearing a robe on which the sleeves are too long?

~Tonight we'll be having our first "Rejoicing Feast" to celebrate God's provision during Luke's illness.  We're all very excited about this special time of giving God glory for His goodness and mercy to us. 

Love,

Simple Scones

Here are the scones that Whistler and I made this past weekend for tea time.  They turned out so well, even for me!  First we made hearts and then basic rounds.

Simple Scones

2 c. flour

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

8 T. cold butter, chopped

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

1/2 c. sour cream

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. additional sugar

Mix first five ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Add chopped butter and blend with pastry blender (I just use my KitchenAid mixer) until texture is like coarse meal.  Add in chocolate chips.

In another bowl, combine egg, vanilla, and sour cream.  Add to flour mixture and mix together until large clumps of dough form.  Using your hands, work the dough until a ball forms.

Place dough on floured surface and cut into wedges, rounds, etc.  Place on parchment lined cookie sheet, and sprinkle with 1 tsp. of sugar. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-17 minutes.

Notes:  We baked these at 375 degrees and doubled this recipe for our family.  Stoneware coated in butter works great, too.

'

Enjoy!

**recipe from All Recipes

Little Bit's Beauty Shop

Five doctor's appointments in the past three days as well as a minor but painful complication from my pregnancy has made for quite the busy week!  I'm tired of running, but I have much to be thankful for....including the cutest of moments like this that God is faithful to provide to make sure the Poff Clan is still laughing!

Take a peek into Little Bit's beauty shop.  I believe Claire was her first customer.

"Ha, Ha!  I have just the right tools for taming Claire's massive unruly locks!"

"First, my dear sister, I need to spray your hair with my special mix of detangler spray."

"Now, I'll brush.....oops, where are you going?"

"Ok, sometimes my clients fall over.  Don't worry.  It's the price we pay to have shiny and lovely locks."

"There, there.  I tell you these falls are normal.  Please don't cry about it.  Let me finish fixing your hair, and you'll forget about any abrasions you might have."

"Let's try again.  Really, can't you keep your eyes open so you know how to do this when I'm not available.  My next opening is months away."

"Ok, we're almost done.  How do you like the look of things so far?  What...."

"Where are you going?  I'm not quite finished."

"I just need a drink to get me through this beauty appointment.  I really think tangles get too bad of a rap."

"Yay...all done.  I guess I look pretty wonderful."

"Thanks for the great style, sister dear.  But after that fall, I think I'll stick to doing my own hair."