Full Nest Blessings

Last week we were blessed
to be able to have a full nest...
all of our children were once again home.
It was a blessing to have our eldest here...
and an additional blessing to host her friend,
who's parents are missionaries in Germany
and was unable to go home for spring break.
The more the merrier. :-D


There were many things we did...
and many we did not...
but whatever it was that we did or did not do,
we enjoyed the moments of being together...
even if it wasn't in the same room
but just in the same house.


The details of the week
may be a little vague in my mind,
but the memory and the joy in my heart
will remain.

I didn't plan to share our whole week,
but wanted to share some snapshots
from one of our days together
as we enjoyed a day around the city...














































Thank you, Father, for the time we had together.
Thank you for your many blessings and tendermercies.


"{YHVH} The LORD is good to all:
and His tender mercies are over all His works."
Psalm 145:9

Haven at Home Happenings: March Beginnings

A new month has already begun...
and, once again, I am reminded
of how fast time goes by.

We've been enjoying signs of the new season
and the warmer temps!

The children spent much time outdoors last week,
soaking in the sunshine.
They've enjoyed being able
to ride their bikes and scooters,
playing ball and tag,
watching the lizards and the birds,
and this past week they enjoyed
creating outdoor art...


{Carolynne - age 7}



{Beth - age 8}



{Will - age 12}


Though much of their time was spent outside,
we, also, continued in our studies at home.
{I STILL, after 13 years,
love homeschooling, by the way!!}



Manuscript and Scripture copywork



Language Lessons, copywork



Language and character study


Reading our Torah portions together...













Worksheets and copywork
to go along with our reading...








It continues to be such a blessing
to learn so much of YHVH's Word together!

We closed the week, entering into Shabbat,
and were blessed with such a beautiful sunset
over the Pacific Ocean...

YHVH is good!
And His blessings are so numerous every day!
May we purpose to see them
and take time to praise and thank Him.


"Many, O {YHVH} LORD my {Elohim} God,
are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done,
and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward:
they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee:
if I would declare and speak of them,
they are more than can be numbered."
Psalm 40:5

Season of Life

Another season is upon us
and we have been blessed with
the many signs of springtime recently...



Blossoms opening...
birds singing...
breezes filled with the smell
of new beginnings...


Though I love each season,
there is something special about spring.
Where the things of creation that have been sleeping
are awakened and produce new life.


It makes me ponder the many ways
that the seasons of creation
parallel the seasons of life.


And just as in creation,
the season of winter in my life
is never void of beauty...
but it can sometimes seem
long, cold, barren, and lonely.


And that is when the next season
is anticipated with a greater longing.


I look forward to spring...
the beauty... the cheer...
the fresh breath of life
and all things new.


Thank you, Abba,
for the seasons of your creation...
for the seasons of life.

Thank you for the life You give
and for making all things new.



"Therefore if any man be in {Messiah} Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17

Capturing California... Mountains and Skies

One thing I was quick to realize
when we first moved to California
is that it, in no way, lacks in beauty!
We are surrounded
by constant, visual reminders
of our Creator's glory!

And when we travel to visit our eldest,
I always return home with a camera
full of snapshots from our trip...
and that's exactly what happened
when we surprised our eldest
a little over a week ago.

Miles and miles of YHVH's
beautiful handiwork!
And snapshots to share...
















"The heavens declare his righteousness,
and all the people see his glory."
Psalm 97:6




His bow in the sky...
a reminder of His promises





As we drove, the children
noticed the clouds atop the mountains
and thought of what we've been
reading in Scripture lately...


"And mount Sinai
was altogether on a smoke,
because {YHVH} the LORD
descended upon it in fire:
and the smoke thereof ascended
as the smoke of a furnace,
and the whole mount quaked greatly."
Exodus 19:18





... The desert and mountains meet...






Joshua trees


Many of the mountains had beautiful
blankets of snow...











And here is where we enjoyed playing in the snow




"The works of {YHVH} the LORD are great,
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein."
Psalm 111:2








"...stand still, and consider
the wondrous works of {Elohim} God."
Job 37:14

Shabbat is Coming

Shabbat comes every week!
And every week, we delight in it!
And every week, we welcome it with singing...
and sometimes dancing, too...

Shabbat is Coming

Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the right, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming.


Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming
Circle to the left, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming.


Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming
Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming
Clap your hands, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming
Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming
Stomp your feet, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


Have a seat, Shabbat is coming
Have a seat, Shabbat is coming
Have a seat, Shabbat is coming

Shabbat is coming


American folk tune - “The Old Brass Wagon”
Lyrics by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh


Can listen here:
Shabbat is Coming


Shabbat Shalom!

"And {Elohim} God blessed the seventh day,
and sanctified it {set it apart}:
because that in it He had rested
from all His work
which {Elohim} God created and made."
Genesis 2:3


Shabbat Link Up

Snow Much Fun!

On our way home Sunday afternoon,
we took a little time to pull over
on the side of the road
to admire the mountains
and play in the snow...




The hill we hiked up
(well, not ALL the way)


We were all thrilled to see snow, again,
and to play in it,
since we do not get it where we are
in southern California...









And, of course, you can't play in the snow...
without a snowball fight...






"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."
Proverbs 17:22

Sweet Surprises

Our eldest turned 18 this past Sunday.
It was a perfect opportunity
to surprise her at college.

After some hours of driving,
we arrived and arranged for her
to pick 'her gift' up at her door.

Curious, she walked to her door,
looking for a box
only to have herself pursued
by running children...
which she did not expect...

Seeing her... the smiles... the joy...
the embracing... the tears...
It melts this mama's heart.


The longing and the aching
of being apart from a loved one,
especially a child (who is, also, a friend),
may sometimes reside
in a small corner of the heart...
but it never goes away.


That we were glad to see her...
would be a great understatement.


We whisked her away,
off to enjoy lunch and a couple of hours with her...





A couple of hours is all we had,
but we were thankful for them...




Watching them grow
isn't easy.

It's difficult to remember that
His ways are not our ways.

It can be fearful to
release arrows.


But...
Fear of the unknown is conquered
by faith in the Unseen.


"... Be not afraid,
only believe."
~ Yeshua
Mark 5:36