Time flies. Winter is over already and I was checking the planter box on the deck. Here is what I found:
| Garlic chives planted last fall come up quickly |
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| Red salad bowl starts to sprout. | 
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| The spinach from last year survivies under the glass. |
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All posts by Derek
Viviana Grinding Grain
Here is another video about how a little child can contribute to the family. Viviana is showing us how to grind grain into flour. Click here to watch.
Do you preach the gospel?
We know the Great Commission the Lord Jesus Christ gave to us, His believers. I do find it hard to just walk up to someone and ask if he/she believes in Jesus Christ. I have heard people sharing their faith to whoever they meet, not afraid to be slapped in the face or be mocked at. I marvel at them.
I did pass out a few Gospel tracts, talk to people at work OCCASIONALLY and hestitate a lot before I open the subject. Why am I so weak and afraid? One speaker said if we as parents do not set an example to preach the gospel to other people, we fail. It doesn’t matter if we do other things right: modest dressing, no TV, going to church, family devotion, bible study, etc…. I ponder on this and I think he is right. How can a child know if this Christian faith is real? Sure we can pray a lot, read the Bible a lot, help and love other people; those are important too. However, if we are not soulwinners, we fail. If my child never see a sinner repents and his life totally changes, she will doubt if this faith has any power; in essence, the faith is empty to her until she experience the life changing power of Christ.
If anyone has any suggestions or comments on this subject, please let me know how to work on this.
Warm weather, time to plant?
This year’s winter, well, does not feel like winter at all. We had very little snow and it feels like Spring already in early March. I am looking out to the garden and imagine planting seeds, the kids playing on the swing set and me mowing the grass. This garden year I am just going to add Kale to my garden. I like to double up the leafy vegetables portion while limiting the Chinese veggies size. I did not have good result with the Chinese veggies for the past 2 years, what a shame. It is very hard to find organic Chinese vegetable here.
I am planning to give a whole square foot just for the children to explore.
I found a job!
After 10 months of unemployment, I finally found a job in Markham. Thank you Lord for answering our prayers. We are also very greatful that many Christian friends pray for us too. I am sure that your supplications have reached His ears.
Last year was great even when I was out of job. As you read in previous posts, I did a lot of things with the kids. Now the only concern we have now is little Melody, who is still suffering from eczema. So please pray for her. We don’t know why God does not heal her immediately, but we believe the Lord is teaching us something valuable here. Patience and long suffering is definitely on the list. Because everyone has to take turn looking after her, our older kids are also developing these good characters. It is through tough times that we find grace in the Lord.
BTW, our firewood is now down to the last bushcord.
Scene in Winter
Even though being covered under snow, the scenes in the country during winter time are still breathtaking. Imagine everything around you is covered in white. Very quiet and peaceful. I stood still on my farm and decided to capture some of the views. These pictures are nowhere close to any good but I am awed by the powerful creation of God, who gives us seasons.
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
(I know I am a little bit late to post this, but with everything going on during the holidays and with a dial-up at home, I have to wait until I can get to the library and upload the video. So I apologize for the delay.)
Our girls had the honor to present some Christmas carols last Christmas at our church KCC. So here is part of it: Watch Here
Making a slope for tobogganing
Our property does not have a spot that gives good slope for tobogganing. So we came up with this idea. We put a long picnic table on top of another wooden table to make a better slope. And it works. Talking about creativity.
Crazy Kitchen
Sometimes when you have lots of children, you can get some free labour. Well, in our home, if you want to eat you would have to work. End of discussion. So we have captured a video that shows our little ones peeling onions. Easy job yet a good exercise for them. If you train them well when they are small, they would not despise chores when they get older. Of course, you would have to be a joyful example and teach them the skills according to their ages. That is what homeschooling is about: it is a way of life where the parents teach their children life skills day in and day out. Click here to watch.
If you like icecream, make sure you read this!
In the old days when ice cream was made of whole eggs, milk and sugar and laboriously cranked out in the old home freezer, a serving of ice cream was only an occasional family treat which didn’t do much harm. Today in this mass producing, synthetic age, it is another matter entirely. Today you may be treating your family to poison! Ice cream manufacturers are not required by law to list the additives used in the manufacturing of their product. Consequently, today most ice creams are synthetic from start to finish. Analysis has shown the following ingredients used in commercial ice cream:
DIETHYGLYCOL: A cheap chemical used as an emulsifier instead of eggs is the same chemical used in antifreeze and in paint removers.
PIPERONAL: Used in place of vanilla. This chemical is used to kill lice.
ALDEHYDE C-17: Used to flavor cherry ice cream. It is an inflammable liquid also used in aniline dyes, plastic and rubber.
ETHYL ACETATE: Used to give ice cream a pineapple flavor—and as a cleaner for leather and textiles; its vapors have been known to cause chronic lung, liver and heart damage.
BUTYRALDEHYDE: used in nut flavored ice cream. It is one of the ingredients of rubber cement.
AMYLACETATE: Used for its banana flavor. It is also used as an oil paint solvent.
BENZYL ACETATE: Used for its strawberry flavor. It is a nitrate solvent.
The next time you are tempted by a luscious looking banana split sundae made with commercial ice cream, think of it as a mixture of antifreeze, oil paint, nitrate solvent, and lice killer; and you won’t find it so appetizing.
—taken from PPNF Health Journal