We have had quite the week here at the Edwards home. I didn't plan for it, it just came swiftly in the night Sunday. It started just before bedtime my littlest two had tummy aches, not bad, but they did complain to me of this. We had had a very snack-y supper so I thought they may have eaten to much of something. Gregory blamed the orange slices, I don't. All that to say the first two hours of my sleep that night were the longest I got. I started doing laundry at 1:39 am. The poor washer got very few breaks for the next 16 hours and got right back at it Tuesday morning for the last few loads, I thought. Poor Margaret got the bug about 7 am and I wasn't once needed to help her. She hit the toilet every time! I am so very proud of her! and pleased and thankful for her. Monday was a tough day for them but fortunately Daddy was home and had a good book he was reading to them. So for hours they all laid around the living room listening. I ran to L'ttoille Du Norde french immersion at midday to pick up MyKayla. It wasn't just our house that was attacked, I was the sixth adult to sign out a sick child that morning there. She got right into the book and joined the others on the floor with their blankets. Truly a sweet sight if it hadn't been under these circumstances, it would have been lovely. 

It isn't uncommon for Travis to read to his babies for long periods of time but more precious to me this time because Sunday night we watched the movie Courageous. I was way more touched by this movie than I ever expected to be. It drives home the point how very important a Father is in a child's life. Even with good mothers we need our dad's to be present! I strongly recommend that you watch Courageous if you haven't. The best price I found was at cbd
You will be blessed by Courageous. It may be a little corny at times but really it is pretty much just good.
Monday night I introduced my kids to my Uncle Tim via a foggy video. The video was taken just weeks before his life was brought to an end -way to early, in August 1990. He traveled around doing gospel concerts in churches all over the USA and this was a recording of him in Brainerd, MN. I think of Uncle Tim when I hear certain songs still. Two that he sang at that concert keep going through my head since then. The God On the Mountain talks about God being with us wherever we are in good times and bad times He is always with us. When things go wrong, he'll make it right. It is encouraging. The other song I always think of Uncle Tim when I hear is God Bless The USA. Patriotic songs are one of my favorites and this is one of the favorites.Watching the video made me all sentimental, so we got out a few photo albums from that time. Memories are so sweet, and sharing them with my children is even sweeter.
Tuesday we were all healthy, wealthy and wise. We thought we had kicked the flu monster and we were back in the game. Travis and I got our taxes done. Travis went to work. I caucused. The kids kept busy playing, helping, studying, being thankful they were well again.
Wednesday morning at 12:37 we heard a mighty hacking from the bathroom. Harrison was hit by the flu bug in a mighty way. Poor guy has had it the worst of all the children. I hope Thursday is much better for him. We laid low all day today, hoping to strengthen and heal.

In our reading we read The Wonderful Way Babies Are Made. This book covers exactly what the title states, the wonderful way babies are made. It covers details that are maybe uncomfortable to visit about with our children but very important for them to know and understand, before peers misinform them. The Wonderful Way Babies are Made is written from a biblical world view and gives you opportunity to have an important discussion with your children, our most important asset. It is written in layers so you can read it with varying age levels.


This week may not have been what I expected, so far, no music lesson, no swimming, no Wed. night church... but we have been very blessed by extra time just us hanging out, with our buckets handy, as a family. 
I received a letter from an elderly friend today and in closing she reminded me to enjoy the years of my family being with me. Because they go so fast. She double underlined it. It is so true. It is true of any season you are in though, I think. When you look back it will be over so very quickly.


Enjoy the present,
~Anna

Coincidence

co·in·ci·dence

   [koh-in-si-duhns] 

noun

1.

a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance: Our meeting in Venice was pure coincidence.

In our schoolwork this week we have been reading about Vikings and their settling of the countries they settled and their "i viking" habits to sustain themselves when they needed more food or luxury items.They came from Greenland all the way here about 1000 A.D. and settled probably on Newfoundland, but they called it Vinland because of all the grapes Leif and his pals found when they first landed there. Where the vikings went they often left Rune stones. Some have even been found as far inland as here in Minnesota! I found some here in my oven today. I am not sure it was a coincidence, but, maybe.

I was reading a book the other day about an English lady touring our country in 1873. She landed in San Francisco and visited a bit and then headed east, her destination Colorado, but she stopped here and there on her way. Her first stop was Truckee, CA near the "lovely Donner Lake", it sounds like it was quite lovely. When I turned the calendar the next day to February there was a bird's eye view picture of Truckee's train track and a bit of the town.  One thing I thought was fun, the English lady noted that the train was precisely on time at 11pm to take her on to her next destination. So that makes me wonder, Why can't trains be on a schedule in these modern times that I live in?


It is probably a coincidence that although I spent much of the month of January cleaning and organizing my house I feel like it is worse than ever now that February is here. It has nothing to do, I am sure with the fact that my mother-in-law came for a visit last weekend and brought a truckload of stuff in an effort to clean her house. We are now set in all sorts of crafting endeavors! We are having a lot of fun browsing through it and thinking about all the things we can make, but currently I don't want anyone to visit my basement. Soon all will be under control but right now it is a masterful mess.


It is not a coincidence that Margaret has been creating sweet pictures on leather with all of the tools Granny brought up in one of the bins we now harbor in our basement. This puppy is my favorite.