These are a Few of my Favorite Things

This time of year I have so many favorite things, I thought it would be fun to see if any of you have favorite things at this time of the year also. Since these three little men are the twinkle in mine and Patrick's eye we'll begin with them. One of my favorite things I love to do is be with them, however this time of the year I like watch their Christmas choir performance at school. They always get so excited because they ride the bus with their friends and mom meets them their. They blessed the assisted living community with Christmas songs about Christ and they made cards for them also. So awesome to see what they learn and produce in their concert.

Josiah singing away

What would winter be like without firewood. I know my house would be very cold and certainly not as cozy. Thanks to my wonderful husband and our hard working boys, we have wood for our wood burning stove. We are able to heat the whole house and have the smell of firewood. They are so amazing. So I would have to say one of my other favorite things is wood chopped by my men.

Playing and working

So every year we make a gingerbread house with the boys. They sit and eat all the candy while Patrick and I frost (actually Patrick did it all this year). Our Gingerbread house didn't collapse this year and we had a good time.

Almost done

This Candycane cocoa is the way to mine and the boys' hearts. My favorite thing to do is make them candycane cocoa after they have been playing outside in the cold. It has chunks of candy cane in it, if you haven't tried it I highly recommend it. We absolutely love it and we are at the tail end of it. There is nothing like serving it to little boys with cold noses and rosy cheeks.
So since from being from Cali and always being cold, I believe every girl who lives in cold weather must have Uggs, or some sort of warm boot. For me, I where them everyday and although they sometimes don't go with the outfit, who cares this girl is warm. So with that I have to say that these are especially one of my favorite things.
Oh candles there is nothing like burning candles. This candle however, is the best candle this time of year, there is nothing like the smell of trees in your home, and this Evergreen candle is always burning in my home. I am on my third one and it has only been about a month, once you try it, you'll agree, I guarantee it.
I would love to hear all the things that make you smile this time of year. I have many more to share with you, so stayed tuned and I pray that God will bless your life with all your favorite things.

A Hunting We Will Go

Breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, candy cane cocoa, layers and layers of clothes, chainsaw, 3 hatchets, 3 boys, the dog, and a tree tag.  That is all we needed this year for our annual Christmas tree hunt.  Every year since Jonah was six months we have made our way up to the closest mountain range is where we are living and we hunt down a tree.  This year we were blessed with amazing weather and it was a wonderful trip.  The boys were able to use their hatchets on whatever they could find. The dog sniffed and roamed the mountains, and Patrick and I didn't freeze or search for a tree for hours. I always look forward to this day and the memories we make with the boys. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!! May you all enjoy the memories you make with your family at this time of the year!

 JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!!

Christmas Tree 2009

We made It

Hiking with my boys

Roger trying to keep up

Peek-A-Boo

Are you Thankful?

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I wonder if we really reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. We get so caught up in our busy lives and often dwell on the things we don't have we never sit back and realize how blessed we are. I sit and look out my window as the snow falls and realize I have heat and a beautiful home to sit in and I can't help but praise God.  I hear the boys in the background playing and can't help but be thankful that they are healthy and strong young men.  I open the refrigerator and realize all I need and want is at my fingertips. We are able turn lights on when we enter rooms, we have clean water to drink, take warm showers, sleep in warm beds, we have resources at our fingertips when we enter the internet world.  We watch television, go to movies, go out to dinner, take road trips in cars and go wherever our hearts desire. 

I am thankful for so many things.  For the mindset Christ gives me even when I don't want to receive it sometimes. For the love He gives me, in turn so I can give to my family and friends. I am thankful for my husband of ten years, my children and their hearts they have for life and others.  Their ability to learn and for me to teach them, thank you Lord for your wisdom.  I am thankful for Patrick's amazing support financially and emotionally, without that I would not be able to be the mom I am.  For all the family and friends who continually show love and support in every situation in our lives.  For the big and small things in our lives, whether they are challenges or triumphs.  I wonder if we really reflect on our blessings, and where they truly come from. So this season I ask that we step outside our comforts and selfish minds that we have and reflect on the awesome things God blesses our lives with.  When we do that we see we can see we are blessed beyond what we deserve.  Thank you Lord for your unfailing love, mercy, grace and generosity in my life, because I know that many times I don't deserve what you bless me with.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust in Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of Thanksgiving."

Back to School

Well if you hadn't noticed things have been busy around here in the Cwik household. We began our third year of homeschooling and although life hasn't been structured over the summer I felt the Lord called me to do another year of homeschooling. So with that we are off to another year. Jonah is now in 3rd grade, Josiah in 2nd and Jeshua is in Kindergarten. We got right back into the swing of things and the boys never skipped a beat. They also go one day a week to Northwest Christian where they study Art, Spanish, Choir, P.E., and Creative Writing. They love that day, and I am so happy they get to connect with other kids their age.

So on top of school and piano, we have had a few injuries too. Josiah broke his arm again while walking off our porch. A day later Jeshua was helping Patrick make fried chicken and hot grease splashed on his face causing 2nd and 3rd degree burns. We had to make an emergency run to Seattle's burn center and all went well, the burns weren't as bad as we anticipated. Thanks to prayers and the Lord's healing Jeshua has completely healed and fried chicken will only be purchased and not made in our house, EVER! So we are at the tail end of nursing our children, Josiah will be getting his cast off in a week, and Jonah managed to survive without any injuries. What else would I do if I didn't have to take care of all my little guys. Praying that they stay healthy as the weather starts to change and they have to put away their shorts and flip flops, they are pushing it. And since they are boys I don't think that I can keep them locked in a padded room so they will not have any more injuries. I guess they just need a little bigger head of protection around them. You gotta love boys!!!!

We've Moved

1711 E. Smythe Rd., Spangle, WA 99031

Dining Room

Boys' Bathroom

Classroom

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom

More Master Bathroom

Well I have been really slacking in keeping up on my blog, so sorry. So the reason for the slacking is since June we have been working on our new home. I have to say and hopefully it doesn't come across as bragging but I live in the most amazing area and house. Everyday I feel like I am camping, but I have all my stuff with me. I am able to sit on my deck in the morning with coffee and listen to the birds chirp, at night we hear coyotes howl, tractors drive by all day, and it is sooooo peaceful, you would not believe how peaceful it is. How did I get so blessed? I ask myself this everyday, how? One night the boys and I were sitting on the porch before bed and I said "listen boys, listen how peaceful it is." Josiah being Josiah piped up and said "yah we don't have to listen to those loud cars drive by that go VROOM, yah Momma it is peaceful." "And Momma do we get to live here for the rest of our lives?" With eyes welled up and thankfullness I said, "definately, we can live here forever." That is what it is all about to see my children feel like they are home. Thank you Lord for those moment! A few days ago we had an owl in our yard and it flew from tree to tree, so amazing. We are able to walk a half a mile and hike for miles and miles on Washington State Land. The boys have caught frogs, snakes, moths, praying mantis, oversized bugs(YUK!), and did I say how many bugs we have out here. Wasn't quite prepared for all of that, but it keeps the boys busy and entertained :) I guess I have a lot to learn about the country:)

I must say it has been a long 3 months, we have remodeled two bathrooms, painted the house from top to bottom, replaced all the carpet, caught lots of critters in the house, replaced water damage from the flood, had the plumber out half a dozen times, furnace guy out 3 times, chimney guy out 3 times, you name it we probably have done it. With great joy we are moved in and everything is working. If it sounds like we bought a dump, we didn't, it just needed some TLC. So that's what we did. We were blessed to have my father-in-law be our right hand man through it all and he was and still is a blessing to us. He willingly lends his hand to us in and we are so grateful for him and all he does .
So what's next? Little jobs around the house. School in the Fall, so excited for my own classroom. Looking forward to see what changes there are in the upcoming Seasons. Chickens and a garden in the Spring and whatever else comes up in between. I am so amazed at what the Lord has blessed us with and we are so excited to share it with our loved ones. Would love any visitors to come and see what we enjoy and love. Although the house is beautiful and more than I could have ever imagined, it's being able to share it with each other and our family and friends. Simply Amazing!

"Taste and see that the Lord is Good!" Psalm 34:8

Boys and Summer

What I wouldn't give to be a boy in Summer time. They walk around the yard shirt less, filling up ice chests and storage bins with water to bob for apples, jump on the trampoline with their J's on, or with the sprinkler underneath. Flooding a empty flower bed or building a fort, the possibilities are endless. They are blessed with an abundance of raspberries from Grandma's yard and the neighbors to fill up those tummies that never get filled. I watch them to see what catches their attention. Snails were the topic this morning. As they gathered as many as they could find, three of them would compete in their race. So they attempted to have them race and then when that didn't go as planned they made a shelter for them. Oh what those snails must have been thinking. And the boys thinking they can actually contain them in a uncovered bucket. I am amazed (actually grossed out), when Jonah shows me the slime from them on his hands. They marvel at these gross pests in our yard. What will they find next?
We spend money on toys and gadgets to keep them occupied and all the while the things in our backyard are enough. The things that capture them are the very things that the Lord has created for us and I can help but be blessed to see them enjoy also. Even if it is a snail, beattle, worm, stick (which becomes a sword), climbing a tree, picking grandma's apples to bob for them, I love to see the things they will find. Being a mom of a boy is what makes me smile, I see things through their eyes, and they show me things I never would have seen. Thank you Lord for blessing me with boys!!!

10 YEARS

Dinner Celebration

Kayaking with my man

We started off as young 22 year olds, really not knowing what it took to be married. We have gone through so much these last 10 years. We started off in Northridge, then Spokane, back to California, Pendleton, Redmond and our final stop Spokane. On our extended stops we were blessed with 3 amazing children all being born in 3 different states. Aren't we good. We have been taught so much in these last 10 years. How to be a parent, spouse, confidant and friend. Although we haven't mastered them all I can say we have come so far. He has seen me at my worst and still loves me unconditionally.  He challenges me to be a better wife, mother and friend. Always doing it with love, never without having my best interest at heart, amazing. I am amazed at the man, father and spouse Patrick has become, I had no idea. I love how the Lord works, and how he holds back just enough, and then we must trust him for the rest. Patrick is more than I expected and I am so honored to be his wife and blown away by what he is to me.I am excited to see what else the Lord will reveal to me, through my husband, in the next 50 years. I hope that I have been to him what he has to me, a true blessing. How awesome it is when you find the one the Lord had picked out for you!!!! What a BLESSED girl I am.