Snow, Snow All Around, In The Air And On The Ground!

 Yes!!!! It finally snowed!!! At first it started out as sleet and gradually turned from frozen balls into floating snow! We were out getting our weekly movie when it started to sleet and by the time we got home the snow was coming down thick. We slid a couple times coming home (nothing big) but it was enough to add to the adrenaline of the moment. The long awaited snow had arrived! As soon as we pulled in the drive the kids dashed out of the truck to play in the snow....I waited until I got dressed up in my snow gear before I went out to play. We played outside from 11:45 to around 5:00 in the evening. We went over to our neighbors house with some friends and built them a snowman and made several snowmen for ourselves, including one Hawaiian snowman which we put up next to the road.

Our Neighbors House 

Nathan Trying To Ride His Scooter In The Snow

Justice On His Way To Play

Nathan Sledding Down The Hill (The sleds were given to us by our Aunt Heide for Christmas)

Nathan Carrying His "Snowman-To-Be"

Verity Testing A New Theory Of Torture

Verity and Gabby Building A Snowman

Nathan And Justice In A Snow Fight

Nathan In His Snow Gear

Mikaela Drawing On The Driveway

The younger kids had tons of fun playing in the snow. Justice was freezing but he would not come in because he was having so much fun!  Us older kids had lots of fun too. I helped Gabby build a HUGE snowman. (She rolled the snow balls until they were to big and then I helped roll and then stack them on top of each other) Liberty did not play in the snow much because it was so cold and she did not really care to be out in it. Maybe if it snows next year she will be able to enjoy it better. Dad and Mom were thrilled to see us all having such a fun time in the snow. My Mom took pictures of us and helped clean all of the snow that ended up inside. Every couple minutes someone was charging inside for a breath of warm air and a quick change of socks. (Since snow kept getting inside our boots we kept having to change them often or our toes would freeze!) I probably changed socks 5 times while we were playing. One time I had 4 pairs of socks on at a time! Around 3:00 it began to snow like crazy and I could hardly see across our property. I went on a walk and took pictures of all the snow but it was very hard since snow kept flying into my camera lens. Later our friends next door came over and we built a snowman for our other neighbors and took a quick hike through our neighbors property to see their creek. Then we all played "Apples To Apples" and ate popcorn and then we watched a movie together.

Nathan Driving His Remote Controlled  Car

My Hand-Print In The Snow 

Mikaela Making An "Icee"

Mikaela made us the face scarfs for Christmas.....The hole was just big enough for my tongue to fit through! :) (My Mom wanted me to add this picture)

Snow covered logs

A frozen Justice hugging a snowman

Me building a snowman 

Our house right before the major snow sweep came through

Our Hawaiian snowman

Our Hawaiian snowman (My camera had snow all over the lens)

Mikaela's snowman at the bottom of our mailbox

Gabby and I sitting on our snowmen while trying to see who could reach the highest

Our pond and all the snow falling

Mikaela showing off a snow covered shovel

My camera accidentally made everything blue....I though it looked very pretty though

Nathan in a T-shirt and shorts (Not a smart idea) throwing Mikaela her camera (Another not-so-smart idea) 

Our house again

I am so thankful to God for letting us be able to have "real" snow this year. (Not little flurries)  We enjoyed it so much. Already the snow has melted to hardly nothing.....now the yard just looks like one of the dogs got into the trash and white diapers are all over the yard!

Have a great day!

Love,
   Evangela Grace

Thank you God for giving us a day of snow! 

One Humble Man. One Mighty Faith.

Suddenly, revolutionaries appear in front of me.

One shoves the barrel of a rifle into my mouth.

So this is how I'll die, I think. From the bullet of a guerrilla's gun.

But Bruce Olson did not die! He has been shot with bullets and arrows, kidnapped and tortured by guerrillas, and survived diseases, floods, and tornados during four decades as a lone missionary in the jungles of South America.

Yet by relying on God through it all, he has achieved the "impossible"–the Motilone Indians have chosen to walk the path of Jesus Christ and have been given the tools to forge their own vibrant future–and Bruce has discovered lasting peace in his own heart.

Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle has been a remarkable read...full of adventure, tragedy, faith, and love. It has shown how, despite incredible dangers and obsticals, one human man and a nation of primitive, violent Indians-by joining together in simple obedience–can be transformed forever by the sovereign will of God.

-Taken from "Brucho and the Motilone Miricle"

My sisters and I love missionary stories and this is definitely one of our favorites! I just recieved the sequel to "Bruchko" and I just finished it! I think what stood out to me most was how many people thought that he would not succeed in bringing this vicious tribe to Christ...but he did! The first book goes into detail about Bruces' early life and how he came to know and experience Christ and all the trials he went through in order to bring the Word of Life to the Motilone tribes of South America. The second book hits a couple points that the first book did not as far as what happened to his family and more of the Motilones dealing with the guerrillas. The main point of the second book though is about the Motilones in the modern day. It is so encouraging to see how God has blessed the Motilones with being able to keep their tribal ways even through modern advances. Out of the 400 plus Motilone students that went to college and studied at universities-ever single one came back to their tribes and used what they learned to help their people and even their whole nation grow. Extremely inspiring! 

I am hoping to start a new column (which I will write as time permits) on writing reviews for missionary books. Of course this can be problematic since eventually I will run out of missionary books to write reviews for, but when this happens I will move on to a different column. If anyone has any ideas for some columns I would love to hear from you! You can email me at: proclaiminggrace14@gmail.com or post a comment. May you have a grace filled New Year! 

Christmas Week

Our Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

My family has had a wonderful Christmas week! The fun all started Thursday when our neighbours came over to give us kids their presents since they had to leave the next day for California. The kids had a blast! The main highlight for the boys was two remote controlled tractors. I tried to get a picture of their faces when Mr. Fields brought the tractors in but they jumped up so fast that my camera did not have time to focus! Verity's favorite toy was probably the cooking set. She received her own apron, mitts and a cupcake recipe box which she has been begging for days to use. Liberty's favorite present was a baby doll (of course!) that had a little bunk bed which held her baby doll and Verity's baby doll. (Verity claimed the top bunk!)

The Boys and Their Tractors

Cheese! 

Mikaela Looking at a Puzzle 

Me Playing Boggle

Liberty and Her Baby Doll

Verity Opening Her Present

Mikaela, Gabby and my favorite presents were the board games. I am not sure what my favorite one is yet. We also got some REALLY fun card games! (I forgot the names of them) I think our family's favorite games are card games. Mikaela is best at Speed and I am still undefeated (since May of this year) at E.R.S. By the way, does anybody know what E.R.S stands for? I have heard many people call it Egyptian Rat Slap but the only part that makes sense is the "Slap". I would love to find out what it really stands for or if it is really Egyptian Rat Slap!

Friday we put our bed room rearranging plans into action. Our plan was for Mikaela, Gabby and I to share our bedroom, Nathan and Justice to have Mom and Dads upstairs room and Verity and Liberty to have the homeschool room. (Mom and Dad moved downstairs into the unfinished master bedroom.) I was surprised to see how well things turned out! The most exciting thing about us older girls' new bed room is that all the 900's (Dewy decimal number for history books) shelfs got moved into our room! Along with the history books we moved the 600's and 700's (Home economics and crafts) into our room as well! Ahh!! A book worms ultimate vacation!
The boys are likewise as excited about their room. We turned their cubby hole into a reading nook with Nathan's licence plate collection along the top of the wall and a globe along with several wooden airplanes and a helicopter Dad made hanging from the ceiling. One main point for the boys room was that they got the TV. (We do not have "TV" just a DVD/movie player) But what really was disappointing was that the boys got the 200 disc CD player! I am sure the boys will enjoy it when they get it set up. Us girls will just have to ask them to turn it up loud enough for us to hear!

Boys Cubby-Hole

We just got Verity and Liberty's room set up. It still needs some working on but it is showing progress already. Their main highlight is probably the bunk bed. Verity is thrilled to be able to sleep on a bunk now! They also have all their dolls and and things all in their own room which makes Verity very excited.
We are hoping that this will help eliminate people cleaning up other people's messes now that it should be very easy to tell whose mess is whose by which room it is in. Justice is sooo cute! Even though he has his own room with his stuff in it, he comes into Mikaela, Gabby and my room and plays with his stuff on our floor! Right now he has his magnetic construction game on our bedroom floor. :) Thankfully instead of getting mad I think of how special it is to have our little brother wanting to be with us.
Oh! Guess what?! It snowed this week for the first time this year!! It was such a pretty sight. I only wish my camera could take pictures of the snow falling. The snow did not stay on the ground but it did pile up a little on the trampoline. I think that it is supposed to snow New Years Day. Maybe it will stay on the ground.

Snow on the Rim of the Trampoline

Close up

Christmas Eve my family went to my Grandmas for the "Festa Dei Sette Pesci". I only ate artichokes for dinner but I filled up on Greek olives, cheese and crackers, cookies and other stuff off the trays before dinner. Justice and Liberty played "peek-a-boo" in a card board box that Gabby cut out for them. Mom and us girls helped make dinner while Dad and Nathan sat around and watched a movie. :)

The Kids House Box

Even Cute Little Kids Fight!

Verity With G-ma and Artichokes

Christmas Eve Dinner

Cutting Artichokes 

Saturday we had our family "Present Day". We ate chili and drank eggnog, and apple cider. Later we had cake and ice cream but I drank to much eggnog so I skipped dessert. We all gave each other our gifts and then played games. All of us kids and Mom got Dad a new Bible with a case. It smells good! (Because it is made out of leather!) It would take me forever to go through all of our presents so I guess I will just tell you mine. Mikaela made me a blue scarf (blue of course!) with tassels on it. It is sooo warm! Gabby gave me some nail and toenail stickers, candy, and some adhesive tape. (For my stamp collection) Mom and Dad bought me a book called "Bruchko and The Motilone Miracle" which is the sequel to a missionary story called "Bruchko". I have already finished the book! They also bought me a plate that says, "Having you as a daughter makes every day a celebration". (Thank you Mom and Dad!)

Mom and Dad in Their "Merry Christmas" Hats

My Present  From Mom and Dad (The book they got me is on my lap)

Mikaela Admiring Her Picture 

Praying Before Our Chili Dinner

 I have added plenty of pictures (I took over 1000 pictures in just one week!) because I took so many! I may have to have another tab on my blog for pictures!
Last of all I would like to thank God for all the blessings He has blessed us with this week.
1. For giving us all the strength to rearrange our house.
2. Blessing us with snow
3. Keeping us safe in this icy weather
4. Giving me a wonderful family!

I hope you have a blessed day and a Jesus-filled New Year!

Love,
Evangela

"Festa Dei Sette Pesci"

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

Christmas Eve Dinner 2009

What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes or "Festa Dei Setta Pesci", is an Italian Christmas Eve dinner meal that consists of seven different types of fish. Since my Dad's family is Italian, every Christmas my Grandmother, my Mom and us girls help prepare this scrumptious meal. My favorite part of the cooking is stuffing the artichokes. This has become a family tradition between my Grandmother and us girls. 

Today the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. However, some Italian-American families celebrate with nine, eleven or thirteen different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, the "Vigilia Di Natale", for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. (The awaited Messiah, Emmanuel)

Fish*

Baccalá- Salted Cod

Calamari- Fried Squid

Fried Smelts

Shrimp

Clam and Anchovies Sauce (Over spaghetti)

Crab Legs

Fish Sticks

*We have replaced some fish like Eel with more"edible" fish like crab legs and fish sticks for some of our family's sanity. :) 

Helping G-ma Bake Artichokes

Sides

Cauliflower- Breaded and Fried

Artichokes- Stuffed and Baked

Spaghetti & Zucchini Aioli 

Spaghetti & Clam and Anchovies Sauce

Stuffed Artichoke...."Prelibato!"
(Tasty!)

Artichokes

• Pull off discolored leaves
• Cut off stems 
• Clip tops of leaves
• Soak in cold water for ten minutes
• Drain and dry
• Hit top side of artichoke to separate leaves (in order to stuff them)
• Stuff with Italian bread crumbs (Make the stuffing according to the directions on the bag and add some garlic) 
• Boil in water, olive oil and lemon for at least 1 hour. 

Desserts

Pizzells

Biscotti

Homemade Biscotti

Homemade Pizzells
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What is your family's Christmas traditions? I would love to hear of them and possibly put them in my next blog post! You can email your story to me @: proclaiminggrace14@gmail.com 

P.S. I would love to see some pictures too! 

Love,
Evangela Grace

Something To Be Thankful For

We have had a lovely Thanksgiving week! As some of you know, we have been busy sewing pilgrim and indian costumes for Thanksgiving day and after three hectic but beneficial days of cutting, pinning and sewing we finally finished our costumes. I have to commend Mikaela for her hard work and perseverance. She was extremely cheerful and made the hours pass quickly. :)

Here is a picture of us kids in our outfits. I thought the younger kids were soooo cute!!! I am so thankful to my Mom for giving Mikaela and I the time to sew.
Another blessing God blessed us with this Thanksgiving was our cousins from Pennsylvania who came to visit! They have two children and we had such a blast playing with them!!!
Thanksgiving day we played football and some board games but we mostly talked and caught up on the past few years of events. We also had some friends who live behind us come over for Thanksgiving dinner. Grandma made a DELICIOUS Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans and lots more.
Friday we decided to go shopping with our cousins since a couple things were on sale that we wanted.  We were able to buy a bunch of wonderful winter clothes and I was able to buy some much wanted boots.
Today our cousins left around 3:00 pm but before they left they came to our house and visited. We decided to take a golf cart ride but by the time we got back around to our house everyone was freezing so we went inside! Then Mikaela and my cousin went upstairs to our library and talked about history for a half an hour. After that we went to our Grandmas for lunch and Mikaela my cousin and I played a history question game where someone thinks of a person in history and we have to guess who it is with yes and no questions. We had some pretty hard people to guess.....Mikaela chose George Clark (William Clark who went with Meriwether Lewis to explore America. George Clark was his brother), My cousin chose John Hancock and I chose Joe McCarthy.
I would love to tell you all more about all the fun we had but it would take me forever to type it all out so I will add some pictures to show some of the fun times we all had. 

 Me Cooking

  Football strategizing!

 Justice and Mr. Fields having a good laugh! :) 

 Hard working grandma

 My cousin trying to get in the photo

 Liberty and Mrs. Fields snuggling together

 My Mom and Mrs. Fields

 Mikaela telling her infamous "Getting sucked up in the air vent" story

 Catch!

 Shot Ya!

 Our family picture

 Family tradition...Always have to have the funny photo! 

Welcome Fall!

Wow! I cannot believe that it is November already! This year has flown by in no time at all it seems. I got the idea for the picture above by a friend of mine. Fall is so beautiful. The mountains are covered in a blanket of colors and the winds of winter are already in the air. We have the heaters started up and have been chopping wood for the fireplace at our house. My favorite thing about this weather is how nice it is to be all snuggled up in our house, sitting in our living room drinking hot chocolate and talking together. My least favorite thing about this weather is getting into the car when it is in the mid 50's outside. :( Brrrrr!!!! One thing I have noticed as the years go by is how God loves change. (No. Not Obama's kind of "change") Everywhere we go we can see the beautiful variety of Gods creation. Psalms 40:5 says: "Many, O Yahweh my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." May Gods grace and majesty follow you wherever you go. Blessings!

Love,
Evangela and Liberty