OUR WOOD CUTTING DAY

It started with a "lets go get wood!" After much sawing wood, pulling wood, pushing wood, throwing wood, loading wood, dumping wood, tripping over wood, unloading wood, throwing wood some more, passing wood and stacking wood, we've got nearly enough wood to last us the lovely manitoba winter!

The Pauls family has once again pulled together and finished a daunting task. Hip, Hip Hooray! Special thanks to Dad who drove the tractor, to Mom who pushed down all of those trees, to Josh who ran the chain saw, to Meg who was the main wood organizer, to Kerri who did a lovely job of chucking wood, to Caleb, Zachary, Jesse and Nathan who were faithful links in the wood chain, to Brooke who kept her Daddy company, and especially to Mikaya who supplied us with her lovely smiles.

This is Jen reporting live from the Pauls household, where things are always happening, trust me, always!

Happy BIrthday Jesse Boy!

Wow, did we have a party on the 18th!

As I have mentioned before on this blog, we don't do much for Christmas gifts, we do more for birthdays. So 2 birthdays x 10 gifts (one from each sibling and dad and mom) makes for a lot of wrapping, a lot of unwrapping, a lot of hugs, a lot of thank you's, a lot of smiles, a lot of pictures, a lot of learning about sharing, and a lot of plain fun!

So anyway, this post is dedicated to Jesse who turned 5, Oct. 18th.

I remember it like it were yesterday. Waiting for you to come, couldn't wait to meet you, see what you would look like, cuddle with you, show you to your dad and siblings. And when the day came, we took one look at you and thanked God once again for our little blessing. Our 7th blessing.

Since then you have grown so much. You were always our blond haired, sturdy made boy. A farmer from almost the start, a well organized little fellow, and a smile that could make anyone's heart melt!

You were and still are a talker. When you were 1 1/2 years old you would look at us and tell this big long story sincerely. The only problem is it was in baby lingo, which we couldn't quite understand, but that didn't stop you, you had many a stories to tell! And to this day you can talk non-stop for quite a while.

You loved (and still do) to be playing with tractors, looking at tractors in a book, or riding in a tractor. You remind us a lot of you oldest brother Joshua. His love for farming and tractors is much the same as his. Even to the point of you watching the wheels of a tractor to see how fast it is going. You can tell if you are speeding up just by looking at the wheels. You are very alert of all that is going on and ask dad umpteen questions all day long as you are riding with him. That's okay, because we know that this is the way you are learning all the ropes of being a farmer if God should will it.

Usually in the morning the first question you ask your dad is if he is going in the tractor today. You spent almost everyday this spring and fall in the field with the 'farming' crew. We are very suprised at your endurance at being out there day after day!

Your love for babies makes us smile. You have a special place in your heart for your baby sister Mikaya, and she loves to watch you as you entertain her.

We are so glad that God knew that our family needed a Jesse. We love you and pray that as you grow physically, you will also grow spiritually and learn day by day what it is that pleases your heavenly Father and that you will desire to grow closer to Him and that your one passion would be to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Created To Be His Help Meet Study

Because of circumstances that I didn't expect, I will have to delay this study. I apologize and hope to be able to explain later. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday To Zachary!

Well the second October birthday has come and gone in our household.

Yesterday was Zachary's 7th birthday.

There wasn't a whole lot of celebrating going on as the big party will be tomorrow when we celebrate Jesse and Zachary's birthdays together. We were going to celebrate yesterday but it ended up that Mark had to get field work done before the rainy weather hit, so we asked Zachary if he would mind if we would move his birthday to tomorrow so Dad could be around to celebrate with us. I told him that we could have the cake in the field but we wouldn't be able to have decorations. He thought for a minute and said, "Who needs decorations when I have so many friends!" (I later found out this was a quote from Winnie the Pooh.) But after thinking for a few minutes and remembering how much fun it is to have Dad around on birthday parties, he made a very grown up choice and decided to have the party tomorrow. You know your little boy is growing up when he thinks past the moment and makes decisions based on the whole picture.

Talking about that....that has been the theme of Zachary' past year. Actually it was THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. If I had a dime for every time I told Zachary this in the past year, I would have a lot of money!

For those of you who know Zachary, you know why we knick name him Zippy Z.

He is a very zippy boy, full of energy, full of new ideas, and once and a while gets himself in a little bit of trouble. You know how stuff just happens to some people? Well that's Zachary. Stuff just happens to him. Broken bones, stitches, mud, knocked out teeth....stuff. We have said ever since he was little, if we can train all this energy to do good godly things, then an amazing godly boy/man he will be. Well I think this year was the pivitol year in which we got over the hump and got into him thinking that his actions have consequences and he needed to think before he acted. Many times now I hear him ready to do something and he stops himself and says, "No, I shouldn't do that". We are proud of him and how far he has come.

Full of life, Full of smiles, Full of fun, Full of forgiveness, Full of zip....that's our Zachary!
We love you Zachary and know that as you learn more about God, His Word and following Him, you will touch many people for Him. We are glad that God sent you here 7 years ago. You are an important part of our family.

CREATED TO BE HIS HELP MEET Chapter 2

Joy!

I loved this chapter because of it's emphasis on joy.

Joy is such an important thing to have as a part of our everyday life.

Without joy we feel hopelessness and despair.

Without joy little hinderances seem like huge obstacles.

Without joy little disappointments seem depressing.

Without joy offenses turn into bitterness.

Without joy aches seem like unbearable pain.

Joy is so much more than a feeling.

So many people think that if they just had a bigger house, more material possessions, better behaved kids, nicer car, better clothes, new appliances, new electronics.....they would be happy.

But the problem is, these things are so temporal, and they only produce a want for more, bigger and better.

But joy isn't that way, joy is joy all the time, despite our circumstances and possessions.

It is a deep inner peace that sustains through the tough times, the ugly times, the sad times, the provoking times, the annoying times. Joy is ETERNAL.

How to be a joyful wife? WOW!
This is not an easy one for me.

It is so easy to focus on being happy. Happiness needs to be recognized, happiness needs to be paid back, happiness needs to be served, happiness needs to be pampered. But joy doesn't need these things. Because it's deep, it's deeper than circumstances.

In this chapter Debi asked if our husbands were still married to that 'sweet little thing' that he first married. I have to honestly say that most of the time 'no'! I could make excuses that life is so much more stressful and hectic now, but that shouldn't affect my joy.

When I read this chapter it was a conformation for me of what the Lord has already been speaking to me about. I have been learning not to let the happenings of the day negatively affect my attitude. This is not joy, this is not life for my husband and our children.

The old saying goes, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". This is a true statement, maybe not in the way it was written to be. But I believe that as a wife and a mom, I can positively or negatively affect the atmosphere of our home. This doesn't mean that you will never be disappointed or sad but it means that those things will not bring you to the depths of despair, they will not take your joy.

Debi said to do a research on the word joy.

(By the way, a research tool online is Bible Gateway).

What verse is your favorite?

Mine is Habakkuk 3:17-18 17

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

He enables me to go on the heights.

That sums it all up for me!

Created To Be His Help Meet Chpt.1

Well, chapter one of this book was a good refresher for me. I can't believe how many times I fail to be a help meet to my husband. How many times I view what he wants as insignifiicant or less important than my stuff. On the farm I have ample opportunity to be a help meet. And I will do it when asked, sometimes with the right attitude. But my goal is to be that help meet without being asked. "So that I have a readiness to please and that it would motivate me to look around and see the things I know Mark would like to see done. And not to use lame excuses to avoid these jobs." (pg 23) I struggle with this. As a mom, it is so easy to see the needs of my kids before my husband because they are so 'in my face', but my calling is to first be a help meet to my husband. then to my children, and others last. God created me to be this, I was created to be his help meet. I love those words, help meet. To be a helper, a proper, perfect, good and well equiped helper. God wants me to see the potential in my husband and do what I can to help him be more productive and efficient.(pg 23) This whole thinking goes so against the rules of society today. Look out for #1, we deserve to be equal to man. Feminism is everywhere. Look for it next time you watch a movie or are around people. Even 'family' movies are full of it. It's sad, because so many couples are functioning contrary to God's design. It amazes me how even in the church feminism creeps in. So subtle yet so there. Yet God's perfect will is that women are help meets for their husbands. And how important it is to teach our young unmarried ladies this as well. When I got married I had never even thought of this concept. A lot of it was common sense to me, but I messed up in so many areas, and it took me years to get back on track, and I am still reaping some of the consequenses of my decisions. But if someone had mentored me to be a godly wife, a help meet to my husband, and told me that marriage is about serving my husband, I would have had a much different perspective. So if you have daughters, teach this to them. You know they are watching you, you know they are learning from the things you say and do. I grieve after I have a moment of being 'less than a help meet' to my husband and I realize my girls were right there, taking everything in, 'learning from me'. So, if you're like me and you know that there is room for improvement, start today. Think of ways you can be a help meet to your husband. (pg 25) So those are my thoughts. I will see you on the commments page to hear yours!

My Little Lady

6 months Mikaya!

Where has time gone. It seems like just yesterday that you were born and yet when I think of all we have been through together, it's been so much. When I look at you sometimes I wonder what you will grow up to be like, what will be your personality and other times I look at you and see some of your little personality already! You are a very determined little girl, you have a twinkle in your eyes that melts your families heart. You love the many hugs and kisses you get each day and love to make your brothers laugh. It is so special to watch you with all your siblings and how they protect and love you so much. You are so blessed to have a family that loves you and will be your best friends someday. Your sister Brooke and you will have a special bond I'm sure and I can already see the little looks you give each other that seems to say 'I know what you are thinking'! Tea parties, playing house, dressing dolls, baking is all what you have to look forward to together and so much more. And your big sisters Jen, Meg and Kerri will be able to teach you so many things, doing your hair, matching your clothes and even doing dishes (watch out, they are already counting the days before you can take over in the kitchen!) And you have a special place in your big brothers hearts. When I see you give them 'that smile' I just see there hearts melt. You are a special gift to all of us. I never dreamed that we would have 10 children, but I can't imagine our family without you. I am so glad God chose to send you to us to compliment our family. I pray that as you grow you will learn the love of God through us, your family and that you will desire that love for yourself and personally get to know Him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!

If I knew what I knew now I would do it all over again.
When I found out I was pregnant with you I was excited that God was going to entrust another to our care.
Then the day arrived. I told Dad at supper time that today was ‘the day’
He told me to be sure to come to the field and tell him when things progressed.
I was sure we had a lot of time, as that was the case for Josh and Jen.
I went home, put your brother and sister to bed and waited for your dad to come home.
It was damp weather outside and I was sure he wouldn’t be able to combine too much longer,
but the time dragged on.
As thing started rapidly progressing, I figured I should go and get your dad.
So I woke up Josh and Jen, packed our things and drove to the field.
When I got there I flashed my lights and your dad came roaring across the field with the tractor.
We went to your grandparents, where dad changed and showered.
We left Josh and Jen there and headed to the hospital.
It was around 11:00 pm
We got to the hospital at 12:00 and there were times where I thought we might not make it.
Things were moving along very quickly.
We got all settled in the hospital and by 1:00 am you had made your grand entrance.
It was love at first sight. You looked like a little Eskimo with your dark fuzzy head
and perfectly round face.
We were excited to have you join our life and our family.
Your brother and sister were very excited to meet you to and it didn’t take long for you to fit right in!
You were a perfect baby, hardly cried at all.
As you grew up we laughed over your cute little ways and the things you would say.
By then your little sister Kerri was born and you loved to sing to her.

You had the cutest expressions and said things in such a unique way.
You still had that perfect little round face and dark brown curly hair.
The years flew by, full of growing, learning, discipline.
And here you are today, 14 already.
I can’t believe how time has flown, yet we have so many good memories.
You and I are a lot alike, so much so that we annoy each other sometimes:) You have heard so many times that you even look like me,
I hope that hasn’t given you a complex :-)
You have become such a responsible young girl.
You are a joy to have in our family.
We all appreciate that you usually know where everything is.
We are glad you like to take pictures (except maybe Josh)
and that you keep such good records of our family growing and changing.
I am so thankful that I don’t have to organize the change of season clothes
by myself, that you are always there to help.
I am especially thankful for your soft heart.
They way you are sensitive to the things of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that you will never lose that, and that your
desire will always be to serve God and put Him first in your life.
I look so forward to the time we have left together.
I am excited to see what God has in store for you.
Remember
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life
Proverbs 4:23
We love you Megan!