Harder Family

Harder Family

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Sweet Sophia

Psalm 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."


This weekend we are celebrating our sweet Sophia's 8th birthday. She is such a joy to our family. One of my favorite things about Sophia is how she has taken her time growing up. She is full of spunk, she loves playing dress up, she wishes she were a real princess, she loves her sisters, she loves art, and she is a hard worker and tenacious (when she wants to-as her teacher I can attest that she doesn't like to write or read, but she LOVES math and art). Here is an example of her hard work/tenacity. Last year Wayne told the girls if they completed two years of math one year, he would buy them an Ipad. Sophia decided that she wanted to take that task on. She completed her entire first and second grade Abeka math books last year...that is over 340 math lessons in one year!! Since she received a tablet for Christmas for school, she told us that she didn't want an Ipad. She told us, "Instead of an Ipad, I want an easy bake oven." Wayne told her he wouldn't buy her an easy bake oven, but a real toaster oven. She has had fun over the summer baking and cooking things in her toaster oven. We have worked out an arrangement...I buy her baking supplies to bake and we get to use the toaster oven (I never realized how nice those things are!). 

Part of our curriculum for My Father's World this year includes celebrating Biblical Feasts. This week we were to celebrate the Sabbath. Friday was spent preparing for the Sabbath. We cleaned the house, we prepped food for our Friday and Saturday meals, and we prepared the table with all the things we needed for Sabbath. Since we were to prepare a nice family meal as part of Sabbath, Sophia asked if she could have her birthday dinner the night of Sabbath. I readily agreed to simplify my life...why make two large meals in one weekend? So, Friday night was Sabbath and Sophia's birthday. Her birthday dinner choice was a Thanksgiving meal. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, sweet potato casserole, challat bread (as part of the Sabbath), and ice cream cake for dessert. We really enjoyed getting to walk through a Sabbath celebration. It was complete with prayers, blessings, drinking grape juice (instead of wine-Kiddush cup), partaking of challah bread, and using our spice boxes we made (besamim-as part of Sabbath on Saturday). I loved getting to experience such a beautiful celebration with my family. I think we all have a greater appreciation for Sabbath and how we should honor it.

Sophia loved her cake and her gifts. We bought her an art set from Costco and we also purchased a painting class for her. I wish I could have captured her facial expression when we told her about the class. She is very excited about her class and spending the evening with her mom painting. Here are some pictures from our weekend and then some pictures of Sophia through the years:


Helping make the Challah bread



Our handmade Challah bread covering (from napkins)


Our Sabbath table


Our candles all lit


The girls made the floating candles for our Sabbath center piece.


Wayne giving a blessing to Grace


The birthday girl with her cake. She added extra frosting to make a "modern art" cake.


Excited about her art kit.


2007


2008



2009


2010


2011


2012


2013


2014



2015

Happy birthday sweet Sophia! We are so glad that God brought you into our lives 8 years ago. You are a wonderful edition to our family!!

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Thank you for all the prayers for Wayne. Today he has felt much better and has a lot more energy. We believe that he will be strong enough to go back to work on Monday. Praise the Lord for answered prayers. God is good and nothing is impossible with Him!!

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I wrote this blog post last night. I have an extra prayer request. The area near where I lived the first 14 years of my life (Lake County, CA), has been hit by a huge wild fire. Please pray for rain, for people's safety, for firefighters fighting the blaze, and for those who have lost all their earthly possessions. 





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