Sharing Our Gifts

Many times when one would read a title such as that, one would think of getting a gift of money or a present.  I am talking about sharing ourselves, our talents and our time.  Some of those things require a bit of our money, but usually not giving directly to any one person a monetary amount.

Throughout the time I have spent as a parent, I've tried instilling in my kids that we need to give of ourselves, even in the smallest of ways, to help in any way we can. Many times in the beginning, I've just taken my kids with me in whichever service project we were doing and expected them to help, or I gave them things to do like wiping tables, serving drinks or something like that.  As they grew in their own walk and personal likes and dislikes, they've shown that they love helping, but in their own ways.

It has been a humbling experience for me to lend my voice to the Sherwood Baptist Choir.  I am truly stretched and challenged with my own musical abilities, along with my deafness that brings additional challenges all it's own to just about everything I do.  I have always been a soprano, but due to a 3 month long bout of a variety of colds and flu a few years ago, I went from a soprano to an alto.  This is a challenge when I've learned a vast majority of songs in soprano, so much of my work has been to relearn all these songs.  It helps to stand next to some strong alto voices in choir so I don't start singing the soprano part.  The video below has been written by our Music Minister and Choir/Orchestra director Mark Willard.  He is the main vocalist with some very talented folks accompanying and singing with him.  This song is called "Hope is Rising."  From my understanding, we will be having a *Live* worship on October 9th featuring this song as well as many other favorite classic hymns.  This has been hard work for me in this time also since I've had bronchitis since 2 weeks after my knee surgery in July.  I'm excited to be a part of this, to just simply lend my voice to the choir in praise to God.  What a blessing!

This is another video to show the choir, orchestra, and a very talented and beautiful lady who is singing "I Am."




I count it a privilege to lend my voice in a very small way to the choir wherever I am planted.  Praise God!


This is what I've learned:

*When you model serving and encourage them to help and find some place to share their gifts and abilities, be prepared for when they do something unexpected.

Each of my kids have a wonderful singing voice.  As a part of their music training, they've been in the choir with me until our move to Georgia.  I've given them a choice of whether or not to join the choir and express themselves that way, but they've gone other directions.  My daughter loves working with the kids and that's the direction she's going.  My youngest son is working in security and he's enjoying that.  My oldest son is looking in to the golf cart ministry and I'm sure he'll find a niche there.

*Be prepared for them to tell you, "Mom, I'm not interested in that any more.  That's your interest."

Yup!  I heard it and it crushed my heart because they've all got beautiful voices.

*Be prepared to watch them shine in their chosen place of serving.

The happiness is unlike any other.  They're beginning to learn what it means to serve in an area where God may be leading them.


Other areas of service are available if we just keep our eyes out and ask God to show them to us.  What do I mean?  I've been told I have gifts in the kitchen.  For me, though, I just love to bake and bless people with yummy things from my kitchen.  Couple that with including children to help chop things, cleaning up, and serving those things and you have a family that serves.  This is a love of my own and I'm encouraging my kids to help me, even as they get older.  They each may have had their own special part of what is presented, but they know it is something they've helped to produce.

What are we producing this week?

All kinds of pumpkin bread done in Pampered Chef bread tubes to serve when company comes.  I have a lot of pumpkin to use.  :)

I'm gradually gathering zucchini to shred and freeze for future things like cakes, breads, and things like that.

What are we going to do in the future?  We're going to keep our eyes out for ways we can serve others with our gifts.

Remember, no gift is too menial or minor when it is done in the service of your God!

God Bless,

For the Love of Home

When the whole house is affected by sickness, things are run differently.  When the ones who are in charge of taking care of the majority of the clean up are sick, that means Mom has lots more to do.  When one who carries most of the pet responsibilities is out of town for 2 weeks, while the other 2 are sick, Mom has lots more to do, and a very busy time!

I must confess, I have delegated much of the household chores to my kids.  Let me rephrase that, "I have delegated most of the household chores to the young adults in the household."  It is something they are responsible to do regardless because "that's what adults do".  If they lived on their own, they'd be responsible for doing things regardless anyway.  When they were sick, they took Motrin, Acetaminophin, Naproxen, (Not all at the same time) or whatever else they could find to help feel better.  When they started feeling better, they took care of their basic responsibilities.  When they started not feeling well again and dogs needed let out, walked, fed/watered, or the cat cared for, I took care of that along with my own responsibilities.  The walking of the dog was when whomever felt well enough to do so since I'm under Dr's orders not to walk "for now."

I have slathered myself with Essential Oils to keep the sickness away from me because I don't like being sick and I'm going to have surgery on my knee this Tuesday.  (Since I've written this on Sunday and scheduled this to be posted on Tuesday, you'll probably read this after I've been through surgery and home already.)  I would love to be able to make sure it gets done Tuesday.  If it doesn't get done, it gets pushed off until I am better.  I'm tired of not being able to walk around the block, for exercise or for pleasure.  I love to walk, be out in God's creation and pray as I walk.  This is where I use to walk in Pennsylvania~

This lovely road curved to the right and went on and on.  I poured out my heart to the Lord on this road.  It felt good to walk, pray, and let the tears fall as I gave everything over to God.  I always came home feeling much better about whatever was bothering me.  The kids and I loved to take bikes down, walk, roller blade or canoe along this road.  My Mr. G and I use to walk meandering down this road just holding hands.  Occasionally, he took the kids inner tubing or canoeing down the river that runs by this road.  If we could find a lovely country road much like this one that runs along a lovely river here in Georgia to replace this, or something similar, I would love it!  

I've always loved being outside in God's creation.  I've had dreams of going back to South Dakota, Wyoming, and the Rocky Mountains to hike and maybe ride horses again.  I find myself longing for the west.  I do have family out west, so I know I can go see them any time.  I just yearn for the open fields, wide open skies, trees, and wild flowers.  Horseback riding cannot happen right now until I loose more weight (hence the reason this surgery is so important--so I can get to walking again and loosing more weight!).  I need to get the disc in my back checked before I do that type of activity anyway (it ruptured in 2002).  The kneeling in the garden or flower bed has ceased, for now.  The kneeling by my bed has ceased for now too.  It has been replaced with being seated, for now while I talk with my Lord numerous times in a 24 hour period.  

I'm just trying to keep myself well.

Additionally, a week and a half after my surgery, we're going to be blessed with a new puppy.  For 15 years I've prayed for a Golden Retriever puppy.  I've wanted one even longer, at least since I was a young girl.   I remember many friends who have had dogs and I love the breed.  I remember just simply starting to pray about the time my kids were little just to have a good friendly breed for my kids.  In the mean time, we trained the dogs we did have to be good friendly dogs.

I absolutely love God's timing with all of this.  My Dr tells me that after the surgery, the only physical therapy I'll need is to just walk.  Go figure!  So, after I get through surgery, I'll begin simply by just walking around my house for the first 2 days.  I'll try outside in the driveway first, then venture around on the road, building up to being able to walk more, a few feet/steps at a time.  Then when we have our new puppy, she'll walk with me as a type of therapy.  I'll need to walk, she'll need to walk, so it's a win-win situation.  God is awesome!  He's worked all this out wonderfully! 

While I am recovering, much of my daily responsibilities will be tweaked a little.  I know that my kids will pick up much of what I do, with a couple exceptions.  My hubby will pick up the other stuff with things specifically just for me to do.  I know I'll be doing more knitting and crocheting with a wee bit of sewing thrown in as well.  But, that's all good.  I love my home, taking care of everyone in it, loving on everyone and all the furry family too, no matter if I'm laid up or not.  When I am forced to sit more, it helps me to be able to be available to talk with my young folks.  They are around the living room more and they're talking with each other more.

Home...what a blessing! 

Tough Cookies

Within the past couple of weeks, a friend of ours used this phrase to describe us.  I often wonder what has caused us to be seen as "tough cookies" in retrospect.  I remember so many events in our lives, individually and in our married life that has formed us to the people we are today--for better or worse.
I know that many, countless times we've had seemingly insurmountable occurrences in our life that had caused us to immediately hit the floor on our knees in a puddle of tears because in our own strength, we could not do "this", whatever "this" was.  Miraculously, as if by only the strength of the Holy Spirit, we stood to dry our tears and put one foot in front of the other.  There were times that many times EACH DAY we were in a puddle of tears, surrendering everything to the Lord, telling Him that we can't do "this" alone, that He's going to have to do "this" for us because in our own power, we're nothing.

With each step we've taken, we often times get to see a few steps ahead.  Other times, we can only see the step we're on currently.  These lessons have been "hard learned" and wrought with heartache, pain, and rivers and rivers of tears.  So, to use the term "tough cookie" to describe us is not as accurate as perhaps someone with the strength of a piece of jello or as sturdy as a river of tears.

That said, the Lord Himself has etched Himself in and through every aspect of our lives, from our finances, to our home and everything in it, our vehicles, our pets, my Mr. G's retirement from corrections and on to his current job, as well as homeschooling, and moving on in to our lives very soon as post homeschooling parents.  Our lives have been filled with trials and triumphs, but only by God's grace.

So, it is only by the strength of the Lord that we rely on daily that we can be remotely compared to "tough cookies."

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

 for those who are called according to his purpose." 

(Romans 8:26-28)

This verse has become our very own in the past 3 years through the trials we've faced.  We've clung to it tightly when the winds blew so hard and things we thought were "ok" suddenly disintegrated.

We were helped by many folks posting different scripture at just the right time, praying for us and loving on us just to let us "talk it out" and vent.  There have been priceless friendships formed that had those occurrences not happened, we would have missed those friendships.  God brings about things in our lives to bring people together who wouldn't have normally crossed paths.  What a blessing these folks have been to our lives!  They don't even know the true depth and breadth of how much they honestly helped us just by being there for us when we needed them most.  We feel the Lord Himself put them in our lives and we are truly grateful for their friendship.  

Many times, it was only through the gift of music that was able to sooth our aching hearts.  Many times I leaned on these two songs.

The Lord has blessed us, and given us peace so many times through so many ways. 

Praise His Holy Name!

God Bless,

The Glimmer of God's Creation

Living here in southern Georgia, we've been able to see such incredible weather and cloud formations.  We love the glory of God in His creation.

The beautiful works and glories of God shines forth.

Although there are multiple snaps of the same area, with each frame it is different in it's nuances.  The wonder and awe are glorious.

(Psa 72:19)  "And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled

with his glory; Amen, and Amen."

The Purging of My Home

I am thankful that we've decided to move.  Yes, I said that.  I now understand when people sell all of the extra earthly goods they have, and move somewhere for the mission field or just relocating, I see how freeing it is.

Letting go of memories is not what is involved.  Things that hold us down is what is involved.  I have purged my books, the kids' books, Mr. G's books (with his permission---I would have kept more than he did, but gladly he purged), as well as curriculum, office supplies, clothes, extra things that we just don't have room for any longer.

Why?

We have a large home.  When you look at the main floor and the upstairs, it is 1752 square feet of living space.  With the basement, it would be 3300 square feet of living space.  We are purging the basement, and the rest of the house to ensure that what we have will fit in to the next house once we move.  We are purging furniture, desks, recliners, coffee tables, end tables, the piano, the couch, everything!

We are keeping the things we love.  I am hoping to be able to finish my teaching degree since I only have an art class, Jr. Practicum and Student teaching to do to finish.  My heart is being pulled to teach Kindergarten in a private Christian school.  My love is teaching little ones.  My kids are almost done with their education.  My daughter will be a Senior and my youngest son will be a Sophomore.  By the time he is finished with school, I may be able to take a couple classes myself.  After he graduates, I'll be able to do my practicum and student teaching.  There are numerous private schools where we're moving, so if I can get my foot in the door as an assistant teacher, that might be one of the ways I can get in to a teaching position.   All that to say that I'm keeping my good children's literature books and eventually adding to them once we move, so that I have them once I have my own classroom, Lord willing.

I know my daughter has been keeping her drawing books, adding to her collection only the ones where her interest lays.  My oldest son enjoys things science related and only asks to keep his Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines.  My youngest son enjoys blacksmithing and knife making, so he is engulfed in those types of things.

Keeping what we love is a good thing.  Organizing things we need to keep for tax purposes is a good thing.  Pitching or burning the old envelopes, boxes, and papers/things that we no longer need to keep is freeing and beginning to feel a bit lighter.

Ask me how "light" I feel after our move.  LOL

I have not touched much in my kitchen as of right now.  The platters for serving things have been packed, but that's it.  I'll need to go through everything to see what I can sell at the yard sale.  I have a difficult time letting things from my kitchen go because I've found some neat kitchen gadgets that are stainless steel or something that works well, so I'm going to "love" them and pack them for the new house.  I'll look at some of my bread pans and some other things that I just don't use any more to sell.

It is difficult to say, but I honestly don't think that this much purging would have taken place had we not decided to make such a large move.  It certainly is sad to think that in order for my home to be completely purged I needed to move.  Yes, I purge on a regular basis, but not a complete purge like this.  I'm glad we're moving for that reason, so that we can truly see everything that we have and get rid of things that are broken, unfixable, and unloved.  I cannot tell you how many huge black trash bags we've hauled to the Goodwill!

So, when we move in to our new house, where ever that may be, we will have a couple book shelves, computer paraphernalia, a TV, only a couple side tables, our beds, dressers, washer and drier, freezers, boxes, personal hygiene items, pet stuff, and our clothes.  We plan to buy gently used furniture to fit the spaces we have there.  Mr. G and I will have new chairs to sit side-by-side in our living room, then we'll get 2 couches to accommodate kids and guests.  We'll also buy a gently used dining room table to accommodate kids and guests.  All this within the first 2 weeks of moving.

What an adventure!  I'll continue to post as I can, but the next few weeks will prove to be very busy, I'm sure.

God Bless,

Beginning our 12th Year of Home School

The beginning of our school year is in full swing.  We started our book work on Monday August the 5th with very light school and very low expectations.  I gave them only 2 days worth of school, but months ago we were planning to go camping and we've had to wait to see what new schedule my husband was getting since his promotion.  I just kept the original plan of 2 days of school in place and had them work at their own paces to get their feet whet for school this year.  Now that we have 2 full weeks of school under our belts, we're well on our way.

I've counted days for school since July 1st, however.  We've done tons of things that are education related like field trips, work, drama, VBS, consumer math, hospitality, among a host of other things.  Our "book work" began in August.  How can I "get away" with starting to count days on July 1st?  We live a lifestyle of learning every day.  Each thing we do establishes a learning opportunity.  Even though every day can be different, it is still bringing us learning experiences.

I have a Senior, a Sophomore and an 8th grader this year.  I have very little to help them with daily because they're independent learners now.  I check their work to see what they're having problems with, explain and teach when necessary with the older 2.  With my youngest I have a bit more to do, but it is decreasing with each passing year.

As much as I enjoy not having as much teaching time, it leaves me with time to sit on the front porch with my hubby talking, enjoying our coffee and doing our Bible study together.  It is such a blessed time for me to spend time with my husband studying the Bible together.

I didn't take "first day of school" pictures at all.  I use to do that, but it has fallen by the wayside this year.  I think it is just because our first day of school came and went without fanfare.  However, I do have a picture that I took with my phone of the 3 children together not too far from July 1st, at a wedding at the end of June.  =0)

From left to right:  JL(14), HJ(15), & Daniel(18)

My husband tells me that once our children turn 18, we can address them online by their first names.  Daniel just turned 18 on August 19th.  We took pictures when we woke him up, but I don't think he was ready to wake up.  LOL 

Needless to say, he and Mr. G continue to look for just the right car for him.  Of course it has to pass Mr. G's expectations.  Once he gets a car, he'll take his behind the wheel exam a second time.  He took it with our Suburban and when he parallel parked, the front driver's side corner was sticking our 6" too far and forgot to turn his blinker on once, so the tester failed him. :0(   Now, we wait until Daddy can find a car for him. =0)

This school year began with a rotating schedule for my husband.  Now that he's been promoted, he has regular predictable days off each week.  I've adjusted our school schedule to accommodate Daddy's days off so each of us can rest, have fun, and work together on a variety of things.  Since this is Daddy's 2nd week in his new position, it has left my kids a little out of sorts.  While we usually take Sundays off, rarely have we taken 2 days off in a row on a regular basis.  They were looking around and at times, wandering around wondering what they could do with themselves.  LOL

As time moves along here in the next week, we'll probably increase the amount of canning that we're doing with the tomatoes ripening.  We count canning time as school too.  I just remove their computer school work from the day so it doesn't "pile up" on them.  Young folks learning how to can the produce from the garden is important, so we integrate that in to our days in the late summer.

A life style of learning is something that has allowed us to not be encumbered by limiting our learning to just school times, but has expanded our learning to all parts of our lives.  Just this morning I left the weather loop on the computer for the kids to see when they came past.  Daniel found a map of water temperatures when upon closer inspection, they discovered where water currents are due to those currents being a different color.  

Life is full of learning experiences.  It encompasses each of our daily lives.  What a wonderful blessing, if we recognize those potential learning opportunities and embrace them with thankfulness.

Home Making Blessings

I am absolutely enjoying the smell of my house this week.  I have trays and trays of Oregano dehydrating on the hearth in the dehydrator. 

 It smells like an Italian eatery in here.  This is our second batch this week.  We are going to try to dehydrate a couple jars full, if not more.  I missed doing this last year.  We just went out and picked it fresh to use in the kitchen, neglecting the dehydrating.  I had so few trays (the others had broken) it would have taken so very long to get a couple sprigs of it dehydrated that it wasn't worth the time.  At the end of the season I found another dehydrator, so we're dehydrating as we get it coming up.  Next up is Chives! :)

 Loveliness!

Thanking God for His provision, both from the ground and from unexpected sources...

A friend of my husband called and asked if we would like their refrigerator.  We were extremely blessed with this "new to us" one.  It takes up less space, has more shelving and drawers than our old one and it fits perfectly.  God is so good!   This is our 2nd refrigerator.  Our upstairs kitchen refrigerator is much bigger than this one, not the biggest on the market, nor a new one, but it functions just fine for now.  

What a blessing!

In Christ,

In The Garden

This Spring has been warm, then very cold.  Cold enough to frost heavily.  We've waited in years past until Memorial Day weekend to put the garden in, but even then the threat of frost was greater.  As I type this, I'm sitting under a blanket with the temperatures having dropped to the 40's through the night.  Yes, in June!

Today we'll finish getting the garden in and the plants surrounded with newspaper to keep the weeds down and to keep the ground moist.  In a couple weeks we'll get some hay to further mulch the garden to keep the ground from drying out.

Why?

I'm glad you've asked!  Last year our well pump decided to give up the ghost, so we're watering our garden from city water, as needed until we find a viable solution.  I know the solution seems so very simple--just buy a new electric well pump.  It isn't as easy as that.  We're trying to rethink some of the electrical systems here in our house due to the way the original builders wired everything in the 70's when this house was built.  To say it wasn't up to code is an understatement.  So my husband is seeking counsel from others on how to deal with this.  We may put in an old fashioned hand pump on our well to water the garden with.  It would work, but we're researching and making sure that would be the best option at this point.  We're not in a hurry.  Sometimes these things take time.

So, in an effort to save water, we're putting down newspaper and eventually hay to preserve the water we put on the plants or the water God provides from the heavens.

Now, I'm off to get the garden finished.  I'll post pictures later.

From last year...

Until later, 

Complaining

This particular post has been on my mind since I wrote my last post on making excuses.  I figured I would break them up though, because they're both different in nature and tend to have roots in different places.

I saved this as a draft on Monday, just to remind myself to come back and work on it.  Yes, I work that way.  I make the topic, don't write anything, then come back after I've prayed about it more, organized my thoughts, and figured out which direction to go with it.

Oddly enough, last night at Bible study, we were reviewing the 10 commandments and the discussion went to the 8th, 9th and 10th commandments of no lying, stealing or coveting.  The interesting thing that occurred to me was that if we are simply content with all that we have, regardless of our circumstances, then we will not complain, nor should we.  If we don't complain, then we shouldn't feel the need to covet, nor steal, nor feel like we need to lie to cover up the stealing.  I'm not saying that I do these things, but just linking the 3 together in a way that I've seen happen before.

Why complain though?  Well, what do we have a tendency to complain about?  Well, the weather, the barometric pressure affecting our backs [this is very real here at our house with osteoarthritis], the house not being clean, things needing to be done, it's too cold...oh wait, that was under excuses too.  I guess they are related?!  Imagine that!

There are other complaints people have as well, like they don't have a roof over their head, they have to push all of their worldly possessions all over the place in a buggie, they have to live in a tent while the wind blows cold outside, they lose their life savings due to the economy and have to live paycheck to paycheck now, they lose their job, they have no food to feed their children, they just got their test results back and it is a debilitating blow of non-treatable cancer.

I confess that I am one of the biggest culprits here.  I may not verbalize my complaints, but they're still in my head which makes my sin just as bad as the next person.  What is the sin?  What is so wrong with complaining?

Complaining makes a person a sour-puss who is full of a sour attitude that reflects in their words and actions, an unhappy countenance with an unthankful attitude and disrespectful to the ONE who created us.  All of this complaining and dwelling upon what we do NOT have makes us bitter.

How does one get out of the complaining mode?

Emulate Paul!

Philippians 4:11-13  

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, 

therewith to be content. 

 (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry,

 both to abound and to suffer need.  

(13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

emphasis mine

I know there are many out there who feel as if they have the "right" to complain, or so they think.  But if all of us thought that way, there would be bitterness and discontent running rampant through our society right now.  

1 Timothy 6:6-8 

 "But godliness with contentment is great gain:  

(7)  for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;

(8)  but having food and covering we shall be therewith content."

Contentment is the direct opposite of complaining.  How do you find contentment?  Pray!  List everything in your prayers to God that you're thankful for.  Each time you pray, thank God for something that you haven't thanked Him for before this time.  Make your thankfulness different each time you pray.  Tell people that you're thankful to God for them in your life.  Verbalize thankfulness every day, in every single situation that you come across.  Give God praise at every turn for every little thing.  Make thankfulness lists with your family.

Then...

...when something not so good happens...

...you can thank God for the opportunity to lean deeper into Him and say, "Ok God, I'm going to find shelter under your wings, I've given this to you.  I know you've got my back." and completely be content in the knowledge that the God of all will be faithful.

Returning to...

Somewhat normalcy is relative.

Since finishing the kitchen, there have been some interesting occurrences around here.

After a clipping and bath...must get snuffed by Biscuit and smile for the camera.

Firstly, our dog Rustie woke up one morning crying and whining.  Upon further investigation, we found that there was something not quite right with his paw.  Mr. G had to carry him downstairs so he could go outside.  We've kept an eye on him to make sure he's not in pain.  We've put some antibiotic ointment on his paw.  I've done some research and found that this particular ailment isn't all that abnormal.  The treatment the Dr's office would do is--an antibiotic, antibiotic ointment and a cone for his head.  They also said to keep it clean.  I'm getting ready to put him in to the bath tub to let his paws soak in some Epsom Salt.  Of course, that's after the kids get their Saturday night showers.  I'm hoping to do this once a day and see if his paw begins to heal better.  There is no redness in the split webbing between his toes.  The swelling is there, but not bad.  If there was oozing or redness, we would have taken him to the vet.  We're going to take it day by day with him.

As for working in the kitchen, there's more counter space!  The coffee pot came up the morning Rustie's paw problems began--no connection really, just a baseline in my own mind--so that we could enjoy coffee in the upstairs kitchen again.  Mind you, we were perfectly fine getting our coffee from the basement kitchen and doing our dishes down there.  We could have taken care of things from that point for longer, but we're thankful to be done--for now.  We are beginning discussion and pricing new upper cupboards for next year, base cupboards for the island and find out how much it will cost for the island.  It would be a good idea to anticipate every possible cost since we didn't anticipate the cost of the new kitchen sink.  We were anticipating reusing the old one, but dear Mr. G took it out and decided a new one was in order.  Thankfully, the new sink is deeper to accommodate the big pots we use for canning.

I know that a few more inches of counter space isn't really a big deal to many people, but to me it's a wonderful thing.  I've wanted to put my canisters on the counter for a long time, but couldn't since there just wasn't enough room.  If you look at the last kitchen picture in my previous post, you'll see canisters!  Yippee!  I love it!  Yes, it doesn't take much to make me happy, as I'm sure my husband would lovingly attest to.  Just a few more inches of counter space so I can put my canisters on the counter--that's not too much to ask, is it?  LOL  I can also put 2 large round baking stones of pizza and 5 plates to fill with pizza on the counter WITH everything still on the counter like canisters, coffee pot, Bosche mixer and strainer.  I am in awe and completely thankful that God made this possible!  As it stands at this moment, I'm still trying to decide what to do with things like chocolate chips, coconut and other things used for baking.  I would like to put them in containers, but I still need to get them to put in the lazy susan cupboard.  I'll wait until the next shopping day.  :)

I would just like to thank my husband for all of his hard work on this kitchen.  I know how hard it was, but quite honestly he kept at it showing our children diligence and he asked for help when he needed it, showing humility as well.  What a blessing he is for our family!  I'm sure I'll be telling him this every day for years to come.  I love to find things to thank him for. :)

Thankful Thursdays

If you'll endulge me, know that I haven't come up with the title to my post by a fluke.  I'd read it through reading other other blogs and figured it was a good title to borrow from this blog~



Giving credit where credit is due. 

 #45--I'm thankful for time spent playing Frizbee Golf on the Wii with my husband. 

#46--for doggies who excitedly wait for Daddy to get home from work.

#47--Love when HJ lays her head on her older brother's shoulder. 

#48--247 loads of laundry

 #49--Thankful for children learning their new chores, even though they need some work on the "wrinkle factor" with our clothing.  If you see us out and about and our clothes are just a little more wrinkled than usual, your understanding and grace is much appreciated.  LOL

#50--For a pile of shoes, not so tidly placed right here.

Shoes that need replacing or will need to be soon.  It shows that my family is growing and thriving.

#51--For a 6lb doggie who sits on the chair waiting for me to snuggle with him while I knit, crochet or work on the computer.  In the above picture, you don't see this, but he's shivering.  He's also half hairless!   We take pitty on him, probably more than we should.

#52--For a clip board loaded and ready to document all of our needs for Mega Shop day. 

#53--For Tea Tree Oil to help diminish the oldest son's acne.

#54--Waiting while doing my work, for my handsome man to call me from work every night.

Thankfulness...

Yes, I figured it was time for me to write more about the things I'm thankful for.  It helps me to keep my chin up and to LOOK for things throughout my day to be thankful for.  With older children who challenge me daily in my own knowledge, stretching my own brain power, things here are much different than some of my other blogging friends with small ones at home.  I'll try to give you a little bit of a taste of my days through my thankfulness lists.  :)

#24--A son who is learning and growing in his understanding in spite of his Dyslexia & Dysgraphia.  What a blessing!
#25--A husband who has submitted his will to the fact that, yes, he needs to go to the Dr. more often than he does.  I'm thankful for that.

#26--Realizations that you need to lose weight, dispite your weakness for Utz Sour Cream and Onion potato chips. (Keeping things real.  I struggle with weaknesses just like ya'all!  )
#27--Thankful for good days when the body feels good and there are no migraines. 
#28--For dog hair to clean up--it means we're loved by a big loving doggie.

#29--My hubby who goes so willingly to pick up prescriptions, even when they are out of his way. 

#30--The challenges of quietly bringing a young woman back to the cross, showing her that her bitter attitude does not produce good Godly fruit and making her write why she's thankful for those who love her 10 times per person.  (Yes, I am thankful for these times.  It gives me so much appreciation for the process--regardless of the wrong doing--because I know this is right to bring her back to the cross--to repentance.)

#31--My oldest son who so patiently endures the seemingly embarrassing and odorous administrations of Tea Tree Oil to his acne covered back.  (If this doesn't work, we'll go to the Dr to get a referral to a dermitologist.)

#32--My glasses.  Yes, I know it is strange, but I am thankful for my glasses.  I've been feeling as if I need them more lately than ever before.  Thank God for tri-focals.  Yes, trifocals.  They talked me in to it since my insurance covers them instead of bifocals.  LOL  Go figure! 

#33--An automatic threader on my sewing machine!  (See #32)

#34--My hubby who loves to just sit and snuggle with me on the couch after the kids are in bed watching something on Netflix. 

#35--My hubby who so wonderfully sought after wisdom in how to fix the Sub and fixed it!  The distributor cap was wet and corroded and it needed a new one.  Inexpensive fix!  Praise God!

#36--My little dog Biscuit who is so excited to see me whenever I walk around the corner. 

#37--Papers to grade.

#38--Bathroom mirrors to clean.

#39--Harmony Wood needles from Knit Picks.

#40--Cotton Yarn

#41--Pretty woven throws to keep warm under while knitting.

#42--Lace Knitting Pattern books.

#43--Vanilla yogurt with blueberries, raspberries (both hand picked and frozen) with sunflower nuts and coconut.

#44--My Bible that my wonderful husband gave me for Christmas.

Of course the list continues, but this is just simply from the past few days. 

How about you?

Sunday Happenings...

This morning started like any morning does...with the alarm going off at 7AM.  I awoke my precious daughter to let the dogs out and the boys to get their days going.  I finished my daily bathroom hygeine, vacated so others could use the bathroom and went downstairs to get some breakfast. 

By 9:00 everyone was ready, except Daddy who just got in to the shower.  We were leaving at 9:45, so he was right on time. 

We had a lovely time visiting a new church, given much to ponder and pray about.  After getting home to down some lunch, Mr. G and I sat at the table having our lunch together and discussing a few things about this morning and some physical issues he had with the pews.  So far, we both liked the church, but would like to visit others in the area to get a better comparison.  Next week, it'll be a different church to visit for 2 Sundays.  :) 

After Mr. G left for work, the children ate what they could quickly and we were off to piano lessons.  They're all progressing quite nicely and doing so very well.  :) 

This afternoon was very strange!  So strange in fact, that we finished our Mega Shopping.  How strange to be doing our Mega Shopping on a Sunday afternoon!  So many times we get it done on Friday mornings and then it is done and we don't have to worry about it.  This time, though, the big Sub was making funny noises on our way to "Harp Hopper" (as JL use to call it), so we went home and didn't finish.  The big Sub is running rough, so Mr. G is going through a list of things it could be, fixing this and that as well as seeking wise counsel from a friend of his or two who use to be mechanics.  Prayers for healing on the big Sub would be appreciated.  I know....it is an inanimate object, but it is an integral part of the running of our home.  ;) 

After reassurance from Mr. G that it won't just quit on me, I confidently completed our Mega Shopping and came home.  What a blessing! 

Now, here I sit with my feet up, fighting going to to sleep because I'm exhausted.  I just finished talking with the dear friend who I'll be co-teaching with tomorrow about teaching the young ladies in the Keepers of the Faith class.  We're teaching the girls how to knit and crochet.  I've sent my daughter up to clean her room.  DA asked to play a computer game.  JL is getting his lunch put together for tomorrow's home school class day.  After they're done, they'll do some tidying up for a guest to come stay the night tomorrow after home school class day. 

I am so very thankful for so many things the Lord has given to me!  I know that some of my bloggie friends are doing a 1000 thankful things.  I'll have to find out more about that, but I guess I'll start now.

#1--Jesus my Lord and Savior
#2--My husband--Mr. G [adding more detail as I go along]
#3--My oldest son DA
#4--My daughter HJ
#5--My youngest son JL
#6-13--All of our sweet bebes in heaven
#14 & 15--Our dogs Biscuit & Rustie who keep us laughing every day
#16--A warm home with a roof over our heads
#17--Clothes and shoes
#18--All the papers that adorn my coffee table that show the learning and growing of my children
#19--Morning snuggles with my beloved
#20--Laundry to do that shows my family is happily busy with life and all it entails.
#21--Laughter and fun thinking of loved ones and how to spoil them for Valentine's day.
#22--Gardening catalogs

And last, but certainly not least...

#23--My beloved's CPAP machine that helps him breathe at night.  Praise God!  [Complete with Darth Vader sound effects!  LOL]

Thankfulness

As promised, I thought I would share some breathtaking shots of not only a few of our CHRISTmas decorations, but the areas around our house. Usually I go outside to take pictures of the sunrise, but I loved how the sun was coming up behind my little church in the bay window. You can see the heavy frost on the grass and in the field beyond. It is so very cold out this morning. When my husband checked the temperature, it was 21*F. Brrrr! So this picture is perfect, especially for the crisp coldness outside and the warmth the inside of the house brings. :)

This is just to the left a bit from the picture above, but without a flash. The frost is absolutely beautiful! It is covering the trees and makes such a lovely landscape.  J

This is the view from my dining room window toward the back yard. The sun isn't completely up above the trees yet, but I just love how our yard looks, so crisp and lovely.

I don't know if you can tell or not, but I like snowmen and angels. J Our mantle is decorated for Christmas. There are only a few stockings missing.

I you haven't noticed by this point in reading my blog, I've changed the music to my Christmas playlist. It is located at the bottom of the page. If you take a look at it, you'll see that our Christmas picture from last year is on it. We were in Florida for Christmas last year and the picture was taken from the steps looking down at my in-law's house.

I have Pumpkin Rolls planned to make today. I'll make 4 of them and take 2 to share with the lovely ladies at our home school group on Monday. So far this year has proven to be so very much different than years past without my mixer. It has given me such an appreciation for how much easier things were with it's availability. Because we're not on a credit system in our home, but a cash system, we need to save money for buying another one. My husband mentioned finding one on ebay, but they are selling for close to what the new one's cost, so it doesn't make sense to get one now, but to just buy a new one when we have all the money saved and earmarked for it. I'd like to buy a food processor to go with it as well, so I don't have to buy one separately. I am also planning to purchase the pasta maker to make whole grain pastas as well as the meat grinder to make our own deer sausage. They sell casings down at the little corner store up the road, so that isn't a problem. I'm moving toward making things that are increasingly healthier for my family and replacing my mixer with the attachments I need to make that a possibility is well worth the monitary investment because we're investing in our health. You can find all the Bosche Universal products at pleasanthillgrains.com. By far, the Bosche Universal has a bigger, more powerful motor at 800 watts than any of the Kitchen Aid Mixers.

This was my Bosche Universal.  I had it for 12 years.  It was by far the best mixer I have ever had and worth it's weight in gold.  If you're anything like me, baking in bulk and freezing the extras to save some money, this brand of mixer is worth the money paid for it.  Considering the amount of baking we do, to do the same amount with an inferior mixer would take us through a mixer each year at $50 each.  If you multiply that by how many years I had my Boshe, that is $600!!!  Using my Bosche saved us so much time and money that it paid for itself within one year's usage.  It will be sorely missed this Christmas season.  I know I will have another one within a few months, so I'm ok without it for a little while.  I know another one will be here soon enough.  In the mean time, we do smaller batches and the convenience of having the frozen items ready to pull out of the freezer will not be there so much.  When we get the new one, we'll have some making up to do.  LOL   I love the thought of having muffins, pancakes, waffles and tortillas in the freezer ready to pull out when we need them.  I enjoy knowing what has gone in to our foods because I've seen them added to the mixing bowl. 

My loving husband told me that we have 3 kids who could do all the mixing for me due to my carpal tunnel problems.  I love the thought of training my children in how to do things without the simple conveniences of electronic devices.  This gives them such a valuable experience for their future.  I know my daughter is beginning to enjoy preparing foods and making things look "pretty".  The practice of making things by hand is very good for her.

The day she made this, she made it for her brothers to enjoy. The tortilla is a Sun Dried Tomato Basil tortilla with her  own home made guacamole in it. She garnished it with a slice of jalapeno, pesto, tomato slice and orange zest.  Her brothers were so very thankful for her thoughtfulness! 

As with everything else, we're so very thankful for God's provision for us, not because we deserve any of these blessings, but because we don't deserve such wonderful blessings.  We love and serve an awesome, loving, wonderful heavenly Father who sees to our every need and our wants too.  What a blessing!