All I do is Update anyway...

After some thought, we decided to disconnect from our internet and go to cell phones only. This will save us a fairly significant amount of money each month and considering our rural phone company doesn't have competition (other than cell phones), prices aren't cheap on internet service around here.
It is with deep regret that my blogging days will be very few and I'll probably just be updating when I can (no deep posting, to my regret) until we decide to reconnect with the world wide web again (if a good deal becomes available).
So, for a smallish update....
We had a very busy summer, and a fast one at that. We thoroughly enjoyed church activities such as youth camp and our annual campmeeting, both held at our church. We gardened this year, as usual, having a nice harvest of corn, a reasonable harvest of green beans and even a successful bout of tomatoes (although not enough to can or make sauce). We even took a nice vacation to the beach at the end of August and had a great time (maybe next time I can upload some pictures of our vacation/summer).
At the beginning of summer we announced to our family/friends that our FIFTH baby was on the way! After some complications (the loss of a twin) and some worries, I am now great with child (in my 25th week) and it looks like another 10 pound BOY will join us late December.
The kids are all doing great, in their 3rd week of school and we are honestly having a great school year. The Lord has really helped me to be able to plan our days effectively and given me a sense of peace about the rest of our days happenings. The two littles play and manage well while we do school. I'm really enjoying it and am managing to stay pretty organized with our schooling. Maybe it's the pregnancy? :) I'm already nesting...cleaning out my fridge top to bottom, cleaning out WAY overdue kitchen cabinets, decluttering (nothing like a successful yard sale to motivate one to declutter again). :)
We have just planted a few things for the fall--turnips, collards, kale, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, and a few fall flower seeds to the mix. :) Maybe, just Maybe my 2nd trimester energy will hold through until the third.
My littlest just turned TWO last week and she is such an absolute JOY! I figure I will end up with 15 kids because I just enjoy each child at each stage so much that I sure dread the day when I have no more two year olds!! :) I will try my hardest to update a picture of my sweet two year old mess! :)
Well, that is all for now. If I still have readers/commenters (can't blame anyone for leaving), I will try to blog once weekly if possible. :) I learn so much from my blog friends and feel you are a vital tool to my spirituality and general well being. :)
God Bless richly!

Taking a Summer Break....

~~In case you are wondering where in the world I've been, I am taking the summer off from blogging~~ :) :)

Please do check back the end of August or the first of September!

All in A Day: Grocery Shopping

My computer cord has a malfunction, so this week I haven’t been on the computer much at all. We have also been in revival this week (second week!) and I just haven’t had time to blog. I’ve had a few things rolling in my mind, so maybe I won’t lose them until I get a free minute to jot them down to you.

I did want to keep my word to participate in the All in A Day Series, but I’m afraid my post for today will not be as excited as others’. Grocery shopping, for me, is bi monthly. It is a time I really look forward to, because most of the time, my mom will keep my youngest kids for the day. I can relax and enjoy the day to myself (which is rare!). If they want to come, I let them, of course. Many times it will just be me and my oldest and we have a really nice time, just the two of us.

I, first of all, like to check out my favorite store, Dirt Cheap—especially if I have a little piano teaching money that I’ve put back—and see if there are any extra special bargains (like, 90% off) on decor items for my home. Usually, I will stay in there for an hour or so (last trip I got the boys a very nice Target blue wooden toybox, reg. $99 for $12) depending on how many children I have with me. The next stop will be the library. We love, love to go to the library. Our library has a nice children’s center complete with Dorothy the Fish, Veggie Tales puppets, computers, and even a puppet stage! I always have books on loan to pick up—books that I’ve been recommended by Amazon based on my interests (usually on farming, mothering, health issues, etc), that I’ve had the library to ‘order’ for me. I get the children anywhere from 10 to 15 books to take home until the next trip. The library is a blessing to us!

We may or may not pick up something from a restaurant to eat. If it is just me, I may pick up some healthy snack from the health food store that I usually stop at to get my Veganaise or my organic grits. If I have the kids with me, we will usually go to our favorite Mexican restaurant or if my son gets his way, Chinese. :)

My grocery store is Wal-Mart. We have other smaller scaled grocery stores, but Wal-Mart is the only one in town that carries a half-way decent selection of organics and whole foods. I usually order our beauty products from Vitacost (sorry no link, just google it….) or the health food store. That leaves me with only having to purchase our groceries, tissue paper, dog/cat food, etc.,, from there.

I usually have a $130 budget ($260 per month for a family of 6) to spend at Wal-mart and it can be challenging at times. I have found ways to cut our prices by making our own bread, not buying any processed foods, not buying juice (I buy a bag of organic lemons and make us ‘Honey-Lemon Water’, as my kids call it), and steering clear of any thing we can do without (things like popsicles, even organic juices and prepackaged mac & cheese).

My mom and dad supply us year-round (with the exception of about 4 months per year) with fresh, delicious goat milk and both my FIL and my dad have bee farms, so we get fresh, delicious honey from them. They both have chickens so we get fresh, delicious eggs from them as well. I am SO thankful for this blessing! All of those items are very expensive, especially if you get them fresh, organic, cage-free, etc., so I am so blessed in that area! That takes quite a load off of us, expense wise.

We also garden in the spring/summer and put up tomatoes, peas, corn, okra, and jams and jellies. I hope to delve into that more this year until I’m no longer a novice! :) We have deer meat and pork in our freezer as well. Fresh meat that hasn’t been tainted with hormones is a blessing! My parents grind their own deer meat into deer ‘burger’ so I have fresh hamburger meat a few months out of the year.

Just typing this out makes me realize just how blessed I am!

From a different perspective, my kids are pretty good if taken on our grocery shopping excursions. Sometimes my husband will come along with us and we will go to a larger city, about 50 miles away and make an evening of it. My kids take this as a real treat, because we usually take them to Pet-Co or Books-A-Million. Occasionally, we will take them to Chic-Fil-A to play and we enjoy some time ‘alone’ while we watch through the glass, the kids play.

That’s it for the grocery shopping. My biggest challenges with it is that we pretty much can’t get our school work done on those days and also the house pretty much has to stay ‘as is’ until the night. That is not cool for me, because I really dislike bringing groceries in to an already messy kitchen. :/

Feel free to link up through the comments. I’m going to try this linky thing, but if it doesn’t work and you want to share your grocery experience, feel free to type in your link in the comments!

I’m so excited to have a few new followers! Welcome! I will be by to visit you soon!

God bless your hearts! Here are the others who are participating:
Carrie @ Our Full House http://www.ourfullhouse.com/

Elizabeth @ Yes They http://yes-theyre-all-ours.blogspot.com/ 're All Ours

Kathy @ Kathy Mom of http://www.kathymomofmany.blogspot.com/

Kristy @ Homemaker's Cottage http://www.homemakerscottage.org/

Lori @ Happy Busy Mama http://1happybusymama.blogspot.com/

Renee @ Bakers Dozen http://bakersdozen.typepad.com/

Glorifying God in Blogging

Happy New Year to you!
I have contemplated my blog over the past few days and in doing so have wondered about the direction I want it to go for this year. I even contemplated sitting out a year and perhaps just sitting at the feet of some much wiser women in hopes that maybe I can come back in a much wiser state, spiritually, ready to be the advisor to other women that I so long to be.
However, I realize that I'm just me, inconsistencies and all, and I do, at times, have advice to give that I believe the Lord gives me and I do so enjoy just posting updates on the kids and such.
The main goal of my blog must be to honor and glorify God. Our pastor was just talking about this last evening at the beginning of the service--how everything we do must glorify God.
If I stray from that in this blog, I pray that the Lord reveals it to me and I must be obedient to redirect my blog back towards Him.
Not saying my blog will be all spiritual. In fact, I hope it does become more spiritual because that would mean that I'm becoming more spiritual. But, there are times that it just ain't.
But, I want it to glorify God and I want to have the right motives in blogging. Not to be a show off or to brag (even though I am proud of my kiddos..:), but to have the right balance, intentions in my words.
For this year, I'll be turning off the comments. I'm so happy you are reading. I promise if you come back to visit, I'll try to be a regular blogger this year. :) I plan to put up my Email on my sidebar if ever you would like to drop me a line.
Less of Me, More of Him
**Edited to add: I LOVE getting comments and I appreciate those who regularly comment or occasionally comment. However, I'm turning them off because I don't want it to be all about the comments or I don't want to be constantly checking my comments or even comparing how many comments I get with others. Not that I would do that. Or anything. :) Basically, what I'm saying is, I don't want to get caught up in the comments. :) Got me?

Thrifty Tablescapes

Well, a girl’s gotta start somewhere and posting about her thrifty finds sounds like it would be as good as any other topic (well, besides something spiritual, but alas, that’s sure to come).

This weekend, we had a drenched lovely time at the beach (it rained the.whole.time) and I got to do a little thrifting on Saturday morning. I spent maybe $10 and got several nice things that I’ll be sure to show you over the next few days. I just love posting about my finds and hope that you like reading about them. :)

At the beginning of the summer, the Lord blessed us to be able to buy--and to make the deal extremely affordable—a ‘new’ dining room suite:

(Please pretend the red is a nice calm, relaxing color. Thanks.)

Between the thrift shop and my very favorite store, Dirt Cheap, I got my Tablescape Groove on.

Not sure about the salt/pepper shakers (they are temporary), but I love the basket/bowl thingy. I got it for $2.99 at the Thrift store. The tablecloth was $4 and the placemat (bamboo?) was 50 cents.

Here’s another small tablescape (sorry about the poor lighting, I, in fact, had no lighting when I took this picture):

Candle stand: 40 cents (didn’t have a price, so the cashier said, “Oh, $4.99, 90% off”. I tried to remain calm.)

Candle was around 60 cents or so

Coasters (should have taken an up close photo..they are very nice—have more of them on my coffee table): 70 cents

It was all 90% off.

The basket below (holding the Science-workbook-yet-to-be-opened-but-will-be-come-Tuesday) is a soft, collapsible basket that I got out of my neighbor’s trash.

Don’t you just love a good deal.

Well. I have lots more to come.

Thanks for tuning back in with me. Be sure to leave a comment letting me know that you had trouble this summer making it without me and you are so glad I’m back. That way you might get another blog out of me this week.

Ha! :P

God Bless the Thrifty! :)

Back to Blogging...

Very soon!
I have felt like taking a little time off...so busy here...summer is crazy! Hope to be back real soon.
Lots of Love!

Scarce…

Whew…let me catch my breath long enough to do what will probably be more of a photo post than anything.

Folks, summer is here. The temps are scorching, the garden is IN, and the summer festivities (Youth Camp, anyone?) are upon us.

My posting may be a bit scarce over this summer, regretfully. I think the garden will be the main reason. I normally blog in the early mornings and I’m afraid that during that time, I will be pickin’ and grinning.

Here are a few things we have been doing:

Horseback riding…Erin and her ‘boyfriend’/cousin, Blake…take note that he became her boyfriend after he rode her on his horse…. More…..

Erin & Evan…

Emory was a bit nervous…I think the older we get, the more nervous we get…

Daddy trying to coax Ella…. :)

Aren’t they beautiful?

They are in the pasture right behind my in-laws house.

More Summer things….

After some Berry Pickin’

Helping Mama de-stem the Mulberries…

Fresh Mulberries! Ready for jam…

All Crushed…I made 2 pints and 1 half-pint jar full of Mulberry jam. It is delicious! I picked more today…

~Summer Babies learning to wave bye-bye~

Cute Kids ready for YOUTH CAMP!! :)

Shucking Corn…

Country Bumpkins!

Looking for worms…

Good Garden Helper!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you will stop by for a visit this summer! I love to hear from each of you and visit your blogs. Today is Sunday and I must rest (husband’s orders…:o) and recuperate from a week of Youth Camp late hours!

Later, Tater! :) (Sorry, but I’ve sure been digging a lot of potatoes….it’s affecting my speech even. :)

This & That

I guess I have been in a sort of blogging funk for a couple of weeks, but I think it mainly boils down to my not getting up early enough to blog and not taking the time to blog during the day.

My best times to blog are in the early morning when all is quiet. If I blog any other time in the day, it’s stolen time. Time from my housework duties or time from being teacher/mom.

Ella has been in a thing where she is in bed with us every morning during the time I would get up, nursing away. I know this phase will pass soon enough, probably sooner than I will want it to, really.

More and more I find that I am becoming content with the current size of my family. I honestly believe this is the right way for us in determining our family size. I haven’t felt this way with any of my babies (and not that Ella is a terrible baby or anything—she’s absolutely wonderful), but normally I would be already thinking about the next baby. Nowadays, it seems my thoughts are more focused on getting my family raised. Getting them raised right. Helping them grow up in the ways of the Lord. Enjoying them. My current children.

Well, I haven’t put my baby clothes in a yard sale or anything and I haven’t said we won’t have number 5, but I’m more content than ever with my family. And I’m more than happy to let the Lord lead me in that area just as good as any other area of my life. :)

Well, I said this would be This & That, so topics will be very random, I’m sure.

Our Garden is coming along hugely, I mean, nicely, and I have taken some pictures to show you in a Garden Tour post for the future. We have several rows of peas, corn, one really long row of potatoes (we already have our first pickins’), string beans, okra, tomatoes, and even banana peppers. I really love gardening and while tasks like hoeing are very time consuming, I love harvesting and even shelling peas and putting them up. This year I am going to put up more canned items..Fig preserves, Muscadine Jelly, Pear Jelly/Relish, etc…

My Piano Recital is tomorrow night and I’m really looking forward to my first Piano Recital. My students have been practicing hard and I can’t wait for them to shine. Each student is playing two pieces and I have five participating (one can’t come…), so it shouldn’t last but maybe 30 minutes. I am having a small reception for them afterwards. We are taking the summer months off from piano lessons/guitar and I’m really looking forward to having free Thursday evenings/nights. I know I’ll be ready for the extra money to start back up in September. ;)

We are still doing school. We didn’t start until mid-late Sept because of Ella’s arrival, so we are late finishing up. Last week, I had Em double up on Math and this week we are supposed to be doubling up on Language, but so far because of the things mentioned in one of the below paragraphs, we haven’t done any Language this week.

Speaking of school, I know I have mentioned before, but we love reading here at our home. We love to read aloud to the children and enjoy the books as much as the kids do. A few years ago, I discovered this website of book recommendations: http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html. I ordered the first 2 or 3 books on the 4-6 reading level and read them to the kids. This was pre-Emory-reading. The other day, I discovered that book list in my Home Management Binder and I got excited about reading some of the books on the list. I ordered, The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck, Bright April by Marguerite de Angeli, and Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Brink. We have finished The Big Wave and I’ve started on Caddie Woodlawn with Erin (she begs for more chapters—think “Little House” series). Truly one of the great parts of Homeschooling for me is reading great literature together. What are you currently reading aloud in your home?

We’ve had a bit of sickness in our home lately, but God has given us strength to make it through it. I had two bouts of Mastitis, then I have had 2 sinus infections within a month. Monday evening, Evan woke up with a really high fever, complained with a sore throat, and vomited before bed. Ella woke up in the night with a high fever. I very rarely take my kids to the doctor (I have my reasons for avoiding the dr.) but I knew Evan had Strep Throat from his symptoms. I wasn’t sure about Ella, but if she had it, I knew things wouldn’t be good with her being so little. She checked out okay, but is still running fever this morning. I guess she is just fighting off getting strep? Anyway, I know things could be worse, but I am ready to be well.

Overall, life is happening. I am busy trying to keep my home tidy, washing/hanging out clothes, cooking, & caring for little ones. All with trying to give my honey some attention, but not really the amount he deserves. :/

I’ve been enjoying reading your blogs. My current favorite blog from my blog list is Katy’s from Country Blossom. She has such a sweet spirit and I love to read about her days. She has some good archives too. Check her out.

May your day be filled with God’s love and your daily life be led by His Spirit. :) :)

Feminine Friday & a GIVEAWAY

Today it’s time to take those photos of all things feminine—YOU! Link up with us by clicking down below and pasting in the link of the post that directly links us to your picture/post. Thanks for all who have participated in the past few Feminine Fridays! If you have yet to participate, I would love to see you start today! :)

I am feeling like the Headless Houseman wife, so please allow me to post as such. This is my way of covering up the I.could.never.get.a.good.shot.of.my.face fact…so anyway, it’s just a rough day. Because, it was indeed a rough night. I had not one, but THREE kiddos who decided that sleep was not ‘for them’ on the hours between 2 and 5.

Yeah.

Lady in Red. Down to my shoes.

I love these shoes. I got them at a burnt-out type store where you will find me if I have extra money I love to shop. They are Land’s End and are great outdoors shoes. Very warm and durable.

Not that I’m going to be outdoors today.

Now for the giveaway. I’ll make it short and sweet. If you are a fairly regular reader, please leave me a comment telling me something in which you would like to see me blog, and I will enter you in this giveaway. Now, this giveaway is in honor of my wonderful twenty followers, but you don’t have to be a follower to enter.

This little loot reflects me, Natural Mama, because I love to use natural products for my skin (I’m currently using another ‘flavor’ in this same lotion), including Burt’s Bees and Jason products. I like to garden, hence the little packet of flower seeds. I LOVE to read helpful books for women.

I ask that if you win and the Organic Pregnancy book doesn’t/won’t apply to you that you let me know and I won’t include it in the loot for you. I will save it for a later giveaway.

So, what’s in the loot?

*Hand & Body Lotion in the Orange Cranberry Flavor by Jason, Pure Natural & Organic

* Burt’s Bees Lip Stash Pack

*Gypsophila Flower Seeds

*A flower pin for your lapel :) or hair (not sure what color I will send)

* The book Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell and/or The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu.

(If you have read these books or don’t think you could benefit from them, pls let me know…)

Okay! Have a great weekend. I have another wedding to sing/play at tonight and I hope that’s it for ever awhile.

Simple Saturday

I feel like I’m still out of breath on the weekends because my weeks are so busy—filled with serving the ones I love. From sunup to sundown, I’m cooking 3 meals (mostly), washing, washing, washing, straightening, making beds, training kids, playing, sweeping, the list is endless. And I’m sure you’re busy doing all of these things. Things that can get mundane and boring IF we forget for whom we are doing these things.

Speaking of sunup, I have failed miserably on my getting up early this week. Something about the time change and Ella’s teething and cold has me resting too comfortably come 5am. It is my prayer that things get to normal this coming week.

Thus, my lack of blogging. It is close to impossible to blog during the day, so I have to do my blogging in the early am hours. My MIL is keeping Ella for a little while this afternoon while we get our garden up and going, so I have squeezed in a free moment in between supper and Evan’s nap. Whew. Don’t you feel tired? I do. :)

We have started our garden today! I know, I know, there is snow in the forecast for Monday…isn’t that incredulous? But, alas, the potatoes are going in the ground as we (s)speak(/s) type, the corn is being planted, the tractor motor is revving, and the kids and I have already planted a few things.

Here she is, Ms. FIVE year old Gardener, cutting the potatoes, being careful to leave the eyes.

Trying to plant seeds, while Gabby the dog just wants to plant a little love. She planted carrots and I mean, did she plant some. She put about 20+ seeds in each section, so hmm…I just let her do her thang, yk? :)

Evonious, taking a water break from all the hard labor. Whew!

The ensemble (said in French, yk)

A few styrofoam cups for some flower seeds and spinach

Will we see green in a few weeks?!?

A hope you had a wonderful Saturday. God has been so tremendous to me this week. Oh my. Don’t be afraid to seek after the Lord and ask Him the impossible. My cup runneth over. Amen.

I still have so many things to blog about that rolls over in my mind. I believe that every day I actually construct a blog in my mind, but sadly, it never gets to your eyes. :/

Off to retrieve the clothes off of the line and to check on the Venison Stew I’m cooking for supper. Have a Blessed, Blessed Weekend!

Signs of Spring…

I hope you are enjoying the warmer temperatures as I am. One day earlier this week, I went out and took some photos of some signs that spring is on its way. A few signs I didn’t photograph, such as the heaters being in the OFF position, the coals in the fireplace being black, people aren’t huddled under blankets, and we aren’t scurrying around to get socks on our feet before they freeze to the floor.

I also hope you like my new blog look. It can be a real pill to change everything, but I was ready. I’m still not finished with it (must add color somehow to the header), so bear with me, please.

If you are a new follower or reader to my blog, I’m so happy to have you. Leave me a link if I haven’t visited your blog already and I’ll be glad to take a look-sie!

S-P-R-I-N-G: (click on the pictures to enlarge them. If you don't want to, please click on the one of the cutie at the bottom. You won't have regrets.)

Daffodils….

More flowers…(I’m not going to pretend that I know what this is called…)

Is that Laundry on the line?? Be still my heart!

Almost…

Immodest children…lol (oh, and GREEN grass!)

Firewood getting low…

Lilies!

Spring Banner….(yes, handmade)

Let’s get it up close….

And again….

(Sorry, it’s just been that long since I’ve been crafty!)

And last but CERTAINLY not least, Cute, cool-dressed SIX month old babies mean SPRING!

More cuties…pigtails…grins…spring, right?

Now, as I type this it is very chilly outside and in. I have the gas heater going and I can feel things slipping slowly back into the winter mode. However, the Time Change tonight (why, oh, why am I up late) and the fact that it IS March assures me that the cold has to flee sometime! Right?

Facebookin'

Just two years ago, I had never heard of Facebook. I was on Bebo and then I noticed everyone going over to Facebook, so after the nudging of one or two peeps, I signed up. It was great. There was more people, more information, and more pictures. I loved catching up with old friends and seeing their kiddos that I didn't even know they had. For the most part, I have enjoyed being on Facebook. I'm not blaming this all on facebook. Facebook, I have enjoyed you. I have enjoyed utilizing you to catch up with old pals.
Here and there I let in a few people who weren't really friends, just acquaintances. That was ok. It was fun seeing what they were up to. Then the occasional, person-I-had-never-seen-before-but-had-heard-about-and-didn't-want-to-hurt-their-feelings-by-declining-them, was added as my friend. Then, I noticed a couple of men boys would type about 800 statuses a day about nothing, really, and that started to bother me a bit. Then, I noticed that I would get upset when the occasional person would post a comment about Holiness people being judgemental, which I am not, but it wouldn't do any good to argue. This would affect my whole day. Then, I noticed that people would post things for example (and this is totally random), like "Congratulations to X for being chosen cheerleader". And I would be dying to want to post back and say, "Why would you want to congratulate someone who will be showing off her buttocks to hormone crazed junior highers?" Or, someone would post something like, "I'm so proud of myself for going on a diet. I've only had 3 diet cokes today and I'm putting Equal in my Tea". And I would want to reply, "You are killing yourself. Do the research, dude." Or, someone would post something like, "I'm offended. My friend brought home a book from the public library and it was about Jesus." And I would want to type something like, "Don't you know you are missing out on your friend learning about the greatest man ever?"
I know I just used way too many prepositions and Thens to start my sentences, but get over it, okay? :) :)
Anyway, what I am saying is that, I take things so personal to be on FB. I have nothing in common with most of my 'friends' on FB.
Lastly, Facebook, you are taking up too much of my time. I check you out when the baby is nursing and I could be gazing into my sweet baby's eyes or reading a book that will help me to be a better mother. Or, I could be putting up another blog! :) The baby will be weaned before I know it and I won't have time for you anyway. Please don't be upset, Facebook. I might start you back up one day. :)
I will miss chatting with my good ole' FB friends. I hope they will stop by here and say hi sometimes. I hope you feel welcome. :)

Blog Funk...

I've been trying to decide what I want to do with my blog for the year 2010 and I can't make up my mind. What direction do I want to take? Do I want it to be more of a Journal for me? A daily post of the day's events? More spiritually focused? More homemaking tips and advice for others? I really can't decide. One thing is for certain is this..there is no way I'll be able to post every day or even every other day. I apologize to you, my readers. Most of you are as busy as I. In fact, this morning, I'm able to post because it's 9:00 am and all my children are still asleep! I've had my quiet time, got a fire started, got Ella back to sleep and now having some computer time.
Everytime I pull up my blog, I sort of stare at it blankly, wondering what is the next step? I really would like to have a journal which would record important happenings in my life for my personal use, but I don't that would be of interest to others. Then there is the thought, well it's MY blog and it's for me anyway, you know? But, I so enjoy writing about women issues dealing with homemaking and becoming a Proverbs 31 woman. I love posting recipes and cooking ideas as well. So hmm....
What do YOU think my blog should contain in it's pages?
For now, I'm still hiding out in "Blog Funkland". :)