Dreaming

After yesterdays post on my home, it got me to thinking about  my dream home. Okay, that does seem a little contradictory to being happy with what you have, but I have to say, I thinking there's nothing wrong with dreaming : )  So let me tell you what my ideal home would be. A log cabin in the woods or an old farmhouse...particularly Victorian, like this one . I love this blog! The author takes you through her Victorian home remodel. Her and her husband do alot of the work themselves.  I have to tell you, this is a beautiful home and she really has some great decorating ideas and she finds great things at thrift shops too.  I will slowly be putting up links to some of my favorite blogs and this is one of them.

My Home

Being a stay at home mom for over 14 years has brought many blessings and struggles to me.  One of the first struggles I experienced as a stay at home mom was loneliness & feeling useless. I use to think if I could bring home a paycheck I could offer so much more to my family. The Lord has brought me a long way in that area, however, and now it's hard for me to imagine being anywhere else but home.

Another area I struggled with (and still do at times) is contentment with my home. I don't know how other SAHM feel but for me being home so often I notice the condition of my home, ALOT more.  There are so many things I would like to change and I find myself getting frustrated when we can't afford to. I would see what other friends homes looked like, compared to mine and that would bring more discontentment. The Lord is teaching me though. Teaching me how to be content with what I have. Over the years I've learned to  get creative and found a few things that allow me to decorate and make my home cozy and comfortable but still do it within our means. They are ...using what I already have, garage sales, flea markets, thrift shops, clearance shopping and paint.  

 In the first picture below is a set of pottery dishes (with flowers) that were passed down to me by a family member. I knew that I wanted to display them but realized you didn't really notice them that much against a cream colored wall.  So I found paint that matched one of the colors in the dishes and painted just the wall that the dishes would be displayed on. I think it really makes the dishes stand out.  Although the picture doesn't do it justice.

In the dining area of my kitchen all of the things you see in the picture (except for the curtains) I either found on clearance, at a flea market or garage sale or they were given to me. The dining table was given to me. I sanded it down and painted the legs and put a fresh coat of polyurethane on the top. The table has gotten too small for our family, but I am eyeing a dining set that I found at second hand store. Hoping to save some money to purchase it.

This last picture is a view of our living room from the kitchen. I love how it's all open. I can always see what the kids are doing when I'm busy in the kitchen.

Homescool Fears & Doubts

February already! I can't believe it's been a few months since I've posted anything on here! Our life has been busy and full of decisions. So much going on and so many discouraging moments. At this time, homeschooling has been one of those discouragements. Every new year of homeschooling I'm filled with enthusiasm but then something happens and I lose it. I often ask myself why am I doing this? It doesn't seem to be making a difference in the lives of my children. Things are not as I hoped they would be or how I expected them to be. I feel like I've failed.

Just recently I had an acquaintance ask me about homeschooling. She has small children and has just begun to think about homeschooling. She's thought she might like to do it but is already having her doubts and fears. I tried so hard to encourage her but also be honest in the fact it hasn't been easy, at least for me. How do you encourage when you feel so discouraged? I can't but God can. Just thought I would share what He sent me via email ; ) This is a daily devotional I'm subscribed to, hardly ever read them but this one caught my attention.

Homeschool Fears
Thursday / January 28, 2010


Satan really takes advantage of homeschoolers. When you jump into something different, such as teaching your own children, you become susceptible to his attacks of doubt and fear. Unsure of your abilities, you second-guess your decisions and desperately look for affirmation and direction. Added to those doubts are questioning remarks and comments from those who don't homeschool, and soon you begin to think, "I could really mess up my children's lives if I do this wrong!" The multiple battlefronts of spiritual, emotional, and physical attack call for reinforcement from the Lord. Only His divine strength, wisdom, and power can counteract Satan's fears.

The apostle Paul understood how it felt to be attacked by Satan. When addressing the church in Corinth, he stated in 2 Corinthians 7:5, "For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." I'm sure at times Paul must have questioned if he was doing the right thing when he went on his missionary journeys to establish the early churches. Not only did the other apostles criticize his work with the Gentiles, but he also suffered at the hands of his fellow Jews and the unbelieving communities he tried to reach. Add to those fears the beatings, shipwrecks, and other persecutions, and it's no wonder he was afraid. Still, Paul continued to trust in Jesus for every need and even his very life.

Are you tired from Satan's attacks? Does it seem like when you find victory over one fear another one develops? Dear one, I wish I could tell you things will get better, but that might not be the case. The battles will probably remain. You see, if Satan can't keep your family from believing in Christ, his next goal is to keep your family from living for Christ. If you're feeling weary today, run to your Commander and Lord and let His love empower you to face every fear. In Christ's name and by the power of His blood, you will defeat Satan. Besides, the worst way you could mess up your children's lives is if you don't fight. Don't let the fears win over you! "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9a).

Lord God, I recommit myself and my family to You today. Strengthen us to stand strong against the fears and discouragement that Satan brings to our homeschool. Let me see the plans and purpose You have for us and may our lives glorify You. In the dear name of Jesus, Amen.

Back to Life

The hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving has ended and my family is back safe and sound in their home far away. So now it's back to everyday life....slowly but surely I will get there. I feel so out of sorts physically & mentally after our wonderful week . So, I'm trying to stick to my routine and add a little of the extra Christmas stuff to get over the let down of the holiday ending and to get back on track.

I am one of those crazies that decided to go shopping on Black Friday, at 5am. I was glad I went because I did find some great deals and am glad to say my Christmas shopping is almost done. I even have the majority of what I bought wrapped...that way any curious children can't see anything if they happen to find their way to the hidden gifts .



Today I put out all of my Christmas decorations, which really isn't much. I decorate my fireplace mantle and put up a tree, although we haven't gotten the tree yet. I also put out my advent wreath/nativity set in one. My daughter who is almost 4 was very intrigued by it...it was like she hadn't seen it before. I suppose it does seem new to her since last year she was only two..almost three. She sat quietly and played with it but did eventually ask me to sit down and play with it with her. So I took this opportunity to play as a teaching moment. I got out my Bible and read to her...starting in Luke chapter 2, showing her the Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus figurines. I continued to read and showed her the shepards and the angels. She was so cute! I explained the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus. She said to me in the sweetest and most genuinely interested voice " I didn't know that! " I'm so glad I told her because I guess I just assumed she knew since she hears about Jesus all the time....at home and church.

We also started are Advent reading yesterday. We are reading Tabitha's Travels again. We actually have all 3 of the books in this Advent trilogy and have been reading them for years now. They never get old and I don't know why but they always make me cry.

Well I'm leaving you with a recipe for pumpkin cheesecake that I made for Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust ~ 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies or graham crackers

1/2 cup chopped pecans

6 TB butter melted

1/4 sugar



Filling ~ 3 - 8oz packages softened cream cheese

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

1 1/2 tsp. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla extract



1. Preheat oven to 350 . Butter an 8 inch spring form pan. Combine crust ingredients and press over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake crust for 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.



2. Increase oven temp. to 425. Beat cream cheese, brown sugar, and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks. Add flour and spices..beat until well blended. Add remaining ingredients, beat until blended. Pour filling over the baked crust.

3. Bake Cheesecake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 250 and continue baking for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for 3 hours.

Thanksgiving

These past several days have been chaotic, as I prepare for Thanksgiving week. I say week because my mom, brother , his wife, and children will be spending the week with us. They should arrive here this evening, after a 9 hour drive. It's always so exciting to have them come but alot of work preparing. I've got most of the house cleaned...a few odd and ends to do. Our dinner meals are planned and this is what our week will look like feeding a crowd. I have alot of cooking to do : )

Wed.
Lots of meatballs( using 6 # of meat) with spaghetti sauce & pasta, garlic bread and a green salad

Thurs. (Thanksgiving)
21 # turkey
homemade stuffing
pineapple yams (love this recipe)
mashed potatoes ( hoping 10# of potatoes will be enough)
green beans
corn
rolls
cranberry sauce
My wonderful SIL is bringing a ham and making a few pumpkin pies. Hopefully I'm not forgetting anything.

I will be making:
2 french apple pies (gf)
1 chocolate pie
1 pumpkin cheesecake (gf)

Fri.

Lots of leftovers

Sat.
Tacos

They will be heading back home Sat night. It's always hard when they go....takes a good week to adjust. We will miss them.

On another note .....I've been reading alot lately. I'm really needing God's help in so many areas...so many areas that I struggle and my heart is breaking over it. I've got lots on my mind. So, I've been reading "The Excellent Wife" & "Families Where Grace is in Place". Do you ever feel like you have things figured out and then realize you know nothing? This is where I've been lately.....learning to have a heart like the Lord Jesus, although I'm so far off from that most days. Don't we all need God's grace minute by minute...not only to have for ourselves but to pour out on others. I'm just thankful for God's love and that he sent Jesus to die for my ugly sins and that I have a way to redemption through the blood of Jesus. So much to be thankful for!

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O! precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace - Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness - Nothing but the blood of Jesus
O precious is the flow That make me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

On the mend

My last post here was Saturday... that very night we had a scare with our 11 year old daughter. She wasn't feeling well, do to having the flu. She was semi awake,talking in her sleep. My eldest daughter helped her to the bathroom because she knows when her sister is talking in her sleep, she needs to use the bathroom. One of the blessings of sharing a room with your sibling....you've got a buddy to watch out for you : )

So big sis helped little sis to the bathroom and waited outside the door for her. She even peeked in to see if she was okay, but her sister told her to "shut the door, I'm fine". Shortly after big sis heard a few loud thumps, opened the door and found her sister passed out. My son came and woke my husband and I . When she came to ,my husband helped her to her feet. She stood for a few minutes with his help but then passed out again. When she came to , she immediately got sick to her stomach. Her fever immediately broke and she felt alot better. It was a little scary, but my husband, thankfully, handles these situations much better then I and was able to keep things calm ; ) She is much better today but still has a slight cough....but now my hubby's not feeling to well. Boy, this is going to be a long fall/winter. Supposedly flu season hasn't even hit & we already have sickness here. There's so much conflicting information about the flu, that I have no idea what to believe. I'm just ready for spring already : )

What we've been up to

This week has been a long one. We've had sickness makes it way through our family. I'm guessing it's THE FLU, because that is what's going around . It seemed like a typical flu...no one was so sick that they needed to be seen by a doctor, although some of my kids were sicker then the others. My oldest daughter spent 2 full days on the couch because she was too dizzy to get up. There were fevers, headaches and coughs...which the cough is still lingering....just going to keep an eye on that and make sure it doesn't get worse. Neither my husband or I are sick...hoping we don't get it but if we do at least we aren't sick while the kids are.

Out of the blue this week we got an exciting phone call. Someone is very interested in our house! They said they had driven past it several times and really like what they see from the outside...they have been looking for a house to buy for the past 7 or 8 months but I guess just haven't found one. They were scheduled to come look at it today but cancelled because of a work schedule change. Although I was disappointed, I'm glad they did because my 11 year old daughter, who was the last of our children to get sick, is still not feeling well.

I really wasn't expecting anyone to call because we haven't advertised in awhile, just our " for sale by owner" sign in the front yard. I had given up hope that it would sell and just found contentment in staying here or whatever happens with our housing situation. I kind of find it interesting when I "let go".....I am reminded that God is very capable and in control of this situation. Still though, I am finding that anxiety coming back ...about hoping the house sells, looking ahead too far, instead of just living for today, and where we will go from here.....sure hope this wasn't a test, because I am failing : ( I do hope the family calls back & still wants to see the house. If you would like to lift this situation up to the Lord in prayer, I would be grateful : )
Well that's our update...not much to say, I know. I'm just a pretty ordinary kind of woman.