Good to know it isn't totally up to me... the Lord will fill in the gaps!

"All your children will be taught by the Lord, and Great Will be they peace."  Isaiah 54:13

I am so busy in the trenches that when I come up just to put my head up over the side rim I realize people have a life outside of child training! (heehee!) I can't come out of the trenches to often though, it make me lose focus! So, I have to quickly put my head back down and continue to try to train, lead the children in our families ministry mandate (which has kept me focused - knowing what to say yes and no to!) all the while knowing that this season is rigorous. Since, I know I can't do it all myself  with out God's help, I am holding on to the scripture, "All your children will be taught by the Lord, and Great Will be they peace." Isaiah 54:13 "--- "will be taught by the Lord" has been something that I am holding on to in regards to filling those gaps due to my human limitations! 

Beloved and I have a committment of NO debt

Borrowing is a replacement covenant...    God said he will supply all your needs!

So, it is always a good reminder when things come up that pull on your heart strings.

Work with the Hands

"And that ye study to be quite, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we command you."  1 Thessalonians 4:11

God has bestowed upon our hands an amazing gift, the memory to work a pattern of movement with ease.   The work of hands hushes the mind.  Stitch by stitch, thoughts unravel and the quiet overcomes, turbulent  thoughts fade as the mind is free to focus on the heart which is called to the attention to pray. 

Syllable by Syllable, Idle words.

Words should bring forth LIFE or they should be locked behind the doors of lips!  All of creation came into being by the Word. Gods example holds within itself the greatest model for the human tongue.  Let there be light.  Do your words bring forth light?  Let the earth bring forth fruit. Do your words bear fruit in the ones who receive them?  Do not assume because someone is silent that they agree with words that you have spoken. Only fools speak free and much. 

Sunday Sitting before Chruch

"A Sunday well spent is a week that brings content"- Sunday Quote

Expect Sudden Events

We must look for the suddenly event and expect them in our lives.**

Read: 2 Samuel 1 - 2:4

God often brings things in our life about suddenly so that the adversary has no time to prepare to oppose what God has assigned us to do. Moses ‘ assignment to return to Egypt came suddenly, David anointed king was sudden upon Saul’s death; as was Solomon’s prior to David’s death. Haman suddenly had the tables turned on Him. The Day of Pentecost, the Resurrection, and the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948 all came suddenly all in the middle of seemingly impossible circumstances.

We must look for the suddenly event and expect them in our lives. God often puts bits and pieces of our assignment together over time and then we “suddenly” see the whole picture. If He revealed all to us too quick we might jump ahead. He waits for us to complete each stage before He reveals the next piece. We often walk in His will not knowing where we are going until suddenly God’s plan in our life unfolds in a sudden event which God’ had planned all along and kept secret to deceive the great deceiver himself in order to bring about His purpose in us. - B.Stephens

Pondering thoughts of July

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." - Unknown

It is very quite Outside my Window.  It is military summer block leave. So, it seems like everyone has taken the entire month of July to go on vacation. Right now, our road seems like a ghost town! Our road has 40 houses on it.  The military families have to be Colonels or Warrant 5s.  Everyone knows everybody and the gathering place for block parties is in front of our house in the middle of our cul-da-sac. So, it is a very active little community.  Just on our road alone is about 120 kiddos as everyone has to have more than 3 children in order to live on this side of the housing development.  Often, the upper officers tend to have more than 3 kiddos in their family though. So, our neighborhood is fairly busy! Truth be told -  I am loving this quiet summer month!

We have spent this summer road schooling for the month of June.  In the learning room, for the month of July, we have done absolutely nothing! It has been awesome. The children have spent time just doing those things that they enjoy -- building, crocheting, crafting, etc.  The children have not been doing any summer reading either. So for the first time we have not done a summer reading theme.  The only one that has been reading is me!  I am trying to spend some time reading a few books that I really wanted to get to for the month of June, July and August.  A little "ME" maintenance!       June's theme was books on Finances.   July's theme: Missionary/Christian Families.  And, August's theme is on Leadership/Christian Thinking.   Right now, on the night stand my books are about to be switched out! 

I just recently found out that my Graduate Program has been terminated. The University that I was going to get my Degree through closed my specific program.  (Space Eduction.)  It really is unfortunate as I really was hoping to finish it. I now have only two choices. I can continue with the program since I am "grandfathered" in and hope that they still offer the courses I need as I continue to go through the program. But, the likely hood of them weeding the classes out is great and I won't be able to complete them in time. (I only do a class when it can fit into our busy life schedule and won't be a strain on homeschooling, homemaking, etc.)   The second choice is to switch to a different major! Unfortunately, switching means I start ALL over again! Bummer!  So, I have been pondering what to do! When I found out I was totally in shock and extremely disappointed that I spent all that money on those classes. Then, I was even more disappointed to find that the classes I have taken cannot be used for transferring to another program.  The reason why the program was taken down was because it was a degree that the University had a contract with another University so the degree could be completed. I did 7 classes with one University and 5 with another University.  The one I attend decided to not rely on the other University to stay credentialed and take down the program. My goal has always been  to finish the degree program but only doing 2 to 3 classes a year meant that I was on a 5 year plan. Slow and Steady was the goal and only doing  classes when life was not crazy as it sometimes does get pretty lively when you have 5 kiddos and married to a military pilot.  Anyway, I am hoping to make a decision soon on what I will do.  As, I have only a certain amount of time before I need to let them know what I have decided.   

Unfortunately, I have other things on my mind besides just the kink in my Graduate program.  We are waiting on orders to move! We have known since December that we were going to be on the list to move by April of 2015. But, recent developments over the last few months has indicated we could be leaving the coast by December.  And, this move is taking us from the East Coast to the West Coast. Beloved is totally excited. We have wanted to get to the West coast even though the area where we will be moving to was NOT on our list of places to go! I looked up the area and found it has 72 species of snakes.  It was not a surprise that the temperatures are scorching!  And, I keep teasing Beloved that REDHEADS don't live in the dessert!!

Unfortunately, every day, new developments come in daily about our move! So, the time of the move and transition dates are forever changing. Who knows what and when it will happen. We can expect it to be anywhere from December to May.  And, although we know the state, the actual place we will live and what base/post it will be is a mystery still as they are still trying to find hangers for the planes and such.  We do know though that Beloved will be the detach commander out there! So, that means a little more added responsibilities to my day with coordinating parties and such for the military families.   So, with things changing daily it some what feels like a roller coaster.  Often times, it is just better to keep all the roller coaster riding to ourselves and we typically do that up to a point! But, we felt like we should give everyone a heads up a week or so ago.  But, there isn't any point in keeping everyone else up in the "ifs", "and",  "but"  and "wait" for our move!  They just read the news we were moving and that was all that needed to be detailed out to them.  When I get time, I will share little bits here if anyone wants to keep up. I am fairly private on such things though. I say I am going to share and then I don't know how to incorporate it into my online journal and I really try to keep my focus on the here and now as well!  My sole job as a wife and mother  in regards to waiting for orders is just to make sure I keep my focus on doing the next thing her with the kiddos school, the house and making sure that the friendships here are tied up with little bows. So, right now,  we are making sure that I continue to celebrate the people here.  Things like: We have 3 baby showers to attend.  Last week, we delivered an edible fruit bouquet to a little girl down the street who had surgery. We have a family of 9 that we need to take dinner too.  A graduation for another little girl. And, we are slipping up to a town about an hour a way to see friends just before they have twins. Busy. Busy!And, that is just in the next few weeks. Who knows what other little things will come up before we actually leave out in December.

In regards to moving though I do have to think about preparing the house. I am thinking thrifty!  It is consignment time again and I am taking advantage of the sale to get rid of some stuff I don't want to pack up to go West with us! So, I have gone through the house and gathered up children's items to sell. My formal dining room table looks like a laundry mountain of winter clothes and jackets.  It is absolutely driving me crazy.  I am working as fast as I can even though I am having to push through in doing the sale this season.  I know it will be worth it in the end. I always do very well with the return.  I simply can't complain when I buy consignment dresses for around $3.00. The girls wear them.  And, then since they are still in good condition,  I turn around and sale the same dress for just less than $3.00!

Another thing we looked into is figuring out a little on the transition of the move.  Where will we live during the transition time.  Well, I am hoping we can pack up the house, go to Florida for a vacation and then go West from there!  But, in case it does not work out well, Beloved and I have a back up plan!  So, as usual, we would be doing what we always do as we move from place to place.  We will pack up the house and  load up in the camper.  Then, when it is time to trek on out to the next state, we can do so easily!  Our two main purposes in doing it this way is because it (1) saves us money in lodging (2) It keeps us from having to feel forced to buy a house or rent any house as soon as we get there, which also means saves us money.  (3) We get to camp during the transition time and move and be able to explore while we head to the next place.   As you can see with 2 out of 3, Money is a real motivator when we are moving every 2 to 3 years now. Our camper has saved us from many financial mistakes. It has given us a more private way to stay as we travel instead of loading up kiddos in a hotel like we did when we just has 3. And, the camper  has been used on short weekend vacations and Beloved's military professional development trips as well!   So, yesterday, we decided to check out  the place we stayed at for 5 months when we moved her to North Carolina during that transition time.   Do you remember us living in the camper while we moved from Kentucky, to Alabama for his school,  to here in North Carolina? It was a long year adventure!  The KOA in North Carolina was one that we stayed at for 5 months. We looked around for a home and we also  waiting for a military house to open up for us as well.  It ended up being that the military home came first before I could decided on a home!  Do you remember that I was pregnant with the Little Lass?  It was two months after she was born that we got into this house.  Wow. Time flies!  That was just 2 1/2 years ago.  So, in checking out the KOA we spoke with the managers and staff.  We asked about the new updates to the campground as there were many!  The managers remembered us well! And, told us to come out and spend the day at the pool. So, we did!  We spent the afternoon swimming, reading and having a snack picnic.  It will once again be a great transition spot, I think! 

Well, Beloved is in the middle of doing our August budget and I need to get started cooking our meal in the Kitchen for dinner. So, the rest of the evening will just continue to play itself out with little house projects and maintenance type items.  When it is all said and done and the evening is wrapping up I think I will put a little music on to end out the day.

Setting Goals

"If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done before." - Zig Ziglar

Make goals.
1) financial
2) spiritual
3) physical
4) intellectual
5) family
6) social
7) career

Some goals are continual through out your life time and some have a limited time to be able to achieve.

Write Down Goals. 

Then, Ask these questions to prioritize your list.

Ask 5 questions in regards to your goal setting. (Question 2 and 3 are great for relationship goals.)
1)  Is this really my goal? Are you pursuing our own objectives or others?
2)  Is it morally right and fair to everyone that is concerned?
3)  Will it take me closer to or farther from my main objective?
4)  Can I emotionally commit myself to start and commit this project?
5)  Can I see myself reaching this goal? 

Narrow down to 4 goals!
Most of us can really only give complete effort and focus to 4 goals at a time.

What is your plan of action to achieve these goals?

Motivation follows after action!
Daily work through those small action goals each day to achieve the top 4 goals.

When obstacles arise you change your direction to reach your goal you don't change your decision to get there!

Who do you share your goals with?
1) You share your "GO UP" goals to ONLY with a few people. Only to those who will encourage and have every reason to believe and help you to reach those goals.  ex: promotion goal to the top
2) GIVE UP goals. You share with everyone in sight if it is a self improvement goal.  ex: lose weight, etc.

Making Your Money Work For You

"Debt steals your number one wealth building tool.  Debt.  Debt that is unsecured debt like credit cards.  Debt.  Debt that is secure loans like cars and homes.  Any Debt!

Interest to you can either be an award or a penalty. Interest! It can either be a reward or a penalty.

Any interest that you pay no matter how small of a rate.  If you are paying it, it is a penalty!  Regardless how low the interest is, if you are paying it, it is a penalty. 

However, if I am gaining interest on something it is an reward!

Example. Money in our checking account, although small interest, it is gaining interest. Reward. Savings account although small from 1/2 percent to 1 percent, gained interest is an reward.  Money Markets Accounts from 1 to 3 percent in interest is a reward. 

You want to reduce an illuminate every penalty you have!!!  That means anything you are paying on is a penalty.  This will allow you to protect your income. Your income and reward is your number one and ONLY wealth building tool. 

Stop paying interest to the banks for credit cards, car and house loans. You are paying them to build bigger buildings and  to have better furniture than you."-  Chris Hogan Video

Pondering Thoughts of June/July

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." - Unknown

I have no idea what is outside my window tonight. The blinds have been pulled down for the evening.  All the lights are turned down low. The Children are all snuggled up in their beds.   Even the cats are all cozying up in their favorite warm spots; It is their normal routine to take a cat nap just before they go prowling through the house in the dark.  I am laying in bed listening to all those sounds that tend to make themselves known only when Beloved is not at home in the evenings!  Now that I am focused on it, the night time sounds are different tonight. I hear a rumble but it isn't the normal sound of military guns going off.  We probably have storms coming our way. So, I must stop for a moment in my typing to look at the weather.  And, of course, the weather shows more green cells with a good bit of yellow and red in them. 
More rain! 
Our days have been filled with a good bit of rain as well.  We have been dodging the weather all summer. Our bike rides and our time at the pool has been planned totally around the rain.  It hasn't been unpleasant at all though.  It has helped us to just spend most days keeping a light schedule with a little routine -- chores and a few projects mostly.

Our  learning room has been quiet lately.  Except for devotions and our read aloud, we took several weeks  off so we could enjoy a little summer break. I am still coasting through July as well.  I had never really taken  a summer break but I had to make some decisions on which direction to go with a few of my little students!  The time off has given me the opportunity to organize and plan.  It was really enjoyable. I spent time researching and ordering curriculum!  (Love!)  Handing the Principal the receipts! (Awesome!) Tearing through the boxes when they arrived. (Nothing like it!)  And, then.... (Crashing!) Lesson planning  always brings me d-o-w-n off my high every time! However, now that the Little One's portfolios are completed and their reading list is all set up  to be highlighted as we read through the books, we will push it back into  gear soon!

All though there really isn't any desire to put it into drive quite yet.  We have been perfectly happy just doing some summer reading.  The Little Lady and I have been reading C.S. Lewis's books.  We just finished reading  all 7 books of the Chronicles of Narnia!  It was such an enjoyable snuggle time especially since we have been reading them on the recliner during nap time and through those afternoon thundershowers.  To say that we have a C.S.Lewis fan in the house would be an understatement! I do believe the characters will stick with her for a very long time.  She was always commenting on the fact that Lewis came up with the most fascinating names!  I agree.  And, I assured her if we ever get a rat (um, never! But, if...) we would name it Reepicheep!   We are now taking a different turn, what is on the night stand now is the  "The Railway Children."

Although it has been a light schedule, some of it has been strategically done simply because the Children and I have been hanging out together while Beloved has been gone  this month.   His crew has inspections going on all over the place.  (Germany, Washington, Kentucky, etc.)  We were going to go with him!  But, when Beloved and I sat down and crushed numbers on this July's monthly budget, we discovered for the same price I could travel; we could instead  take that amount of money and pay off our ONLY loan -- the camper!  Beloved left it up to me as to what I wanted to do. He never tried to  influence my decision because he wanted us to go with him too.   I am sure he knew what I would do in the end anyway! But, oh, it was a hard decision!   I do love traveling and seeing all my friends all over the States!  So, to remain focus,  I have been pondering  the goals we will be setting up for the rest of this year.  It hasn't been easy though! This last week, I have had to listen to Financial Sermons  to give me an extra push while I wait for Beloved to come home. And, the 31st when the camper will be paid off just isn't coming fast enough either!  To say I am hoping to have this trip that I sacrificed this summer a distant memory very quickly would be an understatement!  I keep saying, "Debt Free!"  And reminding myself what it was like before, since this is our second time being totally debt free in our marriage. I am so looking forward to "living like no one else" again!

Now, Don't think I still won't be thinking Thrifty!  Right now, I am in the middle of a huge fall consignment project! And, just this past weekend, the Children and I dragged my sister to a few garage sales when she came to visit. The girl hadn't been to a garage sale since the last time I dragged her to one several years ago!   Imagine that!   I go practically every Saturday after my morning chores are finished, always between 10 and Noon, and I always include a little McDs soda stop too!  

Well, It is getting a little late and I am going to go get a little drink.  But, before I go I must tell you what is going on in my Kitchen.  We have been cooking up my fresh veggies from the container garden! I am extremely pleased with them!   Not so pleased with my tomatoes though! But, pleased enough with everything else.  We are still watching  the squash grow! And, I do believe we have the tiniest little watermelon.   I am so tickled by it all, that I might think about a little fall crop.

 I am so thankful I got a little chance to writing a few things down this evening...  It gave me a little time to think about how much God loves me! How extremely blessed I am! God is so good.

* As usual the items in bold are the snippets to help write the journal entry for the simple homemakers journal

Pondering the month of Feb

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Wathc your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." - Unknown

 

Outside my window,  night time has fallen. The window shades have been pulled down and flipped to the tightly closed position.  The soft comfy evening light is cozy inside my warm home.  I am listening to the familiar sounds of the evening that have fallen into this little sitting room while  the children are shuffling into their little areas to crochet, play the piano, draw at the table or play with legos.

This evening, in the learning room, Beloved has his ipad opened to his study guides.  For the last two years, he has been learning new planes, taking his last 2 classes for his Graduate degree and doing Pilot test add-ons all the while learning a new job.  I am thankful for the fact that we should be getting close to calling it quits! He only has his thesis class to do after this research class which he finishes in three weeks.  Apparently, we do everything full throttle!  If you have been keeping up with us, we have just moved from one thing to another!  Moving to a new state this past year, having a baby, moving into a new home, along with the things mentioned above, I can only shake my head and laugh with a sigh. I wonder what life on cruise control is like?  No. I just wrote that last statement and I answered my own question with "boring" and probably a little "scary"'.    There is a saying that my Beloved often quotes, "The pain of staying the same has to be greater then the pain of change." So, true. But, for me, I am so use to "change" that it is easier for me and I am baffled by the thought of "staying  the same".   

In a friend's email recently, I was asked, "What have u been reading lately?"  I took off several semesters from my Graduate program so that I could deal with just being pregnant last year, moving, and also due to Beloved having  a busy year so I really haven't had to do restricted subject reading.  However, I have still been in research mode.  I have been on a "American Pioneer" kick for awhile lately. I have enjoyed reading the old journals of the 1800's. I also have been researching those people that live "Off the Grid" for a while lately too. The people are fascinating and I find everything about them delightful yet just eccentric enough to keep me interested in them.    Their lives keep me thoughtful and I have been pondering lately -- Retirement!  Beloved has 26 years in the military. We have 7 more years until he has to mandatorily retire. He wants to go all the way to the very end.  So, all the way we go. Meanwhile though,  we both keep our spiritual ears open to God's direction and I have known that Beloved has considered being a Missionary Bush Pilot for an extremely long time.  And, it seems he entertains the idea more frequently as we get closer to his goals.   So, the other day while standing in the kitchen, I said to him, "I guess I better learn what I can about living off the grid, remind myself about what compound life might feel like again,  and how to make things by scratch so if we are on the Missionary field we can have a little taste of American food, because I fear you are going to take me to the Jungle."  He smirked. His smirks mean that my off the wall statements are not so "off the wall" and are probably fairly close to what will be reality!  So, as the Christian song with the lyrics, "Lord, Please, Don't send me to Africa" begins to play in my ears more and more, I tend to focus more and more in that direction.  

So, although, it is in the back of my mind,  I have not had the chance to compile a long list of research for it yet.  So, before I dive in instead of just casually picking up something here and there, there is a book on my nightstand that I want to finish reading. It is called, "Out of Captivity"  and it is a book that I bought for Beloved for Christmas. He is a little too busy to focus on it but he sat through one of Keith S's briefs and remarked that he would like to read it. So, I bought it and now I have cracked open the spine and put a crease down the middle.  This is probably a book that will stay with me for a long time. It is about  3 American civilian contractors whose plane had an engine failure and they crashed. They all survived the initial crash but 2 of them were executed  and the rest were taken captive by a terrorist rebel group. They  survived 1,967 days before they escaped!  Into just the first three pages, my heart was racing, my eyes were speeding up as the action became more alarming and when I had come to the end of the chapter, I had to take a "oh my" breath.  I turned the page to go into the second chapter only to realize I wasn't on the second chapter. I had only gotten through the prologue!  That one little prologue had me asking tons of questions to the point where Beloved filled in some of the details so that I could put my heart at ease!  Yes, I cheated. If it hadn't been for him filling in the details, I am sure I would have read the last chapter right then and there so I could make it through the book without more shock!   And don't think I didn't make a mental note! Although, Columbia is also on my "no to go to" list, (interject the theme song of "Romance in the Stone") there is no doubt that I will go back to that list and write the name a little bolder by the time I reach the end of this book.

I am watching....  I normally skip this part of the journal entry only choosing those key words that they give us that fit what I want to tell but this one will probably never be picked often in the terms off what is on my TV.  Why? Because we don't have a TV.  (Remember? I took pictures of the Kiddos taking it apart.)  Not having a TV  always brings up tons of questions from visitors. I tend to just say, " I don't have time for it. It is counterproductive to my goals."   Most of the time that is all that is said but when someone knows us really well the questions roll in!  "How do you get your news?" I get my news through the computer without hourly reruns. "How do you watch movies when you have a movie night?"  We get them off of i-tunes or we watch a DVD through the computer. Recently, my Children and I read the book 'Swiss Family Robinson' and then they watched the movie for a family movie night.  They also read Robin Hood and watched the 1940s Robin Hood movie too. Typically, if it is a man that is asking they will ask, "How do you watch the President' speeches?"  The news channels on the computer always do them through live stream through the computer.  "How does Beloved watch sports?" He doesn't watch sports! He gets snippets of the football news through me.  Then, it happens?  "How do you watch Downton Abby?"   I DON'T!  (Gasp)  Then they say, "You don't know what you are missing!"  Then, I explain to them that I saw the first entire season before it even came to the United States through one of the British computer channels.  And, then I tell them that by the time it went on the air in the United States I had no desire to see it.  I realized that if I took the scenery and the costumes away what I was left with was a night time soap opera with no redemptive qualities, drama with little morals, with only the occasional love for Maggie Smith's whit!  Honestly, I can get all that drama just by going to a military wives group meeting! I simply just have to live my life daily and drama rolls my way!   It is okay if you don't agree with me about Downton Abby.  We can still be your friends! I have already been splattered with cyber tomatoes! My Mother teased me the other day and wrote "Splat" on a status as she throw a cyber tomato my way!   I only wrote about my opinions because I never really address anything culturally and I read a diary recently where the lady didn't do that either. She only spoke of her daily life activities  with the occasional glimpse of news. So,  the commentators were saying she was out of touch with reality as a wife in the home in the 1800s!  I thought that their opinion was silly! It was obvious that she was very much aware of what was going on just by the way she dealt with economics, teaching her students, and she had enough social drama dodging pioneer men to give you a real good dose of the lack of social etiquette of the time!  Yes, I am also extremely aware of the news. It is just with Beloved's job I can't say much or even allude to anything because "loose lips sink ships" but those that know me well know I like "politics" a lot particularly when it comes to end time prophesy! Be glad I have restraint and don't share it here!

Speaking of visitors coming to my home and not finding a TV, apparently not having a TV doesn't keep visitors away!  We have had a lot of company around the house.   This month, we had some friends stay with us. They have been on the Mission field to a closed country the last two years. We know them well.  Beloved and the Missionary were Pilots together throughout the war before the Missionary guy retired from the military and went on the Missionary field. It was great to see them and their son and  to catch up on the small details of life.  Also, we have friends over once a month as well. This month a family of 5 Children came over for the day.  The Children had a blast. They came during the day instead of in the evenings.  It seems like when I have families over for the day, the schedule tends to gradually fit into this type of schedule. The Family arrives around 10 am and they leave some time around 5pm. I always order  pizza and wings for lunch. They have craft time and play time too.  And, I send guest home with a fully cooked roast for dinner since they are going to get home around that time.  It looks like my schedule next month will be full too.  Beloved wants to have a geographical bachelor over.  Some friends that are moving here will be stopping through for a couple of nights to check out this area as well.  And, we will ask another family from Church to come over too.   Well, it is our plan anyway, our Family is on standby. We are waiting for a phone call to tell us to hit the road for a couple of weeks. Who knows when the phone call will come?!

The only thing else that is coming up soon that is big is our consignment sale! And since I am supposed to write on being thrifty,  all I can think of saying this month is that I am hoping that the Children and I will do well.  The children are always excited to see how much we make because they split up the money between them and it all goes to their savings account.  They like this a lot! Particularly some of them that don't find as much money as the Little Man!

 The Little Man is always finding money!  He knows the one of the greatest spots to find money is at the mall right near the benches that the older men sit on while waiting for their wives to come out of a stores.  When he sees a penny he picks it up! He also lies down on the ground and picks them up. He checks all the coin slots in the coke machines! He checks the kid ride slot machines! He even occasionally goes down the grocery store aisle while no one is looking with his bottom in the air so he can look underneath the shelves. What? You aren't that desperate! Well, this child even tries to convince me to let him get out of the car to pick up the change in the fast food drive-thru that is on the ground. (umm! No, can do!) The Little Man doesn't allow a penny to be dropped without it being picked up. He can't stand it! If we are in line and someone drops money he is right there picking it up for those little old ladies.  Otherwise, he saves every little dime, nickel, and penny he finds!  And, although a penny in a pocket may not seem like much this child is becoming 1 cent richer every little outing that we take . It is unbelievable.  In less than one year, he has accumulated over $40 just from the change he picked up.  I know this for a fact because we just counted it. You see, just before we moved, we put all the Children's money from their penny banks into their savings accounts. Although, he saves his birthday money too, the change has been racking up and I have been simply amazed.  This child is getting *rich* off of people dropping change all the while learning  a little wealth building.  I think Dave Ramsey would be proud.  Meanwhile, his older sister who gets frustrated that he is so good at finding money is trying to convince me to offer her services to watch all those that have animals that are about to go on Spring break  in our military community!  I am guessing this is the entrepreneur stage that I have been told about!  Looks like we are about to walk into the beginning stages of it. I am excited about this!  Any stories about what your Children have done or are doing? Any suggestions on any good little business! I just had a friend whose 12 year old child made spicy hot sauce to raise money for his Mission Trip. So, I know there are probably lots of stories!  Well, we will let you know what we come up with as time goes on.

Well, my sweet dear readers! The atmosphere in my home is not as cozy as it was when I first began to write. There is always a spurt of last minute energy that goes on before bed time. It is where everyone wants a little bit of ice cream, a cookie or one of my latest goodies that have been baked!  I think everyone is ready to have one of these... This is what is cooking in the kitchen !

recipe and picture by Here   (The children agree with me. I need to try it with out the lemon and with a blue berry topping instead before I make them for church!)

 

* As usual the items in bold are the snippets to help write the journal entry for the "simple homemakers journal

Pondering Dec and Jan

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Wilder

 

It is the end of January and a crispy warm breeze is blowing through my open windows and my back and front sliding glass/ screen door.  Outside my windows, the tops of the pine trees, our American flag and our little landscaping flag are all swaying back and forth.  The air smells like fresh rain drops due to the little patches of morning showers that left little sidewalk puddles. The 70 degree temps that rolled in yesterday and is only staying today before downward spiraling back into the lowers 40s is only a tease!  And, now, I have spring fever.  My spring fever is hanging in the balance though.  My extended family is making me envious of all their snow mobile pictures. But, then that also subsides with small snippets of guilt that rolls in when they show me their Alaskan thermostat pictures that reads 60 below zero.  I am a weather yo-yo.

The sounds in my learning room are rather quiet today. I am listening to the children who are sitting with their school books open to math problems talk about the Redheaded Wood Pecker who is busily moving up and down the pine tree and flipping with his beak chips of wood.  The  soft 3 year old voice coming from our Little Miss is delightful. She keeps exclaiming over her little giggles, "He is making such a mess." 

This is all going on while I am sitting in my rocking chair holding a sleeping baby. I know I should put her down and begin moving through the house and at least do several different 5 minute hot spot clean ups if I am not going to exercise  but the contentment of just snuggling is too hard to resist.

Truth be told, I can come up with all sorts of excuses not to exercise but I at least start my day off right.  I have my exercise clothes on which is what I am wearing now.  There has to be something to this thought, I tell you!

 

All this contemplating about exercising reminds me of a phone text conversation that I had with my sister.  We are trying to lose weight and in the conversation I quoted something I had heard before,  "I don't want to brag or anything but I can still get into my high school earrings."  She just wrote back "Ha!"   Then, I told  her a little funny thing that happened to me. Due to moving here my third trimester and blowing up like a big balloon people have only seen me pregnant and post partum. Well, after each pregnancy I only lose about 30 pounds the first couple of months. The rest of the weight begins to come back off after I am finished with nursing about a year or more.  I do not lose weight when nursing. So, I found it rather funny that one of the young ladies came up to me at Church and said, "Your back end is starting to get a lot thinner! It isn't as wide."  I cracked up.  She asked, "It is always good to tell a woman after she is pregnant that she is looking thinner right?"   (Me thinking - what? no!  but,  Um, I guess -not quite that way but I suppose I appreciate it. - giggle)  So, I told my sister what was said and  sent her a picture with this caption, "This is on my phone to remind me of my back end!"  (Which has more meaning to me because as you know we have a Maincoon Cat. I don't like the "shut up"thing. We don't say that in our house but the back end of this cat squeezing into his bed is awesome!)

Besides losing some extra pounds, I am also hoping to lose some house weight as well. I am working on a home project this month particularly  in the thinking thrifty department. Our local big consignment sale is coming up in March so I am in the process of sorting, washing, hanging and tagging the items in my storage containers.  (These are the quality items that are not worn out that could be reused by someone else.)  It is always a really big project and one where you put a lot of hours into  it with just a small monetary outcome. However, it cleans out the garage, the children's savings accounts gets tossed some change and the Children see the process of hard work.  Plus, it is just something that needs to be done, it's the next thing that this girl has to do as a peaceful homemaker. 

Since I mentioned money, a few months ago, Beloved put on our phones the Quicken app. It synchs are computer, his phone and my phone together so when we are out and about we can immediately see what is in our budget categories. We both really like it.  We have worked off a budget for 15 years. So, having it in front of me works extremely well. Now,  I don't have to take the time to write the money amounts down before I head out to the stores. And, it is giving me more reason to tease him.  An example? Well. Thursday is horseback riding day. I have a habit of going to the ATM machine to get money out to pay for the lessons, going to Horseback and getting a little something for the Kiddos for lunch on the way home.  There was one day he wasn't sure if I was going to go to the lessons or not.  So, instead of picking up the phone to ask, he just looked at the Quicken App to track my outgoing expenses. He is Quicken stalking me! Apparently, I am a creature of habit.  Pay back is going to be fun! I don't know if he has thought about the fact that Valentine Day is coming or not. But, he will be reminded when íts closer and I don't see a transaction for Valentine's day! ;)

Valentine's  Day Month.  Red. Hearts. Love! I already have red little things around the house  for the festive month. And, tomorrow we begin February on a new devotion subject -  1 Corinthians 13. 

I am so glad to have January coming to a close. Our family got sick just days before Christmas with the flu or a stomach virus. It went through our home and since then we have been fighting colds, little nagging coughs and I even lost my voice too. Finally, everyone is healthy and I am thankful for it.

I got a little teasing from not being able to talk well.  A friend of ours asked if my Beloved enjoyed having a wife who didn't have a voice for the past week. I played along and said in a shocking manner, "He didn't get to enjoy it. Can you believe it? "  Beloved was gone for some training. He was in Arizona doing loops and spins for awhile. He was flying in an acrobatic plane called the "Extra 300".   I have a short video clip  of it and I am hoping that I will be able to upload it so I can share it a little later this week.

Well, I guess that is all that is on my mind today.  There are only a few other little things that I can think that would be fun to include in this wrap up of December and January's journal entry. 

One thing that I want to remember from my Christmas shopping  experience this past season is this: Beloved had taken the Children out of a toy store so I could sneak back around to pick up a few things without them knowing. While I was in line the lady in front of me saw him take all 5 Children out to the car. Not knowing that I was his wife, she began to say things to no one in particular,  "Wow. That is a lot of Children. Why would anyone want that many? How can he afford them? etc."  The Lady behind me had seen me with them earlier and apparently she finally said to the Lady, "I don't know how the mother, who is standing right behind you, is being restrained from hitting you."  The Lady turned around and said, "You are the mother. You don't look old enough to have 5 Children."  I just laughed. I said, "Thank You. I am almost 40."  She said, "Are you on welfare?  You must be to be able to afford that many children?"  I said, "No. Why are you? Do you need me to help you to pay for your purchases?"  She didn't know what to say. She was way to curious about my husband's occupation and a little to open on her opinions which I found insulting.  I told her that we live in a military town and that she can assume I live with a train killer. She found my comment funny and shocking.  The conversation continued with more of her remarks and my sweet sass but eventually I had mercy on her and told her what his occupation and took the time to witness to her about Children being a blessing. The point of the story?  It pays to have pre-arranged comments for such situations! As much as Mr. Collins annoys me in Pride and Prejudice, it is well worth contemplating thought!  (giggle) It is 200 year old wisdom, you know?  Pride and Prejudice turned 200 years old on January 29th.  Happy Anniversary, Jane Austin!  

* As usual the items in bold are the snippets to help write the journal entry for the "simple homemakers journal

Pondering Nov 2012

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Wilder

Pondering of November 2012 –

 I simply couldn’t list all the things that I am thankful for this year, although, my family did list so many wonderful things that we counted as blessing over Thanksgiving Dinner.  As our Thanksgiving Festivities came to a close, we gave God Praise for all of his blessings in our lives – protection and provision. We had several “protection” blessings this year. (1) My pregnancy with pre-eclampsia and the shingles just days before delivering. (2) The scorpion bite that made me so sick and still has left it's mark. And, (3) Beloved came close to being run over by two cars just last month.  Really! Meaning he was running across the street at a cross walk and one lane of traffic stopped but a car behind the traffic chose not to do so and instead went around the cars and zoomed by in the other lane. Beloved stopped quickly with his hands up in the air which made it look like his hands were over the hood doing the "superman" pose. There was just barley an inch between him and the car.  Then another car was right behind it too. (They have MPs handing out tickets at the cross walk now.)   Who knows how many other things we don’t even know about!  Yes, God is so worthy to be praised.  

“You are worthy.”  MUST LISTEN TO IT FROM HERE    It is a song that  I have been listening to for weeks now.  I could listen to it over and over again. This song brings such joy to my heart. I have even heard my Beloved humming it several times, although, I am not sure why he doesn’t just sing it out. He has a smooth tenor voice. Oh, I love to hear him sing and hum!  Sitting next to him in church and just quietly praying as he sang along with the music use to be so soothing to my spirit. I say “use to” because with little ones needing to be trained during the church service, in this stage of life, I do not get much opportunity to just listen to him sing.  And, although, it is enjoyable to hear, it is just one of my favorite things about being quiet and listening to him. There are two even more special times though. I love hearing him when he is quietly praying in the Spirit over me and the Children.   I often try to sneak around the corner of my Children’s room to listen to him do the Children’s bed time prayers. There is something just so special about hearing him speaking blessings over them.  Matter of fact, just the other day, the Little Lady and I were talking about how Jacob had a blessing spoken over him by his father.  The Little Lady said, “Do you think Daddy will say a blessing over me when he is about to die?”  I smiled at my sweet little redhead and said, “Your Daddy speaks a blessing over you every night when he prays with you before you go to sleep.”  She reflected a moment and said, “Wow. Yes, he does.” 

I am wearing a new token of my Beloved’s love for me. We just celebrated fifteen years!  Happiness!  This year for our fifteenth wedding anniversary Beloved bought me a rose gold ring with a small intricate flower leaf design with diamonds.  I was surprised. I had no idea how he snuck away without me knowing.  Apparently, during a switch-a–roo with the help of my parents and a physical therapy appointment for me, he dropped me off and took the only child that does not talk to the mall. (That would be the Little Lass who is never away from me due to nursing.) Sweet, huh? I know how hard it was for him to go pick jewelry out for me. He doesn’t like to pick out things like that at all. He says, “I never know what to get you.”  He makes me smile. I have simple but expensive taste! How hard can it be?  (wink) So, when I opened up the ring, he said, “There were many other things to choose from but that this particular ring looked more like you – or what I perceive to be you.”   And, as usual, I also received my yearly anniversary love letter as well.  The letter doesn’t really have sweet lines of romantic poetry with dripping honey. It is more a recap of our year and how different things have changed our lives and marriage.  It is sweet and I have everyone in a binder.

I just realized that I do not have a book on my nightstand. So, I am not currently reading anything. I must remedy this travesty!

This evening, the door bell rang. So, I casually walked down the hallway only to be greeted with a sweet little 7 year old smile. He was holding a dozen dark pink roses in his hands. I opened the storm glass door to his excited little voice proclaiming, “Momma, It was my idea to buy you flowers at the grocery store.”  Awwww! Beloved came through the door and I said, “Was it his idea to buy me flowers?”  He said, “It was his. I tried to convince him that you might like an assortment of color but he insisted on roses.”  Smart boy! What girl doesn’t like roses?  So, in my kitchen, stands a crystal vase with the most cheerful looking roses a girl could ask for!

 I am not one to want Thanksgiving to end and rush right out the door. Matter of fact,  I like the little cartoon in which the family is all sitting around the table and they are looking at all the icons of Christmas trying to overwhelm the table as if they are crazy.  (Santa, snowman, and Rudolph holding up a sign saying ‘Christmas Sales for Black Friday’)  Then, the caption on the picture says, “We are still eating leftovers!”    Honestly, why do we have to rush Thanksgiving out the door? I will be sad to see my little Turkey blessing sign come down, my pumpkins put away, and the candle fragrances of pumpkin pies and carmel apples gone!  But, it appears that my neighborhood is ready to decorate! Even before Thanksgiving some of the people on my block had their Christmas decorations up.  And, when we drove into the officer housing this evening, several military wives had those brave military men doing the decorating outside.  It appeared that the men would rather fight on the battle field rather than tangle with Christmas lights and enormous blow ups!  So, around the house, we will be putting our decorations up with Christmas music blaring some time soon.  Then, I will sit down with a good cup of apple cidar, lower the music and admire all the red in my home!  

                                                       ( My friends, Dawn and Chris made my Turkey. This is Dawn's picture. 
                                                                     She sales them. If you are intersted this is her site. ) 

                                                                        https://www.facebook.com/LaDeeDahArt

 

What do I buy for Christmas?  Oh…. Christmas presents!  The question for the season it appears! I can’t say I am necessarily thinking thrifty this holiday season. That just seems to be something that comes naturally when you live on a budget. But, around this time, I do like to remind myself to consider things of value  –   elegant or treasure worthy.  Those words help me a little in keeping things simple. It has  always been helpful since I have no idea what to buy! We haven’t decided yet what we will get the Children this year but we have some ideas rolling around in regards to their special Christmas “trip” gift that will be redeemed throughout the year.    

Well, I know I didn’t get to all the bold journal snippets that you are supposed to write on this month (I probably never will)  but before I go I want to share one more thing in regards to a pondering thought. On the way to the mountains, Beloved stopped for lunch at a sit down restaurant. While there a waitress came up to serve our little family. She took our drink order and she commented on the Little lass.  She asked her age and Beloved said, “5 months.”  She continued on taking our order, delivering our food, ect.  During our dinner an older couple came up to us and told us how well behaved our children were. The waitress was nearby and I believe she heard the entire conversation.  Just as we were about to leave, Beloved took the boys to the bathroom. The waitress came up to our table again. This time she asked the Little Lass’s name. So, I told her. The very next second, she began to cry. The waitress said this, “I just had a baby in September. I gave her up for adoption. I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old and I couldn’t afford another child. I work for tips only.”  I immediately thought, “Lord, What would my friend, Anne, say to her?”  Beloved came back to the table with me visually shacken and hearing the Holy Spirit pouring words out of my mouth, ‘You are courageous. God is pleased with you and you have given this couple a blessing and a valuable treasure.”  When we got to the car, my Children asked many questions because although they have seen the “good” side of adoption (the many friends we have that have adopted) they were for the first time exposed to the other side.  The question that I thought was the most interesting was from the Little Lady. She asked, “Why do people feel the need to pour their life history to you  in a public place.” My comment to her was, “Well, Mommy and Daddy have never just blended in. Daddy is 6’5” and Momma has curly redhair. Now, we have 5 small Children and that is fairly rare now in this society too!  Most people have always felt the need to comment on something often times not sure what to say but wanting to interact with us. Now, what is the biggest difference to many is the amount of Children we have. Sometimes those words come across praising like the older couple in the restaurant. Other times, it comes across as a comment that is rude because they simply just feel the need to express themselves without thinking through their thoughts. Our family is different in many visual ways that is why we try to make sure we are conscious about bring the Glory to God with our behavior and not just drawing attention to us.”   I spent the rest of the day reflecting on the events. Then, I wrote my friend, Anne. I told her how all her words over the years on adoption were used for God’s glory in the situation.  She wrote me back, “Carmen, I was praying for some encouragement today!”   Now, isn’t that just like God to do that! Circulating blessings!

PS. And, because everyone says, "You are never in your pictures!"   I think the computer will explode.This is the third one this week! Probably wont be anymore until next Christmas.  Especially close ups. This picture puts at least 20 pounds on me. But, I do love my earings!   :)

* As usual the items in bold are the snippets to help write the journal entry for the "simple homemakers journal".

Adjusting

Adjustment: harmony achieved by modification or change of a position -Dictionary

 

Note to Self:

 

Hopefully, I am on the other side of all the waves of adjusting that we have done the last six months

 

(packing and unpacking 2 homes)

adjusting to a new state

 adjusted to life in a camper

adjusting to a new home now

adjusting to Beloved's new job

adjusting to a new schedule

adjusting to a new school year

adjusting to an official new school student 

made it through pre-eclampsia and pregnancy shingles

adjustment to a new baby  (she is precious)

adjustment to new horse and piano teacher

adjusting to Beloved's new class

adjusting to a new church

adjusting to new friends and missing old ones

Wow! God is so good to me.

Pondering Thoughts of Sept

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." - Unknown

 

 

       Gazing Outside my window of our bedroom you first notice a strip of woods with a hiking sidewalk trail. Occasionally, you will see families take strolls and hear the laughter of children mixed with frogs and cricket sounds.  Right now though, if you gazed out, you would probably smile like I am.  There is a black lab walking his owner! The bright blue leash is pulled tight with the dog infront.  And, the young military man is dressed in black shorts and shirt with a rucksack on his back.  It is a familiar site in my neighborhood, one in which bring patriotic feelings of being proud and a sweet protective calmness.
     The sky is very blue with white streaks of clouds today. And, recently a military plane flew over the top of the pine trees while their branches were swinging gently in the wind.   The plane sounded like one that has 4 engines. Not positive because I am still developing my airplane ears. But, my guess would probably be a C 17?  
      The temperatures are in the low 80s and high 70s. It is fall here but the trees are not turning colors.   And, the homes in our area haven’t yet brought out the fall décor. Regardless, I am anticipating the smells of pumpkin and cinnamon apple candles.    

           I am thinking about the State Fair that is coming up in a few weeks. We didn’t have the opportunity to do any projects this year.  However, I am planning on having the children work on a lego, recycle, sewing and leather project for next year.   We did take advantage of their essay competition this year. So, in the learning room, the Little Ones did write small essays. The Little Man’s essay was to be 40 words. The subject was to be on “Why should your favorite state fair animal win a blue ribbon?”  He wrote his essay on a rabbit. We have no idea where the rabbit theme comes from but I can only assume he picked it out of a hat?!  The Little Ladies age group had to write an essay of 150 words. The essay was to be on how competitions today at the state fair show an everyday task of yester year.  Of course, she wrote her essay on horse competitions that are timed.  She tied the timed events of jumping fences and racing against the clock with the Pony Express.   (We have a Pony Express book that she read recently so that is where she got that idea from.) It was great for them to do the exercise.  

          What else is going on in the learning room?   I want to see how the Children respond to more living books in a wide range of subjects such as math literature (stories about multiplying and adding) and books on english. (verbs, Adverbs, and idioms) This won’t be a surprised to you, I am sure.  I set a goal to have the kiddos read 50 books for the month of September.   We picked up a few library books (about 20) but mostly I wanted to make sure that some of our own library books were revisited.   It appears that the children enjoyed it. So, I think we will do 50 more books for the month of October too. It expanded their horizons and they picked up books that they typically would not be exposed to.  

         I am wearing exercising cloths today.  I never did get into my house dress.  And, I must say that it is probably not a good thing that I stayed in them today, after having a baby the exercising clothes are not looking extremely flattering!   But, if I don’t put them on then I don’t consciously make the effort to get on the DREADmill – I mean treadmill.  So, with the Riverdance Music cranked up high, my pony tail swishing, and my thighs burning, I come off of it hot and sweaty and wishing that the treadmill would stop saying that my 20 minutes work with a speed of 3.0 only comes out to equal a mile.  Honestly, it seems a lot more than just the plain ole 90 calories burned.  (sigh) It is all the time I can carve out of my day and even that is proving to be difficult.  Oh, if my “busy” activities during the day would translate to calories burned.

      From the kitchen comes forth some very simple meals! Beloved is on a business trip and I have chosen easy prep and leftovers!  We started off this morning with fruit for breakfast.   Lunch was peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches with chips.  The Little Ones tummies have an inner clock that rings loudly at 3pm that it is time for a snack.  So, the aroma of chocolate chip cookies filled the air.  Tonight, I will extend the simple kitchen day by having macaroni and cheese, sweet corn, and chicken wings with a big ole blop of ranch dressing!  Definitely not healthy but Military Mom’s have those standby days of “survivor” food – and this is just one of those days.

        Speaking of food, one day, I was the last woman in line before the young men of the Church went through the food line. I had already been through with both the girls and the boys.  So, I was just taking a little breather and gathering my thoughts.  It was at this time, that I heard one of the Pastor’s sons say, “There is never enough meat!”  And, then one of the other young men quickly elbowed him in the stomach and said, “You better behave.”  I pretended not to hear but it was funny as I watched all the others just laugh as if it was an inside joke. Then, weeks later another scenario happened. But, it was over the gratefulness of me bringing 4 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts but not putting out 2 dozen until the men started to go through the line.  More scenarios have played out over many months and each time I told Beloved.   Over these weeks, I realized that there were always a lot of casseroles and that the food was pretty slim by the time the last man got through the line.  I remarked on it to Beloved.  Finally, Beloved enlightened me! He said, “Carmen.  Young Men have two food groups.  Meat!  And, Desserts! And, there is never enough items in those categories to fill them up!”   Then, through a discussion, Beloved said I should extended a blessing by keeping within these categories for Sunday’s Dinner.  Since then, Beloved and I have laughed over a few comments.  1) I have had several whispers from Children about bringing more sprinkled donuts.  2) The little girls of the church think that it is a secret who brings the donuts because they can’t figure out who does it since we are typically one of the first ones to Church.  3) A young man told me that he liked my ham. And, I said, “Thanks. You must tell Beloved because I am only allowed to bring meat and donuts.”  He went off to tell Beloved and said to him, “Whatever you are having her to do, keep her doing it!”  4) One of the older men went around trying to find who brought the BBQ. He was told by some of the young men.  Then, he came up and said to me, “It should be the church mandate to bring meat and desserts!”      Apparently, word has gotten around!   A military friend was standing beside me and she said, “What is all that about?”  So, I told her. She told her husband apparently because the next Sunday she whispered to me.  “I brought meat loaf and now my husband says I am to focus on the same thing.”  I laughed! 

So far, I have taken smoked turkey, honey ham, bbq, chicken wings, and Krispy Kreme Donuts . I guess brisket and roast will eventually be taken too. It looks like I won’t be perfecting my side dish recipes after all!

     The Daily Journal Entry line  that I follow to do this pondering thought post says to write about “Thinking Thrifty.” It gave me a smile when I thought about the Little Man.  He is the money man around here. He doesn’t think Thrifty necessarily but he does think about money!  He can go into a store and comes out with a small handful of pocket change almost every time.  He can finds it almost anywhere.  The Child  is always so disappointed if we are at a stop light or a drive-thru knowing that if he finds money on the road from his car seat, we are not going to allow him to get it.  He knows that it is too dangerous to get the coins but nevertheless he is still annoyed by it.  However, about a week ago, we stopped at our usual stop light where the Little Man always tells us that he sees at least 3 pennies.  In the past, Beloved told him that if there was not a lot of traffic and no one was behind us, one day we will open the car door, step out and get the pennies.  That day finally came!  Oh, the things you do for your Children.  I was in my Sunday dress with no shoes on when Beloved put it in park and said, “Get the Pennies”.  I am sure I looked ridiculous but we are now 3 pennies richer. The moral of the story? Thinking Thrifty some times means not spending money at all.

      One of my favorite things this week is sweet smelly baby feet.  The Little Gentleman and I get such a kick out of giving little kisses to the Little Lass’ feet because she gets so tickled by it. And, he always teases me that he wants me to smell his feet.  I always say, "No way! The older the feet the stinker they smell." I don't know that the statement is true but it sounds about right!

       As I look at some of my favorite blogs, I noticed that I gravitate toward the blogs that show homemaking pictures almost every day.  Such simple beauty!  I adore the thought of all those little home making touches. I admit those seasonal decorating post gets me every time!  Oh, to be able to blog about lots of seasonal decor.  And the pictures! Eye Candy, I tell ya. So what do I like? Well, I marval at their luscious fruit bowls pictures.  
(....because you can often find an apple at my house with a bite taken out of it!) 
Georgeous kitchen flowers on the table. 
 (....because it is a risk in this house when I do have them around. Dakota the cat, likes to eat the leaves and I am always concerned that he will  knocked over the vase.) 
Sewing projects almost weekly.
(...because I am not in the position of sewing for myself. Everything I do has to be within the time frame of passing on the skills to my children.)  
Pretty Painted Ornaments. 
 (...because when the paint comes out here, I have to monitor it and resupply the 3 feet tall artists in the house.) 
Yes, oh, to have a blog with eye-candy photos!  Oh, I am silly, I know!  It doesn't take long for me to talk myself back into reality after I look around at my house.   I don't have the storage for all that seasonal stuff. Although, I have a little bit of seasonal decor.    I also like to keep my house simply decorated -- less clutter to dust!  And, then I think to myself, "I bet it cost a lot of money!" 
Here in my little blog world, you have to look at the pictures more closely to find the beauty.  
It is often hidden! For example, I saw a picture recently of a living room floor covered with legos.  The caption read, "Home Security System!" It made me laugh. Yep! The blessing? Little Lego hands with hours of building and not having the expence on a security alarm!

         What am I currently reading? I just finished reading two manuscripts from a best selling author.  How do I know a best selling author? Well,  as a child I went to Church Summer camp every year. It was at these camps that I made some really great friends.  One friend that I met was a girl named Laura. We couldn’t have been more than 10 or so when we first met.  She was a quiet, little blond girl who was a Pastor’s Kid.  She lived in Alaska down near the Islands.  I lived up in the middle of the state.  We became fast friends and wrote letters often.  She always sent fantastic letters with her envelops all decked out with art!  It was so fun to receive mail from her.  She was a talented artist.  I can’t say I noticed her writing skills at this time though. But, during our College years, we both went to a Christian School affiliated within our denomination in Florida.  We became roommates.  And, it was there that she wrote lots of stories for her English class.  One story was a hilarious horror story about her roommate!  To this day, she says it wasn’t about me!   Years later, we both got married and had children and life kept the letters sporadic.  However, on one of our trips out West, she found out that we were going to be ONLY 6 hours away. So, what did she do? She drove to see me. No Kidding. She drove 6 hours to meet up with my Family while we were camping through a state that she didn’t even live in.  Beloved is always amazed at my loyal and crazy friends from my past!   Today,  Laura,  is an English  teacher, but she also writes  Novels under a secret name.  She also co-authors Christian books and is a best seller in the Christian Novel genre.  She keeps telling me I need to write a book. (Her and several others)   I just laugh.  She asked if I wanted to co-author a book with her last year.   No way!  I would like to keep her as a friend!  I sort of like how things are right now.  Although, I tease and say, " I would need a good editor!"  She keeps saying, “She edits on the side too.”   Meanwhile, she sends me her manuscripts before they go to the final book editor to print.   My sole job is to be her cheerleader.   It’s a win –win!  I get to read her books for free in exchange for me to give her claps, whistles, elaborate adjectives in describing what I liked with lots of pats on her back.    She allows herself to bask in the glory of all my positive feedback.  It works.  Today, she upped the free price of reading her manuscripts. She now wants me to do Amazon reviews for her. She wants to keep 5 stars on her book list. She cracks me up.  

       I am hoping that I can remember these words from another blogger.  “ Deuteronomy 6 (see especially vs 7) that while the Lord commands parent’s to teach their children about him – it is recognized that they won’t always “get it” the first time.  Deut 6:20 says, “And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statues, and the judgments, which the Lord or God hath commanded you?”   This is *after*  you have already been teaching them diligently in the first place!!!  The reaction to this shocking news that they “kids” still don’t’ get it? It is to just  keep continually patiently teaching.  (vs 21) “Then thou shalt say until they son…”  ----- And you do the whole lesson over again. “

       This line of thought about training children tied into what I am Pondering this week from a sermon that I heard!  “GOD  INTENDS TO EXPAND HIS KINGDOM THROUGH THE CHILDREN YOU ARE TEACHING!”  Wow.   Lord, Give me a greater vision in understanding this statement.  Equipment me, expand my teaching even deeper as I teach them about You through Your Word, with singing, a commitment to the local Church body, discipleship, prayer and letting them see me witnessing.   (And, because sweet friends you are always asking me for the link to sermons that I listen to.  Here You Go. This is the one I just finished.)