Still Alive...Really!

I have been awful about updating here this week. Sorry about that. I do have an excuse though. Life has been crazy. We have raspberries to pick, Amie's hooves to trim, my garden is starting to produce, it actually felt like Summer (hot...about 90 all week) and on Wed. Lowe's delivered the supplies for the Living Room/ Fire place projects.

Yesterday was a day of playing catch up. Catch up on laundry, watering, dishes, etc from having on odd day the day before. Today we are back at it full speed. Aaron has had 2 calls, and in between we picked more raspberries and dug up some hazelnut tree starts, Naps, Meals, I ordered a couple new shirts (can you say sale prices + free shipping+ 20% off!) and Andrew's birthday presents. Washing and putting said picked berries in the freezer. This evening we need to run to town and pick up something for my mom and sister. It will make for an odd evening, but Sabbath is right around the corner.

I am starting to think about what is needed for Feast Clothing. Each Feast we take a bit of the set aside $ and get new dress clothing as needed for the coming year. I have sewing planned and got to thinking about that as well. I might set up a table in our room so I can just work on it as needed, not having to put it away.

Well, I need to run and get a few more things done before we leave. Have a lovely evening!

Sweet Moments!

Practicing with Aunty.

My lovely Mama.

Learning a bit from Aunty. LOVE this picture!

We so enjoyed Nana and Aunty's visit although all parties would say it was way too short.

We are settling back into the swing of things here and our place, although thing seem off today. It started this morning when we though Lyla ran off some time in the night. Two friends work at local post offices and started having people look for her. We drove all over the area, twice, calling her name. We figured that with the HUGE noise of all the fireworks last night, she got out and got scared. After we got home after trip #2, Aaron went into the hard, and thought to look under one side of the house. It would be a tight squeeze, but MAYBE she might be under there. Sure enough, happy as a clam (it was cool, she is fluffy and hot) was Lyla, stuck. All of us are thankful she was just stuck and not hit by a car or stolen!

After the stress of morning, we though it would be fun to eat lunch up at the fishing pond. I went to get the end of the hose to fill up the dog water and noticed that the compost bin was on fire. Odd....Aaron dumped in some old ashes, and with the sun right on them, must have had one that was still kinda warm and with the added heat, got hot enough to burn the wood. That was easily put out and from now on we will wet down the compost after throwing in ANY ash!

This afternoon was relaxing, I worked on a throw blanket while the kids payed and ran and Aaron fishes. We then headed to the pasture and filled up water for the critters and then picked up a bag of alpaca fleece. Home for tidying the house, music practice and dinner (chicken salad wraps and the above ice cream). Stories, teeth brushed and PJ's in place the kids are in bed. Aaron went to spend some quite moments fishing some more and I am off to keep up on my throw. 

Night!

Children Play

*Warning: Opinionated Mama who is tired of all yuck out there. Just venting here people!*


When children play, they play that they can be or do anything! There is nothing in their way, their imagination takes over and they go many places. 

Doctor, pirate, teacher, mama, truck driver. There should be nothing to get in their way of good clean fun! But sadly, this world would like our kids to be all the same. The same, mindless, unimaginative blobs that just think what they are told. 

They are being told lies. Flat. Out. Lies. Lies that say that men and woman are the same, when God's says that we are worlds apart in differences. They are told that two mama's or two daddy's are "normal" and "right", when God created ONE man and ONE woman to form a family. 

Good, "clean" fun!

The world has taken away the wonders of a child's imagination and filled it, instead, with endless TV and video games.  We are one of the top "fattest" countries. Children are watching an average of 6 hours of TV (or video games) a day! What happened to running and playing, and reading good, wholesome books (not the evil that passes as literature today!)

They are told that they NEED to have what's the newest and best (this goes for adults too), that their parents are mean when they are told "no" .

"No" has become a bad word. Instead of a tool to set boundaries and to guide and direct. "No" can save a child's life, but if the child does not understand that word, they will not listen! In fact, children today just flat out DO NOT listen. They have no manners.

We as parent are told that it's not okay to train our children, we have to bribe.  To give in to bad attitudes. We are told we must go, go, go to keep them busy and entertained, instead of letting them learn to just be! Kids are ruling families and they are not happy. No one is happy. 

Children thrive in a structured environment. Where they know what's all right to do, and what is not. They thrive on love, on time spent in play. In the sand, mud, puzzles, etc.

Practicing letters!

We, and our children, can only be happy when we follow God! HE says children are a blessing. HE says to teach, train and to guide our children. HE says to protect their (and our) hearts and minds. HE says to not be of this world. HE says to be a light.

We, as Christian, are in a fight against Satan. He would like nothing more then to win our children imagination, their heart and mind. To further destroy the Holiness of a family.

I want my children to have a pure childhood, one with little TV, no video games and TON of imagination and good books! I want our home to be a happy one, filled with adventures and good wholesome play.

"If I wiggle like this, I make it all colory"

We are fighting. Are you?

Please note: I know there are great parents out there, some of them are my dear friends. I am just so tired of all the yuck and sin passed off as good!

Updated Pictures

Close up of the now grouted floors! I am in love! :-)

Last night, Aaron got the rest of the window frame finish. Now to tap, Spackle and then PAINT!

As I was visiting with my mommy this morning, she asked how busy Aaron has been. She meant calls, I have been keeping him plenty busy here. haha

I said that it really hasn't been too bad, a couple calls at night here and there, but not rushed either. As we were visiting he got call # 2 for today (since midnight). He then got call #3 before he even got home. he has not been home since. So much for the slow spell!

I am in a mood to sew and cook, and at the moment, I can't do much of either! I will love space, and my new kitchen all the more when it's done. Until then, I am drooling over recipes and fabric and quilting books. 

Have a great day!

The evening is starting to wind down for the kids. Soon it will be a story, brushing teeth, pjs and bed.  Today has been a good day, a lot of work done in the new kitchen and wonderful times with our children. 

 

This evening it is starting to snow. After a few weeks of mud, warmer temps, then a hard freeze, winter is actually visiting us again with it's white stuff.. I love how snow can change the world. So white and clean.

Here is the view out my new kitchen window: 

 

Just as it started to snow.

 

 

Time Flies!

Tomorrow our Clara is turning 5. I can not believe how fast the time as gone. I am working on a blog post for tomorrow and making her cake and just enjoying this last day of her being 4. We are all set to have a day of fun tomorrow. Goodies bag with a couple of small presents, cake, her choice for dinner, 2 Veggie Tales we haven't seen yet. It's going to be a fun day!

As for my new weekly schedule...I am a bit behind. Monday was a day where everything else needed my attention. It was way more important to play with my kids and giggle and laugh, then to wash my kitchen walls and cupboards. Tuesday I was right on, and even got some of the kitchen done. I was exhausted Tuesday night so left the pans from the day to be washed Wednesday. I was on a roll yesterday until we had a pipe (water line going to the toilet) bust. Aaron spent most of afternoon and evening getting it fixed, meaning the water was shut off.. So now today I am finish the kitchen and getting back on track. The joy of this schedule, is that I have time to make up missed things. I like that. I am hoping that next week will be even better, and soon this will be a habbit.

 

As a side note, I made an About Us page. Please check it out! Thanks!

Company is Comin'

Mom and Mandi are comin' for a visit.

I am jumping for joy. Well, more dancing and working like crazy to get a couple projects finished and a place for them to sleep before they get here!

Aaron is plugging away some more on removing the chimney. Yesterday we had a hole in our roof where it used to be. It. Was. Cold...while he did that! It's all patched now. He got it done just as it was starting to snow! Winter is not the best time to be making holes into the house....but needed to get done.

As with all old houses we are discovering "quirks" and some interesting quick fixes that people day a long time ago.  

I am so excited about this process. Making our little home into what we dream of, all on a budget. I am so blessed to be married to a man who can do just about anything! 

I have been having a lot of fun looking at before and after pictures of kitchen's and dreaming on how to make our small living/kitchen spaces the most they can be.  

Since tomorrow is Friday and I have a lot of stuff to do, and I want to be able to enjoy the visit, I will not be blogging until next week some time. 

See you then!

Fine People and A "doot" Little Man

My husband works with some fine people. People who love what they do. WAA is mainly volunteer based. These people are kind and compassionate, doing this because they love to serve, not for a big pay check. Which says a lot to me!WAA is like a big, goofy family. Goofy as in everyone comes from a different place in life and everyone gets along wonderfully. We couldn't ask for a better job or better people for my husband to work with! 

This is everyone! Covering a very large rural area and numbering over 500 calls a year!

Andrew LOVES trucks. Anything that moves, be it a train, plane, car, motorcycle or an actually truck is a "truck" to a certin two year old int his house. Ambulances are the best kind of truck there is! Whenever Andrew sees one, hears a siren or if Daddy is on a call, he says " Wee Woo, Wee Woo"  It's adorable! He also loves to wear Daddies coat. Yesterday he also wore one of Daddies shirts for a couple of hours. 

Pretty "doot" if you ask me! 

God is good, wonderful, always living up to His promises. He has told us that He provides for the sparrows, and not to worry, He will most assuredly provide for us.

 

He tells us not to let tomorrows worries bother us. He tells us that his love for us is great. So great that I think we has humans can't even fathom that kind of love. 

 

Just at a time when I started letting tomorrow's worries bother me, He send us a little reminder that all is well. He is good. 

Let me give you a little back story. Winter is always tight money wise for us. Because we rely on electric for power and heat, it adds up a lot. We use the plug in oil heaters and a wall heater in the bathroom. Here are some number to show you a bit of the difference from summer to winter.

 

A bill in the summer might be on the high end $80.

 

Winter: $400-500!

 

Needless to say, that cuts into our already tight budget! Now, we do not keep the house hot by any means. Its usually about 60*, with the girls bed room a little warmer at night. We are working on getting the house more air tight with insulation and moving towards a wood heating stove for ALL of our heat. We will replace windows and add more in wall insulation as funds provide. We are doing the house remodel/updates with out debt.

I started to worry because last month we have negative temps and TONS of snow, what would our power bill be this month?  Then today God gave us a little blessing as a reminder. He provides!

 

It's been a busy winter so far! We have about 2 feet of snow (give or take a bit) and are in the middle of our 4th (I think) winter storm so far, and its not letting up any time soon!

third sheet of snow/ice coming off the roof by the hall window

 

I have Jury Duty this week, and because of the storm its canceled tomorrow. Aaron's class is also canceled tonight.  Good things too, the roads are a mess!

 

Jury Duty was not bad, and was actually an interesting experience.  I was trying to think of things left and right to get out of it, but to no avail. I have no problems serving, its just a pain since I do not drive and Aaron has to have someone cover for him. It was interesting to see just a small part of our system works. The judge and lawyers were FUNNY and cracking jokes and having a good time. I was picked as part of the 14 they questioned and the lawyers and Judge had has all laughing over and over. Not to bad if you ask me!  We shall we what happens Thursday and Friday!

 

We had a wonderful visit with family over Thanksgiving and the only down side. other then a threat of nasty weather was the fact that the kids and I got sick. We are well on the mind, but boy, we felt awful!

 

 

Out the window towards the Highway. Snow Snow Snow! We are very happy! :)

An online friend posted this and I though it was funny, but also very fitting with all the hoop-la going on with the TSA:

 

‎"Solutions? Israel's developing a security device that eliminates the drama that comes with body scanners. It's a booth you step into. It won't X-ray you, but WILL detonate any explosive device on you. None of this crap about racial profiling.You're at the airport terminal...you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly after an voice comes over the PA "Attention standby passengers. We now have a seat available on flight # 7. "

What a day yesterday. We knew a winter storm was on it's way to us with snow up to 6 inches expected. So after Aaron got home from class, we (meaning Aaron) got the plastic up over the windows to help seal out drafts. Our house was built in 1937, and some of the windows are rather drafty and old. Stapling up plastic (clearish stuff) helps a TON and is very cheap. Hopefully next winter we will have new windows in. 

 

I am glad it got done. We now have a blizzard warning in effect all night tonight and until 10am tomorrow. With the wind chill it could be -20! BER!We got about 6 inches last night and today, and could get another 7ish. I love winter storms.

I never got the sewing done I wanted to yesterday, but am doing it this evening. I was able to visit with a friend who lives far away today, while my dear husband tried to help her with her sewing machine over the phone. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. 

 

I started reading The Little Princess with the girls. So far they are liking it. Sitting and listening to a chapter book is something new to them. We have tried before, but there just wasn't enough to capture their attention. Clara did ok, but Flora was board and wiggly after a page or two!  It was lovely to sit and cuddle in my chair with my girls and read for a while.

I am in a mood to bake, and since my husband took pity on my hurt neck and did the dishes for me today, I think I will make a pumpkin pie for him. I pulled something in my next a few days ago, and its taking a lot time to get back to normal. When I was 15 we moved, it was one man and I unloading all the heavy stuff (piano, china hutch, etc) and my neck/shoulders have never been the same since. I don't hurt them often, as I am usually very good about lifting right, but when I do, it's been taking longer to heal. I think it has something to do with having 3 small children...haha. :) 

 

This has been a rather random post but a nice break. Off to get dinner made and watch the news. Aaron has it on, we want to hear what the weather has in store for us! 

Stay safe and warm!

 

 

I try and plan a menu for each week. Sadly, I plan, then forget to look at it. So I found this cute idea and places it on the wall in the kitchen. Right by the frig. handy and in a spot I can readily see it often!

Sorry about the reflection on the glass!

I am going to make one for my daily list of chores, and one for the kids. I think they will have fun erasing the chores as they get them done. It will take a matter of a couple seconds to write them out again in the evening and I will feel much more orgnized when it comes to my tasks. We will see how it goes.

Write on the glass with a dry or wet erase marker. And guess what???? You can change out the paper when ever you want!

 

What better way to teach my children, then by example? If I have a smile on my face and enjoy my tasks, then they will too!

Ok, I have been a bad blogger, not posting anything since Saturday! I do have an excuse. Kinda. I was under the weather and just not my self...so, today is going to be a rather random post.

 

Wednesdays are one of Aaron's day's off. After he takes care of the city garbage, we are heading into town, paying a couple bills, picking up animal feed and hitting up Wal-Mart. Friday we are heading to Costco. We are almost out of coffee. We NEED coffee. 

Thanksgiving is just a little over a week away and we are excited. We head to Aaron's Grandparents house and have a nice visit. While Aaron has to work part of Thursday, we will head down later, and stay until Saturday afternoon. It will be nice. The visits are always wonderful and the kids get spoiled by all the of people to love on them :) 

 

Fall seems to be leaving, all of the leaves are off the trees and the weather is getting chilly. We had *very* strong winds the last couple days and ever lost power for a few hours night before last. I am thankful we have oil lamps to light our  house, and will be ever more thankful as soon as our house is heated by wood, and not relying on electricity. 

Like I said, rather ramdom. 

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

Different then Expected

This morning, while I was drinking my coffee and the kids were watching Cat in the Hat, I was writing a post of what we are thankful for today. All was peaceful and calm. The day was off to a good start. Then it all changed. After Cat was done, the girls asked very nicely to play in their room. I said yes, but they needed to help me with a job first. They quickly did what was asked and off they went. Little did I know Flora (who LOVES fruit) snatched two apples on her way back. Andrew and I worked on picking up the books on the floor and waited for Daddy to get home from his job picking up the cities garbage. Still pretty good, although I felt a headache coming on.

I checked in on the girls, who were playing nicely together and where in the second out fit for the day.Still not knowing about the apples, I headed into the kitchen and made another pot of coffee.

I sat back down at the computer and looked at a few different web sites for sheets and worked on finishing up the blog post I WAS doing. Flora pops her head into the living room and informs me that she needs to go potty. She goes...then all of a sudden I here this:

"Oh NO! MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!! I need help!"

In my mind I am picturing a mess from not making it in time. I rush into the bathroom and see her sitting on the toilet and eating an apple. After a talk about NOT eating when we go potty (lots of germs, YUCK!) I help her down and tell her to throw the apple away. 

"Yes Mama!", she says with a sweet smile and off I go. In a matter of about 5 minuets Clara yells at me from the bathroom. "Mama! Flora flushed an apple!" OH NO! The headache is really coming on now.

Its about 10am and Daddy should be home soon, Andrew is getting crabby and Millie ate a poopy diaper (double yuck). I pick up Dew and head back to the bathroom. Flora is crying because her OTHER apple fell in the toilet and Clara is very firmly telling her "Don't touch!" 

I get everyone settles down and get the second apple out. Grab the plunger and see what I can do...NOTHING! No water is getting through. I decide to wait until Daddy gets home and let him look at it. 

Daddy walked in the door at 10:20 and was bombarded with hugs and EVERYONE telling him what happened. It was rather noisy. Remember that headache I felt coming on??? Well, its here. Might have something to do with the desire to tear out my hair, but here none the less. 

Next, Daddy takes a look at the toilet and tries to get the apple to either go the rest of the way, or fish it back out the seat area. No luck. It's stuck and because of a lot of minerals in an older toilet, there was a build up. Now, let me give you a "history" of our toilet. I know, not something that everyone wants to hear, but this is my blog, so HA! (Sorry, I am in a mood!) This toilet would back up if you looked at it wrong (ok, slight exaggeration, but you get the point!). Aaron has tired to remove some of the mineral build up with no luck. Well, the apple was jammed as far as is could (of course way out of reach) up against the build up and WAS NOT BUDGING. 

At this point Aaron comes into the living room and tells me we need to get a new toilet. The kids start dancing around and yelling, " Yahoo! A New Toilet!". I on the other hand, was not thrilled. It was money we did not have this month and toilets can be expensive! As we got everyones shoes on I started praying for a good deal. 

We got everyone loaded into the car and were off to town. We just got into town when Aaron felt around at his pants. He had left his wallet at home. Thankfully we has his paycheck from the city and were able to cash it with no problems.  We headed up to the Habitat Restore to check what they had before seeing about a new one. God provided us with a nice toilet (and not pink!) for $20! We then picked up lunch and the wax seal. 

The toilet is now in its new home, the kids are all napping/resting and I am drinking some tea. 

So today's thankful is for the toilet! It would be a pain with out one! haha (again, sorry, it's the moods fault!)

I hope and pray all yours days were less exciting then ours, and that you got a good laugh out of this! 

Frogs and Thrifting

A wonderful lady gave the kids some tadpoles at the Feast. They are growing well and in their new home. The girls and Andrew love looking at them every day and seeing them getting bigger and change. Its our science right now in school!

the water is not really green. Its murky, but the lights and the flash made the water look green for some reason. See the tiny black think on top of the bottom rock...tadpole.

At home on the book shelf, safe (I hope) from being pulled off. Like the finger prints???

I have a couple friends, who are such an encouragement to me. They find such deals at the thrift stores. They have a plan. When there is a need, they pray about the need, and then hit the thrift stores. I have not been good about shopping at the thrift stores. We are usually so short on time, and things are such a hit and miss, that we have not been stopping. Well, I decided to do what they do. We had a need. Andrew is growing like a weed and pants he wore just before the Feast didn't fit after the Feast. I prayed, and then went to one thrift store. We found him a couple nice pairs of pants, some flannel shirts and a sweater for the cost of what it would be to get ONE out fit new.  I also found a very nice, like new 100% cotton (heavy!) blanket that would cost about $70  new. God is good! 

Isn't he cute! New shirt and overalls!

Do you thrift shop?

School

Today starts school. For both the girls and Aaron. It will be 2 1/2 crazy, busy packed months with Aaron at class two long nights a week and a couple Sundays a month (all day) but well worth it. We do not have any plans that involve projects, trips or the such until he is done. So the focus can be on him, getting as much studying in as possible.

For all you newbies, Aaron is an EMT-B and is started the training to be an EMT-I. Meaning he gets to set IV's, more advanced air ways and a couple other things. He LOVES his job and we are all excited for this next stage.

When I lay Andrew down for his nap today I am sitting down the with girls and we are starting our first official day of school!

Feast Things

It's count down to Feast time. We like to put together bags for each of the kids with little gifts, usually quite activities as their gifts from Momma and Daddy. Things like new crayons, markers and colored pencils. Scissors, glue and fun colored paper. Play dough, coloring books and of course, gum :) Dress up necklaces for the girls, and a couple trucks for Andrew. I get most of the stuff at the dollar store to keep the cost low, but still able to get a lot of fun goodies for the kids. We will also pack some of their toys and I am finishing a quilt for each of them this year. I love seeing their faces as they see their "Feast goodies"!  We don't get them toys, because between the Grandparents and Aunties, they load up :-P and this way, they have quite things to do during church services, as well as the drive there and back.

 This year, we made postcards out of one of my photo (above) we took in Glacier National Park a couple of Feasts ago. We are sending theses to people who can not attend the Feast and have to stay home. Check out Zazzle for more ideas! They have super fast service and the quality is amazing. They did not pay me to say that, 100% our opinion! We decided to go this route, because I always PLAN on making cards, but never get to it. Its was worth the $25(with shipping) to have them printed for us, and its still personal, since its one of my photos.



Speaking of Feasts. Heres to everyone, wishing you a Happy Feast Of Trumpets! We are not going to be making it to church services in person tomorrow. We are so thankful for the internet and being able to "attend" and be fed, even when all three of the kids are snot heads!  Plus side to a cold now, is that we will all be healthy at Tabernacles.

A Perfect Government

 In today's world, with a corrupt, human government, we are reminded to always be looking to God and His coming Kingdom. The PERFECT Government!

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Lessons from: The Little House Books

My favorite set of book growing up was the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I remember playing Mary and Laura with my sister and my mom reading out loud. As a child I just thought they were good stories, and how awful that "children were seen and not heard".

Reading them as an adult, I see the lessons that Ma and Pa were teaching the girls. I see the thankful spirit, even when there isn't much. The men and woman worked hard, but also enjoyed time together in fun. The children were expected to add to the family and obey.
I get a reminder from Ma, everytime she is joyful over simple things. Like a roof, or floor, a door.

How much do we, in this country (and others) expect "the best" even if it means working our selves to the bone, and going into debt to get it. We live in a world that does not know the simple pleasure of being together as a family. We take for granted a warm house, roof over our heads and an abundance of food. Instead of being thankful for what God has blessed us with. We need to find the balance of work, and joy (fun). We need to be content with what we have, not always wanting more and more and more. Also, going hand in hand with this, is taking care of what we have been blessed with (home repairs, car repairs, etc).

Now, as a woman who likes to cook, I think I would find salt pork and corn meal a bit bland. I live in a time where I have more variety, but am I now, being a good steward of what my husband provides (funds for food, unlike Pa who hunted/trapped)? Am I content to have a simple home, one where love, joy and thankfulness abound? Or am I falling into the more more more mind set.

Are we as parents raising our children to work hard, love family and be responsible, even at a young age? Sadly, "never ending childhood" seems to be the norm these days. I am not talking about "all work and no play" but being respectful of adults, obeying when told to do something, helping with house hold chores and taking care of the toy that the kids have.

Just some thoughts.