Happy in the Home

Ramblings

2009-08-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Had a busy day today! First we picked, snapped, and blanched 15 bags of green beans. Meg made zucchini bread and froze 5 bags of shredded zucchini. We mowed the lawn and picked 2 huge cabbages; one 43 inches around and the other 33 inches! Made a trip to the store and the library. Topped the day off with a pot of chicken noodle soup and a visit around the campfire with my folks!

I cannot believe how long it has actually been since I've been here! Life has been busy! Our oldest girl will turn 16 in a few weeks! She's blossomed into such a lovely young lady! She's anxious to see what will happen next. We all have a pretty good idea about that!

We finished our first week of school! This is our second year using Ambleside Online for our curriculum. We are all very pleased with it! www.amblesideonline.org

I've had one more miscarriage since I updated last. I don't really expect there will be any more babies, but I am totally content about it! I am truly enjoying parenting the 4 I have and feel totally blessed!

I hope to get back in touch soon!

~Stella

Finally got back into my blog.

2009-08-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

I took a long hiatus from my blog, and then when I wanted to come back I couldn't log in. I tried and tried and then gave up for a while. That was a couple months ago. I tried today and got right in???? Figure that one out. I've got some maintenance to do, and then hopefully I'll get some updates up!

~Stella (Hubbies nickname for me!)

Tornados

2008-05-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

We crouched in the basement Sunday evening as tornados tore through our area. We could hear glass breaking and what sounded like someone stomping across our living room floor. When the worst of the storm was passed hubby went upstairs to see the damage, and there was none what-so-ever. Only the electricity was out. Praise the LORD.

The actual tornado passed about a mile from our house. There is a dealer of manufactured and modular homes there that lost all but one of his houses. One is fine, one has the front ripped off, and one is upside down. The other 50 or so are gone. There is just a field of rubble, but no actual houses.

We think the sounds we were hearing were from those homes slamming around.

We spent the whole day yesterday helping some friends salvage what they could from their house. Most of their windows blew in, some siding came off and all the shingles blew off. There was glass and water everywhere, but they were all safe in the basement. Their barn was flattened, and their camper was picked up from one side of their house and thrown to the other side and smashed to bits. Their LP gas tank blew off the foundation and pulled the gas lines out of the house, thank God it didn't explode.

They were in good shape compared to some others though. One house we had to pass by to get to them was completely gone. The only thing there was the basement. The house was completely gone, nobody knows where it went. Some houses lost the entire attic, or upstairs. One house had a grain bin sitting right in the middle of it.

By far the worst hit was the town of Parkersburg. The tornadoes literally flattened the entire town. Most all of these people came up from the basement to find their house was totally missing. In total 7 people died from these storms.

Please pray for all the people who are starting to clean up the mess and rebuild. Their nerves are shattered, all their possessions are gone (including photos and important papers).

Leading Up to My Pregnancy With My Son, After Years of Miscarriages

2008-03-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked for imformation about my little miracle boy after my tubal reversal and years of miscarriages. Here are some things leading up to his conception that I think are significant. Read more about my reversal here.

I know that the LORD’s timing was truly in our son’s conception and birth, however there are certain things that happened before this that I personally think were significant. Did the LORD bring those things to mind at that time on purpose. I believe so, because it fit his perfect timing. He could override those issues, but one of them was a health issue, which was important to my babies health. And one of the others was spiritual.

Several months before I conceived I was working on a Bible study using Beth Moore’s book A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place., that I found at a garage sale. At some point during this I realized that my image of my own worth was so totally wrong. Somehow I had tied my worth up in how good of a wife or mother I was and how many children I had.

Colossians 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Finally I knew that my worth was because the Lord created me; for himself! My worth was in the Lord!

The second thing that happened is that I finally had victory in cutting sugar out of my diet and losing weight. I lost 20 pounds which put me at the same weight I was when I conceived that last 2 girls.

Third, I started back on Vitex (an herb that feeds the glands, and helps regulate hormones), 3 capsules a day, the month that I conceived. Of course God interceded in the area of hormones, because I bled off and on for the first 8 weeks of my pregnancy. That tells me my hormones were still off, but God kept my sweet little boy strong, and brought him through!

Apple Cider Vinegar = Bad Lemonade

2008-03-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Since the apple cider vinegar did such a great job on my sinus infection I thought it was my duty as a wife to convince my hubby that it would do his sinus problems some good. ;) I got him a glass ready, but he wanted me to fill all the rest of 16 ounces with water. Somehow he thought it would reduce the bad taste. Not so.

He couldn't choke it down so he asked for a fresh glass of water. Little Boy decided he would like a drink. His face was hilarious. "Acky!" Then he reached for a drink of water. "That makes me feel better!" Pointing to the class of vinegar, "That bad lemonade, that make me sick!"

Fussy little boys anyway! (x2) Praising God for the men in my life!

Sinus Infection Remedy

2008-03-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

I feel so much better today! Really yesterday I was ready to give up and go to the doctor. I had decided that I was going today if I had not significantly improved. Yesterday afternoon I just started to cry because I had had it. Of course getting antibiotics is not a guarantee of improvement.

My herbal book didn't give much information that I wasn't already trying, and Hubby's neti-pot didn't do anything. I tried the hot compresses and managed to get a significant amount of (sorry) neon yellow mucus out, but no relief. For a compress take a hot wet washcloth and hold just below eyes, covering both cheeks, nose and mouth.

I finally got on line and did a search on sinus infections. Here's what I found http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/sinus_infection.html

Here is what I did: I immediately drank 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in water. I didn't really feel any relief, but shortly afterward I tried the hot compress again and the discharge was clear! I didn't get much though. I drank this 3 times yesterday. Then Hubby got me some grapefruit seed extract, and I continued to alternate that with the echinacea and goldenseal. Throughout the day I felt little popping sensations all over my face. For supper I ate hot and spicy chicken with extra cayenne pepper added.

This morning I'm still feeling the popping sensation and lots of thick mucus is running down my throat. Not sure the stomach is a good place for it, but not sure what to do about that. There is still a little pressure in my face, but nothing actually hurts now! I need to call my dad who was certain I needed to go to the doctor.

Praise the Lord for natural cures!

I Want to Pull My Teeth Out!

2008-03-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

I'm quite certain I have a severe sinus infection. I've had sinus infections before, but this is awful. Not only do my facial bones hurt, but my teeth ache something fierce. The only thing that helps is putting pressure on them. I really get the urge to just pull them out. Really the thought keeps coming up.... I must be on the verge of insanity here.

I've been taking echinacea and golden seal for several days, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Hubby wants me to do a nasal flush, but I have been resisting. I'm going to try hot and cold compresses. Prayers would be appreciated.

My dad was in the hospital for several days again. Two doctors and the radiologist said he "blew a disc", but the neurosurgeon said it was not blown. They all agree that his spine is so narrow that is pressing on the nerves around the spinal cord.

They also found that Dad has an aneurysm below his heart, and his cholestoral is high. He is not interested in any natural remedies, unless the doctor suggests it, like the fish oil for his eyes. Prayers appreciated here too.

It is snowing again today. This winter has been incredible. I don't think I've seen so much snow in my 35 years. Truly it has snowed at 2-4 times per week since late fall. The bottom layer of snow is still from Novemember. I won't say anything about global warming ;)

Well, I'm off to help with a math problem.

Super Saving Saturday!

2008-02-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

The items on the left I got at Walgreens.

Transaction 1 :

Gillette Fushion Phemon Razor $9.99

- Manufactures Q -4.00

Total with tax 6.69

- Gift card from previous rebates5.50

Total paid $1.19

Transaction 2:

2- 26 oz Tide @ 2.99 each.

- Register Rewards $6.00

Total paid with tax 40 cents!

CVS (Items on the right)

2 Kotex $5.00

1 Lip Balm .79

1 Gillette Razor 9.99

1 Sunsilk Shampoo 4.49

1 Sunsilk Styler FREE

1 Brownie .35

1 Shortcake .35

-CVS Q Kotex 1.00

- Kotex Q 2.00

- Sunsilk Shampoo Q 1.50

-Sunsilk Cream Q 1.50

-CVS Sunsilk 1.50/2 1.50

-CVS Gillette Q 2.00

-Gillette Q 2.00

-EB 6.00

-EB (extra buck) 3.29

Total paid with tax $1.69!!! It actually could have been less if we had skipped the treats and the lip balm. I just couldn't figure the number of coupons vs. products. You are only allowed 1 manufacturer coupon and one CVS coupon per item purchased. So I tossed in the extras not realizing I didn't need them.

Thanks to Crystal at www.moneysavingmom.com for the great tips on frugal shopping!

Doing the Happy Dance!

2008-02-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

Whoo-hoo! Our $1000 emergency fund is finished! It took just about a month to finish with only starting with $100 in savings! We are so excited!!!

I first blogged about the emergency fund here ( http://happyinthehome.blogspot.com/2008/01/credit-cards-credit-scores-debt-free.html ) and here ( http://happyinthehome.blogspot.com/2008/01/dave-ramsey-and-emergency-fund.html )

Dave Ramsey says it's important to get this in place in a month or less. I new we could do it because our tax refund would be coming; but this is really cool..... we don't have the tax refund yet!!!! We did it (With the LORD's help of course) without the tax refund!

When our tax refund comes we will owe less than $3000 on anything except the house!

What is truly amazing though since we put these goals in place is that my hubby is HAPPY! It has taken such a weight off his shoulders! He feels so free knowing we aren't taking out any more debt and we have an emergency fund in place! This whole last week he has been so much at ease. Things that normally bothered him he just takes in stride!

Etsy

2008-01-31T07:04:00.000-08:00

I've been selling my handmade products on ebay for about 2 years now, and I found up last a couple of nights ago that they are marking up there prices by a huge amount. One of my best selling items is going to change in cost to list and sell from $1.06 to $1.64. I can't even make up for this in the savings I got on my fabric.

I looked into www.etsy.com and found they have a really nice site for buying and selling handmade products. They have very reasonable selling rates, and your items can remain listed for 4 months. It seems like a really busy place, though I only heard about it several months ago from another blog.

Yes, I know it's a shameless plug to ask you all to go check out etsy, since I just opened up shop there! But please do, there are so many great WAHMs there and great products!

Ten Cent Sharks

2008-01-31T06:50:00.000-08:00

The other day I gave my son the calculator to play with while I was working on the computer. He was quite for a while and then announced "Look out, Mom.... SHARKS!" I feigned fright. The he says, "Ten cent sharks." He proclaimed this over and over and announcing; "I see them, Here they come, and I see their fingers!" LOL.

Later he was quite and I asked if they were all gone now. He said yes, and then announced the "two cent sharks"

Where does a 2 1/2 year old get this stuff. Last night he got the calculator down and proceeded to show his daddy the ten cent and two cent sharks!

Non-Stick Cookware, Plastics, etc.

2008-01-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

To answer a question from a reader:

There is quite a bit of research on non-stick cookware. When it heats up to a certain temperature.... I believe it's 325*... it starts to put toxic fumes into the air, which can kill a parakeet or other small bird in the vicinity; not to mention what may get into the food.

You should never use plastic in the microwave. Plastic has a chemical in it that mimics an estrogen, which is why they use glass petri dishes. An experiment which tested very high levels of estrogen was later linked to the plastic dish. Heating the plastic just intensifies this. Hot food put into a plastic dish may also be a problem. Imagine what this could be doing to us, especially our men and young boys.

We got rid of most of our plastic dishes a long time ago, and the microwave shortly afterward. Microwaves have hazards of their own. We now use glass storage containers with silicone lids, glass lids would be preferable, but they are hard to stack. We also use canning jars often. Unfortunately we still are subject to plastics in food wrapping, freezer containers, etc.

We're not going to go bonkers over this, or fret much, but most of this was really easy to do. We don't miss the microwave at all. Everything can be heated up in the oven, stove top, or crock pot.

I would love to hear what you know about dinnerware, however without publishing your comment, I don't have access to link to your blog. (or at least I haven't figured out how)

Here is an article about using plastic with food

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/Out-Of-Diet-PG5nov03.htm

This one is about damage from plastic baby bottles

http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030331/danger-in-plastic-baby-bottles

Dr. Mercola has lots of info compiled about plastics, cookware, etc.

http://www.mercola.com/

Dave Ramsey and the Emergency Fund

2008-01-26T05:15:00.000-08:00

We're still listening to the Dave Ramsey tapes. They are definately worth the while and probably the price, but I inter-library loaned them!

His first step is create the "emergency fund". $1000 to start with and you are supposed to be intense with this to try to get it in the first month. We figured we would get this when the taxes came, however we have been intense in our efforts and have just saved $450. $200 from Hubby's paycheck, $200 from my business and $50 from Hubby putting a cabinet together for someone! We have not yet had to sell anything off to get here, but I have a set of McGuffy Readers that I could sell, and lots of cloth diapers that would help.

Something that Dave was very good at explaining was what an emergency fund is and is not. I love how he sounds when he says in a really deep voice, "Christmas is not an emergency, it comes at the same time every year!". The last 2 years we have had an emergency fund, but have always spent it when we wanted, or thought we needed something; including Christmas presents.

We also never put any effort into paying it back when something was used out of it. The point according to Dave is to put everything else on hold (purchases and extra debt payments) till the emergency fund is put back.

Here's to changing our thinking for the better! To no longer being servants to our lenders! Once we have the emergency fund funded I will post our debts and update as we pay them off.

Blessings,
Stella

Just stopping in to say, "Hi"

2008-01-17T02:57:00.000-08:00

I've been really busy. We've changed how we do school. We're making a more concentrated effort to work hard on a little, instead of spending time hurrying through lots of work. I will probably explain more later if it works out like I think it should.

I have been tremendously busy with my home business. I found a way to buy wholesale less expensively on the same quality material I've been using by buying from another manufacturer whose remnants are just the size I need! I've been working hard to purchase a bulk order which will save me tremendously!

We are also listening to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. He starts out sounding sort of ornery, but I think the effect is to try to get us to understand that debt is bad. I especially like how he asks you to consider the risk before you purchase something on credit. I never thought of this before. We have taken advantage of Same as Cash purchases, knowing that we would always pay them off before the promotional end date, because we knew that interest would be tacked on from day 1 if we didn't. However, we never considered the risk of a payment getting lost in the mail or otherwise delayed. What if Hubby's business made a mistake with the payroll checks? It's never happened before, but what's to say it wouldn't?

We're not going to spend any time worrying about that now, what's done is done. (We've got one to pay off next month-LORD willing!) However, just the idea should stop us from taking part in those "deals" again.

Well, I hope everyone is having a blessed week!
~Stella

Credit Cards, Credit Scores, Debt-Free Living

2008-01-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you Mrs. C for the heads-up on the credit score. I did some research this morning and found that you are partially correct.

Cancelling credit cards can lower your credit score, if....

the card is long standing say more than 10 years
there is a balance on the card
several cards are cancelled all at the same time

We were told by the mortgage company 4 years ago that we had an outstanding credit score. I am actually more concerned about getting another late payment comment on my credit score than having a note saying customer canceled card. We have cancelled cards in the past and apparently it has not hurt us.

Hubby made the decision yesterday that we would indeed be cancelling all credit cards in the near future. We have 3 major credit cards and one store card. Only one of these carries a balance, which was a same as cash deal that will be paid off in February. One of these can be cancelled immediately as it was never actually activated, but was used last year for a balance transfer to "pay off" a same as cash deal. It was paid within a couple of months and never used again. The other card needs to have some monthly bills taken off and transferred to a debit card.

We do not intent to take out any more loans or use credit cards any longer. We are going to put our faith in the Lord with patience and trust when we need something. Thinking back on our credit card use, it was never used for emergencies, but rather for splurges or times when we didn't want to wait to save the money.

I need to do a little more research, but apparently a debit card can be used anywhere a credit card can. For instance, monthly payments for internet use, or for purchasing something on the internet. Many companies are also starting to accept paypal, which is great for me because I always have money in my paypal account from my business.

We will not be without emergency money. The cards will not all be canceled until we have at least $1000 saved, which will be shortly.

If at any time we find we need to borrow money, our payment history on our mortgage should be sufficient. We also have plenty of collateral. We also do not intend to immediately go to a bank if we need money. Hubby's mom has loaned to us in the past, and I'm sure would not hesitate to in the future if a need arose. I also think asking family is harder than going to a bank and borrowing money or getting a credit card, because it is more "personal" and you have to do more "explaining". We also could sell some of the "wants" we have accumulated over the years. We are not without options.

We no longer wish to be servants to our lenders. as Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender". Rather we would rather serve our brothers and sisters in love.

Blessings,

~Stella

Not Happy with the Credit Card Company

2008-01-08T04:17:00.000-08:00

We've been working on getting out of debt, and rarely use the credit cards. We had a few things on one for Christmas, including Meg's sewing machine that was $20 less if we put it on the card. We put the sewing machine on just for that reason, even though we had the cash on us.

We don't carry a balance on the card, so no interest. We thought that was responsible use of the card. We paid our bill and forgot about it.

Well, Hubby had a purchase that hadn't been delivered so he decided to check with the credit card to see if the item had been charged. Uh-oh, big balance that shouldn't have been there. Apparently they had not gotten our payment and charged us a late fee $39 and interest. He explained that we paid and gave them the date sent. They said to call back on Monday to see if it came and if there was anything they could do then.

Well, Hubby called back yesterday. The automated voice said they had received our payment. However when he tried to talk to a live person they accused him of fraud. My husband has sinus problems and has lately been called ma'am because of his voice. The lady on the phone was actually yelling at him, that it is a federal offense to impersonate someone and try to use their credit card. Saying, "I can make a quick call and the feds will be at your house in minutes." She said "I'm turning you over to the fraud department right now." He said, "Please!"

ERRR. Well they asked if he was at home and could they call him back. Well that took care of the problem and they apologized. However, when they sent him back to the billing department they were also rude about the late fee. They said he needed to mail it 10-12 days before the due date. But the due date is only 19 days after the end of the billing date and we sent it just a few days after receiving the bill. There is also the option of calling in the payment, or using the Internet but there is a fee for that.

They did refund the $39 late fee but not the interest. When the bill comes we are canceling the card. There is no reason for a man (or anyone) to be treated like that.

A friend of mine is listening to some finance advice and has learned that some credit card companies are purposely delaying sending statements and opening received payments so they can charge late fees and interest to make more money.

I guess there is no responsible use of credit cards. A lesson learned at least for me. I don't know what Hubby will do, he only mentioned canceling this card. We'll see what he says when he thinks on it more.

My children are going to be sad when they wake up

2008-01-08T04:07:00.000-08:00

Their last cat is gone, and I can't even let them go outside. She got caught in the truck's fan blade. She is stuck tight and Hubby didn't have time to get her out before going to work. It was so warm out that he didn't even warm up the truck ahead of time, and was on his way to work.

I have to tell them when they wake up.

Gratefulness

2008-01-07T03:50:00.000-08:00

We had some problems this weekend with ungratefulness and rudeness. This has been coming on for awhile, and I should have been more diligent to stop the behavior before it happened in public and with our dear friends.

Hubby sat us all down and had a talk with us. Everyone was crying except Little Boy, and even he looked really concerned. He talked about people who barely have the necessities of life, and how we have WAY more than we need. Though we have always had some struggles financially we have an abundance.

I was so proud of Hubby. He was so cool, even though he was angry about the behaviors. He suggested we take some items of need to a homeless shelter, so the children can see how some people are living. He tried to get across to them that WE could be in that same spot. Jobs are not secure. It's unlikely at this point we would end up on the street, as Hubby is able-bodied and we have family that would take us in if necessary. But the point is, it could happen, as it has happened to many across the country.

We also decided it was necessary for the children not to spend so much time unsupervised. Granted they are old enough to do most anything that need be done, and to take care of themselves and youngers, however they are still in training. They still need correction. One in particular just needs constant reminders to smile. The girls will still be needed to babysit once in a while, and will still have some free time to be alone, but it has been cut drastically. Saturday and Sunday they were allowed one hour to play quietly in their room while Daddy, Mommy, and Little Boy took a nap.

I need to remember also to show gratefulness in front the children. Thanking God for all things needs to be done out loud, in front of the children so they can see how it's done. Joy comes from the LORD, from thanksgiving in all He does; for provisions and ailments alike; all are done for our benefit. God has blessed us in so many ways. It is time to rejoice aloud in all things. Praise ye the LORD, Hallelujah!

A Good Mother

2008-01-02T04:38:00.001-08:00

I read a blog article that I didn't really like about the perfect wife and mother. I thought I'd share my version of the imperfect mother. Only read if you are imperfect like me and have a sense of humor!

A Good Mother

A good mother would never yell at her children.

A good mother never yell at her children while in a car lot, to unlock the van doors because said mother locked her children and her keys in said van.

A good mother would not expect her 3 year old to remember how to unlock the doors while her mother is yelling at her, even though she’s played with the locks many times before.

A good mother would never yell at her children while holding the phone and accidentally dialing 911.

A good mother would never leave in the middle of a story to answer the door for the police while wondering what the neighbors did now, and why they wanted to ask her about it.

A good mother wouldn’t be totally surprised to find the police are correct when they tell her that she has an open line to 911 and there was yelling.

A good mother wouldn’t still be wondering 8 years later how that happened.

A good mother never laughs and scolds her children at the same time.

A good mother never laughs when her sons first 6 word sentence contains the word d*mmit; said in context.

A good mother doesn’t hide the dead baby rabbit in the woods while the children are sleeping, then tell them the rabbit was ready to go back in the wild.

A good mother doesn’t give in to the children crying that they didn’t get to see it one more time, go back into the woods, and take a picture of herself holding the dead baby rabbit.

A good mother doesn’t let her children carry around a picture of a dead baby rabbit, while her not so dumb children continue to wonder how the baby rabbit, that was fed with a dropper, was suddenly old enough to fend for himself.

A good mother wouldn’t confess several days later because her children wouldn’t stop asking questions.

A good mother never forgets to make lunch.

A good mother never hits her baby’s head on the doorframe while walking through the door way.

A good mother never drops a large baby out of an over full laundry basket because she thought that would be the easiest way to get both up the stairs.

A good mother doesn’t get sidetracked while teaching spelling and trimming strings on her sewing.

A good mother doesn’t give a spelling word like this… “sea gull. Mrs. Smith fed the sea gull a Cheezit with her toes. Cheezit.”

A good mother knows why her kids are laughing. Cheezit is not the spelling word.

A good mother doesn’t eat brownies for breakfast, while telling her children they are having oatmeal for breakfast because it’s good for them.

A good mother doesn’t quickly leave a public restroom without flushing or washing her hands because her child, who is in the stall with her, loudly announces in a shocked voice “MOM, you have hair on your….”

A good mother shouldn’t assume that children won’t suddenly notice things even though you’ve been sharing a bathroom for x number of years.

A good mother never takes a shower while the kids are outside doing the chores, because the neighbors very large puppy will decide to come play with the chickens aka rip them apart, while screaming children have shut themselves in the hen house; leaving poor children to wait for rescue till good mother is done taking her leisurely shower.

A good mother does not take her children outside in the winter without coats and shoes.

A good mother does not try to make the non-ambulatory baby walk while carrying the 2 year old outside in the winter without coats and shoes.

A good mother does not catch the house on fire making it necessary to take the children outside without coats and shoes while getting sidetracked and thinking the baby can walk.

A good mother doesn’t startle the neighbor by yelling, “Call 911. My house is on fire,” causing her neighbor to think she’s kidding, because she just walked across the street from her house; until said neighbor realizes the crazy mom has her children outside in the winter without coats and shoes and is trying to make the baby walk.

A good mother doesn’t start a fire twice in one day by trying to melt candles. A good mother will look back and see if the fire put itself out before taking children outside without coats and shoes and having the neighbor call 911.

A good mother never pretends that she’s perfect when her children know she’s not.

A good mother WILL ALWAYS laugh at her mistakes!

Written and experience by this “good” mother!

By the way, a good police officer, with a tiny fire extinguisher, will have watched Backdraft before asking a frantic mother to go back into a not-so-burning building to show him where the fire is.

And a good secretary would take the message to tell my husband that his house is on fire instead of just handing him the phone that I forgot to hang up. After Hubby tried to get my attention over my sobbing, he finally heard the sirens and decided he better hurry home.

Hope this gave ya'll a good laugh!

~Stella

Odds and Ends

2008-01-02T04:38:00.000-08:00

I spent the last half hour reading blogs and so not much time to post, so I'll smash it all in here.

I finished all my must dos yesterday, and cleaned up all the paper work on the computer and cleaned out my desk. A few years back I came across an address book out of an organizer that didn't get used instead of throwing it away I tossed it on the computer. It is a great way to organize favorite websites, passwords and email addresses, etc.

The little bit of organization I have has slowly grown over the last 10 years or so. I am not naturally organized (you should have known me when! Think basement= whole house in 1994) (Thanks for the comment though) I have gleaned little bits of help from everywhere. I started with Side-Tracked Sisters (google it). Found and enjoyed flylady for a year, met Candy at www.keepingthehome.com where I learned to make and use a Home Management Binder. I like the Home Management Binder better than the Flylady Control Journal. Mostly because I know I am not really in control! There are other reasons to. Either system can work though.

Totally unrelated, but we have a critter living in our ceiling. I woke up early one morning, when Hubby was in the bathroom, to the sound of scratching or chewing above my head. I tried to get Hubby's attention, but when I spoke loud enough for him to hear the noise stopped. I think Hubby thought I was crazy or at least it was just ice cracking on the roof. Does ice have ears; I think not!

A couple of nights later, I heard it in the middle of the night. I put my hand on Hubby's face and whispered, "Shhh". He heard it too, and even snuck outside to see if it was sitting on the corner of the roof. Nope its in the ceiling. We have cathedral ceilings, so no attic or access to it. He found a few places outside where he thought it could have gotton in. He plugged the holes and we waited to smell it. No luck he's still there and running around. Hubby finally got a ladder, and guess what? When the house was built they left huge openings under the eaves. New house, huh? So we had to resort to poison until spring when he can stand to be outside long enough to take the eaves down and seal up the house.

Well, Little Boy just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He usually has a cheerful, "Good morning" for everyone, but not today!

Big day ahead, first day of school for 2008!

See ya!

Continued: To Do List

2008-01-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

With a few revisions.

MUSTS DONE

Take inventory for business X
Tab a new notebook for business X
Write down end/beginning of year mileage X
Go through box of bills, receipts under bed X
File above and empty file from 2006 X

LIKE TO Didn't Even get a chance to think about them

Update Little Boy's baby book
Type up papers from Home Management Binder
Redo budget with Hubby

New Year's Resolutions

2007-12-31T05:48:00.000-08:00

Nope! Not gonna do it.

However, since this is the last day of the year, and we start school back up on Wednesday I'm going to spend the next two days decluttering and filing paperwork.

Hubby and I started on a cupboard last night. We sorted, bagged, labeled, and boxed all the cords. (Phone chargers, battery chargers and walky talkies and their chargers.) We then tackled the papers in the same cupboard that were stuffed in the with bill organizer. Most got thrown away, and some went in a pile to put in my home management binder today. The bill organizer also got cleaned out an organized.

I used some Christmas money from dear Mother-in-law to buy a new purse. Finally big enough to fit my coupon orgnanizer. Actually I can fit the coupons, my wallet thingy, JoAnn's and Hancock fabric ads, and a full-sized Bible in there, along with all the other odds and ends a lady is supposed to carry! I also bought a wallet style contraption. It has several slots for bills, all my store club cards (and one credit card) insurance cards, a place for pictures, checkbook, and paper pad! I finally was able to get rid of all the money envelopes I carry around since we use an envelope system for our budget.

Here's my to do list for the next few days.

Call about the numbers that go on the back of the generic dental cards they sent us. X
Look up Delta Dental and find out which dentists we can go to. X
Pay some bills X
Clean and reorganize the Home Management Binder and add papers found yesterday X
Type up some of my papers for HMB
Figure sales tax for my business and file my paperwork to make room for 2008 X
Clean/organize top shelf of school cupboard X
Go through box under bed of bills, receipts, etc from 2007
File those and get rid of the file from 2006

That should keep me busy along with the regular daily and Monday and Tuesday chores. No school or sewing until this is done, or Wednesday.

Hope you all have a productive day!
~Stella

GNATS

2007-12-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

When I was cleaning my basement I had to find a solution for gnats. Anyone who gardens and brings produce into the house for the winter will understand. A few stragglers come in on the food (onions, potatoes, squash, etc.) and then they multiply. No matter how often you pick out any food that is starting to go bad; you still cannot get rid of them.

Well, I had hundreds of gnats to get rid of before our get together. Not willing to fumigate, I got to thinking about something that works for apple trees to keep the worms out. I put one cup of vinegar in a jar, with a cup of sugar. Worked like a charm. Within a couple of days I had a jar full of drowned gnats. ( I had a picture too- but the computer... Ah well, it was pretty gross anyhow!)

I'm Back

2007-12-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

I really didn't leave. We had a big get-together here on the 22nd. Then my computer crashed. I had a virus that I deleted many times, yet it kept coming back. I also caught a real virus, as did the entire family.

We are not healed, cleaned, and restored. Well, almost. I am having problems with internet explorer on some sites, but Foxfire works fine on them???? Anyone have any ideas?

I had planned to post some more before and after photos of my basement, but all my before shots were lost with the system restore. I am not willing to mess it back up just for a good photo. LOL.

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas, holiday, vacation, or whatever.

Super Saving Saturday Payoff!!!!

2007-12-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

This was our super saving for the week! We paid off our loan. We had been paying little bits extra on it here or there, but in the last few months we have paid several hundred dollars extra, mostly from cutting our grocery budget ( and this right before Christmas! It is so neat to have extra money at Christmas time!

Our savings is now from having NO interest bearing loans besides the mortgage! We still have 2 interest free loans to pay. One will be paid off in February, and we hope to have the other paid off by Feb. of 2009. LORD willing!

Need to know how to get huge savings on groceries. Check out http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ You can see our recent savings, and grocery budget goals here: http://happyinthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/Frugal%20Living

A Time For Everything: Should Women Discuss Doctrinal Issues Amongst Each Other?

2007-12-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

A Time For Everything: Should Women Discuss Doctrinal Issues Amongst Each Other?

Decluttering the Basement

2007-12-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

Part of my to-do list to get ready for Christmas was to declutter the downstair/basement. I've been working at it for 2 days now. These are just a few of my before and after pics. Here is the toy area under the stairs.
Basically it just didn't all fit. So while everyone else was busy. I cleaned up. This area alone required 1 1/2 lawn size garbage bags. The tubs on the top shelf still need going through, but much better.
This is what will eventually be a family room. I didn't have much to work with here, as there is as yet no better place to store the box spring. We are keeping it in case the girls decide to ditch the bunks.
Much better. It really is hard because this is all yet unfinished. The only actual room down here is the girls' bedroom which is on the other side of that wall. Hubby did a beautiful job. We have lots of plans for down here, but we need to wait until we can afford to do the work.
This wall is almost entirely filled with shelves and storage items. Baby clothes, decorations, and school books. For some reason I didn't get all of the shelves in the before pic, but they were just as bad. Lots of garbage bags here.

This area is still not finished. The desk is not being used and needs to find a new home, though I don't think that will happen before Christmas.

I wonder what the trash collecter thought when he stopped. Lots of extra bags, an old car seat, and a rolled up matteress.

There are still a lot of areas down here that need to be decluttered. The good news is I got rid of a lot and didn't just shuffle it to another part of the basement. Maybe I'll update as I go.

Oh, and just for comparison sake, our upstairs is NOTHING like the down stairs. We actually have peaceful looking living areas.

Our Family Portrait

2007-12-12T08:10:00.000-08:00

Two of our daughters are paper doll nuts. They have made paper dolls for every person they know. This is our family. Amy definately does not have red hair, but other than that and the REALLY long legs. It's not bad.

My Tubal Reversal

2007-12-12T05:08:00.000-08:00

By 1996 we had been married 4 years and had two children and one on the way. This was going to give us 3 children 3 and under. I was stressed emotionally and we were both stressed financially. I knew nothing about budgeting, child raising, or managing a home. It was a good day if I did the dishes and the kids ate more than mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, and canned fruit for lunch. They always had cold cereal for breakfast. I cleaned house sporadically, and spent a lot of time in front of the TV.

I was not a horrible mom, I stayed home, breastfed, took my children outside and walked with them a lot! I just didn't have my priorities straight. (Boy, have we come a long way)

Anyway, we had been having trouble with our finances. We were using WIC, and the state was paying for our health insurance. We were trying really hard to get off the assistance when I found out I was expecting. The lady at the state office said they would tie my tubes for free. What a relief. (Never, never, never make a decision when you are stressed, and/or pregnant.) It was all too easy, and everyone was so supportive.

Hubby never let on that he was having second thoughts even on the day of the surgery (the day after Amy's birth) when I asked, "Are you sure". I was having second thoughts but I chalked them up to pre-surgery jitters. Boy was I grumpy when I came to. I blamed that on the anesthetic.

Amy was the perfect baby! (as far as the world is concerned). She rarely cried, she slept for long hours and would fall back to sleep very quickly and easily. It wasn't long before I was pining for another baby.

Six months later I was saved! My prospective slowly started to change. I started learning these crazy ideas of how to be a good wife, and to train my children.

I prayed for God to heal my womb. In 2000, I was on a Christian woman's homekeeping board, and say the signature of a woman there. She listed her children and then added and our tubal reversal babies... I actually thought she had had a tubal pregnancy moved. When I did a search on tubal reversals, I realized what she had done. Then we were pointed to Psalm 127. We also read the book "A Full Quiver". Our eyes were opened, we had not trusted God. We had leaned on our own understanding. What were we to do. We talked and prayed for God to heal my womb. We knew that we couldn't afford to get a reversal as they cost $12,000-15,000.

Praise be to God, we found that there are doctors scattered around the country that did this surgery at a very reduced cost. We found a doctor a few states away that charged $4375 all inclusive. This was still a HUGE amount of money for us, as we had never saved any money. The next paycheck we were able to put $200 in a savings account. We figured at that rate it would take.....

Well, God had other plans in mind. Apparently we needed to learn to trust. Every paycheck we put money in the bank we had to take it back out for an unexpected expense. For months and months we never accumulated more than that original $200. I really felt that God wanted us to do this, but if we could only save $200 in six months it would take....... Ahhh. One day I re-read Psalm 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it". Now I understood, that I was trying so hard to build my house, but if the LORD wanted this surgery, He would provide for it.

I then quit worrying about it. Then in January I was figuring our taxes and about went through the roof. Some of the tax had changed and we were a lot of money back. $4175 to be exact. $200 shy of the amount we needed for the surgery. Then I remembered the $200 still sitting in the bank! We couldn't believe the money was the exact amount! (Actually, when I refigured I had made a mistake, we actually ended up with $7 more. Hmmm) Praise God! He did it all!

Hubby told me to go ahead and make the appointment. I could get in March 21, which just happened to coincide with the month that Hubby gets an extra paycheck because of how the weeks fall. That money would pay for our travel.

Dr. Curlin was great! He had pictures of his sons and grandsons (he didn't have any girls) on the wall with Bible verses underneath them in his office. He was retired as an OB-GYN and did these surgeries as a ministry. The surgery went well, and I went home early the next morning.

The next four years were a huge test of faith, and I constantly had to go back to the beginning of Psalm 127. I had since found out that one tube had scarred closed, and it was the side my body favored for ovulation. That made it very hard to conceive, and when I did I kept miscarrying. I had to keep giving this back to God. I had done what I could to fix my body, and the rest was up to God. At one point during a Bible study, I realized that my worth was not wrapped up in whether I could have more children, how many I had, or good a wife and mother I was. My worth was because God created me for His purpose-not mine. I was finally able to rest in the Lord.

August 14, 2004 Hubby's dad went to be with the LORD. Now we know that God knew Hubby would need something to look forward to in the dark days of depression when he was missing his dad so terribly. Two weeks later we found out I was expecting. We conceived the night after Dad's passing. This was our first (and so far only) son, named after his grandpa. God is so good, he knows all things. If we could only look into the future and see what God had planned for us, we would always say, "Yes, LORD, your ways are always right".

I've Got the Blues!

2007-12-10T03:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, not really. I'm not depressed or anything. It's just that the desire to have another baby gets really strong at times. It seems like the last few weeks it's been getting stronger. At first I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I started to count. I know 9 women expecting 11 babies, and that is not counting my cyberfriends.

That is truly incredible. I can usually at any given time count 2 or 3 pregnant women that I know. I really do get excited when someone tells me they are expecting, whether it's their first, or tenth, or they just had one ten months ago. Okay, there are a few that give me thought for example the unwed mom expecting twins..... That seems to be when I get a little jealous, but God is sovereign and He knows what He is doing.

It took 4 years to get Little Boy, and I am still prone to miscarriages. I'm also 35, and while I know that it's not ancient by any means, fertility rates do go down and when your not very fertile anyway... well. Yes, I have written about contentment, but sometimes it is hard, especially when these are good gifts that I desire. I will praise the Lord no matter what!

Oh, something truly amazing I read yesterday. A sweet blogger had a miscarriage last month, and just found out she is STILL expecting. The doctor has her theory's, I say it's a miracle! Anyone who miscarries knows this is what we hope for after we've gotten the bad news, even though we know it is irrational. Praise God, this is what happened in her case!

I truly am blessed to raise 4 lovely, interesting, unique children for the Lord. I also know I have a brood in Heaven! I don't normally tell people about wanting another child. I hear so many times, that I should be happy for what I have ( as though I'm not), There are people who have no children (yes, and that is so sad). One person even told Hubby while I was pregnant with Little Boy, "Some people can't have children and you breed like rabbits", said the nice Christian lady. It is just so foreign to people in today's world that someone would desire many children.

If you are expecting, praise God for that little one. It truly is a miracle to be able to conceive and carry such a precious little bundle! I know, I've gotten to do it 4 times!

Psalm 127 was one of the verses instrumental in us deciding to have a tubal reversal 6 years ago. I have many times had to go back to the first 2 verses. I also think it is interesting that He put these verses together.

1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Okay, now that that is out, I can concentrate on the things I can do something about!

A Few Good Deals

2007-12-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

I didn't keep track of my shopping this week, but I did get a couple of good deals from our local grocer.

*Crispix cereal was on sale for $1.88. I had a $1 off coupon. Total 88cents.
*Hamburger Helper on sale for 99cents. I had a 75 cent off three coupon.
*Store coupon buy 4 Hamburger Helper get $1 off hamburger. Bought 1# hamburger on sale for $1.99. Paid 99cents.
*Store coupon $2.00 off any Sundown Vitamin. Bought the 100 ct. 500mg Vit C at $2.59 paid 59cents.

Saving my coupons and watching for store sales has really helped me to get some good deals. Before moneysavingmom I would not have thought to use both the Hamburger Helper coupon and the hamburger coupon together. Actually I probably wouldn't have thought to clip the coupons at all.

Check it out: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Let's Cheer Each Other On!

2007-12-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

Hadias has said she will play the tagging game next week. She decided to take a break from blogging so if she doesn't get to it, we'll assume she was busy getting caught up!

I had thought about leaving the questions till next week also, so I had lots to write. Going ahead and writing it down made me decide I better do something, so I got on the horn and called all the relatives and got a date put on the calendar for our Christmas party.

I was just thinking that it was not just Hadias and I that are a bit behind this season, and it would be fun to have a little accountability while cheering each other on. So if anyone else is game, why don't we make a list of the things we REALLY want or need to get done this month. You can either leave a comment with your list, or a link to your blog entry with your to do list!

Lord bless you and may you have a productive week.
~Stella

My To Do List

Take a picture of the kids
Turn the picture into a Christmas Card and get them sent out
Catch up one day on school so we can start the new year right on time
Finish planning the Christmas party
Finish shopping for My family, Secret Santa, and Stockings
Declutter the downstairs for the Christmas party

I've Been Tagged!

2007-12-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by http://www.keepersofthehomejm.blogspot.com/ to play a question and answer game.

1. What did you accomplish this past week? Oh dear, you expect me to remember a WHOLE week? I can't think of anything out of the ordinary. The house is mostly clean, every one is clothed and well fed. Business has picked up and I did a huge amount of sewing.

Maybe I should list the things I should have gotten accomplished: Picture of the kids for a Christmas card. Organize Hubby's family Christmas. Any volunteers to take these over??? I dread them both! Organizing the family Christmas is my life long job. Everyone else has a family with 2 full time jobs, which means trying to find a weekend day and time when no one has to work. Ugh! Okay nuff complaining, it really is fun when such a big family gets together!

2. Did anything not go as expected? Yes. We didn't get to go to Church Sunday. We had some weather problems, which caused vehicle problems. Meg was supposed to play piano for the special music portion of the service. We had to call and they told her they could fit her in at the end of February. I think I was more disappointed than she was!

3. What was the highlight of your week? Goodness I sound so whiney in my last two responses. Really the week was rather quite and busy as usual! I love being home with my family! I love having days that others would consider boring! The highlight was probably realizing we have less than two more weeks for school on this years calendar!

4. Did anything exciting happen that you did not expect? An Amish buggy hit our mailbox. I'm not sure what happened, but the girls said the top of the mailbox was leaning. On inspecition there are horse prints and wheel marks right up to it. I hope they are all right!

Well, I get to tag someone.... How about http://proverbswife.blogspot.com/ and http://bellamamasprairielife.blogspot.com/

Dad made it out okay.

2007-12-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

We don't know if the procedure will take care of his pain or not. The doctor said it may feel worse before it feels better. No complications, but he still needs to watch for side effects for a couple of days.

Glad that is over.

2007-12-04T02:38:00.000-08:00

We're taking my Dad to an appointment at the hospital this morning. He injured his back a LONG time ago and they have been doing various pain management routines. Today they are going into the nerves by his spinal cord. The doctor thinks this will give him some real relief, however it is not without risks. If there is any bleeding during the proceedure it is emergency surgery. Also there is the risk of paralysis anytime they get close to the spinal cord.

We'll all be glad when this proceedure is over. My mom is so nervous she won't even go. She volunteered to take the kids at her house (this is really unnecessary). It will keep her busy, so they are packing up the school books and heading to Grandmas.

There is also a chance of bad weather today, which doesn't easy Mom's nerves any; another reason she doesn't want to go.

Any prayers today, would be greatly appreciated.

I'll update later.

Sing Jesus Mommy

2007-12-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

After his naptime story, Little Boy curled up on my lap to snuggle and whispered, "Sing Jesus, Mommy". I've sang to him since he was newborn, anything from "Jesus Loves Me" to "You Are My Sunshine". I thought it was so sweet that he wanted a "Jesus" song!

Super Saving Saturday (CVS Long Distance)

2007-12-01T06:01:00.000-08:00

Hubby used his card and an ECB he had.

3 Puffs 2.97
2 Candy Cane 1.76
-Puffs coupon - .50
-ECB -3.99
Total oop .29

My Transaction

CVS Shave gel 1.99

CVS transparent tape .99

CVS Chewable Vit C 100ct 5.39

CVS Chewable Vit C 100ct 2.69 bogo 50%

2 Sprint Prepaid 143 min 9.99 bogo

-$3 off $10 CVS purchase -3.00

- ECBs -16.36

Total oop $1.81

I had not intended to use ecbs for the phone cards. We use them for long distance anyway. However I didn't get the Benefiber and Gax-ex I had intended to which put my total lower. After they gave me my total they told me I wasn't supposed to use ecbs for the cards. I feel somewhat guilty now. I don't want to abuse the system. I could have thrown in some batteries or something, but I don't think well on my feet. kwim

Anyway, my transaction did not generate any ecbs, but I am still pleased to have lots of things that we can use. Next weeks deals include Tide and cough drops. The sale price on each is what I would normally spend on sale and will generate ecbs. So I will be back in the game.

On another note: When we got home when had a gift package with goodies for the kids, including unsweetened applesauce, juice boxes, canned ham, barbequed pork, and fruit snacks, and peanut butter! Praise the Lord!

Want to participate in Super Saving Saturday? Visit Crystal at http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Super Saving Saturday! Black Friday

2007-12-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

Super Saving 1: Black Friday

Our main goal on Black Friday was to score big at the Fabric Stores. We hit JoAnns and Hancock. Both places have quality flannel on sale for 99cents a yard! Hancock even allowed another 10 % coupon on top of that. I made one mistake though. I didn't check the name on the bolt and ended up paying $8 a yard for one print. Got 5 yards of that one. I ended up with 156 yards of flannel averaged at $1.17 a yard. I also picked up some fleece at a great price, and a couple of presents at these stores!

We also stopped at Walgreens and CVS as you can see in the picture. 3 rolls of wrapping paper and 2 boxes of Hersheys Pot of Gold boxed chocolates are missing from the picture.

Walgreens:

3 Rolls wrapping paper

Latex free bandaids

Polident Cleaner (for my dad)

Blistix

Total oop after gift card for last months FAR: 1.26

CVS Transaction 1

Hersheys Xtra Dark 2.99

CVS Freezer Bags 1.79

Johnson's Soft Lotion 5.69

Soft Soap Body Wash 3.99 (This will go in the hand pumps for company)

-$1 Johnsons coupon

-$1 Soft soap coupon

-$2 off $10 purchase

- 9.98 ECB

=total oop 65 cents

Recieved 14.46 back in ECBs

CVS Transaction 2

Excederin 3.79

2 CVS Freezer Bags 3.58

2 Candy Canes (bogo) .99

Bic Soleil Razor 6.99

2 Hersheys Pot of Gold 9.00

-Excederin Q 2.00

-Bic Q 2.00

-ECB from Transaction1 14.46

Total oop $ 6.58 Which is slightly less than I was going to pay for the 2 Pot of Golds at another store. We were in a hurry to get to another sale, which is why I didn't do a 3 rd transaction and get these for free.

Got back 16.36 in ECBs

We were also given a pasture fed turkey, and 2 1/2 dozen eggs. Praise the Lord for all his provisions!

You can see other great deals at http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

How Many Beds?

2007-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

We have 5 beds for 6 people, but I think we could get by with 3.

Only Meg appreciates having her own bed. Anyone but Meg would sleep with us if we'd let them. Little Boy sometimes does for naps, or early in the morning on Sundays when we sleep a little later.

We sleep in two beds when we stay in a motel. Our camper sleeps 5; usually the girls sleep in a tent, but during a storm once they all piled in along with my parents and we managed to sleep!

When we moved into this house Hubby built a room for Jo and Amy. Up until this point they had bunk beds but slept together in one of them. They decided they each wanted their own beds. So we bought them. Well now all three girls are in the one room, and guess where Jo and Amy can be found. Sleeping together in one bunk! 12 and 10 and they still prefer to snuggle up together. We always have at least one empty bed.

Meg moved into their room with them about 6 months ago because she said she wanted to develop a better relationship with her sisters. I love that these girls like each other so well. Don't get me wrong, they have their squabbles, but they really to get along quite well.

We don't have a 'family bed'. I think we all need some privacy, but I think it's great that we are all able to share our 'space' once in a while.

Having Time for Everything

2007-11-26T04:18:00.000-08:00

Ahh, I feel like my head is spinning. I asked God for guidance this morning. I need to figure out what to put my energy into, and what to cut back on.

The money saving with coupons and store ads, especially CVS, is really helping our budget; as is the menu planning. I really need to find a way to spend less time at it. I asked the girls if they wanted to take over the menu planning, but no takers. The person doing this job needs to have some interest in it.

Business is booming, which is also helping with the finances. I need to let one of my girls practice on these projects. Meg already has enough sewing for her own job.

Blogging also takes some time, not sure if I'm willing to give this up. I've always wanted to keep a journal. I did when I was younger, but it needed to be destroyed, I didn't need a record of all my sins and how I relished in them.

Of course there is school, housekeeping, bill paying, and all the family stuff to keep a mom busy all the day long!

Hubby says I need to focus on one thing at a time. I really think that is a man thing. How can a mom with 4 children, soup on the stove, laundry in the washer, and the phone ringing, concentrate on one thing at a time. I'm thinking crayon on the walls, stinky laundry and burnt soup.

God bless you (and me too) as you go about our day!

Remaining Anonymous

2007-11-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

Under my husband's protection and recommendation, I have chosen not to give our real names, location, or pictures of our family. Though, I would be willing to bet all of my readers are 'good' people, we still need to be under protection.

I'm sure I don't need to mention all the bad things that have happened, for you all to understand why.

Anyway, I think it is confusing to always say, the youngest girl, oldest girl etc. So I will reintroduce us as...

Stella-that's me. Mom. A Nickname.

Daddy, or Hubby depending on the context

Meg- 14

Jo- 12

Amy- 10

Little Boy- 2

The girl's names are close so I don't forget and Little Boy, well, we sometimes call him Little Brother anyway.

I really would love to show you all pictures. I really have a beautiful family, but you'll just have to use your imagination.

It is nice to meet all of you, especially if you've commented! I always stop by to visit the blogs of those that have commented to me. (Unless your profile is not public.)

Running in the House

2007-11-21T04:05:00.000-08:00

I had this topic on my list of blog ideas. I was going to write about how I don't mind running in the house. As a matter of fact, this family seems to like to chase each other around the house. Daddy chases Mommy, Girls chase Daddy, Everyone chases Little Boy! The kids chase each other. I actually like the sound of the kids running around playing together, especially the sound of a toddler running; they really do pat-ter!

Except yesterday. Amy wanted to get the mail. I told her it was cold and she needed her jacket. Now running to get things is usually frowned upon, however, she went sprinting through the house. Her feet slipped out from under her and she smacked her head on the island counter on the way down.

She ended up with a gaping wound right behind her ear. It was good that MIL had just walked out our door and was easy to catch. She drove us to the hospital for stitches. They ended up gluing it. Since it was a head injury we had to wake her up every couple of hours last night. She seems fine though, and didn't even want to go to be early.

We actually would have glued the wound ourselves, but decided against it because it was a head injury. I was glad she didn't tell them that when they were asking if she'd ever had stitches before. I can just hear it now, "No, but Daddy glued my chin shut!" UH-OH!

Actually we've done pretty good for injuries in this house. 4 kids and only 2 dislocations (She was a seal being pulled to shore by one arm by her sister) (He tipped his chair backward and caught his arm between it and the wall) One broken hand (fell off bike) a broken toe (trying to walk gracefully-oh, my!) A split chin (tipping a chair back) And now a split head. Not to bad I'd say and only one kid has had 2 injuries.

So anyway, maybe we'll have to have a 'rule' about running in the house. It is only allowed if you are playing!

I Almost Threw My Walgreens Card Away

2007-11-20T03:56:00.000-08:00

Alright, the couponing thing is driving me crazy. I don't like paperwork. I've made a decision, if coupons are not filed by Monday, they are going in the trash. Not only do we get a paper on Sunday for filling up with gas, but my MIL gives us hers from 2 papers. I appreciate the coupons, but I don't like clutter. Ahhh.

Walgreens gives a gift card with 10% extra for mail in rebates. For the first time they send the card, there after they just recharge it. It was supposed to be sent out on the 2nd. Well, amonst all the coupons, store adds, and junk mail I almost missed it. It came early last week. There was nothing on the envelope to suggest Walgreens, so I put in the open and shred pile. When I was opening the junk mail today, I got quite a surprise. There was my card. I could have gotton my free after rebate items yesterday since we were in the area. Oh, well, I will have it for Black Friday.

Yesterday, I went to CVS and they chuckled that my coupon book was 'so small'. I can hardly shut my purse, but apparently another lady comes in with a coupon book the size of a real photo album!

Later, I have a sick boy who will wake up soon. Thanks Bellamama for the suggestions for cough, I'll have to try those today!

Sick Little Boy

2007-11-19T05:19:00.000-08:00

Little Boy woke up with a dry cough and chest congestion. We are giving him echinacea and Vit. C., and a little Robitussin while he sleeps.

So far this little one has never been on an antibiotic and we would like to keep it that way. Any prayers will be appreciated.

Later,
Stella

Only spent $62.44 in Groceries for the Week for 6 People!!!

2007-11-17T05:03:00.000-08:00

Check out these pictures! I am so pleased to have a full pantry again! I was feeling a little "thin" in the food department these last few weeks. I like to have so easy foods to make for those days I'm really busy; to keep us from eating out!

Everything in both pictures..... Drumroll please.... $33.75!!!

My Best Deals are in the picture. Apparently I hit the salvage store right after they got a new truckful. My new strategy is to pick through all the items and get the best prices. They usually have tuna marked 40cents, but I noticed one marked 30 cents. I picked through and found all the 30cent cans. (There was no difference and nothing was even close to expiring!)

I also found one can marked free because it didn't have a label. Hubby laughed and said it was probably cat food. (we have a cat, so no problem there) It was tuna!

I found the same price difference with the cereal. The six boxes of cereal I bought were marked $1.00 and $1.25 each. Some of the same brand, size, expir. were marked $1.50 and $1.75.

The noodles are organic; 40cents each one pound bags. 3 bags macadamia nuts 25cents each. 2 bags walnuts 25cents each.

My favorite find..... Coconut oil $1.00! We use this instead of shortening and sometimes butter. It is usually $2.89 at Walmart.

Not pictured oranges, lettuce, mayo, milk, eggs, peanut butter, catfood, and a 16# Turkey!

Oh, yeah; Hubby bought 2 bags of Doritos.

I'm very pleased with this week. We also traded sewing for organic hamburger and were given almost 2 quarts of goat milk! All total we spent $62.44. $57.56 left for next week.

Want to see our goal and previous weeks shopping? http://happyinthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/Frugal%20Living

Want to know more about shopping for Super Saving Saturday? Visit Crystal at www.moneysavingmom.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Of a Sensitive Nature-Need to Pray for These Kids.

2007-11-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

I understand this is a very sensitive nature, however I feel a need to talk about it.

This has been on my heart lately. We have heard a lot lately about pred*tors. I often think, "My daughter is the same age as the 'target' was supposed to have been."

My SIL opened my eyes about this. She is a principal and had to take a course on this subject. The police did a sting operation on the internet right there during the course. They 'caught' a 19 year old (He was later apprehended). My SIL said everyone in the room was so disgusted, yet all she could think is, "I have a son close to that age."

What an eye opener. And we are all correct, it is disgusting, it is frightening, it could be our daughter, or it could be our son.

A similar situation has been brought to prayer a lot at church lately. A teen girl (relative of a church member) had gotten a ride from an older boy. He took her to the woods and shot her three times when he was finished with her. Then he left. We have spent the last month praying for her recovery. The boy has been apprehended. Lately the church has been praying for justice to be done.

Out of sensitivity for church members I just want to ask everyone anonymously to pray for this boy. What awful thing has been done to him in the past? Should we not pray for this boy as well as the girl he hurt and left to die? This was a horrendous thing he has done, but Jesus did not come for the righteous man. Cannot this boy also be saved? Yes, he should be punished, but shouldn't someone take the gospel to him also.

Please pray for this girl's continued healing both physically and emotionally. That is the easy one, but also take the harder road and pray for the boy.

And while your at it let's praise God that we don't get the just punishment for our sin.

Home Management Binder-Weekly Routines

2007-11-13T03:46:00.000-08:00

This is on the right hand column next to Daily Routines. I mark these off as we finish them, so when we get to Friday's Catch up we can see what didn't get finished for the week.

Weekly Routines

Daily Routines
Monday: Bedding
Dusting
Quick Vacuum
Unload Dishwasher

Tuesday: Water Plants
Declutter 15 min.
Garbages

Wednesday: Mirrors/2 windows
Clean out Fridge
Menu/Grocery list

Thursday: Pay Bills
Errands
Correspondence

Friday: Vacuum
Bathrooms
Mop Floors
Zone Clean
Catch up

Yes, we only unload the dishwasher on Monday! We use it only to hide the dishes we didn't wash on Sunday. So we wash that one load, and the rest of the time we wash by hand.

Information on Decluttering and Zone Cleaning can be found here: http://flylady.com/pages/FlightPlan_Detail.asp I copied and pasted them onto a Word Document and changed them to fit our home.

We also have a Master Schedule that has time slots on it, that we sometimes follow loosely. We have a School Schedule in a different binder as there was not room in this binder.

You can see more of my posts about my Home Management Binder Here Home Management Binder

Home Management - Daily Routines

2007-11-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

I came back from a FUN weekend with my family feeling refreshed. I decided to get back to the schedule in my Home Management Binder We got so much accomplished! What an awesome feeling.

You can see my schedule in the picture. I didn't realize how bad it looks. It is in a plastic sheet protector so we can mark what we have done with a dry erase marker. There are 2 columns. In the right hand column is my schedule for the week, and the left is the daily list. I'll list my daily routines tonight and get to my weekly tomorrow.

Daily Routines

Early Morning-Mom
Teeth
Shower/Dress
Hair
Make Bed
Prayer/Bible
Wash Clothes
Meal Prep

Morning-Children
Dress
Hair
Teeth
Bible
Clean Bedroom
Animal Chores

After Breakfast-All
Clean Kitchen
Weekly Chores
Dry Clothes
Wash 2nd Load

Afternoon
Clean Kitchen
Finish Laundry
Check School

Bedtime-Girls
Shower (Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Teeth
PJ’s
Tidy House/Room
Bathroom

Bedtime-Me
Teeth
Tomorrow’s To-do List
Tidy House

The girls also have a list that explains in detail what a clean kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom means, so that I don't constantly have to tell them what to do next. They can just look at the list and mark it off as we go.

We start school at 8:30 most mornings, so whatever is left on After Breakfast is left for me when I get a chance.

If I get up with Hubby, I have extra time to blog and work on my business. My business also fits in in the afternoon when Little Boy is napping and the girls are finished with school.

Hubby gets home at 2:30, so we don't schedule anything else until bedtime.

I really like this schedule for a couple of reasons. It is not a time schedule, so I don't ever feel behind! Also, if I am ever not able to follow it, I am sure my girls can take care of the home!

Family Fun!

2007-11-12T04:09:00.000-08:00

We went away for the weekend. My husband has some financial blessings this last week. We bought 2 tires for the van, took $100 for a fun weekend and the rest will pay on a loan!

Friday evening we loaded up the kids and rented a motel room for the night; with a pool of course. We spent the whole evening in the pool. It was super warm! Perfect! The kids had a blast. The big kids raced across the pool with Daddy! They jumped in the water and caught the ball in the air, that Daddy threw! Little boy caught fish, that none of us could see ;) We played volley ball! Did I mention we had the pool all to ourselves.

We had a continental breakfast and headed straight back into the pool!

We spent the afternoon shopping! I got some items for my business and a new coat for Biggest Girl. We hit CVS and Aldi's. I don't know just what I spent on groceries because I haven't found all my receipts for the week yet. I don't know if we stayed within budget or not, but we have to be pretty close.

I have a lot of catching up to do this morning. I have some orders to fill and some emails to catch up on. I want to get back on schedule and will probably post about my schedule later! May you all have a blessed day!

Super Saving Saturday

2007-11-12T03:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's Monday! Read my next entry to find out why I didn't get this done on Saturday.

Here is my best deal this week. I got all this for $1.06 at CVS.

500 ct. Cotton Swabs $3.19

80 ct. Baby Wipes 2.79

- ecb - 4.99

Total with tax $1.09

Printed off 2 ecb and a coupon worth $2.50 off a pain reliever.

My husband thought it was a good idea to use the coupon. So I went back in and got:

24ct. ibuprofen $ 2.89

40ct. envelopes 1.59

minus coupon -2.50

minus ecb -2.00

Total 0.00 Free WHOO-HOO

Aldi had butter on sale for $1.69 each! As we don't use shortening or margarine, this was a great deal. We bought 7 of them!

Comment me.

2007-11-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

If you would like to leave a comment that will not be published on my blog; go ahead, just say so in the first line. Also, please leave me a way to respond to you that is also not public! I love to hear from my readers.

God bless

~Stella

Pastor Wants to Read my Blog

2007-11-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

At Awana last night I was talking to a gal, who had written up her testimony to share with the kids. I said that I just wrote mine up yesterday on my blog. Well, our pastor heard me and wanted the address.

I'm not sure I want to share this with many people I actually know. My husband has not even seen it, even though he has permission. He (Pastor) said that if it was private I shouldn't be sharing on the internet. I'm not sure there is anything I would consider private, however, there are things on here that are definitely 'womanly'. For instance, I wouldn't share that much information about my miscarriage with him. Also, I want to write from my heart, and not worry about who is reading.

I am going to print off my testimony. Pastor has already heard this anyway, however I am considering sending him some of my articles for review. Hmmm, we shall see what I decide.

My Testimony of Salvation

2007-11-07T03:55:00.000-08:00

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. -1Peter 3:15

A couple of months back I was asked at the church potluck to give my testimony. Right then, right there, no time to think. I couldn't do it. I froze and said, "It's a long story." I have given my testimony many times before in a small group or one on one. But never to a hundred people at once or with a microphone. Well, it's time I shortened my story, memorized my verses and made friends with the microphone. So I decided to start here.

I didn't grow up attending church, or reading the scriptures, so I had no preconceived notions about Jesus, or salvation, or baptism, or God. I knew that Jesus died (I actually thought they killed him), that God decided who went to heaven, and that if you lied you'd go to hell.

When we were married we went to church for awhile, and were even baptised. I said that I believed, but I still didn't understand that Jesus death was on purpose. Jesus dying for my sin didn't really mean anything to me. I tried reading my Bible, but didn't stick to it because I didn't understand much of it. Even the eunuch said"How can I (understand), except some man should guide me?"

Well, eventually someone did guide me. He showed me scriptures that showed that Jesus's death was planned by God, that it was a sacrifice for me, that there was no other way to Heaven, that I was a sinner (I already new that), that my good works were as 'filthy rags', and that Jesus loved me anyway.

When I asked how to be saved I was left with Scripture and told that I would just know it when I was saved. I spent the next several days or weeks, I have no concept of time here, reading through the list of verses he left me with. I also went to several gospel presentations during this time. Again, I cannot remember if these were given daily or weekly.

Finally I just started to cry, why wasn't something happening so I would 'know' I was saved. What was I waiting for? Lightening, angels, a whisper in my ear, a feeling? Then there were 2 verses I read that finally caused me to just take God at his Word.

1John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Whoa, I did not want to be calling God a liar.

1John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

At that point I shut my Bible deciding that I was not going to wait for a 'sign'; I would just have to believe what God said. Of course, that is when I felt a tremendous peace, and I KNEW I belonged to God. Praise God!

Gluttony/Weight Loss Update

2007-11-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

The good news..... I lost 9 pounds! The scale said 10 Sunday morning but says 9 today, so I will go with 9.

The bad news.... SLACKER

I've been getting slack about memorizing Romans 6. At first I was reciting it in my head several times a day, and falling asleep memorizing the next section of the verse. When I was doing that, the verse would pop into my head the second I would think about a snack. Obviously there is something really important about that, because once I started to slack off some, the verses wouldn't come until after I had put something in my mouth.

I also want to make it very clear, mostly to myself, that I am not so pleased with the weight loss as I am disappointed in the sin of gluttony. I want to deal with sin.

Here is something really interesting that happened that reminded me about having 2 or 3 witnesses: On Friday a lady from church called to see how this was going for me. We chatted for a while and talked about how much help Romans 6 has been. This person does not usually call me. Then, on Saturday I got my new Rod and Staff catalog. There is always a tract or something tucked inside, so I shook it to see what I would find. You will not believe what fell out. A credit card sized calendar with this verse: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How can we, that are dead to sin, live anylonger therein. Romans 6 1-2

Definately God is watching all that we do, and cares even about an extra brownie. I stand in awe of Him!

AND THE WINNER IS.....

2007-11-05T04:11:00.000-08:00

The winner of the bar of TRUE VINE SOAP is....... Romie from Romie's Rants! Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly!

Thanks to everyone who participated! It was so much fun to see my inbox full of comments!

LORD bless you and have a wonderful day!

Super Saving Saturday-LOTS OF TP

2007-11-03T04:02:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I posted my goals for shopping: $60 per week averaged over the two week pay period for Hubby (This is for 6 people). I did it last week with $2 to spare. Here's how we are faring this time. We are just finishing the first week of the payperiod.

Here are some of the great deals from this week:

Trip to Kmart: This sale is still going on.

Toilet paper, toilet paper, toilet paper. Flyer came out for Charmin Basic 12 Big Rolls (325 sheets per roll-double rolls) $3.99 limit 5. I got my limit of 5 and used 3-25 cent off coupons. 7up was 79cents. Spent $22.39 My bedroom closet is now full of toilet paper (and papertowels from a shopping trip several weeks ago!

At the salvage store I found Herb Ox boullion (no msg) for 50 cents a box-I bought 5! They also had one can of goat milk-30cents, brown rice-45cents. 2 boxes of Organic cereal $1 each. Everything in the picture on the right $12.65!!!!

Great use of an instore coupon for vitamins: Our local grocery store had a coupon for $2 off any one Sundown vitamin. I found the smallest bottle of Vit. C-100 tables for $2.59- 59cents!!!! I also bought organic bananas for 19cents/#.

Walmart had Silk soymilk for $2.89. I used a $2.25 coupon 64 cents!!!

We also bought 2 gallons of milk, 2 bags of softener salt, liquid hand soap, 2 bags of Doritos (at full price-Hubby went shopping) Shredded cheese, chocolate chips, Tangerines, Cough drops (BOGO) , Peanut butter, chicken strips, sour cream, and romaine lettuce.

Total spent $76.42; Left for next week $43.58 I think we did pretty good!

Teenagers

2007-11-01T03:42:00.000-07:00

Where do we get the idea that the teenage years are years of rebellion? Is rebellion then necessarily any worse than any other time in our lives? Can we really blame rebellion on hormones?

I had many "warnings" from family and acquaintances when my girls were small. "You just wait until they are teenagers", "Whoa, you're going to have three teen girls at once, look out", "Oh, you just wait you'll have to deal with all this ________(insert some kind of rebellion) too", "They all go through it, you just grit your teeth till its over".

Now, I know I have many teen years to go through yet with my girls, but I have seen none of this yet. My girls are 14, 12, and 10, and the only thing I have noticed with hormones is some weepiness that lasted about a year. (The 10 year old has not done this yet.) We have not seen any increase in sassiness, or disobedience.

I definitely had a problem when I was a teen, but I cannot say that it started then. I remember being angry a lot when I was a kid. Maybe I just got more bold about it at that age. I was also rebellious against my husband during the first several years of marriage. So is it the teens, or is the rebellion always there in us, and it just comes out physically usually during the teen years.

I'm just wondering if the difference isn't that my children know that sassiness and disobedience is just not tolerated? They are able to take the things that are bothering them to the Lord for help? Or maybe its from being homeschooled (read sheltered :) ) and without television?

A quick note about television..... When the youngest girl was 8 she started to be "mouthy" and would bob her head funny when she did it. I got the idea to ask about the tv; as they had been allowed to watch it on weekends at that time. Apparently a girl on tv (Raven) talked that way. Problem was easily solved when we took away the program.

Here's to praying that all of our teenagers are able to deal with their "feelings" by taking them to the Lord and their parents. God bless them all! I'll let you all know if rebellion becomes an issue in our family all of a sudden. Comment me and let me know what your thoughts on teens are.

Praise God - Finances

2007-10-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed three times this week when it comes to finances! Opportunities have all of a sudden come Hubby's way! He agreed to do some interior work for a lawyer in town as trade for him making a will for us. Well, yesterday Hubby stopped to give back the building key, and he handed Hubby a check for $300. He said that Hubby's work was worth more than the will and he will still do the will also!!!

Also, an elderly lady friend of ours drove out by her country property and realized all the junk that had been left there. She asked Hubby to load it all up and take it to the landfill. Well, he found someone to take the metal, someone else to take the pallettes, and someone else to take the broken landscaping blocks. He had a little garbage to pick up, but not enough to take to the landfill. She had someone drive by and saw how nice it looked. She gave him a check on Sunday for $200.

Two checks this week that we didn't expect! And payday is this Thursday with overtime of around $160. He usually is not allowed overtime unless there is an emergency on Saturday, well a watermain broke and he had to stay at work to make sure the chillers kept running until the city got it fixed.

God is so good, this will be a huge help in getting us out of debt.

Free Bar of Soap By True Vine Soap

2007-10-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

Fall Ya’ll Bloggy Giveaway
Free Give Away: A bar of my favorite soap from True Vine Soap

You chose between Fragrance-Free Calendula or Baby Oatmeal & Lavendar

How to enter: Just leave a comment under this post with your choice of soap. Contest is open until 6pm Pacific Time Saturday November 4. A random drawing will chose the winner and I will post the winner Monday Nov. 5!!! I will order the soap and have it shipped directly to you!

Important: Contest is open to US and Canada only.

Good luck!

Super Saving Saturday-My Shopping-My Goal

2007-10-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

To see what Super Saving Saturday is all about visit Crystal at http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ .

My goal: To spend $60 a week on groceries for my family of 6 (2 adults, 3 big kids, 1 toddler). This is going to have to be an average of 2 weeks as that is how my hubby gets paid. Our budget up until this last 2 weeks was $60 per week for food plus $30 per week for paper, soaps, cleaners, etc. None of this includes our meat as we buy that in bulk twice a year. I intend to fit all of this into our new goal of $60 per week (all groceries plus some left over for the meat purchase)

Yeah! Goal met this two weeks. Spend $75.40 last week and $41.89 this week. Total $117.29. Left for meat $2.71-have to do better here.

Here are some of my great deals for this week:

This picture shows $11.34 shopping from 2 stores both of them Amish. At the bulk store I bought 7 # of oatmeal for $2.89 and 1# Aluminum-free baking powder $1.78. The other is a salvage store. The best deals here were 5# flour 50 cents, Organic rice milk 40 cents, Organic sauce 65 cents.

This picture $8.89 shows Walgreens and one grocery store.

Best deals: Free bread (coupon), Eggs 1 doz at 77 cents from one store (limit 1 with coupon) 3/$3 for the others (raincheck Walgreens) Chili Beans 3/&1 (coupon limit 1 offer). VO5 conditioner buy 2 at 99c get 1 free.

The rest of the groceries I bought included 7# bananas, apples, lettuce, crackers, applesauce peanut butter, tortillas, cheese, juice. I also bought a couple of things that we needed for our snack duty at 4H that I normally would not buy paper plates, cups and the pretzels.

My God bless your shopping in the coming week (and mine too)

Kissing and Hugging Our Kids

2007-10-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

I was reading a blog yesterday, Enjoy the Journey, and she was listing important things. One of them was Tell Your Kids You Love Them Every Single Day. That got me thinking about how great it is that my kids still allow me to love on them; even the fourteen year old.

When our second daughter, Jodie, was eleven she went to an Awana sleepover. As I was very pregnant I decided not to chaparone all night long, as I had done in the past. As I was leaving, I gave Jodie a hug and a kiss. When I left another girl whispered in her ear, "It's okay, I still kiss my mom too". What a shame that kids need to be ashamed to be loved by their parents.

When I was in 5th grade I told my parents that I was now too old for hugs and kisses. They must have been heartbroken; I know I would be. What brought this on: A conversation at school.

Maybe we have skipped this because we homeschool, I don't know. The only thing close to this that happened with me, wast about 2 years ago with my now 14-year-old. She started pulling away when I would hold her hand in the parking lot. I don't know if she was embarrassed, or just thought I was holding her hand so she wouldn't get hit by a car, like a toddler. It lasted about a year and now she holds my hand if she is with me by herself.

BTW, I've got it really good now, I can hug and kiss my kids, hubby, mom and dad, mother-in-law, and grandparents!!!!

How We Came to Homeschool When My husband Was Against it

2007-10-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

It seems like God often speaks to the wife first about some matter and then uses that to teach her to submit to her husband and to wait on the Lord for the matter to come about. This is the way homeschooling came about for our family.

I don’t even know when I first got the notion to homeschool. I believe it was even before I was a Christian. After I was saved it became very strong and though I didn’t know much about it, I was convinced that this was what God wanted for our family.

The only holdout to homeschooling was my husband. He thought it was very interesting, but was not for our family. It took me a while to figure out what he wanted because I didn’t take the time to ask him. I would listen to his conversation when it was brought up in public. I thought he was very interested until we had a conversation with some friends and he said that we would never do that. HUH. I thought he was in on this for sure. I spoke to him later and he said that it was an interesting concept, but not for our family.

I begged and pleaded, and tried to reason with him. I was so sure that this was God’s will for us. This was when our daughter was 3. As time went on I learned about submission. Oh, this was hard. And why would God let me desire something so much and not let my husband in on it. At this point Meg was 5 and had missed the cut off date for school by a week, and Dh wanted me to put the girls in preschool. I gave my desire to the Lord and said, “God, I was convinced that it was Your will for us to homeschool, but I know you want me to submit. If it is your will you will have to change Chad’s heart.” I decided then that I would not say another word about it to Chad. And I didn’t mention it to the Lord either.

I took the girls to preschool 10 minutes away for a two months. Then my car broke down and we couldn’t afford to get it fixed until January. It was the 1st of November. During this time I actually had put away the idea of homeschooling and had resigned myself to public school for the kids.

One day, before the car was fixed, Chad came home from work. He announced, “If you still want to homeschool, I think we should.” I had to ask what brought this on and he said he didn’t know but he felt very strongly that we needed to do this; that it was the right thing for our family! He was already to convince me if I hadn’t wanted to. He didn’t know I still did because I hadn’t said anymore about it. Praise God. My husband has been totally commited to it ever since.

We’ve been homeschooling for 9 years now and have no intention to stop!

My Breakfast Menu

2007-10-23T04:42:00.000-07:00

This is my weekly breakfast menu. The picture shows the page in my Home Management Binder under the section labeled menus/recipies. The Breakfast Menu and the recipie for Baked French Toast are both on this page.

Monday - Scrambled eggs, Fruit, Milk

Tuesday - Whole Wheat Pancakes, Fruit, Milk

Wednesday - Muffins, Fruit, Milk

Thursday - Baked Oatmeal, Fruit, Milk

Friday - Leftovers, Fruit, Milk

Saturday - Whole Wheat Pancakes, Fruit, Milk

Sunday - Baked Oatmeal, Fruit Sauce, Milk

We have milk only with our breakfast meal, as we rarely eat meat with breakfast. Not mixing milk and meat was an Old Testament law. Apparently meat eaten with milk will make it hard for your body to absorb calcium. (Juice is saved for another meal with meat because vitamin C and Iron go very well together.)

Gluttony is a Sin/Weight Loss

2007-10-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Anyone who sees me in my home and how I eat should be amazed that I don't weigh 300 pounds. I am actually one of the fortunate ones who don't gain a lot of weight except when I am pregnant. (I gained 90 pounds with my last baby, but lost 40 in the first two weeks postpartum-water). I have lost 20 pounds by trying in the past, and it is HARD! I often fluctuate about 10 pounds. My problem is not being terribly over weight, but binging is very unhealthy. I get down to a certain weight and then think the sky is the limit.

Two weeks ago at the seminar at church, they were talking about conquering sin. We often are tempted and give in already thinking that we will do better next time. This has been my case for sometime. I would tell myself that if I just finish off the pan of brownies they will no longer be there to tempt me. It does not work that way as I have 3 daughters who love to bake. It dawned on me after the seminar that trying to lose weight is trying to fight off the consequences of the sin of gluttony. WOW, God is amazing for giving revelations. I have been praying to conquer this sin for a long time.

Anyway, I have set aside my study of Psalm 25 for the time being and have taken up meditating on Romans 6 with the intention of getting through to Romans 8. Every time I am tempted to sin (in any way). I have take to reciting in the first person and it is working! What shall I say then? Shall I continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! That is about as far as I need to go at this point, but I am reciting to verse five at other times just as a reminder that we are dead to sin.

My dh has never taken me seriously about trying to eat better, however this time I explained that I needed accountability and mentioned that gluttony is a sin. Now he is being helpful as well. I have had to ask him on occasion what a serving of something should be.

Because I am not pregnant, nursing, or growing taller I don't need to each between meals. So I have given that up. However, I don't see a need to give up an occasional dessert as long as I only have one helping.

One of the amazing things that is happening is that I am HUNGRY at meal times!!!!! It is very satisfying to come to the table hungry for the good things that are on your plate. Now I know what it means to be truly grateful for your food. I can honestly thank God for my food with a grateful heart!

Why I Wear Dresses

2007-10-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have gone back and forth on this one for years. I’ve had a church tell me I had to… that God commands it. The Bible does say that men and women should not wear each others garments, of course I don’t see any men wearing capris. So technically anything that most men would not wear would work. But there are other reasons.

When I did begin to wear dresses I wore them because of modesty. Pants form to your body and everyone can see your shape… a skirt or dress leaves much more to the imagination. I immediately noticed that I was treated differently when I wore a dress. Men held doors open for me and people were for the most part more polite.

My husband actually likes jeans on me: Surprise! He likes to look at me. Well, he noticed one day when we were in the store that he, evidently is not the only one. A man followed us through every isle and guess where that man was looking every time my hubby looked back. I had jeans on.

One Sunday one of the elders had read a newspaper article and talked about what was going on in the world. Then he mentioned what he saw coming. One of the things he mentioned stood out to me something fierce. He saw as some people would lead us to believe is true that there is no difference between the genders: No man, no woman, just persons. EEK! I don’t want to be a man. God made me woman. I am different, and not just physically. If it was just physical, God could have made men with all the parts needed. No, women are physically, emotional, mentally different than men. We complement each other. One thinks one way and the other thinks another. We need each other for balance.

In all, I don’t want to bridge the gender gap, I want to keep it as wide as possible. I don’t want to get close to the line, I want to steer far from it. I want to be the feminine woman God chose to make me. I want to look and act the part. God said that His people would be a peculiar people; set apart. So if wearing dresses makes me odd (peculiar) so be it.

As a side note, I act more feminine in a dress (not on purpose), am mostly treated more like a lady, and I like the way I look.

On Being Content

2007-10-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

Heb 13:5, Phil 4:11 Jos 7:7

The Lord has been contending with me with contentment for a couple of months now. It actually started with my daughter learning about purity and being content where God has her now. God speaks to us when were are listening, but not always about what we are listening for.

Before I had believed to "Be content with such things as ye have..." (Heb 13:5) meant material things and I mostly don't have a problem there. However, God has shown me that he means all sorts of "things" material, physical, emotional, spiritual. Now we should not be content to not be growing spiritually, however my discontentment was showing in what I perceived my husbands spiritual growth to be. I mean I was basing my spiritual staleness on my husbands leadership. I had ideas of how my husband should be leading our family spiritually. Wow, I had not seen this coming, but I had to admit it was so true. God knows our hearts. I confessed my sin to God and to my hubby. I made a commitment to not compare my hubby to other men, to not read things that would cause me to be discontent, to pray for his (dh's) spiritual growth for his (dh's) sake and to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

I knew that when we make new commitments to God that satan usually attacks, so I was prepared for praying and reading scripture, and resisting the devil so he will flee from me. Wow, was I knocked for a loop when satan attacked my hubby instead of me. Satan twisted my words in my hubby's mind and told him "She is only settling for you". Well we had some very late night talks for the next several nights with much confession and prayer, and as a result became closer as a couple and closer to God.

God has done some amazing things in our life through this. Anyway, the contentment issue came up again last night at The Basic Seminar. This time I started thinking about my desire to have another baby. Could I be content to never have another child. Well the message was that God desires the best for us, and can we see the best in our situation and thank God for where we are. The suggestion was to make a 2 lists of the advantages of both sides, so that we can be content and see God's blessing/purpose in His will. So here is mine. It is not exhaustive, and some of my reasons are selfish, but honest.

Advantages of No More Children/Advantages of Having Another Child
More time to spend with the Lord (Reading, Praying, Studying, Serving) / Adding to the "Christian" population

More time to sew, keep home,be a helpmeet. / Raising more Godly seed to impact the world

More able to concentrate on homeschooling and training the children I already have. /A younger sibling for a companion for the next youngest. And to teach him compassion and selflessness, and so he won't be spoiled.

Save money (medical bills, extra car seat, another chair, etc) /Psalm 127

Sleep / A new baby to love, cuddle, nurse.

Not having to worry about pregnancy complications, birth defects / A purpose for the next 18 years.

Okay, so my list is even though somewhat flawed. I know that I have responsibilities past 18 years, I know that we can have other expenses come up and that God is in control of that. I know I may not get to sleep anyway. I know that I cannot guarantee that my children will be saved. And for anyone with a special baby: I know that they are huge blessings and that God gives generous helpings of the fruits of the spirit for them.

May God bless all who read this with a spirit of contentment.

Funny Chicken Story

2007-09-26T05:36:00.000-07:00

This happened earlier this month. We were loading up our chickens to take to a farm to be prepared for the freezer. (Isn't that a nice way to put it.) We got up at 6 am to get them loaded in the crates the family loaned us. If we had been smart we would have gotton up an hour earlier and just picked them up while they were sleeping, but then I wouldn't have a funny story to tell.

Anyway these fat lazy chickens usually just come to the door when you open it, however this morning they were apparently on edge and ran into the outside pen, where we can't get to them. My dh had to remove some chicken wire and get a ladder to climb in the pen and chase them into the chicken house, then climb out and run around and help me load them. In the meantime several of them got to the "real" outside. By now my mom, dad and the children are trying to help chase chickens. We managed to get the "outside" ones back in; all but one. The lone rooster decided to wait for us under the truck. We saved him for last and proceeded to load the rest. We got them all loaded and looked for the lone rooster, but alas he was not under the truck and no where to be found. Could he have gotton back into the chicken house and loaded? Well, that was the only reasonable explanation, so out to the farm we went.

I explained to the lady what had happened and, that we may have 28 or 29 chickens. Then we went home to return at noon to package our birds.

My parents were camping at our place and so we sat by the campfire for a bit before making breakfast, when our daughter said, "Look!" Lo and behold our lone rooster was back underneath the truck. My dh peeked underneath and the axil was full of chicken poo. That crazy rooster road about 12 miles to the farm and back underneath the truck. Can you imagine him sitting there riding his harley with the wind in his feathers, holding on with dear life. Chickens don't have hands, just feet. I wonder that he didn't spin round and round. Of course he somehow avoided being smooshed on the highway.

At this point in the story many people asked if we kept him as a pet. Ahhh, were not that nice. We loaded him in a cardboard box and he road in style in the front seat of the truck. The little gal that butchers the birds thought that was incredibly funny.

I have another funny story about a rooster trapping a VERY pregnant woman in a shed, but I'll save that for another day.

Miscarriage and general update

2007-09-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

Numbers went down considerably. I was so numb I didn't hear what the nurse said. 400 something. Anyway, the good news is the doctor didn't think it was tubal. Praise the Lord. Well, we may not be filling the earth with our multiplying, however we're putting a little dent in Heaven! I am very grateful that we can still conceive, so I'm not completely dysfunctional-just a little. God be praised for all things.

For accountability's sake. I am still working on memorizing Psalm 25. I've made it through verse 5, but need to look it again, because when I tried to go through it in my mind last night at bedtime, some of the words didn't sound quite right.

Interesting tidbit. The minds of people who didn't memorize Scripture as a child start slowing down at age 20, but children who did still have high recall at age 35. I wonder if it's just spending time memorizing, or if the key is in memorizing Scripture. Of course, I can't think of anything more important to spend great deals of time memorizing than Scripture. Well, I've definitely missed the boat; my mind definitely has been going down hill for many years. My children have been memorizing Scripture for years. I'll have to ask them at 30 how there brains are. I've always claimed it was them stealing brain cells during pregnancy. Funny I started having babies at 20. hmmmmmm

DM- If you've been emailing me, I'm not getting them. You can try the old one again, it is still good till the end of the month.

Fare thee well.

Pregnancy Update

2007-09-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

Monday night I started having sharp pains on my left side (the side with my only functioning tube). I called the dr. and explained the situation. They could not help me that night, which seemed crazy since I know you can die from an ectopic rupture. Anyway since I was not "doubled over" in pain it could wait until morning.

Tuesday morning the pain had moved somewhat which led me to believe it was intestinal pain. I went to the clinic anyway for a beta hcg. The number was 662. I was hoping for a "1" in front of that. I would be 22 dpo at that time. They were happy that the pain had moved. They could not do an ultrasound because nothing will show with that low of a number. I go back in tomorrow morning for a repeat beta. Any number above 1000 will be okay, but 1324 would be much more promising.

According to charts, my number is within the range for 22 dpo, however I was going by my son's numbers and I expected 1600 at least. Anyway I did some figuring and based on my first + hpt it is still a workable number. Of course God shows Himself best in impossible situations.

I am still so grateful to have stayed pregnant this long. Only by God's grace since I have only had one successful pregnancy in 9 years, 6 of those with an open tube.

God bless.

Jack and the Beanstalk

2007-09-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

Evidently there are many versions of this story and maybe reading the shortened one to my son was not a good idea. Maybe the original has a moral????

Jack and his mom are very poor. Jack disobeys his mother when told to sell the cow. He instead trades her for 5 magic beans. Mother throws them out the window and they proceed to grow into an ENORMOUS bean stalk which Jack climbs clear into the clouds. He discovers a giant, enters his home and steals his hen that lays golden eggs and his golden harp. Since the giant is about to catch up with Jack, he (Jack) heroicly chops down the beanstalk killing the giant. He and his mother get rich off the spoil aka the golden eggs.

Okay, I don't see any morals here. Jack disobeys, steals and kills and is rewarded. Nothing here I want to teach my chilren. Eek. Therefore, the book was purged last night. I cannot believe I read that to my 2yo.

Still Pregnant

2007-09-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

I took another test yesterday and it is still positive. Praise the Lord. The bleeding has lightenend considerably.

Meditating on Scripture

2007-09-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

Our Basic Life Principles seminar last night was about meditating on Scripture. I've started with Psalm 25 as per suggestion. Unfortunately I am not very quick on memorizing. I was able to memorize only the first verse. I fell asleep visualizing myself lifting my soul up to the LORD; handing it over actually. This morning I was able to add the 2nd verse, and hope to meditate on it while I "walk by the way", or anytime I am able to do chores that don't require thinking.

Psalm 25

1 Unto thee, O LORD, I do lift up my soul.

2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Book Review "Before You Meet Prince Charming" by Sarah Mally

2007-09-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

I highly recommended this book for teenage girls and their parents. Sarah Mally does a beautiful job of teaching girls how to stay physically and emotionally pure for their future husbands; all the while keeping the book itself pure from topics that need not be discussed.

She teaches the girl how to spend her time while she waits. Rather than daydreaming, or fretting, or being idle, she should take the time to get to know the Lord, memorize scripture, serve her family and others, because what other time in her life will she have time to dedicate her all to the Lord.

Mixed in with real life stories, practical advice, and much scripture is a beautiful fairy tale of a princess (daughter of the King!!!). The story tells of how her parents protect her and guide her, how the alligator continuously temps her, and how finally with no aggression on her part she is courted by her prince charming.

Beautiful and a must read!

Amazing

2007-09-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

I'm still pregnant. Praying that the bleeding will stop.

4 Weeks 4 Days Pregnant and Bleeding (Long... Miscarriages mentioned)

2007-09-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

I found out Sunday evening 9/9/07 that I was expecting. I was already 1 to 3 days late and was only spotting. (I have very short cycles). My temps had been bobbing up and down for several days, so I was sure if I was pregnant I was heading for another miscarriage. The Fact + test was light, but not faint. (I get light tests even at the same time as a blood test hcg level of 124.)

I gave it all to the Lord. I want the Lord's will for this baby. If it is His will for baby to go home with Him, then that is preferable. Don't get me wrong, I desperately want another child to love. However, I have done this too many times. God has blessed us with 4 beautiful children. Our 4th was a miracle after many miscarriages (and a tubal reversal). Sadly I became angry with losing some of the early ones that I didn't even write them down and do not know how many I have had. I think there were at least 6 maybe 8. I have had one since JG (2) was born. I spotted for 11 days that time and then started to bleed heavy. I didn't have a light test until just a few days before and then an almost negative test the day the bleeding started.

Back to the present. I took another test Monday morning, sure that it would get lighter. It was just the same. By 9am however the pink and brown spotting had turned to bright red. By afternoon it was like a light period. I was sure I had lost the baby, but hubby wanted to go to town and get some progesterone cream. I used the cream Monday night, but was still bleeding.

Tuesday, yesterday: I went and bought more hpts. 2 Fact + and 3 ept. (They were very cheap at the salvage store, so I bought some for another time. ) I took a Fact + just to be sure that I had lost the baby so I could stop using the progesterone cream. This is how your mind works after so many miscarriages. I asked God for an accurate result. Praise God, even after the bleeding, the new positive test was noticeably darker than the last one!!!! Thank you Jesus for letting me have one more day with your little blessing.

Well, here I am on Wednesday, still bleeding like a medium flow period and with yet another positive test. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. If anyone out there in cyberspace who claims Jesus Christ as Savior is reading this, please pray for my little one, and for peace in my and dh's hearts.

Fare thee well. Maybe another time I will talk about my tubal reversal and our miracle baby.

What I hope to accomplish with this blog (and what I don't)

2007-09-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

What are my goals? Well, I want to be able to share great links, recipes, curriculum reviews, etc. Mostly I want to keep a journal of what God is doing in my life. Someday I can compile this all together and pass it on to my children.

What I don't want is for this to be a huge time waster for me or anyone else who is supposed to be busy in the home. I don't want this to turn into a debate about what I should or should not be doing. If at anytime this becomes dishonoring to Jesus Christ my Lord or my husband I will shut it down.

God bless you and keep you till we meet again.