Our home this week....

This week in our home:

We will be fasting from TV. I need to refocus on the Word and my homeschooling schedule. There are also books I am trying to glean from and am hoping to get to them also.

I also want to begin a new adventure! Soap making! Not just body soap but shampoo and other household cleansers. I need to get a list written with the essential oils and other things I will need before I begin.  I'm looking forward to all my creations!

We also have added two new fur members to our family. The children are enjoying them and I know they are loving all the attention they get!

 Lily

Albie

This past week we made meals without meat. And it turned out quite well! We had ground turkey once and the other meals were things such as meatless chili, a baked pasta dish, tomato basil soup. egg salad sandwiches, etc..  We will be continuing this meatless meal plan this week and the upcoming weeks also.

I am enjoying reading through cookbooks and finding hearty meals without meat. I have found some tasty looking Indian food recipes that I hope to make in the weeks ahead.

Our chicks are growing quickly. So quickly that they are starting to fly out of their home. It is getting close to wing clipping time.

And I have a little less than 3 months left before our precious new blessing arrives!

Blessings!

The Fair

Last week was fair week here in our area of Texas. My oldest dd Morgan-Britney sat at the Pro Life booth on Thursday so while she did that I used that time to take my other children to see the animals. We saw some neat ones. They had a petting zoo and HUGE tigers. The Siberian Tiger just made me shiver imagining being his lunch!! EEK!!
I got some great pics to share with you...

It was a very enjoyable day! 

Journal..

In my life this week… I have been in prayer about my heart and hurts and disappointments. Father has been ministering to me through His Spirit.  Yesterday as I read in the Word I felt such peace and comfort just seeping into my bones. I read all 5 chapters of Thessalonians & the last chapter of Colossians. I LOVE the Word and the words of LIFE it brings! 

In our homeschool this week…We are keeping on track with our schedule. I am so thankful for this small accomplishment. I am having to crack down on different habits and bad behavior but I know in the end it will bring many rewards! 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…It's important to keep a schedule but also to be flexible. Life happens and we need to be willing to roll with the punches. We can then breathe easy and relax..:)

I am inspired by… the Holy Spirit!!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… I work out at Curves most mornings and I thoroughly enjoy seeing the same ladies working towards healthy bodies and lives. :) Tomorrow I take JaidenNoah to the Dr. for a referral for Speech Testing. I am anxious to know what's going on with him.  

My favorite thing so far this week is…tonight!! It's date night with my sweet man!! I am favored! Father has favored me by giving me the man of my dreams to share my life with! 

What’s working/not working for us… Sticking to our schedule is working! 

Questions/thoughts I have… I have decided to verbally thank Father more often. To adopt an attitude of gratefulness even in difficult moments and days. I have this scripture framed on my dining room wall;

 Don't worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God's shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.~ Phil. 4:6-7

It helps me to focus on prayer and thankfulness instead of worrying over the things that happen in my day to day life.  

Things I’m working on…prayer, thankfulness(gratefulness), sticking to the schedule, staying in Father's Word & being healthy.

I’m reading…Midwife of Blue Ridge. It's a great book so far! 

I’m cooking…nothing right now. Oatmeal for breakfast, will scrounge up something for lunch and then something simple for the kiddos for supper as dh and I are getting take out for our date night.

I’m grateful for…my Father, my family & my home...it is a small modest home but it's a safe haven from the world outside our door! 

I’m praying for…a new baby blessing, hurts, disappointments, my attitudes, others in my life, etc..

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Love that my children know how to make such delicious food!  

A Little More Sunshine

Some days I need a little more sunshine in my life. I need that little something that makes my world brighter. My world consists of the walls of my home. There is a much bigger world beyond the front door of the home I live in but as a mama who stays at home my world is condensed into the white stucco walls that surround us.

So yesterday that sunshine bug struck me and on impulse I decided to move my dining room and kitchen curtains up higher on the windows. They had been hanging in the middle. I then was able to open each curtain to let the bright light fill my home! Light poured forth as rays covered the wood floor and counter tops and as it did this it filled my soul too.

Isn't it amazing what just a little thing can do for your home and for you? There is a light much brighter in which darkness has no place. There is a light that shines into all the dark corners of our hearts. This light makes all those sad, hurt, and fearful places disappear. This LIGHT is Christ!

He is the Light that shines forth in our spirits. His light brings truth and comfort. His light brightens up even the darkest of lives.. So while the sun brings me momentary warmth and light Christ brings Salvation for eternity. A light that never dims.

     

let us kneel & bow down..

Today I attended a bible study that a friend invited me too. I wasn't sure what they would be studying or honestly if I even wanted to go. When my friend told me she would come get me I knew I didn't have any good excuses not to go..
The topic to my surprise was just what I needed. Prayer..something I haven't been doing enough of. Sadly in my walk with Father I struggle with finding time to pray. Also I struggle with wanting too, when I am going through hard trials..I pray those small prayers here and there each day but they aren't the prayers I am sure Father longs for..
I realized just today that my prayers are more about me than about Him..I don't praise Him just for being Who He is.
During the study our leader suggested some Psalms to pray..Tonite I laid across my bed and just began to pray these Psalms. And you know what? Father met me there..He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort me.
I have made a choice to pray and praise Father not because my situation has changed because you know, it hasn't but just because He is a great God, a great King greater than all gods. (Psalm 95:3)
And if it never changes you will still find me praising Him! Just because He is due my praise and adoration..

"He holds the depths of the earth in His hands:
the mountain peaks too belong to Him.
The sea is His-He made it-
and His hands shaped the dry land."


"Come, let's bow down and worship;
let's kneel before Adonai who made us.
For He is our God, and we are the people
in His pasture, the sheep in His care." ~ Psalm 95:4-7    

Adjustment...

It is taking me a longer amount of time to adjust to our new home than in the past..

We had planned to stay in IN and to dig our roots deep down. To carve a place for our children & children's children..and then all of those dreams were surrendered to Father. I was/am willing to go where he directs and do as He says. I am willing to do my best to bloom where He has planted me but I can't say it's easy or some days even much fun.

I still spend moments of time in tears for what we left behind. Perhaps that means I am like Lot's wife who looked back longing for what she had left behind or maybe I am just human and frail. A woman who misses her life as it was in IN and those people there who enriched it.

It's dry here in Tx and I can't help but compare that to the dryness I feel down deep in my soul. I am making a concentrated effort to be in the Word and it's as I read that I can feel the Water of Life pouring onto my parched and cracked heart.
Other times the familiar feeling of despair is in the air..

The old familiar poem "Footprints", I picture that in my mind and the Father carrying me through the valley up onto the mountain.
My prayer has become, "Father change my heart towards our new home and circumstances." Do I believe He will? Yes, because thats just Who He is! He is Faithful!

 



  

Confusion is the word....

Do you ever feel your mind full to the brim and ready to explode with all the conflicting info out there? There is so much stuff to sift through regarding our health; what's good for you and what's not, treatments for diseases; what works and what doesn't. And in regards to our Faith; what's truth and what's not; what's just man's opinions and what's not; what's man's traditions and what isn't. What do we follow and what do we put aside.. You can fine a myriad of so called Bible Scholars out there who will tell you where and how the bible tells us to do this or that..and then there are a myriad of Bible Scholars on the other side of any issue who will show you other scriptures that say we shouldn't do this or that. WHEW! Can anyone say confusing?!!!

So I have decided to do what we should all do anyway, and that's seek the Father and His wisdom only.. Yeshua so graciously reminded me this past weekend that He has sent the Holy Spirit as my Helper and guide who will lead me into all Truth! It is possible to simply forget for a time that He is always there to help and that is where I found myself. I have become so confused and so focused on getting it right whatever that means??? that I forgot that I have the Spirit of G-d to guide me and to help me. And as a bonus he also brings me comfort!

I have not been hearing His voice and this brought me much sadness. I was laying in my bed pouring my heart out to him and although I wasn't on my knees because a sweet baby boy was breastfeeding; in my mind I knelt before the Most High and spoke to Him. I asked Him why I wasn't hearing His voice anymore..and as quick as the blink of an eye He gave me an answer. He told me that I had not been listening...Such clarity in that instant. I have been so focused on my performance that I have not been listening to His voice! And it grew dimmer the more I performed until it literally was gone....  

I shared all my confusion and emotion with my sweet man and He read me scripture from Galatians reminding me that my righteousness is achieved through Yeshua's sacrifice and my trust and faithfulness to Him. I can not perform my way to heaven or to righteousness. While living a G-d honoring life and obeying His mitzvot (commands) I must not forget this important truth!

So while these important issues were being dealt with and Yeshua was answering some of my questions there are still many things that need answers.

We had a family meeting with the children and together my dh and I are praying and seeking the Truth..knowing that the Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter and guide into all Truth.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.~ John 16:13


One thing I have learned and know is that Yeshua loves me and that I don't have to perform. And I know that without the Holy Spirit in my life guiding and helping me I am lost. If I stop hearing the voice of Yeshua I have nothing and am wandering in a world as a blind man...without these two important things my faith is dead and meaningless....then what good is it to have the actions but without the Spirit? Faith must coexist with action; with works to truly be faith. The trick here is to not let our works become that of performance as our righteousness comes from Yeshua and Him alone. And it is tricky...I am still trying to figure it all out..
The minute we think we have all the answers and are the ones walking right is the minute we will be humbled and brought low..

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.~ 1 Corinthians 10:12  

In all of this I just want Yeshua..and Him alone..my heart yearns for Him...

sickness and a new dryer

This has been a hard week..
My children have been sick with a tummy bug. My babies are still sick with it although they are keeping down breastmilk now.
We bought a new dryer on Sunday and then Monday night when we went to use it it wasn't heating so the clothes weren't drying. Thank goodness my dh and oldest son were able to figure out what the problem was and now it's working great! You can imagine how my laundry piled up with all the vomit..:(
Our new dryer..

I also was able to find a train table for my little guy JaidenNoah. We purchased it from another homeschooling mama in the area.

 And just a pic of my baby..He is such an adorable little man!

I am not...

I am not very eloquent with my words..I mess up when I speak and in this computer age when I type..

I am not a very good friend or mama..I am imperfect. I am not a very good wife..

I get hurt and angry and lose my temper..

I hurt others and say things I shouldn't..I hold grudges and forget to forgive..

....but something a lady at the community bible study said today keeps running over and over in my mind:
That compared to what Christ Messiah did for us on the cross; what He went through, all our troubles and grievances against others are so petty...so unimportant...
I needed to hear that today..I needed a reminder to forgive and walk in love toward others.. I needed to be reminded about what life is truly about and what really matters.  I needed to focus on this and not what he or she said that hurt me...not what life hands me...

Let my life be all about You Father...Let it shine for You and Your glory!

4H

Sunday afternoon the children went to their first 4H meeting here in Tx. They learned all about geocaching and compasses.

Daddy helped the younger ones as they went around the room reading the compass..

the older ones worked on their own..

They had chocolate chip cookies when they were done!  

Sunday...

Today we have been doing a bit of work in the yard.

J has been raking our lawn ..

The children are working on getting our garden plot ready...It doesn't look like much yet but soon we will have a thriving garden in this area!

And later today we head to our first 4H meeting! The children are very excited about it!

Random pictures of my blessings...
KianAdley...

Gabriellia..

Blessings today!!

The goodness of G-d!

This past week has been full of so many things. It has flown by as if in a blur..so many good things that the L-rd has done.

Friday morning, Jan. 31st we left for Louisiana. Before we left my dh had another job offer so we decided to head to LA for a job interview and then on to Texas for another one. We were so excited as the job offer in Texas was with a homeschooling Christian father of 5 children. Many the same ages as some of our children.

It was a neat experience for me seeing the south. It was beautiful even in the winter. I was amazed that some of the trees still have their leaves. In LA it was warm enough to go without a coat and wear short sleeves. I loved it! The area was very Cajun and full of history. I wish we would have been able to stay longer so I could have seen all that I wanted too!
The job interview in LA for my dh went well and he was offered the job but before he made a decision he wanted to check out the job in Texas so Sunday morning we left LA and headed for TX 12 hours away.
Monday afternoon he met with the owner of the shop and was given the job.. My dh decided to take it as we felt it was given by Father!
The next day we begin to look at homes. We were waiting to be shown our 2nd home of the day; our first day looking. As we sat in the car my dh and I held hands and prayed. Asking for favor for the first house we had looked at but surrendering ourselves to whatever Yah had for us. Within 5 minutes of that prayer we received a phone call letting us know we had been approved for the house we wanted!! My dh and I sat thanking Father with tears in our eyes!
The next day was spent getting everything hooked up and our new home ready for us and our children. Thursday we headed home. OK was a mess. The bad snow storm had basically rendered Oklahoma City and Tulsa shut down. The city of Tulsa was at a stand still and cars were stranded all over the roads. I was so scared even driving on them at a very slow pace. We stopped over for the night in Miami, OK and then began again the next morning. From Joplin, MO on the roads were pretty clear and our trip was uneventful.  We arrived home early Saturday morning and since then have been packing and going through our things! We are scaling down alot! There is so many things to do to move. We are picking up the moving truck Thursday and leaving Friday morning.

I am excited about beginning our new lives in TX but sad about leaving our church and friends here! Yah has done many things in my life and heart since moving to IN almost 3 yrs ago! I am leaving here a new woman, a different woman, a changed woman!
I am excited about getting involved in ministry in Tx. There are many opportunities that await us! Many ways we can spread Father's love!      

Friday is my 16th wedding anniversary! I will spend it driving to Tx to begin a new phase in our lives! I am rife with excitement and apprehension about the adventures that await us! What does the next 16 yrs of marriage hold for me??  What do the next 16 yrs of my life hold for me?? What are Father's plans for me??

*** L-rd I am yours! As imperfect as I am I give myself to you with anticipation of the work you will do in me and the purpose my life holds in relation to your kingdom! 

Blessings!

Louisiana

This Friday my dh, me and our two nurslings leave for Louisiana. My dh is going to check out a shop there (a potential job) and since he is going there anyway me and our two littlest are coming along. (I have never been to any southern states so this is a real treat for me!!) We decided to take this opportunity also to celebrate our anniversary. An anniversary weekend!! Feb. 11 is our 16th wedding anniversary! Hard to believe that 16 years have already gone by! I have been busy so the time has flown!

I will miss my other children but we are leaving them in good hands. I am looking forward to the trip and spending time with my honey! We truly need this time to reconnect and enjoy each other. Things have been very stressful lately with my dh's job situation and our finances.

This past year has been hard on our marriage. There are so many things the L-rd is laying upon my heart in regards to my own issues and attitudes. I have alot of work to do but I continue to believe that with Yeshua beside me I can become a jewel to my dh and his perfect helpmeet. I have not arrived but it will happen..

I appreciate all of you that are praying for my family and dh's job situation! Please be praying that my dh gets this job in Louisiana. It will be quite a change for us; culture shock I am sure. But I am really hoping we get to move south as I am done with cold and snow. But the most important thing is that we are where G-d wants us; His best for us! We want to be about His business; being His hands and feet!  

Blessings to you all!

Busy week ahead...

We have a busy week ahead. We leave for WY on Oct. 20th- next Wednesday morning.

 We are working on getting all the laundry done so on Monday we can pack. Morgan-Britney and Josiah brought all the clothes and jackets that had accumulated in the van into the house to be washed. Then, sometime; perhaps this weekend my two oldest boys will be cleaning out the van in preparation for our trip. I have bags of clothes in there that I need to drop off at our local thrift store also.

We have some granola bars and fruit for the trip and I am hoping to get some baking done before we leave so we have healthy muffins and bread.

I continue to pray for the work of Elohim to be accomplished on this trip. I am praying for softened hearts and restoration. I am also laying it all in His hands and not allowing myself to be overly worried on all those things I could be worried about. Such peace the Father gives when we lay our worries at His feet!  

Today is a good day to share some pics of my sweety baby KianAdley..He will be 5 months Sunday! He is such a joy to me! I am really enjoying him and more so everyday! 5 months is such a fun age.

JaidenNoah who will be 3 on the 25th..

JaidenNoah & Daddy..

ZaraLayna..

I love fall!! I enjoy the beautiful fall colors and the atmosphere just reminds me of hot chocolate and apple cider!

Enjoy your fall day!!!! Blessings!

Our weekend..

How was your weekend?
We had a 3 day weekend. My dh was off Friday. No work again at the shop..:(

My dh and I have decided to have a date night every Friday evening. We think of cheap things to do where we can just be together and enjoy each others company. So Friday we went to our local supermarket cafe. They have a yummy salad bar and a Starbuck's Cafe. I got a small coffee and we both ate a salad. We spent a total of 14$ for our meal and my coffee. Not too shabby! :)
We talked and ate and laughed and discussed. It was refreshing!!
Before heading home we did some grocery shopping and stopped at Redbox! Don't you just love Redbox? Getting movies for $1!!

Saturday we ran some errands and spent time at home. Saturday evening is our family night where we throw an old blanket on the living room floor for the littles and we eat our supper and watch a movie together. Sundays we do the same. Last night we watched the new Karate Kid. It was decent. There were a few cuss words; one pertaining to our hind quarters.. But overall it was alright. It had a good message to it.

Sunday we decided to stay home from home fellowship and rest as we were all zonked and tired. Some days are just like that. Later in the afternoon my dh and I went to get an old wooden chair from a fellow freecycler. My dh and I with our children then walked to the library and spent a few hours there. We ate a late supper...my dh made chicken, homemade rolls, sweet potatoes and potatoes. It was very tasty!  

After the children were in bed my oldest dd, my dh and I sat and watched a few episodes of Monk; which we have just recently started watching. It's so funny! I really like it!

And today? Well, we are working on getting homeschooling done.. Unit study this afternoon, math accomplished this morning, along with free reading, etc..
I am leaving here shortly to get my oldest son from the horse farm.

I will leave you with this verse from my devotions this morning;
Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, [even] all the words of this law. 47 For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life... Deut. 32:46

His plan..

We are going back to the place I grew up the end of October! I am so very excited! I am looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up! My smallest munchkins will get to meet family they haven't! And the other ones have grown so much since the last time we were there.

We didn't get to take a vacation this past summer so although this isn't a vacation persay, as we're going for actual specific reasons, it's close enough for us!  

I have had many worries in regards to this trip but I am again feeling the Spirit near to me whispering in my ear; trust me....

TRUST=
1. To have or place reliance; depend:

I am being asked to place my trust in Him. To have trust in Him and to depend and rely on Him.
All things hard to do if I am relying on myself too much! All things hard to do if I am not keeping my eyes on Him and instead on my circumstances.

Is it possible that I can have this assurance within that all things will work out for His glory and purpose? I can not see nor tell the future but I have this certainty that everything is already working as He has planned.
 
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

 ”A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)



God, You are my God
Earnestly I seek You, oh my soul
I thirst for You
My body aches in a dry and weary land
I’ve seen You in Your sanctuary
I beheld Your pow’r and shouted glory
My soul is full, my lips will sing Your praise
Lift your voices

Let the sound of praise be heard
All the ends of Earth
Praise the Holy One
Sing the glory of His name
Every tongue proclaim
Praise the Holy One

You are my help, I sing
In the shadow of Your wings
My soul will cling
Your right hand holds me up
You are my king, You are my God
Lift your voices

I will sing for Your glory
For Your love is better than life
I will sing for Your glory
For Your love is better than life
Better than life

Parade Pics..

Sunday we went to the parade and had a great time. The children ended up with bags of candy. Not full mind you, but plenty for them to be happy. :)
Here is some pics to share with you;
walking to the parade..

I loved the horses..

loved this...wouldn't it be perfect for a wedding or renewal??

The kiddos watching and waiting for more candy..

gotta have a clown..

We live in farm country and farm country wouldn't be complete without a few of these..

A church here in Maple City had a huge cross they were carrying. I loved it! Made me think of the verse that tells us to take up our cross and deny ourselves;
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ~Luke 9:23-24

more stuff..

***********************************************************************************************
A few random pics of KianAdley and JaidenNoah...

This is my favorite! KianAdley's pouty face. It's so cute!!!

Be Blessed!!! :)