Problems to posting :)

More than a year since I posted. Not good at all. I know what some of my problem is.

Problem #1~I wanted my next post to be pictures of our remodeled house. I will get to that some time.

Problem #2~ I have way to many thoughts rattling around in my brain and I can’t separate them and make concise posts out of each thought. And so I don’t post because my brain is all jumbled.

God is really working our family and church family. We are being stretched and pulled in good ways. I want to “give testimony” to those things soon. I want my blog to be an encouragement to others. I want you to be glad you stopped by.

Problem #3~I am just very  busy. Hopefully the busyness is because I am going about “my Father’s business”. Raising my children, keeping my house, homeschooling, visiting neighbors, taking a car-less friend to her appointment each week. I want God to receive the glory for what I do, because it is only because of his work in my life that I can do these things and feel love in my heart towards the people that I interact with, including my children. I do these things and strive to do them well because of HIM, the one who has given me all these good gifts.

Just an encouragement to stay faithful to what he has called each of you. Remember even if it seems small and insignificant, we cannot see the whole picture of what God is doing. The smile and “how are you” to a person you meet in town, may be a seed, or it may be the water for what someone else planted. Just do the next thing that you know will please God.

I recently saw this quote “Discover what pleases God and then make them habits” WOW!! May all my habits please God and may I make things that please God, habits.

A year ago over New Year’s Day 2013, we were in Georgia discussing the possibilities of moving here. We had decided that we would move unless something major came up during that visit that would be God’s way of telling us to not move. We went around with a realtor and looked at a couple of houses. Many we liked, but were either out of our price range or the location wasn’t ideal or just something didn’t feel right. We left Georgia and went home to Texas with the decision made that we would move ahead with the plans to move and that we would like to move in either March or April. We kept looking online for places to buy. The Kauffman family looked at a few houses for us. But nothing felt right. Finally the end of February, beginning of March we decided to just look for places to rent and then we could move and continue searching for a place to buy after we arrive in the area. Our realtor was a great help in knowing what was for rent and the Kauffmans were great in going to look at these places. One day mid March, we found a beautiful place that was for sale, but the owners were willing to rent it. 2 weeks later we arrived in Georgia with all of our earthly possessions. Since that time we have been enjoying the area, the church and feel blessed to the way God has been leading us. But. . . there was always in the back of our minds that we wanted to buy. We kept looking online and driving around the area. We would occasionally go look at places. We made several offers that were rejected. I was amazed at the peace and calm I felt during the whole process. My thoughts were that God has a place in mind for us and we do not need to stress about trying to get a particular place or getting our dream house, because God is in control. FINALLY on January 2, 2014 we made on offer on a place,  a couple of hours later they came back with a counter offer and we accepted. WE WERE BUYING!!! On January 15, 2014 we had closing on a house/mobile home and 4.25 acres. WE ARE HOME OWNERS!  almost exactly a year after we started looking. 

The place really has no curb appeal at all!!! It is a very blaah looking place. No shrubs or flower beds, the lane is rough and on a slope.The place smelled very badly of dogs. When we had the priviledge of showing the house to friends we had one young person who stood at the door and covered their nose  and wouldn’t advance farther into the house. Yes, it was bad. It almost stung the nose. We immediately started tearing out carpets and and all floor coverings. We took a couple of small walls out. 

 

This is the front of the house.

 

And this is the back. The first deck goes into the back entrance/laundry room. The far deck is off the diningroom area.

This is the living room area right inside the front door.The floor was dark green carpet but stained a brown, most likely from the red dirt, but the look combined with the smell of dogs, one could easily imagine that wasn’t a dirt stain, but something far worse. 🙂

Now we are standing in the living room area and looking into the kitchen. To the right is the back entrance and laundry area. To the left is the dining room or a 2nd living room. And yes the house was not cleaned out by the former owners. We are the ones that finished boxing everything up and moving it out to the shed so that she could come pick it up and we could start working on remodeling.

Now we are standing in the kitchen area looking towards the dining room/2nd living room area. On the 2 sides are short little walls that divide the kitchen from the dining room, we have removed them to open up the place a bit. It actually is a very big area and I love the open feel of it. Farther back the hall are the children’s bedrooms, a bathroom and an office. We have 4 bedrooms/2 baths and an office. I feel very fortunate to get such a big house that was within our budget. I really didn’t want to do with less than a 4 bedroom because our family is still growing, but I also knew it was a real possibility.

 

Here we are standing in the master bedroom and looking out into the living room. The kitchen would be immediately to your right as you exit the master bedroom. The house is a split plan, so the master bedroom is on the opposite end of the house from the other bedrooms.

Our children were thrilled with all the junk that was laying outside around the place. They immediately started digging through it and finding “treasures”. They also found a “house’ for them. All their treasures went into the house and they have set up house keeping. Here they are in their house. Their treasures include a coffee pot, a toaster oven, chairs, tables, various spoons, pans, a serving bowl,  a radio, a phone, various containers of all sorts and sizes.

Here is where their house really is. Yes underneath the shed. This picture really makes it look unsafe. From this picture I don’t think I would allow my children to play underneath here, but my husband assures me that it is safe and it does feel safe when you see it in real life.

 

We had a work day one Saturday and it was a cold day. Here Eliana is enjoying a hot drink. Later I will try to post more pictures of the progress. We are hoping to move the middle to end of February, so that we can be half way settled by the time our baby makes his/her debut around the 10th of March.  But that is a lot of pressure that Titus feels. So I continually tell myself that it is ok if we don’t get moved before hand. I really feel pretty confident that we will. I am enjoying picking out paint colors. We will probably just paint the children’s bedrooms and their bathroom at this time. Later on we want to repaint everything, but right now we are just doing the necessary things to get moved in.

 

What NOT to say to a pregnant woman!!

Here is an article I just couldn’t pass by without linking to it. I was crying till I got done with this list. I soo desire to hear those things that she writes about what she would love to hear instead. Those are sooo true. I have about 6 weeks to go yet and yes, I am just plain miserable. I have had some of these comments said to me and I try to graciously reply, but I cry later because of it. I could add to this list, but maybe later when I am in a better frame of mind.
ENJOY:
http://www.themeasuredmom.com/say-pregnant-woman/

Edited to add: I really, really wish that I was one of these ladies that love being pregnant. My husband wishes that also, I do believe. But sad to say, I look forward to the end when I find out I am pregnant. 🙂 But I do it for the babies. I LOVE my babies. I CAN NOT WAIT until I can hold and cuddle my little bug.

Practicing Giving All Diligence

My continual goal is to ‘give all diligence’ in whatever I am doing. I want to please the Lord in my daily actions. I want to please him with my speech. I am really struggling today. I always struggle more when I am pregnant, but I don’t want my hormones to be an excuse. I survive with Progesterone cream. 🙂 My life saver every couple of days. 🙂 It really does work!! 

So what am I doing or should be doing to ‘give all diligence’ today? It is Monday, which means extra clean up from the weekend and also my once a week wash day. We had school, a quick run into town. A sick baby and half sick other children. Titus does so good at keeping the children doctored up. Vit C and immune builders given, Vicks rubbed on their chests, Peppermint oil rubbed on chests and feet for congestion and fever. 

I am right now holding Eliana while she sleeps, so that she takes a longer nap. My voice is heard barking out orders to the three older ones as they do chores, such as folding wash, sweep floor, clear off a table that is right inside our door and is such a collection point. They still find it very difficult to talk and keep working at the same time.   

So number 1  on my list of giving all diligence is keep my voice sweet as I “bark” orders, mostly my orders are consisting of “get back to work”. 

Number 2 don’t give in to the desire to vegetate. Usually when I am struggling with feeling down/depressed/overwhelmed, I want to vegetate, read a light fiction or get online, wether reading blogs or Pinterest or Facebook. 

Things I have done: Cleaned out the kettle cupboard and put liner in it, with the help of my daughter. Kept wash going. Did school. Held and rocked away with my baby because she needs lots of holding and rocking right now. 

Now it is time to be working on Supper. Oh what to make?

Prayer requests: Work for Titus. He has worked about 2 days in the last 2 weeks and this week doesn’t look any better. His boss keeps saying work picks up right before Christmas, so we keep waiting and hoping. 

Health for everyone in this house. Thankfully neither Titus nor I have gotten it. 

Life happens

My Children’s “Thomaston grandma” or “Mimi” as she would like to be called. She comes every Wednesday afternoon at 3 to read to my children for 30-45 minutes or do special projects that she wants to do with them. They love it and always look forward to Wednesday afternoons. Here she is making Thanksgiving cookies with them. 

A few cresant rolls raising before the fire for our Thanksgiving lunch with Gary’s. Before Thanksgiving Day we had already had 2 thanksgiving meals, so we didn’t go “all out” on Thanksgiving day, although we did have another wonderful meal. Titus spent the morning helping Gary do some remodeling at their deli and then we ladies took lunch over for them. I took the cresant rolls, candied carrots, and baked corn. Laura and her girls provided the all the other yummy food.

Over Thansgiving week vacation from school, my 2 oldest 8 and almost 7 were introduced to “The Farming Game” and played it for many hours. My son especially thrived on figuring out the money. Cassandra and Andre’ are in the same grade level in school. I never really thought about it that Andre’ was a wiz at math in his school work, but WOW did he ever get a hang of figuring out all the money figures in this game. He learned how to double his hay harvest or cut it in half. He was wiz. It made me happy, happy, happy. 

We have all those happy memories of a very low key Thanksgiving vacation.

THEN: Life hits with a bang through out the night last night and this morning. One of my children complained of a sore throat and by this morning ALL 4 of them have a BAD cough deep in their chests. Hadassah has a fever to go with it. She has occupied the couch all day long so far. I had the three oldest sit under a tent with the warm mist vaporizer with vicks. Thanks, Maria. I have used that so many times already since you gave it to me. 

Eliana, my dear sweet 16.5 month old has become a terror. Ok, I never did like the saying the “Terrible Twos”. I have always thought that my 2 year olds are soo sweet. They have such cute words and behaviors. They make everyone around them laugh. BUT. . . from about 14 months – 20 or 22 month old are my dear little ones “Terrible Twos”. They are literally in to EVERY thing. They are still learning what “no” and “come” mean and what obedience is all about. She is still the sweetest thing, but her little fingers are everywhere and into every cupboard, especially those that contain many little pieces. So this morning that was extra busy with sick little ones, plus spending extra time with Cassandra and Andre’ to get them to memorize their addition and subtraction facts, my little one was everywhere. She was happy, but wow what a mess. Enjoy the mess. 🙂 What you can not see, but is there is a big puddle of water between the cup and rag and cracker crumbs all over the floor. That water mess was the third I had to clean up this morning. Dominoes are her newest favorite toy to carry with her everywhere she goes. I am finding dominoes in every room of the house. Oh, yeah another thing she was found doing this morning is stirring tissue around in the toilet with her daddy’s razor.

Learning to find JOY and to THRIVE even in the midst of these times is an on going process. Thanks so much for a friend that babysat for us last evening, Titus and I were able to go on a date. I feel rejuvenated to keep going. To keep loving my children, to keep thriving right where God has me planted. My prayer is that I can give and give and give some more to my children. To teach and train in the midst of life, to give them the best that I can, and  To NEVER GIVE UP, no matter how weary I get.

God’s goodness in the routine of life

It is time that I get that last post off the top. 🙂 A post that is really negative, when I really have so many GOOD things happening in my life. God’s goodness is amazing! I feel blessed to have a chance to carry another little life. Everytime I feel this little one move, I am thankful! Ok, so yeah, waves of the feelings of my last post do still come and stay for a few days and then leave again and I once again feel soo blessed. God is good. He is teaching me to look for the good and not dwell on the negatives. I think I must be a pessimist by nature. It is so much easier to see the negative, but by God’s grace, I will look for the good and feel blessed. 

Here are a few good things in my life the past few weeks!!

 My daughters and I. This was taken back in August.

Eliana is a big girl. No more baby swing for her.

Two Sunday evenings ago, we had a church hot dog roast at our place. We had a big pile of wood that needed to be burnt. Here is the beginnings  of the fire. 

Each Saturday, I try to spend some time outside, cleaning up or working in flowerbeds or garden. Here the children are carrying  firewood to  the porch for our fireplace. 

This past Sunday evening, we went for a drive to see the beautiful fall leaf colors. They are not as gorgeous as Pennsylvania’s, but after living in Texas, these are mighty beautiful!

My daughter sleeping with her two babies. I had gone back to wake her up and couldn’t resist a photo. 

This is her waking up. She rolled to her back and instinctively put her arms around both babies. 

Learning to trust God implicitly

How does this happen? How do I learn to trust IMPLICITLY? What does implicitly mean?

Meaning of implicitly: In an implicit manner; without reserve; with unreserved confidence

Do I trust him without doubting or questioning Him? Do I have FULL confidence in the goodness of God?

All these questions are because I am struggling with trusting his goodness in His decisions what the consequences of the fall would be. I am 19 weeks pregnant and feel the havoc that it wreaks in my body even at this early stage. I feel the aches and pains and know that it will only get worse till delivery. Ok, so I look forward to delivery. Oh no, that’s right I don’t look forward to delivery. I look forward to 1 minute AFTER delivery. There is going to be a pain filled day and if I am fortunate it will be just a couple of hours full of pain before delivery and before I get to see and hold the precious little one that we are anticipating. BUT even if it is only a couple of hours they are FULL OF PAIN!!
How do I trust without questioning Him when I have this to look forward to? How do I claim his grace as I struggle through each day to stay on top of caring for my family even when I didn’t sleep well or my back aches, or, or, or. . .

And then I look at what the man’s consequences are from the fall. Well, it feels like those consequences also affect us as women. We feel the effect of needing to work hard and sweat and having thorns and thistles grow.
Man’s part of the curse:“cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

In my humanness, I say, Dear Lord, didn’t we as women get a double dose? Don’t we as women feel both affects of the fall?

In all these thoughts, how do I rest and trust that God has only our good in mind. I do feel like every pregnancy has been a pruning time for me. It never fails that I struggle with these same thoughts and feelings. And every time I come back to I just need to trust, to give it to Him, to tell Him about how I feel. I never find answers that completely satisfy and take the struggle away for the next time.
So I wrestle. . . I cry out to God. . . I ask for grace for each new day. . . I also realize that God will give grace and strength when the time for delivery come. . . but that doesn’t take the fear and anguish away. . . and yet I again say “God, I WANT to trust you implicitly. . . Increase my faith”.

Curriculum of Choice 2013-2014

School is just around the corner. We are planning on starting August 19, which is next Monday. My children are excited. I am apprehensive. I do not feel organized enough. I feel like I am barely keeping up with the work that is on my plate now and what will happen when I add school. And my 1 year old has been extremely fussy and clingy lately. Hopefully that will soon resolve because I noticed one of her molars is through. So hoping. . .

Things that need to happen before school starts on Monday: a daily/weekly schedule made for the school days, chores need to be re-worked to fit into a school day (i.e. which chores need to be done before the school day begins, which chores will be done afterwards and which chores will be dropped from their lists), would love to make menus, more charts, timelines, maps, need to be hung on the walls, school book shelves need to be organized, a list of things made that I can grab to keep baby dear happy for a while, and on and on and on. But by God’s grace, I can do it. He has called and he will enable. THAT is what I am clinging to.

Curriculum is soo much fun. I love looking at curriculum and choosing what will best suit our needs. I am excited about our choices for this year, especially our history.

Bible & Bible Memory: Not entirely decided yet. I have a few ideas, but I don’t have a curriculum per se.
Math: Math-U-see Beta
Reading, phonics, spelling: Eastern Mennonite Publications 2nd grade reading
History: Faith Builder’s Living History Threads level 12
Science: Sonlight Science from Core B
Music: not entirely decided. Cassandra is taking Piano lessons, but I want to give them all an introduction to music
Art: Artpac 1 from Christian Light Publications

My children, good times, pictures and memories

We have some fun filled times in the last few weeks. Because of Eliana’s close call with choking on a lego, I have:

1. Called and signed up Titus and I for a Basic First Aid and CPR class. Titus has never taken a class before and I took one 10 years ago, so I really need to brush up again. 

2. Stopped to laugh with my children.

3. Gone geocaching with my children

4. Initiated “fun project time” in the afternoon

5. Started my children on some string art, the “project” we are dong right now in number 4.

6. Took time to enjoy my children playing in the sprinkler and in their “swimming pools” aka tubs.

7. OK and yes I also Panic every time I see Eliana with something in her mouth. She is a fast moving vacuum cleaner. 

8. We also took a trip to PA last weekend and on the way home we took the time to go a “beach”, it was really just along a river and also went to George Washington’s Birth Place National Monument. They had a farm set up with gardens and animals like back in the day of George Washington. Also you could go into some of the buildings (kitchen and blacksmith shop) and see the tools that they would have worked with. (no pictures)

Andre’s lego city!She’s WALKING. Her looks are changing. SHE is changing from a baby to a toddler before my very eyes. She is soo cute. 

The string art the children are working on. Cassandra’s will be a 3 leaf clover when she is finished. I think it will be beautiful when she is finished. Andre’s is a very intricate and complicated. Thankfully Hadassah picked a fairly easy design because it was still much complicated for her to do on her own. 🙂 

Re-Seasoning a cast iron skillet

My first post to try to post pictures in my new blog format. So I am hoping that it works!!

I have been wanting a cast iron skillet for a long time, but just couldn’t find any nice ones for a cheap enough price. When I did find a cheap one, it was way to ugly and gunky and whatever else that makes them sell cheap. But then came Pinterest. . . awe. . . you can re-condition and re-season them! You can clean all that gunk and ugly stuff off! Seriously?

Well I was just a little skeptical, but I decided if I found one for the right price I would try it. Finally the other week I was at an Estate Sale and it was the final day and they had all the items marked 50% off. They had a cast iron pan in horrible condition marked for $10. Well everything was 50% off, so it was $5. I decided now is my time to try it. I bought it and brought it home. My husband took one look at it and say it is worthless. He did not believe that I could do anything to save that skillet. I found the pin on Pinterest and set out to clean it. I coated it with oven cleaner, put it in a garbage bag and left it sit for a couple of days. Got it out sprayed it with water and scrubbed. I was AMAZED!!! First of all, the grime was thick! 2nd the grime was actually coming off! I sprayed again and waited a couple of days, scrubbed and resprayed and waited, probably about 4 times, till all the grime was off. After I was satisfied it was all off, I soaked it in 2:1 ratio of water and vinegar to neutralize something (the pin explains all the techincal stuff) about the oven cleaner. After it was finished soaking it got scrubbed with steel wool. Lots of gross stuff still came off with that scrubbing. After the steel wool did it’s job, then came the re-seasoning. Heat it in the oven and give it several coats of Crisco or olive oil or lard. I believe I can fry is the blog  that gave me full instructions on how to re-condition and re-season my cast iron pan.

Here is the pan after one coat of oven cleaner!

This is after a few more coats of oven cleaner

This is after I was satisfied that it was clean and had all the prior seasonings off. It was still a dark color! 

 This after the vinear and water soak and then the steel wool treatment.

 

And HERE is my completely re-seasoned cast iron skillet!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful!!!!!!! It turned a slightly brown color when it was re-seasoned. My skeptical husband has turned believer. I do believe that I will now be able to buy any cast iron skillet I want. 🙂 It is beautiful, right? You agree, right??