Friday, July 3, 2009
Yes...another entry!!!
Each evening, we take a ride up top to check on our cows. Last night, we were rewarded with seeing a new bull calf! Had we been there 10 minutes sooner, we could have watched him being born.
What an amazing thing birth is. I am in awe of it. Animal births are so different than human births. We treat animal births as a natural event, and very few need any help or intervention. Human birth, on the other hand, is treated as some sort of illness that simply must be treated and have intervention. Whether the intervention is to "move things along with pitocin", or to "monitor to be sure all is well" or to "take the baby". God designed the female body to reproduce. I think we'd do well to let His design do the work, not the medical community.
I digress...sorry...birth is such an incredible event...I hate to see women give that time of their life over to the medical community. God is doing so much more than just bringing a new life into the world...though that's awesome in and of itself....He can use that time to grow you as a person. As a couple. As a child. As a parent. But, if you're all doped up, can't feel the labor pain, and can't move....you kind of remove Him from the situation, don't you?
Okay, okay....moving on.....
We're going to a cookout tomorrow for the 4th. Thomas wanted fireworks, so we may have to have our own private show another day. Wish our town put on a fireworks show. I remember living in NY, there was always a big show to go see. Even in FL, there were fireworks on the beach.
Honey starts a new schedule soon. He'll be working on the inventory prep crew. Instead of his normal 5am to 2pm shift, he'll work 2pm to 11pm. We all see this is a really good thing for the summer. It's light out so late that it makes getting to bed on time difficult. And it's too warm to sleep comfortably...course, in the morning, it's quite cool and pleasant, so sleeping in is really easy to do. (ask me how I know this to be true?!)
Mom's night out is next week. I didn't go last month, so I'm really looking forward to going this month. It's always a good time with fun friends. Sure, some seem to have their own agendas......and that I surely don't understand....but I do like my time out with friends.
Mary has a couple of loose teeth. So does Natalie. They just keep growing up....
Rebecca is going on a trip with my family later this year. My folks, Aunt Nina, brother and his family and cousin and his family are going to Cozumel, Mexico over Thanksgiving. Aunt Nina invited Rebecca since my niece will be there too. She's footing the entire bill, from her passport to her flight to her time there. How incredibly generous of her!!!! Rebecca is quite excited about this opportunity...and I am too....though I know I will miss her terribly.
Natalie and Mary have decided we need to do something special while Rebecca is away. They've tossed out some wild ideas....we shall see what the future holds...
Honey is stopping at the sawmill on his way home today to get the rest of our lumber for the corral. This needs to be finished up for so many reasons....one of which being just to cross off a HUGE to do on the never-ending list. What a blessing it will be to have this finished!!!
I need to get my July menu finished up so we can do our big monthly grocery shopping tomorrow. The cupboards are looking a bit bare. The pantry needs re-stocking. I will have a most happy family to have cheese in the house again. We ran out of all but mozzarella earlier this week....and I've heard many a comment about this tragedy.
I'm off to work on said menu.....Happy Fourth of July!!!
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Friday, July 3, 2009
July....already??
Is it just me or is this year flying by with lightning speed??
We're having a fun, busy summer. We've really enjoyed spending time with friends, gardening, going to the creek, reading, and just generally enjoying our time together.
I'm realizing how short my time with Rebecca is getting to be. Not that I expect her to go anywhere right after graduation, but she's going to be in 11th grade this coming year....who knows what the Lord has in store for her. I want to soak up every minute with her...and her siblings, of course.
Rebecca and Mary were discussing how old each of them would be in "so many years". When Mary turns 16, Rebecca will be 26. If she's anything like me, Rebecca will have a couple of children by that time. Strange to think about it that way....
If she did follow me...Rebecca would be married in 5 short years..and a Mama in 7. Doesn't seem that far away....
Okay...I'm going to get all teary-eyed if I keep on...so I'll stop and just love the time NOW.
Rebecca and I taught Natalie and Mary how to play Dutch Blitz. We have two more girls who love to play this game! Mary is the Uno girl..but she likes the Dutch Blitz too! What fun we have playing. We should get another deck of cards, since there's only cards enough for 4 players....
We're all getting nice tans. I'm loving this weather. Could be cooler for my taste, but I'll take it. It's not overwhelmingly hot as it has been the last few years. The a/c isn't running non-stop. It's not unbearable outside. Most days, we've had a nice breeze which makes such a difference. It's warm enough to make me want to swim, yet not so warm that makes me want to stay indoors. I'm quite thankful for this weather!!!!
Honey is going to the dentist next week. He's lost one of his crowns for the 3rd time. The dentist told him if it comes off again, there was nothing he could do to put it back on. It started out with one pin holding it in place...he now has 3 pins...and it still comes off. So, he's going in so the dentist can remove the pins....one less tooth for my beloved. I feel badly for him. I so wish someone had taught him...and emphasised to him...the importance of taking care of your teeth.
We've done some organizing and re-arranging...with more to be done. I have a pile here in the office....quite the pile...of things to sell. I'm not sure I want to deal with the hassle of eBaying them...but then....I've done two book sales and am left with this pile. The pile was MUCH larger before the sales, so I've done pretty well at downsizing it...but I want it GONE altogether!
Guess that job won't do itself.....I should spend some computer time taking care of such things....
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer time...
Each summer, I want to do fun things...just things we don't take the time to do during the school year.
Each fall, I realize it's time to start school and somehow, the days slipped by me and we didn't get to do those fun things.
This year, I am determined to do fun things. Not costly things, just fun things.
I surprised the children yesterday when I came out of my room after showering wearing my swimsuit. They were quite excited to find that we were headed to the creek!
As soon as we had a few chores finished up, we left. We packed a very light lunch of chopped veggies, chips and water. (Note to self, keep picnic ready foods on hand!). Off we went. And had a great visit at the creek. The breeze was blowing and it was so nice there.
I'd like to go at least once per week. The creek is a short 10 minute drive from home, so it's not a costly thing to do at all.
I did find a really neat summer activity idea book. If you visit Heart of the Matter online and sign up for their newsletter list, they'll send you a free e-book to download. It has lots of fun things to do included!!!
I'm looking for other fun ideas...things that don't cost alot...things that are for a broad age range since my children's ages span 10 years. Anyone have anything to share????
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Goings on....
Sorry for my being totally neglectful of my blog. Life has been rather busy...nothing outside of normal for us...just busy. Computer time has been limited...as life has been happening. 
Let's see....
Work has been progressing on the cattle round up area. We need to sell some cows, but haven't had a way to sort them out of who goes and who stays. We hired a friend to help us (and when I say us, I mean Honey and Thomas) with this task. It's nearing completion. Oh, what a happy day it will be when we sell some cows!!! Some will go to be processed, some to the sale barn. We're hoping more go to be processed than to the sale barn. We've been so blessed. Almost five years ago, we started with 3 heifers and 1 bull. We now have 23 cows, with more calves due this year. God has been good to us!
Thomas' last shooting competition was in Clarksville, TN on May 29th. He did so well this year, he's hoping to continue next year. It will depend upon the cost. The season will be longer (since they will be starting on time) and thus, be more costly. We shall see...sure would love for him to continue.
Natalie and Mary have finished up their school year. They are both quite happy to be on summer break...they are making all sorts of plans for creek days...
Rebecca and Thomas are still working on math and science. They will continue this for the summer. This will keep these two subjects fresh in their minds come next school year, as well as catch them up as we got a bit behind this year.
Summer arrived early here. The past week has been quite hot. If you've read my blog for any time, you know I'm not a fan of heat. Today's high temp is to be 98* (again..was yesterday too)...with a heat index of 108*. UGH. I'm ready for fall to arrive now. Had my fill of summer already!!!
Though...I do appreciate the goodies from the garden that the heat brings. We are finishing up the last of the romaine lettuce and collard greens. We had our first cucumbers of the year last week. The tomato plants are loaded with green fruit. I keep checking in hopes of seeing some beautiful red on them! The cantaloupe and watermelon are sure putting out the flowers. We have sugar snap peas growing. Green beans are tiny yet. Should be a bumper crop this year! It is so neat to go out there and find a fruit or veggie on a plant that you started as a seed. God sure did a marvelous work in that, didn't He?!
The past week was an expensive one, farm wise. The tractor needed some repairs and new parts. Ouch! They sure are pricey!!
We'd like to replace our Burb with another. Ours needs several things repaired...and it seems like it would be money better spent to replace the Burb. We now have rust issues....and a long list of repair needs. We are praying for this purchase as we don't have the funds just waiting around to be spent for such a purchase.
If we had a trust worthy and cool (read that...working a/c) vehicle, I might be tempted to take some road trips this summer. I'd love to go visit my family in NY. I could visit them and escape the heat at the same time. Toby wouldn't be able to go with us...if he could, we'd add in traveling to FL to visit and see the changes there...and make a trip up to MI to visit my in-laws. But, it's not a choice at this time...maybe in the future.
Honey needs me to bring him some parts....gotta go. Love it when Honey calls for me!! 
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
"I told God"....
I hear this alot...."I told God"... that He had to meet this need or that. That he needed to send rain for the garden. That He had to pay this bill. That He had to take care of this situation.
While I get what the person is trying to say...it sounds rather rude to me. No, God doesn't have to do what you think He does. He can let this bill go unpaid. He can let your garden wither up and die. He can not take care of a situation the way you see fit. He is GOD after all. It may not be in your best interest, or part of His plan, to do as you see fit.
I ask God to meet a need. Or to pay a bill. Knowing full well that it's completely up to Him to do so...or not.
Think of it this way....your child comes to you and tells you that you must pay a bill for them. Would your heart be more willing to do so had they asked? Certainly, if it's within my power, I will do whatever my children need. But, what if what they are asking for would be detrimental to them in some way? Would I still do what the "tell me to do", just because I can? Probably not. I'd look out for their best interest...and sometimes...even when it's a seemingly good thing....I don't do it.
Ask of your Heavenly Father...don't "tell Him"......
Rant over.... :)
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Life is busy.....
Yes, our life is too busy at the moment. It has been for the whole month of May. I'm ready to get off this merry-go-round for a bit. Merry-go-round is a good way to describe it....for each activity, in and of itself, is fun and interesting. There's just too many of them at once.
Today holds a dentist appmt for Rebecca's filling...after we go to piano lessons. This is after Thomas and I move cows this morning.
Tomorrow is actually a day AT HOME...with no where to be, nothing extra to do!!! Wahoo!!!!
We have a state shoot coming up soon. I'm looking forward to watching my son do what he does so well. I'm so proud of him!!!
The two book sales were quite fruitful, both in selling and buying. I LOVE used curriculum/book sales!!
Honey's vacation starts soon. I'm not planning to do much of anything while he's home....just soak up the time with him. I already know I don't want to give him back when it's over....
It's getting light outside now....time to wake my children and get this day started...
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, Monday....
Today is back to real life.....what a great weekend we had!!!!
I left on Friday morning for Nashville with my greatest friends.....and we met up with another of my greatest friends. We went to the MTHEA conference. It was my first homeschool conference...funny....we're in our 11th year of home education and I finally went to a conference! I listened to Mary Hood a couple of times. Can't say that I'm a huge fan after listening to her, but she did bring up some good points.
The best speaker? The lady from In The Hands Of A Child! She re-ignited my fire for lapbooking! We've done notebooking (thanks, Cindy Rushton!!!) many times...but I never got completely into the whole lapbooking thing. Well...look out...cause we're SO going to be adding lapbooking into our school work next year!
I will say that the conference was a bit lacking. The food.....oh what a less than stellar thing that was. We waited in line for nearly an hour to pay WAY too much for a burger and fries. The speakers were in rooms that had no doors, so the outside noise from the walkways was way too much. I don't think this was the first time the conference was held at the fairgrounds, so surely they have heard these complaints before??
A couple of us are thinking about attending another conference elsewhere... though I'll have to wait awhile before I ask my family to allow this again. They did great on their own but told me how they missed me so! Those words were sure wonderful to hear. And I was exhausted tired Saturday night. Mary and Natalie told me how red my eyes were..then told me that under my eyes was blue. Yep, I took a shower after eating and went to bed. I haven't slept that deeply in a long time. But the tired-ness was sure worth it to get to attend this conference...and have a great time with such wonderful friends. We stayed up way too late talking Friday night. And someone got us up way too early Saturday morning. No names.... to protect the innocent....
We ate at Outback Friday night. What a hoot that was! The drive there was masterfully executed. The back seat driving was incredibly funny. The meal and service were both outstanding. Another drive back to the hotel was just as fun as the drive there! On the way home Saturday, we explored Nashville...not that it was our intention to go exploring, but in looking for Trader Joe's, we saw LOTS of Nashville. My first time seeing Music Row, the Parthenon, and oh so much more. What a tour guide we had! We hit Costco on the way home and had fun there too.
Ahhhhh....friends....aren't they the spice of life? I'm so thankful that the wonderfully flavorfull friends FAR outweigh the ickily flavored ones. God is so good to me. I am incredibly blessed by both the best family ever and the best friends ever. Who could ask for more????
Yet, life is more than a conference...there's real life to live too...
We took Thomas to town to meet up with his shooting coach yesterday. He went to another gun range and had another practice. I'm so thankful for his coach. He went so out of his way to get Thomas there. What a blessing. Thomas had a great time.
At home, Toby, Rebecca and Mary moved the cows to the driveway so they could do some mowing for us. When it was time for me to leave to pick up Thomas, Toby moved the cows into the next pasture. Mary is Daddy's shadow....it so reminds me of Thomas when he was a little guy....always out working with Daddy. So sweet....
This week is another busy one. We're home today...thankfully....laundry, school and all the normal Monday stuff...including some baking. Must get some bread baked...and some treats. Tomorrow is a busy day...Thomas goes to the orthodontist in the morning...and Honey goes to the dentist in the afternoon to have the pins from his latest crown to bite the dust pulled out. I've been organizing a used book sale for about two months now. The big day is Friday...which means I need get my butt in gear and get these books priced to sell!!!
The washer has stopped for the second time this morning. The sun is peeking out...so it's time to get this laundry hung out on the line. I haven't done this in awhile...it's been so rainy and overcast lately...but today, we go back outside!
Oh yeah...the garden needs some weeding too.....always something to be done, eh?!
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Only the coolest Daddy in the world...
Only the coolest Daddy in the world would.....
give his daughters' Kens a hair cut.
Isn't he the coolest Daddy ever?!
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
Ahhhh...what a wonderful day.... 
Breakfast was skillyfully prepared by Rebecca. That girl can cook! Natalie and Mary took care of the cleanup. Thomas entertained us all with his choice of breakfast...an egg sandwich on not just toast..but peanut butter and jelly toast. Ummm...ick...but if he likes it, so be it!
I was then treated to such beautiful cards. What loving words from my babes. I am truly blessed with the best children ever. Honey gave me a card filled with his encouraging and loving words. He made me cry.
Then they brought me to the computer...to show me the gift they ordered for me but hasn't arrived yet.
They bought me a GPS! All because Thomas and I used one last weekend on our trip to Clarksville and when I called home I told Honey how much I loved it. Isn't that the sweetest thing? Sure, the GPS is cool...but what's cooler to me is that he bought it for me just because he heard how much I loved it. He sure spoils me. I am so blessed.
The day is not special due to this gift...though I dearly appreciate it....no, it's special because of the love we share.
Because of Honey, I get to be a wife and a Mama. It's the only job I ever dreamed of. I never cared about college, a career or any of that stuff. I only wanted to get married to the man of my dreams and get to Mother our babes. He has made whatever sacrifice has been necessary for over 18 years for me to be home. Sure, we could put the children in school. Sure, I could get a job. Sure, we could have more money. But, then, really...what would we have??? Not what we have now, that's for sure. Not the relationships that we cherish. I LOVE being home. I LOVE being with my children. I LOVE being the one to teach them. I LOVE being here when they need me. I LOVE getting Honey's daily call that he's on his way home to us. I LOVE it. I can't imagine being anywhere else all day long.
So, that means also that money is usually in short supply. It means that we don't do trips. We don't go out to eat. We scrimp and save everywhere we can. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I did a 3 month stint working at Wal Mart back in 2002. Honey was going to go back to school and I went to work. It soooo did not work. I missed my babes. I didn't mind..actually enjoyed...the work. But, I couldn't stop thinking about my babes at home..and my heart ached to be with them. I vividly remember one day...towards the end of my WM career....Honey needed the Burb that day so he and the children took me to work. Natalie was 2-1/2 at the time, Thomas 6-1/2 and Rebecca almost 9. I sat in the back next to Natalie...she held me the entire way there....and as I had to get out and say good-bye to them all, Natalie kept saying "Me stay you Mama, me stay you.". 
I still tear up at that memory. It was so hard for me to walk away and go to work. I had to leave those sweet little faces. It was then that we knew beyond a doubt that we were not doing the right thing and I needed to be home. I believe I was out of work within 3 weeks.
You know, I've learned many things over my 39 years of life....some people come into your life and make it so much richer. Course, there are some who come into your life and cause stress and strife. But, thankfully, they are usually short-lived in my life. Honey protects me in ways that I don't even realize sometimes. I know beyond a doubt that he would do anything for me.
I have been blessed with the best parents, husband, children and friends. They are truly more than I ever dreamed of. I am living my dream....and I'm ever so thankful to be granted my fondest wishes...and beyond!! Thus the name of my blog...Abundant Blessings...for I am most definitely abundantly blessed!!!
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
What Does The Bible Say About That book review
![[What+Does+the+Bible+Say+About+That+CP.jpg]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-ACNEzTGGPo/Sg2fToJWJSI/AAAAAAAAAC0/7m2MtdHjaok/s1600/What%2BDoes%2Bthe%2BBible%2BSay%2BAbout%2BThat%2BCP.jpg)
What Does the Bible Say About That? By Carolyn Larsen, Illustrated by Rick Incrocci, Crossway Books, 2009, 352 Pages, Ages 8-12, ISBN-13: 9781433502132, $15.99
When I saw this book in the box from Crossway, I thought it would be a fun book to read over and then read with my children.
I must admit this is a hard review for me to write....because I am not a negative person. But, this book was really hard for me to read through. I just didn't enjoy it. I also didn't feel all that interested in having my children read it.
Sure, it has cute cartoons and is written on a child's level, but it lacked something for me. It just didn't draw me in. It felt too superficial. Perhaps because we homeschool and discuss things all the time, I felt it didn't go deep enough into God's Word. I also didn't care for the way God was capitalized, but not references to God...when He is used in referring to God, it is not capitalized. Minor to some, but major to me.
It just seemed too light and airy for me. Yes, it's a children's book...but why do we have to assume that children are superficial?
I did like the "Today I will" section...it seemed to really encourage children to take things to heart. The verses used were well matched to the topic.
Perhaps I'm being too critical, but this book is not on my recommended reading list....
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