Sorry it has been so long since my last update.   I have been busy with the kids and just enjoying my last few days here. On Friday, (oh guess what, it's beginning to snow again ) we played more Oregon trail. I made Challah and chicken noodle soup and made the spaghetti sauce for dinner on Saturday while the kids played with one of their friends. (And it snowed on Friday!) We ate dinner together and the rest of the family watched "The Widows Might" while I downloaded songs for my Aunt onto her laptop from the interenet. Man I love high-speed! The kids slept with me in the living room, Alfred on the floor and Sissy on the couch with  me. We slept in and it was really nice.

Saturday while Uncle M. and Aunt C. had their date day the kids and I just relaxed and took it slow. We watched a couple of movies and went on a hour long walk. For which I was not prepared, I was only expecting about 20 minutes so we weren't wearing hats or gloves. BURRRR! We finally got home just as it was getting dark. Then we warmed up by the fire and finished up the book "Hedge of Thorns". It was time to eat dinner and we had Spaghetti and leftover Challah with garlic green beans! Yummo! Then we went downstairs to finish up our saga of Oregon Trail and Sissy had a bath. We started watching the movie Up that Sissy got recently for her birthday. (She got it from our Grandma as an early birthday present because her birthday isn't until the end of January) but only got through half of it before they had to go to bed. We had to get up early for Church in the morning. We went for the early service so I got up at 7:20. Only problem was that I didn't fall asleep until about 12:30 that morning. I was so tired yesterday, although, it really didn't hit me until afternoon. After church we went to Hallmark and Kroger and to Hungry Howie's to get pizza. Then  we came home, made some coffee, finished UP, and Uncle M. made us healthy oatmeal rasin cookies and egg pizza for dinner. It was all so good. The kids and I went on another walk and this time we dressed for it. It feels so good to get out in the fresh air, even if it does have a bite. This walk wasn't so long though, we really were only gone about 20 minutes, which is what I was orignially planning last time!   Last night we watched another movie all together as a family and I gave Aunt C. a massage, and did Alfred and Sissy too. It was cool! I like to give massages. I do complain though that when I give them to other people, I never get them back. So sweet Aunt C. offered to give me one after everyone else went to bed. It felt SO GOOD! I think this should be a tradition now ever time I come over.

Today I go home. I am excited to go home, it's been a good visit but there's nowhere like home. I miss my Chloe girl and my parents and my bed. Sleeping on the couch is only comfortable for so long! LOL

WARNING: I am herby announcing that after 2 o'clock today there will no longer be daily updates. I will resume my former blogging patern. When I have time and as my schedule allows.

There, now that we have that all covered, let's show some last pictures.

Saraphena, their pretty kitty

Alfred and Saraphena, so cute!

Oregon Trail beans and rice I made for lunch on Thursday. (I think it was Thursday) From an Oregon Trail cookbook.

Sissy eating the rice and beans. We all really liked the recipe and they were SO EASY!

My Challah raising in the oven on Friday afternoon.

We had a gorgeous crackling fire in the stove for the past 3 nights. It was so wonderful!

Well I better sign out now, I've got to leave in about 2 hours and I haven't spent much time with the littles this morning. This will also probably be the last of the pictures for awhile because it takes so long with dial-up.  Hope ya'll are having a blessed day and rejoicing in Him and all He's done for you!

Love to all,

Maiden Princess

Hey ya'll just wanted to give you an update on what I've been doing today. Stayed up late last night (about 1) and slept on the comfy sectional ! They let me sleep in until 9:30 YAY!  That makes me very happy! LOL

We got up and made waffles; half wheat, half white. Then did some stuff on my computer and got ready for the day. After Sissy and Alfred were done with school we played Oregon Trail downstairs and had so much fun!  We did that most of the afternoon.  We came up and ate lunch about 2 and then got ready to go to the Chiropractor (and I had to run to the local grocery store for some stuff for dinner). While they were at the Chiropractor and I was done checking out I decided to walk home from the store instead of having them pick me back up. It took about 5 minutes. It was a nice walk and it was a peaceful time by myself.  Then it was time to start dinner.  We had chili and garlic bread!  My cousins also helped me make healthy apple crisp without any butter or sugar (instead I used coconut oil and honey).  They really liked it but I thought it needed more sweetness! Of course that is probably because I eat sugar on a more frequent basis!

Then I read my Bible, Psalm 68. Afterwards, I listened to Aunt C. read them their lessons on Greek history. Then we finished up dinner and finally got to taste the fruits of our labor! We just finished cleaning up and getting on jammies. Now we're gonna pop in a movie and watch that. Then the kids will bed down for the night and I'll probably stay up for a little bit longer either reading or catching up on blogs.

Well, that's been my day. Just a normal day but filled with lots of love and fun memories.

Our Favorite Driver, Alfred! Isn't he handsome? He protected us the entire time we were "on the trail"!

Sissy taking her turn driving the team!  This was our covered wagon! We sat under that table and put a blanket over it so that it would be covered. Also part of our family, that are not seen, were two little baby dolls. Annabell and Gracie!  We were all brothers and sister who were going to go meet their parents in Oregon!

And you've got to give credit to our amazing team who have led us through the "Chinese River" with waves that reached the the bottom of our canvas cover, the Beautiful city of Rice, and a Chinese raid. Ok so the facts might not be politically correct but hey, to their credit they haven't learned about it yet in History!  I'm going to work on switching it to Indians tomorrow and making it more about History, without sacrificing fun!

I would have taken a picture of the crisp but I forgot to before we dug into it right after dinner. WAIT....got a picture of what was leftover from what Uncle M. couldn't eat!  Now you know what it looked like, I feel better now. Yeah, like it's real important! LOL

Hope that everyone else had a wonderful day and seized the opportunities that came your way! Live each day as if it's your last!

Looking To Him Alone,

Maiden Princess

Busy Day

        Today we’re having our group of gals over for our Tuesday Ladies Bible Study. It is our last chapter of our first book and we are having a big feast. Stromboli sandwiches, cheesy potato soup, a salad is coming, a pasta salad, some desserts and a vegetable pizza plus more!  Of course, where there is a gather of women who appreciate good food, you can’t not eat! LOL I am very excited to see everyone and finish up our last chapter on Submission. It has been a very good study and I have learned much about what it means to be a godly woman. Although, I am also very excited about starting our new Patriarchs study by Beth Moore. She is a great teacher and I really like her speaking style. So needless to say, I am very excited about what’s ahead for today and the rest our Bible studies!

          I think later on I’m going home with my Grandma (who attends study) and my Uncle M. will come pick me up there to take me to his house. I have been planning on going to there house on Thursday after lunch but my Aunt C. put her back out really bad yesterday and can hardly stand up straight. So I think I’m going to go early and help her out. I am excited to go but I’m also not quite prepared yet. (ie: I haven’t packed or anything!) so today will not only be exciting but crazy!  Our ladies will start arriving around 1 and won’t be leaving until 4.

          I am looking forward to spending so much time with my two loving cousins this week and part of next. Sissy (her nickanme) and I are planning on play Oregon Trail, princess dress up (for which I still have to find a cheap modest prom dress which means a run up town yet before 1), me writing a kid’s book and her illustrating it, coloring, having a scavenger hunt and me reading to her. She did all her school ahead so that she would have more time to play with me. She says I’m her best friend! LOL She is such a cutie!  Her older brother (Alfred or just Fred, is his nickanme) is a sweetheart too and we have made plans for him to be the driver of our “horses” while we play Oregon Trail and play his guitar for us (he’s so good!) !!!! I am really looking forward to having high-speed internet too! Hopefully I can keep you all posted while I’m there for 6 days. I’ll try my best but if princess land calls, well, what can I say?

I hope that it is beautiful and the sun is brightly shining, despite the cold, in whatever state you live in, like it is in mine!

Looking for His Blessings All Around Me,

Maiden Princess

Goats In Our Yard

       Yesterday night we came home from my Dad’s doctor appointment and got out of the car. It was dark outside and we were getting ready to go into the house when I realized that there were animals in our yard! At first I thought they were deer and then I looked closer and realized that we had two goats in our yard! This was a huge shocker because we have never had goats in our yard before. We didn’t even know any of our neighbors had goats. Well, come to find out, none of our immediate neighbors did.

          I could hardly sleep last night thinking about those poor goats, (a male and female if you’re wondering), shivering and huddled together out in the cold twenty degree night. This morning we got to know them a little more but they seemed very skittish towards us. They laid by the car all night, and munched on the cornstalks stacked by our deck.   We tried feeding them some carrots but they didn’t want to come near us. We tried shelled corn but they just didn’t seem interested. I filled up a bucket of water and they drank out of that but mostly they just walked round and round our house. Occasionally, the female would come up on our back deck and look in the sliding glass door. It was very comical! They seemed very interested in Chloe, but she was scared of them.  They were much bigger after all!

          Finally, after many phone calls we decided to call Animal Control.  They came out about 2 this afternoon and we chased the goats around for about an hour.  We caught the female but the male (who had horns) was determined not to get caught. Even though he had a problem with his back left leg (he limped and had a problem with that hoof) so after an hour of chasing through fields, abandoned barns and through a plowed garden, we decided to let him be. He wandered back by our house but soon left again after he realized we were gonna tie him up. So, he wandered away to a neighbor’s house. Whether he’ll be back or we’ll be able to get him back with the other goat is yet to be determined!

So that’s some of what’s been happening at our house lately! Anything exciting with any of you guys?

Today…

Outside my window…the stars are twinkling (sorry this is late)

I am thinking…that I can’t wait for the day my brother comes back to the LORD

I am thankful for…all my wonderful family and a list of things too long to post! J

I am wearing…pajamas.  LOL. They consist of Old Navy cotton pink, brown, and white plaid pj pants with a dark blue short-sleeve t-shirt

I am reading…The Mayflower Adventure by Coleen L. Reece and the Bible

I am creating…A devotional for young women about inner beauty

One of my favorite things…babies

For education this week…learning to be more diligent

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning …cooking and learning to submit more fully

A spiritual lesson I’m learning…to trust in God through all things because He is implicitly faithful!

A godly character trait I plan to work on…contentment and thankfulness

Scripture I am memorizing…”But as for me, I will hope continually, and I will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long; for I do not know the sum of them.” Psalm 71:14-15

I am praying for…my brother to come to know the LORD as his personal Savior and for many other people.

For the rest of the week…I will be striving to rest in God’s faithfulness and have joy in the midst of all things!

 I was tagged by Hannehej (www.homeschoolblogger.com/mycameraandi ) and thought this was a neat and unusual one. I really liked it. I hope you do too. J   I tag TMP/PickleHead  (@ www.beit--simchah.xanga.com/weblog ) and Mardi (@ www.iamadaughteroftheking.blogspot.com)  and CAGonzalez (Carissa) (@ www.homeschoolblogger.com/CubanPrincess )

In Spring: The chill of the winter gradually dies off and little flowers begin to appear.  It is a time I enjoy just being alive. I love to go on walks down our little gravel road and just breathe in the air and watch life, once again life beginning for another year. The little green leaves emerging from their tightly wrapped buds beginning to grow.  The lazy blue clouds floating aimlessly around the light blue sky, and the cold breeze with just a hint of the promise that summer will come soon. I love the smells of spring and the look of freshly tilled damp soil.  I love spring because it’s a time of awakening. I just feel alive inside! 

In Summer: I love summer because it means gardening!  It means afternoons spent at the lake with family and friends. It means outdoor picnics and steaks on the barbeque. It means friends have no school and a few sleepovers. It means camping and campfires and smelling like smoke! It means suntans and airy skirts and filp-flops for the order of the day. It means lemonade and sun tea and fresh produce. It means laying on the grass looking up at the clouds and thinking about how much God loves me. I love summer because in so many ways, I see God’s love evident around me, and I have time to write about it! J

In Fall: The leaves begin to turn vibrant colors. The temperature takes a turn for long-sleeves and I’m ready for a change in my wardrobe. *lol* The smells of woodstoves burning, apples sitting in bushel baskets in the back room, making applesauce, harvesting the produce of the garden and canning it. It is a time for pumpkin pie and cornstalks and apple cider. It is the season of the fall feasts. It is a time to build our sukkah and decorate it. A time to rejoice that one day the LORD will dwell among us.  It is a time to rejoice in the work that the LORD has done in our hearts over the past year. It is a time to rejoice in the harvest, not only in the physical world but also in the Spiritual. To rejoice in the harvest of fruit the LORD has brought forth in our souls. Fall is the season to rejoice.  Fall is my favorite season.

In Winter: I love winter because of snowflakes and snowdrifts and cold whipping winds. I love winter because it is cold and I have to wear layers and snuggle under blankets. I love winter because I change to flannel sheets. I love winter because of the quietness and whiteness. I love winter because of the stark background for the birds and berries. I love winter because of the ice that forms on the trees and branches.  I love winter because of long walks through the woods watching colorful birds flit back and forth and branches heavy laden with snow. The crackle of hard packed snow under your feet, making snow angels and snowballs. I love winter because of long nights playing games over hot cups of cocoa with friends. I love winter because it is such a quiet time where the handprints of God are very evident in the nature that surrounds us.

Rules of the tag

1. Tag at least three people after your post.

2. Post back to the blog that tagged you.

3. Post the rules of the tag and please don’t post the things you least like about the seasons, but what you like best

Resting In His Shalom,

Maiden Princess

So what's been going on with me lately? Well, this week has been nice. Quiet but not lazy. Sunday we just kind of hung around home, and took down our Sukkah. Monday, Chloe, went to the groomer over by my Grandparents so Mom dropped me off with them (at my request) and I stayed my Grandma brought me back yesterday for our Ladie's Tuesday Bible Study. (We're doing a great book "Honoring God With My Life" by Miriam Naddler if anyoen is interested in checking it out).  Today is shopping day. Mom has a dentist appointment and we will be getting groceries. Always hectic. We generally go shopping only once a week and because we live at least 30 minutes from a big enough city with supermarkets, we try to limit our trips. Somehow, we always end up being gone between at least 4-6 hours.

Also, another exciting thing going on right now it that my friend Lana: www.musingsofaservantprincess.blogspot.com is hopefully soon going to be in labor and baby Algie will be here! I am so excited. To find out all the details go to her blog :D

Here is a song I really like and thought you might enjoy taking a read, if you have high-speed see if you can find someplace online to listen to it. It's a great song and truly the love of God does overwhelm me!

Giveaway!

       I just wanted to let you know about a giveaway over at the Seven Sisters blog (www.homeschoolblogger.com/sevensisters ).  They are giving away two knitted dish clothes this month.  It is their 5^th and last give away. Go enter now! It’s so easy!

Striving In His Grace,

Maiden Princess

Plans Have Changed

          I tried very hard to sleep last night and finally succeeded about 11:30ish.  I woke up this morning trying to keep it as normal as possible and keep my mind on things above. Did good until we were in the car and heading to the town in which my Oral Surgeon was located. We had to eat lunch and do a little shopping first so we left a little early.  We had Jet’s pizza for lunch and shopped at Kroger’s and then it was time to head to the dentist.  I got increasingly nervous as the time drew nearer and nearer although I tried my best to trust. One cannot worry and trust in the same moment. J 

I was called back pretty much right away and the doctor (Dr. Murphy) was very nice and looked at my teeth, told me it looked like it should be an easy pull and then we proceeded to discuss the fact that I wasn’t going to be put under.  He really wanted me to because he said I’d be a lot more comfortable. He asked if I would be willing to be put under and I told him that it really wasn’t my decision because my parents were the ones paying for it.  Mom said that since it cost 400 extra that wasn’t covered by the insurance and it really wasn’t necessary (we both thought I could handle it without) that we could do it the other way.  The doctor was persistent though and continued with the fact of, you never know what might have to happen when you get in there. He talked to his nurse and kindly slashed the price of the anesthetic for being under in half.  This made it more doable and since my parents knew that it would make me feel better, we went ahead and rescheduled my appointment for Friday at 8am. I couldn’t have it right then because I had already eaten and when you go under you cannot eat or drink for 6 hours prior.  So Friday is the big day!  I am very much more relieved to have it done this way.  It doesn’t seem like such a big deal anymore. I really liked that the doctor/dentist didn’t push really hard for me to go under.  We talked again just the two of us and he said he would do it for me without and that it was my decision, whatever I was comfortable with.  We just about to go ahead and do it when they had said they scheduled me for Friday. He asked me if I wanted to talk to them and tell them that I changed my mind but I said no. I would feel more comfortable doing it this way and he agreed that it would be much more comfortable for me. So it’s settled! FRIDAY AT 8! 

Thank you everyone who was praying for me.  Please don’t stop!  Friday is soon approaching and although I am not as nervous there will still be that battle to trust implicitly. Love to all!

Because of His Grace,

Maiden Princess

I told you in my EXTREMELY LONG blog post about what I had been doing in my life and I promised pictures from our camping over Labor Day Weekend.  Well, I'm finally getting around to posting them. 

Here is one of the windmills we saw about 40 minutes from our campground.  They were HUGE! My Dad says that the blades alone are like 140 feet long.  They are about 400 feet tall! Like I said, they're huge!  We stopped along the side of the road several times to take these pictures.

Sorry guys that's all I can upload now because we have dial-up and it's SO SLOW! Maybe more soon :D

Because of Grace,

Maiden Princess