When I read about this at Econobusters today, I knew I had to check it out. We don't live too simply(I guess that depends upon who you compare us to) and we don't live extravagantly either but I feel we could always live a little more simply. I know some things that I want to do this year that we haven't in the past. And honestly, I don't know if one could be more simple than we were last year since we had a baby on December 15th.

Some things I would like to do:

The typical home decorations with the blessings

Baking (we are going to make cookies and treats for the ladies' tea this year)

Go to the gingerbread house contest here in town

Drive around and drink hot cocoa and look at light displays and ice sculptures

Visit Christmas on Ice here in our little town

Watch Christmas movies by a warm fire with my family

Eat homemade cookies and candies

Ride snowmachines with my blessings

May the Lord find us faithful.

We are moving along with our studies...I just haven't taken many pictures and I think I have camera problems but I am not sure as of yet. Time will tell .

My first picture is of our Baby Blessing getting outside after the first of the lasting snow. He doesn't look like it but he really liked being out there with everyone.

Next we have Blessing #3 inside of her Western Boomtown General Store (before she stocked it with merchandise)

It is not a saloon even though the doors look like television western saloons.

Hanging the awning.

Stocking the store...yes that is a toaster and pizza...

Blessing #1 and #2 are studying the Middle Ages this year and are working on dioramas of the different social groups. First...the peasants

Yes, these are modern wheels...artistic license you know.

May the Lord find us faithful.

I definitely feel better today, maybe getting out for piano and a trip to Fred Meyer was helpful? or maybe it was the vacuuming and dust removing and a little time cooking and baking in the kitchen? Whatever it was, I feel better about schedules and making the most of our days. We accomplished what school needed to be accomplished this morning. Side note: Dad, did you find any good tickets, we would love a visit!

I didn't have to grocery shop today so maybe that was a source of goodness for my day!

Oh, my the Christmas decorations are calling to me! I love the winter decorations, the reds and greens and the lights! Not the blue though, it isn't for me.

I read Treasuring God in our Traditions by Noel Piper a couple of years ago, one of our dear assistant Pastor's wives loaned me her copy. I devoured the book and passed it right back. I am re reading the Christmas section in preparation for December.  Can someone tell me more about Advent?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all...I love the fall decorations and colors, reds, browns, greens, yellow and oranges! I have been looking at Thanksgiving decorations online and found a really cute idea that we are going to make. Only we will not paint the sticks and we will stick to autumnal colors with a more natural look. I also bought a Thanksgiving paper craft kit last year and we didn't have Thanksgiving at home last year so we didn't use much of it and I think have some precut papers for these pumpkins that we will make as well. I am looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving at our home this year. I often waffle about a center piece because we usually try to stuff as many people as we can possibly manage into our home so it isn't a fancy, sit down with china occassion ( in fact we don't have those at all here). We are more Chinet plate go through the line and fill a plate and find a place to sit people. It is how it was at my Granny's house and then we continued at my Aunt's house until we all grew up and went our seperate ways (those still there do get together when they can but it will never be like those childhood gatherings). 

If you live here locally and you don't have plans you are invited to our house, my husband and I aren't happy until the house is full, but be warned, we watch football on Thanksgiving, minus the commercials! (Actually, the men of the house watch, I cook and then visit and play games!)

What do you have for Thanksgiving? We literally have a ton of food and I love it all!

Turkey

Gravy

Ham

Dressing

Mashed Potatoes

Pa-Pa's Aunt Helen's Sweet Potato Casserole

Green Beans (we have casserole if someone brings it)

Broccoli Casserole (a recipe from my aunt and my husband loves it dearly)

Cranberry Sauce

Corn

Rolls

Deviled Eggs

Pies, usually pumpkin, pecan, and chocolate

Pumpkin roll and sometimes a dear friend brings chocolate roll cake for my son

I make sweet tea and we have sodas and water

I feel as though I left something out but I can't think of what it is right now.

Thankful....that's ME!

May the Lord find us faithful.

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May the Lord find us faithful.

Oh, Ugh! I need a plan! We have a schedule but I honestly think I need something in writing posted on the wall for all of us to see and for my own accountability. You know if I write it down the kids think it needs to happen, so let it be said so let it be done. Plus, maybe my husband seeing a schedule will help me stay on track, I know there is enough time to do what needs to be done, I must be mismanaging time.  I really, really want to work on it tonight but after this is posted I am going to get to sleep so I can begin our day on time tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon is piano day and if we don't get up on time the morning is gone and we haven't finished our morning schooling.

On a lighter note, Baby Blessing is so close to walking, he is standing on his own and he took a step over the weekend. His first year is quickly coming to a close and I find it so difficult to believe! But it is true.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Here I am on Saturday about to head off to bed. It has been a full but relaxing day. I do have one question? Do you realize how much work clothing is? I have 4 Precious Blessings and that adds up to alot of clothing. I don't buy much but I do have to buy a few things, some clothing comes by way of hand me downs, I do a little thrift shopping and a little retail sale shopping, some comes in wonderful packages in the mail from Nana(I love these). 

Work created by clothing:

• Laundry....multiple loads daily around here
• Sorting of seasonal and worn out and too small clothing
• Finding someone or some place to pass on used clothing(I have 2 boxes and two bags next to the front door right now to pass on and take to the resale shop)
• Buying or making new clothing ===I would love to make more clothing but I am barely taking care of the daily life requirements at this time...soon, I will sew, the girls are at the age to begin learning.
• I am sure there is more.....

Now, I am happy for all this clothing work because it means:

• I have people here that need clothing, precious little people that call me Mommy and oh, that little guy who is learning to say Ma-Ma, sounds more like Mu-Mu, I don't care what he/they call me as long as they call me!
• I have the health and energy to take care of the clothing needs for these people
• They have clothes to wear....we lack nothing, need nothing, want very, very little
• I know how to sew even though I don't do any right now, I have a sewing machine.

Speaking of those little people, they are all bathed and tucked into their beds and the only noise I hear is the heat running through the pipes and the DRYER!!!

Are you prepared to Worship tomorrow?....Sunday's worship preparations begin on Saturday.

I am going to go do a little more preparing then off to sleepy by land.

May the Lord find us faithful.

Oh, you should see how beautiful the snow is! And today it has snowed all day...this morning we had small snowflakes but this afternoon we have medium sized flakes flowing steadily. The older blessings were out playing this afternoon. I have yet to get out and get snow pictures...my camera batteries died last time I attempted but they are now charged and ready to go. Maybe tomorrow, todays daylight will be gone soon.

May the Lord find us faithful.