Dec. 10, 2007 - I got a new car!!!

Well....I thought I would just come and blog about the CUTE new car I got a couple of weeks ago!!! I really, really, really, really like it A LOT!! I have had a few cars in the past, but none of them have been really nice and it's such a blessing to have a nice car that is reliable and, well, did I mention that it's cute?! I will have to put pictures on here soon and then you will see what I mean and why I like my car so much! Jules says it's like candy on the inside and with the black and red interior and leather seats it's so true. We looked and looked for a car--for THE car. Julie and her husband, Anthony, were SUCH a help and it was truly such a blessing even if I thought they were too picky at times.;) We looked at and test drove SEVERAL cars and many of them were nice, but none of them were really great, which would have been fine. I would have been content with anything that was decent. We were just looking for something with as few miles as possible in our price range that didn't look like a granny car (no offense against granny cars, but that's just not what I was looking for) and didn't have any problems. It had to be reliable. One day Julie and I were out almost all day looking at cars. It was getting dark and we were getting ready to head home and we decided to have one last quick stop at a used car lot. They had a couple of cars that were close to our price range. One of them was a sweet red Daewoo Lanos with the cutest interior I've ever seen in a car. It was black and red with black and red leather seats and the paint job was so nice and shiny. And to top it off it had less than 46,000 miles on it. I fell in love. I heard music when I sat in it. I saw stars. It was sweet. I didn't really want to look at the other car they showed me. But I did. ;) We didn't get to drive it then because there were several cars around it they were going to be taking to an auction the next day so we decided to go back the next day to look at it again and to test drive it. I should also mention that I couldn't actually test drive any of the cars that day because, ummm, my driver's license had expired. So the next day we went and we looked at the Daewoo again and Jules took it for a spin. She said it was good! That evening I had to study for my driving test to take it the next day before we picked up the car. I HAD to pass. Thankfully I did pass and we picked up the Daewoo! Unfortunately Anthony had not been able to even see the car yet because of his work schedule, but he liked it! All the kids liked it as well and they were so cute ooohing and aaaahing over it. It's a car to ooh and aah over! We were all so amazed that God provided so wonderfully and we were celebrating! I am so grateful that the Lord provided and I am also so grateful for Julie and Anthony's help! Julie was such a blessing! She knows how to buy a car! The original pricetag on this car was $4999 and we paid $3700! She also got them to change the oil and get it inspected. And another extra blessing is that when we went to get it, it had 4 brand new tires! Praise God! We will try to get pictures of my little shiny red Daewoo soon and I will put them on here!

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Nov. 19, 2007 - Happy Birthday to me!

As I posted in my "8 things about myself" entry, my birthday was yesterday (Nov. 18) and I turned 26 years old! Julie and another friend, Susan, took me to Red Lobster and we had such a wonderful time! We talked and laughed lots. They didn't talk too much about their kids...at least not TOO much. LOL. I ate way too much, but the food was SO good! Lobster tail, shrimp, crab legs....yum! AND after that we all split a HUGE piece of delicious chocolate cake and a scoop of ice cream. They even asked the waiter to put a candle on it for me and they sang happy birthday (I wasn't too embarrassed;))!! It was a lot of fun! Also yesterday...my driver's license expired. Less fun and exciting. It is SO HARD to get it renewed here in WV. OK, OK. I should not have procrastinated when I was in IL and went to try to renew it the day before I left not knowing they are CLOSED on Mondays. That was my fault. Prayerfully we can get it all worked out and I will be able to get a driver's license when I get a car. Julie has "sources" (whatever that means) and she may be able to get me a loan with low interest so I can buy a vehicle. Julie got me some good books for my birthday which I cannot wait to read (so many books, so little time) and my friend, Wendy, got me......*drumroll*............a plane ticket to go to England with their family in August!! I really have been unsure about if I will be able to save enough to go and it is just such a blessing that they did that for me! The Lord has truly blessed me with such wonderful friends! Also, I wanted to post about the study we are going to do. Julie, Susan, Susan's daughter, another single gal named Heather, and I are going to do it. There is one other lady who might join us as well. I read chapter 1 the first day I got the book and it is SOOOOOOO good! SO convicting for me. I'm going to re-read that first chapter again next week sometime. We are going to all meet for the first time on the 30th. I'm really looking forward to it and praying it will be a blessing for us all.

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Nov. 19, 2007 - I think I'm supposed to post 8 things about myself...

I was tagged by Melissa---http://weblog.xanga.com/RoysWife Sooooooooo, 8 things about myself.........hmmmmmmm... 1) I rec'd the book I ordered from monergism.com today! 2) There are 2 more books I want to order from there in the future. 3) I haven't done any knitting for probably about a week. 4) I sometimes wish I didn't have to sleep so I would have more time to do things like knitting and reading. 5) But I realize that God made our bodies to need sleep so I know sleep is a good thing. 6) My new job is going very well and I think it's going to be a blessing! 7) My driver's license expired yesterday on my birthday. 8) I turned 26 yesterday and though I was a little afraid I was "crossing over" and getting closer to the late 20's my sister told me she doesn't think you're in the late 20's until you're about 28...and someone told me last night that while she and her daughters were guessing how old I was they guessed 22 or 23 so that made me feel better, too.

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Nov. 13, 2007 - What's Going On With Me

I have been here with Julie and her family in WV for a little over a week now and things are going very well! The kids were so excited to see me and it was so cute! The baby has gotten so big since I saw her last, but that is no surprise because babies grow! She is as adorable as ever! I do miss Wendy and my knitting has really slowed down quite a bit, but I still try to do a little each day if I can. There is one gal who has shown interest in learning to knit and I think I'm going to teach her so that will be fun! Maybe I will have a knitting friend here afterall! I didn't even try to convert her (I told Julie I am not one of those knitters), she just expressed an interest in learning. Really. She brought it up, not me. Seriously. ;) Lord willing, I will be starting my job doing respite care for a family with two special needs children next week. I think that this job will be a good experience for me and that the Lord will use it to stretch me. The family I'll be working for are believers which will be a blessing, too. Also, I should be starting the computer courses pretty soon. I am thankful that my job will be flexible enough that I can do the classes and the classes will be flexible enough for other things, too. Julie came up with a neat idea and I would really love to do it, Lord willing. She was thinking that as I learn skills at the computer classes I can then use it to tutor homeschooling families. It would really be a blessing to be able to that! We'll see where the Lord leads. I met a neat lady at church the other day. She is a knitter and a spinner (and a believer, too!) and she is involved in a homeschool co-op that just sounds SO NEAT! Anyway, they are going to do spinning classes starting in January and I can go! For free! FOR FREE! Oh, I hope I can go! It would be so fun to be able to go and I would also LOVE to get to know her and the people in her homescool co-op as well. Julie, at least one other woman, and I are going to be doing a book study and I am really looking forward to it. We are planning to read Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide To Contentment by Linda Dillow. We're thinking we'll read a chapter a week and then meet on Fridays to discuss it. We plan to start on Nov. 30 and I am really looking forward to it! I think it will be a blessing for us all. Anyhow, that's just a little update on what's going on with me right now for the 3 or 4 people who read my blog!;) I really am so blessed to have been able to do all that I have done and to be doing what I am doing. I know that the Lord's hand has continually been upon me leading me and He is so worthy of far more praise that I give Him. P.S. Just so you know, I did actually type this out in paragraphs, but this computer is putting it all together for some reason. ARG! Whatever...

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Nov. 2, 2007 - More on knitting and needles

I have quite a story to tell. This is almost unbelievable, but it really did happen. It is really a true story.

On Tuesday evening Wendy realized she was missing one of her size 5 knitting needles she needs to knit the lovely sweaters she is making for her sister-in-law's children. She is working on a deadline (she actually has it written on what she now calls her "knitting calendar") and was supposed to have the back of one of the sweaters finished on Wednesday. All day Wednesday she looked for it. She looked EVERYWHERE. I felt bad for her. I tried to suggest places it might be. In her knitting bag? In the diaper bag? In the freezer? It was nowhere to be found. We made plans to go to the yarn shop on Friday and if she didn't find it by then she would get a new set. I needed more yarn to finish Nathanael's sock so we would get that, too. Yesterday we were on our way to the yarn store when I thought I would do some knitting. I went to take my knitting out of my knitting bag and what should I find there? Wendy's size 5 knitting needle! In MY knitting bag - the one place we didn't think to look because WHY would it be in MY knitting bag?!?! Wendy is such a good friend. She thought about leaving me at the side of the road, but she didn't. She actually laughed. I think she went into hysteria. We both laughed. We were rolling. It was too funny. I promise you, I have NO IDEA how that knitting needle made its way into my knitting bag.

Anyway, we still went to the yarn shop and I got more yarn so I can finish Nathanael's sock. I think I'll also knit some socks for my  little nephew with it as well. Oh, and on the fingerless glove that is blocking in the picture in my previous entry. Somehow the left one is BIGGER than the right one. I cannot figure out how. I checked and they are both knit at the same gauge and I casted on the same amount of stitches. It's weird. So I'm reknitting the left one. The right one looks so much better anyway. Somehow it just looks like I did a better job on it. I also went ahead and picked up the stitches and knitted on the ribbing I had forgotten to do and it looks much better now. I'm just babbling on and on. Does anyone even read this? LOL.

Anyway, my friend Heidi (the one who lives in ID) that I stayed with the year before last during HKU called the other day and it was so nice to chat with her. I took a peek at her blog and she has such beautiful hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn. I want some!

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Oct. 31, 2007 - In Knitting World

Yesterday Wendy took some pictures of what she and I have been working on.

Here are the socks I'm making for my little brother, Nathanael. I'm going to run out of yarn and need to order some more.



The back of my cardigan. Don't you like the ruffle? Now it's just stocking stitch on and on and on. I see why people like to do sweaters with cables and such. But I'm enjoying it nonetheless.



Here is one of the fingerless gloves I made for my sister blocking. The other one is done and has already been blocked. I LOVE these. I forgot the ribbing on the edge by the fingers, but they are still pretty IMO. I plan to also make a pair for me and for my mom. I found this pattern online and would link to it, but I can't find it now.



And I'm going to share what Wendy has been working on, too.

A cardigan for her 5yo daughter. This is the lace edge that goes around the bottom. Pretty, huh?



And she's making 3 sweaters like this for her SIL's children. It's just beautiful!



Sometimes while I'm knitting I think about what I would like to knit. If only my hands would knit as quickly as my mind! LOL! Well, I'll be working on the cardigan for a few more weeks at least. I'm not sure how much time I'll have for knitting in WV, but I'd like to get some in most days at least. Anyway, I'm planning to make a pair of fingerless gloves for my mom and a pair for me. Here is a list of things I would like to knit sometime:

~matching sweaters for my little brother and nephew
~one of those pretty sweaters in Wendy's knitting book - one with more changing colors
~a shawl
~something lace (could be the shawl or something else)
~sweaters for my mom, my sister, and I - the ones I have a pattern for that are a pretty cable pattern
~mittens
~something for every child I know...and every adult I know


Anyway, I'm trying to keep it at 2 projects at a time. At least for now.

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Oct. 29, 2007 - Self-pity

Last night I read a quote by Amy Carmichael that I am still mulling over:

"If I make much of anything appointed, magnify it secretly to myself or insidiously to others; if I let them think it 'hard,' if I look back longingly upon what used to be, and linger among the byways of memory, so that my power to help is weakened, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

I feel rather convicted by this. Now, while I may not necessarily go around telling everyone about all my troubles, I do have a few close friends that, much to my shame, at times I tell them of difficult things in my life wanting them to "feel my pain" and feel sorry for me. (And, btw, my "troubles" are extremely small compared to most. I have much to be thankful for.) How selfish I have been in this! How self-focused!
Not that I think it's always wrong to share our struggles with brothers and sisters in Christ. But I know that my heart has at times not been in the right place in it. I am ashamed to admit that at times I have crossed the line of just desiring prayer and/or encouragement to feeling sorry for myself and wanting others to join me in it. I pray the Lord would help me to focus more on others, to be more compassionate, to strive to share the burdens of others. I pray He will change me because I cannot change myself.

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Oct. 22, 2007 - Having a nice visit

I am really enjoying being here at Wendy's. She is such a dear friend and can always make me laugh. Yesterday I was looking online for a sweater knitting pattern and came across this - a knitting pattern for an Elvis wig. Is that not the most hilarious thing ever?! I showed Wendy yesterday evening and she and I were rolling on the floor laughing - almost literally. I have no desire to knit one, however. I do think one could perhaps make a ridiculous amount of money selling one on ebay.  I am getting ready to start knitting my very first sweater once I can figure out my gauge. I'm excited about that.

I am planning to head to Julie's in WV on Nov. 5, Lord willing. I am so thankful that the Lord has already provided a job for me there! I will be helping a woman (a friend of Julie's) with her 2 special needs children. I pray the Lord would help me to be a blessing to their family.

I am anticipating the future, but at the same time I'm a bit anxious sometimes. I know that the Lord has been faithful and He will continue to be so. I really am looking forward to my time in WV. Julie is such a fun friend and we have a lot of good, interesting conversations. Plus her family is just wonderful and I know it will be a blessing.

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Oct. 18, 2007 - Introducing Franklin Wayne!

First, let me say that I made it safely to Wendy's 2 days ago and am doing well. Just getting settled in and am enjoying it.

My sister did have her sweet little baby before I left! Franklin Wayne was born on Oct. 8 and weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. He is doing well and he is just so cute and sweet! Here are a few (or more than a few) photos. They really just don't show how adorable he really is, though!

Didn't I say he was sweet?






First sponge bath...he cried and my sister felt so sorry for him she jokingly told him they would never do it again, LOL. He didn't cry as much for the next one, though.

With Grandma (my mom)

With Great-Grandpa (my Grandpa)

With Great-Grandma (my Grandma)

And of course with Auntie Kristy

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Oct. 5, 2007 - A Little Update: Or, No I Haven't Disappeared From The Face of The Earth

Hi, it's me! You know, the gal who said she was going to start blogging again and then didn't write a thing for over 3 months. Yeah, that's me.

Right now I am once again visiting family in IL. My sister, Stefanie (who lives with her husband up in Northern IN) is about to have a baby any day! Her EDD was Oct. 3 so we are just waiting for them to call to let us know when the baby is on the way. Just waiting, waiting, waiting...;-) When they do, my mom, my sister Kelly, and I plan to head up there. I can't wait to meet my new little nephew! It's a boy btw. We went up to visit them a few weeks ago. Here is a photo from then. L to R is me, my mom, my sister Stefanie, my sister Kelly, and my little brother, Nathanael, in front. Nathanael wasn't being so cooperative...


Anyway, I will be here until Oct. 16 (I really hope my sister has her baby before I leave!) and then I will be flying to VA to spend a couple of weeks with my dear friend, Wendy, and her family. At the beginning of Nov. I'm planning to go to WV to stay with my friend, Julie (aka Jules) and her family. I stayed with then for a few months this year and they are a wonderful family. I really enjoyed staying with them before and I'm sure I'll be blessed staying with them again.

Lord willing, I'm planning to stay with Julie's family for about 6 months and take several computer courses at a computer learning center nearby while I'm there. The classes are for office management. I will likely work PT as well during that time.

After that (likely sometime in May) I plan to return to Wendy's in VA and stay with their family for a while. Lord willing, I'm hoping to be able to do some traveling next year in the summer. I hope to come to IL again for a couple of weeks in May to visit and Kelly and Amanda will graduate high school then. I'm also praying that I may be able go to CA to stay with my dear friend, Dawn. She is such a great friend and it would be wonderful to be able to visit her and her family. I'm praying I'll be able to do that, Lord willing. In August Wendy and her family are planning a trip to England (where she is from) and they have invited me to go with them! It will be my first trip overseas and I am super excited!

Anyhow, we went to a wedding last weekend which was fun. I got to meet my little second cousin, Savannah. She is just a doll! Here are a few pics of her:

Savannah and I


Kelly and Savannah (just look at her sweet smile!):

Mom and Savannah:

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Jun. 24, 2007 - I like this picture...

I took this picture of my sister, Kelly (on the right) and my step-sister, Amanda (on the left) I guess about 7 or 8 years ago (I can't believe it was so long ago). They were probably around 9 or 10.

Here is the original picture:

And here it is edited (I just edited it to look like this the other day):

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Jun. 24, 2007 - What I've Been Reading

I read this this morning in The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges:

"To live by the gospel, then, means that we firmly grasp the fact that Christ's life and death are ours by virtue of our union with Him. What He did, we did. This is the only sense in which we can understand Paul's bold statements in Romans 8: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (verse 1); and "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies" (verse 33).

These statements by Paul are objective truths; that is, they are true whether we grasp them or not. So often, however, we find it difficult to believe them. Because of our frequent failures before God, we do feel under condemnation, we do not feel God is for us but rather must surely be against us, we do think He is bringing charges against us. At such times we must preach the gospel to ourselves. We must review what God has declared to be true about our justification in Christ.

Justification is a completed work as far as God is concerned. The penalty has been paid and His justice has been satisfied. But it must be received through faith and must be continually renewed in our souls and applied to our consciences every day through faith. There are two "courts" we must deal with: the court of God in Heaven and the court of conscience in our souls. When we trust Christ for salvation, God's court is forever satisfied. Never again will a charge be brough against us in Heaven. Our consciences, however are continually pronouncing us guilty. That is the function of the conscience. Therefore, we must by faith bring the verdict of conscience into line with the verdict of Heaven. We do this by agreeing with our conscience about our guilt, but then reminding it that our guilt has already been borne by Christ.

This justification is said to be given to us freely by His grace. The word freely signifies without payment of any kind. Justification cannot be purchased by the payment of good works. There is no exchange of value between the sinner and God. It is an absolutely gratuitous act on His part."


I am seeing more and more how much I lack of really grasping this truth. God is so graciously and patiently showing me my need to see this. I so often struggle with feeling condemned and feeling like God is not for me, but against me. I need to remember that I am perfect in His sight through Christ and that He loves me just as I am. I love how he points out that these things are true whether we grasp them or not. So thankful that that is true and I pray God would help me to grasp these truths.

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Jun. 23, 2007 - It's Been Such A Long Time...

It has been several months since I have blogged, where do I begin?

I'll just jump in and write. I'll start by posting some pictures of my beloved 5 year old brother who has grown so much this year. He recently got his hair cut.


Before his hair cut (a lot of hair, huh?)...

I love how he has his nose crinkled in this picture. He often does that and it's so cute!



I love this one of him with the dog:



And this one where he is climbing a tree:



And here he is after his hair cut:



And playing in the water:



The latest thing he likes to do is ride his bike off a "ramp."

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Feb. 16, 2007 - Snow, Chickens, and Haircuts

I think I know one thing that really keeps me from blogging. Now that I have my blog password memorized this is the only excuse I have left. It's that sometimes when I get to the computer it's late and I just don't really have any thoughts left that make any sense. So if my blog entries ever seem as if they don't make much sense I'm sure that 's why.

On Tuesday night it snowed/iced so out trip to Bethany Christian Services was postponed to Thurs. We all really enjoyed going to deliver the boxes and then we got some other things done while we were out.

It has been a mixture of cold and warm here lately. This morning when I went out to do the chickens I think it was about 17* and then this afternoon it was about 45*. The children have really enjoyed going outside to go sledding and to play in the snow. Wendy's oldest son made a really neat fort on Wed.

The chickens have been so funny when I let them out in the morning. They look around at the snow and it's like they're thinking, "What is that? I'm not going to step my foot in that!" Then I get out some chicken scratch and then they come out, LOL. This evening I went out there to gather the eggs (I couldn't this morning since Miss late-egg-layer was on the eggs when I went out) and to put down some more straw. When I came in I told Wendy everything is so much more difficult when the ground is ice! I went down to get the straw (I say down b/c their backyard is downhill) and then realize I need the wagon that is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over there. So I carefully walk (the whole time I'm trying to walk in other people's footprints b/c I realized right away that it was icy since I almost fell right after I went out the door) over to get the wagon to take it back over to put the straw in it to take it to the chicken coop to lay it down. LOL. It was quite an adventure. It actually was nice to get out and do that.

Melissa, a friend who lives near Wendy, came over this afternoon to cut Wendy and I's hair. Melissa is one of those people who have a way of getting people to do things they wouldn't normally do. She told me how she thought my hair would look good and she made it sound so good that I told her to go ahead. So now my hair which was rather long is now much shorter, about to my chin. I REALLY like it, though! It was pretty damaged before and since my hair is thin it just doesn't look good very long anyway and tends to look stringy. Now it looks thicker and Melissa says it brings out my best features. Wendy's hair looks lovely! She kept her length and got some layers and it looks pretty.

My sock is still going, but I'm getting closer to being finished with it. I'm on the foot now so I just have to keep knitting then decrease for the toe and graft the toe. I'm actually going to go do some knitting right now...

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Feb. 13, 2007 - I've Been *Meaning* to Blog...

I've been meaning to blog for a while, but we have been so super busy! Wendy keeps telling me that things really weren't so busy before I got here. Anyway, I have good intentions when it comes to blogging, but still an unblogged blog will remain unblogged unless acted upon by an external force. Anyway, I have so much to share that I'm not sure where to begin!

I am really enjoying being here at Wendy's with her family. Her children ar e so sweet. Just tonight at dinner her oldest son (age 10) prayed and thanked God that I'm here and that I made yummy food. For dinner tonight I made barbeque ribs (my first time making ribs), acorn squash, and french bread. It was good if I say so myself...We won't really talk about last night how I burned the Yorkshire pudding my first time making it and had to redo it or how dinner was about an hour later than planned.

I have a funny...Have you ever experienced having a conversation with a child and you thought it was really deep and the child was really getting it and then said child says something like, "And you know what else I like about rabbits?" Well, this evening after dinner while we were still sitting at the table Wendy's husband, Steve, told a story about a missionary in India. He talked about how he served others and God used that to draw people to Him and how we as God's people should serve others as it glorifies God. It was a really nice story and he really exorted the children to serve others and then their little 5 year old daughter looks at him and says, "And some people believe in sticks." You know, those are the times when ALL YOU CAN DO is laugh!

Their family has also recently begun fostering a baby girl! She keeps us a bit busier, but she is so cute and sweet! Sometimes I wish all I had to do for one day is look at/hold the baby, knit, and drink tea. Yep, I'm back to drinking more tea since I'm staying with the British mum Wendy again.

They also have 12 chickens and almost every morning (at least on the weekdays-Wendy's husband often does it on the weekends) I have taken over letting them out of the hen house, giving them a little scratch, and gathering the eggs. Sometimes there's a hen in the laying area sitting on the eggs so I don't get the eggs then, but try to remember to go back out later to gather them... I call her the late layer.

Things in knitting world are going well, too. Right now I am on the LAST SOCK in my line of 4 pairs (that is 8 socks) that I was working on for an online friend. Yes, I have knitting lined up for when I finish. I plan to knit and felt a pair of slipper socks for my sister for her b-day which is in March and also make a cabled scarf. I can't wait to try cables! I have decided to start to always have 2 knitting projects going at a time so that if I get bored or tired of working on one I can just pick up the other one. In the near future I also plan to knit a bright orange hunting hat for my step-brother, a scarf for my step-sister, and 2 pairs of baby socks...

And that brings me to another bit of news I have! I found out on Saturday morning that my sister (who married in May) is expecting a baby! I'm going to be an aunty! That is such exciting news and yes I have been thinking about what to knit for the little one already! One of the pairs of baby socks is for that baby and the other is for a cousin who is also expecting. My sister's EDD is in Sept. when I am planning to be visiting family so I am very excited about that!

Tomorrow I begin volunteering at Bethany Christian Services. They are an adoption agency/crisis pregnancy center. Last week Wendy, the kids, and I all went there for me to meet the staff and for the children to have a field trip. The kind lady who works there was charmed by the children so she called this week and asked if everyone could come along with me to take boxes of teddy bears to a nearby church for storage. We are all looking forward to doing that tomorrow.

Another thing I'm excited about is that I'm going to begin attending a Bible study with like-minded young single women. Most of my friends are married and have children so I'm very excited about the possibility of making friends who are single and, well, "weird" in the same ways I am.

Actually, Wendy has dubbed us not weird, but "set apart." I truly am slowly starting to care less and less about what other people think of me. I have heard it gets easier as you get older and wiser.

In other news I am also excited about a job opportunity I have been given. At the end of March I will be going to WV to stay with a Christian homeschooling family. They have 3 children and are expecting another. I will be helping with cooking, cleaning, childcare, and just in whatever way needed. I will be there for about 3-5 months.

On March 1 Wendy will be having knee surgery. If you think to pray for us all at that time. Pray for her for peace, for her knee to heal quickly, and for it to be much better. I have told her that in a way I think it will be good for me to have that opportunity to step up and help at a different level. It may not be good for her, but it will be good for me. Because you know...it's really all about me. (Just kidding...kind of...Ok, I'm really kidding.)

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Jan. 23, 2007 - Here I am in VA!

I just now saw that my sewing fanatic friend tagged me a couple of weeks ago...I'll have to think of six things most people don't know about me and get back to that.

I am settling in nicely here at Wendy's in VA and I am really enjoying being here! Wendy's children all excitedly welcomed me and are so sweet. I am still unsure of what the future will hold, but I am sure that God will lead.

Tomorrow evening there will be a dinner here to celebrate me finishing HKU. Even though it is over I know I will still always be learning and I still consider myself a "Hearth Keeper in training."

I'll try to blog again soon.

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Jan. 14, 2007 - Preparing For Our Trip!

We have been busy preparing for our trip down south. We will be leaving early Tuesday morning, staying overnight in Massachusettes at Annette's mother's home, then leaving Wed. to travel to Wendy's in VA. I will be staying with Wendy and her family for a time and plan (God willing) to get a job and save money to eventually move closer to family. Annette's family will be continuing on to NC to go to a wedding. They will then be staying at Wendy's on their way home and I believe an HKU graduation is being planned for the 24th of January. I am excited about that and I know I'm going to be able to meet a lot of wonderful ladies and their families.

Lately God has been teaching me to trust Him wherever He leads. I don't know for certain what the future holds, but I know that He is with me and He is sovereign. He will be with me and He will lead me in everything. Lately He has also been showing me my need to look to Him alone for satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. He is so good to work in me and it is not me, but Him working in me. Unto Him be all the glory.

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Jan. 13, 2007 - Party Time!

One of the assignments Annette gave me while here in ME was to host a party. On Thursday evening (January 11) I hosted a dinner party inviting several ladies from Annette's family's church and homeschool group. There were 12 guests, including Annette and her 15 year old daughter, Christina. We all had a delightful time!

As guests arrived there was lovely violin music playing (a CD made by one of Annette's family's friends) and we chatted in the kitchen.

Many of the dear ladies who attended brought me gifts which was so sweet! One lady brought me these lovely flowers!

Annette and Christina were a big help to me with the party preperations. They gave me wonderful ideas and Christina made these lovely centerpieces for the tables.

After all the guests arrived, we moved into the dining area where all the tables were set and ready!

We enjoyed Chicken-Cheese casserole, green beans, and rolls! After our meal we had oatmeal cake for dessert and coffee and tea was offered.

After we were all finished with dinner, we had a grand time playing Balderdash!

The little ones helped entertain guests as well!

Everyone seemed to have a good time and I really enjoyed myself as well!

Many of the ladies requested the recipes for the casserole and the oatmeal cake so I plan to make thank you cards with the recipes in them.

Chicken-Cheese Casserole

Serves 6 (I doubled it for the party)

Preheat oven to 350

3/4 lb. noodles (I used rice instead of noodles)

5 T. margarine (I used butter)

1 small onion, chopped

3 T. chopped green pepper (I omitted the green pepper)

1/2 C. sliced mushrooms (optional) (I also omitted this)

5 T. flour

1 1/2 C. chicken broth

1 1/2 C. milk

1/2 t. dry mustard (I omitted this as well)

salt and pepper to taste

3 C. cooked chicken or turkey (I used chicken)

2/3 C. shredded cheese

buttered bread crumbs

Cook and drain noodles (or rice) according to package instructions. Saute margarine (or butter), onion, green pepper, and mushrooms in a skillet. Add the 5 T. of flour. Cook and stir until bubbly. Add the broth, milk, dry mustard, and salt and pepper. Cook, stirring until thickened to make a white sauce. Combine white sauce, noodles (or rice), and the cooked chicken or turkey. Put in greased casserole dish and tope with shredded cheese and buttered bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.



Oatmeal Cake

Serves 16-18

Preheat oven to 350

1 C. quick oatmeal

1 1/4C. boiling water

1/2 C. shortening (I used coconut oil)

1 C. brown sugar (I used sucanut)

1 C. white sugar (again, I used sucanut)

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 C. flour

1 t. soda1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

For coconut topping:

1/2 C. brown sugar (I used sucanut)

1/3 C. margarine (I used butter)

1/4 C. cream or milk

1/2 C. chopped nuts

1 C. coconut

Combine quick oats and boiling water and let stand 20 minutes. You can use 2 C. of leftover oatmeal instead (which is what I did). Cream shortening, brown and white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy. Add oatmeal mixture and beat well. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together (I never sift, though). Add this to the creamed mixture and beat well. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 cake pan. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until tests done.

For the coconut topping combine the brown sugar, margarine, cream or milk, chopped nuts, and coconut. Spread on hot cake and then broil 2-4 minutes, watching closely. Enjoy!

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Jan. 9, 2007 - It's The Little Things In Life

It's the little things that make life so exciting...

Today I baked a scrumptious apple coffee cake for the Bible study Annette hosted this evening. Said coffee cake has a yummy glaze that is a mixture of melted butter, confectioners' sugar, and a little water. Today I was making it and couldn't figure out WHY the glaze was not runny. I consulted Annette and she suggested I add more water, so I did. I added more water (much more than the recipe called for) and it was runnier, but still not runny like a "glaze" should be. Well, Annette asked me, "Are you sure it was powdered sugar you used for it?" I answered, "Yes." She asked where I got it and when I told her, we realized it was actually CORNSTARCH I had used instead of confectioners' sugar. The explained why the glaze I was attempting to make was so THICK! I tried the glaze again and it worked out much better using CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR instead of the CORNSTARCH.

I hope those who read my blog laugh over my little blunders and don't think I'm TOO much of a ditz. I certainly had a good laugh over it!

Yes, it's the little things in life that make it so exciting even if they also make you lose a bit of your sanity.

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Jan. 8, 2007 - POP, POP, POP

I keep hearing the jars of choke cherry jelly Annette and I made and canned today going POP!  I really enjoy making jams and jellies.

We have been busy today working on the jelly and making lavendar glycerin soaps (which smell so good, I love lavendar). I actually am still working on them...

There is quite a bit to do this week as we prepare to leave.

On Thursday evening I am hosting a party and have invited several ladies from Annette's families church and from the homeschool group they participate in. We will be having dinner, playing some games, and having fun. On the menu is chicken cheese casserole, rolls (which I plan to make on Wed.), and oatmeal cake for dessert (yummy!).

And here's the recipe for the choke cherry jelly we made today:

3 cups choke cherry juice
1 cup apple juice
1 pkg. sure jell
5 1/2 cups sugar

Put washed choke cherries in kettle with enough water to cover. Boil until cherries are soft. Drain off juice. Mix in saucepan choke cherry juice, apple juice, and sure jell. Boil to hard rolling boil. Add sugar and boil until it thickens slightly on spoon. Pour into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water bath canner for 5 minutes at altitudes 0 to 1,000 feet or for 10 minutes from 1,001 to 6,000 feet.

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