I'm a 25 year old mother a 2 year old son and newborn son. I'm married to a wonderful God fearing man. I home school my adopted twin autistic sisters.(What a mouth full!) I'm always up for learning something new and figuring out what God has in store for me and my family! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0600 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0600 Well, I haven't written on my blog in a long time, but I've been working really hard at eating healthy and having my family eat healthy, so I decided to put our menu up...hopefully I will do it weekly, but can't promise anything! We eat Gluten free, and recently sugar free. So I will be making some crust less sugar free pumpkin pie (we use agave). Yum! Monday- Turkey Burgers, sweet potato fries, salad Tuesday- Chicken Chili with White beans, salad Wednesday- Leftover chili, salad Thursday- THANKSGIVING! Friday- Leftovers & chicken salad Saturday- GF Pizza, salad http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/747234/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/747234/ This month's TEACH magazine was all about "Marriages Made Marvelous". God has been teaching me a lot about making my marriage "marvelous" and about being the wife He wants me to be over the past year. He's done a lot in my life and my marriage. I don't think we've ever been closer or happier or more in love with each other. So this issue just reminded me of all that God has been teaching me. I had to work on myself and my relationship with God before my marriage could be "marvelous". It didn't have anything to do with whether or not my husband showed me enough affection, or changed enough diapers, or cleaned the house, or did romantic things for me....it all depended on my heart and my outlook on my marriage and all those situations we come across in a marriage. I had to learn how to truly be my husband's helper and learn my place in our marriage. I am his biggest support and his prayer warrior. I have learned not to be so quick to speak (or nag or complain), but to be quick to pray and let the Holy Spirit speak to him as the leader in our relationship. It has taken a lot of work, and I'm still a work in progress, but I am so blessed to have the husband I have and I am blessed to be where we are in our marriage. We just celebrated our 8 year dating anniversary and I am more in love with him than I was when we first fell in love! It's only through God's grace and strength that I can say that we have a "marvelous" marriage and I pray that it only gets better as the years go on. He still gives me those butterflies and I am so thankful God gave us to each other! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/675563/ Fri, 3 Apr 2009 13:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/675563/ Oh how I wish I could read my TEACH magazine from cover to cover the second I get it! Now over a week later I'm finally finding a few minutes to read. I'm so excited that I was able to read more than one article! I was left teary eyed after reading "This too shall pass". I often find myself guilty of complaining about changing diapers, being up all night, dealing with tantrums, never having time for myself, but thinking this too shall pass goes both ways. My little cuddlers will no longer want to cuddle, Gideon's cooing will soon turn into words, Dayton's constant inquisition of "MAMA?"  will turn into me wanting him to still come to me with questions. It will all pass...the good and the bad. I need to soak in these moments and remember the good and that it all too quickly passes. I need to enjoy all the good times and learn through the hard times. Ok, now I need to get back to reading while the kids are still happy. =) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634384/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634384/ Every year since we've moved to Montana, we cut down our own tree. It's become a very nice thing for Oscar and I to do together. We brought the boys and had a nice time hunting for a tree. Oscar picked out a beautiful one and then me and the boys joined him on a little walk in the woods and watched him cut down and drag the tree to the car. It was so much fun!   And here it is! It's been snowing lots...this is my partially buried car! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634354/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634354/ I haven't been posting much since the baby was born so I thought I'd catch everyone up. First I'll start with the pumpkin patch. On October 17th, Dayton and I went to the pumpkin patch with some friends of mine. It was such a fun thing for us to do together before the baby was born (I went into labor later that evening). He got to pick out his own pumpkin, ride on little go carts, play in a sandbox, pet animals, and much more! Then we had Gideon. Meanwhile, we experienced a true country fall when we discovered we had mice! YIKES! So we added another creature to our family....Storm our very pretty kitty and no more mice! Of course our house is still a work in progress.... The only dry walled area... Our bathroom "door" is a blanket Our bedroom! Can't wait to move in! And just because he's so cute wearing Oscar's football pads! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634351/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:05:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634351/ I stole this idea from my cousin. I wasn't able to send a Christmas letter to everyone, so I decided to put it on my blog to share with all of you! Dear Family & Friends,     I hope you are all doing well. I can’t believe how the time has flown by since the last time I wrote a Christmas letter  A lot has happened over the past two years. In June 2007, we bought our own little piece of Montana. Our house is a little old house on a little over an acre. It started out as 856 square feet and we have been blessed to start the huge project of adding on 2400 square feet (including the basement). We lost our only bathroom for a while, but now it’s on it’s way to getting drywall and heat. It’s been like upscale camping for the last few months      Another big thing that happened this year was the birth of our baby boy Gideon Levi. He was born October 18th at my parent’s house (due to the construction). We had another water birth and it was such a blessing to have another home birth. Gideon is now 6 weeks old and we are all still adjusting to having a newborn and toddler  Boy is that exhausting. Gideon has such a sweet spirit. He is our quiet observer (just like Oscar). He takes everything in and is slow to smile, but once he soaks everything in he gives the most heart melting smiles      Dayton turned 2 in October and he is all boy (and definitely a 2-year-old). He loves trains, cars, bikes, balls, etc. He hates baths with a passion and loves to get dirty (bad combo). He is the loud, passionate child  He is very quick to laugh and smile. He talks nonstop and vocalizes all his feelings . . . you rarely need to guess how he’s feeling  He is very protective of his little brother, but enjoys yelling in his face and patting his head. When Gideon cries from another room, Dayton yells “Coming ” as he runs to his rescue. His favorite play mates are Dave (our adult friend from church) and his uncle Isaac. Dave has spent many hours working with Oscar on our house, so he has become like family to us. (We can never thank you enough, Dave) So understandably, Dayton has formed an attachment to Dave. Uncle Isaac is more like a brother, they love each other one minute and fight like cats and dogs the next. He loves the rest of his family too  He is constantly asking for Grandma and Grandpa, and he tells me daily that Jessina is at home. He is just starting to get to know his uncle Philip, but he loves him too  He is such a loving little boy and he is such a crack up. He keeps us on our toes and brings joy to our lives every day      Oscar is still at National Flood Services. We are so thankful he has a good job especially during this time of economic stress. He doesn’t always enjoy it, but God has given him a peace about working there. He has also joined a semi-pro tackle football team. He has had a few practices already, but the season really starts up in January. He’s going to be doing some traveling around Montana (hopefully we all will be) for the games, so that should be fun and exciting  I think Dayton will really love watching his daddy play football.     I am continuing to home school my sisters Ruth & Grace, as well as being a stay at home mom. This year Oscar and I have discovered that we are both allergic to gluten (wheat) so that has been an interesting adventure in cooking and eating  I have mostly enjoyed learning how to bake and cook gluten free things. It’s frustrating at times (pizza crust is horrible ), but we are reaping the health rewards.     We have had many helpful hands with our addition to our house and also our addition to our family. The Lord never fails to provide help in times of need whether it’s financial or just a helpful friend that brings a meal or helps clean the house. He never ceases to show His ultimate control and plan for our lives. We are so thankful for all that He has given us and all that He has taught us throughout this year. We look forward to what He has for us next year  God bless you all                                                                      With lots of love,                                                   Oscar, April, Dayton & Gideon   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634327/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:13:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/634327/ A wonderful friend of ours who is a very talented photographer came over and took newborn pictures of our sweet Gideon. These are a few of them! I can't believe how much he looks like his daddy. In person, I always think he looks like my baby pictures, but here he looks so much like Oscar! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/615016/ Wed, 5 Nov 2008 12:28:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/615016/ Gideon  Levi was born October 18th. 9 lbs. 7 oz! He has such a calm sweet spirit so far. We are so blessed! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/609497/ Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/609497/ As usual, TEACH magazine really spoke to my heart. The theme is seeking serenity, but the first article is about going through fire aka being refined. I think that is so fitting because in order to reach the serenity you need to go through the fire. It especially spoke to me because I've been feeling a lot like I've been put through the wringer...it seems like I'll almost be to breaking point and then God will send a little relief. It is such a good reminder to keep a good attitude and to focus on what God is trying to teach me during this refining period. If I can just keep that in mind when I'm done I will be pure as gold!I can't wait to read the rest of the magazine. My little guy keeps wanting my attention so it'll have to wait for a different day. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/601475/ Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/601475/ Ok, I know I haven't blogged in a long time, but this is on my mind! Why are gas prices going down slowly and everything else is going up? All the things we need are ridiculously expensive. Toilet paper has now gone up 6 dollars at Costco, we are happy when corn is 3 for 99 cents, oranges haven't been cheap in a really long time, etc. Don't even get me started on meat! I was excited when ground beef was on sale for $1.29 a pound...last year around this same time we bought a bunch for $.88 a pound! Seriously though, what is going on? It's making me wonder if people are going to start becoming severly malnurished. I know we didn't have meat for a long time besides some chicken here and there. Thankfully the Lord has provided a few little sales here and there and we've been able to buy some meat, but I wonder if this will continue or come to an end soon. It's just crazy! I know that our area is cheaper than others and I'm left wondering how other people do it...and how much longer we'll be able to do it and not suffer nutritionally. That's enough of my outrage. I know that God will provide for us and the only thing I can do about this whole situation is pray that the Lord continues to provide for us and that eventually prices will go down. I'm so thankful that I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know that we will be taken care of. I just have to keep reminding myself of that fact! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/601422/ Tue, 7 Oct 2008 17:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/beauty4ashes/601422/