I know we have another 6 weeks of winter but I am so ready for warmer weather.  We have plenty of sun but it is stuck below 40* here.  I have plenty of things todo during the day but I really want to be outside.  We had a dusting of snow last night and still have snow in the backyard from before Christmas.  OH wel at least I have a place to call home and food on the table.

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I started reading Dave Ramsey's book "The total money makeover" about 3 weeks ago and am now doing an envelope system along with the debt snowball. I am liking what I am accomplishing and how good it feels to know that we are only a few short payments away from being debt-free besides the mortgage.  I have a budget already worked up for February and feel confident we can stick to it.  Its not like we have a ton of debt but I just want to start saving for the future since we only have a little bit saved.  After the debt snowball we will have more money to put in to our Emergency Fund (EF).  I am working getting our EF up to 6 months worth of expenses so in the event DH gets injured or worse laid off we have enough to cover the basics. 

I am working up a budget for Allie so that when she gets her job and apartment she will know what to do and not get into debt trouble.  She is expected by her father and I to read the Dave Ramsey book too so she can understand the long term goal of life, and that is to retire with dignity and the only way to do that now is to live like no one can so she can live like no one later.

Nathan and Olivia are still very small but they are learning right along with DH and I.  I want them to be good stewards with their money and to be able to share it with those less fortunate.

Well thats about all for now,

God Bless you all in 2008

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In Oct 2002 my husband was on a week long hunting trip.  I was doing well with the kids and then started feeling out of sorts.  I went to the Dr and he ran a battery of tests ranging from premenopause to thyroid disorder.  All came back normal but I was still feeling clamy hands and racing heart. Near the end of the week while I was in my PJ's for 3 days I called the Dr again and let her know that I was still not doing well.  She asked me to go on the back porch and sit in the sun for 15-20 min.  I couldn't even make it out the back door.  My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest, I couldn't catch my breath and I was sweating profusely. 

I was going through a major panic/anxiety attack and she knew I needed something strong to knock it out.  She ordered me som Xanex (.25mg), well that knocked it out but also knocked me out for the next 12 hours.  Since then I have only had to take it once but also since then I have been taking Celexa, which is an anti-depressant/anxiety/panic medication. 

I had tried to take myself off of the Celexa several times with out success until I started taking a thyroid activator and then switched to St. John's Wort.  I take these two suppliments daily along with calcium to calm my RLS (restless leg syndrom). 

During these last 4 years my faith in God has actually grown.  I have prayed that he would release me from this disorder but I don't think it is my time yet.  I sing, pray and read my bible daily to help calm me but there is still something going on inside me that I don't understand.  I so want to be normal again and to not have to take meds or suppliments to control this disorder. 

So where did it come from and why wont it go away?  I don't know but I do know that I have to keep believing that God will fully heal me one day. 

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I am so happy to report that the sun is shining in SE Wyoming.  I love these kinds of days compared to Seattle at this time of year.  Blue skies and clouds to the south are so beautiful.  Another perfect day for decluttering since it is still so bitter cold here.  We live at 7200 feet and winter will be around until late May.  I do wish for warmer weather so that I can start my square foot gardening plots but that will have to wait another 2 months.  Spring is my favorite time of year with the new growth and the warmer days.

~~~   Gretchen   ~~~

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What happens when you wake up with a smile and read the word of God?

Your life is much brighter and you truely can do all thing through Christ.  I have tried long and hard to do things my way but today I woke up and read Prov. 4

Proverbs 4 (NIV)
Wisdom Is Supreme

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I am so glad that this weekend is over.  I have been busy this morning with bakind homeschooling.  Check out my homesteadblogger page for home stuff.  I am working on getting my home under control and have joined a group on yahoo to do that.  Look at my homesteadblogger post called Joined the Challenge for more details.

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I am on day 2 for two things.  I started South Beach yesterday and I also started having DH take the cable modem to work so I don't have that as a distraction during the day.  I did wake up with a head ache today but muddled through and did get several things done.  Dishes and dinner stuff are done and my jello for tomorrow is made.  I am sipping some Honey Vanilla Camomile tea and loving just sitting here.

I have also gotten alot more homeschooling done with the kids we have plugged through 9 science lessons with Nathan since yesterday and Olivia started her Abeka God's World Science book today.  Olivia is working on more letter work sheets and had fun with the counting bears today while Nathan and I did lesson 34 in Saxon Math 2.  He is reading real well and is flying through math like nothing.

I will post my updates each night from now on.

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DD6 got a brand new Easy Bake Oven for her birthday and we had another one from her big sister from about 8 years ago.  We pulled both out today and Nathan and Olivia made a cake and some cookies.  I was able to find some homemade recipes on the net and printed off 29 recipes for future fun.

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I am up early today and have made breakfast for everyone and all the dishes are done.  This is a very big rarity for me.  I am working towards a more vintage way of life so that my family and home are happy and healthy.  I have neglected this area of my life for a long time due to depression/anxiety/panic.  I believe my prayers have been answered by God, I am taking a suppliment called Thyroid Activator and I think it is starting to work.

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I am so excited, I just received this book in the mail.  I haven't had time to really read it but I am excited to get into it when we have some quiet time this afternoon.

This book is by Mrs. Martha Greene and can be purchased at Christian book distributers

Update:  I have browsed through the book and found lots of great things to incorporate iton my life.  There are patterns, recipes and lots of ideas.  I really like the sewing and canning ideas.

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I am experiencing a little dizziness this morning but I believe it was because I didn't take my Tylenol cold and sinus medication early enough to clean up the gunk in my head.

Its snowing here right now and the kids are watching cartoons.  I am going to do some cleaning up in the dining room so that they can get to the table and do some school work after being off for the last 3 weeks for Christmas and then my illnesses.

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Nathan was diagnosed with Amblyopia Strabismus (Lazy Eye with a turn in) at the age of 2years and just yesterday got his third pair of glasses since the age of 2.  I just a few minutes heard him tell his little sister "I like being able to see you".  Wow that is so awesome to hear.

He chose these glasses because they looked like camoflauge.

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Yesterday I felt so yucky and was in a crying spell.  I called Marlena and she brought me a granola bar with chocolate chips and some Tylenol Cold and Sinus and that is really helping with drying things up and taking the dizziness away.  I am dressed today and have done some cleaning in our bedroom. The bed is made and all seems to be good. 

I got a call from Brother Holland last night and he asked me if I could co-teach the 4-6 grade Sunday school class.  I felt so honored he would think of me as worthy to teach.  I told him I would pray about it and let him know either way.

I am now thinking of making some spring dresses for Olivia.  I want to make some for Allie too but I don't think she would wear them.  I will make one as a trial and see.

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I was able to make a batch of PB cookies yesterday and make an elk stew for supper (which was very much enjoyed by DH).  I still have minor dizziness though.  I am going to be working on getting the dinning room cleaned out today so that it looks better but will back off if I get to dizzy.

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