Oct. 8, 2008 - A New Season In My Life

Life After Homeschooling

It is October, now. The beginning of another school year has come and gone. There is a charge in the air as the new school year swings into gear. This year however would be different for our family. Our first year of not homeschooling. DD graduated and now is attending a community college. 

I have to admit I missed the excitement of picking out the new books for the year and getting everything organized. I thought I would miss teaching our DD sorely. There were a few pangs that goes along with your child, your only child, growing up and spreading her wings. Although DD is in college, she still asks for my help on math problems or  to read over a paper or give her  my opinion on something she wrote. I don't mind doing so, however, we have left most of it up to her as it should be. No longer having the responsiblity of setting the assignments or grading the papers has been liberating. I am enjoying this new season of my life.

DD and I are forging a new phase in our relationship. I have seen her mature and become more adult-minded in the past few months. We, her father and I, are still here to guide, protect, and, yes, correct her when the need arises. (We will do so until we turn over those duties to her future husband.)  Yet, there is a different feel to our parent/child relationship. She and I work along side each other, now. She is becoming more capable of looking over the household duties. She is working hard at her schoolwork and her chores. Lapses do occur, but you can see the maturity level rising.

For myself, I am finding more time for chored and projects. A huge chunk of work that once exsisited is no longer there. I do have more running to do since I take DD to 2 of her classes, but that has provided me with opportunities to do some window shopping at stores I hadn't the chance to do before. I am finishing up projects that have been waiting for months. I have had more time to work in my fall garden. I am looking forward to the winter days when I can work on crafting projects. I have been very, very busy, but I have enjoyed being busy. I have been able to focus on my chores and their completion. There is no schoolwork to distract from them.

I enjoyed my time teaching our DD. Homeschooling was the right choice for our family. It strengthened our family and our marriage. It forged and solidified a closer relationship with our Lord and Saviour. Now that it is over, I will hold the memories dear, but at the same time, I fully embrace this new season. I am looking forward to the new changes and challenges that are ahead. I am looking forward to the maturity that has come with age and being able to apply it to my role as a wife and a godly woman. I am looking forward to the change from parent to my DD to being a mother/friend to a mature young woman with a bright future ahead of her. I want to be there for her to advise and offer wise counsel for her when asked. I just pray that I have the right attitude and advice for her.  

Some day, I will enter another new season of my life, being a grandmother. Not that I am ready any time soon, but it will be a role I will relish. Until that appointed time, I fully attend on enjoying the season I am in now. 

Sep. 29, 2008 - Back From Hiatus

Back From My Self Imposed Break

Hello! Everyone. Some of you may have begun to wonder where I have been or what I have been up to. Everything is fine around here. We haven't been anywhere, since our area is experiencing a gas shortage. I have been very, very busy. Housework and the fall harvest tends to do that.

I also have been experiencing a little bit of blogger's block. I feel like this blog is just a pale comparsion to other great blogs, a cheap imitation. I wanted to use this blog to share my faith in the Lord, to encourgae other women in their walk with God, and an outlet to let out all of my thoughts on issuses and society as a whole. I don't feel as though I have been doing any of that. I especially haven't been using it to express my thoughts very much for fear of offending someone. So this blog is not telling or sharing the whole me.

No more! You will not be getting the milkwashed version of me anymore. To many in this world don't speak up for what is right, true, and just. To many don't carry forth the loving message of repentance and salvation for fear of hurting someone's feelings. I don't claim to be all wise and knowing, that is the Lord God's job. I may not have all of the answers or be right all of the time. However; I will take time to study things, mull them over, discuss with DH, search the scriptures for insight, pray about it, ask for guidance,  before making my opinion know.

I want to hear from you and your insights. However, let it be know right now, you will not change my belief on the infalliblity of the word of God, His plan for salvation, the one and only way you will enter heaven, the godly roles of men and women, the right of parents to educate their children based on Biblical principles, the sinful nature of homosexuality, the sanctity of life, the rights of the unborn child, the evil of evolution, the evil of the humanist movement, the homosexuality movement, and the feminist movement, and last but not least, the worldly influence and takeover of organized so-called Christian churches in America.

Wow! That doesn't leave much room, does it? Do you know why? Because the way of a true follower of Christ is very narrow, but the rewards at the end are .........to wonderful to describe. There are no words sufficent enough to do so.

Stay Tuned!   

Aug. 7, 2008 - Lazy Day

Taking a Break

How many of you take a day and do nothing? Well, I don't mean exactly do nothing. I am talking about days where the daily chores are done for the most part, but then for the rest of the day you piddled at almost nothing.

That is the kind of day I have had. I took care of  my daily chores and did the grocery shopping. Most everything has been put in its place. There are potatoes and a bottle of pure maple syrup to be put away yet. My pocketbook needs to be cleared out of its change. My household binder, Bible, and Bible study notebook need to be put away. All of these things will be taken care of before I go to bed, but for the most part I have piddled at nothing. I made a few changes to my blog layout. I played a few games on the computer. I watched a little TV. I took a nap. I blog hopped. My mother would say "how lazy." I don't look at it as lazy. I look at it as taking a break, refreshing myself. How so you look at it?

I know moms of little kids can't really take a break like that right now but their day will come. My DD is almost 19. She does her chores pretty much without me reminding her. Truth be told she could take charge of the house and care for it well enough for a few days. She keeps herself occupied on the computer, reading, cross stitching, and embroidering. Oakley (aka-the spoiled child-our dog) is much more needed than she is.

For the most part, I work at something all week long. My house is kept very neat and clean. I keep up with my cleaning chores and schedules for the most part. I cook most days. Today I didn't because we ordered supper out. I took care of Mt. Washmore yesterday. Although, I know it is lurking waiting to remerge. I have a few more monthly chores on my schedule, but I will take care of them tomorrow. Tomato juice is also on my agenda for tomorrow. So, why should I be called lazy for taking a break this afternoon? Should I feel guilty? I don't. What do you think? I would love to hear from you and your opinion on taking a break!

Aug. 4, 2008 - Monday Mania

College Details Settled

We made another trip to our local community college to make the finally arrangements for DD. We meet with a Typewell transcriber. All that means is a person will be in the classroomwith DD. Both of them will have laptops. The transcriber will be typing what is said in class and it will appear on DD's laptop. It is like closed-captioning on TV. Later, the transcriber will make a polished copy of what was said in class and e-mail it to DD. We think this is a better option for DD than a note taker, although that is still a possiblity. She will only need this service for 2 classes, because the rest of her classes are over the internet. The college has bent over backwards to make sure her needs as a hearing impaired person are meet. DD made the comment, she wished the Typewell was an option when she was in elementary school.

Aug. 2, 2008 - Sultry Saturday

The Heat Is On!

Another heat wave is hitting this part of the country. Temps are suppose to be in the high 90s all week. Although this is nothing new in the south in the summer, temps all week that high and humidity added on top of that, can wear a person down. Needless to say most of our week will be spent indoors or at the pool.

We spent most of this week running errands for college, going to the pool, getting groceries, and taking DD to the library for her volunteer time. On top of all that, I am currently under going the joy of womanhood and it has been bad. I know many women view it as a curse. I once did until I read something by an older, wiser women that said we should look at it as a blessing. It is God's plan for us as part of the cycle of our life. It is His way of letting us know we are in the child bearing age. Although we maybe finished having children, we can still know it is a part of God's plan. I thought that was a very neat and wise way to look at it.

We are experiencing some thunder and lightning right now. So I am off. I hope to post again later.

The thunderstorm moved off to the north of us. We got a few sprinkles. I am thankful for each one. The good Lord provided us with an inch of rain this week and a full rain barrel. Thank you, Lord!

What's For Supper Saturday?

It has been a long time since I have posted my supper menu, so here goes:

Saturday: Birthday Dinner @ in-laws

Sunday: breakfast-BLT sandwiches, white peaches

            lunch- Pot Blessing @ Chapel

            supper- Hot dogs w/ chili, slaw, peppers, onions, & popcorn

Monday: Roast, Stroganoff Noodles, corn, tomatoes

Tuesday:Chicken, Baking Potatoes, Broccoli w/ Cheese                      

Wednesday: Spaghetti, Salad, Italain Bread

Thursday: Ordering out 

Friday: Quesdillas, Steak Fajitas

Tonight, we are going to our great-nephew's birthday dinner. we are having it early. His birthday isn't until sometime next week. That is when his Momma's family, my BIL's daughter-our niece, is having a party for him. Since it is a divorce situation, there will be separate parties. I know that sounded confusing but I am not taking time to expalin it. Tomorrow, there is a pot blessing ( a covered dish lunch) at Chapel. I think that is an unique way to say covered dish lunch. In the south,  we like our hot dogs topped a little differently than the rest of the country. I like frying peppers and onions in a little butter and topping my hot dog with slaw, peppers, and onions. The best part both the pepper nad onions will come from our garden.  I usually buy stroganoff noodles in a package, but since we are trying to avoid prepackaged food as much as possible I have found a recipe to try. I am going to make our spaghetti out of ground turkey. I have never used ground turkey before. It was on sale last week and even at its regular price it was cheaper than hamburger meat. On top of all that it is suppose to be healthier for us, anyway. I don't know where we will be ordering out from on Thursday, yet. We eat out once a week, especially since I took over getting the groceries. My DH use to do it. Thursday night is my one night off. I enjoy cooking, but look forward to that one night off. If finances start to tighten ordering out will be one of the first things to go. Well that is what 's cooking at  Blackberry Lane Farm.

Jul. 17, 2008 - Of Migraines and Swimmer's Ear

Of Migraines and Swimmer's Ear

When I last posted, I had hope to update my blog that afternoon. However, my body had other ideas. I felt like I was starting to get a migraine. I had all weekend. However, it turned out to be someting else.  As I slept Monday night, my ear had slowly started to swell. I woke up around 3:30 with it completely swollen shut. I couldn't fit the tip of my pinky finger into my ear canal. I realized right away I had swimmer's ear. I woke up DH and had him put drops (leftover from DD's bout with swimmer's ear last summer) in my ear. I felt okay most of the morning. I still went swimming with my mother and nephews but didn't put my head under water and was careful to avoid getting water splashed in my ear. My MIL washed my hair for me while i held a wash cloth tight over my ear. I didn't get any water in it, but it continued to feel worse as the day wore on. I hit the bed at 9:00 and didn't wake up until 8:30 the next morning.

Yesterday, I ran a temp all day. I didn't take it but I knew I had one. I wore a sweatshirt all day. I am usually very hot natured. I didn't have much energy. All I did was wash, fold, iron, and put away clothes. DH and DD went to Bible study. I stayed at home and rested.

Today, I feel much better. My ear isn't as sore or swollen. I cleaned our bathroom and bedroom. I cleaned the living room and shucked corn. DD has gone to spend 2 nights with DH's parents. I took her this morning. She will come home sometime on Saturday. DH had to work late. He has all week. He bought supper home. He is at band practice now for chapel. I ran to Hobby Lobby. I had one corner in the living room I have been trying to figure out how to decorate since we moved in here. It hit me this afternoon how to decorate it. So I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up a topiary and a figurine. The corner is now complete.

DD is registered at our local community college for the fall. She is taking a combination of on-campus courses and internet courses. I will fill everyone in on our experience at a later date.

As Tigger would say, Ta-Ta for now!

Jul. 15, 2008 - No Internet Server

Hello, Everyone!

I have been MIA the past few days due to no internet. Our server was struck by ligthning (I am guessing) on Thursday afternoon, when a big storm rolled through here. I will be putting up a new post sometime today, if time allows. Family and household chores come first.

I want to thank those of you who have left me comments of encouragement, sympathy, and empathy about the stress our family was  under last week. I will be responding in kind soon. Thank you for your prayers, too. Prayers are such wonderful things. God bless each and everyone of you.

Laundry calls! Talk to you soon, hopefully! 

Jun. 4, 2008 - A Tour Around My Blog

A Tour of My Place

Background Information

I have received some many wonderful comments on how lovely my blog is. I, again, thank each and every one of you that has complimented me on my blog. None of it would have been if not for Ali at Mission Field Designs. She has a website of her own now. She does all this hard work for donations. If you are looking for a fresh look visit her website. She worked with me for a few weeks getting everything just right. I would give her ideas about what I wanted and she helped me make it come true. She also taught me how to upload all of the graphics for my sidebars. Thank you again, Ali.

Many of you may wonder why I don't have real pictures of us on our blog. I have 2 reasons: 1. I am not ready to give up all of our anonymity, yet. 2. The biggest reason is I don't have a digital camera. Although I could borrow my in-laws at anytime, it is too big of a hassle. We are looking for a good digital camera. Maybe by Christmas time, I will have a really good one. Now for the tour.

The Left Sidebar

In the very top of this sidebar is where I put up any graphics or blinkies dealing with a hoilday or an important day in that month. Currently, I have a summer blinkies with graphic flowers and Happy Father's Day stuff. Next come all of my blinkies. I don't know why but I really like blinkies. (Like you couldn't tell.) I put up blinkies that tell a little about me and my life. I did a whole series called Bio Blinkies about the blinkies I had up at the time. I have since changed and organized the blinkies. Once I have finished adding the new ones (yes, I am going to add more), I will update the series telling about the new blinkies.

Next, I have my favorite  blogs listed. Blogs that I enjoy reading and keeping up with. I have up different types of blogs. Some are blogs about the feminine arts and homekeeping. Some are offer inspiration. Some are a combination of both. Some are simply about families living out the God's dominion plan for families.

My reading lists are next. I love reading. It is one of my favorite hobbies. I wrote a post about some of my all time favorite books. If you are interested, you can find it here. I have broken down this section into 2 parts. I have my current reading list, what I am reading right now. Then I have a list of book I would like to read in the future. Any suggestions for good books, I would be glad to have them. Next section consist of Bible verses and nice sayings. My cleaning routines are next, then my recipes. I hope my recipe section will grow are the weeks. 

The Right Sidebar

I want this blog to bring glory and honor to the Lord and I am a very stronger believer in prayer. Hence, the blinkies at the very top. Next is a little paragraph telling what this blog is about. The next few blinkies tell about our daughters. We have one daughter in heaven.  She was a premmie. She died 3 days after she was born. DD here on earth with is our pride and joy. We are very proud of her. My calendar I got from www.steelegrafix.com. I love it. She has many others to choose from.

A list of my 5 most recent blogs is listed next, then my catergories. My links are next. I have choose links that I have found useful information from or have ordered products from. My friends are next. These are friends from homeschoolblogger. I have tried to keep this list to my friends that keep their blogs updated. I have removed a few that have not been updated for a few months. I hate visiting friends sites on other blogs that haven't been updated in a really long time. Once my friends have time to update their blogs, I will add them again. I am really worried about one of my friends. She hasn't updated her blog in almost 3 months. I haven't seen her online. She usually updated her blog every day. If she happens to be out there and I have not noticed, please know you have been missed and I am worried about you.

My long list of credits is next. Every graphic I have on my blog somes from these sites. If I have missed any it isn't intentionally. There is one exception. My next section is my patriotic section. I love this country. I am proud to be an American. I think we are so blessed to live in this country. I am also a daughter of a Vietnam vet. I have a very special place in my heart for soldiers and their families.

Next section is where I list things I am proud to be, memes I take part in, and awards I have been given. Our homeschool section is next. I have listed our cirriculum and DD's graduation date, which is coming up soon. My hobbies are listed next. Some of my hobbies are unusual sounding, I know.

The Main Body

Well, this one is kind of obvious. This is where my post appear. The title I list kind of gives an idea of what most of the post is about. However on some days I do add multiple entries under a title. I use sub-titles so to speak to separate my thoughts. These sub-titles are in bold lettering and underlined. I separate the entries by some kind of flower line. I have a site counter at the bottom of the page. I keep an occasional on it. I am not really interested in how many people visit my blog, just that they get something from my ramblings.

Well, that completes my tour of my blog. You may exit to your left, right, uh, you know how to exit. Good Bye!

Apr. 23, 2008 - Happenings...

Around the Farm

Since Monday, I have been taking care of my aunt's dog, Daisy. My aunt is staying with my grandmother, who is the hospital again. My GM has a kidney infection and a bowel blockage caused by scar tissues from previous surgeries. They operated yesterday to remove the blockage and everything went well. The kidney infection is healing. Hopefully, she will be home soon. I am opening the blinds, taking care of Daisy, getting the mail, and feeding the cats for my aunt and grandmother. They live together.

Monday, I had to pick up my nephew from school. His allergies were bothering him really bad. We got all of his work and he did it at my house. I went over it with him, checked it for him, and made him redo it. He probably won't want me to pick him up anymore. Hehe.

This week has been full of appointments. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday. I went to the chiropractor, yesterday. We have Bible study tonight. I have to go get groceries tomorrow. Friday, I am working. Saturday, we are going to set up for our KAH reception. Saturday night, we have a creation conference to attend. Sunday, we have church and our KAH reception. Next Monday, we go on our KAH hike. Whew, I'm tried just thinking about it. I need our get away camping trip to the mountains, but that won't happen until Memorial Day Weekend. Until then, I will have to deal. Things will calm down eventually, right?

Apr. 21, 2008 - Why is it called lurking?

Lurking

I have seen these term used alot recently on blogs. I had an idea what it meant but before I posted this, I checked out the definition on line. I understand it is visiting a blog but not taking part in a discussion or leaving a comment, etc. I have seen several people mention lurkers like they were some sort of stalkers or something. I think lurkers are far from it. (Well, most are. There are perverts out there.)

I'll admit I am a lurker and have been for awhile. At first, it as because I didn't have a blog of my own yet. Then, it was because I didn't know what I was doing. Now, it is because I enjoy visiting certain blogs and don't have alot of time to participate. My computer time is limited due to my responsiblities. I use my time to post blogs, look at blogs, and then leave comments if I have time. If I took the time to respond to every blog I visited, all my time would be spent doing just that. I have spent an hour or more doing just so before never to have my comments returned. Some may think I should be upset by that, but I am not. I know everyone leaves a busy life.

So lurkers are welcome at my blog. If in some small way I bless or enrich your life, feel free to lurk. If you have the time or inclination, I would love to hear form you. I try to be propmt in returning comments. I usually do so within a week or two, time permitting.

Well, I am off to lurk.