Jan. 19, 2010 - Well Happy New Year! Finally!

I hope you have had a wonderful start to the new year! I have to confess I wasn't so excited to have Christmas over with and start a new year this year, but as I was cleaning up and putting away I had this incredible lightbulb moment.......We celebrate Christmas to remind us to BELIEVE.....Christ's birth is where our redemption began.....

We must

BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved....

BELIEVE that God so loved the world

BELIEVE that He knows the plans He has for us...not to harm us.....but for our good....

BELIEVE that He is our shepherd and we shall not want.....

BELIEVE He is our Rock and our Fortress..........

BELIEVE every good gift  comes from above.......

BELIEVE all things work together for our good.....

BELIEVE He is the light of the world........

BELIEVE everything we do , we do as unto Him.....

BELIEVE His word is inspired by Himself and good for teaching.....

BELIEVE we are HIs people called by His name.....

BELIEVE love is the greatest commandment.......

BELIEVE His thoughts are not our thoughts and HIs ways not our ways....

BELIEVE that we are filled with the HOLY SPIRIT........

BELIEVE that we will have everlasting life.....

And in Jesus' own words "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, BELIEVE that you have recieved them, and they shall be granted you." Mark 11:24

This beautiful liitle pot that my Shannon gave to me still sits on my counter filled with tree branches....as a reminder to myself to BELIEVE........If we don't truly believe in our hearts then we have no peace.....nothing to hope for......

Are you believing today?

love abundant,

Amy

P.S. have you ever noticed that the branches of a Christmas tree look like little crosses????

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Dec. 22, 2009 - Christmas Tidings To You!

 

For the mother ear is so close to the heart that it can hear the faintest whipser of a child...

~The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin 1886

This is the most precious Christmas book I have read to the children, and I thought this quote was so lovely! If you can get your hands on this one it is a treasure....it was offered not too loong ago as a free download from homeschool freebies and my sweet hubby printed it out for me and I bound it with red cardstock....

Ah, my children....they are growing up so fast .....its such a joy to have them all here under the tree   .....we never know what the future holds......but God does , and that should be our comfort.....

I hope you and your families have a most blessed Christmas and remember our greatest gift of all time is that precious baby, the hope of the world......reflect on that wonderful scene.....Joseph a strong man, melted by the cry of a newborn babe and who He really is ... and Mary with her mother ear to hear Jesus' cries and coos that would later turn in to agony and pain because God so LOVED the world................

 

Christmastide blessings and love abundant!

Amy

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Dec. 22, 2009 - Joyous Chritsmastide!

  

Greetings!

  It's been such a long time and life has been so busy....we had a wonderful Thanksgiving season. We traveled to Virgina to be with family and ate plenty of good food !

We have been studying Christmas in America for our history lessons, which has been quite interesting...we have been baking cookies like mad and decorating the house...this wreath I wanted to share with you....I repurposed my old wreath and removed everything but the pine cones...the 2 blue Christmas balls are from my childhood, as well as the victorian angel...I bought the bird nest and ribbon for the bow for $4.50 at michaels and glued the mini balls(also from my childhood) in the nest as eggs....the spanish moss came from our walk, the snowflake garland from the dollar store a few years ago ....so I have a brnad new wreath from mostly old stuff! I LOVE it!  its hanging in my dining room between 2 candle holders from the Goodwill I spray painted brushed Nickel and bought candles at the dollar store for .50 a piece.....

Our son arrived on the train last Friday after many frustrations from a broken down car, but the girls (and Me!) are so enjoying his company! 

What have you been busy doing this season?

love abundant,

Amy

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Nov. 23, 2009 - My Silly Sydney.....

 I realized my Sydney was the only one I hadn't really told you anything about! This is a picture of her at a football game with Daddy. Our son's college team was playing here in Charleston. She is truly Daddy's girl ! SInce we have no other son's she's Daddy's partner for sports events but she especially likes hocky.....Thankfully she still likes girly things too....she has such a funny personality, and is the one that makes us laugh the most......her back seat dance moves are hilarious and I have to remember to keep my eyes on the road!  Isn't it wonderful how God has created each one of us so uniquely ? It is so amazing that with all the people in the world we each have things that set us apart from the rest....only God could do that!

Have a blessed and unique day,

Amy

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Nov. 10, 2009 - Life is Busy

I have so much to write about and just no time to do it! Too many other things are "more important"  these days.....I am reading some good books that I need to share but I barely have time to read them much less share what I've read....sigh....I do want to share a book I read earlier this fall that was just a really sweet read......It's "Lessons At Blackberry Inn, Adventures With the Gentle Art of Learning " by Karen Andreola. Its about a Mom in the 1930's wqho is teaching her children with the Charlotte Mason method.  Well worth the time to read......and has some neat recipes in the back......

Wont you snuggle up with a good book?  IF you have the time........grin

love abundant,

Amy

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Oct. 27, 2009 - Happy Fall Days....

  The little ttown just near us is so sweet ! Its called Summerville and looks very much like a little place back home called Ashland. They are having a contest for the best scarecrow display and people have really gotten creative! This is the Giant Tooth Fairy, complete with pink cowboy boots and pink pumpkins (my Gianna's favorite!)

another dentist office......

 Where The Wild Things Are.....can't wait to see the movie!

 

another favorite of my Gianna's is Dorothy! ...Check out the bride in back form a local bridal shop........

The girls had fun just taking a little break from school and walking around looking at everyone's creativity........so did I.....

love abundant,

Amy

 

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Oct. 16, 2009 - Heavenly Pumpkin Muffins !

Wow! I made these the other morning and they are SO light and moist! Making them again today!...I halfed the recipe the first time...wish I hadnt, these are THAT good!

Ingredients:

3 C all purpose flour ( I used half whole wheat)

2 t baking powder

1 3/4 t baking soda

1 t salt

2 t pumpkin pie spice

2 C sugar

2 C pumpkin

1 1/4 C oil

4 eggs

2 t vanilla

1 C raisins ( I skipped this because I have anti raisin children)

 

Directions:

mix sugar, pumpkin , oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, soda, salt and pie spice. ( I combined all dry stuff first) add raisins if using....stir just until moistened. spoon into greased muffin tins, filling 2/3 full. bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.

Won't you bake something today?

love abundant,

Amy

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Oct. 12, 2009 - Reflection.....

 

" I've learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me."

 

~~ Corrie Ten Boom

 

Wow, insn't that so true ? We as flesh have such a sense of "MINE" . But what would happen to the above rose if it were gripped tightly or clenched ? Its beauty would be destroyed, bruised, crushed....God has shown me some things about Corrie's words......first , that nothing is mine and I am nothing without Christ.....if my focus is on "mine" I miss the joy of letting God lead me and give me the things He has for me and taking them from me when it is time to move on.......the things I am not willing to lay down for the cause of Christ become idols in my life and are no longer the beautiful thing they once were.........they hinder my growth, spoil my fruit.....

Christ gave three specific commands to us in Mark 8.....deny yourself, take up your cross, follow me.......Is this so you would live a life of misery and hopelessness? NO! So you could live a life of freedom and victory! There is JOY in obedience and true fellowship with Jesus!  Totally dependant and trusting in Him.....like a child........

This lesson has been a hard one for me to learn concerning our move.....I was in "My PLace"  before the move....active in a church where I was loved and needed, involved in ministry, close to all my family, had a close network of homeschoolers and true friends, living the country life, finally had the best friend I had always wanted (still do)............guess what? I had a death grip on these things......I couldn't even fathom leaving, but in obedience to my husband I went willingly, although not joyfully, fighting bitter resentment on the inside, instead of thanking God for His provision and blessings......God has purposely set me apart for these 6 months to realign my priorities. Namely, my husband and children and my GOD......it has been lonely and hard and I am slowly accepting my new life...looking for direction from the Father......but there has been a familiar comfort in my life and I am thankful for God's direction and that He knows so much better than me. I am thankful for a wonderfully patient and loving husband and great kids and a beautiful house. But I am holding them with opened palms, because they are beautiful.......

love abundant,

Amy

 

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Oct. 6, 2009 - Well, Come On In Ya'll......

 I'm practicing my southern hospitality!  I wanted to let friends and family know what our house looks like for fall this year....we don't  celebrate  Halloween but we do celebrate the harvest season.......

 

 

This guy is a little fiber optic scarecrow I got at Walgreens a few years ago after Halloween for 5 bucks!

This little lamp is special to me, my Mom made it many years ago and it reminds me of when I was a little girl....I can't believe it survived all these years!

This is our mantle my oldest daughter arranged......

I love this candle holder that I can decorate for different seasons, I think the leaves I got a Michaels for a dollar...

I got the porcelain acorns at a yard sale several years ago and this year I found this cute basket at Michaels 50% off, so I got it for 5 bucks.....I've since moved this to my hearth

These are pumkins made out of beans that I got from the same yardsale as the acorns, I got the candle holder at the dump!! and I have an apple cider candle inside of it that I got at a thrift store unused....smells delish!!!!

I got this at the dump too! The table is a table made by my grandfather and it about 100 years old!

I got these pumpkins at Walmart...I couldn't resist the center one which is a greenish, blueish, gray....goes well with my dining room colors......I think I paid $2.70 for it and .99 cents for the other 2...

This was a Walmart clearance I got right before Thanksgiving 2 years ago, I actually got 2 of them because they were $2.50....the other one is on my front porch.....

well, thats about it....ya'll come back now, ya hear?

love abundant,

Amy

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Sep. 26, 2009 - Happenings Around My Home...

   We were so excited to welcome fall officially on Tuesday! Even  though the weather here is far from "fall like"....we spent the morning painting water colors of fall to mail to Nanny and Grandaddy in VA.....and I wrote a little autumn poem ....the girls weren't feeling THAT creative so they opted out of that assignment......smile......

I thought I'd share my moment of creativity with you to enjoy or groan at....whatever effect it has on you!

 

Autumn is leaf covered hills,

emptiness of heart it fills.

The gentle touch of cool on skin,

With soft  breezes now and then.

And Oh! The sights and smells of Fall,

Billowing leaves, baked apples call.

Pumpkins at neighbors houses greet,

While leaves crunch beneath our feet.

  

 So there you have it....can you tell Fall is my favorite time of year??  We have been doing some garden planning already for next year....my sweet husband is going to build me some raised beds soon and we will start composting in them now so hopefully by spring we'll have some good dirt. My husband also surprised me with an early anniversary present.....the Homestead Blessings dvds!!! I can't tell you how excited I was to get these....THEY ARE WONDERFUL!!! Beautifully made and well worth they money I think......there is a link on the homeschoolblogger home page if you want to check them out....my 5 gilrs have really enjoyed watching them with me for school....this is what has gotten me so excited about a garden next year!

Not a whole lot more going on here right now, except reading, writing , and "rithmatic.....

What are you up to this season?

love abundant,

Amy

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Sep. 18, 2009 - Tea anyone ?

I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation on its virtues.

It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spiritual liquors.

Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee.

Thy soft influence is a more safe inspirer of social joy.

                                                                     ~ James Boswell

Ah , tea.......I'm totally addicted....it makes me happy.......I have been drinking hot tea since I was a little girl with my mom.  It was a requirement of any man I'd consider as a husband to enjoy hot tea....well not really , but I was pleased to find my darling of almost 21 years does like tea.  But I was most pleased to dsiscover a few years ago  a lovely woman who enjoys tea with cream as much as I do! I KNEW we would become best friends with that in common......how many lovely mornings or afternoons we spent together sipping tea and sharing our hearts while our children played!  Now that I'm here in South Carolina, I miss that time so much, but my girls have been so wonderful, always asking for a tea party.....they're developing that love.....As for my best friend......this past trip home she supplied me with 2 boxes of our favorite tea (Trader Joes Irish Breakfast, YUM!) which she introduced me to......she is so precious.....memories are so precious, guard them well, even though life marches on and God brings us to new things and new memories......good old memories give somthing to share with our children, they continue deep bonds, and comfort  when we can't see the future and we're waiting on God.

Won't you have a cup of tea today?

love abundant,

Amy

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Sep. 3, 2009 - From My Kitchen.....

 I thought it would be nice to share some things I have been making for the kids......I am trying to be a little more health concious for them too....and these are two things they have really enjoyed

 

Peanutbutter Balls ( for some extra protein to kick start those brains)

1/2 C peanutbutter (the healthier brand the better)

2 1/2 T nonfat dried milk (may need to use a little more if you are using a healthier peanutbutter)

2 T honey ( I use raw)

1/4 C coconut ( I use unsweetened)

sesame or flax seeds

mix together everything but seeds, roll inot balls......roll in seeds and refrigerate to harden.....

YUMMY!!

 

Hearty Oatmeal Muffins

1 1/2 C all purpose flour ( or freshly ground wheat)

1 C rolled oats

1/2 C packed brown sugar

1 T baking powder

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t salt

1 egg

1 C milk

1/4 C vegetable oil

 

Topping:

2 T rolled oats

1 T sugar

1,4 t cinnamon

 

 

preheat oven to 400.... prepare muffin pans,  combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a small bowl wisk egg, milk and oil. Add to dry ingredients until moistened. spoon into muffin tins. combine toppiong ingredients and sprinkle over tops. Bake 18-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

What are you creating in your kitchen today?

love abundant,

Amy

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Sep. 2, 2009 - Ahhh September....

The Morrow was a bright September morn;

The earth was beautiful as new-born;

There was that nameless splendor everywhere,

That wild exhileration in the air.

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I LOVE fall, its my favorite of all the seasons......Ok so I know it's not officially fall yet and it doesn't really look or feel much like fall here in South Carolina yet.....but with the first day of September just passed there is "wild exhileration in the air" here in the Miceli home!  Just that expectation of the smell, the feel, and all the sights of fall, not to mention all the yummy pumpkin and apple recipes! I found a prettty simple crock pot apple butter recipe I'm thinking about trying...so I'll let ya know if I do....we are traveling to Virginia this weekend, so I'm hoping there will be just a little more "feeling" of fall up there.....with 2 weeks of school under our belts I am ready to relax and enjoy a long holiday weekend with friends and family.......

many blessings to you and your family this September month......

What do you like about fall?

love abundant,

Amy

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Aug. 31, 2009 - Are Raindrops Too Big For Ants?

This morning we woke up to a very large thunderstorm....before everyone else woke up I was sitting on the sofa with my five year old listening to the thunder......I could tell she was thinking of something when she turned to me and asked the question "are raindrops too big for ants?"   Wow, I gess I never really thought of that but yes I guess they are....."does it ruin their homes ?" she went on to ask......I suppose it does, they have to do alot of work after it rains....

Of course this got me thinking on a deeper level.....Are the storms and rain of our lives too big for us sometimes? Do they have the ability to ruin our homes?  (especially our ATTITUDE in suffering) Yes, but unlike the ant we have a Protector ....Our storms aren't too big for God and He always has a better way to handle them than we could in our flesh.......sometimes our storms might cause some damage that needs repair, but God is a God of restoration, so there is always hope.......when we go through storms with God, we come out on the other side stronger and with something we didnt have before, whether it be knowledge, compassion, testimony or a new vision.......

Paul tells us to rejoice in suffering, count it ALL joy...and privilige to walk with our Savior....(my emphasis)

What does the rain bring to your mind?

love abundant,

Amy

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Aug. 28, 2009 - To Be A Child Again...

I found this poem is a schoolbook I am using this year.....it makes me long for childhood once again...

 

Fantasy

Oh! To be a child again

With wonder in my eyes

To pick golden buttercups

And chase the butterflies.

Oh! To be a child again

Climbing a gently sloping hill,

To watch the world awaken

And hear the whippoorwill.

Oh! To be a child again

Running in the sun-warm breeze,

To kiss alive the blossoms

And watch unfolding leaves.

                         Nora Norton

 

I look at my own children and wonder at their innocence....how fleeting it is....I can barely even remember those summer days. As mothers we need to guard  their innocence...it lasts such a short time. It's so easy to be transparent, to wear all our worries on our face. To let the things going on in this world steal our joy.....I am going to really try today to be a joyful momma and let God handle the big things like our govenrment and H1N1 and the economy.....don't get me wrong I am not planning to bury my head in the sand....but I am not going to live in fear and take away the joys of being a child from my children......God help me to do this....Help me to discuss concerns with my children in light of YOU and to help them to know YOU are bigger than any worry we have...I don't advocate sheltering our children to the point of not knowing the world at all,  but teaching them God's Word  so they always have HOPE when dealing with whats out there in the world......and the faith of a child...that's what God wants from all of us.......

Are you encouraging your children with God's Word today?

love abundant,

Amy

 

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Aug. 28, 2009 - How Do You Spell Breakfast?

Breakfast is something we struggle with alot of mornings....when school started I ennvisioned all of us gathered around the table eating a hearty breakfast while Mother read a devotion....sigh....most days I am scrambling to get them to eat anything or they all want different things! We have actually lived this picture a few mornings...:>)......but not as often as I would like....Do I make a set breakfast schedule and make everyone eat the same thing?  I'm afraid it would make for a sour morning when a few of them don't like the same things ...should I let them each pick a day  to decide and then offer one alternative ? Or should  I just drop my idyllic vision and just fly by the seat of our pants as usual???

The more I think about it , I think a menu would be the best alternative.....I'll let you know how it works out.....

How do you spell breakfast?

love abundant,

Amy

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Aug. 20, 2009 - Row Row Row your Boat and sentimental thoughts....

Our son Nicholas was here visiting for a few days before he starts college this week. We went to Cypress Gardens and rowed around the swamp with the allegators. This is such a fun thing to do, I'll admit I was a little scared at first, but it was alot of fun...we even went back on Monday without Dad and I had to row (that was pretty funny) Actually my sweet Sydney kept exclaiming...Your doing a doing a good job Mom!

This visit was hard though...it was wonderful having him here, but so sad when he went home. I guess we spent alot of time watching home movies and reminiscing....he's been away from us before in bootcamp but I guess this harder because it seems so final....its HARD. This is the first home we have had without him....life goes on and he is ready  but I am not! It sounds cliche but it does go SO fast, hug your babies, kiss the booboos, listen listen listen to what they have to say and pray for them every day...we are so proud of who our son has come to be.....I wonder how it feels when girls start growing up and moving on.....I'll be there soon enough......our oldest daughter will be 13 this December.....Oh, how the years go by......

are you reminiscing today?

love abundant,

Amy

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Aug. 18, 2009 - thinking about being healthy....

OK, so about a month ago I started drinking my lemon water....I have now upped it to 2 20oz glasses a day...and I have started using T Tapp....I had heard SO many great things about this workout I just had to try it! It is a short and sweet 15 minutes (she does have other longer workouts, but remember baby steps for me!) I was amazed at how hard parts of it are and how much I sweat! Its been 12 days now and I have only skipped 2 Sundays....I have not noticed any real results yet, except in my posture.....her workout is rehabilitative and stresses spinal alignment.....however she does have testimonies on her website about pretty impressive results in inch loss after one week.....it is definately a workout that you feel, so it must be working.....I'm going to keep plugging at it, and will keep you posted on my results....besides 15 minutes is all I can spare right now.....I 'm also trying to diligently take my multi vitamin (it;s amazing how easy us Mom's forget that) along with my Bee Strong (for energy and over all good health)and Biotin for my hair, which I am not so patiently trying to grow out......I made a trip to Sam's yesterday to get some organic spinich and salad and cut up veggies....some fruit....and other things that I find are much cheaper in bulk....besides their milk is $.75 cheaper than Walmart!

The other thing I have been impressed upon to do is to really PRAY about my eating habits...seriously....I am praying God will help me eat for sustinance and not so much for pleasure.....I have often made food my idol  when I am 'lacking" in another area....I'm not saying you shouldn't enjoy your food, just that theres much more to life to enjoy....I am making a concious effort to only eat when I am hungry, not so much limiting or changing what I eat, just controlling how often.....

well, these are the things I am pondering lately.....

What's on your mind today?

love abundant,

Amy

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Aug. 17, 2009 - Silly Stuff

Ok ...so these are the men in my life I'm not ashamed to say.....LOL......of course I'm married to the butterfly and our son will be one soon.......

love abundant,

Amy

 

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Aug. 17, 2009 - George Washington part 2

I meant to add this alot sooner, but our son has been visiting from Virginia so we have been busy!

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor  an unwillingness to depart this life , amy cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in the appointed time attain the resurection of the just inot eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred; unite us all in praising and glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed savior...."

Wow, I could say a million things about this....but I won't....I'll just leave you to ponder it yourself.....

What are you praying for today?

love abundant,

Amy

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