Living in His Grace...

Something to Do...

2012-01-18T07:20:00.000-08:00

current guilty pleasure: afternoon naps.
current nail color: yeah, right.
current playlist: Adele, Florence and the Machine, Christina Perri
current read: Glenn Beck's Being George Washington.
current drink: McDonald's Hazelnut Iced Coffee.
current food: stir-fry.
current favorite show: Once Upon A Time.
current wish list: more energy, the ability to crochet, God's guidance.
current needs: God's guidance.
current triumphs: working an early morning job.
current bane of my existence: my daughter's new habit of smoking.
current celebrity crush: Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson.
current indulgence: Ghirardelli Twilight Dark Chocolate squares, WW Amaretto Cheesecake Yogurt.
current blessing: my unborn grandbaby - due in June. my 3 daughters.
current outfit: Indianapolis Colts t-shirt, Charcoal Yoga pants, White Fleece socks, White Fuzzy Slippers.
current excitement: daughter's ultrasound next week - getting to see if it's a boy or a girl!
current mood: hopeful.
current link: the Farm Chicks (always)

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2011-03-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

tomorrow (March 10) I will turn 45.
wow. 45. only 5 more years and I will be half a century old...
I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister... and I will be 45.
my daughters are making me DINNER on saturday, the 12th.
Shrimp Creole. with rice.
I will celebrate with CHERRY CHIP cake and vanilla ice cream.
will they attempt to place 45 candles on that cake? haha...
this is my 45th year of LIFE... after tomorrow I will begin my 46th year.
have you ever thought of it that way? when you reach a birthDAY,
you are actually ending that particular year and beginning the next.
here are some items I think I would LOVE to receive for my birthday this year:

getting better

2011-01-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

well... we began the year in a sad financial state. in the next day or 2 we are expecting that to change and we will be able to get back on track with our bills, pay one or 2 things off and then start saving. we've proven over the last couple of weeks that we can feed ourselves on less than $100/week. it's just hard to remember that when the money begins to get more plentiful... the more we make, the more we spend. my dear husband makes pretty good money - and we both do a great job of spending it. on nothing! we don't have a whole lot to show for our spending binges... and that too will change. when we spend money it's going to be on something that improves our dwelling or invests in our future.
we need to spend some major money on the house this Spring:
1) new roof
2) finish the remodeling in the lower level
3) new fridge
4) repair/remodel the upstairs bathroom
5) heavy tree trimming

Lord, I ask that we would learn to be more frugal and less free with our spending. I would ask that we be reminded of our faith in You to bring us through the downtime in the RV industry and to sustain us as we suffer smaller paychecks. Lord, please keep me diligent in tithing and if not monetary then allow me to commit myself to spending my time & efforts for Your Kingdom.
In Your Almighty Name, Amen.

2011

2011-01-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

this year I will:

* spend more time having fun - sometimes I think I'm too serious
* walk. walk. walk.
* get my spending under control
* spend more time making my house a home
* devote more of my day reading God's Word
* stop worrying about what other people think
* attempt to be more organized
* read something a little meatier than the things I have been reading
* try new things in the kitchen
* become crafty again
* sew
* garden more diligently
* love more compassionately

it is November!

2010-11-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

November is one of my favorite months. the FALL WEATHER is usually in full swing which means it's time for SWEATERS and SWEATSHIRTS, WOOL SOCKS, JEANS and my EMU BOOTS! it's the month that most of us take time to reflect on the past year and say a prayer of THANKSGIVING for all we might have accomplished and lived through. and of course with thoughts of Thanksgiving come thoughts of BLACK FRIDAY shopping! gear up and start those aerobics - and save a few dollars for that famous shopping day!

for me it is also the month that my youngest celebrates her BIRTHDAY! this year she is going to be 17... yikes! she just received her DRIVER'S LICENSE last week and I keep thinking of the commercial I saw the other day where the dad is lecturing his little girl on driving as she sits in the driver's seat of a car... she looks to be about 6 or 7... and she keeps telling him she "knows"... then he relents and she transforms into a teenager right before his eyes. that is what I am experiencing! wow! it is also the first month that we can concentrate on homeschooling and not on VOLLEYBALL! I am missing volleyball quite a bit (this is the youngest with one of her new besties/teammates) but I am also looking forward to getting into the spirit of LEARNING! we are jumping into US History, Home Economics and French - yay!!!

I am so random...

2010-10-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

I live in North Central Indiana... just minutes from Michigan, and hour or so from Chicago, and hour from Ohio. Yes, I am smack dab in the middle of the Northern most part of the Hoosier state. I have spent the last 7 and a half weeks traveling all over for my daughter's volleyball games. We have traveled to the West (Hammond, Valparaiso, South Bend, Mishawaka). We have traveled to the East (Fort Wayne, Goshen). We have traveled North (Galien, Sturgis) and all over South of us (Huntington, Columbia City, Warsaw, Plymouth). I really enjoy traveling with my daughter. She is my youngest and we have these last 2 years of her home education to spend a lot of time together. She entertains me, she keeps me feeling young and gives me hope in this young generation!
She is really good at Volleyball - I'm not just saying that b/c I'm her mommy. She's good! She is funny and very sarcastic. She loves music, boys and making me laugh. Sometimes we joke that we are in each other's heads way too much! I love her with every part of me.
What will I do when I'm no longer a Volleyball mom? this is the question that's been plaguing me as of late. I have to get her graduated and then I have to find something to do with myself. I have tossed around several ideas and none of them really thrill me.
* working at the local grocery store
* getting a certificate for Physical Therapy Aide
* working in retail (yuk)
* cleaning other people's homes
* getting a job at the Credit Union I belong to

There is something I dream of doing. Something I am scared to do but I feel that it's worth the risk. I would like to open a shop of my own. I would love to open a Knitting Shop on my side of town. I would like to offer a place for people to find quality products, a warm & cozy place to shop as well as hang out and work on their knitting projects. I would probably offer some sort of refreshments and possibly classes. I want this so bad I can picture it! It's my dream and I am scared to reach out for it and I am even more scared that it will pass me by and someone else will grab it.

Today

2010-09-08T07:40:00.001-07:00

this morning we headed out pretty early to meet with the oral surgeon. yay. (sarcasm) my youngest is getting her 4 wisdom teeth removed early November - the day after she turns 17. when we got home I opened some windows to let the cool, crisp air into the house. I love this time of year! husband and I have been sleeping so well with the windows open, he usually wants me to close them but that request hasn't been made yet. good!
we started school yesterday.

Junior Year:
Geometry.
Language Arts - American Literature.
Vocabulary.
US History.
Family Life Science (Home Ec).
Chemistry.
French (maybe).

I have been praying for a successful year.

Father God, I ask for Your blessing on our current school year. I pray to You that she would be diligent in her studies and I would also be diligent in my teaching and grading. I ask You Father God to give us a bounty of wisdom this year as we consider college and what the future holds. Please reveal to us Your Will and help us to clearly understand what You have planned for us. I pray that our curriculum would honor and please You. I also pray for the volleyball season with the wildcats - help each of the girls to understand that their ability to play comes from You and that You deserve the honor of their successes as well as the Christ-like attitude they show as a team. I pray that we are a blessing to those around us and that we would take each opportunity to show Your love on a daily basis.
Amen.

Passing of Time

2010-08-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

too much time has passed since my last post. and so much has happened. school has ended (and is almost time to restart). summer came on with a vengeance with high temps & high humidity. the youngest traveled a few states away for a week at Bible Camp. we became parents of another 4-legged son - Sam (our 2nd dachshund). we lived through a week of total chaos - 2 jobs for youngest, full days for the middle one and VBS every night. my oldest daughter became a wife & I became a mother-in-law. I'm sure I'm forgetting some events but these are the ones that come to mind as I reflect on the summer.
the main event of the summer would have to be the wedding of my oldest daughter. I am such a proud momma... and a year ago I never dreamed I would be happy about this marriage. our LORD is so faithful when we give our hearts to Him. He is sovereign and His grace is amazing. for a few years now I have prayed that the relationship would end with my daughter & her (then) boyfriend. they were so young, too young, to have a clue about love & adulthood... like I have a clue at the age of 44! ha! but God answered my prayer in a very different way - His way - as He often does... haha. the LORD opened these 2 hearts to His truth and to His plan. our God is such an awesome God! this marriage is truly blessed by Him. 3 months before the wedding date my (now) son-in-law moved out of the home he shared with my daughter and back into his parents' home. yes, someone of authority strongly suggested this, but he did not have to agree to this. not only did he agree & act on this suggestion, he honored it. they honored it. what a show of his love for my daughter! what an example of God's love!
I prayed that the LORD would bring my "prodigal" back home. my prayers have been answered. she is not back in my home though - she is back in her Savior's home. she is back under His almighty wing. and she cleaves to her husband as they stand there together.

Typical Saturday...

2010-04-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

today is Saturday. I slept in... a little bit. the dog & I got up, he went out to do his business. I went along to supervise. back inside I gave him his treat - yes, he is spoiled - and I poured myself some coffee - I, too, am spoiled. or maybe we are just loved... that sounds better than "spoiled". he (the dog) went to his bed in the living room and curled up and proceeded to fall back asleep. I (me) turned on the computer and proceeded to relax. what's happening on facebook...? nothing much. same old boring stuff. I am in the process of dissolving my farm. it just isn't fun anymore. after setting up a webpage so that I can collect donations for the upcoming Life Walk, I just browsed some of my friends' pages. nothing exciting there. then I created a flair board for my daughter who will be celebrating her birthday in a couple weeks. when my girls have a birthday I set up my flair board just for them. I put birthday flairs on there, ones that are specific to their interests, and ones that just let them know how much I love them. so I notice that some time has passed and it's time for the youngest one to be up & getting around. of course she rarely uses her alarm clock; I am her alarm clock... so the dog wakes as I head up the stairs and he is right there with me as I open her door... oh! my! goodness! her room is a DISASTER!!! and here I was going to suggest heading out to shop before she has to work... well, that is not gonna happen now! this drives me crazy!!! she has clean, yes, CLEAN!!! laundry all over her room and maybe a basket of dirty... I'm not sure where the dividing line is though and I think neither is she. in the past I have taken over and just sorted, cleaned and washed, dried & folded... only to have her so this all over again. I am determined not to waste my time again although something needs to be done here! I did not raise her this way! oh well... it's just a typical Saturday around here.

I love my Husband!

2010-04-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am feeling so blessed to have a man in my life whom I consider to be my soulmate, my life-partner... He is my wonderful husband. He loves me unconditionally and I have no doubt that is true. He married me almost 14 years ago and he took on a whole lot when he did so. He married into a quartet of women - my 3 daughters and myself.
I love my husband because:
* he loves me no matter what
* he loves my girls
* he works hard for us at a stressful job!
* he was/is okay with me staying home and homeschooling (remember, these are not his biological children)
* he adopted our 2 younger daughters
* he let us get a dog
* he is the Grill Master! he cooks a mean Steak & an amazing Burger!
* his parents are the most wonderful in-laws/grandparents!
* he totally cracks me up

This list could continue through many more pages but I have to stop at some point. If I get some sort of order to my Blog maybe I will have a specific day set aside to sing his praises! But for now this little list will have to do.

My Blessings - continued!

2010-03-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

4) My sweet 4 legged son

5) My friends - I am fortunate to have several close friends and we share a love for life!

6) My home - it isn't the biggest, the fanciest or the cleanest, but it is mine and I love it!

7) books, books & more books!!!

Cooking!

2010-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

I love to cook - at least I do when I'm in the mood for it. I really love to eat! My husband is a Grill Master! He has been torturing us these last few weekends with Baby Back Ribs... yes, it has become a bit of a torture. At the end of April we are going to travel north so that he can take part in a Barbeque Cooking Competition... his category is Ribs. So every weekend now he is perfecting his technique and we get to reap the benefits of his testing.
Today I am posting some of my cooking though. From my St. Patrick's Day dinner to just an old fashioned Mac & Cheese - and a lot of in between! Julia Childs I am not, but it's fun to try!

Chicago!

2010-03-17T12:59:00.001-07:00

Day trip to Chicago on Friday! I am pretty excited! I am not "Chicago-savy" and I really regret that since we do live so close to the windy city... We are meeting a friend of middle daughter's and I have no doubt she will show us the ropes! We will be sticking to Lincoln Park most of the day so that's exciting. I hope there is some good shopping there and I'm hoping to visit the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. I plan to take losts of photos and will post them accordingly!

My Blessings

2010-03-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

1. Salvation through faith. Christ shed His blood on the Cross for me and I believe in Him, I believe I am a sinner, I believe He is the LORD's own Son and I accept His pardon for my sins.

2. my HUSBAND. I have known him since I was 14. we each married other people, went through hell and back only to find that we are soulmates. I love him dearly & unconditionally.

3. my 3 DAUGHTERS. I am blessed by these 3 beauties and have learned much from being their mommy.

2010-03-12T04:34:00.000-08:00

So... I had my 44th Birthday 2 days ago. My dear daughters have been taunting me for the last month about their plans for me. My youngest delighted in telling me they were sending me "away". I told her - "go ahead & send me!" Like I would refuse a vacation! So the day came and I anticipated my Birthday dinner of Chicken Parmesan, made by the middle one. She had invited her friend from work who has become a friend of mine also - Michelle. I was curious as to why Michelle was coming over, we aren't THAT close! ha ha! But as the girls later presented me with my gift it was revealed why Michelle was there. Above I have posted the most amazing painting of the most amazing photo I took at the Creation Museum last fall. These are the "Potter's Hands". Michelle painted this from the photgraph. Middle daughter "commissioned" her to paint this on canvas so that I could hang it in my house! I could not have been more thrilled! It is a beautiful piece of work and the meaning behind it, what it means to me, is so moving! I love that my daughter(s) know my soul when it comes to this!

Winter... almost over?

2010-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

I hear the temps are goiong to be in the 40's next week!!! yay! I love Spring! I cannot wait for it to be here. When I see the little green shoots from the tulips coming up through the hardened ground I feel such an energy! We start getting the notebooks out and writing out plans for the yard; which gardens will we expand? where will we plant the veggies? are there any new flowers we want to acquire? Ahhhhhh... Springtime... the promise of new life! I cannot wait!

Friday!!! Pay Day... for the bill collectors.

2010-02-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

There's something refreshing about paying a bill off. My youngest had an MRI done last summer and we have been making payments to the hospital for it since the procedure was completed. I just wrote the next to last check to them! I know there's one more payment but it just feels so good to know that it's almost done! We also have a bill that went to collections (thanks to an irresponsible ex-spouse) and I just paid more than half of it with the plan to pay the remainder next Friday. As far as getting it from the person who should have paid it... well... we may just find ourselves in 'small claims court' soon.
My dear hubby & I always were so pleased that we never had credit cards and no debt except the house and 1 vehicle. We fell prey to the credit card monster last year though when things were "rough" in the RV industry. Now we owe on cards that we don't even use anymore but I know that some day - very soon - we will have those paid off and not be burdened to that again. We love Dave Ramsey and try to apply his standards to our finances.
I also believe that God takes care of our every need. He has provided for us all along and we have more than we need, therefore we give back as often as we can and as much as we are expected to. I believe that if you set aside your best for the Lord He will abundantly bless you! It's has proven to be a good way of doing things so far!

Ramblings for the day

2010-02-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

I actually don't mind Mondays. I know a lot of people "hate" them but to me it's the sign of a new beginning, a fresh start, a whole new week to discover new things. Last Monday was the first day of my new Bible study. This Monday is the day I plan to get my bedroom cleaned and organized. I know that doesn't seem like a real great task but for me it is... I would much rather be reading, knitting or playing on the computer.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. It's a day of disapointment for so many people and I have to say many times I would include myself in that group. I have a wonderful husband who I know loves me - unconditionally. He is good to me 365, 24/7. He provides for me and our daughters and we have fun! I don't need him to do anything special for me on the 14th of February. Yesterday I got a card and a bag of chocolates. That was great, the card is always thoughtful and tender-hearted, the chocolates were sugar-free )good thing since I have recently expressed my desire to cut sugar out of my diet). He is aware of what's in my heart.
The day was fun too - we spent it with some new friends. A supplier of his from work invited us to watch NASCAR and eat. Her husband smokes/grills and he was making brisket, ribs & pulled pork. We are all about the meat on the grill/smoker so if was a no-brainer! The side dishes she served were excellent compliments to the meat and husband & I were very satisfied. We made some friends and were well fed. What more can you ask for?

it's been awhile

2010-02-09T07:22:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I began a Bible Study with 3 of my very good friends. The book is titled 'If God is in Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?' that pretty much sums up the lives of the 4 of us. We are homeschooling moms with teenagers and husbands - none of them perfect. The 4 of us are believers and followers of Christ and we freely admit our own imperfections to each other. That's what makes it work I think, that we are learning to be honest with each other about our lives. One of the ladies shared yesterday that she does love God, but just not enough to make Him a priority; something that we all could agree to for ourselves. That is something I plan to change. I want God to be first in my life and I know that in doing so He will bless me richly! It's not a selfish act though, it's one of obedience.

I very recently reconciled with my best friend. Almost two years have passed since we've talked. Each of us hurt the other very deeply and lately I have felt the Holy Spirit working in me to reach out in forgiveness and to ask for forgiveness. I went to the alter a couple of weeks ago during church, I went down on my knees and began praying for this situation. I felt someone come up next to me and when I looked I saw that it was her daughter (only 15) and I reached for her hand as we both just let it all out. I held her as I once had, as if she were my own. Her mom wasn't there that day but I knew it was time to surrender to God and the Holy Spirit's prompting. The next week (just last Sunday) her mom was there. I kept telling myself (and others) that all I wanted to do was clear the air and have a peace about this. Then, during our church service, I felt (again) the Holy Spirit telling me that I would not be able to just leave it at that; that she & I had a rarity with our friendship and we both needed that to be renewed. These days women have a hard time with friendships and it is so vital to our lives. I am blessed with several wonderful women to count among my friends. Thank You, Father God for that.

2008-12-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

this is the first posting on my blog - the Days of My Life...
today is wednesday, the 3rd...? I was sick all day yesterday with a severe sinus headache that also made me sick to my stomach - all day! yuk. I am feeling much better today but I still plan to take it easy, I was kind of ordered by my dear hubby & my 17 year old to do just that. I just watched 2 episodes of The Waltons... (sigh) what ever happened to the days of the Walton's? Times were so simple back then and even the days the show was popular and we would watch it with regularity... even those days were much simpler. Family mattered back then, and kids listened to their parents. Maybe that's because the parents were allowed to be parents - you know, they ruled the house. There was punishment when it was necessary and no one threatened to call the police if they got a spanking. Those days God mattered and He was honored in most every home. Now He is being pushed out of most every place and the rights of the Christian are constantly being threatened and shoved aside.
well, I am feeling overwhelmed and I guess taking it easy doesn't involved getting up on my high horse this morning. I also wish to explore the Blogger and see what this is all about.
Blessings to all.