Blessings From Home

Friday at Home

Hello all,

     I pray your week has been blessed in all things. We have been busy working away on homeschooling and homekeeping. We've had some training issues here at home with the kids and have been working on that also, mostly discontentment and sibling rivalry.

I'm so thrilled that we have finally worked out a homeschool routine that is working for us. We have managed to do school and be done by lunchtime or shortly after all week. Partly because I'm giving each child a time limit on how long I let them do their work before moving on. That way if I have a dawdler, it won't hold us all back, and they will have to finish their work on their own time, which seems to be a big motivator to get it done.

I've been feeling extra tired this week, needing to go to bed early or on some days take an afternoon nap, but amazingly, I've still been able to keep up with the house even while feeling so tired, and that in itself is one of my biggest blessings this week. It always seems when I'm not at my best, that my home suffers immensely, and takes so much more time to get back in order.

I still need to finish working in the family room today, but we've been maintaining what's done. My bedroom has become such a sanctuary for me, especially on these days where rest is so precious to me. And it takes me less than 5 minutes to straighten it before heading out of their in the morning.

Today and tomorrow holds much more cleaning and work around the house. I'm hoping to finish up the family room, and clean the bathroom today, and tomorrow I would really like to work on the laundry room and outside. But I've learned to just work where I feel led to, and not stress about it. I know tomorrow is a big football game hubby is wanting to watch, so I'm not sure what we'll be able to get done.

Well, I better get back to the school table for now. I pray your day is blessed and fullfilling!

sara 

Wednesday at Home

Good morning all,

     Well, I'm up early, I've had my daily quiet time with the Lord, reading in Luke 1 about the pending birth of our Lord and the birth of John.  I've had a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of milk, a glass of orange juice to take my vitamins and a tylenol to help with the aches of the last trimester, and I just finished my cup of coffee. I'd say I'm starting off on the right foot, for once.

The mornings of the last few weeks have not been starting so well. I've been having trouble getting up and going in the morning, sometimes not getting out of bed until 8am or later, which means I lose any quiet time I might be blessed to have because the kids are already up, and I am forced into getting started on the rest of the day. I've been praying that the Lord would help me in this area, and that if I do need extra sleep to help me get to bed earlier or allow time for a short nap during the day, and so at 6am, my eyes popped open, and I was wide awake.

So here I am with a full day ahead of me, and lots to do. The last couple of days have been "nesting" days. I've had bursts of energy and have been accomplishing quite a bit, mostly working in the family room, which is the largest room in our house and the hub of our home, where we watch movies, play games, eat our daily meals, homeschool, etc. I did some decluttering, deep cleaning, and organizing, and even some decorating. I got all the homeschool stuff straightened and organized and everthing is so much nicer in here now. I'm going to finish up in here today and I'll get a picture to post later so you can see the fruits of my labor. lol.

I'm not sure where today will lead me. I've not been following my basic weekly plans, but I still have been getting some much needed things done and I'd rather get all the rooms done and then start on a basic weekly cleaning plan. I will probably work in the kitchen today and get some deep cleaning and organizing done there, along with some baking. And if I have the time, I may work in the master bed and bath as well. Those are three other rooms that would bless me so much more if they were clean and organized. We also have school to do, which I will begin on in about 30 minutes, and  I need to clean out the fridge and make my weekly menu and shopping list. And I will wash at least one load of denim.

I need to bake some banana bread and some granola. I was going to do that yesterday, but time got away from me. For dinner, I think we'll be having some pinto beans and cornbread. It's a nice cool day and a pot of beans sounds so good. Well, I'm off to get started on my day. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara 

Monday at Home

This weekend was such a blessing! As I mentioned Friday, I was going on a lady's retreat with some women from my church and it was so fun and I learned so many things. I felt so refreshed when I came home.

The theme for the retreat was Fruit of the Spirit, based on the scripture from Galatians 5:22-23.

     "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

We learned how to incorporate not one, but all of these characteristics into our daily lives, and the number one thing to be able to have all of them is to love God, and all else should fall into place. There was so much more that I would love to share, but it will have to wait for another time.

So on to today's business...same as usual. According to my little ticker on the sidebar, I have only 9 weeks left until this little bundle of joy is to be born. Now if you don't think that's not a kick in the rear, you are wrong. I have so, so many things to do, not only for baby, but for the holidays, for the other kids, and just things to be done in general. I'm a little scared I won't be able to do it all, but I'm going to work at it as hard as I can.

I'll just take it a day at a time. For today here is my list....

~Keep up with daily routines.

~Follow basic weekly plan, which for today is...

     -weekly home blessing-vacuuming, mopping, dusting, etc.

     -zone work-this week, I am working in the kitchen

     -laundry-towels and sheets

~Work on wool soaker for baby

~Schooling with children-which I'm keeping very basic for today

~Do some general cleaning and pick up throughout the house

If I have time, which I won't, I would like to do a bit of sewing, but that will probably have to wait until tomorrow which is when I like to do my sewing and some baking for the week. For dinner we're having homemade hamburger helper with green beans or salad. Well, that's all for today. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara

End of the week

The stress this week has brung has been a bit overwhelming. It has been a realization of how unstable everything really is right now. Praise God for the fact my husband still has a job, but for how long? He said he's still not sure how everything will turn out.

In the meantime, we are watching our budget, cutting back where we can and stocking up with whatever extra we have left. Yesterday was errand day and the kids and I got out, went to the library, to the local park, and to the grocery store. It was a fun day. At the store, I managed to get several extras and still stay well within our budget of 100 dollars for the week.

At the library I picked up several books on gardening, composting, and getting organized. I'm hoping that in addition to preparing the yard for spring planting, we can also learn as much as we can about what we're going to grow.

We started Wednesday working on the backyard. We started with the hill out in the middle of the backyard. Apparently the previous owners had an above ground pool, and when they dug up the ground to level the pool area, they just left it in a big pile, so we're working on leveling it out.

For today, we are busy cleaning up from the week, and getting ready to leave. I'm going on a lady's retreat with the women from my church today, and my children are spending the night with my folks. I'm so excited! Not to get away from the kids, but to have the oppurtunity to learn and fellowship with other women without interruption, and a chance to renew my spirit a bit. I will be coming home tomorrow late afternoon. Well, there is lots to do, and little time to do it in. I want to make the house nice for my husband so he can relax while he's home alone tonight and tomorrow. Have a blessed day!

sara 

Layoffs have begun

Just as I hit the enter key on my last post, the phone rang. It was my husband but it wasn't time for him to be off work yet. He said that without warning they layed off 15 employees today. Praise God that my husband wasn't one of them...yet.

This is a small local company of less than 200 employees, so it is very scary. We could definately use some prayer in this area. I don't know if there are any more layoffs in the near future. And we apparently won't have any warning when they do decide to layoff.

Blessings, sara

Job and Money Stress and preperations

Today has been a pondering day for me. My husband, who does his best to save me any undue stress (God bless him), felt the need to share with me his concerns over his job and the concerns over what may come in the next many months or years. As far as I knew, all was fine, with his job anyways. I had my own concerns about the economy from several readings on the web and watching of the news, and had been trying to gather my thoughts on how best to prepare for that, but my husbands job, as I should have known is not secure, and work has been slowly dwindling for his company over the last several months.

They've begun talking lay-offs, nothing official yet, but it's something to be aware of, and to prepare for. I am not prepared for anything, to say the least. I think at best we'd make it a week on what we have on hand here.

So I've been making lists, (I am a listmaker, ya know). Lists of things we need to cut back on, lists of things we need to stock up on, not just food, but medicines, fabrics, necessities, things for schooling the kids, etc. We have a lot of unneccesary expenditures like eating out, cable tv, and a few other things that will be going away. Internet will stick around for as long as we can afford it, because of it's multiple resources for homeschooling, recipes and frugal living.

I've made a well layed out plan of our backyard, and how we are going to transform it into our own little homestead in the city. It will take us many years to get completely to that goal, but it is definately possible. I'm starting in the most frugal area possible, and that is growing some of our food. It's too late to start anything now, at least planting, but I'm beginning by starting my compost, gathering lumber to build square foot boxes, buying heirloom seeds, and clearing out the area where we will be putting the boxes.

My dad has some extra lumber to share that I'm going to use to make a clotheline that I saw on one of my many visits here. I was originally going to go and buy an umbrella clotheline, but it was going to cost 70 dollars plus the cost of cement, and by making one like the one in the post, all I should need is cement, and maybe some lattice eventually, but I'm going to post on freecycle first to see what I can find.

I'm doing my best to look around here first before I go out and spend money on things. My parents, who are the packrat king and queen, always have extra things they're willing to share, and if I just looked around, ya never know what I'd find in my own home.

I'm trying to not let myself panic about anything, because I know that never does any good. But I have definately had my eyes opened more than ever about how much I need to prepare for what may come, whether it  be economic failure, or job loss, temporary or not, or just for the joy of being able to be a bit more self sufficient, it must be done.

The main thing I need to do is accomplish these goals and preperations as inexpensively as I can or we'll end up being in worse shape than if we had not done anything at all.

The easiest place for me to start saving money in after eliminating other unnecessary expenses is the grocery bill. We've been slowly making changes to the way we eat. Making our own bread and baked goods, eating ground turkey over ground beef, eating beans at least 2 times a week, among other things, but to say we have been doing these things religously is an understatement. We do it as necessary, but it has come to the point that it must be done on a daily basis. So that is where I will concentrate my efforts first. And when there is extra money, it will be used for stocking up on foods and other things. So now I'm off to make my weekly menu and shopping list, and will know more on what I can stock up on this week when hubby arrives home with his check. Be on the lookout for posts on some major changes coming to this household, and our journey there.

Blessings, sara

Monday at Home

The week ahead looks to be somewhat busy, but not too much maybe. I'll be having to get out more than I care to this week, but that's one good thing about living in town I guess. Today we have school work to do, quite a bit of work around the house, and I have to get out and go pick up Madelynn's new reading glasses.

Tomorrow I have to go to a WIC appointment. I know there is a lot of controversy around using government assistance, but I feel like it's okay as long as you are not abusing the system. To be quite honest, on what my husband makes, we could be on food stamps, but I don't think we need it, but WIC helps us buy things like milk, eggs, and cheese, and helps us out so much.

Wednesday I have a dental appointment to have the other side of my mouth deep cleaned. I don't look forward to that, but know it will be worth it.

Then we'll be out Thursday for our usual errands, although I may see if we can't go ahead and get those done Thursday after my cleaning.

The big thing this week is Friday afternoon. I'm leaving to go on a one night ladies retreat with some women from my church. It's only about 40 minutes from home, but I will be gone overnight, so there are preperations to be made for myself and especially my kids. My mom, dad, and sister will be keeping my kids that night, so that my hubby won't have to take care of them on his own, plus they enjoy keeping the kids overnight every once in a while.

This week, I'm really trying to stay on track with routines, zone work, and my basic weekly plans, no longer out of just a want, but out of need. As the time grows closer for this little one to make his appearance I get tired much quicker, and those braxton hicks contractions become more and more frequent. And I've learned when I stay up with my routines, my days go smoother, and I don't have to work quite as hard to catch up later. For instance, my laundry routine helps me by making it where I only have to do 1-3 loads a day instead of catching up with several loads at the end of the week.

So for today, here's what I need to do...

-Morning routine

-Homeschool

-Daily Chores-

    -Weekly Home Blessing-dust, wipe windows, sweep/mop, take trash out, change sheets, cull/toss papers, and vacuum

    -Zone work-Today and tomorrow, I am in zone 5, the family room. I will spend 15 minutes doing some extra things in here.

    -Laundry-Towels and sheets-I have one load of each to do.

-Afternoon routine

-Go pick up Madelynn's glasses

-Before Bed Routine-(Nicholas' bath night)

During breaks or downtime, I am working on one of the wool soakers for the baby. I am hoping to get it finished either today or tomorrow. Well, it's time to get going. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara 

Wednesday at Home

The fall weather is really rolling in! What a blessing it has been to me. I am not a big fan of the summer heat, especially while pregnant. I have been actually having to put on a sweater in the morning. We haven't had to have the air on in over a week and don't anticipate turning it on for the rest of the year. That's a big praise, especially as high as our electric bill was getting.

The other blessing of fall is that we are spending a lot more time outside. I love being outside, but during summer, the heat keeps us in, and in the evenings the mosquitos keep us in.

The last couple of weeks have been busy, but not with anything exciting really. I've been doing a lot of cleaning and decluttering. Also working on our homeschool schedule and tweaking it a bit to make it fit us better. I went to the doctor this week for my glucose test, and a checkup and as usual everything is normal, praise God. I go back in 4 weeks and I'll be 32 weeks.

I've been crocheting and knitting away lately, another favorite fall time activity. So far I've made a hello kitty doll for my sister's birthday this week, 1 wool soaker for the baby, and a dress for a naked baby doll I brought home for one of the girls. Still on the hook or needle right now is another wool soaker, a small knitted baby blanket, and a knitted scarf. I'm not starting any more crochet/knitting projects until these things are done.

I've been working my way through all the boxes and decluttering as I go. I do a little in every room every day. I can't wait until I unbury my sewing table and machine. Some other things I'm working on is making my Christmas lists, gifts to make, things to buy, goodies to make. I'm starting now, so that by the time our little one makes his arrival, I will be all done with most of the Christmas preperations.

Well, I've mumbled on enough for today, it's time to get to work. We'll just be hanging around the house doing our usual for Wednesday. Homeschool, desk work:preparing bills, making menus and shopping lists, etc. Then we'll go to church this evening, I think. For dinner we're having spaghetti, garlic toast, and some salad. I pray your day is a blessed one!

Friday at Home

I haven't been around to post much, I guess just not a lot to say, except the everyday normal stuff going on. I've been a little discouraged in some areas of my life with my children and my home and just in myself. I just can't seem to get my act together.

I write it all out on paper, a routine for homeschooling, for housework, for just about everything, not so much as for strict rules, but just a general guideline, and for some reason, every fiber of me revolts from it. If I did it, even halfway, I know life would take on an easier flow and I wouldn't feel such discouragement, but there is just something in me that craves that routine while the other part of me fights it. Does that make sense?

And all the while I'm feeling discouragement from my daily life, that overwhelming "nesting" feeling comes over me, and I realize, there is so much to be done!!! I have only 3 short months until this little one makes his arrival, and I have nothing done. nothing! I guess I just needed to come on here and whine for a minute and then make amends to do better. I'm doing my best to hand it over to the Lord, but sometimes that's not as easy as you would think.

So, the reality is, I'm not getting a thing done sitting on my duff whining about it, and it's time to get some things done. I have children to school, a home to declutter, clean, and organize, and a baby to prepare for.

Yesterday, I managed to make 2 batches of homemade laundry soap, one for the baby, and one for the rest of us. I used ivory soap in the one for the baby, and fels naptha for the regular. So I have laundry to do, which I've actually been managing to halfway stay on top of. And ofcourse the rest of what is needed. I'm going to start in the kitchen, and work my way around the house doing what I can today and tomorrow, with a firm plan to start anew on Monday.

I pray you all have a blessed day!

Sara

P.S. I'm not one to post on political topics at all, but I read last night that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein. Does that scare anybody else but me?

Another week

The days seem to fly by me and before I know it another week has passed. I can't believe I'm already 27 weeks pregnant. Only 13 weeks to go. Those weeks will fly by too, I'm sure.

I had a bit of a rough weekend. I was just feeling very lethargic and yucky. I'm not sure what was wrong, but I'm feeling better today. I made a trip to the store and stocked up on some frozen meals for days like that so that we don't waste even more money eating out. I am always so excited to make my menu and prepare it just as planned, but then I'm knocked down by something, and feel as though I can't even get out of bed. I need to prepare ahead for times like those, and have some of our homemade meals frozen ahead.

On Thursday, after going to the store, I was unloading the car of groceries, and a little pup came running into our yard. I don't know where he came from, but he can't be more than a couple months old. We took him and asked around the neighborhood if he belonged to anyone, and nobody has seen him. He was starving and covered in fleas, and ofcourse my children fell in love immediately. I told them that we'd have to keep our eyes on the lost and found ads in case he belonged to someone, but I'm pretty sure he was just a mut that ran off or was dumped. He looks like a part chihuahua, part something mix. He's got long legs like a greyhound or something. One thing I can say for him is he is smart. We took him in bathed and fed him, and let him stay in the house, and he hasn't had one potty accident. He listens to you when you talk to him, and we've already managed to teach him a few commands. I think he'll make a wonderful new member of our family.

Saturday, I went to several yard sales and spent about 10 dollars and came home with several good finds. Clothes for baby boy, cloth pull up pants for my youngest who is still wetting at night, and a few odds and ends.

Sunday, we went to church, and spent the rest of the day resting. I did spend about an hour after dinner making several different oatmeal mixes and some granola. I made some apple cinnamon oatmeal mix, smores oatmeal mix, fruit and cream oatmeal mix, maple raisin mix, and some peanut butter granola.

Today and the rest of the week look to be a regular week. Here's a look at today's to do's~

~Morning Routine

~Homeschool

~Daily Chores-

        -laundry-towels and sheets

        -weekly home blessing

        -zone work-kitchen

~Afternoon Routine

~Call vet

~Call and make car payment

~Work on wool diaper cover for baby boy

~Before Bed Routine

And that's a look at our day. I pray your day is especially blessed!

sara

Blessed Wednesday

After a taste of Hurricane Gustav last night, heavy rainfall, wind, etc, Oklahoma is experiencing a major cool down today. Our highs of 95-100 are no more, at least for today. Today's high was 73 and windy. I nearly needed a sweater. How I love the cool down that fall brings, but unfortunately for me, every time a change of seasons comes around, I end up getting sick. I'm feeling it  come on slowly, sore throat, constant sneezing, and an irritating headache. But I am one of the fortunate ones that sickness generally does not linger long. Praise God for that!

So, how has your day been? Ours has been full and tiring. After another productive day yesterday, today we all went to the dentist, well, all being myself, my oldest son, and my middle daughter. It was cleaning time and I have got a tooth that's becoming increasingly sore. Shame on me for not taking better care of my teeth. The kids passed with flying colors, however I didn't, so I'll be back in the dentist chair before long.

The rest of the day held school, cleaning chores, and now, I'm settling down to do some desk work...balancing checkbook, bills, menus and shopping lists. My beloved husband, apparently saw the look of exhaustion on my face and offered to take the children with him to deposit his check and said he would pick up a couple of the Little Ceasar $5 pizzas for dinner. I knew I married him for a reason. lol. So I'm getting to enjoy a little peace and quiet and I praise God for that too.

On my menu this week, and for the next many weeks, I'm going to include at least one meal a week that I make extras of to freeze. Being that this baby is due not many weeks before the Christmas holiday, I feel an urgency to prepare as much ahead as I can, that includes meals, and gifts, which for us is usually handmade of special baked gifts. So I'll be sharing that in the next few days as well.

Well, back to desk work and preparing for dinner to be delivered. Have a blessed evening!

Sara

Blessed Tuesday

What a productive day yesterday turned out to be. Just when I thought I couldn't get any more done, after we got home from my parents, my beloved decided to help me get those last few things done on my list, like mopping the kitchen and bathrooms, and getting all the trash out. I was so thankful.

I'm praying today turns out to be just as productive. It felt so good to go to bed last night, knowing that all my to do's on my list got finished, and all my dishes were done. That just doesn't happen for me very often. But getting it all done yesterday was very encouraging, and made me want to work towards that every day. I was able to go to bed knowing...my children were all safely in their beds, my house was not immaculate but I got all my goals completed for the day, and fell asleep after reading a chapter in my Bible and a chapter from another favorite book, instead of going to bed with anxiety and discouragement from not getting everything done. What a blessed day!

Today holds all the daily tasks that a Tuesday could hold. For me, that is...

~Keep up with daily routines and kitchen tasks

~Wash all the dark laundry

~Work on sewing and handwork, which for today means finishing up the toy net for one of the girls, and working on cleaning up my sewing area.

~Homeschool

~Work in this week's zone (living/dining room)

And Lord willing that will be all for us today. Tuesday is usually an easy going day for us. I am working diligently this week on not only keeping up with daily routines, but also weekly ones. For instance, Sunday is a church and rest day, Monday is a deep cleaning day, Tuesday is a free day or sewing day, Wednesday is a desk day, Thursday is an errand day, Friday is our finish up day, where we finish up the miscellaneous tasks of the week, and Saturday is a family day.

I also have a laundry schedule I try to keep up with that goes something like this:

Monday-towels and sheets(This may seem gross to some, but I alternate washing sheets during the month unless I think they need them sooner. So the first Monday of the month is hubby and my sheets, then second week is girl's room sheets, and third week is boy's sheets. It works well for us that way.) I also wash any fabric I'm going to be needing to sew for the week.

Tuesday-Darks

Wednesday-Denim

Thursday-Lights

Friday-Whites

Usually I have only one load per day except usually on Mondays and Tuesdays. When I have a little one in cloth diapers, I usually wash them on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, or as needed.

Well, better get off of here and get to work. Do you all have special weekly routines or laundry routines, or do you usually just take care of things as they need them? Have a blessed Tuesday!

Sara

Happy Labor Day

First a little Labor Day History from Wikepedia.

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens".

Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.^[1] All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s.^{[citation needed]} The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, as of late, schools have begun well before Labor Day, as early as July 24th in many urban districts, including major southern cities in the United States such as Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles. In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the season for the National Football League and NCAA College Football. The NCAA usually plays their first games the week before Labor day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.

Now most of you can't say you didn't learn something on Labor Day.

Today we have been working around the home doing the usual cleaning and housework. So far, here's what I've gotten done:

~Washed our comforter, sheets, and a load of towels.

~Hung comforter out on my temporary clothesline

~Made a crockpot of baked beans

~Made some homemade coleslaw

~Wiped down all the glass and mirrors in the house

~Deep cleaned the kitchen

~Did some general straightening up around the house

Still left to do:

~Sweep, Mop, and vaccum all floors in the house

~Take all the trash out

~Straighten and organize school stuff to get ready to get back to work tomorrow

~Go to my parent's house for Labor day cookout dinner

And after we have dinner, we'll just be coming home, taking baths, and heading to bed and getting ready for the rest of the week. I pray your Labor day holiday is a blessed one!

Sara

Friday at Home

Well my cleaning marathon has been a flop. I headed in full speed ahead, but my children, both in the womb and outside of it have kept me from getting as much done as I had hoped to. The weekend is not over yet, however and I intend to do as much as I can today, and the children will be visiting their nana and papa's house tomorrow so that hubby and I can get a bunch of things done together. I'm very thankful for a younger sister that loves playing with my kids and regularly asks if they can come over, as do my parents.

So anyways, we are at home today, and I am fixing to get in the shower and then set to work on whatever I can do around here and get dinner in the crockpot. I'm considering doing a flylady crisis cleaning session today and then work on some major jobs done tomorrow. Well, I'm out of here for now! Have a blessed day!

Sara

Coffee: Drip or Percolater

I am not an avid coffee drinker, but have started this week drinking it to help stave off my cravings for dr. pepper. I figure one cup of coffee per day is a lot better then "x" number cups of soda pop. And all the carbonation is keeping me bloated. Yuck! Not to mention the cost factor.

Anyways, I drink coffee on occasion, but have started this week drinking a cup every morning. I have always used a plain ole sunbeam drip coffee machine, but I was recently blessed with a corningware percolater in very good condition. I made some coffee yesterday with it, and it was wonderful. I made a pot in my sunbeam this morning, and I couldn't believe the difference. An actual taste difference. I used the exact same amount of water and coffee in both, but the difference in taste amazed me. 

The sunbeams coffee was good, and I always thought that the bitter taste was a normal part of drinking coffee, but after having it with the percolater, there was no bitterness at all. It was so good! The only problem I have with it is I'm used to getting up and having my coffee all ready and just pouring me a cup, but with the percolater, I have to wait at least 15 minutes to pour me a cup, I know, trivial, but I guess good things are worth the wait. So how do you make your coffee? 

Tuesday at Home

I'm up bright and early this morning. I made a committment to myself to get up and stay up. My hubby has to get up at 5am and get ready and to work by 6am. I had unfortunately settled into the habit of laying back down after getting him out the door, which always led me to a late start in the day. And I always felt behind, so I got my coffee pot set last night, set my alarm,and got up and have been up since five.

Yesterday felt like a productive day, I know I stayed busy all day. I didn't get all of my list done, but I did get a lot done. Today will be much of the same with a few different to do's added to my list. We will be going out to dinner tonight per hubby's parents request. They are leaving tomorrow and going back overseas and we will not see them for at least 6 months. So we're going out for pizza with them tonight. So on the list today....

~Keep up with daily routines

~Wash darks

~Work in this week's zone-family room-Today I'm going to work on the school area. Decluttering and organizing a bit.

~Take care of a couple of paperwork things.

~Work in playroom/sewing room. I have a goal to find my sewing desk and set my machine up so that I can get sewing again.

~Homeschooling

~Look over menu for the week and post menu here for accountability

Lord willing that will be all for me today. I'll update my list as I have time. Have a blessed day!

Sara

P.S. If you could,  please keep my in laws in prayer if you feel so led. They are catching a plane to head to their new post tomorrow, which just happens to be a country with a lot of controversy right now. They work for the gov't. Thanks so much.

Monday at Home

What a whirlwind weekend we had! It was so full and so fun. But now I'm glad to be getting back to our regularly scheduled program. I'm getting a bit of a late start to the day, but I decided to sit here and enjoy my coffee that I just perked on the stovetop and figure out my plans for today and the remainder of the week.

We will be returning to the eye doctor this week for a second check on my daughter's eyes. We went last week, and they did a check, but want to do one with her eyes dilated to make sure before they prescribe glasses which they're pretty sure she will need, at least for reading.

Wednesday, the in-laws will be returning back to overseas and that will also help us regain some structure. When they're here, we always seem to be going and doing something. So they'll go back home until sometime next year.

I have big plans for around the house. We're done remodeling for a while, so I will get all hubby's tools put up, and the messes cleaned up. I also really want to work on my cleaning and laundry routine. So for today, here's what I've got going on....

~Wash all towels and sheets

~Weekly home blessing hour

~Pack away all hubby's tools

~Work in this week's zone (the family room)

~School with kids

~Keep up with other daily schedules and routines

That will be all for me today. I'll update my list later on as I have time.

Have a blessed day!

sara

Daily Update: Today seemed very productive. It seems like I never stopped all day, but I still didn't get everything done on my list. But as they say tomorrow is another day, and I will get it done then.

Blessed Birthday

Friday was my birthday, and what a blessing it really was. It was my 28th. I spent the day doing my regular to do's, and even managed to go pick some beautiful fragrant flowers to set on the table. When hubby got home, he got busy fixing dinner for me with the help of the kids. And I'm not just talking sandwiches, he made a layered chicken enchilada baked dish with spanish rice. He also bought me a cheesecake and some candles. His gift was a beautiful new mat to sit in front of my kitchen sink, and a paula dean candle.

Then my parents came by, and my little brother had bought me a dozen roses, isn't that so sweet?!? He also got me a new nightgown and robe set, which I desperately needed. My mom made me a fall arrangement for my dining table. And another cheesecake. It was such a wonderful and special day for me and my family.

Blessings,

sara

End of the Week Update

I haven't had much time for blogging as of late...a good and bad thing. Good, because it means I've got my priorities straight, bad because I've missed writing about my daily goings on. I looked over several pages of my past blog entries and it was so much fun remembering back on those days. So I am going to be trying to make the time to come on here a bit more often and share my days and daily musings, but I don't want to get into the habit of being on here too much.

So back to my end of the week update. I've shared all the work we've been getting done since moving in, and I also shared already that we celebrated my son's 8th birthday this week. So what else has been going on? Not a whole lot really. My husband's parents are still here, but will be heading back to their post overseas within the next week or two. And hopefully things will get back to normal after they get back home. It's been fun while they've been here, but it always throws us off our norm.

We've started our official homeschool year, and have been working the kinks out of our routine and homeschooling the two oldest children. It's all going really well, and I'm so thankful to say that something has finally clicked with my son, and he is speeding through his lessons and doing so well. My daughter is very excited about school everyday, and can't wait to get started.

I'm still having some trouble getting up and going in the morning, and also following through with most of my daily schedule besides school. But it's slowly falling into place.

The pregnancy is going smoothly, all the test results have come back normal. I go back in about 3 1/2 weeks, and will do the diabetes test, and then will be going every 2 weeks. Time sure does fly. I have been having some awful stretching pains that all but cripple me any time I'm on my feet for more than 20 minutes or so. But other than that, all seems well.

I guess the big news for today is that it's my birthday. I'm 28 years old. The years go by too fast. So many things change in our lives daily. Even a year ago, my life was so different. I really don't feel any older than I did a few years ago. The plan for today is that my husband wants to cook for me, and I'll probably visit with my family. A perfect birthday in my eyes.

I'm going to be getting back to posting things, and hopefully be sharing some pictures. I have lots of plans and thoughts of things I want to share, and want to get done around our home, but that will wait for another day!

Have a blessed beyond measure day!

And He spoke

I did as I said, I went to my room and prayed to the Lord for help and for forgiveness, and with my eyes still shut, opened His Word and pointed at a passage, and the Lord spoke to me.

This is the passage He led me to...

"And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;  go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." Mark 5:34 (KJV)

Does that utterly amaze anyone else but me? I guess it shows my lack of faith, but I really needed this today, a renewal of sorts for me. I have felt my burdens were a plague, and in the last place I looked, I found the answer to my problems. Thank you Lord for freeing me, for helping me, for showing me the right way to go.

Blessings,

sara