The Land is Calling

sick

Some in our family are not feeling well. My honey has had a bad tummy for 2 days now. My 5 year old sounds like he has a cold, but with his asthma that always scares me. I am watching him closely. The rest of us are feeling well and healthy. I am really desiring the rest of us to stay healthy.

The  house is coming together. I have done the last 2 remaining rooms the homeschool room and our closet. So now I just need to hang pictures and put them around. We are down to just the small things. Sometimes the small things are the hardest to get done.

Anyway, tomorrow we have paintball. I don't know if we have anything going on tomorrow night. Sunday is church and resting. That is it.

Bye and Blessings,

Andrea

It's chilly

I am a bit chilly as I type this. It got cold last night down to 32 degrees, that is cold. This morning I walked the dog @ 6:45 and everything was covered with frost. It was really beautiful.

We had to run to the Dr for my 5 yr old. He had gotten something stuck in his eye the other day and scratched his cornea. The Dr said his eye is healing nicely. The eye is an amazing organizim.

After the Dr we had a picnic. It was awesome outside, still chilly, but alot warmer. The sky is BEAUTIFUL! The sun is out and the leaves are beginning to change. We had such a nice time, the kids and I. Then we had a race and played tag. The kids wore me out and I got to cold. So I came inside, now everyone is in. Everyones hand got cold.

It has been a nice day. Now I need to go organize my closet. We are still moving in and I need to get everything set up. I am taking my time.

Blessings,

Andrea

This weekend

My in laws where here this weekend. What a big help they were. My honey and FIL did a bunch of electrical work around the house. The wireing in the house is all messed up. So they fixed a bunch of the problems, put some lights in that we did not have. They also gave me some more electrical outlets. There was a bathroom that had no outlets, strange huh?

Anyway, it was productive. I still have tons to do. The house is not unpacked, but getting there. I have a ton of trash to bring to the dump tomorrow. I will feel better getting the boxes out of the house.

Some really neat country things. We see deer everyday. We had 5 bucks in the backyard yesterday. We always have deer walking through the front yard, it is just really cool. We also have a ton of turkeys. We had @ 12 out there the other day. So it is just fun to have that right outside the door. Also the sky is brighter, the most beautiful blue. I love the sound outside. The quiet, the sound of the leaves rustleing. The smell of the clean air. I love taking walks on the property and all there is to explore. I am looking forward to landscaping some, a very little right now, but still excited.

My daughter bought some tulip bulbs. She is very excited to plant them. We are deciding on the best spot for them. I love that she is going to be able to help plant this year and that she is interested in growing something.

Well, that is it for tonight. I am TIRED. Tomorrow I have a big day of laundry and garbage, fun. I think I am going to have a picnic with the kids tomorrow. The front of the property is perfect for a picnic. We will see, I will let you know tomorrow.

Blessings,

Andrea

Moved

We are in our new home. We moved the 30th. It was a really easy moving day, I really was ready. I had already moved almost everything over to the new house except furniture. So we had @ 6 guys helping and they got the whole house loaded and on it's way in 1.5 hrs. They were completely done in 3 hrs.

Now, it is up to me to unpack. The house is a mess, there are boxs everywhere. Tonight we made some headway. One of the problems is that we moved to a much smaller home without the storage so we don't know what to do with some of our stuff. I have gotten rid of tons of stuff. I am neading to organize in the kitchen with Tupperware. I don't have good space in the kitchen. I think as we live here longer I will work with it and it will work for us. I am just needing to do some organizing.

I do love the land though. The kids have had a blast outside. We also got a dog. He is awesome. He is a Lab/ Border Collie mix and is the perfect dog. We got him from the pound for $35, and now we have the best dog ever. He is mild mannered and well behaved. He is also almost housebroken. He has only had 2 accidents and it was mostly my fault because I didn't notice him telling me he needed to go out. So we love him and I think he loves us too, at least he loves me (hee hee).

I will have to figure out how to do the picture thing and then show everyone our new doggy.

Hopefully things will get cleaned up around the house and then I won't feel so upsidedown. I dont like unorganized. Well, off to bed. Talk later.

Blesings,

Andrea 

Moving day is looming

We have till Saturday to be completely out. I feel good and have gotten alot done already. Everything is out of bedrooms except dresser and beds. All the toys and stuff in a home is already over. All closets are emptied. The only thing, beside furniture to go over, is the kitchen. I will do that today.

I am hoping that I can just load up my car and make a couple trips. I feel like I have done alot of work and it is winding down. We have some people to help move the furniture on Saturday. Then I just need to clean and the carpets get cleaned that afternoon. I am hoping and praying it all goes smoothly. We just want to finish on a good note with our landlords.

So I am  off to a busy day and weekend. See you soon.

Blessings,

Andrea

Beautiful day

It is soooo beautiful outside today. The sky is bright blue. Some of the tree's are starting to turn and it is a wonderful cool temp. One of those days you can open all your windows up and enjoy the outside noises. I want to play today!!!

The sad part is there is no playing today, bummer. I am packing up the house today. I need to start getting the bathrooms and kitchen over to the new house. We took everything off the walls last night and all of the nicknacks are out of the rooms. So I am loading all of this stuff up and driving it over today. I am also needing to finish all of the shelf paper.

My fear is that I am going to find dead mice, since I put out bait. I sure hope not. I can deal with bugs and spiders, but mice just don't appeal to me. They scare me, the thought of one running at me or even a dead one just lieing there, Eww, yuck, gross.

So aside from that I think the day will go well. I am staying home this morning and getting some things done around here. I think after lunch I will go to the dollar store and get more shelf paper, then out to the new house. This evening we have Jr High youth group. So we will do sandwiches for dinner at the new house because it is only a mile away from the church. We won't be home till late. Moving does wear one out. I have been tired with all of the cleaning and packing. I will be glad when we are all moved and our old house is clean and vacated. Soon!!!

Blessings,

Andrea

Moving

Well, I am in the process of cleaning our new home. It is A MESS!!! It has been vacant for a long time and all that lives there right now are mice and spiders, Eww. So I set some bait out before we get there in hopes that all of the mice die NOW.

Yesterday I cleaned the whole upstairs. My friend came over and helped me. She spent 2 hrs in just one of the bathrooms. It really needed some care. I don't think these people ever cleaned. So now the house is smelling better and starting to shine.

Today I finished up in the kitchen. I put shelf liner in about 1/2 the cabinets, before I ran out. Then I went downstairs and got rid of all of the cobwebs. I found a mud dauber nest in my bedroom window track. It had a couple big alive ones and the rest were still forming baby ones. It was totally gross and I vacuumed it all up. They are now all inside my vacuum. Definitely the grossest part of the day.

I am tired but feel like I have gotten alot done. I still need to line more shelves and I want to clean some more and do the floors really well. Then I am starting to move over kitchen and bathroom stuff. I want to have everything moved except furniture on moving day. So I will stay busy this next week.

Off to grill some hamburgers and make a salad.

Blessings,

Andrea

buying and selling

Boy is there stress involved with the selling of a home. I truly just want everything to go smooth and have worried about it all just not going well at all. Please Lord just cover all of this. We should close on Friday, that would be that we no longer own a big, money sucking home in Indiana. PTL.

This also frees us up to go out to the country and start our simplified living plan. I am sooo excited. I am already planning for my garden next year and have looked into chickens. I think that is all I will start with for now.

I won't make to many plans until after the closing on Friday. I just don't want anything to go wrong. What  a burden will be lifted from us.

Today, we are just keeping the house, in case the landlords have any showings. We also have to go and sign and get notarized papers this afternoon. We have Jr. High youth group this evening and that is it. Kind of a full day. I don't know what I am doing for dinner, I think sandwiches. That seems simple and easy.

Blessings,

Andrea

MIA

Alright, I have been missing in action. Literally I have not sat still, so lots of action, just not lots of time to sit and type. We have been looking for a new home to move into. We also have been dealing with some very nasty landlords. So that makes for lots of fun.

We have found a wonderful home to move into. It is going to be a lease to own situation. We are very excited because it has 15 acres with it. The kids love it and can't wait to move. The woman that has lived there for over 40 yrs had lots of wonderful stories about her flourishing garden. It was really funny she told me to grow the garden  "Down in that there holler". I dont think anyone has ever said that to me before, especially since I am from Florida. Floridians would have said " Dude, like over there on that way flat spot, That would be a totally tubular place for a righteous garden". So I thought it was funny, holler!!!

Anyway our landlords dont want to let us out of our 6 mt to a year lease because they dont feel like this is really a permanant housing situation. They are making me crazy, a bank would look at this as permanant, but they wont. So they wont give us our $2150 deposit back and want another 1/2 mt rent. This is all really hard on us. I have really had to just cry out to the Lord and ask him to take care of us and not let me lose my mind. Also I have kept the house in perfect condition. It is move in clean right now. Nothing has been damaged.

I know that in the long run this move will be an amazing thing for our family. These are just obstacles and bumps in the road, expensive bumps. I am wanting to be a good testimony no matter what, but it sure is hard not to let my mind spill out of my mouth.

We are looking forward to adding some animals to our family. We are going to get 2 dogs immediatelly and want to build a chicken coop. We are also looking into having some goats. So I am in my information stage. I love learning about all of this and cant wait to actually be working my land.

You know when we first where looking at  moving to TN and simplifying it was only 9 mts ago. It took us 3.5 mts to move and we have been here just over 5 mts. We have steadily worked toward our goals. I am excited to see the fruit of all of this. So all in all we will have been here 10 mts by the time we get our land and home. Not bad! It has been a hard 5 mts, but I know this is where we are suppossed to be and I am glad to be living a simple life that is pleasing to the Lord. I am hoping to be able to bless others even more now because we are freed up in so many areas.

Blessings,

Andrea

dieting, and around the house

It is no fun to be on a diet, but it is good to be back on it for me. Today is day 3. I have done really well. I lost 50 lbs last year and then with the move and all of the stress and just not having the money to eat well I have put back on 28 lbs. yow!

I have felt yucky with that much back on. I also feel like I dont look as good and I cant fit into everything anymore. It is never fun when your pants are to tight.

So I broke down and started my diet again on Saturday. I am doing really well. The first day I was starving and cranky. The second I was tired and today I am fine. A little hungry, but I am attributing that to it being my time of the month and having some cravings. I can deal with it. The prize of being slimmer and more healthy is worth the bit of hunger pains I am feeling at the moment. I am hopefull that I will start to see something come off this week, that is always a great incentive and really hopefull that in 2 mts it will all be off.

Also, I am back to drinking my water. Oh, boy I have been missing that. I always think I am drinking enough until I start drinking what I am suppossed to and then boy I see how I was lacking.

So wish me luck!

alright, what is going on around the house. I cleaned everything today. I have also done laundry all day.So I feel like alot was accomplished and the house looks really nice.

We have had 2 of our friends move in with us for 2 wks, while they look for an apartment. So we have extra's in our home and that should be fun. My honey married them 2 yrs ago and we did their marriage counseling. It is nice to see how they are doing so well and really glad they are moving by us. My kids love them so now it is like we have some family around which is good.

Dinner has been in the crock pot all day. Pork chops cooking in cranberry sauce and I am making stuffing and green beans. Yummy, I love this meal and it smells really good all day. That could be where my cravings are coming from???

Tonight we sign my 9 yr old up for Cub scouts. He is super excited. Saturday they made rockets together and tonight at the kick off they are going to shot them off. So today and this evening has been a very full day.

God is still blessing and taking care of us in His very special way.

Blessings,

Andrea

little doggy

Tonight we found a little pug wandering in the street without a collar. He wasn't by any home so we pulled over and he came right up to us. He was panting heavily and looked like he needed some love. All of my kids immediately love him and we named him Banjo.

The bad thing is since we are renting right now we cant have an animal unless we want to pay $350 non refundable pet deposit, which I don't want to pay. So even though he was very cute and shouldn't be outside. A pug is definitely not an outside breed. We couldn't keep him.

It was sad and my older kids cried, they have tender hearts toward animals. I am praying that since we were in the country maybe he knew how to get back to his country home??? Who knows?

a new home

I just have to say this to someone. I dont know if we will get this but we have found a home that we really like. We actually think it could be a possibility but we want a deal. It is a bit of a mess. But hand me a mess and I can make it a gem, in time. My honey is the handiest man on earth and I am an interior designer so we like a fixer upper. The wonderful thing is it has almost 4 acres and it is a really big house. They are asking more than the home is worth and has been sitting for a really long time vacant. We got some Comps on the neighborhood and things are selling for a pretty penny but it is all homes that has been re done. So we are hoping that they will come off the price and possibly we could jump on it. I would love to live in the country.

After the last 4 months I really just need a project and the hopes of having a garden next year! That fills my heart with joy. I have been having a tired day, and know things will get better, they always do. It is just a dream, but you never know it may come true and I would be the owner of a wonderful mess. It would end up wonderful though. I can just tell, it has good bones.

Alright so I told you, I feel better now,

Blessings,

Andrea

Rambleings

I am still babysitting my neighbors little boys, one of them went back to school so he isn't here very long. I still have the 2yr old all day, but what a sweet boy he is. My kids have had fun with him so he isn't any trouble at all.

Yesterday was my oldest sons birthday. He turned 9! This is his last year as a single digit wow!

We had a nice little family party and some friends from IN where here to share in his day also. I was so thankful because the lord provided the finances for us to have a small party. It probablly blessed me more than him. It was a nice evening. We also rented the movie RV, it was funny. I try to imagine my family in an RV, I think it would be fun. The kids where actually like.."you could live in an RV, we should do that, can we buy one and live all around America?" That would be fun, could you imagine the price of gas though? Whoa that could be costly.

I also am trying to find a way to make money from my home. I haven't really found any good options yet. I listened in on a phone conference call today about a business. It is really just a multi level type, even though they said they were different than multi level. I am doing my babysitting and I also have an every Tues morning babysitting job now. My daughter will also get paid for it. She will really love to make some money every month.

I am yearning for things to get a little easier. For my honeys job to get rolling and bills to get paid on time again. I am anxious to be able to get debt behind us. It has been a hard few months and I am tired. I do know things will get easier, I am just hoping it will be soon.

I am resting in the Lord though because he has shown us His Mercy and Love on a daily basis. I am thankful for his provision, I am thankful for my family.

blessings,

Andrea

My man

It has been so nice to have some alone time with my honey. We have had fun together. Really we have just been able to enjoy each other, talk, laugh and be alone with no interuptions. I noticed we laugh alot together, I am glad that we still fun together. I really like him still after 12 years and am praying to like him even more in the next 12 yrs.

He is really liking his new job, which blesses me. I am praying that business will start and he can bring in some good money by next month. God is providing no matter what though. I do love my Lord.

Today we have friends coming in from out of state. We have never actually spent any time with them without our kids, so this should be fun. I also have my neighbors 2 little boys today. They are really sweet boys and I have enjoyed having them at the house. It is way to quiet without kids in the house.

I have a little bit of cleaning left. I need to make some beds and vaccuum, mop the floor downstairs. Other than that I am pretty much done. I do have to run to the grocery. I forgot 2 items when I went the other day, don't you hate it when you do that. I wouldn't go back for them except I need those 2 things for dinner tonight. Anyways, off to get my day underway.

Blessings,

Andrea

Thursday

Today I had a really nice day. I babysat the little boys across the street. I know my kids are away for the week and I babysit. It was really nice, they are sweet boys and we had a nice day. Besides I need the money, so it is a blessing that this came up.

We have guests coming to stay this weekend so I cleaned today. I washed sheets, dusted and went over the bathrooms. I still need to do the floors, I just cant seem to make myself do them. I think that will be tomorrows task along with a little ironing for my man.

It was kind of a quiet day at home. It was to hot to play outside so we were in and the boys were super good. I got alot done and then tonight I am planning a really nice, romantic meal for me and my honey. I have steak and corn some good bread and a salad. I am praying that we enjoy the time we have together tonight. Tomorrow our guests come over and then Sat. the kids are home. So tonight is our last night alone, it went really fast. You know the thing is after all of these years I still really love my husband, more today than in the beginning.

By the way he is really enjoying his new job. He said his new boss is a super nice guy and really easy to get along with. They compliment each other and work well together. That is a good thing. He is in learning mode right now, just learning all the new info that comes with a new job, yet he thinks it will be a really good fit for him. That blesses me and him. I am praying for God to bless him in his job also.

Off to make myself beautiful before my man gets home and our romantic night begins...hee hee.

Blessings,

Andrea

My day

Today my honey starts his new job. He was excited this morning and I am praying that it will be a really good move for us.

Now my day is going to be quieter than normal. All of our kids are visiting my in laws in Indiana this week. So I am alone today. It is really quiet in the house. Yesterday my honey and I had a day together which was wonderful. Today I have an alone day and then Thur and Fri I am babysitting my neighbors kids for her. It sounds odd to not have your own kids and babysit someone elses but first we need the money and second they are in a real pickle and need the help. I don't want her to have to put the baby in day care when he could stay with me.

So this week I am packing up my homeschool things from last year and pulling out some things for next year. I am hoping to get a little organized with school things. We are also getting a desk, so I need to rearrange my school room a bit.

Today I will go to the grocery store by myself. It will be weird to shop for just 2 of us. I don't know if I know how to do that anymore??? I am hoping to have some yummy, romantic meals for us this week. I really want our alone time to be special. This is the first time in 2 yrs we have had time alone. I really love being with my WHOLE family so it doesn't really bother me, and I really miss my kids something awful. Even now I am instant messaging with them. But, I do want to take this time and enjoy my man. Who know we might not get to do this again for another 2 yrs. So I am off to do some romantic planning for the week.

Have a blessed day,

Andrea

New Beginnings

Hi,

I feel like we are possibly going into a season of Spring. This is a wonderful feeling. Things have been in a cold, wintery state here for awhile, figuratively. It is 100 degrees outside in real life.

So my honey did accept the  job offer he was given. It is going to be a good job. It will also give him some more time in this industry which is a good thing. I am praying it is the best job for him. He will start next Wednesday.

I also feel like I have had an overhaul done in my heart. This is also a good thing. It is always good to learn and grow and then come out wanting to be the best you can be. I feel like this is a Spring season spiritually for me.

Next thing is a new school year is looming ahead. We hopefully will start the beginning of September. We will see, it depends on when I can order our school stuff. I am hoping within the next few weeks.

I know the Lord knows our needs and has continually taken care of us. We have also started the Dave Ramsey's financial Peace University courses. They are a wealth (excuse the pun) of knowledge. I think this will help us manage money better and plan for the future...spring time financially.

So always after winter comes spring. No matter how long it is I guess it is good to look forward to the Spring. I feel it coming, it isn't quite here yet, but it will be soon.

Blessings,

Andrea

Decisions

Today my honey gets his final offer and compensation plan from the job he interviewed with last week. Now to complicate matters, Citi Financial, who my honey has always wanted to work for interviewed him this morning. He has had 3 interviews with them. They said that within 1 week they should give him a final interview and then if he makes the cut they will hand out jobs. So he is thinking that we have to give them a week.

Even though the one job is good. The Citi job would be the BEST. It is so scary to wait though when you are in need of pay. I am praying that the Lord would surround us and Bless us. That no matter what job, it would be a good job for our family. I was set on today being his last day at the job that to wait another week seems like an eternity. I don't want us to make a decision based on fear though, so wait we will do. I am so thankful that the Lord has carried us through this time. It has been so difficult. Yet our hearts have changed for the better.]

I would appriciate your prayers for wisdom in this decision. I don't want to settle, but want God's best and if waiting is best then that is what I want. I am hoping that they will actually know before the week is up hee hee.

Blessings,

Andrea

Praise Praise Praise

It appears my honey has a new job. Praise be the Lord!!! He went in and they talked money, the boss hadn't figured out exactly what he wanted to do yet. He presented 2 different compensation plans and my honey said they were both wonderful. Also they have fabulous insurance: medical, dental and vision. I can't tell you the last time we had dental and vision and even good medical. It made me cry when my honey was telling me about it. They are suppossed to finalize everything on Monday and he should start on Tuesday. I am praying all goes accoriding to plan.

He also got a call from the company he has always wanted to work for. They have interviewed 3 times, this is a big company. He thought that he was done with them because it has taken a long time to get back with him. Anyway, the hiring manager called today and wants to talk with him Monday at 8 am. My honey said unless they are prepared to offer him something right now he is going to take the other job, but would still love to work for the other company too. Isn't that like God, He blesses in abundance. So now I am praying for the right job. I think either will be a good, solid career move.

I am also just excited about being able to pay our bills, yippe!!!

I went over to his office today and helped him pack up a little, then we ran to Target. He is now looking for Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University workbooks. We have the DVD series and need the workbook. I really want to be wise with our money from now on. You know even though we made enough to live and pay our bills. We should have been paying off credit and building a savings. So I am hoping that we learn from this and never have to go through this again.

Blessings and thank you for all of the prayers,

Andrea

Thursday

Today is the day my honey will hopefully get his new job. His meeting is at 2:00. It all seems to be going well, but I won't be really calm until I know he starts working there. Please continue to pray.

On the homefront today. We had our daughter spend the night out last night so she is not home today and we had my sons friend stay at our house so I have 1 more boy. This is a grand total of 4 boys. Boys are really LOUD. I found that out very early this morning. I guess it is just that they all are extra excited with someone new in the house.

I would like to bake bread today, but I need to go to the store first. I also need to dust upstairs and vacuum. One load of towels should do it for laundry. Then just general everyday straightening should keep the house nice.

Tonight for dinner is marinated chicken with black beans and yellow rice. Yummy!

Blessings,

Andrea