Homestead Haven Beginnings

Video Seminar on how the new CPSIA Law will effect children's products.

 There is a lot of people confused about the "new" CPSIA law that was passed last Aug.  Until the last few months most people had not heard of it at all. 

A blah of a start

Well this new year has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start . . . .  Not that I had any wonderful stupendous plans but hey, for a lack of a better word:
Blah.
My Bah Humbug isn’t for Christmas it’s for the New Year.
It didn’t start with a bang but more of a wheeze- the whoosh of that last bit of air going out of my sails.
Pffffftttt.
So I sit here thinking perhaps I should postpone New Years until February. Just skip the whole month of January . . . . .
Lovely thought.
Not reality but still . . . .
This isn’t how I wanted things to start off . . . .
‘Course how we ended 2008 wasn’t exactly according to my grand plan either . . . .
Ah well.
You know what they say- God laughs when we make plans.
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
So, I guess it was the Lord’s determining how these things are progressing rather than my own.
And that is, of course, for the best.
I am determined not to let the joy suckers of my life suck me dry.
My joy comes from the Lord and He never runs dry.
So what’s a girl to do?
Well for starters- I need to finish putting away Christmas. I love putting it all up but I simply dread taking it all down. Even more so this year.
And: Start boxing up some old youth ministry books and making room on the shelves. I’ve got two bookcases full of youth ministry books here at my home office and I know I won’t be using it all in the next 4 months—so its going to get boxed up and stored in the youth room @ church. I’m pretty sure this will make me feel a bit better.
I don’t like clutter- I like order and to see space between things.
Perhaps it will all feel like more of reality if things start “going away”.
Know something funny?
I’m thinking up and writing some great youth lessons right now- I haven’t been this “on” in a long time. Probably comes from the freedom of knowing . . . .
Last week I took my paper shredder in . . . . . I proclaimed it Good Riddance Day and had the youth fill out a paper with all the things they hated/disliked about 2008. All the hurts and pains etc. I had them write it all down- give it over to God and shred it! Say: Good Riddance to bad rubbish!
I then handed out papers that said “HOPE” and “Shine in 2009”. We read verses about our real hope being found only in Jesus and in maintaining a relationship with him and then each youth wrote at least one thing they hope for in 2009- not an item like a new snowboard or car but something they need- something they need to hope in. I.E: I hope to get along better with my family. I hope to spend more time in the Bible. I hope to keep up my grades. Stuff like that.
It was an excellent study. One we all could do . . . . .
Do you have some things about 2008 you would like to say “Good Riddance” to? Why don’t you do it- if you don’t have a shredder- how about just setting the paper on fire?

It seems I am beginning to find my way again and blaze a trail . . . .
I must say it is a bit more than a trifle exciting!

Well ....

Who wants to know how my appointment went? *smile*

Pretty well, actually. I was fairly certain the baby had dropped, at least a tiny little bit. But I measured 2-3cm under what I could have, so . . . the baby is either engaged or really really close to engaged!

Hey, that's a move in the right direction. Down = out, at least eventually!

This baby is pretty low now. Not so low that I feel like labor is about to begin, but definatly lower.

It's just a matter of time, it seems. Of course, I knew that before! But it's so nice to hear something encouraging.

Oh, the other exciting news? My midwife's new assitant is basically a midwife. She hasn't sat for her test yet. I think it's a few thousand to do so (?) - so I understand. She wants more experience, so she is working with my midwife for a while. All that is great, but the best part is, she lives right outside my town! So she is super close and a pretty qualified "assistant" if you ask me.

That's about all I have for the moment. I get so happy this time Friday afternoons; my Jay will call me in just a few hours and say "The weekend has begun!"

Yippee!

~Ashley~

Just a brief hello

     Much has happened since the last time I blogged.

     David's mom passed away five days after Christmas and we had a very nice funeral last Saturday. She was only 72 and had a variety of illness that she had been dealing with, but we didn't anticipate her death so soon. What a comfort to know that God doesn't make mistakes.

     We have also had the first real Montana winter in 20 years, making me very thankful for 4 wheel drive just to drive around town.

     I need to get the library opened, but I wanted to say hello. I will compose a longer blog soon.

                                                           Denise (prairiemom)

Learn To Hand Sew - A Basic Running Stitch

Basic Running Stitch

Secured Knot & Tie Off

With the economy the way it is, I wanted to re-teach myself hand-sewn stitching so I am able to mend clothes. 

Doug has a hole in the pocket of his coat and the pocket of his scrub pants.  Instead of throwing them away, I'd like to learn to mend so that we can save money and get the most out of each piece of clothing we have.  What more inspiration did I need, than to be able to extend the life of the clothes my husband needs while also watching every expense we have that he works for.

Granted there ARE some area's we need to work on concerning cutting back, but I think we are on our way.

Walk with me as I Re-learn the stitches my mom once taught me as a child.  Feel Free to share your thoughts on Mending as we go.

Blessings to Everyone!

A Lamp Unto My Feet

" Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. "

                          ~ Psalm 119:105 ~

  I recently purchased this lovely Bible at a local Christian book store. Isn't it lovely? It looks old but it isn't. 

God's word has become very near & dear to me. It has seen me thru many a storm and many a tearful moment. In it's pages are words of hope, words of comfort and beautiful promises from our Lord.  Truly the Word of God lights my path and is a lamp unto my feet. Like water to a parched soul, and bread to a hungry heart is God's word.  

May we all treasure up the Word of God and hide it in our hearts,

~ gloria ~

Christmas

We had a really nice Christmas.  My friend Hope made me a wreath and gave it to me the Sunday before Christmas:

Santa came to Emily's classroom a few days before Christmas:

On Christmas Eve, we went to Dave's sister's house to celebrate with his family.  The kids got to exchange gifts and play, and they all had a blast.  Dave's mom wanted a picture of all of her grandkids together, so we thought it would be funny to hand them all a beer or a wine cooler.  LOL

When we got home on Christmas Eve, the kids had pajamas to open so they could wear them for Santa:

Christmas morning, we opened our gifts and then Dave's mom came over to see what the kids got and give them more gifts.  Then we went to my mom and dad's house to open more gifts and eat.  It was a good day.  Here is the mother's ring Dave got me:

Cameron and his PSP, which is the only thing he really wanted:

Emily holding her Cabbage Patch Kid, sitting in her new chair:

Christmas cookies

My friend Patty asked me to make her some chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies, but she said she would have to pay me later.  I gave them to her for Christmas!  Here are her chocolate chip cookies:

And her sugar cookies:

These are the chocolate chip cookies I made for my family:

And the peanut blossoms:

And the spritz cookies:

The buckeye balls I made--they are Dave's favorite candy.  Cameron calls them "buck eyeballs"

Yes, I did make sugar cookies for us.  Here are the kids decorating them:

Save Money TODAY!

We utilize each January as a major checkpoint in our budget review. During this month I challenge myself in ways that are not typical of the rest of the year. None of us are going to be frugal about every purchase (or lack thereof) every day of the year, but checkpoints help to keep our budget in line. This week I posted about shopping smart while scooping up after Christmas sales. Today I offer you a challenge that will allow you to begin saving money TODAY!

Read More...

Pics, pics, pics!

No, haven't been to the midwife yet. So no news. Of course, there might not be any after I see her, anyways. So don't be holding your breath.

I find myself trying to get back into a ready-to-meet-my-baby mindset. Remind myself it *will* happen one of these days. Frankly, I don't feel too bad. Outside of my soaring weight gain, the baby feels safe and protected tucked away inside. Ya'll mind if I just carry this one forever? I need to know RIGHT NOW who will be upset a me for a February baby.

Just kidding. You don't have to admit to it.

Me, taken today. I'm approximately 38w and 2 days.

See, I had to show you that picture first, so you can tell I'm not the shapless blob I appear to be in this pic:

Then Samuel got snappy with the camera.

Not terrible, huh? I call the next picture my Yellow Boys. For some reason, J is just incredibly photogentic with the boys. Always. And the boys are always so annoyed to pose with Mommy. And then I wind up looking like a Blob.

Life. is. not. fair!!!!

Check out these pictures of them playing. There are three boys per pic, promise! Can you find them all?

From the other night. I just adore Samuel's orange pants. They are just so COOL! He doesn't. He cries when we put them on. Oh, well. Maybe they will grow on him? Hahahaha!

Another by Samuel, the photographer:

And then one from the other day when they were all reading. I like pictures of the three of them reading. Elijah has really started to get into books!

And then ....

That's where Samuel drew a line under a "T" and made it an "I". The stinker likes letters and numbers. He knows the difference between a 'W' and a 'M' and what a 'S' is and 'A' and 'H' and all kinds of other letters and numbers . . . he's not yet three years old. I certainly never expected him to learn such things. Below the "T" turned into an "I" is his completely freelance "I". I'm just . . . wow. Proud, I guess?

Well, this is all I have for the moment. If I were to randomly have the baby this afternoon, I will try to let everyone know ... in the meantime, I'm going to go clean my house. Some more, yes. I hope I'm nesting, dear readers, but I feel too good for that I fear! So don't get your hopes up!

~Ashley~