Hickory Springs Farm

swim & gym

Swim and Gym was great! We all get use of hte facilities for $25 for 5 weeks (on Friday)! I wouldn't go more than once a week anyway and we'll take Feb off cuz of our vacation. Since Joey moved from red necklace (which is hte I still wear floaties and am contained to this one small area) to the yellow necklace (which must be the I can't swim, don't wear floaties but will let you know if I"m drowning stage), I can leave him. The lifeguard today was VERy attentive and actually stood right by the area that JOey was in. This means that another mom and I can WALK in the gym while they swim! My boys really didn't get out of the pool (I didnt' figure they would) and it's totally contained. Plus another HS mom stays in the pool area. Mat's a green necklace (those are the only 3 colors) and has run of the pool.

After that we went to a store that I heard was closing. I was BUMMED to hear that! Well, I was REALLY bummed at the Y cuz I was told that it was already closed! I went anyway and it's not closed. Then to get Mat's crickets and then to the McDs. I ordered a med french vanilla capp like I always do and the total was outrageous! Turns out they have the new McCafe line. My sister warned me they were awful, but I tried them anyway. BLECH! I even sent an email to McDs!

So now we're home and Mat's friend is here and I'll put the chops and au gratin potatoes in the oven soon. His friend doesn't eat pork so we'll have supper after they are gone.

WAHOO!

Ok, worked out and balanced the checkbook and entered Mat's school for basically the rest of the year! WAHOO! HE'll be done w/math in a month and SHOULD be done w/LA nad history by the time we leave for FL!!!!!!!!

I need to get going tho. We're doing swim & gym for the next 5 Fridays. It's from 11-3 (but we won't get there until noon) and it's $25 for 30 days (how you get 5 Fridays). I think it'll be great this winter for them to do that AND there is a lifeguard and maybe 10 kids show up so I think I can walk in the gym while they swim!

Then one of Mat's friends is coming over while his mom goes to an appt (unbelievably a massage therapist about 3 miles from us!LOL).

This amazes me...

This is a Horse 10 days after conception...

After 85 days...



Here is the colt born...

Is God not amazing??? I thought some of y'all might enjoy this!!!

Taken from BarnBum

~Christian Country Mama~

Putting the T.V. on Trial

....and I'm going for the death penalty!  For many people, the television is of little consequence.  Everyone has one and the only source of discussion surrounding the t.v. is what program to watch.  This part of the "Why" series focuses on that box in the living room.  Are you ready? Please remember, these studies were written with my children in mind, why we live the way we do in our home and what I want them to understand. You are free to disagree with me, but please do so nicely!

First, let me define what I mean by "television".  I am *not* referring to pre-screened videos that you might use for education.  The tv in and of itself  is benign; it is what you watch on it that spreads a malignant cancer in the hearts and minds of young and old alike.  When I use the term "television or tv", I am specifically referring to the programming that comes in via, satellite, cable or antenna. 

It is also important for you to understand that I am not typing from a "holier-than-thou" position.  We have been from one end of the spectrum to the other on this issue - from a 42" plasma tv and satellite to no television at all and everywhere in between.  It is not my choice and not my decision to make. Were it mine, I would throw the tv and all it's components out the window, for at the very least, it is a colossal time waster.

So, let's get down to the the evidence - the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  Shall we?

The Bible says, " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: ..." Isaiah 1:18 (KJB)  Let's use the good reason and judgment that God's given us and see what we can learn from His Word about this subject.

1. The tv promotes a love for the world and worldly things.  This is completely contrary to what the Bible commands in 1 John 2:15  "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."   TV viewing encourages a love and even a lust for the world and all it has to offer.  Alcohol is portrayed in a way as to make our young people believe it's glamorous and gratifying to drink.  Yet, it doesn't show the broken and shattered lives as a result of drunk driving, illicit relations and the lack of self-control associated with alcohol.  Commercials constantly bombard our children with things they simply must have and produce discontentment and ungratefulness for the things they do have.  Even mom is forced to wonder how her husband can possibly be attracted to her when having to constantly be compared to the flawless perfection of actresses and super models and our young girls are forced at a young age to assume a warped view of what beauty really is.  It is very hard to not fall in love with the world when we are inundated with it in our living rooms!

                a.  Teach our children to speak kindly, refrain from cussing, not tell off-colored jokes,  not talk about things that aren't pleasing to the Lord, show respect for parents and authority and not backtalk  YET  sit them in front of shows that promote the very things we teach against?
      
                b.  Set a standard for dress that is modest and teach our children that it isn't right to show off one's body  YET  allow actors and actresses to parade around screen half naked, right in front of our children's eyes?  I've seen it first hand.  My darling daughters see a show where the woman is portrayed as oh-so-beautiful in her skirt  that barely covers her hind end and the next day, they're hiking their skirts up, donning high heels and prancing around the living room "pretending".  NO, they are TRAINING for what they want to be when they're old enough to make their own decisions and as parents we are setting a very confusing double standard.

             c.  Teach our children to avoid sin - lying, stealing, violence, fornication.  To love what God loves and hate what God hates  YET  allow them to view the very things we teach against?  No wonder our children grow up so confused.  They are pulled in two different directions and parents are providing the platform for the confusion.

Parents invite all manner of sin and debauchery into their living rooms via the television and wonder why their children are drawn to the world.  Ever heard the statement that "your walk talks louder than your talk talks."  Children have an uncanny way of knowing what you really believe, what you're really like, at the core.  And THAT is what they are going to follow. 

© 2007 Karen Owen


~Christian Country Mama~

clean house!

WAHOO! I got up and got laundry going, mopped and worked out. Then I dusted, cleaned the bathrooms and my sister called and I managed to vacuum while talking to her. We hadn't 'talked' in a while it seems since she hasn't felt well so that was nice.

I also booked two HS tours. I've done them both, but many others haven't and they are local and free.;) 

So all the laundry is done, Joey finished his Arthur book (I was glad cuz it's 1st-3rd grades and subtracting 3 digit numbers from 3 digit numbers w/carrying was a bit of a challenge those last couple of pages!LOL) and Mat's almost done w/school. They are both running around in their roller blades......I'm praying no one gets hurt!LOL

The whipping cream is good so sausage gravy and biscuits is slated for supper. I got several books at hte library yesterday and my secret sister gave me the biggest mug I've ever seen in my life, Swiss Miss milk chocolate hot chocolate, a giant chocolate sucker and a throw. Sounds like a nice way to read a book.;)

Wow it's been a while...

I was out of a computer from the end of Sept. I think it was and just got it back on Monday!  Boy did I sure miss it!!! I just LOVE Blogging!

We have moved, but Lord willing it is only temporary! We have no heat but these space heaters I bought, no stove and no hot water, they are all petroleum gas and the pipes are bad and need to be replaced!

I have no dryer so this is what my house looks like ALOT...

today that I thought our windows were going to cave in!!!

But I have found a cute little 3 bedroom on 8.3 acres for $75,000-$80,000 And we are praying that God will open the doors for us!!! And it would HAVE to be ALL from God, cause my ex has ruined my credit and I can get no loan. So if God wants the girls and I to get it He will provide, we want to open our home to be a foster home, especially to down syndrome and/or mentally challenged children. PLEASE pray for us, for God to give us the money for this small, but needed {and wanted} farm!!!

I would need a little extra, too, cause I want to expand it into another bedroom or two! There is a small bus here, I would like to purchase to drive all of us around, for $7,000. Plus I want to privacy fence ALOT of the land. Then some other kind of  fencing for the rest...Well actually if God would just provide enough for the purchase of the house, I would borrow on it to do the rest, that needs to be done! And God is SO good and SO VERY capable of providing it, IF He wants it to be done!

Now on to another note...I just realized the last time I posted was the day BEFORE I had Esther!!! WOW! Isn't that something?

Well here is a picture of her now,  at 3 months...
Well I am going to get off here, but I will post again soon and if I can get all who read this to help me pray about the house, I would be so grateful. Also we are starting revival Sunday at our Church. So please pray for souls to be saved and heart's to get right! I will post some pictures of it after our revival is done!

Good Night All,

~Christian Country Mama~

geocaching

OH OH OH! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! A good friend took us geocaching 1.5 years ago (YES THAT LONG SUZY!LOL) and we really liked it. Tonight DH brought home a handheld GPS unit (not to be confused w/the car units). Plus a dad is going to teach a geocaching unit int he HS coop so I REALLY can't wait! It's a great outdoor activity and I suppose I can just drive offroading in that new fangled vehicle I got vs. walking!ROTFL!

For those who don't know what geocaching is, you use this GPS unit to find specific sited based on longitude and latitude and find 'caches' that are hidden. You can swap trinkets or just trade. I need to get back in the lingo. I know our friends downloaded stuff straight to their GPS. I seriously doubt that I"m that smart!LOL

Give me liberty.........I guess

It's here and paid for. We took to town tonight and lived to tell the tale, too. (nice alliteration, wouldn't you say?LOL)

Today started off early. I was so tired that I skipped my workout. Knowing that I'd be roller skating later helped. I threw the roast and potatoes in the crock pot and took off. I managed not to forget anything either.;) We had our MOMS Christmas party and that was fun! Not much gift stealing, but lots of chat time. Then to skating, which went well. Then to Pizza Hut for the BookIts. I packed myself a protien bar and tried to get a cappucino at McDs and they have stopped carrying them in order to carry the McCafe line. It won't be in for 2 months!!!!!!!! So I got a coke after waiting all of htat time. Then to the PO to mail off some decoy mail. I hope they reimburse me. Actually I'd just like to see my spring and fall checks....

Then to library, where I had a nice time chatting. It can get political and not get ugly. Plus we talked about TEOFWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it). I think I"m going to convince to get a lifetime gun permit (don't ask me details--I just know how much it costs!LOL). And wind power--it's very big around here, but I"m a bit skeptical as to low wind turbines working well. So I"m curious to see how this will pan out for my neighbor (and fellow homeschooler).

Then home, where the Jeep ppl were waiting in my drive! They were early so I didn't feel badly. I got the van unloaded and did what needed to be done for that and DH test drove it and signed the papers. I'm on this title. I refused to be on Stupider's title. And, no, it's not a big deal cuz I"ll inherit all of DH's stuff anyway!LOL It was just the principle!LOL

Then Mat offered to let us 'test' the liberty and go to town adn return his airhog. Thankfully they took it back w/o question. I'm hoping to convince him not to buy another one, but we'll see. I did however find inline skates on clearance! Too bad we just skated today! I wouldn't have thought anything of them, but another HS told me that she got ones that adjust 4 sizes! I found 1-4 and 4-7 in BLUE (heaven forbid the boys use pink or purple!LOL)! Mat may not be able to wear his long, but *I"LL* be able to use them inbetween! Joey's in a 1 so he's good for a long time. Mat's in a 6. BUT Mat threw a fit the one time he rented inlines and went back to regular. So I told him that IF we keep these (he wants to) he WILL use them or pay me skate rent (and I"ll use the inlines--which should be a hoot since I can barely stay up on regular skates!LOL I can ice skate tho and they say that they are like ice skates). So I think we'll keep them either way. Joey's young enuf that can switch to inlines easily. Mat's been on regular skates since he was 3 and skated weekly. They were $30/each, which sounds steep, but given the adjustable part AND that inlines rent for $3, it'll save money in about a year.

Then home to the roast potatoes and carrots. YUMMY!  cheated and used a crock pot liner since I knew I'd feel like chopped liver by the time we were done.

And tomorrow is cleaning the entire house. Fun fun.;)

Happy Epiphany!

We are having a low key Epiphany. I forced myself out of bed at 7:55. I really, really wish DH would come to bed at a reasonable hour since I can't get to sleep if he's not there. But he's got a huge round of meetings this week that he's prepping for. And at least he can prep at home and doesn't have to be in the office. So between less sleep and the weather front, my head was killing me. I did the interval workout and folded laundry and got together everything else I needed from the basement and brought all of that up. I need to make cranberry fruit salad for tomorrow MOMS group since we are having our Christmas party.

I did however manage to help Joey get school done and THE TREE IS DOWN! All boxed up and ready for DH to haul to the garage.  So I've vacuumed and the furniture is moved.

And I just checked my Vera bag status--it went from Ft Wayne to Indy to Vandalia OH!ROTFL! But it's still showing today as a delivery day so we'll see. I JUST GOT IT!!!!!!!!!! It's perfect!

And DH just called. The liberty is fixed and running fine. They'll bring it over tomorrow afternoon. He won't be home until late tonight so after hearing another lady talk about them, we're having nachos for supper. It's nothing DH would ever eat and I have the stuff to make it and the chips need to be used anyway.

Joey's all geeked about All Bran crackers and hummus for lunch. He was singing some song he made up about it. I was ROLLING!

Ok, OFF TO SHOWER!!!!!!!!!

What we ate for dinner last night

Beef & Cabbage Pot

1 medium head cabbage (cored & sliced about 1/4 inch)

1 lb ground beef

1 onion

1/2 stick real butter

3 cloves chopped garlic

3 T. taco seasoning

3-4 T. chopped cilantro

tad of olive oil

salt & pepper

juice of 1 lemon

Put a little olive oil in stock pot.  Add beef & onion.  (My beef is not fatty so I did not drain. If you have fatty meat, omit the olive oil & then drain some of the fat off before proceeding)  Add the butter, cabbage, garlic, taco seasoning & salt & pepper.  Stir and cover.  Stir & then recover until cabbage is cooked to your desired consistancy. (It took about 15 minutes here)  Then add cilantro & stir again.   Sprinkle lemon juice on top.

Serve. 

We had this with some sesame flourless toast & it was great!