Stephanie

You are so right about developing routines and sticking to the familiar. I read an article a while back about time management and how much you would save by sticking to routines. Being able to do things without having to process a great deal of thought can be a life saver when your brain is filled up with the 'situation' at hand.

Your enthusiasm is contagious! You go girl!! I'm right behind you!!!

We knew that this year we were going to have to buy some dirt. I don't mean the bags of dirt which we've bought so much ofin the last three years, but dirt by the pickup truck loads. This Alabama Red Clay has been an aggravation each year as we've attempted to garden with it. This morning dh went to a gravel/soil business that opened up recently to get the prices and see what was available. The man who owns it says, "You came at the right time, you see that dirt over there, it's in my way and I'll give you as much as you want for free." He explained just how to use this free dirt to achieve the perfect mix. So, my dh and two oldest bags have just finished unloading their second load of dirt, it was still a bit wet and heavy. Their backs are aching but their faces are smiling. After all, they hit 'pay dirt'. It is always such an encouragement when you're really trying and doing your best, to catch a break. Countless times this type of thing happens to us. Being at the right place at the right time. I don't believe in coincidences, as I know full well that I have a Divine Orchestrator in my life. Thinking upon the many instances where we have experienced the blessings of God, both large and small, I am reminded of this passage in Deuteronomy 28. Blessings for Obedience "If you fully obey the Lord your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields. You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks. You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread. You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going."

Samanatha, I'm so glad you're starting your blog. No sense in worrying about what you didn't do last month, the important thing is that you're getting on track this month! Did you find your binder?

Yes I have, but it has been years and years ago. That is an amazing story. Thanks for the reminder.

That is a great analogy C4C!! Wonderful!! I'm going to apply that to some things I've been holding on to and should let go of. Thanks for the inspiration!

What have I gotten myself into? My boys talked me into entering a Chili Cook Off at our Church. I've never been in any kind of cooking contest, I'm just a momma cooking for a bunch of kiddos. Anyway, the same man has won for the four years that they've done this. This is our first year at the church so we're newcomers. I guess I must be more competitive than I realized because I kept thinking about what I could do to 'stand out'. And then I came up with a really cool idea! I'm going to make my White Chili!! I may not win, but it will be noticed. So Saturday I'll be stewing chicken breasts and cooking up some Navy beans, gathering the green chiles and sourcream. I'll be sure to let y'all know how it goes, but I'm still wondering what I got myself into!

I love making a list and checking it off as accomplished! Helps to encourage me to keep moving!

My blood sugar is going up just reading the recipe and remembering the yummy Krispy Kremes!

Those look like some seriuosly good knives. I just use a mish-mesh of knives and don't really have a good set at all. Be sure to let us know what you think of them.

I'll be praying for the test to go well. Be sure to let us know how it all turns out. (((WG)))

I am the proud owner of a CZ 75 B 9mm LUGAR. Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it myself! There are some of you saying Wow! and Kewl! There are some of you saying Huh? and What? As for me, I'm saying If you'd like to know what in the world I'm so excited about, Czech it out!! http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=29 So, why in the world would I want such a thing, some of you may be asking? So, why in the world would you wait so long to get one others are asking? As for me, I'm saying MrsSurvival has a way of changing a person. You come in here looking for a canning recipe or how to store your dried beans and before you know it...you're investigating the best laying hens and trying to figure out the best goat milking methods...later still, you find yourself counting down the days until the weekend when you can strap on your new pistol and do a little target shooting. I'm just saying.

She did have a wonderful day! One of her younger sisters and brothers came to her party and my mom made her very favorite Sour Cream Coconut Cake (drolling thinking of it) and it was a great day. When I spoke to her on the phone she was about worn out but worn out from fun and visiting and a good time!

Today my Precious Grandma DeMoss is celebrating her 89th birthday!! I so wish that I was there to hold her in my arms and look her in the eyes and try to convey what words could never say...how much she means to me, how much I love her, how much I appreciate her. Grandma is an amazing person and a Godly woman. The influence that she has had on my life and the lives of so many others is without measure. She was the oldest girl of a very large family and was a Daddy's girl and a devoted daughter to a frail mother who suffered from epiletic seizures in a day when not much could be done. She was a teenage girl when the first terrible moment of her life occurred. She had stayed home from school to see about her mother who was pregnant and doing poorly while her siblings of school age went to school that fateful day in 1937. It was the day of the historic New London School Explosion. She still cries softly as she recalls the way her daddy wept as they dug through the rubble looking for the bodies of her brother and two sisters. She was a young married woman when she faced her next tragedy. Expecting her first child she was horrified when she realized the baby had stopped moving. There was nothing to do but wait and when the baby was delivered, beautiful an precious as she was, she was still born. He heart was broken. She named the baby, which was not the norm during that time and buried her in a small casket in a country church cemetary. She watched her husband go off to WWII and lived through the depression, raising her children up in the nurture and admontion of the Lord whom she loved so dearly. My own mother was born 6 months after my grandpa went to serve. The Red Cross delivered a telegram to him saying "You have a baby girl". He was in fox hole in Germany reading a French novel that an Army buddy had shared. He wired back "Name her Genevieve" (after the heroine in the story). And so grandma did to the protest of many family members. Many years later, having raised her children and enjoying the benefits of an empty nest that included fishing and hunting with grandpa, she faced the unthinkable. Her oldest son had been murdered, shot and killed. His Christmas present was under her bed, never to be given. A decade later she nursed my grandpa as his body was devastated by a terrible cancer. She mourned the loss of her best friend, lover and soul mate. She would never marry again, there could be no other. A decade passed again before she sat at the funeral of her youngest daughter, only 43 whose life had been shortened by a terrible cancer. Her mother's eyes still seep at the thought of the children that she has lost. She still misses grandpa and always will. She has stood faithful through all of this and more. She is amazing. She has 18 grandchildren, 45 great grands and many great greats as the family continues to grow and flourish. She is something special and I wanted to say so. She has planted seeds of love and has a giving spirit even now. She could shoot a squirrel in the eye and cook him up with rice and gravy for dinner. She has the most beautiful gray hair, her honor and glory. She was a fisherwoman that could catch anything anywhere and loved it. She refuses to wear 'men's clothes' even though her legs might get a little chilly in the winter. She knew how to go to a ditch and catch crawdads and take them home to fry them up for us a tasty lunch. She always stood up for those whom she loved and would defend you when you might not deserve defending. She is my GRANDMA DeMOSS and I hope this is a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for her. And although she has grown old, her eyes are dimming and she seems to remember days gone by better than the present at times. She is a grand lady and I am so proud to have her in my life!! I love you Grandma!!!

(((WG))) I hope you have found some relief from the pain this morning and feeling better.

(((DM4))) You are doing so well with this. Thinking it through, taking action now and working a plan. I am proud of your pro-active attitude. You may not feel like it, but you are showing it!

I've been making efforts towards tackling the clutter in my home, but need to get more focused and goal oriented. Thanks for the encouragement!

You are having such a positive influence on your sweet baby girl!

Happy Valentines Day! Let me tell you about my night last night. The women at our church held a Banquet, for women only, called HeartSong. Having only joined the church last summer I had never attended it before. Being a bit of a hermitress these days, I can honestly say I wasn't really interested. But, my husband insisted, and really insisted, which is not his normal manner. The purpose of the banquet was two fold. First, all of the men of the church were the servers. The other was so that this Special Holiday of Love would not find a beautiful lady at home alone just because she was single. There were about 20 large round banquet tables and each table had an assigned hostess. That hostess was responsible for decorating in a theme of her choice. I had asked to be placed at the Rose Table which was to be hosted by my youngest son's church teacher. I still feel relatively new as I mostly am wrapped up in my children and don't spend much time socializing. As I began to dress my children began to oooh and ahhh, touching my lacy dress, smelling the cologne, bragging on my heart shape pendant that hung from a chain around my neck. Now, I know that they are partial, but soon I began to just feel so pretty and before I knew it I had grabbed a pair of earrings that used to be my favorites. The problem was, I hadn't worn them in so long (read years!) I had to do what many of us has done at such times...just push it on through. My children watched in amazement, they girls held each other tight and squealed, the boys cheered me on yelling out, "Man, that's GOTTA hurt!" Finally, I was as fancy as I could make myself and left for the banquet. When I arrived, I was amazed! Each and every table was uniquely decorated, like little islands unto themselves with eight women seated. And each of these women were as unique and beautiful as the tables before them. I was escorted by the Maitre' De (my pastor) to what I considered the most gorgeous table of all, The Rose Table. Everything was perfection! The center piece was an array of Roses of course, the real bone china was patterned the same. There was REAL silver ware and lovely crystal. A gift from the hostess waited to be claimed in my assigned seat. I knes it was mine because of the lovely Place Card there. I was warmly greeted. I met ladies that I had not known before. They asked me about my life, I learned a bit about theirs. I felt like a queen, and then after a lovely program and music and hugs, it was time to go home. My feet were a bit achy, been a while sinc I've worn heels. My ears were feeling a wee bit tender due to my determination to Push Through earlier. I thought it was the loveliest evening I had spent in a long while, but I didn't know the best was yet to come. While I was at the Banquet my dh and children had a project of their own. First, they straightened up the whole house. Not the usualy messiness I find when I return from an outing. When I opened the door I saw the shining faces of all seven children shouting "Happy Valentine's Day Mom!" They then began to extend their hands and hold out Homemade Valentine Cards. My dear husband had not only kept the children so I could go, but had collected construction paper and crayons and gave them opportunity to create something beautiful. Just like those tables at the banquet, just like the women at the tables, I saw each card as a unique expression of who my individual children. They are wonderful! The cards will warm my heart for many years to come! My husband put me ahead of himself and while he could not come to the church and server at the Banquet, was at home serving me all the same. Not one penny of money was spent and it was the best Valentine's Day of my life. I pray today that you will feel loved and that you will take the time to express the love you feel!

C4C, what an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it. My heart was encouraged!

I just love reading about your days filled with a desire to learn and grow! You encourage me !

I have loved that painting since childhood! Thanks for pointing out those lovely details! God IS Love!

Rez, girl that is one of my favorite passages too!! That scripture has it's own story in my life! I want to say THANK YOU to Leah who helped me with the signature. When I was stumped, it was her kindness and willingness to take her time that brought it all together! (((Leah)))

Thank you for that explanation Rezgirl. I am so thankful that there are people like you and your husband to help change things and encourage those around you. (((Rezgirl)))

I have a new signature and I wanted to tell you about it. It was a difficult decision for me as I went about looking for the picture that would represent me and who I am. I am a homesteader-in-training and love my goats and chickens. I homeschool my children and have adopted them all. I love to read and write stories. I could go on and on, just like you could when you try to summarize yourself. But finally, I decided that one particulary scripture was the best representation of me and my life and who I am and what I do. "He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children,praise the Lord! Psalm 113:9 I'll never forget the morning that I read that scripture sitting on the front porch of a rental house more than 14 years ago. It did not bring me comfort or encouragement, it stabbed my heart and made me cry. All my life I had loved the Word of God and even as a teen was so drawn to its wisdom and truth. But that day I grew angry and declared that this was one time that the Word was wrong. You see, I had been trying for over a decade to become a mommy. Unless you have ridden that particular rollercoaster of turmoil, you won't know exactly how I was feeling. On the other hand if you have ever prayed for a long, long time and waited and waited, well you might can understand quite well. I could not imagine, I could not see, I could not understand or even figure out how this verse could be true. After a while of tears, I stopped and made a decision to believe, it was a crisis of Faith and I took my stand. After all the Scriptures also say in Hebrews 11:1 that "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. " (NLT) Now, all these years later, I am EXACTLY what that scripture said I would be. Not only did He give me a home, but he filled my empty arms. So now, when I speak of the Word of God, I can say with every confidence, "God's Word and What He Says Is MORE real... Than what I see, What I hear, Or what I feel."