Saturday, December 30, 2006

Runny Nose Central

I am surrounded by coughing, and runny noses. Literally from every angle! I guess I wasn't vigil enough at the onslaught of the sickness, because really my kids aren't usually sick for more than 12 hours. I just let their bodies kick in and fight the sickness and it always is gone in less than a day. So much so that I didn't even have Tylenol in the house when the fevers came.

What is this stuff? My poor Eli (3) started this whole mess, and he is still sick 3 days later. My youngest three seem to have it the worse and the older three are just coughing and sneezing a bunch. I'm guessing its just a simple cold bug. I am still fine! I was thinking yesterday these guys better get past this before Ava gets here!

So I am being scrupulous at making them drink their Vitamin C water and resting. I don't have any CLO but plan on getting some more as soon as I can make it to the store. I may even order it online today. The funny thing is I didn't even mention it to the boys, when I sat them all down at the table to drink their Vit C water and my oldest said "this is really bitter, but at least its not that fish oil stuff" LOL , can you tell they cant stand that stuff! I have to admit it gives me horrible indigestion as well. But the benefits out way the yuckie-ness.

Please keep us in your prayers the next few days!

Friday, December 29, 2006

A Great Surprise

I had some unexpected guests last night....My good friend Ann and her Husband Kevin and their son came by to say hello! I have not seen them in over a year, sense they moved from here to Georgia. Needless to say I was more than excited to see them. They had been in San Antonio visiting relatives and were on their way to Texarkana.

It is so nice to see folks that you miss dearly! I am sure that Ann would not mind me asking you guys to pray for her and her family. They desire another child greatly and have been waiting patiently for over 4 years now for The Lord to bless them. May His blessing flow into their lives!

Thursday, December 28, 2006

The Home Stretch

I just saw that my baby ticker is on its last square! Only 31 days to go! I have never gone past my due date infact I am usually a few days before. I have been feeling this one moving into position ;-) the last few days. My Braxton Hicks have been very strong this past week. I would be really surprised if I make it another 3 weeks. We have tickets to the Mav's game on the 27th and I am due the 28th. My friend and I were kidding around that this one should come in true Stucker fashion "at the Mav's game" but I really would rather not LOL! Needless to say we are Mavericks Fans all the way. I did have the idea of painting a basketball on my belly for the game....ROTFL...I'm only kidding! I'm pretty sure I wont be making it and instead will be cuddling my new baby girl.

It is finally hitting me that I am about to have another baby here real soon. Isnt it funny (or maybe its just me) but after number 4, being pregnant isnt really a big event, its just part of the job. A good part none the less! So I am feeling its time to pull some things together. This month will be a bit busy as we try and finish up some things. I need to get the boys school year scheduled, we school year round with the first of the year being our "new" year, instead of August. I want to get the kids in a position to follow out their daily schedules even if I am not available to help them. It seems that when I stop they stop. I want to get the house ship shape from top to bottom ;-) I need to finish painting the laundry room. It looks 200% better than it did when we started, I'll post before and after pictures when we are done. Ah, what else...I know there is more.

The boys seem to coming down with colds, which means they will be taking it easy today. Not me though I need to get busy. Everyone have a blessed day!

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Grand Opening!

Finally Finished and open for business!!

Please visit my new, hand made, custom, apparel store.

Sewing the Seams of Love!
http://www.sewingtheseamsoflove.com/

There are many styles of clothing to choose from and many fabrics available. I have tried to keep the pricing as low as possible and THE SHIPPING IS FREE!!
You will find a few ready made dresses, I am adding more as time allows. The beauty of custom ordering is that you get exactly what you want. So visit the styles & fabrics pages and choose your favorites!

Please "pass" me along to your friends and family! For all those who refer me to a purchasing customer you will receive a dollar off of your next order, up to 3 dollars!

If you are a member of the "MOMYS Group" you will receive 5% off of every order you place!

Thanks So much!
Blessings
Audrey Stucker

Monday, December 25, 2006

The Word Became flesh

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:9-14

FreeFoto.com

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas

This is a wonderful article, that is factual yet loving and non judgmental. I say that if I had to put how I feel about Christmas into words this is exactly what I would say!

http://www.jcstudie s.com/assets/ pdf/COMChristmas Message.pdf

Barnacles!

This morning my wonderful 9.5 son came down at about 7:00 while I was making bisquits and gravy. He asked if I wanted to play the Sponge Bob Square Pants Monopoly game he received a few days ago from his grandpa. I agreed and figured it would be good one on one quality time, as well as a bit of counting practice for him. When we stopped playing (does one ever really finish an entire game of monopoly?) I thought maybe it was 9ish or so....nope, 10:15!! I cant believe I played that game for three hours this morning.

On another not, do any of you other mothers of boys have to "re-visit" the correct way to use a toilet? Ughh! You would think its like riding a bike, once you know you know. Well apparently not around here. For the past month it has been a thorn in my side. So, it is me and five boys (yes they are ALL potty trained now, way to go Elijah!) standing around the toilet. I explain to them the mechanics of the lid "this is up, and this way is down" "This is the floor, we dont tinkle here" "This is the wall, yep try and stear clear of that as well"

Then I explain to them the pure, unadulterated joy that they would bestow upon me, if I did not have to wipe off the seat, just a few of the more than 15 times I visit the restroom in a day. I then of course threaten them with promises of the great outdoors. Cold, middle of the night trips to the back yard to releave themselves, if the wet seat bandit does not change his(their) ways!
They all agree to do better in the future, or I suspect at least until it warms up outside ;-) LOL

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sweet Sleep

I did not get around to taking a nap yesterday. Instead I had this crazy notion to clean the upstairs rooms. This included the boys rooms and that took two hours of us all working on it. I have this weird habit of getting the most work done when I am exhausted and plan to rest. Then when I am well rested and have a list of stuff to accomplish I dont get it all done. I never claimed to be normal. LOL

So by the time I hit the bed last night I was beyond exhausted. I slept like a rock! I woke at 3:00 to visit the restroom and realized I had not turned, nor moved at all from where I started out. Which is a huge change from turning every 20 minutes all night long. ;-) Then I went back to sleep and slept until 8:00 this morning. Luckily all the kids slept in as well, which isnt the norm around here either.

So I'm feeling a bit better today. I still have laundry to catch up on sense I washed 6 sets of sheets and comforters yesterday. The boys and I are reading Charlottes web this week, So we need to read a few chapters of that. We are taking a break from "regular" school work until the first of the year. Where we will kick it back into high gear.

Then I have some sewing to do. I want to sew some new comforters for the boys using their designated colors. I cant decide if I want to make then out of Fleece or Cotton. My problem with fleece is that everything sticks to it. My oldest son will not give up his very first comforter from when he was two. It is a fraction of its former self, but he loves it. Silly boy.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Store is moving along

Please stop by and check it out. There has been a fabrics page added as well as a styles selection page. I still have a bit more to do, but it is almost complete! Tell me what you think, what you might add, change, throw out LOL

I still have to expain in detail on the home page how the site works and the ordering procedures, as it is not a merchant site and orders will need to be sent in to me then filled. I wish I could afford a click and purchase site, but thats a bit pricey right now.

Thanks for any input!
Well, Shreveport was nice as always. Seeing my dad and grandma and uncles and cousins is always enjoyable. We usually only see them once a year and its so wild to watch our children grow up year by year. As I was walking up my uncle Ricky says "You look the same every year" LOL, he's of course talking about me being pregnant. I rubbed his belly and told him he did to.


My dad lavished the children with presents. Which I know he enjoyed doing. I received the neatest gift this year. My Memaw (my dads mom) put together a family history of her side of the family The Daniels and Smiths. I learned something I never knew. Something no one ever mentioned which I find worthy of praise and admiration. My Great Great Grandma had 20 children. Who knew? She was married at the age of 16 and 14 months later at 17 had her first child, Noah Frank. She then just about every year after that had another child. Her 11th child died at birth. Then in the year 1924 she had 4 children, 2 sets of twins!! The first set #'s 13,14 died at birth and the second set #'s 15, 16 were fine. Guess what #'s 19 & 20 were twins as well. 3 sets of twins, 20 children and she only lost 3 at birth. What a neat thing to learn about! She lived to be 66 years old until she and her husband were killed in the 1950 tornado that came through Caster LA. along with their 19th child.


The details of our family have been hard to come by. My moms family, I will never know anything about and the Adams (my dads dad) side seems to be hard to come by as well. There is just something about learning your heritage.


***************************************
I visited the midwife last Friday, everything looks great. I am measuring 35 weeks and we think the little stinker might be breech. Which makes sense because the last week I haven't felt real well. No big deal though, delivering breech is not all that different than a head first delivery. Although I do hope she turns! Sleeping is becoming harder these days. I got up this morning and felt like I was ready to go to bed LOL. Here is a picture of me at 34 weeks (this morning) ignore the hair, I hadn't put it up yet. ;-)


Well, I'm off to get started with the day. I need to get some things done so that I might be able to lay down with Eve later for a much needed nap!


Friday, December 15, 2006

So close!

Only 44 (give or take) days to go! My dad was right when he said the older you get the quicker time goes by. I never believed him, because as a child, a day seems like an eternity. LOL Now though, it seems that years run into years and months into months, and before you know it so much time has passed by.

As has been this pregnancy, very quick! I have not pulled anything out yet or even begun getting things ready for her. Although its all at my fingertips and could pulled together in a few hours. I am still wanting to purchase the birthing tub and deliver in water this time, but part of me thinks it might be just to much work. I labor for only about 3 hours and may not be able to get it up and ready in time. Then there is the cold factor...if it were summer I would be convinced, but its winter and cold and I dont like being cold. ;-)

My good friend is brining me Indian food today. I LOVE Indian food! If you have not tried it you should. I have been craving it lately, so she is bringing it as a late B-day present. I cant wait!

I will be heading to Shreveport Saturday for our Adams Annual Christmas Gathering at my grandmas house. This is the one time a year that I get to see everyone. My dad will be there this year. Now that he has moved to Mississippi from CO he is closer and we can visit more. ;-) I havent seen him in about 10 months, so that will be nice.

I have alot to do today, its deep clean Friday! I need to finish the laundry, give haircuts and much more. So I guess I need to get moving. The kids are way ahead of me with their zones, now I just need to get mine done LOL

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Clearing the muddy waters

A comment was posted:
Anonymous said...
ok, please prove to me that Jesus was born on Christmas, bc sweetie I can prove to you that he wasn't

My reply:
Audrey said...
I never said he was born on Christmas, infact I said that he was born in Late September around the 28th, 29th during the feast of tabernacles. The article said only that someone had heard that perhaps Jesus was concieved on Dec 25th. That was something I had not heard before, hence thought it fitting to pass along. If you do the math and also believe that He was born around Sept. 28th, then the conception date could very well have been Dec 25th. (did we read the same post :-?)

My intention has been to stear clear of any "side" that I take on this blog as we all will do what we see fit during this season. My take on Christmas and other holidays are not the norm of most Western Christian believers, and I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone who may not see things the way I do. If anyone does want to know what I believe then ask me privately and I will tell you. Otherwise may everyone enjoy their holiday season as they see fit, for it is not my place to judge.

My girls!

I don't usually post pictures like this, but thought it was just too cute and knew you moms would see the beauty in it. Eve has a belly button fascination. She is always rubbing her belly button, she cant go to sleep without it. LOL
So needless to say she likes to examine other belly buttons as well. She was sitting in my lap on the couch, we were having our afternoon girl time. She decided she wanted to check out my belly button and talk to her sister Ava. I had Jordan bring me the camera and snapped this photo.



Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Prairie Dress




This is the dress that is under the Penafore. Very flowing. This dress is one that you can spin around in a circle and make a big "poof", definately a dress suitable for any princess! It is a bit big on my petite little girl. I took the dress from a size 2 down to about a size 18 months and she still has plenty of room to grow, not to mention that I can let the bottom out a good three inches as she gets taller, (if she ever gets taller LOL)

So what do you think? I love it, and will be placing it in the store as a custom order only, as it takes much time and material to complete.

*********************************************************************
Tiany, to answer your question, yes my boys tend to tease each other quite a bit. As they get older it even increases because they begin to add in practical jokes and pranks. I was just talking to Rob last night saying that the oldest two really are becoming emotional about things. When they are younger they cry for a few minutes and then its done. When they start hitting puberty (oh, I cant believe I am saying that) their emotions seem to be hightened and the teasing seems to be effecting them more, as if they take it more to heart than when they were little (so keep that in mind, now would be the time to make changes if you think you need to)

Do I think it is normal for boys to tease? To a degree! Rob and I tease each other all the time, but we know its done in jest. We NEVER do it to hurt one another, but unfortunately with kids its an easy "getting back at you" tacktic, when they are mad at each other. So having said all that we have rules about teasing and ruff housing, because around here thats a huge part of being a boy as well.

Heres what we do, with teasing one another it is unexceptable when someones feelings could be hurt, or do get hurt. Then it is stopped and followed by an appology (I am seeing though that the older ones when their feelings have been hurt, tend to hold on to the anger a bit longer, and an appology does not always resolve the hurt)

No teasing in the form of harmful name calling, this one is tricky because its fun to call each other silly names, I do it with the kids all the time (example: silly pickle, goof ball, ect) they know I'm kidding, but there again they may use it to get back at each other when upset.

With ruff housing, no punching, kicking or biting ect, just simple wrestling, and if it gets heated it is stopped.

As I read over what I have written, I think to myself surly it would just be easier and make more sense to stop all the teasing and ruff housing all together, and perhaps that is the case in some homes. In ours though I think there are life lessons (social lessons) to be learned within the safety of our own home and family.............................

.....................I wish you could have been a fly on the wall for the past 15 minutes, I decided to call my oldest two (9.5, 11) down to ask them about teasing and brotherdom and their take on it all. I wish I had a way to tape it and put it on here for you but lets just say they were very candid. It boils down to that its fun when its fun and is vengful when it is useful. I asked them if it would be possible to stop it all together in a family, my oldest said "ya, if you are an only child" LOL, the conversation ended with them wrestling on the couch and Devon pushing Jordans head into the couch saying "smell Franky" (Franky is an odiferous dog and thats the couch he sleeps on ;-)

I laughed as I saw them loving each other in their boyish physical way. Totaly enjoying each other as they wrestled around. You know I have to say that if they are being raised in a home with loving parents who teach them right from wrong and love them, they will be fine. Keep it safe and address it when its out of hand. They will be great young men!

And when you just have heard enough send them out to do something physical, jump on the trampoline, run relay races ect. Hope that helps some.

Boys are so awesome!!!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Santa/ Saint Nich

I thought I would share one more post from the HOW message board. Once again I make no claims as to the accurateness of her statement, but it also is one I have not heard before in regards to the true identity or even existance of Saint Nich. She does not name the book she took the quote from, but if any are interested I could ask her for the title.

"An interesting quote from a book that I picked up in G'Burg regarding santa and trees:"The Catholic Saint Nicholas also had a confusing past. He was a compilation of two separate saints (one from Myra in Asia Minor and the other from Pinora), both of whom were as the Church nowadays admits-northing more than christianized water deites-possibly related to the Greco-roman god Poseidon/neptune. ) In the 1970's Vatican Council II formally stated that no Roman catholic bishop by the name of Nicholas had ever existed, and that the legends attributed to this saint had no christian origin and probably came from pagan traditions.. ......By adsorbing such pagan feasts and traditions, the Christian church could subtly bring in its own theology: in this case, establishing the good st nich, bringer oflove and gifts, while grudgingly allowing the presence of the olde religion's herne/pan, but only as a slave to st nich. Thus, in parts of Europe, the church turned herne into st nich's captive , chained dark helper; none other than satan, the dark one, symbolic of all evil.....This book is very detailed and well documented. What I am amazed at (or probably shouldnt' be) is that as much documentation as we have available about this winter holiday, the christian community adamantly clings to and defends this tradition, changing the story as they see fit, to make it seem that the messiah is somehow connected.. End post"

Just more food for thought, or to toss away if you wish ;-)

Goings on around here have been peaceful and quite. Our gas stove arrived yesterday, although the high yesterday was 68 LOL and today will be 70's. So needless to say it hasnt been used yet, but will be well broken in by the end of winter...I'm sure!

Due to the weather being so pleasent today we are going on an outing to the park!!! These boys need fresh air and so does mom! One thing about Texas, it doesnt get 'really' cold and stay that way, until late January and then it goes away at the beginning of March.

I am almost done with the Prairie Dress (I'm not sure what to name it yet, there might be a contest in the works;-) I have been working on. It is one of my favorite dresses so far. But a lot of work and material goes into this one. I will be finished with it this afternoon and will post a picture of it then. I wanted to have a few extra things added to the store this past weekend but my "website helper" didnt show up, hence nothing was updated.

I am out of time right now, but will be answering Sunflowers question about filling our childrens time so that they stay busy and out of trouble on the weekends, and other idle times.

Monday, December 11, 2006

The Birth of Christ

I read this today on the HOW (Heart of Wisdom) discussion board. It is very thought provoking. I am not saying that I agree with her oppinions entirely, but the dates and insight are interesting. I have thought due to scripture that Jesus was born in late Sept, during The Feast of tabernacles, but have never heard the claim of his conception being Dec. 25th.

I am still in much prayer and seeking wisdom over Christmas and Easter. As I have stated before I am an all or nothing kinda gal, who hates compromise. I do believe in absolute truth and I pray that The Father reveals His truth and His desires for my family in these areas.


Lisa Wrote:
Regarding the Christmas holiday, I found out that the conception date of Jesus is actually Dec. 25th and is very clearly documented in Scripture. When you read of the Course of Abia it becomes very evident that Christ was born Sept. 29th. Luke 1:5 shows that Zacharias was a full blood Levite and therefore so was Elizabeth (from the lineage of Aaron). Each course was served for one week and Zacharias served the eighth course, which happened June 13- June 19. He departed on June 20th and being an aged man, it took him 2 or 3days to get home to Elizabeth (the day following the end of the course of Abia was a Sabbath and so Zacharias could not leave Jerusalem before the 20th). Luke 1:6 says that both Zacharias and Elizabeth met the legal requirements to serve on the alter and burn the incense. Mary was a cousin to Elizabeth and therefore her mother had to have been a full blood Levite. Keep in mind that the genealogy listed in Math. ch. 1 is Joseph's and NOT Mary's.> In Luke 3: 23 (KJV) it states Jesus was the son of Joseph (as was supposed)--meaning by law. Christ came through Nathan (son of David) Luke 3:31. Christ was born Sept. 29th, 4 BC. This was also the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles and he was circumcised the 8th day. I just think Dec. 25th is a very special and beautiful date to remember in that the Word became flesh on this date, and 9 months later, Jesus tabernacled with humankind. As for the Christmas tree, I understand that some don't feel it is right. Personally, I see the evergreen as symbolic of eternal life and God even compares Himself to an evergreen tree in Hosea chapter 14 verse 8! The scripture most people use to say that Christmas trees are bad is the one in Jeremiah ch. 10 verse 5 where it is talking about idols. I have never worshiped a tree and believe Scripture to be true where it says these trees can neither do evil, nor good. I agree on the fact that materialism is too important to people> and replaces the true meaning of Christmas but I don't any longer feel that December 25th is just a date picked out by heathen nations and stuck into Christianity by man. Does anyone have the Companion Bible KJV ? It very clearly explains the fact that Christ was indeed conceived Dec. 25 when John the Baptist was 6 months in the womb and he lept for joy upon Mary's arrival at Elizabeth's home.

Edited later: The conception date could very well be Dec 25th, Mary would have had to have been about 10 days late in delivering baby Jesus, which is normal especially for first time moms.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Such poetic words

I read this today here and thought I would share it:

As we explain the pains and discomforts that Karen is experiencing I hope that you are all putting these things into context in at least two ways. The first is that it is important to see these things in contrast to what Christ had to suffer. What he suffered he did so willingly as a righteous man., What we suffer we do so as guilty men who in our hearts beat our chests and ask “why?!” deceiving ourselves that we deserve better than what we’re getting.

Secondly, we must appreciate that this pain and suffering is part of the great story of history that God is breathing out over time. All of its comedy as well as its tragedy are perfectly placed. He is the master author and we are the characters that he loves. That he loves his people means that the tragedy is not capricious, mean or pointless. That we are characters means that we are his creation and we are not privy to know all the reasons why he has written our particular parts the way he has. We can be confident, however, that for those who love him, when we are finally able to look back at the whole story we’ll see that each part of the plot was necessary to make it truly beautiful.

Pray For Karen!!

Friday, December 08, 2006

BRRRRR

No posting for the next few days. Our stove is not to arrive until the 13th and a cold front has come through. It is 40 degrees and dropping in the library and my fingers are going numb.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Success

Well.....Elijah went all day AND all night with no accidents. I presume the time was right. He began telling me later in the day that he needed to go potty and made it every single time!

I put pull-ups on him to go to bed and he still was able to make it through the night and went potty this morning. I am wondering if he is holding the "big business" though because he hasn't done that yet.

We are going to get groceries today and that will be the big test, can he make it through the errands without any accidents? I'm pretty sure he will do great.

On another note, today is Thursday and the day I told the owners of the land that we could complete the transaction for the property. Part of me is wondering if they will even show back up. But I am fine with it either way. They will be back someday, if not today.

I heard the neatest thing the other day! My SIL said that my MIL was telling her that she is going to give her doll collection to me for my "girls" ROTFL!!!

I never thought I would ever hear that I had a girl, but GIRLS! How exciting! Only a mom who has had many sons before having a daughter (or is still waiting) knows what I am talking about. For ten years I was a mom to boys! that was my calling, my job, my lot in life. And it was fabulous! I am so glad that I had 5 boys before I had my girls! But I am soooo glad that I have been given these girls. I could just eat Eve up! I cant wait to meet this next little one. I wonder what she will look like, I'm almost positive she will have brown eyes (4 of my 6 do) Will she have blond hair like Rob or Black hair like me? Will she have Robs long fingers or my short stubbies? LOL

I cant wait to meet her!! Not long now!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

A Glorious Day!

The angels are singing praises in heaven today! I have only had to potty train one of my children, the oldest. He was a bit difficult, and with me being a new mom I was a bit pushy. Then as the rest of the boys came along they just watched the oldest and trained themselves at an acceptable age.

My fifth son is much like my 1st son in many many ways, one of them being difficult to potty train. They are both very bright children, so perhaps they just see the easyness in not using the potty. Eli will be 4 in April (WOW, that just hit me) so I have been asking him and have introduced him to the potty several times with NO cooperation or interest from him. So as not to push him I just have watched for signs of interest.

He made the move into pull-ups about a 3 months back. My hopes where that he would feel like a big boy and get used to underware in a sense. Well, the funny thing about that, is that he would just wait until they were full and change his own pull-up (I of course still handled the poopies) He changed himself in the morning and throughout the day. I know you are laughing outloud, its OK, I realize how rediculous that is!

So with needing to tighten the budget I figured it was time to potty train, ready or not. Today I put him in underware and told him that was it, no more Bugs Bunnies (pull-ups) I sat him on the potty and committed to taking him back every 45min. Well the first 4 times were nonproductive. Then he walks into the kitchen and I realize he needs to go potty, so we run upstairs and for the first time in his entire life HE TINKLES IN THE POTTY!!!!!

I'm sure he thought I had finally lost my marbles as I was dancing around the bathroom and singing his praises! I was sure that Eve would potty train before him, but I was wrong. Now I know what you are saying "sweet dear, he used the toilet once, you have a long road to travel" This I know, but at least there is light in the tunnel now!

Our second habit to break this week is Seths thumb sucking. He is 7 now and his dady told him last night he was through, no more, thats it! So he has been waring a glove over his hand today and has to ware it for a few days straight, until he is free from the habit.

Progress!!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Its warm enough today.....

....to sit in here and blog a bit. It is very warm in the living, dinning and kitchen area of the house. We shut the doors to that side and the stoves keep it quite toasty. It is also warm in the kids rooms as they have small stoves in there, but the rest of the house is a cool 48 degrees. "Ya, right" you say, "surly you are exagerating" here is the thermometer I put in the hallway yesterday


Yep pretty cold, so hence the reason why I have not been blogging the past few days. All of that will change in a few days as our new stove arives on the UPS truck. I ordered it Sunday and am counting down till its arrival. It will go into the library (where my computer is) and also will heat up the sewing room and entryway as well as the upstairs (from heat rising) Each one of these stoves heats 1000 sq feet and we have three total, with 4000 sq feet to heat, so we are getting there slowly. Can you believe that the first winter we lived here we had NO stoves for heat and NO AC units for coolness in the summer. I look back now and think how did we do it?

This weekend I finished two Pinafores. I now need to get going on the dress that goes on the inside. They will be beige with long sleeves adorned with lace along the arms and bottom as well as round collars. I am so happy with how they turned out. I have decided that this will be one of the "special order" dresses in the store. They are great for cooler weather because they are essentially two seperate dresses. They have little tucks on the bodice and buttons that go down the front. I will post a much better picture when I have a completed set.

Lastly we had unexpected visitors yesterday. We have lived here going on 4 years. We bought this house because we loved the size, price and potential, as well as the fact that we had 4 empty lots that encircled our home which we were hoping to purchase. We have successfully bought the three behind us but the folks that owned the large lot right beside our home made it clear they did not intend on selling. So we fenced the areas we bought and were happy with that.

As a preface to the story we had offered as much as 2500 for the lot a few months back when we had the money, and never heard anything back. So yesterday they come to our door and asked if we were still wanting to buy the land. Umm YAAA! So we chat for a moment and I find out that the owner is in a nursing home and the gal who is to inherit it is in need of some fast money. I ask them what they want for it and they say $800.00 I try to hold back my amazement and stay calm. I said let me talk to my husband, call me back later.

Long story short, you bet we will buy it. Problem is Dec and Jan where going to be very tight months as I have to pay the midwife and take 5 kids into the dentist, which I know a few have cavities that need to be dealt with. So how are we going to pull this off. Rob and I dont deal in credit, it ruined us once and well, we learn from our mistakes. LOL

Does anyone have any tips on feeding a family of 8 for 50 a week? I figure this is the Lords doing and He will make it happen how He has it planned out. I am just excited to see what happens. In a weird sort of way, I enjoy "tight" months every once in a while. As it really helps you to focus on only the essentials, and your eyes are opened to how truly blessed you really are.

So please say a prayer for us that this transaction happens and that we have money left to eat these next two months. I know we will, The lord is always faithful!

Friday, December 01, 2006

Homeschool & Scriptures

Here is the post I wrote in August about what we use for our schooling.

I also feel like something has really been on my heart alot lately. I could explain it in my falty human words, but I figured we could just read it from the source.

“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way” (Ps. 119:37)

“Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” (Ps. 144:11,12)

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:1-3)

“I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” (Rom. 16:19)

“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” (Ps. 119.101)

“Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.” (Deut. 7:26)

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (I Thes. 5:22)

“Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” (I Tim. 6:20,21)

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker.” (II Tim. 2:16,17)

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” (II Jn. 1:10,11)

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Ps 101:3)

“One sinner destroyeth much good.” (Eccl. 9:18b)

“For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps. 11:2,3)

“They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them” (Ps. 106: 34-36)

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.” (Luke 11:34-36)

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (I Cor. 15:33)

“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” (I Cor. 5:6,7)

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:7-9)

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Rom. 1:33)

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matt. 6:22,23)

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal. 6:7,8)

Oh that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Duet 5:29