HIke Through the Woods

Today, we decided "no school" and took a hike through the woods. Dad was home from a long trip and I had today off, so we spent the day as a family.

As we begin our hike....

What lovely colors surround us! What smells! What treasures! What beauty! I see in the picture that it still looks green... but it wasn't. There were so many shades of greens, yellows, reds and even a bit of multicolored hues.

These were a beautiful combination of a yellowish green that just glowed.

These little fellas offered a striking display of red in contrast to everything around them! (Sorry my picture is a bit blurry...)

When we stopped to get a drink from a spring fed "fountain", I almost stepped on this little one. DH picked him up and talked to the children about him, and then sat him safely on a ledge, away from trampling feet.

High and low were visions of God's glory, from the lowest point to the ground...

to the highest point in the sky....

Lfe was good today, and we enjoyed ourselves. Just walking, talking, learning, and being silly.

Dad came home and made bows and arrows for all the children (even Amelia, who ASKED for one!) And they had a blast shooting them around the yard and down in the field.

We received another call from the realtor about a house she wanted to show us. Small house, on 7 acres of land. It was ok, and I think we will go look at it, but I don't think dh likes it...he always says "not enough trees".

God was so good to us today, as He is everyday, but sometimes it takes a simple little thing like a walk in the forest to see where we're going, and what we need to do in life to stay on the right path.

Today was good, and it brought us together, if even for a small amount of time, there was no bickering, no harsh words, and no yelling. Thank You, God, for showing us the way we need to go. In all things....

To You, always, be the glory.....

Amen.

28 October 2008~ I've gone and done it this time.....

I've changed my hours at work again!

I requested weekend shift again, working 6p-6a. So, come this next schedule, I will be working either Thursday, Friday and Sunday night 6p-6a, or Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights 6p-6a.

Not only due to the pressures of day shift and the insane amount of "he said- she said" and the bickering that goes on, but for my family.
Now hear me out before you think I have went off the deep end here....

Amelia, the 15 y/o is a fairly responsible "turning into young woman" type girl. She has a temper like her Mom though, and 11 year old little brothers with  hyperactivity issues, among other things, do not mesh well into this scene. We're having a bit of a clashing issue between the two of them. Her with authority and not knowing how to assert it correctly, and him having to listen to a sister he really doesn't like a this point in his life.

I thought I could trust the children to complete their schooling whilst I was working too, but that is also seeming to have failed miserably. They do not do certain parts of their work, and tell me that they have, so therefore things are falling behind.

So here's the plan....

When I go back to weekends, I will tend to their schooling and we will do 4 large days a week to catch up and get everything in, then the days I will be working and need to sleep, dh will be home, (except for one day) and we will maintain our household and children this way.

DH is upset and doesn't like the idea, but he understands. I don't think the children are overly thrilled with Mom being home during the day (can't skip out on chores and schooling anymore), but they'll be fine. I wish there were two of me... one to work and help support the family, and the other to tend to the children and household. Or at the least, for dh to be able to have a better job so he could maintain the bills and finances without me having to work!

Guess I'll just retire an ol' 3rd shifter.. that seems to be my forte these past few years anyway! LOL!

~~~Blessings~~~

October 27, 2008~ Thought I would try this today

Monday - 27 October 08

Outside My Window... It's still dark and the world still asleep. I am up and getting around for work today.

I am thinking... How I wish and pray we could live in the country.

I am thankful for... The home we live in and the warmth we have on cold, blustery mornings such as this!

From the kitchen... Coffee

I am wearing... My nightgown. I haven't showered yet!

I am creating... Christmas gifts for children and grandchildren.

I am going... To work, I "think" for a 12 hour day. The schedule is messed up...

I am reading... About homesteading and growing gardens.

I am hoping... to increase my knowledge in Bible, and in prayer.

I am hearing... the fridge humming, and keyboard clicking.

Around the house... So much needs done!

One of my favorite things... A roaring fire in the fireplace, fall days, fuzzy, warm puppies, and crocheting.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Work without grumbling, cook decent meals, prepare childrens schedules for the rest of the week, and work on more Christmas gifts!

Here is picture I thought of sharing...I would LOVE to live here!

Have a blessed day!

October 26, 2008

Today on my day off, I did a bit of Christmas crafting. The rag dolls I was trying to make were killing me and making me dream of ANY other holiday but Christmas, so I changed my mind. I decided to make fleece blankets for the grandchildren instead. These three are for my grandbabies that live in Colorado.

This one is for Isaiah. White blond hair and huge blue eyes, a true little boy through and through. He loves cars... so his has race cars on one side and a road to drive match box cars on on the other! He just got a new toddler bed, so I hope he likes it! I love you SaiSai!!!

Now here's Jacen's. He (for some reason) likes to call things "monkey-frog", and his Aunt Amber explained to Grandma a while ago just exactly WHAT a "monkey-frog' is... he is one smart little cookie and is really learning to talk up a storm!

Last but certainly not least is Kyle's blanket. What can I say? Definitely the Princess of Grandma's heart....

Anyhoo~ these were my craft projects for today, and while we watched a movie this evening, I finished a potholder for someone special too.....

How are you all doing with Christmas crafting so far?

~Blessings~

October 24, 2008

I have this weekend off.... yea yea yea!!!

2pm can't roll around fast enough for me!

Keep precious dh in your prayers as he has another Kentucky run tonight and the weather is calling for rain. He's an excellent driver, but that doesn't account for the others on the road with him.

I emailed the realtor about looking at the larger house today about 3:30p.

Maybe? Maybe not.

We'll see.

October 23, 2008

Nothing much going on here. Typical work stuff, people being hateful and mean, work causing headaches and high blood sugars, but I don't want to bring sadness and depression to my blog, so I won't discuss that.

Instead, Dennis and I have been house hunting again. We have one that we like, but the people won't come down in price enough for us, and we have another we want to look at tomorrow. We did find one that is absolutely possibly the most beautiful home we've ever seen, but there is to many neighbors around, and no where to store anything outside! LOL!

So this other one we want to look at is nice, maybe a little big for our tastes, but I think it would suit us. There are 3 outbuildings that we could use, and I would be able to have some chickens! And there are some lovely horses next door!

Between the two though, maybe we could come up in price for the smaller one with more land, and maybe the people with the larger one could come down in price a little?

Only the Lord knows....

October 19, 2008

~Hello~

This weekend has been fairly uneventful. Of course, I worked, so that made it even more so, but yesterday? Now there was something weird in my life.

First of all, I woke up late, due to re-setting my alarm clock, but forgetting to turn it on, so when I woke up, I was 1 hour later than usual. Had to jump in the shower, had no time to make coffee (Abby forgot to make it for me the night before), get to work on time (yea, me!), get my pills out late... don't know why.... residents getting irritated with me, a lady falls in the bathroom.... such was my day...

Then I spilled cranberry juice and Miralax (kind of like Metamucil) all over the top of my cart, and those of you who know what Miralax is, understand me when I say... Yuk! What a mess!

I am so tired when I get home, I am so tired, DH had fixed supper, I ate and sat on the couch for a few at 5p, only to wake up at 7:30p and go to bed.

How weird is that?

So today has been ok. I have finished another Christmas gift, so that's a good thing.

I am going to make a larger pattern from my rag doll pattern and make rag dolls with sewn on clothes. Easier and safer for litte ones, I think. And... we just found out another dd is pregnant with a little girl due in December!

Sorry that I have no pictures to share today.. hope to have some more soon!

WHEW!

Does life ever slow down enough to catch up? LOL!

~Blessings to you all!~

pppfffftttt....

I am concentrating on other aspects of my life in stead of like what I posted below.

I simply cannot allow the feelings and attitudes of others disrupt mine (or the children still at home) way of life.

We live a good life, a clean life, and if others do not appreciate what we do and how we live...

then fine.

Thank you to my friends that prayed for me and that lifted my spirit with their kind words.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Now that I am off my soap box for  a minute....

Here's the evening hours events to the day.

Went this eve and picked up Amelia from work. She goes out on her own tomorrow!  She'll be great, I just know it!

Abi is trying to strike a deal with us, to be able to go to public high school, she is willing to wear dresses all the time. I tried to explain to her that it isn't a matter of wearing dresses all the time, it's a matter of education, and that I believe she would be better served here at home. But I promised we would discuss it with her Dad tomorrow... (I know what he'll say though... is that sneaky of me?)

We are going to work on some schooling issues tomorrow starting early in the AM, because the children are not taking the initiative and doing their work as they are supposed to while I am at work. So, we are catching up this Saturday and Sunday and then we are going to work every evening when I get home from work! LOL! (Thought they could trick ol' Mom, eh?)

Well, I'm off... I hear that little dingy dog of mine barking, so I had better go to bed. It'll be a long night cause DH left for a driving trip tonight and won't be home till morning....

~Blessings~

October 16, 2008

I am embarrassed to admit that some of my children do not respect me as a person, much less their mother.

 I am not sure what I am to them, a jerk, an idiot, someplace to steal from,  or a toy  to be used and thrown away like a dirty rag, or what, but once again, my heart has been stomped on by a child that I gave birth to and loved and adored and raised in the best way I knew how...

My son, Jacob, left my house today without saying goodbye, see ya later or have a good life.... he called his brother in northern Ohio, who came to get him, and when asked if he had called me (I was at work), he said, "No, I have a phone..."

I took him in, spent money on gas (over $60 on a fill up)  and took a day off work to go and rescue him on Sunday (3.5 hours away), drove all over town yesterday after working 11 hours, so he could get some applications, put up with a demon video game in my home, put up with him sleeping till 1:30pm and staying up until 2-3am....

What have I truly done to deserve such hatred by these children? I must admit, as I read some of the other blogs, I am jealous of the way your children WANT to be around you, they WANT to come home, they WANT to hug their parents.... when I can't even get one to want to call me on my birthday or Mothers Day.

His older brother did this same thing to me a few years ago. We took him in, drove him back and forth all hours for jobs... not once asked for any money, but yet, he called and was picked up like 2 days before Thanksgiving, and didn't tell me good bye, Happy Thanksgiving, or kiss my patootie....It was to be my first Thanksgiving with him in 7 years.

I was so looking forward to it.

I was crushed.

More than one child has hurt me many times with words and actions, never once stopping to realize that I am NOT the person that they think I am. I AM NOT the cause of everything bad in their lives, and it hurts to have all of my faults pointed out to every person that peaks their interest.

It hurts to have my name (and every thing I have ever done) dragged through the mud even to people I DON'T know,  people I DO know, and knowing that my children.. my babies...my precious babies are the cause of all of it.

It hurts to know that my blood is coursing through their veins as they are stealing from me, and from family.

I was not raised to be this way, and my own Momma would literally cry her eyes out if she knew... if she knew the things that her grandchildren have done.

And she did know... some of it.

And she was ashamed.

I will admit, my older children didn't have the best upbringing in the world, but I tried. And I have asked the older children to please forgive me for their childhood.... now the ball is in their court. I can do no more. I have begged and pleaded and to no avail.... I guess they will always hate me.

When our 11 y/o asked if his brother was ever coming back to see us, guess what he told him? "No, I'm never coming back here to see you.. I'm coming back to see Zach but I'm not coming here!" (Talk about a heart of stone....?!?!?!?)

and now... I am ashamed.

But there is one that gives me unconditional love, and that is my Lord Jesus. Look what His "family" did to Him. They treated Him like dirt and made fun of Him and spit on Him.  (I feel like that... used and abused...) But the Lord tells me to "Cast all my burdens upon Him because He cares for ME!"

He never said life isn't going to hurt or that everything will be smooth sailing, but He did say I can always come to Him... and that is what I intend to do. I am going to curl up on my Lord's lap tonight and have a long talk with Him and maybe a good long cry to go along with it. (DH has to drive overnight again, so I don't have to be "strong" after the children go to bed.

If you think on it, would you send up a prayer to soften the hearts of children that treat their parents this way? No one deserves to be hurt like this...

No one.

October 13, 2008

Well yesterday was a day from dickens.... got a phone call from our 20 year old son in northern Ohio, and he was saying that he had run into some problems and now he had no where to live... so we went and picked him up, a 3 hour drive, waited while he finished up some business, and came home. We got home about 11:30pm.

All the children get one chance to come home, and if they do well, then Praise God... if not... next time around, they can figure out their own way (providing nothing horrible happens and they REALLY need us, you know..)

It was good to see our two boys that we hadn't seen in almost 3 years. It's blurry, I know, but you get the idea. The young lady to the extreme right of the picture is the Mother of my grandson.

I also got to see my grandson that I had never seen before.  I had seen pictures, but never in person...

This is Keegan Matthew.... and he has eyes like his Great Grandpa (my Daddy).

I called off work today and of course, got guff from a co-worker who  says, "I'll just give you Be**y's number and YOU can call HER, cause it looks like NO-ONE is coming in tomorrow!" I told her to just write it down, and hung up. I did my part, now let them do theirs.... *SIGH*

I finished up laundry today, had quite a time with 11 y/o disobedient child continuing to be disobedient, cooked supper, had the washer overflow, took 15 y/o to work, picked 15 y/o up from work, helped ds make appointments for tomorrow to look for work, and yes..... I am still alive! :)

Just finishing up putting 2 quarts beef broth up and 2 quarts of chicken broth up.

Made 4 loaves of bread today (2 white and 2 wheat).

Quite the busy past two days, I would say!

Life is good, and God even better.

Here's a quick pic of the 14 year old sister and the 25 year old brother.... she's climbed up him and is hanging on his back. He is way over 6 foot tall by the way! (She's barely 5 ft)

Can you see the love?

Too bad we don't live closer.

Good lookin' kids the good Lord gave me, eh?

~~Blessings~

October 12, 2008

Well, yesterday was a failrly productive day... you know those days when you have so much to do but you have no clue where to begin? I had one of those... so really, not a whole lot was accomplished.

DH went to our son's house to have some coffee in the AM with him, and brought back our beautiful little granddaughter... so that was a good thing... except when she started getting tired, and fussy....

She refused to lay in her little portable bed that Grandpa and I have here for all the grandchildren, so she made a little attempt at the couch....with Grandma rubbing her little face and hair, she finally went to sleep...At least until the rambuncious and loud Uncle Logan woke her up....

Amelia went to work for her first day yesterday... and boy! did she look spiffy in her uniform! She said all she did was serve coffee, but that's pretty good for her 1st day, eh? She was excited, and I hope and pray that this will help her understand finances a little better. She just doesn't understand the concept that money really doesn't grow on trees.... do any young ones really understand that though?

I am proud of her....

Here's after work....and with her neice that never leaves her side when she's home....

And of course, DH and I did some impromptu grocery shopping after we dropped Amelia off at work. Weren't going to, but they had some 10 for $10 sales going on that we couldn't resist! When we came home, we straightened up our pantry downstairs and took inventory, so we have a running list of what we have and don't have. DH did it, but I can think if certain things he missed, so I think I will double check today. It was in pretty big disarray down there, and he was cleaning up as he was going, so that's probaly why things were missed.... and that's ok. I'd like to have a list of what's in the freezer too...

I have started the $5 a Week Food Pantry List ( http://theideadoor.com/Preparedness/food_storage_for_5.htm)  and want to be prepared, so I need to see just what I have down there.

Hey! I did get 2 buckets from Meijers bakery yesterday! The ladies gave them to me! Now when I buy in bulk, I can put separate baggies into the buckets and keep critters out of my food! I'm washing them up real good today, and I have some wheat that needs to be stored, so I will accomplish that today.

And that was yesterday....

Today has already begun... at 3:30am as matter of fact... with a crying baby who didn't want to go back to sleep until 5am for her Grandma. But that's ok. It gives me time to read my Bible a bit, and make my family a good breakfast.

So see? Waking up early is a good thing... even when you DON'T have to work that day!!

~Blessings to you all~

October 10, 2008

Well, hubby is back safe and sound from his overnight to Kentucky. I called him this AM when I got up for work, and all was well. He had a partner with him, but he said that he (DH) drove on the way home. I kind of figured he would. He drives on 98% of our trips anywhere. He's a good driver, and besides, I tend to sleep whenever I am in the car )passenger side)! LOL!

We finally have Amelia set and ready for work. She starts tomorrow!  She got her physical and we went to pick up her uniforms today. Of course, she looks adorable! Black pants, white tuxedo shirt, black vest and black tie. We just returned from having to search at the Mall for some black shoes. I wouldn't have went there, but they closed our Payless Shoe Source this spring! I'll post pictures when I get some (probably tomorrow) of her in her work uniform....

Last night, Amelia slept with me. She asked if she could, and who am I to say "No" to my 15 year old? All too soon, I won't have her and she'll be grown with a family of her own.... So, my baby girl slept with me last night.  I woke up about 1:30a to do what I always do in the middle of the night, and I saw the upstairs light still on, and 2 children (11 year odl son and 14 year old daughter) up there giggling and carrying on.... so I told them to turn the lights out, and of course, when I got back to bed, I still hear my very disobedient young man still carrying on. But 4:00 am comes way too early for me anyway, and if I would have gotten back up, I would have been awake all night.

THIS TIME, I let it go, cause I KNEW he would get tangled in his little snare before the day was out... and he did. He asked the same question of both DH and I 3 times today and got the same answer... he wanted to go out front to play.

Now mind you, he's grounded, but we have been allowing him a bit more freedom these days due to good behavior. But after asking 3 times if he could go out front, and being told 3 times, "No, you cannot."

DH came in the house to talk to me about his trip, and within 2 minutes.....

Our son had snuck outside and down the road!!!!!!!!!!

Because he said, "I wanted to walk...."

Can we say.... "Grounding again, with a more strict regimen this time?"

*SIGH*

What are we gonna do with him?

Any suggestions?

Anyone?

~Blessings~

October 9, 2008

As always, there's good news, bad news and in between news....

Let's start with the good, so we can look back and say... "Hey.. it ain't so bad!"

DH has found a job, It isn't the best, but it'll help pay the bills! YEA! But it may also take away his disability that he earned back when he was hurt so many years ago. (Oh! That goes in the "Bad" news, right?) Anyhoo~ he's a delivery driver. It pays by the trip, and tonight, my precious dh is taking off to go to KY at 9pm for an overnight delivery. I'm not used to being without him! But, we will survive. We have the Lord here and I'll make sure to lock up tight after he leaves and before I head off to bed....

We've been having revival at church this week, and it has been good. The young preacher is wonderful and he's doing alot of good! The past two nights, we've had 4 saved, and 3 re-dedications! YIPEE!

I just had an offer to buy our bird for a straight up $800. I think I may take it. DH doesn't want to get rid of the bird, but it bites, and it doesn't let him touch it. And we need the money! LOL!

Bad news is...

We're behind in bills, I don't have the children's school schedules ready, and another nurse at work is angry with me (I just found out today) because she says that "I don't work as hard as she does." Now we have to have a meeting with all 4 nurses that work days, and "clear the air" so to speak.  I just have a question... if I don't work as hard as she does... then why do I NOT get breaks or lunches and have 21 patients to take care of and she has 12 and takes breaks and lunches? Just a thought.... but I didn't know she was upset with me until today (it all came out in an impromptu meeting we had with the boss today) and frankly, it rather has me un-nerved a bit.

And the in-between news is that... Amelia goes tomorrow for her pre- employment physical, and gets her uniforms and her schedule!

We went today and got her a picture ID (which was like pulling teeth) and yesterday to get her work permit.

I am a proud Momma!

:)

She cooked supper tonight, chicken legs and thighs, creamed corn, homemade biscuits and mashed potatoes.... yea, I know.. lots of starch, but good hillbilly cookin'!! And she sure is turning out to be a fantastic cook!

Well... suppers on the table, so I am getting off here and filling my belly before I work on the children's schedules tonight.

~Blessings to all who read here~

October 6, 2008

Quick note for tonight.....

Green tomatoes are finished up and put away for winter use! :) :) :)

9 quarts of dilled tomatoes (sorry~ no pics of those) yesterday and 11 quarts of green tomato relish today!

Ain't it purty?

Gotta get to bed, unfortunately, 4am comes a bit on the early side for me.

Just in time to go to work and get yelled at and made snide comments to and about....

*SIGH* I'd rather be home playing in my tomatoes....

Maybe someday....

October 5, 2008

This weekend, we have made quite a jump in preparing for the colder months... finished up a big pile of wood, cut and chopped. DH taught me to use a chainsaw! LOL!

This is what we have so far...

This still needs done...

We also finished up the garden, and I got 9 quarts of dilled tomatoes put up yesterday, and plan on finishing up today with some tomato relish... here's what we had left...

Abi made the family bread yesterday. 4 loaves. 2 white and 2 wheat. She's getting pretty good at knowing her way around the kitchen! And believe it or not, we are going to need to make 4 more today! (There's still 2 loaves left.)

Today, I am making the children's school schedules. So Dad (and I) can stay on track with what's going on. We get so lost sometimes, and find it hard to "regain composure" one might say... LOL!

Although the past 2 weeks have been purposely taken off so we could get caught up on everything needing done around the house, and that's ok.

I am going to try using the CIMT Math for our son, and place him at a slightly lower level than he is used to, but by doing this, he can play catch up, and whiz right through it and get a review while working toward the next level!

There really is a method to my madness, I promise!

Most of it is my fault for not keeping up with what I promise myself I can do....I make schedules, and then they fall off the face of the earth within a week.... bad habit....

30 lessons have just printed. So I had better go and get myself around, eh?

~Blessings~

October 2, 2008

October. Is it really October, already? Where did the summer go? For that matter.. where did spring go? LOL! Momma always told me that the older I get, the faster time flies.... Momma was a wise old woman.

The weather is getting more chilly in the evenings, dh built a small fire in the wood burner yesterday. It was nice.

Today he was busy and cleaned the stove (wood burner) and the chimney to prepare for winter. He scrubbed and shined, and made it all nice and ready for when we need it all day, every day!

He called Family Video today about the interview he was in on Tuesday. Turns out they've not graded his test yet. Said they'll probably do it this weekend. But at least he checked, which I am proud of. And he did go to a couple of other places and returned applications. I do realize that it must be degrading for a man his age to have to go to places where mostly teenagers work for a job, but right now, we are sinking, and I am getting scared. DH is a hard worker that puts everything into his work, but he doesn't think he is smart enough. He calls himself a "back breaker". Jack of all trades, master of none describes him. He knows how to do alot of things, and do them well, but he has no "hire-able" skill.

He keeps telling me that God will provide, which He has, but I think God also wants us to prepare and be ready.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had chili and homemade bread for supper tonight, which was good. DH made some "walnut" butter, which we used in leiu of peanut butter. Tasted pretty good! Guess I had better be thinking ahead to tomorrow night, eh?

Good news on the horizon though!

Amelia got the job at the local retirement community working in dietary! YEA!!! Tomorrow, dh is going to take her and see about getting a work permit. I looked up how homeschoolers go about getting one, and it is pretty much the same as public school children. Just have to have proof of age, and schooling.

She understands that the same rules apply as did her older sister when she began working as a teenager.... 10% comes straight off the top as a tithe, then the paycheck is split in half. Half goes in the bank, and the other half is yours to spend as you wish!

I am a proud Momma......

I am also proud of Abi, who did not get angry because she was not even interviewed (due to her age and the hours needed to work), but was instead genuinely happy for her sister when she told us that she got the job!

I see that I have rambled on enough, so I shall go for now (as I am also getting sleepy), and I wish to read my Bible a bit before I sleep.

~Blessings~