A Heart For Home
Final Storm Preparations & Oh Yeah, The Ants Were Right!
It seems that Hanna is heading our way. We are now under a Tropical Storm Warning/Hurricane Watch. The forecasters say that we should "feel" the brunt of the storm during the early morning hours of Saturday. I like it much better when these kind of storms come in during the day. Just listening to howling of hurricane force winds with no lights on in the house is a scary experience. We won't evacuate for this storm. We'll ride this one out. We made it through Fran with 120 mile an hour winds. Hanna's winds are expected to stay between 65-75 mph. We feel safe enough where we are and that's about 45 miles from the coast. Now, that other storm out there, Ike, looks to be a different storm altogether Here goes the list of the final preparations: Wash all clothes I really should have paid more attention to those ants that invaded my home earlier in the summer. They really are a sure sign of a hurricane in our area. They have ALWAYS shown up in the house, everywhere, before hurricanes come. I should have listened to hubby. Please keep us all here in southeast NC in your prayers. I know that The Lord is in control of all. I just get a wee bit apprehensive when these storms come our way. Bless all who pass this way and for those who are in the path of this storm, stay safe! Amanda <><
Hurricane Preparations Under Way
Hurricane Hanna is fast approaching our area. You would never know that such a storm was lurking out at sea from the beautiful clear and cool skies that we have right now. It is once again a beautifully clear and cool morning. I am sure that the next few mornings to come will change dramatically. We went ahead and went out yesterday for our "hurricane supplies." We obtained everything we needed with the exception of ice and fuel. Hubby will get that tomorrow. I am glad that I went yesterday and didn't wait until today. Stores are the last place that you want to be during hurricanes watches/warnings. Thank you to all who commented on yesterday's post. There were a lot of great ideas that I would have never of thought of. I really liked the idea of precooking food and keeping it cooled to eat later. I don't remember having ever done that. We have always just ate sandwiches. I do believe that I will be frying some chicken up tomorrow night and putting it on ice (after the power goes out) and using that as a dinner for Saturday night. (Thank you Violin Kids Mom for that idea!) I am also praying tht hubby will get to work tomorrow. He was off on Monday because of Labor day. If he is off tomorrow, that will really throw us off our budget For those of you who will also be preparing for the storm, stay safe and praise God that this storm is in His hands! To God be the glory! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Hurricane Preparations
I have to start this day praising God for His goodness to me. It is another cool morning, about 65* outside (maybe cooler.) This kind of weather gets me up and going. I am not sure that it will stay this beautifull and cool though. We have an unwanted visitor trying to make its way up the east coast. Her name is Hanna. It seems that the projections could have her on our door step by the weekend. We have gone through hurricanes before. The last really bad one was in the mid 90's. We were without power for about a week (maybe more.) It was miserable. We lived off of pop tarts and sandwiches (YUCK!) Yes, I was not prepared as I should have been. Live and learn and be better prepared the next time. We have a generator now, unlike the last few storms. So I can better prepare smaller, more nutritional food for the family. I am so thankful for that generator. I have a freezer full of corn and blueberries, not to mention meat that I can't stand the thought of losing. This is a list of things I will need to purchase when I go into town tomorrow in preparation for the storm: Batteries (lots of them) Well, I need to get going and get breakfast prepared for the children. Have a blessed day in The Lord ! Amanda <><
Fall Is In The Air!
It is such a beautifully COOL Tuesday morning here in the southeast. I have all of the windows and doors open in the house and it is only 6:45 in the morning. We had a lovely day yesterday here on the homestead. I spent most of the day cooking and cleaning. (Monday's require extra cleaning around here The kids made Smores and roasted marshmellows. It was so nice to have all of the family together enjoying God's creation at the end of a long day. I am so thankful for the time we are able to spend together as a family. Hubby's hours may have been cut, but I know that the time we have with him being home is such a blessing. Time is something that cannot be bought. Time just goes by so fast, that I just want to soak up every little bit of time that I have with my family. I am so blessed and I thank my Lord for my family! To God be the glory now and forever! Amen! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< Saturday's Happenings
It has been a very busy and productive day here on the homestead. I have to say that it is great to be a child of The King! God is always so good to me and my family. He reminds me everyday of His faithfulness, even when things aren't going as I would like them too. Hubby was home today.Even though he has had his hours cut in half, the kids and I have so enjoyed having him home with us. It's nice to know that he is close by and that if we need him, he is there. I actually slept in until 9:00 this morning. I spent most of the day cleaning and cooking. I find it easier to prepare Sunday's meal on Saturday so I can spend more time with my family. Sunday is just the busiest day of the week for me. From the time I get up its go, go, go. So having dinner already prepared makes sense. Just heat up and serve. That's after I get my Baptist nap of course. Well, not much else going on here. Praying for all of you in the front line of Gustav. We are keeping an eye on Hanna ourselves and praying she won't head our way. I hate hurricane season. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< Home Education & Me
Good Afternoon Friends & Family! I pray that you are all having a great day in The Lord. It has been a really good day here on the homestead. School has finished for the day and we are ready for the weekend. We had a great time at Homegroup yesterday. We got rained out at the park and ended up doing our yearly planning in a members van. I am really proud of the 4 children we had. They played in the back of the van for almost 3 hours while we parents discussed the upcoming school year and what activities we wanted to plan. They were ALL so good with no complaints at all. Now that says a lot for our kids. Homeschooled kids are more ready to adapt to whatever their circumstances! My DD (15) wanted to stay home by herself this time. So I let her have some "alone" time while at the meeting. My other DD (18) had to go to work. I am so going to miss her this year at our Home group meetings. I have no doubt that when the time comes that she will be able to Homeschool her children for the glory of God. DD (18) has been my "guinea pig," so to speak when it comes to Homeschooling. I have also learned that each one of my children has different needs and different ways of learning. So what has worked with one doesn't mean it will work for the other. Trial and error, prayer and more prayer. I get the privledge of seeing them grasp a concept for the first time. I got the privlege of teaching my son (9) to read. I got the blessing of seeing my Dd FINALLY grasp Algebra and move onto geometry all by herself. It's not always easy. There are days when I think, "they need to get on that bus and let "the professionals" deal with them. Well, God made me their Mom and that's as "professional" as it gets. He who has called me will be faithful. Most importantly though is what I have learned over the past 9 years. God has used this Homeschoolinhg experience to shape and mold me as well as my children. Being around one's children ALL of the time really makes you realize just what an example you are. The good and the ugly! All of my strength comes from My Lord though. It's The Lord that I cry out to daily and I am so thankful that He is always there no matter what the situation. He has shown me time and time again that it needs to be Him that I need to turn to when a problem arises. Homeschooling will really make you see problems and issues that might be easier left to another, but ultimately better left to the professional, Jesus Christ! To God be the glory now and forever! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< Following Christ~ No Turning Back! Good Morning Family & Friends! We had what I would call an "off" day yesterday around here. It started out with good intentions, things just kept going down hill though. Praying for a better day and another day to praise His name!
Dd has been doing really well with her FAR studies. This week she has been chronicling the lives of women in the Old Testament. She is studying about different women in different books and how they served God. How were they faithful to God? What were their daily activities like? What was it about them that made God pen their names in His word? All of these women showed such strength and courage in following God. Obedience was the main theme in these women's lives. I pray that can be said of my life and that of my daughters. That is what I strive daily to teach my children. (oh, how satan loves to trip me up though.) I did not grow up in a Christian home. I was about as heathen as a person can be without Christ. I was saved about 15 years ago. So everything that I have learned in the past 15 years and (more even recently) has been sort of "trial & error" where it concerns my children. It's like what my Pastor said the other morning. He said that when we are saved, we still have some really bad habits in our lives that need to be changed. Ways of thinking that are contrary to God's word (thinking like the world) that needs to be brought under the authority of Christ. I said that to say this. Bringing every thought captive to The Word of God WILL change your life! It has mine and I am so thankful that The Lord has shown me this. It affects every aspect of your life and how you do things. From the places I go, to the education my children receive. That's the point I am trying to make here. Whenever a decision is made in the life of my children, I have to look to The Word of God and see what it says. What does it say about men,women,mothers,daughters,sons, fathers? What does it say about the way I dress? The way I worship? The way I educate my children? So much to consider and so much to learn. What I have also learned lately more than anything is that TOTALLY leaning on Christ and using the Bible as your guide will make you an object of ridicule and scorn for the choices you are making. Father please give me strength when those trials come and help me to remember that no matter what, you are in control. I also need to remember that when those trials come, you are the one letting them come. For your glory and honor. To God be the glory, now and forever! Amen! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Pondering The Scriptures~Roles & Obedience
Good Morning Family & Friends~ I have to start this day giving praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He has allowed me to get out of my bed and spend another day serving my family and those whom He brings into my path. This is something that I have drilled and drilled into my children's heads I am probably going to get 'deeper" into thought here on this blog than I usually do. There just seems to be so much going on in my life and that of my daughters that I feel compelled to let others see what The Lord has been showing me for the past few years. My Dd (18) is having a difficult time right. It seems to be a spiritual battle. Having just graduated from highschool and having no definate direction to go, she is confused. Her confusion comes from "looking" at others lives and comparing her life to theirs. (BIG mistake!) Her mistake comes from "listening" to the world and not listening to The Savior. I can understand her worries, I was once there too. Being her Mom though makes it tough when I know that she is going through a time of "trial" in her young life. The trials I speak of are coming from others who speak their mind too freely without any thought of their words. Some are well intentioned others are not. I told DD that she just needs to compare what "others" are saying against scripture. I have continually strived to teach my DD's that being a woman of The King is your HIGHEST priority. I have (and am still) teaching them to be Proverbs 31 women, NOT women of this world. Whenever you go by The Scriptures as your life's pattern, you are going to have trials. Those trials come because the world's ways and Christs ways are NOT, nor will ever be the same. If we go by the pattern of scripture and what it says concerning women, the ways are going to be absolutely foreign to those who know not The Lord. It will also be foreign to those who say they know Him, but are following the examples of the world and not that of Scripture. Isn't that the problem though? Being Christians and thinking like non Christians? Trust me, I was there not so long ago until Sweet Jesus got a hold of my heart (OUCH!) and let me know that it is HIS word that counts, not the world's. That being said, you can definately be assured that I am raising my daughters totally different from the world. The Bible emphasizes roles that are different for men and women. He made us, he ought to know what He had planned from the beginning. So I have been studying scripture and the examples it gives about women. Who were the godly ones? What made them that way? Where did their strength come from? How were they able to stand against their foes and live completely and totally unyielding to God? The examples are tremendous! They lived simple lives, took care of their families and spent time serving God. They were not out to "prove" themselves as the world says you must do today. They didn't have a piece of paper that said they were accomplished. They had their FAITH! They had The Lord! What more can I possiably teach my DD's? I want my daughters to follow Scripture. I want them to go to scripture for their "career path." When all is said and done, a piece of paper and all of our hard work (done for ourselves) will not honor God. Being found faithful in serving others, obeying His commandments, and putting Him first in ALL is what counts. It's not popular, its not worldly, it's Christ and the example that he has left us with. Seach ye the scriptures. What does it say about our daughters? What does it say about our sons? What does it say about Mothers? What does it say about Fathers? What does it say about servants? What saith the scriptures? What do the Scriptures say about "how" to raise daughters? It says to teach them to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, KEEPERS OF HOME, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:4 & 5) That is what I teaching my daughters. I am not teaching them that they must have a degree to be an accomplished woman. Being an accompolished woman is following Scripture and going against the world in order to serve God. It's NOT about money and recognition. It's about being a servant as Christ was to bring others to a saving knowlege of Him. But, But! How will she??? Fill in the blank. Is not Christ the ruler of this earth? Did He not make the world in 6 days? Does He not hold this world in the palm of His hand? Did He not know me (you) from the beginning of time? Where is the FAITH people? HE wrote what He did in His word for a reason. He knows the right way! He is almighty God, Lord of all! How can anyone EVER go wrong when raising their children to OBEY word of God? You can't go wrong. In the end, I want my children to follow God and not the world. I also want them to realize that they will meet opposition when obeying God. Opposition from the world and from those who say they are of God. Again, search ye the scripture and see how wonderful He is.
So radically different, but so radically God's plan! How good is my God! How good He is to me! Praise His name, praise Him always! To God be the glory now and forever! Let my thoughts be ever towards you! Let my ways follow your word! Let me ever praise You SWEET LORD for saving my soul and changing my heart! I LOVE you Sweet Jesus! Amen! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda
The Voice of Truth
Who do we choose to listen too? The world, or the Savior of the world? Let it be said of my house, "that we will serve The Lord!" Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< History Unwrapped
These are facts that you will NEVER learn in a public school. http://www.americanvision.org/radio/historyunwrapped.asp - Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Home Education & Counting The Cost For Christ
Good Morning Friends and Family~ We have been busy getting into the "swing" of school at last. We have managed to stay on course getting 4 days a week done. I had planned earlier in the year to do a 4 day week instead of a traditional 5 day week. It has been working out really well so far. We will still have our 180 days in by the end of May 2009 and complete (Lord willing) all of our books for the year. My Dd's Far studies have been going well. It takes a lot more planning on my part, but it is well worth the time. I know that everything she is learning from the Bible will be a seed planted in her heart. I will pray continually that The Lord will bring that "seed" into full maturity in His time, for His will and purposes. DS has also gotten into the "swing" of school. He has been doing really well with his math. The first few days he went into "melt down." His summer break was too long and he had to "reprogram" his brain to remenber simple math concepts that he had forgotten. My other DD (18) will be starting the College Plus prgram in a few months http://www.collegeplus.org - . College Plus is a program that allows a student to CLEP out their college credits without all of the usual time and money spent and a regular college. CLEP's are tests taken that give you college credit in the basic classes that are expected by colleges no matter what your major is. DD (18) still does not know what to major in. The Lord has just not lead her in any particular direction at this time. I tell her to just keep praying and seeking God's will and He will lead her as she is faithfull and obedient in her every day tasks. What I can honestly say is that my Dd (18) is following The Lord. You can't say that about many 18 year old's today. I am also sad to say that she has been ridiculed for her choices as well. The ridiculing has been aweful lately. I know that it is only satan trying to get her off of the "narrow path." It can be so hard and lonely when you choose to serve Jesus Christ. I know that my DD has been lonely because of her choices, I also know that God will bless her because of her choices. I know that she has grown so much in the past few years into a woman of God. (NOT perfect, just growing and seeking to serve The Lord.") I can't help it if people don't understand the "ways" or "whys" of what we as a family do. I can only do what The Lord has told me to and that is to teach those ways to my children and continue as a soilder for Christ. Please pray for our young adults, we some times forget how hard it is to be young and stand for Christ all alone. (I know I have.) I am so proud that my DD's are willing to stand up for Christ with their actions and speech. It can be lonely nevertheless. To God be the glory forever and ever! Amen! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< The $50.00 Grocery Challenge
Here's the challenge: You have ONLY the following in the pantry and $50.00 cash. What would your meal plan for the week look like? What would you buy with that $50.00 to feed a family of 5 with for one week? Post your meal planner on your blog or this one. Let's get creative and help one another. 1 dz. eggs
I'm going to use the following and see what I could come up with. Knowing what I have been spending for the past few weeks has made me get creative. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Prices On Groceries To Rise Even More?
Hubby went with me to the grocery store a few weeks back. He couldn't believe the prices he saw. Just how does a family of 5 live off of $50.00 a week for groceries? Praying, planning and preparing is the only way I know how to. The Lord will meet our needs, He always has and I know He always will! To God be the glory! Always! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Christian Homesteading Has Another Name-Agrarianism
http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/01/deliberate-agrarian-archives-christian.html- Christian Agrarianism. Simple living, relying on God and his creation for sustainability. Interesting blogs and articles. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< Countryside Articles- Great Information On Homesteading On and Off Gridhttp://www.countrysidemag.com/library.html -All kinds of info.on Homesteading on and off grid. Blessings, Amanda <>< Making A Homemade Wood Burning Cook Stove Article
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/88/88-6/W_Wayne_Robertson.html Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Chewy Milk Dud Cookies
Chewy Milk Duds Cookies1 1/2 cups butter-flavor shortening Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Calling All Stay At Home Moms! Is This You Now & Days?
Can any of you relate? Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< Courtship? Dating? What's A Christian To Do?
I found a good site that explains courtship/dating. http://www.lyndacoats.com/?page_id=42- It seems relavent at this time in my DD's lives. People are always asking "why" don't they have a boyfriend? Why don't they date? Why? Why? Why? This site just explains the "whys" better than I can. All can say is that when The Lord sees that my DD's are ready for a marriage that will glorify Him, He will do it in His time and not mine. Definately not the world's timing or way. I just have to trust and have faith that He already knows who He wants for my DD's future husbands. To God be the glory, now and forever! Amen! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
A Family Living Off The Grid~
I came across this blog spot http://www.anteagrarians.com/- about a family living off the grid. Wow! What a gal. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< |
. If that one keeps up its wind speeds and heads our way, we will be evacuating. We live in double wide mobile home and know that winds in the excess of 120 would tear our home apart. Sweet Lord, please keep all of us safe and in your hands!
(Read my post about the ants from earlier this summer. Trust the ants people!
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It can be absolute madness!
