I do not make New Year Resolutions, rather I like to reflect on the previous year and count my blessings--we are not to look back with regret on our lives, but rather take from it, learn from it, and be blessed by it--2008 was in so many ways a great year for us, but also a troublesome one in many ways--even in the trials though I can see the Lord working, shaping and molding us for this next season in our lives--early in '08 DH's business fell to an all time low in income,it was a very scarey time for us--BUT the Lord never waivered and was there for us and saw a through a very trying time--Spring of '08 was a very blessed time here on the homestead--new life was everywhere here--baby goats were born, chicks were hatched and tiny little baby ducks were hatched, life was abundant here--Our garden did not do as well as I hoped, but nonetheless we had more than some and less than others, but it was all from the Lord and we were grateful--DH's business began to pick up and once again we thanked the Lord for seeing us through a huge trial--Summer was great as well--we havested what the garden produced--I canned and froze what I could--we blessed others by selling what goat kids we did not need and met some really awesome people in the process--We were also looking for land to purchase during this time--we were only looking for an acre or 2--we looked a few tracks of land, but it just didn't work out--early fall we found 18 acres, way more than our original plan--but notice I said "our"--the Lord seemed to have other plans for us--after much prayer, negotiations, and more prayer we signed papers on an awesome 18 acres of land, this was more than we ever imagined we would own--God surely blessed us many times over--We are still praising him today for his goodness--Late fall my vehicle basically quit so it was time for another one--i was apprehensive since I a huge fan of debt free living--we purchased an 01 Ford explorer--well just this past week, I regret to say that the rear-end went out of it--BUT the Lord was faithful and we were able to purchase a Mini-van--a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette Luxury edition--Very low miles--leather interior--VCR for the kiddos to enjoy movies while driving--looks brand new inside and out and its cheaper than the explorer--Just another blessing to count!--Christmas Eve this year I was informed I will be a grandma again( 3rd time) in late August!--Yes my oldest is expecting--she is about 5 weeks--DH's job also slowed way down this year, but the Lord blessed him with a temporary job to see us thru these next few months--not an ideal job, but nonetheless its a job in a time many are losing theirs--All and all 2008 was a good year--Yes, we had many trials, but trials keep us close to the Lord--don't ya think?--Its those trials that test and stretch our Faith--its in those trials we grow--with 2009 only a few hours away I look forward to new trials and I feel there will be many--I feel Christians will be faced with challenges we have not ever had to deal with, but I know for those of us truly trying to serve the Lord He will not fail us--We must keep our faith and focus on the Lord--we need to be out there supporting other Christians, sharing the gospel and creating a safety net ready to share whatever we have with other believers if need be--Times are going to get rough--BUT I know the Lord will see us all through--We need to be speaking the truth now more than ever--there are going to be those that do not want to hear it, or will not believe it, but NOW is the time--I pray you are blessed beyond measure in 2009--I pray for courage and strength for all believers in 2009--Look back to your blessings in 2008 and look forward to be a blessing to someone in 2009--

~Kris

Hidee Ho good friends! I finally got a signal, so I am thankful for that! We are on the road again working another tournament. Only problem is, the signals here are terrible! We are having trouble with our card reader, cell phones, and the aircards for computers. It is not only us, other service providers and vendors are having the same issues. But we are all muddling through.

For me that means that I have not been able to get online access or email since. SO, please know that I am so sorry that the posts didn't go after the beginning of the week. BUT, have no fear, they have been posting on the NEW Journey to Simplicity, so there is much for you to jump into during this weekend! Also, bare with me. I am not certain if thsi week's e-zine will go out on time and this week's posts may be more of the same. It will all depend upon my internet connection availability. Only time will tell. :)

So here are some great thiings for you to check out this weekend!

Simplify Christmas for Christ

Simple & Frugal Meal Ideas

Gingerbread Ornaments After Christmas

HAVE FUN!

Well even though winter is just starting I am so happy to say we are finally thawing out!  The temps went above 32 and now everything is beginning to melt into one big soupy mess..  But hey at least we can get out and about now.  Emily and Leanne dug out her car yesterday..  no easy feat.  Today I think she is dying for a shopping and Starbucks fix with her sisters.  Cabin fever is alive and thriving around here!  LOL..   

Today I will be at home.  I have soap business stuff to catch up on and a house to clean and food to make.  We feasted on Christmas Eve dinner and then leftovers for a few days.  My son was thrilled to enjoy lots of homemade food..  and lots of food is what I made.  But now it is time to make some more.  I did make a pot of navy bean soup yesterday with my leftover ham bone. Today I think spaghetti or lasagna will be on the menu too.   

I typically take down my tree the day after Christmas but my son had two requests before he came home.. one was pizza (did that for him the first night he got here) and the other was a Christmas tree..  so for him I will leave it up a few more days.  But by Monday it has got to go..  I start feeling a real need about now to get my life reorganized and ready for the new year.  

I am currently contemplating my new year goals..  I am not a big fan of resolutions instead I make goals.  So I will be praying and working towards some new personal goals, business goals, website goals, and more.  So what do you typically do..  goals or resolutions?   

Well that is all from the homestead today..  Keep warm as we head into 2009!

Well the last snow pictures I showed you were just the beginning of this storm!  LOL..  well maybe not really..  but pretty close! We got a break from the snow for a few hours but it is back again.  I will share some updated pics in this post. 

My hubby was finally able to come home on Monday night!  Yea!!  I kept watching the DOT website waiting to see when the highway would be open and finally about 4:30pm Jacob refreshed the webpage and came to me saying..  Mom I think it’s open now.  So I checked and sure enough.  I called Tobin’s cell and told him the good news and he was so happy.   He had worked Saturday night as usual, slept at work in a chair for a few hours and worked another shift on Sunday plus overtime.  By Monday morning the highway was still closed. His company paid for a hotel room for him so he could get some sleep which was a real blessing. But by Monday evening things were open again and he could come home. 

On Tuesday he cleared the driveway and by afternoon we were able to get to town and pick up groceries and then we were going to pick up my son.  But his plane had mechanical difficulties and was delayed 4 hours.  So we headed home, unpacked groceries and went back to town to pick him up at midnight.  We were so thrilled to see him!!  It has been a year and half since he has been home.  He arrived home to see all the yellow balloons greeting him from the fence posts and tied to trees lining the driveway and the back porch.  We had pizza and talked till nearly 3am..  needless to say we all slept in this morning!   

We also woke up to MORE snow and it has been snowing ever since.  Tobin redid the driveway and then dug our neighbor out of his drive way too.  Tobin says if it does not stop snowing pretty soon there will be no place to put all this snow after cleans up!   

Well now for pics..  remember the picnic table?  Well if you look carefully you may just be able to see it now..   that is my deck almost completely full of snow..
 

Here are a few more shots from around my property.. 

Part of the driveway with the snow walls on each side from the snow removed…
 

My front yard…
 

Updated pic of Emily’s car… 
 

And some pretty pics of our property that Emily took this morning…

Have a very Merry Christmas Everyone!