Please email Lisa @ Lisa@HomesteadOriginals.com

Paypal only to the above email address , I can ship however you like—just let me know  J I’ll ship MEDIA MAIL unless another request is made—please add $3.00 to your total for shipping.

BOOKS : All are BRAND NEW or in excellent shape LIKE NEW, unless they have a ** next to them, that indicates they are gently used J

Home & Homeschool Titles/Curriculum/Parents Books

Lasting Lessons: Mini Theme Workbooks : Many Mini Mice / Going, Going, Gone & Simply Sunflowers $2.00 each

Baby’s First Foods: A Mothers Guide to Whole Grains & Family Nourishment hardcover BRAND NEW $5.00

Writing: The Bridge Between Us by Popular Weasel Press Student & Teacher Book – BRAND NEW $3.00 set

Premeditated Parenting by Steve Nelson BRAND NEW $4.00

Just Around the Corner- Steve & Terri Maxwell BRAND NEW $5.00

All In Good Time: Real Life Organizing for Work at Home Moms by Debbie Williams BRAND NEW $3.00

Household Wisdom / Tessa Evelegh  BRAND NEW hardcover $5.00

Momma’s Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households –BRAND NEW Kimberly Eddy $3.00

The Basic Steps to Successful Homeschooling – Vicki Brady $3.00 **

Yankee Home Hints – Earl Proulx $4.00

A Servants Heart Bible Curriculum  Bob Jones University Press Teachers Edition LIKE NEW $10.00

The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool : Book and Companion Bible Study Book BRAND NEW $5.00

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life w/CD by Marilyn Rockett BRAND NEW  $10.00

Planet Earth 25 Environmental Projects BRAND NEW $3.00

One Blood – Ken Ham Hard Cover- BRAND NEW $3.00

Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling BRAND NEW $2.00

Skydiving for Parents – Jane Bullivant BRAND NEW $3.00

History of the US The New Nation Teachers Guide BRAND NEW $4.00

The How & Why of Homeschooling by Ray Ballman $3.00 **

Fields w/ God: A Nature Devotional by Lorraine Curry $3.00

The Narrow Way Bible & Character Study /Curriculum by Pearables $15.00 *

The Art of Argument by Classical Academic Press Teacher & Student book set $10.00

When you Rise Up by RC Sproul $4.00

Books for Homeschool / Children /Family / Readers

Andrea Carter & The Family Secret BRAND NEW $3.00

Silver Sails ABEKA $2.00 **

Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn $2.00

Heroes of the  Faith  : David Livingstone $2.00 **

Five Little Peppers & How they Grew by Margaret Sidney $3.00 **

The Christian Philosophy of Patrick Henry $5.00

Stories of Pilgrims Christian Liberty Press $4.00

Annie Quinn in America hardcover $4.00

A Question of Yams BJUP $3.00 **

Solider Fritz and the Enemies he Fought by Emma Leslie $3.00

A Family Guide to the Bible by Crossway $3.00

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling $2.00 **

ABEKA Reader : Message of the Mountain LIKE NEW $3.00

Great Truths for Little Children $2.00

Jesus Must be Really Special (hardcover) $4.00

The Secret of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks (the author of The Indian In The Cupboard) used in good shape old library copy  hardcover w/dust jacket $2.00 **

Buried in the Snow  a beautiful LAMPLIGHTER HARDCOVER BRAND NEW $5.00

American Girl: Kristen’s Surprise / Addy Learns a Lesson / Samantha’s Special Talent (hardcover) / Happy Birthday Addy / Samantha’s Winter Party (hardcover) / Meet Molly / Samantha’s Surprise /   $2.00 each ** (some of these American Girl books are like NEW, others show a little wear – FYI)

Alice In Wonderland Hard Cover LIKE NEW $3.00

At Her Majesty’s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England $3.00

The Man Who Carried the Cross for Jesus $1.00 **

Widening Horizons ABEKA $3.00 **

The Secret Lives of Cats hardcover $2.00 **

The Prince of Egypt hardcover $3.00 (collectors edition)

Jesus is Calling by Ken Ham/Master Books $3.00

The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History $10.00

The Beggars Blessing – Lamplighter Hardcover BRAND NEW $5.00

The American Twins of the Revolution- Lucy Fitch Perkins $5.00

Oliver & Amanda and the Big Snow $1.00 **

Usborne Internet linked “First Encyclopedia of Seas & Oceans” $5.00

The Grapes of Math hardcover $ 4.00

ABC Safari hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $3.00

The Rainforest Grew All Around  hardcover(Sylvan Dell Publishing) $3.00

Whistling Wings hardcover  (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $3.00

My Half Day hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $3.00

Turtle Summer hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $3.00

DVDS—all NEW or LIKE NEW condition $1.00 each

Dinosaur Eggs & Babies

Rainy Day Art Projects

Raising Godly Children

The Great COmmandment

The Adventures of Walker & Ping Ping

Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming our Culture

Annie: A Royal Adventure

CDs—all NEW or LIKE NEW condition $3.00 each

Vision Forum : The Promise (still in plastic wrap!)

The Well Integrated Homeschool

Grammar School Grammar by Tammy Peters

Vision Forum: Jennie B and the Pilot (still in plastic wrap!)

Today I called the hospital and spoke with the CEO's executive secretary Wendy. I did this to get the ball rolling on a promise I made when we watched our son go home to be with Jesus.

This is a HUGE emotional and spiritual obsticle for me as there have been MANY a hill to climb since October and the fact that I haven't much trust for Dr.s these days. But my heart longs to set things straight so that no other grieving parent ever has to endure what we have.

The past few months I've gone from a deep depression, to blaming myself, blaming others, anger, RAGE, and now while my heart still cries out for our son Jackson, my heart and spirit are finally able to do what my mind has told me needs to happen in order to move forward.

This is THE hardest part of the whole ordeal because I DON'T WANT to move forward without my baby! I don't want to leave my hopes and dreams for him behind. The fact that I would be holding him soon, playing with him as a toddler, watching him grow to be a man and cry at his wedding as he takes a vow to love, honor and charish his wife before God.

Truth is, Jackson is LIVING in heaven. So it's time to LIVE here on earth and find joy here on earth even in trials.

So as I held the phone close, shaking. Wondering what in the world I would say. Trying to keep myself calm and focused. I found the person on the other side of the phone (Wendy) to be a voice of compassion. I did not hollar, nor did I point a finger. I held myself exactly as I had hoped I'd be. We can't change things if we're not willing to be a part of that change.

I wrote a list of things along the way that happened, and rewrote (probably will do it again) in order to get my point across to change some policies to help other grieving families in the future. I have several other calls to make to be sure that I'm understanding some things correctly before I present them to the hospital staff.

THEN, I plan to offer my own experiences in helping to implant these new policies and volunteer if they need any help to do so.

I'm not quite sure HOW this will all play out in the end, but I DO hope that some new policies will be put in place and some organization in other areas.

I'm not God nor is there anything really special about me to think that "I" am some great person in all this. I know I'm not. In fact, many of you have seen a part of me that's not quite pleasant to be around. I'm not blind to this. But I see God working in my life and in my husbands life to bring healing and to teach. Faith, Trust and HOPE. Something while I "say" I have, a person with HOPE doesn't hold themselves in fear and hopelessness. God is a source of STRENGTH beyond measure and filled with HOPE.

I was reminded yesterday that Special Olympics is taking place soon. Lets look at these folks young and old and see that while they have disabilities of some sort, they look PAST them to be who they ARE. That is not only inspiring, but convicting as well. That they find HOPE and have much FAITH to overcome obsticles that are everyday for them. Yet they overcome victoriousely.

In the end, I can either hold on to the pain and anger, OR I can let it go and TRUELY make a difference in the lives of others which will enable me to find TRUE acceptance of a tragedy and change the course.

This month, I have taken the sock I wanted to knit in my grieving and took a class to finish it. I have the leg and foot done and now working on the toe.

I purchased two different materials to make Jackson's memorial quilt.

I called the hospital to make an appointment in order to share ways they can change with hopes to help other grieving families in the future.

There's more on my list to accomplish, but I'm well on my way and am quite proud of how far both my husband and I have come in such a short period of time.

This weekend has been an interesting one. While I'm feeling more alert and having a less cloudy mind for the most part, I am so wired at night I can't sleep. Then by the time I start to feel sleepy, my husband is deeply sleeping and in snoring mode.

So the past few days I've been overtired and grumpy. Most of this I've noticed is because my bloodsugar is out of what and I'm either way too low (hence the grumpy feeling) of way too high.

Saturday was my last sock class for "knitting in the round" I had a great time with the women chatting while creating my own sock. Now I have a leg and am almost done with the foot then on to the toe. I'm quite pleased with the outcome. It's not totally bad, in fact it LOOKS like a sock. I must admit that I took on quite the project for a newbie. I mean, a scarf would have been much easier. But I'm SO grateful that I took this project on and finished it to the end without fear. I DID, however feel quite icky from the low I had from not sleeping the night before. It makes me quite proud that I pushed through it.

Sunday was a totally different story altogether. I DIDN'T make it to church. This is seeming to become more of a "spiritual battle" than anything. I think I've made it once or twice the past several weeks. All because there was either inability to sleep or I had severe anxiety and depression which caused an inability to sleep with all these things on my mind. I had my husband go without me this weekend. Church time is important to me because it's a way to be fed the Word of God. Oh, don't get me wrong, sitting in a pew doesn't make a person anymore Christian if they don't really KNOW Christ, but what it does do is strengthen your relationship with Him once you do. It enables me to grow in Gods word and teachings with an opportunity to share in friendship with those who also know Him. Lets face it, the world isn't necessarily a fun place to live. We see things happen to good people. Illnesses, natural occurances like what happened in Haiti or down south with Katrina where there was nobody to blame for a storm. It's those we surround ourselves with who know Jesus that enable us to remember Gods promises. They help where there is a need and are a delight in troubled times. It's good to surround ourselves with like-minded people who love the Lord.

So when something as simple as sleep or anxiety causes me to miss time in Gods presence in His house to learn more of His word, It's frustrating for me. I struggle with it. Unfortunately satan knows our weaknesses and plays on them. We can either allow him to or focus on Christ.

So here is my learning experience for the weekend...I'm finding "attitude" is the biggest issue. I've been noticing that my attitude isn't the most positive one. In fact, "worse case scenareo" plays in my mind most often. I want to protect myself from pain. The issue here is that in reality, bad things DO happen. It's the attitude we keep through it all that matters.

Finding joy in the midst of our sorrows. NOT happiness. I've learned that Happiness is derived from certain HAPPENINGS. Happiness is an emotion that lasts only temporarily. JOY is finding a positive attitude and focusing on something higher (God) with great HOPE. Joy is an attitude of the heart.

Going through a valley doesn't mean we have to pretend we are happy. We can be in a "valley" and still find a positive attitude of Great hope in our hearts.

It's something I'm really starting to understand. NOW if I can start putting that to practice. Isn't it sometimes hard putting things into practice? I'm finding that to have a healthy life, we must put body, mind and spirit in balance, not just visually injesting what we should be doing but actually putting them to practice.

One might say not just talking, but walking.

Today has been an interesting day emotionally. Counseling was emotionally exhausting. I'm not a fan of psychoanalysis. In fact, watching our foster teens as they were overdrugged instead of dealing with their underlying issues really put a bad taste in my mouth of the industry.

Christian Counseling though has been quite the different outcome though. I'm NOT drugged, in fact, dealing with issues like the death of our son, and some other private matters has made it quite confusing and in some cases, frustrating. It's a known fact that I'm afraid. Lately I see just how fear has changed my train of thought throughout the years. It's become a HUGE part of me and when I feel out of control with fear...I get ANGRY.

Todays session was about anger. Specifically about dealing with unmet expectaions, hurt and anger instead of in a NEGATIVE way...which is NEVER accepting that things can sometimes NOT be changed, -OR- in a POSITIVE way of acceptance Externally...i.e. maybe changing things physically, Internally the way we think, and finally spiritually.

In this case, the counselor not only deals with the emotional aspect of the problem but the SPIRITUAL as well as the physical. He gave the foundation as Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. . .

((here's the part that is SO hard for me to sometimes comprehend))

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I mean, who wants to suffer ANY kind of trial?? Yet trials enable us to "grow up". To persevere. As the above scripture says, that when we persevere through a trial, we are building character.....who we become because of those trials. Who we become shows HOPE not hopelessness...but Triumph and HOPE. Which in the end, will NOT disappoint us because God LOVES us, not because He dislikes us, but because there is HOPE.

It's hard to grasp why we go through trials and even why some do and some don't. I guess looking at this scripture we must count it all joy in this growth. In the end, we find a sort of TRIUMPH. In living a life without trial, life would seem boring and there would be NOBODY with any sort of difference. We'd all think the same, be the same and NEVER have anything to share with the world.

I think of how many GREAT people came from trials and sacrifice.

-Lance Armstrong who not only overcame cancer, but used that opportunity to overcome other obsticles and help through his own experiences,

-Senator John McCain who was tortured and took that opportunity to serve his constituents ( no matter your politics, someone that overcomes torture in serving his country is Honorable),

-Jesus. Who in suffering and in HIS death and ressurection as well as His ascension into heaven...His sacrifice bridged the gap between heaven and hell for all believers.

Just to name a few.

So while working through some rough patches in my life, there is much to be thankful for. There IS peace and joy through the "valley". Just gotta have eyes, ears and the right attitude to find them.

Wow! If you've been reading my blog all along, with exception to my pregnancy in June, I've really been a bummer. Sorry, but my attitude has been garbage.

Given, the past year has been a struggle. Not to mention the loss of our infant son in Oct. after waiting 8 years, I know while some of this attitude is expected, MUCH of it needs to be redirected in a "good" way.

The good news, is while there are still some issues going on, both physically, emotionally and spiritually...I'm starting to BREATHE again and looking forward to starting the new decade on a more positive foot.

Even reading that last sentence has sent chills. Again, the attitude and even the depression since October has left me in a "worse case scenario" outlook on life. You know the deal....the what if's, the why's and instead of focusing on a positive outlook...waiting for the worst to happen.

I wasn't really sure I'd ever get out of it. But today is yet another day that I'm able to enjoy life again. Yesterday was even better spending the day with my husband.

Lets see, I shared the last time that I was scheduled for a surgery that didn't exhist from a Dr. who closed up shop. Well, I got into an emergency appointment last week and after looking at EVERYTHING, the OB said I didn't have any parts of the placenta left and everything was going to be alright. No surgery needed. Bitter-sweet news. As what Dr. would suggest a D&C that wasn't needed after having been told of tragic events of a miscarriage and the need to move forward with closure?

I've been having pain on the left side of my chest thanks to the bcp's that Dr. put me on and the new OB took me right off them. I have to wait for the meds to get out of the system with hopes this pain goes away soon.

The good news? In a month, we have a discussion on where we'd like to go. Obviousely we'd like to try again. Part of me is scared, but there's no room for fear. How can one find joy if we suffocate from fear of taking any kind of risk at all?

There's more good news. After going to the new Endochrinologist (my second new Dr.) I received results from the labs this Sat. My thyroid levels are wonderful, my hemoglobin A1C is EXCELLENT at 6.4. My goal is in the 5's for TIGHT control. Coming from 9.0 a year before Jackson was conceived and having been in the low 7's while carrying him, I'd say this is an excellent start to EXCELLENT control. Especially if we plan to try again!

The only thing that I wasn't expecting was that he took a Vitmain D level and I have a Vitmain D deficiency. This is THE FIRST TIME I've ever been checked for this by any Dr. and I've suspected it for about 5 years as during the winter I felt like I had SAD. My level is 21 and I looked up numbers. Normal is between 50-80. I'm extremely low! So I've been prescribed 50thousand Units of the vitamin. WOWEE! This is once weekly then once monthly after.

Finding this is absolutely WONDERFUL because there are several things that this will help. I haven't slept without medication since October. This happens during winter where I can't sleep. It should level hormones and there are other helpful thing that could come from this as well.

All in all, between these lab results, the OB appointment next month, the fact that we're seeking counseling for the emotional aspects and after affects to the miscarriage, and finally seeking God through it all.....I do believe that I may be on my way to recovery. This is excellent and I can't help but have a great attitude!

I haven't been on much because there's been alot going on in the past few weeks.

This week I plan to make an appointment for the chiropractor, the dentist for us both, and order contacts. Spring I plan to make the eye dr. appointment and continue to walk, walk, walk!

So ((BREATHING)) today I feel Great! I see light through all that darkness and of course God has given me HOPE and a future. I look forward to this year of renewal of mind, body and spirit. Gods presence in my life and looking at even the harder things in life with a hopeful attitude instead of hopeless. God is all about Hope.

Before I go, I'd also like to share that I've taken on some peaceful past-times to help in the healing process. November I got it in my head I wanted to knit socks. I bought the yarn and couldn't get it. I took a class and met a LOVELY bunch of women and I'm proud to say I have not just the cuff, but the leg of the sock finished.

THEN, to add to the healing process, I decided to start a "memory quilt" in memory of Jackson Jeffrey.

His room was going to be Beatrix Potter's Petter Rabbit and Friends, so I chose that fabric for the center divide of the squares, and Doug picked out the cutest little pattern of Peter and His friends for the bottom divide. Now I have to pick out meaningful squares to surround what will be a square with his name, birthdate and picture.

THIS ladies and gentlemen, will take some time. It's not just another quilt, and has SO much meaning. Not to mention healing in it. Once it's finished, I hope to share it with everyone and plan to work with MY experience to help other bureaving parents. One step at a time though! Just wanted to share a bit of my life with you as God works to heal not just our bodies, but our minds and spirits as well. Something long-awaited, and will take as much time as needs to.


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

We've been pretty busy. Lots of appointments and my husband is going to another for what we're guessing is a viral infection.  I plan to finish this blog and make it perty. 

I also have a few things to share in the upcoming entries.  Please bare with me as we get through these next few days and then I'll get it all on here.

Love and prayers to you all!