Abundant Blessings Homestead

Summer time....

Each summer, I want to do fun things...just things we don't take the time to do during the school year.

Each fall, I realize it's time to start school and somehow, the days slipped by me and we didn't get to do those fun things.

This year, I am determined to do fun things. Not costly things, just fun things.

I surprised the children yesterday when I came out of my room after showering wearing my swimsuit. They were quite excited to find that we were headed to the creek!

As soon as we had a few chores finished up, we left. We packed a very light lunch of chopped veggies, chips and water. (Note to self, keep picnic ready foods on hand!). Off we went. And had a great visit at the creek. The breeze was blowing and it was so nice there.

I'd like to go at least once per week. The creek is a short 10 minute drive from home, so it's not a costly thing to do at all.

I did find a really neat summer activity idea book. If you visit Heart of the Matter online and sign up for their newsletter list, they'll send you a free e-book to download. It has lots of fun things to do included!!!

I'm looking for other fun ideas...things that don't cost alot...things that are for a broad age range since my children's ages span 10 years. Anyone have anything to share????

Goings on....

Sorry for my being totally neglectful of my blog. Life has been rather busy...nothing outside of normal for us...just busy. Computer time has been limited...as life has been happening.

Let's see....

Work has been progressing on the cattle round up area. We need to sell some cows, but haven't had a way to sort them out of who goes and who stays. We hired a friend to help us (and when I say us, I mean Honey and Thomas) with this task. It's nearing completion. Oh, what a happy day it will be when we sell some cows!!! Some will go to be processed, some to the sale barn. We're hoping more go to be processed than to the sale barn. We've been so blessed. Almost five years ago, we started with 3 heifers and 1 bull. We now have 23 cows, with more calves due this year. God has been good to us!

Thomas' last shooting competition was in Clarksville, TN on May 29th. He did so well this year, he's hoping to continue next year. It will depend upon the cost. The season will be longer (since they will be starting on time) and thus, be more costly. We shall see...sure would love for him to continue.

Natalie and Mary have finished up their school year. They are both quite happy to be on summer break...they are making all sorts of plans for creek days...

Rebecca and Thomas are still working on math and science. They will continue this for the summer. This will keep these two subjects fresh in their minds come next school year, as well as catch them up as we got a bit behind this year.

Summer arrived early here. The past week has been quite hot. If you've read my blog for any time, you know I'm not a fan of heat. Today's high temp is to be 98* (again..was yesterday too)...with a heat index of 108*. UGH. I'm ready for fall to arrive now. Had my fill of summer already!!!

Though...I do appreciate the goodies from the garden that the heat brings. We are finishing up the last of the romaine lettuce and collard greens. We had our first cucumbers of the year last week. The tomato plants are loaded with green fruit. I keep checking in hopes of seeing some beautiful red on them! The cantaloupe and watermelon are sure putting out the flowers. We have sugar snap peas growing. Green beans are tiny yet. Should be a bumper crop this year! It is so neat to go out there and find a fruit or veggie on a plant that you started as a seed. God sure did a marvelous work in that, didn't He?!

The past week was an expensive one, farm wise. The tractor needed some repairs and new parts. Ouch! They sure are pricey!!

We'd like to replace our Burb with another. Ours needs several things repaired...and it seems like it would be money better spent to replace the Burb. We now have rust issues....and a long list of repair needs. We are praying for this purchase as we don't have the funds just waiting around to be spent for such a purchase.

If we had a trust worthy and cool (read that...working a/c) vehicle, I might be tempted to take some road trips this summer. I'd love to go visit my family in NY. I could visit them and escape the heat at the same time. Toby wouldn't be able to go with us...if he could, we'd add in traveling to FL to visit and see the changes there...and make a trip up to MI to visit my in-laws. But, it's not a choice at this time...maybe in the future.

Honey needs me to bring him some parts....gotta go. Love it when Honey calls for me!!

"I told God"

You hear this alot...."I told God"... that He had to meet this need or that. That he needed to send rain for the garden. That He had to pay this bill. That He had to take care of this situation.

While I get what the person is trying to say...it sounds rather rude to me. No, God doesn't have to do what you think He does. He can let this bill go unpaid. He can let your garden wither up and die. He can not take care of a situation the way you see fit. He is GOD after all. It may not be in your best interest, or part of His plan, to do as you see fit.

I ask God to meet a need. Or to pay a bill. Knowing full well that it's completely up to Him to do so...or not.

Think of it this way....your child comes to you and tells you that you must pay a bill for them. Would your heart be more willing to do so had they asked? Certainly, if it's within my power, I will do whatever my children need. But, what if what they are asking for would be detrimental to them in some way? Would I still do what the "tell me to do", just because I can? Probably not. I'd look out for their best interest...and sometimes...even when it's a seemingly good thing....I don't do it.

Ask of your Heavenly Father...don't "tell Him"......

Rant over.... :)

Life is busy

Yes, our life is too busy at the moment. It has been for the whole month of May. I'm ready to get off this merry-go-round for a bit. Merry-go-round is a good way to describe it....for each activity, in and of itself, is fun and interesting. There's just too many of them at once.

Today holds a dentist appmt for Rebecca's filling...after we go to piano lessons. This is after Thomas and I move cows this morning.

Tomorrow is actually a day AT HOME...with no where to be, nothing extra to do!!! Wahoo!!!!

We have a state shoot coming up soon. I'm looking forward to watching my son do what he does so well. I'm so proud of him!!!

The two book sales were quite fruitful, both in selling and buying. I LOVE used curriculum/book sales!!

Honey's vacation starts soon. I'm not planning to do much of anything while he's home....just soak up the time with him. I already know I don't want to give him back when it's over....

It's getting light outside now....time to wake my children and get this day started...

Monday, Monday....

Today is back to real life.....what a great weekend we had!!!!

I left on Friday morning for Nashville with my greatest friends.....and we met up with another of my greatest friends. We went to the MTHEA conference. It was my first homeschool conference...funny....we're in our 11th year of home education and I finally went to a conference! I listened to Mary Hood a couple of times. Can't say that I'm a huge fan after listening to her, but she did bring up some good points.

The best speaker? The lady from In The Hands Of A Child! She re-ignited my fire for lapbooking! We've done notebooking (thanks, Cindy Rushton!!!) many times...but I never got completely into the whole lapbooking thing. Well...look out...cause we're SO going to be adding lapbooking into our school work next year!

I will say that the conference was a bit lacking. The food.....oh what a less than stellar thing that was. We waited in line for nearly an hour to pay WAY too much for a burger and fries. The speakers were in rooms that had no doors, so the outside noise from the walkways was way too much. I don't think this was the first time the conference was held at the fairgrounds, so surely they have heard these complaints before??

A couple of us are thinking about attending another conference elsewhere...  though I'll have to wait awhile before I ask my family to allow this again. They did great on their own but told me how they missed me so! Those words were sure wonderful to hear. And I was exhausted tired Saturday night. Mary and Natalie told me how red my eyes were..then told me that under my eyes was blue. Yep, I took a shower after eating and went to bed. I haven't slept that deeply in a long time. But the tired-ness was sure worth it to get to attend this conference...and have a great time with such wonderful friends. We stayed up way too late talking Friday night. And someone got us up way too early Saturday morning. No names....  to protect the innocent....

We ate at Olive Garden Friday night. What a hoot that was! The drive there was masterfully executed. The back seat driving was incredibly funny. The meal and service were both outstanding. Another drive back to the hotel was just as fun as the drive there! On the way home Saturday, we explored Nashville...not that it was our intention to go exploring, but in looking for Trader Joe's, we saw LOTS of Nashville. My first time seeing Music Row, the Parthenon, and oh so much more. What a tour guide we had! We hit Costco on the way home and had fun there too.

Ahhhhh....friends....aren't they the spice of life? I'm so thankful that the wonderfully flavorfull friends FAR outweigh the ickily flavored ones. God is so good to me. I am incredibly blessed by both the best family ever and the best friends ever. Who could ask for more????

Yet, life is more than a conference...there's real life to live too...

We took Thomas to town to meet up with his shooting coach yesterday. He went to another gun range and had another practice. I'm so thankful for his coach. He went so out of his way to get Thomas there. What a blessing. Thomas had a great time.

At home, Toby, Rebecca and Mary moved the cows to the driveway so they could do some mowing for us. When it was time for me to leave to pick up Thomas, Toby moved the cows into the next pasture. Mary is Daddy's shadow....it so reminds me of Thomas when he was a little guy....always out working with Daddy. So sweet....

This week is another busy one. We're home today...thankfully....laundry, school and all the normal Monday stuff...including some baking. Must get some bread baked...and some treats. Tomorrow is a busy day...Thomas goes to the orthodontist in the morning...and Honey goes to the dentist in the afternoon to have the pins from his latest crown to bite the dust pulled out. I've been organizing a used book sale for about two months now. The big day is Friday...which means I need get my butt in gear and get these books priced to sell!!!

The washer has stopped for the second time this morning. The sun is peeking out...so it's time to get this laundry hung out on the line. I haven't done this in awhile...it's been so rainy and overcast lately...but today, we go back outside!

Oh yeah...the garden needs some weeding too.....always something to be done, eh?!

Only the coolest Daddy in the world...

Only the coolest Daddy in the world would.....

give his daughters' Kens a hair cut.

Isn't he the coolest Daddy ever?!

Mother's Day

Ahhhh...what a wonderful day....

Breakfast was skillyfully prepared by Rebecca. That girl can cook! Natalie and Mary took care of the cleanup. Thomas entertained us all with his choice of breakfast...an egg sandwich on not just toast..but peanut butter and jelly toast. Ummm...ick...but if he likes it, so be it!

I was then treated to such beautiful cards. What loving words from my babes. I am truly blessed with the best children ever. Honey gave me a card filled with his encouraging and loving words. He made me cry.

Then they brought me to the computer...to show me the gift they ordered for me but hasn't arrived yet.

They bought me a GPS! All because Thomas and I used one last weekend on our trip to Clarksville and when I called home I told Honey how much I loved it. Isn't that the sweetest thing? Sure, the GPS is cool...but what's cooler to me is that he bought it for me just because he heard how much I loved it. He sure spoils me. I am so blessed.

The day is not special due to this gift...though I dearly appreciate it....no, it's special because of the love we share.

Because of Honey, I get to be a wife and a Mama. It's the only job I ever dreamed of. I never cared about college, a career or any of that stuff. I only wanted to get married to the man of my dreams and get to Mother our babes. He has made whatever sacrifice has been necessary for over 18 years for me to be home. Sure, we could put the children in school. Sure, I could get a job. Sure, we could have more money. But, then, really...what would we have??? Not what we have now, that's for sure. Not the relationships that we cherish. I LOVE being home. I LOVE being with my children. I LOVE being the one to teach them. I LOVE being here when they need me. I LOVE getting Honey's daily call that he's on his way home to us. I LOVE it. I can't imagine being anywhere else all day long.

So, that means also that money is usually in short supply. It means that we don't do trips. We don't go out to eat. We scrimp and save everywhere we can. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I did a 3 month stint working at Wal Mart back in 2002. Honey was going to go back to school and I went to work. It soooo did not work. I missed my babes. I didn't mind..actually enjoyed...the work. But, I couldn't stop thinking about my babes at home..and my heart ached to be with them. I vividly remember one day...towards the end of my WM career....Honey needed the Burb that day so he and the children took me to work. Natalie was 2-1/2 at the time, Thomas 6-1/2 and Rebecca almost 9. I sat in the back next to Natalie...she held me the entire way there....and as I had to get out and say good-bye to them all, Natalie kept saying "Me stay you Mama, me stay you.".  I still tear up at that memory. It was so hard for me to walk away and go to work. I had to leave those sweet little faces. It was then that we knew beyond a doubt that we were not doing the right thing and I needed to be home. I believe I was out of work within 3 weeks.

You know, I've learned many things over my 39 years of life....some people come into your life and make it so much richer. Course, there are some who come into your life and cause stress and strife. But, thankfully, they are usually short-lived in my life. Honey protects me in ways that I don't even realize sometimes. I know beyond a doubt that he would do anything for me. 

I have been blessed with the best parents, husband, children and friends. They are truly more than I ever dreamed of. I am living my dream....and I'm ever so thankful to be granted my fondest wishes...and beyond!! Thus the name of my blog...Abundant Blessings...for I am most definitely abundantly blessed!!!

Friday already?

My, oh my, where does the time get to???

It's Friday...that means pizza and movie night. It's the most looked forward to night of the week. Next week will be different....I won't be here! I'm going to the MTHEA conference in Nashville!!! I have always wanted to attend a homeschool conference, but never have. We are ending our 11th year of formal education...kinda late to be going to a conference for the first time, but better late than never, right?!

I'm going with some friends and we're spending the night. How cool is that?! Having friends to share things like this with is awesome. There's one friend I am sure praying hard is able to attend with us...for more reasons than just to get to spend this time with her...but that sure adds to my desire for her wellness!

We've had rain, rain and yet more rain lately. We had hoped to accomplish some much needed outside chores this weekend, but alas, rain is in the forecast from today through Sunday. Not cool. We have cows that need to be sold. We have a mower that needs a tire repair. We have things that need doing...and the rain makes them impossible to get done.

I've spent way too much time on Facebook lately....that place is addictive! Add in FarmTown there and I'm hooked!! If only weeding, watering and raking could truly be done by others just visiting your farm. Ahhhh....

As I approach the ripe old age of 40 later this year, I am learning some invaluable life lessons. Some are easier than others. Some are deeper than others. Some are more painful than others. Some are more personal than others.  All take time. 

Right now, life is calling...real life....not Facebook life, not blogging life. Just real life. Like waking my babes. Getting our day started. Doing laundry. Getting school work finished. Cooking. Cleaning. And loving my babes who just refuse to stay little...and keep growing up no matter how much their Daddy and Mama want to freeze time.

Like where are these incredibly cute little faces??? This was a short 4 years ago...seems like forever ago already....this was Father's Day, 2005

And here are those smiling faces this past Christmas...

Doll houses...

I have always been fascinated by doll houses. All those tiny recreations of real life articles. Growing up, I had a Barbie dream house. It was fun, but now that I am all grown up, I would love to have a real, bona fide doll house. One that I could decorate and admire. Of course, I am sure my girls would love to play with it too. We could have such fun picking out colors and furnishings for our doll house. Daddy and Thomas would have fun picking out the plans and building materials...and then have a blast building it. We girls would have our fun when it was time to decorate and furnish the doll house!

Spending some free time browsing the internet, I found this site. Zoolabees has ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you could think of to decorate your dollhouse...

Each room could be filled with its appropriate items....from blue gingham towels and glass canisters in the kitchen (along with all sorts of food to stock that pantry) 

to a leather living room suite (and fireplace and all that jazz) 

to an oak bed in the bedroom (there's even a miniature Holy Bible to place on the nightstand next to the bed!)

to bath fixtures, towels and bath accessories (even a hair dryer set) in the bathroom

 to a crib (along with blankets, clothes and lotions) in the nursery!

There's even workshop tools and a fire extinguisher!

For outside, there is a gas grill and beach balls.

And plants and flowers to decorate both the outside and inside of your doll house.

See? Anything you can think of for your dollhouse is available at Zoolabee! I could spend a whole lot of money decorating a doll house....now to get my Honey to get one built for me....

Go check out Zoolabees and dream yourself!!!

Zoolabees

A giveaway!!

Head over to my homeschool blog to enter a giveaway I'm hosting...

Hurry...contest ends next Friday, May 1st!!!