Abundant Blessings Farm

Monday, Monday!

I am questioning my blogging time....it seems to lead to lost sleep too many times. I am me....and I can't seem to change my optimistic outlook, no matter how many times it is trodden upon.

I feel like I need to grow up and be "more sensible". But, how do I maintain ME while doing that? I've always been optimistic, positive, upbeat, etc. I see the good in everyone and rarely the bad. I look for ways to encourage and uplift. I try to be the best ME that I can be.

And, yet, it doesn't seem to be enough sometimes. This past year and a half or so has been hard on us. Hard on my body, hard on our finances, hard on my emotions. Just hard. And I'm tired.

Honey and I both feel a sense of change coming. The first one being to lose weight so that other changes might take place. The second one being downsizing. Getting rid of stuff. This will be a two fold blessing...it will give us some money to pay down our debt and free us in not having so much stuff. There is much to be gone through here to sell. I need to decide what to eBay, what to yard sale, what to CraigsList, what to throw away....

It's spring time here in TN and the weather is absolutely beautiful. We'll be planting our first garden since moving here soon. My Honey has quite the green thumb and had a super huge, very fruitful garden many years in FL. This will be our first one here....and I have no doubt it will also be very fruitful. It's not going to be anywhere near as large as our FL garden...but that's a good thing.  

Honey's schedule is now M-F, 4am-1pm. We got to bed on time last night with no problem...only to find too much on our minds to actually sleep. We laid there talking till midnight. While I LOVE the conversation time, it was not cool knowing that the alarm would be going off at 2:30. So, we both had a little nap before starting the day today.  Honey told me I should go back to bed...but those things we were talking about last night are still swirling in my head....and I had some computer work to do...along with laundry. I plan to get the children up on time this morning. This will help all of us to get to bed on time again tonight and right to sleep. I have no doubt Honey and I will be most ready for sleep when 7pm rolls around tonight!

On that note...I have received comments from some who can't believe the schedule we keep...or that our children are so deprived by having to keep it to... Well, to that I say phooey! We are a family...I do not work outside our home. The only one who goes off to a job each day is Honey. Why should we not arrange our schedule around him? That only makes sense to me. When I was growing up, we had a dairy farm. We got up when it was time to milk the cows... 4:15 to be milking by 4:30. Was that wrong too? Should my folks have gone off to do all the work so that we children could sleep later? That's hogwash. Obviously, folks who think our children are somehow deprived by getting up early and going to bed early are out of touch with reality. People need adequate sleep. It only stands to reason if you get up early, you must go to bed early. It wasn't that long ago that everyone went to bed early. Before there were tv's and computers, there was nothing to do after dark. And there was plenty to do once the sun came up. Gee...have we really left that generation so far behind that it's strange to think "early to bed, early to rise"? And....if my Honey worked the night shift, we'd shift right along with him and be up at night. We are a family and as such follow the same schedule...ALL OF US. There...please don't leave me any more comments on how rough my children have it cause they follow the same schedule as their parents. No, it's not the schedule we would choose...it would be ever so wonderful if he worked an 8-5 job and we could get up at 6:30 instead of 3:30..but such is not the case for us. (actually...my preference would be that he worked here at home and was always with us...but that's still just a dream for us).

Okay...soapbox moment over...

I took a quick ride up to the convenience store to get a paper last night...got home only to find there were no coupons in it! Grrr...the ONLY reason to get a paper is the coupons! $1.75 for a couple of ads is soooo not worth it. I don't really care to read the news in it...it's all bad and slightly biased anyway...

And, now, I heard the washer stop...time to get another load started. I plan to hang clothes out today...probably not all of them. There's a large laundry mountain out there...and I will dry some in the dryer. But, I need to resume hanging our laundry out. I find it enjoyable to be out in the fresh spring air, hanging laundry. My dear friend, Cathy, uses it as time to talk to God. I think I'll do the same.

Have a wonderful day!

Kids Schedule

{ 05:35, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by toby0131 }

I think it's amazing to see a family that works together as a unit. Most families today are so seperate - never the two shall meet! It amazes people that we talk to also that our teenage daughter enjoys spending time with her family rather than going off and being independent - all of our children like to contribute to the family.

Keep up the great work!
Blessings,
Michelle

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{ 05:37, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by Ellen }

Dear Laurie,

Please don't let other people get to you! You are a wonderful person and I love you for being YOU.
I think it is wonderful how you and your family live and work as a family, there aren't enough families living that way.
Take care my friend!

blessings, Ellen

Here's to all the Mamas

{ 07:12, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by NYLass }

What a wonderful blog!

How blessed your honey must feel to be greeted and shored up the way that you do; I know mine does! :-)

Sweep the nay sayers away, you lover of your hubby, mama bear to your brood (and YES both are apparent!!) and LIVE!!

I can't wait to hear/ see what God does with and for you guys!!!

God Bless!
Annie

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{ 07:42, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by haflinger }

Good morning.. I don't visit much but thought I would read on your blog this morning.. Seems like you have a heavy heart and I hope by chatting with us blog folks you feel better..
Its a shame that so many folks out there have a narrow mind.
I think what you and honey do is a family thing and other folks should respect that..
Blogging is for you and not for folks to judge you..
Blessing Sister Brenda

Blessings on doing things as a family

{ 08:06, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by fcusick }

You are doing the right thing! So often people are making comments about one another - I don't understand! God made us each different and therefore our families - keeping your family working together as a unit is the best thing you can do!

Kudos!

Blessings,
Flossie

my sweet friend

{ 12:20, Monday, April 7, 2008 } { Posted by Cathy }

Laurie,
You and I are like "soul sisters". We are SO very much alike in how we look at the world. Like you have often said...it's not easy being so tender hearted. But, I know this is the way the Lord has made us.
You mean so much to me....my dear, sweet, kind Laurie.
Thanks for thinking of me saying my prayers when hanging out clothes...I just love that time.
I love you my dear.
Cathy

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{ 01:05, Saturday, April 12, 2008 } { Posted by molly }

Hi, I enjoy reading both of your blogs, I hope you dont give it up! I think it is wonderful that you are able to work as a family! ITA, that your husband's work hours should be your family hours. I applaud you for doing this! Please dont give up your blogging, it means more to alot of people than you know!