AmazinglyBlessed

20 years now for hubby and I

Hubby and I have been together for 20 years now this month.    It is hard to believe some days and some days it is easy to see.  

20 years ago Michelle was 2 years old, I was coming out of a long relationship, we broke up in July 1988. I was confused at the time of our break up and did not know what I was going to do, but God did.

  I kept seeing this sexy guy who drove a nice car.   We kept looking at each other, checking each other out for weeks.  I finally one day waved at him as he drove by.  My 12 year old sister Tracy was living with Michelle and I for the summer of 1988.  Tracy was seeing a guy named Jason who was a friend of my now hubby.   So we meet in August of 1988 and started talking.  I went away to Mexico with my parents and sister while Michelle was off visiting her father.   When I got back we started dating . 

We hit it off well.  We had some fights, but worked it out.  It is hard when 2 very dominant people are together. It took me years to give him the head of household role.  I had to learn to let him be the boss, boy was HARD

The day we got married( March 1991) is verrry special for me not just because we got married, but because my Bubba (grandfather) picked out the day.  Bubba said you will get married and here is the day and we did!  Thank you Bubba.  Bubba went to heaven in April of 1995. 

Hubby worked and works very hard to take care of his family and he did / does a great good.  He spoils us very much.    We have a good life.  I am so glad that 20 years ago God sent this sexy man my way and into the lives of Michelle and I.

  Over the past 20 years we have added more children to our home, been blessed with 2 grand-babies with one more in the oven.   Hubby has blessed us with our dream's of owning horses.  Ok , it started with horses and then we slowly added more critters .  

When I look at him it is like 20 years has been 5 to 10 years.  When I look at the children and the grand-babies it feels like 20 years.  We are still kinda youngish, hubby will be 40 on the 21st, I will be 39 in Nov.   We look forward to another 20 + ++++++ years together.

Thank you Lord for sending me such a wonderful man to be my husband.  Thank you for making us a family.  Thank you for the love of my life.  Thank you for all the blessings.

God Bless, mj

Need craft Idea's

I'm doing craft fairs again this year and I'm looking for new ideas for things. And any old ideas that folks would like to share. My first one is Sept 27th.. I made another apron today and several potholders in between showers .. Any any links to sites would be helpful.. I'm all ears and lot of heart..

Thanks Sister Brenda

Crash

It all just comes tumbling down sometimes.

I've been reading Shane Claiborne's 'The Irresistable Revolution' and I haven't had time to hit the 'yeh but' phase, so I'm feeling like a complete sham. I love people like Claiborne – right out there, in Calcutta with Mother Theresa, in Iraq as the bombs dropped, the most amazing full on out there advocate for Jesus and His awesome love. Love Love Love. Love in action.

But they make me feel as if I've completely missed the point. And I'm here now, whether I like it or not, with two kids relying on me and a life to lead.

But the point is (yeh but is kicking in) we can't all be that person. Some of us are the ones who read the book, right? He talks about justice for the poor, struggling to get housing for poor families, well a couple of years ago, we were that family in just about liveable housing, so what gain by giving it up?

What I think it means, is, Take It Seriously. There is something you are here to do, so you have to seek it and do it, with all your heart (as unto the Lord) – and in our case, it's to do with food – rearing and growing food with which to bless the people around us, building relationships with them based upon the clean necessities of life – milk and honey (vegetables and eggs, too !) - and I think as a side issue, my kids and I have ended up with the horses. Some days I just wish we hadn't it feels like such a burden of guilt, such a pointless thing to do – but all my life horses have found me, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop now.

I love my horse – and we're having a bit of a moment right now – he's got a foot problem which may or may not be laminitis and I'm praying isn't something worse .... farrier's coming tomorrow, thankfully. I totally love my farrier. He's so cool – nothing's too much trouble, and he trades – we barter lamb for farriery services. His little boy is also the current caretaker of our mini mini pony, the Magster.

But Claiborne does eventually point out that in the early church, there were the wandering evangelists, and the settled support network – I guess the tendency is to read of the life and work of missionaries, radicals, and all those who get right out of their comfort zone for what they believe, and immediately and naturally identify with the central character. But there have to be support acts too, right?

So does it matter so too much what it is you're doing, as long as you're there, with open doors, to encourage the movers and shakers of the faith, welcome the struggling, and facilitate the fellowship?

Trouble is – I'm not so very good at all this open house stuff. I'm good at open garden, if that helps? And for a while, I've had that bustling, bugging, feeling that hospitality is a need - all our stuff, the veg garden, the sheep, the goats, the ponies – they fascinate people and draw them in.

What I think this book, and the surrounding events, have taught me is that I need to be less sniffy, I need to look for Jesus in everyone, and make them a cup of tea. What I hope it isn't about is the occasional guilt and burden I feel for having the horses, encouraging the girls to compete, watching them just get so wrapped up in it all ..... when other kids their age, in other places, cry themselves to sleep for want of food and die for need of clean water.

What I don't want to do is justify my own plenty in the face of my brothers' need.

What do you all think?

ASL-American Sign Language

My girls & I have been taking a sign language class for the last 2 months at our local library.  We meet every Monday night from 6-7:30.  Last night we had class and the teacher gave us a quiz.  She would sign something & then we would have to guess what it was.  We did horribly!!!  We really need to study this week!  She said something last night about failing as a teacher.  UGH!  I don't know why but it seemed like 2 weeks ago I could have told her the answers to anything but now it's starting to disappear!  Next week is our last class so we really need to hit the books this week.  I don't want her to feel like a failure!  The poor girl.  She is around 21 yrs. old.  When the class started there were around 10 people there.  Now?  There is only my girls & I and another girl from our homeschooling group.  That's it!  Everyone else vanished!  I feel so horrible for her.  How embarrassing!

I hope to incorporate ASL into our homeschooling curriculum this year.  We do have a book already as we took a class years ago. 

Here are some links if you would like to check them out & maybe incorporate ASL into your own curriculum.

http://asl.ms/

The above is really neat but make sure you pick the SLOW speed.  Do check out the DEAF speed though.  It's pretty neat!

http://www.lifeprint.com/

This one is a dictionary that gives signs for just about every word. 

Now, I'm off to prepare supper!

Have a nice night everyone!

~Just A Note~

Wow what a lovely day out today.......a/c off and all the window's open.....Zoey are cat is happy she can lay in her window for the day, Now if it only stayed like this for the rest of Aug I deffently would like that!! Well as long as we get a little rain no and then, Last night we got a little heat lighting that really made the sky bright, Im not sure how long it went on for becuse I went too bed befor it stoped.

Tomarrow is grocery and bill day....So many bill's to pay and food to get....I have a couple of e-bay items too pay off, I need to get the fabric I bought all paid for so I can get it and do my blankits and pillow's for the boy's. I have a  headcovering to pay for as well that I bought, my dh helped me pick it out, It's called a slip-on covering so it is sopsed too be easyer too use, dh picked a black one out for me becuse I wear alot of black modest clothing, So he thought that one would be great for me, He also from another seller picked out a purpleish and like a light blue one from another seller but those I dont have to pay for untill sept.

Jack's sitting here eatting some craker's, He love's them....Jarred as well, When I have chesse I will put some on for them. I found a good site I belive the website is www.cooks.com they have alot of good recipes on there that take min amount of ingredents.

Well just a check in for now.

Blessings

~Ruth

Daily Devotion 231

Monday Art Day

Monday Art Day's theme this week is DETACHED.

Although I am American through and through sometimes I feel so 'detached' from it. The government doesn't always work in the best interests of it's people and therefore I tend to back away instead of standing up for what I feel is right. So here is my entry for DETACHED. I pray that someday I can make a difference for my fellow American's. (My children)

For Further Monday Art Day entries please visit my artsy blog at www.heavenlymouseprints.blogspot.com

*photo taken by Cindy Brown Aug 2008 and is copywrite under Cindy's Creations.*

The Simple women's daybook for Aug 18th

Outside My Window…today the sun is shinning and everything seems calm. I keep watching out for our little kitten who seems to be gone. We put them out the other day for the first time in their lives and she decided to walk astray and disappear into the night. I pray she will return, for she is still so very young and her precious little brother is not having very much fun!

I am thinking…about all the things the Lord has put on my heart this weekend and trying to figure out how I can make things right where I have lacked.  

I am thankful for…the wisdom from the Lord to better myself and my family. To have the opportunity to homeschool and raise up my children in the way the Lord sees fit. I am thankful that He has pulled me through this bout with broncitis and that I am getting stronger every day.  

From the kitchen…absolutely nothing!!

I am wearing…my iceblue oversized T-shirt with my Urchin squirell embroidered on it, cut off sweatpants and diabetic socks, an iceblue scrunchie in my hair to keep it out of my face and off my neck.

I am creating… ATC's (artist trading cards) and postcards to send out for swaps and some to put in the Visitors center. I am also drawing up ideas for painting some of the gourds I have to place in the Visitors center also.  

I am going…stay home today and work on lesson plans for this coming school year. It is only three weeks until we start with a full schedul!

I am still reading…My bible, seeking the Lords will. The creative License by Danny Gregory and Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs.

I am hoping…to catch up on all my deadlines and get things up to date. I pray that those who have been waiting on me, will continue to be patient as the Lord is helping me get things straight. 

I am hearing…The hum of my own fan, Whyockin playing with a pop bottle cap across the ceramic tile floor.

Around the house…there are chldren doing their chores, a hubby sleeping off a full nights work, the beagle is trying to keep the horse off the front porch and I am trying to make a complete list of what needs to be done TODAY!

One of my favorite things…Cute MICE, Cuddly Mice and oh did I say Mice!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: need to finish preparing for the first couple months of lessons for the school year. printing more primers and working on more art work.

Here is picture thought I am sharing....

Charlotte Mason Carnival - Back To School Planning Bash

The next edition of the Charlotte Mason Carnival is up!  Pop on over to On Our Journey Westward to see the WONDERFUL selection of entries.

Due to a very Nasty comment

..I have since deleted under my last homeschooling post...I have changed my settings to those who can comment to friends only, so if you are not a friend and comment on my blog, please add me...I do have the information on the anonymous poster and will be sending it to their ISP..if any one else gets these comments you are free to email me and I can give you their information...including the IP number used to post these nasty comments...The information I have shows they are in Flanders New Jersey, however sometimes this information is simply just where the main ISP they are connected to is at...but this is a good starting point...Sorry for any inconvience.

~Kris