A Quiet Little Woman

hmm... why is this not working??

guess what!!!

I have a new blog, now don't panic... I'm not getting rid of this one, just adding a new one.  And before you think I'm getting obsessed, let me explain.... I've had many people (here on my side of the world) ask me to share recipes, and I simply don't have time to type them all up and give them out.  SO, I decided to have a blog devoted to cooking and healthy eating/living so I can share all the information at once!  Be sure to stop by... and if you see anything that looks good, try it out and let me know what you think!!

Simply Homemade

Here again, here again, jiggety jig!!

I'm back!!  I thought that I might come back after a while, and well.... here I am!  I really just needed some time to refocus myself and my life, and while I haven't accomplished that entirely, a lot of interesting things have happened since I've been here! 

We truly are homesteaders now!  We've been blessed with more chickens, more beehives, and milking goats!!  Also, I just got some adorable angora rabbits!    I also had some really bad heart problems last month and was healed, which is a miraculous story!  AND I turned 20!!  The Lord's hand has been unmistakably working in our lives lately!  Life is good, though hard... as HE has been making us over in HIS image!!  

I've decided that I need to have a purpose for this blog, and not just have it be a random venting site.  I really have a burden for helping other girls my age, and helping others in their quest for homesteading and a closer relationship with GOD!!  So, I’ll be deciding what I’m going to do in the next little while!  Thank you all so much for your great blogs!  Even though I haven’t been commenting, I’ve been reading and I think you are all so great!!  

Have a most blessed spring day!!

Alex  

Goodbye to blogging!!

I came across a inspiring post today... a post that EVERYONE should read!!  I have been feeling that I should really limit my time on the computer lately, but it wasn't until I read this entry that I felt that I absolutely had to quit. 

The lady that posted this said that almost every success in life has come because she did LESS, and then "in the midst of my small world comes the Internet, almost like a god, vast, unmeasured. Always like a siren wooing me with good things, great things, better things.  It is almost like if I have a problem my first thought is Google not God. I can search everything from marriage to murder, Bible verses to bedtime stories. The Internet really is a replacement for our current concept of God and it is a clue. It lets me know that something must be vastly wrong with my concept of God. I have never been able to get God to cooperate with me the way Google does.  

Now, of course, I am not that theologically warped but the hint is there. I still love the Psalms. I still love the quiet moments when it’s OK that God isn’t giving away the plot, when I have to just trust and love without answers. Those really are the best times, the times when I am very, very small and God is vast, unmeasured, boundless, free."  (go HERE to read the full post)

I am now going to focus on the things that are truly important... blogging has blessed my life!  I've learned so many things from all of you, and have grown much from reading the experiences of others.  BUT I really need to change my focus from the things of the world to the things of the LORD!!  I don't want to have ANYTHING in my life that drives the spirit away and makes me unworthy of dwelling in HIS presence.  I need to focus on HIM!!  I read a wonderful quote once that says "I have been trying to fit GOD into my life instead of CENTERING MY LIFE around HIM!!" 

A HUGE thank you to every one of the wonderful people that I have met through blogging... I have been blessed by knowing you!!  May Heavenly Father bless you in your lives as you strive to become more like HIM!! 

Alex

The Nativity Story

My family and I just watched the very best christmas movie... "The Nativity Story".  If you haven't seen this movie you MUST!!!  It is probably the best christmas movie I have ever seen!

  What I love so much about this movie is that it brings the story to LIFE!!  The person that they chose to play Mary is very young!  And at the beginning she is still pretty much a child.  In the first part you see her playing with her friends... but as the movie progresses you see her change and become the person that kind of person that God knew that she could become!  I loved seeing their life and seeing how hard it was, how both she and Joseph were rejected in their community, how hard the journey to Bethlehem really was...

 I could just go ON AND ON!!!!  I just can't say enough good about this movie!  It is such a great movie to watch during this christmas season to just fill your heart with gratitude for these amazing people and for God's gift to us of His SON!!! 

Mary and Elizabeth

Another Vision Forum Drawing!!

Life in a shoe is having another drawing, except THIS time for $250!!  We've (my family and I) decided that we are definatly going to win this one!!  The last day is tomorrow, so hurry if you want to do it!!

Same rules, except this time will be bigger and better and you must link to your wishlist post. Here we go:

1. Get your new catalog - if you’re not on the mailing list, get on it now. No time to get it? Download the new 2008 Vision Forum catalog as a PDF here (sorry about the lack of a link here, if you need to download go to Life in a Shoe).
2. Flip through the pages, oohing and aahing over all the wonderful items, new and old. Note which ones are published by Vision Forum - you’ll see a VF logo near the title of the item. Try not to drool on it; you’ll be needing your catalog for the next step.
3. Now the fun part: Put together your own dream order of $150 $250 or less of VF published items and post it to your blog with a link to Vision Forum and a link to this post. Yes, the stakes have been raised!
4. Leave me a comment here with a link to your post so I’ll know you entered. No entry without a valid link will be eligible. One entry per household, please.
5. One random winner will be chosen to receive 2 exciting new Vision Forum items: Passionate Housewives Desperate for God, and the Botkin girls’ new DVD Return of the Daughters!

Here is my family wish list ;)

1) Passionate Housewives - Jennie Chancey and Stacey McDonald - $16 (mom)

2) Verses of Virtue - $20 (me)

3) Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife - $15 (little sister 1)

4) Sergeant York and the Great War - $16 (little brother 1)

5) Regina's Colonial Frontier Doll Dress - $19 (little sister 2)

6) Southern Lady Doll Dress - $19 (little sister 3)

7) Teach them to your children - $17 (little brother 2)

8) The Sinking of the Titanic - $24 (family)

9)To have and to hold - $24

10) Ten P's in a Pod - $20

11) Poems for Patriarchs - $20

12) The Bible Lessons of John Quincy Adams - $12

13) the LIfe and campaigns of Stonewall Jackson - $25

Here are the links for VISION FORUM and LIFE IN A SHOE... enjoy!!

Vision Forum Drawing

Well, this has to be quick, today is the last day!  I'm sure most of you know about VISION FORUM and just fall in love with their magazines everytime they come!  Life in a Shoe is hosting a drawing to win $150 of vision forum published merchandise... here's what you have to do:

The download link doesn't work... so if you need that then you can get on Life in a Shoe.  From Life in a shoe...   "Get your new catalog - if you’re not on the mailing list, get on it now. No time to get it? Download the new 2008 Vision Forum catalog as a PDF here.

1. Flip through the pages, oohing and aahing over all the wonderful items, new and old. Note which ones are published by Vision Forum - you’ll see a VF logo near the title of the item. Try not to drool on it; you’ll be needing your catalog for the next step.
2. Now the fun part: Put together your own dream order of $150 or less of VF published items and post it to your blog with a link to Vision Forum and a link to this post.
3. Leave me a comment so I’ll know you entered. One entry per household, please."

Here is my family wish list ;)

1) Passionate Housewives - Jennie Chancey and Stacey McDonald - $16 (mom)

2) Verses of Virtue - $20 (me)

3) Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife - $15 (little sister 1)

4) Sergeant York and the Great War - $16 (little brother 1)

5) Regina's Colonial Frontier Doll Dress - $19 (little sister 2)

6) Southern Lady Doll Dress - $19 (little sister 3)

7) Teach them to your children - $17 (little brother 2)

8) The Sinking of the Titanic - $24 (family)

 Here is the link to Vision Forum and the link to Life in a shoe.  Enjoy!

Alex

SICK, SICK, SICK

Whew... it's good to feel well enough to be at the computer!!  When my mom saw me at the computer she said that I MUST be feeling better!!  On monday I had strep (we think) and I just laid on the couch all day feeling terrible!  Then on tuesday afternoon I had to go to town and I didn even though I wasn't feeling all too well... the next day I went to a class and then had teach piano for 2 1/2 hours.  Byetheway I didn't have much of a voice all week, but then on thursday I got really sick.  Once again I was on the couch, but today was the first time I've been up!  I got an adult version of croup and it was miserable!  Most of the time I couldn't talk AT ALL!  And on thursday night I couldn't breath a coupe of times... I've been getting so frustrated because I was sick of laying there, but I just needed to be patient!!  I learned something through not being able to speak almost all week...

words are precious!!!  Even after speaking a few words, or even just one I would be exhausted and have to rest... every word that we speak needs to be carefully thought of, and we need to make sure that every word builds and doesn't tear anyone down EVER!!!  Even though I'm wasn't very happy to be sick... I learned a very valuable lesson!!!  May we all think of the words that we speak!!

Alex

new look ;)

So... how do you like the "new look"??  My sister is very talented at figuring things out and she kindly offered to change my blog for me... be sure to stop by her blog On the Lord's Side  Also, just to let you know I also have another little sister who has a blog "Cowgirl Without A Horse" .  The same sister who changed mine changed hers... enjoy their blogs!! 

Alex

One of my favorite pictures...

Spring by Waterhouse

My sister and I just found this picture awhile ago and I just fell in love with it!  I decided to use it as my picture because it says so much about me!  I wish that we could still dress like that... (sigh... ;)  I love to be outside and absolutely love flowers!!  I'll have to post some pictures of a rose that I used for a talk I gave to a group that I help with.  Dreaming of the old-fashioned days....

Alex 

Hello Everyone at Homesteadblogger!!

Hello everyone at homestead blogger!!  I am new to blogging so I don't know how much I am actually going to be doing, but I love to write and would love to get some opinons on different topics! 

Here are a few things that I LOVE:

I love to read, especially Lousia May Alcott and the scriptures. 

I am committed to courtship and would like to know HOW you can best get ready for it!

I would love to be able to sew and do a little bit... but I love to knit and make things for my hope chest. 

I have a passion for Beautiful Girlhood and how important it is to prepare during that time for your future. 

I love to learn, ESPECIALLY how to be more self-suffcient. 

I love homeschool and am starting to help my mom teach my younger siblings.

I love to learn Heirloom Crafts such as spinning and weaving.

I am striving to prepare now for my future family by learning the homemaking arts.

I love my Savior and strive daily to become more like him!! 

I would love to meet some of you here on homestead blogger and  hear some of the things that you love!!   

Alex