Sarah Palin

Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 01:10 by gokings13 - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Yours to live

Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 03:02 AM by Rilda - Link

Thank You Jesus For Everything!

This day is yours to experience. This life is yours to live. This world is a place in which you can act to make a positive, meaningful difference. This moment is one that's filled with possibilities.

It can often be difficult to make your way forward, and it is all too easy to lose sight of the unique and beautiful person you truly are. Take time to remember the best that is within you, and know that your authentic, miraculous life is stronger than any obstacle.

Choose to fill this day with your very own special expression of what it means to be alive. Right now is your opportunity to fulfill those yearnings that have always called to you.

You have the power to take any ordinary moment and put joy into it. Your happiness comes not from what you may seek to take away from life but from what you give, what you create, and what you share.

This is your moment to live with all the purpose and richness you can imagine. Realize that nothing is really holding you back, and make this the best day ever.

-- Ralph Marston

We limit ourselves I believe because we allow fear to control us, lets become childlike and then the sky is the limit cause you never knew what you can do until you try. Let's not look to others to make us happy~ we can do that ourselves just by looking within and finding the real us that has been hidden and then discovering the real I AM.

Living, laughing and learnin, rilda *U*

***The Eglu*** A Traveling Chicken Coop

Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 10:07 by ~Rebekah~ - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

So I've been searching for plans for chicken coops.  In our search for a home here in NYS, I'm trying to keep in mind we'd like some land in the country to have chickens, goats, etc.  Sounds silly to those of you who know doug and I in real life, BUT we've always had this dream.

Thing is, he works in the city limits and finding a small homestead or a home on a small piece of land within our budget, has proved to nothing more than trying.

We won't let that get us down though.  If the good Lord wants us in the city limits, then we should plan accordingly.  Some cities allow chickens.  In fact, some allow chickens, just not the loud roosters within the city limits.

With that in mind, I've been looking for regular chicken coop plans AND small city type chicken runners that can move.  You can imagine my surprise when I found a site by OMLET that sells Eglu's.  Yup, IGLOOS for chickens are made from energy efficient polymers using modern construction techniques and at the end of its life it can be 100% recycled. 

Take a Look at their Brochure online in PDF

Above you'll see a guide to keeping chickens. The little girl is SO CUTE and the eglu is in the picture.  I just found the little girl to be so precious that I had to post this.

My one true concern with this is in the harsh Upstate NY winters, how the chickens would get on and not freeze to death.

This is where you avid homesteaders come in.  What do you think?  Have any ideas on what to do in the wintertimes?  Have any other ideas or plans?  How bout plans for bigger size coops if we do find a home with some land?

Let me know your experience and feel free to comment.

Blessings!

Rebekah

If I could Turn Back Time........

Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 03:32 by Paula - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

That song has a new meaning for us.  As I have spoken of before, our home was built in 1890 with an addition added by 1910.  In living here, Joe and I have often talked about the remodeling that we would like to do.

This morning, the remodeling discussion took on a whole new turn that I am very excited about.  Last week, 2 of the 5 circuits in our electric box went out.  We have had no electricity in the kitchen, other than the 220 outlet for the stove.  The refrigerator is being run temporarily by having a heavy duty extension cord run from another part of the house.  The only other electricity that we have in the home is in the laundry & bath which share a circuit and the dryer which is on a separate 220 circuit.

This has been a very eye-opening week.  We have found that we don't need the electricity as much as we thought.  After the first 2 days, no one has missed watching TV.  That brought us to this morning.  I had 2 oil lamps lit and placed on opposite sides of the room.  Joe came in, getting ready for work, and noticed how much light those lamps provided.  He was surprised to see how well they did are providing enough light to do what needed to be done.  That was when he made the comment that changes everything.  Instead of replacing the circuit box with a larger one, we are going to wait another 2 weeks until next pay day.  If we are still finding that we don't miss the electricity, then we are going to a small circuit box.  We will then be putting electricity in only 3 rooms of the home.

Kitchen: In our kitchen, we have an electric stove (220 volt circuit) that I use when the weather is too hot for using the wood cookstove.  We also need a 110 circuit to run the refrigerator.

Laundry: In our laundry area we have our water heater and clothes dryer that share a 220 circuit.  There is one plug and we simply plug in which ever appliance we are needing to use.  We also have a 110 outlet for the washing machine.  We will keep these, but he plans to add a second 220 outlet so we don't have to switch out the dryer and water heater.  If they are not being used, we can unplug them. They will each have their own outlet however for the times when we do need both to be used at the same time.

Livingroom: This room will have a single 110 outlet to have available for the computer and my sewing machine.  The computer is a necessity since we will be using it as an income resource.  Eventually, I will have a treadle sewing machine, but until then the electricity will be needed.

This weekend when he makes a trip to get supplies, Joe will be buying a few more oil lamps and oil.  Making this change is a huge step for us. It is one that we are finding to be easier than we would have thought a few years ago.  As time goes on, we will likely find we can use even less electricity.  In the meantime though, this step alone is bringing us closer to the time when we will easily be able to manage our electricity needs with only a wind power system.

The clothes dryer & washer are appliances that are seasonal.  Whenever possible, I will be hanging the laundry on a clothesline to dry.  Days like we are having right now when it is raining, the dryer will have to be used.  The washer will be replaced with a wringer type as soon as we are able to do so.  While I still am wanting to hand wash as much as possible, I am being realistic about the arthritis in my hands and planning ahead.

We will always have the option of adding another circuit box later if we find that we have need to do so.  I am very optomistic however that it will be unnecessary.  It seems that the more time we spend doing things the "old way", the more we realise the modern ways are not as essential as we would have believed them to be.

Eventually, we will be using a wind-power system to provide our home with the electricity we need.  Cutting back now on our usage will be a good preparation for that time.  The size and type of system we use can be adjusted to fit the actual need.

Blurts, Outbursts, One Liners, Vomit Stories, and Verbal Thoughts

Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 01:10 by gokings13 - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

*** Barak Says HE has more experience than Sarah Palin...Who's right? You do the math! ***

Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 11:02 by ~Rebekah~ - 6 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Barak was in office 767 days when he announced he was going to become president.

Sarah Palin was in office 635 days when she announced she was going to be a candidate for Vice Presidency. If they get the presidential slot, she'll have 24 MORE days experience on January 20, 2009 when she'd enter Vice Presidency than Barak if he became president.

Since Baraks Candidacy, he's raised about 21million dollars a month for his state.

Sarah Palin? As Governor of Alaska she has 1.025 BILLION. That's right, BILLION, she's been handling which is 47 TIMES as large as Baraks.

Barak Obama has 2500 Employees working for him.

Sarah Palin? Handles 77,000 employees which is 31 times as large as Barak handles.

SO, if Barak, as he's stated on the news recently, is more than qualified with experience to be president of the United States, then Sarah Palin is 31 to 47 more times qualified than Barak. You do the math!

YOU as an individual American Citizen have a Freedom and Right to vote for whomever you want.  YOU have that right and really the OBLIGATION to your children and children's children, to uphold your duty as an American Citizen.

I don't care who you vote for!  Democrat, Republican or a Third Party you have an obligation and freedom from our Founding Fathers, to participate in electing your government leaders.  Take time to educate yourselves on all parties candidates running for office and REALLY look past "special interest groups" who help to form your opinions without you really knowing it.  Find out what each candidate stands for and vote according to what YOU stand for.

What do you stand for?  Who do you stand for?  If someone walked up to you today and asked what you stood for could you answer yourself?  Or would you answer the way you were taught by someone else?

Understand that this is America.  We have certain freedoms that our Founding Fathers founded this country on.  One with pride and accomplishment.  In helping others and learning to be neighbors even if we disagree with one another.

President George Washington said that if we become "Party Oriented"  instead of Americans United, we would falter as a Country of freedom. 

United we stand, divided we fall.

Use your freedom to vote wisely.  Vote for The United States of America and not by Party Loyalty.  Enjoy that freedom. Some don't have it. 

Blessings to you everyone!

Rebekah

Georgia Aquarium

Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 03:57 by Old-Fashioned Homemaker - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Last Thursday I went with Bryson's class to the Georgia Aquarium.  The Georgia Aquarium is one if not the largest aquariums in the world.  The first thing I see when we walk in is a big black leg, which totally freaked me out until I saw...

the deep sea diver!  These guys get in with sharks and clean!  They have so many sharks that you cannot find anywhere in the world. 

Honestly, I have to say that we didn't learn very much.  We were there for 3.5 hours, but we went through everything so fast!  It was, however, so nice to spend that time with Bryson.  Apparently the kids in his class love me, which is a score for a Mom.  What was so sweet is on the bus ride back he fell asleep on my arm. 

Here's my favorite picture of our field trip...

Giveaway Winner!

Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 03:51 by Old-Fashioned Homemaker - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I apologize for the delay in my announcement.  Monday I spent the day travelling.  Tuesday our computer and internet were having troubles.  So, without further delay, drumroll, please....

Danielle is the winner!  She came to my other blog, www.oldfashionedhomekeeper.blogspot.com, and signed up.

I plan on doing giveaways much more often!

Blessings!

~Farrah

*** Palin says 17-year-old daughter is pregnant ***

Posted on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 11:05 by ~Rebekah~ - 5 Comments - Post Comment - Link

In my process of researching Sarah Palin, I'm finding more and more about her "human side".

I've been hearing rebuttle to my blog post on my general blog from bloggers who have legalistic views about women needing to be at home with their children so that they can be "good mothers"

I even received an anonymous post containing crap (not information) pertaining to feministic views of women from a skinhead website which is not only racist in origion, but contains hatred toward women, minorities and religions other than their own.

After deleting that paticular comment (any comment in my blog is subject to deletion ESPECIALLY if they don't have the gutts to put a name) and not responding to such hatred to give it more fuel, I decided to relax a bit and figure out what I could say.

In my recent findings today, Sarah revealed to everyone that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and plans to wed.

Here comes the uproar I thought for a minute!

It's a shame that not only is there hatred left in this world, but that people would hide behind legalistic views to condemn people in Jesus name.  I am NOT one of those people.

I am a hardworking homemaker who after talking with my husband, is able to stay home and work for the needs of my husband and home...with one day having the blessing to stay at home with my own children.  I don't take that for granted one bit!  I came home during a tough time in our lives when Doug needed me here.  We learned how to live within our means on ONE INCOME and have since never turned back. I understand that there are many other women who would LOVE to do so and can't OR just feel their calling is in the community to make an impact on the world.  Whatever the reason, I respect that.

But as a Christian woman, there's one thing I WILL NOT DO.  I will not judge those other women who choose to work for the common good of their families and in Sarah Palins case, she's also working for the common good of America.

Like any nurse, poliece officer, pastor, soldier, Dr., Trash man and other workers who leave their families daily to work odd schedules so that people can live according to custom, and have the healthcare and emergency needs, it is NOT my job to judge another. I am also reminded by God Himself, when He tells us in His word that only HE can judge. That we will one day be judged by Him.  I can only imagine what He'd be saying to those who blatently judge based on their own idea of what people should be doing. 

~ Knock, knock. "Who's There"?  God says at the door.  It is I God, You know me!  "Ah, The one who felt compelled to take my place" says God.  Well Lord, You say here, here and here that I, um, erm.  "Did I not say Love thy neighbor as you love yourself?"  "Do you not know that if it weren't for me, you'd be in hell?"  "Do I not say in my commandments there is no other God accept for me? " God says.  "Then Why my child have you condemned others?"  ~

It makes me MAD when people hide behind legalistic views in the name of Jesus to spread hatred and belittle working women (or anyone else for that matter)  who in most cases these days, MUST work to keep their families afloat.  The book of James talks about each child of God having a God-given gift. Not everyone has the same gift.  Some have the gift of teaching, some the gift of giving, some a gift of ministering, and the list goes on and on and on. 

If we do not know what Gods conviction and will is over another, who are we to think that He hasn't a plan for Sarah Palin.  Maybe her gift is not only her family, but to share her testimony of trial and triumph with a hurting nation.  Someone who will listen.  She is human and is NOT God.  But she sure has a heart of compassion for the people in her community and country.

So back to her 17 year old daughter.  There is no doubt that this will be a tough road for her.  But she has something many other girls her age may not have.  The support of a loving mother and father. 

Sarah can understand what it's like to be a "working mother" . She also can understand teenage pregnancy first-hand as well as raising a child with special needs.  She wants whats best for her family and her country and is willing to tick her own party off if that means they're using taxpayers money to pay for frivolous things.

Does she have issues in her family right now?  Yes!  Is there any one person dumb enough to say they're absolutely perfect in every way?  I don't think so.

I absolutely LOVE to educate myself on candidates.  Truely there is no perfect candidate out there that agrees with ALL of my beliefs.  Until Palin was nominated as a possible VP nominee I was actually thinking of voting third party because I'm so sick of two parties that represent NONE of "We The People".

Now, I am more interested in educating myself on Palin, NOT because she's a woman (I'd have rather of had Condy Rice as President if that was the case) but because she fights for Us.  Granted we'll be learning more before we actually make a choice, but darnit!  I'm not going to make my choice based on false Biblical beliefs.  I know He wouldn't want it that way.

***In closing, Sarah Palin is dealing with reality right now.  I do not condemn her because as many with teenage children understand, you can't control their outcome. You can give them great morals and a loving home as well as a God fearing one, it's up to them to make the right choices.  What I'm focusing on, is how Sarah handles this in hopes that she will use these obsticles as a testimony to others.  It is without a doubt a teaching moment.  I'm sure one that her dear daughter would have loved to learn outside the media. 

And to all you working women out there.  I'm proud of you all and lift you up in prayer for each hard day you fight.  I'm not a feminist.  But I believe in femininity. I'm proud to be a woman and proud of the accomplishments God has enabled us all to accomplish.  We each have such a different gift and what an honor it is to individually use them in His honor.

Blessings everyone!

Rebekah

Oops! Forgot to share the FINISHED yarn hooking project!

Posted on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 10:06 by Sher - 4 Comments - Post Comment - Link

 Aww....So sorry about that!  I meant to share the finished rug hooking project with ya'll since your comments were so nice when I shared the project in progress.  So, here's the finished rug as it looks today.  Thanks for peeking! Ü  Now on to find a new project to work on! LOL

Blessings,  Sher