Update

Posted on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 09:11

Good day to all and Blessings to all who enter this site!

Hello all! Just thought I'd give an update. First, though, let me appoligise for not keeping up with my updates as I promised. 

I have found my home church and have been attending it since August in case I have not told you all that.  I hope to become a memeber soon.  I'm waiting on my husband for that.  I love the pastor, the church members, and the sunday school (on the days I make it.)  I can most indefinately see me & my family being life long members of this congrigation (sp?). 

My son is 13 months now and is all boy in every sence of the word.  He's my hurricane cat 4.  My daughter is now 5 and loving kindergarten.  She's my hurricane cat 2.  However, beware when my two hurricanes cross paths (they then combine to be a hurricane cat 6).  But, God love them. Their just so addorable. Thought, I must admit I'm parcial being their mother.

I'm still a stay at home mom.  Thought, I'm trying to find away to go back to school.  I know I probably won't be able to do this for much longer.  My husband trys so hard though to make this last as long as possible. We both like the arrangements. 

We have officailly put our house back on the market and this time will not take it off till it's sold.  When we sell it, we have decided to rent for about 6 months to 1 year.  I have to see if we can stay in Utah like we would like too.  My health has been progressivley been getting worse.  I'm asthamtic and there's soming up here that just sends me into such bad attacks every falll & spring.  It got so bad last year that I ended up with walking pnuemonia.  This year, I caught it just before it turned into walking pnuemonia again.  I had (still have to sometimes) to be on breathing treatments 4 x's daily plus I was using my inhaler 3 x's daily in addition to my treatments.  I have gotten a kenolog shot and and differant controler medicine and it seems to be doing the trick along with a second round of full strength of antobiodics.  I have been praying that it's ment for us to stay here but if not we'll have to move back to Vegas were I'm accostumed to all the crap in the air and can breath.  Let's hope & pray we can stay. 

I didn't get my garden this year with whole putting the house on and off and back on the market thing.  But that's all right.  I've been so busy any way that I'm acctually kinda glad.  Next house I'll have my garden untill then I'll just dream. 

We're in the process of car shopping (hunting).  My husband's Jeep Wrangler is just not meeting our needs any more.  It hasn't for a while.  This is a very long process with my husband.  But in the end it's worth it.  He's happy and that's what counts.

I'll be hosting Thanksgiving again, (my favorite holiday) Yeah!  Then for Christams we'll be going to Vegas to be with family down there.

That about wraps up all the updates. So great to chst with you all again.  Talk to you all later. Untill then I'm just forever evolving in my Christian walk through life.  God Bless!

Blessings!

Jessica

What type of soul are you?

Posted on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 02:45

I saw this on a friends blog & loved it... just had to do this myself.

Blessings,

Jessica

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

                                         http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/

Will be signing off for a while

Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 01:28

I have decided I will be signing off on my blogging for a while.  I need to concentrate on my family and get my act together much more around here. I need to get cracking on my house more ( I always keep a picked up & wiped down house, just not nearly as clean as I would like). I also have to get ready for my dd to start kindigarten next week & supplimenting her at home for the short school day she'll have.  I need to be better on top of my cooking and start my "Christmas" gifts/shopping.  I laso need to devote more time to the Lord.  Maybe if I can get caught up just a bit I'll have a bit of time to make friends here now that I have found a good chruch.  I love all of my cyber friends & will post every now & then to let you all know that I haven't droped off the face of the earth and all, but need less time on this addicting computer & more time for my family & Lord.  If you wish to contact me please email me at fandjstewart@hotmail.com otherwise I will not be seeing any comments on my site.  I shall miss you all, but will post every now & then.

Blessings!

Jessica

Please visit

Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 04:08

Please visit http://www.homesteadblogger.com/thecottageporch/65460/

She has a great give away going on!  Plus, I have to say, i love her blogs.  Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Blessings!

Jessica

Sorry- Prayer Request Please!

Posted on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 08:42

Sorry for not blogging for a while, I've just been so busy lately.  But, small excuse, as I'm sure you all have too.  I just seem to never be sighlty caught up.  Oh well, life goes on right? Lol....

School starts here in a week or two for everyone except for my daughter. She (and the rest of the kindigardeners) start at the end of August.  They'll only being going for about 2.5 hours.  I ( nor any other parent) understands why so little a time.  I mean she went for 4 hours to her head start.  So, I plan on supplimenting a couple of lessons a day at home too, in addition to her school time.  This way I ensure she gets & learns everything she needs to know.  I'm so very glad she had such an excellent start in head start here. 

I think I have finally found a home church for my family.  Let's see if I can give a brief explanation on that.  I was born & raised Catholic.  I have wanted to switch out since at least Junior high/highschool.  But, because my whole family is catholic I never did.  I tried to be a good catholic for most of my life.  How ever, the older I got the more I discovered I did not like Catholism.  For my own personal issues that I hade disscused with my hubby & my dad, I finally switched out.  I started going to see what all the other churches (regardless of thier demonination) were like. At first (the very first church I went to) I thought I might switch to the Presbyterian church.  The pastor was very nice & so were the people.  The pastor (due to personal family problems) left the church to go back to Arizona.  I wish (and pray) him the best of luck with his family.  I began to realise that they were too close to catholism ( differant enough for a transition out but not enough for perminate change).  Also, this was thier second pastor in a couple of years.  I had a hard time imagining staying in a church with no pastor. The lay pastors were wonderful (or at least the one I heard was).  But it took them a year the last time to find a pastor.  So I went to a baptist church here close to my house, it was great to insipre me and introduce me to the baptist sect of things.  As much a I liked the little church, it made made me wonder.  Why (like so many of the other churches in this town) why wasn't it growing? Many of the churches here were full of older people but not so many younger people or families. I know a lot of this may have to do with the fact that the number one sect in the state ( and city) I live in is Mormon.  They're very nice ( and I have looked into them) but found that it's just not for me or my family.  I decided to keep looking. I found a southern baptsit church here in town that's very inspiring & insightful & is grwoing with all types of people (young, old & in between).  I have decided to talk further with the pastor & have my descussion (with his  help) make my final decision of joing the church.  Pray for me & my family that this is it. I really want a perminat church home soon. 

Also, I would like it (if you all are willing) prayers for my husband.  He belives in God, but I'm not sure if he has excepted Christ as his savior & Lord yet.  He very much tries to lead a good life to his best ability & and is a good man with a good heart.  However, because I'm for ever in a quest to learn & become closer to My Lord, (and as much as I try to slow dowm in my learning for my husband's sake, I seem to always go faster and am "leaving" him behind in that respect).  I try & take him with me as much as possible but in my preseption he doesn't seem to want  to learn as much as I do.  I could be very wrong though, & hope I am.  But, some of his comments worry me. I made mention (as I often do, not to persay judge, or at least not intentional), about a singers dress that was on TV. I think I mention it so much because as much as it happens I still can not get over the shock of seeing it all the time.  From this he somehow derived that I wanted to shelter my daughter very much.  Yet, I never said anything to this exstent (that I'm aware of).  Because I have been learning that I really knew nothing about being a Christian like thought I did and have been soaking up and contimplating His word lately ( like really soaking it up as much as possible), I have now become "fire & brim stone" type person to him.  Yet, I have never (at least intentionaly) been trying to chastise hime or anything in that matter.  I have always tried to encorage hime to pick up the Bible &/ or go to church thru out our eight years of marriage ( his request when we first got together.) I also have never tried to overly push him either.  I know he realy can not read anything for any length of time due to his eyes. He tried reading abit at a time at first ( I even gave him my Bible from when I was a child because it read more like a comic book, was shorter  with mostly the major stories in it. This with his ok & understanding that he also thought too that it might better for him to understand his first reading of the Bible ever.)  I even offered to read it out loud, as a family, so he could hear it without  straing his eyes if he wanted, but he seemed to brush me off on that request. He occasionally makes comments like "I need to start reading the Bible again" when he sees me reading mine. But he has of yet, I that I have seen, to pick it up again. I want to hime to discover the Word yet don't want to push him. So have not made mention for a while.  I tell him I would like him to go to church with us but only if he wants to.  I don't want him going if its going to be an abligorty (?spelling) thing for him. I found (from my past expiriance & others I have talked to) that you really don't hear nor head what's bing talked/preached about when you're there. (though, I still hope when does go that he'll hear whats beeing said)  Plus, I know this may be rude to say, but I like to meet people & talk with people & my husband is on the antisocial side.  He loves to talk with people at work, for work, & help them, but is not into making friends persay. As he put it me me one day, he really doesn't need friends. He doesn't go out with any guy friends (except for once in a very blue moon).  He has been invited in the past once or twice by a couple of guys but he is always to busy. 

I love my husband very much.  But am affraid our (faith/religous differances are making us grow appart instead of together.  I would love prayers to grow together in that repesct instead of appart.  I would love for Him to show his love for the Lord if he has excepted him, or if he hasn't I would love for him to except the Lord.

Please help,

Blessings!

Jessica 

Becareful what you say/wish for.

Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 04:01

I was just reading one of my friend's blogs and it reminded me of something in my life that I have the compelling need to share.  In part of this friend's blog it talked about having blessings & curses in our mouth.  I have to say this is true.  It's something I have regetted now for some time and have asked for forgiveness for many times.  The lesson of the story I'm about to tell is to becareful with what you say/wish for.  Expecially the feeling behind it.  What ever you loose or bound on this earth really is the same in heaven.

I used to work for a hospital before becoming a stay at home mommy.  I worked for 5 years at this hospital.  I had a boss that was very materialistic and the like.  But, I now realise she was (possibley still is) lost.  She had money, power, and all the likes she wanted except for children.  She wanted them very bad ( to the point of being jealous of those of us who were pregnant/ having children).  I had mentioned/discussed the option of adoption with her.  She told me that she could never do such a thing due to the children not being of her flesh & blood.  I told her to bad and that I was adopted.  She was was a bit speechless after that.  I then said a "curse" on her. I wished for her to never to be able to have children (physically) because she just wanted to be pregnant, not have children.  I'm not sure the time frame, but some time after that she got pregnant. She then "miscarried" the baby. It ended up she was never pregnant at all.  She wanted a baby so bad she made her body believe she was pregnant and then it "miscarried" the placenta.  She was devistated. I felt so entirley bad after that I immidaitley retracted what I had "cursed" her earlier with and asked for forgiveness.  And have asked for forgiveness since then.  I do hope (and pray) she'll be able to have children one day (if she does not already).

So, please, I bescheech you, to becarful what you speak/wish from your mouths. Learn from my lesson if possible, so as to not make the same mistake I have.

Blessings!

Jessica

I have been tagged

Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 09:50

I have been tagged to tell everyone 6 of my pet peeves.  Now, this is going to make me think, lol,,,,

Pet Peeves:

6. Long lines at the women's restrooms but no lines at the men's.

5. Rush hour traffic (which I don't really have since I moved)

4. People who cannot drive on a freeway

3. People who talk on cellphones while driving (of which I have been guilty of a couple of times myself)

2. "Emergancy" maintaince calls to my hubby in the middle of the night that aren't emergancies.

1. The people who don't attempt to control their children out in public.

Those for the moment are my 6 pet peeves.  I try to be one of those rant for a minute or two then forget it people.  So, I acctually had to think on this tagging.  Lol.... I do hope I didn't affend anyone.  I do not not know who I'll be tagging next.

Blessings!

Jessica

Personal remeinder

Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 12:00

Visit your friends blogs

Posted on Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at 08:51

Hello all, how are you guys today?  Did everyone fair the format server change all right?  I did, that I know of at least. I've finally learned to add a few things to my blogs.  It helps, I must say, to visit your friends websites.  They've usually found quite a bit of cool, free blog add ons.  Besides, I love to read all my friends blogs.  It's a great way to catch up on each others lives and all.  I love looking at all of their blogs, they're just so cool to me. It's so neat to see what others are and have done with their blogs. As a matter of fact I just added a new friend. Her blog is so cute.  Please visit tinabacon9 @ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/heartofexcellence/. 

My son is calling me, so I must go for today.

Blessings!

Jessica

A few House Cleaning Tips

Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 07:38

Hello to all and how are you doing today? We're fine here at the "homestead".  We (I mean Hubby) finally got our window wels done. Just have to put the rocks back around one. They look great being his fist time at concreate work.  Next project, which should by far be easier, is the dog run.  Three of the sides are already up, just need the gate part.  Then the list goes on... lol.

Any how, I have a few cleaning tips I've learned over the years. Some by trial & error and some from other people.  A lot of these many of you have probably already heard or do, but most can bear repeating.

A.  Go in the same order every time you clean house. It really does make the cleaning go faster.  (This is so, I believe, because we already know what to expect.  For most of us, does not routine task go faster then the non routine task?)

B. Get all needed cleaners out & lined up on your kitchen counter for easier use & access. ( I prefer homeaide, but it's what ever you have on hand)

C. Make a list (Even if its routine cleaning I find list so much help.  Expecially for us moms with young children. It can be so easy to forget something when you're being side tracked several times a day.)

D. Don't be super mom. Slpit the task among the whole week. ie: Vaccuum Mon., Wed., & Fri. Clean bathrooms on Tuesday, etc.  (Something I'm still working on.)

These  are just a few tips that I hope will help you if you do not already follow them.  As I figure out (actually think about how I clean) I'll give a few tips in the future.  If you have any you would like me to post please email or send me a message. I'll be happy to post your ideas, tips, etc.

Blessings,

Jessica

Update

Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 10:11

My daughter is just fine now. Although, I had every bit faith she would be.  But, you know, a mothers worries.  She had some cherry mini douaghnuts (from Wal-Mart) as her treat for being so good.  She also got a little sprite this morning (which also loved =) ). 

Well, I do believe that's about it for my short blog(s) this morn. I'll talk w/ you all another day. Many Blessings!

Jessica

My daughter gets tubes today

Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 05:46

Hello & how are you all today?  We're doing all right here at my "homestead".  My daughter goes in to get tubes here in about 1.5 hours.  Her father & I both have had several sets when we were young.  She never had any problems till a year ago.  I wanted tubes last year but they said she'd row out of this problem.  Well,not true and so here we go.  Better late then never though.  I know everything will be just fine. I, myself, have had over 30 surgeries. Still its a bit differant when its your child instead of you.  Please, hkeep her in your prayers.

Well, I have to get my coffee & start getting reddy for the day & surgery. Talk with you all later.

Blessings,

Jessica

Pour Man's Cake

Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 12:07

I got this recipie out of Reminice magazine years ago.  I have had nothing but rave reviews anytime I make.  My husband (who's a picky eater) absolutley loves this cake.  No frosting needed, the cake is so moist. Best of all, is that this cake requires very little ingrediants.  From what I remember of the article accompining the cake, it's a recipie from the '30's when everything was rationed.  Even if your on the poorest budget you can afford to make this cake every now & then. If your budget is a little better then you can have this on a bi monthly scale.

Makes a 9x9 cake.

Sift 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 teaspoon soda & 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl.  Add 1 cup cold water, 6 tablespoons butter/margrine, 1 tablespoon vinegar & 1 teaspoon imatation vanilla.  Mix till smooth and pour into an 8" or 9" square pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 325* to 350*. 

Please note temp & bake time vary according to altitude.  I live at 6000 feet and it takes approximately 23 minutes at 325*.  When I lived below sea leval it was a differant time & temp. Experiment according to your altitude. If you live at a high or higher alituted than I do you should not have to change any ingrediant ratio, nor should you at below sea leval.  However, please make any adjustments needed for your area.

Hillbillyhousewife.com

Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 11:39

I was "researching" for my budget agian. It's a never ending learning proccess for me. ( Each time I get a liittle better at this thing. ) Any how, I revisited a favorite site of mine, The Hillbilly Housewife.  Her site was the first site I had found when cutting my teeth on reducing my budget and becoming thrifty.  I had always been thrifty persay.  I found though, we all come to a point in our lives when we really become thrifty, and we really begin to learn how to strech a dollar.  Always being "well off" (at least in my book), I knew but at the same time had no qlue as how to streach a dollar. I began researching on the web a little over a year ago on ideas.  I ran across her webiste & absolutley loved it.  She brought me back to my "ideal" routes.  I learned a tramendous amount from her experiances.  I also got inrtroduced to Crystal's website (The Family Homestead).  I always new I wanted to have "the simple life" , and I knew many of its aspects from growing up in my family.  But, I never new it's "name" ie: Homesteading. 

I revisited the site again over the last two days. Once again, I learned so much. I got reminded of a few things, put a few things back into prespective, and even discovered a few new things I had not before.

I highly recomend her website for so much practiful advise on not only grocery budget things but on other "life" things as well.  The HillbillyHousewife website is chock full of information.  She also has a whole little article (not sure if it's origanly by her) on apron evangilism. It's very cool reads.  As a matter of fact, I even made my own apron shortly after reading it. 

I could sit here and praise her website all day, but I'll let you all experiance her site yourself.  I have a link on my blog under "links" that'll take you directly there.  I do hope you enjoy her website as much as I do.

Blessings,

Jessica

Hello to All, I'm Back...

Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 10:26

Hello to all, I'm back.  I had a wonderful time visiting with all my family. My little brother (the youngest of us four kids) graduated highschool.  My grandmother & papa red came down from upstate New York.  We got pictures of all six in my family together for the first time.  We also got pictures with my grandmother & papa.  I miss my family and so do the kids.  The only thing I'd change if I could about were I live is to bring my family up here to live. But, tis not ment t be.  Lol... They only live 3 hours away, but it takes money to drive to see them. I do know they'll be up here for a couple of days in August for my daughters birthday, this is a yearly visit.

Well, I got to get back to getting back into my routine of the house & all. Blessings & I'll talk to you all later.

Jessica

No blogs for 1 week

Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 11:44

I'm leaving for about 1 week, my little brother is graduating highschool.  I'll pick my blogging back up after I return.  Thanks!

Blessings,

Jessica

Frugal Family Entertainment

Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 11:32

Hello to all! How was your Weekend? Ours was wonderful. We took our kids fishing for the first time. Our son will have no recollection of this event (he’s only 8 months old). This trip was mostly for my nearly 5 year old daughter. She had a good time but only lasted an hour or so before getting bored.

My tip for today is to check with your community for such an event. Or, better yet, check for all free/cheap community events for the family to enjoy.  I’ve lived in my community for little over 2 years now and find out about more & more free entertainment each year. For example; we’re know for all of our “festivals”. We host Shakespearian Plays every year.  The tickets for these plays are often sold out in advanced and can get very costly. However, they put on “green” plays. These are free to the public and are wonderful to watch.

I advise you to call your city offices (they can usually direct you to the place to call for such things) and find out what’s going on in your community.  This is great free/cheap family entertainment.  Most communities have things such as car shows, and other festivals unique to your area.

That’s all for today. Blessings!

Jessica

Frugal Tips

Posted on Friday, June 8, 2007 at 10:44

Here are a couple of tips to save on clothing, kids or your own. If you don't sew, see if you can trade services with someone who does.

A.  Turn old jeans into shorts. Or if they're beyond hemming into shorts you could do a skirt (that idea is from Crystal, The family Homestead), a purse (which I've done when I was younger), or save them for quilt matrial (which I do now). 

B. Turn ruined long sleeve shirts into short sleeves or sleevless shirts.  My daughter ruined the sleeves of a few of her long sleeved shirts in school. Rather then throwing them away, I've truned them into sleeveless shirts for her this summer. You can also use them as rags and/or material for sewing.

C. Turn to short of dress into shirts.  My daughter has this favorite blue dress, which is a bit to short now, but she still fits it otherwise.  I've turned it into a shirt she now loves.

I hope these tips can be of some service to you all who are watching your pennies like me. And, now a days, who isn't?  If you have any tips for me to add to me frugal tips here, just let me know & I'll be happy to post them.

Blessings,

Jessica

Country Clip Art by Lisa

Posted on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 01:55

Hello all. How is everyone this fine day? We're all doing good here at my "homestead".  I found an intresting site that you all might like.  I found this link off of one of our fellow bloggers (Though I can not remember which one.  I was random blogging.) .  It is chock full of country grafics for your web page and/or personal use. Though, I should mention it is not for bussiness use.  You can buy and/or down load the freebees.  The site even has labels and recipe cards.  It is sooo cool!

Now back to my blog subject today. Due to this website (see my links to access it) I am able to organise all my recipes into one binder in a scrap book style.  It's so nice to have a good looking recipe binder w/ all my recipes in one spot.  I find this site so wonderful because I'm not so creative in that section.  All I have to do is copy & paste, then type and/or write and print. It's truely that simple.  I plan on down loading some of her grafics to my blog as soon as I figure out how to do this. Untill then, here are some samples of her grafics:

Hope you all have as much fun at her website as I did!

Blessings,

Jessica

Cold and Rainy

Posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 09:20

Hello all! Hope all is going well for you.  Today is cold and rainy.  We  were having temps in the mid to high 80's and last night a stromy cold front moved in.  I'm most grateful for the rain, Lord knows we need it.  However, after all that warm weather a high of 60 degrees today is going to feel down right chilly.

Today is going to be seeing if I want to keep my orginal plans for dinner, Mediterian Beef Toss, or making one last pot of bean soup.  My hubby can only eat soup durring cold days.  So, unless I make a small pot for me and the kids (for me it's hard to do) there'll be no soup till next winter.  I'll check with the hubby to see if he can eat soup tonight. If not decision made.

My to do list today is as follows:  Straighten house, vaccum the upstairs, sweep the upstairs bathrooms & the kitchen, & get my sewing done to turn into the store.  I have a trial run to see how my crafts sell in a local store. If all goes well, I'll sighn a 6 month contract to sell my stuff in their store.  So, any easy, quick, and inexpensive craft ideas would be most useful. I mostly sew, but easy dummy proof general crafts I can do too.

I have so many projects the money from the sell could go to on my "homestead".  I am rearranging my front yard to have a "flower" bed right off my front porch.  I'm going to plant peppers (all 3 bells & halapinos & serranos), herbs, cherry rubarb, marrigolds (for bug protection) and what ever else I can plant out front w/o over crowding the garden bed.  I also need to plant two more trees out front. After that the front will pretty much be done as far as plants go.  My hubby is adding a mudroom to our front porch eaither this or next year. And eventually we'd like to add on to our drive way to easier park his trailer and stuff.  The main projects to complete this year will be fixing our window wells (the number one project & probably most costly) and a dog run ( so I can reclaim my grass area for the kids).  Next  yrear hopefully we'll move on to the back yard.  I have to move my kids swingset to the other side of the yard so I can have my garden space back.  I need to plant some privacy trees along my back fence ( so I don't have to look into the renters yards any more). I also need to put in a least two apple tree. After that, for the most part the backyard will be done for a little while.  As my kids get older, I pan on converting more of my back yard to gardens and less of a play space.  But, that's as they grow out of their play equipment. 

I do think this enough blog to read for one day.   I'll catch you all later. Have a Blessed Day!

Jessica