... Family, Friends and Food for the Fourth (nd an update too) ...

Posted on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 06:47

Well I just got notification that my side of the family is having a big BBQ at my brother's house on the evening of the Fourth.  I am thrilled since hubby's family is all busy and doing their own thing.  His mother and father will be at their church's 3 day meeting, his oldest sister is in Washington and unable to come home but will be home in a few weeks for Grandma's 90th bday, and his youngest sister and her hubby and daughter are in California at Disney!

Of course I asked what I could bring and my SIL told me maybe a salad or a dessert.  So I plan on taking both. LOL  Not sure what kind of salad to take, and I have a simple dessert recipe I will make (it is red white and blue).  Hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill sound so good right now.  And I know several of the other dishes will be potato salad and baked beans, etc.  One gal there doesn't cook, so she usually brings the pop, or ice and sometimes a large tub of icecream depending on what we are all having. 

We aren't shooting off any fireworks there though.  One of the twins is scared of fireworks, 2 of the other kids are with their dad for the weekend and won't be there either.  So it is the one if the twin who likes fireworks, and Noah, who is only 3 but loved them last year, so I unless he decides to change his mind, LOL, I think he will be ok with them again this year.  After the BBQ, several of us will drive back to town and watch the citywide fireworks display at the lake.  We won't buy much this year....maybe some snappers, some smoke bombs, and some other smaller items for Noah.   I just can't see spending alot of money on big bangs this year when we have so many things we could spend the money instead.

Matthew got called today for a small electrical job.  The guy wants an electrical hookup for a camper put in behid his barn by this weekend.  So Matthew is running a little late tonight getting that done.  He was hoping it was a 10 minute job, but knows things happen and it might take longer.  Oh well, we need the money to take care of part 2 of fixing my car's air conditioning.  (Part one was putting in a new fan, which he did last night.  Part 2 is???  LOL  I have no idea.  I know the fan works now but no cold air.  Maybe it needs freon?? Who knows.  That is hubby's job)

I have discussed having a yard/garage sale and then canceled it thinking I would just have an auction (a HS friend has an auction business and is going to hold a consignment auction), but now I am thinking I should just open up a Ebay shop, and possibly put some stuff on Etsy as well.I think in the long run I will end up getting more money for the items.  I will just advertise that I go to the post office once or twice a week, etc. so I don't have to go every single day.  That would be crazy. On days I have many packages, I will ask a girlfriend to watch Noah, or drop him off for an hour at grandma's shop.

Speaking of grandma's shop.....she has offered me one of her large display windows to put items in if wanted.  I told her I would speak to Matthew, pray about it and get back to her.  I know I won't make alot of money from it, because her shop is kind of out of the way, and not many people walk around there either.  However, the customers that come into her shop for Speech (She is a Speech Pathologist) might see something and buy it, or order one in a different color, tell their friends, etc.  I was thinking of putting some vintage items in the window, and making up some aprons and shaggy blankets to display and sell there.  I am getting excited about the opportunity to make some money to help with household items and Christmas, etc.  When I get the shops up and running, I will post the addresses here for all of you!!!

Matthew (who is the king of putting things off, starting projects and then not finishing them, etc.) has turned a new leaf.  I am not sure what happened, but I am not about to ask and screw this up.  LOL  Projects like Noah's bedroom upstairs that have sat for over 3 years without being finished are now being worked on!  He comes home from work and instead of colasping in his chair with the laptop, he asks if there is anything I need him to do!  Mostly it is small stuff like, take out the trash, take this box upstairs, etc.  But recently he has fixed part of the air conditioning on the car, fixed the leaky roof, replaces a filter on the furnace/air conditioner, and my favorite, bought and hung a ceiling fan in Noah's new bedroom!!!  The later was all his idea and he was so pleased to be able to buy the fan with his extra money coming in from electrical jobs.  :)  Makes me smile to see this part of Matthew blossoming. 

Noah has been talking up a storm!!!  I can't believe in the last couple of months since his birthday screening in April, how much he has developed.  He is definately not the same little boy.  He is doing better every day.  Last night I told Matthew that he had been talking up a storm all day long and learning new words every day.  Later on Matthew said, how do you turn HIM off??  LOL  We both had a great laugh over that one.  The little boy that wouldn't talk earlier except for mom, dad, cookie, candy, etc. little words, is now talking 4 word sentences, answering questions with words instead of sign language, and asking for items instead of pointing and grunting.  God is so good to us.  I love this little guy.  And yes, there are times you want to turn him off still.  LOL  But most of the time, I love hearing him talk (now not only in English but a little Spanish and Chinese due to a few tv shows he watches)

Well, that's all for now.  I should go. 

... Happy Summer! ...

Posted on July 1, 2009 at 01:58 in Home Sweet Home

I've been so busy this summer with visiting family and friends, that I've completely neglected my little old blog.

Hopefully things will settle down soon and I can get back to more regular blogging . . . Until then, I'd like to wish everyone here at Homestead Blogger a very happy 4th of July and a very happy summer!

(The photo above is a pot of Nemesia and Cosmos on my porch decorated for the upcoming holiday - I love the cheerful colors of summer!)

... The Nursery Decor ...

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 08:28 in In The Nursery

Beatrix Potter Murals

So we haven't got a home yet, but I'm having fun coming up with ideas for the nursery that are gender neutral.

I would like my walls a darker kahki with white crown molding in the middle.  I'd like a mural of Beatrix Potter at least on one side of the wall.  This is the one I've chosen so far. The site has wonderful ideas.

... Us old ??? ...

Posted on 2009-Jun-29 at 07:55 in Home

Janet and Mya went home today, .  But while Janet was here we had some fun shopping.   We went bra shopping and clothes shopping. The best part was no kids!!!  Just us two.  It was so fun and nice. 

We had one lady laughing so hard she had tears running down her face.  It was because Janet was telling her how much we have in common.  We are born 6 weeks apart, Janet is the older one.  Our atm pin numbers are the same( we did not set it up that way). Janet broke her leg 12-27-93, I broke my leg 12-27-07, the same leg, the same way(slipped walking), same surgery , but my leg has more hardware. There are so many other things that are the same too.

So anyway, we are out shopping Janet is looking at some shirts and I said no those look like something grandmas would wear.  Janet says you are a grandma!!!! Thanks Jan, I did not feel like one until she said that!!!!  It was then out shopping we both saw that we are getting older and saw our age.  We are going to be 40 years old this fall.   Where did the time go??  The past 25 years just flew by and we got older.

Then Janet made a few good points. 1. is we survived with out cell phones, the kids just don't believe that.   2. is we lived with out texting!! , if we had it back then we would have to learn how to spell better.  3. is that we lived with out computers to help us with our school work, there was no spell check , there was the "look it up in the dictionary", if we knew how to spell it we would not need to look up.

Blessings Mj

... June 29th ...

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 06:05 in Journal Entries

I'm unsure exactly how far along I am.  The testing a couple of weeks ago said I was 4 or 5 weeks along.  Right now, I could be 6 or 7 weeks.  I would LOVE to be 7 weeks along.  I'd just like to get out of the first trimester where there could be complications.  I say could be as I have been told in the beginning the numbers were low and I could miscarry.  Ever since, I've tried to hold back a bit.  HOWEVER, this is Gods little miracle and He's planned this according to HIS plans for HIS glory.  There is purpose.  So I continue to put my faith and trust in HIM.  This little miracle wouldn't have happened without Him.

I have an appointment on Friday with the prenatal high risk specialist.  Because I am a type II diabetic, I have to be closely monitored.  My sugars are somewhat higher than I'd like them to be, but aren't anywhere near what they've been in the past.  I've been EXTREMELY strict with myself.  Getting rid of sugar substitutes and having tea or water.  I have slipped an iced coffee or two, but nothing obsessive and I care more about this little life growing inside me, than I do of my own cravings.

Cravings -

                     For the most part, I'm not sure I have any right now.  I know I LOVE salads.  This is the season for all kinds of salads, pasta salads, fruit salads, green salads, etc.  My favorite are green salads with chicken and SPICEY ranch.  YUMMY.  Mexican, I LOVE mexican spicey meals too.  I've liked them before, but they just taste good to me right now.  I'm out on whether this is a craving just yet.

Doug seems to amaze me with each new day.  At first, he was distant a little.  I think part of it was the surprise of it all, another part was the potential of losing this little miracle and last, maybe not being able to feel first-hand what is going on in my body.

With each new day though, He's becoming quite the doting husband and daddy.  He has been doing more things to be sure I don't lift anything too heavy or do anything too strenuous.  His mind is spread thin with getting re-preapproved for a home of our own, having moved from his parents to our friends home for awhile and in a month or two, moving again somewhere all while dealing with a pregnant wife and watching out for our little one.  The thought of a new life to be responsible for may be an issue for him too. 

As each day comes, he's been more and more involved in fun things.  Looking online to see what the baby looks like at this stage, coming up with names and helping figure out what we'll need for baby in the future.  I think all in all, the most important is nurturing baby though.  Material things aren't as important as taking care of baby.  We are excited though to see what our little cutie looks like and who he or she will turn out to be.  My only hope, is that he/she/they come to know the greatest gift in life through Jesus Christ.  To raise our son or daughter to Love God and Serve Him.  Our baby after all, is HIS. He created him or her and blessed us with such an awesome little miracle that it's hard to comprehend any other way other than Gods way to create such a beautiful little baby.  Praise God for all He has created.

So friday is our appointment and I'm praying they'll do a sonogram early to be able to date our little baby. 

Please continue to pray God will strengthen him or her, the numbers will continue to grow, and we'll have a happy, healthy baby in 8 months.

God Bless You!

Rebekah

... God said No. ...

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 09:46

A friend I met last week at camp sent this to me and I thought it really hit home so I thought I'd share it.

... Naucious ...

Posted on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 12:35 in Journal Entries

So, I've been thinking too much about why I'm NOT naucious and just now, I...................Feel Naucious.  Yup!  Not a whole lot...but I feel pretty sick to my stomach.  So there I go. :O)

... moving past the broker issues to get a home of our own to "nest" ...

Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 07:48 in In The Family Room

Well, alot has been going on around here.  Dougs brothers started packing out back to their home states.  Dan and Heidi left on Thursday afternoon with the twins to PA for a picnic and on back to MN they went safe and sound.   Charles and Diane left with their kids friday morning after a fun-filled wii game here with Aunt Becky and Uncle Doug.  It was really fun!  We miss them ALL.

We've been having problems with mortgage brokers.  We were pre-approved, but the broker our realtor suggested was trying to swindle us.  Praise God for catching it early, but she recommended another one who ran my husbands credit without really asking us and declined us....for a rediculous reason.  Anyways, back to the mortgage broker we origionally had last year.  I'm praying these last two brokers from our realtor didn't cost us a pre-approval from the origional broker for our bank.  I've heard the more your report is pulled, the lower your score.  We can't afford NOT to be approved right now.  I'm pregnant and REALLY in need of stability.  While I'm grateful to everyone who is allowing us to stay with them, I really need a place of my own to "nest".  Please pray for favor that we'll be approved next week for a home and that we'll find a home right for us in a good location.

We've decided to put our homesteading plans on hold and get a fixer upper so we can deal with the mortgage payments and be able to live life with our new little one on the way.  If the preapproval doesn't happen, then I suppose we go back to renting for another year.  I think I'm just jumpy because there's so much going on...but good grief, I didn't think buying a house could be so stressful.  I'll be sharing the "bad brokers" name once this is all finished.  Thank goodness I read fine print and get everything in writing.  Not to mention the guy doesn't know an FHA from any other loan.  VERY SCAREY!

We're getting ready to move to our friends house tomorrow.  They offered a room to rent while we work out the kinks in the housing plans.  We're hoping we don't put them out, but know this is only temporary and pray we may be of some help.  Thats if I can get through the tired feelings I've been having lately.  I'm exhausted! I guess this is normal for a pregnancy.

So we're still busy. I'll continue to keep you all posted as time goes on.  I laugh because Gods plans are so funny.  He KNOWS I need to fully trust Him for anything to work out.  I'm all discombobulated and out of my comfort zone.  But I feel His peace surrounding me.  Praise be to God!

I pray you all have a lovely weekend.

... June 26th, 2009 ...

Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 07:33 in Journal Entries

Today I'm longing for the appointment next friday.  Right now, I should be 5 or 6 weeks.  I'm not having the naucious feeling I had a week ago. Still have the lower back cramps and anal pressure (sorry for the timi).  I also have tender breasts and sligtly light headed when I walk outside with Doug or sometimes when I stand.  Nothing bad..just kinda like an imbalance of sort.

I'm not sure at this stage exactly what I'm supposed to feel.  It will be good to actually see our dear baby in a sonogram and I'm told I'll start to feel fluttering around 16 to 20 weeks or so.  This is all surreal.  Praise God for this little miracle!

... June 19th, 2009 ...

Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 07:27 in Journal Entries

After much trial, we FINALLY got the High Risk Dr.'s office to answer us.  We took an HCG lab and were called back.  Labs were good and our numbers were 340.  We're on track for a 4 or 5 week pregnancy. 

Later, we find it was in fact our mini-vacay to the Adirondacks where our little one was conceived.  Praise God!

An appointment is scheduled with the high risk OB for Friday July 3rd.  Please pray they give me an early sonogram so we can see our little one and know he or she is doing well.  Also pray we can hear a heartbeat this early. 

God created this little miracle, I know he/she/they are in HIS hands.

Glory be to God!