Many of you know we are working on adopting a 16 yo girl from Arkansas.   We are blessed in God (and CPS), has allowed me to be a mentoring mom to her for about 3 months now with phone calls.  She does not know we are the family that is adopting her.  Some times I think she suspects.  I know she wants it to be us because she has ask me if we will over and over.  We are her "reserve" family in case the other family doesn't work out.  :)  

I decided I wanted a place where people who are praying for this adoption's speedy happening to leave prayers and messages of hope and encouragement for J.  Once we are allowed to tell her I will share this page with her.  She said last night her church family was praying for this adoption.  I had to bite my tongue again to not tell her just how many people from every where are praying. 

Please leave commits as often as you feel led.  Please share what state or nation you are in.  I think it will be neat to share this with her.  I know from commits left on my main blog   http://mom2countrykids.bravejournal.com/   that many are praying.  This will be an easy way to share them with her.  

So let the posting began!  

Thank you for the offers of help to change my blog here.  The problem is you have to use the templates here and you are very limited in what you can do.  I can upload pictures.  But I can't make those pictures my background.   I love the people here and how friendly and helpful people are.  I just want, with my VERY limited knowledge, to create a blog that is me, not some one else's creation.  To really understand take a look at my new blog: http://mom2countrykids.bravejournal.com/ .   The background and all are pictures I have taken.   I hope some of my friends from here will follow me over and add their blogs to the web ring I set up and the Friends page I set up.  

Nola

We had a great weekend!  Friday night my SIL and nephew came out.  They stayed until Sat. night.  I wish they would have stayed another night.... maybe next time.  We had a great visit!   My nephew helped with plumbing the solar stuff for the pool.  No, they finish.  Something about not reading the instructions correctly and having to re-do a couple of things.  :)   Maybe sometime this week.  While they were gathering the things to work on that I hung most of my plants on the deck and ran the drip to each pot.  We had the main drip line installed already.   It looks so pretty with all the potted plants hanging out there.   I have no clue what to do this fall to keep them alive until spring.  Some can be easily replaced but my geraniums I would like to save.   Guess I will worry about that in the late fall. 

We  had a lazy day other than watching them work on the solar.  We spent a lot of the day on the porch.  It was hot, but our porch didn't seem that hot.  The temps were around 100 on Sat.  That afternoon we BBQ ribs.  Mmmm I love ribs!  We are still eating on them.     We did gather my oregano and have it drying in the kitchen.  I also harvested the broccoli.  We got enough for Church and a little left to eat this week.  Not a lot, but at least the kids get to see how it grows.  I

Sunday the weather turned back into spring.  Our high was in the low 70s.   Church was great!  Our discussion was suppose to be on Acts 25, but it seemed to rabbit trail into many other areas of the Bible.  Those are great, fun and interesting times as we go back in Bible history to understand what is going on in the chapter we are reading. 

After Church I decided a nap was in order.  :)  I had a nice nap, but woke up sluggish.  I sat on the porch and watched fence building and carpet laying on the deck.  Our deck looks really good now!  They also got the fence up.  All that is lacking are springs on the gates to make them self closing and locking. 

I did get a wonderful Mothers Day blessing in my Daughter-in-loves blog,  http://bsjonesjourney.blogspot.com/  See I am truly blessed with a wonderful DIL!  

This weeks plans are kind of up in the air.  I have laundry today.  Heart to Heart on Thur. night.  This is like a moms night out.  Then on Friday I get produce.   Sat. is the flea market in Buffalo Gap.  I like going there.  Not sure yet if we will do it or not. 

Hope everyone has a blessed week. Leave a commit if you feel led to.  It's always fun and amazing to see just how many people read my blog. 

It's almost 7 AM.  I am setting here watching the night fade and morning come.  It is humid with a tiny bit of fog hanging here and there.  So still that not a leaf is moving.  I keep thinking that the net will crash at any time.  My Internet doesn't like fog.   So far it hasn't.   I am waiting on everyone to wake up.  My SIL and nephew are sleeping in the camper.  I hope the rest well. 

We had a great evening yesterday.  Kids and I had fun cooking before they got here.  We made an apple cobbler, fresh green beans, mash potatoes, rolls and then grilled steaks.  It was yummy!   In fact almost everyone was way to full to eat cobbler.  Guess that will be breakfast. 

The kids got treated to a late swim after supper.  They loved that!  Swimming in the dark!   It made them late to bed.  Wonder if they will be late to rise this morning?   I kind of hope they are. That would mean they might not be crabby.   I got to bed late last night but at about 5:45 I was ready to get up.  This means my body is feeling better!  I am soooooo glad.  I can't believe how well that stuff I took worked on the yeast.  I won't even fuss about the taste. 

With all the early morning noises around here I am surprised they are sleeping in.  The geese and guinnies are talking.  The peafowl are YELLING.  The really are LOUD.  I can hear them walking around on the tin roof.  Sounds like a herd of elephants up there.  

Today my plan is to visit, and visit some more!  We are havening BBQ ribs for supper and salad.  That is simple enough!  I will stir up the BBQ sauce in a little while.  I am guessing we will snack for lunch.  I am hoping for an early supper.  OK I admit once the ribs start coming off people around here start eating.   We have about 8 packages of ribs to cook, plus about 4 from our beef.  Those I will boil first to make them more tender.  They have the "plate" on which means a lot more meat, but it is usually tough.  I have learned you can boil them a few minutes and they will be much easier to eat. 

Since I have an over abundance of milk I should make cheese... you see the SHOULD in there.  I really don't want to.  I really just want to pretend I don't have milk.  I am feeling frustrated with milk.  It seems with summer people aren't wanting near as much milk.  That means I have WAY more than I can use.   I may stop milking all but when I need it or when someone ask for some.   It would make my life easier.  

I do think I will do a banana pudding.  I have lots of bananas that are loosing the yellow color.  Way to ripe for some of us to eat.  I admit I like them with a little bit of green striping in them.  

I see I am out of humming bird feed.  I will get that done to start the day.  That and make pancake/waffle batter.   Then I will let others cook while I go do chores :)   Can't beat a deal like that.  That is IF anyone ever gets up around here.

I do have a prayer request.  The young lady I am "mentoring" /praying to adopt is really struggling with mixed loyalty.  She wants to be adopted, but is worried about her bio mom.  I totally understand, but it is such a hard place for a 16 yo to be in.  I ask that everyone pray  with me a hedge of protection around her bio mom, and peace for J in worrying about her bio mom.  She is also starting to worry about "what if..." with her adoptive family.   Do you know how hard it is to talk to her and not spill the beans that her adoptive mom already LIKES her!   I assured her all her fears are very normal and just to trust God.  That God is bringing about this adoption and He doesn't make mistakes.   I just ask that we all lift her up and give her peace of mind and create a heavenly shield around her that the enemy's darts won't find their mark and bring her all the doubts and fears that aren't of God.  Also continue to pray that we get the fingerprints back quickly!  

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

LOL when I went to spell check this I discovered the net was down!  Surprise Surprise!  NOT! 

It's not yet 6 am and I have finished my Bible time and pretty much finished reading the net.   For some reason my dh couldn't sleep this morning and got up about 4, Yawn!  I was sleeping just fine then, didn't know exactly when he got up.  I just woke up cold.   Covered up and snuggled down for more sleep.  Just about then I heard...??? rats??? in my closet?  A dog? A cat?  No it was Dh looking for something.  Again I snuggled down to TRY at this point to go back to sleep.  He left for work about 5, and I gave up and got up shortly after that. 

The good news about me being up at 5 is I must be feeling better!   I have really been struggling for almost 2 weeks with feeling yucky.  Yet, not really being able to put my finger on what was going on.  I finally decided I might be yeasty.  Night before last I started taking some homoeopathic stuff to kill yeast.   Yesterday I had a terrible headache all day, but felt better less sluggish.  Today I didn't drag me out of bed, but willingly got up.   I will continue to take this stuff for a couple of weeks and I hope get me back where I should be.  I will also avoid breads and sugars.  I really though I was doing that already.  I don't know what tipped the balance to overgrow.   Yeast is something I have struggled with all my adult life.   It has only been in the past 5-10 years I have learned how to control it.  So I was surprised at this attack.   Usually I struggle around Thanksgiving when I overindulge in sweets.  

Today we are off to town.  I have a Sams list and a everywhere else list.  If we get it all done before therapy time then we will do some park time.   I want to get a few things we figured out we need for the camper.  Stuff like a night light in the bath room. 

We have one more hoop to jump through on the homestudy.  We have to fully enclosed our pool.  It won't be that big a deal, just dodging pipes putting in T post.  That is this weekends plans.   Still waiting on the finger prints.  Please keep praying that they come in soon.  As soon as they are here we get to go meet J.   I am still getting to talk to her a couple of times a week.  She is getting excited about being adopted.  I am enjoying her excitement.  :)   I can't wait to share that we are the family.  Her case worker is excited for her.  She is still emailing me with how well we "fit".  This is from stuff J is telling her about our conversations.  I pray and do feel very good about it.  I am sure we will have our mommy daughter moments.  That is just part of being a family.  

MN got a taste of mommy/daughter moments last night.  She had avoided her chores.  If you were looking at her you would thing she was busy.  If you were looking at the things on her list you would know she was looking busy, accomplishing nothing.  So after supper and more piddling she was shocked to find she had extra chores an if she couldn't finish in a timely, or really speedy manor she would be up at 6 to finish them.  She couldn't and she missed getting up with her alarm, so I just got her up.   She wasn't a happy camper at getting dish duty after supper last night.  Dad came through and ask her why she was doing dishes.   She was honest and told him because she didn't do her chores correctly.   :)  That is an accomplishment!  Owning the choices she made.  

Our weekend plans are do the fence and just work around here.  We need to mow the weeds.  Er, grass according to dh.  Weeds really fit better!   Garden needs weeding.  Good thing there is I have a 11 yo that decided to pay me back for the toilet paper he used to wrap his head and who knows what else in "mummy" fashion by weeding the garden.  My DIL was really hoping he would choose the other option, me supplying his TP for the next month.  I have some wonderful Christian Book Dist. Catalogs that would fit the bill just as well as Sears use too. 

My 11 yo is struggling with being funny.  He isn't!   He thinks he is, and comes off looking stupid most of the time.  He isn't stupid either!  I have just about developed a zero tolerance for his "funniness".   I am like is anyone laughing?  He can be very smart and carry on a good conversation, but he "likes" to be funny.   I don't do class clown very well.   I want him to learn positive ways to express himself where he doesn't come out the blunt of the joke.  People aren't laughing WITH him, but AT him.  I am trying to get him to see that.   The mummy was one of his attempts at funny.  Girls didn't see the humor, told and mom sure didn't.

Daylight has came while I typed so I am off to go surprise the cows with an early milking instead of late.  Hope everyone has a very blessed day!  

First I met a really neat Godly woman that radiated peace. I really don't think I had ever been exposed to someone that had peace. Not just a fake worldly peace, but a deep seated indescribable peace. She stirred a hunger in me for that. I started looking at her and her walk with God. I believed in God. I called myself a Christian. I had no use for organized religion. (still don't have much :) ) I can look back and see how badly “religion” had hurt me as a child, but that is another rabbit trail. As I got to know her and met others that were really walking with God, not going to “church”. I started to see the difference in Living for God and Living for Religion. I started reading my Bible. I found some non traditional churches to attend. Some I grew out of, some died. I fed my hunger for God by spending time with Him. By putting Him first. I am not sure how many years ago in a Bible Study God opened my eyes to the need to put Him first. That was before coffee, and eek, before Internet time. That was hard! What if the friend I wanted to talk to got off? What if someone I knew had a question and I knew the answer? I bought a Yearly Bible and started reading what ever it said for each day. I have been putting Him first every day since. Seldom do I not spend time with Him, in His Word before I spend time with even my husband. I plan my day no matter what time we are getting up to be up 15 minutes earlier to do my “Bible Time”. My kids know they have 2 choices if they get up before I am done, either be quite or go back upstairs.

Over the years I have weeded out my friends that aren't growing in God. I have surrounded myself with people that are hungry for God, and more of Him. I have read and read and read books about God, about the Holy Spirit. I have such a long way to go, but as I lay down me to Him and fill me up with Him the growth gets easier. The depth of my walk is into places I didn't know there were. My relationship with God is deeper than I even knew or was ever told God was.

Do I still struggle? Do I want to do sinful things? Yes, I struggle, but not so much in wanting to do things I know will displease God, but in just falling short of where I want to be with Him. Most often my falling short is in being a wife and mother. I just don't have that down to where I want it to be.

I also learned to write letters to God. I don't do this all time, but do when things are not sorting out in my head. At about the same time I bought my yearly Bible I was given the plan on how to build a Prayer Journal. I did this. It was really easy and a great way to learn to pray.

Take a loose leaf notebook of any size. I like the ones about 5x8. Take some card stock and cut it to make dividers. You will need 8 dividers. One for every day of the week and one for daily. Now start building. I had to decorate mine, but you could just write daily prayers on your divider. This will be where you pray what is on your heart each morning. Just dump it all out for God. Doesn't have to even make sense. Behind this do the days of the week on dividers. This is what or who you pray for each day besides your daily prayers.

On Monday you will pray for your family. This is your children, spouse, who ever is your family.

Then on Tuesday pray for Friends.

Wednesday is personal stuff.

Thursday is Finances.

Friday is Illness.

Saturday is the Military, National leaders....

Sunday is your Church Family.

When I started I felt really silly doing this. I didn't know how to talk to God. I had heard all these rehearsed prayers and they sounded really good. As I got to know God I came to understand He wants our heart, not our rehearsed prayers. I didn't and still don't let anyone read my journal. That is between God and I. If I write something I feel led to share with someone then I will share that page. Over time I learned to listen and write as God spoke to me. I have some awesome conversations written down. Most of the time it was just me pouring my heart out to Him.

Doing this did help me understand how to talk to God. It helped me understand that I don't have to be perfect or have a great need for God to want me to seek Him out. Just as I like my children to seek me out and just visit, so does God. He is there when things are tough, but He is also there when things are wonderful or just “normal”. If we think of Him as our parent, or for some the dream parent, not the kind we had, but the kind we saw on TV, and think how much we want to share the good and the bad with our parents, God wants it even more. He doesn't just want us to pick up the phone and call when we need money. He wants to hear about our good day. About the flower we saw that He put in our path just for us to notice. About the funny thing our children said or did. Just about our life!

O my people, listen to my instructions.
      Open your ears to what I am saying,
    2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
   I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
    3 stories we have heard and known,
      stories our ancestors handed down to us.
 4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
      we will tell the next generation
   about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
      about his power and his mighty wonders.
 5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
      he gave his instructions to Israel.
   He commanded our ancestors
      to teach them to their children,
 6 so the next generation might know them—
      even the children not yet born—
      and they in turn will teach their own children.
 7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
      not forgetting his glorious miracles
      and obeying his commands.
PS 78:1-7

This morning I was still struggling with feeling like God wanted to tell me something and I just wasn't hearing him.  I finally took a note pad and my Bible out on the porch.  I ask God what I was to read.  Psalms 78 came to mind.   So there is where I went.  It is a LONG chapter!   As I read I realized that I am struggling with some lies that have been whispered and some that haven't even been whispered to me.   The lies are in two main areas. 

One adopting a 16 yo girl.  It is amazing how many people KNOW that this child is "damaged", or "more than you can handle" or just question why we would consider a 16 yo.   I do know that 16 is a hard age.  I have vague memories of being 16 and it being hard, with a loving mom.  I can't imagine having no stability and being 16.  We may not "know what we are getting into."  I am sure it will harder in many ways than we dream, but I am also sure that the rewards will be bigger.    We aren't in this alone.  We have a heavenly Father that is guiding us and working not only in us and our family, but our church family and in the child we adopt now before she comes to live with us.   I have and continue to educate myself, my family and my friends about adoption.  We aren't jumping into this.  All this said the bottom line that God again showed me today is He is still in the miracle business.  We have His word on it.  What glorious deeds and miracles will I be able to tell my children, and what will they be able to pass on to their children? 

The other thing I am struggling with is my sister-in-law's health.   It is hard to see people you love not healthy and not even knowing what they need to be healthier.   I do think God is working in that dept.  As they have started to look at other ways to eat and think.   Again I am reminded that God is still in the Miracle business and I need to trust Him.  I can storm Heaven's gates on her behave, but He is the one that has to do the miracle.  He can heal her health.  He can create in her a desire for more.  Like me she grew up in a world where God was on a pedestal.  You believe in Him, yet you don't have a personal relationship with Him.    I moved away and broke that mold a long time ago!  She hasn't!  I am hoping, and yes, praying that as she and her son hang out over here more they will catch the fire for God.  They will see Him in a new and personal way.   We lived in a world that forgot to "tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,  about his power and his mighty wonders"  I have long since walked away from that world.  I don't even go back there to visit.   I am praying she can come to understand how loving and how personal God can be if we walk the walk.  If we seek Him. 

I know this is rambling and may not speak to anyone, but just for today remember God is a God of Glorious deeds, power an might wonders.  That He is a God of Glorious Miracles.  Remember that today as you go about your day.  Maybe no one has told you God still works Miracles, but He does.  He hasn't changed!  

Today I need to make granola, make syrup for pancakes and make Cajun pickles.  None of those are hard task and most can be multi task together.  Problem is I have NO motivation.  I really have the blahs.  

A friend wrote in her blog about feeling out of sorts. http://www.homesteadblogger.com/reginascott/ I so get how she feels.  I just haven't figured out what my answer is.  I keep asking God and keep not getting an answer. So I will keep waiting on Him and doing what needs doing. 

I have posted my granola recipe before.  The pancake syrup is so hard I am not sure I should post it.  Take a can of fruit nectar.  I use the kind that come in the blue can.   Dump one or two in the vita mix.  Add a couple table spoons of corn starch.  Now flip it on high and work on something else while it heats up and becomes "syrup" as the corn starch thickens it.  You could do it in a pan too, but you would have to stir it. 

Cajun pickles are NOT healthy!  Nope, no way no shape or form.  They are GOOD!   Buy a gallon of sliced hamburger dill pickles.  Dump them into a colander and wash the salt off.  Wash them well.  now put about an 2 inches back in the jar.  Add about 2 inches of sugar.  You will need a 4 lb sack, and use it ALL.  Toss a couple of cinnamon sticks in.  Sprinkle with some crushed red pepper and toss some garlic in.  Repeat this until ALL the pickles and ALL the sugar is used up.   now put the lid on tight.  Set it on the cabinet and each time you go by flip it.   It will make it's own juice, as the sugar dissolves.   Once the sugar is dissolved they are ready to eat.  They then need to be refrigerated.  If you are in a rush, shake the jar instead of just flipping it.   My favorite food to eat them with is turkey, but they are good by themselves or with hamburgers too. 

We got RAIN, then we got RAIN and more RAIN!   This is all wonderful!  My SIL and nephew were out for round one.  It was great, over an inch.  Made for a muddy drive out, but hey!   We were really getting dry.  

Big kids when to their house.  We went to bed.  We woke up and it was lightening in the distance off and on.  The power was also going off and on.  About 2:30 I woke to thunder.  I jump out of bed and pull up the radar.  Scanner is quite and when it FINALLY comes up the rain hits about the same time!  DOWNPOUR of rain!   Still nothing on the scanner so we go back to bed.  My son calls in maybe 5 minutes on the radio wanting to know if I saw the Tornado?  HUH?   "What Tornado?"   "The one that took our roof off"  This all in calm voice.  I ask if he was kidding.  He DOES have a warped sense of humor.  No he assures me he isn't.  They are OK, but could we please come get them.  DH takes the excursion over to get them.  All the trucks are tucked under barns and overhangs everywhere from the earlier storm so they don't have a way over but to walk.  It is POURING.   The water is over half way to their knees in front of their house.  This is near level ground, but getting run off from the hill.  

Did you know the original Star Trek comes on at about 2 AM here?  We didn't either until last night.  We watched it while we calmed down enough to sleep.  This morning clean up started again.  Well, most of it had to wait while we got another .75 of an inch of rain.  Our 24 hour total is over 3 inches. 

For a blow by blow account here is my DIL's blog account: http://bsjonesjourney.blogspot.com/

This extension cord was on the ground between the house and the power line.  See it draped over the line? 

They ONLY lost 5 sheets of plywood, and most of the tin.

If that wasn't enough excitement for one day about 3 my son comes in making sure kids are all inside. ?????   One of the dogs just got rattlesnake bit.  I ask "where"?  On the face?  NO WHERE?  On the NOSE!  NO!! Where did it happen?  OH?  no clue!  We are drawing meds up as we have this disjointed discussion.  Off to give the dog a shot of dex.  We keep it just for these situations.   We both walk the yard, and everywhere around, no snake.  Oh did I mention it is only 54 degrees, and very very wet everywhere?  The 54 was the high for the day at that point.  Finally just give up.  Warn the kids that there is a rattle snake IN the yard and go on with life.   Is the snake in the yard?  We don't know, but we will plan that it is.  Poor puppy seems to be doing well.  I went and took these pics a couple of hours later.  I also took his collar off.  He was wagging his stub tail and wanting out of the barn.    

While I had the camera out I took these pictures of the water around here.  This is out front:

I walked toward the middle pond, which is deep, but yesterday evening had about 6 inches of water in it.  Today it is running over and around.  We have only saw it this deep a couple of times in 11 years.  

I turned and looked back toward the house and took this picture of water still draining into the pond.  The white you can see is the back of the pond at the house. 

Life is never dull around here!  Oh the kids are worried about the snake.  NOT! They are happily playing in the front yard in the mud.  As if we didn't have enough mud I caught T carrying a bucket of water to add to her "lake" she was building.  I nixed that right quick :)  

Today I ended up going garage sale shopping for a bit.  We really didn't find many good buys, but MN and I had fun.  She did ask several times about sorting goats when we got home.  I said maybe.  I really did plan on it.  But, a few minutes after I got home my SIL called to see if we were home.  She and my nephew are coming for a visit!  I am excited!  She lives about an hour away, and NEVER comes.  My nephew has just moved back from the E.Coast.  It has been close to 15 years since I saw him. 

I have steaks thawing, bread rising and MN has potaotes cooking for mash potatoes.  Toss a salad in the mix and we will eat like kings!   Plenty of time to visit too.  It is even nice the house is still clean from yesterday.  :)  Not that my SIL cares.   It should be fun! 

Ok off to check bread one more time :)

I guess the CPS visit went OK.    It was a matter of doing it.  She didn't say no so that is good.  She said it would be ready in about a week or two.  Then we wait on finger prints.   We have to get our TB test.  I will call Monday to see what days the do that.     I did laugh because MJ has decided he wants a brother.  About his age.   He interrupted 3 times to ask if he could as her about it.  :)  When she went to talk to the kids I told him now was the time.  :)   Seems all three of them had "request".   The funny part is that one of her questions was something along the lines of "how do you feel about your parents adopting?" 

Thanks for all the prayers!

In other news MN and I have the house to ourselves.  Dad and the other two went off to an auction.   I have a feeling T will be BORED LONG before the auction is over.  I may go rescue her later, depending on what we get into around here.   I need to sort lambs to sell.   MN has already ask me if we are going to do that today.   Yes, she would rather sort livestock than go to an auction :)   Don't know where she gets that.  

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!  

I am coveiring our CPS visit today in prayer.   I just am not excited to have her visit.  I know it is part of getting our homestudy updated.  I am not a good house keeper.  I just ask that everyone cover it in prayer and that she find no problems that will slow down our adoption.  That I will have peace about the visit.  That we will connect with this lady so that visits are enjoyable and not stressful. 

Why is it that hearing the words CPS send a chill down your heart?  Even when they are coming out in a positive way.  It shouldn't be this way, but I think for most of us it is.   I am sure if she wants to look hard enough she will find something wrong.  

Our therapist was funny yesterday.  We were talking about this and adopting and how uncomfortable CPS visits are.  She said "They should take one look at your children and see that your house is a home where children blossom."  I thought that was a great compliment. 

I can't decide if I want to clean etc or make bread so the house smells like home made bread.  

On a side note I have now gotten to talk to the young lady from AR three times.  :)  It is fun and I am really enjoying it.  She said last night "We rally have a lot in common."  I agreed.  I did find one thing not in common, she "LOVES" the mall.  Mall to me is a 4 letter word.  :)  I do NOT do the mall.  Then she said she can spend HOURS in wal-mart and not buy anything.  I go armed with a list and see if I can get in and out in record time.  But she did say she likes to garage sale so :).  She also said she  likes sewing, but has only sewed pillows.  

Well satan is really doing a number this morning.  I had this ready to post at about 7:45, and guess what?  My net went down!  Now at 10 it is working again.   Tell me it isn't an attack! 

Please pray!

Nola

A friend made this and it was good, so I made it today.  Of course I had to adapt a bit.  Here is the recipe Copied exactly:

1 cup soaked almonds (sunflower seeds work well if you are on a tight budget).  It is preferable to soak the nuts or seeds, but I have made it without soaking many times.

1 cup purified water

1 cove garlic

1/2 tsp. sea salt~ more or less to taste

2 lemons freshly squeezed

Black cracked pepper to taste

Blend in blender until smooth and then turn on to the highest speed and slowly dribble in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil until it has emulsified and become whipped. 

This is the basic skeleton that you can leave as is, or start adding flavors to your hearts content.  You could add a little dill, some Dijon mustard and a little raw honey.  You could add a dash of onion powder or a splash of apple cider vinegar.  Plain or jazzed up, this recipe is quick and handy.

From Rejuvenate Your Life, Recipes for Energy by Serene Allison

Of course I didn't order lemons this week so had none.   I used the bottled stuff.  After I blended it up I poured about 1/2 out for plain dip er mayonnaise.  Then I tossed in 1/2 a jalapeno and a small hand full of spinach.  This was REALLY good! 

We are having artichokes for supper and this is the dipping for them.  

We started back to school yesterday.  I spent hours loading T's SOS on the 'puter, only to have it not work.  Oh well she does have other school she can do... just not what she wanted to do.   Yesterday's school went pretty well.  I had one decide rushing through was a good choice... NOT.  She lost the privilege of playing the rest of the day.  Later as she was helping with supper instead of helping clean the pool she said, "That was stupid"  I wasn't even sure what she was talking about.  She went on to explain that not taking the time to do her school right was "stupid".  She knew if she made a bad grade she would have a consequence.  :) I agreed and life went on.  Oh what growth!

Today school is going well.  I hear the peck peck of computer keys along with 7yo mumbling her lesson out loud.  Mumbling is down from reading EVERYTHING out loud.  Does anyone else feel such peace and contentment as their kids do school around them?   It is so right!  So what God wants.    All is interspursed with a question or commit along.   A sharing of how many cells a human body has, or light bulb moment when they get multiplication is a faster way to add :) 

I am cooking rice in the slow cooker.  If my timing is right it will be ready for supper.  I think I will add a salad and steak.   For lunch we are going to have salad, or left overs, or a combination. 

On an exciting note I got to "mentor' J in AR.  As we wait for our home-study to be updated we came up with a plan to get to know her.  I can be a mentoring mom for her.  She doesn't know we are looking to adopt her.  She does know a family IS looking though.  She is excited.  She told me about it. :)   She can call me if she meets certain requirements.  I am praying she does it often.  We had a great, but way to short first time visit on Sunday afternoon.  I do feel like it was a God covered visit as the conversation flowed, without any uncomfortable pauses. 

On Friday CPS is coming out to visit.  This is more of getting our home-study updated.  Prayers would be nice that it goes well.  That my cluttered house isn't to cluttered for her.  That we "pass" what ever standard she has to have.  I am trying hard to not stress and not feel overwhelmed or allow satan's voice to bother me.  I do keep hearing him though.  I just keep standing firm and telling him I'm not interested.  

I knew it was to good to last!  The "peace" of the morning ended with the "quit!", "STOooooooop" whinny words out of the girls mouths.  They are now upstairs considering options.  The options are stop the arguing or loose helping clean the pool out so we can start filling it.  At this point it really is their choice.  I will find weedy type chores for them while MJ cleans the pool and gets rewarded. 

I guess I better get clothes folded and dishes done so we can get dishes dirty and clothes put away.  There is always something needing doing around here.  Oh I did get my peppers and tomatoes planted.  I ended up buying WAY to many tomatoes and not enough peppers.  I would like some non hot, non bells like cherries, but didn't find any yet.   I don't do bell peppers :)

All have a blessed day!

I have had several people ask me what had happened, were I am since I haven't blogged in a week.  It has been a busy week.  I have also been doing some heart searching on the FLDS and haven't felt much like writing.  

My heart hurts for the children and moms of the FLDS group.   So much of what is going on is such a gray area.   Is anyone 100% right or wrong?   What needs to be done?  What would really be in the best interest of these kids?  How will the state deal with over 400 MORE foster kids?  What is my role in helping?  What does God want me to do?  And the list goes on and one to be replayed over and over in my mind.  Most of these questions after a week I still have no answer too.   I guess the only answer I really have come up with is that it is wrong to give 13-14yo girls in marriage, to a man of any age, much less someone the age of many of these men.   Beyond that I have no answers, just lots of prayers for all involved.  Including CPS and the Judge.     I did at least feel like I was helping last week when I was ask to get a list of names of families willing to take these women and children as an intact unit.   It didn't happen, but I did get a list together.  I did what I was called to do.  I also offered raw milk and my 2 gallons of raw honey.   Of course neither were taken.  

Now what?  The judge has ruled these kids go to foster care.  In court it was stated: " Witness said typical foster care placement would not be ideal environment for the YFZ Ranch kids. Maybe at some point, it would be reasonable. Training for caregivers about the FLDS community is necessary because the children need a similar environment. That doesn't exist in traditional foster care."   So where do they go?  What type placement is right?  What am I called to do again?   We are getting our home study updated.  Are we called to take some of these kids if offered?  Should we offer?   Our home would feel more like "home" than a big city.  So the questions continue over and over in my head.  

I have come to a couple of answers.  I am open to fostering these children, but only if we are allowed to homeschool them.   I think throwing these kids into the public school system would be abuse.  I know how hard it was for one of mine in PS because he was "different".  His differences are no where near what these kids differences will be to start.   Add the publicity to it and these kids will be tormented terribly.   I also came to the conclusion for us anyway dealing with CPS is less of a pain than dealing with PS.  I did both when we adopted last time.  CPS was usually once a month.  PS was ongoing.  

As you can see my heart hurts and I have very few answers to the questions that swirl though my head day and night.   I have been in continual prayer about this and for all involved since it started.  It weighs heavy on my heart.  My prayer at this time is that each of these children will be placed in a strong compassionate Christian home where they will feel safe and learn that God loves them.  That they will feel His love and understanding.  That God will work through these foster families to heal the hurt that has been done to them.  Hurt by LOTS of adults, not just parents, but CPS also.  

On to other news and happenings.  We have had a two weeks off from school  We start back on Monday.  Kids have been begging for 2 weeks for me to install their school work.  I have the two older ones installed.  I still need to do T's.   I had planned on putting the Rosetta Stone on MJ's for him to learn Spanish this year.  It wouldn't load.  Don't you love Vista?   I did get it on another computer so he will have to switch computers.   I may have T switch with him and do brain builder on his as he does Spanish on hers.  That is still up in the air.  MN is learning sign language.... and teaching it to the the others :).   She is excited and has done it almost every day this last week.  It would be nice if the excitement of a new school year would last all year.  I don't see that happening though. 

The big kids roof is almost back on.  They still need to put the ridge row on top, add some flashing and I think that is it.   It looks really good!  I guess he did learn some in the years of growing up.  When he was 9 we had a terrible hail storm where we lived.   My DH and 2 boys along with a friends DH and her son roofed 9 homes and buildings after that.  Including one trailer where they did exactly what S had to do to his.   Life skills are so important.  

No news on the adoption front.  Adoption worker is supposed to be out on Friday.  Please pray  that goes well.  I have no clue if she will get to see the house as is or if I will be motivated to get it uncluttered before then.  I am not holding my breath on that happening!   Finger prints are done!  Please pray that they quickly go where they need to go.   I haven't heard anything from AR in almost a week.  I had thought I was going to get to be a "Mentoring Mom" to J. without the A word.  But... haven't heard so who knows.   I do know satan has been shooting little barbs one way and another at me about adoption.  Just the doubt, frustration etc.  I am standing firm with God's word and telling Satan to go fly a kite! 

Maybe that catches everyone up on our life this week.  I did break down and buy tomato plants yesterday.  I have had ONE plant come up in the garden.  Last year I had hundreds so who know why.   I need to plant them this afternoon.  Maybe I can do that while DH re plumbs the pool stuff.  If he can get it plumbed then we can put kids with brooms in and stir it up good to finish draining it and start filling it.  Should be fun.... NOT!

We do have two beeves ready to sell for beef.  I am hoping I can take the time this week to let everyone know the are ready for slaughter.   I hope I have takers soon.  I am tired of them getting out.   Besides that way I will have room to add one or two more that I have coming up.  They are almost ready, but not quite feed pen ready.   There is one more in the feed pen.  I have him ear marked MINE.  

Everyone have a blessed week!  I will try to post more often.

We are working on getting our home study updated.  Sat. we spent the day getting 8 more hours of CE time.  This would be wonderful and worthwhile, if they taught new stuff.  Or even if they give examples and ideas to deal with different kids and situations.  They read out of a book, and ask set questions.  Boring :)   Also I am sure the fact I am so involved with our online support I am continuing to learn and educate myself doesn't help in me finding this boring.   But it is done!!!!  One more hoop jumped through!

Next is on Tue. we have to get our finger prints done.  It should be interesting.  I may see what I can find to study tomorrow about fingerprints.  That way the kids will be "educated".  So when they march into the Public School Admi. building with us it will be even more fun.   That is where we have to go to get the finger prints.  It isn't our school district, but this district isn't very home school friendly.  Oh well :)  

After that the case worker is suppose to come out.  I am hoping this week.  I know I am probably dreaming, but I can dream!   Not sure what the next hoop will be.   We will cross each path as we come to it. 

Still no real news on the adoption front.  I haven't had a call from AR.  I don't know if we are going to NM next weekend or not.  I really don't feel we are suppose to, but want to see what dh feels. 

I am sure most of you have been following the FLDS news taking place.  It is taking place in our area.  San Angelo is our "hub" city.  Where we go for most of our things.   My heart has been so heavy and so confused and sad.  I have spent a lot of time praying for all involved.  I feel God wanted me to do something, but what?   Finally Friday I got the chance.  Thursday when we were at therapy the therapist and I were talking about the FLDS.  She is recommending keeping the children with the moms.  She was shocked and surprised that I knew of a few homes willing to take moms and children.  She called me Friday to see if I could get a list of  names.  They were trying to keep the women and children from being moved to Dallas.  I did get the list of names to her.  It felt good doing something!   I have no idea what will happen next, but if everyone will please pray that God opens doors for these mommies and children to stay together, yet safe.  One thing the CPS workers said Sat. at our class is they have never had mommies and babies so bonded.  That it was amazing.  My heart hurts so there are no words.  Just join with us in praying God opens doors and changes lives.  

Everyone have a blessed Sunday!

We had a BAD, no make that a BAD storm last night!   Pictures to follow as soon as they load.  God is Good we are all safe!   I am also thankful my DIL is not here.  She doesn't do storms well, and this was a strange storm.

The wind blew 50 mph or gusted that high for HOURS before it hit.  When it hit I have no idea how high the wind was.  NWS said up to 70 mph.   I believe it.  When it hit we had windows open.  We have a 10 ft porch on the south side of the house.  My son was setting in a chair 12 foot from the windows.  He was getting wet.  In just a few minutes the wind was blowing from the North, so I had to shut those windows too.  It didn't last long.  The NWS said this line of storms was moving at 53 MPH.  That is a fast moving storm.

OK I will give the tour as I discovered things.  

First thing we noticed was

When we went to bed this was full.  On investigating we discovered this.

This was the pool pump house.  The pump was running and when lines snapped it worked on draining the pool. 

Notice this limb broke off.

Heading the other direction this greeted us.

This was a neat weighted down stack of 30 ft sheets of tin.  About then I noticed this in the middle of the field.

What you ask is it?  That was my first thought.  I soon figured it out.

It is hard to tell from here, but there is a section of about 15 ft of roof gone from my son and DIL's house.   Now we now the roof was insulated! 

Walking back from the kids house I took these pictures of the same tin as earlier.  Just the red side.

So for this is all the damage I found to our house.

We are blessed!  We are safe and unhurt!  Every think is fixable!  

Time does fly when you are having fun.   It has been a good week.   Kids are learning to make dish towels.   This is MJ's two:

All this is is a hemming project.  He then ask if he could decorate it.  I gave him the permanent markers and I am very proud of what he did. 

MN had attitude the first day we sewed and missed out.  So she only has one to show off.  She does have two hemmed, but hasn't decorated the second one yet.

 Not a bad free hand horse.   I have no idea how well the markers will last.  If they were where I didn't want them, then they really would be permanent.

If you are thinking, "Doesn't she have 3 littles?" The answer is YES!  T loved the idea of decorating hers.  So she sorta pinned, and avoided showing mom her pin job.  Went directly to sewing sewed it almost as well as she pinned then wanted to decorate. Er, no, now you get to learn the part about "fixing" mistakes.   She spent the next sewing time with a seam ripper.  She again has it ready to sew, pinned much neater I might add.  She lost out the chance today because of choices.  Guess there is always tomorrow!  Or Friday!  

Today I had the camera at just the right time.   My DIL was playing with the grand baby and look what a beautiful DIL and grand son I have!

He is almost 9 months old.  Doesn't he look happy?  He is happy until he is so tired he can't keep his eyes open then he fusses until he gives it up. 

DH has the swimming pool ready to swim in.  Kids checked it out yesterday.  They assured me it wasn't cold as long as you stayed down in the water.  That 20mph wind might have played into the air being cold.  They swam 20-30 minutes, maybe a little longer.   The pool still needs warmer water for me to jump in it.  

The other day MN had a bike issue.  Seems her pants were caught in the chain.  They were trying to figure out how to get her un-stuck.