Trying Simple Life in Taiwan

They are harvesting our soybeans as we speak. Oldest Son has been driving the tractor and grain carts up and down the road all evening. A  John Deere Combine in a dusty orange sunset certainly is a beautiful sight! I hope to capture it on my camera when they come to do the rest. We're expecting some rain with the approaching cold front, which may keep them out of the fields for a couple of days.

They are also calling for light frost this week, so Mom and I cut the last of the lavender tonight. It still smells heavenly! I tied seven large bundles to add to what we have already. These will be hung and dried for soaps and things. I can't believe that we are about to say good-bye to September, but I do love October. The crisp cool weather is so wonderful and makes me focus on our little nest and making it cozy.
This afternoon, I prettied up some pantry jars with homespun scraps and baked an apple pie.


I also made vegetable soup today from things that we grew in the garden (now preserved in the pantry or freezer) so that the guys would have something warm to heat up whenever they came in. It's nice to be back in comfort food season.

I am very happy to say that I have been feeling much better these days. If you have prayed for me, please accept my sincere gratitude. Each prayer is so precious and is heard. I feel blessed to have friends who would take the time to remember me, and I wanted you to know that I do feel those prayers. I have a very sweet friend who has been a real support to me during this time in my life, even though she battles her own illness. She has not been well lately and if you would please take a moment to pray for Missy, I would be so grateful.

Well, it is time to crawl in under the quilts. I'll have to add an extra one for the nights ahead. Though I welcome autumn, I am not quite ready to start up the woodstove!

I have forever been confused by what kind of apples to use when cooking or baking.  I know certain kinds hold up better in pies and other apple dishes that are cooked.  Seems like once I learn again though I forget by the time I need to remember! LOL!  I think I've finally got it now.

Cooking apples have rounded bottoms with no "legs". 

When cooked, these apples keep their shape and don't get mushy. 

Examples are Granny Smith, Gala, McIntosh, Rome Beauty, and Braeburn.

Red Delicious apples have pointed bottoms with knobs or "legs", and they tend to get mushy when cooked. 

COOKING APPLES = SMOOTH, ROUNDED BOTTOMS

 WITH NO KNOBS OR "LEGS".

Life has been an absolute whirlwind lately.  It seems that when you think life will settle down, you get thrown for a loop!  But, it's not bad ... it's great!

As many of you may (or maybe not) know, we live up the hill from my in-laws.  I love my family, all sides of it, including my in-laws.  They are wonderful people who would do all they can for our children.  I won't say anymore about it, but it's time to move.  We've been searching and praying for the right place for us to go.  We literally have no ties to this area.  Okay ... not exactly true.  We have our families our (both sides) and Johnny's real estate business is picking up.  So, with that being said, we simply cannot afford this area of Texas anymore.  It's expensive.  The housing we can afford is in the undesirable and rough parts of town.  The land is about $20K an acre (no joke) and that's without a septic or well (which is about another $20K for those).  So, before you even begin to build, you're already spending a pretty penny. 

We have thought and prayed about this for quite some time and have decided to move to Missouri.  We've discussed it before and after looking at other areas of the country, this is the best place we've found for the money.  We really love Missouri and their homeschooling laws don't seem so bad - pretty good actually compared to some other states.  We've found a house on a quarter acre in a lake community that's VERY reasonably priced.  We finished the pre-qualification process today and so we're good to go on that end.  Hubby has a closing in the next few weeks so once that's done, we're headed up there to check it out.  God-willing this will work out for us and we'll be able to purchase the home and move.  It'll be a slow transition while we move but we'll get there (probably within the next six months).  That'll allow us to do some fixing up and moving larger pieces, etc.  Plus, that'll give Hubby a chance to find work (plus transfer his real estate license) and that gives me time to talk to the office about either continuing to work from home (in Missouri) or leave it behind here in Texas (which I'm really praying for). 

I'll miss my family, especially my Dad.  Right now he's only 20 minutes away.  But, I know that he's in good hands with my step-mother.  Plus, this gives them a chance to come visit us in Missouri!!  We'll be right at the lake and they can come and go fishing, etc.  We haven't told anyone yet as we're waiting to go visit the property, etc.  But, even if it's not this property, it'll be another up there. 

Of course, our families will think we're nuts, but then again, they've always thought that as we've never gone with the crowd - always done something different (like homeschooling!).

On a different front, our oldest turned 10 this past Saturday, so we spent the weekend at Enchanted Rock (climbed it twice in one day!!).  It's a HUGE granite boulder that is full of caves, rocks, crevices, boulders, etc.  It's great fun to climb.  Here are some pictures below of our trip.  Also, our youngest lost her first tooth this weekend!  Talk about a very busy weekend!

This is one part of Enchanted Rock we climbed.  This picture doesn't do our climb any justice!! 

The sun was blinding us so we look a little goofy!

Taking a break under a boulder.

Lauren was watching for her brother & Dad!

At the top.

Lauren's missing tooth.

As if trying to recover from my 20 yr class reunion wasn't enuf (more on that later when I have time), today I hit it HARD! I got up and worked out and dove straight in. Dh had picked me three 5 gallon buckets of tomatoes. So I got started, the boys were doing school AND laundry was going. Monday is my big laundry day as well. About 11, I realized that I could do more tomatoes by the time that we needed to leave tonight so Mat and I picked a 4th bucket. Turns out DH pulled about half hte plants...Grrrrrrrrr. But there is enuf for me to make pizza sauce and BBQ sauce in the next week or so.

So 42 qts of tomato juice, 6 loads of laundry and a full school day later and I am DONE! I have not checked over Mat's stuff or eaten yet, but it's only 5.........LOL And I can barely move.;)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Cor. 13:4-8a

Ha, no one even knew we were leaving for the weekend, huh? That's so none of you wonderful readers could make nefarious designs on our abandoned home.

Yes, I’m a very trusting individual. Why do you ask?

Hahahahahahaha!

Anyways, we left Friday night for Oklahoma and returned at about 6:50pm Sunday night.

Now, you should be able to let your little arrow hover over each picture to see a caption.

And today I feel exceptionally lazy/mentally tired. Somebody needs to poke me with a pointy stick or I’m not going to move much today.

Even the boys are sleeping a bunch today. Kinda leaves me feeling lonely and a wee bit bored.

La da da dee . . . somebody wake up and play with me! I’ll read books, I’ll do just about anything besides clean my house or . . .  or menu plan.

I don’t have a menu plan for the first time in about 3 weeks. Not that I always stick to it, but without it I feel helpless. I don’t even want to think about dinner . . . let alone the rest of the week. About the closest I feel like to “menu planning” is reaching for my wallet to see how much money I have left and seeing if there is enough for some burgers and fries.

Not that I need burgers and fries. I’ve finally gained some weight. I started the 24^th week today, and I only need to gain about, oh, about 6 more pounds to hit the final weight I hit with Samuel at the very end.

Weirdly enough, I don’t feel “big”. Or even “bigger” than I’ve been with my other pregnancies. I’m taking bilberry, and I don’t even have spider veins in my legs this time. How weird is that??? I had ‘em with Samuel, and with Elijah, and I had one right beneath my right knee . . . . and it’s gone now. I rarely nap, while I took long naps carrying Samuel and some with Elijah, I might catch 10 or 15 minutes

Being pregnant feels so normal. I love praying over meals and praying for the food to nourish us. Of course, I can pray that when I’m nursing, too, but it’s so unique to have two heartbeats inside one body.

Okay. Enough rambling.

So, here are some pictures from the trip, and I’m just going to pretend I’ve been jabbed with a pointy stick. Maybe I’ll imagine the horror of having someone walk in the door unexpected like and seeing a pint of food drying scattered beneath the table. A highly unlikely scenario, but about as much of an incentive as I’m going to get . . . .

LOL.

~Ashley~

   A Chicken stewing in a bright red pot, onions and carrots with it.  The kitchen counters clean after dear daughter and I hand washed the dishes so they would be immediately put away.  It is such a bessing to be able to clean a kitchen....if only I could clean the messes in my life as easily and with as much effort!  Its coolish out today and I thought pumpkin bread sounded good as my friend Farrah also mentioned it this morning.  Daughter has lighted 3 vanilla candles and between those and the chicken and the lemon scent of our cleaning the whole house is smelling fresh! Now on to put clothes in the washer!

    I do love being home....and being able to slowly but steadily make headway on our home becoming a more loved one.  God is good and I am thankful!

Sweetie

Please stop by to visit Peggy to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook!

This Week's Menu:

M  Homemade chicken noodle soup

T Date night for Us, Homemade pizza for children

W Chicken and dumplins, potatoes, green beans

Th Fish sticks, Salad, Mac and Cheese

F Game night,  Paneni Sandwiches and soup before the game

The weekend was a quiet one. Daughter was in Texas visiting my brother, she flew by herself for the first time each way, though I was able to load her on the plane and brother was able to meet her at the gate, so her alone time was minimal at 12.  Son had a game Friday night and a movie night at a young lady's parent's home on Saturday.  Six kids meeting to watch a movie together with parents in the room.

Today is homeblessing day and I have alot to accomplish this morning. The children's grandparents and natural father will be coming this weekend for Chase's game, so I hope to do a few special things for their hotel room to make them welcome.  I like to send over a basket of drinks, homemade cookies, and a few niceties. They are making the time and effort to come six hours away, I want them to know we appreciate it. Their son is still in a legal battle with us, so I suspect I won't hear from them much except when we meet to bring them the children.....but until now it wasn't an awkward or angry time and I do not intend to let it be this time either.

My kitchen looks like world war III hit it this morning....time to get crackin!

hugs

S

September 29

He Put Out His Hand and Took It

Therefore said he, Take it up to thee.  And he put out his hand, and took it.

2 Kings 6:7

Took what? In this account from 2 Kings 6, the prophet received a direct, tangible gift from God. But before he could receive the gift, the prophet had to believe and respond with a conscious, deliberate action of his own.

I would like to suggest some applications to our experience with God.

When facing temptations, do we promptly utilize God’s power to resist?

When we feel carnal passions welling up within, do we say, “Lord, control my spirit”?

When we sense that our spiritual temperature is low, do we reach out to God before discouragement overtakes us?

When led into the presence of a needy soul, do we immediately pray within, “Lord, please give me the words to speak”?

When the Lord lays a burden on our hearts to write or teach, do we saturate the topic before us with prayer?

When trying to find our way through important decisions, how long do we flounder about before we reach out, take God’s hand, and allow Him to show us the way?

May we be spiritually minded enough to be constantly aware that God loves His children and desires to help them with every need.

Alan Priest, Burns Lake, BC

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6:1–7; Matthew 6:25–34

One Year Bible Reading Plan:

Galatians 6

Isaiah 13—15

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E-Mail:  [cs@vision-publishers.com]