Urbanhomemaker

Life, up date

It has been a long time from my last post.  I am doing some what better with the loss of my beloved Hope.  some days are better than others.  We did adopt a puppy her name is Issabella.  We enjoy her, but she can not replace Hope.  

Kristi our baby turned 18 years old.  That one is hard at times. where did the time go??  She is a senior in high school and going to college, time has gone by so fast.  Our oldest daughter Dejah is expecting our fourth grandbaby on my birthday November 1st.   We are so happy and can not wait for the new baby.

My friend Annie's daughter, Jennifer, who is 25 years old, had emergency surgery due to she has cancer.  Jennifer is getting married in December. Her husband to be and his family are a blessing to them all.  They are sad that Jennifer can not have babies any more, but they say they will love any child brought into the family.  Annie is having a hard time, she is heartbroken.  Jennifer is waiting for her results to start cemo.

I think that is it.  I will be posting more, getting out of this rut.

Blessing's Mj 

Sweet Sixteen- So Happy Together

  My beloved is mine and I am his!
~ Song of Solomon 2:16a

On Friday Mr. Steady and I celebrated our 16^th wedding anniversary.
It never ceases to amaze the two of us that our love continues to grow each year. God has blessed us immeasurably.
We have been together for almost 20 years- meaning I have spent more of my life with him than without him.
In honor of 16 years of marital bliss…
I have revamped a previous post from my archives.
I am what he has made me.
My husband enjoys telling me I’m beautiful. He takes great delight in it. I must admit that when we were first married, I didn’t handle his compliments well and would too often off-handedly say things like, “Oh, no I’m not.” Or “I’m too fat.” Or “Did you not see the big zit on my nose?!” or “You’re just saying that because you want something.” Or “Are you blind?” …. Often I would mean it in a sarcastic way and other times I simply meant what I said. Besides my family, Mr. Steady was the first and only boy to tell me I was beautiful. Oh, I’d been told I was cute, I was pretty and such… but not beautiful. Beautiful has a whole different meaning. I never felt it…
When I was about 13, a very pretty and sharply dressed lady from my church said to me, “Amy, you’re such a pretty girl. Too bad you walk like a cow.” Ouch doesn’t even begin to cover it- to this day that comment haunts me. I allowed it to affect me in a very deep way. I thought to myself that I could be a pretty girl but I’d never be more than that because I walk funny.
Needless to say, it was very difficult for me to even begin to believe I was beautiful… until I took the time to really look into my husband’s eyes and see me in a whole new way. In my husband’s eyes, I am beautiful even when I’ve got a zit on the end of my nose or am retaining water or feeling blah… because he looks at me with his heart- He sees me as a whole package- both inside and out and what he sees is beautiful to him. So when I would rebuff his compliments or make sarcastic retorts I was, in a sense, telling my husband his love for me isn’t enough. I was telling him I didn’t want it or believe in it. With those thoughts I had a shift in perspective.
I am reminded of an article in a magazine I read a few years ago, the article started with a story about a group of men who were sharing pictures of their families and one man didn’t want to show a picture of his wife. When asked why, his response was “My wife isn’t pretty anymore.” After a moment of awkward silence an older man came up, put his arm around the other man and said, “She is what you made her.”
I finished reading the article but I can’t really tell you what the rest of it said as I focused on that line- She is what you made her. Wow. That explains it! My husband says I grow more beautiful the longer we are married and now I know the secret. I am what he makes me. Besides God, my husband is the most important and influential person in my life. What he says and how he treats me has a lot to do with what I think of myself. He thinks I’m smart and beautiful- so I am. I know that I am only getting a glimmering glimpse of what I am to him- if I could really see the me I am in his eyes I am sure that I would be shocked and totally humbled. Much more so than I am now.
Because of his love for me and how he treats me and shows me that love I am a better person- I want to be a better person. I want to shower him with love and affection to show how much he means to me. I desire to be beautiful for him!
If a mean man can demean his wife and tell her she’s ugly/fat/dumb after years of this she will, with all probability, begin to believe it to be true. She will undoubtedly begin to look/act the way he has portrayed her. So shouldn’t it work the opposite way? If our loving husbands tell us we are beautiful, lovely, smart, and sexy shouldn’t we begin to believe it?! Shouldn’t we hold our heads high with confidence and begin to look the part?! A smile alone will add to our face value!
On our anniversary, he made sure to tell me more than once that he loves me more today than he did when we were married 16 years ago. He remarked on how our love has grown and improved over the years. And yes, many times, he told me how very beautiful I am.
… After almost 20 years together, he still makes me blush when he says it.
I am what he has made me.
Beautiful.

Passover Next Door

Passover Next Door

By David & Betty Weinberger

www.amhehome.org

�@We love books in our home! Finding high quality, edifying books is challenging, and even more challenging is finding books out there that represent our faith, for our children (and the whole family) to enjoy and learn from. We absolutely love this book!

Passover Next Door is the story of how one Messianic Jewish family celebrates the Passover. It is a gorgeous hardcover book, with vivid illustrations–that gives the reader a look into the true meaning of the Passover, not to mention the rich traditions, songs, and FOODS!

Passover Next Door tells the story of not only the Weinberger Family and how they honor and celebrate the Passover, but how they share the Passover with their neighbors too! They illustrate ‘being a light for Yeshua’ throughout this story–makes you want Aunt Betty, Uncle Dave and the whole family to move in next door! A wonderful example of loving your neighbor, sharing your faith, and following God’s ways & appointed times!

From the rich traditions as old as Mosheh to learning how Yeshua is revealed in the Passover, this is a wonderful read aloud for the whole family! Whole heartedly recommended!!

~Lisa

www.HomesteadOriginals.com

Not Quite the Same

Taking a moment to check in.
I have missed posting here... I haven't stopped writing... just not writing here.
Lots of reasons ... one main one being that my writing style has morphed & developed differently over the years and how I started this blog is not where I am at now...
Which led me to desire a fresh start.
Which I've done.
Homestead Blogger has been extremely good to me and I even thought about starting my new blog here... but that wouldn't be quite the fresh start I feel the need for.
In the future, I may cross post as I do miss my friends here on the Homestead.
It really isn't quite the same without you.

Dad's surgery, Tennessee, mindless ramblings...

So...my hubby went on a fishing trip last week.  He was gone Wednesday morning through Sunday night.

The girls and I left on Sunday morning for Tennessee.  Riding in our car with my parents.  My dad had several tests scheduled and a possible surgery to be done on Thursday if the procedures didn't help.

The procedures did not help.  Surgery was done Thursday morning.  A predicted 3 hour surgery, became 6 1/2 hours.  The doctors say it was because they were taking their time.

Dad has had a problem with a blocked bile duct for quite some time.  A stent was put in last year, to help with the problem.  He has a narrow area that tends to get blocked and cause pain and other issues.  Well this current blockage was in the area below the stent.  Not easily accessible.  After several attempts to dislodge the blockage, it was determined that surgery would be necessary. 

He had a rough night, and is in a lot of pain today, but they are finally getting his meds regulated enough that he's resting fairly well.  We talked to him on the phone and other than the pain, he seems well.

The girls and I are at the hotel, while my mom stays at the hospital with him.  We weren't sure if we were going to visit today, and have decided against it until he feels a bit better.  We'll definitely see him tomorrow, as we plan to go home on Sunday.

I must say that I absolutely love Facebook.  I mean, besides the wonderful connection with old friends and far away family...the ability to update EVERYBODY on my dad's surgery throughout the day with just the click of a button, was wonderful.  Family from all over was able to check -in on his progress, and I was able to post throughout the day with any news.  It was great.

SO...we've had a nice time here in Tennessee.  This particular hotel, a Drury Inn and Suites, has a free hot breakfast buffet, a free hot dinner buffet, and free popcorn and soda all afternoon.  It also has three free alcoholic drinks per adult per day.  The way food costs add up when travelling, I must say that this place is great :)  We only need to take care of lunch, and all is well.

We hit an outlet mall on Tuesday and the girls now have new tennis shoes.  Lauren has Nikes and Lilli has Reeboks.  Both are very cute.

I also spent a bit of money in the Children's Place.  Many tops and bottoms on sale for $2 and $3.  I bought the next size up so they can wear them this next fall/winter hopefully.  They are mostly winter clothes, but not all.

So the girls and I are here at the hotel.  We are enjoying it though.  We swim once or twice per day...take naps and watch TV.  It's nice, but we are SO SO homesick. 

That about covers us lately.  I'll post pictures when I get home, I'm on my mom's computer now.  :)

I found our goats!

One is sick and the other one wouldn't leave her side.  They were in a hut that they don't use much.  Violet (the one who wasn't sick) came out to greet me as I showshoed that way.  I thought sure that Angelina must have died since she wasn't out there too.  I peeked into the hut and found her looking at me.  I coaxed her out and to the feeder and she seems ok, but is a bit shaky and walking slow.  We didn't breed our goats last year, so she can't be kidding.  We'll just have to watch her and see how she does.  She almost seemed spooked by something, but I couldn't find any fresh critter tracks around the fenceline.  It did snow last night, so they could have been covered up.

I am so glad to have found the goats :)

I also thoroughly enjoyed snowshoeing around the pasture this morning.  The snow is the perfect texture and the fresh snow that fell last night is beautiful :)

My goats are missing...

GONE.  I have no idea where they could be?  We have a foot of snow on the ground, and now it's falling hard and drifting, so any tracks showing what might have happened, are gone too.  I went and looked, but it was already dark.  I didn't find anything strange.  The snow would have covered most things, but our gates are drifted shut and there aren't any indentations within 4 feet of them, so if somebody took them, how did they get them out?

If somebody didn't take them, where are they?  IF they got out on their own, which they have never done before, they'd most likely just come up to the house or outbuildings and hang-out here...they wouldn't wander around aimlessly in the deep snow and freezing temps.

Them getting out on their own doesn't make sense anyway...Maybe if ONE were to get out, but both of them together?  Pretty unlikely.

I noticed they weren't at the feeder this morning when we were leaving, but that wasn't a huge warning sign, since they could have been at the water or shelter, but the feeder is definitely the hang-out of choice out there.  Enough so, that I did actually notice that they weren't there with the steers as we drove-by that part of the pasture on our way down the driveway this morning.

I did a walk around the main areas tonight, but it was already dark when I did chores, so I didn't have much to go on.  I didn't see any obvious signs of predators...digging under the fence or blood in the snow, but that can't be ruled out either.  We did have a coyote INSIDE their pasture with them just a few weeks ago (we took care of that coyote, but I'm sure there are more).

Anyway, I'll go out at first light to see if I can find anything unusual.  We have the foot of snow on the ground, plus we are expecting 2-4 inches tonight, with A LOT of blowing and drifting going on.  Any traces will probably be covered for good. 

It's so odd though...who would take my goats?  :(

New Forum!

I'm back!

All most 2 weeks and Dogs

Sunday night will be two weeks sence my daughter/dog hope went home to the Lord.  I have been a mess and still am!  I have such a hard time sleeping.  Hope always slept with me, now she is not there.  Her ashes have come back and they are under my pillow.   I have not been eating well, as it is hard to eat.  I look for her everywhere , then cry because she is not there.  Last night my body had enough, I crashed at 7:30 pm and woke up at 10:am then I crashed again at 1pm to 3:30pm.  I have gone down 2 sizes in jeans.  I am just so lost with out her. 

Shayna our middle daughter is looking for a new home for her wolf.  That is hard because they pick a person and that is it.  When she moved out she was going to be moving the wolf with her. But the people she lives with are afraid of him.   So the wolf has been here and hard because he fights with the other males.  Shayna does not have enough time to put into him.

With Hope gone to the Lord and the Wolf moving soon we will be done to 5 dogs. We also have freckles at almost 17 years old will be here as long as the Lord lets her be.

We have 3 breeding goldens for our service dog company, and 1 half wolf. We will be adding a small house dog in a few weeks to months.