Our Team

'daDad (38 yo), the Mama (36yo), FarmerBoy (19 yo ds), Gypsygirl (17 yo dd), Miss Petite (16 yo dd),LionHeart (14 yo ds), Red (12 yo ds), Belle (10 yo dd),Nae Nae (7 yo dd),Bunny (2 yo dd), Little Britches (3 months)







Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Project completed and Meanderings

Last weekend we finally finished the electrical work (wooohooo!!!)
Now, we can move on to putting up the ceiling upstairs so we can insulate.
Ms. Petite played in a tournament Friday and Saturday. Their team placed 3rd overall.
Farmerboy and Gypsygirl have made awesome progress on their ponies. He says his is basically broke. It will be really nice for them ( and maybe some others....) to be able to ride once we get moved.
Our family is going to be able to host Thanksgiving dinner. The church fellowship hall was available, so we will be having it there. There is a lot more space there. I am so excited.
It is sort of a dreary day outside. It has been raining and it looks cold. I haven't been out yet. I guess I can ask Gypsygirl, she feeds the bunnies every morning.
I am determined to have sunshine in our home, though. That makes me think of a song "Sunlight in My Soul". I wonder, does anyone but me remember that one? It's out of a 1950's edition of the Broadman Hymnal. I do love so many of the old hymns. This one says " when Jesus Christ came in , and saved my soul from sin, I have sunshine in my soul today." Wish I could remember the rest.
I am so thankful to God for all He has done for us. I could make out a laundry list here, but I won't.
I will just leave it to this: I am so thankful that He is who He says He is, He loves me even though I am what I am (sinful), and wants to be a Father and friend to me. I am also grateful that He wants that for everyone He created. Isn't God good?
I was thinking of how the last year has been for me. There have been times when I thought I would go crazy or just wished I could die, b/c it was too hard. In this time, God has shown me that
2 of the keys to sanity are gratitude and contentment. These 2 are inseperable. You cannot be grateful and not earn some contentment to go along with it. Over the past year, I have been grateful for breathing, getting up in the morning, the children's smiles, etc. Of course there have been big things ,too. I have all of my family, lots of people to love me, a new church home, continuing to homeschool, and so on. But learning to be grateful for house that's is not as large as our original one and other things that are not to our preference, that is the real test. When I want to complain or feel grumpy, I stop and ask myself, "How could this be worse?" There has never been a time I could not think of some worse thing, so I am always able to be thankful. Praise the Lord! His command to be content whatever our circumstances has been such a blessing to me.
Psalm 118

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

HOPE

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged.
My brothers step daughter was murdered. Please pray for God to be real to the family and a source of comfort for them.
(pulling out soap box...) I am tired of hearing stories about young people dieing, killing themselves, using drugs, alcohol, sex, etc to blunt their pain. They have been told that they are just animals (evolution) and that there is no God (humanism, atheism-also linked to evolution). What is there to hope for, if this wretched life is all there is? I could not hope. I believe this is what is happening to our youth.
When the house burned down, I was able to turn to the comfort of a Father who loves me. If I didn't have hope that He was looking out for my LONG TERM good , I think I would have just given up. Maybe killed myself, I don't know. Life without Jesus is not worth living to me. He is my hope.
Titus 2 (the whole-NKJV)
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:that the older men be sober, reverent,temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women like wise,that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers,not given to much wine,teachers of good things-that they admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,to be discreet, chaste, homemakers,good, obedient to their own husbands,that the word of God may be not blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,in all thing showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity,reverence,incorruptibility, sound speech
that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering,but showing all good fidelity,that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you."(emphasis mine)
How different would our world, and your (mine) life be if we really believed, lived, and shared these things with those hurting around us?


Ok, now for the house.............
All that is left on electrical are 7 light fixtures, 4 outlets, and the water heater (which can't be connected until the water is on). The wiring is all in place, so it's just a matter of installation. We put up some ceiling in the upstairs hallway. It's actually beginning to feel like a house on the inside! Soon we should be finishing the ceiling. Then we can blow the attic insulation in.

As for our "regular" life............
We aren't really decided about polans for Thanksgiving. We have had several offers, but this is usually our "home" holiday. We'll just have to see.
Farmer boy and Lionheart are helping our next door neighbor from up home move. We will sure miss him.
Over the weekend Farmerboy also went deer hunting. He helped a friend get a nice 8 pt buck. They will be sharing the meat. Yay!
Ms. Petite is playing on a traveling basketball team with other homeschooled girls from church. She seems to be enjoying it.
Gypsygirl and Farmerboy have been able to ride their ponies some. We do need to try to get more tack, though.
'da Dad's job is going well. No slow down there, b/c everybody is refinancing their homes and all those loans must be reviewed.....
The littles are doing well.Some days are tough, when it's raining and they have to stay indoors.
I am doing alright. I have good days and bad days. God has been so good.
A couple of days ago, I was having a pity party, when I drove by a church that was burned (arson)
a few days after our house went. They haven't even torn down anything to begin their rebuild. It could be worse. At least I can see the relief to come!
James 1 I Need Thee Every Hour