I am on jury duty this week. I don't understand why people gripe about this all the time and try to always get out of it. I understand it is a major inconvenience and there are times one cannot serve, but every voter should at one time or another. I've been summonsed twice before, first time I h
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Tonight our family attended a memorial service for a lady who had been our neighbor for as long as we have lived here, I've known her for about 30 years. I am feeling very melancholy and this blog post is more for me than anything else, but there is a lesson here. We've never really had family t
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Just now, at 5:30 am, a sleepy 3 year old comes stumbling out of her room and says, "Will you rock me?" She is here with me, snuggled under my arm while I type as she fights sleepiness. It's way too early for her to be up and I know I'll pay for it later when the grumpies set in; but I know it
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One reason why I am a reformed Christian: Knowing God is sovereign and He chose me. With this comes an understanding that what He brings into my day are lessons that will only draw me closer to Him and acknowledging my TOTAL dependence on Him alone. He supplies my daily bread, He turns the heart
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Some of you may have noticed that the blog updates have tapered off some and the truth is we're living what we 'preach'... and some days it is hard. Shifting gears from a 'grown-up' household to one with 3 young children is taking almost all of my waking moments. I am NOT complaining and I am so VE
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“A family is a haven of rest, a sanctuary of peace and most of all a harbor of love.” -Manny Feldman Two weeks ago the Lord opened the door for us to take in 3 children (2, 6, 8), and we even had their mom for a few days. We did not know any of them and it is a long complic
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My 87 year old grandmother has been here visiting us since November. She is a very soft spoken, tiny woman, and her mind is still pretty sharp! I know our time together is getting shorter and there are moments I want everything to just stand still and let me savor all I
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I guess you could say that our Christmas this year came in like a lamb and went out like a lion! Most of our family lives over a thousand miles away so we do not have heavy family demands for get-togethers. We do have some very dear friends that we always go out to dinner with and we always hav
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Grandfather One was a good man. He was given some pretty hard circumstances early in his life. His mother deserted him while he was very young and he was given a not-so-kind step-mother. He grew up to be an honest and hard working man, often working a full time job as he established a family
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Our Thanksgiving Day was fairly quiet this year. I was pretty bummed because we had no extra people at our table. But the Lord did bring us an opportunity to fill a need for someone else so we were able to cook 2 meals and deliver 1! While Jeff and I were out deliveri
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Olivia, Emma, a friend and I took off for the beach a few days ago. It was Olivia's birthday gift to herself and she took all of us along for the ride! :) It took us about 6 hours to get to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Although Olivia is 21 (!!!), she is about 8 at heart! She LOVES
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“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.” —Ecclesiastes 2:24
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Last Saturday night we and about 400 other folks went to the Bailey's Annual Barn Dance. The Bailey's farm is just a few miles from where the April 27th Tornado ripped through Shoal Creek Valley destroying many homes and taking the life of one of our friends, and a dozen other people. Although
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I love harvest time! There is such an excitement in the air. It is a time for celebrations and feasting after a long hot summer! A time for football, chili and bonfires! Sunday night we hosted a bonfire for about 140 of our closest friends. :) They were mostly our church family and a
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This past weekend we catered a rehearsal dinner and a wedding reception. Friday was just me and Emma, she is the best tater peeler EVER! The guest for the rehearsal dinner were served Italian baked chicken, creamed potatoes, green beans and yeast rolls. They had a choice of pound cak
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Here are some pictures from the SURPRISE 25th Wedding Anniversary Party that our children threw for us. It really was a big surprise!!! The girls let me in on the secret that morning for 2 reasons; 1. I don't take surprises well and 2. I was suppose to be baking wedding cake for 150 people that da
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Hello Dear Readers! This is a quick note because I am using the library's computer and I am in a rush because our clothes are at the laundry mat!!! Thanks to Tropical Storm Lee we are spending a few days with no power. It's kind of nice and kind of not! I have enjoyed sitting in the candle ligh
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Today is our 25th wedding anniversary! It's really a humbling yet exciting feeling. I've been thinking how God brought us together and how He has been slowly reforming us to know truth, to His image. It makes so much sense that an earthly marriage is a symbol of our relationship with Christ. Whe
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Sunday we celebrated Jeff's birthday with one of his favorite meals. Steaks, oven baked fries, green beans and poppers... LOVE THOSE POPPERS! I always plan the birthday person's favorite meal on their birthday. We're not really big cake eaters so I made Jeff an 'Eclair Cake', which is not
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Last Saturday we witnessed a beautiful wedding ceremony! It wasn't the flowers, dresses and decorations that made the day so beautiful, it was the reason for two becoming one. In the act of worship and dedication two people made vows to God, to take their duty as His people to carry out H
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Emma and I attended a bridal tea last weekend. It was hosted in a beautiful house and it was full of beautiful ladies and girls of all ages. Everyone came together to celebrate the upcoming wedding of a sweet, young couple. I was asked to make the cake or petit fours. I have tried many time
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As I posted yesterday, if the Lord allows me to live to be 80 or so, I guess I'd call this season of my life the latter part of summer. This not only applies to my parenting, but also my marriage. I guess because Jeff and I were not raised with a Biblical worldview we had no idea what marriage was
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To be honest, there is no typical week. Each season, each week looks a bit different, partly because our family is constantly changing, as the children grow up their interest and abilities change. As Jeff and I 'mature' we change also. Because all of our income is home based and we have several st
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I had an order for just a fruit and vegetable display for a wedding, the family did their own cooking. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding! Absolutely beautiful!!! Olivia went with me, 4 hands are better than 2; she took these pictures. One side was vegetables... the other side fruit. This
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As most of you know we have been very busy helping our dear friends. Below are video clips, I'll let them tell their story: Jordan will bring God glory as he carries on his father's legacy in Godly manhood! Some of our dearest friends! Thankfully our home rece
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We had a pretty full Easter weekend with a Good Friday service at church, then a community egg hunt on Saturday where Emma made balloon animals for the kids, and then worship on Sunday. Saturday night Olivia mixed up the cinnamon rolls and put them in the refrigerator so all I had to d
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Before we had kids I was an expert on children! Yep...it's true! THEN God gave me some and I repent and confess I know very little! I think part of my ignorance was because I had two siblings growing up and I was at a baby sitter or at school for the majority of my childhood. Both my parents worked
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Who defines Life? It is not the length of life, or the events in life that gives it meaning. It's not the amount of money that one can make nor the degrees and accomplishments that can be hung on a wall. It's not about your title or job description. God creates life, He knew us before the foun
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Adjusting Last week was a week of adjustments here. Olivia (20), has come home from her governess position. After 19 months of serving and loving she felt that God was moving her from the girl/family she loves so dearly. For those of you that are new to the blog our daughter has been a governe
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I wonder what our homes would be like if we stayed home more often? I wonder how many relationship issues could be resolved... if we created an atmosphere of peace and a place for true hospitality? I wonder how many skills could be learned... and how many stories could be told and retold..
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We value our freedoms. We take seriously our ability to protect ourselves and to protect those who are weaker, life is precious! Did you know that in the pioneer days of our country there was always a gun hanging over the doorway? It was to protect the homestead and family from wild animals and f
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One of my New Years Resolutions was to read all the way through the Bible this year, which I resolve to do every year but have never done it, usually because I get bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers and skip through that stuff. This year I am reading and listening at the same time online which has
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Diana left this comment in the comment section of The Two Most Important Things in Education: As our kids are getting into the higher teens and they are getting income from various places we have struggled with what to require of them (for example a friend our ours has her children contribute hal
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Last night we attended a fundraiser hoedown to raise money for a family adopting 2 little boys. We had a great time! These were mostly homeschooled families. You can read more about my friend and their adoption here.
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I feel like I'm in this in-between-stage of life. The bulk of my parenting/child training is over, my youngest is almost 17, while my other children are 20 and over. I mostly listen now and give advice when it is asked for...or if I can't bite my tongue any longer. ;o) God's providence for us
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We are still snowed in here in Alabama. There is a reason why I live in the deep south and it's not because of the ice and snow!!! But this is what the Good Lord has chosen to give us this week, along with closed roads, at least the power is still on and we have running water! :) You have to reme
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[gallery] We awoke to about 5" of snow this morning, which is beautiful, and thankfully we still have electricity! All the roads are closed and not many people are moving out of their houses, although we did get a 4-wheeler visit from the Huie boys (they live a few miles away)! :) Hopefully t
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Looks like the deep south is about to be snowed/iced in. The store shelves are wiped out and most of us are remembering the historic storm of 1993, when we had 18" of snow and lost power and water for 5 days! 18" may not sound like much for some of you, but here in Alabama the mere mention of the
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I hope you are all enjoying your last week of 2010. I am!!! Olivia has been home for the week and I think I will keep her here and not let her go back to her station as the governess, life is so much easier when she is at home! ;o) Yesterday, she made us chicken cordon blu, it was wonderful! Th
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“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Psalm 39:4 This week will consist of tying up a few loose ends, putting away the Christmas decorations, another de-clutter of the house and an attempt to regain order to the house. I'll also ge
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We live away from most of our family, so when we actually get together it is a big deal! My brother and his family came from Miami to visit for a few days, we haven't seen them in about 3 years. Our girls are about the same age as his boys. My mother and Josh (son) were also here. Christmas Eve
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The girls were up and gone early to Wal Mart for a few last minute things and visit an old neighbor. Jeff was HAPPY to help me finish up a few things, here he is dipping the last of the peanut butter balls...hoping he'll get to help me finish up the rum balls. :) My brother and his family a
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It's the Saturday before Christmas...I stayed up waaaaaay too late working on a special project. :) Now I'm up early because the project is still on my mind. :) So I am enjoying some caramel coffee this morning and I'm going to make *Jeff* some biscuits and gravy! It's 6:30 and he is already out
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We are in full swing here with Christmas parties going on. Last Friday night the adults in our church celebrated the Incarnation with an elegant 7 course meal. Several of us ladies brought our tableware from home; different ones took part in decorating and providing special music. Even though we
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Saturday night we catered a wedding for the niece of a sweet lady I met through Facebook. :o) The family did all decorations. We provided the food, but not the cakes; which can be good. It gets a bit crazy when we're doing food AND the cake...but I like crazy sometimes! ;o) I LOVE h
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Please bear with me while I count just a few of my blessings out loud... I am very, VERY grateful for where God has placed our family. Because Jeff and I did not have the privilege of growing up in families that desired to honor and obey God, it amazes me even more where he has gently led us. He
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Friday night our family, along with the Ferrill family, hosted the third Annual 1860's Ball. Even though colds and flu took a toll on our number of attendees, we still had a good turn out and a good time. One thing I truly appreciate in our community of homeschoolers is how much we enjoy getting
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Christmas shopping has never been so much fun as it will be browsing all the unique, homemade gifts for those on your list! You'll also enjoy homemade chicken stew, smoked barbecue, refreshments and all the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned, homemade Christmas! Support local family busin
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For those of you that live locally I'd like to invite your family to our 1860's Ball on November 19, 2010, 7-11pm. We really have a grand ol' time and would love for ya'll to join us! The dances are led by a local family, who take time to teach the steps a few times before each dance; the onl
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I'll try not to get off on a rant how so many people still use the, 'but kids need to be socialized' argument against homeschooling. Whenever someone brings that up with me I know they don't have a clue! Our VERY gracious friends, the Baileys, do an annual barn dance, and each year it grows (
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Our family's choice:
“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”
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