I saw this quote on a sign from The Country House.

“Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect.  It means you decide to see beyond the imperfections.”

How true is that?  I’m absolutely amazed at how happy I am overall in spite of our circumstances.  I guess I’m reaching a level of contentment day by day.  Some days are better than others, of course.  My ideal is certainly to pay all the bills on time and even to get out of debt.  I’ve grown to hate debt with a passion.  Getting a call from a bill collector who hasn’t read the notes about how long your husband has been out of work can be discouraging.  Lowell and I have been listening to Dave Ramsey, a Christian financial advisor.  He says to take care of house, utilities, food and transportation first.  He is so right.  A few years ago, we didn’t pay bills in that order.  We were worried about credit and really messed up things.  We’re going to get it right this time.

God has been good to us.  We are living day to day, depending on the Lord, instead of paycheck to paycheck like most people.  I actually think it’s been good for our faith.  It’s been sobering.  I don’t think that we’ll ever view money and things in quite the same way again.  I know that this is temporary.  I thank God that we live in a country of many opportunities. 

God bless you all as He has blessed us and more,

Laura

Happy When Everything’s not Perfect

Need some new old games to play?  Try some of these from Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.  I think they sound fun.  Lots of get togethers are planned for the next few weeks.  I think I’ll try some.  I especially think the Noah’s Ark game would be fun with the kids.

Blessings!

Laura

Living life together… I think that’s what Jesus had in mind for us.  That’s the way the church lived in the book of Acts.  That’s the way God made us.  We long for friendship, fellowship, close family ties. 

It’s Thanksgiving and Thanks Living month. Who can you reach out to?  Who can you invite for a cup of tea or coffee?  Who can you invite over for a visit after school so the kids can play while you visit?   Thanksgiving plans made yet?  Is there an extra seat at your table or on your sofa, or even on the floor that you could share?  Kids really don’t mind sitting on the floor, you know.  They would no doubt gladly give up their seats at the table. 

Just something to think about…

Living Life Together

Laura

Last night we hosted dinner for 15.  It seems that when we invite friends that we always have at least a dozen people.  Don’t you just love to gather with friends? 

The best part of this gathering was that Lowell cooked!  That left Joyce, Caity, Emily and I free to peruse my stack of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, discuss recipes and make plans for the holiday season.  We have a wedding for a lady in the church, a housewarming/house blessing for us, Thanksgiving, a cookie swap, a progressive caroling dinner, and a Christmas party in the works right now.  Add to that our church activities, living nativity, and homeschool activities and we ought to keep ourselves busy through Christmas!  Then, we’ll have to see about a New Year’s party!

Usually by this time I have most of my gift plans made for Christmas.  This year, I don’t have a one made yet.  The move and Lowell being out of work have put me a bit off kilter.  So, this week I’m going to start planning.  I know that I need to get busy right away.  I’ll have cookies to make for sure.  I’ve got little helpers for that!  I also need to make a list of items I can make with things I have on hand in my crafting and sewing stash.  I’m going to make it a homemade, handmade, heartmade Christmas.

Blessings to you!

Laura

Thankful for my Lord, my husband, my home, my family, and my friends.

God has been so good to bring such good Christian friends into my life.  I’m so blessed to have friends that I can be completely open and honest with.  I can share my heart, the joys, the fears, the frustrations, the victories, the hopes and dreams.  They can do the same.

NO HUSBAND BASHING allowed!  Usually, we’re talking about the ways that we are trying to change, praying to change, and changing.  We talk about loving and submission, teaching and disciplining kids, recipes and what is working for us around the house. 

WE PRAY TOGETHER…for our families, ourselves, those that we know that are suffering in some way or in need, for healing, for the body of Christ, for others’ salvation, for our country’s leaders and our country itself.

Thank You God for my good friends!

Laura

Blessed Among Women in my Own Generation

Simple Pleasures…

A warm blanket on a cold evening,

a hot cup of Constant Comment tea,

mechanical pencils,

a candle burning or potpourri simmering,

feeding my hens and macho rooster stale cheerios or bread,

a letter or note from a friend,

Jim Brickman piano music,

instrumental Christmas music any time of year,

knitting washcloths and scrubbies, a bowl of fruit on the table, cuddling with my kids early in the morning, tea and scripture early in the morning with my Savior,

a hot bath in my deep tub by the night light high on the wall,

Holmes’ Cream paint from Lowes with white cotton trim on every wall in my home,

friends that just drop in,

creating things,

homemade soups and stews,

Sunday morning Bible Study,

reading to my kids,

reading to myself,

listening to my husband read to the family,

knowing where my children are and what they’re learning,

knowing my Father God and Jesus my Savior and that my future is safe with him.

May God help you find the simple pleasures you have right now.

My husband has been out of work since August 1.  Even the job he had didn’t meet all of our expenses.  No unemployment benefits are available to him.  Tuesday night, I put the last of our money in the gas tank.  It’s an incredible thing to have no income.  The only thing we can do is depend on God for our needs.  God has since sent a check for $25…enough to buy dish soap, laundry detergent and some gas.  He’s incredible.  He knew these were the things we needed immediately.  Thank You Father God!  I think we are learning to live by faith in a more real and “desperate for God” way than ever before. 

I don’t know your exact situation.  If God hadn’t made an incredible way for us to have a place to live in a caretaker’s cottage working off the rent, we’d be out of a home right now.  God can provide when it seems impossible.  I find that so much of what I experience depends on how I am take things emotionally.  True faith comes from true need and true dependence.

Do you know the Lord?  He is so much more than church.  He is our savior, our redeemer, our hope in hopeless times.  He is our provider and healer of the broken hearted.  I’d love to tell you more if you’d like to meet Him.  Just comment; and, I’ll e-mail you.

Those of you who know Him, I encourage you to really get to know Him through His written word, through prayer, through being still and listening for His still small voice.

God bless you, dear reader!  Your family is safe in HIS hands. 
Laura

Blessed Among Women in My Own Generation

No one can provide internet service to our house even though it’s just 2 miles out of town! It’s sattelite or nothing. So, since satellite is so expensive, it’s nothing for now. I’ll just use the internet when I can get to the library once in awhile. I’m not going to give up blogging; I will just have to change how I do it.

There are so many changes in our life right now. Our life is being shaken up. The only things that will remain are the things that are really important. We’ve got to make sure our focus is on the Lord Jesus so that the things that remain are those that are God things. I think this journey is taking us into uncharted territory. We are truly living by faith for every need that we have.

When the resources that you have of your own are gone, that’s what you do. There’s really not any other choice. Well, I guess there’s kicking and fussing. I did my share of that a few years ago when we lost our business. I am not really upset about all of this. I am confused about what the Lord is trying to teach us through all of this hardship. Perhaps it is to lean more on Him and to trust Him more.

Trusting,
Laura

Hey y’all,

I will post photos just as soon as I can. We’re still trying to get the Internet to the house. Not having it gets me to the library just a little more often. No one can complain about that.

We’re really making a lot of progress at the house. I do want to get one more coat of paint on the outside of the cabinets and touch up trim where it’s been bumped. I have started putting the shelf paper and some neat rubber mats in the drawers where we put the tableware and such.

It’s been raining a lot. We had flood waters in the north 20; but, they’ve all receded now. They were far from the house. It seems like it’s been either threatening rain or raining for days. Lovely fall weather! Wink!

We’ve moved our dining room, living room, and some of the bedroom furniture in now. It’s beginning to look all cozy. It’s a small house; but, so far things are fitting in nicely. Of course, we’ve elected not to bring all of our furniture in. I’m also going to sort again as I unpack boxes. I sure like the look of things without clutter. There will be another sale in my future soon.

I am so looking forward to getting the stove in! With the cool temperatures and rain, I just want to bake bake bake! Up first will be a batch of my oatmeal cookies. I’ve made the same recipe for so long, I don’t even know where I got it! All I know is that it’s on a very old recipe card handwritten by a kind baker back in the day. I know I’ve been using the same recipe for well over 20 years. Occasionally, I try someone else’s recipe, but I always seem to come back to this old favorite.

Tonight, I think I’ll make up a pot of potato soup. It’s such a homey old fashioned comfort food. I always use real butter. I also use real cream if I have it. Right now, I still have several quarts in the freezer from last summer. I like to make cream of broccoli soup, too. Hmmm, soup, I guess that means I’ve got to get some bowls! I sold mine at the last yard sale! I sold a lot of my dishes at my last yard sale. I’ve decided I want to collect a mix matched collection of white dishes. It seems that with four children, we’re always breaking something. So, I’ll be keeping my eyes out for white cups, saucers, bowls, and plates at thrift stores and yard sales. In the meantime, I found some clear glass ones for $.75 each at a store in town. I’ll just have to stop by and get a few, well, maybe 12-14. I make soup for company a lot in the winter, and we have a lot of little mouths to feed as well as grown-ups. Note: I did not say big mouths, though I know we were both thinking it. ~Tee Hee!~

Well, my time’s up,
have a wonderful Autumny day!

Laura
Soon to be of
Just One Little House

Hi Friends,

Hubby and I finished up the trim in the living room and dining room early this morning. It was before 7:00 a.m. for those of you early birds! ~smile~ Hubby has been working on the kitchen faucet this morning. I’ve got to go pick up a tool for him; so, I stopped by the library to give y’all an update. Amy, Michael, and Emily have been painting drawers and cupboards. I’ve got to go back and do a few touch ups. ~grin~ Annie, you should be here! You could paint to your heart’s content!

It’s been raining in buckets around here for a couple of days. I don’t think we’ll be moving anything for a few days. We want a little solid ground to walk on! The field down by the river is flooding. The water’s moving fast. I’m glad it’s far from the house. We’re up on a rise. All we’ve had is some water in the basement from ground water. I’m not sure how to fix that problem. I’m glad I’ve got my big strong man and big strong son to figure that one out!

Well, got to get back to business!

Laura
Hoping for One Little House
On the Banks of Center Creek