It's Friday!

The above picture was taken out of our picture window in our living room. We thought this was the prettiest little bird and it kept coming by to visit with us most every day. Even though it had secret motives,he was stealing cat food from the cats bowl on the porch. : ) I wish I would have thought to snap one of  it stealing the cat food. lol

I woke up this morning so disappointed. I started some buttermilk yesterday just like I have countless times before and it didn't turn out right.It was not thick and smooth like it normally is it had chunked up like milk does when it spoils. I can't think of anything that I did different except I used 2 % milk when I usually use Whole milk. I honestly didn't think that would make that much of a difference but I suppose I was wrong. Now I have to wait until I go to the store next week to get some more whole milk. : (

I have gotten away from so many of the things that I firmly believe in. I really didn't mean to,I suppose it was because I have been dealing with so much with my parents getting a divorce after 37 years,it has really hurt in ways I never thought it would. I haven't baked in what seems like ages,I feel like I have been going through the motions of keeping home but not feeling the fullfillment I usually do. Even my oldest son Jason told me he could tell I was sad. Yes I am I am grieving the loss of a once happy marriage and the fall of a good Christian man. I am not depressed but I am mourning and will mourn for some time to come. But I am starting to want to do a lot of the things I use to do. Like..... make my cleaning products,bake bread,quick breads,deserts,keep my home as clean and clutter free as I can. Teach my daughter how to keep a home,I was before all this doing Helpmeet lessons with her. Little things because she is still young but it's still important to start teaching young so they see the importance of our role in the family. She has learned how to sort laundry,load it in the washer,put the detergent in and start it. She has learned how to unload the dishwasher and put away the dishes as well as load them. She has learned how to clean the bathroom and make her bed properly. She was learning how to do some cooking,little things like she helped me make biscuits for dinners,she would stir something in the pot,she would knead bread for me and she helped me cook by adding ingredients for me. Then when all this happened it crushed me so badly I dropped it all and I'm ashamed to admit that but it's true. The good thing is that I see all I have lapsed in and felt the urge to pick it all up again and begin my life as it has been. God is so good to us when we are down he is there to comfort us and when he knows we need to push to get up again he does that. I am so greatful to have a father that loves me that much.

The plan for today is to cut up 1 - 2 cups of leftover turkey from last nights dinner and use it in the turkey n gravy for tonight. The rest I will slice up thin for sandwiches.I made up a delicious broth for the gravy using the turky carcass and herbs. I would like to make some cookies to it's been a while since I have done that,it would be nice to fill the house with the aroma of sweet yummy chewy homemade cookies. Brandon my youngest son wants me to make a pumpkin pie. Also I have laundry,I try to make sure all my laundry is washed up,Sunday is God's day and work is not a part of it. The cars need cleaned and the laundry room needs a good wipping down. Friday cleaning normally doesn't take that long so it frees up more time for special things like baking or a craft project or just some fun family time. Then later tonight we are attending a 2 day seminar at our church called Soul Winning, preached by Brother Sutton,I have never had the pleasure to hear him preach and I'm really looking forward to it.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend whereever you may be. May God bless you and your family.

Until Monday,

The Happy Homemaker

From sun to rain!

The day started out so nice and warm and ended up with a nice little thunderstorm that has cooled things down. It's rather chilly out now and still raining,I know we need the rain but boy do I love sunny days. There's just something about a sunny day that makes you feel better.

Tonight it's just 3 for dinner,my sons are staying over a friends houses. And on all nights when I'm making a big dinner,that's my luck. LOL

The day has gone by pretty slow pace,nothing really happening. I am still doing laundry because my oldest Jason had kitchen duty last night and forgot to run the dishwasher. So I had to run it this morning putting me behind all day. I hate when that happens. But all in all it was a rather relaxing day.

I am starting to get use to John being back to work and working night shift. I have the kids all organized on what they can and cannot do while daddy is sleeping. It's when it's almost time for him to get up I get all anxious only because I miss him so much and can't wait to spend some time with him. We are blessed that God brought him where he is right now but when your use to your best friend being right there and then he's not you really do miss him at least I do.

Every morning we read as a family the proverb that corresponds with the day of the month,today we ready chapter 8. We discuss it and then we start our day with prayer. I find it helps my whole day go better when I put Jesus first I start on the right foot so to speak. If something happens and I can't don't get to pray in the morning and read the bible I feel off all day long.

Well enough of my rambling I have to and finish dinner.

The Happy Homemaker

Wednesday at our house

What a wonderful sunny morning,God has given us in NCWV. I have hung out some laundry and I'm loving it. Yesterday I hung some jeans on the first line,I knew I was counting my days when the line retired. Yesterday evening while I was cooking dinner,the line gave way and the jeans came tumbling down. At least they were all dry before it fell. LOL

I am still getting use to my husbands night schedule. Having him home for almost a year and then poof back to work takes some adjusting to say the least.

What I wanted to talk about today is parenting.

I am a strict mom,we have rules in our home and we expect the kids to follow them. When they don't they get punished. It's that simple. In the world there are laws that we all must follow if we don't we get punished. So why teach our children from a young age that the Rules,don't reply to them,they can do what ever they choose to do and they will not be punished for it. This type of thinking results in carelessness and often times trouble with the law later on in life. When your trying to raise good christian men and young lady then rules go with it. Teachings on God's ways and being good parents go hand in hand. God doesn't want us to let our kids have a freeforall without any consequences,that's not how life is.

When you set rules for you kids and teach them God's ways and then the devil brings someone into their lives that try to take them from the path you have them on. If you have done all you can do and have open communication with your child he/she will Lord willing come to you and talk with you about the problems he/she is having. And together you can talk and pray about it. This would be a great time to talk to your son/daughter about God's plan for their life. About the love of God and how much he desires only the best for him/her.

Parenting is hard work,it takes a lot of patience,love and understanding. As our children grow we take on new phases in their lives. Until finally we are parents that have raised them to be upstanding Christian men/women in the community and we take on the realm of friend. We never stop worrying as moms and probably as dads to but if we know they are on the right path and have God on their side our worry is lessened.

Happy Homemaking

It's Called Christmas!

This is a cute video but very true.


Happy Homemaking

Thursday at my house

Good evening to you all. I am a bit late in my post today. I have been so busy. We are dealing with the H1N1 flu in our home. My daughter Carissa contracted it while my nephew was visiting with us on Friday evening. We were all unaware  that he was carrying the germ. He got sick on Saturday and Carissa on Sunday.

I have kept her in her room. She has been vegged out in her bed. It was scarey for few times for us when her temperature rose up to 103.3*F,I gave her fever reducers which worked great. It went up and down for a few days. She got up this morning feeling much better. I looked into her eyes and seen my baby girl again. She is still not 100% but she is on the road to getting better.

I wanted to share with you all a few pictures I took on a beautfiul Sunday afternoon.

Jason, thinking hurry up mom!

Brandon being cool. LOL

Jason being so patient with mom

It took a few shots to get Brandon to stop laughing

As you may have guessed by now our Sunday afternoon photo session was mainly for me to get some pictures of the boys in the football jerseys. But I couldn't resist taking advantage of the surroundings to get a couple of shots of Carissa.

Carissa is growing up so fast

A little lady

I had to stop my photo session early because the batteries in my camera started going bad. I know, I know I should have had another pair with me. But I didn't,at least I got a few good shots of my growing gang.

Happy Homemaking

What a season already

The H1N1 virus is hitting every one hard. Even in our little community. We have students in the public school systems going home sick. People diagnosed daily with h1n1. It has even hit close to home. My cousin age 4 was diagnosed yesterday and one of my closest friends from church her daughter was diagnosed a week agao. We have a couple of children out due to h1n1 at my daughters very small christain school.

We are stressing now more than ever the importance of keeping your hands clean,coughing into your arm or tissue and not your hands,to respect others personal space and your own and not get in others faces. I am not going to get the vaccination for me or my family. There are just to many unknown future side effects,so we made the personal choice to not get it.

I think it's so important to keep our communities and country in our prayers each day. This thing can be ugly and it can be mild,it's like a toss up. You don't know how bad your going to get it until you do.

We were all sick a couple of weeks ago but not with the h1n1. Just sick. I am still fighting a cold,which makes me even more cautious. I am taking cold medcine and vitamins and emergen-c. Just seems to want to hang on this year.

Happy Homemaking

Thursday at my house

It's still fairly quiet in the house,only Carissa and Jason are up. Princess our dog is walking around waiting to go outside to potty. Jason is still not feeling well so we kept him home from school again today,Carissa will be starting her school work soon. Then I have to get my day started.

During our bible time we have been reading and discussing Mathew ch. 5 the sermon on the mount. We have had a great time discussing this and our children are each actively participating in it. I am so happy that we started evening bible time with our children,it's so awesome to see the interest in God's word from our children. I love it!

Since I have been sick I have slacked off on some of my duties here at home. One of those duties is teaching my daughter Carissa home duties. Things that she will need to know to run her household when she grows up and gets married. I know my daughter is only 7 but I have started teaching her now,nothing big just helping a little with meals,helping me clean the kitchen and house and helping me with laundry. She loves it and will often come back to me and ask to do more. It's cute.

I am hoping to get the bedding all washed and put back on the beds. And continue my quest of getting this house rid of this virus.

Until next time,

Happy Homemaking

Wednesday at my house

Carissa is working quietly on her math, I have a load of laundry going and thought it was a nice time to sit down and do my daily blog post.

 We have had a nasty virus and cold running through our house. I am still getting over it and still congested. Jason is sick and now Carissa is catching it. I am running around cleaning trying my hardest to get the house virus free and cold free. I am constantly wiping of things and spraying things. I still need to strip the beds and wash all of the bedding, I'm hoping that helps tremendously,we shall see.

Our suv is down yet again and John has work to on it.

But on the bright side at least he can fix it so that will save us a lot of money. I went through my coupons and found a couple of cold medicine coupons for 1.00 off,so I clipped them and soon will be heading out to get some more,as we have used up most of ours. Well my time is up Carissa is calling for my help.

Happy Homemaking