Counting Blessings

1. the first week of our "new" school year is done.
2. everyone, so far, likes their curriculum.
3. everyone is on schedule.
4. we got some much needed rain.
5. the yard got mowed.
6. the power bill was less than I thought it would be. (Remember last month and the heat waves...?)
7. the Lebanon Fair is this weekend!
8. the Lebanon Fair is this weekend and we are NOT showing goats.
9. our Campfire party is this Friday!
10. the weather looks good for Friday!
11. no animals got sick from our week at Nationals.
12. Sam took down some more trees and no one got hurt.
13. I got free garden soil from the town dump.
14. there's a hosta sale at Fourth Generation Nursery at the end of the month

Cleaning

My house is driving me nuts. My mom and dad are moving to North Carolina and so mom is cleaning out her house.

The upside: This is a huge blessing for us because we are getting much of what she doesn't want, need, or desire to move to N.C.
The downside: I have nowhere, at the moment, to put everything! So it is all kind of stacked. Everywhere. It's a little like Christmas around here with fabric, sewing notions, craft supplies and food stocks, all in the oddest places!
The upside: I now am motivated to really cull, sort, and organize what I have so that I can properly move in what mom has given us.

And so we have begun a section in our homeschool curriculum labeled: Home Ec. Yesterday afternoon we tackled the kids' sewing area and the playroom area. The girls were happy to know their beloved DUPLO legos are going to Nora. This afternoon we will tackle the laundry/pantry.

Then, on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, we will work on sorting and putting away everything. We are applying the principle of "one new thing in; one old thing out". Good thing the 4-H Camp Benefit Auction is coming up soon!

Count Your Blessings

I need to count my blessings today so here we go:

5 beautiful children
all our animals are healthy
we have enough firewood to finish the winter
the freezer has meat in it
the pantry has groceries in it
the girls are over THE bug
I enjoy my job
both cars are running
we have oil for the furnace
I have hazelnut creamer for my coffee
spring is coming
the snow is melting
Samantha still loves to cuddle
Rachel IS learning
Hannah is trying to do better
Nathalie thinks things out
Abby desires a closer walk with God
so far my bees are ALIVE!
the cats are catching the mice
the dogs scared off the coyote last week
I have good friends who care
I am loved

Have I Mentioned...?

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Christmas? I am spending a lot of time in my sewing room, sewing up projects for my girls, my nieces and nephews, and my in-laws. I love to give gifts and let people know that they were thought of in a special way. Christmas gives me an excuse to do so!

Have I mentioned how much I love my newly organized office/sewing area? Having a cutting area that is 8 feet long and 26 inches wide, and at the right height so that I don't have to stoop, is so perfectly wonderful! I have the christian radio station playing and the woodstove right around the corner keeping me warm. The girls' school desks are right outside the door, so I can help them with their schoolwork. I don't think it could be more perfect!

Have I mentioned how grateful I am for a husband who is willing to work 94 hours! this week? He is taking every drop of overtime he can get so that we can make ends meet. Yesterday, before he left for the firehouse, at o'dark-thirty, he started the coffee pot with my hazelnut coffee! He is so thoughtful.

Have I mentioned how much I am loving this "No TV" thing? The girls are getting their school work done, working on craft projects and playing games together. Last night as Hannah and Abby folded laundry in the laundry room, they were singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" together. I wonder if they know how it blessed me?