Change

I will admit this morning to a great deal of disappointment over the change in direction our country took last night when Congress voted!! I have a lot of doubt that our tax dollars won't be funding the deaths of tiny babies!! I am fearful that the new taxes and higher insurance premiums will directly impact our family and make life very difficult for our children in the future!!

But I have faith that all of this is no surprise to our Heavenly Father!! He is my assurance!! My shepherd!! My real leader!! He will take care of us - far better than any government can!!! I can rest in that!!!

by the Newsboys

Father, blessed Father
Lead and guide us for Your name's sake
And keep us in the shelter of Your presence
'til we see Your face

Let us hear what You say
Let us know Your voice and all of Your ways
Take our hands, lead us home
To the refuge that we find in You alone

All adoration
To our Lord Redeemer
To our Shepherd
Who carries us forevermore

A picture of quite a few years ago - before sweet Essie - A picture of childlike rest!!!!

Blessings,
Christine

Birthday Girl!!!

My sweet, toothless 6 year old had a birthday and now she's a sweet toothless 7 year old!!

A butterfly cake for my butterfly girl!!

And then a trip to Build a Bear for her very own build-a-bunny! She is crazy in love with her birthday bunny. What a fun time - letting her pick out her own squishy baby to love!!

Our Abbie girl is such a gift from God - with all her she mommy traits she already has. I know God has a wonderful plan for sweet Abbie!!!

Happy Birthday Honey-girl!!!

Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!!

Counting My Blessings

Oh my goodness, what a week it has been!!! It feels like this week has lasted three weeks and it's only Wednesday!!! Hubs and I had a huge decision to make - that while a blessing to have to do - was complicated and difficult. Naughty little children and sassy big ones (yes, my kids do have their moments - gasp!!) coupled with lack of sleep have made my days long. I have struggled to bring my stress to God and have been threatened with overwhelming anxiety. Sigh - I wish I was better at handling the crazy times!!

So because I have struggled to have something nice to say I decided to post pictures that would remind me to count my blessings!!

A future veggie garden - ahhh!!! The joys of playing in the dirt!!!!
A new project (although in the store with bad lighting these colors looked so much better together - I took that blue row off after I snapped this picture). So, even if the colors aren't working just yet - keeping my hands busy is good for my churning brain!!

My baby weeping cherry tree is enjoying her first Spring in my front garden!!

An adorable puppy we took care of for a couple of days this week - so cute!! And she did cure my urge for a puppy - for which my husband is very grateful!!! Abbie was enchanted with her until she pottied in the house and then commented that puppies are a lot of work :0)!!! She was a wonderful, perky distraction!!!

Did you get yours? My, the government wants a lot of information!! This will keep my busy for a while!!!

A new mug to sip my coffee (for only $1!!) Why does my coffee taste so much better in a pretty mug?
Making cookies together - what a great team!!!!
The resident, assistant pastry chef. We have a birthday coming up - so I needed this critical help with the cake decorating!!
Well, these pictures have certainly helped me count my blessings!!! My life is so richly blessed!!! God is good and I am able to go to sleep every night knowing my children have full tummies and a warm place to lay their head!! When I slow down and take a breath and put myself aside and God first (where he is supposed to be) I know without a doubt He is good!!!

Blessings,

Christine

P.S. And as I sit here at my computer typing this out, I am being serenaded by the most wonderful frog songs - Spring has arrived!

A Field Trip

A field trip to the local feed store was on the calender for today:

To check out these sweet creatures that just arrived:

We added a few to our family - three Araucanas and three Red Stars to be exact. Aren't they cute?!!!

They are already well loved!!! Names will be announced (at the moment, I am vetoing names like Batman and Iron Man - they are girls after all!!!)

After several years without chickens I am super excited to be having them back in our family! Homegrown eggs are the BEST!!! We will be adding six more as the feed store gets more varieties in over the Spring for an even dozen!!

A Good Purchase

Nearly 22 years ago hubby and I bought this bird feeder. It was probably one of the first "non necessities" we purchased together - we were so poor back then!!! It proved to be a good investment though - it's still around and in fact it has hung in this very same spot for over 18 years!!!

I don't fill it now as I feel badly about luring sweet finches, juncos and chickadees to my yard only to have the kitty cat chase them - someday I will be catless and I will fill it again. In the mean-time I love looking at that rustic bird feeder hanging in my pie cherry tree.

I love the collection of mosses and lichens that now adorn the roof!!

It's like a little world all in it's own!! God is so creative!!!! And yes - the winter rains did return to our neck of the woods - but my little daffs are blooming away!!

Spring is on it's way!!

Blessings!!

Christine

A New Week

For Today...February 22, 2010

Outside My Window...A bright sunny morning - what a mild February we've had!!! I have heard that the rains are returning this week though. I better enjoy it today!!

I Am Thankful For...Major chores that were bothering me are now out of the way - feels good to have those off my plate!!!

I am Remembering...The very cold and snowy winter we had last year - when the icicles were as long as my arm hanging off my roof!!!

I am Creating...a new throw for my living room. My old ones are getting tattered with heavy use. Time for something different!!

I am Reading...A Louis L'Amor western that I got from the thrift store for a few cents. I love old westerns - fun reading!! And of course my Bible - I am rereading Matthew.

I am Hoping...We hear good news of a new opportunity this week from my hubby's interview last week!!! He's thinks it went well but it's all up to God!!!

On My Mind...too many thing that I really shouldn't be worrying about!! I HATE anxiety but sometimes it just seems to come a make a home in my brain!!!

From the Learning Rooms...Getting back into it after a break. Getting restarted is sometimes challenging especially when the weather is so nice - but by tomorrow the rains will be back and the kiddos will not be staring out the window longingly :0)!!

I am Noticing...my kids seem to be far more cheerful with their siblings when they are sharing tidy rooms with more room to play!!!

I am Pondering...the words to the hymn I heard yesterday (the one I posted yesterday as well) I KNOW my Redeemer LIVES!!!! Praise His Name!!!!

From the Kitchen...Smoothies this morning and chicken wraps for lunch. I'm thinks Spaghetti for dinner.

Around the House...a huge tidy up and getting caught back up in the laundry - I got behind with all my other big projects last week.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...Company for dinner tomorrow, regular school activities this week. Back to a regular running around :0)!!!

A Picture I am Sharing...Playing with our pretty rocks



For more Simple Woman inspiration go to http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
Have a blessed Monday!!!

~Christine

I Know That My Redeemer Lives!!

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.(I LOVE this verse!!!)

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Samuel Medley, 1775
lyrics from http://www.nethymnal.org/