7 months...

Already?!

Life is funny sometimes:)

Big Daddy got laid off last week (yes again, he was laid off last September from the last company he worked for) and we are trying to figure out what to do! I mean its not the we are worried about money, it has nothing to do with the money part. Its more about what direction we should take our lives.
God has been increasingly adamant that we should start a family run business. But the problem is that we are not quite sure what "type" of business to start. Or if we should do a ministry instead. Decision decisions!
We did order this and got it in the mail yesterday. Have watched 3 dvds and already it has been such a blessing!!
Can't wait for Russ to get home so we can watch another!
Thankfully he never seems to be bored when he is without a full time job, he is out installing garage doors today with a buddy from church. God is so faithful, it is so humbling!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to round this post out, I leave you with a pic of the boy:)

I just purchased two Ebooks that I think are going to be good:) The first is one that I hope can enlighten me on how to get my suddenly disobediante newly 4 year old girl to OBEY! Its called conveniantly enough- Getting your Children to Obey and its by Kelly at Generation Cedar. If you don't know about this family and their current situation. Please hop on over to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home and read about how God is Mighty to Save!!!

The 2nd purchase I made this morning is 31 Days to Clean by Sarah from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. Iv already paged though it and I think that this will be a real blessing for my home!

Okay, I'm off to do some reading! Please pray for all those who have lost life and homes in the ravaged states in the South. And please be generous with the blessings God has given you by passing it on to those in need.
     Feed the hungry,
      and help those in trouble.
     Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
      and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
      The LORD will guide you continually,
      giving you water when you are dry
      and restoring your strength.
     You will be like a well-watered garden,
      like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:10-11

Resurrection Day

Aw, we had a lovely Resurrection day!!! We ate and laughed and spent time together as a family. And we did it all to the Glory of God!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Sense of Community

Where has our sense of community gone?? I mean really this has been bugging me so much lately. Let me state first off that I am not, I repeat NOT a social person naturally. I have to really try to put myself out there and deliberately take action to interact with others outside of my little family. I know though that the Lord wants us to be in community with each other and this is something that He has been working out in my life. So I guess it makes sense that He has sparked this desire in my heart to see people come together.

Recently my grandmother said these words to me..." I never see you guys anymore and I feel like I'm being pushed out". Wow that cut me. Why, regardless of her own motives in saying that to me, should my children not be seeing their GREAT grandmother on a regular and frequent basis??? Most people I know never even knew their great grandparents.
And then the other night Big Daddy and I were talking and he was saying how he'd like to see more frequent potlucks at our church.
Then I posted something to the effect of wanting to plan a monthly get together on Facebook and my cousin said her husband has been thinking the same thing.

Why is it people spend so much time working to get the things they want only to of lost so much time with the people they love??? Its just so silly!

So I'm going to try to plan a eat out for June. Weather should be good and kids will be out of school. I hope its something that will catch on.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

How does your garden grow?

Spring is here in full effect and Im LOVING it!!! Spring in Texas for the most part is just lovely! Minus the occastional storm, the weather is perfect! 70-80's daily and lots of sun! Great for the growing garden.
Our little sprouts have turned into thriving plants and I just can't wait to eat the fruits of our labor;))

Everything is just growing around here!! Especially this one...

Can't believe he will be 6 months old this month! Craziness I tell ya!!

Why does everything go on sale when you have no money!!!??

Well just because I can't take advantage of this great deal doesn't mean someone else shouldn't! Get a great discount on Family Strategies From Vision Forum. 
Use discount code FAMILYSAVE35 and get $35 bucks off! Making it only $60, which I believe is well worth the money!!


Family Strategies: An Invitation from Doug and Beall from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

Protect our girls-

"Girls, like those on Toddlers & Tiaras, that are throwing tantrums, calling themselves divas, and saying to their mothers “I can do whatever I want” will grow up to be women who are brash, conceited, self-worshiping, and find value in their sexuality. They will be the queens and princesses on the throne of their heart, unless they let God become ruler of their hearts."

 Read the Full Article Here

Gardening

So we planted out garden beds over this past weekend. Hoping this last nights cold weather wasn't a bit too cold for the young plants. I know the seedlings will be fine, but the plants with leaves...hmmm I'm kinda worried about those. I don't think it dropped below freezing last night, but there was frost on Big Daddy's windshield this morning.
So here is what we planted:

Tomatoes (love them!!)
eggplant
cucumbers ( hoping to try out pickle makin' this year)
zucchini
strawberries
bush beans
lettuce
potatoes
carrots

And the girls got to pick out and plant a packet of flowers each:) I hope they make, they'll be so excited!

Speaking of growing things....my little fat baby is going to be 5 months old here shortly and I can't believe how big he's getting!!!!

Isn't that blanket cute! Russ' Aunt Sherry made that for John. I just love simple things like that when they're personalized:)

Ok, off to cut some grass! The weather is finally starting to look alot like spring around here!

1 for 2011

She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

So this year I have a goal of seeing our family's routine go from sketchy to wonderful!
Its not that we have to be boring about it or stick to our routine and system like its law. But a good household routine and system for getting the things that need to be done in place helps make the rest of life more enjoyable.

I've been reading Large Family Logistics.
And its given me some really great tips and ideas! So Iv been trying to implement some new routines and home management techniques to keep things running smoothly around here. So far, the house is looking better then ever, I feel less stressed and the children are doing well with there routines also!
I highly recommend the book, even if you only have one child.

Another tool Iv found that I just love is Money Saving Mom's Daily Docket. Love it!!! You can customize the PDF file to fit your life and it has really helped me out big time!!

Too long, so much!

Wow has it really been since Thanksgiving that I updated here!!!

I really would love to have daily or at least weekly updates, but alas; homeschooling, caring for our home, and little Mr John Roy are much more important then the blog! Not that I wouldn't love to write and participate in all the neat blog carnivals and such. Have to keep the priorities straight though.

Here are a few pics that Iv been meaning to post though: