Year at end

It's 15 degrees outside, there's a fresh pot of coffee waiting to be devoured by us, the fire is still burning from last night, the boys have just added more wood to getting it "fire hot", according to them. As I sit here listening to my favorite radio station, which in a few days will be longer...they have been sold to K-Love another christian broadcasting station.  I am thankful that there is another "christian" station that will be moving in but, it saddens my heart that my fav station will be gone.  We have listened to this station for so long, every morning on our drive into work/school, they have made us laugh so hard from their stories about their families to the silly songs they play on air.  We will miss them and all the laughs!
They have a theme of "welcome home", I just love being home! Being home with the children and Donnie!  I think this has been one of my favorite Christmas holidays! We stayed home! It has been packed with just US! (Sorry for the ! i have just loved being home)
As we are getting close to the end of this year, I sit and look back over the everything the Lord has brought into our lives.  We have been so blessed beyond anything I would or could imagine!  We are looking to a great 2011, as I am sure all of you are as well! God bless each of you and Happy New Year!

Here it is the end of July and I go back to work in 3 weeks! Where has this summer gone? Since our summer is almost over I guess I should get started on my "to do" list....I tackled the laundry room first. We have 2 cabinet in this lovely shade of brown, isn't it such a beautiful color?! I primed, painted with a bone cream and went with black hardware. I love love love the color barn red, but I really am undecided as to go with this color in the kitchen so, I went with it for our laundry room. I have 1 coat on already and I love it~ did I mention I love barn red? :) I will have to post my after pictures soon! For now, it's back to painting time!

Homestead Blessings

Good Morning! I have come across the most amazing, helpful website...Raising Homemakers Right now they are having a great give a way! You have to stop by and visit their site. I am so looking forward to see all that we can learn, very exciting! Hope each of you have a blessed day!

Home Sweet Home...

   June has begun and so have we! The work on the house and land that is.  Summer holiday has begun for the children and I which means we are down to 14 boxes, woo hoo! Moving into our new place we have much to do/reconstruct. Trying not to get overwhelmed, and having decided that it will be paid in cash, we are slowing making progress. I honestly did not realize the work that would await us once we moved in!

Having said that, we have removed our garden tub and replaced it with a closet for me....tee hee hee Every woman needs her own closet right?  Anyway, we did find our medicine cabinet and we still are looking for that perfect vanity to complete the look.  

   I have found two great blogs that I totally fell in love with their wall paint color, From My Front Porch To Yours  and COZY LITTLE HOUSE. I emailed both of these ladies to find out that magical color and both ladies were so helpful, so keep your fingers crossed and you will have to stay tuned to see where this magical blue shows up...

   Now onto the land part, all I can say is thank the Lord we have a bush hog! Going from this:

To This!

We are making progress!

YIPPIE!

Well, it is getting late and I could just go on and on. But, as I speak or I should say type the family is out enjoying our bomb fire, I hope each of you have a blessed week!

Here we are a few days from April and I can not believe our last post was back in Jan. Where does the time go?! We have been busy little bees... Bradlynn made it to state in vocal solo along with the choir she sings in and small ensemble and choral group. We just returned from Murfeesboro, in which all the kids did such a great job. Those that made it to state took things to a whole new level. We were blown away at the talent these kids have been blessed with from the Lord! While we were there, we took a family day trip to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. What a beautiful place. We were each given headsets and and a prerecorded tour that allows you to do a self-guided tour, which was great for our little guys! The children's recording was narrated by a parrot, yes Andrew Jackson had a parrot. I have to admit I even enjoyed the "childrens" tour over the adult tour at times. We all walked away with a little bit more knowledge of our seventh President of The United States.

Carter has joined Cub Scouts this year. He and Donnie have been busy building his Pinewood Derby Car. It is equipped with brake lights and head lights, and is running quite fast I might add. Next Saturday is the race so, we will have to keep you posted.

A few weeks back, our Pastor had the privilage to speak at Pastor's School. Two groups were able to go to Indiana to hear pastor preach. I think out of all his sermons he has preached, this one has to be at the top of my list. It was preached with such compassion and heart, at times it moved me to tears. Our Pastor has such a sincere love for his people. We are proud to call him our Pastor.

Last but not in any means least, we are moving. Yea!!! The Lord has answered our prayers and allowed us to purchase 6 acres with a house and creek! It's amazing and I just stand in awe of how God opens doors for us and has truely supplied our needs beyond comprehension. We are in the process of ripping up flooring, painting and trying to pack...the least of my favorite things to do. It will all come togather and we are just so ! excited. Along with this too, we will have to post before and after pictures.

Well that pretty much sums up what we have been upt too..I hope each of you have a blessed week!

Another photo slideshow by Smilebox

Just a quick little post...

I would like to thank you for praying for my Uncle Peter.  He is home! He is doing so much better, this is such an answer to prayer.  Please continue to keep him on your prayer list as they have a hard road ahead, a road that they know the Lord will give them strength to travel on.  I hope each you have a blessed evening.

Its a girl...

After 9 months of waiting, Jaqueline Rose has entered the world.  My sister gave birth to a beautiful 9lbs 3oz,  22 inches long, head full of jet black hair Jacqueline Rose.  She is perfect, if I may say so myself!  Ella and Sydney, Jill's two other girls were excited beyond measure. I wish you could have heard them on the other end of the phone line, "Auntie we have a sister!" These two have been so patiently waiting the arrival of their new sibling.  Yes, Jill and Gerard chose not to find out what they were having. Tried that and caved... anyway, we are so thankful that everything went well.

On a different note, I ask each of you to continue to keep my Uncle Peter in your prayers.  He had open heart surgery two weeks ago and was on a great road to recovery.  When he walked out of the hospital, the nurses were joking with him and my Auntie about how you would never have guessed that he had just gone thru open heart surgery.  This past friday, he was admitted to ICU.  His heart is not pumping as it should and at an extemely slow pace.  He is going in for an ekg on Monday.  I did speak with my Auntie on friday and what grace God has given them! They truely are great christians.  I will keep you posted on Uncle Peters progress.

Well, it's time to close, I pray each of you have a blessed week and take time out to tell those around you, you love them.

Look at what she is giving away!

Yes, my friend Julie is having another giveaway! You thought the Le Creuset was great, You have to go to her blog and see what this one is! Hurry, you have until this Sunday at midnight. Here's a little hint: get your favorite photo for the one you love...

Love Red?!

If this is you... you have to go over to my friend Julie's blog.  You will be encouraged by her post, leave with great ideas for your home, and even pick up some new recipes to try out.  So, grab that cup of coffee, and enjoy her blog!

Happy 2010

Can you believe that we are already 2 weeks into January?  I still am trying to finish the thank you notes from Christmas...I hope each of you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  We did, and of course the break went way too fast for myself and the children. 
We all went back to "work" this week and as much as I enjoy staying home, it is nice to get everyone back to their designated areas :)  This week, was far from quiet, for me that is.  Monday the college welcomed everyone with no heat...it was 41 in the building, we did get free coffee from the bookstore, yum yum!  On tuesday, we had a bit of electrical issues. When I plugged the space heaters in, I blew the main fuse. Meaning the phones went down, the printer went down, just not a good situation...oops.  Wednesday started out okay, I'm not sure if many of you remember the "flood" that the college encountered last year, well, the pipe broke again... Thankfully the only area that water showed itself to was the seminary offices, and the main entrance. And of course, my desk.  Thursday started off with a shock! I was given the go to restart everything at my desk...big sparks flashing out of the electrical connections! Yes, everything blew, what is it with me and electrical connections, lol! So after a trip to Home Depot and a few hours later...my desk and all that goes with it, was up and running!  Friday, was opening day for second sem. for the college. Along with all area schools closed, snow/ice everywhere!  Because we live about a block away from the college, off to work I go.  We kinda joked all day as this was a gift to welcome all the new students to East Tennessee, lol! Now don't you agree, it was an adventful week?!
  We did close the week out with a family day.  We took the children to Chuck E Cheese...this past week we had 10-20* weather, and not being able to go outside will do a number on any child! We all had such a great time, lots of laughs!
  As I close, I ask each of you to keep my Uncle Peter and my Aunt Esther in your prayers.  My Uncle Peter had open heart surgery yesterday.  He is doing well today but, he did encounter some difficulties and had to go back to surgery.  I hold these two people very close to my heart and I love them deeply.  They have ALWAYS been such an encouargement to me and my family and have shown their love beyond measure. They are such real, godly people. I wish everyone of you could spend a little bit of time with them- you would be so encouraged!  Well, I hope you have a week full of blessings!  ~jodilynn