We have had lots of rain this past month. Everything is greening up nicely and the wildflowers are beautiful. We have a new Boer doe with her doeling, about the same age as our little one. The new doe is named Hera, and the doeling is Olympia. Our little doeling is Mariama.
Fence work is going on, plus general clean up. We will be having the church Easter service here, so have two weeks to get the place in shape, plus doing general Spring Cleaning. Plan on emptying the "cabin" of all the large pieces and scrubbing down the walls and floors with bleach. Lots of mildew from the winter months, Yuck!
I have shelved the RV plans for now, funding is hard to find and I do not have any money to spare for that...now if someone wants to come out and just park like it is, I am up for that too! Concentrating on the land, the kids, and the shoppe. The shoppe is still slow going, but I am getting things done a little at a time.
The Grand Opening of the shoppe and the new bookstore will be in three weeks, lots to do!
James is walking up a storm and absolutely LOVES to play outside for hours at time with the girls. He is turning out to be all boy. Eating dirt and all. ;-)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Farm Record
Initially, I thought the baby was a girl, not sure now, will have to go out and double check..Apparently, does and bucks have teats, and you have to check under their tail to verify the sex.
Cold weather set in last night, and it beginning sleeting last night around midnight. Rained, and sleeted all morning, only to be broken in by a few small moments of SNOW flurries! Yes, that is right ladies and gentlemen, I said SNOW. IN SOUTH TEXAS! We have an 80% chance of additional snow tonight, with a low of 28. Yeah!
It is cold today, currently 38, and I have been using a lot of wood to keep the woodstove raging hot and the container snuggly warm.
Getting ready to put the makings for soup in the crockpot for tomorrow's lunch.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I had written a long post and it got lost. Shoot!
Weather today is chilly, down to 32 last night, and 29 expected tonight. Lauren is learning about electrical circuits and has been making them with any batteries that she can find.
Hannah made scrambled eggs and french toast in homemaking yesterday. She looked very cute wearing the apron I wore at her age.
James is getting really big. I am trying to feed him more table food, but he isn't having it. He ate two tiny bites of scrambled egg/cheese, two bites of pear baby food, a handful of cereal, about 1 oz of whole milk in a sippy cup, and then wanted to nurse...his favorite thing. He is cruising around the entire cabin, going from furniture to furniture to door frame. He is fascinated by the fire in the wood stove and just stares, shakes his head and says "no no, hot".
Getting dressed to go to the shoppe. Just to clean up a little, too cold to stay for long. Can't wait until I pick up some more propane so I can use the heater there...
Weather today is chilly, down to 32 last night, and 29 expected tonight. Lauren is learning about electrical circuits and has been making them with any batteries that she can find.
Hannah made scrambled eggs and french toast in homemaking yesterday. She looked very cute wearing the apron I wore at her age.
James is getting really big. I am trying to feed him more table food, but he isn't having it. He ate two tiny bites of scrambled egg/cheese, two bites of pear baby food, a handful of cereal, about 1 oz of whole milk in a sippy cup, and then wanted to nurse...his favorite thing. He is cruising around the entire cabin, going from furniture to furniture to door frame. He is fascinated by the fire in the wood stove and just stares, shakes his head and says "no no, hot".
Getting dressed to go to the shoppe. Just to clean up a little, too cold to stay for long. Can't wait until I pick up some more propane so I can use the heater there...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Life has been hectic lately. Many thing happening, some good, some bad. I feel very blessed most days. The weather hasn't been quite as cold, and I have been happy about that..makes it easy to heat the house.
The rain has been wonderful, though it has kept me cooped up inside more than I like, but it has afforded us the opportunity to complete our schoolwork. It has rained so much the past few days that the place has been flooded in spots. I had to park a ways from the cabin, as I couldn't get close to the place. We had to wade to the house in the dark, cold and water. Kind of fun ;-)
With help the barn has been cleaned out, and was in pretty good shape, until the goats got in there again and messed up many boxes. Those goats drive me crazy.
The fields have been shredded and I've picked up the majority of the trash. One snake lost it's life in the process. Thought it was a rattlesnake, but it was a bull snake instead.
The rain has been wonderful, though it has kept me cooped up inside more than I like, but it has afforded us the opportunity to complete our schoolwork. It has rained so much the past few days that the place has been flooded in spots. I had to park a ways from the cabin, as I couldn't get close to the place. We had to wade to the house in the dark, cold and water. Kind of fun ;-)
With help the barn has been cleaned out, and was in pretty good shape, until the goats got in there again and messed up many boxes. Those goats drive me crazy.
The fields have been shredded and I've picked up the majority of the trash. One snake lost it's life in the process. Thought it was a rattlesnake, but it was a bull snake instead.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
James turned 1 yesterday and today is Taylor's 21st birthday. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I remember Taylor being born, and it seems like yesterday.
The weather is cold and rainy today..it rained all night. Supposed to rain all day today and tonight.
Getting ready to head to town for a doctor appointment for one of the kids. Co-op started this week also. It's fun, but I can't muster enthusiasm for it right now.
The weather is cold and rainy today..it rained all night. Supposed to rain all day today and tonight.
Getting ready to head to town for a doctor appointment for one of the kids. Co-op started this week also. It's fun, but I can't muster enthusiasm for it right now.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The weather today was beautiful..not sure of the exact temps, but it was in the 70's I am sure. It was rainy and drizzly this morning, and I was tempted to cancel tennis lessons, but didn't. The balls got a little damp, but everything else was okay. Managed to get several loads of laundry done and hung out on the line. Thank you Lord!
With the couch taken to the shop, it leaves the front room open, which I needed. While I loved the couch it took up so much space, it didn't leave much room to walk through. Now, there is plenty of space for James to play and crawl.
Still working on decluttering. I have four rubber maid totes and the sewing machine treadle, plus a large green container to take to the shoppe. So, along with finishing cleaning the kitchen, laundry and reorganizing my pantry, I have a lot on my schedule the next couple of days. Trying to get everything in shape for the upcoming co-op semester, and we will just plain feel better with everything being as clean as it can be in such a small place. (I alternate between loving small spaces and hating them, depends on the weather, the kids and my mood swings.) ;-)
One of the wonderful things to day was that I was able to get the window screen in the bedroom back on the window. I have struggled with it. I know it seems like such a small thing, but I am so mechanically disinclined it isn't funny. I had the curtains tied back, the window open, and the breeze blowing in. The sun was shining in the room, KLOVE was playing from the laptop, and I could hear the hawks calling as they flew above the land. It was great! The girls and James played in the dirt in front of the doorway. James loves swishing the dirt back and forth with his hands, and kept smashing the girls "dirt castle" they were making for the Polly Pockets. They were not amused, though James was tickled.
With the couch taken to the shop, it leaves the front room open, which I needed. While I loved the couch it took up so much space, it didn't leave much room to walk through. Now, there is plenty of space for James to play and crawl.
Still working on decluttering. I have four rubber maid totes and the sewing machine treadle, plus a large green container to take to the shoppe. So, along with finishing cleaning the kitchen, laundry and reorganizing my pantry, I have a lot on my schedule the next couple of days. Trying to get everything in shape for the upcoming co-op semester, and we will just plain feel better with everything being as clean as it can be in such a small place. (I alternate between loving small spaces and hating them, depends on the weather, the kids and my mood swings.) ;-)
One of the wonderful things to day was that I was able to get the window screen in the bedroom back on the window. I have struggled with it. I know it seems like such a small thing, but I am so mechanically disinclined it isn't funny. I had the curtains tied back, the window open, and the breeze blowing in. The sun was shining in the room, KLOVE was playing from the laptop, and I could hear the hawks calling as they flew above the land. It was great! The girls and James played in the dirt in front of the doorway. James loves swishing the dirt back and forth with his hands, and kept smashing the girls "dirt castle" they were making for the Polly Pockets. They were not amused, though James was tickled.
Disclaimer
I feel the need to insert a disclaimer here as I have received commentary from many over the past few months. I know I have stated it before, but I feel the need to re-state. This blog is primarily for me and me alone. I initially created it to enable my mother to keep up with us.
Recently, I have closed this blog to all but a selected group. If it were open, I'd say the same thing.
I am not, nor will I ever be a whiner. If anyone has taken that away with them, please get that out of your head. I don't require help, if you read something here and it moves you to offer help, thank you. I am not intending to ask for help in a covert or underhanded manner. If I need help I will come out and plainly ask my friends and family for help. In my mind I am simply stating the daily happenings around here. If someone happens to know a "back story" for some of my statements, please don't feel compelled to offer advice (no "B" I am not talking about you, I appreciate and love your help). I am totally okay with advice, biblical advice, but everyone has advice on how they would handle a situation, on how they would live, or what color they would paint the barn, or what type of goat they would raise. The problem comes in when the advice offered is not biblical. I am seeking to find a biblical solution to any personal problems, and am attempting to keep those exactly that, personal. If I inadvertently make a statement, it is just that, inadvertently. My main purpose is to update the "farm" happenings, for my mom, and for my memory, which is proving to be faulty in recent years.
I have loved making "friends" with various bloggers around the country, but realize that my life is just that, my life. And while I enjoy sharing it, because I am not ashamed, but proud of my family and our accomplishments, it really isn't open for censure. I have been told today that I am naive and that because I am such an open book (to some) it doesn't occur to me that others do not have my best interests at heart, even family. When I am then chastised for something, it hurts me, and I am shocked. Primarily, because family should be there to support you, not dig the hole deeper and push you in. ;-) I am 40 years old, and do not require chastisement from others, God is doing just fine all on His own.
Please feel welcome to read the blog, leave comments, enjoy the stories, and above all pray for me and others.
Recently, I have closed this blog to all but a selected group. If it were open, I'd say the same thing.
I am not, nor will I ever be a whiner. If anyone has taken that away with them, please get that out of your head. I don't require help, if you read something here and it moves you to offer help, thank you. I am not intending to ask for help in a covert or underhanded manner. If I need help I will come out and plainly ask my friends and family for help. In my mind I am simply stating the daily happenings around here. If someone happens to know a "back story" for some of my statements, please don't feel compelled to offer advice (no "B" I am not talking about you, I appreciate and love your help). I am totally okay with advice, biblical advice, but everyone has advice on how they would handle a situation, on how they would live, or what color they would paint the barn, or what type of goat they would raise. The problem comes in when the advice offered is not biblical. I am seeking to find a biblical solution to any personal problems, and am attempting to keep those exactly that, personal. If I inadvertently make a statement, it is just that, inadvertently. My main purpose is to update the "farm" happenings, for my mom, and for my memory, which is proving to be faulty in recent years.
I have loved making "friends" with various bloggers around the country, but realize that my life is just that, my life. And while I enjoy sharing it, because I am not ashamed, but proud of my family and our accomplishments, it really isn't open for censure. I have been told today that I am naive and that because I am such an open book (to some) it doesn't occur to me that others do not have my best interests at heart, even family. When I am then chastised for something, it hurts me, and I am shocked. Primarily, because family should be there to support you, not dig the hole deeper and push you in. ;-) I am 40 years old, and do not require chastisement from others, God is doing just fine all on His own.
Please feel welcome to read the blog, leave comments, enjoy the stories, and above all pray for me and others.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Farm Update
I am now chicken-less. My Pyr killed all my remaining chickens in one day. I am so depressed over that...if I could find a good home for the Pyr he'd be gone. He is really good with the goats, which is what I got him for, and great with the kids. The only bad part is he is a chicken killer. I thought I had him beat by putting the chickens back in their coop/pen full time, but he dug under to get some crackers/scraps I had tossed out to the chickens. It doesn't matter how much I feed him, he still loves the chickens scraps. Well, the hole he left was big enough for the chickens to come out of, this spelled their doom.
With the cold temps and rain lately, I haven't been able to work outside. It is amazing how fast trash accumulates, especially windblown trash, and the dogs tearing up stuff outside. I think I'd love just to have Baeta and Muffin, that is it.
We had significant rain this week, 5 inches. The pond is totally full, as well as, the overflow on the side. When we first moved out here when it rained, the water would flow out the back, and rise so high, it would start inching towards the barn. Now, with the overflow area (which I was against being dug at the time) the water stays away from the barn, and fills up the second area great. This provides great drinking water for the animals, and the girls just had to go "swimming" today. It was 70 degrees and quite warm in the cabin, so off they went, only to return wet and muddy. They were headed to their dad's tonight so they had to go into the shower.
I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning the bedroom. Four hours, three trash bags and a rubber maid container later. I had most of the clutter under control. I moved the girls back up to the loft, making their beds, and adding the electric blankets for them, plus a small heater. I now have the king bed to myself, sharing with James. I found a large piece of olive green fabric that I had bought to make a suit a couple of years ago, and hung it over the bed opening. This gives me more privacy, a darker area for James to sleep better, plus I am not shoved into a corner to sleep, or being wakened by a variety of elbows/hands in my face, or knees in my hiney or stomach.
Today I spent all day doing laundry, and cleaning. Filled another trash bag of trash, washed all the dishes and swept the floor. Lauren folded the laundry and picked up in general in the living area. I have several piles a long the sides of items to be taken to the shop. Still not done cleaning, plus the outside needs to have the trash picked up, and the dead chickens taken to the bone yard at the back of the property. Who knew so many animals died on a farm, on a regular basis? Between the heat this summer taking my rabbits, chickens getting killed by the dog, and a dog dying, we have a regular horror show going on out back. The local buzzards are happy with us that is for sure.
Once the couch is picked up tomorrow and taken to the shoppe for the reading room, I will have more space. I really like having the couch to watch t.v. on, all of us fit, but it is so crowded, it is hard to walk through. I am looking forward to a large, carpeted area for James to play on, and the girls can lay on the floor to watch t.v. or play themselves.
Tried to watch Mel Gibson's Apocalypto movie tonight. I received the DVD in the mail from Netflix. The movie is far too graphic for me, and not to my taste. I only lasted 28 minutes before I had to turn it off.
Off to bed, it's 12:30 a.m., and the baby is waking up to eat.
With the cold temps and rain lately, I haven't been able to work outside. It is amazing how fast trash accumulates, especially windblown trash, and the dogs tearing up stuff outside. I think I'd love just to have Baeta and Muffin, that is it.
We had significant rain this week, 5 inches. The pond is totally full, as well as, the overflow on the side. When we first moved out here when it rained, the water would flow out the back, and rise so high, it would start inching towards the barn. Now, with the overflow area (which I was against being dug at the time) the water stays away from the barn, and fills up the second area great. This provides great drinking water for the animals, and the girls just had to go "swimming" today. It was 70 degrees and quite warm in the cabin, so off they went, only to return wet and muddy. They were headed to their dad's tonight so they had to go into the shower.
I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning the bedroom. Four hours, three trash bags and a rubber maid container later. I had most of the clutter under control. I moved the girls back up to the loft, making their beds, and adding the electric blankets for them, plus a small heater. I now have the king bed to myself, sharing with James. I found a large piece of olive green fabric that I had bought to make a suit a couple of years ago, and hung it over the bed opening. This gives me more privacy, a darker area for James to sleep better, plus I am not shoved into a corner to sleep, or being wakened by a variety of elbows/hands in my face, or knees in my hiney or stomach.
Today I spent all day doing laundry, and cleaning. Filled another trash bag of trash, washed all the dishes and swept the floor. Lauren folded the laundry and picked up in general in the living area. I have several piles a long the sides of items to be taken to the shop. Still not done cleaning, plus the outside needs to have the trash picked up, and the dead chickens taken to the bone yard at the back of the property. Who knew so many animals died on a farm, on a regular basis? Between the heat this summer taking my rabbits, chickens getting killed by the dog, and a dog dying, we have a regular horror show going on out back. The local buzzards are happy with us that is for sure.
Once the couch is picked up tomorrow and taken to the shoppe for the reading room, I will have more space. I really like having the couch to watch t.v. on, all of us fit, but it is so crowded, it is hard to walk through. I am looking forward to a large, carpeted area for James to play on, and the girls can lay on the floor to watch t.v. or play themselves.
Tried to watch Mel Gibson's Apocalypto movie tonight. I received the DVD in the mail from Netflix. The movie is far too graphic for me, and not to my taste. I only lasted 28 minutes before I had to turn it off.
Off to bed, it's 12:30 a.m., and the baby is waking up to eat.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Lots of chores to get done around the place. I need to re-stack the wood pile, it is dwindling, so I am on the lookout for more wood.
My rechargeable lamp battery will no longer re-charge, so I will be on the lookout for a new one. Until I can afford one I will pick up some double A batteries for my smaller, battery-operated lanterns. These are useful at night for the bathroom, and for changing the baby.
I need to mix up a batch of laundry soap as I am out, and desperately need to complete the laundry. Washed diapers and hung them up on the indoor line in the playhouse. I really love that retractable clothes line.
Today we worked at the shoppe, and it was the first day we sold sodas/chips to the kids walking home from school. Lauren made $5.00. Every little bit helps. She was very excited.
My rechargeable lamp battery will no longer re-charge, so I will be on the lookout for a new one. Until I can afford one I will pick up some double A batteries for my smaller, battery-operated lanterns. These are useful at night for the bathroom, and for changing the baby.
I need to mix up a batch of laundry soap as I am out, and desperately need to complete the laundry. Washed diapers and hung them up on the indoor line in the playhouse. I really love that retractable clothes line.
Today we worked at the shoppe, and it was the first day we sold sodas/chips to the kids walking home from school. Lauren made $5.00. Every little bit helps. She was very excited.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
James Walked!
James took his first steps tonight.. I was so excited. He was tickled with himself too. Staying at my sister's still due to the cold weather. We will head home tomorrow. We've been here all weekend. A lot
of cleanup this week.
Temps were as low as 9 degrees. The water buckets were solid ice, and there was a thin layer of ice on my sister's pool. The kids were very excited.
of cleanup this week.
Temps were as low as 9 degrees. The water buckets were solid ice, and there was a thin layer of ice on my sister's pool. The kids were very excited.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tennis lessons started up again today. It was lots of fun. I have a new student. He already knows the fundamentals. We worked on correcting some incorrect ground strokes, control of the ball and serves. It was a little chilly and drizzling today, though we did start later than normal.
Afterwards the kids and I headed over to the shoppe where we opened up and the girls did their school work. James crawled around on the carpet (I finally cleaned the oriental rug) and played with his toys, pulling up and getting into everything.
Due to Lauren being sick,we didn't work at the bookstore, it was easier for Lauren to sit in the car and rest while we had tennis lessons, and to rest at the shoppe.
We stopped at the library to check out more movies, and were able to get Season 6 of the Little House on the Prairie series. We've been watching all night...due to the extreme cold weather expected, we will have to close the shop. 17 degrees is a little chilly without heat, so we will be staying home the next few days.
Afterwards the kids and I headed over to the shoppe where we opened up and the girls did their school work. James crawled around on the carpet (I finally cleaned the oriental rug) and played with his toys, pulling up and getting into everything.
Due to Lauren being sick,we didn't work at the bookstore, it was easier for Lauren to sit in the car and rest while we had tennis lessons, and to rest at the shoppe.
We stopped at the library to check out more movies, and were able to get Season 6 of the Little House on the Prairie series. We've been watching all night...due to the extreme cold weather expected, we will have to close the shop. 17 degrees is a little chilly without heat, so we will be staying home the next few days.
Couple Builds Home Out Of Trash
Recyclables Provide Materials For Home's Construction
POSTED: Tuesday, January 5, 2010
UPDATED: 8:53 am CST January 6, 2010
KINGSBURY, Texas -- The economy has led a lot of people to take innovative measures, but Sunny and Connie Gonzalez, of Kingsbury, have gotten especially creative: they decided to move out to the country and build a home out of trash.The Gonzales family said their home is a dream in the making.The family moved to the property, owned by their father, a year ago, after they lost their million-dollar Stone Oak home when Sunny lost his job as a contractor.The family used beer bottles for walls, tires for fences, bricks were made from scratch and all the wood is recycled.They said eventually the plan is to use only recycled materials for a 3,000-square-foot home, complete with a pool and a hot tub.They said they would like to prove that they can live at the same standard of quality as everyone else "without being caught up into the system."Most of their food is grown on the land, which allows the couple to survive on about $100 a week."We have nothing but free time, no stress," Sunny said. "In these very challenging economic downturns, we're always happy."The project started as hardship but they said they gained freedom from bills and a new outlook on life.
Copyright 2010 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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I am not sure I would know how to do this, but I have met several people who are building their homes out of tires, glass bottles, and straw bales. I like the self sufficient/survival ism aspect of the story though.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I really wanted to share this that a friend shared with me. It exactly matches my thoughts, but I have had no idea how to implement. I wish I had been prepared this way, and had entered marriage as a homemaker. I wish more young men were raised to expect to have a trade in order to provide for a family, and that his expectation would be from the beginning that their roles were set. It is awfully hard to fight for your dream. In today's society and culture a woman is expected, more often than not, to work outside the home. This to me has been part of the demise of families today. Men not wanting to fulfill their roles, and denying women the right to fulfill theirs, without censure.
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Homeschool Graduation – What next?
One very exciting event that has happened this month is the graduation of our second child from our homeschool. She is 17 and just finished taking and passing her GED tests. We are very proud of her! But now are the questions from those around us… What Next?? Well we have thought about these very things for some time now. Our ideas for our children do not always fit in with the norm around us. We tend to just have different ideas for our sons and daughters. It reminds me of when we started homeschooling. Back in 1987 almost no one homeschooled. So we tended to feel very much out of the norm! People would question what we were doing and we really had no experience and no idea how it would all end, we just walked in faith with the knowledge that this was what God had called us to do. So now as these years come to an end with our oldest children there are still people who look at our choices and do not understand :) Sometimes having different views and feeling some of the pressure from people around me can make me question, “Are we making the right decision?”. But I have seen in the last few years that homeschooling our children has been the best decision we could have made and how faithful God has been to us over the years as we have made this walk of faith. Now once again I feel like I am facing the same types of feelings. Perhaps some insecurities with our choices and perhaps some concern about the decisions we make, etc… but just as we did when we first started homeschooling, I know that we must pray about our choices and we must make the decision that we feel God is leading us to make and then walk in faith that the outcome will bear much fruit in our child’s life. Trusting that God’s way for us is the best way for us. Which brings me to another point and that is I do not feel that our choices should be the way it is for every family! So as I share what we have done and our choices I recognize that other families will make different choices for their children based on how the Lord leads them.
Now back to the question, “What next?” How should we deal with high school, college, careers, etc…? Let me share what we did with our son and where we are right now with our daughter. When our son, who is now 20, started into his high school years we decided that we would homeschool him for 2 years and then he would get his GED and move onto Community College. This was the best decision we could have made. I often question the 4 years of high school and wonder if they are really necessary. We wanted our son to start working towards his future as a man and to be prepared for the world out there. From the time he was young we told him about the need to be able to have a trade or field that would allow him to support a wife and a family. We told him how important it was for a mother to be at home, tending to the home and the children that he would have someday and the need to prepare for that. So it seemed very natural to start him out in a trade at a younger than typical age. He had always had a love of airplanes and wanted to do what his father does and that is aircraft mechanics. So he spent 2 years in trade school and then due to 9/11 had to wait a bit until the airlines were hiring again, and now works for the same airlines my husband does. Making this choice for us did set us apart from the typical choices made today. However I have read that in the older days young boys began working towards a trade at around age 12, so this thought is not completely new!
Now for our daughters we have very different ideas. Some today would call this a double standard, but we find it fits more in line with the word of God. Everywhere my daughter goes she is asked, “So what do you want to do for a career?” Or some question of this nature. We do not stress careers for our daughters. We try to impress upon their hearts the value of being a keeper of the home. This is a tough job, let me tell you! In our culture it seems that this is not a valid career choice or option. So from the time my girls are young I teach them all I can about running a home, planning meals, living within a budget, how to sew, care for and teach children and instilling in them a sense of worth for this “career”. However we do understand that we do not know ‘when’ our daughters will marry so we encourage them to think of what they might like to pursue in the way of a job or learning skills, something they can put to use until the time comes for them to marry and then set it aside for a much higher calling in life. We also encourage them to think of skills that might help them earn extra money from their home to help if that would be needed.
My oldest daughter who just graduated is considering taking a few community college courses, perhaps some secretarial courses. She would like to find part time work this summer to help her prepare for some of the expenses. She also is learning more and more about horse training and hopes that someday she might be able to make money with this in some way. But she is mostly excited about the prospect of her future as a homemaker. She has a hope chest (which is just a very large Rubbermaid container and now she has a second smaller one as well). She has been filling her hope chest up for the last 1 ½ years. She has dishes, bake ware, cooking utensils, towels, dishcloths, potholders, etc… and special pieces for a dish set that she likes. She has plans to make a quilt to add to this and spends most of her babysitting money on items for this chest. I could not be more pleased that this is her desire. This is the type of thing we gladly encourage with our daughters!
I know that our answers to those “What Next?” questions are often unique and that we are making choices that are not always the norm. I also realize that many will say “what if??”, what if this or that happens and your daughters need an outside career, or how can your son’s manage without diplomas or sports etc… I think back to when we started homeschooling and people around us had many “what if?” type questions for us, we did not have all the answers for them, only the knowledge that the Lord knows all these things and we just need to keep our eyes on Him, follow His lead and walk each day in faith. :)
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Homeschool Graduation – What next?
One very exciting event that has happened this month is the graduation of our second child from our homeschool. She is 17 and just finished taking and passing her GED tests. We are very proud of her! But now are the questions from those around us… What Next?? Well we have thought about these very things for some time now. Our ideas for our children do not always fit in with the norm around us. We tend to just have different ideas for our sons and daughters. It reminds me of when we started homeschooling. Back in 1987 almost no one homeschooled. So we tended to feel very much out of the norm! People would question what we were doing and we really had no experience and no idea how it would all end, we just walked in faith with the knowledge that this was what God had called us to do. So now as these years come to an end with our oldest children there are still people who look at our choices and do not understand :) Sometimes having different views and feeling some of the pressure from people around me can make me question, “Are we making the right decision?”. But I have seen in the last few years that homeschooling our children has been the best decision we could have made and how faithful God has been to us over the years as we have made this walk of faith. Now once again I feel like I am facing the same types of feelings. Perhaps some insecurities with our choices and perhaps some concern about the decisions we make, etc… but just as we did when we first started homeschooling, I know that we must pray about our choices and we must make the decision that we feel God is leading us to make and then walk in faith that the outcome will bear much fruit in our child’s life. Trusting that God’s way for us is the best way for us. Which brings me to another point and that is I do not feel that our choices should be the way it is for every family! So as I share what we have done and our choices I recognize that other families will make different choices for their children based on how the Lord leads them.
Now back to the question, “What next?” How should we deal with high school, college, careers, etc…? Let me share what we did with our son and where we are right now with our daughter. When our son, who is now 20, started into his high school years we decided that we would homeschool him for 2 years and then he would get his GED and move onto Community College. This was the best decision we could have made. I often question the 4 years of high school and wonder if they are really necessary. We wanted our son to start working towards his future as a man and to be prepared for the world out there. From the time he was young we told him about the need to be able to have a trade or field that would allow him to support a wife and a family. We told him how important it was for a mother to be at home, tending to the home and the children that he would have someday and the need to prepare for that. So it seemed very natural to start him out in a trade at a younger than typical age. He had always had a love of airplanes and wanted to do what his father does and that is aircraft mechanics. So he spent 2 years in trade school and then due to 9/11 had to wait a bit until the airlines were hiring again, and now works for the same airlines my husband does. Making this choice for us did set us apart from the typical choices made today. However I have read that in the older days young boys began working towards a trade at around age 12, so this thought is not completely new!
Now for our daughters we have very different ideas. Some today would call this a double standard, but we find it fits more in line with the word of God. Everywhere my daughter goes she is asked, “So what do you want to do for a career?” Or some question of this nature. We do not stress careers for our daughters. We try to impress upon their hearts the value of being a keeper of the home. This is a tough job, let me tell you! In our culture it seems that this is not a valid career choice or option. So from the time my girls are young I teach them all I can about running a home, planning meals, living within a budget, how to sew, care for and teach children and instilling in them a sense of worth for this “career”. However we do understand that we do not know ‘when’ our daughters will marry so we encourage them to think of what they might like to pursue in the way of a job or learning skills, something they can put to use until the time comes for them to marry and then set it aside for a much higher calling in life. We also encourage them to think of skills that might help them earn extra money from their home to help if that would be needed.
My oldest daughter who just graduated is considering taking a few community college courses, perhaps some secretarial courses. She would like to find part time work this summer to help her prepare for some of the expenses. She also is learning more and more about horse training and hopes that someday she might be able to make money with this in some way. But she is mostly excited about the prospect of her future as a homemaker. She has a hope chest (which is just a very large Rubbermaid container and now she has a second smaller one as well). She has been filling her hope chest up for the last 1 ½ years. She has dishes, bake ware, cooking utensils, towels, dishcloths, potholders, etc… and special pieces for a dish set that she likes. She has plans to make a quilt to add to this and spends most of her babysitting money on items for this chest. I could not be more pleased that this is her desire. This is the type of thing we gladly encourage with our daughters!
I know that our answers to those “What Next?” questions are often unique and that we are making choices that are not always the norm. I also realize that many will say “what if??”, what if this or that happens and your daughters need an outside career, or how can your son’s manage without diplomas or sports etc… I think back to when we started homeschooling and people around us had many “what if?” type questions for us, we did not have all the answers for them, only the knowledge that the Lord knows all these things and we just need to keep our eyes on Him, follow His lead and walk each day in faith. :)
It has been called to my attention that I have snide and unkind things here in my blog about my children's father. I'd like to apologize. I have no excuse except frustration. It wasn't nice or right of me. I strongly TRY to keep him out of the blog as he prefers it that way.
Lauren is sick today with the stomach flu going around. I am sure each of us are next. Oh joy! Off to wash clothes and sheets.
Lauren is sick today with the stomach flu going around. I am sure each of us are next. Oh joy! Off to wash clothes and sheets.
Monday, January 4, 2010
I accomplished a lot at the shoppe today. Lauren and I were able to hang up all the clothes and sort them (man, woman, boy, girl, baby). We also put up the shelves that were given to us in the resale room, and organized the shoes, dishes and bedding in different corners. Moved the books into the book room, and set up the girl's desks for their school work. While going through a bag that a lady dropped off, we ran across about 10 leather purses, all the same, still in their original packaging. What a find! We put a few on the shelf, and the rest in the drawer. They are very nice. We also sorted through the used clothing, only keeping what is in good condition. I don't want to sell junk.
The main room is looking good. We received the merchandise from Celebrating Home that my mom sent and the girls were excited to unpack it and place on the shelving. Tomorrow is our first full day at the shoppe. I take the test to work for the Census in the morning, and then onto the shoppe.
Tomorrow the girls will do their school work then play outside for awhile. I will be mopping and waxing the wood floors, then tearing up the linoleum in the kitchen, at least that is the "plan". Looking for a bar for the snack bar, keeping my eyes peeled.
Lauren has been sick off and on today, so is resting and reading tonight. Please pray for her if you think about it.
The main room is looking good. We received the merchandise from Celebrating Home that my mom sent and the girls were excited to unpack it and place on the shelving. Tomorrow is our first full day at the shoppe. I take the test to work for the Census in the morning, and then onto the shoppe.
Tomorrow the girls will do their school work then play outside for awhile. I will be mopping and waxing the wood floors, then tearing up the linoleum in the kitchen, at least that is the "plan". Looking for a bar for the snack bar, keeping my eyes peeled.
Lauren has been sick off and on today, so is resting and reading tonight. Please pray for her if you think about it.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
My New Year Resolutions/Goals
1. Find a good paying job, or be self supporting through shoppe, etc.
2. Reduce electric consumption (look into solar panels).
3. Set up outdoor kitchen.
4. Find different housing situation to put on land, preferably in shade.
5. Cook more with food storage.
6. Keep food storage/pantry stocked.
7. Keep prep items stocked and ready.
8. Plan meals ahead of time.
9. Sew more.
10. Learn to use the chain saw.
These are just my generic goals, I have more personal ones, but I won't be sharing them here.
2. Reduce electric consumption (look into solar panels).
3. Set up outdoor kitchen.
4. Find different housing situation to put on land, preferably in shade.
5. Cook more with food storage.
6. Keep food storage/pantry stocked.
7. Keep prep items stocked and ready.
8. Plan meals ahead of time.
9. Sew more.
10. Learn to use the chain saw.
These are just my generic goals, I have more personal ones, but I won't be sharing them here.
I absolutely loved today. We were able to stay home for the ENTIRE day. My niece spent the night so the girls played outside or in the playhouse most of the day. They kept James with them for an hour this a.m., and then again for an hour this p.m. This really helps me get a few things done.
I didn't accomplish all I wanted, but I did get a significant amount of laundry done and hung out on the line. All the diapers are finally washed and dried, which is a good thing as I won't be able to afford to buy disposables, which I have done for the past two weeks. I threw out a lot of old stuff and placed the trash in the pickup, was able to wash most of the dishes. I had a pot on the wood stove all day keeping the water hot so I could wash dishes and clean. Too much cleaning to keep up with the hot water heater.
We put away the tree, ornaments and decorations finally. I was able to fold all the clothes, sweep and bring in wood, plus get the bathroom totally cleaned.
Tomorrow I have plans to organize the loft and sort through clothing, after church. Trying to get ready for our first full week at the shoppe, just in time for the first week of the New Year.
Today James is 11 months old. Only one more month until he turns a year old. I can hardly believe the year has gone by so fast, and with it so many changes. Wow!
He is so cute. We ate lunch outside today, moving the table and chairs from the gazebo to right outside the cabin door. He sat in his high chair eating a variety of foods, and has learned to drink apple juice from the juice box out of a straw. He kept choking himself by sucking up too much juice, and would let it run out of his mouth soaking his sweatshirt. I sure am glad it was a beautiful sunny day, though out of the protection of the cabin door the wind was quite strong. It has been quite strong for awhile now, especially at night.
On my to do list:
look for firewood, running out
finish organizing barn
move stuff from behind cabin to barn/trash
put trash piles into bags and place in truck for pickup
clean out truck and wash
pickup trash around land (I think because of the wind, we get a lot of trash blown in from ???)
From the pen of Claire Wolfe (I LOVE this lady!)
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/wolfe94.html
I didn't accomplish all I wanted, but I did get a significant amount of laundry done and hung out on the line. All the diapers are finally washed and dried, which is a good thing as I won't be able to afford to buy disposables, which I have done for the past two weeks. I threw out a lot of old stuff and placed the trash in the pickup, was able to wash most of the dishes. I had a pot on the wood stove all day keeping the water hot so I could wash dishes and clean. Too much cleaning to keep up with the hot water heater.
We put away the tree, ornaments and decorations finally. I was able to fold all the clothes, sweep and bring in wood, plus get the bathroom totally cleaned.
Tomorrow I have plans to organize the loft and sort through clothing, after church. Trying to get ready for our first full week at the shoppe, just in time for the first week of the New Year.
Today James is 11 months old. Only one more month until he turns a year old. I can hardly believe the year has gone by so fast, and with it so many changes. Wow!
He is so cute. We ate lunch outside today, moving the table and chairs from the gazebo to right outside the cabin door. He sat in his high chair eating a variety of foods, and has learned to drink apple juice from the juice box out of a straw. He kept choking himself by sucking up too much juice, and would let it run out of his mouth soaking his sweatshirt. I sure am glad it was a beautiful sunny day, though out of the protection of the cabin door the wind was quite strong. It has been quite strong for awhile now, especially at night.
On my to do list:
look for firewood, running out
finish organizing barn
move stuff from behind cabin to barn/trash
put trash piles into bags and place in truck for pickup
clean out truck and wash
pickup trash around land (I think because of the wind, we get a lot of trash blown in from ???)
From the pen of Claire Wolfe (I LOVE this lady!)
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/wolfe94.html
A prayer for today
Oh God, Time and grace heals our wounds, but time is not always a friend. What about my friends who have not heard Your words of life? What if they were to die today? I should know how short life can be. I've lost loved ones and friends who were young. Accidents and sudden illness can take away a life quickly. Cancer, diabetes, aneurysms, catastrophic events can change a person's health and life in a moment. Lord, why do I fear opening my mouth? Please help me to be bold, the speak Your words of truth and life to those I love, my family and friends, before time runs out. Help me to be a living testimony for You. Stir up the Holy Spirit within me and the gifts You have given me to minister to others, to reach a dying world, to share Your love and Your hope for the future. Thank You in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Friday, January 1, 2010
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