About Me

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Northeast, Pennsylvania, United States
We have 6 children - I homeschool 4, 2 have graduated. We have our own business - I try to help in the office when I can. I Love The Lord! I garden, I sew as I have time, can or freeze the harvest and really enjoy baking bread....

Monday, December 14, 2009

Anniversary, 17th Birthday and Christmas

Sorry if I seem to be gone again- my son celebrated his 17th birthday last week...

I am finally done decorating for Christmas and 80 percent done shopping.. now for baking...

And today, today is a very special day...

It is my 18th Wedding Anniversary.

I married my high school sweetheart- I married the man I love...

God brought us together when we were very young (15 & 16 yes, he is older), although there were many times I didn't ever think we would marry and many times I wasn't sure we could make it through the trials we've had, we are here and we have made it and I couldn't be more crazy about him or love him more than I do today.

It is fun to reminisce and that is exactly what we did last evening with our children.  We told them funny stories about our 1st year of marriage... getting married on an Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkasas..
we even went back a bit to what is was like - good and bad - dating for all of the years we dated, our engagement .. all the memories.. we had so much fun. 

We took some time just recently to also look at our dating and wedding photos.. how funny we both looked and as my children have said repeatedly.. "How VERY '80s!" we really were..

I cannot wait to see what God brings our way in the next 18 years and beyond... I am so blessed to be married to him and to have the love, support and memories I have... I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else.. No one could ever amount to what he has amounted to in my life.

Thank You God for blessing me with such a wonderful husband.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Good Site - Good Giveaway~

Lisa over at Homestead Originals is having a great giveaway over at her blog. 

Plus, she has a good blog and store, I love going there, I just don't get there much because of time. 

So if you have a minute or two please visit her and then let Lisa and I know you were there with a comment.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

My Photographer...

What happens when you give a 16 year old a camera, a younger sister and a large pumpkin??




No princess this pumpkin will never be a carriage to the ball...




I did mention the pumpkin was the largest we ever grew ourselves.. didn't I??


Dreaming of Pumpkin Pie...

And Here is the photographer with the actual pumpkin..
Very Cute my son...

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Real Garden Pictures to Share

Here are pictures from my garden this year, unlike the last picture I posted of what I'd like to have my garden look like...


This is one of seven pumkins in my garden. This is the best year I have ever had for pumkins so my son thought he'd help me document some of what we ended up with.. bear with us.. we are not bragging with the photos.. just totally pleased :)


Two of the "Old Connecticut" pumkins- they are such a dark muted orange color.. They just scream fall .. you can see a corn stalk above the pumkins. We ended up with just a small amount of stalks but enough that we harvested 32 ears of corn.. Just enough for 2 dinners around here.


This is our "monster" even the picture doesn't do it credit. It is truely huge.



Another one that is near our "monster"... these were taken a week ago and the pumkins have all grown even more.. These two are worth weighing just for the fun of it...



Yes, that is my sidewalk under the pumkin. What can I say, my sweet hubby wanted the garden near the house and soooo, it is near by.


This is the sea of pumpkins overflowing my raised bed garden in the middle of my yard.
Being in town, I do wonder what my neighbors think..

Better shot of what the yard now looks like...


A chaotic and true picture of what a green bean square foot garden looks like when your five year old helps! :) But as I have mentioned before, we were blessed ubundantly with green beans and they are slowing a bit but still producing!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Fridays...

Good Morning...

Has fall hit your area yet? We are definitely seeing the weather that has cause me to pull those sweatshirts out. This morning the temperature is a chilly 52 with quiet a heavy fog. Sounds like apple picking time..


The pictures are from last fall, but today's weather has inspired me to get out those Autumn bowl and wreaths and make the house look warm and cozy..


This is also when I gear up for colds and visit some of my favorite websites to get their recipes for cold, flu and virus fighting remedies.. GOOT is a new one I will be using this year. You can find all of the information on it at Walking Therein.

You really need to visit Jacque Dixon's website anyway.. I could spend hours over there being encouraged and gleaning from her wisdom and walk with our Lord.

I also found another wonderful remedy last year I would love to share. I am extremely prone to Bronchitis and have a horrible week or two every year. That is until last year when an acquaintance told me about what she uses...

1 onion, peeled and sliced in 1/2
2 tbsp. honey - raw is best
water
sm. sauce pot

Place both halves of the onion in the pot, drizzle 1 tbsp. of honey on each one. Cover with water, just enough to be slightly covered. Bring to boil and then turn down to a simmer. Let simmer until syrup-y while stirring. Pour liquid in tea cup and drink while warm.

It took me quite a while to really try this, just the thought gave me chills. Now, I use it the minute a child sounds raspy.. It is actually very sweet in taste and in about 1 hour you will really notice a change in the tightness of your chest.

My cough was gone after 1 very large coffee cup of this. Warning: you do smell like an onion for 2 days or so and it does make you break into a short sweat right after drinking it. How you feel so shortly is worth the odor and if you already eat a lot of onions and garlic you may not even notice it.. LOL .. just warn your hubby before he hugs or kisses you that night... :)

Just so you all know, I have given up on my bathroom being done anytime soon.. this is the slowest construction job EVER!! LOL

How is school going for all of you? This, for the month that we have actually been homeschooling, has been by far our best year yet. God has blessed each of my children with a very open heart. I am curious to hear from all of you... I am thinking that Fridays are going to become my homeschool day. I'll share some of my thoughts, struggles and even some of the fun.. but I'd really love to hear from all of you too...

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

God's Word...



How many times have you needed something..

I mean really needed something and in the midst of your day say, "God, I could really use..." or "Please God, could you help me..." and then either go to the store and buy it with money you shouldn't have spent or started shopping for it

or just forgotten about it because maybe it really wasn't a true need??

Oh how many times I have been there.. How many times have I prayed, "God, Please bless us with xxxxx we really need that." - just to find out that either I didn't need or I could consume all of my spare time shopping for the best price on this item because it was a need???

Through a program called Financial Freedom - we were challenged to honestly pray for an item of real need...

My stove/oven. It died. Really died. We currently have 3 burners working. The large oven on bottom well, it works but the door doesn't open or shut. The hinge came off and my sweet daughter didn't know what was wrong so she "kind of forced it" .. the door is now slightly bent and if you want it shut you now need to use the latch for self-cleaning to keep it shut. That was working and I was limping it along until the other evening when we put some food it and on 450 degrees- guess what .. self-cleaning door lock at certain temps. Needless to say.. diner was a bit overdone by the time the oven cooled off enough for the latch to release LOL!!

The upper oven door works, but doesn't seal so I am constantly cooking the whole kitchen.

It was in the house when we moved in and the previous owner said she thinks her and her husband bought it in the mid 70's. It was a great electric stove with a double oven. I never cared for electric but the double oven was so great that I was never picky about electric or gas.

I didn't say much because we are spending enough right now getting the bathroom remodeled and cars ready for winter. You know..

So, we were challenged. David said, if you really need another oven, have you asked God? Did you really ask God? Don't you believe he will bring you one??? I prayed, and then bought a Paper Shop to find this great oven from God. You know, the perfect one for just the perfect price. That is when David asked why I was shopping and I read:

So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?

Luke 6:46 NLT |

That is when I decided to stop looking and talking about it. I prayed. Really prayed and asked that if and when God wanted to bless us with an oven He would.

On Sunday, as we were getting out of the car from church, my neighbor yelled over to me. I thought she said, " Do you want a stove.."

What??

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you correctly...

What were you saying over the kids yelling I couldn't hear your words...

She repeats.. "Do you want a stove? My husband (our contractor) just pulled it out of another kitchen, they are doing a total remodel and gave it to us."

Again, me being a bit bad at the whole trusting God thing. "Well, let me see it, what is wrong with it?"

As you have probably guessed.. Not one single thing wrong- a four or five year old GAS stove/oven. Like new! We are putting it in this weekend---


Praise God...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

It has been a while..



Well, now that I remembered my password, I should be back up and writing again..

How our garden fared:

Green, Purple and Wax beans are almost done producing, I'm only getting a half filled basket a week now.

Corn is gone, we ate the last few stragglers last night with steak and fresh green beans... mmm, mmm, mmm :)

Carrots are in and one last crop has been planted - I really have to get the cold frame built with Josh so we don't loose anything.

My lettuce, cucumbers and radishes were another story- I ended up with one great picking of each and since then it has been some here, some there... 3 of my easiest crops yet not much of a success at all.

I really think this was due to the weather, we had the strangest weather this year.

Broccoli and Cauliflower are done- broccoli got burned from a one day hot spell this year and the cauliflower was amazing! I have at least a dozen heads blanched and frozen.

Raspberries are the big surprise still producing a cup or two every couple days. This is our best year yet.. Praise God!



Sunflowers have been a great.. I cut and filled two vases full of beautiful sunflowers. Bundled two large bouquets of sunflowers with twine and hung them upside down on my porch for the birds. Cut the heads off about 1 dozen to dry and feed to the birds in the midst of winter here.

Yellow squash ( I took a year off from zucchini) is just now growing really abundant.

My tomatoes got hit with this blight as so many of my neighbor's did.

Potatoes did not get the blight and in another 2 or 3 weeks we shall see what that harvest has amounted to... Oh how I am praying it is good.

Sadly, I have yet to see a butternut squash- I really love them...

But.. Happily I have 1/2 a dozen spaghetti squashes in my forest of squash leaves.

Lastly, my goofy pumpkins. I usually get 2 or 3 and they are ok. This year I have about 7 of the hugest pumpkins I could have ever imagined growing plus more coming up everyday. My husband and I are just amazed.

I asked God to bless this garden and also asked for just enough pumpkins for each of the 6 kids- again and again in the biggest and and smallest of my requests. God blesses beyond what is ever deserved.

So, how is your garden doing? Are you all ready to begin apple picking for some homemade applesauce and apple butter???

I'll be back to post pictures later.

Melissa

Friday, July 24, 2009

Weekends...

Blessings abound here...

As I planted my garden this year I prayed. Almost with every seed my kids and I planted I honestly prayed. I asked God to bless our garden, may it produce profusely!... I asked that we get no diseases that might ruin what we have planted as it is our time and money in the ground... I even prayed that I would have the time to maintain it as I need to - that is something I always lack.

This is not my garden, I will put a picture of my real garden in there tomorrow :)




Well, as many of you gardeners know, there is a terrible blight killing tomato and potato plants like crazy! All 14 tomato and 40 potato plants have been wonderfully spared from this. Both of my neighbors have blight covering their tomatos.... Thank God I will have enough to share.. we always do!

My electrician was supposed to come today but was a no show.. Which means my contractor is now not able to finish the bathroom tomorrow. Although it sounds bad it is actually a great blessing to everyone. My son who has been assisting our contractor now gets a day off. At 16, you really need this once in a while.. (he works like a horse for us during the week) I can go grocery shopping withour having to have someone home while the work is going on. And.. our sink & tub faucets have not come in yet sooo, all in all, we truly are better off waiting one more week.

My children just finished VBS tonight so they have been having fun and will be in great moods tomorrow.. and to top it off, they get to go to Lowe's and have a daddy & kid morning with the project they are building.. (1 hour for me to get some of the in and out errands done before they join me for the day)

Lastly.. My father, who is in a personal care home, met with a Veteran Assistant today and was able to get many forms filled out for assistance with his residence, prescriptions and medical care... Praise God! (he has Parkinson's Disease and is 85)

This is an excellent way to begin our weekend Psalm 120:1
Enjoy Your Family, Your Home and Worshiping The Lord this weekend...
I'll try to be back on Monday..

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Contractors, Electricians, 6 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog...

Life has been so very busy around here, to add to this we are renovating our upstairs bathroom. I am so thankful for a great friend/neighbor/contractor! He has been so wonderful I actually haven't noticed him around here.

Well, now that the clay pipe is out of our walls I don't notice him around here..

While he was removing it I spent a lot of time praying and watching for this large 200 year old house to crumble to the ground- the noise and vibration from removing that pipe was incredible....

I am learning to have great patience every day by watching our much needed and wanted electrician pass by my house 2 to 3 times daily as he finishes another job up the road.

The fun part about all of this is that neither the contractor or the electrician have commited to certain days at my house, they are each taking it day by day and fitting my "small" job in as they can. Each day we vote on whether this will be "our" day or not. This kids think this is great... I am growing just a bit weary.

Basically our home and children need to be visitor ready by 7am each day so I can feel at ease if and when they pull into my driveway. To add to it my dog absolutely hates men! Yey! And... My wonderful but tired husband showers (in our one and only bathroon for right now) and gets ready for work which he leaves for at 6:45am each day.

Can you say WONDERWOMAN??? hahaha... I have become a master and being clean, dressed, children clean and dressed, house clean and smelling good in 15 minutes each day.. again I say.. I am growing just a bit weary from this.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Money Saving Mission

I have found some great deals, help and information on saving a great amount of money shopping for my family. Below is another great way to save. If you have 5 minutes.. check out this offer and her site! It is worth the time, she is full of info.
Have a Great Tuesday~

Me..

$avings Makes ¢ents: $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate Giveaway!

$avings Makes ¢ents: $25 Amazon.com Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Organization- Hmm. such a Monday Morning Thought...

The Reasons Why Becoming Organized Is So Important

As you know, being “organized” is a very popular topic. There are even whole stores, such as The Container Store and Hold Everything, which are devoted to the idea of becoming organized. It seems that everyone is always trying to find a way to become more organized.

Many people mistakenly believe that being organized requires too much effort. Sometimes people think that the only people who can actually become organized are uptight. That is not true! If you have ever wondered what the fuss about being organized is, here are some reasons as to why this is such a popular topic:

Being organized reduces stress. When someone is disorganized, they often feel a lot of stress, anxiety, and generally overwhelmed. They may not be able to locate missing items, they may find their selves constantly running late or forgetting things, and they may be prone to missing work deadlines.

When someone is organized they will be able to find what they are looking for, will be less likely to forget things, and will find that will be more likely to arrive for meetings on time and turn work in before the due date. An organized person will feel more confident because of those things and their stress levels will go down.

As we mentioned before, many people feel that organized people are uptight. Being organized can actually help you to relax. Instead of worrying about things you didn’t have time to do or couldn’t find, an organized person can actually sit back at the end of the day and know that they achieved the things that needed to be done.

Another great reason to get organized is that being organized increases your productivity, and therefore, can increase your bank account. When you are organized, you will be able to get more work done. Depending on the type of job you have, the more work that gets done can generally lead to bigger paychecks and a bigger bank account.

Being organized can help you create a sense of calm and peace in all aspects of your life. Once you have organized one area of your life, you will start to notice that things seem to run more smoothly in all areas of your life.

For Step by Step directions on getting your home organized, check out

Thursday, January 29, 2009

School

How does each school year roll by so quickly? It seems like I was just planning this year and now I am already preparing for the next year and looking forward to 2 really great used curriculum fairs near me.

I have to admit, this year I am probably more organized than last. A lot of prayer is greatly helping me to focus on what I really need and add in some extras without ending up with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.


I love books and I love to have a lot of books.. but I also know that while books are a wonderful thing, so is organization and I need to chose wisely between what I need, want and what I can borrow from a library. Although I like to have many good quality books available for the kids I also cannot possibly purchase EVERY good book so.. my list is being written, shortened and prioritiesed.


About a month ago I purchased a cd set and was greatly blessed by it. It is so in line with my husband's and my thoughts on homeschooling and how to focus your lessons. I can't tell you enough how blessed you will also be by Victoria Botkin and her children. They share their thoughts and memeories plus Victoria shares with you the guidelines to a loving, enriching, focused homeschool and home...



Again, I cannot express how much I have been blessed by these cd's.




Have a Wonderful Afternoon....








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