Apron Giveaway Almost Through! (and some news!)

Don't forget to sign up...leave a comment or become a "follower" ...to have a chance to win the apron! (See the post before THIS one!)
Sunday is the last day so.............

This has been a busy week! I was able to hug and squeeze and kiss on Baby Brody on Thursday! We took care of Baby girl granddaughter, Seraphina, twice this week, too! Grandson Dylan had his 6th birthday AND lost a tooth. (He literally LOST it...or swallowed it!!)
Friday was spent at work...(15 hours yawn...)

But the BIGGEST news came on Thursday! My son Danny and his lovely wife, Erin announced that they know if their baby is a boy or a girl!! Danny is also almost certain to have a new job as a policeman!!! That has been his goal for a long time now! He has already gone through the police academy and was on the police force at his college campus but every time he interviewed for a regular police job, he would make it all the way through and be the "#1 man to hire." THEN there would be budget cuts and a hiring freeze. It has been a difficult time for him. Most recently, he was promised to be the first man to hire in a town where we lived several years ago and then there was the silly old hiring freeze (nasty old recession!!). This week, they called him and all looks very good to be OFFICIALLY hired NOW! He met with the Police Chief, Assistant Chief and the Mayor today and everything is a go! He has to go in for his physical and his psychiatric evaluation next week. Oh dear. A psychiatric evaluation?? I hope they don't ask about his MOM!!! hehe!!

Oh...and their baby??? Looks like I am going to be buying lots more BLUE!!! Another BOY!! Little Mr. Liam Daniel is due in the middle of June!

Lots of love,
Beth

HERE IT IS!!! My "100th" Post Apron Giveaway!!

Wow...I can't believe I have actually posted 100 times on my little blog! Good grief, what in the world did I feel like I wanted to say? Not much, I realize, but it is fun to talk to you all and read your posts. So, here it is, my homemade APRON!

I am NOT a seamstress so...don't expect perfection. I have had a nice time today finishing it. Becca wants me to get busy making hers, too! (We both bought aprons to make while we were on a field trip to the Amish area in northern Indiana. I decided to make and give mine...I have yet to make hers!! Maybe next week!)

So, here's the rules...if you comment, become a "follower" (sounds ominous, doesn't it???), or if you already follow my blog, you can win my apron. You can comment every day for an extra chance to win.

I'm planning to add some other "fun" stuff to the apron giveaway as I get things made or come up with other fun things as a surprise to the winner.

I wish I had a whole lot of aprons to make and give away...I appreciate so many of the comments and the blogs that I would love to do something nice for everyone!

Love in Christ,

Beth

APRON GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Woohoo woohoo!! This is my 99th post....soooo....in celebration of my 100th post, I'm going to have my first ever GIVEAWAY!!! I'm busily sewing up a "retro" style apron to give! I bought the panel from which I am making the apron from an Amish store in Shipshewana, Indiana, when my girlies and I went there for a "field trip" day!

I will post the picture of it TOMORROW....hehehe because I don't have it completely done, yet!

(I am also planning to add some extra surprises to the package...just for fun!)

Everyone who is already following my little blog will automatically get an entry...unless you are part of my family and then, too bad!! hehe! If you want another chance, make a comment. If you are NOT following my blog, if you "follow" me, AND make a comment, you will have two chances! (You can comment once a day to have an extra chance!) Tell your friends!

My little contest will last all week, starting today and ending on Sunday, January 31st.

I hope this will be fun, I've never done this before!

As far as the "home front" here, it has been a rainy weekend and the first time that I have worked the extra long days. (For those who don't know, I work two days a week taking care of special needs adults. Normally I work 12 hour days and am now working 15 hour days.) I was sooo tired when I got home Saturday night and had strange heart palpitations and a fierce headache. I took something to help me sleep and sleep I did! Roger told me that I could stay home from church Sunday morning but I was so grateful that the Lord allowed me to feel better, that I felt that I needed to honor His day. I'm glad I went! We are going through the 10 Commandments and the message was over the commandment about "Thou shalt have no other god before me."

I know that I don't EVER worship another god but sometimes I put things before my God. Sometimes it is just being too tired to go to church (rarely that happens but it is something that I do struggle with sometimes.) Or, and this happens more often, I put People in front of God. I find myself doing "godly" things to please my HUSBAND and not being as concerned about pleasing God as I am about pleasing Roger. Also, sometimes I think of Roger so much as being the spiritual leader in our home that when I am upset with him, I find myself upset with God.

That's just crazy, isn't it?

But how many times do we allow ourselves to be hurt by someone in a church, a Bible study, a Christian co worker or friend, and very very often, a pastor (who is also human, by the way) and we decide not to attend church anymore. We are taking our hurt feelings out on God. Hmmm...we also might actually be using that as an excuse not to do something that God wants us to do!

Most often, when I am irritated at Roger, he will ask me to do our Bible study with him before we go to bed or to pray with him. Since my feelings are hurt, I don't want to humble myself to do that so I am really crabby. (I know, it's so very difficult to believe that I should actually ever be....CRABBY!! It's a stretch for me, so unlike my personality...but it's true! HAHAHAHAHA!!)

I was under conviction about that at church on Sunday. I am sometimes putting Roger in the place of God in my life. I am so honored to be Roger's wife and so grateful to God for giving him to me as my husband but here I am, putting the GIFT before the GIVER.

On another note, we are still looking at a little piece of "country" property fairly close to where we currently live. It is very rare to find 1.5 acres (give or take) in the country that you can build on in our county. Most of the time it has to be 5 - 7 acres before you can get a permit. I really don't want that much property...too much work! I just want a little place to have a big garden, some chickens, a goat or two...and our family! I hope we don't wait too long and someone else buys it!

It has just started snowing great big flakes but they are melting once they hit the ground. It is very pretty. I just allowed myself a tea break...English Breakfast Tea is my favorite...and a chance to sit down and read VICTORIA Magazine. I really love that it is now back in print! I'm having a Valentine's Day Adult Sunday School Class Party and I have some pretty ideas thanks to the newest edition!

I redecorated my mantle in ivory colors...It was so pretty and bright during the Christmas season that I wanted to make it pretty but somewhat simpler this season...I love my mantle but I am NOT a big television fan so I'm not so crazy about having the TV built above the mantle. (Roger won that argument...oh well... I'm supposed to have a "screen" or a "painting" that can slide over the TV so I don't have to see it all the time. Hmmm....that hasn't happened yet. I don't think it will now that we are considering selling the house.

My sewing machine is calling me...and so are the kids! TTFN!

Singing Praises to Our God!!!

Sunday night, I went out of my comfort zone and my husband and I sang a special at church. I don't consider myself to be a really good singer so it isn't something that I think I'm particularly good at. I didn't do it for that reason and I certainly didn't do it to show off. I just wanted to praise my Savior and I felt that this was a way that I could do it and testify about His saving Grace!
We sang "Amazing Grace, My Chains are gone..."
I heard it a few years ago performed, I think, by Chris Tomlin and I was just absolutely taken back and reduced to tears.
That's MY song. It is a song that I have claimed.
I've struggled for soooo many years allowing Satan to tell me that I'm not good enough and that I have just sinned too much for God to ever use me. That song speaks to me and assures me that I AM FORGIVEN!! MY CHAINS ARE GONE!

Sunday night, I was scared to death and I just didn't know if I would be able to get through the song without having a heart attack. But I knew it was something that the Lord wanted us to do. I knew without a doubt that this time I was doing this for the right reason and that I could only get through it with His help...as I said, I am NOT a great singer!

It was finally time for us to sing and there were probably about 150 people in our evening service. I looked out there and realized that there really wasn't anything to be so terrified about. I saw all those loving faces of our friends and I knew that God just wanted me to testify for Him. So we did it. I am so happy that I obeyed His voice and went out on a limb for Him.
We had so many people tell us that we really touched them and some were crying. (I am questioning now if they cried because we were really THAT bad???) haha...maybe! I think that they could tell that it was a true testimony from our hearts. It was even a blessing to me to be allowed to do that.

They weren't crying because we were so tremendous. My husband really does have a nice voice but they were crying because of JESUS! Jesus and His amazing Grace. I'm so glad that He used us in this way.
I don't know if we (that is ...I) will ever do this again. I am not even in the choir. Roger is in the choir and the men's group.
But I am so happy to have been used of God in this simple way this week.

I'd like to encourage you to allow God to use you in a different way sometimes. I've never considered singing before but God allowed me to do it. Maybe it is just to give a testimony in church or to write a letter to someone or take a meal to someone. OR MAYBE IT IS TO GO OUT OF YOUR COMFORT LEVEL AND SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT CHURCH THAT YOU NORMALLY DON'T TALK TO! (God has also talked to me about THAT! During our "handshake and greeting time", I talk to mainly our friends! I have started trying to get brave and talk to and be welcoming to people I don't know! Scary, huh? But God has laid it on my heart to live for Him on purpose! That is one way that I can do things for Him!)

So I'm going to stop preaching now and go to bed. My hubby is already in bed and I'm sure he thinks I got lost somewhere in the house. Just don't forget that God can use us even in ways we never considered that we could be used. We don't have to wait until we are "perfect" to be used. God not only uses broken vessels, HE USES CRACKED POTS!!! hehehe!! (That's ME!!)

This is the Day the Lord has made!

We have had a lovely yet very foggy Sunday so far. We got up and went to church where the pastor is starting a new series on the 10 Commandments. It does seem very "elementary" as he said but I am sure that the Lord will give us new insight to our lives and where we are failing Him every day. It is also to be a lesson in Grace...one of my very favorite topics...being blessed with Grace from our Heavenly Father, as all believers are!
(Tonight, my hubby and I are actually SINGING alone in church! SCARY SCARY SCARY!! But it is a song that is so very close to my heart..Amazing Grace (My chains are gone...). I've never ever done anything like this before so..........yikes!!!

We decided to go out to lunch after morning church which is something we don't do very often but it was very enjoyable! The kids acted funny and silly and refreshing to us!
On the way to another town (to find an Arni's restaurant), we decided to drive past another vacant piece of land. There are houses on both sides of it but it is a nice, long plot of ground, perfect for our needs AND it is closer to our church.

I really loved the lot I looked at the other day but it is soooo very far from where we currently live and would probably be an additional 40 minutes to both of our commute time. It already takes us about 40 minutes! I could just live in a little dear farm house and be content but we DO have to work ...so....
I told my dear hubby to please NOT allow me to talk him into anything. (Yeah, I've been known to do that in my earlier life but for some reason, it doesn't seem to work with Roger! At least not yet, and I hope I never do that. Something that God is really speaking to me is the need to be submissive! I'm so glad God gave me a leader for a husband when He gave me the gift of Roger!)

We also drove by a "fixer upper" and after lunch we drove past it again. As much of an imagination as I have, I can't picture a decent home in that house. I think the "bones" of the house aren't good enough to try to do anything with it. I'm very "up" for buying a fixer upper but even Roger said he doesn't think it's for us. I think it would be throwing good money after bad.

We have some things to think and pray about. I feel uplifted to see this other vacant piece of land. I know that God wants the best for us even if it isn't what WE think it is at the moment. I was trying to figure out the other day after having driven out to the far stretches of the universe to see the first property how to convince Roger that IT was the place for us! Then I realized that it was selfish and sinful for me to try to do that if it wasn't ALSO what Roger thought would be good for us...AND what God wants for us!

I would dearly love to have a piece of ground that we could have and start planning for. I'd start getting rid of a LOT of stuff to simplify our home and have just what we need and begin to reduce the amount of stuff we have!

Of course, that would also involve NO MORE GOODWILL SHOPPING....hmmmm....CAN IT BE DONE????

What to do...what to do...

I went to work early Friday morning for my usual 12 hour shift. My boss was already there and when I got there (on time, by the way! It's a 40 minute trip so sometimes it's a struggle but I have only been counted late once...when the interstate was closed due to a semi carrying gasoline having exploded!)
Anyway, my boss said he wanted to give me 6 more hours on top of my two 12 hour days...making them 15 hour days. He needs to provide 6 more hours on care and I'm the only one working part time so I am the only one who can take them.
I've been praying for some extra money to help us out so maybe this is the way God is planning to help us. I just hope that I can do it. I'm exhausted by Sunday. (God's day!)
I have to think about it...and pray about it...and give him my answer. I'd think about working an extra day but I am already having trouble keeping up with the girls' homeschooling, babysitting the baby granddaughter, and housework.
What to do...what to do...what to do....

Hicktown Indiana!!

We spent much of our day today driving...and baby holding!
Baby holding was definitely the better part of the day but the driving part was kinda fun, too...except for the "getting stuck sideways in the road with the back tires in the ditch" part.
We prayed...a LOT. The Lord answered. I wonder how many times He rolls his eyes at my ability to "get stuck in a ditch" and call upon His Name?
Anyway, we started out to go see Baby Brody. I dropped Jennie off to hold him and to help Holly with whatever she needed help with. I'm not sure how much helping actually got done but it was good for both Jennie and Holly and I'm sure that Brody baby didn't mind being held..a lot.
We spent quite a while there and then Becca and I headed out for "parts unknown."
I had it in my mind to find an acre of ground that is for sale a million miles from here. Ok, I guess it isn't REALLY a million miles from here, but it seemed like it was when we couldn't find it! Just in case you ever drive in the country in central Indiana, sometimes the country roads stop and start in random places. Sometimes you have to drive around Farmer John's fields a few miles before it picks up again. Lesson learned.
This plot of ground is pretty close to what I would love to have. It already has a well and septic and a barn...somewhat dilapidated, but usable, AND it has a hen house in the barn!! WOOHOO! I'm sure some Buff Orpingtons, a goat or two, and a miniature horse would LOVE to join our family there! A modest little farm house with a basement is ideal for our family and we can have it built within our budget. (

***My husband has been reading this over my shoulder..."BUFF WHAT???" he asked.
"BUFF ORPINGTONS" I said. "They're chickens."
"Oh...I thought they were some REALLY strong orphans ...or something."
Oh Good Grief.....GOTTA GET THIS MAN OUT INTO THE COUNTRY....SOON!!!!****)

It is, however, a gazillion miles away. (it was originally a million miles away but since I've gotten home, it now seems to be a gazillion miles away.)
I do really like it though, and the price is incredible...$11,500 for an acre, barn, well and septic.
Hmmm......
Maybe a gazillion miles isn't THAT far away......

Looking east! "Town" is in the center of the picture. There's a cute little IGA grocery store there.
This is looking west. (My van...I think those farm buildings don't go with the land...at least I hope they don't. I don't know what we would do with them...live in them?? )

Wouldn't a little farmhouse look adorable here?????? (And some chickens....and a goat...and a miniature horse...and me....)

Old barn but it isn't THAT bad. Needs a new roof. And chickens to live inside. Hehe...it wouldn't be Hoosier Basketball Country without a basketball hoop on the BARN!!! Gotta LOVE it!!!!

To the west...nothing but fields....and trees....Isn't this lovely? Imagine what summer days would be like? And sunsets???? And springtime with the tractors in the fields? And fall with the scent of corn...even the corn dust which I actually love...in the air?? Oh yeah........