Busy Saturday!!

What a busy day we have had! We started out kinda lazy but then realized that Becca's homeschool friend's party was just an hour away and we had to HURRY!
We all jumped into the (still clean!!) car and drove for 45 minutes or so and dropped her off, then dropped off LOTS of stuff at Goodwill (NO, I didn't stop to SHOP there!! Amazing, huh??? It CAN be Done...)
Then off to Costco we went. That has become our fun place to go on Saturdays with just me, Roger, and Israel. Israel loves the trial samples they give out all the time! We only needed a few things but it is still fun to do! While there, I found LOTS of BIG pieces of cardboard in their trash. I didn't actually dumpster dive THIS time...they were in the bin for the boxes you take your items home in. Anyway, They are about 4'X4' and will be perfect for my new gardening project! I'm using them to line the bottom of my raised beds and then adding new soil/much/cow manure on top. That's how some of the gardening sites are recommending it to be done so I thought I'd give it a try!

Israel was teasing me as I was dragging those big cardboard pieces out of the trash and said, "These boxes aren't GOLD, you know!" (He must have judged from my frenzy in getting all those huge pieces of cardboard in our shopping cart that I was pretty dog gone excited about them!!)
I told him that when he tastes all that wonderful produce that our garden puts out this year, he'll think they were better than gold.
He just laughed....I don't think I convinced him very well. After all, there are no "hamburger or steak" seeds that are going to be growing in that garden....the little kid LOVES meat!!

So right now, I'm canning chicken breasts. Yum yum!! I've canned chicken, ground beef, and vegetable soup so far. I found bone in chicken breasts for .88 cents a pound this past week! WOW!!! I also got hamburger on clearance sale and I bought a big ham for something like .63 cents a pound...already cooked. We're gonna be doing a LOT of canning this next week....I'm planning to can soup beans and ham!! I think I'm also going to can chicken broth. We waste so much of the things we buy...like chicken stock once you've cooked the chicken. I've frozen it before but I think canning it will be much better.

I'm having a good time learning different ways to save money. After all, I've got to figure out some way to "save" all that money I spent on my new pressure canner!!

Blessings to you!
Beth

Israel

I can't believe that it has been six months since we drove to Wisconsin (5 miles from Canada) to pick up our little Israel. HALF A YEAR! Wow...so much has changed in six months. So much has changed in a year! One year ago this month, he left his prior adoption placement to live in a foster home. We first heard about him a month or two later. I was in the depths of despair, really thinking that maybe God was leading me on and that we would never find THE CHILD that we were supposed to adopt. Then God made it clear that Israel was our little boy.

Later, when we said YES to the adoption agency...and they said YES to us....our attorney told us..."No."

He told us that most likely we would never be able to adopt him legally due to some issues between the two states involved. Again we were saddened but we KNEW that God was giving us the go ahead....and we pressed on. "THIS IS OUR CHILD!" I emphatically told our attorney. I was getting the impression that he was asking us to just find another orphan but ISRAEL was THE ONE....I knew it!! It was all figured out...it never turns out the way we think it is going to but it turned out pretty well! (Probably better than if it had turned out the way I had it planned to!)

All in all...after the months of uncertainty (is ANY adoption really an easy thing, after all??) he finally came home. I was scared, I'm sure Roger was, and little Israel had to be the most nervous of all.

We've had some rough times, surrounded by some marvelous moments and days...and it has been wonderful!

To see the changes in this little boy is amazing....to watch his uncertainty and his fears disappear little by little...to notice his "play" time becoming more and more mild and "sweet"....to WATCH THIS KID EAT AND OUTGROW his clothes!!! Good Grief!! We need to go buy some more jeans...I just bought him some two months ago....

God is good. I am amazed at this marvelous journey that our even MORE marvelous God has started us on. I am humbled and thrilled that...with all my perfections (and I have PLENTY)...He has chosen ME to be the Mother of this little special boy.....

Blessings to you and your home,
Beth...by Grace.....

Pictures!!!

Yep, I'm pushing it a bit but I have already purchased some of our garden seed for the Spring! I built two small raised beds in the late fall and I'm planning to make some more gardening space this Spring. I'm not sure I can really put more money into the wood for the raised beds so that part may have to wait. I don't want to go without enough garden just because I prefer the raised bed look!

Here he is...Mr. Cutie Pie! Israel really enjoyed his first Christmas with us and he was thrilled with his remote control car...he was so surprised by it! He had accidentally found a remote control vehicle that I had bought at Goodwill and he thought that was what he was getting. He was very happy with it and was just shocked that I had purchased a new one as well!! The hat was a Christmas gift from big sister Becca. He loves it as well and has worn it to church....

We spent some days right after Christmas in Nashville visiting our good friend Joe. He took us to the Opryland Hotel to walk around. IT WAS AMAZING!! There were waterfalls and streams running all though it! These two pictures were taken inside the hotel! (Me and Israel)

Daddy Roger and Israel....I'm not sure what the facial expressions indicate......you can think whatever you want to...I think maybe they were sick of posing....and why were they leaning??????

This is the front of the hotel...there were beautiful white Nativity figures all over the front yards! (I think they were life size or larger...)

Guess what? We bought a new to us car! It's a blue Ford Flex and she is gorgeous. It's almost a sin how much I like this new vehicle. I've been driving a car that even the gas gage didn't work anymore and the electrical always had issues. The back wiper motor was broken and so were the window motors.  I appreciate it so much. It has to truly be a gift from God. It's exactly what I would have picked out if I could have ordered it. We were on our way (hours before we left for Nashville...none of our other vehicles would make it that far...) to buy a different van and we came across the Flex. I have promised to keep her very clean and nice. Her name is Miss Denim. She loves me.....
I called Roger one day and told him that I know it is difficult to believe but the car likes me more than she likes him. He asked how I knew that...I told him, when I walk toward the car, she keeps flashing her sparkly eyes at me and blinking. He said, "BETH, are you pushing her buttons?"
I said, "Yes, I am...however, when YOU tell me that I am pushing YOUR buttons, you don't wink at ME!!"

Yep...she likes me best. She even talks to us (really....there is a voice control thingy on it! And I thought my 1997 Ford Econoline Homeschool van was nice!!!)  Now if I can just figure out how to change her "voice" to a wonderful male English accent or a sweet southern drawl......then the car would be named Mr. Denim....and I don't think Roger would mind a BIT if He like ME best.......

Blessings,
Beth

Good grief....I can't believe its been nearly a month since I've blogged....We had a wonderful Christmas...Israel's first Christmas with us!!
I've been spending a LOT of time thinking and planning our little "homestead" here in Indiana. I mean, I'm working on planning our garden and thinking where we'll put our chickens, etc.
Believe it or not, I have already bought some vegetable seeds! Then, I ordered a pressure canner from Walmart, bought some really cute canning lids on clearnance, and a new canning book! I have lots of cans already. Some from years ago and some I have purchased at Goodwill or Salvation Army.

I've already put my canner to use. It was kind of scary but it all turned out ok! I remember my mother used to can all the time and she always scared me to death by telling me to stay away from the canner in case it exploded! Geesh!!!! No wonder I have waited all this time before trying it out!!

My first effort at pressure canning has been...believe it or not...canning ground beef and onions. Yeah, it's kinda weird, who'da thunk of canning hamburger?? But, really it is quite handy to have it ready to go. I got a BUNCH on clearance sale at the grocery store and THEN I came upon chicken breasts for $1.71 a pound! (Or something like that...pretty cheap....) So, I decided to try to can them and I did! One of the quarts of chicken did not seal so I immediately put it in the refrigerator. I'm going to try again tomorrow....I'm canning "Vegetable soup starters" and I will just use the chicken in the vegetable soup. I have LOTS and LOTS of cabbage that I bought for 25 and 33 cents a pound and I'm planning to add veggies to it until I have a nice "starter" to vegetable soup. How nice it will be when I just open a can or two, add some left over vegetables to it and have a healthful and inexpensive meal for us!

I'm trying to get used to living on less before we actually HAVE to...in two years, our income will be cut in half when our blended family of children no longer receive child support or social security. That's a big reason we decided to sell the "Big Fancy House In Town..." (And because we wanted to adopt!!)

I think it's kinda fun, actually...living frugally. It's almost like a game that I plan to win. "Let's see how much money I DON'T spend at the grocery store or department store...."

I got some awesome denim skirts at Goodwill for myself the other day! (I'm a skirt lady....) I was just thinking that I wished I had a skirt that would match my new fancy $13 shirt from Walmart and low and behold....there they were! Soooo cute and chunky....like me!! Well, I didn't mean I was CUTE...I meant that I was CHUNKY....these skirts would probably have been at least $35 new...and they are LIKE NEW!! WooHoo!!!! God really blessed me with these!!

I made my newly married daughter, Marci....and her hubby, Ben....a rag quilt for Christmas and shipped it to Seattle. She cried....I think she likes it. I'm going to try to do some more of that in the coming year. Rag quilting, I mean....not making my Marci cry......Geesh....I have lots of fabric and I bought some more....on clearance of course...at Hobby Lobby last week. Hopefully I can get my little sewing machine to work well and then I'm gonna get sewing!

AND.....finally............
I did some Christmas shopping yesterday...for next year....

I'm a sicko. I admit it. But the deals were incredible!!!!!!!!!!  I got the four littlest grandsons matching pajamas and camo fleece pants. SOOO cute! I got our little grand daughter a night gown and an outfit. I also got chunky little Parker an Old Navy outfit....SOOOO CUTE!! (Parker, I mean....but also his new outfit.)  I also got them some stocking stuffers. The problem is.....where to store them all while I wait until next Christmas. (Because I didn't stop there....I got probably 12 jar candles for the ladies for Christmas and some cute critters for all the kids for Valentine's day. ) Roger doesn't know all about them....so don't tell him yet...Ok??? He doesn't need to know about the depth of my "sicko-ness".  One of these days....he will thank me....yeah. I keep telling myself that.......:) He'll find out soon enough......

Blessings to you all!
Beth

It's FINAL!!! Israel is OURS!!!!!!!!

Whew....!!!!!!!!!!! We are now the legal parents of a wonderful, gorgeous 6 year old little boy! Since being granted (finally) custody of him in late July we have had MOSTLY wonderful days! As any little child who has suffered from starvation, abuse, neglect, and horrific illness, we have had some issues to deal with but he is an amazing little guy. I want to thank our Heavenly Father for allowing us this privilege to parent him and for "Miss Debbie" who was his incredible foster mom, and "Miss Shannon" who was his second foster mom. Both of these ladies are Christians and have been used of God tremendously.

 Here we areTODAY immediately after the judged granted the adoption! To the left is our attorney...a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful, me, Becca, Roger (The REAL Mr. Wonderful!!), and in front is the judge and Little Mr. Wonderful, Israel!

                        

One of the activities of this week was making a Gingerbread house with Brody and Israel. (ok...Brody has longish hair but he IS a boy....and a wonderful little one at that!) They did such a good job sharing and getting along with each other!

                                                

This is the finished product with some of MY favorite things in my house. The old doll was given to me for my birthday by my husband this year and the top sitting next to her is my oldest son's first Christmas present! 

  

  I decided to make spelling fun last week so I surprised Israel and squirted shaving cream all over the kitchen floor! He spelled his words with his finger!! (It needed a good mopping anyway!! The floor...not his finger. But it probably benefited, too.....) He said it was the most fun he had ever had!! 

                                            
Another wonderful thing that happened to us was the gift of going to The Nutcracker! I had been trying to find reasonable tickets for us but was unable to find a time that it would be affordable. (I did find tickets at a time that would work for ......are you ready???   $75.00 each!!!! Not in our budget! The very next day, Becca ran into the kitchen and told me that homeschools were now being given the opportunity to go for free!! We jumped at the chance! Israel had a good time and so did Jennie, Becca, and myself. Israel especially enjoyed it because a little boy he has gotten to know in our homeschool classes....also from the Congo....was seated right behind us!!

Well....dear hubby and I have a DATE!!!! So......I need to run! I hope your week has been as wonderful as mine has been!
Blessings, Beth

Israel's First Christmas Tree Hunt!!

Today was Christmas in the Village in a nearby town. We go to the parade every year and then we shop in the quaint little village.
Then we went to hunt for the "perfect" Christmas tree for Israel's first Christmas with us! Well.......our tree isn't exactly perfect....it is more like the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. But...it was affordable...and small!
It is not a short tree but it is an extremely skinny tree!
I will try to post some pictures of our hunt as soon as I can...but for now, here is handsome six year old Israel with a wooden soldier at the Christmas Tree Farm!
(Hubby Roger is struggling with the little tree and I think he would appreciate some help from his wife!!)
Blessings,
Beth

I can't believe that it has almost been a month since I blogged anything! A lot has gone on here...extremely busy!
I've decided to get a start on my spring gardening....because, you know, it's November and getting started on spring gardening is a priority.....?????? (I know, my dear hubby thinks exactly what YOU'RE thinking...but he puts up with me....)
Anyway, I have come upon a wonderful family that inspired me...it is a set of a Mother and three girls and their name is the West Ladies from Nashville, Tennessee. They have dvds and a website and a blog about their simple way of life and I LOVE it! I've decided to, as I said, get started on my gardening by building raised beds for my garden. Israel and I also went to Conner Prairie (a living history museum of Indiana's pioneer days) and I fell in love with their gardens. So far I have only two beds built that are 4x8. I know I will need more but my dh has gently reminded me that there are other things we need to work on here in the house and garage and mini barn....
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM A 3600 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE TO A 1600 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE!!! But I love my little country home with it's funny old knotty pine kitchen and windows that look out on a big woods behind out house! (and where my new little pioneer garden will grow....or where the woodland critters come to dine on my plants....I can just imagine the squirrels and deer whispering to each other "Awwww....how sweet! She's building us a snack bar!!")

I took pictures of the building process but right now, I have misplaced my camera. (Imagine that!!) I hope it didn't get left out there in the back yard when I finished up with the project Monday morning. Did I mention that we have already had snow? It was beautiful but just a word of advice...don't finish building your new pioneer style raised bed very cute garden in a heavy blowing snow while dressed in a denim wrap around skirt. At that point, I'm sure that the woodland creatures STOPPED talking about their snackbar and started talking/snickering about something else. (Or they lost their appetite....)

We've started thinking about Christmas already and I have the majority of our shopping done. I need to start wrapping the gifts soon! I have two snowmen displayed in my tiny living room so far. (Wood ones....)

Since our house is pretty small....part of that 1600 square ft is a 1 car garage that has been finished and is currently housing our two teenage daughters.....the kitchen and living room could not possibly allow the 22 people that just our immediate family (our children, their spouses and children) now make up. So, for this year, we are using our church's fellowship hall. We have decided to move our Thanksgiving celebration to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We wanted to have our "at home" family help at a homeless shelter...Indianapolis has several....and serve the Thanksgiving meal but they don't need any more help right now. So instead, I think we are going to volunteer at the local nursing home. We may go out to eat afterwards. Israel always prays for the poor and homeless so I thought this would be a good way to "put feet to his prayers."  He's a pretty good little guy!! We have truly been blessed!!

Well....math and reading and the afternoon homeschool classes await so I should say goodbye for now!

Blessings to you all!
Beth