New Things are Happening

Well, it's happening again. Change!!! Our oldest just started her first, official day of school outside of the home. I have had her with me every day since she was two. Our bond is like no other. It seems as if we might argue and fuss a lot but we really do have a great relationship. I have missed her so much this week. And our son is almost as tall as me and he is growing daily! Still such a great kid. I always enjoy his company. It will be just the two of us doing school this year. It's going to take some getting used to. I'm not very good ( actually I'm terrible ) at letting go. I dig in and hold on tightly. Everything else is going well. We have done some work on our house and I really like the choices we've made . It has made some of my chores much easier.
My health is getting better daily. I'm about 80% better and still have a little tweaking to do. But Lyme has taught me quite a few lessons for which I'll be forever grateful. It has strengthened my faith, made me grow as a person,helped me  learn to free fall trusting God's perfect plan and it has brought some wonderful new friends into my life. I wouldn't have it any other way. God is always good!!

Oh the Healing!

Well, three years later, 42 weeks of antibiotics, a whole lotta money, and lots of other stuff, I'm healing up inside and out! This Lyme journey has been somewhat of a Job feeling for me, ya know the Bible story of Job's life and all that he went through? I'm not saying I have it quite as bad as he did but I sure haven't had it too easy! But I have grown so much through this all that I wouldn't change it if I could. I've finally come to realize that God's will is now my will. I want what He wants for me. I used to try to control, control, control. But now, I just sit back amazed at God in all His power and glory! Really! He amazes me daily and I'm forever grateful for everything He's given me and for all the He hasn't given me.

We Are All Growing Older

Yesterday was the day it kind of sunk in, hard. Time is flying by. I have known that for years but it is gaining momentum quickly.

My daughter's boyfriend bought his first truck. He is a wonderful, responsible young man and has been working really hard to get to this point. He came over last night with his mom and dad and we all had dinner together. When they were leaving, as he was driving off, I was shocked at the reality of it all. He is the same age that my husband was when we started dating. There are so many similarities between the two of them ( my daughter and her boyfriend) and me and my husband. It is eerie.

I have to say that I wasn't planning on them dating, we planned on doing the whole "homeschool courting" thing, but such as life, it didn't happen that way. But from the beginning I have had a peace about it. I could not ask for any young man to treat our daughter better or to love her more. I hope and pray that they have  as much fun and love each other as much as me and my husband love each other. The fun isn't always there when you get older and life hits you, but with a true love, it makes it much better that if you were alone.

As the time flies by , I will try to soak it all in and love them all deeply!

Oktoberfest

We had a wonderful day today. We went and bought a ton of flagstone rocks to make a sitting area out back, got two big bags of gravel and then worked in the yard a few hours.  I am so excited to be getting things fixed up around here . I feel much more at ease, like I can rest a little, when things are taken care of first.

We then headed out with the kids, that usually always means my daughter's boyfriend too, and went to Oktoberfest . We had some fun there but honestly, it was too crowded and hectic for me . I did enjoy us all being together though. Anytime we can be together it doesn't matter where we go or what we do, I count it as a blessing. We ran into a high school friend who is a really neat guy but seems to be lost at this time of his life. It was so sad to see him like that after being raised in the church and so dedicated to his faith during his younger years. We plan on hanging out with him more and getting to know him again. It's been way too long since we've seen him.

I have still been making Christmas gifts. Today I made shampoo. It calls for 2 tsp. almond oil, 2 cups Dr. Bronner soap, and 2 cups coconut milk. It's pretty good but I forgot to use apple cider vinegar as a rinse to balance out the ph, so my hair feels like bad doll hair. But at least I'm learning on me before I give it as a gift to someone else.

Doggie Days of Broke!

The Three Amigos

These are our furry family members. I wanted to introduce them so you know why we will have very little extra cash for spending this month. It will cost $600 dollars for their heartworm tests and their medications. But they are totally worth it. Anyway, there they are. Onto the real post!

I am continuing on in my Kingdom Woman online book study and it has been great. I need to be filled with His word and in His word so that when I am at home dealing things and then especially when I leave my house I am better equipped and ready to deal with life. It is usually good but sometimes I need to call on scripture to fight off my fleshly ways. This usually looks like asking myself if I am acting in accordance with the Fruits of the Spirit. The book study and all the women that are taking it are helping me on this journey.

Let Yourself Off the Hook

Today Chyrstal was asking what areas we push ourselves too hard and what areas could we improve and maybe try harder. I have a fairly easy time answering this one because I just came out of a season, a few years that is, of learning to let go. It didn't happen easily, and I can't say it was a ton of fun, but I do know for sure that God knows exactly what I need and He has been busy with me.

I have tried to learn to let the house get messy, let the baseboards stay in need of touching up, let the kids have cereal sometimes, let the dogs stink and need a bath, let the garage be a mess, let the laundry sit at the end of my bed and actually go to sleep without doing it, and to try to chill out in many other areas I wanted to control before. This is just a small list of the hundreds of things I am trying to relax about.

 I know my husband and my kids would rather have a pleasant ,  happy person to be around than a grouchy person with a clean house. The time is going to fast , I want to enjoy it and not miss it because I am scrubbing and complaining .

I have let go of so much pressure and negative self-talk, trying to take my thoughts captive and really making time to be in the Word . Not just being a check-the-box and follow-these-rules person, but really taking time to pray and listen. Then listen and pray. It has really grown me and helped me learn a lot more about what areas I need to work on.

I haven't got it all figured out, I'm far from knowing very much, but I do know who is in control, and it sure isn't me.That has been the message LOUD and clear. I am grateful that He loves me enough to teach me the things He wants me to learn.

Family Time

My mother-in-law invited us over for a big family supper today. It was so nice of her to do all that hard work. My sister-in-law and her husband did the grilling and my father-in-law contributed to the fun as well. :)

I have been very busy working on Christmas gifts. Right now I am making felted wool dryer balls . They are so easy and fun to make. Good news is, they use essential oils instead of chemicals, cut way down on costs, and speed up drying time. I will post a picture when I have them ready.

Until Monday , have a great Sunday!