a blog for my short and long-term memory loss




Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's

I took my camera on our trip to Clarksville, to spend time with all my family for Thanksgiving, but of course, I didn't take any pictures, except for right before we left.  We had a great time spending time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! 
 
 Grandpa, Grandma, Layla, Wyatt, and Anna Lea
 
 
We finished up the Thanksgiving holiday, by getting our yard straightened up and the leaves all raked up. 
 
Everyone pitched in to "help"
 




 

 


Healthy Hot Chocolate

I recently experimented, trying to make some hot chocolate without using sugar.  I used equal parts cocoa and local raw honey.  I just dumped it all in a pan and let it all warm together.   I really didn't expect it to taste as good as hot cocoa made with sugar, but I was pleasantly surprised! 
 
 
3 ingredients: cocoa, honey, and milk (we use raw milk from a local dairy)
 

mix together while warming, adjust to your taste



Wyatt tested
 



Wyatt approved!
 

I also made some more to let the girls try it when they were home from school, and they gobbled it up!  No more buying Nestle Hot Cocoa mix, with artificial ingredients and sugar for us!  Another REAL food success!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

thankful




"I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you."  Psalm 119:11



Like so many Americans today I have much for wich to be thankful.  At the top of my long list of things, is Family!  I was born to two, loving parents who, from before I was born, began instilling in me God's powerful words from the Bible. 

Like most, I take a lot of things for granted.  The wealth of Scripture that I have in my heart and mind, being one of them.  I have come to realize even more so recently what a HUGE blessing this knowledge is.  When I am in the middle of a circumstance that I am unfamiliar with, I can search my wealth of Scripture to navigate my way through it.  I am not forced to figure things out by myself, instead I have God's wisdom to guide me. 

With all of the changes our country is going through these days, I am even more aware of the desperate need that I and those around me have for a knowledge of what God's word says.  If my children, who are amoung those around me, growing up in this ever-changing world, do not know God's words to them, what choices will they make when faced with unfamiliar circumstances?  Will they choose based on what they think, or what is acceptable in society, or will they choose based on what they know God's word says?  Do they have something they can filter their decisions through?

I am filled with a renewed sense of urgency and responsibility in this area.  It is not my children's school, church, or any other person's responsibility to instill God's word into their tender hearts.  It is mine. 

To go along with the month of November and talking about being thankful, we have decided to take on memorizing Psalms 100.  As I write this, we have the first two verses down very well, and are working on the third verse. 


Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

 
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.


I recently finished a bible study on simplifying your life.  It helped you to get your priorities in the right order.  I have a strong desire to live my life simply and purposefully - especially in the area of teaching my children what is truly important in life.  I don't want to look back one day wishing I had done more once my season of opportunity has past. 

(When the kids can quote this whole chapter from memory to their daddy, is going to take each one of them on a special date:) 

"...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Fall Project 1

I named this post in the hope that we will not stop with the completion of one project this fall:)  I have had pictures for over two years now, that I wanted to do something with, and I finally got all my ducks in a row.  I "hired" a certain handyman that I know, and we finished a little "photo gallery" of our kids in the foyer.  I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out! It looks fabulous!!  
 
 
Before
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
After!

 
 
 


Fall Festivities

 
We have really jumped into fall around here!  We hosted our 2nd annual Sunday School Falll Party, wich included skeet shooting, chili, and a hayride. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We enjoyed camping in our new tent with "old" friends! 
 
 

Wyatt and Joshua

 
We also did a little old-fashioned trick or treating this year.  We had a...


Construction worker,
 
 
 
 
a kitty-cat,



 
 
 


 and a cute lil' witch this year.