Update: 7/20/09

   Well, I now have one week's worth of school work under my belt. Boy, I forgot how much work you have to do. I am learning so much. I'm taking 3 classes and they keep me on my toes, along with Gabby. I got an e-mail from my school saying they would transfer 4-classes = 16 credits, and I needed 96 for my degree. Starting out with the 16 is great. Boy, I was doing the happy dance all over the place. The 4 classes were the hardest for me, two of which were Composition 1 &2. Writing is not my strongest area, term papers are not like writing here. The Lord answered prayers again, thank you Lord and thank you all for praying. But don't worry, I still get to practice writing those term papers. I have three due this Saturday. I printed off a ream of paper, on how to write a term paper as it's been 12 plus years. As soon as I get these three wrote , I'll be fine and breath a little easier.

   This week at school has made me leave my comfort zone more than once. Most times I took a step with shaky knees, and others with a lot of prayer. That comfort zone of ours is a nice place, the only thing is,  you don't grow much there. I believe it's just a resting place.  And I really like it there. :) But I want and need more in my life, so I have step out. The Lord must have big things planned for me as I have not been able to stay in that comfort zone of mine much this year. And that at times has been scary. Like most people I want to grow, but I don't want to leave my comfort zone to do so. So I'm taking steps of faith, one day at a time.

   The girls have been a great help this passed week, fixing dinner and cleaning house, letting me study, etc. As I try and fit my schooling into the day, along with everything else. Thank you girls. :)

   My truck is on it's last leg. I no longer take it to town, just a corner store that is less than a mile away. That way when it dies, I'll be close to home and the auto repair shop. So I have been borrowing a car and shop for two weeks worth at a time. So please pray that I'll sell the tractor, so I can buy a small car. My neighbors have been great. ( another step out of my comfort zone) You don't see having a car as being in a comfort zone, well hopefully you will never find out it is. Sometimes being an independent person has it's draw backs. (yet another lesson I'm learning). Boy, it's great I enjoy learning new thing, or this year would of really, really been hard on me.

   Gabby is 3 weeks old today. She is such a joy to have in the house. Tasha is a great mommy ,too.  Gabby is getting her fill of love, while she gives us her smiles and funny faces.

   The youth group came out for two days, last week. Oh what a wonderful blessing they were.  My yard got mowed, weed eated, garden weeded, some things moved around. What a blessing the Lord sent. As the yard was getting high, and first week of school, He was watching out for us yet again, Thank you Lord.

There are blessings in everyday, you just have to find/look for them, they are not all big blessing. And at times the smallest blessing are really the biggest.

   Well it's time to hit the books. I pray you all find at least one blessing today.

Becky

  

Gabby - Winter - Preparing

  Well, I love being a Nana. Gabby is doing great. She sleeps at times up to 5 hours. And only really cries when it’s time to eat or we change her diaper. She has kept us on our toes. :)

  I need your help. I am looking for a knitted soaker pattern ( cloth diaper cover). A friend gave us some all in one cloth diapers, but I have a lot of the old cloth diapers so I need the soakers for them. And I’m getting ready to start knitting my first sweater (baby sweater). For some reason I have a fear of knitting a sweater. So someone said to start with a baby sweater. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

  The farm is doing good. The house is ok, I rather spend time with Gabby than clean. :) TommieLynn and I are getting ready for school to start, and looking forward to something new. So we have been busy.

I am still looking for new ways to stretch money and make more things at home. More people are cutting back on extras ( turning off: cable, phones-home and cell, internet, etc.) and winter is not here yet. And I have just started preparing for winter. Having put so much information on stocking up and preparing last year on this blog, I am not sure what else is need. So if you don’t tell me what you need, I  will just write about what I am doing now and about things that come to mind.

 Things I need to make/do before winter:

*knit: soakers, baby sweater, house socks for all

*cut and sew more napkins/tissues/baby wipes

*keep a check at thrift stores for wool sweaters on sale, to take a part to make wool socks and soakers. Most times I can get a wool sweater for $1 and it will make 2 pairs of socks plus. And flannel sheets to turn into  napkins/tissues/baby wipes.

*look for ideas/items for Christmas gifts ( that time of year again)

*looking for sales at the grocery stores to keep stocked up. I only buy items on sale. I need to get stocked up on bath paper(not using homemade yet, but can use the flannel napkins if needed).

*need more fire wood. I have a small stock from downed trees in yard. I’ll use for an outdoor fire for cooking if needed, power goes out and I’m out of gas. If not needed, will use for fun fires( roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in the summer).

*I am sure there is more to do but I’ll start here.

 Ways I save money:

*I try really hard to go to town no more than once a week, it was every two weeks. But with Gabby doctor appointments it’s once a week now.

*Hang clothes outside to dry. Wash in cold water. Wash only full loads of clothes..

*Turn off everything not being used. TV’s, computers, etc. Lower hot water temperature. This has dropped my power bill by over $70 a month.

*When we do go out to eat- have to have a coupon.

*Only buy on sale items.

*See if I can make it before buying it. Even better, can I do without it.

I’m off to see what I can get into today.

Happy 4th of July. Have a great weekend.

Becky 

Helping Each Other In These Hard Times

  The last few days I have gotten an insight into those around me. At times when we are going through our own hard times, we don’t look around and see. And we all are bad for this, even me.  I live in a small neighborhood were most are on fixed incomes or are low income; older people, families with children. The Lord has opened my eyes to those around me. One family has 10 kids, 3 grandbabies, and 3 adults (only one car that holds 4); another an older blind man with his older sister living together (just to make ends meet, both their cars are in need of repair). These families are having car troubles too, along with me. So I have put together kind of a neighborhood car help. We  have agreed to call each other when we HAVE to go to town, to see if the others need anything or a ride to town. We all live about 20-30 minutes from town, and no one goes to town for fun. I am praying this will work for us all. All the cars are on their last legs and some have stopped working.  Hopefully taking turns going to town will save gas money along with car wear and tear. We as a neighborhood, have been trading things around with each other. We have become a closer people. We all have a way to help others along. Look around you, really look, who can you help today. It does not have to cost money, most times it’s just your time. Can you pick up something in town for them? If you don’t have something they need, do you know someone who might? Sometimes they just need an ear, someone to listen without judging them. How can you help?

  This winter is going to be harder than last winter. People have by now used up all the saving they did have. Some may have gotten jobs by now, but now they are trying to pay off back bills and the new bills are still coming in. More and more people rich and poor are having a hard time just with life's have too (rent, power, food). They have already given up the extras, and still have a hard time with the musts.

So this week coming see if you can help at least one person/ family with something? The Lord does not aloud us to help ourselves but help others. May you all have a great week.

God bless you all,

Becky