God will provide!

 
The hardest part of this transition is the not knowing what is coming around the corner.

Truth is that retirement alone is not enough to live on, so my husband has been actively looking for another job, putting in applications, going for interviews etc.

I could tell you that I'm freaking out, but I really am not, and the reason being that I know we are doing our part and God will provide.  He provides for the birds, why would he not provide for us?

Doesn't make it easier when you are having to learn a new way of life, a new budget, going from two payments a month to one etc.  It's all a big adjustment we are going through, but thankfully we have a lot of faith in the Lord and in each other.

My husband went for a few interviews this week and he has a few more coming up next week.

It's all in the Lord's hands.

Even though this is a huge change for us, I have learned so much and continue to every day.  I could look at it as a terrifying experience, but I choose to look at it as an exciting time, a way to start over and do things differently.

I'm sure there will be days where I may feel a little overwhelmed, and that's ok, as long as I keep reminding myself that "God will provide".

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

Bright and early....

Oh my allergies have been bothering me something fierce, if I could scratch out my eyes and nose, I would.

Had a bit of an off day yesterday, just wasn't feeling very well and so by 8:30pm I had bid my goodnights and headed off to bed.  Took a pill for my pounding headache and was out pretty soon after.  Think my body needed that early night too, I slept quite well and woke up feeling rejuvenated, so I'm hoping today is a much better day for me.

How are you all doing?  Anything exciting going on?

Yesterday I did some homemaking, got some things started and replenished, like my infused vinegar for cleaning.

I had just made a batch of my Fat Flush Water, and instead of throwing out the peels from the orange and the grapefruit, they went straight into a big jar of vinegar.

I'll let it sit there on the window sill for a few days and then it's ready to go. Don't think there's quite anything like cleaning with vinegar so I always have a jar on hand.

When we left the old house, I actually brought my onions and my squash plant with me and surprisingly, they made the trip and are thriving.

I do wish I could have brought everything with me, but I couldn't, so I hope whoever moves in next will take care of the veggie garden.

I can't wait to get my garden started at this house, going to have hubby build me some raised beds and get to work, I miss have fresh veggies out of the garden, on hand.

I think this one is a Hosta, but I could be wrong as I'm not very good with flower names LOL  So if I'm wrong, feel free to correct me.

After watering the garden, I came back inside and started a batch of Freezer Pickles, which I love.  It takes 3 days to make them but they are delicious and well worth the wait.

Spent the rest of the day relaxing, trying to catch up on my shows and diffusing fights brought about by games of Nerf gun in the house.  Annoying to say the least LOL

Oh I have to tell you, remember I mentioned that right after we moved in I had noticed a nest on the tree next to the deck?  The mommy had laid two eggs and pretty soon after they hatched into the cutest little mourning doves ever.  

I couldn't believe when we went back less than a week later, just how big they had gotten and just the other day they left the nest with mommy.  How amazing that life is created and developed and moved on in such a short period of time.

Not quite sure what today brings, but I may need to make a stop at the library to see if the books I put on hold are ready for me.

Learning how to fly.  I could just sit and watch them for hours :)

Alright the house is stirring and that is my cue to start breakfast.  Have a wonderful day everyone.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 08/05/2013

Good Monday morning everyone :)

I sure do hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was relaxing and filled with laughter and family time.

Now, time to get back to business, have a busy week ahead.   

The weather.....
Been just beautiful around here, it's 60 degrees right now, just perfect morning weather :)  We'll be in the 90's the rest of the week and even though it gets hot, it's nothing like we had before.

Right now I am....
Enjoying my cup of coffee with my Girl Scout Cookies Coconut and Caramel coffee creamer....my word it's delicious.  Also had half of a maple donut.  Being naughty this morning.

Thinking....
About the blog and getting back to my daily postings and how much I can't wait for that.  Also have other things on my mind.

On my reading pile....
Picked up two books from the library and have a bunch more on hold.  For now though it's:

Southern Living Little Jars, big flavors
Meals in a Jar

On my TV.....
Have been catching up on my shows, almost there.  Also got the family into Doctor Who so they've been enjoying that one.

What I found while surfing the net....
Oh boy, haven't had much online time so I don't think I have something to share again with you.  I may just leave this one out from now on lol   

On the menu for this week....

Monday - Chicken Curry
Tuesday -  Feijoada (Portuguese Bean Stew)
Wednesday - Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chicken with Homemade Fries
Thursday - Sausages and Mash
Friday - Country Club Chicken with Homemade Noodles
Saturday - My Birthday
Sunday - Roast Fish with Roast Potatoes

On my to do list....
Finish getting my niece and nephew set up for homeschooling
Iron, fold and put away laundry

In the craft basket....Goodness, my dishcloths are still sitting in the basket, just waiting for me.  Those are one of the things on my list to get back to this week.

Looking forward to this week....Routine, routine, routine.  Need I say more?    

Looking around the house....
My sweet nephew is sitting here at the kitchen table with me, chatting away while I write up this post.  He picked up the whole living room for me and took out the trash.  Love this kid :)  There are a few pans in the sink from last night's dinner which I couldn't fit in the dishwasher, I also have a few loads of laundry to get through.  Other than that the house is tidy.
  
From the camera....

On my prayer list.....
My husband, he's been applying for jobs everywhere so hoping he gets something.
My brother and sister in law.
My father and stepmother.
Friends needing prayer.

Bible verse, Devotional....
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
– Genesis 4:7 (NIV)

Back to business....

As much as I love new adventures and new things, after a few days I start craving the normalcy of my days.

So it's time to get back to business, back into the routine and back to my blogging :)

I wouldn't say I took a break per se, more of a cut back on the amount of blogging these past two weeks while we welcomed the family and reconnected.

Oh it's so important to reconnect and to talk and chat and laugh....goodness to laugh, until your stomach hurts, until your snorting, until you have tears running down your face.  It feels wonderful.

Anyway, it's Sunday morning and the house is fast asleep, the kids are all camped out in one bedroom, some on the floor, others in the beds.  It makes me smile, I love them all so very much and they get along beautifully.

Is there anything better than cousins?   I don't think so.

Church this morning is not going to happen, I woke up with a sore throat and congested, my hubby and sister in law both have stiff necks and sore backs, my Jasmine has a sore neck too, my brother's allergies are bugging the heck out of him and I think we're all just a total mess to go anywhere.

We'll stay home, watch a movie or something, relax and just take it easy.

Yesterday we packed an easy lunch and headed to the lake for a few hours.  I do love going out there, it's beautiful and so peaceful.  The best place to forget any stresses that may be bothering you and to let it all go.

Along the way I stopped quite a few times for my niece Tiffany to see the horses and take pictures.  You have no idea how much this child adores horses, she just beams when she's near them.

And it melts my heart.  I would like nothing more than to get a horse for her.

Love, love, love this picture I snapped of her.  You can see in her face how much she loves these horses.

These two girls are so cute together.

Just a little glimpse of our day at the lake.

As I said, it's back to business now, I've relaxed, I've enjoyed myself but I do miss my blog something fierce and I miss knowing what you've all been up to.  I've started coming around to say hi but I'm afraid it will take me a little longer than a few minutes to get to everyone's blog.

No worries though, got all the time in the world right?

Oh and I didn't forget about the dishcloths for sale, I have one to finish and then I'll start selling the ones that are already complete.  I don't know just how many I'll be able to get to, as my time is going to be very short with all the family here......matter of fact I'll be homeschooling my kiddos AND my niece and nephew, so that's 4 kids which I'm sure will keep me really busy LOL

I guess I'll finish this post with what I have planned for today......


WHAT I'M COOKING:

Lunch will be something easy, either sandwiches or I may even grab some tacos which the kids love and my niece and nephew haven't been able to have in South Africa, so they're always asking me if they can have some now lol
Dinner will be Chicken Curry



WHAT I'M WATCHING:

Doctor Who (got the family into it lol)
Haunted History
Who do you think you are?

Cooking Thursday HIATUS!

Well, I have decided to put Cooking Thursday on HIATUS until further notice.

I took a small break with it a few weeks ago and thought when I came back I would have more recipes and more participants, but it's really going nowhere, and as much as I love the Cooking Thursday feature I think it's time to put it to rest for a while.

The truth is that when I started this feature back in 2006, there weren't many blogs doing cooking meme's, but since then there has been such a huge influx and seems that every other blog has some sort of weekly recipe/cooking exchange.....so this one has been dwindling for the past few years/months.

I'm not a competitive person, at all, so I don't go out of my way to try and up the ante to beat other blogs or keep up with the Joneses.  It is what it is.

I may return with the Cooking/Slow Cooking Thursday at a later date, I may not, I really am not sure at this moment.

But I wanted to take a moment to thank every single one of you who have over the years shared your recipes and participated, I truly appreciate it :)

Just wanted to come in and let you know what I had decided in case someone wondered why there was no post today.

Have a blessed day,
Sandra
xoxoxoxo