My days....

Have been filled with rain and a lot of homemaking.

It's Wednesday afternoon, just after 2:30pm, and I'm sitting down to chat a little with you and show you some pictures of what I've been up to.

Hope you're ready for a lot of pictures :)

Rain::::

The loud thunder roaring across the skies and thousands of rain drops washing down.  I do so love a good rain shower, when the house gets all dark and you can light candles and then watch the rain beating against the windows.

We had a bit of rain last week and have some more coming in later today and the next few days.  I'm ready for it.

Enjoying the outdoors::::

We've been working on our yard, actually I have a bit of a funny story to tell you, albeit quite frustrating for hubby and I when it happened.

So last month we got a notice in the mail from the city saying that we need to get rid of the weeds in our yard by a certain date or we would be charged 200 dollars a day.  Quite ridiculous if you ask me.  Anyway, hubby and I were quite perplexed as our yard is mowed, doesn't look bad, there are no weeds that we could see etc.  We continued to just do what we do and figured everything would be ok.

A few weeks ago we got a notice from the post office about a letter that needed to be picked up.   When we picked it up we noticed it was from the Municipal Court, which is never a good thing.  In it was stated that my husband had to go to court on a certain date for failure to clear weeds in the yard.  Again, we were completely confused as to what they were talking about because the whole 3 acres are mowed and nothing is out of place.  Since he had to go in to the City Hall and enter a plea before the court appearance, he went and actually spoke to the city worker who not only sent the letter but was taking us to court.

Turns out, there is a WHOLE horse field right next to our house that apparently belongs to us and we had no clue.  The realtors never mentioned it when we moved in, we were never shown a map of the lot and we have been here for a year and a half.

My husband and the man actually hit it off, talked for over an hour and the whole misunderstanding was resolved, the charges were dropped and we gained a whole acre of a horse field we had no clue about LOL

What a blessing it is to be near family who quickly pitched in to help us get that field under control and the weeds and grass cut down.

We wouldn't have been able to do it without them.  My father in law brought in his tractor and a bush hog and within 30 minutes it was all done.  I'm sure you can tell by the pictures, that my husband had quite a good time riding the tractor around.

Homemaking::::

I gave my house a good cleaning on Monday.  Just woke up with determination and motivation and set right to work.  Feels so good when I'm doing what I love and knowing that I'm making a cozy safe place for my family.

With the rain we've been having, I made a huge pot of vegetable soup, and when I say huge, I mean huge, I actually pulled down my big pot.  I used tons of veggies and also threw in a ham bone I had in the freezer.  It was a delicious and I still have some leftover soup frozen for a quick lunch.

One of my favorite soaps brands, Mrs. Meyers.  I've actually had a bit of a hard time finding the cleaning products at my commissary, I need to look at Walmart next time I go in and hopefully I can find them there.

I bought these scented candle melts at one of the local farm stores.  It smells amazing!!!

Birthday gifts::::

My birthday was last week as you know, and some years we don't have the finances for a lot of birthday presents, but we always try to get something for each other, and I'm talking about my husband and I because we always make sure the kids are taken care of.

This year is a bit of a tight one so my husband let me pick a few things I wanted and I really wasn't looking for anything extravagant, just a few bits and pieces I liked.

We went by our local Booksamillion and I got a few cookbooks and devotionals.

I love Stormie Omartian, she has some of the best devotionals and books around.  I was looking for a devotional that included prayers for my children and I struck gold when I found this one (after about an hour of looking through all the shelves).  What I absolutely adore about this one is that they are prayer couplets, which means on the left page is a prayer for myself and on the right is a prayer for my child where I just add their name in the blank space.  Love it!!!

Also picked up this 365 Devotions and Prayers book called Grace for Each Day.  I started last night, so tonight I'll get to read Day 2 and go from there, so excited about this one too.

Then I picked these up as well, oh and all of these books including the devotionals, but except for the magazine, were on the clearance marked down shelves so the most expensive one was the big Taste of Home Cookbook which was $7.  Score!!!!

I've been wanting some new meal ideas and I think these will be very helpful, I'll be using them to plan my next menu which is coming up next week :)

Skies::::

As summer starts coming to a close, I tend to look towards the skies more because they take on a whole new look.

This was the moon last night, what a beautiful sight to see don't you agree?

Anyway, I am sorry I have so many photos up on this post, but I know y'all don't mind.

It's now almost 3:30pm and I need to get some dishes washed, maybe watch a vlog or two on Youtube and then get started with the dinner preparations.

Hope you're all having a fantastic week so far, stay blessed :)

Happy Homemaker Monday - 08/15/2016

Good morning friends, how was your weekend?

I had a good one, though I always feel like it's not long enough.  I could have used another day off, to be honest.

But, here we are, another Monday and today marks the first day of school for this year.  I'm looking forward to it, but also not because this is Jasmine's Senior year and next year she'll be off to college and leaving us.  It's a bittersweet moment for sure, I can't even believe we've reached this point in our lives, feels like she was starting Kindergarten not too long ago.

Anyway, let's see what we have going on in our Happy Homemaker Monday!!!

The weather.....
We had a bit of rain last week, actually had 2 days where we saw some thunderstorms.  They didn't last very long, but it was enough to cool things down a bit.  This week we're looking at a cold front (or so they say here in Texas, because 80's is not cold to me lol).  We should be seeing a whole week of 80's and looks like a rainy one too. 

Right now I am....
Still in bed, it's only 7:13am.  It's quite dark today because it's cloudy, so I have my candle on and am just sitting here enjoying the quiet morning. 


Thinking....
Of my to do list for today, everything I need to get done, first day of school, getting Jasmine's permit tomorrow, needing to take pictures of some of my birthday haul from hubby which are cooking books and some devotionals too. 


On my reading pile....
First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
 

On my TV.....
Portuguese Soaps
Vlogs
General Hospital
Supernatural Season 11



On the menu for this week....
This will be the last menu including my brother and his family.  They are moving out on the first, so I'm working on the next menu for just the 4 of us.  Much as I love cooking, when you have to cook for 8 people every night, it becomes a bit of a chore hahaha  I'm looking forward to making meals for just as 4 again.

Monday - Meatloaf, Macaroni and Cheese, SteamedBroccoli
Tuesday -  Chicken Stew, Salad
Wednesday - Steaks with Pepper Sauce, Rice, Veggies
Thursday - Slow Cooked Pizza in a Pot
Friday -  Chicken with Green Peppers, Mashed Potatoes
Saturday - Homemade Pizza
Sunday - Spinach Sausage Dip, Corn Chips, Homemade Naan


On my to do list today and this week....
All the laundry is done, except for some bed sheets that need to be washed.  Have 2 shirts to iron and one pile of clean folded laundry to put away.

Homeschooling - Not much to do today except for get the kids folders set up, and they each have to go through their lessons and answer a few questions.  Tomorrow they will officially start the full lessons.
Clean bathrooms
Tuesday - Hubby has the day off, we are going to get Jasmine's permit and I also need to get my new driver's license.
Thursday - Jasmine's therapy appointment


In the craft basket....
Nothing at the moment.

  
Looking forward to this week....
School starting and trying to get back to a better schedule.  By this time of the summer, we are all, and I mean even the kids, ready for a more structured routine. 


Looking around the house....
It's quiet.  Living room needs to be tidied up, the kids always stay up late and make quite a mess in there.

   
From the camera....
My gorgeous girl got her hair colored on Friday.  When she first asked for this color I wasn't quite sure I liked it, but I'm one of those moms that believes in letting them experiment with their hair and have fun.  By the time the hair dresser was halfway getting this color on, I was falling in love with it and now?  I'm absolutely besotted with this color.  It is GORGEOUS and I think it suits my girl so well, this is her, this is my Jasmine, spunky and fun and beautiful. 

On my prayer list.....
My husband.  We found out that come October 1st he is being laid off along with a few others from work.  It's a worry but I'm certain that God has a plan and another job in store for him.  Please keep him in your prayers, he's already applied for a few open positions on base and if he could get one of them, it would be wonderful.  :)
Still praying for my daughter, it's so hard being a teenager in this day and age.


Bible verse, Devotional....

Well Hello 42!!!!

I am now the answer to the universe.....or so my husband and children say.  ;)

Yes, it's my birthday, I am so blessed to be able to celebrate another year.

42!!!!

It seems just yesterday I was entering my 40's and now I'm 2 years in and wondering why time is flying by so quick.  It's been chaotic and crazy, scary, fun, amazing and joyful years and I really can't wait to see what is in store.

I'm starting to notice more wrinkles on my face, more lines, more scars, more LIFE.  Every single dimple or imperfection is a testimony of my story and I really wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm comfortable with me, I'm comfortable in my skin, I'm happy with how I look and what I've achieved and everything that I have gone through.  

It's made me the woman I am, and so I look forward to yet another year under my belt and whatever life has to offer.



So Happy Birthday to me as I continue to rock my 40's!!!!

It's in the mundane tasks....

The simple moments.

When you're standing at the kitchen counter, in your robe, in the early morning hours, making a cup of coffee and a slice of toast.

When you're washing the dishes by hand and mindlessly standing while the warm water pours over your hands.

Or when you're folding laundry, the mountains and mountains of never ending laundry.

It's in those moments that I find myself realizing that everything that seems like an insurmountable object in my path, means absolutely nothing when you're in the Lord's grace.

The worries, the fears, the feelings of not being in control, or the overwhelming sense of being on a roller coaster with no end.  Those feelings, every.single.one.of.them mean nothing but what we make of it.

I'm not saying that problems don't exist, or that there is no fear and worry or pain.  Of course all of those are legitimate feelings, but it's what we do with them that can either push us through the day to keep fighting, or hold us stuck in place in sheer panic.

So as I go about my days lately, I focus on the mundane tasks at hand, and anytime my mind starts drifting into a problem that I've handed over to God, I immediately push it out of my mind.

It's not always easy, oh my goodness, it's actually almost impossible at times to let your mind go right back to old bad habits.  But, I'm making an effort to push through and push them away and it's been working miracles in my well being, mentally and physically.

As I type this up, a huge thunderstorm is brewing outside.  The thunder is loud, the raindrops are heavy and it reminds me of my soul when I let problems get the better of me.

I choose to believe that the drowning sound of the rain on the roof, is almost like God hammering away all my worries and fears, all the negativity surrounding me and my family.  And boy does it feel good to think that way.

I've been struggling, you all know that, but I also know that you've all been praying for me and my family and I can't tell you how much that means to me and how thankful I am.  I haven't seen huge changes or resolutions to some of the issues, but I have noticed some signs here and there that God is working on my life, and I'll take it.

No matter how small the change may be, I will gladly take it and accept it and smile through it.

As I work through this not so good phase in my life, I'm turning to those things that always make me feel better.  I'm reading again, I'm crocheting, I'm homemaking and I'm decorating and crafting and blog posting. 

I'm not going to make any promises because life is crazy at times, and school IS starting next week, but I really do want to continue staying focused on these things, because after all they are what brings me the most joy.

Being a homemaker!!!!

The American Girl by Kate Horsley - TLC Book Tour

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (August 2, 2016)

From a bright new talent comes a riveting psychological thriller about an American exchange student in France involved in a suspicious accident, and the journalist determined to break the story and uncover the dark secrets a small town is hiding.

On a quiet summer morning, seventeen-year-old American exchange student Quinn Perkins stumbles out of the woods near the small French town of St. Roch. Barefoot, bloodied, and unable to say what has happened to her, Quinn’s appearance creates quite a stir, especially since the Blavettes—the French family with whom she’s been staying—have mysteriously disappeared. Now the media, and everyone in the idyllic village, are wondering if the American girl had anything to do with her host family’s disappearance.

Though she is cynical about the media circus that suddenly forms around the girl, Boston journalist Molly Swift cannot deny she is also drawn to the mystery and travels to St. Roch. She is prepared to do anything to learn the truth, including lying so she can get close to Quinn. But when a shocking discovery turns the town against Quinn and she is arrested for the murders of the Blavette family, she finds an unlikely ally in Molly.

As a trial by media ensues, Molly must unravel the disturbing secrets of the town’s past in an effort to clear Quinn’s name, but even she is forced to admit that the American Girl makes a very compelling murder suspect. Is Quinn truly innocent and as much a victim as the Blavettes—or is she a cunning, diabolical killer intent on getting away with murder…?

Told from the alternating perspectives of Molly, as she’s drawn inexorably closer to the truth, and Quinn’s blog entries tracing the events that led to her accident, The American Girl is a deliciously creepy, contemporary, twisting mystery leading to a shocking conclusion.

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About Kate Horsley

Kate Horsley’s first novel, The Monster’s Wife, was shortlisted for the Scottish First Book of the Year Award. Her poems and short fiction have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies, including Best British Crime Stories. She coedits Crimeculture, a site dedicated to crime fiction and film offering articles, reviews, and interviews with writers.
Find out more about Kate at her website, and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Google+.

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My Thoughts:

I have to say it's quite funny how I've gone from not really being a fan of this type of genre, to really enjoying it now.

I've been lucky to review quite a few good mystery and thriller books the past few months, and this is another that I am adding to that list of "wow, didn't think I would enjoy it, but actually did". 

I found that the story was well told, though I will say that from the beginning I knew immediately who the actual culprit was, so there was never really a sense of whodunnit, there weren't clues being thrown around that led you in different directions and away from the guilty party.

Now that may not be enjoyable for some people, but for me I found it interesting nonetheless.  Sometimes it's quite fun to see how the author wraps the story up and manages to keep it entertaining while flat out showing who the bad guy/girl is from the get go.

One of the aspects that did catch my attention, and I think was well brought in, is the influence of social media and the gang mentality and bullying that seems to run rampant.  The minute anything is put up online, people become judge and jury without even trying to find out the truth.

Overall, I enjoyed the book.