Veterans Day

 Today we pay tribute to our Veterans and I have alot of special ones dear to my heart. 

My dear Marine Sweetheart 🇺🇸

My Grandfather who is called PaPa 🇺🇸

Here he was stationed in California.  

My nephew Thomas Ratliff 💙 serves in the National Guard in Tupelo, MS. He has served two tours in Afghanistan. 🇺🇸

My Uncle Benjamin Franklin Oliver Jr. Served in the United States Navy. 🇺🇸

My Uncle Jimmy Rudolph Oliver served in the United States Navy. 🇺🇸

My Brother in law Wayne Dixon. Served in the Unites States Army. 🇺🇸

Thank you to all who have served and are still serving today to protect our freedoms we so gratefully enjoy. 

Survival Mode for the Holidays

 No, this is not going to be a debate about when you can and can not put your Christmas tree up. If you want to go ahead and put it up, so be it. After the past two years we have had, it is kind of refreshing. If it brings you joy and happiness, by all means do it. We can all use  some joy and happiness after what all we have been through and what we are still going through. 

 I however have always liked to wait until the day after Thanksgiving. I like to celebrate each and every holiday and bestow upon it the attention and beauty it needs. I love Thanksgiving. My momma and my dear mother in law always made it special as so will I. We have always had big meals at my late mother in laws house and this year is going to be so different. I can already sense the mood in my dear hubby. These holidays will be so hard for him and our family. I've got to make sure it is special for him. I want to teach our grandchildren the importance of Thanksgiving and counting your blessings. I can't wait to get home and decorate with my fall placemats, and start planning our menu. My parents started joining us for Thanksgiving a few years ago. My momma always let us do what ever we wanted for Thanksgiving because she knew so many of us had in laws and so many houses to go to that it was just hard. But she was very clear that we had to have our hineys at her house come Christmas night or else. lol. As they got older, I noticed how alone they seemed. Why it never hit me before I don't know. But a few years ago, I told my husband that was going to change. Although we were so worn out from one family get together and not to mention stuffed, I told my husband I wanted to host a get together for my momma and daddy. We ran the idea across them and they discussed it and agreed. Like, Hello? You need to discuss it? Get your hiney to my house or else young lady.. lol. When I did my cooking for my mother in laws house, I would double recipes and make two. That way I had both meals covered.  This year I need to make it more special for dear hubby. I think I am going to let him pick the menu. I will fix what ever he wants. I also love spoiling my momma and daddy. She said we should have done this years ago. It's just she knew how tired everyone was from bouncing from house to house especially all in one day. She just didn't want to bother anyone. Well, like I said, I got tired of seeing them alone on Thanksgiving and we changed that. It has been special every since. Just about the time we leave here, It will be close and I will have to deep clean my home first then get to work on my menu and start precooking. 

It is not just Thanksgiving that kind of gets left out sometimes, it's other holidays as well. Especially when you have so many close together. Like Valentines and Easter. We kind of skip St. Patrick's Day.  Oh well, I love to give each holiday their own special days and recognition. Man, speaking of St. Patrick's day, I went all out that week and each day we did something rainbow. You can go back and check it out. We had a blast. 

The day after Thanksgiving I kick it into Christmas mode. I get dear hubby to get all my christmas stuff out and I go to town decorating my home. I do the inside and he does the outside. I will start planning my menu and such. 

Hence, the reason for this post. I know the Holidays can get stressful, but they are not suppose to be. The reason they get stressful is because we have become conditioned to believe that it is all about money and pleasing other people that we stress over "gift giving". Christmas is so commercialized about the gift giving that we go into debt trying to find the perfect gift for someone, and we feel obligated to buy someone a gift as not to hurt their feelings. I am just happy with being with my family that that is all that matters to me. Of course when you have children, it is a whole new ball game. Of course I want them to have Christmas presents, Lord knows our grandkids get just as much from us as they do their mommy and daddy. Cause I can. lol. It is a magical time for children. But I put alot of emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas and teach them what it is all about. 

I'm going to share some tips on how I try to help keep the stress down for our holidays so we can actually enjoy them. 

First, we start shopping very very early. Like around October early. Maybe sooner. You see, companies will try to trick you into believing they run the best deals on Black Friday. I have found that to not be true. I have seen things that I have wanted go on sale on Black Friday, when they ran a sale earlier in the year for around the same price and then I waited until Black Friday and missed my chance because they ran out. Start keeping your eye out for sales through out the year. We know we have a whole year to get ready for the next year right? See, it makes sense. Do Christmas shopping throughout the year, catch sales, and order them or go buy them and put them up. Make a note of who it is for and hide it. You can even go ahead and wrap it and be a step ahead. I do this with stocking stuffers too. My point is, somtimes the sales through out the year comes out to be the same or even better than waiting unil last minute. This also cuts our stress of worrying if they are going to get delivered in time. We have to start early because we have one kids birthday in December, mine and dear hubbys wedding anniversary, and then Christmas all in one week. Then exactly one month after that the other kids birthday. We have done this since our kids were little. 

Next is timing for family get togethers. Everyone wants to have something at their home and you find your self rushing around from home to home in a matter of two days. When you have kids, this is alot. Plan some things ahead and see what works best for your family. It is natural for children to want to wake up first thing Christmas morning in their own home and open gifts. Then it is hard to hurry them and whisk them away to someones home a few hrs later then maybe one more place after that. This will create some irritable children, not to mention irritable and exhausted parents. My family has always worked around each other. For instance, My mother in law would have her Christmas with everyone on Christmas eve, Christmas morning was our time with our children. Christmas Night was at my mothers house. Now, when grandchildren came along this added a glinch. Our first Christmas without our oldest son was hard. But he had his own little family to start traditions with now and we had to understand and cope. So we came up with a plan to have Christmas with them and out grand children on another day. So now, we have Christmas with them on the night of the 23rd and we let them spend the night with us and we do all the things with them that we would do and did with our own boys. Then we get up the next morning and they have their  Christmas with us. They have the whole day to play and rest before that night which is Christmas Eve. Then they get to do it all again with mommy and daddy for their house. That way we get to have  a special day with them and then they are free to enjoy other family members get togethers too.  If it is stressful for you and family members, see if someone is willing to change a day they host theirs and work with other family members. Maybe even combine get togethers. It's a start anyway. This can even be done the week before if someone is willing. We have the whole month of December anyway. Who said it had to be on a certain day. 

I do not have any traveling tips for the Holidays if you fly or go way out of town for the holidays. We have never had to travel during this time. I'm sure there are great tips out there. 

I just had to add this picture. lol 

My next is my absolute number one tip and that is menu planning and cooking ahead. I start doing this the day after Thanksgiving as well. I plan my menu way ahead of time, like in late October. Then I will start stocking up on some of the non perishable items a little at a time when they are on sale. Come the day after Thanksgiving I will start precooking alot of my dishes and doubling batches (sometimes I have more than one home to cook for not just mine) and I will put them into the freezer. The night before one of out get togethers, I will pull those dishes for that home to defrost. All I have to do the next morning or before the time to leave is just heat them up and put them into a insulated casserole carrier. Some times I do have things that will need to be last minute or at least the night before. Somethings are just better fresh. But if it can freeze well, then it is going to go on my menu and cooked early. I've had times when I have had to cook for 3 homes and church dinner for the holidays. Yes, I wound up tripling recipes to make it easier on me. This goes for my baking treats and desserts too.  I always make treats for all the children on my side of the family and dear hubbies side too. That is alot of kids. I try to keep it simple but I get such joy from it. It has to be something that will keep for a few weeks too so I can bag them real pretty and set them aside. 

If finances are a problem, start at the beginning of the year and make a christmas budget and set aside a small amount each pay check to save for gifts. Wrap gifts as you purchase them and hide them. 

All I can say is don't wait until the last minute to do ANYTHING.  Start earlier in the year or at least a few moths early. Commercializing and trying to get things done at the last minute is robbing us of our joy during the holiday season that we go through it in a blur and do not take the time to slow down and enjoy being with family. We forget what it is all about. Then before we know it, it is a new year and we wonder where the time went and some are just glad it is over. That is sad. Take time to enjoy the holidays and family. Because one day you will look back and loved ones will be gone and you will wish you had this time back. 

I hope some of these ideas have helped you. If you do not get a chance to start early this year, because here we are only weeks from Christmas, make it a point to start in January of next year. Get a planner and write things down, start planning. Keep an eye out for sales throughout the year and maybe buy one gift a month. 

Let's get back to making the holidays special again. As soon as we get back home, I sure am. 

More Praying Than Work

 

 This week has been more about praying with some working and reading mixed in to help keep me mentally sane. Satan has been attacking my family and I have cried out to God so many times on their behalf. It has not been easy. I have cried, vented, and pleaded with God that I am just mentally drained this week. We are close to the end of this job here and will be headed home soon, but I do not want to go home to chaos. I have my momma as my trusted prayer warrior and right now she is the only one keeping my head on straight. She reminded me that she was in my shoes a long time ago with me. (She just had to remind me of that).  I have not always been the perfect child and never claimed to be. I became prodical at one time. She prayed me all the way home. Back on the right path. The baby and kid stage is so much easier. When your kids get grown and gone, that's when your knees hit the floor more. I just have to keep praying. I have to tell myself that God gave these boys to me for a reason. He hand picked me to be their mother, leader, teacher, counselor and disciplinarian. I don't know if it's till working or not, but I guess one day we will see. 

I can't express enough how much I am enjoying this wonderful woman's writing. This book has taken me back in time to old days of Homemaking. I absolutely love it. It's not a teaching book or anything like that, it's just writings of hers that she shares episodes, memories and thoughts in her own life. But they just reach out to me. When feminism hit in the 1970's it changed alot of home lifestyles. Old fashioned homemaking became a lost art in some homes. I am so thankful there are still people out there that still loves the old ways. I will be purchasing more of her books. I already receive newsletters from her blog and enjoy them too. 

Dear hubby and I had date night a few nights ago and went out to eat. I came out her with the intentions of loosing weight and I'll be dog gone if I haven't put on a few pounds. I guess it's because I am just doing my own thing out here and relaxing. Maybe a little too much. I'm not chasing after energetic little children, and catering to them all day everyday. I do miss my little buddies and can't wait to see them and just squeeze the tater out of them when we get home. I see alot of playdates and sleep overs ahead. I was in Walmart yesterday and I heard a small child crying and my hormones just did a flip flop and my heart started beating so fast. I think I'm homesick. Now I know how dear hubby feels when he does this all the time. 

My momma is still recovering from surgery very good. She just hates wearing the sling she has to wear. She is having to learn to do alot with one hand and arm. She gets frustrated sometimes but she will overcome. She starts physical therapy at the end of this month. She was so hoping it would have been sooner. 

I have been working alot more on my vidoes. I have had to go through 19 videos with anywhere from 3 to 17 clips in each video. I've had to see what needs to be taken out and name all the clips to know what part goes with what video. I will try to find a different way to record next time. I can't find a pause button on my camera which causes clips. Then you have to piece your video together. Phew. On my phone there is a pause button. That makes it easier. It will be one one video with no interruptions. If that makes sense. These are all videos from two years ago from our last gardening season. I wanted to do videos then because I was pondering the idea of starting something. I didn't care if it was classes or what. I had several people reaching out to me wanting to know how I did things. Friends in CO, TX, LA, CA etc. It's alot of work emailing every one and such, so I finally just decided that recording would be a great idea. I could reach everyone all at once. So, hence, my YouTube channel. I am trying to teach myself some things but I think I'm going to have to require help from some computer goorooh. I went and purchased me some video gadgets that I didn't have for my computer to help with YouTube videos. I have got to figure them out too. All in time. I'm trying to learn how to create an introduction for our channel and a closing for after the end of every video. By the time I do learn more I will be able to put up about 19 videos. I am so excited. Its a learning process that's for sure. 

Well, I am off. I woke up way too early this morning and the coffee has not kicked in yet. Maybe a shower will help wake me up. I have more work to do. One thing is for sure. Being out here, I have been able to get work done that I could never have gotten  done at home. lol

A Little More Work

 Well, you gotta eat while you work. 😀

I have been going back to two years of filming some videos for my channel and putting in order and finding out what needed to be taken out and what I needed to keep. It is a long hard process. 

I've got to get the nerve up to learn to edit videos. Now, that is a longer process. 

I took a break and made us some supper. 

Homemade chicken sandwiches and loaded sweet potatoes. 😋

Now we are just going to enjoy the rest of our night and watch some TV. 

Good Week So Far

 This has been a good week so far. On Saturdays I try to plan a weekly menu. On Sundays I go do the shopping. I write it down on our erase board so dear hubby can see it. He kind of likes this idea. Our youngest is doing it for himself at home too. Lol. 

The roast stretched for two meals which was the pot roast and the Philly Steak and cheese quesadillas.  

Pioneer Woman sloppy Joe's 

The stuffed pork chops were good last night. I pounded them out flat. I made a cream cheese mixture with spinach, ranch seasoning mix, salt and pepper. Then  I spread that on the chops. I used rotel diced tomatoes instead of sundried tomatoes because a little bottle of those boogers was $8. Nope. Then I rolled them and stuck a toothpick in them and baked until done. 

We are going out to eat tonight. We pick one night a week to treat ourselves. 

Tomorrow night will be salads. Then chicken sandwiches with loaded sweet potatoes.  Then the last is pizza. Just relaxing. 

Dear hubby is now working 7 12's so we don't get to have out Saturdays to watch football together. 😪

He is getting tired. They are winding down the jobs. We may have a little over two weeks to go. 

I know of two little girls that is so ready to see us. We still get to video chat with them.  I can hear it in their little voices though. 😭 The received their box that I sent them. It had two little pink sparkley dresses in it. They loved them. 😍 They were so appreciative.  

I finished my last book, so on to another one. I am loving this one as much. It's just a book on the joys of Homemaking. It is from Mrs. Sharon White. If you follow her blog The Legacy of Home then you already know her. 

We've had a set back this week on our oldest son. Satan just has a hold of his mind with depressive thoughts and an emotional,  psychological burden that he doesn't know how to get rid of. 💔 I have been rebuking Satan and the hold on his mind. He has to get to the point to where he is tired of being miserable or he will never be able to move forward. This mommas heart breaks everyday. The only thing helping him keep pushing is the girls and work. If he is alone for a period of time, he is not good. Who ever said it gets easier when they are older,  I'd like to kick in the shins. This is when your knees hit the floor more. 

Dallas was invited to go to the beach by an aunt and uncle and they are having a good time. He sent a pic and said, "If I get ate by a shark, just know I died happy because I'm full of shrimp and crab!" 😆  That boy. 

Well, I have to get moving. I need to run some errands today. 😫 I need the exercise because all I have done out here is sit on my tooshie alot. I was suppose to have lost weight out here since I was only having to cook for two.. but I think I have gained about 5lbs. Well, if you don't keep moving that is what happens. 

So gonna walk it off today. 😜😜

Parenting Page Up and Running

 After another 3 long years of sitting in draft mode, I finally got our Parenting Page up and running. Grab a cup of coffee and a snack and enjoy. Make sure you make it all the way to the end. If you can't make it in one setting, bookmark it and come back to it. 

Life Happenings

 I'm sorry I've been missing in action the past few days. I have been working on our blog and the next page I want to publish. 

I have been out and about a few times. 

Today I had to make us some more grab and go breakfasts. Now to assemble and bag. 

Tonight is chicken parmesean and home made bruschetta. Yummy. 

This is my next read.  If you haven't discovered Elizabeth George or her husband yet, I really encourage it. 

In my last post, I shared a pic of a project I am going to work on for the girls. However, I am not going to use the pattern. I did not know it was pieced together. I really want one solid poncho and no seams showing. So I researched some videos and found some that are so simple. I took one idea from one video and paired it with another idea from annotner idea and one more. I took notes as to how I wanted to piece it together and sew it. It's basically called a carseat poncho.  Since it is so simple I am going to make me a set,  our son a set and their mommy a set. Someone is always forgetting one or leaving one somewhere so surely they want this time. If I'm lucky. 😅

Here's u what's going on in our family. 

We are awaiting a ship out date for Dallas. Paperwork has taken forever. Even when he leaves, they will have to quarantine in FL I believe for two weeks and receive the vaccine which he is not happy about. We explained to him that vaccines have always been mandatory with military not just this particular one. David had to have all his childhood immunizations again when he got to bootcamp. Then every time they go overseas for duty they get vaccinated for whatever country they are going. Not to mention, when they went to Saudi Arabia, they were given experimental shots that weren't even tested yet. So basically they were the lab rats. We told him he will have to do alot of things he will not want to do but military is different. Dallas is sitting on pens and needles and is getting anxious. 

If he goes in the next few weeks he is going to totally miss Thanksgiving, Christmas and his Birthday.  This year will be so different for us on the holidays. He has been invited to go to the beach with an aunt and uncle and I think he is going to go. 

David gets to missing his momma some days.  His sister and brother have been going to her house and slowly going through some things. Mostly just cleaning out necessary things like freezers and pantries to cut off some electricity.  When we get back home they will probably want to start going through some personal things and I don't think he's ready for that yet but it has to be done. Alot of things she wanted to go to children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

I've been doing alot of praying over my kids here recently. I have actually been praying the Prayer of Jabez over my family. And I have encountered some answered prayers already. 🙏  

Dakota is seeing this really nice young lady. She us actually a child hood friend of his. She is practically family because she is a great grand daughter of the woman who baby sit David when he was a toddler. David also has another  family that loved and spoiled him like he was their own. David really looked up to the father of the family but passed when David was about 15 yrs old I think.  

Anyway, Dakota really likes her and the girls love her and she loves the girls. He is finding some peace and normalcy again I believe. This has been an answer to prayer I believe. They are just taking it slow. At least I know our girls are happy an she is beginning to be. I wish my ex Daughter in law all the happiness in the world. I've been called alot of things in my life but ex mil was never on my list. It makes me sad. We are all beginning to heal and move forward and just to see a smile on his face again is all I need. ❤

Momma is recovering quite well. She hates being in that arm contraption but she is OK. Daddy is still alive, she hasn't killed him yet. 😅😅😅😅 

Momma has to remember that daddy is still struggling with memory since his stroke. He forgets things constantly because  his short term memory was affected. I have to remind her to be patient which she doesn't have alot of. Being down doesn't help her any either.  He is doing very good after his knee replacement surgery.  

As for me and David, we are still enjoying our time together. But we are itching to get home and get started hunting. The way prices are these days, meat prices are rising and we are going to use deer to fill our freezers if the good Lord is willing. We grind ours and use it like ground beef and then he also makes a mean sausage with it.. these skills do come in handy when times like this comes. We do love some self Suffeciency.  

We have bought the girls some hunting gear too. Dear hubby has bought us some ground hunting blinds and a little heater. Isn't he just precious.  

Well, I have some work to do and a kitchen to clean before hubby gets here. Then we are relaxing and watching some hunting shows.  

🦌🦌

Thrifty Day

 I use Wednesday as my thrifting day. Well,  today I didn't go to any thrift stores but I was on a mission to find the girls some hunting clothes. When we get home we will be in full hunting season. We can do both bow and rifle.  We have a freezer to fill. With prices so high on things right now this will be a must. We process our own deer. Dear hubby likes cutting and grinding  our own harvests so we can use them for multiple things. He loves making sausage. We love eating it too. 

We are going to start practicing  with the girls on hunting but we need to get them geared up first with warm clothes and boots. I didn't have any luck finding all they needed except some thermals. To be honest, I didn't buy them. They were too thin and not warm enough. So I just got them some sweat pants and sweat shirts instead. These will go under their insulated pants and shirts and coats. We are going to have to find the rest of their attire some where else. We may have to order them. We will see. 

Then I headed to Dollar Tree to see if they had anything new for schooling.  I picked up some stencils for dot markers and some more things to put together for them. 

Dear hubby is always getting on to me because I'm always buying things for those stinky girls and not buying for myself.  He tells me I need to shop for myself once in a while.  Well, ok den....here's happy shopping for me. All Pioneer Woman.

Last week I found this little artwork display board. 

I was so wore out and sore when I got done I had to get back and get off my feet and legs. My back was also killing me since I have a degenerative disc. 

I also have a project to work on when I get back home to my sewing machines. 

Ponchos work so much better during the winter for carseats. The backs can lift up and over the back of the carseat and you can still buckle them in. Some states have this law about having kids buckled in while wearing coats. So...I found this idea of the poncho. 

After I rested I did some more blog work. I'm working on another page that has been in draft mode too for 3 yrs. 

Then it was time to cook supper.  

Stir fry

While supper was simmering, I fixed dear hubby some wraps for his lunches. 

And then I made our trail mix we eat for snacking. I get a can of Peanuts, a can of cashews, a can of mixed nuts and a large box of Raisins.  

Now, we are all full, kitchen clean and we are going to relax and watch some hunting shows. We are all geared up. 

Some Very Good Reading

 

Another Video and Random Tidbits

 Well Hey, Ya'll. Just another day. I have to tell ya'll what I did. I made another video and uploaded it to YouTube. Somehow the other night while we were watching TV, my mind wondered to cinnamon rolls, yea, that's how my mind works sometimes. But I was wondering how I was going to make them out here since I didn't have  my mixer and all my goodies like my flours, yeast, etc. So dear hubby said he thought he saw something on Facebook or Pinterest of making them using canned biscuits. So, we were so curious we had to check it out. We watched the video and we were impressed. Enough so much that I had to go get me some biscuits the next day. LOL I experimented and made them and I am so glad I did. They were so yummy. I will try to link the video and see if you can pull it up and go watch it. If for some reason the link does not work, just go to YouTube and search our channel, Keeper of the Home at 4D farms. Then search through our videos until you find the one on How To Make Cinnamon Rolls With Canned Biscuits. I will also walk you through it here on my post. 

Our Video How To Make Cinnamon Rolls With Canned Biscuits

1- I opened the canned biscuits on a cutting board or counter if you want to do it that way and floured the surface just a little to keep them from sticking to the rolling thingie I was using. Normally it would be a rolling pin but she didn't have one so I improvised, I used a water bottle. I floured it too so it would't stick to the biscuits. 

2- I rolled out each biscuit flat.

3- Now take each biscuit and line them up 4 on bottom row, 4 on top row to form some what of a rectangle. 

4- Roll them out to where you are getting a better rectangle and pinch any seams together and just keep working with it. 5- slather your butter. I love alot of butter. lol

Sorry, about number 6. That was the pic of me smiling somewhat. 

7- sprinkle brown sugar

8- sprinkle cinnamon

9-roll into a log starting at the bottom and work upward pinching any seams and closing it up. 

10- keep shaping it and make sure it is closed up.11- cut out how many slices you want. 12- just look at that swirl. I love it. That was pic worthy. 

13- place into a greased baking dish or cookie sheet whatever you have. 14- look how awesome.15- place in a preheated oven, usually any where from 325-400 degrees. Depending on your prefrance and your oven.  I eyeball mine and bake until golden brown. 16- remove from oven 17- I spread my frosting as soon as I take them out while they are still warm. I like  mine to get ooey and gooey. I'll share my recipe in a minute. 18-and of course, I had to taste test those babies. 

Whoah Nellie!!!! They were delicious. Lip smacking, and finger licking good 

 Since dear  hubby is borderline diabetic, we can't do all the sugars. So instead of using white sugar as part of the filling, I used brown sugar. M frosting is a cream cheese frosting. I used room temperature cream cheese, add a splash of vanilla flavoring, and I substituted Stevia (or any sugar substitute) instead of powdered sugar. And just enough milk to make it a sour cream consistency. I like mine a little thick because if it is too runny it will not stick to the biscuits as well. There are so many things you can do to alter this and make it healthier and different flavors. For a sweetner you can add honey, syrup like Maple, and they even have a sugar free syrup now. If you don't like cinnamon, you can use pumpkin spice etc. I even thought of the idea of adding a little peanut butter for flavor. I might play with them next and come up with a fall version. All I know is the kitchen smelled amazing. 

I hope you like the video too. If you do, hit like and leave me a comment, especially if you go and try these. Let me know if you did anything any different and how they turned out. 

I had to make dear hubby some more egg bites for breakfast. Some of the guys at his work are a little envious that there wives are not with them. He took one of his coworkers some one day. He was curious as to what they were so dear hubby shared them. Isn't he sweet. 

And one more thing I am extremely excited about, I got our Marriage Page up and published here on our blog. a three year long process. Just go to to the header bar at the top and clink on Marriage and it will take you there. I am in the process of working on our Parenting Page now. It has been in the making for three yrs also. I am determined to get it done while I am out here. 

Got to to talk to our little buddies again and we played with the filters on the phone. They are too funny. They are missing us more and more and begging us to come home. I sent them a care package and that helped them a little. Tomorrow, I am going to find our girls some hunting gear. When we get home we are going to take them practice hunting to see how they do. If they like it ok, if not, ok. You go with their lead. 

New Page

 Finally,  after 3 years of writing down notes on every little  piece of scrap paper, notepad, notebook, journal,  app on my phone, computer,  reading every book I could find, marking pages, underlining and highlighting,  to organizing, planning, designing, typing,  proofreading, erasing, retyping, I finally had the courage to hit the publish button for this page on our blog. It has been sitting in draft mode for 3 years with me adding too all the time. It is our Marriage page. I share so much with you, from our story, to scriptures on marriage, tips,  and a whole lot of common sense. It is something I am passionate about. It gets real ya'll so you better settle in. I hope it helps someone seasoned or fixing to walk down the isle. 

Got up to the Header and look for the Title that says Marriage. Click on it and it will take you right to it. 

Quick Tip

 

My momma  had surgery today, so I had to  hang as close to the phone as possible. She  had surgery on her rotar cuff. 

Momma was home around 2pm and doing good.  I told her she was going to have to be a good little patient and not give daddy any trouble. She is already struggling. 😅😅😅😅

When you are making some lunch, make some extra and store in the fridge for Grab and go lunches. You're welcome. 😁

Why, yes, you can have your hashbrown casserole. Just substitute shredded sweet potatoes. And maybe add a little smoked sausage to it. I am a genius. If you already thought if this idea, please,  just let me have my moment thinking I am a genius.  😁😁

A few brain dumps for today:

Parents, it's ok to be all on your kids. After all, you want God's blessings and protection on them. So keep up the good work, it will come about some day. ❤❤❤

When we think unexpected things come our way, just remember, they are never a surprise to God. He knows what he is doing and he has a reason. Just trust him.

I can't stress this enough. Respect goes both ways. Men are naturally born to want attention and affection, why do you think they call them "Mommas boys".  Women are the nurturing kind, not just to children but should be to your spouse too. Our boys have never seen their parents fight or be disrespectful to the other. Heck,  I don't think me and David have ever fought or really argued. Yes, we have disagreements here and there and we aggravate each other but never out of anger. 🤗 

It's not ok to treat other people better than your spouse. 🎤🎤

Brain dump:

We, nor anyone else, can ever help us if "we" don't come to the realization that we need help! Read that again. 🎤🎤🎤

When and only when you come to that point, you will reach out and start to find ways to heal yourself with God's help through other people or circumstances.  

You can't cover up your problems, they will just come back. You've got to get to the point where you have had enough and want to make a change. And be 100%committed and determined.

Me and Dallas had a long conversation yesterday.  He says, "In a relationship,  you are supposed to meet each others needs even if you don't want to." 

Wow! I think he's getting it. ❤❤❤❤

Hes 18 y'all,  just 18 and he gets it. 

So this was on my time line from 5 years ago:

David: you are one lucky gal that I love you so much like I do. 

Me: why?

David: ( smiles and laughs) cause I could just choke you sometimes. 

Me: :) he loves me.

Have you ever found that one person who is just crazy enough to put up with you for so long and stick beside you no matter what? Yea, they are keepers for sure. ❤❤❤❤❤

I'm gonna be honest with y'all about something. I am living breathing proof that God can take a rebellious,  used up, washed up, sinful soul that went down a wrong path for a while, and then turned around and gave me a good man and set my feet back on the right path and here we are living our best life. I have been blessed with far more than I deserve and I give God all the praise and glory for it. So.....Pilgrim......he can do it for you too. ❤❤❤❤

I hope yall liked those and I hope they helped someone. 

I am going to finish getting supper ready and get off of here so I can give my sweetheart all of my attention when he gets home from work.  ❤❤❤

Nothing Exciting

 Well, I haven't done anything really exciting the past week. Oh, except for dear hubby said I could go thrifting one day. He may regret that because I'm going back home with a whole lot more than I came out here with. I told hubby what all I got and he said, "I meant for you to shop just for yourself!" Well, he knows I can't turn down anything for my girls.  ❤ He should know me better than that. I was on a mission to find the girls some Bible story books and Bible stories on dvd. I found alot. I also splurged and just went to a bookstore and bought a new one. The one I have at home, we have been through it three time. The one I got now will grow with them because it gives the scripture reference where you can find it in the Bible and I can read the story from the Bible first then as they get older, and they learn to read, they can do the same. I'm fixing to start teaching them their books of the Bible. And I did get me some new shirts and a few odds and ends. 😁

I have still been busy working on a page on our blog. 

This is my next read. I will start it in the morning. 

 Reading and studying the scriptures had brought peace to my soul the last few days and I have prayed so much over my family. Especially my boys. 

I went grocery shopping this morning just for the essentials we ran out of. Then I came in and live streamed our services from church back home. 

Me and dear hubby had such a good day while he was off yesterday. Well, he did have to go in early just for an hour and take three tests. He had to take them once a year to keep his certifications. He was back in a jiffy and brought breakfast. I was finishing getting ready. We plopped down and watched football 🏈 all day.  Boy, talk about some nail biter games. We rested and just enjoyed each other's company. 😊 

Well, gotta go and start getting supper ready for us. 

Hope everyone enjoys their day in the Lord. 

Happy Birthday In Heaven

 

On this day 102 years ago, this amazing woman was born. My Ma Ma Oliver. My grandmother.  She was truly a woman of God, wonderful wife and mother. That Proverbs 31 woman. 

I learned so much from her growing up. I spent as much time with them as I possibly could. I patterned my life after her. She is the one who inspired me to be who I am today. Little did she know, I soaked everything in while I watched her. She was so caring, nurturing, and loving. So many things I could tell you, but I will just ponder them in my heart today. On Oct 8th, her and Pa Pa would have been married 85years. He worshipped the ground she walked on. 

This is why I wanted my kids to have the best relationship possible with their grandparents and we made sure of it, and now, I want that kind of relationship with my grandchildren present and future.  Lord willing, I will. 

I know they have been enjoying their time together in Heaven.  I still miss them today and miss our time together. What I wouldn't give to be able to sit down and talk to them right now. So many questions. 

Happy birthday Ma Ma, and happy late anniversary to you both. ❤❤

Working On My Blogs

 I have had the time to sit down and do some work on my blogs. Yes, I have two. I started one years ago on WordPress but get a little aggravated at it. They want me to pay for extra storage. Uh, no. So I created my blog here at Blogger too. 

I keep mine going at WordPress but I don't upload anything.  I have too many subscribers there and don't want to loose them. 

If you blog there too you can subscribe there also. It's 4dfarms.wordpress.com

I am working really hard on two new pages. They are Marriage and Parenting. I have been working on them for three years. 

These two subjects in life is what I am most passionate about second to Loving Jesus. 

Just a little work for today. 

One day I will have them finished.