After the ladies retreat

The day after the retreat.  I left yesterday saying that I could have used another day.  We learned more about what God has for us as women, we worshiped God, we played games, we talked, we walked, we shopped, we even ate.  I could have used one more day of down time.  But that's ok.  My plan is to get back into routines again (the Flylady way) and have down time this weekend with the family. 

I had a most wonderful time this weekend.  We had a Bible study about emotions.  I do let my emotions control me more than they should.  I'm pretty good at hiding it too. I prayed for God to let Him rule me more than my emotions.  Saturday night Carol taught on some wonderful things even about being positive instead of negative.  I asked for a copy of her notes.  I plan on doing more research in the Bible about the tongue and what all it says and how it affects us... me.

I did get home to a relative clean house.  The kitchen is cleaned up.  The dining room table cleared off, almost.  The living room still has winter and summer clothes all around, but they are manageable.  I was so happy they took the time to clean it all up.  This morning, however, seems to be a different story.  Not in the cleaning or picking up after them selves, but in their attitudes.  They are bickering and some name calling.  I think I will be keeping them busy today.  School this morning, or as long as it takes.  Then some job, probably back out in the garden as it seems our green beans are still growing.  Not sure if I'll can them or make pickled green beans out of them.  And need to check out the rest of the garden.  I came back to a mess of red tomatoes.  All the ones I left out in a hanging wire basket and on the window seals are ripe.  And I will can them. 

So today my plan is to have school with the boys this morning, might call off painting class for today, not sure yet, take an hour and bless my house, do laundry, work on the rest of the clothes and maybe can the tomatoes.  I'll see just how much of that I can get done. 

Be blessed today,
Just some thoughts and actions,
Elizabeth

We got the rest of the green beans picked.  Today I finished canning them.  Tomorrow I'll attack the abundance of green tomatoes.  I already have enough tomatoes that have turned since being inside to can some of them.  I have pulled a few recipies for green tomato pickles and green tomato relish.  I'm going to make both of them.  I'm thinking I might be buying some more jars, again.  This time the pint size.  I still have yet to make jam out of the berries the boys picked this summer. 

Music school is closed today and tomorrow.  The director isn't feeling well.  So I took advantage of the time today to work on switching summer clothes for winter clothes.  The boys' clothes are finished, except for what is in the laundry.  I still have more of my DH and mine to get switched.  Maybe I'll get that finished tomorrow too.  Then get some straightening up done in the house.  I plan on taking some time, with the boys, to go out into the woods to get pine cones and some acorns and such to decorate the house for fall.  I also have to spend some time in the Word.  I'm doing the Bible Study tomorrow night at church.  I'm going to be teaching on "A sin is a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin..."  Get the message? 

Am very happy for fall to be here, but can't wait for winter!  Full of snow and the holidays!

These are a few of my thoughts and days.
Elizabeth

Been a couple of weeks since I last posted, and I was going to try to keep this up.  I was sick during one of those weeks, spent a lot of time canning for a couple of those weeks.   And this last week on Monday, I was going underneath a barbed wire fence.  My oldest son was holding the wire up and part of the fence bent in half and smacked me on the head.  It hurt like the dickens.  I have butterfly stitches on about 3 inches on my head.  My DH was wonderful!  He just happened to be home and cleaned it up, cut some hair, shaved my head and with some help from a friend, butterflied the cut.  Starting Wednesday, I had a massive headache.  Today it wasn't so bad.  Hopefully by tomorrow, it will be gone.  So this week, the rest of the canning has been put on hold.  Getting out the winter clothes has been put on hold.  I did feel ok enough to finish reposting some work for my DH's business. 

My plans for tomorrow are to get the rest of the green beans canned.  Get the rest of the green beans picked, as well as the rest of the green tomatoes.  I think there might be a pumpkin or two left in the garden also.  I want to get the laundry caught up.  It's not too far behind.  I've managed to get a load or two done almost everyday.  And if possible, maybe have the boys get the winter clothes out from the shop tomorrow.  That usually means we will have a mess in the living room for a couple of days, maybe not.  Might be able to get it done in a day...We shall see.

A praise report!  The week I was sick, I had a sore throat, congested head and a pretty bad headache.  I prayed for my body to line up with God's word!  That it's not in God's word or in His will for me to be sick.  It started on a Wednesday, by Friday afternoon it was gone!  All of it.  God is so good!  I believe with my whole heart that He healed me.  Usually I have that for at least a couple of weeks, if not for a couple of months.  Praise God!

Well, these are just a few of my thoughts and deeds... :)

Elizabeth

Well, today would normally have been a busier or at the very least a crazier day.  Instead of getting the house blessed, by a general cleaning, the boys did some for me.  I went to town  to get my desk top from the computer doc and now am very happy to have it back.  I do like the convenience of the laptop and might still use it, but I love my desk top.  I was going to can today, teach a rock painting class, fix supper, teach another class.  But instead, I got laundry almost finished, both classes got cancelled for various reasons, no canning got done, and I took care of Patrick.  I think he got bit by a spider or some sort of bug on Saturday and if the spot hasn't gone down by tomorrow, he goes to the doctor.  Been doing some home remedies and a lot of praying for him.  He's been pretty much on the couch for the day instead of working.  I get a little upset even though I don't mean to.  Last Tuesday I fell of a horse onto my back and my head bounced.  The next day I was in town at the music school as usual, sort of.  Anyway, I very rarely get a day off when I get hurt or sick.  Don't get me wrong, I dearly love my husband.  It just seems he has been either hurt or sick a lot in the past several months. 

Tomorrow is another day!  I'm still grateful for what I did get done today.  And just the fact that I am able to do what I have done. 

Just a few thoughts,
Elizabeth

Starting again!

It's a peaceful Sunday afternoon of resting after a very busy couple of weeks.  I've been spending a lot of my day canning from a very blessed, productive garden.  But for the past 3 days, the boys and I have manned a booth at the Apple Festival in Seymour, Missouri for friends of ours.  They sell wooden guns called Sturdiguns.  The first couple of days weren't very good, but yesterday was crazy busy.  I also took my painted rocks and like the guns sold a couple on the 2nd day.  But sold the most yesterday.  My table was looking pretty bare!  Now I have to get painting again before October.  I will join our church and set up another table at the Oz fest in Willow Springs.  I give 1/2 of what I make there to our missions fund for missions trips. 

My boys just came home with their arms around a buck, a nine point buck, in fact.  They found it up the road and it's hurt.  They took it to the barn and will nurse it back to health.  Too cute.  Of course, I'm thinking dinner.  They are thinking pet.  :)

I'm very excited about getting my blog going again.  I am hoping and praying I can keep this going and growing. 

Just some of my thoughts and actions,
Elizabeth