It is My Life!

Good morning y'all.  This blog is called "My Life".  There are times I feel I don't have much going on in my live or that I don't have much to contribute.  I mean, I'm just a stay at home mom who home schools (according to some well meaning friends think I've stunted the boys' social skills), a wife who doesn't contribute to the home by bringing in more money than the little bit of art I sell, a church goer (am I a hypocrite like those who won't go to church because it's full of hypocrite.  I remember saying this once upon a time), a hobby farmer (don't I know it really costs more to grow and can my own veggies than buy it at the store? What's wrong with me that I'll waste that time?).  Then there are other times that I look at a list like that and think, WOW I do and am a lot of things.

First about homeschooling my boys.  I really feel I'm doing what God wants my husband and I to do when it comes to the boys' schooling and training.  There has been so so much said about the pros and cons of this subject, I don't feel the need to justify myself anymore about our decision.  My DH has a friend to tried to convince him that I was STUPID for homeschooling.  I don't have a teacher's degree.  What made me think I could teach them.  A mother is a child's first teacher.  I'm not stupid, nor do I pretend to be the smartest person alive.  But I do know how to follow God's leading when it comes to my children.  In saying that, our boys will not be dating either.  We are going to go the courtship route.  This decision was made several years ago.  It is not a popular decision either, by the world's standards.  But by God's standards, it's the way to go.

I stay at home, meaning I do not have a job outside the house which brings in a paycheck. There are times I have sold a piece of art, or I'll paint the town's windows for a holiday.  But for the most part I'm at home with my children.  There are a lot of thing I do, however, to save us money.  At times a lot of money.  Once upon a time I never would have gone into a thrift store, nevertheless, bought a majority of our clothes from one.  Once upon a time I never would have been seen outside my house without make up on.  Now, well, I still wear it some, but I live out in the country on a small farm.  Do the horses and chickens care if I have make up on?  I save us by not having to have new clothes all the time, make up, eating out a lot, and making good home cooked meals.  Box stuff is expensive (especially with 3 teen aged boys) and not very nutritious.  Patrick hunts each year, the boys are now at hunting age and we grow a good sized garden.  I can as much as I am able.  I'll post more about my canning another day.  I also make homemade syrup, chocolate syrup, baking powder, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, bread, laundry soap, and different cleaning products.  I'm sure there is more, I just can't think of it all.  Need another cup of coffee. So there are so many ways that I save us money that if I worked out, I'd not only have to buy those things but so much more.

I know there is more that I wanted to write but I do want/need another cup of coffee and to sit on the front porch and watch as the season is changing outside.  Oh and I have to get bread started for today.  :)

Be blessed today and may God bless the hunters with good hunting!

Some of my thoughts,
Elizabeth

Going again!

Good morning y'all is my every morning post on facebook.  I had almost forgotten I had blogs.  A dear friend, Amy Woodley,  reminded me as she has started blogging.  We got a late start this morning as we got home late from some friends from church. Haven't written on this in about a year.  Ladies retreat is coming up fast.  Can't wait! 
Got a late start this morning as we got home late from visiting friends from church.  As usual for this time of the year, we are getting the last of the things from the garden.  Mostly green beans, watermelon, some cabbage, some potatoes and sweet potatoes.  Everything got planted late for us, the first and second week of June.  Have been canning like crazy.  Still have persimmons to jam.  I left them sitting on the counter to finish ripening.  Didn't want any sour jam.  Will have more green beans to can also.  Possibly some tomatoes too.  I'm thinking of fermenting the rest of the cabbage.  Never have done that but I'm willing to give it a try.  Also have canned meat for the first time ever.  I had a large deer roast from last year's deer.  I checked online and in some cook books I have and it was easy.
School is going good with the boys.  Two out of three are in high school this year.  It's a challenge at times but it's well worth the effort!  We are also getting things ready for winter.  Soon we will be getting out winter clothes and putting away summer.  We had such a mild summer around here.  Didn't use the a/c all the time either.  What a savings it has been on the electric bill.  :) 

Back to the classroom as I can hear the natives are getting restless.  Not only be blessed but be a blessing too!

Some thoughts,
Elizabeth