Hot weather & Blessings

Hello to all my dear friends :) Boy, has it been HOT here! I hate when it is this hot and humid. I don't mind it being in the 80's; but when it is up in the 90's and very humid...it is miserable:(

I have been keeping myself busy with the our chickens. I just LOVE it!! I don't even mind cleaning up after them....Yeah, ask me in a couple months and I might not be as thrilled. But, for now...I am loving the feeling of farm life :)

Our garden is suffering from all this heat. Poor Mark has been watering things. But the heat is quite hard on new little plants. I am hoping we get some rain soon. We had big storms come through last weekend...but all we got was a few sprinkles. You would think after ALL the rain that we had in the spring..that I wouldn't be asking, or hoping for rain. But now that it's so hot..we need it desperately. I'll just keep praying that God will bless our garden.

I started a new prayer book & journal with the other ladies at church. We pick partners, and then each of us prayer for each other, our families, and specific people that God has touched our hearts to pray for. I feel like this is such a blessing for me..It has brought new friendship to me that I was definitely needing. It is so nice to have someone call everyday and for us to pray together. It has really helped my prayer life. The book talks about asking for the baptism of the holy spirit daily. That the holy spirit will help us to be able to pray better and to want to live in a closer walk with God. I am SO thrilled about this!! It has been a new experience for me to pray in front of someone else...that was something I had never done..and frankly was a little nervous about. But, since we've started. I feel like God has blessed me and helped me to be able to pray in front of others...and not be so nervous about it..:)

The book is called 40 days...Prayers and Devotions to Prepare for the Second Coming...by Dennis Smith. It has honestly changed my life for the better :)

I also just started reading the book called...Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler. So far it is a wonderful read and I am enjoying it (as often as I can :)

I suffered from a horrible migraine last week. I woke up Friday morning with a horrible headache starting. I still had it on Monday...so I ended up going to the doctor. They give me a shot which finally brought me some relief. They also gave me some pills to keep on hand if another one was to start. I honestly think that the heat had a lot to do with it. On top of the headache...I have been still suffering with some back issues...neck, lower back and hips. After my last visit with the rheumatologist..he ordered some x-rays of my lower back and hips. He suggested that I try to keep moving around. Well, I think maybe I did too much! My heel and foot that I've not had trouble with in a long time...started hurting me...really bad :( I was diagnosed with plantar faciitis a long time ago. Any time I get up and do too much, it will start giving me troubles. The doctors office said that it could me a bone spur too so, they made appointments with a podiatrist and orthopedics doctors..in the same building for later this month. When I was a teenager I saw an orthopedics doctor because of curvatures and one of my legs being shorter than the other...So I am anxious to see what they say. I wonder if one of my legs are still shorter and giving me troubles? It was bad enough..having trouble moving my hips..and then add in that I can hardly walk on my left foot. I love to (try) to get out and help in the garden and mess with my flowers and roses..so, this has been a hard thing to accept. I am just praying and hoping that God will give me some relief..or heal me from feeling the way that I am :)

On a more happy note, my sweet little chickens...really are sweet! They jumped on Mark when he went out to put them up for the night. They are nice little hens :) We all thought this was hilarious :) They do it to me too...but not like they do to Mark...

Sam really likes them too :)

I'll end my post with a beautiful Bible verse...

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" _Eph. 1:17-19

May Yahweh bless you abundantly and fill your hearts with love :)

Love and Hugs.......

Jerelene

PS...Be sure to scroll down and visit some of MY friends....

You'll love them too!!

A beautiful day!

It's a beautiful day here :) The windows are open and a gentle breeze is blowing in. Just had to start off with a cute picture of Peanut lounging around :) He enjoys a nice day too! High temp. of 82 and lots of sunshine. I am so very glad that it is NOT raining!

Maci is recovering well from her pneumonia. She is still a bit of a fussy girl..but, I think that may be from teething (she has 2 bottom teeth)and she may also be a bit spoiled:)

Mark has finally been able to get back out into the garden. It was just TOO wet for a good while with all the rain we've had. The tiller had quit on him as well, and so he's got it fixed now and going. The boys helped him get the corn planted..and finally the beans and cucumbers too. I'm a little aggravated with him. I had a row of Black-Eyed Susan's that I had planted last year. I told him I would transplant them...and he didn't wait. He tilled them down....Man, was I mad..Or should I say, disenchanted:)

Every time I make a promise to be back and blog...life steps in and says no :) I just haven't been able to find the extra time with Maci here..to actually sit and write, much less upload pictures...which on my dinosaur computer...takes forever. I LOVE blogging..and I think it is actually good for me. I especially LOVE all my friends in the village :) Even though I don't comment...I do check in on you when I can...Love and hugs to each one of you!

There has been so much going on. Sam had his first cello recital last weekend. He did a WONDERFUL job!! I am so proud of him. He is coming along nicely. It is a pleasure just listening to him practice:)

My chickens...all 12 of them are getting so big!


The are 4 to 5 weeks old now. My Isa Browns were a little older than the others...they're the ones that I think are closer to 5 wks. old. I think Mark and Sam are probably going to be working on the coup and pen this weekend. I feel so blessed to have chickens. It is something I've wanted to do for a long time. It has been a wonderful learning experience for Sam as well. It's amazing, but they seem to grow overnight.

I learned this week, that one of my dearest friends is moving to another state. I am happy for her, but sad as well. Her husband had lost his job and has now found another wonderful opportunity somewhere else. She started in the homeschool co-op that Sam attends, at the same time as we did. It just wouldn't...and won't, be the same without her. Sam has made a very sweet friend in her son as well. I know he is very sad about it too. She is one of the most thoughtful, sensitive and caring, and loving people I' ve ever met. I am so blessed to have been able to get to know her and be her friend in the time that she has been here...Tamara...you will be greatly missed...Love and hugs dear friend :)

Health wise, I am feeling better. All the iron-infusions seemed to have helped. I mentally esp., seem much clearer and stronger. Physically I still have a few hurdles to go. The fibromyalgia and arthritis often leave me feeling weak and very achy. My neck and lower back have been the biggest struggles. The medicines have helped everything but my lower back and hips. There are many days when I struggle just to walk around..and lift and carrying Maci, is extremely hard for me. I know in my heart...even though the doctor hasn't come right out and said anything; that I need to lose weight too. I would love to start walking...if my lower back and hips would just cooperate :) I go back in next Wednesday to the rheumatologist. I guess I'll try to question him some more about the back issues.

We are getting ready to partially finish up for this school year. He has some science and math that he is going to continue to work on over the summer. With Sarah having the baby, and me having had surgery...he still has to finish some of his Math. The science is just to encourage him to read and learn something fun over the summer. I am probably going to have him do the summer reading program at the library.

I had the nicest day yesterday. One of my neighbors from across the street came over and told me she had something to give me. I told her I'd be over as soon as I got done helping Sam with schoolwork. I went over and she had a beautiful teapot for me. I just LOVE it! While there her husband said, "Well, if you like that one, I've got another one you can have too!" She had given me a gorgeous black with speckles teapot. The spout has a little bird..looks like a chicken:) He then brought out a cow teapot. Her eyes are faded off (I think I can get my oldest daughter, Elizabeth to put some back on for me) but she is adorable. She has a cowbell and a tail!!


What a nice gesture and it made my day!! Then to top it off...the neighbor next door to them, gave me 2 of these beautiful and huge yellow roses! They really are huge and they smell heavenly!! It was his 70th birthday yesterday(the neighbor) and my youngest daughter Sarah (Maci's Mom) turned 19 as well :) Happy Birthday (yesterday :) to Sarah! She was a big girl when she was born 9 lbs. 9 oz. Wow, how time flies!

It was a nice day for birthdays and I am so glad that that my sweet neighbors thought kindly of me and made my day special as well:)

This verse just sort of jumped out at me, and so I thought that it would be a nice way to end my post. Much Love and Hugs too, from me to you :) Jerelene

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!

Wow...if it rains much more I think we're going to have to get a boat. We have had so much rain and severe storms...I am sick of it :( The dogs hate going out in the rain to go potty too! As I sit here and type it is thundering and lightning again :(

I did lose my little chick that was sick..I felt so bad..but there wasn't anything I could do for her. It's amazing to see how quickly they grow...overnight it seems. Sam has already picked one out as his own. It's one of the Isa Browns. It's a little darker than the others and easy to tell apart. He named her Brach. I guess you could spell it Brock..but that sounds more like a boy name. I'm just hoping that it's not a him :)

I've been getting iron infusions to help with my anemia. I think it has definately helped some. I am feeling a little more clear minded. I'm still tired though. The rheumatologist has checked my blood levels and I'm waiting to hear back if I need more iron infusions. I have fibromyalgia so my tiredness may well be because of that. My back has been what's really bothering me. I am hoping it lets up. When (and if ever) it quits raining..I am wanting to take Sam and Maci for walks every day. Maci is sure growing! Just like those cute little chicks...cute little Maci is getting bigger every day too! She sure loves the dogs! They are entertainment for her :) Now that her hand and eye coordination are improving she's able to reach out and grab things. Including her Grandpa's moustache..She reaches for the dogs too..they are her favorite thing to go after.

Homeschooling with a baby in the house is quite interesting. Especially when they are fussy! There's a lot of this going on at my house..So naturally when I have moments like this...they are to treasure. I thought the view from my lap was quite lovely :) If you notice, the dogs (babysitters) are all sleeping too. Even Teddy in the background...Ahh...the sound of silence :) Speaking of Teddy...he is getting his haircut today. He's needed it for a while..and I can't wait to see how cute he looks! I guess that's about if for now..

I want to end this with a wonderful quote I found on a friend's facebook page...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. there is nothing enlightnened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."-Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural address. Written by Maryanne Williamson

Until next time, With Love and Blessings, Jerelene

Babies :)

Today we did something we've wanted to do for a LONG time :) We got some chickens :) Yay!!!

Sam is very excited about it. We got a few different kinds..4 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Barred Rocks, 3 Brahma's and 3 Isa Browns..We might get a couple more..I want to see how we do with these :) One of our Reds is kind of sickly looking..I hope she doesn't die..I guess this will be a definite learning experience for us.

We've been having to be creative with getting our school work done with Maci here. She's been a fussy little girl...busy cutting teeth. Sam is reading "Our Island Story" for History. He's also doing a Progeny Press literature study guide on "Redwall." We just finished our latest read aloud, "The Door in the Wall." It was a good book. We are now moving on to "Swiss Family Robinson." Along with it he will be study Oceans and Sea Creatures. He is looking forward to it. He is studying about the platypus right now. It was something he wanted to learn about just for fun!

Our garden has been started..but it's been storming and raining so much that we haven't really been able to get as many things out there as we would like. I say we...but Mark is the one doing it :) I'm busy being a busy Grandma :) Miss Maci is growing like a little weed :) She is 5 1/2 months now..And her Grandma loves her SO much!! In case you can't tell.

I guess I'll end it here for now... I do hope everyone is doing well and that God's blessings are showering down on you :)

Until next time...(Hopefully soon:)

Jerelene

A give-away at Weather Vane :)

So the snow that was suppose to be just some flurries, turned out to be 1 1/2 to 2 inches here :) The local weathermen were not expecting us to get any measurable snow at all. When I saw it coming on the radar..I thought that they were going to be wrong...and they were wrong! At first they had the local schools on a 2 hr. delay. Around 6:30-7:00 they announced they were cancelling. The kids around here are getting lots of snowdays ;) Except for us..

We have been consistently having some snow just about every week. I think they are calling for some more next Monday too.

We are having some meatballs that I made from a recipe on our corn-flake cereal box. They sound yummy so we shall find out in a couple of hours if they are indeed delicious. I think we're going to have some mac-n-cheese and some broccoli with it. Possibly some rice-krispie treats for dessert :) If the meatballs turn out to be yummy I will share the recipe!

A new friend is having a give-away. It is an adorable hen spoon holder. Her name is Rae. She has a lovely blog and you should go check it out! Go to weather vane and drop by for a visit!The snowmen floral arrangement was a gift from our church to me when I had my hysterectomy. Even though it is sort of Christmasy..I love snowmen and they stay out for a while after Christmas at my house :) It's a short post for now as Sarah and Maci are here. Mark is feeling better, but Sam is still not 100% better. He's just been laying around a lot. We did a little Math and he watched a series on Ancient Rome on You tube with Mark. I'll do some read alouds later. Off to finish supper! ~HUGS~

With Love, Jerelene

Hot chocolate, a poem and a prayer :)

It's been a cold weekend here. Sam is still feeling under the weather and Mark has started feeling a lot worse today. I think he is going in to work tonight and checking things out, and then coming back home.. The terrible cold and snowy, damp weather we've been having is not helping at all. It makes you want to stay in and settle down with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.
Sam likes his hot chocolate with a candy cane it it!! It's very soothing when you have a sore throat :)

I spent some time cuddled up in my quilt doing some knitting this afternoon. We watched "Despicable Me" this weekend. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but I did! In the end the "bad" main character turned out to not be so bad after all :) I'm a sucker for a happy ending :)

A few days ago I ran across a great poem on a new friends blog. Her name is Anita and she has a lovely blog... I am so glad to have her as a new friend:) I of course had to ask her if I could use the poem here...and she said yes! Please check her blog out..I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do...Busy Hands Busy Mind :)

As many of you know, I do a lot of reading aloud to Sam, due to his Tourettes. So, naturally this poem hit a soft spot in my heart. I immediately thought of another friend,..Lori...who's son suffers from Tourettes as well..You can meet her at her blog here...Jehovah Jireh Dwells Here..

So here is the poem...I loved it and hope you do too! Thanks Anita for sharing :)

When Mother Reads Aloud

Anonymous

When Mother reads aloud, the past

Seems real as every day;

I hear the tramp of armies vast,

I see the spears and lances cast,

I join the trilling fray;

Brave knights and ladies fair and proud

I meet when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, far lands

Seem very near and true;

I cross the desert's gleaming sands,

Or hunt the jungle's prowling bands,

Or sail the ocean blue.

Far heights, whose peaks the cold mists shroud,

I scale, when Mother reads aloud.

When Mother reads aloud, I long

for noble deeds to do--

To help the right, redress the wrong;

It seems so easy to be strong,

So simple to be true.

Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd

My eyes, when Mother reads aloud.

I had the pleasure of babysitting sweet little Maci this weekend. I've already posted some pics of her on my facebook page..But, I couldn't resist putting one on here too!
She is really growing. It seems like time passes so much faster when we get older. I remember as a child waiting on birthdays, Christmas, summer break..it seemed that time was so slow! Now I feel like I'm on a snowball and it's rolling down the hill at 100 mph :)

On a not so happy note, I found out this weekend about a homeschool family that's children were taken away from them...SO sad! I thought I would post a link and that maybe everyone could keep them in their prayers. It's always sad to hear about families being split up..the poor children :( Please if you could, ask other friends and families that you know to pray for them too!

Here is the link http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=253365

I know I've shared here that I've been dealing with a lot of heartache this last year. My wonderful new family doctor suggested that I read a book called "Life's Healing Choices" by John Baker. I started on it before I had my hysterectomy, then I felt like I couldn't get BACK into it..I think I found some of the personal stories of others' trials and heartaches to be too much for me. So, I am going to make an earnest attempt to finish it..even if it means scimming over some of the testimonies. One of the first things in the book is a prayer to pray...I thought I would share it here. The book deals with helping us (through God) to get over life's hurts, hang-up, and bad habit..Of putting God in charge...REALLY in charge of our lives....

Dear God, please help me not to ignore this pain You are using to alert me to my need for help. In the past, as I've ignored the denial busters You've allowed in my life, I have actually refused Your help. I am so sorry for this and ask Your help in facing the truth and trusting You to care for me. You know and care about all the pain and hurt I have in my life. Today I need Your help. I can't do it on my own. I have tried, and I keep coming up empty.

First, I pray for Your power in my life. I need Your power to break habits I can't break. I need Your power to help me to do the things that I know are right but can't seem to do on my own. I need Your power to break free from my past. I ask for Your power to get on with the plans You have for my life.

Next, I pray for love. I want real love. I want to be able to love people and have them love me. I pray that with Your love I can let go of past hurts and failures so I can tear down the walls of fake intimacy. God, I ask You to help me have genuine intimacy with You and others. Help me not be afraid of really loving and of really being loved.

I also pray for real self-control. I realize that I'm really not in control until I allow Christ to be in control of my life and circumstances.

God, please grant me Your power, love, and self-control. Help me to continue making healing choices. Amen.

I'm sorry for such a long post, but I felt moved to share that prayer...I think the control issue is probably a struggle for most of us. Really giving in and letting God control everything..that can be SO hard to do.

I better go for now. Since Mark has been working 3rd shift, it's been a struggle for me to not follow in being up at night. He calls me on his breaks and so then I'm up at night:( I feel like I can't tell him not to call. He is the only person there at the school at night..so I'm sure he gets tired and lonely..So, when he calls...I talk ;) What's a wife to do? I think he's being protective too..calling and checking up on us, to make sure we're safe here :)

I hope your weekend was a happy one and that the week starting will be happy and blessed as well.....Love and Hugs, Jerelene

PS...I always find it funny that spellcheck tells me that I'm mispelling my name :) HUGS

Books, Boots and Baby Maci

It snowed today! We got almost 3 inches here at my house. The public school kids were out today and will be out tomorrow as well. School has been kind of slow around here this week. I have been fighting a sore throat and temp. and now Sam and Mark have it too. The Doctor started me on an antibiotic yesterday. Sam will have to go to the Doctor too if he doesn't get any better by Monday. He is running a pretty good fever tonight. We've still been doing some school work, such as Math and some reading. I've been taking advantage of Netflix and You tube with watching movies on Ancient Rome and on Earthquakes and Volcanoes. When you aren't feeling well it is SO nice to be able to just relax and watch some movies. This is my current read...I am really enjoying it. I love it when I can find a book that goes along with what we are learning in the school work. This book is part of a series. I think I'll be reading more of them. It is a very interesting book.
Sam's current read aloud (read together :) is the Bronze Bow. We just started it, but I can tell it is going to be really good!! This is part of the stack of 11 books that came home from the library with us this week. We are studying Ancient Rome, Geology and Rocks and Minerals, Handel and the Messiah. We have been working hard on our Greek and Latin roots as well. I like to have Sam act as the teacher and test me on them. It's fun for him to play the teacher. And he's learning along without as much stress. I'm learning too...he thinks it funny when I miss them :)

Sam is currently reading this book as well. It is not on Ancient Rome. But he's been showing a lot of interest in learning about Hitler, and so this book was perfect. Especially being that it takes place in the winter. We will be learning about modern American History from the Civil War on..next year.
In our free time Sam has been having fun playing on his new X-box that he got for Christmas. The dogs are enjoying cuddling up with him to stay warm. They are constantly snuggled up with someone. Especially Mickey. He is ALWAYS cold :)
So, as some of you know..my favorite color is purple. It has always been my favorite. Through the years I acquired more favorites as well, but purple still has a special place in my heart. It's my birthstone too, so maybe that is part of it. When I was a little girl, I even had purple carpet in my bedroom!! Well, the point to this is..my Mom got me some boots as an early birthday present for me. (My birthday isn't until Feb. 12.) The boots are PURPLE!!! I was thinking that maybe I'm too old for such cute boots...but I had to wear them to the doctors office and try them out :)...and the nurse practioner and nurses all really liked them. They are a bit more of a heel than I am use to. But, they did grow on me after I wore them around. I originally thought that I would give them to my oldest daughter Elizabeth; being that she has her birthday after mine. But then I changed my mind. I think she was really disappointed. Especially after she tried them on :) Now I just need a purple handbag to match! She is such a pretty young lady. I think she is hoping that I will change my mind!! Here is a picture of Lovely Liz wearing my purple boots :)Maci is doing well except for her eyes. She is on her 3rd round of eye drops. Both eyes keep giving her trouble. I suspect if the newest drops don't work that they will be sending her to a specialist. My oldest had a clogged tear duct, but only in one eye. It got better after a LOT of eye drops and a lot of massaging it. Maci is over 10 lbs now. She is such a cutie. Her Aunt Liz just loves her SO much. It is obvious in the way she looks at her little niece. I think Maci loves Aunt Liz too!! What do you think?
I'm going to end this post with my favorite Bible verse. Sam is currently memorizing it and using it for copywork. I hope that everyone is staying warm and safe and that God's Love and Blessings are with you and your family :)
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40: 29-31
With Love and Hugs, Jerelene