Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Gratituesday: 15 on the 15th, 2015

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Sunday was a pretty big day for our second son, Justus. He turned 15 on Feb. 15, 2015.

Even more fun? One of his very good friends from church camp shares his birthday – as in – they were born just hours apart, 15 years ago. Since we live over two hours away from this friend, the two of them have been plotting for months about how they could spend their golden birthday together. Amazingly, plans all fell into place, thanks in part to willing parent drivers from both locations. The two boys met half-way and spent the afternoon and evening hanging out.

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On the home front, we celebrated by making 15 birthday cakes (just kidding) and giving him 15 gifts (just kidding). He was given a present and a cake, and his choice for meals – just like all birthdays around here. Later this week, he’ll go get his driver’s permit. Here we go again with driver training!

Have I mentioned lately how fantastic teenagers are? The older my kids get, the more I understand the verses about Mary watching Jesus grow and “treasuring these things up in her heart.” Watching my boys grow into godly manhood, surrounding themselves with godly friends, and being open to God’s leading in their lives – well, there is much to be treasured. I’m also obviously relying on many other scriptures for mama encouragement as without a doubt, raising kids in this world is very hard work. I have to daily surrender the worries and fears that threaten to take over my heart.

God is big. God knows what our kids need. God loves our kids unconditionally. God has plans for our kids that He has worked out in advance. My job is to simply trust the Father to protect my kids and to be their loving mama. Like I said, daily surrender.

I’m praising God today for the privilege of being Mom to my four incredible boys and for His constant guidance. And how about you?  What are you thankful God for this Gratituesday?

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Gratituesday: Even the Sound of My Clicking Keyboard is Loud!!!!

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Figuring you’d rather read about my exciting produce purchases, my fun new recipe discoveries, and my exciting life with teenagers – I have spared you the details of my silly but very annoying physical malady of the past few weeks. But, lucky you, now I’m going to share. It’s Gratituesday, after all – and this is something I’m very thankful for. Praise God in everything, right?

Christmas day (yes 6 weeks ago), which also happened to be the day we left for a long road trip to California, my left ear plugged up. Typically when an ear plugs, you can yawn to pop it, right? Not so for me this time. Figuring it would pop any minute, and knowing my chiropractor was closed for the holiday, I did nothing but wait (and yawn a lot).

As it was, my ear remained plugged through our entire drive and visit to California. I went to my chiro immediately after returning home. He adjusted me. He did acupuncture. I went to my homeopathic doctor. I went back to my chiro. I did ear candles. I used essential oils. I went to my massage therapist. I stood on my head (not even kidding). I prayed. I prayed. I prayed. My ear remained plugged.

I had not been sick. I was not in pain. I simply couldn’t hear well in my left ear, and every time I talked I heard my own voice loudly inside my head. Argh! So annoying! I gained a new appreciation and compassion for those with hearing loss. No wonder they struggle to be in large crowds of people.

Bless my family for having to say everything twice. Matt would whisper something sweet into my left ear and I would respond with a blank stare. Poor guy. ;)

Finally I recognized that my ear issue had nothing to do with drainage or lack thereof. Took me long enough, right? Hey, I’m not one to just run to the doctor for every little thing. Typically ear issues can be treated easily and entirely by the chiropractor or with a specific ear draining massage. I wanted to exhaust all other possibilities first. So I did. Since nothing else worked, I finally went to Urgent Care.

This turned out to be an ear wax impaction. They flushed my ear out and two minutes later I was a new woman. The nurse yelled, “THERE NOW, IS THAT BETTER?” Come to think of it, she probably used her quiet inside voice. It just seemed so loud and clear to my freshly cleaned out ear. (You’re welcome that I’m not going into detail about what was flushed out. Wow and wow again.)

So yay for me (and for my family)! I can hear again! From typing on my keyboard to hearing trains go by, I am noticing all the sounds I’ve been missing the past several weeks.

Of all things, today I am thankful for conventional medical treatment and a doctor who didn’t question me or suggest that I take some sort of medicine that would only treat the symptom and not the real issue. That is, after all, why I had avoided going in the first place. Had I known 6 weeks ago that none of that would happen and that all I needed was a date with a high powered water blast through my ear….

In the meantime, my chiropractic adjustments and massage benefited my health, so nothing was lost on those appointments.

So please, leave a really loud (or really soft) comment telling me what you’re thankful for this week. I’LL BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU!!!! How great it is to be reminded of the little things (like hearing) that we take for granted.

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Gratituesday: Bathroom Remodel

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Our house is over 100 years old. This means that it has a lot of character, which we love. It also means that it has a lot of issues, which we have been working on during the past 12 years we’ve lived here.

Remember when Matt knocked out our living room walls, added insulation, then rebuilt the walls three years ago?

Before

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During (oh my)

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After

living_room_2

There have been several other projects going on since then as our house is a never-ending project! The latest? Our downstairs bathroom. This room has been a huge frustration the past few years with a toilet that doesn’t work efficiently (understatement!), a bathtub that leaks, a sink that…well, you really don’t need all the gory details.

Here’s where we are with our “new bathroom” at this point:

Before

bathroom 1

 During

bathroom 2

And the “after” is yet to come. Matt is working double-time on this project because we very much need our second bathroom back. We’re in the midst of picking tile and a shower and a vanity and choosing colors schemes. This is not my specialty! I’m going with earth tones. You’re shocked, I’m sure.

I can’t wait to show you the finished bathroom, and I’m even more excited to have a bathroom for people to use when they come over that I won’t have to say, “Hold the flusher down for thirty minutes when you’re done, the plunger is in the bathtub if you need it, and if the door sticks when you’re trying to get out, just bang really loud and we’ll come kick it in for you.”

You think I’m kidding.

God is good to give us the resources to make these home improvements. I’m so thankful for my husband and his hard work and know-how. Very soon, I’ll be sharing the “after” picture of our beautiful new bathroom. I can’t wait!

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Leave a comment to let us know what God is doing in your life. 

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Gratituesday: We’re Home! (And Guess What We Did While We Were Gone!)

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We were gone for twelve days. Seven of those days were spent in the car. Phew, home has never looked so good.

We were blessed to visit with many of our California relatives this Christmas break. In the five full days we were there, we moved at a frantic pace, making the most of our time to visit with as many people as possible. It was a joy – and also exhausting. (By the way, we wanted to hold Meet-and-Greets along the way there but our schedule and energy didn’t permit. So sad!)

grand canyon 1

On our way home we surprised our boys by taking them to the Grand Canyon. Matt and I had not been there before either, so we were all in for a treat! After a few hours spent marveling at the canyon, we headed to surprise our boys by taking them to the Four Corners. Would you believe – we drove up and the gate was closed and locked. It was so disappointing! I told Matt not to even tell me how far we had driven out of our way for that. We had planned to put each of our boys in a different corner/state and get a fun picture! Ah well…

grand canyon 2

We are so thankful for a safe trip and a wonderful time with so many loved ones. We’ll spend the next few days settling back in and trying to get caught up. Let’s not talk about the leak in the basement we came home to. Eh, could be worse, right? ;)

Leave a comment to let us know what you’re thankful for!!

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Gratituesday: Music Lessons and Malachi’s First Piano Recital

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This is a year of music lessons for our family. I wish we’d started earlier – particularly for our oldest who has much musical talent but no spare time now that he’s a senior. But, there’s no point in having regrets. We’re thankful we were able to work in music lessons for our three younger boys this year. (Asa’s sure to pick up on bits of what his brothers are learning, right?)

We gave them each a choice. Because they all have musical ability but different interests, the three boys chose three different instruments. Justus chose guitar, Elias chose drums, and Malachi chose piano. Who knows? Maybe someday they’ll have their own band!

Juggling in all the lessons and practices has been a good discipline for the boys. Is our house even louder now than it was before? Oh yeah! But we love hearing them practice. It’s been wonderful to hear them develop their talents.

This Sunday, Malachi had his first piano recital. He had practiced his songs so many times he could play them in his sleep. He wore his favorite shirt and tie for the occasion, and played his first song without a mistake. He acted like he wasn’t nervous at all!

malachi recital 1

And then there was me.  See, I had agreed to play a simple duet with Malachi that he and I had had so much fun with at home. It was an appropriate song for this Christmas recital, and he wanted us to play it there together.

This mama only plays the piano just a tiny bit, and I never – never – play for people. But because playing with Malachi has brought so much joy, I said yes to joining him for his second recital piece. Phew, I got nervous. I believe I only messed up three times, so we’ll count it as a success. ;)

 malachi recital 2

Bless my friend Jenny for getting pictures! (My older boys had tried but hadn’t been successful in getting good ones.)

I can’t wait to see where my boys take what they are learning with their music. They are off to a great start, and we’re so thankful God has provided such wonderful, godly teachers for them!

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Please leave a comment to share. I’m always so encouraged to hear how God is working in your life!

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Gratituesday: The Big Purchase

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You know how exciting it is when your baby first get a tooth, takes a first step, and says his/her first word? I have to tell you, this past week has ranked right up there as one of the most exciting “firsts” for our family, particular for oldest son, Asa. Allow me to introduce to you the newest member of our family:

asa car

Yes indeed, our 17 year old has purchased his first car.

It’s been quite the event. My dad, Asa’s “Papa,” called a few weeks ago to let us know he may have found a good car if Asa was interested. My dad is an auctioneer, so he frequently comes across items of interest. The car isn’t new, and it isn’t fancy, but if Asa wanted something reliable, this could be perfect. It had been owned by an older person who hadn’t driven it much and had taken good care of it.

We did a lot of research, loving that although the car is old (1994), it has low mileage and a good reputation. Asa decided on a price to bid for the car, and left it in Papa’s hands since the auction was in Kansas. Our family went on to play in a Basketball Triangular all day Saturday while my dad carried on with his auction at the same time. As we were heading home after a long day on the basketball court, the text from my dad came in, “Asa owns a car.”

Shouting and high fives and all around.  He had won the bid! Not only that, he got a lower price for it than we had expected – a blessing for sure!

We are so proud of Asa. He has been working hard and saving his money for years. This purchase was a wise one, and very doable for him because of the way he’s handled his money through the years. He’s even still got a savings cushion (which hurts him on the FAFSA, as we are now learning – don’t even get me started).

He’ll get to bring his car home after our Thanksgiving trip to Kansas, so the timing for this purchase couldn’t be better. As always, God worked this one out just right.

There’s much to be thankful for, and while it’s especially on our minds this time of year, I’m grateful to celebrate God’s goodness each week here during Gratituesday! Your turn to share: What are you thankful for?

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Gratituesday: The Extra Room

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When we moved from Colorado to Nebraska 12 years ago, we were so excited to get a really large house for a really good price. It’s not a new house – as a matter of fact, it’s over 100 years old. But there’s plenty of room for our boys to run around, invite all their friends to run around, fill up with company, and do all that we love to do with others in our home.

It’s also really hard to heat, has crazy plumbing issues, and gets cob-webby very easily. We won’t focus on those disadvantages. No house is perfect. But God gave us this home, and we love it (while wearing many layers during the winter months).

One of the biggest blessings of owning our big home is the fact that we’ve been able to house extras from time to time. It’s been so neat to watch God put people in our lives who need a place to stay. We have an extra bedroom that is perfect for company – but even better for people who need to stay for an extended time.

guestroom3sm

That bedroom is tucked away in the “back” of our home, so our extended guests can have a little bit of their own space. People have stayed in that room for anywhere from six weeks to seven months at a time. We figure – if they are brave enough to move in with our (loud, crazy, busy) family – they are more than welcome to stay as long as they need.

From college students, to a widow in transition, to a friend in crisis, to guys needing a place to stay before they get married – it’s been so great to see who God moves in. We’ve lived here 12 years, and God has moved 8 people into that room for one reason or another. These guys and gals have blessed us so much!

The young man we have living with us now has become like a beloved son to us. He gets married in December (yay!) so moves out the end of this month (sniff). For some reason, he and his bride have decided to get a place of their own after their wedding (ha!). He is a fabulous role model for our sons. We are so blessed.

God is so good to fill our lives with people to love and serve. In His constantly perfect way, He makes our service to others an even bigger blessing to us. I love how He works.

Now your turn to share! How is God working in your life? Leave a comment to share your blessings!

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Gratituesday: Girl Time for Me

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I have had a very fun 2 days full of girl stuff. Yay me!

My household of men is tremendous, fantastic, and wonderful. It’s just fun to hang out with girls sometimes, you know?

Yesterday, three college girls came for lunch. Today, I got to go out to lunch with a dear girlfriend I hardly ever see. (We sat in the restaurant for 2.5 hours. Awesomeness.)  Later this afternoon, I grabbed two of my young girl friends and headed to a Jamberry nail party. We did nails, we oohed and aahed over the catalog – it was all very girly.

I came home to two of the boys playing soccer in the living room. (Don’t worry, they are allowed to kick a small, soft ball in that room. I don’t have knick-knacks. I know better. Plus I hate dusting them. The knick-knacks, not the soccer balls. Not that I would ever dust soccer balls. Anyway…)

School books hadn’t been put away, a light saber was on the couch, a nerf sword on the rug, a journal opened and smashed onto the tile. This is home. They don’t see the mess, and they don’t care about details. I love my boys.

But shucks was it fun to be a little girly today (and yesterday) and to talk to people who speak that language (the one which frequently says, “oh how cute” and uses more words than, “huh”).

God is good, isn’t He? Having a little girl time was super fun. He knew I needed it. It even helped me see my boys in a special way when I got home.

Oh, and the variety of Jamberry nails I ordered for myself? They have basketballs on them. I enjoyed my girl time, but my boys are my focus and basketball games start up soon. I’ll be rockin’ my basketball fingernails to next week’s games. I think my boys will actually notice and like them. What do you think?

jamberry

Leave a comment – share what you are thankful for this Gratituesday!

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Gratituesday: School on the Road

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Asa, our 17 year old, was 4.5 years old when we were convicted to choose homeschooling for our family. (There are so many words I could say about that statement, but the fact that my oldest baby is 6’3″ and a senior in high school is not the point of this post. Just hand me a Kleenex and keep reading.)

Our reasons for homeschooling were mostly about the blessed additional time it would give us with our kids. Once Asa’s kindergarten year started, we suddenly realized so many extra benefits of schooling from home. Flexibility with our schedule has been one of the biggest perks to our homeschooling lifestyle.

God showed us this blessing just two months into our homeschool journey when my mom was diagnosed with ALS. Knowing we had limited time with her on earth, and knowing Dad would need help with her care, we started making frequent four hour trips south to Kansas. Had Asa been in a public or private school, this would have been so much harder. But with homeschooling, we could just pack up the school books and travel any day of the week we needed to. He could do his school work at Grammy and Papa’s table just as easily as he could do it at our table.

Fastforward through 12 years (because seriously, it seems that life moved at that pace) – and here we are with a 12th, 9th, 7th, and 4th grader. Flexibility has become more and more precious as our boys get older. Specifically last week, we made a very last minute decision to head to Oklahoma on a college visit for Asa. Often, if we know we’ll be traveling or having company come to visit, we’ll just cram in extra school work before we leave so we can have a break on the road. That didn’t work last week since we hadn’t planned ahead.

No problem. We packed the books and laptops. English, math, you name it – the boys just worked as we drove. Matt also picked up some history videos at the library for a fun change of pace, which the boys watched once it got too dark to read.

The boys may tell you differently, but I think this variation from our normal routine can make regular school work more fun. The spur of the minute road trip with a backpack full of books reminded me once again how grateful I am for our flexibility. Now that we’re back home, I’m also thankful for routine. Schooling on the road works and is fun, but it’s also very nice to be back home where our pencils can’t roll under the seat of the van. :)

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Leave a comment to share so that we can celebrate God’s blessings together!

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Gratituesday: One Thing at a Time

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I woke up this morning with a huge to-do list. What’s new, right? Right. Today was a little different though. On Saturday, we made a decision to use a tiny window of time we have this week to go on a college visit for Asa, our high school senior. Seeing as we ended soccer season yesterday and basketball season begins next week – this week is pretty much our only option. :)

So, we’re squeezing in the trip and making lots of last minute plans. If only it was as simple as packing a bag and gassing up the van. Nope. Our Azure Standard food co-op order will be coming in while we’re gone, so I needed to make arrangements for someone else to pick it up. What about our Tuesday farm-fresh milk pick-up? Justus desperately needed a hair cut. I had to update Asa’s high school transcript to take with us. I have an article due for our local newspaper. We needed to follow up with family members for sleeping arrangements while we’re traveling. What about making/packing food for the road? Writing and scheduling posts to go up while I’m away from the computer? Switching piano lesson day and time for Malachi? The list went on forever, and it needed to be completed by tonight.

My brain kicked into high gear the moment my feet hit the floor this morning. This means that I could have gone from peaceful sleep to freak-out mode in a matter of two minutes, especially when I walked into the kitchen and saw the undone dishes from yesterday (blech). Thankfully, after years of going about life the hard way, God is teaching me to do better. Never, ever does it work for me to fly into becoming a crazy mom/wife/blogger/friend/organizer/homemaker. That’s when I say hurtful words to my husband and kids, leaving God completely out of my day. So I did what I know to do now: I told my brain to hush.

My brain put up a bit of a fight, but prayer, my Bible, and a cup (okay fine, 2 cups) of coffee (with cream) won the battle. We got the boys started on their school work and kitchen clean-up, then started tackling all the phone calls and work that needed to be done. One thing at a time, tasks were checked off the to-do list.

By lunchtime, I was amazed at how much had come together even if (don’t tell) I still hadn’t made it back upstairs to get out of my pajamas yet. My work-from-home, school-from-home life is glamorous, no doubt.

I decided to make One-Hour Whole Wheat Yeast Rolls for travel sandwiches (easiest rolls ever!). Didn’t they turn out pretty?

one hour rolls for trip

I’m grateful for how details of our week came together. We’ll now be one more step closer to helping Asa find out God’s plan for him next year. And I didn’t even have to freak out to make it happen. God’s way is best – every single time.

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Leave a comment to share!

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