The Joys Of Family and Hearth

  One of my favorite things to do on a cold crisp day is cooking and baking. Something about the smell of onions, carrots, and celery sauteing up brings a sense of home. And remind me powerfully of my grandmother. The memories of being in her home and feeling her love are all tied to food, where she spent the bulk of her time. Preparing nourishing meals for her family.  When we take the time to prepare meals, we show love to our family. Tonight, I made a Potatoe, Bacon, Cheddar, and Good Ol' Fashion Chicken Noodle. 

 The last time I blogged here was over a year ago, I attempted to start another blog on a different format, and for the life of me, I couldn't grasp the setting, building even publishing my posts there. So I am coming back here to begin again. During Covid, I went back to school and am pursuing my degree in Social Work. In May, I will have earned my AAS in Social Work and hopefully will continue earning my bachelor's.  I will shoot for weekly posts about homeschooling, working full-time mom, full-time student,  grandmom, and wife. I will strive to share my ideas of frugality, canning and basically come back to old-time skills to combat the inflation we face. I will share our stories of joy and hardship and the journey with my faith along the way. I hope to inspire, encourage and just share life after a significant paradigm shift and find the joy in it all.  Thank you for following me on my continued journey in this life.   

  It seems to be trending this that when the New Year arrives, instead of resolutions we've moved on to a word of the year. Because I am a wordy person, I liked this idea. Last year, I picked  "why" and everything revolved around my "why".   I'm going to continue with the "why" but expand it to "grow". I love to grow in different areas of my life. As a mother, teacher, grandmother, and friend. It is innate in me to want to grow, learn, and teach ways to be happy, successful, and have a positive mindset.  This year has been full of change, some good and some bad. The virus brought many families together, for a change families were at home enjoying one another's company rather than being shuffled all over town for events. More families we're eating at home together on a nightly basis! This was amazing.  We learned to love the ones we're with. Rather than look for ways to escape them. We became less focused on ourselves and more ...

So I’m a bit of a history nerd, especially American History and I love to use the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary for reference. My #4 came to me with a friend issue a few days ago and we’ve been discussing this on and off the past few days. But I really wanted to get into it a little deeper. Friend as defined by Webster 1828,  Noun 1. One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy. A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17:17 I love this definition! A friend doesn’t seek to destroy our reputation, our self-image or us as a person. Thus meaning we don’t actively talk negative about someone directly in front of them or behind their backs. My girl has had to deal with this. Mutual friends don’t laugh or like Instagram or Facebook shares that are directed at another friend. A friend seeks to spen...

So I'm a bit of a stickler for a made bed.  Yes, I think it should be made every SINGLE day!  It's a simple task that makes your room appear clean and neat.  I try and keep out master bedroom a bit of a sanctuary for us. Hubby and I work opposite shifts.  So when I leave in the morning he is usually up and I'll make the bed before I go out for the day. Or he'll do it before he leaves.  At night when he comes home I have his towel and jammies laid out at foot of bed because I am normally asleep.  We do have some kids that sneak in and sleep with us every now and then. But creating an atmosphere of rest and relaxation is so important to any marriage.   I do this by using a lot of natural light during the day and very soft lighting in our bed room at night.   I literally have one lamp, two candle stick lights and my salt lamp.  All give off a very soft glow.  My bed is loaded with pillows...

This lovely gift was a 21st wedding anniversary present from my lovely husband.  I absolutely love this thing.. For many reasons...  My hammock brings me peace.   Why??  Because I love to be outside and be in nature.   So everyday weather and schedule permitting I try and get on my hammock.  It's bring me closer to my children.  They will see me out there and come out and lay with me on it.  From my 17 year old on down to my 5 year old.  My 17 year old and I have had the best chats just laying and swinging on that thing.  My youngest daughters 13, and soon to be 10 will bring their books out and  just veg and read with me.  My 5 year old will crawl up on that and just snuggle and chat with me, eventually giving way to the peacefulness of outside and fall asleep in my arms. My grandbabies will cuddle with grammy  and let me read or just hold them.  I have even had my best girl...

Depression is:  hiding behind a smile that no one but you knows is fake. getting dressed even though it feels like the hardest thing to do. hugging your child, when you can't fathom another person touching you. going out, when you really want to stay home. petting your dogs, while  you wonder why they love you unconditionally. cooking for your family, when you really rather not. not eating for days, and then when you do you choose moon pies. crying when you're in the shower, alone in your bedroom, while your whole house sleeps. feelings of guilt feelings of sorrow feelings of inadequacy  feeling overwhelmed feelings you can't explain feeling exhausted headaches  feeling alone even though I'm surrounded by people.  and so much more... but as of late these are the feelings I've been having.  Trying so hard to over come, but my energy level just can't handle any negativity. 

I have been wanting a new bible for quite some time.  I found this one online but I'm way to cheap to buy it for myself.  I can't help it. I'm a mom of 6.  My children have always been my first priority.  Since our move to PA, we have experienced some major changes.  Lots of good and some could be better.  The goal was to better our family and I feel that we have done that.  But a huge part of me, misses my family, my home, my people.  Starting fresh and alone is hard work for me. Especially since I was well established in my area.  The need for me to lean into God is stronger than ever.  We have found a home church. We have jumped in full throttle.  I had a particularly bad day the other day.  And my son went out and bought me this bible and surprised me with it.  I am so happy, and feel so blessed by this gift.  

This was our first full Christmas in our new home.  I can't tell you how hard I struggled with my normal routine and missing my family.  I thought I was so prepared for being away from my family and the longer I am here the more I realize that I was not fully prepared.   I felt so out of sorts that I think I cancelled Christmas 10 times before Christmas Day.  I struggled with my depression, which left my immediate family wondering how they could help me. I literally walked around for day with tears just pouring down my face, and  I couldn't give an explanation as to why. I managed to pull it together and below are some photos, from around the house. 

January is National Soup Month...  and well Soup is a favorite any month!! I make soup at least twice a week through fall and winter.  My family enjoys it and is perfectly happy with it as a meal.  I usually make soup and serve with a small salad or crusty warm bread.  Soup can be hearty and nutritious and can be made relatively  quickly.  Pinterest is a great resource for recipes.  So far this month I've made Italian Wedding Creamy Chicken and Rice Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana White Bean and Zucchini  Italian Sausage Loaded Baked Potato Manga! 

These are my husbands and sons lunch bags.  Each day I pack them with meals that are made to nourish them not only physically, but emotionally as well.  Both my husband and son work swing or night shifts.  Each night they miss dinner with our family.  This includes my daughter in law and two precious grandsons.  I look at those bags and I see dirt, and grease from their jobs. Each morning I open them to pull out the dirty containers and the no longer frozen  ice packs. As I exam the containers I think about what they've eaten or haven't eaten.  Both my husband and son are extremely hard workers.  They will run 6 days a week 12 hours shifts.  My daughter in law stays at home with my two grandsons, but this past year has brought me to working full time.  I miss taking care of my family as my full time job and I often cave to the pressure of still having to do all that plus work full time.  But thos...

So it takes 30 days to start a new habit or get back into one. I'm on 21 days of Menu Planning for three weeks so far! I'm totally starting to feel a sense of normalcy and peace about getting back into the program again, especially with meal planning. I also like to have fun with my menu planning.. so here's what's happening this week on our side of the mountain. Meatless Monday- Summer corn and squash soup! Tuesday-Homemade Chinese, Beef and Broccoli ( took a break from our taco tuesday) Wednesday- Baked Mac N Cheese with Ham (family favorite) Thursday-Breakfast for Dinner Finger Food Friday- All finger type foods, chicken wings, tater tots, slices of cucumbers, carrots with dipping sauce. Saturday-Chicken Pot Pie   Nothing Brings People together,  like Good Food! 

July is when my Christmas Obsession begins to peek its head! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas! And July is when I find it acceptable to start thinking about it! I confess that yes, I will even begin to play Christmas Music! It is also number 5 birthday month! Her birthday is the 30th and she starts her celebration and countdown to her special day on July 1st! She is my sweet girl. and she loves to party like her mother. So any excuse to have a great day and she is there! I think her and I have created our own holidays! So if you start your first pay period in July by putting $30 in an envelope and adding 1 dollar every week to that by the second week in December you will have an extra $800 to use for Christmas! How awesome is  that!

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if we only seek them with our eyes open. This is a natural spring located close to our new home. It provides delicious, cold, fresh water1  This is the Condonquet Creek, it run through our entire neighborhood.  A beautiful little spot we found while exploring one day.  The kids love exploring the creek and all the wildlife that lives in it. Especially crayfish! happy girls are the prettiest.  Fishing Derby! Raising girls right! Teach them how to fish and take care of the home! :)

    home is the nicest word there is. Laura Ingalls Wilder     I think Laura said it best when describing home. Home is generally used in noun form. To me though Home is a feeling. And it's created by the woman of the house usually. Over the years I have taken that task to heart. I worked hard to create a home where my children and husband felt safe and loved. A place where anyone who entered our home felt comfortable, regardless of their financial status, marital status, education level, race, religion etc.   We've entertained the very rich and homeless in our home. We've broken bread with people with Masters Degrees and those who never made it past an 8th grade education.   We've had every form of religion in our home and some who believed in nothing.   We always held true to who we were though. People knew when they came to our home, they were entering a place where Christ comes first, where a bunch of children would be ...

I wish I could say that I managed to stay on top of things for the past 9 months while separated from my husband, working full time, some kids in school, homeschooling other kids.. I wish I could say it was so awesome. But it wasn't. It was hard work. I'm in the new house for just over a week now and I'm starting to feel settled. It feels amazing to be back with my husband under one roof. To be able to care for him like I want to. He has grown so much since being separated from me. His demeanor has calmed quite and bit and he is so happy. It brings me much joy to see him so happy. What I am missing is my oldest children and my grandbabies! So what I have been working on is making this house our home. The other night my husband came home from work. ( He works crazy hours) I usually am waiting outside on the from porch for him to pull in. We sit out on porch and chat about his evening. Well when we came in, he took a huge deep breath and said... "it s...

I'm currently looking out my bedroom window at the pink hue in the sky. The sun is setting over the mountain. It's a much different scene then the sun setting over the bay. Beautiful none the less. I remember 9 months ago, thinking what a breeze this would be for us. My husband took a job out of state for the betterment of our family. I sent him off to live alone, while I held the fortress down home. It seems easy in my mind back then, I compared it to military men doing their tours , pa Ingalls leaving on a hunting expedition. It seemed so romantic back then. But the past 9 months have been extremely trying, scary, joyful, exhausting, peaceful, and just downright a big mix of emotions. I felt so lonely at times even though I was surrounded by my children.  This was my children's first year in public school, the first year in over 20 years that I went back to work full time and the first time I've ever had to experience life as a single mom. While I was blessed ...

For the past two weeks we have been fighting all kinds of illness. From the stomach bug to ear infections, coughing, upper respiratory infections. One of the hardest things about being separated from my husband is when we are all ill. I don't think I've slept a full night in the past two weeks. Let alone gotten much of anything else done, other than cleaning up after sick children and then becoming sick myself. I hate feeling like I'm behind on things, which I am. And I'm not really even homeschooling anymore. Other then answering a few questions from my teenager every now and then. I'm still surprised my homeschooling journey has come to an end. But I am joyful in that my girls are excelling so well in school. We've had about 7 inches of snow here the other day. And we were still fighting illness. I made a turkey and all the fixings. That's our family tradition here. And just when I thought we were on the mend. I had one child come down with a...

By Robert Herrick Lord, Thou hast given me a cell          Wherein to dwell, A little house, whose humble roof          Is weather-proof: Under the spars of which I lie          Both soft, and dry; Where Thou my chamber for to ward          Hast set a guard Of harmless thoughts, to watch and keep          Me, while I sleep. Low is my porch, as is my fate,          Both void of state; And yet the threshold of my door          Is worn by th' poor, Who thither come and freely get     ...

I haven't really given a full family update in a while.  But I wanted to give you all an idea as to what is going on in our lives. Big Daddy is currently living in Pennsylvania, While I hold down the fort at home.  Our plan is to eventually transition our home to Pennsylvania. I'm basically living the single mom life here. Sometimes it's utterly exhausting. The past few weeks have been exceptionally exhausting. As most of you know this is my kids first year in public school, One of my munchkins came home with a cold and it basically spread through out the whole house rather quickly. We had a week of 4 kiddos running fevers, coughing, vomiting etc. My youngest was hit the hardest and got pneumonia. He spent a full week in the hospital. And he is now home but we are still undergoing breathing treatments every 4 hours. It's taken me two days to attempt to get my house in order, and I'm still not done but now I'm down with some sickness. I'm rea...