Farmhouse Chicks

Leaving

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 23:44:00 +0000

We walked through the house one last time.

We built this house. We. Built. This. House.

We spent 5 years building THE house.

My husband and boys did everything, from the ground up. Truly EVERYTHING.

The girls and I helped along the way. (And when our last trailer full of furniture and office stuff gets here, I'll post pics of these little helpers....my hard drive with those pics is in that trailer...along with our clothes, coats and Lord knows what else)

Walking the halls and rooms of the house one last time was surreal and unfortunately rushed. It was raining that day. We were scrambling to get all of our belongings in the many different trailers and vehicles while the skies let loose. Even heaven was crying about our leaving.

The new owners were anxious to get in and had called and said they'd be coming up the drive within the 1/2 hour! We weren't going to make it. We really wanted to be pulled out of the drive before we watched them move in to our beloved home. were running through to make sure everything was clean and perfect. The kids were in the cars waiting. It was hectic and crazy! Not at all the way we thought our good-byes would be.

Packed like sardines we began our journey south. We were leaving 25 years of memories, familiarity, and family and friends. All that we had built was here and pulling away was really strange for some.

We got about 20 minutes down our curvy road when Steve realized that we would never make it to Tennessee with the Budget truck. It was WAY to top heavy!

We (all 6 vehicles and trailers) pulled up into a parking lot to figure out what to do. Steve was almost paralyzed with anxiety. This truck would never make it down the back roads to our new home without topplng over. What were we to do? After what seemed like an eternity, pacing back and forth in the parking lot, calling other truck companies, unloading and redistributing to other vehicles we decided to drive to Chicago and possibly get another truck. That meant unloading this one and reloading another in the dark.

This was NOT how I thought our trip was going to begin.

to be continued...

Living outdoors~

Sandy

Farmhouse Chicks

Where have you been?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 20:33:00 +0000

It's been over 2 years since I've written here. We've been doing a lot of living and not a lot of blogging.

We (all 8 of us + 2 dogs) have recently moved cross country from the frigid North to the very warm (okay, HOT!) South. We have gone from 27 acres and a small river to 2 acres and a HUGE river.

Here is the back story to our present craziness.

Over 30 years ago my husband had a dream to open a vocational training facility for underprivileged youth. (That is a story in and of itself...maybe you'll read about it in his book one day). The Lord told him that he'd work with kids that came out of families like his own; those that could relate to him and his own upbringing.

Once we met it became our collective dream and vision for our future. Everywhere we have lived, played and prayed has been with this vision ahead of us.

After some soul searching about how this would come about we moved to the North where we became Bible students. During this time the Lord called us to live with my in-laws and asked my husband to restore his childhood home. Little did he know at the time that what God was really asking was for him to be open to allowing HIM to restore what was stolen from him in his childhood. (again...the topic for his future book).

Fast forward 8 years. We bought property on a meandering river wide enough to canoe and kayak in and small enough to walk across to the other side. It was here that we planned on investing in the youth from our vision.

We built a home, had 5 children, co-led a home fellowship, ran 3 businesses, homeschooled and began to have Father/Son and Mother/Daughter campouts on our property. Our goal was to have a boys home, build some vocational training buildings, create a farm and give underprivileged youth a new start.

The campouts were great! Time spent teaching relational concepts to the parents and children was rewarding. Themed weekends brought understanding of basic areas of life and taught invaluable communication skills. We have kids today in their 20's that still talk about those days. It became a favorite every year with the community kids.

We built our BIG HOUSE after 5 years in our carriage house. This house was built with the intention to have a boys home on the 4th floor. It took us 5 years to build and 3 years after living in it we looked out our back bay window at the 27 acres, cabin and river and said to each other, "We need more land."

We felt the Lord leading us to sell and look for a large tract of land in the South. Now, you have to understand another part of the story. Steve knew from a dream that he had that he wasn't to leave this land until his dad passed. He knew he would be instrumental in his father coming to the Lord in his last days. However, at this time his dad was fairly healthy.

How do you put a house up for sale when you have this understanding? Well, just a few short weeks later his dad had some testing done and found out he had lung cancer. We knew we couldn't leave then. However, the Lord said to put it up for sale. So, we did.

9 months later the house was still up for sale and his dad passed from cancer. It was a cold day in March and we went to visit his dad in the nursing home. It was very apparent that it was his last day. Steve had spent many hours visiting with his dad over the past 3 months. Praying with him, speaking truth to him and asking him some hard questions.

We spoke to him, sang to him and prayed over him all morning. It was a sweet time of healing. In the afternoon, Steve had been prompted by the Lord to go home and make his casket. (You can read about that on my Amazing Grace post.) 2 hours later Steve, my boys and girls had made the casket, the lining and the trim for his father to be buried in. Upon our return to the nursing home, we knew it was only a matter of minutes. How do minutes pass so slowly and yet so quickly at the same time?

Steve asked me to sing Amazing Grace, his dad's favorite song and only request at his passing. Choking back tears and a voice overcome with emotion, I whispered and then sobbed and then sang so his dad could hear and be comforted. Steve held his hand and kissed his forehead and then his father opened his eyes for the last time, a tear slipped out of one eye, as if to say, "thank you." He took his last breath and was gone. Steve closed his eyes.

If you knew anything about the relationship my husband and his father had, you would know there was a miracle taking place here. (I'm thankful he will be writing a book about this someday).

We thought for certain that our house would now sell. We hunted properties in the south. We traversed hundreds of miles each year looking and dreaming.

It took 3 years from start to finish to sell our home. 3 long years where we didn't get involved in any long term commitments. 3 long years where we put our lives on hold thinking surely it was going to sell sooner.

January 2016 the Lord said, "Get ready. Tie up all your loose ends."

We had an offer in March and sold in June.

We had 30 days to move 8000 sq. ft of stuff, 8 people and 2 dogs from 27 acres to 1 camper, 1 tent, 1 complete house renovation and 2 acres.

See why I haven't been blogging much?

Welcome to the present day life we now live. Camping indoors and outdoors and finding freedom and laughter in the little things. Our first stop on the way to living out our dream on the lakeside farm.

Stay tuned for month 1 at the lake.......to be continued.....

Sandy,

Puddling up

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 15 May 2014 21:20:00 +0000

The sky is grey and the rain is still falling.

I'm watching as rain hits a puddle beside the chair on the porch and wonder.

Each raindrop falls. Sinks into the earth. Or puddles up on the ground.

Like us at times.

Sometimes I am sinking into the earth and refreshing it.

Sometimes I am puddling up.

Today is one of those days where the house is quiet and I'm wondering.

Comparing.

Comparing myself to all the other people out there with a heart for the hurting. A heart to help.

And wondering….how do they do it?

How do they get up day after day and encourage the lonely? Bind up the broken hearted?

How do they handle the heart break of those that don't accept their love? Those that will go back to their old ways of depraved living?

Despair is all around. It's engulfing at times.

Today…I'm puddling up.

How do I make a difference? How do I help release the captives?

Overwhelming. Tiring to think about.

But, I know that it's what I am called to.

I am compelled to reach the broken, the destitute, the lonely.

Praying to be the drops that soak the thirsty earth. Becoming a refreshing drink for the one who has chosen, just this once, to dig their roots deep enough to be nourished.

Refreshing. Renewing. Rebuilding. Restoring.

Our Winter in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:18:00 +0000

Winter has been L-O-N-G here. Months of long, cold, bitter weather.

I could complain. I could make a fuss. But that's not like me.

I love all the seasons.

BUT….this winter brought with it some serious doubt as to wether or not I can safely say that I like winter. The jury is still out. But….

Here is how we spent our winter...

We warmed up the coop with some soap making. This is our olive oil, coco bar. Smells earthy and cleans beautifully. Looks like chicken poop. I know. Deal with it.

We spent our fair share of time drinking hot tea and talking about where life is taking us. Lots of round the fire talks, late night pillow talk, and heart to heart discussions about young adult life and how we choose to define ourselves.

The fashionista has been creating some original artwork. We'd love to see her open an Etsy store, but she says then it'd be work. She likes the joy of just creating.

The Farmhouse Artist began a pencil drawing of her brother and future sister-in-law. It will be a memorable keepsake for them.

Fashionista practiced some silhouette photography.

And we reveled in the beauty of the God's photography and artwork.

Amazing Grace

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:39:00 +0000

I have never appreciated this song as much as I have these last few days.

Have you sung this in your church?

Or maybe in your own quiet time?

It's a powerful hymn.

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

His grace made perfect in us. His grace extended to us even when we don't deserve it.

Today we lay to rest my husband's father.

But let me take you back to the last few days.

My father-in-law had lung cancer and fought bravely.

Last Tuesday I went to visit him and tell him of all that was happening in the outside world. We talked about the weather, current events and even talked about memories we had together.

After about an hour of me talking…him listening and not really responding…except for an occasional look in my direction…I decided that maybe we should sing. He used to sing all the time.

So, I began with some hymns.

Oh the Blood of Jesus

Amazing Grace

Be Thou My Vision

He listened for awhile. Then I began to sing them all again.

Then as if he was in the choir again….slowly and at different intervals he began to hum them with me.

Amazing Grace seemed to be his favorite.

I was encouraged by this and continued singing.

He would move his eyes….show recognition and then hum again.

It was a sweet time with my father-in-law.

That was Tuesday.

Sunday came.

My husband and I stopped in for a visit.

He didn't look so good. Eyes closed and shallow breathing.

We stayed most of the day talking to him. Singing at different times and praying with him.

We knew this was probably the day we would be saying good-bye.

At 3pm we both had a strong urge to go home and make his final resting place.

You see, my husband was asked to make a simple, yet personal casket for his dad.

This was an honor.

With great care my husband selected some of the lumber we felled from our shared land. Ash trees from the property we shared with his parents would be what comprised his place of final rest.

Within 4 hours my husband and boys had constructed a simple but hand hewn casket for their grandfather/father. And my girls made the inner blanket.

Simple. From the land and full of love.

It was finished.

We hurried back to hospice to be with him.

We arrived at 7:30pm.

We spent more time talking and loving on him. He wasn't responding at all anymore.

Breathing…but barely.

At 8pm we began to sing again.

Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound.

We sang that over and over and over.

We cried. We sang. We sang and we cried.

We held his hand.

Steve stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.

He told him it was okay to go.

His brother and sister spoke kind words.

We began to sing Amazing Grace a little louder.

He closed his mouth, opened his eyes and tears fell. We watched as he took his last breath.

And then all was quiet.

It was 8:24pm.

It was the most peaceful passing.

We truly believe that he tried to mouth the last words of Amazing Grace with us.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow.

We aren't even guaranteed our next breath.

Reconciliation is ours if we make the time to ask for it.

Redemption awaits.

Amazing Grace.

How sweet the sound.

Farmhouse Chicks

How to harvest Echinacea and make an Echinacea Tincture

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 02:40:00 +0000

With Fall upon us it becomes that time to harvest.

I just love the harvest season.

I plant and cultivate all summer long, wait patiently for the plants to come forth with their blooms and and strong root system.

One of my favorite herbs is Echinacea.

Echinacea has been a staple in our home for over 26 years. We use it for colds and flu every year.

We have always bought our herb from a reputable online company and we make our own capsules.

But, 5 years ago I decided to plant Echinacea with the goal of someday harvesting it.

Well, as you know years go by and it doesn't get done.

Until this year. I MADE myself go out to the garden and dig up about 30 stalks. I have over 300.

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out or how many stalks I would need to make a quart of tincture.

After wrestling with the roots and my shovel (about 30 minutes) I decided that would be plenty and I would get more if I needed.

Working with my daughter, I rinsed the roots with the hose sprayer. I passed them to her and she clipped the leaves and roots off and put them in our basket.

When everything was washed we brought them in the house.

We managed to LOSE all the pictures of this part of the process......ugghhhh!

But we do have them from the chopping stage.

Here goes:

This has been chopped off the stalk. This is VERY dirty. Do the washing outside, but when you have a big clump like this....you will cut in half and realize there are rocks and more mud inside that you didn't even touch with the hose. So...please wash again...you don't want dirt in your tincture.

Wash all the leaves...they should be green, not yellow. Then chop and set aside.

Add to jar with chopped roots and layer. Compact down as much as you can.

Add 95% proof Vodka all the way to top and seal. Put in a dark place and shake once a day. This will be ready for straining in about 8 weeks. The longer it sits the stronger it will be.

When our 8 week time is up I will post the finished product!

Share you favorite tincture recipe. We'd love to hear from you!

Pumpkin Bread and Wild Berry Vanilla Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:21:00 +0000

The coop is in full FALL swing.

The chicks are pulling out their wooly socks and tall boots.

This chick is loving all things FALL.

The air is crisp.

The leaves are turning their hues.

The days are getting shorter.

The harvest is coming in.

And we are cuddling up with a blanket, some home-made pumpkin bread and a hot cup of tea .

Now on to make soap! Gotta keep those pin feathers clean!

What do you believe?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 11:35:00 +0000

Have you ever looked up at the stars at night?

We live way out in the country where there is no light pollution. On a clear night you can see billions of stars. I mean billions....

The Milky Way is in full view, the constellations telling their stories across the sky.

It always puts me in awe of our Universe and our Creator.

There was once a man who lived under the stars. His universe consisted of a desert, a wife and no children.

He lived a life of significance within his nation, but what he longed for was a son.

One day the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

This troubled Abram for he said, "What can you give me Lord, for I remain childless. You have given me no children; to a servant in my household will be my heir." Gen. 15:2

Then the word of the Lord came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars---if indeed you can count them." Then He said, "So shall your offspring be."

Abram believed the Lord. Gen 15:4-6

Abram BELIEVED the Lord. Let me say that again....Abram BELIEVED the Lord.

Abram had been waiting on the Lord to give him a son for YEARS! He was 99 before he conceived a child. His circumstances were saying the opposite. He had lived in the "shame" of having no son to carry on his legacy. Everything in the natural told him that this would never happen. That he would remain childless.

Not only did God say he would have a son, but he told him to look up at the stars and count them....and so shall his offspring be.

Now, follow me here. Abram is a man. No different than you and I. Real feelings, real misgivings, real emotions, real doubt, real questions and really without a son. Not only is he told he will have a son in his old age, but he's told he will have offspring as many as the stars.

Would this make you fall over? Would this make you question your sanity?

Everything in his life screamed the opposite. Abram had a choice here. He was either going to tell himself that he was crazy and dismiss the idea or he was going to believe.

He chose to believe.

He isn't believing in himself.

He isn't believing in good fortune.

He is believing in the WORD spoken to him by his Creator. The Creator of the universe. The one who put those stars into place.

How often do we believe our circumstances? How often do we allow our circumstances to dictate what we believe?

I believe Abram had a hope of a preferred future. It all stemmed around having a son that could carry on his name, his legacy.

What do you believe?

Are you allowing your circumstances to dictate your belief? Are you allowing what you can physically see with your eyes dictate what you believe about your future?

Do you have a hope for a preferred future?

Walk out tonight and look at the stars. Get quiet and listen for that still small voice to speak His promise to you.

Then: BELIEVE

Diving In

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 21:56:00 +0000

Ever hear that song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Dive"?

DIVE

It's a song explaining my life right now.

Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac all rolled into one!

My 15 yr old Farmhouse Baker was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We spent 3 days in the hospital wrapping our minds around the fact that our healthy daughter could have such a disease.

After countless hours of needles, insulin, poking, IV's and doctors we were able to figure out how we might live with our new lifestyle.

I knew of people with this disease, thinking that maybe it had to do with their diet. BOY WAS I WRONG! So far from the truth!

I became educated and humbled all in the same hour.

This disease is an auto-immune disease that affects the pancreas. It shuts down the body's ability to produce insulin.

It can be familial, (family passed down) or from a virus. We don't have any of this on either side of the family for as far back as we know.

They (the docs) think she contracted a virus that shut her insulin makers down.

Let me educate you a little: (it's the teacher in me!)....

Your pancreas secretes insulin to carry your carbohydrates to your cells. It's the "key" that unlocks the door for your carbs to move in and be taken to where the body needs the fuel. Carbs are fuel for our bodies.

When the "key" (insulin) isn't unlocking the door....then they bounce around and dump into your bloodstream. This produces HIGH sugar levels.

We knew something was amiss with our girl when she began complaining of being INCREDIBLY thirsty. She couldn't get enough to drink. Then as summer approached (just a week or so into her thirstiness) we noticed she was VERY thin.

Off to the scale. 10 pounds down.

Off to the pediatrician we go.

Yep, sugars were at 486.

Off to ER we go.

That was 8 weeks ago.

We have cried, shouted, hugged and sang and accepted this call.

We don't understand why God has chosen her, but we know He wastes nothing.

I am so proud of this girl! She hasn't let this stop her from ANYTHING!

She has written a touching song that the Father put on her heart. It was the words He spoke to her in the dark of the night, when she was frightened and feeling alone. It will make you cry.

Life is definitely different. Shots, pokes and needles will be her life. Always making sure we have her medication, needles, glucometer and extra juice on hand at all times. Carb counting has become quite the "real math". And educating her friends has been fun. They all scramble to be the first to give her an injection!

But, it doesn't come without it's dangers. Uncontrolled and we could have kidney failure, coma, and a host of other problems!

So thankful she has taken ownership.

On the flip side:

For 2 weeks now she has been complaining of not being hungry and when she eats she feels horrible. She's lost 6 more pounds.

We go tomorrow for a Celiac test. Of course nothing is definitive yet, but we see a pattern.

So, we are phasing out gluten and transitioning to gluten free.

I would love to hear from all my friends that have gone gluten free, or have any gluten free recipes that you have tried and can say ...."this was great!"

Diving in!

Farmhouse Fashionista Bat Mitzvah

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 02:29:00 +0000

We just finished one of those whimsical, yet foundational weekends that you read about in all the novels.

This was our 4th born's Bat Mitzvah. A tradition that goes back to the ages.

I've had some friends asking what this is and why we choose to make this a part of our lives.

I am no theologian nor do I want to be, but I will share with you why we make this celebration a part of our children's lives.

Have you ever participated in an event that transcends time? An event that takes you back and propels you forward all at the same time?

That is kind of what this is like for us.

There are a lot of ways to celebrate milestones in your children's lives. We do it by taking pictures, having birthday parties, commencements, keeping journals, etc. These are all traditions we use to mark important times in our lives. Traditions are ways to create memories, to bring togetherness within families and to mark an important life event.

A Bat/Bar Mitzvah is simply a tradition that dates back to ancient days. It's a celebration of a young woman or young man who has chosen, by their own will, to make the God of their father their God. The name Bat mean "daughter", Mitzvah means "good deed or commandment". So to be a Bat Mitzvah it means to be a "Daughter of the Commandments." We find great significance in this as we find that in our society we become a disciple of what ever we seek. We desire that our children become disciples of the Most High.

We have 5 children that we are bringing up in the admonition of the Lord. Our desire is to train them in the way THEY should go so that in the end they will not depart from it. It's life long training. It's not convenient, but it's purposeful. It's tedious and full of unpredictability. It's taxing and exhilarating all at the same time. Like trying to get a kite to stay in flight when the air is turbulent. Sometimes it's high flying, sometimes it comes crashing down. But no matter what we always have a hold of the kite string and can guide it through the shifting air if we hold it at just the right length.

As our children navigate through their childhood we strive to teach them to fear God and keep His commands. John 14:21 We do this by our teaching and conversation with them as well as modeling it before them. As we know more is caught than taught.

As the years pass by we teach them from the Word. One of the things we like to do is to look up their Torah portion. That is a portion of scripture from the first 5 books of the Bible that corresponds to their birthdate. We believe that this portion has significant meaning for their lives. We have found that everyone of the Torah portions for our children has had a specific message for them. The theme of each of their portions has always described what they have had to work through in their childhood and where they may have to continue to pursue the Father for their future. We talk about these passages throughout their childhood. They come to us when they are ready to take on the responsibility for their own walk with God. It's at that time that we discuss them publicly proclaiming their faith.

When that time comes we set aside a four day event. We host friends and family in our home for a few days for time to encourage that young person. We hold a ring ceremony where they are given a purity ring to where on their right hand. They choose an inscription in Hebrew that they believe will be a reminder of their covenant with the Father. There's nothing magical about the ring, it simply signifies that they have made a covenant and it's their to remind them so. Similar to the covenant we make with our spouse and therefore wear a ring to signify that covenant.

Then we embark on an incredible community filled celebration. That young person will spend a year reading and learning intensely from their portion and they will deliver an explanation to the community of what the portion means to them and how they will walk our their understanding. Then my husband will spend some time sharing about that young person and how life has taught all of us it's lessons. Each young person has a list of friends and family that they wish to speak over them. These are people that have had influence in their lives. We spend time hearing what our friends and siblings have to impart to them and then their Grandparents speak a blessing over them. My husband and I speak our blessings over them as well. It's a special time of imparting God's wisdom and blessing to them.

We commence with a video from their life. We then share a community meal and some fellowship and fun.

My two girls have wanted to have square dancing to finish the night off.

This tradition has been beautiful and meaningful in our lives.

Life in the fast lane

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:36:00 +0000

I know, I know....haven't been here in a while...okay a year maybe. These posts take time...no rushing!

So, I spent the last 6 days in bed. Yep. In bed.

You heard right. I really wanted some attention. Needed some affirmation. Took 6 long days to get it!

Finally....someone heard my moans, my groans. Think "I love Lucy".

Sunday hubby had enough.

Kids had enough.

I had enough.

Off to the ER. In my pajamas. Much to my children's horror!

Hubby dropped me at the door so he could park the car.

Me: do I walk in or wait? I walk. But didn't make it too far.

Through the revolving door and I lean on the wall.

Receptionist looks up lazily from her roost.

"Do you need a wheelchair"?

Uh...ya think?

Not a moment too soon. Thought I was going to faint!

Ears are ringing, taking long deep breaths to keep from fainting. And she's asking my name and birthdate.

Name and birthdate please. Name and birthdate. I can't speak. So winded.

Hubby comes up beside me. Name and birthdate says she again. He looks at me. Name and birthdate honey.

Seriously?

You're kidding right?

He can't remember. He says to her, "I should remember these things."

Ummmm.....yep. That''d be a good idea.

I love my husband. Truly I do. But he's not so good with names and dates (even mine).

Do they make an herb for that?

I squeak it out.

She sees I'm about to pass out.

She doesn't even triage me. Puts a bracelet on me and sends me to the room for the doc.

In the room.

Doc: What brings you here?

Me: Can hardly talk. I think I have Pneumonia.

Doc: Let's check it out. BREATHE. BREATHE IN. BREATHE OUT.

Me: P.A.S.S.I.N.G. O.U.T.

Doc: Yep...pneumonia and cute slippers...they match your jammies. SCORE!

2 hours and a Z pack later and we are back home.

I'm back in bed.

This thing has kicked my tail feathers. Like nobody's business.

BUT...I'm all done with the jammy look.

Yoga pants and rockin' the slippers.

Day 8: 2 days after antibiotics and I'm packing for the South.

Worn out....but oh so happy to be going to sunshine!

About the hubby: he's been redeemed.....I drilled him on my name and birthdate all day today.

Livin' in the fast lane....rockin' chair and all.

Moving from GOOD to GREAT

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:31:00 +0000

You were meant for GREATER! You were meant to be greater, do greater and duplicate greater in others!

Stop settling for GOOD... it is the enemy of GREAT!

We sacrifice GREAT on the altar of GOOD.

We are good parents, good friends, good teachers, good employees, good...good...good. Aren't you ready for GREAT?

Does it scare you? It should! BUT it should also INSPIRE YOU! Don't swallow the lie that what you are doing is good enough. Good enough is tolerated but not celebrated! Good enough keeps you comfortable, plodding thru life.

BUT GREAT inspires, ignites, empowers, and propels forward. Good just stays...well, good. What is holding you back from being GREATER? Define your reality....is GOOD no longer good enough?

Are you tired of just plodding along? Tired of mediocre?

Then take a step in the direction of GREAT. Change one thing about your daily life. It only takes a small movement to make a great change.

What ONE thing can you do to turn GOOD into GREAT?

Ode to Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:22:00 +0000

Farmhouse Fashionista had a persuasive paper to write. She chose chocolate. Of course~

Here is her rendition of why you should eat chocolate:

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, it's much more then just a word. It's practically life support. I mean come on people it's dark (as in the color ;), milky, sweet, warm, hot, cold, comes in many different colors (gotta love a sweetness like that). It's made to make us happy...and it does. Chocolate doesn't ask questions...no, chocolate knows what we want. We want chocolate. I really don't know who invented it but that person had to be an Ecko-Genius! He or She had to know the feeling of being happy, joyful, smiley, and laughter-ey all at once. Because duh...he or she made a yummy delightfulness that makes you feel all of those great emotions all at once and more (yes, it's quite a riot watching someone eat chocolate) Chocolate...well it's just always starring at you saying eat me eat me...and folks I'm telling y'all now if food is telling you to eat it, by all means do as it asks! Chocolate is the ONE of the foods you will not regret eating. But, one of the rules when you eat it (yes, there is chocolate rules) you must never look to see how many calories are in it, how much sugar it has. Because folks chocolate has feelings to, it doesn't like to be judged, or read into to. It just wants you to eat it and feel a whirl of wonderful happy emotions, if you don't get the emotions then something is defiantly wrong with! But don't worry they have chocolate therapy for that kind of disease. ;) Oh, and another rule, but this one isn't a chocolate rule, it's my own rule: Convince yourself after you eat the chocolate that you have just eaten a HUGE salad, high on nutrition and all that good stuff that makes you feel healthy. Most of the time if you think this to yourself you will walk away feeling healthy and maybe like you've just lost a few pounds (not that you need to lose any or anything) So, y'all with all that said: One of the best choices to make right now is chocolate, chocolate.

P.S It's calling you name right now. Your probably wondering how I know this? Well, that's my little secret. But you see, chocolate has a way of getting in touch with me and telling me your craving it. ;)

Do Something

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:11:00 +0000

I have heavy on my ♥ today this word: DO SOMETHING

Do you ever get to a place in life where you just don't know what to do next? Reading Andy Andrews this morning was a breath of fresh air. He talks about what to do next. DO SOMETHING.

Can you write? Write a friend an encouraging note. Can you carry? Carry your friend's load. Can you call a friend? Do so. Can you join a community cause? Do so.

DO SOMETHING. And you will realize how much value you actually have and others will realize it and you will begin to attract the very thing in your life that you were missing before.

GO: DO SOMETHING. BEGIN A RIPPLE IN THE LIFE OF SOMEONE TODAY.

I BELIEVE IN EACH OF YOU~

Blog header

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Anybody out there in blog land wanna give this chick a little help? See that header up there? Why can't I get it to be smaller? This chick is about to fly the coop with frustration at this!

The Last Few Years In Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Living Recklessly

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Reckless.

What does that word conjure up in you?

When I first here that word I think of boys riding their bikes off of makeshift ramps on top of old asphalt roads.

I think of cars swerving in and out of traffic. Or cliff diving.

What do you think of?

Dreaming; the stuff life is made of.

BUT......Dreaming and Reckless?

Never thought I would think of those two words together.

My little, secure, trying to be balanced, well thought-out world is being rocked!

I've never been accused of dreaming too big. Probably because I don't usually share too many of my dreams with others. However, this current DREAM is SO BIG it's scary. And I have yet to share with too many people.

I am reading a book right now called Rhinoceros Success. It's all about charging after your dreams.

The author of that book also has a blog, and from time to time I check in on it. He has some very insightful articles.

I am posting it here to give you a paradigm shift on that word reckless.

I have been reconsidering the supposed wisdom of leading a balanced life. I think that “everything in moderation” is a fallacy that will keep you from rising to the top. There is an aerodynamic law that says in order for a flying rhino to rise, thrust must exceed drag!Moderation just isn’t going to do it. If you want to get ahead in any endeavor, you are going to have to turn on your engines full-blast and develop some thrust.

Jesus said, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Be hot or cold, but never in the bland, indifferent and average stage between the two. Charge hot, heavy and hard!!

As long as you are leading an imbalanced life, live it recklessly! Yeah. Get reckless! You and I can change the world if we want to. Are you willing to go over life’s speed limit? Or, do you want to live for safety and security? Most people do not like to extend themselves financially, physically or emotionally. You’ve heard the sayings, “Don’t work too hard” and “Take it easy.” That is how loser cows encourage each other.

To start living recklessly, you need a dream. Why are people afraid to dream? For the same reason that they are afraid to attempt anything that is not required of them – fear of failure. Living recklessly requires you to laugh at failure. It is a process of success. If you never fail, you will never succeed.

Quitting your job is not a big enough dream. Anyone can quit their job. (And I highly recommend it!) But how is that going to improve the world? A million dollars is not enough of a dream either. Money is the effect of a dream. If money is all you want, your best bet is probably smuggling heroin. Or, if you want to get a lot of money and see the country, you could rob convenience stores along the way. Extortion, kidnapping, forgery and blackmail are other ways of making big bucks fast.

See, money is not a good dream. How about building the world’s most advanced hospital for cancer patients? Or, how about starting a college that teaches free enterprise and starts young people out on entrepreneurial careers? How about building the world’s largest church? Why not become a famous musician and sell more records than the Beatles? Invent a new car and start a brand new industry.

I know you don’t have any money! That’s what qualifies it as a dream. If you had the money, it wouldn’t be a dream. It would be a project! Whatever your dream is, it does not need money to be launched. All it takes is desire. And desire if free!! You can get as much of it as you want to! The Obama administration has not figured out how to regulate and tax desire. Get reckless while you still can! Keep charging!! Scott Alexander

Check out Scott's book and his blog....you won't be disappointed.

Now, go RECKLESSLY charge after your DREAMS!

Smile....Life is good

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Summer is coming to it's glorious end. Popsicles, splashing in the pond, sweating in the heat, and fire flies.

And lizards....

Enter....Fall. That wonderful feeling of orange, red and yellow hues.

Smells that melt in your mouth. Baking. Candles. Canning, freezing and storing up for winter.

Harvest. Pumpkins. Gourds. Kiddo's smiles.

I smell it coming. I feel it in the air.

Don't you?

Are you dreaming?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:10:00 +0000

Mine and Steve's dream is so BIG it makes me want to shout and dance and crawl under the covers all at the same time! Some people are rolling their eyes, looking at us as though we have 3 heads, laughing out loud....and yet some are in awe, encouraging and all together excited for us. It really doesn't matter to us how people respond, except to say that when they laugh...we get excited. It means that our dream is BIG...GOD size BIG! And that tells us that we are on the right path! This dream will take a God size faith, but we have that!

Are you dreaming? Are you dreaming so big that others laugh? GREAT! Keep it up! And don't let anyone steal that DREAM. Go after it, put prayer to it, feet to it, and all your heart and soul, and watch BIG things happen!

"Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. It must be a goal that is so appealing, so much in line with your spiritual core, that you can't get it out of your mind. If you do not get chills when you set a goal, your not setting big enough goals."
Bob Proctor

Mother/Daughter Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:55:00 +0000

Remember the days of ~

tire swings
dirty jeans
sticky marshmellows
and all things camping?

I remember days on my Aunt's mountain..... the days of camping by the stream, bathing in the stream, and eating marshmallows until it was stuck in our hair, on our clothes and on the dog!

It's gonna be that kind of weekend here at Camp Still Waters.

Yep, call me crazy, call me adventurous, just don't call me unmotivated!

I love an adventure, but I love mom's and daughters and their relationships more.

When's the last time you spent a weekend with just you and your daughter camping, hiking, swimming, praying, journaling, team building and just getting to know each other?

30 mom's and daughters. 30 personalities. 30 hugs. 30 new ways to look at life together.

Ahhhh....my kinda weekend.

How will you spend your weekend?

Yes and No.....

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:31:00 +0000

One of my most favorite sites to go on is this one: Oneand2

When you go to the site....look at the most recent article.

It's all about your Yes.

This year has been about yes's for me.

Yes to my children. That I will swing with them, sit and talk with them, read their imaginative reports, help edit their blogs, and hold them with intent.

Yes to my husband. Yes to doing all the tasks he asks of me, (before he gets home), yes to investing in our children over house, friends, business. Yes to letting him cook! (No problems there!) Yes to dreaming with him again.

Yes to more time with God. Yes to learning what it means to wrestle in prayer.

Yes to our future. Yes to being alive. Yes to success. Yes to being more and learning more. Yes to personal development. Yes to a BIGGER dream.

But to say yes to these things I had to say no to some others.

No to always having a spotless house.
No to always having a clean school room.
No to the garden without weeds.
No to sleeping later than I want to.
No to anything that deters me from my yes.

The potential to move forward is in our hands. The potential to change our lives is in our hands. The buck stops with us. The responsibility lies with us to change our own world. If you can't change your current circumstances you can at least change your response to them, and you'd be surprised how fast your circumstances will change.

What are you saying yes to?

Martha Stewart was in my kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:08:00 +0000

Ever have one of those moments when 6 o'clock rolls around and you realize you forgot to prepare for dinner and you have 12 hungry eyeballs staring you down?

Yeah..that was me.

Refrigerator soup to the rescue! You know...the empty the fridge and don't' tell anyone you did it kinda soup.

Wanna know what I did? It comes out GREAT every.time.

If you have left over veggies, meat and spagetti sauce...then it's Martha Stewart like nobody's business.

I had some small containers of:

~wild rice
~corn
~potatoes
~3 hamburgers
~spagetti
~cubed chicken

I tossed them all into the pot. Added some water. 2T garlic and herb seasonings. 1 T salt. 1/2 bulb crushed garlic. 1 can of diced tomatoes. And viola! We had soup!

It was amazing!

A little garlic bread, salad and our refrigerator soup and I became Martha Stewart!

Now...shhhh...the family thinks this is some pre-planned, well thought out soup that just seems to appear once a month.

It's our secret...don't disappoint me and tell!

What kind of creations do you come up with?

It was unpopular, but she did it anyway

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000

I sit here reflecting on the upcoming Mother's Day and I am overwhelmed by gratitude.

I am a product of the 60's...nuf said.

When it was unpopular and uncomfortable to be different, and many girls were aborting their unwanted pregnancies, a young lady, at age 17, decided to take responsibility for her actions and carry the child in her womb. Frightened, facing an unknown future....she chose to nurture the one in her womb. That child was me. I am ever so thankful that she chose to "keep" me in a day and age when freedom of choice was prevalent.

Barely outside of childhood herself she nurtured, she wept, she laughed, she prayed that this child would be healthy, vibrant and destined for greatness.

Mom~this is for you.

You have been a force in my life that has had ripple effects into many future generations.

Thank you for life.

Thank you for your nurturing spirit.

Thank you for the years of sacrifice as I drained your bank account with my gymnastics.

Thank you for TV dinners and Hormel Chili.

Thank you for always believing that I could be ANYTHING I put my heart and soul to.

Thank you for challenging me to always become more and never settle for the status quo.

Thank you for always displaying what a lady should inspire to.

Thank you for teaching me to be resilient in the face of struggle.

Thank you for teaching me that sometimes you have to give up to go up.

I am so glad God decided to give you to me. I couldn't have EVER asked for a better mother, friend, and confidant.

I am who I am today because of who you have always been.

May this year bring you peace and serenity that sings like a sweet and soft jazz song.

Love you mom and Happy Mother's Days~San

Growing up in a blogging world

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Blogging has become a way of life around here. Farmhouse Fashionista and Farmhouse Baker have added pen to their thoughts. Some rambling, some convictions, some just plain 'ole country life with a tire swing and 4-wheeler.

Swing on over to their side of the world and leave them some love.

Farmhouse Fashionista has her own blog

noreply@blogger.com (Sandy) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:04:00 +0000

My own Farmhouse Fashionista has begun her own blog.

Check it out here: Fashionable Inspirations ~where modesty and fashion become friends