My Sunday School kids

I invited the Sunday School kids over for a Halloween party. We had been planning a party for some time, but it was moved to Today. One of the kids in the class is a farmer. (impressive eh> he is 14 and already has a ton of responsibility!) He had beans to combine and so we delayed the party until Halloween.

ANY WHOOO.....

Here is a slide show of some of the kids.

After we ate & the boys shot at the girls with a marshmallow gun, we played Hieroglyphics in the carpet and then the older kids went outside. (mind you, I had 5 kids that were not part of the party, and Sasha had her 5 that were too young for the party, but that didn't stop them from hanging all over these teenagers.) they were good sports though. VERY GOOD KIDS, I have truly grown to love them all!

Then we scuttled off to visit Co-Ann, the girls' widowed friend from our old house, she is so sweet & loves to shower the girls with treats! It has been fun for them to have a grandmother type to show off for occasionally.

They got to Trick-Or-Treat for an hour, and then we came home. Sugar high crashed, and they are all in bed.


More pictures to come (the computer keeps locking up, since I have over 6,500 pictures on it)

Progress so far. (IS it cheating?)

OK, the goal is to save money on groceries, and here is some of the Menu so far:

We have home made bread stuffed French toast. Two thumbs up from everyone in the house.

Korean Kimchi with cabbage (couldn't get them to even eat a bite) it is a No-repeater.

Burgers on home made buns with home style fries. (Baked and were good)

Home made pizza

Oatmeal & apples with pecans.

Blue Ribbon Pancake mix another 2-thumbs up. (Breakfasts so far are going well :)

BBQ beef sandwiches on home made buns. Three thumbs up if that is possible!?

Here is where I feel like we are cheating: We had an opportunity for Wes to trade some finish work for a COW! Yep 200 lbs. of Beef. In the freezer it goes. so the majority of our $350.00 for groceries went towards a Freezer. That is OK with me, it is nice to know i will have beef, & Potatoes on hand for a year.

We are ordering 200 lbs of potatoes and 50lbs of carrots and 150lbs of onions. We should be set for a life of winter luxury.


This should help out with the budget crunch.
Doncha Think?

Inspiration and wit.

This is How I choose to describe Mary Ostyn."Inspirational & Witty" She has written 2 books, the newest I just finished reading today, and we had a Family Home evening picking our favorite recipes from her book.

I am so excited to try them out, they sound delish! and easy, and real life! 3 things that are important.



Her book Family Feasts on $75 a week
Offers simple and precise ways to save money on groceries (which takes up nearly 1/3 of our budget. ) I admit I have allot of improvement, I blame my sloppy budget on the fact that we live in a rural town, and our One & only shopping opportunity is *Wally World*

Not so anymore, I will be making a better effort to scour the deals, and make my budget go further, besides if I can etch out of my budget just enough for a new pair of shoes, well that alone will be worth the extra effort, but more likely I will be spending it on thrift store finds, winter clothes, and now Christmas! (Yes can you believe it is time to start planning & buying for Christmas!??)

So go find this book, buy it, it is worth it, the recipe portion alone is worth having on hand, to slop sauce on, and to use and abuse. Eventually I will have these recipes memorized, but for now, I will faithfully put the book in the hot spot, and use the heck out of it.

Praying that the budget changes will help me feel on top of my finances instead of being controlled by my finances... the extra breathing room will be nice. (which could be true to anyone's budget, not matter what size!)

Goal: Spend $350.00 on groceries for 30 days.

Wes made it home

Each month when Wes flies home, i anticipate a HUGE load of supplies,and the exclamation "I am home for good!" I even dream he is laid off, just for the selfish purpose of having him home for good.

I know, not very realistic, but a girl can dream right???


At least he is home for now, and I am putting him right to work.

Chop-Chop, no sleeping in, get right to the honey-do list!

:)

Tribulation...

D&C 103: 12-13
12 For after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing.
13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.




If you don't get this joke, just take out the "Missouri" part, input your personal trial and smile.


Those of us in Missouri know & agree.



If you want to know what we mean, feel free to purchase a plot of land and join us!

Elijah is Crawling!

He has been scooting himself backwards for about 3 weeks now. He just crawled officially and purposely towards me!
I had to document so he (in 30 years ) will know I paid attention to him!
I Love this little squirt!

Tests, Trials & Miracles...

This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions. A dear friend of mine has been through a total ringer/trauma of a lifetime. Her sweet husband was hit by a Super-Duty truck going 60+ MPH. She witnessed it.

If I had written this post last week, it would have been bleak, to say the least. It was a minute by minute change in status. He had numerous internal wounds, and was prayed back to health & safety. Yesterday he was out of bed WALKING! Honestly. I am amazed.

Learning the lessons the Lord has in mind for us, are not easy, nor is it comfortable. We are pushed, shoved and sometimes PUMMELED into submission, to become what He wants us to be.

I am making it a personal goal to be humble and submissive to the Lords will. I do not want to be compelled to be humble. humility is not my strong suit. I have an independent streak a mile wide. I like to do it on my own, on my terms and in my schedule.

Not always conducive to be a servant in His hands, to be able to grasp towards the goal that He has in mind for me. I know this of myself. I know that I am too often that fool hanging from a thread, and begging for help, and in the successful outcome, I pat myself on the back rather than give credit to Him.


I will try harder. I am setting a goal to turn over a new leaf, to be a better help-meet, a better nurturer, and a better servant.

I love the Lord, and I want to do His will. I will try harder.