♥ Around the House ♥

 Home is a place not only of strong affections, but of entire unreserved; it is life's undress rehearsal, its backroom, its dressing room, from which we go forth to more careful and guarded intercourse, leaving behind...cast-off and everyday clothing.

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

We are ready for fall here! Cooler temps (with an occasional hot day thrown in there), candles lit throughout the house and the smell of autumn all around! Although I don't want to hasten winter...I sure do love when fall arrives (even if I make it official a little earlier than I should).

Stella, all cozied up and snug in a basket, above.
Below, a gift from my Great Aunt Jo to me for my birthday...

Around about...

A t-shirt my sister got for me (for my birthday)....it's so accurate (I love sloths too)...

Pumpkin and fall scented candles really make it feel like fall here! I love the pumpkin spice yankee candle but they are pricey. So, I wait until candles go on sale at Bath and Body Works and get a couple for the season (or I burn ones that I didn't finish last year ~ I admit, I am a candle hoarder)...

Jaxson loves bow ties and really wanted one...while out yesterday, Madelyn found (and bought) one for him! He was thrilled. I love his cute, unique style of dressing...

Apple harvest stickers? Yes, please! Mmmm, yes...it all reminds me of our family's Fall Festival which is coming up towards the end of September! :)

So what are *you* up to lately? Are you still enjoying summer or are you ready for fall too?

Thanks, so much, for your love and encouragement on my previous post (about our foundation). Chris's uncle is helping him to rebuild it and it is coming along! We are so, so thankful for him and his help...I will feel so much better once the foundation is 100% secure again!

I hope your day is as sunny and cheerful as mine is today. :)

In Christ,
Katy

When Troublesome Things Occur...

“If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my 

worried self when troublesome things occur, 

then I know nothing of Calvary love.” 

~Amy Carmichael

The Lord has been teaching me much....and disciplining me as well. I had wanted to do a *deeper* post on all that I have been struggling with but just couldn't find the right words. I can say, though, that troublesome things occur...to all of us...to different degrees and at different times. Right now, we are dealing with our foundation crumbling under a corner of our house. Stressful? Just a bit! ;) 

Loved ones graciously came over this Saturday (which, praise the Lord it was a beautiful day!) and helped begin the process of repairing the damage. Digging, moving block, more digging etc. Those guys worked hard. And more needs to happen. Right now, we sit with a massive hole in our basement (Don't worry though, there are braces holding the rest of the house up!). 

I will (cringe to) admit that my patience has been waning lately. It's quite frustrating when the *fixing up* process of our house is an extremely slow process (14 years and going...) and the nice weather goes by much too quickly and we are forced to set aside home improvements for another season. Then the foundation starts to crumble and my heart saddens because now *that* requires time, money and energy (which means it isn't able to be put into other renovation areas). We need to begin splitting and stacking wood soon. The woodshed needs to be filled for this coming winter. Then deer season starts and Chris gets busy for weeks processing deer at the family's meat market. It's never-ending! 

**But then...the Lord convicts me (big time) and I sit back and cry realizing how selfish and "stuff"-centered I have been. My eyes should be focused on Christ...not *myself*! Where is my grateful, content spirit? Why do I let the world seep in to my thoughts? It's a terrible struggle with the flesh. I despise the struggle. It's difficult and, at times, depressing. Joy *does* come though...when the Lord brings me back to Him and I realize that Christ has won over the flesh and I can rest completely in Him. I will still wrestle with the temptations, impatience and frustrations of this world while on this side of eternity...but it's completely worth the fight when you desire to do good and bring God all the glory because of what He has done for me.

“If we were less of what seems like ease in our lives they would tell more for Christ and souls...We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own, yet we settle down in the most un-stranger-like fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home and meant to stay as long as we could. I don't wonder apostolic miracles have died. Apostolic living certainly has.” 

~Amy Carmichael

I love reading Amy Carmichael's words...she is full of such wisdom. Her life wasn't easy nor was she perfect...but she found joy and rest in Christ. 

“Praise Him who went before to search out a Resting-place.

May it be a place of victory too, for His own glory's sake.” 

~Amy Carmichael

I *really* like her book If . Convicting...completely. Have you read it? If not, I highly recommend it! It's small enough to carry in your bag when you go places. A simple buy highly thought provoking read!

So, I guess this turned out to be a bit longer than I had anticipated. The truth is, I am terribly imperfect and *need* a Savior. What Christ has done for the likes of me is amazing...not because of *any* good in me but because of Who He is and His greatness! If I focus more on earthly things rather than on Christ, I have a problem and totally need to re-focus. Daily Bible reading and prayer is a necessity for the Christian life. Without it, you can not properly keep your focus on Him. 

“The marvel of our Bible never shows more marvellous than 

at such times, when you see it in deed and in truth the 

Sword of the Spirit, and it cuts.” 

~Amy Carmichael

Some photos from this weekend...

I'm telling you...Ruthie smiles...I love my pup! 

Home repairs...

Inside happenings...

Xavier was busy helping his Pop-Pop, I believe, when these pictures were taken...thus his absence...

Homemade pizza for supper one evening (using the pizza crust recipe from the Homestead Blessings cookbook)...

We've also kept busy with homeschooling, chores, and I've been making stickers! :) Thank you to those who have already placed an order. We all celebrate with each order that is placed! :) 

Here are just a few of the things you'll find in my shop...

Homeschooling mamas...here are some great sticker flags to mark your field trips, co-op days and days off! If you have a custom order you would like made...message me on etsy! :)

You can find my etsy facebook page HERE. If you have friends who love planning or scrapbooking, I would really love if you would share my shop with them! :)

Today, we're taking the day off from schooling...Xavier has eight baby teeth that don't seem to want to fall out and it is not good for his grown-up teeth. He needs to go have them pulled today. Today is also my birthday so it's fun to just have the day to enjoy. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you made it the whole way through this post, I appreciate it! It was a long one, for sure. :)

I hope your week ahead is great! I hope you'll stop again soon! 

Striving to give God all the glory, 

Katy

              

Raising Homemakers

A *Quick* Hello!

 Xavier on the mini-bike

It's been almost a week since I last posted...things have been busy here though...between schooling, housework, making stickers (have you checked out my SHOP lately??), church responsibilities, deep cleaning places in my home, a family reunion and exercise....my planner has been pretty full! :) I thought I better stop quickly and just post a quick *hello* so everyone knows we are okay!

Below is just a *portion* of the many clothes that have been out drying on my clotheslines lately! I have usually had the lines *full*! Towels, clothes, sheets, sleeping bags (after camp outs) and more have been soaking up the sun and air lately...

My little guitar player...

A sleepy boy...

Madelyn and Mama...

Xavier (orange) and Jaxson (gray) waiting in the food line at the family reunion...

Chris and Madelyn enjoying their lunch...

A lot has been going on in our neck of the woods...I am sure your lives are quite busy too. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

I have a post floating around in my head...a deep, personal post. I have been struggling with my discontent with myself lately (I can be a bit of a perfectionist) and it is *not* God-glorifying which I am *not* pleased with. I have some things on my heart (maybe you are struggling too?) and when I can, I will post about it. I need to come up with the right words....I'm not quite sure *what* I want to say. Usually I just let it all pour out. So, if you enjoy my posts...keep an eye out for that one. I'll write it when I can. Until then, Lord willing, I hope you and yours are enjoying your week. :)

Warmly,
Katy

Twelve Sorta Crept Up On Us...

This boy right here...he's twelve....12!!! Can you believe it? I've been blogging for eight years now...so Xavier was only four when I started! When I told him that, he was shocked (admittedly, I am too!) If you have been here for a while, you've watched him grow through the years. It is so fun to see how he has changed! Here is X from the first year I began blogging...look at that sweet face...

For his birthday, he will be camping out this weekend with his Dad, brother and cousins. We didn't do a party...but was just going to have Chris's parents (and mine, too) over for some cake and ice cream for the evening. My mom offered to bring pizza as well, so it turned into supper and dessert. :)

Xavier with his Ma and Grammie (other than me ~ the two women who love him most in this world)...

Time to blow out his candles...

That great hat on his head was a gift from Great Aunt Jo (you remember her, right? I've posted about her many times. We all love her so!)...she even got Jaxson one too (even though it wasn't his birthday!)...

We're just so thankful for this young man (how strange to say that..."man"...I'm not ready for him to be able to hold that title yet!). He enjoys working and running machinery especially. He is both his Pa and his Pop-Pop's right hand man (and his dad's too)! Although he wouldn't admit it (as he is not a huge fan of schooling) he is learning more and more every day and does really well with his math!

Xavier loves riding the mini-bike, his bicycle and scooters. He enjoys being outside the most and just got his first hunting license (much excitement has filled this house lately...he was so, so looking forward to getting that!) :) He has quite a sense of humor (even if we don't all appreciate it all the time...haha!).

I can't imagine my life without this handsome boy in it. Everything isn't always rainbows and sunshine when raising children, but even the days they challenge me, I know the Lord is molding me (and them) more into His image.

Thanks for following along with me all these years. Thank you for loving me and my children...watching us grow and change. Your comments, emails and friendships bless me immensely. :o)

Cheerfully,
Katy