Yesterday

While the children rested and watched a movie, I got some cleaning and baking done yesterday. I made soft pretzels and tried a new recipe for bread!


A lot of baking equals a lot of clean up, afterward! ;)

I believe, in older posts, way back, I may have shown you my Mary Engelbreit bathroom (I love her art...it's so cheerful and happy!). I thought I would share it, today, for any who may have missed it...as it is one of my favorite rooms!

Below, on the wall to the far right, under the hat box, is a cross stitched piece that a dear friend made me. I love it and think of her each time I see it! :)





I read a couple chapters of Little House, to the children yesterday afternoon....and soon, they were all snoozing.

Much rest is needed when your body is fighting a bit of a bug!

I found THIS cute little website that has a lot of fun information about the Little House books and people. HERE is the Little House Family Tree, which I found fun to look at too! I know there are many different links to learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family...but I hadn't seen those before, so I wanted to share! :)

Although *still* coughing, the children's fevers seem to have gone down and they have gained a bit more energy! Xavier and I even worked on some schoolwork this morning! Thank you for keeping them in prayer, when led to do so. I so appreciate it! The children will, I assume, still be taking it *slower* today...but I am thankful that they seem to be on the mend. I will continue doing laundry and may make some cinnamon rolls today...I have a new recipe, for them, that I would like to try. :)

I hope you have an enjoyable day. Thank-you for stopping to visit!
Warmly,
Katy :)

He must increase, but I must decrease. ~John 3:30

Common Things

"Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life."
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Our days have been continuing on...with the common-ness that they each hold. I am thankful for that *common-ness*, though. Some seem to think that common = mundane. I don't think that way at all. I am thankful for the seemingly plain parts of my life. As I see the country (and parts of the world) come falling down around us, I find peace in my daily-doings.

I, often, wish I could stand on a mountain and cry out to everyone that we should all just live quiet, peaceful lives. Work hard, take care of your resposibilites, help those in need (so the government doesn't need to be involved), and love one another. Of course, there are many who don't agree. It saddens me that people expect to be "taken care of" by the government (who gets all their money from us, the tax-payers). Oh, there is so much I could say...but truly, if you agree with me already, I don't need to convince you. If you don't agree ~ I'm sure there is nothing I could say that would change your mind.

So here I am, at home, caring for my home and family. I live my life to please God. I try to be an example to others....through my faith, caring for my responsibilities, and loving others the best way I can. Are you? We Christians need to live our faith out. Live out love...praying for others, giving to others (willingly...) of our time, money and abilities. Wouldn't it be great if Christians around the world could love one another enough to take care of, help and teach each other...so it wasn't dictated by the government? Is it better to teach a man to fish, or give a man a fish?

Oh how glorious Heaven will be...the dwelling place of Perfection. Although I love the blessings bestowed upon me by the Creator in this life, I know this isn't my *home*. I sing THIS song by Phil Wickham, isn't it absolutely beautiful!? Heaven will truly hold the greener pastures our hearts long for! :)

Today, I am hanging out some laundry on the line! Yes, it's still cold out...but oh, the sun is shining and most of the snow is melted! Madelyn and Xavier are enjoying time outside, playing and running! Jaxson, unfortunately, is feeling a bit under-the-weather. A bit of a cold with a fever mixed in (and a loss of appetite) has him curled up and resting in "daddy's chair".

Here are some photos of my *common-ness*....


My latest reading materials, my Bible and Peace with God...

Magazines...

The table set for supper...


Corn, canned from the summer harvest, for supper...

Cheesy Chicken for supper...

Much to do for the day, awaiting me. Off I go!
Thank-you for stopping by!

Warmly,
Katy

He must increase, but I must decrease. ~John 3:30

A Little Decorating

I love finding new places for things in my home....until I find it's perfect *spot*. Do you do that too? So, yesterday, I changed a few things on the book shelf and hung up a few more items on the wall there. Now, to be truthful, I am *not* a fan of clutter. But I can love *busyness* if it is neat and pretty. :) So that area above is busy....but still neat, and to me, pretty! :)

And...the children and I stopped in at Goodwill yesterday. I always love when you can find some great things at the thrift store, don't you? I found a really neat glass bottle, a wire basket, a super cute sewing basket (with handles!), and a devotional book by Anne Ortlund! :)

In the bathroom, although I have had it hanging for a few weeks now, I think, I wanted to show you the soap dish/holder that I found one day...

I love bars of handmade soap, but they can fade away quickly if you don't have the right soap dish for them to sit on. I found this one and I thought it was absolutely perfect for my Mary Engelbreit bathroom *and* for my love of handmade soaps! **And it was a great price too!**

The days have been hot here...but yesterday afternoon it rained! What a blessing! The gardens needed it and we needed it! It cooled things down considerably! Today it feels wonderful!

Madelyn sat and worked on her knitting for a while...

Madelyn and X sang and played me a tune!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Cheerfully,
Katy :)

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
~Numbers 6:24-26

Abundant Blessings; Tears of Joy

I sit, fingers poised over my keyboard, unsure of how to truly put into words the joy and hope I have. I type a few things, then delete them, not feeling that I am expressing myself correctly.

I live a life full of blessings. My cup constantly runneth over. Is my life perfect? No! Am I perfect? Not even close! But Love is in my heart. God *is* Love! He is the perfect Love. And He makes me joyful. I find extreme joy in the little things...and there are always lots of sweet, easily-missed-if-you-don't-take-mental-record-this-very-moment things going on around *each* one of us.

Last night, after an evening visiting with my grandma, sister and some friends and Madelyn returning home from Massachusetts....I just felt overwhelmed and cried. I cried tears of joy. My heart was overflowing with so much joy that I couldn't hold it in. I am so blessed. Life is hard, times are hard, things are imperfect...but if you pull back the curtain of *life* and let God hold those curtains open for you...you have the chance to peek through. Look at the things around you that are easily taken for granted...a gentle hug from someone you love; a breeze, outside, carrying the fragrance of spring flowers through the air; the laughter of children; freshly cut grass; bread baking in the oven; the sun warming your face as you step out from inside; loving encouragement from a friend; playing and laughing with the one you love; cool, clean water as you wash your hands after gardening outside.....the list is really endless. The key is *choosing* to see past the hardships and viewing the blessings that God *has* poured out on you.

I know sometimes, times are so difficult, you don't think you can see anything but the pain. I know the hurt, grief and frustration that can be felt when bad things happen. It's difficult to go through the hard times in our seasons of life. There *is* a time for everything. God said it. So know...if you are struggling with a difficult time, He is there to carry your burden. He will love you and comfort you. And know that He "makes everything beautiful in its time"......

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 (emphasis mine)

I awoke, yesterday morning, early...as I always do. I came downstairs and in the schoolroom....I noticed this:

Chris and I have been trying to instill in the hearts and minds of our children the importance of working hard, doing things cheerfully and without complaining. Chris wrote the above verses on the board the previous night...as a way to encourage our children. In actuality, he encouraged me! Seeing my husband use God's words to encourage our children makes my heart glad! :)

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was doing housework and encouraged the boys to go outside to play! They did, some, but also told me that they wanted to be near to their mama...so they went and got some crayons and paper to sit in the dining room and color so they could be "near me". I thought my heart would burst! I would go in, from time to time and compliment their drawings and try to encourage them. Although when I complimented one....the other thought he *needed* to draw the same thing too. Jaxson drew a butterfly....so X drew a butterfly. X drew a tractor...so Jaxson drew a tractor! ;)

Bread baked on Wednesday....one loaf almost fully enjoyed and another wrapped up, waiting to be sliced, covered in butter or jelly and savored! :)

My knitting basket....I am slowly but surely still working on the afghan for my sister. I have 6 squares done (out of 20). I need to get busy on it...but it is a lot harder to find the time to work on it when the weather is so beautiful out!

And, I find it sweetly amusing. Jaxson told me numerous times yesterday that he was *not* tired and wasn't going to "rest his eyes" during rest time. I told him that was fine...I just wanted him to lay down for a bit. He didn't *have* to close his eyes. I even let him read a book for a bit. After a few minutes of looking through the book, he shut it and set it aside....he laid his little head down and attempted to fight off the exhaustion that was trying to overtake him! Within a minute or two, after setting down the book, he was out! He enjoyed a restful nap! :) **After he awoke...he smiled and informed me that he had *NOT* taken a nap! ;) He didn't realize that I had the pictures to prove that he did! ;o)


A few areas of my home that I wanted to share, before I go, that bring me joy.....

Above, a look into my dining room as the sun rises. It is what I see in the morning as I sit in the living room during my quiet time with God. :)

My kitchen sink...where I spend lots of time! Dishes are washed, drying and soon ready to be put away. :)

And a few cheerful areas in my bathroom. Decorated in a Mary Engelbreit theme. :)

I love walking in, a burst of cheer jumps out at you, as soon as you open the door! :)

I hope you have a good weekend! I appreciate you stopping by...and I pray that I have expressed my joy in a way that maybe you can take some with you. Knowing God and His love provides us with a joy that is best felt...rather than just expressed. I hope you feel it too! I will leave you with this beautiful psalm.......

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

~Psalm 84

A Surprise For Madelyn

So...you may have read a previous post where I mentioned that Madelyn went with my mom to visit my great-aunt in Massachusetts. She won't be home till Thursday...so I decided to rearrange/organize/clean her room for her while she is gone. HERE is a post with a pic of her room before! I spent 2 days in there...(don't worry...I did get some time to sleep!)...throwing away trash, while being careful not to throw away little girl *treasures*. You know what I mean, right? Little knick knacks that girls tend to keep and are *special*. I probably threw away a couple things that she would consider a *treasure* but I wouldn't...and my thought is that if it is in the bottom of a box, under other items, it must not have been *that* important. I also gathered some things to give to Goodwill.

My mom and I painted Madelyn's room using a Mary Engelbreit theme. Some of you may know I am a fan of Mary Engelbreit's drawings and cute, whimsical decorations! I also decorated my bathroom in a Mary E. theme! :) You can see a pic of the bathroom HERE. I have a new shelf in there though...that you can see HERE. :) The bathroom looks a bit different, now, than in those pics...but you get the general idea! :o)

I used Mrs Meyer's and scrubbed down tables and such...leaving a nice geranium scent in the room....

See the crate below behind the rocking chair? That's a majority of Madelyn's *craft* stuff. It's amazing how, when items are found and put together, much she has! (And she has some more things that I couldn't fit neatly in there so I put them on the bottom shelf of her bookshelf...bottom pic)....

Her dresser is older and in dire need of a paint job...but at the moment, it is pretty well scheduled near the bottom of my *to do* list! ;) The tub to the left of her dresser seems to appear that it is holding a lot of mess. But, actually, it isn't. There are some baby dolls in there, some rolled up sleeping bags, overnight bags, and a few other odds and ends...but not nearly the craziness that it *appears* to be! :)
And also...her dollhouse. I love when she plays with it! *Even the boys will sometimes, under her watchful eye, play with it to! It blocks the beautiful view of her painted sun on the wall...but that's OK for now. Now it looks like the sun is rising over the horizon behind the house! ;)

**And** we may get her a door for her room too. When we moved in here...9 years ago...there weren't doors on the upstairs bedrooms. The hall is pretty small and the rooms aren't large either...so doors are kind of a pain. However, she is turning into a young lady...and she wants some privacy and space to herself at times and has asked for a door. I'm hoping I can convince Chris that we should go to Lowe's and get one for her and have it on and ready for when she gets home! :o)

So there is my sweet Madelyn's room. :) Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!!! :o)

The Kids' Rooms!

The boys' room. Notice I had started doing some painting on the left side of the room at one point. I love that blue color. I was trying to make it look like sky and was going to paint clouds etc.....but never quite made it that far. A project for another time, perhaps! :)

Xavier's side is in the pic above and Jaxson's side is in the pic below. The boys pulled their own covers up when making their beds...so the sides aren't *even*...but they did their best and I am happy with that! :) Their room is nothing out of a magazine...but it's simple and works for them! Hopefully someday I can make it more fun and fancier for them! :) **The boys are now in one room and we changed Jaxson's old bedroom into a playroom...so toys and all had a central place to go! :)

Madelyn and I did some rearranging in her room as well as some cleaning. We filled a huge bag full of things to donate to Goodwill and got alot cleaned. She still have a lot of *knick-knacks*. It kinda drives me bonkers...but they are lil things she loves and I just deal with it! :)

Notice the windows in her room...and the boys room...and the playroom are all older windows. They are the only ones left in the house that we need to replace. We are hoping we can do that this year as Chris finishes the siding...but we will have to check prices and see what we can afford!

For those who are newer to my blog...we did Madelyn's room in a Mary Engelbreit theme. I love Mary E. stuff. It's so bright and cheerful! My mom and I painted her room! :) Those are more of her *things* on her dresser. Not exactly beautifully decorated....but decorated to suit her needs at age 8 1/2. :) And that is what matters most! :)

I also worked on doing some more organizing and labeling in the schoolroom.....

I had the cupboard shown above in the laundry room...but I cleaned it out and decided to use it to do more organizing in the schoolroom! Below is a pic from inside....X's school stuff, Jaxson's school stuff, and my tax stuff! **The shelves are bowed but I bought the cupboard that way....I bought it at a country store! I think it's a great old cupboard! :)

Some labeling of some binders that hold Mary E.'s Home Companion Magazines (which are no longer published) and Scrapbooks Etc. Magazines.....

And on some boxes that hold some craft stuff and some Stampin' Up stuff that I have.....

It has been a busy weekend! Cleaning and organizing...outside enjoying some beautiful spring weather...visiting with friends and then today was church! This evening we are going to spend some good family time by making pizzas and root beer floats together and playing Pilgrim's Progress (a game I won previously from The Olde Schoolhouse Crew). It's going to be a fun evening so I best skeedaddle so I don't waste it on the computer! :) Thanks so much for stopping by! :)