"Ah, lovely October..."

 "...as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir." 

~ Peggy Toney Horton

Warm hellos from chilly Western Pennsylvania! 

I thought I'd drop in quickly to say hello! I have some clothes to fold and floors to sweep before I head into the gym this evening but wanted to stop by my blog and share some photos from lately! :o) 

October has started out wonderfully for us in PA weather-wise. We enjoyed comfortable temperatures and lots of sunshine. The temps have now gone down and it's starting to feel more like fall! I love how autumn makes me feel....all cozy and cheerful. I don't know *what* it is...I just really enjoy this weather. I guess I like not being so hot that you feel grumpy and yet, not being so cold that you can't put on an extra layer and still sit outside in the rocking chair!

I've got fall candles burning. The boys finished their schoolwork and headed off to work a short time ago. So I've got the afternoon to finish my housework and then head into the Y to exercise and teach spin. Speaking of exercise...Chris, talented and handy man that he is, made us these racks for our weights in our basement gym...

If you go HERE you can see a pic of our gym if you missed it! Oh...I almost forgot to tell you about that top photo! That is an upside down cake I made to celebrate a birthday here at our house this past weekend. Madelyn's beau turns 20 this week but with his work schedule, we decided to celebrate it early! It is absolutely delicious (and yes, even I had a piece!). You can find the recipe HERE if you are interested! 

Anyone who has read my blog for a while knows I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. I just act like it doesn't exist. I'm not into gory decorations and costumes etc. It's just not my thing. Morgan (X's girlfriend) loves to carve pumpkins though. She and her dad grew some huge ones in their garden and brought them up for the kids to carve. (She also brought me smaller ones to decorate with!) So below are some pics from yesterday afternoon. First we had worship at church in the morning...followed by tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch. Then out to the porch we went. It was *cold* out there....but they carved on...

Me and Madelyn (can you even believe this girl of mine is 20!?)...

 

Me with our cocker spaniel, Mickey (yes...I was decked out in sweats ~ it was SO cold outside!)....

So, absent from these photos is my son, Xavier. He and Morgan had carved pumpkins at her house a week or two ago so he opted to work on his truck instead. So, we have Morgan on the right, in the background there. To the left in the black sweatshirt is Madelyn's beau, Caleb....then Madelyn and closest to us (in a TSHIRT no less!) is Jaxson! 

I tried to convince Jax to put a sweatshirt on but he claimed he was totally fine...meanwhile, I'm freezing sitting in my rocking chair and watching...

The porch with the small pumpkins Morgan gave me to decorate with...

And the finished pumpkins...aren't they huge!? And bonus: Cash in the background...haha! He's 14 yrs old! I think he may just live forever! 

I hope you each are doing well and enjoying October. I know things in the world are crazy right now...but we just keep living. We just keep doing our thing. We take each day as it comes...glorifying the Lord in all we do and keeping our eyes constantly on Him. Isn't it so nice to know our hope lies in the sovereign Creator? The omnipotent King that is in complete control....always faithful. 

Thank you for stopping by today. I have housework to finish so I best be scooting off this computer! I hope you will come by again soon! I'll try not to be so long between posting....but I can't make any promises! :o) 

Warmly,

Katy

With Joy...

 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

~Ephesians 5:22-28

By God's grace, Chris and I celebrated 21 years of marriage yesterday! I couldn't be more grateful for the man the Lord gave me. Our years have been filled with love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, growing, and striving to honor the Lord together! Ups and downs....through hard times and easy...it's always been us ~ together. The Lord gave us to each other for His perfect reasons. In the wise words of our son, Xavier, "He's my best" (When X was little he would speak of something that was his favorite by saying: "It's my best". :o) 

Today is a beautiful fall day, blue skies and sun with a cool breeze. I hung out some laundry but did so in a fleece hoodie as it's chilly outside ~ but I'm loving it! I have candles lit throughout the house and have been getting a lot of housework done. I need to check the boys' schoolwork as well as plan the next week's work. We'll be busy tomorrow getting logs and starting to get our wood shed filled for the winter! 

Here are a few photos of my porch...(I'm hoping to get the floor stained next spring/summer. I didn't get it done this year!): 

I need to get going...still much to accomplish today. But I just wanted to drop by and check in and share my joy in my wedding anniversary! I hope you all are doing well! Thank you so much for dropping by! I know I am not the best blogger! I hope you will come by again soon! 

Joyfully,

Katy

"Welcome sweet November...

...the season of senses and my favorite month of all."

~Gregory F. Lenz

Well, again another month has gone by...and I only posted once. Now that my children are older, things just seem different. I'm not posting all about their cuteness and such anymore! But life still goes on...so I should try better to record it! :)

Instead of typing it all out...I wanted to share the link to the Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup I had mentioned in my previous post! You can find it HERE. If you try it out, I'd love to know what you think of it! I have a few other cheeseburger soup recipes I have tried as well!

Our days have been filled with homeschooling (and while the kids work I pick a room to clean from top to bottom), chores, fitness/exercise, and our homeschool co-op days (which I am in charge of the set-up crew each morning, lead a parent meeting and am in charge of graduation plans for this year!). The weather is much chillier and has been super wet here in PA. Yesterday was nice so Jaxson and I were able to get some mowing and leaf raking done in the front yard (X was working at my dad's garage and Madelyn was working at Chris's dad's meat market)! It's suppose to be nice again today! I am so glad! We have numerous things to accomplish today ~ and it is so much more enjoyable to do so in sun-shine-filled weather, don't you think?

Madelyn has her license and has her own little truck now too. She paid for the whole year's insurance for it and pays for her own gas. She has been doing great and I am so proud! She loves having a bit more freedom and it has been a blessing to Chris and I as well...since now we don't have to drive her to the places she needs to go. I pray for her often when she is out on the road. It's a bit scary to know my little girl is growing up and is out on the road by herself ~ but my hope and peace are in the Lord and I trust Him in all things! (If you have been reading here for a bit....can you even believe she is 17 and driving!? I'm still not fully able to grasp that realization myself!)

Homeschooling my children is *such* a gift. Easy...no....but a blessing? Yes! I seriously wouldn't have it any other way. Jaxson and I do his history together. We are using The Mystery of History...book 2 (which covers the Reformation etc) and I am really enjoying it! I read it to him...as he seems to understand it better that way ~ and I really love learning about all these things along with him!

I am so excited because I finally got a few things hung on the one wall of my living room that has been bare for a few years. I just couldn't find what I wanted to go there. Joann's was having a sale recently and I got the wreath for $12 (it was originally $40!)...and the tin star was cheap as well (and it's paintable if I ever decide what color I want it). The "Keep Life Simple" sign was bought inexpensively at TJ Maxx! I always love getting a good deal (clearance deals are definitely my favorite!)...and this wall was cheap and looks just how I wanted it!

(Sorry the pictures are a bit blurry. I used my phone as it was easier than grabbing my camera...and it doesn't take the best pictures!)

These little munchkins came to town to visit the day before Halloween. As you probably know ~ I don't *do* Halloween...but my sister always loves to make costumes for her children each year. She always does such a great job! This year was no exception! The *made* these awesome butterfly wings for the girls! From left to right: Eloise, Dinah, and Audra...

Aren't they so fantastic? The wind was really blowing that day too...so the wings were just flapping everywhere! Dusten was made into a gnome! He was *so* cute...but wouldn't turn to face me so I could get a picture. That's ok...since he looks like the perfect little gnome below...

My sister's and my aunt works in our local courthouse and she takes the kids to see her each year...I go along to help out! Look at those wings!!!

Chris has been super busy with work, church and deer season (which always keeps them busy at the meat market in the evenings) but he tries to carve out time to do some things around the house when he can that I truly appreciate! He got the backhoe and was able to do some fixing on our driveway the other day! He's so great....I love watching him work. Good grief...if you put *me* in a backhoe I wouldn't even have the first clue what to do! Chris is always able to do whatever he puts his mind to. I always truly admire him!

And finally....these two...*sigh*. Life's rough....isn't it? ;) Mickey and Cash....our crazy dogs!

The kids are working on book work....and I need to get some wood stacked and some chores done before I head into the Y to exercise. We have things on the agenda this afternoon as well...so I best get moving! :o)

Thanks so much for visiting. I know my lack of posting is ridiculous and hopefully I can do better!
I hope you are doing well and are having a lovely autumn!

Warmly,
Katy

***I am selling a few things on ebay if you are interested and want to take a look ~ you can find them HERE! :)

Hello October!

October has arrived (does anyone feel like it just started to be the year 2018? How did we get to October already?). We've been keeping busy around here. Schooling, housework, our homeschool co-op days have begun again and I have been teaching exercise classes (and taking classes) at the Y daily. Paying bills, mowing, filling the woodshed, church, cooking, visiting/counseling with friends, and house projects have filled our moments as well.

Chris and I *were* able to take some time though...and go to see a Tim Hawkins show with friends on the weekend of our anniversary. We just celebrated 18 years of marriage and I am over-the-moon blessed ~ I am so thankful that this man is mine. I could spend a whole post just swooning over him but instead....I'll just keep it short....He's the best and I love him with my whole heart! ;)

I will share a little funny though about that weekend! A couple of good friends invited us to go to the show (it was about a 2 hr drive away) on that Friday night. Chris took a half day off work and we got ready and left early so we could have dinner over there before the show. We had a great steak dinner (I actually had a grilled chicken salad) and were trying to find the place on my friend's GPS. I decided to look up on Tim Hawkins website the name of the church he was at because I didn't remember. When I did....I saw that he was in a totally different city that night!! The place we were headed was for his show on Saturday night!! I texted my friend (we were in separate vehicles) and she was so embarrassed that they had gotten the wrong night! Hahaha! It was 7pm....so we all just turned around and headed home. It was so disappointing...(and I am not great at traveling) but so funny all at the same time. All we could do was just laugh.

I get a text the next morning....wondering if we wanted to go to the show that night (Saturday...the correct day) with them...even though we had all done that traveling the previous evening. Chris and I still really wanted to go....so we said yes! And it *was* worth it! We had a great time and laughed and laughed! So much fun!!

That weekend gave us some funny and great memories! :) Plus, we were with friends that we adore so it was just wonderful...even if we drove around for hours on the wrong date! haha!

I am not a big decorator for holidays or seasons....but I do love wreaths! I am always excited when I get to bring out my fall wreath to hang up!

Cooler evenings make candlelight so enjoyable. I love how warm and cozy it makes the atmosphere...

The boys and I (mostly with Jax's help) decided to tackle the projects of peeling paper, priming and painting walls in our office/computer room...which if you read my blog years ago would have been our old living room...

I used a color called Gentle Lamb (in the pic above that is just primer all the walls...not the actual paint color). It's a soft cream. I like how it turned out. These are plaster walls...original to this older house. There are holes in them from things being hung up, plaster chipping etc. Technically, I should have mudded and sanded all the holes and done everything properly. But to be honest, we just wanted the room to look crisp and clean...and not perfect. One day maybe I will go through the work of finishing this room completely...but right now, it serves as a computer room and a place for Madelyn's piano. It needs the ceiling to be covered one day (hopefully with tongue and groove wood or something along those lines). For now, a couple days of cleaning up the walls and painting them was busy work enough for us! The room was in chaos and we had a million and one things to do in addition to the room....so the goal was just to "get it done"! :)

During schooling one day, X left his chair out and Mickey climbed up on it and fell asleep...

And before I go, I wanted to share the book I am currently reading. It's really good. I love Joey and Rory (their music, their faith and their love) and so I knew I needed to read his book! HERE it is on amazon if you are interested...but you may be able to find it cheaper on ebay or elsewhere!

I made cheeseburger soup for supper yesterday (in the crock pot)....I figured I would share that recipe in my next post...so stay tuned!

I know I don't post as much as I used to....but life is busy (in a slow sorta way). Time has me taking care of my family and home and also trying to be out helping or serving others if I can (Madelyn and I are going to start tutoring once a week soon). I spend time exercising at the Y as well....but also see that as a place where I can serve others, encourage them and be a light for Christ.

Times have also been tough as we pray for and try to be there for loved ones and friends who have troubled marriages, health issues, and are suffering the death of their loved ones for various reasons. My heart has been so heavy lately with the burdens so many carry. My prayer is constantly that the Lord will use me to help my friends shoulder their burdens and take it to the Lord. I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I am faulty and always falling short. So please know I don't mean to sound as though I am perfectly selfless and giving. But I do want to encourage you...if you aren't already, truly pray for those around you. Be willing to be the ear they need to listen or the mouth they need to pray with them. If we, as the church, are the hands and feet of Christ ~ what love that shows to a dying world.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

If you are in need, don't be afraid to reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Get the help you need from people who love you and then as you are strengthened, you can become what others need! It's a beautiful spirit of *giving* of oneself....that just keeps going! If you are struggling...don't pull away from the church. As the body of Christ we are there to encourage, admonish and *love* one another!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:23-25

Lunchtime is approaching and I have things to do! Thanks so much for visiting and keep a look out for my next post with that cheeseburger soup recipe that I use! It's pretty easy and delicious! :)

Warmly,
Katy

Home, A Recipe and Organization!

For a few days, we were having fall-like weather! That put me in the mood to make *soup*! I made cheeseburger soup, vegetable beef soup (pictured below) and chicken noodle soup!

I thought I would share the chicken noodle soup recipe I used (as well as the homemade noodle recipe I used). I have the recipe written down...I am not sure where it came from to leave credit. Please note...I didn't measure out the veggies I put into this soup even though there are amounts given. I just put a *ton* in! I guess it depends if you prefer a chunkier soup or more broth! :) That's the beauty of cooking...you can tweak things to how you prefer them! We like *more* veggies in our soups!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

4 c. chopped, cooked chicken

1 c. chopped celery

1/4 c. chopped carrots

1/4 c. chopped onions

1/4 c. butter

8 oz egg noodle (the recipe I used is below)

12 c. water 

9 cubes chicken bouillon 

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 T dried parsley (I didn't have this so I didn't put it in!)

In large stockpot saute the celery and onion in butter...

Add the rest of the ingredients (except the noodles) and simmer for 30 minutes. 

While that simmers, I made the noodles! I got the noodle recipe from HERE.

Egg Noodles

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 pinch salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. milk
1 T butter

In a large bowl, stir together flour and salt. Add the beaten egg, milk and butter. Knead dough until smooth (about 5 minutes). Let rest in a covered bowl for 10 minutes.

On a flour surface, roll out to 1/8 or 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired lengths and shapes.

** After the soup had simmered above for 30 minutes I added the noodles fresh and let it all simmer again for 10 minutes..until noodles are done. You CAN use bagged noodles...but it isn't anywhere near as tasty! :)

The soup was delicious and a *huge* hit with my family as well as our BIL and my FIL!

 On the back porch as night settles in...

The temperatures have been a bit warmer again lately as well as humid (with lots of rain)...so I have been getting a lot done inside as well! I've been working on organizing my closet as well as Chris's.

Organizing things can be a lot of work....but oh it is such a satisfying feeling to have things look neat and orderly! :)

I've also kept busy with homeschooling with the children (and planning it), daily housework, going to the gym and normal day-to-day things!

This past weekend I donated blood...I should do that more. I have a universal blood type which can be used for anyone who needs it. It doesn't take long. It's a little painful...but worth it to know you can bless someone else with it. My Jesus shed his blood for me....and His pain was excruciating. He suffered and bled for me. (I think I can take a tiny bit of momentary pain so that I can share my blood with those who need it.)

Yesterday was our first homeschool co-op day for the year. It was a change as we have changed facilities this year....after calling one facility *home* for our co-op for years! It was an adjustment...but a good one. :) I was in the nursery for a part of the day...and got to hold and feed the sweetest little boy. He was 4 or 5 months old I think. He giggled and was just so happy! It was an absolute *joy* to me! And then....despite being well-burped...the little guy threw up his formula on and down inside the middle of my shirt! Friends in the room were laughing...saying my face was hilarious! It was so warm and gooey and gross! Needless to say....I was happy to get home an hour or so later so I could change! haha! :)

I have a lot of things I would like to accomplish today...so I best get to them! If you try the recipes above, I would love to hear what you think of them! :)

Thanks so much for dropping by! I hope you have a great week ahead!
Warmly,
Katy

Three Little Posies & A Bumblebee *& More*

Good morning! Yesterday was a *busy* day for us and today I am thankful for the bit of snow we are getting as it forces one to slow down and focus in-doors instead! :) The house is quiet right now as the children are working on their schooling. Laundry is washing away in the machine and we'll be getting ready for lunch pretty soon!

Most of you probably already know that my family doesn't *do* halloween...however, we don't begrudge those who do. (We actually celebrate Reformation Day!) My sister loves to make costumes for her children every year. You may remember previous posts like THIS one (mermaids and a gumball machine) or THIS one from my sister's blog when she made them Care Bear costumes! They are my favorite!!!

When my sister comes to town my children and I help them go different places to show the girls (and now Dusty) to family members! It's busy and exhausting ~ but fun! :) The girls have fun and we all love having them come to town! So this is what we did yesterday. They came back to our house for lunch and for some visiting with an aunt who came by for a few hours. They left mid-afternoon and then I had to get the boys to their music lessons (we were almost late because right before we left I smashed a few of the fingers on my left hand! It was horrible pain!! They are sore and swollen and bruised today!)

Chris with our newest nephew, Dusten (my dad's namesake!)...

After music lessons, I brought the children back home to finish their schooling while I ran to the next town over for groceries. Then it was home to make supper (chipped steak sandwiches and baked fries). It was nice once Chris got home from work (he had to work a bit late) as we were all able to relax together for a couple hours in the evening!

Here's some photos of what's been going on lately...

Jaxson, above (drawing ~ as usual!) and Xavier below (my boys are a-growin'!)...

What I've been reading while the boys are at music lessons (or if there is time in the day). I'm really enjoying it...

While my sister was sewing the kids' halloween costumes this year, I spent some time there holding little Dusty! Complete sweetness!!!

 Views Jaxson and I had on our latest walk together...

And finally, a sweet photo of our friends' baby. They went out for their anniversary so Madelyn and I went over to watch their children. Snuggling babies does a heart good!

 The days have been busy...but good. We praise and thank God for each day He gives...all the while praying for people around us as well as the tragedies.

And before I go...I just have to say how surprised I am at some of the comments on that one previous post....all over a couple simple factual statements! I recently got *another* comment making it sound as though I said a feminist is a person who wears pants and works! What!? I just shake my head as I am astounded to what people assume! I wear pants (as well as skirts sometimes too!). I never ever mentioned anything about a feminist wearing pants or working. Nor did I write about abuse or anything else. Also...I am accused of being a legalist! I wish everyone would read what is actually written and not what is assumed (I know many of you do...I am just saying those who *don't*). Goodness! I had my husband read my posts and the comments and he stands by what I have written (and trust me, he would tell me if he didn't). Thank you to those who read it all in entirety and understanding. I truly appreciate it. :o)

It's nearing lunchtime so I need to get going! Thank you for visiting today. I hope your Wednesday is joy-filled and Christ-centered!

Warmly,
Katy