Selfless Giving ~ A Full Heart

I was mowing at home today...trying to get as much done before the rain set in, and Chris and the kiddos were down at his parents' meat market doing some things. There was a limb down on a fence at the barn there so Chris went to cut it up and get it for fire wood. As I was mowing, I saw them coming home with a log in the front of the skidder. I turned the mower off and joked that the log looked like a canoe since there was some cut out (sometimes I am a slow-thinker!).

Jaxson just giggled and I looked at him...asking him what was up. Chris wouldn't tell me either...? I didn't understand what was so funny (goodness...I am seriously thick in the brain at times!). It *finally* came to me as I slowly figured out that this was a log planter that Chris made for me. I had seen one with flowers in it online one day, a few months ago and mentioned that I wanted one. Chris had stored that little tid bit in his mind and thus, my Mother's Day gift was born!

Isn't it just fantastic? I will be sure to share pictures when I have it filled (hopefully to over-flowing) with flowers!

 The children each made me a card as well...

Jaxson made me a picture (him and his mama...obviously drawn quickly...he couldn't wait to give it to me)...

You will notice in all the cards that they have money with them. My sweet children *earned* this money themselves doing yard work for my mom. They gave it to me so that I can purchase flowers for in my new log planter!

Xavier gave me $10 because he did work for my mom *and* my great-aunt and wanted to give me more (my heart is over-flowing!)...

Closer photo of what X wrote in the card to me...

The sweet actions of my husband and children have moved me to tears. Aren't they incredibly thoughtful? It is *very* difficult to take money from my children that they worked so hard to earn...but they insist and won't have it any other way. 
I am looking forward to enjoying the evening with my family. Xavier went to the "races" with my dad for the night so the rest of us are grilling out and watching a movie! I got to enjoy my "Mother's Day" a day early...but I hope your day is incredibly blessed tomorrow! It is so nice to feel loved and appreciated, isn't it? 
My heart is full. My children are such wonderful examples of selfless giving. :) I am so thankful for them. The only down side is that my own mother isn't home for this weekend. She drove out to visit *her* mama who lives on the other side of the state (as a surprise). :) I'm so glad they will enjoy that time together and honestly, I am blessed because I live close to my mama...so I see her often! My sister is coming to town next week so we will celebrate our own day with our mom then! 
"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~ Washington Irving
Warmly, Katy
It's all about Jesus Christ being first.... and second and third and fourth and fifth.   What I'm saying is, don't put Jesus first.  Jesus is everything.  He's not just first in the rank,  He is everything.  ~Paul Washer

Homemaking Goodness

“The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home,

 filling it with love and prayer and purity,

 is doing something better than anything else her hands 

could find to do beneath the skies.” 

~ J.R. Miller, Homemaking 

Folding clothes is a regular occurrence here...I try to do a load or two of laundry per day so I can keep up with it and not get overwhelmed. Some women prefer to do it all on one day and that works for them! For me, I do a little each day...that way I don't dread doing it. :) Sometimes, I will fold and listen/watch a sermon on the computer. while folding this particular day, I was listening to a video of Dr. James White. There is nothing better than soaking in wisdom and knowledge from a brother in Christ while doing housework that cares for my family. That is definitely the definition of multi-tasking! 

My children each have their own basket at the bottom of the stairs. (We used to have different ones but those wore out over the years). Each child (as part of their chores) is required to carry their clean/folded clothes upstairs and put them neatly away. Then, as I fold, I refill them. It works nicely...

Some knitting finishes lately...

This dishcloth (below) had an oopsie in it and I didn't have the patience to fix it so I just bound off early and figured this would be a *small* dishcloth!

Always keeping track of my daily agenda (I *really* don't know how people can function without a planner!)...

Our schooling is almost finished up for the year!!! Not too many days left! The children (and this  mama) are quite excited about the break!

Today, my sister had an appointment and asked if we would journey over to her house to watch the girls for her while she went. We happily agreed! Xavier (Daddy's shadow) went to work with Chris today and Madelyn, Jaxson and I made the trip to my sister's...

Madelyn read to Dinah (above) while Jaxson and Eloise played...

“God...made childhood joyous, full of life, bubbling over with laughter, playful, bright and sunny. We should put into their childhood days just as much sunshine and gladness, just as much cheerful pleasure as possible. 

Pour in the sunshine about them in youth. Let them be happy, encourage all innocent joy, provide pleasant games for them, romp and play with them; be a child again among them. Then God's blessing will come upon your home, and your children will grow up sunny-hearted, gentle, affectionate, joyous themselves and joy-bearers to the world.” 

~J.R. Miller

I am writing, deleting and re-writing a post...I have a lot on my heart lately. I have a passion for biblical homemaking...to be a godly wife and mother. I want to encourage other Christian women to embrace their roles and live a life pleasing to God. I am praying that my words are written with love, gentleness, encouragement and wisdom. I hope to post that one day soon! 
I hope your day is going well...it's 80* here in Western PA! Can you believe that? It's quite a shocker after all this colder weather..but we'll take it! :) Thanks for stopping! 
Warmly, Katy
“The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land, to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.”  ~ J.R. Miller

Outside in May

It’s spring fever…. You don’t quite know what it is you do

want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!

~ Mark Twain

Spring is finally turning things green around our house! We still have lots of brown/gray...but the green is coming...as are the flowers! I can't wait until everything is in full bloom! :) 

The lilies are growing. I can't wait until they bloom!

Flowers and hosta are growing here...

The girls are happy foraging in the yard and surrounding areas....and we are happy for them to decrease our tick population!

Everyone who owns an outdoor wood stove *needs* a skidder....right?

Happy May!

The Results are In...

The results came back from my blood work and ultrasound (about my gall bladder). I do not have stones and my blood work looked good (just showed I am dehydrated...thankfully, an easy fix). There is another test to test the functionality of my gall bladder. If it isn't functioning well...I *still* may need to have it removed. We have a high deductible with our insurance and are paying for all these tests out of pocket. Chris and I decided to wait until/if I have another attack before going ahead to pay for another scan. I am hoping and praying the attacks just stop. I have been avoiding meat like the plague! The only "meat" I have eaten is turkey bacon...well, and eggs. Are eggs counted as meat? Hmm...? 

If you are praying for me, thank-you! I truly appreciate it! We'll see what happens over time. Luckily, between attacks I am doing just fine...so I function pretty normally until one hits. *Maybe* I won't have another? Who knows but God? :) Like I have said before, I am pretty confident knowing my life is in His hands and not my own! 

In other news, life has been continuing on here much as it always has. Schooling, cleaning, playing, laughter, tears, joy, frustrations, prayer, reading, knitting, organizing ... all the things that when added together equal my life. :) Ups and downs and all-arounds. 

We have been getting a lot of rain lately...so we have been watching the Star Wars movies through Netflix. We watch one, send it back and then they send us the next one. We love make believe and imaginations. We diligently teach our children the Word and the truth of Christ...and they know that life is not about "the force" or any such nonsense like that. We just enjoy creativity in movies. My mom bought the boys these masks....oh how they love wearing them...especially my Jaxson (aka: Darth Vader)...

Washing the floors is a much nicer task when done with Mrs. Meyer's basil multi-purpose cleaner. Just mix a little of it with warm water in a bucket (isn't this one from Mrs. Meyer's GREAT?)...mix it into some great big soapy suds and scrub!

I am not the only candle-lover in this family. Madelyn lit candles the other evening...I love the atmosphere they create (in looks and scent)...

I found Madelyn this new-to-us skirt. She loves it...

Doesn't she look so lovely in it? She is growing up much-too-quickly. I am so glad she enjoys dressing feminine as much as I do!

And now I must go...it's bed time. Tomorrow, I will rise bright and early to go to spin then we have a busy day ahead with our last day of our homeschool co-op year. I'm yawning and ready to snuggle between the sheets with a good book (which will only last for a few minutes before I fall asleep!). 
I hope your weekend was a good one! Thanks for your comments and emails. I enjoy each one. Please never feel like you are bothering me when you drop me a line through my email! I love corresponding with you! 
I will leave you with this quote to chew on...

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” 

― David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

Have a great week ahead! Warmly, Katy
**The link to the Mrs. Meyer's cleaner is an affiliate link. If you order through it, it benefits me! :)

May First ~ Twenty Fourteen

May your days be many and your troubles be few.

May all God's blessings descend upon you.

May peace be within you. May your heart be strong.

May you find what you are seeking wherever you roam.

~ Irish Blessing

It's May first. As I sit here and type, Xavier is practicing his banjo, Madelyn is upstairs napping and Jaxson is in the living room playing Legos. The goat is out eating grass in the freshly mowed front lawn while the chickens forage for bugs (hopefully they will eat up all the ticks!). Ruthie-the-dog is laying on the floor at my feet and the sun is trying to poke its rays out from behind some clouds (which is quite a joyous site as we have been having a lot of chilly, cloudy, rainy weather lately). 

We are winding up our school year with less than two weeks to go (everyone, including this mama, is ready for a break!). Bikes are being ridden on nicer days as well as some jumping on the trampoline (that our neighbors so graciously let us use). It felt good to go out earlier this afternoon and get the front lawn mowed! The boys had told me earlier that they heard one of our neighbors mowing and when they went outside, they smelled that freshly cut grass and that it was wonderful! That is one of the joys of spring...the smells of fresh-cut grass, flowers and the like (although with the rain and chilly weather we have had...we are also getting the smell of worms around us lately!ha!).

I have had some different internal problems that may be from my gall bladder. I went to see my family doctor today and she sent me for blood work and tomorrow I have an ultrasound. I'm a little nervous to have surgery (although this won't be my first experience with surgery) but mostly I am bummed because if I *do* need the surgery to have my gall bladder removed, I won't be able to spin for 2 to 3 weeks! Oh well, if it is what needs done, then that is what I will do...I can't have any episodes like the past three I have had already. One of them was *really* bad...it occurred this past Sunday in the wee hours. The Lord knows what is best, always, so I know whatever happens is what is necessary. There is such a peace knowing that my life is in His hands. :)

I have been working on knitting like I mentioned in THIS post. Madelyn has been doing so as well. She knit up this dish cloth without a pattern (just out of her own head)...

I think she did such a nice job with it...although I am realizing, just now, that we took a photo of the wrong side. Oh well...you can still get the idea! :) I was impressed that she was just "winging" it!

I have also been *spring* cleaning. Well, just normal cleaning...but it *is* spring so I think I can rightly call it "spring cleaning". I have to admit, using Mrs. Meyer's products to clean makes it a *much* more enjoyable task! Using the geranium or lavender dish soap in hot, sudsy water makes washing dishes much less of a chore!

I love to buy things from them when they are on sale or offer free shipping!

My favorite scents from them are:
Lavender
Geranium
Basil
Rosemary
Lemon Verbena

I recently found this basket for the back of the toilet. I love how it keeps things contained and tidy looking! (The "Outhouse Rules" picture above the toilet was a gift to me from Madelyn!)...

Isn't it funny how simple things (like a basket) can make you smile?

I am using this *fantastic* chicken wire basket to house some bathroom "reading" material ~ quite necessary for some members of this family! ;) I am always switching things up though...so it may find another home at some point...

The children love to pick flowers they find blooming and bring them in...

So that is what we are up to. How about you? Happy May!  Thanks for visiting! In loving kindness, Katy