24 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 20 & 21

 I've been thinking a lot lately about the Godly heritage I've been blessed with in my parents and grandparents. Both sets of grandparents have lived and example of dedication and faithfulness to God's Word and  His precepts. They have always encouraged and exhorted me to grow closer to the Lord and follow hard after him with all of my heart. They have always been there when I needed advice, or just for someone to listen.
 On one side of my family, a great-great-grandfather of mine was a brush arbor preacher.  Farmers and ranchers, our family has always been tied to the land.
My Nannie and Papa have been married over 50 years and my Nana and Poppa are almost to the 50 year mark. Their examples of love and faithfulness over the years are an inspiration to me.
 I am so thankful that I have been able to have them with me for so long. I can't wait for the day when I can tell them that they will be great-grandparents. So many people don't have that privilege.

Jacob and I with our grandparents at the wedding

On another note, I am so excited that in two days we'll be going home! I have missed my family so much and can't wait to see them.

24 Days of Thanksgiving; Days 18 &19

Ok so I said I should be able to start posting more regularly since we're settled in, but I wasn't expecting  the effect my husband's work schedule to make such an impact on my day ;)
 While we are here--at least for a little while--Jacob is working four ten hour days. That means we have a three day weekend every weekend. That's like two Saturdays in a row!
 That's what I'm thankful for today and yesterday.
 We slept in, which is something we haven't be able to do in forever and Jacob made breakfast. Jacob washed his truck and I cut out sewing patterns, but other than that we did a whole lotta nothing.  We made supper together and I tried out a new dinner roll recipe. (Recipe below) I'll be making them for Thanksgiving this year.
 I think today we'll probably venture out and maybe do some Christmas shopping.
  I'm so thankful for our uninterrupted, relaxed time together. I know that it won't always be like this, so I want to cherish and end enjoy every moment.

30 Minute Rolls

1 C plus 2 Tbsp warm water
1/3 C oil
2 Tbsp yeast
1/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 C flour

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
In your mixer bowl combine the water, oil, yeast and sugar and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.  Using your dough hook, mix in the salt, egg and flour.  Knead with hook until will incorporated and dough is soft and smooth. (Just a few minutes)
Form dough into 12 balls and then place in a greased 9 x 13 pan and allow to rest for 10 minutes.  Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden brown.

Recipe from Real Mom Kitchen

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 16 & 17

This week has been rather busy and it's been hard to stay on top of blogging so today is catch-up day again.

 I was so blessed to be able to spend most of the day yesterday with some good friends of ours that live here in our new city.
 I met Elizah 5 years ago. At that time she and her husband Brian only had one child and were expecting another. Now they have three--two girls and a boy. We don't get to see each other much, so when we learned that we would be living so close we were so excited.
 In recent years I've also become acquainted with some of Elizah's sisters.
  Yesterday we visited and Elizah worked on some matching jumpers for her girls. I am working on another big pineapple doily, so I took that to work on while we visited. Her youngest sister Devorah (de-vor-ah) was there too.
  Elizah and Brian raise and sell certified organic chickens. They are going to a farmer's market this weekend so the second part of the day Elizah and I went to Sam's to get supplies for baked goods for Elizah to sell.
 I had such a good time and I am so thankful that we have friends here. It helps make the move easier.
  Another thing I am excited about is that very close to where Elizah lives is a little store where I can get essential oils. I've been seeing some recipes for homemade cleaning products and now I can try them since I'll be able to get the ingredients locally. I'll let you know how they turn out. Unfortunately, some of my experiments have been less than stellar.
  Our new apartment is beginning to feel more like home. My car is almost emptied and I have some of our pictures and decorations from home out. My coffee maker and KitchenAid mixer are in the kitchen now--that goes a long way in making the place feel like home :)
 It has turned chilly and Jacob and I can't wait to try out the fireplace in our livingroom! It's been years since I've had a fireplace. It will be so fun to decorate for Christmas.

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 15

 Today I'm thankful for God's healing power. Sunday while we were bringing things upstairs ( 3 flights, remember?) I pulled something in my left side. It actually felt like when I had a rib out of place a few years ago. Lifting things while in an awkward position is never a good idea. Maybe one day I'll learn my lesson.
  It didn't really begin to bother me until I lay down to go to sleep. Then it became so painful to breathe I could barely draw a breath. It felt like something was squeezing and gripping my left side.
  It was so unexpected--I didn't even know I'd pulled anything--it scared me and Jacob. I didn't know what was going on. Rather frightening--our first night in a new town and I might need medical attention. I'm the type that hates having to go to the doctor and will usually wait til the very last minute.
  To make a long story short, Jacob began to pray for me and ask the Lord to take away the pain and repair any damage that may have been done. He asked that I be able to relax and have a good night's sleep. After about 5 minutes of prayer the pain suddenly stopped and let go and my breathing did not hurt and my whole body relaxed. I was asleep in a matter of minutes and had one of the most sound night's rest I've had in a while.
 Yesterday there were occasional twinges of pain, so I was careful with what I lifted. Today I didn't hurt at all! I was able to get my car nearly empty.
  Thank the Lord!

24 Days of Thanksgiving; Days 13 and 14

We made it safely to our new (temporary) home yesterday evening around 6:30pm. We had a safe, uneventful, easy trip with no detours and no stalls, just like we asked the Lord for :)
 It was my first time to drive that far alone (3 hrs!). I was following Jacob, but I had never been through the way that we came and I was a little bit nervous. Also, that is the longest we have traveled alone since we've been together. We have always ridden together and wow, that was a lonely trip!  Thankfully we didn't get separated in the traffic getting out of the city and soon we were back to two-lane highways, which are way more to my liking and style.
  Now the fun begins. Even though it is a fully furnished apartment that his company is providing for us, Jacob told me to bring as much as I needed to make it feel like home. We are on the third story and there is no elevator. My husband had the wisdom and foresight to bring home small boxes that do not hold much for me to pack in. My day today will be filled with many trips up and down stairs emptying my car. We took care of the truck last night and today is the  day all my "toys" get brought in.
 After I get everything unpacked I have big plans of adding to my winter wardrobe and working on Christmas gifts. AND figuring out my new sewing machine :)
  Now I'm off to make trip #20 of 350 up and down stairs. Oh boy....

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 12

Busy, busy busy! That is me right now.

This week started off rather sorrowfully--my beloved sewing machine nearly gave up the ghost. I just knew she was mortally wounded and rushed her to the hospital. There is an elderly man in my hometown who works on sewing machines and is amazing with them. That's where I took the 'ole girl. He and his wife have been married almost 60 years and they are wonderful Christian people.
 He called me about an hour later and told me that the clutch assembly had gone out (I didn't even know my machine had a clutch!) and sadly, Singer had discontinued that line of parts. He was checking with some other suppliers to see if he could get a matching part for it. But it would probably take a little while to get the parts in. This was not good news, especially since we are about to move. I didn't want to be without a sewing machine for a few weeks.
 Thankfully, my Mom had a spare machine she had picked up at a yard sale about a month ago. It needed to be put back in time and needed a presser foot. She dropped it by the sewing machine shop the same day that I took mine. Mr. Williams went ahead and fixed Mom's machine so I would have one to take with me.
  Well, yesterday Mom and the girls came over and brought the machine to me. Mom decided to just give it to me! I was shocked and so excited. So I'm saved :) and have a machine to take to Waco.

This is what my home looks like right now--boxes everywhere. My poor coffee table is buried. I'm trying to get everything packed to leave. I've got multiple lists of things we can't forget scattered throughout the rooms. I don't really like moving :(

This is what helps me keep going ;) Thank the Lord for coffee!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 11

Today I am thankful for my Mama.

  She is the one who taught me everything I know about homemaking, being a wife and being a lady. Her example that she lived before me as I grew up made me desire to be a homemaker and wife. The love that she and Daddy share made me crave a godly marriage like they have.
 She taught me how to cook, how to sew, how to do bookwork, and how to be a helper. If there was a skill I wanted to learn that she didn't know, she would find someone who did know how so I could learn from them. She instilled a love for the home family in me that I don't think will ever go away. I have seen the love she has for Daddy, for her children and for her home and how completely happy and satisfied she is with what the Lord has given her. That speaks volumes in this world where women are always trying to "find themselves" and find fulfillment.
 My mom is very humble, not quick to bring attention to herself or her accomplishments. So I will :)
  I'm convinced  if there is a such a thing as Superwoman, that's my mom. Not only does she homeschool all of my school age siblings--from high school to pre-K--she is the secretary and accountant for my Dad's business. She is an amazing cook and seamstress, and accomplished organist. I'm told that she was once very much at home on horseback, but I don't remember it because once she starting having children she gave it up.
  She is considered a homeschool veteran, as she has graduated two and has another one nearing graduation. She has always been around to help counsel people who are considering homeschooling and has helped many families in our area get started.
 We are best friends, and have been for as long as I can remember. We have grown even closer since I married. She is the first person I go to when I need advice or a sounding board. She is someone who I know will not steer me wrong, and always encourages me to love my husband and honor him and put him first.
 She has shown me how to be a good mother and a good teacher. She and Daddy were brave when they began homeschooling me in kindergarten and made the choice to opt out of the public school system.
  She gave birth to my last three siblings at home with a midwife, and showed me that labor and giving birth, while it's hard, it's not something to be feared. I am so glad I was able to be with her and witness my sister's births.
 She and Daddy have been married almost 26 years. They are even more madly in love now than when they started 26 years ago. My mom adores my father and he feels the same way about her. I try to treat my husband like a king, just the way Mama has always treated Daddy. People are often surprised at me and some of the things I do for Jacob, and laugh and say "Well, you're still newlyweds. All that won't last long." Jacob is quick to tell them that his in-laws have been married over 20 years and are still the same. :)
  She is truly a Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 lady. I want to be just like her.

EOA Link up #16

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 10

Yesterday was spent busily packing and preparing to leave, with almost no time to write, so today is catch-up day.

Today I am thankful for my church and pastors. I was blessed with a wonderful church and pastor growing up--I was at the same church and had the same  pastor till I married-- and I thank the Lord every day for them. They helped my parents place in me a love for the Word of God and for Truth. That love helped carry me through some rocky times growing up. I am so thankful for their Godly influence in my life.
 My church family is like family to me and I miss them greatly. It was so good to see them all last Sunday when Jacob took me home for a visit.
 Even though I was transplanted from the place and  people I loved so much, the Lord has given me a wonderful new church who already loves me greatly, and I them. My new church is home now. We have amazing leadership in our church that I am growing in respect for more everyday.
 The Lord has blessed me with many sweet friends at my new home and I am so thankful for them. Gone are the days of feeling out-of-place and like an outsider.
  And now, we'll be moving to a new church for a few months, and I already miss everyone. I didn't realize how much everyone already meant to me til now. That makes me happy, because there was a time when I wondered if I would ever really feel like I belonged there.
  I have been so blessed throughout my whole life with wise, kind pastors and loving churches who really care about the lost.

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 9

Today I am thankful that I am able to be a homemaker. It was always a desire and a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I always just wanted to be a wife and mommy. I am so thankful that that dream was able to become a reality from day one of our marriage.
  I love being at home and making our little place a home. The home is such an important place for a family. For too many people and families their home is just a place to eat and sleep. They live most of their lives away from their home. I can't imagine how that would be.

 I am so glad that Jacob loves me being a homemaker. Honestly, at first, he wasn't too sure about the idea. Most of the ladies he knows work outside of their home. And he was concerned about how tight our finances would be on only one income--a very valid point. But I expressed my desire to stay at home to him and he consented. Now he loves that I stay home. And since we have started out on only one income, I won't be quitting a job when the day comes that we have children, so it won't feel like are getting a pay cut.
 But as I have said before, God has always provided--He is honoring that we chose for me to stay at home and to trust Him. He always comes through for us :)
  Another plus to staying at home, right now I have lots of time to sew and make things. I have a way to generate income from my home, which is great :) I am learning lots of new skills that make my products better.
 And perhaps the best thing about being a stay-at-home wife right now is that I am able to jump up and go with my husband wherever he goes. This upcoming move would be at lot more difficult if I had a job. Some of my girlfriends' husbands work away for a few weeks at time, and they aren't able to with them. I can't imagine that!
  I am so blessed!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 8

Today the things I'm thankful for may seem silly, but I am grateful for them :)

  Coffee and chocolate are two of my very favorite things :) And when they are together--almost Heaven on earth!
 Coffee is one of my best friends. Unfortunately, I am usually not a very nice person in the mornings until I get my coffee. My siblings have been known to warn others about me before I have my "morning devotions" ;) I've also heard things like "creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Mrs Grinch" whispered as I made my way to the coffee pot. Sad, but true...things are getting better though. I'm also an afternoon coffee lover. I look forward to my coffee in the afternoon so much everyday. When I lived at home one of my favorite times of the day would be when we would all stop for coffee. It just isn't the same sipping coffee alone.
 Believe it or not, I drink my coffee black, with no cream or sugar. My brothers drink it how they say they like their girls: blonde and sweet. Oh brother....

Ah chocolate, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! I love thee in cakes, in cookies, in ice cream and all by thyself. I love you in almost every form you come in. I'm not sure who brought chocolate to the New World, but I am so glad they did.

Apparently I'm not too silly dedicating a blog post to coffee and chocolate--Tchaikovsky wrote two pieces in The Nutcracker Ballet one titled "Coffee" and the other "Chocolate". Maybe he felt the same way about them as I do. Below are both pieces, so grab a cup of coffee and some chocolate and enjoy!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 7

Today I am thankful for adventures that the Lord gives us.
 I feel like my life has been full of adventures thus far. A few months after I turned sixteen my family moved Campeche, Mexico. My father had a job offer to manage a rice farm there. We lived there for a year. It was one of the most fun and unique things I've ever done. We were in a completely different culture, away from everything and everyone that was familiar to us. It caused our family to grow closer and stronger.
  We were almost in the tropics, and we were surrounded by iguanas, howler monkeys and wild parrots. We lived 45 minutes away from Mayan ruins and six hours away from Cancun.

Not too far from us there  was a very old city named Palizada. It was an import city on the Palizada river. The houses have red-tiled roofs like you would see in Italy or France. The ships would use the tiles for ballast on the journey over then would remove the tiles and fill with cargo and leave the tiles in Palizada.
  It was always hot where we lived, and for two birthdays in a row (my 16th and 17th) I got to go swimming. This was a real treat as my birthday is in December! My 17th birthday was spent in Rio Indio, a small little place with snow white sands and clear deep blue water. It was heavenly! We had miles of beach all to ourselves.
 We moved home when we learned that Mom was expecting Hannah.
 My father and I went to two father/daughter retreats in Georgia. It was wonderful. The second year we took Wendi with us.
  Now the newlywed adventure occupies me and we have been presented with another opportunity. We're moving!  Jacob's work is moving us to another city about 4 hours away for a few months.
 I'll be preparing this week, deciding what to take and what to leave. I never thought I would live in TWO cities! :)
  I was visiting with one of my grandmothers last weekend and she told me that we never know how what we are learning now will affect our lives down the road.
 So even though I am a little unsure about this next little adventure, I want to learn everything that I can from it, and be content wherever I am.

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 5 and 6

 I'm thankful for our weekends in the country.
We spent days four, five and six with my family. It was wonderful! My mom and I drank endless pots of coffee :) and I played and played with my little sisters.
 Our menfolk and Wendi hunted Saturday morning and my Dad and youngest brother both shot a doe. Sunday morning before church my other brother got a doe as well. Lydia was so excited about the deer on Saturday she kept asking during breakfast when they were going "to peel the deer." We laughed and laughed
 It was great to visit my old church on Sunday morning and see all of my old church family.
  I was also able to go and visit with all of my grandparents this weekend. I am so thankful to still have all of my grandparents alive and doing well. I love having them to draw wisdom from. My dad's parents have been married over 50 years, and my mom's parents are almost there too.
 I am so grateful for the Godly heritage the Lord has blessed me with.

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 4

Today I am thankful for the deliciously cool weather that blew in this week. In our part of the country, summer heat often extends into October and occasionally November. Cool weather brings so many wonderful things. Here a few of my favorite things cold weather brings:

•  I'm so happy to pull out all of my cute cool-weather clothes--sweaters and jackets and boots. I love wearing boots and my favorite pair are a pair of cowgirl boots Jacob bought for me on our honeymoon. I wear them all the time, they are so comfortable.

•  When I lived in the country, usually the first good cool night we would build a fire outside and drink hot chocolate and roast marshmallows. Since I'm in the city now, I'm content just let my coffee cup warm my hands :)

•   Cold weather brings out the soup and stew lover in me so big batches of soups and stews are in our future.

   When the cool weather blows in, all of the men in my family get itchy trigger fingers and are ready to get in a deer stand. Camouflage is the color of choice during this time of year for many people I know.
   Last year Daddy, my brothers, and Jacob harvested several deer and combined the meat and we made a couple hundred pounds of smoked venison sausage. It was so good! We don't put cure or any preservatives in the seasoning mix. The recipe was given to us by one of our dear old neighbors who used to own a meat packing plant.
  It is something we do every year and I can't remember a time when we haven't done it. It is one my favorite times of the year. Over the years we've had various "uncles and aunts" -- close friends of the family-- help us and it is always a fun time of visiting.
  Here are a few pictures from last year.

 Our manly men cutting up all the meat. We girls got in on it too, but there is no photographic evidence.

 Yours truly weighing and packaging some of the fry meat and backstrap that we didn't turn into sausage. That we some of the meat we use in stews and shish-kebobs.

 Wendi and Jacob  moving meat to Daddy to be ground. In the pans in the back are meat that was just ground, ready for stuffing.

 Stuffing the sausage into casings, with little peoples looking on.

 Ready to go in the smokehouse.

 Smoked sausage on top, jerky on bottom. Every year my brothers try to make jerky--we're still learning. It gets better every year ;)

Yummy! Daddy and Josh packaging the smoked sausage for the freezer.

Hurray for cool weather!

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 3

 Today I am remembering and thanking the Lord for His hand of provision. He has provided for our every need and it astounds and amazes me to think about it.
  I am a homemaker. We are a newlywed one-income family. To say that we aren't always in high cotton is rather an understatement :) But we have never once wanted for a thing.
  We were so blessed when we set up our home. We were given so many things--our dining set, our couch, our coffee table and end tables, just to name a few. And we had some amazing wedding showers (3!). What we weren't given directly, the Lord provided the money for us to get what we needed.
 It hasn't stopped since we've been married, actually it has increased. I posted several weeks ago about our dryer and how He gave us a much newer one for free!
 Right before we were married a co-worker of Jacob's came to him and asked if we needed a deep freezer. Jacob told him yes, and the man said that he had a small upright one that we could have. They needed a larger one now and had a spare. As it turns out, that freezer was the perfect size for our apartment. Having freezer space is such a blessing. I am able to store so much more food than if I only had the little freezer above the fridge. I can catch things on sale and make meals ahead and have them for later. And did I mention that we were given the freezer for free?!
 Another way that the Lord has provided for us is through our health. In the 10 months that we have been married we have both had excellent health. We've still fallen prey to colds and allergies, but those things haven't been anything requiring a hospital stay or numerous doctor visits. Even earlier this year when a horse spooked and dragged Jacob out of the horse trailer, his injuries were minor--they could have been so much worse than they were. He has protected us every step of the way.
 All of these things are a confirmation to us that we are in God's will. We are happy, we have all that we need and then some. I have no doubt that He will take care of us as long as we serve Him.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  Psalm 37:25 KJV 

24 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 2

Yesterday was about sisters, today I'm thankful for my little brothers. People laugh when I say little, as they have been much bigger than me for years.

For many years, it was just us "Big Three". Not having a sister for so long, I would play trucks and guns with them and they would (sometimes) play dolls with me. More often than not we would end up playing "pioneer" which was a hybrid of the two--guns and babies. :)

 We big three have always felt like we were a unit--you didn't mess with one of us without messing with the other two. And you certainly didn't want to get in a debate with all three of us! :) We share the same visions and goals for our families and lives.

  We are happiest and have the most fun when we are together. We have always loved working on projects together, and my brothers are the main reason I enjoy firearms so much. They told me that ladies need to know how to shoot--after all, Jael took up a tent peg against the enemy. One day after working with me to get my groupings closer together and to the center of the target, Josh said, "Well....it isn't as close as I like it, but if it were a hog, a coyote or a man after you, he'd be pretty wounded and you could get away."

Typical pose for us three..none of us paying attention.

There, that's better :)

  Josh and Patric are a team. They work best together. They can take of the family business completely by themselves if my father has to be away. They can build almost anything and can fix almost anything.

  I am so proud of the men they are becoming, but even more, I am proud of the men of God that they are. They are dedicated in their walk with Him and their love for Him inspires and convicts me at the same time.

  I love them so much and miss them greatly. I'm just glad that we get to be together pretty often and that they love Jacob so much and vice-versa. It makes it easier to get together and have them over that way.
 Whoever gets either one of my brothers for a husband will be one lucky girl!

24 Days of Thanksgiving : Day 1

I decided to try to post something I am thankful and grateful for every day this month until Thanksgiving. There will be no specific order of importance in the posting, just the things I am thankful for that day. It is my goal to post everyday, but that may be interrupted a time or two as I learned this week we will probably be moving to another city for a few months. We will be leaving before Thanksgiving, but I will make an effort to post everyday.

Today I am thankful for my little sisters.

There was a time when I thought I wouldn't be blessed with sisters. I have two wonderful brothers, 3 and 6 years younger than me. I wanted a sister so much, and when my mom had a miscarriage when I was nine, I was crushed. A year later, the Lord gave me my first sister, Wendi. She was my real, live baby doll and I loved having her around so much.
  I occasionally joke that my prayers for a sister must have stacked up in Heaven then all of them came back at one time, because six years later Hannah was born. Two years after Hannah, Lydia was born, then almost three years after Lydia, came Faith. The last three were all born at home and I was blessed to assist with their births--which was awesome! I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
  I love them all so much. I never dreamed how much I would miss them when I married, or how much they would adore my husband and vice-versa. Jacob was more than a little surprised while we were courting when I told him that Mama was expecting another baby. He loves to shock people with the fact that he has sister-in-laws that are 20+years younger than he is.

 We didn't know that Wendi was a girl until she was born. Mom had had a sonogram, but Wendi was too modest and didn't cooperate. I was so happy that she was a girl, I cried when I held her for the first time.
  This is Wendi's first year to hunt and last weekend she shot her first deer. It was an eight point buck and we are all so proud and excited for her, especially Daddy. :)  Not only is she able to "bring home the bacon (or venison!)" but she can also make it into a wonderful meal. She is learning to sew and is doing very well.

 Mom says that Hannah is exactly like I was when I was little only red-headed instead of blonde. Soooo prissy and dramatic--I have apologized to Mom on several occasions for all the drama and silliness she had to put up with when I was young :)
 Lydia is Jacob's sweetheart. She loves her Jacob so much that I think if we were closer in age she wouldn't have ever forgiven me for marrying him. She told Mom the other day that "Jacob is really mine, Becca just shares."
  Hannah and Lyddie are best  friends and take care of each other.

And last but not least...Faith. She was the surprise we are all so thankful for. She was only 3 months old when I married, so many times I feel like I am missing out on so much of her first years. Thankfully, modern technology has helped make it easier, and I always get lots of pictures from home of her doing cute, new things. I was worried that she wouldn't know me since I live a good hour away and do not get to see them as much as we all would like. But so far that hasn't been a problem. She loves me and knows me and gets very excited when we talk on the phone or when she sees me. She'll hug me and hold me for a long time and has started trying to say mine and Jacob's names. She loves Jacob too, and like the other little sisters-in-law, has him wrapped around her little finger.

Faith eating marshmallows for the first time.

 I never ever dreamed that I would have sisters so much younger than me, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. It is a little amusing sometimes though, as some of my friends have children the same ages as my sisters!

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