Bread machine update...

OK...I know I left everyone wondering and worrying if I would get my breadmaker and grain grinder...hehe Well, here's is the latest:

After talking again to the friend who does her own bread, I decided to simply start by investing in the breadmaker until we can afford to do both. We can still buy whole grain flour from certain stores and experiment making healthful breads in the meantime! So...after going over facts and figures, I realized I had a little money tucked away from my old Pampered Chef selling days. Yes...I ordered my new breadmaker tonight! I'm so excited! Especially, after reading the ingredients on the package of our "whole grain" bread label today. :) Not too appetizing.
Just for the record, my new machine is a new Panasonic model that has gotten lots of great reviews.

So, look out to my family...here comes the homemade bread experiments!

A day in the country

It was a blissful spring day as our family headed out on the school bus, loaded down with families from the church, heading towards some private acreage with a pond of farm-raised trout. We arrived and our group was surprised with a flock of gorgeous peacocks, most with the feathers in full-fan! Everyone oohed and ahhed, and laughed at their loud, outrageous calls. Thus, began our picture-perfect Saturday.
I was also amazed at just how lovely the setting at the pond was...it completely exceeded my expectations and I wanted to just sit and soak it all in. But we had some serious fishin' to do...well, Tony and I trying to help the girls bait their hooks and cast a line, was more of a comical affair than anything remotely serious, but our friends graciously took pity on us, and kept helping out. Thank you, Villa family! :)
Later on, we all enjoyed a picnic lunch of hot dogs, ice cream, chips and soda...we had the option of barbequing our fish then and there, and I was one of the few to do so...it was SO yummy! You can't get much fresher than your own fish caught just an hour ago. (Again, thanks to my friend, Missy, for her fish-cleaning skills...and to think she doesn't even like to eat it!)
Our time there ended with a ride on a paddle boat...Tony and I paddled away while the girls sat in back and enjoyed the scenery. The water was so so shimmery and clear, reflecting the green of the trees everywhere...we wished we could have stayed until sunset but it was time to return to our bus and head back. As our bus began to move, we all took one last look at the many fancy peacocks. Their noisy bellows sounded a lot like "Help! Help!" but we knew they were far from needing any rescue...they seemed to have got it made here on this beautiful piece of farmland.
I leaned my head back against the school bus seat (something I hadn't done in decades) feeling exhausted but content. The day had been such a good time of fellowship with others from the church that we didn't know well or hadn't yet met...and it had been a tremendous chance to relax a bit and enjoy God's beauty as a family. We'll definately be back. But more than that, we'll be looking just a bit more carefully for many more opportunities like it. Chances for finding these little getaways with each other and for forming the stuff memories are made of.

Counting "Mother's Day" blessings

Here in the northwest states, spring is unpredictable...but this Mother's Day we were blessed with abundant warmth and sunshine and enough breeze to help us remember that it was indeed, still spring and not the middle of August. It was picture perfect...and in this neck of the woods it doesn't go unappreciated...especially when it falls on a day like today when we celebrate and honor motherhood.

I am one of the blessed, who has a loving husband and two loving little children who care enough to honor me...and to top if off, my own mother is still living, as well. I know not everyone is so fortunate so tonight I am feeling quite thankful for it all.

Earlier in the weekend, the girls and I drove down to visit my mom and spend the night.
It was actually the first time both girls came with me for an overnighter there and they were very excited! We had a ride on the carousel and later the girls enjoyed the exploring the huge play structure right outside. Back at "Nammy's" they frolicked with her little dog, Sandy...a fluffy and affectionate thing, who though now getting a bit old, still enjoyed the attention like crazy...until he finally tuckered out and found refuge in my mom's room.

The whole visit was all about spending time with my mom and their grandma, and celebrating Mother's Day a tiny bit early. It was a sweet time of having three generations of gals just being together.
It's amazing...my own mother had me (her only child) in her late 30's...and I ended up having my children in my late 30's, as well...(as did my mother's mother before her!) So we three generations could not be much further apart in where we each are in life. Yet, we are connected by such common bonds...faith, female understandings, and that connectedness that sometimes comes from simply sharing the same genes.

And then, the girls and I came home. Tired, all of us from our little excursion, I was surprised and thrilled to see that my husband had cleaned the entire house and spruced up the yard. It was a nice early Mother's Day gift, to be sure!

The next morning we all went to church, where the service really concentrated on honoring mothers and we sat back and soaked it all in, including a special number from the children's choir featuring our own daughter. There were pictures that many of us had sent in, of us mothers and children doing something special together, up on the screens for all to see...including the one of the girls and I flying a kite at the beach last summer. Seeing my girls and I up there, along with all of the other moms with their children, was very sweet, indeed.

Afterward, my family treated me to a lunch at a great place, on the edge of being out in the country...where we were able to eat semi-outside and enjoy the wonderful weather. On the grounds is a country garden that we strolled through and took pictures together on the benches. I felt I could just stretch out on the grass and nap in the warm sun...and our youngest did the next best thing, sleeping on the way home in the car.

The day ended with our weekly Bible study that we attend with several families, that included some great potluck food and ice cream, all done out on our friends' deck in the warm, sultry air. All in all, a very nice Mother's Day.

I write this all, mostly to remind myself just how blessed I truly am. Motherhood can be hard work...it can be thankless many days, and it's easy to feel taken for granted. But when husband and children do take time to "rise up and call us blessed" on Mother's Day, the sweetness of their appreciation goes a long, long way.

Not all of us are so honored on Mother's Day...not all of us who want children are blessed with them, and certainly not all of us can enjoy the weekend with both mother and children as I did. So, will all the frustrations of life, I know I am truly blessed this Mother's Day...and every day.

A joyful noise

A couple days ago, our little one was in a wonderful production called "King of the Jungle". It was a musical showing how the Lord is really the King and can become the King of our hearts. It was so much fun to see the musical come to life and my own daughter completely into her part.
It was so well done that I know I would have enjoyed it even if I didn't have a child performing. But seeing my child honoring God is this presentation completely warmed my heart.
My mom, who finds it more difficult to drive these days, caught a ride with a new friend of hers and so was able to see her grandchild in this, which was an added blessing.
This children's choir has been a wonderful addition not only to my child's life, but to all of us. It is called, "Joyful Noise" and couldn't be more aptly named. It's about to take a summer break, like so many activities, and incredible director will take a much-needed vacation. But the blessings will remain with us and we will eagerly await the start of a new season next fall, where my daughter can once again make a joyful noise.

Favorite Christian Authors

I love to read, and especially inspirational Christian novels which take me into the book, entertain and sometimes help me to feel a little closer to the Lord in the process.
I read so many different authors...many books are in the "light" paperback category, but sometimes I do indulge in the meatier novels.
An author that seems to be in class by herself is Robin Jones Gunn. I discovered her Glenbrook series and from the start, she had a way of just pulling me into her world and both entertaining me and touching my heart. She is also known for her current "Sisterchicks" novel, which I enjoy...but the Glenbrook series will also be the closest to me heart.
A few others whose style I enjoy is Lori Holt and Francine Rivers, among others. Each of the above mentioned authors all have different styles (especially Francine) but each of them are phenomenal story-tellers.
A fairly new author I enjoyed was Denise Hildreth with her first book, "Savannah from Savannah". It's a little over the top, but if you're in the mood for a lot of laughs from the heart of the South, you will probably enjoy this one.

I am very happy to hear some of your thoughts on these and other Christian authors you have (or perhaps haven't) enjoyed. I am always wanting some new recommendations, so please feel free to reply with some of your favorite Christian novels. With summer coming, many of us are on the lookout for a good summertime read!

Welcome...

Well...my first blog...
I kept hearing about these things and finally decided to join in the fun.

A little about myself...
I am over 40 but I sometimes forget this...especially since my children are still small and my youngest has only been potty-trained a little over a year! I'd like to think I look younger than my years, but every year I'm less convinced...oh well!
I am a wife to a sweet guy named Tony these past eleven years, and a homeschool mom of two wonderful children, ages 4 and almost 7. I live in the wet (but currently sunny) northwest, and together we endeavor to love and follow Christ.

I love to write...though finding time is somewhat of a challenge in this season of my life. I am currently working on a novel for the past two years, a little at a time...only one more chapter to go, though!
I love to read...especially Christian fiction- and yes, I admit it- more specifically Christian romance. But I do enjoy non-ficiton and other types of books on occasion. Being a part of a book club has helped to expand my shelves in different directions.

I truly love spring...and sometimes wish I had even more time to stop and smell the tulips. It's one of my very favorite times of year, with the freshness and blossom scents in the air. My prayer is to be able to enjoy the remainder of this spring, even if on some days it's only in special moments captured here and there.

As to the latest news...
As you might guess, we are a typical busy family these days! The girls both have soccer classes and Awana...and my oldest has children's choir...and we, as some of you know, are pretty active in home school activities. But summertime is fast approaching and things may slow down....oh, I forgot. No, we have swimming and gymnastics starting up, Vacation Bible School and...oh, well...at least Mommy is going to be slowing down a bit in the home school time. We're taking the month of June off entirely, and the rest of the summer will consist, learning-wise, of only one morning a week of "school work" and also of exploring and learning about the topic of their choice. (Unless my oldest changes her mind, so far, the topic in July will be horses- mainly because she thinks she'll get to ride one for her "field trip"...we'll see!)

As for me personally...I hope to write a bit more, read even more...and boring as it sounds, catch up on the house-cleaning that so easily got left behind this first year of home schooling! (Well, maybe not completely catch up, but at least gain on it!)
Mostly, I hope to draw closer to the Lord and be used by Him in whatever way He chooses. God bless!