Wednesday, August 5, 2015

A July to Remember


Once again this summer we decided to be camp hosts at Twin Lakes State Park. Despite having two extra children, we still decided to go and were very glad that we did. I found it to be a little more challenging with a new baby, but we made it work. 

The children were able to participate in many park activities including: swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing, and even some frog catching, owl prowling, and fox watch! We had lots of family visit this year and camp with us as well as some friends which made our stay even more enjoyable. Abby and Baker made LOTS of new friends from the campground and that was so fun to encourage. 


This volunteer job is so rewarding! We were able to meet even more wonderful people this summer. Our kids always love the time spent at this park and this year we really became part of the Twin Lakes Family. From the office staff and management, the rangers, interpreters, snack shop employees, and even the lifeguards we developed friendships that will last even after the tans fade. 


 What a wonderful opportunity this is for families! I would love to see more families volunteering to be camp hosts in our local parks. If you love camping, being outside, and just meeting new people, this is the perfect job for your family. 
We plan to be back at Twin Lakes again next summer and will be at another local park in October this year. Come see us if you can!

If you would like more information on becoming a Camp Host, we are happy to share. 



Happy Camping!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Abby's Animal Chores Saga

Our oldest two children have been away for "Camp Grandma" in Alaska for the past 9 days. Abby with her servant's heart and a desire to step up to the role of "oldest" for a little while, decided she would take over the animal chores. She knew I had my hands extra full with my big helpers being gone. We decided to let her do this. We figured it would be a good life lesson for her and besides she had her sidekick, Baker to help!

SO this is how the last week has gone......

Day 1- The two headed out to collect the eggs. After dropping and breaking one each, they returned with a handful of eggs.

Day 2- Same chore of collecting eggs, and they let the chickens out!

Day 3- Abby saw that the pigs needed feed, she dumped about the whole container (at least a week's worth of food) out for them. Their pot bellies were dragging the ground and they didn't even want to eat for days after this!

Day 4- The dynamic duo discovered that the pigs were out of water. Instead of "bothering" me and asking for help, she hooked up the garden hose and tried to run it out to the pigs. It wouldn't reach around one side of the house, so she tried the other way. The whole time she was attempting to make the hose reach, it was on and water was running EVERYWHERE! Baker was having a blast playing in the water and was soaking wet when I discovered what was going on! This day actually could have won America's Funniest Home Videos had I thought about recording it!

Day 5- She realized that her rabbit was growling and trying to scratch her when she tried to get in and get her bowl, so she just decided NOT to feed her! When we finally realized this was going on the poor thing was SUPER hungry!

Day 6- Too many fish food pellets in the fish bowl!  However, the fish DID survive.

Day 7- This is the day that ended the animal chores for Abby. The two headed out to check for eggs. We have known for a couple weeks that a snake has been sneaking in to snack on our eggs because he's been caught in there more than a couple times. BUT this day, Abby wasn't paying attention. She collected the eggs, and when they were on the way back into the house, they spotted that black snake just slowly slithering across the path. Aaron and I were sitting inside and heard screaming from both of them SO LOUD that I'm sure any "neighbors" thought they were having their legs and arms cut off! Aaron took off running to see what was the matter, fully expecting to see some blood of some sort. NOPE, it was just that snake minding his own business, making his way into the woods and Abby and Baker just standing there ( a number of feet away) screaming, holding each other, and shaking in fear! Of course Aaron shared the story of the "girl who cried wolf" again to them, and that they shouldn't scream like that unless something is truly wrong and so on and on. Dad rescued them, scooped the snake, up and found him a new home far away from our chicken coop. Abby decided on this day that she'd rather not do animal chores anymore unless an adult comes with her.

SO glad the big kids come home tomorrow! Never a dull moment around here and that's for sure!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Mama Life is Good




I have so many people say to me, "How do you do what you do?" or " You sure have your hands full" or even "I could never do what you do."

As I was making strawberry jam today, I was thinking about my job. My job does have so many different tasks and duties. It isn't easy and sure not your regular 9-5 job. A mother's job is never ending. It requires hard work, patience, long hours, and consistency. This is the kind of work that pays off and is rewarding every day. Even though there are some days that I struggle and am so tired, I wouldn't trade this life for anything. 

Right now as I type this, my oldest son is in the kitchen cooking supper, my oldest daughter is helping to freeze strawberries, and my younger three are playing together nicely. I have a moment to relax and ponder these things. My task is to teach these children how to live life, how to love, and most importantly, how to grow into responsible human beings. 

I am blessed beyond measure for this job and so thankful for the opportunity. When I left my 9-5 job years ago to be a stay at home, homeschooling Mom I never imagined that I could do it, much less be good at it and enjoy it. On the days that I struggle, I just pray and God gives me the strength I need to do this job HE has called me to. 

I often read Proverbs 31 and truly aspire to be that kind of woman.

" A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies. 
 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life. 
 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands. 
She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar. 
 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants. 
 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks. 
 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night. 
 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy. 
 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 
 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 
 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come. 
She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her: 
“Many women do noble things,      
 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."


Hope this is encouraging to other Mom's!




Tuesday, May 12, 2015

How Does Your Garden Grow?



We had what felt like a longer than usual winter this year here in Virginia, and everyone in our house is ready for summer!

It is time once again to plant the garden. This is one of our favorite things to do as a family. We spent the past weekend preparing the "spot" and started planting today. We have found our "river bottom" soil to be the best spot for our garden. This is LOTS of work, but so worth it come fall when we have fresh garden veggies to last us for the winter.






We planted tomatoes, cucumber, squash, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers (many varieties), and eggplant. We will plant our corn and beans tomorrow.
I can't wait to make dill pickles and salsa. Not to even mention how excited we all are for a homegrown tomato sandwich!
I decided to plant my own dill this year for the pickling along with my basil and other herbs.

Stay tuned for more garden tips, recipes, and just some fun family photos of our garden.

Well, some planted, some rested, and some played! Great family day!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

My New Adventure

Life has been a bit busy here lately. In late January, I was sick with Scarlett Fever.  Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with Foraminal Stenosis. This left me feeling very discouraged. I hadn't run, and had lost all my energy. I began to search for something that would help me feel better and give me the strength and energy I needed to start running again and to just keep up with the kids.

I began to see story after story about tremendous success with AdvoCare. One of my friends from high school became a distributor with this company and had been sharing many of the stories on her Facebook page. I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try...... so I did.

I started with the 10 day cleanse and decided I needed to go ahead and finish their "24 day Challenge". Before I was even half way through the challenge I found myself 6 pounds lighter and feeling much more energetic.
Today I even ran a 5k! I have not run this kind of distance since early this year (before I was sick). I feel fantastic and I know it is because of AdvoCare!

Needless to say, I decided to become a health and wellness coach and distributor with this company too. I am super excited to continue on these products and share them with everyone around me.

Thank you so much, Andrea for leading me to AdvoCare and to all my friends and family who have helped me start my business!

If you would like to learn more about AdvoCare, please email me at hillbilliehousewife@gmail.com or simply check out my website, https://www.advocare.com/150338699.

Here's to a new healthier you (and me)!


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Give God the Pieces

"The best way to heal a broken heart is to give God all the pieces". 




It is very hard for me to believe that it has already been a year since our last foster child went home. I am reminded this week of all of our precious memories that we had with him. We have spent the past few days sharing these memories with each other as we look through the photos. This past year has been hard for me. As a Mom, I think we just experience things differently than others. When we love a child (our birth children or foster or adopted children) we love with our whole heart. Loving with our whole heart is exactly the way that God commands us to love, but boy do we set ourselves up for tremendous heartbreak!

 I cried for weeks before he left, cried the day he left, and have cried SO many times during this last year that I have lost count.  I cried just today as I was considering this blog and what I would write as I remembered and thought about him. I thought about all the times that I had to get up in the night to care for him. Whether it was to ease his pain from a bad dream, clean up his bed and comfort him while he was sick, or walk him through some of his various other struggles. Those were tough moments but they are still memories and they are things I will never forget.
 I thought about the smiles, laughs, hugs, and firsts with him. I thought about how he called me "Mom" and when he did for the first time, it melted my heart! I thought about how our youngest son and him were like twins and the sadness that he has had missing him over the past year. 

Then, I spent some time wondering was it worth it? All of the hard things, the good things, and the pain in the loss and grieving. Was all of that worth it? Where do we go from here? Why do we do this job?
The answer is so clear! Of course we do! We do this job because this is what the Lord has called us to do. We do this job because there are still so many children who need us. We do this job because it is worth it, all of it is worth it to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to love those less fortunate who need us. 

Time will continue to heal our pain and even though we still have days that we can say, "we miss him". We carry on because we know God will heal us and has a perfect plan for these children and for our family. So, as we reflect and remember the good, the bad, and the hard parts I also remember and keep reciting our "Foster Care Verse":

 I Corinthians 15:58 "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord".

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

WATSIT2U?







 I was in the attic putting away Christmas decorations and I found an old license plate that said, "WATSIT2U". I got this at a Clay Walker concert back in the 90's. Any of you who knew and loved country music back in the 90's will remember the lyrics to that Clay Walker song. "I know what love is, what's it to you"? I shared with my kids the memories about that concert and what the tag meant, and began to think about those eight characters. What is love to me? What is my life to me? What are my values to me? What are my children to me?

As this new year begins, I am faced with a decision. Excuse or healthy choice? Watsit2u? I can choose to stay inside where it is warm or head out for my run. I can choose to let my children get away with telling lies or discipline them so they will learn that lying is not going to be tolerated. I can choose to eat an extra slice of pizza or just stick to the portion size that I know is more than enough. I can choose to be unloving to my husband or to show him the love and respect he deserves. It is so easy to make excuses and accept those excuses as the right or healthy decisions in our lives. If we continue to do that, we will not be the person (or create the little persons) we want. We should strive each day to make the right and healthy decisions instead of the lazy and easy excuses.

If we want to be healthy, we have to choose to eat healthier and make a point to exercise. If we want to raise godly children, we have to choose to discipline our children. If we want a healthy and loving marriage we have to work on our marriage. Marriage is NEVER easy! I am finding that as I ask the Lord to help me make these decisions each day, He then comes along side of me to help me in these areas. We all slip back into old habits and it is okay to just start over.  I decided I needed a "re do" in 2015. I let 15 pounds slip back on and had let other bad habits creep back into my life. We can choose TODAY to make our life better. My life to me is one where I am happy, healthy, loving the Lord, my husband and my family. Watsit2u?

I Corinthians 6:20- "You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."