| happy thanksgiving. |

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoping you had an awesome holiday, everyone who might stop by and read this.:)

 

We had a nice, relaxed week. Dad took the week off from work ( he had Friday and Thursday off anyway) so we spent a lot of time together as a family, saw some friends the other night we hadn't seen in a while, and butchered our poor cow. That was awful, so I can't tell you much about it. Not butchering so much, but ... let's put it this way~ we are still in doubt as to whether we will kill and slaughter our own steer again.

 And I have to apologize for the consistent lack of posts.:(  I'm not that great at keeping up a blog, and I'm afraid I don't write the most interesting posts. But thanks to anyone who takes the time to read these disconnected ramblings, (and especially to the sweet folks who comment~ you always make me smile) :)

 

 

So what are we thankful for today? I've got to confess I take way too much for granted. The other day I was looking at some old issues of the Voice of the Martyrs and wondering what some of those people would think about the freedom we've got as Christians to worship the Lord without being afraid that some officer will come and burn their Bible or haul them off to jail for confessing the name of Christ. It made me wonder how many times I've actually thanked God for giving us Americans that freedom. I'm afraid not that many.

The other day Mama and I were in the store picking up some cooking supplies we were running short on and we were talking about how the people a hundred years ago would have been shocked to see how easy it is for us to buy whatever we want~ or the people in third world countries, for that matter, today. Unfortunately, I find it so easy to have a careless perspective and take things for granted~ too easy in America. :(

I always thought a nice idea for keeping things in perspective would be to hang a chalkboard in your room in front of your bed and every night write whatever happened that day that you were thankful for. I never did it, but I think it's a nice idea.

So just a few thoughts to chew on. But hope you all had an extra special day.:) And it's not wrong to enjoy blessings, either. Sometimes I feel a little guilty because I've got so much, and there are so many girls who don't enjoy the blessings I do. But I do think that God wants us to enjoy the blessings He's given us to the fullest.:)

What are you thankful for?

 

 

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

2 Corinthians 4: 15 ~16

 

                                        
 Blessings,

 

 

All photo credits to Pinterest. I didn't have time to take much photography today.:)

 

"

| beautiful november. |

 

After taking a computer fast for mental health and relaxation for the last several days, I recently read a few posts from bloggers in South Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio. They were describing the beautiful fall weather they were having.

I can just imagine: golden leaves, crisp fall air, pumpkins, you know. Everything "fall-y." My adjetives are usually the noun with a *y* at the end.:)

Here is our *lovely* early November, fallish weather:

 

 

*Although it is not exactly visible, it was quite a little snowstorm out there and my shoelaces were frozen by the time I got to the house*

There are several more inches on the ground by now. 

I have yet to decide whether or not winter has officially found itself an annual home again, but today it sure felt like it.:) The kids were all for strapping their skis on, but Mama advised them to wait~ the snow is not that deep yet. Whether or not winter has moved in or not, we have moved back into winter mode, which includes:

*Eating breakfast on the woodstove. It is big enough for most of us to fit on. My one brother even likes doing his math on it.

*Leaving the oven door open after baking something to help heat up the kitchen.

*Going out to thaw the animals' water every couple of hours or so.

*For the boys, splitting and bringing in wood.

*And of course, winter could not be complete without a cup or two of this:

 

Hot chocolate.:) Love that cup! It reminds me of home sweet home.:))

 

Earlier this morning I snuck out to the corn feild and surprised these birds:

 

 

In this one I think you can see the snow blowing around.

 

The geese, of course, were not amused to find themselves being photographed.

 

Our empty garden became a snacking stop for a flock of hungry turkeys. The poor, ignorant birds! Had they known that not far away from them a certain brother or two of mine were standing, half drooling, (not really) saying things like, "Just wait til opening day! You see any toms in there?"

I guess they might not have been eating so peacefully.

 

Things are quiet around here right now. My brother missed a deer last weekend,  and we haven't gotten any venison yet, unfortunately. :( One of these upcoming weekends we are going to have "Butchering Day". Although butchering a 1000 pound steer is quite a different story from a 100 something deer. I can't say I am looking forward to that. I don't mind helping to butcher a deer, but I guess I am a little attatched to the cow. I don't think I will be able to bear to help to butcher him.:(

So, for bloggy news, I am going to change my blog name sometime this upcoming winter, to coordinate with something else, which is to be aanounced whenever I get my act together. With me, that is hard to tell.:)

We are all doing well, and everyone is staying warm and healthy, and, for the most part, happy.:)

I guess maybe with the recent national election I should make a few remarks about it. First of all, I cannot even pretend to know or understand anything about politics. I comprehend and understand algebra more than politics (to give you an idea of how well I get the whole thing). Second of all, if I did understand it, I probably would have no more interest in them than I do now. The few bits my dad and brother explain to me usually depress me. I would like to refrain from mentioning politics completely on this blogspot, but maybe this recent election warrants a few remarks. I read a very wisely written post the other day on Hopeful Homemaker and the young lady who wrote it expressed her thoughts much better than I could if I tried to discuss my take on the election. But anyway, I am sorry that America does not see its awful sinfulness.  I pray that we will not just call on a generic god when tragedy happens but on the one true God, the author and finisher of life, each and every day as without his blessing and mercy, we will soon be no more . But maybe by the time these next four years are up, America will be more willing to want to do things God's way and not excuse sin, especially if things do not get any better than they are now. Not trying to be pessimistic, but just a thought. What America needs is to turn back to God, and repent. It's not too late.

 

Well, I think that's enough for tonight. Hoping you all are having a peaceful, pleasant evening.:)

 

"From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord shall be praised."

Psalm 113:3

No matter who is President, where this country is, or anything at all, God is in complete control and He will prevail for His children and win!