Saturday, January 4, 2014

Hello 2014

I feel like I just awoke from a long slumber and how can it now be 2014?  Between transitioning from being homeless, to the great and final move of 2013(only 7 of them last year), getting back into routine with homeschooling and attending a Classical Conversations campus, the ever so crazy holidays, my hubby being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and chicken raising, life has kind of been one big blur.

It's in the blur though that I ever so clearly make out the hand of God.  He's always there it just takes more effort to locate HIM and hear HIM in the busyness we find ourselves wrapped up in.

With that said, I have made some changes to part "some"ways with my heavily trafficked FB account and get back to blogging about all the wonderful things God keeps doing in our family. It's not that I don't love you but I find myself being caught up in the FB world vs. living in the everyday life world. Here's a photo run down of the changes in our home for 2014. May you all be equally blessed by HIS presence in this coming year.

Before House renovation Part 1

 
Not everyone could see the vision we had for this house but we knew it was "the one" after viewing 100's of other homes.  Pat Gunter is an amazingly patient relator and helped us find the home perfect for us!
 



During Phase 1(5 or more to go but who's counting)



I quickly realized that I have failed to take many photos of the "current stage" of our house because we have been so busy living life!
 
 
Hosting a friend's 40th and still not complete but for sure livable and enjoyable! We prayed for a house that our friends would want to gather in and what a blessing this house is! This house has also allowed for Craig to join us for lunch a couple times a week due to his shortened commute...huge Praise!

 

One room almost complete...the entryway! It involved popcorn scraping, wall removing, lights being added (Thanks to the wonderful Billy Wilkes) and the floor being patched, but one area is complete!



We were blessed to be able to better learn how to treat out bodies as holy temples. I may not have broached this topic of study had Craig not been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, but in true God form HE blessed this journey. Some meals were a fail while others have ben added to the rotation! 

 
 
Our family is jumping in to a more holistic world and researching how to better use essential oils. Let me know if you want more info.  I have been blessed with a wealth of resources in this area!
 
 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

New International Version (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
 
 
 

 
We discovered that chicken farming is not just a hobby it's hard work and smelly, but awfully rewarding too! Our family is looking forward to sharing our eggs in 2014.
 
 
 
Sometimes there are variables beyond our control and life is precious.  These eggs did not hatch due to a poorly regulated incubator.
 
 


 
But in true God form, we had sweet homeschooling friends that knew our eggs didn't hatch and let us come watch their eggs hatch.  They even blessed us with some of their baby chicks. 
 
 
 
These chicks had lots of love!
 
 
These said chicks lived inside while they grew their feathers out.  Farm life had now officially encroached our living area and we realized it was a choice to love through the stench!
 
 


Then the first coop had to be upgraded to host a larger amount of chickens and keep them safer. After a hawk incident that killed two of our chickens for dinner, my sweet husband picked up the special delivery on Christmas Eve day!

 
Our current project involves adding the enclosed run to the coop. I love how the kids just watch their every move.  You can learn a lot from the chickens.
 

Matthew 6:26

New International Version (NIV)

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

 

After looking back at 2013 and planning for 2014 we decided to be more intentional about looking for God in every little thing we do so we made reminders through our the home.

 
 
 
Remembering to be grateful through the day...
 
 
We'd love to pray for you in 2014!
 
 
This is more because I am a germaphobe but isn't it the cutest Pinterest project.
 
 
We want to have more friends over to eat with us and candles will still be lit at every dinner.
 
 

Best of all know you all are loved in 2014!


Romans 5:8

New International Version (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 




 

Faithfully HIS,

Betsy

 

 

 

 



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