Harvest Lane Cottage

Out with the old...in with the new.... It's a great time to ask the Lord what He wants to change in you. Then, be sure to agree with Him! He will do a work in you that you cannot do by yourself. Happy New Year! Laura Happy to know I can sleep at night now.

One more night of the paper route! Yay! January first will mean a new beginning in more ways than ever this year. I want to make several changes. I definitely want to get as much junk food out of our life as I can. A month of working nights led to much more convenience food than I wish to admit. I want to evaluate our homeschool, how things are going, and what we need to do next. I want to declutter in a major way. When we move, chances are we will have less space. No, I don't have a moving date yet. I have much to think about in the next few days. Are you making resolutions this year?

...even when it looks hopeless...even when I have come to the end of my resources...even when only a miracle will help...even when others think I'm odd or crazy...even when I'm desperate...even when the clouds are hiding the sun.... I believe. Shared: Wholehearted Home *Note This was the year of the paper route.

Happy Christmas everyone!

I think that last Christmas was the most memorable. It was a very difficult year for us. I was unable to do my Christmas shopping until the Tuesday before Christmas. Two of my children came down with strep throat the weekend before Christmas. My husband took them to the ER. They got shots and felt better the next day. I wasn't feeling well and hadn't for weeks, so I stayed home from church with my youngest child. The next day was Monday. I woke up so sick, I thought I had strep as well. I slept the entire day. When my husband came home, he took me to the ER. I was so sick, I didn't realize what was happening until I woke up and found that I had been admitted to the hospital! I told them I had to get out because I had Christmas shopping to do. They didn't buy it. I had pneumonia. So, my husband got to do his first Christmas shopping with a carefully written list. The children weren't able to visit because of the strep they'd had. It was a sad Christmas we...

Today's the day that I get to pick up our eldest son, Matthew in Springfield.  He's on Christmas break from Job Corp.  We'll get to keep him until the New Year!  Yay!  I'm so glad we'll all be together again for Christmas and New Year's Day.   Matthew's been in Puxico, Mo and hubby has been in KC.  Thank you God for reuniting us this weekend. Happy Christmas Laura

We have heat in our van now!  Hubby had our fan motor replaced today.  Hurray! Thank you, Honey!

Actually, very very early in the morning as we deliver newspapers.  Last week, we listened to some of the Chronicles of Narnia as we drove...literature credit.  For the last week, Christmas carols...music credit?  Last night, we watched meteor showers.  Next week, on the night of December 20-21 , we'll be watching a total eclipse of the moon....science credit!  How cool is that?  We're filling in on my husband's paper route until a replacement can be found.  God is turning what could be a miserable experience into a blessing.  Thank you, God! Laura Looking on the bright side, in the sky!

There is going to be a meteor shower December 13-14!   "December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the best meteor shower in the heavens, the Geminids are known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. The peak of the shower this year should occur on the night of December 13 and morning of the 14th, although some meteors should be visible from December 6 - 19. Some estimates say there could be as many as 120 meteors an hour visible from dark-sky locations. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini. The Moon will set early in the evening setting the sky up for a spectacular show. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight." Go to The Sky for more information and to see a great astronomy calendar of events.  It absolutely amazes me how far in advance they can predict these things! Amazed at His Glory and Grace, Laura

This is a homemade, handmade, heartmade Christmas at Harvest Lane Cottage. Momma’s making Christmas from scratch as much as possible. I made a quick little gift for my daughters. It’s a little crocheted cotton drawstring bag that’s just big enough to hold a bar of soap. Using a size I crochet hook and cotton yarn, I chained 25 and turned. Single crochet across and repeat rows until it is long enough to hold your favorite bar of soap. You can add a little frilly touch by chaining 3 and then slipstitching in each single crochet across the top. I then folded it in half lengthwise and slipstitched around the edges to make a little bag. You could sew it together with yarn instead if you prefer. Next, I used a complementary color to make the drawstring. I just chained about 75 or 80. Just make it long enough to weave in and out through your stitches in a drawstring style. Tie the ends together, and you’ll have a nice little bag for your soap. Use it to wash with in the shower or tub. I...

I've been delivering newspapers for my husband each night (weekends off-thank you Lowell) from 2:00 a.m. until around 7:00 a.m.  I finished early this morning; so, I got an extra hour of sleep when I went back to bed.  Yay!  Well, the point is that between the route, sleeping, homeschooling, housework, and trying to work on Christmas gifts, I'm not doing much else.  I'm adjusting though.  So, don't give up on me...I'll...be...back...... Christmas blessings from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Laura

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