Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Blood Moon, Worship, and Trust

Good morning dear ladies,

I'm up late tonight, because I was worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Precious Holy Spirit as I observed the Blood Moon. I stayed out watching it for a long long time as it eclipsed, turned red, then went into eclipse again. It's nearly back to a bright white moon.
God is so very good, isn't he? 
I wish I'd been able to photograph it. I'm sure NASA will have love lovely photos.

Be encouraged ladies, your Father God loves you so very much and cares about every single detail of your life. Seek HIM first, and He WILL take care of you. Tell Him you love Him. Tell Him you trust Him. Then do it. A little preaching to myself tonight!

Blessings to you all!
Laura 

Friday, September 25, 2015

Snuggling Up With a Good Book


I love Christmas books all year round.  I start listening to Christmas music in September whenever the mood strikes.  It's great nesting, baking, crafting music.  Christmas novels just make me feel like snuggling under a warm blanket and relaxing.  If it's cold enough for a blanket, it's close enough to Christmas for a good story. Maybe it's a bit early for you, but be on the lookout for some good books to read with your family this year. We add a new picture book every year. My kids at home are 14, 16, and 18. Last year they unanimously agreed to continue this tradition. That's what makes a tradition — the desire to keep it!

There are many wonderful Christmas books. Here are a few of the Christmas books our family enjoys:

The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman
One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham
The Very First Christmas by Paul Maier
The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojclechowski
Tell Me the Story by Max Lucado and Ron DiCianni


A few books for you...
Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Carol Putman, Sarah Sundin
The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs
A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs
The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland
A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston
A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer
The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall
The Christmas Scrapbook by Phillip Gully
Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

Have yourself a merry little Christmas a little early this year!
Laura
So Blessed to Believe


~~~~~
This post has been featured at 
Susie's Christmas Cottage.
~~~~~


Homemaking Party

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Fall Bucket List 2015

  • Write my fall bucket list
  • Make some autumn crafts
  • Curl up with a terrific book
  • Roast marshmallows and make S'mores
  • Take a fall foliage ride
  • Make caramel apples
  • Make popcorn balls
  • Drink apple cider
  • Drink eggnog
  • Make chili
  • Carve pumpkins
  • Try a new soup
  • Enjoy candy corn
  • Enjoy candy pumpkins
  • Invite friends for soup and bread
  • Make new fall decorations
  • Go to Farm Girl Fest
  • Collect leaves and acorns
  • Take a walk and enjoy the maple leaves
  • Shop for a new sweater or coat
  • Toast pumpkin seeds
  • Gaze into the fire in the woodstove
  • Maple Leaf Festival
  • Make cocoa
  • Bake pumpkin bread
  • Make Christmas gifts
  • Listen to Christmas music
  • Watch Christmas movies
  • Read Christmas books
  • Burn cinnamony, pumpkiny, spicy fall candles
  • Read by candle light and lamp light
  • Bonfire


Saturday, September 19, 2015

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #47


Hello Ladies,
  So good of you to visit today! It's been a very busy week. We had company, celebrated an 18th birthday, and traveled out-of-state to a funeral. It's been very busy indeed. Here's my rather short list of thrifty things during the last week or so.

~ I finished my dress!


~ We had a homemade, handmade birthday tea party at the restaurant for Emily's eighteenth birthday. She made many Pinterest worthy decorations using things we had around the house, wildflowers, and old lace scraps. 

~I was chosen to review An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti.

~I read Chivalrous, another review book, by Dina Sleiman during our drive to Topeka.
~I listed some items to sell on Ebay.

~We traveled to Topeka, Kansas for my father-in-law's funeral memorial. We were able to get gas for less than $2 a gallon, stayed with family, and only had to purchase one meal on the road. He's pictured in the center with our family. May God rest his soul.
~I ripped the hem of my old dress. Rather than toss it, I cut a couple of inches off and made a new hem. It's a good thing I wear them long! 

That's it for this week. What have you done this week?

Thanks for dropping in!
Laura





Friday, September 18, 2015

Finding Hope

Click for ten posts about hope.
I'm away from my computer for a few days. 

Please enjoy these posts about hope.



Monday

Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Thrifty and Frugal Times Eighty-Five



Hello Everyone,
I'm taking a few days away from my computer. I invite you to read some of the eighty-five thrifty and frugal posts as well as many others listed under Writings on the sidebar. I will be back to the computer again this weekend. I'll do my best to catch up on my correspondence with you lovely ladies then. 
God bless you all!
Laura

Sunday, September 13, 2015

My Daybook September 13, 2015

Read other daybooks.
 My Daybook
September 13, 2015

Outside my window... It's dark and cool. I can hear the cicadas and frogs.

I am thinking... that it's wonderful to listen to family telling old stories.

I am thankful that... God provides. Emily had a wonderful birthday weekend. It was Pinterest worthy. ~smile~ I'll probably share some photos of her decorations here sometime soon.

From the kitchen... I need to make some desserts to take to my father-in-law's memorial service Wednesday night.

I am wearing... my cream dress with roses and soft green buttons.

I am creating... I finished my dress! Here I am at my daughter Emily's birthday party Sunday afternoon. Emily's on the left. She's wearing super high heels! We're really all almost the same height. Amy's on the right. She was dressed up for the party. She had a beautiful blue dress under the cape.

I am going... to my father-in-law's memorial service this week. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are visiting with us this weekend.

Cover: America the Strong
I am reading... I am reading America the Strong and 52 Lessons from A Christmas Carol. I'm also still reading Trim Healthy Mama.

I am hoping... to enjoy visiting with family this week.

I am hearing... Lowell and his brother and sister disagreeing about an old family story. ~smile~ His brother and sister are both older and can remember things he cannot.

Around the house... I'll be busy cooking and keeping things picked up. No projects this week. Well, maybe one. I need to glue some sticks into the top of my little fabric pumpkins I made this summer. I need to find some for my little wooden pumpkins my kids made, too.

One of my favorite things...  puffy clouds floating through a blue sky on a breezy 70ish day.

From the Board Room...
Follow Laura's board Fall -ing for Autumn on Pinterest.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week... visiting with family.

My Picture Thought.... 


C. Amy Lane Photography
Now go check out the other Day Book entries at our hostess Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman.

What are you up to this week?

God bless!
Laura

Friday, September 11, 2015

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #46


Hello Dearies!
Time for another thrifty week post. 
Sometimes, it's not about what you do.
Sometimes it's about what you don't do...
or do rarely.

For instance...
We don't have a big fancy house.
We don't have a second car.
We don't have a car payment.
We don't go shopping for fun.
We don't have any credit cards.
We don't go out to movies.*
We don't buy the latest electronic gadgets.
We don't have cable, or any other t.v.
We don't have long-distance on our home phone.

I rarely buy books for me.*
I rarely pay new clothes for the kids
except undies, shoes, socks, and my son's jeans.
We rarely take our whole family out for dinner.
We rarely go to the doctor. 

So many of the things that I do that are thrifty are simply second nature. 
I've lived this way for so many years, I don't even think about it anymore for the most part. 

What kinds of things are second nature to you?

Laura
Living and Learning

~~~

*The last full price movie I saw was the one about Timothy Green several years ago. 
*I am blessed to receive books for review for free.




Sunday, September 6, 2015

My Daybook ~ September 6, 2015

Read other daybooks.
 My Daybook
September 6, 2015

Outside my window... It's dark and sultry.

I am thinking... about how to make life more fun.

I am thankful that... my sons, 24 and 16 are growing to be good friends.

From the kitchen... I want to try some new recipes.

I am wearing... my black dress. I wore my oatmeal tan sweater over it this morning in church. I get chilly in church. I thank God that they have good air conditioning!

I am creating... Oh, I'm embarrassed to say that I still need to hem my new dress. I'm nearly finished after all these weeks!

I am going... to sort through clutter this week. I think we're going to try to do a yard sale later this month. Any advice?

Cover: America the Strong
I am reading... I have started America the Strong and 52 Lessons from A Christmas Carol.

I am hoping... to get lots of laundry and other chores done today.

I am hearing... the air conditioner. Everything else is silent.

Around the house... we need to clean to get ready for company visiting next weekend.

One of my favorite things...  homemade pecan pie.

From the Board Room...
Follow Laura's board Pie! on Pinterest.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week... work, school records and plans, hem my dress, catch up laundry, and preparing for my daughter's 18th birthday. I need to find a terrific gift for her.

My Picture Thought.... 




Now go check out the other Day Book entries at our hostess Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman.

What are you up to this week?

God bless!
Laura

Friday, September 4, 2015

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #45

Good day!

I went yard saling with my husband this morning—just the two of us. It was like a little mini-date. We stopped at Casey's for drinks and a slice of breakfast pizza. We stopped at a few sales, but nothing caught our eyes. That makes for a thrifty morning. Not buying something is just as thrifty as getting a good bargain.

Here's a bit of my thrifty week:
  • I reviewed Nichole Nordeman's new CD The Unmaking. It, like most of my review items were free to me in exchange for the review. If I like something, great. If not, I'll say so, but I also try to point out the positives, especially if it's a good product but a poor fit for me or my family.

CONGRATULATIONS AMY!

  •  I received some books in the mail for review.


  • I sold some curriculum on Ebay. 

  • I downloaded some new fall graphics from Twin Creek Primitives.

Find free graphics here.
  • I watched a couple of episodes of Israel's Mission by Ray VanderLaan. It's a review product, and it's good! Watch for a review next week.
Ray Vander Laan
  •  I made menus using as many on hand items as possible.
That's about it for this week. Now, it's my daughter's turn to use the computer. We also save money by having only one car and one computer. 

Blessings,
Laura




Wednesday, September 2, 2015

First Sign of Christmas!

My first Christmas book has arrived! 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a beloved, enduring classic.


I will enjoy reading the wisdom Mr. Bob Welch has gleaned from its pages.

Love me some Christmas reading!







Wednesday

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Eyes to See Beauty in the Ordinary ~ Thrifty Beauty