Harvest Lane Cottage

©Amy Lane 2017 Used with permission. Amy at Living in Faith and Fun has advice for those  all of us who have messed up,  are messing up, or will mess up.  Read more.... ~~~~~

Hello Ladies! Lots of fun getting ready for Easter things going on at our house and at our church this week. My daughters are both volunteering in the church nursery this weekend. Amy is going to wear something casual. Emily is going to wear a dress I received for review this week. I think I'm going to wear a springy floral print dress I made last fall.  Lowell is still job hunting. He works at it every day. He had an interview this week and has another one by phone next week. We keep praying. It's been over three months now.  We have faith that God will provide until he provides a job.  Here are some of the things we've done in our home this week, and some ways that God has miraculously provided for us this week. ~~~~~ This week I was inspired by this quote from Jes at Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth : "It is always best to make do and smile  at the little things you can create,  than to make no attempt at all!"  ...

I do enjoy many of the old hymns. Truth and strength combine with a dignity missing in many of the new songs. Please enjoy this, one of my favorites, sung by Sisters .  It is Well With My Soul The song was written in 1873 by Horatio G. Spafford.* It is now in the public domain. The beautiful, inspiring, peace inspiring lyrics were written after all of his four daughters had drowned in a sea collision. You can read more at Share Faith .   When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Refrain: It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!— My sin, not in part but the whole, ...

Hello Ladies! Welcome! I'm so glad you've found a few minutes to visit.  I was sick with a cold for a few days this week, so I haven't been as productive as I'd like. Lowell is still job searching. He's looking for either management or sales positions. He has lots of experience with both types of work. He's also expanding his search to include short-term work. This would help until he can get a full-time, long-term position. Here are some of the things we've done in our home this week and some ways that God has miraculously provided for us this week. ~~~~~ ~ We listened to Tom Sawyer for free on Librivox. ~ I lit the house with candles that were leftover from an event at church and my husband's grandfather's vintage oil lamp. I told my family that these were already paid for. The electricity we would use is not! We didn't light with them exclusively, but every little bit helps! ~ We drank Keurig Cocoa KCu...

Many of us believe that reading holds the key to learning, skills, and enjoyment. Yet, reading is not a favorite pastime for many people. I love to read. I learned young and was blessed with a teacher that read aloud to our class daily and a mother who also loved to read and read aloud to me as a youngster. Together they gave me a taste for a world beyond what I could see, hear and taste. They gave me a key to learning whatever I wanted to pursue. I truly believe that the love of reading is something that is caught not taught, but there are still things that we can do that will encourage the love of reading in our children. ~ Read to them from the time they are tiny. If they're older, start now! It's not too late to start! ~ Let them see you enjoying books — both fiction and nonfiction. ~ Read books to them that are above their reading level. ~ Keep a literature rich environment... picture books, chapter books, classics, even magazines. ~ Read fro...

Hello Ladies! It is such a beautiful day here at the cottage. I'm home from our homeschool co-op while papa fills in for me. I have a bit of a cold or sinus something. It came on during a heavy rainstorm a couple days ago. I hope it will leave just as quickly. No word yet on hubby's interviews last week, so the job hunt continues. I am amazed at God's provision.  Next week it will be three months since we closed the restaurant and our income ceased. We didn't have enough money saved to last this long. BUT GOD! No unemployment. No food stamps. BUT GOD! I don't even understand it all, BUT GOD! In his infinite wisdom, and mercy, God continues to provide for us. I just know he has something good for Lowell that he's working out. I've just got to hold on, have faith, and keep on the sunny side.   ~smile~ ~ We received gifts of money from three dear people at our church last Sunday. Thank you Kiki, Randy, and Georgia! These gifts really touched...

It's Monday! A New Start! Have a Daffy-down-dilly kind of day! Look for the blessings today! There are sparkles of joy everywhere! ~~~~~ ஐღ Laura ღஐ  ...doing what I can with what I've got where I am  on a short shoestring budget! ~~~~~ Proverbs 31

Hello Ladies! Crocus and Daffodils are a bloomin' here in southern Missouri.  I've about given up on snow. It's okay. There's always next year.  ~smile~ If you've been reading awhile, you know my husband has been out-of-work since we closed our restaurant in December. God has been so good to us. By the end of last week, I was getting a little tired and down. It's hard to make do sometimes.  God must have known that I needed to be uplifted. This has been a week of blessings. Today, I opened a blessing box from my friend Rhonda and felt joy just burst forth in me. I felt so loved. It's incredible the relationships we can make in the blogging world. Jesus brings us together in so many ways.  Don't look at what you don't have. Look at what you do have.  ~ Groceries from God! Someone gave money to my husband anonymously at church. Hubby bought groceries and surprised me! Praise God! We were getting down to odds and ends. ~...