Harvest Lane Cottage

Hello dear readers, Just a little update... I'm one week out from my first chemotherapy session. I've been feeling pretty ill with side effects. Think of having the flu. Yeah, never mind. Don't think about it. It's not been fun. Anyway, I'm still working out in my mind what I'm going to do here on the blog. I just published a couple of reviews, and I have a few left to get my pre-diagnosis obligations met. I hope to continue the thrifty week posts, but I just haven't done much but deal side effects this week and rest. I trust you'll be patient with me while I learn to be a good patient. Pun intended. ~smile~ For now, I'm hanging on to Jesus for dear life... literally. He is the author and finisher of my faith. I can trust him with my life, because he is completely trustworthy. What he has said, he will do. Healing is the children's bread. I'm asking for complete healing, and believing in faith that he will complete the work he'...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I'm so glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God.  I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight! Do say hello! ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Dear Reader,      If you've not read it yet, please read The Post I've Been Avoiding... The Diagnosis. It will put all of this in perspective and explain a bit of what's going on in my little world. For years, I've done my best to do what I can with what I've got where I am. This has served our family well in good times and in hard times, and we've had a lot of hard times. Last year our family went four months without income while my husband searched for work. God miraculously provided, and I gave him glory in my Thrifty Week posts. God always provides.       In the past, my focus has been on "with what I've got". Now, for a little while, the f...

Hello my dear readers and friends, You've no doubt noticed a change in my blog over the last few weeks and seen hints of health troubles and tests. This is the post I've been avoiding. I just haven't been ready to identify with the problem nor am I sure I want to now. After all, God is the God of miracles. I need miracles, I'll bet you do, too. Here goes. ​  I found a lump on April 22nd. It's been an earth shaker to me and my family for the last few weeks.  This was the cause of the exhausting rounds of tests and appointments. Yes. It is breast cancer. It's in all the lumps in my left breast and in a lymph node. My mother and maternal aunt both had breast cancer many years ago.  To answer a few questions you might have: The CT scan showed no cancer in the rest of my body. Praise God! The oncologist scheduled me for chemo first because it is an aggressive cancer. They want to shrink it first before surgery. I will also have mas...

As I write...  Sunday night The weather.... Beautiful! Dark with cool breezes Right now I am...  just finishing up some copy work in my journal. I was transferring notes I've taken over the last few weeks.  Thinking... about my new haircut. Thanks Wendy! A quote to share... ♥♥♥♥♥ ― Laura Ingalls Wilder ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile...   Bible: I'm ready to start again. I'm trying to decide whether to start with the Old or New Testament. Never Give Up   Don't miss my Spring reading list! Favorite blog post last week...  Something fun to share... 5 Minute Friday: Mess! Blog hopping...  Placing Tiles by Mrs. Olson Easy Flour Sack Towels by Jes T he Best Paid Survey Sites by Penny Hoarder On the menu for this week....  My husband made the menu. He and the kids will cook. I don't know what yet. On my to do list... Fun Stuff—not ~smile~ appo...

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am glad you've found me! Each week I share my thrifty and frugal projects, ways of saving money, and my blessings from God.  I am so glad you dropped in for a visit today—or tonight! Do say hello! ~~~~~ ♥♥♥ ~~~~~ Dear Reader,      It's been a month since my last Thrifty Week post. I have been going through testing for a health problem. This week, like the last few weeks, has not been very thrifty. I haven't done much of the grocery shopping, and I haven't felt like making anything. Still, if we're going to avoid a financial mess, I've got to get busy doing what I can with what I've got where I am.       In the past, my focus has been on "with what I've got". Now, for a little while, the focus is going to shift to "what I can". Being thrifty is "here a little, there a little", so I shall do what I can. The more I listen to and read the Bible...

As I write...  Sunday evening The weather.... Beautiful! Sunny and warm  Right now I am...  doing a little research, email, and writing. Thinking... I'm looking forward to fall already! I love the coziness of it, the beauty of the colors and the crispness in the air. I don't do well in the heat, so summer is an endurance sport for me. ~smile~ I made this little pumpkin dress for my daughter's doll a few years ago. I miss making doll dresses. A quote to share... ♥♥♥♥♥ “  You don’t have to be afraid — because you have a Father. You don’t have to know how to do it all. You just have to choose to be all here, right where you are. His grace meets you  in the moment   —   and you will miss it if you are worrying about future moments. ” ―   Ann Voskamp ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile...   Bible: Revelation Never Give Up   Don't miss my Spring reading list! Favorite blog post last we...

Hello dear readers, I may not be posting much for a couple weeks. I've got some health issues happening in my life that are making it hard for me to write. I'll tell more soon. Be blessed, and don't give up on me! Prayers requested. Just feeling tired right now from it all, and I still don't know how much to share about what's going on. The internet isn't exactly private. ~smile~ Still processing it all myself, too. I will get back to my Thrifty Week posts, I just haven't felt like putting in the effort right now to be thrifty. I'm too distracted. Be blessed!  Thank you to all of you have been so faithful to pray for me even though you may not know what I'm facing. So many of you have become good friends. Laura Trusting in my Jesus Clinging to my Lord

10:13 a.m. Thank you Mom and Dad. I love you! Laura  Photo at 18 months

As I write...  Monday Morning The weather.... Beautiful! Sunny and warm  Right now I am...  focusing on worship, praise, prayer and thanksgiving. Thinking... I'm looking forward to my birthday on Friday. I'm meeting co-op friends at the park to picnic and to let our kids "socialize".  I wonder what this year will bring. Hey love your neighbor as yourself, right? A quote to share... ♥♥♥♥♥ “Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.” ―  Ann Voskamp ,   One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are ♥♥♥♥♥   On my reading pile...   Bible: Hebrews, James and John's Letters Never ...