What is Marriage?

True committed love always... 

even through 

4 years going steady,

1 year of engagement, 

32 years of marriage,

25 jobs, 
4 businesses,

14 deaths, 

4 children, 

26 years of homeschooling, 

19 chickens, 

4 cats, 

3 dogs, 

1 goat, 

8 churches, 

8 homes, 

16 surgeries, 

cancer, 

chemo, 

and radiation.

Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Lane 

until death parts us. 

THIS is marriage...

never wondering if you will face tomorrow alone...

until one of you steps into eternity.

Happy Anniversary Lowell! 

Thank you!

Love,

Laura

Share Your Cup

Wednesday 

Wonderful Wednesday

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ May 21, 2018

As I write ...  Sunday evening

The weather.... The sun has just come out after lots of rain this afternoon.

Right now I am... happy after completing my son, Michael's, high school transcript. We had a simple graduation with just Michael, his brother and sisters, and my husband and I. It wasn't the big hoopla that I would have liked, but we made chicken and dumplings and had just the six of us. That's what Michael wanted.

Thinking... I've only one more student! Amy will graduate in 2020. By then I 'll have 20/20 vision on how to be a mom! The hard thing about being a mother is that it changes every year. The homeschooling mom has to teach a different grade (or four or ten) every year.

A quote to share... 

♥♥♥♥♥

"When life isn't going according to our plans, 
we should recognize that it might actually 
be going according to God's plan." 

Now
Purposeful Steps Toward a More Abundant Life
p. 52

Sarah Coller

Click to go to Amazon to purchase.
I am not currently an affiliate,
but I know Sarah, and she is awesome!

 ♥♥♥♥♥ 

On my reading pile...   

Favorite blog posts last week...  

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – A Guided Tour (and Honest Review) by Aimee, The Crazy Craft Lady

• Preparing for a New Season by me. I ran across this post this week. It was just the reminder I needed in this graduation season.

• Hand Health for Knitting at love knitting

Something fun to share... 

On my to do list... 

• Do something on my spring bucket list. 
• Sort through clothes in closet.
• Finish editing a book for a lady in town. I bartered for music lessons for my daughters. ~ I finished Monday.
• Sort through hats I used when I had no hair to see if I want to keep or give them away. By next fall, I'll probably want to wear new ones that don't remind me of chemo.
• Put up cold weather clothes.
• Start another give away bag.
• Laundry
• Focus on washing a load of blankets each day.
• Trim the branches over our parking area in the driveway. ~ My sweet man did this for me. It looks terrific. Thank you honey!
• Work on end of school year paperwork. ~ I worked on this Monday. I've finished all I can until the end of May.

On the needles...  

• A simple, knit one pearl one hat. I should finish it soon. I need to decide what to do next. My friend, Colleen, who was going to teach me to make socks, hurt her ankle and won't be knitting with us for awhile. God heal her in Jesus' name!
• A little knitted bandana for my little dog that matches a hat I knit.

Looking forward to this week...

• Monday - I stayed home all day except a quick little trip to town with my husband.
• Tuesday - Knitting group ~ Relaxing
• Wednesday - ???
• Thursday - My husband and I will celebrate our 32nd anniversary. We began dating in 1981, and we married a couple weeks after I graduated college in 1986. Last year, we spent our anniversary at the chemo center having my first treatment. For $57,0000 we could have gone anywhere! 
• Friday -  Bug man is coming. I need to pull all furniture away from the walls.
• Saturday -  My husband will be working all weekend. He's helping a client open a food boat. Think food truck on water.

Looking around the house...  Things are pretty quiet. The girls, Lowell and I are all working on different things.

From the camera... 

A favorite photo of my Grandma Mamie.
I miss her greatly.

Devotional...   

On my prayer list...

• Praise for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem—the capitol of the World and protection for the Jewish people

• Healing for First Lady Melania Trump

• Peace of Jerusalem and Israel

• Wisdom, health, and protection for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and their families. 

• Good, godly, brave people to be elected to serve in Congress and across our nation according to The Constitution. 

• Relief from the side effects of my treatments ~ regain movement in arm without pain across all the radiated area.

• Cancer will die the death in my body. My heart, brain, organs, spleen, and healthy cells will be protected. I will live and not die and declare the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 118:17

My prayer for you, my dear reader...

Father God, most likely each of my readers has something heavy on her heart. Father, I ask that whatever that need is—provision for a bill, for food, for education or whatever—healing for herself or a loved one—relief from pain, or fear, or anxiety—reconciliation with a loved one or between family members—salvation for someone they care about—I ask you to meet their needs. Holy Spirit, please make your presence known. Bring salvation, bring peace, bring faith, bring hope. Thank you so much for your provision of salvation and everything we need. I bless your Holy Name Jesus! Amen.

Thank you all for dropping in.
Please take a few moments and jot me a note. 

Laura
Trusting in God's timing, provision, and healing power

Joining with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday.

~~~~~

Joining with Peggy

Gazing Up at a Different Sky

Photo by Numendil on Unsplash

Hello everyone!

I was just thinking. Is it not amazing that we can visit, through blogs, with like-minded ladies all over the world? Since my diagnosis, I've heard from ladies from many countries as well as my own United States. Nearly all are praying for me, and many share prayer requests for the difficulties and health trials they or loved ones are facing.

Even though we may gaze up at a different sky and different stars at night, we believers all have the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. That makes us sisters in the LORD. He is faithful in the good times and the bad times. He's Jehovah Sabaoth. LORD of Hosts. He fights our battles. These are only the skirmishes of life. He was, is, and always will be victorious. We will, too, if we stay close to His side.

Psalm 19 begins, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." God has had it planned from the beginning of the beginning that we would know Him and worship Him. We all worship something or someone. It's just how we were designed.

Are you worshiping the one true God, creator of the universe, father of Jesus our savior, our redeemer, the one who connects us back to the Father?

It's just something to think about as you gaze up at the sky God has given you.

Laura





Simple Sunday-Fabulous Party

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ May 14, 2018

As I write ...  Sunday evening

The weather.... Sunny and quite warm.

Right now I am... relaxing after a three day weekend celebrating my birthday, my father's birthday, and Mother's Day.

Thinking... I'm thinking about purchasing a set of size 0 knitting needles. I have a new friend, Colleen, who is going to teach me to make socks.

A quote to share... 

♥♥♥♥♥

"True Christianity finds all of its doctrines in the Bible;

true Christianity does not deny any part of the Bible;

true Christianity does not add anything to the Bible.

For many centuries the Bible has been the most available

book on the earth.  It has no hidden purpose. 

It cannot be destroyed."

p 58

 Billy Graham in Quotes

Franklin Graham

 ♥♥♥♥♥ 

On my reading pile...   

Favorite blog posts last week...  

• Old-Fashioned Housekeeping by GDonna.
• Mother Carey's Chickens by Karen Andreola

Something fun to share... 

On my to do list... 

• Do something on my spring bucket list. ~ Done! Ice cream run.
• Medical oncologist nurse practitioner appointment ~ Done!
• Echocardiogram to see if my heart is still strong. ~ Done!
• Chemo ~ Done!
• Recover ~ in process
• Mop kitchen floor ~ My daughter did it.  
• Laundry ~ Did a little.

On the needles...  

• A simple, knit one pearl one hat using yarn that Shelly gave me. Thank you!

Looking forward to this week...

• Tuesday - Knitting group ~ Relaxing
• Wednesday - Treatment ~ I slept all afternoon!
• Thursday - Resting day
• Friday -  My son Michael's graduation 
• Saturday -  My daughters' vocal/piano recital.

Looking around the house...  My motto has become, "I can only do what I can do." Unfortunately, it shows!

From the camera... Remembering the mothers in my life

My mom, Barbara, and step-dad Rick

My mother-in-love, Judy, and me (remembering hair)

My Annie and me

Devotional...   

• Choose Joy by Roxy Jones

On my prayer list...

• Peace of Jerusalem and Israel
• Wisdom, health, and protection for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and their families. 
• Healing for our country so that we may be ONE nation under God.
• Relief from the side effects of my treatments ~ regain movement in arm without pain across all the radiated area.
• Cancer will die the death in my body. My heart, brain, organs, spleen, and healthy cells will be protected. I will live and not die and declare the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 118:17

My prayer for you, my reader...

Jesus, I thank you that you hear our prayers. Father, I thank you for sending Jesus. Holy Spirit, I thank you for being our comforter and our teacher. Lord God, three in one, I thank you that you personally know each one of my readers. You know each one's needs, fears, hopes, problems, pains, and illnesses. I ask you God to speak directly to each one, to meet each person's needs, and heal each physical problem. Bless each spiritually, physically, socially, and financially. I ask it all by the power of the Blood of Jesus, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Thanks for dropping by!
Please say hello.
Laura
Trusting in God's timing, provision, and healing power

Joining with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday.

~~~~~

Joining with Peggy

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #128

Welcome to another 

Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

Thanks for coming by today—or tonight!

Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

Hello everyone,

  Spring is in full swing here in southern Missouri. I spent the day with my father. We went out for dinner at Longhorn restaurant, and had lovely salads. Mine had mixed greens, strawberries, red onion, mandarin orange slices, candied pecans, red grapes, feta cheese, raspberry vinaigrette, and sliced grilled chicken. Oh my it was so delicious! My father had a salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, blue cheese, ranch dressing, and grilled steak. It probably had some more yummies in it, but I was too focused on my own salad and visiting with my father. My birthday is the 12th, and his birthday is the 14th, so it was a celebration for both of us. It was a wonderful day of reminiscing and discussing how people have gotten so far away from down home friendly. We both try to spread sunshine all over the place, smile at others, wave, and just be friendly. We try to be the change we want to see. I think we are happier because we do.

 What about you? Are you small town friendly even if you live in a city? It is just another way of spreading the love of Jesus.

 God bless!
 Laura

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~
Here's my thrifty blessed week!

• I signed up with Survey Junkie. 
• I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $25 gift card to a Darden restaurant.
• I worked on Inbox Dollars. I'm trying to get to $30 so that I can cash out. I will cancel my account after that. It's really a slow way to get extra money. I've put too much time into it, and I'm too close to quit now.
• I made alfredo so that I could use up the extra cream we have on hand. I used some funny shaped pasta that I bought months ago. 
• I'm trying to use up things we have in the cupboards and freezer. I want to defrost the big upright freezer, but we need to use a bit more of the contents first.
• I made yet another hat with some yarn that was given to me. Thank you Shelly!
• I did some proofreading and editing in exchange for services this week. Thanks Kacey!

What have you done in your home this week?

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

May you make the best of what you've got
however much or little!

When we are faithful in little,
God sees it.

ღLauraღ

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a shoestring budget!

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

Thank you all for writing to me. I read every comment. I truly appreciate the support you've all given me during my treatments. If you'd like a response to your comment, please make sure that I have your email. I'm not taking time right now to copy responses onto the blog. I am having trouble keeping up. Please understand. Thanks! Laura

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #127

Welcome to another 

Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage!

Each week I share ways I've saved money, my thrifty and frugal projects, and my blessings from God. 

Thanks for coming by today—or tonight!

Please say hello! I'm always looking for new blog friends!

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

Hello everyone,

 Spring is finally here! Hurrah! I think hope springs joyfully forth with the green leaves and grass, flowers, warm breezes, and sunshine! I feel a little stronger each day, and the birds' songs each morning makes me feel like life will be more normal as times go on.

 I hope you're feeling strong and energetic today. When it's so nice outside, and we can open our windows to fresh breezes, it's just so much nicer to get busy and do things. Yes, I'm balancing rest and work. If you find yourself with health challenges, you know what I mean. I don't want to just sit down and give up. I will keep trying—even if I don't catch up. ~smile~

 Well, enough chatter, on to what you came to read. This covers the last couple of weeks. I had treatments last week and didn't get a whole lot done. I tried to make up for it this week.
   

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~
Here's my thrifty blessed week (or two)!

• I listened to music for free on Pandora. 

• I used the handle of my toothbrush to push all the toothpaste up to the end of the tube to get a few more brushings.  Get more thrifty ideas  like this.

• My husband and his friend tuned up the riding lawn mower and replaced the fuel pump themselves. They saved hundreds of dollars.

• I made iced tea at home instead of buying it while I was out. 

• I finished the Sockhead hat that I made with yarn that was given to me with needles that I bought with Amazon credit from filling out surveys at Opinion Outpost. Referral Link

• I downloaded the Warm One bulky weight hat for free at Ravelry.com.

• I kept adding water and ice to my iced tea that I brought home from the coffee shop after knit night and made it go further.

• Amy and I shared a $4.99 foot long from Subway. We didn't have things on hand for a picnic lunch with friends.

• I made a delicious cold salad with 2 cut up avocados, 12 oz bag of frozen corn, 1 can of black beans (rinsed), a chopped tomato, a chopped red onion, a couple tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of one squeezed lemon, fresh ground pepper and coarse salt. It was thrifty, because I had all of the ingredients in my rather bare kitchen. I really needed to go to the store!

• I listened to YouTube videos about how to list items on Ebay using their app.

• I made iced tea concentrate. This is just very strong tea made in a quart jar. I boiled water and poured it over one plain family size tea bag and one Constant Comment tea bag. I left the bags in until it was really strong. After removing the bags, I let it cool, put a lid on the jar, and put it in the fridge. Whenever I wanted some unsweet tea, I filled my glass with ice, some of the tea concentrate, then topped it off with water. I like my tea a bit weak, but you can adjust it to whatever strength you like. It's inexpensive, and it doesn't take a lot of room in the fridge. 

• I knitted another hat called Warm One with yarn given to me. I will try to get some photos taken to show you all some of my knitting projects. I'm primarily knitting hats right now. 

What have you done in your home this week?

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

May you make the best of what you've got
however much or little!

When we are faithful in little,
God sees it.

ღLauraღ

...doing what I can with what I've got

where I am on a shoestring budget!

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~

Thank you all for writing to me. I read every comment. I truly appreciate the support you've all given me during my treatments. If you'd like a response to your comment, please make sure that I have your email. I'm not taking time right now to copy responses onto the blog. I am having trouble keeping up. Please understand. Thanks! Laura

~~~~~

♥♥♥

~~~~~