First post in such a long time!

I have not posted in such a long time that I'm a little embarrassed! Forgive me for those of you who follow!
It is weird looking at the pictures and reading my last posts. Our world was so different back then. I was even different. Funny how one can change so much in just a few months.
We didn't get what we wanted, as in a job like the one my husband used to have. In fact, we have taken quite a cut in pay, don't have any health insurance, live off of food stamps, live in a much smaller place and can't put anything away for retirement any more. Yet I find myself just as happy and content now as I did when we had all those things.
How you may wonder? It's simple. Through these last 7 months God has provided everything we needed. Everything. And I have learned even more that God truly is in control. Not me. Him.
Has it been easy? Noooooo! Not the whole time. In fact, we had to live with my in-laws for awhile!! Living off of food stamps can be a real kick to the ego and we sure miss the extra space we used to have like a garage for instance! However God never says He will give us all the things we want, only the things we need. He never says we will never suffer, only that He will never leave us alone.
He does!! I know now for sure. He remained faithful even while I tested Him.

I'm so glad we have such a loving Father that takes care of us the way that He does. And I'm so glad I know now contentment comes in knowing this, not feeling secure through things.

And so I'm thinking....

Hearing about that plane crash in the middle of the ocean just makes me realize how good I have it at this moment. Earlier today I was very angry at my husband for various reasons and feeling quite sorry for myself. But insomnia has it's hold on me once again and as I sit and watch the news I'm reminded of the things that others are dealing with. Suddenly my problems shrink to the size they really are and I'm reminded of the things I do have. For instance, at this moment I'm able to hold my children close to me knowing that they are safe and well. I'm also sitting in a warm, dry home (I would say clean but hey, it's Tuesday, who am I kidding hee hee!!) that has running water and electricity. And even though I'm still pretty mad at my husband, well, at least he is here with me. At this moment I think I have it pretty good.

Summer Time Bliss!

The girls daddy is done for the summer (he is a teacher) and this is always such a nice time for all of us. I love to sleep in and he lets me. (he is a morning guy) And the girls of course are just thrilled to have their daddy home all day long every day. So now the morning routine has shifted to the girls getting up with daddy and waiting for mommy to get up. Once I do then they both run and squeal down the hall, jump on the bed and we spend a little while in a big heap of snugly, giggly, happy morning moments. And all the while of course their daddy is entertaining us with the girls toys. He has quite the active imagination. I should tape it and put it on YouTube. It's pretty funny!
I'm so thankful for family. We are simple and live on the edge of what most would consider "poor" I suppose. We could qualify for food stamps though I wouldn't since I know how to budget, make healthy food that's low cost and don't want to add to America's economy problem. I'm learning how to make my kids clothes, my own clothes and I really enjoy refurbishing old furniture. I try to make our home look nice, clean and inviting but at the same time it's just not important for us to be rich in money. I want to teach my girls the importants of being rich in love and family values as well as good honest Christian values. Isn't that what America was all about back in the day? Some how we have lost some of this. I wish we as a nation could get it back. I think we all would be so much happier for it.

Yummy Granola Recipe

Do you like granola but hate the price? Me to! Well here is a great easy recipe that makes a huge batch. The most expensive ingredient you will have to buy are the nuts.

16 cups oatmeal (quick oats)
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 2/3 tsp salt
2 2/3 cups coconut shredded
2 cups pecans finely chopped
2 2/3 Tbs vanilla
2 cups oil
1/2 cup water

Mix all together in bowl, spread evenly on baking pan and bake at 250 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (I do it for 2 hours)

I usually double the brown sugar to make it sweeter. You of course can tweek this how ever you like to make it fit your tastes. But it makes a lot and it's pretty easy. It just takes time of course. Hope you like it. Enjoy!! ;)

Where I'm at now

When ever we go through a crisis I believe we all go through different phases, denial, anger, bartering, grief and acceptance. I have gone through just about all of these and now I'm in the acceptance stage. I'm so glad I'm here now. For awhile I was in the anger stage and that wasn't a good place at all. Unfortunately I didn't handle myself very well either which I'm not very proud of. Thank goodness we have a great big God who loves to forgive. Though I'm still going through some grief and sorrow and know that I will for awhile, I'm also to the place where I'm able to accept the situation for what it is. And I'm thankful for this because now I'm able to truly surrender. I know that I'm not in control and that it's not my will but His. This has been a long journey and one that has nearly driven me right to the edge of insanity. I'm not saying I'm completely stress free. Oh hardly! I have so much to do and it is hard not knowing where we are headed to or how our life will end up in the next 3 weeks after we have to leave the home we are living in now. But it is nice to know that God is the one spinning this world after all and He does have something planned out for us. He really does.

Making the best of our unmowed yard!

So we haven't mowed are yard. It looks bad. But to the girls it's so pretty. They just love all the "pretty yellow flowers!" I get buckets of them picked for me every day. And honestly, it makes them happy so hey, why not!! With are situation the way it is are yard care is the last thing I really care about.

Chemical Plant Explosion in our town

We had a pretty scary event happen in our town the other night. At about 8:00p.m. I thought one of our girls fell out of there bed, at least that is what the noise I heard sounded like. My husband checked on them and came back saying they were both sound asleep. We were both pretty confused b/c we both really did hear something and yet nothing in the house was wrong. A few min. later we heard sirens driving by so we knew something had happened. Here is the link and info as to all that took place.( Click on my title Chemical Plant Explosion ) There is even a video to watch that is pretty unbelievable. Just so glad everyone is safe and no one is hurt. So glad no one was at work. My friend's husband works at this plant so we are both so happy this took place at night!



UPDATE: Evacuated residents allowed home

COLUMBUS, Wis. (AP) -- A fire at a chemical plant just outside Columbus has almost burned itself out.

Dodge County Sheriff's spokeswoman Molly Soblewski initially said the fire had gone out by 4 p.m. But she now says there are still flames in a corner of the plant.

Sheriff Todd Nehls says he went into the building around mid-afternoon with firefighters. They found flames 6 inches to 8 inches high in places.

A warehouse storing chemicals at Columbus Chemical Industries caught fire Monday night. A series of explosions forced firefighters to withdraw and let the fire burn.

Emergency workers evacuated about 140 homes Monday and closed roads around the plant. They had allowed everyone back in their homes and reopned the roads by about 4 p.m.

The crunch is starting to get heavy!

As I look over my previous posts I see how optimistic I was when I first heard about my husbands job loss. But here we are over 3 weeks later closer to the due date when we will be out of a job, pay check, health insurance, and a house. Here we are without any word or any job opening of any kind and my faith is crumbling day by day. I try so hard to believe that God truly is in control but this silence is so very hard. I feel as if I'm going through the angry phase now and I feel like my 4 year old, all angry and temperamental. I want to kick and scream like she does ha ha! Every day I am having to apologize for my lack of faith as well as my disrespect and anger for not getting my way. Oh how I wish I were a patient woman, a woman after Gods own heart. But I'm not. At all!! I have so much work that needs to be done on my heart. Thank goodness He does not ever give up on us. I'm so grateful for that!