A Grateful Heart

This week, I am so thankful for the few minutes I have found to sew. It is so hard to find the time, but I have been really trying to make sure that I get a few minutes. Sometimes it isn't even once a week, but I sure am trying. I have been planning and cutting while I work with the kids for school so that when I do get a few minutes I can just get right to it.

Here are some of my attempts and more bags. They are not perfect, but I sure am having fun. And I can't get better unless I practice. ;)

Hopefully this weekend I will get a chance to work on some gifts and a pretty purple block I am turning into another bag. Then, after Christmas, I plan to work on my first quilt. It will be for my daughter.

A Grateful Heart

 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
   1 Thessalonians 5:18

I disappear from this little blog at times because life gets crazy and sometimes there isn't much to report that I feel is worthy of reporting. We still continue to struggle, but we are making it. I am thankful for this. Maybe it is not all perfect, but that is ok. I am working hard to remind myself that some of the things I spend time worrying about really don't matter in the long run. Maybe I didn't pay a bill on time.... yes it bothers me to no end and has me worried... but a few years from now I won't even remember that bill, or bills, was a couple days late. I don't know if my health is in check and don't have the means to get it checked, but for now I am choosing the be thankful for each day the Lord provides me and my family. And I am thankful that I have the jobs that I do, that my kids are happy and healthy, that we are back in beautiful western NY for fall. I love fall in NY.

So I am choosing the be thankful and happy. I am trying really hard not to be worried and crazy. Oh if only it were easier. And I keep praying that I will know the roads/paths to take to continue to do His will. 

A Grateful Heart

My sweet sister found the following ad on a facebook garage sale type of page. A photographer was selling fabric she used for backdrops.

She quickly sent it to me knowing I would be interested. It was only a couple towns over. And it was an incredibly good deal. The hubby went to pick it up while I was working. And now I have over 50 new to me yards of fabric to play with! (I have never had more than about 6 yards in the house at any one time.... so this is crazy wonderful!) Fabric is so expensive. So I am grateful that this photographer doesn't want it any more.

I have so many projects swirling around in my brain. I wish I didn't have more work to do before I sleep. I would rather be sewing.

The orange/yellow fabric almost feels like a vinyl tablecloth or something, just not as sturdy. I was thinking about sewing some reusable snack bags out of it or something. Any ideas what kind of fabric that might be and what it would be best used for?

Anything great happening in your life to be thankful for? I hope you all are doing great!

A Grateful Heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
   1 Thessalonians 5:18

This week, I posted an ad for our raw honey on Facebook and we got our first sale. I know it is just one little sale, but I am going to celebrate it all! We had over 60 likes and tons of comments. So I even started a business page. Now I just keep praying that it might turn into more. 

What are you thankful for this week?

A Grateful Heart

I meant to post this before, but life gets crazy.

They are building a house behind me. I don't live in a housing track, but they started building an entire housing track behind me. I am sad about this, but oh well. Anyway, the guys building the basement of one of the houses used to be the crew my hubby worked with years ago. So he went to say hi. As they were talking, they mentioned they saw a swarm of honey bees fly by.

So when he walked back up to the house he went over to the side of the house where we have stacks of bee equipment.... empty bee equipment. And wouldn't you know it, that swarm chose our boxes to make their new home. It was really neat to watch it all take place. The whole family went out to watch. It isn't too often you get to see bees choose their new home. Once they were a little more settled, my hubby located the queen, got her in a good deep bee box and gently shook some of the other bees into the box so that the rest would follow. It was amazing how quickly they all got in the hive.

My hubby is crazy. He was just out there in the middle of it, with a t-shirt on. I was taking pictures and tried to keep being brave. No one was stung and the bees are now in a lovely new home.

I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing more bees our way. Our little business is going to take off! I just know it.

On a sad, but still grateful note, I was stung yesterday for the first time in almost 10 years by the other swarm I wrote about. My arm is quite swollen and it hurts! My hubby doesn't even swell anymore. He thinks I just need to get stung more so I won't keep swelling up. I don't know about all that. :) I think it might be time for that hive to leave the front yard and go to the bee yard. They are a little feisty!

Natural Honey Bee Hive

This past week was weird and fantastic all at the same time. One of the coolest things that happened was that we inherited two new honey bee hives. One I will write about later this week. It was a swarm that decided to live with us. Watching this happen in the yard was an incredible adventure.

The second was a hive that the bees built on someone's cabin. They called my hubby to come and get it. So glad they knew us!!! And the natural comb is just gorgeous. Here is a picture of my hubby and some of the bees. Isn't is just beautiful. I actually took the picture. I can't believe how comfortable I am getting with the bees. I didn't have a suit on or anything. My hubby doesn't even have gloves on. I am not that brave yet.

A Grateful Heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
   1 Thessalonians 5:18

As sad as I was about it a couple months ago, I am really thankful that I did not move to Vermont. Not that Vermont didn't seem awesome and wonderful... because it really did. But for some strange reason, I really feel like we are supposed to be back in our tiny home close to our family. For the first time in a long time, it all feels right.

I think we are about to head into some tougher times. Things still aren't going right work wise. So it will be good to be here with family and filled with love. And the tiny house is a lot less expensive to care for than a rental... and it is ours.

What are you thankful for this week?

A Grateful Heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 

This week I am thankful for the honey we extracted. We are getting all set up to open the doors to the friendly people around and offer our honey for sale. I have a hang tag created that will be showcased on each beautiful jar and the little breezeway area between our home and garage is getting in order to be the home of our little shop as we start. So the lovely honey that was on our hives has been the blessing we need to get this business going. It is very exciting to see it all coming together!

What are you thankful for this week?

A Grateful Heart

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 


Moving back into my own house has been quite something. It was very odd to be here after someone else lived here for a year. But in some ways it really feels more right than anything else that we have done this past year. We have been very busy with lots of painting. Red walls, dark gray walls, light gray walls.... they all had to go. I like my home cheerful and fresh feeling. And the colors on tiny rooms were making me feel like the walls were closing in. So this week, I am thankful that the painting is almost done and the furniture is starting to come back. I am thankful that after a year, I finally feel home. And I am thankful that my sewing machine is now properly out of its box and waiting for the first "back at home" project. I cannot wait to get creating.

The only bad thing is that I have way too many project ideas and not a clue which to do first. :) That is a good problem  to have.

Grateful Heart: Week #11

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Sorry for the silence. We are again, getting ready to move. We have been in a temporary home while waiting to be able to move back in our home. And this week I am just so thankful that the day is nearing. We may be under 1 week now. There is a long story that just keeps getting longer, and crazier, and almost sounds too crazy to be true.... but it will be good to return to the humble home that is ours. No more renting, no more moving, and maybe get back to a somewhat normal life. AND best of all, I can get my sewing machine and craft materials out of storage.

This past year has been such a mess. But one of the big things that we have learned is that we need to love our little humble home, no matter how small or how much it is not functioning for us at this time. We will love it and really work hard to make it work for us for now. And maybe just maybe some day down the road, I can have my farm and chickens and all the lovely simple things I dream about. For now, we will start making baby steps towards this. We will build up our business, start making our right now home a place of love, and continue to makes steps everyday towards the life I believe that God is calling me to follow.

Also -   we have some really interesting plans for redoing some of our 950 sq foot home to fit all of us. And they are all really really economical... since I am broke. Haha. So if you are interested in stuff like that, stay tuned. We will be starting pretty much the day we get in there. And I am super excited about it.

Hope you all are doing well. :)

A Grateful Heart: Week #10

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 

The bees are back! I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with some healthy hives that were able to travel successfully back to New York with us. Nothing else seems to be going right for us right now, but the bees being healthy is a really big one. We have been doing a lot of praying and could really use your prayers too. The hubby's back seems to be worse now and we have a lot of other things that are just not going right. But we will keep going. The Lord is with us and He is helping to grow a strong desire in me to help others that are going through tough times as well. So I will keep praying for all of you out there and I just ask that you might say a little prayer for us too. 

(I hope to take some pictures of our lovely hives soon. So if you are into that, be on the look out for some future posts showing our girls!)

A Grateful Heart: Week 9

My life is still a little crazy. After over a month, I finally received my last paycheck from the lost full time job... And much to my dismay, it was declined when I tried to deposit it in the bank. So there were tears and lots of trying to get in touch with anyone that could help me. I had to make an hour long drive to talk in person with someone that might help, and on the drive I found a lovely sewing table and old Singer 237, much like the one pictured above. (I should take a picture and share minetoo....). And when I got home, I plugged it in and it still works. It was just sitting in someone's garbage pile. (Yep, I totally picked this out of the garbage on the side of the road for free. And. I. love. it.


So I spent some time playing around with it last night and learning how to use it. It is nice to have a machine again while mine is very deep in the storage area for the  next few weeks. :)

I also want to share two verses that were sent my way. As everything continues to go wrong here, I was very encouraged by God's words:

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."     Genesis 50:20

"We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!"

Numbers I 1:5-6

(This second verse was the Israelites complaining, but what they don't mention in that list of yummy food is that at the time they were also slaves. God provided them with a miracle, freeing them and providing some sort of food as they wandered the desert and they were pretty much forgetting that little fact. Sometimes I think God might be freeing me, and I might be wandering the desert right now. I need to remember to thank Him for everything! He will provide!!! He is working miracles.)

A Grateful Heart: Week 8

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Once again I am running a little late this week. Some day, maybe I will be able to get things together.

Anyways, this week I am thankful that my hubby's starting to heal. The drive across the country caused the hubby a lot of pain with his sciatica. For a couple of weeks, he couldn't even walk. He would get up for maybe 3 - 5 minutes a couple times a day and that was about all he could take. 

This week seems to be a true turning point. I have to keep him from over doing it when he is feeling good, but we are seeing more feeling good than feeling bad. And for that, we are singing God's praises. 

After his back surgery (while still under 30 years old!), we really were't sure what to expect. Would he ever be able to play with the kids, go camping, help me in the garden or even mow the lawn? We have been pleasantly surprised at all the things he can still do, but there are these times that show up now and then that remind us of how precious every moment is. This time around we started to get a little nervous he wasn't going to get better. So it is awesome to see him smiling and playing and walking around. I have a feeling he will be back to normal in just a few more weeks. Thank the Lord for He is Good. 

A Grateful Heart: Week 7

This is going to sound silly to most of you, but this week I am thankful for Wegmans. If you know and love Wegmans, this will totally make sense to you. If you have never been to a Wegmans, then you don't know what you are missing.

I want to mention that this is not a paid post. These words are just from my silly heart! I would like to scream to the world that I love Wegmans! I was in the south for almost a year, where I am sad to say the grocery stores leave a lot to be desired. The prices were pretty steep and the selection of produce, free range, grassfed, good butter or any of that is next to nothing. I would bring home produce just to find that it had started to rot in the car or the middle of the bag of onions was rotten, but I couldn't see it. While that was typical of my trips in the south, it is not typical of my dear love Wegmans... Oh, how I love thee.

And the customer service is by far the best at Wegmans. We had some very friendly people in Georgia. But there is just something different at Wegmans. They are (usually) happy to help you and don't seem bothered that I am in their line or asking for that piece of meat or fish or whatever. Unfortunately, I did have to shop at a place, that will remain unnamed, that I just can't stand while in the south (but happens to be EVERYWHERE). I'm sure you have been in one or seen one. And this store just so happens to not restock for months on end. So things like Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar would just have an empty spot on the shelf for months. This just doesn't happen at Wegmans. Yes, I have seen empty spots, but they are usually filled rather quickly.

I also love that the Wegmans brand is so good. Buying a store brand can usually mean that it might be not so great. But that isn't the case with Wegmans at all. And they even have a lot of organic stuff within the store brand, making it a lot easier and cheaper to keep feeding my hungry crowd the way I like to. And if you aren't looking for organic, you have got to at least love their consistent low prices. 

I won't go on for too long about how much I love Wegmans, but to give you an idea, my husband suggested that the whole family take a trip and just walk down the aisles to take in all that is Wegmans when we first got back to New York. And the first time the kids were back in one this week, the middle child was asking to go down this aisle and that aisle and the oldest was oohing and aahing. It really is nice to be back and be able to shop again at Wegmans. Oh how I have missed you.

A Grateful Heart: Week 6

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Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18

It has been a long few days, but we made it. We drove from just about Florida to New York. And although everything didn't go perfectly, we are safe and we are here. I could not believe how beautiful it was to get in to New York. When we made it to PA, I could start to smell spring. There were the smells of flowers everywhere, coming in to the vehicle. It smelled like home, it looked like home and it feels like home. It is kind of odd to be back here again. I am not sure how to describe, but it sure feels more right than where we were.

So this week I am thankful for making it to NY safely. I am thankful for the beautiful spring in NY and the chance to start again. It is a beautiful life.

A Grateful Heart Week #5

 

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Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

   1 Thessalonians 5:18

I have a serious obsession with blossoms. Apple, cherry, orange, peach.... I love them all. We are headed back north soon and I am thankful that I am just going to make it to see some of the beautiful apple blossoms that are appearing. And I am thankful in all circumstances, even when I don't understand. This has been a crazy couple of weeks, but I am just going to keep being thankful! The Lord is Good!

I am also thankful that during my short time in Florida I was able to see and smell an orange blossom. Wow, are they amazing!That is something I never thought I would actually see and I am so glad that I did.

Spring is such a beautiful time. It feels like a rebirth, a chance to restart and be fresh and new. I am not sure why I don't feel this way at the start of a new year, but I sure do feel it when spring comes around. Are you feeling the need to make a fresh start, try something new or just better yourself in general? What are you thankful for?

Testing of the Faith

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Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.         

                                                                                                             James 1:2 - 3

I was trying to decide exactly what to write about today for my thankful/grateful post. And as I am thankful for so many things, it is the stresses that keep coming to mind today.

Have you heard the saying, "when it rains, it pours?" Well, it has been pouring hard here. Since losing my full time job last week, I found that they sent my very last paycheck to the wrong address and cannot seem to figure out where it is now (and there are not even that many people that want to answer my phone call looking for help) and my husband became stranded in another state with our now broken pick-up truck. Three people have already tried to work on it and can't seem to figure out what is wrong.

So I have spent time in prayer and wondering why this is all happening at the same time. We seem to go through these times quite often. People have commented to us that they are always surprised at how many things will go wrong for us. I even had a man on the phone commending my husband and I for sticking together over the years and not letting some of our bad luck or situations drive us to divorce. And as I turned to the Bible for help, I was led to this verse (above) from James. I really think that we are building our faith. We are trying to keep looking for the joy. And really, in the end, there is a lot of joy to be seen. My husband could have broken down in the middle of no where, where we didn't know anyone. But instead, we had friends an hour away, it didn't break down on a highway and cause an accident, my husband had his backpack with extra clothing.
The truck might not be able to be fixed and the hubby is stranded right now, but he is only 5 hours away and I can go get him if needed. He is with good people. It could be a lot worse.

Whenever something happens, no matter how horrible it seems, it always happens in the best of circumstances possible. I remember when my husband lost his job about 4 years ago. I thought it was going to be a mess. I thought it was the worst thing that could happen at the time. And then it turned out the best. He became a beekeeper after losing that job. And bee keeping brings him joy and peace. Bee keeping seems to be his calling. So if he had not lost his job, we would have never been looking for a new one and he would have never became a beekeeper. I am hoping that maybe I will find my true calling now too, since my job is out of the way.

So at this point, I am choosing to count it all as joy. Who knows what is in store next for our family. My faith will only grow stronger and I will patiently wait to find out what is next and what new adventures we are to follow.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8 : 28

A Grateful Heart: Week 3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

                                                                                                                          
                                                                       Philippians 4:6 



I lost my full time job on Sunday (yesterday). I got an email Sunday morning that stated my job had been eliminated and the school was being closed effective Monday, April 27th. And, just like that, everything we had been planning was gone. I am choosing to be thankful for losing that job. In all reality, I hated it. The job was sucking the life out of me. It was not my dream job and I had been praying for change and praying that God would show me what to do next. Although I am not sure what I am doing next, I know God has a plan for me. It was a particularly dark and stressful day Saturday. I broke down and begged God to help me. And then my job was terminated. So how can I be anything but grateful to Him for answering my prayers?!

Now, I am not going to lie. I am slightly concerned about the road ahead. But I know I can do it. I know God is with me and that He has a plan. These next few months might be hard and all that work to get out of debt might go undone, but I know that I am not alone. My husband and I started to dream of the things we could try now that this job isn't in the way. We can start building towards the life we truly want.

I wish I could say I have months of savings for a rainy day as this, but instead I am just going to keep praying. The Lord will show me the way.

Therefore, this week, I am thanking God for losing my job and all of the flexibility and options that this might bring. The Lord is good and He answers prayers, sometimes in the most unusual and wonderful ways.

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
                                                                       Hebrews 13: 5 - 6

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."                         Joshua 1: 8 - 9

What are you grateful or thankful for this week? 

A Grateful Heart: Week 2

                                                         Photo Credit


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

                                                                                                                          
                                                                                     Philippians 4:6 




This week I want to say an extra thank you to the LORD for helping me to transition from working in a classroom to working online. It is amazing how he has answered my prayers and allowed for me to stay home with baby #3, still help students, and continue to provide for my family. Working online is kind of scary. At any time some of my jobs could just disappear, but for over the past three years, I have been able to successfully pay my bills and feed my family. There might not be anything extra, and sometimes the numbers don't even make sense, but somehow it always works.

What are you thankful for? Share your thoughts in the comments!