2017 - Let It Go and Embrace the New!

Instead of having a word for the new year, this year, I have a phrase - 2017 will be the year that I LET IT GO and EMBRACE THE NEW!  What am I talking about it, just what am I letting go?  Having had emotional, mental, physical and spiritual turmoil for too many years of my life the past few years - there is only one thing to do now that all is new - let it go!

God gave me a new place to live, a new church to grow in, a new home with no bad memories, a new car that feels safe and a new me that is coming forth.  In order to embrace this newness - I must let the past go.  With God's help, this year I will let go a lot of the remains of what years of tests and trials left me with.  It is almost as if I've shed the "old" and have everything new - it is kind of like being born again in a sense.  I needed this.  I needed this a long time ago but I'm not going to concentrate on the delay.  I'm going to concentrate on the here and now.

Letting it go also involves this excess weight that came from hospitalizations, stress, medications, sorrow and depression.  I felt like I was in a prison to be quite honest and I couldn't see a way out.  However, I didn't quit (like so many of my friends did).  I pressed on, endured and made it through many tests that God brought our way.  I didn't give up!

I'm letting go of the past.  I'm letting go of the person I was.  I'm letting go of the old way of thinking.  I'm letting go of people that are not good for me.  I'm letting go of insecurity in what I am in God.

It doesn't just stop at letting it go - I also must embrace the new!  I'm embracing the new life God has given us.  I'm embracing the new person I'm becoming.  I'm embracing the new way of thinking.  I'm embracing new people that God has put in our life.  I'm embracing what God made me to do for Him.  I'm embracing 2017!

This song is amazing and one that will bring in my New Year with the message it gives.  Just like that olive, we have to go through things for God to make us into what each of us are truly meant to be.

A Look Back on 2016

Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  That is what I have to say for this past year.  My post from last December was about hoping 2016 would be the year that we REBUILD what Satan had destroyed and hardship and life had broken down.  Not only did God REBUILD it all but He blessed us immensely and the blessings keep pouring in.  I'm literally drowning in God's blessings and I've been so happy that I've even lost about 10 pounds lol.

2016 started out with hope that this year wasn't going to be as tragic as 2015 was.  I started this year in physical therapy and it continued on for half of the year until I felt I was almost fully recovered.  Then, we got in an auto accident in July and I was again, back to rehabilitating some injuries.  My husband had decided around April that we were going to stay in WA state and buy a home.  That didn't end well - nothing seemed to work out, it was a nightmare!

Thankfully, sometime around the end of August, my husband said he wasn't going to fight the will of God anymore and we were moving to Ohio (a place he got in prayer almost 3 years ago).  As soon as my husband told God he would do His Will - it was like a flood of blessings and miracles flowed out on us.  The next day, we got this Ohio visitors guide in the mail (that had never come the year before I ordered it and it just so happen to show up at the perfect time).  It is pictured to the right of this - on it said: Anticipation.  Something fun is about to happen - don't you love that feeling?  Oh yes - something fun was about to happen!!

I could literally write a book on the whole thing but to keep this short - it only took about a month from his decision, to move, buy a home and be in Ohio.  Not only did we get a wonderful home at just the right price, God worked ways that still amaze me when I think on them and we got our money back that we used for our move.  Then, most recently, God blessed us with a brand new 2017 car!  Not just a car, but a very nice car.  I still am in awe at the ways of God when you ask in faith - He can do ANYTHING!!

I'm probably the happiest I've been in 10 years or more.  My husband is incredibly happy and so are our children.  We felt the presence of God when we arrived in this city that God called us to be in and are aware that He has a purpose of some sort for us.  Whether it is to just be happy or to be a help or both - we are thankful and ready and willing to do whatever God wants us to!

Some friends that know me very well have all told me they aren't used to me being so happy lol.  This is my testimony to others - just go with what you know God wants you to do, no matter if you can't understand the WHY - just obey God and understand later!  Step out on faith and God WILL bless in ways you didn't even think of.

God did the REBUILD this year - and I'm moving forward into the new year with a new life, new city, new state, new home, new car and a new me!!

How to Spot a Disciple of Christ - LOVE!

So many Christians claim they have love for others but they actually only love those that love them back.  They only love those that say nice things to them, praise them, adore them and never do them wrong.  God said that the world would know we are his disciples because of the love we have only to those that are loving back, right?  NO!  It is so easy to love those who don't say things to hurt you, those that love you back, etc.  Anyone can do that!

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

Real Christians will love those that even hurt them.  Real Christians will love those that do them wrong.  Real Christians have a love that goes past faults, failures, wrongdoings, etc.  It is God's love because God is long-suffering and He died for us while we were yet - what?  SINNERS!  You can tell whether someone is a disciple of Christ by his love towards ALL.

I've always kept a watch on those who claim to be Christians but keep a list of wrongs.  Those who will treat you differently if you didn't say everything "just right" to them or worship them like others.  Those who snub you because they are so bitter against you for who knows what.  Those people quite honestly aren't disciples of Christ - they don't have His Spirit!  God IS love - there is no way around that.

So don't be downhearted when people treat you like that, just know that they are either not right with God or they are not even His.  Pray for them.  LOVE THEM ANYWAY!  One thing I've always done is love those that have done me wrong, no matter how great the wrong - I still love them.  Even those who maybe I made upset by something I said or did - they may not love me, but I love them.

I believe God sends us people our way that will hurt us or say things about us as a test to see if we will STILL love them.  If you find you are coming across a lot of people like that or you are being "attacked" - realize that God allowed it and maybe, just maybe, he is waiting on you to respond correctly by loving them still.

I was reading various commentaries on these verses and I liked what Barnes had to say:

Christians will love their own denominations less than they love the spirit and temper of the Christian, wherever it may be found.

There are some that only view you as a Christian based upon what denomination you are but LOVE should be our measure of who is and who isn't a Christian.  When you pick up on someone that has the Spirit of God, you won't care what church they go to - your Spirit bears witness.  Denominations are a display of love as they help separate us and our differing beliefs on what the Bible says, so we won't always be striving about.  No matter what church you go to, if you don't have love, then you don't know God!!

Setting Up Our New Home

The lighting wasn't that great for the living room photo but here are some pictures of the living room and dining room so far.  I really want a new look but that is not in the budget at the moment, so I worked with what we had.





I found these 1 gallon glass jars at Big Lots for $6 each and use my chalkboard labels to give them a cute look.  The liquid in my chalk marker was running out, so I couldn't get the words just how I wanted.



We don't have a pantry in our new house, so I'm using a cabinet in my garage.



I got our homeschool room bookshelves unpacked and set up.

Our New State & Home

We are finally moved across the country from Washington state to Ohio and I absolutely love it here.  We had some warm days in the 80's but it is now back to "normal" for here and about 60 with lots of fall colors and leaves.  We bought our house without even seeing it in person and it is great and the neighborhood can't really be beat.  The neighborhood is actually way better than Google photos showed us.  We have walking trails, tree-lined streets, a fishing pond, basketball court, large playing field and playground and then we live across from the lake - all of these amenities are for residents only, so it is very private, serene and quiet.  We are in the country but only 5 miles from everything in the next town - shops, restaurants, etc.   People are extremely friendly and our neighbors are great and have already offered just about everything in the way of help.  Our next-door neighbor is actually the coach of a big homeschool sports program in the area that plays the public/private schools.  Homeschool is HUGE here!  My head is spinning from how many groups and homeschoolers there are - I've never seen so many in one city.

Our church is small but the people are again, very friendly.  We have only been to 2 services so far, but in both, God was very real and the preaching was right on target.  We had a wonderful surprise when we pulled in for our first service - they had a welcome to our family on the church sign!

Of course it hasn't all been roses - our transmission died on the interstate and we had to put another one in it to keep our car.  However, God had worked ways to get us all our money back that we spent for this move!  People kept giving us money and I added it up and it practically paid for the whole move.  Then, the car thing happened and we had the cash to pay it.  We hope to continue to be debt-free (besides the home) as God allows or really, as we believe in faith He will.

Moving here and everything about it involved FAITH.  The pay is drastically lower - $13K lower.  The cost of living isn't that much different as far as food goes, and housing is cheaper only if you buy.  We had never been here and didn't know anyone, other than meeting our current Pastor one time a year ago.  To leave all that we knew and come to a place where the pay is lower and having to start over in many ways (friends to church, etc.) - took FAITH.  My husband and I finally came to the place that we knew beyond any doubts this was God's direction. The doors opened like crazy as soon as my husband lifted up his hand to God one night and said, "God, I will do what you want and move!  Please provide the way for us!"  The next morning, this house was listed for sale in the town we wanted, at the price we needed and exactly what we needed inside and out of it.  Then, my husband's company in this new city listed his job - they were hurting for help!  They gladly took him.  The finances and means of moving poured in like a wave to where we felt drowned in God's provisions!  It was a continuous click, click, click of open doors all the way.  Whereas all we got in WA was closed door after closed door.  I THANK GOD FOR EVERY CLOSED DOOR!!  We may not understand it but sometimes God lets us see the "why" later on and I'm so thankful.

Our BIG News!!

We are moving back east!  We have lived on the West coast for over 17 years and we are moving near my family next month.  We have a house in a great neighborhood with fishing pond, basketball court, playground, walking trails and we will be across from the lake!  It is amazing how it all happened.

My husband has been praying for years as to what God wanted him to do.  He did get a place but he didn't want to leave WA.  At one time we thought we were supposed to go through Seminary but my husband never got a call personally.  Thursday night at church my husband got a miracle!  Not only did God work this miracle in his life but also mine as Nate finally had NO doubts about what God wanted us to do!!  We shared all this with our Pastor and we are all rejoicing in the wonderful miracles God performed that night.

The next morning - the perfect house in the town we wanted came for sale and we got it!  Not only did we get it but more miracles just keep happening with the extremely low interest rate we locked in to a possible free move through the company.  I'm telling you - when you accept God's will - He starts moving!!

I had written this sad post about accepting our situation as I waited for years for my husband to make up his mind.  I had come to the place in my mind that I had given up with things ever changing.  That next night is when God brought these miracles!  To think - I was so depressed and down - and the blessing was just around the corner.  God is so good!!

My family is flipping out - they have always wanted us closer and other than parents, my family has never even met my son and he is almost 4!  They also haven't seen us in 6 years - so not only is this a big move to a new place, and a new (first) house but we will also have the biggest homecoming ever!!  I will be just 5 hours away from my family because we wanted to stay with our wonderful church organization and they have a great church where we are moving.  We know the Pastor and his wife and they are AMAZING people and are also so excited for our move.

I could go on with the details - how we already made connections with some people there, etc. - but I will not make this a really long post LOL!  Just remember, when it seems all is lost and you are ready to give up - THAT is when the blessing is just around the corner - hold on!!

Upcoming News, Labels and Facebook

I'm busy planning our move - to where, I can't say yet until hubby gives the go ahead but I can tell you that it is an unbelievable miracle of God!  Just how it has all come to fruition and God's hands have been all over it is simply welcoming to my soul as I've honestly not been myself for a long time now.  I've been in a bad place in my mind, emotions and even spiritually.  However, God is always on time and I'm feeling better and gaining more faith in His goodness everyday!  More to come soon!!

I did want to show you all some things I've been working on in the home as I'm able.  I got these chalkboard labels from Amazon for just a few dollars and then some white chalk markers and I labeled my son's baskets with his toys and then some of my spices and some bins in my laundry/linen cabinet.  I plan on doing ALL of my spices, herbs and pantry items.  I also want to use more in the homeschool storage area and more areas I'm sure will come up.  Here are some pics:





I got rid of my Facebook - I barely lasted a week and then I told myself I would give it a full month to really give it a chance.  I deleted it for more than one reason - it is a lot of reasons really from it being addicting to me (I always wanted to get on there and check it and then spent less time with my kids), to being discouraged by others actions on there.  I feel so much better with it gone.  I've thought of getting it later on and only logging in every once in a while.  I do miss connecting with people on there though.

I deleted my last 2 posts because in one I felt I was ranting and even though I agree with what I said, I just felt bad about it and then the second one, I could delete because God worked a miracle for us right after I posted that!  I had "accepted" things would never change in the post but then I didn't really accept them, I was just trying to talk myself into feeling better.  Well, I didn't have to feel bad much longer because God brought an amazing miracle our way.  Crazy I know - bear with me!  Can you tell I'm about to burst to share the news!?  I better stop typing you guys or I will blurt it out!

Consider One Another

I was thinking about love this morning as that was the message that I received and the thought came to my mind of considering others.  It is very easy to say we love because we have wonderful happy feelings but it is another to have actions to prove that we love.  Something that is becoming more rare as the days go by in our world is consideration of others.  We have become a bunch of bulldogs fighting one another to establish our just causes that we fail to miss the spirit we have allowed to persuade us.

This is everywhere but it shouldn't be so amongst the born-again believers who have been changed but it is.  Let's consider the Word of God in Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

We are clearly instructed here (and other scriptures) to consider others but there is a surface definition that prevails that we soothe ourselves with as if we have done our part.  We think, "Well, I thought of them, that is enough."  Is it enough?

Clarke's commentary:

Let us diligently and attentively consider each other’s trials, difficulties, and weaknesses; feel for each other, and excite each other to an increase of love to God and man; and, as the proof of it, to be fruitful in good works. 


I usually love what Clarke has to say because he seems to say it so well!  It is like pulling out the liquid in a honeysuckle - it is good!  It is time for us to become attentive to other's trials, difficulties and weaknesses.  But we live in a day and age where we stomp them down to the ground even more instead of lending a hand to get up.  Are you considerate that your brother or sister is struggling with something?  Are you considerate that they have personal feelings they struggle with that you are only provoking them to harm?  Do your liberties destroy the brother next to you?  Do you even care that they do?

Our world is full of justifiers.  People will justify themselves but they won't consider another.  I dare to voice publicly that THIS is our greatest problem.  It isn't Satan that is entirely destroying us - it is ourselves and our lack of consideration for others that is destroying us from the inside out.  Until we face the truth and ourselves - we will only be a tool to cause more people to stumble and fall.

Matthew Henry's Commentary:
Christians ought to have a tender consideration and concern for one another; they should affectionately consider what their several wants, weaknesses, and temptations are; and they should do this, not to reproach one another, to provoke one another not to anger, but to love and good works, calling upon themselves and one another to love God and Christ more, to love duty and holiness more, to love their brethren in Christ more, and to do all the good offices of Christian affection both to the bodies and the souls of each other. A good example given to others is the best and most effectual provocation to love and good works

Tender.  I think that could be the word of our time and our solution to all that is going on - being tenderhearted!  You want love - show me by your tenderness and your consideration for my trials, difficulties and weaknesses.  The world needs more tenderness and consideration.

Black lives and blue lives and all lives matter!  Homosexuals are still people with souls.  Have you considered their souls?  Or is it more important to police the world and beat them into our ways than letting the love of God, the tenderness and consideration, tear down their walls?  Prayer still works and staying sweet in your soul still works!

Consider others and think before you do things.  I have to do it all the time when I blog - I try and consider other people before I hit send.  Sometimes I hit send and then delete it later because I see that maybe I wasn't being considerate.  However, there are times where you just stand for what is right - because that is being considerate of someone's soul - saving them from hell verses rocking them asleep to hell.  But you have to decide what is what.

Paul was even willing to never eat meat again in consideration of a weaker brother!  It clearly says it is a sin against Christ to wound a weak brother's conscience:

1 Corinthians 8:12-13
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

There are some people who eat only organic - would you laugh at them and make them eat non-organic at your house?  Or would you rather consider them and their convictions and serve them something that wouldn't offend them?

The Bible teaches us clearly to consider one another in many ways.  Think of this in everything you do - we must be so careful because we have to stand before God one day and give an account of our lives and actions.

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker

Something has seriously changed my life.  I didn't realize it would so much but since I got my Instant Pot, I have hardly even touched my stove!  This has been what I've been waiting on all my life - I know that sounds out there but I'm for real!  I make NO commission and as you all know, I don't even advertise on my blog or allow pay for anything.  You can take my word for it - the Instant Pot is amazing and I think everyone should own one.



The Instant Pot (IP) is an electric pressure cooker.  It is more than that - it is 7-in-1 machine, it is a rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, sauteing/browning, steamer and warmer.  Growing up, my mom would have a pressure cooker on the stove and we were all scared of it because she wouldn't even let us walk through the kitchen when it was on.  If we had to go to the bathroom, she made us tiptoe through the kitchen and I remember thinking it was going to kill me.  Well, this is NOT my mother's pressure cooker!  It is safe, it is electric and it isn't going to blow off and you don't have to tiptoe past it or be scared when using it.  You can't do canning in it like a stovetop pressure cooker but you can do just about everything else.


I have put FROZEN chicken breast in this thing and in 12 minutes have juicy, tender, chicken ready to eat.  Meals I've made in the crockpot that would cook all day - can not even compare to how they taste in my IP after just minutes.  One was our chicken BBQ sandwiches that I normally let cook in the crockpot all day to really soak in that sauce.  Well, in less than 30 minutes, the IP made it and it tasted better than I've ever made it before - almost like it had been cooking all day!  Our beans and rice are awesome too and we have been eating a lot of beans and rice lately.  Not only do they cook in 28 minutes but they cook together and I only have ONE pot to clean after dinner!  I told you guys this thing has changed my life!

Not only does it save energy being electric and only being on for a short time but it is actually better for you because it keeps more nutrients in your food than cooking on the stove, crockpot or microwave.  It holds in more water in the foods and thus, the nutrients.  WHY don't more know about these?  I had heard of them about 6 months ago and wasn't even sure what it was until I did some research and just bought one and learned for myself.  I bought the 6 quart and it seems to be enough for us.

I got a cookbook for the IP, I haven't tried the recipes in it but it looks great:



My issues with getting dinner on the table some nights have been things like forgetting to thaw meat or plan ahead to cook beans - these things are NO LONGER!  I can forget dinner altogether until an hour before, when I can throw anything pretty much in the pot and cook.  I also love how I don't have to babysit the food, especially beans, no stirring or waiting 2 hours for them to cook.  Did I mention I only have ONE pot to clean after dinner!?  It boils eggs in minutes too... yes, I could go on and on and on!  Roasts in an half hour cooking time..  Baked potatoes in minutes...  mac and cheese in minutes...

I plan on making a post of recipes we have tried and also some of our recipes we have converted to the IP.  I'm able to write this post because my dinner is cooking in my IP and I have free time - woohoo!  Lots more to try in the coming months - yogurt being one in the near future.

Websites for cooking with the IP or any electric pressure cooker:
http://www.hippressurecooking.com/
http://dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-recipe-index/

Illogical Conclusions Christians Make

Some Christians repeat phrases and sayings without really thinking about them.  Then, some also think about them and still say them!  Let's review some of these illogical conclusions people come up with and expose them for what they are - myths.




  1. I made --- an idol, therefore, I'm going to stop doing it - how many times have we heard this?  The truth of the statement is that ANYTHING can become an idol.  The myth of the statement is that just because you let it become an idol, you must stop doing it (referring to the thing, not the idolization).  Example - I made paying tithe an idol, therefore, I will stop paying tithe.  Really?  How about just STOP making tithe an idol?  If you must stop doing the thing you made an idol, then what about people who made food an idol?  Should they stop eating food?  What about if sleep is your idol, should you stop sleeping?  Of course not, that would be ridiculous - just about as much as this type of thinking.  We stop the idolization of the thing, not the thing, unless of course it is sin.
  2. I spend more time doing --- than with God, so it must be wrong - I hear this way too much and always laugh at how illogical it is.  Example - I spend more time online than with God, so it must be wrong.  Is it really wrong?  If it is with that thinking, than anything is wrong if you spend more time doing it than you do with God.  Sleeping is wrong!  I mean you spend 8 hours sleeping and only 1 hour with God - oh the shame!  Eating is wrong!  Some people even drive longer than they spend time with God!  I know many that talk more than the time they spend with God!  I hope you see this myth being ripped apart.  If you truly had to spend more time with God than other things - you might not be a human.
  3. Don't have children if you can't afford them - this is probably the most-believed illogical conclusion there is.  It is a very convenient one in our abortion-laden, sex-crazed, responsibility-shunning society to view children as a financial expense that must be planned.  What is even sadder is that Christians have adopted these worldly ideals, ignoring God's Word of provision and children being a blessing.  Isn't it funny how we AFFORD things we really want?  I know many that can't AFFORD a home, but they find a way through a mortgage loan.  I know others that can't AFFORD a car, but they get them new every few years with leasing or a car loan.  See, it isn't about affording anything!  It is about giving ourselves an excuse to delay or put off having children because we really don't want them.
  4. Homeschooling will make your kids be a sociopath or psychopath - Actually, most (if not all) socio/psycho paths were public-schooled.  I don't know of even one that was homeschooled.  This is an easy argument to shoot down and it is one that is given by people who knew "someONE" that was homeschooled and they viewed everything they did through their spectacles of criticism to find fault.  Truth of the matter is, homeschooled kids are generally well-rounded kids and able to talk to all ages.  They are less likely to do any of the socio/psychopath behaviors because they aren't trying to "fit in" like you do in public school and they aren't being bullied all day long.  The school behavior that reigns in our public/private schools today breeds hatred, division, bad behaviors, rudeness, etc.  In all actuality, you could make a more logical statement of "Public schooling will make your kids be a sociopath or psychopath" and be closer to the truth - but still a myth because schooling choices don't necessarily make these.  I don't know anyone who has been able to find exactly what makes them.  So the jury is still out and they aren't that way because of their parents or their schooling most likely - they could be missing some crucial brain chemistry and have a genetic disorder that no one caused.
  5. If you disagree with homosexuality, you are a bigot - Yes, Christians even make these statements today.  Just because you disagree with someone's sexual perversion, doesn't make you a bigot.  If it did, then the same saying would be true: If you disagree with pedophilia, you are a bigot.  However, you don't hear that, THANK GOD, today but you might eventually, as so many perverted things are being accepted.  No, if you disagree with sexual perversion, you are NOT a bigot, you are like God, as He hates it, as He does all sin.  I don't agree with murder, lying, stealing, etc. and just like that, we can also include homosexuality, as it is a sin and always will be.  This statement is actually a bully's way of trying to get people to AGREE with homosexuality and true Christians never will.  Very juvenile statement if truth be told and reflects of the maturity of the one saying it.

Is Renting Really Throwing Your Money Away?

The old phrase about renting is that you are throwing your money away but how come some people that rent have way more money and assets than those that have a mortgage or even own their home?  We recently set out to buy a home because we really wanted something to show for our money every month.  However, as I really thought about it, if we just stay where we are, we will save so much money that in 10 years, we will have the same amount the house cost but in CASH.  Paying on that mortgage for 10 years, we wouldn't even break half-way to having that.  If anything, when I looked at our closing disclosures for the mortgage - we were paying $172,000 in interest over 30 years for that house!  If we just waited 10 years and buy it with cash - we will save ourselves NOT JUST the $172K in interest but the next 20 years in NO payments.


So in all actuality - a mortgage IS throwing your money away technically - like $172,000 away!  You are basically saying that your impulsive got-to-have-it-now American mentality is worth paying $172K + 20 years extra for.  However, can you rent for the amount of time you would need to in order to pay with cash?  That is the hard part.  I want a home while our daughter is with us but if we wait till we have cash, she will probably be married and gone.  Is it worth the extra money thrown away on interest to have it NOW - or is it better to delay it when it will be an absolute blessing and we will have money to spoil our grandkids and then go on trips with our son as he will be a teenager in 10 more years.  Things to think about.  If it is worth it, then you make that decision to go ahead and pay more for 30 years and then have something later - albeit probably an outdated, old home but at least you got something right?

What do you miss out on when you rent?
  1. Property taxes - well you do pay them as they are factored into your rent but you don't have to worry over paying them or setting aside money for them - the landlord does that.
  2. Homeowner's insurance - don't need it when you rent!  You only need to cover your stuff with rental insurance and that is like $15 a month, no biggie!
  3. Home maintenance - You don't have to keep up anything, except maybe mowing and weed-eating.
  4. Home repairs - No worries here for the renter!!  No sleepless nights wondering where the money will come from to fix the broken furnace or water heater or the pest infestation - no worries at all because you simply make a call and tell the landlord to fix it and then you go on and sleep! ;-)
  5. Remodeling/Updating - if you rent long enough, the landlord will update as necessary or you can just live with it the way it is.  If it is really outdated and you can't stand it after 10 years - you can just pick up and move to rent a nicer, newer place.
  6. Septic - don't have to worry about getting that thing pumped or repaired - landlord takes care of that!
  7. Appliances - don't have to ever buy these, as a renter the landlord takes care of them when they go bad or need replacing.  I've actually never bought an appliance other than our washer/dryer - which we bought 10 years ago used from the 80's and they still work great.
  8. Outdoor supplies - no need for a wheelbarrow, yard tools, weed/feed, etc. the landlord takes care of all that and you may have to buy a lawnmower if that isn't something your landlord has done for you, that and gas for the mower but still way cheaper than landscaping the landlord takes care of.
  9. Misc. - everything from association fees to trash and utilities can be taken care of by your landlord.  Ours provides free TV, though we don't use it, it does allow us to get a huge discount on phone/internet.

Think of the money you don't have to spend on the above things as a renter!  If you do the math, you may end up having more at the end of 30 years than you would have if you had a mortgage - you could have more cash on hand than the amount your home would be worth at the end of 30 years.

The best thing about renting is you can move anytime you want!  You have less stress because all you really worry about is rent increasing every now and then, car issues and life - but no worries about the home, repairs, etc.  You don't need a home maintenance fund!

Are we going to continue renting or find another home to buy?  I'm not sure but this post is a reflection of my thoughts right now - who says you can't rent forever?  If it allows me to travel, buy whatever I want, have a retirement by the time I'm 65 - then why would it be throwing my money away?  I see a lot of family and friends constantly putting money (not to mention TIME) into their homes - money and time they don't have to spend living life.  It has me thinking!

Cross-Dressing "Christians" Promote Transgenderism

I don't know what all the hoopla is about when a man says he is a woman and puts on a dress and long hair and then a "Christian" woman in her pants and short hair say that is not normal.  I hate to be the one to fill you in honey but you are cross dressing too!  At least the transgender man/woman knows how a woman should dress.  A transgender woman that says she is a man - wears pants and cuts her hair short.  They aren't confused on the proper look of the sexes but some "Christians" have been for quite some time.

I'm so glad that things are getting this way because it will show us how cross-dressing is wrong and always has been.  Have you seen a gender neutral bathroom sign?  It still has a man in pants and a woman in a skirt - there is a still a difference.  You can't judge transgender people when you yourself are dressing like the opposite gender.  No wonder the world thinks we are a bunch of hypocrites!  God's abominations haven't changed - cross-dressing is STILL abominable to our Creator!

Deut. 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

The Geneva Bible's notes on this verse:

For that alters the order of nature, and shows that you despise God.

Matthew Henry's thoughts:

If we would prove ourselves to be God's people, we must have respect to his will and to his glory, and not to the vain fashions of the world. Even in putting on our garments, as in eating or in drinking, all must be done with a serious regard to preserve our own and others' purity in heart and actions. Our eye should be single, our heart simple, and our behaviour all of a piece.

Some so-called Christians have brought shame and reproach to the gospel by allowing the world to come in to all facets of their churches.  Proclaiming Christ while looking, acting, thinking, talking and being like the world - you aren't fooling anyone, I know Satan isn't fooled.  The Bible has told us in many areas to NOT BE DECEIVED - there will be those that will tell you everything is ok.  There will be those that say dress doesn't matter.  There will be those that say you don't have to follow the Bible - once saved, always saved, no matter if you sleep with everyone in town, show your body, lie, cheat, steal and skip church altogether.  Wow, sounds like a religion made by the devil himself as it goes against God's Word.  God clearly said such and such would not inherit the Kingdom of God - yet Billy Bob Joe down the street will tell you as long as you prayed that prayer, it don't matter if you wear daisy dukes and paint your face, your ready to go.  Are you really THAT stupid!?  I guess when you want to sin bad enough, you will believe anything and find any church to tell you exactly what you want to hear.

What is the first thing that a lot of women who leave the truth do?  They put on those pants and cut their hair and paint their faces.  It is to make them more like Christ right?  Or is rather to make them more like the world?  I think you know which one.  It serves no purpose in God - it is all carnal, fleshly and serves vanity and pride and selfishness.  Then, you get people patting them on back for sharing their new, sinful, worldly selves on Facebook - you know why?  Because they want it too and they rejoice in others being licentious.

It is time to look like a woman ladies - give the men their pants and hair back and wear the glory (long hair) that nature itself (of course God) has already taught us is right.  It is time to self-identify as a real woman.  Otherwise, maybe you should be using the men's restroom, p.s. it's the sign with the pants on.

After I wrote this post, a news story came up the following day about this very topic.  Watch the video here: http://www.christianhomekeeping.com/2016/05/you-dress-like-man.html

Garden: Tulips

The tulips started blooming the week after Easter Sunday and they are so beautiful to look at, I wonder why I've never had any before!  I love the yellow ones as yellow is my favorite color and there is an even an orange one.  I also noticed today one that was yellow and red, so pretty!  They aren't even all bloomed yet.  I love how they make me smile in the morning when I open the curtains - the beauty of God's creation can take your breath away!





Star String Lights on Bed Headboard

My friend had some cute star string lights draped across her headboard on her bed and I was in love and set out to find some to match my decor.  I found these beautiful metal silver stars with a brown cord at Bed Bath & Beyond for $12 and I love it!!



What I've Been Up To

I've been cooking a lot of recipes from one of my anti-inflammatory diet cookbooks and here is a recent one the whole family loved:



I spent a week doing a deep decluttering of our bedroom, and ended up with bags full of things to give away!  The only thing I didn't go through was under my bed because I got hit with either the flu or a really bad cold.



When my parents came to stay with us for 5 weeks in September, my dad cleaned out my old garden beds (I no longer garden) and planted tulip bulbs.  In one bed he did rows and the other he planted them in a shape of a cross.  What is so amazing is that they are growing big and looks like they may even open their blooms on Easter - how cool would that be?  I guess we will check them tomorrow and see.  I weeded the garden bed with the cross tulips but haven't weeded the other one.



Other than that I'm spending my time keeping house, raising kids, homeschooling and working on my health.  I would like to share videos of new ways I've learned to cook, natural medicine that I have delved deeply into and experienced amazing results and even all about how physical therapy is what most people need more than exercise.  Lots I would like to share but a lot of more needful things that I must do may not allow for much time - we will see how the next few months go.

Holiness - Separates and Unites

I was reading over some things by A. Philip Brown II and this was so amazing I had to share.  I don't know who this man is, nor therefore do I agree with everything he writes, but he has some good stuff and this was most especially good.

Holiness is both a negative and positive principle in relation to the Body of Christ. There is no true unity, biblical unity, that does not have truth as its center and holiness at its gates. Holiness separates and it unites.

Separation
I. From the World
II. From False Teachers and Factitious Men
III. From Disobedient Brethren


Is it not interesting that what those who emphasize unity decry the most–separation– is the very means by which Scripture says unity is to be preserved?

Notice his last statement about separation - those who put a big deal on uniting are the same ones who cry out against those that separate - they are actually crying out against unity!  Who wouldn't want to separate?  Those that want to remain of the world, under false teachers or those with itching ears (tell me like I want to hear it preacher) and those who willfully are disobedient against God in separating from disobedient brethren and thereby are disobedient themselves.  They will mock those that separate as the Bible instructs, yet they are mocking God and despising those that are good.

He states the purpose of separation is purity of the gospel, preservation of unity and protection of saints, preservation of unity among the brethren, protecting the purity of the Body of Christ and that the disobedient brethren may be ashamed and repentant of his sin and return.

So if we don't separate as God instructs from these things (world, false teachers, disobedient brethren) - we are therefore, in essence, destroying the purity of the gospel and the Body of Christ and the unity and protection of the saints and ultimately are partakers in the disobedient brethren's demise for eternity because we deny him the shame, for which his sin should bear to draw him to repentance!  You can become the very reason someone doesn't return to God because you don't let them feel the sting of shame for their sin.

This is why those that don't want holiness do all 3 of the things that holiness requires separation from!  They UNITE with the world.  They UNITE with the false teachers.  They UNITE with the disobedient brethren.  They do the opposite of what true holiness does and thereby, they reveal they are not of God.  So think about that the next time someone you know gets a stink about separation - they are looking to unite back with what they were once separate from!  It won't be long they will show their true desires, which is to be unholy.

The Degradation of Men - Still a Woman's Revolution

Our society began the degradation of men in the name of women's rights.  Under the guise of liberating the woman and being "free" to have a career, they skillfully made men obsolete and only to be used to help the woman gain whatever it was she wanted.  Now, we are left with a culture that came from these Godless women.  A culture that hates children.  A culture that thinks it is a WOMAN'S right to kill her baby and thus, a culture that says murder is a right - but only for women, because if the other half of the baby's DNA wanted to kill the baby, that would go against a woman's right.  We currently have a woman of this mindset running to be President, she is on a mission to have that final stomping ground over her husband, she must conquer him at all costs and she will be, basically already is, the virago queen of feminists everywhere.  However, she will never be satisfied, though she trample over man and reaches the top, because she was made to be what God intended and seeking after the opposite is a endless endeavor.

Is it is any wonder that we have a society full of fornication, adultery, pedophilia, gender-confusion, homosexuality and all other manner of perversions?  No, it was and still is something that originated from a woman.  Men have become the laughingstock of the entertainment of our society.  They are constantly ridiculed, made a spectacle of and demeaned to be lower then women.  Are men ok with this?  They seem to be because I don't see a men's rights movement coming in the future.  They are deadly silenced by the mighty woman.

What will it take to bring the respect back to men?  It will take women returning to ladies for men to return to gentlemen.  The power is still in the hand of the woman because men have proven to be weak by allowing women to rise to where they are now.  I'm not saying women should be beneath men - although these women seem to think it is ok for men to be there - but I'm saying they should be who God made them to be; man's help meet.

I have to be careful that in my own marriage and dealings with other men that I don't allow the degradation-mentality to infiltrate my thoughts and words.  It is difficult to grow up in a society that drills it into you in every aspect of your life from public schooling to music and movies.  I've had to eradicate a lot of junk that was fed into me that I didn't even realize the spirit behind it as a growing child and then a woman.  Putting God's Word into our minds and constantly renewing our minds through it is a big factor in this purging process.  However, not allowing certain messages through media to enter our thoughts is also important.  We are truly in the world but we are not to be of it.

The silent women that do follow God's Word and are the Biblical model of a woman, wife and mother need to arise and make their presence known if we are ever going to win back the minds of women.  So many older women are realizing they bought into the lie.  As they sit lonely, unmarried by choice and childless by choice, it is too late for them and there are no do-overs.  They are realizing that the corporate career is not so fulfilling as they once thought and won't be there holding their hand at death's door.  These are the women that are starting to voice their mistakes and warn the younger generation to not chase after careers by forsaking motherhood and the family.  It is time the world listens and it is time to start a new revolution, that of returning home.