Little town, little people, big difference

I live in  a small town.  I love it.  I grew up in a small town. Hated it.  Before I start sounding like a John Cougar Melloncamp song let me be clear, there is no right or wrong, just personal preference. 

 

Even though I live in a small town, it is still larger than it was when we moved here 13 years ago.  We are now considered commuter distance to Nashville and a sleeper community to Murfreesboro, which is the largest growing city in the Untied States (again probably because of it's proximity to Nashville).  So in short, I feel we have the perks of being in driving distance to anything we want/need in under an hour while still being able to have a small town atmosphere and no traffic jams.

 

Our small town has a dance studio, strictly small town, don't send an email on this.  But still nice to have and the people are wonderful.  As a homeschooling family we knew the twins could benefit from this, especially since Ely is a diva that the world hasn't seen since Susan Lucie made her daytime debut  on All My Children!  just needed to find the funds and take the plunge.  I could make this story longer but will try to nut shell it. Took the plunge last summer with Ely and she loved it, naturally. She even ended up having emergency appendectomy and missed no dance classes, no other girls could say that!  Then fall classes started and they added a couple classes for boys.  Elijah decided to give tumbling a-go.  I wasn't sure this was the best fit.  At the very least he is uncoordinated and award.   But what the heck, he need something to call his own.

 

Now here is something I almost never talk about and not to many folks.  Eli has very mild ASD, OCD, and SPD.  All on the Autism spectrum, EXTREMLY mild, but it still rears it's head and most people think he is a immature child.  I still haven't even mentioned it to the wonderful boy who took my son on.  I think he knows.  Doesn't matter. The benefit of a small town is small class sizes.  Eli adores it.  He isn't as good as the tiny little girls in his class who flip everywhere, but he ALWAYS tries, ALWAYS smiles, and NEVER gives up.  As a homeschool mom, these are the real things my child needs to learn.  It isn't about a perfect back flip.  He is learning obedience, team work and  self determination.  That is who I want my son to be. 

 

Not sure where I am going with this but just wanted to share .  He had his end of semester review last Tuesday and he did great.  Definite improvement over when he stated and knew nothing.  He just has to work harder and longer.  All the little girls get it in like  3 - 4 classes, he is still working on it. And he is ok with that.  Which I guess means I am too - LOL  Funny how when you get down to the youngest of your children you get more flexible.  With that said, he will be back hard at it this spring.

 

 

Elysha modeling her recital tiara

Eli and his crew
 

All about balance
 

It takes a village
 

Wish he had remembered to wear his t-shirt : )

Oops, try again

working on a bridge
 

spot on

 

Big finish
 

Elysha and friend on the sidelines cheering!

 

No matter where you are, bloom where you are planted and take root in a firm support system.

Blessings, Beth

Celebrate Good Times

Yesterday I saw something I hadn't seen in quit some time, the sun!  Didn't get to enjoy much of it however as I was in a giant gymnasium at working my first vendor event of the year.

 

However I did feel blessed that a new friend of mine (meet at my first show last year) had included me and almost treated me very well indeed : )  That was one of the big lessons I learned last year doing events.  It is not about what you make or maybe even spend, God brings people into our lives for a season and or a reason.  I can say that I have meet two outstanding ladies that have my best interest at heart, and at least another handful of lovely ladies that make my vendor life a better place for knowing them!  I can honestly say that I believe God brought my family here for a reason and that I never had or would have had the relationships there that I have here. PTL

 

It was a warm sunny day full of fun and friends, old and new.  I love my life!

 

It also happened to be my hubbies birthday, the 18th anniversary of his 29th.  So there were more good times when we got home.  One of his best buddies made a special trip to drop off some b-day wishes and there were a ton on Facebook, which is pretty good for someone who doesn't even have a FB account!  LOL  It ended with a bang when army son called at the end of the day, with a very heartfelt conversation that almost had hubby in tears.  So happy for my hubby and best friend for the past 14 years : )

 

CELEBRATE!  One of the Mary & Martha best sellers.

Cup cozies, a new category for my fiber art.

Working on a new pair of fingerless gloves.

Twins prefer loom knitting, here Elysha is working a flat panel.

Elijah finished a toddler hat on his loom and we got it tagged and out for sale ASAP!
 

Working daughter was in charge of the birthday cake - yummy!

Had to add this pic of twin son photo-bombing sisters big entrance with the cake! LOL

My family is amazing and I can't imaged even one of them not being in my life.  God choose the perfect mate for me (when I finally listened to Him), blesses me with ALL my children and I give all the glory to Him.  I deserve none of the credit, it is only with Him that they have all blossomed and bloomed into such amazing people.  Thank you God.

Blessings, Beth

Finding my joy

We are at the half way mark of the first month of a brand new year.  I made sweeping declarations in an earlier post about this was the year I would work on finding my joy.  I found it.  By day eight!  LOL  Let me explain, while doing my nightly prayers I made sure to keep adding my new recrimination - find joy.  Which would lead me to think back over my day and the things that I had enjoyed or had fun doing.  I began to quickly see a pattern, my family.  That's right, my joy has been under my nose the entire time.  It came without a fancy label, a bible study guide or a DIY blog.  It snuck right up on me while I was busy with life.  It started almost 30 years ago and crept up behind me on stealthy cat like feet.  With that said, it isn't always easy to see t which is why  I almost missed it.  Sometimes I get so covered in self pity or being a martyr that I have to physically remind myself  that I have been greatly blessed!  Everything I have, everything I know, everything I am is because of these blessings given to me graciously and generously from my Lord God                                                                                                                                                                                             Once again God heard my prayer and showed me I already had what I was looking for, now go onto something else to glorify Him! (silly girl)  Not yet sure what that will be for the year 2015, but with one child married, one engaged, and yet another one making noises about also doing so . . .  Could be the year of try to not be stressed and enjoy the remain time with the children still at hand.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Here is a quick look back at my joy!                         

 

Twins age 10, last 4th of July

Working daughter, last May at her high school graduation.

Army son and twin son, my boys, last Aug.

The gang on vacation at the Creation Museum last April.

My best friend of 14 years, enjoying a break at the pumpkin patch last Oct.

Middle daughter, she is so beautiful, 2013

Oldest daughter and family last fall, I am a glam-ma!

Youngest daughter practicing her dance last Sept. , she is so full of life!

Look at that smile! Bre in the pool last Aug.

Youngest son and friend Christmas shopping last Nov.  He is a riot!

Even this pic of working daughter makes me say - aweeee, she gets so tired working the early shift.

Twin son once again cutting up with another friend, Nov. 2014

Army son and twin daughter, she adores him (all women seem too), Aug.2014

My oldest with my grand kids - good looking crew, 2014




Blessings, Beth













 

Let it go . . .

 

Finding my Joy in this new year is not as easy as it sounds and is exactly why I am making it my New Year 'resolution' per say.  For the past 8 years or so I have been working on obedience with very limited results.   I have to say that the one thing I learned was that I am not very obedient.  Not necessarily a good thing : (

But I have now reached an age where my children are older and I have to realize it is o.k. to focus on me some times, and NOT feel guilty about it!

So with that said, here is some joy I found the first week of January:

Thur. Jan. 1st. ~ First day of a new year and hubby was home to enjoy it with me!  My husband is such a blessing!

Fri. Jan. 2nd. ~ Grocery getting day and I had enough leftover in the budget for a yarnbox!
  Being able to buy food for the family is such a blessing!

Sat. Jan. 3rd. ~ Took down all the holiday glitter with the helping hands of my family.  Having children at home is such a blessing!

Sun. Jan. 4th. ~ Last day of my Christmas 'break' before back to the homeschool grind and I had time to organize my craft room (much easier with no Christmas tree) and do some administrative duties for my ETSY shop and prepare for my next vendor event in two weeks.  Having a craft room is such a blessing!

There are sooooo many other things to add to the list, like helping my middle daughter plan her wedding, or having friends to plan a bible study with or even just enjoying another great cup of my favorite expensive coffee I received as a gift this year.  So glad this year is off to a great start and looking forward to next week-end and defending my trivia champ crown with some fun friends and hubby!  Just hope to be able to keep the momentum going, seeing as how I just found out my local fresh egg source dried up : (

Blessings in the new year, Beth

Welcome 2015!!!

Happy New Year one and all!

 

 

Thought about making this some profound post on life changing experiences and all that jazz.

 

 

Or maybe even some new years resolutions.  Naw.

 

 

Instead I am just going to share with you the gift I am looking forward to most, and keeps giving.  Yes, Yarnbox!  LOL  Those closest to me have heard me wax on poetically about this  phenomenon with great anticipation.  Every month a box of yarn comes to my mailbox!  How much better can life get?

 

 

 

Today also saw the start of a year long project that I had purchased last March but waited to start on Jan. 1st with baited breath - The Sky Skarf.  Everyday I look at the sky and then knit two rows of the corresponding colors.  By the end of the year I will have a 5ft. long, high quality scarf knitted in the hues of my year.  I feel in love with this idea so hard that I bought a kit not only for myself, but my knitting daughter and her BFF  I also taught to knit.  So looking forward to this.  It could most likely be the last project that daughter and I work on together before she gets married. Sigh.

 

So for today I will concentrate on sharing my joy and work on finding it every day, and save the trips down memory lane for another day as I work on reorganizing my life around my ever maturing children.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Colossians 2:1-3

I'm a block head

It's getting to be that time again, end of the year.  Where did it go?  I can remember last Christmas like yesterday, but on the other hand this past 4th of July seems like ages ago.  I fear I am starting to suffer from old timers disease.  That much dreaded condition that was scoffed at when we were in our teens and twenty's.  Then it became a distinct possibility in our thirty's, and fearfully loomed on the horizon as we entered our forties!  All this just to say that as the year ends we have many things to ponder and paperwork to take care of - LOL

 

 

I don't mention my direct sales business on here much but I do love my Mary & Martha, and all their lovely high quality products.  I am still fairly new and have only been with the company since August of this year.  Hallmark is our parent company and have brought their standards and products to a new line of shopping.  They truly are trying to bring encouragement to our homes and us busy moms.  One of my favorite products is the Rustic Block set.  A bit like a Chines puzzle and a great conversation starter.  I not only display them at vendor events, but keep them on display in my own home.  The children really enjoy seeing how creative they can be and it spurs some amazing conversations with them about faith and family life.

Here is my current block saying 

One before that : )

 

My first on I made on opening the box!
 

Here is one of the original Jpg pic's from the current broacher/catalog.

 

 

 

Sadly all good things must come to an end, and that includes the fall merchandise from M & M.  The rustic blocks are being discontinued.  I know, right!   They are so popular I couldn't believe it.  There are whole FB pages devoted to sayings to make with the blocks.  It has become a badge of sisterhood with other M & M consultants to share your new clever saying as soon as you make it.

 

 

On the bright side, new items will arrive in the spring catalog for us to share and grow fond of , and I can't wait to have a spring fling to show off all the goodies!  However, many consultants sell their old pieces to make room for the new.  Not this girl, these blocks will be around my home for many years to come.

 

If you are interested in getting your own while they are still available, please visit my page at: www.mymaryandmartha.com/ BADANIELSEN

 

 

Thanks so much for keeping me company while I waited on my dinner (chicken corn chowder) to simmer.

 

Blessings, Beth

Monday Madness: baking, cooking and more ~ oh my!

Been a wild week with holidays now behind us, and looming largely ahead of us.  I did not participate in the Black Friday madness.  Although it looked like the bulk of the sales took place on turkey day.  At my house we were bunked down chowing on far too much food and counting our blessings.  I had been in a bit of a funk due to lack of children making it home.  But after some wonderful long distance calls from army son, sweet big sis and Grandpa Dave; I was feeling less heavy hearted and more willing to face the upcoming weeks of craziness (although army soon is not sure about Christmas). 

 

Black Friday did see me and the twins grocery shopping like normal.  No problem, buy 8 a.m. there  were not many folks about and I found some great deals!  LOL

 

 

 

I found more ground beef, 20/80,  for under $3 a pound.  I try to grab a few when ever I find them, they won't go to waste. 

Most meat counters were full of reduced items on Black Friday, due to over stock for the holiday.

After the first of the year as I continue to eat cleaner, I am hoping to reduce my meat consumption, I want to switch over to grass feed meat.  I spent the past week reading this new purchase I requested from the library.  I highly recommend it, it is full of lots of great information, tips and recipes.

 

I have followed the same named blog for a few years and was thrilled to see a book released with all the info in one place.

 

 

I grabbed a few of these handy chopped salads from the produce section.  So yummy and fresh when used right away. 

 

Many folks forget that all perishables get reduced, not just meat.


 

I know this is not healthy, but I need to bring this to book club tonight.  It is a running joke with me, I will not drink powdered creamer my coffee.  Life is to shore, I could go any minute.  I will not die with powdered coffee creamer as my last meal!  Last month I forgot to bring my own creamer and so had no coffee.  I was informed that I NEEDED that coffee.  They were right, sigh.  So, as this is our Christmas party and our last meeting before we take a 3 month hiatus, I decided to bring something festive we all could enjoy.

 

I have never tried this flavor, but kudos to the new holiday flavors!

 

Speaking of the adult book club Christmas party, I am cooking/baking up a storm this a.m. in preparation of a jolly time.  I used my Mary & Martha bake and take ware, and love it!  It is so easy, festive and no clean up!  LOL

 

Visit my page for more info at: www.mymaryandmartha.com/DANIELSEN














Now, on to channeling my inner Griswold and keeping the Bumpass's dogs out of the kitchen!  LOL please tell me you know these Christmas movie references and that I am not the lone geek. LOL

Blessings, Beth