Princess Party!

My littlest girl...my sweet Anna!  She said her 7th birthday has been her best birthday ever! LOL  This year, for the first time we had a "friend party" for her and she chose a princess theme.

The girls all dressed up in their princess finery...decorated picture frames (glitter glue takes a LONG time to dry! LOL), beaded necklaces and bracelets, played Twister, musical chairs, Bingo and danced all over the livingroom...and last but not least...decorated their own purple princess cupcakes that my oldest daughter, Meghan, had made for them.

What a very special birthday Anna Lydia had!  She had some wonderful little friends and made some very special memories!

I feel as if I need to "catch up" over the past 9 months and journal some updates on all the children and memories I don't want to forget....so look for some photo journaling catching up with our family coming soon.   As my children are growing up so very quickly, I don't want to miss a thing!  ~Sue~

Silver Lining...

Oh, how I love this quote!  I've always been an optimist...always loved 'Pollyanna', but since my  illnesses have progressed over the years, it's been harder and harder on some days to count my blessings and look for the silver lining.   I've recently discovered a very special blog.

Sara Gitzen has written a blog that has blessed hundreds and hundreds of people!  Her blog, Choose Joy, does just that...reminds us to CHOOSE joy.

The link above will take you to Choose Joy and a post about not missing the silver lining because you are expecting gold.  Sara wrote from the unique perspective of someone who has suffered from a very painful, debilitating ,chronic illness.  Sara has recently passed away due to complications from her disease...which, to me, makes her thoughts even more poignant and meaningful.   As I read thru more and more of Sara's writings....oh, how I am blessed!  As she is now dancing on streets of gold...I pray that she knows....knows how very much the Lord has used her to bless countless others who are suffering from chronic illness and/or pain ..but there are so many more lessons to be learned here.  I encourage you all to read this particular post of Sara's...and if you have some time....scroll thru and read more...you will be blessed!  ~Sue~ 

Some daily grace....

One of the many books that have blessed me is the daily devotional 'Streams in the Desert'.  This little book has ministered to me so very, very much over the years and I've shared it with many people.  From time to time, I'll be sharing some parts of this special little book with you as well as my thoughts....below, is some amazing grace...that came at a much needed time.  May you be filled with peace that passes all understanding...the peace that only Jesus can give.

Something that I didn't talk about much on this blog before I took my hiatus, was afflictions...specifically Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia...the 2 chronic illnesses that I have.  I never wanted those to consume me, to define me...I didn't want to fall into the trap of self-pity...but honestly, they are a big part of who I am...they touch every part of my life.

The sleepness nights...the daily bone-weary exhaustion...the heaviness of my limbs...sometimes it is hard to hold my head up.  The weakness (dropping lots of things...or falling frequently)...the pain...the swelling of joints...muscle and joint pain...lots of medications (and subsequent side effects ) it has become just a part of my everyday life and my families' lives.

It took me a long time to come to accept that this was my cross....and to count my blessings in spite of it.  But God is ever faithful...He is so faithful to lead and guide...to comfort...and to gently re-focus me on His goodness and the many blessings in my life.

He uses my little book...along with His Word to focus me...to remind me...to uplift and encourage me...and today, I want to share a little bit of what He has been telling me...what I am continuously contemplating as I go about my days.

"An affliction hits a believer never by chance but by God's divine direction.  It is not only the grace of God, but also His glory that is revealed when a believer can stand and quietly endure an affliction."  Joseph Caryl

" It is thru our trials and afflictions that God gives us fresh revelations of Himself."  Nathaniel William Taylor

"If you have been praying to know more of Christ,  do not be surprised if He leads you thru the desert or through a furnace of pain.  I cannot explain exactly how we are able to receive the power to serve and to endure thru communion  with God, but I know it is a fact.  Are you in danger of being crushed by a heavy and difficult trial?    Then seek communion with Christ and you will receive strength and the power  to be victorious, for God has promised  "I will strengthen you"  (Isa. 41:10)  Steams in the Desert

If you would like more encouragment...please read the posts at http://refined-redeemed.blogspot.com/  Refined As Gold, one of the blogs of my daughter, Meghan and her dear friend, Shannon....I'll be posting over there occasionally as well....as we are all being 'refined as gold'.  ~Sue~

The devil's 'beatitudes'....

After reading this, (again...as I recently got this book from the library)...I was reminded of how true these words are....please, go to my friend Judy's blog http://livingsimplyforhim.blogspot.com/ and read the devil's 'beatitudes' and maybe, like me, you'll be reminded of  how careful we must be of the master deceiver.

(also, if you get the chance...I echo Judy's opinion of the book "The Simplicity Primer"...excellent book and on my wish list to own!)  Check it out!  ~Sue~

This moment...

Sisterly love!

Joining in over at  http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/  for a Friday ritual...a single photo...for This Moment.  May your weekend be blessed!

65 degrees in Pittsburgh in November?! Field Trip!

When you have 65 degrees AND sunshine in Pittsburgh in November...you take a field trip!   After we finished up the academics this morning my little ones and I headed out to a local farm to meet my sister and nephew...what a fun day!  (ok...the above picture is NOT the most flattering of me, but since I'm usually not IN the pictures...I'm thrilled to have this one for the memories with my little ones!)

Other than enjoying the fall day, the farm had these wonderful, inter-active  boards up that show how this farm is "going green"...we learned a lot about sustainable farming.

We also just had some plain old fashioned FUN!  A chocolate lab named 'Sydney' joined us on all our activities...what a sweet dog!  Instead of a sand box, the 'corn' box was a hit with the kids as something different.

The petting zoo was a hit for a little while...(until a goat started eating Anna's shirt...she was less than pleased)...my nephew, Ty, was so happy to be with his cousins and not afraid of the animals...goats, sheep, chickens and ducks were part of the fun.

And...pumpkins!  I am so grateful for the chance to spend time with my sister, nephew and our little ones!  Blessings like these are precious memories that we will always treasure!

I am trying to be more mindful to say "yes" more....to LOOK for opportunities to make memories with all of my children... to laugh more and treasure the time we have together.

Yarn Along....

Linking up with Ginny over at Small Things for her weekly Yarn Along!  I enjoy a chance to share 2 of my favorite things...books and yarn!  Right now, I am working on a couple small crochet projects and one large one...the afghan in the photo is for my niece, who graduated college and is working in Boston now.  As I wanted to have this done sooner and it is getting COLD in Boston, I'm hoping to finish this fairly soon.

I've always tried to draw from Karen Andreola's wisdom in her book "A Charlotte Mason Companion" and have many books that I am reading at any given moment, but my current fiction book is one I've been waiting for for quite a while and my copy just came in today from the library...'The Wedding Quilt', by Jennifer Chiaverini...the latest book in the 'Elm Creek Quilt' series.  Lots of loose ends tied up in this one as well as more history from Elm Creek Manor and the Bergstrom family...I love this series!  It is the series of fiction that inspired me to learn to quilt.  If you would like some fiber inspiration and enjoy sharing your love of reading and fiber, head on over to Ginny's and check out some great inspiration!  ~Sue~

A Time for Everything

'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1'

Originally, when I started this blog, it was for the purpose of journaling for our family...with photos, recipes...just chronicling our days in a format that will never be lost....I used to have a hand-written journal, but due to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia...writing hurts...typing, as of now, does not....and I've found that my children love to see pictures of themselves and read all about their days.

Over time, the RA became very aggressive and is not responding to treatment...and the past year has been full of trials..trying different medications, and simply adapting life, once again, to changes and limitations. So...with that said...this "new" blog will again be journaling for our family, as well as my thoughts and feelings about this journey the Lord has me on with RA and Fibro...homeschooling, and trying to live as simple and joyful a life as we can. We are so very, very blessed....

I had someone once ask me why I wrote about our meals and what was going on in our lives, and for any readers that I may still have out there...I will say...I pray that my writing blesses first my family...that it honors the Lord...and if it blesses others, then I will be content to share our lives with others.

The Lord IS faithful to keep His promises...and this journey...this path that we are on as His pilgrims...is best not walked alone...I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with all of you...may your day be blessed!