One small change...moderation

One of my changes for this spring is moderation. I tend to be the type of person who is passionate about most things...rarely luke-warm...I am passionate about my Lord and Savior....my husband, children, family, home, simple living, hospitality, natural health and nutrition, fiber arts (crocheting, sewing, and now knitting)...you get the idea. So when I become interested in something, pray about it and feel the Lord's leading in that area, I usually throw myself (and my family) headlong into it! Such has been the case with green smoothies and raw food lately.

Needless to say, I have been experiencing some 'complications' with my health....that have really made me sick for over a month now. It wasn't until I went thru a few different tests, prayed about it and tonight was talking to a dear friend, when she suggested that maybe I was 'over-doing' it...and my body just couldn't digest/handle that much fiber at once...and I realized that I wasn't drinking enough water, either. (sigh)

I feel CLEARLY that the Lord is teaching me a valuable lesson thru all of this....trusting in Him, and moderation are the keys to health and life. Moderation not just in food (or juices), but in everything...activities outside the home, hospitality (I guess company for dinner 4-5 times in once month is a little too much on the budget), activities inside the home (computer, television, dvd's), exercise and hobbies....anything excessive is just not healthy.

So, in the coming months I will be trying very hard to prayerfully be aware of moderation...if life starts feeling like it is spinning out of control, I will cut down on activities. I will prayerfully weigh the menu choices for our family...balancing the proteins, whole grains AND greens/fruits. I've already started cutting down on computer time....and surprisingly for me, it has been harder than I thought! LOL

Praise God for His infinite wisdom and grace in my life! Any suggestions in moderation would be gratefully welcomed! Blessings! ~Sue~

Happy Easter!

Christos Voskres!!!! He is Risen!!!The above is a Slovak cloth beautifully embroidered stating "Christ is Risen" and created to cover a large basket filled with special food to be blessed for the Easter celebration feast.

I love tradtions! Sorry I haven't been posting much around here...not feeling very well, and trying to just live life as much as possible with Ron and my children.

We had a very special weekend! After one of my dearest friends invited me to the spa for her birthday to have pedicures and manicures together and to get a bite to eat afterward....how could I say no?! So Thusday evening was spent being pampered and relaxing...and especially visiting with a dear friend! Thanks, Steph!

Friday, I had a pretty nasty 2 1/2 hour procedure in the morning,but came home and make a small Easter dinner for our family...ham, kielbasi, potato salad and some veggies...then we all headed to South Hills Bible Chapel for their Good Friday service. Oh, my goodness...it was very solumn and yet passionate at the same time....very focused on our Lord. Then, we went upstairs, to a special "journey to the cross"....and each room represented Jesus steps to the cross....in one room there were real spikes and mallets, another one held real spices of frankincense and mir....one had a very realistic bloody cross , crown of thorns and robe....very powerful. Each of the children were mesmerized....as were we. The last room represented you, nailing your sins to the cross....with the invitation that anyone who would follow Jesus would pick up his cross and follow....and nail it to the cross. that was the most powerful for me...especially seeing my little ones understand, write down what they thought their sins were and nail them to the cross. I am so glad that we went!

Saturday, we celebrated Easter and my sister Pam's 40th birthday.....what fun! So glad the weather held, as we were all outside and the kids had so much fun! The food was fantastic, and there was so much of it...even the gigantic cake my mom made!

Sunday, we had a very nice church service with our great church familiy....came home, relaxed , made a quick salad and headed down to Ron's moms. It was so nice seeing nieces and nephews and cousins....all the little cousins play so nice together!

Now....back to busily productive! Not sure how often I'll be posting now that the weather is beautiful, and we're trying to get the spring cleaning done, switching sizes and seasons for Ronnie and Anna...finish up homeschooling papers and responsabilities for this year. Hope to have some more posts soon, though. Some days it is just too nice outside! LOL

May you all be very blessed!!!! ~Sue~

Lego love!

What fun! Lego's are a blast that has staying power! We've been really enjoying them around here, and I am continually amazed at what Ronnie can build with them.....we are always on the lookout for more! Now the fun is shared...

Who knew they had "girl" Lego's?! Anna is now playing with her Lego's everyday...I am so happy that it is something that she and her brother can share an interest in, help each other and yet....she can still have her "girly" pink ones. As they get older, it is getting a little harder to find things in common, and I feel so blessed that they are able to share this interest!

This is a police helecopter that Ronnie has built and bought with his own money...he is so proud of this, and he had it together in no time! Now, he is saving ($50!!!) for a Lego Indiana Jones Temple of Doom to build. He keeps asking for jobs to do to earn money..and we happily provide him with all the jobs he wants!

There is a Lego museum about 1 1/2 hours from here in Ohio that we are planning a family trip to. I don't know who is more excited, the little ones or us! Will have to post the website and pictures when we go. Happy building! ~Sue~

Endings and beginnings...

Finally finished the wedding gift I was making for our freinds...the afghan above. I thought it was finished....but then thought it wasn't quite big enough for two....or three, ( they will become 3 in September) so I just kept making it bigger until it looked the right size. Wanted it to be warm and cozy for snowy Pittsburgh, so small stitches were in order. Now...for new projects!

A knitted scarf....might have to 'frog' this one as I just learned how to pick up dropped stitches....might be practicing different knitting stitches on cotton dishcloths this summer....portable and good practice!


This knitted shawl is in the garter stitch and will eventually become....



This shawl from Maryjane's Farm Magazine. (my very favorite magazine!)

And, I think this will turn out to be one of my very favorite projects....love the color and it is so soft and fuzzy....another wedding present, this time for my wonderful niece who is getting married April 30th. With this chunky yarn and large hook it is working up rather quickly.



~I am finding that these projects are as much for me as for the recipient...I sometimes crave the feel of the yarn and wooden needles or hook in my hands...the repetition is soothing and at the same time, helps clarify my thoughts. For so many years, I felt as if my creativity had 'dried' up...and now....I am loving it again! So many projects, so little time! I am trying to teach my children that keeping their hands busy (even if it is lego building for Ronnie, or coloring for Anna) , even while watching a movie together, is being quietly productive...and that is a very good thing. Here is to the end of satisfying projects and the beginning of new creative times! ~Sue~

Traditional Sunday dinners....

We love traditional Sunday dinners....especially my husband. Seems when we were both young, that Sundays were days to have big dinners with extended family...to visit and have fun. Sometimes, it would just be us for a long, leisurely meal without anyone having to be anywhere afterwards. Today was one of those days.....

After church this morning, the kids and I came home for a quick lunch and then relaxing time. Everyone did quiet activities and Ron & I watched/discussed a biblical teaching dvd by Jim Sammons. ( more about that later....it was so good!)

Ron wanted roast chicken, so we did! Roast chicken, carrots, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy....yum! To my very old-fashioned, traditional husband Sunday dinners usually include mashed potatoes and gravy! LOL

Sara spent quite a bit of time making a gluten free spice cake for dessert with 7 minute frosting.....oh, my goodness is this good! Both of the girls have been baking a lot lately, both gluten free and normal baking. Having dessert on a Sunday just makes it that much more special.

~We have truly been blessed by opening our home to family and friends for traditional Sunday dinners....it has taught our daughters hospitality, cooking and baking skills, conversational skills...and to actively look to be a blessing to others in our home. I will readily admit, that there are Sundays that are needed for rest and reflection only, but the Lord leads clearly in this area and we are open to however He leads....opening our home or it just being our little family. May I encourage you to pray about opening your home for some traditional Sunday dinners....sharing (or starting) the tradition and blessing others with your hospitality. May your Sabbath be blessed! ~Sue~

One small change....

I've felt convicted for a long time, to be a better steward of what the Lord has blessed me with....whether it is to be a better wife, mother, a better steward of my time, our home, our earth....and then I found this blog: http://1smallchangeblog.blogspot.com/ (you can get to it from my sidebar as well) What wonderful ideas and resources I've gleaned from this site! So, from time to time, I will be posting things that our family is doing....one small change at a time.

One change that we've been making is a better use of our time. We've all been trying to stay off of the computer as much as possible...still reading and sending emails, and of course....writing/blogging....but setting short blocks of time for this. We appreciate technology for the advantage of keeping in touch and making it easier to grow relationships....but we also still value "snail mail"...and avidly write letters and cards to friends and family.

We have been reading more books, playing more games....going outside! (finally!) We've also tried to cut down on dvd watching....now that the winter is finally over and so is the whooping cough as well. But we've also instituted a rule that when we do all sit down to watch a dvd, we must be doing something productive...not just staring at the television set. For the girls and I it usually involves yarn...crocheting or knitting....sometimes a little embroidery, too. It is a little trickier, I am finding, for my little ones. So...the rule is: puzzles, Legos, coloring,drawing, banana grams....while we watch and discuss the dvd. Yes, we are still sitting and watching the t.v., but we're discussing it and being productive at the same time.

I would welcome any suggestions in this area to help my little ones still enjoy the dvd (whether it be pleasure or teaching) and still keep those busy hands busy! I recently read an article that knitting/crocheting works both sides of the brain at the same time as well building fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination and for some children....keeping their hands busy while learning actually helps them retain what they are hearing. As we are a very auditory family, this made sense to me. So....please, send your suggestions our way! Just one small change that we are making in our home lately. Have a blessed weekend! ~Sue~

Hospitality and family....

~Hospitality and ministry....for a long time after I came to know the Lord, I thought I should have this big "ministry"...after all, seemed every Christian that I met had one, and shouldn't I? I have since came to realize that my gifts and "ministry" start in my home.

First, I am to be a helper to my husband. This encompasses loving him, supporting him, encouraging him, serving him and of course, helping him as we share a life together. Second, my children....I am to lovingly bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, teaching and training them at home.

But, one thing that the Lord impressed on me early on is that I am to show hospitality in our home...no matter what state it is in. If anyone is coming to my home to see a 'show place' or a spotless home, then they will be disappointed. But, if they are coming to be welcomed, loved and to spend time with us...then they are exceedingly welcome!

We welcome our extended family on both sides as often as they will come over. We have quite a bit of them, and we love them dearly....and dearly love to show Christ's love to them. The past week has included quite a few family members here...loving, laughing and making memories. No, our home hasn't been perfect (LOL), but our times together have been priceless! We have quite a few more family get-togethers coming up in the next few weeks that we are looking forward to. I hope my children always remember that God comes first, and family second....everything else can get in line! LOL ~Sue~

My youngest sister, Pam and her friend Frank, came for dinner and a visit on Sunday. It was so nice as we don't get to see them as often as we would like. She even had a blast on the tire swing! Our next get together will be her 40th birthday coming up soon!

A lot of wiffle ball was played...my dad is the favorite pitcher.

When I was a little girl, I think he wanted me to be a boy, and taught me to bat righty and lefty, play short stop and spiral a football with the best of them...now he is teaching the grandchildren.
We've also been watching my nephew, Ty, for 2 days while his parents are out of town. My mom and step-dad came over yesterday for the day and dinner. My wonderful step-dad, commonly known around here as Buppy, turned 73 so we had a special dinner for him of sauerbraten, spaetzle and slaw. As they were 'snow birds' in Florida all winter it was a treat to spend time with them.

Food, Inc........

(to better read the suggetions above, click image)

~ Where does YOUR food come from? At the suggestion of a friend, my children and I recently viewed the documentary, 'Food, Inc.'. We were able to order from our library system , but you could also order from Amazon. What a convicting documentary! DO you know where your food comes from? I didn't. I had heard about the factory farms, and the animals conditions, genetically modified seeds and pesticides, but feel much more convicted and better informed after watching this and highly recommend it for every family to watch!

I've also recently read 'The Omnivore's Dilemna' and a book that I couldn't put down ( book review coming soon) 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle'....I can't recommend them enough! So what am I going to do with this information to improve the health of our family?

Well, first....we will continue to cook from scratch, and not purchase processed foods. We will also be looking into making (instead of buying) things like pickles, ketchup, mayonaise, and yogurt...or do without. We will also being trying harder to look at meat/poultry as a 'condiment' or a side dish....but more info to come, when I can process this longer and write down a plan. One thing we will definitely be doing is sewing up some bags for the farmers markets that will be starting up soon....and getting our canning supplies ready.

One thing we can all do is watch, 'Food Inc.'. Michelle, from She looketh well blogspot, is having a giveaway of a gift certificate for $75 to US wellness meats....yes, $75 for organic HEALTHY meat! Check it out here http://shelookethwell.blogspot.com/2010/03/7500-give-away.html and if you watch it and want to enter the giveaway, please, in your comment on Michelle's blog, mention that you heard about it here.

I highly recommend watching 'Food Inc.' to everyone who cares about the health of their family. I know organics can be much more expensive than traditional foods, but, knowing that God will lead us in the way we should go, I trust that this is His leading in our family,and that He will provide means and guide our choices. More to come about how small changes, responsability and 'going green' can add up to health and help us be better stewards of the earth our Lord gave to us. God bless! ~Sue~