2011 End of the Year Wrap Up

I have for a few years now and have lost track how many Year End Wrap Ups I have done. So here goes tradition. I take the first sentence and picture in the first post of each month of the year of postings. I went ahead and linked the name of the month to the post it came from. So if you want to know what I was talking about you can click on the link and find out. [o= It was fun as always to do this. I hope you enjoy seeing a over view of my year at a glance.

I didn't realize that had only been blogging at Mary's Little Corner sense March. So the posts January to March are from Raising 4 Godly Men blog.

January...

On The Heart and Mind:

I am sitting and reflecting what a big year this has been for us.

February...

As my earlier post showed it is a time of dreaming, reflecting and planning.

March...

I want to share where God is humbling and growing me right now.

April....

Hi all,

It has been a intresting but good to have a blog break.

May...

I am very happy that it all came together and I am online again.

June...

Sunday's and Mondays are Handsome's week-end and that means on Monday's it is our day to get as much as we can done kind of day.

July...

We are going to have a quiet day today and then go out to see the fireworks tonight in town with all the other hundreds of people.

Go here if you want a bit of history.

August...

Hubby and I are on day 29 of the Maker's Diet. (((HAPPY DANCE))) I know you are asking what in the world does that mean?!? Well, it means we are in the 3rd and final phase of The Makers Diet and we can eat grains again.

September...

I have been trying to learn to be still and know that He is God.

October...

Sometimes I just need to be silly and lighten the mood. Hope you enjoy. [o=

November...

Day #8 ~ Remember the Sparkle

( click to go to Sarah Mae's post)

Today's Challenge was to get dressed [o= and plan a Sparkle Date.

December...

How We Celebrated In December

A sample of what it looked like outside during one of the nights of Hanukkah.

I am back now from a unexpected blogging break. I guess I needed it and was blessed with time focusing 100% on my family during the holiday. I had mentioned to a few friends that I wanted to share a bit how we celebrate during this time. Here is a simple post trying to describe what we do in our family.

We have shifted our focus off of Christmas but not off of Christ. We have over the years lighted the Hanukkah candles in the menorah that was my husband's great grandfathers.



We focused on Jesus being the true light of the world and our Savor and all what that means. We really enjoyed using Robin Sampson's devotions in "Celebrating The Biblical Holidays". It gives the history of Hanukkah and ideas on how to celebrate it. It showed how back then the Jews were persecuted and how they had to stand up against the Hellenization that was happening to their beliefs. I saw some parallel to what has happened to us today ( but we of course don't have that kind of persecution today).

My decorations were really only the menorah and it's table. We spent a lot of time frying food... some traditional and some not but it was fried. Some of the things we fried were homemade fries, latkes with yogurt or apple sause (2 different nights), and...

...rosettes

(I wanted to post this on the Friday during Hanukkah but I didn't get to it. I hope you enjoy a light hearted funny.)

....old fashioned doughnuts

...to mention a few. All was done simply and focused on our Lord. We also decided to give gifts on the first night of Hanukkah with the mindset of celebrating the gift of light from our Lord.

and...

Treated Myself To a New Haircut

After all the hard work I have done for the last three months hubby treated me to a new haircut. I was in a real need of a pick-me upper and this was it. This is also a picture of one my new downsizing skirts. I will be updating how much I have lost next week when I get re-measured. I am going to be making a conscious effort in the next few weeks to share all the health changes and habits that I have made. I am loving how healthy I feel and starting to look. I feel like I am getting a new lease on life, thank you God! With all these changes I am feeling like my adrenal gland fatigue is pretty much gone. What a amazing feeling this is! I give all the credit to God for showing me the way. Okay I will update you more in a few days/early next week.

A Knitter's Meme

A Knitter's Meme

When did you first learn to knit socks?
I think it was about 8 years ago, sadly my memory is foggy.

What’s the first sock you ever knit?
I learned and pretty much have only knitted one sock pattern, other than once. This year I hope to expand on this.


Favorite Sock Pattern?
http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Knitting/Howtos/how_to_knit_socks.htm

http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/361AD56B-CEB4-4191-9219-2296CE58552C/74378/Howtoknitsocks.pdf



Favorite needle method?
So far all I know is the top ( at the cuff) down ( to the toe)method. I want to learn how to go from the toe up and also I want to learn how to knit two socks at the same time on circular needles too. All in time I keep telling myself.

Favorite sock needles?
5 double pointed needles made in bamboo.

Who do you knit socks for?
My hubby, sons, MIL, DIL, sometimes other family members too, plus ME. [o=

How many pairs have you knitted to date?
I really don't know I have lost count and never thought to keep count, lol.


What is on your sock knitting to-do list?
Ohhh I have a basket full of yarn to knit socks for hubby and my 3 boys at home, my MIL, and myself. I will be knitting socks for awhile now. I hope to interrupt it with a cardigan or two too.


What kind of socks to you like to knit-
Striped?
yes.


Color work?
haven't tried yet.

Plain Stockinette?
LOVE IT.


Cabled?
Want to so bad!


Lace?
Yes, I am in the midst of making me a pair right now.


Anklets?
Ohhh yes. It is a great way to get more socks out of a ball of yarn. The tightwad comes out on this one. [o=


Knee Socks?
I am hoping to make some in the new year.


Solid colors?
Yes


Bright and crazy?
Yes.


Faux Fair Isle (the yarn doing all of the work)?
Ohhh I want to try these REAL soon.


Tag a few sock knitters here: I really don't know who knits socks out there so if you do consider yourself tagged and let me know if you did the tag.

The Ultimate Knitter's Game [o;

I couldn't wait for Friday to post this Friday's Funny. [o= Hee he

A Light Unto My Path

Two weeks ago my hubby and I had gone to lead our weekly Bible study group. Earlier that day we purposefully parked the car down the hill from our house. This way we could for sure get down the hill without problems with the ice and snow on the road. That meant later hiking down the hill again with our flashlight ( we live out in the country and have no street lamps to light the way) and hiking poles and hiking to back up again. I wished I had a picture to show what it looked like but alas this picture I found will have to do.

On the way home after we parked once again, but this time even further down the road, we started to hike up the hill. My hubby took the lead with the flashlight. I stared at his feet intensely to see what little I could in the way of where we were going and what just laid on the path. ( and tried not to stumble on anything) Sometimes ( not meaning to) my hubby's hand would shift the flashlight to the side as he would swing his arm while walking. When he did this it the path would go black and I felt lost with no light. But as quickly as it left the light came back. While we hiked this verse came to me.

(KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Bible says in Revelations 21 v 23, The Lamb (Jesus) is the lamp. Thy word `O Lord` is a lamp, and a light for me to follow, so that each step that I take will be one of security in The Bible says in Revelations 21 v 23, The Lamb (Jesus) is the lamp. Thy word `O Lord` is a lamp, and a light for me to follow, so that each step that I take will be one of security in You.As we read God’s word, Jesus gives us direction by the Holy Spirit to which clear path to take.

With our flashlight it shone down at our feet to light onto our path, so we would not stumble or fall.The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, in this darkened world. Darkness cannot overcome the light, but light expels the darkness and overcomes it. His light keeps me on the right path. His Lamp is a light unto my feet. That I can walk and not stumble. The Bible says in John 8:12

John 8:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹²Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

I love how in our everyday experiences our Lord speaks to us and shows us what we need to be re affirmed and what we need to encourage us.

My friend, may His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path..

When a friend does something wrong...

One Thing I Learned This Year

Now after all that is said and done I want to plan out next year a little differently. For the last few years I have been trying to weed out the busy-ness in my life but it seems to keep sneaking back in. I am getting close but still need to tweak things.

I have learned "if" I am going to do craft fairs (to raise money for my craft supplies and extra family needs) I need to be able to get the bulk of it done in the summer. There is a lull when the garden is pretty much planted and we have started our summer break from lessons which makes easier for focused craft fair crafting. This year for some reason forgot how much I had to and get done in the fall. It was too overwhelming for me to say the least to keep up with it all and I was hitting serious burn out. ( as you can tell in the lack of blogging) With getting lessons going again, helping with the harvest, keeping up with the basics of life, and making all the food I do from scratch, helping my hubby lead Bible study, helping my MIL with the seed business is a lot, and got ready for the two craft fairs. All of it pushed me into a unhealthy head space and too much physical exhaustion and it wasn't good at all for me. ( or the family) I am owning up that I cannot do it all and really need to pace myself better.

When I was praying if the Lord really wanted me to continue in craft fairs or not and if I did... how I should do it then. The Lord showed me that I could keep doing the craft fairs and there was a way that wouldn't take away from my family. It was to get the bulk of it done in the summer break time. I have to think about what I want to try to get done and then schedule what I need to do and when, then mark it down on a calender.

I need to make goals for each month and write it down in a calender. Break it down into manageable bite size pieces. With all that I still have to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate what is truly most important for our family and then budget our schedule accordingly. If it takes away from what is important then it needs to go. My family is so much more important then stuff. So, if it comes down to deciding what to do or not to do. I will not pick the stuff over my family and will leave it and trust in the Lord for our needs.

Contentment is...

Contentment is not a fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of what you already have.

It is not a destination, it is a state of gratefulness before God.

~Joshua Harris

Friday Funny

Craft Fair Remembrances

The whir wind of fair came and went. I was happy with how it all went. I had lovely vendors on each side of me, one a baker and one a story teller. This years sales were down for all vendors but I did very well for what was sold during the fair. I think I sold enough to afford the camera I was hoping to afford. It was a long two days but a very nice fair. I wished you all could have come to our nook of Canada and seen the lovely wares that was sold. After the fair on Saturday was my hubby's birthday. We were so blessed that my MIL made a wonderful meal for us to come home too and then the rest of the extended family came for cheese cake with berries on top and ice cream on the side. A very lovely evening indeed.

I have to admit I was very exhausted by the end and had to re cooperate a bit before I came back to blogging. Still trying to ease back into a normal pace of life and I am already picking up my knitting needles more and loving sitting by the wood stove with a cup of tea. I am so glad to now be able to hibernate for the winter.

PRAISING Him!

I am so ecstatic that Maria and her dear daughter are home!!! Thank you Lord! ((HAPPY DANCE)) Please go read Maria's homecoming post.

Another Update on Maria's Daughter

I just got off the phone with Maria. Her daughter is in need of prayer. Her back was opened from the base of her neck to tail bone. This is the tough time because she is in pain. Maria's daughter is having trouble with flem and not opening her eyes or eating.

Please lift her up that she will respond and not shut down. Maria's daughter does so much better when Maria or her father is around. So Maria will not leave her side now. The neat thing is that Maria is crocheting a lavender prayer shawl , Tasha Tudor style for her daughter. Please also pray for Maria. It is hard and a lonely feeling during this time. Her world is just her and her dear daughter in the hospital room and Maria waiting to for her dear daughter to pull out of the dangerous waiting time. Please cover this family in so much prayer. If you have any notes you want to send her leave them in my comments and I will forward them to her each day.

Thank you for lifting this precious family in prayer.

Update On Maria's Daughter

(This is excerpts from Maria's (from Homemade Living) email last night)

She did great - PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

The doctor said that she did so well, she may not have to stay as long as he originally predicted. I am sending you this email from the

Pediatric Intensive Care unit here.

It has been a long day, but I am so excited and so relieved!

I felt those prayers Mary. Both my husband and I, felt them and the peace, Mary, that peace was there from the moment I woke up this morning to now. We have yet to see her, but I know that she is going to do well.

Oh my friend, I am so happy!!!

Let the ladies know, and let them know how grateful we are for all their prayers.

( I will be calling her very soon and will get another update very soon)

Crunch Time Getting Ready For the Craft Fair

My days for the last week or two ( after getting home from my sweetie's and my romantic get-away) has been very full. I have been washing and filling juice jars with raspberry-rhubarb or plain rhubarb juice plus crafting. I will be selling the juice, my beeswax gourd candles, hand dipped tapers, hand dipped and twisted tapers, knitted baby booties, along with my milk chocolate or mint chocolate fudge. This Friday and Saturday I will be busy selling my wares and in hopes to save enough money to get a new camera plus some needed items for the family and home. ( So if you wondered where I am and what I am doing...now you know. [o= )

A Journey To Better Health~ November's Progress Picture

Me Before and After in 6 weeks of t-tapp

( the pic on the left was me helping get things ready for my MIL's wedding in August. Not my favorite picture but it does show how I carried my weight around my middle, sigh. I am now fitting in some middle size things and kind of in a size 10. ( a bit too snugly yet) So, I will wait a bit longer to wear the size 10 skirt I bought on the trip. It won't be long before I am wearing it and I can show and tell it then. What a good feeling!!! )

Measurement Loss Update:

Lost total up to today...

1" in chest

.75" in pecs

1.75" in ribs

2" in Waist

2" in Abdominal's

2.5" in Hips

Upper thigh is the same

2" right lower thigh

1.5" in left lower thigh ( they are even now) [o=

.75" in left calf

.5" in right calf ( they are even now) [o=

1" in right arm

1" in left arm

A Total of .... 16.75 inches

I have to share other than my inch loss that I am getting so much stronger with t-tapp. Here is a neat success story about my back. When Handsome ( my hubby [o= ) and I went on our little get away to Spokane Washington I didn't have my normal back aches. Usually after I sleep a night in a hotel bed my back is wrecked and I have trouble with it for a few weeks. Well, the first night went by and no problems and had a good sleep. Then the second night was the same. I was such a happy camper! That is showing me how wonderful core muscles truly are. Now, on the same note I have to share also that this kind of workout is wonderful for people with adrenal gland fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome. You need a program that will get you healthy and strong but you don't want one that will deplete your adrenals. As the weeks have gone by I do feel like I am getting more energy and so much stronger.

In the near future I will be sharing some more neat things about my journey to better health as I can. What a amazing journey the Lord has shown me. I am truly thankful indeed.

Our 21st Anniversary Wonderful Ethnic Meals

I was wined, dined, and taken shopping for two and a half days by my sweetie. We left hubby's work on Thursday and headed south of the boarder... the Canadian boarder that is. Our first stop was to the White House Grill. It was a taste of the Mediterranean .

Yes that is a lamp post inside. This restaurant had a lot of charm. And if you LOVE garlic then this is the place for you!

Now when I say that you need to love garlic to go here I am not kidding. So much that they offer free mouth wash in the bathroom for after your meal. But I guess my hubby and I didn't think that it was that garlicky because we didn't feel the need to use it.

Now, for the day two.... for lunch we went Ethiopian cusine. Ohhh yes I really did say Ethiopian. We had the most wonderful meal after all our morning shopping. There is a neat restaurant at the Flour Mill in Spokane Washington. It is the Queen of Sheba restaurant. If you are in town that is a MUST visit. We loved our meal and I am hoping to figure out how to make this meal some day soon. [o= If I figure it out I will share.

This is how you eat the meal. Ahhh to bad I didn't know I could had have my sweetie feed me. [o= Like here. Hmmmm maybe next time.

I can't believe we just shopped and ate the whole trip. It was fun and I wasn't too bad with talking about the boys. I only said out loud two times..." I wonder how the boys are doing ?". And I only had my hubby facebook them to remind them that the extra bread was in the freezer. I didn't want my boys to go hungry. [o=

Then for dinner. ( sadly no pictures) We went out for Italian. They had the most wonderful coffee ( I splurged here) and Italian deserts. Then the next days lunch was Mexican. Ohhh all these wonderful tastes of different cultures. ( I will come back later and give a link to the Mexican restaurant once hubby is home to remind me the name. )

I was happy that there were a couple of people on this trip who offered to take hubby's and my picture. Here we are in the Hotel entrance. The last night hubby and I took advantage of the hotels hot tub what a treat!

I hope to show and tell some of our shopping finds in the next day or so. Till then...

Day #8- Remember the Sparkle

Day #8 ~ Remember the Sparkle

( click to go to Sarah Mae's post)

Today's Challenge was to get dressed [o= and plan a Sparkle Date. What does Sarah Mae mean by this??? Well we are to plan a date with our hubby and get dressed up, or buy a new lip gloss , or do something new with our hair that we have been wanting to do.

I have the perfect opportunity to follow through with my assignment! ((GRIN)) and ((HAPPY DANCE)) Thursday my Handsome and I will be married 21 years. And we have planned a get-away down south together. No, I don't mean Mexico. lol. We are heading south of the Canadian border and we are heading to Spokane Wa. again. We have a wonderful dinner planned and hanging out together for a couple days and nights. I can't wait! I will try to get some pictures this trip. [o=

So, if I am missing in action you will know why. [o= I will possibly be around blogland till Thursday morn but no promises. I have to get everything situated at home so I can take a mini vacation with my sweetie.