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Update on our Colorado life…

By Joy on March 24, 2013 in 2013, family

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has been a while since I have done an update on our Colorado life. As you know we moved from North Carolina to Colorado back in August of 2012. Yes, we have been in Colorado for 7 months. It definitely has been an interesting 7 months. While we know God moved us out here, it has definitely taking some getting used to for me and the kids.

First off, we are living in an apartment, in a city. Yes, me a country gal, living in a city. I definitely feel like a fish out of water. There have been comments about my accent and where I am from. Some good, but there has been some rude comments as well. I have actually been questioned about having manners and raising my kids that way. Like I said, it has been different.

We have joined a homeschool group and have been on field trips and other outings. However, making friends have been difficult for myself and the kids. They have asked on occasion why we had to move. I just keep telling them and reminding myself that God has a plan for us. He moved us here and we need to do the best we can and just make the best of it.

We are still looking for a home church. I think this has been the hardest thing of all. We miss being in fellowship with other believers. We have visited several churches, but my husband and I have not felt like God has pointed us to the right church. We are still praying about a home church and know that God will lead us to one, in his timing.

It has also been a very long winter for us. We love the cold and we have enjoyed the snow that we have gotten. However, since this is a new climate and area for us, we have also been fighting sickness. We have had the flu, stomach bugs, really bad colds and just recently, I have had some major dental issues surface. It has been tough being at home and not being able to go out and explore, go on field trips and even a mom’s night out.

We are still homeschooling and loving it. I finally feel like we have the curriculum that works for our family. The kids enjoy their science and history. We love reading and doing projects together. We love going on field trips and exploring the new area together. We do enjoy our homeschool group we are in, but I have been looking for another one that is a little more involved and get together a lot more often. I am hoping the kids will be able to make friends soon.

Do we love Colorado? Absolutely! We definitely felt like God lead us out here and the opportunity for my husband to work at this college, just could not be passed up. It has just been an adjustment and with God, we will get through this.

Sun setting on the Rocky Mountain National Park

As you have noticed on the blog, there have been a lot of reviews lately. It has been because of us being sick and I have not been able to write like I have wanted to. As I mentioned, I have had some dental issues and it has required me to be on some pain medication. Yes, it has been that painful. I am hoping this will be the last week with so many reviews. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am also working on a couple of different projects. One, I am working with a wonderful friend. I am hoping we can share more about it soon. It involves a new blog that we will be doing together! A little sneak peak is the title, “Surrendering the Plate.” Any ideas of what it could be about?

I am truly excited about it! God has also been working on my heart in the past year. I am just in the beginning stages, but I am trying to figure out how to get started with it. I would love to have some kind of mentoring program to where older (more experienced) women teach and mentor other women. Like a Titus 2 mentoring program. I know there are a lot like that out in the blogging world already, but God keeps laying it on my heart to someone get involved and do something.

Well, this is how things have been going for us. We are taking it one day at a time and trusting in God to lead us every day. I would like to ask one thing of you, could you please be in prayer that I follow where God leads me? That is including this blog. I want to blog to bring glory to God, to help and encourage others in their faith and their homeschooling journey.

Blessings!

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Rocky Mountain National Park ~ field trip

By Joy on February 8, 2013 in 2013, family, homeschooling

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to do field trips and go riding around our area to look for new things to do. We love to have our own little adventures. Recently, we rode to Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park. Estes Park was having a winter festival with lots of games, chili and a mac-n-cheese cook-off’s and music. There were also a lot of vendors peddling their homemade wares. We truly had a wonderful time. It was quite cool though, the wind was blowing a lot. We decided that we would leave and ride around a bit before it got too dark.

Rocky Mountains National Park

Once we left the festival, we realized that a Rocky Mountain National Park entrance was right around the corner from where we were at. We decided to buy an annual pass to the park so that we can explore more of it later. I can’t wait until it warms up and we can go hiking on some of the trails.

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

As we passed through the entrance, the scenery was just beautiful. We even spotted a herd of elk just off the road. Of course it was easy to see considering there were about 10 other vehicles pulled off and stopped in the road. We joined right in to watch the gorgeous creatures.

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

The elk just stood there and continued to eat. Every now and then, one would look up and around to see if they were still being watched.

Herd of Elk

There were two elk that decided to start head butting each other. Those pictures didn’t turn out well. You could definitely tell one was an older elk putting a younger else in his place!

Elk running down the road

As we left the herd of elk and continued on down the road, we saw an elk running beside the road. God’s creatures are so amazing!

Sun setting on the Rocky Mountain National Park

As we continue on the small loop, the sun was starting to set. The clouds were just gorgeous. God sure does know how to paint the sky!

cool clouds over the Rocky Mountains

We were on just a small loop of the Rocky Mountain National Park. We decided to just take this small loop since it was getting dark.

beautiful sunset over the Rocky Mountains

Riding around on adventures like this is a favorite pastime for our family. It is time we get to explore God’s creations and a time we get to spend with one another.

I am linking up with Tonya over at The Traveling Praters for Best of the USA Blog Hop. I can’t wait to see all the places highlighted in this blog hop! I hope you will go visit the others who have link-up!

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Project Cleanse~ a learning process

By Joy on January 26, 2013 in 2013, family

Project Cleanse has been more of a learning process for me, than anything else. Definitely a lesson I won’t forget. I started out the Project Cleanse planning on cleansing my house, purging and decluttering what we didn’t need anymore. However, I am getting so much more than that from this project.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t updated in a couple of weeks. I have had a few health issues. It all started when I got sick with some sort of stomach bug that went through the rest of the family first. When I finally thought I was well, my body apparently didn’t think so. I was hit by two major migraines that put me to bed. Once I finally thought I was rid of those, I started having minor headaches with dizziness and nausea. I have Fibromyalgia and the effects of the stomach bug, put my body is a Fibromyalgia flare-up. It has been a difficult couple of weeks, but thanks to my family, they have not only taken care of the household needs, but also me. I am truly blessed.

During this time, I have felt God calling me to get my health under control, more so than my house. While I am not really a junk food eater and I do eat fairly healthy and drink a lot of water, I have felt Him speaking to me to find out what exactly is going on with my body. This past week, I went to a clinic that is nearby that specializes in Fibromyalgia patients. The first step has been taken. I filled out about 20 pages of papers and talked with the doctor. They went over everything and ordered a whole bunch of tests. While I have had a few of these tests in the past, they ordered a lot that I had never heard of before. There are times, when a patient can figure out what triggers the flare-ups. This place will also find a way to help me best manage the pain, as well.

I am excited about this step that I am taking. I have realized that this disease has affected me more than what I thought it had. Well, not only me, but my family. God knows that my heart is to be there for my family. My husband and children. He knows that being at home with my children, schooling them, is where I need to be at, at this time. He knows my heart is to be there for others, to help and encourage them in their faith and homeschooling journey. However, I can’t do that to the best of my ability if I do not take proper care or get the proper care that I need for myself.

So while I am still trying to organize and cleanse my home, I am also in the process of organizing and cleansing my heart, body and soul.

I have been working slowly on getting my homeschool area cleansed. It is in my dining room area. I have accomplish some, but it is still a work in progress.

Here is a before picture of the area.

Before picture of desk/craft/homeschool area.

This is the after picture. Like I said, it is a work of progress. I am getting there, just having to take it a little slower.

After picture of desk/craft/homeschool area.

How are you doing on your goals and projects for the year?

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Project Cleanse~ What I have learned so far..

By Joy on January 9, 2013 in 2013, family, Home

Project Cleanse

I had so many thoughts and plans for Project Cleanse. Only 3 days in and I have learned so much. I thought I was ready to get my home into shape. I was ready to start sorting through closets and cabinets, deciding what we really needed and what was just there to make clutter and I could discard of.

However, God had a different idea in mind for me. You see, that evening I got extremely sick. My whole family had been sick the previous 10 days and it finally caught up with me. I spent most of Tuesday in bed sick with chills, fever, aches and on my stomach. During this time, God was working on my heart. You see, all I could think about was how my plans were just not going how I wanted them to. God knew that I wasn’t ready to start cleansing my house just yet. He knew I needed to start with my heart.

You see, this move has been rough on me. We have been gone from our home in NC for 5 months now and there are days that I struggle with it. I know God moved us to Colorado, I have just had a hard time adjusting. It has been hard to make friends and just tough in general getting used to living around so many people. Also, a first for me, is living in an apartment.

What do I need to do first? Cleanse my heart. Put my focus back on God, where it belongs. God ordained this move for our family. He is the one who lead my husband to this job. He has us out here in Colorado for a reason. I need to focus on Him, by being still and listening to what he has planned for myself and our family. I need to study God’s word more, be in prayer and ask God what he would have me do while I am in Colorado. How will I be able to glorify God while living in Colorado?

Now that I know what I need to do to get my heart cleansed, I am now able to make my apartment a home. It will go much smoother when I start cleaning out each room. I will be able to focus and ask myself will the belongings help me to better glorify God.

Are you cleansing an area of your life? Have you discovered anything new in yourself? Has God revealed anything new to you that you need to work on? How can I pray for you and encourage you in your life?

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Project Cleanse~ House Cleansing

By Joy on January 6, 2013 in 2013, family, Home

Project Cleanse

I am so excited about Project Cleanse. When Kelli first started talking about doing a project like this, I knew God was speaking to me. You see, I had already been praying about goals for 2013 and cleansing my home was one of my top goals that I wanted to focus on.

We moved 4 months ago and while we did downsize some before the move, more stuff came with us, than what I had intended. As I look around now, I still see boxes and other things sitting out that have yet to be unpacked or put where it belongs. I am also seeing things that I am asking myself why it is still in our house. Now that I know we are here to stay in Colorado, I am ready to finally settle down and make our apartment a home, not a storage bin.

My family has been sick for the past couple of weeks, so I am not as prepared to begin this as I wanted to be. While I know I want to cleanse my house, I do not have any specific plan at this time. I do know that I will be focusing on one room at a time. I will definitely be taking before and after pictures and sharing them when I finish a room. My goal is also to blog at least 2 times a week sharing with you my progress.

I am also excited that I won’t be doing Project Cleanse alone. There are several other bloggers who will be joining Kelli and myself. They have also chosen different areas in their lives that they want to cleanse and will be blogging about it as well. Be sure to stop by Kelli’s blog to see who all will be joining us.

Do you have an area that you are cleansing in? I would love to know so that I can pray and support you!