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settling in and catching up

Written by Joy
2 Comments
settling in and catching up

View of Golden, CO from Lookout Mountain.

We have been in Golden, Colorado for 3 weeks now.  It finally feels like we are getting used to the area and the climate.  I think everyone is adjusting well and seems to be liking living here, so far.  Even though we are in a vacation rental for another couple of weeks and will be moving to an apartment in 2 weeks, I feel like we are settling in with our new life here.

We have been taking a more hands on approach with our homeschooling by doing field trips and a study of the state of Colorado.  We are just taking it one day at a time until we can get into the more permanent rental and I can get the rest of our books here.

Our oldest son has started the local community college, Red Rocks and has already gotten a part time job at a local grocery store.  Our girls will be starting dance soon and our youngest son is considering taking dance as well.  We are also checking into the local recreation centers for sports they can play.

My husband is enjoying his job a lot at the Colorado School of Mines.  He will also begin to take classes at this college next semester to further his education in his field.  One of the perks of working for this college, is the classes are free for him.

As for me, I am hanging in there and doing alright.  I feel like I am behind in everything.  While I know we will be settling soon in our new apartment, it just can’t get here soon enough.  I know what we will be doing for school, I just have to get it written down and get everything scheduled.

As for the blog, you can see I am still writing on “My Home In The Smokies”.  I am working on my new blog and hopefully it will be ready soon.  I am excited about the new name and the new design.  Honey and Jonah of Honeycomb Design Studio are working hard, helping me get everything ready.  I have several reviews coming up for different curriculum’s that we are using this year.  I am also still writing for The Homeschool Village once a month.

I have a lot of wonderful plans for the new blog.  I want to focus more on our homeschooling, as well as our photography.  I feel like God is leading me to help and encourage homeschoolers more than ever.  I just have to figure out how He wants me to do this.  I still feel like I have a lot to learn when it comes to blogging.

There are couple of conferences that I want to go to this next year.  One is the BEECH Retreat.  It is being held in Captiva Island, Florida.  I feel like this time with the wonderful speakers would definitely benefit me tremendously.  They actually plan to have classes where the speakers actually help you focus on your goal.  The second conference I would like to attend is the 2:1 Conference.  I was blessed to be sponsored by See The Light Art, to attend the conference back in April.  I learned a lot from this conference and can’t wait to go back.

I am looking forward to see what God has planned for our family.  I am also looking forward to see what God has planned for me and this blog.  I feel like I am heading into unknown territory, but know that God will be there with me every step of the way.  I hope  you will come along on the ride with me.  It is going to be another adventurous ride letting go and letting God.

 

 

2012, family, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

the trip to Colorado (part 3)

Written by Joy
2 Comments
the trip to Colorado (part 3)

If you missed the first two parts on Monday and Wednesday, you can read them here at part one and part two.

After we made it to Russell, KS and got us a good nights sleep, we were up and on the road, ready for the trip to be over with.  We still had quite a few hours left to drive, but I knew God was on our side and we would make it to Colorado.  At this point in the trip, Buddy was quite miserable with the poison ivy.  His arm looked really bad and he was just not well at all.   No matter what we did, or what we put on it, it continued to spread.  I knew we needed to get to Colorado soon so we could get him to a doctor.

I have to be honest, this part of the trip was the least eventful of all the days we were on the road.  The girls had started to feel better and the van was running smoothly.  It was just us and the open road.  With an occasional car or two.

We kept right on rolling along, until we stopped for a quick lunch (which was to-go).  Back on the road for more driving while looking at nothing but farm fields.  Having nothing but open space around really give you time to think and time to pray.  I know this trip I did my fair share of both.  I was thinking about all that we had to do once we got to Colorado.  Setting up a new house, making sure we get all the proper paperwork taken care of address changes, switching vehicle tags over and the dreaded driver license test and picture.  Most importantly for us though, finding a new church.  It is important to our family to find a group of fellow believers, to worship with.  I prayed constantly, too.  It seemed like from the day we left, that something bad had happened.  However, God has been with us every step of the way.  Through the good and yes, even through the bad.  He always provided for us when something went wrong.  Oh, don’t get me wrong.  I did my fair share of what now?  Why this? What is going to happen next?  Every time I did though, He always came through.  God never let us down.  Even through all of my whining and complaining, He was always there.  Yes, all those thoughts crossed my mind as I drove across this beautiful land.

Just when I thought we would keep driving and never get to Colorado, we saw the Welcome to Colorado sign (I was driving and was unable to get a picture of it).  The kids were thankful that not far after this sign, was the welcome center.  Since we had drove straight and didn’t even get out for lunch, we stopped for a few minutes to stretch our legs.  They had this cute visitor center that showed a lot of historical buildings and antiques.  We enjoyed ourselves for a few minutes.

Then it was back on the road.  We were all excited by now, since we were in Colorado.  It would only be a couple of more hours before we would be in Golden, CO.  When we started getting towards the city of Denver, I started pointing out little things that I had noticed on our trip back in May.  The kids really started getting excited.  Then, when I turned off the exit and started heading down town, this is what welcomed us.  This beautiful sign.  “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden, Where the West Lives!”.  Yes, we finally made it to our new home.

Like I said, the rest of the trip was not as eventful has the first few days.  I was really thankful for that.  Once we got into town and into our hotel room (we wouldn’t be in our rental for another 3 more days), Buddy did go to the Urgent Care Clinic.  They gave him a shot of an antibiotic, cleaned his arm really well, wrapped it and sent him on his way with a prescription for the antibiotic and steroids.  They were quite concerned and told him to come back the following day.  With the medicine in him, you could tell he was feeling better and the rash was starting to dry up.  He started work that Monday and hasn’t looked back since.

I also want to say thank you all for the many prayers.  It means a lot to know that you are cared for.  I have a few more stories to share of some things we have done since we have been in Colorado.  Hopefully, I will be able to start blogging more regular now that we are getting settled.  Continue to pray for our family as we find our place here in Golden, CO.  Blessings.

2012, family, , ,

Blueberry Cobbler recipe

Written by Joy
Blueberry Cobbler recipe

Our family loves to go pick blueberries.  For the past 6 years, we have always gone to the Blue Ridge Parkway to pick blueberries.  It was always a favorite treat to do for my son on his birthday.  This year though, we moved and never made it to pick berries on the Parkway.  However, we did manage to go to a farm here, in Colorado to pick berries.  They just didn’t have any blueberries.  So, off to the store we went to get some fresh blueberries When we get blue berries, one of our favorite things to bake is blueberry cobbler!  The recipe I use is very easy and simple to make.  Hope you enjoy the cobbler as much as my children have!

 

Blueberry Cobbler

Blueberry Cobbler

**2 cups blueberries         1 stick of butter

1 1/4 cups sugar              1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup of milk                      1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4  tsp salt

** you can use 2 cups of frozen blueberries in place of the fresh ones.

**you can also use peaches, pears, blackberries or any other fruit that you love.

Preheat oven to 350.  Place the stick of butter in a 9×13 baking dish and melt it in the oven while the oven is heating.  Once it has melted, take out and set aside.  Take a 1/4 cup of sugar and pour over the blueberries in a bowl and mix.  Set aside.  Mix the rest of the sugar, the flour and salt in a bowl.  Add in the milk and vanilla and mix well.  Pour the batter in the middle of the pan.  Then take the blueberries and pour them over the batter.  Put in the oven and bake for 45 minutes at 350 or until the top is golden brown.

2012, recipes, , , , ,

so thankful and blessed #951- 980

Written by Joy
2 Comments
so thankful and blessed #951- 980

It has been three weeks since I last wrote about what I am so thankful for.  God has blessed us in so many ways.  It is truly amazing all He has blessed us with.  Since the last post, we have been in Colorado a little over two weeks. The trip out here was quite an adventure and I have told about it in parts one and two, with part three coming on Friday.  We have been settling in, meeting new friends and trying to get better.  We have all been fighting really bad colds.  However, I do see an end in sight with the sickness.  Thank you to those who have been praying for us while we are on this journey.  God has brought us to Colorado for a reason and I am going to do my best to glorify Him in all I do, while I am here.  With saying that, I am picking back up with my thankful list.

951. For those who helped us finish packing up from our house.

952. For neighbors that fixed a leaky pipe so we could get on the road.

953. For neighbors to mow our yard until we can sale our house.

954. a van with a/c on those hot days while driving.

955. a safe trip to Indiana to our first stop.

956. friends who lifted my daughters up in prayer while they were sick.

957. a short visit for my daughter and her best friend in Kentucky, as we passed through.

958. a dog who loves to ride in the van.

959. a hotel with soft beds and pillows.

960. being able to see The Arch in St. Louis.

961. a hotel with a pool for the kids to play in.

962. hotels where we can bring our dog with us.

963. our oldest being able to see a baseball game in St. Loius, MO.

964. a husband who can near bout fix anything.

965. a parts store that had just the right radiator for our van.

966. a rest stop area that had covered picnic tables and vending machines.

967. friends who will stop what they are doing and lift you up in prayer.

968. a safe trip to Colorado.

969. a hotel for 3 nights, until we could get in the vacation rental.

970. the vacation rental for a month, that allows pets.

971. the beautiful view of the mountains and the city from the rental.

972. a job that my husband is going to enjoy.

973. a new homeschool group that my children like.

974. new friends.

975. my husband being healed from the poison ivy.

976. celebrating our youngest son’s 8th birthday.

977. field trips with the new homeschool group.

978. new friends in the homeschool group inviting us to church.

979. friends who continue to lift us up in prayer and encourage us on our new journey.

980. a mighty God who loves us unconditionally.

 

I would love for you to join me and the others linking up at A Holy Experience. We would love to see how God has blessed you and your family.

2012, multitude Mondays, , , ,

trip to Colorado {part 2}

Written by Joy
trip to Colorado {part 2}

I told about the first part of our trip on Monday. You can read part one here.

I had mentioned earlier that my husband had come in contact with poison ivy, as he was attempting to fix our water before we left.  Most people would be able to wash off and be okay after a brief contact with a poison ivy plant.  Not my husband.  He is highly allergic to that plant.  So much, that he normally needs to go to a doctor to get a steroid and antibiotic for it.  This would be a problem since we were moving cross country and needed to get on the road.  By the first night, his one arm was covered.  It was pretty nasty looking and caused him great discomfort.  By the next day, he was absolutely miserable.  We were putting over the counter itch medicine and several other ointments on it.  It didn’t get any better, just kept spreading and getting worse.

As this point, we were entering St. Louis, MO.  We had already traveled through parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.  It was nearing lunch time as we passed The Arch of St. Louis.  We stopped at a wonderful BBQ joint that had been on The Food Network.  Since we had 2 sick kids and my husband was not feeling well, we decided to head on to get as many miles as we could, towards our destination.  When you are traveling with 2 sick kids (in my van) and a husband/dad (in my son’s vehicle), it makes for a very long drive.

We finally made it to our destination for that evening in Independence, MO.  We were all tired and worn out from the drive.  We did take the kids to the pool to swim for about an hour, but then it was back to the room, baths and a little t.v. before bedtime.  Other than those who were sick, this was actually our less adventuress day.  I was very thankful for that.  We were able to eat breakfast at the hotel and then get on the road knowing that we would be leaving MO and entering Kansas.  We were leaving the city and was heading to the open road.

Things were going pretty well as we were driving along through the farm fields of Kansas.  We had just left a stop where we got gas and some goodies for the road trip.  We had to make a slight detour to an auto parts store for a gas cap.  My son’s was lost at the previous stop.  About 30 minutes or so had passed and a couple of my kids had to take a potty break.  Thankfully, there was a rest stop just ahead.  I had gotten out to take the two younger kids to the bathroom when my oldest daughter came running over.  Apparently the van had lost all of the water from its radiator.  Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse.  Then it happens.  A fan on our van broke and in the process poked a hole in the radiator.  So we are sitting at a rest area in the middle of Kansas with it 90+ degrees, 2 sick kids, a hubby covered in poison ivy with a vehicle that won’t work.   Yeah, just when I think things couldn’t get any worse.  I sent out another prayer request plea to some friends and immediately pray myself and this is what comes to my mind:

Deuteronomy 31:6

6  Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

God knew what was going to happen and had everything under control.  You see, my husband can fix near about anything.  He has always worked on all of our vehicles.  In fact, he had replaced that radiator a couple of months ago.  We had also just left a town where there was an auto parts store, that just happened to of had a radiator to fit our van.  We were also at a rest area that had snack/drink machines and we had bottled water and snacks in the van.  This rest area also had picnic tables with covered shelters, underneath trees.  God had even blessed us with a nice breeze.

While the kids, our dog and I waited at one of the covered picnic tables, my husband and oldest son headed back to the auto parts store.  Which meant they had to go to the next exit, turn around and head back.  This took about an hour to do.  They finally made it back and within just a few minutes, had the new radiator on and we were once again on our way to Colorado.  With all the excitement that we had, we decided to find a hotel in Russell, KS and just get some rest.  It had been a long day, we still had sick kids and my husband was still not feeling well with the poison ivy spreading.

Thankfully we were 2/3 of the way to Colorado and there was an end in sight.  God was with us the whole way.  Stop by on Friday and see the ending of our cross country move.

 

2012, family, , , ,