Encouragement...

Once a week we gather with coffee and our bibles..

Inspiration and encouragement right here in my own living room. 

While my kids babysit the toddlers...

This has been  a huge answer to prayer for me. This gift of Godly friends who have much wisdom and encouragement, who work with my crazy life. 

Chickies

We love our eggs.. but our chickens were not laying enough. So we added 12 lil barred rock chickies to the farm.

I was not going to buy a heat lamp. So we had the chickies in a box in the bathroom. 

The kids had a total blast playing with these little guys! 

but they got big FAST and messy and stinky and annoying.

so we moved them to the basement where Elizabeth faithfully cared for them...

Then they got to stinky and big for the basement and I was concerned about chicken allergies. I finally broke down and bought a heatlamp.  Now the chickes are almost 2 months old and live in the barn. Where they can make  all the mess they want. Matia feeds them daily... 

Christmas Blessings...

Life has been very busy. In addition to all the stress we have been dealing with. Blogging is just not at the top of my list of things to do. I apologize!

Christmas was chaotic.. Two days before Christmas some pretty mind boggling, unbloggable things happened. Just so totally unexpected. My mind was totally and completely consumed by the new events in our lives. So totally unbelievable. Some day I shall write a book about the ways God has worked in our lives.

But that same day, two days before Christmas, friends of our brought gifts and pjs for the kids.


The kids were very delighted by the blessings. 

Sisters..

Gluten Free Pizza from our friends.. 

Freezer meals from friends and their family...

On Christmas eve, my dear friend who understand how my brain works when I am on overload, brought us dinner and a gift she had helped the kids order. 

Every year this friend of mine helps my kids get a Christmas gift for me. This is the highlight of their Christmas. The gifts they buy for me. This year it was a beautiful charm bracelet and each kiddo got to chose a charm. This is probably one of the most precious gifts I have ever received! She also handmade the above plague for me. I am blessed by her friendship. 

The kids were so absolutely delighted with the stromboli and wings that she brought for dinner. 

They were thoroughly enjoyed by all!! 

I had planned a special family day for the Christmas Eve Day, but things went a lil crazy and we never got started until late afternoon.

This year instead of stockings we did a scavenger hunt. I made coupons and purchased several small gifts for the kids. 

Nail polish for the girls..

Matching pj pants for everyone.. 

We ended the scavenger hunt in the living room, where I had a Christmas movie ready and a surprise package from my sister..


I had no idea what was in the package.. much to our delight there were sodas, popcorn, hot chocolate and tea in the package. perfect for our movie!! 

                                
We enjoyed the movie then painted nails and played games! It was a fun and relaxing family night...