Do you like to read blogs? I first heard about blogs about a decade ago, when I first read my sister-in-law's. Needless to say, the world of blogging has exploded in the past ten years. After all, you're here perusing Home sweet Life today, something you couldn't do a short two years ago...
The how and why of people choosing to blog are as varied as the people who write, but you probably have a few favorites. I know I do. We try to always have encouraging things here at Home Sweet Life. The world around us can, at times, be tough and depressing, so we're trying to shine a light in the darkness.
Today I would like to tell you a little part of why I am thankful for my blogging friends, and then invite you to visit some of their blogs as well.
Having an idea to blog about isn't the hard part. The hard part comes after the idea. Just how will you communicate your idea, opinion, or inspiration? My friends that have been blogging longer than I have are great resources. They write with varying styles, which often reminds me that I too can choose to change things up. Some of their blogs are mostly pictures, some mostly text, and many of them have a separate 'reviews' area.
One of my favorite blogging friends is Marcy. She is my go-to gal for all things technical. (She even made SWL's blog button!) Marcy is always willing to answer my questions, which is good, because I have a lot of them! Someday I'll be in the position to share from my knowledge of blogging to help a new blogger. For that, we'll both be thankful for Marcy.
Other friends share about places they go, or activities they've done with their children. Those often inspire me to plan something fun for our family. Others are experienced gardeners, or always seem to know about the best giveaways. While the possibilities are endless, my time to read blogs is not. So, I often take recommendations from friends about which blogs, or which specific posts to read.
I am also thankful for my friends who read blogs...like you! Often friends will post a link on facebook to a blog they respect. Because this is such a great way to let others know about great blog posts, without overfilling their email inboxes, we too use facebook. In fact, we've recently started a fb page for Home Sweet Life: https://www.facebook.com/HomeSweetLife
We would love it if you would stop by and "like" the page. We'll be using it to introduce you to our blogging friends, and we often post links to posts we think you'll especially like. So stop by, meet our friends, and feel free to leave a comment with a link to your blog if you have one. We'd love to stop by and visit!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Just a Glimpse
The night was dark, the winds were howling, the temperature was warm (wait- that's not right for January,) the forecast was for rain, thunderstorms, and more rain. This was not going to be a typical Indiana winter storm! I was driving to work, hoping to get there before the storm broke lose... and then, I saw it, just a glimpse, but it was enough.
The moon broke through the clouds, big, round, glowing buttery yellow. I had seen a glimpse of life outside the storm. I was in awe!
In the midst of all the bustle of life, work, school, doing taxes, raising children, loving my husband, God showed me a glimpse of life outside the storm. I do not equate most of my days with a storm, but this had been a particularly busy day, and I still had six or seven hours of work to go. God graciously allowed me to be stilled, to quiet my soul from the torrents of life, and to remind me that HE sees everything. He is here with me in the midst of my daily struggles and joys, yet He can see the end from the beginning.
I was reminded once again that I do not need to know how my story will end. I do not need to know how long each task will take. I have no need to understand where this home educating path will take us, or what will happen in our parenting life. I NEED simply to hold onto the one who is holding me through the storms- Jesus!
Just a glimpse of life from the outside, the sight of a beautiful moon, reflecting the sun, shining light to all who see it. I want to be like the moon was last night. I want to be reflecting the Son to all who see me while going through their own storms. I want to be a hope and a light.
To do so, I need to stop focusing on what I cannot see or understand. I need to focus on the hope that I have in Christ. I choose to offer others a glimpse of hope.
If you are in the midst of a storm, know this, God has not abandoned you, He is right there with you, carrying you through. I'm praying you will see just a glimpse, and find strength to carry on!
The moon broke through the clouds, big, round, glowing buttery yellow. I had seen a glimpse of life outside the storm. I was in awe!
In the midst of all the bustle of life, work, school, doing taxes, raising children, loving my husband, God showed me a glimpse of life outside the storm. I do not equate most of my days with a storm, but this had been a particularly busy day, and I still had six or seven hours of work to go. God graciously allowed me to be stilled, to quiet my soul from the torrents of life, and to remind me that HE sees everything. He is here with me in the midst of my daily struggles and joys, yet He can see the end from the beginning.
I was reminded once again that I do not need to know how my story will end. I do not need to know how long each task will take. I have no need to understand where this home educating path will take us, or what will happen in our parenting life. I NEED simply to hold onto the one who is holding me through the storms- Jesus!
Just a glimpse of life from the outside, the sight of a beautiful moon, reflecting the sun, shining light to all who see it. I want to be like the moon was last night. I want to be reflecting the Son to all who see me while going through their own storms. I want to be a hope and a light.
To do so, I need to stop focusing on what I cannot see or understand. I need to focus on the hope that I have in Christ. I choose to offer others a glimpse of hope.
If you are in the midst of a storm, know this, God has not abandoned you, He is right there with you, carrying you through. I'm praying you will see just a glimpse, and find strength to carry on!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
HEY- stop complaining! (Myself included!)
Does it seem like the world has become a negative place? Maybe it has, or maybe the real problem is ourselves. Let me try to explain...
I hear a lot of complaining around me (no, not in my house, but in the places I go.) Sometimes I even succumb to complaining myself. That is just not a good idea. Here is a great idea, focus on your blessings instead of complaining. Every time you are tempted to complain, stop...........and make yourself say something you are thankful for instead.
It is about our hearts. There are plenty of negative people out there, but we don't want to join their ranks. We want to be different. We want to live differently. Jesus calls us to be different. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. No one wants a grumpy heart-attitude.
Just try it. Focus on the blessings. I think you'll find that it works.
Tomorrow, if you're tempted to complain about the rain, STOP! Think about a blessing instead, and then voice it to the person you were going to complain to (or about.)
When you think about it, it won't seem so hard. Instead of complaining about the rain, (stop,) think about last year's drought, and how thankful all the farmers will be for a better year of farming, or how much easier it will be to grow tomatoes. Hopefully you're getting the idea.
We can't be lights in the darkness if we're always carrying a dark cloud over our own heads.
Get a good night's sleep tonight. Get your things organized for tomorrow morning, and write your list of what you still need to do, then go to bed.
It's not a difficult concept.
After a good night's sleep, you can wake up singing, or praying, and be ready for a day where you focus on your blessings, and where complaining has no place in your words or thoughts.
Be different. Be a light.
Tomorrow I will be thankful for ... YOU!
I hear a lot of complaining around me (no, not in my house, but in the places I go.) Sometimes I even succumb to complaining myself. That is just not a good idea. Here is a great idea, focus on your blessings instead of complaining. Every time you are tempted to complain, stop...........and make yourself say something you are thankful for instead.
It is about our hearts. There are plenty of negative people out there, but we don't want to join their ranks. We want to be different. We want to live differently. Jesus calls us to be different. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. No one wants a grumpy heart-attitude.
Just try it. Focus on the blessings. I think you'll find that it works.
Tomorrow, if you're tempted to complain about the rain, STOP! Think about a blessing instead, and then voice it to the person you were going to complain to (or about.)
When you think about it, it won't seem so hard. Instead of complaining about the rain, (stop,) think about last year's drought, and how thankful all the farmers will be for a better year of farming, or how much easier it will be to grow tomatoes. Hopefully you're getting the idea.
We can't be lights in the darkness if we're always carrying a dark cloud over our own heads.
Get a good night's sleep tonight. Get your things organized for tomorrow morning, and write your list of what you still need to do, then go to bed.
It's not a difficult concept.
After a good night's sleep, you can wake up singing, or praying, and be ready for a day where you focus on your blessings, and where complaining has no place in your words or thoughts.
Be different. Be a light.
Tomorrow I will be thankful for ... YOU!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Gardening 103- seed selection
Ok, so by now, you've probably circled DOZENS of seeds in your seed catalogs, and you have grand designs to grow almost everything in your garden. Let's all stop and pause a moment.Breathe in, breathe out, repeat...
(Even if you saved your own seeds from last year, this still applies!)
Now it's time to be realistic about your seed choices. Take time to look around your garden area (or the area you're planning to make a garden this year,) and think about how much room you really have. (If it's too cold to go outside, take a good look from your window. {note: if you can't see your gardening area from at least one window in your house, you might want ot rethink the location...if you don't "see" your garden everyday, you might be tempted to neglect it.}
Now, back to that space you have picked out. Let's focus on tomatoes. If you planted tomatoes last year, they need to move to a new location for this year. Tomatoes are one of those crops that can suffer from nematodes. See this link for more details: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/nematodes
So you've determined that you will devote a 10' by 3' area to tomatoes this year. (Or whatever your space is.) Be realistic about how many varieties you will choose, and how many plants to start. Most of us will have friends that will gladly take your extra healthy seedlings off your hands, but you don't want to order 8 different kinds of tomato seeds if you KNOW you only will have space for 4 or 5 plants. Now, before you order your seeds, is the time to be tough with yourself and decide what varieties you REALLY want to grow.Take this same space/ plant ratio idea through each type of plant and each gardening area you have. If you're the type that does better with paper & pencil, you can print free graph paper from: http://www.printfreegraphpaper.com and map out your garden that way.
If you're unsure how big each type of plant variety should grow, look at the descriptions in the seed catalogs (or look it up on the web.) The quality catalogs want to give you the info you need to make good gardening decisions. If you're still unsure which gardening zone you live in, you can look it up here: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov Just type in your zip code!
Happy planning, and don't forget to order your seeds soon, while the selection is still great!
Soon, you could have lettuce like this...
What is your must have seed for this year? Leave a comment below!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thankful Thursdays- 1/24/13- a warm house
Today I am thankful for a warm house, a boiler & radiators that work, and enough money to pay the gas bill each month!
Just in case you haven't heard, we've been in the throes of an Arctic blast this week. Although Indiana CAN get down to -10 degrees F, it doesn't happen very often. In fact, it is rare that our part of the state goes below 10 degrees for more than a day or two at a time.
Well, this week's weather must have originated inside the Artic Circle, because every day's clothing choices make me look like I'm going on an expedition to the North Pole with Robert E. Peary! It has ALMOST been too cold to snow, and what has come down is the driving, biting, icy flakes. That doesn't inspire a picture perfect postcard now does it?!
So today, I am thankful for a warm house. Of course, when the winds were blowing at 20 mph earlier this week, "warm" was a relative term. Compared to outside, the kitchen is balmy at 60 degrees, and the upstairs is fairly tropical at 70! I think most of us have a favorite season, mine is most definitely NOT Winter! The good news about the weather is, it makes a great time to snuggle under blankets and read a good book.
If you're also in the midst of a winter storm... snow, ice, or just plain COLD, know you're not alone! God is surely watching over you just as He watches over the sparrows. So today, won't you join me in being thankful for a warm house, and your family that lives inside of it!?! Being thankful is a choice. Chose today to focus on the blessings around you.
Be blessed, stay warm!
Just in case you haven't heard, we've been in the throes of an Arctic blast this week. Although Indiana CAN get down to -10 degrees F, it doesn't happen very often. In fact, it is rare that our part of the state goes below 10 degrees for more than a day or two at a time.
Well, this week's weather must have originated inside the Artic Circle, because every day's clothing choices make me look like I'm going on an expedition to the North Pole with Robert E. Peary! It has ALMOST been too cold to snow, and what has come down is the driving, biting, icy flakes. That doesn't inspire a picture perfect postcard now does it?!
So today, I am thankful for a warm house. Of course, when the winds were blowing at 20 mph earlier this week, "warm" was a relative term. Compared to outside, the kitchen is balmy at 60 degrees, and the upstairs is fairly tropical at 70! I think most of us have a favorite season, mine is most definitely NOT Winter! The good news about the weather is, it makes a great time to snuggle under blankets and read a good book.
If you're also in the midst of a winter storm... snow, ice, or just plain COLD, know you're not alone! God is surely watching over you just as He watches over the sparrows. So today, won't you join me in being thankful for a warm house, and your family that lives inside of it!?! Being thankful is a choice. Chose today to focus on the blessings around you.
Be blessed, stay warm!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thankful Thursdays- 1/17/13- Fellowship
The dictionary defines "fellowship" as 'friendly association.' I would like to insist it is so much more than that! To me fellowship is a chance to refresh, renew, be challenged, express your concerns, share viewpoints, be inspired, and be loved. To me, fellowship occurs in both the most unusual, and most planned of places.
Fellowship requires something of us, it requires us to be present, to focus on the other person, not just ourselves.
To me, that is one of the greatest things about fellowship, it is a give and take relationship, however short the conversation may be. Focusing on someone else during fellowship allows God to do things in our hearts. He may bring forth compassion, or laughter, sorrow, or joy. It really doesn't matter what our original motive for the fellowship was, as long as we stay open to HIS leading.
God is calling us to pour into the lives of those around us. Fellowship, the getting together and talking, the sharing of lives, allows Him to give us direction, passion, and sometimes ---healing.
Perhaps it has been a while since you've fellowshipped. Maybe it was just earlier today. Either way, or anywhere in between, allow God to direct your conversations. Perhaps your next great time of fellowship will simply be seeing a friend at the store. Take a minute or two to genuinely ask how your friend is doing, or if they have any prayer requests you can include with your own.
Fellowship means sharing, our time, our resources, our lives. I am SO thankful for the times God allows me to fellowship with my friends and family. God has allowed me to be a part of a wonderful community of Christian friends. He has also allowed me a few non-Christian friends, what a blessing they are. They keep me focused on sharing Christ's love with everyone through my words and actions!
I am grateful for my aquaintances: the people I see at church and recognize by face or name, the tellers at the bank, the cashiers at the stores, they are all a part of my week. BUT, I am truly thankful for fellowship with my friends!!! They lift me up, make me laugh, pray for me, challenge me to pursue God's will, encourage me as a parent, and allow me to do the same for them! Today I am thankful for fellowship!
So who wants to come over for a cup of herbal tea???
Fellowship requires something of us, it requires us to be present, to focus on the other person, not just ourselves.
To me, that is one of the greatest things about fellowship, it is a give and take relationship, however short the conversation may be. Focusing on someone else during fellowship allows God to do things in our hearts. He may bring forth compassion, or laughter, sorrow, or joy. It really doesn't matter what our original motive for the fellowship was, as long as we stay open to HIS leading.
God is calling us to pour into the lives of those around us. Fellowship, the getting together and talking, the sharing of lives, allows Him to give us direction, passion, and sometimes ---healing.
Perhaps it has been a while since you've fellowshipped. Maybe it was just earlier today. Either way, or anywhere in between, allow God to direct your conversations. Perhaps your next great time of fellowship will simply be seeing a friend at the store. Take a minute or two to genuinely ask how your friend is doing, or if they have any prayer requests you can include with your own.
Fellowship means sharing, our time, our resources, our lives. I am SO thankful for the times God allows me to fellowship with my friends and family. God has allowed me to be a part of a wonderful community of Christian friends. He has also allowed me a few non-Christian friends, what a blessing they are. They keep me focused on sharing Christ's love with everyone through my words and actions!
I am grateful for my aquaintances: the people I see at church and recognize by face or name, the tellers at the bank, the cashiers at the stores, they are all a part of my week. BUT, I am truly thankful for fellowship with my friends!!! They lift me up, make me laugh, pray for me, challenge me to pursue God's will, encourage me as a parent, and allow me to do the same for them! Today I am thankful for fellowship!
So who wants to come over for a cup of herbal tea???
Friday, January 11, 2013
Gardening 102 - What next?
If you're hoping to garden this year, it makes sense to plan ahead. Planning ahead can save you a LOT of money.
First suggestion: if you've had a garden in the past, go through your leftover seeds and see what you have. I did this recently and realized I have 3 kinds of carrots, 5 kinds of bell/ sweet peppers, 3 kinds of beets, 5 different kinds of zinnias, and enough cucumber seeds to plant the whole yard. So guess what, I'm NOT ordering any more cucumber seeds. What I did find a need for is red leaf lettuce and grape and cherry tomatoes. It really only took my about 30 minutes to go through my saved seeds. Usually, anything from the past 3 seasons will still germinate for me. Anything older than that is "iffy."
Another suggestion: save things you know you will need/ want. For example: we are going to winter-sow again this year, so I've been saving our empty milk and OJ jugs. So far we have 18 of them in the basement. That's not enough for everything we want to winter-sow yet, but it is a significant start. By the end of February we should have about double that. I'll use some to start plants in late January, and more in February and March.
Other things I save ahead? Egg shells and newspaper. It only takes a few Sundays' worth of newspaper to fill our needs each Spring, so I just save what I think we'll need, plus a little more. Egg shells are the best natural deterent for slugs I have found. (Somehow our yard is a beacon for slugs- yuk!) So I start saving them in January each year. I just place a large plastic cup (think take-out) on the counter, then each time I make scrambled eggs for breakfast, or bake something with eggs, I drop the eggshells into the cup. Every couple of days I smush them down. When the cup gets fairly full, I'll take it out to the garage, where I keep an old empty pot to put them into. Non-chemical slug-repellent is expensive, but the eggshells are free. Just make sure when you want to crush them up to put around your lettuces later this spring that you wear gloves (they get all pointy! Hence, why the slugs don;t like them.) We do NOT save the shells from boiled eggs. There could be some significant egg stuck to the shell, and I don't want to attract critters to my garden (or my kitchen!)
So the next time you empty that jug...think... will I want this later? If the answer is "YES!" then you are probably a hopeful gardener.
First suggestion: if you've had a garden in the past, go through your leftover seeds and see what you have. I did this recently and realized I have 3 kinds of carrots, 5 kinds of bell/ sweet peppers, 3 kinds of beets, 5 different kinds of zinnias, and enough cucumber seeds to plant the whole yard. So guess what, I'm NOT ordering any more cucumber seeds. What I did find a need for is red leaf lettuce and grape and cherry tomatoes. It really only took my about 30 minutes to go through my saved seeds. Usually, anything from the past 3 seasons will still germinate for me. Anything older than that is "iffy."
Another suggestion: save things you know you will need/ want. For example: we are going to winter-sow again this year, so I've been saving our empty milk and OJ jugs. So far we have 18 of them in the basement. That's not enough for everything we want to winter-sow yet, but it is a significant start. By the end of February we should have about double that. I'll use some to start plants in late January, and more in February and March.
Other things I save ahead? Egg shells and newspaper. It only takes a few Sundays' worth of newspaper to fill our needs each Spring, so I just save what I think we'll need, plus a little more. Egg shells are the best natural deterent for slugs I have found. (Somehow our yard is a beacon for slugs- yuk!) So I start saving them in January each year. I just place a large plastic cup (think take-out) on the counter, then each time I make scrambled eggs for breakfast, or bake something with eggs, I drop the eggshells into the cup. Every couple of days I smush them down. When the cup gets fairly full, I'll take it out to the garage, where I keep an old empty pot to put them into. Non-chemical slug-repellent is expensive, but the eggshells are free. Just make sure when you want to crush them up to put around your lettuces later this spring that you wear gloves (they get all pointy! Hence, why the slugs don;t like them.) We do NOT save the shells from boiled eggs. There could be some significant egg stuck to the shell, and I don't want to attract critters to my garden (or my kitchen!)
So the next time you empty that jug...think... will I want this later? If the answer is "YES!" then you are probably a hopeful gardener.
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