Prayer...

I am praying
for those in the
Southeast
& thankful
that our families
are accounted for
& fine.

My week long "internet sabbatical" in review

"A sabbatical is a period away from your normal routine - a time to immerse yourself in a different environment, a chance to see your life from a different perspective"

This past week I have taken time away from the internet to refocus & play a little game of catch up. I did get online each day to check emails, as that's how my jobs are doled out & how I head up the food co-op & homeschool group. I went into this week knowing that there was no way I could catch up 100%, but I wanted to begin.This is only part of the week. I have another post lined up with more pics & more stuff that we did. I also plan on catching up on more stuff over the weekend & & next week.

After the year I've had, I have gotten so far behind in...... well, everything. My home has taken a hit. Our homeschooling has taken a hit. The garden, the animals & "homestead" projects.... all have taken a hit. As a friend of mine said "it's been an armpit of a year."

So, I decided to shower my year, add some deodorant & pray for the best......Here is my week in review:

We spent Monday at the lake with some people we know. I think I found a true & good friend. They also helped BIG time when we had the sewage flood. I got burned horribly on my lower shins. We had fried chicken & chips & cake, and we fished. The kids got to go 4-wheelin'! It was a blast!



I got my bathroom back on Tuesday..... The sanitation crew came & took their last 3 fans & the dehumidifier



More importantly, I got my bedroom back!!! I love my bed!

I made another batch of mayo. This stuff is the bestest!

I used the delicious mayo to make a batch of coleslaw

I made a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce

We enjoyed that sauce with pasta, spinach salads & watermelon....

I started a batch of kraut in my new-to-me glazed crock. I got it for 2 bucks at a yard sale last weekend!

I made time to enjoy some hot tea. Mmmm.... Madagascar Vanilla Red.....

We played Uno

I did lots & lots of laundry. The good news is- I caught up from the sewage flood we had.

I fixed the gate to the chicken run

We enjoyed some DELICIOUS hard boiled eggs from the backyard. Oh.my.yum!

We watched the puppy play. We played with the puppy. We laughed at the puppy. We even had to get on to the naughty puppy some.

The joys of having a St. Bernard..... We vacuumed lots of fur..... lots.

I got sunburned twice. In the same place on my body..... YOUCH!

The bestest..... We had brotherly love.

We enjoyed many breakfasts & lunches together. Usually, I don't eat at the same time as the kids, so we tend to miss out eating together (except at dinner). This was one of the best parts of my week


I made kefir cheese

We had BBQ ribs in the crockpot


We did a lot of dishes..... A.lot.

I got to go to a "pre-yard sale" sale at a friend's house. We got some books & a rug, and a pair of shoes for Kee to grow into, and this (I have wanted one of these for ages!):


I made chocolate syrup


And I rescued my dairy kefir grains from the fridge


I rescued my sourdough starter from moldy neglect, only to find out..... it didn't work :-(


I made Amish Friendship Bread. Instead of mixing & baking, I allowed it to soak for 7 hours, just to see if it's work. I didn't get a pic because it went that quickly. Oops. Yeah, it worked!


I enforced some child labour


But we got the walkways dug & the garden beds raised. That aforementioned boy ROCKED!!!




I finished 2 of my recycled lilac limbs trellises


We planted bean plants & bean seeds, pepper seeds, squash plants & seeds, carrot seeds & I covered the corn plants again.

After going to the lake, the poor Uplander was in dire need of some TLC. We vacced & wiped & scrubbed the inside of that baby..... Sand, dirt, puppy fur be gone!

We tormented the poor little kitty. OK, no we didn't.


We fed the puppy a.lot. Another joy of having a Saint puppy.

I finally filled the pepper shakers. No more pinching it from the tub & then **OOPS** touching our noses. HAHA!!!


We tried a new recipe for pancakes..... RYE pancakes. Oh yummy!

I'm hoping to get back to blogging more. I'm aiming for at least once a week for now, so if I do that, expect longer picture-heavy posts. I hope you've enjoyed this one!

A huge thanks & some disappointments!

The past few weeks have been an extremely trying time for my family & me. SO many people have come through for me in a way I never thought possible. People I've never met, nor have I talked to on the phone, are still sending their well wishes. Close friends & family still call occasionally to check on me & to ask how my parents are doing. I am so appreciative for those kind hearts.

At the same rate, I've found who my true friends are. I've heard "I want" phrases. From people I know in real life.

Etc, etc.....

I'm saddened to say some of those phrases were not meant.

I'm saddened to have lost some that I thought truly cared.

And then there were those that we parted ways with in the past. Some of them stepped up with offers of prayers, money and other things we needed. And all we'd asked for is prayer.

It is with a heavy AND a joyful heart that I thank those, that in a time of need, came through for not only myself, but my family. Those that sent emails, texts, messages, cards & picked up the phone call & those that prayed. Most have been very patient with me as I adjust to a new chapter in my life, and I appreciate that.

Thank you to those that have been faithful to me, that haven't expected anything out of me, and especially to those that been patient with me.

And to my Hubba, thank you the most! Your love, patience & drive to do what was needed to get me home to the rest of my family. You're still being patient with me, and I need that so! I love you the mostest on Earth forever & always!

Bless you all- those that were there for us AND not.

Tomorrow....

They'll remove life support & have signed a DNR. He'll be with God, and our Grandma is waiting for him. She will be the first to see him run, to see him in perfect bodily form & to see him smile & speak. For the first time he will feel no pain.

Thank you for your prayers. Please keep my Mum & Dad in your prayers.

I don't know what the near future holds- WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS!!!

Copied from my facebook page. I posted this about 5:30MST. His name is T.J.

Michaela Dunn Leeper covets your prayers for God's will. My brother (who has CP) in in CCU. He went into cardiac arrest, died on the table & they brought him back. If he dies again, they'll bring him back, but if it hapens a 3rd time, my parents will let him go, as they realise it's meant to be. She said it's REALLY bad this time. He's already outlived the dr's saying he'd die by 3. He'll be 30 this year in August.