2013 A Year to Remember

The start of November folks everywhere online were posting the daily "What I am Thankful for". I was trying to avoid Facebook and going out of the house. The leaves have mostly all died off and fallen, hibernation mode was kicking in.  I started to reflect on the past year. The good, bad, and the ugly. It was a major struggle at times to find peace within myself and see the light at the end of tunnel. I had to remind myself over and over that this too will soon pass. And it always did. The dark clouds didn't stay for long, but at the moment in time seemed forever.
 Looking back through my Facebook photo albums from the past year, I'd have to say with all the things that went wrong, deaths, and even a family misunderstanding with no communication for months, this year has been a  pretty good year. I'm trying to count my Blessings, even the ones in disguise. To learn, and grow from each life  experiences.
We always seem to have a great time together as a family. It's a little crazy and loud, and anything can and will happen. That is what makes our life special. The quality time spent together as a family. Family means everything to me.  Both my parents come from a large family, each being one of eight. I always knew I wanted a big family myself. The memories of the holidays, celebrations, and large family gatherings, were the best ones of my childhood. The laughter, the cheers, the closeness. I loved everything about it.

After a wonderful New Years eve with friend and family on the farm we had a relaxing casual New Year's Day. 

We started a memory jar to read on News Year's eve 2013. 

January started off cold, blustery, and busy. I took my mother to see Wicked at the beautifully historical  Fox Theater in St. Louis, Mo.

 My first grandchild was born (my son was able to be there via Skype while deployed as we were stuck waiting on our flight due to storms), we flew out for her birth (my 1st time ever flying)

We missed Monster Jam this year for the first time in a decade. We missed our flight back  to St. Louis.  Lots of wood chopping, exploring, lounging ,learning,  baking, and staying warm.

 In February GI Joe came back from a 9 month deployment from Afghanistan.

I had a very special Valentine's date with all my guys.

 March we started getting our Nursery order and organic seeds in mail.

The garden planning and planting started.

April the got the gardens tilled, planted and ready to grow. We got spring chicks to raise, even got some bad storms,  house damage, and flooding.  Easter dinner on the farm spent with family.

 We did some much needed minor home  improvements and put up fencing around the farm. We got a new goat to keep Skittles company, five pigs to raise for food. Built an outdoor range for the chickens. BUSY BUSY BUSY.

We homeschooled through the Summer learned alot about Ancient Egypt, did some awesome science experiments, and  took a few fun and exciting short trips.

Big Daddy and I even got a WHOLE day to ourselves! DATE!!! We went to the Illinois State Fair for the day did some wine tasting, shopping, sight seeing, and pigging out!  Seen John Mayer and Philip Phillips. GREAT show!

Coops and pig pens

Father's Day

Family pics

Annual Luau Party

We even managed to take a few camping/float trips through out the summer on Dad's long weekends.

4th of July we went camping


July visit with the kids

Football... Football... Football... Poor Daddy ran and ran with virtually no sleep it seemed for months.


The boys decided they wanted to go to public school...so off they went. They have since decided that after the holidays they are going back to homeschooling after some issues at school.

Nate's Pirate Party ~ This was such a fun party to plan and host

It seems the craziness really got crazier in September. Most days I felt like I was loosing my mind. I went back to work and we had two September Birthdays. I got to do a really COOL Pirate party and an Airsoft battle/camp out with an outdoor movie and bonfire.

Football and Soccer games and practice. We were passing ourselves coming and going.



Oh October baby...I thought the deaths were never going to end. One right after another, each so young. I didn't even get out of bed most days. That was a really ruff month for me personally. I had a terrible bought of depression hit and hit hard.

Pat and Gabe had their Birthdays. Gabey turned 6.He got a pot belly pig, Wilbur and we had a "Minecraft" party with a few of his friends. (I didn't get to make most things I had planned because of my work schedule.)  I lost my job.
Halloween

Jaxon's Apple picking field trip

Apple picking with the Family

Jaxon's Pumpkin Farm field trip

Canning Apple sauce

 The hubby and I got a nice night out for anniversary with a great group of friend to see a Burlesque show.
Christmas was pretty good. All of the kids were home =0)

Happy new Year!

A lot took place. A lot of things changed. We grew. We learned. We laughed. We cried, but
♥ Although we may not have it all together...together we have it all. ♥

♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

 Wendy

Go check out this new blog!

I want to share a new Blog with ya'll! 

This family is very near and dear to me.

 Go show my girl some love as she shares the daily struggles with an Aspergers child!

http://ourdailylifewithpatience.blogspot.com/

♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ 

 Wendy

Chemical FREE Homemade Deodorant

I made homemade deodorant this mornin' for the first time! 

I purchased all of my organic supplies and essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs months ago with all intentions to make it right away, but life gets hectic and out of control at times around here.
It was so simple and best of all...totally organic and chemical FREE! 
I tripled the recipe and used Arrow root powder in place of corn starch.
I had all intentions of taking pictures during each of the steps, but some lil' boys snagged my camera batteries for their Wii controller. 

Homemade Deodorant 

1/4 c Arrow root powder or corn starch
1/4 c Baking Soda
3 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tbsp Beeswax (optional)
5 drops Tee tree oil
5 drops Lavender 

~ Melt coconut oil and beeswax over DBL boiler
Stir constantly until beeswax is melted
~ Add remaining ingredients - Stir

at this point you'll have a "slurry" runny paste - this will change quickly

Make sure to have empty deodorant stick, empty TP tubes, jar, or whatever container you may be using handy and ready to pour.
Pour. Let set up and your ready to go.
It was simple and non messy! Enjoy! Hope it works! I've applied and I'm trying it out today!

**I used a small mason jar for the majority and made two small "deodorant disk" in a muffin pan with liner. Both seem to work well.

♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

 Wendy

I think we're ready!

After days of nonsense brought about by myself by deactivating my personal Facebook account, making a whole new profile for the blog, and reactivating my personal account...I think I finally have the Facebook mess straitened out.
Trying new things with the blog this time around. Going to schedule blogging into my days. I have been sporadic with my post. Not sure I'll make an everyday post, but I will try my best. I just signed up for  Google Ads. I guess if I'm going to spend all this time working on it, I should try to make a few bucks with it. I plan on doing some more research on other ways to make some kind of profit from it. I've also been tossing around the idea of a whole new look. I done webdesign for many years so I have tons of ideas in mind and shouldn't find it that complicated., but assumptions always have a way of coming back and biting me in the butt. I definitely need to update the pictures of the kids. Wow! They sure have grown a lot in a year.
I'm really looking forward to sharing our journey getting back into homeschooling with the boys, things going on with the farm as we get a little closer to self sufficiency and renewable energy each year, gardening, crafting, and a healthier lifestyle by eating real foods and non toxic homemade cleaning products. It's going to be a great New start!!!


♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
 Wendy

Facebook strikes AGAIN!

Spent the WHOLE day adding homeschool groups and liking pages again for my new  Facebook Id for the blog. I had to make another because I wanted to deactivate my personal Facebook account that is attached to my blog page. So I thought it would be simple enough to take the Facebook page over with said new ID NOT!!!! Huge mistake! Oh Boy! Who knew disabling my personal Facebook account would cause such a hassle!!! EVERYTHING is linked to it! My Pinterest, THIS blog, Swagbucks, you name it, I used Facebook to join or log in! So apparently to keep everything else going I'm going to have to reactivate it! SMH Why oh why can't things just be simple for a change!!!! Surely not in Wendy's World LOL

♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
 Wendy

I'm back!!!!

It's been forever since a blog post. A lot has happened and a lot has changed in our lives. I'm taking a Facebook break for a while, but I need a writing outlet! So back to blogging I go. I hope you stick around and follow us on our adventures.
♥♪♫•.•°*°•.¸¸♥. PEACE and LOVE .•°*° ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ Wendy