Family activity, gardening, homemaking, homesteading, library

Just in time for Spring… A Seed Library

Have you ever seen a Seed Library? We were so excited to see this when we popped into a library . What a wonderful treat!!
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We were able to pick several seeds to plant and it helped to minimize our cost in buying seeds.
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Plus it gave the littles an opportunity to pick things that we would not normally buy like a quinoa plant and a few others.
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We are so happy to see this back in some of the libraries this spring! Have you seen one at your local library?

Gathered thoughts, homemaking, homesteading

National Sourdough Bread Day

Happy April and National Sourdough Bread Day … and ofcourse April Fools Day!
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I am still trying to master the beauty of making Sourdough but I haven’t given up . That’s progress right? And we have managed keeping our starter alive so another victory! Yay!
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There is something wonderful to the whole process so I keep trying and every time I make it I get a little bit better. What about you? Have you tried a sourdough starter before? Love it or leave it?
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disney, travel

Beauty & the Beast

“True that he’s no Prince Charming, but there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see.”
~ Belle

Gathered thoughts

Gold Star Spouse Day ⭐️

Gold Star Spouses Day is observed every year on April 5. It is a way to honor and grieve with the families of lost or wounded military service members. It was once known as Gold Star Wives Day, but has now become inclusive of all family members — male or female — who have lost loved ones through service in the military. This day lets these families know that we remember their sacrifice, and honor their loss and that they are loved ❤️

A little history ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Gold Star initiative was started during World War One, where families would hang service flags with blue stars for their loved ones that were serving in the military . They were displayed in a front window and there was usually one for each family member that was serving. If the family member died, the stars would be replaced by gold stars as a public display of the price the family has paid for freedom.

In 1945 , First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt established the Golden Star Wives Association and was one of its founding members.Not long after it was formed , the government approved the Golden Star Lapel Button which was presented to spouses and families of those who have lost a member through military service.

Countless men and women dedicate their lives to serving our country every day. Their families make that commitment as well. Imagine saying goodbye to a loved one with no certainty of their return. This is what military families have to go through every time their loved one is called for duty. Wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters of our heroes are left here to keep daily life as normal as they can so when their loved ones return they can step right back into their life here.

In our American Girl Doll History Class this year, we learned about Molly McIntire . She is a historical American Girl Doll and her story takes place at the end of WW2.

In her story, her dad is serving in the war and her mom is working at the Red Cross.

Her neighbor , Mrs.Gilford , is helping Mollys family out during this time. Mrs. Gilford has her only son serving in the military.

There is a part in the movie where Mollys mom comes home and is making a casserole to take to a friend in their community and Molly asks her why she is home .We find out that the casserole is for Mrs.Gilford and that her son has died .

The video clip is below and is worth watching .. this was such a hard moment ⭐️ start about 2 min in .

American Girl does a terrific job in the books describing this time in history.

If you know someone who has lost a loved one in active duty , reach out to them and let them know that they are loved and being prayed for today .

If you don’t know someone, then pray for the families that have lost loved ones ❤️

And if you are a family member that has lost a loved one .. I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss. I am praying for you and your family today to have peace and moments of joy as you remember your loved one. I’m also so thankful for your family’s sacrifice that we as a country have freedom because of those sacrifices ❤️

faith

Holy Week

What is Holy Week? Growing up , I never really heard the term Holy Week. We celebrated Easter and talked about the sacrifice that was made but that’s where it stopped . As I’ve gotten older , I have wanted to learn more about Holy Week ,lent and fasting. Some of these special moments and observations around my faith.I am still learning and by no means an expert but it’s been so good to actually learn what they are .

Holy Week is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It is a week to reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus took for each of us on the cross.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is ⬇️ …

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

…. notice that it says All of our trespasses and that He forgave us and canceled our record of debt!!! Praise God!

I pray this week as you remember the greatest gift that God gave us through His son Jesus that you will remember that all that he did, He did for you and for each of us. He willingly went to the cross . He did that so that we would be able to one day be with him in heaven.

This week ,I encourage you to spend time in prayer thanking God for this tremendous gift. If you don’t know God , this is a great time to talk to him and tell him hey I don’t know you and I don’t know if you are real I hear what others say but it’s hard to understand or to believe. If you are there can you make yourself known to me? Show me and help my unbelief . Then watch how He answers .He will❤️

And for those who feel like you could never be forgiven or your too far gone .. if God can redeem my life, and he did in a mighty way, then he can do the same for you! What better week to accept that forgiveness and walk in freedom.

Gathered thoughts

Happy Mermaid Day 🧜‍♀️

Happy Mermaid Day 🧜‍♀️
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Those who have birthdays today must be part mermaid right? Our beautiful niece celebrates her birthday today so we think it’s totally true!!

Gathered thoughts

Happy St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

Happy St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

Wear green and celebrate today

faith, Gathered thoughts, homemaking

Gather 🍁

Having an inviting table doesn’t have to be super fancy . You can take a few things to make a beautiful setting that is practical and inviting.
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The memories , conversations , plans, school work and sharing of life that happens around a table is immeasurable. It is essentially the hub of a home. A place to gather , cry , work out life and laugh ❤️
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I do wonder if every grain in the wood of this table could contain all of it. Would the grain lines of the wood be darker when there were years scorched by fire or hardships ,would the grain have lines wider in years being well watered and flourishing in love or have thinner lines in years of drought ? Interesting to think about what it would hold.
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What ever season you are in , remember it’s just that a season. Take time to enjoy your family or a friend around your table. Invite them to linger and stay a little bit longer. Savor the grain lines that are forming 🍁

“she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

homesteading, Pets

New Chicks 🐓

Our chicken flock just grew by three more littles 🐣🐓
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We had planned to get all leghorns but then decided to get this sweet Ameraucana that we named brownie ❤️
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Sadly we ended up losing Brownie this week as well as one of the leghorns . So hard to lose these little ones and was our first time losing chicks and this was our fourth batch .
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But there was a sweet reminder in talking to the littles about it this week as we processed through it as a family . In the Bible , we are told that not a sparrow falls to the ground that our Father in heaven doesn’t know about and even with these two little chicks , God knows them ❤️ and the scripture goes on to tell us of how much more our Father in heaven loves us.
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“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:29-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
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#chicks #chickens #chickensofinstagram #homesteading #homesteadinglife #redeemingbeautyfamilyadventures

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