Happy New Year from our family to Yours!!

Happy,Happy New Year's from our home and family to yours! May 2011 be filled with the knowlege of the heart of our Lord and Saviour in your home!

Our year was extraordinarily full and many blessings came our way. We await all the lessons and spiritual gifts our Heavenly Father has for us in this new year.
2010 was our year to learn camping as a family, settle into a new house, renew our wedding vows and observe our 10th anniversary, travel and learn a lot of things along the way.
I have little idea but some inklings of what this new year might hold. I know that whatever it holds in store that with our All-Powerful God beside us it will all be ok.
                                                                             Prayers,Joy and Love in Christ,
                                                                              Pilgrimama

re: a joyous holiday to all

Dear Julia Charlotte,
           Christmas morning here! The living room is cozy and twinkly lights are all around. The tree has a moderate little pile of surprises under it. And it's softly snowing outside. Amazing to have it snow on exactly this day in our part of the world where snowfall can be erratic!

Last night we carried on our new tradition of reading stories of the manger scene etc. before bed. Our pastor and his daughters brought us a basketfull of treats as we were reading. So sweet!

I made blueberry banana pancakes topped with Cool Whip and served up chocolate milk with new snowman straws.
A breakfast for dinner tradition could happen maybe. Or maybe we will just see what God provides!
This year we were brought the pancake batter and given some of the other food items on our dinner table.
I must say that as Lee and I have been working ever closer toward being footloose and debt-free  I often thank God for all the providential ways we have been provided for even when we have had very little extra from a logic point of view. What could seem like random happenings to some I call occasions to thank God for all our needs being met!
God is good!    Have a joyous holiday!
                                                                                                            Somewhat Sleep Deprived,
                                                                                                         Pilgrimama

re: journaling about a site called Cookusinterruptus

To Julia Charlotte,
      Today the message is short. Are you hungry? Do you have hungry children to feed?  Want to eat well so you can feel well?
Well, visit this site. And while we're at it, how about making an Eat Kale T'shirt? I may try my hand at it one of these days.
Well, take a peek .

                                                     hungry now,
                                                                                                         ~ Pilgrimama

re: journaling about my kitchen corner

So today I am cleaning out My Kitchen Corner of shame. I am trying lots of tactics to get away from this but the organized part of my personality is not having it!
I have now made a pile to go into a Things to Do basket, a pile for all things Letter writing and Thank-you note related and lots of things to be hauled to their actual spots of residence.
Things like a dvd about swamp tigers without the case, a lot of lists( I am a Listmaker) ,a little book with the lyrics to the Jungle Book movie's songs, recipes, flashcards and a new CD. And birthday money and gift certificates. And an abandoned thank-you note project. And more...

But now I have a plan of attack!  To:do projects get their own basket in a less visible spot. Letterwriting basket-ditto!  I must not let my tiny amount of counter space get overrun like this again!
I tell myself I am still digging out from the craziness of a vow renewal ceremony and planning, honeymoon, farming children out, four birthdays in two months kind of Autumn.
Fortunately for us the Christmas is a laidback season as far as gift giving pressure. Thankfully!
I hope to make cookie or some such thing plates for the neighbors and keep the focus on serving others. We have been going to midnight services every Saturday night this month which the little people sorta dig....
 So we will try to stay calm and keep things simple and our countertops under control,yep!
Last but not least it is really cold nowadays. We got some snow and the weather is cold. Like 11 degrees F cold!
                                                                                                                   The Cleaning Lady,
                                                                                                              Pilgrimama

re: winter things in the journal

Dear Julia Charlotte,
            Here we are, finishing up salt dough manger scenes and snipping paper for snowflakes for the windows.
We are playing seasonal music and prepped our Winter book basket with a lovely handpainted sign by Alex.
Now I need to clean the kitchen and do laundry. I'm still recovering from a weekend trip that turned epic as well!
Last but not least, check out the giveaways over at Crafty Crow this week! I'm hoping for the children's sewing book....
                                                                             Hibernating,
                                                                           Pilgrimama