One year ago....

One year ago today is when we first arrived in Alaska.  After a three week travel starting in Maryland then to Indiana to Minnesota to Mount Rushmore to Canada and many more stops along the way we finally reached our destination.  When we first left Maryland I had no idea what God had planned for us but I was praying for traveling mercies and His hand of protection upon us.  That three week trip was the most memorable trip I had ever experienced. 

At the beginning of our trip we stopped along the way to spend some much needed time with our families.  While in Indiana my husband was able to spend the last birthday his brother would ever celebrate on this Earth.  While it was a sad day leaving Indiana it was a day not forgotten.   

Our next stop was Minnesota to spend time with my family.  My children had a great time with their cousins and a lot of "catching up" was done between them and the rest of the family.  After spending a week and a half there it was time to pack up the truck and head out to our new life that God had planned for us.  It was really hard on my two blessings to leave family, as I am sure it was for the family, but they understood why.

After 24 hours leaving Minnesota and a week and a half after leaving Indiana my husband received a call that his brother went to be home with the Lord.  That was a sad day.  My husband did say that he was very thankful for the time he did spend with his brother while we were in Indiana.

When we left Minnesota we considered ourselves on a family vacation.  We were not in a hurry to get to Alaska so the hubby and I decided that we would soak up every minute together that we could.  We stopped at Mount Rushmore for a day and a half and allowed my daughter to see something that she has long to see. 

I think my favorite part of the entire trip was driving through Canada.  We had no cell phone coverage, no computers, and no distractions.  It was just the four of us and the dog and cat.  We had so many laughs together, and created many memories. 

I cannot believe it was one year ago today that we arrived in our new home state.  The time truly has gone fast, we have met many new friends, attend a wonderful church and more memories were created. I look back and think that I had no worries; I knew God wanted us here and He was going to bring us.  Because I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11). 

Tomorrow I will share some pictures of us along the way! 

Almost there

Remember when I first told you about Swagbucks and my goal was to have a $100 in Amazon gift cards by December 1st?  As of right now I am up to $90 in gift cards and I am about 80 Swagbucks from reaching another $5 Amazon gift card.  I will be cutting it close to reach my last $5 gift card but I think I can do it!  Although, the blessings have started working on their Christmas list and momma has started searching Amazon for their gifts.  My favorite part about Swagbucks is that it is free!!!
 
Do you Swagbuck?  What are you saving up for? If you would like to sign up for Swagbucks you can click here.  

81 Days Complete

I started a journey 81 days ago and when I started this journey I had no idea where it would take me.  During these 81 days I was working, homeschooling my two blessings, maintaining my home, being a wife, stopped working, volunteering, decided to go back to school myself and had a family emergency that caused us to leave for the lower 48 for two weeks.  However, with everything still happening all around me I was still able to complete my Bible in 90 Days reading in 81 days!  I know that this was all from Him because I was unable to do this by myself.  There were times where I just wanted to go to bed or just do something else but He would not allow me too.  The more I read the closer I got to Him.  I was finally able to understand things that I never understood before.  All the honor and glory goes to God!

Six years ago I gave my life to Christ, four years ago I was baptized in His name, and now I have read His Word. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

For more information on the Bible in 90 Days reading please jump on over to Moms Toolbox.

Day 78 Check In

I cannot believe that I only have 12 days left of the Bible in 90 Days reading!  Last week I was ahead of my reading by five days, as of today I am not.  With the new change in our schedule I have not been reading like I should be.  Although, I am on Acts 7 I will have read through Acts 16 before the end of the day which still puts me on track of completing the Bible in 90 days.  October 5th is the "official" last day of the Bible in 90 Days reading but I am setting a goal to be done by October 1st.  So I am off to do some more reading!

For more Bible in 90 Days jump on over to Moms Toolbox.

Time To Simplify

When my children were babies I would always say that I could not wait until they were older so they could join some activity.  As my daughter reached the age of three I put her in a ballet/tap class and she loved it.  When she got even older we would be rushing to about three to four activities a week.  That does not sound too bad but then throw my son into the mix and all of a sudden you have no free time. 

I became more and more burnt out.  I finally had to sit down and figure out a way to simplify our schedule.  Here is an example of our schedule when both my children played indoor soccer this past spring:

Sunday~church
Monday~school during the day and Girl Scouts at night from 5:30-7:00pm
Tuesday~work from 8:30am to 2:00pm and then both had Tae Kwon Do and then soccer practice.
Wednesday~school in morning ballet at 12:30-1:30
Thursday~work from 8:30am-2:00pm and the soccer in the evening.
Friday~school and then Tae Kwon Do at 3:15pm-4:15pm
Saturday~soccer games in morning

Our schedule was out of control and I had to fix it.

The hubby and I decided that each child would be able to participate in two activities each and Tae Kwon Do had to be one of them.  So that left one activity to choose.  My daughter was already in ballet at the time so she chose ballet as her second choice.  My son on the other hand had a little tougher choice; Cub Scouts or basketball.  Finally, after a few days he decided to go with Cub Scouts. 

Now that the blessings have chose their two activities I still had some more simplifying to do.  After much talk with the hubby we both decided that it would be good to stop working my part time job and go back to school.  Even though we need the money we know that hubby's promotion pay will be here in the next couple of months we decided that we can live on one income until then. 

So here is what our new schedule looks like:

Sunday~ church
Monday~school (for both kids and I) and nothing in evenings
Tuesday~school and Tae Kwon Do and son has Cub Scouts from 6:30-7:30pm.
Wednesday~school and then ballet and nothing in evenings.
Thursday~school and nothing in evenings.
Friday~school and Tae Kwon Do and daughter has Girl Scouts from 6:30-7:30pm.
Saturday~nothing

I am excited to see that we went from being busy six days a week to three days a week.  Also, we only have two nights of activities instead of three.  This will give us more family time which is very precious with the hubby having to defend our country.  Our new schedule begins next week and I am so excited. 

Simplifying can be so simple sometimes!

**I know I said each child has two activities but I feel that Girl Scouts is a great opportunity for girls.  Also, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts are great activities to add to a college resume ;) **

Humility Was Taught Today

I try to practice humility as much as possible.  I try to be "down to earth" and not judgmental.  I try to apologize if I am wrong or ask forgiveness if I have stepped over the line.  But today I have came across two blogs that have shown me humility and the realization of how truly blessed I am.  As I have been pouting complaining dealing with our financial situation God has shown me through these two bloggers what the rest of the world is going through.  From the slums of Guatemala to the back alleys of Africa, I have seen that there are many people who need prayers. 

We already sponsor one beautiful little girl from India through Compassion that the hubby and I will be sponsoring more children in the future.  Please take a moment to read through Kristen's story about what God has put on her and her husband's heart.  Also, please stop by to visit Ann's blog and learn about the slums of Guatemala.  May you read with an open heart and hopefully maybe think about sponsoring a child in need from Compassion or possibly the new program that Kristen will be opening up in Africa.  I pray that you take a moment to see what is going on in our world.

Please take a moment to say a prayer for those who are in more need than we are.

Chocolate Crinkles

I made these cookies yesterday and oh my goodness they are so delicious!  I made about 15 cookies yesterday and then froze the rest of the batter. 

Ingredients:

2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
4 oz unsweetened melted and cooled baking chocolate
4 large eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2-1 cup powdered sugar to coat

1. Mix sugar, oil, vanilla, and chocolate.  Stir in one egg at a time.

2.  Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt. 

3.  Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.

4.  Grease cookie sheet and heat oven to 350 degrees.

5.  Drop spoonfuls of dough into powdered sugar and then roll into balls.

6.  Place cookies on baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes and place on wire rack to cool.

Week 11 Check-in

I am loving the Bible in 90 Day reading!

Last week I started the New Testament and now I am in the book of Luke chapter 10.  Along with that I have read 81.1 percent of the Bible.  I am so close to reaching my goal!  The more I read the more my love for Jesus builds.  I have read the Gospels many of times but now after reading the whole Old Testament I am seeing the Gospels in a whole new light.  Before I would read it but never read it wholeheartedly until now.  The feeling I have I cannot explain but I know that my walk with God has grown much more than before I started in the Bible in 90 Day reading.  God has done some wonderful things in my life and I am excited to see what else He has in store for me.

For more Bible in 90 Day Reading please jump on over to Mom's Toolbox.

Please Show Her Some Love

Back in December 2009 when I first started The Forever Neighbor I wrote about how I found out what a blog was and also how I came up with the name "The Forever Neighbor".  If you missed that post you can click here. 

I am so excited because my friend, my sister in Christ and my forever neighbor who showed me what a blog was has FINALLY started her own blog!  Please show Angela some love and stop by Life With My Littles and leave her a comment welcoming her to the blogging world.  Oh yeah I forgot to mention she is hosting a GIVEAWAY!

9-11-01 A Day Never Forgotten

September 11, 2001 is a day where many people can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when the tragedy occurred.  I am one of those people. 

I was sleeping and was awaken from the phone ringing.  When I answered I heard my hubby's voice asking if I am watching the news.  Whenever my hubby calls to ask if I am watching the news means I need to be watching the news.  I am not a news watcher and to this day hardly do I ever watch the news.  So I told him I was not and his response was that I needed too.  I jump out of bed, run to the living room, turn on the television and there I see a building with smoke coming out of it.  As I sit down to listen I see a plane coming into view and it hits the other building.  I had no idea what I had just witnessed.  "What did I just see?"  The announcer then tells me that another plane has flown into the building.  At that moment my nine month old daughter was welcoming a new day while the rest of the world was facing this horrible tragedy facing our country. 

My hubby calls to check on us and as I am talking to him the announcer goes on to tell me that a plane has just crashed into the Pentagon.  As I am telling my hubby the news it was announced at his work that all personnel in the building need to go home.  My hubby at the time was working in a federal building in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  No one knew what was happening in our country and for safety reasons every government building was being evacuated in our area.  It was then announced another plane had crashed in Pennsylvania.

I could not understand what was going on.  I wanted answers and no one knew the answer.  I remember standing in my living room, holding my nine month old daughter and looking at my hubby wondering what our future would hold. 

I will not forget where I was on September 11, 2001 and I will never forget those who had sacrificed their lives running into those burning buildings.  I will never forget seeing that second plane crashing into the tower.  I will never forget the innocent lives that were lost.  I will never forget those who helped in the recovery.  I will never forget where I was on September 11, 2001. 

Going the Wrong Way

A few nights ago a friend and I were sitting at the park by our homes and all of sudden out of nowhere there were so many geese flying in "V" formations.  I could not believe how many geese we saw in just that hour or so we were sitting there.  I kept saying "oh my gosh" "they are flying the wrong way!!"  Then my friend's daughter B was so excited because she knew that when the geese fly south that meant snow was coming soon.  I told B to yell at the geese to fly back north and she looked at me like I was crazy and yelled to the geese to keep flying south.  Unfortunately I lost in the battle of yelling at the geese because today when I was out driving I noticed that things are not as green as they have been. 

This means one thing; snow will be here soon.  However, one thing I do look forward to during the winter is my snow capped mountains.  During the summer we are unable to see them but during the winter they are very visible.  I LOVE snow capped mountains!  My daughter took this beautiful breath taking picture of snow capped mountains when we were flying back to Alaska from our emergency leave.  May I remind you that this picture was taken in mid-July.  Ahhhh God's beauty.

Have the leaves started to change where you live?  Are you looking forward to winter?

Vanilla Popcorn

My daughter and I love this popcorn recipe.  It is very easy to make and I am ashamed (well not really) to say that the popcorn is all gone within about ten minutes.  This recipe is not very healthy but so good and it only takes about ten minutes to make.  I usually make this at Christmastime and hand out to neighbors.

Ingredients:

About 3 cups popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1.  Have popped popcorn in large bowl and set aside.

2.  In a saucepan combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup and bring to boil over medium heat.

3.  Stir and boil until mixture is a golden color for about two minutes and remove from heat.

4.  Stir in baking soda and vanilla.

5.  Pour over popcorn and toss to coat.  Slightly cool and break apart while warm.

May store in airtight container.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan for Sept 6th-10th

The family and I have enjoyed our wonderful four day weekend.  The best part of the weekend was being together and having no plans.  We ran some errands on Friday, took the kids to a large park in town, went glow in the dark putt putting and now today we are lounging.  No plans!  I believe that sometimes we just need to be still and not be in such a rush all the time.  I am really looking forward to our new schedule that the hubby and I have discussed.  The blessings are participating in two extracurricular activities each which means our evenings our open during the week except for Tuesday night, my son has Cub Scouts.  With an upcoming deployment approaching the last thing I want is to be rushing and not enjoying our precious time together. 

Here is what we will be eating this week:

Monday~ For breakfast and lunch is your choice but Hubby has requested a ham dinner. So for dinner we will be having ham from the crock pot, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and biscuits.

Tuesday~ waffles
                sandwiches
                chicken tetrazzini

Wednesday~ pancakes
                     sandwiches
                     baked ziti

Thursday~ cereal
                  sandwiches
                  chicken fettuccine

Friday~ snickerdoodle cake
             grilled cheese
             enchiladas (hubby request)

For more menu ideas jump on over to Org Junkie.

Week 10 Check In

I just have to start off that I am on such a Spiritual high right now that I cannot even explain it.  Remember last week when I did my Bible in 90 Days reading check in that I said I was confused but I prayed God will help me understand?  That was on Monday last week, well three days later God showed me that He heard me and He will provide.  Just recently the hubby and I decided that maybe it was time to find a new church to attend.  After much prayer we finally found our home church and this church sends out their newsletter on Thursdays.  When I opened up the email I about fell out of my chair.  The church was starting their new fall curriculum and they will be covering the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and will cover how it all forms together.  Was I not just praying for understanding?  Was I not just saying "prayers go up; blessings pour down?"  A great friend of mine always tells me that "His timing is perfect."  He always provides and this is just another confirmation that He has shown me.

As of right now I have just completed reading the book of Joel and have read 71.1 percent of the Bible.  By the end of the week I will have read 75 percent of the Bible!  I am so overwhelmed with emotions because this reading has been a huge accomplishment for me.  I have always wanted to read the entire Bible and I am so close to accomplishing this goal of mine. 

God is showing me so many things and I am so humbled by all of His works.

For more Bible in 90 Days reading jump on over to Moms Toolbox.

Everyday Blessings...

I just recently came across a blog that really reminded me of my daily blessings.  This certain blog wrote about when their daughter was called home to be with the Lord, and also their grieving process.  After reading this blog and wiping my tears I started thinking about all the blessings that God has poured upon me and my family.

I don't know about you but I know that I do not thank God everyday for some of my blessings.  Of course I thank God everyday for my hubby, my two blessings sent from Him, friends, family, and for sending His son for me.  I say Grace at every meal, say prayers to Him every day, read His word (try every day), and teach my two blessings about Him. 

The more I think about it, the more I am thankful to the God that I serve.  

We have food on our table everyday,
I have the opportunity to homeschool,
live in a country with freedom,
our income,
our home,
our pets,
the people that God has put in our paths.

I am also thankful for the blessings that I do not realize are blessings. 
Especially on those days where it seems that everything is going wrong, because that shows the strength that I have sent from Him. 

I once heard someone tell my hubby that "prayers go up; blessings pour down."  I know that there are times where it feels the world is caving in on me and I feel so detached from Him.  But I know that if I pray that I know blessings will pour down. 

"For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

Muddin???

Living in Alaska there is one thing that I noticed many people participate in up here and that is four wheeling.  Every where you look there are four wheelers or you know of someone who has a four wheeler.  I never quite understood the whole "joy" of this four wheeling thing and then I hear people throw in how fun it is to do it while it is muddy outside.  Are you serious? Why would anyone want to go four wheeling in the mud?  I could not rationalize it; I mean you get all muddy, your clothes can get ruined, it will take you days to feel clean again, and just think about your washer...oh my goodness! 

Well, our neighbors invited us to a BBQ over the Fourth of July weekend and it included four wheeling.  Honestly, I was scared out of my mind, but I could not tell anyone that.  I mean I have to be strong and courageous.  But I was very scared I mean what if I get thrown off of this crazy machine and on top of that I would be all muddy.  I have this fear of not being surrounded by some type of structure while riding, such as motorcycles they scare me beyond belief and that is how four wheelers and snowmobiles are also.  Well, when they told me it was time to go my heart was beating faster, my hands were shaking and I probably had a little anxiety attack.  But I was playing like it was nothing.  As we started off I was telling myself "I wanna get off; I wanna go home; this is crazy" "I am gonna get myself killed!!!"  As you can see I am still alive and I have to admit four wheeling was not so bad.  My favorite part? Getting muddy!!!  I cannot believe how much fun it was to get muddy.  The best part of it all was this:

***Look at that hair***

***Four wheeling can really tire one out***

I am happy to say that everyone is okay and my hubby and son keep asking when we can get a four wheeler *sigh*