| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 07:13:55 AM
Soooooo…. I’ve missed you, girls. What can I say? I’ve just… really…really… REALLY… missed you…
Time for all of us to catch up… I know I’m not the only one who has been MIA or who hasn’t had the time to write! I’ll start, but I hope you’ll post and let us all know what you’ve been up to this summer, too! Tell us what’s new in YOUR world, too! Just make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, pull up a chair, and join in!
I wish I could say I’d be back in the saddle from this point forward, but this is really the first time in months that I’ve had time to sit down and write to you, and my schedule isn’t looking very promising for the next couple of months, either. I have been popping in and out to see what’s happening in our MJF world, and please know I’ve been giggling with you, excited with you, celebrating with you, crying with you, praying for you, and everything in between. It’s always amazing to me how much you all mean to me. I really hope and pray we can all meet in person someday!
So…What’s new with your ol’sister-pal Nini?
Well, our son graduated in June. He earned himself a bona fide Pennsylvania diploma from the homeschoolers association to which we belonged. They had a wonderful ceremony - so many talented kids, so many exciting stories and plans for the future! At the graduation, he met a couple of really nice girls with whom he has kept in touch. He worked full-time this summer with his dad, bought his first car, WORKED on his first car (over and over and over – chalk it up to a learning experience! Lol!), and paid cash for his first semester at college. Pretty nifty stuff! Big things for our not-so-little man! Such an exciting time in his life! And we’re just so proud of the wonderful young man he is!
My husband isn’t doing so well. He has been out of work on medical leave since the end of July. It has been quite an experience, believe me. Life is going along swimmingly and then suddenly out of the blue >WHAM!< - complete chaos. It has been very, very difficult dealing with what is happening to him. Some days I just don’t recognize him. He is suffering miserably, and I have such pity for him. Nothing the doctors have tried is helping, and oftentimes medicines make things a lot worse for him. And it’s extremely difficult for everyone who is trying to cope with the suffering and personality changes he is going through as a result. To say it’s an emotional struggle for us is putting it mildly. I don’t think there even IS a name to describe it. I just want him to be healthy, happy and whole again. I soooo miss the laughter and the joy in our lives. And now that my husband is home with me every day, we’re constantly bumping into each other like a newly retired couple. It is quite an adjustment trying to find our new groove. Thankfully, though, the doctors are hopeful they can help him, and he might be well enough to return to work in late September.
Me? I’m just puttering along. Most of my days are filled with doctors and phone calls and appointments and paperwork – all revolving around my hubby. It’s funny, but I used to pay good money to do this kind of work – I’m realizing just how much I DIDN’T miss it, AND how much I DESERVED what I got paid for it! LOL! In the midst of all of that, I have managed to maintain our garden (although this crazy weather already has most of it fooled into thinking it’s autumn already!), and it’s been a thrill to be able to continue canning and dehydrating as I go along (It’s my therapy – I love it!). I’m still trying to wrap up my “homeschool house” and make room for new endeavors, but I keep telling myself not to put too much pressure on or be too hard on myself if I don’t get everything done – it’s okay if things don’t go as planned. After all, God has a plan in the midst of all of this. I’ve learned over the years that if I go with His flow, things go a lot better than fighting to swim against it. Sometimes I think about everything I had planned to do this summer, and I get a little bummed. Other times, I look at my UFO’s sitting on the shelves, think of Gracie’s challenge, and sigh… But I know will get to them one day, I will. Right now, it’s all about my husband, and that’s okay. He needs me. How blessed I truly am to BE needed, indeed! Whenever I have come to the end of my rope, though, God miraculously gives me more to grab onto, and He throws in a little encouragement along the way. He has sent me wonderful surprise visitors, unexpected phone calls, sweet little miracles and more - all of which have brought the much needed laughter and joy in my life. One really neat thing is that the flowers in my vegetable garden (planted to bring in the beneficial insects) have absolutely burgeoned into a “profusion of happy.” Every time I step out my back door, it’s as if God has sent a special floral delivery straight from Heaven to cheer me! I just take a deep breath, enjoy the colors, and smile. He is just so sweet! God knows what I need, and He always provides! : )
So, some cool things I’ve been doing: I’ve…
…finally finished filling out my postcards for the postcard swap! Got them in the mail the day before yesterday! YES!
…learned how to make an AWESOME gluten-free bread!
…been experimenting with different types of wheat and grains in my breads.
…been making homemade vanilla and vanilla sugar!
…learned to make homemade salsa fresh from the garden – AND I want to start canning it!
…been making kefir and kombucha and LOVING them! (Even my hubby is coming around! Our son? Not so much! LOL!)
…made kefir cheese and used the whey to make my bread!
…grown enough cabbage successfully that I was able to make HOMEGROWN homemade sauerkraut!
…fought off the squash bugs – and won! You’d be proud – I just dove in and squished with my fingers and everything! In all fairness, however, I do think the weather has a lot to do with my success! And they DID get to my pumpkins before I got to them! My zucchini, though, survived and thrived! AMEN!
…”supervised” while my husband battle critters in the garden… I went out one day to pick the mouth-watering red, ripe tomatoes hanging on my vines only to find big hunks bitten out of them. RATS! UGH!!! So, my hubby put out a few traps and snagged about seven of them ranging from adult to babies. Then he determined where they were living, so he used a small firework, donated from our neighbor’s 4th of July stash, in their nest to blow them to Kingdom Come. Since then, nothing – not a critter to be seen; and I’ve got a freezer full of tomatoes waiting to be made into sauce to prove it!
...started planting my fall garden!
…tried a couple of different J.R. Liggett’s shampoo bars (as recommended by our dear Nicole, a.k.a. Texdane!), and am getting used to them!
…started making my own dishwasher tabs. They work really well, but I ask you: is there ANY homemade dishwasher detergent that doesn’t leave a sheen on your glasses? I’ve used vinegar in the rinse and everything!
…been learning how to fix my computer – and am quickly learning how much I’d rather just buy a new one! LOL!
So, even though I haven’t gotten to all the things I’ve intended to do, I’m still learning and accomplishing neat things! It’s all good!
SO, what have all of you been up to? Let’s catch up! Now’s the time – DO SHARE!!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 06:47:00 AM
Oh, girls - thank you so much for your prayers and hugs and kind words! I'm so happy to see YOU all again!
But... So....
What's new in YOUR lives? I want to hear all about you, too!!!
And quick question: Has anyone heard from Annika? She has been on my mind so much, and I've been saying prayers for her. I miss you, Annika - wherever you are! Hope you'll be dropping back in soon... Fall is coming! Fall is coming!!!
Hugs and love,
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| YellowRose |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 03:21:31 AM
Nina, I'm so happy to see your smiling face around the Farm again.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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| katmom |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 10:10:04 PM
Nini, missed you... just huggin you mucho....
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 10:57:28 AM
Nini! I am so happy to see that you are back!! I've been praying for you and will continue to do so.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 09:34:56 AM
Oh my goodness, Peggy! That all is almost more than a person can bear! Thank GOD you all have your faith to help you through! I will be praying for everyone. I remember you mentioning this before, but I didn't realize it was still happening. I'm so sorry for your losses, and that you're all going through this! That's a lot for a wife and Momma to bear, especially. I am sure you're so concerned about caring for others throughout all of this - I hope and pray you are taking care of yourself, too. I wish I could be there to give you a big hug and then take you out to lunch for a little farmgirl sister time out. I think we both need and deserve it! :)
I'm so excited to hear about your new grandbaby, though! How exciting! 'Looks like God is giving you your own beautiful flower garden to enjoy! That's just awesome! (BTW - I think my son's adorableness saved him, too - but it was when he was in his tumultuous three's!! LOL! 'Totally get that!).
Please keep us posted on everything, and I'll be looking forward to seeing pictures of your "garden" as it grows! ;) Just remember always that God loves you more than you'll ever know, He is working on your behalf behind the scenes, and He is ultimately in control. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28.
Hugs and love -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| LadyInRed |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 08:22:19 AM
Dear Nini...I wondered where you went girl!!! Welcome Back Home!!! We've missed you! But after reading your post
I can see that you have had a very full plate. Isn't it funny how when we are making plans...along comes LIFE and
messes us up. I am so sorry to hear about your husband. That has to have turned your World Topsy-turvey. I pray that
the Dr.'s are able to diagnose the problem and help get him back to work in September. If it is one thing I know...
it is that men need to work. Their entire identity is wrapped up in what they do for employment. It is "Who they are."
Congratulations on your sons graduation. Must make you feel very proud of both your accomplishments and rightly so.
Well, you may have been away because of your husbands needs but you certainly have remained very busy girl and
continuing to learn and grow in your own personal life. God is good...even when life gets messy...isn't He?
This has been a very difficult year for our family too. We lost 3 family members just 2 1/2 months. The first two
were my husbands siblings. They died 8 days apart from each other...and that was extremely difficult on my husband.
One was older and one was younger than my DH. Then my husband got pneumonia and refused to go into the Hospital
because He was afraid he wouldn't come back out...like his siblings. Though I understood his thinking I was mad
at him for not going in. Then 2 weeks ago my Aunt who lived just across the river in Portland, OR died in her home.
And I had to be made her Executor as my mom is 81 and lives 400 miles away and couldn't come here to deal with it
all. I had just 5 days to clean out a two bedroom Apartment that she lived in for 30 years. That was a Nightmare,
but God put just the right people in place at just the right time and we got it all done and wrapped up one hour
before our deadline to vacate The Apartment Complex. Now I am just jumping through all the OREGON State legal
hoops. Every meeting I have with some one precipitates another 3 or 4 more meetings with them. My Aunt for some crazy
reason had money in 3 different banks. This past Monday I had 4 meetings and then Tuesday I got her ashes from the
funeral home...but now we wait for the 40 day State waiting period before I can have her money relinquished and all
the things in her safety deposit box. But at least life is beginning to feel somewhat normal the later part of this
week.
In the midst of all of this my stepson was tried in federal court in Spokane, WA for selling an on-line health
supplement and was found guilty of 8 different counts. The Prosecution wants him to serve 38 years for this crime.
Which really wasn't a crime at all. That is more time than most murderers and rapists and pedophiles get...and we
are shocked beyond words. He will be sentenced Sept. 9th. This has been like another Death...for my husband. Him
and his son are soooooooooooooooo very close. This affected us all more than the 3 deaths of our loved ones. To sit
in court and hear so many lies against your own child (even though he is 45) was very hard to take. His entire case
boils down to the Big Pharmaceutical Companies wanting control over all Drugs and Food Supplements on todays market.
They have now even gone after people who sell Essential Oils. While we were in Court the Prosecution advised my
husband NOT to stay in the Court room for the Trial because they were considering Inditing my husband also. The
only way my husband was involved in our sons business is that my Husband researched and wrote Health Books that went
along with the supplement business. Last time I remember...we still have Freedom of Speech in this Country. Any way
we do not know if they will go after my husband or not...but we stayed for the entire trial. This has devastated our
entire family on both sides.
But as you so wisely pointed out...we go with God's Plan...and guidance for our footsteps. And God has been so
obviously working in every aspect of ALL of this...that we cannot lose Hope in the face of adversities. And I never
rule out the fact that our God is A God of Miracles and Impossibilities.
Also, in the midst of death...God gives new life. Our youngest son and his sweet wife are going to make us Grandparents
again...and they are expecting a little girl this time around. Elijah just turned two in May and his little sister
Savannah Grace is due to make her appearance into this World in Dec. In her 3-D Ultra Sound picture...she is the
spitting Image of her brother...and he is Adorable! Right now as he is in his Terrible Two's his adorableness is
keeping him alive. LOL Just kidding (but you know what I mean).
Well, that about sums up what has been going on in my life this year so far...but still God is Faithful. It is good
to be reminded that even though Life is messy and chaotic God is still Crazy Good!!!
Loving and Living Deeply In Jesus,
Peggy 
Farmgirl #1326
Dec 2011-Farmgirl of the Month
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
Don't allow others to steal the Glitz from your *SPARKLE*
Life is too short to knit with ugly yarn!
Leave Your Cares Behind...Join Us On The Porch |
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