So, this week is not off to a great start but I'm hoping it will get better soon. (Please God, let it get better soon!) Yesterday, I couldn't file my regular Unemployment claim, sometimes it happens so, I just figured I'd call today. Then our power was disconnected this morning. (We have quite the back balance with the electric company.) I'd been expecting to have to deal with it sooner or later I suppose. So, I get that turned back on but only after giving them 2/3 of the money that we have in our bank account, which was 2/3 of our allocated rent money. WHEEEEE!!!
I signed up for financial hardship with them (again). Let's hope I can keep them from turning it off next month too. I had been trying to apply for Energy Assistance with the state but their office isn't open without an appointment and I'd been calling every month since August to get an appointment or even just the paperwork that I needed to file with them. They kept blowing me off, telling me to call back in this month or that month, I kept calling. They finally send me the paperwork, I got it FOUR DAYS AFTER IT WAS DUE.
I don't know if I should blame them or our horrible postal delivery person who has lost many a package due us and now no longer dares deliver packages at all, we just have to go pick them up. And if there's no tracking information, we don't even know they're here since she won't even leave those lovely little slips that they're supposed to leave.
Then I get my brain back and call unemployment to deal with my other headache for the day. I stayed on hold for a good half hour. Th woman was very helpful. She got my account set up again but then forgot to take my information to file my weekly claim. UGH! Now, I'm hold for another potential half hour (or more if they decide to take lunch before taking my call). I really hope that I can get this taken care of soon and then do something fun.
I need to make a to do list for the day but I already feel so emotionally drained. I need to make a meal plan for the week but I don't have any food in the house and our food stamps don't come in until tomorrow but we don't have time to actually get to the store until Thursday. I don't know what to do with myself. I think I just need to zone out and watch a cheesy kids movie with Joey. But, then I'd have to get her to clean up the living room to get the reward of a movie.
Head Smashing KeyBoard
Monday, May 2, 2011
Crafty McNester Pants
Last night I worked diligently and finished the diaper bag I've been working on. I'm so proud of myself. It's perfect and I used up a ton of scraps and It looks great.
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| front inside |
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| front with flap and strap |
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| inside pocket |
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| back or car seat organizer |
I've still got a baby quilt on my craft to do list and some other ideas that I'm still kicking around before our newest little makes their appearance. I want to make myself another maternity dress but I still haven't found the right fabric for it (at the right price). I will find it though, I'm sure. I just know that I'll be needing something cute to wear this summer. I made a really cute maternity dress when I was pregnant with Joey but I don't know what happened to it.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday Reflections
So, I'm enjoying some last few minutes of quiet before Sunday morning really begins. Next week is Mother's Day and I'm almost in shock to think that next year, I'll have two little girls to celebrate with. It makes my heart smile. Joey is just getting so big and I almost can't believe that my pregnancy is winding down again. And soon our bustling little household of three will be a household of four. We still don't know how we're going to make all the schedules work, but somehow, it will. God will provide, that I'm sure of.
The weather's getting warmer and it's so fun to be outside. I love spring. The only thing that would make spring better for me would be if I had a yard to plant in. I was talking to my grandmother the other day, and I was telling her how I ache to garden and plant things. She said simply, 'we come from farmers, it's in your blood.' How true that is! She grew up on a farm, my mom grew up on a farm, I spent my summers growing up on a farm. There's nothing like it in the world. No city can compare to it. No matter where I go, it's with me. My heart longs to farm, to have my life ebb and flow with the seasons. I can't escape it, and I can barely contain it. I feel most myself and most connected to God when I'm doing something with my hands or when I'm out in nature. It's my home.
It makes me yearn more for our move to Colorado. I've been peeking at places out there only sporadically since we postponed the move, but it makes me excited to know that since cost of living is so much lower out there and since the lifestyle out there lends itself more to self-sufficiency, I might actually be able to have a yard, or at least a little piece of land to dig in and grow things. We are just floundering here sometimes.
There is so much pressure in New-England to perform, perform, perform! And with the job market being so flooded, and work being so hard to find (and neither of us having found any in quite some time), it'll be really nice for the change of pace. Not to mention the change in cost of things. Generally, the cost of living out in CO is 60% of what it is here. Such a big cut for us since we're living in a constant state of deficit.
For those of you not up to date on our finances: We have 0 money. We're living off of Social Security Supplemental Income, Unemployment benefits, my part-time wages, food stamps, coupons and anything we can save after books from Danny's Pell Grant from school. It's not much and it doesn't sustain us. We haven't paid our utilities in over a year and we just keep praying that the lights stay on, but we have no means to pay them. It's all we can do to keep the rent paid and food on the table and diapers of Joey's tush (though hopefully not much longer on that last one). Now, our SSI got pulled, though I'm hoping that's just a technicality due to our bank changing names. One of us needs to find work or some means of support SOON. But God hasn't shown us where that will be coming from yet. We keep looking but we're not finding.
Any prayers you'd be willing to throw up for us would be greatly appreciated. We sure could use the extra intercession. Danny's finishing up finals this month and he's trying to figure out if God even means for him to go back to school in the fall or if he needs to work (should he be able to find any). It's a rough road we're on. There's a light not only at the end of it but not too far off by the way of Colorado, but the mean time however is totally unclear to us.
Well, I should go wake up the family and get us moving and ready for church. I'm excited for what God has in store for us. I just wish that I could see it a little better.
The weather's getting warmer and it's so fun to be outside. I love spring. The only thing that would make spring better for me would be if I had a yard to plant in. I was talking to my grandmother the other day, and I was telling her how I ache to garden and plant things. She said simply, 'we come from farmers, it's in your blood.' How true that is! She grew up on a farm, my mom grew up on a farm, I spent my summers growing up on a farm. There's nothing like it in the world. No city can compare to it. No matter where I go, it's with me. My heart longs to farm, to have my life ebb and flow with the seasons. I can't escape it, and I can barely contain it. I feel most myself and most connected to God when I'm doing something with my hands or when I'm out in nature. It's my home.
It makes me yearn more for our move to Colorado. I've been peeking at places out there only sporadically since we postponed the move, but it makes me excited to know that since cost of living is so much lower out there and since the lifestyle out there lends itself more to self-sufficiency, I might actually be able to have a yard, or at least a little piece of land to dig in and grow things. We are just floundering here sometimes.
There is so much pressure in New-England to perform, perform, perform! And with the job market being so flooded, and work being so hard to find (and neither of us having found any in quite some time), it'll be really nice for the change of pace. Not to mention the change in cost of things. Generally, the cost of living out in CO is 60% of what it is here. Such a big cut for us since we're living in a constant state of deficit.
For those of you not up to date on our finances: We have 0 money. We're living off of Social Security Supplemental Income, Unemployment benefits, my part-time wages, food stamps, coupons and anything we can save after books from Danny's Pell Grant from school. It's not much and it doesn't sustain us. We haven't paid our utilities in over a year and we just keep praying that the lights stay on, but we have no means to pay them. It's all we can do to keep the rent paid and food on the table and diapers of Joey's tush (though hopefully not much longer on that last one). Now, our SSI got pulled, though I'm hoping that's just a technicality due to our bank changing names. One of us needs to find work or some means of support SOON. But God hasn't shown us where that will be coming from yet. We keep looking but we're not finding.
Any prayers you'd be willing to throw up for us would be greatly appreciated. We sure could use the extra intercession. Danny's finishing up finals this month and he's trying to figure out if God even means for him to go back to school in the fall or if he needs to work (should he be able to find any). It's a rough road we're on. There's a light not only at the end of it but not too far off by the way of Colorado, but the mean time however is totally unclear to us.
Well, I should go wake up the family and get us moving and ready for church. I'm excited for what God has in store for us. I just wish that I could see it a little better.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Boo, no sewing! SO, on to baking!
So, Joey's up from her nap and my sewing machine's out for delivery but not here yet. I've gotten the living room cleaned up(Joey helped). I got Joey's room a bit more organized. I finished one load of dishes and my second load is going now. I finished my meal plan for the week in my post earlier today (BONUS: all my menu items use things in my pantry and require no further shopping until Friday).
I still need to change the sheets on our bed and in turn make the bed and take out the trash but I figured I'd hold off until my sewing machine got here and I'd take out all the trash at once. I also waited until after Danny came home from class to change the sheets and make the bed since he tends to snack/nap in there on Monday afternoons while things are fresh in his head from class.
So, now my morning activities are done(Yay Me!). I've planned my afternoon quite loosely since I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with Joey when she woke up be we decided to bake cookies for Care Group tonight. Joey's been really into helping me cook & bake lately, which is super fun for me. I love having her help count out measurements and learn what's in things. This morning she decided that our oatmeal pancakes needed some apple in them, so we added some grated apple and she got to eat the apple nubs.
I think she eats more knowing that she had a hand in creating her meals. She also helps pick what fruits go into her yogurt blends, and her yogurt popsicles that we make. She loves to watch the berries and things ooze into purees in the top of the baby food grinder. Yep, she's nearly 3 and I'm still using the thing. It's the same baby food grinder that my mom bought when I was little, way back in the early 80's. Who needs modern gadgets when the older ones are way cooler anyhow. I may need to get a new 'O'-ring for it soon though since it'll be getting double use once our newest little is ready for real food. I've already put some little 4oz. mason jars on my wish-list for the canning season.
The only modern gadget I'm still lusting after is a Kitchen Aid mixer. *drool* I can't seem to kick that one, even though I know I don't need one.
I'd like an ice cream maker too but I deem that want rational since it would save us money and I don't really care as much about it.
Ok, enough from me, that cookie dough should have softened enough to handle by now. I had made a really big batch of cookie dough a while back and I froze what I couldn't make right away. I've had it in the fridge to thaw for a few days now but it was still a little hard so I left it out on top of the running dish washer and I'm hoping it's soft enough to scoop by now.
I still need to change the sheets on our bed and in turn make the bed and take out the trash but I figured I'd hold off until my sewing machine got here and I'd take out all the trash at once. I also waited until after Danny came home from class to change the sheets and make the bed since he tends to snack/nap in there on Monday afternoons while things are fresh in his head from class.
So, now my morning activities are done(Yay Me!). I've planned my afternoon quite loosely since I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with Joey when she woke up be we decided to bake cookies for Care Group tonight. Joey's been really into helping me cook & bake lately, which is super fun for me. I love having her help count out measurements and learn what's in things. This morning she decided that our oatmeal pancakes needed some apple in them, so we added some grated apple and she got to eat the apple nubs.
I think she eats more knowing that she had a hand in creating her meals. She also helps pick what fruits go into her yogurt blends, and her yogurt popsicles that we make. She loves to watch the berries and things ooze into purees in the top of the baby food grinder. Yep, she's nearly 3 and I'm still using the thing. It's the same baby food grinder that my mom bought when I was little, way back in the early 80's. Who needs modern gadgets when the older ones are way cooler anyhow. I may need to get a new 'O'-ring for it soon though since it'll be getting double use once our newest little is ready for real food. I've already put some little 4oz. mason jars on my wish-list for the canning season.
The only modern gadget I'm still lusting after is a Kitchen Aid mixer. *drool* I can't seem to kick that one, even though I know I don't need one.
I'd like an ice cream maker too but I deem that want rational since it would save us money and I don't really care as much about it.
Ok, enough from me, that cookie dough should have softened enough to handle by now. I had made a really big batch of cookie dough a while back and I froze what I couldn't make right away. I've had it in the fridge to thaw for a few days now but it was still a little hard so I left it out on top of the running dish washer and I'm hoping it's soft enough to scoop by now.
Easter Monday
Alrighty, the Holiday is over and it was lovely! I love Easter. Such a wonderful time.
The fasting of Lent always leaves me feeling refreshed, once it's all over. Danny and I still haven't plugged the cable in yet and I think we're going to see what we can do about leaving it that way. At least during the day.
Joey's been much more well behaved without it. Plus now she can't just turn it on when we're not looking and she actually has to do her chores to get a reward of a movie. And to be honest, movies are much better for us as a household. First off, no commercials. Secondly, they're not nearly as annoying as some of the shows. Thirdly, we try to keep educational or at least musical movies around (she and I just adore musicals). Lastly, it's helpful to be able to put on something with a definite end point and that holds her attention for most of the time.
We're watching the WIZARD OF OZ right now. Joey requested it.
I still need to get the Sound of Music on DVD, I love that one. It's on my list but I just haven't gotten to the 'wants' section of my list, I got a bit of the way through our 'needs' list and then we ran out of money. Our tax refund didn't go as far as we'd hoped this year. Danny is going to try and find work once the semester is over, 3 weeks and counting.
So, I've made some progress on our to do list for the day. Danny did some laundry while he was up late last night which was a huge help! I made oatmeal apple pancakes for breakfast. I organized some of the remaining laundry. I still have a bit left to go. I need to change the sheets, I need to make up the meal plan for the week, I am hoping my sewing machine shows up in time for me to do something during Joey's nap, I need to make dinner, I need to clean the living room, and I am hosting care group tonight while Danny's off doing school work.
So, first thing's first, MEAL PLAN:
Monday
breakfast: apple oatmeal pancakes
lunch: leftovers
dinner: mac & cheese & peas
Tuesday
breakfast: oatmeal & oranges
lunch: pb&j and milk
dinner: chicken tikka masala & rice noodles
Wednesday
breakfast: cereal & berries
lunch: ramen & beets
dinner: chicken nuggets & mashed potatoes
Thursday
breakfast: leftover pancakes
lunch: egg salad sandwiches & apples
dinner: pasta/asperagus/tomatoes/capers
Friday
breakfast: oatmeal & raisins
lunch: Sam's Club combo
dinner: grilled cheese & tomato soup
Saturday
breakfast: cereal & oranges
lunch: nutella sandwiches & veggie sticks
dinner: roast chicken & sweet potatoes
Sunday
breakfast: leftover frozen pancakes
lunch: snacks at church and pb&j
dinner: leftover chicken & potato salad
The fasting of Lent always leaves me feeling refreshed, once it's all over. Danny and I still haven't plugged the cable in yet and I think we're going to see what we can do about leaving it that way. At least during the day.
Joey's been much more well behaved without it. Plus now she can't just turn it on when we're not looking and she actually has to do her chores to get a reward of a movie. And to be honest, movies are much better for us as a household. First off, no commercials. Secondly, they're not nearly as annoying as some of the shows. Thirdly, we try to keep educational or at least musical movies around (she and I just adore musicals). Lastly, it's helpful to be able to put on something with a definite end point and that holds her attention for most of the time.
We're watching the WIZARD OF OZ right now. Joey requested it.
I still need to get the Sound of Music on DVD, I love that one. It's on my list but I just haven't gotten to the 'wants' section of my list, I got a bit of the way through our 'needs' list and then we ran out of money. Our tax refund didn't go as far as we'd hoped this year. Danny is going to try and find work once the semester is over, 3 weeks and counting.
So, I've made some progress on our to do list for the day. Danny did some laundry while he was up late last night which was a huge help! I made oatmeal apple pancakes for breakfast. I organized some of the remaining laundry. I still have a bit left to go. I need to change the sheets, I need to make up the meal plan for the week, I am hoping my sewing machine shows up in time for me to do something during Joey's nap, I need to make dinner, I need to clean the living room, and I am hosting care group tonight while Danny's off doing school work.
So, first thing's first, MEAL PLAN:
Monday
breakfast: apple oatmeal pancakes
lunch: leftovers
dinner: mac & cheese & peas
Tuesday
breakfast: oatmeal & oranges
lunch: pb&j and milk
dinner: chicken tikka masala & rice noodles
Wednesday
breakfast: cereal & berries
lunch: ramen & beets
dinner: chicken nuggets & mashed potatoes
Thursday
breakfast: leftover pancakes
lunch: egg salad sandwiches & apples
dinner: pasta/asperagus/tomatoes/capers
Friday
breakfast: oatmeal & raisins
lunch: Sam's Club combo
dinner: grilled cheese & tomato soup
Saturday
breakfast: cereal & oranges
lunch: nutella sandwiches & veggie sticks
dinner: roast chicken & sweet potatoes
Sunday
breakfast: leftover frozen pancakes
lunch: snacks at church and pb&j
dinner: leftover chicken & potato salad
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter
Today was nearly the perfect Easter. I got to have a bit of a mellow wake up followed by some quick breakfast while getting ready for church which Danny and I both got to enjoy and not 'have to' do stuff for. Joey woke up and got to open her Easter basket. She was very excited about that pink crown in there.
We got to enjoy worship & most of the service with Joey with only one serious meltdown. Woo Hoo!! We had a lovely Easter Potluck luncheon with our wonderful church family. The kids had a fun little Easter Egg hunt and the Sun came out for it just in time.
What a lovely day it was! The only thing that would have made it better would have been if my folks could have come down. GOD IS GOOD!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Rainy Saturday
You know, usually I'm not a huge fan of the rain but today, I really don't mind it. I think I might even prefer it to what would have been the alternative. I got to sleep in this morning and then Joey woke up and puked when Danny brought her to the kitchen to get her some breakfast. :-( I think she was just over hungry though because now she's dancing around the living room while Danny plays some guitar for her. I do so LOVE a good lazy Saturday with the family.
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