The Public Library! FREE RESOURCE

Ok I am sure everyone knows about the Library, but does everyone utilize it. When I lived in Florida I was a book pack rat! I had tons of books in every room. I never had enough shelves. I had a dream of making one room a library with a big ladder & everything.

But making a big move to Ohio, I had to downsize a lot. It was a little crushing. I mean I LOVE books! Even though I felt like I gave up a lot, our moving helpers thought I was crazy for bringing sooooo many books with me.

My husband just laughed since he knew how much I had before. So, now that I am moved in, I have organized my books (one of the 1st things on my priorities list lol) I have a new re-found love for the library. (Thankfully walking distance from our new house) I have placed holds on tons of books! They get transfer to our library where I can pick them up. We can renew them if we want to keep them longer & when we are done, I don't have to find room to store them. We just take them back to the library.

The librarian knows us very well. She has commented on how punctually we are in returning the books. I love to hear the compliments she give me about how well behaved my kids are & how she just loves the enthusiasm they have when it comes to books. I passed down a great gene. My husband has even picked up on his reading which I love because he is a great role model for our children. His excitement about books makes me so proud. Books are extraordinary things. They can teach you anything or take you anywhere! I love books a great deal! I think my love for books is right up there with music which I would love to talk about in a later post! As a home school teacher to my children and as a parent, I love watching my children totally lost a book. It really does help in everything else in your life if you enjoy reading. It helps with the way you speak, spell, handwriting, confidence, and the knowledge you can have of so many subjects. I believe the younger children are exposed to books the greater love they have. It will help in how well they read & how early they start reading. Along with so much more! Pick up a good book today! Go try your public library! You will be glad you did! They will be happy to see you & your kids! :)

Living a Self Reliant Life!

(a youtube that I came acrossed & liked) http://youtu.be/rq_Gt5GIznI

What does self reliant mean?

self-re·li·ance (slfr-lns)

n.

Reliance on one's own capabilities, judgment, or resources; independence.

---

self-re·liant adj.

self-re·liant·ly adv.

Basically-

I take it as kinda being your own boss or having complete freedom. Not always depending on someone or something else.

I have been working on this for several years now, trying to learn to be more self reliant (which I started so I could save money) 

I guess I started by making my own cleaners, taking my children's education into my own hands, then cooking more from scratch. (I am sure there are more) Along with all that I starting reading more. The main book I picked up was my Bible. It has really helped me rely on my God & myself for making decisions that I could have had low self esteem (which I have always struggled with) But this way, I feel so good when I have accomplished something I took on for myself. I think what has helped me take off with living more self reliant was moving to a small town in Ohio. (I am not telling everyone to move) For me, it took me out of the hussle bussle of the Florida life I had been trying to keep up with (& LOVED!) But now instead of running to the store for everything all the time, I think & research (gotta love the internet) (although gotta watch the clock while on it) If I can make it myself, I would much rather!

One of my other favorite books was 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3421541-made-from-scratch 

That was one of the reasons I stopped just "being bored" with all my "extra time"

We already have a garden of vegetables, herbs, flowers, & we have been looking into berries & grapes. But I also wanted to start making even more "homemades" so I started making more bread at home (which I started before we left Fl) & I looked into sewing & crocheting more. I know the basics & plan to keep learning more. Why pay someone else for something you can make yourself. I have made my girls some aprons & dresses and my crocheting projects are coming along. I have made a "hot plate" just to get back in the swing of things. Now I am starting on a scarf for everyone for winter. 

The best thing is because I homeschool, I have more time with my kids to teach them everything I am learning. My oldest could probably make our laundry soap with her eyes closed LOL We use a lot since there are 6 of us. The mountain doesn't stay down too long. 

We cook as a group of I have one or two helpers at a time. They learn the joys of cleaning goes along with the fun stuff too. Cooking seems to be appealing to them all but the clean up doesn't put the smile on their face as much! 

We also love entertaining ourselves. Aside from playing board games (which they all love) we listen to the radio or listen to the children playing their instruments. Teaching them more & more instruments (including their voices) is a great joy.  My son doesn't like to be in the spot light though as much as my girls do so he does a lot of the behind the scene work, like taking pictures or video-graphing. I love to document everything. I tell the kids those pictures & videos are going to be my hobby when they marry & move out. LOL

Also we love to be outside, weather we are playing with the dogs, taking walks, riding bikes/scooters, rollerskating/blading, or just reading  a good book under a shade tree. If it is cool enough, not in the 90s but warm enough too the you can find us outside. We like to take school outside then have a picnic or do some nature study. 

Since I stay home & don't make a paycheck, I am also looking to save money as much as possible. So when we switched to homemade cleaners or starting to eat more at home, I felt like I was not earning money but spending less of what my hardworking husband makes at his job. Being at home is the best job for me to be able to live the life I have always dreamed of but it doesn't bring in monetary rewards so we have to be creative. 

I hope to add more to this topic soon! Until then take this homework- Look around your house what can you do to be more depended on yourself??

  

Triple Antibiotic Ointment

Generic Name: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical) (BAS i tray sin, NEE oh MYE sin, POL ee MIX in B)
Brand Names: Medi-Quik, Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic
Read more at http://www.drugs.com/mtm/triple-antibiotic-topical.html#36oUsL5lOvK0sSpZ.99


Common Uses:

first aid to help prevent infection in minor:

• cuts
• scrapes
• burns

Warnings

For external use only!!!!!

Do not use

• in the eyes
• over large areas of the body
• if you are allergic to any of the ingredients

Ask a doctor before use if you have

• deep or puncture wounds
• animal bites
• serious burns

Stop use and ask a doctor if

• condition persists or gets worse
• condition persists for more than 7 days
• condition clears up and occurs again within a few days
• a rash or other allergic reaction develops

Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Directions

• clean the affected area
• apply a small amount of this product (an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger) on the area 1 to 3 times daily
• may be covered with a sterile bandage

Other information

• To open: unscrew cap, pull tab to remove foil seal.
• store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F)
• See carton or tube crimp for lot number and expiration date.

 Active Ingredients: Neomycin Sulfate 5 mg, Polymyxin B Sulfate, Bacitracin Zinc.

****** PLEASE READ******

If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin Ointment while you are pregnant. It is not known if Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin Ointment is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymyxin Ointment.

Thanks for reading. I felt the need to share some of this info when I realized they didn't recommend it for pregnant woman. It really surprised me. 

Random thoughts........

How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the mornings?

A skunk's smell can be detected by a human a mile away.

Yeah I agree, I must have too much time on my hands lol! I better get moving doing something a little more productive :) Thanks for reading! 

We are here! OHIO!

Well we are Ohioans! We are still trying to unpack and get established in this small town. And adjust to living with an elderly man. I know this will take time. We are really enjoying living in a small town. Nice & Quiet. Tranquility all around! We can walk to all the basic places and it is a short drive to what they call "a big town" Still is smaller than where we come from. We have a lot of time to sit & hear the birds sing and smell the fresh cut grass as we stare over to the mountains over the river. 


Cleaning and cooking hasn't really changed for 6 people instead of 5 except that one of those people are 90yrs old and pretty set in his ways. Plus trying to squeeze our house & life into a house that is already full of things and memories. It has been nice though, sitting at the table for dinner with people all around me who love me. I can take care of them all day long :) 


Thanks for all the prayers on our long trip. It went very well in our mini van packed full with two adults (me & my mom n law), 3 kids, & 2 dogs (one being a full size husky who sheds a lot lol) following a 24 foot truck with a car trailer & car hooked to the back. The truck was literally packed to the very top. With my husband and father n law driving, we followed behind.


The kids have rode their bikes & took walks everyday. They have been outside almost constantly. We are all loving this Ohio weather. The first few days we thought we brought the Florida weather but I think we were just being eased into it. The weather is still warm but nothing like the "almost can't breath, so hot I can't move" kind of weather. 


I will leave you with a song I heard that reminded me of this tiny little place.


http://youtu.be/V7xxtNR0uAA

Completely new journey!!!!!!

Well we have taken a screeching halt on our path & did a really big sharp turn.
Well the short story is.....
We have put a hold on any kind of adoption or foster care for right now. Plus we are moving out of Florida to Ohio. I think I am kinda in some sort of shock! Don't get me wrong, we are not moving because of something bad or anything. And I  am excited about going (we have been wanting to move to a cooler climate for years now) but it all came about pretty fast & we are leaving pretty fast. Plus I am pretty disappointed to have to postpone us having another child for a while. But after this morning I know it is supposed to be. I had a cry out to God moment this morning. Or more like a long cry more than a moment lol. After tons of prayers I have a conformation.

Now for the packing process- I know I want to purge a lot (a move it a great reason to go through everything & get rid of a ton) We are going to have a yard sale sometime (soooo not looking forward to that) maybe get a few bucks to take with us.

I am planning on cleaning the house really well as we move out of it too. Some of the nitty gritty that doesn't get done as much.

I am still schooling the kids for as long as I can then will get them evaluated right before we leave so I can end our school year before we leave. When we get up there I plan on taking the summer off. Then start school up

Going to Ohio

I am very excited about our new adventure & the biggest move we have made in our 13 yr marriage. We are moving to a small town in Ohio. I am feeling so many emotions but I am so happy because no matter where we move or what house we live in we are together. My husband & my children are with me all the way. I know we are going to go through some rough patches just as we have the last 13 yrs but ultimately we love our life together and we know how extremely blessed we are. I will try to blog more and keep my followers updated. I can't promise that I will blog everyday or every week but I will do what I can. I hope you enjoy my blog.