Honesty

I have to make a confession... I am a WEARY mom! My energy level isn't so great right now, my emotional stamina is wavering..... The ugly comparison trap has been trying to get me all tangled up. YUCK! I ran across a great encouraging post from Steady Mom. Anyone else have times of weariness?? For this too shall pass.... Today would be GREAT!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Hearts-At-Home

Hearts At Home ministry is a wonderful place of encouragement and support!!

One of the things I love about blogging is the exchange of ideas that takes place; after all, what mom can't use a new idea every now and then!



If you are interested in a blog that brings a group of mommy bloggers all to one place, stop by and visit the Hearts at Home blog.



Hearts at Home's contributing bloggers write about motherhood, each with a unique perspective, reflecting on the spiritual, emotional and downright funny aspects of motherhood. Their group of bloggers range from professional speakers to authors to stay-at-home moms, all who share a passion for the profession of motherhood.



The Hearts at Home blog covers a variety of topics, such as practical mom tips, recipes, book reviews, and advice for tackling tough mommy issues.


Take a peek at this great resource and connect with real moms sharing real stories today!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Jesus is AWESOME!!! Testimony Tuesday!!

I just need to shout out: Our God is AWESOME!!! He is the same yesterday, today and forever!!! With God ALL things are possible!!!! He SAVES, He HEALS, He RESTORES!!! To God be all the GLORY!!!

So, what is the testimony??? Actually, I have a couple to share. Our oldest son, Wesley, has a HARD time with colors and at age 8 was diagnosed as color blind. It runs in my side of the family, so no real big surprise. Today, at age 12, we had his annual eye exam with the SAME wonderful doctor.... guess what? Dr. Norman could not find any sign of color blindness!!!!!! Wes passed every test with flying colors (yeah, I try to be funny)! He can see EVERY color!!!!!!! Praise the LORD!!!!!! His eyes are also LESS far sighted and he needs a weaker prescription!!

Also, our second son, Ethan has had tremendous trouble learning his colors. When he was three I played candy land with him everyday to help him learn his colors (he never got them). Ethan would slide the card he drew along the board to find the color that matched..... he was color clueless. The pre-school teachers, the speech therapist and I did everything we could think of to help him learn his colors. I even colored his bath water with food coloring to give him yet another way of seeing color) Well, this summer everything just seemed to suddenly change... he can identify EVERY color!!! He was tested by our eye doctor last week and is NOT color blind!!!!!! God is GOOD!!!!!!!!

Robyn has been wearing glasses for two years (near sighted and stigmatism). Today, she tested with PERFECT vision and NO stigmatism!!!! Needless to say, she is EXCITED!!!!! Praise the Lord!!! Every week our children's church paster, Tim, has been praying over all the children that wear glasses and encouraging all the children to stand in faith that God is our healer and that he can heal our eyes!!!!!!!!!

God cares about EVERY detail in our life! He is our HEALER!!!!! This has been such a faith boosting day for our children (and me).... They have been standing and believing for eye healing for the past year!!! PRAISE and GLORY to God!!!!!

Do you have a need for healing?? Leave a comment or email me and we will stand in faith with you! God is no respector of people... He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore!!! He can move ANY mountain in your life!!!!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Tour Tuesday Wind farm pictures.... my new view

The wind farm is going up FAST! There are over 50 turbines up so far. This is the new view from my front yard.....







When I went for a quick walk this morning I had to run in and grab my camera... the turbines are hard to photograph... the grey color blends into the sky when I take pictures (I can see them JUST fine with my own eye).










They still have THREE to put up in the field bordering the south side of our property.... It is going to take some getting used to, but the good thing is that there will be NO other development out here so it will stay quiet and secluded.




Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

4_H Time!! Project fun!

Consumer Clothing has been a FUN mother daughter project. Since Robyn is my only girl we have to spend special time doing 'girl' things!! We have had a blast shopping, taking pictures and doing all of her activities in the work book. Saturday is the big judging day and then on the 17th she will model in the fair fashion review. She chose a patriotic sundress this year. Very cute!!

Ok... off to help with other projects! Next Tuesday evening the rest of the projects go in for judging.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Tour Tuesday!!!

It has been too long since I did a 'Tour Tuesday'! This afternoon I grabbed my camera and took a stroll through the garden. This is the biggest garden we have ever had...... I think that is a direct correlation to how *old* my children are... My youngest is FOUR!! My husband has also been helping me. We have enjoyed the time we have spent together out there.... His main job is to weed eat between the beds. This first picture was taken on my back steps... the view I see out my back door.


Here we are entering the garden at the 'front gate'....












Now looking in from the 'back gate'... you can see the back of the house off in the distance.
On the fence I have spaghetti squash, regular yellow squash and Zucchini growing..... YUMMY!



















The Tomatoes are growing like CRAZY!!!! Here I am standing behind the tomatoes... I am 5'9" and can barely see over them!!! If they produce as well as they have grown UP then we are in for a bumper crop!!


This year are garden is growing:
Tomatoes, squash (various kinds), lettuce, spinach, onions, peppers (various kinds), cabbage, broccoli, strawberries, cucumbers, green beans, sweat potatoes, mini gourds, birdhouse gourds, red raspberries and black berries.

I would LOVE to see your garden!! I am so enjoying the hours spent out there.... I feel so close to God and to my family while I am working with the plants. So now you can 'see' where I ENJOY part of my everyday!!!!

Now here is a BIG reason I LOVE the country life.... I looked out the window and caught a glimpse of some country visiting! You can see the wind turbines if you look in the back ground.... Good neighbors are such a BLESSING!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Into the future....

Today I am raising my daughter (and my sons). 'Tomorrow' she will be raising her children. I have been studying Proverbs 31 (yeah, that woman we love to hate). It has been GOOD for me... I have growing to do. Right now the convicting question that I am hearing the Holy Spirit asking me is: "Am I spending my time the way I hope Robyn spends hers while she is raising my grandchildren?" !!! Answer: YIKES!! Some days, yes. Other days, NO.

How is she seeing and experiencing me spend my days. Am I spending more time nurturing them or being 'busy'? Do they see too much of the back of my head while I am on the computer?? Do they feel like they are interrupting me while I am busy at tasks?? Do I make them feel second fiddle to all the things I do? Am I more focused on ME or THEM?? Am I wasting precious time I have with them?? Am I TRAINING her up to be the home manager of her home?? Am I equipping her with the tools and skills she will need? By watching me does she know what is the most important?? ON and ON the questions go!

I have always heard that things are 'caught not taught' when it comes to parents passing things on to their children. How am I measuring up?? The Proverbs 31 does not 'Eat the bread of idleness'... do I?? Hard questions.... Am I being WISE in the way I use my days, my energy, my resources??

To read more please visit Tammi, for the True Woman series. I haven't kept up with it like I should... but I am doing a Proverbs 31 study with my Friday morning 'mom's group'. Proverbs 31 is such a GOOD study... not pain free, but good! Do you love her?? I am starting to......

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Another reason I enjoy growing FLOWERS!

Fresh flowers on the table..... Simple... BEAUTIFUL!
God sure did a wonderful job creating fantastic beauty for us to enjoy. It has been my goal to create flower beds that give me fresh flowers for the table from Spring to Fall. The Holly bush gives me pretty foliage in the winter.

All the hard work in the flower beds are worth it! Nothing is better than God's creations!!!! Cultivating flowers (and veggies) makes me feel close to God. I pray more in the garden than anywhere else. Passing by the table and seeing the flowers is a constant reminder to me of Gods love!

What is your favorite flower?? Does gardening also cultivate your relationship with God?? Do you have a flower to recommend for me to grow??

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

This was just too funny!!

We saw this sign next to a Church we passed last Sunday when we went on a family day at the State Park beach. My husband loves to laugh and got a good chuckle out of this....... HAD to stop to take a picture!!! The Bible verse next to it makes it even funnier!!!



Just so ya know... Please don't take offense.. I have high respect for Churches... just the name is too funny!

Home made flavored iced coffee!

Enjoying the fun things in life without going broke! I LOVE coffee.... and ICED coffee on a HOT summer day just calls my name. The coffee shop prices are just out of this world and even the McDonalds prices are too much for me. However, I have perfected my home made version and can make it for a fraction of the price. The best part is that I can make them with DECAF coffee.... better for me. Look at Sams, Costco or Gorden's for flavored syrup. It doesn't take that much... an man.... yummy!!!!!

Home Made Iced Coffee:
All you need is four ingredients:
Freshly brewed coffee... double strength
Ice
half and half or milk
your choice of flavored syrup ( they come unsweetened, sweetened and sugar free)

Directions:
1) Brew your coffee in your coffee pot, just use double the grounds.
2) Pour your fresh coffee over ice to cool
3) Place some ice in a cup (I use an insulated mug) and pour in the cooled coffee. Add to it the half and half or milk (use as much or as little as you like). Add in the flavored syrup. (I started off with a TBL of syrup and went up from there... find the level of flavor that you love... I use 1/8 cup for a LARGE cup) Stir and savor!!!

ENJOY!!!!! Good simple things in life without going broke!!! YEAH!!!

For more frugal tips visit Lifeasmom.com

Need a Speaker??

Are you part of a MOPs group? Women's Bible Study? Women's Minisrty? Home Makers Club?
A part of a group of women??

Pass on some encouragement to your group!
If you are located Within 3 hours from Lafayette Indiana I would love to speak to your group.

Encouraging Topics for the Home Front:
* The BLESSINGS of the family meal
* Money saving on the grocery budget
* Nitty- gritty on Meal planning
* Let's get cooking! Basic, easy cooking skills.
* Cooking from the garden
* Home made bread
* Training up the next generation. Skills and recipes to teach to our children.
* Fabulous and simple deserts
* "Old-Fashioned" Kitchen Skills
* More than Survival.... the power of routines

Spiritual Topics:
Standing on God's Word through the storms
The Power of Praise
The Woman we love to hate: Proverbs 31

Let me know if any of these topics fit in with your ministry focus.
I am so passionate about the wonderful role that God has given to us as women. I believe that God has GREAT things for us and for our families when we are walking in HIS ways and not being deceived by the world. The enemy has put up a HUGE attack on the family and he is taking the family down by destroying the 'worth' of a woman. Praise God that God's word and ways stand firm forever and that our role as wife and mother is very worthy!!

Equipping women in the home and in their spiritual life is a way that God uses to strengthen and build strong families that serve Him!! No woman wants to feel like a failure in the home, but we need training!! The world is a different place than it was a few generations ago... we aren't receiving the same training and support from the older generations. We aren't being equipped with the skills and knowledge it takes to manage a home efficiently. Women's ministries have a wonderful opportunity to step in and serve women at these practical levels. I would be happy to minister to your Women's Group!!


Contact me:
Heather Corbin
simplefamilysupper@ffni.com


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Home made chocolate sauce

My grandmother gave me a recipe for home made chocolate sauce when I was first married. I made it a lot and always got rave reviews.... then I LOST the recipe!!!!! GASP!! For some reason, grandma couldn't find her copy either!!! Weird. Anyway, I finally found one that is just as easy and tastes just as good. I made it yesterday and we enjoyed it with ice cream and made chocolate milk with it. I will NOT loose this copy!!!

Home Made Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients:
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 2/3 cup sugar
2 TBL flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBL butter or margarine (optional)

Directions:
In a sauce pan combine all dry ingredients.
Whisk in milk. On medium low heat stir until smooth.
Bring to boil (stirring often) and let boil 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add vanilla and butter.

Enjoy warm over ice cream or cold in milk.
Store remaining syrup in the fridge and use within a week.


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Rite of Passage Milestones

Certain milestones are extra special.... ones that are the "Rite of Passage" kind, marking a definitive step towards adulthood. The 'Special Plate' has been put to a lot of use lately! Three of our four children have passed such milestones in the last week. Wesley went to work with Chris for the first time.... becoming a working man! Robyn has smooth legs!!! She is officially a leg shaver!! Ethan lost his first tooth!

Each one of these milestones merited a family celebration.... building memories, enjoying their journey from child to adult!!

How do you celebrate milestones? Any fun ideas you could share??

Creating 'Rites of Passage' has to be done as a family, our culture has vastly reduced the number it recognizes. Kids resort to drinking, smoking, drugs, petty crimes and s*x to feel 'grown up'. It is my desire to give my children many affirmations of their increasing maturity so that they don't have to create it for themselves. Celebrating their milestones is worth every effort. It is my belief that children will live up to expectations... expect great things and they will give them to us. It is a blessing to a child to expect great things of them.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Redneck FUN!!!

Redneck Slip'n Slide!!!! All my fellow redneck friends KNOW how much FUN you can have with a Tarp + Water + Dish Soap + Oil!!!!!! I'm telling you redneck FUN is the way to go. These pictures were taken Wednesday for Wes' 12th birthday. His friends (and siblings) had a BLAST!!

They even managed to slide PAST the edge of the tarp.... grass does leave some rug burn! LOL!!























































Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The BIG twelve!!! Birthday time!

Happy Birthday, Wesley!!!
My first born is TWELVE today!!!!
My life has never been the same since that amazing day.... I have GROWN so much... right along with him. Anyway, in tribute of his big day I thought I would share with you some of his favorite songs. Wesley is a great kid, with a HEART for God and others. He is a blessing to all those that have the privilege to be in his life!! Here he is with his Dad.. . they really have a blast fishing...
Enjoy these songs that he picked out!










Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather