A First For Me...........

I decided to have a little adventure since my husband is off in KS. so what do you think I came up with? Well, I don't know how many of you have found thepioneerwoman.com, but she is so cool! So I pre-ordered her cookbook as soon as I found out I could and then began to check out her book tour. What do you know, she was in Chicago! So I talked my Mom into going with me, bought the Amtrak tickets, called a friend of Mom's in Chicago and started getting excited! Since it was Misty's birthday we thought we'd let her and Cherish (my little sister) in on the fun too.

The Depot was so cool, such neat old woodwork and so quaint. Not to mention the beautiful roses still bravely blooming.

Waiting for our train................

Aren't these benches just the sweetest things? I think I've found a new cool place for a photo shoot, do you think they'd be impressed?

These girls were pretty excited........

I think I'm so tickled to know that the Mary Kay girl didn't think I looked like I could have 6 kids.....bad news..I think I'm her next target for a call to try and talk me into making some extra cash..now how would I have anytime to even entertain such a thought? She obviously has never had a house full of kiddos. It was funny to meet this girl who Mom and I found very interesting as she gave her sales pitch to another girl over the phone, she was only 19 and earned her MaryKay car in 15 days! Unbelievable! Then we started talking to her and here she is going to school with a girl from our area that we know...small world.

Sue our dear friend who just took over and led us in the right directions..made this train with only 30 seconds to spare ;) I've never been on a double decker....pretty cool.

Out to dinner at a sweet little Italian restaurant where the waiter brought Misty her birthday treat.

Then let the fun began! On to what we came for, and thank goodness Dear Sue had went and pulled numbers for us that morning, or I'm afraid we'd have been there until midnight. As it was being number 38 and 39 we waited for about an hour. It was so cool though to see Ree in person, although after I had my few minutes with her I thought of all kinds of other things I wished I have asked. So if you think she does everything, I did find out she has a cleaning service come in once a wk. but don't ask me how she blogs, homeschools and cooks and everything else she seems to work in. She said she doesn't do everything, like her closets, well whoopie doo, I don't do half what she does and my closets still want to hide.

And yes I made her work.......I took 7 books, I wanted a few on hand for gifts and I already had four people that I know will love them. Then I ended up trading one of my signed ones with a girl because they were from MI. and number 200 and something and were going to have to leave without getting their books signed, I think we made their day.

I've got my Mom hooked on her too now, and I think we might just have to go stay at the Lodge and teach her a few things, and maybe learn a few :)

While waiting in line, here came her little boys Bryce and Todd to sign books. Todd said "could I just sign a T and a 5"? I said sure, he was so tired. I felt so sorry for Ree's husband and boys. You could tell the boys were shot, if I'd have been by myself I'd have hauled them off to read stories, but our friend was waiting.

And yea, I was actually brave enough to get Marlboro Man's signature too. He had disappeared while I was getting Ree to sign my books so I thought I'd just missed my chance, but when I got to the top of the escalator and looked back down there he was, so off I went, I thought Iz would think it was cool too. He seemed like a good man. Ree said he's not perfect, but perfect for her, now isn't that sweet?

Back to Sue's where we had every comfort we could want. Mom and I shared a king bed, so we had a chance to visit until late, which is a rare thing now days with no interruptions.

The waterfalls at the entrance to Sue's neighbor hood.

Downtown Chicago! On Friday then we were up bright and early so we could see some sights. We surprised the girls and took them to the American Doll Place. Sue helped buy them both a doll, they were so happy!

No I didn't get to go here, but next time I shall make it a priority!

The mall was so pretty~and they were putting all these lovely decorations all around the whole city. I'd love to go back and see it all lit up for Christmas

We had fun browsing the Williams Sonoma store...........such lovely ideas

How's that for a Christmas table?

Havin' fun with some mirrored buildings...........Misty was so worried that we would get left behind as the others walked on. Maybe she knew her mother didn't have a clue where we were.

Then back to the train we went, and the girls immediately unpacked their dolls and started playing with their hair.

It was a great trip, a pleasant diversion while my Man is away. I just hate this being alone stuff. Gives me great compassion for single Moms or widows, I don't know what they must do to kill time or entertain kids. God's grace has to flow in great abundance, at least it would have to for me or we'd all crash! I've gotten some fun things done around here though, so even though the house wasn't scrubbed from top to bottom, I did accomplish some things that I've wanted to do for a long time...as soon as Iz gets my camera back I'll fill you in on those.

You all have a wonderful Sunday, and treasure the time you have with your Man, don't let the moments be taken for granted all the time! Blessings, Jess

Hunting here is in full swing! Shad got his bruiser buck on Monday or something like that. My days are running together................I don't know which day I'm living. Israel's brother Jeremy and his wife Cheryl have been here all week. Cheryl and I spent at least one whole day in the kitchen so far :) and seem to find ourselves there more than any other place. We did get to go to my Bible study on Mon. night. Tue night the guys and us took Max and Summer, left the other kiddos with my sister and went to our life group at church. Then yesterday Cheryl and I took my two boys to the dentist and spent some time shopping Shipshewana.....Now today we packed up the kids and all went for a 2hr. walk around the block. We had a great time lugging the stroller and wagon and chatting as we huffed and puffed our way up the hills. Now tomorrow we have an afternoon on the town scheduled! My sister will take over for us after lunch and we'er gonna stay out as long as we please.....lookin' for treasures.

So our week has been a good one, and we are having fun trying new recipes and keepin' the kids in line, well, shall we say trying to keep the kids in line..........

So if you don't have any interest in deer hunting forget this post, because I have to post for Shad and his Dad. I'm proud of the little man too ;) and so happy for his success, this is his 6th deer for the season...he's out again tonight saying he'll shoot a fat doe, and I'll be just as happy if he doesn't, but don't tell him ;).

Blessings on your weekend!

Wow, I don't know where to start pouring and where to stop........the chapter for this wk. of Biblestudy is so packed with treasure!

The Mind of Christ ~ We have the mind of Christ? And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekial 36:27 We can choose to flow in the mind of Christ.

Think Positive Thoughts - The mind of Christ in us is positive: Anytime we get negative we are not operating with the mind of Christ. Psalm 3:3 GOD IS OUR GLORY AND THE LIFTER OF OUR HEADS. He wants to lift everything; our hopes, our attitudes, our moods, our head, hands and heart - our whole LIFE! He is our Divine Lifter!

Be God Minded - YOU will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on YOU, because he commits himself to YOU, leans on YOU, and hopes confidently in YOU. Isaiah 26;3 Meditating on God and His ways and works will need to become a regular part of your thought life if you want to experience victory.

Be God-Loves-Me Minded - And we know and believe the love God cherishes for us. God is LOVE, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. 1John 4;16 I (Joyce) have learned that the same thing is true of God's love that is true of His presence. If we never meditate on His love for us, we will not experience it.

Have an Exhortative Mind - He who exhorts, to his exhortation Romans 12:8 The person with the mind of Christ thinks positive, uplifting, edifying thoughts about other people as well as about himself and his own circumstances. Send thoughts of love toward other people. Speak words of encouragement to them. TO LIVE IN VICTORY, YOU MUST BEGIN BY LINING UP YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GOD'S WORD!

Develop a Thankful Mind - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name Psalm 100:4 A POWERFUL LIFE CANNOT BE LIVED WITHOUT THANKSGIVING. When do we offer thanksgiving? At all times-- in every situation, in all things and by so doing we enter into the victorious life where the devil cannot control us.

Be Word Minded _ And you have not His word living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. ( that is why you do not keep His message living in you, because you do not believe in the Messenger Whom He has sent.) John 5:38 Meditating on the Word of God is one of the most important life principles that we can learn.

Will you flow in the mind of the flesh or in the mind of the Spirit? One leads to death, the other to life. The choice is ours. CHOOSE LIFE!

This book just continues to convict and challenge me in new ways, and how I'm trying to choose Life! It is some days a moment by moment battle, just to take the negative thoughts captive in Jesus Name, and then to fill the empty space with His thoughts. I'm learning............little glimpses of growth here and there, but still finding myself learning more and more that it is His Spirit in me that brings fruit. Just abiding in Him for my life.

I'm spending the evening alone......well, how alone am I with 5 kiddos milling, crashing and bashing around? Maybe not as alone as comfort would permit, but that's my life and I'm gonna give thanks even for a little crashing ;) Israel and Shad are off to hunt, why Shad would need to go I can't imagine. He shot his 5th doe the other morning. Got up went out in the dark, the real kicker......wearing his Dad's 18in. boots that for sure he was swimming in. Climbed his tree with the one in the same boots, makes me shudder, and shot the deer. He came back and got Misty and Grant, they all went and tracked it and Shad drug her out of the woods himself and then insisted that he gut her himself. The child is running on some male stamina.........so we're in for alot more evenings alone than I care to rejoice in :)

We have so few leaves, that this little pile was a rare treat. The kids even hauled them into the storage barn so they wouldn't get wet ;) Desperate I know.

One of my brave geraniums, I can't believe my plants on the porch are still so green.

I love the color these leaves are trimmed in...............

Most of the lovely colors are gone, but I'm still soaking them in for all I'm worth.

My dear rose bush keeps trying to bloom too......................I guess it's not quite ready for winter either.

Aren't these trees just glorious. When ever I drive anywhere I feel like I'm constantly saying "oh look at that, oh that tree is just beautiful" will we get Fall in Heaven?

Oh, yes I really splurged on this throw. Never have I been a fur person, but I was looking for brown accents and when I saw this and then carried it around the store luxerating (I know that's really not a word, but that's the feeling I had) in it's softness I couldn't resist even after the 30% off wasn't for real. It's been worth every dollar though, we all love it's coziness! I also added the brown pillows and have my eyes peeled for more with different patterns and textures.

This table has been so fun too. We bought it at a going out of business auction, and I've loved having it to work with.

And I finally just took matters in to my own hands and hung Misty's chinese lanterns. I always forget to tell Iz I need him to do it for me, so I finally tried and woohoo I did it!

So there's the few new things in my life, and I can't wait to show you a large stack of other new things, but that will have to wait for a few weeks, because I'm not finished adding to it ;)

Hey, love you all and hope you have a beautiful Friday! I get to spend mine with friends from church for the day...

Blessings to you, Jess

Things I'm Kissing Good~bye and Kissing Hello~

Good~bye~ to my tan ;(

Sunshiny days

Beautiful flowers

Barefoot kiddos (wait, they're still running around footloose and shoeless)

Gorgeous leaves keep twirling and swirling their way to the ground

Negative thoughts!

Workin' in my yard

These last baby pounds!

Kissin' Hello~ My runnin' walkin' legs ;)

Cozy winter days

Positive thoughts lined up with God's Truth!

Hopefully Scrapbookin' days

More time with my Man

Laughin' at my talking twins~

Walkin' with my Mom and sister again after all these busy summer days (please girls let's make it happen)

To a life changed by the renewing of my mind, and the power of The Holy Spirit

A new winter wardrobe (don't tell Iz ;)

More time just enjoying my kiddos..........

Have a wonderful week and kiss the firsts with excitement and the lasts with the joy of a job well done. Have a resolve in your heart to take the Way that Jesus leads you in without regrets, without missing out on Today because you are worried about Tomorrow or carrying the regrets of Yesterday. "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about.....the way He loves me, oh, how He loves me! Blessings to you all, Jess

Hello to you beautiful friends~ Seems like so many days have gone by and I just wasn't able to squeeze any moments out to touch base with this lonely site. Don't worry I've kept track of you and enjoyed reading your updates.

The biggest thing that is changing my life right now.............a Joyce Meyer Biblestudy that my Mom and sisters and I are going to every Mon. night. The Battlefield of the Mind! It is so incredibly rich in Truth!

The Choice is Mine~ Our thoughts become our words. It is so important that we choose life`generating thoughts. When I do, right words will follow.

Positive minds produce positive lives. Negative minds produce negative lives. Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt.

Oh, there are so many things that nail me and bring me to conviction and new ways to discipline my mind. I'm really trying to just cry out to Jesus to give me power to renew my mind! I want my thoughts to be His Truth and His Words............

I have been having so much fun with my fall decorations, I had a big party for our young marrieds from church, so of course we had to bring in the color.

I'm so tickled with myself, I planted pansies for the first time in my life. I decided to fall plant my pots and it has bought some real joy to my deck.

Oh, these little people get dearer every day! They are just the most fun to watch, and they are trying to talk, which makes them even more of a riot!

I've got a kitchen groaning under the weight of it's mess, the laundry room can't find it's counter top under the mountain of laundry and the floors need to be swept. Never mind the kiddos need something to eat before I rush off to Biblestudy.

Bless you all~~~~~~~~