"Just ...Looking, Little Brick Rancher"

I was on the internet just looking at homes for sale in my area. I thought, "It would be fun to get another home, a change of scene, maybe closer to town". I spent several days "just looking." As I scanned the homes available in my town and my daughter's town nearby, I could not find one house that I liked better than mine. We have 24 acres. My husband has built a barn, a screened porch, a deck and put up a big above ground pool. Why would I want to trade down. I could not afford to trade up. Too expensive. Even with the gas we spend going and coming from activities in town, I see no advantage to giving up our beautiful country spot. We have made it home since 2000 and our roots are sinking deep into the North Carolina clay. I have been thinking about this a lot since I have been away from home these 7 weeks. When I get home I am going to share with my husband this little writing I found on a homekeeping blog yesterday. I think that it is very true. "Little brick rancher", when I get home I am going to try harder to make you comfortable, good and happy.

Little writing from Neighbor Jane- "The more comfortable you are in your home, the less desire you have to leave it. The more at ease you are in your surroundings the more others want to join you. Making your home feel good and happy is what homekeeping is all about.
In the old familiar Disney movie, “Song of the South”, Uncle Remus shared stories of Brer Rabbit in the briar patch. Brer Rabbit said everyone needs a laughing place–a happy place to escape. Our homes can be those laughing, happy places where we can gain the courage to conquer the briar patches.
Keeping a happy home is not a simple task, yet it receives little accolades from the working world. Perhaps homekeeping’s merits are not best counted in dollars and cents, but in peaceful and harmonious living. "


Contact Me Copyright 2004-2008 http://www.neighborjanepayne.com/

Yes We Adopted Three

Oh yes! We have 12 children and people are amazed, ususally. I thought that I would take a minute and let any lurkers here know that three of them are adopted. The last three- Kendra, Clay and Jon. We were blessed as foster parents to be able to adopt all three of our foster kids. We got them as babies so it was natural that we would want them forever. And that has been accomplished. We had them sealed to us in a temple of the Lord. They are grown now. Kendra is 20, Clay is 19 and in the Navy, and Jon is 17, almost grown. I will say that as they were growning up they were the sweetest and cutest little kids a parent would ever want. We are thankful to have them in our big family. Scrapbook paper at http://www.ajjensen.blogspot.com/ and from a digital freebie by KSC "A New Leaf"

Oh My Stars!

I am still here in Arizona and just decided to eat my nightly treat (a Bryers low carb ice cream bar) out on the front porch, so I could enjoy the beauty of the Arizona night sky-actually, North Carolina has the most beautiful night sky. But I have been known to be prejudiced toward North Carolina. Anyway, when I gazed up into the sky and saw the beauty of all the stars, I felt an overwhelming need to thank my Heavenly Father for all the blessings he has blessed me with lately. I also prayed that He would let our little Emma be born before I have to leave next Wednesday-according to his will and healthy and stong of course. I am so anxious to see her! Seeing that big expanse of sky and all the beautiful stars is evidence that God is truly in the Heavens and even better, right down here with us, blessing us each day. After enjoying my ice cream and taking in the night sky, I went into the house and checked my email. I had gotten a picture of my son Adam holding his two beautiful miracle babies, Aiden and Andrew. Born at 26 weeks, struggling to live, ups and downs and worries and scares, both of them have come home now. First came Andrew and now Aiden and they weigh 6 plus and 7 plus pounds each, a whole 5 and 6 pounds more than at birth. From now on when I look into the sky and see God's creations in the Heavens, ONE of the miracles I will give praise and thanks for will be Aiden and Andrew. "Please come to see me before I leave, little EMMA. Grammy Carol is very thankful for you too"!

Still Biding Time

Several weeks ago I wrote a post about biding time waiting for the birth of my new little grandaughter Emma. At that time, I had come to Arizona from North Carolina, to help my daughter Katie, as she was having preterm labor and was on bedrest. She has a busy little one and a half year old, Ellie. I was happy to get here and be able to do the things that Katie needed me to do. When she was taken off the "stop your labor" medication we expected she would have the baby in 3 or 4 days. Well, several weeks later and one airplane ticket changed, little Emma has not made her appearance. I have to go home next Wednesday so Emma has one week to get here so Grammy Carol can see her born and hold and love her. It seems that nature is the one in charge after all and those of us who are already here just have to wait. I made this quick scrapbook page for this post. It is Katie when she was two and a half. Her little Ellie looks just like her and I can't wait to see who Emma will look like. Meanwhile, we all wait here in Arizona for her arrival. The layout kit is Country Kit by Garden Angel.

Happy Birthday Lindsay

I cannot let this day go by without wishing happy birthday to my 12 year old grandaughter, Linday Jean. She is a delightful and happy girl and I pray she stays that way and does not turn into a mean teenager. It has been a joy to know, love and care for her all these years. She is growing into a beautiful young woman. This week she moves up into the Young Woman program of our church. As she does, I will look a little sadly on the fact that she is no longer a little child. She is a bigger child now, a preteen. But as she grows I will thank the Lord for her and pray that he keep her safely in his care as she ventures out into this scary world. Happy Birthday, Lindsay! Grammy loves you!