Frugal, Green, Rabbits OH MY!

It's been a long month, and so eventful! We have a great garden going on, with tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, greens, okra, pumpkin, watermellon and carrots! This saturday is my oldest sons birthday, (he turns TWO!), and my father in law is bringing his tiller over to our house. We are adding another garden, because we have lots of plants that are ready to be transplanted, and no more room in our garden. So, that's doing pretty great.

Rabbits, whew, where to start. On my quest to better my families diet, and our health, along with being frugal and raising our own meat, I came across rabbits. Now, before you say "Rabbits? Eww", hear me out. The meat is super tender, more protien then chicken, and lean as can be. A co worker was raising them, and actually was the one to sway me from chickens to rabbits. Well, him and his wife are in the process of moving from their home to an apartment, so we got the whole set up for CHEAP! The frugal me was super excited! We now have 2 females, Daisy & Sweet Pea, and a male, Thumper. We mated Daisy last Thursday, and Sweet Pea Monday, it was kind of akward to watch. The rabbits are pregnant for 31 days before giving birth with 5-10 kits, and when they are 12 weeks we can cull them for their meat.

I love the fact that almost the whole rabbit buisness is usable, their poop is my fertilizer for my gardens, their fur can be sold, and also their meat if we get too much of it. I really think this summer is going to be awesome, we will have a great garden, meat, and fish (If my husband catches a lot). Hopefully we won't have to go to the food store for quite some time!

I'll take lots of pictures of this weekend for Aydens birthday. It won't be too big, we're short on money right now because of some things that came up with my van needing tags/registration and some other things. But, it will still be great. We don't need a lot to make him happy :)

Spring time is ahead!

It is March, one of my favorite months for a few reasons. The warm weather is on its way, some days are already in the mid 80's here in the South, and we're very much enjoying this time to do outside activities. We've started to clear old dirt and weeds from our gardens, and are starting to plant some seeds. We've decided to also turn an old neighbors kiddy pool (one of the $20 dollar ones from walmart) into a container garden. It's actually quite simple, just drill some holes in the bottom, fill with dirt and plant seeds! We're trying a few different vegetables; carrots, lettuce, onions, greens, tomatoes, potatoes, and peas. Although it's a little past the time to plant some, in the south you can pretty much swing it and works out, so I've been told. This will be our first year doing a good size garden, so we're pretty excited.

Ayden turns 2 next month, where has the time gone? We were going to do a big party, but the frugal mama in me broke down. Instead, we're going to just have the Inlaws come into town for the weekend, and we'll all go down to the NOLA zoo and spend the day there. Ayden loves animals, and has never been, so I hope he enjoys it as much as I'm going to!

Cadence is starting to stand, all by himself! He is 8 months this tuesday, and already has such an attitude! He is such a cutie, his brother and he get along amazingly well, I'm one proud mom!

Cody and I just passed our one year mark for our marriage, with many more to come! We're going to visit his family next weekend, and we will have a chance to have a date night to celebrate our one year, and my 22nd birthday (that is March 28th! ). We rarely get out because we don't have family or close friends here, so it will be a nice night to enjoy.

Sometimes I wonder how people live their lives, if it's by how much they make, what they buy or who they have in their lives. I'm often reminded that tomorrow isn't a promise, and to love each day like it's your last. I have many friends on Facebook, and I'm often feeling bad for them because they're not happy in life, but it's becasue of how they live it, in my opinion. A great quote my husand quoted:

" It doesn't matter how much money was in my bank account, the type of house I lived in, things I bought. All that matter was that I was the greatest person in the life of a child"

That speaks for how we live, and I wish more people lived like this. I think they'd find true happiness, and be greatful for everything they have and enjoy life.

What does Christian mean?

Since becoming a Christian, my outlook on many things have changed greatly. But, I can't get over how many people have ill feelings for Christians, not for their faith, but how they act! I hear things like, "Oh, don't throw your beliefs down my throat", or "Christians are SO judgemental" and so on. As a new Christian,  I have only read so much of the Bible. Yet, I've alreay read about how as servents of the Lord, we do not judge others, but love them. This hit me hard, because I was so judgemental and mean, it was horrible.

The Bible also says to share the word of God. I do this, but I don't "throw it down anyones throat". If someone doesn't want to listen, I won't waste my time, but I'll at least try. I love sharing my stories, experiences, and just talking about God over all. It's my duty, as someone who is a beliver to share the word of God to my loved ones to help them be saved. This is important to me, because after death, I want to see my loved ones in Heaven with me, not Hell.

I can understand how some Christians get a bad reputation, but I also fear that there are not many Christians left in this world, as there once was. I believe a True Christian follows Gods word, is non-judgmental, and loves everyone, for that is what the Bible said. I've met a few of these TC (True Christians), and one of them is the reason I am here today as a believer. They do great things to others, and I won't stop sharing the word, but I'll do it respecfully to others.

As a Christian, living by the Bible, my life has changed a lot, as I have said. I see the world differntly, dress and talk differently, and love differently. I love my new life, and I hope others can find their way to Jesus, and I'll help.

Dear time, where did you go!

I've been MIA for quite some time, I know! A few updates!!!

I'm back to work!!!! I am almost healed up, so I should be back to full duty by next weekend. Although I miss being home, I know we need the pay check/health insurance until I become a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). Currently, Cody is a stay at home dad. After college, he tried to find a good job, but after crunching some numbers, it made more sense for him to be stay at home, and not pay day cares. It's working out amazingly well!

We also have gotten rid of our car notes! Yes, I have to say, i'm driving a soccer mom van. I'm having my mother come and pick up the car I have been paying $400 a month on for the last 4 years and I have no more payments now. Woo hoo.

Cadence is almost 7 months old, and almost crawling. We does this little army crawl thing, it's faster than a real crawl so he doesn't do a real one. He is also finally sleeping almost through the night, I missed my sleep.

Ayden is almost two, and we're planning his party now. We decided to do a cowboy theme, at our house with BBQ and all of our close friends and family. I'm more excited than Ayden is, and he is talking more now too! We might give potty training a go next weekend, but I'm not rushing it. I am buying him a cloth diaper pull up, it's so cute!

Our life has changed in many ways. I know earlier in this blog I said we started attending church and I was saved, much more good as come to our lives. We have met wonderful people that we attend church with, that we hang out with outside of church now. It feels amazing to have actual friends that share our beliefs and we like to be around. We also decided to get my IUD taken out, and Natural Family Plan. As of now, we shouldn't have more children until I get out, because it would risk me losing my job. With that said, we won't ever abort a gift, so if we end up pregnant, I know God wanted us to. After I become a SAHM in two years, we're trying for #3 and from there on out having as many children as the Lord sees fit. We're all for children, we love being parents. Many think we're crazy, but I think many are crazy for only having one, and having abortions and taking birth control. It's not our place to judge others though, but to pray when they need it and accept who they are. I stand by those words!

Psalm 127:3-5  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

God bless everyone!

Friends

Just coming back from having a BBQ with our neighbors,  it was a lot of fun!! Cody went bowfishing with the husband, Blake Friday night until 11pm, he had a blast. Now of course, he wants his own bow. He also went back out today with Blake to get the jugs they left, cody got 4 catfish. He is going to start setting lines out there, and we'll have more fish!

So, the whole lawyer/court thing is almost over. One negative, I have to let Michael claim Ayden this year. Its such BS because he doesn't do anything, or deserves it. I still need to find a way to buy a used van. Once Michael signs though, we're having Ayden baptized along with Cadence! And Cody may become a Stay At Home Dad for a little if he can't find work soon. Paying $750 for daycare can be saved. For us, that's a rent payment! Only God knows what will happen. I also feel that Cody isn't ready nor accepting Jesus, and it makes me sad. I really want to share this with him, but he seems closed off. I really hope things change. We have church in a few hours, I'm definitely excited!!!!

Jesus

<p>&lt;p&gt;I've made the decisions to accept Jesus Christ, as my savour. We found an amazing church that we've been attending for the last two Sundays. We're also joining a Young Adult group that the pastors son holds twice a month at his house. Our first get together will be next Friday night, I'm nervous and definitely&nbsp; excited. I've started reading the Bible as well. Its actually very helpful, the back has a page of dates and versus / stories to read each day. Today I read Matthew 4, and tonight is Genesis 10,11 &amp; 12. This will be a foundation for reading the entire Bible over a years time. Of course I will read it faster than a year, but its a good tool for first time Bible readers. </p>
<p>Cody is also accepting Jesus, just a little less involved as I. He hasn't bought a Bible yet, nor started to read. I think he is on the fence still, I'm hoping to help him through. </p>
<p>Cadence is almost crawling!!! He scoots and wiggles and can get his kneews under his big ol belly. Its adorable. We've also became friends with our neighbors!&nbsp; Christina, Blake and their 3 year old boy Noah, and 18 month old girl Addy. We had a play date with then yesterday and I'm going to invite them over for pasta night next weekend.

So, this morning we made home made donuts! Semi-homemade is more like it.

Take a can of biscuits, flatten each one and press a 2 liter cap in the center and move around. It will make your donut and a donut hole. Bring a small pan of oil to heat, put donut in the oil and let cook. Flip it after its golden brown, once golden on each side take out and place in a bowl of sugar. Eat!

Its been a while..

Well, we've been super busy! Our family was in town while we moved into our new house, so we had lots of help! We love it here, its perfect for us! There is only one downside, our cell phone (T-Mobile) does not get good service out here at all. So, on the 15th we're switching to AT&T, in kind of excited. I had my credit ran to see how much of a down payment we needed, $750!!!!!! What?!? I have little credit because I don't have a credit card, my car is in my mothers name, and I dont want credit cards. Well, I guess that's just as bad as having horrible credit. Poo. So we're getting GO phones. Same thing, just have to buy our phones up front. Both lines will be the 50/ month for unlimited everything, that's $110 cheaper a month than what we pay now!!

We also went to church yesterday, and loved it. We are going to start attending every Sunday, I'm very excited. Its a small church, maybe 100 people? We walked in, and the Christmas service was already started and I was really nervous about walking in. I stopped and we waited for this woman to come in behind us and I explained that we were new and didn't know were to go. Turns out, she is one of the lead organizers for the church. She walked us right to the middle of seats and told everyone we were new and to help us feel a warm welcome. Everyone did and it was awesome. Ayden fell asleep 10 minutes into us arriving, abd Cadence was well behaved in his car seat hearing people sing and watching the slide show. I love that the children stay with us, its not a church that we just drop them off somewhere. Merry late Christmas!!

Hopefully today I go to sign papers at my lawyers to end this dispute with Ayden's Bio. Dad. He is giving up because he doesn't have money to pay his lawyer, and is now being nice. And we need to go "in to town" (love saying that, since it takes us 15-20 minutes to go into the city now) to do some food shopping, and maybe swing by the thrift store. I'm thinking about buying fireworks for this weekend, but with the rains we've been having I'm not sure I want the children out in the muddy yard and cold.ignore ayden's awkward face, he was nervous about moving LOL.