A 3 Year Old to Her Big Brother

Lily says with great exitement, "Mama, I'm gonna help Jacob skin his bunny rabbit!?"

And after that was done....

Lily asks, "Can we skin the deer now?"

And so are the days of our lives.....

Count Your Blessings....

Name them one by one. I could not sleep last night. So I started praying and thinking and praying some more. I learned early on in motherhood to try to saver the rocking and walking and night time comforting that goes into gassy, teething, or sick babies. I started a habit of quiet prayer during these times. Prayer can quickly turn a resentful spirit into a thankful spirit.

I cannot blame my sleepless night on Rose, it was just one of those nights. Thinking of the New Year left me reflecting on this past year. There were many challenges and many blessings. I started the New Year with a baby. It doesn't get any better than that! Soon to follow was a new nephew! Thank God for children!

I began to think about how my kids have grown this past year. Of course physically they grew more than I care to count! But they have matured and the four oldest have become such a blessing. There is a point with kids that all the nurturing and pouring in of time and energy and training is rewarded. They know how to do pretty much everything I can do around the house. They know how to take care of one another. We may very well fall short when it comes to text books, but these kids love the Lord, have a genuine desire to grow in the Word, and they know how to take care of each other. I am so very proud of them.

I won't spell out all of the challenges this year has brought my way, but I do want to give God praise for bringing me through every one of them. One thing I praise Him for is protection. I see it everyday. He protected Wendy from serious injury when she took a big fall a couple of months ago. He has provided great healing for her little mouth. She prayed that God would bring her teeth down, and praise God her prayer was answered!

I am also so thankful as we prepare to celebrate Rose's first birthday that I was able to successfully nurse her without supplementing. I had some unique challenges that I have not had to deal with ever before. I know God allowed this and I am so thankful that our prayers were answered and He continues to supply all of our needs.

But even the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Happy New Year

Count your blessings......

Cute Therapy

Merry Christmas!

picture credits: Abigail , Anna, and Jacob

Food Lion and CVS

Our Food Lion only marks down meats but ,I am finding that it is worth a trip in to get these deals. They mark down well before the sell by dates too! I purchased the following:

• 6 pounds of frozen vegetables
• 2 loaves whole grain bread
• 2 pounds deli turkey
• 13 one pound packs of beef hot dogs
• 2 1/3 pounds sliced honey ham
• 4 pound whole tyson chicken
• 11 pound Smithfield ham
• 3 pound boneless pork loin
• 4 1/3 pound pork roast

Total spent $55.89 ($1.16/lb.) for meats and veggies

It was a pretty good week at CVS too. I spent more cash than usual because I started with only 5 extra care bucks. I did four transactions rolling extra care bucks and had one 5 off 30 that came by email. I spent about $10 cash and ended with a 7.99 ECB and 3.00 ECB. Next week is looking really good! Be sure to check out Southern Savers for all the details!

And The Winner Is...

Congratulations Meredith!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday
B-cereal, toast with cream cheese and strawberry or blackberry jam
L-homemade macaroni and cheese
D-strawberry and banana smoothie,scrambled eggs
desert after tree trimming....honey bun cake ( recipe at the end, and I will add a photo after it's done) Thanks Marie!

Tuesday
B- cereal, bananas
L-turkey sandwiches, pickles
D-whole wheat fettuccine alfredo, peas

Wednesday
B-cinnamon bread, grapefruit or juice
L-beans with cornbread
D-baked chicken, potatoes, steamed mixed veggies

Thursday
B-eggs, oatmeal
L-smoothie, pbj
D- grilled cheese, fries

Friday
B-cereal, bananas
L-beans and rice
D-Roasted whole turkey, sweet potato casserole, dressing and gravy

Saturday-
B- muffins
D-leftovers

Honey Bun Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
8 ounces sour cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 tblsp. cinnamon

Mix together first four ingredients stirring by hand. Pour half of batter into 11x13 pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour remaining batter on top and swirl the batter. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

Icing:
Mix together 2 cups powdered sugar with 4 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Punch top of cake with fork, pour over hot cake.

Don't forget the giveaway to celebrate my blog-a-versary! If you haven't already go leave a comment!

Blog Anniversary and Giveaway!

Monday December 15 will be the first anniversary of Joyful Nine. I can't believe quickly the past year has gone by. It seem like yesterday that I was counting the days waiting for Rose to be born!
I have enjoyed learning to blog and still have a lot to learn . I love sharing photos with family and sharing recipes and just the day to day things of our home with my real life friends and my blog friends, like Monica. Blogging is great for sharing all our frugal finds!
I don't have as much time as I would like to write about homeschooling and our day to day life. This is why you usually see more pictures than words here:) I love taking pictures of everything and if I didn't need sleep you would see multiple posts everyday. However, since I need sleep and we need food and clean clothes, it is more hit and miss here than I would like! Lord willing, I look forward to another year of blogging!
To celebrate my blog-a-versary I will share my favorite blogs to read:
In no particular order...

• Tammy's recipes
• Like Merchant Ships
• Shine Again
• Money saving Mom
• Biblical Womanhood
• Nesting Place
• Southern Savers

Now...help me celebrate my anniversary by leaving me a comment! Every blogger loves a comment! If you are a regular reader, let me know!
I will randomly choose one person from the comments to win a $10 gift card. I will even let you choose what kind of card! You can choose from the following....CVS, Kroger, Wal-mart, Walgreen's, Food Lion, Starbuck's, or McDonald's.
So, leave me a comment! Be sure to tell me what gift card you want if you win and your email address if you don't have a blog. The contest will end at midnight on Monday the 15th. I will announce the winner sometime Tuesday.

Abigail's First Piano Recital

Abby did a beautiful job in her first recital. She played "We Three Kings". She was very nervous, but all the practice and playing has payed off. She played so gracefully despite the butterflies!
It was a great way to start celebrating Christmas. I am so thankful for Abby's desire to learn to play. It is such a blessing to hear her playing hymns and beautiful music through the house.

Abby, we are very proud of you!