My blog has MOVED!

Here is the link to my new blog home:

http://lilyandherlife.blogspot.com

Don't worry; everything is all there from before. I just moved the contents of this blog to the new location. I have to slowly redo the look of the old posts, because it is ugly ugly ugly with the new layout.

See you there!

The roosters are such slackers

A couple weeks ago, I woke up every morning around 4 a.m. for no particular reason. That happened... oh, probably 5 or 6 mornings. So I gave up and adopted the if-you-can't-beat-'em, join-'em outlook.

And I now go to bed around 8:30 with my children and get up at 4 a.m.

I am not a morning person by nature. I prefer to hang out with the owls each night and join folks for lunch the next day. (Of course having children has changed how late I stay up and sleep in.) But this is working remarkably well. This way I am getting at least 3 hours of solitude every day, guaranteed.

By the time the kids get up in the morning, I've had some serious alone time. I've read my Bible, exercised, and conquered any projects that I wish.

I never thought I'd be living the "early to bed, early to rise" lifestyle!

I made homemade bread!

Recently I got a grain mill and a Bosch. So now, I am making homemade bread! After 2 failed batches, this was my triumph! Behold, and marvel!

Fresh from the oven!

See the beautiful waffle pattern on the lower half of the loaf? That is a nice touch from the bread pan.

Ooh, what lovely bread slices. Moist, soft, yet firm enough to make a great sandwich!

YUM. Don't you want some?

All sliced, bagged and ready to be frozen or used!

Thinking of changing my blog

I was thinking TOTAL makeover.

New pseudonyms for the kids, for myself. New title. New look.

LOL whatcha think about that?

Just want to essentially start over. Something light and fun.

Yes, I know. I'm fired.

But if you fire me, then there won't be a blog. Not that there will be a loss of posts or anything if you fire me.

Let's see... since I last posted, not much has changed. Just one tiny thing: I'm starting to make my own bread. I'm cheating a bit and using a Bosch to do the dirty work for me. Shhh, don't tell!

Even grinding my own flour. I can't believe I'm doing that. But it is so easy. Dump grain in one spot. Turn dial. Flour comes out in a different spot. Voila. Fresh flour.

So, am I fired?

On to the adventure!

We said goodbye to my husband the better part of a week ago.  It was very difficult, but now we are marching on.  We'll be okay.  

He's called 3 times so far, and it is so good to hear his voice.  It's amazing he can be so far away and yet I can hear him so clearly.  And to hear his laugh... that is like music.  

My older kids have mentioned a few times that Daddy is going to die.  That is sad to hear from your children's lips.  I have talked it over with them, reassuring them as much as I can.  They seem to understand a bit more that death isn't inevitable, but I'm sure we'll have to cover it again.

And we're going to have an adventure while he is away.  He'll have his own adventure, and we'll have ours.  Lots of field trips and exploring the area we live in.  Starting some new traditions for us to help fill the lonely hours, which I hope will make some great memories.  

All in all, I feel hopeful, even if a bit lonely for him.  Oh, the things we will have to share with him!  And then he won't have to worry about us back here.  He can do his job, knowing we are ok.

Saying goodbye

Don't worry - I'm not leaving blogging.

I just have to send my husband off to a different country.  

This is very hard.  I'm trying so hard to hold on to the hours, but they are slipping through my fingers.  I am praising God, because I was supposed to drop him off tonight with his unit, but we've been given a bit more time.  I'll take every bit I can get!

Once again, I wish I could bottle up certain moments to keep for later.  Wouldn't it be wonderful?