tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post1577939749866943014..comments2024-03-28T15:26:50.512-05:00Comments on Renaissance: You don't know what you've gotRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17983592950942904914noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-65519978771228009292015-02-16T19:12:18.482-05:002015-02-16T19:12:18.482-05:00That top picture is one of my favorites you've...That top picture is one of my favorites you've ever taken. I just love it.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01030527178801056471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-82215779414424072602014-12-30T10:02:49.762-05:002014-12-30T10:02:49.762-05:00I am missing your little updates! Hope you have a ...I am missing your little updates! Hope you have a merry Christmas! Bobbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09944289780960250811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-81131173590945635052014-12-29T15:45:27.968-05:002014-12-29T15:45:27.968-05:00Thinking of you since your last post. Our oven\sto...Thinking of you since your last post. Our oven\stove and refrigerator of 14 years all broke the week before Christmas. I had 17 family members to cook for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Life certainly can throw us some challenges.Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00170986298013174197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-45514982826198919892014-12-23T07:11:17.436-05:002014-12-23T07:11:17.436-05:00Can't wait to hear the update on all things mo...Can't wait to hear the update on all things modern :) I rarely comment on your blog, but wanted to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas! <br /><br />Leanne from Farmingfolks.Farmers Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06595763039804420985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-30034823798595125582014-12-19T15:40:30.302-05:002014-12-19T15:40:30.302-05:00Hi Rebecca. I don't know if you remember me o...Hi Rebecca. I don't know if you remember me or not...Jen who lived in MD. I stopped blogging for quite a while but have kept reading your wonderful blog. It wasn't too long ago one of the kids mentioned the time we visited you when you were living near Altoona. I can't remember what year that was but it's been quite a while. I think you even had pictures of our visit on your blog :)<br />Six Pack Adventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08519339140239613979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-39418707775689709302014-12-18T21:36:54.389-05:002014-12-18T21:36:54.389-05:00cutest little wooden shoes ever. I look at picture...cutest little wooden shoes ever. I look at pictures of your home sometimes...so peaceful and all of the country around you - no cement jungle and I see that you are SUPER blessed. Some of what you have is what I'm striving for...longing for in my future. And then again...I'm very happy that right now my dishwasher works and my car is doing just fine. I guess we all have our little blessings. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191274616604585070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-51180185706037923542014-12-15T16:37:56.950-05:002014-12-15T16:37:56.950-05:00great post. You are not the only one who takes th...great post. You are not the only one who takes things for granted. I do too. Just tackle one thing at a time as God allows. Waiting is hard I know. I am so glad you are able to find joy in some things anyway...that can be really hard. Your kids are beautiful.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317710178905734342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-26841303106351634872014-12-15T13:26:14.092-05:002014-12-15T13:26:14.092-05:00Rebecca..Thank you for posting this today..I'v...Rebecca..Thank you for posting this today..I've been reeling over more bad news about the house. News that could honestly be the end of us financially. I've been praying fervently but I've also been letting it consume me. I needed to hear what you wrote..Thank you and hang in there..Love You.Full of Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02731302203793957663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-70992466149252841372014-12-14T09:15:41.512-05:002014-12-14T09:15:41.512-05:00My microwave broke about two months ago. No big de...My microwave broke about two months ago. No big deal. My washer went two weeks ago. BIG deal. And my van? It has 318,000 miles on it. If you can, buy a Toyota when the time comes. (Mine was bought used.)<br /><br />Several years back, my oven caught on fire on Christmas eve with my in laws in route from PA. We didn't have the funds to fix/replace it for several months. I did, however, have a big electric roaster. You can even bake in them. Crockpots are great. And soups are wonderful in the winter, anyway. :)<br /><br />As to the dryer, that would be a priority for me. Have you checked Craig's List, or the like? Do you have a Habitat Restore anywhere near you?<br /><br />Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-75467086008217975882014-12-13T16:34:29.885-05:002014-12-13T16:34:29.885-05:00I had all of my in state children together for a C...I had all of my in state children together for a Christmas day/Chanukah/Thanksgiving day. It was hectic and exhausting and lovely and I'd have cried over the joy of it all if I'd not been so terribly busy, lol.<br /><br />It is hard to do loads of laundry without a dryer and to have to do dishes by hand and bake in the woodstove must take a lot of your time and patience. And I know full well the want/need of a computer when you've come to rely upon it as a creative outlet, as you and I both do. I am sorry for this season, but it IS a season. It will pass. I pray it is a SHORT season with a plentiful one at the end. terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-63916995427918433862014-12-13T14:29:42.810-05:002014-12-13T14:29:42.810-05:00I'm so glad you have a sewing machine now to c...I'm so glad you have a sewing machine now to cope with everything going out at once. And of course over the holiday season. I am really hoping for some pics of your machine/sewing. <br />Hopefully these frustrations turn into blessings in the long run. Sometimes that's so hard to see while we're in the middle of things.<br />Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803828701575309758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-35418262643340394132014-12-13T10:47:16.827-05:002014-12-13T10:47:16.827-05:00Perspective is a great thing. Billions of people l...Perspective is a great thing. Billions of people live without(and always will) all the things you mentioned. I am like your husband, a pessimist. My favourite poem is the following:<br /><br />Hope?<br />Nope!<br /><br />Lol!!!<br /><br />Love reading your blog.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948148571415167380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-20643240177998233742014-12-13T10:22:13.448-05:002014-12-13T10:22:13.448-05:00p.s. - the photo of your contribution to the audie...p.s. - the photo of your contribution to the audience at the wright bros. show?! your foursome is the just the CUTEST. bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11118661736077604362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-58571478425889919602014-12-13T10:19:18.585-05:002014-12-13T10:19:18.585-05:00having lived for over a decade now with no dishwas...having lived for over a decade now with no dishwasher, i'm inclined to express a welcome to you (even if your membership be blessedly temporary) to the Club of Seemingly Endless Silverware. <br />(sigh ... the 'tween-tine handscrubbing of every fork-!)<br /><br />XOXO <br />b (and my wintry weather'd dishpan hands) in vabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11118661736077604362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-62608944212683077062014-12-13T10:15:38.756-05:002014-12-13T10:15:38.756-05:00Sounds like God decided maybe you needed a little ...Sounds like God decided maybe you needed a little excitement in your house! I will pray that your husband will have the knowledge to be able to fix these things and that your finances will support what you need to buy. What have you been cooking if you haven't been using your oven? <br />I think making your FIL that quilt from scraps sounds like such a great idea, when he will love and treasure.Jenn in Indiananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-29965132531707455102014-12-12T15:25:04.568-05:002014-12-12T15:25:04.568-05:00I think celebrating St. Nicholas Day is making a c...I think celebrating St. Nicholas Day is making a comeback. : )<br />We just use our stinky shoes too and read a few books about St. Nicholas.JenniferMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16947209657866343213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-83123944478703430912014-12-12T14:42:52.126-05:002014-12-12T14:42:52.126-05:00Our washer, dryer, and dishwasher all died at the ...Our washer, dryer, and dishwasher all died at the end of November, and we had already decided to help our grown son by letting him buy our newer, but with a lot of mileage, car, which meant we had committed to buying a new one. <br /><br />So we can empathize. Your blog entry was very encouraging, and the mature, sensible way to understand how what was once considered convenience has become "necessity" in our modern age. Being thankful for what we do have -and our ability to adjust and adapt - is the key to contentedness.<br /><br />But I really just wanted to offer a couple of cheaper, stop-gap ways of handling the broken oven and dryer. There are some really good and larger capacity toaster ovens these days. $68 is way cheaper than hundreds, and you could still obtain oven goodies while saving up for the new oven. <br /><br />As for the wet clothes, inexpensive wooden or metal (I prefer the stainless; they are stronger)drying racks don't cost much. I spent about $20 on each of the three I have and place in my kitchen by my woodstove. You can also buy a cheap shower curtain bar to hang over the center of your bathtub to hang clothes so they will drip into the tub. If you have two bathrooms, you have twice the drying space. <br /><br />If you use wood heat, you can increase the humidity in the dry house (better for not getting colds)when the clothes are issuing moisture into the air.<br /><br />There are always ways to see new "blessings".<br /><br />Have a nice holiday season and a very merry Christmas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-60767712076342103512014-12-12T13:02:08.233-05:002014-12-12T13:02:08.233-05:00I try not to take HEAT for granted and my own fert...I try not to take HEAT for granted and my own fertility. It is not nothing to look at my children and see their father's nose and my eyes and to know I grew and nourished their tiny bodies. And of course I'm grateful for my wonderful husband and my Savior.rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10414802366904172408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-30890155226479615622014-12-12T12:48:11.525-05:002014-12-12T12:48:11.525-05:00Thank you for the reminder as I'm lacking moti...Thank you for the reminder as I'm lacking motivation... All of my conviences still work!!! When we were in Uganda (with our kids) those amazing women carried water from a well to their home, and hand washed everything.... Oh my ungrateful heart!! May you be blessed with a Christmas miracle ($$) or a freecycle or Craigslist goodie to re-supply your needs!!! Blessings to you!!! Now to get off my butt!!! Bobbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09944289780960250811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-35459114948001075812014-12-12T11:54:01.315-05:002014-12-12T11:54:01.315-05:00We do St. Nicholas day too! Not many do anymore. ...We do St. Nicholas day too! Not many do anymore. Although we just use our stinky shoes.;)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09256247785562598498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-28214918189754103032014-12-12T11:03:13.385-05:002014-12-12T11:03:13.385-05:00Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, Rebecca, for all th...Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, Rebecca, for all the "servants" quitting AT THE SAME TIME. YIKES!!! :( We are trying to make a big payment and it IS hard to be in the position of "which bill do we pay and which do we leave for now"...I understand in a small way. However, I am RIGHT with you in the fact that in the midst of being "tight", we are sooo very rich. We are warm, have food, have a Christmas tree, clothing, really EVERYTHING we need and so much more!!!<br /><br />My Christmas is a lot simpler this year, because I chose not to do something little for EVERYONE in Amos' family. We are JUST doing our "name" person. Whew. So much stress off. If I could just convince my side to do that. I don't have a lot of handmades on my list...do want to finish a simple quilt for Annie, a grandpa shirt (fabric paint) from my FIL, a couple of grandkid salt dough ornaments (kids thumb prints on them)...hmm, I already assembled a little photo album for my mom full of kid pictures and made pumpkin spice granola in jars for a few gifts...trying to think what else.<br /><br /><br />OH! Where do you get those Dutch Chocolate Letters!!!??? I love all your Dutch traditions and ideas...where do you find them? Online? A book??? I'd love to start some of them!!! I also have some beautiful Dutch shoes!!! You've inspired me to use them more for decoration etc! <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11291951073853426272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-26752467759370761362014-12-12T10:49:41.851-05:002014-12-12T10:49:41.851-05:00just yesterday i had to head out in the morning to...just yesterday i had to head out in the morning to several meetings and appointments and just had like 20 minutes time for housework... plenty to get all my 'employees' running. turned the dishwasher on, put the washing in the dryer and started a new load. and as i did that i was overcome with some serious gratitude that turned into praise! i hope you will be filled with a new joy even in this not so convenient situation... and God will provide! maybe have your kids pray with you for provision... not only is this an opportunity for them to experience a miracle but the children's prayers get the best answers too. you should see my fridge... ;) lydia.purplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09231450877837441718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-58769143348620383642014-12-12T09:56:01.978-05:002014-12-12T09:56:01.978-05:00It's a good reminder, Rebecca. I'm tempte...It's a good reminder, Rebecca. I'm tempted to complain so many times and yes, am totally spoiled. But then I get news like I did the other day of a fellow pastor and friend who was killed in a car accident. His poor wife is distraught and it puts what is really important in life in perspective.<br /><br />So, I'm learning to take these inconveniences as they come and look at the bigger picture and be content. Great thoughts today!Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15813884721045918546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9968516.post-8383553158793903212014-12-12T09:44:57.795-05:002014-12-12T09:44:57.795-05:00A wonderful post Rebecca-and a timely reminder! ...A wonderful post Rebecca-and a timely reminder! Of course, now I am on pins and needles to hear your news!! :)<br /><br />MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03219466742292780254noreply@blogger.com