Homestead Update

Oh, goodness.

I’ve been hard at work laying foundations for New year routines.

My number one priority this year is my prayer life and relationship with God. I’ve been getting in the practice of waking up before the children (at least the youngest two- my 3 year old isn’t much of a sleeper) to spend 45 minutes to an hour reading through 1 John (yep, same book, every day) and praying. It’s been really extraordinary how God has blessed my diligence. Today was a particularly difficult day to get up and going. But, as I was fighting the urge to roll over and sleep for another hour, a still small voice asked me, “Which do you love more, sleep? Or the Lord?” I certainly don’t want to be ashamed of that answer when I see Christ face to face. So, I got myself out of bed, read the first 2 chapters of 1 John, and spend 15 minutes in prayer. It wasn’t my goal, but it’s a start. And I was able to rest a bit more before I got the kids up for breakfast. Honestly, I know my body needs rest, because I’m starting to feel a little run down. So among my other goals is making time to rest and be rejuvinated. I have a hard time with that because I feel lazy. But, I also know it’s important to take care of myself. So… It’s just something I’m working on.

In other news, I’m STILL working on a baby quilt I didn’t get finished for Christmas. Sorry, Baby Whitley.

I’ve also got the beginnings of a sock on my knitting needles! Hooray!!

I spent a few weeks practicing stitches until I felt comfortable with them and then decided, why not? Let’s try a sock. I don’t feel brave enough for 2 at a time yet, and I know that means I’ll likely have 2 slightly different socks at the end. And I’m okay with that. Baby steps, after all.

For the new year, I’m working on some free printables for the spiritual disciplines as well as some digital downloads for the Etsy shop. The free printables will be located on the Bible Study page of the blog. There will be Bible reading logs, prayer guides, inductive study worksheets, and more. This should all be available by the end of January.

Next to come will be a meal planning/grocery shopping bundle. I’ve had a lot of people ask me how I feed my family of 5 on a budget of $25/person/week. So, I thought I’d put together a bundle that walks you through my planning process and shows you how I do it.

The bundle will include menu planning worksheets, grocery list, price list, recipe cards, and a list of my favorite resources for recipes and hacks for stretching your food budget.

Here is what it looks like so far!

It should be available for purchase and download by February, Lord willing. That’s the goal anyway.

So lots of exciting newness coming soon! We pick up Flynn pup at the end of this week and then we begin his training, which I’m sure will delay a lot of my projects. I’m going into it expecting that though, so it’s all good.

In the meantime, we’ll ring in the New year tonight with some good food and probably a family movie marathon.

I hope you all have a happy and blessed New Year!