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Just For Such A Time As This : Becky’s 50+ Life http://justforsuchatimeasthis223675015.wordpress.com Hope to see everyone over there.

Life is full of changes, new paths, new ways.

Terry and I did get married in 2012. We are empty nesters for last year and a half, and loving it. Nana has more grand babies. I work as a cashier for a local store, and really enjoy it. I will not try and update you on everything in this post.(But a little here and there). We live in the city, but really just right out side the city limit, haha.

My life has changed so much over the years. But life comes in stages and with each stage comes changes. Some of the changes are good and accepted, and then you have changes that are not so good and not easily accepted.  My biggest change lately is I turned 50 last year, boy that really snuck up fast. Which is really not bad but it does have side effects that are not easily accepted!! Snap, crackle, pop, nap time, new bedtime before 9pm, energy (what’s that) oh my this getting older was really over rated, really it was. Some of you know of which I speak. I am still kicking just not as high, haha. So here I go into my next stage of life.

I am not doing any of the farm life to date. I am looking forward to getting chickens again, hopefully this year. I do still keep foods\papers stocked.I still but in bulk, I know it’s just the two of us, but somethings are still cheaper in bulk.  I do make my our laundry soap, and have used it for about a year now, the saving is so worth it. I do miss my farming products and life.But for now I am enjoying this life. I have had a lot of first times over the last few years, and so enjoying them. Like camping, eating at a dinner theater, rodeo, fried rice, my very first paid vacation(40 hours paid), going to waterfalls around us, and so many more. Now that I work outside the home there is not enough time to do the garden and all the animals. But maybe again someday.

I have brought along some of my old ways, learned some new ways and trying to learn more each day.

Life is really short, laugh more and love much.

Becky’s Farm Life Brought to the City

I’m Back, and have missed ya all :)

    Grab a cup of tea or coffee as this might be a long update.  It has been almost a year since the last update, and I am sorry. So much has happened and changed that I am now just catching my breath, just before more changes come. First, I have been thinking about you all  the last week and wanting to start writing again. And Sheila S., you are an answer to prayer about starting this back (you will understand why in a bit). So thank you my friend. 

     In February 2011, I took some time off after getting my Associates in Accounting in January, which was a much needed break.  Then girls and I  moved into the city into an apartment. This was a really be change for us.  But within a week TommieLynn had all the city kids in the stream/small river and woods not to far from the apartments. Some of these kids have lived here a while and not know about the woods. So TommieLynn has some what adapted to city life but hates apartment life. The farm was getting to much for me to care for and it did not help getting stuck out there for two weeks after a big snow storm. March 2011, I started school back to get my Bachelor in Accounting. I have meet a wonderful man, Terry.

     The summer of 2011: Terry took us on our first camping trip. We have an wonderful time and now are counting the days until we can do it again. Terry took me to see a lot of different waterfalls in our area and showed me all the country back roads with the old farm houses. We went to the lake many times, I loved floating in a tub on the lake. We had a great summer of fun and laughter.

     

 

 

    TommieLynn started playing Basketball this school year because we lived in town so it was close enough to get her to practices. She loves playing basketball and is still doing great in school, all A’s and B’s. I am so proud of her.  In about October, I started taking classes with H & R Block to be a tax preparer this year and passed the class and have my IRS pin number to do taxes. I start work next week but I am a bit scared as I have not worked out the home for over 15 years now. It was very hard for me to do my college classes plus the tax classes but thank the Lord I did it and passed both. Jobs in this area are few to none, and most say I have tooooo much experience and too much education to hire me. So the H & R Block class came around, so I took it. At least I can work 4 months a year. The Lord has a job for me, so I am doing all I can until that job is ready for me. Tasha and Gabby are doing good and Gabby is growing so fast. They lived with us at the apartment but now have their own place.  

    Terry asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We will be getting married on Feb. 4, 2012. We both are counting the days. I am so very happy. The Lord has been so very good to me.

 

Gabby, Tasha, Becky, Terry, TommieLynn: Dec.2011

    My life has been so full and busy this last year, but all is good. And now I am getting married and moving to Terry’s house and starting a new job, all within the next few weeks. God is good. I have had ache to write here again but was not sure what I would write about anymore with me now living in the city. But the Lord shows you things when He wants you to do something. First, the ache to write again, then TJ (step son) wanting to know more about the way we lived and did things at the farm, and then Sheila S. message. So I am writing again and will take one day at a time and see what the Lord leads me to write about. I am starting yet again another road in this journey of life, and I am looking forward to see where I am going and I am going to enjoy every minute of it, one day at a time. I will be posting again this week. Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed New Year.

Becky’s Farm Life Brought to the City

 

Catching Up

It has been a long time since I have been here. I have just finished my Associate’s Degree in Accounting, and am now taking a short break before returning for my Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. I received the President’s List award a few time over the last two years. It has been a long haul, and a few times I know I fried my brain. I have left my comfort zone some many times in the last two years, that I no longer have a comfort zone. Which I guess in some ways is a good thing. But I have finished and I am moving on. So all of you younger people out there reading this, go back to college while you are still young, as it is and will be so much easier for you. I have learn so much over the last two years and not just accounting information (from classes). I have learned more about myself, about God, and about people in my life. I have gone to new places, seen new things, and loved every minute of it.

 

TommieLynn

She is still doing wonderful in school, making all A’s and B’s and still loving school. She hated being out of school for Christmas Break, and now we have had a lot of snow over the three weeks. Which means school has been called off, and she hates it. TommieLynn has been a great help to me over the last two years while I was in college. She would push me to keep going when I wanted to just give up, and helped out so much around the house. I am so very proud of her, and thankful for all her help and love. She is growing up so fast. TommieLynn is a wonderful Aunt too. Gabby is trying to call her, “Aunt T ”, as we thought this might be a bit easier for her than Aunt TommieLynn. I had told TommieLynn, that when I became an CPA ( which will take about three more years), and was making a lot of money, I would buy her a big screen TV for her room. So I think that is why she has keep pushing me on in my education. LOL She is taller than me now, and so very much like her dad, which is mostly good.

Becky and TommieLynn  12-10

 

Gabby 12-10

 

 Gabby, not sure she can eat it all. 

 

Gabby

Gabby is growing and learning more everyday. She is so full of smiles and love. She keeps us on our toes and laughing. I am beginning to remember what it is like to have a 18 month old in the house, that likes to get into everything. Tasha is doing good. But keeps asking how I did it with three and her having a hard time keeping up with only one. LOL Tasha is a good mom, and learning more everyday.

Tasha and TommieLynn 12-10

Farm

Not much news on this subject, as we no longer have any animals except two dogs. It got to be too much for TommieLynn and I with us both in school. And with just us two eating at the time, the farm was put aside. Will I ever doing farming again?? I am not sure, but if I need too, I will know how. 🙂 As of today, I do not want to farm any time soon, a few chickens could be in the cards but that’s it for now. Fresh chicken eggs is what I miss the most, store bought eggs are yucky.

 

I have looked over the blog here yesterday and today, I have come a long ways. And I want to thank all my readers for your prayers and comments as they have meant the world to me. TommieLynn told me yesterday, I should start writing here again, now that classes are over. Then I thought I no longer do what this blog was meant to show (information). Then I read my “About” section, and seen that this blog is about my new journey in this life. I had thought about deleting this blog and starting another, but it is still helping so many people. So I am back writing, praying I can still help someone along this life we all live. I was in awe in how many people still looked at my pages and posts here, even after not up dating the blog for over a year. I could not believe some of the sites that link to this blog. TommieLynn and I went looking at some of the sites that link to here, one was CNN. My most hits (looked at) post is on “Canning Potatoes”. If you’d like to see that post, type it in the search box on the right and it will take you to it.

I will try and ask all the back comments you all have left, but if I miss yours please repost your question. Please still keep us in your prayers, as to where the Lord wants us and what He wants us doing. Pray that I will find a job in accounting too, please, it has been over 15 years since I have worked outside the home. It is so very good to be back on here. Thank you all again.

Talk to you soon. 🙂 

Fall is here and so am I

     Boy, have I missed you all. I was just reading some of my older posts. And most of you have been with me through it all. Thank you all for your prayers. The Lord has brought me a long way. I am really doing good. I just finished my first quarter with high A’s in all three classes. Now I get a week off and then start back. I am really enjoying college. TommieLynn is doing great in school. Tasha and Miss Gabby are both good.

   TommieLynn and I went to town today. We had a really great time. I found a lot of bargains at the thrift stores, blue jeans and pants and shirts for 25 cents each, we both got some. Just what we were looking for, thank you Lord. We had lunch at a outdoor hamburger stand. It was great weather for it. 

    Fall is finally in the air, along with the sunshine.  You see it has rained here almost everyday for over 2 weeks. This past week has been sunshine. It’s been a wonderful week. I love fall time of year. I have friends coming in this weekend to help me finish getting ready for winter, the high ladder stuff.

    The question you all have asked here, I will get answered really soon. And I am going to try my best yet again to keep this blog going. I have really missed this. And taking a look back on it all today, was good. You all have blessed me so much, thank you.

    Please let me know how you all are doing? Anything new going on? Did you find a new saving tip? Have you been blessed, and want to share?

 

Thank you all again, May God bless you all to overflowing.

 

Becky

Down at the Farm — Winter is on it’s way

     It’s been a long week. Tommy has really been on my mind a lot. And seem like every time I turned around, there is something to remind me of him: a song on the radio, a note he has written, a saying he always said, ect. I have cried all week.  I do good most days but this past week has been very hard. ( I think it’s because I’m starting to get ready for winter and doing things he used to do. And trying hard to remember everything that has to be done.) Please say an extra prayer for me this week. I have been sick too. It’s in my chest and I’m coughing and sneezing all the time, I think it’s sinuses. I hate feeling yucky. I have been using the silver water so much that someone could trade me in and get rich. 🙂 I have tried to stay away from Gabby so as she does not get sick, in case it’s something other than sinuses.  I was up all night coughing, and  overslept this morning, causing TommieLynn to have 8 minutes to get ready for school and to get to the bus stop. I have never seen her get dressed so fast. But I hated it that she had to rush this morning.

     Winter is getting closer everyday. In a way, I am ready for cooler weather. It has been really hot here this year.  I will be covering my windows with plastic this year from the inside as I do not do ladders well. 🙂 The food barn is in good order and ready for winter.  I still need to stock up more on: bath paper, sugar, veg. oil, toothpaste, shampoo. For some reason these run out the fastest. Tommy used to tell me to buy stock in the bath paper company, and we’d be rich. 🙂 I know I can make homemade bath paper, but time is not there yet. But I know how if I have too. I have to change out the water in the 425 gallon tank in the next few weeks for winter use. I clean it out every six months to keep the water fresh. I am so thankful Tommy brought that tank, even thou at the time I questioned him buying it. Tommy has so taken care of us, still now. I can now see all the things he has done over the years and the things he has taught me, that I am using now and they are making my life easier. Thank you Lord for my time with Tommy.  I need to get someone (who is not afraid of heights) to cover all the house’s outside vents and close the chicken house window up with plywood.  I need to blow out the gas heaters with the air compressor and check the gas lines.  I have to get the chicken water heater out and cleaned and check to see if it’s still working. I would like to get a few more blankets and make more cloth napkins. And hopefully find time to make everyone some wool house socks.  And I need someone to show me now to use a skill saw. I need to do a few small things around the farm before winter comes.

 

A few questions to you all or your husbands:

1. How do I prepare the push mower for winter so that it starts next spring? The car is ready for winter.

2. How do I prepare our generator for winter? change spark plug, oil, gas??? It has not been started in months. It has a push button start and pull cord start. And it has left my mind on how to start it. Tommy always did more than just pull the cord and I can’t remember.

3. Is there anything else I am missing that needs to be done before winter sets in??

4. I need to get 5 gallons of back up gas for generator or car use. How long does gas stay good??

 

     School is still going great. I am learning so much and believe it or not, I’m loving it.  I have always loved learning new things.  And the writing papers thing is getting easier, but still not fully enjoyable yet. I am holding high A’s in all three classes and we are now at the half way point. This fall I am going to try taking four classes instead of three. If I can pull it off, I will finish earlier.  Tommielynn is still enjoying school. I am so proud of her, she is going great.     

     Thank the Lord the tractor sold, and the truck had died about a month ago. But I found a car, an 1988 Olds. Cutlass Ciera, 4 doors with AC, and a sun roof for a great price. Thank you Lord. The girls and I can now get around easier. I feel like a princess now with AC and a sunroof. TommieLynn loves the sunroof. 🙂 But I still feel like an ant in a car after so many years in a truck that’s higher than most cars. The car is great on gas, 3 1/2 trips to town equals one trip in the truck. 🙂 The only draw back to the car is, I can’t haul the 100lb. gas tanks (they are about 5 ft long and it will not fit in the trunk) needed for our heat this winter.  So I am trying now to figure out a way to keep us in heat this coming winter. No one in my neighborhood has a truck.

 

Well I had better get back to the books. Thank you all for your comments and prayers, they have kept us going. I wish I could give each of you a hug.  Hope you all have a blessed day.

Becky

Still Rolling with the Flow – Aug. 14, 2009

     It’s been a while and I am still here. Boy, I am getting old. I have been so busy that I am not sure if I am coming or going. Busy with what? Life. As you all know, things do not happen, one thing at a time. It all happens at once. And right now, I’m glad I did not plant a garden this year.  And at times, TommieLynn has to remind me to eat. Why, because I honestly forget too. You mom’s should understand this very well. Often times there are more things to do, than time to do them.

       It’s been very hot and sticky here for a while. One day, I went and sat in the food barn with the AC for about an hour. When I came out, my glasses fogged up and they started dipping water. And then I was hotter than when I went in. I am looking forward to fall weather. 🙂

     TommieLynn has started school and loves it. She is still not sure about  this thing they call “homework”, and can’t seem to figure out why she has to do it, when she did school work all day.  How do you explain homework, to a home schooler, who never had it before? But she has been doing it and doing a great job. She really likes all her teachers.

 

This is her first day of public school. Thank you S.S. from MI, for the clothes, shoes, book bag, and school supplies, they were a great blessing.

 

      A week ago today, TommieLynn was attacked by a red nose pit bull dog. A long story, main points being, for two weeks owners said it didn’t bite, they called TommieLynn into their yard to pet the dog, dog attacked her. We spent 4 hours in ER, dog did not have current shots. The dog got her nose good. And she still loves dogs. But they all don’t like her, as this is her second dog attack.

The dog also put a bite in her mouth, on the top of her gums.

 

 

     Gabby is growing as fast as the grass in my yard. She smiles all the time. But her days and nights are still mixed up. She is now over 9 pounds, and 24 inches long. And she’s the house ham.

This is our drama queen and she knows it.

 

     Tasha had her gallbladder taken out earlier this week. She is now still sore and tired.

      My classes are still going great. As of today, I am holding high A’s in all three classes. The last four papers I have written, I had gotten a 100% on. How that happened, I still do not know. And I’m waiting for the teachers to send me an e-mail to say they made a mistake. 🙂  Thank you all for your prayers.

      In my down moments, I’ll say I just can’t do it ( after 6 hours of just reading with more to do or one week to write a paper). TommieLynn will pipe up and say, ” I know you can do it, mom”, with a smile on her face. I will ask her to suspend me from school, and she’ll just laugh and say “no, you have work to do.” Boy, the Lord really blessed me with her. Now we will see what happens when I use her words on her, when she has homework. 🙂

     And boy am I going to get plenty of practice on writing papers, 4-6 papers due every two weeks. This is way out of my comfort zone. I know there will come a day in the future when this will no longer bother me. Maybe, just maybe, writing all those papers will help me write that book Tommy and you all wanted me to do. I am being stretched, remolded, and refined. What does the Lord have in store for me? And will He give me any hints along the way?

      Well it is time to hit the books again. Thank you all for your prayers.

Have a great day.

Becky

Update: 7/20/09

   Well, I now have one week’s worth of school work under my belt. Boy, I forgot how much work you have to do. I am learning so much. I’m taking 3 classes and they keep me on my toes, along with Gabby. I got an e-mail from my school saying they would transfer 4-classes = 16 credits, and I needed 96 for my degree. Starting out with the 16 is great. Boy, I was doing the happy dance all over the place. The 4 classes were the hardest for me, two of which were Composition 1 &2. Writing is not my strongest area, term papers are not like writing here. The Lord answered prayers again, thank you Lord and thank you all for praying. But don’t worry, I still get to practice writing those term papers. I have three due this Saturday. I printed off a ream of paper, on how to write a term paper as it’s been 12 plus years. As soon as I get these three wrote , I’ll be fine and breath a little easier.

   This week at school has made me leave my comfort zone more than once. Most times I took a step with shaky knees, and others with a lot of prayer. That comfort zone of ours is a nice place, the only thing is,  you don’t grow much there. I believe it’s just a resting place.  And I really like it there. 🙂 But I want and need more in my life, so I have step out. The Lord must have big things planned for me as I have not been able to stay in that comfort zone of mine much this year. And that at times has been scary. Like most people I want to grow, but I don’t want to leave my comfort zone to do so. So I’m taking steps of faith, one day at a time.

   The girls have been a great help this passed week, fixing dinner and cleaning house, letting me study, etc. As I try and fit my schooling into the day, along with everything else. Thank you girls. 🙂

   My truck is on it’s last leg. I no longer take it to town, just a corner store that is less than a mile away. That way when it dies, I’ll be close to home and the auto repair shop. So I have been borrowing a car and shop for two weeks worth at a time. So please pray that I’ll sell the tractor, so I can buy a small car. My neighbors have been great. ( another step out of my comfort zone) You don’t see having a car as being in a comfort zone, well hopefully you will never find out it is. Sometimes being an independent person has it’s draw backs. (yet another lesson I’m learning). Boy, it’s great I enjoy learning new thing, or this year would of really, really been hard on me.

   Gabby is 3 weeks old today. She is such a joy to have in the house. Tasha is a great mommy ,too.  Gabby is getting her fill of love, while she gives us her smiles and funny faces.

   The youth group came out for two days, last week. Oh what a wonderful blessing they were.  My yard got mowed, weed eated, garden weeded, some things moved around. What a blessing the Lord sent. As the yard was getting high, and first week of school, He was watching out for us yet again, Thank you Lord.

There are blessings in everyday, you just have to find/look for them, they are not all big blessing. And at times the smallest blessing are really the biggest.

   Well it’s time to hit the books. I pray you all find at least one blessing today.

Becky

 

  

Helping Each Other In These Hard Times

  The last few days I have gotten an insight into those around me. At times when we are going through our own hard times, we don’t look around and see. And we all are bad for this, even me.  I live in a small neighborhood were most are on fixed incomes or are low income; older people, families with children. The Lord has opened my eyes to those around me. One family has 10 kids, 3 grandbabies, and 3 adults (only one car that holds 4); another an older blind man with his older sister living together (just to make ends meet, both their cars are in need of repair). These families are having car troubles too, along with me. So I have put together kind of a neighborhood car help. We  have agreed to call each other when we HAVE to go to town, to see if the others need anything or a ride to town. We all live about 20-30 minutes from town, and no one goes to town for fun. I am praying this will work for us all. All the cars are on their last legs and some have stopped working.  Hopefully taking turns going to town will save gas money along with car wear and tear. We as a neighborhood, have been trading things around with each other. We have become a closer people. We all have a way to help others along. Look around you, really look, who can you help today. It does not have to cost money, most times it’s just your time. Can you pick up something in town for them? If you don’t have something they need, do you know someone who might? Sometimes they just need an ear, someone to listen without judging them. How can you help?

  This winter is going to be harder than last winter. People have by now used up all the saving they did have. Some may have gotten jobs by now, but now they are trying to pay off back bills and the new bills are still coming in. More and more people rich and poor are having a hard time just with life’s have too (rent, power, food). They have already given up the extras, and still have a hard time with the musts.

 

So this week coming see if you can help at least one person/ family with something? The Lord does not aloud us to help ourselves but help others. May you all have a great week.

God bless you all,

Becky

 

Gabby – Winter – Preparing

  Well, I love being a Nana. Gabby is doing great. She sleeps at times up to 5 hours. And only really cries when it’s time to eat or we change her diaper. She has kept us on our toes. 🙂

  I need your help. I am looking for a knitted soaker pattern ( cloth diaper cover). A friend gave us some all in one cloth diapers, but I have a lot of the old cloth diapers so I need the soakers for them. And I’m getting ready to start knitting my first sweater (baby sweater). For some reason I have a fear of knitting a sweater. So someone said to start with a baby sweater. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

  The farm is doing good. The house is ok, I rather spend time with Gabby than clean. 🙂 TommieLynn and I are getting ready for school to start, and looking forward to something new. So we have been busy.

I am still looking for new ways to stretch money and make more things at home. More people are cutting back on extras ( turning off: cable, phones-home and cell, internet, etc.) and winter is not here yet. And I have just started preparing for winter. Having put so much information on stocking up and preparing last year on this blog, I am not sure what else is need. So if you don’t tell me what you need, I  will just write about what I am doing now and about things that come to mind.

 Things I need to make/do before winter:

*knit: soakers, baby sweater, house socks for all

*cut and sew more napkins/tissues/baby wipes

*keep a check at thrift stores for wool sweaters on sale, to take a part to make wool socks and soakers. Most times I can get a wool sweater for $1 and it will make 2 pairs of socks plus. And flannel sheets to turn into  napkins/tissues/baby wipes.

*look for ideas/items for Christmas gifts ( that time of year again)

*looking for sales at the grocery stores to keep stocked up. I only buy items on sale. I need to get stocked up on bath paper(not using homemade yet, but can use the flannel napkins if needed).

*need more fire wood. I have a small stock from downed trees in yard. I’ll use for an outdoor fire for cooking if needed, power goes out and I’m out of gas. If not needed, will use for fun fires( roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in the summer).

*I am sure there is more to do but I’ll start here.

 Ways I save money:

*I try really hard to go to town no more than once a week, it was every two weeks. But with Gabby doctor appointments it’s once a week now.

*Hang clothes outside to dry. Wash in cold water. Wash only full loads of clothes..

*Turn off everything not being used. TV’s, computers, etc. Lower hot water temperature. This has dropped my power bill by over $70 a month.

*When we do go out to eat- have to have a coupon.

*Only buy on sale items.

*See if I can make it before buying it. Even better, can I do without it.

I’m off to see what I can get into today.

Happy 4th of July. Have a great weekend.

Becky