Blogkeeping

Sorry blog readers/commenters... I've been getting a ridiculous amount of spammy comments all of the sudden.  At least for the time being, I am adding word verification in the comment box in hopes that it will foil the spambots.  I hope this doesn't make commenting too cumbersome because I so appreciate each and every one of your comments.  Please let me know if you have trouble with the new setup and I will do what I can.  If you can't get through with a comment, you can e-mail me here:  churchmouseathome@gmail.com

Now, why so quiet around here?  I am finding that trying to keep up with the day-to-day cleaning, laundry, cooking and basic needs + homeschooling + taking care of myself means no time to blog.  I have wondered for a while when that day would come. The biggest change has been that my primary time for writing has always been during our daily "quiet time" and I have been needing that time for a daily nap.  That time is also now very, very limited now that my eldest child no longer naps.  It has kind of all happened at once.  So I'm not giving up entirely because I still love having a place to write, but I am finding that it will probably happen with much less frequency. 

It's just the stage of life I am in.  But I am still here, and I will still write when I can. 

I hope you have a blessed week!

Love,
Heather

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And so it goes...

I'm up far later than I should be for a person that needs to wake up at 3 a.m. to begin a road trip.  A very long road trip.  I've been up trying to make food for the trip so we can keep fast food stops to a minimum.  So we've got:

• bran muffins
• breakfast sausages
• refried beans
• spanish rice
• corn tortillas (Preacher Man made these!)
• PBJ and lunch meat for sandwiches
• loads of chopped fresh veggies & fruit

 We found a good veggie burger recipe we'd like to try next time around.  Not because we are opposed to meat, but because they could stand not being refrigerated.  We're going to try beans and rice in plastic cups in the car.  I'll let you know how that one goes.  (Hopefully not too messy!!)

All that to say, I didn't get the posts done I would have liked to have done, and so it will be another week before you hear from me again.  And so it goes... 

Once we get home, I hope to stay there for a while.  Boring is good.  I like boring!

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The Spirit is Willing...

But my poor, tired body needs naps!

We are very excited to announce that we are expecting our third little blessing! Our children are gifts from God and He chose them for us. We did not earn them, they are given out of God's grace. He is good and so are ALL of His wonderful gifts!

With this new blessing, comes a very tired mama! I have so many posts half written in my head, and I just don't have the time or energy to get them typed out right now. "Quiet Time" is when I have done most of my writing and right now a daily nap is absolutely imperative if I am going to make it through the day. I had hoped I could at least keep up with my Building Character series, but I'm now three days behind writing the next post, and those studies take me at least two days to write out... I'm afraid I'm just in over my head right now!

I'm going to take the next couple of weeks off so I can focus on growing this little baby and taking care of the rest of my blessings. When I come back from the first trimester fog, I plan to pick up with the next part of the "Building Character" series, and I hope to talk a little bit about homeschooling since it has been on my mind so much lately.

Thank you for sharing in our joy and for your patience with me!


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The winner is...

According to www.random.org -

Entry #2 - Robyn!!

If you are still interested in reading the Four Moms E-book, which I highly recommend, you can download the Kindle edition from Amazon for $5.99.  (My review of the book is here in case you missed it.)

(Full disclosure:  if you buy it through my link, I make all of about $.37  So I benefit, but not much.  I am recommending it because I think it's a great resource!)

You can catch The Four Moms on their own blogs every Thursday at:
The Common Room
Smockity Frocks
Life in a Shoe and
Raising Olives

Crickets...

We have major upheaval going on with our family right now, and that explains the quietness of the blog. I love blogging and it is a sort of therapy for me, but it has to go on the back burner for a while so I can focus on my family and the task at hand. Also, my laptop is on the fritz and it it makes typing challenging and frustrating. Hoping we can get it doctored up soon and that it isn't a sign of impending doom.

So I may post something sporadically here and there, but if you don't hear from me much for a month or two, no need for alarm. Lord willing, I'll be back, bursting with ideas to share. Until then, I have two friends that just started blogging and they are lovely ladies with some wonderful wisdom to share.

Go and visit my friends Sally and Serena.

Love to you all!
CM

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Cooking, Cleaning, Crafting...

If your life is anything like mine...

You are so busy that you really don't need to read about new recipes or cool crafts to try because you are beyond swamped with your present commitments.

To say that things are busy is an understatement.

But we're having fun cooking and crafting and cleaning around here and I hope you are too!

And I have many, many things to share starting in January.

May your days be merry and bright!

Blessings to you and your family,
CM

PS - Did you notice the new recipe index right under the banner? It was getting to where I couldn't find my own recipes on the blog, so I had to do something about it. It's not complete yet, but I'm working on it!

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The winner is...

(We did things the old fashioned way... names in a hat!)

Big Littles did the honors and the first name he chose was:



YAY for Anna!

Anna, I just need you to send me your e-mail address and I will e-mail the free download of "Amazing Grace"!

And thanks to everyone who made my first bloggy birthday a very special one! Your sweet comments and words of encouragement and appreciation mean so much to me!

May your day be blessed!

Happy Birthday Little Blog!

Today Church Mouse turns one! It has been a fun year of blogging for me! More than anything, I love to share and help people, and writing here gives me a great outlet. Thank you, my dear readers, for reading, sharing, and commenting over the course of the year.

Possible changes ahead: I'm just a small-time blogger and have no aspirations for anything greater, but I have considered being an amazon affiliate in order to make a few pennies to help out our household. I am also working on putting some tabs under the banner to make it easier to browse on the blog.

Do you have any recommendations for the blog? What do you like to read here? Do you have a favorite post?

I think stats are fun, so here are a few:
Pageviews this year: 26,190
Posts: 246
Top Post: Church Mouse Learns Frugality
Facebook Followers: 49 (Can we make it 50 today!?!?!)
Google Reader Subscribers: 30

And now, as a THANK YOU to my loyal readers, I'm doing a giveaway today!

I'm REALLY excited about doing this!

I'm giving away an MP3 download from Amazon Music of my favorite hymn CD - Amazing Grace, by the Robert Shaw Chorale. It features 20 beautiful a cappella hymns and spirituals. We listen to this CD most Sunday mornings as we eat breakfast and get ready for worship. It is absolutely lovely, and if you want to hear a sample of it, you can click here. My favorites include "Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal" and "Wondrous Love".



In order to have a chance to win, I just need you to do the following:
Leave me a comment here telling me how you keep up with Church Mouse.

Do you subscribe with a reader? Follow me on Facebook? Randomly check in? Other?

I've disabled comment moderation temporarily, so I hope leaving a comment will be easy for you.

I will chose a winner randomly from those whose comment in the next 24 hours. I wish I could give a copy to each of my lovely readers, and especially those who regularly comment or send me little encouraging notes, but alas, it would break the bank! So today, one of you has a chance to win and tomorrow (October 11th) around 10 a.m., I will close the entries and will determine who that winner will be!

Best wishes!

(If you are unable to leave a comment here for whatever reason you can also e-mail me at churchmouseathome@gmail.com and I will put you in. Thanks!!)