New Year, New Beginnings

I know I've been very quiet here the last few weeks but hopefully I'll be here regularly again. I've been processing a lot of things during this holiday season and I think I'm ready to take on the new year.

Christmas was different for us but we still had a good one.  Thanks to the generosity of our church family and friends in the community the kids had a wonderful Christmas.

After opening gifts Christmas morning we went to my sister's house and spent the rest of the day there. It was a good day of just being together and enjoying family time.

The day after Christmas we met up with friends at the mall and hung out there for awhile before coming back to our house and spending more time just talking while the kids played. 

New year's eve we were at my sister's again. Michael had a hard time staying awake to see the new year in but he did make it. 

Now I'm looking ahead at what the new year is bringing in. It looks like there will be some changes this year and I have mixed feelings about some of them. But I'm choosing to remember that God is in control and He has a plan for us that is better than any plan I could dream up on my own.

One big change for us is moving to a smaller place. I love the place where we are now, but financially this move just makes sense. And I'm more OK with it than I thought I would be. We will still be on an acre of land for which I'm grateful. I didn't want to give up my chickens or my dreams of having goats and pigs and rabbits and the kids didn't want to give up any of their pets. There will be room there for all that. A smaller place will mean less time spent in upkeep and more time for the things that are important to us.

Another possible change is a new part time job for me.  I go for an interview Tuesday and I am so excited! I would be doing the kind of work I love, working with kids, and so far it seems a like the perfect fit. 

Along with these big changes come the usual changes for us at the beginning of the year. There are tweaks in our schedule, new school materials for when we start school again on Monday and just simply starting fresh after the holiday excitement. 

So, from our family to each of you -

Happy New Year.

I hope it is filled with love, joy and peace.

LINKING HERE
MONDAY - Mama Moments Mondays TUESDAY - Together on Tuesdays FRIDAY - Blogger's Pit Stop, Weekend Wind Down Link Party, NO RULES Weekend Blog Party

The Walnut Acre Weekly - Our New Friend Kojo and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
And on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."
Luke 2:14

TODAY'S QUOTE

He who has not Christmas in his heart will not find it under a tree.
Roy L. Smith

FUR, FINS, FEATHERS AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

Call me crazy, but we have a  new addition to our managerie. Michael has been asking and asking for a dog. I really thought it would be good for him to have one but I just wasn't sure if I could handle the expense of another animal. Then a friend of mine found out she had to move and couldn't take her dog with her to her new apartment. So she said if we could take the dog she would help with the expenses. So yesterday Kojo came to be Michael's dog. It's his job to give him food and water, take him out for walks and clean up after him if he makes a mess. Today was their first full day together and they had so much fun. 

And now, as I write this Michael and Kojo are both sound asleep, with their beds right beside each other, worn out from a full day of fun. 

In other animal news, Amanda has decided that she eventually wants to get a gecko. But she doesn't want to have too constantly be buying mealworms for it. Instead she wants to set up her own mealworm farm and raise them herself. So she took this old set of drawers, cleaned it up good, and set it up for raising mealworms. This process involved saws, screen, a hot glue gun, painters tape, and a burned thumb. But it's all ready now for a happy family of mealworms. 

HOMESCHOOL

SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE USED THIS WEEK

Austin and Amanda

Scripture reading - Luke 1.

Michael
  

OUT AND ABOUT

This week has been full of appointments. I had an appointment Michael had an appointment, and Amanda had two appointments. So Monday through Thursday there was one appointment each day. 

Besides appointments there were our normal activities. Somehow I did not get any pictures of our activities this week. Sunday we went to church and then to my sister's. Sunday afternoon Austin and Amanda went to the youth Christmas activity. 

Wednesday evening Michael and I went to church for dinner. Instead of prayer meeting and classes after dinner we went Christmas caroling. Austin and Amanda did not go. Neither of them enjoy singing. I told them they could still enjoy being with their friends but they decided to just stay home. Michael and I had a good time though. After caroling we met back at the church for cookies and hot chocolate.

Thursday evening Michael and I went to my sister's for the evening. Actually, Michael had been there all day. I took him over Thursday morning so I could do a few things. Austin stayed home because he had a friend here and Amanda just didn't feel like going anywhere. 

Saturday Austin spent the afternoon and evening with a friend but the rest of us were home all day. 

AND MORE

We had very warm weather this week so we took advantage of it and tried to get outside every day.

THIS WEEKS DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE
SUNDAY - Small Victories Sunday  MONDAY - Monday Madness TUESDAY - LouLou Girls Fabulous Party, Tell It To Me Tuesday WEDNESDAY - From House to Home FRIDAY - Blogger's Pit Stop

The Walnut Acre Weekly - Christmas Decorating and More

I'm a little late again with this weekly update but I guess it's better late than never. 

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Psalm 100:4

TODAY'S QUOTE

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. 
Henry Ward Beecher

FUR, FINS, FEATHERS AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

Amanda's dog stole her piece of pizza. Amanda caught her at it and as punishment fed it to the cat (named Puppy) while Pepper watched.

HOMESCHOOL

SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE USED THIS WEEK

Austin and Amanda

Scripture Reading: Monday - John 6, Tuesday - John 14,  Wednesday - John 15, Thursday - Deuteronomy 18.

Michael
    

AROUND THE HOUSE

Decorating for Christmas has been the theme of our week. 

Michael did some decorating with berries and evergreens we found on some of our walks to the creek. 

All three kids worked together on the tree and also several places in the house. 

OUT AND ABOUT

We were out and about quite a bit this week. 

Sunday we had church in the morning and then I had choir practice in the afternoon. Austin was at a friends house for the afternoon and the rest of us were at my sister's. She had a birthday party for three of her crew so their was lots of fun and excitement. 

We were home most of both Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday one of the kids had an appointment and then we were at church for the evening. Between dinner and class Michael and some of the other kids (big and little) like to shoot baskets. 

Thursday evening we were at my sister's for dinner. Here Charity was trying to show Ericka how to play some chords on the guitar.

Later in the evening we went for a drive to look at Christmas lights and then Jay treated us to ice cream. Austin ended up with two ice cream cones because Amanda didn't want hers. Michael looks grumpy but I think he was getting tired. He finished his quickly and was just sitting there waiting for everyone else to finish. Even though he looks a bit grouchy we had a wonderful fun evening.

Saturday was a really busy day. We started out by going to a community breakfast. They served pancakes and sausage and a choice of orange juice, milk, or coffee. I really liked these prayer cards they had on the tables.

From the breakfast we went to our church for the final practice for the Christmas cantata. 

Then in the evening we went to the Christmas parade in our little town. It was a beautiful balmy evening that felt more like Springtime than Christmas. But it was nice that we could watch the parade without freezing. There were lots of interesting floats, cars, dancers,  dressed up people and dogs and horses. And there was SO much candy for the kids!

AND MORE

This week Michael has been wanting to walk back to the creek instead of going for bike rides so we walked back there several days. It has been so warm this week and it was nice to just sit in the sun while he played. 

READING AROUND THE WEB

Women, We Have So Much Power at The End In Mind

How Satan Confuses Women to Disable the Church at The Better Mom

What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do at Michael Hyatt

WEEKLY DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE

WEDNESDAY - Wake Up Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, Homemaking Linkup, Women With Intention, Ladies Collective Linkup THURSDAY - I Choose Joy, Create It Thursday, Little Things Thursday, SHINE Blog Hop FRIDAY - Friendship Friday, NO RULES Weekend Blog Party, Home Matters SATURDAY - My Favorite Things