Happy Homemaker Monday

                                   

    Hello again friends!!!

   It's been a minute, right?  At the beginning of last month I started blogging on an old blog, "A Homemakers Heart," but somehow I had a bad case of writers block.  I made a rule for myself years ago that whichever I choose, whether it be blogging, facebook or instagram, I would only use one of them.  So I took a detour from blogging to instagram, and now I'm back again.  I did decide to start fresh, with a name I used once before but I think it perfectly fits my goal in life now.  Seeking Simple.  

   I'm so tired from the wirlwhind that has been life for the last several months.  I keep telling myself I don't like this pace.  That once this is over I'll rest.  That I'll take time to relax.  I don't like feeling so stressed, so under pressure.  This is not what I want for my life at all.  I want to be at home.  I want to cook for my family.  I want to spend time with my children, even though they are older and don't need me as much anymore, I want to be their safe space at home.  I'm thankful for everything I've done, but I'm so ready to dial back and just be intentional about simplifying.  Instagram was fun, but all that busy of instagram will still be there later on down the road.  My life right here, right now, needs focus, and blogging helps me to do that.  

   So here I am!  I can't wait to go read some bloggers I once followed, its different following blogs than following instagrammers.  You take time to read something that they spent time writing, and it feels like a deeper connection.  You feel more invested in the lives of bloggers you follow, and I think that's a beautiful thing.  I have a few blogger friends that I LOVE to follow, and I'm hoping to find some new ones along the way.  Share your blog in the comments, I would love to follow!

   I actually wrote not one, but two blogs today haha.  I usually combine Hello Monday with Happy Homemaker Monday, but I had so much to share in my Hello Monday post I decided that HHM deserved a space of its own, so here I am with you lovely ladies that share weekly, I'm happy to be here with you today!  Linking up with Sandra for Happy Homemaker Monday :)

*** The Weather ***
  The weather is perfection!  It was so hot all summer long I promised myself I would not complain when the weather became cool.  I have really enjoyed the cooler tempeartures!  We are still in the 70s during the day.  Its perfect!  It's always nicer here anytime but summer, so I'm thankful to be getting into these temperatures.


*** Right now I am ***
   Sitting in the quiet house.  Callie is at school, the boys are at the homeschool co-op at church, and Stephen is actually there as well teaching a Bible class.  I'm just sitting here typing, missing them but enjoying some down time!


*** Thinking and pondering ***
   I'm very happy to be blogging again.  I have gone through a very difficult season.  At the end of August (August 25th to be exact) I made a decision that my health needed to be more of a priority, so I did a lot of things and made a lot of BIG changes to my life.  It's been a long journey with several doctor visits, lots of tests, blood tests, changes of medications, and a massive- massive lifestyle change for me.  I also finished one brain rewiring class and it was honestly just life-changing.  It's so big- it deserves a blog entry all of its own, and perhaps after I'm finished with this I can start on that.  But I'm here today, thinking FAR more clearly, with much lower numbers with my blood pressure and blood sugar, a little over 11 lbs smaller, and much less focused.  I never realized the affect that a lot of things could have on your life, but I feel better, far far better.  I'll blog about it, I promise.  I've learend so much, and I do want to share that so others can feel better too!  


*** How I am feeling ***
  At peace and at ease.  Blogging is good for me :)  

*** On the menu ***
Monday: Croc-pot chicken vegetable soup, as well as snacks at our WMU meeting tonight.  I'm making a homemade spinach dip- I need to share that on here, I always get asked for the recpie after making it.

Tuesday: Marry-me chicken in the croc pot, new recipe for me!

Wednesday:  Not sure, its my sweet girls 20th birthday so shes choosing dinner!

Thursday: Enchiladas 

Friday: Out to dinner to celebrate my girls birthday 

*** What I am wearing ***
  As sooon as I got home from running the sound booth for the co-op assembly I put my leggings back on lol!  I unpacked my winter clothes Saturday and I have a whole new wardrobe.  I also got really emotional and cried because some things that were really tight last year were loose and comfortable this year, and it was pretty emotional for me.  I was at least 15lbs heavier this time last winter, and I really thought I was stuck there for life, but I did it!  And without the help of shots or weight loss medications at that!

*** On my reading pile ***
I've recently became quite obsessed with the Lancaster Series by Sarah Eden.  LOVE LOVE LOVE her work.

*** On my TV this week ***
  Football is on my TV everyday now.  I have teenage boys, so if its not NFL its college football.  It's also Hocky season, so we watch that a lot *GO CANES!*  

   Also Stephen and I are watching Victoria.  We watched it years ago but we are rewatching and enjoying.  I don't know that he enjoys it lol, but he enjoys spending time with me so that works :)

*** Looking around the house ***
It looks pretty nice!  We actually had to have our bathroom floor replaced in the guestroom last week, and we had company yesterday so we cleaned up nicely and it still looks good.  My favorite candle was back at BBW this last week so it also smells amazing!

*** To do list ***
Try and revive my poor mums, a busy week means they haven't been watered well.  I'm so sad!

Get things ready for my sweet girls birthday!  I'm so proud of her!  I can't believe she's 20...  where did time go?

Put up my fall decorations- how have I not done this yet?


*** From the camera ***

  I wrote all about our amazing time at the NC State Fair in another blog post if you want a full recap!  But I'll share some of those pics here too if you just want the gist of it :)  We had a great time!  I'm sad horse shows are over for the season, but we really did have such an amazing time!

 

Hudson also entered a photo in the contest (the one above the cow, with the birdhouse)

It was such a great trip!  My sister and brother in law as well as my sweet little niece came with us!  We also had three church families come as well! It is such a blessing that we have them in our lives!  Callie's barn family is like a second family to us as well!  We will be sad that the season is over, but excited about next year show season!  And the State Fair did not disappoint!