Home School Co-op

Today was the first day of home school co-op for us!! AMAZING!!!

What an a wonderful group of people working so hard to make learning fun and interesting. I feel humbled to be teaching in this environment and very blessed that Sarah and Hayden are able to attend.

I am teaching a class called 'Names of God' to 3rd - 6th graders. These kids are so attentive and appreciative that they make teaching easy. I am excited about sharing the character of God with them and introducing them to the Greek and Hebrew languages along with the culture of the 1st century.

Sarah and Hayden had a wonderful first day and met some great young people. I know this will be a positive experience for them.

Though the picture below is a year old, to me it sums up these two!

Seeing Gods Hand

Our family is going through a difficult time, as so many families are now. The economy continues to be unstable, prices continue to rise, but I know that our God is never changing and faithful.

Yesterday I grieved, today I see His faithfulness. I have counseled others that sometimes when God wants us in a particular place, the move can be painful. We, in our finite minds, cannot see what He is doing and our faith waivers. My faith waivered yesterday because I couldn't see nor can I see today what He is doing. But, in His faithfulness, He reassures me.

Yesterday, as a family, we determined to walk in faith and continue to be pro active in all areas possible. Today, the Lord has encouraged us and we are thankful and overwhelmed. Is everything great? No.. Are we carefree? No. I'm I growing? Oh yeah.

Today doors were ever so slightly cracked open to give us another glimpse of His faithfulness. The path isn't clear, but we know who is leading the way.

I promise more specifics later. :)

I Corn. 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

James 1:3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

Blessings,

Updates

WE have Been Traveling ON!

We have been busy around the Queen household, so I just haven't taken time to blog.

Hayden is busy with scouts and working toward his Eagle! He will begin 9th grade this coming year and things will get tougher for him on the college prep track. Lots of reading, a foreign language and more writing. He is SO excited. He also keeps us laughing.

Sarah is, well, Sarah. She stays on track, does her work and chores without us asking; what a blessing she is. She is funny, smart and beautiful. Eventually she is going to charge Hannah for her modeling services!!

Hannah continues to impress us with her talent. She is speaking at the BlogHer Food conference this month in Atlanta, in August she goes to Pennsylvania for a get together paid for by a company that she loves and loves her and she is developing a line of greeting cards with her photography on them. She is also applying for an internship with a photographer she admires and continues to work toward opening her portrait business.

My sweet husband is buried under work. The Lord continues to bless us with an abundance of work and we may need to add another employee. Balancing work, family and scouts keeps him busy.

I have begun a new eating plan and have lost around 40 lbs! It works for me and it is easy, so long term is not going to be a problem. We are also working to be more active with family Frisbee nights! It is fun and a great form of exercise. Cutting out sugar as been amazing; I feel 100% better, my arthritis doesn't hurt as much and my energy doesn't go up and down all day, it is constant. I am also toying with the idea of starting my Masters degree again; we'll see what happens.

Our farmers market starts in June, so we need to gear up for that. We need to make labels, decide what breads we want to bake and make sure everything is ready to go.

The hot weather is here, so it is time to make time to head to the creek and enjoy the cool water. Get out and get moving!!

“Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name” (Psalms 33:20-21)

Just wanted to share the love. What a blessing to have a family that genuinely enjoys each others company. I love that my children don't mind showing affection and receiving affection.

Sometimes it seems like heaven on earth to this momma to have three wonderful children, and a devoted husband. To wake up each morning to this is just a blessing.

Of course, Hannah was taking the pictures, so she is behind the lens.

We Can Build A Snowman!!

The kids have had a great time in all the snow. All 10+ inches of it, and for us southern folk, that is A LOT of snow!! In front of the fireplace is my designated seating; there I happily crochet.

The snowman went up today and he is charming. He sits near our front door so he can welcome guests, not that anyone can get to us!

Sarah and Hayden are also working on a snow fort which is taking a bit longer than expected. The shoveling and raising the walls has become a herculean task. And I think our snow is too dry. (is that an oxymoron??)

Anyway, everyone is enjoying themselves including our four footed residents. The dogs have had a blast leaping through the white stuff and chasing each other. The cats, on the other hand, have stayed toasty inside.

Baby, it's cold outside...

but, somebody has had fun!

So Blessed

I am just constantly amazed at God's provision and that sometimes bothers me. I shouldn't be, He promises He will provide and so many times He does more than just provide.

Our business is still bustling, Hannah just finished her first 'big' contract with Peanut Butter & Co. and continues to sell prints as she seeks direction on expanding her business. She will be doing a session on food photography at a blogging conference in Atlanta in December. Sarah is working diligently on school, learning how to be a Venture Crew member and practicing mandolin as she becomes more of a gracious young woman each day. Hayden is enjoying his harder subjects this year and is becoming a wonderful guitar player while accomplishing so much in Scouts. How blessed we are!

I have fought with pneumonia for the last 2 weeks or so, but the family has picked up the slack and taken care of things. It has been frustrating to not be able to walk 20 feet without having to stop to catch my breathe. Hopefully I am on the mend.

We are planning a trip west for the near future. We have only been as far as Texas and look forward to exploring Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and more. The kids are getting older and in 5 short years all of them could be out of the house. (I may cry now) So, this could be one of the last big family trips.

So they will be called Oaks of Righteousness,
the planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified.”
- Isaiah 61:1-3 -

Wonderful 4th!

We had a great July 4th with just the 5 of us. We decided since William has been so busy with work that we would just keep it simple this year. No company, no going somewhere, just us and some good food.

William cooked chicken marinated in Mojo on the grill along with corn. The girls and I cooked baked potatoes, artisan bread and made pasta salad. Hannah made peach pie and homemade vanilla ice cream.

Hayden complimented the even with his display of fireworks. Our dogs now need Prozac!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Us(*addition)

I haven't talked much about what our family is doing to simplify our lives. Due to economic restraints we have tried to find ways to cut back. For health reasons we have worked to improve our diet. To help the environment, we have implemented several things.

We have actually recycled for quite awhile. Plastic and glass are all put aside to go to the recycle center. It has become second nature to all of us. We also compost which reduces our garbage.

We make our own clothes detergent and it has worked well. In warm weather the clothes and towels go on the line outside. We moving to homemade cleaning supplies.

Mostly we cook at home. It is so much cheaper, we can avoid the preservatives and it tastes so much better. I work to buy what is on sale also.

Right now we are working on removing high fructose corn syrup from our diets. It is so many things it is ridiculous. Ketchup, pancake syrup, drinks, jellies, salad dressings, etc. We also try to cook mostly fresh vegetables and have added more fruit.

Our chickens provide us with fresh eggs and we are planning to add to the flock this year. Fresh eggs are so different from store bought.

This year we are going to focus our garden on what we use most. Then work to put up as much as possible for winter. We will grow tomatoes for ketchup and sauces. Green beans are a favorite sauteed.
We use a lot of peppers and onions. The girls want to grow more strawberries for jam.

We also want to reduce our food miles. This will take some work to find where we can find the foods we want within 200 miles of our home. Of course the farmers market where we sell in the summer will provide much of what we do not grow. The biggest challenge will be finding meat at a price we can afford. (sorry, not giving up meat!)

I am sure I have left out some things. I'll update as I think of them.

* We have used cloth towels in the kitchen for a long time now. I thought getting rid of paper towels would have been difficult, but it wasn't that hard.

photography by Hannah Queen

Spring

The days are getting longer and it is warming up. We have been longing for sunshine and the outdoors.

After dinner the kids wanted to go to the park. Hannah wanted to take pictures; she loves evening light. Sarah just loves to commune with nature; she has to be Hannah's model also. Hayden wanted to swing... and jump.

We saw the first signs of spring!

Melancholy

It is a melancholy day for me. I am not really a fan of change; not in areas that are foundational. Being an only child that lost her parents as a relatively young adult, I want those things that are my foundations to be stable.

Our marriage has always been solid and I thank William for that. Divorce has never been in our vocabulary. We have only owned two homes, so home has been stable. William hasn't had alot of jobs; he is stable in his employment. We have raised our children to be stable, responsible people.

Church hasn't been so stable for a year and that has been difficult. Yesterday we made the decision to remove our fellowship and membership with our church; not an easy decision. We are not angry, but definitely sad. We are not church hoppers because again we desire stability for our children and ourselves. Unfortunately there are times that you have to make the hard choice even when it means feeling unsure about the future.

So, now we pray where God would have us; where He wants us to minister. I have to trust Him because this is not an easy place for me.

Psalm 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

A Little Update

Life has been busy in the Queen household. We have been finding ways to spend less as we enter winter when our business shuts down. Since the economy trashed our investments we must adjust even more.

The girls and I have organized our freezers, frig and pantry to make use of what we have. We also have made monthly meal plans to accommodate the meat and canned goods we have on hand.

It has really been an enjoyable time of working together, remembering what is really important and trusting our Lord to make provision. And He is the only One that really can!

Hayden and Sarah continue to become more proficient on their instruments. I love hearing them play together. Each has a different approach according to their personality.

Hannah's blog Honey and Jam continues to gain popularity and has caught the eye of several professional food photographers. There may be an opportunity for her to intern with one in the near future. Just the possibility has made her short of breath! It would be an incredible opportunity and a huge blessing.

William is still working and that is a HUGE blessing. I try not to think about next year (translate 'think'=worry) We have enough for now. Isn't it funny, I can see where God has provided over and over again, but I still worry. Oh me of little faith...

I hope to work on a post soon of different dinners that are low cost but don't compromise flavor.

Have a blessed day!

Mother/Daughter Retreat and Something Unexpected

DeGina and I had a wonderful get away with our girls. The cabin was cute and the weather was mild.

We went to Cades Cove, which is one of my favorite places. It is so serene and fall is a beautiful time to visit. We had a picnic while we were there.

We laughed until our cheeks hurt. Watched Tim Hawkins, which didn't help our cheeks. Cooked some great meals. And did a little shopping.

The second night DeGina and I heard scratching in our bedroom. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, but I KNEW if it was inside that room with us, one of us was leaving! We would about get to sleep, and it was start again. Finally I decided I was going outside, trusting it was out there not inside, to see what was going on. (it was late ok, you become fearless and I took a broom!) I looked in the direction is was coming from and didn't see anything, then around the corner came a raccoon! Oh my word!!!

I hollered for DeGina, who mind you, was not running to my rescue, but finally came out. Hannah, listening to me yell, couldn't figure out how to get out of her room in the dark, ending up in the closet before getting out.

He and I had a stare down and he finally walked off. I can be intimidating!! Or just scary in my gown and holding a broom!

Catherine and Sarah doing something, I think?!

Saturday morning we got ready to leave the cabin and do a little more shopping before we headed home. Unfortunately DeGina got a call that changed our plans.

She received a call that her oldest son, Will, had fallen and broken his back. We headed to Atlanta, instead of home. Things change in a moment.

Instead of looking at the changing colors of fall, we looked at this.

Waiting to see this.

Dining here with DeGina's parents after they visited in ICU.



Eating this.


Looking at a very different night landscape than expected.



And sleeping here instead of my own bed worrying about a young man's health and future. Trusting Jeremiah 29:11 for him.


Catherine, being under 18, couldn't go in ICU, so I took her and my girls to a hotel for the night to allow DeGina to be with Will and hopefully meet with a doctor.

Will is still in ICU, but he is able to move his arms and legs. His back is broke in 4 places and he is on a morphine drip. The doctors haven't said much yet. He will probably need rehabilitation once he is released from the hospital.

God's provision is amazing. We had a GSP, which I didn't need for going to Pigeon Forge, but we used to get from there to Atlanta. I had extra medication for myself. I had the ability to get us a hotel room. DeGina had someone to take care of Catherine so she didn't have to worry about her. Praise the Lord!!

photography by Hannah Queen

When Funny Isn't So Funny Anymore

The boys had scouts tonight, so the me and girls went out for dinner. Our usual Tuesday evening. UNTIL....

We were on our way home on the back roads and I noticed that the lights were dim in the interior. This has happened before, you put it in neutral, cut the engine, then start it back up. Oops, it didn't start back up. Ok, no problem, let it sit a minute, then try again. NOTHING. Hannah says "is it the transmission", Sarah says, "No, it's the iggnition". (say in a southern accent and drag out both words, hilarious)

Great, call the hubby.

Honey, guess what?? (already not amused, remember he is at scouts) The car won't run. Where am I?? On the side of the road. (still not amused) On one of the back roads on the way home. (I explain where)

The girls and I sit and talk and laugh.

He comes with one set of jumper cables, not good. I drive a big diesel and it takes TWO large sets of jumper cables to get this hoss up and running.

He tries, the sweetheart. Doesn't work though. Calls our pastor and goes and gets a second set. IT STARTS!!! Hooping all around....

.

.

.

.

For about 2 minutes. I start up the road, notice things getting dim again. (no I am not passing out, that comes later) Car stops. Great. So he says he is going to push me to a flat spot on the side of the road. (remember we live in the mtns) Flat spot?? I think I see one, start to steer to the right with NO power steering. OH NO, it is a ditch. I stop.

Next thought, he is going to pull me. Ok, this is where it goes downhill fast. I have never been pulled before. I have no power steering or power brakes. I AM A GIRL!

I am not laughing NOW. We are in the dark, on curvy roads with hills. I don't know when to brake, I feel like I am going to run into the back of his truck (did actually) and I am SCREAMING!!! Hannah calls her father and says, "momma is freaking out, you gotta pull over". (my sweetie is loosing patience, classic male/female difference) He knows what he is doing, I on the other hand DO NOT.

He tells Hannah we will go to his fathers which is closer than our house, but he misses the turn because of my screaming. (now, I question this excuse, I am in the other car, Hannah has the phone) Anyway, so we have to go farther. UGH! Not laughing...

We have to pull out onto a main road. Now, granted, a main road here doesn't mean much at 8pm. Traffic is not a problem, but mentally for me it is MAIN road. I am not breathing at this point. He pulls out, I freak, I am trying to turn the wheel and I am, you guessed it, SCREAMING.

We only have another 200 ft to go to get to a parking area, but it could have been 200 miles for me. But, we make it or I make it without dying or passing out.

NOW, tomorrow off on our mother/daughter retreat!!! Relax and breathe....

Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary!!! 23 wonderful, trying, blissful, hard, sweet years!

It seems like yesterday and it seems like 100 yrs ago. Does that make sense?

We dated 5 yrs so we have known each other 28 yrs; almost 30 yrs. This year a have been married 23 years and I married at 23 yrs. old.

In 23 years we have had 3 children, lost 3 parents, lived in 3 places, gone to 3 countries. (don't know what is going on with the 3's) We have experienced abundance and less than abundance, but God has provided all our needs.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!!