When The World Doesn’t Follow Our Script

Posted on April 29, 2014 by [email protected]

Car was packed. Dogs were boarding. Husby was off work for 4 days. Four days of family time. Four days of not answering texts and phone calls. Four days of birthday celebrating, end of year field trips, and connecting as a family away from the wants and needs of everybody and everything back home.

Selfish? Maybe so, but their comes a time if you don’t take time for ourselves we are no good for anyone else.

Back to the beginning. We arrived at our motel 2 1/2 hours later and decided to go on and start our activities. We drove another 30 minutes to nearby Springfield to the Dickerson Park Zoo, and to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. Evening went great. Rested well and the next morning we ate at an amazing cafe for breakfast (more to come on that), and spent the day at Silver Dollar City. We decided a light dinner of sandwiches, chips ad fruit would work while we watched tv at the motel. Then the world stopped following my script.

We knew before we left that there was possible bad storms moving into our area where we live. The radar had not been showing the threat where we were 2 1/2 hours from home, but the direction changed and we were know going to be in the path of the severe storms.

We had 2 options, stay and figure out a where to go during tornado’s or leave the next morning and get home before the storms moved in. I opted with leaving. We packed our bags, and put them in the car except our clothes and bathroom items for the next morning. Got a good’s night rest then got up just as it was beginning to get daylight and headed home.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am deathly afraid of tornados. I don’t chance it at all. I know what happens when you say,”It’s not going to do anything”, and then a whole neighborhood is gone.

We arrived home before the storms hit. We picked up for fur-babies from the boarders, unpacked our bags, took showers, ate lunch, and even had time to go to town and pick up some items from the store. We were headed back home when my kiddos asked to go ahead and stay at my dad’s near the cellar. I agreed, headed home to put our bags away and watched the weather until the storms were approaching. Told my fur-babies by and drove to my dad’s for the night.

We ended up having three tornado warnings that night. Three times I went to the cellar fearing for my life. But everytime they changed directions and missed us completely. I just kept praying for God to keep us safe, and praising him when that round was over, but several nearby towns were not so lucky.

See, about 60 miles down I-40 from us, the tornados hit hard. 1/2 mile wide tornado that stayed on the ground for over 25 miles. 16 lives were taken that night. God spared mine and my families, but others were lost. I choose to end my weekend early and come home to take precautions. That same weather threat did produce a tornado where we were going to be that day if we had stayed and not made the decision to come home.

People say I acted out of fear. I just say that God gave me the ability to know not to stay in the way of danger. The same way you would stand on a railroad track as a train was coming toward you. At some point you would move. If the train was not moving its path you would move yours.

photo courtesy of KATV
Despite the massive amount of damage, viewers sending pictures with signs of good faith, hope, and #TheSpiritofArkansas. If you would like to donate to our KATV – American Red Cross Tornado Relief Drive please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit this link: http://www.katv.com/link/485805/tornado-relief-form

The pictures above show one of the three towns that was hit. One of the towns is gone. They were hit 3 years ago the same week by a deadly tornado and had just rebuilt neighborhoods and the school back. Now they are gone again.

We will Praise You in this Storm.

During a time of loss that many are experiencing, we feel helpless in knowing how to help. Our hearts ache and break for the devastation that has occured. During this time, the best plan is to pray for each and every person involved and if you are able to do more please donate to the Red Cross @ http://www.katv.com/link/485805/tornado-relief-form

Be a light for someone during the darkness.

So know the world didn’t follow my script for the weekend, but once again God was in control. He kept my family safe and that is all that matters.

Embracing the Moments

Posted on April 21, 2014 by [email protected]

Today as I sit here and prepare school lessons for next week for the kiddos, the realization hits that we have 4 more days of school this year! Yes, that’s right, 4 more days! And even though I am super excited, not just for myself but for the kids as well, it is also a bittersweet realization.

I have been reflecting on this year that seems to have flown by just as our lives seem to do. This is the last 4 days they will ever be a 7th and 9th grader. They will never have this time again. Did I say all I wanted to say? Did I show them all I wanted to show them? Did they learn all they needed to learn?

I can sit and continue doubting my ability as a parent and homeschool mom, or I can embrace the moments we had and prepare them for the moments to come. They may never again be a 7th and 9th grader, but they will begin a new year, where I can make sure I say all I need to say, do all I want to do, and teach them what I feel they need to be taught.

Homeschool Sports is a must with Keegan
photo owned by graceandgravy

Daily Homeschooling with Lindy
Photo owned by graceandgravy

But until that time, I will embrace the moments we are given. And those moments start this week. My birthday is coming up fast, actually next weekend, so to celebrate one more year I am alive, and to end the school year right, we are taking a trip for a few days.

We will be heading to our favorite Amusement Park in Branson, MO, Silver Dollar City, then off to Diamond, MO to the George Washington Carver Museum (since the kiddo’s both just finished up slavery), then onward to Springfield, MO to the Dickerson Park Zoo (www.dickersonparkzoo.org) (Lindy studied Zoology this year) and Discovery Museum (www.discoverycenter.org/) (well because we all could learn more interesting facts about Science). We are hoping to squeeze in enough time to make one last stop in Mansfield, Mo to visit The Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead, (http://www.lauraingallswilderhome.com/) since Lindy spent half the year reading her books and completing Unit Studies for Literature.

I know it will be a very busy 4-5 days, but I am so ready to have some alone time with my family. The kids say we can never plan a trip that don’t involve lessons of some kind. Well, of course not, because the world is our classroom and I can make a lesson for everything we do. Hope you have time to Embrace the Moments given to you! Enjoy life and breath deeply!

Yes, I am a Dreamer

Posted on April 16, 2014 by [email protected]

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

I admit, I am a Dreamer. I always have been. I had such an imagination as a child that stemmed a need in me as an adult to always dream of things that could be. And because of those dreams, some became a reality. I have a need deep inside of me to always do more, to always be more, to always make some kind of impact with whatever I do.

Because of those dreams, I have adopted a child who needed a loving family, had the opportunity to do mission work in Guatemala, take a risk and dive into full-time ministry, homeschool my kids when they world was screaming, “that is socially unacceptable”, and simply love being me, this quirky, free-spirited girl who never felt the need to please or explain myself.

But, back to reality. Life plainly sucks at times. People are cruel. They love to crush your dreams to make themselves feel better, and really, people want you to please them and explain yourself until you are doubting who you are.

My husby is the complete opposite of a dreamer. He is content working the same job until he retires, he is content living in the same town (and would be the same house if I hadn’t won that one), until he dies, and he is content with the same schedule day in and day out. I would never say my husby is a dream crusher, but he certainly can put a wrinkle in my plans.

I love children. I love working with children and families whether it be in ministry, scouting, therapeutic work and other areas. I have had this dream for awhile about opening a Family/Kid Camp and Retreat. Maybe its the 4 years I spent as a Girl Scout and the 8 years I spent as a Girl Scout Leader coming out of me, I don’t really know, but I have this aching to open this retreat for families and kids as a way to get away from the demands of the world and have a few days of renewing and refreshing of the soul.

I see a large inside area for speakers, church services, and organized games/ activities, a eating area (cafeteria style), a snack stand for those late night munchies, a sit around firepit for smore’s, and a schedule of fun games and activities according to the needs of the group.

To give my husby credit, we did go look at a property that would work great for this, but we really didn’t like the area. I think he was just trying to let me see where the idea of this dream was heading. So I put that dream aside for a while until lately. I can’t seem to get it out of my head. I know I have the skills and talents to make it work. Between being a teacher, to a Children’s Coordinator for a multi-campus church that centered around working with the families not just the kids who came to church, to being a Scout for 12 years, I have those organizational skills down pat. But how do I make my dream a reality? How do I approach my husby about my dream without him thinking I’m being an unrational dreamer? These are the questions that surface in my head.

My husby’s dream is to buy the property waiting for us, 15 miles out of town, close to his parents and that be our forever place to dwell. Well, that makes my skin crawl. I’m not saying I don’t want to move there, I’m just saying that this plan for us is his dream and he hasn’t given any consideration to my dreams.

The other day my daughter and I were out driving the backroads when we went through a town called “Booger Holler”. Yes you heard me right! There isn’t much happening in this town besides having an awesome camping area, a creek for fishing, kayaking and swimming, and a outdoor store to buy food and supplies as well as to rent kayaks and canoes. That was until I saw the most perfect property! My daughter didn’t know what was going on, but I had to turn around to take some pictures.

One slight problem though, is that this property is not for sale. Actually it is being used a church right now. But it would be perfect for a Family Camp. I can imagine having bicycles for riding, and fishing gear for fishing and kayaks for those adventurous families. I see the large area for inside activities and eating facility, and get this, there was already a Snack Shack!!!! It has 7 cabins and other than a little clean up, paint and reorganizing the main building, I can’t imagine it needing anything else.

Here is the Main Building currently being used as a Church
photo owned by graceandgravy

Building with 4 cabins
photo owned by graceandgravy

Look at that Flag Pole in the picture above! Just waiting to have a Family Camp Flag flying in the wind!

Building with 3 Cabins
photo owned by graceandgravy

I just love the mountains behind the cabins. So peaceful, so surreal!

I sit here typing and I can just envision what it would look like, what it would be like. An what better name than to get the town spirit with “Booger Holler Family Camp and Retreat”.

For now it is just a dream, but maybe one day….

“Yes: I am a dr…

Posted on April 16, 2014 by [email protected]

“Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist

Blessed to be a Woman of God!

Posted on April 11, 2014 by [email protected]

Wisdom Wednesday: Options for Homeschooling Curriculum

Posted on April 9, 2014 by [email protected]

I can remember when my husby and I decided homeschooling was best for our family. I did not know anything about homeschooling let alone anything about curriculum. The year we began our journey, a lady we knew in our town was ending her homeschool journey and offered us her homeschooling supplies.

Since we knew nothing, we greatly accepted and started with that. What I realized was that it was a great curriculum, Rod and Staff is wonderfully bible-based, easy to use and follow, but what I liked best was how well it transitioned from year to year and how well each grade followed on the same schedule just different levels.

I would supplement with workbooks, printables, fun educational games and activities and field trips. This worked like a charm for our family until I went into full-time ministry. Up until that point, I was free to teach lessons to each child, sit and listen to them read, and go over each and every activity with them. After ministry came along, that was no longer the case. I barely had time to get lessons wrote down, and keeping up with grades was a whole different ballgame.

I had to think and act quickly on another option before my children become confused and far behind. I even had a thought (or maybe it was the voice of others) that at this point in our lives public school would be a better choice for them.

Oh how wrong that was! I cannot believe that I almost let others, spiritual leaders or not, decide what was best for my children and my family. Only my husby and I knew what was best and others thinking they knew the solution better than us was absolutely ludicrous.

So after looking into curriculum’s that would better fit our needs, I stumbled upon Easy Peasy All In One Homeschool. I read the name and thought, how good can that be with a name like Easy Peasy. Then I started researching. Oh my gosh, I was in love. It was laid out day by day, by grades or by subjects and the best part was that it was bible-based written by missionaries/homeschool parents and they offer it for FREE!

It is mostly online which was a blessing since my kiddos were doing alot of school on the go with me. If you are looking into a well organized and well balanced curriculum, I strongly suggest checking them out.

http://allinonehomeschool.com/

Photo by EP

Now my kiddos are entering 10th and 8th grade, I am at home again with them, I do have more time, but I am in desperate need of a curriculum or something that will automatically record and keep their grades for transcripts.

Any suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated. But if you need a free and wonderful curriculum look into EP. It starts with Pre-K all the way up to 12th!

Hope everyone has a Wonderful Wednesday full of WIsdom!

Green Acres is the place to be……

Posted on April 9, 2014 by [email protected]

View from our Front Porch. Photo owned by GraceandGravy

After a very long search, my husby and I found a house and property in the country about 6 months ago. I was beginning to give up hope on finding anything, but I kept my faith and let God lead our family.

We were so excited but there was one stipulation………We had to sell our house first. So we contacted our realtor and she listed our house right away. We had really hoped for a quick sale, but apparently God had other plans.

One thing is in our favor. The house we are buying is actually owned by a friend of my husby. She has been so gracious and waiting on us, but I’m not sure she anticipated the wait to be this long. She has let a renter come in til we sell our house, which makes me feel better about keeping her waiting.

Yesterday marked the 6 months that our house has been on the market. Of course in our defense we listed our house appx 5 weeks before Thanksgiving. In all reality if a house don’t sell 2 weeks prior to the holiday, it normally will not sell til Spring. Now that Spring has Sprung, the grass is green, the leaves are on the trees and the flowers are blooming, we are praying that God will allow this season to be the one to end this chapter of our lives and begin the next one.

I am trying really hard not to give up hope, and to keep my faith and know that there is a reason that God to delaying this to happen. But when I look at the pictures I just think, “How could I not be in a hurry for this.”

I am so ready to start my Homesteading Life and get my 2 gardens planted. Yes, I said 2! this property has 2 huge gardens ready to till. We are also ready to build our chicken coop and start having fresh eggs.

I even found the style of coop we are wanting to build and now comes the hard part of picking the chickens.

Photos courtesy of Pinterest

But the part I am waiting on the most is getting to sit on my front porch and watch the sunrise and the sunset!

Ready to watch the sunrises and sunsets! Photo owned by GraceandGravy

How could you not want to hurry up for this!

Blessings from soon to be our Green Acres!

Retro phones, Cheesy Fries with Ranch and Swinging Bridges

Posted on April 6, 2014 by [email protected]

Do you ever need just a little time away? Away from schedules? And demands? Or just the busyness of everyday life?

I am a huge advocate for time away.

I feel more blessed with a clear head. It’s a time to renew and refresh my soul, whether it’s a lengthy trip or just a few hours of time alone.

Here lately my mind seems bogged down with life stressers, and just trying to have time to work on me.

So last Sunday after church, I asked my husby if we could take a little drive and have just a few hours of family time.

We instantly decided to drive up the mountain from where we live to a very small country/mountain town, Oark.

I can tell you this much, there is not much in Oark at all but it’s a place where lots of people stop while out on road trips.

One of my favorite things about Oark is there General Store. This place has been there since 1890. And even though it’s no longer a General Store, it is actually the best country restaurant with the best pie you will find.

What’s really neat is that even though this historic place has had several owners along the way, it is still the glue that holds this town together.
Currently the owners are a young couple who moved from Washington DC, working in politics to a rural area in Arkansas to live a simpler life! (Sigh). Love it!

After a mouth-watering meal of Cheesy Fries, smothered in ranch, and a quick pic of an awesome retro phone, we ventured on to the Swinging Bridge.

The bridge was so timeless, so rejuvenating, just in it’s surroundings of beauty, with the water and the rocks. And even though I’m slightly afraid of heights and swinging bridges, I was most definitely not missing my chance to experience it.

I wanted lots of pictures to remember this moment of stillness and simplicity. A moment to clear my head, to stop the constant needs always in my mind, to just remember to stop and breath.

Our day was sweet. It was slow. It was peaceful. I knew our life of busyness would start again the next day, but just for those few short hours I experienced a life that don’t exist anymore. A life we have all forgot about trying to race to the next big thing in life. A little bittersweet to me.

So >

But at least I know that a small General Store, a plate of cheesy fries with ranch, a retro phone and swinging bridge is food to my soul, then I know that I’m still me. I’m still the country girl who longs for simpler times to enjoy life and love family.

What is GraceandGravy?

Posted on April 4, 2014 by [email protected]

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

I wanted to take this time to explain who I am and what my blog is about.

My name is Miranda, and I live in Rural Arkansas. I am married to my sweet husby William, of almost 16 years and I am a homeschooling mom to my kiddos Keegan, 14 and Lindy 12.

We adopted our daughter Gracie when she was 12 and she is now almost 22, married and I am the MiMi to 3 little ones, Wyatt, Wesley and Lilli and baby Laila who will be making her appearance in July.

I am a non-profit business owner, Crazy about Cupcakes, where my creations help support Missions in Guatemala, particularly focusing on Shadow of his Wings Orphanage.

That is who I am, now here is where the story begins.

9 Months ago, I left a life of Full-Time Ministry, where time knew no end. My life was on a constant race track that never ended. Please do not get me wrong, I love serving God and God’s children, but there came a time for me when I was losing not only myself in that journey, but my family as well.

My “team” as I call them (or ministry volunteers) saw me more on a daily basis than my family did. I had more breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings with fellow staff, volunteers or individuals than I had with my family. Church consisted of work, not a day to rest and reflect on what the Lord has done and my many blessings. In fact, my family was almost never at the same church campus as I was.

I knew something was going to have to change when I would emotionally breakdown as I headed one direction for church and my family headed another. I won’t lie. Ministry is demanding. It’s brutal. It just sucks sometimes.

But it also is so rewarding!

But in the end would it matter if I saved 1000 souls if I lost mine or my families along the way?

Is the high I would get after helping someone, creating another great service, pulling off another big event, worth the crumpling walls of my own home?

Those were the questions that my consumed my mind for so long. Isn’t this the plan God had for me, I would say. Did he not put me in this spot to make a difference?

Then finally one day I realized after dragging my kids to another meeting so they could do school, coming home to find that once again we didn’t have any groceries to cook a decent meal, seeing the mountains of laundry waiting to be washed and looking into the eyes of my fur babies as they wondered why I never spent any time with them anymore, and watching as my husband slipped further and further away from me, that none of that was God’s Plan for me. I created something ugly out of what he had laid before me.

Then I found this…..

The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.

Wow!!!

An then I knew what had to be done. I resigned shortly after, and no it wasn’t easy. It was very emotional, confusing, scary, and even uncomfortable for me. But it was also very freeing.

It took several months to completely break away, but I still play small parts to areas that I worked in before. But I finally feel I can do the Lord’s Work inside my own walls.

That is when I decided to blog.

I started a blog last summer as “Ramblingsofahomeschoolmomma”. I was in a place where I didn’t know who I was suppose to be or what i suppose to do with my life. So mostly I just rambled on to get thru each and every day.

Then I started soul searching. Asking God, “Who is it you created me to be?” And while I don’t have the exact answer I do know my roots. I know I was raised a simple life, living off the land, loving family and enjoying life. So what better place to start then there.

My husband and I are both passionate about late 1800′s Homesteads, Farmhouses and Primitive Decor. Anything Vintage or Retro. We love Farmhouses!

When I was reflecting on how I wanted my life to be, I just wanted to keep the same traits of a more simply style for my family.

If you are asking what does that mean?

Well the name Grace and Gravy comes from a Cooking Connect Group that I started at my church. A group of ladies would meet weekly and we would learn new recipes and discuss devotions or just share left.

After I was soul searching I realized that Grace and Gravy is my life. I love how God’s Grace covers me daily, like gravy, as I continue my journey striving to be a Proverbs 31 wife/mother.

I plan to blog about my Homesteading Adventures (as I learn what living a homesteading life means), my love for baking (My side business for Guatemala Missions: Crazy About Cupcakes) and cooking ( including a few tutorials From Scratch Cooking). I will share my Mid-Day Homeschooling Humors (or Horrors :/ ), my everyday Life Adventures or Mis-haps, and how I love to give and receive God’s Grace.

I hope you will enjoy the new adventures I am embarking on.

Love Miranda