Diapers!

Oh-So-Fun Baby stuff!

Nathan and I found these cloth diapers on craigslist! Usaully Kushies are 4 for $50, but we found all 20 infant size for $80! These are not the old cloth diapers that you need pins and covers for....come on now, we are hightech hillbillies! These come complete with velcro, fitted leg holes, a liner and a pocket to insert additional liners for extra heavy wetters! Some are very decorative and others are plain. :)

Above: The innards of Kushie diapers.

Sheppie tries out one of the baby's diapers.

(don't worry I am laundering this one again before I put it on the baby!) ;)

Fuzzibunz!

I also bartered online for 6 infant size Fuzzibunz. They have adjustable snaps (no velcro!) and a pocket in which the seperate liner is placed.

Which do I like better? Whichever one works best! Both are suppose to be leak proof and comfy for the baby!

How many diapers (cloth or disposable) does a baby go thru' in a day? 10-13! That is what I have been told. I don't like a baby to sit in wet or mess, so I know I may be changing more often then that. Would you like to sit in your own potty? I think not. ;)

So what is the plan? I have decided not to cloth diaper right away. For the first 2 weeks of life, Baby Black will enjoy the 7th generation disposable diapers that my mom found at Big Lots! The 2 weeks will allow the household time to rest and relax and let the laundry machine prepare itself for "baby use". ;)

7th generation diapers? Unlike Pampers, Huggies, Luvs and other diaper companies 7th generation DOES NOT put ingredients like....dioxins, tributyl-tin, sodium polyacralate and other harmful ingredient near and on baby's skin. While what is in a normal disposable diaper may compost (baby poo!), the diaper itself does not disintegrate. I am NOT a hug a tree girl (my woodstove feels quite nice thank you!) but my concern is my baby's health.

A lot of people have never even thought of what they are putting on their baby's bottoms. For them, this may be new info. OR some may not think the risks are great. They may have had 5 in regular pampers and never had any adverse reactions.

For me, it's a lot like the issue of vaccines, healthy eating, the way we live, etc. What is my conviction is not everyone else's. I don't expect every parent to be like me either! We gotta' do what we feel is right by our own children! :) For me, I am just writing to share what exciting things I have found and to educate those who have an interest! :)

After the baby's birth and once our household resumes routine and operation, my cloth diapers are going to be so fun to use!! I will have to give an update once the baby comes and share how the diapers worked (all 3 - disposable 7th generation diapers, Kushies and Fuzzibunz) and any other tricks I learn. I already found a fun diaper "cleansing lotion" that I am going to make! I will have to put directions up (with pics).

How does cloth diapering work?

This is just one way of cloth diapering that has been shared with me.

Have another way to launder cloth diapers? Share by leaving a comment! :)

Step one: Put diaper on baby.
Step two: Within 5 minutes to 3 hours the baby will have made a prize JUST FOR YOU!
Step three: Remove diaper, clean baby, put new diaper on.
Step four: Take the diaper (with your prize) and wipe out prizes into the toilet. Place the diaper into a laundry basket (that has a lid).
Step five: Every day or every other day you should have one load of diapers for the washer.

Some things I have learned from others about cloth diapering:

*You don't have to use a wet bucket. It can destroy fibers in the diapers.

*Don't use high tech detergents (the ones with enzymes) on cloth diapers. They eat the life out of your cloth diaper. I plan on using something fragrance free (less harsh chemicals). I hear both Ecover and 7th Generation are great for diapers. Also Dr. Bronner's Soap (liquid) is useable on diapers! We will hafta' see what is on sale. ;)

*Babies with cloth on sense they are wet sooner then babies with disposables. This is due to the "SAP" super absorbent polymer in most disposies'. It absorbs and holds in wetness making baby not realize it has a truck load of potty in it's diaper.

*Line drying is better for the longevity of your diapers!

Interested in seeing the $avings that cloth diapers can be?
http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/01/31/how-much-money-do-cloth-diapers-save-a-cloth-vs-disposable-cost-comparison/

Info on what is in regular disposable diapers (Huggies, Luvs, Pampers, etc.)....
"Disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S..1
Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.2
Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP), which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. A similar substance had been used in super-absorbancy tampons until the early 1980s when it was revealed that the material increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome.3
In May 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers, and that prolonged use of disposable diapers will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal spermatogenesis."
Taken from: www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

Did you know? (odds and ends :)
**YOU were in your grandmother's womb? By week 13, your mom had over 2 million eggs in her ovaries! One of those eggs was you (or atleast half of you ;)!

***3 weeks after conception, a baby is the size of the head of a pin. At week 8, a baby is the size of a pinto bean! At week 13, a baby is about the size of a peach! At week 17, a baby is the size of your hand spread open! Some of you may wonder "how big is Baby Black right now?" Baby Black is 26 weeks and according to "the books" weighs 2 pounds! At week 27, a majority of baby's are 15 inches long from head to toe!

Febuary 19th - Just one year ago....


My goat, Melita, was giving birth to triplets....and Nathan wrote an email to me that would make life change forever. Not only my life, but the lives of my family.


I sit here typing this as our tiny lil' blessing moves and kicks around in my womb. To think just 1 year ago, I was a "maiden in waiting" and now I am a "mommy in waiting". Waiting for the "birth"day of our baby.


Life is full of waiting. The question I would like to pose is, "Are you waiting patiently on the LORD?" We WANT what we WANT and we WANT it NOW. You notice the keyword...WANT. It wasn't until I waited that I got what I wanted. I can tell ya' too....what the LORD has for us is SO worth the wait. :)


Happy Feb. 19th anniversary, Nathan!! I love you! Thank you for being a goodly husband to me. For your love, encouragement and for all the happiness you bring to me! I love you more!


Want to read what happened a year ago....
http://trulythoughtprovoking.blogspot.com/2008/03/story.html

Some sad news....

Almost 2 weeks ago, our dog Sadie died.

After having spent the cold night in our home, Sadie and Sheppie were let outside to go potty. Nathan tried to call both of them back in, but neither were interested. When we went up to fix a pipe issue at Nathan's parent's, Sheppie was barking through the fence at Dayda and Sheba (Nathan's parent's dogs). We called for Sadie, but she never came. We figured she was off in the pasture getting a bone or chasing a squirell. We spent about 30 minutes inside and then headed home. As we drove down the lane back to our house, I looked out my window at the iced pond. My eyes narrowed down on a broken patch of ice and a dark object floating in the water. I told Nathan to stop and said, "I see something in the pond." We ran to the edge to find Sadie. Nathan retrieved her cold, limp body and we quickly drove back to our home. We tried to revive her (cpr and hydrotherapy), but it was too late.

It hurts my insides as I type this and the tears just keep flowing. Sadie's death was very, very sudden. We expected her to live a long and happy life. She was only 10 months old. We expected her to be here as our children arrived. I expected her to always follow me and greet me and roll over to get her belly rubbed. I expected to always find her stretched out on her favorite log. I had hoped she would have her first litter while I was still pregnant with my firstborn. Nathan, Sheppie, Lil' Miss and I sorely miss her.

In the midst of us missing her, I can see the Lord's hand and how He has used something sad for our good. I am sure you may be already thinking what thoughts crossed my mind a few minutes after we found Sadie in the pond. As we quickly ran back to our van that day, I turned around to see Nathan running with Sadie's little limp body. Suddenly the thought hit me, "That could be one of my children." We have discussed dangers on our farm. We already had several rules for our children about ponds, equiptment, barns, etc. BUT until the day Sadie died, I never really grasped the true danger of ponds.

The Bible says all things work together for our good....that does not mean only good things will happen to us. The Lord knows what is going to happen everyday of my life. He doesn't make bad things happen to me, but He does allow them and uses the outcome for my own good.

Ya' know...it's just not sweet little doggies like Sadie who die unexpectedly. Do we take our family for granted? We just expect our parents to be there. We think that our siblings will always answer the phone. In our mind, our spouse will always be there to snuggle up to and our children will always be there to hold. The truth of the matter is we don't know what tomorrow holds. Don't take the ones you love for granted!

"...whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14

From L to R: Sheppie, Lil' Miss and Sadie...

Nathan snapped this picture about 3 days before Sadie's death.

The log was Sadie's favorite sleeping spot.

No, we didn't ask them to pose for us,

Nathan just happened to catch a "kodak moment". :)

Your right!

Your right. I should post more. I should keep you more up to date. I should let you peek inside my life and see what is going on with me. ME.....who you care for and love so much!
Some may wonder what is going on with Nathan, baby and me. You wonder if Nathan finished the back porch, what adventures have we been on lately and just how big that baby is making my tummy.

Others miss the thought provoking posts. They wonder just where did my mind go and why am I not posting my thinkerest thoughts anymore for others to think upon.

Some, but hopefully few, are relieved that for the past 9 months my blog has slowed down. They are happy their email boxes are not constantly getting flooded with emails stating that I have updated my blog.

For those who have been patiently awaiting a new post, my sincerest apologies for not keeping you updated!! I hope this post will satisfy your wondering and curiosity! :)

**Nathan is, as I type, working on framing in the inward doorways for my laundry room and back porch. I hear him banging and sawing away right now! He has found a lot of old termite damage on the wall he is currently working on, but being the genius he is (I am not being biased! :) he is tearing out and bracing areas that need the support. He is such a good worker! In the past couple months since I last posted, he has finished the walls of the outside of our porch and pantry, put siding on the walls, tin shingled the roof of the porch/pantry and painted it also! Not to mention the inside electric wiring and other odds and ends that he has done! It daily amazes me how talented my man is!! :) The Lord has surely blessed me with a gifted husband! What would take many families years to complete, he can knock out in a short amount of time and make everything in our home be so wonderful to and for me!! <3>

We have been busy the past couple months with some outside (off the farm) jobs. We gave a home a face lift (inside), fixed a warehouse roof, cut and delivered firewood and many other odd jobs that I can't remember. :) We also did a lil' salvaging in an old building recently.
Since I last updated, we have visited my family a few times, went on a family roots trip to KY with Nathan's momma' and grandaddy, attended 2 civil war reenactment dances and a bunch of other fun stuff I can't remember at present. :) Oh! My 23rd birthday was on Dec. 3rd. Belated gifts, greetings and cards are still being accepted. ;) hehe

Our ninth month anniversary was the 5th of January!!! Can ya' believe it?

**Baby...what a sweet word that is! Exciting to think that in just a few months Nathan and I will have a lil' blessing of our own to hold, kiss on, to nurture and train up!!! <3>

We found a midwife that we really like and have already had one visit and will have another soon. I have had many people ask if I am comfortable birthing at home, if I am afraid...etc. I have no fear, nor anxiety bout' the whole thing. Birthing is a natural thing for us women. We are "womb-man"! :) Dangers lurk everywhere we turn. Things can go wrong in any part of our lives. That is just the consequence of sin in our fallen world. From all my research (oooo I am going to have to do a post on this one!!) home births prove to be safer then hospital births. Does that mean nothing will go wrong with our home birth? We don't have a guarantee that bad things will not happen to us, but we do have the Lord's guarantee that says, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you!" Why should I be afraid? I trust the Holy God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...(and of Nathan, baby and me!)!! :o)

Currently, I am researching one size cloth diapers (cotton). Any recommendations?

That is all for now...but I am going to close with pictures!! Did I hear you say "YAHOO!"? :) You should be saying yahoo because it takes atleast 10 minutes per pic to upload them on to the blog! :)

*~*~*~Upcoming posts include pics and info on~*~*~*

*Nathan, baby and me

*Farm going-ons

*The evil history of eugenics

*Mail order brides in the 1800's

*Fun baby stuff I found online to buy!

*Civil War Reenacting...while pregnant.....

*Home birth'n, cloth diaper'n, water birth and infant potty training! (Learn with me as I learn about it!)

*Heirloom seeds and gardens!

*Updates on the back porch and laundry room progress

*and much, much more....

About 3 months ago: The back porch as-was with a missing roof.

This is before we extended the porch with more concrete floor.

The wall you see on the left was later torn down for the extention.

We doubled the porch/laundry room area, making it 13 wide x 30 long!

About 2 months ago: Nathan stirs up roof paint!!

About 2 weeks before, we poured the concrete floor

(no pics of that!! We lacked a camera during that time).

We then built the exterior wall for the backporch/laundry room,.

Nathan put the roof on (antique tin shingles and all!)

The tin shingled roof!

And look at the pretty detail Nathan made on the porch corner!

(Note: The shiney silver board is a make shift door until we get the laundry room door up!)

.

WAA-LAA! We aren't all the way finished on the outside.

The door needs painting and the siding does too.

L: Sheppy sleeps while Nathan works!

R: Lil' Miss and Sheppy!

L: The first week of November we went to KY to visit Nathan's family roots (on his mom's side). Here Nathan and I are at the Creelsboro KY Natural Bridge. Look how tiny we are!

R: ME!

Nathan and his mom going over the Lapsley Family cemetary map.

3 Generations!

And last but not least...

Grand-daddy, your first great-grand-baby asked me to put this picture on the blog.

Guess what? :)

O where, o where have the lovebirds been...?

I know the question that has been plagueing many of you...

WHAT have those 2 lovebirds been up to?

Last week, we partially finished our parlor! We put up our wallpaper (oo-la-la!) and our light fixtures! THEN we went thru' our books and put them on the shelves that we made! That was SO fun! So, you are wanting to see before and after pics, huh? ;)



The fireplace in the parlor/living room before Nathan started working on it in Mar. 08'.....Notice the walls *were* plain and don't have any woodwork, etc. to them.... This part of the house was built in the early 1800s and was originally one-story with an outside chimney (large) and a fireplace. In the mid-1800s they took off the roof and put on a second story, replacing the big chimney with the small flue shown here. Notice how they cut the original mantle in half in order to build the new chimney!

Nathan starts working on the fireplace in March 08' (while we were engaged)....








In the beginning of August 08' we started really working on our parlor!



Below is the mantle (hidden behind materials) and to the right of the pic, the beginning of our book cases!







The fireplace...incomplete...notice the big rock Nathan put over the fireplace (all by himself too!).

We have book cases on both sides of the fire place.

Here is another "before" picture of the process of making the book cases!
All of the woodwork and molding was either salvaged from other houses Nathan has torn down, or was made by him. The wide boards (some are as big as 20 inches) and some of the molding came from a house built in 1780 that we have been tearing down the last few months. Pics of that house to come....

Nathan starts to work on a beautiful topper above the 2 doors and front window!

All with homemade stuff of course.

We commenced our painting near the middle of August... Notice to the right of this picture the wainscoting and chair rail we put up. We had to tear out the old sheetrock and then the plaster to put it up. I tried locating pics, but couldn't find them.

Nathan's finished door top!

Then this past week, we wallpapered and put up our lights!

We still have the parlor floor to polyurethene and other odds and ends to move about, so a completed picture is yet to come.

Since we were 99% done with our parlor, we started a new adventure!....
Our back porch which will soon be our mud room, pantry and laundry room (as our plan stands for the moment... ;)

Close up of the pantry wall, before being ripped out, on our back porch...Nathan had the job of ripping all the old yucky stuff out. Why are we ripping it out you ask? The wooden floor of the pantry (which is connected to the porch area) was built at ground level and had termite damage (along with other problems). We are preparing to replace the pantry floor area and add additional footage in the front porch of our home with a concrete slab this week.

Nathan starts to do more demolition! :)

Nathan working in what use to be my pantry....

Nathan takes the siding off the front and tears down the front wall...woah!

Talk about yucky....Under the pantry before Nathan cleans it up....

Look below at what a great clean-up job Nathan did!

That's my man! ;) hehe

Sooo...what was I doing while Nathan demolished the pantry?

I was trying to find a place for all the stuff that use to be stored in the pantry (that sounds easy but it was a half day affair ;) , pulling nails from the boards Nathan was saving that were still good and cheering Nathan on! :)

While pulling nails, I reached for a board and touched this instead...

Well, that is all for now! It's almost 6pm and I have french loaves to create!!!

This concludes my post about "Adventures in Nathanland".... ;)

Much love,

Nathan's lil wifee'

It's me! As of today I have not posted in 2 months!

What have my past 2 months been full of?? Lotsa'....Nathan has been blessed with a couple outside (off the farm) jobs. I get to do the simple fun stuff and of course encoourage him by my chatter and presence. ;o) I am his gopher for tools and such too. We also finished our upstairs bedroom and started on the parlor (what a snoopsy and fun word, huh)? We have about 3 day left (wood work and wall papering) and we will be moving on to a new project in our home. Pictures to come soon!

My mom's 40th birthday was yesterday! She is still celebrating her birthday WEEK, so for those of you who are late on birthday greetings, you still have time! Nathan and I surprised her by coming late Tuesday night and we plan to leave tonight. Spending time with my parents and brothers is always so fun! Being able to spend time here with Nathan is amazing too! The past 2 days I have enjoyed thanking the Lord for Nathan, my dad and mom, Justy and Jon! I just thank the Lord for HIS goodness to me! What a gift they are! Mom's birthday week has been a sweet time! :)

The hand of the Lord in my life is just "awe"some! Each day is a precious gift from Him and should be lived to give Him glory! <3>

Watching Jon in the tree!

Several have inquired where I am and what I am up to and so this post will hafta' tide you over for a lil. :) If your desperate for good reading, Mom posted 2 posts on her blog yesterday and Jon's blog is always so fascinating! :)

Much love, Nathan's lil wifee

Nathan spins on the rope at my parent's house.
I am running out of the way, as I just got done twisting him around.

Nathan spins me around fast...

Dizziness and lots of laughing is the result ;o)

Today is Nathan and I's two month anniversary!!! :o) The Lord is SO good to us! :) Each day is a sweet enjoyable day! I love being Nathan's helpmeet! <3>

Sooooo where have we been?

Yesterday morning Nathan baled hay and together we put the hay up. His mom came down that afternoon and helped us too and that morn' she had went ahead and prepared lunch and dinner!!! Putting up hay is hard, fun work! I enjoy so much working along with Nathan. Course' he can heft' more bales then I can, but that is to be expected. ;o) He has guy muscles! ;)

This morning Nathan is cutting hay again for monday or tuesday baling. I worked in our garden some and now I am heading to clean house, hang up wet laundry and give my family a call! :)

My dad's birthday is June 11th!!!! Dad, your birthday month is almost done, but don't fret father's day is soon! ;o)

Much Love,
Nathan's Lil' wifee

Hey-howdy from Nathanland!

Howdy!!

Where have I been the last couple days?

****Sunday and Monday Nathan and I enjoyed the hospitality of the Rondeau's! We had a very fun and goodly time! I got lots of smiles and laughs from my 3 lil' nephews (Caleb, 5, Isaac, 3 and Micah 1). I also enjoyed my dear sister, Liz (momma' to the Rondeau clan)! :o)

**** Nathan has been not feeling so good of late, so the rest of our week has been restful. We haven't been spreading manure, knocking out walls, having water fights or any of the like...just takin' it easy. Prayerfully, my dear sweet hubby will be himself come the weekend. Prayer is appreciated for Nathan to get better. :) He has been a trooper and is fun to nurse back to health! :o)

*****Ooooo I checked out my mom's blog and noticed she blogged 3 new posts!!! A tear-jerker, a recipe and a encouragement for the chefs of the home! The pasta salad looked sooo yummy!

*****If you all haven't been to The Modest Boutique of late make sure you head that way!!! Summer is here, so those looking for modest summer gear be sure to check out my mom's store!

****My dad's birthday month officially started on May 11th (his real b-day being June 11th). For those of you that are going to send him daily gifts, please email me for mailing directions. ;) High on his list of wants/needs for his birthday are a tractor, a pole building, icecream and mexican food. Maybe the pole barn and tractor can be UPS'd.

****Our garden is sprouting!

****Oh, a thought my little brain thunk....

Mission trips! When you think of mission trips, where do you think of?

South America? Russia? Out of state?

As Christians, we go on mission trips just heading to the grocery store! You don't have to have an organized trip to spread the Gospel! You don't have to be in a group of soul winners to spread the Word!

As born again believers the WORD is in us, we don't have to go somewhere foriegn to qualify us to be "missionaries". Course' going out in the world is great and needs to be done, but it's a common misconception that to be a missionary one must go abroad.

So if you see me out at Food Lion, I am NOT just buying my grocery needs! Watch out fellow shoppers!

Off to get sum'thin to eat!
Love,
Mrs. Nathan Black!

What have we been up to???

For those who check my blog faithfully...

FINALLY!

PICTURES from Nathanland!

Today Nathan and I worked on the rooms we have been remodeling. Nathan added a few wall receptacles (plug-in things). He went in the attic and ran the wiring down thru' the walls to my awaiting hand (I had my hand in the hole in the wall.)

See pic below!

Upstairs the old receptacle hole is on the blue board and the new one is on the base board! The old had to go as we put up wainscoating.

The house originally had one plug in each room. Since we are getting to be high-tech hillbillies, we are updating the wiring and adding many more pluggies. ;)

Nathan working on wiring! Ain't he cute? ;) (Jon and Justin you are excluded from answering this question! ;)

Wainscoating! I never knew what that was b4 I married!

Nathan putting up chair rail on top of the wainscoating.

LOOK!! TREASURE!!!

Nathan was tearing out an old window in the living room and he found the below!

What is it you ask?

CAN YOU GUESS???

Hint #1 : It fell down the wall during remodeling about 1850.

Hint #2: It dates from about 1820.

Hint #3: It's about 2 feet long and wooden.

The winner's name will be featured on the blog along with their blog addy or website. ;o)

Downstairs living room fireplace! The mantle is 1820 and the reused boards are about 1780! The boards are hand planed and hand sawed and some are 20 inches wide!!! We thought we would leave the colors like they are! ;) hehe (just kiddin')

Okay that is all my update fer' now!

Just ain't had enuf' of Nathan and I???

Looking for more of our adventures?

For more updates and pictures,

check out Nathan's dad's site and my momma's!

Twenty days...

20 days....Twenty days...20 days

20 days I have been married.

Each day has been so sweet and enjoyable. Shoveling manure, planting grapes, painting, hammering, cooking, baking, burning food, laughing, singing, eating, praying, walking, talking...just each moment I have enjoyed. :)

What is life but a vapor?

Life is like a stream that at points picks up rushes by and at other points slows. It sometimes rains causing the stream to pick up and sometimes the rain doesn't come causing the stream to run low.

Lots of things I think about in my mind of late. Lots and lots of things. I think at times I can write better and express myself better by way of typing then I can in words. My mind sometimes pulls a blank when I talk to Nathan (I wonder why? ;) and so I improvise with words like "thing of it". This week "thing of it" has been overly used at our home. "How about this thing of it?" Or do you need a "thing of it"?

Lots of things on my mind. Chiefly Nathan, of course. Then my family (dad, mom, Justin and Jon). Justin turns 21 on April 28th!!!!! TWENTY ONE! All these numbers! 20 days, 21 years! Then my mind rambles over to my kin. They have been on my mind a lot lately.

Nathan was shoveling manure yesterday and I was watching (I had just hopped down from helping, he was on the last bit). As I watched him, my mind went back to 2006 and how he and I had wrote on various topics (farming, goats, etc.) and how the ball had dropped then. H0w I had continued to pray for him and his family and Rosewood Farm on occasion when I was reminded to (by street signs...see previous post for details ;). I stood there watching him and the goodness of God just overwhelmed me. WHAT A WORK GOD HAS DONE FOR US! HERE I am 2 years later the lil wifee of Nathan. My insight and my outlook are so shallow compared to the anything God has prepared for us!

<3 Okay, that is all for me for now.

HI to everyone who has been wondering where I have been and why I haven't been in the world of bloggin'.

I love you Dad, Mom, Justin, Jon and Conan. I pray for you constantly. You are all with me here even though 2 hours separate us. I pray for your safety on the roads and at home. It's an odd emotion I feel thinking I can't be there in the flesh to do dishes or push mom out of her spot to take over what she is working on, to laugh and give "veggietale commentaries" with the boys and to joke with Dad (and be teased by him). I think now how precious those times were growing up and how I didn't really realize how precious time was. I realize it more now. I had the concept of it and I thought I understood it, but I think reality has hit home the past few weeks. A precious lil' lesson from the Lord fer' sure.

Hi to you Nane, Aunt Heav and all my "west ah' gin-ya" cousins!!! <3 I am thinking of all the fun cookin' and talkin' times we have enjoyed and all our giggle sessions and "Crocodile". ;) haha

Love, Me (Nathan's lil' wifee)

Tis' so sweet to trust in Jesus...

5 days!

5 days I have been Mrs. Nathan Alan Black!!! I look back at the last couple weeks and a happy peace fills me. Tears just well up at GOD'S GOODNESS to ME! That right there just floods me with a bunch of sweet emotions! GOD IS GOOD!

My mom posted some pics on her blog and Nathan's dad also posted on his blog! AND Liz put a video (that Nathan and I have yet to see) on her blog!!
Thanks to all who have been praying for Nathan and I during this time! For those who were able to make it to the wedding, thank you for your presence!!! We love all of ya! :)

More to come soonly. Off to do some laundry! ;)
Love,
Mrs. Black ;)

Thoughts from my heart

This will be my last post for a while.

Do I have anything thought provoking to share?

Of late my life has been one big exciting thought provoking adventure. :)

What to share...what to share. Hmmm...

It amazes me daily the Lord's goodness to me! I don't deserve what He has done in my life, yet in spite of my unworthiness He continues to bless me and multiply my joy. The past couple weeks my family has teased that I am in Nathanland and I will admit I am and have been. I have forgotten ingredients while cooking, choked on vitamins, half heard what everyone has said and at times my mind just goes blank. I am laughing as I write this.

That is another thought provoker. My family. They are all sooooo precious to me! My simple words can't explain what they mean to me. They, alone, have been my best friends, my comedians, my backbone, my sillies, my joy and my life up until a few weeks ago. They have been all I have known daily for 22 years.

I look around my bedroom to see all my possessions packed up. As a family, we have moved over 19 times in 22 years to different homes. It's odd cause this is a move I am making without my dad, mom and 2 brothers. I look around my family and just think. I have been with them for 22 years. I can write that last sentence out and it looks so easy but the memories and the past that go behind that one little sentence are a powerful testimony to God's goodness to my family and I.

Although I have been floating in Nathanland, I have been here at home too. What sweetness I have enjoyed with my family for 22 years! How appreciative to them for all they have done for me and continue to do.

I think of God's design how HE created family. How He designed a man to take a wife and then for them to become a family. That is a reality now to me. I actually understand now. It has been odd/exciting/happy/sad/amazing to see and feel how my desire has been turned from my family to Nathan. How before me being only a daughter and sister was very important to me. My desire to please my family was so strong in me each day. I woke up thought of being with my family each day. My mind was on things that I would do with them. Now my heart strings have been joined to Nathan and though I love my family SO much and want to please them, Nathan has taken 2nd place in my heart. 2nd place? Yes, because the Lord Jesus has been in first always.

As I think on all this, I think of my parents and my brothers. I am so thankful to them. I sit here crying. Words just can't describe what I feel for them. I can't seem to capture the words to express what I feel and think. I just love them so much. That is all I can say.

I think where I would be if it were not for the Lord. I think of how He saved me, cleansed me and made me new. How through my teen years I was able to walk in newness of life. I think of the hard times too. Growing up in our culture is so rough. There are so many temptations out there and the devil is on the prowl. My heart fills up with praise for ALL the LORD has done for my family and I.

I am thankful that my family has been willing to go where we didn't want to go when the Lord directed. There have been many times when we were at peace with where we were and the Lord said "move" and we moved. It could be from state to state or in everyday situations. Where would I be today if we hadn't followed His calling? Course' at times we have had closed ears, yet still God has used us. We ain't worthy to be used. God is so good.

Thank you Dad and Mom for giving me life and letting the Lord use you as tools to prepare me for Nathan. I love you Dad! I love you Mom!

Thank you boys for putting up with me through the years ;) and for protecting me. I may be the oldest, but you both have always looked out for me in everything. I love you Juju and Jon!

Tomorrow Nathan and I will start our new life together. Saying I am excited is an understatement. Many have asked me, "Are you getting excited?" I don't think I have ever been so excited. I think right now I could run outside bellowing at the top of my lungs with glee!

Next time I write I will be Mrs. Nathan Black. ;)

Love
Jessica

The story...

The story starts in 2006.

How does one start a true story and testimony to God's goodness? The words we can come up with just don't seem fitting enough. :)

In 2006, I posted some dresses and jumpers I had made and no longer wanted on a homesteading message board in the barter board area. I also stated I would barter for milk goats in VA. I got a pm (*private message) from a Nathan Black who wrote and said he may know some people in his area that have nubian goats. At the time, goats had been a wish/desire of mine for 2-ish years. I was REALLY excited at the possibility of getting goats. :) Nathan shared some of his goat knowledge and our pm's stayed mainly on topics related to that (farming, chickens, goats, government, etc.). At the time my family was renting a house and were unable to get the goats. Nathan and I lost contact after a lil' while, but I considered him a friend.

I don't know about you, but when I see certain things I lift up others to prayer. For example, I have a dear friend whose deceased dad use to drive Covenant trucks and when I see a Covenant truck, I lift her and her family up in prayer. I did this with Nathan's family too. We had a road near our old rental home that had the name "rose" in it and when we passed that way and I happened to see it, I would pray for Nathan and his family as their farm is named Rosewood Farm. We moved last year in April 07' to our own home and 3 streets down is Rose Valley Rd. When I thought on it, I would pray for him and his family.

In mid-January, I saw a post for toggenberg goats on the homesteading barter board area. Nathan was posting for some friends who didn't have Internet access. I posted back to the board, along with 3-4 other people, asking for more information. 2 days later, Nathan pm'd (private messaged) me and said he went to my blog, glad to hear I finally got my goaty girls and that he hoped my dad's work was going goodly. I replied very blandly and stated simple facts about my goats, family and didn't ask him any questions. He replied again (not-so-blandly) and our conversation picked up where it had left off in 06'. We discussed the Bible, government control, farming, goats (of course), general things about our families, etc. My mom sat with me and read each email going in and out like she normally would. We do this 99.99% of the time as we enjoy looking online together. I read her emails and she reads mine. ;) Several more private messages flew back and forth between us on topics like the food industry, fluoride, farming, missionary work, our families, etc. Just basic things that he and I would discuss with everyone who will talk about them. ;)

On Feb. 19. 08', my goat, Melita, had her kids!!! What an exhausting day! Mom and I were outside in the cold all day helping Melita birth, cleaning up, making sure the 3 kids were goodly and finally at about 8pm we sat down for the night. Everyone was in the living room. Mom and I opened a pm I had received from Nathan. Dad was sitting in the lazy boy chair and my 2 brothers (Justin, 20 and Jon, 17) were lounging on the couches (Jon had the flu). As mom and I read, dad caught the word "tractor" and said, "What does that say?" Mom read him a little and he wanted to hear the rest. Nathan's conversation went from tractors to tomatoes, then solar power to diesel fuel and finally he said...

"Jessica, forgive me for being long-winded tonight, but I have something to ask you about. I have tried to find your parents' phone number but according to the online White Pages it is unlisted. I would have talked with them first before telling you this, but since I have no way of doing so, I must go ahead and "say it!" I have been impressed as we have been talking for several months now that we share alot of similar views, and I would like to discuss with you what your views and desires are for your future family and home, with the intention being to find out whether the Lord has brought us in contact for that reason. I have strong convictions regarding family and children (as I do about most other things :) ), but I do not want to talk about these things with you without first making my intentions known.

Please prayerfully consider this and discuss it with your parents. If you have no other attachment to someone else, and you feel peace that it is the Lord's will to discuss with me regarding your wants for your future family and the possibility of marriage, please let me know and also provide me with your phone number so that I may ask your parent's permission to discuss these matters with you, and I suppose I'll need to tell them a little about myself before they'll feel comfortable with me (after all, gotta keep 'em comfee!). My one desire is a marriage and family that brings glory and honor to my Lord, and it seems that you are someone who is committed to serving Him with all you are. So, if you would like to discuss this with me, please let me know. If you are already attached to someone else, or just don't feel at peace about this, that's fine too. I have enjoyed getting to know you a little, and certainly won't let your decision affect that friendship! Just take it before the Lord, and through his Spirit and the guiding influence of Godly parents, obediently follow what he shows you is his path for you."

What was the reaction in our living room? Dad and mom were in tears, Justy was excitedly laughing and Jon was holding back laughter. I sat big-eyed and near tears. For some time, my family had been sleuthing out Nathan, unbeknownst to me!! They had been researching him through posts he posted on homesteading and through his dad's blog. Just checking him out to make sure no "weirdo" was writing me. ;)

I prayed about Dad contacting Nathan for 2 days. The night of the 19th, I lost sleep, as did my mom and Justin. I got MAYBE 3-4 hours of fitful, unrestful sleep. Same thing the next night. :) On Wednesday at about 3pm, the Lord gave me the thought, IF he isn't what your husband should be, he is not your husband.

What was my requirements you ask?

Fire for the Lord, bold, truthful, burdened for the lost, loves children (and would not use birth control), has an adventure beard, a warrior, has room for my goats, prepared for a family (stable), would love and cherish me for who I am...etc. etc. etc. :) I had made out a list last fall of requirements for a hubby.

In November of 07', the LORD had given me PERFECT peace about being single.

I, for years, had cried out to the Lord and said, "Why am I not married? Is there no one for me?" I would give God my burden and then after a while (a week maybe ;), snatch it back up and place that burden on myself again! This past November, I had perfect peace, sweet peace...that is, until Nathan emailed Feb. 19 about pursuing the Lord's will. ;) ha

I shared with mom my thought from the Lord and then I shared with dad. :) Thursday Dad called up Nathan and then Saturday morning dad went out to Nelson, VA (2 hours away) to meet and get to know Nathan. As dad left his home that evening, Nathan asked if it would be okay to discuss more serious marriage matters with me and dad gave his consent. Sunday morning Nathan sent me an email. On Sunday evening, we went back and forth by email on topics like child training, marriage, birth control, what he wanted in a wife and what I wanted in a hubby. We were able to share what we stood on as convictions without fear of stepping on toes or offending each other. I would "bait" him and ask him questions without giving my input. He then would respond back with MY answer! Sunday night at about 7pm, our emails were crossing and it was getting confusing, so dad said he could call me.

At 7:30pm, we talked on the phone for the first time. I asked him his stand on a few questions and then we discussed what was going on. He shared he had been "sleuthing" me out for a few months on the board. Keeping an eye on what I posted and what I said and praying for the Lord to reveal His will in all this. When he found my link to my blog on my post, he checked that out too. We talked a lil more and then he then ended the conversation with prayer that the Lord would give us a sign. We would keeping discussing by email and he would call me the upcoming weekend. Inside me, I knew already that this was it. I was afraid to leave my family though. My family is VERY tight knit. I love them all so dearly and although I had desired for years to be married, I was afraid to leave my family. :) As Nathan told me on the phone, "I will get back to you this weekend and see what the Lord has said." I was thinking..."Good! I've got a few more days with my family!" Selfish ol' me!

I had been very guarded in my emails, using terms like, "if I marry", "my husband"...etc. I had a wall up around me and was trying very carefully to make sure I didn't get involved with Nathan emotionally. Monday at 3pm I had peace and realized I was stalling and just afraid about leaving my family. I told mom as we pruned apple trees, "I know this is the Lord's will...now what?.." As we went into the house at 4:20ish, I said, "I love Nathan for what he is and what he stands for, I love him like a friend. I love him cause' of who he is and what he stands for....does that make sense?"

That night (monday), we went back and forth by email and I let the wall I had built round my heart be knocked down. I started to LOVE Nathan not only for what he stood for, but I had a true, pure genuine love for him. Not a puppy love or a infatuation...I can't explain this to you all. I just knew I loved him purely and genuinely. We stayed up until 11pm going back and forth (my family was around me the entire time...laughing at our replies and getting excited!). At 10:58, I wrote an email about the Lord's will about this, BUT I did not send it. I stuck it in my save box and bid Nathan adieu for the night.

Tuesday I woke up to an email sitting in my box (YAHOO!). It was 7am (I had been awake since 4:30am!) and we started writing back and forth.

At 7:38am, Nathan emailed and asked me 2 questions. 1. When can I come and visit you? 2. Will ya marry me?

I sent thru a yes (which I don't think got sent to him in all the excitement!) Then I sent him the below...

"You have got to be kidding me.. ;) asking me to marry you on the Internet? ;)

Here is the below email I wrote last night at 2 minutes until deadline (11pm) but didn't send it....

Just to let you know you asked me this week to pray for a sign from the Lord. I just want to let ya know that prior to that I knew it was the Lord's will. I was just chicken cause I don't want to leave my family. When you said "pray for a sign, I will call u this weekend"...I thought...okay I can prolong this til the weekend, but it was selfish of me. I talked to my mom bout this today and she said "it's sad, but so verry happy at the same time.. we have prayed about you all marrying godly spouses for years and exceeding us in our lives for years and this is the Lord's doing." (I told her first what I knew the Lord had done before she told me this)....."

To make an extremely long and adventurous story short... ;)

Nathan and I started courting Sunday morning (the 24th) and were engaged on the February 26 at 7:38am. We met in person for the first time on the 28th (Thursday...2 days after he proposed).

For all you curious girlies, yes he did propose to me in person that Thursday in my goat yard on bended knee and then he asked me in front of my mom while she snapped some pictures later that day!

So, this is my testimony to God's goodness. There is a lot I have left out. How God has been preparing me for years to be Nathan's wife, all the little instances and circumstances that the Lord has used to make me ready have been numerous. I feel totally unworthy to this great thing that the Lord has brought about! Of ourselves, neither Nathan or I could have orchestrated it! It's been amazing the past 2 weeks to see God's hand upon our lives, to see His will be shown to us and to be struck by the awe of the Lord for all the things HE has brought to pass!

One thing I am VERY thankful for is my mom taking the time to show me the ropes of being a wife and mother. For her training me up, in my teen years, and being a proverbs 31 momma'! Christian mommas and daughters, as I write this to you, my heart bleeds for the moms and daughters whose relationships are frazzled and burned out. I can truly share with that; had it not been for my mom's training (and the Lord using her as a tool) I would be a very different woman than I am today. I know too many daughters and moms that have the "me" mentality!! Mommas, take time to train your daughters and daughters, be willing helpers and observant listeners to the gifts of womanhood that your mom is trying to pass down to you!

Praising the Lord for all HE has done!!!!

"Great things He hath done"....

"Great things He hath done"....

For all those who wondered, "HOW will Jessica ever get married?" I am announcing you can put your worries to ease! THE LORD has been at work! :)

The adventure bearded Nathan Black went fishin' and has caught himself a lil' wifee!

We have set our wedding date for April 5th, 2008!

Since the 19th of Febuary, my family and I's life has been an exciting blur. I want to type all the details out for all of you but I am thinking I will have to collect my thoughts and make sure I get dates right before I share. The cute pictures of us will have to do!

It is SO amazing and I feel so totally overwhelmed at ALL the Lord has been doing for me! I look back at the past few years and I can clearly see now His hand in my life and how He has been preparing me to be Nathan's wife! I feel overwhelmed with joy and so unworthy for all the great things that God has done!

Don't forget to take notice of my new blog page title ("Lil' Wifee to be" is Nathan's nickname for me! ;) And check out my hobbies and interests on the side (if the type is too small, blame blogspot! ;)

2 Funny Farmers-to-be!

A comment from the hubby to be....

My precious Jessica, what great things God has done for us! As I look back at this past week, I can see so clearly the working of the Lord to bring about his perfect plan for our lives. So many little miracles and signs make it a certainty that God has prepared us for eachother from the moment we were reborn into his family. As we seek to follow him into this new life together, may the Lord use us to accomplish great things for His name, and make us a living testimony before a lost world that he is able to free us from the power of sin to live a new life through His power. What a tremendous thing he has done for us! "Lord help me to live worthy of your calling on my life."

My lil' Wifee, we're still at 100%, and we're going to keep it that way! When God does something it's done right! Your unworthy and immensely blessed hubby to be! Nathan