Merry Christmas from Our Farm to Yours........

Wishing all my blog followers and fellow blog friends and farm friends a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and  MORE THAN BLESSED 2015!!!!!!!!

For Unto Us a Child is Born...........And...HE is the REASON for this SEASON!!!!

 Love --- Sara-Michael, Mike, Duke, Jami, Christian, Choco, and Kendylmae

And.....from Gumdrop (representing all the chickens and rabbits and guineas on the farm!!!!!

Trying..........

I so badly want to get our blog moved to a "real" blogging site and get my own domain, etc!  But....gosh....it's all so overwhelming to me.  And....really....I just don't want to pay someone $300+ to create my own website for me. ($ is just too big of a deal for me to spend it on something like that for me)!  I really want to have a blog that benefits others b/c I think our lifestyle has a lot to offer -- I love what God is doing in our lives and believe He wants us to share it! So...I guess I am going to have to suck it up and figure this whole blogging world out --- any pointers out there???

I keep hearing I should switch to Wordpress.org and then pay for my own domain, etc.  But...while researching it all seems overwhelming and also expensive.  How much should I be expecting to pay? Should I use BlueHost? DreamHost?  Can I really design my own blog or will I be in over my head with very little HTML knowledge??

Okay bloggers out there -- help a girl out!!!  I have read ebook after ebook and still don't feel qualified but yet have this nagging voice inside me saying YOU CAN DO IT!

So... will be waiting to hear from ya'll ----- especially if you are a blogger that has utilized your blog to bring in some extra income for your family!

But...I need you to break it down in easy to understand "farm-momma" terms please!  My brain is a bit overloaded with technical mumble jumble from reading and researching the blogging world!  I am strong....I am a farm girl....I can do a blog -- I KNOW I CAN!!!!

The Self Sufficiency "Cycle" ---

As I was doing chores on this most beautiful November day (preparing for the COLD that is on its way), I was reminded of two things:

1.  God has so very much changed me!!!!
2.  The "Self Sufficient" lifestyle is a cycle and can use some of the simplest ideas ever!

So....let's start with #1 --- seriously --- I found myself thinking "you really should be making Christian help with all of these chores today"......and then followed by this thought...... "But...being out here ALONE scooping up all the rabbit poo to put on the garden is actually peaceful and relaxing and I am HAPPY!"  REALLY?????  Those were my thoughts!  Then...I was laughing  - almost rolling on the ground laughing (of course I didn't b/c that would mean rolling in rabbit poo) b/c 4 years ago, you would have found me in my 3200 square foot home in my amazing subdivision watching the kids play and wondering how I could please afford to have someone clean my house!!!!!    Now...here I am in a much smaller than 3200 foot square home that really isn't even mine -- we rent!!!   Half of my belongings from the 3200 sq foot home are still in boxes in the garage (probably filled with cockroach poo) and I LOVE MY LIFE now more than EVER!!!!   We have less but it's okay b/c God has me where He wants me and is teaching me to be content in all things!

So....now on to #2 which will be the bulk of this post.  The Cycle of Self Sufficiency ---- we have a LONG way to go til I would consider us even close to being self sufficient but today's chores reminded me of the beautiful cycle we are creating ---

It started like this ----- giving the rabbits a special treat directly from our garden!!!!

Look close......see "little Thumper" upside down trying to nurse?  Makes me smile every time!

Then.......I proceeded to begin shoveling all the poop from under their cages ----- I filled the wheelbarrow and 3 - five gallon buckets (that's a lot of poo for 3 adult rabbits and 6 babies - yes we were a few weeks behind in scooping)!  Then...I headed to the garden!!!

Thats  a lot of POOP folks!!!!!!!

And..while most of you think "Oh GROSS" when you look at this......I think OH BIG GREEN YUMMY VEGGIES!

So all I scooped has been dumped and added to the garden!  All winter we will dump chicken poo and rabbit poo and guinea pig poo until there is a nice thick pile covering the entire garden.  It will sit all winter long in a blanket of POOP, and in the spring we will be ready to till and have amazing soil for planting.

So.....here is one of the cycles from today's chores.  While we raise our chickens for eggs, the extra roos for meat, and our rabbits for meat, look what else they do for us.  They provide amazing fertilizer for our garden!!! So, all summer long and into fall, we are able to harvest amazing crops and preserve for a wonderful winter of meals for our family!

And....cycle #2 began when it was time to clean out the ash from the wood stove.   Knowing the cold spell is on its way tomorrow, I took advantage of the warm day to empty the ash so we would be ready for warm, cozy fires to keep us warm (b/c we are trying NOT to turn our furnace on this winter)!

Fire keeps us warm and cozy and keeps our electricity bill down.  Ash keeps our chickens healthy and mite free NATURALLY without meds!

Now...I know most of you are thinking -- "she's going to make her own lye!"  Well....I probably should learn to do that but I give myself a "self sufficient learning curve" and that is further down my list b/c I found a wonderful supplier to keep my lye stocked!!! And...really the process of making lye sounds a little too messy and too "Little House on the Prairie" for me just yet!

But....it does go to good use!  Ash is amazing in the chicken coop (and on your garden actually)!  It is a natural way for chickens to prevent mites/lice!  So....I add it to their sand in the coop for when they dust bathe!  Today I took it to the Silkie tractor!  My Silkies are in a small tractor that gets moved all around the property but it doesn't have a good built in sand bath so this is how they get their ash/sand bath --------

yes...I got creative b/c if not they would spill the ash tub and not be able to "dust bathe"

I had some extra ash so this time around my LF White Cochins (aka Yukon and his girls) got some ash added to their sand bath area!!!!!!  They will be happy!

Might look like sand and dirt to you, but to my Yukons it says "bubble bath time!"

To wrap things up, most people think of the bigger things when they think "self sufficient" - but sometimes we need to remember so many "smaller" things go into helping your farm become what you need it to be FOR YOUR FAMILY!  These are just two ways that save us money and you can see the cycle continue........

Today, I leave you with two happy little farm girls that enjoyed lots of sunshine and playing outside when chores were finished........Til we talk again..........

Love them more than words!  Thankful God allowed them to be mine for this short time on earth!

"Because of FAITH"............ Jami 

ughhhhhhhh -- Research, Research, and more Research --

Wow --- Good thing I am a committed gal --- I said I was coming back to the blogging world and I meant it.  But....wowza.....been doing research for two straight days.  Trying to decide how to make the Little Bit of Faith Farm blog even better!  I may be in over my head....but...once I say I am doing something that I believe I have been led to do to help others and glorify God -- I do it!!!  So hang tight with me while I conquer the techy side of the blog!  Then...we will dive in together and have so much to learn !

If you are a momma, a wife, a homeschooling family, a homesteading family, looking to be more simple in your lifestyle, wanting to use natural remedies, love making things yourself, love being messy (and making mistakes along the way),  or just love Jesus like we do......come on over and join us!  I hope you will enjoy learning from our fun, crazy, happy, adventurous, yet striving to be self sufficient lifestyle!

God has called me to this!  Now it's time to share it with others b/c if I can do this ANYONE can!  I promise if you knew me just a few years ago - God has changed me and is shaping me into the gal He really wants me to be!!!! (It only took me 40 years to allow Him to do so - sigh - I am a slow learner sometimes)!

I will leave you with this picture tonight because it is one of my favorites of our middle daughter who LOVES this farming life as much as I do.  She will find any reason to be outside as close to the chickens as she can be.........

@Little Bit of Faith Farm

From Our Farm to Yours --- whether it's big or small --- A little bit of FAITH is all you need ---

- Jami -

Feeling the tug to really blog------

I started this blog with good intentions and then life got in my way!  In fact, I have honestly not given any thought to this blog in well over a year.....until about 2 weeks ago!  I have been having nagging thoughts creep into my little brain constantly pulling me back to my blog!  Which is weird bc honestly I am NOT a writer at all!!  No really-- hate to write--- I am not creative and seriously detest anything remotely connected to having to use proper grammar at all---YUCK!  I am a hands on, messy science kind of gal!!!!  Heck.... That's why I play in the garden and have chickens!!!!!!

But, apparently God has some other plans bc I can't explain away why I think I should come back to the blogging world and be a bit more serious about it!

Perhaps I really do have things to share.....ways to help others with homeschool, farm life, being frugal.......

I am gonna dive in and start updating the blog!  Hoping many of you will dive in with me!!  My writing probably won't be funny, entertaining, or even close to the quality of other bloggers out there!  But it will be from my heart!

Okay -- here we go.... Stay tuned and let's see where God leads us on this journey together!!!!!

Making our incubator ---

I decided I would kick of 2013 by getting back to our family blog.  I have been asked several times over the last week how we made our incubator for hatching our chicks.  I thought I would start of the new year by sharing this process with you!  We decided to build our own incubator for 2 reasons:  1.  Homeschool Science -- it would involve everyone and be a great learning experience.  2.  It was much less expensive than purchasing any incubator I saw on the market.  Since we didn't know then that we would be completely addicted to chickens....seemed like a safe bet to make out own :)  Now --- after our 2nd successful hatch --- it works just as great for us as an expensive one!

So....here you go --- here is how we did it!

We started with an $8.88 styrofoam cooler from good ole Wal-mart -------

Next...we took the glass out of an 8 1/2 x 11 picture frame we were no longer using to make the viewing window.  The kids helped Mike measure then he cut with a utility knife the opening for this window (b/c I am no longer allowed to use sharp objects for cutting when he is around - especially after having to get stitches after using a utility knife making nesting boxes :)).  Then the glass was secured to the opening with duct tape!

 

Note -- I will explain all the little pieces of duct tape you see later!

 

We wanted to make sure the lid was securely attached and "hinged" for easy opening/closing so we secured the lid using clear packing tape that allowed for this.

 

 

We purchased a light bulb fixture kit at Wal-mart for just a few bucks for the next step.  Some of you may have something like this just laying around the house to use.  I will explain the light bulb we chose and why later.  But...after assembling the light bulb kit, we cut a hole in the end where this would be inserted.

 

 

On the inside,  I knew we would need to put a container with water in the bottom for humidity.  So....I took some chicken wire we had and built a little shelf so we could put the container under it and not worry about chicks hatching and getting into the water.  I also wanted to cover the light bulb to prevent little chicks from touching it when they were wobbling around -- so the inside isn't pretty -- but it works :)

 

 

 

Now it's basically finished.  If you decided to build one and then hatch, I highly recommend setting your incubator up at least a week before you set eggs in it.  This will allow you to make sure you can regulate the humidity and temp.  Temp needs to stay at 99-101 consistently and we keep our humidity at 40-45%.  So....to do that you need to have a thermometer inside the incubator that shows you both -- $6-$8 at Wal-mart will get you one of these ----

 

 

We had to play around with light bulbs to get the temperature correct.  We finally ended up with an energy effecient bulb (free from our electric company when we moved in :).  Whatever works and keeps your temp constant is fine!

 

 

We ended up having to cut some holes in the cooler our first round b/c we had trouble getting the temp right  -- hence all the duct tape :)  Once we got it regulated, we found that during the day, we sometimes had to leave tape off a couple of the holes to keep the temp from spiking.  But...on our second hatch -- we rarely had to do this.  I will speak from experience and say where you place your incubator makes a huge difference in keeping temps/humidity stable.  We had to place ours in our sunroom b/c we had no where else -- so we had to work extra hard to watch temps/humidity.  I suggest placing your incubator in a room that stays pretty consistent with temp.  No drafts, no extra sunlight that beats in, etc.  Away from the registers too!  This will help and you probably won't have an incubator covered with duct tape holes :)

 

Lastly -- we cover the chicken wire with an old hand towel before setting the eggs.  This can easily be washed after they hatch.  You don't want a slick surface b/c they won't be able to easily walk after hatching and can hurt their feet/legs.  We found a towel works best.

 

There are other things that are important for hatching, but this covers the basics of how we made our incubator!!!!!  Hope it helps some future chicken hatchers out there!!!!

 

Happy New Year and Happy Hatching from The Jann Fam

 

 

 

 

Jami's Homemade Favs ---

Those of you who follow me on facebook or twitter or Pinterest know that I have developed a love of making my own homemade detergents.  I admit the desire was started out of a need to save money.  Even after clipping coupons, laundry soaps and dish detergents are just to darn expensive.  And....they have yucky chemicals that we just don't need.

Now that I have been using them for a bit....I will never go back to purchasing detergents again - even if we somehow hit the jackpot (which we don't play) and don't need worry about finances as much.  I had to use some "real" detergent a few weeks ago b/c I had run out of homemade and hadn't had time to whip up some more.  Nothing smelled as clean and fresh as the homemade stuff!  I just think it smells really clean b/c there isn't any fake stuff or added chemicals!  I LOVE IT!  Our clothes are cleaner and whiter and brighter. 

Plus..I am enjoying teaching my children that they too can make their own when they get older and be frugal!

So...here are some of my favs that I have stolen or adapted :)  I hope some of you enjoy them!

Jami's Homemade Dish Detergent
(I normally double this)

1 cup Borax
1 Cup Super Washing Soda
1/2 Cup course sea salt
Lemon or Orange Essential Oil

If you are worried about spots -- just add regular white vinegar where you would normally put your rinse aid!  REALLY! 

I should add -- white vinegar is my new best friend :)


Jami's Favorite Powdered Laundry Soap -- this is my FAVORITE and it's so EASY!

 - again - I double (sometimes triple this) so I don't have to make it as often

1 bar of shaved soap ( i grate it with a cheap grater from the dollar store) - I use Fels-Naptha or Ivory -Fels-Naptha is in the laundry isle
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing soda 

Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes -- really stir it well -- mixing to a fine powder is the key. 

I also sometimes add some citrus essential oil drops or whatever essential oil I have on hand that smells good.  Right now I use Purify from DoTerra b/c it kills mold, fungus,  and yucky things and since I have so many great towels that come home from the pool locker room - I love Purify!

This recipe is GREAT for HE Washers b/c it's very low suds.  Safe for septic tanks b/c it contains zero phosphates or fillers!  Completely NON-toxic!



Jami's FAV fabric softener --- hold on to your hats ---

DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR!!!!!

Yep -- fill an 8oz spray bottle and spray about 5-10 sprays into your wet clothes once in the dryer (or before hanging on the line).  I LOVE IT!  At first...I used too much and our towels did smell like vinegar.  I cut back and now I think our clothes smell so FRESH!  You can add some Eucalyptus Essential Oil too - just be sure to shake each time before you spray to mix the oil and vinegar!


Jami's favorite liquid dish soap recipe --

1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup liquid castile soap (I use Dr. Bronners Peppermint liquid soap b/c then I don't have to add an essential oil)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon of Arm and Hammer's Super Washing Soda (helps thicken the soap a bit)
1/8th teaspoon tea tree oil (optional) - I didn't add this to my recent batch
1 tablespoon shredded bar soap (i used the same Fels-Naptha from above - but you can use Ivory or homemade soap too) - it really thickens it and helps with grease fighting!

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl then add the very hot water. Whisk/stir this mixture until all ingredients are thoroughly blended and the bar soap if you added it is melted.
Allow to cool completely on the counter and stir occasionally
Store in any dish soap dispensing bottle and use as you would any dish soap!

I love my pepperming scent each time I clean dishes :)


Hope you enjoy!  Being Frugal and Naturally clean -- Jami :)

Jesus Bring the Rain......

As I was praying today for rain in this blistering, horrible heat that seems to have hit most of our country....the song "Jesus Bring the Rain" actually came on the radio.  My thoughts instantly left the literal prayers for rain and went to "Please, Jesus...when will this storm end?"

Of course...I kept singing b/c I know the song by heart as it's one of my favs, but as the tears started rolling down my cheeks...I realized it wasn't b/c of the storm we are in, but b/c I have been so bad at praising my Jesus through it all.  As believers, we were never promised an easy life.  In fact...quite the opposite.  Jesus told us it would HARD!  He told us to expect trials.  He told us people would persecute us!  It's all in the fabulous book written just for us.

But.....my human brain seems to forget what I know is in my heart.  Our life is harder than we had hoped it would be.  We never expected to be in our 40's dealing with on-going health issues while raising 3 children.  We never expected to be dealing with losing a house and all that goes with it.  But....God never promised us that our trials would be short lived --did He? 

Obviously being patient is not something I am good at (if you haven't figured that out by now)....so having a storm last for what seems like FOREVER is so hard.  Just a little bit of a break, Lord...that would be nice!  And...I am pretty sure He is saying..."Jami....it will over when I am confident in your faith in Me and your willingness to Praise Me regardless of the situation!" 

I am thankful for God's gentle reminders that He is in control and that His time is NOT my time!  His plan is PERFECT for our family!  And..it certainly doesn't matter what other people think!

So....today my prayer is Jesus Bring the RAIN --- show my family how to praise you always! 

For His Glory Always -- Jami

ps -- Jesus - if you can send real, wet rain that would be awesome too! :)



1 YEAR!!!!!!

It's hard to believe but 1 year ago today, a family of 5 set out on an adventure of complete faith!  The journey is far from over and hasn't gone much like we expected, but God has taught us (well at least me) so MUCH!  1 year ago today - we left our home of 11 years sitting empty in Columbia, SC to move our family to Greenville, SC so we could be together!  We covered this decision in prayer and stepped out in faith that God would provide.  He Has, but nothing like we expected!  Here are some of my thoughts as I have spent the last several days soaking in what has happened to us over the last year..........

I heard something this morning on the radio that described this trial for me perfectly...."God sends trials to those who are weak in their faith....to build them up and make them strong.  Ready for anything in the future!"  No one likes to admit this...but....I am here to say that I know now that my faith was (and probably still is) weak!  Before this experience..I talked the talk, but not so sure I was walking the walk as well as I should have been.  As my sweet husband has said many times throughout the last year...."What would you say to someone else going thru this situation?"  Hmmmm....apparently I give great Godly advice but don't seem to follow it myself! 

So...what have I learned.....

Well....lots of things probably too many to share in one post, but here goes....

First....even though I thought I wasn't a wordly person driven by the need for things and money....I was!  God took away my nice, big, pretty home and stuck me in a old, tiny, not what I was use to place to live!  Not only do we not own this house....but we won't be able to own a house for many years.  So...I went from a nice house to renting a yucky one!  I have not even hung pictures or curtains, or anything -- half of my old house is still in boxes in my garage.  I am now using card table chairs around my kitchen table, I have make shift things for storage in my kitchen b/c it is so small.  Half of the windows in this house don't even open b/c they are so old and broken!  The bathroom upstairs is old and yucky!  There is spackle all over the walls in the office/sunroom b/c it was never painted before we moved in and we didn't have the time or the money to paint it.  The carpet is ugly and old and even though I clean it regularly with my carpet cleaner - it's probably dirty too!  I could go on and on and on..but my point here is that one year ago -- I thought I would have money to make this place look nice and put "THINGS" in it ---- God said NOPE you won't have the extra money and you don't NEED those things!  And...He's is so right -- I have spent a year worrying about what people would think we they come into my tiny, not so pretty little home -- but who cares?!?!  My kids are happy and despite what we are going thru -- so am I!  Deep down I have a feeling God is preparing me for even bigger things requiring LESS THINGS!

Second....LET GO!  I have been holding on to things I have no control over!  My disease....pending foreclosure/bankruptcy b/c of the house.....renting a house instead of owning one......leaving TS......oh goodness the list could go on forever!  LET IT GO!  My plan can NEVER be better than HIS plan!  We asked God to show us what to do and He did, but in my usual dominant behavior kind of self, I still thought I knew better than HIM!  He told us to come here so our family could be a family, we obeyed.  We didn't think that things would unfold the way they have -- we thought for sure God would bless us for being obedient to Him by getting someone to buy or rent our house in Columbia right away!  Surely His way of blessing us was not to let us have face losing our house, our credit, and our pride/dignity???  Really??  Is that what His plan is??  You know what -- it was HIS plan -- and though sometimes (b/c I am still in the middle of the mess) I still can't see the blessing in it completely -- I know there is a HUGE blessing waiting....but....there have been so many little blessings already......
1.  my kids love living in the "country" and having land and getting to run and play
2.  we have a garden
3.  we have chickens
4.  homeschooling is so much more fun with so much more to do
5.  I have tried things I would have never tried....my adventures with persimmons, canning jellies and jams, making my own vanilla, learning to knit, gardening, and of course CHICKENS!
6.  I am okay with the fact that I seriously haven't purchased new clothes for myself in nearly 4 years :)  and...now....that I don't have extra money for it ...it might be longer!  The old Jami would have figured out a way to have great, new clothes!
7.  I make my own laudry detergent and dishwasher detergent (and am getting ready to tackle some other homemade ideas :))

Oh my -- the list could go on -- but the little blessings around 149 Rainey Rd are really overflowing when I sit back and think about it. We might have old cars, an old house, old clothes, and it might be a long time before we ever have new things, but we are BLESSED!

Third -- GOD WILL PROVIDE!  So many times over the last year (and probably many more times in the next year), I had no idea how things were going to get paid or taken care of....but they have!  Again...not necessarily how I wanted it to happen...but God knew what was best.  His provision completely astounds me when I sit back and look at it.  He has taught me it's okay to live without!  And...though I never thought I had to "keep up with the Jones'",  we had too MUCH!

These are just a few of the many things I have been thinking about and letting soak into my heart over the last few days. 

God has us on a journey -- one that is far from over I know!  We are facing some things that seem so big and so hard in the near future, but the truth is these things are not big or hard for our amazing God.  And...He wrote our family's story!  He knows the end!  He knows the blessings He has been waiting to pour out upon us!  He is waiting for us (all of us) to completely surrender and be obedient!  Yes...we stepped out in faith and felt like we were being obedient to His will for us to be together - I don't doubt this for one moment!  But...the worrying, the not trusting, the second guessing from the entire year have not been obedient to God's call for our lives.  He has been waiting for us to trust COMPLETELY!  He's got this -- all of it -- even the things that seem so hard!  He specializes in HARD!  I firmly believe that He has huge blessings in store for us if we seek to be obedient to this call on our life!

The journey has been long --it's been a hard year!  Physically and emotionally, I think Mike and I are both drained!  But...we hold fast to the fact that God has this under control if we just let go and Let Him have it all!

I have no idea who (if anyone) reads my blog (which I have been horrible at keeping up), but it does my heart good to write down what I learn.  I hope to do it more often.  I hope to be a vessel that God can use!

We set out on this adventure and realized what was going to happen, we prayed that God would use what was happening in our lives to bless others.  Someday, when we have gotten thru the mess, I hope God will use us to help someone else going thru a similar mess.

For God's Glory -- Always --

Jami :)

YIKES ---

I have been away from the blogging scene for awhile and realized today that I need to get back to it.  It's my way of sharing my feeling and my faith and my family!  So stay tuned as I update our family blog and share what God has been doing in our lives!

We love you all -whether near or far --- May God Bless you and May you experience HIM in a way like never before!

Jami - for all of the Jann Clan

ps -- our homeschooling adventures have gone to the chickens -- so stay tuned for all the fun adventures we are having!

My Sunflowers/My Journey

So the past couple of days, God has been showing me how much I enjoy my sunflowers!  I have always LOVED sunflowers, but have never had the opportunity to plant them, watch them grow, see them bloom, and then save their seeds to do it again next year.  What a delight the last two months have been as I have been able to do this all for the first time!

 This week, in particular, God has been working on my heart through his word, through some rough moments with my sweet husband, through the kids, through this crazy journey He has on, and through my amazing sunflowers!

 You see a very long time when I was very young, God allowed so many special people to touch my life and plant seeds that would last a lifetime.  I realize that some of them have already left this earth and won't get to see what those seeds have blossomed into until I see them again in heaven, but the seeds were planted!  And...then....God allowed so many other people to come and go in my life  - some as water to help me grow and others as weeds that tried to choke out this blossom!  But....b/c of those first seeds that were planted, even though I whither at times, I am still standing and my blossom hasn't fallen off........

 My journey is far from over (I think - of course I don't know when my journey will end), but I am hopeful that my blossom has also produced seeds that will touch the lives of others.  My children! My husband!  My family! Countless Friends!  and...even just those I have casually met along the way!  My hope and my prayer would be that I have been the water to these seeds that have been planted and not a weed that has choked them out!  I want all of these people to see what God has produced in me by allowing those seeds planted so many years ago to be watered and nurtured!  I want to share the HOPE that God has given me! 

The journey God has my family right now has not been easy!  Yes...we are completely grateful for the amazing job Mike has as the IT Director for the City of Greenville, but the journey has been tough!  Most of you know I am an open book (Mike probably hates it when he reads these blog entries b/c I am so honest and transparent to a fault)!  The last few months have been harder than anything I have ever experienced.

We stepped out in faith, knowing God can and will provide!  But...at this point....I think I can safely say the human nature part of me worries more about finances than I probably ever have in our entire life!  Maybe that comes with having 3 kiddos to care for (and pay for)....maybe it also comes from a little bit of whithering that I think has taken place from my PsA ( I hate using it as an excuse b/c so many people have so many worse diseases but it is definitely a thorn in my side), maybe.....who knows what else...... but my worry weed has taken root and sometimes almost chokes out this sunflower!  I know it is a sin to worry so I ground myself in prayer and God's word and ask Him to take it away!

I got on my knees yesterday to remind myself that my God has all of this under His control!  I firmly believe that He (and He alone) will rent our house and provide for my family in a way that I can only imagine!  I claim His blessings b/c I know they are going to be poured out upon the Jann family like nothing I can possible dream of!   I know He is going to help my TS business pick up and make up for the lack in funds due to our having to pay 2 house payments!  I know my God is bigger than this journey He has planned for us!  In fact.....He has orchestrated this journey and is using it to grow us (me especially)! 

My prayer becomes that God uses this journey (this seed) to plant, to grow, to fertilize, to harvest not just our faith but the faith in those who are part of our lives!  Those who are watching to see how we handle this journey!  May our lives and the way the Jann family (especially Jami Jann) handles all that we are experiencing bring glory to God!  May people see the hope we have and want that same hope!  May we be seeds that will produce (even if never see them this side of heaven) beautiful blossoms on beautiful sunflowers!

Thank you Lord Jesus for Sunflowers!

Homeschool Day for an amazing new movie -- Don't miss it!!!

Please Please Please click on this link and read!  I am so excited about this movie and can't wait to take my family to see it! 

Support Nathan and this movement to show Hollywood what we as Christian, homeschooling families value and want to see more of!!!!

I can't wait -- Grab your family and your friends and GO!!!!!

Are you READY?

With all the hype about the Rapture happening today, I have really been thinking!  Mostly about my friends and family (and even my enemies - although I hope I don't have too many of those) who don't know Jesus as their personal Savior.

While I should be packing my home and trying to get ready to move (b/c I am quite certain the Rapture isn't occuring today b/c I have read my Bible a time or two), my heart is feeling led to blog!  So...I am taking a minute away from the de-cluttering and packing b/c honestly in the grand scheme of things that isn't what's important.  This stuff isn't going with me (PRAISE the LORD), but my heart is aching for those of you who really might some day get left behind!

The truth of the matter is that although the Rapture isn't probably occuring at 6pm today it is going to happen soon!  Quite frankly - I AM READY!  There is no place I would rather be right now and all of eternity than sitting at the feet of my Jesus!  But....thankfully God isn't ready  -- He is patiently waiting so that more of YOU will accept HIM.  He is giving those of us who do know Him more time to share with all of you!

Are you READY?  He's given you the invitation  - all you have to do is open it and RSVP!  That's right - just accept it!  He LOVES you - no matter what!  He will forgive you  - even though I know some of you are thinking "there is no way He can forgive me!"  He can and He wants to!  And...trust me -- if He has forgiven me and my past - He is ready to forgive yours.  Just let him!

I wish I could bring all of you to me for a day in our house so you could hear my sweet children and their amazing faith in Jesus!  That's all that is required of us - to have faith and to accept Him - yet as adults we sometimes make this so HARD! 
Just the other day I had a childlike moment smack me in the face and remind me that my faith was so weak compared to theirs.  Here's that moment:

We were leaving children's choir/Missions at Riverland Hills on Wed.  Kendylmae took off running down the sidewalk toward the parking lot.  She knew she was suppose to stop but didn't and almost went out into the parking lot.  I grabbed her hand and gave her a brief but pretty harsh lesson on what could happen if she had not stopped.  Here is her response - "Mom....really it's okay!  Getting killed by a car is ok b/c it means you will get to go live with Jesus!"  My adult, human brain was swirling with things I wanted to say outloud to her, but really -- could I argue?  No not really -- b/c she is so TOTALLY right on the mark!  Losing our life here means gaining an eternity with Jesus  ----- if  - IF - we have accepted His personal invitation to allow Him to be Lord of our life!

So...what's holding you back?  Grab a Bible and read!  Ask me for help if you have questions!  But...don't let this world keep you from seeking your eternity with Jesus!

I want to go and be at the party when Jesus is ready to take me home.  But....there are so many of you that I don't want go without!  I could name you all by name right here  - but I won't!  You know who you are!  Family, Friends, team members,  ---- Life on earth is short but eternity is FOREVER so please be certain of where you are going to spend it!

Loving and Serving Jesus until He returns --
Jami :)

Jami's "need to vent" post ---

Okay -- so I don't normally do this but decided that since I need some venting time that my blog would be the best place to do it!  I almost didn't do it b/c I certainly don't want my "venting" to come across as me not bringing glory to God (since I try to live my life to bring HIM glory in all that I do), but even as a Christian believer, I need just a moment to vent :)

No I am not venting about our government, our schools, everything that has happen with Bin Laden this week.........just need a moment to complain about this rotten disease that I have!

I know - some of you don't even know I have a "disease" right?  It's hard to tell from looking at me!  But...I do!  And...it's a chronic, long term, nasty painful autoimmune disease that I would wish upon anyone!  No it's not cancer, it's not CF, or other even more horrible things, but to me and my family it has definitely become something that rears its ugly head and keeps us from being the "normal" we would like to be!

Here's a link for those of you who have no idea what this disease (PsA) is --
Learn More About Psoriatic Arthritis Here!

Okay -- so here's the deal:

About 6 months after Kendylmae was born, I started just being so tired and having achy joints.  I just thought it was part of being a mom of 3, trying to homeschool, and run my own business.  It got worse and then.....3 fingers on my right hand developed this nasty skin issue - beyond dry skin.  Cracked, swollen, painful!  We spent 18 months trying to get a diagnosis!  We were sent EVERYWHERE including MUSC and no one would diagnose my disease.  Even though a dear friend of mine (P) and her mom (who work for my current rheumatologist) were certain that I had psoriatic arthritis.  The dr's at MUSC said "this is something you are causing yourself!" REALLY?  The dermatologists didn't want to diagnose it as psoriasis on my fingers b/c it really wasn't anywhere else on my body.  It was a nightmare!  The pain continue to get worse (could hardly move in the mornings - literally felt like I was 90 and not late 30's), couldn't keep up with the kids, etc.  Finally, by the grace of God and thru a church friend, I was connected with a Dr. in another state that consultanted with on the phone.  He pulled some strings and got me into an amazing Dr. at USC school of medicine that was no longer accepting patients but took me on.  For the first time EVER, I sat in his office and someone heard what I said and after an hour and half with me - looked right at me and said "you have PsA!" Let's start you on treatment.  I cried and cried  - I finally had the answer and someone was willing to help me!  I thought YES - I am home free!  Well........that was 2 years ago this July!  Yes...I have meds and am being treated but the battle is far from over.  Little did I know how much this disease would change me and my family!

Now .....before I go any farther let me say this --- I have SLOWLY and just recently finally come to terms with the fact that this is a life long disease that I will be dealing with until Jesus calls me home!  I have yet to get to the point where I am joyful about it though!  I am spending LOTS of time in prayer and reading amazing books (Joni Erikson Tada) and the BIBLE that are all helping me get to this point.  I do know that God has allowed this in my life to bring HIM glory and I know that someone HE will use this disease and what my family is experiencing for HIS GOOD!  Now -- that being said -- I do not always (actually hardly ever) exemplify this in my life (especially to my sweet family)!  I do a lot of complaining and even more crying that I can't be the mom and the wife that my family need!

So...nearly 2 years after diagnosis -- I still battle this disease on a daily basis.  Typically, I NEVER have a day where I am not in some type of pain!  My meds help but not as much as I feel they should!  I inject Humira every 2 weeks and take some nasty little pills known as Methotrexate every week!  I am also suppose to take an NSAID 2 times every day - -but honestly (hopefully this doesn't get back to my doc) - -I AM SICK OF DRUGS! AND....I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND KNOW THAT THEY MAY BE HURTING ME IN THE LONG RUN!  I do take my NSAID at night but don't always take it twice a day!  I feel my LIVER SCREAMING out at me daily since I am torturing it so much!

I have been blessed by two amazing ladies who have led me down a road of trying more natural approaches.  I have learned to eat more healthy (although admit that on the days when I feel rotten I don't eat nearly as healthy as I should), have added some GREAT whole food supplements to my daily routine (that I do believe help), and have fallen in love with Essential Oils to help with pain!  However -- let me be honest again here and say -- I HATE THAT TRYING TO BE HEALTHY AND TREAT THINGS NATURALLY COSTS SO MUCH MONEY!  It is so darn expensive!  I wish our nation and our insurance companies would recognize that healthy living and natural remedies can work just as well as modern medicine and help subsidize these costs!

So....as I am typing and realize it is turning into more rambling than  anything else :)  what I do best :)

I guess this post is more about awareness!  I know I have many friends who will read this that have RA, PsA, Lupus, fibro, and other diseases like this!  They know where I am coming from!  Those of you that are blessed to get up each morning pain free, not swollen, not feeling like you are 90 instead of 40 -- cherish it!

For me....I am praying that God will give me a more understanding heart, a desire to praise Him thru all of this, the ability to be the mom, wife, friend that I need to be despite the limitations this disease has put on me, and that others will see Him thru me despite my rotten attitude toward having this nasty disease!

I am also praying that somehow we will find a combination of meds and natural approaches that will work to keep my pain away!  I would LOVE to have one complete day when I can wake up without pain!  I know that I may not experience that day this side of heaven, but I am hopeful!

More than anything I want my attitude to reflect Jesus which has been so hard for me in all of this.  It is so easy to become mean and hurtful to those you love when you suffer in chronic pain that seems invisible to the outside world.  It's easier for me to put on a smile for those outside of my house b/c I don't want them to know what I am going thru.  But...poor Mike  -- he doesn't get that smile very often!  And...he has lost the wife he married b/c I am not the fun, happy, easy going person I once was.  Not because I don't want to be that way but b/c it's hard to be that way when your body hurts ALL THE TIME and you feel like you are gaining weight by the minute b/c your body hurts to walk, and run, and do all the fun things it use to do.  And...my kids  - they get to see more crying and tears than I care to admit!  I just want to be the fun mom I use to be.  My only desire (since before I can even remember) was to grow up to be a mommy who homeschooled her children and taught them Godly things!  I wanted to spend my every minute with my kids b/c God had blessed me by allowing me to be their mommy here on earth.  I still want that, but feel like I am missing out on so much and that I am not the fun mom they deserve.  I know God knows my heart!  And...despite the painful last 4 years, God has allowed me continue to live my dream!  I am trying my hardest to cherish every moment He allows me to have  - teaching and loving them!

Okay -- so now that I have rambled and rambled and rambled - I do feel better :)  It has been a week and I just needed to type!!  This is my safe place to do that I guess!  It was one of those weeks where I thought it would be a good week b/c I had just injected and it turned out to be a painful week anyway with a nasty migraine added in and then a night being up throwing up!  Every day I said to Mike (on the phone b/c he and Christian are living in another city right now - whole other blog post :)) "Just one day?  Can God please give me one day where I don't have something wrong with my body?!"

So...I will end my post with a couple of scriptures that I have held near and dear to my heart lately:

1 Peter 4:12 --- Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the suffereings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 --- Three (Paul only asked 3 times, I am certain I have asked 1,000+) different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness."  So...now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me!  **I pray this verse constantly b/c this is where I want my heart to be!

and...my life verse ---- Jeremiah 29:11 -- For I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future!

Suffering for my Savior and praying for a heart like His thru it all -
Jami

Once a Month Cooking --

Okay all you busy moms out there -- came across this and wanted to share.  It looks GREAT! Can't wait to give it a try. Have always wanted to try Once a Month Cooking but wasn't sure about the recipes -- this one looks like it has LOTS of ideas for different recipes!  Something for everyone.  And...she FRUGAL -- that means saving MONEY.

And...she homeschools LIKE ME and runs a business from home LIKE ME and has a chronic illness LIKE ME-- so looks like this is FOR ME.

Order your copy and let's make dinner time easier!!!!


Frugal Mom's Once a Month Cooking

The Jann Family's new MOTTO --

I stole this from my facebook friend, Callie, but it is so something I needed to read and post!

When God is about to do something great, He starts with a difficulty. When He is about to do something truly magnificent, He starts with an impossibility.

I am beyond confident that God is about to something truly magnificent in our situation!  I believe with all my heart that He has brought us to a place that we can only expect exactly this from our amazing, all-powerful God!  Even though I shed many tears and drive my husband nuts with all that is happening in our lives right now, I trust my God beyond a shadow of a doubt and I know that He wants to bless us.  More importantly I know He wants to bless the lives of others thru us!

I can't wait to see what He is going to do!

Thank you Callie for your facebook post!  It was just what I needed today!

Expecting the MAGNIFICENT to come from the IMPOSSIBLE -
Jami :)

My Boys --

Boy 2 favorite boys!

Today felt like a good day to get back to my blog - sorry I know it's been a while.  Life here is never dull and never slow :)

So many of you know that we have been needing to move to Greenville now for several months but are still here.  Lots of reasons play into that, but we are completely trusting in God's perfect plan for getting us all up there.

In the meantime, several factors have played into us and Christian wanting to get up to the area so he can begin swimming for YSSC - the YMCA team of Spartanburg for those of you not from here or into swimming!  It's been a hard thing for me b/c the MUDCATS have been our team since Christian was 5.  They are like our family - really they are.  When you spend as much time as we do at a pool - it becomes your home and the coaches, swimmers, and their parents become FAMILY!  But...we feel like we can't live in Greenville and NOT swim for YSSC -- and those reading this that are swimmers or swim parents would probably agree with me (even if they really don't want us to go there)!  Not that our coaches here are great - b/c they are -- we love them all dearly and they have brought Christian up to be an amazing little swimmer, but there is just something about YSSC (maybe b/c their Y pays their coaches to be full time coaches -- that is a HUGE differences).

All that to say -- this week has been a trial week for us.  Christian headed to Greenville with Mike on Monday (mostly b/c he needed to have a tooth pulled and we went ahead and found a new dentist up there b/c our dentist here doesn't accept Mike's new insurance) and did his first CUKE (they are the fighting Cucumbers as in Sea Cucumbers :)) swim practice.  I was secretly hoping he would hate it of course....but.....that was not the case :)  He quickly asked if he could go back Wed and Thursday b/c he wanted to do dry land and see what their dry land workouts were like.  So....this morning I packed him up for 2 days in Greenville with Daddy! 

My days are a little lost without him here.  He is my helper and buddy!  And...my easy child :)  So...my heart is a little sad.  Not to mention it is just a LOT of extra work to get his school work all together and sent with him. and...I hate not being the one teaching him - I have taught him EVERY DAY of his life!  He thinks it is cool though b/c Daddy gives him his own office (mike has an empty office in his department) so he can work and even use daddy's iPad to do his research!  I guess if I was him  - I would want to go too -- much easier than doing school work with 2 little sisters all over the place :)

This week is a bit harder b/c I will be leaving Friday morning and gone thru Sunday night so that means 5 days away from my "little" buddy (in quotes b/c he is almost taller than me)!

I know this is just a small season in our lives but it seems like forever!  I know that people look at us and think we are crazy for making this sacrifice (actually I don't think this I know this b/c I have had people look right at me and ask me "why"?) - but we believe in our hearts this is right for Christian.  And...we know in our hearts that God has a plan to get our entire family up to Greenville in HIS PERFECT TIME!

Being a mom is never easy -- God didn't promise us that!  But...I wouldn't trade it even for one second of NOT being a mom.  God has given me the most precious gifts and they are just that "gifts" and they are only mine for a little while.  I pray daily that I will be the Mom that God has entrusted me to be.  That I will be like Hannah and give my children back to Lord (daily) as I train them to be Godly people!

Okay -- gotta run and stop rambling :)  I think I have completely vomited out the mouth this morning but needed to just sit and type :)  thanks for letting me.

Be back soon - hopefully with some pictures of the things growing in our vegetable garden!  The kids (and the guinea pigs) enjoyed fresh spinach from our garden yesterday!!!!

By His Grace and only by His Grace -
Jami

Why God Allows Circumstances to Happen -

Okay -- so today while preparing a little something for my Tastefully Simple team's Success Event tomorrow, I was looking for some motivational material that I could use at the beginning - God led me to this site.  I had heard of this man before, but never really watched anything.  Well....after seeing one video (the one God I am sure had picked especially for me), I am now convinced that God led me to this for ME not for my team.

Personally the last several years have been a struggle for me with my health.  Getting and learning to deal with a diagnosis of PsA (psoriatic arthritis) has knocked me and my family for a loop - actually they all handle it much better than me.  Just this week, I have begun to understand that God will use this if I only allow Him to do so.  Living in constant pain - well for lack of a better word at the moment - SUCKS!  But....God has this if I only let Him.  He may choose to not heal me on this earth, but it is time for me to start letting Him use me while I am on this earth!

Our family -- has been dealt some YUCKY stuff both financially and just trying to get this whole moving thing in order.  We have been praying and praying and praying and praying.  I have been teaching the kids daily that God knows our hearts, but that He has the perfect plan for all of this.  They are amazing in understanding it all, but have I been listening to my own words as I teach them?- I am not so sure.  My faith has its moments!  But...honestly -I know God has this completely under control.  Even when I can't even figure out how we will get thru tomorrow - God knows exactly when and how we will move to Greenville.  He knows all of the other many needs we have and are struggling with. HE KNOWS and HE CARES and HE WILL USE IT FOR HIS GLORY if I only let HIM!

Which is exactly what Mike and I began praying back in October - that God would use whatever we had to go thru to let others (especially all of our friends and family who do not know HIM) see HIM in us.  This week I have so been Peter and have taken my eyes of of my Lord and Savior - shame on me!

After watching this amazing 28 year old man who had so much more of a reason than myself to doubt God, how can I possibly NOT KNOW that God is in the miracle business and He will provide for ALL of my personal needs and my family's needs in HIS PERFECT TIME so that others will see HIM in our lives!

Thank you Jesus for smacking me with the 2 x 4 tonight!  May others be blessed thru our life and thru this amazing man without limbs!

He's got this!
Jami :)

Easy Bake Oven-

Last night we were blessed to have our best friends, The Broussard Family, stop by and stay on their way to PA for their spring break (yes - they are going to a cold place for spring break :)).  After dinner, Sara-Michael our 7 year old asked to "make" dessert in her Easy Bake Oven.  I said yes.

Little did I know it would take nearly 2 hours to fix 12 bite sized S'mores :)  But..it was so much fun to watch the girls "bake"!  And....everyone waited patiently for their turn to try a S'more.  As this process unfolded over the course of the 2 hours, it was so much fun for me to be in the kitchen watching and guiding.  I was quickly reminded that teaching my girls to be homemakers needs to have a higher priority in my homeschool day.  Especially in the kitchen!  We do cook together quite a bit, but my attitude about it needs to change.  I always look at it as "taking more time than if I just did it myself."  But...God has called me to teach them - and not just math, reading, geography, etc....but the lifeskills they need as well.  I want them to grow up loving to be homemakers.  And...doing it with a joy in their hearts b/c they are doing it unto the Lord.

I will be honest here -- when I was a kid and a teenager, I was the rebel child that HATED to be in the kitchen with my mother.  I never learned to do much except use the microwave.  I still remember the day early in my marriage when I had to call my mom to get directions to make a pie :)  And...even though I am 40, I still often call my mom and ask for her help with a recipe or something in the kitchen.  I regret not learning more from her.  She is an amazing cook and was an amazing homemaker - which of course I refused to see when I was younger.  Now that I am older and wiser (well - maybe just older :)), I regret not learning more from my amazing mom.
I am looking forward to hopefully teaching my girls more than I was willing to learn.

Each of my girls already has an apron, but I am looking forward to starting their own collections of "tools" as they learn to be homemakers.  Their own cookbooks, recipe boxes filled with recipes, their own cutting boards, and potato peelers.  Oh I am excited about Easter Baskets this year and birthday gifts -- what a joy to give them something that will help them learn and grow into the future wives and homemakers I know God will want them to be.

In fact...I have started reading a new blog I came across thanks to a friend on facebook.  I love it that she has an entire blog dedicated to Raising Homemakers.


So....here's to spending more time in the kitchen, more time doing laundry, more time doing chores -- but doing it with happy hearts as I teach my children that being a homemaker is a joy and a blessing!

but....I do believe the creators of the Easy Bake Oven need to make a deluxe version that cooks more than one cookie at a time :)

Happy Friday and Blessings to you all -
Jami :)

And...if you want - be sure to check out the link above to the Raising Homemakers blog I referred to!

Me and my "little homemakers" in the kitchen!

Couponing?!?!?

So....I thought this would be a good topic for today.  I have lots of other thoughts whirling around in my head, but my heart is not quite ready to let them onto the keyboard quite yet.  Praying about how to and what to say next.

But...those of you that know me know that couponing has become a huge passion of mine.

Let me back up just a bit though --- I haven't always couponed.  Mostly b/c I watched my mom and aunts share and clip coupons all the time when I was little. Quite honestly, it looked like a painfully long process that resulted in a box with a bunch of little pieces of paper that were never used.  Then...you had to dig thru that box each time you went to the store to see if you happened to have a coupon for what you were shopping for.  BLAH - so not for me!

But...over a year ago I was first introduced to Get Couponing thru my friend, Chris.  And...now...I am addicted to the Southern Savers site (nothing against Get Couponing - the Southern Savers site just works better for me).  I highly encourage you to check out both sites (especially if you live in SC or NC)
http://www.southernsavers.com/
http://www.getcouponing.com/

My big question to each of you is -- do you coupon out of necessity, out of addiction, or both?  Are you buying only what you need and really saving?  Or are you someone who thinks they have to get everything that is listed even if you don't need it (then you might not really be saving money)?  Just some thoughts.

We coupon out of necessity right now.  Money is extremely tight at the Jann house these days.  I do admit though that I am extremely addicted and love seeing how much money I can save.  I almost cry when I have to buy something without a coupon.  I cry even harder when I have to shop at Wal-mart :)  I do most of my couponing at Publix - I love my Publix at Kennerly at the Crossing.  They are so good to us.  Please, please, please...if you are a couponer and you read my blog, don't be a hoarder!  That just irritates the snot out of me.  Seriously, only get an item (or lots of an item) if you really use it or have a need for it or can give it to a place that does need it (ie - food pantry, family in need).  Don't just get it b/c it's free or nearly free!  Drives me nuts to get to Publix the first night of the new week and have NOTHING in the spot where the product I want to buy is suppose to be.  And...I hate getting rainchecks!

My hope is that I will always be a couponer.  Not just b/c it saves us money but b/c it is helping me be a better steward of what God has given me.  Even when we are some day not in the money slump we are in now, I hope I continue to coupon so I can give back to God's Kingdom.  I hope you will too!

Now -- if you are like me and thought that couponing was too time consuming to justify saving money, I encourage you to take a class through Southern Savers or Get Couponing.  You will be surprised  - this is not your MOMMA's COUPONING!  Give it a try -- you might like it! 

Stay tuned  - I will report my savings from Publix (and maybe Bi-Lo) tonight after my shopping trip!

ps - Moms - it is much easier to coupon without your children, but if you are a homeschooling Momma like me and have to take them with you sometimes (right now I go when they are at Choir/Mission Friends at church on Weds) it is a GREAT schooling opportunity!  Give it a shot!

By His Grace -
Jami