Welcome to the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop!
The last day of 2023! Amazing and shocking that this year buzzed by so fast!
We say that every year, don’t we? How fast the time flew, we blinked and missed it!
Our family had a year of some challenges. Lost my dad, which was a real blow. How can you ever really get over losing a good man? So that has hovered in the background all year for me. I hate it, but it’s not raw so much now.
Austin’s accident in April was a real challenge to this mom, but God has been so faithful to us. He restored our son to health and usefulness, and when I reflect back, I feel so incredibly thankful.
I’m not gonna lie though. Going through that zapped my mental energies and I’m not sure my body fully recovered from that stress. Taking time, focusing on health, and taking one day at a time is helping. Remembering how God spared our son really is the thread that holds me together.
(If you somehow missed what happened to our oldest son, feel free to catch up on his accident, recovery, and God’s miraculous care with some of these posts.)
Reckless Love—Austin’s Progress
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The balance of the year has been filled with blessings and challenges. Living the off grid life is no picnic some days, but most of the time we are pretty settled into it, although we keep finding new things to learn.
We are seeing the light at the end of our long tunnel of cabin building. We worked hard even on Christmas Day, then all through the week! We got a bunch of the wood flooring laid down, and much of the walls covered in tongue and groove! It really does our hearts good to see the place coming together! 
We have two bedrooms of walls to finish, the kitchen to floor, then we can get on to sanding and finishing everything! 
We had some extra help this week, and we appreciate that so much. 
This place is actually starting to resemble a house!
👏
You can check my YouTube channel for better updates. A “Different” Christmas on the Homestead.
https://youtu.be/puPNqzseGu8?si=olciS10rfxxLcjnk
I’m going to try to get another video up soon with the latest updates, but you can see how it looked as of midweek, and it hasn’t changed drastically.
Happy New Year!
Let’s pray as we go into this new year for focus, direction, and priorities. I’m praying for this and true heart surrender. These are prayers that we know God wants to answer for us!
On that note, I wanted to share this picture of the beautiful rainbow I was this week. It’s a good reminder of God’s promises to us, and His care over us.
Have a blessed New Year’s Holiday and a Great 2024!
Laurie
The Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop
This is a place to share some love and spread some sunshine!
The focus of this blog hop will be: anything related to making our homes more sunny and happy! If that’s through homemade cooking, a health tip that will help another, homesteading tips, homeschool successes or real-life struggles, or just whatever God is impressing you with in your home journey, please share it!
Guidelines for the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop 🌤
- Click on the “Add your Link” Button below and add a great image of your project or recipe. Make sure you link to the page of your family friendly post – not the main page of your blog.
- Link up to three posts each week.
- Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by.
- Link your post back to the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop. If the hop isn’t linked to your post then you cannot be featured. All featured posts will be shared on my Pinterest/Social Media.
- Please link up posts that you haven’t linked to the hop before. You are welcome to link old posts from your blog.
- By joining the party, you are giving me permission to use one photo from your post with a link back to your site if it is selected as one of next week’s Features.
- This is a family-friendly link up! You are welcome to share home and family-oriented blog posts, focusing on homeschooling, homesteading and homemaking. Christian-friendly content, highlighting healthy life choices to encourage others!
Features for this week!
This week’s feature helps to teach us about an artist out of the Netherlands. I love the Winter scenes he portrays. Thank you to Danielle for sharing!
Capturing the Artwork of Anton Pieck
Laurie
Laurie Dear,
This morning, when I read the very first words of your comment and allowed its publication on my blog, it was simply a comment, far welcome, but a comment!
I had to read it all – that’s what I did few minutes ago with the intention of raply to it, to realize that my blog-post was featured!
I heartily thank you, I’m so proud of your appreciation and take the chance to wish you a most wonderful New Year, filled with blessings of Love, Healt, Happiness.
Hugs to you all
Dany (Daniela @ ~ My little old world ~)
Oh, I forgot to write that I’m going to grab your so lovely button and write this feature on my blog.
Thank you once again, Dearie!
D.
Laurie,
Happy New Year to you and your family!! We got the best Christmas gift ever..Our twin grand daughters were born on the 29th, my oldest son’s Birthday!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thanks for hosting and I am hoping that 2024 is a great year for you. Happy New Year.
Laurie, Thanks so much for hosting the Sunday Sunshine Link party. I appreciate seeing all the progress on the cabin. I am so sorry for your son’s health issues this year. hoping that 2024 is off to a great start for you and your family. – Patty
Hello there! Your faith is so inspirational! I LOVE following your blog and have followed your Youtube from time to time, I wanted to stop in and say thank you for sharing your heart! You’re so encouraging!!!
THanks for hosting the party every week. Your time is very much appreciated. Have a great week ahead and Happy New Adventures!! Would love to see some of your recipes at our What’s for Dinner party!