I'm Still Alive!

Hi and welcome to Three Monkeys in the Jungle. I've been MIA lately due to a move we made from Kansas City, MO area to just north of Little Rock, AR only three days before Christmas! I'd planned to not let the move effect my blogging. Plans have a way of showing us who's boss, don't they? Turns out utility deposits trump internet deposits when the budget is tight. Budgets are always tight during moves because more gas is used than you calculate, more expenses {those darned deposits!} pop their ugly heads than expected, and it's hard to plan for the all around craziness that happens during and {long}after a move.

Craziness? Did you know that I'd never even seen my house before moving all that way? When we walked in the door I was greeted with a stomach twisting sight of dead insects - mainly roaches - everywhere in the house but concentrated in the kitchen. We pulled an all-nighter to move and arrived around 9:30am so I was exhausted as you can imagine. What's a gal to do when she HATES roaches {even dead ones} but can't imagine leaving that mess a second longer than necessary? She rolls up her sleeves and spends the rest of the day on no sleep scrubbing every single cupboard, drawer, and surface until not a single bug was left. I did finally get some sleep that evening but that was one of the worst days of my life. Did I mention I hate roaches?

All small incidents of craziness from moving aside, Casey is loving his new job at Pepsi and we're enjoying our new home. We've settled into a "rough draft" of a routine finally. I'm so very excited to get some of the kinks smoothed out and share more about how we spend our days. Life in Arkansas is starting to settle down for us and our rental house is starting to feel like home. Rest assured that I MISS sharing with you here on the blog and writing is a huge hobby of mine but my family is my priority. I'll try to keep getting to my local library {which is a challenge since it's only open M-F from 12pm-6pm} and update more often!

♥Shari

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Photo Credit

It's that time of year again. A brand spankin' new year is here and 99% {okay, I made up that percentage but it seems like it anyway...} of folks are talking about their "New Year Resolutions." Love them or hate them, you're bound to have heard someone around you talking about their resolutions. I even shared an intentional list of homemaking goals I've set for myself for the year ahead.

2013 Homemaking Goals

Each year I make a small list of intentional and beneficial goals for myself to hopefully achieve throughout the new year. I feel that calling them goals takes all the pressure off and I can accomplish them in practical timing without the sense of failure should I not meet every goal before the next year. Oh, and it satisfies my love for list making!

Merry Christmas!

 

We've had a crazy year that ended with a bang as we moved six hours away to a new house in a new state just three days before Christmas! We invite you to join us again for an exciting adventure in 2013 as I share our journey through homemaking, homeschooling, marriage, and learning to trust God each step of the way.  

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [5]

 

 

 

Merry Christmas! Today is the day that Casey comes home after almost three weeks of being away {around 3pm}! We're SO excited! Our moving helpers are going to begin arriving around 5pm this evening to begin helping Casey with putting all our belongings into our moving van.

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [4]

 

 

Another Saturday photo for today's edition of From My Closet. Another Saturday that I went grocery shopping.  This is not all inclusive of all people mind you but when going grocery shopping, it appears that more people than not don't really worry about fashion before going to the store. I love me a casual day just as much as the next person, don't get me wrong, but appearance does say something about us {I'm pretty certain I've never left my house in my pajamas before!}. That doesn't stop me from wondering if I'm overdressed for Wal-Mart half the time though! Haha!

5 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas

This year our Christmas is a bit unusual and a bit lacking in fun, family traditions. Not to say it will be any less of Christmas {Jesus is the reason for the season!}. We'll still read the Christmas story, have ham for dinner, and open gifts. But, the leading up to and the anticipation of the day has been overshadowed by our move. We'll have been in our new home for about a week before Christmas Day. So, with the craziness of moving out-of-state one week before Christmas, how do we go about keeping Christ as our focus this Christmas? Here are some ways I'm doing it and I hope they inspire you!

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [3]

 

 

What a week! Last week I shared with you that I was sending off my husband {Casey} to go stay with a relative of mine in Arkansas while he begins his new job and house hunts for our family. Sounds like fun for him right? DUN Dun dun... Not so much for me...

5 Tips For Staying Sane During A Move

Hi, my name is Shari and I have moved seven times in my seven year marriage {not including my cross-country move to marry my husband - I flew from NC to OR a week before our wedding! - or our current move from MO to AR!}. Thus before our eight year anniversary we will have moved eight times {a total of five out-of-state moves!}. I could go on and on about what not to do when moving but I also have {through trial and error} some advice to hopefully make things easier for you.

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [2]

 

This Sunday I'll be sending my hubby off to Arkansas to begin his new job and we're going to miss him SO much! Can't wait until we get to join him in our new town! I'll be pulling ideas from Seven Tips For When Dad Is Working Overtime to make the weeks at a time during the month of December that we won't be with him go smoother. I know I'll get good use out of my own advice to stick to our normal routines and getting the kids more involved in what we're doing each day (like cooking and clean-up). I'm thankful for modern technology like the ability to text message so I can still "talk" to Casey throughout the day and we'll all talk to him each night. And, I'll keep reminding myself that it's only one month!