Intentionally Living in 2012

I am a homemaker.  I love being a homemaker.  I typically find so much joy in serving my family.  However, the last few months I have felt so absent.  My family has gone through some yuck, but we have made it through to the other side and it's time that I pull up my boot straps and keep on trucking. 

The last few months my house got cleaned when it was dirty, picked up when it was messy, meals made when there were hungry bellies (usually), school was accomplished - albeit half heartedly, and my prayers to my Heavenly Father were seriously lacking in heart and soul!   I trudged through the day, sun up to sun down, fell into bed at night, complained to God that nothing I did really mattered to anyone, slept restlessly and got up early in the morning and did it all over again.  I was just existing and allowing my days to fly by, just to get to the next day.  I missed so much!  I missed playing and reading to Arrow - for fun.  I missed laughing with the Mister and cuddling on the couch.  I missed looking out over all I accomplished in the day and feeling joy.  But most importantly I missed having a close relationship with my Creator God!  My only goal was to get though the day.  This has been an exhausting way to live! 

I want to head into this new year with a new outlook.  I want to remember WHY I stay at home, WHY I homeschool and WHY taking care of my husband and son are not drudgery that keeps me in bondage but why its total freedom!  I want to fall into bed at night, exhausted but joyful, thank God for the family He has blessed me with, remember Who I am truly doing this for and enjoy a blessed sleep that God promises.

In this new year, with God's help I am going to INTENTIONALLY  make my home a haven for my family,  INTENTIONALLY  teach my son, not only academically but Biblically, INTENTIONALLY  feed my family wholesome nutritious meals, INTENTIONALLY  love my husband so he finds joy in coming home and  INTENTIONALLY  grow closer to the ONE who makes my life possible!

So hears to a fresh start and a fresh out look on Homemaking!  I pray that you will join me and find some encouragement in my imperfect but from-the-heart ramblings!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I pray blessings over you and your households for 2012!  May you grow closer to the One who has given us with another year.  May everything that your hands find to do, be done unto the Lord!

Blessings...

An Answered Prayer

⁶ I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
   turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
⁷ Show me the wonders of your great love,
   you who save by your right hand
   those who take refuge in you from their foes. 

Psalm 17:6-7

 

It is so easy to fall into rote prayers most of the time.  Thank you God for this day, be with us, keep us safe, forgive us...you know, things like that.  And then there are prayers that are massive...God lift this terrible burden, save his/my life, heal this broken body, etc.  But because there is so much suffering and ugliness in the world, I have hard time praying for "trivial" things.  My heart knows that God hears my prayers, no matter the size, but my brain tells me that He's too busy and that it's silly to pray for such minuscule things.  But I know deep in my being that that is just a lie from the evil one.  And I have a story to prove that!

We have lived in this current home for close to three years and in that time our aerobic septic system has not worked properly.  If you don't know how they work, here's the gist ~ at night the liquid that has been "purified" sprays out into the yard.  I know...gross, right?!  It's supposed to be clear and clean...

Anyway, ours has a terrible smell.  When we bought the house 1.5 years ago the subdivision put a 1 year warranty on it and assured us that they would do everything they could to get it fixed.  They sent out multiple people to look at it and every one of them claimed it was fine and that the smell is normal.  We even, by law, have to have it inspected quarterly, and they claimed it was fine.  We however don't believe it.  But now a year and half later, with the warranty expired the smell has gotten so much worse.  Our neighbors are complaining, I'm afraid to walk in the yard and we can't afford to have anyone come out and look at it.  We explained to our neighbors that we have done everything that we know how to do and the "experts" claim that nothing is wrong with it.  

So three days ago I just threw up my hands and prayed a very quick but a very heartfelt prayer.  God, please heal our septic system!  Then I giggled a little because I could just imagine what that sounded like!  Since that moment I haven't thought much about it.

Well yesterday  morning a man showed up from the Environmental Protection Agency.  Apparently the neighbors complaints went straight to the top, the EPA.  Were we in trouble, could we get a fine?  I was nervous...we have no money to diagnose and fix this problem.  The Mister went out to speak with him and about 45 minutes later, I had an answer to my prayer.  There is definitely something wrong with the system (we knew that) and it has to be fixed immediately (again we knew that, just didn't know how!)  We are not in trouble because we have done everything in our power to fix it and not to mention, our "experts" we pay every year to inspect it, claimed it was fine.   This EPA man, sent directly from God has gotten the ball rolling!  We are expecting a septic man that he recommends to come out and diagnose and fix the problem.  EPA man says that this gentleman that is coming is "the best in the field!"  And to make it even better, the subdivision is paying for it even though the system is out of warranty!  

I was weary from the burden of our "poopy dilemma."  I was always on edge, just waiting for the next complaint.  So I lifted my voice to Heaven and with a giggle in my prayer I cried out to my Heavenly Father.  "Heal our septic tank!"  And He heard!  Not only did He hear, but He sent healing!  Within a few days, the smell will be gone and our septic will be as healthy as a horse! 

God cares about every detail of of lives.  We just need to give Him the chance to show that He cares!  Why it took me 3 years to ask for this, I don't know...but I finally did...and now I can rest in His healing presence! 

Have a blessed weekend and never stop lifting your voice to Heaven! :-)

 

 

The Perfect Day

I had a perfect day!  Well....as close to perfect as you can get, I suppose.  I rose from a deep and blessed sleep at 6:30 this morning.  The house was still quite, the sky was still dark.  I tiptoed to the bathroom...showered...dressed...and crept downstairs to spend some quite time on the porch.  The air was crisp with a hint of dew on the grass...the temperature hovered at 52 degrees...and I curled up on the swing with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, my feet tucked under my skirt and my Bible, journal and pen in my lap.  I spent almost an entire hour out on the porch in sweet fellowship with my Creator.  Reading, praying, worshiping and just being still in His Presence. 

After my quiet time I spent the morning in my kitchen, my sanctuary, making homemade applesauce for breakfast, homemade breadsticks for dinner and awaiting the arrival of my sleepy family.

I remained in the Presence of the Most High all day!

Then tonight as I was putting my little man to bed, HE read ME a story!  When I get discouraged at myself for "not teaching him enough" I need to remember that moment!  Then my almost 6 year old "baby boy" lifted his voice to Heaven and prayed with me...the most raw, heartfelt and undefiled prayer!  His words came straight from his heart!  The kind of prayer that I want to pray!  I have no greater joy then to hear my children walk in truth! 1 John 1:4

Thank you Heavenly Father for pouring Your Presence out so thick in the house, that I couldn't hide from it even if I wanted to!  I can't thank You enough for the blessings that You so freely give us!  Things that we don't deserve!  My heart and my mind are Yours.  Teach me to love like You love.  Lead me where You want me to go.  Teach me to follow You and know Your voice above all else.  Father, I want to know Your heart.  I want to cry when You cry, I want to laugh when You laugh, I want to hate what You hate and love what You love.  Teach me Lord...

Is Autumn Here?

It's been far to long since I have had a chance to blog.  Summer was a whirlwind of activity...some good, so not so good.  However I'm praying the speed of summer is behind us.  The temperature has not caught up with the new season yet...I am tiring very quickly of high 90 degree days.  But soon, very soon we should start seeing or rather feeling cooler days.  Still no rain...things down here are so dry!  The wildfire that we experienced down here recently really made people stop and think...and realize the real trouble we are in.  Daily we are on our knees and petitioning God for an over-abundance of soaking rain.

But the physical drought is just one thing we are experiencing.  I, in particular, have been in a spiritual drought.  I have been praying not only for rain to refresh our land but also for His "rains" to cover me and my household.  We are in a place right now that isn't so comfortable.  A place that we just are not enjoying...  When these trials began I turned tail and ran away.  I didn't realize it until suddenly I felt so empty and so alone.  And then I started making compromises in my life.  And the emptiness stated getting deeper.  I realized that God had never left my side...it was me that ran away but for some reason I couldn't get back into His arms.  Like I was so ashamed of my attitude that I didn't deserve His love and comfort.  But you know what?  I DON'T deserve His love!  I am a sinner so full of sin that I deserve for Him to never look on me again....But...my God is so loving and so merciful...and because of His Infinite Love for me He sent a replacement to suffer the consequences of my sin for me.  What incredible boundless love that is!  And by turning away from Him during the hard times, showed just how spoiled and unworthy I am of His love.  But no matter what I do and where I go, there He is.  There has been a tug of war going on in my spirit and I am ready for it to be over.  I want to climb up in my Father's lap and revel in His love for me....The trials we face may not be fun or enjoyable...truly they are really hard but my head knows that He uses these times to grow us...I just need my heart to get that.  And while I am praying for my heart to catch up I am going to lean on my Father and remember that in my weakness He is made strong.

I am weary ~ physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  But I am crying out to Heaven and I know that He hears me and He is preparing for me a place of rest for my weary soul...

So soon, very soon the hot days of summer will be behind us and the cool, fresh, crisp air of Fall will be on us.  This is a very real physical reminder of God's faithfulness...a good reminder to trust Him and His choices for our lives.  Everything works together for the good of those that love Him.

I truly hope to be on here again very soon....Blessings to you all!

My thoughts on Modesty

~Just a note...this is a long post...it will take a few minutes to read...I'm sorry in advance! :-) ~

I hear alot of talk about modesty...what modesty is...what's modest and what's not...etc...

I'm sure you all know what I mean!  It's a hot topic in the blog circles I "run" in!  So I thought that I'd add my two cents ~ I hope they are worth something to someone! :-)

Disclaimer ~ these are my PERSONAL convictions and I am not sharing this, trying to convince anyone that my ways are the right ways!  I'm just sharing because, well..I just want to!  So please don't take offense to anything I might say!  Remember...these are my PERSONAL convictions!

I am a skirt wearer!  There...I said it...some of you understand and some of you may not and that's okay.  Just thought I'd get it out there right from the start.  I haven't always worn skirts.  In fact I'm sure there were times in my life that I didn't even own a skirt!  I've been a skirt wearer for  2 years and 4 months!  In November 2008 after moving down south, I was getting settled into my new home and life when God spoke to me!  I tell you, His voice was so clear!  I have no doubt that it was Him and not my own thoughts!  He asked me to do something that most women would rather die than do...He asked me to....dun dun dun (sing songy:-) wear skirts only!  Did I hear Him right?  Did He really just ask ME to change my whole wardrobe and wear only skirts!?  No pants!?  Yep, He did!  And I really surprised myself!  I didn't even argue!  I followed His request!  Slowly I started acquiring long skirts at thrift stores, wearing them and totally enjoying it!  I reveled in the fact that I looked different than most of the world!  I loved that I was treated with more respect out in public (and that really does happen...for any of you skeptics!:-)  I savored being in God's will!  Not everyone was as excited as I was.  Most of my family (not including the Mister) thought that I was off my rocker and definitely did not understand!  I also have been on the receiving end of some not very nice words from other people...but that didn't matter!  God asked...I followed!  Wearing long skirts took me into a new world of complete modesty.  My tastes changed concerning my tops, shoes, hair and makeup!  My skirts got longer,  the collars of my tops got higher and my my sleeves got a little longer, my shoes got lower, my makeup became lighter and my hair got longer!  The first year was a learning and growing experience that I will never forget!  Some things have stuck, some have not...but I'm getting sidetracked!

A year later...I was struggling a little bit with HAVING to wear skirts only.  My heart was in turmoil!  The world looked so enticing!  I figured that I could wear pants and still be modest, but I wanted to follow God!  I truly struggled...and then one day...a year (almost to the day) after being asked to wear skirts only, God spoke to me again!  He told me that I didn't have to wear skirts anymore...that it was my choice.  I WAS FREE...so I thought!  I took my freedom and ran with it!  I bought new pants and wore them!  And pretended I was enjoying it!  The only thing that I truly enjoyed was that my family and some of my friends thought that I had found my marbles! :-)  But I was miserable inside!  I didn't feel freedom...I felt like I was in bondage to the world.  I had figured it out!  I was not enjoying obeying God before because I HAD too!  That did not please Him!  So I think that He released me to ease my suffering and hoped by doing that, that I would choose to wear skirts...on my own...He didn't want to force me any longer...He wanted me to exercise my free will.  And I did!  It took a few short months feeling incredibly masculine sporting my new found "freedom" in jeans, and I was slowly easing back into wearing skirts. 

Oh what a joy it is to wear a skirt every day!  I do own a few pairs of pants, but they primarily reside tucked away in the corner of my closet.  I feel so free and so feminine in a skirt!  Skirts are so much more comfortable than pants...especially around the waist!  And in the summer, they are hands down, so much cooler than pants and even shorts!  Air circulates so much easier!  Trust me...I've done this for 2 summers in deep south heat!  And no matter what some people say...you CAN do anything in a skirt...except maybe ride an upside down roller coaster:-)!  I'll prove it in another post soon ~ doing anything...not riding a coaster!  
So after sharing the gist of my skirt wearing testimony, I'll share what my modesty guidelines are for myself and my someday daughters...God willing!

I will not wear skirts that fall above my knees.  In fact I prefer skirts that are mid-calf or longer.  I will not wear shirts that reveal any cleavage.  If I have a low cut shirt, I double up with a ribbed sleeveless shirt underneath.  I will wear sleeveless shirts around the house in the summer, and a few may pass my modesty test for public wear.  Only in extreme heat circumstances and depending on where we are going.  I steer clear of super clingy tops, but I do wear lightly fitted ones.  My husband likes them and I like pleasing him.  I am not fond of clothes that make me look as if I am wearing a sack!  My reasoning is this...God made a woman's shape very beautiful and very distinct from a man's shape.  Although I don't want to reveal too much and I certainly don't want other men lusting after me, I want everyone to know, just by a glance that I AM a woman.  I don't believe that we should ugly up ourselves in the name of modesty.  I don't believe that is what God has in mind for us at all!  And I want my husband to continue to be attracted to me!  I do wear colors and patterns.  God created beauty all around us and colors make up so much of that!  My hair is styled so that no one could confuse me with a man and my make up is worn to look very natural...to enhance my features (and cover blemishes) not to cover up my God given face.  I don't wear a lot of jewelry  (that's just a personal preference.)  I don't give a fig about the current fashions.  Those are the world's standards and I may be living in the world, but I am not of the world.  I allow no one (other than God and Mister) to dictate what I wear and what is "in."  The goal I always keep in mind is this...I want to look like and be treated like a woman.  I want to look different than the world, yet still be approachable.  I want the unsaved to question what makes me different and have the courage to ask.  I want to look soft, feminine and graceful, but still carry an air of a strong and motivated woman.  I want my modest apparel to be a part of my Kingdom work!  But most importantly by dressing femininely and modestly, I want my heart to show.  I want people to look at me and see Jesus shining through!  I want my apparel to remind me that I am a woman of God and I may be the only Bible someone will read!  My clothes are a reminder that I must always be on my best behavior so as not to smear my character thus possibly turning people away from God and Christianity.  I want people to be able to look past my skirt and see a woman devoted to God!  But the most important reason is to keep my heart in check!  When I look down and see my skirt floating around my ankles, it's much harder to use harsh words with my loved ones, or to complain about anything!
 I like Psalm 19:14 ~ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.
My skirt is a good physical reminder for my mouth and my heart to stay in line with His Word!

I believe that I am in His will for my life by wearing skirts and other modest apparel and that pleases me and I know that pleases Him! 

I could go on and on and on...I just hope that I didn't babble on too much and that my thoughts are coherent enough for you to follow.  My mind was going a mile a minute!  Anyway, I just thought I'd share what was on my heart and remember...these are MY convictions and I NEVER look down on another woman for the way she may dress.  I also understand that to some, my standards of modesty aren't rigid enough and that's okay...again...these are my standards between God, me and my husband!

I hope you all have a great night and I pray that I didn't bore you!  Stay tuned for proof that you can do anything in a skirt!:-)
Blessings

Confusion versus Peace

Last week we had a DirecTV guy come to the house to check to see if we had any signal strength at all for the satellite...or so I thought!  I was under the impression that he was coming and going up on the roof.  Oh how wrong was I!  He needed access to the entire house, because he was here to install!  What!?  I had no idea...so...because I had no idea, my house was...shall we say...un-presentable!  Ugh.  I was so embarrassed that a stranger had to come into my house, walk around it and see the mess we had be living in!  What must have he thought of me!

Okay, for anyone who doesn't know me, I like a clean house, I like organization and I like peace.  However, winter brings a sense of "yuck" to the house.  I have a real hard time getting motivated and staying energized.  So my house suffers and I believe that my relationships even suffer a little bit.  (I'm praying about this!:-)

As I was thinking about how embarrassed I was, it occurred to me that the tv guy could have been anyone!  What if someone came to the house needing to be ministered to with food, a warm bed, love of a friend, or the Love of Jesus.  How awful would they feel to come into a house of confusion.  What if Jesus came to my door?  What would He think of the mess?  My Father has blessed me with a beautiful home and a beautiful family, and I haven't even been thankful enough to keep peace and order in it!  I yearn for a peaceful home.  A place that people want to be, a place that my family can relax and a place that screams YHWH from every corner in every room.  I want people to feel the presence of the Most High the minute they walk in to this home!  I don't want their senses to be clouded with disorganization!

I can accept that my family  LIVES here and, and yes it won't be spotless and magazine worthy, and I am okay with that!  I just want it to be a place of comfort and peacefulness.  I don't want to be embarrassed the next time someone drops in for a visit!

So I sat down and spent a few hours scheduling and reorganizing my days.  I have tried several different methods in the past, with no success...so I am trying another one and praying through it.  Praying that I can stick with it, with JOY!  I am also praying that He guides me in my decisions, that the most important things get done first and that He gives me the strength and the energy I need to accomplish everything that needs done.  My schedule consists of everything that needs attention through the week, with blank spaces to fill in extras.  The days may include, cleaning a specific room, bathing the dog, school days, blogging days, and a whole host of other little things that get overlooked!  If any of you feel led, please pray for me as I try to make this "plan" work for me and my family!

May my home become a peaceful haven for a weary soul...

Blessings!

Menu Plan Monday and Something to Ponder...

Hello! Time flies...this week started and ended in the blink of an eye!  I hope everyone had a very blessed Sunday!  I sure did.  We had a wonderful time of worship at church this morning and then The Mister and I spent time doing things around the house with Arrow.  It was a pleasant day!

I have been pondering something the Pastor said today...If we are not hungry after God, it's not that He's unsavory...it's that we have stuffed ourselves full of other things.  He also said that we may not desire God like we should because we have nibbled off of the world's table too much!  What a statement to think on!  I love God...I truly do, but sometimes I wonder where my passion is for Him!  I want to be passionate all the time! All consuming passion! When the pastor made the comment about nibbling off of the world's table, it was like something popped me right between the eyes!  What is it that I am nibbling at?  I prayed today that God would show me...I mean really pick out EVERY little thing that displeases Him...everything that is worldy and ungodly...To show me my plate full of "junk food" that the world has been offering me!  I want to be refined by Him, inside and out!  I urge all of you to pray today and ask Him if there is anything in your life that displeases Him and to also help you rid yourself of it!


 ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

I don't want to conform to this world...not even by nibbling!  I am here only for a time and then onto Glory I will be!  I just want my time here to be full of raw passion for serving the King!  So this week, my focus is on weeding out the world's gunk that I have nibbled on and learn to take big giant bites of His Holiness!

Now that I have given you something to pray about and ponder, I'm ready to share my meal plan for the week...Yes, there will be some reruns from last week because we didn't eat them...

Sunday ~ Beef Roast and carrots in the crock pot, served over leftover rice and a side of fresh cucumber slices

Monday ~ Taco Salad with refried beans and Guacamole, Peaches

Tuesday ~ Pork Tenderloin and Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes and corn, Apple Slices

Wednesday ~ Turkey Hot Dogs, Maceroni and Cheese, Tossed Salad

Thursday ~ Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli, Spinich Salad and Garlic Bread

Friday ~ Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Pears and Homemade Bread

Saturday ~ Venison Wedgies with Pierogies and Homemade French Fries, Mixed Fruit

It is Well With My Soul

Happy Sunday to you all!  What a blessing it is to be able to worship the One True God of Heaven, and to feel His Glorious Presence all around me!  Praise His Holy Name!
In church today we sang one of my very favorite songs...It is Well With My Soul.  The story behind the man, Horatio Spafford,  who wrote that song in the 1870's is incredible and moving!  He lost his son and then went on to lose his 4 daughters at the same time, in a ship wreck as they were on their way to England.  He penned those words as he sat on another ship in the area that his daughters ship went down.  My heart breaks for him and the sadness that, I'm sure was trying to overtake him.  But he then went on to write a song that has touched so many peoples lives through the years!  If I ever have to face a tragedy, I pray that I'll be able to sing these words from my heart...

 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.


I pray that this week holds blessings for you all!  Let God take the wheel and trust Him at every turn!  Keep checking back...I am starting a series this week on Titus 2:4,5

Resting in His Presence...

This and that...with a whole lot of Pictures!

I have been trying to decide where this blog should go.  Should I blog on a regular schedule?  Should I blog only when I feel led?  Who am I trying to reach?  What should I blog about?  I have so many questions with no answers yet.  But with God's leading I will get to the bottom of this!  So if you would, please pray for me and this blog.  I really want this to glorify His name in everything I say!

In the mean time, here are a few things that are going on around this ole homestead!  Okay, for anyone that knows me, it's not quite a homestead....but it will be...eventually!  I am preparing to start a book that I picked up at the Home school Convention last year.  It's called Backyard Homestead edited by Carleen Madigan.

It seems very thorough and interesting.  I am excited to pour over it.  I am expecting to learn alot and I will share as soon as I can.  I just really believe that we need to be good stewards of EVERYTHING God has blessed us with.  Because of that, I want to use what land we have, whether it's big or small, to grow as much as we can to sustain life.  The miracle I see every time a seed sprouts keeps me in awe of His Majesty!  By growing what we eat, that nourishes our bodies and keeps us alive and healthy will only point to the Awesomeness of the Most High!  Only through Him and His provisions is that possible!  Glory be to God and His Everlasting Kindness and Mercy!
Because of this I started my tomato plants a few days ago!  I am so excited to see them emerge from their little homemade pots!  Here's a quick peek...

I love the idea of decomposable, FREE! planters!  Thank you to Thy Hand Hath Provided!  Easy tutorial to follow.  So simple and frugal!  I am going to try container planting this year for some of our most beloved produce!  Until I figure out this southern soil and how to keep the deer from enjoying the garden, I must keep the plants close at hand!  I am starting to plan the rest of the "garden".  Trying to decide what will produce well in containers and what won't.  This is a whole new way of gardening for me, so if anyone has any pointers, please feel free to leave a comment or an email!  I would appreciate any help!

I am also working on canning.  I'm still trying to figure that out too!  My mom, so thoughtfully bought me a large pressure canner for Christmas, and I LOVE IT!  Thanks mom!  I canned recently with it.  I made tortilla bean soup, (one of our faves!)  and canned 10 quarts and froze three large bags!  So yummy and an incredibly easy meal!  I also purchased  a Food Saver recently.  Oh my goodness!  I think that everyone needs one of these in their kitchen!  I have used it so much already!  Just something to think about.  :-)

 Anyway, I have all of the ingredients for chili.  I may whip up a batch and go to town on it!  I am hoping to get at least 10 quarts of that too.  We shall see.  I love canning and the idea of preserving our food.  My ultimate goal is to grow most of what we need and preserve it.  The things that we can't produce here I would like to start purchasing from a local farm.  The idea that the grocery store chains of bondage would be broken from me, is exhilarating!  Soon...very soon!  Here's a little of what I have in the pantry already...the pickles are a blessing from my very dear neighbor...

What else...oh yes...IT IS SO COLD!  Seriously, since we are from up North, this weather should not be a problem.  But it is!  My blood has thinned!  The south isn't supposed to be this cold!  We are hovering in the 20's!  Oh, but alas, next week is supposed to be in the high 60's to low 70's.  I thought I'd share a picture of some berries that are on a bush right outside my door.  Very unusual for around these parts...so I hear!:-)

Yes, that is ice clinging to the berries! Brr!  I will soon have a fire blazing in our little fireplace!  Here is one from the other night.

Cozy...right?!  I just need to will myself out to the porch to get the wood!  Yikes!  I might as well though,  Soon my girly will have to potty!

One last thing...I have decided, from inspiration from another blog, to make a real effort in scripture memorization.  I always have Arrow memorize scripture, why shouldn't I?!  So I have chosen a few verses to begin with and I have written them on a few cards and placed them around the house.  Definitely one by the kitchen sink!  I wonder why? ;-)

Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
What a great scripture.  We must always remember to give thanks in everything!  Our Father is a loving God who cares for us, so deeply!  We must trust Him.  Not only that, but also must be thankful for His judgment! Pray without ceasing, always!  We must be in communication with God all the time!  He is our ultimate Friend and Lover!  He knows us more intimately than anyone else, and He wants a deep, deep relationship with us.  What better way to have that, then to pray without ceasing!

Blessings for today!  Get much accomplished and Rejoice!  Love to you all!

A Special Blessing

I am truly thankful for the things that God has blessed me with.  With all of my heart I am!  I'm thankful for my loving husband and my special little man.  I am thankful for a beautiful house in a great neighborhood with great neighbors.  I am thankful for food on our table every day.  I am thankful for heat and clothes and steady income.  I am thankful for friends.  I am thankful for the ability to pray and worship God in public any day of the week!
It's easy to be thankful for the obvious reasons...but are we always thankful for the little inconspicuous reasons too?  I try to be, and I'm usually successful...I think.
Everything that we have is a blessing from the Lord.  Everything!  From our very lives down to the tiniest detail...such as...measuring cups!  Yes, you heard me!  Measuring cups!
This weekend I received a special blessing of measuring cups and measuring spoons!  I have really wanted a new set because mine are cheap and break very easily.  Everytime I look at new sets, I am deterred by the price.  I just felt that we have so many more important things to spend our money on so I pass them by.
Well, my dads wife happened to buy two sets without realizing it and last night brought me in a set...and it happens to be the exact set that I have been admiring!  White ceramic measuring cups!  Ahh...beauty!
It was so humbling to be reminded that my God loves me and cares about me enough that my choice of measuring cups is important to Him!  What a Special Blessing!
At that moment, I was reminded that we truly do need to be thankful for the tiniest, most insignificant things!  God is so good to me!  And I pray that I will always remember to be thankful for everything!

Super Bowl Sunday and Heart Full of Questions...

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday!  GO STEELERS!  We are from Pennsylvania originally, so of course we have Black and Gold blood running through our veins....and always will have!  Nobody will ever be able to change that!  GO STEELERS!  We will be cheering for the Steel Nation all day and we are proud of it!  Woo!

So the fact that we are all abuzz about the game, cleaning the house, preparing special food and gearing up for the sporting event of the year...it got me thinking...

Do I ever get that excited about God, or worshiping Him, or even being in His presence?  If I took as much care of my relationship with Him as I do with getting ready for a game, where would I be?

What if I was all abuzz about the moment I will meet Him face to face?  What if I took the time to really clean up my life for Him and because of Him?  What if I was preparing my heart for complete worship of Him?  What if I consistently was gearing up for eternity in Heaven?  What would my life look like?

What if I said that I had Jesus running through my veins...and always will have?  That nobody will even be able to change that!?  Because, guess what...I do and I am so proud of that!  Even though I am not perfect, and I have so much to work on with His help, I truly love my God and I will be cheering on His return!

So...Go Steelers...make us proud...but more importantly...

Thank you God, for my life and Your love.  Please help me to love You more fully!  You alone deserve my everything!  In Jesus Name...AMEN