...the opportunities available to reach out and help others in so many ways.
During the upcoming holiday season, look around you. There are ever so many doors open to help those in need. You may think you're having it rough yourself, but when you begin to look at other's situations, you will find that yours is much more tolerable. God won't allow more to be put on you than what you can handle, with His help. Allow Him to help you through your own difficulties and allow Him to use you to help others through their difficulties, too!
This is a wonderful lesson to teach our children and grandchildren, and easily incorporated into the homeschool setting, as well as with children who attend public schools.
I'd love to hear how you and your family are reaching out to others! Just leave me a note by clicking the comment button under this post and share it with me here.
I always have mixed feelings during this time of the year. I feel a touch of sadness that the warm summer months are coming to an end...and at the same time, I feel excitement that a new season is beginning. The leaves change color, the air becomes crisper, the fresh vegetables in season become a bit hardier, and more layers are added in my wardrobe.
My cooking takes on different aspects in these cooler months, too. I tend to focus more on savory dishes and comfort foods. Yes, we still eat plenty of salads and raw veggies, however, oftentimes I will add meat to the salads and more root vegetables to the veggie trays. Unfortunately, I also bake more during this time of year--sweets that should not be consumed very often. Brownies, cakes, pies, cookies...yes, all of them. However, I am trying to use more whole grains in my baking, and having some success.
I tend to spend more time indoors now, too, and this gives me more opportunities to spend in the Word. A passage of scripture has been in my mind quite often here lately, and I thought I'd share it with you...
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
~Isaiah 55:6-11
As some of you know, we have faced a few difficulties here recently. I was laid off from work late in the summer, and have been unable to find a new job yet. Also, my son was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago. However, while these things may look devastating, there is much to praise God for! The bills are paid, and God is continuing to prove Himself to be the Source of all good things in my life. Also, His Word has not returned void in my son. Words of healing have continually been spoken over him since the diagnosis, and when the doctors did their exploratory surgery last week, they found no cancer at all! Hallelujah! Yes, we do serve a mighty God and He continues to bless us in many ways!
I have been working on my newsletter as I find the time, and am hoping to have it out very soon. I hesitate to give a definite time or date, though, but will say I am trying my best to get it out as quickly as possible.
Thank you so much for being faithful and loyal to my blog and my writings. Many of you have walked this journey with me for several years, and many of you are relative newcomers here. I keep all of you in my prayers daily and look forward to hearing about the wonderful things God is doing in your life!
I am going to try to begin posting what I am thankful for each day here as I have been doing on my Facebook profile.
Today I am thankful for....words of encouragement and exhortation from unexpected sources!
Lord please give me the patience to listen, the courage to
speak, the honor to follow, and the wisdom to lead.
I would like to ask you to remember my precious sister, Joyce, in your prayers. Her husband passed away Thursday night. They were married for several decades (around 50 years, I'm not certain of the exact number), and as to be expected, this is hitting her hard. He had been going through kidney dialysis for the last year, and she's holding on to the fact that his body has now been made perfect and he is no longer suffering and in pain. Hallelujah! Thank you for your prayers.
There have been many other prayer requests given to me, as well, and they will be included in my next newsletter (which has been delayed due to so many upheavals in my own life lately). I hope to have it out to you in the next week or so. Thank you for your patience.
Oh dear...somehow, some way this month has just flown by! I sure stayed busy through it, and will share with you a bit of it in this post. Last weekend my son and I took his 2 children to King's Island in Cincinnati, Ohio (with the tickets he won from the Hot Dog Eating contest). My goodness, we all had a wonderful time! There were so many rides for the children (and us!), and the children took turns pushing me in a wheelchair, although my son did most of it (he thought it best that I use one since we would be there many, many hours and my legs don't last much longer than a trip to the grocer's these days). Let me share some of our pics with you....
They had fun "meeting" Patrick from Spongebob and Squarepants:
And they got quite wet on Congo Falls:
And I, of course, enjoyed the beautiful landscaping:
On the drive up we went through Amish land, and saw horses and buggies and roadside stands run by the Amish. There were beautiful farms (Amish and non-Amish), and many corn and soybean fields.
We had dinner in the park at Skyline Chili--I had heard so much about it, but none of us cared much for it, unfortunately. We prefer what I make here at home (it's nice to know your family prefers your cooking). All in all it was a lovely day, and one spent relaxing and enjoying our time together as a family.
I do hope you and your family have been enjoying times of joy together this summer!
As usual, there has been quite a bit of activity going on here in my home! Let me share with you last weekend's activities for a moment...
Friday night was the County Fair for us. My youngest son, his 2 children, his ex-wife, and I all loaded up and headed to Milton for the County Fair. We had a wonderful time (I'm sorry--I forgot to take my camera with me that evening!), and the children were completely enthralled with everything. We enjoyed browsing through the 4-H exhibits--everything from home-canned goods and baked goods, to fresh produce and handmade quilts. I was amazed at the skills these precious children had on display! I give a huge thumbs up to their parents and 4-H leaders for taking the time and energy to teach these skills and wonderful qualities to the next generation. I know the time and effort I put into my own grandchildren with these teachings and am always amazed when I see it done on a much broader scale. Hallelujah!
The FFA youth had some great livestock shown. Such beautiful animals and very, very well cared for! My co-worker was able to win a pig during the auction and will enjoy its bounty this winter. I think its great that we can buy meat like this and know who raised it, and know that there are no hormones or other additives given to the animals. Locally raised, free-range, and hormone free--yes, a true blessing! I didn't win anything at the auction this year, but hopefully will next year. She and I have talked about maybe going in together on a cow next year--unless they choose to raise their own instead (they live on a farm in the country). We'll just have to wait and see.
After making it home late that night, we were up early on Saturday for the West Virginia Hot Dog Festival, held downtown here in Huntington. My son entered the Hot Dog Eating Contest, and that was a lot of fun. I did remember my camera that day!!! Let me share some pics with you here....
This was taken before it began. It all looks so nice and neat! The gentleman with the camera behind the table is with a television production company. They are filming a reality series with Jamie Oliver about healthy eating and basing it here in Huntington (I think because we were named the unhealthiest city in America--hmmm). Anyhow, it's supposed to be out this fall on ABC channels, to my understanding. Next...
In the midst of devouring as many hot dogs as possible in the time period of 12 minutes! Slow and steady there, boy! Remember the tortoise and the hare!!!!
THE GRAND CHAMPION!!!!!
Yes, my Robert ate 14 hot dogs on their buns in 12 minutes and was named Champion for 2009! You see his children there--Allen is holding the big trophy that will be kept in Stewart Hot Dog's offices with his name engraved on it, Cayla is holding the trophy he keeps, he's wearing his Champion bib, and I now have the 4 tickets he won to King's Island! He'll also receive a $100 check soon (maybe for the antacid I know he needed afterward???). He was also interviewed by the film crew of the reality show I mentioned earlier and will appear on that this fall. Not bad for a few moments of eating!
Anyhow...on with the weekend. I also managed to make the time to can 14 quarts of pickles. Seven quarts were Kosher Dills and seven quarts were Bread-and-Butter pickles. Whew! Of course, some have already left my home for other refrigerators and pantries, to be enjoyed in a few weeks (if they'll wait that long!), but I did manage to hang onto 4 or 5 quarts here. Seems like every time I can, most of it goes elsewhere. Oh well, as long as its enjoyed and the jars and rings find their way back home I don't mind. It's a blessing to me to share like that. (No, I didn't grow the cukes I used--they were a gift from a customer at work! Hallelujah!).
So, as you can see, things tend to stay a little bit active around here. Tonight I plan to do a bit of writing, tomorrow is a trip to the Farmer's Market in the West End of Huntington, and perhaps a bit more canning tomorrow afternoon, depending on what I find. I'll be freezing some breaded green tomato slices and breaded squash slices tomorrow, for sure, too (gotta love Fried Green Tomatoes and Fried Squash when the snow is flying). I also have a bit of ironing to do and some homemaking to be taken care of. Sunday School and Church services on Sunday and then back to work on Monday morning! Whew!
I'll be starting soon on some sewing that is begging to be done. I have some table linens to make (I haven't forgotten, dear Sis!), a quilt to make my granddaughter for Christmas, some aprons to get made that have been requested, and some other goodies for Christmas gifts. Have mercy, if I don't start them now, they'll never be done in time! It's hard to believe this is already the end of July! Yikes!
Well, anyhow, I hope you've enjoyed my sharing here with you and some of the pics from last weekend. Maybe I'll remember my camera tomorrow and take some at the Farmer's Market!
Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
~Psalm 22:4
I am always amazed when I think of our country's forefathers. The first settlers from England have always fascinated me...their bravery, their fortitude, their inner drive to move to a new place and start their lives all over again for the sake of freedom--freedom to believe in and worship God, freedom to live the lives they knew they were supposed to live without persecution. How many hearts were broken when they boarded the ships to leave the only home they had ever known? How many women were blindly following the leading of their husbands? How many children didn't truly understand what was going on, but were being obedient to their parents? What was life like on those ships? What was life like when they first stepped on the soil of North America? How many fell to their knees and gave thanksgiving prayers unto God?
How did our nation become the nation it did? Through the suffering, the trials, and tribulations endured by our forefathers. Where did they get their strength? By crying out to God Almighty and asking Him to guide them, sustain them, provide for them, and lead them. And then they allowed Him to do so. That is the key. That is the principle this wonderful United States of America was founded upon. Faith in God, albeit blind faith most of the time, was the element most needed, and our forefathers followed through with that element. They trusted God. How many folks in America are trusting God today? And I do mean truly trusting in Him and Him alone. Trusting Him to lead them in the paths of righteousness, trusting Him to provide for all of their needs, trusting Him for their health, trusting Him to speak to our nations leaders, and then praying our leaders listen to Him.
It is my prayer today and every day that God will once again be Lord of this country and that our leaders will turn to Him in all aspects of their lives. Not just in the decisions made in the Senate or in the White House or in Congress, but in the day-to-day lives they live. What they'll eat that day, what they'll wear, what they'll say, what steps they will take to insure this nation is once again the thriving country it once was. I pray that our unborn babies are once again safe, that our infants and children will not know the horrors of poverty and perversion, that our young adults will forge ahead and become the future leaders and be the godly men and women they were created to be. I pray that once again God will look upon this nation with favor and be pleased with what He sees.
The Legacy of Home blog with Mrs. White is having Today's 20 Things and I thought I'd join in. Here are 20 things I've done today (and its not quite 1:00 p.m. here):
1. Spent time with God, finding out His Will and plans for me today.
2. Had my devotions.
3. Watched the morning news with my coffee.
4. Read emails.
5. Made a pitcher of iced tea.
6. Washed the bathroom walls and fixtures.
7. Cleaned the tub, sink, and necessary.
8. Washed the knick-knacks from the bathroom.
9. Visited with a friend who dropped by, and then another friend joined us, and all 3 of us gals enjoyed chit-chatting together for a little while.
10. Went downtown and picked up 2 cases of bottled water, giving one to a neighbor without a vehicle (free due to a water main break that shut down water to 90% of Huntington and parts of southern Ohio last night--we're now under a Boil Water Advisory until tomorrow morning--and yes, my tea was made with boiled water, my coffee with bottled water I already had).
11. Stopped at the produce stand and picked up some tomatoes, peppers, and cukes.
12. Tidied up in the sewing room a bit.
13. Made my bed.
14. Put away some laundry.
15. Called my son to tell him about the water advisory--no answer.
16. Balanced my checkbook.
17. Watched a home improvement show on the television.
18. Caught up my Day Planner.
19. Planned next week's menus.
20. Read the Legacy of Home blog.
What have you done today? I do hope that first and foremost, you are keeping God in control of everything that you do this day, and every day. Now I'm off to have a bit of lunch and then dust the living room and tackle the floors downstairs! After that, I'll sit down and return a call from a dear friend over in Ohio, have some supper, and then read a bit this evening. Have a blessed weekend!
Happy Father's Day! This is such a special day, and I believe that all of us around the world should honor our Dads on this day. My own Daddy isn't here any more (went home to be with the Lord after a prolonged bout with prostate cancer when I was a young girl), but let me tell you a little bit about him...
On a shelf above my monitor here on my desk is a picture of my Daddy. It was taken on Christmas morning, and he's sitting on our old couch eating candy. To me, this picture says so much about him! For one thing, he loved to eat candy (maybe that's where I learned to do the same??). Also, even though its Christmas morning (there are open packages and wrapping paper on the coffee table in front of him), he's already dressed in his dress shirt and slacks (although still in his socks and no shoes). He's watching TV apparently--his focus is aimed right where our old TV sat (the kind that swivelled and had a dot when you turned it on that eventually grew into a picture--we only had 3 stations back then--no cable TV, no remote controls!!!). He looks to be a man of utter peace and contentment--and yes, I do believe he was.
My Daddy came from Virginia--the Hills of Dan. He grew up on a mountain, and learned the Appalachian way of life from birth. This stayed with him all through his life. He loved his biscuits and red eye gravy (you'll find the recipe for that over at Nanna's Kitchen--see sidebar for the link), and I still remember him pouring his coffee from his cup into his saucer to cool down enough for him to drink it (he liked it boiling hot, like my sis does). He was a simple man in many ways, clinging to the simple pleasures and values in life. I don't remember him ever discussing politics, but I'm sure he did--most of his children did, except me.
Daddy was extra special to me, for he adopted me. I was his granddaughter, and when the need arose for someone to take this newest addition to the family, he and Mama (my maternal grandmother) stepped up and took me in. I was quite sick at 2 weeks of age, and they nursed me back to health. Although they had already raised their family (they had 8 children), they were willing to take in a sick infant and make sure she received the care and support needed. When I was 2, they legally adopted me, and I was blessed by this, and continue to be blessed. It brings tears to my eyes, even now, of their sacrifices and hard work just for me.
Daddy was a firm believer in the Bible--and did his best to live by it every day. I remember when he was in the hospital, he took one of my crayons and marked key scriptures for me to learn and live by. I had that old Bible for years until it was destroyed and unsalvageable. However, by then I had learned those verses, and many of the ones I teach about today are those same ones!
Not only did my Daddy instill his knowledge and wisdom of the scriptures in me, he instilled in me a sense of right and wrong, principles in living, morals, and family. He also planted the seeds that grew into my love of Appalachia--telling me many times that I would live in these mountains when I was grown up. He and Mama had moved to Florida due to their health, but it was his dream that his baby girl would live in these hills--and that dream has come to fruition. Many folks have tried to get me to move away from here, and I admit there have been times I've been very tempted, but I still remain, and shall do so until the Lord moves me elsewhere.
This bit of blogging hasn't even begun to touch on the whole man that my Daddy was, but just consists of a few precious memories I have of him. To tell the whole story of him would require an entire book--which may or may not be written someday. But I do pray that some of these few words about this most special man who made such an impact on me will reach out and touch someone this day--with encouragement to stand up and be the Daddy that is needed for their own child. My youngest son grew up without his father, but the lessons I learned from Daddy enabled me to be one to him (yes, I've received many Father's Day cards as well as Mother's Day!). Live your life by setting the example to the younger generations, stand by the principles found in God's Word, live with high morals, and don't allow anyone to lead you astray. As you do this, you will find that you become the best Dad you can be!
This *blog* is a compilation of *Nuggets of Wisdom* I have been blessed to have been taught by the Lord throughout my lifetime. There are child-raising thoughts, relationship thoughts, recipes, craft ideas, and some other goodies thrown in here and there. I pray it is a blessing to all who honor me by reading it.
PLEASE REMEMBER OUR TROOPS
IN YOUR PRAYERS
Soldiers' Prayer List
Jeffrey Ackley, US Army
William Lee, USMC
Matt Mancuso
Matthew Kempfer
JB Hogan, US Army
Kenneth Boyd, US Army
Aaron Mutter, US Army
Ssgt. Leigh Nichols, USAF
PFC Matthew Carty, US Army National Guard
PFC Nicolle Carty, US Army National Guard
Josh Freeman, US Army National Guard
Brandon Willoughby, US Army
David Barnette, US Army
E4 James Owens, Jr., US Army
Steven Solana, US Army
John Robert Greene, USMC
Cory Thornton, USMC
Lucas Elliott, USMC
James Westberry, US Army
Let me share with you last weekend's activities for a moment...
