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Heart Healthy Treats

*1# flax seed

*1 pkg Wheatberry Salad Mix

*1 pkg Multi Grain Stew Mix

*Mainely Grains Tried and True Recipe Booklet

*1 holiday potholder

In a local Amish large cracker basket

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While I have always been most prone to doing things naturally that has always been influenced by my knowledge and in most cases lack of knowledge. For my birthday I was blessed with this Herbal Medecine Making Kit from http://www.learningherbs.com I knew that things I wanted to do would be easy but even with the multitude of herb books I have on my shelves I still wasn't equipped to do much with that information until getting the kit.

Benjamin is enjoying learning through the kit with me and our first project was to make an herbal salve. It is an purpose salve and is going to be terrific when the heat gets turned on and our skin starts to get a bit dry. Smells wonderful too with lavender oil as one of it's ingredients. 

Yesterday we tried our hand at making a Nettle infusion, I'm amazed at the nutritional value that Nettle has. We also started an Echinachea tincture which will take time to cure. That will be just in time for the winter cold/flu season and will be of great benefit in our desire to be a bit preventative.

I am grateful to be learning and it's even more fun having one of the children take an interest in it as well.

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Very recently I was feeling unprotected, unloved and hurt. I cried for some time and was reminded in a most gentle way how the Father of Heaven feels about me.

It was as is He put His hand on my face and said "Annette, I love you, I will protect you, I will provide for you, I think you are beautiful, I cherish you.

I think as homeschooling moms, as women we can forget that we are loved with an everlasting love. For me I needed to hear those words and while they were not audible they were felt in the deepest parts of my soul and brought healing, hope and worth to me when I was wounded.

As christians we have something that is worth far more than anything the world has to offer and I for one am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's gentle reminder of that.

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I knew that to be true and I knew that once I had a graduate it would be a speedy trip to see the others through their homeschool education and so it is. The transition has begun.

Christina just returned from being gone for two months working in southern Maine with CEF at their  Good News Camp. Seeing pictures and hearing stories of her adventures is a joy. 

Our days have been changed with the schedule and transportation needs of the oldest ones. Doors have begun opening up for them regarding their futures and the younger ones are right behind. While I know that I've still got a good deal of time left of homeschooling with Rebeccah having just started Kindergarten I am AMAZED that we are where we are. The Lord is so good.

It's strange having to readjust our household chores, our schedules and even where our energy goes in order to meet the needs of our family.

Right now five of the children are involved in a Hunter's Safety Course and Christina and I will take it next month. That should be fun for her and I. We want her to get her driver's liscence too so she can be of help with the transportation. She and Jonathan and Christopher will likely work together to get a vehicle and the boys will need to take a Driver's Ed, hopefully we can work it out for February. More adjusting on the family's part. All good but adjusting nevertheless.

Adjustments, change, growth, are all necessary aren't they? I'm thankful that it is the Lord who is ordaining our steps and we can trust HIM completely.

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Ladies,

My mind isn't working to really blog but here .... enjoy!!!!!!! It's a slide show of the mountain in our county. One of these days I'll go climb it but as of yet we've not.

http://www.zaptank.com/images/galleries/katahdin/image_1.html

Annette

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May 23, Christina graduated from Discovery Academy. I have once again been reminded of how blessed I am. It was a joy to introduce some of my church family, to some of my physical family, to some of my homeschooling family. All people we love very much.

I get excited as I ponder the thought that God has good plans for all of our children and to see steps being made in that direction. Christina is planning on working with Child Evangelism Fellowship of Maine for the summer at Camp Good News. She is wanting to save money to attend New Brunswick Bible Institute in the fall of 2010. She has no further specific plans except to be ready to do whatever the Lord has for her and to me that is sooooooooooooo thrilling.

The graduation ceremony and picnic lunch afterwards was hosted by our homeschool group. What a joy to work together as a group to celebrate our group's first graduate. They as usual were so helpful and generous. The children greeted, took pictures, read scripture, read a poem. All having a part. Our youngest daughter (4) decided it was her role to take a nap during the ceremony. :)

Family and friends traveled far to be with us which meant so very much to us all and visiting with them was a hilight of the weekend.

So here are a few pictures.

I'm welcoming and explaining about our homeschooling experience

Rebeccah doing her part at the ceremony. :)

Benjamin playing Graduation Photographer

Jonathan reading Proverbs 1:1-8 (Our school's bible verses)

Roy presenting her with her diploma

Having fun taking Senior Pictures

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Well our showers today included snow and freezing rain. BRRRR!

We are wrapping up our school year and are looking forward to our oldest's graduation next month and visiting with friends and family that weekend. It has been an exciting school year with having another one learn how to read and having one ending her official homeschooling years.

Recently we had friends visiting and we spent some time making baskets. That was fun, I love baskets and I've added this one to my collection that hangs in the kitchen.

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I have been challenged and blessed the last few weeks with a Beth Moore Bible study called Believing God.

*Believe that God is who He says He is

*Believe God can do what He says He can do

*Believe I am who God says I am

*Believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

*God's Word is alive and living in me

As we've been looking at both Old and New Testament people and principles I have had to ask myself if I have truly been believing. I have had to confess that I had become lacksidazzy in my faith and now my faith is renewed and I am excited about what God is doing and what He will continue to do. I am so thankful that HE is always faithful unlike me.

We are praying fervently and with faith that God is going to heal my stepfather who recently discovered that he has inoperable, uncurable lung cancer that has spread through his blood and they've given him 12 -18 months to live. We are trusting for a miracle regarding his health but even more a miracle to save his soul. God is good and I am knowing joy in the midst of having to trust HIM completely for this.

JOY... through and through is the theme of our Ladies retreat in a few days. God really does want to fill our hearts with JOY.

Be blessed,

Annette

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Hi folks.

We opened up Mainely Grains in May '08. We wanted to give you an opportunity to be included on our e-mail mailing list. I will not put you on that list unless you reply and let me know that you want to be included in the monthly e-mail that tells of our sales, workshops going on in the month and any other Mainely Grains' information we want to pass on to our customers.

Our website is here http://www.mainelygrains.food.officelive.com/default.aspx and our email address is mainelygrains@live.com  Of course if you're local we would love to have you stop by our small store at 636 Colby Siding Road, Woodland, Maine. Our house are Monday - Thursday 12-5, Saturday 9 - 1.

Below is a list of our offerings and demonstrations. I'd love to hear from you and remember if you'd like to be included on our e-mail mailing list you must reply and let me know. Thanks so much for letting us give you a glimpse of our business. Feel free to pass any and all of this information on to friends, co-workers, etc.

Happy New Year,

Annette McEndarfer (for the whole family) 

 Mainely Grains offers:

*Whole Grains in one and five pound bags

*Freshly Milled Flour

*Herbs and Spices

*Our Own Spice and Herb Mixes

*Our Own Whole Grain Mixes

*Mainely Grains Tried and True Whole Grain Recipes

*Small Appliances (Mills, Vitamix Blenders, Bosch Mixers)

*Workshops and Demonstrations

*Bulk Buying (if you live locally)

 If you are in Aroostook County and would like to host a Mainely Grains demonstration I'd be glad to come.

Want to learn more about grains? Consider hosting a demonstration workshop.

In all demonstrations we’ll look at the nutritional value of whole grains, the milling process and prepare and taste some whole grain food together. Depending on the amount of time you’d like to have workshops can range from 1 – 3 hours. It’s a great way to host a lunch or dinner for your friends. I also bring many of my products so your guests can shop.

Delicious Whole Grain Desserts – we’ll make a dessert together... choose from Honey Cheesecake, German Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Chip Cookies

Celebrating the Holidays with Whole Grains – Looking for a wholesome dish to bring to a holiday dinner? Desiring to serve wholesome foods with your celebrations? In this workshop we’ll look at how we can incorporate healthful whole grains into our celebration and of course make and taste some.

Whole Grain Bread Making – Learn the basics of bread while getting hands on experience to what is becoming a lost and delicious art.  Cinnamon swirl, herb loaf are just a couple of options for this one.

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Cooking and Baking with Whole Grains – Here we look at a multiple variety of ways to use whole grains in our every day cooking and baking experiences. Stuffed bread is a tasty addition to this workshop.

Fun with Whole Wheat Tortillas – Making tortillas can be a lot of fun especially if you’re with friends and filling those tortillas with wholesome apple pie filling to make your own Apple Flauta.

Whole Grain Main Dishes and Sides –  Incorporate whole grains into every part of your meal preparation. We’ll try Ezekiel stew and Wheatberry salad at this workshop.

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Very soon we'll be sitting with the children and asking them what it is they would especially like to learn in this new year. I have to ask myself the same question.

I'm not sure yet what I'd like to learn but sewing may be an option. I know the basics but it would be nice to learn something that would be practical and good for gift giving. I'm wanting to stay away from food items for gift giving in the next year.

I am very blessed and thank the Lord for the things He has allowed me to learn this past year. We are looking to grow Mainely Grains IF that is what HE wants from us.

The biggest area I'd like to work on this year is giving glory to the Lord in every task I do no matter how insignificant that task may be. A friend's son is in seminary and shared with us recently in church about a book he had read about a priest whose one and only job in the monastery was to wash the dishes and scrub the pots and pans clean. He found that it was easy for his mind to wander while doing those things and decided that that job was his job to do and he needed to do it for the Lord's glory. It didn't matter if he didn't want to do it, seemed like a trite job or anything else. He purposed in his heart to turn his thoughts to giving glory to God in every task. So while he would be scrubbing with his water soaked hands he would be thinking "for God's glory". Whenever his thoughts would turn away from that he would repent and start again. He did that until it became a habit.

As I'm filling the washing machine, cleaning a face, pulling out a sliver, disciplining a child, teaching them, planning menus or whatever I want my attitude to be FOR GOD'S GLORY.

I've caught myself many times straying from that thought in just these few days. WOW, it's so easy to get sidetracked and not give any thought to what matters to me most... pleasing the Lord.

I'm thinking this will be a great exercise for me and I can only imagine that those around me will reap some benefits of it as well.

As you consider what it is the Lord has for you this year may you know His provision, His promises and His protection.

Annette

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A Glance at 2008 with the McEndarfer’s

January – Every January we sit down and come up with a list of new skills we would like to learn through the year. This year was different. Each child prayerfully considered choosing a mentor from our church. That has been a blessing far beyond anything I imagined. Roy continues to work hard at Aroostook Trusses. It’s amazing how big some of the loads are he delivers.

February – Homeschooling continues to be a priviledge. Teaching the alphabet one minute and then moving right into Biology adds many dimensions to our experience. The children are all doing well. Each month it seems we are celebrating another birthday and that adds a lot to our year.

March – We enjoy serving in and through the church family as a family. Roy is especially enjoying teaching an adult Sunday School class using Answers in Genesis curriculum.

April – I believe it was in April when Gregory trusted Jesus to be his very own Savior. There is nothing more important to us as parents than to know our children belong to HIM.

May – We opened up Mainely Grains. It is our family business and it’s good to have a child working with me each day, we’re learning a lot and taking it very slowly. We sell whole grains, spices and herbs along with teaching workshops. We’re hoping to be online soon.  

Planting the gardens has become a highlight in May. We’ve tried our hand at wheat this year and next year hope to do oats and barley as well.

A trip to Mass was enjoyed. It’s always nice to visit with family and friends. Sometimes this nine hour drive seems so very far away and we so miss folks. Would love to have you visit us.

June – Christina and Christopher attended CYIA. It was a blessing to work with two of them at the local fair for a couple of days. Christopher is excited about a truck he’ll be picking up to help with the plowing here. Gregory and  Rebeccah are excited about school every day and they have reminded me of just how much fun teaching little ones can be.

July – Christina went to NYC with CEF and worked teaching 5 Day Clubs in China town. She also attended a weekend at NBBI this fall to become acquainted with it. She’s not sure what her next step will be. Timothy enjoyed time with his mentor throughout the year and was blessed with a very special award that was granted to his mentor and then given to him. He holds that as a treasure.

August – Being outdoors, working in the gardens, schooling and now Mainely Grains took up every day of the summer. Benjamin spent a great deal reading and won awards for two different reading programs. Canning, drying and freezing all take a good chunk of our time as well.

September – The older children spent a couple of weeks working for a local organic potato farmer hand picking potatoes. Great experience for them, the younger ones got to try their hand as well for a few hours. Jonathan spent a week of intense moose hunting. While no moose was to be had he learned a great deal and loved spending that time with his mentor.

October – The children started Northern Maine Wreaths. Jonathan spent a day deer hunting too, he is very interested in the outdoors and has begun work on a nature trail. Clearing paths, identifying plants and making signs for them, all make it a fun and hard working project. He hopes to be done by next fall and thinks it might end up being a mile long.

November – Making the wreaths has begun and will keep us all busy through Christmas. Jonathan enjoyed his 16^th birthday with a steak and shoot party. Men from the church came and went target shooting and then we all enjoyed a nice dinner and blessings for Jonathan were spoken by several. Christopher went trapping with a Maine guide friend of ours and learned a lot.

December – We are looking forward to celebrations throughout the month including a dinner theater that Christina, Jonathan, Christopher and Benjamin are involved in.

Roy and I often talk about our move here and how amazing it all is. While financial bumps in the road have come so have blessings that surpass all of that. We are looking forward to going through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University together right after Christmas. We are dreaming of buying the land around us and it would be neat to see that come to be.

We never send pictures but thought it would be nice to include one here since we’ve carried over to two pages now. Hehe! Have a blessed Christmas! We would love to hear from you and what you’re up to.

Roy, Annette, Christina, Jonathan, Christopher, Benjamin, Timothy, Gregory and Rebeccah

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The older I get the quicker time goes by. We had a wonderful November. It was such a blessing to celebrate Jonathan's 16th birthday. He invited men from the church to come for a shoot and steak. They enjoyed target practice while the women visited and did the final preperations for lunch. Several of the men prayed blessings over Jonathan and shared words of wisdom. We are grateful for men of God willing to invest in the lives of our young men.

School has gone very well all month though we took the week of Thanksgiving off to enjoy Roy being home. The children all kept busy making wreaths for their new business Northern Maine Wreaths and I was spending time in Mainely Grains. I'm working on getting our products available on line via a friend's website. Here is what my children spend hours each day on. If you're interested in purchasing one feel free to e-mail me and I can send you the order form.

We're looking forward to December's celebrations. Benjamin turns 13. Another teenager in the house. LOVE IT! We'll also be attending a play the children are in, several yankee swaps, gift party for the homeless shelter, cookie swaps, decorating, etc.

Now that I've got the idea of how to post pictures I'll go try our Christmas newsletter.

Annette

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Time is flying by. My oldest is preparing for her high school graduation, my next is celebrating his 16th birthday in a couple of weeks, my next can't wait to buy his first vehicle... he's getting a plow truck, my next is going to be a teenager in a couple of months, my next is proving that he really can be a young man with some responsibility and hard work, my next is learning how to read and my youngest is dreaming of being a princess. 

The past month has found us putting our gardens to bed for the winter, pulling out our winter wear, getting much school done and enjoying our church and homeschooling families. Best of all our six year old son asked Jesus to be His very own Saviour and there's nothing that beat that in this mother's heart!

School has brought me joy I've been missing with my littlest ones. The four of us have our special time of learning and we're having alot of fun reading through the Little House on the Prairie books and using the Primer with it. I love school when it involves all of our senses!

Our schedule since opening up Mainely Grains has been tweaked and is working very well. For the next few months we are also adding wreath making to our activities. The children will be selling their handiwork.

We are safe, we are warm, we have all that we need and so much more, my husband loves me and we rest in the hands of the Heavenly Father who gave us His very own Son.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!!

Annette

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I realized last week that I have not spent much time at all playing with my children this entire summer. That just broke my heart. I've been so intent on sticking with the schedule, getting everything done and forgetting to ENJOY the very ones I love the most.  :(

So we have put the school books away, got out of most of our obligations for the week, set up easy meals, and made a list of all the fun things we'd like to do.

So far we've gone swimming three times at a neighbors, cashed in prize certificates to the local used bookstore, gone on hikes, went apple picking, picinic lunches, a church picinic and concert, movie times, one son used a gift card he got a year ago to McDonalds and bought us all sundaes, we got pizza out night, Roy and I have had a couple of dates, played Apples to Apples and had a craft afternoon. Of course each one has done their own things too (bike riding, k-nex and lego building, reading... lots of reading, painting.

A compliment on my children has added to the blessings we've been enjoying so far on this vacation. The Lord has granted us wonderful weather too. Boy I sure have missed out with my "busyness" these last several months and I've been reminded once more that our children are terrific!!!!!!

Oh to always have balance. I really need to ask the Lord to help me with that as we continue to grow our business, prepare our oldest for highschool graduation along with schooling the others and the other responsibilities and activities that we are involved with.

The Lord is good, I'm so blessed and it's been terrific to be reminded of that!!!

Annette

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What a blessing to have my children home as we bring in the harvest, all participate in one way or another with the canning, freezing, drying, etc.

The opportunity to work on a business together, discover and learn together.

We school all year yet I've been thinking alot recently of just why we do homeschool especially as we plan out our homeschool group's activities for the year. It would be so very easy to look at the immediate in regards to schooling. "Get them through the next grade, bring them to the next event, get them to pass that test, etc."

That is NOT what our schooling is about. It is my earnest prayer that we always keep eternity in mind when we plan and execute our children's education. That we do whatever we can and should to help mold them into follower's of Christ. People who can stand under trials and temptation, who have compassion for others and a desire to serve, folks who can boldly and confidentally share the gospel with a dying world.

There are temptations everywhere.. even in the christian homeschooling community to mold our education after the state's example, to live up to their standards, to be involved in every outside activity available and so on. As christian homeschooling parents it seems to be in our best interest to seek the Lord in EVERY step, every choice, every activity that we are going that we might live up to HIS standards.

Annette

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This has been a very strange summer weatherwise. Seems like we just got over a very long winter and it's been raining some every day since. Makes me sleepy.

We're thankful though for the garden is loving the rain, it's not too hot and we're able to get much done.

Our decluttering is finally paying off!!! Or at least it feels like it's FINALLY paying off. We were able to really switch a large room we've always called the workshop with what used to be a garage that we have had closed in for the NEW workshop. Things are coming along in this 1860 house and we thank the Lord for all of it.

My oldest daughter returned home this past weekend after a month of ministry with CEF and with them a two week trip to New York City. What fun to hear all of her stories and see the 600 pictures she took.

The boys are becoming real assets to the community in helping with haying, building and general handyman stuff. I too am so glad to have them around.

Blessings keep coming with Mainely Grains ... our business. I'm learning lots and have great times with the older children working with me.

The Lord is good!

Annette

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We as a family are working hard and are excited about the Lord will do with this new venture that we believe HE has led us to.  We are taking baby steps so as not to overwhelm ourselves and so that we can learn the business of running a business and we are already seeing the Lord bless. He is so very good to us.

I can't imagine why anyone would think that being a christian is boring. Our adventure with the Lord has been and continues to be a very exciting and educational one. We are learning so much.

Whatever our hands and hearts find to do we must do it all for HIM and HE gives us so much more. It's just amazing.

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I was reminded last night that as people we truly are so frail and unwise. We really can't even find our own way but ahhhhhh the Lord is so very good. He promises to show us the way, to make the path clear. We have certainly experienced that over the last couple of months as we have been working on getting our business set up. The temptation to fret about things... like inspection and getting squared away with taxes and such but the Lod granted peace and favor. There is nothing like knowing that wherever the Lord leads HE will provide, making the way accessible.

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Well we've still got several feet of snow on the ground and just today enjoyed another snowstorm which left a few inches. We are so looking forward to Spring and getting outdoors to work.

As a family we will soon be embarking on a new venture with a small home business. The decluttering has been tremendous and has carried over into our outerrooms.. one of which will be our place of business. Lots of remodeling in that particular room too.

I am so grateful for my family. I love doing things with them and this venture will be one more opportunity for us to all grow closer and stronger together as well as develope business skills.

The Lord is so very good.

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We've made great progress in our decluttering. The nine rooms and hallways are freed!!! So many blessings have come from all of it. The house is easier to clean, folks know where things go most of the time and we're all happier. I still have some training to do on making sure we put things where they go and we pick up right after we are finished with something but we are well on our way to a home that is easier to manage.

The outer rooms (there are five of them) are next on the agenda. These rooms are unheated and have little lighting so we need to work on them when it's not too cold and during the daylight hours. We are awaiting a dumpster which will be a huge blessing as there is much to get rid of. We are looking to turn one of the rooms into a business which Roy has been working very hard in and made huge progress. It will be tremendous to not have to do all of this when the weather allows us to be outdoors more. Since we moved here we thought it would be best to clean out those rooms in the spring but there is so much to do outside in the Spring with all the gardens and such that this will be better.

Yesterday I had two teeth surgically removed. I'm a bit sore but so thankful that the Lord worked out all of the details (I would have otherwise had to wait until September) to have it done yesterday.

My children have once again proved how terrific they are. I came from the surgery with the couch ready for me. They loved on me all day. I'm so spoiled! :)

I've been reminded over the past several days that I am not to take the everyday blessings for granted. The breath I take, the protection from the blizzards, the food. Oh so much. The Lord is so very good!

Annette

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