|
The smell of spring is intoxicating. As we walked to the neighborhood deli today, we were all breathing deep and walking slow to take in all the beauty that was budding around us. My son decided to treat us all to a cookie today at our favorite, neighbor-owned and -operated deli. Everything there is made fresh and is extremely delicious, plus we get to chat with our neighbors. The cookie hit the spot, and so did my son’s generosity. I’m sure that the three of us are quite a sight in public. How many thirteen year old girls and ten year old boys do you see holding hands with their momma because they want to? Makes my heart warm to know that they choose to love on me in public despite whether or not it is cool. |
|
For those of you just waiting on pins and needles to find out if I ever learned to make butter properly, I did! I was so confused that evening since I have successfully made butter in the past. My problem was actually the "cream," not the process. I get my milk and cream from a local farmer, nice and raw. This particular batch of cream was not as creamy. I had put aside a glass of the cream to make creme fraiche after the butter. As a last resort, I tried it and it worked. It truly was the creamiest portion of my jar of cream. The butter tastes so good we all are looking for things to spread it on. And the buttermilk, for those of you out there that love the taste of buttermilk, tastes much better than store bought. So I tried to save the original "cream" I used by making creme fraiche out of it. It is the runniest cream fraiche ever. I think I 'll have to make mac 'n cheese out of it. So for you adventurous type, here is how I made butter: I set the cream out on the counter until it was around 60 degrees. Then I poured it in my Kitchen Aid mixer using the paddle, not the whisk, and beat it on medium. It takes about 15 minutes and then the sound changes from liquidy to chunky. I let it go a bit more until it really came together, then poured the liquid (buttermilk) through a cheesecloth into a glass jar. Then I took a wooden spoon and continued to smoosh or knead the butter to release more liquid, pouring that liquid through the cheesecloth. I then put the delicious butter in a little crock and immediately had a taste. It is so extremely yummy. Tip: If you do use store-bought cream to make butter, try to find a brand that is not ultra-pasteurized. It will work better, and taste better. |
|
I want you all to welcome a new blogger. She is full of great wisdom. I should know. I count her as a dear friend of mine. I look forward to hearing her voice in blogland. Give her a great welcome. amanda |
|
Recently a friend made the statement when comparing her life with others that ‘we are so blessed.’ While I understand that we are to be grateful for the blessings in our lives, this statement inferred that the people she was comparing our lives to were not blessed. And this bothered me a great deal. I have heard this statement before and was just as jarred by it then. So began my journey searching for God’s meaning of blessing. A pervasive thought in the U.S., especially the middle-class to wealthy, is that those who are blessed have happy childhoods, good relationships, and little conflict in life. I challenge this mindset, believing it to be a lie. Perhaps the wrong thinking is in the definition of a blessing. Does it come from our material and physical lives? Is it tangible and measurable by good “things” that happen to us? Perhaps the word fortunate should be substituted for blessing here. From my experience with blessings, they are based on Christ’s presence rather than good “things.” I am extremely blessed by watching Christ transform people, individuals, into His image. I share this blessing with them as He also transforms me. I can give because I have been so greatly blessed. He has transformed my heart so greatly that all I want is more of Him, and I want to share this with others. The first verse in the Bible that refers to a blessing is God speaking to His Creation. Genesis 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. God then goes on to speak to Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis also tells Abram that He will bless Abram and Abram in turn would be a blessing. Then God also promises the blessing and multiplying of Abraham’s seed “as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.” As a Christian looking from a spiritual perspective, blessings are given to us to be shared. Our sharing of blessings allows Christ to be multiplied “as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.” I am sure that my almighty King would multiply Himself with or without our help, but He chooses to use His children in this way. So I choose not to look at where people are at in their lives, how prosperous they are, how great their relationships are, how perfectly their children behave, how good their upbringing was, how nice their possessions are, but instead I look into their hearts. Despite what has happened in their lives, what is happening in their hearts right now? How can I encourage the blessing that is growing within them? Some of the most richly blessed people I know have messed up lives by the world’s standards. God is meeting them where they are at this moment in their lives. He is not removing the ugliness in their lives, but turning the ugliness into beauty. The blessing is the transformation, and, in turn, others are blessed by the sharing of this transformation. Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Strong’s Concordance defines the Hebrew word bless as to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit). I kneel before God in adoration. He blessed me first. Psalm 34:1 ... I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Additional note: Check out my friend's response: Blessed |
|
Yolanda is doing very well. For those of you new to my friend, Yolanda, I blogged about her quite a bit in Oct & Nov of last year. I talked to her today. She is in the county jail awaiting the resolution of a charge against her. Then she will be going to a year long inpatient drug recovery program through the penal system. I rejoice for her. She has been attending Bible studies at the jail and keeps repeating Scripture back to me when we talk. She says she gave her life to the Lord "again," so I just pray that she has a solid understanding of what that means. We talk about it some, but God knows the true condition of her heart. She is giving me examples of God providing for her needs there in jail, and His Presence is giving her peace as she deals with difficult situations. She also has some health issues which are due to lack of proper nutrition from life on the streets. She is anemic and has a goiter. They may do surgery on the goiter because the mass is hard which gives concern for cancer issues. She wants all this done before she leaves for the recovery program. Each time we talk (she's been calling for a few weeks now), I hear her more at peace. I am so happy that she is in a place where the drugs cannot control her. She wants to be free and whole. As we talk, I learn more about her childhood, her family, her choices. Here is a girl that was left unprotected from predators as a child, without her mother (also a drug user), without love devoid of "conditions," without someone in her life to encourage her, to teach her, to show her the right path. And the God who created the universe cared so much for her that He laid her on my heart, and how many others that I don't even know. I am so grateful for our relationship. God has given me so much love for her. She told me that I am one of the few people in her life that doesn't expect something in return for her "love." I learned this from Someone who did the same for me. He is the greatest teacher I know. |
|
Today was an absolutely beautiful day. The neighborhood kids (all 3 of them) came over this morning. They are on spring break. My husband took them and our son to a park with a bike trail where they road all morning. They got muddy, sweated, and even crossed a river. The oldest boy of the group said with a somewhat thrilled look on his face, "I've never crossed a river before." The had lunch at Burger King and came home happy as boys can be. Later that afternoon, the boys were back. They all like WWF wrestling and want to wrestle each other all the time, so my husband has been teaching them that it is not real. He's been showing them how to wrestle without even touching each other. They have to work together to make it look good, and they're getting pretty good at it. So this afternoon, my son finished a school project on the porch while the boys practiced their wrestling moves. Everyone was smiling. I am so thankful that our home has become the haven for the boys. The parents of two of the boys have never met us, yet they let the boys go places with us, and hang out at our house. Sometimes I think my husband gives them more one on one time than their own parents. I just praise God that He led us here and made us available to build relationships here. I am certain that these relationships will have an impact on each of these boys at some point in their lives. I once again thank the Lord for moving us here. |
|
My hubbie just said to my daughter, "You're mama's like the sun, and I'm like a piece of chocolate." |
|
If you successfully make butter, please share with me how! I am trying, and it is very hit or miss as to success. How long should it take? Food processor or stand mixer? Speed of mixer? Temperature of the cream?
|
|
I have entered the world of RSS feeds and it has simplified my blogging. I am now actually able to keep up with my friends (well, those with their RSS feeds enabled). Please enable your RSS feed! Here's how. I want to thank Acceptance with Joy for allowing me to copy the following instructions, and for sharing with me about RSS feeds:
For those of you interested in making blogging easier, you can subscribe to Bloglines and add your favorite blog RSS feeds. It shows you when friends have posted on their blogs. You no longer have to check individually to see if a friend has posted a new entry. You can add new feeds, blog feeds from other sites, etc. The setup on Bloglines is very easy. And for those of you with Outlook 2007, you can have your RSS feeds updated directly on Outlook. For more info on RSS feeds, check this out. So please, to help me keep in touch with you, enable your RSS feed. Thanks! |
|
Today the kitchen has been humming. We made a couple loaves of rye bread. The fun part of that is using our new grain grinder. And I'm cooking corned beef. Reuben sandwiches are in our future. What's fermenting in my kitchen, you ask? Well, today we have ketchup, kimchi, and gingered carrots. The ketchup goes in the frig today, and the other two sit on the counter for three more days before they are refrigerated. We also have eight fresh jars of cucumbers in the frig fermenting (they aren't pickles yet). Costco now carries the perfect sized cucumbers to make pickles. With my food processor, whey, and wide-mouth jars, canning has never been so easy. Tomorrow our family is serving our favorite ladies Corned Beef, Cabbage & Potatoes, rye bread, and a delicious lime jello salad with cucumbers and cottage cheese mixed in. Another person is bringing a mystery dessert. Sounds delicious. Tonight for dinner, frozen pizza! |
Posted in Balance
|
Why has it been so difficult to blog lately? I can say it is my lingering cold, our computer trouble, fill-in-the-blank excuse, but really I have been avoiding it. Have I run out of things to say? Do I think my voice here is empty? Why did I ever begin blogging? It seemed that I enjoyed writing and expressing my views, but I also enjoyed the interaction with other bloggers. I am an introvert, so enjoy noninvassive relationships. I can communicate when I feel like communicating. Another reason to blog was to share what was going on in our lives with family and friends. They could easily check out the blog to see what was going on, see pictures, etc., but I have found that my family and friends do not read my blog. They would prefer hearing it on the phone or in person. I really don't want my blogging to be vanity. I would truly love for my voice to make an impact in someone's life. I must blog for personal enjoyment of writing, saying what is on my mind, without a care as to who reads my entries, or who posts a comment, and just pray that it is not in vain, that God will use my words for His glory. I am also a deep thinker, looking for deeper meaning in every aspect of life. Is this just another place that I am searching for the meaning of my actions? Has anyone else had this struggle? Why do you blog? |
Posted in Balance
|
Today, I am so thankful for a flexible schedule, and yesterday, and the day before that… Our last three weeks, going on four, have been challenging. The first week I was completely prepared. Our computer went in the shop and I had the school schedule ready to go for the week, and most of the next week. Everything ran smoothly as we checked email at the library and easily worked through our school week. Week two came around with no computer. Okay, we got the work done with just a bit more effort. Then week three came. We finally had the computer back, but my husband needed to finish several projects with deadlines using the computer, so we decided to take a week off from school and catch up on some painting and decluttering that is not possible during a school week. And I also caught a cold. My daughter painted. My son read. I can’t remember what I got done, but I know I did something. This week, still no school. Did I mention that I use a computer program to schedule and record our school year? Although I was able to reinstall the software, I was not able to retrieve the backup files off the CD. We lost the whole year’s records, not to mention all that was planned for the remainder of the year. But remember, I am so thankful for this flexible schedule. I am still not well and am able to rest while my family pampers me. I am able to change our school schedule so that we can complete all we need to accomplish for the year. God even gave me peace about losing all my records on the computer. I have them on paper in case the law comes knockin’. So what makes a flexible schedule? Allowing God to have control of my time. Because I trust that God will accomplish all that He has planned for this family, I don’t have to get stressed out when my planning gets put aside. Jas 4:14-15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. There is a balance to flexibility. I must plan our schedule to have order rather than chaos each day. As a child of God, I must seek His plan first to be able to plan for my family, and when events change, I must be diligent to continue to seek His plan so His priorities remain my priorities. Thank You, Lord, for teaching me that flexibility is good, and that Your plan is perfect. |
|
I am still communicating via the library internet. Our computer has a virus that our virus software did not detect and our PC guys cannot pinpoint. It is new. I'm not sure where it originated, whether it be by email. We are very cautious with what we allow or open from the internet, and were still hit. No one is safe. |
|
I am thankful for our local library. Our computer is being upgraded, and it is so nice to be able to check email and blog while the computer is away. Yesterday my husband and I were also discussing all the hundreds of dollars the library has saved us as a homeschooling family. We get almost all our books from the library. Having access to the library online has saved us so much time. We can order the books we need a couple weeks in advance and the library pulls them from different branches for us to pick up at our branch. It even shares books with other library systems, such as a couple Christian colleges in the area. There has been very little that we have not been able to obtain through interlibrary loans.
|
|
Thanks to mom2chris for the new title.
| ||
