It's Been Ever So Long Since I Last Posted...

Wow!

It's hard to imagine I haven't posted since spring! So much has happened since March.

I learned how to start my own seedlings and got wonderful tomato plants, broccoli and brussel sprouts. I think if my tomato plants lived through the blight that crept through the northeast, I would have had gobs of tomatoes. They managed to grow beautifully tall and a lovely shade of green, until the sickly brown color took over and they did not survive...not one out of 33 plants! Oh well, maybe another year. I have to do some tomato blight research...I'm not sure if you can replant the next year without treating the soil. So much to learn about gardening-and I do not think one ever stops learning new things about tending the garden.

AND...I am STILL decluttering. Just today I tore my living room apart-for the umpteenth time! Each time I do it I thoroughly clean and decide what to give away and throw away-at least 15 items each. It's amazing what gets left out or stashed somewhere it does not belong. So there is also a 'put away' basket. Will it ever end? I have been on this simplifying path for what seems like eons...but I guess it's only since last spring. I just cannot fathom how I accumulated all this stuff! I am ashamed. But I will continue my quest for simplicity and one day I will have it conquered.

We are still learning what it means to walk the Lord's "Narrow Path". The journey so far is one full of discovery and it has been so enriching! We have met so many kind and wonderful people who truly heed the call to 'follow Jesus'. The call to come out of the world, once heard, is vastly life-altering (as it should be) and we will never be the same.

And so I am learning to live what some call the "Doctrine of Non-Accumulation". Now, it's funny, before I ever knew it had a 'name'...I was led to live it. Sometimes I slip...like last Wednesday when I went with my friend Linda to a Salvation Army store...and bought the most shabby chic tea cups and a creamer and sugar bowl with an old-fashioned design on them. For some reason, I have a hard time resisting dishes...I'll have to get that in check! But I made myself get rid of some things in their place. I am determined to not bring a new thing in without purging an old thing out in its place. Still, this can be defeating my purpose and I do not do this often anymore.

Speaking of all my teacups, some day I hope to be able to have hospitality again. Oh, I do miss hospitality. I love blessing people, and it's so nice to have them over and dote on them and show God's love to them. Yes, I miss that very much!

With Thanksgiving coming, I've been trying to think of ways to be a blessing. A 'Secret Blesser'. Not letting my right hand know what my left is doing. I once knew a woman who put together bags which held all that was needed for entire Thanksgiving meals and gave them away to people she knew or heard that needed them. Once upon a time, a long time ago, we were recipients of one of her Thanksgiving bag deliveries. What a blessing that was! Love in action. That is the Kingdom of God!

One more thing I'll add before I finish this post. I am very excited about a new site I will be launching soon. It's called "Simple Acts of Love" and can be found here . I haven't put anything up on it yet, but I will soon and I'll come over here and let you know when it's ready and add a link for it on the sidebar. It will be a site that has ideas and little tutorials and such on ways to show simple acts of love to friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers as we know it is possible to entertain angels unawares! My goal is to keep it simple and easy for the most part. There will be some in depth projects too. We'll see as it goes how it all plays out.

When I get a chance tomorrow, I'll take a picture of my new shabby teacups and saucers and my little creamer and sugar bowl and maybe post a photo or two of a display I've set up while preparing this place for Thanksgiving. I'm not going overboard, but bringing in some things from outside to display God's Handiwork. God's creation is so beautiful and awesome-I encourage you to take the time to enjoy it and ponder His love for us.

Try to Keep It Simple. Just enjoy the Lord's creation as you prepare the Home-Sweet Things to show hospitality to your loved ones.xo

Spring and Other Thoughts

Spring has always been such a joyous time for me. As I'm sure it has for many. Winter is pretty, at first, but it's all so long and this year was especially gray, wet, icy and cold. I, for one, am so very glad it's over!!

Yes, I know that we have April Showers coming soon...but they bring May Flowers and that is so very wonderful in my book.



I've been doing my research this winter, reading and asking questions. I'm trying to learn the ins and outs of starting my own seeds so I don't have to buy the plants from a greenhouse. I want to be able to take that little sprout from start to finish.



I've been asking my sister-in-law alot of questions and started writing down some of her answers. She's been feeding her family with her own produce for 25 years and has always has so much success. That's the kind of person I want to inspire me. The successful kind.



Well, Lisa Vitello over at New Harvest Homestead was looking for someone to send little articles on seed-starting for the March/April 2009 newsletter. I got brave and asked if I could send one on Seed-Starting for Beginners. I thought I would interview my sister-in-law Arlene and get the whole process down on paper, then share it with Lisa's subscribers. The issue is out and you can get your copy from her at the link above. I enjoy the newsletter, it's got lots of neat advice and recipes and stories. Anyone who has the heart to homestead, no matter how much land you have, would be blessed by this publication.

Tomorrow I am hoping to start some of my seeds. I've got to get my containers together and my other tools. I've got my seeds, my soil, the want-to, and I think, the know-how! With my new-found knowledge...I will be able to finally grow my own plants from my own seeds! I'll keep you posted as time goes on and let you know how it's all progressing.

We went on another wonderful weekend to Lancaster this past weekend. It is a special place for us. We also got to visit the kind folks at Charity once again and were blessed to make some more friends. We always come home in the presence of the Lord after fellowshiping there.

I'll post the photos in the morning, I only got a couple this time because we were so busy and my passenger-side window won't go down right now. But we'll be going again and by then the beautiful gardens should be growing and I will be sure to photograph the lovely gardens.

This post will come up before spring... as it's only 11:46 here in NY...but tomorrow it will officially be spring and well, forgive me if I'm a bit early.

Never forget to praise God through the winter as He will always send you spring in His time. Praise Him!




The Home-Sweet Things are ready to begin another season of rebirth and renewal-I wonder what's in store for this new season upon us? Bless His Holy Name. x0

Warm Crock-Pot Tapioca Recipe For a Cold Winter's Day

There's nothing like a cupful of warm homemade tapioca on a chilly winter's day! It warms the bones and the tummy! Total comfort food for those who love the Home-Sweet Ways! And while it's simmering in the crock-pot, you have time to do other things to bless your home.

Here's the recipe...serves 6-and you have to soak the tapioca overnight-so plan ahead!!

1 Cup large pearl tapioca (not instant)

I used the large pearl tapioca this time, but it works for any size pearl.

4 Cups cold water (or enough to cover tapioca for soaking)

5 Cups milk (I use 2%)

1 Cup evaporated milk

3 egg yolks

2/3 Cups sugar

1-2 teaspoons lemon zest or zest of one lemon

pinch salt (opt.)

1. Place tapioca in bowl, cover with water, cover, let stand overnight.

2. Drain water from tapioca.

3. Place tapioca in crock of slow cooker.

4. Add milk, evaporated milk, and salt.

5. Cook on high for approx. 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

6. In small bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar.

7. Temper small amounts of the tapioca into the egg/sugar mixture. I add 1/3 cup at a time until I have added 2 cups. Whisk constantly.

8. Add this mixture to the remaining tapioca in the crock pot.

9. Add lemon zest and stir to combine.

10. Cook for additional 15 minutes, stirring at least once.

11. Transfer to a large bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap to keep skim from forming.

12. Allow to cool to room temperature for at least 1 hour; then place in refrigerator until chilled. (Unless you like it warm!)

That's it! It is so easy and hits the spot on a wintry day!

Remember to always be thankful to God while you enjoy the Home-Sweet Things! x0

Teaching Good Things Giveaway!

This is really a great opportunity for the chance to win educational material!

Here's the scoop from Kathy's place...


Giveaway- Your choice of CDs

Vision Forum is allowing us to give away some really great gifts! One winner will be able to choose a gift from the albums below when the contest ends on February 27th.

Rules are simple: Leave a comment stating which set you would like to win and I’ll enter your name in the drawing once. Leave a comment AND post about the give away on your blog (including the link in your comment) and I’ll enter your name twice.

That’s it!

The contest will end at 10 p.m CST on Friday, February 27.

This Friday we will be giving away a CD set of your choice from:

*True Beauty: 8 inspiring CDs recorded at the 2008 Father and Daughter Retreat

*The 2008 Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy: an up-to-date look at the most important constitutional battles we face. This album includes 24 CDs.

*Let Freedom Ring: 13 CDs from the Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour

*Lights, Cameras, Action! Highlights from the 2009 Christian Filmmakers Academy

*History Has Been Made: Moments and Messages from the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival

To enter this drawing...GO HERE!!!

And while you're there, check out Kathy's other fun stuff too!!! They're totally geared toward the Home-Sweet Things!

Have a wonderful day! x0

What the Lord Hath Wrought OR My Amish House Tour

WARNING! THIS IS A LONG POST!!!

I didn't want to just post the photos here without giving the reason why I got them in the first place. They were the result of a "sending out" by God. The obedience to a command given to me by the Lord. What a blessing it has turned out to be for my family and I!

In the early spring of 2008 I was sitting in my dining room wondering how I was going to get out of the cluttery mess I was in. I was overwhelmed by the state my home was in. Once, I told a friend, "It is as if a Thing-Monster came into my house and vomited." Gross, I know, but that is how I felt.

So, there I was, talking to God about how I know He told me to simplify years ago and how I never really attempted it whole-heartedly. I was truly sorry-mostly because I was busted. I had come to the end of my rope and needed to bail out! I was one of those people who needed a day's warning before company came, and I would spend the entire day before dashing and stashing! I mentioned to God that I really needed a visual to attain to, something I could see to use as an example of what He thought was a simplified, bare-bones house.

I thought of how I had become sucked in to the superfluity of America. How, somehow, I began collecting so many things I no longer had room for them. I couldn't throw anything away, I felt I had to store it somewhere and began filling bins which ended up filling my basement and overflowing into my barn and then my garden shed.

My friends always teased that they were going to call "Clean Sweep" or some other TV show. This thought mortified me! To have everyone see my sin of gluttony...nationwide...the horror! Then I realized, who cares? God saw it all, the glut, the disobedience to Him and my lack of regard to a command He gave me-no matter how simple. Still, I knew He cared for me and in His love wanted to deliver me from this!

Simplify. One word from Him:simplify.

The Father keeps it simple for me. One word commands. No complications that way. No need to try to figure out exactly what He means.

So, I asked for a visual. I sat and wondered what He would show me. I sat in my dining room that day, waiting. Then, plain as day, the word "Amish" came to my mind. I had no reason to be thinking about Amish people. I had only been to Lancaster County, PA once, years ago, when I went on a couple's retreat with my husband. There was the conference and some sight-seeing, but no deep-down "Amish Experience"...and then we went home and forgot about it.

"Amish".

That's what I heard.

I immediately went online and searched 'youtube' for some kind of video about Amish people. I searched online for anything Amish that would show me some kind of example of Amish housekeeping. I got nothing. I could not find any photos of Amish rooms to use as my visual.

I let it go for the time being.

I don't think two hours went by. The phone rang. It was my friend Linda. She told me she and another woman were heading for Lancaster County, PA for a couple of days and would I like to go.

"ARE YOU KIDDING????????", I shouted!!!

This was my answer to prayer! My husband agreed to let me go and I was off on my "Amish Adventure"!!

I told the girls before I left that it was time for me to: sell all I have, give to the poor, and follow the Lord. I told them what had transpired earlier in the week. I told them that I was going to see if there was an Amish house tour anywhere down there and that if it was possible to take photos (knowing how they are about photos), and use them as my visual for my own home.

Well, long story short, I was so blessed on this trip! Not only did I find an Amish house tour before I left for home, I was able to attend Charity Christian Fellowship and their guest speaker, Jerry Mawhorr spoke on the very thing I knew God told me before I left for the trip!

Click here to listen to his message if you'd like.



After the wonderful experience at Charity (their online ministry had blessed me so much!)-and now to actually meet some of the people who had unknowingly blessed me and my family! It was a day I will never forget! (One day I'll share the story of my first trip to Charity-it is a joyous testimony of their kindness to visitors.)

Not only did I get to take my house tour, the guide told me I could lag behind the group, take as long as I wanted and as many photos as I liked. I was so very, very happy!

What you are about to see, was ordained by God in my life. It has been a blessing to me and a day I will always remember. The Lord said in Proverbs 29:18a, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." I was sent by the Lord to get my vision to bless my home, and I am still pressing on until I receive the reward of my simplified house and simplified life-no clutter to hold me back from what He has for me!

Here are some of the photos I took on the Amish House Tour:




This is the laundry room.






This was said to be a "Daughter's Room".







Another bedroom, with pretty light purple walls. The man said it was not a traditional color.







A Boy's Room. The walls were paler, my photo shop enhanced the blue color a bit. Ice hockey and baseball are favorite pasttimes!





There was this coffin in a room upstairs. He said it was in there to show it and he explained how Amish funerals were conducted. Morbid, but I guess some people would want to know.






Another bedroom. This one was downstairs. Notice the stuff on the dresser-that basket was an original diaper bag!






This was the sitting room. This is where the family would gather in the evening under the light of the lamp (which was very bright by the way) and play games or quilt or visit or read the German Bible.

And last, but not least, my favorite room in the house...








The sun room at the back of the kitchen was very inviting and the treadle machine was in a good spot by the windows-lots of sunlight to sew by.

So there you have it. Bare bones clean. Nothing in there to trip over, no excess, no superfluity. Simple. It was neater than I imagined. Nothing in there that didn't have a use. And that is my "Amish Revelation" from the Lord.

I still have a long way to go!! But I'm making progress! This trip and tour has led to a long and educational study about the Amish, their beliefs and lifestyle. We have been blessed in many ways by the Lord because of this. But that is for another post, another day.

Thanks for sharing my tour with me, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

God Bless you as you aspire to your own Home-Sweet 'Vision' from the Lord!
X0

Here it is...December...

and it's been so long since I've been able to sit and put a post up.

I'm still at my task of decluttering. I had a series of yard sales this fall and finally ended up giving it all away at the end. I just wanted to be rid of it all and did not want to pack it all up and carry it all back home. It was quite freeing really. Believe it or not, I cannot remember any of the items, nor do I miss them. I felt as if a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders. Praise God!

I am going to try to get my basement cleaned out somewhat this winter. I have so many things I used to use for doll-making and artwork and don't even bother with any of it. So, I am going to go through it all and figure out what I will sell online.

I have been busy with needlework, counted cross-stitch, knitting and I want to make some winter hats for Lydia.

I am also ready to cut out a cover/carrier for my Bible. Maybe soon I'll post the makings of it. I've never made one before so you can all share in my mistakes and triumphs. My Bible is falling apart so terribly! The maps and part of the concordance are out, but I still have them. I have wanted to make a carrier for a while now so I can keep it all together easier. I hope it doesn't prove to be too frustrating...it has two zippers! I do not like zippers!!!

I was able to visit family in Illinois recently. I met the couple who are living in my building-well, actually, I've decided to give the building over to the Lord. He can figure out what to do with it now. That is also another burden lifted. The man living in one of the apartments is doing some handy work for me, which is good, seeing as how it really needs a lot of work! I was able to meet the Pastor of the Assembly of God church who orchestrated along with my Mom and brother-in-law Ray the roof over this homeless couple's head. God is good!

Dave says he would like to go to Illinois after the 24th. We shall see...weather permitting and of course...if the Lord wills.

Also...just a little FYI here...we have decided not to celebrate Christmas. We have strong convictions about mixing the Lord's name with the pagan god 'saturn'...I know...we don't worship 'saturn'...but after reading Jeremiah 10:1-5...and studying the winter solstice and 'saturnalia'...we have decided we just could not justify it anymore...anyhow. It will seem strange not to decorate...because I was a fiend about it...so fun!!! But I cannot do it now. We will still spend time with family because we love our family, but we will not partake in any of the festivities.

That said, though, I opened my December copy of Martha Stewart magazine...and found the snowflake section and just enjoyed it so much! Lydia and I decided that since God made snowflakes, each one quite unlike the other, we would decorate the place up a bit with snowflake scherenschnitte!! We had a fun time cutting out snowflakes and we will hang them up tomorrow. I'll try to get a photo. We want to see if I have any doilies to stiffen or maybe make the doily/snowflake and light wreath.

Alright...I think we're caught up for now. I'll have to see if I can find any photos for this post to liven it up a bit.

Thank God for the Home-Sweet Things. Keep those who are suffering hard times in your prayers, but more than that...extend your hand to the poor. Bake bread, take them soup, tea, sugar, staples...anything from your own pantry. God is good and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Goodnight Dear Ones!

Sheer Heaven...

What a beautiful day it was outside today! Even though I spent most of the day inside getting ready for tomorrow's Bible study, I got to enjoy little pieces of it while hanging clothes, etc. on the line. In order to save money on propane, Dave made me this new clothes line. I am able to hang 3-5 loads of laundry on it at a time. It really comes in handy when I am gung-ho on laundry day!

Today I washed a box of sheer curtains I bought at an estate sale last month. I tried to get out of there without too much. I bought a couple of chenille bedspreads-which really bring back memories of Grandma's farm. The box of curtains. A "Last Supper" paint by numbers...big mural. I was pleased with my purchases, but didn't really need any of it. I almost sold them at my yard sales, but didn't.



I couldn't resist taking pictures of the lines of sheer curtains hanging out to dry. In a perfect world they wouldn't have wrinkled in the washer. But, alas, my world is not perfect. If I was a real stickler...I'd take them down tomorrow, iron them, stick them back on and take new pictures with them nice and unwrinkled. But I'm not going to worry about it. Wrinkles happen. Still, there's something a lineful of sheers does to me. My Grandma's always had sheers. I can remember being mesmorized by the sheers blowing in the windows on a breezy day or during a storm. Those memories are dear to me.



There is a neat set with blue flowers I think I'll hang in my dining room. Two sets of sheers and valances. Then there's the red dot ones. How fun. Lydia has claimed them for her room. I think they're my favorite! There are others I'm not sure I'll keep-too much orange in them for me-definitely 70's. I'm going for a softer, plainer, brighter look. I think for now-I'll try the blue flower ones. If I don't like them, I have two each of some long white on white sheers that will be just as pretty and much plainer.



I'll probably iron them on Saturday. I love ironing. I love starching and ironing.

Praise God for the wrinkles and praise Him when He irons them out!! Praise God for the blessings of the home-sweet things!

x0

The Old Paths...

It doesn't seem possible I haven't been on here since the end of August. But it's true! So many things have been happening to me in the Lord this year I cannot put it all in one post.

I will tell you a couple of things that have happened.

Earlier this year, I was led to read Jeremiah 6:16. I'm not sure if I blogged about it or not, so if I'm repeating myself-forgive me.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls."

The Lord got through. The ways I was walking in were not pleasing to Him. I had made a start of it, but somehow got off "The Old Paths and The Good Way". I embarked on the "Narrow Path and Difficult Way" Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7 but went off on a side trail that "seemed" right to me. And I walked on it for years. We know where the "Seemeth Right Path" leads...death! My soul was not resting!!!

God, in His abundant mercy did not leave me in that state. He opened my eyes and is still showing me areas to sweep out and clean up. It's about walking His way.

Also, the Lord has led me to a better understanding of what "ekklesia" means. It is what He desires for His people. We are "the called out ones". What does that mean? Well, for a true believer it means there can no longer be a walk that holds hands with the kingdom of this world. It means that we are called out of this earthly kingdom to walk as He walked. And so much more.

When God says His people are to be "in" this world but not "of" it-He means it. Therefore, to mix the world into our faith in any capacity is wrong. The Israelites were warned of it and did it and it turned out very bad every time. You cannot mix the two kingdoms-when you do-God is not in it-at all. A long time ago He gave me a song about it called "Both Feet In". It describes the choices we make...it's all or nothing...either way-but you can't have it both ways. This is God's heart on the matter. You choose Him or you don't. No mixture. No blend.

Anyhow...I have since come to the conviction that if we are called out of the world-it should be clearly evident. To say we are believers and partake of the things of the world is totally wrong. To say we are believers and dress like, act like, listen to the media and the songs, read the same books...all of this is a mockery to the Lord. He does not mix Himself with this. With this understanding, it has become evident to me to begin dressing modestly and also after reading 1 Corinthians 11 and praying and listening to teachings on it...I have come to the understanding on the "veiling" or head covering.

No, I have not converted to Mormonism. I attend a non-denominational church that doesn't teach veiling. It's just understanding God's Word at face value, in simplicity, as a child. Honoring His headship, His way, without a lot of spin. It's an outward symbol of the authority God has set up for His people. Like baptism is a symbol of our death to ourselves and this world and our resurrection in Christ, so veiling is a symbol of our acknowledgement of God's established authority.

Feminists hate it. What??? Man is the head of woman??? What??? The old me wrestled with it...for years...and the old me was wrong.

I relinquished it all to Him. The One who shed His Precious Blood to redeem me. Who am I to tell Him how to run His Kingdom? I will say as Job..."Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

So, some much-needed changes have occurred over this past year. Some were hard and I'm still learning. Modest dress and covering my head daily. No make-up or dyeing my hair anymore. Not because it's a law, but because God has led me there. Not because I have to, but because I want to Him to increase and I must decrease. I want to be Christ-centered, not self-centered. I want to esteem others higher than myself-not have great self-esteem. Totally opposite ends of the spectrum. Bottom line...it's not about me...it's about Jesus working in my heart...and changing it.

How blessed we are to be able to say that because of the Lord's great love...we've been redeemed! Praise Him that we can walk upright to be able to glorify Him in the home-sweet things!

But Wait...There's More!!! Up Next: Learning to Let My Husband Lead:Yielding to God's Will:Doing All Things As Unto the Lord

Little Sunday Post

Proverbs 14:1-"Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her own hands."

Thoughts This Evening...

WAITING TO GROW
by Frank French

Little white snowdrop just waking up,
Violet, daisy, and sweet buttercup,
Think of the flowers that are under the snow,
Waiting to grow!

And think what a number of queer little seeds,
Of flowers and mosses, of ferns and of weeds,
Are under the leaves and under the snow,
Waiting to grow!

Think of the roots getting ready to sprout,
Reaching their slender brown fingers about,
Under the ice and the leaves and the snow,
Waiting to grow!

No seed is so small, or hidden so well,
That God cannot find it; and soon he will tell
His sun where to shine, and His rain where to go,
Making it grow!


Very soon it shall be spring! I was thinking today about planting peas, as I've done for years now. It seems strange that as I get older the seasons and times rush together, tumbling and rolling swiftly one into the other like a giant tumbleweed! Why, when time becomes such a precious and rare commodity, does it seem in such a hurry? Oh well, I'm sure it's a mystery no one has figured out yet, so I won't bother trying. The thing is to remember all our times are in His hands and to utilize each moment the best we can.

That is one thing I am trying to learn as I've gone out to work part time in this Vestment Factory. Time Management. Something I have never been great at. I am an awesome procrastinator-something which I really do not like about myself. So, this new schedule forces me to get things done now. Which is very good for me!

Back to planning the planting of the peas. Usually I plant them at the end of March or the beginning of April (which can almost be too late if it's already warm out!). So, now that it's on my mind to do, I must get the seeds from the farm store this week on my way home from work and get outside to make sure the roto-tiller is ready to go! Peas love the cool ground...but not too cool and definitely not too wet. This rots the seeds and you have to plant all over again. I don't have time to plant twice.

And is there really anything to planting with the moon? I'm not sure. A co-worker was telling me her Dad swore by it. I don't like going outside in the night and the dark. We have a great horned owl outside hooting all the time on the edge of the woods now. I think he knows we have a chihuahua and wants to eat him for dinner! We have eagles all over too! Tye would make a lovely little appetizer for some hungry owl or eagle babies!!!

Then there are the coyotes howling and running to and fro! No...I think I'll plant my peas in the daylight if it's all the same to the moon-planters. I'm a chicken!!!

I cannot wait for spring! There are so many things we want to do in our garden this year! That can be another post though. It's late and I need to get up early for work to sew and chat with the ladies and have my sweet Nettie come up to me and give me a hug during break and say, "Hey Mommie"-knowing her Mom is there. It's good for us-you know? Her and I. And eating lunch together three days a week is a good thing. And her telling me she's giving her two weeks notice at her second job because she asked for Sundays off to go to church and they said, "No". Can they do that? Anyway...we've come a long way. We really have. Thank you Lord!

Lord, help us to bring each day to You. Help us to not be time-wasters. Help us to be good stewards of every 24 hour day You give us. Amen

God Bless you as you learn the art of making each moment count toward your Home-Sweet Things! x0x0x0

(P.S. I am too sleepy to add pictures tonight...I'll try to add some tomorrow!-spoken by a true procrastinator!)

New Chapters

Life is full of beginnings and endings. We all know this. Some of us learn that life changes at a very young age. For others it flows along and all your changes seem to happen at once. I know my life has had many changes over the years. Some were wonderful while others were devastating. Yet, as I look back over my time on earth and the many changes I've endured, one area remains constant. God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ my Savior and their never-ending, unfailing love, protection and care for me.


Looking back is not really something Christians are encouraged to do. We are told not to forget where we've come from, but we are called to press on toward the prize. I think the only reason I look back from time to time is to remember how God kept me in every circumstance. Even when I wasn't aware He was keeping me.

My brother said something to me today that I thought was very interesting and very true-God is the God of today-the "I AM"...not the was or will be...He is "I AM"...where ever you are, when ever you are.

And so...now...I am in a "new chapter"...I feel as if I'm a traitor to my very cause here. Speaking of women loving their home-sweet lives, fulfilling our call to be keepers at home. I do believe that no matter our circumstances, we are called to be content; to love the Lord, love our husbands and children and neighbors. I believe in this with all my heart. Yet....

I got a part-time job.

There, it's out.

Yes, I work now on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Only part of the day. Lydia is taken care of and does her school work. And I am not at home for that time.

Why?

Well, it's a sewing job. You all know how much I enjoy sewing. I love to sew. I love to be creative in many areas. I believe God gave me this ability. It is a talent that I've used in the past to make extra money at home. Making dolls, girl's clothing, things for babies, tea towels...lots of things.



But Why?

OK...

Any of you who know me...know that my daughter Jynette moved out when she was 17. This was very sad and traumatic to Dave and I (our whole family really) because we just didn't feel that she was ready to be on her own.



Things were hard here at home with her. She was a rebel-no matter how hard we tried to do the right thing, it just didn't work. I'm sure we did plenty wrong...plenty.



Screaming and yelling and lots of arguing-none of that is the Lord's way.



At that time I did not know what God's Word said about being a wife and mother. I was still kicking against the goads, having a "form" of godliness but denying the power thereof. It's true...I was a Christian of the American form-feministic, dominionistic, materialistic and probably hedonistic as well. Sick-but true. Why did I think I was a Christian? Because I was not taught truth on this subject and I didn't know God's Word. I fit what I liked and ignored the parts I didn't.

But anyway...back to Jynette.



She moved out when she was 17...my baby...my flower...my first little girl. She moved into an apartment with two guys-thankfully neither of them had a relationship with her. My pride constantly asked what any of my friends from church would think! Those who knew us best...what would they be saying??? But mostly I was worried about my daughter.



A couple of years have passed and she's gone 'round the mountain a couple of times. So have I.

Things have mellowed between us. I am one of her heroes on her myspace page (now I am working at living up to that example a mother should be to her daughter)! On the first of August the lease is up on the apartment she is in now and she says she is planning on coming home.

Now back to the reason I got a job.

I'm certain now it has everything to do with Jynette. You see, she works there too. She told me about it and kept telling me I should really go over and try to get a sewing position. So, one day I filled out the application and went over.



Every day I am there-I see her and we take breaks together and eat lunch together. And she talks to me and I listen now. She asks my advice and I try to give her Godly counsel. She says she prays for her Dad and I and she wants to be Daddy's Girl again. Even now it brings tears to my eyes. God is using this time to bring healing and show Nettie that we can be Mom and Daughter and friends. I believe God is drawing her as well. She talks a lot about Him.

So, I got a job. I don't know how long I have it for. However long it takes to win my daughter's heart back toward home. Until the Spirit of God tells me "It is finished".

In the meantime, I've made a few nice lady friends. We talk about gardening and the lovely woman who is training me is a Christian and quilts. How cool is that? It's been a long time since I've worked an industrial single-needle sewing machine. But I got hired on-the-spot when I took my sewing test and the experience I'm getting is wonderful.

I got a job. I see my daughter three days a week (more if she comes to visit the house). I'm getting more sewing experience AND getting paid for it. Lydia is being taken care of when I'm not home. And even though I have less time at home, for some reason I seem to get more done in this shorter amount of time.



Everything changes. This too will pass. But in it and through it, I'm sure I will see God's unchanging hand and His continual steadfastness and His grace in returning a prodigal home where she belongs!



All Glory to Him!!! The Great "I AM"!!

Bless Your Holy Name Lord God, my Redeemer. Thank you that restoration and love are always Your will. Amen.

Remember to love your family and bless them in every way as Our Heavenly Father commands us to do-when we serve them, we serve Him. The Home-Sweet Things are a blessing from the Lord! x0x0

Plans...

Within my House
by Fay Inchfawn

First, there's the entrance, narrow,
and so small,
The hat-stand seems to fill the tiny hall;
That staircase, too, has such an awkward
bend,
The carpet rucks, and rises up on end!
Then, all the rooms are cramped and close
together;
And there's a musty smell in rainy weather.

Yes, and it makes the daily work go hard
To have the only tap across a yard.
These creaking doors, these draughts, this
battered paint,
Would try, I think, the temper of a saint,

How often had I railed against these
things,
With envies, and with bitter murmurings
For spacious rooms, and sunny garden
plots!
Until one day,
Washing the breakfast dishes, so I think,
I paused a moment in my work to pray;
And then and there
All life seemed suddenly made new and
fair;
For, like the Psalmist's dove among the
pots
(Those endless pots, that filled the tiny
sink!),
My spirit found her wings.

"Lord" (thus I prayed), "it matters not
at all
That my poor home is ill-arranged and
small:
I, not the house, am straitened; Lord,
'tis I!
Enlarge my foolish heart, that by-and-by
I may look up with such a radiant face
Thou shalt have glory even in this place.
And when I trip, or stumble unawares
In carrying water up these awkward stairs,
Then keep me sweet, and teach me day
by day
To tread with patience Thy appointed
way.
As for the house . . . . Lord, let it be
my part
To walk within it with a perfect heart."





The sun shone today and that just makes all the difference-doesn't it? I need the sun's rays as often as possible to make it through the long winter. The gray really gets to me after awhile. It is such a blessing to have the warmth and light streaming through the windows and brightening up the dark rooms. It gives me energy and zest!

I have decided to paint my dining room and kitchen a pale gray. The current color has served its purpose and now I need something a bit calmer. The light plays with this new color and looks gray at times and also a very nice light blue. I will still be accessorizing with the other colors I love: turquoise, red, bright pink, apple green and white (and really any other color that fits). I got the paint chip from a trip to Wal-mart-KILZ Casual Colors-called "City Gray". I took it the next day to Home Depot and had it matched and brought home a quart to try it out on the wall and to see if I liked it. Lydia picked it out of all the samples I brought home and I must say she picked a good one. I really like it. So, this weekend I will be painting my dining room. I know it's not the best color for an eating area...but it's the one we like. I'll share photos later.

I always intended to make a booklet up from a blank sketch pad with the paint and cloth samples for my different rooms so when I went to a store I'd have something with me to match colors and cloth and wouldn't have to guess if the item will match. I have decided to purchase the blank book and get that going this weekend too. I don't have a lot to put in it right now, but there are a few things to start with. When I'm done with the dining room, I need to paint my hallway and then all the white woodwork in the house needs to be freshened up . This will take a bit of time, but I will try to get it done before things are ready for the freezer this spring. I want to make one for my garden this year too so I can better plan ahead for the next year's-it's getting too big to remember everything now. We shall see...we make plans but things happen!



I thought I'd share my cabinet full of glassy memorabilia and thrifty finds today. I got the cabinet from an old house I cleaned out for a real estate client. The items in it are from thrifting and living family member's hand-me-downs or family members who have passed away. Every time I look at the cabinet I think of different people whom I love and those I miss. Oh yes, there's Helena's happy, little snowman standing guard over it all! If you click on the photo it should enlarge and give you a better view.

I didn't forget about my apron give away, it's just-obviously postponed. Perhaps I'll get to work on it after I get finished painting. I am also working on an old novel to put into a PDF file for your reading enjoyment. Not an original work, just something I read once that I enjoyed. I passed the book along to a couple of friends and they enjoyed it and so I'm typing it into a PDF file to share. It will take a bit longer and I'll get a link on here (I have to figure it out of course). It is an old story written in the 1800's. It is a novel and it's just a sweet story. But I don't want to "spill the beans" yet. I am also coming along with my images for my sewing book for Moms and their daughters. Actually, I'm working on a few things and I need to finish the ones I've started so I can get them out here to you. The sewing book would also help someone trying to learn how to sew and stitch. You will see. It's a very old book that I'm revamping.

I'd like to post some things I am thankful for now-it's been awhile since I've updated my One Thousand Gifts list:

#16: the ability to work
#17: streams of sunshine to bask in
#18: friends found on blogs
#19: the privilege of learning about You, Lord through life's lessons
#20: artistic talents
#21: my own washing machine in which to do my laundry
#22: flylady.org
#23: spending time with Lydia
#24: beautiful music
#25: the joy of simplifying life-one decluttering spree at a time
#26: the peace of a balanced checkbook
#27: the days free of pain
#28: lunar eclipses to share with my children
#29: plans brought to fulfillment
#30: homeschool




May the Lord bless you as you tend to the daily tasks and as you tend to the inner house-the inner man. May He fill your inner spirit with the fruit of His Holy Spirit, that your inner man may be straightened-not straitened. Oh yes Lord, let us not be so narrow-minded that we focus on the external only-but that we are fixed on things above-on You, O Lord, on You. Amen

Oh Friends, there is no blessing like the blessings of Home-Sweet Things.
xoxo

An Afternoon of Yumminess

This weekend I spent some time in the kitchen making Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins. They are so tasty that I made 3 dozen and by Monday evening they were gone! Between family and friends they didn't last long. They are the current faves around here! They are so moist and yummy I'll share the recipe here for you to try it.

The pretty blue dish above is really a saucer-the muffin fit nicely on the teacup center. The retro glass is a find from some dishes I got in a house I cleaned out. Did I tell you I like junk and thrifting? Those of you who know me best know this about me! This is why I spend so much time decluttering.

Pumpkin-Apple Streusel Muffins

2 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
2 Cups sugar (I use 1 3/4 Cups
1 TB Pumpkin Pie Spice (I use pinches of cinnamon; ground ginger, nutmeg and cloves)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 Cup solid pack pumpkin
1/2 Cup vegetable oil

2 Cups apples, peeled and diced thin
(optional: 1 Cup walnuts, chopped small)

Streusel Topping:
Combine 2 TB all-purpose flour
1/4 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Cut in 4 tsp butter, until crumbly

Wash, peel and dice apples. Set aside.

Prepare streusel topping. Set aside.


In large bowl combine first 5 ingredients. Set aside.


In medium bowl combine eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients.


Stir just until moistened.


Stir in apples (and nuts if adding) just until distributed evenly.

Spoon batter into greased muffin cups-filling 3/4 full.Sprinkle streusel topping over each cup of batter.Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes (mine were done at 30 mins.) or until toothpick comes out clean.
(You may substitute banana for pumpkin or in a pinch I've done 1/2 Cup pumpkin and 1/2 Cup banana.)



Enjoy!!!

Blessed are you when you prepare the Home-Sweet Things for your family!

Days Go By...

Hello My Friends!

I won't waste any time trying to excuse my absence...it's been too long since I last posted. I've thought about getting a post on here many times but got distracted and then it got late and then another day went by and another and...well-you get the picture.

We survived the start of another New Year and even Groundhog's Day! It will soon be Valentine's Day. Do you make Valentine's Day special? We don't do much of anything out of the norm here. I am a huge romantic at heart-I love Jane Austin novels and the Bronte Sisters and anyone else of old who wrote those heart-stirring novels. But as for real life...it's just not that romantic...at least for me.

And yet, I think of the Scriptures. The Song of Solomon-whose scripture is full of romance and wooing and love. This is the Lord's Word to us-His Bride. This is also The Bride's word to Him. I am examining my heart to make sure my words to Him reflect the scripture. The Bride adores her Groom-cannot live without Him. They say wonderful things to each other to confirm their love.

Here is one:

"Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealously as cruel as the grave;
Its flames are flames of fire,
A most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can the floods drown it.
If a man would give for love
All the wealth of his house,
It would be utterly despised."

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

And He so longs to hear Her voice:

"You who dwell in the gardens,
The companions listen for your voice-
Let me hear it!"

Song of Solomon 8:13

God the Father, through Jesus Christ, desires the most, the uttermost relationship with His people, His Bride. He wants the best for us-His best-and He desires to walk with us through this life-through it all. While we're walking and living this earth-life, He desires to envelop us in His presence, to cleanse us, to purify us, to keep us, to love us with an everlasting love. This love, this true love is for whosoever will. Yield to Him and let Him love you.

Here's one expression from Jars Of Clay's "Love Song for a Savior":

"Love Song For A Savior":

In open fields of wild flowers,she breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses in no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call her and she will come running and fall in His arms
and the tears will fall down and she'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with You"

Sitting silent wearing Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it calls to the people who stare into nowhere, and can't feel the chains on their souls

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close a heartbeat or a song on our lips
Someday we'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call us and we will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and we'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with You"

It seems too easy to call you "Savior",
Not close enough to call you "God"
So as I sit and think of words I can mention to show my devotion

"I want to fall in love with You"

my heart beats for You"


Here's the you tube link to watch them sing it live.

I've been working on some things in my absence. I'm putting together readable books in PDF format and want to offer anyone who reads my blog and whoever finds me out there in the internet world.

Some will be free and other things I will offer for sale. I am working on putting together a sewing kit/teaching/curriculum for homeschoolers or Moms who want to teach their children to sew. It's taking a bit to put it together because I have to research it all out and then make the things and take photos and yada yada...But I'll let you know for sure when it's all ready. I've got a couple of other things I'm working on too-some money saving books, thrifty things and old-fashioned recipe books for those of us who enjoy baking and playing in the kitchen and who just love good, old-fashioned comfort food. I'll probably link on the sidebar to my new site Home Sweet Things and you'll be able to see all the goodness and yumminess!


Remember to Fall in Love with Jesus...it's not so much that we know Him...but that He knows us! (Matthew 7:23-and no the two are not the same!) Lord, I pray we seek to know the difference. Amen

God Bless you as you enjoy blessing your family in the Home-Sweet Things! x0x0x0

Testimony

The Lost House
Fay Inchfawn

It was not the sort of a house where He
Could enter and belong,
He had not been invited, for
This was a house where wrong
Flaunted itself without disguise
Openly, unsahamed--
The wrongness which the Holy Book
Says never should be named

But, as He entered at the door
With friendship in His face
The strong man of the house rose up
And gave Him honoured place.
Then, as He took the offered seat--
Guest at an alien board--
The woman of the house brought out
The best she could afford.

It was like breathing mountain air
Or wind which comes over the sea;
It was like rain on a thirsty land
To be in His company.

Now came the touch He loved the best:
The children of the household pressed
So close to that most friendly Guest
Determined not to miss a thing
Just for the want of listening
And presently a small clear voice
Spoke, and half shyly said,
'Would you please to tell us a story, Sir,
Before we go to bed?'

He looked in her face with His kindly look--
That shy little five-year-old;
'Shall I tell you the tale of a little lost lamb
The shepherd brought back to the fold?'



Gently He spoke, but it came to pass
His voice was heard in the street,
And swift as the breeze in the aspen trees
Came the sound of hastening feet.
His voice had been heard and their hearts were stirred
As they wandered up and down,
And into that long-lost house they came,
The lost folk of the town.



In at the door
They came by the score.
Wild-eyed, bold faced terrible folk
Hung upon every word He spoke.
Everyone who had ears to hear
Eagerly, hungrily, drawing near.
Silken mantle or beggar's cloak,
The soul beneath it was moved and woke,
Saying so wistfully over and o'er
'Never man spake like this before'.

Lovingly Jesus sat with them,
Too courteous to intrude.
To some, maybe, it might seem that He
Had forgotten to do them good.
Yet He was the only Man who knew
The heart of a sinner through and through.
And only He heard the speechless plea,
'Find me, Lord Jesus,
Even me.'

Until lost sheep,
Lost coin,
Lost son,
Was found again--
Found again--
Every one.

When He rose to go, small fingers tried
To hold His hands and His robe beside.
The midnight cock had crowed before
Those glad folk followed Him out the door.
He went by the light of the harvest moon
And the children called after Him:
'Come again, soon;
Come again,
Come again, soon.'

I received an email this evening and in it my dear friend shared how the Lord had touched her so many years ago and changed her life. It reminded me how fortunate we are to have a loving Savior and Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

This poem by Fay reminds me of the very night the Lord, Himself came to me and stayed by my side until the morning, when I would be alright. The very next day I gave my life to Him. Situations and circumstances in my life led to me crying out to Him. And He came to me. Me, in all my ugliness, filthiness and wretchedness. I was amazed that He came to me in my used and abused state. But He did and He stayed until I was able to get help the next day. Help from a Dear Auntie who I knew would encourage me and together we would grow and walk with Him.

The Lord gives grace to the humble, that's what His Word says. I was floating on grace, no, I was swaddled in it. My life has never been the same since. I was like those lost folk of the town, that lost sheep, that lost coin, the lost son. And I was so worth it to Him. Me. Worth it to Him. And you...you are worth it to Him too. You are ever so valuable to the Lord. And He longs to bless you with His presence...like breathing mountain air or wind which comes over the sea, like rain on a thirsty land-ahhh to be in His company.



I can say, that night, long ago: alone, death hovering near, self-inflicted stupidity, a feeble attempt to cloud, to mask years of hurt...He came to me and breathed His breath into me and gave me to drink of His living water...and gave me life and promise of a new day-and it was like sunrise over the mountaintops, the warm sand at the ocean and the bubbling, clear water in a mountainside stream. I pray we can learn to remain there, in His presence-in the Spirit.


My little list for The Thousand Gifts:

#11 shelter in the storm
#12 hugs for someone who truly needs to be loved
#13 tears before the Lord-my Father-leading to peace
#14 pretty icicles dripping
#15 a helpful son

Lord, I thank You that You find us valuable:so valuable that You gave Your life for us-even in our unworthy state. While we were yet sinners, You died for us, to give us life. Breathe Your breath upon us Lord, baptize us in Your Holy Spirit and that we may walk with You-giving You glory, forever. Amen

Remember your testimony-it will strengthen your armor. Commit your plans to the Lord and let Him order your Home-sweet Things. Then, whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord. xo

Instant In and Out of Season...

Hello Friends. I have come to the conclusion that I am not in charge of my house (something I should have known all along).

The Lord is.

Right after I put my house together the way "I" wanted it: my dining room, my studio, my living room, MY PANTRY...here comes another homeless young person needing a place to lay his head. This has happened to us so many times over the years I should have known that after the last time...after I said "No more!"...God said, "Once more..." And so, I have spent this week undoing my purple pantry for a more noble cause. I am relinquishing my rights to my house and surrendering them to the Lord.

My husband did not bat an eye. He knows he is looked upon with a questioning eye by his co-workers for taking in youth. He knows many people frown on the attempt to make any kind of difference in someone's life. Some friends and some family and even people who call themselves "Christians" think we are insane and even chide us for being "naive" and "foolish" to seriously think it would make a difference.

Even when we took in the young man (18 yrs old) who was sleeping in the back of a truck trailer in the middle of winter with no coat and no warm blanket-near a junkyard in a shady part of town. He would sneak into the junkyard at night when no one would see him.

My son brought him home one night while I was asleep. He was so happy to be warm. When my son told me about him, I made him the hugest breakfast and he ate until he was full and he made this comment to my son, "Wow, no one has ever been that nice to me." What would you do with that? I went in my room and cried...there was no question that he would come and stay with us and never sleep again in a cold trailer shivering alone. He stayed long enough to detox from heroin, he got a couple of jobs but didn't keep them. He moved in with his brother after our "let's make progress" deadline...and once in awhile he pops in. I don't know where he's staying right now (my sons keep tabs on him), and if he ever needs anything-I pray he knows we care and I pray that at some point he learns to trust the Lord enough to give his life to Him.

We've been used and abused by some of our house guests. Some of them were dirty, some were recovering drug addicts, some were totally out of control, some stole from us-but when each one left, I cried. Some stayed with us for months, some for weeks, some for days. We felt we should show God's love to them all. Some received Him, others refused Him. I still pray for them all. Yes, some made me very angry, but the Lord loves them and I am reminded to forgive seventy times seven. The love of the Lord will constrain me. And it does. And love never fails.




I have no idea why these young people come to us-I just know, if I am entertaining angels unawares, I want to do it with the right spirit. If Jesus came and needed a place to sleep, I'd clean my room from top to bottom and let Him sleep there. So, I can give my measly purple pantry to someone who asks of me. I am humbled by the opportunity from God to show His love to yet another who has need of Him. I am blessed by the opportunity to show unconditional love to someone who grew up without it.

If I am a fool for Christ's sake, and I err on the side of grace and love, then so be it. I only pray that I remain worthy to be instant when it's convenient and when it's not convenient.

I encourage you all to ask God how you can be "inconvenienced" for Him and for the opportunity to show His love to another human being on this planet who needs to see Him for real. Today is as good a day as any. Do something out of the ordinary in the Name of the Lord. He looks for willing hearts in people who believe every jot and tittle of his word. Faithful is He that calls you, Who also will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24

One Thousand Gifts...

#6 for the opportunity to enjoy my daughter Jynette's visits

#7 the fun call from my friend who is doing mission work thousands of miles away

#8 putting the house back in order

#9 laughter

#10 blessings of food in the pantry

Lord, help me to be a vessel fit for Your use. Thank you for the opportunity to show love to others in ways only you can know they need. I pray that I would be a witness of Your truth. Please provide for our new guest and let him see You in all we do. Thank You for choosing us to do things that seem foolish. Blessed be Your Name Lord. Amen

Be inconvenienced in the Home-Sweet Things and receive an opportunity to entertain angels unawares!!! x0

One Thousand Gifts

Hello Friends. I am daily inspired by a blog called Holy Experience. One day not long ago, I thought it would be a good lesson for me to post the things I am thankful to the Lord for and maybe encourage others to live in a state of thankfulness-after her example.

This scripture often comes to mind from Colossians 3:12-17:

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.



I am encouraged to begin a journey of my own on the "Path of Thankfulness". The Lord has been so good, kind, patient and merciful to me since I began my walk with Him, I want to make a record of His love toward me.

Psalm 100

1 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

For as long as it takes, I will take the time to see God in ways I've never noticed before. Even in the very smallest and simplest of blessings that I might otherwise overlook.

Here is Ann's post on The Thousand Gifts in her own words. When I figure out how to link my list to the graphic in the sidebar...I'll do that to keep the list in order. In the meantime...I'll have to stick them in my daily posts.

#1 the warmth of the woodstove on a cold, damp, gray day.

#2 the sound of fellowship among my children

#3 fellowship with a friend

#4 clothes drying on the clothesline in the basement near the woodstove

#5 a safe drive through much traffic near the city and back home again

I will end with a Fay Inchfawn poem:

I Will Give Thanks

I will give thanks to the Lord my God,
For His mercy endureth for ever,
He shortened the wearying path I trod,
For His mercy endureth for ever.

Patience He gave to my own home folk
With spirit to make, and see, a joke.
He gave me again the signs of health
And wonderful friends in the commonwealth.
For His mercy endureth for ever.

I will give thanks for a mended shoe;
And a small gas-ring in my bedroom, too;
That neighbours sometimes come in for tea,
And a cat of character lives with me.
For His mercy endureth for ever.

I will give thanks for a grand new book,
Pleasant and clean as a running brook,
Which turned my thoughts in times of stress
To the coming kingdom of righteousness.
For His mercy endureth for ever.

I will give thanks that I need not dread
Change, nor old age, for He has said
He will show unto me His quickening power.
His kindness is not for the passing hour-
His mercy endureth for ever.

Thank you, Lord, for the honor of Your presence in our lives, large and minute. I pray you help us to be ever aware of Your gifts and faithfulness toward us. Amen

Remember Dear Ones, always, to be thankful for the home-sweet things. x0

Pay It Forward

I found this opportunity to be a blessing on Jeanne's Life after reading this story on futuregirl's blog Anyway...it is such a wonderful story and a wonderful chance to bless 3 people I thought it would be a fun thing to do. So read below and if you think you'd like to participate...join the fun!!


Anyway, here's how it goes:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay it forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So, if you're one of the first 3 people to comment, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog and share the crafty love!....of course, the challenge being, are there even enough people that read this blog to post?

So the race is on! First 3 people to post AND link on their blog that they are also doing the Pay it forward craft swap, I will mail you a Christmas wonderful!

THANKS!!


I'd also like to take the opportunity to say that Jeanne's Grandmother Lenore is a very blessed woman-to be able to touch so many lives is a very noble thing and from what I read she is a jewel and her children (and her family) rise up and call her blessed! God bless Lenore and her family!

Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to read of such a giving woman and I pray that I will be as noble and kind and giving as she is. Let me be a blessing to all who pass through my life. In Jesus Name...Amen

Remember to be a blessing to others as you are given an opportunity to share in the home-sweet things. x0

Remembering "Why" This Week...

Hello My Friends! Time to end my unintended bloggie absence. I pray all your Thanksgiving feast days were happy and blessed.

I wanted to make you all aware of Crystal Paine's blog challenge on Biblical Womanhood to: "Make Your Home a Haven". It started yesterday (December 3rd) so we haven't missed much. There are a lot of like-minded women who are sharing in the challenge. Go over and be encouraged!

I'm all for making your home a place where the world stays outside and inside it is orderly, calm and filled with the essence of God's gentle presence. I need all the encouragement I can get in this area of my life. We know a stay-at-home woman is not always understood nor respected. It seems, at times, that people think I don't do anything all day. Believe me, there are no bon-bons in my freezer-and I don't watch TV all day-nor do I have time to lay on the couch! I'm sure if you shared your experiences, you'd say the same!

I will admit, sometimes there is temptation to go out and find a little part-time job. Especially when I think about how tight things are financially. We've never really lived an over-the-top existence here. We've had lean times and times where we've had more than enough. We've never gone hungry and all our children had clothing to wear. We have learned to be content. I'm sure many of us are learning to do without "extras" since the hike in fuel and many other necessessities. Many of us are learning frugality as well.

I've been spending time reading many books and articles on making money at home. There are many of us doing this. I am working on some things I am passionate about and hopefully others will find them interesting and something they can use in their homeschool or in their homes too. I'm excited about it and cannot wait until it's all ready to launch!! (More on that soon!)

Every day this week I am spending 9:30-1:30 in my friend's real estate office to help her out while she is away. I used to sell real estate. Talk about stress, talk about patience, talk about forgiveness!!! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia while under the stress of selling real estate. I'm in the office answering the phone and relaying messages and doing clerical work while she is away this week. It serves to reinforce my decision to stay at home and eventually work at home. Thank God, while it is not always easy financially, I have this option. Many of us don't and I feel that it is up to the church to minister to these women.

This is good for me, I want to journal and blog this to remind myself why I came home, why I was so convicted, why I was absolutely convinced that it was the best thing for my family and me. I get to remember what it is like to run out the door every morning and leave what needs to be done here for when I get home. I am also remembering how tired dealing with people can make you. It reminds me of what a working woman goes through in a day and then goes home tired to keep her home on top of it.

Lord, help us to remember to always be thankful no matter what our situation is and trust You to help us find a solution in our circumstances. You are always interested in what concerns us. We want to trust You. Remind us by Your Spirit that what's not done in faith is sin. Help us to walk in faith in You and not by what we see. Guide us to fulfill Your will in our lives. Amen

Appreciate the Home-Sweet Things every moment!

Anniversary Day

On a beautiful, sunny and warm November 14th day-26 years ago-my husband and I exchanged vows and became husband and wife. 26 years is not so long to someone married 40 or 50 years-but I feel it's an accomplishment nonetheless. I was a young girl of 19 and he was 20. We were so very naive. We didn't know the Lord and I guess we thought we could get along just fine without Him. I was thinking today how happy I am that God the Father grabbed ahold of me when I was 23. Then He grabbed ahold of Dave and He has been so very good to us and kept us. I could not imagine life without Him now.

One of my sons' friends once told me that Dave and I were "like the only parents still married." I was so sad to know that and it made me feel the importance of a godly marriage. In a day when divorce is rampant, 26 years seems like a lifetime to a teenager.

We didn't do anything grand or marvelous today. We ordered pizza and wings and our daughter Jynette was here and we visited and ate together.

This little poem reminds me of how women wait for their husbands to come home whether they are away or just away from home working for the day. You look for them when it gets time for them to arrive home. When the children were little, I remember them waving ever so long at their Daddy from the window when he was leaving for work, Dave would stop in the road to wave at them from the car. Then when it was time for him to come home from work, how they would greet him at the door!



No little feet run to greet him at the door now. Well, no human feet. We have a little chihuahua named "Taco" or "Mr. T" who absolutely claims Dave as his buddy...and he hears Dave every time he pulls up by the house when he gets home from work. He gets so excited that Dave's home. This alerts me too and I greet him at the door.



It matters to a husband to have his wife consider him the most important thing when he gets home. I try to stop what I'm doing and take a bit of time with Dave, asking about his day and just showing him that he matters. I've had all day to do things my way, now I'm taking a bit of time to let Dave know he's most important to me. It makes a big difference when I give him preference in this way. It is the one part of the day we get to spend time relaxing together. I'll pour some tea and take some quiet time. I like to visit with Dave, we talk about all kinds of things. I've learned so much from him over the years. He's full of life-skill lessons and I am blessed to be his bride. Here's the poem:


Listening

His step? Ah, no; 'tis but the rain
That hurtles on the window pane.
Let's draw the curtains close and sit
Beside the fire awhile and knit.
Two purl -- two plain. A well-shaped
sock,
And warm. (I thought I heard a knock,
But 'twas the slam of Jones's door.)
Yes, good Scotch yarn is far before
The fleecy wools -- a different thing,
And best for wear. (Was that his ring?)
No. 'Tis the muffin man I see;
We'll have threepennyworth for tea.
Two plain -- two purl; that heel is neat.
(I hear his step far down the street.)
Two purl -- two plain. The sock can
wait;
I'll make the tea. (He's at the gate!)



Lord, let us all be thankful for our husbands and those we care about. Help us to remember to let them know how much we enjoy spending time with them. Help us to see there is nothing else so important to us as them. Help us to allow You to direct our lives according to Your Word. Thank you so much Lord for Your gifts to us. Amen

God bless you as you set about your day. Bless you as you wait upon loved ones to return to the home-sweet things.

x0

Home-Sweet Things...

Good Evening. It is late but I wanted to get the photos on here that I've been promising for a time now. I only got as far as the back wall of my living room at this point. I intend to do more as Thanksgiving approaches. This will take time for me as I am still working on decluttering. I honestly tell you this is a radical move for me. I am enjoying the process, but my health continues to hinder me. I cherish your prayers and am still looking into some things I can do to ease the symptoms of this fibromyalgia.

Anyway...I didn't get on here to talk about that. So without further ado...here is the first photo:



I will just share some of the photos I put through PSP for fun.



Here is a fun side view of the back corner...



I am no photographer, nor do I claim to be an interior decorator. I am just having fun!



Well...I will add more as soon as I take some. I want to make/add some lightweight wool curtains for the windows. I have to take a trip to Joann Fabrics soon. I've got so many things I need to get done, this will be one more thing for the long list!



And so, that is all for now. I need to finish up in the kitchen and check the fire for the night and get some sleep.

Lord, Please bless each Dear One as they prepare for the holidays. Bless the work of their hands and I pray they begin to plan ahead to have order and peace in a time that can be very hurried. Help us to be truly thankful. Amen

God bless you as you prepare your home-sweet things for the coming holidays! Good Night. x0

Who Is The Greatest?

The Greatest

Who should be greatest?
Like a scorpion flung
Into our midst the notion flamed and stung.
The greatest of the Twelve!
My baser self asked: 'Why
Shoud it not--indisputably--be I?


The Disciple Jesus loved!
Loved in a special way.
I read it in His eyes.
Did they not say
Time and again
'I love thee'?

Then, as time went on
Others remarked upon
The Master's love for John--
Might that not mean
Some greatness yet to be
Would show itself in me?

Thus I mused--till He,
The only great One of our company--
Riseth from supper and before we knew
His purpose--He had put His robe aside
Each act a mute rebuke to all our pride--
And from the dust of old Jerusalem's street
Jesus began to wash His disciples feet.

But when I saw Him kneel,
Then torment seized my soul--
And bitter shame.
I, whom He had so loved
And known by name--
He with the royal lineage
In His face!
And I had let Him fill
A servant's place.

'Twas too late then to say
'Let me--O let me, Lord--I pray
Take towel and basin from Thee
And kneel down
Lower than dust!'

Instead, I had to bear
Touch of His hands--and--worst of all--surprise--
Love, undiminished--
Shining in His eyes.

But when
His task complete He took His seat again--
Like a forgiven child
Whose simple trust had never been defiled,
Weeping I turned--my littleness confessed
To lean my head once more upon His breast.

Fay Inchfawn


Hello Friends. When I read this poem, it brought tears to my eyes. How often do I puff up and think more of myself than I ought? How often do I forget that a great price was paid to redeem me and there is nothing in me that is of any use? That is a humbling statement and not easily received. All-every ounce of-my righteousness is as filthy rags. But-God did not leave me in my sad, pitiful state. He had mercy on me and revealed Himself to me. Of course, I (not being properly taught or discipled-which is still no excuse!) and thinking I was doing the right things...picked up my salvation and started running. And I ran...far, far from where my Father wanted me to go-all the while spouting Christian-ese and trying to keep my filthy rags of self from showing. It must be said, one cannot keep up the farce for long. At some point, the filthy rags show and the flesh creeps out and pride slithers and out of the selfish mire crawls all manner of spiritual filth. Heaping up teachers and having itching ears-anything that puffs up and makes the self smile...whatever it takes for the deceitfully wicked heart to convince me that I'm just fine. Then, when I stopped and looked back over where I had gone, I did not recognize the path I had taken, you see...it was a wide path before me-one that had swallowed me up like a giant fish whose name is Deception.

How easily we can be deceived and even by our own hearts(Jeremiah 17:9)! The Word of God is not meant to pamper the flesh. Did you know that? Almost every preacher you hear today on TV feeds you a "feel-good" teaching. I warn you my Sisters...do not be deceived...the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) I don't know-but I think if I was pierced by a two-edged sword-it would hurt my flesh. Don't add to the Word of God but take it in it's most pure form. If God says something is wrong-don't twist it to make it right and vice-versa. I would remind you of the many deceivers that will come in the last days as mentioned in the Bible and the false teachers-these people will tell you, "Jesus is Lord"-they are manipulators and their only goal is to mix The Word with subtle lies for the purpose of drawing you off the Narrow Path and have you join in the great falling away. Don't get drawn to a side-path-they are not paved by God. His Way is narrow-so narrow and difficult that few find it (Matthew 7:14). There is no other way. You enter at the Narrow Gate and you walk the Difficult Way. Please, walk carefully using His Word as your road map and the Light to your path so you are not seduced off the true and only way to Life.

I thank God, through Jesus Christ, He shows me His Way-His Path. It is not the way of this kingdom of selfishness, but of The Kingdom of His Dear Son. Christ's servanthood shines-brightly-to those who have need of an example. Every person who calls themselves a Christian must remove the robe of the old man of self-effort and selfishness and the flesh and don the servant's robe of the New Man-that Man who was our ensample...the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). If you read the Gospels and look for Christ's examples of servanthood you will find them aplenty.

I'm sure I'm not sharing anything you don't already know. I only hope to exhort you and remind you of the path of Christ. It is not a path that can be walked in the flesh, it can only be trod by following the leading of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to get in the Word and see Jesus as the Servant He was and pray to begin to understand how that applies in your own lives. God desires, through Christ-in-us, to radiate from us, to be salt and light in a very, very dark kingdom. The light of a life-dead to self/alive to Christ. His Light slices through the deepest dark and the Father is glorified. Isn't that the whole purpose? Nevertheless, not what I will, but what He wills. Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4 and 5)

Oh Lord, help us to see Your calling on our lives. Not fame or fortune. Not recognition of man, but to become the least in order to truly do Your works. Help us not to stray from Your path. Give us discernment when the enemy would attempt to cloud our vision with deception. Thank you that You do not leave us on our own but You come to us in the form of the Holy Spirit and take our hand and lead us on The Way. Help us to wait on You before we make a move. Amen

God will guide us each moment as we seek to serve those He places in our lives. The greatest in God's Kingdom is the one who becomes the least. Remember, even as you bless others in your home you are glorifying the Father in the home-sweet things. x0

A Little While

Reward and Service

The sweetest lives are those to duty wed,
Whose deeds both great and small
Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread,
Where love enobles all.
The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells,
The Book of Life the slurring record tells.

Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes,
After its own like working. A child's kiss
Set on thy singing lips shall make thee glad;
A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;
A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;
Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense
Of service which thou renderest.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning





Hello my Dears. I know it's been a bit since my last post. I wanted to get on here and say "Hello" and let you know everything's alright, I've just been very busy. Too busy, and now it feels good to know I will be home preparing this house for Thanksgiving feast in a few weeks.

I did get some pretty primitive harvest decor out and played with it in my living room. I took photos and will share a few tomorrow since it's so late now. I was inspired by a magazine page and totally went bonkers changing color schemes and decided to bring out the browns and the yellow/tea-stained things and the old books and the old prints of birds. It was all with things I already had stored and tucked here and there in my stash (remember-I told you I was a collector!).



Now I am looking for something suitable to make curtains out of for the winter. I was going to make window quilts-but for the living room at least I will make some heavy-type curtains that can be pulled back in the day. So that is my newest quest for my home-some type of woolen or wool blend cloth to make pretty, yet practical curtains with.

Well, it is late and I don't want to dwell on here too long. Tomorrow I can share other things with you.

I pray you are all well. I pray the Lord keeps you and your families. I pray He is still revealing ways you can keep the Home-sweet things.

x0

Just A Quick Hello

I wanted to pop in here and say "Hello" to everyone before I hit the hay.

I have had a quiet day spent pondering what I can do around here to spruce it up for fall. I think I will go on a bittersweet vine search tomorrow and I have some fun ideas that I want to do to bring some of the outside-in. I love the outdoors and don't get outside as much as I did when my children were younger.I will charge up my camera and hopefully I'll be able to get some indoor photos of a couple of areas I got to have fun in.



One thing I need to sit and work on are my new living room curtains. I have the cloth, I just haven't had the time. Maybe this coming week. I have old thrifted vintage sheers hanging there, but I want to make some heavier panels to hang over them for the colder weather. I also have some old vintage fabric given to me years ago by my friend Linda, that I want to use for the valances. It will be painful for me to cut it, but for goodness sake...why hold onto it in storage and not enjoy it? It's so pretty and will make lovely valances. (Linda, if you read this...it's the old cover from May's daybed that you gave me years ago.) I've always been saving it for the perfect project...well, it will look so pretty with my apple green living room.

Anyhow-I'm chattering your ears off and I do have some things to share, but I need to go rest for the night and hopefully I'll have some fun things to put on here tomorrow night to encourage your creativity.




Thank you Lord, for the gift of creativity-may we use it for your glory. Thank you for the season of the harvest and let us remember the true harvest is the one that we reap for eternity. Amen

Enjoy your homes Dear Friends...God has placed in us the desire to make our homes a place we can enjoy, a place to express the creative spirit made after Him. Take the time to make a cozy spot, or fix up a little corner for your own. Just remember, no matter how humble our attempt at creativity-we glorify God when we take the time to make the home-sweet things lovely-a place where our families can rest! xoxoxo

Consider the Lilies

I won't write much tonight Dear Friends. It is late and I am tired and my pillow calls my name. I still need to do the rest of my dishes and set up the coffee for Dave in the morning-my husband who, no matter how he feels, gives of himself, as he has done for years, to bless and provide for his family.


I received my first Fay Inchfawn book in the mail today. It is called "Think of the Lilies." It is a collection of her works over the years. It's copyright is 1970. She was older and still had much to share from the wisdom she had gained over the years. Here is something from the book:



Think of the Lilies
by Fay Inchfawn

These lines are a tribute to the unknown person who remembered not so much the doctrinal words of Jesus but just this thought about the lilies.

Whenever they met together
That favoured company
Who had heard the Lord of the Ages
Say: 'Come and travel with me!'

Whenever they met together
To talk in the after days
They would retell to each other
His wonderful words and ways.

Tides great and deep were moving
Stirring the souls of men-
And words which the Master had spoken
Were passing precious then.

His close friends-Philip and Andrew-
His chief friends-Peter and John-
Had stored up marvellous treasure
Which they could draw upon.

But who, I wonder, remembered
That once on a summer day
Jesus said: 'Think of the lilies
Growing their beautiful way.'

It was surely some flower-lover
Who kept those words in mind.
It may have been a woman
Whose face was worn and lined.

It is likely she had been spinning
Till sundown the day before.
It is likely she had been grinding
Corn for her larder store.

And still she was anxiously planning
How to get food and clothes-
Enough for the needs of her household.
And that was the moment He chose
For saying: Think of the lilies.

And then, as she looked on His face
All her anxiety vanished
And left itself not a trace.

No wonder she told her story
With a rapt and radiant look.
No wonder Think of the lilies
Was written down in the Book.




When I read this, I just knew I had to share it. If you are anything like me, you ponder bills and provisions and make lists and budgets and check pantry stock and wonder where and how it will all be provided.



And then...just as I am about to wonder again...the wonderful Word of the Lord comes to me. I remember the part about casting my cares upon Him for He cares for me and I remember the lilies and I remember the birds and that every hair on my head is numbered. And then the Holy Spirit reminds my heart of the verse I am to live by: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto me." Plain and simple, no worrying required.



Keep your eyes on Him, on His Kingdom and He will take care of the rest. He takes care for us because we were not meant to have cares. He has provided the way for us to remove every burden of this kingdom, of which we are to be strangers. Let us look on His face and every anxiety will vanish.

As the song says:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Lord, help us to learn to trust you to take full care of us. Teach us how to lay down our worries and cares at your feet and leave them there. Remind us that worry is not a fruit of your Spirit. Let us understand that You, our Love, always protect us and You never fail. Thank you Lord, that you taught us to consider, to think on the lilies and the sparrows-and that You told us God cares for us more than them. Oh that we could look on Your face and have full understanding of You. Amen



Bless God for His provision to us, His children. Praise Him as He provides you with what you need for the Home-sweet things. Good night! x0

Unawares

Unawares
author unknown

They said, "The Master is coming to honor the town today,
And none can tell us at whose house or home
The Master would choose to stay,"
And I thought while my heart beat wildly,
What if he should come to mine?
How would I strive to entertain
And honor the guest divine?

And straight I turned to toiling
To make my house more neat;
I swept and polished and garnished,
And decked it with blossoms sweet;
I was troubled for fear the
Master Might come ere my task was done,
And hastened and worked the faster,
And watched the hurrying sun.



But right in the midst of my duties
A woman came to my door;
She had come to tell me her sorrows,
And my comfort and aid to implore,
And I said; "I cannot listen, Nor help you any today;
I have greater things to attend to."
And the pleader turned away.

But soon there came another
A cripple, thin, pale and gray
And said, "O, let me stop and rest
Awhile in your home, I pray
I have traveled far since morning,
I am hungry and faint and weak,
My heart is full of misery,
And comfort and help I seek."



And I said, "I am grieved and sorry,
But I cannot help you today;
I look for a great and noble guest,"
And the cripple went away.
And the day wore onward swiftly,
And my task was nearly done.
And ever a prayer was in my heart
That the Master to me might come.

And I thought I would spring to meet him,
And serve him with utmost care,
When a little child stood by me
With a face so sweet and fair
Sweet, but with marks of teardrops,
And his clothes were tattered and old.
A finger was bruised and bleeding
And his little bare feet were cold.



And I said, "I'm sorry for you,
You are sorely in need of care;
But I cannot stop to give it,
You must hasten on else where."
And at the words a shadow
Swept over the blue-veined brow;
"Someone will feed and clothe you, dear,
But I am too busy now."

At last the day was ended
And my toil was over and done,
My house was swept and garnished,
And I watched in the dusk alone;
Watched, but no foot-fall sounded,
No one even paused at my gate
No one entered my cottage door,
I could only pray and wait.



I waited until night had deepened,
And the Master had not come;
"He has entered some other door," I cried,
And gladdened some other home!"
My labor had been for nothing
And I bowed my head and wept,
My heart was sore with longing,
Yet in spite of all I slept.

Then the Master stood before me,
And his face was grave and fair;
"Three times today I came to your door
And craved your pity and care;
Three times you sent me onward,
Unhelped and uncomforted,
And the blessing you might have had was lost,
And your chance to serve has fled."



"Oh, Lord, dear Lord, forgive me!
How could I know it was Thee?"
My soul was very shamed and bowed,
In the depth of humility.
And he said: "The sin is pardoned,
But the blessing is lost to Thee;
For in comforting not the least of mine,
Ye have failed to comfort me.



I tell you, when you make your own plans for the day, always be ready for the Lord to throw something else in there. We are called to be instant in season and out of season (to be ready for God's leading when it's convenient and when it's not!)

My motto: "OK Lord, whatever you have for me, I'm game!" I live a life of surprise, and God is alright with that-He'll use it-you know? God knows I am always open to anything. I consider myself easy going-most of the time. And the Father uses this to His advantage. Now, I won't pretend I always like having "my" plans thwarted...but God knows if He has an opportunity and can use me, I'm willing.

So, today is Monday. The first day after 4 days of busy-ness and business, I am home and ready to accomplish some things! My plans!!! I planned on getting some housework done, some winterizing done, and some cleaning taken care of in my barn. I got as far as winterizing my kitchen window and moving a couple of things in the barn.



It has become obvious to me, over the years, that God wants to use me to help people sort out things in their lives. I suppose I am a good listener...though at times I have a horrible habit (I think) of interrupting. Still, I tend to have more than my share of people needing advice. If I was a cartoon character, my name would be Lucy and I'd be in a box-turned-office with a sign out front that stated, "The Doctor is In"! I'm not complaining-it's my joy to help others sort out their problems according to the Word and help them get on track. My phone rings endlessly some days.

Back to my plans: they didn't happen the way I planned them!

I got an early call from a very sad sister who needed advice. She came over and we talked and she cried and I talked and she smiled and I encouraged and she helped me in the barn and we talked and prayed and she went home. God love her, I pray she'll obey God and it will be alright. As long as we follow His path, we cannot fail. As soon as we begin on any way but the narrow way-we are lost! She was persuaded somehow to take her eyes off the Lord and she quickly made a mess of things! But God is so wonderfully there for us! The poor, dear sister had herself convinced that she needed to beat herself up with her mistake and I had the joy of seeing her face when God's light shone on it in revelation that she most certainly did not need to beat herself up with her mistake. Repent and turn and be saved. There is no beating up necessary. Praise our most merciful Father!



God, our loving Father is not a mean Father waiting to pummel his children into submission. He looks for a humble and contrite spirit and heart to mold with His Potter's hands to conform to His image and will. This can be painful, as we submit to the process, but it's also a time of growth and trust.

She left with a prayer and although she was not looking forward to the sadness her mistake would cause her, she knew God stopped her before she strayed too far from Him. Thank God for His Word that keeps us...that it's a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path! Because she had brethren who love her, she was pulled back to the narrow path before the wide one consumed her and caused her years of pain. He will never leave us nor forsake us! He is so good!



My next unplanned activity was a spur-of-the-moment Bible study (which I love!) with the friend who is studying the wives of the Bible with me. We decided to begin with Proverbs 31 and use it as a guideline for the wives and for our own lives. As we study, I plan to put what we feel the Holy Spirit shares with us here on my little corner of the web. I love to study the Word with several translations of the Bible and Strong's Concordance and a dictionary.

This topic we are studying comes from a very God-born desire to repent, revamp and reconstruct the life I've formed, mostly and sadly from what I thought was The Way, but which in reality, was my way.

As I recall this morning's talk with the first sister/friend I realized that what I spoke was most absolutely what I needed to hear, once again. I don't have to beat myself up for not being the wife I should have been. I am reaping the benefits of trying to "wife" (can that even be a verb?) in the flesh and it's not pretty.

Dear Ones, I have some advice for you...if you are trying to be the Proverbs 31 wife in the flesh...stop it! In the long run, it won't work-you'll become weary of it and become bitter and angry and start resenting it and all those negative emotions will rub off on your beloved husband. BUT...if you are determined to become the wife God desires you to be and commit your plans to the Lord-His Word says they will succeed! It's His will for us to be good wives, it's His desire to reveal the "Great Mystery" through us! What a calling! To show how much Christ loves His Bride and how much the Bride loves her Husband, Christ! I would do anything for my Savior...wouldn't you?



Likewise, we are to treat our husbands with the same respect as we have for the Lord, to show a lost and dying world how blessed we are. Yes, husbands also have a role to play in the Great Mystery, but we are not husbands-are we? Therefore, we must learn what God would have us do to glorify Him in our marriage. Our flesh wants to mind our husband's business...but one of our callings is to mind our own business...which means to have our minds full of our business in the Lord-and our business in the Lord is to reverence our husbands. This is only ever possible as we walk in the Spirit of God on a daily basis. He calls us and He supplies what we need to do His will. It's all for His glory!



So, my word to you today would be, Dear Sisters, do not waste time beating yourselves up. Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee. God has your very best interests at heart and as you submit to Him, He will enable you through His Spirit to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. He who calls us is faithful. Whatever God is calling you to do, He will equip you to fulfill. Love your husbands, love your children, love your neighbor as yourself. And really, don't beat yourselves up-when God forgives, He throws all He forgives into the sea of forgetfulness, as far as the east is from the west...never to be remembered again. Let it go and move with the cloud!!!



I promised you a chicken casserole recipe...and here it is:

Chicken Casserole

1 box stuffing mix
1 stick butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 tray of chicken thighs (8 thighs)

Boil chicken until meat comes off bones. Save broth. When chicken is cool to the touch, pick the meat off the bones and place in the bottom of 9" x 13" baking dish. Put your soups in a pan and 2 cups of broth and heat them up. Pour over chicken. Pour stuffing, dry, over chicken. Lightly push stuffing into soup, not too much, but to make sure when the soup boils, it will saturate the stuffing. Melt butter and drizzle over stuffing mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through.

I serve this with cranberry sauce and vegs. It tastes like Thanksgiving dinner. I brought it to a covered dish at church and quite a few women asked for the recipe, so it should be a hit when you make it! YUM!!



Lord, I pray you help us to understand your vast power to forgive, your unfathomable love toward us who deserve it not. Help us to believe Your Word when you say we are forgiven and that you choose not to remember it at all. Help us to walk in the Spirit so we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Help us to commit all our plans to You, in accordance with Your will, so that they will succeed. Thank You Lord that your love covers a multitude of sins and that You equip us for whatever you desire us to do for Your glory! Amen

May God bless you richly, as you reveal His Great Mystery to a lost and dying world-and as your heart revels in the Spirit and reveals the Home-sweet things as a shining light in the kingdom of darkness. Good Night. x0

Family Day

Today we all sat and ate dinner together. That is a big deal at this house as my daughter Jynette doesn't live at home at this time, Jordan works a twelve hour shift starting at 7:00 p.m. Sunday nights, and Brendt isn't always home. My wonderful Mother-in-Law came over to enjoy dinner with us, my nephew was here and "Jordan's Amanda" was here totalling 9 for dinner. I was absolutely blessed to have so many loved-ones around me at once!

We had a chicken casserole dish (I'll share the recipe tomorrow-it's nice for church dinners), cranberry sauce, green beans from our second bean planting in the garden, broccoli, "Dilly Beans", pickled garlic, and squash whipped with brown sugar and butter. I made cupcakes and apple pie and had cookies and donuts leftover from Lydia's birthday party yesterday.

Hearing my MIL's stories is wonderful. I showed her my copy of "The Complete Home" and she told of her Mom's washday experiences and how they conserved water and baking cookies in the cookstove. I really want to write some of her stories down for our family! So many wonderful tales!

I couldn't have asked for a lovelier day either. The weather was fantastic! Tomorrow is supposed to be the same and my MIL predicted a frost by week's end. We shall see! If so, I'd better go out and pick the rest of my beans and tomatoes.

Ahh, yes it was such a good day! There is nothing like visiting with family. Dave's sister and her husband came down, and my niece who is a new Mama. We all had a chance to hold the baby-little Kylee Marianna. Uncle Dave held her for the first time and he's such a pro! I know he enjoyed it, he loves babies so!

Now the dishes are all done, the food is put away. Everyone is asleep except me. I am so very tired and I think I will soon go to sleep myself.

I am so thankful for having the chance to spend time with my family today. Jynette came and helped with dishes and a couple of tasks and Lydia helped with some chores and cooking. Brendt carried some things to the basement that I had taken out during the week. And Dave...my husband...he helps cook...he is so very good to me! I could never pull off these big feast days without his help! Sadly, the feast days are few and far between right now, but I hope to have them more frequently in the future, Lord willing, because I think it's important to touch base and actually sit together as a family.

These things are ever-so-much-more important to me as time goes on and the Lord works in my heart. They were important before, but now I'm looking at things from a new perspective. The view from the cross, and the importance of all my children (and whosoever the Lord sends to my home), knowing and having peace with God. He is so faithful, He is the One Faithful Friend I can count on. His Word will never return void. He will restore all that the moth and the canker hath eaten. He is good. He Who promised is faithful, Who also will do it!

Thank you Lord, for our homes and the blessings on them. I pray, Lord, that all who enter our homes, know at once that You dwell there. Let your grace smile upon the inhabitants and those loved ones who come and fellowship with us. Let us always glorify You and show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all we say and do. Amen

Take time to meditate on the Lord and the gifts He lavishes upon us as we bask in the wonder of His love toward us. Our families are a great reward from the Lord. A heritage of God's love and blessing. Cherish them as you go about your day and set your heart to delight in the home-sweet things. x0

A Busy Wednesday

Wow...what a full day! I took my Mother-in-law (whom I adore!) to the foot Doctor this morning. While she was being seen, I walked down a ways to the library. She was just about finished when I got back and we went on our next journey.



Today is Lydia's 13th birthday. On any one of my children's birthdays, I spend time pondering the whole event. Lydia was two weeks overdue. I was supposed to have her here at home, and she just wasn't budging. I was scheduled to go first thing in the morning to the hospital about an hour away to be induced. I was not looking forward to this because my firstborn was induced and it was not a pleasant experience (which is why I had the rest of my children at home-with the Lord's blessing!) Anyhow...my first two children were two weeks late, so I really wasn't worried. And wouldn't you know it...at about 2 a.m. I woke up to contractions and had her around 8 a.m. She weighed over 9 lbs and I was just so glad to have her at home. Imagine my relief when I called the Dr. early in the morning to tell him I was having her at home after all. I think he was disappointed-he was not an advocate of home-birth. And there she was, my sweet little (?) baby. And now she's 13. So grown up and still sweet. She is a joy and a help to me and a lovely young lady. I love her dearly!

So, after the Dr. and the library, I ran to Price Chopper to get cupcakes to bring to Lydia's class at the private school. Yes, I bought cupcakes. I would have made them myself, but the night before I was fitting my cousin who is soon to be married in her wedding gown here, and adjusting buttons and seeing if we needed to hem it. But we are saved on the hemming-all I have to do is move some buttons and it's done! Since we haven't seen each other for awhile, we sat and chatted about marriage and home making and having babies and drank tea and visited. Hence, no cupcakes.



After delivering the cupcakes, we went to put gas in the car and my MIL treated me to a cheeseburger. I ran home, made meatloaf (forgot the onions!) and ran with Dave to the Dr. Came home and finished dinner and I'm writing early so I can go to bed earlier than I have in the past couple of weeks.

Tomorrow is another day foiled as far as housekeeping goes. I am going with a friend to the hospital while her daughter has a sonogram. The hospital is about an hour away, near NYC. So, that will take a bit of time. I'm sure I'll be pooped when I get home. Why does travel take so much out of a girl? Nowadays anyway! We shall have a nice visit in spite of the trip.

I did reserve three wonderful sounding books at the library:

The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery

Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance by John and Martha Storey

The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour and Deirdre Headon

All found here. I will purchase them one at a time if I think they are something that will be beneficial to our quest to homestead as much as possible here on this little, tiny piece of earth.



I am so psyched. This winter I will work at a gardening plan better than the one we had this year. There is alot to take into consideration. Besides the planting, there is the weeding and the work of harvesting and preserving. It is not easy, it is very time consuming. But so worth it in the long run. One thing I need to do over the winter is invest in canning jars. I gave all mine away years ago when I thought I'd never can again. And we've gone around that mountain haven't we???



I have been sharing Fay Inchfawn poems and prose on here lately...I discovered her quite by accident. I think her poetry is dear. It speaks to me on my level, where I am at right now in my life. She's written about 37 books. Little by little I would like to collect them (see...here I go!) But...her writings are so personal and touching that I would like to have the collection to use in my work somehow. As soon as I get something, I will share it with you. I hope you are enjoying her prose as much as I am. It just speaks to my heart. The photo above is of her. Fay Inchfawn is the pen name of Mrs. E. R. Ward. (1880-1978). Depicted and known to thousands as 'A Homely Woman'. I will share more on her as I learn it.

Here is one of her poems:

Sometimes, when everything goes wrong;

When days are short and nights are long,

When wash day brings so dull a sky,

That not a single thing will dry.

And when the kitchen chimney smokes,

And when there's none so "old" as folks;

When friends deplore my faded youth,

And when the baby cuts a tooth

While John, the baby last but one,

Clings round my skirts till day is done;

And fat, good-natured Jane is glum

And butcher's man forgets to come.

Sometimes I say, on days like these

I get a sudden gleam of bliss.

Not on some sunny day of ease

He'll come...but on a day like this.


No day is perfect, nor will it ever be (although once in awhile we think that day the best ever)! But Jesus will return when the time is right, we do not know when this will be. Let us take each moment into account and see to it that we are thankful in each thing that comes our way-knowing that by the time it gets to us, God is already at work. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. "Romans 8:28



Lord, help us to understand that "all our times are in Your hands". Let us draw near to you, and yet nearer. Let us see You in the faces of our loved ones and let our loved ones see You in our face. Let our hands minister love to those about us, and let us always speak blessings upon those who hear our voice. Make me an instrument of Your peace.

May the Lord teach us to be wholly set apart for His work and His glory. May we look for His coming, even as we go about our tasks for the Home-sweet things. x0

She Watches Over the Ways of Her Household...

Proverbs 31:27..."She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

We know this chapter as the one containing the biography of the Virtuous Woman. She is one busy Mama! There is no slacking off on her part. She is on the same page as her husband and totally committed to his well-being, orderly, in charge, works with her hands, rises while it is yet night to prepare food for her family and a portion for her maidservants, she buys fields with her profits from her home business (she makes linen garments and sashes and sells them to merchants-v. 24), she blesses the poor, all her household are clothed well (physically and spiritually), she is wise, she is kind, she is watchful, she is not idle, and her husband and children praise and bless her.

I've got a long way to go. But I'm not kicking myself, I am merely stating the truth. I'm still learning the first part-laying down my will for the benefit of my husband-to be his suitable helper. God knows I am trying to be teachable.



Next-orderly. I am very artsy...which is another way to say...um...cluttery. I collect things-like a magpie. If it's rusty, shiny, glittery, glass, ceramic, wood, metal, cloth, yarn, thread, beady, papery...you name it...I can think of some artsy use for it. Hence, the reason it is taking me ever so long to make the big "studio" switch. It's still dragging on...move a little down to the basement...paint another section of basement wall...move and paint, move and paint. But I will say...it's coming along-however slowly...each day I progress...and that's what it's all about. I actually have a vision for the new studio...which is a good thing! It's about moving forward, and it's not a race.

So far this week, I've been busily working on my "mission"-which is...getting things down to a system here. I haven't read any more in the Pam and Peggy book...but I know the plan and I am working on making up my index cards as I go. I will use them until I am comfortable enough to transform it all to a control journal/office in a bag (Flylady). Right now the cards help me keep focused. Though I am still setting the timer-I have to. I tend to overdo it and then this fibro flares and I am in trouble.

I did accomplish alot Monday and today. It just brought me so much joy to know what I was doing was blessing my family. I am beginning to see how this will come together. One step at a time, one card at a time. I have the major part of it all done before my husband walks in the door. I might have to fold laundry after dinner, but that's no big deal. Once my house is totally in order (under control), I know I will have the freedom to begin sewing again! This is my secondary goal, the first is to bless my husband and family!



I even know what I'm making for dinner all week! This saves frustration. I plan on making a month's worth of menus and using it twelve times. This should save time for me. It makes me feel so good when Dave asks me what's for dinner and I can give him the answer he wants to hear, instead of the "I don't know" I used to say.

I'm reading a book called "Toxic Relief" and feel one of the next steps I need to do to make my home healthier is to get rid of all chemical-based cleaning supplies. This fibromyalgia is no joke. I feel chemical overload is part of it. So, the first step I am taking is to "de-chemical" my home. I will be on a quest to find natural alternatives. This should be interesting!

I'm sure you've all seen this recipe for laundry soap:

Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap
-Use 1/2-3/4 cup per load
-50 cents per gallon

This is an old-timey recipe and easy to make. The resulting consistency is somewhere between a gel and a liquid, making it easy to use.

For a two gallon plastic pail: grate half a bar of Fels-Naptha soap. Heat and dissolve in 3 pints of water. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 Cup Borax ad 3/4 Cup washing soda (not baking soda. It is available at a reasonable price from some smaller grocers and supermarkets-you may have to look around for a source near you.) Mix well. Mixture will thicken. Pour 1 quart hot water into a 2-gallon plastic pail. Add Fels-Naptha solution, stirring well. Fill pail with cold water. Stir occasionally. Ready to use in 24 hours. Makes enough for 48-64 loads. For a 5-gallon plastic pail, use 1 1/4 bars of Fels-Naptha, 1 7/8 Cups Borax, and 1 7/8 Cups washing soda.

I will start researching and see what I come up with as far as other household cleaning supplies. I'll keep you posted! If you have any good recipes, let me know!



It is such a pleasure for me to be at this stage in my life. To be content being at home and not feeling like I need to run out into the world to make money. I know it will all come together when the time is right. The wonderful thing is that it is entirely the Lord's doing...rather than doing it in my own strength...I am operating in the joy of the Lord...which, in turn, is my strength. When I'm having a flare I don't have much of my own physical strength, and I find that when I ask the Lord for His help, it is there. It is a supernatural event-this newfangled thing (for me) of fulfilling Proverbs 31 by the Spirit of the Lord!



There is no substitute for being in the absolute will of your Heavenly Father. No peace anywhere else or any other way than following His Holy Direction. Wait upon the Lord, seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and each day-each moment-He will bless you with exactly what you need. Today's equivalent of "Fresh Manna". It's there, new and fresh each second-as you need it-just stay with the Cloud by day and the Fire by night!

May God bless you as you seek Him. You will receive from His Spirit-joy and strength-to aid you as you look well to the ways of your Home-sweet things. x0

Because

photo taken by my brother Glenn


Because
by Fay Inchfawn

(PSALM CXVI.)

Because He heard my voice, and
answered me,
Because He listened, ah, so patiently,
In those dark days, when sorrowful, alone,
I knelt with tears, and prayed Him for a
stone;
Because He said me "Nay," and then in-
stead,
Oh, wonderful sweet truth! He gave me
bread,
Set my heart singing all in sweet accord;
Because of this, I love -- I love the Lord!


The Lord's voice. It is to me so sweet and kind. It is the sound of peace. It is the voice of a gentle friend. It is a flowing stream that never runs dry. It guides me and leads me and tells me and instructs me. It keeps me. It never leaves me.

As I spend time more and more with the Lord, throughout my day, talking to Him in my heart, I sense His leading. I sense His delight in the little things. I sense Him all about me, loving me.

As I seek His Kingdom more and more, I know the righteousness, peace and joy that are His blessing. His life for mine, my life for His. The eternal switch-once for all. The peace that moment accomplished will be heralded for eons. My heart smiles with a joy that is not of this earth. A contentment that He is all I will ever need to be satisfied. He is my righteousness, peace and joy.

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

It's all about Him. Him first. Drop your selfishness. Drop it like a pan from the fire. Drop your will. Just let it go.

Step into grace by faith and see that His love is more than capable. Overabundant. Full to overflowing.

His desire is for you. His desire is to show Himself true. His desire is for you to draw near to Him and let Him wrap you in His wings. His will. Your desire for His.

The love He embodies is a force no man can comprehend. It is boundless. It reaches to the heavens. The unlovely, undeserv-ed...they comprehend it, those who cry out to Him comprehend it...He is immediate for them. He is for them. He is.

We pray and He answers to our delight. We pray for a stone...and He gives us bread. He is the bread of life. All who eat this bread will never die. Eat and live.

May God mightily bless you as you seek His will, as you delight in His Word, as you exchange your filthy rags of self-for His robes of righteousness. Seek His Kingdom first and He will add all these things to you. Righteousness. Peace. Joy. Serve the Lord with gladness in your endeavor to give your life for your family...the Home-sweet things-the abundance of His will for you. x0

A Quiet, Restful Day

When He Comes

by Fay Inchfawn

"When He comes!
My sweetest 'When'!"
C. ROSSETTI.

Thus may it be (I thought) at some
day's close,
Some lilac-haunted eve, when every rose
Breathes forth its incense. May He find
me there,
In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,
In some sweet garden place,
To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!

Or, in my room above,
In silent meditation of His love,
My soul illumined with a rapture rare.
It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes
Might glimpse Him coming in the East-
ern skies,
And be caught up to meet Him in the
air.

But now! Ah, now, the days
Rush by their hurrying ways!
No longer know I vague imaginings,
For every hour has wings.
Yet my heart watches . . . as I work I
say,
All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,
Then wilt Thou find me thus: just as I
am --
Tending my household; stirring goose-
berry jam;
Or swiftly rinsing tiny vests and hose,
With puzzled forehead patching some one's
clothes;
Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and
run,
From early dawn till setting of the sun."

And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,
Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.


May my attitude reflect the words of this poem: "All simply to You. Find me thus: just as I am-doing what must be done in a day-for Your glory. And whenever You come for me, Lord, I'll rise and go, all the gladlier that You found me so."

"Finally, there is laid up for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!

God bless you as you enjoy the home-sweet things! x0