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Abe Lincoln, Thanksgiving and Divine Intervention

Posted on 2008-Nov-18 at 02:16 by Kim Wolf<>< - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Here's something I found and thought it would be a great lesson for our children with Thanksgiving coming... {KW<><}...

In the White House, Abe Lincoln was pacing the floor of his office. He felt more troubeld than he had ever felt before. The fate of the Union was at stake. He felt as if he were almost alone in his concern for the outcome. Friends and aides appeared to be almost panic-stricken. Abe felt that this was the most critical hour of the [Civil] war, perhaps the most critical hour in the entire history of the United States.

In desperation he left his office, went into this room and locked the door. There he fell before a chair. With his head in his hands, he wept and prayed.

Now, more than at any other time in his life he turned to God. In deep anguish he told God that he had done all he could. He pleaded for help. There was nothing more that he could do. He must leave the result of the battle in the hands of God. He now knew that if his country was to be saved, it would be only because God willed it.

It was a heartbreaking hour of prayer.

When he unlocked the door and came out of his room he felt that a great burden had suddenly been rolled off his shoulders. His intense anxiety and torturing concern had been relieved. He felt a quiet and calm trustfullness...

On his desk was a copy of the Thanksgiving Proclamation. He had proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of national Thanksgiving. The nation had never before had such an annual Thanksgiving Day and he had decided that it was time the nation remembered in a special day what God had done.

Now he read slowly the proclamation:

We have been the recipients of the choistest bounties of heaven; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he read these words, for he believed in them deeply. It was because of this belief that he ordered the Treasury Department to engrave the words, In God We Trust, on American coins.

As he was sitting at his desk, thinking about these things, an aide rushed in and excitedly exclaimed, "There's good news from the battle at Gettysburg, Sir..."

But in spite of this great victory, his days were filled, dealing with generals, listening to the problems of many citizens, and handling endless administrative details. For help he turned to God through the Bible and in prayer.

Almost daily now, he felt the need to go to his room to pray. More and more, he became conscious of the work of God in the affairs of men.

Writing to a friend, Byron Sutherland, one day, he said,

I believe we are all agents and instruments of Divine Providence. I hold myself in my present position and with the authority invested in me, as an instrument of Providence. I am conscious every moment that all I am and all that I have are subject to the control of a higher power, and that power can use me or not use me in any manner and at any time as in His wisdom might be pleasing to Him.

One day, Mr. Chittenden, the register of the Treasury, asked him if he believed that God actually directed national affairs. With a deep feeling of emotion, he replied,

The the Almighty does make use of human agencies, and directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements of the Bible...I have many evidences of His direction, many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannont doubt that this power comes from above.

~~~Reprinted from Honest Abe by Harry J. Albus.

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ #9 ~ 11/18/08

Posted on 2008-Nov-18 at 07:57 by Kim Wolf<>< - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

$Original Home of The Simple Woman\$

For Today...

Outside my window...beautiful sunshine shining on a very thin layer of snow. Sparkling like glitter on the roofs of the house and out-buildings. It's been a few days since the morning has begun with sunshine.

I am thinking...how silly I was to have forgotten to do my Daybook yesterday!

From the learning rooms...major time with Marine Biology, today.

I am thankful for...the minor remodeling we're able to do as we can afford it.

From the kitchen...I'm getting a new dishwasher today! Woohoo!!!

I am wearing...jeans, black turtleneck w/my gold Lakeside hoodie.

I am reading...Bible; still reading Pride & Prejudice. Haven't had much time lately.

I am hoping...that the Lord will bless our church and that dd#2 will find the ministry the Lord wants her to be involved in and that it will bless her precious heart.

I am creating...a list of things I may want to make as CHRISTmas presents.

I am hearing...the radio.

Around the house...I am cleaning up where the old dishwasher used to be in preparation for the new one coming today.

One of my favorite things...double yokes in my farm-fresh brown eggs.

A few plans for the rest of the week...homeschool, praise team practice, a seminary class, gym, CHRISTmas crafts and possibly painting.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Our 2 girls. Just love those smiles, just love their laughter. When did they grow up?

To read other Daybooks click here --> http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

working hard today - pumpkin

Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 02:36 PM by Morning Sunshine - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

remember that list I posted this morning? Well, I started on the pumpkin. Now this pumpkin is huge. And heavy. And it has been sitting on my porch since beginning of October. So today I took my knife and wacked it up. Mindful of someone else's failed attempt at peeling the skin from a raw pumpkin, I threw mine (in 4 stages, each stage FILLING the oven space) into the oven for an hour at 300. this cooked the pumpkin just enough to allow the skin to come right off with a knife. I still have to skin half the thing. agh! anyway, then I cubed it into 1-inch cubes. Considering the meat is up top 4 inches thick in some spots, this is a chore!
But I have my first 7 bottles in the canner at 13 pounds pressure for 90 minutes.
This pumpkin cost me $30 at the farmers market. I know, it was expensive. If I had waited until after Halloween, I could have gotten it for half that. Next year. If I buy such a pumpkin again, which is HIGHLY doubtful. I do not know how much pumpkin I will get out of this. Even if I go by quarts, it is still unknown until I start using the pumpkin. At that point, I will drain it, blend it into puree, and then weigh it. That is when I will learn if this is worth it.
Dh says the work I havew already put into it is NOT worth it. He has a point - cans of pumpkin are so cheap in the stores in December and January as they clean out their holiday stashes. But I like to know what is in our food. Yeah, the cans list as ingredients: pumpkin. but there are things they do not have to list if it is small enough (I do not know if that is the case with pumpkin, but with other foods it is.) And if we ever manage to grow our own pumpkins, the cost will go down significantly.
And hey, bonus - the water in the jars of pumpkin can count towards water storage. not for drinking, true, but for baking or cooking....

oh, and I made the kids help. They were in charge of separating the seeds (these are monstrous too!) from the "goop." They wore some of daddy's t-shirts and complained bitterly about the feel of the innards. Cannot blame them for that! But they did do the work, and now they are outside enjoying the 50 degree weather we will be having all week. Lucky them. I am stuck inside a hot house over a hot stove. Not a pregnant lady's favorite spot.....

True Thanksgiving

Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11:32 AM by Catherine Ann - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~J.A. Shedd

May we, who receive such glorious undeserved, gifts; not fail to give thanks, truly and from the heart, to Him who gave all for us.

Thanks Gardening

Posted on Nov. 17, 2008 at 10:38 AM by HSB Front Porch - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching (where did this year go?); I've been pondering having a thankful heart. Our family has much to give thanks for- health, a home (not our dream home, but a roof over our heads nonetheless), friends, family, and for the time being, 2 gardens!

Gardening is one of those things that we just "do" in our family. For me, growing things is not only a hobby, but a passion I suppose. As I ponder giving thanks, and more importantly....living thanks to Him who gives to us so generously and abundantly; I am seeking ways to make gardening a way of giving and living gratitude.

Here are a few thoughts:

Sharing the harvest, a simple place to start.

Planting an extra row of edibles to donate to a food bank or needy famililes.

Saving seeds and sharing those with other gardeners.

Starting a community garden and teaching others the skills to grow their own food.

Market gardening, and donating part (or all) of the profits to the needy or perhaps to a missionary.

Hosting a "Harvest Festival" that gives honor and glory to the Lord of the Harvest.

Giving the gift of seeds to a needy family.

Supporting mission efforts that teach sustainable agriculture.

Anyone else have ideas to share?

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

Blessings,

Catherine

my surprise Chirstmas present - can you help my husband?

Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 09:11 AM by Morning Sunshine - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I know nothing about this.... I am channeling my husband because I of course know absolutely nothing about this Christmas present....
I posted this query about a month ago, and now have a link to ask further questions.
Will this machine listed here at Costco: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11307832&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=〈=en-US&s=1
do what it is that I want in a sewing machine?

I need to sew patches on little boy pants. I need to fix dance costumes. Not a lot of sewing, but enough that I would rather NOT truck my family and all my sewing needs down to Salt Lake every time I have a small need.
so my question: what are your recommendations for a small-ish job sewing machine? Maybe even - GASP - move into actually sewing new clothing (like modesty shorts for under dresses). Something that I could easily pack up and put away when not in use, because I do not think I will use it often. not like my mom's that has a permanent table and corner in her house and was used ALL the time when I was a kid, and even now every November and December.
But something strong enough to punch through a layer or two of denim.
help please

Fall Baking: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Posted on Nov. 17, 2008 at 05:34 AM by HSB Front Porch - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Want to do a little fall baking? Try these delicious pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They go great with a hot cup of coffee or tea on a cool autumn day.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Crystal Miller

2/3 cup milk

¼ cup butter (half of a stick or cube)

1 cup pumpkin puree

¼ cup honey

1 t salt

2 eggs

1 T yeast

5 to 6 cups whole wheat flour**

¼ cup gluten flour**

Butter

Sucanat or brown sugar

Cinnamon

**Options: you can use half white flour and half whole wheat flour in place of all whole wheat and gluten flour

In a sauce pan combine milk and butter. Heat until the milk is hot and the butter almost melted. Pour the milk/butter combination in the bowl of a Kitchen Aid or Bosch mixer. Let this cool to lukewarm. Add the pumpkin pure, honey, salt, eggs and yeast. Stir until well mixed. Add flour and mix until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides of your bowl but is still soft and pliable. Let this sit and rise for 30 to 45 minutes.

Turn the mixer back on to punch down the dough. Take the dough out of the bowl and divide it into 2 pieces. Roll the first piece out in a rectangle approximately 12x15 inches.

Butter the dough and sprinkle Sucanat or brown sugar all over. You can use as much or as little as you desire. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of this. Starting at the long side of the dough roll it up jelly roll style. Pinch the dough to seal. Cut the dough into one inch pieces. I like to use my kitchen scissors for this job.

Repeat this with the other half of the dough.

Lay out the cut cinnamon rolls onto a large jelly roll pan or in 2 9x13 pans. Let them rise until the have doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Glaze with a powdered sugar (or powdered Sucanat) glaze as soon as they come out of the oven, if desired.

Glaze

1 1/2 C powdered Sucanat or powdered sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

2 - 3 Tbs milk

Mix until smooth and thin enough to drizzle.

Crystal Miller

http://homesteadblogger.com/quiverfull

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com

to do this week

Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 02:20 AM by Morning Sunshine - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I have decided that this week I will post a large list of things to do. Sure, some things have day-specific times to be done, but most of it is big stuff to be spread over the week. We are having guests this weekend, some good friends. One of those few couple friends with whom we get along well and have core values in common. Not just religious, but spiritual. And lifestyle-wise. Their children are still too young to have made a decision about homeschooling (6 mo and 2 years) - they are still wondering about it. She has a teaching degree and taught secondary school math before they got married. I would be surprised if they choose ps, but they are still researching. Anyway, here is my to-dos:

Week of November 17-21

    * cook and bottle pumpkin
    * organize freezer
    * prep house for G family

clean 3 bathrooms
clean basement bathroom and turn on toilet :)
wash walls on main floor, stairs and upstairs bathroom
guest room: air out, change sheets, and vacuum
prep soap and lotion supplies
clean basement entry
plan weekend

    * call Jeff at appliance center
    * prep garden boxes for spring plantings
    * do school this week
    * talk to mom about my Thanksgiving
    * return books to town Library
    * piano on Thursday
    * Fab4's on Wednesday @ R's
    * laundry on Tuesday
    * freeze turkey carcass for later use - Monday
    * do bananas – muffins and bread - Monday
    * freeze tortillas - Monday
    *

Thanksgiving yesterday

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 07:40 AM by Morning Sunshine - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

My in-laws do Thanksgiving dinner the Saturday before Thanksgiving Thursday. We started this years ago, I think my first year in the family, to deal with the problem of in-law Thanksgivings... there is no conflict of whose family with whom to celebrate this year. What, yesterday was NOT the Saturday before Thanksgiving? Well, yes, but one BIL forgot this long-standing deal and planned a surprise vacation for his wife's birthday (surprise in where, not that they are going). So, we celebrated yesterday. We always have T-giving at SIL M's house. Her husband - a few years back, made a wonderful suggestion for future years, and I want to share that with you.
We had 18 people - 7 children (10, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and 11 adults.
After everyone was done eating, we took stock of what was left. How many potatoes did we use? Were there too many potatoes? For dinner, yes, but once everyone filled their ziploc containers for leftovers, nope.
We had a 20# turkey. Too much? the consensus was nope.
I made 36 rolls. too many? we only had 5 left when it was time to pack leftovers. Maybe more next year...
Stuffing - we make a triple batch of the yummy recipe. We accidentally overcooked it this year. It was brown and slightly crispy on top. Oops. But overwhelmingly, it was a hit. everyone liked it better slightly crispy and not all soft and gooshy. I really like that stuffing every year, but this year.... mmmmmmm. M, when you read this, can you post a comment with the recipe? Maybe I will volunteer that for my family. I think my dad uses a box. ugh.
We also have a cheese/cracker tray and a veggie tray out on the table for snacking before hand. That has been a lifesaver! When dinner is a bit late because the turkey is not quite done when it supposed to be, or SIL had to make a last minute grocery run for something forgotten or burned (that was me and the rolls last year!!), or the yummy smells permeating the house have our mouths salivating, we have yummy healthy snacks for munching. And they are great for kids who are running around with cousins and need a quick snack and all the adults are busy.

anyway, by writing all this down, we can see what we liked and didn't like for future years. It is very nice because although you THINK you will remember these details, you often do not. We have done some experiments in other years, trying other sides that someone wanted to bring or make, but we seem to like the basics for this meal. except dh, who had his "Thanksgiving poultry and potatoes" in the form of a deli-chicken sandwich on a roll with some potato chips. but, we expected this, and we all just rolled our eyes and loved him!

Don't You Just Love the Little Things?

Posted on 2008-Nov-15 at 02:10 by Kim Wolf<>< - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Today started out so gloomy and cold as the rain brought in such frigid temperatures. But I needed to go out to my favorite Old Order German Baptist farm dairy this morning to get some more whole milk and brown eggs. Even on gloomy days, that little trip brings a smile to me face. It's a nice 15-20 minute drive and I had my sweet little dog, Maggie, w/me and I put my CD of the music from PBS's "Frontier House" in the player and we were off.

There was some sort of 'big doin's' at the Old Order meeting house this morning b/c I passed no fewer than 11 horses and buggies on my errand. That's always such a wonderful sight.

When I got home, I fixed dh's favorite Saturday morning breakfast, Amish French Toast (http://www.homesteadblogger.com/wannabeone/105269/) and don't you know that 2 (TWO!!) of the eggs I cracked open had double yokes!!

Then, about an hour later, the weather got cold enough that our rain turned to giant, fluffy snowflakes for about 2-1/2 hours. What a lovely sight on a dark, quiet (except for the Ohio State Buckeye football game! ) Saturday.

It's the little things in life that mean the most. PTL.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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About Me

Going Green is the blog of Melonie K., a freelance writer, homeschooling "Momma" and military wife. Topics addressed will include suburban homesteading, green living, homeschooling and raising young patriots. All entries to this blog are copyrighted 2006-2008 by the author.