In His Presence

Happy 4th of July 2009!

Tomorrow will be a busy day here at my home.  Lots of folks are coming by for my annual Independence Day Cookout.  Here is this year's menu:

Deviled Eggs

Grilled Burgers and Hot Dogs

Potato Salad

Spaghetti Salad

Pea Salad

Baked Beans

Cole Slaw & Hot Dog Sauce

Relish/Toppings Plate

5-cup Fruit Salad

Cream Pies

Patriotic Cupcakes (red, white, & blue!)

Watermelon

Sweet Tea

Actually, its just like most of you will be having tomorrow--an All-American Cookout with all the fixin's!  However, first and foremost in the day will be prayers of thanksgiving to God for the freedoms we are given each and every day.  Many lives were lost, many others dedicated to insuring our freedom, and I am ever so thankful for this.  Our God is faithful, and we must be also.

May you and your family and loved ones have a most blessed and safe Independence Day this year!

Hugs,

Cynthia Robin

Happy 4th

I would like to wish you all a happy 4th and for those that will have bbq and have family and friends over have a great day of fellowship.

And for those that will be home have a happy day...

Have a happy weekend for those on the road drive careful.. There are a lot of folks on the road this weekend..

Have a weekend everyone..

My plans I'm having my brother and family and my parents? we are having a bbq with lots of outside games with prizes.It will be a good day  with fellowship..

Blessings Sister Brenda

Up date on Thecfarm ~

Good morning from another rainy day in Maine the start of July isn't so good.. Just about he whole month of June it rained. Farmers are having a hard time with crops . The fields are filled with water tractors can't get on its a mess. We have such a short growing season too begin with. The hay crop some don't even have first crop in yet do to rain.

Here at the farm My garden not doing so good have replanted cucumbers again. Also have pumpkins -squash-cukes started over in the greenhouse.. I have to grow them enough so the rain and beetles do destroy them.

Ray has put new fencing up for the goats Mike and Blarney are doing just fine. Mike just got banded a few days ago he is doing fine. And Blarney lost his band a few days ago and he is doing great.

Ive been keeping myself busy trying to mow and garden and yard work between rain .. I've also doing some craft work.

Today I have a busy day we are having my brother and family and maybe my parents over for a bbq tomorrow. I have baking and cleaning  to do. I have my first load of laundry in the washer and the dishwasher is humming away.

I would like to wish every one a Happy 4th and drive safely if your on the road and enjoy the week with family and friends all that fellowship is good..

Blessings Sister Brenda

Goats.. HELP PLEASE

When Ike was so sick with pneumonia I brought him and Mike in the basement we put down carpet and hay and clean it twice a day it didn't smell bad..But now it smells terrible.. The floor is concrete and there was some boards where we fenced them in..

I have bleached with a bush and I've also used pine sol and it still smells..Today I've opened up the windows.. I have put baking soda down on the floor and left it now for many days..

We have had rain for many days and its damp.. could that bring the smell out??? I'm lost..

Help I don't know what to do..

Thanks Blessings Sister Brenda

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

I have been reading the book written by Jane Jarrell, titled, "Simple Hospitality". I thought I might share a little of it with you.

I really enjoyed reading this one thing that she wrote about using the letters that spell out the word "hospitality". So today we look at the H.

H--Hospital for the Soul

Why does one go to the hospital? To visit, maybe, or to welcome a new person into the world. But oftentimes it's because our bodies are broken. A hospital can be a place to go for healing and repair.

So the word hospitable is taken from the word hospital, which means a charitable institution, a repair shop, a hospice, or a shelter. Hospitality is a shelter for the soul, healing for the spirit. So when we open our home in the true spirit of hospitality or when we bring our gifts of hospitality outside of our homes, we are offering hospitality!!

The Bible states it this way: Romans 12:9-13, "Let love be without dissimulation.....v10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;. .vs12, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; vs13, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

So real Christian hospitality isn't an option, it is what God commands.

O-Obedience

Some may think focusing on hospitality is frivolous or a waste of time. But in reality it is nothing less than obeying God's clear command in Scripture. Hospitality was not Martha Stewart's invention; it was God's!! Romans 12 paints an incredible picture of what it means to truly give our lives to God......In these selfless acts, we serve not only those in need but Christ Himself. Hospitality is obeying God by cheerfully serving others.

S-Simplicity

If we don't approach hospitality simply, most of us won't do it at all. When we exchange the harried hoopla for the heartfelt, everyone is blessed. Can we be comfortable when everything is not perfect, or do we always need to put on a show for people? As one lady states "I don't want to buy your house, I just want to visit." Simplicity brings us closer to having authentic relationships. Our focus is on our guests, not on the "stuff" that surrounds us.

P--Prayer

Hospitality involves prayer. Ask God to show you who and how to show hospitality to. God will show you the when, the how, and what that someone might need. I may not know what a person needs at the time but God knows!! You should always ask God for His blessing on the gathering you are about to have with someone, no matter how small or large the number will be.

I--Intimacy

Intimacy is sharing who you are and what you are to others. You need this type of relationship with your husband, your family and your friends, but nurturing genuine intimacy takes time and effort.

Cell phones and emails are nice, but we need to take time to sit quietly with a friend sometimes. You never know where they are at or what they may need.. Time plus realness plus genuine caring equals intimacy.

Simple Hospitality......It really can be simple!!

T--To Go

Are you ready to take your kindness on the road? Do you have a plan or list of ideas that will work in a hurry?

Keep a few recipes with the ingredients on hand so that you can prepare a meal or a welcoming treat for someone in need.

There is something extra-special about busy people who take the time to reach out and help others.

A--Acknowledge and Appreciate

We all have our own gifts, but what about those who are known for the hospitality? They also need a "dose" of hospitality sometimes. They need to be acknowledged for their kindness, appreciated for the efforts and recipients of the hospitality of others.

Most of us are "takers' by nature and unless we make a conscious effort, we’ll always take and forget to give back. Those who are more "givers", either by nature or intent, often get taken for granted.

In our busy lives, gratitude is often felt yet not expressed.

L--Lifestyle

Hospitality is a lifestyle, a ministry lifestyle. God weaves it into our hearts. We all need each other to make the body of Christ its best. You are making the commitment to a lifestyle of opening up your heart to others on a regular basis.

You will need to start small, perhaps by committing to one act of hospitality each month. Gradually you will see how easy it is and move towards once a week and before you know it you will be asking God to show you someone in need every day!!

Take time to ask God to show you how He might use you today, this week or this month. You are allowing God to work through you and when He is working, we cannot fail.

I--Ideas

When looking for ideas for hospitality, scan your favorite magazines, talk with your friends or keep a simple notebook or card file with your favorite recipes, holiday decorating ideas, party themes, or anything else that spurs your hospitality thinking. Just keep it simple, and honest. Let God's love show through you and that will be all that you need to make any time a good time to visit.

T--Time

We are all short on time for the things that we want to do or need to do. That is why hospitality is such a valuable gift to others. It means we gave them our most precious resource: our time.

Think of things to do for hospitality for others when you are doing for your family. Double a casserole for dinner one night and freeze the one for a family that may be in need, or a mother who may be sick at the time.

When baking cookies for your family, bake a few more to brighten someone's day. Out buying groceries? Cut back on one thing or two for snacks and make up a meal for a new mom.

If your time is limited, begin your quest to hospitality with small things and think about other ways that you will want to show it when your time allows for it.

Y--You

To show hospitality to others, you must first love yourself so that you are capable of loving others. This means taking care of yourself so that you are able to take care of others. When we've taken the time to put our own hearts in order, we are freed to reach beyond ourselves to meet others where they are.

Dogs and Burgers Cupcakes info ~ recipe and picture

now this has to be the cutest cupcake I've ever seen with so much detail.. I wish I didn't have dial up..

If anyone makes these please let me know and post a picture.

No BBQ is complete without hot dogs and burgers. No grilling necessary!


Watch a step-by-step video demonstration of this recipe.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	Hamburger Cupcakes
	2 vanilla wafer cookies
	1 Keebler Grasshopper cookie
	Yellow and red icing in tubes
	Green tinted coconut
	Slices of green gumdrop (optional)
	Orange juice or lemonade concentrate
	Sesame seeds
	1 baked cupcake
	White icing
	Multicolored nonpareils
	Hot Dog Cupcakes
	1 circus peanut
	1 caramel square
	Yellow icing in a tube
	Green tinted coconut
	Cut-up green gumdrop (optional)
	Orange juice or lemonade concentrate
	1 baked cupcake
	White icing

1. For Hamburger: To build the hamburger, start with an upside-down vanilla wafer. Add a dab of icing to attach the Grasshopper cookie, then a squirt of yellow icing, a squirt of red icing, a sprinkle of tinted coconut, and 2 thin slices of a green gumdrop for pickles (optional).

2. Top with the second vanilla wafer cookie, right side up (glue on with icing if needed). Rub the top "bun" with juice concentrate, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Frost the cupcake with white icing, place the "burger" on top, and sprinkle on nonpareils.

3. For Hotdog: For the bun, cut a wedge in the circus peanut. If the caramel is soft, roll it into a hot dog shape. If it's hard, first soften it in your hand or in a microwave for a few seconds.

4. Caution: the caramel can get hot! Place the "hot dog" in the bun and squirt on a squiggly line of yellow icing.

5. Garnish with green gumdrop "relish," if you wish. Frost the cupcake with white icing, place the hot dog on top, and sprinkle on nonpareils.

Red, White, and Blue Delight ~ recipe and picture

Now this looks really good and very simple to make..

Packed with kid appeal, this culinary nod to Old Glory, from cookbook author and FamilyFun contributor Ken Haedrich, is made by layering strawberry sorbet and vanilla and blueberry-flavored ice cream in a loaf pan, chilling each layer until it's firm. Served with homemade blueberry sauce and fresh fruit, it's a sweet, summery ending to any Independence Day meal.

Got the link here:

Blessings Sister Brenda

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52181&CMP=NLC-NL_Wkdr_0701_red_white_and_blue_delight

INGREDIENTS:
	For the blueberry sauce:
	1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed
	1 tablespoon water
	1/2 cup sugar
	1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
	1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch For the dessert:
	1 pint strawberry sorbet
	1 container (1 1/2 quarts) vanilla ice cream
	Fresh blueberries and strawberries for garnish

1. Combine the blueberries and the water in a medium-size saucepan. Partially cover the pan, then bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering the berries until they begin to break down, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sugar and cook the berries until they become soft, about 1 to 2 minutes more.

2. Stir together the lemon juice and cornstarch in a small bowl until evenly blended. Stir the mixture into the berries, then cook them at a low boil, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and transfer it to a medium-size bowl. When the sauce is cooled, cover it and place it in the refrigerator to chill.

3. Line a 9- by 5-inch metal loaf pan with two sheets of crisscrossed plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang on all sides, then chill the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes.

4. Place the container of sorbet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to soften, then spoon the sorbet into the pan and mold it, using a sheet of plastic wrap to smooth the top as needed. Cover it with foil and freeze it for 2 hours. The last 30 minutes, soften the vanilla ice cream in the refrigerator. Remove the pan from the freezer, add half the vanilla ice cream, mold it, cover it with foil, and freeze it and the remaining ice cream for 30 minutes. For the third layer, mix the remaining ice cream with 3/4 cup of the blueberry sauce, and add it to the pan. Freeze the dessert for one more hour.

5. Chill a platter in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Right before serving, thin the remaining blueberry sauce with a spoonful of water or orange juice. Invert the dessert onto the platter, unwrap it, and garnish it with fresh berries. Use a sharp knife to slice the dessert, and serve it with the sauce. Serves 10.

Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 slice, 10 servings per recipe, with 2 tablespoons of blueberry sauce):
Calories 277
Total Fat 10 g (15% DV)
Saturated Fat 5 g (27% DV)
Cholesterol 54 mg (18% DV)
Sodium 58 mg (2% DV)
Total Carbohydrate 46 g (15% DV)
Fiber 0.9 g (4% DV)
Sugars 43 g
Protein 4 g (8% DV)

(Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.)

Popcorn Cones ~info ~recipe~picture

A movie night just isn't complete without popcorn. Single-serving paper cones and a popcorn seasonings bar allow viewers to customize their snacks.

To make your family movie night picture-perfect, check out our printables for a classic popcorn holder, tickets to the festivities, and a decorative wrap for your favorite drink.

Got the link here:

Blessings Sister Brenda

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12201&CMP=NLC-NL_Wkdr_0701_popcorn_cones

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scrapbook paper
	Tape
	Scissors
	Popcorn
	Butter
	Jars with shaker lids
	Popcorn toppings:
	Paprika
	Garlic powder
	Onion powder
	Dried thume
	Chili powder
	Salt
	Sugar
	Cinnamon
	Dried parsley
	Grated Parmesan
	Dried oregano
	Dried basil
	Dried rosemary
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. To make one cone, roll a piece of 12-inch-square scrapbook paper into a cone and secure it with tape. Trim the top to make it flat. Bend the cone's tip up about an inch and tape it in place. For a lid, make a second cone using a piece of 11- or 10-inch paper; after sprinkling seasonings on the popcorn, fit the mouth of the smaller cone over the larger one and shake the popcorn to distribute the toppings.

2. TOPPINGS: For epic amounts of flavor, pop up a big batch of popcorn, toss it with a bit of melted butter, and put out a spread of jars with shaker lids containing these mixtures:

Cajun: Combine 1 teaspoon each of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, and salt to taste.

Cinnamon and Sugar: Mix 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Italian: Combine 1 teaspoon dried parsley and 2/3 cup grated Parmesan with 1/2 teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Add salt to taste.

Starlight-Spangled Napkin Rings~info and picture

This is such a cute idea..I'm going to make some of these up for this weekend..

You can make a patriotic place setting for each of your guests using this simple technique.

Got the link here:

Blessings Sister Brenda

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12179&CMP=NLC-NL_Wkdr_0701_star_spangled_napkin_rings

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Tape or glue
	White poster board or heavy paper
	Starlight mint candies
	Double-sided tape
	Blue napkins
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Tape or glue a strip of white poster board or heavy paper (ours was 1 inch wide and about 7 inches long) into a ring.

2. Fix a row of Starlight mint candies (in their wrappers) to the ring with double-sided tape.

3. Stuff the ring with a blue napkin and one set of utensils.

The fridge is coming home!

Your heavenly Father knows your needs. He will always give you all you need from day to day. ~ Luke 12:30-31