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!

Cauliflower Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

• 3 cups cauliflower, diced small
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 lb. cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Directions

Blanch cauliflower in boiling salted water and refresh under cold water. Drain and set aside. Melt butter in large saucepan, add onions and saute until tender and translucent. Add garlic and saute' 30 seconds. Add flour and cook and stir 2 minutes. Whisking hard, add half and half and chicken broth. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in cheese. Add the seasonings and mustard. Lower heat to be sure soup does not boil again or it may curdle. Add cauliflower and heat through. Garnish with bits of red pepper and lots of minced parsley. Makes 2 quarts.

Parents' Responsibilities

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your
heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when
you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

__________________

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 78:4-7 NIV

__________________

Train up a child in the way he should go,
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 NASB

__________________

And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 NLT

__________________

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14,15 NIV

The apostle Peter knew that hard days lay ahead for his fellow believers. So he reminded them about their security as children of God: they were chosen by Him, born into a living hope, given spiritual protection during this life, and guaranteed eternity in heaven with their Father. Peter then gave them specific ways to prepare for the coming trials. His words, divinely inspired by the Lord, can guide us as well.

His first instruction relates to our minds: What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life's problems. If we trust that God is looking out for us, then we will feel less threatened by hard circumstances. But if we decide we must rely on ourselves, then we are more likely to react poorly to situations beyond our control. A negative attitude--whether from anger, fear, worry, or jealousy--can make a hard time worse. Preparation for the future starts with developing biblical thinking.

A second lesson from Peter is to be "sober in spirit"--in other words, to maintain our balance in the midst of crises (v. 13). That requires resisting quick fixes to problems and refusing to embrace ungodly ideas or philosophies. Our enemy Satan is quick to offer suggestions designed to trip us up or turn us away from God's path. With the Spirit's help, we can learn to stand firm in a crisis and steadfastly follow the Lord.

Our culture is increasingly distancing itself from Jesus Christ and opposing His followers. Are you preparing spiritually for whatever the future holds?

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<><