Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

SUBSTITUTE FOR RED FOOD COLORING

PAYING OFF THE MORTGAGE EARLY

Daily Devotion 280

October 7

What Love!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Have you ever stopped to think how much Christ suffered during His trial and crucifixion? Think of all the pain He must have gone through when they placed the crown of thorns on His head, hit Him with a reed, had Him scourged, and when the nails pierced His hands and feet. The pain must have been nearly unbearable. Not only did He face physical pain but also the fact that He was alone. The perfect Son of God died the cruelest death, the death of the most wicked criminal with the sins of the whole world on his

shoulders.

While He was hanging on the cross, the thieves who were being crucified with Him mocked Him. But after watching and listening to Jesus for a while and noticing how He loved His persecutors, one thief repented of his past life. Notice how Jesus, though ridiculed earlier, forgave the man and promised him eternal life. The love of Christ amazes me. What can I do to possess this kind of love? Imagine asking God to forgive those who are tormenting you. Though we know we should have this kind of love, it seems so often it is easier to hold a grudge against our enemies. Do not! Love like Christ did while He was suffering.

Just before He died, Jesus said, “It is finished!” I do not think He meant only that His life was finished, but also, now the plan of salvation was complete. Through His death He had made it possible that we could be saved.

Praise God that Jesus did not remain dead! Within a few days He arose, the glorious conqueror of death. Jesus is still alive today, and I praise Him with my whole heart. He conquered death and has shown me how to be victorious through loving as He has loved me.

Marlin Coblentz, Hicksville, OH

Christ has done so much for me, the least I can do is live for Him.

Bible Reading: Luke 23:34–47; Matthew 28:1–6

One Year Bible Reading Plan:

Philippians 2

Isaiah 34—36

Used by Permission of Vision Publishers

PO Box 190, Harrisonburg, VA  22803

Phone:  877-488-0901

E-Mail:  [cs@vision-publishers.com]

Sunsets and favourite things

So as the sun sets on our day I realized that it truly was a beautiful day here on our vineyard....life is good and God is good.

We have so much to be thankful for....food to eat as we made homemade pizza tonight...the children decorated their pumpkin shaped cookies...siblings who are getting older but are never to old to decorate cookies. 

Karisa  phoned home three times today needing "cooking" advice...it's so nice to see her trying new recipes for her dh....she is becoming a great homemaker...and not to mention a good cook like the generations that have passed her.

The weather is changing along with our leaves...the rain and wind are forcing the leaves to fall sooner than usual which proves to all that Autumn and the signs of winter will soon be upon us.  It's time to bring out the winter clothes and put on our quilts (which I did on our bed already).  The children have skating lessons, so "snowpants" are coming out from their bins also.

Dh has been working so many hours this past week and we miss him terribly.  Daniel woke up this morning and realized that dad had already left for work, and the tears began to fall...we are all tired of eating without him and spending the evenings alone as well.....  hopefully our routine will get back to norm soon.  BUT we are very thankful that dh has a job and is able to be the financial provider of our family.  This then allows me to stay home and do everything I was called to do as a wife and mother.... even though we wait every evening for him to get home (kids are usually already sleeping), we know that it is only a season and we have the entire winter to be together.

I continue to add names to my  "prayer bowl"...It's so wonderful that we can pour out our hearts to a God who knows everything and who cares about each of our lives.

Our daughter Stephanie goes on Thursday for another biopsy....so we need prayer.......Audrey goes for her biopsy, so she needs prayer....we continue to pray for George who also has cancer....and those of you who emailed me....we continue to also uplift you in prayer.  Dh is going for an ultrasound for a lump under his arm, so we could use prayer for that also.

Life has changed for us in so many ways this year and I am constantly reminded of God's blessings in my life.  I was thinking today of all the things that I love and am grateful for....and because this is my personal journal that I am making also into a book, I thought it  important to type out my favourite things and my blessings...so here are the things I am most thankful for:

My God,

'My family,

The word of God,

My health and the health of my family,

Friends,

Eyes,

Ears,

Sunshine,

Wind,

Sunsets,

Sunrises,

Church,

Food,

Doctors,

Dentists,

Vitamins,

A place to lay my head at night,

A roof that doesn't leak,

Adoption,

Freedom,

Here is a list of my favourite things:

Antiques,

All shapes and sizes of candles,

Any kind of pie (except mincemeat)

Raspberries,

Wooden bowls,

Homemade ceramics,

Grandma's quilts,

Soft blankets,

Afghans,

Woolen socks,

Tea,

Coffee,

Buttons,

Evenings by the fire,

Smells of bread baking,

Turkey roasting in the oven,

Old oil lanterns,

Braided rugs,

Hardwood floors,

All seasons

 So as I was typing this dh called and said he is on his way home... The children are so excited and want to get "everything ready for him"....so I must be off.  I wish each of you a blessed evening and thank you for stopping by for a visit.

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ #3 ~ 10/6/08

For Today...

Outside my Window...a beautiful sun-shiny day.  The only disappointment about the weather is that it's supposed to get up into the low 70s...I'm ready for it to stay down in the 60s and 50s.

I am thinking...that my friend, whose son was just murdered in front of his wife, is grieving and needs so much prayer.

It was bake day today..See pictures..

Today was bake day I did apple dumplings~blueberry bran muffins~ squash cookies..They all came out great. Its that time of year where I start cooking. I haven't done to much cause I love to eat and I'm watching what I eat .. Its hard when all this good stuff is around..

First we have blueberry bran muffins and apple dumplings..

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Next we have squash cookies and recipe included..

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Recipe for squash cookies ohhhhsoooo goooood..

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Ingredients

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1/2 cup butter softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups winter squash ,(COOKED I used one small can of squash..)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups of raisins or any dry fruit I used raisins

1 1/4 cups of walnuts,chopped..I didn't use these..

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Directions

Preheat oven to 375 lightly greased cookie sheets.

In a large bowl,cream sugars and butter.Beat in eggs and squash.

Then in a medium bowl,sift together all dry ingredients and stir into creamed mixture.Add raisins and nuts and combine.

Spoon approximately 1 heaping tablespoon of batter per cookie onto prepare cookie sheet. Adjust for desired size of cookie..

Note I used medium cookie scoop..

Bake for approximately 11 minutes..

Note I baked for 16 minutes..

Remove and cool cookies on a baking rack..

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If you have any questions please PM me and if you want recipes for apple dumplings or blueberry bran muffins please let me know..

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From our kitchen to yours..

Brenda

Freezing rain..see picture (HAIL)

I was baking and I hear the dog wanting to come in and noticed it was dark outside.. I looked and here comes the freezing rain..I grabbed the camera and if you look real close you can see it.. Can you believe it old man winter is around the corner.. Its that time of year..

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Blessing Brenda

Got a Question

I have a question for my fellow bloggers. I was wanting to make some extra money and I am looking for ideas on how to make money at home. I was going to go out and work and I even put in some applications but I haven't gotten any response yet.( It has been over a month now) I think it is because I was wanting to work opposite my husbands rotating 12 hour shifts. I was going to put more applications in but I am going to have surgery and I will be at home recuperating for 6 weeks, so there went that idea. I am looking for something to at home to make some extra money. If any one has any ideas please let me know.

I do know how to sew as long as it is not difficult. I have done crafts in the past, but haven't had any luck selling them. I do sell some stuff on eBay and in a consignment shop that I want to get rid of out of the house. But that doesn't amount to much.

Thank you for any advice that you could give,
Karen

~Another Nice Fall Day~

Such a lovely and cool day today, The boy's are down for there daily nap's....But Jack should be up shortly, Dh is eatting his lunch, I had lunch too but totaly over ate! I got some of my lawn bag's today to decrate for fall, Only thing is I will have to go and see who will let me have there leaves sence our tree dosent have the maple leaves, I know Sara will let me have hers for sure....Shes abit disaable so anyone that can help her she likes that they can, I know there is a law beside her that moved out so Im sure I can take there leaves as well.....And see how well that will fill the bag's up...There is also one house at the end of the street and I will see if I can get there leaves as well, Im sure she wount mind eather. Anyway's I will just have too wate and see.

Been cool at night lately, Got all the warmer blanket's up-stares now....I acuttly ended up doing about 8 loads of lundry yesterday but that's just becuse of all the bedding that needed too be done, It was well worth all the work though. Today we are sopsed to find out when they are comeing too put our new door in (Only took 3 months for them too get back to us) Also looks like they will be putting in a new kitchen floor as well, a badly needed one at that.....The one we have now no matter how much I clean it, it never look's clean, Drives me nut's! So heres too hopeing they will be doing it with in the next week or so....Fingers Crossed!! I think they will be changeing the lock's around too becuse we have too use the backdoor too come in and out, Makes it hard becuse them we have too go threw the gate with the stroller...So things really need to get fixed.....I would love a new frount door too this one is in such ruff shape.

Well Jack's up, I better get his lunch ready.

Blessings

~Ruth

Monday at Home

This weekend was such a blessing! As I mentioned Friday, I was going on a lady's retreat with some women from my church and it was so fun and I learned so many things. I felt so refreshed when I came home.

The theme for the retreat was Fruit of the Spirit, based on the scripture from Galatians 5:22-23.

     "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

We learned how to incorporate not one, but all of these characteristics into our daily lives, and the number one thing to be able to have all of them is to love God, and all else should fall into place. There was so much more that I would love to share, but it will have to wait for another time.

So on to today's business...same as usual. According to my little ticker on the sidebar, I have only 9 weeks left until this little bundle of joy is to be born. Now if you don't think that's not a kick in the rear, you are wrong. I have so, so many things to do, not only for baby, but for the holidays, for the other kids, and just things to be done in general. I'm a little scared I won't be able to do it all, but I'm going to work at it as hard as I can.

I'll just take it a day at a time. For today here is my list....

~Keep up with daily routines.

~Follow basic weekly plan, which for today is...

     -weekly home blessing-vacuuming, mopping, dusting, etc.

     -zone work-this week, I am working in the kitchen

     -laundry-towels and sheets

~Work on wool soaker for baby

~Schooling with children-which I'm keeping very basic for today

~Do some general cleaning and pick up throughout the house

If I have time, which I won't, I would like to do a bit of sewing, but that will probably have to wait until tomorrow which is when I like to do my sewing and some baking for the week. For dinner we're having homemade hamburger helper with green beans or salad. Well, that's all for today. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara