Rachel's Reasoning

1Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

 3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

 5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

 6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

 7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

 29That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For...  Monday, July 21st

Outside My Window... I can see the bean fields green, the evergreen tree, and the Queen Ann's Lace flowers dotting the field in front of the bean field.

I am thinking... That I should get going on my GGM articles, and should clean the rabbit cage, finish up a letter to my Grandmother, and send a couple of articles to my Grt. Grandmother.

I am thankful... for the spring rain that came today.

From the kitchen... the roast in the oven... mmm, going to make some beef and veggie stew tonight.

I am wearing... a white t-shirt with a Riverside Youth Club sign on it in pink, my blue stretchy skirt and bare feet, oh and my hair is in a pony tail.

I am creating... A clean house.

I am going... write in my journal today.

I am reading... "Rosa of Linden Castle" by Christoph von Schmid, soon to be reading "Enoch Roden's Training" by Hesba Stretton.

I am hoping... get some flower seeds and plant them in the next week.

I am hearing... the rattle of baby toys and Amanda talking to Mom in the living room.

Around the house... The babies are playing, the click of the keyboard is heard, and it is the usual day in the Dixon house.

One of my favorite things... is to look at the flowers outside and wonder how they are made.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Weed Mom's flower beds, clean out the garage, mow, plant some more garden plants, get the pantry back in order, finish reading the Lamplighter books, clean for Mr. Schenck's, finish up the package for my SSA.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Our first horses - Dulcy and Estrella, that aren't here anymore. This is a picture from last summer, when they were out in the pasture eating the grass and apples we fed them. \

For...  Tuesday, July 15th

Outside My Window... The morning sunlight is creeping up to the porch, the chickens are strolling in the fields, and I can hear the birds singing their morning chorus.

I am thinking... that I need to get my articles done for Growing In Grace, and clean the house, take a shower, check on the garden.

I am thankful... for my baby sis Luli.

From the kitchen... Nothing yet. I will probably be making something in there soon.

I am wearing... a white t-shirt with a Riverside Youth Club sign on it, a blue skirt and socks.

I am creating... a drawing for my Super Secret Angel.

I am going... to be busy this day.

I am reading... "Rosa of Linden Castle" by Christoph von Schmid

I am hoping... get some flower seeds and plant them.

I am hearing... the birds singing high in the tree tops their morning songs, and I hear the hens near the porch pecking at something.

Around the house... all is quiet and peaceful - except for Eric.

One of my favorite things... is to be outside in the garden when the sun is just coming up and the dew has watered the plants. It's like being in God's Garden.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Weed Mom's flower beds, clean out the garage, mow, plant some more garden plants, get my room in tip-top shape.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
This is the sunset coming home from Hobbs, NM, when we left me Aunt's house.

My Story - Feelin’ Feminine Challenge

Jocelyn is doing another Feelin’ Feminine Challenge - What’s Your Story? This Challenge is to tell your story about how you came to believe in femininity. Well, I am doing this Challenge. :) Hope you are too.

I have always liked the old-fashioned looks of the dresses the women of the 1800 and the early 1900’s wore. They were so elegant and beautifully made. Somewhere in the years that have gone passed, we have lost that sense of fashion, and now we see girls and women alike dressed immodestly.

I have always wanted to wear dresses like the prairie girls did when they did their chores, or made dinner with their white aprons tied around their waists. I have always thought of women who wore long skirts and wore blouses with long-sleeves and turtlenecks. That is the way I wanted to dress.

When I was little, like 2-7, Momma let us wear shorts and tanktops. But as she read further into what the Bible had to say about how women should dress, the girls in our family could not wear shorts and could not wear tight jeans. We were allowed to wear skirts that came below the knees and sweat pants for chores, and pajama pants for bed. (To tell you the truth, I mostly wear my skirts to do barn chores in, except when one is not clean.) I am so glad I was made to wear skirts!

I have the ideas about the way a women should look because of what my Momma made me do. Of course, being the person I am, who could walk into Wal-Mart with her hair back in a ponytail, and a t-shirts with a skirt, I was all into trying on the pretty skirts made got for me.

As I grew, I started noticing that a lot of the women I saw were in spaghetti strapped shirts that were tight, and very short shorts, or mini-skirts, or tight jeans. I saw how immodestly dressed they were. You can’t even look at the front page of a magazine anymore, without seeing some half-naked person on the front. It doesn’t make me angry that they are dressed that way. I feel sorry for them that they are selling themselves short, as the saying would go. I hate going to the store in the summer because most of the girls are immodestly dressed. We have to guard our little siblings’ eyes because of it.

It is heartbreaking that no one has told these girls the way they are dressing is wrong. But in today’s world, it’s accepted. What has our society come to?

I am not trying to go on about how people should dress, and I am not trying to condemn anyone. I am simply stating my opinions on my view of femininity. So, will you take the challenge on of being a modest girl in an immodest world? A world that would tell you ‘just be yourself, no one else cares.” Actually, a lot of men notice girls and women who dress immodestly. I try to have a loose shirt, and a flowing skirt, with flipflops or tennis shoes.

How will you be judged by people?

Taking on the challenge,

      Rachel

First, let's take a look at Mrs. Tiffany of Natural Family Living Blog tells about Freedom Gardens - Grow Your Own Food. She said that

"I have been reading about WWII Victory/Freedom Gardens lately. Iam not sure when the concept began but our history is rich with stories of people who used times of war and economic depression (like The Great Depression) to get proactive and start growing their own food. During WWII you could find posters encouraging you to start your own garden and avoid the restrictions of food rations and to become more self sufficient during those stressful times."

She said that "by the time you’re done reading this, you’ll have an excellent idea of exactly when higher-priced houses will fall in price, and you’ll have an armload of data to assist you in determining when a house is priced correctly — no matter where it is or what its price."

Take a look if you are interested in buying a house or are going to be buying a house.

Let's take a look at someone else's life for a moment. Dora Renee'Wilkerson of  Y-2k Hippie tells about when her parents came down from Ohio.

Some of the things they did were made berry jam, fresh bread and cream cheese, made shampoo, and homemade vinegar.

"Why Dexter’s? We have been great fans of the heritage breeds movement for sometime and we knew that we would be picking one of the older breeds, so that narrowed down the search. We first wanted a Kerry cow but we couldn’t find very many of those - a bit too rare. The next runner up was the Dexter, a very old Irish breed."

"Saturday was our first attempt at chicken butchering.  We got together with some dear friends of ours and did it together so they could teach us how and what to do."

"Have you ever heard of Icumsa 45 sugar? According to estimation each person consumes an estimated 24 kilos a year – or 52.8lbs!! And most, if not all of the sugar you ingest is going to be Icumsa 45 sugar."

"My garden, half-tended to, is growing strongly. We should start eating green beans soon and will probably eat them as a staple most of the rest of the summer. Some of my beans are purple, which I find hauntingly beautiful among the dark green leaves of the plants and so unique!"

"I spent two hours digging over a flowerbed today. For the last two years, my beds have suffered serious neglect in favour of the market garden. Now that I'm no longer doing that...well, actually, I feel like myself again."

"This question is for the meat eaters out there. We have a lamb that is butchering age. I like lamb and order it occasionally in restaurants, but cooking it myself is new territory to me."

"What is it about summer time that conjures up memories of childhood? Maybe it was because summer’s always were a return to simplicity.. more of a time to kick back and enjoy what life’s about"

"The traditions my parents established for our home are a source of nostalgia for me today. My husband and I wanted celebration in our home to reflect the joys of our childhood but also be unique. The most unusual part of our kids’ birthdays is their Birthday Tablecloth. Guests write messages and sign their names on it, year after year. At three, our oldest jumped out of bed and ran to the dining room. With an excited voice I heard, “Mommy, it’s my birthday! I see my birthday cloth!” Joy! This is how I made it."

"Outside my Window...chickens pecking in the grass. :-)
I am thinking...about my week ahead.
I am thankful for...that my back felt better this morning. Thank you for the sweet prayers!
I am creating... a spot for all of our baking supplies to prepare for the baking contest we entered."

This is not the most recent picture of him, but look at him, he's just as cute now as he was then!

Miss Jocelyn did a super-neat post ab out his birthday... she even put a slideshow on it. Very cute pictures of him in his Cowboy Outfit. She wrote a poem about him too. Go check it out!
Our Cowboy Caleb

The names of the characters.
The places.
And about 5 of the scenes.
Disappointing?

Plus, the timeline was off... which kind of confused things... and I hated the way they made it when Prince Caspian is fleeing from the palace after the birth of his uncle's son. They should have made it longer. Another scene which I wished the would have made the way in the book was when Prince Caspian meets the Pevensies.

I would not recommend anyone to see this if they have a love for the books. What we knew in the books, what C.S. Lewis wrote, his whole world of Narnia, is changed in the movie. You will be disappointed with it, as I was. I am not saying to *not* go see it. I am only saying that if you think it will be like the book, it is not. I was mad at the ending of it. What they did with Susan went totally against her character, along with Prince, or I should say 'king' now, Caspian. You will be surprised at what she does. There was an unnecessary romance between Caspian and Susan. I was mad about that. I am not going to tell you what they do, unless you are not going to see it, because I don't want to give away any part of the movie.

Later that night, after everything had been done, we got our haircuts. I got a picture of me with my hair getting cut, but I don't want to put it on here. Not a very good one of me. But here is one of Jocelyn getting her perm:

This one is of Maggie and Amanda.


I love this one of Breezy and Jocelyn. They are both so pretty. :)

Here's LucyLillie. She was the star of the party.... showing off how sh could walk so nicely.

Amanda made Jocelyn's cake, and we had ice cream and cake while she opened her gifts. I shall not name them, because I am sure Jocelyn want to tell you all about it. :D

When they had to leave, we wanted a picture with all the girls. So... here we are!

We had such a fun time with all of them. I hope we can see the B.'s again soon. :)

Bible Verse of the Day
Psalm 6:9
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

Mark 16:15
 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Amanda did an article for this month's Growing In Grace Magazine about World Press Freedom Day. She did a really good article about World Press Freedom. She talks about how the government in China,

"Even though China has made promises of reform, the Chinese authorities have not kept their promises, they also have intensified their strangulation of free press, they have oppressed the journalists, and other who seek to exercise their rights to freedom of expression!

Go check out her post. It's great!

Along with China, I am going to be praying for my own country, America. I think our country needs as much prayer as China. Living in America, I know what it is like. Our country will need to turn back to God before it is too late. Help me as I pray for our country.

I found these verses that I thought went a little with praying:

Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Psalm 6:9
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

I just learned the entire song a few weeks ago. But, it has always been a favourite, even if I am off-tune when I sing it! :o)

Battle Hymn Of The Republic
by Julia W. Howe, 1819-1910

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,
He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed His fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!

I have seen Him in the watchfires of an hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an alter in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
His day is marching on!

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
God is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
God is marching on!

We’ve just published our third and latest edition of Growing In Grace Online magazine. A lot of work went into this edition magazine with the writing and putting together the format. Right now we’re a free online magazine, but we are now in PDF format and we’re looking into publishing in print so GGM can be sent right to your door! Please pray for the Lord’s hand to be in that area of GGM.

Does the cover look beautiful? Very bright and springy? This month’s featured young lady is Miss Joy, which many of you may know. Is she lovely? I got the opportunity of interviewing for this issue: GGM Interview:Miss Joy. With

As we go along GGM just keeps getting better and better. A few NEW columns were added to GGM this month, including Emotion Commotion, Blessed Girlhood, and Snuggle Up With A Good Book. My columns and articles are below.

Vanilla Wafers Recipe by Lady Rachel

Emotion Commotion: 'Turn The Other Cheek' Lady Rachel *NEW THIS MONTH*


Snuggle Up With A Good Book: 'Kingdom's Dawn' Lady Rachel *NEW THIS MONTH*

And as it will be every month GGM has a NEW layout, new icon, and new calendar graphic! If you already had these on your blog they should change automatically, and if you haven’t gotten them… GO! Just look on the GGM sidebars and you’ll find the images and the codes!

“Growing in Grace Ministries is a magazine that desires to bring inspiration to young Christians ladies who are striving to live a virtuous life and grow in God’s grace."

Also new at GGM:

Photography Contest:

The GGM Calander for this month

Welcome to the March 17, 2008 edition of The Homesteading Carnival, the Presentations edition! I am sorry I am so late in getting this up. I wrote it up once, but something happened and it was gone. Eeek! So without further adieu here is this week's carnival...

Jesse Moran presents Teach Your Children to Handle Their Money posted at CompGifts - The Frugal Way of Living. This generation of children don't know how to spend their money wisely, but as Jesse gives a few tips on how to make children earn their money so they handle it well.

"The debt for young people is rising, more than ever before as younger people are getting more and more credit card offers in the mail."

Rose Denson presents Grandma Rosie's Texas Home - Prodigal Gardens..Great site posted at Grandma Rosie's Texas Home. As always Rose has some great tips and advice!

Erica Burgan presents Healthier and More Natural Health and Beauty Products posted at The Sojourner. Ever thought of using olive oil as a moisturizer? Well, Erica sure has and it works great! Another way to use something completely natural.

Jess presents Fancy Feet posted at Growing In Grace Online. Jess gives some wonderful ways to care for your feet, which include some homemade soaking mixes!

Flossie presents The Funny Farm - Getting Fit!!! Mentally, Physically and Spiritually posted at The Funny Farm. A family activity to get rounded all on corner...

Dora Renee Wilkerson presents Y-2K Hippie: 06/18/07 posted at Knitting, horses, and my family, saying, "Easy cottage cheese!" Not only does Dora give some great info on making cottage cheese, but also on how she made soap!

"I made Cottage cheese for the first time today (I had no clue what I was doing but it turned out tasting like what I recall cottage cheese tasting like."

Jennifer in OR presents Maragas Winery: An Oregon High Desert Experiment posted at Diary of 1. Complete with beautiful pictures, Jennifer shares her Oregon homestead experiment...

"The first vines are now springing forth with new buds, a hopeful sign of an agricultural breakthrough that will someday soon christen Central Oregon as wine country."

Autumn Beck presents My Top 5 All-In-Ones posted at All About Cloth Diapers, saying, "All-in-One cloth diapers are one of the simplest and convenient cloth diapers on the market. Here's a list of my favorite all-in-ones."

Jacque presents On the Upswing - Spring is in the Air! posted at Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths.
  Ah spring certainly is in the air. The birds are singing and the weather has been nice! So nice that Jacque is getting to get some things going!

Robin presents I Almost Died and Would Have Missed the Blog Party posted at Heart of Wisdom. With a little humor Robin, after experiencing heart-problems, gives an extensive overview of the heart and how to care for it.

Amanda presents Exhausting Excitement! posted at The Daily Planet. Amanda has been busy with grocery shopping and visiting with family, and it's been exhausting, but definitely exciting!

Miss Jocelyn presents Finding Mr. Right posted at A Pondering Heart. While she's cleaning up the house and carin' for the goats, she's relying on God to bring her Mr. Right to one day keep the homestead for.

HowToMe presents How to Make a Hamburger Patty Stay Flat posted at HowToMe, saying, "Why poke a central hole in raw hamburger patty? Good question with a good answer!"

 Stephanie presents Garden Planning - Taking Inventory of My Pantry posted at Stop the Ride!. Getting ready for the spring garden planning and planting, Stephanie shares with us a little of what she's doing.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the homesteading carnival thc using our carnival submission form, which will be held at A Pondering Heart. 

***Ain't he a tough one? He's scared of everything now. He won't even stand up to a hen most times. He will fight with the roosters occasionally.***

***Angelwings is the white one; the rooster is the black and white one, with the Professor in the back with another Americauna and a Rhode Island Red.***