Benjamin and My Virtual Farm

Benjamin's Farm - Sue has everything at her farm except a pig

I just love it when God reaches down and gives us a kiss on the cheek along with a smile.  That is just what He did for Benjamin and me this week.

We walked to the door two times to find unexpected boxes of "goodies" from two precious women.

We both have dreamed of a farm.  Benjamin wants the animals.  What I want and envision is a place to roam, be still and enjoy a garden with chickens.  Our dreams became "virtual" through two blogging friends.

Sue of Pear Tree Lane Farmhouse sent Benjamin the farm animals and a tractor.  To fulfill my love of home-made canned jam, she sent us two jars of hers.  She also provided garlic for our suburban garden.  Benjamin has adopted Sue and he climbs up on my lap to enjoy her blog on a regular basis. She has also allowed him to name some of her farm animals.  If you don't know her....well, you should; she is a jewel. Sue has encouraged me in my spiritual walk more than once...sometimes beyond the blog post through emails. Thank you, Sue.

Leslie of Farm Fresh and I met at the beginning of my adventure into blog land.  We emailed back and forth and got to know each other beyond the pages of our blog.

Gifts to Benjamin from her kids.

 She is a "wiser in years" mother also...so we both enjoy the mixture of menopause symptoms, while taking a child to kindergarten.  She has a farm!

 Her retro-kitchen is just a joy.  So when she saw my kitchen and knew my desire for her farm life....well, she added to my kitchen and sent more "virtual" farm goodies.  Her two little ones sent items to Benjamin also.

  Her humor is shown in the "chicken poop"  and "udder" lotion. She also sent seeds for my flower garden.  She allowed me to dream even more as I looked through the magazine she sent.

To Leslie and Sue...you have made our day.  We are both enjoying our "virtual" farm.  Love you, girls!

Advent the Season of Hope

Strolling into the sanctuary, weighed down with many hearts concerns, I met the Savior.

Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good new to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heavens, things into which angels long to look.  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.   I Peter 1:8-13

Advent, formed from a Latin word meaning "coming" or "arrived" is about the coming of Christ.  It 's the celebration of the first advent of Jesus and the anxious awaiting of His second.

Advent

My Savior started to speak to His child as the Advent service progressed.  The most overwhelming joy for the Advent season, lifted my heavy heart.  I believe my age and life experiences are allowing me to enter this Advent season in a deeper depth than years before. The first teaching was over patience and expectations. Where is our Hope?

Quotes from our church Advent Guide

"Expectations are powerful.  We long to trust possessions, people and ideas with our hope - hope of something greater than what we currently have. Relationships, careers, and entertainment willingly receive our expectations.  To the degree that we think each will deliver, anticipation grows inside of us.  The voice of childhood may change tone through the years, but the same gut response comes with every disappointment: But you promised....

There is no more powerful expectation than patience in the promises of God, for He has provided the Lamb, and the Lamb is the coming King."

There is where my Savior meet me....His promises and my lack of patience in His promises.  There in the sanctuary I sang out..

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

1. Consider what you place expectations on and how that affects you when they are not met.  Are you patience or irritable?
2. If we place our hopes in finite things, which never fully meet our expectations, it seems that are meant for something greater.  What things have you trusted in for the joy of your heart instead of Jesus.  Who is fully able to meet your every need?
3. God's faithfulness is proven as each of His promises comes true.  Where are you tempted to forget or distrust His faithfulness to you in Jesus?

Welcome Advent Season!  My heart jumps with joy over this time as I place my Hope in the one who fulfills His promises.

Still Amazes Me

Each year as I recount with my children the story of God's providence over the sojourners of the Mayflower, I am amazed.  The story never grows old.  The story inspires me through my struggles and once again reminds me God has a plan.  It truly is His Story.

How can you not have tears come to your eyes when you step back and look at the sovereignty of God over the Settlers of Plymouth Plantation? Amazing examples of God's sovereignty:

• the main beam of the ship broke...which should have led to the sinking of the vessel...instead there was a screw brought with the passengers for home building that repaired the mast
• 66 days at sea
• not one person lost on the voyage
• boys set off firecrackers and yet they didn't catch the gunpowder on fire that would have led to a total explosion of the ship
• a compact made between all travelers before leaving the ship
• corn found in baskets that provided food through the first winter
• over half of the Pilgrims died during the first winter...none were children
• usually only 6 adults were well enough at a time to build the settlement
• peaceful Indians....they also spoke English - Massasoit, Samoset, Squanto
• A clearing in the land for the settlement
• Squanto taught them how to survive while he lived his remaining days with them
• A peace treaty with the Indians that lasted over 50 years
• A three-day celebration after the first hard winter - more Indians in attendance than settlers
• No one turned back to go home

As I recall the story once again, I stand amazed.  God touches my heart, reminding me of His plans in each of our lives.  He is our strength.  To Him we owe all our Thanks.  He is Sovereign.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last years post on how we celebrate Thanksgiving - click on Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday to my oldest...he turns 28 today...now how can I be old enough to have a child that age?

Thanksgiving Song from Benjamin

Basketball season has arrived for my brother Stephen, so I am mother's guest writer today.
I wanted to share with you my Turkey song I learned at school.
Mom thought it was so funny that we decided this would be my post.
I wish I could sing it to you myself...but this will have to do instead.
I did put in my Turkey pictures.


Mom will see you again soon...thanks for stopping by - Her son - Benjamin

A Turkey Followed Me Home

Walking home from school one day, along a lovely street. When from behind me came a noise, the sound of tiny feet.

I spun around to see a bird, my jaw dropped to the ground. A turkey stood in front of me, his wattle swinging ‘round.

Turkey, turkey, go away! Please don’t follow me! I am going to my home and it’s not safe for thee!
Turkey, turkey go away! Let me make this clear. It’s Thanksgiving week, you see so please get out of here!

(Kid 1): But he followed me home anyway (Kid 2): Shoo! Go on! Git! Ohhh!

I hid him in the basement and I hid him in my room. I covered him with laundry, but there wasn’t wiggle room.
I tried to find the perfect place. I looked and looked and looked. For if I could not keep him hid, his goose was surely cooked!

Turkey, turkey, go away! Please don’t follow me! I am going to my home and it’s not safe for thee!
Turkey, turkey go away! Let me make this clear. It’s Thanksgiving week, you see so please get out of here!

(Kid 3): Thanksgiving came, Thanksgiving went….(Kid 4): Yeah, you were lucky. THIS time.

When December rolled around, we thought the coast was clear. I saw the turkey to the door. He had a cool veneer.
Keeping turkeys out of sight is not an easy thing. Take my advice, you turkey, you, and don’t come back ‘til spring!

Turkey, turkey, go away! Please don’t follow me! I am going to my home and it’s not safe for thee!
Turkey, turkey go away! Let me make this clear. It’s Thanksgiving week, you see so please get out of here!

Christmas is coming, the turkey’s getting fat! Don’t come back ‘til spring!

Mom says it is better when I sing it...but I hope you liked it anyway!

Why Don't They Get It?

goole image...Tower of Babel...they didn't get it either

Why don't they get it?

How many times have you said that or thought that?  I am sure it is dozens and dozens of times.  As a mom we can become frustrated with repeating ourselves over and over again in the training of our children.  These words or thought can also pour out through other areas of life as well....just being alive gives reason for the frustration.  Hey! let's be honest, life is just messy.

• Health - don't they get it?  You can't eat that type of food and be healthy.  You can't refuse to exercise and hope your body just continues to stay in shape.  You can't neglect going see the doctor if there is something going on.
• Relationships - Do they not see what is happening here?  Do they just not get it?  Do they have to see the relationship end before their eyes are open?
• Spiritually - Do they not get it?  This is an eternal issue.  Christ died for their sins...plain and simple, salvation is a gift.  Why can't they see?
• Financially - Don't they understand that too few deposits and too many withdraws mean you are in the negative?  Do they just not get it?

I think I could go on and on, while you could add your list of frustrations on why someone just doesn't get it.

It seems to always be clearer to the one viewing from the outside.  The person viewing from their tower can see so plainly what is happening, "they get it", while the one below is hindered by their lack of vision. 

How can a blind person see the sunset?  We would ever question their ability "to get it" and yet when someone's view is obstructed they too are blind.

I climb down from my tower of frustration viewpoint allowing the Lord to show me my blind spots.  I need Him to show me a clearer view.  I need to see the view of my own "not getting it" and grace for those I love that "aren't getting it".  I need Him to remind me that He knows "they aren't getting it" and He is in control.  His view is complete, while mine is only a partial view.

May we all allow His point of view to become the glasses in which we view our circumstances through, while giving grace to those who "just aren't getting it".

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.  I Cor. 2:9

You Have Come a Long Way Baby!

Isn't it funny how time can resolve just about everything?

I wish I could have understood that concept years ago and even today.  There is hardly anything that time can't teach us....especially in the area of motherhood and handling a household.

I was one of those overly-energetic new brides.  I truly wore "rose-colored" glasses as I entered the venture of being a wife at the naive age of 19.  My husband (the dreamer) could just carry me away with all the possibilities that were before us.  I could just take any idea and start to run with it.  There was nothing I wouldn't try when it came to being a "good wife".

This is my copy from the early 80's and I was stunned to find out it is worth a pretty penny...again, who knew... and time.

The kitchen was one of my first mountains to climb.  I made a vow that the first year of our marriage that I wouldn't cook the same dish twice....so collecting recipes and cookbooks became necessary to achieve my goal.  I have to say I achieved it...mainly due to the fact that with my college classes, my husband's out of town travel and our weekend schedule, the challenge wasn't hard for the amount of meals we ate at home.  

As our children continued to come (four in 7 years), I used my kitchen as one of my creative outlets....and that is why this story comes to mind.  You see, even if you don't know what you are doing...time will eventually give you the experience you need.

My adventurous, get-tired-of-anything-more-than-once-a-month mentality, took over while corralling little ones in the grocery store.  There they were!  I was missing our traveling and I could bring some of our traveling cuisine to our dinner table.  The kids eyes lit up with excitement as I grabbed the iced red bag of crawdads for our Etoufee that evening.  As a home school mom. I would also treat this as part of our science studies, telling my interested students about this crustation.

As was the norm, the older boys were to help bring the groceries from the car.  I threw the red crawdad bag on the countertop, to deal with later after taking care of the youngest child.

Hubby made it home and he, too, was excited about the Cajun dish I would be serving.  Then he heard a SCREEEEEEEEEEAM coming from the kitchen....it was me.

To my horror, those crawdads had awakened and were crawling all over the kitchen cabinet!

Who knew they were still alive?   Not ME!!!  I had no clue that they were live crawdads which had been lulled to sleep while sitting on the ice.  Once removed from the ice, they would be revived.

My husband was rolling over with laughter as I pleaded with him to catch them.  He looked at me with the look of , "what were you thinking?"  I am yelling "they are alive!"  "Yes", he replies.  I start to negotiate.  "I am not going to cook those.  I don't know how to cook live crawdads.  Please do something!"

My loving husband goes to the phone to call the grocery store.  Over the phone he re-tells the story to the butcher who is now laughing his head off.  "Well, just bring them back up here and I will boil them for her!"  Now I must say...I didn't show my face in the store for them to identify me....NO, my hubby gathered up the crawdads and took them back to their timely death.

google image

So you see...time does resolve so many of the issues that can set our hair on end.  With just a little time and some experience we can all say, "You Have Come a Long Way, Baby!"

Will This Become Extincted?

Saturday, my daughter and I strolled down the card aisle looking for a lovely card for the monumental occasion we would be attending.  As I stood there with her I said, "you know it might not be long before they no longer need this card section."  Now I wasn't meaning there would be no more cards, I was referring to the change in our society. That was when it dawned on me how special this event would be.

Many marriages don't make it to this mark due to things beyond their control.  My grandmother became a widow in her 30's.  Some marriages end in divorce that was not desired by one or both parties.  Others don't marry until later in life.

However, the main reason many will not celebrate this milestone is because of changes in our society:

• Delaying Marriage or choosing not to marry prevents many from this celebration
• The Divorce Rate in our country is around 50%, making us #1 in Divorces
• Only 59% of  our population is married
• 3/4 of divorces are initiated by women; the Walkway Wife Syndrome happens later in marriage
• 30% Rise in Silver Divorces 

These stats leave only 5% of marriages to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Upon arriving home, I pondered on the rich marriage heritage of my children:

• Both sets of grandparents have celebrated 50 years of marriage
• One Aunt and Uncle have now celebrated 50 years of marriage 
• Three sets of Great-Grandparents have celebrated 50 years of marriage
• Three Great Uncles and Aunts have celebrated 50 years....one couple has celebrated 60

My Husband's Sister and Husband - 50 years

 The church fellowship hall was filled with  50+ years of married couples  The widows attending were from  single marriages.  The next generation held the marriages that would not make it to 50 years, due to multiple marriages or the age in which they entered marriage.

I stood in awe at the marriage riches that surround me... the faithful widows that have poured out their lives to others after they continued their journeys alone... the married couples of 50-plus years now sharing other challenges that life has brought them, along with perseverance through past trials... the joy of each of their smiles as they walked through the room mingling with others.  I hope my children will one day understand that they saw something rare, that they may not see very often....but this time it was part of their heritage.

Prayer Warrior

This is an incredible video with awesome words.  It touched my heart as I lift up my sword in pray.  The battle is still raging and God has called us all to be Prayer Warriors.  This is dedicated to a precious couple who heard some devastating news this past week on their 5-month-old in the womb, first child.  This prayer warrior cries out for a healing miracle from Our Awesome Healing God.

Standing also in the gap for

• Prodigals
• Infertility
• Marriages
• Teens
• Lost loved ones
• Finances/Jobs
• Revival in our Churches
• America
• Up Coming Elections
• Pastors/Churches

You can add your own to the list above.  I hope this video and the song inspired you to pick up your sword and leave behind a legacy of prayer for generations to come.

PRAYER WARRIOR 

1.We may see her in the grocery with her children 
   Or in the city nine to five each working day 
   She's a mother or a teacher or a woman all alone 
   But she's someone else entirely when she prays 

C.She's a prayer warrior down on her knees 
    Wrestling with power and principalities 
    Standing in the gap for others 
    For her sisters and her brothers 
    Reaching heaven with her heart – prayer warrior 

2.We don't see her lonely nights of intercession 
   Or that tear she shed with every whispered name 
   We may not see the simple things hidden in her heart 
   But the eyes of God are watching her with care 

Repeat Chorus 

Bridge: And we'll never wholly know the debt we owe her 
             For we'll never know the evil we've been spared 
             Many nights she's crushed through Satan’s strongholds 
             Reaching heaven with her prayers 

Tag:Oh you have touched the very heart of God 
        Prayer warrior - prayer warrior - prayer warrior

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Clean-up Duties?

Today's post  celebrates "National Housewife's Day"...yes November 3rd is National Housewife's Day.

Now in case you think the above picture is common in my household....well, don't hold your breath.

As the holidays approach, so do all the logistics for the occasions.  There is shopping, cleaning, preparing the meals, decorating and after all the celebration...clean-up.  In most households, (I know there are a few that don't fit this pattern), these magical events are orchestrated by the women of the family.  In my male- dominated household, you can probably guess which arena we fall into....well, I fall into.

I love preparing. I love decorating.  I love setting too many dishes on the table.  I enjoy cooking and all the adventure leading up to preparing the day's menu.  I love being creative......................but I don't enjoy the clean-up.  There, the counter tops are filled with all those beautiful glasses, silver, chargers, salad plates, dinner plates, coffee cups, dessert plates, serving dishes and cooking utensils waiting for me to attack.  I have been known to do them in sessions....one load in the dishwasher (yes, grateful for this wonderful, modern day appliance)...wait...another load...hand-wash, drip-dry..... and then round four into the dishwasher.  This will usually eat up the rest of the evening and part of the next day.

Saturday, my mother jumped up from the table and began washing the dishes....(the picture above is us years ago...and again we stood side by side, getting the cleaning done).  She had been the guest of honor so I protested.  Her reply, "I ate, didn't I?"  Then she laughed.  She said, "Don't you remember your grandmother never washed dishes?  She cooked and we cleaned.  She felt if you ate, then you cleaned!"  I had to nod because I was one of many grand kids who always made their way to the kitchen after each meal to clean.  My grandmother always prepared a great meal for us all to enjoy and we were assigned clean-up duty.

Another family friend had these guidelines for their family holiday clean-ups.  The family was evenly matched boys and girls (still is even to this day).  The females decorated and cooked.  When the meal was finished, the women went walking while men stayed to totally clean-up from the meal.  I mean totally clean-up...nothing remained undone when we came back from our walk...we were guests one year.

How do you handle clean-up duties?  Are they different in your in-law's house or the same?  How do you handle them when they are in your home?  Do you wait to be asked to help or do you automatically help your hostess?

Even cleaning up can become a wonderful tradition filled with sweet memories.  I never remember resenting the time all of us cousins spent in the kitchen....now I am not sure how good of job we did...but we did create memories. I remember watching my Grandmother, Mom and all of my aunts enjoying conversation during meal preparation.  I remember the load being shared, therefore, making it easier for the hostess not to be totally worn out.  The work of our hands does bring joy and a sense being a part of each holiday memory.


If you don't know what a "housewife" is worth these days...read last year's post... see (housewife).