Family

Family- for many, that is a painful word.

For me- it evokes warm, fuzzy feelings and lots of good memories.

Last night, my family celebrated Thanksgiving. It was a very loud gathering of people. The young boys were playing football in the basement, the younger children were playing school, and loudly trailing the 'cow bell' through the house, the adults were having various conversations throughout the house, some of them talking loud enough to be heard above the din. There were several quiet conversations sprinkled in too. Little Josiah was trying to fall down the stairs. Mom/Grandma's delicious food was devoured. It was a special evening. There were 40 of us there, which means about 25 were missing. Like I said, it was loud.

My family looked like this 30 years ago-

Now we look like this-

The siblings-

The grandchildren-

Random fun pictures of my family-

I am very blessed. I have some of my best friends in this bunch of people. There has been a lot of pain in our past, losing Dad being one of the big ones, but it has brought us together. We will never see eye to eye on every issue. But like a wise person told me once, "If we can't love when we disagree, we have nothing to offer anyone." And I keep coming back to that.

Too often our preferences or beliefs can completely divide families and friendships. It's the 'I'm right and you're wrong every time' mantra that gets us into a lot of trouble. We can accomplish a lot more by taking our concerns for our family to God and letting Him change hearts than we can by trying to be the Holy Spirit in their lives.

And so today, I'm thankful for my parents, my siblings, my nieces and nephews and every in law, and out law :) in my family. My life is so much richer because of them. I am blessed.

Sunday Reminisce

Yesterday before we left for church, I snapped a photo of the kids like I used to do so many times. I felt a bit nostalgic as I remembered how Sunday mornings used to be. They are still far from a walk in the park, but the dynamics have changed a bit in the past 5 years.

Yesterday's photo:

5 years ago:

3 years ago:

Last spring:

Ah, what fun to look at old pictures!

Friday's Musings and Recipes

The children are watching "Little Women" and I have 2 blissful quiet hours before me. I could take a nap, or go for a walk, or clear the garden, (Nah, let the boys help w/ that) or sit outside, at least. But first, I must blog. I need to write.

I've been trying to quickly sew a few doll clothes for the girls. My serger totally didn't cooperate. After spending an hour last night and close to that this morning, and lots of prayers and frustrated feelings, I gave up. I sewed a few items w/o the serger and were my girls ever thrilled. But me- well, I'm still frustrated over that machine. Boy, do I love it when it goes well. And hate it when it doesn't.

Leon is harvesting full blast this week. We are trying to have a flexible schedule around here because of it. Today it was get up, do school, eat a big breakfast at 9:45, clean, do laundry, lunch at 1:45 and then free time for the kids and their mom. Hmm. I kinda think I could get used to it. We could've skipped lunch, but oh, no, not here. Here, where everyone is always hungry, and not always hungry for Mom's healthy concoctions either. Sigh. My spinach, peppers, onions, tomato, grilled chicken salad w/ herb dressing was just for me. My children even call my salad dressing 'soggy silage'.:) Favorite foods around here are meat and potatoes, biscuits and gravy, eggs, made almost any way, cooked broccoli, cheesy green beans, raw peppers, cucumbers, homemade pizza, and soup.

Annika made supper the other night. Her first time. She was one thrilled little lady! She has been begging and begging to do this. Seven year olds do have their limitations, regardless of what she thinks. Supper was very tasty and she did a good job.

I made something last night for supper that I used to make in our early years of marriage. I thought I'd post the recipe here.

Strogonaff Sandwich
1/2 loaf French bread, cut in 1/2 lengthwise
1 lb. hamburger, fried with salt, garlic and onions
Mix meat with:
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 C. sour cream
2 T. milk
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
Spread mixture over bread.
Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Optional: layer thinly sliced peppers, onions and tomatoes on meat. Top with cheese. bake.
Slice and serve with a fresh salad.

If you want to make your own French bread, I have a very simple recipe.
It makes 2 loaves and freezes well.


French Bread
2 1/2 cups warm water
2 T. yeast
2 T. oil
2 tsp. salt
7 1/2-8 cups flour
Mix. Let set 15 minutes. Divide dough into 2. Roll each part into a log. Place on cookie sheet. It should be the length of the cookie sheet. Flatten to desired width. Brush with 1 beaten egg and 2 T. milk. Let rise  15 minutes. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

If you want an amazing spread for your French bread, here is my favorite recipe from Taste of Home.

Go-go Garlic Bread
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup mayo
1 T. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic salt or use fresh, minced garlic
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
Mix and spread THICK on bread. bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Oh my. You won't be sorry you made it. Just try not to eat it all yourself.




I've been thinking lots about the calling God has on each of our lives. So often fear of failure keeps us from living out that calling. We stuff it, or ignore it, but it never goes away. We make excuses and decide that we aren't equipped for the job. But God wants obedience, pure and simple! When we avail ourselves to that calling, regardless of how we feel, God can do mighty things through our lives. There is nothing like the high I get after I've ministered in the area God has called me to minister in! Not because I did everything right. but because I'm where I'm supposed to be. It's not about me. It's not even about my abilities. It's about Jesus Christ in me. I am not worthy on my own.

North America is not a pretty place spiritually right now. For whatever reason, God has us here at this time and this place. But not to go about our own business and ignore the needs around us. That has NEVER been His plan. If we as Christians have nothing to offer the lost and dying world around us, then what are we doing in saying we love Jesus? It's time to be bold. It's time to real. It's time to be obedient!

A Rainy Saturday's Musings

It's a lovely , RAINY Saturday afternoon. My house is quiet. That is a rare treat. I can think. I can process stuff in my head. I can write.

This week has been busy. Leon says we have revolving doors on our house. People come. People go. Every day. I love to share my home with guests. I love to share my gift of hospitality. I love to cook and entertain. But I love quiet, too. A lot.

God has felt distant this week. I don't know why. My prayers felt like they were hitting the ceiling. I almost felt depressed. I felt lazy and unmotivated, whenever I had a minute to myself.

Leon has been very busy. I love a lot of things about the harvest season. The schedule is not one of them. A tired husband is not either.

I went to some garage sales this morning in town. I enjoyed the alone time as much or more than the garage sales. I prayed on my way to town. I needed evidence that God cared. I know He does. But today I needed tangible proof. Guess what? At the second stop, I found a tote that slides under a bed for 75 cents. It's a little thing, I know. But it was on my shopping list to buy on my next trip to Walmart. They usually cost $10. It wasn't an accident. It was my tangible proof that Jesus cares about ME!

 I stopped at the nursing home to drop off a treat for my niece, who works there. I also stopped in to see my friend, Audrey. Audrey is one of the sweetest old ladies I know. Audrey loves people and Jesus. I've never seen her without a cheerful smile. She was reading her Bible this morning. I wondered what I would do when I'm in my 80's and stuck in a nursing home. I hope I'm sweet. I hope I'm still pursuing Jesus.

Last night, I helped my Mom with a small group. After the pie was served, one of the guests spilled his just-filled glass of iced tea. No big deal. Happens all the time. His wife lit into him. She really let him have it. When I refilled his glass, his wife sarcastically commented that she sure wouldn't fill it, he'll just spill the second one. These people were pushing 65. Seriously. He was a jolly sort of fellow, but after that tongue lashing, he was very quiet. I shared this story at the lunch table today. I hope my children got the message. I hope I got the message, too.

I've been thinking about the love of Christ. How I want to understand it. How I want to KNOW it. I read a terrific blog on this subject this week. One line jumped out at me.  "A love that can't be lost, because {we} never earned it in the first place."  barefoot missionary. 

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

Powerful verses. Powerful message.  

                                            Brooklyn reading her very first story to Daddy!!!!

My Darling Daughters

(My birthday theme this year on my blog, was to write a letter to my children. My girls' birthdays are a week apart, and a lot of what I'm feeling/thinking applies to both, so I'll take the liberty to combine the two.)

Dear daughters,

You two are some of God's greatest gifts to me. How I love having daughters. I love how you are so different from me, yet we have so much in common.

I love the girl things we can do together, the fashion discussions, the tea parties, the shopping. But somehow, I also love, love to see you shoot guns, play like wild Indians, and get dirty. I want you to enjoy life, even if it doesn't fit into my neat, tidy boxes. I don't want to place expectations on you that you can never meet.

This past year, I have watched you two learn to take your tough stuff to God- nasty attitudes, crying fits, you name it. I've seen you come away from praying alone in your bedroom to hugging and apologizing. You have no idea how much that means to me. You two have your sweet little prayer list going on. You pray for the things listed there nearly every night. Sometimes I see your light on well after bedtime, and I'm tempted to get frustrated, then I realize you're still praying. 

I am convinced that Satan loves to wreck mother/daughter relationships. He's done a pretty good job of it over the years. I pray often for our relationship. We have to fight for it, girls. It's not going to be easy. We won't always understand each other or care for each other like we should. I hope I'm never too proud to say I was wrong or to say I'm sorry. 

You two are some of my very best friends. May you always live life to the fullest. May you have a passion for Jesus that can't be contained. And may you always find a friend in your mother.

I love you both.

With all my heart,

Mom

*********************************************************************************

Brooke's birthday fell on a youth camping trip. She enjoyed the attention she got from everyone. We had a quiet party at home the next night. She ordered grilled tilapia, baked rice, cheesy green beans, and strawberry shortcake.

Annika's birthday was a special day for her. She wore her mini bride wedding dress to church. (from her Uncle Lowell's wedding) She invited several friends home from church for the afternoon. She ordered baked chicken, baked potatoes, green beans w/ bacon, and key lime pie.

And the traditional birthday breakfast in bed.......

Squeezing the Last Sweet Drops Out of Summer

What a good, busy summer we had. And now it's officially fall...I mean, the calendar says so. Who can argue with that? Tonight the children helped me pick 5 bushels of apples from our neighbors trees, for free. Tomorrow they go to an Amish farm and get turned into cider. Yummy!

Harvest 2013 has officially started. I take a deep breath and hang on for the ride. I will not complain about long days with no husband around. I will not complain about packing lunches. I will not complain about him always being tired and overworked. I will not complain....:) I will be thankful he is healthy and can work. I will be thankful my children can spend hours with their Dad on the combine, tractor or grain truck. I will be thankful that he comes home every night to me. I will be thankful.....

Today as we raced around the house during break time, and my 10 year old son was trying to catch me, I thought, surely I can still run faster than him. But alas! It was not to be. So now I am resigned to the fact that I have the athletic abilities of a 10 year old, which isn't too bad if it's MY 10 year old. But still....where did that 'fastest running girl in the youth group' go? (funny side note: we had relay races in the youth group once, and I was the fastest girl and Leon was the fastest boy. He likes to say that I had to marry him because he was the only one I couldn't outrun.)

My favorite pictures from the summer:

                                                      games with Great Grandma

Jamison's prize watermelon

                                                       Canning....snapping beans....

Slip and slide on hot days

                                                                 
                                                                    applesauce day

Cousin Fun

                                                       
                                                             Corn on the cob for lunch

                                                       (notice the kitties in the lunch bag)

It was a good summer. Yes, it was.

The Kitchen-At Last.

I know most of you know about our kitchen project but in case you're in the dark, I'll refresh your mind.

We moved to this dear old farmhouse 7 years ago. It was built in 1905 so that officially makes it old. While it doesn't have loads and loads of character like some old houses do, I appreciate the character it does have. But the nasty rug in the kitchen/dining room had to go.

We tore out the carpet on a hot July evening. The hardwood installation project began. It ended up being about 3 weeks of 'making do' until we were able to move back in. Leon still has trim to put up and the floor needs another round of sand and stain, but I'm loving the improvements so very much!

Leon and I tackled painting the kitchen counter tops. We learned a lot and I like to think that it was a special project for our marriage.:) We worked together on this one, and I get warm fuzzies just remembering. Leon, maybe not so much. The way we do most projects is that I get the wild idea and I believe he can do just about anything, then he gets stuck with the stress of making it work. See why he rains on my parade so often?:) The finished project isn't perfect, but most people don't notice the flaws.
Before:

After:

And a few more pretties in my kitchen: