Encouraging Deep Roots

“Do not come any closer,” God said to Moses. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5 There have been very few times when I have felt this way.  Saturday afternoon was one of those times.  As I had to drive back home from a ladies retreat, I was exhausted and worried.  Worried about how I was going to stay awake for the 250+ miles home.   I had also been very anxious lately.   My stomach had been churning for days and I had this headache that just wouldn't go away. As I was driving down the highway, trying my best to stay awake with 3 hours still to go, I felt the pressing urge to pray.  So I did.  For 2 straight hours.  Aloud with tears streaming down my face. And it was cleansing. God was there.  I felt his presence.  I felt my anxiety slipping away.  I felt my tiredness melt away.  It was a strange experience, but it was good.  Very good. I came bac...

I've been blogging since December 2007.  Today is Loving Your Children Tuesday at my friend Kate's blog and I thought it would be fun to look back at how my children have grown since my very first post and now. Nathan Then... Now... Stephen Then... Now... Emily   Then...  Now... Can you believe how much they've grown?  Enjoy every moment you have because your children grow up faster than you think!  It's only been 4 years since I took those early pictures but I now have 2 young adult men and a young lady in my house.  They change in the blink of an eye. For more posts on loving your children, check out Kate's blog.

Seventeen months ago I decided to begin a weekly journey to walk in thankfulness.  To be thankful for the good things.  Thankful for the bad things.  Thankful for the big things.  Thankful for the little things.  Thankful for the easy things.  Thankful for the hard things. I joined in at Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience each Monday and began counting my blessings.  My goal was to get to 1,000 blessings. Today I have reached that goal.  In looking back, it's been a good journey.  One in which I realize that even in the counting and seeing God's blessings that I still struggle at times.  My first reaction to things isn't always positive or joyful or thankful.  Yet, I'm aware of it now.  I'm aware that I should be thankful and I usually find the ability to give thanks.  My desire is to let it become second nature. So while I'm getting there, I haven't arrived.  Nor am I ready to stop trying.  So even t...

I've been debating whether I should post this or not but I think it needs to be said!  I recently saw the movie, Courageous and enjoyed it.  However, as I watched it this unsettled feeling came over me.   While it was a good movie and a good message about husbands stepping up and being the men God called them to be, I thought, "What about those women who have husbands that don't act like this?"  I'm not talking about husbands who are hanging out in bars at night or having affairs or are negligent fathers.  I'm talking about Christian men who are good and decent husbands and fathers, but are more laid back and passive.  I can see the danger of women holding the men in a movie like this as the standard their husbands need to achieve.  It is so easy to watch this movie and start feeling dissatisfied with your man.  He may not be measuring up to the ideal in your mind. You may start asking yourself, "Why doesn't my husband lead family devoti...

Today I want to focus on ways to stretch our food bill by developing some meatless meals.  Meat prices have gone through the roof!  I have always tried to purchase meat that is under $2 per lb. I try to get chicken breast at no more than $1.29 per lb.  It's been getting harder and harder.to find it at those prices so it's important to use less. I try to have meals at least 3 times a week that do not include meat.  I'm not talking about being a vegan or vegetarian; just trying to cut back on the amount of meat we use.  So today I thought I'd share some recipes with you that have been a hit here. Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese 16 oz. elbow macaroni noodles, cooked 4 eggs, beaten 5 cups mild cheddar cheese, grated 3 cups milk 2 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. dry mustard 1/2 tsp. pepper Add all ingredients to your slow cooker, except 1 cup of the cheese.  Mix well.  Sprinkle reserved cheese on top.  Cover and cook on...

Ever since my children were little, they had strong bents toward certain activities.  I think it's important to develop these things in your children.  Generally, when a child is bored and has nothing to do they will gravitate towards electronic media.  I really feel that especially when they are young and their brains are developing, allowing a child to sit for hours in front of a television set or video game is the worst thing for them! I didn't want my kids parked in front of the television or video games all day so I made sure that we had a lot of different, creative type activities for them.  There were legos, puzzles, books, craft items, educational games, music, and lots of opportunities to interact with these things.  I read to them constantly.  Even as teenagers I'll bring a book or something to read on long car trips.  We just finished Corrie ten Boom's, "The Hiding Place." In all the years we've had children, we've had cable hoo...

The Creation by James Weldon Johnson And God stepped out on space, And he looked around and said: I'm lonely-- I'll make me a world. And far as the eye of God could see Darkness covered everything, Blacker than a hundred midnights Down in a cypress swamp. Then God smiled, And the light broke, And the darkness rolled up on one side, And the light stood shining on the other, And God said: That's good!   Then God reached out and took the light in his hands, And God rolled the light around in his hands Until he made the sun; And he set that sun a-blazing in the heavens. And the light that was left from making the sun God gathered it up in a shining ball And flung it against the darkness, Spangling the night with the moon and stars. Then down between The darkness and the light He hurled the world; And God said: That's good! Then God himself stepped down--And the sun was on his right hand, And the moon was on his left; The stars were c...

I thought I would start dedicating Thursdays to talking about ways to be thrifty.   I'm sure you've all noticed but prices are going up, up, up and incomes are staying the same or decreasing.  It's hard to make ends meet but it is possible.    So each Thursday I'll dedicate a post to how to be frugal in this economy. Now I'm going to share some personal information but I think it's necessary because I know that the things that have helped me most in this area is being able to see how someone else saves but also realizing what their exact resources are to do this with.  Otherwise I keep thinking that they must have more money or something that makes their circumstances different.  I know some will be in a better financial position than we are and others may be worse, but at least this will give you a starting point to look at. I don't work outside the home so my income is a big fat ZERO!  I do sell aprons and such but that is so sporadic and...

Celebrations. I have tried really hard to develop celebrations with my children that center around different holidays, birthdays and other special events.  Certain things were easier when they were little but now they are teens and young adults I still think it's important to do that.  Making special times with them now will help them as adults to do this with their own families. One thing that we've started doing on Good Friday is having a shabbat meal with friends.  It was a way to stop in the busyness of the weekend and remember what Christ has done for us and the meaning of his death. I started out by setting the table with my nicest dishes and decorating it to look pretty. Both families came prepared to say a blessing over each person in our families.  It was neat to see the kids putting a lot of thought into what they had to say and all three of them typed theirs up.  In fact, something that was really special to me was Nathan telling me earlier...

"I sustain myself with the love of family."                                                    ~ Maya Angelou   This past week was about family.   It was made up of a number of special moments.   ♥ Visits to and from relatives.   ♥ Celebrating shabbat. ♥ Easter services. ♥ Family times. ♥ Fun times. ♥ Happy times. ♥ Healthy times. ♥ Holy times. This week I'm thankful for blessings #966-975. ♫ A safe trip with an old van. ♫ Blessings written and spoken to each person in the family. ♫ Beautiful girls in Easter finest. ♫ A son helping his father serve communion. ♫ The sun peeking over the mountain for our sunrise service. ♫ A grandfather who plays games. ♫ A grandmother who teach...

Happy Resurrection Day!