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This afternoon I have the old hymn Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the Cross where thou has died. Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side.
My walk as a mother the last 2+ years now has been such a tough and painful one. I've learned to walk this road of Sodom we've been living in the best way I've known how; on my face in prayer before taking another step. You know what, the circumstances haven't changed as I wish they would have and even prayed they would. They've brought me nearer to the Lord than I can ever imagine. I've found myself clinging to the Cross in ways I hadn't before; with some wisdom that comes from suffering.
Joni Eareckson Tada says pretty much the same thing in her book When God Weeps. Last week I read where she said "Christ was paralized on the Cross." He took that anger and frustration at His Father through His hanging there that only a paralized individual can fathom. I can't imagine that pain and suffering. Then I began to apply the same thoughts to my circumstances. Christ was filthy with sex offense and the pain of that type of violation when He hung on the Cross. If He hadn't, several members in my household would have no hope for their futures in a spiritual and emotional healing sense.
As I began to take that in last week I found my soul lightened, anger subsiding and that peace that passes understanding when we are anxious for nothing began to appear. Suffering has brought me to a place where my love for Him is so dear, so tender and my heart is filled with so much gratitude at the work of the Cross. He's been so gentle in our anguish and allowed us anger, fear and sorrows all to bring us closer to Him.
In turn I'm being as gentle and tender with my precious ones as I can. Faithful to pray, love, greet, embrace and cheer as loud as I can while they grow.
Grace and Peace to each of you today as you Cling and Trust.
Kellie
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
summer update
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What a summer it's been! Here's what's been happening around our house:
1. Lyndsay came home from school the first week of May and has brought lots of love and fun back with her. We've enjoyed spending time with her and letting her sleep, eat and get to know the college crew in Nexus at our church.
2. Of course, with Lyndsay coming home I needed to come up with a new baking project for our resident baker to try. We spent 2/3rds of the summer baking new recipes and sharing with everyone around us. Still to come: Raspberry lemonade cupcakes for Emily. This last weekend Lyn tried her hand at cheese cake and did quite well. I'm so glad I'm running routinely to afford a few bites here and there. I'm also hearing that coffee cake could be in the offering for us,too. Bring on your favorite recipes so we can try them. The freezer is full of banana bread, cookies and blueberry muffins, too! Seriously, we've done TONS of baking.
3. Time to make jelly! I taught the girls with my first batch a few weeks back. Strawberry! Yum! As soon as peaches came in season, we bought a few pounds and Lyndsay made a double batch with a girlfriend. Double yum on fresh bread from the bread maker!
4. Speaking of bread makers, Emily is our new bread maker. I've turned our favorite recipe over to her and she puts it all together for us each week. I'd been out of all of my co-op grains and was fortunate to restock a couple of months ago. We have 50lbs of wheat berries, spelt, lentils, barely and fresh yeast in the house. The grinder is often grinding for the next baking. This go around I've ordered lots of oats for fall oatmeal, oat breads, and homemade granola; a family favorite.
5. We've needed to restock our stockpiles since we aren't moving this year. I've been clipping coupons like mad with the kids on Sundays and shopping lots. It's beginning to pay off quite handsomely as my modest stockpile grows and grows. Gotta love Extreme couponing! No, I'm not a hoarder and I don't clear the shelves, but I did enjoy the program greatly when I saw items in stockpiles that I was having trouble finding deals on. I've been searching a bit harder and finding a few. I've also rejoined the Grocery Game and added a new store to my list store. I managed to save 40% yesterday at this new store. Not bad for a first time with a couple of non list items thrown in that we needed.
6. School starts back here in 2 weeks. I have decided to kick the kids out of the dining room and kitchen and have set up a great school room downstairs. I have maps up, a white board, 2 tables for them with chairs and this weekend, we'll get the book cases painted for them. It's my hope by end of December to have our 4 large book cases, all books and my desk moved downstairs. I think I want to create a new sitting room in the current library area.
7. We've had a great time at the pool and beach, not to mention a couple of farm team baseball games with friends, putting up a new gazeebo, power washing and staining the fence, cleaning the shed, restoring an old glass bookcase we have, and grilling at every possible opportunity. My next find needs to be a fire pit for cooler weather evenings. I have lots of smore fixings left in the cabinets and know just the kids to help get rid of all of it.
8. It is still my intention to remain the Polish Pottery Queen! My girlfriend Marci, who just PCS'd back to the USA went shopping for me. Now I know I have a for SURE set for 18 with plenty of room for breakage. When marci's household goods are delivered, I'll get my pottery and post pictures of all the new goodies. In the meantime, I've changed up my coffee cups to another style and just love them each morning. Can never have too many of those!
I hope you've all had an amazing summer. I'll get back to blogging more soon. I have lots on my heart to write about and have even done so twice....but it went into cyber thin air as soon as I pushed 'publish'.
Sukkot is coming in the Festivals and I've got to get started planning our celebration time! So, that's next up I guess. We were dealing with a lot of shock about John's retirement and missed Pentecost celebrations. I was so happy to have John ask just this week about Sukkot celebrations. Bring on the ideas if you have them!
Until next time.....
What a summer it's been! Here's what's been happening around our house:
1. Lyndsay came home from school the first week of May and has brought lots of love and fun back with her. We've enjoyed spending time with her and letting her sleep, eat and get to know the college crew in Nexus at our church.
2. Of course, with Lyndsay coming home I needed to come up with a new baking project for our resident baker to try. We spent 2/3rds of the summer baking new recipes and sharing with everyone around us. Still to come: Raspberry lemonade cupcakes for Emily. This last weekend Lyn tried her hand at cheese cake and did quite well. I'm so glad I'm running routinely to afford a few bites here and there. I'm also hearing that coffee cake could be in the offering for us,too. Bring on your favorite recipes so we can try them. The freezer is full of banana bread, cookies and blueberry muffins, too! Seriously, we've done TONS of baking.
3. Time to make jelly! I taught the girls with my first batch a few weeks back. Strawberry! Yum! As soon as peaches came in season, we bought a few pounds and Lyndsay made a double batch with a girlfriend. Double yum on fresh bread from the bread maker!
4. Speaking of bread makers, Emily is our new bread maker. I've turned our favorite recipe over to her and she puts it all together for us each week. I'd been out of all of my co-op grains and was fortunate to restock a couple of months ago. We have 50lbs of wheat berries, spelt, lentils, barely and fresh yeast in the house. The grinder is often grinding for the next baking. This go around I've ordered lots of oats for fall oatmeal, oat breads, and homemade granola; a family favorite.
5. We've needed to restock our stockpiles since we aren't moving this year. I've been clipping coupons like mad with the kids on Sundays and shopping lots. It's beginning to pay off quite handsomely as my modest stockpile grows and grows. Gotta love Extreme couponing! No, I'm not a hoarder and I don't clear the shelves, but I did enjoy the program greatly when I saw items in stockpiles that I was having trouble finding deals on. I've been searching a bit harder and finding a few. I've also rejoined the Grocery Game and added a new store to my list store. I managed to save 40% yesterday at this new store. Not bad for a first time with a couple of non list items thrown in that we needed.
6. School starts back here in 2 weeks. I have decided to kick the kids out of the dining room and kitchen and have set up a great school room downstairs. I have maps up, a white board, 2 tables for them with chairs and this weekend, we'll get the book cases painted for them. It's my hope by end of December to have our 4 large book cases, all books and my desk moved downstairs. I think I want to create a new sitting room in the current library area.
7. We've had a great time at the pool and beach, not to mention a couple of farm team baseball games with friends, putting up a new gazeebo, power washing and staining the fence, cleaning the shed, restoring an old glass bookcase we have, and grilling at every possible opportunity. My next find needs to be a fire pit for cooler weather evenings. I have lots of smore fixings left in the cabinets and know just the kids to help get rid of all of it.
8. It is still my intention to remain the Polish Pottery Queen! My girlfriend Marci, who just PCS'd back to the USA went shopping for me. Now I know I have a for SURE set for 18 with plenty of room for breakage. When marci's household goods are delivered, I'll get my pottery and post pictures of all the new goodies. In the meantime, I've changed up my coffee cups to another style and just love them each morning. Can never have too many of those!
I hope you've all had an amazing summer. I'll get back to blogging more soon. I have lots on my heart to write about and have even done so twice....but it went into cyber thin air as soon as I pushed 'publish'.
Sukkot is coming in the Festivals and I've got to get started planning our celebration time! So, that's next up I guess. We were dealing with a lot of shock about John's retirement and missed Pentecost celebrations. I was so happy to have John ask just this week about Sukkot celebrations. Bring on the ideas if you have them!
Until next time.....
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