Cows

Our cows are pretty tame.  Actually they are VERY tame.  Most of them my husband can pet.  Oh, there are a few unfriendly ones out there, but for the most part they love my husband.  And here's why - - - he feeds them.  From the truck.

They just love wet distillers grain.  They even lick their lips it tastes so good.

Here is the red cow in there trying to get every single drop.

I love cows.

I AM BLESSED!!!!

 

Please keep praying  for my sweet mother.

She continues to have issues with her blood pressure.

I know that our God is THE HEALER.

And I know He hears our prayers.

May God bless each and every one of you today, and every day!!

My Christian Commitment

I came across this over the weekend and just had to share it.  I believe these are words to live by.  I hope it challenges you.  It has certainly challenged me.  And, I want to thank you for praying for my mom.  Please continue to pray.  Her blood pressure remains very high.  We know that our God is THE HEALER.

My Christian Commitment

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have Holy Spirit power.  The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.  My past is redeemed.  My present makes sense.  My future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions or popularity.  I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor by His power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, and my mission clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder in the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, back up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. 

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.  My banner will be clear.

Buy American and a Prayer Request!!

If you get a chance this year, PLEASE consider buying American.  Even if it costs a dollar or two extra.  The benefits to our country and our economy are priceless! Visit Shopfolk.us
for a great selection of American made items!!!

Also, I would appreciate your prayers for my mother.  Her blood pressure has been very high for the last couple of weeks, and the blood pressure medicine doesn't seem to help at all.  She went back to the doctor today and they think it might be something with her kidneys and she will go for an ultrasound this week.  Please pray for her complete healing in Jesus name.  Pray for the Lord to send peace over her.  Pray for her blood pressure to be normal.

Thank each and every one of you for praying!!  Blessings to you!!!!

Prayers for the family of Chad Stover

Chad Stover passed away this morning.  He is the young man from our area who was injured in a football game on October 31st.

He never regained consciousness.


He turned 17 last week.

Please pray for his parents, his siblings, his extended family and friends and for the entire community of Tipton, Missouri.   They are devastated.

I prayed for Chad.  I prayed for God to heal him.  And I KNOW that our God is able to heal.  I believe it with all my heart.

But He did not answer our prayers as we wanted them answered.  We wanted a miracle.  We wanted Chad to open his eyes and raise up and be back to the way he was.

But that was not God's plan.  I'm sure Chad's parents wonder why.  I wonder why.

And there is no answer.

Why did God allow a young man with his entire life ahead of him to die?

I don't know.

But I still trust Him.  

2 Chronicles 20:12 "We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you."

I know that God knows what He's doing.  I don't understand it, but I trust Him.  And that trust is my comfort.  I hope Chad's family knows the Lord.  I hope Chad did.

Please pray for Chad's family over the coming days, and weeks, and months. 

My Fireplace Mantle

Finally, a picture of my completed fireplace.  Well, almost completed.  We still don't have the gas logs installed. 

Just in case you'd forgotten, here is a picture of the fireplace before.  BORING!!!!!

And here is the fireplace with the new mantle.  I LOVE IT!!!!

I know I sound like a broken record, but you just can't imagine how different the whole room FEELS with the new fireplace.  It updates my room by 48 years (our house was built in 1968). 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!

Soggy Weather and a Prayer Request

It's been raining here for days.  Really.

It's raining rain, and it's raining leaves.

There is water everywhere.

And leaves everywhere.

See.

Those pumpkins are wet.  So are the leaves.

The sun is supposed to come out later today.  But then it's going to be COLD.

We needed the rain, so I won't complain.  But just a little peek of sunshine would be nice.

I'm asking for your prayers today for a young man in your area.  I do not know this young man, but his name is Chad Stover and he suffered a very serious brain injury in a high school football game last week.  He is in the hospital, and he is in very critical condition.  Please pray for this young man.  And I don't mean think about him and say "wow, that's too bad."  Thinking about something isn't praying.  I ask that right now you PRAY for this man like he was your son, or grandson, or brother.  Pray and ask our Father to heal him in Jesus name.  Pray for his parents, his siblings, his extended family and friends.  Today all of the kids at our local high school are wearing red in his honor (his school colors are red and white).  Please keep this young man in your prayers.  He truly needs a touch from God.

Thanks, and God bless each and every one of you.  Do you know that I pray for you?  I pray for everyone that reads this blog.  I really do. 

Rosemary Mint Sugar Salt Scrub - A Pinterest Project Win

I love Pinterest.  I have THOUSANDS of pins.  Things I will never have.  Places I will never go.  Houses I will never live in.  But I LOVE looking at Pinterest.

And when I see pins I always wonder "does that really work?"

Well last week I saw THIS pin.  It's a "recipe" for a Rosemary Mint Sugar Salt Scrub.  Go ahead, click on the link!!!

I am always looking for cute gift ideas.  And one of the ladies I work with just happened to have brought in a huge bunch of fresh rosemary from her house.

So, I gave it a whirl.  And let me tell you it SMELLS AND FEELS AMAZING!!

I actually made two batches and gave each of the ladies I work with some of the scrub.  Everyone raved over it.

When I make it again, I will use olive oil instead of grapeseed oil.  The grapeseed oil was VERY EXPENSIVE. 

Also, I didn't put it in glass containers.  While they are much "cuter" than the plastic containers I used, the thought of slippery wet hands and a glass jar just made me a little bit nervous.  So I put the scrub in little plastic containers with lids.

What Pinterest projects have worked for you?  Any Pinterest "fails?"

Who Is A God Like You

Less Stuff

A Fireplace Before, During and After

We've been doing a lot of updating to our 1968 brick ranch style home.

Our latest project has been redoing our fireplace.  And really, isn't this the most unattractive fireplace you've ever seen?

We haven't used it as a real fireplace in years, meaning we don't burn wood in it anymore.  And the brick.  YUCK!   Even in 1968 there HAD to have been prettier brick than this.

 So, we decided to update things a little with some artificial stone.  Check this out!!!

This was taken after the first day.   Sorry, but it was evening so the stone looks a little yellowed in the photo.  Not sure why? 

And this was over the weekend.  Almost finished.  This picture really shows off the true color of the artificial stone.  

And here's Cole putting up the very last piece of stone.

Such a difference!!

I am beyond pleased with this.  It doesn't even look like the same ROOM let alone the same fireplace.  We are having a new mantle made, and that should be ready in a month or so.  I will post more pictures when the mantle is installed.

We are also going to have gas logs installed so we aren't staring at a big black hole any longer! 

The artificial stone was called "Canyon Stone" and it was $3.99 per square foot at our local hardware store.  Of all the remodeling we have done at our house, I think this might just be the most bang-for-the-buck project we've done so far.  Seriously, these pictures do NOT do it justice!!

Isn't it amazing what a little remodeling can do???

A High Connoisseur of Life

I was visiting one of my favorite blogs, Tales From The Coop Keeper, today.

If you don't know Jayme, you definitely need to visit her blog.  She is an AMAZING WOMAN, and such an inspiration. You can visit TALES FROM THE COOP KEEPER by clicking on this link.

From Jayme's blog, I headed over  HERE to check out a guest post entitled "Becoming Minimalist."

Ladies, it is an awesome post, and really made me think.

Do I want to just accumulate STUFF or do I want to be a "high connoisseur of life."

Please, do yourself a favor and read Becoming Minimalist.

I am sending the link to both of my sisters, and several friends.

Because I want them to take a step back and really think.  Because I firmly believe that I (and most everyone I know) have too much STUFF.

Yes, I have two, 2-cup measuring cups.  (Read the blog and you'll get it.)

Seriously, take 10 minutes, click on the link and read the post.

And then let me know what you think.  I think less is more (except for Jesus, and then more isn't nearly enough!!!!!). 

But when it comes to STUFF, less is more.  I would rather have one really NICE thing, than lots of junk.  I've always been that way, but I don't really PRACTICE that.  I've gotten away from that concept. Sometimes I buy something because I think I might need it.  Or because it's cheap.   And then I find something I really want, but I don't get it because I tell myself I already bought the cheaper one, I can't spend any more money.

So, right now, go check out the link to Becoming Minimalist.

And join me on my new adventure of becoming A HIGH CONNOISSEUR OF LIFE!!

I JUST LOVE THAT PHRASE!!!!!!!

Let me know how YOU intend to simplify!!!

Seventy Quarts

Last Sunday we canned green beans.  You might recall, we canned some green beans earlier this summer, but only twenty quarts.

Our spring was cold and wet, and our green beans did not do well.  And twenty quarts of green beans isn't very many at my house.

We eat green beans several times a week. We love green beans.

So we planted more beans the end of July.    And they look fantastic.  In our garden, fall beans are always better than our summertime beans. 

They have fewer bug bites, less "rusty" spots on them.  Does anyone know why fall beans are better?  Inquiring minds want to know!!

So Sunday we canned green beans again.  And this time we canned SEVENTY QUARTS of green beans.  I must say, that's a record at our house.  We have never canned that many quarts of green beans in one day.  We've never canned that many quarts of ANYTHING in one day.

But my oh my are they delicious.  And this winter, when it's cold and snowy, those green beans will taste even better.

Now here is the kicker.  We plan on canning more beans this weekend!  Yes, it's true!   Even ninety quarts of green beans isn't enough for us.  We would like to can another twenty or thirty quarts.  And my guess is we will run out before green beans are ready next year!

Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth!!

 

 

A Homecoming Princess

This past Friday night was our Homecoming football game.

My beautiful daughter, Alex, was a Queen Candidate.

She didn't win, but can I just say she was the most beautiful girl there?

Don't you agree?

I am one proud mama.  And feeling so very blessed. 

It's Salsa Time!!!

We eat a lot of salsa at my house. 

Let me say that again . . We eat a lot of salsa at my house.

Two summers ago we canned over 100 pints of salsa.  Last summer our tomatoes did NOT do well, so we didn't can any salsa.  We ran out of our homemade salsa last winter.  So this summer it's salsa time again.

If you would like the detailed recipe, look HERE.  And really, salsa is a personal thing.  If you like it sweeter, add more sugar.  If you like it hotter, add more jalapeno.

One year I added corn to my salsa.  

Some folks add black beans, although we haven't. 

If you've never done any canning, salsa is a great place to start.  You really can't go wrong. 

Last night we canned 50 pints of salsa.  50 pints.  That's about a year's worth.  Hoping to do another batch over the weekend, or maybe next week.

Our green beans didn't do well this summer, we only canned about 20 quarts.  Our fall beans are looking GOOD, so we are HOPING to can another 80 or 100 quarts of green beans in a couple of weeks.  Fall green beans do better for us.  Fewer bug bites, less "rust" just a better bean, IF you can get them before it frosts.  And with our weird Missouri weather, well, you just never know.

So take the plunge, pick yourself some tomatoes and MAKE SALSA!!!

You'll be glad you did!!!

Remember What God Has Done

Today I am sharing a devotional with you from David Wilkerson. 

REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

Moses instructed Israel, "Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well

remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt . . . the

signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby

the Lord thy God brought thee out: so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the

people of whom thou art afraid" (Deuteronomy 7:18-19).

What a powerful message! Moses was reminding the Israelites, "No matter what

enemies you face, God has promised you victory over them all. He delivered your

fathers from Pharaoh, and he will do the same for you today!"

"Remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days

of thy life" (Deuteronomy 16:3). "Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman

in Egypt" (verse 12).

Moses' cry to the people was, "Remember the past! If you think you're having a

difficult time here in the wilderness, think about all the terrors you faced in

Egypt. Don't forget what life was like when you were all slaves. And remember

everything God did to deliver you from it all!"

The prophet Isaiah also spoke God's Word to a people who were full of fear.

This was at a time when Israel was convinced God had forsaken them, but Isaiah

assured them:

"Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of

the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker,

that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth;

and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as

if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?" (Isaiah

51:12-13).

God said through the prophet, "The reason you're afraid is because you have

forgotten who I am. You are looking only at your troubles and have forgotten

that My hand is still on your life!"

You may have trouble remembering God's miracles in your life. You may think,

"My life has been one long, hard nightmare. How can I remember God's miracles

when I haven't experienced them?"

Our experiences can inspire faith, but they are not meant to be the foundation

of our faith. That is why God's Word always points us toward what Jesus has

done. We are to remember His victory on the cross and cling to it by faith. He

alone empowers us to victory, by His Spirit.

 

Have you forgotten who God is??  Sometimes I do.  Sometimes I get so focused on how big the situation seems, that I forget how big my God really is.  I forget all of the miracles that He has done.  I forget that He spoke the world into existence.  If God can do that, then how can I doubt Him when it comes to trials in my life?? 

 

Lord, today, help my unbelief.  Help me to trust You completely and not doubt.  With every situation, and every circumstance, You are in control.  Help me to keep my eyes on YOU, and not the problem.  And help me to leave the outcome totally in Your hands.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

Stuff

Today I attended the funeral of my Great Aunt.  She was 87 years old.  I have wonderful memories of this sweet lady.  She was, without a doubt, one of the nicest people I have ever known.  She always had a smile on her face, always a kind word to say to everyone.

At the luncheon after the funeral I was visiting with one of her grandsons, and they were talking about all of the "stuff" she still has at her house.  He said that a couple of weeks ago they had all picked what they wanted to have from her house, things to remember her by.  And as he was driving home his brother had called him and said this:

"We all work our whole lives to accumulate stuff, and when we die, we can’t take one thing with us, and then other people come and get our stuff to add to their stuff that they can’t take with them either."

And I thought about this statement, and how very true it is. 

We are all so protective of our "stuff."  We like our "stuff."  We want the same "stuff" everybody else has.  To be honest, we want NICER STUFF than everybody else has.

We trade our lives for a job, so we can get MORE STUFF.

Why do we do this?

In Luke 12 Jesus said: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

I typed this in red, because these are Jesus' words.  Not mine. 

But I have been guilty of this.  Being very concerned with the things I possess.

Wanting to possess nicer things, newer things, bigger things.  Guilty.

And why do I do this??

I mean, I've been to a lot of funerals in my life.  A lot.  And I've never seen anybody buried with anything other than their clothes, maybe a wedding ring.  No house, no car, no fancy electronic equipment, no cash, nothing in that casket but their body.  So it's not like I don't KNOW that when we leave this world we take nothing with us.  We all know that. 

And still, we are on a relentless pursuit for more stuff.

Why?

I believe it is because as humans we are made with an empty space in our hearts.  And that empty space is to be filled with a love for God.  And if we don't completely fill that space with Him, well, then there's still an emptiness.  And I think as humans we try to fill that empty space with "stuff." 

And it doesn't fit.   The "stuff" doesn't fill the void, because the void is only made to be filled with God.  Not stuff.

Don't get me wrong.  Stuff, in and of itself, is not bad.  But shouldn't that "relentless pursuit" I referred to be a relentless pursuit for more of God, instead of for more "stuff?"

So today I'm asking God to help me pursue more of Him.  To keep my priorities straight, and desire Him more than I desire the empty "stuff" of this world that I know I can't take with me anyway.

At the end of her life my Great Aunt did not ask for her "stuff" to be brought to the nursing home with her so she could see it.  Her desire was to be surrounded by her family, those she loved.  The "stuff" that was in her house was just that, "stuff." 

What are you pursuing today?  A closer relationship with God, or "stuff."