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Today, I was pondering. Not about the word ponder, which will cause me to digress. It rhymes with wander, you know. Anyway...
I was pondering the amount of excess that Americans (at least a vast majority) have. A friend had asked me if I owned a bread machine. A bread machine is a handy little "servant" that makes fresh homemade bread unattended. It is wonderful. Well, I own two. My wonderful husband had purchased me one a long time ago, for Valentine's Day no less. I have used it quite a bit off and on. Lately, we had been using it more to make sandwich bread. My children will eat sandwiches on homemade bread but rarely otherwise. This bread machine makes bread in a tall tower like shape. The puffy round part is on one end when it is done. I had made the comment several times, I guess, that it would be better if it would make bread the sideways way. You know like a normal loaf. My husband being the thoughtful person that he is found one on the internet and had it shipped to me for no apparent reason. (Everyone, now, "AWWWWW.") Yes, I know.
So when the friend asked me if I owned a bread machine, I had to say, "Yes, I actually own two." I am kind of embarrassed. It is extravagant. It didn't have to be a bread machine, it could have been a vacuum cleaner, a car, a sewing machine, a dress, a pair of shoes. You get the picture.
My response to the question started me pondering the excesses of American life, and my life in particular. Not that we live all that extravagantly, we are putting two children through college and raising two more at the moment. But just how much more we have than we really need.
For instance, do I really need ten dresses with matching shoes in my closet. No, one or two would be plenty. But it makes me wonder what God would think about it. Then that started me pondering my ungratefulness, and made me come to the conclusion that I above all others should be so much more thankful than I really am. I love the song, "I am the last one worthy and the first one grateful."
The Holy Word of God says,"For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21 When we fail to give thanks, are brains become muddled and our hearts dark.
So where did all this pondering lead?
I don't know how but I want to simplify my life, not desire to aquire, and to be so much more grateful for the blessings that God has poured out on me.
All for the glory of God and God alone.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day
My Mother's Day story begins with wonderful children. My youngest daughter greeted me with a hug and a cheerful, "Happy Mother's Day, Momma!" She is a joy and super sweet. My other daughter wanted to give me a gift. "Close your eyes."
"Kaitlyn, I am eating yogurt."
"Close your eyes, Mom."
So, I closed my eyes. She gave me a beautiful new red blender. I can't wait to use it. Her card was cute. Something about because of me she didn't grow up to be an exotic dancer, but if she had she would have been able to buy a much nicer gift.
Then, the pig died. A sad, sad day in the lives of us wannabe farmers. The pig had to be disposed of in the usual manner with a trip to the in-laws. My husband took on this chore with a brave, but solemn face. So, I went to church without him. When I returned home, he had left on the kitchen counter a card and gift. A new GPS, I was thrilled. This started a conversation about who got the best gift to give me. Kaitlyn was bragging, that she had purchased the best gift. My son, Jack, was standing next to me listening. He states, "Hey, Kaitlyn, watch this." As he reaches his arms around me and gives me a hug and says, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you." Then he stood there and let me hug him back.
If you don't know Jack, well let me just say this was earth shaking. A most wonderful gift. Definitely the high point of my day. Jack does not let people touch him and he most assuredly rarely gives hugs. I was delighted to receive such a gift from him.
Then my husband's parents came for lunch.
And finally my first born child returned home from college in Texas. A wonderful sight.
A wonderful day thanks to my family. I am truly blessed by God. It is for His glory and His alone.
"Kaitlyn, I am eating yogurt."
"Close your eyes, Mom."
So, I closed my eyes. She gave me a beautiful new red blender. I can't wait to use it. Her card was cute. Something about because of me she didn't grow up to be an exotic dancer, but if she had she would have been able to buy a much nicer gift.
Then, the pig died. A sad, sad day in the lives of us wannabe farmers. The pig had to be disposed of in the usual manner with a trip to the in-laws. My husband took on this chore with a brave, but solemn face. So, I went to church without him. When I returned home, he had left on the kitchen counter a card and gift. A new GPS, I was thrilled. This started a conversation about who got the best gift to give me. Kaitlyn was bragging, that she had purchased the best gift. My son, Jack, was standing next to me listening. He states, "Hey, Kaitlyn, watch this." As he reaches his arms around me and gives me a hug and says, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you." Then he stood there and let me hug him back.
If you don't know Jack, well let me just say this was earth shaking. A most wonderful gift. Definitely the high point of my day. Jack does not let people touch him and he most assuredly rarely gives hugs. I was delighted to receive such a gift from him.
Then my husband's parents came for lunch.
And finally my first born child returned home from college in Texas. A wonderful sight.
A wonderful day thanks to my family. I am truly blessed by God. It is for His glory and His alone.
Happy Mother's Day!
This is a special tribute to my mom. Happy Mother's Day! Some things to bring a smile to your face...
3 children who love you.
1 husband who adores you. (He would do anything you asked.)
Be glad that your children don't bring you dead animals, especially pigs on Mother's Day.
This comment needs some explanation, which requires some storytelling.
We had a pony, named Pepper, for my son. One morning when my husband went out to feed him, he found the pony dead. He came in to tell me and to have me keep my son away from the window. I asked him if he needed help and what was he going to do with the horse. He said, "I am going to take him to Mom's." Just what every mother wants, a dead horse. I asked how he was going to load a 600 pound horse. He said he was going to put him on the wheelbarrow. Okay, this I had to see. He put the wheelbarrow upside down on top of the horse and then got a rope and tied the horse to the wheelbarrow. Then he wrestled with it until he got it flipped over. Drat! Didn't have the truck ready. Get a chair to lean the wheelbarrow on. Back the truck up to the ditch, in the middle of the road. Wheel the dead horse, now on top of the wheelbarrow, down the drive to the ditch and into the truck. It was hysterical to watch. I hope his mother appreciated the gift.
A few years later...
My in-laws were at the house, visiting. My father-in-law was getting ready to leave and decided to drive across the pasture. My geese were walking across, he says, they will move. They didn't. He ran over the gander. So... you guessed it. The gander went home with him, with my husband's mother.
Now...
We had three pigs. We took two to freezer camp. The sow, Sally Soo Wii, is left. She is lonely. My husband pets her, calls her "Sweetie" everyday. He is so gentle and sweet with her. She follows him, when she gets out.
She gets sick. My husband rushes to the store for medicine. The next morning (Mother's Day)... the pig is dead. I guess she died of loneliness. What is he going to do with the dead pig, on Mother's Day? Take it to Mom's of course. Now, why didn't I think of that.
So, Mom... Be glad I am not bringing you a dead pig for Mother's Day.
I love you.
Tracey
This is a special tribute to my mom. Happy Mother's Day! Some things to bring a smile to your face...
3 children who love you.
1 husband who adores you. (He would do anything you asked.)
Be glad that your children don't bring you dead animals, especially pigs on Mother's Day.
This comment needs some explanation, which requires some storytelling.
We had a pony, named Pepper, for my son. One morning when my husband went out to feed him, he found the pony dead. He came in to tell me and to have me keep my son away from the window. I asked him if he needed help and what was he going to do with the horse. He said, "I am going to take him to Mom's." Just what every mother wants, a dead horse. I asked how he was going to load a 600 pound horse. He said he was going to put him on the wheelbarrow. Okay, this I had to see. He put the wheelbarrow upside down on top of the horse and then got a rope and tied the horse to the wheelbarrow. Then he wrestled with it until he got it flipped over. Drat! Didn't have the truck ready. Get a chair to lean the wheelbarrow on. Back the truck up to the ditch, in the middle of the road. Wheel the dead horse, now on top of the wheelbarrow, down the drive to the ditch and into the truck. It was hysterical to watch. I hope his mother appreciated the gift.
A few years later...
My in-laws were at the house, visiting. My father-in-law was getting ready to leave and decided to drive across the pasture. My geese were walking across, he says, they will move. They didn't. He ran over the gander. So... you guessed it. The gander went home with him, with my husband's mother.
Now...
We had three pigs. We took two to freezer camp. The sow, Sally Soo Wii, is left. She is lonely. My husband pets her, calls her "Sweetie" everyday. He is so gentle and sweet with her. She follows him, when she gets out.
She gets sick. My husband rushes to the store for medicine. The next morning (Mother's Day)... the pig is dead. I guess she died of loneliness. What is he going to do with the dead pig, on Mother's Day? Take it to Mom's of course. Now, why didn't I think of that.
So, Mom... Be glad I am not bringing you a dead pig for Mother's Day.
I love you.
Tracey
Friday, April 16, 2010
National Day of Prayer
National Day of Prayer is May 6. If you have never participated, now is the time. We need to stand up for our faith and the principles this country was founded on.
We have had a National Day of Prayer is this country since the beginning.
We have had a National Day of Prayer is this country since the beginning.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
An Exciting Day on the Farm!
Wow! What a day! Saturday, we planted the garden. Corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini, yellow squash. The new grape vines and trees arrived about 7:00 PM. Planted 10 grape vines, a pomegranate, an elderberry, two PawPaws, and a Vitex. Also planted flowers in the pots on the front porch. About 10 PM, Jack comes upstairs while Jerry is in the tub and says, "I think you should look at the shower and tub downstairs." Jerry goes downstairs to find the septic system backing up in the boys bathroom and the media room. Ugh. The carpet in the media room is soaking about ten feet in from the drain in the utility closet. The septic system is making ocean like sounds outside. It is hard to see anything in the dark. Jerry removes the cover, it is full, the pump is obviously not working. He proceeds to use a sump pump to start pumping water out. At midnight we are ripping up carpet in the media room and bleaching floors. We get in bed about 1 AM, exhausted.
Sunday
We get up and start getting ready for church. Jerry goes out to feed the chickens. Calls us and says the pig is out, come help find her. Oh, good cow. We find her, or the neighbor does at his house. We herd her back to the pen. Jerry fixes the pen so she can't get out. Little does he know what Sally Soo Wii is plotting. Sally Soo Wii is the pig. While he is watering the freshly planted grapes the driveway alert goes off. I think what now. Look out the front door and see Sally Soo Wii headed down the lane. Off we go pig chasing again. I jump in my little Jetta, and zip down the lane to catch up with the pig. I pick up Jerry on the way. We leap from the car, and start herding Sally Soo Wii back to her appointed lodging. Thinking Freezer Camp is where she needs to be. She is crying and mad. Making all kinds of racket, the kind that pigs make. Jerry again, fixes the pen so she can't get out. What a day. And it is only 10:30 AM. What else does the day hold?
Sunday
We get up and start getting ready for church. Jerry goes out to feed the chickens. Calls us and says the pig is out, come help find her. Oh, good cow. We find her, or the neighbor does at his house. We herd her back to the pen. Jerry fixes the pen so she can't get out. Little does he know what Sally Soo Wii is plotting. Sally Soo Wii is the pig. While he is watering the freshly planted grapes the driveway alert goes off. I think what now. Look out the front door and see Sally Soo Wii headed down the lane. Off we go pig chasing again. I jump in my little Jetta, and zip down the lane to catch up with the pig. I pick up Jerry on the way. We leap from the car, and start herding Sally Soo Wii back to her appointed lodging. Thinking Freezer Camp is where she needs to be. She is crying and mad. Making all kinds of racket, the kind that pigs make. Jerry again, fixes the pen so she can't get out. What a day. And it is only 10:30 AM. What else does the day hold?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Molly in the Garden
We are starting to plant the garden. The Sugar Snap Peas are up. Potatoes are planted, along with some broccoli, cauliflower, and a few peppers.
We were working in the garden, Jerry, Jack, Molly Jo and myself. Jerry had gone off to do something. So Jack and I had finished the task of putting the seed potatoes in the rows. Molly Jo was supposed to be covering them up with soil. She was using a garden rake. Which she didn't know how to use, by the way. Jerry had showed her, but as Jack said, "Molly, it is not a broom. You can't use it like a broom." In her defense, the dirt was a little hard to move with the rake.
Oh, well. She was complaining loudly. So, I decided I would cover up the row next to the one she was working on with my hands. I was pretty quick and got ahead of her. She decided she would get rid of the rake and use her hands too. As she is covering the potatoes with dirt using her hands, Jack says, "Molly, you want to hear something funny?" All the time he is saying this, he knows the reaction that is coming.
Molly says, "Whatever. Tell me, Jack."
"The pigs peed in this dirt," Jack says.
Well, you can probably guess the rest. She came unglued. "OOOooo. Gross. Nastiness. I am not eating these potatoes, they are growing in nastiness." She wails as she grabs the rake, she looks at me with a look that could make roses wilt. Jack and I are cracking up. It was quite funny.
We were working in the garden, Jerry, Jack, Molly Jo and myself. Jerry had gone off to do something. So Jack and I had finished the task of putting the seed potatoes in the rows. Molly Jo was supposed to be covering them up with soil. She was using a garden rake. Which she didn't know how to use, by the way. Jerry had showed her, but as Jack said, "Molly, it is not a broom. You can't use it like a broom." In her defense, the dirt was a little hard to move with the rake.
Oh, well. She was complaining loudly. So, I decided I would cover up the row next to the one she was working on with my hands. I was pretty quick and got ahead of her. She decided she would get rid of the rake and use her hands too. As she is covering the potatoes with dirt using her hands, Jack says, "Molly, you want to hear something funny?" All the time he is saying this, he knows the reaction that is coming.
Molly says, "Whatever. Tell me, Jack."
"The pigs peed in this dirt," Jack says.
Well, you can probably guess the rest. She came unglued. "OOOooo. Gross. Nastiness. I am not eating these potatoes, they are growing in nastiness." She wails as she grabs the rake, she looks at me with a look that could make roses wilt. Jack and I are cracking up. It was quite funny.
The Cross
Today I baked Hot Cross Buns in honor of Good Friday and the Crucifixtion of our Lord.
They are pretty good. And look nice.
The Cross
By: T.Surine
A thing despised
Caused excruciating pain
Humbling death
Hatred
Guilt
Ugly
A thing cherished
Gives unequaled joy
Eternal life
Love
Forgiveness
Beautiful
It all depends on your perspective, doesn't it.
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