Recipes and a Recipe

I love recipes! We used to get all of our recipes from cookbooks or friends but, that was before the internet. I have a huge recipe box and going through it is a trip down memory lane. Even if I seldom use a recipe, I'll keep it there as a memento from a friend and a place and a time gone by.
Recipes, especially the handwritten ones are a part of a friend, shared. I like to go through them and think of my friends and family; lifting them up in prayer.
I always rename the recipes I get from my friends that get used again and again and have accumulated quite a collection:
Beth's Cream Cheese Brownies
Lucie's Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie
Joni's Cookies
Eve's Granola
Christi's Bars
Rhoda's Dinner Rolls
Wendy's Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Mom's Taco Salad (there are many 'Mom" titles)
Grandma Chaney's Potato Salad (that's a variation on the 'Mom" catagory)

This one is a huge hit with my hubby and kids...

Christi's Bars

2 c.almond flour (grind raw almonds in blender)

1/3 c. agave syrup

1/3(+) grapeseed oil or olive oil

1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 

Mix those first 6 ingredients well and then add:

1/2  c. raw sunflower seeds

1/2 c. raw cashews or walnuts or peanuts

1/2 c. raw pumpkin seeds

1/2 c. coconut (unsweetened)

1/2 c. raisins or dried cranberries

2 T. sesame seeds

Mix by hand press hard and even into 9 x 13 pan

Bake @ 325' for 20 mins or until lightly browned.

Cut when cool. Don't over bake.

Enjoy!!

Do What You LOVE to Do!!

Often I say to my kids "you don't have to if you want to" Think about it for a minute...it is really quite true. I hear friends say things like "I hate to cook" or "I hate to clean" or " I hate doing laundry" or whatever.

I've been noticing signs of this thought pattern around my house lately, coming from my girls, which undeniable must stem from me...(ouch!)  So, I've been thinking...

What if we LOVED to cook, to clean and to do laundry?  You've heard the advice "Do what you love", right?  We can change our minds! God's Word says that we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 NLT

Who are we working for anyway? It takes more than natural love to face the piles of work that we mothers do. It takes doing it for God and His Glory! After all, Jesus Christ humbled himself and became a SERVANT!!

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2

Change your thinking while you work. Make dinner for your family because you LOVE them and want to serve them. Set the table, make it beautiful, smile! While you clean, thank God for busy people who come and go and track dirt in. Thank Him for the little hands that get the bathroom towel dirty while washing up. Thank Him for providing clothing (galore around here) for all seasons. And for the washer and dryer or clothesline. For the strength to work. Thank Him for everything!

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God is Christ Jesus concerning you" 1 Thes.  5:18

^{I Corinthians 10:31} So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Of Words and Roots

I just love being in the garden and it seemed extra special today. I felt close to God, close to my “roots”. Grabbing handfuls of soil and sifting it over newly planted seeds reminded me of God’s hand taking a handful of soil and making......me!

Let's ever remember the origin of man as stated in God's Word:

 “In the sweat of the face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
I also love studying root words and the Word!

This year we learned the root words HUM and HUMAN while studying the excellent book "English from the Roots Up". We really enjoy and highly recommend this book.

We found it interesting to consider all of the following words which include these roots:

Humus:  earth; ground

Humanities:  Studies and interests of a cultural type which enrich the spirit of mankind

Exhume:  Take out of the ground; unearth; disinter

Humble:  Lowly; unpretentious; as, an humble person, meek

Humic;  Derived from the soil; as, Humic acid

Humicubation:  Act of lying on the ground in penitence; self abasement

Humility:  The quality of lowliness; meekness

Humiliate:  To humble; to shame; to abase

Humiliation:  Feeling of shame; degradation

Human:  Belonging or relating to man

Humanify:  Make into a man

Humane:  Marked by sympathy compassion for other human beings and animals

Humanize:  Make human; render humane

Inhuman:  Lacking the qualities of a humane being

Humanity:  The quality of being human

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up"

 I find the words and their roots quite interesting! Maybe I'm a "verbophil"! (Yes, I like playing with words too!)

 Verbum (word) + philo (love) = verbophil J

I think it is a good thing to love words! After all...
"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 
John 1:14

Mother's Days

I heard this song by Steven Curtis Chapman the other day. I'm sharing it for my young mom friends that help me to fondly recall my younger days when life was blessedly full and hard and exhausting and my children were all little; needy and hungry and tired. 


I love to sit and talk with them and hear of their adventures and watch them buckle all of their brood into their car seats and to witness the tireless, selfless, God-given love that they have for their beautiful babies.


They bring back memories of several little ones clamoring for a spot on my lap or begging me watch one of their new abilities. 
They bless my heart!

I love being a mother; a journey with so many pleasant bends in the road! Thank you Lord, for blessing me so!

Happy Mother's Day!

► 4:08► 4:08

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP4nBMLkfko

One Heartbeat at a Time


You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are


So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Oh, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten


You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time


With every "I know you can do it"
Every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
They're just like the drops of rain over time
They become a river


And you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time


You're beautiful
You're beautiful
How you're changing the world
You're changing the world


You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
Oh, I believe that you
You are changing the world
One little heartbeat
At a time


And you're changing the world


here's the link to Steven Curtis Chapman singing his song"

Best Friends....

My two youngest boys are truly best friends. When Joe went away for three days last week, Peter was actually "Joe-sick". He'd come up to me every half hour or so and tell me with puppy- dog sad eyes that he missed Joe. And that it's not fun without him.

Joseph is 9 and Peter 6. They are as different as night and day. Peter is aggressive and bossy. Joe is passive and easy to please. I'm so thankful for the design evident in their birth order...Joe is just old enough to understand and tolerate Pete without taking offense. He's quite patient with him.

The other day I observed them sitting in the back seat, buckled and waiting to go somewhere. They didn't see me, but I saw them! Peter had his face in Joe's neck.  Joe had his arms around Pete. They were cuddling and just showing affection, it was so sweet! Wish I had a video of that.

I believe the reason they are so fond of each other is that they're together so much. Joe called while he was away those three days and filled Peter in on everything he was doing, in a most animated way. Joseph is not being pulled away from his family friendships and loyalty by friends at school nor on the team. He's not ashamed of his little brother in any way. He never tells him to get lost when an older friend comes to play. Having his little brother with him is natural to him and the best. I'm so thankful for the great example all of my older children have been in this...often inviting a younger sibling along, including them in on what they are doing and learning.

Having grown -up brothers and sisters has given these boys vision for their lives. I have heard them discussing at length:  businesses they plan to have,  trucks they plan to buy, how many children they hope to have, places they want to live etc.

I  love watching them grow and learn and figure out what life is all about.

For these things I am grateful. Thank You Lord!!

Missing the Mark

The aim:  A place for everything and everything in it's place
The reality:  can't find the:  keys, book, phone, remote, scissors, tape (you name it- we'll misplace it at times)
The remedy:  call a "Family Search" which includes everyone and goes until item is located. Offer reward if necessary. Of course, this depends on the importance of the item. If these measures are not warranted then just forget it...it will turn up eventually, probably when we clean the house :)


The aim:  To always have an orderly and clean house especially BEFORE company arrives or hubby gets home from work.
The reality:  Not quite as stated above and they're pulling into the driveway.
The remedy:  Laundry baskets! They hold so much and can be stacked in the laundry room with the door shut until the time comes to deal with them.  Later they can be carried from room to room during the relocation process. If you have older daughters be careful that they do not see you doing this one!



The aim:  To have and stay on a schedule
The reality:  Unplanned for late bedtimes,sleeping in later than planned, late start, not feeling quite well etc...
The remedy:  Remember to stay flexible so that you don't get bent out of shape! Start somewhere, skip something or just completely change the plan into something else like:  packing a picnic, visiting an old person, going for a hike, doing art projects or???


The aim: To have cheerful, obedient children, who come when they are called, work without complaining and remember everything you've ever taught them:)
The reality:  Self-centered, disobedient, forgetful children who seem to pick up more of your bad habits than your good intentions and at all times test the limits.
The remedy:  Pray for wisdom and patience. Apologize to the children for allowing them to become (lazy, disrespectful, defiant), owning that it really is your fault for failing to properly train them.  Resolve to be more like Jesus who gets our attention with His "still small voice". Determine to be consistent- not letting any word you say be ignored and no disobedience nor defiance go unpunished. Humble yourself, show lots of love and a "we're in this together" attitude.


The aim:  To be lovely and cheerful, singing and smiling and blessing your husband, children and all who enter; never letting fatigue, bad news, achiness, or hormones sway your pleasant graces.
The reality:  Becoming irritable, snappy, whining, complaining and mean resulting in hurting others and becoming a far cry from the godly example you long to be.
The remedy: Go to God again and repent. Acknowledge your weakness and let His strength be perfected in you. Apologize to your family, receive forgiveness then go and sin no more! For a quick makeover...put on a happy face. I've noticed that I look so much better when I'm smiling, don't you?

The aim:  I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14

The reality:  ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 I'm using this verse, not as an excuse but to show that we all sin which means to 'miss the mark'.  

The remedy:  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

One of the many reason I love teaching my children at home

Today, Peter and I were studying phonics, going over the "when two vowels go a-walking, the first one does the talking, and he's usually saying his own name" idea.
I wrote down lots of words for him to sound out....boat, road, toad, goad, shoal, goal and so on. Beside those, I faintly wrote the words again and it was to be his task to form the letters atop my faint examples. He did well on the first page. And then it happened...overwhelm! The second page loomed in front of him like a mission impossible. I even think I saw little traces of tears rising up in his eyes.
                                                    
 Inspired and moved with compassion, I stopped. I know too well that pushing a little boy beyond his limits does not work. Pulling him close, I whispered in his ear..."Peter you know what? You are now at the point in your reading where you're ready to read from a real book!" You should have seen the change that came over him. The glistening is his eyes turned to gleaming as he buried his face in my neck and said "Oh, thank you Mom" and held me tight. And so, we two sat in a big comfy chair by the fire and he read from McGuffey's Primer. He read several pages too, for he was really enjoying this landmark occasion. When we were finished, I gave him a special bookmark that was crafted by his great-grandmother. He proudly placed his book in his drawer, ran back to the school table and finished his phonics work.

These are the moments that make all of my efforts worthwhile! I love having the freedom to stop, assess, discern and improvise in order meet my children right where they are and take them where they need to go.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

The Daily Log

I am so thankful for my husband and the godly and practical wisdom that God has given him.  I go to him with "problems" that I cannot resolve. Oftentimes these are "issues" with the children, young and old, and I am at my wits end. Always, when I heed his counsel, (for I know that God makes it works this way so that He will get the Glory), things turn around.

In California we are required to keep attendance records on the premises. I had tried and failed to keep attendance records again and again.  I could not figure how to mark someone "present" who is always present nor how to mark someone absent on a day that we didn't "have school" when it is on these days that the children often learn the most while we clean, organize, bake, cook, garden, shop etc... Furthermore, how could I ever account for Ruthie helping me with lunch, Mary reading a story to Peter,  Sarah instructing Joe in his Math or Seth helping a neighbor feed his cows?

 When I poured out this whole mess to my dear husband he simply and without delay replied "Just have them keep their own records"!  He suggested to get them each a small notebook in which they would be responsible to write down what they did each day for "school".

Of course, I ran right out and got them each tiny spiral bound memo-pads. What a great idea! They love to see how much they can "log" into their books. Eager to jot down lots of entries, they include anything that I say can count for "school". Once again, Jeff to the rescue. I am completely off the hook to keep attendance records. We use one memo-pad per child, per year.

 I have yet to have them logging through the summer, but I should; that's when alot of real learning happens too...swimming, camping, gardening, building forts, ball games, bike rides, star-gazing, yard-work, barbecuing and so much more :) Maybe this summer. :)

Out of the mouth of (sisters) babes :)

Joseph is a wiz at Math but he doesn't at all relish wielding a pencil and transcribing his knowledge onto paper. Not at all! Well, today while doing so he got a bit discouraged and posed the question: "Who made up Math, anyway?" Ruth quickly replied with this: "All things were made by Him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" which she quoted from our recently memory work in John 1. Yeah!
That did the trick, Joe swallowed hard and got back to work.

And Jesus said unto them, Yeah; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and infants you have perfected praise? Mathew 21:16


Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.



I

My Favorite Muffins

I love recipes. Especially ones that I've copied from a friend, like this one from my old friend Wendy. We've made these for years and always when we share them with others they rave and want the recipe too...so I thought I'd share it here.

Seems we often have apples around that aren't really good for fresh eating.

6 cup portions for our bunch

Grated apples

Apples really aren't  good, unless their good, if you know what I mean. Who wants to eat a mealy apple? But once grated and used in these muffins they're great...and it's such an easy way to keep them from going to waste. If you don't have time to make muffins, simply grate the apples and freeze them in the portions needed until you do.

Ruth is our main Apple Muffin maker

Apple Oatmeal Muffins
3 c. grated apples (leave peels on)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 t. salt
1 t. soda
1/2 t. allspice
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. raisins or chopped dates or dried cranberries
 2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. oil
1 c. oats
1/2 c. chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 c. brown sugar

 Cook apples in water with sugar. Cool.  Stir flour, salt, soda and spices together. Add remaining sugar, oatmeal, nuts and raisins. Combine eggs, oil and grated apple mixture. Add everything together  and stir until just moistened.  Fill greased muffin tins or tins lined with papers 2/3 full. Bake @ 375' for 20 minutes or until no longer shiny and look done.

These are so yummy served warm with a little butter or a spread of cream cheese.

God's Lesson Plans

It is always my goal and desire to be reading a chapter book out loud to my children.  So the other day, since I have been slacking in this area, I picked up "The Twenty-one Balloons" which is a novel by William Pene du Bois, published in 1947 and awarded the Newberry Medal for excellence in American children's literature 1948. The story is about a retired schoolteacher whose ill-fated balloon trip leads him to discover an island full of great wealthy and fantastic inventions. The events and ideas are based both on scientific fact and imagination. In the introduction he claims that the story is half truth and half fiction, which  is intriguing for the children. I can really see the wheels turning in the children's minds as I read.

There was no particular reason for me choosing this particular book which has been on our library shelf for years.  I've never read it or seen anyone else read it or heard anything about it, good or bad. The children keep asking for "one more chapter" which is a good sign. Jeff overheard us reading it; turns out he read it and loved it when he was a boy too!

I am writing this to give Glory to God who does all things well, including teaching children through an earthen vessel (cracked-pot) like me! I could never plan lessons the way He does!

About three days into our story, we were all sitting at the breakfast table and James announced that he could see a HOT AIR BALLOON in the sky! We do see those beautiful balloons here from time to time but only in the spring (as far as I can recall) and this is February! It was cold and windy that day...not a hot- air- balloon -sighting type of day AT ALL! We had fun viewing it through our binoculars and  spotting scope. Later Peter drew this picture:

Peter's Hot Air Balloon

I often think of the story of the loaves and the two small fish that the little boy brought to Jesus. It was all he had but he trusted the Lord to use it as needed.  And God multiplied that food until there were leftovers! That's what we home-schooling mothers need to do. Bring what we have to the Lord and trust Him to add whatever else is needed. It seemed God was showing me that HE is aware, interested and involved in even the small details of our little home-school. I thank Him and praise Him for that!

The following poem has always encouraged me to read to my children:

The Reading Mother
by Strickland Gillian

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth;
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days'
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness lent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things,
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch.
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a Mother who read to me.

Proverbs 3: 5, 6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The Whose-Who of "Choice"?

I had the very disturbing, in fact, depressing opportunity of visiting our county's department of Social Services office last week. From the moment I entered this brand new state -of -the- art office I felt like a "bad-guy". Although the room was huge and well appointed, dividing the space between 'us' and 'them' was a glass barrier all the way to the ceiling. In order to talk to 'them' we had to speak through a small vent in the glass wall.  All over the walls were bulletin boards with glossy posters proclaiming our "rights" to:  food, healthcare, education, counseling- you name it. Young mothers came and went, speaking through the little vent, requesting more money and "free" services for their children.

What bothered me most was one poster in particular. It asked; "Are you pregnant? Confused? Scared?" and encouraged telling someone you trust. It informed us about the safe surrender law in California. It is legal here to surrender your newborn baby to any emergency room hospital employee (even the janitor I wondered?) within 72 hours of his birth, with no questions asked. You might even be allowed to reclaim the child within 14 days (I assume that is if one of 'them' deems you trustworthy).  At the very bottom of the poster this appeal was made: "A trashcan or dumpster is NEVER a choice!"

On the surface this law seems so right; so noble. Please understand that I support encouraging women NOT to throw their babies in dumpsters. What's bothering me is this:  society teaches (by legalization) that it is an acceptable "choice" to throw babies in dumpsters as long as they are removed from their mother's wombs through surgically induced death. And I'm sure one could get a referral for an abortion from this very same office.  'They' are speaking out of both sides of their mouths!  "The dumpster out behind the hospital is alright for baby corpses but please don't discard them in the public area. Only the 'Doctors' are permitted to throw them away." Or, to put it another way: 'They' may toss babies in the trash but 'we' may not! Makes me wonder...would it more acceptable for unwanted babies in Haiti to be tossed into the rivers to drown if it were done by a "professional" tosser?  God help us!

The next day I read Psalm 12

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
  for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
  with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.


May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
  the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, "With out tongue we will prevail,
  our lips are with us; who is master over us?"


"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
  I will now arise, says the Lord;
  I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
The words of the Lord are pure words,
  like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
  purified seven times.


You, O Lord, will keep them;
  you will guard us from this generation forever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
  as vileness is exalted among the children of man.


What a sad but lovely contrast between the double speaking  of the wicked as highlighted above and the words of the Lord which are "pure like silver refined in a furnace...purified seven times".

God please grant each of us, your servants and true lovers of children, opportunity to meet and help the poor.  Open our hearts and our homes to help in whatever way we can. Use us Lord to help our sisters in their times of trouble. And thank you for keeping us and freeing us from the clutches of the enemy of our souls.

 "You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man." 

Footnotes

"First Comes Love..."

I knew there was something going on when Daniel called me for no particular
reason...seemingly, just to chit chat that midday. It wasn't like him. Then, after a few pleasantries ..."That's not really why I called, Mom, there's something else I want to tell you..." "Yeah?, what?" ( my heart began pounding) "We're having a baby!" (now my heart leaped in my chest!).

Daniel and Teagan

 I don't remember my verbal response but I'll never forget my physical and emotional ones!  My heart raced, my face flushed, my voice quavered, my body shook...all for pure JOY! I was in a restaurant and it was all I could do to keep from making a public announcement! I called Jeff, we rejoiced! I called my sister, my sister in law, my friends!  Everywhere I went that day there seemed to be some appropriate time to mention to absolute strangers that... I have my first grand-baby on the way!!!

Baby's first photo 

Our little one is due July 16th  and we are already head over heels in love!  I realized something the other night, lying awake thinking and praying for my children:  that not only are Daniel and Teagan going to have a baby, for this is their baby, but that I am going to have a grandchild and I will be that little person's Grandma! This will be an all new relationship for me and I cannot wait to experience it!

Proverbs 17: 6   
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Psalm 27:3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

On Empty

Have you ever felt empty? Completely depleted. Used up. Finished? That's me today!
I feel like an overloaded charcoal water filter cartridge. One that adsorbs all of the gunky toxins from everything that flows through it.  I've patiently listened to squabble after debate after offense after altercation until I'm beyond blue in the face...I'm blue through and through! Now what?
Do what I've always done...throw my hands up, leave the room, throw myself on my bed and cry! And cry. That always relieves at least some of the tension. After that I can think for awhile. So, I think. I think, "wow...I am overwhelmed, maxed out, done for". And yet I also think, everything will be alright (for it always has been). Then I think a prayer; "Oh, God help me, please? - You've got the wrong person for this job, I can't do it anymore!" Once I get that out I'm on the road to recovery! For it is in that request, that statement of self-hopelessness that I release all of my anxiety and throw myself on the only One who can and will pick me up and cause me to stand again.
My spirit begins to commune with His and the Word which is hidden in my heart begins to manifest the peace that passes understanding.

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 2:19




Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.(1Co 1:25-29)

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

God has also blessed me with a tender and understanding husband who upon seeing me in such a distress, admonished everyone in the house to please be quiet... (I know they hoped I'd fall asleep). After this "time out" and the above stated meditations and prayers I was able to return refreshed to my work (that of teaching and training children) and press on.

Mothering can and will be overwhelming at times but God is faithful always and will calm the storm within so that we can weather the storms without. I have never asked God for help and had the answer be "NO"!

Here are lyrics to a song that often courses through my mind:

Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile
'Cause deep inside this armor
Deep inside this armor
Deep inside this armor
The Warrior is a Child