Our Times are in His Hands

Several months ago I attended a "sewing day" at a friend's house. I arrived a little later than the only other guest. Getting there was a challenge as I took only my little children so that they could play and left my older girls at home to keep house. And the truth is; I'm not too accustomed to handling my children all by myself anymore...car seats, carrying things etc. We created a small whirlwind when we entered I guess, what with snacks, sewing basket and machine. Maybe I looked a little harried, maybe I seemed worn out. I don't remember how many little ones I had along that day.
But I do remember the comment from the other guest, after we were introduced. She was an "older woman"...you know, the ones the Bible says should teach us younger ones to love their husbands and to love their children? ..."I know just what you're going through...I had four children myself!" I know she meant well, I know she was trying to offer support but her words didn't sit right with me.
Since about half of my children have reached adulthood...and their numbers are being added to rapidly, I have a keen sense of the fleetingness of time. Immediately I thought "What I'm going through?... Oh no! That's not it at all...it's not 'what I'm going through', it's what is slipping by way too quickly!" There is so much to do..so much to learn, so much to teach and so much to say.
They say time flies when you're having fun. I recently heard a woman refer to life as "long". It made we wonder..is she having fun? Is she happy? You don't often hear "life is long".

Lord, help me to remember that there is always enough time for what is important to you. And to take one day at a time, for that is all you give. I don't want to run ahead of you or to worry about tomorrow.



Teach me, O Lord, to number my days,
That I may apply unto wisdom my heart.

And satisfy early my deep yearning heart,
That I may rejoice always.
Three-score years and ten
Are all our lives may hold:
Fleeting years we spend,
A tale so quickly told:
And judgment greets us then
Our Maker we behold.

Teach me, O Lord to number my days,
That I may apply unto wisdom my heart.
Stanley K. Brubaker

Missionary Mom

This picture was the first confirmation that Hannah and James made is safely to the orphanage in Haiti. Sarah said would should name this one "Hannah is Home". Here is where her heart has been ever since her first visit in 2008. It's so good to "see" her there!





I just LOVE this picture of James and a friend...kicking back on the hood of a car.
About this picture he said "I have been able to sleep in some pretty uncomfortable situations". That's answered prayer to a Mom who has spent lots of time praying: that he'd get enough rest, that he wouldn't be too uncomfortable on the ground, in the tent, due to the rain etc... I confess I'm more of a prayer worrier than a prayer warrior but...God answers anyway :) And I'm multi-tasking!!!




This video shows some of the kids at HCH
playing church. I recognized the tune...
"He Hideth My Soul in the Cleft of the Rock"
God, please watch over these precious souls
and let them grow up to love and serve you!

Something old, something new, something borrowed...

Today was an interesting mix of old and new. We used an "old" sunbeam meat grinder (that we inherited) to process all the fat trimmed from an old cow (that some kind ranchers in the valley gave us). Then we spent the day melting it down on our modern gas range. (All day I was thinking about how they used to have to do things.) Had to raise and butcher the cow... had to cut the fat in bits with a knife...had to render the fat over a fire...had to make soap in order to have soap. I don't have to make soap..but I like to. And today we learned what cracklings are. They're all of the itty bits of meat that are still on the fat that sink to the bottom of the pot when you render the fat. Back in the day I'm sure they ate this but today we recycled it into dog food. :) It felt good to make so much of something, that would have been pitched, into stuff that we can use. Now we can look forward to making sweet smelling soap. That's another study in recycling..something that once was woodash (lye) and fat...combining to make new soap. It's quite an amazing process.