Thursday, November 30, 2006

Help, Y'all

I am trying to offer a readable blog, here, really I am! Anyone experienced enough to help me figure out how to get paragraph breaks and how to make the font a little smaller? (Does it need to be smaller? On my monitor it does.) Not too proud to ask for help, here. Maybe it's granny-brain.

Yummm . . . or is it??

Hmmm, what a mental conflict! I stopped by daughter B's house today (just around the corner on our country road) and was presented with a still warm loaf of wonderful, fresh ground, baked, and sliced whole wheat bread. When I got home, there was nothing for it but to have a slice . . . or two . . . It was incredibly delicious! One slice with butter and raw cheese, one with butter and raw honey. What a treat!How can I feel negative about such a delight? Well, I am at the end of my prescriptions and must see our old family doctor tomorrow. He has been "after you for years, lady, to lose that weight", said in his stern, grandfatherly voice. I have been slowly making progress and was feeling pretty confident about tomorrow until . . . When I weighed this morning, I had actually lost a moderate amount since last visit -- but bread, even good, nutritious bread like this is a downfall! Well, I will just have to be thankful for the wonderful treat and see what tomorrow brings. My weight is a significant factor in my many health woes, so losing it must be a priority, but wholesome bread baked with love just has to be okay! How about you? Do you have "downfalls" and challenges? What is the Lord speaking to you about in your personal life?

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Clarification

Just wanted to say that the last post was brought over from a different bloghoster and was originally written the day after Thanksgiving . . . so, that's why it says "yesterday" for the feast day. Not so important, but it was bugging me!

Monday, November 27, 2006

Golden Day

When the day ends here, the sun goes down over the little woods at the west end of our property. It casts a golden glow that transports the scene to a timeless place of precious contentment. Yesterday, our family (well, most of it -- our son and his wife and baby girl live in mid-Tennessee) and extended family gathered to thank the Lord for His bountiful blessings and mercies, upon us and our nation.

The older granddaughters had come over early to help get everything ready. They love to dig out Grandmother's seasonal goodies and transform the house. Our oldest daughter, B (the men of the family have not decided if it is wise to share names on the Internet) and her family (7 children), our middle daughter M, and her family (5 children, one more in May), and the youngest daugher K's family (8 children) filled the tables. M brought her mother-in-law, who now lives with them, and her father-in-law and step-MIL. In addition, my precious mother joined us for a while before going to visit my father in the VA hospital.

Food was plentiful -- a nice all natural turkey, and the usual accompaniments to a wonderful Southern feast: buttery mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing, collard and turnip greens, green salad. In addition, we added baked butternut squash, Hoosier-style homemade noodles, green bean casserole, "angeled" eggs (from our chickens), homemade rolls (made by granddaughter), and all kinds of pies. Of course, iced tea and some herb teas Yummm . .

My husband shared some non-revisionist Thanksgiving history and we sang the Doxology before bowing to ask the Lord's blessing. Afterward, the men took the older grandchildren shooting in the pasture, the little ones played and played outside, and the ladies fellowshipped inside. That evening, we played board games and had a ball. My husband sat with the grandchildren and watched "The Real Mayflower Story", which he says was mostly fair and accurate (mostly). After a wonderful day of fellowship and reflection, sleepy families drifted home, and dh and I snuggled in front of a rare fire in the fireplace.

It was a golden day.

Hello!

Hello! I have thought and prayed about this for a long time, bringing it before my dear husband for his approval – and here I am! It is not my nature to put myself forward – I would rather be behind the scenes – but several dear ladies have asked me for some time now if I would please share the things the Lord has worked in our family over the years. I am humbled by their request and ask the Lord to keep me faithful to His Word and gracious, but seasoned with salt.

Why “Clearly Seen?” I think this Scripture verse impresses me so much because the Lord has used the concept to speak to me over and over again. We can understand how He expects us to walk because He has given us patterns and precepts, “clearly seen”, in His Word. What we see in the world as He created it is a picture of the principles outlined in His Word. It is our prayer that our family will be a reflection of His Heavenly family. We believe that our family’s modeling of His principles for the family through daily life is our evangelism – we can have no more effective witness or ministry than to show the world what the Word says.

I want to thank my dear sister, Sue, who long ago passed me up in tech-savvy. She set up this blog and continues to be my safety net. Thanks, Sue.

The beginning of a busy holiday season is probably not the best time to start something like this, but we’ll jump in and see where it goes! It is my hope that my three daughters will join me every now and then with their wise input – they never cease to amaze me and bless me with their unique perspectives. What wonderful women of God!
Okay, I think that’s a good start. I’m looking forward not only to spiritual blessings but al to sharing about home, children, homeschooling, natural foods and healing, and oh, so many other interesting areas! Thanks for stopping by, and please don’t be a stranger.