Revolutions and such.

A few months ago my eyes began a torturous revolt, at which point I opted to relent and as a sign of good gesture, haven't worn my contacts.



Well, I have been getting so many compliments on my glasses, I thought I would share a photo with you. Yes! You! Is today your day or what!?! So here it is my friends. Me with the glasses. Hold the cheers and applause. What do you mean that shouldn't be hard?





Oh who am I kidding, let's get a better likeness.

Yep. That's more like it. That serious face looked so strange on me. *shudder*

So anyhoo. I started doing a little research on the whole glasses thing and I finally got a light bulb *ting* on it.

It's my big ol' noggin. I have a super size melon, thus a super size face. Have I ever told you I am six feet tall? I mean I'm just super size. (Remember when Columbus wrote of the big ol' people in Patagonia? Maybe I have some ancestors from there. Hmmm... AndIf anyone comments on the Anakim/Anakites I'm gonna deck you. Hmmm I may have just proven that theory. Moving on..)

So anyhoos - My glasses are a good separation of perch (that'd be the nose)and face. You know my face alone was like an undecorated Christmas tree. Loooong and lacking a little something.

But look! I added a little blingage and voila! It's a hit!

But it's the way I [insert whine] feeeeeel...

"But it must never be forgotten that there are religious affections, which are spurious and false, and spring from nothing better than animal excitement."


-Read more at this blog that shares quotes from J.C. Ryle.





I have been pondering feelings lately. I hear so much from people walking a very sinful path justifying it by their "feelings". I believe the heart is above all things deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), so friends when we feel - hold it up to the Light. Weigh it against scripture. Does my feeling line up with what God says?





Not that we have to be cold and calculating. Sometimes I am very much moved to tears when I hear of injustices taking place around the world, when people kill and/or hate "in the name of God", or when I think of the sacrifice Jesus made for me. These feelings, however, line up with Scripture.





Sometimes I am very sure I would feel absolutely wonderful if I could just punch someone in the face. I have felt before, wouldn't life be much better if I left my husband (no!)? These feelings - no agreement. They do not line up with Scripture.





We have to know Scripture to know if our feelings agree and Jesus was The Word (Scripture)made flesh (John1:1-14). So to know The Word is to know God. To love God, is to love His Word. We show our love for Him by obeying Him. What a wonderful circle!

I kind of wish I had a point.

As you can see not only did I forget to make the pictures on my blog smaller, but we had a birthday party today! Woohoo! Presents was pretty much the only part he cared about. We train them so well.

Yes that is Christmas snowman wrapping paper. Hey, it's not my fault the kid has a winter birthday. That's what he gets. Actually that's what pretty much everyone gets whenever their birthday is. Unless I forget to get them something and on the way to their party I have to stop and buy a present and a bag and tissue paper. So now you know. If I show up to your party with a nice looking gift, don't start feeling too special.

This was Schyler's gift for him. She cross stitched it herself. I am so proud! After a little convincing that it was in fact an awesome gift Logan liked it too.

We didn't have any party guests, well, because I'm not a very good planner. I woke up thinking I would call Aunt Mama Hen and beg the younger two of her brood off her, but after reading her post on puking, well...

But we did have some surprise guests after all! Perfect!

What? Need a closer look?

Yep. The Columbian and his ladies. I guess he heard there was a fancy swar-ay a-goin' on.

I mean come on. Three acres. Three acres. I know it's not exactly a huge area of farm land, but aren't there enough bugs on three acres to keep you busy and off of my front porch? Huh? Isn't there? Up steps and everything. For the blasted love do you KNOW how hard it is to get chicken poop off of cement??

The last one is just for fun.

Happy day to you.

"...for often we set our minds on some one thing we think will make us happy - a husband, children, a particular job, or even a ministry - and refuse to open our eyes to God's better way. In fact, some believe so strongly that only this thing can bring happiness, that they reject the Lord Jesus Himself. Happiness is not found in marriage; or work; or ministry; or children.
Happiness is found in being secure in Jesus.

From "Tramp For The Lord" by Corrie ten Boom.

Every day I find a great nugget of Truth in this book and I just thought I'd share today's.

Today my cleaning lady came and cleaned. Schyler and I sat outside all day reading, crocheting, and then when we had sat still too long, we would get up and dance around together in the freshly budding fields.

It seems like that would be good, however...

God did create work for us. Even though it is now tainted by sin, we still have the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment given by Him alone. Soooooo...

Schyler and I actually opened all the windows and blinds and did a whole bunch of cleaning. It went pretty well. At one point Schyler did do a little stomping and talking through clenched teeth, but at least she was saying, "And I will do it with a joyful heart!!"

That's progress. Right?

I still want to be like her when I grow up -

Yesterday we had a very unpleasant experience with a man. I started to say something all wonderful about handling anger, when she said, "I'm not mad at him. I'm mad at satan. And I'm sad that he may be going to hell."

I'm telling you. I hope to be like her when I grow up.

You need to love them.

Would ya' look at all these great kids?? I did a little mission work there and left my heart. I want very much to go retrieve it, but Jesus seems to think it needs to stay. God does know best so I'll go with it.



I was so happy when I heard the missionary house parents were coming to town! I got to visit with them, albeit much too briefly.



If you grew up southern baptist like I did, then these missionaries are far different from anything we know.

No language school.

No required sabbaticals.

No regular paychecks.

They live on faith. They trust Jesus to meet the needs.

They do not keep up with any donations themselves. Their home church in Missouri keeps up with it and their needs. I got to see the breakdown from last year -

$1100 per child - here's where you think I'm going to say "per month". Nope. For the whole year.

Last year, Jesus, through this family, cared for ALL the needs for around 35 orphans and spent only about $40,000. How many of us spent that little last year? Not me.

I am purposely not writing where they are because there's a lot of crazy stuff going on there and I am notorious for messing things up. So I hope I am being careful.

You can visit their website and see tons of pics (even one with me!) at
http://www.benedictbunch.com/

or send money to-

Talking Rock Road Baptist Church
1106 Talking Rocks Road
Branson West, Missouri 65737

Telephone: (417) 272-1462

Somedays are just more serious.

Sitting outside having swing set school today, a few things really struck me:



#1 I am so thankful to be here. So thankful that God allowed me, a terrible woman, to live in the freedom of the United States. While we certainly have our problems, it is still the best place on earth to be. Also, thank you Granddaddy for that.



#2 I am so thankful that my daughter was born here, to us. It absolutely breaks my heart that little girls her age all over the world are sold into slavery. Forced to do unimaginable things. It happens here in our own backyard.

It could have been [insert your daughter's picture here.]



Please do not for one minute believe that slavery was abolished. It's only gotten worse because now it's done in secret, and no one seems to be very angry about it.



#3 The absolute sovereignty of God. What if, years ago, that small little band of quirky people with their funny little hats had decided it was much more comfortable in Holland? Could they have been killed in the holocaust? Could we be living a much different life right now? And yes. We are studying American history, how could you tell? :)



None of it is due to my righteousness, because I have none. Only the righteousness of Jesus. Only Jesus.

(I know I should have links to the trustworthy sites on slavery and human trafficking. It's not right to stir people up and then leave them with nothing. I'll be back. Most importantly you can pray for these precious people until I get back.)

3 in 1

Woo hoo for the day of love. I love love. It's nice.

The big V Day means lots of things around here. I may as well get the first off my chest - it's so embarrassing. I mean it's just so cheesy. Cliche. Anyway, it's our anniversary. I know, I know. Laugh.

Also it is the day we brought Schyler home from the hospital. It was freezing and rainy and she was tiny and hooked up to monitors and we were scared to death. I wanted to turn around and go back to those sweet nurses and the NICU within our first hour home. But we've survived thus far!

Thirdly, it is my mother's-in-law birthday. Which actually happened before any of those other things.

So we had a little birthday dinner. Always good for the person who has everything.

I'm so glad she likes to help in the kitchen.

Now when it comes to decorating, we are more of the "let's cut it out of construction paper and tape it up!" type people. Hence the following -

Dangling from the light fixture! Genius!

But I have to say, I think these are pretty cute.

I mean look! We spray painted pine cones pink, wild fern leaves white, then hot glued them all together and made them place card holders! Kind of obvious we went on a hike today.

Waiting and dreaming...

Now we are just waiting. Watching. Hoping. Looking up at the sky. Please don't be wrong. Please give us 1-3 inches, they're begging! Mom! Do those look like snow clouds??

About 3:30 they ask, is it supper time yet? Because that's what time the snow is supposed to arrive.

But this is Alabama. This is Alabama, right?

Was I dreaming or was it just a few weeks ago that my yard was a sheet of ice...

...and I had to send my husband to work with an overnight bag complete with food provisions in an over sized military survivalist looking get-up...

Oh yeah. That was a few weeks ago. And it wasn't a dream. Even the last part.

Why I like...

Why I like not watching television:



Ballroom dancing

and chess lessons.

Why I like homeschooling:

Sneaking off to read and

trying to convince others to do the same. (Even if they're obviously not buying it.)

It's really not something to joke about.

So yes, it was our anniversary yesterday. Fourteen years. Yes, I did get married at twelve. Fourteen is definitely the year of chocolate. Brandon bought me a ton of dark chocolate. It's an antioxidant. It IS good for you.

I'm pretty sure when you're husband comes home with bags of chocolate in a plastic grocery sack and a card that has a picture of a chimp in heart boxers on the front, that means your marriage has reached a new level of holiness.



Which is good (the chocolate part)because we'll have some put up when it's rationed again.

I heard someone making a joke about that the other day and I chuckled, oh haha, yeah...


3....2....1....



*mad racing thoughts*mad racing thoughts*


Babe!??!! (I know it's horrible, but this is what I call my husband, especially when I feel a crisis coming on) Do you think there could really be a chocolate shortage? And do you really think the governement would ration it??




You don't want to know his response. We've been having some insurance issues and between that and his work, government is not on his top 10 right now.


Now, I don't eat a lot of junk. If I want a cookie or cake then I bake it myself (I don't buy it already made) and that takes time and ingredients that I don't always have, so I either super enjoy it or go without. But I am pretty sure I would sell blood for two things: dark chocolate and coffee.


(Just so you know, if it truly comes to that I will be deleting this blog. There will be no evidence of me stockpiling chocolate. Or coffee.)



Anyhoos peeps - did everyone have a good day today? B-E-A-Youteeful.





Here's my little chicken charmer.

And my chicken defender.

Which is more than I can say for Luna. This was the look I got when I asked her to keep the chickens off my patio. I think she is still milking the shaved belly.

Again, and again, and again.

I hate to say it again but it is cooold.



It has not stopped these kids from playing outside though. My poor Grandmother-in-law has about worried herself to death over it. She just knows that they are certainly going to die from playing outside during the winter. I just don't know how you northerners do it. I guess you stay on the verge of death constantly. How sad.

I would like to tell my Granny thank you for all the embroidery floss she gave to me. Especially the red. That is wrapped around the cardboard. That has a picture of a naked woman giving herself a breast examination on it. That my daughter saw first...and screamed. It's okay, we had a talk and I explained what was going on. Now her favorite question to ask is if you have examined your breasts because you could have cancer.

*sigh*

So I got told the other day. Flat out told. It was quite comical, the way I was judging someone for being judgmental! Ha! How nice. Ahhh, but I have that right, correct? Me being all spiritually elite and all. Yep. [suspender snap] It's a hard and heavy hat to carry around.

Well If the hat part is true, it's only because I have a big ol' head that I seemingly enjoy banging against the wall.



I swear. Judging someone...for judging. Hullloooo.



The sweet thing was, the girl whom God used to bring it to my attention (I'll leave you nameless, lest I contaminate you with my pridefulness. However, my compliments to your Mom.) was completely oblivious to all this. She wasn't trying to rebuke me in any way. It was just her response. She just truthfully and kindly pointed out that the poor girl didn't have all the facts and she was the one missing out.



There now. Isn't that kindhearted?



Oh but me. Oh nooooooo. I was all blahblah blah, nya nya, mimimimi. (Those are my ugly talk noises, you know, when I mock myself for being dumb.)



Y'all, please. Don't be like me. Be like Jesus.

Seems like I should go with "for the record" here.

best mom ever How cute is that!? I had my new post screen up and then walked away and Schyler snuck over and typed that in! I can't delete it! She is the best one.

Today we were talking about faith and of course one of our reference verses was Hebrews 11:1-Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (I paraphrased). We had a guest speaker come in and talk to us about what evidence means, i.e.: Dad, being a cop, told us.

Schyler brilliantly observed that since Logan had a flour hand print of my hand on his rear, it was evidence that he misbehaved while we were making biscuits this morning.

Correct.

For the record, everything after that was roses.

I also should, for the record add that I don't cook my dear husband chicken and dumplings just to get what I want. God, in His Wonderful Love for a terrible sinner as myself, set things up in such a way that the more I serve my husband, the more he serves me.

Also, for the record I know we live in a sin filled world and that doesn't work out 100 percent of the time. If you or your children are being abused you should flee immediately. I am certainly no counselor. I have no idea why I felt the need to throw that in there, it's not like I have tons of commenters that disagree or don't usually understand what I'm saying. Or tons of commenters period. (hint, hint)

I have to go now. If I don't go turn on my heated mattress pad now it won't be warm enough by the time I go to bed.

How To Get Whatever You Want.

If you think chicken and dumplings are gross because boiled chicken is absolutely disgusting, you would be right. If you do not think boiled chicken is absolutely disgusting, you need to be taken out by an execution squad. I'm just as sorry as I can be. I don't make the rules.

Let me tell you the key to chicken and dumplings - roasted chicken.

Get your cheap fatty cuts of chicken, thighs are [high pitch voice] fabulous. Put them in an iron skillet, smother them in room temp butter (you can't spread cold butter, duh), salt and pepper, and cook at 400 degrees. I'm not sure how long, but if you can't tell it's done you need to just order take out anyway. It's too late for you. Don't start trying now.

Now take your cooked chicken out and let it cool. When it cools get the meat off. Don't worry about scraping every little piece, just get the big chunks. Then throw the skin and the bones in a big ol' pot with a little water, the chicken fat in the bottom of the iron skillet, a little salt and pepper, and some chopped onion.

This is a good time to add any leftover broth you have in the freezer.

*GASP* WHAT?? ALWAYS save your broth.

I had some left from cabbage I cooked a couple of nights before so I chunked it in.

Let all that cook down for a while then come back and get the rest of the meat off the bones, get the skin out and give it to your cat. But keep the meat.

Make your cream of chicken now. Add a clove of smashed garlic to it if you don't usually. The powder stuff will not be as good. Every kitchen needs fresh garlic. It keeps forever and it is good on everything (unless you ask my grandparents-they hate garlic. I know. I don't understand it either).

Add the cream of chicken and at least half a stick of butter to your broth. Mmmmm buttery goodnessssss.

Make your biscuits, bring your brothy yummaliciousness to a boil and add them cooking for about 5 minutes. Turn off and chunk that chicken in.

Serve to yo' hunny and sit back as he gives in to your every desire after eating the best comfort food eva'.