Eggsiting!

Sorry, I know I have such a lame sense of humor. But I'm really eggsited about our hen's finally laying eggs now.

It's a lot of fun reaping the labours of your hard work and anticipating what you know is going to eventually happen. And now we have these fresh new eggs each morning. Actually lots of eggs...

So of course I have been giving them away, which is lots of fun too! But I also have been thinking I should come up with some ways to use these up, which is not hard to do like the Country Cottage Bake, I made for dinner last night.
With all these fresh new eggs I get each morning it makes me think about something new that has developed in my life very recently, which is also very exciting. The reconciliation of a very significant relationship in my life.
Like fresh eggs... His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23).
I've had a lot of hurts concerning this past relationship. But I've always wanted to be prepared that Lord willing when the time came I would not hinder the reconciliation because of a grudge and bitterness. I think its only fair to say though that 15 years did go by, up until about 6 months prior that I had bitterness that I did not want to face, and I stuffed it away. The Lord used a life altering circumstance in this persons life to soften my heart. I don't believe the Lord would bring a hardship into someones life for Him to use but I do know that God is in the business of turning beauty from ashes (Ish. 61:3). I've seen it happen in my life too many times to count. And so while I know the Lord was preparing my heart, I received a message from someone that this person wanted to contact me. I was so shocked, scared, but moved. I knew what I should do and honestly I wanted to respond. Like a fresh pretty egg each morning it calls to remind me: the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lam. 3:23) And when I am scared of all that could go wrong or the past threatens to steal my joy and cloud out the fresh new reality, I will say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The Lord is good to those who depend on him (Lam 3:24,25)
I need to remember that I cant expect perfection, because I am a perfectionist by nature, but that I come to each moment committing to the Lord whatever I do, and my plans will succeed. (Prov. 16:3)
Now I have the joy of being able to share what the Lord has worked out in my life. Its such a blessing with glorifying the Lord in this. Hearts are moved towards Him, through this demonstration of the His work.
This newly reconciled relationship will take time and work and patience, but like all work that is committed to the Lord... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28)

Country Cottage Bake 

Start with 4 large eggs, beaten, then add,

2 cups cottage cheese

1 cup frozen broccoli pieces

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped peppers

3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

3 tbsp. bread crumbs

Pour into buttered pie dish or 8x8 baking dish. 

Bake at 350 for 40-50 min., until set

/ / Pause Button / /

You have a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you.

-John Powell

Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God?

1Cor. 4:7

Chicken a little ?

We got a bunch of Road Island Red chickens in the middle of this past summer. We all have really been enjoying them. I really didn't think that they would be so much fun to have.
While dumping a bucket of apple cores into their yard, I thought I'm going to do as my husband will often do and sit here for a bit and watch the girls...and the couple of boys. I saw what he likes about sitting here and watching them. They are interesting, like watching a bunch of kids interacting. One is standing there and suddenly deciedes to stand on one leg, another ruffles her feathers. Then one takes of running, and another starts flapping her wings. They are all fighting over the scraps and some give up and just go over to feed and just eat there instead. Its really interesting to me how different they all are, I love it.

But I'm finding out as people we all don't like to be considered different. Because not all differences are the same. I liked being different when I was growing up. Different likes, and clothes that is. But when I've tried to convince a child that God made us all different and that its great, this child doesn't want to hear that because their struggling and can't keep up with peers or in academics. So how do I show this child that God made all things beautiful?
I think the best place to start off is John 3:16, For God so loved the world (that means everyone on it!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. How is it possible for there to be more love for each individual than this? There isn't.
We are all original works made by the hands of God -- For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13. Who are we then to complain of the Masters works?! We shouldn't... Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  And if we cant understand this we need to have faith in God that He knows what He is doing -- Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3. We can't ever fully understand the greatness of the Lord, and so that is where true faith comes in.
God calls us "gifts" (Psalm 127:3) and He took the time to form us in a particular, unique way (Psalm 119:73), each one of us, there is no denying that and so we all, in spite of our feelings of inadequacies, need to accept God at His word and live in the peace and joy that comes from Him. (Romans 11:33)
Ecclesiastes 3:11 -Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. It's so important to remember that we are made for so much more than things like having good hair, being with the in crowd, making sure we are busy with half a dozen things each week, even dare I say...having good grades, having a good paying job. If we were to model as Christians that loving God, not being consumed with ourselves was the most important thing, I believe there would be less stress, depression, and suicide. 
We are Gods masterpiece (Eph.2:10) and if we live like we believe that, we will do our best and if that best does not measure up to the worlds standards that's OK because...
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

/ / Pause Button / /

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145:3

Apple Season Already?

It seems crazy for me to think its that time of year already when the leaves start turning, the fruit is ripening and the nights get cooler. But its not officially fall yet, I just need to make that clear!
Change is always happening, you think we would be used to it now. What about change that your not sure should happen. Like a move, change of jobs, and the times when prayers are said like "Lord please only if its your will" because you just don't know what the right decision is. Does the Lord so often (in my opinion) bring us to these forks in the road just to see how we respond? And even when we do make the wrong decision, the Lord is still there, scoops us up and makes something beautiful out of our own mistake even if its just to help us see where we went wrong so we can learn and not make that mistake again. Like a bruised or crow bitten apple, cut the bad off and turn it into...oh decisions...apple sauce or apple cake? hmm...
How about Appley Cake

 This is a very tasty recipe, the cardamom gives it a great flavour. And very apple-y...so moist.

4 cups granny smith apples (or the like) peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tb. sugar
3/4 cup margarine, melted
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cardamom
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tb. sugar

Butter a 10" pie plate. In a large bowl combine the apple slices with the lemon juice and 1 tb. sugar, and distribute evenly in the pie plate. Then wisk the melted butter and 1 cup sugar, add the eggs, 1 at a time wisking well after each. Add the flour, spices and salt and mix until smooth. Pour evenly over the apples and then sprinkle the last tablespoon of sugar over top. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 min. or until the apples are tender and crust is golden brown and when pricked with a fork it comes out clean.
 

The little old apple tree that gets lots of apples and gets lots of crow visitors to peck away at my apples :( oh well turn them into baked goods :) 

Thinking about praying for Gods will... Ive been stressing myself out over a certain decision and praying for God to open or close the door in this, according to His will, got me thinking... what if it just happens any old way and I fear if the door is open but it isn't God's will. But then I found these truths in God's word:
Luke 11:9 "And so I tell you, keep asking and you will receive what you ask for."
1 John 5:14,15 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
And so with these truths I know that when I ask that His will be done, and please close the door to the possibility of anything that is not His will, I can trust God that He will do as He said in His Word. Thank you Father for that assurance.

Perspective

 I'm walking along on this dry grassy hill, looking down in the coulees, wondering when things will begin to grow and get more colorful. There has been only one rainfall this spring so far...its not looking to promising of May flowers. As I walk along, the grasses are so dry that little pieces break off and poke me as they fall into my shoes.

I look out mostly over the hills and down in the coulees and the land seems so barren. The parched land looks like it has nothing beautiful to offer right now.

But when I slow down I see something. Some color. I bend down to see what looks like something similar to crocuses, soft, fuzzy, purple petals closed up pointing to the sky. Clusters of them, and some single flowers scattered over the hills. They are so beautiful and I am so happy to see them there.

 As with new eyes I look more specifically over the hills and notice these pretty little flowers scattered here and there quite frequently.

Its amazing how much more noticeable something is when you specifically look for it. It brings my thoughts to how we can look at ourselves or others. Quite often when I am frustrated by my short comings or short comings of a loved one its hard to see something positive going on. When I think about failure after failure in areas that I struggle, I just see a Big F. But when I take the time to focus in on these certain areas I cant neglect to see that I have made many wise choices and that is also why more often than not, things can go along pretty smoothly. When positive choices are made they need to be acknowledged and praise God for His faithfulness and guidance. Then it is easier to see how good choices can be made easily and its encouraging to keep heading in the right direction to see how much more beautiful its going to get! Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18) Remembering this helps us accept that God is always wanting to use us and our experiences to do good. He is always at work in our lives as long as we are letting Him.
(And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28)
Each choice to honor the Lord is a beautiful little flower in a dry barren land, that when each one is gathered together, there is too many to fit into any ordinary vase. And yet the flowers is all He sees in our dry barren land. 

Turns out these flowers are called Prairie Crocuses

Psalm 103
Praise the Lord, O my soul!

With all that is within me, praise his holy name!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Do not forget all his kind deeds!

He is the one who forgives all your sins,

who heals all your diseases,

who delivers your life from the Pit,

who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,

who satisfies your life with good things,

so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

The Lord does what is fair,

and executes justice for all the oppressed.

The Lord revealed his faithful acts to Moses,

his deeds to the Israelites.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful;

he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.

He does not always accuse,

and does not stay angry.

He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;

he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.

For as the skies are high above the earth,

so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.

As far as the eastern horizon is from the west,

so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.

For he knows what we are made of;

he realizes we are made of clay.

A person’s life is like grass.

Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears,

and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers,

and is faithful to their descendants,

to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven;

his kingdom extends over everything.

Praise the Lord, you angels of his,

you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees

and obey his orders!

Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his,

you servants of his who carry out his desires!

Praise the Lord, all that he has made,

in all the regions of his kingdom!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

/ / Pause Button / /

Sparkly Stars

 An easy re-cycled craft using toilet paper rolls, some paint and a little bit of wire. I hope to do something creative each year and this was something easy and its great to use up things at home!
 Start with just trimming half inch slices off the flattened end of the toilet paper roll. Cut half way through the middle of each sliced piece. With two pieces in opposite direction insert the small slices into each other, to form your star.
 Paint the star white (or whatever) then with glitter paint when dry.
 Loop a wire through to hang on the tree.

Twinkle twinkle little star

More with Cranberries

I have cranberries on my mind. Hence the juniper, cranberry arrangements I made in my last post. I love me a good scone emmm emm. Especially when they are dense and sweet. This one has all the above.

 ::Lemon Cranberry Scones::

Preheat oven to 375, and place oven rack on upper 3rd level of the oven

3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1tbsp grated lemon peel

1 tsp salt

-Mix this all together in a large bowl-

Add 3/4 cup of chilled butter, cut up into small squares.

-Use a pastry blender to incorporate the butter to make a coarse meal consistency-

Stir in 1/2 cup of sliced (each in half) cranberries (I used frozen)

1tbsp of lemon juice, poured in a 1 cup measuring cup.

Add half and half to the measuring cup to fill it to measure 1 cup.

-Pour into your scone mixture and mix until clumps form then gather with you hands to form one solid lump, don't over mix. Divide in half and pat each into a 6 inch flat, round. Cut each into 6 triangles. Place on greased/ parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20 min.-

Once the scones have cooled, make a glaze of

1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted

a dribble of lemon juice

and just enough milk to make a slightly runny icing (about 2 tbsp)

-Mix this up and drizzle it over your scones. Once this dries you can stack them up in your tin just fine.-

Now speaking of icing makes me think of what I saw outside early this morning...

The trees look like they were dipped in frosting.

Dusted with icing sugar

What's going on here (?)

A little over a month ago now we were blessed to have moved out to an old farm. A little ways off from the area we first moved to when we relocated to western Canada but only to the next county SE from where we were. We really felt it was worth it for sure. So this beautiful location brings lots of trees in the immediate area surrounding our home, lots of land to explore, hills and coolies, barn cats, old buildings, quiet...

I really am so thankful for this new location.

 

The other week we got to see these beautiful birds which we found out are called Bohemian Waxwing. They come this way from colder regions, eating the berries on the trees.

 

 

This morning there was a beautiful hoar frost that covered everything.

 

 

 

This is the friendliest of all the barn cats. He was named Garfield.

 

 

 

 

Willow is a naturally outdoorsy dog. She is in Heaven out here.

 



 

I grabbed some juniper branches to stick in jars with some cranberries for my early Christmas decorations. It smells wonderful in the house now.

 

 So often I get to thinking why do things happen the way they do?

 I'll be honest to say that I was having a very hard time living in the area we just moved from. I was not used to the over-crowded living. Everything man made, and hardly able to enjoy nature or quiet and privacy.

 Then there is another part to this story I have been adapting to the fact that I've recently developed Epilepsy. Which has been kind of mind boggling for me. And a little less than a year ago I was told I can't drive until its under control. You want to talk about depressing and totally inconvenient! There was nothing I can do about it. I have gone through a lot of feelings that I felt were defining. But I am slowly coming to the realisation of what the truth is of these feelings. Satan wants me to feel defeated by this disorder, and let it undo me. 

 Not to mention there are other issues that have been growing within our family as well.

So as I write about this new venture of a place we now live it makes me ponder... maybe this place was made possible as a refuge of sorts. I've thought a many times -what were we thinking moving out to the country when I cant get to town?? But Its not really that much more inconvenient any way and I love it out here and the way I can spend my days. 

 So usually it takes me quite a while to see the big picture, but maybe the Lord has given me a chance to see this one earlier than usual.

 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. Job 11:18



Huckleberries

I've never seen or thought about huckleberries before until I moved out here to western Canada. But I think that, that has got to be one of the best names for a berry! I saw an ad in the paper for a Huckleberry Festival and liked the way it sounded and so off we went on a two hour drive to this ski resort that was hosting the festival. It didn't look like the nicest day but checking the weather before hand I decided we would be ok with light sweaters and shorts and I even chose to wear sandals. When we arrived at the mountainous location it was six degrees. And everyone had on hiking boots, pants and lots of layers. But I was bound and determined to make the best of our huckleberry excursion. We got lift tickets some buckets and slowly, slowly got lifted to the top of the hill. The slow progression on the lift made it all the more cold while I endured all kinds of comments about the choice of my attire. Yes, thank you, I realize I made a bad decision with the sandals and shorts, I want to say as I smile, and gritting my teeth! 

 At the top we take a few steps and my husband says to me so what do they look like, and I say I read that they look like a blueberry (what a boring name for a berry) so we look a bit and I found a little bush with burgundy leaves that had deep purply blue berries and I pick one. I eat it and fake a dramatic choke and then say well they are safe, these must be it. So we start picking tiny berries from soaking wet bushes on top of a mountain that must have been 3 degrees (IN AUGUST!!) ! And also I should mention they are pretty sparse little bushes.

 I'd say we endured about 15 min. only because our hands stopped functioning at around that point, and collected half a cup of berries. Good times, good times. 
 On the way down, as it was on the way up the lift we spotted deer walking by and this time they were walking even right beneath our chair! That was cool. The sights were awesome. The experience was....an experience. And hey, I got to make some Huckleberry muffins after!

2 cups flour  1/2 tsp. salt  1 tb. baking powder  1 cup sugar
Sift these ingredients together. Stir in 1/2 cup huckleberries (or more if you could gather more:) or just plain old blueberries)
In a separate bowl mix
2 eggs  3/4 cup oil  1 1/4 cup greek yogurt  1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Gently stir this into the dry ingredients with 1/2 cup white chips
Plop into greased 12 cup muffin tin and bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20 min.

 

 If its a typical August day sit outside and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
 So from all this I guess I should learn, always be prepared and don't have to many expectations!

Keep calm...the chives have sprouted!

 Keep calm...the chives have sprouted! It has been a hard spring for me, waiting for things to grow. When everything did finally start sprouting it almost seemed unreal. And I am still in awe at the growth. I thank the Lord for this simple thing...chives that grow and sprout early, even before the grass is all green. Yes so simple but the small things are usually what is real and is a blessing too. Because this small and simple thing can not be attributed to anyone else but God. There is no way for anyone here on earth to have manufactured a seed and make it grow. I can get so disheartened by all the big, fast things in this world because it makes me feel like I'm being silly paying such attention to a plant growing. But in truth I see so much beauty in a seeds growth and should not be ashamed by my simple amusements and wonders!

 Psalm 111:2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them.

 

 

 

 

 (This is our new addition to the family, her name is Willow and is 5 months old, is a BALL of ENERGY, and apparently likes chives too!)

 

 So in celebration of the first harvest from my newly acquired garden allotment, I baked up these yummy cheddar and chive biscuits.

 

MIX: 1 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tbs. snipped chives, 1/2 tsp. dried thyme. CUT IN: 3 tbs. margarine, to resemble course crumbs. STIR IN: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Then, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt. Dough will be sticky. Drop large tablespoonfuls on lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 12 min.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cant remember if I mentioned that we really downsized on our living quarters inside and out, when we moved out here to the West this past year. It has been a challenge adjusting to the size or lack there of, of the yard. It may be temporary or not. Depending on where we sense the Lord leading us. But I have been working at making due with what we have. I've figured container gardening is the best for this year considering that the amount of yard we have is too small to tear up and plant veggies. So its a new adventure in trying this out. I'm thinking it'll be a bit more work making sure they get adequate water and food. On the positive I'm learning something new.

Lemon Poppy Seed Fluffins

The fresh sent and colour of lemon makes me think of spring, spring makes me think of fresh starts. Every morning is fresh with new grace and possibilities. And the chance to stop trying and rely totally! on God. This simple thought is really what I have really been aiming for lately. Picture the word START and this being the acronym for Stop Trying And Rely Totally. This is good for anytime, there is a fresh start every moment. Christ is always waiting for us to turn away from our own trying, ambitions and efforts and to rely totally on Him.

 

 

Sometimes it is healthy to try to figure out why why why we do what we do. But I know for me lots of times I need to stop focusing on the bad choices, the flubs and just humble myself to say to God "I can't do this on my own God!" I think maybe even say it out loud...loudly. "And for crying out loud...I shouldn't even try!!" So stop and then START right again. Its ok, He knows me, He knows you. And He loves you and I just the same, no matter what.

 

 

These muffins are so yummy and fluffy

 

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

lemon zest of 1 lemon and the juice of 1/2 of it.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. poppy seeds

3/4 cup sour cream

 

Preheat oven to 375 and line or grease muffin tin, I used a large 6 muffin tin. Beat in each wet ingredient, according to order listed. Sift the dry ingredients together in another bowl. Add dry ingredients to the wet alternately with the sour cream, in 3 additions. Spoon into pan and bake 20-25 min. or 25-30 for the large muffins.

Now you can have a tea with the left over lemon :)

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!