Unexpected Blessings

Sometimes when you start on a journey, you never know how the Lord will choose to bless you...and that was the case this year for our family. This past Monday we had the ultrasound for our little blessing on the way. My daughter, Elauna, has been praying for a baby sister. (She also prayed for twins in the beginning....I wasn't sure I was ready for two, but then she decided a sister would be fun). We kept telling her we would be happy with whatever God decided to give us. She would smile and say she would be happy, but that she still wanted a sister. We tried!!!

Elauna had big eyes in the office as the doctor started the ultrasound, and when the picture of baby showed up on the screen she was very excited. Frederick wasn't sure what he was watching, but at least the picture kept moving so he was interested. It didn't take long to find out baby's gender. I am always amazed at how God answer's little children's prayers, because we are having a girl. Elauna is SO happy she is having a baby sister. She was calling her Sissy Baby today.

Our little blessing is due December 1, but we are expecting somewhere around December 12 since I always go late....12 days late to be exact. They all have been healthy, so we are thankful.

Here is our beautiful girl!!

26 for the heart

Have you ever had times when you are so overwhelmed or burdened that you cannot remember simple things? I had a situation like this years ago where I woke in the middle of the night, and while I was trying to pray Scripture, I couldn't bring it to mind. This just made my situation worse. So I spent the next day putting a verse to each letter of the alphabet. (I use the alphabet as a mental trigger). I designed cards with each letter, so I could carry them with me, but I also memorized the 26. The Bible says to hide God's word in our heart so we might not sin against him. Now I always have at least 26 verses that I can pull to mind using the alphabet.


A - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
B - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household. Acts 16:31
C - Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
D - Depart from evil and do good. Psalm 34:14
E - Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11
F - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
G - God is love. I John 4:16
H - Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10
I - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
J - Judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
K - Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3
L - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
M - My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
N - Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
O - Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Hebrews 13:17
P - Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1
Q - Quench not the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19
R - Remain in me and I will remain in you. John 15:4
S - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
T - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
U - Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it. Proverbs 16:22
V - Vengeance is mine; I will repay sayeth the Lord. Romans 12:19
W - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind your saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
X - eXamine me, O Lord, and prove me. Psalm 26:2
Y - You give me your shield of victory, your right hand sustains me. Psalm 18:35
Z - come and see my Zeal for the Lord. 2 Kings 10:16

a grateful wife

Jeremy had the opportunity to go to Whistler, BC for his birthday and ski where the 2010 Winter Olympics were held. He had such a wonderful time. Jeremy was powder skiing and had fresh snow on some of the mornings; the mountains looked amazing. (I'm not the world's greatest skiier, so I am glad he enjoyed himself.) Jeremy makes it look so effortless. 

Today is rather a quiet day, as I have just Frederick with me. Elauna was invited to help her Daddy deliver mulch today. She gets so excited about being Daddy's helper, and it is such a help to me as well. She is very proud of her Daddy, and is the only 3 year old I know who can name construction equipment and farm machinery when she sees them. My favorite is when she says excavator, as it comes out "es-cuh-bay-dor." What a doll.

I so appreciate all the hard work Jeremy does for our family, and the countless hours he puts in working. It is special to me that he takes our children with him, to teach them the value of hard work...which is best learned first hand.  Thanks honey, for being a great hubby!

gardening 101

I remember when I was growing up that my mom would plant a garden, and I seemed to take for granted how she did it. When I finally started planting on my own, I was a little in the dark about annuals versus perennials, zones, and other gardening basics. After my beloved flowers did not come up the next year, I learned the difference between an annual and a perennial. I love fresh produce, and am trying each year to get a better grasp on the green thumb, because it is my desire to grow my own food, preserve it, and provide fresh, healthy food for my family. I think there is great value in being self-reliant, and knowing the value of hard work. These are things I would like to pass on to my children.

So here are a few of those things in which I needed a refresher course:

• Annuals last only 1 year and the frost normally kills them. Most vegetables are annuals. Think petunias, geraniums, and sunflowers.
• Perennials come up every year. Think coneflowers, lilies, columbine, and hostas.
• Here in Ohio, we are in zone 5.
• Bulb depth matters here where it freezes, or your pretty flowers may not come back the next year.
• For those saving their seeds each year to plant for the next, you need to buy heirloom varieties. For example, tomato variety Mortgage Lifter is an heirloom variety that was developed in the 1930s. You can save the seeds and replant the following year. Non-heirloom varieties, or hybrids, will not reproduce. Heirlooms seeds are great for homesteaders planting each year. Check out www.heirloomseeds.com
• Sometimes you will come across the terms "determinate" and  "indeterminate" when ordering tomatoes, beans, etc. Determinate means that all the produce will be ripe at the same time...there is a determined end time. Some tomato varieties are determinate. Indeterminate means that the plant will continue to produce, either until the plant dies or there is a frost. (for Ohioans) Most bush beans are indeterminate. When a label says they will produce "all season long," they are indeterminate.
• Self-pollinating fruits trees are wonderful, because they do not need another tree to help them produce. If you buy trees that need a pollinator, make sure you get the correct match, and appropriate for your zone. We like fruit trees from Stark, as they are hardy and well grown when they arrive. www.starkbros.com

Happy planting....

the victorian bed

I like to look for good deals at garage sales, and this particular item I had driven past the entire Memorial Day weekend...trying to convince myself to stop. Finally, on the last day they were closing up and it was still there. A bed. It needed refinished and needed siderails, but I loved the way it looked. Victorian design, black walnut, double book-matched veneers, beautiful carvings...I had convinced myself to stop and make them an offer. And so I bought a bed for $150.00. I had thought it would be nice to give each of my children something that I had refinished with my own two hands; something they could appreciate and take with them later in life. This bed I chose for Elauna as it looked more feminine.

It sat in the garage for a year and a half (mostly because I was pregnant, then raising an infant and toddler) so the dedication wasn't there that I needed. Last fall I decided to tackle the job. I used blades and scrapers and stripped the bed...hours of handwork, then getting the small details ready before I sanded. My dad gave invaluable advice while I worked on the bed. (He is a Master patternmaker, and an extremely skilled woodworker. He makes using a chisel look so effortless.) I learned so much while I restored this project, and am pretty pleased with the results.

Jeremy sprayed each piece; the intial coat required another sanding, then two more top coats. He did a beautiful job! The bed is now in Elauna's room and she feels like such a big girl!

o sunny day

As I am eagerly anticipating the return of warm weather and sunshine, I was reminded of a warm day at the start of last summer. My hubby was working hard and I was home with our little ones, my daughter then 2 and my son, 6 months. We were sitting under our cedar tree, laying on the quilt and enjoying the breeze. Frederick couldn't crawl yet, so he just sat there smiling, his little bucket hat shading his eyes. Elauna had seen me watering flowers earlier in the morning, so she started playing with the hose and figured out how to operate the nozzle. She giggled each time she sprayed and then she decided to water everything....the grass, the sidewalk, and occasionally the flowers.

I pulled her toddler pool outside and showed her that if she sprayed in one spot, it would start to fill the pool. She wanted to go swimming. Though the water in the hose was cold by now, I thought it would warm up from the sun and she could wade later. I asked Elauna if she wanted me to get her swimsuit....of course! I ran inside and grabbed her suit and swim diaper and headed back to the door. In the short time, very short time, I was inside, she had taken off her clothes and was sitting in her little pool stark naked in only two inches of water.

raisin apple bread pudding

raisin apple bread pudding
4 cups white bread, cubed
1 cup apple, chopped
1 1/2 cups raisins
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup apple juice
1 1/2 cup carnation evaporated milk
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine bread, apple, and raisins in large bowl. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Stir in sugar, evaporated milk, apple juice, and cinnamon. Mix well. Pour egg mixture over bread mixture. Let stand 10 minutes. Lightly spray 9-inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mixture into dish. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 40-45 minutes or until set and apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream. Yum!!!