Peacefulness

Do you ever have a picture in your mind of how you think things should go? I often have a picture in my mind of peacefulness, quiet, order and restfulness.

We were reading our story for homeschool yesterday and I showed them a picture in the book of one of the characters. Two of my children proclaimed that it was not what they had imagined!

Life is somewhat like that. We imagine it to be one way and sometimes it is not. Slowly, ever so slowly, I am learning to take one day at a time. The pictures in my mind so often change that it is better not to expect what the next one may look like.

Robert Gallon ~ A Village Scene

As I learn to trust the One who holds each day, I find that the reality ... instead of the imagined picture... is much better than I could have dreamed! Why does it take me so long to figure that out?

One of my most favorite songs is one that I love to sing to remind myself of Who holds each day. I pray it would be a blessing to you today as well.

~ Anna

Gifts from Above

Daniel Ridgeway Knight  - The Washerwoman

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  James 1:17


I am thanking God today for His special gifts to me. Do you ever lose sight of those gifts in your life? I am so frail and I lose sight of them so often!

A special gift He has given me right now is friendship. I can just "feel" the prayers and love from so many ladies back home in the States. I am so full of gratefulness for that... I'm sure if I had each and every one of them right here, I would give them the biggest hug!

Sometimes I might dwell on the fact that they aren't right here.... that I can't actually talk to them as I would like to. Then... then... God in His mercy and love to me ... reminds me that He is here! He also sends me an email or special chat time on Facebook that reminds me of His extra special love to me through them.

Ladies, we have such a power in encouraging each other. I just love this picture above. Wouldn't you just love to wash your clothes with a special friend! We could chat for hours while doing that! Just think of the things we could share as God works in and through us! Laundry would take on a whole new meaning....

Today, I will focus on His many gifts to me.... Today, I will thank God for you .... and as you think of it, write me a comment and let me know what you would tell me while we washed clothes together....

Blessings to your Day,

Anna

Needing to be Kneaded

Homeschooling brings me such joy as I get to teach and learn and participate with my children. We all get to ask questions, to learn from each other and sometimes ... fail ... with each other.

Have you ever made Bannock bread? It's a new bread that we learned about as we study Medieval Times.

My daughter joins with me in making this quick and easy bread for our family.

My desire to mold her in to the lady that God would have her be brings us together to mold and shape this loaf of bread.

I can feel His molding of me too. Kneading, pulling, shaping. I need to be kneaded. She needs to kneaded.

Sometimes we both resist... these two people who are more alike than she or I would like to admit.

Funny how God keeps kneading me ... patiently, wisely. I long for that wisdom in kneading her.

We learn, we grow ... together. Lovingly making this gift for our family.

You too can make Bannock Bread ...

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp soda
2 T butter, room temp.
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, room temp.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Work in butter with your fingers or cut with two knives until the mixture resembles moist bread crumbs. Add enough buttermilk to make the dough moist and sticky to the hand.... allow the flour to absorb the buttermilk. Knead lightly until the dough is well mixed and loses its stickiness, adding more flour if necessary. Turn into a 7 or 8 inch greased cake pan. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes then reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue baking for 15 minutes. When done, remove bread and carefully turn out onto a wire rack to cool. The bread should not be sliced until it has set for at least 6 hours. Enjoy!


This post is linked to:
Raising Homemakers

Motherhood

Motherhood...

I wake up to it each morning.... with the intention of loving, serving.

Hugs, kindness and the day goes on.

At the end of the day .... the same hugs, kisses. Kindness comes and goes.

Do they know my heart? Do they know how much I love them, how frail I am? How I MUST walk with Jesus or I am not the mother I should be?

Thirteen years ago next month ... thirteen years ago? ... they layed this tiny infant in my arms. Oh, how he cried! I whispered sweetness in his ears... close to my face... and he calmed.

That moment I knew... I was a mother .... his mother.

What a feeling! What joy! What responsibility!

I am blessed. I need that reminder.

Even now, as I write ... interruptions, noise, uproars, frustrations. My heart beats faster. I want to go away to a quiet place ... the bathroom?

I am their example. God, please give me your love! your heart! your wisdom!

I am their momma and just like that first day, I want to draw them close and whisper sweetness in to their lives. They start to pull away at this age. Oh that they were babies again and I could start over! Maybe I could do it better, show them better.

I start from today. Each morning. "His mercies are new every morning". I go on ... praying, loving, praying again.

What is in a Name?

Certain things define us.

Styles we like, where we might live, our behaviour or lack there of .....

From the time I was young, I knew that my name meant "Full of Grace, Mercy and Prayer". Some books vary it a little and say "Graceful One".

Friends call me by name...Family also... It's what I've come to be known by.

When I introduce myself, I use that name.

Do I live up to that name?

Another name defines me....

Christian

The name means "Christ Follower".

Am I known by that? When my friends .... family..... look at me, do they see that?

What about the world? I might be saved and on my way to heaven, but does the world SEE that I'm a  .... Christian?

What defines ME ?