Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

Thankfulness For What You Could Not Afford

Thankfulness For What You Could Not Afford

 

Suppose God charged us for the rain,
or put a price on a songbird’s strain
of music, the dawn-mist on the plain.
 How much would autumn landscapes cost,
 or a window etched with winter’s frost,
and the rainbow’s glory so quickly lost!

Suppose that people had to pay
 to see the sunset’s crimson play
 and the magic stars on the Milky Way.
 Suppose it was fifty cents a night,
 to watch the pale moon’s silvery light,
 or watch a gull in graceful flight?

How much, I wonder, would it be worth
 to smell the good, brown, fragrant earth
 in spring? The miracle of birth—
How much do you think people would pay
 for a baby’s laugh at the close of day?
Suppose God charged us for them I say.
Suppose we paid to look at the hills,
 for the rippling mountain rills,
 or the mating song of the Whippoorwills,
 or the curving breakers of the sea,
 for grace, and beauty, and majesty?

And all of these things {GOD} gives us free!!
~Missionary Messenger






I read this poem in a book, and it stuck in my heart and mind for nearly two weeks...
a great reminder!
I have a heart full of thankfulness today toward God...He is so good!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Announcing the Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Thinkin' Out Loud!
She's my blog giveaway winner for the Amazing Graze General Store Gift Certificate!
Please contact me with your name and email so that I
can send you your gift certificate!
Have fun spending it!

p.s. Keep your eyes open, I'll be having another giveaway featuring an
item from Amazing Graze General Store real soon!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Thanksgiving Giveaway!

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and in thinking about all the blessings that God has given me...
it made me want to give to someone too!

And so, I decided to host a Thanksgiving Giveaway!

The wonderful prize is a $25 Gift Certificate to my
So...the winner gets to pick their very own prize!
How fun is that!?

It's also sooo easy to enter!
  1. Go to Amazing Graze Farm General Store and browse, then choose your favorite item, come back here and post a comment about it     worth 2 entries
  2. Facebook or Twitter about the contest     worth 3 entries
  3. Blog about the Contest--linking back here   worth 4 entries
  4. Tell at least 5 friends about the contest   worth 2 entries
  5. Make an Amazing Graze Store Purchase of $25 or more  worth 10 entries
Be sure to leave a comment here after doing each one so you get credit for your entries!

The contest will close on Friday November 26th at 12 midnight est
The winner will be announced shortly afterwards
Wanna know some of my favs?

I have this absolutely wonderful towel in green, want to get one in red soon! I can't describe how good this towel feels and performs!

I recently got this book for my birthday (thanks Marci!) and will be trying out some of these recipes now that the holidays are upon us!

This wonderful Zojirushi breadmaker is on my Wishlist!

And, how adorable is this apron!? Wouldn't that make a great Christmas gift!?
I could go on and on...but instead, why don't you go and browse so you can enter the giveaway?
Have fun!

p.s. keep your eyes peeled--I will be hosting another giveaway real soon!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4

p.s. I'll keep this post at the top until next week you might want to scroll down for new posts...
thank you!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! Our Menu...

We have been busy all day preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow...
We are not sure if we're having very many guests as there
have been some cancellations due to illness :(
Here is our Menu:
  • Turkey
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Lima Beans
  • Corn
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Homemade Rolls
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Mushrooms
  • Cole Slaw
  • Stuffed Celery
  • Ambrosia
  • Cherry Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Cranberry Punch
We keep pretty close to tradition every year--these are our main stays.
What about you? What's schedule to be on your table tomorrow?
I'm so thankful that God has provided us with food, and that we
have family to share it with!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2 Cor. 9:11


Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
 ~ Psalm 100
Our church family is memorizing this passage this month--what a great choice!
My family and I just want to publicly thank GOD for His
goodness to us. He is gracious and merciful beyond measure.

May you each have a Happy time paying Thanksgiving to GOD.


Monday, November 15, 2010

We Took the Day Off

My hubby had off for Veteran's Day, so we took a little time off for some fun. :)
My mom came along, and we went out for a bite to eat in Lancaster...

Stopped at the farm to get our raw milk-yum!

I was taking this pic of Bri...and guess who snuck in the pic?

It was a fun day, the weather was gorgeous, and I even got a little Christmas shopping done.
Yipppee!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Ten Commandments for Wives



Ten Commandments for Wives




I. Honor thy own womanhood, that thy days may be long in the house which thy husband provideth for thee.



II. Expect not thy husband to give thee as many luxuries as thy father hath given thee after many years of hard labor and economies.



III. Forget not the virtue of good humor, for verily all that a man hath will he give for a woman's smile.



IV. Thou shalt not nag.



V. Thou shalt coddle thy husband, for verily every man loveth to be fussed over.



VI. Remember that the frank approval of thy husband is worth more to thee than the sidelong glances of many strangers.



VII. Forget not the grace of cleanliness and good dressing.



VIII. Permit no one to assure thee that thou art having a hard time of it: neither thy mother, nor thy sister, nor thy maiden aunt, nor any of thy kinfold. Thou shalt not let another disparage thy husband.



IX. Keep thy home with all diligence, for out of it cometh the joys of thine old age.



X. Commit thy ways unto the Lord thy God, and thy children shall rise up and call thee blessed.

~Lucibel VanAtta

Monday, October 25, 2010

Current Events...

It seems as though I've been doing this alot lately-downloading pics and just doing one huge post to include them all--but, it's either that, or nothing due to time constraints! :)


Chippy got a little extra attention while his pal Bingley had surgery/neutering last week
Poor Bingley is trying to adjust to "life with a lampshade" right now
(you can also see his front leg was shaved for the iv)

Brad was finally successful in finding a used snowblower to
try and boost his employment during the winter months
We think Bing is cute-even with his "shade"
In further preparation for winter--we got our firewood over the weekend
Bri and I were busy harvesting our herbs
basil, rosemary, parsley and apple mint
Brad is busy working on his shed
Dad was kind enough to lend him a hand

We have spinach growing in the garden
I also planted garlic on Saturday--in between these rows

Calendula still blooms!

Marigolds are too

The kids did a surprise "Parent Appreciation Night"
last week, these are the beautiful flowers they gave me

Nasturtium still has lots of life left

Here's the herb basket Bri picked
(the purple is lavender)

Sunday we were blessed to be part of a lovely 50th anniversary celebration
Above, Anna gets everything ready for her parents
(the bride being honored is her Mom -standing on the far left)

This couple used to be Amish, and this "Wedding Corner" was
set up Amish style by their daughter (it was lovely!)

Some of the young people from our church
enjoying fellowship

Lovely Amy
Beautiful Susan

Table decorations

Brad "trying" to look innocent
...he must have done something!

Adorable Isaiah

Dashing Daniel

Sweet Jen

Nate--interesting pose! lol

Loved these table favors...
note the dainty hanky!

These were on the Wedding Corner tables

Here are the Bride and Groom on their
50th wedding Anniversary
Isn't that cake lovely?
May the Lord continue to bless them!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Summer Fades to Fall

Summer is drawing to a slow close...
And Bingley is now 8 months old
The sky has been stormy several times
(kind of neat after a summer with no rain)
We're still getting Peppers (we didn't pick these in time--now they're "woody")

Our Black-eyed Susan vine is more beautiful than ever!

 I picked a basketful of Peppers today
 Brad bought the yellow mums on clearance last year for 10 cents each!
 The Knock-out Rose still keeps cranking out blooms below


We've been doing some baking, and finished up our canning





We put out our Fall Decorations


We're having a bit of trouble getting out of "Summertime mode"
Right now it feels like Indian Summer--yesterday was 80!
But I guess it's time to say...so long Summer!


When summer gathers up her robes of glory,



And, like a dream, glides away.

~ Sarah Helen Whitman