Blessed and Privileged

   Last Sunday, after the evening service we went out with some friends (this is a pretty common occurrence). In the course of conversation it came up that the following day was Monday. This brought sighs and  groans from nearly everyone at the table. The ladies that were present made comments like “Oh I’m not ready to go back to work yet!” and several more in that vein. The following morning I got on Facebook and saw posts along the lines of “Back to work….sure missing baby girl” and  “So ready to be home already.”

   We ladies who are privileged to stay at home are blessed beyond measure. We don’t live in dread of the workdays and the office and we only have to concern ourselves with our husbands and families. We have been spared a lot of stress and anxiety.

    I am so blessed to have a husband who allows and wants me to line up with God’s plan.  He works very hard so that I can stay at home. The Lord has blessed us so many times over the last 18-19 months. People have been amazed at how He has provided for our every need.

   When we first married there was some resistance to me staying at home. Some couldn’t understand why I didn’t just get a job for a little while to help out and get us in a better position financially. They thought we were being foolish and irresponsible. Whenever you are in the Lord’s will, there will always be naysayers and ones who discourage you.

   But as we tried our best to stay in His will and live according to His word, He has never let us be in need. He has provided for every need, right on time, sometimes in ways that we never dreamed possible.

     I have to stop and give honor to my husband for a minute. It was huge step of faith for him to let me stay at home. He grew up in a two-income family that had trouble making ends meet at times. If it had not been for his mother’s jobs, they wouldn’t have made it, I’ve been told. So with these memories and knowing the difficulties of making ends meet with two incomes, it was a huge step for him to keep his wife at home. He has told me that he honestly in the beginning didn’t know how we could do it on just his income, but we have. He gives all credit to the Lord for making things work and providing for us. We are now in a considerably better financial position than when we married and are almost completely out of debt. Not only has the Lord provided what we needed, but He has gone above and beyond and allowed us to get out from under some burdens.  

I don’t want to give the impression that life is all chocolates and roses because I’m a stay at home wife. Being a stay at home wife does not magically double or triple what is in your bank account. We still have to live by faith on a daily basis and trust the Lord to provide for us. There are times when it gets pretty close and scary and we wonder if we are going to come out alright—but He ALWAYS comes through and NEVER FAILS. He rewards and responds to our faith and obedience—every time.

Something big is in the works….

…please say a prayer for us. An opportunity on house has been presented to us and we are praying for the Lord’s will. Our little apartment has served our needs thus far but it is time for more space. My local sewing business has grown to the point that I need a room just for sewing and this country girl needs a yard!

So far everything is looking favorable, but we want the Lord’s will above all else.

Thank you friends! I promise an update soon ;)

Summer Snapshots

What have I been up to lately? Here are a few glimpses into our life the last couple weeks.

Apple pie—yum ;)

A trip to the hayfield…..

Faith had to check the hay like Papa was to make sure it was dry enough to bale.

Faith “helping” me getting the pickles ready for their three hour chill.

Bread and butter pickles—my first batch ever. I’ve helped Mom make them over the years but these were my first to make alone.

We also made apple pie filling the same day we made pickles. I can’t wait to try it out!

Meet Fergus, the latest addition to the JHR spread ;) He is just a few hours old here.

And last but not least, here is Jacob and his little sweetheart being silly:

Cooking with Pinterest

 

Pinterest has grown immensely popular of late and with good reason. It is a vast treasure trove of useful ideas, information and tips. I personally have found many helpful things there that I use everyday.

 A short disclaimer: While Pinterest is a great tool and resource, I must warn you that some Pinterest users do not have any qualms about posting things that should not be seen. As with any public site, there are occasionally some very offensive and inappropriate pins. People are carnal and that can not be helped. They are rare and if you are searching for recipes or crafts, etc., you are not likely to run into anything lewd or vulgar. Please use caution and discretion.                   

I love Pinterest. I probably spend more time there than I should, but there are just so many great, wonderful, neat ideas I’ve never thought of before and I need them! Well, maybe not need but I certainly enjoy looking through and finding ways of making life easier.

I (and Jacob!) have especially enjoyed all of the recipe pins and food inspirations that are available there. The possibilities seem endless. There are wonderful ideas for easy breakfasts, lunches, crockpot or oven suppers and snacks.

One of the neatest ideas I’ve seen and want to try is salad in a jar. I haven’t tried it yet but I plan to soon for some of Jacob’s work lunches.

Here are three recipes that we have tried lately from Pinterest pins:

Honey Garlic Pork Chops/Kabobs

30 Minute Rolls (recipe can be found on this blog)

Crockpot Italian Chicken

 

{My Recipe board}

 {My Desserts board}

Here are two things to remember and consider when pinning recipes:

1: Always, always, always go to the original pin’s source. You can do this usually by clicking on the pinned photo. Even if the recipe is included in the pin description and is fairly simple (or seems simple), always go to the source and double check everything before you begin cooking.

2: When you’ve tried a Pinterest recipe that you’ve pinned, go back to your pin and tell what you liked about it, if it was good and if you changed or added anything to the recipe. Your friends/followers will enjoy you sharing the recipe and will appreciate your comments about how you prepared it.

 

{Follow me on Pinterest}

Simple Worship

1 Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Worship has become very commercialized in the last few decades. There is an abundance of “worship music,” worship leaders, instructions on how to worship, etc. Many people equate worship with coming to church, singing and praying, lifting and clapping your hands and the like. This is indeed a form of worship but I feel that we miss out by limiting worship to just these few actions. Worship is more than just church attendance and participation.

I believe that  can and should worship God everyday in our homes with our families. I’m not referring to family worship or devotions—both of which are wonderful and necessary—but simply living in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and doing everything as unto Him. That’s worship.

Worship doesn’t have to be complicated, with long, carefully crafted eloquent prayers and rituals.  You can worship God in the little insignificant details of your day-to-day life. Nature worships God simply by doing what it was created to do. We worship God when we do what He has created us to do.

We worship the Lord when we love our husbands and put them first.

We can worship the Lord with the way we treat others, by speaking with kindness and grace.

We can worship the Lord by the way we dress and adorning ourselves with meekness and humility.

We can worship with our housework and care for our families, by  doing it as unto the Lord. (²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men  Colossians 3:23 KJV) Our homes can be places of worship simply because everything done there is dedicated to the Lord. When we do that He will let His peace settle there and people will love to come to our homes because of the peace, harmony, love and warmth that they feel there.

The Lord is attracted to the praises and worship of His people. In the Old Testament it speaks of the smoke from the sacrifices being a sweet savor or smell to Him. It drew Him to His people. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When we live in a manner that is pleasing to Him it sends up a sweet smell and He is drawn to us and is pleased with us. The result is a peaceful home full of love.

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O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
High on His heart He will bear it for thee,
And comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
For truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the Name that is dear;
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

--John S. B. Monsell, 1863