Born To Die

We caught part of Polar Express over the weekend.  The animation is great.  Towards the end of the movie the train conductor tells the boy that the meaning of Christmas resides within him.

How utterly sad.

How hopeless.

How depressing.

How humanistic.

I've been meditating on Ephesians 1:4-5 the past couple of days.  It was used in the Sunday sermon.
               According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
             of the world that we should be holy and without blame before
             him.
               Having predestinated [marked out beforehand] us unto the
             adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
             to the good pleasure of his will.

Absolutely none, not one twinkle of time as we know it is accidental.  No event in the life of any human is accidental.  Before the world was created, before time began God marked out [predestined] the redemptive story.  All of history, every single event, is part of the redemptive story and is therefore predestined by Him. 

That means that before time began the Godhead marked out Christ to die.

He was born for the express purpose of dieing.

The meaning of Christmas is found in Christ alone.

My heart leaps  for joy as I ponder that.  Thank God the meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with me.

Written by Nikki

Review of the Documentary 'Agenda: Grinding America Down'

The documentary Agenda: Grinding America Down is a great place to get some of the blinders removed. This documentary carefully introduces the history of the communist's party agenda to destroy America. This isn't a conspiracy theory movie. Idaho legislator Curtis Bowers spent two years researching the topic. During the course of the film he interviews people such as Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum, Mike Smith of HSLD, and the Honorable Edwin Meese III--all respectable members of the conservative movement.

Mr. Bowers begins by defining communism and its goals. He traces their history, not only in American politics, but also education and religion. He then illustrates the urgency needed to stop this movement and suggests tools whereby it could be accomplished.

As another election cycle is gearing up, this documentary could be a useful tool in your decision making process.

In his book Ethics, Dietrich Bonhoeffer states,

     "What is worse than doing evil is being evil.  It is worse for a liar
      to tell the truth than of a lover of truth to lie.  It is worse when a
      misanthropist practices brotherly love than when a
      philanthropist gives way to hatred."  (pg 67)

Why?  Shouldn't we rejoice when wickedness is turned away from?

The example that immediately comes to mind is Satan taking on the form of a serpent in order to deceive Eve.  At the core is evil.  He disguises himself in respectability and proceeds to wax eloquently.  It all sounded so good to Eve and Satan's entrapment was complete.  In reality, she did not equip herself to do battle with evil. 

For reasons that I don't understand, people have difficulty believing that our government would lie to us or use us.  The reality is that the evil of socialism has wrapped itself up in respectability.  We are made to feel guilty if we oppose welfare, or called a racist if we are against affirmative action, and declared unpatriotic and against the troops if we question foreign policy and the use of troops in the world. Vladimir Lenin said the the goal of socialism is communism. No one can question the inroads socialism has made in the past 10-15 years.

Applesauce

We went and visited Miss Laura and her family earlier this week.  We had such a good time with them.. so good I forgot to take very many pictures! When I am having fun reading to three or four cute kids, running around outside, cuddling a baby, or talking up a storm,  I, at least, forget my camera even exists!  We had hoped to pick some apples while we were there but the orchard had been picked clean.  So we just bought some apples for applesauce and apple butter.  There was even enough to squeeze out a pie! Mom discovered that we needed some canning equipment that didn't get here until late in Friday. So we didn't get to the applesauce until this morning.

One-on- one with Mom on a quiet Saturday morning turns into a peeling.. 

 and chopping festival!

The recipe that we used for applesauce is really good one that Miss Laura recommended. The recipe calls only for cinnamon but we put in nutmeg and cloves too.

This was my first time canning anything and Mom hasn't done it very much either  so it was very interesting to see exactly what is done and very rewarding when the first batch "popped".

Since we are new at canning the mistakes we made were very interesting too.  We put to much water in the bath and boiling water spilled over the sides a couple of times!   Now we most definitely know what not to do the next time around.

The very first one!

Mac and Cheese

    We recently started buying our milk with a co-op from a local dairy. This means that it is fresh, whole,  has low pasteurization, and is a lot cheaper then the milk in the store. Unfortunately, this also means that we have to guess  how much we will need for the whole week. So since we have an extra galleon, we decided to make Mac-& Cheese.

This Mac & Cheese recipe is courtesy of Martha Stewart. It is so good that I  refuse to eat anything out of a box after having enjoyed this for most of my life!
   
     6 Tablespoons  unsalted butter plus more for dish
     5 & 1/2  cups   milk
     1/2 cup            all purpose flour
     2 teaspoons     salt
     1/4 teaspoon   freshly grated nutmeg
     1/4 teaspoon   freshly ground black pepper
     1/4 teaspoon   cayenne pepper, or to taste
     4 & 1/2 cups   grated sharp white cheddar cheese
     2 cups             grated Gruyere  OR
        1 & 1/4 cups  grated Pecorino Romano cheese
     1 pound          elbow macaroni

Please note that this recipe fills 2 casserole dishes.

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

Next cook and strain  the macaroni.  It is best to cook 2-3 minutes less then the package's directions so that the macaroni isn't over cooked in the oven. 

 Heat the 5 & 1/2 cups of milk over medium heat. 

When the milk is almost warm, melt 6 tablespoons of  butter in a high sided skillet. 

When the butter bubbles, add one cup of flour. cook stirring constantly for 1 minute. 

Then, still whisking, add warm milk.

When the milk begins to thicken and bubble, add the spices.  The recipe calls for fresh ingredients but we always use what is in the spice cabinet. 

Then add 3 cups cheddar and 1 & 1/2 cups Gruyere. ( Don't feel bound by what the recipe calls for. We have a lot of fun experimenting with different kinds of white cheeses.  Our favorite is Parmesan and Romano combination)

Add milk to the noodles and stir all of that creamy goodness together.

 Butter dish, then pour mac & cheese mixture into it, topping with remaining cheese. 

 Bake until brown on top, about 30 minutes. 

While you wait, you have time for, oh snap, the dishes...

a knitting/ smocking/ sewing project... 

 and definitely a cup of tea, at least if you are my Mom!

Success! A mac and cheese that everyone will beg you for more!

To Lie or Not to Lie, That is the Question

     We had an interesting conversation recently with some friends.  The topic was ' Are there any circumstances when it would be acceptable to lie?'   Our friends said " No", but I disagree.  Can't you hear the choir of gasps?  " She thinks that it is acceptable to lie!!!"  Lying to cover up a sin or to destroy some one's reputation or harm them  is wrong but lying to save a life... can that really be wrong?

  In I Samuel 16, God commands Samuel to anoint David.  Samuel tells God that Saul will kill him if he hears what Samuel did.  God then instructs Samuel to take a heifer with him and say that he has come to sacrifice to God (which he did). 

In Exodus 1: 15-22, Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all the baby boys. The Hebrew midwives disobeyed these instructions .  When Pharaoh asked the midwives why they had saved the babies, they said that Hebrew women deliver quickly and have no need of a midwife. The passage goes on to say,

" Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that He made them houses."  Exodus 15: 20-21 

In our effort to live according to God's law, we attempt to make things black and white.  Christ frequently chastised the pharisees for living according to the letter of the law and not the Spirit of the law.  Any time we replace God's requirements, whether it is requirements for salvation or sanctification, we are living our lives legalistically.  Lying falls into this category.

The German pastor and martyr, Bonhoeffer, wrestled with this issue as he attempted to undermine the Nazi government.  He finally came to the point of believing ...

         "To be true to God in the deepest way meant having such a

          relationship with Him that one did not live legalistically by 

          "rules" or "principles".  One could never separate ones actions

          from ones relationship to God.  It was a more demanding

         and more mature level of obedience, and Bonhoeffer had

         come to see that the evil of Hitler was forcing Christians to

         go deeper in their obedience, to think harder about what

         God was asking.  Legalistic religion was being shown to

         be utterly inadequate." (Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, 

         Prophet, Spy p. 367)

Once Bonhoeffer came to this realization he became a double agent and entered the conspiracy to kill Hitler.  He was even willing to pull the trigger himself.


So, what do you think about lying?

A Tale of Three Purses

     We are hoping to visit some friends this fall who live near a lot of historic sites.  I saw a pattern for a purse which was supposed to be small and light enough for site-seeing but sturdy enough to carry camera and guidebook.  So I decided to make Mom, Jacqueline, and myself coordinating bags. The pattern was relatively easy to follow and a lot of fun to make.  However, by purse #3, I was more then ready to be done and move on to something new!  You can't tell from the pictures but these purses are really small, as in 9 by 7 & 1/2 inches!

       Mom wanted the purse as shown in the pattern, i.e. light and dark green with red accents.  Jacqueline's favorite color is purple so she got a dark purple and rose bag with light green accents.  My favorite color is blue so I had light and dark blue also with light green accents.

      I still have to decided what to do about handles.  We thought about pre-made wooden handles but they are much to big.  The pattern actually calls for a braided handle with eight different strands of yarn, but I have reservations about its strength.  I sure I'll figure something out before our trip, although with my record it might be the night before!

Pretty Posy Frocks Giveaway

The shop was opened as a creative outlet, a chance to work on some sewing skills, and to earn a little money for day trips.  We want to offer clothing that is feminine, modest and age appropriate.  We decided to get things started with a giveaway.  So here is the prize....

The dress will be available in size 2-6.  It  will be custom made, so please allow up to 10 days to receive your dress.  This also means that we will make the dress to accommodate your child.  If you need a size 3 chest but a 5 length, just let us know when we contact you as the winner.

Measurements:
                             child's chest                                finished length
      2T                       21"                                              21 3/4"
      3T                      22"                                               22 1/2"
      4T                      23"                                               23 1/4"
      5                         24"                                               24"
      6                         25"                                               24 3/4"

Rules:
  1.   To enter please leave a comment letting me know you want
        to enter.
  2.  For a second entry, please blog about the giveaway.  If you
      don't have a blog, link to our blog on facebook.  Then leave
       another comment telling me you have done so.
  3.  The giveaway will end midnight Sunday, July 17.  The winner
       will be announced on Monday.  Random.org will be selecting
       the winner for us.

Pretty Posy Frocks

Well, by now I just know that everyone is on tether hooks, pins and needles, and the edge of the cliff to know what Mom is up to.  So (or should I say Sew) we are pleased to announce that Mom has opened a Etsy shop called Pretty Posy Frocks for girls/ babies that will include clothes, sweaters, socks, and all sorts of other things child related!  Right now the clothing is fru-fru girly, but we're going to include some more tailored outfits too.

Mom started sewing in high school. The first skirt she made was lopsided!  When Jacqueline and I were little, Mom made at least 80% of our clothes,

 from simple short sets to keep us cool under the hot South Florida sun 

to very elaborate Easter and Christmas dresses!

You will find a button for the shop on the side panel.  If you stop back on Monday, we will be kicking everything off with a giveaway of one of Mom's handcrafted, very cute dresses!

What IS She Up To?

There are mountains of fabric piled everywhere! 

Just when I think this house (and most importantly her sewing room) can't hold another scrap, Mom makes a trip to the fabric store and comes back with MORE fabric, buttons, ribbon, rickrack, patterns, and who knows what else! 

 

The sewing machine will hum almost non-stop for several hours in the afternoon. 

Warm Snap

We've had a bit of a warm snap and since we hadn't gotten the leaves cleaned up from this fall (very bad :0) we took advantage of the pleasant weather to do so.





before



 Jacqueline doesn't care for raking, so she made the trips down the hill to the compost area.



After the umpteenth millionth time down the hill, she has updated her resume and is applying for the raking position next year ;0)

We worked Friday afternoon after school and Saturday morning.  It definitely looked better once we had finished.

You know they saying every job worth doing is worth a new tool.  Well, it works for women too :0)  Mom got a hand pruning saw and trimmed the crab apple tree.  But don't tell Dad.  He might take it away from us (he has been known to purchase tools that we can't lift)...we're referring to it as a scrap booking tool.

Looks pretty good...



Integrity....

How would you define the word?  Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word as "the quality of state of being of sound moral principle".  Some synonyms are uprightness, honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness, faithfulness, justness, courage, principled.   We would also recognize that a person with integrity has good character, and character can be defined as what you do when no one else is around.

Thomas Jefferson personifies the word.

The Real Thomas Jefferson by Andrew M. Allison chronicles the life of Thomas Jefferson.  The author has chosen to allow Jefferson's own words to speak for him.  The first part of the book is a carefully documented biographical sketch drawn chiefly from Jefferson's own writing.  The second part is in an encyclopedia format and includes quotes on various topics, events and people.

Jefferson lived a life based upon high standards and ideals.  I'm not saying the man was faultless.  We will never be able to create a utopia--perfect will have to wait for heaven; but if you are looking for a man who not only espoused high standards but also lived his life in accordance with them, then Jefferson is your man.

Over the course of his life Jefferson became proficient in areas such as architecture, horticulture, animal husbandry,  music and the law.  He held positions as husband, father, farmer, violinist, inventor, college president, statesman, diplomat, ambassador, secretary of state, president, advisor and prolific writer.

He was able to achieve all of these by being highly self-disciplined.  It was his habit to rise before the sun and his day was structured.  He spent at least two hours daily reading--not novels.  He involved himself in the running of the estate and often incorporated new farming techniques.  When Jefferson was running the estate, it made a profit.  He distinguished himself early in his law career and was easily elected to the state legislature.  Although initially unknown outside of Virginia, his abilities were quickly recognized while serving in the Continental Congress and were later called upon to write the Declaration of Independence.

This pattern of public service continued until his death.  When he was no longer in the public eye, he kept up correspondence with many key figures and was frequently called upon for advice.  For example, Jefferson was in France when the Constitution was written, but his signature runs throughout the document.  Madison relied heavily upon him.

There are two examples I consider very revealing.  The first occurred at Monticello.  A servant named John Hubbard had stolen some nails.  Jefferson dealt with the situation directly.  Upon seeing the great remorse of the man, for he was crying and asking forgiveness, Jefferson quickly said, "Ah, sir, we can't punish him.  He has suffered enough already."  Jefferson's kindness impacted the man greatly.  The servant considered it a display of true religion and the act encouraged him "to find religion" himself.

On another occasion his grandson recalls

            "His manners were of that polished school of the colonial government, so remarkable in its day-under no circumstances violating any of those minor conventional observances which constitute the well-bred gentleman, courteous and considerate to all persons.  On [my] riding out with him when a lad, we met  a Negro who bowed to us.  [My grandfather] returned his bow; I did not.  Turning to me he asked, "do you permit a Negro to be more of a gentleman that yourself?"

These events were private, and since character is revealed when no one else is around--they speak volumes.

In stepping out of the way and allowing Jefferson to speak for himself, the author has given the reader the chance to know Jefferson the person and to draw your own conclusions regarding him.  This book is a great place to begin learning about Thomas Jefferson.

 Guest Posted By Momma...