Cornmeal Pancakes

Had a great day at church yesterday.  I was feeling very drained and was tempted to stay home, but went anyway.  The Lord truly blessed.  One of my favorite evangelists spoke in the evening service.  You see, I like cookies, and he puts the cookies on the bottom shelf.  The message was on truly living a contented Christian life -accepting God's plan with a thankful and contented heart.  This thought has been a great struggle for me as we struggle with infertility and its effect on where we thought God had called us.  Faith is a very hard path to follow, resting in God and not in self (even though we know that His ways are best) is difficult.  But I am recharged to "bloom where I am planted."  His way IS best!

I have mentioned before that we often have one night of the week that we have breakfast for dinner.  I found a recipe for cornmeal pancakes on the Yogurt container last week.  They cooked up moist, fluffy, substantial, and topped with peaches and strawberries - THEY were FABULOUS!

Cornmeal Pancakes

1 c flour

1/2 c cornmeal

3 TBSP sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/3 c raisins, plumped (I omitted because of the fresh fruit)

1 1/2 c vanilla yogurt

2 large eggs

1/4 c oil

1.  Mix dry ingredients in bowl ten stir in raisins.  Stir moist ingredients in another bowl and then stir into flour mixture until blended.

2.  Cook by 1/4 cupfuls (makes about a 3 1/2 inch cake)

Waiting for the skies to clear so that I can take a little walk.  So thankful for the rain this morning to water the garden and the browning lawn.

End of the week

Wow!  As I brought up the "blogger" today - I realized that I am on my 201st blog post!  Wow!  It hardly seems like 2 years have passed since I began and was talking about futue plans in NC and about deployment life and about packing and moving across country.

It is another warm one today in the entire US.  It is not encouraging when it is 75* at 4:30 in the morning.  I am thankful for the central air here which at least keeps it under 85 in the oven that we call our trailer.  Hubby was off to work at about 5 and so as soon as the sun was up, I was watering plants, hanging 2 loads of wash, and out for my walk.  Not too hot yet, but very humid and the temps are climbing!  Now I am finishing up my breakfast: toast with PB and blackberry jam, a cup of milk, and a cup of mixed fruit still a little frosty from the freezer.  There are just 2 pieces of Mango left ... they are my favorite.

No big plans for the weeend ... Seedline tonight where we put together Bibles to send to mission works around the world, cleaning day tomorrow and a free evening (so far), Church on Sunday.  Hoping the weather will be cooler (high 80's) tomorrow as they are predicting.

It is good to be back to blogging.  I enjoying sharing with you. 

Funny Christians

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Accountability

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one;

because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:

but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;

for he hath not another to help him up.

I am thankful today for my life's accountability partner.  I hope by now that you know that I have the utmost respect for marriage and for God's design in marriage.  I do not believe in belittling your spouse, I do not believe in "in-law" jokes ... I love being married to the one God gave to me and I appreciate him more and more each day.  God gave me a man who encourages me to be a better person.  I know of many a husband who does not give their wife an example of faithful Bible study.  I am encouraged each morning as hubby gets up an hour or so before me to spend time with the Lord.  There are many men who are afraid to encourage their wives in healthy pursuits (i.e. excercise and healthy eating), my husband wants me to have a long, fulfilling life and shares my workouts and cuts his sweets to support me.  Weekly my dear one asks me how my Bible memorization is coming and if I want to recite some for him.  Dearest also encourages me in difficult pursuits, spurring me on when I just want to quite (can anyone say - violin?)  Not all of my readers are married, but I do hope that you have someone who leads you to a higher standard for yourself.  If you do have a life's mate, I hope you are developing open communication that allows constructive help and encouragement in Biblical living.

"Teachers of Good Things"

Titus 2:3

The aged women likewise,

that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,

... teachers of good things;

I have been thinking again this week about the traits that God's woman should have.  Yesterday was a long day at home, I missed my hubby and began wishing that I was teaching again, I wished that God had not commanded a woman to be a "keeper at home."  How am I to teach good things if I have few opportunities for it?  I had already been dwelling on this verse for other reasons and continue to come back to the fact that my life can teach louder than my words in a "teaching" setting.  Am I disciplined in my time, activities, Bible study, Bible memory, eating, physical exercise?  Am I disciplined with joy?  Am I careful in my daily duties to present an orderly home?  Am I peaceful in my sphere or do I let the cares of the day sway me?  Think of the women that taught you the most.  Was it simply their words or did they teach by example?

Today I have a little more laundry.  I pulled the remaining beets, but I think that they will just go with dinner rather than being processed.  Hubby gave me a list of minor tasks and then I think that I will work on Sunday School curriculum today.  Have a good day wherever God has placed you!

Enjoying the Morning

Psalm 5:3

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD;

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

I am far from a morning person.  I would rather stay up late and get up around 8 or 9 in the morning, but the Lord is teaching me to enjoy mornings.  The climate around here aids in pushing me out of bed: any outdoor exercise must be done before the heat of the day, the garden needs water before the heat, and if there are to be any baked goods in the house ... that too should be done before the little trailer itself is an oven.  As hubby leaves for work at 6:15,  I try to get the day started.  I have 2 loads of wash out, have baked hubby a peach-plum pie, have walked for 30 minutes and have thoroughly enjoyed the quiet of this morning.  I love my morning walks ... it is then that I work on verse memory and prayer ... 30 minutes of uninterrupted prayer and meditation on God's Word.  Perhaps this is why the Psalmist enjoyed the mornings as well.  Do you have a peaceful time for reading, praying, studying, and meditating?  It is hard for most wives and especially for mothers ... there are so many demands on your time ... perhaps a half hour before the first soul stirs in the house would charge you for the day.

Biltmore Vacation

We took our summer vacation this year to one of the only "touristy" places in our area.  We visited the Biltmore estate.  It is a huge home and gardens built with the money of the well known Vanderbilts.  I spent much of my childhood in Hyde Park, NY which is home to another Vanderbilt family, but this far exceeded that property.  We had a wonderful time being away and spending time wandering the trails of the property and thinking about the vanity of earthly riches - we just can't take it with us!

Hubby also enjoyed having the time to fiddle with the camera.  Though the gardens were a little sparce because of the heat of the summer, there were some remaining blossoms fighting it out in the high 90 temperatures.  Some of them were looking a little better than I was! I am still not completely acclimated.

Then hubby humored me.  We had been seeing a lot of engagement pictures posted on the internet.  We never had any taken (maybe because our engagement was so short).  We may be 8 years late (May 14, 2002), ... but here are some fun pictures that we took while on the grounds at the Biltmore. 

Well, I guess this last one couldn't be an engagement picture, but it was still fun!

The last day of vacation, we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway (about to the top of NC) and then stopped at Mount Airy (aka Mayberry) - the childhood home of Andy Griffeth.  They have refurbished some of the scenery from the show, barber shop, sheriffs office, Garage for a tourism boost. 

Now we are back in the saddle.  Hubby is beginning work to get ahead before the semester starts and I am trying to keep the garden producing in the heat and dryness and hope to be canning again soon.

Celebrating our Freedom!

The fourth of July is a great holiday.  It is good to remember and to appreciate the blessings of God on our country and the freedoms that we still enjoy today.  I enjoy the patriotic hymns and the family get-togethers.  It has a new face since I married 8 years ago.  After living the military life for 6 years, I realize more (though not completely) the price of the freedoms that I enjoy.  The Star-Spangled Banner's second verse brings tears to my eyes as I think of those who stand "between their loved homes and the war's desolation."  There are many families who were separated this weekend, because they believe in freedom and are willing to sacrifice for my family. 

The holiday also becomes more sober as I think of the fact that there is little left that God should bless.  We have left Him out of so much of our lives.  We have relegated Him to one day or lumped Him with false gods in an effort to "just get along."  America is no longer a Christian nation and unless she turns back in revival, there is little to look forward to in her future.

I love America and am glad to be a citizen of the greatest country in the world, while still weeping at the fact that we have left behind many of the principles that she was founded on.

Back at the computer

Well, I said goodbye to Facebook this morning and invited all of my friends to keep updated with me on my blog ... SO I AM BACK!  It has been tough adjusting to the summer schedule and the computer has been SO SLOW recently, but I will try to be more disciplined and more patient.

It is Monday ... so I try to share a recipe.  Hubby challenged me to try to get through all the "stockpiles" of canned goods and the food in the freezer to save on the summer budget and to start fresh later this summer, so cooking has been more of an adventure so far this summer.  I did discover an AWESOME chicken marinade for the grill.

Peanut Butter Chicken

1/2 c peanut butter

1/2 c vegetable oil

1/4 c white wine vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)

1/4 c soy sauce

1/4 c lemon juice

1 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp chili powder or crused red pepper flakes

2 tsp ground ginger

2 garlic cloves

2 lbs chicken breasts

Combine all but chicken in blender and blend until sppon adding a few drops of water if mixture is too thick.  Place in glass dish or resealable plastic bag with chicken.  Turn to coat.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Drain chicken and discard marinade.  Grill!  Delicious!

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

Psalm 84:11b

...no good thing will he withhold from them

that walk uprightly.

I have been struggling lately to rest in the promises of God and in His goodness.  God has promised to meet my needs and if I am walking in His will to give me all good things.  Why then do I question His plans and ways in my life?  Why should I battle discontent? 

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, thou art my God;

early will I seek thee:

my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land,

where no water is;

To see thy power and thy glory,

so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy loving kindness is better than life,

my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee while I live:

I will lift up my hands in thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;

and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

When I remember thee upon my bed,

and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Because thou hast been my help,

therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

My soul followeth hard after thee:

thy right hand upholdeth me.