Cleaning Up!

It was a profitable weekend.  We had a work day at church - the first since we arrived 2 years ago.  The guys did a lot of maintenance projects and the ladies cleaned and sorted and moved and threw out.  It was a good example of "many hands make light work." 

Have you ever noticed how clutter breeds clutter?  Of course I could think of that at church as we cleaned, but there are those spots in my house that are just the "catch-alls."  Once the pile starts, it is hard to stop.  On the flip side, it might be hard to start throwing things out, but once you start it gets contagious and it feels really good to clean things up.  Are you breeding sin by starting piles or just stashing things here and there?  Or ... are you cleaning up!

I hope that I am always working on the clean-up side of sin.  I also need to get going on the Fall cleaning in the house.  I completed the bathroom on Saturday ... must ... keep ... going!

9 Cans of Beans

It is just a tiny garden, but I am so thankful for the extras that the Lord provides to put away for the future.  So 9 cans of beans joined the 9 cans of beets this week.  So thankful for God's provision!

...not easily provoked

The next characteristic of love is that it does not have a hot, quick temper.  You have lived in this house, or been witness to it  ...  a house where the members walk around on egg shells trying to guess when the mom, dad, or a spouse is going to explode and what is going to trigger it.  True love is not easily provoked.  It does not allow itself to be drawn into poor actions.  It is not easily exasperated or irritable.  Does this sound like an aspect of love that you possess or one that you struggle with?  If I am aware of the problem, I can pray for proper responses and work to correct the problem. 

No Escape

I read Psalm 139 this morning after I had been working on a Sunday School lesson with the same theme.  What a comfort!  There is no place where I can escape the presence and thoughts of my God!

Still Using Apples

1/2 of our bushel of apples are gone.  3 batches of Apple dumplings, 3 dishes of Apple Crisp, One batch of Apple Sauce and 1-2 apples per day as a snack.  Even hubby is finding that the apples are not bothering him as they usually do (if he doesn't overdo it).  The Apple Crisp has been a hit as a breakfast, or a dessert.  I am glad that it is a favorite because it sure is easier than pie or dumplings :)  My sister-in-law gave me this recipe when hubby and I married 8 years ago.

Apple Crisp

4 c sliced tart apples

2/3 - 3/4 c packed brown sugar

1/2 c flour

1/2 c oats

3/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1/3 c butter, softened

Arrange apples in greased 8" square baking pan.  Mix remaining ingredients; sprinkle over apples.  Bake at 375* until topping is golden brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes.

How easy is that?!?

All the apple cooking is appropriate as we enter the season of Autumn.  We have enjoyed two very COOL evenings and used NO air conditioning yesterday in the trailer.  I am not assuming that we have used it for the last time this year, but I'll take what comes my way!

Baked Beans and another reminder of God's faithfulness

We woke throughout the night to the smell of baked beans in the crock pot.  OOHH!  Yummy!  It will be lunch today with some biscuits.  Tonight ... Bean and potato soup with fresh green pole beans from the garden and a side of fresh baked bread ... the cooler nights seem to be encouraging the beans now for which I am thankful.

These stamps are further reminder of God's faithfulness and provision.  These (along with about 150 others) were purchased back in February of 2008 before hubby left on his final deployment.  When hubby arrived in the war zone, he was told that he could mail home to the states without a stamp.  We have been using "deployment" stamps since he arrived home and these are the final 2.  So God provided stamps for our first 2 years in NC and we have been reminded of the difficult Navy days that He brought us through.

Dog Food and Stuffing

I really am thankful for the little things and that I have a God who cares for these as well.  Three quick examples:  Hubby works on a farm and a dog (Thunder) who was left there by a migrant Mexican worker has adopted him.  Thunder has been eating cat food or the food left for the owner's dogs when he can, but has been acting VERY hungry.  Hubby prayed that we would be able to get some dog food for Thunder.  Shortly after, I got a coupon for a free 6 lb bag of dog food (Organic at that - regular price $15) and a sample of a "pig ear" and another small sample of dog food. 

Tuesday I went grocery shopping.  I knew that I needed to watch what I spent, so I prayed over some special "wish" items on the list.  I am hoping to make a turkey when the days cool a little more and prayed that I would find some stuffing at our Discount Grocery ... one small bag was waiting for me!

I took my last Magnesium pill on Tuesday morning.  I had ordered some more through Amazon in hopes that they would arrive by Wednesday morning.  Emails confirmed my order and placed delivery in the middle of September.  But ... the package of pills arrived Wednesday morning before I had to leave for violin lessons. 

I am thankful for a God who cares about details.

...seeketh not her own

True love in the home...  It truly is a selfless act which is shown in this small description in I Corinthians 13:5.  Love is not selfish.  This concept flies in the face of modern teaching.  How many times have you heard or even adopted the though, "I just need some 'me' time."  Or perhaps you have heard and absorbed, "you just need to pursue your own goals and interests!"  It is everywhere.  I am not saying that a mom or a wife should never take a rest, but couldn't that rest include her family.  (Of course, this is more easily done when the children are trained that there are "quiet" times in the day and when I as the wife have been diligent to fulfil the tasks that I should to help my husband)  I am also not saying that a mom or a wife should not have interests and hobbies, but couldn't they be for the betterment of her family or including the family.  (Sewing to clothe the family, scrap booking with children, cooking with the family.)  Return to the thought again - if you are married, your job is a helper. The helper does not make all the plans or leave in the middle of completing the work, it aids in fulfilling the plans.  If you are a mother, your job is in training and directing those little (and big) ones for the few years that they are in your home.  Are your selfish pursuits worth failing as a helper or not investing in your children?  My goal today:  Serve others, not self!

Other goal:  Survive my first violin lesson after having the summer off!

A Large Place

Psalm 118:5

I called upon the Lord in distress:

the Lord answered me,

and set me in a large place.

I read this verse last week in my quiet time - yes, while wrestling with complete trust in God during uncertain situations.  God hears and answers ... meeting our needs and putting me in a better place.  His ways are not my ways and His plans are far better than my own.

Apple Dumplings

We made it to the foothills for some apple picking on Friday.  I promised to organize hubby's mountain of school work to keep him on schedule as we drove and he took me for MACS!  It is a little bit of a search for Macintosh here.  The man at the orchard says that they are hard to grow here and that they fall fast ... they were falling as we picked and could be gone by next week.  Our next trip to the orchards I will have to settle for another type of apple.  The trip always reminds us of fall in NY, especially at the beautiful Sky Top Orchards.  We have lived in 3 states that pride themselves in apples - NY, WA, and now NC!

I am enjoying the fresh Macs and grapes that we picked and am baking for hubby.  I made some apple dumplings on Saturday night along with some stuffed peppers for the crock pot on Sunday.  Hubby didn't like the new recipe that I used because it had a sauce similar to sticky buns - a carmelly, gooey mess of yumminess... (of course, I liked the reminder of Grandma Hadley's specialty).  So today, I will make dumplings anew with the "old" sauce.

Apple Dumplings

2 1/2 c water

1 1/4 c sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 c plus 6 tsp butter, divided

2 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 c shortening

1/2 c milk

5-6 small tart apples (peeled and cored, or chopped to make 2 c)

Cinnamon sugar

In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and cinnamon.  Cook and stir over med until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.  Add 1/4 c butter; stir until melted.  Remove from the heat; set aside.

In a bowl,combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in milk.

On lightly floured surface, roll dough into 12 x 18 rectangle.  Divide into 6 - 6" squares.  Place an apple or 1/3 cup diced apples in the center of each portion.  Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, dot with remaining butter.  Bring corners of pastry to center.  Brush edges with milk or water; pinch edges to seal.

Place in a greased 13x9 in dish; drizzle with syrup.  Bake, uncovered at 375* for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.