Prayer for the New Year

Just One Request

Dear Master for this coming year

Just one request I bring:

I do not pray for happiness,

Or any earthly thing—

I do not ask to understand

The way Thou leadest me,

But this I ask: Teach me to do

The thing that pleaseth Thee.

I want to know Thy guiding voice,

To walk with Thee each day.

Dear Master make me swift to hear

And ready to obey.

And thus the year I now begin

A happy year will be—

If I am seeking just to do

The thing that pleaseth Thee.

(author unknown)

And yet another MRI

Well, I knew it was coming....a phone call to book me for another follow up MRI to check the surgical area where a brain tumor was removed exactly twelve years ago this month. My heart skipped a beat when the person on the end of the line indicated she was from VGH's MRI department. It is always a little nerve wrecking, especially waiting for results after the scan.  And then I was told there was a long wait - appointment October 2014....so I can relax for a bit :-)

These tumors have a nasty habit of recurring and I probably wouldn't have any symptoms to know if it is growing again until it would be life threatening, as this type of tumor will eventually displace the brain stem if it grows too large.  That is why the neurology folks keep checking. If my hearing and balance nerves on the left side were intact I would have warning signs. As it is, my hearing is gone on the one side and my balance as well, although my brain has retrained so I receive balance only from the right side now.

It is amazing really...the first few months after surgery I felt like one of those little kids on a playground merry-go-round. Dizzy would be an understatement and focusing was out of the question. After two weeks in hospital, I graduated to my parent's home for another six weeks while I learned to stay on my feet and walk a few stairs before finally heading home. And so I slowly continued to relearn balance. I can actually walk a pretty straight line now....just don't ask me to walk in the dark and it's all good.

For months I was part of an internet support group - all people who knew the agonizing slow recovery, the headaches, the tiredness, the frustration and just the fact that people made me realize that I had to adjust to a 'new' normal. The 'normal' I previously knew was gone but that was ok.  What a blessing from God that the internet can serve such an encouraging purpose.

And so I just had to write how incredibly thankful I am for each new day. We carry on in God's strength. I have learned so much from this experience, especially the incredible generosity and support of my family and church family. God is good!

"Ma, you're getting old...."

Yes, my dear sons say these kinds of things - boys are brutally honest and any sensitive bone in my body has been desensitized over the years :-) so I'm quite used to it by now.

Today, though, I came face to face with the reality of aging me thinks. I was making a purchase in a store and couldn't quite figure out why the price rang in cheaper than what I thought it would be. "Must be a sale today," I reasoned, but then decided to check the receipt once I was home. GULP...double GULP....I received a 'Senior's Discount'. Oh boy...maybe it's time to color the grey... But on second thought, I do love receiving discounts :-)

Charities

Ever wonder how much of your donations are going to administration, advertising, salaries? Here is a link with a wealth of information so you can make an informed decision before donating to any charity:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html

One of the very well known charities, World Vision, does a lot of advertising to get people to donate. We were absolutely shocked at the salaries of those in management with this organization. We're thankful that detailed information is made available - all one has to do is a little searching via that website.

Shopping Carts

I'm looking for advice/suggestions. Because we are likely relocating to an area that is within walking distance to a grocery store, I would love to walk instead of using the vehicle. So I've been searching for shopping carts to wheel groceries home.

My boys would probably disown me if I pulled one of these aluminum two wheeled shopping carts - not that I really care myself but I would rather our two remaining sons live at home for a while yet lol...

I came across the name 'Rolser' on amazon and was impressed....until I saw the price.... I'm wondering if there are other products similar to Rolser out there. Does anyone know?

http://www.amazon.ca/ROLSER-ROTATING-SOLID-BLU-included/dp/B009U2883A/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=ASYVY7AXXMCPW

Too busy?

“One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”
― Elisabeth Elliot, Secure in the Everlasting Arms

So, what DO you do?

I get asked this question more often than I like. Three boys are moved out, one still in post secondary and one in high school. So I'm supposed to have a lot of 'free' time...after all, I am a still a stay at home mom and, may I add, quite proud of the fact :-) When I get asked what I do for a job, I simply state that I work at home.

I remember, years ago, when it became more accepted for moms to head back into the workforce, my mother lamented the fact that there would be fewer women within the church to seek out those who needed help. You see, my mom was a stay at home mom but she gave so much of her time for the benefit of others - especially the sick, the handicapped, the lonely. She was and still is a quiet blessing to so many people.

I won't deny that there are legitimate reasons for some to seek work outside the home, but should working outside the home become one of our goals? Perhaps we need to look 'inward' instead of 'outward' for way to make extra money. On a typical day, I will often save $40 just by simply baking, canning, cooking, budgeting, and just leaving the car in the driveway and saving on gas. We don't need to insure our vehicle for work, I don't need professional type clothes, rarely eat in restaurants and don't focus on fancy vacations or weekend getaways.

We were blessed to hear Rev. Pol preach a sermon on 2 Cor 5:6-10. He encouraged us to spend our life on things that matter and to measure every decision and purchase we make against eternal value. He encouraged us to look for opportunities to serve. How can we serve if our schedules are so packed?

May we all pray that those God places on our path are not neglected. I fail often and Rev. Pol's sermon was a nudge to work harder at seeking out those who truly need a listening ear.

Our Handful of Guys!

Here is our handful of very energetic young men. This is one of the 'normal' photos of them....there is usually a lot of craziness when trying to get their pic.

Avoiding Food Waste

Both my hubby and I grew up in families where left overs were seldom thrown out, and we strive to continue to keep food waste to a minimum. It generally means that I have to become quite creative in putting some meals together :-)

The leftovers I had to work with today:
-A cup of sauce (which was basically ketchup/soy sauce/honey sauce for chicken) left over from an earlier dinner. We had eaten all the chicken but some sauce remained in the pan, so this went into the fridge.
-Two hamburger patties (home made) that were left over from an earlier BBQ and tossed into the freezer.
-Left over bacon
-Mushrooms that had (earlier) been fried and frozen into portions.
-A bit of red onion

Here is what I did with this, along with some veggies from our garden. The end result was a very delicious macaroni dish which received rave reviews :-)

I fried the bacon and set aside to drain on paper towels. Using a bit of the bacon grease, I fried the onion, then a chopped yellow pepper and small diced zucchini (seeded). Then the mushrooms and finely chopped (1 cup) swiss chard were added, along with the cooked bacon.  (In the meantime, I made one cup of chicken broth using Better than Bouillon and added this to the left over sauce.)

To the fried veggies/meat, 1-1/2 T. of flour was stirred through before adding the sauce/broth. After bring to a simmer to thicken the sauce, 1 cup of grated cheese was stirred through before adding cooked macaroni. This went into a glass dish and put in the microwave just before dinner.
****
 By the way, our garden is producing A LOT of zucchini so, if you live in my town and want some, let me know. Grated raw zucchini can be put into the freezer and used, liquid and all, in loaves and muffins. They make the most delicious chocolate chip zucchini muffins!

"Wanting less is probably a better blessing than having more"

 I've been pondering a lot lately on the topic of 'minimalism' and may write about this on my blog one day. In the meantime, here is a quote I came across by Mary Ellen Edmunds:

“Wanting less is probably a better blessing than having more.”

I am not one for spending time in shopping malls but once in a blue moon necessity dictates a trip there. It bothers me when I see A LOT of teenage girls out shopping and I just recently read that  93% of teenage girls (in the U.S.) list shopping as their number one choice of recreation.

We live in a culture steeped in consumerism which translates into a whole host of problems, especially debt and an abundance of stress. Wanting less gives a person more time, contentment, and of course freedom from stuff and unnecessary debt.

Useful Map!

The cutest fellow on the block showed up at the door with a map that 'takes you anywhere'. This map has greatly improved my sense of direction :-)

I think this map will be on our fridge for a while.....I miss having kid's art so this is precious!

Garden Photos!

Corn and Carrots

Sugar Peas

Beans and Cantaloupe

Veggies growing this year are corn, cucumbers, sugar peas, onion, kale, carrots, swiss chard, spinach, onions, zucchini, pumpkin, soldier beans, blue lake pole beans and green peppers.

Spinach and Swiss Chard

I really need to take a photo of our veggie garden at my parent's abode. We've grown a garden there for some 15 years now - the soil is amazing and do the veggies ever grow!  This morning, I was enjoying that garden at 5:30, picking spinach and swiss chard, and running the water for a good while lest the veggies start wilting due to the scorching sunshine we've been so blessed to have.

As soon as I returned home, the spinach and swiss chard were given a good washing, processed and packaged for the freezer for future meals. Here is a recipe that we all love:

MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE (from More-with-Less Cookbook)

Cook and mash 3-4 large potatoes

Add and mix through potatoes:
1/2 c. sour cream or yogurt
1 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 c. margarine or butter

Add just enough milk to bring to  proper consistency and beat until fluffy. (I also beat an egg and mix with the milk)

Then add:
1/8 t. dried dill(or maybe parsley or both....)
2 tsp. chopped chives (I use green onion)
1 c. cooked spinach, well drained and chopped. I'm sure swiss chard would work well too.

Place in greased casserole and top with a bit of grated cheddar cheese.
Bake 350 degrees F. for about 20-30 minutes.

Next time a garden photo, complete with a 'keep-out-the-rabbits' fence my Dad engineered...aren't Dads wonderful? He doesn't like gardening but he likes watching things grow :-) Now if I can only convince him that weeding is a blast!

Thoughts for Today

I have a dear Aunt who occasionally sends me uplifting emails. Today she sent me 25 'Tips for a Beautiful Life'. Here are some of my favorites:

1.  When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask God's guidance for your purpose today. And, I would add, READ His Word.
2.  Take a walk every day and, while you walk, SMILE. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
3.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
4.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. And  drink plenty of water.
5.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, but invest your energy in the positive.
6.  Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
7.  You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
8.  Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
9.  Help the needy. Be generous - a Giver, not a Taker.
10.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
11. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
12. Each night before you go to bed, pray to God and be Thankful!

What did you do today?

At day's end, ask yourself this question, "What did I do today that truly mattered?".... most likely it will have everything to do with relationships and nothing to do with money or possessions.

Focaccia Bread

The finished product looks a bit flat, due to the angle the photo was taken I suppose, but they had risen and baked well. It was fun making these and, oh sooo good! - here are the instructions:

3-1/2 teaspoons of fermipan instant yeast
1/4 teaspoon sugar (I used honey)
2 cups lukewarm water
4-1/2 to 5-1/2 cups flour (I used unbleached)
1/4 cup olive oil plus additional
1 Tablespoon salt

Topping
rosemary seasoning
sea salt
diced red onion
..or whatever you fancy

1. Mix water, olive oil and honey together in a bowl. In a large bowl, mix 4-1/2 cups flour, (sugar if you are using this), and salt and make a well in the center. Add the wet ingredients and mix well. Add additional flour as needed to reach the desired consistency.

2. Lightly flour a work surface, turn the dough out of the bowl and knead until the dough is smooth, about ten minutes (adding more flour as needed). Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour.

3. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets (or you could sprinkle cornmeal on the sheets instead). Divide the dough in half and, with fingers, press down and out until each half is about 1/2 inch thick. Place on the baking sheets, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

4. Remove cover and, using the end of a wooden spoon, dimple the dough. Cover and rise 30-45 min. again.

5. Set oven to 375 F (I set my oven to 350 F because it tends to be hotter). Carefully brush each loaf with olive oil, sprinkle with diced red onion, followed by rosemary and a sprinkle of sea salt.  Bake 20-25 minutes (lower temperature if it gets too brown).

Spring Days

How I'm loving the sunshine. We planted a bit of lettuce behind the house and it's coming nicely. Can't wait for fresh garden salads again.

Sixteen years ago, a grade one boy came off the bus proudly carrying a bedraggled, sorry looking plant for Mother's Day. If that plant could have talked, I'm sure there would be stories of little boys tussling on the bus ride home with the plant thrown in the mix. I hugged that little boy, thanking him for such a wonderful gift but secretly wondered how that plant would ever revive. But survive it did and now it thrives each year again!

And another from the garden that comes back year after year.......in awe of our Creator!

Poem for those who are struggling....

There are many people who quietly struggle with various trials. May this poem be a source of comfort and strength for you:

STEP BY STEP

He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day;
But step by step my path unfolds,
My Lord directs my way.

Tomorrow's plans I do not know;
I only know this minute.
But He will say, "This is the way,
By faith now walk ye in it."

And I am glad that it is so,
Today's enough to bear,
And when tomorrow comes, His grace
Shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then, or fret?
The God Who gave His Son
Holds all my moments in His hand
And gives them one by one.

author unknown

Chicken Noodle Casserole

When we have crispy coated chicken, I always take two chicken legs/backs attached and roast them in a separate covered dish in the oven. Then I use the extra chicken to make this Chicken Noodle Casserole.

2 cups cooked chicken
2-1/4 cups dry spaghettini, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1-1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I use medium or old)
1/4 cup finely diced green pepper (I keep chopped frozen green pepper in the freezer)
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1/4 cup finely diced celery (optional)
1-1/2 cups chicken broth (I make chicken broth from 'Better Than Bouillon')
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup additional cheddar cheese (for topping)

Cook spaghetti and drain (don't overcook).  Mix all other ingredients together (except cheese for topping). Add cooked spaghetti and mix well. Top with the last ingredient 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes until bubbly. If top becomes too cooked, cover loosely with foil.

Interesting video on neurosurgery

Having had brain surgery some years ago, neurosurgery interests me. This is an interesting video for sure:

http://www.wimp.com/switchoff/

Dill Onion French Bread

I love baking bread and trying new recipes. My trusty Bosch Kitchen Machine comes in handy for large batches but today I was trying a new recipe the old fashioned way.  The bread turned out delicious and next time I'll triple it using the machine. The recipe below says it makes one loaf but I made two loaves because I like crustier bread.

Dill Onion French Bread

2 tsp fermipan instant yeast

1/4 cup very warm water

1 cup plain yogurt (room temp would work best)

2 T finely chopped onion

1/4 cup sugar

2 T butter, melted

1 egg

1 T dried dill weed 

1 teaspoon salt

3 - 3-1/2 cups all purpose flour

In large mixing bowl, mix everything except the flour and yeast. Stir 1 cup flour and yeast together and add to bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 6-8 minutes), adding flour as needed. Place in a greased bowl, and grease top of dough as well. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. 

Punch dough down a bit and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into thirds (I divided into six pieces for the two loaves). Shape each portion into a 20 in. rope. Braid into loaves and pinch ends to seal. Cover and let rise until doubled again. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Move to wire rack to cool.

Gratitude

Gratitude and contentment - two words with riches that can't be measured. Happiness doesn't lie in owning things but may bring anxiety instead, especially if using a credit card with a running balance.

We see ads telling us that that we 'need' possessions to make us happy. I get very annoyed with ads portraying new vehicles...owning one of these supposedly will give you a 'rich' life. For many, the opposite becomes true when yet another payment adds to the stress level. I love that simple bumper sticker that reads, "Don't laugh - it's paid for!"

The truly content people I am blessed to know may not have a lot of material possessions but do have something that is in short supply these days...gratitude!

I once read a story of a simple living Christian who was watching his neighbour move in with all the latest 'toys'. He went over to his new neighbour and said, "Neighbour, if ever thou dost need anything, come to see me, and I will tell thee how to get along without it." He echoed what Henry Thoreau (1800s) said, "A man is wealthy in proportion to the number of things he can afford to do without."

Be chronically grateful. Keep a list of what you are grateful for and that list may well surprise you. "Perhaps we are so glutted with luxuries that we have forgotten how to enjoy our necessities." (W. Wiersbe)

I Timothy 6

Influenza

Wow, the flu struck and knocked me flat for a week....slowly getting back to normal and trying to gain back the 10 pounds lost in the process.

While in the doc's office last week, he says, "People die from this flu" (uhh, well, thanks for letting me know that just now). He also told me to get a flu shot next year.....still not sure about that one....

So, anyone with strong opinions on the flu shot?

Acceptance

We live in a broken world and, even if life goes well for us today, there will come a time when we are faced with suffering in one form or another. The deepest lessons I have learned have come through those times in my life that I would not have chosen. Also, those who have gone through deep suffering have taught me so much. Everyone responds differently but acceptance is the key to peace.

Knowing that our lives are not at the mercy of chance but led by God gives us peace as we carry on.  Suffering is not for nothing for God has all our moments in His everlasting arms and in faith we trust. Faith is not a feeling but a willed obedience on the Rock which is Jesus Christ. He took upon Himself our sins, our griefs, our sufferings.

When we pray and ask God to remove our suffering and, if the answer is no, then we know that He has something better in store for us. This life is temporary and, as His children, we are moving toward a Heavenly Kingdom. And in the mean time, He gives us the next thing to do - dishes to wash, laundry to do, sick to visit...all for Him!

THE PLAN OF THE MASTER WEAVER

My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;
I may not choose the colors–
He knows what they should be.
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the under side.

Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

~ Benjamin Malachi Franklin

No Bake Chewy Granola Bars

These granola bars are made without sugar (unless you add some chocolate chips) and are high on our boy's must have list for snacks.

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 - 1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup oats (I use large flake)
1 to 1-1/4 cups total of combination of add ins such as coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips, rice krispies, crushed corn flakes, cocoa, flax etc....

Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in sauce pan - low to medium heat. Turn off heat, add oats and let sit for a minute or two. Then add the 1 to 1-1/4 cup of add ins. (I used 1/4 cup each -give or take- of unsweetened coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, and rice krispies).

Stir well and spread in a well greased 8x8" pan, pressing mixture down.  Chill for two hours, then cut into bars. Store in fridge or freeze individually.

So there you have it - healthy granola bars with minimal effort!

Sweet Potato Recipe

These were amazing, so I had to share!

Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes

2 Medium sweet potatoes

1 T butter, melted

1T olive oil

1-1/2 to 2 T light brown sugar

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp cumin

1/8 tsp chili powder

½ tsp. paprika

¼ t. onion powder (I may omit this next time and perhaps add more pepper)

some black pepper

Peel and slice the sweet potatoes about 1 to 1-1/2 inch thickness. Boil in a large pan of water to which ½ tsp of salt has been added. Add potatoes and boil 10 to 12 minutes or until somewhat soft but not cooked through. Take them out of pan with slotted spoon and arrange on a baking sheet lined with foil sprayed with non stick spray. With a fork, mash down each potato round just a bit to create grooves on top.

Mix the butter with the oil and drizzle on each potato round. Mix the brown sugar with the spices and evenly distribute over each potato.

Bake in 350-375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Creator Gifts

Happiness or Joy?

I am reading "Shattered Dreams" by Larry Crabb.  He writes that people who insist on happiness never find joy. Joy in the Lord and His promises. "They feel happy for a time but it's a selfish happiness. They live for the ongoing satisfaction of desires, other than the desire to know God. They become self-absorbed," he writes.

When our relationship with the Lord is not the priority of our hearts, a sense of entitlement develops, and we see ourselves as needing something we don't have and think we should have. We may be satisfied for the moment but a deeper emptiness follows and we become a slave to whatever we think makes us feel better. And Satan's deceptive ways take hold of our hearts.

Only through Jesus do we have joy in our lives, as we look beyond this world of brokenness to eternal peace with Him.  Phil.3:17 - 4:1

What Do You Use Your Freezer For?

Here is a tip that you may not know about....

Do you have potato chips/tortilla chips (any flavour) in your cupboards that are about to go stale or that you want to hide from your teenagers? :-)  Put them in the freezer - they stay fresh and crunchy. The same goes for any crackers.

I also freeze those baking supplies that don't get used up within a month...raisins, chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans etc.

Someone was surprised that we freeze raw corn (in their husks - only outer leaves and silk end off). We take the husks off when they are partially thawed, then cook in boiling water (a bit of sugar and lemon juice added) for 8-10 minutes and you have the most wonderful tasty fresh-from-the-garden type corn!

If we have an overabundance of green peppers or celery, I just chop these up fine and freeze them raw...then just take out as needed.

Have a box of crackers about to go stale? Throw the batch into a blender and freeze the crumbs to use in any recipe asking for bread crumbs.

Oatmeal Crackers

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of paying too much for a box of crackers containing ingredients that are hard to pronounce. So my first attempt at making crackers was a grand success...there may not be any left by the time the rest of the tribe arrives home. Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Crackers

1/2 cup rolled oats (I used Robin Hood large flake)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup butter or hard marg, melted
1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt (I used Activia sweetened plain yogurt)
salt for sprinkling

Stir first five ingredients together in medium bowl.
Add butter and sour cream or yogurt to flour mixture. Mix well, then use hands to form into a ball. Roll as thinly as possible on lightly floured surface. Cut in strips 1 x 2 inch or so. Arrange on ungreased baking sheet. Prick with fork in several places. Sprinkle with salt (I used sea salt). Bake 350 F oven for 7 - 10 minutes or until golden and crispy. Makes at least 5 dozen. These also freeze well.

How DO you get through your day when...

A much loved family member rejects her God, her husband, her family, her church family and leaves many reeling with the suddenness of it all. So many questions and no answers follow. Just emptiness, shattered dreams, brokenness.

WE don’t get through our day, through the emotional fog enveloping us when we receive heartbreaking news. It is GOD who carries us, for He is faithful. He simply gives us the next thing to do. While we silently pray through our tears and work, He is there giving stability to our life as we are held in His everlasting arms.

We are not at the mercy of chance or adrift in chaos. We know who is in charge and are comforted with Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30)

Through suffering, we go to God, trusting Him for it is He who weaves the broken threads of our lives. And so we look beyond this broken world to what He has in store for His children, and that gives peace – the peace that transcends all understanding.

Isaiah 43:1-3a

But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”

Entitlement

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." I Timothy 6:7,8

It is said that today's youth have a sense of entitlement. They are bombarded by the ads that promote the "You deserve it" propaganda. As adults, we must set an example for our children to distinguish between needs and wants.

We are not immune to that sense of entitlement either. Generally, if our income increases, our standard of living also increases. The temptation is there to keep up with the Joneses...bigger homes, fancier vehicles, luxury vacations.

The money we have been given is God's money, given to us to be used as He would want us to. There are many passages in Scripture relating to the topic of money. God takes our use of it seriously, and that gives an entirely different perspective on how we manage money and our bank accounts.

Maybe we should think much less about increasing our standard of living and more about focusing on the poor. Are we setting an example for our children? What comes to mind is this quote:

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world."

Sadness

Isaiah 43:1-3a has been our comfort today:
"But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."

Our 'son' Joseph and his wife and 4 year old Lynn lost their precious one month old little girl today. This is the email we received from Kenya this morning, with the heading "In all situations God is good":
Dear dad and mom, We really need your prayers. We are very sorry sorry to pass this sad news to you that we have lost our new baby girl. It is very sad moment to my family. I even don't know how to explain to my girl Lynn who is disturbing me with many question about her sister. We need your prayers. With love Joseph.

Joseph is a pastor working in a very poor remote area in Kenya. He lost his mother at a very young age and was abandoned by his father. He grew up in a Christian group home from the age of 7 when we sponsored him and continue to do so. He took post secondary training at a Bible College and graduated as pastor. We are privileged to have him call us Dad and Mom and are thankful for regular email contact. Distance is great during times as this. May God surround this family with His peace.

Needs vs Wants

I came across a few interesting quotes. They reminded me of the fact that consumerism was also an issue in the past.

Charles Spurgeon (1834) wrote:
"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied. You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.'"

Joseph Brotherton (1783):
"My riches consist, not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants."

Elise  Boulding (1920):
"The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things."

Small Amounts Add Up

Small amounts add up. It is easy to focus on the big picture when it comes to budgeting – to think of only the larger amounts. What about the smaller purchases, even the dollar ones? That is where the simple act of writing all our purchases down can help us identify areas where we can improve our spending habits.

We have gone through the exercise of trying to show our boys that smaller amounts add up quickly, and we use the Tim Hortons Drive Thru as an example. Now, to clarify, we are not opposed to the odd coffee purchased. However, if Tim Hortons becomes a daily habit, this could translate into a problem with finances.

The fact that my hubby doesn’t frequent Timmys and takes a lunch to work each day probably saves us at least $10 per day. Multiply this by 20 days and you have $200 – then multiply this by 12 months and you arrive at a figure of $2400 per year. And people have asked us how in the world we could afford to travel with our family to the Netherlands on one salary. Now you know :-)

Boys and Food

After Sunday worship service, about five 15-16 year old boys congregate together for an important meeting. They have to decide whose home to invade for lunch. If you were to listen in, here is approximately what you will hear:

"OK, so whose mom got the cake?"
"Well, I know my mom has cinnamon buns today."

And so it came to pass that we find an additional four boys sitting in our van. Food disappeared at an amazing pace....boys and food go well together.

When Stormy Winds Against Us Break

Thinking of family and friends who are struggling with illness, job loss, or death of a loved one. This poem came to mind:

When Stormy Winds

When stormy winds against us break,

Stablish and reinforce our will;

O hear us for Thine own Name’s sake,

Hold us in strength, and hold us still.

Still as the faithful mountains stand

Through the long silent years of stress,

So would we wait at Thy right hand,

In quietness and steadfastness.

But not of us this strength, O Lord,

And not of us this constancy;

Our trust is Thine eternal word,

Thy Presence our security.

by Amy Carmicheal 

Keeping The Men Happy

Dishwashers and conversation

When we renovated our kitchen to create more elbow room, we allowed space and wiring for a dishwasher (for resale value) but asked that a removable cupboard be inserted instead.

The boys have always dried the dinner dishes, while hubby washes....many great conversations take place during dishes duty. I smile thinking back to the time when one of the boys as a lad of 5 or so, while drying dishes, turned to his Dad and asked, "Daddy, do people get babies like dogs get puppies?" And so arose an opportunity for another father to son talk.

The boys are older now but discussions still take place by the kitchen sink and, with conversation perhaps somewhat diminished now-a-days due to electronic gadgets, we'll keep the dishwasher out of the house. Even though our sons have threatened to buy a dishwasher, deep down I know they appreciate the after dinner talks and some of the wisdom imparted to them by their 'ole Pa' (their words) :-)

Tracking Household Expenses

Four years ago my hubby asked me how much we spend on groceries each month. I really didn't know the answer to that, other than giving a good guess. We decided to track ALL our household expenses for a couple of months....that couple of months turned into nearly four years and has been an exercise well worth doing.

It takes a bit of time to write down daily purchases but nothing too overwhelming. We write everything down - even dollar store purchases. I suppose we could use the computer for tracking expenses, but I'm a paper and pen type of person.

We have an account type book with 11 columns going across:
Date and Name of Store
Grocery
Clothing and Household (shampoo, toilet paper etc)
Utilities (hydro, gas, water, telephone)
Gas and other vehicle expenses
Vitamins/Medical
Taxes/Travel/Insurance
Missions/Church/School Donations
Miscellaneous
Home/Yard Improvements

Each month we tally up each column and then come up with the total expenditures for the month. Having done this now for a good length of time, helps us to compare and stay on track.

I'll sign off with a quote, "Live simply so others can simply live"

Beautiful Day - Thank You Lord!

Stuff

Clutter can creep up - maybe even suffocate or overwhelm us. Homes today generally have a lot of storage space and, for many, more storage space equals more stuff.

Decluttering is freeing - the thrift store benefits from the excess and we benefit from reclaimed space and organization. Less mess equals more time. Hopefully the 'one in - one out' rule will keep clutter at bay. Less shopping helps too, of course. While we can't cut out shopping entirely, less shopping gives us time for more meaningful activity.

My boys finally convinced me to start blogging....

I'll be writing about the joys of home making on a budget. As a stay-at-home-mom for 25 years, living on one income, we have had to follow a budget and that has been very freeing for us. What prompted me to start this blog was something I read on the news a few weeks ago....that the average Canadian is spending 1.64 for every dollar earned. Yikes!

Our society has needs and wants confused. We and our children are influenced by the advertisements that bombard us daily and, for many, spending has gotten out of control. Practicing frugality simply means to spend less than one earns - it is a way of life, a lifestyle with the end result of financial freedom but it takes discipline to maintain that way of life. For my hubby and I, it is focusing on needs (also needs in Third World poverty) rather than wants. What would God have us do with the money He has entrusted to us?