Here’s the latest from the a capella group, Straight No Chaser.   Enjoy!

Hosted by Peggy @ http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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December 7, 2009

Outside my window…remnants of our first snow of the season

I am hearing…the children gathering around the fire with their cereal bowls

Around the house…a few simple changes in decoration for Christmas

I am remembering…watching the kids play in the snow with the dog * a quiet Sunday with family

On my mind…the safety of my hubby while he’s in the UK

I am thankful…to have finished almost all my Christmas shopping and can focus on this season’s True meaning–the birth of my Savior

From the kitchen…baked ziti with venison & Italian sausage * red beans & rice * experimenting with rye bread (I can’t seem to get it right!)

From the learning rooms…finishing first half of grammar * Eusebius: The Church History * finalizing a research paper on C.S. Lewis

Out in the garden…baby cauliflower heads peeking through * no peas yet   :-(

I am hoping…to finish painting the dining room and window frames before leaving for Christmas holiday in Florida

I am looking forward to…seeing Max McLean in ‘The Screwtape Letters’ on Thursday

One of my favorite things…watching snow fall

A Christmas Pun from Grif.Net…An international chess tournament was held at a large hotel in New York City. Everyone watched games with great intensity and argued into the wee
hours over moves and counter moves.  But the hotel manager finally had enough when one group nailed up banners all over the lobby about how great their favorite player was. He asked then
to leave, saying that he hated “chess nuts boasting in an open foyer”.

A picture thought to share…

Have a joyous week!

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May you be blessed by this glorious hymn!

One of my favorite aspects of this time of year is the smells that fill the air.  Walking into the house while stew is cooking in the crock pot or a scented candle is burning gives me such a warm and cozy feeling! 

I have discovered a simple, inexpensive way to ‘decorate’ the air with holiday warmth.  Take an old boiler and fill it with water.  Throw in some citrus rinds, cinnamon and clove and simmer on the lowest heat for an hour or so.  Before you know it, your house will be embraced with the yummy scents of the season. 

Another fun way to add flavor to the air, is to scatter cinnamon-scented pinecones throughout your house.  I arranged a couple on the fireplace mantle; tucked a few in the foyer and filled an old wooden bowl with some and set it next to the couch.   Your family and friends will enjoy the fresh fragrance all season long.

This is a delightful way to create a welcoming place of comfort. 

“Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:31 

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“Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side. After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.   He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning He came to them, walking on the water.”
Mark 6:45, 46, 48

Jesus did not come immediately; indeed, it was almost morning when He came, and the disciples had been struggling all night in the storm. Yet He had not been indifferent to them meanwhile. From the mountainside where He was praying–He kept His eye upon them. “He saw that they were in serious trouble.” All that dark night, He kept a watch upon that little boat that bore His disciples in the midst of the waves.

There is something very suggestive in the narrative. This ‘boat in the storm’, is a picture of ‘Christ’s friends in this world, in the storms of life’. Sometimes we think we are forgotten–but from His place in glory, Christ’s eye is always on us! He sees us struggling, battling with the waves, beaten, and distressed. He has full sympathy with us in all our struggles. It ought to be a great strength and comfort to us in trial, to know this. Jesus intercedes for us in our distresses!

It may not be best always to deliver us immediately–but His prayer continually ascends, that our faith may not fail in the struggle. This also should encourage us.

Then, He always comes in time. He may delay long–but it is never too long. If we call upon Him in trouble–we may be sure that He hears and sees us, and knows just how hard it is for us to endure; that He prays for us that we may not fail, and that He will come at the right time for our deliverance

~J. R. Miller, “Miller’s Year Book–a Year’s Daily Readings”

HT: Grace Gems

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I have recently finished reading a lovely story called That Printer of Udell’s: A Story of the Middle West by Harold Bell Wright.  Originally printed in 1903, Lamplighter Publishing reprinted it in 2005 as part of their Rare Collector’s Series. 

The publisher’s note says,

Among Harold Bell Wright’s many novels, That Printer of Udell’s is his first and most famous.  A notable seller in its day, the book attained to an even higher level of notoriety during the presidency of Ronald Reagan.  Of this very story that had a great impact of the life of the former President, he wrote:

“That book, That Printer of Udell’s, had an impact I shall always remember…The term ‘role model’ was not a familiar term in that time and place.  But I realize I found a role model in that traveling printer whom Harold Bell Wright had brought to life.  He set me on a course I’ve tried to follow even unto this day.  I shall always be grateful.”  –Ronald Reagan

There are a number of reason’s that I enjoyed this story; however, the most important aspect to me was the issue of ‘cultural Christianity’.  Wright tells of the same problems that we experience today in the postmodern church:  Christian business men who attend church for business reasons; women who use Sunday services to make fashion statements; young adults who go to youth programs to socialize. 

The main character, Dick Faulkner, comes to a mid-western town looking for work.  He is poor, hungry and in need of help.  Having no family or friends and looking like a vagrant, he is turned away by churches and Christian businessmen in his effort to find employment.  Not until he meet’s a kind printer named Udell does his situation change. 

From that point on, Dick’s life is described in wonderful detail.  We learn a bit of his past and watch as he growns in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  His struggles are physical and spiritual and yet his resolve is stong.  It is fascinating to see how God uses this man to reflect humility, honesty and hard work.  Truly a delightful read!

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Hosted by Peggy @ http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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For today~~~November 30, 2009

Outside my window~~~a gray, cloudy day emerging

I am hearing~~~the first sounds of children awakening

Around the house~~~furniture all awry from painting projects * hunting supplies tucked into corners * lots of Christmas catalogs

On my mind~~~shifting gears from ‘holiday’ mode back to ‘work’ mode

I am remembering~~~lots of food, fun and fellowship * painting * playing Parcheesi & Mille Bornes * watching movies

From the kitchen~~~shrimp stir-fry * turkey & ham casserole * Asian turkey cakes with Thai sauce (a family favorite)

From the learning rooms~~~back to reality for three weeks before Christmas break

I am thankful for~~~not having to turn on the furnace this season–yet

I am going~~~to Florida for Christmas with my mother & brothers–it’s been a long time since we’ve done that

One of my favorite things~~~a heated mattress pad

Noticing~~~God’s hand in my life

Meditating on these words today~~~”The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…”  Exodus 34:6

I am hoping~~~for an answer to this question

A few plans for the rest of the week~~~back to regular routines * errands in the ‘big city’ * online, Christmas gift shopping

A picture to share~~~luminarias–a Christmas Eve tradition in my hometown neighborhood

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~May the Lord bless you today.~

As home makers we play a vital role in the environment we create.  Our primary goal should be to glorify God; secondary to that is to please our husbands, children and friends.   So it is with this in mind that I embark on a new category: Home & Garden.  

In my effort to encourage other Christian women, I would like to begin this new category with the notion to share some of our favorite recipes, gardening tips and decorating ideas. 

My first task is a visit to the garden.  This is the first year I have had a successful garden largely due to the fact that my loving hubby put an electric fence around it to keep the critters out.  Now that it is fall, however, I am not using all the beds and am interested in how to prepare the unused beds for the winter.   I have mixed in a bit of manure to them, but…

             Should I plant a winter wheat or rye? 

                         Should I mulch?  If so, what kind?

                                Do I have to do anything at all?

Any suggestions, Friends?

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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Hosted by: Peggy @ http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
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For today…November 23, 2009

Outside my window…the first hints of morning light–soft blue

I am hearing…my dog’s dreamy ’barks’

Around the house…painting supplies ready to be used this week

I am remembering…my husband working on finishing the garden shed * children helping with yardwork * quiet family meals * ‘girly’ tea with friends

I am hoping…to get the family room & dining room painted this week

I am thinking…why has the Lord given me such blessings?

From the kitchen…venison stew * ham & corn chowder * maybe something with turkey  (0;

From the learning rooms…a week off from studies which leaves room for us to focus on life lessons and home economics

On my mind…how to best use the time I have away from school this week

Looking forward to…beginning a new category here at Fragrance of Truth–Home & Garden

I am (still) reading…The Keeper of the Bees

I am going…to finish grocery shopping today in order to avoid the rush later this week

A helpful hint to share…instead of pouring out the dog’s water or half-used water bottles, I store the left overs in a gallon-sized pitcher then use it to water house plants

One of my favorite things…’tucking in’ the garden for the winter

Noticing that…the state of the church in America continues to slip into apostasy–more prayer needed!

Pondering these words…“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–”  Rev. 3:15-17

A picture thought to share…

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Have a happy Thanksgiving!