Aussie Memories – Nephew

 

In order to share more photos with you from our trip, I’m going to post some on Thursdays.  Since I had my photos already scheduled through the end of the year, I’ll only replace the ones that seem less interesting for now, but starting next year I am thinking of sharing a lot of photos from this trip on my usual Thursday photo posts.  We took a lot! :-)

Today – some favorites of my nephew, since his birthday was this week.

Reading with Grandpa.

Engrossed.

“Making dirt.” (He was crushing rocks to “make dirt”.)  :-)

A Reminder for this Time of Year

 

I posted this article about a year ago.  It deals with Halloween, the Twilight series, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and more.  If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so.

If you still think Halloween is cute and “just for fun”, please open your eyes to what is going on in our culture, please read this and please consider what you are doing before the Lord.  We are called to be separated unto the Lord.  Being friends with the world and doing what they do will not make you a better testimony.  James 4:4  …know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?…  It will actually please the world to have you join their works of darkness because if you approve their evil they feel justified in continuing in it.  John 3:19-20  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  No excuse you can come up with justifies observing a celebration that is “wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:6) – in this case, witchcraft, paganism and the occult! 

Note: By “observing” I mean participating in the traditions and customs specific to this “holiday”.  Handing out Gospel tracts to those who come to the door is up for debate.  Some Christians don’t wish to participate in any way, which I understand and my family has done.  To others it seems useful for spreading the Gospel message, and my family has done this at times as well.

In Titus 2:10-12 we’re told regarding servants’ behavior that their lives should adorn the doctrine of God. …that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  All believers are (or should be) servants of God.  Obviously, it is right that all our lives should adorn sound doctrine as the next verses indicate.  How does the celebration of a Satanic “holiday” adorn the doctrine of God? 

2 Corinthians 6:14 and 17  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Ephesians 5:11-17  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Hard Questions: What would the Ephesian Believers Think of Halloween, Twilight and Harry Potter in Christian Homes?

Just for Fun – Some Humorous Thoughts On Marriage

 

Original photo by Matt Stephens

Since our wedding anniversary was yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to share some Baby Blues comics on marriage.  They don’t all apply to us, but I appreciate the principle of the thing.  :-)

Not A Monster

Good Reasons…

How to Tell…

It’s All In the Perspective

Shared Duties

Gotcha Covered

Night Time Confusion

Gross things married people do.

This can happen even if you don’t have kids.

How was your day?

And, for all the parents who long to talk…

The Road that Leads Home

 

Dear Christian friend, are you struggling along the journey?  Are you discouraged?  Please read and follow the link below.  This has been such an encouragement to me – more than once.

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Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore.

It was past, well past midnight as we made our way down the deserted highway towards our hometown.

My wife and I had been on a rather long journey and were beginning to grow weary. I was driving and my eyes were tired.

Our spirits weren't what you would call down, but we definitely could use a lift.

And the road we were traveling was all but empty.

Continue reading here.

Sew Happy Saturday – More Australian Memories

 

Sewing with Grandma -

Well, not exactly sewing, but cutting out an apron. :-) 

My mom took some fabric and pattern for an apron for my niece.  She wanted to try to sew it with her while we were there, but they only managed to get it cut out.  Still – great memories.

(Mom is going to love me for posting a picture of her with curlers in her hair. hehe)

Meanwhile, my sister-in-law was sewing diligently in the background.

One of our first adventures in Australia was visiting a fabric and craft store called Spotlight.  It is similar to JoAnn in many ways, though they do offer some housewares as well.  The prices there did seem high to us on many things, but the sale prices seemed quite good.  There were some good sales on while we were there, as well as some interesting Australian themed fabrics, and I did come home with a nice pile (mostly) to add to my stash. :-)

The kookaburra in the foreground is actually printed on a handkerchief which I bought at a gift shop.  I hope I still have my mom’s vintage hanky collection somewhere around here, as this would make a nice addition to some project with those.  The yellow fabric with the strawberries was a sweet gift from my sister-in-law. :-)

The fabric wasn’t the only “stash” we brought back, however.

Even better! :-) 

Most of the chocolate was a gift from my brother and his wife for all of us here to enjoy together.  Some was already eaten before this photo was taken.  <grin>

And, of course, I couldn’t leave without taking a photo of this amazing stash!  So much visual happiness!

My sister-in-law has inherited and been given a lot of fabric and has also bought a lot herself.  This is a great blessing from the Lord.  As you may know from previous posts, she has her own Etsy store where she and the children sell handmade items.  She also makes custom orders, which keeps her quite busy.  After seeing this fabric stash I hope my husband won’t pester me too much about mine – at least for awhile. ;-)  It’s a lovely arrangement too, because in that dark closet her fabrics stay well away from the light, but they are easily accessible for choosing what to use next.  Ah!  What to make next!  Sweet thought.

Thousand Word Project – Autumn at the Lake

 

Circa 1960s.  Gull Lake, Michigan.

A Random Evening – for a change

 

This evening I like the…
Smell of… my own house.
Sound of… my husband puttering at his computer in the same room with me. :-)
Taste of… raw milk and honey, which I’ve been thinking about for awhile now.
Sight of… our bed, which I cannot see from here, but which sounds really nice about now.
Feel of… being at the end of the day.

Good Things about Today:

I LOVE this kind of fall weather!!! :-)  I had a good walk and talk with my mom and sister-in-law.  My husband is safely home. 

Somehow, this fall I am not experiencing the intense dread of winter that I’ve had in recent years.  I am Very Thankful to the Lord for this!  Maybe – maybe – I’m learning a little bit not to fear the passing of time!

Things Already Accomplished Today:

Too much to mention – ok, I wish. :-)  But – some things that I wanted to get done, though not all.  Some cleaning, some reading, some resting, some visiting, some planning, some computer work and loafing, some cooking, some laundry. :-)

Things that Need to Be Done – Hopefully Today:

Make a lunch for my husband for tomorrow.  Go to bed!  (It’s nearly bed time, people!) :-)

Random Photo from My World:

Delicious Pecan Pie Muffins that my husband made a couple weekends ago!  (Thanks to “Ranch Wife” at “Lovin’ Life At the End of the Dirt Road” for sharing the recipe.)

Thought for Today:

God made autumn glorious so that we would remember that not all death is hideous.  Some things, and people, pass with great glory.

Verse for Today:

Ecclesiastes 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

What Though the Accuser Roar!

 

Revelation 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

What Though the Accuser Roar!

What though th' accuser roar
Of ills that I have done!
I know them well, and thousands more:
Jehovah findeth none.

Sin, Satan, death appear
To harass and appall;
Yet since the gracious Lord is near,
Backward they go and fall.

Before, behind, around,
They set their fierce array,
To fight and force me from the ground,
Along life's narrow way.

I meet them face to face,
Through Jesus' conquest blest;
March in the triumph of His grace
Right onward to my rest.

There, in His book, I bear
More than a conqueror's name,
Of soldier, son and fellow-heir,
Who fought and overcame.

Whitlock Gandy
From Hymns for the Little Flock
No. 12 in Appendix

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

The Thousand Word Project – Barns: Monuments to Hard Work

 

Proverbs 6:6-8  Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Memories of Great Meals – Devonshire Tea at the Lookout Café In Queensland, Australia

 

While we were visiting Australia with my parents they got to enjoy some lovely Devonshire tea out at a small country café near the Glass House Mountains.   My Aussie brother and his wife treated them to this pleasant Australian custom while we were on a sight seeing excursion.

I love the red lid on the one pot.  I think that just adds a spark of nice color along with the tea tags, and it matched my mom’s outfit! :-)

The scones, cream and strawberry jam were delicious.  My parents kindly shared their “extra” with us and my brother and his wife. :-)  We’d all had an excellent lunch first, so they were already fairly full before the tea was served.

This photo was taken by my brother or sister-in-law. :-)

The magpies, who came to lunch in their tuxedoes, were pests and there were spray bottles on the tables to use in case they became too bold inviting themselves to lunch.  They didn’t bother us, but I did get another kind of shot at one. :-)

 

There was also another kind of well-dressed bird in evidence.

Bird of Paradise

Before we left the kangaroos came out in a group in the mango grove below!  Only one managed to get out in the sun where I could get a good shot of him.

And, I found a cotton apron there! :-) :-)

The two ladies who were running the place were very friendly, despite being very busy and warm that afternoon.  This one was wearing a vintage cotton apron.  Sadly, I didn’t catch her name.  She was kind enough to let me take a photo for you all. :-)

Hard Questions – Who Is Polluting the Environment?

 

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The Problem

There are a lot of people who are all worked up about pollution (of the earth and in food sources), global warming, endangered "species", and so on. Because almost all of them start with an evolutionary perspective, and some with a "mother earth" religious view, they miss the root cause of the problems and so cannot offer a truly useful solution.

Now it's true that some of their "problems" are highly exaggerated or not even real. Some of them are genuine, though, and sometimes they have been able to bring about changes that improve the situation. The Industrial Revolution was marked by rampant polluting in Europe and America, which generated dangerous smog, waterways, etc. This has been true at other times and places as well. Some of these messes have been cleaned up remarkably; but it's a curious thing that for all the progress that is made, on a regular basis some new and horrible polluting or abuse of God's creation comes to light.

Continue Reading

Sew Happy Saturday – Sewing with My Niece

 

We are back from our Great Australian Adventure.  We were there for three and half weeks visiting my brother and his family near Brisbane.  I’m hoping to post some photos and possibly some observations eventually.  The Lord certainly answered prayer and kept us safe and well while we were away!  Praise His name!

While we were there I helped my niece learn to make a yo yo using a Clover yo yo maker.  (They come in different sizes, and even a few interesting shapes.)  I have several of these myself and I think they make the process much easier and definitely quicker.  It’s also portable since it’s hand sewing.  It’s especially nice for beginners or young stitchers – no cutting circles required and the stitch slots make it really easy. :-)

Sweet memories. :-)

The Thousand Word Project – Indian Corn

 

An Evening Prayer by Jane Austen

 

The religious side of Jane Austen and her home life have been seriously neglected and ignored.  Obviously, the world doesn’t want to acknowledge that such a writer as she might have had other things in life that she held more dear than her own novels.  This prayer that she wrote and which was preserved by her sister Cassandra, shows a very different side to her than has been generally presented.

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Father of Heaven! whose goodness has brought us in safety to the close of this day, dispose our hearts in fervent prayer.  Another day is now gone, and added to those, for which we were before accountable.

Teach us almighty Father, to consider this solemn truth, as we should do, that we may feel the importance of every day, and every hour as it passes, and earnestly strive to make a better use of what thy goodness may yet bestow on us, than we have done of the time past.

Give us grace to endeavour after a truly Christian spirit to seek to attain that temper of forbearance and patience of which our blessed Saviour has set us the highest example; and which, while it prepares us for the spiritual happiness of the life to come, will secure to us the best enjoyment of what this world can give.

Incline us, O God, to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow-creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves.

We thank thee with all our hearts for every gracious dispensation, for all the blessings that have attended our lives, for every hour of safety, health and peace, of domestic comfort and innocent enjoyment.

We feel that we have been blessed far beyond any thing that we have deserved; and though we cannot but pray for a continuance of all these mercies, we acknowledge our unworthiness of them and implore thee to pardon the presumption of our desires.

Keep us O Heavenly Father from evil this night. Bring us in safety to the beginning of another day and grant that we may rise again with every serious and religious feeling which now directs us.

- Jane Austen

Psalms 55:16-17  As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

William Cowper – Comfort from A Tormented Life

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-7  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 

William Cowper, the great hymn writer and poet, was tormented with depression and mental illness off and on for his entire life.  Yet the outpouring of his suffering into the lives of others was a great blessing to many Christians.  To this day his hymns are known and loved by believers around the world.  Read more about him and his struggles here at the Home Maker’s Corner.

Perhaps his most sung hymn: There Is A Fountain Filled with Blood

The Thousand Word Project – A Bowl Full of Sunset

 

Quotes from Julia Child

 

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces -- just good food from fresh ingredients.

Always remember: If you're alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who's going to know?

If you're afraid of butter, use cream.

The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.

I just hate health food.

You can always judge the quality of a cook or a restaurant by roast chicken ... We never seem to tire of chicken in our house, even though I have fed my husband upon it for weeks, even months at a time … I can go on eating chicken forever.

The French are interested in vegetables as food rather than as purely nutrient objects valuable for their vitamins and minerals.

With enough butter, anything is good.

Always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need.

Never name a dish before you serve it. Your souffle falls in the oven? You’re now serving Fallen Souffle.

A party without cake is really just a meeting.

(Two of my favorites, so I’ll rerun them): 

How can a nation be great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?

It's so beautifully arranged on the plate — you know someone's fingers have been all over it.

(Quick and pretty – sliced papaya with half a kiwi and mint.
Be sure to peel both fruits.)