Grunt Fish, Moldy Cheese & Sin

It was just the girls in the living room this morning.  Me, Afton and Claire.  I handed Afton the new issue of Creation Magazine because she saw a very pretty, bright and colorful picture on the front. 


As she was flipping through she came to a section talking about how butterfly fish clean the parasites out of the grunt fish's mouth.

Butterfly fish

Grunt fish

  


This led us to talk about sin in our lives and how we need Christ to clean up the sin in our lives.  


To illustrate this in a way Afton would understand I explained how mold "infects" soft cheese and it spreads throughout the cheese.

  


Once it's in the middle the whole cheese has to be thrown away.  I explained how we need Jesus to "clean us" from the inside out and then how we need to be "protected" by reading our Bible and praying.  Just like the plastic wrap protects the cheese.  We need to make sure we don't expose ourselves to mold (aka: sin).


In a nutshell we had a great conversation that Afton completely understood!  


That was homeschooling at it's best!!!!  


Ever day life, a simple magazine article and a few quiet, uninterrupted minutes to talk about the things that really matter.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Do you see the lovely jars sitting in my cupboard?  Me too!  I love looking at them, admiring them and shaking them.  Yes, shaking.


In 6 months I'm also gonna love opening them up and using what's inside.  Yum!


It's so easy too.


All you need are:

• Vanilla beans (Which I purchased from Ebay.  I was able to get 1lb for $29.99 which is a great price and they sent 1/4 lb free!)
• Cheap vodka
• Jars

1. You will need 3 beans per 1 cup of vodka.
2. Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise while still leaving it attached at the top.
3. Put them into the jar & add the appropriate amount of vodka.
4. Seal and store in a cool, dry place.
5. Don't forget to shake it once a week.

In 6 months you will have homemade vanilla extract which you can use to your little hearts content.

Just remember your homemade extract will be slightly stronger than what you are used to purchasing at the store so use a little less.

Oh, and if you get this started sooner rather than later you will have a wonderful, homemade Christmas gift to give to the bakers in your life!

Enjoy!

A Day You Will Remember

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles." Proverbs 24:17

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, 

not even an enemy. 
~unknown~


Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: 

only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. 

Martin Luther King Jr.

I listened and watched with mixed emotions as the local news proclaimed Osama Bin Laden was dead.  

I think I mostly sat there feeling slightly shocked.  It's been almost 10 years in the making and

now that it's finally happened it feels unreal.

I can see why people would be celebrating in the streets, but I'll be honest...I felt very mixed emotions.  While I am happy his live influence will never again pollute our life I do know his teachings will live on.

I also felt a sense of sadness.  Sadness over the amount of rejoicing over the death of human beings.  He was an evil human being, but to be joyful over his death?  I can't feel good about that.  

God does not wish that anyone perish, but that all would come to Him.  He gives us each a choice though.  We can choose to follow him (even as we take our last breath) or we can choose to think we have it all figured out and that we'll get to heaven on our own deeds.

The verse, the first quote and the MLK Jr. quote sum up my feelings perfectly.

I just wanted to put that out there.  It's been on my mind all day and I wanted to make sure I would remember what I was thinking this very day.

My "5 Months After the New Year" Resolution

I believe 100% that you do not have to wait until the start of a new year to make a resolution.  Or Monday.  Or your next birthday.  Or Lent.


So, starting tomorrow I am on a sugar fast.


I will allow myself to have only the sugar I put in my coffee & oatmeal.  That's it.  No cookies.  No discounted Easter candy that only comes out once a year.  No delicious, homemade baked yumminess.  Nope.


As a sign of my commitment I gave Mike my tin of Cadbury Mini Eggs and Hershey chocolate eggs and told him to hide them.  That way I won't be tempted to dig in on "one of those days".  I'm the type of person that has to go cold turkey.  I can't have one foot in and one foot out.


So, here goes nothin'.  Well, something, actually.  And it better be some loss of poundage and newfound energy 'cause this baby belly has GOT to go!


Feel free to join in if you want to.  I could use all the support I can get.  It helps keep me accountable!

Leaving My Burden at the Foot of the Cross

There are people in this life who will criticize your decisions.  They will tell you you could be doing something different.  That you should make better choices.  They will imply that your decision was the wrong one and to change it.


No matter what other people say just remember that the only one you need to please is God.  If you are making the wisest decisions possible and your spouse is 100% supportive than you have nothing to worry about.


The decisions may not be the easiest or most comfortable (physically, emotionally or spiritually), but sometimes they are necessary because that's what it takes to raise your children, tend to your family and serve others.


Some will not understand that and may ridicule you for it.  Especially if it cramps their style.  It is coming from a very selfish place in their heart.  


Your obligation is to love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.  Second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  That does not mean doing what they think is right.


With that said I will leave my burden at the foot of the cross, commit my actions to God through prayer, pray for a good attitude and continue doing what He has called me to do.

My "gloomy" Monday

It's Monday morning, about 10:45.  Claire fell asleep on my chest and is making smacking noises with her lips and gently snoring.


I can hear the dryer running.  A button is clinking the inside of the dryer.


Afton and Caleb are playing Legos in the living room.  I can hear the Legos being moved around.


It's grey and damp outside and some would look at this as a gloomy Monday.  However, inside my house the sun is shining.  We are warm, kids are playing peacefully and I have a beautiful baby girl asleep on my chest.


As I listen to her sleepy baby noises I couldn't be more thankful for this "gloomy Monday.