Wow.

Friday, April 30, 2010


Jesus, help me to make something beautiful for You. In this poem. In this bit of earth. In this cake or loaf of bread or painting or song. Not only can I not do it truly, essentially, without You. I can't do it for You without You. ~ Lanier
If this qoute doesn't make you think, than perhaps you need to take a look at your walk with Jesus. No matter how small, we can do everything in our day for His glory. But we can't do it for His glory without Him!
Think about this friends ~ so inspiring.

Read more...

Tale of a Cowboy by Isaac Krause

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Hey everyone, it's me, Isaac.
I have an amazing story that I got to tell ya'.
Author's note - (this story is merely fiction and does not contain a word of truth.)

This afternoon, I was feeling particularly restless, as all true cowboys do. I told Rachel I'd be outside riding Black Beauty if she needed me. She said okay.


As I was ridin' along, and feeling keen on the saddle, I spotted a great rattler a few feet yonder.

And let me tell you fellers, it was really big! This big, to be exact.


I stood up straight, strong, and manly and disposed of that slimy reptile. He tried to strike me but I struck him first - course I didn't tell Rachel, cuz' girls get scared sometimes.


I checked to see if Black Beauty was doin' okay. She was, so I kept on ridin'.


Then after a while, I checked my watch and noticed that time was wanin'. I knew I had to get back to the ranch and do the chores, so that ended my adventure.
All in a day's work, really - that's what we men are here for.
Thanks for listening to my story, everyone!

Read more...

Black Forest Cookies, Anyone?

Monday, April 26, 2010

Last week I made these delectable cookies.....Black Forest Cookies.

You know that you've made a good cookie when your brother takes one after you've already told him no more.


You know you've struck a golden recipe when the entire batch is gone by nightfall.


You know that these cookies are dangerous when you can't stop eating them.



Black Forest Cookies
1 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 C. granola cereal
1/2 C. flaked coconut
1/4 C. chopped nuts
1 (6 oz.) package chocolate chips
2/3 C. lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 C. softened butter
1 egg
1/2 C. chopped maraschino cherries


Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffly. Beat in egg. Add in remaining ingredients, except cherries. Batter will be thick! Fold in chopped cherries. Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes.

Read more...

Farm Update

Friday, April 23, 2010

Well, how have you all been enjoying the nice spring weather? It has been simply gorgeous here the last few weeks. I am just loving this warm weather!!

Our two goats, Pearl and Daisy, are both due to kid next month. Ask anyone in the family, I am SO EXCITED about this!


This is Pearl, our Oberhasli goat. For a long time, we weren't sure if she was pregnant or not, but this week while she was on the milking stand, I put my hand underneath her belly and could actually feel the babies moving around! It was so neat. (And sweet, too!) So now we are confidently expecting her to kid June 10th or so.

This is Daisy, our little Oberhasli/Nubian goat. She is due on the 28th of May. It has been very interesting to watch her udder develop the last month or so! I hope she is a good milker, since we want to make cheese this year.


Read more...

Park-Bench Pizazz

Wednesday, April 21, 2010


This morning, Isaac and I went for a walk. He brought along his blue and orange shovel for the trek, just in case we ran across any snakes.


First we posed in the dirt next to the porch.

After a few failed attempts at a cute picture, he suggested we move on to my garden, a much more exciting place. So I complied. And that's when we found....the park bench.












We had to get on and off the park bench a few times, just to make sure Mr. Shovel was positioned correctly.

And then Isaac gave me his humble opinion of my weedy garden. He said I had been lazy with it and needed to weed it really soon. I agreed whole heartedly.
Isaac, through tears or laughter, brings loads of sunshine into our family. Happy 2 1/2 months home!

Read more...

And the winner is....

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

And now, it's the moment you've all been waiting for......the drawing of the giveaway!

First, thank you all so much for entering and leaving such nice comments! It was great to hear from everyone. And for those of you who didn't win, don't worry, there's more contests to come!

David, my ten-almost-eleven-year-old brother, drew the winner from his cowboy hat....... and the winner is....(drumroll please)...


Maggie!


Congratulations, Maggie! Please leave me a comment with your address - and I will mail your prizes as soon as I can!!

Read more...

What Have You Been Giving Jesus?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Did you know that April's challenge is Self-Control?

Jenna over at Feminine Farmgirl (click here) has been hosting a character quality challenge each month. This month we're focusing on Self-Control. Self control to go to bed on time each night, so that we can get up early enough each morning for the most important time of the day.

Our time with Jesus.



Don't shrug this off! The course of your day is determined by how you start it. I think it's a great idea to start and end my day with Jesus - reading His Word and thinking about how much He loves me.


The other day I caught part of a sermon that was on the radio, and the pastor was talking about this very subject, your time with God. Do you remember how in the Old Testament, when people had to sacrifice to the Lord, they were required to sacrifice the best they had?


"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of thine increase."
~Proverbs 3:9


It was God's commandment to sacrifice young animals that were perfect, without blemish. Abel did this in Genesis 4:4. It says he brought "the firstlings of his flock". Basically, he gave God his absolute best.


The pastor asked this question. With respect to spending time with Him, are you giving God the leftovers? Are you presenting Him a weak, sickly lamb? The worst that you have? Maybe it's not your worst, but is it your best, either?

Your time is a gift from God. It's a tool He's given you. And if it's your goal to live your life for Him and serve Him, is a mere thirty minutes of your time each day so much to ask? If the Bible is to direct our daily lives, doesn't it make sense that we should at least read a little bit of it every day?

This topic has been important to me for several years. I still struggle with spending time with Jesus on a daily basis! But one thing I've figured out for sure, at least for my own life, is that if I don't make myself get up early and read the Bible first thing, it usually won't happen that day. Of course, this takes discipline! Who wants to get up with the sun, anyway?

I was just very convicted on this point last week when I heard that sermon. Wow. It even makes me think, is the mere thirty minutes I give God each morning really enough? Out of 24 hours, why do I feel that I can only spare half of one? This seems like a measly weak sacrifice to give Jesus. Lets think about this, friends!

What are you willing to give God? I'd love to hear your comments - don't forget that I love hearing from you! And if you haven't entered my giveaway (below), there is still time!

Read more...

Finally.....100th Post Blog Giveaway!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Here it is folks! My very first blog giveaway!
Here's the loot:





A brand-new apron made just for you by me :)

Jeweled bobby pins....what girl wouldn't want these? (Actually I'm beginning to feel a little jealous of the winner in this department - I LOVE these clips!)

A Scripture booklet - 20 encouraging scriptures on decorative notecards ~ attached with a binder ring and pink ribbon.


I printed them in different fonts on the computer for variety. :)

So, here's how to enter:


1. Leave a comment for one entry.
2. Post on your blog about this giveaway for 3 entries.
3. Tell me (in a comment) what your favorite activity is, and which of these prizes you'd be most excited to receive. This gets you 1 more entry.
You do not have to have a blog to enter this contest! Just leave me a comment - and you're entered!


I will be drawing one winner one week from today, April 20th.
Please leave a seperate comment for each entry - it makes it easier to count up entries.

Read more...

Men Sweat, Women Glisten

Monday, April 12, 2010

Yes, that's right: men do sweat.
Yugh.

If there's one thing I don't like, it's sweating. To me, there's nothing worse than being out in the hot sun, doing something you don't like doing (like weeding the garden), and sweating, sweating, sweating. But, in contrast, Dad loves to sweat; and so does Jonathan. And so does David. I guess it makes them feel manly or something.

That demonstrates something that has come to light in the past few years.

MEN ARE DIFFERENT THAN WOMEN.

Whoa! Pretty bold, isn't it? Despite the common myth that women can do anything men can, we women just aren't the same. And living with three brothers really brings that out - on a daily basis.


(Ever seen a girl do this?)

See, while Courtney and I much prefer to sit in the shade and talk, pose for pictures, and fix our hair....


...other members of our family would rather pummel each other.
It is SO obvious that men are different than women. In a day where women are desperately trying to prove that they're just as capable as men, we need GIRLS to be GIRLS and MEN to be MEN. Really!
But the other side of the coin is that often, girls who have rambunctious brothers get irritated. (Myself included.) We have to remember that boys are going to be rougher than we girls; they're going to have more masculine interests, they're going to have different ideas and opinions. While girls are timid and more hesitant to try daring feats and new adventures, boys are the
"go get -em" type and will run headlong into a potentially dangerous situation.
But this isn't bad. We need men like this! We might be offended because our brothers aren't as "nice" or "gentle" as we would like them to be; maybe we think they shouldn't make so much noise or be so rough.
When you think of this, remember this very true qoute that my Dad often says.....
Men are from venus and women are from Mars.
We are that opposite! We see things so differently because we are different. God created us like this!


And, of course, as sisters, one of our jobs is to gently refine our brothers (by a loving example, of course) and teach them how to relate to us girls.


But just remember that they are boys. They are MEN in the making. And sometimes we girls just have to rough it and pray that God gives us grace!
If you have brothers, let them be just that. (And not bothers, by the way. :)

Read more...

Birthday Pictures

Sunday, April 11, 2010


On the morning of Isaac's 3rd birthday, (yesterday), he and I made cupcakes. As you can see from the picture, he is being very helpful. :)

You may notice that he is sporting an apron - one of his favorite outfits! If you wear an apron around him, be prepared for him to come up and get your attention (by wacking you on your legs) and saying "ah, ah" and pointing to his tummy. It's so important for these little chefs to feel included!

We melt coconut oil in the microwave.......

....and then snack on some cream cheese frosting.

Ta-da! The finished product!Then we ate Isaac's birthday dinner......not quite sure what's so shocking here!

I thought it would be interesting to show a picture of David's 3rd birthday and Isaac's 3rd birthday right next to each other. Don't they look so similar? (And cute!?)

Isaac.....


...and David, all those years ago. Both smiles and both loved dearly!

Isaac, you are such a blessing and so full of laughter and sunshine.

Happy Birthday, Isaac!

By the way, stay tune in the next couple of days for my very first giveaway! I am celebrating my 100th blog post in just a few days.

Read more...

Happy Birthday, Isaac

Friday, April 9, 2010


Tomorrow is April 10th, Isaac's birthday.
We just couldn't be happier that this little guy is here to celebrate it with us!
On seeing Isaac for the first time, a 10 year old boy from our church said, "Can I hold this little bundle of sunshine from above?"
My sentiments exactly!


The same lump in my throat when we met David for the first time was present also when we met Isaac for the first time, just two and a half months ago. He was the most serious little guy in the world, somber and sad...with silent tears running down his cheeks.


But now, enjoying life and surrounded by a family who loves him to death....

....he couldn't be happier.
(And neither could we.)
We love ya, Isaac!

Read more...

About This Blog

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

  © Blogger templates Newspaper by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP