Miscellaneous ramblings

So, is everyone ready for the New Year? I am. Frankly, I'm looking forward to a fresh start and a new beginning on January 1st! Even though I usually misplace and forget my list of New Year's resolutions, I actually kept last year's list (miracle of miracles) and was able to go over them yesterday to see what I have (and haven't) accomplished. Let's just say that my 2011 list is going to be slightly similar to 2010's list. :-)

In other news........it snowed today! It was absolutely marvelous. (Well, after I got inside from milking, that is.) With our cozy fire crackling and Christmas music playing, it was wonderful to watch the ground turn white.

Milking this morning was awful. Just awful. It was the only moment today that I wished it wasn't cold, windy, and snowing. I foolishly decided to wear a skirt outside to do chores in, and really regretted it later, as I was sloshing through goat berries and mud. The long and the short of it was, that Pearl's poor legs were quivering in the cold as I tried to clean her udder, and when I had finally gotten it clean, I looked down at my milking basket and noticed something not-so-nice splattered against the jars, the wipes, and just about everything else. It was so muddy and slushy this morning that when Pearl jumped on the stand, a you-know-what substance flew from her hooves and landed, in various places, in my basket. That's when I decided that today would be a really good day to quit milking for the year. Time for Pearly to dry up! I quit!!!

Other than that, I really enjoyed the snow today.

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My Canning Website

Is anyone out there interested in canning? Anyone even the least bit interested in wanting to know more about preserving your own food?

If so, I'd like to invite you to visit my website, Canning Basics. I created it almost two years ago, and have slowly but surely been chipping away at it ever since. A page here, a page there......all in all I have a website nearing 50 pages of good, solid, and tested canning information!

My goal with the site is (1) to make money to be a help to my future husband and family and (2) to help ordinary people figure the in's and out's of canning and preserving. Since we used to be totally in the dark regarding food preservation, I've been there and know what it's like to be confused! As such, I try to write helpful, down-to-earth information and directions related to canning and preserving.

I share yummy jam and jelly recipes, as well as directions for canning meats, pie fillings, vegetables, fruits, and just about everything else!

If any of you are interested in canning, or know someone who is, I encourage you to please visit my site and share it with others! Part of improving my website is "getting the word out"; I need as many people as possible to know about my site, as it helps my site ranking at the various search engines.

And don't forget that I'm offering customizable canning labels FOR FREE through January 15, 2011! Click here to order some if you want and pass the word on to friends and family.


Thanks, everyone! Enjoy looking!

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Christmas At Our House

I hope all of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! We had a wonderful time together and it was another memorable Christmas day. Hard to believe that next year, Joshua will be with us to celebrate. And equally hard to believe that Isaac is finally with us this year! We spent more than one Christmas thinking about him.

We started out our Christmas by waking at 6:00 and opening our stockings. After a reading of the Christmas story, chores ensued, followed by a quick breakfast and house cleanup. And then? Presents!!

Large Family Logistics for Mom! Since we're nearing a total of eight people in our home, I guess we could be labeled as a "large family". (Never thought I'd have so many siblings!)

Mmmm! Sesame sticks for Mommy and Isaac!

Isaac got a magnetic puzzle from Mom and Dad. He is a puzzle fanatic and figures out how to do them amazingly fast.

Me, your faithful (well, I try to be) blogger. :-)

I got David his own special mug and a box of Mexican hot chocolate.

What's in this stuff, anyway?

The general chaotic-ness of our living room on Christmas day. It's always a mess when we're opening presents!

A wallet for David from our neighbor.

Flannel snowmen sheets for my bed! Cooozy!

David is well-known for getting chocolate, juice, and other favorite snacks for people's gifts. They're always a hit!

Isaac was SO excited to discover a John Deere tractor with a big bow on it this morning! He loves cars, semis (or M-mies as he calls them) and generally anything will wheels on them.

After opening presents we had a delicious Christmas feast...ham, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green beans, cranberry mousse, rolls......and later, pie. It was a wonderful Christmas day and I enjoyed it emmensely!

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Merry Christmas!

Well, the day everyone waits for all year long is finally here ~ Merry Christmas, everyone!

May you have a sweet day with your family, rejoicing in the birth of our Saviour.

To HIM be all the glory!

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I am so excited....

....for Christmas! Obviously. :-)

Even though we don't have any snow here.....and even though there aren't any city bells clanging on cold winter nights...I'm still looking forward to Christmas. I truly think Christmas is the best time of the year.

When I was little I remember thinking that the month of December dragged on endlessly...it used to be so hard to wait! I can remember having butterflies flop in my stomach as we drove to our Christmas Eve service, and I disctinctly remember feeling so secure and happy as we lit each other's candles at the end of the service. Standing there with the warm glow of the candle on my face and the hot wax dripping down my fingers, I would feel like everything was so perfect!

Now that I've gotten older (okay, I'm not old, I'm only 17), the anticipation for Christmas is still there, but it's different. I still LOVE Christmas Eve and all the family traditions that go with it. And gift giving is equally fun. Perhaps the only difference between then and now is my perspective. When I was little, Christmas was all about presents. Of course, my parents have always made sure that we know what Christmas is really all about...we have always placed a huge emphasis on the true story of Christmas each year.

But when I was younger, my focus was on the fun of opening gifts, the good food, the family time, etc. Now that I'm older, although I still greatly enjoy those things, I can truly say that I know and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. It stuck with me for good! When you're 7, it's easy to say that Christmas is all about baby Jesus, and then rush forward with present opening. But it's a completely different thing to actually embrace and hold the real meaning of Christmas in your heart. Do you know what I mean?

I love how there is so much joy, excitement, and anticipation surrounding the birth of Christ. It's so perfect! In light of how significant a work Christ has done for us, Christmas is truly an incredibly special time. Now, I'm not talking about looking at a picture of baby Jesus and smiling, or driving by a Nativity scene and thinking, "that's nice"; I'm talking about realizing that the whole reason Jesus was born in a stable all those years ago was to resuce each of us from an eternity in hell!

That is incredibly spectacular! Don't you think? Jesus is so much more than we give HIM credit for. It's because of HIM that we can even celebrate Christmas. Let's not get so caught up in the business of the season that we lose sight of this fact.

I hope each of you are having a very Merry Christmas season with your family so far!

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A Simple Prayer

Isaac has learned how to pray - it is such a sweet thing to hear. He closes his eyes, folds his hands very intently, and says, "Ear-Oh (Dear God), Eee-you (Thank you), I uh you (I love you), Amen."

Because he's only three, he can't pray more extensively than this. This is as complex as his prayers get! It's all he can say.

And it occurred to me that sometimes, Isaac's little prayer is all I can say, too. Sometimes there is so much on my heart that there's just not words or a way to describe it all. Sometimes just telling the Lord I love Him is all I can say ~ and all that needs to be said. Sometimes just saying "Thank-you, God" is enough.

Remember that God doesn't care about mindless prayers. He doesn't want us to say things just for the sake of saying things; He wants us to speak to Him from our hearts.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repititions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him."

Matthew 6:7-8

It's easy, when we pray, to fall into the same habits of prayer; especially when it's in front of others. It's easy to blindly stumble through a "Thank you for this food, Amen" routine. But we've got to remember to Whom we are speaking - the King of the whole universe! He wants gratitude from a sincere heart!

Don't ramble and repeat your same prayers over and over again; really talk to God. Pray to Him from your heart, and tell Him what you're really feeling or thinking. I can gurantee you, He already knows what you are going through right now; there's nothing He won't understand!

"Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding."

Isaiah 40:28

The simple prayer we taught Isaac is the most basic, most foundational prayer he will ever learn. It is so important to remember just what an incredible God we are talking to when we pray; and it's equally important that we really speak to Him from our hearts.

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Intercession

This has got to be one of the most inspiring videos I've ever seen. Turn up your speakers and enjoy. Even though it takes a little while to load, please take the time to watch it - it is so good. And then, leave a comment and let me know what you think!

The couple who puts these movies together, Eric and Leslie Ludy, have written some superb books that I would really recommend! Click here to check them out.

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A Giveaway!

Jenna at Feminine Farmgirl is giving away this great book, The Family Daughter by Sarah Bryant. I haven't read it yet, but I really hope I get the chance to soon. It looks to be an inspiring and encouraging book!

I always love books written by Christian young ladies ~ I know this will be another delightful book!

If you want to enter, click here.

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Isaac's hair-do

I don't know about you, but I think there's something cute about little boys (especially little Asian boys) who have their hair combed and parted. Something cuter than an ordinary buzz-cut.

Unfortunately, I seem to be alone in my little-boy-hair-styling tastes. Hence Isaac's usual buzz cut. (Which he still seems to make look cute, by the way!)

But once in a while.....I just have to try out my techniques. And so, with Isaac as my model, I did just what I wanted to - I slicked over his hair. And boy did he look cute!

Little 3-year old boys smell so snuggly! (Well, sometimes they do. There are many occasions where he doesn't smell quite so sweet. Thank heavens for wipes, new diapers, and baths!)

Unfortunatly however, his "style" didn't last more than about 15 minutes. But it was cute while it lasted....:-)

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