Feminine Farmgirl

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household...

2011-11-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 31:15 speaks of a woman who "rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household."

It is a profitable thing for us as young ladies to be equipped to serve our future husband before we are married; one simple necessity being the need to learn how to prepare food for our household. If we are prepared, we will be able to bless our man each day with not only nourishing words and love but also delicious and nourishing food.

With that in mind, I would like to share a delicious and healthy breakfast recipe that will bless your family - and your future family as well. If you are reading this post, than certainly you are old enough to rise before your family, grab an apron, a bowl and a few ingredients and prepare for the joy that comes with blessing others!

Pancakes with Maine Blueberry Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Eggs

1 1/2 C All-Purpose Flour

1/2 C Whole-ground Buckwheat Flour

1/2 C Sugar

2t. Baking Powder

1t. Baking Soda

1t. Salt

2 1/4 C Buttermilk

4T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/2t. Vanilla

1-2T. Vegetable Oil (I prefer Grapeseed or Coconut Oil)

2C Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Zest of 1/2 Lemon

1T. Cornstarch

2t. Fresh Lemon Juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200* F.

In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs on medium speed until frothy. Add the all-purpose fand buckwheat flours, 3 Tbs. Sugar, the baking powder, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, butter and vanilla and stir just until smooth.

Heat a griddle over medium-high heat. Lightly grease the griddle with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray (or coconut oil!). Scoop the batter onto the griddle. Cook until bubbles form on top of the pancakes and the batter is set, 1-2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown on the other side, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining pancakes.

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the blueberries, the remaining 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. sugar, the lemon zest and 1/2 cup water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch, 1 Tbs. water and lemon juice. Add to the berries and stir until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Serve the warm blueberry sauce over the pancakes. Serves 4.

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:31

Many blessings to each of you as you joyfully prepare and equip yourself for the high and mighty calling of wife and motherhood! May you be encouraged to prepare in advance, bless always with a smile and may your own works praise you in the gates.

*Written by Jenna, originally posted as a Guest Post for Elizabeth Rose from Living on Literary Lane*

Thy Dross to Consume and Thy Gold to Refine

2011-10-22T08:07:00.004-04:00

"Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

As our family walks through a trial this week, I am amazed at how the Lord - so perfectly - orchestrates encouragement from His Word, a hymn and through the body of Christ (Christians).

While the trials of this earth are painful, grievous roads to walk, the Lord promises that He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) ... and so for this trial and all the trials to come in my life I pray that I will look at them in this light:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
.

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

.
The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

The words of "How Firm a Foundation" were inspired from Hebrews 13:5. Two days before our "trial" began, I read the verse from How Firm a Foundation that is highlighted, in a book. We sang them on Sunday - and I have been singing them in my head ever since.

My Jesus is so faithful!

The State of Being Thankful

2011-10-16T16:02:00.000-04:00

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks because He's given:

Jesus Christ, His son.

Such simple words...give thanks.

Simple? Yes! But too often overlooked.

When I looked up "giving thanks" in the Word, and noticed at least 5 different verses that say the exact same thing, word for word: "Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever..." Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 136:1 and 1 Chronicles 16:34, I realized that thanking the Lord for blessings and even challenges must be intended as an important part of our Spiritual walk and daily life; not to be overlooked.

Thankfulness:

"Is the expression of gratitude; acknowledgment of a favor, the state of being thankful."

- Websters Dictionary

In the Psalms, David writes over and again to "give thanks to the Lord" and so, with the encouragement of a friend, I started a thankfulness journal with the intention to write down each day just one thing that I'm thankful for. Starting a thankfulness journal gave me a place to write down and practice gratitude and thankfulness to my Lord and Savior...

And while on this little journey of gratitude, I have found that Contentment and Joy run hand-in-hand with Thankfulness. When thankfulness is practiced daily and hourly in my life, I'm content in seeing the Lord's incredible plan for me unfold each day, and in how many ways He's has blessed me. When I choose to be thankful about daily struggles and challenges, I find joy in knowing that it is for a purpose and not in vain.

And so...

I give thanks with a grateful heart...

to the Holy One...

Because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

Hallelujah!

"No therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name."
1 Chronicles 29:13

When I need to Laugh...

2011-09-28T21:50:00.001-04:00

...I scroll through old pictures...

The past few days have been physically exhausting and emotionally draining. So many thoughts are going through my head right now and I plain needed to laugh; to SMILE. These pictures below (excuse the poor quality) helped me to remember the blessed life that I live.

Not only am I a Child of the King of Kings; I am blessed with a wonderful family and a wonderful LIFE.

...the beast within the man... (from Beauty and the Beast - Joshua was cast as the Beast :)

Thank you Lord Jesus for all the wonderful laughs that we've had in the barn

Thank you for this adorable calf and a great chore for Caleb who loves to bring her on walks!

Thank you for siblings with imaginations ~ precious to watch

Thank you for time that we share as a family and all the priceless times that I can bring Laura on a "piggy back"

Thank you for the precious sibling that I am going to meet when I get to Heaven

Thank you for these adorable pictures of Laura when she was a baby...what JOY that is so contagious!!!

Thank you Lord, for this life that you have blessed me with...and thank you, for making me smile:)

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
-- Psalm 100

More on thankfulness to come.......
Blessings~

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Buns

2011-09-15T15:46:00.001-04:00

This semester I am studying healthy eating, which is great, except it interferes with my regular baking habits and makes me feel a tad bit guilty using refined flour, sugar etc. You can imagine that with this chilly fall weather that has been waking me up each morning, I've gone running back to the kitchen and of course, looking fondly at all my favorite and delicious recipes that do help with studying difficult school subjects, I'm convinced.

So, before I revise my baking habits (is that even possible?!), I will share my absolute favorite Cinnamon Roll/Bread recipe with you. Simply delicious. Just don't think about the refined flour, okay?

Cinnamon Buns

10-12 Cups Flour

4T. Instant Yeast

4 Eggs

3 Cups Milk

1 Cup Water

1 1/4 Cups Oil (I use Grape-seed Oil)

1 Cup White Sugar

3t. Salt

In a large bowl stir yeast with 8 cups of flour.
Combine eggs, milk, water, 1 cup of oil, sugar and salt in a bowl and beat well.
Heat this second mixture on stovetop, stirring constantly. Pour over flour and yeast, stirring with a wooden spoon until all the flour is incorporated.
Continue adding remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. When the dough becomes too difficult to stir, begin to knead it. At this point, slowly work the remaining 1/4 cup oil into the dough. You may not need all the flour, but in my experience, I usually use more than what the recipe calls for...Continue kneading for about 10 minutes, until you have a very smooth and soft, but not sticky, dough.
Rub a little oil on your hands; form the dough into a ball, rubbing it with the oil. Cover the bowl with a towel and let rise until the dough doubles, about 1 hour (in my experience, this rises in less than half an hour!). Punch down.
For Cinnamon Buns:

Divide dough into 4 equal parts and roll each part into a rectangle. Spread generously with butter, sprinkle generously with white sugar and lots of cinnamon. Roll rectangles up tightly and cut into 1 1/2 inch slices. Place rolls onto greased 9"x13" pans. Let rise again (again, by the time I'm done slicing all the rolls, they have risen completely) and you are ready to bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Finish by throwing together a delicious Cream Cheese Maple Frosting!

For Cinnamon Bread: Divide dough into 6 equal parts. Roll a piece of the dough as wide as your loaf pan. Lightly spread rectangle with softened butter; sprinkle with sugar and lots of cinnamon. Roll up tightly and place seam side down in a greased loaf pan. Let rise 'til doubled. Bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then invert to a cooling rack.

This recipe is very easy, and wonderful to make and share with neighbors, friends and family.

Enjoy and happy fall, ya'll~
Blessings,
Jenna

On that Day, Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul

2011-09-11T16:16:00.003-04:00

The question is everywhere: Where were you that September day?

On September 11, 2001 I was at home working on school, when Dad called from work saying that we had to turn on the t.v. and watch what was happening...I vividly remember turning around from the dining room table and staring at the television - a devastating, smokey, fire-filled fog. When I saw someone jump from one of the towers, fear struck my soul. My little mind was swirling. What if a plane crashed into our home? Where would I go?

I started thinking about eternity and where I was going to spend it. Was I going to heaven to praise Jesus and live with Him, or was I going to hell - a place of fire and misery with weeping and gnashing of teeth?

God got a hold of my heart even if it was through that horrible event. The next day I placed my belief in HIM.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

Heaven Came Down

Words and Music by John W. Peterson

O what a wonderful, wonderful day - Day I will never forget;

After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.

O what a tender, compassionate friend - He met the need of my heart;

Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart!

{Chorus}

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away And my night was turned to day -

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Born of the Spirit with life from above into God's family divine,

Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!

And the transaction so quickly was made When as a sinner I came,

Took of the offer of grace He did proffer He saved me, O praise His dear name!

{Chorus}

Now I've a hope that will surely endure After the passing of time;

I have a future in heaven for sure, There in those mansions sublime.

And it's because of that wonderful day When at the cross I believed;

Riches eternal and blessings supernal from His precious hand I received.

{Chorus}

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day -

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

"I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior"

- John Newton
.

Now ten years later, I encourage you to ask yourself where will you go when you die?

.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..." Acts 16:31

Finding True Joy...Thoughts on Contentment

2011-09-09T21:11:00.000-04:00

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desire's of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Have you ever read that verse and thought to yourself: "oh perfect! If I tell myself that I delight in the Lord, then a husband will show up on the front porch!"?

I believe that every young girl claims that verse in her single-hood; simply thrilled to see that somewhere in the Bible it promises to make her dream come true. Finally. The key that opens the door to a future: marriage, a home of our own and motherhood...

Many people go through the motions; lay it all on the alter and prepare for blessing, saying, "take it all, Lord...it's yours. Here's the pen to my love story...I trust you!" They say all this simply because they're trying to jump through the hoops to get what they want. In their minds, saying what they think "God wants to hear" will get them what they want...but God looks on the heart.

Have you kept reading in that chapter ~ Psalm 37?

The next verse says: "Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

It is when you truly commit your way to the Lord and trust Him, delighting in HIS ways, that He will bring our desires to pass. When instead of day dreaming about your prince charming, you are staying content in His will. Instead of giving everything to God because you want your way, you give every area of your life to God because you desire HIS way.

Dear ladies, we need to stop trying to fulfill our desires...truly, we can never quench them!

When we commit and trust Jesus, our Heavenly King who created us and has the most perfect plan for each of our futures, then our desires will be fulfilled. Not necessarily what we may have planned. But we will be satisfied because we know that we are on the perfect path of Christ and at the center of His will.

The letting go is so hard. We somehow think that by "sacrificing all" we are saying goodbye to life and any chance of marriage. But that is not the case.

The commitment of trusting our future in this world to God, is finding a beautiful contentment in Christ ~ we are finding true joy.

May the Lord BLESS you as you delight in Him...He shall give you the desires of your heart!

{Post was originally written by Jenna for Emily @ Practically Pink }

Fair 2011

2011-09-01T22:58:00.001-04:00

Fair was wonderful, fun and full of opportunities for character development and growth as well as lots of family conversations and discussions. Our Grandparents were able to join us again for the fourth year in a row which adds to the fun of the week (the more, the merrier!) and also helps Mom a lot as she juggles little ones while we show the animals...

Monday we showed hogs...

...with Joshua placing 3rd over all Senior in Showmanship and Abigail 2nd over all Intermediate! I have some great showman as siblings:)

Tuesday I conquered another fear though I am still "afraid" of it...

I rode on my first ride ever: the Ferris Wheel! Yikes! Of course we stopped at the top and I did close my eyes almost the whole time...I completely feel for the folks who loose their stomachs in the process of that entertainment ~ I was close to doing so myself, though I'm sure Abigail who was sitting next to me, is eternally grateful that I refrained. Ha! Word of warning to myself: If I ever feel that adventurous again, bring a brave sibling/friend along:)

Wednesday was our slow day at the fair though we managed to stay busy because Lucy had her calf that morning. A little heifer this time...

Gratefully, we got permission to bring the little one to the fair to put by our goat pens so that we could continue to bottle feed. Quite a few people thought she was a goat considering the barn that she was in, but over all, she definitely caused a lot of excitement in the barn and had a good many cell-phone pictures taken her first few days of life.

Later in the day we worked steadily on washing goats and preparing for showmanship...

Thursday was Goat Showmanship.

It was the strangest showmanship class that I've ever been in...personally, I really felt that Josh should have won, but for some reason, the judge placed me first and Josh second. Either way, we both have a fun time showing together and practicing/preparing too:)

Thursday night was the Fair's livestock auction where we sold our pigs. Delivering hog letters in an effort to get buyers has got to be one of the most awkward and difficult jobs in 4H. The Lord blessed our efforts and we broke even on all our hog projects for this year...we are very grateful. Now I'm considering raising a steer for next year...I would have to get him next month.

Friday started with the breed class for the goat show in the morning. A few pictures taken afterward:

Friday night was Super Showmanship. This is where the winner of each species comes together to show all the species (9 at our fair). I passed this honor down to Joshua who excels in quick memorization and has an amazing knack for eloquence. He did great despite some political issues; receiving third place. Abigail also did excellent in Intermediate placing 2nd in Super Showmanship.

The weather was gorgeous ~ we were so blessed. Thank you Mom, Dad, Nana and Grandpa for the wonderful memories that we made this past week. What fun!

Busy Times

2011-08-15T13:47:00.001-04:00

The week or two heading up to fair becomes very busy. Lists are written miles long and I wonder how we'll make it...but we will...somehow!

We needed a picture for our hog letters so a mini-photo shoot was in order. The expressions that Joshua makes are priceless and they certainly made us laugh:)

Have a happy day - and enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather that we've had~

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;

and with my song will I praise him."

Psalm 28:7

Facing my Giant

2011-08-11T21:58:00.000-04:00

Truly, the Lord's ideas are not mine, but this journey of following Him is incredible. Trusting Him is incredible. It leads me through things that I never in my life would do on my own ~ all to grow closer to Him, my heavenly Father.

Photo Credit to Joshua

A week ago, should you have asked me if I was going to try out for HPA (Homeschool Performing Arts), I would have said no way! The whole acting "thing" is beyond me...I'm a behind-the-scenes type of gal in every way...oh yeah.

Yes, I prayed about it. No, I didn't think that it was for me.

But as I talked with my parents, twin, and several friends, I was encouraged to step outside my box (which happens to be rather small...), to face something which I feared...to grow. To truly trust the Lord when in His Word He reminds me time and again that:

"For I know the thoughts [plans] that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Ephesians 3:20

The verse that I am going to claim through this next season of life is found in Lamentations chapter 3:

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassion's fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22&23

Even though I was nauseous, shaking and nervous like none other during auditions (and the rest of the day afterward!), I felt at peace in the aspect that God was right there with me, stretching me every bit of the way, even though on the outside I could have easily fit the description of "miserable".

He was and is always faithful.

He alone gave me every ounce of power and strength in my body and heart to fulfill something as simple as an audition to some, but a giant to me.

HELP - Do I, or Don't I?

2011-08-06T13:16:00.001-04:00

I go back and forth. Yes, then no. Fun; but scary. Good experience or waste of time.

Ever since last year's Meet Me In St. Louis , I have been questioned by seemingly all humanity whether or not I will audition this year. Directors, cast members, crew, friends all have inquired as to my involvement.

This year, the home school, Christian, theatre company will be doing Beauty and the Beast. It is Josh's last year, and mine as well -considering we are both seniors in high school.

Honestly, it would be great fun to be a part of the production, on the other hand, I am not sure about an audition in front of directors and fellow ladies auditioning.

I have prayed about the matter and do not feel God leading in one specific way or another. However, I do sometimes conveniently think that He has something else in mind for me :)

Do I face my giant of fear and insecurity, give it my best, be stretched out of my box and find I love it?

Or should I rather, stay in my comfort zone, hope I will fall in love with some other hobby this fall (perhaps speech club) and then regret not being involved with Beauty and the Beast?

What do you think?

{Always a Place in my Heart}

2011-07-26T22:00:00.002-04:00

There is no denying...

That March is going to be empty without you, little one...

Each time I walk past the tiny, precious newborn clothes, my heart sinks ~ I can imagine you inside them...

When I close my eyes, I can feel you in my arms...

Yesterday I saw a glowing, expectant Momma, I thought of you and wished that you were with us still...

There is no denying that I will miss sewing all those blankets, baby slings and cloth diapers that were on our list to make just for you...

I will miss your dirty blowouts...I would give anything to be able to clean you up...to give you a bath...

There's no denying that when the car seats are put away, I'll miss the one that would've been yours...

That when Laura's out of diapers, I'll want to change just one more...

There's no denying that I'll miss rocking and singing you to sleep when Momma's running errands and we're home alone...

That I will miss watching you learn to smile, clap, walk and then talk...

I will miss you talking on the top of your lungs just to be heard over the rest of us talker's...

When milk doesn't spill anymore, I'll wish that you were here to spill some...

The truth is, that even though I'm choosing to be thankful that you're with Jesus, I'll always miss you...and I'll always love you. When I'm asked how many siblings I have, I'll say 8 and remember you...you will never be forgotten.

Sweetie pie, you will always hold a place in your big sister's heart. And when I get to Heaven, I'm going to find you, somehow, someway, and give you a giant hug...one that I've been wanting to give you since God blessed us with the very thought of you.

Our Little Angel Baby

2011-07-25T21:17:00.001-04:00

"The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." ~Job 1:21

Five weeks ago I was sitting on my bed listening to Mom tell me that the Lord had blessed our family with another little one...my prayer had been answered! I was thrilled.

I prayed for the baby often. I thought of how wonderful it would be to have a baby in the house again. I pondered the miracle of how God so perfectly knits together each child in the womb...I pictured that tiny little face with the most precious little toes...

And now I choose to Praise the Lord for our little Angel baby ~ who instead of spending life on earth, went straight to Glory; to dance at Jesus' feet. I am grateful that the Lord chose to bless our family with a ninth gift; one that He didn't have to give but He did. I rejoiced in this gift for over five weeks and I will continue rejoicing because I know that this baby has a wonderful and perfect part of God's plan!  

Thank you Lord...please tell our little Angel that I love it and I can't wait to meet it in Heaven <3

A Wake Up Call (Farm Tip)

2011-07-20T18:04:00.001-04:00

If you've had pigs for any length of time, then you have probably heard the fact that pigs don't sweat. With the heat wave that has come to our area (I don't remember it being THIS hot before...?), we knew that our pigs needed extra water and mud but we didn't realize how much until our wake up call: our two best and biggest pigs died due to the heat.

Them dying was very disappointing due to the time, effort and money put into our growing 4H projects. They were nice barrows! We sure learned the hard way, but I don't want you to!

So if you have pigs or are considering adding them to your farm, please keep the following in mind during these hot spells:

Always have fresh, cold water available (obviously!)
Always have a big mud hole available
Spray the hog down with cold water (carefully, so as to not shock their bodies)
With a spray bottle, spray cool water behind their ears - this is the fastest way to cool a hog down
Consider putting a sprinkler near the pen
If you are blessed with an indoor pen with electricity, USE FANS!!

In our case, we are needing to go out and spray the hogs down every hour and a half or so - get them fresh water and pray that they survive this heat. Their outside pen is a huge mud pit. We also have a mobile butcher lined up to come on Saturday (they are very busy right now with fairs going on, so contact yours right away)....if we can keep our pigs alive until Saturday, the weather should break and there's a possibility that we will cancel the butcher and continue our fair plans.

Last year's hogs were wonderful...

Just looking at the pictures makes me REALLY hope that we can still make it to fair with the rest of the hogs, even though my barrow died!

In the event that any of your hogs die, please make sure to get rid of the carcass right away as they bloat very quickly in this heat.

Happy Hog Raising!

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

2011-07-16T17:30:00.001-04:00

When Laura was a baby, I was always praying that one day she would become a big sister...I told Mom that if she was ever expecting again, I would cook all the meals, do the laundry, watch the younger ones, clean the house, help with school, make sure she got a nap each day ~ and the list grew!! I just wanted another baby to hold. Finally, I became content with the siblings that God had already given...

Little did I know, that almost 3 years later my chance would come to fulfill "the list" that I so easily rattled off then.

Yes, my parents are expecting blessing #9 due at the end of February or beginning of March. We are so excited and thrilled!

Keeping Momma and Baby in your prayers is much appreciated~
A smiling big sister,
Jenna

Blessed is the Man who Fears the Lord

2011-07-13T20:50:00.002-04:00

"Since the birth control movement was heralded and made public by Margaret Sanger, a woman who ferociously believed in Malthusian eugenics and who practiced and promoted blatant sexual promiscuity, contraception, sterilization and abortion were made the perfect methods for getting rid of quote: "human weeds". A large amount of feminist women agreed with Margaret Sanger - they wanted material gain, monetary significance, their own career in the work world and ultimately they were leading a self-centered life. These women claim that children are a burden, expensive and unwanted, so they used either a Birth Control Pill which causes early abortions or surgical abortions to get rid of their babies.

The Pill causes more early abortions in the United States than are caused by chemical and surgical abortions. With an estimated 12.8 million American women on the Pill, they are causing approximately two million early abortions each year. In short, the death toll from the IUD and the Pill exceeds that of the Nazi Holocaust - each year - in the United States alone.

What that means is that even apart from surgical abortion, the methods of birth control used by millions of people who call themselves Christians, are destroying millions of human lives each year. Add to these figures the early abortions from IUDs and Pills used worldwide by non-Christians; then add the fifty million surgical/chemical later abortions each year; what you now have are numbers that every two or three years vastly exceed the 250 to 300 million deaths estimated to result from a major nuclear war." -Nancy Campbell

A quote from Doug Phillips says:

The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing, but in our culture we apply for a curse and reject the blessing!!!

What exactly does the Bible say about Children?

Psalm 127:3-5:

"Behold, children are a heritage (blessing) from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them."

Psalm 128:3 and 4: "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord."

In other words, blessed is the man who trusts in God...which also means to trust the Lord in your family size...whether HE blesses you with 2 children, 7 children or 20 children, EACH child is a precious privilege, joy, blessing and reward! Thinking that you can't afford children and provide for them is faulty reasoning, a lack of faith and perhaps selfishness in wanting your own way not God's.

Matthew 6:25 and 26 says:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not LIFE more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:25 and 26.

When I respond to the question "How many siblings do you have?" with a happy "seven", people start saying "Oh wow, your Mom must be a saint! I could NEVER deal with eight kids..."

Well, my Mom is wonderful and amazing, but not a saint. Just like God says in 2 Corinthians 12:7 "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.", the Lord gives my Mom the grace and strength that she needs to run a household of 10. My parents trust the Lord and He has blessed them for it. God is faithful to give each person the amount of strength that they need in their situation...if you trust in Him.

"Behold, children are a heritage (blessing) from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." Psalm 127:3-5

*Inspiration and statistics from Nancy Campbell's book: "Be Fruitful and Multiply"

[S.u.m.m.e.r.t.i.m.e]

2011-07-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

Picking Strawberries...Making Jam...

Celebrating Our Country's Independence -

Thankful for Freedom...both Physical and Spiritual

Holding babies...(and running after them!)

Cleaning up the farm...

Never a better toy then some kitchen pots...

Delivering a stuck kitty...

A little amputee that we tried to help...

Little League games and All Stars:)

There were never such devoted sisters...

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for the gorgeous summer that the Lord has blessed us with. Not a day goes by without some sort of adventure on the farm which has it's joys and trials...

I am trying to take one day at a time and enjoy the moment...stop the busy schedule to play ball in the field with the little girls (which I actually did - I was so proud of myself for actually playing!!)...delight in the Lord and seek His will with my whole heart...

Have a blessed weekend, friends!

Goat Show 2011

2011-06-30T21:57:00.001-04:00

Below is my recount of a recent day at a:

2011 ADGA Sanctioned Dairy Goat Show

Laura watching the show...precious, isn't she?!

With the difficulty of kidding season behind us, we were not planning on showing our does at all this year in hopes to give them a rest. However, they were all looking incredible and since their weight condition was pretty good, we signed them up for just one show.

Dancer

Shaving, trimming, packing, paperwork, washing etc. There is a lot of team work that goes into a wonderful weekend.

Josh showing a Nigerian for another breeder

The Lord blessed our weekend in an incredible way and we are so thankful!

We arrived at the fairgrounds Friday evening, settled in and camped by our good friends. Early Saturday morning we finished a few last minute preparations on our 5 showmanship does. We put vaseline and baby socks on the does feet and rear end the night before showmanship, to soften "everything"...it makes for much faster progress when trying to do a thorough and quick clean up. All the kids in our family did a great job in showmanship, and Joshua won Senior Showmanship for the second year in a row - even though he and I are in the same showmanship class at every goat show, I find more excitement in him winning than I (though I've never actually won a class of showmanship!). Job well done, Josh!

Joshua, Bethany and Jenna

The weekend was very busy with two rings going on both days. Having three breeds to show (Alpine, LaMancha and Recorded Grade) kept us on our toes but it was wonderful to be able to show the does 4 times each in one weekend!


Abigail with her doe, Vantage

Some of the placings that I would like to remember in the future:

Tennantite: 2x Best of Breed; 1x Best in Show
Triumph: Reserve Grand Champion x2; 2nd x2
Tahala: Reserve Grand Champion x1; 2nd x4
Vantage: Grand Champion x1; Reserve Grand Champion x1
Victory: Reserve Grand Champion x3

The other does that we brought placed in the top of their classes, but the five above were our best.

Family. Friends. Memories. Talking. Laughing. Pizza Hut with friends. Learning. Showing. Fun.

Thank you, Lord~

On Bent Knees

2011-06-26T22:06:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends!

I know that I have posted about the On Bent Knees prayer blog before, but I wanted to bring it to your attention again.

"At On Bent Knees, we believe that prayer is a powerful thing. There are many verses in the Bible that talk about prayer and challenge us to be prayer warriors - to pray without ceasing and reminding us that the fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. "
James 5:16

"Pray without Ceasing. " 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Our Heavenly Father sees our every need and hears our every prayer. As the body of Christ, let us lift one anothers petitions - weeping with those who weep - and share praises - rejoicing with those who rejoice.

This blog is to help the body of Christ come together, pray for each other and marvel at the Lord's faithfulness.

Jessica (my prayer blog partner) and I welcome each and every one of you to join us at On Bent Knees. Whether you share prayer requests or praises, or pray for all the requests, we encourage you to follow the blog and join us as we "pray without ceasing".

Blessings!

{Unashamed of the Gospel}

2011-06-12T20:30:00.000-04:00

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future, is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I can not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, spoken for the case of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.

My banner is clear. I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed."

- A final testimony penned by an African Christian just before he was martyred for his faith. After much looking, I was unable to find a source for this; there seems to be some uncertainty about exactly who said it.

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."

(Romans 1:16)

And the Winner Is.......

2011-06-08T20:59:00.001-04:00

Thank you to:

Everyone who entered the giveaway
Those who spread the word about the giveaway
The girls behind Mennonite Girls Can Cook who took time to share their recipes
Harold Press who generously provided the review and giveaway copy

Our winner for the cookbook is: Comment # 124 (thanks to random.org)

Kayti said...

Looks and Sounds MAGNIFICENT and WONDERFUL!!!!

I have looked through this cookbook many times just waiting for the weather to cool a little so that the oven can go on and something delicious from this book can be made...if you would like your own copy of the cookbook, you can purchase Mennonite Girls Can Cook through Amazon or Herald Press. All author royalties are going to feed hungry children. At the very least, go follow their blog and enjoy the many recipes shared there!

Thank you again. And welcome to all the new followers who have recently found their way to this humble place on blog world...May God get all the glory for anything that encourages you here.

Mennonite Girls Can Cook ... Giveaway

2011-06-03T15:38:00.003-04:00

Knowing your way around the kitchen and being able to prepare yummy treats and healthy meals is a necessity for every homemaker...

This past week I had a marvelous time flipping through the Mennonite Girls Can Cook new cookbook and tried several of their recipes...the Maple Twists were delicious, the Cinnamon Bread hit the spot and the Blueberry Bread made into muffins was the perfect thing to send along on the start of the Alabama Relief Missions Trip.

Besides carbs you say? We tried their wonderful Taco Soup recipe which is actually a lot like Chili, just not so heavy. It is the perfect way to use canned corn from your garden...

Photo Credit

There are pictures with each recipe which is helpful, especially to those who are visual learners. I am thrilled that each recipe I've tried so far has turned out "picture perfect" and I am not afraid to try and serve any of their recipes to guests (without practicing first:)

Thanks to Herald Press, I am able to offer one Feminine Farmgirl reader a brand new copy of Mennonite Girls Can Cook!

Simply comment on this post to enter the giveaway~

The winner will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced on Wednesday night, June 8, 2011. If you would like to post on your blog or facebook about the giveaway that would be wonderful, but not required:)

Thank you to Herald Press for the complimentary review copy.

All thoughts in this review are my own:)

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Thank you.

2011-05-30T10:53:00.002-04:00

Photo Credit

To all of the men and women who have so bravely fought for our freedom in the United States of America:

Thank you.

To those who are across the seas right now, fighting bravely for our continued freedom:

Thank you.

To everyone in America: May we never forget to support our soldiers, who have sacrificed their all, in prayer and encouragement. And at every opportunity, may we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for all that they have done so that our freedom is preserved.

God Bless America!

Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Irving Berlin

The Influence of an Older Sibling

2011-05-27T22:30:00.000-04:00

Because Joshua and I share the position of being the oldest children in the family, our younger brother and sisters look up to us, watching closely and often imitating our choices, preferences and reactions.

In so many ways, the influence that we have can be for bad or good, causing the need to closely examine every area of our life. And while the responsibility to lead by example is great (and somewhat daunting), it can also be a tremendous privilege when viewed as an opportunity to pass on faith, wisdom and shared family vision.

After asking a few of my siblings how Joshua and I influence them the most, I was able to come up with a small list of examples that they especially notice.

Honoring Authority - How do we treat our parents and those older than us? Whether it's the way we talk or act, are we portraying the correct respect and honor that they as our elders deserve?

Exodus 20:12 says:

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Deuteronomy 5:16 says:

"Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

Positive Attitude - Are we making an effort to look for the good in everything? Negative comments and a pessimistic attitude are miserable to be around and a terrible example to those listening...not to mention a horrible testimony. As Christians, we ought to be filled with the JOY of the Lord. When we have this blessed joy filling our hearts (from Christ), it is so much easier to encourage others, be optimistic and cultivate gratitude. All of these things encourage a positive attitude!

Psalm 16:11 says:

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Proverbs 17:22 says:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Work Ethic - How do we spend our time? Are we wasting it and being lazy, or are we working hard, seeking to bless others and always willing to "go the extra mile"? Looking for areas of need and seeking to meet the need encourages diligence and demonstrates initiative. Including others and working together (patiently and without frustration) builds teamwork.

Proverbs 6:6-8 says:

"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."

Colossians 3:23&24 says:

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Modesty and Purity of Heart - Dressing modestly is rare in this day and age, yet it is so important. As an older sibling, take care in how you clothe and carry yourself (guys and girls!). So often, what the older brother or sister wears or invests time in sets the style and tone for the household. If this is consistent with the parents' vision, it promotes unity. However, if the older sibling is in rebellion to the vision of the parents, imagine the mutiny! Modesty is not only in how you dress on the outside, but on the inside: your heart. Stay pure in mind and body and put on the priceless ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

1 Peter 3:4 says:

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

Over the past few days as I have written this, edited, thought and prayed, I have been examining my life and identifying areas in which I am crying out to the Lord to help me change...areas that as a big sister, I want to be a better example. Praise the Lord that "as clay in the potter's hand, so are we in His hand". Though I am less than perfect, I can still be used -

2 Corinthians 12:9 says:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Enjoy the responsibility of influence that God has given you and look to Him for the strength and grace that you need to be the shining light and example to your siblings.

We are influencing our siblings...

Are we influencing them for Christ?

Joy of Spring

2011-05-14T22:03:00.003-04:00

With the coming week fore-casted as "rainy", I appreciate the gorgeous sunny weather that we've enjoyed these past several days all the more! Between Little League games, yard work, barn chores, pasture cleaning, walking kids and swinging under the tree, we soaked up all the sun to be had...

Thank you for praying for Mom's shoulder surgery. She is doing well, stretching her shoulder and trying to rest! The past few days have been an adventure for me as I try to do a few extra things for Mom because...well, she's slightly disabled right now:)

I've always loved to clean the house, make meals and do laundry (love progress!). Doing all that for ten people plus watching three busy little girls (they're usually good but need to be monitored) and throw a little school in there too plus yard work and barn chores, well, it's proved to be a good practice in multi-tasking, organization and juggling!! Overall, it's been fun!

Laura brushing Jed with the curry comb...

Happy hogs...

Lucy is going to be a Momma again in 3 months...
Her milk tastes delicious except when she finds the onion grass...

The budding trees are in full bloom now

Field and sky view from the pasture

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork."

Psalm 19:1

Kittens everywhere...a little stretch and yawn after a nice long nap

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A delicious and newly tried recipe:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lemon Sugar Cookies

(Thank you Google images!)

Ingredients:

2 3/4 c All-purpose Flour
1 t. Baking Soda
1/2 t. Baking Powder
1/2 t. Salt
1c Butter, softened
1 1/2c White Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 t. Vanilla extract
Zest of one large Lemon, finely minced
4T. Lemon Juice
1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and very fluffy.
4. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, lemon juice and lemon zest.
5. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
6. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and roll in sugar. Place on lined cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.
8. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

A fun variation to try: Coconut Lime Cookies. Simply add 3T Lime Juice instead of Lemon, grate 1 Lime instead of Lemon and gradually blend in 1/2c of Unsweetened, toasted coconut in step #5

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Life is good...God is good!