Mom's Birthday Roses

September Bouquets 2016

Hydrangea and Asperagus

Tea Rose and Geranium lining the window sill

Attempting to root some cuttings of this cheery geranium

Enjoying God's bouquets of colored leaves

Intricate detail in leaf veins

Sunlight bringing out the detail

Fallen leaves decorating a succulent pot

Learning to Bake Again

Working in the kitchen is so different now with all the strange ingredients we have to use (and all the normal ingredients we have to avoid.) But I am slowly gaining confidence and new skills. And Elsa is great at researching recipes and getting ingredients on hand. (As, of course, she is great at everything in the kitchen!)

Just before I resumed teaching responsibilities in September, I made use of a little extra strength to try some new recipes.

With the Labor Day holiday at hand, a long-lost treat came to mind: marshmallows roasted over the campfire.

So, it was time to try making that sweet, gooey treat again... this time from honey. 

It worked!

While we still can't take this much "sweet" very often, it is a special treat in our own versions of "hot-chocolate." (Cocoa and salt in rice drink for me and carob in coconut milk for Elsa.)

We also tried roasting them over the campfire at the lake. And it does work to some extent. But it would be better tucked into a s'more. Maybe next year I can try that cracker recipe Elsa found!

Another kitchen experiment involved testing the possibility of adding eggs back to my diet. My allergy doctor explained how to ease in carefully. 

First try... baked oatmeal again. Yumm!!

"Trust Also in Me"

It is November: the month in my country where we have the privilege - and the responsibility - to vote for our next government leaders. I don't want to start blogging on the volatile topic of politics, but I do want to share this timely truth that came to my email inbox recently from the prayer group I mentioned in an earlier post.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. 

Trust in God; trust also in me." ~John 14:1

What is troubling your heart today? When the disciples first heard those words, they were worried because Jesus told them He was leaving. That really caused them great anxiety. But Jesus wanted them to trust Him. 

So, is there something about our nation that has you worried today? The economy, racial tension, decisions (or indecisions) in Washington, D.C., the terrorist threats? The list could get long. How can we not have troubled hearts? 

Jesus gets really practical here with His Word to us: Don't have a troubled heart; instead, trust Me. He doesn't just tell us not to be worried, which doesn't work unless there is something that can replace the worry, and that's right where Jesus places Himself. "Trust Me," He says. Such trust will be lived out in us as we pray. Are you anxious and troubled about our nation? Take your concerns to Jesus. Trust Him. Worrying isn't trust; it's foolishness. Intercession is trust in action. So, take the issues of this nation that are troubling you, and you bring them to Jesus. Let Him deal with them. He can! Do you believe that?

Taken from Desperate for Change: 40 Days of Prayer for America by Dave Butts, available from Prayer Shop Publishing. For more helpful prayer resources, visit Dave’s website at Harvest Prayer Ministries.

Little Sips

The following are excerpts from a little book 

from Dohnavur Fellowship (that of Amy Carmichael).

His thoughts said...
His Father said...

27 WHEN THE DEW FELL IN THE NIGHT 

     The son said, Thinking of manna I feel reproached. So many hours are spent merely in sleep.
     His Father said, When the dew fell in the night, the manna fell upon it.  While thou sleepest I prepare heavenly food for thee.  But it is written, "The people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day;" [Exodus 16]... Thou hast thy part to do.  Go out, then, and gather thy portion for to-day.  Thou canst not live upon yesterday's portion.

 

28 HEM IT WITH QUIETNESS 

     His thoughts said, What if I have not much time to gather my portion?
     His Father said, Hast thou only one minute?  Hem it with quietness.  Do not spend it in thinking how little time thou hast.  I can give thee much in one minute...

29 LITTLE SIPS 

     The son wondered how it would be if because of press of business or illness he could not go out early in the morning to gather his portion.
     His Father understood, and he caused him to know that if the business concerned the Kingdom, or if illness or any such real hindrance interrupted, he should be at rest.  Only he was warned to be careful lest the interruption should slide into a custom.  He was not meant to be easy with himself.
     But he was reminded that the living water was never out of reach.  If he had not time to drink long in the morning, he could take little sips now and then through the day from the Brook that is always flowing in the way.

What comfort written by one who knew what it was to be chronically ill and bed-ridden. 

Maybe all you can take of Bible study some seasons is "little sips." Maybe a Psalm. Maybe a few verses from a gospel. Maybe listening to an audio Bible (such as can be found for free on www.Bible.is). 

Don't put yourself down at such times for being able only to absorb one phrase out of several chapters. God knows how He made you. (Psalm 103:13-14) He knows what you are facing right now - much or how little your brain and body can handle. And He knows what "manna" you need for today.

Take those sips -- and be at rest.

Birthday Baking

Elsa found a new cake recipe for us that I baked up a couple weeks in advance... carrot cake! We even have a couple tiny rounds to make into a layer cake while the cupcakes are for non-birthday desserts. And the darker muffins pictured are my molasses-carrot version with some egg. That is seeming to once again work for me occasionally. A blessing!

Meanwhile, the just-gluten-free chocolate layer cake for the rest of the family was made an hour away by Maren, who, along with Jason, will be joining us for today's celebrations.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Cosy Days

How fun to look down at my hands as I drive to town to teach this autumn and realize I knit both the mittens and sweater that are keeping me cosy!

This is one blessing and new skill that has come out of these years on the couch.